JP2002132322A - Control system for industrial robot - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform production control and facility maintenance at low cost without requiring any dedicated communication means. SOLUTION: A client side is equipped with a storage device 11 for storing a control program for a robot, a main arithmetic unit 12 which analyzes and performs the control program stored in the storage device, and an interface device 13 which makes a connection with an external infrastructure, and the interface device 13 sends and receives electronic mail to and from a host side, so that the robot 20 can be controlled. Consequently, no dedicated communication means is needed by sending and receiving the electronic mail through the network infrastructure like the Internet and the production control and facility maintenance can be carried out at low cost, so that the superior industrial robot can be actualized.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an industrial robot control system for realizing functions such as failure diagnosis, automatic maintenance, and production management of an industrial robot.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the prior art, a dedicated communication device is provided in a control device of an industrial robot, which is a client, to connect with a host that manages the entire production line. The communication method between the host and the client uses a dedicated communication protocol, and prepares communication devices and communication control devices for both the host and the client. When an abnormality occurs in the industrial robot operating in the production line, the abnormality is notified to the host through the communication device. Also, the production information and the operation status of the production line are notified to the host through the communication device. When the host notifies the industrial robot operating in the production line and requests a response, the response is also performed through the communication device. In addition, necessary for controlling the industrial robot from the host,
System settings such as parameter set, work job registration, and work job switching are also performed through the communication device.

[0003]

However, in the prior art, in order to control and maintain industrial equipment via a network, both a host and a client require dedicated communication devices, communication means, and communication protocols. . Further, when communicating with a distant host existing outside the production facility, the distant host also requires a dedicated communication device, communication means, and communication protocol. As a result, the equipment cost, the equipment start-up time are increased, and the on-site user's usability is reduced.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an industrial robot control system which does not require dedicated communication means and can perform production management and equipment maintenance at low cost.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an industrial robot control system, comprising: a storage device for storing a robot control program; and a storage device for storing a control program for the robot. A main processing unit that analyzes and executes the control program provided, and an interface device that connects to an external network infrastructure are provided in the control device on the client side, and the interface device transmits and receives e-mails to and from the host side, thereby controlling the robot. Controllable.

Thus, the storage device, the main processing unit,
An interface device that connects to the external network infrastructure is provided on the control device on the client side, and the interface device can control the robot by sending and receiving e-mail with the host side, so electronic control can be performed via a network infrastructure such as the Internet. By transmitting and receiving e-mails, it is possible to realize an excellent industrial robot which does not require a dedicated communication means and can perform production management and equipment maintenance at low cost.

[0007] In addition, the use of e-mail, a medium that has permeated the society, allows easy maintenance and maintenance of production systems.
Management becomes possible, and functions such as failure diagnosis, automatic maintenance, and production management can be realized.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an industrial robot control system according to the first aspect, further comprising means for, when a trouble occurs in the robot, distributing the trouble status to a designated mail address by e-mail.

As described above, when a trouble occurs in the robot, the trouble status is provided by e-mail to a designated mail address. For example, when a person views the contents of the e-mail, a commercially available e-mail is used. It can be browsed by software or a mobile phone equipped with an e-mail transmission / reception function to grasp the trouble situation of the industrial robot in the production facility. When the contents of the e-mail are analyzed by the host computer, the contents of the e-mail are analyzed by the computer, whereby a database of the trouble situation of the industrial robot and a trouble solving command can be transmitted to the industrial robot.

A third aspect of the present invention provides an industrial robot control system according to the first aspect, further comprising means for distributing the production information and the operation status of the production line to a designated mail address by e-mail.

As described above, there is provided a means for distributing the production information and the operation status of the production line to the designated mail address by e-mail. For example, when a person views the contents of the e-mail, a commercially available e-mail software It is possible to view the status of production of the industrial robot in the production facility by browsing with a mobile phone having an electronic mail transmission / reception function or the like.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the industrial robot control system according to the second or third aspect, the control device has a schedule function of distributing an e-mail including the specified content at a specified time.

As described above, since the control device has the schedule function of distributing the e-mail including the specified contents at the specified time, the e-mail transmission / reception processing is executed when the set time or interval elapses, and the contents of the e-mail are executed. The trouble situation and the production situation designated as can be grasped.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the industrial robot control system according to the first aspect, the received electronic mail received via the interface device is analyzed, and a reply electronic mail corresponding to the analyzed electronic mail content is returned. .

As described above, since the received electronic mail received via the interface device is analyzed and a reply electronic mail corresponding to the analyzed electronic mail is returned, the received electronic mail such as the robot production status, error information, operation rate and the like is returned. A reply e-mail corresponding to the command described in the e-mail can be transmitted.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the industrial robot control system according to the first aspect, the electronic mail received via the interface device is analyzed and converted into a robot control signal, and based on the converted control signal. And means for performing system settings such as parameter setting, work job registration, and work job switching necessary for robot control.

As described above, the e-mail received via the interface device is analyzed and converted into a control signal for the robot. Based on the converted control signal, a parameter set, work job registration, Since there is a means for performing system settings such as work job switching,
Robot system settings can be made from the host side.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing a system configuration according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 11 denotes a storage device (storage unit) for storing a control program for the robot.
Reference numeral 2 denotes a main processing unit (main processing unit) that analyzes and executes a control program stored by the storage device, 13 denotes an interface device (interface) that connects to an external network infrastructure, and 14 denotes the storage device. , A main processing unit, a control device having an interface and storing therein, 20 is a robot (robot arm). In such a configuration, the interface device 13 transmits / receives an e-mail to / from the host side so that the
0 was controllable.

The interface unit 13 for connecting to the external network infrastructure may be any device that can realize a function of transmitting and receiving electronic mail, such as a LAN, a modem, and a dedicated communication device. The provision of the interface unit 13 makes it possible to transmit and receive electronic mail to and from an external network infrastructure.

As described above, according to this embodiment, production management and facility maintenance can be performed at low cost by transmitting and receiving electronic mails via a network infrastructure such as the Internet without the need for dedicated communication means. it can.
In addition, by using the e-mail medium that has permeated the society, maintenance and management of the production system can be easily performed, and functions such as failure diagnosis, automatic maintenance, and production management can be realized.

A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is a flowchart of the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the contents of an e-mail according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The control system for an industrial robot according to the first embodiment has means for distributing an e-mail of a trouble situation to a designated mail address when a trouble occurs in the robot.

As shown in FIG. 2, when an abnormality occurs in an industrial robot that operates continuously in a production line,
In a flow 1 to a flow 2 in FIG. 2, a format for sending an e-mail is created. As shown in FIG. 3, the content of the e-mail has a general format of the e-mail such as an e-mail transmission destination, a title, and contents.
In addition, there are multiple addresses specified in the general e-mail function,
All common e-mail functions such as CC (copy transmission) function, BCC (blind copy transmission) function, and e-mail transmission with attached file can be realized. In addition, it has functions such as a security function for preventing leakage of e-mail contents on the Internet and a computer virus removal function.

After completing the creation of the e-mail format, FIG.
In the flow 3 described above, a connection process with the host is performed. This host can be connected to a host inside the production facility or a remote host outside the production facility. It is also possible to connect to a host in the production facility and transfer from that host to a remote host. In connection processing with the host, authentication processing such as an ID code and a password on the client side is performed.

After the connection process with the host is completed, an e-mail transmission / reception process is performed in flow 4 of FIG. At the same time as sending the created e-mail, it also receives e-mail from the host.

After the completion of the e-mail transmission / reception processing, the connection with the host is disconnected in the flow 5 of FIG. The host receiving the e-mail distributes the e-mail according to the destination of the e-mail. As with the general electronic mail distribution function, distribution processing via the Internet is possible. When a person views the contents of the e-mail, the trouble can be grasped by using commercially available e-mail software or a mobile phone having an e-mail transmission / reception function, and the trouble situation of the industrial robot in the production facility. When the contents of the e-mail are analyzed by the host computer, the e-mail contents can be analyzed by the computer to create a database of the trouble status of the industrial robot and send commands for troubleshooting to the industrial robot. It becomes possible.

A third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the contents of an electronic mail according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The control system for an industrial robot according to the first embodiment has a means for distributing production information and production line operation status by e-mail to a designated e-mail address.

As shown in FIG. 4, in an industrial robot that operates continuously in a production line, when production control such as production number control, robot effective operation time, error occurrence time / contents, etc. is performed, the flow from FIG. In flow 2, a format for sending an e-mail is created. The contents of the e-mail are as shown in FIG.
It is a common format for email, such as content. After the creation of the e-mail format, Figure 4
In the flow 3 described above, a connection process with the host is performed. This host can be connected to a host inside the production facility or a remote host outside the production facility. It is also possible to connect to a host in the production facility and transfer from that host to a remote host. In connection processing with the host, authentication processing such as an ID code and a password on the client side is performed.

After the connection process with the host is completed, an e-mail transmission / reception process is performed in flow 4 of FIG. At the same time as sending the created e-mail, it also receives e-mail from the host.

After the completion of the e-mail transmission / reception processing, the connection with the host is disconnected in the flow 5 of FIG. The host receiving the e-mail distributes the e-mail according to the destination of the e-mail. As with the general electronic mail distribution function, distribution processing via the Internet is possible. When a person browses the contents of the e-mail, the contents can be viewed with commercially available e-mail software or a mobile phone having an e-mail transmission / reception function, and the production status of the industrial robot in the production facility can be grasped.

A fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram showing a system configuration according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. In the control system for an industrial robot according to the second and third embodiments, the control device 14 has a schedule function of delivering an e-mail including the specified content at a specified time. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, a timer 15 is provided in the control device 14 when the electronic mail is transmitted from the control device 14 of the robot to the external network infrastructure through the network interface 13 and the set time is set. Send e-mail.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the fourth embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 7, first, a time or an interval for transmitting an e-mail in the flow 1 is set. Next, timer monitoring is performed in flow 2 and it is determined in flow 3 whether the set time or interval has elapsed. If the set time or interval has elapsed, an e-mail transmission / reception process is executed in flow 4. The content of the e-mail to be transmitted can be any content such as a trouble situation or a production situation.

A fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the fifth embodiment of the present invention. The control system for this industrial robot
In the first embodiment, a received e-mail received via the interface device is analyzed, and a reply e-mail corresponding to the analyzed e-mail content is returned.

As shown in FIG. 8, the contents of the received mail are analyzed and a reply is made. That is, an e-mail transmission / reception process is executed in the flow 1 of FIG. In the received e-mail, a command for requesting data return such as robot production status, error information, and operation rate is described. The contents of the e-mail received in the flow 2 are analyzed. Next, in a flow 3, a reply e-mail format corresponding to the request command is created. This reply e-mail describes error information or production status as shown in FIG. 3 or FIG. In Flow 4, Flow 3
Send the reply e-mail created in.

A sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is a flowchart of the sixth embodiment of the present invention. In the first embodiment, the control system for an industrial robot analyzes an e-mail received via an interface device, converts the e-mail into a control signal for the robot, and performs a robot control based on the converted control signal. It has means for performing necessary system settings such as parameter setting, work job registration, and work job switching.

As shown in FIG. 9, the contents of the received mail are analyzed and a system setting process is performed. That is, an e-mail transmission / reception process is executed in the flow 1 of FIG. The received e-mail describes commands and parameters related to system settings, such as various parameters, work job numbers, and work job switching commands, necessary for robot control. The content of the e-mail received in the flow 2 is analyzed and converted into a control signal of the robot. Flow 3
In step 2, system settings such as parameter setting, work job registration, and work job switching necessary for robot control are performed based on the control signal converted in flow 2.

[0037]

According to the industrial robot control system according to the first aspect of the present invention, the storage device, the main processing device, and the interface device for connecting to the external network infrastructure are included in the control device on the client side. Since the robot can be controlled by the interface device sending and receiving e-mail with the host side, it does not need dedicated communication means by sending and receiving e-mail via network infrastructure such as the Internet,
An excellent industrial robot that can perform production management and equipment maintenance at low cost can be realized.

Further, by using the e-mail medium that has permeated the society, maintenance of the production system can be easily performed.
Management becomes possible, and functions such as failure diagnosis, automatic maintenance, and production management can be realized.

According to the present invention, when a trouble occurs in the robot, means for distributing the trouble situation to a designated mail address by means of an e-mail is provided. It can be browsed by mail software or a mobile phone equipped with an e-mail transmission / reception function to grasp the trouble situation of the industrial robot in the production facility. When the contents of the e-mail are analyzed by the host computer, the contents of the e-mail are analyzed by the computer, whereby a database of the trouble situation of the industrial robot and a trouble solving command can be transmitted to the industrial robot.

According to the third aspect, means for distributing the production information and the operation status of the production line to the designated e-mail address by e-mail is provided. It can be viewed by software or a mobile phone having an e-mail transmission / reception function to grasp the production status of the industrial robot in the production facility.

According to the fourth aspect, the control device has a schedule function for distributing an e-mail including the specified content at the specified time, so when the set time or interval elapses,
By executing the e-mail transmission / reception processing, it is possible to grasp the trouble situation and the production situation designated as the contents of the e-mail.

According to the fifth aspect, the received e-mail received via the interface device is analyzed, and a reply e-mail corresponding to the analyzed e-mail is returned, so that the robot production status, error information, operation rate and the like are received. A reply e-mail corresponding to the command described in the e-mail can be transmitted.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the electronic mail received via the interface device is analyzed and converted into a control signal for the robot. Based on the converted control signal, a parameter set and work job registration required for robot control are performed. Since the host has means for performing system settings such as switching of work jobs, the host can perform system settings for the robot.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a system configuration according to a first embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the contents of an electronic mail according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing contents of an electronic mail according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram showing a system configuration according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 11 storage unit 12 main processing unit 13 interface 14 control device 15 timer 20 robot arm

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A client device comprising: a storage device for storing a control program of a robot; a main processing device for analyzing and executing the control program stored by the storage device; and an interface device for connecting to an external network infrastructure. An industrial robot control system, wherein the interface device is capable of controlling the robot by sending and receiving electronic mail to and from the host. 2. The control system for an industrial robot according to claim 1, further comprising means for, when a trouble occurs in the robot, transmitting the trouble status to a designated mail address by e-mail. 3. The industrial robot control system according to claim 1, further comprising means for distributing the production information and the operation status of the production line by e-mail to a designated mail address. 4. The control system for an industrial robot according to claim 2, wherein the control device has a schedule function of delivering an e-mail including the specified content at a specified time. 5. The control system for an industrial robot according to claim 1, wherein the received electronic mail received via the interface device is analyzed, and a reply electronic mail corresponding to the analyzed electronic mail content is returned. 6. An electronic mail received via an interface device is analyzed and converted into a control signal of a robot. Based on the converted control signal, a parameter set, a work job registration, and a work job required for robot control are performed. 2. The industrial robot control system according to claim 1, further comprising means for performing system settings such as switching.