Control Program Generation for Multi-Component Mechanism Motion

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing programming supporting apparatuses face difficulties in intuitively recognizing the movement of a driving end and require significant time and effort to produce control programs for systems with multiple mechanism components, such as converting devices, due to varying sheet lengths and complexities like inner diameters and sheet thicknesses.

Innovation Solution

A programming supporting apparatus that includes a component-information storage unit and a control-program producing unit, which generates control programs by using component information and set parameters to instruct driving devices connected to mechanism components, allowing for intuitive production of control programs by specifying mechanism components and setting operation parameters.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a user programs movement of a driving end directly, then the control program can be produced, but it requires significant time and effort and is not intuitive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of producing control programVSAvoidtime required for programming

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an unwinding amount calculation unit that acts as an intermediary between the user's high-level operation specifications and the low-level driving device control. This unit automatically calculates the unwinding amount based on sheet parameters (inner diameter, thickness) and desired sheet movement, converting complex mechanical relationships into automatic computations that eliminate manual back-calculation efforts

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service by allowing the control program to automatically determine driving end movements through the unwinding amount calculation unit. The calculation unit autonomously computes required driving end positions based on current sheet state and target sheet position, eliminating the need for users to manually perform complex geometric calculations and program transformations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Manufacturing precision

If the control program accounts for varying sheet parameters (inner diameter, thickness), then accurate sheet movement control is achieved, but the programming complexity increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprecision of sheet movement controlVSAvoidcomplexity of control program

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the control system into distinct functional units: a sheet parameter storage unit that manages inner diameter and thickness data, an unwinding amount calculation unit that processes these parameters, and a control program generation unit. This segmentation isolates the complex parameter handling logic into a dedicated calculation unit, reducing the apparent complexity in the overall control program while maintaining precise sheet movement control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary action by pre-storing sheet parameters (inner diameter, thickness) in the parameter storage unit before control operations begin. The unwinding amount calculation unit uses these pre-stored parameters to automatically compute driving end positions, eliminating the need for complex real-time calculations and reducing programming complexity while maintaining precision

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If the user must back calculate driving end movements from sheet speed, then accurate control is possible, but the operation becomes non-intuitive and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of movement controlVSAvoidintuitiveness of programming

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the traditional control approach by not calculating driving end movements from desired sheet speed through complex back-calculation. Instead, the unwinding amount calculation unit directly computes the unwinding amount from sheet parameters and target positions, then derives driving end movements from this unwinding amount. This inversion simplifies the operational logic while maintaining calculation accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS10935950B2Programming supporting apparatus, programming supporting method, and recording medium

Publication Date: 2021.03.02 MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORP

AI summary

A programming supporting apparatus that supports production of a control program for controlling a system configured from a plurality of mechanism components includes: a component-information storage unit to store component information corresponding to each of the mechanism components capable of configuring the system, the component information including a parameter for setting a condition of an operation executable by the system and a method describing, in accordance with the parameter, movement of a driving end that a driving device connected to the mechanism component is instructed to perform so as to cause the system to perform the operation; and a control-program producing unit to, when the mechanism component configuring the system is specified and the parameter for the mechanism component is set, produce the control program by using the method of the specified mechanism component and the set parameter.