Fanuc Picture Software Free Download

[Marybelle Bailey]

Aimedat reducing robotic system design time and lengthy re-programmingdowntimes, FANUC Robotics (UK) Limited has introduced FANUCWorks to its productrange. A 3D simulation tool, FANUCWorks enables engineers to design, programmeand prove efficient systems using a PC (Plate 4).

FANUC uses the popular 3D solid modelling CAD system SolidWorksas its platform for FANUCWorks, providing it with robot geometry and parametersfor its complete range of robots. A Windows based system, thepackage is straightforward to use allowing the fast generation of 3D geometryand the importation of most formats including IGES, DWG and DXF.

Enabling a virtual environment, the package allows the user to programme therobot using familiar FANUC TP programming commands. In addition to recordingmid-air tool locations, FANUCWorks can generate a robot trajectory along virtualobjects such as moving across the face of a table, following an edge orcontouring a curve.

To evaluate layout and programme efficiency, the virtual system can beoperated to assess cycle times and to perform collision checks. Once proven inthe virtual environment and connected to a robot controller, a real-time modulein FANUCWorks allows the real robot to be observed operating in the virtualworld. This enables the user to modify the programme, if necessary, off-lineusing a virtual teach pendant.

Used as a tool for contribution towards investment, FANUCWorks produces morethan a "thousand words" when compared to a 2D drawing. However, to furthercompliment the system a picture and movie picture capture function allow theuser to share the results with others.

A numerical control device (102) having an NC processor (102a) for executing numerical control processing on the basis of input numerical control information, said NC processor numerically controlling a machine tool (103), the numerical control device comprising:

B) said processor (102c) is an editing processor for reading, from said external storage unit (201), machining data which is composed of a combination of shape elements selected from a predetermined plurality of shape elements, in accordance with a part code entered by the operator from said input means (202),

C) said display unit (203) is connected to the editing processor (102c) for displaying the selected combination of shape elements on the screen and requesting the operator to enter by the input means (202) numerical values assigning dimensions to the shape elements, which values, when combined with the shape elements by the editing processor, create said numerical control information defining the shape and dimensions of a part to be machined, and

VI. On 25 March 1994 the opponent filed a notice of appeal against this decision and paid the prescribed appeal fee. A statement setting out the grounds of appeal was subsequently filed on 20 May 1994.

VIII. Oral proceedings before the Board were held on 20. October 1995. The appellant's (opponent's) arguments in support of its submission that the subject-matter of claim 1 lacked an inventive step may be summarised as follows.

The contested patent was concerned with a numerical control device comprising an NC processor, an editing processor, a memory connected between the processors, input means, display means and an external storage unit. Having regard to EP-A-0 044 192, such a device was not new. Furthermore, all the hardware was known from prior art falling under Article 54(2) EPC. The combination of an NC processor and a separate editing processor could be derived from Weck, Figures 7 and 8; to connect a memory between the processors was self-evident since in Figure 8 of Weck it was shown that a memory could be connected between two separate processors; input means, display means and external storage units were also well- known components, as demonstrated for example by Sauer, page 84. The structure therefore did not involve an inventive step. The device's structure had to be distinguished from its method of operation. Said method was in principle claimed in the patent opposed in the appeal case T 0264/94, which patent had been maintained as amended in opposition proceedings by decision of the Board earlier that day. This method, even if not previously suggested, could not render the device inventive. If the essential subject-matter of a patent was a method, the method - and not the device for performing the method - must be claimed.

IX. The respondent (patentee) argued that the claimed device required a specific operability. The fragments of different prior art referred to in the proceedings were not close to the invention. Martin, in particular, did not disclose portable macros. As regards Junike, it had not been shown that this paper was actually prepublished: it was not certain that the conference at which the paper was presented had been public; there was not even any proof that it had taken place. Moreover, the claimed subject-matter was not disclosed in EP-A-0 044 192 since the cassette described in this document did not correspond to the external storage unit for storing shape data in claim 1. The cassette instead contained complete, edited NC control information, as could be seen from column 19, lines 37 and 38 of the patent specification EP-B-044 192.

The Board is satisfied that the amendments to the claims made during the opposition proceedings do not extend beyond the content of the application as filed or cause the protection conferred to be extended. The patent therefore complies with Article 123(2), (3) EPC.

The numerical control device according to claim 1 contains an editing processor for reading "machining data which is composed of a combination of shape elements". The shape elements correspond to certain "shape patterns", ie contours of articles to be machined, and do not contain dimensions since these are entered by the operator in order to generate the numerical control information which is needed for machining. Moreover, in the opinion of the Board, the formulation of the claim excludes the possibility that the shape elements form part of a (sub-)program or macro, which are made up of code. Instead, the shape elements are pure data corresponding to a series of symbols which define (in a way which is specified only in claim 2) patterns corresponding to articles to be machined.

4.1. The Board has introduced the earlier European application EP-A-0 044 192 into the proceedings. This application forms prior art under Article 54(3) EPC. Figure 30 of EP-A-0 044 192 shows "an apparatus for preparing numerical control information". This apparatus has many features in common with the present invention, such as two processors, an internal memory, input means and a display unit. It also comprises an external memory in the form of a (tape or bubble) cassette 203.

4.3. The respondent has argued that the invention as claimed is new with respect to EP-A-0 044 192 since the external storage unit according to claim 1, which contains "items of machining data conforming to various shape patterns", would not correspond to the cassette described in the previous application.

4.3. The Board agrees that this difference exists. The two first paragraphs of the characterising part of claim 1 make it clear that "machining data which is composed of a combination of shape elements" are stored in an "external storage unit". "External" implies in this context that the storage unit is removable from the control device so that a whole library of machining data can be stored on a plurality of replaceable units, eg cassettes (see the last sentence of the description). In EP-A-0 044 192, however, the corresponding data are "fed into a storage device located in the present apparatus" (see the corresponding patent specification EP-B-0 044 192, column 8, lines 24 to 31). Not once in the entire description is this storage device associated with the cassette 203, which is for storing "edited numerical control information and the like" and may be used to control the machine tool directly (column 19, lines 35 to 60). If the skilled man had tried to identify the storage device mentioned in the description with one of the memories shown in Figure 30 he would probably rather have opted for the memory 101 which "stores, picture-by-picture, all of the picture information which is displayed on the display screen" (column 19, lines 18 to 21). This is because the shape elements are intended to be displayed (in a way similar to the present invention) so that dimensions can be attributed to them; they are not intended for immediate control of the machine tool.

5.2. The appellant, referring in particular to the articles by Weck and Sauer, has submitted that the claimed device, which comprises nothing but well-known components, is not inventive, no matter whether its mode of operation is inventive or not.

The Board wishes to point out that in accordance with the established case law of the boards of appeal, it is not possible to decide the issue of inventive step of a computer running under a new program without considering the function of the program. This principle is expressed for example in the decision T 0208/84 ("VICOM", headnote II, OJ 87,014): "A computer of known type set up to operate according to a new program cannot be considered as forming part of the state of the art as defined by Article 54(2) EPC".

5.3. In the present case, the appellant has submitted that the hardware identified in claim 1 appears to be a rather straight-forward mix of known parts. In accordance with the case law explained above it might therefore be exactly the function that the device performs which is decisive for the question of inventive step. It appears therefore necessary to investigate whether an inventive step can be based on the function of the claimed device.

5.5. Martin discloses a device for the preparation of control data which permits NC machine operators who do not possess programming skills to create small machining programs. The operator calls a selected one of a plurality of stored "macros". Each macro corresponds to a certain series of tool movements, ie to a certain shape. In the single example shown, the shape characteristics consist of parameters such as diameters and lengths. The parameters apparently have to be identified from a drawing. The operator inputs, for each parameter, the dimension of the article to be machined. Thus, according to Martin, a unity of a profile is identified. By inputting certain data (parameters) characterising this unity as a whole, the dimensions of this unity are identified.

3a8082e126