METHOD FOR OPERATING MECHATRONIC FUNCTIONAL MODULES FOR MANUFACTURING, TREATMENT, INSPECTION AND / OR TRANSPORTING CONTAINERS AND PRODUCTION PLANT WITH THE FUNCTIONAL MODULES

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for operating mechatronic functional modules for manufacturing, treating, inspecting and / or intermodularly transporting containers for liquid products in a production plant and to a production plant with such functional modules.

[0002] Production plants, in particular filling plants for beverages or similar liquid products into containers, are known to comprise a multitude of mechatronic functional modules for manufacturing, processing, inspecting, and / or intermodularly transporting the containers. Each mechatronic functional module is then assigned a specific production process, such as stretch blow molding of plastic containers, labeling of the containers, filling of the liquid products, or transport between individual functional modules.

[0003] Such mechatronic functional modules are known to have electronic control units that serve, firstly, to control the operating time of the respective functional module, i.e., to control its operation by including the necessary actuators, sensors, frequency converters, or similar components. Furthermore, the control units specify machine parameters and processing parameters for the respective functional module, for example, for its product-specific operation and for the diagnosis of malfunctions, and also enable communication with central and / or decentralized control units of the production plant, and possibly with other functional modules.

[0004] One disadvantage that has emerged is that information required for maintenance work, such as circuit diagrams, parts lists, and design data, is not available within the respective functional module but usually has to be transferred from a central storage location. This is cumbersome, error-prone, and can be further complicated by communication requirements between the installation site and the storage location.

[0005] Furthermore, the functional modules can only be adapted to changing production conditions or optimized during operation with relative inflexibility by their control units, since only comparatively small amounts of data are available on-site, essentially only encompassing the functions and parameters of the respective functional module. In contrast, information about the production environment of the functional modules—that is, upstream or downstream functional modules, and the product flow within the respective production plant—is generally lacking. Such information must then potentially be retrieved, in a cumbersome manner, from a central data source.

[0006] ASHTARI TALKHESTANI BEHRANG ET AL.: "An architecture of an Intelligent Digital Twin in a Cyber-Physical Production System", AUTOMATISIERUNGSTECHNIK - AT., Vol. 67, No. 9, September 1, 2019, pp. 762-782, XP055855422, describes the architecture of a simulation model in the sense of digital twins of mechatronic functional modules. Accordingly, digital copies of the individual mechatronic functional modules are combined in at least one digital twin of the production plant, which includes the capability to simulate the functional modules, synchronize with them, and process data supplied by the functional modules. At least one such digital twin can also be integrated into an intelligent digital twin, which must additionally possess artificial intelligence.For this purpose, a distinction is made between a physical level with the individual functional modules and a cyber level with at least one digital twin. The system with the digital twins can be installed centrally on a computer and thus outside of the individual functional modules. The data supplied by the mechatronic functional modules can be transferred to a data cloud. The system with the digital twins has access to this data from there and can also be integrated into a cloud-based environment.

[0007] Therefore, there is a need for methods for operating mechatronic functional modules and for production plants equipped with them, in which the effort required for maintenance measures and / or variety-specific production adjustments and the optimization of the production process in the interaction of the functional modules can be improved.

[0008] At least one of the aforementioned problems is solved by a method according to claim 1 and by a production plant according to claim 8. Advantageous embodiments are specified in the dependent claims.

[0009] The described method serves to operate mechatronic functional modules for the production, treatment, inspection, and / or intermodular transport of containers for liquid products, particularly beverages, in a production plant, especially a filling plant. For this purpose, each functional module stores individually associated initial design data, specification data, and initial topological data in machine-readable form. The topological data pertains at least to the intermodular product flow within the production plant and the communication between the functional modules. Furthermore, the functional modules are controlled using the initial topological data and preferably the initial design data and / or specification data.

[0010] The initial design and specification data stored in each functional module facilitate / enable maintenance of that module without requiring queries of this information from a central data source. The topological data stored in the functional module, for example, facilitates / enables production optimization based on the known product flow, taking into account all functional modules involved in the product flow and their process-related interactions. Furthermore, the necessary communication between the functional modules is facilitated by the locally / decentrally defined topological data within the functional module, particularly through direct intermodular connection establishment via an initially defined communication path.

[0011] Mechatronic functional modules are understood to be machine units such as treatment machines, including treatment units and / or inspection units, each assigned to a specific production process, such as preheating preforms, stretch blow molding or labeling of containers, their inspection or the like.

[0012] Initial data refers to data that is already defined / predefined at the start of production due to design considerations and, where applicable, product-specific requirements. For example, initial data is stored in the functional modules during commissioning and / or in the processing machines / production plant comprising them, and / or updated during related maintenance measures.

[0013] Machine-readable data means that the described data in the functional modules is available in a standardized data format and / or can be read using standardized communication protocols. For example, the initial design and specification data, as well as the initial topological data, can be read and displayed by a mobile device and / or by an operating and output unit located on the functional module. This enables straightforward on-site access to the information stored in the functional module.

[0014] The topological data for establishing independent connections between functional modules includes at least information about the identity and address of the functional modules and can further include information about which functional modules are relevant and / or prioritized communication partners. Communication establishment is thus possible directly and automatically, without negotiating communication connections in the sense of an "online search" within the respective communication network, solely based on the information stored in the functional modules. This facilitates the intermodular optimization of production processes, i.e., not only the optimization of individual functional modules but also their interaction within the production environment.

[0015] Preferably, the initial design data, specification data, and topological data contain at least two of the following pieces of information: a 3D CAD model of the functional module; a 3D model for finite element simulation and / or for simulating frequency behavior in the functional module; an electrical circuit diagram of the functional module, in particular with technical specifications of associated components; electrical connections of assemblies of the functional module; a piping and instrumentation diagram of the associated treatment machine and / or production plant, in particular with technical specifications of associated functional elements and / or their mutual dependencies; an arrangement plan of the associated treatment machine and / or production plant, in particular with technical specifications of associated machine parts / plant components; parts lists of mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, and / or hydraulic components of the functional module;Technical specifications of the containers to be processed, including associated equipment, auxiliary materials and / or filling products; maintenance documentation of the functional module, the associated processing machine and / or production plant; and specification of the functional module's life cycle.

[0016] The control unit / runtime system can thus be provided with comprehensive knowledge of initial design and specification data as well as topological data – essentially knowledge derived from the upstream development process, the design and installation of the respective functional module and / or the associated production plant. This improves the decentralized and intermodular optimization of the production processes of the individual functional modules and also enables targeted and time-saving maintenance of the individual functional modules.

[0017] Preferably, at least some of the initial design and specification data as well as the topological data are combined in a digital system model of the associated processing machine and / or production plant, wherein the system model comprises at least four, in particular all, functional models involved in the product flow and processes at least two of the following information: data points from sensors and actuators of the functional modules and the associated data flows between them; a catalog of mandatory and optional functions of the functional modules and of the mutual dependencies of their functional scopes; the topology of the functional modules between them and / or with respect to the processing machines and / or production plant encompassing them; interface requirements of the functional modules; and requirements for supplying the functional modules with electrical energy, media, and consumables.

[0018] The system model preferably includes all information necessary for intermodular communication. Identities and communication addresses defined in the system model can be transferred to and stored by the respective functional modules. Based on this decentralized communication information from the system model, targeted connection establishment and data exchange between functional modules assigned as communication partners is possible automatically and directly, i.e., without the need to negotiate network connections individually.

[0019] The data points mentioned can be understood as data inputs or data outputs to sensors, actuators, frequency converters, controllers or the like.

[0020] Comprehensive knowledge of the topology of the production plant and the system model representing it can thus be transferred to the respective functional module, so that the individual functional modules can not only make local, self-limited adjustments and optimizations of the respective production process, but also support higher-level optimization goals, such as energy saving, quality optimization or the like.

[0021] Furthermore, the function modules can each individually store and / or process current status data, whereby the function modules are then controlled using this current status data. This data contains at least two of the following pieces of information: current operating status, current operating mode and / or current faults of the function module; operator notes and / or instructions; current forecasts of material requirements and / or maintenance times; current recommendations for the production process; current software version data; current diagnostic data; current performance and / or consumption data, such as current energy and media consumption and / or efficiency.

[0022] This allows the initial knowledge from the upstream development and design processes to be combined and / or compared with current knowledge from ongoing operations, in order to be able to carry out maintenance measures and / or production optimizations in a particularly targeted manner.

[0023] Furthermore, each function module can individually store and / or process its own historical data, which is then used to control the function modules. This data contains at least two of the following pieces of information accumulated over several production cycles: electronic logbook of the function module; AI training parameter sets; AI learning results; machine parameter limits and associated operating states; switching cycles; load changes; temperature profiles; communication utilization; AI experiential knowledge from interactions with operators; cause-and-effect relationships; long-term data on energy and media consumption and / or efficiency.

[0024] Thus, data accumulated over several production batches and / or data obtained from self-learning processes, i.e., data obtained on the basis of AI (Artificial Intelligence), can be incorporated decentrally into the respective adaptation and optimization tasks at the respective functional module.

[0025] The functional modules can automatically configure, diagnose, organize, optimize, protect and / or heal themselves based on the individually associated initial design and specification data as well as the topological data.

[0026] Self-configuration means that the functional module stores data knowledge about itself and about independent changes, and on this basis, for example, it switches automatically from a basic configuration to specific production configurations or between such configurations.

[0027] Self-diagnosis means that the functional module maintains data knowledge about itself and uses this information to research and / or calculate its operating status and explain it independently. In particular, the module can then independently generate and / or select solutions.

[0028] Self-organization refers to an intramodular combination of self-configuration and self-diagnosis, resulting in an adaptation of process-related and / or program-related processes, particularly automatically in conjunction with other functional modules.

[0029] Self-optimization can also be understood as an intramodular combination of self-configuration and self-diagnosis, resulting in an independent adjustment of the configuration for process optimization.

[0030] Self-protection can also be understood as an intramodular combination of self-configuration and self-diagnosis, with the result that the functional module independently initiates protective measures, for example against foreseeable error conditions.

[0031] Self-healing means that, for example, self-diagnosis and self-configuration are combined intramodularly in such a way that repair measures, especially for unforeseeable fault conditions, can be initiated and / or carried out independently by the respective functional module.

[0032] The necessary knowledge about itself is obtained by the functional module, for example, from the initial design and specification data, i.e., from requirements, limitations, intermodular dependencies, the higher-level configuration of the treatment machine and / or production plant encompassing the functional module, from target values, target loads, cross-module descriptions, performance data, tolerances, lifetime data, logbook data, or the like.

[0033] This allows for decentralized adjustments and optimizations of the respective functional modules as well as the treatment machine and / or production plant as a whole, in relation to each other, to be carried out flexibly for different operating conditions and production requirements.

[0034] The described production plant is, in particular, a filling plant and comprises mechatronic functional modules for manufacturing, processing, inspecting, and / or intermodularly transporting containers for liquid products, especially beverages, i.e., for transport between the individual functional modules. Each functional module includes: a storage device containing machine-readable, individually associated initial design and specification data for the functional module, and topological data at least relating to the product flow within the production plant and the communication between the functional modules. For the independent establishment of connections between the functional modules, the topological data includes at least information concerning the identity and address of the functional modules.Furthermore, each functional module comprises a control device for runtime control of the functional module, taking into account the topological data and preferably the initial design data and / or specification data according to the method of at least one of the described embodiments.

[0035] This allows the advantages described in claim 1 to be achieved.

[0036] The functional modules can include at least two of the following module types: heating module for heating preforms or containers; stretch blow molding module for forming the containers; cooling module for cooling the containers; turning module for turning the containers upside down; coating module for internal coating of the containers; printing module for printing on the containers; labeling module for labeling the containers; inspection module for inspecting the containers; cleaning module for cleaning the containers; filling module for filling the liquid products into the containers; and / or closing module for closing the filled containers.

[0037] The functional modules may further comprise at least one of the following module types: conveyor belt, in particular with slaves for container handling; linear motor transport system; transport carousel, in particular with container clamps; and surrounding transport section.

[0038] The different module types mentioned can be controlled and maintained in the production plant in a particularly effective and efficient manner using the described methods.

[0039] The control unit can include an electronic processing unit, particularly with Internet of Things (IoT) functionality, programmed to process the initial design and specification data of the functional module, topological data, and especially individually associated current state data and / or individually associated historical data of the functional module. The processing unit is then connected, for example, to an API (Application Programming Interface) that can communicate with individual functional modules, establish a connection to a cloud, a connection to a human-machine interface, and / or connect to an electronic sales platform and / or an analytics service.The production plant preferably includes a communication network for the functional modules such that these are set up for the decentralized storage of initially defined identities and addresses of all functional modules intended as communication partners as part of the topological data and furthermore for independent communication establishment among themselves on the basis of the identities and addresses defined in this way.The control unit can include a processing unit programmed with a digital system model of the associated processing machine and / or production plant, in which at least some of the initial design and specification data, the topological data, and at least two of the following pieces of information are processed, each relating to at least four, in particular all, functional models involved in the product flow: data points from sensors and actuators of the functional modules and the associated data flows between them; a catalog of mandatory and optional functions of the functional modules and the mutual dependencies of their functional scopes; the topology of the functional modules between them and with respect to the processing machines and / or production plant encompassing them; interface requirements of the functional modules; and requirements for supplying the functional modules with electrical energy, media, and consumables.

[0040] A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings. The drawings show: Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a production plant with functional modules; Figure 2 is a schematic of a system model with functional modules; and Figure 3 is a schematic representation of a control device of a functional module.

[0041] As the Figure 1 As can be seen, the described production plant 100, which in the example shown is a filling plant, comprises mechatronic functional modules 1 to 13 for manufacturing, processing and / or intermodularly transporting containers 14 for liquid products 15, which are in particular beverages. The containers 14 are therefore stretch-blown from preforms 14a, fitted with labels 14b, filled with the liquid product 15 and sealed with caps 14c.

[0042] Accordingly, a first functional module 1 serves to preheat the preforms 14a and a second functional module 2 to stretch blow mold the containers 14 from the preforms 14a, thus each serving to produce the containers 14. Furthermore, a third and fourth treatment module 3, 4 serve to label the containers 14 with the labels 14b, a fifth functional module 5 serves to fill the containers 14 with the liquid product 15, and a sixth functional module 6 serves to close the filled containers 14 with the caps 14c, thus each serving, in accordance with the present invention, to treat the containers 14.

[0043] A seventh functional module 7 serves to inspect the preforms 14a, an eighth functional module 8 to inspect the labels 14b, a ninth functional module 9 to inspect the closure caps 14c and a tenth functional module 10 to inspect the filled and closed containers 14, and thus, in the sense of the present invention, each to inspect the containers 14.

[0044] Also shown schematically are functional modules 11 to 13 for the intermodular transport of the containers 14 in the production plant 100, i.e. to / from / between the functional modules 1 to 10.

[0045] As the Figure 1Furthermore, it can be seen that the functional modules 1 to 13 can be treatment machines, treatment units, inspection units and / or transport lines for the containers 14. For example, the third functional module 3 in the form of a labeling unit and the fourth functional module 4 in the form of a container carousel can be assigned to each other and together form a treatment machine 16, in the example shown a labeling machine.

[0046] The production plant 100 shown is merely an example with regard to the number and types of functional modules 1 to 13. In principle, the production plant 100 could comprise functional modules of the following types: heating module for heating preforms 14a or containers 14; stretch blow molding module for forming the containers 14; cooling module for cooling the containers 14; turning module for turning the containers 14 upside down; coating module for internally coating the containers 14; printing module for printing on the containers 14; labeling module for labeling the containers 14; inspection module for inspecting the containers 14; cleaning module for cleaning the containers 14; filling module for filling the liquid products 15 into the containers 14; and / or sealing module for sealing the filled containers 14.

[0047] The functional modules can also be of the following module types: conveyor belt, in particular with slaves for receiving the containers 14; linear transport system for transporting the containers 14; transport carousel, in particular with container clamps for transporting the containers 14; and / or bypass transport route for the containers 14 to bypass individual production processes / functional modules.

[0048] The Figure 2 The schematically illustrates the principle underlying the present invention of decentralized storage and processing of initial design data 17, initial specification data 18 of the functional modules 3, 4 shown here by way of example, and of topological data 19, at least concerning the product flow in the production plant 100 and the intermodular communication in the respective functional modules 3, 4, with respect to the production plant 100 / the treatment machine 16.

[0049] For this purpose, the function modules 3 and 4 each comprise a storage device 21 containing the initial design data 17, the initial specification data 18, and the topological data 19, all stored therein in machine-readable form. Furthermore, the function modules 3 and 4 each comprise an electronic control device 22 for runtime control of the respective function module 3 or 4, incorporating the design data 17, specification data 18, and / or topological data 19 stored therein. This is described in the Figure 1 Examples are given only for function modules 1 to 10.

[0050] The topological data 19 enable the independent establishment of connections 23 between the functional modules 3 and 4 and include all the necessary information for each communicating functional module 3 and 4. The topological data 19 preferably also includes information about which of the functional modules 1 to 13 of the production plant 100 are relevant and / or prioritized communication partners for each other. In the example of the Figure 2 This applies, for example, to the functional modules 3 and 4 that interact directly in the treatment machine 16 in terms of process technology.

[0051] For the independent establishment of a connection 23, all necessary information is summarized in a system model 24 of the associated treatment machine 16 and / or production plant 100 and is predefined for all participating functional modules 1 to 13 in such a way that the communication setup by functional modules 3 and 4 no longer needs to be negotiated in the sense of an online search in a network. For this purpose, for example, both the identity 25 and the address 26 of the fourth functional module 4 are stored in the third functional module 3, and vice versa. The same applies to all functional modules 1 to 13 that communicate with each other.

[0052] Similarly, in functional modules 3 and 4, information on data points 27 is stored decentrally, relating to the data flow 28 between actuators 29, sensors 30, frequency converters 31, control units 22, or similar data sources or data receivers. The corresponding data points 27 / data flow 28 are also defined in the system model 24.

[0053] Thus, the necessary information for the communication setup 23 and the data flow 28 from the system model 24 can be transferred in advance to all participating functional modules 1 to 13 and stored there.

[0054] The system model 24 thus serves as a common data basis, with which the functional modules 1 to 13 are provided with information about their own functions, requirements and scope of services as well as corresponding information about other functional modules 1 to 13 with which there is an interaction in the production process.

[0055] In addition, individually associated current status data 32 of the function modules 1 to 13 can be stored and processed in each of the function modules 1 to 13 in order to control the function modules 1 to 13 also on the basis of the current status data 32.

[0056] It is also conceivable to additionally store and process individually associated historical data 33 of the functional modules 1 to 13 in order to then control the functional modules 1 to 13 on the basis of historical data 32 accumulated from several production processes / batches.

[0057] A corresponding data flow 28 is possible on the basis of the described communication structure 23 between the individual functional modules 1 to 13, but also within the individual functional modules 1 to 13, as well as on the basis of the system model 24.

[0058] The Figure 3The figure schematically illustrates an example of decentralized control in function modules 1 to 13. Accordingly, the control unit 22 of the respective function module 1 to 13 can include a processing unit 22a with Internet-of-Things functionality and an application programming interface 22b, with which, for example, functions of individual function modules 1 to 13 can be called and data can be read and written.

[0059] Likewise, it is possible to connect the individual modules 1 to 13 to external data processing components 34, such as a cloud, an e-shop, a human-machine interface, a fault analysis service or the like.

[0060] The respective control unit 22 is provided with the described initial design and specification data 17, 18 and the topological data 19, and optionally also with the current state data 32 and the historical data 33. The Internet-of-Things component 22a can then, for example, cooperate with manufacturer applications 35 and / or user applications 36, possibly via intermediate drivers 37, in a manner known in principle.

[0061] Based on the initial design and specification data 17, 18 and, in particular, the initial topological data 19, self-contained module functions of the following types can be implemented in the respective functional modules 1 to 13, if necessary, taking into account the current state data 32 and / or the historical data 33: self-configuration; self-diagnosis; self-organization; self-optimization; self-protection and / or self-healing.

[0062] This means that, in the manner described, functional modules 1 to 13 are preferably provided with so much knowledge about themselves in the sense of a functional identity, a functional scope and the related interactions with other functional modules 1 to 13 that a machine self-awareness and the property of machine self-modification arise, from which the ability to self-configure the respective functional module 1 to 13 can then result.

[0063] The described decentralized control system and the associated decentralized communication structure between functional modules 1 to 13 not only enables the autonomous maintenance and optimization of production processes at the individual functional modules 1 to 13 on their own, but also the complex optimization of the production process in the interaction of the production processes taking place in functional modules 1 to 13 with each other.

[0064] This means that the individual functional modules 1 to 13 preferably know all their function-relevant components and communication partners, i.e., all relevant functional modules 1 to 13 and / or treatment machines 16 of the production plant 100, and additionally also the product flow through the production plant 100, preferably from the common system model 24, and can independently make adjustments on this basis, for example to reduce energy consumption, to react to changed operating conditions in other functional modules 1 to 13 of the production plant 100, for quality assurance, for material supply, to adjust maintenance cycles, cleaning cycles, the production process or the like.

[0065] Such adjustments are made during the runtime control of the production process in the production plant 100 by the individual control units 22 of the functional modules 1 to 13 in the sense that all the necessary information in the form of machine-readable data 17 ,18 ,19 can be processed decentrally in the respective functional modules 1 to 13, for example by including current status data 32 of the respective functional modules 1 to 13 involved.

Claims

1. A method for operating mechatronic functional modules (1-13) for producing, treating, inspecting and / or intermodularly transporting containers (14) for liquid products (15), in particular beverages, in a production plant (100), in particular a filling plant, wherein individually associated initial design and specification data (17, 18) and initial topological data (19) at least concerning the product flow in the production plant and the communication between the functional modules are maintained in machine-readable form, wherein the initial topological data (19) for independently establishing a connection (23) between the functional modules (1-13) comprise at least information concerning their identity (25) and address (26), and wherein the functional modules are controlled by including the initial topological data and preferably the initial design data and / or specification data.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the topological data (19) for independently establishing a connection (23) between the functional modules (1-13) further comprise information regarding which of the functional modules are relevant and / or prioritized communication partners for each other.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the initial design and specification data (17, 18) include at least two of the following pieces of information: a 3D CAD model of the functional module (1-13); a 3D model for finite element simulation and / or simulation of frequency behavior in the functional module; an electrical circuit diagram of the functional module and technical specifications of associated components; electrical connections of assemblies of the functional module; a P&I diagram of the associated treatment machine and / or production plant and technical specifications of associated functional elements and their mutual dependencies; a layout plan of the associated treatment machine and / or production plant and technical specifications of associated machine parts / plant components; parts lists of mechanical, electrical, pneumatic and / or hydraulic components of the functional module; technical specifications of the containers to be processed with associated equipment objects, auxiliary materials and / or filling products; maintenance documentation of the functional module, the associated treatment machine and / or production plant; and specification of the life cycle of the functional module.

4. The method according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein at least part of the initial design and specification data (17, 18) as well as the topological data (19) are combined in a digital system model (24) of the associated treatment machine (16) and / or production plant (100), wherein the system model comprises at least four, in particular all, functional models (1-13) involved in the product flow and processes at least two of the following pieces of information: data points (27) of sensors (29) and actuators (30) of the functional modules as well as the associated data flow (28) among each other; catalog with mandatory and optional functions of the functional modules and with mutual dependencies of their functional ranges; topology of the functional modules among each other and with regard to the associated treatment machines (16) and / or the production plant (100); interface requirements of the functional modules; and requirements for supplying the functional modules with electrical energy, media and consumables.

5. The method according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein in the functional modules (1-13) current status data (32) individually associated with the functional modules are further maintained and / or processed, wherein the functional modules are controlled by including the current status data, and wherein these contain at least two of the following pieces of information: current operating status, current operating mode and / or current malfunctions of the functional module; operator instructions and / or operator tasks; current predictions of material requirements and / or maintenance times; current recommended actions for production control; current software version data; current diagnostic data; current application data, in particular current energy and media consumption and / or efficiency.

6. The method according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein in the functional modules (1-13) historical data (33) individually associated with the functional modules are further maintained and / or processed, wherein the functional modules are controlled by including the historical data, and wherein these contain at least two of the following pieces of information: Electronic logbook of the functional module; Al training parameter sets; Al learning results; limit values of machine parameters and associated operating states; switching cycles; load changes; temperature curves; communication utilization; Al knowledge from interactions with operators; cause-error-relationships; long-term data on energy and media consumption and / or efficiency.

7. The method according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the functional modules (1-13) each independently configure, diagnose, organize, optimize, protect and / or heal themselves in terms of control technology on the basis of the individually associated initial design and specification data (17) and the topological data (19).

8. A production plant (100), in particular filling plant, having mechatronic functional modules (1-13) for producing, treating, inspecting and / or intermodularly transporting containers (14) for liquid products (15), in particular beverages, the functional modules each comprising: a memory device (21) with individually associated initial design and specification data (17, 18) of the functional module and topological data (19) stored therein in a machine-readable manner, at least concerning the product flow in the production plant and the communication between the functional modules, wherein the topological data (19) for independently establishing a connection (23) between the functional modules (1-13) comprise at least information concerning their identity (25) and address (26); and a control device (22) adapted for runtime control of the functional module by including the topological data and preferably the initial design data and / or specification data according to the method of at least one of the preceding claims.

9. The production plant according to claim 8, wherein the functional modules (1-10) comprise at least two of the following module types: a heating module for heating preforms or containers; a stretch blow molding module for shaping the containers; a cooling module for cooling the containers; a turning module for turning the containers upside down; a coating module for coating the inside of the containers; a printing module for printing on the containers; a labeling module for labeling the containers; an inspection module for inspecting the containers; a cleaning module for cleaning the containers; a filling module for filling the liquid products into the containers; and / or a capping module for capping the filled containers.

10. The production plant according to claim 9, wherein the functional modules (10-13) further comprise at least one of the following module types: conveyor belt, in particular with slave units for holding containers; linear motor transport system; transport carousel, in particular with container clamps; and bypass transport section.

11. The production plant according to at least one of claims 8 to 10, wherein the control device (22) comprises a processing unit (22a), in particular with Internet-of-Things functionality, which is programmed to process the initial design and specification data (17, 18) of the functional module (1-13) and topological data (19) and in particular individually associated current status data (32) of the functional module and / or individually associated historical data (33) of the functional module.

12. The production plant according to at least one of claims 8 to 11, wherein the functional modules (1-13) are adapted for the decentralized maintaining of initially defined identities (25) and addresses (26) of all functional modules respectively provided as communication partners as part of the topological data (19) and further for independently establishing communication (23) between each other on the basis of identities and network addresses defined in this way.

13. The production plant according to at least one of claims 8 to 12, wherein the control device (22) comprises a processing unit (22a) programmed with a digital system model (24) of the associated treatment machine (16) and / or production plant (100), in which at least part of the initial design and specification data (17, 18), the topological data (19) and at least two of the following pieces of information are processed, each concerning at least four, in particular all, functional models (1-13) involved in the product flow: data points (27) of sensors (29) and actuators (30) of the functional modules as well as associated data flows (28) among each other; catalog with mandatory and optional functions of the functional modules and with mutual dependencies of their functional ranges; topology of the functional modules and the associated treatment machines and / or production plant; interface requirements of the functional modules; and requirements for supplying the functional modules with electrical energy, media and consumables.