System of machine maintenance

• US 7,200,463 B2
• Filed: 08/09/2005
• Issued: 04/03/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pouch Pac Innovations, LLC
• Original Assignee: PPI Technologies Incorporated (PPI Technologies Global LLC)
• Inventors: Murray, Roderick C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Paladini; Albert W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rapp; Chad
• Application Number:
  US11/199,602
• Publication Number:
  US 20060015205A1
• Time in Patent Office: 602 Days
• Field of Search: 700108-110, 700/169, 700/175, 700/180, 702182-185
• US Class Current: 700/175
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/20 Administration of product repair or maintenance

Abstract

A system for remote maintenance for a machine. Using an imaging device, such as a digital camera, the customer can transmit images of the machine to an off-site expert and receive real-time information related to the assembly, installation, repair or maintenance of the machine.

Claims

1. A method for remote maintenance for a machine, the method comprising the steps of:

providing at a first location a machine and an imaging device removably mounted to the machine, the machine including a programmable logic controller and a sensor in communication with the programmable logic controller, the sensor being operable to monitor machine activity and the programmable logic controller including an operating specification for the machine and being operable to transmit a signal concerning an operational status of the machine;

providing at a second location a user interface;

receiving a signal at the user interface from the programmable logic controller, the signal being indicative of a change in a condition of the machine that is outside of the programmed operating specification;

relocating the imaging device from a first position to a second position remote from the first position, the second position having view of a portion of the machine that is operating outside of a programmed operating specification;

receiving an image of the machine at the user interface from the imaging device;

transmitting expert information from the second location to the first location concerning the machine.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the imaging device comprises a digital camera.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the digital camera comprises a digital video camera.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of transmitting information from the user interface to the first location regarding the machine.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the information is selected from a group consisting of:

assembly information for the machine, installation information for the machine, maintenance information for the machine and repair information for the machine.

6. A method for remote maintenance for a machine, the method comprising the steps of:

providing at a first location a machine, a first user interface and an imaging device removably mounted to the machine, the machine including a programmable logic controller and a sensor in communication with the programmable logic controller, the sensor being operable to monitor machine activity and the programmable logic controller including an operating specification for the machine and being operable to transmit a signal concerning an operational stabs of the machine;

providing at a second location a second user interface;

receiving a signal at the second user interface from the programmable logic controller, the signal being indicative of a change in a condition of the machine that is outside of the programmed operating specification;

receiving an image of the machine at the second user interface from the portable imaging device;

transmitting expert information concerning the machine from the second user interface to the first user interface.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the imaging device comprises a digital camera.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the digital camera comprises a digital video camera.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the expert information is selected from a group consisting of:

assembly information for the machine, installation information for the machine, maintenance information for the machine and repair information for the machine.