Communications adaptor for automated factory system
March 4, 2008. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.Patent ReferencesMachine control system with machine serializing and safety circuits Probes Computer driven control system for a numerically controlled machine tool System and method of precision machining Numerically controlled machine tool Tool touch probe system and method of precision machining Control system for a machine or for an installation Method and apparatus for determining and correcting guidance errors Manipulation device such as an industrial robot having at least one sensor Remote data controller for a communication system Patent #: 4628478 InventorAssigneeApplicationNo. 164291 filed on 03/04/1988US Classes:700/2, Plural processors340/3.1, Monitoring in addition to control (e.g., supervisory)340/825.23, Machine tool700/95, Product assembly or manufacturing700/169, Supervisory control (e.g., plural tools or plural processors)700/195Having particular measuring device (e.g., probe)ExaminersPrimary: Ruggiero, JosephAttorney, Agent or FirmInternational ClassesG06F 015/46G05B 023/02 Foreign Application Priority Data1987-08-12 GBAbstractFactory machines such as CNC machine tools, co-ordinate measuring machines and industrial robots are connected in a local area network. Each machine controller is interfaced to the network via a communications adaptor which translates data, commands and programs between the Manufacturing Automation Protocal used by the network and the necessary machine-specific format. The communications adaptors are microprocessor-based and have additional input/output ports for controlling probes, other sensors such as temperature sensors and workpiece presence sensors, peripheral devices such as conveyors, and the "electronic handwheel" inputs of the machine controller. Controlling such devices from a program run in the communications adaptor rather than from the machine controller or from a computer on the network gives greater power, flexibility, convenience and potential for real-time control.Other References
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