Molding Machine Control Device Visual Selection Interface
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing control devices for molding machines require a long time to retrieve molding conditions due to the need to select from a large number of character information pieces, leading to potential errors, especially for inexperienced operators.
Innovation Solution
A control device with a human machine interface unit featuring a touchpanel display that lists images of molded articles, allowing operators to select desired molding conditions based on image representations, which can be sorted and enlarged, reducing the reliance on character information and minimizing errors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If operators select molding conditions from a large number of character information pieces, then comprehensive molding conditions can be retrieved, but the retrieval time increases and error rate increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces character information with image information (photographs or illustrations) of molded articles as display elements on the touchpanel. Instead of requiring operators to read and interpret text-based indices, the system displays visual copies or representations of the actual molded articles, allowing for intuitive visual recognition and selection. This copying principle transforms abstract character data into concrete visual representations, significantly reducing retrieval time and error rates while maintaining comprehensive access to molding conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the mechanical/ cognitive process of reading and interpreting character information with a visual recognition process. Operators naturally recognize article shapes and appearances through images much faster than through text description. This substitution leverages the human visual system's superior processing speed for graphical information, eliminating the time-consuming nature of traditional text-based selection while improving accuracy.
2Loss of information
If character information is used for selecting molding conditions, then detailed information can be displayed, but inexperienced operators may perform erroneous retrieval
Solution Approach 1:
By displaying actual images or photographs of molded articles instead of character descriptions, the system provides intuitive visual copies that immediately convey the article's identity and characteristics. This visual copying eliminates the need for operators to interpret text descriptions, making the operation simple enough for inexperienced users while preserving complete information about each molded article type through its visual representation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes visual characteristics including color, shape, and appearance of molded articles in the displayed images. These visual attributes provide immediate recognition cues that are far more intuitive than text, allowing operators of any experience level to correctly identify and select the desired molding conditions without misinterpretation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple indices based on character information are listed, then comprehensive mold data can be accessed, but the display complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex text-based indexing systems with simple visual image displays. Each molded article is represented by its image, eliminating the need for multiple character-based indices, categories, and hierarchical navigation. This visual approach maintains comprehensive access to all mold data while dramatically simplifying the user interface, as operators can directly see and select articles without navigating through text categories or understanding complex indexing structures.
Data Source
AI summary
A molding machine is provided with a display section with a touchpanel. A first storage section of a storage device is stored with molding conditions corresponding to molded articles each affixed with identification information. A second storage section is stored with image data on the molded articles each affixed with identification information. A third storage section is stored with memo information corresponding to the molded articles each affixed with identification information. When an image selection switch section on the display section is operated, the screen is changed to an image list screen and a plurality of images called up from the second storage section are listed. If one of these images is touched, the screen is changed to a detail display screen.