METHOD FOR INSPECTING THE CONDITION OF LOGISTICS EQUIPMENT

Abstract

TITLE: METHOD FOR INSPECTING THE CONDITION OF LOGISTICS EQUIPMENT The invention relates to a method for inspecting intralogistics equipment (2) comprising the following steps: measuring a physical quantity or collecting data from said equipment by a measuring or detection device carried in an instrumented package (3) moved by, on, or near said equipment (2); comparing the measured or collected data with reference data; and concluding whether an anomaly exists if there is a discrepancy between the measured or collected data and the reference data, exceeding a certain predetermined threshold. The invention also relates to the instrumented package and an inspection system comprising the instrumented package and enabling the procedure to be performed. Figure 2.

Description

Title of the invention: METHOD FOR INSPECTING THE CONDITION OF LOGISTICS EQUIPMENT Technical field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to the field of intralogistics, in particular the maintenance of equipment constituting an intralogistics chain, such as conveying, storage or sorting equipment for objects. State of the art

[0002] Conveying, storage, or sorting systems for objects constitute an important part of an intralogistics installation. These systems can be subject to various problems impacting their operation, such as wear of one or more components, drift in settings, accumulation of contaminants such as dust, oil stains, or the presence of foreign bodies.

[0003] A major challenge encountered in the maintenance of these systems lies in the difficulty of monitoring their condition during operation and determining the degree of wear in order to carry out maintenance. The challenge is even greater in areas or parts where access is limited or difficult. This can then lead to unplanned shutdowns of the installation, which can significantly impact its operation.

[0004] Currently, it is difficult to determine the health status of equipment accurately and automatically without instrumenting the entire supply chain, making continuous monitoring and proactive maintenance virtually impossible. Furthermore, determining the health status of equipment by a human remains subjective and subject to the judgment of the person monitoring it.

[0005] The present invention therefore aims to provide an innovative solution to overcome the obstacles described above. Summary of the invention

[0006] To this end, the invention relates to a method for inspecting intralogistics equipment comprising the following steps: - measurement of a physical quantity or collection of data from said equipment by a measuring or detection device carried in an instrumented package moved by, on, or near said equipment, - comparison of measured or collected data with reference data, - conclusion on the existence of an anomaly in case of divergence between the measured or collected data and the reference data, of a certain predetermined threshold.

[0007] The method according to the invention has the advantage of being a non-intrusive method for detecting equipment anomalies in advance and thus enabling the scheduling of interventions. It therefore improves the maintenance of logistics equipment, making it predictive and / or forecasting, thereby reducing the number of unscheduled downtimes. The reliability of the equipment will thus increase, and consequently, so will its performance.

[0008] The package is moved near the equipment for example by a conveyor, an Automatically Guided Vehicle (AGV), an Autonomous Mobile Robot (AMR) or a drone.

[0009] Reference data may, for example, be measured or simulated or manufacturer's data.

[0010] The detection device may be a camera or thermal camera.

[0011] Advantageously, the method includes a step of locating the instrumented package at the entrance of the intralogistics equipment to be inspected (or near it) and a step of triggering the measurement in response to said location.

[0012] The localization of the instrumented package at the entrance of the intralogistics equipment to be inspected (or in the vicinity thereof) may include the detection of a QR code, barcode, data matrix, RFID / BLE, an inductive or capacitive sensor or positioning by GPS, or by telemetry.

[0013] Advantageously, the process further includes a step of transmitting the data from the measurement of the package to a computer processing station.

[0014] Data transmission can be carried out using wireless technology.

[0015] According to an advantageous optional feature, the method may include a step of inserting the package into an intralogistics chain, including the equipment to be inspected, using an AGV / AMR, and a step of retrieving said package from an exit of said chain using an AGV / AMR. This allows for the inspection of equipment in a facility without requiring an operator to insert and retrieve the package. By automating the insertion of the package into the intralogistics chain and its retrieval from the exit, it becomes possible to schedule the process for times when the facility is operating at its nominal or maximum load to verify that the logistics chain can handle the volume of packages to be processed during peak periods. This will allow for the refinement of production plans and the improvement of equipment reliability, enabling, for example, an increase in the number of packages in the production plan.Thus, we can correlate the state of the supply chain with the weight of parcels per given period of time, for example, and work. on the reliability of equipment and maintenance operations according to periods of demand (for example at the end of the year when the supply chain is in demand almost 24 hours a day).

[0016] The measured or collected data may include temperature, humidity level, vibration, sound, acceleration, position, duration or image.

[0017] The invention relates, according to a second aspect, to an instrumented package suitable for use in inspecting the operating condition of intralogistics equipment, the package comprising means for power supply, means for data acquisition and / or means for measurement connected to the means for power supply, said means for data acquisition or measurement comprising a device for measuring a physical quantity of the equipment and / or a detection device configured to perform a measurement and / or detection of data during a movement of said package by the equipment or in the vicinity thereof.

[0018] Advantageously, the measuring or detection device includes a temperature sensor, an accelerometer, a sound sensor, a humidity sensor, a camera or a location system.

[0019] Advantageously, the package may also include means for recording data and / or means for transmitting data wirelessly.

[0020] The invention also relates, according to a third aspect, to an inspection system for the operating status of intralogistics equipment, comprising:

[0021] - an instrumented package as described above,

[0022] - means for processing the measured data transmitted or transferred from the package instrumented;

[0023] - display and / or alert means capable of sending back an alert signal when the measured data deviate from the reference data by a predetermined threshold.

[0024] It may also include an AGV or an AMR configured to inject the instrumented package into the input of a facility to be inspected and / or to retrieve it from the output of the facility.

[0025] This allows for the automation of supply chain inspection and reduces human intervention.

[0026] We designate by instrumented package according to the invention a container not limited by a particular shape but which must remain stable during its transport. Brief description of the figures

[0027] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description in connection with the accompanying drawings, given by way of non-limiting examples, in which:

[0028] [Fig. 1] [Fig. 1] represents an example of an instrumented package according to the invention;

[0029] [Fig. 2] [Fig. 2] a partial view illustrating an instrumented package entering a conveyor to be inspected;

[0030] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] represents a partial view of an intralogistics installation illustrating an example of the path of an instrumented package;

[0031] In the rest of the description, elements having an identical structure or analogous functions will be designated by the same references. Detailed description

[0032] Figure 1 schematically shows an example of an instrumented package 3 according to the invention. The package 3 comprises an outer casing 30 that can be opened or closed, for example, cubic in shape. Inside the casing 30, it comprises power supply means 33, data acquisition means, and / or measurement means 34, 35. These means may include different types of sensors, for example, a temperature sensor, an accelerometer, a sound sensor, or a humidity sensor. They may also include a camera or a localization system.

[0033] Package 3 may also include data recording means 31, processing means 32 and / or data transmission means, for example wireless 36.

[0034] The instrumented package 3 is configured to inspect the health status of intralogistics equipment in a facility when it is moved either by the equipment to be inspected, such as a conveyor 2 as shown in [Fig. 1], or when it is moved in close proximity to it, by a conveyor, an AGV / AMR, a drone, or other means. Furthermore, measurements taken on the equipment can be combined with measurements taken in its vicinity. The package performs measurements (e.g., temperature, vibration, sound) or detects data (e.g., by taking photographs) and compares this data to reference data. When the measured or detected data differs from the reference data by a certain threshold, an indication is issued regarding the detected anomaly. Consequently, intervention can be scheduled in advance without having to act in an emergency.

[0035] The measured or collected data may retain a temperature, a humidity level, a vibration, a sound, an acceleration, a position, a duration or an image.

[0036] As an example of possible measures, thermal measurements can be taken on different parts of the equipment and can, for example, target: - the temperature of the belts, rollers and bearings; - thermal measurements can be directed towards variators and motors above the sideboards.

[0037] To perform targeted interventions, it is advantageous to locate the equipment on which the measurement / detection is being carried out. There are different ways to perform such localization. [Fig. 2] illustrates an example of a system 1 in which localization is performed by scanning a QR code 4 at the input or near the equipment 2 to be inspected. This scan triggers the start of the measurement or data detection. Advantageously, a second scan at the equipment's output stops the measurement / detection.

[0038] Other location methods are possible, for example the use of barcodes, data matrix, RFID / BLE, an inductive or capacitive sensor or even positioning by GPS, or by telemetry.

[0039] Reference data can be, for example, measured or simulated or manufacturer's data.

[0040] Fig. 3 shows an example of an intralogistics installation 10 comprising a set of equipment, such as conveyors 20.

[0041] To inspect the operating condition of the equipment, the instrumented package 3 can be placed by an operator at an entrance of the installation to be routed along a determined path to carry out one or more inspections.

[0042] According to an advanced operating configuration, the installation also includes one or more AGVs or AMRs 5 whose path can be programmed to drop off the connected package at different entry zones and pick it up at one or more exits. This allows for the automation of supply chain inspection and reduces human intervention. It also allows for the recharging of the package's battery.

[0043] This automation of the installation verification process can also allow repeated passes with refined measurements and thus improve the quality of the diagnosis.

[0044] The system also includes: - means of processing measured data transmitted or transferred from the instrumented package and - display and / or alert means capable of sending back an alert signal when the measured data deviates from the reference data by a predetermined threshold.

Claims

Demands

1. A method for inspecting intralogistics equipment (2) comprising the following steps: - measuring a physical quantity or collecting data from said equipment by a measuring or detecting device carried in an instrumented package (3) moved by or on said equipment (2), - comparing measured or collected data with reference data, - concluding whether an anomaly exists if there is a divergence between the measured or collected data and the reference data, of a certain predetermined threshold.

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the instrumented package (3) is moved by an AGV / AMR in the vicinity of the intralogistics equipment to be inspected.

3. Method according to claim 1, comprising a step of locating the instrumented package (3) at the input of the intralogistics equipment (2) to be inspected and a step of triggering the measurement or collection in response to said location.

4. A method according to the preceding claim wherein the localization of the instrumented package (3) at the input of the intralogistics equipment (2) to be inspected includes the detection of a QR code (4), barcode, data matrix, RFID / BLE, an inductive or capacitive sensor or positioning by GPS, or by telemetry.

5. A method according to any one of claims 3 to 4 comprising an insertion step by an AGV / AMR (5) of the package at the input (21) of an intralogistics chain comprising the equipment to be inspected and a retrieval step of said package at an output (22) of said chain by an AGV / AMR (5).

6. A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the measured or collected data includes temperature, humidity, vibration, sound, acceleration, position, duration or image.

7. Instrumented package (3) suitable for use in inspecting the operating condition of intralogistics equipment (2), the package (3) comprising means for power supply, means for data acquisition and / or means for measurement related to electrical power supply means, said data acquisition or measurement means including a device for measuring a physical quantity of the equipment and / or a detection device configured to perform a measurement and / or detection of data during a movement of said package by or on the equipment.

8. Package (3) instrumented according to the preceding claim in which the measuring or sensing device comprises a temperature sensor, or an accelerometer, or a sound sensor, or a humidity sensor or a camera or a location system.

9. Package (3) instrumented according to one of claims 7 or 8 also comprising means for recording the measured or collected data and / or means for wirelessly transmitting the data.

10. An assembly for inspecting the operating condition of intralogistics equipment, comprising: - a package (3) instrumented according to any one of claims 7 to 9, - means for processing the measured or collected data transmitted or transferred from the instrumented package (3); - means for displaying and / or alerting capable of sending back an alert signal when the measured or collected data deviates from the reference data by a predetermined threshold.

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