JPH02236604A - Information processor for autonomous distribution type working cell - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily expand a system by providing a working information part, a pallet information part, a drawing information part, a quality control information part, and an arranging information part in an information storage medium provided at a workpiece moved on a carrier. CONSTITUTION:The information storage medium 20 provided at the workpiece moved on the carrier 3, and the working information part 21, the pallet information part 22, the drawing information part 23, the quality control information part 24, and the set-up information part 25 provided in the information storage medium 20 are provided. And working information, pallet information, drawing information, quality control information, and set-up information are stored in the information storage medium 20 provided at the workpiece, and an NC machine tool in a working cell performs a necessary working job according to those information. Thereby, each working machine can perform a job by rendering judgement independently.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] This invention relates to an information processing device for an autonomous decentralized processing cell. More specifically, the present invention relates to an information processing device for an autonomous decentralized processing cell in a machine tool, in which a plurality of processing cells each independently make decisions and perform processing operations.

[Prior Art] A conventional FMS includes a plurality of machine tools, a transport device that transports workpieces or tools individually held in mounting jigs, a storage for the workpieces or tools, and instructions for machining information and production schedules. It consists of a host computer that contains programs and data for the machine, and a connecting device that connects this host computer to each machine tool or transport device. Therefore, workpieces and tools are placed on each pallet.
Or something equivalent to a pallet] is individually fixed and sent. Information such as the machining program and machining schedule is selected from data stored in advance in the host computer and supplied to each machine tool using a communication line such as a coaxial cable.

This system requires mounting jigs and pallets for the number of workpieces, and also requires communication lines to send information to each machine tool and automatic guided vehicle. As can be understood from the above description, in this general FMS, the three elements of a workpiece that reproduces a machining state, a jig/tool, and information are transported separately. Jigs, tools, and information are transported and transmitted through separate routes. Furthermore, there are many factors that increase equipment costs, such as requiring the same number of pallets as the number of workpieces, which naturally limits its widespread use. Furthermore, when expanding the system, it is necessary to expand each of the three elements mentioned above.

Furthermore, when making production changes, processing information, transportation information, pallet position information, etc. are all linked to each other, so
Interruption work is difficult. It was also particularly vulnerable to failures in the central processing unit, transport equipment, and communication lines, causing the entire system to stop and requiring a long time to recover. In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the present applicant has developed a device that stores a plurality of workpieces in a tray and transports the plurality of workpieces using a manual trolley, that is, a tray rack, in which setup and machining information is loaded onto the tray rack. ``Production system aimed at saving setups'' (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1983-102857)
We proposed the following issue. [Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, the applicant's proposal is strictly a system that uses a tray rack to transport workpieces. In many conventional machine tool processing systems, workpieces are placed on pallets and moved along a specified transport trajectory. In recent years, free flow lines have appeared in the machine tool field that can freely stop pallets or workpieces at any track position and serve as storage. An optimal information transfer system to which this free flow line can be applied has not been proposed.

An object of the present invention is to provide an information processing device for an autonomous decentralized processing cell in which each processing machine can independently decide and perform work in a free flow line of processing machines. Another object of the present invention is to provide an information processing device for an autonomous decentralized processing cell that does not require a central processing unit in a free flow line of a processing machine. [Means for solving the problem] The present invention takes the following measures to solve the problem.

The main means of this invention is an NC having a plurality of processing cells and a conveying device in which a workpiece is freely moved between the processing cells.
In a free flow line system for machine tools, an information storage medium provided on a workpiece that moves on the conveyance device;
This information processing device is an autonomous decentralized processing cell characterized in that the information storage medium includes a processing information section, a pallet information section, a drawing information section, a quality control information section, and a setup information section. In the means, the medium for transporting the workpiece is a pallet, and the IC serving as the information storage medium is disposed on the pallet.
It is more effective to provide a card and a dog that indicates the status of the workpiece. [Function] A type of N where the workpiece moves freely between multiple processing cells.
C In a free flow line system for a machine tool, machining information, pallet information, drawing information, quality control information, and setup information are stored in an information storage medium provided on the workpiece, and these information are stored in the information storage medium provided on the workpiece. Therefore, the necessary machining work is performed by the NC machine tool in the machining cell. [Examples] Examples of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an outline of a free-flow production system to which the autonomous decentralized processing cell information processing device of the present invention is applied. Machining centers Ml, M2, M3 are
Three machines are arranged in a straight line. machining center M1,
M2 and M3 have the same machining capacity, but one of them has a large number of tools so that it can perform special machining. In front of each machining center M1, M2, M3, a pallet unloader device 1 for loading and unloading a pallet P on a conveying device 3 to and from the machining centers M1, M2, M3 is arranged. A card reading/writing device 2 is disposed on the side of the pallet unloader device 1. The card reading/writing device 2 is an IC card. Regarding the unprocessed part of the work content read from machining centers M1, M2, M
The processing is performed by each of the NC devices 3 and the information after the processing is written into the IC. Pallet unloader device 1
In front of the conveyor device 3 is the machining center M1, M2
, located along M3. This conveyance device 3 is a roller chain type conveyance device arranged in upper and lower layers.

Elevators 4, 4 are arranged at both ends of the transport device 3. The elevators 4, 4 move the upper and lower floors in opposite directions. That is, the elevator 4 provided on one side
An elevator 4 provided on the other side transports only in the downward direction.
is transported only in the upward direction. The tray 5 is the conveyor device 3
It is placed on the roller chain as appropriate. A pallet P is placed and fixed on top of the tray 5. therefore,
The pallet P is always randomly moving in one direction on the conveying device 3. A setup table 7 is arranged next to the transport device W3, and the workpieces are attached to and removed from the pallet P. Further, this production system is equipped with a cleaning device 6, which cleans the workpieces on the pallet P as necessary.

Fig. 2 (a), (b), (c), (d) shows the pallet P
This figure shows an example of the shape and horizontal construction. Figure 2 (a) is a plan view, Figure 2 (b) is a front view, Figure 2 (C) is a right side view,
FIG. 2(d) is a left side view. The pallet P has a flat upper surface and a tray 5 roller (not shown) on the lower surface.
A groove 10 is formed in which the groove 10 is engaged. On the side surface, a carry-out arm engagement member 11 is provided on the front side in the direction of movement, a carry-in arm engagement member 12 and a card attachment member 13 are provided on the rear side, and a state determination dog 14 is provided on one side parallel to the direction of movement A. A cleaning discrimination dog 15 is provided on the opposite side.

The status determination dog 14 is a dog for indicating processing machine number, emergency product support, machining history, normal/abnormal response, program number determination, and the like. This machining center Ml, M
2. M3 is connected to this dog 14 before reading the IC power code.
, l5, it is first determined whether or not to process. The cleaning determination dog 15 similarly determines whether or not the cleaning has been completed. Although there are three dogs in this example, any number of dogs may be provided depending on the information required, and the shape may be a well-known mechanical dog, magnetic dog, photoelectric dog, etc.

The IC card 20 is a C card for storing various information to be described later.
Since it is composed of MOS-RAM, writing and reading are optional, and it has a built-in battery for memory retention. FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the information processing device of the autonomous decentralized processing cell that controls the free-flow production system. A variety of information is stored and retained. The machining information section 21 includes tool loci,
Machining programs such as cutting conditions and label information regarding the programs such as program numbers are stored and held.

The pallet information section 22 stores and holds information regarding the pallet, such as the management number of the pallet P on which the workpiece is mounted, and correction values for dimensions unique to each pallet, such as variations in the dimensions of the pallet. Drawing change information department 23
information on whether the workpiece loaded on the pallet P has no machining history, that is, whether it is the first product or not, and when and in which section the drawing related to the workpiece to be machined is located. Information regarding changes to the drawings, such as whether the drawings have been changed, is stored.

The quality control information unit 24 includes jig information such as the control number and type of the jig used during machining, workpiece information such as the type and control number of the workpiece, locations where the dimensions of the workpiece are to be measured, and measurements indicating measurement operations. information, processing machine information that specifies a machining center capable of processing, processing measurement result information that indicates the measurement results of dimensions after processing, processing history information that indicates the order and history of processing steps, etc. are stored. The setup information section 25 stores jig storage information, position information, and caution information indicating the position, order, and precautions when an operator attaches jigs to the pallet P. The input/output device 30 is placed near the setup table 7 and displays and modifies information on the IC card 20. Furthermore,
It stores NC data, processing measurement results, accuracy diagnosis results, etc. However, this input/output device 30 controls each machining center Ml, M2, M3,
It's not something to control. It processes and integrates information stored in the IC card 20. Input/output device 3o
is equipped with a microprocessor 31. The microprocessor 31 has a CRT display means 32 equipped with a keyboard and a storage means 33 such as a floppy disk or a hard disk via a bus line. Work: 1. What is shown in FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b) is a flowchart showing the operation of the information processing device and the operation of the worker. Figure 4 (a
The flowchart of > first shows the operation on the setup table 7. First, it is determined whether or not the first product is being processed (Step PI).
If the first item is not being processed, the IC card 2o is set on the card attachment member 13 of the pallet P. When the IC card 2o is set, the card reading/writing device 2 of the setup table 7 reads information from the set IC card. The quality control information of the read IC card 20 is stored on the CRT device W32.
will be displayed. The worker proceeds with the work according to the displayed content. In other words, the machined workpiece is processed based on the display contents, such as whether the machine was able to process normally and whether the measured data values are normal. The currently attached processed workpiece is removed from the pallet P (P5).

On the other hand, in the case of initial product processing, the IC card 20 is set on the pallet P card attachment member 13. Reads quality control information and setup information from the set IC card 20 and displays it on the CRT.
Display on the device 32. The display of this CRT device 11m32,
According to the instructions, the worker sets the jig on the pallet P (P4). Next, measure whether the jig is fixed in the correct position (P6). If the measurement results show that the jig is not set correctly, return to step P4 and set the jig again. If the measurement results indicate that the installation is correct and within the allowable dimensional error, import and write the measurement data such as the jig installation error value in the jig installation information in the setup information section 25 of the IC card.Next, the pallet The information in the quality control information section 24 and the setup information section 25 is read out from the IC card 20 on the P, and
Displayed on the device 32. According to this display, the worker should
Attach the workpiece onto the pallet P (P9). Measure the workpiece on the pallet P (PI). Information about the measured workpiece, such as installation position and initial product information, is sent to I.
Write to C power code 20. If the workpiece measurement is good, the setup is completed and the pallet P is loaded onto the transport device 3 (P
1t~P14). There is always a pallet P on the transport device 3.
and tray 5 is circulating. When the pallet P approaches the loading and unloading positions of each machining center Ml, M2, and M3 and a loading or unloading request is issued, dog 1 determines whether the pallet P that has approached the loading position has completed the setup.
Check with 4. When the pallet P for which setup has been completed approaches the carry-in position, a stopper bin (not shown) of the tray positioning device at the carry-in position is activated to project it above the conveyance surface, and the pallet P and tray 5 are moved to the carry-in position. Stop it with . After stopping, operate the loading device (not shown) to load the pallet P.
is carried into the standby position on the carry-in side of the pallet carry-out device 1 of each machining center Ml, M2, M3. The card reading/writing device 2 of the pallet unloader device 1 reads an IC card 2 attached to the pallet P carried into the carry-in side standby position.
Read the 0th memory contents (P1s). If there is no pallet P on the work table of each machining center M1, M2, M3, the pallet P at the carry-in side standby position
carry it to the work table side (Pl6). Next, it is determined whether or not it is the first product processing (PI?), and if it is the first product processing, normal program checking is performed. If an abnormality is found in the numerical control program during the program check, the program is corrected and the corrected program is stored in the IC card 20 (P18 to P24). If the first item cannot be processed, the work details are transferred from the IC card 20 side to each machining center M1 and M2 according to the instructions on the IC card 20.
, transfer the single gram for numerical control directly as the work content to the NC device side of M3 (P19, P21) - The NC device 8 transforms the axes of the coordinate system (P23) and executes the machining work ( P24, P26). If the end status is normal, it is assumed that the necessary machining has been completed, and all status determination dogs 14 are pushed down, and the I/O button is pressed to indicate that the machining is complete.
Write to the C card 20 (P26) - At this time, it is checked whether the finished state is aborted or not, and if the work is not aborted, rework is possible, and the state determination dog 14 for the device that executed the work is pushed down, and reprocessing (reassembly) is performed. Write on the IC card 20 that "is required". Measure the workpiece and return it to the setup table 7 (P27,
P2g). After processing the status determination dog 14 and writing to the IC card 20, the pallet P is carried out from the work table side to the carry-out device standby position side of the carry-in/out device 1.
When an unloading request is issued after the pallet P has been unloaded to the unloading device standby position, it is checked whether the empty tray 5 is approaching the unloading side stop position of the conveying device for each device, and if the empty tray 5 is approaching, the tray is The stopper pin of the positioning device is projected above the conveyance surface, and the empty tray 5 is stopped at the unloading side stop position. After stopping, the unloading device is activated and the pallet P is transferred from the unloading device standby position side to the empty tray 5ffl! to be carried out.

In addition to processing and assembly, if cleaning is required, the cleaning device 6 is also processed in the same manner.

The cleaning determination dog 15 determines whether cleaning is necessary or not.

Processing of recorded contents on the IC card 20 is carried out between the IC card 20 and a programmable controller or microprocessor 31 incorporated in an input/output control device 30, as shown in FIG. [Other Embodiments] In the embodiments described above, the dogs 14 and 15 are used to determine the condition of the workpiece, the processing machine, and the necessity of cleaning. This is so that the operator can judge the condition of the workpiece with the naked eye. However, this information may be directly stored in the IC card 20 without providing the dogs 14 and 15. [Effects of the Invention] As described in detail above, in this invention, the system can be easily expanded because a plurality of processing cells can each make their own decisions and perform processing operations. This has the effect of creating a system that is resistant to failures.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figure 1 is a plan view showing an example of an autonomous decentralized processing cell;
Figures (a), (b), (c), and (d) are diagrams showing the pallet, Figure 3 is a functional block diagram of the information processing device of the autonomous decentralized processing cell, and Figure 4 (a) and (b) are diagrams showing the pallet. This is a flow diagram that does not show the autonomous decentralized processing cell and the actions of the workers. Ml, M2, M3... Machining center, 1... Pallet unloader device, 2... Card reading/writing device, 3
...Transfer device, 4...Elevator, 5...Tray, 14...Status discrimination dog, 15...Cleaning discrimination dog, 20...IC card, 2l...Processing information department, 2
2... - Palette information department, 23... Drawing information department, 24
...Quality control information department, 25...Setup information department

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In a free flow line system for an NC machine tool that has a plurality of processing cells and a transfer device in which the workpiece moves freely between the processing cells, the workpiece moves on the transfer device. An information storage medium provided in the information storage medium, a processing information section, a pallet information section, a drawing information section,
An information processing device for an autonomous decentralized processing cell, characterized by comprising a quality control information section and a setup information section. 2. An autonomous decentralized system according to claim 1, characterized in that the medium for transporting the workpiece is a pallet, and on the pallet there is an IC card that is the information storage medium and a dog that indicates the state of the workpiece. Processing cell information processing equipment.