Optical Lens Processing Scheduling Around Maintenance Downtime
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical lens processing systems lack efficient optimization of processing sequences and downtime management, particularly regarding servicing and maintenance, which affects processing quality and throughput.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that utilize a central control to schedule and manage servicing of processing apparatuses, including preventive maintenance, dynamic assignment of lenses to processing systems based on availability and maintenance needs, and integration of data glasses for remote guidance, ensuring high processing quality and system availability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If lenses are conveyed to independently-operating processing apparatuses with autonomous routing, then system flexibility and ease of expansion are improved, but optimization of processing apparatus utilization becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where processing apparatuses report their status, utilization, and maintenance needs to a central control system. The central system analyzes this feedback and dynamically adjusts lens assignments to optimize utilization while maintaining flexibility. This allows the system to balance autonomous operation with coordinated resource allocation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs dynamic assignment where lens routing is not fixed but adapts in real-time based on current system conditions. Processing apparatuses can be dynamically added or removed from active duty, and lens paths are dynamically rerouted based on utilization metrics and maintenance schedules, allowing the system to maintain both flexibility and optimization.
2Device complexity
If processing apparatuses operate independently with autonomous job requests, then system complexity is reduced, but coordinated maintenance scheduling becomes problematic
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces a central control system as an intermediary that coordinates maintenance scheduling without micromanaging individual apparatus operations. This intermediary collects maintenance needs from independent apparatuses, schedules them centrally considering overall system utilization, and communicates assignments back to the apparatuses. This maintains operational independence while enabling coordinated maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The control architecture is segmented into independent modular components: individual processing apparatuses maintain their own autonomous control for daily operations, while a separate central system handles high-level coordination of maintenance and optimization. This segmentation allows each component to operate independently within its domain while still achieving system-wide coordination when needed.
3Productivity
If multiple processing systems are used for the same processing tasks to increase throughput, then productivity is improved, but system complexity and coordination requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple processing apparatuses are designed with universal capabilities to perform the same processing tasks. This multi-functionality allows any apparatus to handle any lens type or processing requirement, simplifying coordination by eliminating specialized routing logic. The central control system can assign lenses to any available apparatus based on utilization rather than specific task matching.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes operational parameters such as apparatus assignment, processing speed, and maintenance schedules based on real-time conditions. When multiple apparatuses are available, the system adjusts parameters to balance the load across them, changing assignment parameters dynamically rather than using fixed routing tables, thereby managing complexity through adaptive parameter adjustment.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and a system for processing optical lenses in which the lenses are conveyed to individual processing apparatuses or processing lines corresponding to an assignment. The assignment takes into consideration maintenance that is due.