JP2869687B2 - Automation equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic equipment provided on a production line so as to operate in a chain with other equipment.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, in this type of automated equipment, an interface for performing operations of each equipment in a chain while transferring work between a plurality of equipments provided on a production line. When a lock signal is received from another facility, a predetermined operation is started according to a control program set in the sequencer in advance.

Further, each of the facilities provided on the production line has a function of detecting the presence / absence of a work flowing into each facility. When the presence of a work is detected, a work detection signal is given to the sequencer. , A predetermined operation of the sequencer is started according to a preset control program.

In such automated equipment, when starting up a production line or remodeling the line, it is checked whether or not each equipment operates normally, and the reliability and the operation rate are improved. For this reason, it is necessary to cause each facility to perform a test operation under conditions as close as possible when the line is operating before the line operates.

Conventionally, in order to perform a trial operation of each facility provided on a production line, a control program for operating each facility is replaced with a program dedicated to the trial run, and each facility is operated according to the program dedicated to the trial run. Like that.

[0006]

The problem to be solved is that, in addition to the original control program for operating each facility provided on the production line, a program dedicated to test operation must be separately prepared. .

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, a test run of each facility is performed without using any program dedicated to the trial run, and using the original control program for operating each facility provided on the production line. In order to perform the operation, the operation of each equipment is performed in a chain while the interlock signal is used to transfer work between a plurality of equipment provided on the production line, and each equipment is controlled when it receives an interlock signal from another equipment In a system in which a predetermined operation is started in accordance with a program, when a test operation of each equipment is performed, a switch means for switching the own equipment from a chain operation linked to a line to an independent operation, and when the own equipment is switched to an independent operation. Before the pseudo interlock signal
Means for generating at a predetermined timing according to the start of the predetermined operation, so as to start the predetermined operation according to the control program in accordance with the pseudo interlock signal in the own equipment. I have.

Further, according to the present invention, in each facility provided on a production line, a predetermined operation is started by a control program on condition that a work flowing into each facility is detected and a work detection signal is generated. A switch means for switching the own equipment from a state with work detection to a state without work detection at the time of test operation of each equipment, and a pseudo work detection when the own equipment is switched to a state without work detection. Signal at the start of the predetermined action
A means for generating a signal at a predetermined timing corresponding thereto is provided, and a predetermined operation is started by the control program on condition that the pseudo work detection signal is generated in the own equipment.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Now, when an interlock signal for performing the operation of each equipment in a chain while transferring work between a plurality of equipments provided on a production line is received from another equipment, A case will be described below in which a test operation of an automation facility that starts a predetermined operation according to a control program set in a sequencer is performed.

In this case, as shown in FIG. 1, a switch SW1 is provided on the operation panel of each equipment to switch its own equipment from a chained operation side a to a single operation side b by line interlocking. When the switch SW1 is operated and the own equipment is switched to the single operation side b (the contact a of the switch SW1 is opened and the contact b thereof is closed), the controller 1 switches the switch SW1 to the single operation side b. In response to this, the signal generator 2 generates a pseudo interlock signal I 'at a predetermined timing, and the pseudo interlock signal I' is supplied to the sequencer 3.

The sequencer 3 starts a predetermined operation of its own equipment in accordance with a preset original control program in accordance with the pseudo interlock signal I '.

When the switch SW1 is switched to the independent operation side b, the contact a of the switch SW1 is opened, and the transmission system of the interlock signal I from other equipment is cut off.

Here, the timing at which the pseudo interlock signal I 'is generated under the control of the controller 1 is such that the sequencer 3 receives the interlock signal I sent from another facility at the time of a chain operation by line interlocking. It is set to be the same as when starting the operation of own equipment from.

As shown in FIG. 1, the operation panel of each facility has
The display 4 is provided so that the operator can visually confirm the interlock signal state.
When W1 is switched to the chain-side operation side a by linking the lines, the indicator 4 is turned on by the interlock signal I sent from other equipment, and the switch SW is turned on.
When 1 is switched to the single operation side b, the indicator 4 is turned on by the pseudo interlock signal I '.

Further, each of the equipments provided on the production line has a function of detecting the presence or absence of a work flowing into each equipment, and a work detection signal when the presence of a work is detected is supplied to the sequencer. A description will be given below of a case where, as a condition, the sequencer performs a test operation of an automation facility that starts a predetermined operation according to a preset control program.

In this case, as shown in FIG. 2, a switch SW for switching the own equipment from an operation side c with work detection to an operation side d without work detection is provided on an operation panel of each equipment.
When the switch SW2 is operated by the operator and the own equipment is switched to the operation side d without work detection (the c-contact side of the switch SW2 is opened and the d-contact side is closed), the controller 1 Knows that the switch SW2 has been switched to the operation side d due to no work detection, and generates a pseudo work detection signal D 'from the signal generator 5 at a predetermined timing, and the pseudo work detection signal D' is sent to the sequencer 3. Is to be given.

The sequencer 3 starts a predetermined operation of its own equipment in accordance with a preset original control program, provided that the pseudo work detection signal D 'is given.

When the switch SW2 is switched to the operation side d due to no work detection, the c-contact side of the switch SW2 is opened, and the system of the original work detection signal D generated from the work detector 6 is cut off. It has become.

The timing at which the pseudo work detection signal D 'is generated under the control of the controller 1 is as follows. It is set to be the same as when the signal actually occurs.

As shown in FIG. 2, the operation panel of each facility has
A display 7 is provided so that the operator can visually confirm the state of the work detection signal.
When the switch 2 is switched to the operation side c with work detection, the display 7 is lit by the work detection signal D from the work detector 6, and the switch SW2 is switched to the operation side d without work detection. The display 7 is turned on by the pseudo work detection signal D '.

In each facility, the system shown in FIG. 1 and the system shown in FIG. 2 are juxtaposed, and a test operation is performed by appropriately combining the switching states of the switches SW1 and SW2 provided on the operation panel. Thus, the following tests can be performed while confirming the state of the interlock signal and the presence / absence of a work by the indicators 4 and 7.

By switching the switch SW1 to the single operation side b and the switch SW2 to the operation side d without work detection, it is checked whether or not the control program in the sequencer 3 is operating normally. Debugging and the like can be performed.

By switching the switch SW1 to the single operation side “b” and switching the switch SW2 to the operation side “c” with the work detected, a work processing test or the like can be performed.

The switch SW1 is switched to the chain-side operation side a by linking the lines, and the switch SW2
Is switched to the operation side d with no work detection, a cooperative confirmation test with the line can be performed.

By switching the switch SW1 in each facility to the chain-side working side a by linking the lines and by switching the switch SW2 to the working side c by work detection, each facility was put into the production line. In this state, it is possible to perform a chain operation by normal line interlocking.

FIG. 3 shows a front and rear glass mounting facility 8 in an automobile production line. The case where the present invention is implemented in this glass mounting facility 8 will be described below.

The glass mounting equipment 8 is provided with a vehicle body positioning device 81 for setting the vehicle body 10 sent from a vehicle transfer device 9 as another equipment at a predetermined position, and is sent from a glass transfer device 11 as another equipment. A glass positioning device 82 for setting the incoming front and rear glass 12 at a predetermined position, and a glass mounting device 83 for mounting the front and rear glass 12 to the vehicle body 10.

The glass mounting equipment 8, the vehicle body transfer device 9 and the glass transfer device 11 are interlocked with each other via an interlock signal.

FIG. 4 shows the timing of the generation of each interlock signal between the glass mounting equipment 8 and the vehicle body transporting device 9 and the glass transporting equipment 11 and the glass mounting equipment 8.
3 shows an example of the operation state in FIG.

In FIG. 4, (a) shows an interlock signal given from the vehicle body transfer device 9 to the glass mounting equipment 8,
(B) is an interlock signal given from the glass mounting equipment 8 to the vehicle body transfer device 9, and (c) is a glass transfer device 1.
1 (d) shows an interlock signal given to the glass mounting equipment 8 from the glass mounting equipment 8;
1 shows an interlock signal given to the control unit 1. (E) shows the timing of the operating state of each part in the glass mounting equipment 8.

In the drawing, t1 indicates the start of the operation of the glass mounting equipment, and T indicates one cycle for mounting the glass for one vehicle body.

[0009]

The timing of the interlock signal to the glass mounting equipment 8 is substantially the same in each cycle.

The glass mounting equipment 8 is controlled by a programmable logic control (PLC) as a sequencer.
Has been done by

In advance, the timing of the interlock signal to the glass mounting equipment 8 is obtained based on the rise of the interlock signal of “being transported by the vehicle body” from the vehicle body transporting device 9 based on an operation program time chart or actual measurement. (The cycle start signal of the glass mounting equipment 8 is triggered by an interlock signal of “transporting the vehicle body”). Then, based on the obtained timing, P
Using the timer function of the LC, a pseudo interlock signal equivalent to the interlock signal to the glass mounting equipment 8 can be generated. Further, as an answer interlock signal for the pseudo interlock signal, an interlock signal from a commonly used glass mounting facility is used as it is.

[0035]

According to the present invention, when a test run of each facility provided on the production line is performed, each facility is linked with other facilities by linking the lines without requiring any program dedicated to the trial run. There is an advantage that the test operation of each facility can be reliably performed using the original control program to be operated as it is.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system that generates a pseudo interlock signal during a test operation of equipment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a system that generates a pseudo work detection signal during a test operation of the equipment.

FIG. 3 is a simplified configuration diagram showing a facility for mounting front and rear glass in an automobile production line.

FIG. 4 is a time chart of signals at various parts in connection with the operation of the front and rear glass mounting equipment of the automobile.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 controller 2 signal generator 3 sequencer 4 display 5 signal generator 6 work detector 7 display SW1 switch SW2 switch I interlock signal I 'pseudo interlock signal D work detection signal D' pseudo work detection signal

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] An interlock signal is used to transfer work among a plurality of facilities provided on a production line, and the operation of each facility is performed in a chain. Each facility receives an interlock signal from another facility. In a system in which a predetermined operation is started in accordance with a control program, at the time of a test operation of each facility, a switch means for switching the own facility from a chain operation linked with a line to an independent operation, and the own facility is switched to a single operation. Sometimes, a pseudo interlock signal is output at a predetermined time according to the start of the predetermined operation.
Means for generating at the same timing as described above, and a predetermined operation is started in accordance with the control program in the own equipment in response to the pseudo interlock signal. 2. In each equipment provided on a production line, a predetermined operation is started by a control program on condition that a work flowing into each equipment is detected and a work detection signal is generated. in things, upon commissioning of the equipment, and switching means for switching the self equipment from the state of the workpiece detected chromatic state of the workpiece detected no, the predetermined pseudo workpiece detection signal when the own equipment is switched to the state of the workpiece detected no Specified according to the start of the operation of
Means for generating at a timing, wherein a predetermined operation is started by the control program on condition that the pseudo work detection signal is generated in the own equipment.