Lens Manufacturing Carrier With E-Paper Status Display
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automated lens manufacturing systems face challenges with manual working steps that increase costs and risks of incorrect block piece assignment, require large storage areas, and are prone to errors during unforeseen events or system shutdowns, necessitating cumbersome manual interventions.
Innovation Solution
A transportation carrier equipped with an electronic paper display that provides up-to-date status information and instructions to human operators, eliminating the need for additional reading devices, and includes a wireless communication module and memory for job and process information, allowing for rapid problem-solving.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If automated lens manufacturing systems are used, then manufacturing precision and productivity are improved, but device complexity increases and manual intervention becomes cumbersome during exceptional circumstances
Solution Approach 1:
The transportation carrier is equipped with an electronic paper display that automatically shows status information and instructions to operators. The system serves itself by providing necessary information without requiring complex external reading devices or interfaces, reducing the burden on operators during manual interventions.
Solution Approach 2:
The electronic paper display acts as an intermediary between the automated manufacturing system and human operators. It translates complex system status into simple, understandable visual information, facilitating smooth communication and reducing the complexity of human-machine interaction during exceptional circumstances.
2Adaptability or versatility
If manual working steps are required, then flexibility and problem-solving capability are improved, but errors and downtime increase
Solution Approach 1:
The electronic paper display provides real-time feedback to operators about the system status and required actions. This feedback mechanism guides operators through manual intervention steps accurately, reducing errors while maintaining the flexibility to handle exceptional circumstances.
Solution Approach 2:
The system prepares and displays instructions in advance before manual intervention is needed. Operators receive pre-configured guidance on what actions to take, which reduces errors during actual manual operations and minimizes downtime by eliminating decision-making delays.
3Ease of operation
If additional reading devices are provided for status information, then information accessibility is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The transportation carrier itself provides the display function through its integrated electronic paper display. The carrier serves dual purposes as both a physical transport medium and an information display device, eliminating the need for separate reading devices and reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The transportation carrier is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a physical container for lens components and as an information display device. This universal design reduces the number of separate components needed in the system while improving information accessibility.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Facilitates faster and more accurate manual actions by operators, reducing errors and minimizing downtime during exceptional circumstances, enhancing system efficiency and reducing operational costs.
Implementation Method 1
a wireless communication module (10) for exchanging job information and process information with regard to the optical elements to be manufactured with a lens manufacturing facility by use of electromagnetic waves
Implementation Method 2
an electronic paper display configured to display at least an up to date status information of the manufacturing process
Data Source
AI summary
A transportation carrier is provided for automated lens manufacturing in a lens manufacturing facility, including: at least one block piece or one block piece receiving section; and an electronic paper display configured to display at least an up-to-date status information of the manufacturing process of the optical elements carried by the transportation carrier that is intelligible for a human operator without use of a reading device, the electronic paper display including a wireless communication module and a memory configured to exchange and to memorize job information and to process information for lenses to be manufactured, in which the electronic paper display is further configured to function as a passive RFID tag with the wireless communication module.