U.S. patent application number 14/888023 was filed with the patent office on 2016-04-21 for control device for injection molding machine.
The applicant listed for this patent is MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES PLASTIC TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Toshihiko KARIYA, Yasuo OKOCHI, Takashi TAKII.
Application Number | 20160110032 14/888023 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51988133 |
Filed Date | 2016-04-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160110032 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
OKOCHI; Yasuo ; et
al. |
April 21, 2016 |
CONTROL DEVICE FOR INJECTION MOLDING MACHINE
Abstract
Provided is a control device for an injection molding machine,
capable of reducing the load on a user, in relation to display
image selection. The control device for the injection molding
machine comprises: a display unit that displays display images
including information relating to molding conditions for the
injection molding machine; display image selection buttons that
directly summon display images and display the display images on
the display unit; and a storage unit that stores a plurality of
desired display image selection buttons, as customizable menu
display items.
Inventors: |
OKOCHI; Yasuo; (Nagoya-shi,
Aichi,, JP) ; TAKII; Takashi; (Nagoya-shi, Aichi,,
JP) ; KARIYA; Toshihiko; (Nagoya-shi, Aichi,
JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES PLASTIC TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD. |
Aichi |
|
JP |
|
|
Family ID: |
51988133 |
Appl. No.: |
14/888023 |
Filed: |
November 7, 2013 |
PCT Filed: |
November 7, 2013 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2013/006572 |
371 Date: |
October 29, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
425/162 ;
715/771 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B22D 17/32 20130101;
B29C 2945/76939 20130101; G06F 3/04842 20130101; B29C 2045/7606
20130101; B29C 45/762 20130101; B29C 45/766 20130101; B29C
2945/76949 20130101; G06F 3/0482 20130101; B29C 45/76 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G06F 3/0482 20060101
G06F003/0482; G06F 3/0484 20060101 G06F003/0484; B29C 45/76
20060101 B29C045/76 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 31, 2013 |
JP |
2013-114953 |
Claims
1-9. (canceled)
10. A control device for an injection molding machine comprising: a
display unit which displays a display image including information
relating to molding conditions of an injection molding machine; a
display image selection button which directly summons the display
image and displays the display image on the display unit; a storage
unit which stores a plurality of desired display image selection
buttons as customizable menu display items; and a control unit
which controls the display of the display image and the display of
the customizable menu on the display unit, wherein a customized
menu display item, in which the plurality of desired display image
selection buttons are customized and a user selectively operates
the desired display image, is able to be stored in the storage
unit.
11. The control device for an injection molding machine according
to claim 10, wherein the storage unit further stores one user ID or
a plurality of user IDs assigned to each user, and one customized
menu display item or a plurality of customized menu display items
associated with the user ID, and wherein the control unit reads the
customized menu display item associated with one user ID from the
storage unit and displays the display image including the
customized menu display item on the display unit when one user ID
among the plurality of user IDs is input.
12. The control device for an injection molding machine according
to claim 11, wherein the storage unit further stores a customized
menu display item in which the plurality of user IDs assigned to
each user or a group ID being shared with the plurality of user
IDs, and the customized menu display item are associated with and
shared with each other, and wherein the control unit is able to
display the shared customized menu display item when one user ID
among the plurality of user IDs is input or the group ID is
input.
13. The control device for an injection molding machine according
to claim 11, wherein the storage unit further stores the plurality
of user IDs assigned to each user, a security level of each user
ID, and the customized menu display associated with the security
level of each user ID, and wherein the control unit displays the
customized menu display item according to the security level when
one user ID among the plurality of user IDs is input.
14. The control device for an injection molding machine according
to claim 10, wherein the storage unit further stores a plurality of
mold IDs assigned to each mold, and a plurality of preset important
parameter display items among the molding conditions associated
with the plurality of mold IDs, and wherein the control unit reads
the molding conditions and the important parameter display item
associated with one mold ID, and preferentially displays the
display image including the important parameter display item on the
display unit when one mold ID among the plurality of mold IDs is
input.
15. The control device for an injection molding machine according
to claim 14, wherein the control unit learns which of the plurality
of display images have high use frequency with respect to the user
for each mold ID, and stores the plurality of display images by
learning in the storage unit as the customized menu display
item.
16. The control device for an injection molding machine according
to claim 10, wherein the storage unit further stores a plurality of
management numbers assigned to each molded part, and a plurality of
preset important parameter display items among the molding
conditions associated with the plurality of management numbers, and
wherein the control unit reads the molding conditions and the
important parameter display item associated with one management
number, and preferentially displays the display image including the
important parameter display item on the display unit when one
management number among the plurality of management numbers is
input.
17. The control device for an injection molding machine according
to claim 10, wherein the customized menu display item stored in the
storage unit is able to be shared with a control device for another
injection molding machine via external storage media or
communication.
18. An injection molding system which includes a plurality of
injection molding machines and a centralized management device for
performing centralized management of the plurality of injection
molding machines, wherein each of the injection molding machines
includes: a display unit which displays an display image including
information relating to molding conditions of the injection molding
machine; a display image selection button which directly summons
the display image and displays the display image on the display
unit; and a control unit which controls display of a customized
menu display item in which a plurality of desired display image
selection buttons are customized, wherein the centralized
management device is able to share a storage unit, which stores the
customized menu display item, with the plurality of injection
molding machines.
19. The injection molding machine system according to claim 18,
wherein the control unit learns which of a plurality of the display
images have high use frequency with respect to an user for each
user ID, and stores the plurality of display images by learning in
the storage unit as the customized menu display item.
20. The injection molding machine system according to claim 18,
wherein the customized menu display item enables the user to
selectively operate a desired display image so as to be stored in
the storage unit.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a control device for an
injection molding machine, and particularly, to display of a screen
included in a control device.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] An injection molding machine includes a plurality of devices
such as a mold clamping device, an injection device, or a molded
part discharging device, as components, and when the injection
molding machine is operated, operation conditions should be set by
a control device with respect to each of the plurality of devices.
In general, in the injection molding machine, a setting screen or
an execution value display screen is provided on the control device
in each of the plurality of devices or in each of the related
devices. Accordingly, in the setting screen of the control device,
switching and input between many control screens should be
diversely performed.
[0003] In general, a display button is provided on each screen, in
which a list is displayed on a menu screen, corresponding to each
setting screen or each execution value display screen, a screen
desired for displaying is selected from menu buttons, and the
screen is displayed.
[0004] However, the selection of the menu screen is hierarchically
logical, the selection of the menu button needs to be repeated a
number of times corresponding to the hierarchy in order to reach
the desired image, and operability is impaired.
[0005] For example, in addition, when a previous display image,
which has been displayed before being switched to the setting
screen displayed at the present time, is redisplayed, it is
necessary to hierarchically select the display image from the menu
screen. Particularly, the hierarchical configuration may cause the
user to forget which hierarchy at which the desired image has been
displayed. Accordingly, even when the desired image is not an image
which has been displayed long before, if each hierarchy is not
searched for in a trial and error method, an operation time until
reaching the desired image lengthens. Accordingly, stress on a user
increases, the operation of the injection molding machine is
delayed, and productivity decreases.
[0006] In order to solve the above-described problems, it has been
suggested that a plurality of desired setting screens are displayed
to be simultaneously arranged on a display area and are displayed
on each screen so as to be scrollable to improve operability (for
example, PTLs 1 and 2).
CITATION LIST
Patent Literature
[0007] [PTL 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication
No. 5-69464
[0008] [PTL 2] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication
No. 2006-97671
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
Technical Problem
[0009] According to PTLs 1 and 2, the operability is improved by
displaying a plurality of setting images on one display screen.
However, since it is assumed that selection of an image is
hierarchically performed, there is still room for improvement of
the operability.
[0010] Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to
provide a control device for an injection molding machine capable
of reducing a load on a user with respect to selection of a display
image.
Solution to Problem
[0011] A control device for an injection molding machine according
to the present invention including: a display unit which displays a
display image including information relating to molding conditions
of an injection molding machine; a display image selection button
which directly summons the display image and displays the display
image on the display unit; a storage unit which stores a plurality
of desired display image selection buttons as customizable menu
display items; and a control unit which controls the display of the
display image and the display of the customizable menu on the
display unit.
[0012] In the control device of the present invention, the
plurality of desired display image selection buttons are stored in
the storage unit as customizable menu display items. Accordingly,
when a user searches for a desired display image selection button
from menu screens including display image selection buttons which
have low use frequency or do not match the user's operation skill
or operation procedure, since the user can select a desired display
image without performing an unnecessary operation, it is possible
to increase operation efficiency with respect to the display image
selection and reduce a load on the user.
[0013] Preferably, the storage unit further stores one user ID or a
plurality of user IDs assigned to each user, and one customized
menu display item or a plurality of customized menu display items
associated with the one or the plurality of customized menu display
items. In this case, when one user ID among the plurality of user
IDs is input, the control unit can read the customized menu display
item associated with one user ID from the storage unit and can
display the display image including the customized menu display
item on the display unit.
[0014] In addition, the control unit learns which of a plurality of
the display images have high use frequency with respect to the user
for each user ID, and can store the plurality of display images by
learning in the storage unit as the customized menu display
item.
[0015] Preferably, a procedure in displays including the customized
menu display item, a display layout, and a display hierarchy causes
the user to selectively operate the desired display image and
associate the display image with the user ID and hence to be stored
in the storage unit. In this case, since the display image, in
which the set item considered to be important by the user is
included, can be manually registered as the customizable menu
display item according to the user's intention regardless of the
use frequency and can be displayed as a menu, it is possible to
increase operation efficiency.
[0016] Moreover, the storage unit can store the plurality of user
IDs assigned to each user, a group ID being shared with the
plurality of user IDs, and a customized menu display item which is
associated with and shared with the customized menu display item.
In this case, when one user ID among the plurality of user IDs is
input or the group ID is input, the control unit can display the
shared customized menu display item.
[0017] Moreover, the storage unit may further store the plurality
of user IDs assigned to each user and a security level of each user
ID while associating the security level of each user ID with the
customized menu display item. In this case, when one user ID among
the plurality of user IDs is input, the control unit can display
the customized menu display item according to the security
level.
[0018] In addition, preferably, the storage unit further stores a
plurality of mold IDs assigned to each mold, and a plurality of
preset important parameter display items among the molding
conditions associated with the plurality of mold IDs. In this case,
when one mold ID among the plurality of mold IDs is input, the
control unit can read the molding conditions and important
parameter display items associated with one mold ID, and can
preferentially display the display image including the important
parameter display item on the display unit.
[0019] Moreover, the control unit may learn which of the plurality
of display images have high use frequency with respect to the user
for each mold ID, and may automatically store the plurality of
display images by learning in the storage unit as the customized
menu display item. In addition, similarly to the above-described
case, preferably, the customizable menu display item can be
manually registered for each mold ID.
[0020] Moreover, preferably, the storage unit further stores a
plurality of management numbers assigned to each molded part, and a
plurality of preset important parameter display items among the
molding conditions associated with the plurality of management
numbers. In this case, when one management number among the
plurality of management numbers is input, the control unit can read
the molding conditions and important parameter display items
associated with one management number, and can preferentially
display the display image including the important parameter display
item on the display unit.
Advantageous Effects of Invention
[0021] According to the present invention, a plurality of desired
display image selection buttons are stored in a storage unit as the
customizable menu display item. Accordingly, since a user can
select a desired display image from menu display items, it is
possible to reduce a load on the user with respect to selection of
the display image.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0022] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration outline of
an injection molding machine in the present embodiment.
[0023] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example displayed on a
display unit.
[0024] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a scrolling by
which two screens become interlocked with each other.
[0025] FIG. 4(a) shows an example in which two different display
images are displayed on two display areas so as to divide the
display unit, and FIG. 4(b) shows an example in which one display
image is displayed on the entire area of the display unit.
[0026] FIG. 5 shows an example in which a new selected display
image is displayed on the display unit, (a) shows a display example
before new selection is performed, (b) shows an example in which
the new selected display image is displayed on the display unit,
and (c) shows an example in which the scrolling is performed after
the new display image is selected.
[0027] FIG. 6 shows an example in which the scrolling of one
display image of two display images is locked, (a) shows the locked
state, and (b) shows a display example when the scrolling is
performed in the locked state.
[0028] FIG. 7 shows an example in which names of the display images
are displayed on the display unit immediately before and after.
[0029] FIG. 8 shows an example in which a specific display image is
erased (display is stopped) from a history of the display images,
(a) shows a display example before the display image is erased, (b)
shows an example in which a new selected display image is displayed
on the display unit, and (c) shows a display example after the
history of display image selected newly is erased (display is
stopped).
[0030] A right drawing of FIG. 9 shows a display example before
positions of the display images are exchanged with each other, and
a left drawing of FIG. 9 shows a display example after the
positions of the display images are exchanged with each other.
[0031] FIG. 10 shows an example in which one display image of two
display images is scrolled in a horizontal direction, (a) shows a
display example before the display image is scrolled in the
horizontal direction, and (b) shows a display example after the
display image is scrolled in the horizontal direction.
[0032] FIG. 11 shows another example in which one display image of
two display images is scrolled in the horizontal direction.
[0033] FIG. 12 is a menu button example of each display image and
shows a display example in which menu buttons are displayed
hierarchically.
[0034] FIG. 13 is a menu button example of each display menu and
shows a display example in which the menu buttons are displayed as
a list.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0035] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in
detail based on an embodiment shown in the accompanying
drawings.
[0036] An injection molding machine 1 of the present embodiment
includes a molding machine main body 10, and a control device 20
which controls operations of the molding machine main body 10. An
injection molding machine 1 has characteristics with respect to a
method for performing display on a display unit 29 included in the
control device 20. In addition, the present embodiment is described
with reference to the injection molding machine which is driven by
a hydraulic actuator (hydraulic mechanism). However, instead of a
hydraulic actuator, an electric actuator which is driven by an
electric motor such as a servo motor, an inverter motor, or an
interior permanent magnet motor may be applied to the injection
molding machine 1.
[0037] The molding machine main body 10 includes a mold clamping
unit 11 and a plasticizing unit 15.
[0038] The mold clamping unit 11 includes a stationary platen 12 to
which a fixed mold (not shown) is attached, and a movable platen 13
to which a movable mold (not shown) is attached. The mold clamping
unit 11 includes a hydraulic mechanism which moves the movable
platen 13 toward the stationary platen 12, and before injection
molding is performed, the mold clamping unit 11 moves the movable
platen 13 and causes the movable mold to come into contact with the
fixed mold. In addition, after pressure of hydraulic oil of the
hydraulic mechanism increases, the movable mold and the fixed mold
are clamped to each other to perform mold clamping, a molten resin
is injected from the plasticizing unit 15 to a cavity formed
between the movable mold and the fixed mold, and a molded part is
obtained.
[0039] The plasticizing unit 15 includes a heating cylinder 16 in
which a discharging nozzle is formed on a front side which is the
mold clamping unit 11 side, and a screw (not shown) which is
provided in the inner portion of the heating cylinder 16. The
plasticizing unit 15 also includes components such as a drive
source (not shown) which moves the screw forward and rearward, a
drive source (not shown) which rotates the screw normally or
reversely, or a fuel hopper (not shown) for supplying a resin fuel
into the inner portion of the heating cylinder 16.
[0040] In the plasticizing unit 15, when the screw rotates, for
example, a pellet-shaped thermoplastic resin supplied from the fuel
hopper is transported to the front side of the heating cylinder 16.
In the transport process, the resin pellets are gradually heated
and melted, and accumulate at the front side of the screw. The
screw receives pressure of the resin generated by the accumulation,
and measures a predetermined amount of molten resin at the front
side of the screw while moving toward the fuel hopper side.
Thereafter, a predetermined measured amount of molten resin is
injected from the discharging nozzle into the cavity formed between
the fixed mold and the movable mold of the mold clamping unit
11.
[0041] In order to obtain the molded part using the injection
molding machine 1 including the above-described elements, the
following processes are performed in order. That is, the molded
part is obtained via a mold clamping process of closing the movable
mold and the fixed mold and performing mold clamping at high
pressure, a plasticization process of heating, melting, and
plasticizing the resin pellets in the inner portion of the heating
cylinder 16, an injection process of injecting the plasticized
molten resin into the cavity formed between the movable mold and
the fixed mold and filling the cavity with the resin, a cooling
process of cooling the molten resin filling the cavity until the
molten resin is solidified, a mold opening process of opening the
mold, and an extraction process of extracting the molded part
cooled and solidified in the cavity.
[0042] The molding machine main body 10 includes various sensors in
the mold clamping unit 11 and the plasticizing unit 15, and sensing
information SR which is obtained by the sensors while the
above-described processes are performed is sent to the control
device 20. For example, as the sensing information, there is a
molding clamping pressure, an injection pressure, or the like.
[0043] The control device 20 generates operation command
information OC using the sensing information SR sent from the
molding machine main body 10 or using information prepared by the
control device 20 in advance so that the molding machine main body
10 performs operations required for the processes such as the mold
clamping process, the plasticization process, or the injection
process, and sends the operation command information OC to each
driving unit of the molding machine main body 10. Each driving unit
of the molding machine main body 10 performs operations required
for performing the injection molding, based on the received
operation command information OC.
[0044] The control device 20 includes a processing unit 20a and a
storage unit 20b (control unit), and the processing unit 20a reads
various information stored in the storage unit 20b according to
instruction and selection from a user and displays the information
on the display unit 29.
[0045] The operation command information OC is generated in the
control device 20 based on various set values, selection of an
operation, selection of a display image, or the like which is input
to the control device 20 by the user operating the injection
molding machine 1. Here, the "input" includes an action which
selects specific information from a menu.
[0046] The control device 20 includes a man-machine interface 21,
and a worker inputs various information to the control device 20
via the man-machine interface 21. The man-machine interface 21
includes various switch buttons 23, a soft and hard key input unit
25, and a touch panel 27.
[0047] As the switch button 23, there are various switches such as
a switch for turning on and off a power source of the control
device 20, a switch for turning on and off a power source of the
molding machine main body 10, a tiltable switch for selecting
movement and a movement direction of a device, or a switch in which
a lamp is lit, made to flicker, or extinguished by turning on and
off a switch.
[0048] In addition, the switch buttons 23 may be provided so as to
correspond to various operations of the molding machine main body
10. For example, a switch button 23 corresponding to the molding
clamping process, a switch button 23 corresponding to the injection
processing, or the like may be provided. In this case, the switch
button 23 may be configured to include a menu button.
[0049] The key input unit 25 allows selection of the
above-described processes, input of a set value required for
performing the selected process, or selection of information
displayed on the display unit 29. A keyboard of a computer device
including keys corresponding to an alphabet and numeric keypads
corresponding to numbers of 0 to 9 may be used as the key input
unit 25, and a keyboard which is developed on a touch panel may be
also used as the key input unit 25. Information input from the key
input unit 25 is sent to the control device 20.
[0050] The touch panel 27 includes a touch information detection
unit 28 (hereinafter, referred to as a detection unit 28) and a
display unit 29, and is a device in which the detection unit 28
specifies a position of a touched area when the surface of the
display unit 29 is pressed (touched), and which can perform
operations corresponding to the touched area and has both a
function of a display device and a function for allowing input.
[0051] As shown in FIG. 2, the display unit 29 includes a
vertically long entire display area 30, and one integral piece of
information (single display image) can be displayed on the entire
display area 30. In addition, the display unit 29 can display each
of two different display images on a first display area 31 and a
second display area 32 which are obtained by vertically dividing
the entire display area 30 into two equal parts. In this way, the
display unit 29 includes a standard display mode in which a
different single display image is displayed on each of the first
display area 31 and the second display area 32, and an extension
display mode in which a single display image is displayed on the
entire display area 30. In the display unit 29, selective switching
is performed between the standard display mode and the extension
display mode, and the display image can be displayed thereon. FIG.
2 shows an example of the standard display mode. However, in the
control device 20 of the present embodiment the standard display
mode is set as a default. Here, the defaults of all display images
may not be set to the standard display mode, and the default
display of each display image may be selectively set to the
standard display mode or the extension display mode. For example,
the defaults of the setting screens such as for the mold clamping
process, the injection process, or the plasticization process may
be set to the standard display mode, and the default of the data
display screen such as a trend list may be set to the extension
display mode.
[0052] In the display unit 29, in order to select the display
image, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, menu buttons may be displayed.
For example, a button for selecting the setting image of the
injection process, a button for selecting the setting image of the
mold clamping process, or the like is displayed, and the user can
select the setting image. For example, as shown in FIG. 12, the
menu buttons may be a two-step menu button in which when an
arbitrary button (Temp) from the first selection button list L1 is
touched and selected according to a category name, a second
selection button list L2 in which the display images of each
category can be selected is displayed. In this case, as shown in
FIG. 12, the second selection button list L2 may be displayed above
the first selection button list L1, and the second selection button
list L2 may be displayed so as to overwrite the first selection
button list L1 at the same position as the first selection button
list L1. In addition, as shown FIG. 13, the menu buttons may be
menu buttons in which all categories C1 and display images C2 of
each category can be listed. The hierarchies of the menu buttons
are not limited to two hierarchies and there may be three
hierarchies or more.
[0053] In addition, as shown in the lowest layer of FIG. 13, the
menu buttons of each user may be customized (refer to FIG. 3). In
this case, preferably, the ID is assigned to each user in advance,
a storage area of the control device is allocated to each ID, menu
buttons in which the display selection buttons of an operation
screen group most frequently used by the user are collected are
stored for each ID of an user, and the menu button are summoned by
the user and can be displayed thereon. In general, a user selecting
molding conditions has the user's own molding condition selection
know-how, and the operation screens most frequently used by each
user are different from each other. Accordingly, the menu buttons
for each user are customized, and the number of menu display items
of select screens is decreased. Therefore, the user can reduce time
for performing button position identification and a button
selection operation on the display screen, and operating efficiency
effectively increases. Moreover, processing by which the menu
buttons for each user are customized may be automated.
Specifically, the setting screen which is frequently used by each
user is learned by the control device 20, the menu buttons are
automatically selected for each ID, and the menu buttons are
customized and may be stored in the storage unit 20b. In addition,
the customized menu buttons (customized menu display time) may be
not inherent for each ID, and may be shared with a plurality of
predetermined IDs. In this case, a shared password may be provided,
and passwords of each ID are managed as a group and may be used in
common with the menu buttons. Accordingly, it is possible to use
effective customized menus without excessively managing the
customized menus for each user ID individually and unnecessarily
consuming storage capacity of the storage unit 20b, and without
customizing the menu of each user related to each molded part, and
it is possible to increase operation efficiency. Alternatively, an
inexperienced user can browse and study setting screens which have
been used by an experienced senior user, which is effective for
training of users. In addition, it is possible to summon the
customized menu buttons stored in the storage unit 20b, and to
perform editing such as addition or removal on the customized menu
buttons. In this case, a user capable of performing the editing is
limited to all users having IDs by which the menu buttons can be
shared, or is limited only to an owner having the ID which is
registered as a person capable of performing the editing in
advance. However, for security, preferably, an user is limited only
to the user having the ID which is registered as a person capable
of performing the editing in advance.
[0054] In addition, preferably, the menu buttons in which the
display selection buttons of the operation screens of each mold or
each target molded part are collected is stored, and the menu
buttons are summoned so as to be displayed. In general, operation
parameters of the molding machine greatly influencing high quality
molding are different from each other in each mold or each molded
part. Accordingly, the menu buttons are customized to the setting
screens including parameters greatly influencing each mold or each
molded part, the selection time of the user on the display screen
is reduced by decreasing the number of menu display items of the
select screen, and it is possible to effectively increase the
operating efficiency.
[0055] In addition, preferably, a plurality of menu buttons are
stored in the same ID. In this case, when the control device 20
identifies the ID of the user after the control device 20 reads the
molding conditions of a predetermined mold or molded part, the
control device 20 collates the ID of the user with the mold or the
management number of the molded part, and the user reads the menu
list of the operation screen in which the user has been mainly used
with respect to the mold or the molded part from the storage unit
20b and prepares the menu list so as to display the menu list on
the display unit 29. In addition, this is similarly applied to a
case where the control device 20 reads the molding conditions of a
predetermined mold or molded part after the control device 20
identifies the ID of the user. In a case where operation screens
having increased operating efficiency for each user are different
from each other when the molded parts are different from each
other, each user easily selects the molding conditions
independently. In addition, it is possible to always summon the
menu buttons of the operation screen, which is considered to be
preferable for each target molded part by the user, from the
storage unit 20, and it is possible to increase workability.
[0056] Moreover, preferably, after the menu buttons of each ID of
the operation screen registered on the storage unit 20b in advance,
or the menu buttons of each management number of the mold or a
product is read, the menu buttons are edited, the edited menu
buttons may be stored in the storage unit 20b so as to be updated.
In this case, when the menu buttons are improved so that the user
more easily uses the menu buttons, the menu buttons of the latest
operation screen can always be summoned, and it is possible to
effectively increase workability.
[0057] Moreover, the storage unit 20b of the customized menu
buttons may be provided on the control device 20 of the injection
molding machine 1, and may be provided on a centralized management
device (not shown) which manages a plurality of injection molding
machines in a centralized manner. In the case where the storage
unit 20 is provided on the centralized management device,
irrespective of which injection molding machine which is managed by
the centralized management device, a user can use the their own
customized menu buttons. Accordingly, it is not necessary to
customize the menu button for each injection molding machine so as
to be stored in the storage unit, and it is possible to increase
the operating efficiency.
[0058] In addition, even when the storage unit 20b of the
customized menu button are provided on the control device of the
injection molding machine 1, a plurality of control devices for
injection molding machines are connected to each other by
communication, and the customized menu buttons may be summoned from
the mutual storage devices so as to be shared. Specifically, a
control device for an injection molding machine (referred to as a
control device A) identifying the ID of the user searches to find
another control device for an injection molding machine (referred
to as a control device B) which stores the menu buttons customized
by the user. The control device A receives the menu buttons with
respect to the ID of the user via communication from the control
device B, and may display the menu buttons on the display device of
the control device A.
[0059] Moreover, the customized menu buttons may be copied or moved
so as to be stored in well-known arbitrary external storage media
(external hard disk, USB memory, SD card, or the like) from the
storage unit 20b, and may be used so as to be stored in storage
units such as another injection molding machine or centralized
management device, or a stand-alone computer or printer.
[0060] The display unit 29 displays the image corresponding to the
input (selection) from the menu buttons, the key input unit 25, or
the like which is displayed on the display unit 29. The information
related to the display image is held in the storage unit 20b
(hereinafter, may be referred to as a data storage unit 20b) of the
control device 20, and is read from the data storage unit 20b
according to the selection of the user so as to be displayed on the
display unit 29. For example, in FIG. 2, the setting image of the
injection process is displayed on the first display area 31, and
the setting image of the plasticization process is displayed on the
second display area 32. The selected setting images are stored in
the storage unit 20b as the display history if there is no
instruction to erase the selection and the display history. The
display history is not limited to the setting images, and
information read from the storage unit 20b such as trend data
described below is stored in the storage unit 20b in the display
history.
[0061] When two display images are displayed, in the display unit
29, the display image required to be displayed first is displayed
on the first display area 31, and the display image required to be
displayed thereafter is displayed on the second display area 32.
That is, in the present embodiment, the display image having an
older position in the display history is displayed on the first
display area 31 positioned on the upper side, and the display
images having a newer position in the display history are displayed
on the second display area 32 positioned on the lower side.
However, the positions of these areas may be exchanged between the
upper side and the lower side. For example, in a step in which the
setting image of only the injection process is not read, the first
display area 31 may be a blank screen. In addition, a default image
may be set in advance, and the default image may be automatically
displayed on the first display area 31 and the second display area
32 of the display unit 29 as an initial screen after power sources
input power. Here, for simple description, the case where the first
display area 31 is a blank screen as the initial screen is
described. However, for example, when the setting image of the
plasticization process is read, the setting image of the injection
process is displayed on the blank first display area 31, and the
setting image of the plasticization process is displayed on the
second display area 32. Alternatively, in a step in which the
setting image of only the injection process is not read, the
setting image of the injection process may be displayed on the
first display area 31, and the second display area 32 may be a
blank screen. In this case, for example, when the setting image of
the plasticization process is read, the setting image of the
plasticization process is displayed on the blank second display
area 32 in the state where the setting image of the injection
process is displayed on the first display area 31.
[0062] The setting images of the injection process are
hierarchized, the setting image displayed on the first display area
31 of FIG. 2 corresponds to the uppermost area, and the setting
image which is not shown in FIG. 2 and positioned on the lower side
is present. The setting image positioned on the lower side is read
from the data storage unit 20b according to the input and the
selection of the menu buttons, and is displayed on the display unit
29. The setting image positioned on the lower side may be displayed
on the second display area 32. However, another display method of
the display unit 29 when the display image positioned on the lower
side with respect to the uppermost display image is read will be
described below. Here, the case in which the setting image of the
injection process is hierarchized is described. However, during
other processes such as the mold clamping process or the
plasticization process, the setting image may be hierarchized. The
number of hierarchies may be arbitrary, and two or more arbitrary
hierarchies may be configured with respect to each process. There
may be a process which does not include lower hierarchy.
[0063] The display unit 29 of the present embodiment includes the
standard display mode in which each of display images different
from each other is displayed on each of the first display area 31
and the second display area 32. However, in a state where a
relative positional relationship between image information
(hereinafter, may be referred to as a first display image P1)
displayed on the first display area 31 and image information
(hereinafter, may be referred to as a second display image P2)
displayed on the second display area 32 is maintained, it is
possible to synchronously scroll the first display image P1 and the
second display image P2. Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 2 and
3, a synchronous scrolling which is a characteristic of the present
embodiment will be described. Moreover, the scrolling of the
present embodiment means that the display histories of the
plurality of image information items stored in the storage unit 20b
are displayed on the display device so as to be switched to each
other in this order. In addition, the display method includes the
well-known method of sliding the images displayed on the display
device in one direction (typically, vertically or horizontally) by
a scroll instruction according to the operation of the user, that
is, of continuously moving the images so as to display the images.
In addition, the display method includes the well-known method such
as a static switching display of displaying the image on the second
display area adjacent to the first display area after temporarily
erasing the displayed images from display areas, for example, the
first display area without performing the dynamic display of
sliding the image.
[0064] [Synchronous Scroll Function (FIGS. 2 and 3)]
[0065] In the standard display mode as shown in FIG. 2, the first
display image P1 (for example, the setting image of the injection
process) and the second display image P2 (for example, the setting
image of the plasticization process) are displayed. Moreover, the
entirety of the first display image P1 is displayed on the first
display area 31, and the entirety of the second display image P2 is
displayed on the second display area 32. Moreover, in the present
embodiment, the case in which the first display area 31 is disposed
on the upper side of the display unit 29 and the second display
area 32 is disposed on the lower side of the display unit 29 is
described. However, the first display area 31 may be disposed on
the lower side of the display unit 29, and the second display area
32 may be disposed on the upper side of the display unit 29.
[0066] For example, when an instruction for scrolling the displayed
image is input to the key input unit 25, as shown in FIG. 3(a) or
3(b), the first display image P1 and the second display image P2
are synchronously scrolled in the state where a relative positional
relationship between both is maintained. According to the scroll
instruction, as shown in FIG. 3(a), the scrolling can be performed
upward in a vertical direction Y of the vertically long display
unit 29, and as shown in FIG. 3(b), the scrolling can be performed
downward in the vertical direction Y. In addition, a scroll speed
may be set to well-known scroll speeds which are used in a personal
computer, a smart phone, a tablet type computer, or the like.
Moreover, the scroll speed may be set to a speed value according to
the preference of an user. In addition, when the scrolling slides
the display image and the display image is displayed dynamically,
the scrolling may be stopped and the image may be displayed in the
state where the display image is not displayed on only a portion of
the upper part or the lower part of each display image during the
scrolling, at an arbitrary position according to a scroll stopping
instruction of the user such as a case where the user stops the
scroll operation during the switching of the screen. Of course, it
is needless to say that the setting input can be performed even in
the state where the scrolling is stopped at an arbitrary
position.
[0067] For easy understanding, in FIG. 3, the lower side (FIG.
3(a)) in the display unit 29 and the upper side (FIG. 3(b)) in the
display unit 29 are empty. However, if setting images (for example,
the mold clamping process) other than the setting images of the
injection process and the plasticization process are previously
selected, the setting image of the mold clamping process is
displayed on the empty portion. Moreover, the direction of the
scrolling is indicated by void arrows, and hereinafter, this is
similarly applied. In addition, the outline of the image protruding
from the display unit 29 using the scrolling is shown by dotted
lines. However, the image cannot be viewed in reality.
[0068] According to the present embodiment, when the scroll
instruction is applied to the first display image displayed on the
first display area 31 and the second display image displayed on the
second display area 32, two display images vertically adjacent to
each other can be vertically scrolled and displayed in the state
where two display images are synchronized and connected to each
other. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, when the
display image (previously displayed image) which is not displayed
at the present time is required to be redisplayed, it is possible
to display the previously displayed image by simply performing the
scroll instruction. Accordingly, in the present embodiment, since
work such as in a case where a user must remember the name of the
previously displayed image while depending on the user's memory or
the user selects the previously displayed image from the menu
screen again is not required, it is possible to reduce a load on
the user.
[0069] Moreover, in the present embodiment, since the setting
images can be scrolled and displayed in the order as in the
operation history and the screen selection history, if an user has
displayed the image, even when the user's memory is unreliable and
the user does not remember the hierarchy, it is possible to display
the image which is not displayed at the present time by simply
performing the scrolling. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the
operation time and increase productivity.
[0070] In addition, since the display unit 29 is divided into the
first display area 31 and the second display area and the first
display image and the second display image are simultaneously
displayed, the setting screens of other processes are not displayed
in a reduced form or are not partially displayed, the setting
screens are displayed on the entire screen, and the user can input
conditions while checking all setting values on the screen.
[0071] Accordingly, it is possible to input and change the setting
values while reviewing the setting values closely related to each
other in a series of mechanical operations even if the mechanical
operations are different from each other. Accordingly, unlike a
method in which one display image is displayed on one display area,
labor in which the user switches the display images one by one and
checks the display images, or labor in which the user identifies
small characters which are difficult to see due to the reduction of
the image, or labor in which the user switches the image to other
portions of the same screen to display the image is removed, and it
is possible to prevent input errors due to confusion in the user's
memory or the user's misunderstanding.
[0072] In addition, since the display images are displayed on the
first display area 31 and the second display area 32 according to
the selected order, when the user sets the operation conditions of
a machine, in a case where the user has a setting procedure
according to the user's own know-how, it is possible to realize the
disposition of the setting image according to the effective setting
procedure set by the user. Therefore, according to the present
embodiment, it is also possible to customize the display procedure
with respect to the operation manner of each user. In this case,
preferably, the ID is assigned to each user in advance, a storage
area of the control device is allocated to each ID, and the
connection procedure and the layout of the operation screens are
stored for each ID of the user and are summoned so as to be
displayed. In addition, preferably, the connection procedure and
the layout of the operation screens are stored for each mold or
each target molded part, and are summoned so as to be displayed. In
addition, preferably, if the connection procedures and the layouts
of a plurality of operation screens can be stored in the same ID,
when the preferable layout having high operating efficiency for
setting screens is changed depending on the target molded part or
the like, the connection procedure and the layout of the preferable
operation screen of each target molded part can always be summoned
from the storage unit 20b.
[0073] Moreover, customization processing of the layout may be
performed by an operation of the user of storing the setting image,
which is actually displayed when the user selects the molding
conditions, and the display history in the storage unit 20b, or may
be performed by an operation of providing a dedicated customization
processing screen, allowing the user to select the setting screen
on the dedicated screen, to set the layout, and to perform the
customization, and storing the customization in the storage unit
20b. Alternatively, the setting images which are frequently used by
the user and the display procedures are learned by the control
device 20, and the control device 20 automatically set the layout
of each ID, and store the layout in the storage unit 20b.
[0074] Moreover, preferably, after the connection procedure and the
layout of the operation screen registered in the storage unit 20b
in advance are read and edited, the connection procedure and the
layout of the edited operation screen are updated and stored in the
storage unit 20b. In this case, when the connection procedure and
the layout are improved so that the user easily uses the connection
procedure and the layout, since the connection procedure and the
layout of the latest operation screen can always be summoned, it is
possible to effectively increase workability. In addition, it is
needless to say that the menu buttons of each ID of the operation
screen registered in the storage unit 20b in advance, or each
management number of the mold or the product is read and edited,
and may be stored as a menu different from the read menu.
[0075] In addition, according to the user's memory such as "has
displayed before . . . ", since the display procedure of the screen
can be intuitively reflected in an operation, the operation can be
performed according to the image of the user, and it is possible to
reduce stress on the user during the operation. In addition, in
order to rapidly display a desired image which has been displayed
before a plurality of pages, the scroll amount may be specified by
a number such as the number of pages, and the image may be switched
by jumping to a desired image. Moreover, the scroll speed may be
set so as to be switched in a plurality of steps in advance, and
the scroll speed is switched to a desired scroll speed by directly
selecting the desired scroll speed or the scroll speed may be
automatically switched to the desired scroll speed by a
predetermined touch action. In addition, a text search function or
a code search function is provided in the control device 20 in
advance, and when a keyword of a desired screen or the cord is
searched for, the desired screen can be displayed.
[0076] The scroll may be performed by pressing soft switches or
hard switches such as sheet keys on the touch panel, and may be
performed by a touch action operation of moving the image in the
scroll direction while touching the touch panel, that is, a
so-called swipe operation. Alternatively, the scroll instruction
may be performed using a method by which the instruction in the
scroll direction is acoustically recognized according to voice of
the user.
[0077] In addition, switching between a method of displaying a new
setting image by inserting the new setting image from above the
display unit 29 and scrolling the image downward and a method of
displaying the new setting image by inserting the new setting image
from below the display unit 29 and scrolling the image upward can
be selectively set according to the user's own convenience.
Accordingly, since the scroll direction matching the image of the
user can be selected, that is, the display switching can be
tailored for a user using an image which is viewed by scrolling
down a new image from the history, or a user using an image which
is viewed by scrolling up a new image from the history, it is
possible to remove inconvenience such as misunderstanding or
discomfort.
[0078] [Switching Between Standard Display and Extension Display
(FIG. 4)]
[0079] As described above, the present embodiment includes the
standard display mode and the extension display mode. However,
hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 4, effective use aspects of
switching from the standard display mode to the extension display
mode, or switching from the extension display mode to the standard
display mode will be described.
[0080] In FIG. 4(a), each of the first display image P1 and the
second display image P2 is displayed on each of the first display
area 31 and the second display area 32 according to the standard
display mode. In this example, the second display image P2
indicates the setting image of the injection process, and the first
display image P1 indicates a trend list with respect to the
injection molding machine 1. The trend list is list type data in
which a history of the conditions used in the injection molding of
the past is listed. For example, the data includes a cycling time
of injection, a plasticization time, an injection time, an
injection start position, or the like. With reference to the data,
the user can evaluate molding stability of the operation of the
injection molding machine, presence or absence of an abnormal
state, stability of the molded part, whether or not molding failure
could occur, abnormality of the molding machine, or the like.
Accordingly, in order to set stable molding conditions, for
example, when the user performs the setting with respect to the
injection process, the user can input conditions considered
appropriately to the setting image displayed on the second display
image P2 with reference to the data.
[0081] In the trend data, the operation data of a molding cycle of
the past is listed as the history of each molding cycle, and if
many molding cycles overlap each other, the data which cannot be
completely received in the first display area 31 by the standard
display mode occurs, and the data is hidden in FIG. 4(a). The user
may want to refer to the history data of the hidden portion.
Accordingly, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4(b), the
trend data can be displayed over the entire display area 30. That
is, in the present embodiment, the trend data displayed in the
standard display mode can be displayed so as to be switched to the
extension display mode. Specifically, it is possible to display
approximately twice as many items than the trend data items
displayed on only the first display area 31 by displaying the trend
data over the entire display area 30. The user extracts the
required conditions of the injection process with reference to the
trend data displayed in the extension display mode, and can
effectively use the extracted conditions to set the injection
process. When the extraction of the conditions ends, as shown in
FIG. 4(a), the extension display mode is returned to the standard
display mode and the conditions are input by the user.
[0082] In a display image group having the hierarchical
configuration in which there is a lower display image with respect
to an upper display image, the upper image is displayed on the
first display area 31 or the second display area 32. In this case,
when there is an instruction of the user to display the extension
display mode on the upper display image, a pair of display images
in which the upper display image is disposed in the first display
area 31 and the lower display image is disposed in the second
display area 32 may be display of a hierarchical configuration.
[0083] In addition, conversely, when the lower display image is
displayed in the first display area 31 or the second display area
32, in a case where there is an instruction of the user to display
the extension display mode on the lower display image, a pair of
display images in which the upper display image is disposed in the
first display area 31 and the lower display image is disposed in
the second display area 32 may be display of a hierarchical
configuration.
[0084] The switching from the standard display mode to the
extension display mode and the return (switching) from the
extension display mode to the standard display mode are performed
according to the instruction of the user. This instruction may be
any instruction. For example, it may be assumed that the
instruction is input from the key input unit 25 in which the area
(in the present embodiment, the first display area 31 in which the
trend data is displayed) in which the image required to be set to
the extension display mode is displayed is touched by the user.
[0085] Moreover, in order to prevent incorrect display of the
display image, the display images in which the extension display
mode can be used may be limited to images of only the data list
such as a trend data list or a control signal list.
[0086] [Automatic Insertion and Scroll Function of New Selection
Image Information (FIG. 5)]
[0087] Next, automatic insertion and a scroll function of new
selection image information which are other characteristic display
methods of the present embodiment will be described.
[0088] For example, as shown in FIG. 5(a), in a state where the
setting image of the injection process is displayed as the first
display image P1, and a plasticization main setting image
(hereinafter, referred to as a main setting image) in which the
main setting condition values of the plasticization process are
displayed is displayed as the second display image P2, a
plasticization sub-setting image (hereinafter, referred to as
sub-setting image) is selected, in which input columns of
subsidiary condition values of the plasticization process
positioned at a hierarchy lower than the second display image P2
are disposed. Moreover, the new setting images may be setting
images which are not the sub-setting images such as the images of
the mold clamping process. However, the present embodiment is
described using the plasticization sub-setting image.
[0089] As shown in FIG. 5(b), the control device 20 displays the
sub-setting image on the second display area 32, and the main
setting image, which has been displayed on the second display area
32 as the second display image P2 until the sub-setting image is
displayed on the second display area 32, is automatically scrolled
upward toward the first display area 31. Moreover, in the present
embodiment, the example in which the image having the older
position in the display history is displayed on the upper side of
the display unit 29 and the new image is displayed on the lower
side of the display unit 29 is described. However, the images
having the older positions in the display history are displayed on
the lower side of the display unit 29 and the new image is inserted
so as to be displayed on the upper side of the display unit 29. The
main setting image is the first display image P1, and the
sub-setting image is the second display image P2. Simultaneously,
the setting image of the injection process, which is the first
display image P1 which has been displayed on the first display area
31 until that time, is automatically scrolled upward, is made to
disappear from the display unit 29, and the display of the setting
image of the injection process is interrupted. However, the display
history in which the setting image of the injection process is
displayed to be adjacent to the upper side of the main setting
image is stored in the storage unit 20b.
[0090] When the user ends the conditions input required for the
sub-setting image and redisplays the setting image of the initial
injection process and the initial main setting image, both images
are synchronized so as to be scrolled downward by the instruction
of the user and are displayed on the first display area 31 and the
second display area 32 as shown in FIG. 5(c). The sub-setting image
which has been displayed until that time is scrolled downward and
is made to disappear from the display unit 29. However, the display
history in which the sub-setting image is displayed so as to be
adjacent to the lower side of the main setting image is stored in
the storage unit 20b.
[0091] In addition, in this case, when the user want to perform the
setting operation according to the new setting images while viewing
the main setting image of the plasticization in the state in which
the sub-setting image is made to disappear downward, for example,
when the user selects the setting image of the molding clamping
process and displays the setting image, the main setting image is
displayed as the first display image P1 displayed on the upper side
of the display unit 29, and the setting image of the mold clamping
process is displayed as the second display image P2. In this case,
in the display history stored in the storage unit 20b, the setting
image of the mold clamping process is inserted between the main
setting image and the sub-setting image. Accordingly, if the user
performs the upward scroll operation in the state where the main
setting image is displayed as the first display image P1 and the
setting image of the molding clamping process is displayed as the
second display image P2, the first display image P1 is displayed on
the setting screen of the mold clamping process, and the
sub-setting image is displayed as the second display image P2.
[0092] According to the insertion method of the new selection image
of the present embodiment, the setting image newly selected at an
arbitrary position in the display history is displayed so as to be
adjacent to the setting image positioned at a position above an
arbitrary position, and the old setting image in the display
history can be automatically removed from the display unit 29.
Accordingly, the images which are required to be certainly
displayed by the user at the present time are simultaneously
displayed without performing the operation in which the user
instructs the scrolling, and it is possible to rapidly perform the
setting operation of the conditions. Therefore, it is possible to
reduce an operation load on the user.
[0093] The insertion method of the new selection image of the
present embodiment may be also applied to a case in which the new
display image is required to be displayed when the old display
image in the display history is displayed in the extension display
mode. Accordingly, the new display image is displayed in the
extension display mode, and it is possible to interrupt the display
of the old display image (extension display mode) in the display
history.
[0094] In addition, when the display images having the older
positions in the display history are displayed in the extension
display mode, if there is a request for displaying the new display
image, the display images having the older positions in the display
history are redisplayed in the standard display mode, the new
display image is displayed in the standard display mode, and the
new display image may be displayed above or below the display image
having the older position in the display history according to an
anteroposterior relationship in the display history.
[0095] In addition, the display images having the older positions
in the display history are displayed in the standard display mode,
when it is required to display the new display image in which a
default display mode is the extension display mode, the display
images having the older positions in the display history displayed
in the standard display mode slides upward or downward, and the new
display images may be displayed in the extension display mode.
[0096] [Scroll Lock Function of Display Image (FIG. 6)]
[0097] In the present embodiment, in principle, the image displayed
on the first display area 31 and the image displayed on the second
display area 32 are synchronized and scrolled. However, there is
also an exception. The exception is a scroll lock function of the
display image. As described below, this function is effective in a
case where the conditions of the process which is effective in
other high quality molding are set and input while referring to the
operation setting of the process which becomes a center as the
molding conditions by which different high quality molding is
performed according to the trend list or the molded part.
[0098] For example, the trend list image, the setting image of the
injection process, and the setting image of the plasticization
process are previously selected, and as shown in FIG. 6(a), the
trend list image is displayed on the first display area 31 as the
first display image P1, and the setting image of the injection
process is displayed on the second display area 32 as the second
display image P2. The user inputs the setting image of the
injection process as the image while referring to the trend list.
In order to input the plasticization conditions after the input
ends and display the setting image of the plasticization process on
the second display area 32, in principle, the synchronization
scroll is performed, and the trend list is made to disappear from
the display unit 29. Since this is inconvenient for the user, the
present embodiment includes the function locking the trend list
image so that the trend list image displayed on the first display
area 31 cannot be scrolled. Moreover, the display area, in which
the image is locked so that the image cannot be scrolled, may be
either the first display area 31 positioned on the upper side of
the display unit 29 or the second display area 32 positioned on the
lower side of the display unit 29. However, in the present
embodiment the case where the image displayed on the first display
area 31 is locked is described.
[0099] In the state in which the trend list image is locked, even
when the user performs the operation of instructing the scrolling,
as shown in FIG. 6(b), the state in which the trend list image is
displayed on the first display area 31 is maintained. That is,
until the lock function is released, the locked image is displayed
so as to be always fixed to the locked display area. Meanwhile, the
scroll instruction is applied to the display image of the injection
process which has been displayed on the second display area 32
until that time and the hidden setting image of the plasticization
process, the display image of the injection process is made to
disappear from the upper portion of the display unit 29, and the
setting image of the plasticization process is displayed so as to
slide up from the lower end of the second display area 32. In this
case, the display image of the injection process being stored in
the display history means that the image is disposed to be adjacent
to the upper side of the trend list so as to jump over the trend
list image displayed on the first display area 31. That is, in this
case, the image of the injection process may be stored as the image
which has been displayed before the trend list in the display
history. Accordingly, if the screen is scrolled downward in the
state where the image lock of the trend list is released, the image
of the injection process is displayed from above at the position
adjacent to the upper side of the trend list. According to the lock
function of the lock function of the scrolling, the user can input
the conditions required for the setting image of the plasticization
process while referring to the trend list image.
[0100] Moreover, when the first display image is displayed on the
first display area, the second display image is displayed on the
second display area, and one of the first display image and the
second display image is locked, in a case in which the user
performs locking of the other display image, the lock of the one
display image which has been locked until now may be released.
Specifically, for example, when locking of the second display image
is performed in the state where the first display image is locked,
the second display image is locked, and simultaneously, the lock
state of the first display image may be released.
[0101] In addition, both the first display image and the second
display image may be locked so as not to be scrollable. In this
case, for example, it is possible to prevent the screen from being
switched due to a portion of a body of the user or a portion of a
member held by the user coming into contact with a scroll operation
portion due to a mistake or the like of the user and an
unintentional scroll operation being performed. Moreover, the
scroll lock may be limited to being released by a specific user
with a preset ID.
[0102] As described above, since the present embodiment includes
the lock function of the scrolling, it is possible to set the
conditions of two processes of the injection process and the
plasticization process while always directly referring to the trend
list, and it is possible to reduce the load of the setting
operation of the user. In addition, the image to which the lock of
the scrolling can be applied is not limited to the trend list, the
lock can be applied to an arbitrary image laid out at an arbitrary
position in other display histories, and other scrollable images in
the state where one of arbitrary images is locked are not limited
to the injection process and the plasticization process, and an
arbitrary image can be scrolled.
[0103] [Name Display Function of Front and Rear Image Information
(FIG. 7)]
[0104] Next, a function of displaying names of front and rear
information which is not displayed on the display unit 29 will be
described with reference to FIG. 7. This function supports user's
unreliable memory.
[0105] For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the trend list image is
displayed on the first display area 31, and the setting image of
the injection process is displayed on the second display area 32.
In addition, two display images are previously selected. However,
the one display image has an older position in the display history
than that of the trend list image and is hidden above the trend
list image, and the other display image has the newer position in
the display history than that of the setting image of the injection
process and is hidden below the setting image of the injection
process.
[0106] Even when a short time elapses after the user inputs the
conditions with respect to the setting image of the injection
process while referring to the trend list image, the user may
forget the history. Accordingly, in the present embodiment,
information capable of specifying the image information having the
older position in the display history and the image information
having the newer position in the display history which are not
displayed at the present time, for example, names are displayed. In
this example, a name such as a "mold opening and closing" is
displayed on the first display area 31 as the image information
having the older position in the display history, and a name such
as "plasticization" is displayed on the second display area 32 as
the image information of the new display history. The image
information having the older position in the display history having
the displayed name is older by one generation than the trend list
image displayed on the first display area 31. In addition, the
image information of the new display history having the displayed
name is newer by one generation than the setting image of the
injection process displayed on the second display area 32.
Moreover, in the present embodiment, the names of the displayed
images are the name of the image which is older by only one
generation and the name of the image which is newer by only one
generation. However, the names of the images which are older or
newer by a plurality of generations, that is, one or more
generations, for example, two generations, three generations, or
the like may be displayed so as to be listed so that sequence of a
display history can be understood. In this case, all the names of
the images in a plurality of predetermined generations may be
displayed from the beginning. However, in order to effectively use
the limited display area such as displaying the setting input units
of the operation conditions, preferably, initially, the name of the
image which is older by only one generation is displayed, and the
image names are displayed according to a multi-step type switching
so that the image names of the plurality of predetermined
generations are displayed by a predetermined operation.
[0107] As described above, according to the control device 20
including the name display function of the front and rear image
information, with respect to an arbitrary image laid out at an
arbitrary position in the display history, it is possible to
recognize the image displayed before or after the image displayed
at the present time, specifically, in the present embodiment, the
setting image of the "plasticization" or the setting image of the
"mold opening and closing". Therefore, according to the present
embodiment, even when memory of the user is unreliable, it is
possible to easily scroll and redisplay images according to
unreliable memory of the user.
[0108] [History Erasure Function of Display Image (FIG. 8)]
[0109] The control device 20 of the present embodiment stores the
selected display images in a history. However, if a number of
display histories increases, the load on the user may increase.
Accordingly, the control device 20 can have a function of erasing
an arbitrary display image, which is laid out at an arbitrary
position in the display history, from the display history.
[0110] For example, as shown in FIG. 8(a), in the state where the
setting image of the injection process is displayed as the first
display image P1 and the setting image of the plasticization
process is displayed as the second display image P2, the setting
image (hereinafter, referred to as a sub-setting image) of the
plasticization process positioned at a hierarchy below the second
display image P2 is selected. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 8(b),
the control device 20 of the present embodiment displays the
sub-setting image on the second display area 32. The operations so
far are the same as the automatic insertion and scroll function
(FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b)) of the above-described new selection image
information.
[0111] For example, in some cases, the user ends the input of the
conditions required for the sub-setting image A, and thereafter,
the user may determine that it is not necessary to display the
sub-setting image A. In addition, with respect to the
plasticization process, when another sub-setting image B exists, if
the sub-setting image B is newly selected and appears in the
display history, thereafter, unnecessary sub-setting images A are
displayed one by one, and the operation efficiency of the scrolling
of the user may deteriorate. Accordingly, if unnecessary
sub-setting images A exist, it is not possible to display the
sub-setting image B so as to be adjacent to the setting image of
the plasticization process positioned in the upper hierarchy.
Accordingly, the control device 20 includes the function of erasing
the unnecessary display images from display histories stored in the
storage unit 20b according to the instruction of the user. That is,
if instructions for erasure from the display history such as
touching on an erasure switch or performing touch action for
erasing are given to the sub-setting image shown in FIG. 8(b), the
scrolling is automatically performed, and as shown in FIG. 8(c),
the display is returned to the display before the sub-setting image
is selected. In addition, thereafter, even when the user instructs
the upward scrolling, since the display history is erased, the
sub-setting image in which the display is stopped is not displayed
on the display unit 29.
[0112] As described above, since the control device 20 including
the history erasure function of the display image can display only
the necessary image information, the user does not feel stress due
to unnecessary images being displayed, and the injection molding
machine 1 having high operability is provided.
[0113] [Exchange Function Between First Area and Second Area (FIG.
9)]
[0114] The control device 20 of the present embodiment is operated
according to the rule in which the image information having the
older position in the display history is displayed on the first
display area 31 and the image information having the new display
history is displayed on the second display area 32. However, for
example, the user operating the injection molding machine may
habitually display the setting image of the injection process on
the first display area 31 and the setting image of the
plasticization process on the second display area 32. However, the
user may erroneously set the procedure of the selection, and the
user may display the setting image of the plasticization process on
the first display area 31 and the setting image of the injection
process on the second display area 32 (the right drawing of FIG.
9).
[0115] In order to change the disposition of the images set
according to habit of the user, after the display histories of the
setting image of the plasticization process and the setting image
of the injection process are erased, the setting image of the
injection process and the setting image of the plasticization
process may be selected again in this order. However, since this
causes a load on the user, the control device 20 includes a
function of exchanging an arbitrary image laid out so as to be
adjacent to the image displayed on the first display area 31 and
the display history displayed on the second display area 32. The
left drawing of FIG. 9 is the drawing after the exchange is
performed. The setting image of the injection process is displayed
on the first display area 31, the setting image of the
plasticization process is displayed on the second display area 32,
and the user may perform the operation in accordance with the
user's habit.
[0116] The operation of performing the exchange function of the
images may be performed according to any method. For example, a
button for instructing the exchange may be provided on the display
unit 29, a command for instructing the exchange function may be
assigned to a specific key of the key input unit 25, and the
exchange operation of the screen may be performed by a
predetermined touch action.
[0117] [Horizontal Scroll Function (FIGS. 10 and 11)]
[0118] In the control device 20 of the present embodiment, in
principle, the scrolling is performed in the vertical direction.
However, scrolling in the horizontal direction may be required or
may be effective to increase the efficiency of the setting
operation of the user. Accordingly, as described below, the control
device 20 allows an arbitrary image laid out at an arbitrary
position in the display history to the scrolling in the horizontal
direction.
[0119] For example, as shown in FIG. 10(a), the setting image of
the injection process is displayed on the first display area 31,
and a constant setting image (first page) is displayed on the
second display area 32. The constant setting image is an image for
setting a control constant required so as to perform the injection
process. Since the number of the required control constants is very
great, it is difficult to display all control constants on the
second display area 32 at one time. Accordingly, the constant
setting image is divided into three pages, and in the example shown
in FIG. 10, the constant setting images of three pages are selected
previously. In addition, the constant setting images of three pages
are arranged in a horizontal direction X in advance. Moreover, the
constant setting image is displayed on the first display area 31,
and the setting image of the injection process can be displayed on
the second display area 32.
[0120] When the user ends the input for the control constants
required with respect to the constant setting image of the first
page displayed on the second display area 32, in order to input the
control constants required with respect to the constant setting
image of the next and second page, the user instructs the scrolling
in the horizontal direction X. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 10(b),
the constant setting image of the second page is displayed on the
second display area 32. In addition, when the user ends the input
for the control constants required with respect to the constant
setting image of the second page, in order to display the constant
setting image of a third page on the second display area 32, the
user may instruct the scrolling in the horizontal direction X.
Here, in the drawing, the leftward scrolling is described. However,
in order to perform confirmation after the input of the control
constants of the three pages ends, a rightward scrolling may be
performed according to the instruction of the user.
[0121] In addition, the right position and the left position of the
constant setting images of the first to third pages may be
conversely disposed. Moreover, switching between the right and left
positions and switching between the scroll directions may be
performed by a touching operation of one touch type or a switch
operation.
[0122] In this case, the method of instructing the scrolling may be
performed by any method. For example, a swipe operation in which
the surface of the second display area 32 is traced in the
horizontal direction X may be applied, or a key assigned to the key
input unit 25 may be operated. In addition, as shown in FIG. 10,
when the display images are arranged in the horizontal direction X,
in order to prevent the setting image of the injection process
displayed on the first display area 31 from erroneously being
scrolled in the vertical direction Y, the scroll instruction may be
limited instruction in the horizontal direction X so that the
scroll instruction in the vertical direction Y is not received.
Moreover, when the display images are arranged in the horizontal
direction X, in a state where the scroll instructions with respect
to both directions of the horizontal direction X and the vertical
direction Y are waited, in the case where the scroll instruction is
given in the vertical direction Y, the setting images may be
scrolled in the state where the setting images are arranged in the
horizontal direction X. That is, when the upward scrolling is
instructed in the state where the setting images are arranged in
the horizontal direction X on the second display area, the setting
image which has been displayed on the second display area is
displayed on the first display area, and the scrolling may be
performed in the horizontal direction X on the first display
area.
[0123] In addition, both display images displayed on the first
display area 31 and the second display area 32 may be scrolled in
the horizontal direction X independently or synchronously.
[0124] In the present embodiment, the constant setting images of
the three pages are arranged in the horizontal direction X in
advance. However, a method for realizing the arrangement may be
performed by any method. For example, the constant setting images
of the three pages may be stored in the control device 20 as one
determined piece of information, and when the constant setting
image is selected from the menu, after the constant setting image
are developed on three pages, the constant setting images are
arranged in the horizontal direction X. In addition, the
information of the constant setting images of three pages are
stored in the control device 20 for each page, and if some pieces
of the image information of one page are selected, the other image
information of two pages is simultaneously selected and can be
arranged in the horizontal direction X. In the method of the
latter, the portions between the image information of three pages
are linked to each other.
[0125] In addition, the images arranged in the horizontal direction
X are not limited to the constant setting image. For example,
setting images or data list images of a plurality of processes
closely related to each other may be associated with each other,
and may be stored in the storage unit 20b. In addition, when some
images are selected and displayed, the image associated with the
image, to which the scroll instruction is given in the horizontal
direction X, may be scrolled and displayed in the horizontal
direction X. For example, a sub-setting screen may be associated
with a main-setting screen of the plasticization process, and when
the scroll instruction in the horizontal direction X is performed
in the state where the main setting image is displayed, the
sub-setting screen may be displayed. In addition, a large number of
data lists such as trend data lists or control signal lists
displayed in the extension display mode may be scrolled and
displayed in the horizontal direction X in the state where the
extension display image is maintained. Moreover, in a case where
the display modes obtained by switching to the extension display
mode are a pair of display images configured of an upper display
image and a lower display image having a hierarchical
configuration, when the plurality of lower sub-setting image groups
are associated with the upper main setting image, the main setting
image is not scrolled and displayed in the horizontal direction X,
and only the lower sub-setting image groups can be scrolled in the
horizontal direction X.
[0126] As described above, in the control device 20 having the
horizontal scroll function, since it is possible to input the
required control constants while referring to the setting image of
the plasticization process by simply scrolling the constant setting
images of three pages, workability increases. In addition,
according to the present embodiment, since the constant setting
images of three pages can be arranged in the horizontal direction X
without selecting the constant setting image of each page
individually from the menu screen, it is possible to simplify the
menu screen.
[0127] Hereinbefore, the present invention is described with
reference to the embodiment. However, the configurations described
in the embodiment may be selected and be appropriately modified so
as to be other configurations without departing from the gist of
the present invention.
[0128] For example, the display unit 29 has the vertically long
display area. However, the display method of the present invention
may be also applied to display means including a horizontally long
display area. In this case, synchronization of the scrolling is
performed along the horizontal direction X.
[0129] Moreover, the present invention includes the standard
display mode and the extension display mode. However, the present
invention may include other display modes. For example, if
necessary, the present invention may include a display method of
dividing the display area into four. In addition, the display image
may be displayed so as to be locally enlarged.
[0130] Moreover, in the present embodiment, according to the
standard display mode, the display area is divided into two equal
parts. However, the display area of the first display area 31 and
the display area of the second display area 32 may be different
from each other. For example, the division may be performed so that
a ratio between the display area of the first display area 31 and
the display area of the second display area 32 becomes 6:4, and it
is possible to change the ratio between the display areas of the
first display area 31 and the second display area 32 based on the
instruction from the user while adopting bisection as the
default.
[0131] Moreover, the display history stored in the storage unit 20b
and the user ID may be read by the control device 20 again
according to operations of the molding conditions input or the like
by the user, or the display history may be initialized by a reset
operation of the display history, and the connection procedure or
the layout of the operation screen may be stored in the storage
unit 20b associated with the ID of the user may be read again and
may be displayed on the display unit 29.
[0132] In addition, the display image which has been displayed
before two generations in the display history, for example, the
setting image of the injection process may not be scrolled and
redisplayed, and the setting image of the injection process may be
newly selected again from the menu and may be displayed. In this
case, preferably, the display history of the setting image of the
injection process before two generations in the display history is
erased.
[0133] Moreover, when the power source of the control device 20 is
turned off, the display history may be reset, or when the display
history is stored in the storage unit 20b immediately before the
power source is turned off and the control device 20 turns on the
power source again, the display history stored in the storage unit
20b immediately before the power source is turned off may be read
and may be displayed on the display unit 29.
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST
[0134] 1: injection molding machine [0135] 10: molding machine main
body [0136] 11: mold clamping unit [0137] 12: stationary platen
[0138] 13: movable platen [0139] 15: plasticizing unit [0140] 16:
heating cylinder [0141] 20: data holding unit [0142] 20: control
device [0143] 21: man-machine interface [0144] 23: switch button
[0145] 25: key input unit [0146] 27: touch panel [0147] 28:
detection unit [0148] 29: display unit [0149] 30: entire display
area [0150] 31: first display area [0151] 32: second display area
[0152] OC: operation command information [0153] SR: sensing
information [0154] P1: first display image [0155] P2: second
display image [0156] X: horizontal direction [0157] Y: vertical
direction
* * * * *