Method and apparatus for downloading data from a machine

• US 20070185605A1
• Filed: 10/26/2004
• Published: 08/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Marel, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Stork Townsend Incorporated
• Inventors: Pfeffer, Daniel, Basile, Vincent, Simpson, Mike, Joynt, Paul, McCloskey, Doug
• Granted Patent: US 7,962,236 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/116
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/05 Programmable logic controllers, e.g. simulating logic interconnections of signals according to ladder diagrams or function charts
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/13031 Use of touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/13171 Portable, detachable programming unit
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23377 Touch screen, with representation of buttons, machine on screen
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23406 Programmer device, portable, handheld detachable programmer
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/24058 Remote testing, monitoring independent from normal control by pc

Abstract

A device for downloading data from a machine having a touch screen or PLC to govern its operation, the device includes a handheld control unit that is operably associated with the touch screen or PLC such that the touch screen or PLC can be downloaded from the touch screen onto the device and information from the device can be transmitted to a personal computer to be viewed or printed. Additionally, a method of downloading the data from a machine having a touch screen or PLC to a handheld control unit and downloading this information to a personal computer such that the information can be viewed or printed.

Claims

1. A method of downloading data from a meat processing machine characterized in providing a meat processing machine;

providing an intermediary device that is operatively associated with the meat processing machine;

selectively actuating the intermediary device to transfer data from the meat processing machine to the intermediary device; and

formulating the transferred data to be viewed.

3. The method of claim 1 characterized in the transferred data is selected from the group consisting of running time, pressure settings, initials of person gather data, name of product being run, recipe being used to make the product, and meat processing information.

4. The method of claim 1 charaterized in the step of transmitting the transferred data to a controller.

9. The method of claim 1 characterized in that the meat processing machine has a touch screen that governs its information;

and the intermediary device is a hand-held control that has a screen such that an operator views information from the meat processing machine that has been transmitted to the hand-held control; and

wherein the hand-held control transmits information taken from the machine to a personal computer.

2. (canceled)

5. A system for downloading data from a meat processing machine an intermediary device operatively associated with the meat processing machine such that data is transferred from the meat processing machine to the intermediary device 16;

and the intermediary device being operable to formulate the transferred data to be viewed.

7. The system of claim 5 characterized in the transferred data is selected from the group consisting of running time, pressure settings, initials of person gather data, name of product being run, recipe being used to make the product, and meat processing information.

8. The system of claim 5 further characterized in a controller operatively associated with the intermediary device.

6. (canceled)