Remote human-machine interface

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system for managing a production line comprising at least one machine, the system comprising at least one human-machine interface (20), referred to as HMI, which is connected to a programmable logic controller (19), referred to as PLC, of a machine of the production line, and / or a portable terminal (23), the system being characterised in that it comprises at least one remote terminal (21) rigidly connected to the machine or to a safety enclosure (22) of the machine and connected to the human-machine interface (HMI) (20) or connected to the programmable logic controller (PLC) (19) of the machine, the remote terminal (21) comprising means for detecting the presence of the portable terminal (23) within a determined perimeter and means for connecting the portable terminal (23) to the human-machine interface (HMI) (20) and / or to the programmable logic controller (PLC) (19) of the machine, the portable terminal (23) comprising an emergency stop which is automatically connected to the system for managing the emergency stop of the human-machine interface (HMI) (20) and / or to the programmable logic controller (PLC) (19) of the machine when the portable terminal (23) is detected within the determined perimeter and connected to the human-machine interface (HMI) (20) and / or to the programmable logic controller (PLC) (19) of the machine.

Description

Remote human-machine interface

[0001] The field of the invention is that of the management of a production line comprising at least one machine, a human-machine interface known as HMI connected to at least one machine of said production line and / or a portable terminal capable of being connected to said machine. State of the art

[0002] In the field of industrial production line management, particularly on a beverage production line, it is well known that a programmable logic controller (PLC), also known as an industrial PLC, is a digital computer used for the automation of electromechanical processes, such as controlling machines on production lines. Unlike commonly used computers, the PLC is designed for multiple inputs and outputs, wide temperature ranges, immunity to electrical noise, and resistance to vibration and shock. The programs intended to control the operation of the machines are generally stored in non-volatile memory.

[0003] The main difference with other PC-type computers, according to the English acronym "Personal Computer", is that PLCs are generally shielded to withstand harsh conditions (such as dust, humidity, heat, cold, etc.) and have a large number of inputs / outputs (I / O) to connect, for example, to sensors and actuators. Thus, PLCs may be able to read limit switches, analog process variables (such as temperature and pressure) and the positions of complex positioning systems.

[0004] Programmable logic controllers (PLCs) can be used in critical environments where failures can compromise the safety of workers, the public, and / or the environment, or result in significant costs. Therefore, they are commonly used on bottle and beverage production lines in general.

[0005] To reduce the load on these controllers, programmable logic controllers (PLCs) are equipped with other specific devices that form an interface for operating personnel. These devices are called control and monitoring devices or human-machine interfaces (HMIs), and more commonly HMIs, according to the English acronym "Human Machine Interface".

[0006] The term HMI is a generic term that covers all components associated with this group of devices. One example is control panels, or OPs. These can be stationary or mobile. Furthermore, HMIs are frequently used in networked automation to help operating personnel display and control process data from the technical unit to be controlled. This function is called a real-time control and data acquisition system, or SCADA, according to the English acronym for "Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition." For this purpose, the HMI is usually equipped with specific hardware. In other words, it has a touchscreen, for example, and is specially protected from environmental influences. It is also equipped with specific software. This software provides functions that improve the user-friendliness, quality, and safety of the operations performed by the operator.Thus, HMIs can be used to visualize, control, configure, and generate interactive process maps of the technical unit to be operated. On the one hand, this enables the selective display of responses from the technical unit, usually in the form of measured values ​​and messages. On the other hand, the customized predefinition of control operations and data inputs allows the technical unit to be switched into the required states.

[0007] HMIs are usually permanently integrated, for example in the form of terminals, as fixed components in an automation system. These terminals are then usually permanently connected to the PLC by cables. If these terminals are in the form of handheld devices, their range of action is limited by a connecting cable. In many cases, this ensures that an operator can only perform safety-relevant operations in the direct vicinity of the technical unit or at least when there is adequate visual contact.

[0008] To overcome this disadvantage, it has already been imagined that the HMI takes the form of a mobile operator panel, such as a touchscreen tablet or similar. Such a mobile control and monitoring device can, for example, be connected to the automation system by a long-range radio link. In this case, it cannot be ruled out that an operator using a mobile control and monitoring device moves so far away from an associated technical unit that safety-relevant operations are carried out at a distance that is not permitted per se. In this case, the safety of people could not be ensured.

[0009] This is particularly the case of document EP2077473 which describes a method and a system for accessing an element in a process control environment using a portable communicator comprising defining several control zones in the process control environment, determining a position of a user using a portable communicator relative to one or more control zones, establishing an identity of the user and selectively authorizing the user to access an element in the process control environment via the portable communicator based on the determined position of the user relative to one or more control zones and based on the identity of the user.

[0010] Although these portable HMIs, unlike fixed HMIs which limit the visualization of the machine actuators and require the machine operator to walk around to see the result of his command on the fixed HMI, allow the operator to control the machine actuators with the doors open by being at the right of said doors to view the result of his command, these portable HMIs do not allow the operator to perform an emergency stop when these commands cause a machine fault requiring an emergency shutdown of the machine. Indeed, the emergency stop command is usually constituted by a push button connected to the PLC so that the operator does not have direct access to it when controlling the actuators from the portable HMI. Disclosure of the invention

[0011] One of the aims of the invention is therefore to overcome these drawbacks by proposing a system for managing a bottle or beverage production line of simple and inexpensive design and allowing an emergency shutdown of the machine directly from a portable terminal.

[0012] For this purpose, and in accordance with the invention, a system is proposed for managing a bottle or beverage production line comprising at least one machine, said system comprising at least one human-machine interface called HMI connected to a programmable logic controller, called API or PLC according to the English acronym "Programmable Logic Controller", of a machine of said production line, and / or a portable terminal, remarkable in that it comprises at least one remote terminal secured to the machine or to a safety enclosure of said machine and connected to the human-machine interface (HMI) or connected to the programmable logic controller (PLC) of the machine, said remote terminal comprising means for detecting the presence of the portable terminal in a determined perimeter and means for connecting said portable terminal with the human-machine interface (HMI) and / or to the programmable logic controller (PLC) of the machine,said portable terminal comprising an emergency stop which is automatically connected to the emergency stop management system of the human-machine interface (HMI) and / or to the programmable logic controller (PLC) of the machine when said portable terminal is detected in the determined perimeter and connected with the human-machine interface (HMI) and / or to the programmable logic controller (PLC) of the machine.,

[0013] Advantageously, the handheld terminal connects to the machine's human-machine interface (HMI) and / or programmable logic controller (PLC) via a wireless network.

[0014] The said wireless network consists of a Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or Zigbee network.

[0015] Furthermore, each remote terminal is connected to the machine's human-machine interface (HMI) and / or programmable logic controller (PLC) by a wired connection.

[0016] Additionally, each remote terminal includes an emergency stop switch connected to the machine's human-machine interface (HMI) emergency stop management system and / or programmable logic controller (PLC).

[0017] Advantageously, the portable terminal automatically connects to the human-machine interface (HMI) and / or the programmable logic controller (PLC) of the machine when said portable terminal is detected within the perimeter of the remote terminal.

[0018] Preferably, the portable unit comprises sensory alarm means which are triggered when said portable unit leaves the perimeter of the remote terminal.

[0019] In addition, the machine's human-machine interface (HMI) includes means for setting said perimeter in the form of a distance determined from the remote terminal.

[0020] Incidentally, said portable unit includes at least one camera.

[0021] Furthermore, said portable unit includes means capable of customizing the human-machine interface (HMI) of the machine to which it is connected.

[0022] In addition, said portable unit includes means for connection to a remote server.

[0023] Other advantages and characteristics will emerge more clearly from the following description of several variant embodiments, given as non-limiting examples, of the system for managing a bottle or beverage production line in accordance with the invention, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

[0024] is a schematic representation of the structure of a bottle or beverage production line comprising a system for managing said line in accordance with the invention,

[0025] is a schematic representation of a container manufacturing unit comprising a production line management system according to the invention. Method of carrying out the invention

[0026] In the following description of the container according to the invention, the same numerical references designate the same elements. The different views are not necessarily drawn to scale.

[0027] With reference to the, the bottle or beverage production line 100 essentially comprises a unit 1 for manufacturing containers, such as bottles, made of thermoplastic material, a unit 2 for filling said containers, and a unit 3 for conveying the manufactured containers from the outlet 4 of the manufacturing unit 1 to the inlet 5 of the filling unit.

[0028] It will be observed that said bottle or beverage production line 100 may possibly also comprise a labeling unit and / or a container capping unit and / or a container surface treatment unit, of the type allowing deposition of a barrier coating by plasma, not shown on the without however departing from the scope of the invention.

[0029] The manufacturing unit 1 may be of any type suitable for the manufacture of containers, such as bottles, made of thermoplastic material such as polyethylene terephthalate PET, polyethylene naphthalate PEN or others. It receives, at its inlet, preforms made of amorphous material from a preform supply unit 7. The unit 7 may consist of a hopper 8 receiving preforms manufactured by molding in bulk previously and at another location, which hopper is connected to the inlet 6 by a sorter 9 which isolates and positions the preforms on a conveyor device 10 connected to the inlet 6 of the manufacturing unit (cold preform supply) as shown in the. The unit 7 may also consist of the preform molding unit itself which delivers the preforms which have just been molded and are still hot directly to the inlet 6 of the manufacturing unit (hot preform supply).

[0030] The processing of the preforms within the manufacturing unit can be any and adapted to the type of containers to be produced (single or double blowing, single or multiple heat treatment, etc.). The diagram is reproduced, for reasons of simplicity and clarity, a simple processing of the preforms which are mounted at 11 on a transfer line 12, then heated in a tunnel oven 13 before being taken up at 14 to be introduced hot into a blowing or stretch-blow molding device 15 with multiple molds arranged on a carousel. After controlled cooling, the containers which have just been manufactured are presented at the outlet 4 of the manufacturing unit 1.

[0031] The containers received at the inlet 5 of the filling unit 2 are placed on a rotating drum filling device 16 from which, once filled, they are extracted and presented to a capping device 17. The filled and capped containers are then evacuated through the outlet 18 of the filling unit 2, to a labeling station and then a packaging station (not shown).

[0032] The container manufacturing unit 1 and the filling unit 2 are arranged as close as possible to each other so that the distance between the outlet 4 of the former and the inlet 5 of the latter is as small as possible. The conveyor unit 3 which extends from the said outlet 4 to the said inlet 5 is therefore short and the introduction of the containers from the conveyor unit 3 into the filling unit 2 is carried out directly, without passing through a washing device which has become unnecessary due to the now very reduced risk of internal pollution of the containers.Given its short length, the conveying unit 3 can certainly be of the air jet type like the very long conveyor devices used in current installations, but it can also be produced under economically acceptable conditions in the form of an endless chain conveyor device, for example with grippers, which is capable of transporting the containers with a constant spacing pitch.

[0033] With reference to the, the container manufacturing unit 1 comprises a programmable logic controller (PLC) 19 for controlling the various components of said manufacturing unit 1 and a human-machine interface (HMI) 20 connected to said programmable logic controller 19.

[0034] It goes without saying that each unit, i.e. each machine, of the production line 100 includes a programmable logic controller (PLC) and a human-machine interface (HMI) although only the container manufacturing unit 1 is shown on the.

[0035] Furthermore, the production line management system 100 comprises a remote terminal 21 secured to a safety enclosure 22 of the container manufacturing unit 1 and connected to the human-machine interface (HMI) 20 or connected to the programmable logic controller (PLC) 19 of said container manufacturing unit 1, said remote terminal 21 comprising means for detecting the presence of a portable terminal 23 in a determined perimeter and means for connecting said portable terminal 23 with the human-machine interface (HMI) 20 and / or to the programmable logic controller (PLC) 19 of the container manufacturing unit 1.It will be observed that, in this particular embodiment, the production line management system 1 comprises a plurality of remote terminals 21 secured to the safety enclosure 22, at different locations, each remote terminal 21 being connected to the human-machine interface (HMI) 20 and / or to the programmable logic controller (PLC) 19 and respectively defining a determined perimeter in which the portable terminal 23, the latter connecting to the human-machine interface (HMI) 20 and / or to the programmable logic controller (PLC) 19 only when said portable terminal 23 is located inside one of these determined perimeters of the remote terminals 21.

[0036] It is obvious that the remote terminal(s) 21 may be integral with each machine, i.e. each unit 1 for manufacturing containers, unit 2 for filling said containers, or unit 3 for conveying containers without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0037] Said portable terminal 23 may be in the form of a computer terminal, in the form of a tablet or a cell phone, a connected watch, namely any terminal equipped with a screen.

[0038] It will be observed that said portable terminal 23 can also comprise a holographic display surface, such as a headset or holographic glasses without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0039] Thus, the operator can carry said portable terminal 23 as he moves along the production line 100, having direct access to all or part of the computerized management of a unit through said human-machine interface (HMI) 20. Further, through said human-machine interface (HMI) 20, in a non-limiting manner, the operator can select different operating modes of the container manufacturing unit 1, check the status of certain components or monitor the production in progress, check for potential anomalies, adjust settings, enter data relating to the production, control and carry out a maintenance step, etc.

[0040] Particularly advantageously, said portable terminal 23 comprises an emergency stop which is automatically connected to the emergency stop management system of the human-machine interface (HMI) (20) and / or to the programmable logic controller (PLC) (19) of the machine when said portable terminal 23 is detected in the determined perimeter and connected with the human-machine interface (HMI) 20 and / or to the programmable logic controller (PLC) 19 of the container manufacturing unit 1. Thus, the operator can carry out an emergency stop from the portable terminal 23 when his commands, listed above, on his portable terminal 23, then constituting a portable human-machine interface (HMI), cause a fault on the container manufacturing unit 1 which requires an emergency shutdown of said container manufacturing unit 1.Incidentally, each remote terminal 21 may also include an emergency stop switch 24, also connected to the human-machine interface (HMI) 20 and / or to the programmable logic controller (PLC) 19 of the container manufacturing unit 1, or to any other machine of the production line 100, and which is for example in the form of a push button or similar.

[0041] Furthermore, advantageously, the portable terminal connects to the human-machine interface (HMI) 20 and / or to the programmable logic controller (PLC) 19 of the container manufacturing unit 1 by means of a wireless network. Said wireless network consists of a Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or Zigbee network or any other suitable wireless network. Each remote terminal 21 is connected to the human-machine interface (HMI) 20 and / or to the programmable logic controller (PLC) 19 of the container manufacturing unit 1 by a wired connection, not shown in the figure.

[0042] Preferably, the portable terminal 23 automatically connects to the human-machine interface (HMI) 20 and / or to the programmable logic controller (PLC) 19 of the container manufacturing unit 1 when said portable terminal 23 is detected within the perimeter of the remote terminal 21. However, the connection of the portable terminal 23 may also be obtained by a request issued by the operator by means of said portable terminal 23, said request then being transmitted to the human-machine interface (HMI) 20 and / or to the programmable logic controller (PLC) 19 via the remote terminal 21 corresponding to the determined perimeter in which the portable terminal 23 is located, the human-machine interface (HMI) 20 and / or the programmable logic controller (PLC) 19 returning to the portable terminal 23 confirmation of the connection via the remote terminal 21.

[0043] Preferably, the portable terminal 23 comprises sensory alarm means which are triggered when said portable unit leaves the perimeter of the remote terminal. These sensory alarm means consist, for example, of sound means and / or vibration means and / or visual means.

[0044] In addition, the human-machine interface (HMI) 21 of the machine comprises means for setting said perimeter in the form of a distance determined relative to the remote terminal 21.

[0045] Incidentally, said portable unit 23 comprises at least one camera, not shown in the figures, in order to allow the operator to film an element of the machine and to send the corresponding video to a remote technical assistance system. In this regard, incidentally, said portable unit 23 may advantageously comprise an optional audio communication means in order to communicate with a remote repair service and / or means of connection to a remote server, such as a remote server of said remote technical assistance system, for example, said server comprising a database of technical plans of the machine in particular.

[0046] Furthermore, said portable unit 23 comprises means capable of personalizing the human-machine interface (HMI) 21 of the machine to which it is connected.

[0047] In addition, said portable unit 23 comprises means for connection to a remote server.

[0048] Finally, it is clear that the examples just given are only specific illustrations and are in no way limiting as to the fields of application of the invention.

Claims

System for managing a production line (100) comprising at least one machine, said system comprising at least: a human-machine interface (20) called HMI connected to a programmable logic controller (19), called API or PLC according to the English acronym "Programmable Logic Controller", of a machine of said production line, and / or a portable terminal (23); characterized in that it comprises at least one remote terminal (21) secured to the machine or to a safety enclosure (22) of said machine and connected to the human-machine interface (HMI) (20) or connected to the programmable logic controller (PLC) (19) of the machine, said remote terminal (21) comprising means for detecting the presence of the portable terminal (23) in a determined perimeter and means for connecting said portable terminal (23) with the human-machine interface (HMI) (20) and / or to the programmable logic controller (PLC) (19) of the machine,said portable terminal (23) comprising an emergency stop which is automatically connected to the emergency stop management system of the human-machine interface (HMI) (20) and / or to the programmable logic controller (PLC) (19) of the machine when said portable terminal (23) is detected in the determined perimeter and connected with the human-machine interface (HMI) (20) and / or to the programmable logic controller (PLC) (19) of the machine., Production line management system according to claim 1, characterized in that the portable terminal (23) connects to the human-machine interface (HMI) and / or to the industrial programmable logic controller (PLC) of the machine by means of a wireless network. System for managing a production line according to claim 2, characterized in that said wireless network consists of a Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or Zigbee network. Production line management system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that each remote terminal (21) is connected to the human-machine interface (HMI) (20) and / or to the programmable industrial controller (PLC) (19) of the machine by a wired connection. Production line management system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that each remote terminal (21) comprises an emergency stop switch (24) connected to the emergency stop management system of the human-machine interface (HMI) (20) and / or to the programmable logic controller (PLC) (19) of the machine. Production line management system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the portable terminal (23) automatically connects to the human-machine interface (HMI) (20) and / or to the industrial programmable logic controller (API) (19) of the machine when said portable terminal (23) is detected within the perimeter of the remote terminal (21). Production line management system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the portable unit (23) comprises sensory alarm means which are triggered when said portable unit (23) leaves the perimeter of the remote terminal (21). Production line management system according to claim 7, characterized in that the human-machine interface (HMI) (20) of the machine comprises means for setting said perimeter in the form of a determined distance relative to the remote terminal (21). Production line management system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that said portable unit (23) comprises at least one camera. Production line management system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that said portable unit (23) comprises means capable of personalizing the human-machine interface (HMI) (20) of the machine to which it is connected. Production line management system according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that said portable unit (23) comprises means for connection to a remote server.

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