Abstract: An overall plan for providing maintenance and technical services for businesses and plants, as broadly defined, includes generic procedures for the services written as a manual of standard practices. A knowledge base or experience database of data and people is utilized, and both hardware and software tools are selected and used in providing the services.

Abstract: The method of providing includes providing an assessment of the maintenance and technical service needs of a plant, as broadly defined, and recommending services for outsourcing selected from a menu of services. The services are modular and may be mixed and matched to a customized fit with the needs of the plant. Categories of services are directed to technical services, motor maintenance, electro-mechanical services, etc. A generic approach to all plant maintenance provides a framework in which to offer the services. Services are offered throughout the life cycle of a plant. Particular industries are targeted for outsourced services.

Abstract: The present invention provides an efficient and simple method and system for providing a customer with a service on demand. The invention is based on providing a plurality of interconnected technical devices with remote access. During operation of a technical installation including the technical devices, operating data are acquired, encrypted and stored in a operation database. Upon an explicit service request by the customer, at least one of the technical devices sets up a remote connection to a service center, preferably by using a smart card including Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) data for validating the smart card, where the remote connection is verified and the encrypted data stored in the operation database are read out and decrypted. Based on the decrypted data—which represent a current status of the technical installation—, a service activity is efficiently performed at the technical installation, either remotely or locally.

Abstract: The present invention provides an efficient and simple method and system for providing a customer with a service on demand. The invention is based on providing a plurality of interconnected technical devices with remote access. During operation of a technical installation including the technical devices, operating data are acquired, encrypted and stored in a operation database. Upon an explicit service request by the customer, at least one of the technical devices sets up a remote connection to a service center, preferably by using a smart card including Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) data for validating the smart card, where the remote connection is verified and the encrypted data stored in the operation database are read out and decrypted. Based on the decrypted data—which represent a current status of the technical installation—, a service activity is efficiently performed at the technical installation, either remotely or locally.

Abstract: A method for doing business includes a menu of services From which services are selected and performing those services on an outsourced basis to plants, such as industrial plants. An overall plan for providing maintenance and technical services for businesses and plants, as broadly defined, includes generic procedures for the services written as a manual of standard practices. A knowledge base or experience database of data and people is utilized, and both hardware and software tools are selected and used in providing the services. Technical services are offered to customers on all outsourced basis according to a menu of services available. A menu is provided for categories of equipment on with the technical services provider offers technical services and a menu is also provided identifying the technical services which are offered. The services are modular and are selected based upon the customer's needs. The modular services are offered at two levels, a basic level and a high end level.

Abstract: An overall plan for providing maintenance and technical services for businesses and plants, as broadly defined, includes generic procedures for the services written as a manual of standard practices. A knowledge base or experience database of data and people is utilized, and both hardware and software tools are selected and used in providing the services.

Abstract: The method of providing includes providing an assessment of the maintenance and technical service needs of a plant, as broadly defined, and recommending services for outsourcing selected from a menu of services. The services are modular and may be mixed and matched to a customized fit with the needs of the plant. Categories of services are directed to technical services, motor maintenance, electro-mechanical services, etc. A generic approach to all plant maintenance provides a framework in which to offer the services. Services are offered throughout the life cycle of a plant. Particular industries are targeted for outsourced services.

Abstract: A non-contacting measuring system, particularly for industrial robots, for acquiring the position of two coordinate systems, comprising sensors, in particular a stationary coordinate system lying in a measuring plane and of a moving coordinate system, particularly for the acquisition of absolute position and repetitive accuracy of industrial robots, comprises a bipartite measuring system including a precision turn table with a precision sensor comprising a distance sensor and an optical sensor and a planar measuring subject lying in the measuring plane. The distance from the measuring plane and the tilt about the x axis and the y axis are calculated from the distance sensor signals. The rotation about the z axis and the displacement in the x direction and the y direction are calculated by sensing a line pattern.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining deviations of a circular form of a dynamically balanced part characterized by a spindle which can be set in approximate alignment with the axis of the unit under test, an interval sensor rotated around the spindle axis for radially sensing a circumferential surface of the unit under test and electronic signal processing unit for separating a deviation signal component of the sensor signal created by a deviation from the circular form that is detected from other signal components of the sensor signal which are created from an eccentric setting of the spindle with respect to the axis of the unit under test. As a result of such a signal analysis, errors occurring from the eccentric spindle setting are practically avoided. Thus, no high demands are made for the spindle setting when making, for example, a roundness check of a steel pipe.

Abstract: A gripper for a manipulation installation such as an industrial robot characterized by a gripping arrangement including a gripping element movable into a receiving bore to enable gripping a cylindrical part. In order to compensate for misalignment between the bore and the cylindrical part and for tilting of the part, the cylindrical bore is provided in a slidable member and has a frusto-conical opening facing toward the part to act as a centering bell so that upon engagement of the part with the surface of the frusto-conical opening the slidable member moves to the desired position to allow insertion of the part into the bore. To enable exact positioning of the part after it is grasped by the gripping arrangement and removed from a rack or storage facilities, the gripper includes a centering arrangement to precisely center the movable member in the housing.

Abstract: A manipulation device, such as an industrial robot has at least one sensor connected to a control unit through a programmable sensor interface. The programmable sensor interface includes at least one microprocessor and at least one memory. Each sensor has three signal ranges, the limits of these ranges being selectable by thresholds which can be stored in the memory. The microprocessor is programmed to classify the signal received from a sensor in one of the signal ranges, and to transmit the result of the classification to the control unit. Activation of the individual sensors is undertaken by the control unit through a serial interface or through a parallel interface.