Patent ID: 8471515

Claim:
An apparatus for operating a machine having multiple, electrically-operated axes, which execute sequences courses of motion with a functional relationship, the apparatus comprising: a housing, wherein said apparatus is configured for use in a switch cabinet; a power module for supplying axis drives with electrical energy; an axis regulating module for regulating axis-specific parameters; an axis control module for controlling the multiple axis drives among one another, wherein said power module, said axis regulating module, and said axis control module are connected to one another as an integral component of the apparatus within the housing; and an apparatus controller for implementing a chronological coordination of a sequence of functions of the apparatus implemented by said modules, said apparatus controller being an integral component of the device, wherein said apparatus controller is configured so as to implement a communication between at least two of said modules, wherein said apparatus controller is configured to control the supply of energy to the machine axes using said power supply module; and at least one real-time operating system in a separate processing unit assigned to a respective one of said modules, wherein the functions of the axle regulator module and the axle control module are realized via said at least one real-time operating system, and wherein both real-time operating systems are controllable by said apparatus controller.