Machining Holder Identification Control for Correct Workpiece Loading

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing machining systems lack a method to accurately determine and load the correct workpiece, leading to potential misidentification and incorrect machining of workpieces.

Innovation Solution

A machining device with a loading mechanism that uses unique identifiers on holders to ensure correct workpiece loading, combined with a control unit that reads these identifiers and performs loading operations based on designated identifiers, along with material data including segment, type, thickness, and color data for precise machining.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If workpieces are aligned and mounted on a wheel without identification verification, then loading speed is improved, but workpiece identification accuracy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveloading speedVSAvoidworkpiece identification accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-reading unique identifiers from all holders on the wheel before machining begins, and pre-comparing these identifiers with the designated identifier to determine the correct holder position. This preliminary identification and position determination ensures that when the wheel rotates to load a workpiece, the correct holder is automatically positioned for loading, thus maintaining high loading speed while ensuring accurate workpiece identification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If unique identifiers are read and verified for each holder, then workpiece identification accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveworkpiece identification accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit serves multiple functions: it controls the wheel rotation, commands the reading means to read unique identifiers from holders, compares the read identifiers with the designated identifier, determines the correct holder position, and controls the loading mechanism. By making the control unit multi-functional, the system achieves accurate workpiece identification through identifier verification without adding separate dedicated devices for each function, thus minimizing overall system complexity while maintaining high identification accuracy.

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

3Manufacturing precision

If the correct holder position is determined through identifier comparison, then workpiece loading accuracy is improved, but processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveworkpiece loading accuracyVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs the identifier reading and comparison operation in advance, before the wheel needs to rotate to the loading position. The control unit compares the read unique identifier with the designated identifier to determine the correct holder position beforehand. This preliminary determination allows the wheel to be rotated directly to the correct position without unnecessary rotations or searches during the loading process, thus achieving accurate workpiece loading while minimizing additional processing time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3593942B1Machining control device
Publication Date: 2024.09.18 ROLAND DG CORP
  • EP3593942B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3593942B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3593942B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

To prevent a wrong workpiece from being loaded and machined in a machining device unit. A machining device 1 includes a machining device unit 2; a loading mechanism 3 for storing a plurality of workpiece-attachable and -detachable holders 9 provided with a unique identifier 9a for each and loading and unloading one of the holders 9 into and from the machining device unit 2; a reader 80 for reading the unique identifiers of the holders 9, the reader 80 being disposed in the loading mechanism 3; and a control unit for causing, in response to a reception of a designated identifier, the loading mechanism 3 to perform a loading operation to load, into the machining device unit 2, a holder 9 having a unique identifier that is identical to the designated identifier among the unique identifiers read by the reader 80.