Machine Tool Pairing With Integrated Emergency Stop Verification

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing methods for establishing a secure connection and activating or testing the emergency stop functionality in systems comprising a main machine tool and an auxiliary device are complex, costly, and not cost-effective.

Innovation Solution

A method that involves sending connection requests and responses between the main machine tool and the auxiliary device, with verification by a control device, and activating the emergency stop functionality using a single actuating device, allowing for a secure, simple, and cost-effective connection establishment and emergency stop testing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a secure connection is established through pairing and authentication procedure with separate input device and actuating device, then communication security is improved, but device complexity and operational complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication securityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the input device and actuating device into a single integrated actuating device on the auxiliary device. This single device performs both authentication input and emergency stop activation functions, eliminating the need for separate devices while maintaining security through the control unit's verification of signals within a predetermined time period.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The actuating device on the auxiliary device is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as an authentication input device for establishing secure connections and as an emergency stop activation device. This universal design reduces the total number of components while preserving both security and emergency functionality.

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

2Reliability

If separate input device and actuating device are used for connection establishment and emergency stop activation, then functional separation is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefunctional separationVSAvoidease of operation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the input device and actuating device into a single integrated actuating device, allowing users to perform both connection establishment and emergency stop activation through one device. This integration simplifies the user interface and operational steps while the control unit maintains functional separation through signal verification protocols.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If multiple devices and complex procedures are used for connection and emergency stop testing, then security verification is improved, but loss of time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecurity verificationVSAvoidactivation time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit is pre-configured with verification logic that automatically checks signals from the integrated actuating device within a predetermined time period. This preliminary setup of verification mechanisms allows for rapid authentication and emergency stop activation without requiring multiple manual verification steps, reducing activation time while maintaining security.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3891567B1System and method for operating a system
Publication Date: 2024.03.27 HILTI AG
  • EP3891567B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3891567B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for operating a system (1), which comprises a main machine tool (5) and an auxiliary device (10), the main machine tool (5) being designed having an input apparatus (4), the auxiliary device being designed having an actuation apparatus (12), and a control apparatus (9) being provided. The method comprises the following steps: transmitting at least one signal representing a connection request from the transmitting and receiving apparatus (3) of the main machine tool (5) to the transmitting and receiving apparatus (13) of the auxiliary device (10) after user actuation of the input apparatus (4) of the main machine tool (5); transmitting at least one additional signal representing a connection response from the transmitting and receiving apparatus (13) of the auxiliary device (10) to the transmitting and receiving apparatus (3) of the main machine tool (5) after user actuation of the actuation apparatus (12) of the main machine tool (5); establishing a connection between the main machine tool (5) and the auxiliary device (10) (S8); and activating and/or testing an emergency-off functionality of the actuation apparatus (12) by user actuation of the actuation apparatus (12) of the auxiliary device (10). The invention further relates to an auxiliary device (10) and to a system (1) for carrying out a method of this type.