CN116430803A - Systems for connecting machines to production lines - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a system for connecting a machine to a production line, wherein the system (4) has a machine (2) and a separate control and/or configuration unit designed to control and/or configure the machine (2) (5), wherein the control and/or configuration unit (5) is configured to communicate with the machine (2) via a first network (6), and wherein the control and/or configuration unit (5) is configured to into the control unit of the production line.

Description

Systems for connecting machines to production lines

technical field

The invention relates to a system for connecting machines to a production line, with which the automatic configuration and control of the corresponding machines is effected via a control unit of the production line, and to a production line having at least one such system.

A production line is a production system in which several processing stations, in particular machines or machine modules, are connected by a material flow system, in which buffer sections can also be integrated in order to compensate for clock differences, setup times or short-term disturbances on the individual components.

In order to control the individual processing stations or machines, the production line here also has a customary control unit for controlling the production line, into which a corresponding control program or corresponding control software is integrated or implemented.

Here, the individual machines must be coupled or connected to one another in such a way that the individual machines work as a production line after coupling. However, it has been found to be disadvantageous here that the individual machines generally have to be connected individually to the control unit, wherein the individual machines also have to be adapted and configured partially manually to the corresponding manufacturing process. The connection of the machine is then manufacturer-specific, since eg different manufacturers of machines use different interfaces for the connection. This also makes it difficult to change manufacturers, ie to replace a machine with a comparable machine from another manufacturer. Therefore, a need exists for an improved method of connecting at least one machine to a production line.

Background technique

From document DE 10 2008 061 721 A1 a management system is known which has a separate first central server and at least one separate first automation component and a first communication network, wherein the first central server is connected to the first automation component by means of the communication network in this way , making it possible to establish communication between the central server and the automation components. In this case, a separate first intermediate server is also provided, wherein the first intermediate server is connected to the first automation component by means of a second communication network in such a way that communication between the first intermediate server and the first automation component is possible, wherein the second A central server is connected to the first intermediate server by means of the first communication network in such a way that communication between the first central server and the intermediate server is possible.

Contents of the invention

Therefore, based on the object of the present invention, an improved system for connecting a machine to a production line is described.

This object is solved with a system for connecting a machine to a production line according to the features of patent claim 1 .

Advantageous embodiments and refinements emerge from the subclaims and the description with reference to the drawing.

According to one embodiment of the invention, this object is solved by a system for connecting a machine to a production line, wherein the system has a machine and a separate control and/or configuration unit configured for controlling and/or configuring the machine, wherein the control The and/or configuration unit is configured to communicate with the machine via the first network, and wherein the control and/or configuration unit is configured to be integrated into a control unit of the production line.

The term "machine" here generally includes individual machines and individual machine modules.

A system having a separate control and/or configuration unit here means that the control and/or configuration unit is a unit that is physically separate from the machine. In this case, for example, the control and/or configuration unit can be realized by code stored on a data carrier or memory and executable by a processor, wherein the code can be loaded for connection to a control unit of the production line.

The control and/or configuration unit is also designed to communicate with the machine via the first network. It also means that the control and/or configuration unit is designed and in particular has a corresponding manufacturer-specific interface, so that the control and/or configuration unit can implement Communication, especially data communication, with machines.

The connection of the corresponding machine to the production line is considerably simplified by such a control and/or configuration unit, wherein the proportion of human activities required for this can be significantly reduced, since the machine can be integrated in a simple manner by means of the control and/or configuration unit To the control unit of the production line to connect. This in turn leads to shorter adjustment and commissioning times for the corresponding lines. The connection of machines from different manufacturers and the replacement of a machine by a comparable machine from another manufacturer is also significantly simplified, since only the corresponding control and/or configuration units always have to be integrated, regardless of the respective manufacturer Or accommodated in the control unit of the production line.

Thus overall an improved system for connecting a machine to a production line is presented.

The first network can here be an IP network.

An IP network is a network based on the IP protocol, in which each unit in the IP network is assigned a unique IP address.

Assigning a unique IP address to each unit in the network here has the advantage that the communication between the individual units, for example between the control and/or configuration unit and the machine, can be controlled in a simple manner and Follow up at a later point in time.

The fact that the first network is an IP network is only one possible embodiment here. Therefore, the first network may also be any other suitable type of communication network.

A production line is also described with a further embodiment of the invention, wherein the production line has at least one of the aforementioned systems for connecting machines to the production line and a control unit for controlling the production line, the control and/or configuration of the at least one system The unit is integrated into the control unit.

The advantage of this line is that it has at least one improved system for connecting the machine to the line. At least an improved connection system. At least one improved system for connecting a machine to a production line has a control and/or configuration unit, by which the connection of the corresponding machine to the production line is considerably simplified, wherein the manual activities required for this The ratio can be significantly reduced, since the machines can be connected in a simple manner by integrating the control and/or configuration unit into the control unit of the production line. This in turn leads to shorter adjustment and commissioning times for line 1. The connection of machines from different manufacturers and the replacement of a machine by a comparable machine from another manufacturer is also significantly simplified, since only the corresponding control and/or configuration units always have to be integrated, regardless of the respective manufacturer Or accommodated in the control unit of the production line.

In this case, the control unit can also have a control program, wherein the control and/or configuration unit of at least one system is designed to communicate with the control program via a standard interface.

Interfaces generally represent logical transition points within a system where command and data exchange between different processes and components is possible and controlled through the interface.

A standard interface here means a uniform interface that is the same or common to all manufacturers of the machine.

The machine-to-line connection is further simplified by this uniform or standard interface. Furthermore, this same standard interface for all manufacturers enables faster data evaluation and overall process optimization and thus more efficient production, wherein the standard interface can also be used as a uniform interface for product delivery and product tracking .

For example, the standard interface may be a virtual interface within the control unit.

Communication based on the virtual interface has the advantage that data can be transferred between different software components within the control unit with the aid of the virtual interface.

Furthermore, the control unit can also have a programming unit which is designed to program the control and/or configuration unit of at least one system.

Orchestration here refers to the automated configuration, management, and coordination of computer systems, applications, and services.

A corresponding automatic configuration of the control and/or configuration unit has the advantage here that further manual activities required for this are dispensed with, thereby further simplifying the connection of the machine to the production line. Furthermore, an easier adaptation to the production process carried out by the production line can be achieved, and the configuration of the same machine can be significantly simplified.

In addition, the control unit can also have a command unit, which is designed to issue commands to the machines of at least one system via the control and/or configuration unit of the corresponding system, and/or has a data unit, which is designed to be controlled by the corresponding system. And/or the configuration unit collects data about the operation of at least one machine of the system.

A command unit here means a unit configured to issue commands or commands or instructions for controlling or regulating a machine.

Furthermore, a data unit refers to a unit which is configured to collect, if necessary, data detected during past production cycles and/or to evaluate, for example, data concerning processing capabilities or errors.

In particular, the control unit can be designed in such a way that a common unit for issuing commands to the machines of the production line and/or for reading out or evaluating collected data is provided, whereby the structure of the control unit can be simplified. Thus, for example, the functions of the individual machines of the production line can be made available to the control unit via a command unit, or commands for controlling or regulating all of the functions can be issued via a common command unit.

The control unit can also also have a lifecycle management unit which is designed to update the control and/or configuration unit of at least one system when an update condition exists.

Product lifecycle management is a management approach and includes the overall management of all data and information that is handled and distributed when developing new products or updating existing ones.

The update condition also includes the condition of providing new configuration parameters or a new version of the corresponding software.

Such a lifecycle management unit thus has the advantage that the control and/or configuration unit can be updated in a simple manner, in particular automatically, when required, without complex and costly work on the corresponding machine being required. Change or completely replace the corresponding machine.

Furthermore, the control unit can also have an interface for parameterizing and configuring the control unit itself, so that the control unit itself can also be configured and/or updated in a simple manner, in particular automatically.

In conclusion, it was established that with the present invention an improved system for connecting a machine to a production line is described, and in particular a system with which automatic configuration and control of the machine via the control unit of the production line is possible.

The described configurations and developments can be combined with one another as desired.

Further possible configurations, developments and implementations of the invention also include combinations of features of the invention described above or below with respect to the exemplary embodiments that are not explicitly mentioned.

The accompanying drawings are intended to provide a further understanding of embodiments of the invention. It illustrates embodiments and is used together with the description to explain the principles and concepts of the invention.

Other embodiments and many of the advantages arise with respect to the accompanying drawings. Elements shown in the drawings are not necessarily shown to scale relative to each other.

Description of drawings

Fig. 1 shows a block diagram of a production line according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In the drawings, the same reference numerals denote identical or functionally identical elements, components or components, unless otherwise stated.

Detailed ways

Fig. 1 shows a block diagram of a production line 1 according to an embodiment of the invention.

In particular, FIG. 1 here shows a production line 1 with a plurality of machines 2 , three machines 2 being shown in FIG. 1 .

A production line is a production system in which several processing stations, in particular machines or machine modules, are connected by a material flow system, in which buffer sections can also be integrated in order to compensate for clock differences, setup times or short-term disturbances on the individual components.

In order to control the individual processing stations or machines, the production line here also has a customary control unit for controlling the production line, into which a corresponding control program or corresponding control software is integrated or implemented.

Here, the individual machines must be coupled or connected to one another in such a way that the individual machines work as a production line after coupling. However, it has been found to be disadvantageous here that the individual machines generally have to be connected individually to the control unit, wherein the individual machines also have to be partially manually connected and configured to the corresponding manufacturing process. The connection of the machine is then manufacturer-specific, since eg different manufacturers of machines use different interfaces for the connection. This also makes it difficult to change manufacturers, ie to replace a machine with a comparable machine from another manufacturer. Therefore, a need exists for an improved method of connecting at least one machine to a production line.

FIG. 1 here shows a production line 1 with a control unit 3 and at least one system for connecting the machine to the production line, wherein three systems are correspondingly shown in FIG. 1 , where in FIG. 1 each The systems are indicated by dashed lines each provided with a reference number 4 .

The control unit can be physically formed here. Furthermore, however, the control unit can also be virtualized, ie configured independently of specific hardware, for example as an edge/cloud control.

As further shown in FIG. 1 , the individual systems 4 here each have a machine 2 and a separate control and/or configuration unit 5 , which is designed to control and/or configure the corresponding machine 2 , wherein the control and/or configuration unit 5 are respectively configured to communicate with the corresponding machine 2 via the first network, and wherein the control and/or configuration unit 5 is respectively configured to be integrated into the control unit 3 of the production line. The first network in FIG. 1 is here indicated by the arrow provided with the reference numeral 6 .

The connection of the corresponding machine 2 to the production line 1 is considerably simplified by such a control and/or configuration unit 5 , wherein the proportion of manual activities required for this can be significantly reduced, since the machine 2 can be easily connected via the The control and/or configuration unit 5 is integrated into the control unit 3 of the production line 1 for connection. This in turn leads to shorter adjustment and commissioning times for line 1. The connection of machines from different manufacturers and the replacement of a machine by a comparable machine from another manufacturer is also significantly simplified, since only the corresponding control and/or configuration unit 5 always has to be Integrated or housed in the control unit 3 of the production line 1 .

According to the embodiment of FIG. 1 , the control and/or configuration unit 5 is in each case an application designed to control and/or configure the respective machine. For example, the applications can here be delivered in each case with the delivery of the respective machine, or can be ordered, for example, from the respective machine manufacturer. In addition, the individual applications can also be generated automatically here in each case by means of a customary machine controller integrated into the respective machine.

After corresponding uploading, the individual applications here run on the control unit 3, wherein, according to the embodiment of FIG. Or a password or an instruction to expand the control unit 3 . The connection of the individual applications or control and/or configuration units 5 to the application programming interface 7 is indicated here in FIG. 1 by arrows provided with the reference numeral 8 .

According to the embodiment of FIG. 1 , the first network 6 is here also an IP network.

As further shown in FIG. 1 , the control unit 3 also has a control program 9 , wherein the individual control and/or configuration units 5 are each designed to communicate with the control program via a standard interface 10 .

According to the embodiment of FIG. 1 , the standard interface 10 is here a virtual interface within the control unit 3 .

The syntax and semantics of the communication via standard interfaces can be proprietary or can also be oriented towards the Open Platform Communications United Architecture (OPC UA) standard, for example.

As FIG. 1 also shows, the control unit 3 also has a programming unit 11 which is designed to program the control and/or configuration unit 5 respectively.

It is also possible to identify a command unit 12 integrated into the control unit 3, which is configured to issue commands for the respective machine to the respective control and/or configuration unit 5, wherein the commands are then transferred from the respective control unit 5 via the respective first network 6. and/or configuration unit 5 to the corresponding machine 2, and also identify a data unit 13 integrated into the control unit 3, which is configured to respectively collect and/or evaluate data about the operation of the respective machine 2, wherein the data can be respectively It is read out again from the respective machine 2 via the corresponding first network 6 .

The illustrated control unit 3 also has a lifecycle management unit 14 which is designed to update the individual control and/or configuration units 5 when an update condition exists. An update condition exists here, for example, if the functionality of the respective machine 2 has changed and/or a security breach has been detected and/or a generally new version of the respective software is available.

According to the embodiment of FIG. 1 , the orchestration unit 11 , the command unit 12 , the data unit 13 and the lifecycle management unit 14 are also integrated here in each case into the application programming interface 7 .

In addition, the arrangement unit, the command unit, the data unit and the lifecycle management unit can be implemented here, for example, based on codes stored in the memory and executable by the processor.

As FIG. 1 also shows, the illustrated control unit 3 also has an interface for parameterizing and configuring the control unit 15 .

According to the embodiment of FIG. 1 , the interface for parameterizing and configuring the control unit 15 may be a network interface.

Overall, therefore, FIG. 1 shows a production line 1 , which is constructed in such a way that the entire process for connecting and configuring the individual machines 2 of the production line 1 is fully integrated in a superordinate control unit 3 .

Furthermore, for example a single control and/or configuration unit or application can also be used to provide a uniform interface for creating a digital twin of a production line.

Claims (9)

1. System for connecting a machine to a production line, wherein the system (4) has a machine (2) and a separate control and/or configuration unit (5) configured for controlling and/or configuring the machine (2), wherein the control and/or configuration unit (5) is configured to communicate with the machine (2) via a first network (6), and wherein the control and/or configuration unit (5) is configured to be integrated into a control unit of a production line.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first network (6) is an IP network.

3. Production line, wherein the production line (1) has at least one system (4) according to claim 1 or 2 and a control unit (3) for controlling the production line, in which control unit a control and/or configuration unit (5) of the at least one system (4) is integrated.

4. A production line according to claim 3, wherein the control unit (3) has a control program (9), and wherein the control and/or configuration unit (5) of the at least one system (4) is configured to communicate with the control program via a standard interface (10).

5. The production line according to claim 4, wherein the standard interface (10) is a virtual interface within the control unit (3).

6. The production line according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the control unit (3) further has an orchestration unit (11) configured to orchestrate the control and/or configuration unit (5) of at least one system (4).

7. A production line according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the control unit further has a command unit (12) configured to issue commands to the machine (2) of at least one system (4) by means of the control and/or configuration unit (5) of the respective system (4), and/or a data unit (13) configured to collect data about the operation of the machine (2) of at least one system (4) by means of the control and/or configuration unit (5) of the respective system (4).

8. The production line according to any one of claims 3 to 7, wherein the control unit (3) further has a lifecycle management unit (14) configured to update the control and/or configuration unit (5) of the at least one system (4) when an update condition exists.

9. A production line according to any of claims 3 to 8, wherein the control unit (3) further has an interface (15) for parameterizing and configuring the control unit (3).

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