JP2003005810A - Programmable controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a programmable controller capable of enhancing the switching workability of an operation mode. SOLUTION: A key operating part 9 is attached to a processor part 3 of the programmable controller 1 in an attachable and detachable way. In the case of wanting to confirm the operation of equipment connected to the programmable controller 1, the key operating part 9 is removed from the processor part 3, and the key operating part 9 is operated in the vicinity of the equipment to select a desired operation mode. Since a switching signal showing a switching operation is transmitted from the key operating part 9 by an optical signal in this way, the programmable controller 1 switches operation modes on the basis of the received switching signal. Then, an operator can confirm the operation of the equipment without going to the programmable controller 1.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a programmable controller capable of remote control.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, at the time of introduction or maintenance of a programmable controller into a factory facility or the like, whether the wiring connection between the programmable controller and the facility device is properly made, or whether the program is proper. In order to confirm, the operator checks the operation of the connected equipment while switching the switch key equipped on the programmable controller to a predetermined operation mode.

[0003]

However, since the facility device is generally installed at a place distant from the programmable controller, an operator operates the switch key to switch to a predetermined operation mode. In addition, there is a problem that workability is poor, such as switching back and forth between the programmable controller and the equipment, and the need for work by two workers. The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a programmable controller capable of efficiently performing operation mode switching work.

[0004]

According to the invention of claim 1, the control means operates in response to a switching operation on the key operating portion when the key operating portion is mounted on the main body, so that the control means is connected to the programmable controller. By confirming the operation of the installed equipment, it is possible to confirm whether the wiring connection with the equipment is properly performed.

Here, when the equipment is installed at a position away from the programmable controller, the key operation section is detached from the main body, and the key operation section is switched at a position where the operation of the equipment can be confirmed. . Then, the switching signal corresponding to the switching operation is transmitted by the air propagation signal from the transmitting means of the key operation unit, and the receiving means provided in the main body receives the switching signal, so that the control means switches the operation mode. Thus, the operation mode can be switched near the facility device without going to the programmable controller, so that the operation can be confirmed by the facility device installed at a position distant from the programmable controller.

According to the second aspect of the invention, when it is desired to switch the operation mode at a position away from the programmable controller, the remote control mode is set by operating the key operation unit. When the remote control is operated in this state, the transmission means of the remote control transmits a switching signal according to the switching operation by the air propagation signal, and the receiving means provided in the main body receives the switching signal. Switch. Thus, the operation mode can be switched near the facility device without going to the programmable controller, so that the operation can be confirmed by the facility device installed at a position distant from the programmable controller.

[0007]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION (First Embodiment) A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the programmable controller. In FIG. 2, a programmable controller (hereinafter, PC) 1 is arranged in a control panel or in a rack, and includes a power supply unit 2, a processor unit (corresponding to a main body) 3, a plurality of input units 4 and an output unit 5, and the like. Has been done. A cable 6 connected to the equipment is connected to the input section 4 and the output section 5, and the cable 6 is connected to the equipment via a cable duct 8.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the processor section 3 which is the main body of the programmable controller 1. In FIG. 3, a mounting portion 7 is formed on the front surface of the processor portion 3, and a key operating portion 9 is detachably mounted on the mounting portion 7. The key operation portion 9 is formed in a size that can be held by one hand, and a strap 10 is attached so as to be portable. The key operation section 9 is provided with a switch key 11, and each operation mode such as a RUM mode, a REMOTE mode and a PROGRAM mode can be selected by a switching operation on the switch key 11 (see FIG. 4). The RUN mode is a mode for starting a program stored in the storage unit 12 (see FIG. 5) of the processor unit 3, the REMOTE mode is a mode for permitting start / stop of the program via the network, and the PROGRAM mode is for In this mode, the contents of the program can be changed using a personal computer. An optical transmission unit (corresponding to transmission means) 13 (see FIG. 5) is provided at the tip of the key operation unit 9. On the other hand, a light receiving portion (corresponding to receiving means) 14 is provided in a protruding manner at a portion of the processor portion 3 above the mounting portion 7 in the figure.

FIG. 5 shows the configuration of the programmable controller 1 in functional blocks. In FIG. 5, the programmable controller 1 is configured to include functional blocks such as a power supply unit 2, a processor unit 3, an input unit 4 and an output unit 5. The processor unit 3 includes an arithmetic unit (corresponding to a control unit) 15 and a storage unit 12. A personal computer (personal computer) 16 is connected to the processor unit 3 as a programming terminal, and the user writes on the personal computer 16. By uploading the ladder program to the storage unit 12, the processor unit 3 can control each unit.

The input unit 4 includes, for example, a digital switch, a selector switch, a push button switch, which is arranged on the side of the machine to be controlled (eg, production line).
An operation / detection unit 17 including each switch such as a proximity switch and a limit switch is connected, and an operation signal or a detection signal by them is input. In addition, the output unit 5 is connected to a display / driving unit 18 arranged on the machine side and including, for example, a pilot lamp, a numerical indicator, a solenoid valve, a motor, and the like. Then, the processor unit 3 controls the display / drive unit 18 via the output unit 5 according to a program based on the state of the signal input to the input unit 4.

Here, the key operation unit 9 is the processor unit 3
When it is attached to the calculator 15, it is electrically connected to the calculator 15 by a contact terminal (not shown), and a switching signal indicating the switching position of the key operation part 9 is output to the calculator 15 in the connected state. It is like this. Thereby, the calculation unit 15 can switch the operation mode according to the key operation on the key operation unit 9.

In this case, the optical transmission unit 13 provided in the key operation unit 9 transmits a switching signal indicating a switching position with the key operation unit 9 removed from the processor unit 3 as an optical signal (corresponding to an airborne signal). ) Is to be sent. in this case,
The optical transmitter 13 encodes the switching signal into a pulse signal of a plurality of bits and outputs the pulse signal.

On the other hand, the processor unit 3 has the light receiving unit 14, and when the key operation unit 9 is removed, the operation mode is switched based on the switching signal received by the light receiving unit 14. ing. The optical receiver 14 decodes the received switching signal and outputs it to the calculator 15. Then, the calculation unit 15 switches the operation mode based on the received switching signal.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the processor unit 3. In FIG. 6, the processor unit 3 determines whether or not the key operation unit 9 is attached (S1), and when the key operation unit 9 is attached (S1: YES), the switching signal is turned on. It is judged whether it is input as a signal (S
2).

When the operator confirms the cable wiring between the PC 1 and the equipment or confirms the operation of the program, he or she switches to, for example, the PROGRAM mode by key operation. Then, the calculation unit 15 of the processor unit 3
Since the operation of the equipment is controlled based on the program stored in the storage unit 12 (S3), the equipment is correctly confirmed to operate, and the PC 1 and the equipment are correctly connected by wiring. Or the program is correct.

By the way, since the equipment is generally installed in a place away from the PC 1, the key operation unit 9 is used to switch the operation mode of the PC 1 as described above.
It is necessary to switch to the desired operation mode by pressing the key and go to the equipment one by one, which is extremely troublesome. In this case, although it can be solved by working with two workers, the working cost will increase significantly.

Therefore, in the embodiment of the present invention, the efficiency of the operation confirmation work of the equipment can be improved even if there is only one worker as follows. That is, when the operator wants to confirm the operation of the equipment device, the key operation portion 9 is detached from the processor unit 3, and the desired operation is performed by operating the key operation portion 9 at a position where the operation of the equipment device can be confirmed as shown in FIG. Switch to operating mode. At this time, a switching operation is performed with the tip of the key operation unit 9 facing the PC 1. As a result, an optical signal indicating the switched operation mode is output from the key operation unit 9 and reaches the processor unit 3, so that the processor unit 3 operates the key operation unit 9 as shown in FIG. When the switching signal is received in the removed state (S1: NO) (S4: YES), the operation mode indicated by the switching signal is switched to. That is, the operator selects R as the operation mode.
When the UN mode is selected, the operation of the equipment is controlled based on the program stored in the storage unit 12 (S3). Therefore, since the equipment operates according to the program, the operator can confirm the operation near the equipment to check the cable wiring between the PC 1 and the equipment or the suitability of the program.

According to such an embodiment, the key operation unit 9 is detachably provided from the processor unit 3 of the PC 1,
When a key operation is performed while the key operation unit 9 is removed from the processor unit 3, a switching signal indicating the switching operation is transmitted to the processor unit 3 as an optical signal.
The operation of the PC1 can be switched at a position apart from the PC1. Therefore, unlike the conventional example in which the key operation unit is integrally provided in the processor unit, the workability of confirming the wiring between the PC 1 and the equipment or the suitability of the program can be greatly improved. .

Further, when the key operation section 9 is mounted on the processor section 3, the same operation as in the conventional case can be performed, and the operator confirms the operation of the equipment by an appropriate work method. be able to. Moreover, the key operation unit 9
Since the operation of the key operation unit 9 can be prohibited when the key is removed from the PC, the security of the PC 1 can be secured as in the conventional case.

(Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
The same parts as those in the embodiment will be designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted. The second embodiment is characterized in that a remote controller for switching the operation of the PC is provided. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the processor unit 3. In this FIG.
The processor unit 3 is configured to be operable by the switch key 11, and has the same configuration as the conventional one.

Here, as the operation mode by the switch key 11, the REMOCON mode is set in addition to the RUM mode, the REMOTE mode and the PROGRAM mode described in the first embodiment. This REM
The OCON mode is a mode in which the operation mode can be switched by the remote controller 21 (see FIG. 9).
In the switching state to the OCON mode, the operation mode of the processor unit 3 is switched according to the switching signal from the remote controller 21.

As shown in FIG. 9, the remote control 21 has a RUN key 22, a REMOTE key 23, and a PROGRA key.
An operation mode key such as an M key 24 is provided, and an optical signal indicating the operation mode is generated by operating the operation mode keys 22 to 24.
It is supposed to be transmitted from 5.

When the operator wants to confirm the operation of the equipment, the switch key 1 provided in the processor section 3 is used.
In the state of being switched to the REMOCON mode by the operation for 1, go to the equipment device and operate the desired operation mode switching keys 22 to 24 with the remote controller 21 facing the PC 1. Then, since the optical signal indicating the selected operation mode is transmitted from the remote controller 21, the processor unit 3
Switches to the operation mode indicated by the optical signal. This allows
Since the equipment connected to the PC 1 operates according to the switched operation mode, the worker can confirm the operation of the equipment without going to the PC 1.

According to the second embodiment, the REMO is set as the operation mode of the conventional programmable controller.
In the state in which the CON mode is added and the REMOCON mode is set, since the operation mode can be switched by the remote controller 21, as in the first embodiment, P
It is possible to greatly improve the workability of confirming the wiring between C1 and the equipment or the suitability of the program.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, but can be modified or expanded as follows. First
In the embodiment, the switch key 1 of the key operation unit 9
A switching signal indicating a switching operation for 1 may be transmitted to the processor unit 3 by wireless communication. It may be possible to answer back that the operation on the switch key of the key operation unit is accepted. In the second embodiment, the switch key 11 may be provided on the remote controller 21, and the operation mode of the PC 1 may be switched according to the operation on the switch key 11.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a programmable controller showing remote operation according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a programmable controller.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the processor unit with the key operation unit removed.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing switching positions of operation modes by key operation.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the entire system.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the processor unit.

FIG. 7 is a view corresponding to FIG. 3 showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a view corresponding to FIG.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a remote controller

[Explanation of symbols]

1 is a programmable controller, 3 is a processor section (main body), 9 is a key operation section, 13 is an optical transmission section (transmission means), 14 is an optical reception section (reception means), 15 is a calculation section (control means), and 21 is The remote controller 25 is an optical transmitter (transmitting means).

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A key operation section detachably provided from the main body, a transmission means provided to the key operation section, for transmitting a switching signal according to the key operation by an air propagation signal, and provided to the main body. The receiving unit that receives the switching signal from the transmitting unit and the operation unit that is provided in the main body and that is equipped with the key operation unit switches the operation mode according to the switching operation on the key operation unit, and the key operation unit acquires the operation mode. A programmable controller comprising: control means for switching the operation mode in response to a switching signal received by the receiving means in the removed state. 2. A key operation unit provided on the main body, in which a remote control mode is set, a remote control having a transmission means for transmitting a switching signal according to an operation by an air propagation signal, a remote control provided on the main body, Receiving means for receiving a switching signal from the receiving means, which is provided in the main body, switches the operation mode in response to a switching operation on the key operating portion, and the receiving means when the key operating portion is set to the remote operation mode. And a control means for switching the operation mode according to the switching signal received by the programmable controller. 3. The programmable controller according to claim 1, wherein the airborne signal is an optical signal or a radio signal.