JP5293361B2 - Work support apparatus and work support method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an operation support device and an operation support method for simplifying the confirmation of an instruction or drawing to be used for assembly by moving display equipment based on the information preliminarily defined for each operator. <P>SOLUTION: The operation support device is configured of: a job site management terminal 100 using a PC(Personal Computer); display equipment (monitor (with touch panel)) 200 for inputting the display of operation support information or the start/end of the operation; and a display equipment position control unit 300 for controlling the position of the display equipment (monitor). An operation support information management function 110 of the job site management terminal 100 preliminarily registers/manages the procedure of the operation to be performed in the operation area, an operation instruction to be displayed for each operation or the contents of the drawing as operation support information to an operator, and displays the instruction or drawing corresponding to an operation number specified accompanied by the order of positioning for an operation on the screen of the monitor 200 based on the instruction of the operation start of the operator for guidance. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a work support apparatus and a work support method that perform work support accurately in a manufacturing process in which a worker assembles and manufactures a large product in a cell without placing a burden on the worker.

  In the manufacturing process of the cell production system, in which the assembly work of the worker is the main, in recent years, a system for providing work support to the worker and providing work support from the viewpoint of preventing work mistakes has been introduced. In such a case, a monitor is installed along with the assembly work table, and a method of displaying guidance for work instructions on the monitor or a small personal computer or handy type display device that can be carried by the operator may be introduced. ing.

  For example, Patent Document 1 below discloses a maintenance work support system that detects the position of a worker's face and displays a drawing from the same angle as the worker is viewing on a portable computer.

JP 2004-206484 A

  In general, when an operator manufactures and assembles a large product in a cell, the operator needs to move around and attach components while the product to be assembled is fixed. In addition, in order to refer to the instructions printed on paper and the instructions displayed on the screen, the worker needs to go back and forth to a predetermined position where the instructions are posted. Also, paper and monitors are usually installed with the operator's flow line in mind, but when mounting parts on the opposite side of the position, return to the original position to confirm the work contents. There is a problem that the work instruction is a content that puts a burden on the worker, such as having to be.

  In order to solve the problem, by adopting the latest technology, in recent years, small personal computers and handy display devices that can be carried around by workers have been introduced. The problem is that the display area is small, the characters to be displayed are small and difficult to understand, and it imposes an extra burden on the worker, which reduces the productivity of the worker, or the display device when the display device is not used There was a problem of having to secure a storage space.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and the object of the present invention is to confirm instructions and drawings used for assembly by moving a display device based on information predefined for each worker. An object of the present invention is to provide a work support device and a work support method that can be facilitated.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the work support device of the present invention is a work support device that supports an assembly operation of a worker when the worker manufactures a large product by a cell method, on a rail installed on a work area. The display device having the touch input means that can be moved, the product type selected from the product type list assembled and manufactured in the work area, the operator specific information, and the selected product type. Display device position registration means for defining and registering information of a work number for instructing a work position at the time of manufacture and display device height, coordinates, and orientation at the work number; A display device moving hand that moves the display device to a predetermined position based on information registered in the display device position registration unit by inputting a work start instruction from the touch input unit. And a work content display means for displaying instructions and drawings used for assembling work at the predetermined position on the display device moved to the predetermined position at a predetermined height, coordinates and orientation. .

  The work support method of the present invention is a work support method in a work support device that supports an assembly work of a worker when the worker manufactures a large product by a cell method, and the work support device is provided on a work area. A display device having touch input means that can be moved on a rail installed in the product area, the product type selected from a list of product types to be assembled and manufactured in the work area in advance, worker-specific information, A process of defining and registering each information of a work number indicating the work position when the worker manufactures the selected product model and the height, coordinates, and orientation of the display device at the work number; A process of moving the display device to a predetermined position based on the registered information by inputting worker-specific information and a work start instruction from the touch input unit, and the predetermined position Moved the display of a predetermined in the device height, including the step of displaying the instructions and the drawings used in the assembly operations in the predetermined position coordinates and orientation, characterized in that.

  According to the present invention, the work content can be confirmed with instructions and drawings displayed on the display device that automatically moves in accordance with the work procedure registered in advance at the position facing the product to be assembled and manufactured by the operator. It can reduce a worker's useless flow line and can concentrate on assembly manufacture. Moreover, since it is not necessary to hold in a hand unlike a small display device, it can concentrate on assembly manufacture.

It is a figure which shows the structure and installation outline | summary of the work assistance apparatus concerning embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which showed the installation outline | summary of the work assistance apparatus concerning embodiment of this invention from another position. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the display apparatus position registration process of the work assistance apparatus concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the operation | movement process of the work assistance apparatus concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the display apparatus position definition table concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the truck attachment to the rail concerning embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration and installation outline of a work support apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, a work support apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a field management terminal 100 using a PC (personal computer) or the like, a display device for displaying work support information and starting / ending work (monitor ( 200) and a display device position control device 300 that controls the position of the display device (monitor) .The site management terminal 100 and the display device position control device 300 are connected to each other by a control network 400. The display device position control device 300 controls the movement of the display device (monitor) 200 via a carriage (see FIG. 6) provided on the rail 250, and is electrically connected to the display device (monitor) 200 to display information. Configure to communicate.

  Accordingly, the site management terminal 100 detects the position coordinates of the monitor in order to manage the work support information management function 110 and the monitor position, registers the detected position coordinates, and refers to the registered position coordinates. The function block includes a display device position management function 120 that performs management, a work status management function 130 that manages start / end of work, and a display device position control function 140 that performs monitor position control. Although the operation of these functional blocks will be described later, each functional block is realized using hardware resources and software resources of a well-known computer such as a PC (personal computer). The hardware resources of the computer include a central processing unit (CPU), various storage devices, input / output devices, various interfaces, and the like. The various management functions described above store and manage information related to control (use of hardware resources such as a CPU and various storage devices), read and write information stored and managed in a timely manner, and processed information Is transmitted to the display device position control device 300 or the like to perform a predetermined control operation (use of hardware resources such as a CPU, various storage devices, an interface, and an input / output device).

  In particular, the work support information management function 110 in the site management terminal 100 pre-registers information on work procedures, work instructions to be displayed for each work, and information related to drawings as work support information for workers. An instruction sheet or drawing corresponding to the work number specified in the order in which the work is located is specified and displayed on the screen of the monitor 200 based on the work start instruction of the worker. These work procedures, instructions, and drawing information may be managed using a relational database (RDB) or the like.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an outline of the installation of the work support apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention from another position. The back part of the display device (monitor) 200 of the work support apparatus is attached to the tip of the arm 270, and the other end of the arm 270 is installed on a carriage (see FIG. 6) installed on the rail 250 on the work area 220. . The carriage (see FIG. 6) includes a drive motor, a control device, and a brake (see FIG. 6). The display device (monitor) 200 is controlled in accordance with instructions from the display device position control device 300 by driving and stopping. Position controlled to position. Then, as shown in FIG. 2, when the worker 50 stands toward the product placed on the large product assembly work table 30 and receives an instruction to start work from the worker 50, the site management terminal 100 controls the position of the display device. An instruction is given to the device 300, and the display device position control device 300 receives the position information of the display device (monitor) 200 registered in the display device position management function 120 (rail coordinate 504, height 505, x coordinate 506, y shown in FIG. 5). Position control is performed based on coordinates 507 and orientation 508) to move the carriage (see FIG. 6), and further, the arm 270 is expanded / contracted / angle-adjusted so that the monitor 200 faces the face of the worker 50. Thereafter, the work support of the worker is performed by controlling the position of the display device (monitor) 200 described above for each work number registered in advance as a work position where the worker 50 works one after another.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the display device position registration processing of the work support apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. The position registration processing of the display device according to the work support apparatus of the present invention will be described according to the processing flow shown in FIG. 3, but FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 will be referred to as necessary. Step is abbreviated as “S”.

  In order to start the process of registering the position of the monitor 200 in the work area 220, the worker 50 who registers the position of the monitor 200 first starts a recording start button on the monitor (touch panel) 200 installed in the work area 220. Press (not shown) (S11). Thereby, the work status management function 130 recognizes the start of recording. Next, the work support information management function 110 displays a list of product types to be assembled and manufactured on the monitor 200 with the area code of the work area 220 (see 501 in FIG. 5). The worker 50 selects a target model from the list and presses a record button (not shown) (S12). Then, the display device position management function 120 displays on the monitor 200 the work number (see 503 in FIG. 5) registered in advance for the product type to be recorded. The worker 50 moves while pulling the monitor 200 to the position where the assembly work is performed at the work number displayed on the monitor 200 (during the position registration process, the carriage (see FIG. 6) installed on the rail 250 described above is neutral. Then, the monitor 200 is adjusted so that it faces the face of the worker 50, and a confirmation button (not shown) is pressed (S13). The display device position management function 120 displays the measured coordinates of the monitor 200 such as height (see 505 to 507 in FIG. 5) and the orientation of the monitor (see 508 in FIG. 5) as a work area code (see 501 in FIG. 5), Recorded in association with the worker ID (see 502 in FIG. 5) and work number (see 503 in FIG. 5). This determines the moving position of the monitor 200 for one work number (see 503 in FIG. 5).

  When the worker 50 completes the registration work at the work number for the target work and presses an end button (not shown) (S14), the next work number is displayed and registration for the next work number is prompted. When the work status management function 130 determines that all registrations for a series of work are completed, the work status management function 130 notifies the work support information management function 110, and the work support information management function 110 displays the end on the monitor 200 (S15).

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation processing of the work support apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. The operation of the work support apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. 4, and FIGS. 1 and 2 will be referred to as necessary. Step is abbreviated as “S”.

  The worker 50 who starts work first inputs the worker ID (see 502 in FIG. 5) on the monitor (touch panel) 200 installed in the work area 220 and presses a start button (not shown) (S21). . The work support information management function 110 displays a list of product types to be assembled and manufactured with the area code of the work area 220 (see 501 in FIG. 5) on the monitor 200. The worker 50 selects a target model from the list (S22). As a result, the work status management function 130 recognizes the start of work on the selected model (see 509 in FIG. 5). Next, when the display device position control function 140 notifies the display device position control device 300 of a movement instruction, the display device position control device 300 displays the display device position definition table managed by the display device position management function 120 (see FIG. 5). The monitor 200 is moved to a pre-defined position (S24), and the work content (work procedure, instructions, drawings, etc.) corresponding to the work number (see 503 in FIG. 5) is displayed on the monitor 200. Display (S25).

  The worker 50 completes the target work for the work number (see 503 in FIG. 5) and presses an end button (not shown) (S26). When the work status management function 130 that detects the completion notifies the display device position control function 140 of an instruction to move to the next work number, the display device position control function 140 moves the display device position control device 300 to the next work number. The display device position control device 300 refers to the contents of the display device position definition table (see FIG. 5) managed by the display device position management function 120, and moves the monitor 200 to a predefined position (S24). At the same time, the work content (work procedure, instructions, drawings, etc.) corresponding to the next work number (see 503 in FIG. 5) is displayed on the monitor 200 (S25). This is executed for each work content corresponding to all the registered work numbers (see 503 in FIG. 5) related to work on the selected product type (see 509 in FIG. 5). When the work status management function 130 determines that all the tasks are completed, the work status management function 130 notifies the work support information management function 110, and the work support information management function 110 displays the end on the monitor 200 (S27).

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the display device position definition table according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 5, in the display device position definition table, the target model (large size 1, large size 2, etc. in the illustrated example) displayed in the work code area 501 is displayed and specific to the worker who works with the work area code. Worker ID 502 indicating information (in the illustrated example, A1, A2, A3, etc.), work number 503 indicating a work position (1 to n, 1 to m in the illustrated example) predefined by the work area code, rail 250 Rail coordinate 504 set on rail 250 from the work base point with a certain point as the base point 0, height 505 when the display device position at the work number is displaced from the base point position (not shown), x coordinate 506, y-coordinate 507, and monitor orientation 508 are stored in the table as information.

  FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram showing attachment of the carriage to the rail according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 6, the carriage 260 is placed on the rail 250 and is movable on the rail 250. The carriage 260 includes a drive motor, a control device, and a brake. In general, such a cart configuration is often used in railways or the like, but in the present invention, it is possible to reduce the size because only the arm 270 is attached, and it is also possible to use a lightweight rail 250. it can. Although only one rail is shown to avoid the complexity of the illustration, two rails are actually used. Although only one side of the wheel of the carriage is shown, actually, the wheel is also provided on the rail side, not shown.

30 Large product platform
50 workers
100 Site management terminal
110 Work support information management function
120 Display device position management function
130 Work status management function
140 Display device position control function
200 Display device (monitor (with touch panel))
220 work area
250 rails
260 bogie
270 arm
300 Display device Position control device
400 control network
600 Other information processing functions

Claims (6)

In the work support device that supports the assembly work of the worker when the worker manufactures a large product by the cell method,
A display device having touch input means movable on a rail installed on a work area;
A product type selected from a list of product types to be assembled and manufactured in the work area in advance, worker-specific information, a work number indicating a work position when the worker manufactures the selected product type, and the work number Display device position registration means for defining and registering each information of the height, coordinates, and orientation of the display device in
Display device movement for moving the display device to a predetermined position based on the information registered in the display device position registering means when an operator inputs the worker specific information and an instruction to start work from the touch input means Means,
Work content display means for displaying instructions and drawings used for assembly work at the predetermined position on the display device moved to the predetermined position at a predetermined height, coordinates and orientation;
A work support apparatus comprising:   The work support apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rail installed on the work area is formed in a loop shape so as to surround a work table for manufacturing the large product.   The work support apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a back portion of the display device is attached to a tip of an arm, and the other end of the arm is installed on a carriage installed on the rail.   The work support apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the arm is capable of extending and contracting and / or adjusting an angle.   The carriage installed on the rail includes a drive motor, a control device, and a brake, and is driven and stopped according to an instruction of the display device moving means to position the display device at a predetermined position. The work support apparatus according to claim 1. A work support method in a work support device that supports a worker's assembly work when a worker manufactures a large product by a cell method, and the work support device can move on a rail installed on a work area A display device having touch input means,
A product type selected from a list of product types to be assembled and manufactured in the work area in advance, worker-specific information, a work number indicating a work position when the worker manufactures the selected product type, and the work number The process of defining and registering information about the height, coordinates, and orientation of display devices in
A process of moving the display device to a predetermined position based on the registered information by an operator inputting the worker-specific information and a work start instruction from the touch input unit;
Displaying instructions and drawings used for assembly work at the predetermined position at a predetermined height, coordinates and orientation on the display device moved to the predetermined position;
A work support method comprising: