Portable Welding Data Capture Using QR Display Transfer
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing portable welding machines face challenges in data recording and transmission, particularly in environments without internet access, and require retrofitting to integrate with existing systems.
Innovation Solution
A portable electric welding machine that summarizes data into machine-readable data sets, converts them into images like QR codes, and displays them on a screen, allowing capture by a mobile device for transmission to a server.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If welding data is recorded and transmitted in real-time via data network, then data analysis capability is improved, but portability and usability in remote locations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a copy of the welding data in machine-readable image form (QR code or barcode) that can be captured by mobile devices. This copy enables data transmission without requiring continuous network connectivity, allowing the welding machine to operate portably in remote locations while still enabling data analysis when network access is available.
Solution Approach 2:
The welding data is pre-converted into machine-readable image format and displayed on the welding machine's screen before any data transmission occurs. This preliminary preparation allows the data to be captured and stored on mobile devices for later transmission, resolving the contradiction between immediate data analysis and portability in remote areas.
2Ease of operation
If data is converted into machine-readable images for mobile device capture, then ease of data transmission is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit performs multiple functions: it records welding data, converts it into machine-readable image formats (QR codes or barcodes), and displays it on the screen. This multi-functionality simplifies the overall system by consolidating data processing and transmission preparation within the existing welding machine control unit, avoiding the need for separate dedicated devices.
3Loss of information
If existing welding machines are retrofitted with data recording capabilities, then data analysis capability is improved, but manufacturing cost and complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The welding machine uses its own existing display screen to present the machine-readable image containing the welding data. This self-service approach eliminates the need for additional display devices or complex external interfaces, making retrofitting simpler and more cost-effective while still enabling data capture by mobile devices.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention relates to a portable production machine, a mobile device, a production system comprising a portable production machine and a mobile device, and a method for data acquisition. According to the invention, production data is automatically acquired at the production machine, which can be, for example, a welding or cutting machine, organized into data sets, and converted into data set images that are displayed on a screen. The displayed data set images are captured with a mobile device and transmitted to a central server. This allows a large number of production machines to be integrated into a data system without requiring any hardware modifications to the production machines.