The RFID control system of technology processes is implemented on production lines "Filip Morris Izhora"

On October 12, 2018 the RST-Invent company announced implementation of a RFID control system of technology processes (FTS) on production lines of Filip Morris Izhora factory. According to the company, developed RST-Invent, made and implemented to assembly lines of the customer a number of the customized RFID solutions which allowed to control online compliance of the components given to the line to the made products sign. A system allowed to exclude influence of a human factor on quality of the tobacco products released by the enterprise. Also the full integration of the developed hardware and software system with the MES system of the customer was performed.

The constructed RFID system helped to automate control of technology processes by production of cigarette products, increased transparency and efficiency in process control. Thereby a system minimized involvement of the person in quality control of a product and, as a result, allowed to prevent the errors connected with use of the raw materials which are not intended for production of certain products.

For control of correctness of giving of semi-finished products of filters on production lines in the FTS system the RFID tags attached to a plastic or cardboard tray are used.

The FTS system appropriates a unique identifier (code) to each tray when filling with its semi-finished products of filters. For this purpose all production lines which are releasing semi-finished products are equipped with RFID modules (readers) making automatic recording of the identifier in memory of a RFID tag of a tray on the basis of the task received from MES.

The identifier not only unambiguously defines semi-finished product type in a tray, but also comprises the code of specific type of future cigarette filter.

Control of correctness of giving of semi-finished products is exercised on section of receipt of trays of ready cigarette filters on production lines. The RFID readers installed on lines compare the code of the filter in a RFID tag to the code received from a MES system.

In case of coincidence of codes, semi-finished products go to processing. In case of an error, there is an automatic stop of the line, loading of semi-finished products is not made, and the operator receives a warning in the form of a light signal.

In need of repacking of a semi-finished product from a cardboard tray in plastic, the FTS system automatically transfers all identification information to a RFID tag of a plastic tray.

The unique identifier is appropriated to each RFID tag in a DB of FTS. When loading a tray semi-finished products of filters, in a RFID tag the corresponding code of the filter registers. At the time of giving of semi-finished products on a production line reading the code of the filter is executed of memory of a RFID tag.

The code of the filter from a MES system is transferred to a DB of FTS and then sent on all RFID readers of production lines. Information on loading or unloading from a tray of a specific semi-finished product on a production line remains in a DB of FTS from which, further, it is transferred to the MES system of the customer.

Especially for the project Filip Morris a special series of RFID tags TwinTag with the increased amount of memory executed in the form of a sticker was developed and made. This tag is unified for marking of both types of trays: cardboard and plastic. The possibility of installation of the different UHF models of chips is provided in a tag. The RFID tag is designed taking into account requirements of steady registration of objects in the different planes (a 3D format), and its characteristics provide steady reading on different production lines.

Besides, the RFID reader RST-MAR equipped with the antennas with unique design developed especially for the project was developed. Antennas are equipped with sensors for control of existence of a tray on a production line. For installation on production lines, antennas are equipped with magnetic fastening. Installation of antennas is performed without making changes in construction of production lines.