Diagnostic communications system for computer controlled machine tools
First Claim
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 .Iadd.tool .Iaddend.and connected to said computer for controlling said computer to operate said machine.[.,.]. .Iadd.tool so as to cause said computer for said machine tool to initiate execution of a set of predetermined diagnostic programs to gather diagnostic data indicative of the operating characteristics of said machine tool;
.Iaddend.b. means responsive to the operation of said machine tool for communicating .[.selected.]. .Iadd.said diagnostic .Iaddend.data from said machine tool site to said remote site.[.,.]..Iadd.;
c. means located at said remote site for comparing said .[.selected.]. .Iadd.diagnostic .Iaddend.data with .[.predetermined.]. .Iadd.previously gathered initial machine .Iaddend.data.[.,.]. .Iadd.indicative of the same operating characteristics of the machine tool when it was in its pristine state; and
.Iaddend.d. means for manifesting a difference between said .[.selected.]. .Iadd.diagnostic data .Iaddend.and said .[.predetermined.]. .Iadd.previously gathered initial machine .Iaddend.data.
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Accused Products
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.
35 Citations
13 Claims
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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:
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a. control means located at a site remote from said machine .Iadd.tool .Iaddend.and connected to said computer for controlling said computer to operate said machine.[.,.]. .Iadd.tool so as to cause said computer for said machine tool to initiate execution of a set of predetermined diagnostic programs to gather diagnostic data indicative of the operating characteristics of said machine tool;
.Iaddend.b. means responsive to the operation of said machine tool for communicating .[.selected.]. .Iadd.said diagnostic .Iaddend.data from said machine tool site to said remote site.[.,.]..Iadd.; c. means located at said remote site for comparing said .[.selected.]. .Iadd.diagnostic .Iaddend.data with .[.predetermined.]. .Iadd.previously gathered initial machine .Iaddend.data.[.,.]. .Iadd.indicative of the same operating characteristics of the machine tool when it was in its pristine state; and
.Iaddend.d. means for manifesting a difference between said .[.selected.]. .Iadd.diagnostic data .Iaddend.and said .[.predetermined.]. .Iadd.previously gathered initial machine .Iaddend.data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for performing monitoring and diagnostic operations on a computer controlled machine tool, comprising the steps of:
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a. connecting the computer at the machine tool site to control apparatus at a remote site.[.,.]..Iadd.;
.Iaddend.b. controlling said computer in accordance with .Iadd.diagnostic .Iaddend.control signals originating at said remote site to cause said machine tool to be operated in accordance with said diagnostic control signals.[.,.]. .Iadd.to enable said computer to gather said diagnostic data representative of current machine tool operating characteristics;
.Iaddend.c. transmitting said .Iadd.diagnostic .Iaddend.data representative of current operating characteristics of said machine tool to said control apparatus during operation of said machine tool.[.,.]..Iadd.;
.Iaddend.d. comparing said transmitted diagnostic data with .[.predetermined.]. .Iadd.previously gathered initial machine data .Iaddend.at said remote site, .[.representative of said operating characteristics of said machine,.]. .Iadd.indicative of machine tool operating characteristics when the machine tool is in its pristine state;
.Iaddend.ande. manifesting the difference between said transmitted .Iadd.diagnostic .Iaddend.data and said .[.predetermined.]. .Iadd.previously gathered initial machine .Iaddend.data. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of monitoring and performing diagnostic operations on a plurality of separately located computer controlled machine tools, comprising the steps of:
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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.
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Specification