Working Machine Operating State Display with Interval Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

The complexity of modern workstations in the food and packaging industries, with numerous controllable and movable components, leads to increased potential sources of errors and malfunctions, making error analysis and fault identification increasingly difficult due to the multitude of operating status information available.

Innovation Solution

A working machine with a control unit and display system that simplifies the visualization of operating status information by dividing time into intervals and using distinct visual representations, such as colors, to indicate different operating states, allowing operators to quickly identify faults and determine necessary interventions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If extensive sensors and operating status information are provided to enable monitoring and fault analysis, then the ability to detect and measure operating states is improved, but the complexity of fault analysis and the difficulty of assessing relevant disturbances increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedifficulty of fault analysisVSAvoidcomplexity of fault analysis

Core Design Contradiction:

Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The time period is divided into multiple intervals, and the operating status is segmented into distinct visual representations for each interval. This segmentation allows operators to analyze faults chronologically and locally, reducing the cognitive load of processing extensive operating status information from multiple sensors simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different operating states are represented by distinct visual representations, including color-coded indicators. This visual encoding transforms complex sensor data into easily distinguishable patterns, enabling rapid assessment of relevant disturbances without requiring complex analysis of raw sensor information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

2Measurement precision

If the workstation becomes more extensive with more sensors, then the measurement precision of operating status information is improved, but the ease of operation for assessing disturbances deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprecision of operating status informationVSAvoidease of assessing disturbances

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of presenting raw sensor data directly, the system creates simplified visual copies or representations of the operating status for each time interval. These visual representations serve as easy-to-interpret copies that retain the essential information needed for disturbance assessment while eliminating the complexity of extensive sensor data.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses color-coded visual representations to encode operating states, transforming precise but complex sensor measurements into intuitively understandable visual signals. This allows operators to quickly assess disturbances at a glance without needing to interpret extensive numerical data from multiple sensors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

3Reliability

If operating status information is displayed in detail to enable comprehensive fault analysis, then the reliability of fault detection is improved, but the loss of time for operator assessment increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereliability of fault detectionVSAvoidtime for operator assessment

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the time period into intervals and providing visual representations for each interval, the system enables operators to quickly scan through time segments to identify when faults occurred. This maintains reliable fault detection by preserving temporal information while dramatically reducing the time needed to assess disturbances compared to analyzing continuous detailed data.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system displays visual representations for each time interval rather than continuous detailed data, providing just enough information for reliable fault detection without the overwhelming detail that would increase assessment time. This partial representation approach maintains detection reliability while optimizing response time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP3985622A1Working machine with operating state display

Publication Date: 2022.04.20 FRITSCH BAKERY TECHNOLOGIES GMBH & CO KG

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AI summary

A machine for processing products in the food industry and/or the packaging industry, the machine comprising at least one workstation, a control unit and a display, wherein the control unit is connected to the workstation for transmitting operating status information and wherein the control unit is configured to control the display in such a way that an operating status indicator, which is indicative of the operating status information obtained from the workstation over a period of time, can be displayed by the display, wherein the period of time is divided into at least two intervals and wherein the control unit is configured to control the display in such a way that an optical representation of the operating status can be made in each of the intervals based on the operating status information for the respective interval, wherein the optical representations of different operating states differ.