JP6815964B2 - Computers for mechanical systems and control - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a machine system that communicates with a plurality of machines, a computer for machine control, base software, a computer-readable recording medium, and a machine control method.

From the past, the products to be manufactured, the number of products, the delivery date, the machines to be used, the manufacturing process, etc. have been planned by the production planning device that performs the production planning. Then, based on the manufacturing plan drafted by the production planning device, the workers at the manufacturing site operate machines such as machine tools and industrial robots. In addition, workers at the manufacturing site have performed quality control, process control, etc. by sending machine operation information, product manufacturing results, etc. to the production planning equipment.

For example, there is a method of creating process information using item objects and work objects, and creating allocation information from process information and resource objects (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

In addition, there is a method of periodically collecting device information of a machine tool or measuring device at a preset cycle, storing the collected device information in a database in relation to the collection time, and transmitting it to an external device (for example). , Patent Document 2).

In recent years, due to diversification of market needs, shortening of product life cycle, and intensifying competition in the global market, the number of product types has increased and the fluctuation of sales volume has increased. Therefore, it is required to support variable and variable production so that products can be manufactured dynamically linked to market demands.

International Publication No. 2007/10598 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2004-62276

Therefore, a cell production method has been proposed in which a plurality of machines are combined into one production cell and production is performed in units of production cells for each process. In the cell production method, it is possible to produce a plurality of types with one production cell, and it is also possible to increase or decrease the number of production cells according to the production amount, and the production cells are produced according to the change of the production type. It is also possible to change the configuration inside.

Further, a cell control device has been developed that controls a plurality of machines at a manufacturing site via intranet communication while receiving production planning instructions from the production planning device via Internet communication. According to such a cell control device, each machine can be operated according to an instruction from a production planning device located at a location away from the manufacturing site, and various information can be automatically collected from each machine in real time and centrally managed. It is expected that it will be.

In the cell control device as described above, it is conceivable to incorporate dedicated work software into the cell control device and interconnect each machine and the cell control device in a communicable manner so that the work operation of each machine can be executed. Has been done. In this case, it is necessary to be able to pass information between the base software and work software of the cell control device and each machine. At this time, it is also required to be able to manage the work software incorporated in the cell control device.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a mechanical system capable of transferring information between the base software, the work software, and each machine and managing the transfer of the information in view of the above circumstances.

In order to solve the above problems, one aspect of the present invention includes a machine and a machine control computer communicatively connected to the machine, and the computer is equipped with base software and work software. It ’s a mechanical system,
The base software is
A first communication unit, which is a program part for causing the computer to receive first machine information composed of the machine's unique data format output from the machine, and
A second communication unit, which is a program portion for causing the computer to output second machine information composed of a unique data format of the work software to the work software, and a second communication unit.
A program portion for storing the first machine information and the second machine information in a storage unit of the computer, and
Includes a program portion for causing the computer to execute the conversion of the first machine information into the second machine information.
The machine has a function of outputting the state of the machine to the computer as the first machine information.
The work software may be a machine system, which is a program that uses the second machine information output from the second communication unit as input information.
Another aspect is a mechanical system comprising at least two machines and a machine control computer communicatively connected to the machines, wherein the computer is equipped with base software and work software.
The base software is
A program portion for causing the computer to receive first machine information composed of a unique data format of each of the machines, which is output from each of the machines in association with each identification information of the machines. The first communication unit, which is
The second communication unit which is a program part for causing the computer to execute the output to the work software in association with the identification information of each of the machines in the second machine information composed of the unique data format of the work software. When,
A program portion for associating the first machine information and the second machine information with each identification information of the machine and storing the first machine information in a storage unit of the computer and the first machine information in the second machine information. Includes a program portion for causing the computer to perform the conversion,
The machine has a function of associating the state of the machine with each identification information of the machine as the first machine information and outputting it to the computer.
The work software may be a machine system, which is a program that uses the second machine information output from the second communication unit as input information.
Another aspect is a mechanical system comprising a machine and a machine control computer communicatively connected to the machine, wherein the computer is equipped with base software and work software.
The base software is
Receiving the first machine information composed of the machine's unique data format output from the machine and transmitting the second instruction information composed of the machine's unique data format to the machine. The first communication unit, which is a program part for causing the computer to execute,
The first instruction information composed of the unique data format of the work software is input from the work software, and the second machine information composed of the unique data format of the work software is output to the work software. The second communication unit, which is a program part for causing the computer to execute
A program portion for storing the first machine information, the second machine information, the first instruction information, and the second instruction information in a storage unit of the computer.
A program portion for causing the computer to convert the first machine information into the second machine information, and
Includes a program portion for causing the computer to execute the conversion of the first instruction information into the second instruction information.
The machine has a function of outputting the state of the machine as the first machine information to the computer and a function of determining a work operation to be performed by the machine based on the second instruction information.
The work software creates the first instruction information to the machine based on the second machine information input from the second communication unit, and executes the output to the second communication unit to the computer. It can be a mechanical system, which is a program for making it.
Another aspect is a machine control computer equipped with base software and work software and communicatively connected to the machine.
The base software is
A first communication unit, which is a program part for causing the computer to receive first machine information composed of the machine's unique data format output from the machine, and
A second communication unit, which is a program portion for causing the computer to output second machine information composed of a unique data format of the work software to the work software, and a second communication unit.
A program portion for storing the first machine information and the second machine information in a storage unit of the computer, and
Includes a program portion for causing the computer to execute the conversion of the first machine information into the second machine information.
The work software may be a computer, which is a program that uses the second machine information output from the second communication unit as input information.
Another aspect is a machine control computer equipped with base software and work software and communicatively connected to at least two machines.
The base software is
A program portion for causing the computer to receive first machine information composed of a unique data format of each of the machines, which is output from each of the machines in association with each identification information of the machines. The first communication unit, which is
The second communication unit which is a program part for causing the computer to execute the output to the work software in association with the identification information of each of the machines in the second machine information composed of the unique data format of the work software. When,
A program portion for associating the first machine information and the second machine information with each identification information of the machine and storing the first machine information in a storage unit of the computer and the first machine information in the second machine information. Includes a program portion for causing the computer to perform the conversion,
The work software may be a computer, which is a program that uses the second machine information output from the second communication unit as input information.
Another aspect is a machine control computer equipped with base software and work software and communicatively connected to the machine.
The base software is
The machine receives the first machine information output from the machine and is composed of the unique data format of the machine, and the second instruction information is output to the machine and is composed of the unique data format of the machine. The first communication unit, which is a program part for causing the computer to execute transmission to
The first instruction information composed of the unique data format of the work software is input from the work software, and the second machine information composed of the unique data format of the work software is output to the work software. The second communication unit, which is a program part for causing the computer to execute
A program portion for storing the first machine information, the second machine information, the first instruction information, and the second instruction information in a storage unit of the computer.
A program portion for causing the computer to convert the first machine information into the second machine information, and
Includes a program portion for causing the computer to execute the conversion of the first instruction information into the second instruction information.
The work software creates the first instruction information to the machine based on the second machine information input from the second communication unit, and executes the output to the second communication unit to the computer. It can be a computer, which is a program for making it.
Another aspect is base software that is installed with work software on a machine control computer that is communicatively connected to the machine.
Receiving the first machine information, which is output from the machine to the computer and is composed of the machine's unique data format, and
Converting the first machine information into second machine information composed of a unique data format of the work software,
To output the second machine information to the work software
Can be the base software for causing the computer to execute.
Another aspect is base software that is installed with working software on a machine control computer communicatively connected to at least two machines.
Receiving the first machine information composed of the unique data format of each of the machines, which is output from each of the machines to the computer in association with the identification information of each of the machines.
Converting the first machine information into second machine information composed of a unique data format of the work software,
To associate the second machine information with each identification information of the machine and output it to the work software.
Can be the base software for causing the computer to execute.
Another aspect is base software that is installed with work software on a machine control computer that is communicatively connected to the machine.
Receiving the first machine information, which is output from the machine to the computer and is composed of the machine's unique data format, and
Converting the first machine information into second machine information composed of a unique data format of the work software,
To output the second machine information to the work software
Receiving the first instruction information composed of the unique data format of the work software from the work software,
Converting the first instruction information into second instruction information composed of the machine's unique data format,
Outputting the second instruction information to the machine and
Can be the base software for causing the computer to execute.
Another aspect is a machine control method in which at least one machine is controlled by a machine control computer equipped with base software and work software.
The computer receives the first machine information output from the machine and composed of the machine's unique data format indicating the state of the machine, and according to the base software, the first machine information is used as the work software. It is converted into the second machine information composed of the unique data format of, and the second machine information is output to the work software.
It can be a machine control method in which the computer executes the work software that uses the second machine information as input information.
Another aspect is a machine control method in which at least one machine is controlled by a machine control computer equipped with base software and work software.
The computer receives the first machine information output from the machine and composed of the machine's unique data format indicating the state of the machine, and according to the base software, the first machine information is used as the work software. It is converted into the second machine information composed of the unique data format of, and the second machine information is output to the work software.
According to the work software, the computer creates first instruction information composed of a unique data format of the work software based on the second machine information, and according to the base software, the first instruction information is generated. It may be a machine control method in which the second instruction information is converted into the second instruction information composed of the unique data format of the machine and the second instruction information is transmitted to the machine.

According to the present invention, by exchanging information between the base software, the work software, and each machine, it is possible to store and manage the information at the time of the transfer while executing the work operation of each machine. For example, the delivery of such information can be restricted based on the authentication record information. Further, for example, it is possible to acquire payment information of a fee for work software or base software and output it to a communication unit.

A detailed description of typical embodiments of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings will further clarify these objectives, features and advantages of the invention as well as other objectives, features and advantages.

It is a figure which showed typically the structure of the mechanical system by one Embodiment. It is a figure which showed the hardware configuration of the management personal computer and the machine shown in FIG. It is a figure which showed typically the example of the data model used when converting the 1st machine information into the 2nd machine information. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the process which converts the 1st machine information from a machine into the 2nd machine information, and outputs it to work software. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the process which converts the 1st instruction information by work software into the 2nd instruction information, and sends it to a machine.

Next, an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings to be referred to, similar members and functional parts are designated by the same reference numerals. These drawings have been scaled accordingly for ease of understanding. Further, the form shown in the drawings is an example for carrying out the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the illustrated form.

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a configuration of a mechanical system according to an embodiment.
With reference to FIG. 1, the machine system 10 of the present embodiment is a machine management personal computer (hereinafter, abbreviated as a management personal computer) which is communicably connected to two machines 11 and 12 and these machines 11 and 12. 25 and. The management personal computer 25 is equipped with the base software 13 and the work software 14. However, although two machines 11 and 12 are shown in FIG. 1, in the present invention, at least one machine may be present.

The base software 13 is a program for causing the management personal computer 25 to receive the first machine information output from each of the machines 11 and 12 and to transmit the second instruction information to each of the machines 11 and 12. The first communication unit 15 which is a part is included. Further, the base software 13 is a second communication unit which is a program portion for causing the management personal computer 25 to input the first instruction information from the work software 14 and output the second machine information to the work software 14. Includes 16. The base software 13 also includes a program portion for storing the first machine information, the second machine information, the first instruction information, and the second instruction information in the storage unit 17 of the management personal computer 25.
The first machine information and the second machine information described above are information indicating the states of the machines 11 and 12. The first instruction information and the second instruction information described above are information indicating the contents of instructions given to the machines 11 and 12. Specific examples of this information will be described later.

The above-mentioned machines 11 and 12 have a function of outputting the state of the machines 11 and 12 to the management personal computer 25 as the above-mentioned first machine information, and a work operation to be performed by the machines 11 and 12 based on the above-mentioned second instruction information. Has the function of determining. That is, when the machines 11 and 12 receive the second instruction information, they execute the work operation according to the content of the second instruction information. Machines 11 and 12 are, for example, industrial robots, NC machine tools, and the like. Further, each of the machines 11 and 12 has a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and a communication control unit (not shown), and the communication control unit controls information communication with the management personal computer 25.
Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2, the above-mentioned machines 11 and 12 and the management personal computer 25 include a memory, a CPU (control processing unit), a communication control unit, and the like connected to each other via a bus. It is configured using a computer system. The memory includes a ROM (read only memory), a RAM (random access memory), and the like. The base software 13 and the work software 14 of the present embodiment are appropriately stored in the ROM or RAM in such a management personal computer 25. A RAM is used in the storage unit 17 that stores the first machine information, the second machine information, the first instruction information, and the second instruction information described above. The first communication unit 15 and the second communication unit 16 described above are program portions (so-called modules) included in the base software 13 stored in the ROM or RAM. The operation based on these program portions is achieved by the CPU of the management personal computer 25 executing the base software 13 and the work software 14.

Further, the above-mentioned work software 14 creates the above-mentioned first instruction information for each of the machines 11 and 12 based on the above-mentioned second machine information input from the second communication unit 16, and the second communication unit. This is a program for causing the management personal computer 25 to execute the output to 16.

In particular, in the present embodiment, the first communication unit 15 receives the first machine information output from each of the machines 11 and 12 in association with the identification information of each of the machines 11 and 12, and the second instruction information. Is preferably a program portion for causing the management personal computer 25 to execute the transmission to each of the machines 11 and 12. Further, the second communication unit 16 inputs the first instruction information in association with the identification information of the machines 11 and 12 from the work software 14, and identifies the second machine information of the machines 11 and 12, respectively. It is preferable that it is a program part for causing the management personal computer 25 to execute the output to the work software 14 in association with the information. The identification information of the machines 11 and 12 is, for example, a control number assigned to each machine.

Further, it is preferable that the storage unit 17 stores the above-mentioned first machine information, second machine information, first instruction information, and second instruction information in association with each of the identification information of the machines 11 and 12.
Further, the machines 11 and 12 output the state of the machines 11 and 12 as the first machine information in association with the identification information of each of the machines 11 and 12 to the management personal computer 25, and based on the above second instruction information, the machines 11 and 12. It is preferable to determine the work operation to be performed by 11 and 12.
Then, the work software 14 creates first instruction information for each of the machines 11 and 12 based on the second machine information input from the second communication unit 16 in association with the identification information of the machines 11 and 12. However, it is preferable that the program causes the management personal computer 25 to execute the output to the second communication unit 16 in association with the identification information of the machines 11 and 12.

In the case of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the management personal computer 25 receives the first machine information indicating the state of the machine output from each of the machines 11 and 12, and obtains the first machine information according to the base software 13. It is converted into the second machine information, and the second machine information of each of the machines 11 and 12 is output to the work software 14. After that, the management personal computer 25 creates the first instruction information based on the second machine information according to the work software 14, further converts the first instruction information into the second instruction information according to the base software 13, and second instruction information. Is transmitted to each of the machines 11 and 12.
However, in the present invention, the transmission of the first instruction information and the second instruction information as described above is not essential. That is, the work software 14 may be application software such as analysis software, aggregation display software, or the like, which is a program that uses the second machine information output from the second communication unit 16 as input information. In this case, the first communication unit 15 only needs to be able to cause the management personal computer 25 to receive the first machine information output from each of the machines 11 and 12. On the other hand, the second communication unit 16 only needs to be able to cause the management personal computer 25 to output the second machine information to the work software 14.

Further, the first machine information and the second instruction information transmitted and received between the management personal computer 25 and the machines 11 and 12 are information configured in the unique data formats of the machines 11 and 12. On the other hand, the second machine information and the first instruction information input / output between the base software 13 and the work software 14 in the management personal computer 25 are information configured in a unique data format of the work software 14.
Therefore, the base software 13 of the present embodiment includes a program portion (hereinafter, referred to as a machine information conversion unit) for causing the management personal computer 25 to execute the conversion of the first machine information into the second machine information, and the first. It further includes a program portion (hereinafter, referred to as an instruction information conversion unit) for causing the management personal computer 25 to execute the conversion of the 1 instruction information into the second instruction information.

Here, the management personal computer 25 converts the first machine information configured in the unique data format of the machine 11 into the second machine information configured in the unique data format of the work software 14 according to the base software 13. An example of the mode of outputting to the work software 14 is shown. FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing this aspect, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation flow of the management personal computer 25 including the procedure for converting machine information shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, machines 11 and 12 such as machine tools and industrial robots and peripheral devices 26 are communicably connected to the management personal computer 25 and are connected to each of the machines 11 and 12 and peripheral devices 26. It is assumed that the first machine information is output to the management personal computer 25. The management personal computer 25 can recognize which machine the first machine information is from the machine-specific identification information associated with the first machine information. However, the first machine information sent from one machine 11 to the management personal computer 25 is not always one type of information. For example, the machine 11 is a multi-axis NC machine tool capable of multi-system control, and the CNC (computerized numerical controller) of the machine 11 sets the first axis of the machine 11 as the first motor and the second according to the program of the second system. When controlling by a motor, the current values of the first motor and the second motor are sent to the management personal computer 25 as first machine information, respectively. Further, if the above CNC is executing the program of the first system in parallel with the program of the second system, the current value of the motor for each axis controlled by the first system is also the first machine information. Is sent to the management personal computer 25. Since these first machine information only indicates which motor current value is, it is not possible to determine which axis the motor current value is controlled by which system program executed by the CNC of the machine 11. Not easy to understand. That is, the first machine information is information configured in a machine-specific data format, and is not structured data (so-called standard data). Such first machine information is information that is difficult to handle as data analysis when the work software 14 is, for example, machine information analysis software or tabulation display software. In order to enable the work software to handle machine-specific information in real time, the first machine information composed of the machine-specific data format is changed to the second machine information composed of the data format specific to the work software 14. Need to be converted.

Therefore, the storage unit 17 in the management personal computer 25 contains information (hereinafter, referred to as a data model) 27 showing the subordination relationships of a plurality of devices used for each of the machine 11, the machine 12, and the peripheral device 26. , 28, 29 and the like are preferably stored in advance.
For example, when the machine 11 is a multi-axis NC machine tool as described above, the data model 27 is a device such as a display, a CNC, a power supply, a servo amplifier, a feed shaft, and a motor that constitute the NC machine tool. It can be a tree-type or network-type data structure that represents a kind of dependency. In this case, it is preferable to include the spec information for each device in the data model 27.
By referring to the data model 27 as described above, the CPU of the management personal computer 25 can obtain the first machine information such as the “current value” output from the first motor of the machine 11 by “machine 11 / CNC / first”. It can be converted into second machine information such as "2 systems / 1st axis / 1st motor / current value". By such conversion processing, it is clearly understood that the current value information output from the machine 11 is the current value related to the first motor of the first axis controlled by the program of the second system executed by the CNC of the machine 11. Will be. That is, in order to make it easy for the work software 14 to handle the atypical first machine information from the machines 11 and 12, all the first machine information is derived from the first machine information and the first machine information. It can be converted into standard information (so-called structured data) including information indicating the devices of the above.
In the above, the current value of the motor is shown as a part of the first machine information and the second machine information, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The first machine information and a part of the second machine information include at least one of the usage time of the machines 11 and 12, the current value of the motor, the vibration value, the heat generation temperature, the volume, and the position information of the machines 11 and 12. Contains information.

As described above, when the management personal computer 25 converts the first machine information into the second machine information according to the machine information conversion unit of the base software 13, the management personal computer 25 converts the first machine information based on the data models 27 to 29 stored in the storage unit 17. Is made to do. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, when the management personal computer 25 receives the first machine information (step S11), the management personal computer 25 receives the machine identification information associated with the first machine information. Based on the above, the data model corresponding to the machine is specified from the recording unit 17 (step S12), the first machine information is converted into the second machine information based on the specified data model (step S13), and the second The machine information is output to the work software 14 (step S14). In step S14, it is preferable that the second machine information is output to the work software 14 in association with the identification information of the specified machine. The above operation is realized by causing the management personal computer 25 to execute the machine information conversion unit of the base software 13.
Although the conversion of machine information has been described above, the conversion of instruction information can also be performed in the same manner. That is, when the management personal computer 25 converts the first instruction information into the second instruction information according to the instruction information conversion unit of the base software 13, the conversion is performed based on the data models 27 to 29 stored in the storage unit 17. It is done like this. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, the management personal computer 25 creates the first instruction information based on the second machine information according to the work software 14 (step S21). At this time, it is preferable that the machine-specific identification information is also associated with the created first instruction information. Further, the management personal computer 25 identifies the data model corresponding to the machine from the storage unit 17 based on the machine identification information associated with the created first instruction information (step S22). The management personal computer 25 converts the first instruction information into the second instruction information based on the specified data model (step S23), and transmits the second instruction information to the machine corresponding to the specified data model (step S23). S24). The above operation is realized by causing the management personal computer 25 to execute the instruction information conversion unit of the base software 13.
In the above-mentioned example of the multi-axis NC machine tool, the first instruction information indicating what kind of work content is instructed to what device provided in which machine, for example, "machine 11 / CNC / second system / first". "1 axis / 1st motor / current command value" is converted into second instruction information, for example, "current command value" based on the data model 27, and this current command value is converted into the second system of CNC in the machine 11. It can be output to the first motor that drives one axis.

Further, in the mechanical system 10 of the present embodiment, the machines 11 and 12 are arranged in, for example, a factory that manufactures products. On the other hand, the base software 13 is installed in, for example, a management personal computer 25 in another building on the site of the factory where the machines 11 and 12 are arranged. In this case, it is preferable that the management personal computer 25 and the machines 11 and 12 are mutually communicable via a network of intranet communication, for example, fieldbus communication. The management personal computer 25 is a machine control computer. Further, the management personal computer 25 is preferably connected to, for example, a host computer 24 (see FIG. 2) in an office located at a remote location from the factory so as to be able to communicate with each other via the Internet. The host computer 24 is, for example, a production control device (Manufacturing Execution System: MES) that creates a production plan by a plurality of machines 11 and 12 in the above office and manages the production status thereof.

It is preferable that the base software 13 and the work software 14 are installed on the management personal computer 25 described above from a computer-readable portable recording medium using a known setup program or the like. The portable recording medium is, for example, a CD-ROM (compact disk read only memory), a DVD-ROM (digital versatile disk read only memory), or the like. When the base software 13 and the work software 14 are recorded on such recording media, it is preferable that the management personal computer 25 is provided with a drive device corresponding to the recording media. Further, the base software 13 and the work software 14 may be downloaded from another computer device connected to the management personal computer 25 via the Internet or Ethernet (registered trademark).
The base software 13 of the present embodiment serves as a base for operating not only one work software 14 but also a plurality of work software 14s having different processing contents, that is, a software platform. In this case, the identification information assigned to the machine to be processed for information processing is input in advance in each work software 14, and each work software 14 inputs the second machine information based on the identification information of the machine. It is preferable that it is programmed to acquire. As a result, even when a plurality of work software 14s are mounted on the management personal computer 25, the management personal computer 25 can use which work software 14 is the second machine information from the machine identification information associated with the second machine information. Can recognize whether is the information of the machine to be processed.

Further, the base software 13 does not include only the first communication unit 15, the second communication unit 16, the machine information conversion unit, and the instruction information conversion unit described above. Various other program parts to be executed by the CPU in the management personal computer 25, such as the judgment unit, the third communication unit 20, the fourth communication unit 22, the billing processing unit, the version number management unit, etc. as described below. Is preferably included.
Specifically, in the mechanical system 10 of the present embodiment, the above-mentioned base software 13 is a program for causing the management personal computer 25 to determine whether the work software 14 is appropriate or inappropriate. A judgment unit (not shown), which is a part, is further included, and if the judgment unit determines that the work software 14 is inappropriate, the second communication unit 16 should not be executed by the CPU in the management personal computer 25. It is preferable to do so. In this case, the work software 14 described above preferably includes the authentication record information 18 based on the manufacturer information of the work software 14 and the inspection result of the work software 14. For example, the manufacturer of the work software 14 actually incorporates the created work software 14 into the same computer system as the management personal computer 25 and inspects it, and if the inspection result is good, approves it as a safe product. The manufacturer records the approval information in the work software 14 together with the manufacturer's information. The information recorded at this time can be the above-mentioned authentication record information 18. The above approval may be performed by the manufacturer of the base software 13 or the like according to the inspection result of the manufacturer of the work software 14.
In such a configuration, a part of the first instruction information input from the work software 14 to the base software 13 is the authentication record information 18. Then, the base software 13 is the first when the authentication record information 18 is determined to be inappropriate by the above-mentioned determination unit, for example, when the manufacturer is unknown or there is no information to the effect that it has been approved. 2 It is preferable not to let the CPU in the management personal computer 25 execute the communication unit 16. As a result, when the work software 14 is inappropriate, the communication control unit (not shown), which is the hardware interface unit of the management personal computer 25, can be prevented from functioning. That is, when the work software 14 is unapproved, the base software 13 functions so as not to pass machine information or instruction information between the work software 14 and the base software 13.

Further, at least one of the base software 13 and the work software 14 causes the user to pay a usage fee, that is, a process of charging based on the usage status of at least one of the base software 13 and the work software 14. It is preferable to further include a billing processing unit which is a program portion for causing the CPU in the management personal computer 25 to execute the processing. It is preferable that the billing processing unit includes causing the CPU in the management personal computer 25 to execute a process of determining whether or not the usage fee for at least one of the base software 13 and the work software 14 has been paid. ..
Further, the above-mentioned billing processing unit monitors the usage period from the starting point of at least one of the base software 13 and the work software 14, generates charge payment information at predetermined periods, and generates the first communication unit. It is preferable that it is a program portion for causing the CPU in the management personal computer 25 to execute the output to 15. The fee payment information referred to here is information necessary for the CPU in the management personal computer 25 to determine whether or not the usage fee for at least one of the base software 13 and the work software 14 has been paid. .. For example, a payment certificate code obtained in exchange for paying the usage fee to the manufacturing company of the management personal computer 25, or the payment receiving company or the payment machine of the payment receiving company entrusted by the manufacturing company, or the manufacturing company. The payment information is information for causing the user to input the credit card number of the credit company designated by the user into the management personal computer 25.
According to such a configuration, for example, the first communication unit 15 manages a process of controlling the delivery of information to the machines 11 and 12 based on the payment information of the charges for the base software 13 and the work software 14. It can be executed by the personal computer 25. For example, if a payment proof code or the like capable of determining whether or not to pay a fee is not input to the management personal computer 25, the management personal computer 25 stops or slows down communication with each of the machines 11 and 12.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the base software 13 preferably further includes a third communication unit 20 which is a program portion for causing the management personal computer 25 to execute communication with an external device such as the display 19. .. In this configuration, the above-mentioned billing processing unit monitors the usage period from the starting point of at least one of the base software 13 and the work software 14, and generates fee payment information at predetermined periods. 3 It is preferable that the program portion is for causing the CPU in the management personal computer 25 to execute the output to the communication unit 20.
According to such a configuration, for example, the third communication unit 20 manages a process of displaying a warning message of non-payment of charges on the display 19 based on payment information of charges for the base software 13 and the work software 14. It can be executed by the personal computer 25. For example, if a payment proof code or the like capable of determining whether or not to pay the usage fee is not input to the management personal computer 25, the management personal computer 25 displays a message on the display 19 that the payment of the fee cannot be confirmed.

The starting point to be monitored as described above is, for example, the installation timing of at least one of the base software 13 and the work software 14. Alternatively, such a starting point may be the purchase date of at least one of the base software 13 and the working software 14.
Further, the above-mentioned billing processing unit causes the management personal computer 25 to perform billing according to the usage period from at least one of the base software 13 and the work software 14, but the present invention makes this possible. Not limited.
For example, the above-mentioned billing processing unit causes the management personal computer 25 to execute that the usage fee is not generated if the usage period from the starting point of at least one of the base software 13 and the work software 14 is within a predetermined period. May be good.
Alternatively, the above-mentioned billing processing unit may perform at least one of the base software 13 and the work software 14 according to a predetermined fixed fee payment status for the base software 13 and the work software 14. The management personal computer 25 may be made to determine the period of use. For example, it is assumed that a fixed usage fee, for example, a monthly fee or an annual fee, is set for the base software 13. When the execution of the base software 13 and the work software 14 is started, if the information that can determine whether or not the fixed usage fee specified in the base software 13 is paid, for example, the payment proof code is input to the management personal computer 25. , The management personal computer 25 permits communication with the machines 11, 12, etc. indefinitely or for a predetermined period.
Alternatively, the above-mentioned billing processing unit may have the management personal computer 25 execute a process such as monitoring the amount of information communication related to at least one of the base software 13 and the work software 14 and charging according to the amount of information communication. Good. In this case, the management personal computer 25 acquires the communication amount of at least one of the first machine information and the second instruction information communicated with the plurality of machines 11 and 12, and charges the fee based on the communication amount. It becomes possible to calculate and control the communication with the machines 11, 12, etc. according to the payment status of this fee.
Alternatively, the above-mentioned billing processing unit uses the information processing amount when the first machine information output from the machines 11 and 12 is processed according to the base software 13 and the second machine information output from the base software 13 as work software. The management personal computer 25 may be made to perform a process of monitoring at least one of the information processing amount when the processing is performed according to the information processing amount 14 and charging according to the information processing amount.
Alternatively, the billing processing unit may cause the management personal computer 25 to perform a process of counting the number of executions of at least one of the base software 13 and the work software 14 and charging according to the number of executions.
Alternatively, the billing processing unit may cause the management personal computer 25 to perform a process such as recognizing the number of machines connected to the management personal computer 25 and charging according to the recognized number of machines. In this case, the number of connected machines can be recognized from the energization status of a plurality of communication connection terminals provided in the management personal computer 25 for communication connection of the machines 11, 12, and the like.
Alternatively, the above-mentioned billing processing unit may cause the management personal computer 25 to perform a process of recognizing the number of people registered as users for the management personal computer 25 and charging according to the number of recognized users. In this case, the management personal computer 25 may recognize the number of users of the management personal computer 25 based on the user name and password entered on the login screen.

Further, in the mechanical system 10 as described above, the base software 13 is a program portion for causing the management personal computer 25 to manage the version number (version number) of at least one of the base software 13 and the work software 14. It is preferable to further include a version number management unit. In this case, as shown in FIG. 1, it is preferable that the mechanical system 10 further includes a second storage unit 21 that records the latest version of at least one of the base software 13 and the work software 14. In this configuration, the base software 13 communicates with the second storage unit 21 and causes the management personal computer 25 to execute the confirmation of the contents of the second storage unit 21 by the fourth communication unit 22. It is preferable to further include it. Further, in the version management unit, the latest version of at least one of the base software 13 and the work software 14 recorded in the second storage unit 21 is the current version of the software (13, 14). When it is more advanced than the number, it is preferable to have the management personal computer 25 execute a process such as outputting the latest version to the first communication unit 15 or the third communication unit 20.

Further, at least one of the base software 13 and the work software 14 may further include a program portion for causing the management personal computer 25 to activate at least one of the base software 13 and the work software 14. preferable. For example, after the base software 13 or the work software 14 is installed on the management personal computer 25, before the period or the number of startups determined for each software is reached, the management personal computer 25 has an ID unique to each software, for example, a product. Information for causing the user to input the key or the digital certificate to the management personal computer 25 is displayed on the display 19. The product key or digital certificate is preferably issued in exchange for payment of fees for base software 13 and work software 14. The management personal computer 25 confirms the software-specific ID input by the user according to the displayed information, and determines that the license authentication is completed only when the agreement of the license terms can be confirmed. Until the activation is completed, the function of the base software 13 or the working software 14 is stopped or restricted. When a plurality of licenses are given to each of the base software 13 and the work software 14, the number of installations or executions of each software is counted, and if the number of times exceeds a given number of licenses, the base software It is preferable to stop or limit the function of 13 or the work software 14.

Further, at least one of the base software 13 and the work software 14 preferably further includes a function of restricting copying. For example, when the base software 13 or the work software 14 is copied to another computer outside the management personal computer 25, the copied base software 13 or the work software 14 is encrypted, and if there is no decryption key, the other computer copies the base software 13. Alternatively, it is preferable that the work software 14 cannot be started. The function of regulating the number of copies may be included in the base software 13 and the work software 14. Alternatively, the base software 13 and the work software 14 itself determine whether or not the base software 13 and the work software 14 are stored in the management personal computer 25, and at least one of the software is not stored in the management personal computer 25. It may include features that make it infeasible.

Further, at least one of the base software 13 and the work software 14 is a program for causing the management personal computer 25 to add advertising information to the information output to the external device 19 via the third communication unit 20 described above. It is preferable to include a portion. As a result, the manufacturer of the management personal computer 25 can advertise its product to the user of the management personal computer 25.

Further, at least one of the base software 13 and the work software 14 includes a program portion for causing the management personal computer 25 to execute the personal assistant. As an example of the personal assistant, when the user wants to collect the necessary machine information from the machine 11 to the management personal computer 25, when the user requests the necessary information from the machines 11, 12, etc. from the management personal computer 25, it is necessary. It is preferable that only such information can be collected and output from the management personal computer 25. Further, as a function of the personal assistant, when a person speaks to a microphone connected to the management personal computer 25, the management personal computer 25 may understand the spoken language and answer by outputting voice or characters.

Further, the base software 13 preferably includes a program portion for causing the management personal computer 25 to authenticate the devices connected to the management personal computer 25, such as the machine 11, the machine 12, and the peripheral device 26. For example, the management personal computer 25 can detect that the device is connected from the energization status of the communication connection terminal that communicates with the device. Upon detecting the connection, the management personal computer 25 receives unique identification information, for example, a MAC address (Media access control address) from the device, and determines whether the received MAC address is registered in the management personal computer 25 in advance. To. If the received MAC address is registered in the management personal computer 25, the management personal computer 25 enables communication with the connected devices such as machines 11 and 12.

Further, the mechanical system 10 preferably includes a host computer 24 connected to the management personal computer 25 via the Internet (see FIG. 2). In this case, the second communication unit 16 of the base software 13 receives the above-mentioned first machine information, the second machine information, or the information related to the first machine information or the second machine information in response to a command from the host computer 24. It is preferable to include causing the management personal computer 25 to execute the process of uploading to the host computer 24. Further, it is preferable that the second communication unit 16 includes causing the management personal computer 25 to execute a process of downloading the data or the program in the upper computer 24 to the management personal computer 25 in response to a command from the upper computer 24.

Further, it is preferable that the management personal computer 25 is equipped with machine learning software for causing the management personal computer 25 to execute machine learning based on the above-mentioned second machine information. Machine learning includes deep learning and reinforcement learning. As described above, since the second machine information is standard information (structured data), it is easy to handle even in machine learning.
In this case as well, the second communication unit 16 of the base software 13 sends the process of uploading the data after the machine learning, for example, the learned model to the upper computer 24, to the management personal computer 25 in response to the instructions of the upper computer 24 and others. It is preferable to include the execution. Further, the second communication unit 16 causes the management personal computer 25 to execute a process of downloading the machine learning data or the program modified or created by the upper computer 24 to the management personal computer 25 in response to a command from the upper computer 24. It is preferable to include that.

The following is the first machine information and the second instruction information exchanged between the management personal computer 25 and the machines 11 and 12, the second machine information exchanged between the base software 13 and the work software 14, and the second machine information. A specific example is shown with respect to the first instruction information.

The first machine information and a part of the second machine information are, for example, information on at least one of the usage time of the machines 11 and 12, the current value of the motor, the vibration value, the heat generation temperature, and the volume. Further, a part of the above-mentioned first instruction information and second instruction information is information about at least one of a stop instruction or a deceleration instruction for the machines 11 and 12 and a warning display. By passing this information to the base software 13, the base software 13 can detect an abnormality in each of the machines 11 and 12.

Further, the first machine information may include position information of the machines 11 and 12, for example, the position of the tip of the robot arm. In this case, a part of the above-mentioned second instruction information causes interference between machines by a stop instruction to a machine having a lower operation priority when the relative positions of the machines 11 and 12 are equal to or less than a preset distance. It is preferable that it is the operation instruction information of the machines 11 and 12 for avoiding it. By passing this information to the base software 13, the base software 13 can prevent the machines 11 and 12 from interfering with each other.

Further, the first machine information may include work reception information and work completion information of the machines 11 and 12. In this case, a part of the above-mentioned second instruction information includes selection of contents, work order, start of machines 11 and 12, and stop of machines 11 and 12 for the work stored in the machines 11 and 12 in advance. It is preferable that the work instruction information includes at least one of. By passing such information to the base software 13, the base software 13 can manage the working state of each of the machines 11 and 12.

Further, the above-mentioned first machine information may include information indicating the state of the work object of the machines 11 and 12. In this case, it is preferable that a part of the second instruction information is operation change instruction information for changing the operation of the machines 11 and 12 according to the state of the work object. By passing such information to the base software 13, the base software 13 corrects, complements, or inspects the operation of the machines 11 and 12 according to the state of the work object of the machines 11 and 12. Can be done.

Further, the first machine information described above may include scheduled operation information of the machines 11 and 12. In this case, it is preferable that a part of the second instruction information is the result of determining whether the scheduled operations of the machines 11 and 12 are appropriate or inappropriate. By passing such information to the base software 13, the base software 13 can confirm the result of the operation simulation of the machines 11 and 12.

The machines 11 and 12 are not limited to machine tools and industrial robots, but are PLCs (Programmable Logic Controllers), conveyors, measuring instruments, test equipment, press machines, press-fitting machines, printing machines, die-casting machines, and injection molding machines. , Food machinery, packaging machine, welding machine, washing machine, coating machine, assembly device, mounting machine, woodworking machine, sealing device, cutting machine and the like.

Further, the above-mentioned storage units 17 and 21 are, for example, a memory device such as a RAM (Random Access Memory), a fixed disk device such as a hard disk, a magnetic tape device, a magnetic disk device, an optical disk device, and the like.

As described above, according to the machine system 10 of the present embodiment, the work operation of each machine is executed by passing information between the base software 13, the work software 14, and the machines 11 and 12. At the same time, it is possible to store and manage the information at the time of delivery. For example, the delivery of such information can be restricted based on the authentication record information included in the work software 14. Further, the payment information of the fee for the work software 14 or the base software 13 can be output to the first communication unit 15 and the third communication unit 20.

Although the present invention has been described above using typical embodiments, those skilled in the art will be able to make changes to the above embodiments and various other modifications, omissions, and additions without departing from the scope of the invention. You will understand that you can do.

10 Machine system 11, 12 Machine 13 Base software 14 Work software 15 1st communication unit 16 2nd communication unit 17 Storage unit 18 Authentication record information 19 Display 20 3rd communication unit 21 2nd storage unit 22 4th communication unit 24 Upper level Computer 25 Management personal computer (computer for machine control)
26 Peripheral devices 27-29 Data model

Claims (8)

A machine system comprising a machine and a machine control computer communicatively connected to the machine, the computer equipped with base software and work software.
The base software is
A first communication unit, which is a program part for causing the computer to receive the first machine information output from the machine.
A second communication unit, which is a program part for causing the computer to output the second machine information to the work software, and
Includes a program portion for causing the computer to execute the conversion of the first machine information into the second machine information.
The machine has a function of outputting the state of the machine to the computer as the first machine information.
The work software is a program that uses the second machine information output from the second communication unit as input information.
The second communication unit uploads the first machine information or the second machine information to the upper computer in response to a command from the upper computer to the upper computer connected to the computer via the Internet. A mechanical system comprising, or causing the computer to download data or programs in the host computer to the computer. A machine system comprising a machine and a machine control computer communicatively connected to the machine, the computer equipped with base software and work software.
The base software is
A first communication unit, which is a program part for causing the computer to receive the first machine information output from the machine and to transmit the second instruction information to the machine.
A second communication unit, which is a program portion for causing the computer to input the first instruction information from the work software and output the second machine information to the work software.
A program portion for causing the computer to convert the first machine information into the second machine information, and
Includes a program portion for causing the computer to execute the conversion of the first instruction information into the second instruction information.
The machine has a function of outputting the state of the machine as the first machine information to the computer and a function of determining a work operation to be performed by the machine based on the second instruction information.
The work software creates the first instruction information to the machine based on the second machine information input from the second communication unit, and executes the output to the second communication unit to the computer. It is a program to make
The second communication unit uploads the first machine information or the second machine information to the upper computer in response to a command from the upper computer to the upper computer connected to the computer via the Internet. A mechanical system comprising, or causing the computer to download data or programs in the host computer to the computer. The machine system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the work software is machine learning software for causing the computer to perform machine learning based on the second machine information. The second communication unit uploads the trained model after the machine learning is performed from the computer to the higher-level computer, or downloads the machine learning data or program modified or created in the higher-level computer to the higher-level computer. The mechanical system according to claim 3, wherein the computer is made to perform the operation. A machine control computer that is equipped with base software and work software and is communicatively connected to the machine.
The base software is
A first communication unit, which is a program part for causing the computer to receive the first machine information output from the machine.
A second communication unit, which is a program part for causing the computer to output the second machine information to the work software, and
Includes a program portion for causing the computer to execute the conversion of the first machine information into the second machine information.
The work software is a program that uses the second machine information output from the second communication unit as input information.
The second communication unit uploads the first machine information or the second machine information to the upper computer in response to a command from the upper computer to the upper computer connected to the computer via the Internet. A computer for machine control, which comprises causing the computer to execute data or a program in the higher-level computer. A machine control computer that is equipped with base software and work software and is communicatively connected to the machine.
The base software is
A first communication unit, which is a program part for causing the computer to receive the first machine information output from the machine and to transmit the second instruction information to the machine.
A second communication unit, which is a program portion for causing the computer to input the first instruction information from the work software and output the second machine information to the work software.
A program portion for causing the computer to convert the first machine information into the second machine information, and
Includes a program portion for causing the computer to execute the conversion of the first instruction information into the second instruction information.
The machine has a function of outputting the state of the machine as the first machine information to the computer and a function of determining a work operation to be performed by the machine based on the second instruction information.
The work software creates the first instruction information to the machine based on the second machine information input from the second communication unit, and executes the output to the second communication unit to the computer. It is a program to make
The second communication unit uploads the first machine information or the second machine information to the upper computer in response to a command from the upper computer to the upper computer connected to the computer via the Internet. A computer for machine control, which comprises causing the computer to execute data or a program in the higher-level computer. The machine control computer according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the work software is machine learning software for causing the computer to perform machine learning based on the second machine information. The second communication unit uploads the trained model after the execution of machine learning from the computer to the higher-level computer, or downloads data or a program for machine learning modified or created in the higher-level computer to the higher-level computer. The machine control computer according to claim 7, wherein the computer is made to perform the operation.

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