Diagnostic communication system for computer controlled machine tools

• US 3,882,305 A
• Filed: 01/15/1974
• Issued: 05/06/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/1974
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: Richard Johnstone
• Original Assignee: Richard Johnstone
• Inventors: Johnstone, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Botz, Eugene G.
• Application Number:
  US05/433,439
• Time in Patent Office: 476 Days
• Field of Search: 340/172.5 325/4 444/1 235/151.11,153
• US Class Current: 702/183
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4063 Monitoring general control system G05B19/4062 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4181 characterised by direct numerical control [DNC]
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/33182 Uart, serial datatransmission, modem
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/50185 Monitoring, detect failures, control of efficiency of machine, tool life
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2294 by remote test
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/80 Management or planning

Abstract

A diagnostic communication system for machine tools interlinks a computer controlled machine tool with diagnostic and analysis equipment located at a location remote from the machine tool. The computer associated with the machine tool is connected with the diagnostic apparatus over a telephone line, and the machine tool is caused to execute a predetermined routine as a result of instructions transmitted to the computer from the diagnostic apparatus. The operating characteristics of the machine are monitored during the operation of the machine, and are communicated to the diagnostic apparatus, where they are compared with corresponding characteristics previously collected for the same machine, and with design limit parameters. Such comparisons furnish an indication of the present operating condition of the machine tool, and establish trends, which are useful in identifying the nature and location of incipient faults or failures before they occur. The system is used both as a diagnostic tool for diagnosing abnormal machine conditions and as a preventative maintenance tool for performing preventative maintenance operations on a routine basis.

Claims

1. In a computer controlled machine tool system having a machine tool, a computer for said machine tool, and a power drive means connected to effect operation of said machine tool in response to signals from said computer, the combination comprising:

a. control means located at a site remote from said machine and connected to said computer for controlling said computer to operate said machine, b. means responsive to operation of said machcine tool for Communicating selected data from said machine site to said remote site, c. means located at said remote site for comparing said selected data with predetermined data, and d. means for manifesting a difference between said selected data and said predetermined data.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, including means for interconnecting said machine computer with said control means over an ordinary telephone line.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, including a first modulator-demodulator unit at said machine site interconnected between said computer and said telephone line and a second modulator-demodulator unit at said remote site interconnected between said control means and said telephone line.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control means comprises means for modifying the programs performed by said computer, and means interconnecting said computer with said modifying means, whereby said machine is operated in accordance with signals originating at said remote site and not by signals originating at said machine site.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said modifying means comprises storage means for storing a computer test program constituting a desired series of operations of said machine, means for transmitting said test program to said computer, and means located at said machine site for entering said program into said computer, whereby said computer is adapted to operate said machine tool in accordance with said test program.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said communication means comprises a first modulator-demodulator unit interconnected between said computer and a telephone line, a second modulator-demodulator unit interconnected between said control means and said telephone line, and means for transmitting over said telephone line signals representative of the operation of said machine tool while it is controlled by said computer, and storage means located at said remote site for storing data corresponding to said signals, whereby said data is available for comparison with other data transmitted over said telephone line at a subsequent time.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said storage means comprises means for storing a plurality of data items transmitted over said telephone line at spaced times, whereby said data is available for comparison with other data transmitted over said telephone line at a subsequent time.

8. Apparatus according to claim 1, including means located at said remote site for storing data representative of designed operating characteristics of said machine tool, said comparing means being operative to compare the data transmitted from said computer, which data is representative of actual machine tool operating characteristics, with corresponding data representative of said designed operating characteristics.

9. A method of performing monitoring and diagnostic operations on a computer controlled machine tool, comprising the steps of:

a. connecting the computer at the machine site to control apparatus located at a remote site, b. controlling said computer in accordance with control signals originating at said remote site, to cause said machine tool to be operated in accordance with said control signals, c. transmitting data representative of current operating characteristics of said machine tool to said control apparatus during operation of said machine tool, d. comparing said transmitted data with predetermined data at said remote site representative of other operating characteristics of said machine tool, and e. manifesting the difference between said transmitted data and said predetermined data.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein said connecting step comprises said computer and said control apparatus over an ordinary telephone line.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein said controlling step includes the step of transmitting a computer program from said control apparatus to said computer, said computer program causing said cOmputer to operate said machine tool in a predetermined manner, causing said computer to receive said computer program for execution and executing said computer program to operate said machine tool.

12. The method according to claim 9, including the steps of maintaining a record of said predetermined data, and maintaining a record of said transmitted data at said remote location, whereby said predetermined data and said transmitted data are available for comparison with data transmitted from said computer at a subsequent time.

13. A method of monitoring and performing diagnostic operations on a plurality of separately located computer controlled machine tools, comprising the steps of:

a. maintaining at a single analysis site, remote from at least some of said machine tools, a data storage file of operating characteristics collected at spaced time intervals and relating to each of said machine tools, b. establishing a communications connection between one of said computer controlled machine tools and said remote location over a telephone line, c. controlling the computer of said computer controlled machine tool to cause its machine tool to execute a predetermined diagnostic program, d. transmitting data representative of the operating characteristics of said machine tool from said controlled computer to said remote site, e. comparing said transmitted operating characteristics with corresponding characteristics maintained in said file, and f. manifesting differences between said transmitted characteristics and said corresponding characteristics.