Distributed Thermal Carving System for Rapid Stamp Production
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional stamp creation systems limit artwork creation to specific locations where servers and terminals are installed, resulting in lengthy delivery times for users located far from stamp manufacturing factories.
Innovation Solution
A network-based stamp ordering system with a host computer and multiple seal carving apparatuses, allowing users to edit and order stamps via a terminal device, specifying a site for carving, and registering order information in a database, with each apparatus accepting and processing orders based on input IDs and transmitting operational status.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If artwork creation is limited to specific locations with servers and terminals, then system complexity is reduced, but delivery time increases for users far from manufacturing factories
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the centralized manufacturing process into distributed seal carving apparatuses located at multiple sites. Each apparatus can independently process orders, segmenting the monolithic system into autonomous units that reduce delivery time by enabling local production near users.
Solution Approach 2:
A database system acts as an intermediary between users and seal carving apparatuses. The database stores and manages order information, allowing users to place orders remotely without requiring direct connection to manufacturing equipment, thus reducing delivery time while maintaining system manageability.
2Productivity
If multiple seal carving apparatuses are distributed at various sites, then delivery time is reduced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The database system provides universal functionality across all seal carving apparatuses, serving as a common platform for order management, information storage, and coordination. This multi-functional intermediary simplifies the complexity of managing multiple distributed apparatuses by providing a standardized interface for all operations.
3Ease of operation
If users can specify carving sites, then service convenience is improved, but order management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the database continuously tracks order status, apparatus availability, and processing results. This feedback loop enables automatic coordination between user preferences and actual processing capabilities, simplifying order management despite multiple distribution sites by providing real-time information for efficient routing and status tracking.
Data Source
AI summary
A host computer, a plurality of thermal carving machines, and a user terminal are connected to a network. The host computer includes seal image creation means that permits edition of a seal image using the user terminal, site selection means that allows a user to specify one site from a site candidates list, ID issuing means that issues an order ID for identifying the contents of an order, and order information registration means that registers the issued order ID and order information in a database. A control device of the thermal carving machine includes order acceptance means that accepts an order ID input when information on the input order ID is registered in the database, and carving control means that performs seal carving of a stamp based on seal image data associated with the order ID.