JP2023180417A - System, processor, and method for supporting part replacement operation in production facility - Google Patents

Abstract

To support part replacement operation upon switching types of articles to be produced.SOLUTION: An operation support system supports operation of replacing parts fitted to a production facility capable of producing a plurality of types of articles by changing a combination of parts. Each part is provided with an RFID tag on which an identifier is recorded, or a one-dimensional or two-dimensional code. With reference to data indicating a correspondence between the types of articles to be produced and the combination of parts fitted to the production facility to produce the articles, a processor of the system determines a difference between the combination of parts corresponding to the type of articles most recently produced and a combination of parts corresponding to the type of articles to be produced next, and generates a difference part list indicating the difference. Every time the identifier of the part is read by a reader, the processor determines whether or not the part is included in the difference part list and causes a display device to display results of determination.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

Application for application of Article 30, Paragraph 2 of the Patent Act Published date: July 12, 2021 Published location: Shionogi Pharma Co., Ltd. Settsu Factory and Amagasaki Office (2-5 Mishima, Settsu City, Osaka 566-0022) 1 and 2-1-3 Kuise Terajima, Amagasaki City, Hyogo Prefecture, 660-0813) Publication date: August 24, 2021 Publication location: Maruho Co., Ltd. Hikone Factory (2763 Takamiya-cho, Hikone City, Shiga Prefecture, 522-0201) Publication date: September 3, 2021 Publication location: Daiichi Sankyo Propharma Co., Ltd. and Mitsubishi Chemical Engineering Co., Ltd. (1-12-1 Shinomiya, Hiratsuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture 254-0014) Publication date: Reiwa October 14, 2020 Published location: Zensei Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (380 Mita-cho, Kishiwada-shi, Osaka 596-0808) Published date: March 29, 2020 Published location: GlaxoSmithKline K.K. Imaichi Factory (1506 Tsuchizawa, Nikko City, Tochigi Prefecture, 321-1274) Publication date: May 20, 2020 Publication location: Takeda Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (4720 Takeda, Oaza Mitsui, Hikari City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, 743-8502 Japan) Date of publication: May 24, 2020 Location of publication: Daido Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (214-1 Shinmura, Katsuragi City, Nara Prefecture, 639-2121)

The present invention relates to a system, a processing device, and a method for supporting parts replacement work in production equipment.

Production equipment that can produce multiple types of products by changing the combination of parts is known. An example of such production equipment is a packaging machine in a packaging line for pharmaceutical products (such as tablets or capsules). On a packaging line, only a single product type is rarely produced, and multiple products are generally produced using the same equipment, and the parts of the equipment often differ depending on the product type.

On the other hand, in product production lines, RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) or barcodes are commonly used for progress management or quality control. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a production management system that uses RFID and barcodes to manage product progress and quality.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2011-90595

In production equipment that can produce multiple types of products by changing the combination of parts, it is necessary to confirm which parts will be removed and which parts will be newly installed when changing types. In addition, work may be performed to check whether parts are installed in proper positions using measuring instruments such as machine scales and digital position indicators. If these tasks rely on the operator's visual inspection or manual labor, human errors may occur, such as installing the wrong part or installing a part in an inappropriate position. As a result, problems such as component damage or product abnormality may occur.

The present disclosure provides a novel system and method that supports parts replacement operations when switching between produced products.

A work support system according to an embodiment of the present invention is a system that supports replacement work of a plurality of parts attached to production equipment that can produce a plurality of types of articles by changing the combination of parts. Each part is attached with an RFID tag or a one-dimensional or two-dimensional code on which the identifier of the part is recorded. The system includes a storage device, a processing device, and a reader. The storage device stores data indicating a correspondence relationship between types of articles to be produced and combinations of parts to be attached to the production equipment to produce the articles. The processing device refers to the data to determine a difference between a combination of parts corresponding to the type of article produced most recently and a combination of parts corresponding to the type of article to be produced next, and A difference parts list indicating the differences is displayed on the display device. The reader reads the identifier of the part recorded in the RFID tag or code attached to each part. The processing device determines whether the part is included in the differential parts list each time the reader reads the identifier of the part, and displays the determination result on the display device.

General or specific aspects of the invention may be implemented by an apparatus, a system, an integrated circuit, a computer program, a recording medium, or any combination thereof.

According to the present invention, it becomes easy to appropriately replace parts of production equipment when changing product types.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a production facility that can produce multiple types of articles by changing the combination of parts. It is a figure which shows the example of a replacement part. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overview of a work support system. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a work support system. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of data indicating a correspondence relationship between product types and parts combinations. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing by a processing device. It is a figure which shows an example of an attachment parts list. It is a figure which shows an example of a removal parts list. FIG. 3 is a first diagram for explaining a part identifier reading operation. FIG. 7 is a second diagram for explaining a part identifier reading operation. FIG. 7 is a third diagram for explaining a part identifier reading operation. It is a figure which shows another example of an attachment parts list. It is a figure which shows another example of a removal parts list. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of production equipment equipped with scales and indicators. It is a figure which shows the example of a scale. It is a figure showing an example of an indicator. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example in which numerical values of indicators are recognized by OCR. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example in which scale values are recognized by OCR. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a method for determining whether the mounting position of a part is appropriate using marker position information. It is a figure which shows the example of the data which recorded the appropriate position of each part for each product type. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process for determining whether the mounting position of a part is appropriate based on image data generated by a camera. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a display example of detailed information on parts.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described below. However, more detailed explanation than necessary may be omitted. For example, detailed explanations of well-known matters or redundant explanations of substantially the same configurations may be omitted. This is to avoid unnecessary redundancy in the following description and to facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art. The inventors have provided the accompanying drawings and the following description to enable those skilled in the art to fully understand the present disclosure, and are not intended to limit the subject matter recited in the claims. do not have. Identical or similar components are provided with the same reference numerals throughout this specification.

FIG. 1 shows an example of production equipment that can produce multiple types of articles by changing the combination of parts. The production equipment 500 shown in FIG. 1 is a packaging machine used in a packaging line for pharmaceuticals (for example, tablets or capsules). The production equipment 500 corresponds to about 10 to 20 types of products, and about 100 parts can be attached. The combination of parts differs depending on the type of product being produced. When changing the type of product produced, some parts will be replaced. For example, out of about 100 parts, about 3 to 15 can be replaced. In the following explanation, replacing some parts due to a change in the type of product being produced may be referred to as "model change."

Before parts are replaced, preparations are made for the new parts to be installed. For example, a new part to be installed is taken out of a parts storage, placed on a tray, and transported to the site where installation work is to be performed. FIG. 2 shows an example of parts placed on a tray 600. These parts are replaced with some parts in the production facility 500.

In such a model change operation, it is necessary to perform the replacement work accurately without making a mistake between the part to be removed from the production equipment 500 and the part to be newly installed. Therefore, in this embodiment, an RFID tag or a one-dimensional or two-dimensional code on which a part identifier is recorded is attached to each part, and parts replacement is managed using these. An example of a one-dimensional code is a barcode. Examples of two-dimensional codes include QR code (registered trademark) and DataMatrix (registered trademark). Each part is attached with an RFID tag and/or a code. During model change work, a reader is used to read part identifiers recorded in RFID tags or codes attached to the parts to be removed and the parts to be newly installed. Based on the information read by the reader, it is checked whether the part to be replaced is correct.

Depending on the part, the mounting position may differ depending on the product type. Whether or not the mounting position of the parts is correct is confirmed using a measuring device such as a machine scale or a digital position indicator. Conventionally, whether or not the mounting position of a part is correct has been determined by visual inspection by an operator. However, relying on visual inspection by workers could result in parts being installed in the wrong position due to human error.

Therefore, in this embodiment, a system is introduced that photographs the state in which the parts are attached using a camera and automatically determines whether or not the attachment position of the parts is appropriate based on the photographed image. By introducing such a system, it is possible to prevent products from being produced with parts installed in inappropriate positions, and to prevent problems such as parts damage or product abnormalities.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an overview of the work support system in this embodiment. Each of the plurality of parts in the production facility 500 shown in FIG. 3 is attached with an RFID tag or a QR code. This work support system includes one or more readers 100 that read part identifiers recorded on RFID tags or QR codes, one or more smart glasses 200, and a host computer 300. Each of the reader 100 and the smart glasses 200 can communicate wirelessly with the host computer 300 via a communication device such as an access point.

The reader 100 is, for example, a reading device such as an RFID handy scanner, a QR code reader, or a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant). The reader 100 reads the part identifier recorded on the RFID tag or QR code attached to the part, and transmits the identifier to the host computer 300. In this example, a QR code is used, but other types of codes such as barcodes may also be used. Further, although both an RFID tag and a code are used in this example, only one of the RFID tag and the code may be used.

The smart glasses 200 are eyeglass-shaped information devices that include a built-in camera and a display. The smart glasses 200 are worn by a worker and transmit captured images to the host computer 300 during parts replacement work. Smart glasses 200 can also display various information to assist in part replacement. For example, an image sent from host computer 300 can be displayed on smart glasses 200. The displayed information may include, for example, the installation location of the part, detailed information about the part, or whether the part was installed properly. Note that instead of the smart glasses 200, photography may be performed using other devices capable of photography, such as a digital camera, a smartphone, or a tablet terminal.

As shown in FIG. 3, production facility 500 may be provided with one or more machine scales 520 and/or one or more digital position indicators 510. Machine scale 520 and digital position indicator 510 are used to align parts to proper positions determined depending on the product type.

The host computer 300 is a computer that manages parts replacement work. Host computer 300 executes processing based on data transmitted from reader 100 and smart glasses 200.

Next, the configuration of the work support system will be explained in more detail with reference to FIG.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the work support system. The work support system shown in FIG. 4 includes a QR code reader 100A, an RFID reader 100B, smart glasses 200B, a display device 400, and a host computer 300. QR code reader 100A and RFID reader 100B are examples of reader 100 shown in FIG. 3. One reader (for example, a PDA) having the functions of both the QR code reader 100A and the RFID reader 100B may be used. Smart glasses 200 are equipped with a camera 210. The display device 400 is a device including, for example, a display such as a liquid crystal or an organic LED. Display device 400 may be built into reader 100A, 100B, or smart glasses 200, or may be connected to host computer 300.

The host computer 300 includes an input/output interface (I/F) 310, a storage device 320, a processing device 330, and a communication device 340. The input/output I/F 310 is a device that exchanges signals with external input devices and output devices. Storage device 320 includes, for example, a semiconductor storage device (eg, memory), a magnetic storage device, or an optical storage device. The storage device 320 stores computer programs executed by the processing device 330 and various data generated by the processing device 330. The processing device 330 is, for example, a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit). The communication device 340 is a communication module that performs wired or wireless communication with external devices such as the readers 100A and 100B, the smart glasses 200, and the display device 400.

In this embodiment, the storage device 320 stores data indicating the correspondence between the type of article to be produced (product type) and the combination of parts installed in the production equipment 500 to produce the type.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of data indicating the correspondence between product types and parts combinations. In the storage device 320, data in a table format as shown in FIG. 5 is recorded in advance. This data is referenced in the process of determining which parts will be removed and which parts will be newly installed during model change.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing by the processing device 330. The processing device 330 in this embodiment supports parts replacement work by executing the processes from steps S101 to S109 shown in FIG.

In step S101, the processing device 330 acquires information on the most recently produced product and the next product to be produced. Information on the most recently produced product and the next product to be produced may be input by, for example, an operator or manager using an input device connected to the host computer 300 by wire or wirelessly.

In step S102, the processing device 330 refers to data indicating the correspondence between product types and parts combinations, and selects a part combination corresponding to the most recently produced product type and a part corresponding to the next produced product type. Determine the difference between the combination of Specifically, the processing device 330 refers to the data shown in FIG. 5 to determine which parts should be removed from the production equipment 500 among the parts corresponding to the most recently produced product type and which parts correspond to the next produced product type. Among the parts to be installed, the parts to be newly installed in the production equipment 500 are determined.

In step S103, the processing device 330 generates a differential parts list. The difference parts list shows the difference between the part combination corresponding to the most recently produced product type and the parts combination corresponding to the next produced product type. The differential parts list in this embodiment includes a "removal parts list" and an "installation parts list." The removal parts list is a list showing one or more removal parts to be removed from the production equipment 500 among the combinations of parts corresponding to the most recently produced product type. The attachment parts list is a list indicating one or more attachment parts to be newly attached to the production equipment 500 from among the combination of parts corresponding to the product type to be produced next.

In step S104, the processing device 330 displays the difference parts list on the display device 400. The display device 400 can be mounted, for example, on a mobile terminal such as the reader 100 used by a worker, or on the smart glasses 200. The processing device 330 causes the display device 400 to display each of the installed parts list and the removed parts list.

FIG. 7A shows an example of the displayed attachment parts list. FIG. 7B shows an example of the displayed removal parts list. As in this example, each list includes information on the product type to be produced next and information on parts to be installed or parts to be removed.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are diagrams for explaining a part identifier reading operation performed with reference to the installed parts list and the removed parts list. As shown in FIG. 8A, the operator takes out the necessary parts from the storage 700 while looking at the list of parts to be installed, places the parts on the tray 600 of the trolley, and transports the parts to the vicinity of the production equipment 500. The worker reads the QR code or RFID of each part on the tray 600 using the reader 100. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 8B, the worker similarly uses the reader 100 to read the QR code or RFID of the parts to be removed from the production equipment 500. The reader 100 transmits the read identifier of each part to the host computer 300.

Note that FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrate how the QR code attached to each part is read by the reader 100 (for example, a PDA). Instead of the QR code, other types of codes (for example, barcodes, DataMatrix, etc.) may be attached to each part. Further, as shown in FIG. 8C, when each part is attached with an RFID tag, the reader 100 may read the RFID tag.

In step S105 shown in FIG. 6, the processing device 330 determines whether or not the part identifier has been received from the reader 100. Step S105 is repeated until the identifier is received. Upon receiving the identifier, the process advances to step S106.

In step S106, the processing device 330 determines whether the information on the part corresponding to the received identifier is included in the difference parts list. More specifically, the processing device 330 determines whether the information about the part indicated by the received identifier is included in either the installed parts list or the removed parts list. If the determination result is Yes, the process advances to step S107. If the determination result is No, the process advances to step S108.

In step S107, the processing device 330 displays on the display device 400 that reading of the part indicated by the identifier has been completed. For example, as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the completion of reading is indicated by placing a mark in the column of the part for which reading has been completed in the installed parts list or the removed parts list. After that, the process advances to step S109.

In step S108, the processing device 330 displays an error message on the display device 400. For example, as shown in the upper right of FIGS. 7A and 7B, when a part that is not included in the list is read, the name or number of the part is displayed in the "NG" column to warn the operator. After that, the process advances to step S109.

In step S109, the processing device 330 determines whether reading of all parts included in the differential parts list has been completed. When reading of all parts is completed, information to that effect is displayed on the display device 400, and the process ends. If there are parts for which reading has not yet been completed, the process returns to step S105. The processes from steps S105 to S109 are repeated until all parts have been read.

As described above, each time the identifier of a part is read by the reader 100, the processing device 330 determines whether the part is included in the difference parts list, and causes the display device 400 to display the determination result. More specifically, each time the identifier of a part is read by the reader 100, the processing device 330 determines whether the part is included in the removal parts list, and if the part is included in the removal parts list, Adds information indicating that reading of the part has been completed to the displayed list of removed parts. Furthermore, each time the identifier of a part is read by the reader 100, the processing device 330 determines whether or not the part is included in the installation parts list, and if the part is included in the installation parts list, the processing device 330 determines whether or not the part is included in the installation parts list. Add information to the parts list indicating that reading of that part has been completed.

Through this process, the operator can perform part replacement work after confirming that all parts included in the installation parts list and all parts included in the removal parts list have been read. can. Thereby, human errors such as removing a part from the production equipment 500 by mistake or attaching a part to the production equipment 500 by mistake can be suppressed. As a result, troubles such as component damage or product abnormalities can be prevented.

In this embodiment, the processing device 330 may be configured to manage both the completion of preparation of the installation part and the completion of installation. For example, the code or RFID of the attachment part may be read both before the attachment part is attached to the production equipment 500 (preparation stage) and after the attachment part is attached. In that case, the attachment parts list may include information shown in FIG. 9A, for example. In the example of FIG. 9A, the attachment parts list includes information indicating whether preparation for each part is completed and whether installation of each part is completed. When the parts are read before installation, the processing device 330 adds a circle mark to the “preparation” column and displays it on the display device 400. After the preliminary reading of all parts is completed, the parts are installed. When the code or RFID is read after the part is attached, the processing device 330 adds a circle mark to the “Attachment” column and displays it on the display device 400. This operation allows the operator to confirm that the parts have been correctly installed, thereby preventing mistakes in the installation work.

The processing device 330 may manage not only whether a part has been removed from the production facility 500 but also whether it has been returned to the storage 700. In that case, the code or RFID of the removed part is read both after the part is removed from the production facility 500 and after the part is stored in the storage 700. The removal parts list in that case may include information shown in FIG. 9B, for example. In the example of FIG. 9B, the removed parts list includes information indicating whether or not the removal of each part has been completed and whether or not the storage of each part in the storage 700 has been completed. When the part is read after removal (or when it is removed), the processing device 330 adds a circle mark to the "removal" column. After the removal of all parts is completed, the parts are stored in storage 700. After the part is stored (or when it is stored), if the code or RFID of the part is read, a circle is added to the "Storage" column. Through such operations, it is possible to manage whether or not the removed parts have been reliably returned to the storage 700.

Next, an example of a method for supporting parts replacement work using the smart glasses 200 will be described.

The plurality of parts attached to production equipment 500 may include parts whose attachment positions differ depending on the type of product being produced. Such parts are referred to herein as "alignment parts." To perform such part alignment, production equipment 500 may be equipped with metrology equipment, such as a machine scale or digital position indicator. The alignment parts are attached near those measuring instruments. In the following description, the machine scale may be simply referred to as a "scale" and the digital position indicator may be simply referred to as an "indicator."

FIG. 10 shows an example of production equipment 500 equipped with scales and indicators. In FIG. 10, scales or indicators are attached to multiple locations surrounded by dotted circles. During the part replacement work, the part and the scale or indicator are photographed by the camera 210 of the smart glasses 200, and the image is sent to the host computer 300.

FIG. 11A shows an example of the scale. FIG. 11B shows an example of an indicator. The scale has graduations for measuring the length from the reference position to a specific part of the part. A scale may also include numbers to indicate length in addition to graduations. The indicator has a display section that numerically displays the length from the reference position to a specific part of the part. After installing the parts, the operator checks whether the parts are in the correct position according to the product type while looking at the graduations or numbers on the scale or the numbers on the indicator. The correct position of each part may be displayed, for example, by the operator selecting a column for each part in a list of parts to be installed displayed on the display device 400.

In this embodiment, the worker wears smart glasses 200 to confirm the position of parts. While working, the camera 210 of the smart glasses 200 photographs the area containing the alignment part and the scale or indicator. The image acquired by photography is sent to the host computer 300. The processing device 330 of the host computer 300 determines whether the position of the alignment part is appropriate based on the image acquired by the camera 210. The processing device 330 causes the display device 400 to display the determination result. Display device 400 may be a display of smart glasses 200, for example. In that case, the determination result is displayed on the smart glasses 200.

The processing device 330 can recognize the numerical value of the scale or indicator based on the image acquired by the camera 210, and can determine whether the position of the alignment part is appropriate based on the recognized numerical value. . For example, OCR (Optical Character Recognition) technology may be used to recognize numerical values. The processing device 330 can recognize numerical values in the image using, for example, known OCR software. Machine learning (AI technology) such as deep learning may be used to recognize numerical values.

FIG. 12A is a diagram showing an example in which the numerical value of the position indicator 510 is recognized by OCR. In this example, the processing device 330 detects an area containing numbers (the area within the frame in the figure) from the photographed image, performs OCR processing, and recognizes the numerical value. In the example of FIG. 12A, it is recognized that the numerical value indicated by indicator 510 is "00101". The processing device 330 compares the recognized numerical value with data recorded in advance in the storage device 320 to determine whether the position of the part is appropriate.

FIG. 13 shows an example of data recorded in the storage device 320 in advance. This data includes information on the proper position of each of a plurality of parts corresponding to each product type. The numerical value of the appropriate position indicates the distance (or length) from the reference position to the specific part of the part. By referring to such data, the processing device 330 can determine whether the recognized numerical value matches the numerical value indicating the proper position. Note that even if the recognized numerical value does not completely match the numerical value indicating the proper position, if the error is within an allowable range, it is determined that the part is in the proper position.

FIG. 12B is a diagram showing an example in which the numerical value of the machine scale 520 is recognized using OCR. In this example, a mark 531 for positioning is attached to the positioning part 530. The processing device 330 detects an area including the mark 531 (the area within the rectangular frame in the figure) from the photographed image. The processing device 330 performs OCR processing within the area and recognizes the numerical value of the scale 520. The processing device 330 detects the distance from the reference position (for example, the origin of the scale) to the position of the mark 531 based on the recognized numerical value, the position of the scale, and the position of the mark 531. In the example of FIG. 12B, the numerical value "42" is recognized. The processing device 330 compares the recognized numerical value with data recorded in advance in the storage device 320 (see FIG. 13), and determines whether the position of the part is appropriate.

FIG. 12C is a diagram illustrating another example of a method for determining whether the position of part 530 is appropriate. In this example, the production equipment 500 is provided with a marker 522 for alignment. A marker 522 shown in FIG. 12C is provided near the origin of the scale 520 and indicates a reference position. In the example of FIG. 12C, the alignment part 530 is also provided with a marker 532. The markers 522 and 532 are QR codes, and their respective location information is recorded. The markers 522 and 532 are not limited to QR codes, but may be other marks that can serve as landmarks. When a code such as a QR code or a barcode is used as a marker, it is useful because position information can be recorded.

The processing device 330 measures the relative position of the part 530 with respect to the marker 522 based on an image obtained by photographing the marker 522 indicating the reference position and the marker 532 on the part 530 with the camera 210. For example, the relative position can be measured based on the difference in position information recorded on the markers 522 and 532 (QR codes in the illustrated example). The processing device 330 can determine whether the position of the part 530 is appropriate based on the relative position.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process for determining whether the attachment position of a part is appropriate based on image data generated by the camera 210. The flowchart shown in FIG. 14 may be executed in parallel with steps S105 to S109 after step S104 in the flowchart shown in FIG. In the example of FIG. 14, upon receiving the part identifier from the reader 100 in step S121, the processing device 330 proceeds to step S122 and determines whether image data has been received from the camera 210 in the smart glasses 200. Upon receiving the image data, the process proceeds to step S123, and the processing device 330 estimates the attachment position of the part based on the image data. The attachment position is estimated, for example, by any of the methods shown in FIGS. 12A to 12C described above. In subsequent step S124, the processing device 330 determines whether the attachment position is appropriate. Whether or not the attachment position is appropriate can be determined by, for example, referring to the data shown in FIG. 13 and determining whether the difference between the attachment position and the appropriate position is less than or equal to a threshold value. If the attachment position is appropriate, the processing device 330 displays information to that effect on the display device 400 and records it in the storage device 320. After that, the process advances to step S127. If the attachment position is not appropriate, an error message is displayed on the display device 400, and the process returns to step S124. In step S127, the processing device 330 determines whether the positions of all the attached parts are appropriate. If the positions of all the attached parts are appropriate, the process ends. The processing from steps S121 to S126 is repeated until it is determined Yes in step S127.

According to the process shown in FIG. 14, it is possible to automatically confirm not only that each attachment part has been attached to the production equipment 500, but also that the attachment position of each part is appropriate. Thereby, work accuracy and work efficiency can be further improved.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, parts to be attached to the production equipment 500 are managed using codes (for example, QR codes) or RFIDs depending on the type of product to be produced. We provide workers with the information they need to perform tasks such as "preparing", "removing", "installing" parts, and "aligning parts using scales or indicators" to ensure that the work is carried out properly. You can check the displayed image to see if it is correct or not. This prevents mistakes in attaching and removing parts, and prevents damage to parts and product abnormalities. Furthermore, by combining code or RFID information with image data verification, it is possible to improve the accuracy and work efficiency of parts replacement confirmation work. Furthermore, convenience can be improved by performing work while taking pictures using the smart glasses 200.

A QR code or RFID may be provided not only to each part but also to the production equipment 500. For example, a QR code or RFID may be provided near a location in production equipment 500 where a part is attached. In that case, for example, if the worker reads the code or RFID of the part and also reads the code or RFID in the production equipment 500, the processing device 330 determines that the part has been correctly installed. It's okay.

The processing device 330 may have a function of displaying detailed information of each part on the display device 400 in addition to the difference parts list. For example, when an operator selects an individual part in the differential parts list displayed on the display device 400, the processing device 330 displays detailed information of the part (for example, photo, product name, part name, etc.) as shown in FIG. , storage location, etc.) may be displayed on the display device 400. Thereby, the worker can easily know the position to attach the parts and the storage position of the parts in the storage 700, and can improve work efficiency.

In the above embodiments, the present invention is applied to production equipment for pharmaceuticals such as tablets or capsules, but the present invention may be applied to production equipment for producing other types of products. For example, the present invention may be applied to industrial products, food, clothing, and other production equipment.

Additionally, a function for determining whether the position of each part is appropriate based on an image taken with a device equipped with a camera such as smart glasses is provided as necessary. It is also possible to construct a work support system that does not have this function.

As described above, the present disclosure includes the work support system, processing device, and method described in the following items.

[Item 1]
A work support system that supports the replacement work of multiple parts attached to production equipment that can produce multiple types of articles by changing the combination of parts,
Each part is attached with an RFID tag or a one-dimensional or two-dimensional code on which the identifier of the part is recorded,
a storage device that stores data indicating a correspondence relationship between types of articles to be produced and combinations of parts installed in the production equipment to produce the articles;
With reference to the data, a difference between a combination of parts corresponding to the type of article produced most recently and a combination of parts corresponding to the type of article to be produced next is determined, and a differential part indicating the difference is determined. a processing device that displays the list on a display device;
a reader that reads the identifier of the part recorded in the RFID tag or code attached to each part;
Equipped with
The processing device determines whether or not the part is included in the differential parts list each time an identifier of a part is read by the reader, and causes the display device to display the determination result.
Work support system.

[Item 2]
The difference parts list is
a removal parts list indicating one or more removal parts to be removed from the production equipment among a combination of parts corresponding to the type of article produced most recently;
an attachment parts list indicating one or more attachment parts to be newly attached to the production equipment among the combinations of parts corresponding to the type of article to be produced next;
The work support system described in item 1, including:

[Item 3]
The processing device determines whether the part is included in the removed parts list each time an identifier of a part is read by the reader, and if the part is included in the removed parts list, the processing device is configured to determine whether the part is included in the removed parts list. The work support system according to item 2, wherein information indicating that reading of the parts has been completed is added to the removal parts list.

[Item 4]
Each time an identifier of a part is read by the reader, the processing device determines whether the part is included in the installed parts list, and if the part is included in the installed parts list, the processing device The work support system according to item 2, wherein information indicating that reading of the parts has been completed is added to the attachment parts list.

[Item 5]
The plurality of parts include one or more alignment parts installed near an alignment scale or indicator provided in the production equipment,
The processing device determines whether or not the position of the alignment part is appropriate based on an image obtained by photographing the alignment part and the scale or the indicator with a camera, and determines whether or not the position of the alignment part is appropriate. displaying the results on the display device;
The work support system described in any one of items 1 to 4.

[Item 6]
According to item 5, the processing device recognizes the numerical value of the scale or indicator based on the image, and determines whether the position of the alignment part is appropriate based on the recognized numerical value. work support system.

[Item 7]
The production equipment is provided with a marker for alignment,
The processing device measures the relative position of the alignment part with respect to the marker based on an image obtained by photographing the alignment part and the marker with the camera, and measures the relative position of the alignment part with respect to the marker based on the relative position. Determine whether the position of the alignment parts is appropriate.
Work support system described in item 5.

[Item 8]
The work support system according to item 5, further comprising the camera.

[Item 9]
The work support system according to item 5, further comprising smart glasses including the camera.

[Item 10]
The work support system according to item 9, wherein the smart glasses further include the display device.

[Item 11]
A processing device used in a work support system that supports the replacement work of multiple parts attached to production equipment that can produce multiple types of articles by changing the combination of parts,
Each part is attached with an RFID tag or a one-dimensional or two-dimensional code on which the identifier of the part is recorded,
A combination of parts corresponding to the type of article most recently produced by referring to data indicating a correspondence relationship between the type of article to be produced and the combination of parts installed in the production equipment to produce the article. and the combination of parts corresponding to the type of article to be produced next,
displaying a difference parts list indicating the difference on a display device;
Each time a part identifier is read by a reader that reads the part identifier recorded in the RFID tag attached to each part or the code, it is determined whether the part is included in the differential parts list;
displaying the determination result on the display device;
Processing equipment.

[Item 12]
A method for supporting the replacement work of multiple parts installed in production equipment capable of producing multiple types of articles by changing the combination of parts, the method comprising:
Each part is attached with an RFID tag or a one-dimensional or two-dimensional code on which the identifier of the part is recorded,
A combination of parts corresponding to the type of article most recently produced by referring to data indicating a correspondence relationship between the type of article to be produced and the combination of parts installed in the production equipment to produce the article. and determining the difference between the combination of parts corresponding to the type of article to be produced next;
displaying a differential parts list indicating the difference on a display device;
Determining whether or not the part is included in the differential parts list each time an identifier of the part is read by a reader that reads the identifier of the part recorded in the RFID tag attached to each part or the code. and,
Displaying the determination result on the display device;
method including.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION This invention can be utilized for the production facility which can produce multiple types of products by changing the combination of parts.

100 Reader 200 Smart glasses 210 Camera 300 Host computer 310 Input/output I/F
320 Storage device 330 Processing device 340 Communication device 400 Display device 500 Production equipment 510 Position indicator 520 Machine scale 530 Parts 600 Tray 700 Storage

Claims (12)

A work support system that supports the replacement work of multiple parts attached to production equipment that can produce multiple types of articles by changing the combination of parts,
Each part is attached with an RFID tag or a one-dimensional or two-dimensional code on which the identifier of the part is recorded,
a storage device that stores data indicating a correspondence relationship between types of articles to be produced and combinations of parts installed in the production equipment to produce the articles;
With reference to the data, a difference between a combination of parts corresponding to the type of article produced most recently and a combination of parts corresponding to the type of article to be produced next is determined, and a differential part indicating the difference is determined. a processing device that displays the list on a display device;
a reader that reads the identifier of the part recorded in the RFID tag or code attached to each part;
Equipped with
The processing device determines whether or not the part is included in the differential parts list each time an identifier of a part is read by the reader, and causes the display device to display the determination result.
Work support system. The difference parts list is
a removal parts list indicating one or more removal parts to be removed from the production equipment among a combination of parts corresponding to the type of article produced most recently;
an attachment parts list indicating one or more attachment parts to be newly attached to the production equipment among the combinations of parts corresponding to the type of article to be produced next;
The work support system according to claim 1, comprising: The processing device determines whether the part is included in the removed parts list each time an identifier of a part is read by the reader, and if the part is included in the removed parts list, the processing device is configured to determine whether the part is included in the removed parts list. The work support system according to claim 2, wherein information indicating that reading of the parts has been completed is added to the removal parts list. Each time an identifier of a part is read by the reader, the processing device determines whether the part is included in the installed parts list, and if the part is included in the installed parts list, the processing device The work support system according to claim 2, wherein information indicating that reading of the parts has been completed is added to the attachment parts list. The plurality of parts include one or more alignment parts installed near an alignment scale or indicator provided in the production equipment,
The processing device determines whether or not the position of the alignment part is appropriate based on an image obtained by photographing the alignment part and the scale or the indicator with a camera, and determines whether or not the position of the alignment part is appropriate. displaying the results on the display device;
A work support system according to any one of claims 1 to 4. 6. The processing device according to claim 5, wherein the processing device recognizes the numerical value of the scale or the indicator based on the image, and determines whether the position of the alignment part is appropriate based on the recognized numerical value. Work support system described. The production equipment is provided with a marker for alignment,
The processing device measures the relative position of the alignment part with respect to the marker based on an image obtained by photographing the alignment part and the marker with the camera, and measures the relative position of the alignment part with respect to the marker based on the relative position. Determine whether the position of the alignment parts is appropriate.
The work support system according to claim 5. The work support system according to claim 5, further comprising the camera. The work support system according to claim 5, further comprising smart glasses including the camera. The work support system according to claim 9, wherein the smart glasses further include the display device. A processing device used in a work support system that supports the replacement work of multiple parts attached to production equipment that can produce multiple types of articles by changing the combination of parts,
Each part is attached with an RFID tag or a one-dimensional or two-dimensional code on which the identifier of the part is recorded,
A combination of parts corresponding to the type of article most recently produced by referring to data indicating a correspondence relationship between the type of article to be produced and the combination of parts installed in the production equipment to produce the article. and the combination of parts corresponding to the type of article to be produced next,
displaying a difference parts list indicating the difference on a display device;
Each time a part identifier is read by a reader that reads the part identifier recorded in the RFID tag attached to each part or the code, it is determined whether the part is included in the differential parts list;
displaying the determination result on the display device;
Processing equipment. A method for supporting the replacement work of multiple parts installed in production equipment capable of producing multiple types of articles by changing the combination of parts, the method comprising:
Each part is attached with an RFID tag or a one-dimensional or two-dimensional code on which the identifier of the part is recorded,
A combination of parts corresponding to the type of article most recently produced by referring to data indicating a correspondence relationship between the type of article to be produced and the combination of parts installed in the production equipment to produce the article. and determining the difference between the combination of parts corresponding to the type of article to be produced next;
displaying a differential parts list indicating the difference on a display device;
Determining whether or not the part is included in the differential parts list each time an identifier of the part is read by a reader that reads the identifier of the part recorded in the RFID tag attached to each part or the code. and,
Displaying the determination result on the display device;
method including.