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US 12,242,254 B2Granted
Production systems and production control methods with locating system-based simulations of production sequences
AssigneeTRUMPF Werkzeugmaschinen GmbH + Co. KG
InventorsCarina Mieth, Jens Ottnad
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The disclosure relates to digital models of a production apparatus. The digital models can generate simulations of production sequences of the production apparatus, and a controller can access the simulation to improve operations of the production apparatus. The digital model uses data of a locating system to create the simulation. The locating system monitors carriers for transporting components. The controller can compare parameters of the simulation results with corresponding parameters of earlier simulation results and/or actually obtained parameters of earlier production sequences, which can be stored in a model library. The disclosure further relates to corresponding production control methods.
Claims19
A production system comprising:
- a production apparatus having
- i) one or more production tools for manufacturing components, wherein parameters of the production tools include one or more of laser beam intensity, laser beam focus, bending tool used, throughput speed, feed speed, pulse ratio during pulsed operation, power, and energy, and
- ii) one or more carriers or transport aids, or both carriers and transport aids, arranged and configured to transport the components between the production tools;
- a controller arranged and configured to control the production apparatus on the basis of production data;
- a locating system for localizing a mobile unit arranged or embodied on any one or more of the carriers, components, production tools, or transport aids, wherein the locating system is configured to
- i) determine the position of the mobile unit,
- ii) detect identification information stored on the mobile unit and to communicate the position data thus determined of the one or more of the carriers, components, production tools, and transport aids to the controller, or
- iii) both i) and ii);
- and
- a digital model of the production apparatus that provides a simulation of production sequences, wherein the simulation is based at least on the data of the locating system,
- wherein the production system comprises a model library having simulated production sequences, actually implemented production sequences, or both simulated and actually implemented production sequences, wherein the controller is configured to compare the production sequence simulated in the digital model with the production sequences of the model library, and
- wherein at least one production tool of the production apparatus comprises a loading zone for loading and unloading a carrier or transport aid, wherein the production system comprises an image recording unit configured to capture image information in the loading zone, and wherein the locating system comprises an image evaluation unit configured to determine a loaded or unloaded state of a carrier or transport aid using the image information.
9 more elements
A production control method, the method comprising:
- (a) obtaining a production system comprising
- a production apparatus having
- i) one or more production tools for manufacturing components, wherein parameters of the production tools include one or more of laser beam intensity, laser beam focus, bending tool used, throughput speed, feed speed, pulse ratio during pulsed operation, power, and energy, and
- ii) one or more carriers or transport aids, or both carriers and transport aids, arranged and configured to transport the components between the production tools;
- a controller arranged and configured to control the production apparatus on the basis of production data;
- a locating system for localizing a mobile unit arranged or embodied on any one or more of the carriers, components, production tools, or transport aids, wherein the locating system is configured to
- i) determine the position of the mobile unit,
- ii) detect identification information stored on the mobile unit and to communicate the position data thus determined of the one or more of the carriers, components, production tools, and transport aids to the controller, or
- iii) both i) and ii);
- and
- a digital model of the production apparatus that provides a simulation of production sequences, wherein the simulation is based at least on the data of the locating system,
- wherein the production system comprises a model library having simulated production sequences, actually implemented production sequences, or both simulated and actually implemented production sequences, wherein the controller is configured to compare the production sequence simulated in the digital model with the production sequences of the model library, and
- wherein at least one production tool comprises a loading zone for loading and unloading a carrier or transport aid, wherein the production system comprises an image recording unit configured to capture image information in the loading zone, and wherein the locating system comprises an image evaluation unit configured to determine a loaded or unloaded state of a carrier or transport aid using the image information;
- (b) detecting position information, identification information, or both position information and identification information, of one or more of a carrier, a transport aid, a production tool, or a component by a locating system and producing locating system data;
- (c) simulating a production sequence to provide simulation results, wherein the simulation is based at least on the locating system data;
- and
- (d) controlling a production apparatus on the basis of the simulation results, wherein the simulation results comprise a digital model of the production apparatus.
14 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.