Method for controlling a conveying device and conveying facility

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for controlling a conveying device (1) for conveying items (2), the conveying device (1) comprising a conveyor belt (3) provided with a conveying surface (5), a drive motor (4) and a control unit (6). The method is characterised in that it comprises at least the steps of: - measuring a roughness coefficient (R) of the conveying surface (5); - transmitting the measurement to the control unit (6); - generating instructions for regulating the speed of the conveyor belt (3) in the form of a speed setpoint by means of the control unit (6) according to the measured roughness coefficient (R); and - transmitting the instructions to the conveying device (1). The invention also relates to a conveying facility (100) that implements the method of the invention.

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] Method for controlling a transport device and conveying installation

[0003] The present invention relates to the field of methods and devices for conveying articles. It relates to a method for controlling a conveying device and the conveying installation implementing this method.

[0004] In the field of the present invention, articles, such as containers or cardboard boxes, are moved by means of conveyor belts on which they rest. The article is preferably a container, such as a bottle or flask. Such a container is intended to contain, but not limited to, a fluid, a liquid, powders or granules, in particular of the food or cosmetic type.

[0005] As is known, within an industrial line, and in particular within a packaging installation, the containers undergo several different successive treatments, such as the manufacture of the container, for example during a plastic injection operation or stretch-blow molding in the case of a plastic bottle, followed by filling and then closing with a cap and labeling. Following the various treatments, the containers undergo batch packaging. Thus, each batch comprises several containers gathered in groups, for example in a matrix arrangement, generally of a generally parallelepiped shape, often square or rectangular, according to columns and rows.

[0006] Within the packaging line, items are moved to undergo various filling, handling, packaging, and other processes. To do this, items, including containers, are transported between an upstream and a downstream processing station using conveyor devices within a conveyor system.

[0007] Such conveying devices generally consist of one or more parallel endless conveyor belts supported by guide means and driven by a drive motor.

[0008] The production of finished containers, then batches of containers, requires a high conveyor speed, in order to supply the different stations in a sustained manner. Thus, each station receives items to be processed, without downtime in the processing of said items.

[0009] Items, especially containers, are transported vertically, that is, they rest on their bottom.

[0010] In some areas of the facility, items do not necessarily travel along a linear conveyor path. The conveyor path may include curves and guide elements. Items, particularly containers, may also move successively through various configurations, for example, from a so-called bulk configuration to a line or row configuration, and vice versa. This change in configuration can lead to drops or even jams.

[0011] Furthermore, it is well known that friction between the moving surface of a conveying device and the article to be conveyed significantly influences the stability of said articles on the conveyor, which results in a high degree of falling of the latter and considerably reduces the performance of the conveying device.

[0012] It is therefore desirable that the conveyor belts of the conveying devices have a previously determined permissible roughness value, given that, in cases where the roughness value is too high or too low, the conveying speed, the path of the articles, in particular containers, or even the guiding elements can cause problems during conveying, for example the falling of containers. Thus, when the roughness values ​​are too low or too high, the efficiency of the conveying device is directly impacted.

[0013] Furthermore, the friction values ​​between the articles and the surface of the conveyor belt itself depend on multiple parameters, such as the quality of the conveyor belt and the nature of the articles to be transported.

[0014] In the field of the invention, it is therefore necessary to control the roughness values ​​of the conveyor belt in order to guarantee efficient conveying of the articles by a conveying device within the article packaging installation.

[0015] It is known to use lubrication devices along the conveyor device within a conveyor system to correct the roughness of the conveyor belt. The disadvantage of this correction method is that it requires a complicated installation and start-up procedure. In addition, this solution is expensive and lubrication is not always effective, or it takes time before the roughness coefficient reaches an appropriate value.

[0016] Before the roughness coefficient reaches this permissible or optimal value, it may happen that items, especially containers, are not transported reliably and fall onto the conveyor belt, leading to a significant loss of line performance.

[0017] Conversely, the conveyor belt may be over-lubricated. In this case, the items to be transported do not have sufficient grip and are no longer conveyed at the desired speed, but at a much slower speed. Once again, a drop in line performance can be observed.

[0018] These various disadvantages also tend to increase the electrical consumption of conveyor drive systems, increase wear on the conveyor belt and increase the general noise level of the conveyors in operation. The invention thus aims to provide a method for controlling a conveyor device, which makes it possible to intervene directly on the efficiency of the latter, when the value of the roughness coefficient deviates from the appropriate value for optimal conveying of the articles.

[0019] To achieve this, the invention proposes to regulate the conveying speed of the transport device according to the value of the measured roughness coefficient. Thus, the conveying of the articles is ensured efficiently, without the need to wait for an improvement in the roughness of the conveyor belt.

[0020] To this end, the invention firstly relates to a method for controlling a conveyor device for transporting articles, said conveyor device comprising a conveyor belt provided with a transport surface, a drive motor and a control unit.

[0021] According to the invention, the method is characterized in that it comprises at least the following steps:

[0022] - measurement of a roughness coefficient of the transport surface,

[0023] - transmission of said measurement to the control unit,

[0024] - generation of conveyor belt speed control instructions in the form of a speed setpoint by the control unit based on the measured roughness coefficient and

[0025] - transmission of said instructions to said conveyor device.

[0026] In embodiments, the instruction generation step comprises an additional sub-step of comparing the roughness coefficient measurement to a predetermined minimum roughness coefficient and / or to a predetermined maximum roughness coefficient, and the control unit generates speed regulation instructions, if the deviation of the roughness coefficient measurement from the value of the minimum roughness coefficient and / or from the value of the maximum roughness coefficient is greater than a determined threshold.

[0027] According to a possible additional feature, the control unit generates a speed setpoint defined according to a proportionality coefficient applied to the measurement of the roughness coefficient.

[0028] In embodiments, the control unit generates instructions in the form of a setpoint to reduce the speed of the conveyor belt when the measurement of the roughness coefficient is greater than a predetermined maximum roughness coefficient. In embodiments, the control unit generates instructions in the form of a setpoint to increase the speed in the conveyor belt when the measurement of the roughness coefficient is less than a predetermined minimum roughness coefficient. According to a possible additional feature, the control method comprises an additional step of lubricating the transport surface of the conveyor belt by at least one lubrication system, the control unit being connected to said at least one lubrication system and generating lubrication instructions in the form of a lubrication setpoint on the basis of the measurement of the roughness coefficient.

[0029] In embodiments, the step of generating lubrication instructions comprises an additional sub-step of comparing the measurement of the roughness coefficient to a predetermined minimum roughness coefficient and / or to a predetermined maximum roughness coefficient, and the control unit generates lubrication instructions if the deviation of the measurement of the roughness coefficient from the value of the minimum roughness coefficient and / or from the value of the maximum roughness coefficient is greater than a determined threshold.

[0030] According to a possible additional feature, the control method comprises an additional step of cleaning the transport surface of the conveyor belt by a cleaning system, the control unit being connected to said cleaning system and generating cleaning instructions in the form of a cleaning setpoint as a function of the measured roughness coefficient.

[0031] In embodiments, the step of generating cleaning instructions comprises an additional sub-step of comparing the measurement of the roughness coefficient to a predetermined minimum roughness coefficient and / or to a predetermined maximum roughness coefficient, and the control unit generates cleaning instructions if the deviation of the measurement of the roughness coefficient from the value of the minimum roughness coefficient and / or from the value of the maximum roughness coefficient is greater than a determined threshold.

[0032] The invention also relates to a conveying installation comprising a conveying device intended to transport articles, said device comprising a conveyor belt provided with a transport surface, a drive motor and a control unit, and at least one sensor.

[0033] The installation is characterized in that the control unit generates speed regulation instructions in the form of a conveyor belt speed setpoint based on the measurement of a roughness coefficient by at least one sensor, said control unit comprising a communication channel for transmitting said instructions to said conveying device.

[0034] Advantageously, the installation implements the method as described above.

[0035] According to a possible additional feature, the control unit comprises a memory device in which predetermined values ​​of the minimum and maximum roughness coefficients are recorded and a comparison device for comparing a roughness coefficient measured by a sensor with the values ​​of the recorded roughness coefficients.

[0036] In embodiments, the installation comprises at least one system for lubricating the transport surface of the conveyor belt, said at least one lubrication system comprising a source of lubricant and an applicator of said lubricant, and in that said at least one lubrication system is capable of receiving lubrication instructions from the control unit in the form of a lubrication setpoint based on the measurement of a roughness coefficient by a sensor.

[0037] According to a possible additional feature, the conveying installation comprises a system for cleaning the transport surface of the conveyor belt, said cleaning system being capable of receiving instructions from the control unit in the form of a cleaning instruction based on the measurement of a roughness coefficient by a sensor. The invention also relates to a computer program product comprising a sequence of instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer, causes the latter to implement the steps of the control method as described above.

[0038] Finally, the invention relates to a data processing device comprising means for implementing the steps of the method as described above.

[0039] Brief description of the figures: The invention will be better understood thanks to the description below, which is based on possible embodiments, explained in an illustrative and non-limiting manner, with reference to the appended figures, in which:

[0040] - Figure 1 schematically represents an example of implementation of the method for controlling a conveying device, comprising a conveyor belt and a control unit,

[0041] - Figure 2 schematically represents an embodiment of a conveying installation comprising a conveying device, a lubrication system and a cleaning system.

[0042] Detailed description: In the remainder of the description, elements having an identical structure or similar functions will be designated by the same reference. The invention firstly relates to a method for controlling a conveying device 1.

[0043] Figure 1 shows an example of implementation of the control method using a control unit 6.

[0044] The conveying device 1 comprises a conveyor belt 3, a drive motor 4 and a control unit 6. The conveying device 1 is intended to transport articles 2 on a transport surface 5 of a conveyor belt 3 using a drive motor 4. The articles 2 are for example containers such as bottles or cans, and are moved by means of the conveyor belt 3 on which they rest. Such a container is intended to contain, in a non-exhaustive manner, a fluid, a liquid, powders or granules, in particular of the food or cosmetic type. Within the packaging line, and as visible in FIG. 2, a conveying device 1 conveys articles 2 from an upstream processing station to a downstream processing station, in which they will undergo various operations, such as filling, labeling, packaging, etc. The transport path between different processing stations may be linear or not.

[0045] The control method according to the invention comprises at least the following steps:

[0046] - carrying out a measurement of at least one roughness coefficient R of the transport surface 5 of the conveyor belt 3,

[0047] - transmission of said measurement to a control unit 6 of the conveying device 1,

[0048] - generation of speed regulation instructions in the form of a speed setpoint of the conveyor belt 3 by the control unit 6 as a function of the measurement of the roughness coefficient R and

[0049] - transmission of said instructions to said transport device 1.

[0050] The measurement of the roughness coefficient R can be carried out at different intervals or can be carried out continuously. This measurement can in particular be carried out by means of one or more sensors 9, in particular sensors measuring the roughness coefficient R of the transport surface 5 of the conveyor belt 3, said sensors 9 being able to be located at different locations of the transport device 1.

[0051] Advantageously, the measurement of the roughness coefficient R is carried out by a sensor, for example via a friction coefficient measuring sensor 9.

[0052] In embodiments, the measurement of the roughness coefficient R is carried out manually, for example via the use of a spring dynamometer.

[0053] In other words, the measurement of the roughness coefficient R is carried out by a direct measurement, for example via a friction coefficient measuring sensor 9, or by an indirect measurement, obtained by a manual measurement.

[0054] The roughness coefficient R is a parameter that can also be estimated, in particular manually. Indeed, it depends on different parameters such as the material of the article 2 to be conveyed and the properties of the conveyor belt 3. Standard methods are well known to those skilled in the art for evaluating the value of this coefficient.

[0055] By measurement of the roughness coefficient R, we therefore mean a direct measurement, for example via a friction coefficient measuring sensor 9, or an indirect measurement, obtained by manual measurement.

[0056] Furthermore, the roughness coefficient R corresponds to or is a function of the coefficient of static friction or adhesion, hereinafter "COF". The COF is generally defined as a value at which two surfaces, often of different materials, slide against each other. A low COF means a low adhesion of the items 3 on the surface of the conveyor belt.

[0057] A low COF indicates that the conveying surfaces are smoother, i.e., offering less resistance to a sliding movement. In particular, when the COF is too low, the items 2 to be conveyed are no longer conveyed at the desired speed, which disrupts the supply from an upstream processing station to the downstream processing stations and the efficiency of the packaging line. Conversely, a COF that is too high leads to an increased risk of containers or items 2 to be conveyed falling.

[0058] It is therefore necessary to monitor the value of the COF, and therefore the value of the roughness coefficient of the transport surface 5 of the conveyor belt 3 of a conveying device 1, in order to guarantee optimal transport of the articles 2 and to maintain the efficiency of the packaging line.

[0059] Depending on the direct or indirect measurement of a roughness coefficient R of the transport surface 5, the control unit 6 will generate instructions for regulating the speed of the conveyor belt 3.

[0060] The regulation instructions are in particular in the form of a speed setpoint. In embodiments, the speed setpoint is calculated by the control unit following the comparison between the measurement of a roughness coefficient R of the transport surface 5 and a predetermined optimal value of the roughness coefficient R.

[0061] A predetermined optimum value corresponds, in other words, to an admissible value. An admissible value is a roughness coefficient value R for which the conveying device 1 operates optimally, without problems. In this case, the conveyor belt moves the products at a nominal speed which corresponds to normal operation of the line. Advantageously, the nominal speed of the conveyor belt 3 is recorded in the control unit 6, in a memory device 10 or on an independent server, either by means of an operator or by a speed measurement, for example by a speed sensor.

[0062] According to an additional feature, a roughness coefficient R is measured for one or more conveying devices 1 and the measurement of the roughness coefficient R is compared to a predetermined minimum roughness coefficient Rmin.

[0063] According to an additional feature, a roughness coefficient R is measured for one or more conveying devices 1 and the measurement of the roughness coefficient R is compared to a predetermined maximum roughness coefficient Rmax.

[0064] In embodiments, a roughness coefficient R is measured for one or more conveying devices 1 and the measurement of the roughness coefficient R is compared to a predetermined minimum roughness coefficient Rmin and a predetermined maximum roughness coefficient Rmax.

[0065] The values ​​of the minimum roughness coefficients Rmin and maximum Rmax correspond to predetermined admissible values. These values ​​can be recorded by the control unit 6 in a memory device 10 or be recorded on an independent server. Following this comparison, the control unit 6 will generate instructions for regulating the speed of the conveyor belt 3. In other words, when the measured roughness coefficient R of the transport surface 5 is outside a range of predetermined roughness coefficient values ​​Rmin, Rmax, the control unit 6 transmits a speed instruction to the conveying device 1. This modification of the initial speed instruction makes it possible to maintain good efficiency of the conveying device 1 and therefore of the packaging line.Indeed, in the case where the roughness coefficient deviates from a value or a range of admissible values ​​Rmin, Rmax for a category of articles 2, or for a type of downstream processing station, the circulation flow of said articles 2 is directly impacted. The reduction in efficiency of a conveying device 1 can for example result in a high risk of articles 2 falling, or even a considerable slowdown in the conveying flow.

[0066] In embodiments, several values ​​of minimum roughness coefficients Rmin and maximum Rmax may be predefined, each of the values ​​being predetermined according to an article category and / or according to the type of treatment that the articles transported to a downstream treatment station will undergo.

[0067] A category of articles 2 is defined in particular by the nature of the articles 2, for example containers such as flasks, bottles, cans, bricks, cardboard boxes. It can also be defined according to the material of the articles 2 (glass, PET, cardboard), or even their shape or weight.

[0068] For example, for a first category of articles 2 targeting plastic bottles, minimum roughness coefficient values ​​Rmin and maximum Rmax are predefined. For a second category of articles 2 targeting cans, other minimum roughness coefficient values ​​Rmin and maximum Rmax are predefined.

[0069] All these values ​​can be recorded directly in the control unit 6 in a memory device 10 or recorded on an independent server.

[0070] Downstream processing stations can include a blowing station, a filling station, a packaging station, or any other type of station present on a packaging line.

[0071] In embodiments, speed setpoints are associated with roughness coefficient values ​​R. Preferably, the associated speed setpoints are stored by the control unit 6 in a memory device 10 or on an independent server. For example, speed setpoints corresponding to the nominal speed of the conveyor belt 3 are associated with roughness coefficient values ​​R between the minimum roughness coefficient values ​​Rmin and maximum roughness coefficient values ​​Rmax.

[0072] Advantageously, the control unit includes a human-machine interface. A packaging line operator can, for example, enter 6 different instructions via the control unit, or information relating to the packaging line, such as the nominal speed of the conveyor belt 3, the category of the articles 2 to be processed, etc.

[0073] For example, the values ​​of the minimum roughness coefficients Rmin and maximum Rmax are entered via said human-machine interface of the control unit 6 by an operator of the packaging line comprising one or more conveying devices 1.

[0074] According to a possible additional feature, the control unit 6 generates speed instructions in the form of a speed setpoint, the speed setpoint being defined according to a proportionality coefficient applied to the measured roughness coefficient R. Such a proportionality coefficient is predetermined, and can be recorded in the memory device 10 of the control unit 6.

[0075] Advantageously, the control unit 6 applies different proportionality coefficients to the measured roughness coefficient R, depending on different ranges of proportionality coefficient values. These different admissible ranges of values ​​for the proportionality coefficient values ​​can be defined for the same category of articles 2, for different categories of articles 2, or for different downstream processing stations.

[0076] In embodiments, in cases where the measured roughness coefficient R is within a range of permissible values, the control unit 6 does not generate speed regulation instructions in the form of a speed setpoint.

[0077] According to a possible additional feature, in cases where the measured roughness coefficient R is within a range of permissible values, the control unit 6 generates speed instructions in the form of a speed setpoint, the speed setpoint corresponding to the nominal speed of the conveyor belt 3, under normal conditions of the packaging line.

[0078] In embodiments, the control unit 6 generates speed regulation instructions, in the form of a setpoint to reduce the speed of the conveyor belt 3 when the measured roughness coefficient R is greater than the predetermined maximum roughness coefficient Rmax. Indeed, in this configuration, and while waiting for the value of the measured roughness coefficient R to return to normal, it is advantageous to reduce the speed of the conveyor belt 3, the articles 2 being more subject to risks of falling or tipping.

[0079] In embodiments, the control unit 6 generates speed regulation instructions, in the form of an instruction to increase the speed of the conveyor belt 3 when the measured roughness coefficient R is lower than the predetermined minimum roughness coefficient Rmin. Indeed, in this configuration, the slippage between the transported articles 2 and the transport surface 5 is too great, and the articles 2 no longer advance, or at very low speed, this speed no longer corresponding to the speed set for the conveyor belt 3, which slows down the conveying flow of said articles 2 and it is then advantageous to transmit to the conveying device 1 an instruction to accelerate the conveyor belt 3 in order to maintain the efficiency of the conveying device 1 and therefore of the packaging line.

[0080] According to an additional feature, the control unit 6 stores the measured values ​​for the roughness coefficient R and the regulation instructions transmitted to the conveying device 1 in a memory device 10 following the measurement carried out. In this way, when a new measurement of the roughness coefficient R shows a new deviation, i.e. a difference between the previous measurement and the new measurement carried out, the control unit 6 transmits speed regulation instructions to the conveying device 1, with an updated speed setpoint. In the case where the new measurement of the roughness coefficient R carried out corresponds to the previous measurement, the control unit 6 does not provide new speed regulation instructions in the form of a speed setpoint to the conveying device 1.

[0081] In embodiments, the method for controlling the conveying device 1 comprises an additional step of lubricating the transport surface 5 of the conveyor belt 3. This additional step is carried out by at least one lubrication system 7, visible in FIG. 1 and in FIG. 2. The control unit 6 is connected to said at least one lubrication system 7 and generates lubrication instructions in the form of a lubrication setpoint based on the measurement of the roughness coefficient R. Said control unit 6 can be connected using wired or wireless technology, or even by a dedicated communication channel.

[0082] The lubrication instructions are generally in the form of programming a lubrication cycle, which defines the lubrication frequency, the quantity of lubricant 71 to be deposited on the transport surface 5 of the conveyor belt 3, the duration of the cycles, etc. The control unit 6 can for example provide a lubrication instruction aimed at modifying the dosage of lubricant 71 to be deposited by an applicator 72, by transmitting to said lubrication system 7 an instruction indicating a modification of the opening and / or closing times of the valve of the source 7 of lubricant 71. The control method can be applied to all known lubrication systems 7, and in particular systems of the dry, liquid, gas or mixed lubrication type. The applicator 72 can be in the form of a nozzle, a brush, or in the form of any known type of applicator 72 of lubricant 71.

[0083] Thus, via the measurement of the roughness coefficient R, the control unit 6 will generate lubrication instructions, making it possible to adapt the lubrication cycle to the needs of the packaging line, in order to maintain a high level of efficiency.

[0084] Advantageously, the step of generating lubrication instructions comprises an additional, prior step of comparing the measurement of the roughness coefficient R with a predetermined minimum roughness coefficient Rmin and / or with a predetermined maximum roughness coefficient Rmax. The control unit 6 then generates lubrication regulation instructions if the deviation of the measurement of the roughness coefficient R with the minimum roughness coefficient value Rmin and / or with the maximum roughness coefficient value Rmax is greater than a determined threshold.

[0085] The generation of lubrication instructions by the control unit 6 may also result from a first comparison of the measurement of the roughness coefficient R with a predetermined minimum roughness coefficient Rmin and / or with a predetermined maximum roughness coefficient Rmax for the generation of speed regulation instructions. In this case, the control unit 6 generates instructions based on said comparison, the instructions being speed regulation instructions and lubrication instructions.

[0086] According to an additional characteristic, the minimum roughness coefficient values ​​Rmin and maximum Rmax admissible depend on the category of articles 2 and / or the type of downstream treatment that said articles 2 will undergo.

[0087] Advantageously, the permissible deviation from the predetermined values ​​Rmin and Rmax can be defined according to the category of articles 2 and / or the type of treatment station located downstream.

[0088] Being able to generate lubrication instructions based on the measured roughness coefficient R allows the speed of the conveyor device 1 to return to normal. Indeed, the speed regulation step is necessary and extremely advantageous, since it allows an identified problem of measuring the roughness coefficient R to be addressed without delay. However, it remains necessary to address the problem and ensure that the roughness coefficient R returns to a range of admissible values ​​Rmin, Rmax.

[0089] Thus, advantageously, the lubrication instructions transmitted by the control unit 6 can make it possible to find an admissible roughness coefficient R measurement. In this case, that is to say when the measured roughness coefficient R is within a range of admissible values, the control unit 6 transmits new regulation instructions in the form of a speed setpoint, said speed setpoint corresponding to the nominal conveying speed, that is to say to the initial value of the conveying speed of the conveyor belt 3. In this way, the conveying device 1 is in normal operation. The efficiency of the conveying device 1 and therefore of the packaging line is then maintained and remains satisfactory.In embodiments, the method for controlling a conveying device 1 comprises an additional step of cleaning the conveyor belt 5 by a cleaning system 8, the control unit 6 being connected to said cleaning system 8 of said conveyor belt 6.

[0090] Said control unit 6 can be connected to the cleaning system 8 using wired or wireless technology, or even by a dedicated communication channel.

[0091] The control unit 6 generates cleaning instructions in the form of a cleaning setpoint based on the measurement of the roughness coefficient R. On a conveyor device 1, a cleaning cycle is generally planned outside the operating hours of the packaging line. However, it may happen that the cleaning step must be carried out in advance, because the operation of the packaging line is significantly impacted.

[0092] Advantageously, the control unit 6 will generate cleaning instructions based on the measurement of the roughness coefficient R and will transmit the instructions to the cleaning system 8. This may in particular be the case where, despite the lubrication regulation actions with a view to improving the roughness coefficient R, the latter remains outside the admissible value ranges.

[0093] Advantageously and in particular in this case, but not only, the control unit 6 can decide to transmit speed regulation instructions to the conveying device 1, in order to maintain the efficiency of the line and / or transmit cleaning instructions. The cleaning instructions can be for example in the form of an anticipated programming of cleaning of the transport surface 5 of the conveyor belt 3, or a modification of the cleaning program to be carried out. Cleaning means rinsing or cleaning with the use of a cleaning product. Advantageously, the step of generating cleaning instructions comprises an additional, prior step of comparing the measurement of the roughness coefficient R with a predetermined minimum roughness coefficient Rmin and / or with a predetermined maximum roughness coefficient Rmax.The control unit 6 then generates cleaning instructions if the deviation of the measurement of the roughness coefficient R from the minimum roughness coefficient value Rmin and / or from the maximum roughness coefficient value Rmax is greater than a determined threshold.

[0094] The generation of lubrication instructions by the control unit 6 may also result from a first comparison of the measurement of the roughness coefficient R with a predetermined minimum roughness coefficient Rmin and / or a predetermined maximum roughness coefficient Rmax for the generation of speed regulation instructions. In this case, the control unit 6 generates instructions based on said comparison, the instructions being speed regulation instructions and cleaning instructions.

[0095] Advantageously, on the basis of a comparison of the measurement of the roughness coefficient R with a predetermined minimum roughness coefficient Rmin and / or with a predetermined maximum roughness coefficient Rmax, the control unit 6 then generates different instructions if the deviation of the measurement of the roughness coefficient R with the minimum roughness coefficient value Rmin and / or with the maximum roughness coefficient value Rmax is greater than a determined threshold, the instructions being speed regulation instructions, lubrication instructions, and cleaning instructions. It is understood that these different instructions can be transmitted simultaneously or sequentially to the conveying device 1. Preferably, the conveying speed regulation instructions are transmitted first.

[0096] According to an additional characteristic, the minimum roughness coefficient values ​​Rmin and maximum Rmax admissible depend on the category of articles 2 and / or the type of downstream treatment that said articles 2 will undergo.

[0097] Advantageously, the permissible deviation between the predetermined values ​​Rmin and Rmax can be defined according to the category of articles 2 and the type of treatment station located downstream.

[0098] According to a possible additional feature, one or more steps of the method for controlling the transport device 1 is implemented by computer.

[0099] The invention also relates to a conveying installation 100 as seen in FIG. 2. The installation 100 comprises a conveying device 1 intended to transport articles 2. As mentioned previously, the device 1 comprises a conveyor belt 3 provided with a transport surface 5, a drive motor 4 and a control unit 6.

[0100] The installation 100 also comprises one or more sensors 9 for measuring the roughness coefficient R, for example in the form of at least one sensor 9 for measuring the friction coefficient.

[0101] The installation 100 is characterized in that the control unit 6 generates speed regulation instructions in the form of a speed setpoint for the conveyor belt 3 as a function of the measurement of a roughness coefficient R by a sensor 9, said control unit 6 comprising a communication channel 60 for transmitting said instructions to the conveying device 1.

[0102] The communication channel 60 may be wired or not. The control unit 6 may also be connected to an independent server.

[0103] According to a possible additional feature, the control unit 6 comprises a memory device 10 in which predetermined values ​​of the minimum and maximum roughness coefficients Rmin, Rmax are stored and a comparison device 11 for comparing a roughness coefficient R measured by a sensor 9 with the values ​​of the roughness coefficients Rmin, Rmax.

[0104] In particular, different admissible roughness coefficient values ​​Rmin, Rmax are stored, either in a memory device 10 or in an independent server, depending on the category of articles 2 which are transported by the conveying device 1, or depending on the type of processing station located downstream. In embodiments, the conveying installation comprises at least one lubrication system 7 for the transport surface 5 of the conveyor belt 3. A lubrication system 7 comprises a source 70 of lubricant 71 and receives lubrication instructions from the control unit 6 in the form of a lubrication setpoint, based on the measurement of a roughness coefficient R by a sensor 9.

[0105] In embodiments, the installation comprises a cleaning system 8 for the transport surface 5 of the conveyor belt 3. The control method can be applied to all known cleaning systems 8.

[0106] Preferably, the cleaning system 8 comprises at least one nozzle connected to a main channel, a distribution block or reservoir for supplying said at least one nozzle with at least one cleaning liquid and / or rinsing liquid, said at least one nozzle being adapted to direct the cleaning liquid and / or the rinsing liquid onto a portion of the transport surface 5 of the conveyor belt 3. Furthermore, the cleaning system 8 receives instructions from the control unit 6 in the form of a cleaning instruction, based on the measurement of a roughness coefficient R by a sensor 9.

[0107] Figure 2 shows an embodiment where the conveying installation comprises a lubrication system 7 and a cleaning system 8.

[0108] The invention also relates to a computer program product comprising a sequence of instructions which, when the program is executed by computer, causes the latter to implement the steps of the method for controlling a conveying device 1 as described above.

[0109] The invention also relates to a data processing device comprising means for implementing the steps of the control method as described above. Finally, the invention relates to a computer-readable recording medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the latter to implement the steps of the method for controlling a conveying device 1 as described above.

[0110] The method for controlling a conveying device 1 according to the invention makes it possible to regulate the transport speed of such a device 1 when the friction conditions of the articles 2 to be conveyed are not optimal, which advantageously makes it possible to maintain high efficiency of the conveying device 1, and on a larger scale of the packaging line as a whole. In particular, the control method makes it possible to compensate for the fact that if the roughness coefficient is too high, the articles 2 do not advance at the prescribed speed, and that it is necessary to transmit a new speed instruction to the conveying device 1 to achieve the same transport flow of articles 2.

[0111] Although the above description is based on particular embodiments, it is in no way limiting of the scope of the invention, and modifications may be made, in particular by substitution of technical equivalents or by different combination of all or part of the characteristics developed above.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Method for controlling a conveying device (1) for transporting articles (2), said conveying device (1) comprising a conveyor belt (3) provided with a transport surface (5), a drive motor (4) and a control unit (6), characterized in that said method comprises at least the following steps: - carrying out a measurement of a roughness coefficient (R) of the transport surface (5), - transmission of said measurement to said control unit (6), - generation of instructions for regulating the speed of the conveyor belt (3) in the form of a speed setpoint by the control unit (6) as a function of the measured roughness coefficient (R) and - transmission of said instructions to said conveying device (1).

2. Control method according to claim 1, characterized in that the step of generating instructions comprises an additional sub-step of - comparing the measurement of the roughness coefficient (R) with a predetermined minimum roughness coefficient (Rmin) and / or with a predetermined maximum roughness coefficient (Rmax) and in that the control unit (6) generates speed regulation instructions, if the deviation of the measurement of the roughness coefficient (R) with the value of the minimum roughness coefficient (Rmin) and / or with the value of the maximum roughness coefficient (Rmax) is greater than a determined threshold.

3. Control method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the control unit (6) generates a speed setpoint defined according to a proportionality coefficient applied to the measurement of the roughness coefficient (R).

4. Control method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the control unit (6) generates instructions in the form of a setpoint to reduce the speed of the conveyor belt (3) when the measurement of the roughness coefficient (R) is greater than a predetermined maximum roughness coefficient (Rmax).

5. Control method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the control unit (6) generates instructions in the form of an instruction to increase the speed of the conveyor belt (3) when the measurement of the roughness coefficient (R) is less than a predetermined minimum roughness coefficient (Rmin).

6. Control method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises an additional step of lubricating the transport surface (5) of the conveyor belt (3) by at least one system of lubrication (7), the control unit (6) being connected to said at least one lubrication system (7) and generating lubrication instructions in the form of a lubrication setpoint on the basis of the measurement of the roughness coefficient (R).

7. Control method according to claim 6, characterized in that the step of generating lubrication instructions comprises an additional sub-step of - comparison of the measurement of the roughness coefficient (R) with a predetermined minimum roughness coefficient (Rmin) and / or with a predetermined maximum roughness coefficient (Rmax) and in that the control unit (6) generates lubrication instructions if the deviation of the measurement of the roughness coefficient (R) with the value of the minimum roughness coefficient (Rmin) and / or with the value of the maximum roughness coefficient (Rmax) is greater than a determined threshold.

8. Control method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises an additional step of cleaning the transport surface (5) of the conveyor belt (3) by a cleaning system (8), the control unit (6) being connected to said cleaning system (8) and generating cleaning instructions in the form of a cleaning setpoint as a function of the measured roughness coefficient (R).

9. Control method according to claim 8, characterized in that the step of generating cleaning instructions comprises an additional sub-step of comparing the measurement of the roughness coefficient R with a predetermined minimum roughness coefficient Rmin and / or with a predetermined maximum roughness coefficient Rmax and in that the control unit 6 generates cleaning instructions if the deviation of the measurement of the roughness coefficient R with the value of the minimum roughness coefficient Rmin and / or with the value of the maximum roughness coefficient Rmax is greater than a determined threshold.

10. Conveying installation (100) comprising: - a conveying device (1) for transporting articles (2), said device (1) comprising a conveyor belt (3) provided with a transport surface (5), a drive motor (4) and a control unit (6), - at least one sensor (9), installation characterized in that said control unit (6) generates speed regulation instructions in the form of a speed setpoint for said conveyor belt (3) as a function of the measurement of a roughness coefficient (R) by at least said sensor (9), said control unit (6) comprising a communication channel (60) for transmitting said instructions to said conveying device (1).

11. Conveying installation (100) according to claim 10, characterized in that the control unit (6) comprises: - a memory device (10) in which predetermined values ​​of the minimum and maximum roughness coefficients (Rmin, Rmax) are recorded and - a comparison device (11) for comparing a roughness coefficient (R) measured by a sensor (9) with the values ​​of the roughness coefficients (Rmin, Rmax) recorded.

12. Installation (100) according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that it comprises at least one lubrication system (7) for the transport surface (5) of the conveyor belt (3), said at least one lubrication system (7) comprising a source (70) of lubricant (71) and an applicator (72) of said lubricant (71) and in that said at least one lubrication system (7) is capable of receiving lubrication instructions from the control unit (6) in the form of a lubrication setpoint based on the measurement of a roughness coefficient (R) by a sensor (9).

13. Installation (100) according to any one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that it comprises a cleaning system (8) for the transport surface (5) of the conveyor belt (3), said cleaning system (8) being capable of receiving instructions from the control unit (6) in the form of a cleaning instruction based on the measurement of a roughness coefficient (R) by a sensor (9).

14. Computer program product comprising a sequence of instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer, causes the latter to implement the steps of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

15. Data processing device comprising means for implementing the steps of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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