JP3018440B2 - Parts request device - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a component requesting device used when requesting a component from a process of handling a plurality of types of components, and in particular, the operation at the time of requesting the component is simple and the amount of transmitted information is large. The present invention relates to a component requesting device that requires less power.

2. Description of the Related Art A stator station is provided in each of a plurality of processes for handling a plurality of types of parts, and a request for parts is made from the stator station to a master station. 2. Description of the Related Art A component transport system for transporting components to a requested process is used in various production lines and the like. When requesting a part from the stator station in such a part transport system, usually, a process No. for specifying a process in which the stator station is arranged and a part No. for specifying a requested part are provided by a numeric keypad or the like. By inputting them, they are transmitted to the master station, and the process No. and part N
The required parts are determined from o.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, it is troublesome and troublesome for the operator to input the process No. and the component No. using the numeric keypad and the like.
While there is a risk of input error, it has been difficult to perform automation such as detecting that the number of components has decreased by a sensor or the like and automatically requesting the master station for components. In addition, since an identification signal or the like for identifying that the input is a process number or a part number is required, the amount of transmission information increases and the transmission time increases, and the master station also performs information processing. There were inconveniences such as taking time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to make it possible to easily make a component request in a stator station and to automate the same, thereby reducing the amount of transmission information. It is in.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above object, it is only necessary to make it possible to request components with one switch. According to the present invention, the stator stations are respectively allocated to a plurality of processes for handling a plurality of types of components. A component requesting device for requesting a component from a master station that issues a transport instruction to a transport device or the like via the stator station,
(A) a plurality of changeover switches provided in each of the stator stations corresponding to the parts to be handled in the process in which the stator stations are provided, and switches corresponding to the parts when a part is requested; A storage means provided in each of the stator stations and preliminarily provided with process information for specifying a process in which the stator stations are provided; and (c) a plurality of changeover switches provided in the stator stations, respectively. When at least one of the switches is switched, the switch information indicating the operation state of the plurality of changeover switches and the process information set in the storage unit are converted into information indicating required parts in the process in which the stator station is disposed. And an information processing apparatus for transmitting the information to the master station in a predetermined format.

Function and Effect of the Invention In such a component requesting device, a plurality of changeover switches are provided in the stator station corresponding to the components handled in each process, and the changeover switch corresponding to the required component is switched when a component is requested. Thus, the process information and the switch information stored in the storage means are transmitted to the master station in a predetermined format, and the required component is identified based on the process information and the switch information.

In this case, since the operation state of one changeover switch requires only one bit of information, even if, for example, eight changeover switches are provided, the switch information indicating the operation state requires only eight bits of information. At the same time, this information amount does not change even when a plurality of changeover switches are switched to request a plurality of components. Further, since the process information and the switch information are transmitted to the master station in a predetermined format, an identification signal or the like for identifying the information is unnecessary, and the information amount of the switch information is small. As a result, the amount of information transmitted when requesting parts is greatly reduced.

On the other hand, also in the master station, the process information and the switch information are transmitted in a predetermined format, so that it is easy to identify such information and to specify required parts. As a result, the information transmission time at the time of a component request is shortened in addition to the small amount of information as described above, and component requests from a plurality of stator stations can be efficiently processed. Further, since the information processing time at the master station can be shortened, for example, the request time of a component requested from each process is stored for each component, and statistics such as the request time and the number of requests may be taken. It becomes possible.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, since a component request is made only by switching the changeover switch, the component request can be easily automated by using a sensor for detecting the stock amount of the component as the changeover switch. In addition, even when the operator operates the changeover switch to request a part, the operation is simple and an operation error or the like is prevented.

Embodiment Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a communication system in a component transport system that transports components to each process such as a component assembling line using a plurality of transport devices, and includes one master station 10 and a plurality of stator stations 12 and And a mobile station 14. Station 12
Are installed in each process such as the above-described component assembly line that handles a plurality of types of components, while the mobile station 14 is provided in a transport device such as a forklift or a trolley. In each process where the stator station 12 is installed, up to 8
Various types of parts are handled, and the number of transport devices is determined according to the number of parts handled in all processes, consumption amount, and the like.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the stator station 12 includes an information processing device 16 composed of a microcomputer or the like, eight call switches 18, and the call switches.
Eight lamps 20 provided corresponding to 18 and a setting device 22 are provided, and information is transmitted to and from the master station 10 via a transceiver 26. Call switch 18 above
Is turned on by a worker when requesting a part. Each call switch 18 corresponds to a part handled in each process, and is turned on according to the type of part.
The call switch 18 to be operated is predetermined. The setter 22 is for setting an ID number for specifying the stator station 12, and the ID number such as "1", "2",. Is stored. The ID number is also process information for specifying a process in which the stator station 12 is provided, and a required component can be specified by the ID number and the operation state of the call switch 18. The call switch 18 corresponds to a changeover switch, and the RAM 24 corresponds to storage means.

The communication system between the fixed station 12 and the master station 10 is set as follows.

Communication method Synchronous method: Start-stop synchronization (asynchronous) Transfer rate: 2400 BPS Data length: 8 bits Parity bit: None Start bit: 1 bit Stop bit: 1 bit Line: Wireless MSK (3600 Hz, 2400 Hz) Also, the call switch 18 is ON When operated, transport data requesting parts is transmitted from the fixed station 12 to the master station 10, and the transport data is created, for example, in the format shown in FIG. This format is set in the information processing device 16 in advance. In FIG. 4, the 10-byte stator station ID number is read from the RAM 24, and the 11-byte SW data is written based on an input signal from each call switch 18. The SW data corresponds to switch information, and the operating state of each of the eight call switches 18 is represented by one bit by expressing each operating state of each of the eight call switches 18 with an 8-bit information amount. . The 12th and 13th bytes are for checking whether there is an error in the transmission data of the 10th and 11th bytes.

When the call switch 18 is turned ON, the lamp corresponding to the call switch 18 is turned on and off, and after the transport data is transmitted to the master station 10, the confirmation signal is sent to the fixed station 12. Is turned on by being transmitted to. Also, when the transport of the component is completed and the transport completion signal is transmitted from the master station 10, the light is turned off.

Returning to FIG. 1, the master station 10 is a control computer.
32, keyboard 34, parts table memory 36, printer 38,
CRT display 40, CCU (communication control unit) for stator station 42,
And a mobile station CCU 44 for transmitting information to and from the fixed station 12 and the mobile station 14 via a transceiver 46. A plurality of transceivers 46 are provided so as to be able to communicate with all the fixed stations 12 and the mobile stations 14. The component table memory 36 stores, for example, a component table as shown in FIG. 5, and reads out the data relating to the required component represented by the transport data transmitted from the stator station 12 from the component table. To display on the CRT display 40. The "fixed station" column in the parts table of FIG. 5 corresponds to the ID number and switch number of the fixed station 12, and for example, "1" before "1-1" in the uppermost row is an ID number. , And the last “1” corresponds to the switch number of the call switch 18 of the fixed station 12. Therefore, 10 and
The “fixed station” is specified from the ID number and SW data in the 11th byte, and the component data of the “fixed station” is read from the component table. When the SW data indicates the ON state of the plurality of call switches 18, a plurality of "fixed stations" corresponding to the call switches 18 are specified.

Further, the “square number” in the parts table is a number given to identify a part handled in each of the above-mentioned steps, and a worker at the site confirms the part by giving a simpler number than the part number. It is easy. “Company” is the supplier of the part, “Store” is the storage location of the part, “District” is the lift division predetermined for each part in order to carry out the work efficiently, and “Line” "Address" is the address of the production line where the part is handled.

FIG. 6 is an example of the required parts list displayed on the CRT display 40. On the CRT display 40, as a general rule, the first 20 required components are displayed, and the transported component data is scrolled. "61 points in total" in the upper row indicates that the number of parts requested after the start of the work is 61, and "49 points not yet" indicates 49 of the requested parts that have not been transported yet. Means that. The “required number of parts” on the lower right is the number of incompletely transported parts for each lift section. Further, “#” added to “progress” indicates that a predetermined time has passed after a part request has been made, and “progress” 1 and 4 with meshes are attached. A part means that a transport operation is being performed by any transport device. Note that the mesh represents a white inverted character. In addition, the display order is, in principle, in the order of the requested time, but the sorting is performed when a predetermined requirement is satisfied so that efficient transport work is performed, such as when a part close to the storage location is requested. .

On the other hand, the master station 10 transmits the transport data representing the required parts to all the mobile stations 14 at predetermined time intervals, or in accordance with the progress of the transport operation, a request from the mobile station 14 or the like. The communication system in this case is the same as the communication system between the fixed station 12 and the master station 10, and the transport data is created, for example, in the format shown in FIG. This format is set in the control computer 32 in advance. In FIG. 7, the display command in the 10th byte indicates that this communication is transport data.
The requested data in the 50th to 50th bytes represents the requested part, and 51
The 52th and 52th bytes of the master station call signal are used when it is desired to transmit a message only to a specific mobile station 14, and the 53rd and 54th bytes are used to check whether there is an error in transmitted data. Things.

As shown in FIG. 8, the request data of the 11th to 50th bytes represents one request component with a 2-byte information amount, and data of a total of 20 request components is transmitted. It is supposed to be. In FIG. 8, “Station Station ID”
The "number" and the "SW number" are represented by information amounts of 7 bits and 3 bits, respectively. While 7 bits are sufficient for identifying up to 126 stator stations 14, the call switch 18
Since there are eight, the call switch 18 can be identified by three bits. "Time over" and "selection" correspond to the presence or absence of "#" and a mesh (reverse character) added to "progress" in FIG. 6, respectively. Note that the 20 required components included in the transport data are in the order of the required time in principle, and are the same as the components displayed on the CRT display 40.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the mobile station 14 disposed in the transport device includes an information processing device 50 configured by a microcomputer or the like, an operation unit 52,
It has a part table memory 54 and a PDP (plastic display panel) 56, and transmits information to and from the master station 10 via a transceiver 58. The operation unit 52 includes a lift section selection dial 60 for selecting a lift section, a push button type transmission key 62, five transport selection switches 64 for selecting transport parts, and five transport completion switches 66 operated upon completion of transport. Is provided. The component table memory 54 stores the component table shown in FIG. 5 as in the component table memory 36 of the master station 10. This part table can be easily input by transferring the data registered in the master station 10 to the mobile station 14 or transferring the data input in advance to a personal computer or the like to the master station 10 and the mobile station 14, respectively. it can.

Then, among the 20 required parts included in the transport data transmitted from the master station 10, those of the lift section selected by the lift section selection dial 60 are shown in FIG. It is identified by the “lift category” of the request data, and from the “selection” information of the request data, only the items for which the transport operation has not been performed are selected from the top 5
Then, data relating to the requested component is read out from the component table stored in the component table memory 54 and displayed on the PDP 56. FIG. 11 shows an example of the required parts list displayed on the PDP 56, which is a case where the lift category “2” is selected.

The transport selection switch 64 and the transport completion switch 66
Are provided corresponding to the five required parts displayed on the PDP 56, and the transport operator arbitrarily selects one or a plurality of the displayed five required parts and turns on the corresponding transport selection switch 64. By operating the transmission key 62 and turning on the transmission key 62, a transportation execution request signal representing the selected required component is transmitted to the master station 10. As a result, the display of the selected component on the PDP 56 blinks, and the confirmation signal is transmitted from the master station 10, so that the character becomes a white inverted character. In FIG. 11, the “progress” 1 and 2 parts columns indicated by meshes indicate blinking or inverted characters.
This means that this part has been selected.

The transport worker grasps the storage location from the “store” in the selected component column, that is, the component column of the inverted character, runs the transport device to the storage location, and determines the component based on the “number” and the “part number / article name”. And transport the part to the process represented by the “fixed station”. When the transport completion switch 66 is turned on when the transport corresponding to the component is completed, a transport completion signal indicating that the transport of the component has been completed is transmitted to the master station 10, and the transport related switch is described. The displays on the CRT display 40 and the PDP 56 are scrolled.

Each of the mobile stations 14 has a lift section determined in advance, and carries out a transport operation by sharing a large number of parts.
The required number of parts for each lift section is displayed in the lower right on the PDP56, and the transporter changes the lift section based on this required number of parts and supports the work of transporting parts in other lift sections. can do.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a sequence of the communication system described above, and a series of operations will be described below with reference to this sequence.

First, when at least one call switch 18 of any of the fixed stations 12 is turned on, the transport data including the ID number of the fixed station 12 and information on the operation state of the call switch 18 is shown in FIG. Master station 10 in the format shown
And the lamp 20 corresponding to the call switch 18 that has been turned ON blinks. Transfer the above transport data to master station 10
Is received, a confirmation signal is transmitted to the fixed station 12,
The blinking lamp 20 is turned on.

The master station 10 that has received the transport data adds the required components represented by the transport data to the required component list, and rearranges the order as necessary. At predetermined time intervals or the like, transport data on the top 20 required parts is transmitted to all mobile stations 14 in the format shown in FIG. 7 based on the latest required parts list. Mobile station 14
In, while storing the above 20 required parts,
From the information, the top five required parts related to the own lift section and not being transported are read out, and data such as the storage location of the required parts is displayed on the PDP 56. However,
If there is a part currently being transported in the mobile station 14 of its own, the data relating to that part is left as it is in the PDP 56, and only the data relating to the other parts is erased and rewritten.

Thereafter, when the transport operator turns on the transport selection switch 64 to select the transport component and the transmission key 62 is turned on, a transport execution request signal representing the selected component is transmitted to the master station 10, The display of the PDP 56 relating to the selected part flashes. The master station 10 that has received the transport execution request signal determines whether the component has already been selected by another mobile station 14, and if not selected, sends a request confirmation signal to the mobile station 14. Send. As a result, the part field displayed on the PDP 56 and the CRT display 40 becomes a reversed white character. If another mobile station 14 has already been selected, an instruction to cancel the work for the part is issued to the mobile station 14, the part is deleted from the PDP 56, and the stored 20 Next, the next required part relating to its own lift section is read out from the required parts, and its data is displayed.

The transport operator performs a component transport operation based on the component data indicated in the component column of the inverted character, and when the transport operation is completed, a transport completion switch corresponding to the component.
Turn ON 66. As a result, the data of the part is deleted from the PDP 56, new part data is displayed, and a transport completion signal is transmitted to the master station 10. The master station 10
Based on the transport completion signal, the data of the component displayed on the CRT display 40 is deleted to display data of a new required component, and a transport completion signal is transmitted to the stator station 12 that has requested the component. The lamp is turned on at the time of transmission of the component request and turned on at the time of requesting the component.

Here, in the communication system of the present embodiment, when requesting a part from the stator station 12, it is only necessary to turn on the call switch 18 corresponding to the part. Is prevented. Also, instead of the call switch 18, it is possible to automate the component request by using a sensor such as a limit switch that switches ON and OFF by detecting the stock amount of the component.

The transport data transmitted from the fixed station 12 to the master station 10 at the time of the component request includes a fixed station ID number and SW data, each of which has an information amount of 1 byte, Because it is sent in a predetermined format,
While the amount of transmission information at the time of component request is small, information processing such as identification of a required component is also facilitated at the master station 10, and the information transmission time at the time of component request is greatly reduced. As a result, component requests from the plurality of stator stations 12 are efficiently processed.

Further, since it is easy to specify the required component in the master station 10 as described above, for example, by storing the required time for each required component in the control computer 32 having a timer or the like whose time is set, The production management is performed by displaying statistics on the time and number of requests made for each time, and statistics on the number of required parts per hour, etc., and displaying them on the CRT display 40 or printing out from the printer 38. It can also be used for

Further, in this embodiment, since the mobile station 4 is also provided with the component table memory 54, the master station 10 transmits the
The transport data to be transmitted only needs to include the information that can specify the required part, specifically, the required data shown in FIG. 8, so that the information amount for one required part can be 2 bytes. In other words, the information transmission time when the transport instruction is issued from the master station 10 to the mobile slave station 14 is greatly reduced. As a result, the information transmission of the entire communication system is performed efficiently, and the mobile station of the component requested by the stator station 12 is provided.
Carrying instructions for 14 will be given accurately.

In addition, since the amount of information transmitted from the master station 10 to the mobile station 14 is small as described above, it is possible to include the lift classification for each required component in the information as in the present embodiment, By setting a lift section in advance for each transport device and sharing a large number of components to perform the transport operation, it is possible to perform an efficient transport operation. In particular, mobile stations 14
Since the required number of parts for each lift section is displayed on the PDP 56, it is possible to support the partial transport work of another lift section by looking at the required number of parts, thereby further improving the efficiency of the transport work. Note that the lift section of the parts table stored in the memory 54 can be used without including the lift section in the transport data from the master station 10 to the mobile station 14.

As described above, an embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the drawings.For example, the number of the call switches 18 provided in the stator station 12 can be appropriately changed according to the number of components handled in each process, The communication method between the master station 10 and the plurality of fixed slave stations 12 and the mobile slave stations 14 and the format of the transport data can also be appropriately changed. Also, it is not always necessary to set the lift category for each part,
The present invention can be implemented in various modified and improved aspects based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art, such as being applicable to an automatic transport system that automatically transports parts in accordance with a transport instruction from the master station 10. it can.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram illustrating an example of a wireless communication system to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the stator station in the communication system of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the stator station. FIG. 4 is a view for explaining the data content of transport data transmitted from the fixed station to the master station in the communication system of FIG. FIG. 5 is a view for explaining an example of a component table stored in the master station and the mobile station in the communication system of FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen displayed on the CRT display of the master station in the communication system of FIG. FIG. 7 is a view for explaining the data contents of transport data transmitted from the master station to the mobile station in the communication system of FIG. FIG. 8 is a view for explaining the contents of the request data of FIG. FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a mobile station in the communication system of FIG. 1, and FIG. 10 is a block diagram of the mobile station. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen displayed on the PDP of the mobile station in the communication system of FIG. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a sequence operation of the communication system of FIG. 10: master station, 12: fixed station 16: information processing device 18: call switch (selection switch) 24: RAM (storage means)

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B23Q 41/00-41/08

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A component request for providing a part to a master station which issues a transport instruction to a transport device or the like via the stator station, wherein a stator station is provided in each of a plurality of processes for handling a plurality of types of parts. An apparatus, wherein a plurality of switches are provided in each of the stator stations corresponding to components to be handled in a process in which the stator station is provided, and a switch corresponding to the component is switched when a component is requested; A storage unit provided in each of the slave stations and presetting process information for specifying a process in which the stator station is disposed; and at least one of the plurality of changeover switches provided in each of the stator stations. By being performed, switch information indicating the operation state of the plurality of changeover switches,
An information processing device for transmitting the process information set in the storage means to the master station in a predetermined format as information representing a required component in a process in which the stator station is provided. Component requesting device.