Patent Application
20250083281
Grinding machines have been developed to sharpen various types of lawn mower cutting blades, including helical type blades and bed knives of reel-type mowers, and straight blades of rotary type mowers, for example. While grinding machines reduce the time needed for users to sharpen lawn mower blades and improve the quality and consistency of sharpening results, grinding machines may require monitoring and/or input from users during a sharpening procedure, which prevent users from performing other tasks during a sharpening procedure. For these and other reasons, a need exists for the present invention.
In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific examples in which the disclosure may be practiced. It is to be understood that other examples may be utilized and structural or logical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The following detailed description, therefore, is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present disclosure is defined by the appended claims. It is to be understood that features of the various examples described herein may be combined, in part or whole, with each other, unless specifically noted otherwise.
In examples, the present disclosure describes a connected control system for a lawn mower blade grinding machine, and a lawn mower blade grinding machine employing a connected control system, wherein the connected control system provides communication between the grinding machine (such as a reel type mower blade grinding machines and bedknife grinding machine, for example) and one or more user devices (such as a tablet, cell phone, PC, or a workstation, for example). In examples, the connected control system communicates with the one or more user devices using any suitable wireless communication protocol such WiFi, Bluetooth, Bluetooth low energy, or cellular, for example. In some examples, the connected control system may also communicate with user devices via a wired connections, such as with a user interface which is located onboard the grinding machine, for instance.
In examples, the one or more user devices include at least one first user device (e.g., a tablet) configured as a user interface from which operations of the grinding machine may be controlled and monitored. In some cases, the first user device is configured to communicate with and control more than one grinding machine, such as a reel type grinding machine and a bedknife grinding machine, for example. In examples, the first user device is employed in lieu of (replaces) or in addition to an onboard user interface. In some cases, an onboard user interface may provide limited functionality (such as emergency control features, for example), with the first user interface (e.g., a wireless tablet) to control and monitor operations of the grinding machine. In some cases, an onboard user interface may be employed without the use of a first user device.
In examples, in addition to communicating with the at least first user device, the connected control system is configured to communicate with a number of second user devices, wherein the connected control system is configured to provide notifications to the second user devices (e.g., smartphones, PCs, and workstations). In examples, such notifications may comprise a status of one or more operations of the grinding machine (e.g., indication that a process is complete, indication that a process is currently being performed, or indication that a process is stopped due to experiencing an error or fault condition).
In examples, the connected control system provides remote control, monitoring, or management of grinding machine operations. In examples, the connected control system enables a user, via the first user device (e.g., the wireless user interface), to communicate any number of user inputs to the grinding machine, wherein the user inputs may comprise one or more parameters defining a grinding machine operation. In examples, the parameters may define a grinding operation (i.e., a mower blade sharpening procedure), where example parameters may be indicative of a make/model of a cutting reel to be sharpened, a size of a cutting reel, or a type of grinding procedure to be carried out (e.g., a spin grinding or relief grinding operation for a helical-type blade cutting reel).
In some examples, the user inputs include parameters which may define a data transfer operation, such as an update of the grinding machine's operating software, for instance. In other examples, the data transfer operation may comprise a transfer of logged data representative of a history of operations performed by the grinding machine, wherein the connected controller is configured to log such data. For example, the connected control system may enable data logging of grinding machine operations, where logged data may be communicated by the connected control system to user devices, such as the first user device (i.e., the user interface) to enable performance of remote error diagnostic procedures (e.g., in the case of logged data representing operational error events) and/or to remotely track and schedule maintenance procedures (e.g., software updates, replacement of grinding wheels, etc.) to thereby minimize or avoid potential grinding machine downtime.
In some examples, communications provided by the connected control system may comprise status notifications (representative of grinding machine operations) to the first or second user devices. Such status notifications may include an indication that a grinding operation has been completed (e.g., indications that a spin grinding operation has been completed, or a software update operation has been completed). In other cases, the status notifications may include a failure notification indicating that a grinding machine operation has failed to be completed (e.g., the grinding machine has stopped performing a spin grinding operation). In some cases, such failure notification may include indications as to a particular error or fault encountered, where indication of a particular fault may enable remote diagnostics of the grinding machine.
It is noted types of data described herein as being communicated between the connected control system and the user devices represent non-limiting examples, and that any number of additional types of data are contemplated to be communicated there between.
In some examples, in addition to connected control system 10, grinding machine 20 includes a grinding system 21 including, among other components, a grinding head assembly 22, a traverse base assembly 24, a relief grinding assembly 26, and a spin drive motor 28. In examples, grinding head assembly 22 can be driven back and forth in a reciprocating fashion along a traverse base assembly 24 (e.g., along an x-axis). Although not illustrated in
Connected control system 10, according to examples, includes one or more control devices, illustrated as control devices 50, one or more processors, such as processor 52, and one or more memory devices, such as memory device 54, which include computer executable operating instructions stored thereon, such as operating instructions 56, that when executed by processor 52 causes control system 10 to perform operations of grinding machine 20.
In examples, connected control system 10 further includes a communications module 60 to provide communication between control system 10 of grinding machine 20 and one or more user devices, such as at least one first user device 70, and one or more second user devices 72. In examples, such communication may comprise any suitable type of wired communications (e.g., as part of a local network via Ethernet) or any suitable type of wireless communication protocol (such as cellular, WiFi, Zigbee, Z wave, Bluetooth, or Bluetooth low energy, for example). First and second user devices 70 and 72 may include any number of computing devices such as workstations and personal computers, and any number of mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops, for example. In examples, first and second user devices 70 and 72 include a software application 74 (see
In examples, as will be described in greater detail below, the one or more first user devices 70 are configured as user interfaces for grinding machine 20 to enable users to provide user inputs to connected control system 10 to control operation of grinding machine 20 (e.g., to initiate lawn mower blade sharpening operations and data operations). According to examples, second user devices 72 may configured generally with limited functionality relative to first user devices 70, such as being configured to receive communications from connected control system 10 (e.g., notifications related to machine operations) but unable to provide user inputs to control operations of connected control system 10 and grinding machine 20.
In examples, the first user device 70 includes a local user interface 70-1 that enables a user to provide user inputs to control system 10, wherein the user inputs define a requested operation of grinding machine 20 where, in response to such user inputs, processor 52 executes operating instructions 56 to perform the requested machine operation. In examples, the local user interface 70-1 communicates with control system 10 wirelessly (e.g., via Wifi, Bluetooth, and/or other suitable wireless protocols), but may also connect to control system 10 of grinding machine 20 via a wired connection (such as indicated at 73). According to examples, local user interface 70-1 may comprise an electronic tablet.
As described in greater detail herein, in one example, the machine operation defined by user inputs provide via local user interface 70-1 may be one of a number of types of lawn mower blade sharpening procedures which grinding machine 20 is configured to perform (e.g., a spin grinding operation for a cylindrical cutting reel, a relief griding operation, etc.). In other examples, as will be described in greater detail herein, the requested machine operation may be a data operation (such as a software update operation and transmitting logged data for analysis, such as usage and error event data, for analysis, such as for maintenance scheduling/recommendations and error diagnostics, for example).
In some examples, the one or more first user devices 70 may further include one or more remote user interfaces 70-2, such as a remote workstation 70-2. In examples, such remote user interfaces 70-2 enable users to remotely communicate with grinding machine 20 and to remotely provide user inputs to connected control system 10 to control operation of griding machine 20. In examples, machine operations which may be requested via remote user interface 70-2 may differ from machine operations which may be requested via local user interface 70-1. For example, remote user interfaces 70-2 may be configured to enable a user to provide user inputs to request connected controller 10 to perform data operations (e.g., to transmit error event logs, usage logs, and operating system data, for instance) to enable remote user interfaces 70-2 to perform data analysis (e.g., remote error diagnostic, software/operating system updates), but be restricted from allowing users to request connected controller 10 to direct griding machine 20 to carry out lawn mower blade sharpening operations.
In some examples, in addition to employing local user interface 70-1 as a wireless user interface, grinding machine 20 may include a local user interface in the form of an onboard user interface 80 which is integral with grinding machine 20 and in hard-wired communication with connected control system 10. According to examples, when both a wireless local user interface 70-1 and local onboard user interface 80 are employed with grinding machine 20, onboard user interface 80 may be configured with more limited functionality relative to wireless local user interface 70-1, such as being limited to performing safety operations and powering on/off of grinding machine 20, for instance. In other examples, local onboard user interface 80 may be employed in lieu of employing a wireless local user interface 70-1.
In examples, second user devices 72 generally comprise mobile communication devices, such as cellphones, with which connected control system 10 is in communication via cell networks. In examples, second user devices 72 are generally configured with limited functionality relative to the one or more first user devices 70. For example, in some cases, as described in greater detail below, second user devices 72 may be limited to receiving notifications from control system 10 indicative of a status of operations being performed by grinding machine 20 and are unable to initiate operations of grinding machine 20. However, in other examples, second user devices 72 may be configured with substantially the same functionality for control and interaction with control system 10 as the one or more first user devices 70, such that first and second user devices 70 and 72 may each be employed as user interfaces for grinding machine 20.
In examples, as mentioned above, connected control system 10 includes a number of control devices 50. In examples, control devices 50 include a number of sensors to monitor various operating parameters of grinding machine 20, such as position sensors to monitor positions of various grinding machine components such as a position of grinding head assembly 22 along traverse base assembly 24, a position of the grinding wheel relative to a cutting reel to be sharpened, or a position of spin drive motor 28, for example. In examples, other sensors may monitor a rotational speed of the grinding wheel, a rotational speed of spin drive motor 28 and/or of a cutting reel being spun by spin drive motor 28. Other sensors may monitor current and voltage levels of various components of grinding machine 20, such as an input voltage/current from a power source, or voltage levels at motors and motor controllers, for example. Still other sensors may monitor temperatures of various components of grinding machine 20, as well as environment temperatures, for example. In other cases, such sensors may include optical sensors, proximity sensors, proximity contacts, or pressure sensors, for example. It is noted that the sensors described herein are provided as examples, and that any number of other sensors for measuring/monitoring any number of operating parameters of grinding machine 20 or of grinding machine operations performed by grinding machine 20 may be included as part of control system 10.
As mentioned above, computer executable operating instructions 56, when executed by the one or more processors 52 of control system 10 cause control system to carry out any number operations of grinding machine 10. In examples, where such operations may include receiving from a user device, such as from the at least one first user device 70, user inputs representing one or more parameters defining a requested grinding machine operation, and causing the grinding machine to carry out the requested grinding machine operation. In examples, the operations include receiving user inputs from onboard user interface 80 in addition to, or in lieu of, from the wireless local user interface 70-1.
In examples, execution of operating instructions 56 causes control system 10 to carry out further operations including determining a status of the requested grinding machine operation (e.g., via monitoring of sensors/control devices 50), and transmitting a notification of the determined status to a user device. In examples, transmitting a notification of the determined status includes transmitting the notification to the first user device 70, such as to wireless local user interface 70-1 and/or to onboard user interface 80. In other examples, transmitting the notification of the determined status includes transmitting the notification to user devices defined by a stored list 82 of user devices, where such stored list may designate the at least one first user device 70 (e.g., wireless local user interface 70-1) and to one or more second user devices 72 (e.g., cell phones). In other examples, transmitting the notification of the determined status includes transmitting the notification to onboard user interface 60. In examples, the stored list 82 of user devices 70 and 72 may be updated via first user devices 70, such as wireless local user interface 70-1 and/or onboard user interface 80.
In examples, control system 10 is configured to receive user inputs from at least one first user device 70 (such as wireless local user interface 70-1, onboard user interface 80, and remote user interface 70-2), and to transmit notifications to the at least one first user device 70. In some examples, control system 10 is configured to receiver user inputs from wireless local user interface 70-1, and to transmit notifications to the wireless local user interface 70-1 and to the defined list 82 of user devices, such as to one or more second user devices 72. In some examples, control system 10 is configured to receiver user inputs from onboard user interface 80 and to transmit notifications to the onboard user interface 80 and to the defined list 82 of user devices, such as to one or more second user devices 72. In some examples, control system 10 is configured to receiver user inputs from onboard user interface 80 and/or at wireless local user interface 70-1, and to transmit notifications to onboard user interface 80 and/or wireless local user interface 70-1 and to the list 82 of user devices, including any number of second user devices 72.
In some examples, the notification may indicate that the requested grinding machine operation has been completed. In other examples, the notification may indicate that a problem/error and has been encountered and that the requested grinding machine operation has failed to be completed. In one example, a notification of a failed operation may further include indication of error(s) encountered. In one example, the notification may indicate that the requested grinding machine operation is ongoing.
In examples, as mentioned above, computer executable instructions 56 include instructions that, when executed by processors 52 cause connected control system 10 to perform data logging operations to monitor the operational history of grinding machine 20. In one example, such data logging operations include monitoring and logging error events that may occur during the operation of griding machine 20, where such error events may be logged and stored as an error event log 84. Any number of error events may be monitored and logged, such as motor overcurrent events, overheating of devices, and the presence of an object in a restricted area, for example.
In some examples, as mentioned above, such data logging operations may include monitoring and logging usage data for grinding machine 20 and components thereof, where such usage data may be stored as an operational data log 86. Any number of operational/usage measures may be logged, such as a number of each type of blade sharpening operations which have been performed, a number of grinding operations performed by the grinding wheel, and a number of hours of operation of the grinding machine 20, for example.
In examples, as mentioned above, the requested grinding machine operation defined by parameters provided via user inputs to connected control system 10 may be a lawn mower blade grinding/sharpening operation (e.g., a spin-grinding or relief grinding operation of a helical type cutting reel, or a bedknife grinding operation). In some cases, the requested grinding operation defined parameter provided by user inputs may be a data transfer operation, which may also be referred to herein simply as a data operation.
For example, user inputs provided to connected control system 10, such as via first user devices 70 (e.g., wireless local user interface 70-1, remote user interface 70-2, and onboard user interface 80) may define a data operation comprising an update of operating software of grinding machine 20, including updates to operating instructions 56, for example. In some cases, user inputs provided to connected control system 10, such as via first user device 70, may define a data transfer operation whereby connected control system 10 transfers operational data of grinding machine 20 logged in operational data log 86 by connected control system 10 to the requesting first user device 70, where the application 74 of the requesting first user device 70 may employ the received operational data to diagnose and perform preventative maintenance procedures to avoid unscheduled downtime of grinding machine 20. In some examples, user inputs provided to connected control system 10, such as via first user devices 70, may define a data transfer operation whereby connected control system 10 transfer error event data logged in error event data log 84 to the requesting first user device 70, where the application 74 of the requesting first user device 70 may employ the error event data to provide error diagnostics for repair/resetting of grinding machine 20, including remote error diagnostics in the case of remote user interface 70-2.
With continued reference to
If, at 108, the desired machine operation is determined not to have been completed, method 100 returns to 104. If, at 108, the desired machine operation is determined to have been completed, method 100 proceeds to 110. At 110, connected control system 10 transmits the completion status of the desired machine operation to the user interface which requested the machine operation. If, at 106, connected controller 10 determines the desired machine operation has been halted due to an occurrence of an error or fault, method 100 proceeds to 112. At 112, connected control system 10 transmits the error status to user interface which requested the machine operation.
The operations described by
It is to be understood that the features of the various exemplary embodiments described herein may be combined with each other, unless specifically noted otherwise.
A number of example embodiments of the present disclosure are provided below.
Example embodiment 1: A control system for a lawn mower blade grinding machine, the control system including one or more control devices; one or more processors; and one or more non-transitory computer readable medium to store computer executable instructions. When executed by the one or more processors, the computer executable instructions cause the control device to perform operations including receiving user inputs from a first user device, the user inputs including parameters which define a requested grinding operation; directing performance of the grinding operation by the lawn mower grinding machine at least via the one or more control devices; and transmitting a status notification of the requested grinding operation to the first user device.
Example embodiment 2: The control system of example embodiment 1, wherein the status notification includes an indication that the grinding operation is complete and an indication that the grinding operation has stopped due to an error.
Example embodiment 3: The control system of example embodiment 1, wherein the first user device comprises a user interface.
Example embodiment 4: The control system of example embodiment 3, wherein the user interface comprises at least one of a user interface onboard the lawn mower grinding machine and a wireless user interface local to the lawn mower grinding machine.
Example embodiment 5: The control system of example embodiment 4, when the user interface includes an onboard user interface and a wireless user interface, the onboard user interface including limited functionality relative to the wireless user interface.
Example embodiment 6: The control system of example embodiment 1, including wirelessly receiving the user inputs from the user device and wirelessly transmitting the status notification to the user device.
Example embodiment 7: The control system of example embodiment 1, wherein transmitting the status notification includes transmitting the status notification to a plurality of second user devices.
Example embodiment 8: The control system of example embodiment 1, wherein the second user devices comprise mobile devices, and wherein transmitting the status notification includes transmitting the status notification at least via a cellular network.
Example embodiment 9: A lawn mower blade grinding machine comprising a grinding system including one or more grinding wheels controllable to perform one or more types of lawn mower blade sharpening procedures, and a connected control system to connect via a wired or wireless connection to a network. The connected control system includes a plurality of control devices; one or more processors; and one or more non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions. When executed by the one or more processors, the computer-executable instructions cause the control system to receive user inputs from at least one first user device, the user inputs including parameters defining a requested machine operation; direct performance of the requested machine operation by the grinding machine; and transmit data corresponding to performance of the requested machine operation to the at least one first user device.
Example embodiment 10: The lawn mower blade grinding machine of example embodiment 9, wherein the at least one first user device comprises a user interface of the lawn mower blade griding machine.
Example embodiment 11: The lawn mower blade grinding machine of example embodiment 10, the user interface including at least one of a wireless user interface local to the lawn mower blade grinding machine to wirelessly communicate with the connected control system and an onboard user interface integral to lawn mower blade grinding machine to communicate with the connected control system via a hardwired connection.
Example embodiment 12: The lawn mower blade grinding machine of example embodiment 10, wherein the requested machine operation comprises one of the one or more types of blade sharpening procedures, wherein the computer-executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the control system to further transmit the data corresponding to performance of the requested machine operation to a list of second user devices, wherein the transmitted data comprises a status notification of the requested blade sharpening procedure.
Example embodiment 13: The lawn mower blade grinding machine of example embodiment 12, wherein the plurality of second user devices comprises a list of mobile user devices.
Example embodiment 14: The lawn mower blade grinding machine of example embodiment 12, wherein the status notification includes an indication that the requested blade sharpening procedure is complete and an indication that the blade sharpening procedure has stopped due to an error.
Example embodiment 15: The lawn mower blade grinding machine of example embodiment 10, where the computer executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processor cause the control system to perform data logging operations via at least the control devices, wherein the data logging operations include at least one of logging error events of the lawn mower blade grinding machine and logging operational data representing operational usage of the lawn mower blade grinding machine.
Example embodiment 16: The lawn mower blade grinding machine of example embodiment 15, wherein the requested machine operation is a data transfer operation, and wherein the computer-executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the control system to direct performance of the requested data transfer operation with the requesting user interface.
Example embodiment 17: The lawn mower blade grinding machine of example embodiment 16, wherein the requested data transfer operation comprises a download of logged error events, and wherein performance of the requested data transfer process includes transmitting the logged error events to the requesting user interface to enable remote error diagnostics.
Example embodiment 18: The lawn mower blade grinding machine of example embodiment 16, wherein the requested data transfer operation comprises a download of logged operational data, and wherein performance of the requested data transfer process includes transmitting the logged operational to the requesting user interface to enable preventative maintenance scheduling.
Example embodiment 19: The lawn mower blade grinding machine of example embodiment 16, wherein the requested data transfer operation comprises a software update, and wherein performance of the requested data transfer process includes updating operating software of the control system with software updates received from the requesting user interface.
Example embodiment 20: The lawn mower blade grinding machine of example embodiment 16, wherein the user interface further includes a remote workstation in communication with the connected control system via network, the network including the internet.
Although specific examples have been illustrated and described herein, a variety of alternate and/or equivalent implementations may be substituted for the specific examples shown and described without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the specific examples discussed herein. Therefore, it is intended that this disclosure be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof.
This Non-Provisional Patent application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/538,132, filed Sep. 13, 2023, entitled “CONNECTED CONTROLS AND ALERTS FOR LAWN MOWER BLADE GRINDING MACHINES,” the entire teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63538132 | Sep 2023 | US |
