Programmable controller alarm display method

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Details

364185, 364900, 371 29, G06F 1546, G06F 1132

Patent

active

046163077

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
DESCRIPTION



Background of the Invention

This invention relates to a programmable controller alarm display method for displaying an alarm generated during sequence control by a programmable controller for performing sequence control. More particularly, the invention relates to a programmable controller alarm display method through which the details of an alarm and the location of a fault corresponding to the alarm can be readily distinguished even in a complicated sequence program.
In a numerical control system, various mechanical elements in machine tools are controlled on the basis of commands issued by a numerical control device (including an operator's panel). Heretofore, in such numerical control systems, a magnetics circuit comprising a multiplicity of relays has been interposed between the numerical control device (hereinafter referred to as an NC device) and the machine tool. Prescribed ones of these relays are actuated in response to NC commands (M- and S-function instructions and commands from the operator's panel), whereby the mechanical elements are caused to operate in accordance with the NC commands.
However, the conventional systems of the above type, besides being large in size, are high in cost due to the need for a large number of relays. They are also poor in reliability due to mechanical failure of the relays and the like.
In contrast to the foregoing arrangement, a low cost and highly reliable system in which a programmable controller performs, through program processing, the function of the magnetics circuit is now the system most widely employed.
In a programmable controller of this kind, a sequence program is stored in a memory and a processor executes the sequence program to control the sequence of a machine. The programmable controller is provided with a display unit such as a CRT (cathode-ray tube) for displaying a ladder diagram indicative of the sequence program in the memory, messages, etc.
Sequence programs have recently increased in quality and sophistication. In the control of NC machine tools, for example, even ATC (automatic tool change), APC (automatic part change) and the like are controlled by sequence programs. When a sequence program controls such complex operations, it is required that the sequence be subjected to a meticulous alarm checking operation so that countermeasures can be taken quickly when a machine malfunction occurs.
In the widely employed system an alarm or an alarm message is displayed on a display unit when a machine malfunction occurs. At such time it is required that the operator respond by searching the entire ladder for the separate, corresponding portion of the ladder, displaying this portion on the display unit and then investigating the same.
However, it is a laborious and time-consuming task for the operator to find the pertinent portion of the ladder in a complicated sequence program; a long period of time is needed to free the machine of the fault; and both the operating efficiency of the machine and the amount of work done are likely to decline.


SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a programmable controller alarm display method through which the type and location of a machine fault can be immediately retrieved and displayed without an operator looking for and investigating a portion of a ladder.
In the present invention, a programmable controller, which controls a mechanical element of a machine tool in accordance with a prescribed sequence program on the basis of a command from a numerical control device, is provided with:
a memory for storing the sequence program; a processor for executing the sequence program; and a display unit for displaying in addition to messages, a ladder diagram corresponding to the sequence program. When the processor senses an alarm while the sequence program is being run, the location of a fault corresponding to the alarm is retrieved from the sequence program and the location is displayed on the display unit together with the details of the fault. More sp

REFERENCES:
patent: 3964026 (1976-06-01), Yamauchi et al.
patent: 4415965 (1983-11-01), Imazeki et al.
patent: 4425630 (1984-01-01), Yomogida et al.
patent: 4441161 (1984-04-01), Sasaki et al.
patent: 4445169 (1984-04-01), Wakita et al.
patent: 4504900 (1985-03-01), Yomogida et al.

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