Remote human-machine interface

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system for managing a production line (100) comprising at least one machine, said system comprising at least one human-machine interface (20), referred to as HMI, connected to a programmable logic controller (19), referred to as PLC, of a machine of said production line (100), and / or a portable terminal (23), and a production control system (25), referred to as MES, noteworthy in that it comprises at least one remote terminal (21) joined 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) within a determined perimeter and means for connecting said portable terminal (23) to the human-machine interface (HMI) (20) and / or to the programmable logic controller (PLC) (19) of the machine, and in that said portable terminal (23) comprises means for connecting simultaneously to at least two wireless networks, a first wireless network being dedicated to each machine of the production line (100), via the remote terminal (21), and a second wireless network being dedicated to the production control system (25) (MES) such that said portable terminal (23) is connected to 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 within the determined perimeter of a remote terminal (21) and said portable terminal (23) is connected continuously to the production control system (25) (MES).

Description

Description Title of the invention: Remote human-machine interface Technical field

[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 the definition of several control zones in the process control environment, the determination of a position of a user using a portable communicator relative to one or more control zones control, establishing a user identity and selectively authorizing the user to access an element in the process control environment via the handheld communicator based on the user's determined position relative to one or more control zones and based on the user's identity.

[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.

[0011] Furthermore, these portable HMIs do not allow an operator to have access to all the alarms of each machine on the production line. Disclosure of the invention

[0012] 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, allowing the operator to have access to all the alarms for each machine in a production line.

[0013] For this purpose, and in accordance with the invention, a system is proposed for managing a production line comprising at least one machine, said system comprising at least one human-machine interface called HMI connected to an industrial 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, a production control system called MES according to the English acronym "Manufacturing Execution System" collecting in real time the production data of the machine(s) of the production line, said data being analyzed with regard to traceability and / or quality control and / or production monitoring and / or scheduling and preventive and curative maintenance, or similar;said system is 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 industrial 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 industrial controller (PLC); of the machine, and in that said portable terminal comprises means for connection to at least two wireless networks simultaneously, a first wireless network being dedicated to each machine of the production line, through the remote terminal, and a second wireless network being dedicated to the production control system (MES) in such a way that said portable terminal is connected to the human-machine interface (HMI) and / or to the industrial programmable logic controller (PLC) of the machine when said portable terminal is detected within the determined perimeter of a remote terminal and said portable terminal is continuously connected to the production control system (MES).

[0014] According to a first embodiment, the portable terminal comprises two separate wireless transceivers.

[0015] According to a second embodiment, the portable terminal comprises a single wireless transceiver capable of operating according to the protocol known as SBS according to the English acronym “Single Band Simultaneous” and / or according to the protocol known as DBS according to the English acronym “Double Band Simultaneous”.

[0016] Said wireless network(s) consist of a Wi-Fi and / or Bluetooth and / or Zigbee network.

[0017] Furthermore, advantageously, said portable terminal comprises 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.

[0018] Additionally, preferably, each remote terminal includes an emergency stop switch 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.

[0019] Preferably, 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.

[0020] Additionally, the portable terminal includes sensory alarm means which are triggered when said portable terminal leaves the perimeter of the remote terminal and said portable terminal includes at least one camera.

[0021] Advantageously, said portable terminal comprises means capable of personalizing the human-machine interface (HMI) of the machine to which it is connected. Brief description of the drawings

[0022] 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:

[0023] [Fig.1] 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,

[0024] [Fig.2] is a schematic representation of a container manufacturing unit comprising a production line management system according to the invention,

[0025] [Fig.3] is a schematic representation of a portable terminal of the production line management system according to the invention and its simultaneous connection to a production control system called MES and to the human-machine interface (HMI) or to the programmable industrial controller (PLC) of the machine. 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 [Fig. 1], 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 in [Fig.l] 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 [Fig.l]. 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 (cold preform supply) hot preforms).

[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.). In [Fig.l] 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 [Fig.2], 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 comprises a programmable logic controller (PLC) and a human-machine interface (HMI) although only the container manufacturing unit 1 is shown in [Fig.l].

[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 pro- industrial 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 industrial 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 machine. 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 emergency stop management system of 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 [Fig. 2].

[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 terminal 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 terminal 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 send the corresponding video to a remote technical assistance system. In this regard, incidentally, said portable terminal 23 may advantageously include 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 terminal 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 terminal 23 comprises means for connection to a remote server.

[0048] With reference to Figures 1 to 3, the management system according to the invention also comprises a production control system 25 called MES according to the English acronym “Manufacturing Execution System” collecting in real time the production data of the machine(s) of the production line, said data being analyzed with regard to traceability and / or quality control and / or production monitoring and / or scheduling and preventive and curative maintenance, in a manner well known to those skilled in the art. It goes without saying that said production control system 25 called MES may be substituted by any other similar system without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0049] Said portable terminal 23 advantageously comprises means for connection to at least two wireless networks simultaneously, a first wireless network RS 1 being dedicated to each machine of the production line 100, through the remote terminal 21, and a second wireless network RS2 being dedicated to the production control system 25 (MES) in such a way that said portable terminal 23 is connected to the human-machine interface (HMI) 20 and / or to the programmable industrial controller (PLC) 19 of the machine when said portable terminal 23 is detected in the determined perimeter of a remote terminal 21 and said portable terminal 23 is continuously connected to the production control system 25 (MES).

[0050] Thus, the portable terminal 23 connects locally to a machine and is simultaneously connected to the line supervisor, i.e. to the production control system 25. It is understood that the local connection of the portable terminal 23 is made with different machines making up the production line 100, with said connection being made one by one with each remote terminal 21 while the connection to the line supervision, i.e. to the production control system 25, is permanent and allows access to all the alarms of each machine in the production line, overcoming the fact that the local connection of the portable terminal 23, said local connection only providing the operator with access to the alarms of the machine in to which the portable terminal 23 is connected, is done on one machine at a time.

[0051] According to a first embodiment, the portable terminal 23 comprises at least two separate wireless transceivers for managing the at least two wireless networks RS1 and RS2.

[0052] According to a second embodiment, the portable terminal 23 comprises a single wireless transceiver capable of operating according to the protocol known as SBS according to the English acronym “Single Band Simultaneous” and / or according to the protocol known as DBS according to the English acronym “Double Band Simultaneous”. In the case of the protocol known as DBS, the wireless transceiver then comprises two bandwidths, for example a bandwidth of 2.4 GHz and a bandwidth of 5 GHz for a WIFI transceiver. It is obvious that said wireless network(s) may consist of a Wi-Fi and / or Bluetooth and / or ZigBe network and / or any other equivalent wireless network without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0053] 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

Claims

1. 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 an industrial programmable logic controller (19), called API or PLC according to the English acronym “Programmable Logic Controller”, of a machine of said production line (100), and / or a portable terminal (23); a production control system (25) called MES according to the English acronym “Manufacturing Execution System” collecting in real time the production data of the machine(s) of the production line, said data being analyzed with regard to traceability and / or quality control and / or production monitoring and / or scheduling and preventive and curative maintenance,or similar; 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, and in that said portable terminal (23) comprises means for connecting to at least two wireless networks simultaneously, a first wireless network being dedicated to each machine of the production line (100), through the remote terminal (21),and a second wireless network being dedicated to the production control system (25) (MES) in such a way that said portable terminal (23) is connected to 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 within the determined perimeter of a remote terminal (21) and said portable terminal (23) is continuously connected to the production control system (25) (MES).,

2. Production line management system according to claim 1 characterized in that the portable terminal (23) comprises two separate wireless transceivers.

3. Production line management system according to claim 1 characterized in that the portable terminal (23) comprises a single wireless transmitter-receiver capable of operating according to the protocol known as SBS according to the English acronym “Single Band Simultaneous” and / or according to the protocol known as DBS according to the English acronym “Double Band Simultaneous”.

4. System for managing a production line according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said wireless network(s) consist of a Wi-Fi and / or Bluetooth and / or Zigbee network.

5. Production line management system according to any one of claims 1 to 4 characterized in that 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 machine.

6. System for managing a production line 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.

7. Production line management system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the portable terminal (23) automatically connects to the human-machine interface (HMI) (20) and / or to the programmable industrial controller (PLC) (19) of the machine when said portable terminal (23) is detected within the perimeter of the remote terminal (21).

8. Production line management system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the portable terminal (23) comprises sensory alarm means which are triggered when said portable terminal (23) leaves the perimeter of the remote terminal (21).

9. Production line management system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that said portable terminal (23) comprises at least one camera.

10. System for managing a production line according to any one of of claims 1 to 9 characterized in that said portable terminal (23) comprises means capable of personalizing the human-machine interface (HMI) (20) of the machine to which it is connected.

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