JP2011032061A - Lot control carrying system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a control carrying system for carrying manufactured products, half-finished products or commodities in order of lots or etc. <P>SOLUTION: In the lot control carrying system, a work 1 carried from a preceding process by an introducing and carrying line 10 passes through a lot number issuing control device which issue a lot number and stores the work as the lot number in ID information of the work 1, thereafter, is carried via a branch part 5 while being sorted into a plurality of branch carrying lines 11, 12, and flowed via one carrying-out line 20 to the following process while using a lot number comparing and controlling device located at a convergent part 6 for controlling lots of the older-order lot numbers to flow in priority. An upper limit value exists in natural numbers which are issued as the lot number in the ID information of the work 1. When the lot number gradually increases to reach the upper limit value, they are reset to the minimum natural number issued so far, and repetitively issued. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a control transportation system for a lot or the like that transports a product, a semi-finished product, a product, or the like while keeping the order of the lot or the like.

  Conventionally, as a lot symbol of a product, those using the year, month and date are four digits in the year or the last two digits of the year and four digits of the month, and the lot symbol is a total of six or eight digits. is there. In this case, the memory size is as large as 6 to 8 bytes, and the comparison between the new and old dates becomes complicated, making it difficult to use in ID system (radio wave automatic recognition system) and PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) control. there were.

  In order to cope with such a problem, as seen in Patent Document 1, the lot symbol is converted into three kinds of character codes that make it possible to compare the size of the lot symbols, and the size comparison is easily judged, A process for accurately maintaining first-in and first-out is shown. In this prior art, the lot symbol has three digits. However, in some cases, the number of digits may be various, and when the number of digits changes, it cannot be used, so that it is necessary to change the program again. In addition, a database for managing the old and new code conversion is required, and the management is complicated.

JP-A-5-342217

  In view of the above problems, the present invention provides a control conveyance system for lots and the like that conveys products, semi-finished products, products, and the like in the order of lots and the like.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention of claim 1 is characterized in that the work (1) conveyed by the introduction conveyance line (10) from the previous step passes through the branching portion (5), and a plurality of branch conveyance lines (11, 11). 12) and the like, and the control is performed so that the lot number with the old lot number flows first in the merge unit (6), and the lot control conveyance that flows to the subsequent process in one unloading conveyance line (20). In the system, the lot control transport system includes the introduction transport line (10), the branch section (5), the plurality of branch transport lines (11, 12, etc.), the merge section (6), and the carry-out transport. A lot number issuance control device (30) which is provided in the conveyance device composed of a line (20) and is issued and stored as a rod number in the ID information of the conveyed workpiece (1) provided in the introduction conveyance line (10). The lot number to be issued is the same as the rod number for each lot, and the rod number for each lot is a lot number issuance control device (30) for issuing a natural number that gradually increases in accordance with the order of conveyance. The lot number of each workpiece (1) immediately before the junction (6) in the plurality of branch conveyance lines (11, 12, etc.) is read, and the workpiece (1) having the oldest lot number is read out and conveyed A lot number comparison control device (40) for controlling the merging section (6) so as to flow through the line (20) first, and the lot number issuance control device controls the ID of the workpiece (1). There is an upper limit for the natural number issued as a lot number in the information, and when the lot number reaches the upper limit, it is repeated that the lot number is issued by returning to the minimum natural number issued so far. A lot controlled transfer system according to.

  Thus, by creating a lot number with a simple natural number for a workpiece, it is possible to reduce the memory size and to easily determine whether a lot is new or old.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the branch transport line is composed of a first branch transport line (11) and a second branch transport line (12), and N from the downstream of the lot number issuance control device. The natural number is larger than the maximum number of works (1) that can exist on the first and second branch transfer lines (11, 12), and the upper limit (M) issued by the lot number issuance control device is N When the minimum natural number is set to zero, the lot number comparison control device calculates the difference between the lot numbers of the workpieces (1) immediately before the junction (6) in each branch conveyance line. And a second arithmetic unit for comparing the difference between the lot numbers with N or -N to determine the size, and the work of the oldest lot number ( 1) the unloading and conveying line And controlling to flow forward to 20).
Thus, by creating a lot number with a simple natural number for a workpiece, the memory size can be reduced, and when a branch conveyance line has two lanes, it is possible to easily determine whether a lot is new or old.

The invention of claim 3 is the invention of claim 1, wherein N is a natural number larger than the maximum number of works (1) that can exist on the plurality of branch transfer lines from downstream of the lot number issuance control device, and the lot number. When the upper limit value (M) issued by the issuance control device is 2 times N and the minimum natural number is zero, the lot number comparison control device can select any one of the plurality of branch conveyance lines. The lot number of the branch conveyance line is selected as the reference lot number, and the difference obtained by subtracting the reference lot number from the read lot number of the plurality of branch conveyance lines is calculated as the relative value (T) of each branch lane. If the relative value (T) of the lane is smaller than -N, the value obtained by adding the above upper limit value to the relative value (T) is replaced with the relative value (T), and the relative value (T) of each branch lane is less than N. If large, Each branch is provided with a third operation unit that replaces the relative value (T) with the above upper limit value replaced with the relative value (T) and rearranges the relative value (T) of each branch lane in ascending order. Control is performed such that the work (1) of each branch lane flows first to the unloading / conveying line (20) in ascending order of the relative value (T) of the lane.
Thus, by creating a lot number with a simple natural number for a workpiece, the memory size can be reduced, and whether a lot is new or old can be determined even if the branch conveyance line has a plurality of lanes.

  In addition, the code | symbol attached | subjected above is an example which shows a corresponding relationship with the specific embodiment as described in embodiment mentioned later.

It is explanatory drawing of the conveyance line in the comparison technique used as the foundation of this invention. 2 is a diagram showing an outline of a lot number issuance control device 30. FIG. It is a figure which shows the outline | summary of the lot number comparison control apparatus. 5 is a flowchart for performing new and old comparison of date / time data in the comparison technique that is the basis of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing of the conveyance line in one Embodiment of this invention. 5 is a schematic diagram of a flowchart in a lot number issuance control device 30. FIG. It is a flowchart which performs the new and old comparison determination of the lot number of one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which performs the new and old comparison determination of the lot number of one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which performs the new and old comparison determination of the lot number of one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which performs the new and old comparison determination of the lot number of one Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the conveyance line in another one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart of the main program which performs the old and new comparison determination of the lot number of another one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart of the subroutine which performs the old and new comparison determination of the lot number of another one Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the specific example which performs the old and new comparison determination of the lot number of another one Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the specific example which performs the old and new comparison determination of the lot number of another one Embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, a lot control transfer system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. About each embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the part of the same structure, and the description is abbreviate | omitted. In each embodiment of the present invention, parts having the same configuration are denoted by the same reference numerals with respect to the comparative technique on which the present invention is based, and the description thereof is omitted.
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a transport line and a transport device in a comparative technique that is the basis of the present invention. In the following, the comparison technique will be described with reference to the conveyance line in the inspection process.
The case where the workpiece 1 flows from the previous process to the inspection process with one introduction conveyance line 10 will be described. If the cycle time of the entire line is short and the time required for the inspection of the workpiece 1 is very long, it is necessary to distribute the workpiece to a plurality of inspection stations. In that case, if the line is one in series, the distribution to a plurality of inspection stations cannot be performed smoothly. The work can be efficiently distributed to the inspection station by dividing the line into a plurality of lines.

  For this reason, the work 1 that has flowed through the introduction conveyance line 10 is alternately or appropriately distributed to the A line 11 and the B line 12 at the branching section 5. The workpieces that have been inspected are packed into a shipping pallet for each same lot (part number). In order to pack the same lot on a shipping pallet, the pallet cannot be packed in order unless the lot order is observed. That is, in the unloading / conveying line 20 for conveying the workpiece 1 to the next process, it is necessary to convey the workpiece 1 while keeping the lot order. If the lot order is not observed, a mechanism such as pallet replacement is required and the pallet packing mechanism is complicated and inappropriate.

In the comparison technique that is the basis of the present invention, the lot number issuance control device 30 assigns date / time data to each work in order to keep the lot order. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an outline of the lot number issuance control device 30.
As shown in FIG. 2, the workpiece 1 is placed on the pallet 2 and flows through the introduction conveyance line 10. The ID tag 3 is attached to the pallet, and when passing through the lot number issuance control device 30 in FIG. 1, date time data is given by the ID read / write head 31 of the lot number issuance control device 30 in the comparison technique. The date / time data written in the ID tag as the ID content information is year, month, day, hour, minute, and second. Reference numeral 32 denotes an ID controller, and 33 denotes a PLC control unit, which constitutes the control unit 34 of the lot number issuance control device 30.

  The work 1 in which the date / time data is written in the ID tag is distributed to the A lane 11 or the B lane 12 by the branching unit 5 and passes through the inspection process. At the final position of the A lane 11 or the B lane 12 immediately before the merging unit 6, a lot number comparison control device 40 is provided across the lanes. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an outline of the lot number comparison control device 40.

  In the lot number comparison control device 40 of FIG. 3, the date / time data is read from the ID tag 3 attached to the pallet by the ID read / write head 41 of the lot number comparison control device 40. 42 is an ID controller, 43 is a PLC control unit, and these constitute a control unit 44 of the lot number comparison control device 40.

  FIG. 4 is a flow chart for performing a new / old comparison of date / time data in the comparison technique on which the present invention is based. In the control unit 44 of the lot number comparison control device 40, the size of the work 1 in the A lane 11 or the B lane 12 is determined in the order of year, month, day, hour, minute, second, and the smaller one (older one). First, it is made to flow to a post process. If the values are equal in each hierarchy, the level is shifted to a lower hierarchy and the magnitude is determined. Thus, in this comparison technique, the date / time data has a large memory size of 6 to 8 bytes, and the date / time data is used as it is to compare the new and old lots. There is a problem that it is complicated and difficult to use in the ID system PLC control.

On the other hand, an embodiment of the present invention is as follows.
In one embodiment of the present invention, in consideration of the situation as described above, by creating a lot number with a simple natural number for a work (1 byte or 2 bytes), the memory size is reduced, and a new / old determination of a lot is performed. It's easy.

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a conveyance line in one embodiment of the present invention. Also in one embodiment of the present invention, a transfer line in the same inspection process as FIG. 1 will be described as an example. The conveyance line is not limited to the inspection process, and may be an arbitrary process. In the embodiment of the present invention, the necessity for efficiently distributing the work to the inspection station is the same as that in the comparative technique described above. A belt conveyor, roller conveyance, gripper conveyance, or the like can be used for the conveyance line. In addition, a well-known transport direction changing device such as a branch / merging conveyor, a sorting guide, a pusher, a skew roller, and a pick-and-place mechanism can be used for the branching section and the junction section.

  The workpiece 1 is usually managed in lots. For example, a lot number is assigned to a group (one unit) of products manufactured using parts produced at the same timing for workpieces of the same product number, model number, and model. Is granted. One unit considered necessary from the lot management is not limited to the above-mentioned case produced at the same timing.

  The workpiece 1 that has flowed through the introduction transfer line 10 is alternately or appropriately distributed to the A line 11 (first branch transfer line) and the B line 12 (second branch transfer line) at the branching section 5. Since the workpieces that have been inspected need to be packed in a pallet for shipment for each same lot (part number), in the unloading conveyance line 20 that conveys the workpiece 1 to the next process, the lot order is observed and the workpiece 1 is Needs to be transported.

  Also in the present embodiment, the basic components of the lot number issuance control device 30 and the lot number comparison control device 40 are as shown in FIGS. The information read and written by the ID tag as the ID content information by the ID read / write head 31 of the lot number issuance control device 30 and the ID read / write head 41 of the lot number comparison control device 40 is a natural number as described below. It is different in point. Examples of information written in the ID tag include an ASSY (assembly) product number, a manufacturing number, a manufacturing year, a manufacturing date, a manufacturing line number, and a product physique.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the workpiece 1 is placed on the pallet 2 and flows through the introduction conveyance line 10. The ID tag 3 is attached to the pallet, and after passing through the lot number issuance control device 30 in FIG. 1, the ID read / write head 31 of the lot number issuance control device 30 makes an extremely simple natural number, for example, from 0 A number of 99 is written in the ID tag as a lot number in the ID content information. Reference numeral 32 denotes an ID controller, and 33 denotes a PLC control unit.

  Although the embodiment will be described in the embodiment in which the workpiece 1 is placed on the pallet 2 and flows through one introduction conveyance line 10, the workpiece 1 does not necessarily have to flow through one introduction conveyance line 10. The lot number issuance control device 30 writes the lot number in the ID tag of the work 1 of each line and passes through the branching section 5 (even if there is no branching section 5). You may make it flow. Even in this case, one unloading / conveying line 20 is transported from the junction 6 to the next process.

Here, as an example, the case where the ASSY product number is read to determine whether the ASSY product number is different will be specifically described. While the ASSY product number is the same ASSY product number necessary for generating the lot number, the same lot number is added to the ID. If the ASSY product number changes, the lot number is updated (gradually increased). A specific example in this case is as follows.
ASSY product number 2332, 2332, ... 2332, 1111, 1111, ...
Lot number 1, 1, ... 1, 2, 2, ...
ASSY part number 1111, 3333, 3333, 2332, 2332 ...
Lot numbers 2, 3, 3, 4, 4 ...
In the above example, the lot number issuance control device 30 reads the ASSY product number from the ID tag and issues it as a lot number. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and one unit necessary for lot management (product number, model number, model, etc.) If so, the same lot number may be issued.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a flowchart in the lot number issuance control apparatus 30.
When the workpiece 1 passes through the ID read / write head 31 of the lot number issuance control device 30, ID reading processing is performed. When reading is performed, the flowchart of FIG. 6 is started. As shown in FIG. 6, the lot number is determined by assigning a natural number that advances sequentially and writing it in the ID.

In the present embodiment, the lot number issuance control device 30 has an upper limit value or a lower limit value for the natural number issued as the lot number in the ID information of the work 1, and if the lot number reaches the upper limit value or the lower limit value, The lot number shall be issued after returning to the minimum or maximum natural number issued up to. If the upper limit value is not set in this way, a large amount of memory is consumed. Here, let N be a natural number larger than the maximum number of workpieces 1 that can exist on all branch conveyance lines (here, A lane 11 and B lane 12) from the downstream of the lot number issuance control device 30, and the lot number issuance control device 30. It is recommended that the upper limit value M issued by is twice N.
In the flowchart of FIG. 6, 1 is added to the lot number NO issued so far (step S10), and the lot number is issued (step S13). When the upper limit value M is reached (step S11), a program is created so as to return the lot number to 0 (step S12). In the example of the present embodiment, a natural number from 0 to 99 is used, but the present invention is not limited to this.
As will be described later, the meaning of N is that when the lot number reaches the upper limit value and returns to 0, the old lot number (for example, 99) is first transferred even if the lot numbers are compared. This is because the old and new comparisons of the lot numbers are performed so that they can be sent to No. 20.

  The workpiece 1 in which the lot number is written in the ID tag is distributed to the A lane 11 or the B lane 12 (first branch conveyance line or second branch conveyance line) by the branching unit 5 and passes through the inspection process. In the present embodiment, the number of branch conveyance lines is two. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a plurality of branch conveyance lines may be provided. Further, there may be any number of branching portions and joining portions between the most upstream branching portion and the most downstream joining portion, but each branching transport line connected to the most downstream joining portion connected to the unloading transporting line 20 In this case, it is necessary that the lot numbers of the workpieces 1 are arranged in chronological order as viewed from the junction 6.

In the present embodiment, a lot number comparison control device 40 is provided across the lanes at the final position of the A lane 11 or the B lane 12 immediately before the junction 6. Similar to the comparison technique, FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an outline of the lot number comparison control device 40 of the present embodiment.
In the lot comparison station 40 of FIG. 3, the natural number stored as the lot number is read from the ID tag 3 attached to the pallet by the ID read / write head 41 of the lot number comparison control device 40. 42 is an ID controller, 43 is a PLC control unit, and these constitute a control unit 44 of the lot number comparison control device 40.

7 to 10 are flowcharts for comparing old and new lot numbers according to an embodiment of the present invention. The determination in this case is a case where there are two branch conveyance lanes.
7 and 8, in step S20, the ID read / write head 41 of the lot number comparison control device 40 reads the lot number ANO of the A lane 11 and the lot number BNO of the B lane 12. In the example of FIG. 7, ANO = 90 and BNO = 89 are input. In the example of FIG. 8, ANO = 90 and BNO = 91 are input. In step S21, BNO is subtracted from ANO, and the difference is defined as SNO (first operation unit). In step S22, it is determined whether or not SNO is equal to or greater than zero. If SNO is equal to or greater than zero (the work having the smaller lot number is in the B lane), the work in B lane is passed to the subsequent process in step S26.

  In the example of FIG. 7, since SNO = 1, the work in the B lane is passed to the subsequent process. If SNO is negative (the work with the smaller lot number is in the A lane), the work in the A lane is passed to the subsequent process in step S24. In the example of FIG. 8, since SNO = −1, the work on the A lane is passed to the subsequent process.

In the example of FIG. 9, ANO = 0 and BNO = 99 are input. In the example of FIG. 10, ANO = 99 and BNO = 0 are input. In this case, it is necessary to distinguish the workpiece 1 whose lot number has reached the upper limit 99.
In step S23 or step S25, the above-mentioned N (refers to a natural number larger than the maximum number of workpieces 1 that can exist on all branch conveyance lines from the downstream of the lot number issuance control device 30), or a negative value −N thereof. , SNO (second calculation unit). In the examples of FIGS. 7 to 10, N = 50. Even if the lot number reaches the upper limit value and the lot number returns to 0 again by the determination in step S23 or step S25, the work before and after the lot number makes a round and the lot number reaches the upper limit value. Even if 1 exists in each lane at the same time, the old lot number can be flowed to the subsequent process first.

  The case where ANO = 0 and BNO = 99 in the example of FIG. 9 will be described. In step S21, BNO is subtracted from ANO, and the difference is defined as SNO. In step S22, it is determined whether SNO is zero or more. Here, since SNO = −99, the process goes to step S23. In step S23, SNO and -N are compared and the answer is YES, so the work 1 in the B lane with the old lot number is passed to the subsequent process. In the case of ANO = 99 and BNO = 0 in the example of FIG. 10, the process goes from step S22 to step S25, SNO is compared with N, and the result is YES. Shed.

  Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of a conveyance line in another embodiment of the present invention. The workpiece 1 that has flowed through the introduction conveyance line 10 is alternately or appropriately distributed to the A line 11, the B line 12, and the C line 13 at the branching section 5. Here, as an example, the description will be made assuming that there are three branch lines. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the number of branch lines may be two lanes of the previous embodiment, and a plurality of arbitrary numbers. If so, it is included in another embodiment of the present invention. Further, there may be any number of branch points and junctions between the most upstream branch point 5 and the most downstream junction point 6, and the introduction line 30 branches into a plurality of lines, and finally one line is reached. Even if the lines merge with the lines, it is sufficient that the lot numbers are arranged in the order of the oldest numbers on each line immediately before the merge.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart of a main program for comparing old and new lot numbers according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a flowchart of a subroutine for comparing old and new lot numbers according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 14 and 15 are explanatory diagrams of specific examples in which new and old lot numbers are compared and determined according to another embodiment of the present invention.

  The basic concept of the old and new comparison of lot numbers according to another embodiment of the present invention is that the lot number comparison control device 40 calculates the difference obtained by subtracting the reference lot number from the lot numbers of a plurality of read branch conveyance lines. When the relative value T of each branch lane is calculated as the relative value T of the branch lane, if the relative value T is less than -N, the value obtained by adding the upper limit M to the relative value T is replaced with the relative value T, and the relative value of each branch lane If T is greater than N, a subtracting upper limit value M from the relative value T is replaced with the relative value T, and the third arithmetic unit for rearranging the relative values T of the respective branch lanes in ascending order is provided. Control is performed so that the work 1 of each branch lane flows first to the unloading / conveying line 20 in ascending order of the relative value T of the lane.

  This will be described with reference to FIGS. First, the lot number of the work 1 existing just before the junction 6 in the A lane 11 is set as a reference lot number X. The reference lane used as the reference lot number X does not have to be the A lane 11 and may be arbitrarily selected, but here, it will be described as the A lane. In step S40, the relative value T1 = Y1-X of the lot number Y1 in the B lane 12 is calculated. Similarly, in step S41, the relative value T2 = Y2-X of the lot number Y2 of the C lane 12 is calculated. The relative value of A lane 11 is zero.

  In each lane, there are cases where a lot number is counted by returning to zero after exceeding the upper limit value and a lot number having a lot number before the upper limit value is exceeded. In such a case, as shown in FIG. 13, if the relative value T of each branch lane is smaller than -N, the value obtained by adding the upper limit M to the relative value T is replaced with the relative value T, and each branch If the relative value T of the lane is greater than N, replacing the value obtained by subtracting the upper limit value M from the relative value T with the relative value T makes it possible to determine whether the lot number is new or old based on the relative value T. . Accordingly, when the relative values T of the lot numbers are arranged in ascending order in step S43, this becomes the oldest order of the lot numbers.

  As specific examples, the upper limit values M = 100, N = 50, the A lane lot number X = 99, the B lane lot number Y1 = 3, and the C lane lot number Y2 = 97 will be described with reference to FIGS. In this example, the reference lane is A lane 11 and the reference lot number is X = 99. The relative value of A lane is 0. In FIG. 14, the relative value T1 of the B lane is obtained. In step S51, T1 = 3-99 = -96 is obtained. In step S52, whether it is equal to 0 is judged as NO, so it is compared with -50 in step S53. If YES, the process goes to step S55. Here, M = 100 is added to the relative value T1 of the B lane, and T1 is replaced with 4.

Next, in FIG. 15, the relative value T2 of the C lane is obtained. In step S51, T1 = 97−99 = −2 is obtained. In step S52, whether it is equal to 0 or not, it is NO, so go to step S53. In step S53, -50 is compared with the magnitude, and since it is NO, it goes to step S54. Since NO in step S54, the relative value of C lane T2 = −2.
Returning to the main routine of FIG. 12, since the relative values in step S42 are A lane T = 0, B lane T1 = 4, and C lane T2 = -2, these are rearranged in ascending order. It can be seen that the lot numbers are rearranged in the order of the lanes in the order of B lanes. According to this another embodiment, the lot number comparison control device 40 calculates the relative values of the lot numbers and rearranges them in ascending order so that the workpiece 1 is sent out to the carry-out transport lane 20 in the order of the old lot numbers. Can be controlled.

  In the above description, the natural number issued by the lot number issuance control device has been gradually increased. However, it is also possible to issue the natural number by gradually decreasing it. In this case, in claim 1, instead of the upper limit value, a lower limit value (-99 as an example) and a maximum natural number (0 as an example) instead of the smallest natural number. If the number of digits of the upper limit value and the lower limit value is 2 to 4 digits, the memory size to be used can be small.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Work 11, 12 Branch conveyance line 5 Branch part 6 Merging part 10 Introduction conveyance line 20 Unloading conveyance line 30 Lot number issue control apparatus 40 Lot number comparison control apparatus

Claims (3)

The work (1) conveyed from the previous process on the introduction conveyance line (10) is distributed and conveyed to a plurality of branch conveyance lines (11, 12, etc.) via the branch part (5), and the merge part (6). In the lot control transfer system in which the lot order is controlled to flow the old lot number first and flow to the subsequent process with one unloading transfer line (20), the lot control transfer system includes:
A transport device comprising the introduction transport line (10), the branching section (5), the plurality of branch transport lines (11, 12, etc.), the joining section (6), and the unloading transport line (20);
A lot number issuance control device (30) that is provided in the introduction conveyance line (10) and issues and stores it as a rod number in the ID information of the conveyed work (1). The same rod number is issued for each lot, and the rod number for each lot is a lot number issuance control device (30) for issuing a natural number that gradually increases according to the order of conveyance;
The lot number of each workpiece (1) immediately before the junction (6) in the plurality of branch conveyance lines (11, 12, etc.) is read, and the workpiece (1) with the oldest lot number is read out from the carry conveyance line. (20) is provided with a lot number comparison control device (40) for controlling the merging section (6) so as to flow first.
The lot number issuance control device has an upper limit value for the natural number issued as the lot number in the ID information of the work (1), and when the lot number reaches the upper limit value, it returns to the minimum natural number issued so far. A lot control transport system characterized in that the lot number is issued repeatedly. The branch transport line includes a first branch transport line (11) and a second branch transport line (12), and N is the first and second branch transport lines (11, 12) from the downstream of the lot number issuance control device. ) When the natural number is larger than the maximum number of workpieces (1) that can exist on the above, the upper limit value (M) issued by the lot number issuance control device is twice N, and the minimum natural number is zero,
The lot number comparison control device calculates a lot number difference of each workpiece (1) immediately before the junction (6) in each branch conveyance line and determines the size, and the difference between the lot numbers Is compared with N or -N to determine the size, and the work (1) with the oldest lot number is placed first on the carry-out transfer line (20) even if the lot number makes a round. It controls so that it may flow, The lot control conveyance system of Claim 1 characterized by the above-mentioned. N is a natural number larger than the maximum number of workpieces (1) that can exist on the plurality of branch transfer lines from downstream of the lot number issuance control device, and the upper limit value (M) issued by the lot number issuance control device is N When the minimum natural number is zero,
The lot number comparison control device selects a lot number of an arbitrary one of the plurality of branch transfer lines as a reference lot number,
The difference obtained by subtracting the reference lot number from the lot number of the plurality of branch conveyance lines read is calculated as a relative value (T) of each branch lane,
If the relative value (T) of each branch lane is smaller than -N, the value obtained by adding the above upper limit value to the relative value (T) is replaced with the relative value (T), and the relative value (T) of each branch lane is If greater than N, the relative value (T) minus the upper limit is replaced with the relative value (T), and
A third arithmetic unit that rearranges the relative values (T) of the branch lanes in ascending order;
2. The lot control according to claim 1, wherein the control is performed such that the work (1) of each branch lane flows first to the carry-out conveyance line (20) in the order of the relative value (T) of each branch lane. Conveying system.

Images