Method and device for visualizing or evaluating a process state

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11241811-B2
Application number	US-202017009170-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 1, 2020
Priority date	Mar 2, 2018
Publication date	Feb 8, 2022
Grant date	Feb 8, 2022

Abstract

A method for evaluating and/or visualizing a process state of a production system, which contains at least one cyclically operating shaping machine, includes: continuously or at discrete times, determining the value of a plurality of selected process variables, and comparing the current value of each selected process variable and or a variable derived therefrom with one or more reference values by means a computing unit, and determining a deviation or a rate of change. Each selected process variable is assigned to at least one logical group by the computing unit; at least two different logical groups are provided; and for each logical group, a state of the logical group is evaluated by the computing unit based on the process variables assigned to the logical group and/or is visualized by a display device.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of evaluating and visualizing a process state of a production installation which contains at least one cyclically operating shaping machine, wherein continuously or in time-discrete relationship the value of a plurality of selected process variables is ascertained and the respective current value of each selected process variable or a variable derived therefrom is compared to one or more reference values by means of a computing unit and a deviation or a rate of change is determined, wherein
each selected process variable is associated with at least one logical group by the computing unit, wherein there are provided at least two different logical groups, and
logical groups are arranged in at least two hierarchy levels in such a way that at least one logical group of a lower hierarchy level is associated with another logical group of a higher hierarchy level, and
for each logical group a state of the logical group is evaluated by the computing unit on the basis of the process variables associated with said logical group and is visualized by means of a display device.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein an actual value, a target value, a key figure, a measurement value configuration, a variable calculated from a plurality of preceding values or an operating state is used as at least one selected process variable.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein in determining the deviation or the change the computing unit takes account of whether there was a change caused by an operator, a process controller, a process optimisation system or by external influences.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein at least one reference value is selected from the following list:
one or more time-preceding value or values of the selected process variable, for example a value which directly preceded in respect of time of the selected process variable or a drift or scatter,
a value of the selected process variable, stored by the operator at a given time,
a value calculated from a number of process variables,
a target value for the selected process variable,
an ideal value, determined by an expert system, for the selected process variable, and
a variable calculated from the current value of the selected process variable and/or one or more preceding values in respect of time of a process variable.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein time-discrete ascertainment of the values of the plurality of selected process variables and/or determination of the deviation or rate of change is effected in one of the following ways:
for a succession of production processes,
upon the occurrence of a predefined event, and
at predetermined time intervals.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the logical groups are formed in accordance with at least one of the criteria in the following list:
installation region or components of the production installation,
procedural step or state of a production process,
properties of a moulding material being processed by the shaping machine,
properties of a shaped part produced by the shaping machine,
possible disturbances or errors in the production process,
the existence of a desired state,
productivity and economic efficiency, and
environmental conditions.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein:
in a first hierarchy level, the logical groups are selected in relation to process steps in the production cycle,
in a second hierarchy level lower that the first hierarchy level, the logical groups are selected in accordance with function units of the production installation, and
in a third hierarchy level lower than the second hierarchy level, the logical groups are selected in accordance with physical parameters.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the logical groups of a hierarchy level are selected so that a screen page which can be visualized by means of the display device is associated with each logical group.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein at least two observation levels are used, wherein one observation level represents a status of the process state of the production process and/or the production installation.

10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein determination and/or display of the deviation or rate of change is effected along observation levels in such a way that determination and/or display of the deviation or rate of change of a next level is effected only when a previous observation level was found to be in order.

11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein instructions are given to an operator for process optimisation or troubleshooting.

12. The method according to claim 1 , wherein process optimisation or troubleshooting is carried out automatically by target values of the production process or the production installation being automatically altered and/or production being interrupted and/or spare part orders being triggered and/or customer services being notified.

13. The method according to claim 1 , wherein evaluation and/or visualization of process alterations of a last cycle of the production process is effected in relation to one or more preceding cycles of the production process and/or in relation to a set of process variables stored at a user-defined time.

14. The method according to claim 1 , wherein in addition to the visualization of process alterations a change in target value effected or an installation stoppage due to a change in operating mode is visualized.

15. The method according to claim 1 , wherein only those logical groups or parameters are displayed, which have experienced an alteration in an observation period which is or can be set.

16. A non-transitory computer readable recording medium having stored thereon a computer program product comprising commands which in execution of the program by a computing unit cause it to carry out the method according to claim 1 .

Assignees

• Engel Austria Gmbh

Inventors

• Giessauf Josef

Classifications

• B29C2045/7606

  Controlling or regulating the display unit · CPC title

• G05B13/00

  Adaptive control systems, i.e. systems automatically adjusting themselves to have a performance which is optimum according to some preassigned criterion (G05B19/00 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B29C45/76 Primary

  Measuring, controlling or regulating {(measuring in general G01; controlling or regulating in general G05)} · CPC title

• B29C45/768

  Detecting defective moulding conditions (B29C45/84 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B29C45/762 Primary

  the sequence of operations of an injection cycle · CPC title