JPH01271017A - Method for simulating molding line - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the reliability of evaluation of capability of a production line by simulating the motion of a molding machine according to a productive form, a time required for production, etc., and a result of simulation of a mold changing motion in a die supply device. CONSTITUTION:A productive form, a time required for production and a time for stopping the molding machine are inputted. The simulation 15 of the motion of the mold supply device is to take a mold corresponding to the productive form by each molding machine out of an automatic rack of molds, to mount it on a truck for transferring a mold, to carry the mold to a shelf for preheating the mold and to preheat it. A simulation 16 is for the molding machine from which the mold is supplied or for the productive motion of a molded part. An input 17 for changing a menu is received directly after these simulations and in the absence of an input for change the simulation is advanced automatically according to steps indicated by the menu which has been already inputted. Step 24 indicates the process of simulation, then, simulations advance to step 15, 16. And, a simulation display is repeated.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention is a simulator that simulates a molding line consisting of a plurality of molding machines and a mold supply device that replaces the molds of these molding machines. Regarding the method.

(Conventional technology) In order to efficiently operate equipment while changing production types in a short time on a molding line, a schedule for the production process is created and molding is performed based on this schedule. It has become.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) The above schedule table was created with consideration given to operating each molding machine in the most efficient manner. For example, if the molds of two molding machines are to be replaced at the same time, the other molding machine must be replaced until the mold replacement of one molding machine is completed. Due to mold replacement,
I had to wait. Furthermore, malfunctions may occur in molding machines, but the schedule table is created to exclude these factors, so the actual operation of the molding line may differ from the schedule table. There were many cases where it was difficult to perform molding according to the schedule.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and its purpose is to provide a method for simulating a forming line that can increase the reliability of evaluation of the ability of the forming line.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to solve the above problems, the molding line simulation method of the present invention uses a plurality of molding machines and a mold supply device that automatically exchanges molds used in these molding machines. This is applied to a molding line consisting of a We simulated the mold exchange operation of the mold supply device when changing the production type of the molding machine based on the time and the production type, production time, failure occurrence rate, and the operation of the mold exchange of the mold supply device. Based on the simulation results, the operation of the molding machine is simulated, and the progress of the simulation of the mold exchange operation and the simulation progress of the operation of the molding machine are displayed in animation on a display device.

(Function) There are two main reasons why molding cannot be carried out according to the schedule table. One of them is that the mold replacement timing overlaps between two or more molding machines. The other problem is that the molding machine breaks down. Therefore,
Based on the input product type and the required production time for each product type, a simulation of the mold exchange operation of the mold supply device is performed to check for overlap in mold exchange timing.

Next, the results of this simulation and the two parameters of failure occurrence rate are combined into two parameters: production type and production time.
The operation of the molding machine is simulated based on these four parameters. The progress of the simulation is then displayed as an animation using a display device.

(Embodiment) FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of a device used in an embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, a computer main body 92 consisting of a CPU, ROM, RAM, etc. is connected to the output of a keyboard 93 for inputting data, a display device 91 for displaying schedules, etc., and a printer for printing them. The output from the computer main body 92 is sent to 94 .

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing one embodiment of the present invention.

The operation of the method according to the present invention will be explained below with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

When the operation starts, a message prompting you to input the data will be displayed (not shown), so follow the message and input the data regarding the molding machine (step 0).
). Next, data regarding a mold supply device that supplies molds to these molding machines is input (step @).

FIG. 3 shows a display screen displayed on the display device 91 based on the data of the molding machine and the data of the mold supply device.

The data regarding the molding machines input in step (2) are the number of molding machines 56, their layout, and the failure rate of the molding machines 56.

Furthermore, the data regarding the mold supply device input in step @ includes the number of mold cranes 52 that take out and store molds stored in the automatic mold rack 51;
The number of mold preheating shelves 54 that preheat the molds, the number of mold transfer carts 53 that transport molds from the mold crane 52 to the mold preheating shelf 54, and the number of molds transferred to the molding machine 56. The number of mold changers 55 to be transported and the mold crane 5
2. The moving speed of the mold transfer cart 53 and the mold changer 55, and the time required to preheat the mold by the mold preheating shelf 54. In other words, what the data regarding the mold supply device 57 indicates is the mold exchange capability of the mold supply device 57.

Regarding the input data, the number of molding machines 56 is nine, and the layout is divided into five and four machines along the conveyance path 551 of the mold changer 55 on both sides. It shows. Regarding the mold supply device 57, it is shown that two sets of mold preheating shelves 54 and two mold transfer carts 53 are installed.

Following the input of the data instructing the configuration of the molding line as described above, the product type to be molded, the production time required for the molding, and the time during which the molding machine 56 is to be stopped are input for each molding machine 56.

When the input of these data is completed, an initial screen is displayed (step o), and the molding simulation starts, but this initial screen is similar to the screen shown in FIG. 3. However, as the initial state of the mold supply device 57,
The mold transfer cart 53 is located on the mold crane 52 side, and the mold changer 55 is located on the mold preheating shelf 54 side.

In the simulation of the operation of the mold supply device 57 in step (2), for each molding machine 56, the mold corresponding to the production type is taken out from the automatic mold rack 51 by the mold crane 52, and then the taken out mold is Mold transfer trolley 53
Next, the mold placed on the mold transfer cart 53 is transported to the mold preheating shelf 54, where it is preheated, and then the mold is transported to the molding machine 56 by the mold changer 55. This is a simulation of the series of operations up to the end.

Further, the simulation in step [phase] is a simulation of the operation of the molding machine 56, which is supplied with a mold, to produce a molded product.

In step (2) following these two types of simulations, input for changing the menu is accepted, but if there is no input for changing, the process automatically proceeds to the step indicated by the menu that has already been input. This menu selection is set to display the simulation display (step [phase]) in the initial state of operation, so
, the progress of the simulation is displayed, and then the process returns to step (3), which is a simulation of the operation of the mold supply bag W57, and step (phase), which is a simulation of the operation of the molding machine 56. Then, the simulation display (step @l) is displayed again.

These series of operations consist of steps ■, ■, ■, [phase] -
When the molding line goes around, a time lapse of about 30 seconds, which is the actual operating time of the molding line, is simulated. Also this 30
The actual time required for a second simulation is approximately Looms, and the simulation is approximately 300 times faster than the actual molding operation.

In the above simulation, the molding machine 56 that has been supplied with the mold starts the molding operation, and when the planned amount of molding for one product type is completed, the mold supply device 56 is moved in order to handle the next product type. We will file a claim for mold atrophy due to.

When the mold replacement timings overlap for two or more molding machines 56, priority is given to replacing the mold of the molding machine 56 that requested replacement sooner, and the molding machine that sent the replacement request later is given priority. 56 will continue to be in a standby state until the replacement of the mold of the molding machine 56 that has been prioritized is completed.

Also, when the molding of one production type is completed and it is stopped according to the data input in step @,
The molding machine 56 stops its operation.

The operating states of the molding machine 56 include a failure state in addition to the four states described above: mold replacement, molding, standby state for mold replacement, and idle state.

The occurrence of this failure is simulated in accordance with the calculated random number value based on the failure occurrence rate manually determined in step (3).

As explained above, since the molding machine 56 has five states, these five states are indicated by the color tone of the display of the molding machine 56 on the display device 91.

When the simulation display (step [phase]) is selected in the menu change of step Model transfer trolley 53,
The movement of the mold changer 55 on the conveyance path 551 and the five operating states of the molding machine 56 are displayed on the display device 91.

In displaying the progress of the above simulation, a mold crane 52, a mold transfer cart 53, a mold changer 55
If there is a possibility that the waiting time for mold replacement can be reduced by a slight change in the movement of the mold, the enlarged display (step @) is selected in the menu change of step (2).

In this step @, the operation of the required part is displayed in an enlarged manner, and the detailed timing of the movement of the mold is shown.

Furthermore, when requests for mold replacement are sent from two molding machines 56 at approximately the same time, the simulation can be displayed at a slow speed by selecting slow motion display (step 0). Therefore, the timing of sending out a request for mold replacement is displayed in an easy-to-understand manner.

In addition, in the above simulation, if you want to perform a simulation when the data is changed, select the step [phase] and change the molding machine 56 and mold supply device 5.
After changing the data related to 7 or changing the production type or production time, the simulation is performed again.

Further, when step @ is selected, the display device 91 displays the delay time of the arrival of the mold to the molding machine 56, the change in each operation over time, and the like.

And when print (step @) is selected,
The results of the above simulation are printed out by the printer 94.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and the mold supply device 5
7 has been explained in the case where it is applied to a configuration using one mold crane 52, two sets of mold transfer carts 53, a mold preheating tank 54, and one mold changer 55. The present invention can be similarly applied to cases where a mold supply device having any other configuration is used.

Regarding the molding machines 56, a configuration in which nine molding machines 56 are arranged in four and five molding machines on both sides of the conveyance path 551 has been described. The same can be applied to a configuration in which six molding machines are arranged only on one side.

Furthermore, data input is performed in the following order: data input regarding the molding machine 56 (step ■), data input regarding the mold supply device 57 (step @), and data input regarding production types, etc. (step ■). Although the above has been described, it is possible to have a configuration in which the order is reversed.

Also, enlarged display (step @), slow motion display (
Step 0) can be omitted when it is not necessary.

(Effects of the Invention) The method for simulating a molding line according to the present invention not only simulates the operation of a mold supply device when changing the product type of a molding machine, but also simulates the input product type, production time, and failure rate. The system is configured to simulate the operation of the molding machine based on the data showing the occurrence rate and the simulation results of the operation of the mold supply device, so the simulation shows the operation close to the actual operation of the molding line. This makes it possible to increase reliability in evaluating the ability of the molding line, and since the progress of the simulation is displayed in animation, the ability of the molding line can be confirmed by simulation. It also has the effect of making it easier to show it to others.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
The figure is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of a device used in an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an animation screen displayed on a display device. 56...Molding machine 57...Mold supply device 91...Display device step ■...Step for inputting production type, production time, and failure rate ■...Mold supply device Step for simulating the mold exchange operation Step [Phase]...Step for simulating the operation of the molding machine Step [Phase]...Step for displaying the progress of the simulation as an animation Patent applicant Representative of Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd. Hiro 1) Kaoru

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1) A simulation method for simulating a molding line consisting of a plurality of molding machines and a mold supply device that automatically exchanges molds used in these molding machines, the method comprising: Input the occurrence rate of machine failure, and input the production type and production time for each production type for each molding machine, and change the production type of the molding machine based on the production type and the production time. simulating the operation of the mold exchange of the mold supply device at the time, based on the production type, the production time, the failure occurrence rate, and the simulation result of the operation of the mold exchange of the mold supply device. , a method for simulating a molding line, characterized in that the operation of the molding machine is simulated, and the progress of the simulation of the operation of changing the mold and the progress of the simulation of the operation of the molding machine are displayed in animation on a display device. .