Optical Lens Processing Assignment Around Maintenance Downtime

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing optical lens processing systems lack optimized sequences for maintenance and downtime management, leading to inefficiencies in capacity utilization and processing quality.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that utilize a central control system to assign lenses to processing devices or lines, taking into account pending or expected maintenance, allowing for planned maintenance scheduling, efficient resource allocation, and quality monitoring through automated data collection and analysis.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If maintenance is performed on processing devices, then processing quality and reliability are improved, but productivity and capacity utilization deteriorate due to downtime

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing qualityVSAvoidcapacity utilization
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by proactively scheduling maintenance during periods of low order backlog or low utilization. The central control system anticipates maintenance needs and plans them in advance during convenient times, preventing unexpected breakdowns while minimizing impact on productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts maintenance scheduling based on real-time system conditions. The central control system continuously monitors order backlog, utilization rates, and device states, adapting the maintenance plan as conditions change to optimize the balance between reliability and productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If maintenance is delayed to maintain productivity, then capacity utilization is improved, but processing quality and reliability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecapacity utilizationVSAvoidprocessing quality
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses feedback mechanisms to continuously monitor the state of processing devices and adjust maintenance scheduling accordingly. The central control system receives status information from devices and incorporates this feedback into its decision-making process, ensuring maintenance is performed when it will have minimal impact on productivity while still maintaining processing quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes operational parameters dynamically by adjusting maintenance timing based on system conditions. When utilization is high, maintenance is deferred; when utilization is low or order backlog is small, maintenance is scheduled. This parameter adjustment optimizes the trade-off between productivity and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If multiple processing devices are used to increase throughput, then productivity is improved, but system complexity and difficulty of maintenance coordination increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovethroughputVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The central control system performs multiple functions: it monitors device states, schedules maintenance, assigns orders, and coordinates transport. This universal control approach simplifies the overall system architecture by consolidating control functions rather than requiring separate control systems for each processing device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The central control system acts as an intermediary between multiple processing devices and the transport system. It coordinates their operations, manages maintenance scheduling, and optimizes resource allocation, thereby reducing the complexity of direct device-to-device coordination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Reliability

If maintenance is scheduled during high utilization periods, then processing quality is maintained, but downtime losses increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing qualityVSAvoiddowntime losses
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary analysis of system conditions to identify optimal maintenance windows. By proactively scheduling maintenance during low utilization periods or when order backlog is small, the system prevents downtime losses while ensuring processing quality is maintained through timely maintenance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the timing parameter of maintenance based on utilization conditions. When utilization is high, maintenance timing is deferred; when utilization drops below certain thresholds, maintenance is scheduled. This dynamic parameter adjustment minimizes downtime losses while maintaining processing quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3463834B1Method and system for processing optical lenses
Publication Date: 2022.10.19 SCHNEIDER GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3463834B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3463834B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3463834B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method and a system for processing optical lenses are disclosed. The lenses (2) are fed to individual processing devices (3) or processing lines (B) according to an assignment scheme. The assignment scheme takes into account the maintenance schedule.