JPH06110537A - Remote diagnostic device for computer control equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide the remote diagnostic device for computer control equipment which easily enables remote diagnosis even for the computer control equipment provided with no communication control part. CONSTITUTION:In a machine side communication part 4 constituted separately from a control part 2 of a numerical controller, a first video signal output means is provided for outputting a video signal containing diagnostic information from the control part 2 to a MODEM 5, and a first remote operating signal output means is provided for outputting a remote operating signal inputted from the MODEM 5 to the control part 2. On the other hand, in a maintenance side communication part 8, a second video signal output means is provided for outputting the video signal inputted from a MODEM 7, which is connected through a public communication line network 6 to the MODEM 5, to a diagnostic computer 9 and a second remote operating signal output means is provided for outputting the remote operating signal from the computer 9 to the MODEM 7.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a remote diagnosis device for computer-controlled equipment for diagnosing computer-controlled equipment from a remote location, and more particularly to a numerically controlled machine tool or FA (Fact).
ory Automation) The present invention relates to a remote diagnostic device for computer-controlled equipment, which transfers diagnostic information and control information of equipment to a diagnostic computer located at a remote place, and diagnoses the failure of these equipment by the diagnostic computer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 4, a numerical control unit CNC connected to a machine tool 101 is used for diagnosing a computer-controlled numerically controlled machine tool at a remote place.
The (Computerized Numerical Controller) 102 has been connected to a computer 106 for performing a failure diagnosis via telephone line modems 103 and 105 and a telephone line 104.

In such a conventional apparatus, the numerical controller 1
It was necessary to provide a communication control unit formed of software or the like for receiving a remote operation command or transmitting diagnostic data inside 02.

[0004]

However, since an ordinary numerical control device does not have such a communication control unit, in order to introduce remote diagnosis, such a communication control unit is newly added to the numerical control device. The burden of having to be prepared had to be imposed on the customer.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a remote diagnosis device for a computer-controlled device which enables remote diagnosis easily even for a computer-controlled device that does not have a communication control section. The purpose is to

[0006]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is configured separately from a computer control device and outputs a video signal including diagnostic information from the computer control device to a first modem. A first video signal output means, and a first remote operation signal output means which is configured separately from the computer control device and outputs a remote operation signal input from the first modem to the computer control device;
Second video signal output means for outputting a video signal input from a second modem connected to the first modem via a communication line to a diagnostic computer of a computer control device, and a remote operation signal from the diagnostic computer The second
And a second remote operation signal output means for outputting to a modem of the computer control equipment.

[0007]

With the above construction, the first video signal output means outputs the video signal including the diagnostic information from the computer control device to the first modem. This output is sent to the second modem via the telephone line and is output to the diagnostic computer by the second video signal output means. As a result, the diagnostic computer diagnoses the failure of the computer control device at a remote position.

Further, the second remote operation signal output means outputs the remote operation signal from the diagnostic computer to the second remote operation signal output means.
To the modem. This output is sent to the first modem via the telephone line and is output to the computer-controlled equipment by the first remote operation signal output means. As a result, the computer control device is key-operated by the diagnostic computer at a remote position.

In the remote diagnostic apparatus of the present invention, the first video signal output means and the first remote operation signal output means, which are parts required for communication with the diagnostic computer, are provided.
Since the device is configured separately from the computer control device and communication is possible only by adding these to the computer control device, it is possible to easily add the remote diagnosis function even to a computer control device that does not have a communication control unit. It became so.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a remote diagnosis device for a numerically controlled machine tool. That is, on the factory side, the machine tool 1
Is installed, and this machine tool 1 has a numerical controller (CN
The control unit 2 of C) is connected. The numerical control device includes a control unit 2, an output display and an operation input unit (hereinafter, referred to as “CR
"T / MDI") 3, and the control unit 2 and C
A machine side communication unit 4 is connected between the RT / MDI 3 and the RT / MDI 3. The CRT / MDI 3 receives various diagnostic data regarding the machine tool 1 from the control unit 2 as screen information as a video signal and displays it on the CRT screen, and an operation input that outputs a key operation input as an MDI signal to the control unit 2. It consists of departments. The machine-side communication unit 4 includes a control unit 2 and a CRT / MDI 3
Alternatively, it performs switching communication control with the computer 9 described later, and the detailed configuration will be described later with reference to FIG.

A telephone line modem (M) 5 is connected to the machine side communication section 4, and data is transferred between the two by an RS-232C interface. Modem 5
It is connected to a telephone line modem (M) 7 on the maintenance side via a public telephone line network 6.

The modem 7 on the maintenance side 2 is provided with RS-232C.
The maintenance side communication unit 8 is connected by the interface, and the diagnostic computer 9 is connected to the maintenance side communication unit 8.
The detailed configuration of the maintenance-side communication unit 8 will be described later with reference to FIG. The computer 9 executes failure diagnosis, preventive maintenance, etc. of the numerically controlled machine tool 1,
Therefore, various diagnostic data is received as a video signal from the control unit 2, and a key operation input signal from the computer 9 is output to the control unit 2 as an MDI signal based on the diagnostic result.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the machine side communication section 4 shown in FIG. That is, the video signal from the controller 2 of the numerical controller is input from the terminal 4a,
The signal is input to the synchronizing circuit 4b, and at the same time, through the terminal 4c to C
Sent to RT / MDI3. The output of the synchronization circuit 4b is the video RAM 4d, the data compression unit 4e, and the parallel / parallel circuit.
It is output to the terminal 4g via the serial conversion unit (P / S) 4f. The terminal 4g is connected to the modem 5. As a result, the input video signal is synchronized in the synchronizing circuit 4b and then recorded in the video RAM 4d. Then, the data compression unit 4e compresses the data into a data capacity suitable for being transmitted through the public telephone line network 6, and the parallel / serial conversion unit 4f converts the data into a serial signal for the public telephone line network 6 and a modem. 5 is output.

A serial / parallel converter (S / P) 4j is connected to the terminal 4g, and a changeover switch 4i is connected to the serial / parallel converter 4j. The changeover switch 4i is connected to the terminals 4h and 4k. That is, normally, the changeover switch 4i is the terminal 4h.
Is connected to the terminal 4k. At that time, CRT / MD
The MDI signal from I3 is sent to the controller 2 of the numerical controller. On the other hand, when a failure diagnosis or the like is performed as described later, the changeover switch 4i connects the terminal 4h to the serial / parallel conversion unit 4j. At this time, the computer 9 serially connects via the public telephone line network 6. The MDI signal sent as a signal is the serial / parallel conversion unit 4j.
Is converted into a parallel signal and sent to the control unit 2.

The above-mentioned machine side communication section 4 is constructed separately from the numerical control device, and is inserted into the mounting slot of the numerical control device so as to be connected to the numerical control device.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the maintenance side communication section 8 shown in FIG. That is, the serial signal input from the modem 7 to the terminal 8a is input to the serial / parallel conversion unit (S / P) 8b, and the data expansion unit 8c.
It is also output to the terminal 8e via the video RAM 8d. The terminal 8e is connected to the computer 9. As a result, the input serial signal is converted into a parallel signal by the serial / parallel conversion unit 8b, and then the data decompression unit 8c performs reverse processing of the data compression performed by the data compression unit 4e, and the data is stored in the video RAM 8d. Remembered. The various diagnostic data restored from the video RAM 8d are output to the computer 9 as video signals.

The terminal 8f is connected to the MDI from the computer 9.
Signal input, parallel / serial converter (P / S) 8
It is converted into a serial signal by g and output to the modem 7 via the terminal 8a.

Next, the operation of the remote diagnosis device for a numerically controlled machine tool constructed as described above will be described. There are two types of remote processing performed by this remote diagnosis device, and one is remote failure diagnosis that investigates the cause of failure from a remote location when a failure occurs in a numerically controlled machine tool.
The other is remote preventive maintenance that regularly performs preventive maintenance of numerically controlled machine tools from a remote location. First, the former remote fault diagnosis will be described.

When a failure occurs in the machine tool operating on the factory side and the operator discovers the failure, the operator notifies the maintenance side to that effect. By this contact,
The computer 9 starts communication with the control unit 2 of the numerical control device. That is, the video signals of various diagnostic data relating to the machine tool 1 sent from the control unit 2 to the CRT / MDI 3 are the synchronous circuit 4b and the video RAM 4 of the machine side communication unit 4.
d, the data compression unit 4e, the parallel / serial conversion unit 4f, and the modem 5 to the public telephone line network 6, and on the maintenance side, the modem 7 and the maintenance-side communication unit 8
Is sent to the computer 9 via the serial / parallel converter 8b, the data decompressor 8c and the video RAM 8d.

On the maintenance side, the cause of the failure is investigated on the basis of the sent various diagnostic data concerning the machine tool 1. This investigation may be performed by maintenance personnel based on the data displayed on the display device of the computer 9 or automatically by the diagnostic software of the computer 9.

When the cause of the failure is identified, the maintenance staff informs the operator near the numerical control device of the instruction for removing the cause. Alternatively, depending on the cause (a simple mistake in setting the part program, parameters, etc.), the key operation input of the computer 9 causes M
Correct data is directly sent to the control unit 2 of the numerical controller as a DI signal. That is, the MDI signal is passed through the parallel / serial converter 8g of the maintenance side communication unit 8, the modem 7, the public telephone line network 6, the modem 5, and the serial / parallel converter 4j and the changeover switch 4i of the machine side communication unit 4. And sent to the control unit 2 of the numerical controller. Thereby, the failure of the machine tool 1 is repaired.

Next, in the latter remote preventive maintenance of the remote diagnosis, the computer 9 periodically (for example, once a day to once a week) of the numerical control device via the public telephone network 6. It is connected to the controller 2 and the controller 2
Video signals of various diagnostic data relating to the machine tool 1 sent to the RT / MDI 3 are sent from the control unit 2 to the computer 9 as described above, and the preventive diagnosis of the machine tool 1 is performed. Then, the diagnosis result is notified to the operator near the numerical control device.

Although the remote diagnosis for the numerically controlled machine tool has been described in the above embodiment, the remote diagnosis of the present invention may be applied to FA equipment or the like.

[0024]

As described above, according to the present invention, the first video signal output means and the first remote operation signal output means (the machine side shown in the embodiment) which are necessary for communication with the diagnostic computer are provided. (Corresponding to the communication unit 4) is configured separately from the computer control device, and communication can be performed simply by adding these to the computer control device. Therefore, even a computer control device without a communication control unit can be easily remoted. A diagnostic function can now be added.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a remote diagnosis apparatus for a numerically controlled machine tool according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a machine side communication unit.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a maintenance side communication unit.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a conventional remote diagnosis device for a numerically controlled machine tool.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Machine tool 2 Numerical control device control unit 3 Output display and operation input unit (CRT / MDI) 4 Machine side communication unit 5 Telephone line modem (M) 6 Public telephone line network 7 Telephone line modem (M) 8 Maintenance Communication unit 9 Diagnostic computer 9

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A remote diagnosis device for a computer-controlled device for diagnosing a failure of a computer-controlled device from a remote location. A first video signal output means for outputting to a modem; and the computer control device, which is configured separately from the first video signal output means.
First remote operation signal output means for outputting a remote operation signal input from the modem to the computer control device, and the video signal input from a second modem connected to the first modem via a communication line. A second video signal output means for outputting to the diagnostic computer of the computer-controlled device, and a second remote operation signal output means for outputting a remote operation signal from the diagnostic computer to the second modem. A remote diagnostic device for computer-controlled equipment having. 2. The first video signal output means includes a synchronizing circuit, a video RAM, a data compression section, and a parallel / parallel circuit.
2. A serial conversion unit, and said second video signal output means comprises a serial / parallel conversion unit, a data expansion unit, and a video RAM.
A remote diagnostic device for computer-controlled equipment as described. 3. The first remote operation signal output means comprises a serial / parallel conversion section and a changeover switch, and the second remote operation signal output means comprises a parallel / serial conversion section. The remote diagnosis device for computer-controlled equipment according to claim 1. 4. The remote diagnosis device for computer-controlled equipment according to claim 1, wherein the computer-controlled equipment is a computer-controlled numerically controlled machine tool or FA equipment. 5. A remote diagnosis device for a computer-controlled device for diagnosing a failure of the computer-controlled device from a remote location, which is configured separately from the computer-controlled device and outputs a video signal containing diagnostic information from the computer-controlled device to a modem. And a video signal output means for outputting the remote control signal, which is configured separately from the computer control device and outputs a remote control signal input from the modem to the computer control device. Equipment remote diagnostic equipment.