Abstract: A powder conveying device includes a first conveyor, a first conveyance passage, a fall passage, a second conveyor, and a second conveyance passage. The first conveyor conveys powder in a substantially horizontal direction and is disposed in the first conveyance passage. The powder output from an outlet port of the first conveyance passage is to fall in the fall passage. The second conveyor conveys the powder in the substantially horizontal direction and is disposed in the second conveyance passage that has an inlet port to receive the powder falling in the fall passage. When viewed in a cross section orthogonal to a powder conveyance direction, a cross-sectional area of a space that is not occupied by the first conveyor in the first conveyance passage is larger than a cross-sectional area of a space that is not occupied by the second conveyor in the second conveyance passage.

Abstract: An example developing device includes a developing case, a developer supply portion connected to the developing case and including a supply port, a shutter to open or close the supply port, and a sealing member attached to an outer circumferential portion of the developer supply portion to prevent leakage of a developer through the developer supply portion and the shutter. The developer supply portion includes a slit portion adjacent to the supply port. The sealing member includes a film member having an opening in communication with the supply port, a fixing portion inserted into the slit portion, and an elastic sealing member. An upper surface of the film member contacts an inner circumferential portion of the shutter, and the elastic sealing member is attached onto a lower surface of the film member along an edge of the opening and surrounds the supply port.

Abstract: In an endless belt, the absolute value of an electrostatic capacitance C and the absolute value of an alternating-current resistance Z when an alternating voltage of 1 Vp-p is applied in a frequency range of from 10000 Hz to 0.1 mHz from a high frequency side satisfy Formula (1) below, and an alternating-current resistance Z0.63 when an alternating voltage of 1 Vp-p with a frequency of 0.63 Hz is applied satisfies Formula (2) below. Moreover, an alternating-current resistance Z630 when an alternating voltage of 1 Vp-p with a frequency of 630 Hz is applied satisfies Formula (3) below: log10 C?3.18×log10 Z?30.27;??Formula (1): 6.3?log10 Z0.63?6.9; and??Formula (2): 9.1?log10 Z630?9.9.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotator, a pressure rotator, a pressure plate, a pressing force, an entrance guide, an exit guide, and a transmission. The pressure rotator presses the fixing rotator to form a nip between the fixing rotator and the pressure rotator. The pressure plate rotates about a fulcrum to press the pressure rotator. The pressing force adjuster adjusts a pressing force of the pressure rotator. The entrance guide guides a recording medium entering the nip. The exit guide guides the recording medium ejected from the nip. The transmission transmits a displacement of the pressure plate to the entrance guide and the exit guide.

Abstract: According to at least one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes a heater and a controller. The heater is configured to generate heat. The controller is configured to control AC power to the heater so that a part of the AC power which exceeds a threshold voltage is not applied to the heater.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus according to one embodiment includes a maintenance management prediction device that predicts and determines the necessity of maintenance for a fixing unit, the type of the required maintenance, and the like by obtaining the difference between initial data (an initial detected temperature and an initial temperature estimation value) and latest data (a latest detected temperature and a latest temperature estimation value) of the fixing unit and comparing the difference to a predetermined range. Based on the comparison of the difference to the predetermined range the prediction device issues or not warning information.

Abstract: A heating device includes a heating roller that includes a resistance heating layer, a bearing that supports the heating roller to allow the heating roller to be rotatable, and a connection power feeder that is mounted on an end portion of the heating roller, is connected to the resistance heating layer, and feeds power to the resistance heating layer, in which the connection power feeder includes an annular frame that is disposed to be concentric with the heating roller and is conductively connected to the resistance heating layer, a power feed shaft of which a portion is disposed in the frame and which feeds power, and plural rolling bodies that roll while being in conductive contact with an inner peripheral surface of the frame and an outer peripheral surface of the power feed shaft, and the bearing is mounted on a portion of the end portion of the heating roller that is closer to an inside than the connection power feeder in an axial direction.

Abstract: Provided is an electrophotographic belt of an endless shape including a substrate, wherein the substrate contains a polyimide resin and carbon nanotubes, wherein a content of the carbon nanotubes in the substrate is 15 vol % or less with respect to a total volume of the polyimide resin, wherein the substrate has a tensile strength of 200 MPa or more in each of a peripheral direction thereof and a direction perpendicular to the peripheral direction, and wherein the substrate has a thermal conductivity of 0.9 W/(m·K) or more in a thickness direction thereof.

Abstract: In response to detecting that a remaining supply of print material of a first cartridge has reached a first threshold, a printing device transmits a request. In response to detecting that a second cartridge has replaced the first cartridge, the printing device determines whether the remaining supply had reached a second threshold and whether a token permitting usage of the second cartridge was received responsive to the request. In response to determining that the remaining supply had reached the second threshold and that the token was received, the printing device prints with print material from the second cartridge.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a sensing processing portion, a determination processing portion, an acquisition processing portion, an acceptance processing portion, and a setting processing portion. The sensing processing portion senses a sheet size. The determination processing portion determines whether the sheet size corresponds to any of a plurality of standard sizes based on a result of the sensing by the sensing processing portion. The acquisition processing portion acquires sheet attribute information that is determined for each sheet type based on a result of the determination by the determination processing portion or the result of the sensing by the sensing processing portion. The acceptance processing portion accepts a selection operation of selecting any of the acquired sheet attribute information. The setting processing portion sets a processing condition of a sheet based on the sheet attribute information selected by the selection operation.

Abstract: An image forming device including a gate mechanism reduces a noise generated when a sheet is conveyed. The image forming device includes a conveyance path and a gate. The conveyance path is branched into a plurality of paths, and the sheet is conveyed along a conveyance direction. The gate is provided at a position in the conveyance path at which the conveyance path is branched into the plurality of paths, and switches a path through which the sheet is conveyed. The image forming device rotates the gate in a direction in which a contact point of the gate, which faces a front surface of the sheet to be conveyed and is located at a position at which a trailing end of the sheet first comes into contact with the gate, and a front surface of the sheet to be conveyed face each other.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus include an image forming device, an image bearer, a transferrer, a cleaner, and an adhesion amount detector. The image forming device forms, on the image bearer, a toner image to be transferred to a recording medium and a toner image pattern to be input to the cleaner without being transferred to the recording medium. The cleaner cleans the image bearer. The adhesion amount detector detects a toner adhesion amount of the toner image. The toner image pattern is a belt-shaped pattern elongated in an orthogonal direction orthogonal to a traveling direction of the image bearer and having a greater amount of toner input to a portion of the cleaner corresponding to a position of the adhesion amount detector in the orthogonal direction than that input to a portion of the cleaner not corresponding to the position of the adhesion amount detector in the orthogonal direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a development cartridge having a developing roller. A coupler for the image forming apparatus includes a shaft and a coupling structure to rotate the developing roller. The coupling structure is disposed at an end part of the shaft, is movable along an axial direction of the shaft and coupleable with another coupling structure of a print engine of the image forming apparatus. The coupling structure includes a body, a magnet disposed in the body to cause the coupling structure to be attracted to the another coupling structure so that the coupling structure is aligned with the another coupling structure, and a plurality of protrusions which protrude from the body in the axial direction to engage with the another coupling structure, the plurality of protrusions having at least one side with an inclined face.

Abstract: A cartridge includes a photosensitive drum supported by a frame, a coupling positioned at an end of the photosensitive drum, with the coupling being configured to receive a driving force for rotating the photosensitive drum. A lever is movably supported by a part of the frame at a position that is adjacent to the end of the photosensitive drum, with the lever being movable between a first position and a second position. As viewed along the axis of the photosensitive drum, an end of the lever is a first distance from the axis of the photosensitive drum when the lever is in the first position, and the end of the lever is a second distance from the axis of the photosensitive drum when the lever is in the second position, with the second distance being greater than the first distance.

Abstract: A replaceable unit for an electrophotographic image forming device includes a housing having a reservoir for holding toner. An electrical connector is positioned on a first side of the housing. The electrical connector includes an electrical contact for contacting a corresponding electrical contact in the image forming device. The electrical contact of the replaceable unit is electrically connected to processing circuitry mounted on the housing. The electrical connector is movable between a first position and a second position. The electrical contact of the replaceable unit moves outward from the first side of the housing along a side-to-side dimension of the housing when the electrical connector moves from the first position to the second position. The electrical contact of the replaceable unit faces downward when the electrical connector is in the second position permitting the corresponding electrical contact to contact the electrical contact of the replaceable unit from below.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a housing having an opening, a drum cartridge, and a development cartridge. The drum cartridge is movable in a first direction through the opening between a first position at which the drum cartridge is located inside the housing and a second position at which the drum cartridge is located outside the housing. The drum cartridge includes a photosensitive drum rotatable about an axis extending in the first direction and a first handle located at a downstream end of the drum cartridge in a movement direction in which the drum cartridge moves from the first position to the second position. The development cartridge is attachable to and detachable from the drum cartridge. The development cartridge includes a development roller and a second handle located upstream of the first handle in the movement direction in a state where the development cartridge is attached to the drum cartridge.

Abstract: A cartridge unit includes: a first unit which includes a first supporting portion and a second supporting portion; and a second unit which includes a first supported portion, a second supported portion, and a storage member, the storage member including a memory contact, and a contact arrangement surface on which the memory contact is disposed. The second unit rotates from a first position to a second position in a state in which the first supported portion is supported by the first supporting portion and the second supported portion is supported by the second supporting portion to be positioned with respect to the first unit. A normal direction of the contact arrangement surface faces toward a direction in which the memory contact is exposed. The normal direction faces toward a direction opposite to a direction in which the second unit is directed from the first position to the second position.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electrophotographic toner binder containing, as a main component, a polymer whose constituent monomer is a monomer having an ethylenically unsaturated bond, the electrophotographic toner binder being excellent in low-temperature fixability, hot-offset resistance, and storage stability. The present invention provides an electrophotographic toner binder containing a polymer (A) containing a monomer (a) and a monomer (x) different from the monomer (a) as essential constituent monomers, wherein the monomer (a) is a (meth)acrylate having a C18-C36 acyclic hydrocarbon group, the polymer (A) has an acid value of 40 or less, and the polymer (A) satisfies the following relational expression (1): 1.1 (cal/cm3)0.5?|SP(x)?SP(a)|?8.0 (cal/cm3)0.

Abstract: A holographic energy system is operable to generate an output wavefront according to a complex amplitude function. The holographic energy system includes a continuous three-dimensional energy medium, an array of energy devices configured to output energy to interact with the continuous three-dimensional energy medium to define a hologram therein, and an electromagnetic (EM) energy source positioned to output coherent EM energy that is incident on the hologram in the continuous three-dimensional energy medium to generate an output wavefront.

Abstract: For example, an escape gear wheel part as a watch component includes a base member including a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the base member being mainly composed of silicon, and a light reflecting layer provided at the first surface of the base member, the light reflecting layer having a three-layer structure in which a first silicon oxide layer, a silicon layer, and a second silicon oxide layer are layered in this order.

Abstract: The horological movement includes a mechanical resonator and an escapement including an escapement wheel, which has a plurality of teeth, and an anchor formed by a stick and two arms having respectively two mechanical pallets likely to come into contact, when the anchor is subject to an alternative movement, with any of the teeth according to the angular position of the escapement wheel. To avoid damage to the escapement during rocking of the anchor while the escapement wheel is positioned in an unfavourable angular position, the anchor is arranged, during the rocking of this anchor, to be able to bend being subjected to an elastic deformation. The anchor has an elastic capacity between each of the two mechanical pallets and a fork of the anchor, enabling it to absorb elastically, during the elastic deformation, a maximum mechanical energy that the mechanical resonator can have during the normal functioning of the horological movement.

Abstract: The invention relates to a mechanism for displaying an information for a timepiece, comprising a mobile (10) intended to be driven in rotation by the movement of the timepiece about a display axis (17), a satellite (20) pivoted on the mobile (10) about a satellite axis (27) parallel to the display axis (17) and remote from a non-zero distance d1 thereof, a display area (80), an indicator (50) secured to the satellite (20) and the position of which relative to the display area (80) provides the information, and a crown (30) centered on the display axis (17) and kinematically connected to the satellite (20). The mechanism is particular in that the indicator (50) is located at a distance d2 from the satellite axis (27), which is greater than or equal to the distance d1.

Abstract: Disclosed is a timepiece assembly including at least two elements in contact and mobile relative to each other, one of the elements having at least a first contact surface intended to rub against at least a second contact surface of the other element under dry lubrication conditions. At least one of the first and second contact surfaces is covered with a hydrophobic coating having an angle of contact with water greater than 90°, preferably greater than 100° and preferably greater than 110°, and a coefficient of friction lower than 0.15, preferably lower than 0.12 and preferably lower than 0.1, the variation in the coefficient of friction as a function of the relative humidity being lower than 25%, preferably lower than 10% and preferably lower than 5%.

Abstract: Disclosed is a case including a first compartment capable of accommodating a first device, possibly associated with a first display, the first compartment being delimited by at least a first wall delimiting a first opening and a first bottom integral with or capable of being fixed to the first wall. The case includes a second compartment which is removable with respect to the first compartment and which is delimited by at least one second wall and a second bottom which is integral with or capable of being fixed to the second wall and which extends along or parallel to a plane forming an obtuse angle with an extension plane of the first wall and/or the first bottom.

Abstract: The main element 2 is connected to the mechanism of the movement, having parts 4, 5, by an arbor about which it can turn. To this end, it comprises an attachment 6 for fixing to the movement, which is for example formed by a small ring arranged in the opening 9 of the ring of the main element 2. The attachment 6 is thus composed of the same material as the main element and is arranged in the same plane. By virtue of the attachment 6, the winding mass can make a circular movement about the arbor, when it oscillates.

Abstract: A coiling limitation device for a timepiece barrel includes at least one non-return notch arranged to cooperate with a sliding flange of the spring of the barrel, which is integrated in a watch including a resonator cooperating with an escapement mechanism. This device includes an acoustic device for the acoustic monitoring of the coiling of the barrel of a watch positioned on a receptacle included by the device, which acoustic devices are arranged to identify a click noise during each start of cooperation between the sliding flange and a notch. The device includes piloting devices arranged to stop the coiling of the barrel at the instant of the perception of the click noise or the repetition of the click noise.

Abstract: A management apparatus in a time synchronization system includes a time variation information receiving unit configured to acquire time variation information and position information of a time synchronization apparatus, a position information classifying unit configured to classify time synchronization apparatuses into predetermined categories based on the acquired position information, a time variation analysis configured to determine majority based on whether patterns of time variation of the time synchronization apparatuses belonging to an identical category are identical to each other, and to analyze the time variation based on the determined results, and a filtering and delivery unit configured to output an instruction to block the time information received from the positioning satellite, to the time synchronization apparatus having abnormal time variation.

Abstract: A building system includes one or more storage devices having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to receive an unstructured user question from a user device of a user and query a graph database based on the unstructured user question to extract context associated with the unstructured user question from contextual information of a building stored by the graph database, wherein the graph database stores the contextual information of the building through nodes and edges between the nodes, wherein the nodes represent equipment, spaces, people, and events associated building and the edges represent relationships between the equipment, spaces, people, and events. The instructions further cause the one or more processors to retrieve data from one or more data sources based on the context and compose a presentation based on the retrieved data.

Abstract: A building system including one or more memory devices configured to store instructions that, when executed on one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to collect building device data of a building device, the building device data comprising a plurality of data samples of a data point and generate a time correlated data stream for the data point, the time correlated data stream comprising values of the plurality of data samples of the data point. The instructions cause the one or more processors to generate a time correlated reliability data stream for the data point, the time correlated reliability data stream comprising a plurality of reliability values indicating reliability of the values of the plurality of data samples of the data point.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for determining causal models for controlling environments. One of the methods includes repeatedly selecting control settings for the environment based on (i) a causal model that identifies causal relationships between possible settings for controllable elements in the environment and environment responses that reflect a performance of the control system in controlling the environment and (ii) current values of a set of internal parameters; and during the repeatedly selecting: monitoring environment responses to the selected control settings; determining, based on the environment responses, an indication that one or more properties of the environment have changed; and in response, modifying the current values of one or more of the internal parameters.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of calculating process parameters. which are optimized for processing a workpiece with specific material properties by means of a laser machine, comprising the method steps of: determining material properties for which the process parameters should be optimized; determining preconfigured initial process parameters; executing a re-optimization algorithm until a target objective function is minimized or maximized for calculating optimized material-specific process parameters by accessing a storage with a statistical model, wherein the statistical model is based on Bayesian optimization using Gaussian Processes as priors.

Abstract: An output management device, an output management method, and a program are provided that manage output of input data to a processing module by a device. The processing module is associated with first metadata indicating a condition of the input data. The input data is associated with second metadata indicating an attribute of the input data. The output management apparatus includes a first acquisition unit, a second acquisition unit, and a notification unit. The first acquisition unit is configured to acquire the first metadata. The second acquisition unit is configured to acquire the second metadata. The notification unit is configured to notify the device of whether or not the input data is allowed to be output to the processing module based on the first and second metadata.

Abstract: A cloud-based modeler component that generates interactive models of an industrial automation system(s) (IAS(s)) is presented. An interactive model facilitates remote viewing of, interaction with, troubleshooting of problems with, or optimization of industrial assets of an IAS. The modeler component polls industrial assets via cloud gateways to obtain information relating to the industrial assets to identify industrial assets of the IAS and relationships with other industrial assets or can receive information from a communication device that obtains information relating to legacy industrial assets to identify those legacy assets and their relationships. The modeler component generates an interactive model of the industrial assets of the IAS based on the information.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for controlling a heat distribution system.

Abstract: An artificial intelligence (AI)-based air conditioner can include a communication unit and a processor. The communication can receive an image including member data from an image acquisition device, where the member data are associated with one or more different members of a member group and are used to distinguish the members from each other. The processor can recognize the member data from the received image, acquire operation data including operation conditions of the air conditioner, which are desired by the members, based on the recognized member data, store member information including the member data and the operation data in a database, analyze the operation conditions of the air conditioner, which are desired by the members, with respect to each member based on the member information corresponding to the member group stored in the database, and autonomously driving the air conditioner for the different members based on the analyzed operation conditions.

Abstract: A system includes a power profile engine, a power measurement engine, and a power throttling signal generator. The power profile engine receives a desired power profile, e.g., a first profile current average associated with a first time duration and a second profile current average associated with a second time duration. The power measurement engine measures current being drawn and generates a first running average for the measured currents for the first time duration and generates a second running average for the measured currents for the second time duration. The power throttling signal generator generates a first power throttling signal to throttle power in response to the first running average for the measured currents being greater than the first profile current average and generates a second power throttling signal to throttle power in response to the second running average for the measured currents being greater than the second profile current average.

Abstract: A program comparison apparatus includes: a set alignment unit that divides a comparison source-program which is a first FBD program into sets of program components connected to one another, and rearranges the sets in a line along a Y-axis direction which is a vertical direction in ascending order of execution, and also divides a comparison edited-program which is a second FBD program into sets of program components connected to one another, and rearranges the sets in a line along the Y-axis direction in ascending order of execution; a difference detection unit that detects a difference in the sets between the comparison source-program and the comparison edited-program rearranged as difference information; and a difference display control unit that causes the sets of the comparison source-program and the comparison edited-program that are rearranged to be displayed within a screen of a display device.

Abstract: A cutting apparatus includes a management unit having a measuring unit for measuring an amount of light emitted from a light emitter and received by a light receiver while a cutting blade is positioned between the light emitter and the light receiver, a measured waveform forming section for forming a measured waveform representing the configuration of an outer circumferential region of the cutting blade, and an ideal waveform recognizing section for recognizing one of the comparative waveforms that has the greatest number of waveform regions similar to the measured waveform as an ideal waveform, a difference calculating section for calculating the area of a region where there is a difference between the measured waveform and the ideal waveform.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A method and an associated controller for safely operating a multi-axis kinematic system by using a safety function are disclosed. The method includes calculating compensation values at the run time of a controller of the multi-axis kinematic system, wherein the calculation is performed based on predefinable error values of respective axes, geometric parameters of the multi-axis kinematic system, and current axis values of the multi-axis kinematic system. The method further includes operating the safety function based on the calculated compensation values.

Abstract: Disclosed is a prediction method for tool remaining life of a numerical control machine tool based on a hybrid neural model, including: constructing a hybrid neural network model, specifically including the following steps: constructing sample data according to the sampling frequency of tool data; obtaining a first feature vector representing the tool life by utilizing a convolutional neural network and a long short-term memory network; generating working condition signals of sampling points into a second feature vector representing the tool life by utilizing an NFM neural network; and inputting a current working time of a tool and the acquired feature vectors into a multi-layer perceptron for fusion to predict the tool life.

Abstract: In an example, a method includes receiving, at a processor, a data comprising a model of an object to be generated in additive manufacturing. The data comprises object model data representing an object model as a plurality of initial polygons and object property data associated with the initial polygons. The method may comprise generating a representation of a slice of the object model defined between two planes and generating a plurality of polygons to represent the slice of the object model. A mapping between the object property data and the generated plurality of polygons may also be generated.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods, systems, and devices for providing customized electric vehicle (EV) chargers. In one embodiment, a device is disclosed that includes a processor, a memory electrically coupled with the processor, a display electrically coupled with the processor, and an enclosure. The enclosure includes a mounting arrangement for securing the device to an EV charger. The device also includes a first communication interface electrically coupled with the processor. The first communication interface is configured for direct connection to the EV charger. The device further includes a second communication interface electrically coupled with the processor. The second communication interface is configured for connection to an internet protocol (IP) network.

Abstract: A management method for a cutting tool of a machine tool is provided. A user host imports a graphical data of a workpiece and a cutting tool database into CAM, and a user may select cutting tools to establish a complete machining process. T codes are replaced with electronic tags. Before executing a machine code comprising the electronic tags, the machine tool re-scans the cutting tools assembled at a tool turret and updates cutting tool arrangement information to ensure that the tool turret is equipped with the cutting tools used in the machining process. When the machine tool stores the electronic tags, a ready message is displayed for reminding an operator. When the electronic tags are not stored, the current storage location of a cutting tool lacked in the machining process or a warning message is displayed at the operation interface for reminding the operator.

Abstract: Data system for organising workflows, in which the cooperation of human beings and machines is controlled intra-logistically with optimum protection for the human beings involved, having the following features: g) an intra-logistically relevant work area is divided into production or storage areas (1) that are accessible, by means of transport areas (7), to the human beings and machines involved in the work process without obstacles, wherein the transport areas (7) are completely available to data systems by means of expediently distributed radio subscribers as transmitters and receivers (6), and an intra-logistical manager system undertakes the superordinate control, h) numerous DTSs (driverless transport systems) in various configurations and manufacturer-specific control subsystems are usable, besides transport drones (9), for handling the transport tasks that arise, i) robots in various configurations and manufacturer-specific control subsystems are used, besides people (2) equipped with radios, for carry

Abstract: A method for implementing a digital twin for a physical component of an industrial system includes assigning a unique identifier to the physical component, associating the unique identifier with a digital twin representative of the physical component, placing the digital twin of the physical component on a distributed network. The physical component sends the unique identifier to a known resource, which retrieves the network address of the physical twin associated with the unique identifier and provides the network address to the physical component. A secure communication connection is established between the physical component and the corresponding digital twin via the distributed network. The unique identifier may be a quick read (QR) code displayed on the physical component or a bar code displayed on the physical component. Engineering and simulation software for the digital twin may be supplied on the distributed network.

Abstract: A Multi-Purpose Dynamic Simulation and run-time Control platform includes a virtual process environment coupled to a physical process environment, where components/nodes of the virtual and physical process environments cooperate to dynamically perform run-time process control of an industrial process plant and/or simulations thereof. Virtual components may include virtual run-time nodes and/or simulated nodes. The MPDSC includes an I/O Switch which delivers I/O data between virtual and/or physical nodes, e.g., by using publish/subscribe mechanisms, thereby virtualizing physical I/O process data delivery. Nodes serviced by the I/O Switch may include respective component behavior modules that are unaware as to whether or not they are being utilized on a virtual or physical node. Simulations may be performed in real-time and even in conjunction with run-time operations of the plant, and/or simulations may be manipulated as desired (speed, values, administration, etc.).

Abstract: A method and system for advanced flare analytics in a flare operation monitoring and control system is disclosed that contains a data acquisition and augmentation mechanism whereby data is aquired through a plant network including images of the flare operations from single or multi-camera hubs. A machine learning-based self-adaptive industrial automation system process the images and data and assigns pixels to the images according to categories selected from smoke, flame and steam. The results of the analysis are displayed and a notice is issued when the percentage of pixles in a specific category falls outside a predeterminmed range.

Abstract: An apparatus for assisting maintenance work includes circuitry configured to perform learning based on a data set in association with a replaced or repaired part, or a new part after replacement indicated by work content information, and the learning includes processing an input of the data set or a portion of the data set, in accordance with model parameters of a machine learning model; determining work content information applied to the input; and updating the model parameters of the machine learning model based on the determined work content information.

Abstract: In order to provide a method for predicting process deviations in an industrial-method plant, for example a painting plant, by means of which process deviations are predictable simply and reliably, it is proposed according to the invention that the method should comprise the following: automatic generation of a prediction model; prediction of process deviations during operation of the industrial-method plant, using the prediction model.