JP2008305152A - Design support system, design support method, and design support program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a design support system for efficiently verifying conveyance control of a conveyance body in the system even when a system configuration is changed. <P>SOLUTION: The design support system is provided with a plurality of sheet conveyance control simulators 101, 102, 103 for verifying sheet conveyance control by displaying sheet conveyance control simulation on a display part. Each of the sheet conveyance control simulators 101, 102, 103 simulates sheet conveyance control on the basis of information obtained by previously defining relation between the upstream side and the downstream side in the sheet conveyance control simulators 101, 102, 103, and when the sheet arrives at a prescribed position in the conveyance control simulation, notifies the downstream side conveyance body conveying control simulator of information on the sheet. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a software design support system, a design support method, and a design support program for controlling, for example, a transport mechanism for transporting a transport body such as a sheet.

  Conventionally, a conveyance body such as a sheet is conveyed in various fields. For example, in an image forming apparatus, a sheet as a conveyance body is conveyed by a conveyance mechanism such as a roller or a guide. And in order to convey a conveyance body, the software which controls the conveyance is indispensable.

  That is, in many of the conveyance control of the conveyance body, it is rare that the conveyance body only needs to be conveyed in one direction at a constant speed. For example, the position of the conveyance body is detected by a sensor and stopped at a predetermined position. In many cases, it is necessary to control the roller to reversely rotate and to reverse the conveying direction.

  In addition, for example, recent image forming apparatuses are expected to have high functions and high production. Accordingly, software for controlling the image forming apparatus becomes complicated, and the man-hours for identifying the cause from the discovery of the defect and correcting the defect increase. is doing.

  Thus, with the recent improvement in computer performance, there are increasing opportunities to use simulation technology for transport mechanism design. For example, a system for calculating the behavior of the transport body in the transport mechanism by simulation and finding a defect latent in the transport mechanism has been proposed (Patent Document 1).

Also, while simulation of the transport mechanism is active in every situation, a technique related to software verification for controlling the transport mechanism of the transport body has also been proposed. For example, a design support method has been proposed in which an external event such as switching on / off and opening / closing of a cover is generated from an input device such as a keyboard to printer control software (Patent Document 2).
JP-A-9-81600 JP-A-5-143260

  An environment surrounding recent image forming apparatuses includes an increase in the scale of the system.

  That is, not only processing in the apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus as in the prior art, but also connecting one or more large capacity paper feed decks to the apparatus main body, and feeding paper from there. System expansion is attempted in the form of image formation.

  Alternatively, as a post-processing device, an inserter for inserting another output sheet in the output bundle, a puncher for punching the output bundle, or the like is connected to the subsequent stage of the image forming apparatus to perform the finishing process. System expansion is planned in the form.

  Further, the system is expanded in such a manner that a folding machine for adjusting the size of output sheets having different sizes, a finisher for outputting bundles, etc. are connected to the subsequent stage of the image forming apparatus to perform finishing processing.

  In such a situation, it is necessary not only to verify the defect of the image reading apparatus main body, but also to identify the cause from the discovery of the defect as a system, and to correct the defect, and the man-hours and cost for verification also increase. ing.

  However, in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, although the cause of the malfunction that is latent in the transport mechanism of the transport body can be identified, the cause of the malfunction that is latent in the software that controls the transport mechanism cannot be identified. Further, in the above-mentioned Patent Document 2, even if a potential defect in software can be found, the cause cannot be identified.

  Therefore, design support using a simulator for controlling a transport mechanism is more important for system diversification. FIG. 9 shows an example of a conventional transport mechanism control simulator including a software simulation unit 1, an input monitoring unit 4, a mechanism simulation unit 2, and a display control unit 5.

  However, when it is attempted to verify the transport mechanism control of the entire system using one simulator shown in FIG. 9, it is necessary to create separate simulators depending on whether the inserter is connected to the apparatus body of the image forming apparatus, for example. . Alternatively, if the post-processing apparatus is the same but the image forming apparatus is different, another simulator must be created.

  For this reason, it is necessary to prepare simulator variations as many as the number of devices constituting the system, which requires a lot of man-hours for simulator preparation, and the design support environment cannot cope with system diversification. is there.

  In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a design support system, a design support method, and a design support program capable of efficiently verifying transport control of a transport body in the system even when the system configuration is changed. .

  In order to achieve the above object, the design support system of the present invention is designed to include a plurality of transport body transport control simulators for verifying transport control of the transport body by displaying transport control simulation of the transport body on a display unit. In the support system, the plurality of transport body transport control simulators, based on information defining a relationship between an upstream side and a downstream side between the transport body transport control simulators in advance from a transport path of the transport body, Simulation means for simulating the transport control of the transport body, and when the transport body reaches a predetermined position in the transport control simulation of the transport body by the simulation means, transport body information regarding the transport body is sent to the transport body transport control simulator on the downstream side. And a notification means for notifying.

  A design support method according to the present invention is a design support method for verifying transport control of a transport body by displaying transport control simulations of the transport body by a plurality of transport body transport control simulators on a display unit. A simulation step of performing a transport control simulation of the transport body by the transport body transport control simulator based on information defining upstream and downstream relationships between the plurality of transport body transport control simulators from the transport path of A notification step of notifying the downstream side of the transfer body conveyance control simulator of the transfer body information related to the transfer body when the transfer body reaches a predetermined position in the transfer control simulation of the transfer body in the simulation step. Features.

  The design support program of the present invention is a design support program for verifying transport control of a transport body by displaying transport control simulation of the transport body by a plurality of transport body transport control simulators on a display unit, A simulation step of performing a transport control simulation of the transport body by the transport body transport control simulator based on information defining upstream and downstream relationships between the plurality of transport body transport control simulators from the transport path of In the simulation of the transport control of the transport body in the simulation step, when the transport body reaches a predetermined position, a notification step of notifying the transport body information related to the transport body to the downstream transport control simulator is executed on the computer It is characterized by making it.

  According to the present invention, once a carrier transport control simulator is created for each device constituting the system, subsequent changes in the system configuration can be easily handled by combining those carrier transport control simulators. . Thereby, even if the system configuration is changed, the conveyance control of the conveyance body in the system can be efficiently verified.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining a design support system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  The design support system according to the present embodiment performs control timing design of firmware software that controls an actual image forming system by linking a plurality of simulators that perform simulation of sheet conveyance control of an image forming apparatus and its peripheral devices using a computer (PC or the like). Support.

  That is, in the design support system of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, three sheet conveyance control simulators (conveyance member conveyance control simulators) 101, 102, and 103 that are mechanically identical are respectively connected to a general-purpose network (communication line) 104. Are connected to each other through communication.

  Each of the sheet conveyance control simulators 101, 102, and 103 includes a software simulation unit 1, an input monitoring unit 4, a mechanism simulation unit 2, a display control unit 5, and an external I / F unit 3. Here, in the present embodiment, the software simulation unit 1, the mechanism simulation unit 2, and the external I / F unit 3 constitute the simulation means of the present invention.

  The software simulation unit 1 is for virtually executing firmware software relating to sheet (conveyance body) conveyance control on a PC (information processing apparatus). The input monitoring unit 4 monitors inputs such as a keyboard device and a mouse which are man-machine interfaces, and the software simulation unit 1 receives the execution start request from the input monitoring unit 4 and performs software simulation control. Start. The execution result in the software simulation unit 1 is passed to the mechanism simulation unit 2.

  The mechanism simulation unit 2 obtains the position of the sheet in the conveyance mechanism by calculation from the speed of the roller related to the sheet conveyance control, and the position information of the obtained sheet is obtained from the software simulation unit 1 and the display control. To the unit 5 and the external I / F unit 3.

  The external I / F unit 3 is connected to the general-purpose network 104 and transmits a command from the software simulation unit 1 to another sheet conveyance control simulator via the general-purpose network 104. The external I / F unit 3 receives a command transmitted from another sheet conveyance control simulator via the general-purpose network 104 and passes it to the software simulation unit 1.

  In FIG. 1, three sheet conveyance control simulators are used for explanation. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and two or four or more sheet conveyance control simulators may be used.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a sheet conveyance control simulation screen displayed on the display (not shown: display unit) of the PC by the display control unit 5. In FIG. 2, simulation screens W1, W2, and W3 displayed on the display of the PC corresponding to each of the sheet conveyance control simulators 101, 102, and 103 are shown side by side for convenience.

  In the sheet conveyance control simulation screens W1, W2, and W3 of the present embodiment, the sheet conveyance process is displayed by expressing the sheet conveyance path as a dotted line, the roller of the conveyance mechanism as a circle, the sensor as a triangle, and the sheet as a solid line. . In the example of FIG. 2, the simulation screen W1 is a paper feeding device that generates sheets as data on the design support system, and the simulation screen W2 is a paper discharge device that discharges sheets as data from the design support system. The simulation screen W3 is an intermediate device (an image forming apparatus such as a printer) that transfers a sheet as data passed from the paper feeding device (screen W1) to the paper discharge device (screen W2).

  In the present embodiment, for example, the sheet conveyance control simulator 101 and the simulation screen W1, the sheet conveyance control simulator 102 and the simulation screen W3, and the sheet conveyance control simulator 103 and the simulation screen W2 are associated with each other.

  In the following description, it is assumed that the sheet conveyance control simulator 101 performs sheet feeding device control, the sheet conveyance control simulator 102 performs intermediate device control, and the sheet conveyance control simulator 103 performs sheet discharge device control.

  Note that, as described above, the configuration of the design support system according to the present embodiment is not limited to the three-unit configuration including the paper feed device, the paper discharge device, and the intermediate device illustrated in FIG. For example, the configuration of the design support system according to the present embodiment is a two-unit configuration including a paper feed device and a paper discharge device, or four or more units having a plurality of intermediate devices between the paper feed device and the paper discharge device. It does not matter even if it is a configuration.

  However, the definitions of these devices are conceptual, and in an actual apparatus, a paper feed deck capable of continuous connection is a paper feed device or an intermediate device depending on the operation mode. An apparatus having an escape tray in the middle of the stacked post-processing apparatuses is an intermediate device or a paper discharge device. Alternatively, a printer having a paper feed cassette may be a paper feed device and a paper discharge device.

  Next, the software simulation unit 1, the mechanism simulation unit 2, and the external I / F unit 3 of the sheet conveyance control simulators 101, 102, and 103 will be specifically described with reference to FIG.

  The software simulation unit 1 includes a firmware software unit 10, a wrapper unit 11, an input I / F unit 12, and an output I / F unit 13.

  The firmware software unit 10 is software for performing sheet conveyance control of an actual image forming apparatus or peripheral device.

  The wrapper unit 11 has a function for operating firmware software of an actual image forming apparatus or a peripheral device on a PC.

  The input I / F unit 12 has a function of inputting information from the input monitoring unit 4, the mechanism simulation unit 2, or the external I / F unit 3.

  The output I / F unit 13 has a function of outputting information to the mechanism simulation unit 2 or the external I / F unit 3.

  The mechanism simulation unit 2 includes a sheet position calculation unit 20, an input I / F unit 21, an output I / F unit 22, and a sheet position display unit 23.

  The input I / F unit 21 has a function of receiving an output result from the output I / F unit 13 of the software simulation unit 1 and passing control information related to sheet conveyance control to the sheet position calculation unit 20.

  The sheet position calculation unit 20 stores the roller position of the transport mechanism. In addition, the sheet position calculation unit 20 rotates a virtual roller according to the sheet conveyance control information from the software simulation unit 1, and the sheet position in the sheet conveyance path according to the stored roller position and the rotation speed of the virtual roller. A function for calculating and storing the position is provided.

  The sheet position display unit 23 has a function for instructing the display control unit 5 to display the sheet conveyance control simulation screen described with reference to FIG. 2 based on the sheet position calculated by the sheet position calculation unit 20. .

  The output I / F unit 22 has a function for providing the position information of the sheet calculated by the sheet position calculation unit 20 to the input I / F unit 12 of the software simulation unit 1. Further, when the sheet position reaches the sheet information notification position, the output I / F unit (notifying unit) 22 outputs sheet information (conveyance body information) described later to the network output I / F of the external I / F unit 3. A function for giving to the unit 31 is provided.

  The external I / F unit 3 includes a network input I / F unit 30 and a network output I / F unit 31.

  The network input I / F unit 30 has a function of receiving a command sent from another sheet conveyance control simulator via the general-purpose network 104 and passing it to the input I / F unit 12 of the software simulation unit 1. On the other hand, the network output I / F unit 31 has a function of transmitting a command transmitted from the output I / F unit 13 of the software simulation unit 1 to another sheet conveyance control simulator via the general-purpose network 104. The network output I / F unit 31 has a function of transmitting the sheet information transmitted from the output I / F unit 22 of the mechanism simulation unit 2 to another sheet conveyance control simulator via the general-purpose network 104.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining sheet conveyance control of the sheet conveyance control simulator 101 which is a sheet feeding device. Each process in FIG. 4 is executed by the CPU by loading a program stored in the storage means (ROM, hard disk, etc.) of the PC corresponding to the sheet conveyance control simulator 101 into the RAM.

  In FIG. 4, first, the simulator environment is initialized (step S401), and a paper feed request command is awaited (step S402). When a paper feed request command is received, a sheet as data is generated (step S403), a simulation of the sheet transport operation is started, and sheet transport control is verified (step S404).

  During the simulation of the sheet conveying operation, it is determined whether the leading end position of the sheet has reached a position for notifying predetermined sheet information at a predetermined interval (step S405). The position where the sheet information is notified here is a sheet discharge position (termination position) on the actual apparatus of the sheet feeding device, and is uniquely determined by the mechanical configuration of the sheet feeding device that is a simulation target of the sheet conveyance control simulator 101. it can.

  Then, when the leading end position of the sheet reaches the position where the sheet information is notified, the sheet information is notified to the subsequent sheet conveyance control simulator (step S406). Here, in this embodiment, the sheet conveyance control simulator 102 which is an intermediate device is assumed as a subsequent stage simulator to the sheet conveyance control simulator 101. The simulation of the sheet conveying operation is performed until the trailing edge of the sheet is discharged from the sheet feeding device (step S407).

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining sheet conveyance control of the sheet conveyance control simulator (printer simulator) 102 which is an intermediate device. Each process in FIG. 5 is executed by the CPU by loading a program stored in the storage means (ROM, hard disk, etc.) of the PC corresponding to the sheet conveyance control simulator 102 into the RAM.

  In FIG. 5, first, the simulator environment is initialized (step S501), an operation start command is waited (step S502), and after the operation is started, a sheet information notification from the preceding sheet conveyance control simulator 101 is waited ( Step S503).

  In response to the notification of the sheet information, a sheet as data is generated (step S504), and a sheet conveyance operation simulation is started to verify sheet conveyance control (step S505). During the sheet conveyance operation simulation, it is determined whether the leading edge position of the sheet has reached a predetermined sheet information notification position at a predetermined interval (step S506). The position where the sheet information is notified here is a discharge position (termination position) on the actual device of the intermediate device, and is uniquely determined by the mechanical configuration of the intermediate device (printer or the like) that is the simulation target of the sheet conveyance simulator 102. Can do.

  When the sheet information notification position is reached, the sheet information is notified to the subsequent sheet conveyance control simulator (step S507). In the present embodiment, the sheet conveyance control simulator 103 which is a paper discharge device is a subsequent stage simulator to the sheet conveyance control simulator 102. The simulation of the sheet conveying operation is performed until the trailing edge of the sheet is discharged from the intermediate device (step S508).

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining sheet conveyance control of the sheet conveyance control simulator 103 which is a paper discharge device. Each process in FIG. 6 is executed by the CPU by loading a program stored in the storage means (ROM, hard disk, etc.) of the PC corresponding to the sheet conveyance control simulator 103 into the RAM.

  In FIG. 6, first, the simulator environment is initialized (step S601), an operation start command is waited (step S602), and after the operation starts, a sheet information notification from the preceding sheet conveyance control simulator 102 is waited ( Step S603).

  In response to the notification of the sheet information, a sheet as data is generated (step S604), a simulation of the sheet conveyance operation is started, and the sheet conveyance control is verified (step S605). When the trailing edge of the sheet is discharged from the paper discharge device, the simulation of the sheet conveyance operation is terminated (step S606).

  Next, a timing sequence of the cooperative operation of the sheet conveyance control simulators 101 to 103 will be described with reference to FIG.

  As described above, the sheet conveyance control simulator 101 simulates the paper feed device, the sheet conveyance control simulator 102 simulates the intermediate device (in this case, the image forming apparatus = printer), and the sheet conveyance control simulator 103 simulates the paper discharge device. And In the following description, the sheet conveyance control simulator 102 is referred to as a printer simulator 102, the sheet conveyance control simulator 101 is referred to as a paper feed device simulator 101, and the sheet conveyance control simulator 103 is referred to as a paper discharge device simulator 103.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, when viewed from the printer (intermediate device) simulator 102 side, the upstream device is set as the paper feed device simulator 101, and the downstream device is set as the paper discharge device simulator 103. The relationship between the upstream side and the downstream side among the plurality of sheet conveyance control simulators 101, 102, and 103 is defined in advance based on the sheet conveyance path.

  First, an operation start notification command is transmitted from the printer simulator 102 to the paper feed device simulator 101 and the paper discharge device simulator 103. At that time, the paper supply device simulator 101 is notified that the printer simulator 102 is a downstream device, and the paper discharge device simulator 103 is notified that the printer simulator 102 is an upstream device. Is also notified.

  Next, the printer simulator 102 transmits a paper feed request command to the paper feed device simulator 101, and then waits for notification of sheet information from the paper feed device simulator 101.

  Next, upon receiving notification of sheet information, the printer simulator 102 generates sheet data having a sheet length and a sheet type based on the sheet information, starts simulation of sheet conveyance control, and controls sheet conveyance. To verify.

  Next, when the leading edge of the sheet reaches a predetermined sheet information notification position, the printer simulator 102 notifies the sheet information to the sheet discharge device simulator 103 which is a downstream device. The printer simulator 102 continues the sheet conveyance simulation until the trailing edge of the sheet is discharged from the printer that is an intermediate device. After completion of the sheet conveyance simulation, the printer simulator 102 waits for a paper discharge completion command from the paper discharge device simulator 103, and ends the operation upon receiving the paper discharge completion command.

  The sheet feeding device simulator 101 waits for an operation start notification command and a sheet feeding request command from the printer simulator 102 and starts a sheet conveyance simulation to verify sheet conveyance control. At that time, the sheet feeding device simulator 101 starts a sheet conveyance simulation based on the sheet length and sheet type set in the corresponding sheet feeding stage in accordance with the sheet feeding stage designation included in the sheet feeding request command. .

  The sheet feeding device simulator 101 can determine the sheet length and sheet type to be simulated for conveyance control by the printer simulator 102 when the leading edge of the sheet reaches a predetermined sheet information notification position. Notify sheet information. Thereafter, the sheet conveyance simulation is continued until the trailing edge of the sheet passes through the paper feeding device, and the operation ends when the trailing edge of the sheet passes through the paper feeding device.

  The paper discharge device simulator 103 receives an operation start notification command from the printer simulator 102 and waits for notification of sheet information from the printer simulator 102. The paper discharge device simulator 103 receives the notification of the sheet information, generates sheet data, starts a sheet conveyance simulation, and verifies the sheet conveyance control. The paper discharge device simulator 103 continues the sheet conveyance simulation until the trailing edge of the sheet exits the paper discharge device. When the paper is discharged, the paper discharge device simulator 103 notifies the printer simulator 102 of a paper discharge completion command and ends the operation.

  FIG. 7B is a diagram illustrating an example of sheet information used in the timing sequence of FIG. The sheet information is composed of a command part indicating that this is sheet information, a data size part indicating the subsequent data amount, a sheet size code part for determining the length of the sheet, and a sheet type code part.

  In this case, the sheet position calculation unit 20 generates sheet data of a corresponding size (length) based on the sheet size code, but instead of this, sheet size information may be directly transmitted. good.

  In the present embodiment, the sheet information is notified to the subsequent sheet conveyance control simulator when the leading edge of the sheet reaches a predetermined sheet information notification position. This means that the sheet delivery between the sheet conveyance control simulators is controlled independently of the processing in the firm software unit 10.

  However, when devices are linked in a real machine environment, the timing of the linkage operation between devices is also adjusted at the command level on the firmware software unit 10.

  Accordingly, when the network input I / F unit 30 or the input I / F unit 12 receives a predetermined command in accordance with the communication of the firm command, the sheet position calculation unit 20 is informed to the sheet position via the input I / F unit 21. It is also possible to request generation of information.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the plurality of sheet conveyance control simulators 101, 102, and 103 are in a state where they can communicate with each other, and based on the sheet conveyance path between the plurality of sheet conveyance control simulators 101, 102, and 103. Define the relationship between upstream and downstream. When the sheet conveyance control is verified in each of the sheet conveyance control simulators 101, 102, and 103 based on the definitions on the upstream side and the downstream side, the sheet conveyance on the downstream side is performed when the sheet reaches a predetermined position. The sheet information is transmitted to the control simulator.

  Thus, once a sheet conveyance control simulator is created for each device constituting the image forming system, the system configuration can be easily changed by combining these sheet conveyance control simulators thereafter. As a result, even if the configuration of the image forming system is changed, verification of sheet conveyance control in the image forming system can be performed efficiently.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 8 is a block diagram for explaining a design support system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In addition, about the part which overlaps with the said 1st Embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to a figure and the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  The design support system of this embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment in that a sheet conveyance control simulation of the image forming apparatus and its peripheral devices is performed on the PC. The difference is that a plurality of sheet conveyance control simulators are simultaneously operated on one PC.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 8, the sheet conveyance control simulator 801 can simultaneously operate two systems of simulation units 802a and 802b including a software simulation unit 1, a mechanism simulation unit 2, and an external I / F unit 3. It has a configuration.

  The sheet conveyance control simulator 801 and the sheet conveyance control simulator 103 are connected via a general-purpose network 104 so as to communicate with each other. However, in the sheet conveyance control simulator 801, the input monitoring unit 4 and the display control unit 5 of the simulation units 802a and 802b are shared, and the operation target can be switched for input, and the display can be simultaneously displayed. .

  In FIG. 8, two sheet conveyance control simulators are operated by one PC. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and three or more sheet conveyance control simulators are configured by one PC depending on the capability of the PC. You may make it operate. Further, all sheet conveyance control simulators may be operated by one PC. In this case, no communication line is required. Other configurations and operational effects are the same as those in the first embodiment.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to what was illustrated to the said embodiment, In the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention, it can change suitably.

  The object of the present invention is achieved by executing the following processing. That is, a storage medium that records a program code of software that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus, and a computer (or CPU, MPU, etc.) of the system or apparatus is stored in the storage medium. This is the process of reading the code.

  In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the program code and the storage medium storing the program code constitute the present invention.

  Moreover, the following can be used as a storage medium for supplying the program code. For example, floppy (registered trademark) disk, hard disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-ROM, DVD-RAM, DVD-RW, DVD + RW, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM or the like. Alternatively, the program code may be downloaded via a network.

  Further, the present invention includes a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by executing the program code read by the computer. In addition, an OS (operating system) running on the computer performs part or all of the actual processing based on an instruction of the program code, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing. Is also included.

  Furthermore, a case where the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized by the following processing is also included in the present invention. That is, the program code read from the storage medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer. Thereafter, based on the instruction of the program code, the CPU or the like provided in the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing.

It is a block diagram for demonstrating the design support system which is the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the sheet conveyance control simulation screen displayed on the display of PC. It is a block diagram for explaining details of a sheet conveyance control simulator. FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining sheet conveyance control of a sheet conveyance control simulator that is a sheet feeding device. FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining sheet conveyance control of a sheet conveyance control simulator (printer simulator) that is an intermediate device. FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining sheet conveyance control of a sheet conveyance control simulator that is a paper discharge device. (A) is a timing sequence diagram for explaining the cooperative operation of each sheet conveyance control simulator, (b) is a diagram showing an example of sheet information used in the timing sequence of (a). It is a block diagram for demonstrating the design support system which is the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the simulator of the conventional conveyance mechanism control.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Software simulation part 2 Mechanism simulation part 3 External I / F part 4 Input monitoring part 5 Display control part 10 Firm software part 11 Wrapper part 12 Input I / F part 13 Output I / F part 20 Sheet position calculation part 21 Input I / F section 22 Output I / F section 23 Sheet position display section 30 Network input I / F section 31 Network output I / F sections 101, 102, 103 Sheet conveyance control simulator 104 General-purpose network

Claims (10)

A design support system comprising a plurality of transport body transport control simulators for verifying transport control of the transport body by displaying transport control simulation of the transport body on a display unit,
The plurality of transport body transport control simulators simulate transport control of the transport body in advance based on information defining upstream and downstream relationships between the plurality of transport body transport control simulators from the transport path of the transport body. Simulation means;
And a notifying means for notifying the downstream side of the transport body transport control simulator of transport body information related to the transport body when the transport body reaches a predetermined position in the transport control simulation of the transport body by the simulation means. A featured design support system. The simulation means generates a transport body as data based on the notified transport body information, and starts a transport control simulation of the transport body.
The design support system according to claim 1, wherein: The notification means notifies the conveyance body information on the conveyance body to the conveyance body conveyance control simulator on the downstream side when the conveyance body reaches the end position of the conveyance path in the conveyance control simulation of the conveyance body by the simulation means.
The design support system according to claim 1, wherein the system is a design support system. The carrier information includes information on the size of the carrier,
The design support system according to claim 1, wherein the system is a design support system. The carrier information includes information on the type of the carrier,
The design support system according to claim 4. The plurality of carrier conveyance control simulators are respectively provided in a plurality of information processing apparatuses, and the plurality of information processing apparatuses are connected to each other via a communication line so as to be able to communicate with each other.
The design support system according to claim 1, wherein the system is a design support system. A design support method for verifying transport control of a transport body by displaying transport control simulation of the transport body by a plurality of transport body transport control simulators on a display unit,
A simulation step of performing a transport control simulation of the transport body by the transport body transport control simulator based on information defining in advance the upstream and downstream relationships between the plurality of transport body transport control simulators from the transport path of the transport body When,
A notifying step for notifying the downstream side of the transporting body transport control simulator of transporting body information regarding the transporting body when the transporting body reaches a predetermined position in the transport control simulation of the transporting body in the simulation step. Design support method characterized by The simulation step generates a transport body as data based on the notified transport body information, and starts a transport control simulation of the transport body.
The design support method according to claim 7, wherein: In the notification step, when the transport body reaches the end position of the transport path in the transport control simulation of the transport body in the simulation step, the transport body information related to the transport body is notified to the downstream transport control simulator. ,
The design support method according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that: A design support program for verifying transport control of a transport body by displaying transport control simulation of the transport body by a plurality of transport body transport control simulators on a display unit,
A simulation step of performing a transport control simulation of the transport body by the transport body transport control simulator based on information defining in advance the upstream and downstream relationships between the plurality of transport body transport control simulators from the transport path of the transport body When,
A notification step of notifying the computer of transporter information about the transport body to the transport body transport control simulator on the downstream side when the transport body reaches a predetermined position in the transport control simulation of the transport body in the simulation step; A design support program characterized by being executed.

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