"SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATED MANAGEMENT OF DIES, MOULDS AND THE LIKE IN A PASTA FACTORY" DESCRIPTION Pasta factory management requires the availability of a high number of components-moulds and dies-for the production of numerous different types of pasta and the need for very frequent alternations in the use of the various components, which need to be fitted and returned to storage after being washed following each use. Frequent maintenance interventions-both ordinary and extraordinary-are required according to the time for which the various components are used.

Manual management is costly and entails the risks of mistakes.

Maintenance and upgrading tasks carried out by pasta factory suppliers, generally by the production means installers, are problematic and not always accurate, in terms of intervention promptness and need.

The system according to the invention, whose other objects and advantages will be described in the text that follows, overcomes these problems and shortcomings.

According to the invention, the following are essentially used for the automated management of a pasta factory, where manufacturing tools are used, such as drawing presses, cutting presses, washing machines for dies and moulds and the like, as well as storage areas for components-such as dies and moulds-to be interchangeably fitted on said machines: an identification system (TAG memory device, transponder, BALLUFF, or equivalent) equipping and incorporated in each of the aforesaid components, in a position fit to facilitate interfacing with the reading and writing system of each machine; portable reading units for operators and fixed reading units for interfacing with said systems; and at least one control unit for managing and updating the variable data during machining processes.

The identification and reading/writing systems can be RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) systems with TAG type identification devices and transmitters-receivers interfacing by means of a radio-frequency modulated signals.

Alternatively, the identification and reading/writing systems can be of the type using BALLUFF-BIS-130-OSL or equivalent memory chips with PC devices and software installed in the control unit.

Two software versions can advantageously be used: one of which will be managed by the installer for receiving edited data and the other by the user for receiving management data without the possibility of autonomously handling data.

The system can implement two hour counters. One hour counter, made available to the installer, can count the total number of working hours of each component. The other counter, which can be reset, is available to users for storing selective working hours of each component, in relation to management by the user.

The identification system of each component (die, mould or other) can comprise a synthetic resin container, e. g. made of nylon, housing the transponder which is arranged in a seat in the component and fastened by means of a fastening screw or other.

The following description illustrates a number of embodiments of the invention also with reference to schematic drawings.

RFID technology is adopted in a possible embodiment of the invention.

This system permits direct radio-frequency identification by means of TAGS fitted directly on the dies and on the cut pasta moulds. This offers a practical answer to the typical problems of identification, logistics and management which must be faced everyday in pasta factories and which lead to enormous losses of time and entail the risk of errors and mistakes.

The electromagnetic RFDI (Radio Frequency Identification) system comprises receiver-transmitters (reading units or reading/writing units) and electronic identification devices, called TAGS or transponders, to be applied to each mould or die. A TAG is a radio-frequency device consisting of a microchip and respective electronic circuits, which include a memory unit, a coil antenna and a capacitor; the components are encapsulated in an airtight glass or plastic container, capable of protecting them during repeated handling operations.

The transponder, suitably energised by the receiver-transmitter, sends a number of pre-programmed codes stored in its memory to the reading unit.

In the same way, the receiver-transmitter can write in the transponder memory and update the data it contains.

The TAG memory shall contain the die or mould manufacturing data, a working hour counter and other information. Particularly, in the case of dies, in addition to manufacturing data, the memory will contain the data needed for setting the washing program to be used by die washing machines and the repair data. For moulds, in addition to manufacturing data, the memory will contain the data needed to set the cutting machine recipe.

There are two hour counters in the memory: the first hour counter can only be reset by the system manager (not by the user) and contains the total number of working hours or the die or in some cases also of the mould. The second hour counter can be reset by the user and can contain the number of working hours of each installation according to the user's needs.

Construction data and/or data on the last repair are also stored in the TAG memory; a log of all the changes and interventions will be kept in a database on the PC.

The drawing illustrates possible arrangements of the main mechanisms in the system. In the drawings : Figures 1 and 2 show the installation of a TAG in a die and in a mould ; Figure 3 schematically shows the subsequent arrangements of a die in a drawing press ; and Figure 4 shows the arrangement of mechanisms in a die washing machine.

Figures 1 and 2 show the installation of a TAG in a die 1 and a mould 3, respectively. Reference numeral 5 indicates a protection made of nylon or similar material embedded in the body of the component 1 or 3; reference numeral 7 indicates the transponder and reference numeral 9 is a fastening screw.

With a system of this kind, pasta factory operators can use a portable reading unit to view the data contained in the TAG in real time and

consequently univocally identify each die and each mould. The hour counter of the TAG is updated each time the die is used, indicating the total hours for which the die has been used in production.

In the diagram of Figure 3, reference numeral 10 indicates the head of a drawing press where a die T for making pasta is fitted. In position T1, the time at which the die T is fitted is stored by the PLC 12, by reading the TAG via a sensor 14. In position T2, the die is ready to work. At the end of production, when the die is in position T3, the hours of production are written, via the sensor 16, which at the same time informs the system that the die is being removed and updates the working hour counter in the TAG and in a supervisor PC 20 which acts as the central unit. In this way, the hours are updated whenever the die is used in production, regardless of the press on which the die is fitted. Obviously, all presses will need to be fitted with the system indicated in the diagram in Figure 3.

The supervisor PC 20 will also contain the database of the dies and the data log.

For operations in other locations, e. g. in particular in the washing room, the operator in charge of washing the dies will insert the die T in the die washing machine (see figure 4) and automatically set the washing program simply by reading the TAG 3 fitted on the die in position T30 via the reading unit fitted aboard the washing machine 31. Alternatively, the program data can be read directly from the identification system fitted aboard the die. Reference numeral 32 is a portable reading unit which is reading a TAG 33 fitted on a stacked die.

Similar operations (generally without the washing phase) are performed on cut pasta moulds when the mould is fitted and used for a certain time on a cutting machine, for storing and pertinent updating as illustrated above.

According to another possible embodiment of the invention, a data reading/wiring system implementing BALLUFF memory chip is adopted.

According to this system, each component-die or mould or the like-is univocally identified by means of a BALLUFF memory chip, specifically of the BIS C-130-05/L (1023 Bytes EEPROM) kind, applied on the external edge of

the various components. The memory contains the manufacturing data of the die, the working hour counter and other information. In addition to manufacturing data, the memory will also contain-at least for dies-the data needed to set the washing cycle in a die washing machine.

Also in this case, the user will use devices for reading memory data and PC management software. Two versions of the PC software will be developed: the first version will be used by the installer without restrictions for die data editing; the second for the user who will only be able to edit data automatically via a diskette supplied by the installer along with the die upon delivery, after repairs or following automatic updating of data progressively attributed to the component (die, mould or other) and not manually.

In practice, the component will store only manufacturing data or data on the last repair, while the log of changes and interventions can be stored on a PC.

Also in this case, there will be two types of hour counters in the memory of a component-such as a die-namely : a first counter, which can only be reset by the installer and not by the user, containing the total number of working hours; the second counter can be reset also by the user and contains the number of working hours of the die inserts.

The PC reading/writing, filing and data processing system is described below, with particular reference to dies and with the adoption of a BALLUFF chip and can be referred to other media.

This PC reading/writing, filing and data processing system can be used to set the data stored in a BALLUFF memory chip, of the BIS-C 130-05/L type, by means of a specifically developed interface program.

Two versions of the interface program will be developed in Microsoft@ Windows@ 2000 Pro environment : a full feature version for the installer and a restricted feature version for users. Users will be able to access a restricted number of parameters stored in the BALLUFF chip, while the installer's workstation will have complete access and will be able to reset all parameters.

The installer may provide the user with a diskette for updating die data. For example, the supply of spare part inserts may be accompanied by a diskette

illustrating the characteristics of the parts; the user can read the diskette and update die data but cannot edit the data.

The PC workstation can consist of a reading/writing head for reading and writing data on the memory chip, a processor for converting signals from the reading head, data processing software and other.

The data processing software, in addition to reading/writing the BALLUFF chip parameters, will manage a database containing all the modifications and repairs made to the concerned die (or other component).

The entire life of each component can be traced from construction to final scrapping using this system.

The parameters stored for each die (or other component) will include physical characteristics (material, serial number, number of holes, dimensions, etc. ), type of inserts (number of holes, dimensions, etc.), chronological data (date of manufacture, date of repair, number of working hours, etc. ) and the parameters needed for correct washing (area dimensions<BR> and position, number of washes, etc. ). These parameters will all be viewed in a specific screen mask and can be printed.

The BALLUFF system can be implemented in die washing machines according to the following criteria.

The BALLUFF memory chip reading system can be implemented to automatically set the machine operating parameters for washing the dies, according to the data stored in the memory chip fitted in the die.

The presence of a communication board is required to read the die parameters. The board will be fitted in new die washing machine models (which implement a linear drive arm movement feature). A more complex optional board will need to be fitted in die washing machine models already owned by users.

In either case, this system will comprise a reading head for reading and writing data to/from the memory chip; a processor for converting reading head signals and a board designed for serial interface with the processor.

Die washing parameters can be acquired automatically, simply by approaching the reading head to the BALLUFF chip and pressing a"start

washing"button.

It is to be understood that the drawing shows only an example provided solely as a practical demonstration of the invention, and that this invention can be varied in its forms and arrangements without departure from the guiding principle of the invention.