JP2015116757A - Injection molding machine which is operable from network terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an inexpensive injection molding machine which is operable safely from a remote area.SOLUTION: An injection molding machine (1) is configured to be connected to a network (2), accepts a request from a network terminal (5) and shifts to a remote control mode by authentication. In the remote control mode, the network terminal (5) can display a screen of the injection molding machine (1), and permits an operation of the injection molding machine (1). If an error occurs in a communication status between the injection molding machine (1) and the network terminal (5), the remote control mode is cancelled. Alternatively, a molding cycle is stopped to secure safety. Display on a screen from the injection molding machine (1) to the network terminal (5) is executed by a WEB server (8) or by screen transfer processing (27) in which screen transfer protocol is mounted.

Description

  The present invention relates to an injection molding machine capable of various operations from a network terminal, and more specifically to an injection molding machine operable from a personal computer or a tablet terminal.

  As is well known in the art, an injection molding machine comprising a mold clamping device for clamping a mold, an injection device for injecting molten resin, etc. has a controller for controlling these devices and a monitor for displaying a screen. Is provided. Various screens for operating and monitoring the injection molding machine, such as a screen for displaying various data such as resin temperature and injection pressure, a screen for setting molding conditions, etc. are displayed on the monitor. . Therefore, when checking or operating the state of the injection molding machine, it is necessary for the operator to go directly to the injection molding machine, display the screen on the monitor, and operate.

JP 2002-370271 A JP 2002-86531 A

  Patent Document 1 describes an injection molding machine provided with a predetermined device that can receive a notification of an abnormality occurring in the injection molding machine even when the operator is away from the injection molding machine. This apparatus monitors an abnormality of the injection molding machine, and when an abnormality occurs, sends an e-mail to a pre-registered operator's address via a public line network. Then, even if the operator is away from the injection molding machine, he / she can know that an abnormality has occurred in the injection molding machine by receiving an electronic mail at a terminal such as a mobile phone.

  Patent Document 2 describes a system that can display various information of an injection molding machine on a terminal such as a mobile phone. In this system, a host computer is provided in association with the injection molding machine, and the host computer can obtain information from the controller of the injection molding machine or can issue commands to the controller to operate the injection molding machine. The host computer is connected to the Internet and can communicate with a terminal such as a mobile phone. The state of the injection molding machine can be displayed on the mobile phone, or a predetermined command can be sent from the mobile phone to the injection molding machine.

  In the conventional injection molding machine, when monitoring the state of the injection molding machine or operating the injection molding machine, the operator needs to go to the injection molding machine and directly operate the monitor. Then, the number of injection molding machines that can be handled by one operator is limited, and the degree of freedom in management is small. On the other hand, like the injection molding machines described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, even if the operator is away from the injection molding machine, it is possible to know the abnormality of the injection molding machine or to check the state of the injection molding machine. Can be operated more easily. That is, the number of injection molding machines that can be handled by one operator increases. Monitoring from a remote area is also possible. Therefore, it can be said that the injection molding machines described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 have a great degree of freedom in management. However, there are problems to be solved for such injection molding machines.

  For example, in the injection molding machine described in these documents, what is assumed as the contents to be performed by the operator is limited to receiving simple information such as an abnormality notification in the portable terminal, and injection molding It is considered that complicated operations that can be performed on the machine monitor are not envisaged. That is, since the mobile terminal on which information is displayed is a mobile phone, the amount of information that can be displayed is small, there is a restriction on the information that can be provided to the operator, and the safety when communication is disconnected has not been studied. Therefore, the injection molding machine described in these documents can display simple information on a portable terminal, but it is only an auxiliary use. Substantial monitoring and operation are performed on the monitor of the injection molding machine. There is no choice but to do it. However, Patent Document 2 describes that a command may be sent from a portable terminal to an injection molding machine, but since the terminal in which this injection molding machine is also used is a cellular phone, the amount of information that can be displayed is large. There are few points and the safety problem at the time of communication disconnection is not solved. That is, it can be said that operation equivalent to the monitor of an injection molding machine is substantially impossible. Furthermore, even if these problems are solved, when operating the injection molding machine directly on the monitor of the injection molding machine, it is assumed that a command is sent from the mobile terminal, and there are multiple mobile terminals It is conceivable that a command is sent from a plurality of terminals, but it is not considered which one should be given priority in such a case. Then, in the injection molding machine described in these documents, even if the command can be sent from the portable terminal, it is considered that the command is limited to a few simple commands.

  In the injection molding machines and systems described in these documents, in addition to the screen displayed on the monitor attached to the injection molding machine, a special screen to be displayed on the mobile terminal must be prepared. is there. That is, as described above, since the mobile phone has a smaller amount of information than the monitor of the injection molding machine, a screen different from the screen displayed on the monitor must be prepared for the mobile terminal. Doing so will increase costs. In addition, there is a problem that a host computer must be provided as a special device in order to communicate as in the system described in Patent Document 2. Since the host computer needs to communicate with the process controller of the injection molding machine, special software must be installed, and whenever the version of the process controller of the injection molding machine is upgraded, the software on the host computer side must be installed. However, the version has to be upgraded and the cost is increased.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an injection molding machine that can solve the above-described problems and that can be operated from a network terminal. Specifically, the present invention is substantially the same as that operated by a monitor of the injection molding machine. The network terminal can be displayed and operated on the network terminal, so that the injection molding machine can be operated remotely as if it were at the injection molding machine, and such operations can be performed safely from the network terminal. An object of the present invention is to provide an injection molding machine capable of performing the above operations. And it is also an object of the invention that such an injection molding machine has a low cost for realizing this function and does not require any special equipment.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is configured as an injection molding machine connected to a network, and receives a request from a network terminal consisting of a personal computer or a tablet terminal on the network and shifts to a remote operation mode by authentication. . The remote operation mode is a mode in which the screen of the injection molding machine is displayed on the network terminal and the operation of the injection molding machine is permitted by the operation on this screen. During the remote operation mode, the communication state between the injection molding machine and the network terminal is monitored, and when the communication is disconnected, the remote operation mode is canceled. Alternatively, the molding cycle in the injection molding machine is stopped. Note that the injection molding machine can display the screen of the injection molding machine on the network terminal in a state where the operation of the injection molding machine is prohibited in a state where it has not shifted to the remote operation mode.

That is, the invention according to claim 1 is an injection molding machine connected to a network in order to achieve the above object, and the injection molding machine is connected to a network terminal including a personal computer and a tablet terminal on the network. The remote operation mode is transferred to the remote operation mode by authentication upon receiving the request, and the remote operation mode displays the screen of the injection molding machine on the network terminal and permits the operation of the injection molding machine by the operation on the screen. During the remote operation mode, the communication state between the injection molding machine and the network terminal is monitored, and when the communication is disconnected, the remote operation mode is canceled, or a molding cycle in the injection molding machine is performed. It is configured as an injection molding machine characterized by stopping.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the injection molding machine according to the first aspect, the operation of the injection molding machine is prohibited in a state where the injection molding machine is not shifted to the remote operation mode. A screen of the injection molding machine can be displayed on a network terminal, and the present invention is configured as an injection molding machine.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the injection molding machine according to the first or second aspect, the injection molding machine includes a WEB server, and the monitor and the network terminal provided in the injection molding machine display a screen by a WEB browser. It is comprised as an injection molding machine characterized by being made.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the injection molding machine according to the first aspect, a virtual monitor emulating a monitor included in the injection molding machine is displayed on the network terminal, and the injection molding is performed. When the machine shifts to the remote operation mode, the same screen as that displayed on the monitor is displayed on the virtual monitor, and is configured as an injection molding machine.

  As described above, the present invention is an injection molding machine connected to a network, and the injection molding machine receives a request from a network terminal including a personal computer and a tablet terminal on the network and enters a remote operation mode by authentication. The remote operation mode is configured to display the screen of the injection molding machine on the network terminal and permit the operation of the injection molding machine by the operation on the screen. In other words, the injection molding machine can be operated remotely from a network terminal connected to the network, but since the screen of the injection molding machine can be displayed on the network terminal, it can be operated substantially at the injection molding machine. It becomes possible to perform the same operation as. Since this remote operation mode is shifted by authentication, only an operator having a qualification for operation can operate. And since it transfers to remote operation mode by authentication, it is also possible to restrict | limit the number of terminals which can be operated simultaneously to one, and security is ensured completely. According to the present invention, during the remote operation mode, the communication state between the injection molding machine and the network terminal is monitored, and when the communication is disconnected, the remote operation mode is canceled or the molding cycle in the injection molding machine is stopped. It is configured as follows. Thus, even if a communication abnormality occurs, the remote operation mode can be canceled to prevent operation from the network terminal, so that malfunction can be prevented, or the molding cycle can be stopped to ensure safety. According to another invention, the injection molding machine is configured to be able to display the screen of the injection molding machine on the network terminal in a state where the operation of the injection molding machine is prohibited in a state where it has not shifted to the remote operation mode. . In other words, the screen of the injection molding machine can be displayed on the network terminal exclusively for so-called display, and the state of the injection molding machine can be monitored remotely. According to still another invention, the injection molding machine includes a WEB server, and the monitor and network terminal included in the injection molding machine are configured to display a screen by a WEB browser. Then, both the screen displayed on the monitor of the injection molding machine and the screen displayed on the network terminal can be shared as a WEB screen, and the cost required for screen development can be reduced. According to another invention, a virtual monitor emulating a monitor included in the injection molding machine is displayed on the network terminal. When the injection molding machine shifts to the remote operation mode, a screen displayed on the monitor is displayed. The same screen is configured to be displayed on the virtual monitor. Therefore, also in this invention, since the screen displayed on the monitor of the injection molding machine can be displayed on the network terminal as it is, the cost for developing the screen can be reduced.

It is a system configuration figure showing a plurality of injection molding machines and network terminals concerning an embodiment of the present invention connected to a network. It is a figure which shows the screen of the injection molding machine which concerns on embodiment of this invention displayed in a network terminal, The (a)-(c) shows a user authentication screen, a mode selection screen, and an injection condition setting screen, respectively. FIG. It is a block diagram which shows typically each process in the injection molding machine which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention, and a network terminal.

  Hereinafter, an injection molding machine according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. The injection molding machines 1, 1,... According to the present embodiment include a network interface and are connected to a network 2 as shown in FIG. Like these conventional injection molding machines, these injection molding machines 1, 1,... Are attached to various devices such as a mold clamping device, an injection device, a protruding device, a controller for controlling these devices, and a controller. And a monitor 3. As in the conventional injection molding machine, various screens are displayed on the monitor 3 so that data can be displayed and the injection molding machine can be operated.

  The injection molding machine 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention displays a screen on the network terminal 5 connected to the network 2 in the same manner as the injection molding machine 1 and can be operated from the network terminal 5. A personal computer can be used as the network terminal 5, and the personal computer includes a desktop personal computer and a notebook personal computer. As the network terminal 5, a so-called tablet terminal connected by wireless LAN can also be used. Some tablet terminals can display multiple screens at the same time, and some are only allowed to display a single window, but in either type, a graphic screen can be displayed on the touch panel. It is possible to operate an object on the screen, for example, a button by clicking on the screen. In the present embodiment, a wireless communication station 6 is provided in the network 2, and a tablet terminal connected to the network by wireless communication with the wireless communication station 6 is employed as the network terminal 5.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing screen processing in the controller of one injection molding machine 1, but a WEB server 8 is provided in the controller. A screen application 9, 9,... Is prepared in the controller for each screen for displaying the data of the injection molding machine 1 and for setting the screen to be operated. The monitor 3 of the injection molding machine 1 displays a screen by a WEB browser 10 executed in the controller. When a screen display request is issued from the WEB browser 10, the screen application 9 requested by the WEB server 8 is requested. And can be sent to the WEB browser 10 to display a desired screen on the monitor 3. When an operation is performed on the screen displayed on the monitor 3, the control processing 11 can be operated via the screen application 9. That is, the injection molding machine 1 can be operated.

  The injection molding machine 1 according to the present embodiment can provide a screen on the network terminal 5 by receiving a request from the WEB browser 13 on the network terminal 5 by the WEB server 8. However, in order to display the screen of the injection molding machine 1 on the network terminal 5, it is necessary to receive the first authentication, and to allow the network terminal 5 to freely operate the injection molding machine 1, the second authentication is required. It is necessary to receive. FIG. 2A shows an authentication screen that is first displayed when the WEB browser 13 is opened on the network terminal 5 and a screen display request is made to the WEB server 8 of the injection molding machine 1. . On the screen, a name defined in advance for the injection molding machine 1 is displayed on the upper frame 14 of the window frame. In this example, “No. 2 machine injection molding machine” is displayed. In the present embodiment, from the network terminal 5, it is possible to select any injection molding machine 1 from the plurality of injection molding machines 1, 1,... This is so that the screen of which injection molding machine 1 is displayed can be seen. In such an authentication screen, a first password input field 15 for authentication and an authentication button 16 are displayed. When a first password registered in advance in the first password input field 15 is entered and the authentication button 16 is clicked, the authentication information file 18 is referred to on the injection molding machine 1 side, and the password is valid. Whether it is valid or not, the first authentication is completed. Then, the mode selection screen shown in FIG. 2A is displayed on the WEB browser 13 of the network terminal 5. When the viewing mode button 19 is clicked on this mode selection screen, the screen of the injection molding machine 1 can be displayed on the network terminal 5 for display only. In other words, the screen can be displayed on the network terminal 5 and various data can be monitored, but inputting and operating data from the screen is limited. In this mode, since the injection molding machine 1 is secured without being affected by the operation of the network terminal 5, a screen can be provided to a plurality of network terminals 5 at the same time. That is, the injection molding machine 1 can be monitored simultaneously from a plurality of network terminals 5.

  In order to enable the operation of the injection molding machine 1 from the network terminal 5, it is necessary to receive the second authentication. In the state where the first authentication is completed and the mode selection screen shown in FIG. 2A is displayed, the second password is entered in the second password input field 21, and the remote operation mode button Click 22. Then, on the injection molding machine 1 side, it is confirmed whether or not the password is valid by referring to the authentication information file 18, and if it is valid, the injection molding machine 1 shifts to the remote operation mode. After shifting to the remote operation mode, the screen of the WEB browser 13 of the network terminal 5 is displayed in the same state as that displayed on the monitor 3 of the injection molding machine 1 as shown in FIG. Is displayed. That is, not only data display but also data change and operation are possible. That is, in this mode, the injection molding machine 1 can be operated from the network terminal 5. In the injection molding machine 1 according to the present embodiment, when the mode is shifted to the remote operation mode, the second authentication is not accepted from the other network terminal 5. This prevents a situation where a plurality of network terminals 5 capable of operating the injection molding machine 1 exist at the same time. Even if the mode is shifted to the remote operation mode, the injection molding machine 1 accepts the first authentication, so that other network terminals can continue to display the screen of the injection molding machine 1 exclusively for display.

When the injection molding machine 1 according to the present embodiment shifts to the remote operation mode, the injection molding machine 1 monitors the communication state with the network terminal 5. Specifically, when the second authentication is completed, the network terminal 5 transmits a predetermined packet to the injection molding machine 1 by a keep-alive process 24 at a regular cycle, for example, at a cycle of 5 seconds. In the controller of the injection molding machine 1, the terminal monitor 25 monitors whether or not this packet can be received without delay. The keep alive process 24 may be a program installed in the network terminal 5 in advance, or may be a WEB applet that is read into the network terminal 5 from the WEB server 8 of the injection molding machine 1 upon completion of the second authentication. May be. When the packet is normally received by the terminal monitor 25, it is determined that the network terminal 5 and the communication are normal, and the remote operation mode is maintained. If a packet cannot be received for a certain period, for example, 10 seconds or more, the terminal monitor 25 determines that an abnormality has occurred. The processing performed in this case can be selected and set in advance, and any of the following processing is performed.
(1) Stopping the molding cycle The molding cycle is stopped in a safe process even if the molding cycle is stopped. For example, when the terminal monitor 25 detects an abnormality during the injection process, the molding cycle is stopped when the injection process, the pressure holding process, the mold opening process, and the protruding process are completed.
(2) Canceling the remote monitoring mode The remote monitoring mode is canceled, and the state in which the operation of the injection molding machine 1 can be performed only from the monitor 3 of the injection molding machine 1 is restored. The molding cycle continues.

  FIG. 3 shows the processing of the controller of the injection molding machine 1 ′ according to the second embodiment. In the second embodiment, the controller is not provided with a WEB server. The injection molding machine 1 'is provided with a screen transfer process 27 in which a so-called screen transfer protocol such as RDP or ICA is implemented. On the other hand, the network terminal 5 ′ is provided with a program that emulates the monitor 3 of the injection molding machine 1 ′ and in which a screen transfer protocol is implemented, that is, a virtual monitor 28. With the screen transfer process 27 and the virtual monitor 28, the screen of the injection molding machine 1 'can be displayed on the network terminal 5'. In the second embodiment, authentication is performed only in one stage. That is, when the virtual monitor 28 is operated in the network terminal 5 'to access the injection molding machine 1', a password is requested. When the password is input here, the authentication information file 18 is confirmed in the injection molding machine 1 ′, and if the password is valid, the operation mode shifts to the remote operation mode. Then, the same screen as that displayed on the monitor 3 of the injection molding machine 1 is simultaneously displayed on the virtual monitor 28 of the network terminal 5 ′. When the screen displayed on the virtual monitor 28 is operated, the screen displayed on the monitor 3 is also operated. As a result, the injection molding machine 1 'can be operated. In the second embodiment, since only one network terminal 5 'can communicate with the screen transfer processing 27 at the same time, safety is ensured. Also in the second embodiment, the communication state is monitored by the keep-alive process 24 and the terminal monitor 25, and when an abnormality occurs, the molding cycle is stopped or the remote monitoring mode is released.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Injection molding machine 2 Network 3 Monitor 5 Network terminal 6 Wireless communication station 8 WEB server 10 WEB browser 11 Control processing 13 WEB browser 15 1st password input column 16 Authentication button 18 Authentication information file 19 View mode button 21 2nd password Input field 22 Remote operation mode button 24 Keep alive processing 25 Terminal monitoring 27 Screen transfer processing 28 Virtual monitor

Claims (4)

An injection molding machine connected to a network, the injection molding machine receives a request from a network terminal consisting of a personal computer and a tablet terminal on the network and shifts to a remote operation mode by authentication,
The remote operation mode is a mode for displaying the screen of the injection molding machine on the network terminal and permitting the operation of the injection molding machine by an operation on the screen.
During the remote operation mode, the communication state between the injection molding machine and the network terminal is monitored, and when the communication is disconnected, the remote operation mode is canceled or the molding cycle in the injection molding machine is stopped. An injection molding machine characterized by   2. The injection molding machine according to claim 1, wherein the injection molding machine is in a state where operation of the injection molding machine is prohibited in a state where the injection molding machine has not shifted to the remote operation mode, and the screen of the injection molding machine is displayed on the network terminal. An injection molding machine characterized by being able to display   The injection molding machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the injection molding machine includes a WEB server, and the monitor and the network terminal included in the injection molding machine are configured to display a screen by a WEB browser. Characteristic injection molding machine.   The injection molding machine according to claim 1, wherein a virtual monitor emulating a monitor provided in the injection molding machine is displayed on the network terminal, and when the injection molding machine shifts to the remote operation mode. An injection molding machine characterized in that the same screen as that displayed on the monitor is displayed on the virtual monitor.

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