Machine control and data logging station

• US 10,684,601 B2
• Filed: 01/08/2018
• Issued: 06/16/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: David J. Butler
• Original Assignee: David J. Butler
• Inventors: Butler, David J
• Primary Examiner(s): Kolb, Nathaniel J
• Application Number:
  US15/865,216
• Publication Number:
  US 20190011895A1
• Time in Patent Office: 890 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B23D 59/001 Measuring or control devices, e.g. for automatic control of work feed pressure on band saw blade measuring in general G01; controlling in general G05
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 11/0078 Safety devices protecting the operator, e.g. against accident or noise protecting the machine tool B23Q5/58; protecting people, in general F16P1/00, F16P3/00
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 5/005 Computer numerical control means
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 7/22 Safety devices specially adapted for cutting machines safety devices in general F16P
• CPC Class Codes: F16P 3/02 Screens or other safety members moving in synchronism with members which move to and fro
• CPC Class Codes: F16P 3/12 with means, e.g. feelers, which in case of the presence of a body part of a person in or near the danger zone influence the control or operation of the machine F16P3/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16P 3/14 the means being photocells or other devices sensitive without mechanical contact
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0428 Safety, monitoring G05B19/0423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/406 characterised by monitoring or safety G05B19/19 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/24024 Safety, surveillance
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25257 Microcontroller
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/50177 Protection for operator during operation, machining
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/50193 Safety in general
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/50198 Emergency stop
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 9/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 3/08 Registering or indicating the production of the machine either with or without registering working or idle time
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/081 With randomly actuated stopping means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/099 Manually operated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/207 By suction means

Abstract

A machine control and data logging station, intended for use with a saw or other machine tool, features a processor which monitors a number of input lines, a real time clock and time stamp function. Any change of input signals from the machine tool will be recorded in flash memory. Both wired and wireless outputs may read the memory at any given time. Optionally, hardware or software data communication encryption may be employed to provide increased confidentiality and security. The station continually monitors sensor inputs and can react automatically to emergency-stop the machine tool upon sensing a dangerous condition.

Claims

1. A machine control and data logging station adapted to monitor at least one machine tool, hazardous to a human operator, selected from the group consisting of a table saw, rotary saw, a band saw, a broaching machine, a sheet metal shear, and a planer, said logging station comprising:

at least a programmable digital event recorder to monitor operation of said

machine tool;

a programmable microcontroller (8);

a source of battery backup power, capable of maintaining, for a period of at least 30 days, a chronological record of operation of said machine tool in a tamper-resistant storage memory (9);

a source of signals representing clock data;

a blade enclosure configured to enclose at least a portion of said machine tool, wherein the blade enclosure includes a touch sensor communicatively coupled to the programmable microcontroller, said touch sensor configured to detect a user in contact with the blade enclosure;

a plurality of sensors (13) capable of detecting and signaling operating parameters selected from;

chronological time;

temperature)(F.°

C.°

K°

);

liquid pressure;

gas pressure;

linear motion speed (FPS/MPS);

rotational speed (RPM);

operator ID, touch sensor;

moisture;

liquid;

acceleration;

weight;

incline;

voltage;

current resistance;

magnetism;

position;

proximity;

vibration;

optical;

force;

audio;

dust; and

at least one logging device adapted to record the foregoing sensor output data and clock data in the tamper-resistant storage memory (9), whose content is secured (8) to prevent unauthorized modification of any chronological record of machine tool operation, recorded in said digital event recorder

wherein the programmable microcontroller is configured to perform an emergency stop when the touch sensor detects the user in contact with the blade enclosure.

2. The station of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one input at said microcontroller (8) which, during operation of said machine tool, receives configuration data from safety guards (4), sensors (5, 19, 20), and operator controls (14, 30, 31); and

at least one display (26) which provides safety directions and information to an operator of the machine.

3. The station of claim 1, further comprising a transceiver to transmit and receive data and instructions between said logging station and a remotely-located computing device.

4. The station of claim 3, wherein said transceiver is adapted (15, 16) to receive an instruction from said remote computing device to freeze or deactivate at least one component (6, 22) of said machine.

5. The station of claim 3, further comprising a module for encrypting data, prior to transmission from said station, and a module for decrypting data, received at said station.

6. The station of claim 1, further comprising a monitoring device, including a machine guard (4) and at least one sensor (19) coupled to an input of said microcontroller (5).

7. The station of claim 1, wherein the at least one logging device is further configured to record data related to the emergency stop in the tamper-resistant storage memory.