Method and automatic machine for processing a product

• US 20020062159A1
• Filed: 10/17/2001
• Published: 05/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: G. D. Societa Per Azioni
• Original Assignee: G.D. Societa per Azioni.
• Inventors: Draghetti, Fiorenzo, Cesari, Verter, Maglioni, Maurizio, Albertini, Daniela, Pareschi, Stefano
• Granted Patent: US 6,892,358 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/29
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/964 CAD or CAM, e.g. interactive design tools
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/97 Instrumentation and component modelling, e.g. interactive control panel

Abstract

A method and automatic machine for processing a product, whereby, from all the regulating and/or monitoring items as a whole, a first group is determined containing a small number of frequently used items having a direct effect on the product; to permit fast use by an operator of the items in the first group, a screen of an interface device displays the items in the first group graphically by means of respective icons, each of which is connected to a synoptic background image showing the function of the relative item substantially in the region in which the relative item is actually effective.

Claims

1. A method of processing a product on an automatic machine (1);

the automatic machine (1) comprising a set of regulating and/or monitoring items (9), and an operator interface (11) having a display screen (16);

and the method being characterized by comprising the steps of determining a first group of said regulating and/or monitoring items (9) containing a small number of frequently used items (9);

and displaying at least some items (9) in the first group graphically on said screen (16) by means of respective icons (31), each of which is connected to a synoptic background image (32) showing the function of the relative item (9) substantially in the region in which the relative item (9) is actually effective.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said items (9) in the first group have a direct effect on the product (2).

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that at least one said icon (31) is assigned two or more said regulating and/or monitoring items (9) in said first group.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said synoptic background image (32) is an image of at least one part of the machine (1);

said icons (31) being connected to said synoptic background image (32) in the regions in which the corresponding items (9) are actually located.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the user may select said synoptic background image (32) from a number of synoptic images (32) of the machine (1), each showing the machine (1) or part of the machine (1) in a respective degree of detail;

each said icon (31) being connected to at least one respective said synoptic image of the machine (1).

6. A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said synoptic background image (32) is an image of at least one part of the product (2);

said icons (31) being connected to said synoptic background image (32) in the regions in which the corresponding items (9) are actually effective.

7. A method as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the user may select said synoptic background image (32) from a number of synoptic images (32) of the product (2), each showing the product (2) or part of the product (2) in a respective degree of detail;

each said icon (31) being connected to at least one respective said synoptic image of the product (2).

8. A method as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that said synoptic images (32) are arranged in a tree structure having different levels, each having a respective degree of detail.

9. A method as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that said synoptic images (32) are two-dimensional images.

10. A method as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that said two-dimensional synoptic images (32) are formed by digitizing photographs.

11. A method as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that said synoptic images (32) are three-dimensional images.

12. A method as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that each said three-dimensional synoptic background image (32) is a solid three-dimensional model.

13. A method as claimed in claim 12, characterized in that each said three-dimensional synoptic background image (32) can be rotated.

14. A method as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that parts may be eliminated from each said three-dimensional synoptic background image (32).

15. A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that each said synoptic background image (32) can be enlarged to display a given portion of the synoptic background image (32).

16. A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said regulating and/or monitoring items (9) in the first group are divided according to function;

all the regulating and/or monitoring items (9) in the first group having the same function being assigned an icon (31) of substantially the same type.

17. A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, in response to selection of a given said icon (31), a window (33) is displayed containing operating details of the relative said regulating and/or monitoring item (9).

18. A method as claimed in claim 17, characterized in that said operating details of a regulating item (9) comprise means for receiving a command to vary the respective regulating parameters.

19. A method as claimed in claim 17, characterized in that said operating details of a regulating item (9) comprise animation to show the effect the action of the regulation item (9) has on said product (2).

20. A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said screen (16) shows graphically at least a first further icon (34) corresponding to a service item (9) and indicating the necessity to perform a given service job.

21. A method as claimed in claim 20, characterized in that said first further icon (34) is shown on the screen (16) at predetermined deadlines.

22. A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said screen (16) shows graphically at least a second further icon (35) corresponding to a help item (9) and showing the operator the manner in which to perform a given job on the machine (1).

23. A method as claimed in claim 22, characterized in that said second further icon (35) is shown automatically on the screen (16) when a problem arises on the machine (1).

24. A method as claimed in claim 22, characterized in that said manner in which to perform a given job is detailed in the form of text strings, images, photographs and/or animation.

25. A method as claimed in claim 24, characterized in that said animation is provided with sound.

28. A machine as claimed in claim 27, characterized in that said interface device (11) comprises a second transmission library (22) by which the application program (20) communicates with the control unit (10) to exchange information subject to very strict time specifications.

29. A machine as claimed in claim 27, characterized in that said application program (20) is a package of intelligent graphic items (31, 32, 33, 34, 35) for monitoring data or modifying parameters of the machine (1).

26. An automatic machine for processing a product;

the automatic machine (1) comprising a set of regulating and/or monitoring items (9), and an operator interface (11) having a display screen (16);

and the machine (1) being characterized by comprising interface means (11) for determining a first group of said regulating and/or monitoring items (9) containing a small number of frequently used items (9);

and display means (11) for displaying at least some items (9) in the first group graphically on said screen (16) by means of respective icons (31), each of which is connected to a synoptic background image (32) showing the function of the relative item (9) substantially in the region in which the relative item (9) is actually effective.

27. An automatic machine for processing a product;

said automatic machine (1) comprising a control unit (10) and an interface device (11) which allows an operator to interface with the control unit (10);

the interface device (11) comprising a database (18) containing data and parameters of said automatic machine (1), and an application program (20) for monitoring data or modifying parameters;

the machine (1) being characterized in that said interface device (11) comprises a data communication protocol (19) for acquiring and memorizing field data in the database (18) and for entering parameters in the control unit (10) on the basis of the values in the database (18);

and a first transmission library (21) by which the application program (20) communicates with the database (18).

30. A method of processing a product on an automatic machine (1) comprising a display screen (16);

the method being characterized by comprising the steps of displaying on said screen (16) a sequence of diagnostic images, each illustrating graphically the effect of a given problem on the machine (1) and/or on the products (2);

and assigning each said diagnostic image a description of the problem, a description of the possible causes of the problem, and a list of actions to be performed to solve the problem.

31. A method as claimed in claim 30, characterized in that said list of actions to be performed is arranged in decreasing order of the probable success of said actions.

32. A method as claimed in claim 30, characterized in that said actions are detailed in the form of text strings, images, photographs and/or animation.

33. A method as claimed in claim 32, characterized in that said animation is provided with audio.

35. A method as claimed in claim 32, characterized in that, for each regulating item (9), the actual effect of the respective regulation on said product (2) is detailed.

36. A method as claimed in claim 35, characterized in that the actual effect of a regulating item (9) on said product (2) is detailed by means of graphic display tools.

37. A method as claimed in claim 36, characterized in that animation of the effect on said product (2) of the regulation of a said regulating item (9) is displayed on said screen (16).

34. A method of processing a product on an automatic machine (1) comprising a display screen (16) and an input device (15);

the method providing an operator, by means of said screen (16), with information (31, 33) relative to the status and control of regulating and/or monitoring items (9);

characterized in that said information (31, 33) is related to the actual function and/or effect of the relative item (9) with respect to said product (2).