Control system for a functional section of a paper processing device

Technical field

0001The present invention relates to a control system for a functional section of a paper processing device.

Background of the invention

0002Modern manufacturing processes in the paper processing industry, especially multi-stage production lines in the paper processing industry, are often remotely monitored and controlled from remote locations. It is therefore necessary to precisely coordinate maintenance phases with, for example, maintenance personnel to prevent, for example, the production line from being started while maintenance personnel are still in safety-relevant areas. Particularly in highly complex processes and when several maintenance teams are deployed, miscommunication can often occur, so that the production line is stopped for no reason or is put into operation even though operation has not yet been released again for safety reasons.

0003The<patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="EP1662349A1"><text>EP 1 662 349 A1</text></patcit> Describes a device for safeguarding hazardous areas of a machine. If a person or dangerous object is detected in the operating area, either the entire machine is shut down, or parts of the machine are shut down, or certain parts of the machine are put into a safe state in which a person or unauthorized object cannot come into contact with the hazardous parts of the machine.

0004The<patcit id="pcit0002" dnum="DE10207871A1"><text>DE 102 07 871 A1</text></patcit> describes a safety device for monitoring a non-visible danger area on a printing press.

0005The<patcit id="pcit0003" dnum="DE10338973A1"><text>DE 103 38 973 A1</text></patcit> discloses a method and a device for detecting faults during the transport of a material web in a material web processing machine.

0006The<patcit id="pcit0004" dnum="DE102015003655A1"><text>DE 10 2015 003 655 A1</text></patcit> describes that a robot of a robot system can be controlled by a control device, whereby signals and data can be sent to the control device using a portable control panel. The control panel can be transformed between a valid and an invalid state. In the valid state, an operation using the control panel is declared valid; in an invalid state, an operation of the control panel is declared invalid.

0007The<patcit id="pcit0005" dnum="DE102006048166A1"><text>DE 10 2006 048 166 A1</text></patcit> discloses that a movement control of a machine is directly intervened in or a shutdown is caused when a person is in a danger zone.

0008The<patcit id="pcit0006" dnum="US20030050735A1"><text>US 2003/0050735 A1</text></patcit> discloses that a robot's movement area is monitored by a sensor of a safety device to determine whether a person is within the movement area. The safety device controls the drive power of the robot's motion control system. The safety device can temporarily suppress or deactivate the motion control system.

0009The<patcit id="pcit0007" dnum="US20140266678A1"><text>US 2014/0266678 A1</text></patcit> discloses that an audible alarm is triggered when a processor detects that a power supply has reached a lower predefined threshold. After the alarm is triggered, an interface device can be shut down.

0010<patcit id="pcit0008" dnum="EP1479964A2"><text>EP 1 479 964 A2</text></patcit> Describes a system for the safety remote control of a machine, whereby control signals for controlling the machine are transmitted from a mobile operating device to a base station, and the spatial position of the operating device is determined. Depending on the position of the operating device, a control signal is transmitted or suppressed.

0011The<patcit id="pcit0009" dnum="WO2008028738A1"><text>WO 2008/028738 A1</text></patcit> describes a printing press with at least one unit operated by a mobile operating unit, wherein the unit executes a control command transmitted by the operating unit only when the operating unit is located at a position within an operating range belonging to the unit.

0012From the<patcit id="pcit0010" dnum="EP2858939A1"><text>EP2858939 A1</text></patcit> Remote control of machines is known, using a control system with the use of various cameras.

0013From the<patcit id="pcit0011" dnum="DE19527832A1"><text>DE19527832 A1</text></patcit> A local release switch is known so that a machine cannot be operated as long as people are in a danger area.

Description of the invention

0014It is an object of the present invention to improve the work safety of a paper processing device.

0015This object is achieved with a control system for a functional section of a paper processing device according to independent claim 1 and a method according to claim 11.

0016According to a first aspect of the present invention, a control system for a functional section of a paper processing device is described, wherein the functional section defines a processing step of a paper processing device. The control system comprises at least one security camera arranged in the functional section such that a functional area of ​​the functional section that can be entered by a person can be recorded by the security camera. The system further comprises an operating unit installed spatially remote from the functional section and configured to operate the functional section via a remote control. The system also has a security device which is coupled to the security camera and the control unit. The security device receives the image data of the security camera recorded by the security camera, wherein the security device is configured such that the security device, depending on the received image data of the security camera, allows operation of the functional section by means of the operating unit or blocks operation of the functional section by means of the operating unit, such that remote control of the functional section is prevented if the security device detects a person in the functional section based on the image data. The control system further comprises a first group of security cameras arranged in the functional section such that the functional area of ​​the functional section can be recorded using the security cameras of the first group. Furthermore, the control system has a second group of security cameras which are arranged in a further functional section, such that a further functional area of ​​the further functional section can be recorded by means of the security cameras of the second group.

0017Furthermore, the security device is configured such that the security device permits or blocks operation of the functional section by means of the operating unit depending on the received first image data of the first group of security cameras and that the security device permits or blocks operation of the further functional section by means of the operating unit depending on the received second image data of the second group of security cameras.

0018The paper processing device is particularly designed to process paper, in particular cardboard layers or cartons. During the processing process of the paper processing device, for example, cardboard boxes can be produced in multiple layers, cut to size, and/or printed. The paper processing device particularly has several functional sections, each functional section defining a respective processing step. A functional section comprises, for example, a stacking device (for stacking flat cardboard elements or for picking up individual cardboard elements from a stack), a laminating device (for gluing several layers of paper or cardboard layers), a paper feeding device and/or a drying device.

0019The operating device is configured to operate and control the functional section and, accordingly, the paper processing device. The operating device can, for example, be installed on the paper processing device. The operating device can, for example, transmit control data to the paper processing device via wires or wirelessly, thereby sending control commands or receiving status data or control data from the paper processing device. The control unit is, for example, a computer that processes the relevant data using a microprocessor. Furthermore, the control unit has an input element, such as a keyboard.

0020The safety camera, or several safety cameras in a group, are assigned to a functional section. The safety camera captures specific safety-relevant areas within the functional section. For example, the safety-relevant areas can represent maintenance areas, maintenance installations, or other moving machine elements within the functional section that must be handled or maintained by an operator during maintenance or repair. The security cameras monitor the security-relevant areas of the functional section and record image data (single images or film sequences or live streams) and send the image data to the control unit and/or the display unit.

0021The system according to the invention uses image data recorded by security cameras (by a security device described below) to determine whether remote control of a functional section using a control unit is safe or not for security reasons. This increases safety for both users and the processing process.

0022The safety device analyzes and evaluates the recorded image data. Based on the recorded image data, the safety device locks or unlocks the control unit. If, for example, the safety device detects a person in the functional section based on the image data, the safety device locks the control unit. This means, for example, that activating the processing in the functional section from the control unit is not possible. Since the control unit is located far away from the functional section, remote control of the functional section is prevented. Alternatively, the security device can use the image data to determine whether the security cameras are functioning correctly. If the safety device detects that the safety cameras are not functioning correctly, the safety device also locks the control unit to prevent a hasty and unnecessary termination of the process in the functional section.

0023According to another exemplary embodiment, the safety device is configured to compare the recorded image data with target image data. Depending on whether the image data matches the target image data, the safety device allows or blocks operation of the functional section using the control unit.

0024According to a further exemplary embodiment, the control system has at least one process camera which is arranged in the functional section such that a work process in the functional section can be recorded by means of the process camera. The process camera is coupled to the control unit or the safety device in such a way that the work process can be terminated based on the recorded work process using the control unit (by the user) or the safety device. The process camera captures process-relevant images of the work process. For example, the process camera can record the position of a paper tape or the unwinding behavior of the paper tape from the roll. If the safety device determines, based on the recorded image data of the work process, that, for example, the track of a paper tape is not running correctly, the safety device can automatically terminate the work process.

0025While the process camera captures images of a work process, the security camera, in comparison, captures images of the workspace in the functional area that can be entered by a person. It is certainly possible for a process camera to function as a security camera, and vice versa.

0026According to another exemplary embodiment, the control system has a display unit. The operating unit can be used to select the image data from the at least one security camera, and the display unit is configured to display the selected image data. The display unit is, for example, a screen or a projector. A user can allow or block operation of the functional section based on the displayed image data.

0027According to another exemplary embodiment, the display unit and the operating unit are integrally formed as a touchscreen. For example, the touchscreen is a capacitive display.

0028According to another exemplary embodiment, the display unit is configured to display the functional section of the paper processing device, and the operating unit is configured to select the displayed functional section. Based on the selected functional section, the operating unit is configured to display the functional area of ​​the functional section recorded by the security camera on the display unit. Thus, the paper processing device and its corresponding functional sections can be displayed on the display unit (e.g., the touchscreen). A user can select the corresponding functional section by pressing a finger on the control unit (e.g., a display area of ​​the touchscreen). The images from the security camera and/or the process camera are then displayed on the display unit. Furthermore, the operating status of the work process from the functional section can be displayed on the display unit. Furthermore, the user can be shown whether the security camera is providing image data that allows operation of the control unit or not.

0029According to a further exemplary embodiment, the security device is configured to compare recorded first image data of the first group of security cameras with first target image data and second image data of the second group of security cameras with second target image data, Depending on the comparison result, the security device displays the first image data from the first group of security cameras and/or the second image data from the second group of security cameras on the display unit. In other words, the images from the first or second security cameras are not displayed upon explicit selection by a user, but rather automatically or independently by the security device. This allows the user to monitor the status of the system on the display unit and is automatically alerted to malfunctions by automatically displaying image data of the critical functional sections on the display unit.

0030According to another exemplary embodiment, the operating unit is configured such that the functional section and/or the further functional section can be selected by a user. The operating unit is configured to display the first group of security cameras or the second group of security cameras on the display unit depending on the selection of the functional section or the further functional section.

0031According to a further aspect, a method for operating a control system for a functional section of a paper processing device is described. A functional area of ​​a functional section is recorded using a security camera, wherein the control system has at least one security camera arranged in the functional section. The functional section is operated using an operating unit of the control system. The control unit allows the image data of at least one security camera to be selected. A display unit is configured to display the selected image data, allowing a user to permit or prohibit operation of the functional section based on the displayed image data.

0032According to another exemplary embodiment, a security device is coupled to the security camera and the control unit. The security device receives image data from the security camera. Operation of the functional section using the control unit is permitted or blocked by the security device depending on the image data received from the security camera.

0033According to a further embodiment of the method, the functional section of the paper processing device is displayed on the display unit. The displayed functional section is selected using the operating unit. Based on the selected functional section, the safety device displays the functional area of ​​the functional section recorded by the safety camera on the display unit.

0034According to another exemplary embodiment of the method, the functional area of ​​the functional section is displayed using security cameras of a first group. Another functional area of ​​a further functional section is displayed using security cameras of a second group.

0035According to a further exemplary embodiment of the method, the security device permits or blocks operation of the functional section by means of the operating unit depending on the received first image data from the first group of security cameras. Furthermore, the security device permits or blocks operation of the further functional section by means of the operating unit depending on the received second image data from the second group of security cameras.

0036According to a further exemplary embodiment of the method, first image data of the first group of security cameras recorded by the security device are compared with first target image data and second image data of the second group of security cameras are compared with second target image data, Depending on the comparison result, the security device displays the first image data from the first group of security cameras and/or the second image data from the second group of security cameras on the display unit. In other words, the images from the first or second security cameras are not displayed upon explicit selection by a user, but rather automatically or independently by the security device. This allows the user to monitor the status of the system on the display unit and is automatically alerted to malfunctions by automatically displaying image data of the critical functional sections on the display unit.

Short description of the drawings

0037For further explanation and better understanding of the present invention, exemplary embodiments are described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:<ul id="ul0001" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li><figref idref="f0001">Fig. 1</figref> a schematic representation of a paper processing device with a control system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and</li><li><figref idref="f0002">Fig. 2</figref> a schematic representation of an operating unit and a display unit according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.</li></ul>

Detailed description of exemplary embodiments

0038Identical or similar components in different figures are provided with the same reference numerals. The representations in the figures are schematic.

0039<figref idref="f0001"><b>Fig. 1</b></figref> shows a control system 100 for a functional section I, II, III of a paper processing device 140. The control system 100 has at least one security camera 110, 120, 130, which is arranged in the functional section I, II, III, such that a functional area of ​​the functional section I, II, III can be recorded by means of the security camera 110, 120, 130. An operating unit 101 of the system 100 is configured to operate the functional section I, II, III. The operating unit 101 can be used to select the image data of at least one security camera 110, 120, 130. A display unit 103 is configured to display the selected image data so that a user can permit or disable operation of functional sections I, II, III based on the displayed image data.

0040Furthermore, a security device 102 can be provided which is coupled to the security camera 110, 120, 130 and the operating unit 101, wherein the security device 102 receives image data from the security camera 110, 120, 130. The security device 102 is configured such that the security device 102 allows operation of the functional section I, II, III by means of the operating unit 101 or blocks operation of the functional section I, II, III by means of the operating unit 101 depending on the received image data of the security camera 110, 120, 130.

0041The paper processing device 140 is designed to process paper, in particular cardboard layers or cartons. During the processing process of the paper processing device 140, for example, cardboard boxes can be produced in multiple layers, cut to size, and/or printed. The paper processing device 140 has, in particular, a plurality of functional sections I, II, III, wherein each functional section I, II, III defines a processing step in a functional area. A functional section I, II, III comprises, for example, a stacking device (for stacking flat cardboard elements or for picking up individual cardboard elements from a stack), a laminating device (for gluing several layers of paper or cardboard layers), a paper feeding device and/or a drying device.

0042The operating device 101 is designed to operate and control the functional section I, II, III and, accordingly, the paper processing device 140. The operating device 101 is installed spatially remote from the functional section I, II, III and, for example, the paper processing device 140. The operating device 101 can, for example, transmit control data to the paper processing device 140 via a wired or wireless connection, thereby sending control commands or receiving status data or control data from the paper processing device 140. The operating unit 140 has an input element, such as a keyboard.

0043The security camera 110, 120, 130 or several security cameras 110, 120, 130 of a group are assigned to a functional section I, II, or III. The security camera 110, 120, 130 records special security-relevant areas in the functional section I, II, or III. For example, the safety-relevant areas can represent maintenance areas, maintenance installations, or other movable machine elements in the functional section that must be handled or maintained by an operator during maintenance or repair. The safety cameras 110, 120, 130 monitor the safety-relevant areas of functional sections I, II, III and record image data (individual images or film sequences or live streams) and sends the image data to the control unit 101 and/or the security device 102.

0044The user analyzes and evaluates the recorded image data. Furthermore, the safety device 102 can analyze and evaluate the recorded image data. Based on the recorded image data, the safety device 102 can lock or unlock the control unit 101. Additionally, the user can use the control unit 101 to lock the operation of functional sections I, II, and III.

0045If the safety device 102 detects, for example, a person in the functional section I, II, III based on the image data, the safety device 102 blocks the operating unit 101. This means that, for example, it is not possible to activate the processing in the functional section I, II, III from the operating unit 101. If the control unit 101 is located away from the functional section I, II, III, remote control of the functional section I, II, III is prevented. Alternatively, the security device 102 can use the image data to determine whether the security cameras 110, 120, 130 are functioning correctly. If the safety device 102 detects that the safety cameras 110, 120, 130 are not functioning correctly, the safety device 102 also locks the control unit 101 in order to prevent a hasty and unnecessary termination of the process in the functional section I, II, III.

0046The control system has at least one process camera 112, 122, 132, which is arranged in the functional section I, II, III, such that a work process 111, 121, 131 in the functional section I, II, III can be recorded by means of the process camera 112, 122, 132. The process camera 112, 122, 132 is coupled to the display unit 103 or the operating unit 101 such that the user can terminate the recorded work process 111, 121, 131 using the operating unit 101. Furthermore, the process camera 112, 122, 132 can be coupled to the safety device 102 such that the recorded work process 111, 121, 131 can be terminated using the safety device 102.

0047The process camera 112, 122, 132 captures, in particular, process-relevant images of the work process 111, 121, 131. For example, the process camera 112, 122, 132 can be used to record the position of a paper tape or the unwinding behavior of the paper tape from the roll. If the safety device 102 determines, based on the recorded image data of the work process 111, 121, 131, that, for example, the track of a paper tape is not correct, the safety device 102 can automatically terminate the work process 111, 121, 131.

0048While the process camera 112, 122, 132 captures images of a work process 111, 121, 131, the safety camera 110, 120, 130, in comparison, captures the workspace in the functional area that can be entered by a person. It is certainly possible for a process camera 112, 122, 132 to function as a safety camera 110, 120, 130, and vice versa.

0049The operating unit 101 can be used to select the image data of the at least one security camera 110, 120, 130, with a display unit 103 configured to display the selected image data. The display unit 103 and the operating unit 101 are integrally formed, for example, as a touchscreen.

0050<figref idref="f0002"><b>Fig. 2</b></figref> shows an exemplary representation of the operating unit 101 and the display unit 103. A desired functional section I is selected by means of the operating unit 101. The display unit 103 displays the functional section I of the paper processing device 140. Based on the selected functional section I, the operating unit 101 is configured to display the functional area of ​​the functional section I recorded by the security camera 110 on the display unit 103 using camera images A to F from the security cameras 110 from the functional section I. Thus, the paper processing device 140 and its corresponding functional sections I, II, III can be displayed on the display unit 103 (e.g., a touchscreen). A user can select the corresponding functional section I by pressing a finger on the control unit 101 (e.g., a display area of ​​a corresponding functional section I on the touchscreen). Images A to F from the safety cameras 110 and/or the process camera 112 are then displayed on the display unit 103. Furthermore, the operating status of the work process 111, 121, 131 from the functional section I can be displayed on the display unit 103. In addition, the user can be shown whether the security camera 110 provides image data that allows operation of the control unit 101 or not.

List of reference symbols:

0051<dl id="dl0001" compact="compact"><dt>100</dt><dd>control system</dd><dt>101</dt><dd>Control unit</dd><dt>102</dt><dd>Safety device</dd><dt>103</dt><dd>Display unit</dd></dl><dl id="dl0002" compact="compact"><dt>110</dt><dd>(first) security camera</dd><dt>111</dt><dd>first work process</dd><dt>112</dt><dd>Process camera</dd></dl><dl id="dl0003" compact="compact"><dt>120</dt><dd>(second) security camera</dd><dt>121</dt><dd>second work process</dd><dt>122</dt><dd>Process camera</dd></dl><dl id="dl0004" compact="compact"><dt>130</dt><dd>(third) security camera</dd><dt>131</dt><dd>third work process</dd><dt>132</dt><dd>Process camera</dd></dl><dl id="dl0005" compact="compact"><dt>140</dt><dd>Paper processing device</dd></dl><dl id="dl0006" compact="compact"><dt>I</dt><dd>first functional section</dd><dt>II</dt><dd>second functional section</dd><dt>III</dt><dd>third functional section</dd></dl><dl id="dl0007" compact="compact"><dt>AF</dt><dd>Camera recordings</dd></dl>