JP2009252074A - Productive equipment and relay apparatus, and control program for relay apparatus and control method for productive equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To build an integrated control system for productive equipment by combining controllers that belong to a plurality of communication lines of different kinds. <P>SOLUTION: A signal relay apparatus 100 includes: a communication line L1 memory circuit 104 (communication line L2 memory circuit 105) which has a communication line L1 input connector 101 to which a communication line L1 (e.g., FL-net) and a communication line L2 (e.g., Cunet) of different kinds are connected, and a memory area 104a (memory area 105a) which a communication line L2 input connector 102 and a controller (PLC) connected to the communication line L1 (communication line L2) are shared; and a memory data exchange CPU 109 which copies the contents stored in the memory area 104a and the memory area 105a so as to ensure the synchronization thereof. As a result, the signal relay apparatus 100 allows the PLCs connected to the communication lines L1 and L2 to perform mutual control and monitoring. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a production facility, a relay device, a control program for the relay device, and a method for controlling the production facility.

  For example, in general, “PLC (programmable controller)” is widely used for control of industrial equipment represented by FA (Factory Automation) facilities and the like. The PLC is a control device based on sequence control in which the control operation is determined by software such as a ladder program.

On the other hand, in an industrial equipment control system constituting a product manufacturing process, for example, an "autonomous distributed control system" is known as a method for realizing expandability and independence of industrial equipment.
In other words, as a method for controlling equipment such as one industrial device, distributed control is a method of configuring equipment by combining multiple units that are equipped with a control device for each mechanism (unit) and that are individually driven in units. It is called a method. A control method in which the dispersed units are detached from the facility and can be operated alone is called an autonomous distributed control method.

  By the way, the product manufacturing process is generally composed of a plurality of industrial equipment provided by different manufacturers (vendors), and the operation and design specifications of the PLC are different for each vendor. In order to make it possible to construct a control system having a high degree of freedom such as the above-mentioned “autonomous distributed control method” by performing the cooperative operation, a common connection standard is required.

“FL-net” and “Cunet” are known as techniques for responding to such a request.
That is, “FL-net” is proposed by JEMA (Japan Electrical Manufacturers' Association) as a platform for connecting PLCs of different vendors. This "FL-net" is a type of communication line (standard) for control devices, and devices such as PLCs and robots that adopt the FL-net standard can be controlled with the same control system, making them multi-vendor. Is possible.

  Further, “Cunet” is one type of communication line (standard) of the control device, and enables various devices to be controlled by the same control system as in the above-described FL-nets.

  By the way, the above-mentioned FL-net and Cune are a so-called common memory system in which a plurality of PLCs connected to a communication line share a memory and exchange information, and a user allocates a memory for each individual PLC. Work is required.

  For this reason, Patent Document 1 discloses an operation such as a link setting wizard for allocating a part of the internal memory of each PLC to a virtual memory (common memory) shared by a plurality of PLCs and registering it in a communication line. A link setting device that displays a screen and supports user assignment work is disclosed.

  However, the technique of the above-mentioned Patent Document 1 is a technique for supporting the registration work of PLC in one communication line, such as control over different communication lines such as FL-net and Cunet. There is no mention about.

  As described above, in an autonomous distributed control type production facility, a control unit is individually mounted in a distributed unit, and independent control is performed in units. A plurality of these units are combined and controlled as one production facility. Furthermore, as a method of transmitting commands in cooperation between control devices, it is necessary to perform signal transfer inside the facility using a communication line (standard) required by a manufacturer who sells a centralized management control device that is the core of the facility. Therefore, it is necessary to select a device corresponding to the communication line required by the manufacturer that sells the centralized management control device, and configure the equipment by unifying the communication standard into one type.

For this reason, it has been difficult to construct a single production facility by connecting a control system using a PLC or the like having two or more different communication lines as a control device.
JP 2005-215936 A

  An object of the present invention is to provide a technology capable of constructing a unified production facility control system by combining control devices belonging to a plurality of different types of communication lines.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a production facility including a plurality of communication lines each connected to a control device and a relay device interposed between the plurality of communication lines.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, a line interface to which a plurality of communication lines each connected to a control device are individually connected;
A plurality of storage means provided corresponding to the individual communication lines and shared by the control devices connected to the individual communication lines;
Data exchange means for mutually copying and synchronizing the storage contents of the plurality of storage means;
Is provided.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a line interface to which a plurality of communication lines each connected to a control device are individually connected;
A plurality of storage means provided corresponding to the individual communication lines and shared by the control devices connected to the individual communication lines;
A relay device control program including
There is provided a control program for a relay device for causing a computer to perform an operation of copying and synchronizing the contents stored in a plurality of storage means.

A fourth aspect of the present invention includes a plurality of communication lines each connected with a control device, and the control device connected to each of the communication lines includes a shared memory provided in each of the communication lines. A method for controlling a production facility for exchanging information with each other in the communication line,
By copying and synchronizing the stored contents of each of the plurality of shared memories provided for each individual communication line, between the plurality of control devices connected to each of the plurality of communication lines Provided is a production facility control method for realizing the information exchange.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the technique which can construct | assemble the control system of a unified production facility by combining the control apparatus which belongs to the several different communication line can be provided.

  In the present embodiment, the signal relay device according to the first aspect has a function of constantly monitoring a memory area in which two or more communication lines are connected and a control device belonging to each communication line shares information. Similarly, a memory area for information sharing of another communication line (second type) is also provided with a function of constantly monitoring. If even a part of the data in the monitored memory area changes, the data is copied to the memory area of the communication line where the other change has not occurred and the data is shared. Further, when a change occurs in the data in the memory area in the communication line over which the data is overwritten (the one in which no change has occurred), the data is copied to the memory area of the other communication line. In this way, the same information content can be transmitted by immediately passing each other's data change over two or more communication lines.

  The second aspect and the third aspect of the present embodiment are an equipment control system realized by using the first aspect described above. In the configuration of equipment using a plurality of control devices, when two or more types of communication lines are required depending on the control device to be used, the signal relay device disclosed in the first aspect is used to provide two types of communication lines. Even a communication line can be used as one equipment control line.

  In the fourth aspect, the signal relay device is a production facility composed of a control device connected to a certain communication line and an arbitrary control device connected to another communication line, and transmits control transmission between the control devices. Disclose the production facilities to be enabled. It is not trapped by the communication line of the control system inside one facility, one is a control communication line inside the facility, and the other is a communication line between facilities or between factories so that communication lines can be used from other facilities. Thus, it becomes possible to give a control instruction to the unit control device.

  According to the first aspect described above, one control system has a configuration of equipment using a plurality of communication lines without being constrained by the communication lines (standards) presented by a manufacturer who sells an apparatus used as a centralized management control apparatus. The equipment control can be constructed with.

According to the second aspect and the third aspect described above, it is possible to construct an autonomous decentralized control facility without being restricted by the communication line system.
According to the fourth aspect, the fifth aspect, and the sixth aspect described above, a control command can be automatically issued on a production line that is configured by a plurality of autonomous distributed control facilities without being constrained by the communication line method. It is possible to directly control the unit of equipment, the overall control of other equipment, and the unit of other equipment.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a relay apparatus that implements a production facility control method according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 2A and 2B are diagrams of the signal relay apparatus according to the present embodiment. It is the perspective view which looked at the external appearance from the mutually reverse direction.

The signal relay device 100 of this embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 relays two different types of communication lines L1 and L2.
In this embodiment, as an example, the signal relay device 100 relays two types of communication lines (FL-net (communication line L1) and Cunet (communication line L2)).

  The signal relay device 100 includes a communication line L1 input connector 101, a communication line L2 input connector 102, a power input connector 103, a communication line L1 memory circuit 104 (line interface), a communication line L2 memory circuit 105 (line interface), and a power circuit 106. A power status display LED 107, a communication line L2 transmitting / receiving LED 108, a memory data conversion CPU 109 (data exchange means), a communication line L1 transmitting / receiving LED 110, and a setting change SW 111.

The power input connector 103 is a connector for supplying, for example, 24 VDC power from the outside to the apparatus.
The power supply circuit 106 is a circuit that converts DC 24V power supplied from the power input connector 103 into 5V for driving the internal circuit.

The power supply state display LED 107 is an indicator lamp for visually confirming whether or not the voltage 5 V converted by the power supply circuit 106 is being output to the internal circuit.
The communication line L1 input connector 101 is a connector for connecting the first communication line L1.

  The communication line L1 memory circuit 104 is a circuit that stores data of the communication line L1 received from the communication line L1 input connector 101. Specifically, as an example, a memory area 104a (storage means) (shared memory) shared by devices (not shown) connected to the communication line L1 is provided.

The communication line L1 transmitting / receiving LED 110 is an indicator lamp indicating that the network of the communication line L1 can normally communicate.
The communication line L2 input connector 102 is a connector for connecting the second communication line L2.

  The communication line L2 memory circuit 105 is a circuit that stores data of the communication line L2 received from the communication line L2 input connector 102. Specifically, as an example, a memory area 105a (storage means) (shared memory) shared by devices (not shown) connected to the communication line L2 is provided.

The communication line L2 transmitting / receiving LED 108 is an indicator lamp indicating that the network of the communication line L2 can normally communicate.
The memory data conversion CPU 109 compares the data stored in the memory area 105a of the communication line L2 memory circuit 105 with the data stored in the memory area 104a of the communication line L1 memory circuit 104, and determines a data portion having a difference. This is a circuit having a function of performing control of writing to each other's memory circuit (memory area 104a, memory area 105a).

The entire memory data conversion CPU 109 may be realized by hardware, or may be realized by software (firmware) as follows.
Specifically, as an example, the memory data conversion CPU 109 includes a computer such as a microprocessor and a non-volatile memory accessed by the computer. The non-volatile memory includes the control program 112 and the control program 112. Management information 113 to be referenced is stored.

Then, when the microprocessor executes the communication line L2 input connector 102, the relay operation of the signal relay device 100 as described later is realized.
The setting change SW 111 is a switch for changing the operation method of the signal relay circuit from the outside.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B, in the signal relay device 100 of the present embodiment, each of the above-described components is mounted on a housing 100a.
A pair of fixed leg portions 100b and a fixed leg portion 100c are provided on the bottom surface of the housing 100a, and can be fixed to a desired object.

On the upper surface of the housing 100a, the power supply state display LED 107, the communication line L2 transmitting / receiving LED 108, and the communication line L1 transmitting / receiving LED 110 are arranged.
The communication line L1 input connector 101, the communication line L2 input connector 102, and the power input connector 103 are arranged on the side surface of the housing 100a.

A setting change SW 111 is disposed on the opposite side surface of the housing 100a.
FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a configuration example of a production facility control system using the signal relay device according to the present embodiment.

  The production facility internal control system 200 according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of communication lines L1 and L2 and a signal relay device 211 (signal relay device 100) interposed therebetween.

  The communication line L1 includes a centralized control device 201 (control device), a robot control device 202 (control device), a production information storage device 203 (control device), a unit control device 204 (control device), and a unit control device 205 (control device). ) Is connected.

  The communication line L2 includes a unit control device 206 (control device), a unit control device 207 (control device), a unit control device 208 (control device), a unit control device 209 (control device), and a unit control device 210 (control device). Is connected.

The central control apparatus 201 manages the entire production facility control system 200.
The operations of the production equipment are controlled by combining the operations of the unit control device 210 from the unit control device 204, the unit control device 205 of the communication line L1, and the unit control device 206 of the communication line L2.

The robot controller 202 is mainly used as a product transfer operation or product inspection mechanism of equipment. The operation is started by a command from the central control apparatus 201.
The unit control device 204 and the unit control device 205 indicate one operation mechanism of the equipment.

The robot control device 202, the unit control device 204, the unit control device 205, and the central control device 201 are connected by a communication line L2.
The robot control device 202, the unit control device 204, and the unit control device 205 are devices that receive a control command from the central control device 201 via the same communication line L1 and operate in response to the command.

  The signal relay device 100 is connected to both the two communication lines L1 and L2. The function of the signal relay device 100 is to pass information on the communication line L1 and the communication line L2.

  The unit controller 206, the unit controller 207, the unit controller 208, the unit controller 209, and the unit controller 210 have a communication interface for the communication line L2, and are connected to each other via the communication line L2. The mechanism as a unit is equivalent to the unit control device 204 and the unit control device 205 on the communication line L1 side.

  The plurality of unit control devices 206 to unit control devices 210 connected to the communication line L2 operate by receiving a control command from the central control device 201 via the signal relay device 100 and the communication line L2.

  FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing a data configuration example of the memory area (memory area 104a, memory area 105a) in each of the plurality of communication lines L1 and communication lines L2 connected to the signal relay device of the present embodiment.

  The correspondence relationship between the memory area 104a and the memory area 105a illustrated in FIG. 4 is stored in advance in the management information 113 and is referred to by the memory data conversion CPU 109 (control program 112).

  As illustrated in FIG. 4, the memory area 104 a of the communication line L <b> 1 is provided with five sections: a GMPW area A, a Resisters area B, a Mail_Send_Buffer area C, a Mail_Receive_Buffer0 area D, and a Mail_Receive_Buffer1 area E.

  The GMPW area A and the Resisters area B are memory link areas for instructing equipment control operations. The internal allocation of each memory area 104a (a control command in units of 512 bytes) is arbitrarily determined according to the use of the facility.

  The Mail_Send_Buffer area C, the Mail_Receive_Buffer0 area D, and the Mail_Receive_Buffer1 area E are areas for delivering data blocks of 256 bytes. Mainly used for delivery of production information and set values.

  The memory area 104b of the communication line L2 is provided with six sections: a GMPW area O, a GMSW area P, a Resisters area Q, a Mail_Send_Buffer area R, a Mail_Receive_Buffer0 area S, and a Mail_Receive_Buffer1 area T.

  The GMPW area O and the Resisters area Q are memory link areas for instructing equipment control operations. The internal allocation of each memory area 104b (a control command in units of 512 bytes) is arbitrarily determined according to the use of the facility.

  The Mail_Send_Buffer area R, the Mail_Receive_Buffer0 area S, and the Mail_Receive_Buffer1 area T are areas for transferring 256 bytes of solid data. Mainly used for delivery of production information and set values.

  The GMSW area P is a memory link area. This is an area used inside the communication line L2. It is not used in the area of the communication line L1. In the signal relay device 100 according to the present embodiment, this area is ignored as a non-monitoring target.

  The GMPW area A of the communication line L1 and the GMPW area O of the communication line L2 have the same capacity. A common state is maintained by copying data in the memory link by the signal relay device 100 of the present embodiment.

  Similarly to the GMPW region, the Resisters region B = Resisters region Q, the Mail_Send_Buffer region C = Mail_Send_Buffer region R, the Mail_Receive_Buffer 0 region, the Relay_Re1 device, and the Relay_B1 device, the Re_Re1 device, A common state is maintained.

FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram illustrating in more detail an example of a method of copying information such as control signals between the two memory areas illustrated in FIG.
The centralized control device X is connected to the communication line L1. The signal relay device Y (signal relay device 100) is connected to two communication lines (communication line L1 and communication line L2). The unit control device Z is a unit mechanism of equipment that is connected to the communication line L2, receives a control command from this line, and operates an arbitrary function.

  The memory link state of the communication line L1 is indicated by memories: 1 to 10. Memory: 1 and memory: 3 to 10 indicate numerical values of “0”, and no state change has occurred. Memory: 2 indicates that a state change has occurred from 0 to 1.

  The memory link state of the communication line L2 is indicated by memories: 1 to 10. Memory: 1 and memory: 3 to 10 indicate numerical values of “0”, and no state change has occurred. Memory: 2 indicates that the numerical value has been changed from “0” to “1” by the signal relay device Y (signal relay device 100) in response to a change in the memory state of the communication line L1.

FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration example in which the signal relay device of the present embodiment is used in an automatic production line constructed by connecting polishing equipment having distributed control.
In this case, the automatic production line 300 is constructed by connecting four devices: a polishing machine facility 301, a polishing machine facility 302, a production monitoring terminal 307 (control device), and a production management device 308 (control device). Equipment.

The polishing machine equipment 301 is equipment for performing a product polishing process. The polishing machine facility 302 is a facility having the same function as the polishing machine facility 301. Product processing is independent.
The communication line L1 is connected to five devices: a polishing machine facility 301, a polishing machine facility 302, a production monitoring terminal 307, a production management device 308, and a unit control device 301-1 (control device). This communication line L1 is used for transmission / reception of production information in the polishing machine equipment 301, control commands inside the equipment, and equipment operation commands from outside the equipment.

  The production monitoring terminal 307 is installed outside the polishing machine equipment 301 and the polishing machine equipment 302. The production monitoring terminal 307 has a function of monitoring the entire automatic production line and giving start support to the equipment.

  The production management device 308 also has a function of accumulating production information. Product history information and facility operation information sent from the polishing machine facility 301 and the polishing machine facility 302 are transmitted via the communication line L1, and stored in a storage device (for example, a hard disk) inside the apparatus. The stored data can be read from the production monitoring terminal 307 and sent via the communication line L1 for confirmation.

The central control device 305 manages and controls the entire apparatus of the polishing machine equipment 301. Each unit starts to operate according to the command of this device.
The unit controller 301-1 is a unit mechanism mounted on the polishing machine equipment 301. It is connected to the communication line L1 and operates upon receiving a control command via the communication line L1.

The signal relay device 303 (signal relay device 100) connects the communication line L1 and the communication line L2, and transfers signals from both.
The communication line L2 is a control transmission communication line used inside the polishing machine equipment 301. The communication line L2 includes a polishing unit 311-A, a polishing unit 311-B, a polishing unit 311-C, a unit control device 311-1 (control device) that controls the polishing unit 311-D, unit control, and the like. A device 311-2 (control device), a unit control device 311-3 (control device), and a unit control device 311-4 (control device) are connected.

  All of the polishing units 311 -A to D have the same mechanism and perform the same operation, and only each of the polishing units 311 -A to D that have received an external operation command operate independently.

  The mechanism of the polishing machine equipment 302 is all the same as that of the polishing machine equipment 301, and the equipment operates in the same way. Therefore, the signal relay device 304 (signal relay device 100) has the same configuration and operation specifications as the signal relay device 303.

A centralized control device 306 (control device) connected to the communication line L1 serves as a control tower of the polishing machine equipment 302, and has the same configuration and operation specifications as the centralized control device 305.
The polishing unit 321 -A has the same function as the above-described polishing machine equipment 301.

  The communication line L3 is a communication line for control transmission used inside the polishing machine equipment 302. The communication line L3 is connected to the polishing unit control device 321-1 (control device), and is further connected to the communication line L1 via the signal relay device 304.

Hereinafter, an example of the operation of the signal relay device according to the present embodiment and the production facility control system 200 using the signal relay device, the automatic production line 300, and the like will be described.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of the signal relay device according to the present embodiment.

  In the signal relay device 100 illustrated in FIG. 1, the communication line L1 and the communication line L2 connected to each of the communication line L1 input connector 101 and the communication line L2 input connector 102 by being supplied with power from the power input connector 103. The information transfer between the two communication lines is started. While the power is not supplied, the signal relay device 100 is not functioning.

  When the power is turned on, the memory data conversion CPU 109 (control program 112) sets “0”, which is an initial setting value, to the memory area 104a and the memory area for the communication line L1 memory circuit 104 and the communication line L2 memory circuit 105. Write to 104b (GMPW area A to Mail_Receive_Buffer1 area E, GMPW area O, Resisters area Q to Mail_Receive_Buffer1 area T in FIG. 4). Thereby, both data become the same and initialization is completed (step 501).

When the initialization is completed, the memory area information received from the communication line L1 is automatically stored in the memory area 104a of the corresponding communication line L1 memory circuit 104.
The memory data conversion CPU 109 starts monitoring the state of the memory area 104a of the communication line L1 memory circuit 104 immediately after the initial completion. At this time, data comparison with the communication line L2 memory circuit 105 and comparison of relevance have not started.

  When new data transmission occurs from the communication line L1 (step 502), the data is stored in the memory area 104a of the communication line L1 memory circuit 104 (step 503). At this time, the memory data conversion CPU 109 compares the information stored in the memory area 104a of the communication line L1 memory circuit 104 with the information stored in the communication line L1 memory circuit 104 after initialization (step 504). .

  If a difference is found in the comparison result, it is interpreted that the content of the transmission data has been updated. When the update is confirmed, the location of the generated memory area 104a (for example, the GMPW area A in FIG. 4) is specified (step 506).

  Next, from the communication line L2 memory circuit 105, data in the memory area 104a found in the communication line L1 memory circuit 104 and data in the synchronized memory area 104b (for example, the GMPW area O in FIG. 4) are acquired (step 507). ).

  Then, the acquired data is compared with data at a location where the update has been confirmed in the communication line L1 memory circuit 104. It is confirmed whether there is a difference in the comparison result (step 508), and only the part where the difference is seen is overwritten and changed to the communication line L2 (step 509).

As a result, the data in the memory area 104a of the communication line L1 memory circuit 104 and the data in the memory area 104b of the communication line L2 memory circuit are in the same state.
The memory data conversion CPU 109 performs the same processing with the communication line L1 also on the other communication line L2.

  The same applies to the function of the communication line L2. When the data received from the communication line L2 is automatically written in the memory area 105a of the communication line L2 memory circuit 105, the written information is confirmed by the memory data conversion CPU 109, and when the data is changed, the communication line Compared with the data in the memory area 104a of the L1 memory circuit 104, the change in the memory area 104a is rewritten.

  Thereby, the data in the memory area 104a and the memory area 105a of the communication line L1 and the communication line L2 can be kept the same by overwriting the changed points of both the memory area 104a and the memory area 105a.

  As a result, as described later, each of the communication lines L1 (FL-net) and the communication line L2 (Cunet) of the common memory system is connected to one communication line L1 via the signal relay device 100. Control of the controlled device connected to the other communication line L2 can be realized.

That is, the operation of the signal relay device 100 mounted on the production facility control system 200 illustrated in FIG. 3 is as follows as an example.
That is, for the first time, each device (central control device 201 to unit control device 205, unit control device 206 to unit control device 210, signal relay device 211 (signal relay device 100)) in FIG. It becomes operational. In the state where each device cannot be operated, communication transmission / reception of the communication line L1 and the communication line L2 does not operate.

  When the power is turned on, each device (central control device 201 to unit control device 205, unit control device 206 to unit control device 210, signal relay device 211 (signal relay device 100) in FIG. Perform initial operations. At this time, control by receiving a signal from the outside of the apparatus by communication or the like is not performed.

  When the initial operation of the signal relay device 211 (signal relay device 100) in FIG. 3 is completed, the communication line L1 and the communication line L2 are in a communicable state. Each communication line does not perform a communication operation until the signal relay device 211 completes the initial operation.

When the signal relay device 211 completes the initial operation, the central control device 201 starts transmitting a control command from the robot control device 202 to each of the unit control devices 210.
The central control device 201 transmits a control command for each of the unit control devices 210 from the robot control device 202 to the communication line L1 connected to the central control device 201.

  The robot control device 202 receives the control command from the communication line L1 and starts operation. Similarly, the production information storage device 203 receives the control command from the communication line L1 and starts its operation. Similarly, the unit control device 204 and the unit control device 205 receive a control command from the communication line L1 and start operation.

On the other hand, the unit control device 210 to the unit control device 210 connected to the communication line L2 enter a state of waiting for a control command coming from the communication line L2.
At this time, the control command from the unit control device 206 sent from the central control device 201 to the unit control device 210 is not transmitted from the unit control device 206 to the unit control device 210.

  The signal relay device 211 (signal relay device 100) starts to constantly monitor the memory data of the communication line L1 and the communication line L2 after the initial operation is completed. When a control command is sent from the centralized control device 201 to each of the robot control device 202 to the unit control device 210 to the communication line L1, the signal relay device 211 senses a change in the state of the communication line L1, and the communication line L1 The change point is found in the communication data, and the change point of the communication line L1 is copied to the communication line L2. At this time, the communication data of the communication line L1 and the communication line L2 are in the same state.

  Thus, the control command transmitted from the centralized control device 201 to the communication line L1 is transmitted to the communication line L2 side by being copied to the memory area 105a of the communication line L2 by the signal relay device 211, and this communication line L2 Each of the unit control devices 210 receives a control command from the central control device 201 via the unit control device 206 and starts its operation.

  On the other hand, in the operation completion notification transmitted from the unit control devices 206 to 210 to the central control device 201, information on the operation completion notification is transmitted toward the communication line L2 to which the unit control devices 206 to 210 are connected. To do.

  The signal relay device 211 reads the information change of the operation completion notification transmitted to the communication line L2 from the memory area 105a corresponding to the communication line L2, and copies the changed data to the memory area 104a corresponding to the communication line L1.

  Thereby, the central control apparatus 201 receives the operation completion notification transmitted to the communication line L1 with reference to the memory area 104a, and each of the unit control apparatuses 210 from the unit control apparatus 206 of the communication line L2 that is not directly connected. It is possible to grasp the state of

  By repeating the flow of a series of control commands via the signal relay device 211 (signal relay device 100) a plurality of times, and moving the control devices distributed in unit units in combination around the central control device 201 Can control production equipment.

  Since the signal relay device 211 copies all the information in the memory area 104a of the communication line L1 to the memory area 105a of the communication line L2, each of the unit control device 206 to the unit control device 210 of the communication line L2 is directly connected. It is possible to receive all the control commands for the other communication lines L1 that have not been performed.

  Therefore, for example, each of the unit control device 206 to the unit control device 210 connected to another communication line L2 can receive a control command transmitted from the central control device 201 to the unit control device 204 in the communication line L1, and the communication The operation on the line L1 side can be monitored.

  Accordingly, each of the in-facility devices (central control device 201 to unit control device 205 and unit control device 206 to unit control device 210) connected to communication line L1 and communication line L2 is a communication line connected to the own device. The communication state in the production facility control system 200 can be grasped and monitored without being aware of the communication line L2 (communication line L1) not connected to L1 (communication line L2).

This is not limited to communication within the production facility control system 200 (production facility), but can also be used in an automatic production line in which a plurality of production facilities are connected.
This case will be described with reference to the automatic production line 300 illustrated in FIG.

  That is, in the automatic production line 300, for example, the operation information of the polishing unit 321-A of the polishing machine equipment 302 can be transmitted from the signal relay device 304 to the communication line L1 via the communication line L3. 302 can be received by the production management apparatus 308 outside the facility.

  An operation command transmitted from the external production monitoring terminal 307 is transmitted to the communication line L1. The signal is converted into the communication line L3 by the signal relay device 304. The polishing unit 321 -A starts operation upon receiving an operation command received from the communication line L3. Thus, it becomes possible to control the unit inside the facility directly from the outside of the facility.

  That is, by constructing a control communication network unified by a plurality of communication lines L1, communication lines L2, and communication lines L3 relayed via the signal relay apparatus 100 (signal relay apparatus 303, signal relay apparatus 304), a plurality of In the automatic production line 300 with connected facilities, a control system can be constructed as an integrated facility without being aware of the difference between the communication line L1 and the communication line L2 between the facilities. It is possible to construct a control system in a production system.

  With reference to FIG. 4, the operation of copying data between the memory area 104a and the memory area 105a in the signal relay apparatus 100 will be described. In this case, as an example, it is assumed that the data in the memory area 104a (GMPW area A) of the communication line L1 has changed.

  The equipment control command transmits and receives data using this memory area 104a. When the data in the GMPW area A changes, it is compared with the data in the memory area 104b in the GMPW area O of the communication line L2, and when it is confirmed that the data has changed, the GMPW area A in the communication line L1. Is copied to the GMPW area O of the communication line L2.

  At this time, the memory in another area such as the Resisters area B does not function as a comparison target. When a change occurs in the data in the GMPW area O of the communication line L2, the data contents are compared with the GMPW area A of the communication line L1, and when it is confirmed that a difference has occurred, the data in the GMPW area O of the communication line L2 The contents are copied to the GMPW area A of the communication line L1.

  Similarly, in the Resisters area B, when a data change occurs, the data is copied to the corresponding Resisters area Q (memory area 104b) of the communication line L2. At this time, the other GMPW area A, Mail_Send_Buffer area C, Mail_Receive_Buffer0 area D, and Mail_Receive_Buffer1 area E are not confirmed as comparison targets, and only the Resisters area B is compared and copied to the other party. The data conversion speed is improved.

With reference to FIG. 5, a more specific example of the signal delivery operation in the signal relay device 100 will be shown.
In the memory area 104a and the memory area 105a in FIG. 5, more specific configurations in the memory of the GMPW area A and the GMPW area O in FIG. 4 described above are illustrated. However, this memory configuration is an example, and the allocation is completely different depending on the installed equipment.

  The signal delivery state by the signal relay device 303 (signal relay device 100) (Y) when the control command for starting the operation is transmitted from the central control device 305 (X) to the unit control device 311-1 (Z) is taken as an example. I will explain.

  In the memory area 104a of the communication line L1 and the memory area 105a of the communication line L2, it is assumed that the usage of the memory contents is determined in advance in units of bits, bytes, etc. when the equipment is started up. As an example, it is determined in advance that both the communication line L1 and the communication line L2 use the second bit as an area where the unit control device 311-1 receives an operation start command from the communication line.

  In addition, when the value of the bit is “0”, the operation start command is not output and therefore the operation is not performed ”, and when the value of the bit is“ 1 ”, the operation start command is output. Therefore, the control device of each unit and the program of the centralized management device are respectively constructed on the premise that the control operation is performed.

Immediately after power is turned on to the equipment of the automatic production line 300, the signal relay device 100 is initialized, and the value of the operation start that is the bit is in a state of “0”.
The unit control device 311-1 performs an initial operation immediately after the facility power is turned on, and enters a state of waiting for data reception from the communication line L2. The unit control device 311-1 performs a standby operation so that the unit can be operated when the value of the operation start command received from the communication line L2 becomes “1” in the course of the initial operation. After that, the value of the operation start command waits for “1” and enters an operation standby state.

At this time, since the signal relay device 100 is similarly initialized, the value of the operation start is “0”, and the unit control device 311-1 does not operate.
In addition, since the central control device 305 in the initial state also sets the operation start command to the unit control device 311-1 to “0”, the value of the operation start of the communication line L1 and the communication line L2 is “0”. As a procedure for instructing the operation of the unit controller 311-1 from the central controller 305, the operation start value is changed from “0” to “1” for the communication line L1 connected to the central controller 305. change.

  At this time, the unit controller 311-1 is in a standby state and is not operating. The signal relay apparatus 100 recognizes that the data of the communication line L1 has changed, and copies the value of the communication line L1 to the communication line L2. At this time, the unit controller 311-1 is in a standby state and is not operating.

  The unit control device 311-1 reads the data transmitted to the communication line L2 from the memory area 105a, confirms that the value of the operation start as a part thereof has changed from “0” to “1”, and the unit control device 311-1 is shifted from the standby state to the operation start state.

  By following the above procedure, the two communication lines L1 and L2 having different specifications are relayed via the signal relay device 100, so that the facilities of the communication line L1 and the communication line L2 are mutually different. It becomes possible to control.

  As described above, as in the present embodiment, for example, the communication line L1 and the communication line L2 and the communication line L1 and the communication line L3 via the signal relay device 303 and the signal relay device 304 in the automatic production line 300. For example, there is no need to construct a production facility by fixing it to a control communication line (in this case, communication line L1) designated by the manufacturer of the centralized control device 305, and other communication lines L2, communication lines L3, etc. It is possible to freely construct an autonomous distributed production facility by combining control devices of a plurality of manufacturers that use the system.

In addition, the automatic production line 300 that performs production by connecting a plurality of facilities can be used in common without being aware of the information connection between facilities and units.
In addition, equipment that is equipped with a unit can send and receive information to and from the target unit controller without being aware of differences in communication lines with other equipment on the production line (other equipment that is not equipped with a unit). Can do.

In other words, it is possible to construct a unified production facility control system by combining control devices belonging to a plurality of different types of communication lines.
In the above description of the operation of the present embodiment, an example in which two to three communication lines are used has been described, but the same procedure is repeated with the signal relay device 100 interposed in four or more communication lines. The same effect can be realized by transferring data.

  That is, according to each embodiment of the present invention, the communication lines (standards) presented by a manufacturer that sells a device used as a centralized management control device are not restricted and unified using a plurality of types of communication lines. One control system can be constructed to realize equipment control.

In addition, it is possible to construct an autonomous distributed control facility without being restricted by the communication line system.
In addition, it is a production line constructed by combining multiple autonomous decentralized control equipment without being restricted by the communication line system. Control and direct control commands to other equipment units can be performed.

Needless to say, the present invention is not limited to the configuration exemplified in the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
[Appendix 1]
A production facility having a signal relay device for connecting different communication lines in a production facility having one or more different communication lines.
[Appendix 2]
In the production facility described in appendix 1, the signal relay device copies the memory area data of one communication line and the memory area data of another communication line among one or more types of communication lines configured in the facility. A production facility characterized in that the data in both memory areas is the same, and a control command can be transmitted between different communication lines.
[Appendix 3]
A production facility characterized in that the signal relay device described in Appendix 2 can transmit a control command between different communication lines by using the FL-net method and the Cunet method by making the data in both memory areas the same.
[Appendix 4]
In the production facility described in appendix 1, the signal relay device is a production facility composed of a control device connected to a certain communication line and an arbitrary control device connected to another communication line. Production equipment that enables control transmission.
[Appendix 5]
In the configuration of an automatic production line in which the production facility described in Supplementary Note 1 and the one or more other production facilities, which are equipped with the signal relay device described in Supplementary Note 2, are connected in production, the communication line of the control signal, the facility Communication relay device that enables production control communication between them to be transmitted simultaneously on one communication line.
[Appendix 6]
In an automatic production line that combines the production equipment described in Supplementary Note 1 and one or more other equipment, which is equipped with the signal relay device described in Supplementary Note 2, directly connected without using a central control device of other equipment. Communication relay device that performs signals to monitor the operating status of other equipment units.
[Appendix 7]
The signal relay device described in Appendix 2 is a signal relay that directly transmits a control command to a unit of other equipment in the automatic production line that is connected to the production facility described in Appendix 1 without using a central control device of other equipment. apparatus.

It is a conceptual diagram which shows an example of a structure of the relay apparatus which enforces the control method of the production facility which is one embodiment of this invention. 1 is an external perspective view of a signal relay device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is an external perspective view of a signal relay device according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the structural example of the control system in a production facility using the signal relay apparatus which is one embodiment of this invention. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the example of allocation of the memory area in each of the some communication line connected to the signal relay apparatus which is one embodiment of this invention. FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram illustrating in more detail an example of a method of copying information such as a control signal between two memory areas illustrated in FIG. 4. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the structural example which used the signal relay apparatus which is one embodiment of this invention for an automatic production line. It is a flowchart which shows an example of an effect | action of the signal relay apparatus which is one embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Signal relay apparatus 100a Case 100b Fixed leg part 100c Fixed leg part 101 Communication line L1 input connector 102 Communication line L2 input connector 103 Power supply input connector 104 Communication line L1 memory circuit 104a Memory area 104b Memory area 105 Communication line L2 memory circuit 105a Memory area 106 Power supply circuit 107 Power supply status LED
108 Communication line L2 transmitting / receiving LED
109 Memory data conversion CPU
110 Communication line L1 Sending / receiving LED
111 Setting change SW
112 Control Program 113 Management Information 200 Production Facility Control System 201 Central Control Device 202 Robot Control Device 203 Production Information Storage Device 204 Unit Control Device 205 Unit Control Device 206 Unit Control Device 207 Unit Control Device 208 Unit Control Device 209 Unit Control Device 210 Unit control device 211 Signal relay device 300 Automatic production line 301 Polishing machine equipment 301-1 Unit control device 302 Polishing machine equipment 303 Signal relay device 304 Signal relay device 305 Central control device 306 Central control device 307 Production monitoring terminal 308 Production management device 311 -1 Unit controller 311-2 Unit controller 311-3 Unit controller 311-4 Unit controller 311-A Polishing unit 311-B Polishing unit 311 Polishing unit 311-D Polishing unit 321-1 Control device 321-A Polishing unit A GMPW area B Resisters area C Mail_Send_Buffer area D Mail_Receive_Buffer 0 area E Mail_Receive_Buffer B area_G SW area Mail_Receive_Buffer1 area L1 communication line L2 communication line L3 communication line

Claims (10)

  A production facility comprising: a plurality of communication lines each connected to a control device; and a relay device interposed between the plurality of communication lines. The production facility according to claim 1,
The control devices connected to the individual communication lines exchange information with each other in the communication lines via a shared memory provided in the individual communication lines,
The relay device copies and synchronizes the stored contents of each of the plurality of shared memories provided for each of the communication lines, so that a plurality of the plurality of the communication lines connected to each of the plurality of communication lines A production facility for realizing the information exchange between control devices. The production facility according to claim 2,
The plurality of communication lines are composed of FL-net and Cune, and the data in the shared memory provided in each of the FL-net and Cune are made the same, and belong to each of the FL-net and Cunet. A production facility characterized in that the information exchange including transmission of a control command and a response to the control command is enabled between control devices. The production facility according to claim 1,
A production apparatus as the control device is connected to the plurality of first and second communication lines, and a central management device for centrally managing the production apparatus as the control equipment is connected to the third communication line. ,
By connecting the first, second, and third communication lines via the relay device, information is exchanged between the centralized management device and the production device, and the first and second communications are performed. A production facility characterized in that information is exchanged between the production devices belonging to a line without going through the central control device. A line interface to which a plurality of communication lines each connected to a control device are individually connected;
A plurality of storage means provided corresponding to the individual communication lines and shared by the control devices connected to the individual communication lines;
Data exchange means for mutually copying and synchronizing the storage contents of the plurality of storage means;
A relay device comprising: The relay device according to claim 5,
The plurality of communication lines are composed of FL-net and Cune, and the data in the storage means provided in each of the FL-net and Cune are made the same, and belong to each of the FL-net and Cunet. A relay device characterized in that information exchange including transmission of a control command and a response to the control command can be performed between control devices. A line interface to which a plurality of communication lines each connected to a control device are individually connected;
A plurality of storage means provided corresponding to the individual communication lines and shared by the control devices connected to the individual communication lines;
A relay device control program including
A control program for a relay apparatus, which causes a computer to perform an operation of copying and synchronizing the contents stored in a plurality of storage means. In the control program of the relay device according to claim 7,
The plurality of communication lines are composed of FL-net and Cune, and the data in the storage means provided in each of the FL-net and Cune are made the same, and belong to each of the FL-net and Cunet. A control program for a relay device, which enables information exchange including transmission of a control command and a response to the control command between control devices. A plurality of communication lines each having a control device connected thereto, and the control devices connected to the individual communication lines are mutually connected within the communication line via a shared memory provided in each of the communication lines. A method for controlling a production facility for exchanging information,
By copying and synchronizing the storage contents of each of the plurality of shared memories provided for each individual communication line, between the plurality of control devices connected to each of the plurality of communication lines A method for controlling a production facility, characterized in that the information exchange is realized. The method of controlling a production facility according to claim 9,
The plurality of communication lines are composed of FL-net and Cune, and the data of the storage means provided in each of the FL-net and Cunet are made the same, and belong to each of the FL-net and Cunet. A control method for a production facility, characterized in that the information exchange including transmission of a control command and a response to the control command is enabled between control devices.