Rewritable Drive System for Universal Machine Adaptation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing machines for handling containers require multiple drive systems to be stocked for different machine types due to varying requirements, leading to inefficiencies in maintenance and stock management.
Innovation Solution
A drive system with a rewritable memory device allows for direct transfer of control programs from a higher-level machine control to the drive system, eliminating the need for multiple interchangeable systems by using a uniform drive system with adaptable control programs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple interchangeable drive systems are stocked for different machine types, then each machine type can be serviced with the appropriate drive system, but inventory complexity and stock requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The drive system is designed with a universal hardware platform that can serve multiple machine types. A single drive system unit can be deployed across different bottle treatment machines (e.g., labelling machines, rinsing machines, sterilising machines) by loading machine-specific control programs from a data carrier, eliminating the need to stock multiple specialized drive systems.
Solution Approach 2:
Machine-specific control programs are pre-stored on a data carrier (such as a memory card or removable storage device). When a drive system needs to be configured for a specific machine type, the appropriate program is already available on the data carrier and can be quickly loaded, avoiding the need to have pre-configured drive systems in inventory for each machine type.
2Ease of operation
If machine-specific control programs are pre-installed on drive systems, then the drive system is ready for immediate use, but the drive system cannot be easily adapted to different machine types
Solution Approach 1:
The drive system incorporates dynamic reconfigurability through a loadable program mechanism. The control program is not fixed but can be changed by loading different machine-specific programs from a data carrier, allowing the same hardware to adapt its behavior to different machine types while maintaining immediate operational readiness.
Solution Approach 2:
A data carrier serves as an intermediary between the universal drive system hardware and machine-specific control programs. The data carrier stores multiple machine-specific programs and enables the drive system to load the appropriate program for the current machine type, bridging the gap between universal hardware and specific application requirements.
3Quantity of substance
If a uniform drive system is used across all machine types with programmable control, then inventory requirements are reduced, but the complexity of program management and transfer increases
Solution Approach 1:
The machine-specific control programs are extracted from the drive system hardware and stored externally on a removable data carrier. This separation allows the drive system hardware to remain simple and universal, while the complexity of different machine-specific programs is managed externally through the data carrier, reducing the burden on the drive system itself.
4Ease of repair
If drive systems are designed as modular units for quick replacement, then maintenance time is reduced, but ensuring program compatibility with the specific machine type becomes more critical
Solution Approach 1:
The drive system includes a program selection mechanism that provides feedback to ensure the correct machine-specific program is loaded. The system can detect which machine type it is installed in and automatically select or prompt the operator to select the appropriate program from the data carrier, preventing incompatibility issues after quick replacement.
Data Source
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Figure 2
Figure 2
AI summary
A drive system (9) for use in apparatuses or machines (1) for treating bottles, tins and similar containers, wherein the apparatuses or machines (1) have a superordinate machine controller (20), and the drive system (9) is designed to be replaceable and has at least one drive element, an electronic control and/or regulating and/or monitoring device (14) and a storage device (16) for recording a control program for the electronic control and/or regulating and/or monitoring device (14), is intended to be used in a large number of different machines without any manual adaptation. This is achieved by virtue of the fact that in each case corresponding communication interfaces (17) are provided on the drive system (9) and the machine controller (20) and the storage device (16) is designed to be rewritable and is set up in such a way that the control program can be transferred from the machine controller (20) into the storage device (16) by means of the communication interfaces (17).