JPH04205316A - Production managing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To normally process an object to be worked even when a data to be held is destroyed by providing a means for inputting processing information concerning the object on a production line, and a means for converting the inputted information so as to be the same format as the information of working contents at a high-order controller. CONSTITUTION:At the production line, plural input means (g) such as a bar code reader and a keyboard, etc., are provided to input the processing information concerning an object (a) to be worked to a network, and a converting means (h) is provided to convert the information inputted by these input means (g) so that it can be the same format as the information of working contents at a high-order controller (d). Therefore, even when the processing information concerning the object (a) stored in an information storing means (c) provided on a conveying means (b) is destroyed, the information is outputted from the prescribed input means (g) to the high-order controller (d) with the same format after being converted at the converting means (h) and corresponding to the information, operation information is outputted from the high-order controller (d) to an automatic machine (f). Thus, the automatic machine (f) can be always normally operated.

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. Second instruction - 3 in the evening
Yo.

It includes various data such as the model of the vehicle, whether it is a 2-door or 4-door vehicle, and whether or not an open door is installed. The judgment at this time was made by the operator visually observing an identification cart 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 model based on the instruction data, and based on this code, a window suitable for the vehicle model, etc. is taken out from the mounting location, and the window corresponding to the vehicle body is removed. Attach to position.

``Problems to be Solved by the Invention'' However, in the conventional production line described above, the operator visually identifies the vehicle model, etc., which has the disadvantage of causing erroneous judgments.

Here, in order to prevent erroneous judgments, it is conceivable to attach an ID plate or the like to the conveying means and store therein data identifying the vehicle type, etc., so that each processing machine reads this data and performs processing.

However, in this case, the following problems occur.

In other words, if part or all of the data on the ID plate that stores the processing information of a given workpiece is destroyed, each processing machine will have a reading failure, so it will be difficult to obtain the processing information of the workpiece. ID that is no longer possible and destroyed
There was a risk that the entire production line would have to be shut down until the plate could be repaired.

This invention was made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and I
The purpose of this system is to provide a production management system that can respond quickly and normally process workpieces on the production line even if the data recorded on the D-plate etc. is destroyed. .

``Means for Solving the Problems'' In order to solve the above problems, the production control system of the present invention, as shown in FIG. Conveyance means (
b), an information storage means (c) provided on the conveyance means (b), and the processing contents regarding the workpiece (a) on the production line are set and stored, and the information on the processing contents is distributed using a network. processing information that reads the information storage means (c) that stores processing information regarding the workpiece (a) sent in advance from the upper controller (d) based on production management information; reading means (e), and a plurality of automatic machines (f) arranged along the moving direction of the workpiece (a) to the above-mentioned upper level machine corresponding to the processing information stored in the information storage means (c). In a production line in which a predetermined process is performed on a workpiece (a) by sequentially operating based on operation information from a controller (d), the production line receives processing information regarding the workpiece (a). Multiple input means (g) such as barcode readers and keyboards are input into the network, and the information input by these input means (g) is sent to the upper controller (d).
) is characterized in that it comprises a converting means (h) that performs conversion processing so as to have the same format as the processing content information.

"Operation" According to the production management system according to the present invention, the production line includes a plurality of input means (g) such as a barcode reader and a keyboard for inputting processing information regarding the workpiece (a) into the network; Conversion means (conversion processing) that performs conversion processing so that the information inputted by these input means (g) has the same format as the processing content information of the upper controller (d).
h), even if the processing information regarding the workpiece (a) stored in the information storage means (c) provided in the conveyance means (b) is destroyed, the production Predetermined input means (
After converting the information from any one of g) in the converting means (h), the information is converted in the same format to the upper controller (
d), and correspondingly the upper controller (d)
Since the operation information is output from the machine to the automatic machine (f), the automatic machine (f) is always operated normally to process the workpiece (a).

In addition, since there is no need to temporarily stop the production line for the repair work of the information storage means (c), the workpiece (a)
) Production capacity will be improved.

"Embodiment" Hereinafter, an embodiment of the production management system of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a part of 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 stations 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 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 12 is transferred to 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 an antenna ANT, and the written information can be read out via the antenna ANT.

On the other hand, the processing station 9 shown in FIG.
An erasing unit 16 is provided for erasing the ID plate 20 of the automatic transport vehicle 12 headed for the vehicle 5. This erase section 1
Reference numeral 6 is composed of an antenna and an erasing signal generation circuit, and erases the ID plate 20 without contacting it.

Information written on the ID plate 20 will now be explained 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 for identifying products to be produced. The body information includes the following information.

■Insertion No. 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.).

■Option code: Device with option set (
For example, it indicates whether to incorporate a car stereo, etc.).

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

■Color specification code: This is a code that specifies the exterior color and interior color.

The above-mentioned voice 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 operation factor code.
The above operation factor code is created by referring to a. 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 its respective operation, and the turn of this operation is determined based on a binary code.

The model verification terminal 31 is the above-mentioned Nokuina 1! - The code and body information are combined into a set and written on the ID plate 20 via the antenna ANT shown in FIG. 4 (hereinafter, the second 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 (details will be described later) shown in FIG. In this process, first, the transfer control unit 35 controls the ■D plate 2 at the end of the previous process.
The information in 0 is read via the antenna ANT. Then, in synchronization with the body being transferred onto the automatic transport vehicle 12 in the loading section I5, the ID information is read and transmitted to the antenna A.
ID plate 20 on the new f2 line through N T
write to. In this way, the ID information always moves in synchronization with the body.

Further, the ID plate 20 stores body information for a plurality of subsequent vehicles. As a result, the automatic machine 11
It is possible to know in advance what kind of processing should be performed on the subsequent body, and preparation processes such as the process of taking out parts for the body can be performed in a short time.

Furthermore, 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 ID
The automatic machine reads only the necessary part of the information, not all of it. That is, the model verification terminal 31 creates binary codes necessary for all automatic machines and writes them on the ID plate 20, but each automatic machine 11 reads only the necessary part (predetermined bits).

The overall panel 40 shown in FIG. 4 receives data supplied from the plurality of automatic machines 11, and also exchanges data for production management with the model verification terminal 31. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the automatic machine 11 is capable of detecting the time required for machining, and the detected data is transmitted to the entire board 4.
Output to 0.

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.

By the way, reference numeral 36 in FIG. 4 is an input means for inputting data regarding the bodies provided at various locations on the production line. Specific examples of the input means 36 include a barcode reader method in which a card storing body data is read by a barcode storage means, a keyboard method in which body data is entered manually by an operator,
Furthermore, there is a touch panel method in which the operator selects screen information and inputs body data. In this way, the input means 36 has a configuration in which the plurality of input methods described above are arranged in parallel, and the operator can select any one of them. These input means 36 and the overall panel 40
A converting device 37 is disposed between them, and this converting device 40 converts the data input from the plurality of input means 36 into the same format as the data of the entire board 40. It has become.

Next, the transfer control section 35 will be explained with reference to FIG.

50 shown in FIG. 5 is the antenna ANT at the end of the front line.
The read signal Sr is supplied to the write circuit 51 and the match determination circuit 52. The write circuit 51 writes the same ID information as the content of the supplied read signal Sr onto the ID plate 20 of the automatic transport vehicle 12 of the input unit 15. Note that, as described above, this writing is performed in synchronization with the transfer of the body. Further, the write circuit 51 prohibits the write operation when the signal Sa is supplied, and performs the write operation again when the signal sb is supplied. A reading circuit 53 reads the ID information written by the writing circuit 51 and the contents of the ID information 20 before writing by the writing circuit 51. The read signal Sr − of the read circuit 53 is supplied to the clear determination circuit 54 and the match determination circuit 52 . The clear judgment circuit 54 receives the read signal S
It is determined whether the contents of r- are cleared or not, and if the contents are not cleared, a signal Sa is written to the circuit 51.
Output to. The match determination circuit 52 determines whether the signals Sr and Sr − match, that is, the information to be written matches the information obtained from the ID plate 20 after writing. If they do not match, the rewrite instruction circuit 56 A signal Sc is output to. When the rewrite instruction circuit 56 is supplied with the signal Sc,
A signal sb is output to the write circuit 51. Further, the rewrite instruction circuit 56 has an internal counter, and stops further output when the number of times sb is outputted reaches a specified number of times. Note that the counter is cleared every time writing to one body is completed. 57 is an alarm display device, and the value of the counter of the rewrite instruction circuit 56 is displayed as the signal s.
If the number of outputs is the same as the number of outputs of signal b and the signal Sc is output from the coincidence determination circuit 52, an abnormality is displayed. This alarm display device 57 is constituted by, for example, a CRT display device. Note that the alarm display device 57 may be provided with a sounding circuit or the like for generating an alarm.

Next, the data communication network between the model verification terminal 31 and the data manager 42 in this embodiment will be described below with reference to a LAN (Local Area Network).

In addition to the above-mentioned terminals, the network includes a verification 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. Is going. 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.

Here, for example, if the ID plate 20 of the automatic transport vehicle I2 moving on the production line is destroyed or has a reading failure, one of the manual means 36 installed at various places on the production line By manually inputting the body information using the input means 36, the information is converted by the converting device 37 into the same format as the data of the overall disk 40, and is output to the overall disk 40. Then, the information output to the entire board 40 is stored in the file manager 44.
As a result, the operating status of each automatic machine 11 can be confirmed by the operating status monitor at the office terminal 45.

In addition, a file manager 44 and an office terminal 45
acts as having 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 22, 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.

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

First, at the first input section of the entire process, ID plate 2
ID information is written in ID plate 20, and thereafter each automatic machine performs automatic processing by reading the operating factor code in ID plate 20. For example, in the automatic machine 11 of the processing station L shown in FIG. I do. This operation is similar in other processing stations 2-9.

Here, it is assumed that the ID information of the ID plate 20 attached to the automatic transport vehicle 12 moving on the production run is lost. In this case, the operator selects one of the plurality of input means 36 provided at various locations on the production line and inputs the same ID information as the second ID information.

The 1:ID information inputted from the input means 36 is converted by the conversion device 37 and output to the overall board 40. Then, by sending the operation information from the overall board 40 to the automatic machine 11, the automatic machine 11 performs normal processing on the body. Further, the overall panel 40 recognizes the processing information obtained from the manual means 36 at a predetermined position and sends the information to the file manager 44, so that the file manager 44 performs a predetermined automatic process in monitoring the operating status of the office terminal 44. ID that moved to machine 11
It is possible to discover abnormalities in the plate 20.

Then, the automatic transport vehicle 1 that has passed through the processing station 9
2 reaches the input section 15 after its ID plate 20 is cleared by the erasing section 16. Then, as the body is transferred from the previous line, the ID of this body is
Information is written on the ID plate 20. The processing in this case is as follows.

First, the reading circuit 53 shown in FIG. 4 reads the ID plate 20 of the automatic transport vehicle 12 located in the loading section. If the ID plate 20 is cleared, the signal Sa is not output from the clear determination circuit 54, and as a result, the write circuit 51 writes the ID information in accordance with the read signal Sr of the read circuit 50. When this writing is performed, the reading circuit 53 again performs a reading operation on the ID plate 20 and supplies the read signal Sr - to the coincidence determination circuit 52. The coincidence determination circuit receives the read signals Sr, ! : Determine the match with Sr −,
If they match, the writing process ends, and the automatic conveyance cart 12 in the input section 15 moves to the next process.

On the other hand, if they do not match, the match determination circuit 52 sends a signal S
Output c. When the signal Sc is output, the rewrite instruction circuit 56 outputs the signal sb, which causes the write circuit 5
1 performs rewriting. Thereafter, rewriting is performed until the match determination circuit 52 determines that there is a match. However, once rewriting has been performed a predetermined number of times, the signal sb is no longer output, so no further rewriting is performed. If a match is not obtained even after the predetermined rewriting, the alarm display device 57 displays an abnormality display to call the operator's attention.

Further, in the case where the body is returned before the input section 15, the following processing is performed. First, the ID information of the returned body is written on the ID plate 20 of the automatic transport vehicle 12 on which the returned body is placed. Therefore, in the write process in the input section 15, the read output Sr- of the read circuit 53 corresponds to the ID information.

As a result, the signal Sa is output from the clear circuit 54, and the write operation of the write circuit 51 is prohibited. This prevents data to be retained from being lost.

In this case, the body transferred from the previous line is placed, for example, on another automatic transport vehicle 12 whose ID plate 20 is cleared.

"Effects of the Invention" As explained above, according to the present invention, the production line includes a plurality of input means such as a barcode reader and a keyboard for inputting processing information regarding the workpiece into the network;
The structure is equipped with a conversion process that converts the information manually entered by these input means into the same format as the information on the processing contents of the upper controller, and the information storage means provided in the conveyance means is equipped with a conversion process. Even if the stored processing information regarding the workpiece is destroyed, the information can be converted into the same format by the conversion means from any one of the predetermined input means installed at various locations on the production line. Since the operation information is output to the higher-level controller and correspondingly outputted from the higher-level controller to the automatic machine, it is possible to always operate the automatic machine normally and process the workpiece. Since there is no need to temporarily stop the production line for repair work, it is possible to realize a production line system with improved production capacity for workpieces.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

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, and FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the transfer control section 35 in the same embodiment. a...Workpiece, b...Transportation means, C...Information storage means, d...Upper controller. e...processing information reading means, [...automatic machine, g...input means, h...conversion means, 12...automatic transport vehicle (transport means), 20...
...ID plate (information storage means), 36...
- Input means, 37... Conversion device (conversion means), 40...
Overall board (upper controller), ANT...Antenna (processing information reading means).

Claims (1)

[Claims] A transport means for transporting the workpieces that are sent in sequentially from the input section of the production line, an information storage means installed in this transport means, and a network for setting and storing processing details regarding the workpieces on the production line. a higher-level controller that distributes information on the processing details, and a processing information reading means that reads the information storage means in which processing information regarding the workpiece that has been sent in advance from the higher-level controller based on production management information is stored. and by sequentially operating a plurality of automatic machines arranged along the moving direction of the workpiece based on operation information from the upper controller corresponding to processing information stored in the information storage means. In a production line configured to perform predetermined processing on the workpiece, the production line includes a plurality of input means such as a barcode reader and a keyboard for inputting processing information regarding the workpiece into a network, and a plurality of input means for inputting these inputs. 1. A production management system comprising: conversion means for converting information inputted by the means into the same format as information on the processing contents of the higher-level controller.