JP2003167622A - Trial run adjustment and maintenance system and method for label printer by remote operation - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system and method capable of executing the trial run adjustment and maintenance of a label printer from a remote place. <P>SOLUTION: This system is provided with a label printer 14, an AC servo motor 13 for driving the label printer, an AC servo driver 12 for driving the AC servo motor 13, a programmable servo controller 11 for controlling the label printer, a terminal 7 for management in which programming terminal software exclusive for the programmable servo controller 11 and a universal real time remote control software package are installed, and a terminal 1 for a remote operation in which the general real time remote control software package is installed at a remote place. Then, the terminal 7 for management is operated from the terminal 1 for a remote operation through the Internet 5 so that the operation and maintenance of the label printer 14 to be controlled can be executed by the terminal 7 for management. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a label printing machine trial run adjustment and subsequent maintenance system and method, and more particularly to a system and method for performing remote test operation trial run adjustment and subsequent maintenance.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, during the trial run adjustment of a label printing machine,
A technician from the supplier of the label printing machine goes to the site to make trial run adjustments. In addition to service engineers, electrical engineers often accompany development / design engineers to support service engineers in case of difficult troubles.

Further, when a trouble occurs during operation of the label printing machine, the maintenance manager on site usually makes a telephone call to the supplier, and a service engineer related to the supplier usually goes to the site. Machine failures are easy to detect visually,
Since it is difficult to visually detect an electrical failure, it is not necessary to have a telephone conversation alone, and in the end an electric service technician often goes to the site, and depending on the content of the trouble, it may be necessary to support the service technician. It is often the case that development and design engineers will accompany.

[0004]

However, as explained in the previous section, for the trial run adjustment of the label printing machine,
Not only service engineers but also development and design engineers are often visited, which causes a problem of increased cost.
If it is possible to support on-site trial run adjustments from a remote location, it will be possible for a smaller number of engineers to visit the site.

When a failure occurs during the operation of the label printing machine, the maintenance manager at the site receives a report from the maintenance manager to investigate the type of the device, the failure history, the related drawings, etc., and the maintenance manager at the site. You must estimate the cause of the failure while talking with the phone. In general, there are few maintenance managers in the field who are familiar with electric / electronic control devices, so in most cases a service technician will be sent to the site. When the site is far away, such as overseas, not only are travel expenses and other expenses high, but it also takes a lot of time for the technician to arrive at the site, which causes the problem that the label printing machine cannot operate for a long time. is there.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a system and method capable of performing commissioning adjustment and maintenance of a label printing machine from a remote location.

[0007]

Therefore, in the present invention, an AC servo driver for driving an AC servo motor on the label printing machine side, a programmable servo controller for controlling the label printing machine, and a dedicated programming for the programmable servo controller are provided. A management terminal in which terminal software and a general-purpose real-time remote control software package are installed, a keyboard (A) and a mouse (A) for operating the management terminal, an Internet connection device or a modem, and a remote location (supplier) (Or maintenance company) side,
A remote control terminal in which the general-purpose real-time remote control software package is installed,
The label is provided with a keyboard (B) and a mouse (B) and an internet connection device or a modem, and by operating the keyboard (B) and the mouse (B) from the remote place via the internet or a public telephone line. I adjusted the printing press.

Specifically, the present invention provides one or more A
A system for performing remote test operation adjustment and maintenance of a label printing machine driven by a C servo motor, the AC servo driver driving the AC servo motor, and controlling the AC servo driver,
A servo controller that holds the monitoring data transmitted from the AC servo driver, and controls the servo controller to acquire and display the monitoring data held by the servo controller and set it in the servo controller. A management terminal having management means for adjusting the control parameters to be controlled, and a real-time remote control means for enabling real-time remote control between a plurality of terminals, and the management terminal connected via a network A label printing machine having the real-time remote control means, and a remote operation terminal for remotely operating the management terminal by the real-time remote control means.

With such a configuration, the remote control terminal can be used to operate the control terminal from a remote location, adjust the servo controller and the label printing machine controlled by the control terminal, and perform remote maintenance.

Further, the management means in the management terminal is operated from the remote operation terminal to acquire the monitoring data held by the servo controller and display it on the remote operation terminal. The management means in the management terminal is operated from the remote operation terminal to adjust the control parameters set in the servo controller.

By doing so, the servo controller and the label printing machine can be monitored from a remote place, and the control parameters can be appropriately set according to the situation.

Further, the servo controller executes a control program for controlling the label printing machine, and the management terminal further comprises a program creating means for creating a control program executed on the servo controller. I had it.

By doing so, the program executed on the servo controller can be created by the management terminal.

The program creating means is programming terminal software for creating a control program executed on the servo controller, and the program creating means on the management terminal is operated from the remote operation terminal. By operating, the control program is created or modified and installed on the servo controller.

By doing so, it is possible to create or modify the control program from a remote place and have the servo controller execute the program, and it is possible to easily perform maintenance of the label printing machine at the remote place.

Further, according to the present invention, the servo controller holds a failure history of the label printing machine, and operates the management means in the management terminal from the remote operation terminal to cause the servo controller to operate. The retained failure history is acquired and displayed on the remote operation terminal.

By doing so, it is possible to quickly determine the cause of the failure of the label printing machine from a remote location.

The invention of the above system is also realized as a method invention. Further, the above invention is also realized as a program for causing a computer to realize a predetermined function or a recording medium recording the program.

The means in this specification can be realized by hardware, software or a combination of hardware and software. Execution by a combination of hardware and software corresponds to execution in a computer system having a predetermined program, for example.

Even if the function of one means is realized by two or more pieces of hardware, software or a combination of hardware and software,
The functions of one or more means may be realized by one piece of hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software.

[0021]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Here, FIG. 1 illustrates the first aspect of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of 1. Referring to FIG. 1, a label printer 14 according to a first embodiment of the present invention includes a label printer 14 and a plurality of ACs that drive the label printer.
A servo motor 13, an AC servo driver 12 that drives the AC servo motor 13, a programmable servo controller 11 that controls the label printing machine 14, programming terminal software dedicated to the programmable servo controller, and a general-purpose real-time remote control software package were installed. A management terminal 7, a keyboard (A) 8 and a mouse (A) 9 for operating the management terminal 7, and a remote location (supplier or maintenance company) on which a general-purpose real-time remote control software package is installed. An operating terminal 1 and a keyboard (B) 2 and a mouse (B) 3 for operating the remote operating terminal 1 are provided,
The management terminal 7 and the remote operation terminal 1 are connected to the network 5
Connected via.

The management terminal 7 and the remote control terminal 1 are
Each can be realized by an information processing device such as a personal computer or a workstation.

The network 5 is the Internet, LA
It can be realized by N, WAN or the like. When the network 5 is the Internet, the management terminal 7 and the remote operation terminal 1 are connected to the Internet 5 via the Internet connection devices 6 and 4, as shown in the figure.

As for the label printing machine 14, the miniaturization and automation of the machine have advanced, and the AC servomotor 13 has come to be widely used. Starting with ink supply, the copper plate itself is AC
It came to be directly driven by the servo motor 13.

Each AC servo motor 13 is driven by an AC servo driver 12. Each AC servo driver 12 receives an analog or digital control signal from the programmable servo controller 11 to drive the AC servo motor 13, and at the same time, various data for monitoring, for example, the number of revolutions of the AC servo motor 13, current, The voltage, the AC input voltage of the AC servo driver 12, the DC bus voltage, the abnormality detection signal, etc. are absorbed and sent to the programmable servo controller 11.

The control program of the label printing machine 14 is manufactured in the management terminal 7 in which the programming terminal software dedicated to the programmable servo controller 11 is installed in advance, debugged, and installed in the programmable servo controller 11. The control program is executed by the programmable servo controller 11.

The management terminal 7 can adjust and monitor various parameters of the control program in the programmable servo controller 11 via the interface 10 by operating the keyboard (A) 8 and the mouse (A) 9. . The required parameters can be adjusted by operating the keyboard (A) 8 and the mouse (A) 9 even during the trial run of the label printing machine 14. If the control program itself needs to be changed on site, the operation can be stopped once and the control program can be changed by the management terminal 7.

The management terminal 7 and the remote operation terminal 1 are connected to the Internet via the Internet connection devices 6 and 4, respectively. If there is infrastructure equipment such as an in-house LAN, it is possible to connect to the in-house LAN.

When remote operation is required, the IP address assigned to each is called to enable bidirectional communication. If it is necessary to change a difficult program during the trial run adjustment, it will be difficult for the service technician who is going to the site to work, and the support technician at the remote site (supplier or maintenance company) will need to use the keyboard. (B) 2 and mouse (B) 3 can be used to operate the on-site management terminal 7 via the Internet 5.

The management terminal 7 and the remote operation terminal 1 have the same general-purpose real-time remote control software package, and the CRT display of the management terminal 7 and the CRT display of the remote operation terminal 1 are the same in real time. It is possible to change and modify the program as if a support engineer at the remote site (deliverer or maintenance company) is operating the management terminal 7 provided at the site.

(Operation of Embodiment) Next, as an operation of the embodiment of the present invention, handling of trouble during operation will be described. Here, FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram for explaining the operation of the first embodiment of the present invention. The supplier or the maintenance company, which has received the notification of the failure from the maintenance manager on the site, activates the remote control terminal 1 to call the management terminal 7 on the site side to enable communication (step 101). First, with the operation of the label printing machine 14 at the site stopped, the failure history of the programmable servo controller 11 is called from the remote operation terminal 1 via the Internet (step 102), and the failure phenomenon and the failure cause are determined ( Step 103).

As to whether or not the cause of failure can be specified (step 104), the cause of failure can be found immediately on the spot by the failure history code or can be immediately repaired (step 105). Depending on the failure situation, the keyboard (B) 2 and the mouse (B) 3 are operated from a remote location to operate only the programmable servo controller 11 or the entire label printing machine 14 (step 106) to monitor various necessary data. Ring (step 107) to find cause of failure (step 10)
8).

With such a configuration, the time from receiving a telephone call until finding the cause of the failure can be the same whether it is near the site or on the opposite side of the earth.

(Second Embodiment) Next, the second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
The embodiment will be described. Here, FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention. The second embodiment of the present invention has the same basic configuration as that of the above-described first embodiment except for the network environment. In an environment where the Internet cannot be used, modems 4A and 6A
Remote control is possible via the public telephone line 5A. In this case, two-way communication can be performed by calling a telephone number instead of the IP address.

When the general-purpose real-time remote control software package has a built-in security function such as password, it is possible to protect the label printing machine from remote control without permission. it can.

Although FIGS. 1 and 3 exemplify a system including one management terminal and one remote operation terminal, the present invention is not limited to this. The configuration may be such that a plurality of management terminals are connected to one remote operation terminal, or one management terminal is connected to a plurality of remote operation terminals. , Both terminals may be plural.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. Those skilled in the art can make appropriate changes or improvements based on the contents disclosed herein without departing from the scope of the present invention. Further, such changes or improvements are also included in the present invention.

[0038]

As described above, according to the present invention, not only the service technician but also the development / design technician for support need not be accompanied for the trial run adjustment of the label printing machine, and the cost can be reduced. . In troubleshooting the label printing machine, the programmable servo controller on site can be adjusted and monitored remotely, so it may not be necessary for a service technician to visit the site. Effective in saving downtime and reducing repair costs.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram showing an operation of the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Remote operation terminal 2 keyboard (B) 3 mice (B) 4.6 Internet connection device 4A, 6A modem 5 Internet 5A public telephone line 7 management terminal 8 keyboard (A) 9 mouse (A) 10 interfaces 11 Programmable servo controller 12 AC servo driver 13 AC servo motor 14 Label printing machine

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A system for performing remote test operation adjustment and maintenance of a label printing machine driven by one or a plurality of AC servo motors, the AC servo driver driving the AC servo motors, and the AC servo driver. A servo controller for controlling and holding monitoring data transmitted from the AC servo driver; and controlling the servo controller to acquire and display the monitoring data held by the servo controller, and the servo controller A management terminal for adjusting control parameters set therein, and a management terminal having a real-time remote control means for enabling real-time remote control between a plurality of terminals; and the management terminal and network. A trial run adjustment and maintenance system for a label printing machine, which is connected via a network and has the real-time remote control means, and a remote operation terminal for remotely operating the management terminal by the real-time remote control means. 2. The remote control terminal operates the management means in the management terminal to obtain monitoring data held by the servo controller and display the data on the remote control terminal. The test run adjustment and maintenance system for a label printing machine according to claim 1, wherein the remote control terminal operates the management means in the management terminal to adjust a control parameter set in the servo controller. 3. The servo controller executes a control program for controlling the label printing machine, and the management terminal further comprises program creating means for creating a control program executed on the servo controller. A label printing press commissioning adjustment and maintenance system according to claim 1 or 2. 4. The program creating means is programming terminal software for creating a control program executed on the servo controller,
The trial run adjustment of the label printing machine according to claim 3, wherein the program creating means on the management terminal is operated from the remote operation terminal to create or modify the control program and install the program on the servo controller. And maintenance system. 5. The monitoring data includes at least the number of revolutions of the AC servomotor, current, voltage, and the AC.
The test run adjustment and maintenance system for a label printing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, which includes an input voltage of a servo driver, a DC bus voltage, and an abnormality detection signal. 6. The servo controller holds a failure history of the label printing machine, operates the management means in the management terminal from the remote operation terminal, and stores the failure history in the servo controller. The label printing machine trial run adjustment and maintenance system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the label is acquired and displayed on the remote control terminal. 7. One or more A's for driving a label printing machine.
An AC servo driver for driving a C servo motor, a servo controller for controlling the AC servo driver, and holding a failure history of the label printing machine and monitoring data transmitted from the AC servo driver, and the servo controller. Real time between a plurality of terminals and a management means for controlling the controller, acquiring and displaying the failure history and the monitoring data held in the servo controller, and adjusting the control parameters set in the servo controller. A management terminal having real-time remote control means for enabling remote control, and a real-time remote control means connected to the management terminal via a network and having the real-time remote control means. A method for performing trial run adjustment and maintenance of a label printing machine by remote control using a system including a remote control terminal for remotely controlling the control terminal by: (a) the remote control terminal to the control terminal Operating the management means in the remote control terminal to obtain the failure history held in the servo controller and display it on the remote operation terminal; (b) when the cause of the failure is identified, the remote operation terminal Operate the management means in the management terminal from
Adjusting a control parameter set in the servo controller, and (c) if the cause of the failure is not specified, operate the management means in the management terminal from the remote operation terminal to operate the servo controller. A method for trial run adjustment and maintenance of a label printing machine, in which the data for monitoring during operation held by the servo controller is acquired and displayed on the remote operation terminal.