JPH04169903A - Production control system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To exactly operate a production line by reading information such as product identification information inputted to an information storage means by a read/write means and working an object to be worked with a corresponding operation pattern. CONSTITUTION:Product identification information or the like stored in an information storage means (g) provided in each carrying means (e) by a lower-order controller (i) is read by a read/write means (h), and an object (d) to be worked is worked with the operation pattern which is selected from plural preliminarily stored operation patterns correspondingly to the output. The time spent in working of the object (d) in each automatic machine and data of the work such as product identification information or the like of the object (d) which the automatic machine works are returned to a higher-order controller (k) through a network (j). Thus, each process is operated with ID information recorded on an ID plate, and the production in the whole of the production line is controlled.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION "Field of Industrial Application" The present invention relates to a production management system suitable for use in, for example, an automobile production line that produces a mixture of different models.

"Prior Art" In a production line or the like, processing machines are placed at predetermined positions and perform various processing on workpieces moving along the line. By the way, like a car production line,
When producing different types of cars on the same line, each processing machine must perform processing according to the type of car. For this reason, conventionally, an operator inputs instruction data indicating the type of vehicle, etc. to each processing machine. This instruction data includes
It includes various data indicating the model of the vehicle, whether it is a two-door or four-door vehicle, whether options are installed, etc. The judgment at this time was made by the operator visually observing an identification card or the like attached to the vehicle.

On the other hand, when the instruction data is input, the processing machine creates a code for determining an operation using an internally stored conversion table, and performs processing according to this code. For example, in a processing machine that automatically attaches windows, a code is created according to the vehicle type based on the instruction data, and based on this code, a window that is suitable for grass cover, etc. is taken out from the mounting location, and Attach it to the desired position.

"Problem to be solved by the invention" However, in the conventional production line mentioned above,
Since the operator visually identifies the vehicle type, etc., there is a drawback that erroneous judgments may occur.

Here, in order to prevent misjudgment, it may be possible to attach a D plate or the like to the conveyance means, store data identifying the car model, etc. there, and have each processing machine read this data and perform processing. .

Therefore, in a car production line that has many processes,
Instead of a worker inputting instruction data for operating a processing machine from an identification card into the processing machine, the information for operating the processing machine for each process is encoded and stored in an ID plate, and each processing machine There is a need for a system that reads information at a machine, selects an operation corresponding to this information from pre-stored operating procedures, and operates a processing machine.

In addition, as described above, there has been a need for a system for operating processing machines in each process using information on ID plates, as well as a production control system for managing the entire production line in accordance with the progress status of each process.

This invention was made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and
It is an object of the present invention to provide a production control system that allows each process to be operated using ID information recorded on a D-plate or the like, and that allows production control of the entire production line.

"Means for Solving the Problems" In order to solve the above problems, as shown in FIG. After the workpiece d is sent out, the workpiece d is moved to the input section again and circulates through the production line a, and a plurality of workpieces are provided along the production line a and transported by the transport means e. In a production apparatus comprising an automatic machine f for sequentially processing objects d, an information storage means g provided on the conveyance means e and inputting and storing product identification information etc. for each workpiece d; A reading/writing means provided in the automatic machine f etc., for writing information into the information storage means g or reading and outputting information from the information storage means g, and for outputting from the reading/writing means. Correspondingly, an operation pattern corresponding to the output of the reading/writing means is selected from among a plurality of pre-stored operation patterns, and the automatic machine f is controlled.
a lower controller 1 which outputs data of the workpiece d being processed; outputs product identification information to the information storage means g via the reading/writing means; and inputs the data via the network j. A production management system characterized by comprising a higher-level controller and a controller.

"Operation" In the present invention, the automatic machine of the production device stores a plurality of pre-stored product identification information, etc., stored in the information storage means provided in each conveyance means by the lower-level controller. Since the workpiece is machined using an operation pattern selected from the operation patterns of The automatic machine will not malfunction due to errors or input errors.

In addition, data on the workpiece, such as the time required to process the workpiece in each automatic machine and product identification information of the workpiece being processed by the automatic machine, is returned to the upper controller via the network. Additionally, the progress of each process on the production line can be monitored by the higher-level controller.

"Embodiments" Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

A. Configuration of Example (1) Configuration of Production Apparatus FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a part of a production apparatus having an automobile production line to which the present invention is applied. In this figure, numerals 1 to 9 are processing stations that each perform a predetermined process, such as window installation, bumper installation, etc. Further, when the processing at the processing station 9 is completed, the body moves to the next line.

Each of the processing stage engines 1 to 9 is equipped with an automatic machine 11, which performs predetermined processing on the bodies moving along the line. In addition, in FIG. 2, some automatic machines are omitted for the sake of simplification.

Also, in the line shown in Figure 2, each body
As shown in the figure, the body is placed on an automatic transport vehicle 12, and the automatic transport vehicle 12 moves the body along a line. However, when the processing at the processing station 9, which is the final processing section (delivery section) of the illustrated line, is completed, the automatic transport vehicle 12 and the body are separated, and only the automatic transport vehicle I2 is left at the input section 15.
(See the dashed line in Figure 2). In this way, the automatic transport vehicle 12 circulates along the line shown in FIG. 2. In the loading section 15, bodies that have been processed in the pre-process line are transferred to an empty automatic transport vehicle 12. Furthermore, an ID plate 20 is provided at the center of the side surface of the automatic transport vehicle 12, as shown in FIG.

Various information is written on this ID plate 20 by microwaves generated from the antenna ANT, and
The written information can be read out via the antenna ANT. On the other hand, at the processing station 9 shown in FIG.
An erasing section 16 for erasing the D plate 20 is provided.

This erasing section 16 is composed of an antenna and an erasing signal generating circuit, and erases the ID plate 20 without contact.

(2) Electrical Configuration Information written on the ID plate 20 will now be described with reference to FIG. 4. Note that FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of this embodiment.

In FIG. 4, 30 is a host computer, which sequentially outputs body information, which is product identification information for identifying products to be produced. The body information includes the following information.

■Insertion number with date code: Indicates the date and input number when the body was introduced into the line.

■Body model: Body model name and 4 doors.

Indicates whether it is a 2-door model, etc.

■Derivation: Indicates destination country, destination (cold region, etc.).

■Obsession code: Equipment with optional settings (
For example, it indicates whether to incorporate a car stereo, etc.).

■Frame NO=Indicates the identification number attached to the frame of the vehicle.

This code specifies the 0 color designation code, exterior color, and interior color.

The above-mentioned body information is supplied to the device verification terminal 31, where it is first converted into an operation factor code.

The operation factor code is a code by which the automatic machine 11 can directly determine the operation. In this case, the model verification terminal 31 has a text file 31a that stores the relationship between the body information and the operating factor code.
The above-mentioned operation factor code is created by referring to 1a. Furthermore, the model verification terminal 31 has a binary file 31b, and refers to this to compress the operating factor code and create a binary code. This is because the number of bits in the action factor code is extremely large, so it is not efficient to handle it as is. Each automatic machine stores an operation pattern for determining each operation in a sequence controller (built-in to the automatic machine) installed in the automatic machine, and this operation pattern is determined based on a binary code. It looks like this.

The model verification terminal 31 combines the above-mentioned binary code and body information into a set and writes it on the ID plate 20 via the antenna ANT shown in FIG. 4 (hereinafter, this written information will be referred to as ID information). This writing is performed at the beginning of the production process. In addition, in the case of this embodiment, the production process is divided into multiple partial processes (the process shown in Figure 2 is one of them), and when the body moves from one process to the next, ID information is also transferred. It is now transferred to the next process. This is due to the following reason.

The ID plate 20 is attached to a pallet or an automatic carrier, and these plates are circulated on the line in each process. Therefore, when moving the body to the next line, unless the ID information is also transferred, the body and I
This is because it becomes impossible to correspond to the D information.

For example, in the input unit 15 of the process shown in FIG. 2, ID information at the end of the previous process is transferred by the transfer control unit 35 shown in FIG. This process begins with the transfer control unit 35
reads the information in the ID plate 20 at the end of the previous process via the antenna ANT. Then, in synchronization with the body being transferred onto the automatic transport vehicle 12 in the loading section 15, the read ID information is written on the ID plate 20 on a new line via the antenna ANT. In this way, the ID information always moves in synchronization with the body.

As shown in FIG. 4, each automatic machine 11 has an antenna ANT near it, and is adapted to read ID information of an incoming body.

In this case, the automatic machine reads only the necessary part of the ID information, rather than all of it. That is, the model verification terminal 31 creates a binary code necessary for all automatic machines and writes it on the ID plate 20.
Each automatic machine 11 is configured to read only necessary parts (predetermined bits).

The overall panel 40 shown in FIG. 4 receives data supplied from a plurality of automatic $IIs, and also exchanges data for production management with the model verification terminal 31 via the network. Further, in this embodiment, the automatic machine 11 is capable of detecting the time required for machining, and outputs the detected data to the overall board 40. The overall board 40 transfers this to the office terminal 45 via the data manager 42, and the office terminal 45 displays the detected data on a display device (not shown), making it possible to monitor the machining time.

Furthermore, the machining time, the contents of the read ID information, etc. are displayed on a predetermined display section on the overall board 40 as well.

(3) Network Configuration In this embodiment, the data communication network between the model matching terminal 31 and the data manager 42 is configured by a LAN (Local Area Network). This network will be explained below.

In addition to the above-mentioned terminals, the following terminals are connected to the network: a collation backup terminal 43, a file manager 44, and an office terminal 45 (see FIG. 4). The verification backup terminal 43 has exactly the same configuration and functions as the model verification terminal 31, and performs the same data communication with the host computer 30 and with each terminal connected to the network. There is. This is so that if the model verification terminal 31 goes down for some reason, it can be replaced immediately. The file manager 44 reads various information flowing through the network (for example, equipment operation information, etc.) and files it, and periodically monitors whether each terminal is operating normally. The office terminal 45 divides the entire line into several blocks and monitors the operating state of each block. It also issues a command to start or stop the line. The operating state monitor in the office terminal 45 displays, for example, the line layout on a CRT display device, and the colors indicate whether each block is in an automatic operation state, a manual operation state, or an end state. In this case, since the automatic machine 11 can recognize its own operating state, it transfers information indicating this to the file manager 44 via the overall panel 40 and the data manager 42, and the file manager 44 performs the above-mentioned operation based on the information. Colors are displayed.

In addition, a file manager 44 and an office terminal 45
has the same function as the data manager 42, and becomes a substitute when the data manager 42 goes down. On the other hand, during normal operation, each terminal extracts and captures only the information necessary for its own operation.

Further, the data manager 42, file manager 44, and office terminal 45 store each entry number and its corresponding ID information as a set. If the information on the ID plate 20 is lost for some reason, it can be restored according to the respective stored contents.

This restoration process is performed, for example, as follows.

Suppose now that the ID information of the ID plate 20 attached to a certain automatic transport vehicle 12 is lost. In this case, the operator is the automated transport vehicle! Check the input number on the ID plate 20 provided on the automatic transport vehicle in front or behind 2. Since these input numbers are read by the automatic machine 11, the operator only has to check the input numbers read by the automatic machine 11. Since the input number is a serial number, if the previous or subsequent input number is known, the input number for the ID plate whose information has been lost can be found. Then, the operator inputs the input number from a keyboard (the path shown in the figure) provided on the automatic machine 11 or the overall panel 42. This entry number is supplied to the data manager 42, and the data manager 42 searches for ID information corresponding to the supplied entry number. Then, the data manager 42 transfers the retrieved ID information to the overall board 40 or the automatic machine 11. When the ID information is transferred, the overall panel 40 or the automatic machine 11 displays the contents on the display section. The operator can know what information was lost by looking at the display, and manually enters this information into a handheld writing device (illustrated path). Then, writing is performed on the ID plate 20 using this writing device. ID information is restored in the manner described above. In addition, if you want to store ID information for multiple subsequent devices on the ID plate,
The data manager 42 only needs to send out information for these multiple devices. When information for a plurality of vehicles is stored in the ID plate, each automatic machine 11 knows in advance what processing to perform on the following vehicle, so preparations can be made quickly.

Furthermore, if the ID information stored in the data manager 42 is destroyed for some reason, recovery processing can be performed using the ID information stored in the file manager 44 or the office terminal 45.

In addition, the model verification terminal 31, verification backup 43, file manager 44, office terminal 45, and data manager 42 are connected through the network as described above.
The host computer 30 connected to the model verification terminal 31 and the verification backup 43 constitutes the upper controller of the production line, and the overall panel 40 connected to the data manager 42 and the host computer 30 connected to the model verification terminal 31 and verification backup 43 constitute
Sequence controller Il of automatic machine 11 connected to
a constitutes a lower-level controller.

B: Operation of the embodiment Next, the operation of this embodiment with the above configuration will be explained.

First, the host computer 30 sends body information for identifying the product output to the production category based on the production plan to the model verification terminal 31. Then, model verification terminal 3
1, a text file 31m storing the relationship between body information and action factor codes is referred to to create an action factor code corresponding to the body information. This operation factor code (binary coded) and body information are written from the model verification terminal 31 to the ID plate 20 via the antenna ANT at the first input section of the entire process.

Thereafter, each automatic machine 11 performs automatic processing by reading the operating factor code in the ID plate 20. For example, in the automatic machine 11 of the processing station 1 shown in FIG. 2, the operating factor code for the incoming body is read from the ID plate 20 via the antenna ANT. Then, the sequence controller lla of the automatic machine 11 selects the operation pattern corresponding to the operation factor code from among the operation patterns corresponding to each vehicle type stored in advance. Next, the automatic machine 11 performs a predetermined process according to the selected operation pattern. This operation is similar at other processing stations 2-9. On the other hand, the automatic transport vehicle 12 that has passed through the processing station 9 reaches the input section 15 after its ID plate 20 is cleared by the erasing section 16 . Here, the body is transferred from the previous line, and the ID information of this body is
written on plate 20.

When the automatic machine 11 performs a predetermined process, the automatic machine 11 sends the ID information of the body being processed, the time required for processing, etc. to the overall board 40, and this information is transmitted to the overall board 40. The data is sent from the board 40 to each terminal on the network via the data manager 42. In the office terminal 45, the ID data of the body currently being processed in each process on the production line, the time required for processing, etc. are displayed on the display device. Therefore, from the office terminal 45, it is possible to check the progress of the work and the presence or absence of any trouble. Also,
Since each terminal is connected via a network, it is possible to call up information on each process and also make corrections to the information.

For example, if one body is removed from a production line due to trouble during processing, ID information, etc. of the removed body held by each terminal can be deleted from one terminal.

"Effects of the Invention" As explained above, according to the present invention, information such as product identification information input into an information storage means such as an ID plate is read by the reading/writing means, and an operation pattern corresponding to the information is read. As the automatic machine processes the workpiece,
A worker may make a mistaken judgment, such as when a worker visually checks the identification card attached to a conveyor to determine the vehicle type, enters product identification information, etc. into a processing machine, and then operates the processing machine. ,
Since input errors are not made, the production line can be operated accurately.

In addition, the higher-level controller outputs information to each information storage means, and data from automatic machines is input to the higher-level controller, so the operating status of the production line can be displayed on the higher-level controller, and the output data can be combined with the higher-level controller. Since the operating status of the production line can be monitored by checking input data, the production line can be operated smoothly.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of this invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a part of an automobile production line to which this invention is applied, and FIG. 3 is an automatic transport vehicle 1 in the same embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the same embodiment. 11... Automatic HA, 11a... Sequence controller (lower controller), 12...
・・Automatic transport trolley (transport means), 20・・・・・・ID
Plate (information storage means), 30...Host computer (upper controller), 31...Model verification terminal (upper controller), 40...Whole panel (lower controller) , 42... Data manager (upper controller), 43...
・Verification backup (upper controller), 44...
...File manager (upper controller)
, 45...Office terminal (upper controller),
ANT...Antenna (reading/writing means).

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] Conveying means for transporting a workpiece from an input section to a delivery section of a production line, and after the workpiece is sent out, the workpiece is moved back to the input section and circulated through the production line; In a production device equipped with a plurality of automatic machines installed along a production line and sequentially processing workpieces transported by a transport means, product identification information for each workpiece is provided on the transport means. an information storage means for inputting and storing information such as information; a reading/writing means provided in the automatic machine or the like for writing information into the information storage means or reading and outputting information from the information storage means; In response to the output from the writing means, an operation pattern corresponding to the output of the reading/writing means is selected from a plurality of pre-stored operation patterns, and the automatic machine is controlled and the work piece being processed by the automatic machine is controlled. a lower-level controller that outputs data on the workpiece; and a higher-level controller that outputs product identification information to the information storage means via the reading/writing means and inputs the data on the workpiece via a network. A production management system characterized by comprising: