Barcode reading management and control system
The client contacted us regarding a problem with a machine for packaging medicines, i.e. blisters into boxes, with an automated pharmaceutical barcode control system and a control unit for rejecting defective products to ensure the required inspection of the final product.
Existing control system consisted of three barcode scanners for reading the presence of pharm barcodes on the carton box and on the sheets with instructions. The scanners were old and managed from a standard PC that housed a SCADA for visualization and control of the scanners and an interface to a Siemens S7-200 PLC controller that managed processes on the machine. The PC with SCADA was in a poor condition, there was issue with hardware, system and application start up, overall unreliable in operation, so client was restricted to deliver accurate production plan.
The solution
A complete replacement of the outdated equipment on the machine was proposed, which related to the part with barcode scanners and the connection to the existing S7-200 control system.
The client accepted the solution, which consisted of three new barcode scanners connected via Profinet to the new Siemens S7-1200 PLC controller, delivery of a new industrial HMI control panel on a new SCADA, that has all the required functionalities for such a critical control point.
The operation of the machine after the completion of the retrofit was successfully verified at the required speed of 85 cycles/minute.
