Assembly line control system and method
AssigneeAnheuser-Busch, Incorporated
InventorsJoseph Beringer, Russel Mathis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An assembly line system comprising including a programable controller, a priority component, a first section upstream of the priority component that includes upstream backup detecting sensors, and a second section downstream of the priority component that includes downstream backup detecting sensors. In operation, the programable controller identifies whether there is a backup in the first and/or second section from a current status of each of the upstream and downstream backup detecting sensors and alters an operating speed of the priority component responsive thereto so as to avoid micro stops of the priority component.
Claims8
An assembly line system comprising:
- a programable controller;
- a priority component comprising a filler configured to fill empty containers with one or more of a liquid and a dispensable product, thus producing filled containers;
- a first section upstream of the priority component configured to deliver the empty containers to the priority component and including at least one upstream backup detecting sensor;
- and
- a second section downstream of the priority component configured to receive and transport filled containers away from the priority component and including at least one downstream backup detecting sensor,
- wherein the programable controller is configured to:
- determine whether there is an upstream backup along the first section based on signals from the upstream backup detecting sensor, the upstream backup indicating too few empty containers being delivered to the priority component;
- determine whether there is a downstream backup along the second section based on signals from the downstream backup detecting sensor, the downstream backup indicating a lack of space for filled containers along the second section;
- determine a number of speed changes instances that an operating speed of the priority component has already been adjusted within a predetermined preceding time period;
- determine a speed change elapsed time that the operating speed of the priority component has already been adjusted within the predetermined preceding time period;
- and
- adjust the operating speed of the priority component if
- one or more of the upstream backup and the downstream backup is present,
- the number of speed change instances within the predetermined preceding time period is less than a speed change instance threshold, and
- the speed change elapsed time within the predetermined preceding time period is less than a speed change elapsed time threshold.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.