JP2019018349A - Utilization situation displaying system of mold product takeout machine or molding machine - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a system and a method of displaying a utilization situation of a mold product takeout machine or a molding machine capable of recognizing a change in the utilization situation with regard to a type of a mold and changing molds.SOLUTION: In a system of this invention, an operation time counting section 3 detects an operation time of a mold product takeout machine (or a molding machine) 1; a data analysis section 7 analyzes data stored in time series in an operation time storage section 5; a display data generation section 9 generates display data for displaying on a display screen 16 an analysis result by the data analysis section 7 in such a way that a type of a mold can be indicated; since the generated display data have been stored in time series in a display data storage section 11, the data analysis section 7 can perform analysis using past display data stored in the display data storage section; and a display control section 13 causes the display screen 16 of a display section 15 to display the display data generated by the display data generation section 9.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an operation status display system for displaying an operation status of a molded product take-out machine or a molding machine on a display screen.

  Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2000-123085 (Patent Document 1) discloses a system for summing up operation status data including a stop time of a production facility. In this system, in order to calculate the stop loss time, the chocolate stop time (not the stop time of the equipment due to equipment operation error, but the short stop time that is not specified during operation) is taken into account for the stop loss time calculation process. doing.

JP 2000-123085 A

  In a molded product take-out machine or a molding machine, a molded product is produced and a molded product is taken out using various molds. However, in the invention disclosed in Patent Document 1, the operating status is not analyzed for each type of mold. In particular, conventionally, it has not been analyzed how the operating status changes depending on the type of mold and the exchange of the mold.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a molded product take-out machine or a molding machine operating status display system and method capable of knowing the type of mold and the change in operating status due to the replacement of the mold.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a molded product take-out machine or a molding machine capable of knowing a change in operating status from the type of mold and the occurrence of overcycle time (cycle time including chocolate stop) due to mold replacement. It is to provide an operation status display system.

  Still another object of the present invention is to provide a molded product take-out machine or an operating status display system of a molding machine that can check the operating status even at a remote location.

  A display unit including a display screen, an operation time counting unit, an operation time storage unit, a data analysis unit, a display data creation unit, and a display control unit are provided. The operation time counting unit counts the operation time until the molded product take-out machine or the molding machine completes the predetermined operation. The operation time storage unit stores a plurality of operation times counted by the operation time counting unit for each mold used in the molding machine in time series. The data analysis unit analyzes the data stored in time series in the operation time storage unit. The display data creation unit creates display data to be displayed on the display screen so that the mold can understand the analysis result of the data analysis unit. The display control unit displays the display data created by the display data creation unit on the display screen of the display unit.

  According to the present invention, the data analysis unit analyzes the data stored in time series in the operation time storage unit, and the analysis result by the data analysis unit is used as display data for the mold to understand, and this display data is displayed on the display screen of the display unit. To display. The analysis by the data analysis unit may be any analysis as long as it analyzes the time series operation time. For example, the change in operation time, overcycle time (the existence and number of times (not an equipment stop time due to equipment operation error, but an out-of-specific short stop occurring during operation: chocolate stop), By analyzing the length of the overcycle time, etc., it is possible to know errors in setting conditions, the possibility of work errors in the work process, inadequate equipment, inadequate mold installation conditions, and the like. For example, when an analysis result having the same tendency is not periodically displayed when one mold is used, it can be predicted that there may be some problem in the work process. Even if the same mold is used, if there is a large difference in the analysis results depending on when the mold is replaced, it may be predicted that there may be some problem with the mold installation or the mold itself. it can.

  The operation time may be an extraction time from when the take-out head of the molded product take-out machine starts to move from the standby position to pass through the standby position. From the analysis result of time series data of take-out time, if there is a relation between the number and timing of large changes in take-out time and the number or timing of occurrence of defects in the molded product, is there a cause of the failure on the molded product take-out side? It is possible to know whether there is a cause of the occurrence of defects on the molding machine side.

  The operating time may be a cycle time. Here, in the case of a molded product take-out machine, the cycle time refers to the time required to start moving from the standby position, take out the molded product from the mold, open the molded product at the open position, and return to the initial standby position. It means time, and in the case of a molding machine, the open mold starts to close the mold, the resin in the mold is injected, the mold is opened, and the molded product is removed by the molded product take-out machine. It means the time until the operation of removing the mold and then closing the mold again is started. If the time-series data of the cycle time is acquired for each mold and this data is analyzed, the number of occurrences and the occurrence time of the overcycle time can be known.

  The operation time may be both the take-out time and the cycle time until the take-out head of the molded product take-out machine starts moving from the stand-by position and passes through the stand-by position. In this case, the data analysis unit shall analyze the removal time as data for judging the operation status of the molded product take-out machine, and the remaining time obtained by subtracting the take-out time from the cycle time as data for judging the operation status of the molding machine. Can do. Even if the cycle time varies, if the take-out time does not vary, it can be seen that there is a cause of the occurrence of defects or defects on the molding machine side.

  The display data creation unit preferably creates time-series display data for displaying the analysis result by the data analysis unit in a time series on the display screen so that the mold can be understood. From the display of the time series display data, it is possible to know that the analysis result has changed due to the exchange of the mold, especially by comparing with the past data for the same mold, and the mold installation state It is possible to know that there is a possibility that a defect has occurred and that the setting conditions may have changed even with the same mold.

  The time series data analysis unit includes a time difference calculation unit that calculates the difference between the reference cycle time determined for each mold and the multiple cycle times counted by the operation time counting unit for each mold, and creates display data It is preferable that the unit is configured to display the result calculated by the time difference calculation unit in time series on the display screen so that the mold used can be known. From the time series display of the difference between the reference cycle time determined for each mold and the plurality of cycle times counted by the counting unit for each mold, the same difference is periodically observed when one mold is used. If it occurs, you can predict that there may be some problem with the work process or molding conditions, and if this difference changes overall even before using the same mold, It is possible to predict whether there is any problem in the installation of the mold or the mold itself or the molding conditions.

  Even if the mold is the same, if the worker is different or the installation status of the mold is different, the difference tends to increase or decrease overall when a fixed reference cycle time is used. . Therefore, if a reference cycle time determination storage unit for determining and storing a reference cycle time for each die based on a plurality of cycle times stored in the cycle time storage unit is further provided, a difference using a more appropriate reference cycle time is provided. Can be operated. As a result, the reliability of the display result can be improved.

  Preferably, the reference cycle time determination storage unit determines a minimum value of a plurality of cycle times excluding a cycle time in which the difference calculated by the time difference calculation unit is greater than a predetermined value as a reference cycle time for each mold. . In this way, the determination of the reference cycle time does not include data that is likely to be an overcycle time, and therefore the accuracy of determining the reference cycle time can be increased.

  In addition, it further includes an overcycle time determination storage unit that determines and stores a cycle time that includes an unspecified stop time for each mold for a predetermined time or more as an overcycle time (chocomotive stop). It is preferable to have a function of displaying the number and / or occurrence rate of the overcycle time for each mold in a table or a figure for each mold based on the data stored in the time determination storage unit. If the number and / or occurrence rate of overcycle time for each mold is displayed in a table or diagram for each mold, it is possible to directly know the occurrence of so-called chocolate stop. ) Has occurred, it is possible to easily determine the necessity for improvement and to obtain a hint for searching for the cause of occurrence of the overcycle time.

  It further includes an operating time zone data storage unit for storing operating time zone data for each mold, and the display control unit has a function of displaying the operating time zone for each die in a table or a figure. preferable. When an operating time table or chart is displayed together with a table or chart that displays the number and / or rate of occurrence of overcycle time for each mold, in particular, overcycle time (choco stop) occurs. You can get hints to investigate the cause.

  The display unit may be mounted on a molded product take-out machine or a controller of the molding machine. Further, the cycle time storage unit, the time difference calculation unit, and the display data creation unit are provided separately from the molded product take-out machine or the molding machine, and are connected to be able to communicate with the molded product take-out machine or the molding machine through a communication network. You may implement | achieve in the above server. The display unit can use a communication terminal device connected to the server via a communication network. In this way, it is possible to know the operating status even at a place different from the production site.

It is a block diagram which shows the main structures of the operating condition display system of the molded article extraction machine which is one embodiment of this invention, or a molding machine. The movement route of the raising / lowering frame of a molded article take-out machine is shown. It is a figure which shows the example in the case of displaying on the display screen the relationship between the cycle time and the production number proportional to time. It is a figure for demonstrating reading the shortest cycle time from the past data after completion of production, and determining the shot which exceeded X% of this shortest cycle time as an over cycle time. (A) is the figure which showed the change of the cycle time when forming a molded article continuously using the mold I with the production number as the horizontal axis, and (B) is the take-out time with the production number as the horizontal axis. FIG. (A) is the figure which showed the change of the cycle time when using the type J different from the type I with the production number as the horizontal axis, and (B) shows the take-out time with the production number as the horizontal axis. FIG. (A) thru | or (C) are figures which show a part of example of the analysis result displayed on the display screen of a display part, respectively. (A) And (B) is a figure which shows the other example of the analysis result displayed on the display screen of a display part. It is a block diagram of 2nd Embodiment of the operating condition display system of this invention.

  Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, an embodiment of a molded product take-out machine or a molding machine operating status display system of the present invention will be described in detail. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of an operating status display system of a molded product take-out machine (or molding machine) according to the present embodiment.

  In FIG. 1, the operation status display 10 of the present embodiment displays the operation status of the molded product take-out machine (or molding machine) 1. The molding machine (1) from which the molded product take-out machine 1 takes out a molded product is a type of molding machine in which a plurality of types of molds can be exchanged.

  The operating status display system 10 includes a display unit 15 having a display screen 16, an operation time counting unit 3 that detects a cycle time of the molded product take-out machine (or molding machine) 1, and a die used in the molding machine. An operation time storage unit 5 that stores a plurality of operation times counted by the operation time counting unit 3, a data analysis unit 7, a display data creation unit 9, a display data storage unit 11, and a display control unit 13 are provided. .

  The operation time counting unit 3 counts the operation time until the molded product take-out machine 1 (or the molding machine) completes a predetermined operation. The operation time can be counted using a known analog or digital timer that starts counting time from the start signal and stops counting by the end signal. As the start signal and the end signal, various command signals used in the control of the molded product take-out machine can be used. Further, an on / off signal generated by a limit switch installed as required is used as a start signal or an end signal. The operation time storage unit 5 stores a plurality of operation times counted by the operation time counting unit 3 in time series for each mold used in the molding machine (so that a plurality of molds to be used can be known). Specifically, when the operation time is stored in time series for each mold in the operation time storage unit 5, information on date, count start time and count end time, count start time and count The operation time obtained from the difference between the end times of and the mold used is associated (linked) and stored. The operation time is a period during which the take-out head of the molded product take-out machine starts moving from the standby position and passes through the standby position, and is a period for which counting such as cycle time is desired, and is limited to a specific time. It is not a thing.

  The data analysis unit 7 analyzes the data stored in the operation time storage unit 5 in time series. The analysis by the data analysis unit 7 may be any analysis as long as it analyzes the time series operation time. For example, the change in operation time, overcycle time (the existence and number of times (not an equipment stop time due to equipment operation error, but an out-of-specific short stop occurring during operation: chocolate stop), The length of the overcycle time) can be analyzed. By displaying the analysis result of the data analysis unit 7 on the display screen 16 of the display unit 15, an error in the operation setting conditions, the possibility of work mistakes in the work process, the lack of equipment, the installation status of the mold You can know deficiencies. For example, when an analysis result having the same tendency is not periodically displayed when one mold is used, it can be predicted that there may be some problem in the work process. Also, even if the same mold is used, if there is a large difference in the analysis results depending on the time when the mold was replaced, there may be some problem with the mold installation or the mold itself or the molding conditions. You can predict heels.

  The display data creation unit 9 creates display data to be displayed on the display screen 16 so that the mold can understand the analysis result obtained by the data analysis unit 7. The created display data is stored in the display data storage unit 11 in time series. As a result, the data analysis unit 7 can perform analysis using past display data stored in the display data storage unit 11. The display control unit 13 displays the display data created by the display data creation unit 9 on the display screen 16 of the display unit 15.

  As an example, a case will be described in which the operation time is the take-out time or cycle time of the molded product take-out machine 1. FIG. 2 shows a moving route of the lifting frame of the molded product take-out machine 1. In the take-out time, the take-out head of the molded product take-out machine starts moving from the standby position “position 1 in FIG. 2” and passes through the route “2 → 3 → 4 → 5 in FIG. It is the time until it passes through “1 of 2”. The cycle time is the time required for the takeout head to move once along the movement route shown in FIG. Of course, both the extraction time and the cycle time may be counted as the operation time. In this case, the data analysis unit 7 analyzes the take-out time as data for judging the operating status of the molded product take-out machine, and the remaining time obtained by subtracting the take-out time from the cycle time as data for judging the operating status of the molding machine. be able to. Even if the cycle time varies, if the take-out time does not vary, it may be possible to identify that the cause of the occurrence of defects or defects on the molding machine side.

  The display data creating unit 9 creates time series display data for displaying on the display screen 16 in time series so that the mold can understand the analysis result by the data analyzing unit 7. From the display of the time series display data, it is possible to know that the analysis result has changed due to the exchange of the mold, especially by comparing with the past data for the same mold, and the mold installation state It is possible to know that there is a possibility that a defect has occurred and that the setting conditions may have changed even with the same mold.

  FIG. 3 shows an example in which the relationship between the cycle time and the production number proportional to time is displayed on the display screen 16. In this example, cycle time data is accumulated from the first shot of production to the Nth shot, and the average total cycle time is calculated by the following equation.

Since the average total cycle time is updated as the number of production increases, the average cycle time T _ave gradually decreases. The cycle time data from the first shot to the Mth start of production has a long cycle time because the molding machine side is not stable. By looking at the length of this period or the number of M times, the state of the molding machine and the quality of the preparatory work before the start of molding by the operator can be determined. In order to measure the number of so-called overcycle times, in this example, shots exceeding x% of the average cycle time _Tave are counted as the cycle time being the overcycle time OCT. The cycle time when it is determined as the overcycle time OCT is excluded from the calculation of the average value. With this display, the number of occurrences of overcycle time can be monitored in real time. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining that the shortest cycle time (T _min ) is read from past data after the production is completed, and a shot exceeding X% of the shortest cycle time is determined as an overcycle time. However, when this method is used, the initial shot is also reflected in the number of overcycle times, and the more accurate number of overcycle times can be aggregated.

  FIG. 5 (A) shows the change in cycle time when the molded product is continuously molded using a certain mold I, with the number of production (proportional to time) as the horizontal axis. B) shows the extraction time with the number of production (proportional to time) on the horizontal axis. Since there is no significant change in the take-out time shown in FIG. 5 (B), it can be seen that the take-out operation in the molded product take-out machine is normal. However, since there is a large change in the cycle time in FIG. 5 (A), it can be seen that this change is caused not by the molded product take-out machine side but by the trouble on the molding machine side. Providing materials to determine whether the cause of the failure is on the part take-out machine side or on the molding machine side when the take-out time is displayed in time series and the cycle time is displayed in time series. Can do.

  FIG. 6A shows the change in cycle time when the type J different from the type I is used, with the number of production (proportional to time) on the horizontal axis, and FIG. 6B shows the take-out time. The production number (proportional to time) is shown on the horizontal axis. 6 (A) and 6 (B) both show that there is no significant change in the take-out time and the cycle time. From this result, it can be seen that the production of the molded product is performed without any problem.

  7A to 7C show a part of an example of the analysis result displayed on the display screen of the display unit 15. In the table of FIG. 7A, the mold name, the number of chocolate stops (the number of overcycle times), and the rate of occurrence of chocolate stops are shown. From this table, it can be seen that the mold has a large number of overcycle times. FIG. 7B shows the cycle time of the mold B in time series. From FIG. 7 (B), it can be seen that even if the same mold is used for 3 days of production, the occurrence time of the overcycle time does not tend to be constant. If some periodicity is observed in the occurrence of the overcycle time from this graph, the availability factor can be increased by pursuing the cause. FIG. 7C shows the overcycle time and the number of products produced (proportional to time) generated in one mold D in time series. From this figure, it can be seen that the start-up of the molding machine is unstable because the overcycle time is up to the first 25 pieces.

  FIGS. 8A and 8B show other examples of analysis results displayed on the display screen of the display unit 15. In FIG. 8A, the average molding cycle times for the molds A to D are shown in time series. Looking at molds B and C, the value of the average molding cycle time varies greatly depending on the day. In such a case, when the mold exchanging operator is changed, it is estimated that there is a difference in average molding cycle time due to the accuracy of mold installation based on the technique of the operator. FIG. 8B shows the operation status of each mold for one week with the passage of time.

  In each display image of FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, the period is switched by clicking a period selection button (not shown) with a pointing device, and the result of the current day (the latest 24 hours) or the current month (the latest month) is displayed. be able to. When the overcycle time display of FIGS. 7A and 7B and the operation status display of FIG. 8B are displayed on one screen, the overcycle time is generated due to the type of mold and replacement of the mold. From the situation, it is possible to know the change in the operation status.

  According to the operation status display system of the present embodiment, a reference cycle time determined for each mold and a plurality of cycle times counted by the operation time counting unit 3 for each mold, so that the mold used is known. Are displayed on the display screen 16 in time series. From the time-series display of the difference between the reference cycle time determined for each mold and the plurality of cycle times counted by the operation time counting unit 3 for each mold, it is periodically displayed when one mold is used. If the same difference occurs, you can predict that there will be some problem in the work process or molding conditions, and this difference will change overall even if you use the same mold In some cases, it can be predicted whether there is any problem in the installation of the mold or the mold itself or the molding conditions.

  The display unit 15 in the operating status display system of the present embodiment may be mounted on the controller of the molded product take-out machine (or molding machine) 1. In this embodiment, the controller is provided separately from the molded product take-out machine (or molding machine) 1 and is connected to the molded product take-out machine (or molding machine) 1 through a communication network so as to be communicable. The server monitor serves as the display unit 15.

  In this server, software in which a part of each block constituting the operation status display system such as the cycle time storage unit 51, the time difference calculation unit 71, the display data creation unit 9 and the like causes the server to perform the function of each block Is installed, and the operating status of a plurality of molded product take-out machines (or molding machines) can be displayed on the monitor of the server via the communication network.

  In the operation status display system of the present embodiment, in addition to the display unit 15, a communication terminal device 21 connected from the communication unit 17 of the server via the communication network 19 can also be used as the display unit. In this way, it is possible to know the operating status even at a place different from the production site.

  FIG. 9 shows the second embodiment of the operation status display system of the present invention having a function of storing the cycle time as an operation time and determining how many overcycle times are present in a plurality of cycle times. A block diagram is shown. In this embodiment, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 are assigned to the same parts as those in the embodiment in FIG. The present embodiment and the embodiment of FIG. 1 are that the operation time storage unit includes a cycle time storage unit 51 and the data analysis unit 7 has a specific configuration.

  In the operation status display system of the present embodiment, the data analysis unit 7 includes a time difference calculation unit 71, a reference cycle time determination storage unit 73, and an overcycle time determination storage unit 75. Even if the mold is the same, if the worker is different, or the installation status and molding conditions of the mold are different, the difference will increase or decrease overall when using a fixed reference cycle time. A trend appears. Therefore, a reference cycle time determination storage unit 73 that determines and stores a reference cycle time for each mold based on a plurality of cycle times stored in the cycle time storage unit 51 is provided. In this way, the difference can be calculated using a more appropriate reference cycle time. As a result, the reliability of the display result can be improved.

  The reference cycle time determination storage unit 73 determines an average value of a plurality of cycle times excluding a cycle time in which the difference calculated by the time difference calculation unit 71 is larger than a predetermined value as a reference cycle time for each mold. In this way, the determination of the reference cycle time does not include data that is likely to be an overcycle time, and therefore the accuracy of determining the reference cycle time can be increased.

  The operating status display system according to the present embodiment further includes an overcycle time determination storage unit 75 that determines and stores a cycle time that includes a predetermined stop time or more as a overcycle time for each mold. Yes. The display control unit 13 has a function of displaying the number of overcycle times and / or the occurrence rate for each mold in a table or a figure for each mold based on the data stored in the overcycle time determination storage unit 75. ing. Displaying the number of overcycle times and / or occurrence rate for each mold in a table or chart for each mold allows you to directly know the occurrence of so-called overcycle time, so overcycle time occurs more than necessary. In this case, it is possible to easily determine the necessity for improvement and to obtain a hint for searching for the cause of occurrence of the overcycle time.

  The above embodiment is an embodiment when the present invention is applied to a molded product take-out machine, but the present invention is naturally applicable to an operating state system of a molding machine.

  According to the molded product take-out machine or the molding machine operating status display system of the present invention, it is possible to know the type of mold and the change in operating status due to the replacement of the mold.

1 Mold take-out machine (or molding machine)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 3 Operation time counting part 5 Operation time memory | storage part 7 Data analysis part 9 Display data creation part 11 Display data memory | storage part 13 Display control part 15 Display part 16 Display screen 17 Communication part 19 Communication network 21 Communication terminal device

Claims (12)

A display unit having a display screen;
An operation time counting unit that counts the operation time until the molded product take-out machine or the molding machine completes a predetermined operation;
An operation time storage unit that stores a plurality of operation times counted by the operation time counting unit for each mold used in the molding machine in a time series;
A data analysis unit for analyzing time series data stored in time series in the operation time storage unit;
A display data creation unit for creating display data for display on the display screen so that the mold can understand the analysis result by the data analysis unit;
An operation status display system for a molded product take-out machine or a molding machine, comprising: a display control unit configured to display the display data created by the display data creation unit on the display screen of the display unit.   The operation time display of the molded product take-out machine or the molding machine according to claim 1, wherein the operation time is a take-out time until the take-out head of the molded product take-out machine starts moving from the standby position and passes through the standby position. system.   The molded product take-out machine or the operating status display system of the molding machine according to claim 1, wherein the operation time is a cycle time. The operation time is both a take-out time and a cycle time until the take-out head of the molded product take-out machine starts moving from the stand-by position and passes through the stand-by position.
The data analysis unit uses the take-out time as data for judging the operating status of the molded product take-out machine, and the remaining time obtained by subtracting the take-out time from the cycle time as data for judging the operating status of the molding machine The operating state display system of the molded product take-out machine or the molding machine according to claim 1 to be analyzed.   2. The molded product takeout according to claim 1, wherein the display data creation unit creates time series display data for displaying in a time series on the display screen so that the analysis result of the data analysis unit can be understood by the mold. Machine or molding machine operating status display system. The time series data analysis unit includes a time difference calculation unit that calculates a difference between a reference cycle time determined for each die and the plurality of cycle times counted by the operation time counting unit for each die. ,
The said display data preparation part is comprised so that the result calculated by the said time difference calculating part may be displayed on the said display screen in time series so that the said metal mold | die used may be known. Operational status display system for molded product take-out machines or molding machines.   The molding according to claim 3, further comprising a reference cycle time determination storage unit that determines and stores the reference cycle time for each mold based on the plurality of cycle times stored in the operation time storage unit. Operation status display system for product take-out machines or molding machines.   The reference cycle time determination storage unit uses, as a reference cycle time for each die, an average value of the plurality of cycle times excluding a cycle time in which the difference calculated by the time difference calculation unit is larger than a predetermined value. The operation state display system of the molded product take-out machine or the molding machine according to claim 7 to be determined. An overcycle time determination storage unit that determines and stores the cycle time including the stop time that is not specified for each die as a predetermined time or more as an overcycle time (choco stop);
The display control unit is configured to display the number and / or occurrence rate of the overcycle time for each mold in a table or a figure for each mold based on the data stored in the overcycle time determination storage unit. The operating state display system of the molded product take-out machine or the molding machine according to claim 3. An operating time zone data storage unit for storing operating time zone data for each mold;
The said display control part is a working condition display system of the molded article take-out machine or molding machine of Claim 9 which has a function which displays an operation time slot | zone with a table | surface or a figure for every said metal mold | die.   The said display part is an operating condition display system of the molded product take-out machine or the molding machine according to claim 1, which is mounted on the molded product take-out machine or a controller of the molding machine. The operation time storage unit, the data analysis unit, and the display data creation unit are provided separately from the molded product take-out machine or the molding machine and can communicate with the molded product take-out machine or the molding machine through a communication network. Implemented in one or more servers connected to
The molded product take-out machine or the operating status display system of the molding machine according to claim 1, wherein the display unit is a communication terminal device connected to the server via the communication network.