JP4317655B2 - Component supply system and supply method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a system and method for supplying parts to an assembly line of an assembly product incorporated in, for example, an automobile.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Many kinds of assembly products such as an instrument panel assembly, a console box assembly, and a door trim assembly are incorporated in an automobile. Each assembly product has a number of specifications depending on the vehicle type and specifications of the automobile (for example, whether the steering wheel is right or left, whether the gear shift is manual or automatic). Each assembly product is composed of many types of parts (for example, in an instrument panel assembly, a meter unit, an air bag unit, a car audio unit, etc.). These parts also have many specifications corresponding to the specifications of the assembly products.
[0003]
The assembly manufacturing company has an assembly line for each type of assembly product. Corresponding types of parts are divided into each assembly line and carried into each assembly line. The operator selects parts with specifications corresponding to the assembly product to be assembled, and incorporates them into the work in progress that has flowed from the upstream of the line. As a result, an assembly product having a predetermined specification can be completed.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the assembly work of the conventional assembly product described above, the parts are selected only by the operator, and therefore, there is a possibility that the parts having different specifications are attached by mistake.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention has been proposed to solve the above-mentioned problems, and a first feature thereof is a system for supplying parts constituting the assembly product to an assembly line for assembly products having a plurality of specifications. First reading means for reading first information substantially representing the specification of a part corresponding to the assembly product from the first information medium corresponding to the assembly product to be supplied, and a second information medium attached to the part to be supplied Second reading means for reading the second information representing the specification of the part, and a component determination means for determining whether or not the component specifications represented by the read first and second information match each other, A determination result notifying means for notifying the determination result of the component determining means;
[0006]
According to a second feature of the present invention, in the first feature, the first and second information include information that can be distinguished from each other, and the first and second reading means are a common reading device. And is further provided with information discriminating means for discriminating whether the information read by the reading device is the first information or the second information based on the identification information.
[0007]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second feature, the storage unit stores information on a correspondence relationship between the first information and the second information representing the same component specification, and the component determination unit includes: The determination is made based on the correspondence information.
[0008]
According to a fourth feature of the present invention, in the second feature, the first and second information can be optically read, and the common reading device is an optical reading device. is there.
[0009]
According to a fifth feature of the present invention, in the first feature, the first information medium is a lot label created for each lot made of parts of the same specification to be continuously supplied. When the information includes information on the number of parts included in the corresponding lot, and the counting means for counting the number of times that the specifications are determined to be matched by the parts determination means, and when this number matches the number information, It is further provided with lot expiration notification means for notifying it.
[0010]
A sixth feature of the present invention is a method of supplying parts constituting the assembly product to an assembly line of assembly products having a plurality of specifications, and (a) a lot label created for each lot of parts having the same specifications A lot label arrangement process for arranging the lots according to the order in which the lots are to be supplied; and (b) reading the information substantially representing the specification and quantity of the parts from the top of the arranged lot labels with a reader. A lot information reading process to be input to the computer; and (c) after the lot information reading process, information indicating the specifications of the part is read from the part label attached to the part to be supplied by the reading device to the computer. The part information reading process to be input, and (d) the part specifications read from the lot label and the part label are identical to the computer. A component determination step for determining whether or not the determination is made, and (e) a component that has been determined to match, the above-described supply operation is advanced, and a component that has been determined to be inconsistent And (f) causing the computer to count the number of times that it is determined that they match, and whether or not this number has reached the lot label quantity information. A lot expiration determination step for determining and notifying the determination result, and when it is determined in the lot expiration determination step that it has not been reached, the component information for the next component to be supplied When the process after the reading process is executed and it is determined that it has been reached, the next lot label is placed at the top in accordance with the arrangement order, and the process after the lot information reading process is executed. A.
[0011]
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the seventh aspect, the supply operation is performed by storing, in the storage device, the parts that have been determined to be coincident in the advance / retreat process in a predetermined order. After that, the storage device is transported to the assembly line, and the parts are taken out from the storage device according to the arrangement order and used for assembly.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
1 and 2 show a component supply system for an assembly product 10 in an automobile assembly manufacturer. The assembly manufacturing company is provided with a parts preparation place X (reading place) shown in FIG. 1 and an assembly line Y shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 1, parts 12 of multiple specifications (only three are shown in the figure) are put into a separate box 20 for each specification from a subcontractor (parts manufacturing company) to a parts preparation place X. . A preparation worker at the part preparation location X picks up these parts 12 one by one in the order specified by the continuous form 30 and the like, and after the specification check by the personal computer 40, the arrow a on the shelf 50 (storage device). Arrange along the determined direction.
[0013]
As shown in FIG. 2, the shelf 50 is then conveyed to the assembly line Y. On the conveyor 60 of the assembly line Y, work-in-process items 11 to be the assembly products 10 are arranged and flowed in a predetermined order. The production worker takes out the parts 12 from the shelf 50 one by one in accordance with the arrangement order (arrow a) and incorporates them into the work-in-progress 11 that has flowed. Thereby, the assembly product 10 is completed.
[0014]
Further details will be described.
As shown in FIG. 1, a component label 70 (second information medium) is affixed to each component 12 at the subcontractor. A barcode 71 (second information) representing the specification code of the corresponding component 12 is printed on the component label 70. This specification code is a code decided by the subcontractor.
[0015]
The continuous form 30 is created by a computer for planning an assembly plan of the assembly product 10 (not shown). In this assembly plan, the specification, quantity, and assembly date and time of the assembly product 10 to be assembled, and thus the parts 12 to be assembled, are determined. Parts 12 having the same specifications and the same assembly date and time are managed as one lot. The assembly date and time is specified by a date, a time zone, and an assembly order for each lot within the time zone.
[0016]
As illustrated in FIG. 3, the continuous slip 30 is composed of a large number of lot labels 31 (first information medium) created for each lot. These lot labels 31 are arranged (arranged) in a line in the order of assembly date of the corresponding lot. A perforation 30 a is formed at the boundary between adjacent lot labels 31.
[0017]
Each lot label 31 includes a specification code, a quantity, an assembly date, an assembly time zone code (for example, “C” represents from 1 pm to 3 pm), and an assembly line code of the parts 12 included in the corresponding lot. Are listed. Further, the specification code and quantity are also represented by a barcode 32 (first information). The left side 32a of the barcode 32 represents a specification code, and the right side 32b represents a quantity.
[0018]
The specification code of the lot label 31 is a code for management at an assembly manufacturing company, and the system (number of digits, alphabet and number arrangement, presence / absence of alphabet, etc.) is different from the specification code of the component label 70. (The first and second information include information that can identify each other.) Therefore, the specification code represented by the barcodes 32 and 71 of the two labels 31 and 70 for the component 12 having the same specification. Are different from each other.
For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the specification code of the component label 70 is composed of three digits, whereas the specification code of the lot label 31 is four digits, and the first digit is alphabetic. The last three digits are determined to be numbers.
[0019]
In the bar code 32, the quantity is represented by three digits (for example, “003” for “three”). Therefore, the barcode 32 has 7 digits as a whole.
[0020]
As shown in FIG. 1, the personal computer 40 includes a CPU 41, a memory 42 (storage means) connected to the CPU 41, a display 44 and a speaker 45 connected to the CPU 41 via an input / output interface 43. . One bar code reader 46 (first and second reading means, common optical reading device) is further connected to the input / output interface 43. As shown in FIG. 4, the memory 42 stores information on the correspondence between the specification codes of the two labels 31 and 70.
[0021]
A method for assembling the assembly product 10 using the system will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.
To the part preparation place X, the part 12 put in the box 20 for each specification and the continuous slip 30 are delivered. The parts preparation worker reads the barcode 32 of the first lot label 31 of the continuous slip 30 with the barcode reader 46 (virtual line in FIG. 1). The read barcode information is input to the personal computer 40 and decoded by the CPU 41 (lot information reading step, step 101).
[0022]
The CPU 41 determines whether or not the read barcode information is that of the lot label 31 by reading the number of digits of the decoded information (information determination step, step 102). In step 102, the CPU 41 functions as an information determination unit. Here, it is read as 7 digits and determined as lot information. The CPU 41 having obtained the discrimination result displays the decode information on the display 44 as the information on the lot to be picked up, divided into the upper 4 digit specification code and the lower 3 digit quantity (step 103).
[0023]
The preparation worker can select the box 20 containing the parts 12 of the specification with reference to the specification code displayed on the display 44. The selection may be made with reference to the notation of the top lot label 31. Further, it may be performed in accordance with an assembly instruction document (a table in which the specifications and quantities of parts are listed in order of assembly date) created by the computer for planning the assembly plan. Then, one component 12 is picked up from the selected box 20. The barcode 71 on the component label 70 of the component 12 is read by the barcode reader 46 (solid line in FIG. 1). The read barcode information is input to the personal computer 40 and decoded by the CPU 41 (part information reading step, step 104).
[0024]
The CPU 41 (information discriminating means) discriminates information about the decoded information based on the number of digits (information discriminating step, step 105). Here, it is read as three digits, and it is determined that the information is the component label 70.
[0025]
The CPU 41 that has obtained the determination result is such that the specification code of the component label 70 that has just been read corresponds to the specification code of the lot label 31 that has been read, based on the correspondence information (FIG. 4) in the memory 42. Whether or not the component specifications represented by the first and second information match each other (component determination step, step 106). In step 106, the CPU 41 functions as a component determination unit.
[0026]
If the preparatory worker selects the part 12 incorrectly, it is determined in step 106 that the specifications do not match. At this time, the CPU 41 outputs a warning sound from the speaker 45 and blinks the screen of the display 44 (step 110). In step 110, the CPU 41, the display 44, and the speaker 45 function as determination result notification means. Thus, the preparatory worker can know that the selection is wrong, and can return the picked-up component 12 to the original box 20 and perform the selection again (retraction operation of component supply in the advancing / retreating process, step 110 ′). ).
[0027]
If the part selection of the preparation worker has been made correctly, it is determined in step 106 that the specifications match. The CPU 41 having obtained this determination reduces the quantity displayed on the display 44 by one (step 107). The preparatory worker can confirm that the part specifications match by the countdown of the display display. After the confirmation, the preparatory worker places the part 12 to be determined at a predetermined position (starting point of the arrow a) on the shelf 50 (progressing operation of supplying parts in the advance / retreat process, Step 107 ′).
In step 107, the CPU 41 and the display 44 function as determination result notification means.
[0028]
After step 107, the CPU 41 determines whether the quantity after the countdown is zero (lot expiration determination step, step 108).
The preparation worker can confirm whether or not the quantity is zero by displaying on the display 44.
[0029]
If it is not zero, the preparation worker picks up one new part 12. Then, by reading the component label 70 of the component 12, the personal computer 40 is caused to execute the steps after step 104. When the countdown in step 107 is confirmed, the part 12 is placed on the shelf 50 so as to follow the previous part 12 in a predetermined direction indicated by an arrow a (step 107 ′).
In this way, the part 12 is picked up, the specification is determined by the personal computer 40, and the operation of returning to the box 20 or placing it on the shelf 50 is repeatedly executed until the display quantity on the display 44 becomes zero, whereby the first lot label The lots displayed in 31 can be arranged on the shelf 50 (see FIG. 2).
[0030]
When the display quantity on the display 44 becomes zero in step 107, it is determined in step 108 that it is zero. As a result, the CPU 41 changes the background color of the display 44 from white so far to, for example, green, and displays a message indicating that one lot has been picked up (lot expiration notification step, step 109). In step 109, the CPU 41 and the display 44 function as lot expiration notification means.
[0031]
By referring to this notification, the preparatory worker can move to the pickup operation for the next lot. That is, the top lot label 31 is separated from the continuous form 30 and the next lot label 31 is put on the top of the continuous form 30. After the information on the new lot label 31 at the head is input to the personal computer 40 and displayed on the display 44 (steps 101 to 103), the steps after step 104 are repeatedly executed. In step 107 ′, the next lot is arranged along the direction of arrow a following the previously arranged lot (see FIG. 2).
[0032]
Each time the display quantity on the display 44 becomes zero (step 107) and a message indicating that the lot has been picked up is displayed (step 109), the next lot label 31 is set at the head, and this lot label is displayed. The lot displayed at 31 is picked up. In this way, as shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of lots can be arranged on the shelf 50 in the order in which they are assembled along the arrow a.
The separated lot label 31 may be attached to the part 12 arranged on the shelf 50 first, for example, among the corresponding lots.
[0033]
If the operator misses the lot expiration notification in step 109 and reads the label 70 of the part 12 having the same specifications as the previous lot, it is determined as “NO” in step 102, proceeds to step 111, and the speaker 45 The warning sound is output and the display 44 blinks, and an error operation is notified. Even when the part label 70 is to be read in step 104 and the lot label 31 is read (when the next lot label 31 is read although the display quantity on the display 44 is not zero), the steps 105 to 112 are also performed. The same warning operation is executed.
[0034]
As shown in FIG. 2, the shelf 50 in which the parts 12 are arranged can be conveyed to a predetermined assembly line Y by referring to the description of the assembly line code of the lot label 31. On the conveyor 60 of the assembly line Y, the work-in-progress 11 having a plurality of specifications is set and flowed. Although detailed illustration is omitted, these work-in-progress items 11 are also arranged according to the assembly order for each lot according to the above assembly plan. The assembly operator takes out the parts 12 one by one from the shelf 50 in the direction of the arrow a while referring to the description of the specification code, quantity, assembly date, and time zone of the lot label 31. As a result, the parts 12 having the corresponding specifications can be incorporated into the work-in-process 11 that has flowed. In this way, the assembly product 10 can be completed according to the assembly plan.
[0035]
The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various forms can be adopted.
For example, the first information may be information indicating the specification of the assembly product. This product specification information substantially represents the specification of the part.
The part specification code may be common to the first and second information, and the first and second information may be identified only by the presence / absence of numerical information. The first and second information may be identified by separate reading devices (first , Second reading means).
By providing a roller on the shelf plate of the shelf or by inclining the shelf plate, the components may be easily slid on the assembly line to be taken out. The storage device may be a hanger capable of suspending components in addition to a shelf.
Parts that have been judged to match the specifications may be directly supplied to the assembly line.
[0036]
Steps 107 and 108 in FIG. 6 are equivalent to counting up the number of times that the specification match determination has been obtained and determining whether or not the number of times has reached the quantity read from the lot label 31. In step 107, it functions as counting means, and in step 108, it functions as lot expiration determining means. In the count-up method, when the number of times reaches the number read from the label 31, the reset means resets the number of times of the counting means. This reset operation is equivalent to overwriting the display of the quantity from zero to the display quantity of the next lot label 31 in step 103 of FIG. 5. In step 103, the CPU 41 functions as the resetting means.
[0037]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the first feature of the present invention, when the operator makes a mistake in selecting a part, it can be notified, and a part having the correct specification can be provided for assembly.
According to the second feature of the present invention, the first information and the second information can be distinguished and read by one reader, the system configuration can be simplified, and the operation can be simplified.
According to the third feature of the present invention, even if the first and second information representing the same component specification are different from each other, it is possible to reliably execute the specification match determination.
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the first and second information can be easily read optically.
According to the fifth feature of the present invention, since the first information only needs to be read for each lot, the number of steps can be reduced.
According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, when the operator selects the wrong part, it can be notified, and a lot with the correct specifications can be provided for assembly according to the order of supply.
According to the seventh feature of the present invention, the components can be arranged in the storage device in the assembling order and made compact and then moved to the assembly line, so that the space for arranging the components on the assembly line can be reduced.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a part preparation place of a supply system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an assembly line of the supply system.
FIG. 3 is a plan view of a continuous form used in the supply system.
FIG. 4 is a table showing an example of correspondence information stored in the memory of the supply system.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the personal computer of the supply system.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the personal computer of the supply system, and the advancing / retreating process operation performed by the worker is indicated by a broken line for reference.
[Explanation of symbols]
X Parts preparation place (reading place)
Y assembly line 10 assembly product 12 parts 31 lot label (first information medium)
32 Barcode (first information)
40 Personal computer 41 CPU
42 Memory (storage means)
46 Bar code reader (first and second reading means, common reading device)
50 shelves (storage device)
70 Component label (second information medium)
71 Barcode (second information)

Claims (6)

A system for supplying parts constituting the assembly product to an assembly line of assembly products of multiple specifications,
First reading means for reading, from a first information medium corresponding to the assembly product to be assembled, first information substantially representing the specifications of the parts corresponding to the assembly product;
Second reading means for reading second information representing specifications of the part from a second information medium attached to the part to be supplied;
Component determination means for determining whether or not the component specifications represented by the read first and second information match each other;
A determination result notification means for informing the determination result of the component determination means ,
The first information medium is a lot label created for each lot consisting of parts of the same specification to be continuously supplied, and the first information includes information on the number of parts included in the corresponding lot. ,
Further, it comprises a counting means for counting the number of times the specifications are judged to be matched by the component judging means, and a lot expiration notifying means for notifying when the number of times matches the number information. And parts supply system. The first and second information includes information that can be distinguished from each other, and the first and second reading means are configured by a common reading device,
2. The component supply according to claim 1, further comprising information discriminating means for discriminating based on the identification information whether the information read by the reading device is the first information or the second information. system. Storage means for storing information on the correspondence between the first information and the second information representing the same component specification;
The component supply system according to claim 2, wherein the component determination unit performs the determination based on the correspondence information.   The component supply system according to claim 2, wherein the first and second information are optically readable, and the common reading device is an optical reading device. A method of supplying parts constituting the assembly product to an assembly line of assembly products of a plurality of specifications,
(A) a lot label arrangement process for arranging lot labels created for each lot of parts having the same specification according to the order in which the lots should be supplied;
(B) A lot information reading step of reading information that substantially represents the specification and quantity of a part from the first one of the arranged lot labels and reading it into a computer;
(C) After the lot information reading step, from the component label attached to the component to be supplied, the information indicating the specification of the component is read by the reading device and input to the computer;
(D) a component determination step for causing the computer to determine whether or not the component specifications read from the lot label and the component label match, and to notify the determination result;
(E) an advancing / retreating step of advancing the supply operation for a part that has been determined to be coincident, and retracting the supply operation for a part that has been determined to be inconsistent;
(F) Let the computer count the number of times that it is determined that they match, determine whether this number has reached the quantity information of the lot label, and notify the determination result of lot expiration And when it is determined that it has not been reached in the lot expiration determination process, the process after the part information reading process is executed for the part to be supplied next, and the process has been reached. When the determination is made, the part supply method is characterized in that the next lot label is placed at the top in accordance with the arrangement order, and the process after the lot information reading process is executed. In the advancing / retreating step, the parts that have been determined to be in agreement are stored in a storage device in a predetermined order to advance the supply operation,
6. The component supply method according to claim 5 , wherein the storage device is then transported to the assembly line, and the components are taken out of the storage device and used for assembly in the order of arrangement.

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