Remote Equipment Monitoring for Consumable Replenishment Alerts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for managing industrial equipment, such as washing machines and dishwashers, face challenges including delays and unnecessary costs due to inadequate communication of maintenance needs and consumable replenishment, leading to machine downtime and inefficient service delivery.
Innovation Solution
A remote management system that automatically monitors equipment conditions and consumable levels, sending alerts to the main owner for timely maintenance and replenishment based on agreed-upon modes, eliminating the need for user intervention and reducing downtime.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the main owner supplies washing liquids on request of the user, then the user can have liquids replenished when needed, but delays may occur in the supply resulting in machine downtime
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by automatically monitoring consumable levels and initiating replenishment requests before the user needs to manually request them. The central unit receives automatic notifications from peripheral units when consumables are running low, allowing the main owner to prepare and dispatch supplies in advance, thus preventing machine downtime while eliminating the need for user intervention.
2Reliability
If the main owner supplies washing liquids periodically, then regular maintenance can be ensured, but accumulation of washing liquids in excess at the user's premises occurs with consequent costs
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring the actual consumption levels of washing liquids through peripheral units and automatically communicating this information to the central unit. This real-time feedback enables the main owner to adjust supply timing and quantities precisely according to actual usage patterns, ensuring reliable maintenance while preventing excess accumulation at user premises.
3Ease of operation
If the user communicates maintenance needs manually, then the user can control when maintenance is requested, but the main owner could be unable to satisfy promptly all requests at the same time
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies self-service by enabling the equipment to automatically monitor its own condition and communicate maintenance needs without user intervention. Peripheral units detect consumable levels and component status, then automatically send notifications to the central unit, which coordinates maintenance scheduling. This eliminates the bottleneck of manual user requests while ensuring timely response to all equipment needs.
4Loss of time
If periodic control and maintenance interventions are planned, then maintenance can be scheduled in advance, but sometimes they could be unnecessary with consequent unnecessary costs
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements dynamics by transitioning from static periodic maintenance schedules to dynamic, condition-based maintenance planning. The central unit receives real-time data from peripheral units about actual consumable levels and equipment status, then adapts maintenance scheduling accordingly. This allows advance planning when needed while avoiding unnecessary maintenance interventions, optimizing both timing and resource allocation.
Data Source
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Figure 3a
Figure 3b
AI summary
System for remote management and control of a piece of equipment (1), wherein the use of the piece of equipment (1) involves the consumption of at least one liquid; at least one tank or container (3) for the liquid being associated with each piece of equipment; the system comprising a peripheral unit (10) for collecting and transferring data, which comprises a sensor (20) suitable to detect a given level of liquid in the container (3), and an operating unit (11) connected to the sensor (20) and suitable to receive at least one signal, transmitted by the sensor (20), concerning the given level of liquid; a central unit (15) being remotely connected to the peripheral unit (10), and the operating unit (11) being so configured as to alert the central unit when it receives at least one signal transmitted by the sensor (20).