Machine tool device

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing machine tool devices lack comprehensive environmental and operational parameter monitoring and control, leading to inefficiencies and safety concerns, particularly in terms of noise, dust, and emission management, which can result in non-compliance with emission limits and potential operator hazards.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating an open-loop and/or closed-loop control unit with environmental and drive unit sensors to detect and regulate parameters such as ambient pressure, noise, dust, and emissions, allowing for real-time adjustments and information output to operators, while also integrating communication units for data exchange with external systems to enforce safety and operational rules.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If environmental sensor units are added to detect ambient pressure, temperature, noise, dust, and emissions, then monitoring capability and safety are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesafetyVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple environmental sensor units (detecting ambient pressure, temperature, noise, dust, and emissions) into an integrated monitoring system that communicates with a single control unit. This merging approach allows comprehensive environmental monitoring while managing system complexity through centralized data processing and unified control logic.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit serves multiple functions: it processes data from various environmental sensors, regulates the drive unit based on combined sensor inputs, and manages communication with external systems. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components for each monitoring and control task, thereby improving safety without proportionally increasing device complexity.

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

2Adaptability or versatility

If control and regulation of drive unit is performed based on multiple environmental parameters, then compliance with emission limits is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompliance with emission limitsVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The drive unit regulation is made dynamic by continuously adjusting operational parameters based on real-time environmental sensor data. The control unit modifies drive unit operation in response to changing environmental conditions (noise levels, dust concentration, emissions), enabling adaptive compliance with emission limits while maintaining efficient system operation through responsive, condition-based control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback control where environmental sensor units continuously monitor parameters and feed this information to the control unit, which then adjusts drive unit operation accordingly. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures compliance with emission limits by automatically regulating the drive unit based on actual environmental conditions, transforming complex multi-parameter regulation into a systematic responsive control process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If communication units are integrated for data exchange with external systems, then safety and operational rule enforcement are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesafetyVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit acts as an intermediary between environmental sensors, drive unit, and external communication systems. It consolidates data from multiple sensors, processes regulatory requirements, and manages all external communications through a single interface point. This intermediary approach improves safety through centralized control while managing communication complexity by providing a unified gateway to external systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Reliability

If real-time monitoring and regulation of multiple parameters is implemented, then operator safety is improved, but productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperator safetyVSAvoidproductivity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements self-service automation where the control unit automatically processes environmental sensor data and regulates the drive unit without requiring continuous operator intervention. The automated monitoring and regulation system maintains operator safety through continuous environmental assessment and automatic drive unit adjustment, freeing operators to focus on primary tasks while the system autonomously manages safety-critical parameter regulation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3143688B1Machine tool device
Publication Date: 2020.04.08 ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
  • EP3143688B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3143688B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3143688B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a machine tool device, particularly a hand-held machine tool device, comprising at least one open and/or closed-loop control unit (12a; 12a'; 12b; 12c;12d) and at least one drive unit sensor unit (14a; 14a'; 14b; 14c; 14d) for determining at least one drive unit characteristic variable that can be processed at least for the purpose of open and/or closed-loop control of a drive unit (16a; 16a'; 16b; 16c; 16d) of a machine tool and/or for issuing information to an operator of said open and/or closed-loop control unit (12a; 12a'; 12b; 12c; 12d). It is suggested that said machine tool device comprises at least one environment sensor unit (18a, 18a';18b; 18c; 18d) for determining at least one environment characteristic variable that can be processed at least for the purpose of open and/or closed-loop control of the drive unit (16a; 16a'; 16b; 16c; 16d) and/or for issuing information to an operator of said open and/or closed-loop control unit (12a; 12a'; 12b; 12c; 12d).