Tool Holding Position Control for Flexible Tool Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tool management systems face challenges in handling increased numbers of tools and changes in tool specifications, leading to memory storage issues and the need for memory expansion or changes when dealing with varying tool configurations.
Innovation Solution
A tool management device that includes an information acquisition unit for acquiring configuration information, a holding position setting unit for setting tool holding positions based on acquired information, and a command generation unit for generating drive commands to move tools to transfer positions, eliminating the need for permanent memory storage of tool information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If tool information is stored collectively in advance in memory, then tool management is simplified, but memory expansion is required when the number of tools increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-acquires configuration information about the tool holding mechanism's structure and capabilities before tool management operations begin. This preliminary acquisition of structural data enables the system to dynamically calculate and determine appropriate holding positions without requiring pre-stored information for every possible tool configuration, thus avoiding memory expansion while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The tool holding mechanism itself provides information about its current state and capabilities through sensors and status indicators. The system queries the mechanism directly to acquire configuration information, rather than relying on external memory storage. This self-service approach allows the system to adapt to varying numbers of tools without requiring expanded memory capacity.
2Productivity
If tool information is stored in memory, then tool positions can be managed efficiently, but the system cannot adapt to changes in tool specifications without memory changes
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically acquires configuration information about the tool holding mechanism rather than relying on static pre-stored data. This dynamic approach allows the system to adapt to changes in tool specifications and configurations in real-time, maintaining both management efficiency and adaptability without requiring memory changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes its operational parameters by acquiring updated configuration information when tool specifications change. Rather than requiring memory reconfiguration, the system adapts by retrieving new configuration data about the mechanism's current state, enabling flexible response to specification changes while maintaining efficient tool management.
3Device complexity
If a fixed memory structure is used for tool information, then system complexity is reduced, but flexibility to handle varying tool configurations is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces an information acquisition mechanism as an intermediary between the fixed memory structure and the varying tool configurations. This intermediary dynamically retrieves and processes configuration information, allowing the simple fixed memory structure to handle complex varying configurations without increasing system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A tool management device according to the present invention that manages the tools, for a target device including a tool holding mechanism that holds a plurality of tools, includes an information acquisition unit that acquires configuration information including a current tool holding state in the tool holding mechanism, a holding position setting unit that sets holding positions at which the tools are held in the tool holding mechanism based on the above-described configuration information and tool information on the tools, and a command generation unit that generates a drive command for moving the holding positions in the tool holding mechanism to a transfer position at which the tools are transferred.