Method and automatic machine for processing a product

• US 6,892,358 B2
• Filed: 10/17/2001
• Issued: 05/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: G. D. Societa Per Azioni
• Original Assignee: G. D. Societa Per Azioni
• Inventors: Maglioni, Maurizio, Albertini, Daniela, Pareschi, Stefano, Draghetti, Fiorenzo, Cesari, Verter
• Primary Examiner(s): BAUTISTA, XIOMARA L
• Application Number:
  US09/978,843
• Publication Number:
  US 20020062159A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,301 Days
• Field of Search: 715/700, 715/705, 715/709, 715/764, 715/771, 715/772, 715/781, 715/810, 715/811, 715/835, 715/836, 715/838, 715/839, 715/844, 715/846, 715/848, 715/853, 715/964, 715/970, 715/976, 715/977, 715/978, 345/419, 345/420, 345/473, 345/619, 345/649, 345/650, 345653-656, 345/700, 345/705, 345/709, 345/764, 345/765, 345/771, 345/772, 345/781, 345/810, 345/811, 345/835, 345/836, 345/838, 345/839, 345/844, 345/848, 345/853, 345/964, 345/970, 345/976, 345/977, 345/978, 700/17, 700/64, 700/65, 700/83, 700/90, 700/91, 700/95, 700/97, 700/98, 700/108, 702/179, 702/181, 702/182, 702/183, 702/185, 702/187, 702/188
• US Class Current: 715/771
• 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 comprising the steps of

feeding the product along a processing path;

subjecting the product to a number of processing steps while the product is fed alone the processing path;

supervising the processing steps by a set of regulating and/or monitoring items;

determining a first group of said regulating and/or monitoring items containing a small number of frequently used items, which have a direct effect on the processing of the product; and

displaying at least some items in the first group graphically on screen by means of respective icons, each of which is connected to a synoptic background image of at least one part of the product showing the function of a relative item on the product;

wherein said icons are connected to said synoptic background image in the regions in which the relative items are actually effective.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one said icon is assigned two or more said regulating and/or monitoring items in said first group.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the user may select said synoptic background image from a number of synoptic images of the product each showing the product or part of the product in a respective degree of detail;

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

4. A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein said synoptic images are arranged in a tree structure having different levels, each having a respective degree of detail.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said synoptic images are two-dimensional images.

6. A method as claimed in claim 5, wherein said two-dimensional synoptic images are formed by digitizing photographs.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said synoptic images are three-dimensional images.

8. A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein said each said three-dimensional synoptic background image is a solid three-dimensional model.

9. A method as claimed in claim 8, wherein said each said three-dimensional synoptic background image can be rotated.

10. A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein said parts may be eliminated from each said three-dimensional synoptic background image.

11. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said each said synoptic background image can be enlarged to display a given portion of the synoptic background image.

12. A method as claimed in claim 1, said regulating and/or monitoring items in the first group are divided according to function;

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

13. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in response to selection of a given said icon, a window is displayed containing operating details of the relative said regulating and/or monitoring item.

14. A method as claimed in claim 13, wherein said operating details of a regulating item comprise means for receiving a command to vary the respective regulating parameters.

15. A method as claimed in claim 13, wherein said operating details of a regulating item comprise animation to show the effect the action of the regulation item has on said product.

16. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said screen shows graphically at least a first further icon corresponding to a service item and indicating the necessity to perform a given service job.

17. A method as claimed in claim 16, wherein said first further icon is shown on the screen at predetermined deadlines.

18. A method as claimed in claim 1, said screen shows graphically at least a second further icon corresponding to a help item and showing the operator the manner in which to perform a given job on the machine.

19. A method as claimed in claim 18, wherein said second further icon is shown automatically on the screen when a problem arises on the machine.

20. A method as claimed in claim 18, wherein said manner in which to perform a given job is detailed in the form of text strings, images, photographs and/or animation.

21. A method as claimed in claim 20, said animation is provided with sound.

22. An automatic machine for processing a product;

the automatic machine comprising

feeding devices for feeding the product along a processing path;

processing elements arranged along the processing path for subjecting the product to a number of processing steps;

a set of regulating and/or monitoring items for supervising the processing elements

an operator interface having a display screen;

interface means for determining a first group of said regulating and/or monitoring items containing a small number of frequently used items which have a direct effect on the processing of the product; and

display means for displaying at least some items in the first group graphically on said screen by means of respective icons, each of which is connected to a synoptic background image of at least one part of the product showing the function of the relative item on the product;

wherein said icons are connected to said synoptic background image in the regions in which the relative items are actually effective.