JP2021163395A - Production line design method and production line design system - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a production line design method and a production line design system capable of at least referring to design contents of a production line including a robot and peripheral devices from a remote place.SOLUTION: A production line design method uses: a production line design device 30 which is configured in a computer 1; and an input and output device 40 which is provided outside of the computer 1 so as to be capable of data communication with the production line design device 30. The production line includes a robot and peripheral devices, and the method includes: a design step of designing the production line by the production line design device 30 based on design information inputted to the input and output device 40 by a user; and a reference step of acquiring designed production line information as information related to the designed production line from the production line design device 30 and outputting the designed production line information by the input and output device 40.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a production line design method and a production line design system, and more particularly to a computer-assisted production line design method and a computer-assisted production line design system.

Patent Document 1 discloses a simulation device that simulates a robot and peripheral devices.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2019-209435

However, the simulation apparatus is composed of a single personal computer. Therefore, the simulation cannot be referred to at a place away from the simulation device.

By the way, when producing a robot to be used in a production line, it is necessary to design a production line including robots and peripheral devices suitable for customer equipment. In the design of this production line, it is necessary to at least simulate the operation of robots and peripheral devices. The device that carries out such a simulation operates at full capacity when the customer equipment is started up, but hardly operates when the customer equipment is started up. Moreover, in order to carry out the simulation, a dedicated high-performance personal computer is required. Therefore, expensive hardware resources are wasted.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and at least provides a production line design method and a production line design system that can refer to the design contents of a production line including a robot and peripheral devices from a remote location. The first purpose is to do.

Further, in addition to the first object, the second object of the present invention is to provide a production line design method and a production line design system capable of reducing waste of expensive hardware resources.

In order to achieve the above object, the production line design method according to an aspect of the present invention can perform data communication between a production line design device configured in a computer and the production line design device outside the computer. It is a production line design method using the input / output device provided in the above, and the method is based on the design information input to the input / output device by the user, and the robot and the periphery by the production line design device. A design process for designing a production line including equipment, and a reference process for acquiring and outputting designed production line information, which is information about the production line designed by the input / output device, from the production line design device. include.

According to this configuration, the production line design method uses the production line design device configured in the computer and the input / output device provided outside the computer to enable data communication with the production line design device. Since the output device includes a reference process for acquiring and outputting the designed production line information from the production line design device, the production line including the robot and peripheral devices using the input / output device from a location away from the production line design device. You can refer to the design contents. In particular, by using a portable information terminal as an input / output device and using wireless communication for data communication, it is possible to refer to the design contents of the production line from any place.

The computer may be a cloud computing system.

According to this configuration, the production line can be designed by storing the production line design software in the cloud computing system, so that a necessary amount of production line design environment can be prepared when necessary. As a result, it is possible to prevent waste of hardware assets and deal with sudden cases.

The design process includes a step of inputting the design information to the input / output device by a user, a step of transmitting the design information input by the input / output device to the production line design device, and a step of transmitting the design information to the production line design device. The reference step includes a step of receiving the design information and designing the production line based on the design information, and the reference step includes a step of inputting a predetermined transmission request to the input / output device by a user, and a step of inputting a predetermined transmission request to the input / output device. The process of transmitting the predetermined transmission request to the production line design device by the entry output device, and the design completed in response to the predetermined transmission request while receiving the predetermined transmission request by the production line design device. It may include a step of transmitting the production line information to the input / output device and a step of receiving and outputting the designed production line information by the input / output device.

According to this configuration, a specific production line design method can be provided.

The design process may include simulating the operation of the robot and peripherals on the production line.

According to this configuration, it is possible to check the interference of the robot with the peripheral device in the production line composed of a plurality of robots and the peripheral device.

The design process may further include generating an motion program for the robot based on the simulation.

According to this configuration, a robot operation program can be generated.
The method may use a plurality of the input / output devices.

According to this configuration, the contents of the production line designed from a place away from the production line design apparatus can be referred to more easily.

Further, the production line design system according to another aspect of the present invention includes a production line design device configured inside a computer and an input provided outside the computer so as to be capable of data communication with the production line design device. The production line design device includes an output device, and the production line design device is configured to design a production line including a robot and peripheral devices based on design information input to the input / output device. The input / output device is configured by a user. It is configured so that it is possible to input the above design information to the input / output device and to acquire and output the designed production line information which is the information about the designed production line from the production line design device. ing.

According to this configuration, the design contents of the production line including the robot and peripheral devices can be referred to by using the input / output device from a place away from the production line design device. In particular, by using a portable information terminal as an input / output device and using wireless communication for data communication, it is possible to refer to the design contents of the production line from any place.

The present invention has an effect that at least it is possible to provide a production line design method and a production line design system that can refer to the design contents of a production line including a robot and peripheral devices from a remote place.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a concept of a production line design system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing an example of the hardware configuration of the production line design system according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the production line design system realized by the hardware configuration of FIG. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a production line 300 composed of a plurality of robots and peripheral devices. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the design operation of the production line design system of FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a reference operation of the production line design system of FIG.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following, the same or corresponding elements will be designated by the same reference numerals throughout the drawings, and duplicate description thereof will be omitted. Since the following figures are for explaining the present invention, elements unrelated to the present invention may be omitted. Moreover, the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments.

(Embodiment)

[Concept of production line design system according to the embodiment]
First, the concept of the production line design system according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a concept of a production line design system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the production line design system 200 according to the present embodiment includes a production line design device 30 configured inside the computer 1 and an input / output device 40 provided outside the computer 1. The production line design device 30 and the input / output device 40 are connected to each other so as to be capable of data communication via a communication network 3 capable of data communication.

The production line design device 30 is configured to design a production line including a robot and peripheral devices based on design information input to the input / output device 40.

The input / output device 40 inputs design information to the input / output device 40, and acquires and outputs designed production line information, which is information about the designed production line, from the production line design device 30. , Is configured to be possible.

The input / output device 40 includes an input device 42 and an output device 43.

The computer 1 is required to have high performance, and is composed of, for example, a high-performance dedicated personal computer, a high-performance general-purpose computer, a cloud computing system, and the like. The reason why high performance is required for computer 1 is that the design of the production line includes simulation of robots and peripherals, and high (high speed and large amount) data processing capacity is required to carry out this simulation. Because it is done.

In this production line design system, when the user inputs design information to the input / output device 40 using the input device 42, the input / output device 40 transmits the input design information to the production line design device 30. Then, the production line design apparatus receives this design information and designs the production line based on the design information.

Further, when the user inputs a predetermined transmission request to the input / output device 40, the input / output device 40 transmits the predetermined transmission request to the production line design device 30. Then, the production line design device 30 receives the predetermined transmission request and transmits the designed production line information to the input / output device in response to the predetermined transmission request. Then, the input / output device 40 receives the designed production line information and outputs the designed production line information. Specifically, for example, the designed production line information is displayed on the display device as the output device 43.

According to such a production line design system 200, the design contents of the production line including the robot and peripheral devices can be referred to by using the input / output device 40 from a place away from the production line design device 30. In particular, by using a portable information terminal as the input / output device 40 and using wireless communication for data communication, the design contents of the production line can be referred to from any place.

Hereinafter, specific examples of this embodiment will be described. Hereinafter, a case where the computer 1 is a cloud computing system (hereinafter, may be referred to as a “cloud”) will be described.

[Hardware configuration]
FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing an example of the hardware configuration of the production line design system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, the production line design system 100 according to the present embodiment includes a cloud 1 and an information terminal 2. The cloud 1 and the information terminal 2 are connected to each other so as to be capable of data communication via a communication network 3 capable of data communication.

<Cloud 1>
Cloud 1 generally includes IaaS, PasaS, and SaaS. Infrastructure as a Service provides hardware devices such as servers and storage. SaaS provides a development environment (platform). SaaS provides software.

The cloud 1 includes IaaS here, and includes a server 11 and a storage 12. The server 11 includes a processor Pr1, a memory Me1, and a communication device (not shown). The server 11 is composed of an information processor, and examples of the information processor include a computer and a personal computer. A microcontroller is exemplified as an arithmetic unit including a processor Pr1 and a memory Me1. Examples of the processor Pr1 include a CPU, MPU, FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), PLC (Programmable Logic Controller), and the like. Examples of the memory Me1 include ROM, RAM, an external storage device (for example, SSD (Solid State Drive), hard disk drive) and the like.

The memory Me1 stores data related to a predetermined robot production line design software (hereinafter, simply referred to as "predetermined production line design software"), a robot controller software, and a robot.

The communication device (not shown) includes, for example, a modem, an ONU (optical network unit), a router, and the like.

The storage 12 is composed of a large-capacity memory (for example, a hard disk drive or the like).

<Information terminal 2>
The information terminal 2 is composed of, for example, a personal computer, a notebook computer, a tablet, a smartphone, or the like. The information terminal 2 is composed of a personal computer here.

The information terminal 2 includes a computer main body 21, an input device 22, and an output device 23. The computer main body 21 includes a processor Pr2, a memory Me2, and a communication device (not shown). A microcontroller is exemplified as an arithmetic unit including a processor Pr2 and a memory Me2. Examples of the processor Pr2 include a CPU, MPU, FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), PLC (Programmable Logic Controller), and the like. Examples of the memory Me2 include ROM, RAM, an external storage device (for example, SSD (Solid State Drive), hard disk drive) and the like. The communication device (not shown) includes, for example, a modem, an ONU (optical network unit), a router, and the like.

Examples of the input device 22 include a keyboard, a mouse, and a touch panel. Examples of the output device 23 include display devices such as liquid crystal displays, speakers, printers, and the like. Hereinafter, the case where the output device 23 is a display device will be described.

<Communication network 3>
Examples of the communication network 3 include the Internet, LAN, WAN, telephone line, and dedicated line.

[Functional configuration]
FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the production line design system realized by the hardware configuration of FIG.

With reference to FIG. 3, the production line design system 200 is provided in the production line design device (hereinafter, simply referred to as “production line design device” 30” configured in the cloud 1 of FIG. 2 and outside the cloud 1 of FIG. The production line design device 30 includes the provided input / output device 40, and is connected to the input / output device 40 via a communication network 3 capable of data communication.

The production line design system 200 of FIG. 3 is a functional block realized by the processor Pr1 of the server 11 of FIG. 2 reading the production line design software from the memory Me1 and executing the software. That is, by realizing this functional block, the server 11 operates (functions) as a production line design device. Further, when the production line design software is executed on the server 11 as described above, the information terminal 2 operates (functions) as the input / output device 40. The data related to the robot controller software and the robot stored in the memory Me1 of the server 11 is appropriately referred to (used) when the production line design device 30 carries out the simulation described later.

The production line design device 30 includes a communication interface 31, an arithmetic unit (arithmetic circuit) 32, and a storage device 33. The communication interface 31 and the arithmetic unit 32 are composed of the server 11, and the storage device 33 is composed of the storage 12.

The input / output device 40 is composed of the information terminal 2 shown in FIG. The input / output device 40 is a functional block realized by executing the production line design software on the server 11 as described above. The input / output device 40 includes a communication interface 41, an input device 42, and an output device 43. The communication interface 41 is composed of the computer main body 21 of FIG. The input device 42 is composed of the input device 42 of FIG. The output device 43 is composed of the output device 23 of FIG. Therefore, here, the output device 43 is a display device.

[Production line]
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a production line 300 composed of a plurality of robots and peripheral devices.

Referring to FIG. 4, the production line 300 includes, for example, a belt conveyor 63 and a plurality of (here, two) robots arranged on both sides of the belt conveyor 63 at intervals in the transport direction of the belt conveyor 63. Includes 61 and 62. In this production line, robots 61 and 62 sequentially assemble parts (workpieces) to be conveyed on the belt conveyor 63.

The production line 300 further includes peripheral devices such as a supply device for each component, jigs, and the like (not shown).

In this production line 300, it is necessary to prevent interference between a plurality of robots 61 and 62, and between each robot 61 and 62 and a peripheral device 63. Further, in the production line 300, each of the plurality of robots 61 and 62 is required to perform the corresponding steps in a predetermined takt time.

[Operation (production line design method)]
Next, the operation of the production line design system 200 configured as described above will be described. The production line design system 200 has "design operation (design mode)" and "reference operation (reference mode)" as operation modes. The operation of the production line design system 200 is executed by the processor Pr1 of the server 11 reading and executing the above-mentioned predetermined production line design software stored in the memory Me1.

<Design operation>
First, the "design operation" will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 5. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the design operation of the production line design system 200 of FIG.

Referring to FIGS. 2 to 5, the user operates the information terminal 2 in advance to store (download) the predetermined production line design software in the memory Me1 of the server 11. Generally, when a production line using a robot is set up, production line design software is created for each production line. This predetermined production line design software is created specifically for the production line 300.

The user operates the information terminal 2 to access the server 11 and start the predetermined production line design software. As a result, the production line design system 100 of FIG. 2 starts up as the production line design system 200 of FIG. That is, the production line design system 200 shown in FIG. 3 is realized.

The arithmetic unit 32 of the production line design device 30 guides and prompts the processing necessary for the construction of the production line 300 as the output device 43 of the input / output device 40 via the pair of communication interfaces 31 and 41. Display on the display device. Then, in response to this display, the user performs the processing necessary for constructing the production line 300 as follows. Specifically, the user performs this process by inputting necessary information to the production line design device 30 via the pair of communication interfaces 41 and 31 using the input device 42. In this process, in the production line design device 30, the arithmetic unit 32 performs a necessary operation (simulation or the like) in response to a command input from the input device 42, and appropriately inputs data input from the input device 42. To process.

First, the user stores (stores) the three-dimensional data of the production line 300 (specifically, the plurality of robots 61 and 62 and peripheral devices) in the storage device 33 from the input device 42 (step S1).

Next, the user constructs the layout of the production line 300 using the three-dimensional data (step S2). Specifically, the user inputs the positions of each device such as a plurality of robots 61 and 62, peripheral devices, jigs, etc. from the input device 42, and determines the arrangement of each device. Then, this layout is stored in the storage device 33.

The user then examines the interference by simulation (step S3). Specifically, the user inputs an interference check command to the input device 42. Then, the arithmetic unit 32 simulates the operations of the robots 61 and 62 and the peripheral devices in the layout stored in the storage device 33, and determines whether or not there is interference between the robots 61 and 62 and the peripheral devices, and each robot. Check for interference between the tools (end effectors) 61 and 62 and the jig. If there is interference, the user modifies the layout to eliminate it. In this simulation, the arithmetic unit 32 uses the controller software and the robot data stored in the memory Me1 of the server 11 of FIG.

Next, the user plans the approximate operation of the robots 61 and 62 (step S4). Specifically, the user roughly creates an operation program of each robot 61, 62 while operating the arithmetic unit 32 by inputting necessary information (data, command, request, etc.) from the input device 42.

Next, the user confirms the tact (step S5). Specifically, the user causes the arithmetic unit 32 to simulate the operations of the robots 61 and 62 and the peripheral devices based on the approximate operation program. Then, it is confirmed whether or not the working times of the robots 61 and 62 are within the production target tact. If the work time is not within the production target tact, the layout is modified (steps S2 to S5).

Then, when the work time is within the production target tact, the user generates the final robot operation program (step S6). Specifically, the user plans the operations of the robots 61 and 62, and creates a robot operation program including an interlock signal with a peripheral device. Then, this robot operation program is stored in the storage device 33.

The user then confirms the final tact (step S7).

This completes the production line design. As a result, the production line design system 200 can perform the reference operation.

<Reference operation>
Next, the "reference operation" will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4 and 6. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a reference operation of the production line design system of FIG. Hereinafter, the information regarding the production line 300 designed as described above is referred to as the designed production line information. As the designed production line information, the contents of the simulation, data on the layout of the production line 300, and the like are exemplified.

Referring to FIG. 6, when the user inputs a request for transmission of designated information from the input device 42 to the input / output device 40, the input / output device 40 transmits this to the production line design device 30 (step S11). The designated information is the information specified by the user in the designed production line information that the user wants to acquire. Here, the designated information is, for example, simulation information.

On the other hand, when the production line design device 30 is waiting for the reception of the transmission request (NO in step S21) and receives the transmission request (YES in step S21), the production line design device 30 transmits the specified information in response to this request. (Step S22).

On the other hand, after the input / output device 40 transmits the above request, the input / output device 40 waits for a response from the production line design device 30 (NO in step S12), and receives the response (acquires designated information) (step S12). Yes), the designated information is displayed on the display device as the output device 43 (step S13). The user appropriately refers to and uses the displayed designated information. Examples of the mode of use include modification of the designed production line.

<Effect>
As described above, according to the production line design system 200, it is possible to refer to the design contents of the production line including the robot and peripheral devices by using the input / output device 40 from a place away from the production line design device 30. .. In particular, by using a portable information terminal as the input / output device 40 and using wireless communication for data communication, the design contents of the production line can be referred to from any place.

Further, according to the above configuration, since the production line 300 can be designed by storing the production line design software in the cloud 1, it is possible to prepare a necessary amount of production line design environment when necessary. As a result, it is possible to prevent waste of hardware assets and deal with sudden cases.

(Other embodiments)
In the above embodiment, the production line design system 200 may include a plurality of input / output devices 40 (information terminals 2). Thereby, the contents of the production line designed from a place away from the production line design device 30 can be referred to more easily.

From the above description, many improvements and other embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the above description should be construed as an example only.

The production line design method and the production line design system of the present invention are useful as a production line design method and a production line design system that can refer to the design contents of the production line including the robot and peripheral devices from at least a remote place.

1 Computer (cloud)
2 Information terminal 3 Communication network 11 Server 12 Storage 21 Computer body 22 Input device 23 Output device 30 Production line design device 31 Communication interface 32 Computing device 33 Storage device 40 Input / output device 41 Communication interface 42 Input device 43 Output device 61, 62 Robot 63 Belt conveyor (peripheral equipment)
100,200 Production line design system 300 Production line Me1, Me2 Memory Pr1, Pr2 Processor

Claims (12)

It is a production line design method using a production line design device configured inside a computer and an input / output device provided outside the computer so as to enable data communication with the production line design device.
The method includes a design process of designing a production line including a robot and peripheral devices by the production line design device based on design information input to the input / output device by a user.
A production line design method including a reference step of acquiring and outputting designed production line information, which is information about the production line designed by the input / output device, from the production line design device. The production line design method according to claim 1, wherein the computer is a cloud computing system. The design process includes a step of inputting the design information to the input / output device by a user, a step of transmitting the design information input by the input / output device to the production line design device, and the production line design device. Including the process of receiving the design information and designing the production line based on the design information.
The reference step includes a step of inputting a predetermined transmission request to the input / output device by a user, a step of transmitting the predetermined transmission request to the production line design device by the input / output device, and the production line design device. By receiving the predetermined transmission request and transmitting the designed production line information to the input / output device in response to the predetermined transmission request, and by the input / output device, the designed production line information is transmitted. The production line design method according to claim 1 or 2, which comprises a step of receiving and outputting. The production line design method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the design step includes simulating the operation of the robot and peripheral devices on the production line. The production line design method according to claim 4, wherein the design step further includes generating an operation program of the robot based on the simulation. The production line design method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the method uses a plurality of the input / output devices. It is provided with a production line design device configured inside a computer and an input / output device provided outside the computer to enable data communication with the production line design device.
The production line design device is configured to design a production line including a robot and peripheral devices based on design information input to the input / output device.
The input / output device inputs the design information to the input / output device, and acquires and outputs the designed production line information which is the information about the designed production line from the production line design device. And, the production line design system, which is configured to be possible. The production line design system according to claim 7, wherein the computer is a cloud computing system. When the user inputs the design information to the input / output device, the input / output device is configured to transmit the input design information to the production line design device.
The production line design apparatus is configured to receive the design information and design the production line based on the design information.
The input / output device is further configured to transmit the predetermined transmission request to the production line design device when the user inputs a predetermined transmission request to the input / output device.
The production line design device is further configured to receive the predetermined transmission request and transmit the designed production line information to the input / output device in response to the predetermined transmission request.
The production line design system according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the input / output device is further configured to receive the designed production line information and output the designed production line information. The production line design according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the production line design apparatus is configured to simulate the operation of the robot and peripheral devices on the production line in the process of designing the production line. system. The production line design system according to claim 10, wherein the production line design apparatus is configured to generate an operation program of the robot based on the simulation in the process of designing the production line. The production line design system according to any one of claims 7 to 11, further comprising the plurality of the input / output devices.

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