Manufacturing network system

• US 6,772,033 B2
• Filed: 09/06/2002
• Issued: 08/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cooper Power Tools GmbH & Co.
• Original Assignee: Cooper Power Tools GmbH & Co.
• Inventors: Scherer, Johann, Wohlfarth, Klaus
• Primary Examiner(s): PALADINI, ALBERT WILLIAM
• Application Number:
  US10/236,299
• Publication Number:
  US 20030109947A1
• Time in Patent Office: 697 Days
• Field of Search: 700/108, 700/112, 700/115, 700/110, 700/96, 709/106, 707/10
• US Class Current: 700/115
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4185 characterised by the network communication
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 80/40 Minimising material used in manufacturing processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

A manufacturing network system comprises at least one master computer and at least one network computer linked therewith for the purpose of network management. The network computer is linked with a number of local control devices in the area of assembly lines, work stations, or the like. The local control devices are associated with field devices, such as initiators, actuators, screw control modules, or the like, of which corresponding work devices are controllable and/or actuable along the assembly lines, in the work stations, or the like. The net server is provided with a number of software modules and/or is linked with software modules in the manufacturing network system for the purpose of data acquisition, management and/or evaluation. The system provides a manufacturing network system which facilitates collection, storage, management and evaluation of data in many ways, and which allows queries at almost any point of the network system.

Claims

1. A manufacturing network system comprising:

at least one master computer;

at least one network computer interconnected between said master computer and a plurality of local control devices for the purpose of network management;

each of said plurality of local control devices located proximate one of an assembly line and a work station and connected with field devices, said field devices selected from the group consisting of initiators, actuators, and screw control modules;

a plurality of work devices connected to said field devices for being controlled or actuated thereby;

said network computer being provided with a plurality of software modules, including at least a first software module interconnected with other software modules in the manufacturing network system for the purpose of at least one of the functions selected from the group consisting of data acquisition, data management, and data evaluation, wherein said software modules are interconnected with each other for data exchange and for gueries at a number of points in the network system;

said first software module being also present in at least a plurality of said local control devices;

wherein said number of points for said queries including at least plurality of said local control devices.

2. The manufacturing network system according to claim 1 wherein the manufacturing network system takes over and transmits data using a protocol of the TCP/IP type.

3. The manufacturing network system according to claim 1 wherein said first software module is a program diagnosis module for at least diagnosing lower-level network components.

4. The manufacturing network system according to claim 3 wherein said program diagnosis module comprises a programming tool.

5. The manufacturing network system according to claim 3 wherein said manufacturing network system comprises an interface via which at least the program diagnosis module can be called and queried from outside the manufacturing network system.

6. The manufacturing network system according to claim 3 wherein said lower-level network component with respect to the program diagnosis module comprises a user-independent interface.

7. The manufacturing network system according to claim 1 wherein said first software module is a logbook module for displaying lower-level network components and their associated states.

8. The manufacturing network system according to claim 7 wherein system states can be checked from the logbook module in the event of an error message.

9. The manufacturing network system according to claim 7 wherein changes in the network system can be maintained in the logbook module.

10. The manufacturing network system according to claim 7 wherein said logbook module can be cleared for calling by network-external participants.

11. The manufacturing network system according to claim 7 wherein said logbook module contains data in a structure, and wherein at least one of said data or said structure can be changed.

12. The manufacturing network system according to claim 1 wherein the manufacturing network system further comprises an input means for programming system states via at least one input mask.

13. The manufacturing network system according to claim 1 wherein said first software module is a maintenance module with information on maintenance and repair activities.

14. The manufacturing network system according claim 13 wherein the maintenance module can output repair calls.

15. The manufacturing network system according to claim 13 wherein the maintenance module comprises a calculating means for calculating maintenance intervals in dependence upon an actual time of use of the field devices.

16. The manufacturing network system according to claim 13 wherein a layout plan of at least one of said local control devices and said field devices can be called from the maintenance module with highlighting of the corresponding components to be maintained or repaired.

17. The manufacturing network system according claim 13 wherein the maintenance module can receive repair confirmations.

18. The manufacturing network system according to claim 1 wherein said first software module is a data archiving module for archiving data related to at least one of process data, user data and system data.

19. The manufacturing network system according to claim 18 further comprising a logbook module for displaying lower-level network components and their associated states, and wherein said data archiving module and said logbook module are automatically connected for data transmission.

20. The manufacturing network system according to claim 18 wherein the data archiving module contains an actual data set and at least one predecessor version of the actual data set.

21. The manufacturing network system according to claim 18 wherein the data archiving module includes data callable by external systems via access authorization.

22. The manufacturing network system according to claim 1 wherein said first software module is a MDE/BDE module.

23. The manufacturing network system according claim 22 wherein the MDE/BDE module comprises a receiving means for signals by means of a TCP/IP connection corresponding to at least one of the set consisting of machine data and operating data.

24. The manufacturing network system according to claim 22 wherein the MDE/BDE module is connectable to at least one of the group consisting of an output means and a further software module.

25. The manufacturing network system according to claim 1 wherein said first software module is a plant overview module for outputting at least operative states and plant overviews.

26. The manufacturing network system according to claim 1 wherein said first software module is an order module for providing the orders to be particularly controlled by the field devices.

27. The manufacturing network system according to claim 26 wherein the order module contains data relating to at least one of the group consisting of assignment of an order to a work station, order handling by each work station, and desired working times.

28. The manufacturing network system according to claim 26 wherein the order module is connectable to at least one of the group consisting of an output means and a further software module.

29. The manufacturing network system according to claim 1 wherein said first software module is a quality management module.

30. The manufacturing network system according to claim 1 wherein the local control device is a personal computer.

31. The manufacturing network system according to claim 30 wherein the personal computer comprises a touch-sensitive screen.

32. The manufacturing network system according to claim 1 wherein the local control device is a programmable control system which is connected via a bus system to the field devices.

33. The manufacturing network system according to claim 32 wherein said programmable control system is a master SPS.

34. The manufacturing network system according to claim 1 further comprising a database accessible to said network computer.

35. The manufacturing network system according to claim 1 wherein said network system comprises at least one input means for the input of maintenance pictures.

36. The manufacturing network system according to claim 1 wherein said manufacturing network system comprises a tracking means for movable workpiece carriers.

37. The manufacturing network system according to claim 1 wherein said network computer comprises an event database system consisting at least of database and database connection for collecting data.

38. The manufacturing network system according to claim 37 wherein the database connection connects said database and a system visualizer.

39. The manufacturing network system according to claim 38 wherein the system visualizer is connected to at least one of an article managing system and an order administration system for data exchange therewith.

40. The manufacturing network system according to claim 38 wherein the system visualizer comprises a plurality of masks.

41. The manufacturing network system according to claim 40 wherein said masks communicate with at least one software module.

42. The manufacturing network system according to claim 37 wherein said database comprises a connection for querying selected from the group consisting of LAN type, WAN type, and intranet type.

43. The manufacturing network system according to claim 37 wherein a configuration tool is assigned to the event database system for the graphic parameterization of the database connection.

44. The manufacturing network system according to claim 1 wherein said first software module is a logbook module for displaying lower-level network components and component interactions thereof.

45. The manufacturing network system according claim 1 wherein the first software module is selected from the group consisting of a program diagnosis module for at least diagnosing lower-level network components;

a logbook module for displaying lower-level network components and their associated states;

a maintenance module with information on maintenance and repair activities;

a data archiving module for archiving data related to at least one of process data, user data, and system data;

a plant overview module for outputting at least operative states and plant overviews; and

a quality management module.

46. The manufacturing network system according claim 45 wherein the queries are handled by said first software module.