Manufacturing Cell State Change Management System

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Solution Overview

Problem

In manufacturing cells, event information from multiple machines is collected in different formats and languages, making it inefficient to summarize and manage, and complicating maintenance and changes in the cell control system.

Innovation Solution

A state change management system that includes an event information monitoring part to receive and standardize event information from various machines, a standard information creation part to convert formats and languages, and a standard information output part to transmit standardized data to production planning devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If event information from multiple manufacturing machines is collected in different formats and languages, then the system can accommodate diverse machine controllers, but the efficiency of summarizing and managing event information deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompatibility with diverse machine controllersVSAvoidefficiency of summarizing and managing event information

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a message conversion mechanism that acts as an intermediary between diverse machine controllers and the cell control system. The conversion rule storage device stores multiple conversion rules for different message formats and languages, and the message conversion unit applies these rules to transform incoming messages into a standardized format, enabling efficient processing while maintaining compatibility with various controllers

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically changes the parameters of event information by applying conversion rules that transform message format, language, and structure. The message conversion unit modifies message parameters (format type, language code, data structure) based on stored conversion rules, converting diverse input formats into a unified standardized format for efficient management

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If event information from multiple manufacturing machines is collected in different formats and languages, then the system can accommodate diverse machine controllers, but the complexity of maintenance and changes in the cell control system increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompatibility with diverse machine controllersVSAvoidcomplexity of maintenance and changes

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The message conversion mechanism serves as an intermediary layer that isolates the core cell control system from format and language variations. By handling all conversions through this standardized interface, maintenance and modifications become simpler as changes are localized to conversion rules rather than affecting the entire system architecture

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system segments the message handling process into distinct components: message reception, format identification, rule selection, conversion application, and standardized output. This segmentation allows independent maintenance of conversion rules for different machine types without affecting other parts of the system, reducing overall maintenance complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Quantity of substance

If event information is collected without standardization, then data from all machines can be received, but information sharing and coordination among manufacturing cells becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevolume of event information collectedVSAvoidease of information sharing and coordination

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies parameter transformation by converting event information with varying format parameters and language parameters into a standardized parameter set. The message conversion unit changes the structural parameters (format type, data organization) and linguistic parameters (language code, message semantics) to enable seamless information sharing across different manufacturing cells

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The standardized message format created by the conversion mechanism serves multiple functions: it enables information sharing across different cells, facilitates coordination between cells, allows consistent processing throughout the system, and supports future expansion. This universal format makes the event information versatile for various operational needs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS10317866B2State change management system for manufacturing cell in cell control system

Publication Date: 2019.06.11 FANUC LTD

AI summary

A state change management system of a manufacturing cell in a cell control system receives, from the manufacturing cell, event information items in different forms generated in multiple manufacturing machines constituting a manufacturing cell, via a communication device, to thereby monitor the changes in the states of the multiple manufacturing machines. Moreover, the state change management system converts the received event information items in the different forms into a standardized form, and outputs the event information items in the standardized form to a production planning device that performs production planning of a product manufactured by the manufacturing cell via the communication device.