Common Interface Control for Diverse Industrial Machines
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Solution Overview
Problem
In manufacturing sites with diverse industrial machines and tools, the lack of a standardized interface for data management and operation complicates the integration and control of various machines and peripherals, making it difficult for operators to utilize facilities effectively.
Innovation Solution
A control device that standardizes interfaces by managing data access and operation logic for different industrial machines through a common interface, allowing for unified data management and operation across diverse machines and peripherals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If different interfaces are used for each machine type and function, then each machine can be controlled according to its specific requirements, but the complexity of the control system increases and operators find it difficult to utilize facilities effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal interface that can handle multiple machine types and functions through a single standardized entry point. The interface is designed to accommodate diverse machines (machine tools, robots, peripheral devices) and various operations (data access, control commands) without requiring separate interfaces for each combination, thereby reducing interface complexity while maintaining broad adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary layer (the universal interface with its command conversion function) that mediates between the operator's standardized commands and the specific machine requirements. This intermediary converts universal commands into machine-specific instructions, allowing the control system to maintain simplicity at the user level while adapting to diverse machine specifications underneath.
2Reliability
If machine manufacturers construct original tool management mechanisms with custom specifications, then specific machine requirements can be met, but integration into a unified data collection system becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The universal interface acts as an intermediary that bridges machine-specific mechanisms and the unified data collection system. It translates custom machine commands and data structures into standardized formats, enabling integration without requiring manufacturers to abandon their optimized machine-specific control mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The interface employs parameter conversion to transform machine-specific parameters and command formats into universal parameters. By dynamically adjusting and converting parameters based on the target machine type, the system maintains reliable machine-specific control while achieving ease of integration into the unified system.
3Reliability
If separate measures are taken for each machine when constructing a data collection system, then each machine's specific needs are addressed, but the time and effort required for system setup increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The universal interface provides a single standardized entry point that can handle multiple machine types and operations, eliminating the need to configure separate interfaces for each machine. This reduces system setup time significantly while maintaining the ability to address machine-specific requirements through command conversion rather than interface multiplication.
Data Source
AI summary
A control device includes: a data access logic storage unit that stores a data access logic used for performing at least any one of reference and update of data related to an industrial machine; a data management unit that, based on the data access logic, performs reference or update of data related to the industrial machine; an operation logic storage unit that stores an operation logic used for performing a control process of the industrial machine; an operation management unit that, based on the operation logic, performs an operation related to the industrial machine; and an interface unit that provides a common interface used for accessing the data management unit and the operation management unit.