Efficient engineering is the key to short development and commissioning times in the packaging industry and thus for machines which can compete on international markets. Tried and tested basic functions as well as technology, application and communication modules based on the ProjectGenerator are available for the packaging industry. In addition, comprehensive Web diagnostic pages, which are generated automatically, help significantly in the existing commissioning and maintenance scenarios.

Hierarchical model according to ISA?S88 (Make2Pack)

The diagram shows an example of a packaging line based on the hierarchical model ISA?S88 (Make2Pack)

The ProjectGenerator enables you to create a hierarchical machine model and is suitable for the use of equipment modules developed specially for the packaging industry.

You can reap many of the benefits of using the ProjectGenerator. This applies both to series machines where you might want a simple method of implementing flexible machine variants with modularized components, and to single machines which are often based on standardized function units.

The integrated basic functions alone such as the boot check, message handling and operating mode management functionality provided by the ProjectGenerator often account for a large portion of the programming and configuring work which must usually be done manually and can be time-consuming and error-prone.

Hierarchical structures for modular machine construction

The ProjectGenerator also supports the modularization and standardization of machine functions via so-called equipment modules that are widely used particularly in the packaging industry. The equipment modules include film take-off, cross sealer or winder for the fast, modular configuration, for example, of form/fill/seal machines, cartoning machines or indeed any other type of production machine. In turn, each equipment module can also contain one or more control modules, such as a print-mark correction, a temperature controller or just a single technology axis. The ProjectGenerator therefore complies with the specifications of the international ISA?S88 Make2Pack standard.

There are two distinct advantages of this standardized, hierarchical structure: All components integral to the project utilize standardized interfaces and a uniform communication protocol. This level of standardization is so far-reaching that a standardized machine interface containing command, status, administration and alarm information can be used to integrate fundamentally different machines in a single line and supply all the data required for higher-level visualization and diagnostics.

The software for the different modules need only be created once and can be selected and configured in the ProjectGenerator with just a few clicks of the mouse. In this case, the modules might be simply a frame object with standardized interfaces or take the form of fully programmed entities.

Thanks to this standardization, individual modules of the ProjectGenerator, whether they are configured within a single machine or between multiple machines, can be integrated in a single line.

Customized expansions are possible

With the basic, technology and application modules provided by the ProjectGenerator, it inherently covers a broad spectrum of packaging machine applications. However, it can be adapted and expanded to meet specific customer requirements. For example, you can incorporate additional functions and user-specific modules into the automated engineering process with the ProjectGenerator.

Equipment modules for packaging machines

The OPL Software Toolbox for packaging machines supplies you with a kit of equipment modules with which you can automate any number of different types of packaging machine.

Examples:

• Packaging solutions for molding, filling and sealing machines
• Packing solution for carton packers
• Packaging solution Intelligent Belt

For details about the packaging solutions listed above see the following pages.

For further information about the ProjectGenerator see Chapter 9 on page 9/93.