JP2006343809A - Work inspection system and quality information collection system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a work inspection system and a quality information collection system, capable of recording quality information showing the state of each part of a work in more detail and further accurately and rapidly performing quality management. <P>SOLUTION: This system comprises an inspection device 11 inspecting the quality of the work 5, an identification information input device 10 inputting identification information ID of the work 5, and an inspection information output device 12 outputting inspection information T, P and the like including the identification information ID and the inspection result by the inspection device 11. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a work inspection system and a quality information collection system.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a production line such as an automobile factory, there is a case where a variety of workpieces are transported on the same production line and different types of parts are assembled to each workpiece.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration of a production line 90 for assembling parts to a work such as an engine. In FIG. 6, 91 is a conveyor, and 92 is a work (engine) that is sequentially conveyed by this conveyor 91 in the direction indicated by arrow A at a predetermined speed. Reference numeral 93 denotes an ID tag in which work contents to be applied to the engine 92 including the type information of each engine 92 are recorded. In this example, the ID tag is a production instruction card that is attached to the pallet of the engine 92 and conveyed.

  Reference numeral 94 denotes a plurality of workpiece inspection systems provided along the conveying direction of the conveyor 91. In this example, the system is based on a nut runner and a leak tester that tighten each part of the engine 92 with a predetermined range of torque. Each workpiece inspection system 94 includes, for example, an inspection device 95 such as a nut runner 95a and a leak tester 95b, and a communication unit 96 for reading identification information from the ID tag 93 and writing inspection information including inspection results in a memory in the ID tag 93. And.

  Reference numeral 97 denotes a transfer station located at a portion where the engine 92 is transferred between the conveyors 91 (two conveyors 91a and 91b). The transfer station 97 reads information in the main body 97a and the ID tag 93. A reading unit 97b and a writing unit 97c for writing information to the ID tag 93 are provided. That is, when the engine 92 is transferred between the conveyors 91a and 91b, information is read from the ID tag 93 attached to the pallet on the conveyor 91a that has been transported so far, and this information is attached to the pallet on the next conveyor 91b side. The ID tag 93 is written.

Reference numeral 98 denotes an information reading unit station disposed at a node such as a final part of the production line 90. The information reading station 98 includes a main body 98a and a reading unit 98b that reads information in the ID tag 93. I have. An information processing apparatus 99 manages quality information, and is configured to be able to communicate with the main body 97a of the transfer station 97 and the main body 98a of the information reading unit station 98, for example. That is, the quality control of the engine 92 can be performed using information transferred by the information processing apparatus 99 by the transfer station 97 and information read by the information reading unit station 98.
Japanese Patent No. 3334875

  However, in the production line 90 configured as described above, the information processing apparatus 99 detects an abnormality in the engine 92 until the engine 92 is assembled to some extent and transported to the transfer station 97 or until one stage of assembly is completed. There was a problem that it could not be detected. For this reason, when the information processing apparatus 99 detects an abnormality, a plurality of engines 9 with poor assembly are produced, and there is a problem that it is necessary to correct them.

  Furthermore, the production line 90 configured as described above has a problem that it is difficult to increase the speed of the line and to enhance quality control information. That is, in the conventional production line 90, since the inspection information is written to the ID tag 93, the amount of information transferred by the transfer station 97 increases, and it is appropriate to transfer a large amount of information. Time was required, and this limited the transport speed. In particular, since a large number of parts are assembled in the engine 92, the amount of inspection information inevitably increases, and so much time is required to transfer more information. It was a hindrance to the 90 speedup.

  Therefore, in order to keep the amount of information recorded in the memory in the ID tag 93 as much as possible so that the conveyance speed of the conveyor 91 can be followed, the inspection information has to be simplified. That is, for example, when the inspection device 95 is the nut runner 95a, the measurement value of the tightening torque itself is not recorded as inspection information, but flag information indicating whether the tightening torque is within a predetermined appropriate range can be recorded. It was done.

  However, when the tightening torque fluctuates due to an abnormality such as breakage of the nut runner 95a, the upper limit value or the lower limit value may be almost reached even if the tightening torque does not exceed the appropriate range, thereby causing a defect. There was also. In other words, when the tightening torque exceeds the appropriate range and is identified by the information processing device 99, a large number of engines 92 with the tightening torque set to the upper limit or lower limit of the proper range may be produced. And it took a lot of time, labor and space to fix all of them. In the worst case, the production line 90 may need to be stopped.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned matters, and its purpose is to record quality information indicating the state of each part of the workpiece in more detail, and to perform quality control more accurately and quickly. It is to provide a work inspection system and a quality information collection system.

  In order to achieve the above object, a workpiece inspection system according to claim 1 includes an inspection device for inspecting workpiece quality, an identification information input device for inputting identification information of the workpiece, and the identification information and the inspection device. An inspection information output device that outputs inspection information including the inspection result is provided. The identification information input device may be a keyboard, for example, but it is a barcode reader (including QR code) or RFID (Radio Frequency Identification; hereinafter referred to as RF tag) communication. It is desirable to use a non-contact reader such as a scanner.

  The inspection information output device may include a transmission unit that transmits the information to a higher-level information processing device (Claim 2). The transmission unit can perform data communication using various communication protocols, but preferably conforms to a standard such as Ethernet (registered trademark), and transmits data using a LAN. Is desirable. Note that the transmission unit may be a terminal that transmits inspection information through a wireless LAN.

  The inspection information output device may include a recording unit that records the information in an IC memory configured to be detachable in order to transfer the information to a host information processing device.

  A plurality of parts are sequentially assembled while the workpiece is conveyed by a conveyor, and the inspection information is detailed information including various measurement values for assuring that each part is properly assembled. (Claim 4).

  The workpiece is an engine, and the inspection apparatus has a nut runner and / or a leak tester for tightening each part of the engine with a predetermined range of torque, and the inspection information is measured by a tightening torque value of each part by the nut runner and / or a leak tester. It may be information including the value of the pressure ratio.

  The inspection information output device may include a display unit that displays inspection information. Note that a portable information device such as a PDA or H / PC provided with the display unit may be used as the inspection information output device.

  A quality information collection system according to claim 7 is a workpiece inspection system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, and an inspection information input device configured to be able to input each information output from the workpiece inspection system. And an information processing device that counts each received information for each work.

  According to the workpiece inspection system according to claim 1, since the inspection information including the identification information of the workpiece and the inspection result by the inspection device is output to the inspection information output device, the ID tag in the ID tag attached to the workpiece as in the past is used. There is no need to write inspection information to memory. In addition, even if each inspection device transmits detailed inspection information about the portion to be inspected, the amount of information for each portion to be inspected can be reduced, so that it is sufficiently detailed to assure the quality of the workpiece. Test information can be output. Since the inspection information is detailed, the occurrence of abnormality can be noticed earlier than before.

  The identification information input device may be a keyboard, for example, but by using a barcode reader or an RF tag reader, accurate identification information can be input more quickly.

  When the inspection information output device has a transmission unit that transmits the information to the higher-level information processing device (Claim 2), the inspection information is immediately transmitted from the inspection device to the higher-level information processing device. The occurrence of abnormalities can be found as early as possible.

  The transmission unit may perform data communication using various communication protocols. For example, the transmission unit conforms to an existing standard such as Ethernet (registered trademark), so that an existing device is used as the transmission unit. Can be used. Further, since the transmission unit performs data communication via the LAN using a protocol such as TCP / IP, inspection information can be transmitted from a number of transmission units.

  In addition, when the transmission unit is a terminal that transmits and receives inspection information through a wireless LAN, the transmission unit may be a terminal for constructing an existing wireless LAN, and can be easily formed. In particular, by using a portable information device such as a PDA or H / PC as the inspection information output device, the transmitter can be formed very easily. In addition, if the wireless LAN is used, the arrangement of the inspection apparatuses can be freely changed, and even when there is a change in the work manufacturing process, this can be flexibly dealt with.

  When the inspection information output device has a recording unit that records the information in an IC memory configured to be detachable to transfer the information to a higher-level information processing device (Claim 3), the information is, for example, a communication device. Even when the information cannot be transferred to the higher-level information processing apparatus using such means, information can be recorded in the IC memory, and the information can be reliably input to the higher-level information processing apparatus.

  A plurality of parts are sequentially assembled while the workpiece is conveyed by a conveyor, and the inspection information is detailed information including various measurement values for assuring that each part is properly assembled. In the case (Claim 4), the inspection result of each workpiece is sequentially output. And since the workpiece | work inspection system of this invention does not need to write inspection information in the memory in the ID tag attached to the workpiece | work conventionally, it can raise the conveyance speed of a conveyor easily. Since the inspection information includes detailed information including various measurement values, the side receiving this inspection information (for example, the host information processing apparatus) can accurately grasp the state of each workpiece. In other words, when the measurement value of the inspection result tends to deviate from the normal state, it is possible to find an abnormality at an early stage from the fluctuation of the measurement value, and to maintain the abnormality occurrence part such as the inspection apparatus or the assembling apparatus. .

  The workpiece is an engine, and the inspection apparatus has a nut runner and / or a leak tester for tightening each part of the engine with a predetermined range of torque, and the inspection information is measured by a tightening torque value of each part by the nut runner and / or a leak tester. In the case of the information including the pressure ratio value (Claim 5), the engine has a lot of tightening parts with bolts, nuts and screws (hereinafter collectively referred to as bolts). By obtaining the tightening torque values of all the bolts as inspection information, it is possible to perform more accurate and reliable quality assurance of the engine. Similarly, the value of the pressure ratio is an important factor for quality assurance of the engine.

  In addition, if the measured values of tightening torque and pressure ratio tend to deviate from normal, find an abnormality early on from the fluctuation of this measured value, and identify the location where the abnormality occurred in the inspection device or assembly device. By promptly taking appropriate measures such as maintenance, the number of engines that require rework can be reduced.

  When the inspection information output device has a display unit for displaying inspection information (Claim 6), an operator who performs an inspection using the inspection device promptly detects an abnormality from the content displayed on the display unit. Therefore, in some cases, it is possible to adjust the inspection apparatus on the spot or to adjust the apparatus for further assembly. By using an existing PDA or H / PC equipped with the display unit as the transmission unit, the display unit and the transmission unit can be easily formed by an existing device.

  According to the quality information collection system of the seventh aspect, since the information processing apparatus counts the inspection information for each work, the quality assurance of each work can be reliably performed.

  1 to 4 are diagrams showing a first embodiment of the present invention. A quality information collecting system 1 of this embodiment is a work inspection system 2 and a quality information management system connected to the work inspection system 2 in a communicable manner. 3 and a wireless LAN management device 4 that connects a plurality of work inspection systems 2 to the quality information management system 3. 1 is a diagram showing the entire quality information collection system 1, FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining the main part of the quality information collection system 1, and FIG. 3 shows the contents displayed on the display unit of the work inspection system 2. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example, and FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of content displayed on the display unit of the information management system 3.

  In FIG. 1, 5 is an engine as an example of a workpiece to be assembled, 6 is a pallet for transporting the engine 5 in a mounted state, and 7 is a conveyor for transporting the engine 5 via the pallet 6. . Reference numeral 6a denotes a tag attached to the pallet 6. In this embodiment, the tag 6a is an RF tag in which identification information ID indicating the type of the engine 5 is recorded. The tag 6a is not limited to the RF tag, but may be a label-like tag on which a barcode such as a JAN code in which identification information ID indicating the type of the engine 5 is recorded or a QR code is printed.

  A plurality of workpiece inspection systems 2 are provided on the production line along the conveyor 7. FIG. 1 shows workpiece inspection systems 2 such as a nut runner 2A and a leak tester 2B. The present invention is not limited to the work inspection system 2 being the nut runner 2A or the leak tester 2B, and it goes without saying that other inspections may be performed.

  The workpiece inspection system 2 shown in FIG. 1 is roughly divided into an identification information input device 10 including a non-contact reader for inputting the identification information ID of the engine 5, and an engine 5 such as a nutrunner control panel or a leak tester control panel. Inspection apparatus 11 for inspecting quality (in the following description, when distinction is required, it is referred to as nutrunner control panel 11A and leak tester control panel 11B), and information I including the identification information ID and the inspection result by inspection apparatus 11 (the following In the description, it has an inspection information output device 12 (hereinafter referred to as PDA 12) composed of, for example, a PDA that outputs information IA and IB when distinction is necessary.

  The identification information input device 10 of the present embodiment is a communication unit configured to be able to receive the identification number ID of the engine 5 from the RF tag 6a. The tag 6a is in the form of a label on which a barcode or QR code is printed. In some cases, a non-contact reader such as a bar code reader is desirable. However, a keyboard may be formed as the identification information input device 10, and an operator may input the identification number ID.

  Reference numeral 13 denotes a converter that converts an electric signal representing the information I output from the inspection apparatus 11 into a form that can be input to the PDA 12. Reference numeral 14 denotes a converter that is attached to the PDA 12 and is connected to the wireless LAN management device 4. It is a transmission part which consists of terminals, such as a wireless LAN card.

  The information management system 3 includes, for example, a receiving unit 15 (examination information input device configured to be able to input each piece of information I) including a wireless terminal for connecting to the wireless LAN management device 4 and the receiving unit 15. And a host information processing device 16 having a function of aggregating inspection information for each work using the information Ia, Ib.

  The wireless LAN management device 4 in this embodiment is, for example, a router that conforms to an existing standard such as Ethernet (registered trademark), thereby connecting a large number of work inspection systems 2 to one information management system 3. (Hereinafter referred to as router 4). This router 4 is preferably compatible with high-speed communication. Note that the router 4 may be omitted when the transmitting unit 14 and the receiving unit 15 directly perform data communication of the information I using electromagnetic waves or light. Furthermore, since the connection between the router 4 and the work inspection system 2 and the connection between the router 4 and the information management system 3 are wireless, there is a degree of freedom and it is possible to flexibly cope with changes in the production line. You may make it connect stably by wire and perform communication stably.

  Next, a more detailed configuration of the workpiece inspection system 2 and the information management system 3 will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the inspection apparatus 11 includes a probe 11a (11b...) For measuring physical quantities such as a torque value T and a pressure value P, and the inspection apparatus 11 is, for example, a nutrunner control unit 11A. The probe 11a is a bolt fastening device to which a torque meter is attached. That is, when the operator uses the bolt tightening device 11a to tighten the bolts of the respective parts of the engine 5, the tightening torque T is output to the nut runner control unit 11A.

  The PDA 12 includes an arithmetic processing unit 12a that generates the information I using information ID, T,... Obtained from the inspection apparatus 11, and a display unit 12b that displays an inspection result T (P in the case of pressure). . The PDA 12 is generally provided with an arithmetic processing unit 12a and a display unit 12b, and various arithmetic processes can be performed by inputting a program. A wireless LAN card can be easily connected as the transmitting unit 14. Is possible.

  Therefore, the inspection information output device of the present invention can be easily formed by using the PDA. However, the inspection information output device of the present invention is not limited to the PDA 12. In FIG. 2, the converter 13 shown in FIG. 1 is not shown.

  The PDA 12 can easily perform various arithmetic processes by a program 20 executed by the arithmetic processing unit 12a. Reference numeral 21 denotes a quality information storage unit, and 22 denotes a buffer for temporarily recording information, which is formed, for example, in a built-in storage unit. The program 20 of the PDA 12 uses the information ID, T (P) from the inspection apparatus 11 and the date and time indicated by the internal clock (not shown) to the information processing system 3 side, for example. Is generated.

  For example, in the PDA 12 connected to the nut runner control panel 11A as the inspection device 11, for example, a proper tightening torque range T1 to T2 for each engine 5 is recorded in the quality information storage unit 21, and the program 20 is stored in the nut runner control panel. The measured value T obtained from 11A is compared with the tightening torque range T1 to T2 recorded in the quality information storage unit 21 to determine whether this is within the normal range, and the display unit 12b For example, the arithmetic processing unit 12a is operated so that the measured value T is displayed as a graph G, for example.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a graph G of the measurement value T displayed on the display unit 12b. In the case of the example shown in FIG. 3, the measured value T of the tightening torque tends to gradually decrease, and it is shown that the torque value T1 that finally becomes the lower limit at the time t is exceeded. Since such a graph G is displayed on the display unit 12b of the PDA 12, the operator confirms that the measured value T of the tightening torque gradually decreases from, for example, around time t0 by looking at the graph G. be able to.

  That is, some measure can be taken before the measured value T reaches the lower limit value T1 or the upper limit value T2 of the tightening torque. By showing each measurement value T as a graph G as in this embodiment, the operator can intuitively determine the current state visually, so that it can be used for early detection of an abnormality, but the display unit Needless to say, the display on 12a may be performed by characters.

  Returning to FIG. 2 again, the host information processing apparatus 16 includes an arithmetic processing unit 16a, an auxiliary storage unit 16b such as a hard disk, and a display unit 16c such as a display for displaying the collected results. 25 is a program to be executed by the arithmetic processing unit 16a, 26 is a quality information file indicating the normal range of measured values of each part of the engine 5 in the auxiliary storage unit 16b, 27 is an inspection result for recording the inspection information Ia, Ib. Indicates a file.

  The program 25 causes the arithmetic processing unit 16a to receive each inspection information I (Ia, Ib...), And uses the ID of the engine 5 included in the information Ia, Ib. And the quality information file 26 is searched to determine whether the measured values T, P,... Of each part are out of the normal range, and the list table Ta is displayed on the display unit 16c.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the list table Ta displayed on the display unit 16c. In the case of the example shown in FIG. 4, since the inspection results are tabulated for each engine 5 and the state is represented by characters for each engine 5, the inspection results of each engine 5 should be confirmed more accurately. Can do. Further, since the quality information collection system 1 of the present invention can immediately obtain measured values such as the tightening torque T and pressure ratio P of each part, even if the fluctuation is within a normal range, A warning (WARNING) can be given to the engine 5 of the lower limit value. Therefore, the occurrence of abnormality can be detected early.

  Further, the inspection information Ia, Ib from each workpiece inspection system 2 is transmitted to the information management system 3 side as the information I as the measurement values T, P... Even at the time when the process is not completed, the measured values T, P,... Can be monitored in real time. And if each measured value T, P ... is a thing close | similar to an upper limit or a lower limit, a warning can be notified immediately. Of course, when the measured value exceeds the upper limit value or the lower limit value, the occurrence of abnormality can be notified immediately.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the configuration of the quality information collection system 30 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 5, since the part which attached | subjected the same code | symbol as FIGS. 1-4 is the same or equivalent part, the detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.

  In FIG. 5, reference numeral 31 denotes an IC memory configured to be detachable from, for example, an IC memory card slot in the work inspection system 2, and 32 is a card slot (recording unit) configured to be able to write information I to the IC memory 31. , 33 is a reading unit configured to be able to insert and remove the IC memory 31 and to read information I (Ia, Ib...) From the IC memory 31.

  In the quality information collecting system 30 configured as in the second embodiment, the information I (Ia, Ib...) Is stored in the IC memory 31 even when the transmitter 14 and the router 4 cannot be wirelessly connected due to some abnormality. The information I can be transferred to the information management system 3 using the IC memory 31. Further, when the wireless connection between the transmission unit 14 and the router 4 is recovered, it is possible to transmit the information I in the IC memory 31 to the information management system 3 side using the communication line that has been recovered.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the quality information collection system which concerns on 1st Example of this invention. It is a block diagram of the quality information collection system. It is a figure which shows the example of the display in the display part of the said workpiece | work inspection system. It is a figure which shows the example of the display in the display part of the said quality information collection system. It is a figure which shows the structure of the quality information collection system of 2nd Example. It is a figure which shows the example of the conventional quality information collection system.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,30 Quality information collection system 2 Work inspection system 2A Nutrunner 2B Leak tester 5 Work 7 Conveyor 10 Identification information input device 11 Inspection device 12 Inspection information output device 12a Display unit 14 Transmission unit 15 Inspection information input device 16 Information processing device 31 IC memory 32 Recording section I Inspection information ID identification information T, P Inspection result (measured value)

Claims (7)

  An inspection device for inspecting the quality of the workpiece, an identification information input device for inputting the identification information of the workpiece, and an inspection information output device for outputting inspection information including the identification information and an inspection result by the inspection device are provided. Characteristic work inspection system.   The work inspection system according to claim 1, wherein the inspection information output device includes a transmission unit that transmits the information to a higher-level information processing device.   The work inspection system according to claim 1, wherein the inspection information output device has a recording unit that records the information in an IC memory that is detachably configured to transfer the information to a host information processing device.   A plurality of parts are sequentially assembled while the workpiece is conveyed by a conveyor, and the inspection information is detailed information including various measurement values for assuring that each part is properly assembled. The workpiece inspection system according to claim 1.   The workpiece is an engine, and the inspection apparatus has a nut runner and / or a leak tester for tightening each part of the engine with a predetermined range of torque, and the inspection information is measured by a tightening torque value of each part by the nut runner and / or a leak tester. The workpiece inspection system according to claim 1, wherein the workpiece inspection system is information including a value of the pressure ratio.   The work inspection system according to claim 1, wherein the inspection information output device includes a display unit that displays inspection information. The work inspection system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, an inspection information input device configured to be capable of inputting each piece of information output from the work inspection system, and information for counting each piece of received information for each work A quality information collecting system comprising: a processing device.

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