Injection Molding Button Guidance Near the Mold Unit
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Solution Overview
Problem
In injection molding machines, operators often struggle to accurately press operation buttons due to their placement away from the mold unit, leading to potential mistakes and damage during initial setup and positioning tasks.
Innovation Solution
An injection molding machine with an operation unit featuring a controller that provides specific information, such as images or vibrations, to help operators identify the correct operation button without visually checking the buttons, reducing the risk of pressing the wrong button.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If operation buttons are placed away from the mold unit, then the operator can operate the machine without being too close to the mold unit, but the operator cannot visually check the operation button while pressing it, leading to potential mistakes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the operation buttons displayed on a transparent screen positioned near the mold unit. This virtual image allows the operator to visually identify the correct button while maintaining a safe distance from the mold unit. The transparent screen displays button images that correspond to the actual physical buttons, enabling visual confirmation without physical proximity to the mold.
Solution Approach 2:
The transparent screen acts as an intermediary between the operator and the operation buttons. It provides visual information about the button positions and states without requiring the operator to be close to the mold unit. The screen mediates the interaction by displaying virtual button images that guide the operator's hand movements toward the correct physical buttons.
2Measurement precision
If the operator visually checks the operation button while pressing it, then the operator can identify the correct button, but the operator needs to be close to the operation unit which is separated from the mold unit
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds a visual dimension by displaying virtual button images on a transparent screen. Instead of relying solely on spatial proximity to identify buttons, the operator can now use visual information from the screen. This dimensional addition allows button identification without physical movement closer to the operation unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The system prepares visual information about the operation buttons in advance by displaying them on the transparent screen before the operator needs to press them. The button images are continuously or periodically updated to reflect the current operational state, so the operator can identify the correct button without needing to move closer for last-minute verification.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the operator gropes for the operation button without visual feedback, then the operator can maintain position away from the mold unit, but the operator may press the wrong button
Solution Approach 1:
The transparent screen displays virtual button images that can change color or appearance to indicate their current state or provide visual feedback. This visual information compensates for the loss of tactile and spatial information when the operator gropes for buttons from a distance. The color or visual state changes help the operator identify the correct button without being close to the operation unit.
Data Source
AI summary
An operation unit (750) of an injection molding machine (10) has a plurality of operation buttons (1). A controller (700) of the injection molding machine (10) has a specific information providing section (710) which provides an operator with specific information (sound for specifying the operation button (1), voice guidance for specifying the operation button (1), or the like) for specifying the operation button (1) to be pressed by the operator. With the above configuration, for example, an image or the like of the operation button (1) can be displayed onto a projected portion (11). Therefore, it is possible for the operator to recognize whether a button to be pressed is a desired operation button (1) even without visually checking the operation button (1) on the operation unit (750) and thus to prevent a mistake in pressing the operation button (1).