Data processing: measuring – calibrating – or testing – Measurement system – Performance or efficiency evaluation
Reexamination Certificate
2001-12-19
2004-10-12
Hoff, Marc S. (Department: 2857)
Data processing: measuring, calibrating, or testing
Measurement system
Performance or efficiency evaluation
C700S110000, C382S141000, C348S089000, C348S092000, C348S125000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06804629
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a production management system and a system for checking operating conditions of product processing apparatuses.
BACKGROUND TECHNOLOGY
Production lines where such products as mass-produced snacks are divided into a set quantity, either weight or number of pieces, and then put into individual bags, conventionally include various types of product processing apparatuses, such as a combination weigher, bagger, weight checker, seal checker and automatic box-packing apparatus. The processing flow in such a production line is as follows. First, the combination weigher is fed the product, which it divides into set quantities. The bagger then puts these divided quantities into individual bags, making them marketable packages. These marketable packages are then inspected by an inspection line, consisting of such apparatuses as a metal detector, weight checker, and seal checker, and any substandard products are rejected. At the end, satisfactory products are packed into boxes by the box packager.
FIG. 9
shows a conceptual diagram of an operating conditions control system for a production line that includes a conventional weighing machine. The control system shown in
FIG. 9
includes product processing apparatuses
101
, a host terminal
102
for monitoring such apparatuses, and a dedicated line
103
, such as an RS 485 or an ARCNET. The product processing apparatuses
101
are interconnected with remote control units
104
for operating the apparatuses. These RCUs
104
have a communications board, and these communication boards and the communications board in the host terminal are interconnected by the dedicated line
103
.
Production lines that include weighing machines need to be able to produce a diverse array of products, meaning that apparatuses have to be adjusted so as to be in the optimal state for each different product. Specifically, adjustments are required depending upon such factors as product size, nature of the product (fragility, stickiness, transport state) and ability to process production requests. When production processing has to be performed at a particularly high capacity, the apparatuses must be adjusted precisely, or else the production demands will not be met. In addition, along with the adjustments for the apparatuses, balance among the various apparatuses is important for a production line; in order for a production line to operate properly, adjustments have to be made that take into account the line as a whole. In this case, adjustments will be made at the site, while actual production of the products is ongoing, meaning that both the product production conditions and the operations of the individual apparatuses need to be watched simultaneously.
Furthermore, the more strictly apparatus adjustment is made, the more frequently do snags arise in the processing that an apparatus performs, meaning that the state of the production line requires constant monitoring.
Thus in production lines that include weighing apparatuses, the operating conditions of the product processing apparatuses
101
are monitored by a variety of sensors. Image information is particularly helpful to an operator in determining operating conditions.
However, in order to provide image information of operating conditions, a constitution is employed where, as shown in the figure, each product processing apparatus
101
is provided with image-taking means
105
(such as a CCD camera); display means
106
(such as a liquid crystal panel) is connected thereto via a dedicated line
107
. Because dedicated lines are used for image display, the cost of such a constitution is high, and there are problems such as the need for space for these devices.
Moreover, in a system as shown in
FIG. 9
, while an operator can accurately confirm operating conditions for a processing device and make appropriate adjustments, the operating condition image information is not managed in such a way so that it can be put to use at a later time. Thus when abnormal conditions occur at a product processing apparatus, normally a warning is given to the operator, but the operator is able only to see operating conditions after a certain amount of time has elapsed since occurrence of the abnormality, and is not able to see operating conditions before and after the occurrence. Thus it is difficult to determine the cause of the abnormality.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive production management system that has a production line that includes a combination weigher and bagger and is capable of image-information based monitoring, and to allow for image information to be used effectively in checking the operating conditions of product processing apparatuses.
The production management system of the first aspect of the present invention includes a production line, a plurality of image-taking means, and a network. The production line includes such product processing apparatuses as a combination weigher and bagger. In other words, this production line has at least a combination weigher and bagger, and if necessary can have other product processing apparatuses. The network ties together the product processing apparatuses. The plurality of image-taking means are set up at the various product processing apparatuses and are used for taking images of operating conditions. The network distributes the image information from the plurality of image-taking means. It should be noted that image information includes both moving images and still images.
In this system, image information is distributed along with other operating conditions over the network, and is used at each apparatus. Because the distribution of this image information uses ordinary communications means, the system is inexpensive.
The production management system of the second aspect of the present invention is the production management system of the first aspect, wherein Ethernet or a wireless LAN is used as the network.
Using Ethernet allows for greater flexibility, through the use of Internet and intranet technology; using a wireless LAN results in fewer restrictions in terms of location.
The production management system of the third aspect of the present invention is the production management system of either of the first or second aspect, also including control means for controlling the apparatuses based on image information distributed by the network.
This system achieves more precise control of the product processing apparatuses through the use of image information.
The production management system of the fourth aspect is the production management system of any of the first through aspects, also including warning means for comparing image information with reference information and issuing a warning when necessary.
Because this system uses image information in the detection of abnormalities in apparatuses, it can more accurately detect abnormalities.
The production management system of the fifth aspect is the production management system of any of the first through fourth aspects, also including storage means for storing image information.
This system makes effective use of image information.
The product processing apparatus operating conditions check system of the sixth aspect of the present invention includes image-taking means for taking images of operating conditions and storage means for storing image information obtained by image-taking means. Here, “product processing apparatus” means any type of apparatus that is capable of performing at least one of the functions of measuring, packaging, inspecting a product or packing it into boxes. Image information refers to both moving and still images.
Because with this system, images of operating conditions of product processing apparatuses are stored, a user can use stored image information to check operating conditions of product processing apparatuses.
The product processing apparatus operating conditions check system of the seventh aspect of the present invention is the product processing apparatus operating c
Hashiguchi Nobuki
Kono Katsuaki
Hoff Marc S.
Ishida Co. Ltd.
Kim Paul L
Shinjyu Global IP Counselors, IP
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