Injection Molding Output Port Control for External Device Reconnection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing injection molding machines require cumbersome reconfiguration of control information when external devices are disconnected and then reconnected, leading to inefficient operation.
Innovation Solution
An external signal control device with a signal port, storage device, and signal port control device that uses a signal port use flag to manage the functionality of the signal port based on stored condition information, simplifying reconnection processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the connection between the external device and the signal port is released, then the signal port can avoid outputting signals by resetting the control information, but the reconnection process becomes troublesome requiring re-setting of control information
Solution Approach 1:
The control information is pre-stored in the storage device before disconnection occurs. When the external device is disconnected, the system detects this state and automatically restores the previously stored control information upon reconnection, eliminating the need for manual re-setting and maintaining operational ease.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates a connection state detection mechanism that provides feedback about whether the external device is connected. Based on this feedback, the signal port control device automatically adjusts its behavior - storing control information before disconnection and restoring it after reconnection, thereby maintaining both reliability and operational ease.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the control information is reset when external device is disconnected, then signal output is avoided during disconnection, but the setting operations become troublesome when reconnecting
Solution Approach 1:
The control information is extracted from the active signal port and stored separately in a dedicated storage device. This separation allows the system to maintain control information independently of the connection state, preventing unintended signal output during disconnection while simplifying reconnection by automatically restoring the extracted control information.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage device acts as an intermediary between the signal port and the external device connection state. It holds control information in a suspended state during disconnection, preventing harmful signal output, and facilitates smooth reconnection by providing the control information back to the signal port without requiring manual intervention.
Data Source
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AI summary
An external signal control device and a molding machine are provided that facilitate setting for connecting again an external device having been connected once. A control unit 7 is used for an injection molding machine. The control unit 7 has an optional output signal port OP1 to be connected to an external device, a storage device 73 to store control information of the optional output signal port OP1, and a control device 78. The control information includes signal port use information and output condition information. If the signal port use information is ON, the control device 78 controls the optional output signal port OP1 based on the output condition information, and if the signal port use information is OFF, controls the optional output signal port OP1 so as to cause the optional output signal port OP1 to not function.