Rotary Container Transfer Tracking for Faster Error Diagnosis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current container handling systems face difficulties in identifying the cause of errors during transport, relying on time-consuming visual inspections by operators to diagnose issues, which hampers efficient troubleshooting.
Innovation Solution
A container handling system equipped with a control device and memory device that assigns and stores unique identifiers for transport elements, allowing for immediate identification of involved elements in case of errors, facilitating efficient error diagnosis by tracking the transport path and recording error statistics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If visual inspection by operators is used to diagnose errors, then error detection is possible, but troubleshooting time is excessive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual visual inspection with an automated control device that uses sensors and data processing to detect and diagnose errors. The control device automatically identifies transport elements, tracks container positions, and retrieves stored identifier data to determine error causes, eliminating the need for operators to visually inspect the system and significantly reducing troubleshooting time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring transport processes, storing identifier data of transport elements in memory, and automatically retrieving this data when errors occur. This feedback loop enables the control device to quickly identify which transport elements are involved in errors and communicate this information back to operators or trigger automatic corrective actions.
2Device complexity
If transport elements are not identified, then system operation is simpler, but error cause identification is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies preliminary action by assigning unique identifiers to transport elements and storing their position data in memory before errors occur. This pre-established data structure enables rapid error diagnosis without adding operational complexity, as the identifier retrieval process is automated and does not require additional manual steps during normal operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary layer in the form of a control device that manages identifier data storage and retrieval. This intermediary automatically handles the complexity of tracking transport elements, keeping the user interface simple while enabling comprehensive error detection through automated data correlation between transport element identifiers and container transport records.
Data Source
AI summary
A container handling system includes first and second rotary machines each comprising transport elements for transporting containers along first and second conveying paths, where the second conveying path is downstream of the first conveying path, a memory device, and a control device configured to determine during transport of a container that first and second transport elements transport containers in the first and second rotary machines and to store identifiers assigned to the first and second transport elements in the memory device, to ascertain whether an error is occurring during transport of the container through the container handling system, and to retrieve a stored identifier from the memory device if it is ascertained that the error has occurred.