JPH02307102A - Simulation device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily and quickly detect the defects of a sequence program and a ladder chart by stopping the control action of a programmable controller if the action conditions of a specific cycle or a sequence program related to the cycle itself and the sequence program of the next step have defects. CONSTITUTION:If the action conditions of a specific cycle or a sequence program related to the cycle itself has a defect, a start signal is not outputted to the cycle. In the same way, a start signal is not outputted to the next cycle if the sequence program of the next step has a defect. That is, the control operation of a programmable controller 1 is stopped by the function of a simulation device 3 without having the actual working of a device 2 to be controlled if the action conditions of a specific cycle and the relevant and next cycles have the defects in a sequence program stored in a program memory 12. As a result, an operator can detect easily and quickly the defects of the sequence program and a ladder chart.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION <Field of Industrial Application> The present invention relates to a simulation device for a programmable controller that sequentially controls a controlled Ja device.

<Prior Art> Generally, as shown in FIG. Outputs a control signal to each element of the controlled device 2, receives a status signal indicating whether each element is on, off, etc.
While storing this in the data memory 13, the controlled device 2
It operates in a sequential sequence.

Conventionally, checking of a sequence program by the programmable controller 1 has been carried out in accordance with the procedure shown in FIG. That is, first, design a ladder diagram (expanded connection diagram) that will be the basis of the sequence program (see S+), translate this ladder diagram into a program and store it in the program memory 12 (see S2), and in parallel. We design and manufacture controlled equipment and production line equipment,
Install (see S3 and S4). Next, the equipment installed on the production line site is controlled by a programmable controller! (See S5) to determine whether each component of the equipment is operating normally (See S6). If abnormal, modify the ladder diagram to a, 9, etc. (S5).
7), a complete sequence program is created.゛〈Problem to be solved by the invention〉 However, the above-mentioned conventional method for checking sequence programs does not allow programmable controllers to be used with this sequence program! In order to find defects in the ladder diagram from malfunctions of the +1Vt components while actually operating the equipment in sequence in the field through The disadvantage is that it is necessary to design, manufacture, and install the system in time, and there is no time for the latter. In addition, it is impossible to avoid checking work under often poor conditions at the site, and in addition to consuming a large amount of electricity to drive equipment,
There is a high risk that equipment will be destroyed due to defects in the ladder diagram. Furthermore, defects in ladder diagrams and sequence programs can only be checked within the operating states of the constituent members, and the items to be checked are limited.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to enable a detailed check of the sequence program and ladder diagram of a programmable controller using a simple and compact means without actually operating the equipment to be controlled such as equipment, thereby facilitating on-site checking work. Another object of the present invention is to provide a simulation device that can avoid destruction of controlled equipment and save energy.

Means for Solving the Problems> In order to achieve the above object, the simulation device of the present invention performs calculations based on a sequence program stored in a memory, and performs control between the data memory and each element of the controlled device. Send and receive signals and status signals to measure gj
It is for a programmable controller that controls J equipment, and is an output element and a primitive element for each cycle that constitutes a sequence.

Both bases for reaching end element and origin off, reaching end on 1
A cycle diagram table that stores time-related data, a timer that measures both reference times of each cycle stored in this cycle diagram table, and a start signal that should be output from the programmable controller to the output element of the controlled device. Then, both reference times of the cycle corresponding to the output element are read from the cycle diagram table and set in the timer to start time measurement, while at the same time, when the timer ends, the programmable controller is informed of the cycle. A calculation means is provided for outputting a state signal indicating that the source end is off or the destination end is on.

Function> Now, assume that the programmable controller outputs a start signal for an output element of a specific cycle of a controlled device by calculation based on a sequence program. Then, the calculation means of the simulation device receives this and reads out both the reference times from the origin-off point to the destination-end turn-on of the cycle from the cycle diagram table, sets this in the timer, and starts timing. . When the timer finishes counting each of the reference times, the calculation means outputs a state signal indicating that the origin of the cycle is off and the end of the cycle is on based on the data in the cycle diagram table to the programmable controller. The programmable controller that received this
Execution of the cycle is ended by writing data indicating that the source element of the cycle is off and the destination element of the cycle is on. Thereafter, calculations are performed based on the sequence program using the data in the data memory including the above data, and if there is no defect in the sequence program of the next step, an activation signal for the output element of the next cycle is output.

At this time, if there is a defect in the operating conditions of the above-mentioned specific cycle or in the sequence program related to that cycle itself, the start signal for the above-mentioned specific cycle will not be output, and if there is a defect in the sequence program for the next step, the next step will be The start signal to the cycle is not output. Therefore, since control by the programmable controller is stopped, the operator does not have to actually operate the controlled equipment and performs cumbersome checking work that consumes power on site and may damage the equipment. Defects in sequence programs and ladder diagrams can be found easily and quickly.

<Example> Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to illustrated embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the simulation device of the present invention, and (2) is equipped with the above-mentioned arithmetic unit 11, program memory [2, data memory 13° and interface circuit 14, and is used to sequence the controlled equipment 2. A programmable controller 3 is connected to the interface circuit 14 of the programmable controller I, and is a simulation device that performs a simulated operation in place of the controlled device 2 to check the sequence program stored in the program memory 12.

” The two-legged simulation device 3 is an output element of each cycle that constitutes the sequence of the controlled device 2.

A cycle diagram table 4 that stores data regarding the origin element, the arrival end element, and both We times from origin off to arrival end on, and the above-mentioned reference times TI of each cycle stored in this cycle diagram table 4. +1゛, respectively. Second timer 5.6 and CP as calculation means
Consists of U7. This CP LJ 7 receives a start signal to be output to a specific output element of the controlled device 2 from the programmable controller I based on the sequence program, and determines the reference time of the cycle corresponding to this output element.
l'', , T are read from the cycle diagram table 4 and set in the first and second timers 5 and 6 to start time measurement, while the programmable controller 1 It is designed to output a status signal indicating that the source end of the cycle is off and the destination end is on.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a cycle diagram in which cycles constituting a sequence are arranged from left to right in order of operation.

A and D in the figure indicate output elements such as relays that are turned on in response to a start signal from the programmable controller 1 and start the cycle. Also, -I3 at the left end of each output element. -E sets the proto-element of the cycle to the rightmost C
, F indicate the reaching end elements of the cycle.

When one cycle is started and operates normally, the reference time 4'r1 after starting is shown in Fig. 4(a) and (b).
By this time, the workpiece W has moved to the right and the original end element 8 has been turned off, and as shown in FIG. Turns on. Therefore, the primitive elements B and E in FIG. 2 are given a negative sign (-).

The operator creates data as shown in FIG. 3 for each cycle in the cycle diagram of FIG. 2, and stores this data in advance in the cycle diagram table 4 via a keyboard (not shown) and the CPU 7. That is, regarding the cycle of the output element to, as shown in FIG.
, 'l', -020 (see,) are stored in the cycle diagram table 4.

The operation of the simulation device 3 having the above configuration will be described next.

Now, the calculation unit 11 of the programmable controller 1,
It is assumed that an operation is performed based on a sequence program read from the program memory 12 and a start signal for an output element of a specific cycle of the controlled device 2 is output.

Then, the CPU 7 of the simulation device 3 sets the reference time 'r, ,T, from the origin OFF to the final end ON of the cycle related to the output elements (A, D) represented by the activation signal to a third value.
The cycle diagram table 4 shown in the figure is read out and this is read from the cycle diagram table 4 shown in the figure. Set the second timer 5.6 to start timing. 1st. The second timer 5.6 sets the reference time T,,'r.

After completing the time measurement, the CPU 7 outputs the data (-[3,C.

-E, F), a programmable controller that outputs state signals representing the source end off and destination end on of the cycle, respectively! Output to. The calculation unit 11 of the programmable controller I receives the state signal and writes data indicating that the originating element of the cycle is off and the reaching end element is on, into the data memory 13, and ends the execution of the cycle.

After that, the data in the data memory 13 including the written data is used to perform calculations based on the sequence program of the next step, and if there is no defect in this sequence program, a start signal for the output element of the next cycle is output. Then, move on to the next cycle of control.

At this time, if there is a defect in the operating conditions of the above-mentioned specific cycle or in the sequence program related to that cycle itself, the start signal for that cycle will not be output, and if there is a defect in the sequence program for the next step, the start signal for the next cycle will not be output. Start signal is not output. In other words, if there is a defect in the operating conditions of a particular cycle, that cycle itself, or the next cycle itself in the sequence program stored in the program memory 2, the simulation device 3 will work without actually operating the controlled device 2. Since the control by the programmable controller 1 is stopped at this point, the operator can easily and quickly find a defect in the sequence program or the ladder diagram on which it is based.

In other words, it is not necessary to manufacture and install the controlled equipment 2 in time to create ladder diagrams and sequence programs as in the past, and software can be created independently and efficiently in the office, reducing power consumption on site. This eliminates the need for troublesome checking work that consumes energy and can destroy equipment, allowing you to check sequence programs and ladder diagrams in more detail. Furthermore, since a simple cycle diagram created prior to ladder diagram design is used in the simulation, preliminary work is not time consuming and confirmation of simulation operation is facilitated.

It goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiment.

<Effects of the Invention> As is clear from the above explanation, the simulation device for a programmable controller of the present invention outputs each cycle in a cycle diagram table.

Data regarding the source end, destination end element, and both reference times from origin off and destination on are stored, and the calculation means calculates the
Receiving a start signal to be output from the programmable controller to the output element of the controlled Ja device, reading both reference times of the cycle corresponding to the output element from the cycle diagram table and setting it in a timer to start time measurement;
When the timer finishes counting, it outputs a status signal to the programmable controller that indicates that the source end of the cycle is off and the destination end is on. Defects in sequence programs and ladder diagrams can be found easily and quickly, but in detail, without the need for troublesome checking work that consumes power and risks equipment damage.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the simulation device of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a cycle diagram of a sequence, FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a cycle diagram table, and FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a cycle diagram table. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the normal operation of an I cycle constituting a sequence, and FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a check procedure of a conventional sequence program. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Programmable controller, 2... Controlled equipment, 3... Simulation device, 4... Cycle diagram table, 5... First timer, 6... Second timer, 7...・CPU, 11... Arithmetic unit, I2...
Program memory, 13...Data memory, I4...
・Interface circuit. Patent Applicant Sharp Corporation and 1 other Attorney Patent Attorney Aoshi Haku Haka 1 person Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) Simulation of a programmable controller that performs calculations based on a sequence program stored in memory and controls the controlled device by sending and receiving control signals and status signals between the data memory and each element of the controlled device. The device includes a cycle diagram table that stores data regarding the output element, origin element, arrival end element, and reference time from origin off to arrival end on of each cycle constituting the sequence, and this cycle diagram. a timer that measures both reference times of each cycle stored in the table;
Upon receiving the start signal to be output from the programmable controller to the output element of the controlled device, both reference times of the cycle corresponding to the output element are read from the cycle diagram table, set in the timer, and time measurement is started. and a calculation means for outputting a state signal indicating that the origin of the cycle is off or the end of the cycle is on to the programmable controller when the timer ends.