Touchscreen Manual Control for Industrial Machine Drive Shafts
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Solution Overview
Problem
The manufacturing costs of control panels for industrial machines are increased due to the need for dedicated switches for various operation modes.
Innovation Solution
A controller with a decision unit to determine if the operation mode is manual, an image display unit to show operation images on a display screen, and a control unit to control the driving axis based on the determined motion mode, eliminating the need for dedicated switches by using touch operations on a display screen to set and control the operation modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If dedicated switches are provided for each operation mode (axis selection switch, magnification selection switch, axis movement switch, jog feed switch), then the control panel can perform various operations, but the manufacturing costs of the control panel increase
Solution Approach 1:
The touch panel serves multiple functions by displaying different operation images for different operation modes (teaching mode, manual operation mode, automatic operation mode). A single touch panel replaces multiple dedicated switches, allowing the same hardware component to perform various control functions through software-based mode switching and image display variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses visual images displayed on the touch panel to represent physical switches and operations. The operation images include buttons and graphical elements that replicate the functionality of physical switches, allowing operators to interact with virtual representations rather than physical components, thereby reducing hardware requirements.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple dedicated switches are provided on the control panel, then various operations can be controlled, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate control functions into a single integrated touch panel. Instead of having separate physical switches for axis selection, magnification selection, axis movement, and jog feed operations, all these functions are combined into one touch panel that displays context-sensitive operation images based on the current operation mode.
Solution Approach 2:
The touch panel displays dynamically changing operation images that adapt to the current operation mode. The displayed buttons and their functions change based on whether the system is in teaching mode, manual operation mode, or automatic operation mode, allowing the interface to reconfigure itself without physical reconfiguration.
3Ease of operation
If operation images are displayed on the display screen, then user interaction is enhanced and visibility is improved, but the control panel requires more sophisticated display technology
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical switches and physical control elements with a graphical user interface displayed on a touch panel. Operators interact with visual images and buttons on the screen rather than manipulating physical switches, substituting mechanical interaction with graphical touchscreen interaction that provides better visibility and user feedback.
Data Source
AI summary
This control device includes: a determination unit that determines whether an operation mode which has been set is a manual operation mode; an image display unit that causes a manipulation image corresponding to the manual operation mode to be displayed on a display screen, if the determination unit has determined that the operation mode is the manual operation mode; an assessment unit that assess the movement state of a drive shaft on the basis of a manipulation performed with respect to the manipulation image; and a control unit that controls the drive shaft on the basis of the movement state assessed by the assessment unit.