Industrial production facilities (such as can making factories) may tag with radio frequency near proximity devices their tooling (knockouts, dies, punches, etc) so that the tooling may be instantly located on any particular machine or location in the facility, by known critical characteristics of the tooling, particularly diameter. This is possible because each machine will also have a reader for the tags, and other areas such as inventory shelves, inspection stations, doors, loading docks, shipping departments and even vendors may also have the reading devices. Passive RFID tags and readers may be used for this purpose. The invention may be open to other businesses so inventory may be located across manufacturing systems and/or businesses.

A method for manufacturing a plurality of components, each of the plurality of components including at least one electrical feedthrough, in which a functional element is fastened in a feedthrough opening in a base body by way of an electrically insulating material, an information being acquired in association with each of the plurality of components, the method comprising the steps of: providing, in one of a plurality of manufacturing steps of the method, each of the plurality of components or one of a plurality of pre-stages of each of the plurality of components with an information store, at least one of (i) the information being stored in the information store, and (ii) an identifier is stored in the information store and the information is stored in a database in association with the identifier.

A tool insert for a machine, in particular a cutting, punching and/or folding machine, is disclosed. The tool insert (24) has an identification element (38) comprising tool information about the type of the tool insert (24) and/or about the area of application of the tool insert (24). The identification element (38) is machine-readable such that the tool information is transmitted to the machine when the machine reads out the identification element. Further, a machine, a machine system and a method for operating a machine are disclosed.

A system for monitoring maintenance for manufacturing apparatuses in a facility is provided. The system includes at least one manufacturing apparatus, the manufacturing apparatus including an RF identification tag and a module, and a control system. The control system is configured to receive, from the module, operational status information that indicates time periods during which the manufacturing apparatus is in operation, determine a cumulative time duration of operation for the manufacturing apparatus, retrieve a predetermined maintenance interval for the manufacturing apparatus, determine whether the cumulative time duration of operation exceeds the predetermined maintenance interval, and in response to a determination that the cumulative time duration of operation exceeds the predetermined maintenance interval, i) output a signal that causes the manufacturing apparatus to discontinue operation, and ii) cause instructions for completing a required maintenance procedure to be displayed on a display device in communication with the control system.

A robotic end effector system and method having a plurality of end effectors which are selectively suitable for particular applications on a workpiece. The end effectors include a resident controller adapted to execute tasks specific to the end effector and are rapidly attachable and removable from the robot for easy change over to different workpieces.

Systems and methods for controlling chlorinators for pools and spas are provided. A controller communicates with a processor positioned within a replaceable cell cartridge of a chlorinator, to allow for remote control and diagnosis of the chlorinator and/or cell cartridge. The cell cartridge stores, in non-volatile memory on board the cartridge, one or more parameters associated with the cartridge. The controller can obtain this information from the processor of the cell cartridge, and can use same to configure operation of the chlorinator. Information relating to remaining cell life can be updated by the controller and stored in the non-volatile memory of the cell cartridge. Electrical and software-based mechanisms are provided for ensuring operation of only compatible cell cartridges with the chlorinator. A system for remotely diagnosing errors associated with the chlorinator is also provided.

In various embodiments, a tool plate configured to receive a robotic end effector is removably matable with a robot appendage via a quick-release mechanism.

An intelligent workpiece system includes a workpiece comprising a portion of a product; and an embedded computing system attached to the workpiece. The embedded computing system is configured to communicate with machines in a manufacturing environment to facilitate assembly of the workpiece into the product at a plurality of assembling areas.

Systems and methods for controlling chlorinators for pools and spas are provided. A controller communicates with a processor positioned within a replaceable cell cartridge of a chlorinator, to allow for remote control and diagnosis of the chlorinator and/or cell cartridge. The cell cartridge stores, in non-volatile memory on board the cartridge, one or more parameters associated with the cartridge. The controller can obtain this information from the processor of the cell cartridge, and can use same to configure operation of the chlorinator. Information relating to remaining cell life can be updated by the controller and stored in the non-volatile memory of the cell cartridge. Electrical and software-based mechanisms are provided for ensuring operation of only compatible cell cartridges with the chlorinator. A system for remotely diagnosing errors associated with the chlorinator is also provided.

Method and an arrangement for monitoring status of a production device configured to implement an industrial process or industrial production with a control device with sensors and actuators, where at least one further sensor is carried through the production device with a product being processed by the production device, where further signals are wirelessly transmitted to a status-monitoring device by the further sensor, and where the signals and/or status information items and the further signals are placeable in relationship with one another to generate status information item about the production device such that it is possible to plan the status monitoring separately from the production device, and possible to combine information items of the industrial control device with the information items and data of a mobile sensor (further sensor) that passes through the production device, such that more precise status information items about the production device status can be acquired.