JP2007095081A - Operation control console panel - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an operation control console panel which enables even an unskilled operator to easily operate. <P>SOLUTION: According to whether the operation condition and the start condition of a sequence controller are satisfied, a plurality of operation buttons for individual operations constituted on a touch panel 15 having the functions of both an input means and an output means are displayed visually discriminatingly in three states of: the operation condition is not met; the operation condition is met, but the start condition is not met; and the operation condition and the start condition are both satisfied. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an operation control operation panel that obtains a predetermined operation of a machine by outputting an output signal to an output element when the state of an input signal from the input element reaches a predetermined state. The present invention relates to an operation control operation panel provided with input / output means.

  Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 10, the operation control operation panel 100 is connected to a numerical controller (hereinafter referred to as CNC) 102 and various actuators 103 via a sequence controller (hereinafter referred to as PLC) 101. When the operator operates various buttons provided on the operation panel 100, the PLC 101 determines the state of the input signal from the various input elements, and when the input signal is in a predetermined state, By outputting the output signal, the mechanical equipment such as the CNC 102 and the actuator 103 performs a predetermined operation.

  The operation control operation panel 100 is provided with various buttons and switches as input means and display means such as lamps and displays as output means. As these input / output means, the use of touch panels has become the mainstream because of its versatility and high functionality.

  On the other hand, in the operation control operation panel 100, in addition to input means such as various buttons for automatic operation for causing the machine equipment to perform automatic operation, each operation of the machine equipment is individually performed by MDI operation. The input means is provided. When a failure or abnormal stop of the mechanical equipment occurs, the operator operates the individual operation buttons to restore the mechanical equipment to each operation.

  FIG. 11 shows the operation buttons for individual operations. Since the conventional operation buttons are simply arranged, the individual operation buttons are arranged in the current state of the equipment machine (the state of the input signal to the PLC 101). Which operation should be performed, that is, which operation button should be pressed next, or which individual operation can be performed in the current state of the equipment machine (the state of the input signal to the PLC 101), that is, Now, you can't understand which operation buttons can be operated by just looking at the operation buttons. For this reason, each individual operation such as recovery at the time of an abnormal stop can be performed only by a skilled worker.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and by simply looking at the operation buttons for each operation on the operation control operation panel, the operation button to be operated next, or now operable. An object of the present invention is to provide an operation control operation panel in which operation buttons can be understood so that individual operations can be performed without being a skilled worker.

  Means for achieving the above-mentioned object is an operation control operation for controlling the operation of an equipment machine connected to a sequence controller and connected to the sequence controller by exchanging input / output signals with the sequence controller. In the panel, a touch panel having functions of both an input unit and an output unit and a plurality of operation buttons configured on the touch panel are visually distinguished and displayed according to a state of a predetermined input / output signal in the sequence controller. The operation button display means is provided.

  With the above configuration, the operation buttons are visually distinguished and displayed on the touch panel according to the state of a predetermined input / output signal in the sequence controller. As a result, the operator can visually know the operation button to be selected, so that the operation control operation panel can be operated without being aware of the state of the input / output signals of the sequence controller or without being skilled in them. Can be operated.

  In the above configuration, as specific means for visually distinguishing and displaying, various means such as changing the size of operation buttons and the size of characters in addition to color-coded display and blinking display are adopted. obtain.

  Another means for solving the above-described problem is that, in the above-described configuration, the plurality of operation buttons further perform individual operations obtained by dividing operations performed during a series of automatic operations of the mechanical equipment into individual operations. The operation button is characterized in that it is. With the above configuration, the operation buttons for performing the individual operations are visually distinguished and displayed according to the state of a predetermined input / output signal in the sequence controller. As a result, the operator can know the operation buttons for each individual operation to be selected, and each individual operation can be performed without being a skilled worker.

  In the above configuration, each individual operation is to divide the operation performed during a series of automatic operation of the equipment machine into individual operations, and to make each divided operation independent of other operations. It is performed for recovery work during a trial run or an abnormal stop.

  Another means for solving the above-described problem is that, in the above-described configuration, the predetermined input / output signal in the sequence controller is a condition that should always be satisfied during the operation performed by the operation button. It is characterized by at least one of a certain operating condition and an activation condition that is a condition that should be satisfied at the start of the operation executed by the operation button.

  With the above configuration, the operation buttons are visually distinguished and displayed depending on whether the operation condition and the start condition are satisfied. As a result, the operation buttons that satisfy the driving conditions and the operation buttons that satisfy the activation conditions are visually distinguished and displayed, so that the operator operates the next operation button or the current operation button. You can know the operation buttons that can.

  In the above configuration, the operating condition is a condition that must be satisfied from the start of the operation performed by the operation button to the end of the operation, and the activation condition is performed by the operation button. This is a condition that must be satisfied at the start of the operation, that is, a condition that triggers the start of the operation.

  Another means for solving the above-described problem is characterized in that, in the above-described configuration, whether or not the operation condition and the start condition are further satisfied is determined by the sequence controller. With the above configuration, the sequence controller determines whether or not the operation condition and the start condition are satisfied. Thus, the operation control operation panel does not need to be provided with a special determination unit when displaying the operation button, and may be displayed visually distinguished based on the output signal from the sequence controller.

  Another means for solving the above-described problem is that, in the above configuration, the display means further satisfies the operation condition when the operation condition is satisfied but the start condition is not satisfied when the operation condition is satisfied. The three states when both of the activation conditions are satisfied are visually distinguished and displayed. With the above configuration, when the operating condition is not satisfied, the three conditions when the operating condition is satisfied but the starting condition is not satisfied and when both the operating condition and the starting condition are satisfied are visually distinguished and displayed. Accordingly, operation buttons that do not satisfy the driving conditions, that is, operation buttons that cannot be operated now, operation buttons that satisfy the driving conditions but do not satisfy the start conditions, that is, operation buttons that can be operated now, It is possible to visually know the three types of states of the operation buttons that satisfy both the driving conditions and the activation conditions, that is, the operation buttons to be operated next.

  Another means for solving the above-described problem is that, in the above-described configuration, when an operation button that does not satisfy the operating condition is further pressed, a warning is displayed to notify that the operating condition is not satisfied. A display means is provided. With the above configuration, when an operation button that does not satisfy the operating conditions is pressed, a warning to that effect is displayed, so that the operator can know that an operation button that should not be selected has been selected.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, another means is a circuit monitoring means for displaying a ladder circuit diagram of the operation condition of the operation button that does not satisfy the operation condition displayed by the warning display means in the above configuration. It is characterized by having. With the above configuration, a ladder circuit diagram of unsatisfied operating conditions is displayed. Thereby, the operator can know why the operating conditions are not satisfied.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the operation buttons are visually distinguished and displayed on the touch panel according to the state of the predetermined input / output signal in the sequence controller, and the operator visually recognizes the operation button to be selected. Therefore, the operation control operation panel can be operated without being aware of the state of the input / output signals of the sequence controller or without being skilled in them.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the operation buttons for performing the individual operations are visually distinguished according to the state of the predetermined input / output signal in the sequence controller. Thus, the operator can know the operation buttons for each individual operation to be selected, and each individual operation can be performed without being a skilled worker.

  According to the invention described in claim 3, since the operation buttons are visually distinguished depending on whether or not the driving condition and the starting condition are satisfied, in addition to the above effects, the operation that satisfies the driving condition Operation buttons and operation buttons that satisfy the activation conditions are visually distinguished and displayed so that the operator can know the operation button to be operated next or the operation button that can be operated now. .

  According to the invention described in claim 4, since it is determined by the sequence controller whether or not the operation condition and the start condition are satisfied, in addition to the above effect, an operation button is displayed on the operation control operation panel. In this case, it is not necessary to provide a special determination means, and it is only necessary to visually distinguish and display based on the output signal from the sequence controller.

  According to the fifth aspect of the invention, when the operating condition is not satisfied, the operating condition is satisfied but the starting condition is not satisfied, and when the operating condition and the starting condition are both satisfied, the three states are visually distinguished. In addition to the above effects, operation buttons that do not satisfy the operating conditions, that is, operation buttons that cannot be operated now, operation buttons that satisfy the operating conditions but do not satisfy the activation conditions, That is, it is possible to visually know three types of states: an operation button that can be operated now, and an operation button that operates both of the operating condition and the activation condition, that is, the operation button to be operated next.

  According to the sixth aspect of the invention, a warning to that effect is displayed when an operation button that does not satisfy the operating conditions is pressed. In addition to the above effects, the operator should not make a selection. It is possible to know that the operation button has been selected.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, since the ladder circuit diagram of the unsatisfied operating conditions is displayed, in addition to the above effects, the operator can know why the operating conditions are not satisfied. it can.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the operation control operation panel 10 and the PLC 20. The operation control operation panel 10 includes a CPU 11 that is an arithmetic unit, a ROM 12 that stores system programs and the like, screen definition data and operation condition addresses described later, An interface for communication (communication I / F) between the RAM 13 storing the start condition address and the like, the touch panel 15 connected to the CPU 11 via the interface (I / F) 14, the output device 16 and the input device 17, and the PLC 20. ) 18 is the main configuration.

  Here, in FIG. 1, the output device 16 is an output device (see FIG. 7) configured by hardware such as a lamp indicating power supply or operation, and the input device 17 is an automatic operation start switch or emergency switch. It is an input device (refer to FIG. 7) configured by hardware such as a stop button. On the other hand, a touch panel 15 configured by software and having both functions of input means and output means is shown separately from input / output devices 16 and 17 configured by these hardware.

  The operation panel setting means 20 is specifically realized by a personal computer, and is connected to the operation control operation panel 10 as necessary to change various settings of the operation control operation panel 10. It is. Since the operation panel setting means 20 can change the screen display of the touch panel 15 and the input items of the touch panel 15 of the operation control operation panel 20, compared with an operation control operation panel having only hardware input / output devices. The versatility of the operation control operation panel can be improved. That is, even if the equipment machine controlled by the operation control operation panel is changed, various equipment machines can be controlled by the same operation panel by setting the touch panel according to the equipment machine.

  The PLC 30 is a CPU 31 that is an arithmetic device, a ROM 32 that stores system programs and the like, a RAM 33 that stores sequence programs and the like assembled by ladder circuits, and a communication that is connected to the communication I / F 18 of the operation control operation panel 10. The I / F 24 is the main configuration. Further, the communication I / F 34 is connected to an equipment machine 40 to be controlled such as a CNC, a transfer device, and an actuator, and exchange of input / output signals is performed between the equipment machine 40 and the PLC 30. The operation of the equipment machine 40 is controlled based on the operator's operation on the operation control operation panel 10 and the sequence program stored in the PLC 30.

  Here, input / output (also referred to as I / O) by the touch panel 15 is exchanged with the PLC 30 via the CPU 11, whereas the output device 16 and the input device 17 are directly wired to the PLC 30 and directly to the PLC 30. I / O exchange is performed.

  Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described based on the flowcharts of FIGS. 2, 3, and 6. FIG. 2 is a main flowchart of the operation control operation panel 10. When the power is turned on, an initial screen display process is performed in S50. The initial screen is provided with screen switching buttons for various function screens. In S51, it is determined whether or not the screen switching button has been pressed. At this time, if the selected screen is an individual operation screen, the process proceeds to S53, and each individual operation button process is performed. If another screen other than the individual operation screen is selected, the process proceeds to S52, and the number of tools or The screen processing selected by the screen switching button is performed, such as the counter screen for managing the number of processes, the abnormal lamp screen for displaying various information on the equipment, and the information screen for displaying the number of times of abnormality, abnormal time, and availability. Is called.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a subprogram for each button processing called in S53 of FIG. 2. First, it is determined whether or not the menu button displayed in the lower part of the touch panel 15 of FIG. If the button is pressed, the subprogram is returned. If not, the process proceeds to S61. In addition, about the process after S61, each process is performed about all the buttons displayed by each piece button process.

  In S61, it is determined whether or not the lamp address signal is ON. That is, since the display screen of the touch panel 15 has not only the function of a button as an input means but also the function of a lamp as an output means, it is determined whether or not the lamp is lit as a function of this lamp. . Whether or not this lamp is lit is determined by whether or not the signal (lamp address signal) of the address in the PLC 30 is ON.

  Then, whether or not each lamp is to be lit is determined based on the ON / OFF of the lamp address signal. If the lamp address signal is ON, the process proceeds to S62, and the lamp lighting process is performed. Proceed to, and the lamp extinguishing process is performed. That is, in S62, the button with the lamp turned on is displayed, and in S63, the button with the lamp turned off is displayed. Here, the state in which the lamp is turned off is a state in which the background color of a button to be described later is black.

  Next, after the lamp extinguishing process in S63, the process proceeds to S64, where ON / OFF of the operation condition address signal is determined, and in S66, ON / OFF of the start condition address signal is determined. If the operation condition address signal is OFF, the process proceeds to S65 to perform a lamp gray display process. If the operation condition address signal is ON and the start condition address signal is ON, the process proceeds to S67 to perform a frame blink display process. Then, after the lamp lighting process of S62, after the lamp gray display process of S65, after the frame blinking display process of S67, and when the operation condition address signal is ON and the start condition address signal is OFF, S68. Proceed to

  Here, the operation condition address signal and the start condition address signal will be described. FIG. 4 shows an example of a ladder circuit diagram in the PLC 30. When the output M01 is turned on by a predetermined input signal in order to perform a certain operation, various input signals (X01, X02, X03...) The output M01 is turned on when the input signal satisfies a predetermined state. Input conditions (X01, X02, X03) called start conditions and input conditions (X04, X05, X06) called operation conditions are set in these various input signals.

The operation condition is a condition in which the state of the operation executed by turning ON the output M01 needs to be always maintained from the start to the end. Specifically, whether the power is supplied or the door Is closed or the operation preparation button is pressed.

The activation condition is an operation executed by turning ON the output M01.
This is a condition that triggers the start of operation, specifically, whether the tightening of the tool has been completed or the previous workpiece has been processed. That is, the activation condition may change after the operation is started. Therefore, a hold circuit is provided.

  The display state of each lamp on the touch panel 15 is changed according to the operating condition and the starting condition. In other words, if the operating condition is not satisfied, it means that the operation cannot be executed now. If the operating condition is satisfied, the operation can be executed now, and the start condition is also satisfied. If so, it means that the operation is the next operation to be performed.

  Whether or not these operating conditions and starting conditions are satisfied is determined by the CPU 31 of the PLC 30 based on an input signal to the PLC 30. Since the operation condition address signal and the start condition address signal turned on or off by the PLC 30 are output to the RAM 13 of the operation control operation panel 10, the operation control operation panel 10 side has the operation condition address signal and the start condition address signal. It is sufficient to change the display state of the operation buttons only by the above.

  Next, based on FIG. 5, the difference in the display state of the button by said operating conditions and starting conditions is demonstrated.

  As shown in the table of FIG. 5, there are four combinations of ON / OFF of the operating condition and the starting condition, and for each of the four types, there are two kinds of display states when normal and when the button is pressed.

  When the operation condition is normal, the display is displayed with a lamp color (green) frame and a gray background color (S65) as shown in the display example (A). In this case, since the operating condition is OFF, this operation cannot be performed. That is, the background color gray indicates that the operation cannot be selected.

  When the operating condition is ON and the starting condition is OFF, as shown in the display example (B), the lamp color (green) frame and the black background color are displayed. In this case, since the operating condition is ON, this operation can be performed. That is, the background darkness black indicates that the operation can be selected. When this button is pressed, the frame is displayed in red as shown in the display example (D). That is, the background color red indicates that the process is selected.

  When both the operating condition and the starting condition are ON, as shown in the display example (C), the lamp color (green) outer frame, the blinking inner frame (S67), and the black background color are displayed. In this case, since both the operating condition and the starting condition are ON, this operation is an operation to be performed next in each individual operation. That is, the blinking display of the inner frame means that the operation should be performed next.

  Here, since it is determined whether or not the above operating conditions and starting conditions satisfy each condition in the PLC 30, the operation control operation panel 10 side corresponds to the operation button by an output signal from the PLC 30. By only determining ON / OFF (S64) of the operating condition address signal and ON / OFF (S66) of the start condition address signal, different display states can be obtained as shown in FIGS.

  Returning to the flowchart of FIG.

  In S68, it is determined whether or not there is a touch input, that is, whether or not the button is pressed. If it is not pressed, the process returns to S60, and if it is pressed, the process proceeds to S69.

  In S69, ON / OFF of the operation condition address signal is determined in the same manner as in S64. When the operation condition address signal is OFF, the operation cannot be performed as described above (the background color gray display button has been pressed), so a warning window display process is performed in S70, and the process proceeds to S60. Return. If the operation condition address signal is ON, the operation can be performed (the background color black display button has been pressed), and the process proceeds to S71.

  In S71, it is determined whether the output address is ON / OFF. If the output address is OFF, an output that turns on the output address of the PLC 30 is output in S72. If the output address is ON, the process proceeds to S73. Then, an output for turning off the output address of the PLC 30 is output, and the process returns to S60.

  Here, the processing from S71 to S73 indicates that the button is turned OFF when the ON button is pressed, and is turned ON when the OFF button is pressed. That is, ON / OFF is switched every time the button is pressed. The processing from S71 to S73 is performed when, for example, the three buttons for the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis are pressed when the Y-axis button is pressed while the X-axis button is ON. Other forms may also be used, such as turning off the output address of and turning on the output address of the Y-axis button.

  Next, the warning window process in S70 of FIG. 3 will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG.

  In S80, a warning window as shown in FIG. 8 is displayed. Since the driving condition is not satisfied by the determination in S69 of FIG. 3, a warning that the operation corresponding to the button cannot be operated because the driving condition is not satisfied is given, and the driving condition in which the condition is not seen Displays the output address of.

  The warning window is provided with a “monitor” button and a “return” button. In S81, it is determined whether these buttons have been pressed. When the “monitor” button is pressed, the ladder circuit monitor of the operation condition is displayed as shown in FIG. Thereby, the operator can pursue the cause that the operating condition is not satisfied with reference to the ladder circuit diagram.

  In S83, it is determined whether or not the “return” button shown in FIG. 9 has been pressed. If the “return” button has been pressed, the process returns to S81, and if not, the process returns to S82.

  FIG. 7 shows an example of the screen display state of the operation control operation panel. Each button on each operation screen is a button that cannot be operated (background color gray) and a button that can be operated now (background color black) by the processing described above. ) Since the button to be operated next (blinking of the inner frame) is visually distinguished and displayed, even individual workers who are not skilled in individual operations can perform individual operations such as recovery from an abnormal stop. it can.

  The upper lamp display screen of the touch panel 15 is similar to the abnormal lamp screen in S52 described above, but the lamp display in S52 displays as much information (lamp) as possible so that all of the touch panel 15 is a lamp display. On the other hand, the lamp display in the individual button processing displays the minimum lamp necessary for performing the individual operation, and the other part of the touch panel 15 is the individual operation screen.

  In addition, the screen layout and the items of the buttons on the touch panel 15 are set in advance by the operation panel setting means and stored in the RAM 13 as screen definition data. Then, the display as shown in FIG. 7 is performed based on the screen definition data.

It is a block diagram of the operation control operation panel, sequence controller, and equipment machine in the embodiment of the present invention. It is a main flowchart of the operation control operation panel in the embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart of each operation button process in the flowchart of FIG. It is an example of the ladder circuit diagram for demonstrating a driving | running condition and a starting condition. It is a figure for demonstrating the example for the table for demonstrating the display state of the operation button in embodiment of this invention, and the display state of an operation button. It is a flowchart of the warning window display process in the flowchart of FIG. It is a figure which shows the display state of each screen of the operation | movement control operation panel in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the warning window in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the circuit monitor in embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the relationship between the operation panel in the prior art, a sequence controller, a numerical controller, and an actuator. It is a figure which shows each button for individual operation in a prior art.

Explanation of symbols

10: Operation control operation panel 15: Touch panel 30: Sequence controller 40: Equipment machine

Claims (7)

In an operation control operation panel that is connected to a sequence controller and controls the operation of the equipment machine connected to the sequence controller by exchanging input / output signals with the sequence controller.
A touch panel having the functions of both input means and output means;
An operation control operation comprising operation button display means for visually distinguishing and displaying a plurality of operation buttons configured on the touch panel according to a state of a predetermined input / output signal in the sequence controller Board. In the operation control operation panel according to claim 1,
The operation control operation panel, wherein the plurality of operation buttons are operation buttons for performing individual operations obtained by dividing operations performed during a series of automatic operations of the mechanical equipment into individual operations. In the operation control operation panel according to claim 1 or 2,
The predetermined input / output signal in the sequence controller should be satisfied at the start of the operation executed by the operation button and the operation condition that should always be satisfied during the operation executed by the operation button. An operation control operation panel characterized by being at least one of activation conditions that are conditions. In the operation control operation panel according to claim 3,
The operation control operation panel according to claim 1, wherein whether or not the operation condition and the start condition are satisfied is determined by the sequence controller. In the operation control operation panel according to claim 3 or claim 4,
The display means visually distinguishes and displays three states when the driving condition is satisfied but when the driving condition is satisfied but the starting condition is not satisfied, and when both the driving condition and the starting condition are satisfied. An operation control operation panel characterized by: In the operation control operation panel according to any one of claims 3 to 5,
An operation control operation panel comprising warning display means for displaying a warning to notify that the operation condition is not satisfied when an operation button that does not satisfy the operation condition is pressed. In the operation control operation panel according to claim 6,
An operation control operation panel comprising circuit monitor means for displaying a ladder circuit diagram of the operation condition of the operation button that does not satisfy the operation condition displayed by the warning display means.

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