Modular control system for a glass forming machine
AssigneeFutronic Co., Ltd.
InventorWolfgang Lachmann
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A modular control system for controlling a machine such as a glass forming machine includes a central control unit and a machine control unit, which are connected via a high-speed data bus. The machine control unit is spread out to a plurality of peripheral control units via a plurality of high-speed data buses. The machine control unit is adapted to distribute control signals received from the central control unit to the peripheral control units in real time.
Claims18
A modular control system for controlling a glass forming machine having an operating cycle divided into a plurality of operating sub-cycles, comprising:
- at least one central control unit;
- at least one machine control unit being connected to the central control unit via a data bus;
- and
- a plurality of peripheral control units being connected to the machine control unit via related data buses;
- wherein:
- the central control unit is configured to issue plurality of commands for at least one peripheral control unit in sequence during each operating sub-cycle,
- the machine control unit is adapted to distribute control information received via the data bus to the plurality of peripheral control units in real time, and
- at least one peripheral control unit is configured to control at least one peripheral driver unit and to collect feedback information during at least one sub-cycle so as to determine control for a next operating sub-cycle in dependence of the feedback information.
Method of controlling a glass forming machine having an operating cycle, comprising:
- dividing the operating cycle into a plurality of operating sub-cycles;
- issuing a plurality of commands from a central control unit to at least one peripheral unit in sequence during each operating sub-cycle;
- collecting feedback information during at least one operating sub-cycle;
- and
- determining control for a next operating sub-cycle in dependence of the feedback information.
A storage device for use in a mobile communication unit, where the storage device stores computer program instructions which when executed by a processor of the mobile communication unit cause the mobile communication unit perform a method of controlling a glass forming machine having an operating cycle, comprising:
- dividing the operating cycle into a plurality of operating sub-cycles;
- issuing a plurality of commands from a central control unit to at least one peripheral unit in sequence during each operating sub-cycle;
- collecting feedback information during at least one operating sub-cycle;
- and determining on control for the next sub-cycle in dependence of the feedback information.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.