Method and apparatus for monitoring or controlling a machine tool system

• US 9,141,105 B2
• Filed: 07/23/2008
• Issued: 09/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hurco Companies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hurco Companies, Inc.
• Inventors: Trepina, Matthew David, Pavlakos, Elias G, Volovic, Gregory S, Allen, John Christopher, Fabris, James D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ali, Mohammad
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rao, Sheela S
• Application Number:
  US12/178,422
• Publication Number:
  US 20100023156A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,617 Days
• Field of Search: 700/88, 700/174, 700/185, 706/11, 709/227
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/406 characterised by monitoring or safety G05B19/19 takes precedence

Abstract

A system for remotely monitoring one or more machine tool systems is disclosed. The system may monitor a plurality of machine tool systems which are associated with different customers and at a plurality of facilities. A remote user may access information regarding the machine tool system through a user interface and specific that notifications be sent upon the occurrence of various conditions. A system for updating software of a machine tool system is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring with a remote controller a first machine tool system and a second machine tool system each of the machine tool systems having a plurality of tools which are used to remove material from a respective blank to form a respective part, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a first notification from the first machine tool system that the first machine tool system is active, the first notification being provided through a first data connection to the remote controller, the first data connection being initiated by the first machine tool system;

receiving a second notification from the second machine tool system that the second machine tool system is active, the second notification being provided through a second data connection to the remote controller, the second data connection being initiated by the second machine tool system;

receiving periodic updates from the first machine tool system related to a plurality of parameters being monitored by the first machine tool system;

receiving periodic updates from the second machine tool system related to a plurality of parameters being monitored by the second machine tool system; and

providing to a remote device a user interface which includes a graphical representation of the first machine tool system and a graphical representation of the second machine tool system.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of receiving a selection of the first machine tool system through the user interface by a user of the remote device.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of notifying the first machine tool system that the remote device has selected the first machine tool system.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the periodic updates from the first machine tool system are at a first time interval and the periodic updates from the second machine tool system are at a second time interval, the first time interval being shorter than the second time interval.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the periodic updates from the first machine tool system are at a first time interval and the periodic updates from the second machine tool system are at a second time interval, the first time interval being generally equal to the second time interval.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

sending a first request to the first machine tool system to provide at least one screen shot of a first display screen of the user interface of the first machine tool; and

receiving the at least one screen shot of the first display screen of the user interface of the first machine tool.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

sending a second request to the first machine tool to provide at least one image taken by a camera directed at the first machine tool; and

receiving the at least one image taken by the camera directed at the first machine tool.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the at least one image is a plurality of images taken at spaced apart time intervals of at least one second.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first machine tool is at a first facility and the second machine tool is at a second facility spaced apart from the first facility.