The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 09, 2003
Filed:
Oct. 01, 2002
Gerhard Vollmar, Meckenheim, DE;
Raiko Milanovic, Heidelberg, DE;
ABB Research Ltd., Zuerich, CH;
Abstract
A method, a device, and a corresponding system for controlling a discrete production process produce or process in a number of production steps. Each step uses a machine, so that different intermediate products are produced. Buffer times are defined and taken into account during which one machine is able to continue to operate for the duration of the failure of one of the machines of a preceding production step by processing a stock of intermediate products corresponding to the associated buffer time and stored in a buffer during the production. In this case, production data are acquired continuously for each machine and, with access to these production data, statistically averaged repair times MTTR (Mean Time to Repair) are calculated cyclically by using a MTTR calculator. Based on these times MTTR , buffer times are calculated by using a T calculator and are fed to a device for controlling the production process as desired values for buffer times.