Touchscreen Multi-Axis Control for Injection Press Maneuvering

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current operator control panels for injection presses are laborious and inconvenient, as they require separate and sequential control of correlated press axes, making it difficult for operators to manage multiple axes simultaneously.

Innovation Solution

A touch screen operator control panel with a central manoeuvring area where icons of multiple correlated axes are displayed, allowing simultaneous control by dragging the icons in various directions, enabling direct and intuitive multi-axis movement management without substantial structural changes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If separate and sequential control of correlated press axes is used, then each axis can be controlled individually, but the control process becomes laborious and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of axis controlVSAvoidtime for manoeuvring axes
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple axis control icons into a single manoeuvring area on the touch screen interface. Instead of requiring separate control areas for each axis, the invention merges them into one unified space where operators can access and control multiple correlated axes simultaneously, thereby reducing the time and effort required for manoeuvring.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a two-dimensional manoeuvring area where icons can be positioned and dragged in different directions to control different axes. This spatial arrangement allows operators to access multiple axes within a single visual field, transforming the sequential one-axis-at-a-time control into a parallel multi-axis control interface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple sliders are provided for moving different press axes, then each axis movement can be controlled, but the interface becomes complex and does not allow simultaneous display of correlated axes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecapability to control multiple axesVSAvoidinterface complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal manoeuvring area that serves multiple functions: displaying icons of different axes, allowing selection of correlated axes, and enabling control of multiple axes within a single interface element. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate control mechanisms for each axis, reducing interface complexity while maintaining versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the control interface by displaying individual axis icons within the unified manoeuvring area. Each icon represents a specific axis and can be independently selected and manipulated, allowing operators to control specific axes while maintaining an overview of all correlated axes in the same visual space.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If icons are dragged along a single axis, then simple one-dimensional control is achieved, but control of correlated axes becomes inconvenient and laborious

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesimplicity of controlVSAvoidcapability to control correlated axes
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extends the control interface from one-dimensional linear dragging to two-dimensional manoeuvring. Icons can be positioned and dragged in multiple directions within the manoeuvring area, allowing operators to access and control different correlated axes by dragging in different directions, thereby maintaining simplicity while increasing versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP3309671B1Touch screen panel with multi-axis manoeuvring of injection presses for plastic materials
Publication Date: 2021.04.07 NEGRI BOSSI
  • EP3309671B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3309671B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3309671B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

Touch screen operator control panel for industrial machines, in particular for the control of manoeuvring of the axes of injection presses for plastics, comprising an operator interface on which icons are displayed indicating the various axes of a press, said icons being individually selectable in order to be dragged into an area (2) of manoeuvring where they are translatable in the two ways of a prefixed direction to impart the corresponding movements to the selected axis, wherein the possibility is provided of simultaneously displaying in said manoeuvring area (2) icons of several press axes correlated one to the other and of actuating sequentially/selectively the movements of these press axes by dragging a central zone (1) of said manoeuvring area (2) in the corresponding different directions wherein the respective icons of the press axes are displayed.