Substrate Working Device Operator Availability Mode

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing substrate working devices face significant efficiency reductions due to the need for operator intervention, particularly when operators are absent, leading to frequent stoppages and errors during automatic running.

Innovation Solution

The substrate working device incorporates a control system that switches to a 'continuation preference mode' when an operator is unavailable, reducing the likelihood of operator requests and error responses by adjusting conditions such as retry frequencies, standby times, and working speeds, allowing continuous operation without immediate stoppages.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the substrate working device operates in normal mode with standard error response requests, then working speed and productivity are improved, but the device stops frequently when operators are absent, reducing overall working efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveworking speedVSAvoidcontinuous operation capability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically switches between normal mode and continuation preference mode based on operator availability status. When operator unavailability is detected, the control portion changes the running condition from normal mode to continuation preference mode, adjusting error response thresholds and retry frequencies to prevent stoppages during automatic running

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The control portion changes operational parameters including error determination thresholds, retry frequencies, and standby times when switching to continuation preference mode. These parameter adjustments make error determination harder to occur, allowing the device to continue operation even when minor errors occur during automatic running without operator intervention

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the device generates operator operation requests for error responses, then error handling accuracy is improved, but production line stoppages increase when operators are unavailable

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveerror handling accuracyVSAvoidproduction continuity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The substrate working device performs self-service error handling by automatically retrying operations and extending standby times when in continuation preference mode. The control portion determines whether to request operator intervention based on the current mode, allowing the device to handle certain errors autonomously without stopping production when operators are unavailable

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system preliminarily adjusts error response thresholds and retry frequencies before operator unavailability causes problems. When operator unavailability is detected, the control portion proactively switches to continuation preference mode with relaxed error criteria, preventing stoppages before they occur

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If the device operates at high working speed, then productivity is improved, but error occurrence frequency increases, leading to more operator intervention requests

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveworking speedVSAvoiderror occurrence frequency
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts working speed based on operational mode. In continuation preference mode, the control portion reduces working speed to lower error occurrence frequency, while maintaining higher speeds in normal mode when operators are available to handle errors, thus balancing productivity and error rate

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2988583B1Substrate working device, substrate working method, and substrate working system
Publication Date: 2018.10.10 YAMAHA MOTOR CO LTD
  • EP2988583B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2988583B1 patent drawingFigure 3~6
  • EP2988583B1 patent drawingFigure 7~8

AI summary

This substrate working device (1) includes a transportation portion (12) performing introduction/discharge of a substrate (CB), a working portion (11) performing prescribed work processing on the substrate, and a control portion (14) acquiring a compatibility/incompatibility status as to whether or not an operator is compatible with an operator operation request requesting the operator to perform a prescribed operation. The control portion switches a running mode for automatic running to a normal mode and to a continuation preference mode in which the operator operation request is harder to generate than in the normal mode in response to the compatibility/incompatibility status.