Wearable Cable Machine Control for Remote Error Handling

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Operators in cable processing machine systems face inefficiencies due to the need to manually gather information from multiple machines, manage error messages, and locate tools and materials, which is time-consuming and requires knowledge of hierarchical supervision structures.

Innovation Solution

A cable processing machine control system utilizing middleware for data exchange with data brokers and wearable communication devices that display role-dependent information and allow site-independent control, enabling operators and supervisors to manage machines without physically being present, with role-based access and action possibilities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If operators manually monitor multiple cable processing machines and gather information from each machine's monitor, then complete information is obtained, but time consumption increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation completenessVSAvoidtime consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges data from multiple cable processing machines into a single centralized display location (control panel or supervisor workstation). Instead of operators physically moving between machines to check monitors, all machine information is consolidated at one location, allowing simultaneous monitoring of multiple machines without increasing time consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a centralized control system or supervisor workstation as an intermediary between the cable processing machines and operators. This intermediary collects and displays information from all machines in one location, eliminating the need for operators to visit each machine individually while ensuring complete information is available.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If operators must locate supervisors and physical tools for error handling, then proper error management is achieved, but operational efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveerror managementVSAvoidoperational efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables operators to handle errors independently through the centralized control system. The system provides operators with direct access to error information and allows them to acknowledge or resolve errors without needing to locate supervisors or search for physical tools, making the error management process self-service oriented while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments error management authority into different levels. The centralized control system allows operators to handle routine errors independently, while supervisory functions remain available for complex errors. This segmentation enables most errors to be resolved quickly by operators without involving supervisors, improving operational efficiency while maintaining proper error management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If supervisors must physically visit machines to acknowledge errors, then error resolution is achieved, but time loss increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveerror resolutionVSAvoidtime loss

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical system of physical supervisor visits with an electronic control system. Supervisors can acknowledge and resolve errors remotely through the centralized control panel or workstation, eliminating the need to physically travel to machines. This substitution maintains reliable error resolution while dramatically reducing time loss associated with supervisor movement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Ease of manufacture

If operators need to search for materials and tools at unknown locations, then necessary resources are obtained, but time and effort increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresource availabilityVSAvoidsearch time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The centralized control system serves multiple functions: it displays machine information, provides error management capabilities, and indicates the locations of required materials and tools. By making the control system universal and multi-functional, operators can obtain all necessary information including resource locations from a single interface, eliminating the need for separate searches while ensuring necessary resources are available.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS11262726B2Cable processing machine control system, cable processing machine system and method for monitoring and controlling cable processing machines

Publication Date: 2022.03.01 KOMAX HOLDING

AI summary

A cable processing machine control system includes middleware for data exchange with data brokers of multiple cable processing machines, and a wearable communication device for data exchange with the middleware. When a user of the cable processing machine control system has logged into the wearable communication device, depending on a role of the user that is assigned by the middleware, different information is displayed for the user on the wearable communication device via the cable processing machines assigned to the assigned role of the user and/or different action possibilities for controlling the cable processing machines assigned to the assigned role of the user are provided for the user on the wearable communication device.