Central Filling Line Control With Graphical Reconfiguration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Bottling plants lack a centralized control system that allows for easy adaptation and dynamic reconfiguration of machine operations, requiring manual and expert-level programming for each customer-specific order, increasing complexity and costs.
Innovation Solution
A filling system with a central control device and graphical interface that enables intuitive, low-code or no-code programming, utilizing artificial intelligence and self-learning systems to optimize production line sequences and adapt to customer-specific requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If individual machines are controlled manually or by immediate predecessor/successor machines, then each machine can operate independently, but the overall system lacks centralized control and adaptability for customer-specific requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple individual machine controllers into a centralized control system that manages the entire production line. The central controller integrates control signals from all machines, enabling unified management and customer-specific configuration while reducing the need for separate expert programming for each machine.
Solution Approach 2:
The centralized control system provides universal control capabilities across all machines in the production line. A single control system can manage different machine types (filling machines, labeling machines, packaging machines) and adapt to various customer requirements through programmable configurations, eliminating the need for machine-specific expert programming.
2Reliability
If customer-specific control functions are created manually by subject matter experts, then precise control is achieved, but implementation time and costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The control system enables operators to configure customer-specific functions through intuitive graphical interfaces without requiring expert programming knowledge. The system provides self-service capabilities where standard control functions can be selected and configured directly by machine operators, eliminating the need for external subject matter experts for routine configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements reusable control function templates that can be copied and adapted for different customers and machines. Once a control function is developed, it can be replicated across multiple machines and customers, significantly reducing commissioning time while maintaining control precision through proven templates.
3Loss of information
If machines communicate only with immediate predecessor or successor, then communication is simple, but information about other machines in the line is unavailable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges communication from all machines into a centralized control system that collects and processes information from the entire production line. The central controller receives status signals from all machines simultaneously, providing comprehensive visibility into the operating state of the complete system rather than just local machine interactions.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a filling system comprising a plurality of machines, each of which is configured to perform operating functions based on a respective command set, and a central control device configured to control the operating functions of the plurality of machines. Furthermore, the filling system comprises a graphical interface device configured to communicate with the central control device and provide a user with graphically supported programming of the central control device.