JP2019152994A - Conveyance control device and method for controlling conveyance control device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a conveyance control device capable of increasing conveyance efficiency.SOLUTION: A conveyance control device (5) receives an advance notice of a production processing end of a product by a user operation, predicts a prediction time of the production processing end, and calculates an arrival time of a plurality of carriages and a conveyance worker from a simulated movement operation. The conveyance control device selects a carriage or a conveyance worker according to the prediction time and arrival time, and instructs the selected carriage or conveyance work to head for a position of the production.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a conveyance control device that controls conveyance of a product by at least one of a plurality of carriages and a plurality of conveyance workers in a production line.

  As a transport control device for controlling an automatic transport system for transporting products in a production line, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a transport control device for the purpose of carrying out a lot transport according to a change in the state of a production facility. Has been.

  Specifically, the production scheduler of the transfer control device calculates the approximate processing end time of the lot input to each production facility according to the production plan. A production facility that is nearing the end of the process is identified based on the estimated process end time. The conveyance control unit of the conveyance control apparatus reserves a conveyance carriage for carrying out the processed lot from the production facility near the end of the process. In addition, the facility information collection unit of the transfer control device collects processing information that causes the processing time to fluctuate in the production facility. The end time correction unit of the transport control device calculates a process end correction time based on the processing information. In addition, the transfer simulator of the transfer control device simulates and reproduces the operation of all the transfer carts from the current time to the processing end correction time, and acquires the required time until the reserved transfer cart reaches the production facility. The transfer control unit of the transfer control device instructs the reserved transfer cart to start transfer based on the required time.

JP 2008-310467 A (released December 25, 2008)

  However, the above-described conventional technique is not a technique for a production apparatus that requires a work process (for example, management of a work process of the production apparatus) by an operator. The time required for the worker's work process varies from worker to worker and can vary greatly. Therefore, it is difficult to predict the production end time of the production apparatus. Therefore, with the above-described technology, it is not possible to dispatch the transport cart in accordance with the end timing of production of a product that requires a work process by an operator. Therefore, the problem that the loss of conveyance time arises may arise.

  An object of one embodiment of the present invention is to realize a transport control device that can increase transport efficiency.

  In order to solve the above problems, a transport control device according to an aspect of the present invention is a transport control device that controls transport of a product by at least one of a plurality of carriages and a plurality of transport workers in a production line, An input unit that receives a notice of the end of production processing of the product input by a user operation, a prediction unit that predicts a predicted time of completion of the production process according to the notice, the plurality of carriages, and the plurality of conveyances A simulation unit that simulates a moving operation for at least one of the workers, calculates a respective arrival time for the position of the product from the simulated moving operation, and a cart selected according to the predicted time and the arrival time An instruction unit for instructing a conveyance worker to go to the position of the product.

  Further, the control method of the transport control device according to one aspect of the present invention is a control method of the transport control device that controls transport of the product by at least one of the plurality of carriages and the plurality of transport workers in the production line, An input step of receiving a notice of the end of the production process of the product input by a user operation, a prediction step of predicting a predicted time of the end of the production process according to the notice, the plurality of carriages and the plurality of transports A simulation step of simulating a movement operation for at least one of the workers, calculating a respective arrival time with respect to the position of the product from the simulated movement operation, a cart selected according to the predicted time and the arrival time An instruction step for instructing a transport worker to go to the position of the product. No.

  According to the above configuration, the instruction unit selects a cart or a transport worker according to the predicted end time of the production process and the calculated arrival time, and directs the cart or the transport worker to the position of the product. . In particular, the predicted production process end time is predicted based on a user operation. The position of the product is, for example, a place where the product is stored immediately after being produced by the production apparatus or the operator.

  Therefore, in a product that requires a work process by the user, even if the time spent in the work process varies from user to user, the carriage and the transport worker for transport are arranged in accordance with the end timing of the production process of each user. It can be directed to the product. Therefore, it is possible to suppress generation of useless time in the conveyance time. That is, it is possible to increase the efficiency of transporting the product.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, in the conveyance control device according to one aspect of the present invention, the simulation unit causes the carriage or the conveyance operator to interfere with the obstacle when there is an obstacle in the traveling direction. The arrival time may be calculated by performing a simulation so as to avoid it.

  In the control method of the transport control device according to one aspect of the present invention, in the simulation step, when there is an obstacle in the traveling direction, the carriage or the transport worker avoids interference with the obstacle. A simulation may be performed to calculate the arrival time.

  According to the above configuration, when there is an obstacle in the traveling direction, it is possible to calculate the arrival time in consideration of the operation of avoiding the interference with the obstacle actually performed by the carriage or the transport worker. Therefore, there is an effect that the arrival time can be accurately calculated.

  For example, the simulation unit may perform simulation so as to confront an obstacle (for example, another transport worker, etc.) at a predetermined frequency when the cart or the transport worker is traveling in a predetermined area.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, in the conveyance control device according to one aspect of the present invention, the prediction unit is configured to change the production product according to a production processing time per piece associated with the type of the production product. You may estimate the production end prediction time.

  In the control method of the conveyance control device according to an aspect of the present invention, in the prediction step, the production end prediction of the product is made according to a production processing time per piece associated with the type of the product. The time may be predicted.

  According to said structure, according to the kind of product, there exists an effect that the prediction time of completion | finish of a production process can be estimated correctly.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, in the conveyance control device according to one aspect of the present invention, the instruction unit, as the arrival time, from the predicted time to a time when a production process of a product is completed in a next production process. You may select the cart or the conveyance worker from which the time between was calculated.

  In the control method of the conveyance control device according to one aspect of the present invention, in the instruction step, the arrival time is a time between the predicted time and a time when the production process of the product is finished in the next production process. You may select the cart or the transport worker for which the is calculated.

  According to the above-described configuration, the selected cart or transport worker can collect the product from the end of the production process of the product to the time when the production process of the next product ends.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, in the transfer control device according to an aspect of the present invention, the simulation unit includes a speed, an acceleration, and a decrease in the speed of the cart or the transport worker according to the status of the cart or the transport worker. The moving operation may be simulated by changing at least one of the speeds.

  In the control method of the transport control device according to one aspect of the present invention, in the simulation step, at least one of a speed, an acceleration, and a deceleration of the cart or the transport worker according to a situation of the cart or the transport worker. The moving operation may be simulated by changing one of them.

  According to the above configuration, it is possible to assume an arrival time in consideration of the speed, acceleration, and deceleration that are actually changed by the cart or the transport worker according to the situation of the cart or the transport worker. Therefore, there is an effect that the arrival time can be accurately estimated.

  For example, the speed, acceleration, deceleration, and the like described above may be set for each area (passage) in the conveyance path and each corner.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, in the transport control device according to one aspect of the present invention, the simulation unit may be configured such that the cart or the transport according to the product transported by the cart or the transport worker. The arrival time may be calculated by simulating the moving operation by changing at least one of an operator's speed, acceleration, and deceleration.

  Further, in the control method of the conveyance control device according to one aspect of the present invention, the simulation step is performed according to a speed of the carriage or the conveyance worker according to the product that the carriage or the conveyance worker is conveying. The arrival time may be calculated by simulating the moving operation by changing at least one of acceleration and deceleration.

  According to the above configuration, the simulation unit calculates the arrival time in consideration of the speed, acceleration, and deceleration actually changed by the cart or the transport worker according to the product being transported by the cart or the transport worker. There is an effect that can be done. For example, the simulation unit may simulate the operation by changing the speed, acceleration, and deceleration depending on whether the cart or the transport worker is transporting the product. In addition, the simulation unit may simulate the operation by changing the speed, acceleration, and deceleration according to the type, number, and the like of the product being transported by the cart or the transport worker.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, in the conveyance control device according to one aspect of the present invention, the instruction unit instructs the information terminal carried by the selected conveyance worker to point to the position of the product. It may be output.

  In the control method of the transport control device according to an aspect of the present invention, in the instruction step, an instruction to direct the product to the position of the product is output to the information terminal carried by the selected transport operator. Good.

  According to said structure, there exists an effect that it can instruct | indicate so that it may face the said conveyance worker through the information terminal to the position of the said product.

  In order to solve the above problem, in the transport control device according to one aspect of the present invention, the user may be an operator who performs a production process of the product.

  In the control method of the transport control device according to one aspect of the present invention, the user may be an operator who performs a production process of the product.

  According to the said structure, according to operation of the operator who performs the production process of a product, it can instruct | indicate a cart or a conveyance worker to go to the position of the said product. That is, there is an effect that the worker who performs the production process of the product can move the cart or the transport worker to the position of the product in accordance with the progress of the process.

  According to one aspect of the present invention, a transport cart or a transport worker can be directed to a product that requires a work process by an operator at the end time of the production process.

It is a block diagram which shows an example of the principal part structure of the conveyance control apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the application example of the conveyance control apparatus in the conveyance control system which concerns on this embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows an example of a principal part structure of the conveyance simulator 54 which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of the conveyance control process of the conveyance control apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

Embodiment
Hereinafter, an embodiment according to an aspect of the present invention (hereinafter, also referred to as “this embodiment”) will be described with reference to the drawings.

§1 Application Example FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of application of the transport control device 5 in the transport control system 100. First, an outline of an application example of the transport control device 5 will be described with reference to FIG.

  The conveyance control system 100 is a system that controls the conveyance of the product of the production apparatus 1 in the production line. The conveyance control system 100 includes a production apparatus 1, an operation apparatus 2, an apparatus control apparatus 3, a production progress management apparatus 4, a conveyance control apparatus 5, a conveyance carriage 6, an information terminal 7, and a conveyance worker 8.

  The conveyance control system 100 controls conveyance of the product by at least one of the plurality of conveyance carts 6 and the plurality of conveyance workers 8 in the production line.

  The conveyance control device 5 accepts a notice of the end of the production process of a product input by a user operation. For example, the above-mentioned user may be an operator who manages the work process of the production apparatus 1 (for example, operation or use of the production apparatus 1). The user operates the operation device 2 to output a production process end notice to the transport control device 5. In the following embodiment, an example in which the above-mentioned product is produced by the production apparatus 1 is shown. However, the product is produced by the above-described user's work (for example, manual work) without using the production apparatus. Also good.

  The conveyance control device 5 predicts the predicted end time of the production process in response to the advance notice of the production process. Further, the transfer control device 5 simulates the moving operation of at least one of the plurality of transfer carts 6 and the plurality of transfer workers 8. Then, the transfer control device 5 calculates the arrival times of the plurality of transfer carriages 6 and the plurality of transfer workers 8 with respect to the position where the finished product is placed from the simulated moving operation.

  The transfer control device 5 selects the transfer cart 6 or the transfer worker 8 according to the predicted end time of the production process and the calculated arrival time. Then, the transfer control device 5 instructs the selected transfer cart 6 or transfer operator 8 to go to the position of the product. Note that the position of the product is, for example, a place where the product is stored immediately after being produced by the production apparatus 1. Moreover, the conveyance control apparatus 5 sends an instruction to the information terminal 7 carried by the conveyance worker 8, for example, when giving an instruction to the conveyance worker 8.

  According to the above configuration, the transport control device 5 selects the transport cart 6 and the transport worker 8 according to the predicted production process end time and the calculated arrival time, and produces the transport cart 6 or the transport worker 8. Direct to the position of the item. In particular, the predicted production process end time is predicted based on a user operation.

  For this reason, in the production of a product that requires a work process or a management process by the user, even if the time spent for the process varies from user to user, the cart and the transport worker are moved to the product in accordance with the end timing of the production process. Can be directed to Therefore, it is possible to suppress generation of useless time in the conveyance time. That is, the efficiency of conveying the product can be increased.

  In addition, the user who operates the operation device 2 may be an operator who performs production processing of a product.

  According to the said structure, according to operation of the operator who performs the production process of a product, it can instruct | indicate a cart or a conveyance worker to go to the position of the said product. That is, the worker who performs the production process of the product can move the cart or the transport worker to the position of the product in accordance with the progress of the process.

§2 Configuration example (Transport control system 100)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a main configuration of the transport control system 100 and the transport control device 5 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the conveyance control system 100 includes a production apparatus 1, an operation apparatus 2, an apparatus control apparatus 3, a production progress management apparatus 4, a conveyance control apparatus 5, a conveyance carriage 6, an information terminal 7, and a conveyance worker 8. Including.

(Production equipment 1)
The production apparatus 1 produces a product in a production line. The production apparatus 1 may detect the number of produced products using a sensor or the like.

(Operation device 2)
The operation device 2 receives a user operation and outputs a notice signal for notifying the end of the production process of the product to the conveyance control device 5 and the production progress management device 4 (via the conveyance control device 5). Here, the product for which the end of the production process is predicted may be a product produced by the production apparatus 1, or the above-described user's work (for example, manual assembly or processing without using the production apparatus). ) May be produced. Further, the notice signal output from the controller device 2 indicates the number of products necessary for the end of the production process (for example, the remaining one), the time required for the end of the production process (for example, the remaining one minute), and the like. May be shown. For example, the user inputs to the operating device 2 at the timing that the user predicts that the production process of one lot of finished products will be completed in one minute later (for example, pressing a button displayed on a touch panel or the like). In response to a user input, the controller device 2 outputs a notice signal to the transport control device 5 and the production progress management device 4. Further, the number of products and the time indicated by the notice signal may be selectable by the user. For example, the controller device 2 displays a plurality of options such as “1 minute remaining”, “2 minutes remaining”, “3 minutes remaining”, etc., and the user selects these options and corresponds to the selected options. It may be configured to output a warning signal.

(Device control device 3)
The device control device 3 controls the production device 1 according to the production plan for each production device 1 for one day. When receiving the notice signal from the production apparatus 1, the apparatus control apparatus 3 outputs the notice signal to the production progress management apparatus 4 and the conveyance control apparatus 5.

  Moreover, the apparatus control apparatus 3 makes the completion report into the production progress management apparatus 4 when the production process of each production apparatus 1 is completed. For example, the device control device 3 may manage the completion of production for each lot of the product. Specifically, the device control device 3 grasps the number of products necessary for each production device 1 to complete one lot (predetermined number). For example, each production device 1 reports to the device control device 3 every time one production product is completed, and the device control device 3 grasps the number of remaining production products necessary to complete one lot of the production product. To do.

(Production progress management device 4)
The production progress management device 4 performs production management of the entire production line. For example, when a production plan for one day is input to the production progress management device 4, the production progress management device 4 instructs the device control device 3 to make a production plan for one day for each production device 1.

  Further, when the production progress management device 4 receives the notice signal, the production progress management device 4 outputs a signal indicating the transport source and transport destination of the product to the control unit 53 of the transport control device 5. For example, the notice signal may indicate the production device 1 at which the production process ends, the user (worker) at which the production process ends, the lot of the product for which the production process ends, and the like. The production progress management device 4 may specify the transport source and transport destination of the product according to the information indicated by the notice signal.

(Transport control device 5)
The conveyance control device 5 controls the conveyance of the product by at least one of the plurality of conveyance carts 6 and the plurality of conveyance workers 8 in the production line. As shown in FIG. 1, the conveyance control device 5 includes an input unit 51, a processing end time prediction unit (prediction unit) 52, a control unit (instruction unit) 53, and a conveyance simulator (simulation unit) 54.

(Input unit 51)
The input unit 51 receives a warning signal input from the controller device 2 by a user operation. The input unit 51 outputs the input notice signal to the processing end time prediction unit 52. The input unit 51 also outputs the notice signal to the production progress management device 4.

(Processing end time prediction unit 52)
The process end time prediction unit 52 predicts the predicted end time of the production process according to the input notice signal. The processing end time prediction unit 52 outputs a prediction time signal indicating the prediction time to the control unit 53.

  Note that the production apparatus 1 may be capable of producing a plurality of types of products. In this case, the processing end time prediction unit 52 may predict the predicted production end time of the production apparatus according to the production processing time per piece associated with the type of product. For example, the processing end time prediction unit 52 refers to a table indicating the production processing time per piece corresponding to the type of product, and predicts according to the type of product currently produced by the production apparatus 1. The time may be predicted.

  According to the above-described configuration, the process end time prediction unit 52 can accurately predict the predicted end time of the production process according to the type of product.

(Transport simulator 54)
The transfer simulator 54 simulates the moving operation for at least one of the plurality of transfer carts 6 and the plurality of transfer workers 8. Then, the transport simulator 54 calculates the arrival times of the transport cart 6 and the transport worker 8 with respect to the position of the product from the simulated moving operation.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a main configuration of the transport simulator 54. The configuration of the conveyance simulator 54 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the transport simulator 54 includes an acquisition unit 545, a storage unit 540, a calculation unit 546, an output unit 547, and an image processing unit 548. The transfer simulator 54 may be included in the transfer control device 5 or may be separated from the transfer control device 5.

(Acquisition unit 545)
The acquisition unit 545 acquires, from the control unit 53, a position signal indicating the current position and the like of the transport source and transport destination of the product for which the production process is predicted to end, the transport carts 6 and the transport workers 8 and so on. Is stored in the storage unit 540. Further, the acquisition unit 545 outputs to the calculation unit 546 that the position signal has been acquired.

(Calculation unit 546)
When the calculation unit 546 receives a signal indicating that the position signal has been acquired from the acquisition unit 545, the calculation unit 546 moves each of the transport cart 6 and the transport worker 8 from the current position to the position of the product (the position of the transport source). Perform a simulation.

  The calculation unit 546 calculates each arrival time with respect to the position of the product from the simulated moving operation. The calculation unit 546 outputs an arrival time signal indicating the calculated arrival time to the control unit 53 via the output unit 547.

  Here, the details of the simulation performed by the calculation unit 546 will be described. The calculation unit 546 performs the above-described simulation using the setting information 541, the condition setting information 542, the device layout information 543, and the position information 544 stored in the storage unit 540. Each information used for the simulation will be described below.

(Setting information 541)
The setting information 541 is information indicating the speed, acceleration, and deceleration of the transport cart 6 and the transport worker 8. For example, the speed, acceleration, deceleration, and the like described above may be set for each area (passage) in the conveyance path and each corner.

  That is, the calculation unit 546 may simulate the moving operation by changing at least one of speed, acceleration, and deceleration according to the situation of the transport carriage 6 or the transport worker 8.

  According to the above configuration, it is possible to assume an arrival time in consideration of the speed, acceleration, and deceleration actually changed by the transport cart 6 or the transport worker 8 according to the situation of the transport cart 6 or the transport worker 8. it can. Therefore, there is an effect that the arrival time can be accurately estimated.

  In the setting information 541, the speed, acceleration, and deceleration of the transport cart 6 or the transport worker 8 may be set in correspondence with the product that the transport cart 6 or the transport worker 8 is transporting. .

  That is, the calculation unit 546 changes at least one of the speed, acceleration, and deceleration of the transport cart 6 or the transport worker 8 according to the product being transported by the transport cart 6 or the transport worker 8. The arrival time may be calculated by simulating a moving operation.

  According to the above-described configuration, the calculation unit 546 determines the speed, acceleration, and deceleration that are actually changed by the transport cart 6 or the transport worker 8 according to the product that the transport cart 6 or the transport worker 8 is transporting. The arrival time can be calculated in consideration. For example, the calculation unit 546 may simulate the moving operation by changing the speed, acceleration, and deceleration depending on whether the transport cart 6 or the transport worker 8 is transporting the product. In addition, the calculation unit 546 may simulate the moving operation by changing the speed, acceleration, and deceleration according to the type, number, and the like of the product being transported by the transport cart 6 or the transport worker 8.

(Condition setting information 542)
In the condition setting information 542, the operations of the transport cart 6 and the transport worker 8 when the transport cart 6 and the transport worker 8 face an obstacle are set. Examples of the operation include temporary stop, detour, and route change. Examples of obstacles include luggage placed in a passage, workers working on the passage, other transport carts 6 or transport workers 8 and the like.

  That is, when there is an obstacle in the traveling direction, the calculation unit 546 may perform simulation so that the transport carriage 6 or the transport worker 8 avoids interference with the obstacle, and may calculate the arrival time.

  According to the above configuration, when there is an obstacle in the traveling direction, it is possible to calculate the arrival time in consideration of the operation for avoiding the interference with the obstacle actually performed by the transport carriage 6 or the transport worker 8. Therefore, there is an effect that the arrival time can be accurately calculated.

  For example, when the transport cart 6 or the transport worker 8 is traveling in a predetermined area, the calculation unit 546 may perform simulation so as to confront the obstacle with a predetermined frequency.

(Device layout information 543)
The apparatus layout information 543 indicates map information such as the position of each production apparatus 1, the position of the worker who performs the production work, and the conveyance path.

(Position information 544)
The position information 544 indicates a transfer source, a transfer destination, a position where each transfer carriage 6 starts, a position where each transfer operator 8 starts, and the like of the product for which the end of the production process acquired by the acquisition unit 545 is foretold.

(Image processing unit 548)
The image processing unit 548 may reproduce, as a 3D image, a viewpoint image that faces the traveling direction of each transport carriage 6 or each transport worker 8 in the simulation. Note that the image processing unit 548 is configured to be selectively applied as appropriate according to the convenience of implementation.

(Control unit 53)
The control unit 53 receives from the production progress management device 4 a signal indicating the transport source and transport destination of the product for which the end of the production process is predicted, and the position of each transport cart 6 and each transport worker 8 is received in the received signal. Is added to the transport simulator 54 as a position signal. For example, the control unit 53 may be configured to appropriately receive signals indicating the positions of the transport carts 6 and the transport workers 8 output from the transport carts 6 and the transport workers 8.

  The control unit 53 selects a specific transport cart 6 or a transport worker 8 from among the plurality of transport carts 6 and the plurality of transport workers 8 according to the predicted time indicated by the predicted time signal and the arrival time indicated by the arrival time signal. . Further, the control unit 53 instructs the selected transport cart 6 or the transport operator 8 to go to the position of the product for which the end of the production process is predicted.

  For example, the control unit 53 may determine whether the time between the predicted predicted production end time of the product and the time when the production process of the product is completed in the next production process is calculated as the arrival time. The operator 8 may be selected.

  The production process may be a lot unit process composed of one or a plurality of products. For example, the control unit 53 may select the transport cart 6 or the transport worker 8 for which the following time is calculated as the arrival time. The time between the arrival time and the predicted production end time of the lot for which the end of the production process is predicted until the time when the production process of the first product produced in the next lot produced ends.

  According to the above configuration, the selected cart or the transporter can collect one lot of the product to be transported from the end of the production process of the product to the time when the production process of the next product ends. There is an effect. Then, by the time the production process for the first product in the next lot is completed, the selected cart or the transporter can carry out the product in the previous lot from a predetermined stock area (for example, a platform). . As soon as the production process of the first product in the next lot is finished, the production apparatus 1 or the user can place the product in an empty stock area.

  In addition, the control unit 53 may select the transport cart 6 or the transport worker 8 for which the arrival time closest to the predicted time for ending the production process of the product is calculated.

  Further, the control unit 53 may select the transport cart 6 or the transport worker 8 that is earlier than the predicted end time of the production process of the product and for which the arrival time closest to the predicted time is calculated. .

  Further, the control unit 53 may output an instruction to make the information terminal 7 carried by the selected transport worker 8 point to the position of the product.

  According to the above configuration, it is possible to instruct the transport worker 8 to face the position of the product via the information terminal 7.

Further, the control unit 53 may receive a transfer completion report from the transfer cart 6. In this case, the control unit 53 receives a transfer completion report from the transfer worker 8 via the information terminal 7. The control unit 53 outputs the transfer completion report to the production progress management device 4.
(Transport cart 6)
The transport cart 6 transports the product in the production line. In response to an instruction from the control unit 53, the transport cart 6 moves to the position of the product in the production line.

(Information terminal 7)
The information terminal 7 is carried by each transport worker 8, receives an instruction from the control unit 53, and indicates the instruction to each transport worker 8.

(Transport worker 8)
The transport worker 8 transports the product in the production line according to the instruction shown on the information terminal 7.

  The transport cart 6 and the transport worker 8 may be configured to receive an instruction regarding the transport destination from the production progress management device 4 when they arrive at the position of the product and collect the product.

§3 Example of operation (Example of processing flow of transport control device 5)
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of the conveyance control process of the conveyance control device 5. An example of the flow of the conveyance control process of the conveyance control device 5 will be described with reference to FIG.

  When the input unit 51 receives a notice of the end of the production process (S1: input step), the process end time prediction unit 52 predicts a predicted time for the end of the production process (S2: prediction step). Further, the transfer simulator 54 simulates the moving operation for at least one of the plurality of transfer carts 6 and the plurality of transfer workers 8 (S3: simulation step). Then, the transport simulator 54 calculates the arrival times of the transport cart 6 and the transport worker 8 with respect to the position of the product (S4: simulation step). In addition, the conveyance control apparatus 5 may perform the process from S1 to S2 and the process from S3 to S4 in parallel. Subsequently, the control unit 53 selects the transport carriage 6 or the transport worker 8 according to the predicted time indicated by the predicted time signal and the arrival time indicated by the arrival time signal (S5). Subsequently, the control unit 53 instructs the selected transport cart 6 or transport worker 8 to go to the position of the product for which the end of the production process is predicted (S6: instruction step), and the process ends.

§4 Modification (Modification)
The transfer simulator 54 according to the present modification simulates the moving operation of the transfer cart 6 and the transfer operator 8 according to the position information of the obstacle output from the transfer cart 6 and the like.

  For example, the transport carriage 6 includes a sensor that detects an obstacle. When the conveyance carriage 6 detects an obstacle, the conveyance carriage 6 may output a signal indicating the position of the obstacle to the conveyance simulator 54.

  Moreover, each conveyance worker 8 may carry the tag which outputs the signal which shows own position. The signal is input to the conveyance simulator 54. The transport simulator 54 may simulate another transport worker 8 as an obstacle when simulating the movement operation of the transport cart 6 and the transport worker 8. Further, the transfer simulator 54 may receive detection results from sensors provided at a plurality of points in the transfer path in order to detect each worker on the production line including the transfer worker 8.

  The conveyance simulator 54 may simulate the movement operation of the obstacle from the position of the received obstacle, and may use the simulated movement operation of the obstacle for the simulation of the movement operation of the conveyance carriage 6 and the conveyance worker 8.

[Example of software implementation]
The blocks (particularly the processing end time prediction unit 52, the control unit 53, and the transport simulator 54) of the transport control device 5 may be realized by a logic circuit (hardware) formed in an integrated circuit (IC chip) or the like. It may be realized by software.

  In the latter case, the transport control device 5 includes a computer that executes instructions of a program that is software for realizing each function. The computer includes, for example, one or more processors and a computer-readable recording medium storing the program. In the computer, the processor reads the program from the recording medium and executes the program, thereby achieving the object of the present invention. As the processor, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) can be used. As the recording medium, a “non-temporary tangible medium” such as a ROM (Read Only Memory), a tape, a disk, a card, a semiconductor memory, a programmable logic circuit, or the like can be used. Further, a RAM (Random Access Memory) for expanding the program may be further provided. The program may be supplied to the computer via an arbitrary transmission medium (such as a communication network or a broadcast wave) that can transmit the program. Note that one embodiment of the present invention can also be realized in the form of a data signal embedded in a carrier wave, in which the program is embodied by electronic transmission.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope shown in the claims, and embodiments obtained by appropriately combining technical means disclosed in different embodiments. Is also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

5 transport control device 51 input unit 52 processing end time prediction unit (prediction unit)
54 Transport simulator (simulation unit)
53 Control unit (indicator)
S1 input step S2 prediction step S3, S4 simulation step S6 instruction step

Claims (16)

A transport control device that controls transport of a product by at least one of a plurality of carriages and a plurality of transport workers in a production line,
An input unit for receiving a notice of the end of the production process of the product input by a user operation;
A prediction unit that predicts a predicted time of completion of the production process according to the advance notice;
A simulation unit that simulates a movement operation for at least one of the plurality of carriages and the plurality of transfer workers, and calculates each arrival time with respect to the position of the product from the simulated movement operation;
A conveyance control apparatus comprising: an instruction unit that instructs a cart or a conveyance worker selected according to the predicted time and the arrival time to go to the position of the product.   2. The simulation unit according to claim 1, wherein when there is an obstacle in a traveling direction, the carriage or the transport worker performs simulation so as to avoid interference with the obstacle, and calculates the arrival time. The conveyance control apparatus described in 1.   3. The prediction unit according to claim 1, wherein the prediction unit predicts a predicted production end time of the product according to a production processing time per piece corresponding to the type of the product. Transport control device.   The instructing unit selects, as the arrival time, the cart or the transport worker for which the time between the predicted time and the time when the production process of the product is completed in the next production process is calculated. The conveyance control device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.   The simulation unit simulates the moving operation by changing at least one of a speed, an acceleration, and a deceleration of the cart or the transport worker according to a situation of the cart or the transport worker. The conveyance control apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4.   The simulation unit performs the moving operation by changing at least one of the speed, acceleration, and deceleration of the carriage or the transport worker according to the product being transported by the cart or the transport worker. The conveyance control apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the arrival time is calculated by simulation.   The said instruction | indication part outputs the instruction | indication which turns to the position of the said product to the information terminal which the said selected conveyance operator carries, The conveyance in any one of Claim 1 to 6 characterized by the above-mentioned. Control device.   The conveyance control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the user is an operator who performs production processing of the product. A control method of a transport control device for controlling transport of a product by at least one of a plurality of carriages and a plurality of transport workers in a production line,
An input step of receiving a notice of the end of the production process of the product input by a user operation;
A prediction step of predicting a predicted time of completion of the production process according to the advance notice;
A simulation step of simulating a movement operation for at least one of the plurality of carriages and the plurality of transfer workers, and calculating each arrival time with respect to the position of the product from the simulated movement operation;
An instruction step for instructing a cart or a conveyance worker selected according to the predicted time and the arrival time to go to the position of the product.   The simulation step includes calculating the arrival time by performing simulation so that the carriage or the transport worker avoids interference with the obstacle when there is an obstacle in the traveling direction. The control method of the conveyance control apparatus as described in 2.   The prediction step predicts a predicted production end time of the product according to a production processing time per piece corresponding to the type of the product. A control method of the transport control device.   In the instructing step, the cart or the transport worker from which the time between the predicted time and the time when the production process of the product is completed in the next production process is selected is selected as the arrival time. The control method of the conveyance control apparatus according to any one of claims 9 to 11.   In the simulation step, the moving operation is simulated by changing at least one of a speed, an acceleration, and a deceleration of the cart or the transport worker according to a situation of the cart or the transport worker. The control method of the conveyance control apparatus of any one of Claim 9 to 12.   In the simulation step, the moving operation is performed by changing at least one of a speed, an acceleration, and a deceleration of the carriage or the transport worker according to the product being transported by the cart or the transport worker. The method of controlling a transfer control device according to claim 13, wherein the arrival time is calculated by simulation.   The conveyance according to any one of claims 9 to 14, wherein in the instruction step, an instruction to direct the position of the product is output to an information terminal carried by the selected conveyance worker. Control method of the control device.   The control method of the conveyance control apparatus according to any one of claims 9 to 15, wherein the user is an operator who performs production processing of the product.

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