Production line management system, production line management method, can management system, can, manufacturing method for can

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12545450-B2
Application number	US-202218050579-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 28, 2022
Priority date	Apr 30, 2020
Publication date	Feb 10, 2026
Grant date	Feb 10, 2026

Abstract

Provided is a production line management system for managing a manufacturing line for containers. The production line management system includes a first reading unit for reading an identification code applied to each of the containers when the container with the identification code indicating an identifier being information identifying the container passes through a first point on the manufacturing line, a second reading unit for reading the identification code applied to each of the containers after the first reading unit reads the identification code, and a computing unit for generating a database in which the identifier indicated by the identification code and relevant information about each of the containers are associated, and determining normality/abnormality of each of the containers by comparing the relevant information associated in the database with the identifier indicated by the identification code read in the second reading unit with predetermined setting information.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A production line management system for managing a manufacturing line for containers and/or a filling line for containers, the production line management system comprising:
a first reading unit configured to read an identification code applied to each of the containers when each of the containers with the identification code indicating an identifier being information identifying each of the containers passes through a first point on the manufacturing line and/or the filling line; a second reading unit configured to read the identification code applied to each of the containers after the first reading unit reads the identification code; and a computing unit configured to generate a database in which the identifier indicated by the identification code and relevant information on each of the containers are associated, determine normality/abnormality of each of the containers by comparing the relevant information associated in the database with the identifier indicated by the identification code read by the second reading unit with setting information that is predetermined, the relevant information includes information for identifying a time of day when the first reading unit reads the identification code, and the setting information includes information regarding the time of day that sets a time period during which the containers should be manufactured and/or filled.

2 . The production line management system according to claim 1 , wherein
the production line management system is the production line management system for managing a manufacturing line for containers, and the production line management system further comprises a code applying unit configured to apply the identification code to each of the containers.

3 . The production line management system according to claim 1 , wherein
the second reading unit reads the identification code applied to each of the containers when each of the containers with the identification code passes through a second point downstream from the first point on the manufacturing line and/or the filling line.

4 . The production line management system according to claim 1 , wherein
the set time has a predetermined time range, and the computing unit determines that the container is abnormal when the first reading time is within the predetermined time range.

5 . The production line management system according to claim 1 , wherein
each of the containers is a can having a bottom portion, the bottom portion includes a main bottom portion being dome-shaped or flat and constituting a main portion of the bottom portion, an annular portion formed in a portion of the bottom portion other than the main bottom portion, having an annular shape when viewed from a direction of a can axis, and having at least one of a convex shape and a concave shape in a cross-section perpendicular to the direction of the can axis, and an individual identification code applied to a side portion of the annular portion and corresponding to an individual identifier being information for identifying an individual can.

6 . A production line management method for managing a manufacturing line for containers and/or a filling line for containers, the production line management method comprising:
(a) reading an identification code applied to each of the containers when each of the containers with the identification code indicating an identifier being information identifying each of the containers passes through a first point on the manufacturing line and/or the filling line; (b) generating a database in which the identifier indicated by the identification code and relevant information about each of the containers are associated; (c) reading the identification code applied to each of the containers after the identification code is read in step (a); and (d) determining normality/abnormality of each of the containers by comparing the relevant information associated in the database with the identifier indicated by the identification code read in step (c) with setting information that is predetermined, wherein the relevant information includes information for identifying a time of day when a first reading unit reads the identification code, and the setting information includes information regarding the time of day that sets a time period during which the containers should be manufactured and/or filled.

7 . The production line management method according to claim 6 , wherein
the production line management method is the production line management method for managing a manufacturing line for containers, and the production line management method further comprises applying the identification code to each of the containers.

8 . The production line management method according to claim 6 , wherein
step (c) is reading the identification code applied to each of the containers when each of the containers with the identification code passes through a second point downstream from the first point on the manufacturing line and/or the filling line.

9 . The production line management method according to claim 6 , wherein
the set time has a predetermined time range, and in step (d), each of the containers is determined to be abnormal when the first reading time is within the predetermined time range.

Assignees

• Toyo Seikan Co Ltd

Inventors

• Tochigi Takayuki
• Nakayama Kazuhiko
• Miura Shinobu

Classifications

• G05B19/41875

  characterised by quality surveillance of production · CPC title

• B65C3/08

  to container bodies {(B65C3/065 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B65B57/02

  responsive to absence, presence, abnormal feed, or misplacement of binding or wrapping material, containers, or packages · CPC title

• G06Q10/0639

  Performance analysis of employees; Performance analysis of enterprise or organisation operations · CPC title

• G06Q10/08

  Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management · CPC title