Internet-based remote control system for molding machine

• US 20020031567A1
• Filed: 09/10/2001
• Published: 03/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nissei Plastic Industrial Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissei Plastic Industrial Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Magario, Takashi
• Application Number:
  US09/952,238
• Publication Number:
  US 20020031567A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 425/135
• CPC Class Codes: B29B 7/728 Measuring data of the driving system, e.g. torque, speed, power, vibration B29B7/724 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2948/92076 Position, e.g. linear or angular
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2948/92209 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2948/92876 Feeding, melting, plasticising or pumping zones, e.g. the melt itself
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2948/92885 Screw or gear
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/76 Measuring, controlling or regulating measuring in general G01; controlling or regulating in general G05
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/92 Measuring, controlling or regulating
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31205 Remote transmission of measured values from site, local to host
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/33192 Radio link, wireless
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/33209 Protocol, mailbox, email, mail system
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/45244 Injection molding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A control system for a molding machine includes a control unit having a communication function to connect the control unit with a portable data terminal such as a mobile phone through the Internet so that operation of the molding machine can be controlled based on instructions given from remote locations via the mobile phone.

Claims

1. A control system for a molding machine, comprising:

at least one molding machine;

peripheral equipment which assist operation of the molding machine;

detecting devices for detecting operating conditions of the molding machine and the peripheral equipment;

a control unit for controlling operations of the molding machine and the peripheral equipment to produce a molded article based on information supplied from the detecting devices; and

a portable data terminal that can be hand-carried about remote locations,

wherein the control unit has a communication function to connect the control unit with the Internet and perform communication with the portable data terminal via the Internet, and

wherein the control unit performs transfer of various items of information between itself and the portable data terminal so as to achieve the monitoring and control of the molding machine based on instructions from the portable data terminal.

2. A control system for a molding machine according to claim 1, wherein the information items include information about the molding machine, information about the peripheral equipment, information about operations of the molding machine and the peripheral equipment, information about molding conditions, information about the manufacture and information about the molded article.

3. A control system for a molding machine according to claim 2, wherein the information about the manufacture comprises information about the manufacturing plan.

4. A control system for a molding machine according to one of claim 1, wherein the portable data terminal comprises a mobile phone.

5. A control system for a molding machine according to claim 4, wherein the mobile phone is used to give instructions to alter the molding conditions or the manufacturing plan.

6. A control system for a molding machine according to claim 1, wherein the control unit comprises a process controller mounted on the molding machine, and a host computer connected to the process controller by a communication line.