Production module for a production plant
AssigneeFesto AG & Co.
InventorsThomas Ruschival, Andreas Häckh
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A production module for a production plant has a first data interface, an electronic response device, and a second data interface. The first data interface receives a list of tasks for producing an article or substance from a production module positioned downstream in the production direction. The electronic response device responds to tasks from the list of tasks which can be carried out by the production module. The second data interface sends the list of tasks to a production module positioned upstream in the production direction.
Claims15
A modular production plant, comprising:
- a production output module arranged at a position furthest downstream in a production direction and including an interface to initially input a list of tasks to be carried out to manufacture a product, the task list being transmitted as an electronic file in an XML format;
- at least one production module including:
- a first data interface configured to receive the list of tasks only from a downstream production module positioned downstream adjacent to the production module in the production direction;
- an electronic response device configured to respond to at least one task from the list of tasks which can be carried out by the production module by updating the list of tasks;
- and
- a production component configured to carry out the at least one task based on the updated list of tasks by at least one of:
- supplying at least one starting material,
- pumping the at least one starting material,
- mixing the at least one pumping material, and
- opening a valve to output the product;
- and
- a second data interface configured to send the list of tasks updated by the electronic response device to an upstream production module positioned upstream adjacent to the production module in the production direction.
A method for operating a production plant, the method comprising:
- initially inputting into an interface at a production output module arranged at a position furthest downstream in a production direction a list of tasks to be carried out to manufacture a product, the task list being transmitted as an electronic file in an XML format;
- receiving, by a first data interface of a production module, only from a downstream production module positioned downstream adjacent to the production module in a production direction, the list of tasks;
- responding, by an electronic response device, to at least one task from the list of tasks which can be carried out by the production module by updating the list of tasks,
- carrying out, by a production component, the at least one task based on the updated list of tasks by at least one of:
- supplying at least one starting material,
- pumping the at least one starting material,
- mixing the at least one pumping material, and
- opening a valve to output the product;
- and
- sending the list of tasks updated by the electronic response device to an upstream production module positioned upstream adjacent to the production module in the production direction via a second data interface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.