JPH04182703A - Controller for automatic machining facility - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To proceed with operation even when the power supply of a local controller is cut off by always writing data to be communicated to a host controller in a buffer memory. CONSTITUTION:The device is automatically controlled by respective local controllers 24, 11A to 11D under the management control by a host controller 29, and the respective local controllers 24, 11A to 11D always write current data to be communicated with the host controller 29 in buffer memories 32 and 33. When any of the power supplies for the local controllers 24, 11A to 11D is cut off, the communication with the host controller 29 will be shut down, however, the memory contents of the buffer memories 32 and 33 will be retained by the voltage applied with a backup power supply. When the control by the host controller is restored, the data saved in the buffer memories 32 and 33 is communicated to the host controller 29 and the operation of a machining cell, etc. is started. Thus, even when the control power is shut down, a user can proceed with the operation from the state as it was interrupted by the shutdown of the control power.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a -I control device for automatic processing equipment such as a large-scale FMS (flexible manifold turing system).

[Conventional technology]

BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, an FMS that performs sheet metal processing etc. has been configured with a plurality of processing cells each having a punch press or the like, a self-contained warehouse, and a traverser that transports workpieces between these processing cells and an automated warehouse.

In such a large-scale FMS, a local controller is provided for each processing cell, and a local controller for controlling the traverser is provided, and each of these local controllers is controlled online by a host controller.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

During online operation of the above FMS, if it is necessary to turn off the power in any processing cell due to an emergency stop or other trouble, only the local controller of that processing cell will be taken offline, and other local controllers will be operated online. Continue.

However, when the power is cut off quickly, the memory contents of the local controller that stores the type of workpiece and the type of cannibal program are erased. I need to start over.

In other words, after the material pallets and product valents remaining in the processing cell are returned to the automated warehouse and all workpieces are removed,
Is it necessary to maintain schedules, etc. and start operation from the time the automated warehouse is unloaded? Therefore, there is a problem in that it takes time and effort to restart online operation.

An object of the present invention is to provide a control device for automatic processing equipment that is capable of continuing operation from the state at which the power supply was quickly cut off when returning to online operation with a host controller even if the control power supply to the local controller is cut off. It is to provide.

[Means to solve the problem]

The structure of this invention will be explained with reference to FIG. 1 corresponding to an embodiment.

The control device for this automatic processing equipment is provided with buffer memories (32), (33) in which data to be communicated with the host controller (29) is always written in each local controller (24), (IIA) to (IID). , a backup power source is connected to each of these buffer memories (32) and (33). buffer memory (32),
(33) may be part of the storage area of a memory device used for other functions.

Local controller (24), (IIA) ~ (LI
D) It controls the processing cell or the conveyance device following this processing cell. The upper controller (29) has multiple local controllers (24), (IIA)
It is a means for managing and controlling ~(IID).

[For production]

Each processing cell and transport device is controlled by a local controller (24) under the management control of a host controller (29).

Automatically operated by (IIA) to (IID). During this automatic operation, each local controller (24),
(11A) to (IID) are the upper controller (29
), the latest data to be communicated with the buffer memory (3
2), write in (33). For example, work size data, Canadian program number, material palette number, etc. are written to buffer memories (32) and (33).

Any local controller (24), (IIA
) to (IID) are cut off, communication with the host controller (29) is immediately cut off, but the buffer memories (32) and (33) retain their stored contents by applying voltage from the bank-up power supply. Hold.

Local controller (24), (IIA) ~ (11
0) under the control of the upper controller,
The data stored in the hasoffer memory (32), (33) is communicated with the host controller (29). Therefore, continuing from the state at the time of the power supply being quickly cut off, the operation of the processing cell, etc. whose control power supply was quickly cut off is started.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the present invention will be explained based on FIGS. 1 to 5.

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the automatic processing equipment. Automatic warehouse 1
First to third processing cells 2A to 2C are arranged in parallel with each other, and a fourth processing cell 2D is arranged on the side thereof. The first to third processing cells 2A to 2C each have a plate material processing machine IO consisting of a turret punch press, and are individually provided with cell controllers IIA to IIC. The fourth processing cell 2D has a plate material processing machine 12 made of a right angle gloss, and is equipped with a cell controller IID.

From the automated warehouse 1, the first and second traversers 3A,
The rails 4A and 4B of the third traverser 3B extend on both sides of the row of processing cells 2A to 2C, and the rails 4C of the third traverser 3C
extends to the fourth processing cell 2D. Each of the traversers 3A to 3C is an unmanned transport vehicle, which is automatically operated by the traverser main controller 5, and can be manually operated by the input/output terminal boards 6A to 6C, respectively. Manually operated trolleys 8 on rails 7 extending from the end of the automated warehouse 1 are manually operated by an input/output terminal board 9.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the first processing cell 2, and the second and third processing cells 2B and 2C are similarly constructed. A loader conveyor 13 and an unloader conveyor 14 are installed on both sides of the plate material processing machine 100, and a rail 17 for running a loader 15 and an unloader 16 above these is installed on a support 18. The loader 15 is provided with a suction pad 19 that vacuum-suctions the work W so as to be movable up and down, and suctions the alligator W stacked on the loader conveyor 13 and carries it into the plate processing machine 10 .

The unloader 16 has a gripper 20, and the plate processing machine 10
The machined workpiece W is pulled out onto the asilodder conveyor 14. Reference numeral 21 denotes an auxiliary table that supports the workpiece W during extraction. The loader conveyor 13 receives and receives a material pallet containing stacked workpieces W from the traverser 3A. Unloader conveyor 14
is to receive the above-mentioned pulled-out workpiece W on a product pallet and carry it out together with the pallet to the traverser 3B.

In FIG. 2, the fourth processing cell 2D has a loader conveyor 22, an unloader conveyor 23, and a third processing cell 2D.
Loaders and unloaders (not shown) similar to those shown are provided.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a control device for this automatic processing equipment. The traverser group controller 24 is a local controller that automatically operates the first to third traversers 38 to 3C in FIG. 2. The first to fourth cell controllers IIA to IID are local controllers that automatically operate the first to fourth processing cells 2A to 2D, respectively. These local controllers IIA to IID are managed and controlled online by the host controller 29,
It also communicates data with the automated warehouse controller 31, which is a local controller. Each of these local controllers 24.11A-IID.

Reference numeral 31 is capable of switching between the above-mentioned online mode and an online mode in which automatic operation is performed separately from the host controller 29. The upper controller 29 has a data bank 30, and each local controller 24. IIA
~IID, all the data necessary for automatic operation of 31 are registered. For example, the data bank 30 has an automated warehouse 1.
Inventory data and plate processing machine 1 of each processing cell 2A to 2D
In addition to the 0°12 tool mask file, etc., machining schedules, cutting programs for each lot, workpiece type 1 setup data, etc. are registered.

The traverser group controller 24, as shown in FIG.
36, and each block controller 34 to 36 controls the second
The first to third traversers 3A to 3C in the figure are controlled. These block control units 34 to 36 can be operated by independently switching between an automatic operation mode and a manual operation mode, and management control during automatic operation is performed by the traverser main controller 5. Each block control unit 34
The operating mode changeover switches .about.36 and operating means in the manual operation mode are provided on the loading/unloading terminal boards 68 through 6C in FIG. 2.

As shown in FIG. 4, the traverser main controller 5
has a pallet buffer memory 32 backed up by a battery (not shown), and the numbers and numbers of material pallets or product pallets placed on each traverser 3A to 3C are stored in buffer areas 32A to 33C for each traverser. , the destination data of the pallet, etc. are stored.

Buffer data in the pallet buffer memory 32 is stored when a pallet is placed in or taken out from the automated warehouse 1, or when a pallet is stored in the processing cell 2A~
When the data is transferred to the 2D, it is rewritten through communication with the upper controller 29.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the first cell controller IIA. Second to fourth cell controllers 118 to IID
The configuration is similar to that shown in FIG.

The cell controller IIA includes a loader conveyor block control section 37, a loader block υI@ section 38, a plate processing machine block control section 39, and an unloader block control section 4.
0 and an unloader conveyor block control section 41, each of which has a loader conveyor 13, a loader 15, a plate processing machine IO, an unloader 16, and an unloader conveyor 14 shown in FIG. control. The plate processing machine block control section 39 controls the plate processing machine 10 via a numerical control device (not shown). Each of these block control units 37 to 41 can be independently switched between an automatic operation mode and a manual operation mode, and during automatic operation, the in-cell management controller 4
Management and control is provided by 2.

The intra-cell management controller 42 has a work buffer memory 33 backed up by a battery, and the work buffer lower memory 33 is provided with three buffer areas 33a. Each buffer area 33a is an area for storing size data, program size, setup data, etc. for one workpiece W, and when the loader 15 picks up the workpiece W, Buffer data is written through communication with the higher-level controller 29. These buffer areas 33a are provided with position flag portions (not shown) correspondingly, and are used when the workpiece W is carried from the loader 15 to the plate processing machine 10 and unloaded from the plate processing machine 10 by the unloader 16. When the current position is located, the current position is indicated by a position flag and is notified to the higher-level controller 29. Since three buffer areas 33a are provided, when the loader 15, the plate processing machine 10, and the unloader 16 each hold a workpiece W, data for each of the three workpieces W can be stored.

Note that the lower work buffer memory 33 and the palette buffer memory 32 (FIG. 4) may be independent memory devices, or may be part of a storage area of a memory device that is also used for storage.

The operation of the above configuration will be explained. Each processing cell 28 to 2D is
The online mote performs automatic operation under the control of the cell controllers IIA to 11D under the management of the host controller 29. Each traverser 3 to 3C is also controlled by the traverser group controller 24 according to the management of the upper controller 29.
The system operates automatically under the control of

In the process of such automatic operation, each traverser 3A to 3C
When a pallet is loaded and unloaded or delivered to each processing cell 28 to 2D, the pallet number and destination data are stored in the predetermined buffer areas 32A to 32C of the battery-backed pallet buffer memory 32 as described above. etc. are written, or the movement of buffer data is recorded.

Also, in each processing cell 2A to 2C, a loader 15, a plate processing machine 10. The data regarding the work W held in the unloader 16 is also stored in each buffer area 32A of the pallet buffer memory 32 that has been loaded up.
~32C is written as described above. The same applies to the fourth processing cell 2D.

Cell controllers IIA to 11 for each processing cell 2A to 2D
D and the traverser group controller 24 can be independently switched to offline mode, and when an abnormality occurs, the cell controllers IIA to 11D of the processing cells 28 to 2D where the abnormality has occurred or the traverser group controller Switch only 24 to offline mode. In this offline mode, maintenance is performed by switching the entire processing cells 2A to 2D to manual operation, or switching only the block in which an abnormality has occurred, for example, the loader block control section 38, to manual mode.

When returning the processing cells 28 to 2D and the like to the online mode, the next communication is performed with the host controller 29 by a mode switching operation.

First, a request to return to the online mode is communicated, and then the existence of data in the buffer area 33a of the work pallet border memory 33 or the existence of data in the buffer areas 32A to 32D of the pallet buffer 7 memory 32 is communicated. After this, it is communicated that the operation mode is manual operation mode.

By performing these communications, online operation with the host controller 29 is restored.

In this case, the workpiece W is stored in the pallet buffer memory 32.
All the data necessary for management in the host controller 29, such as the size data, Canadian program number, and location of the block holding the workpiece W, are saved, so online operation can continue normally. Will be reinstated. Therefore, there is no need to remove the workpieces W in the processing cells 2A to 2D and return the cell controllers IIA to IID to their initial states, and the online operation can be restarted easily. Also, when returning the traversers 3A to 3C to online operation, the online operation can be restarted from the state at which the mode was switched to the offline state using the buffer data of the material palette and product pallet stored in the pallet buffer memory 32.

In addition, each processing cell 28 to 2C is divided into blocks and is composed of five block control units 37 to 41, each of which can be switched between manual mode and automatic mode. It is possible to perform maintenance by switching only the block in which the problem occurred to manual mode, and after the maintenance is completed, the entire processing cells 2A to 2C can be switched to automatic operation. Similarly, the traversers 3A to 3C can be returned to automatic operation as a whole after maintenance is performed by individually switching each traverser 3A to 3C back to manual operation mode. Buffer data in the work buffer memory 33 and palette buffer memory 32 is also used when returning from some of these manual modes to the automatic mode.

Note that while the processing cells 2A to 2D and traversers 3A to 3C are operating offline, it may be necessary to remove the workpiece W or its pallet. Delete the relevant buffer data, return to the initial state, and restart online operation.

A quick power outage of each cell controller IIA to IID or traverser group controller 24 may occur during data communication with the host controller 29, and in that case, it is desirable to handle it as follows. . In other words, the buffer data in the work buffer memory 33 and the palette buffer memory 32 is saved until the completion of communication is confirmed by handshaking, etc., and the data is temporarily stored at the time of communication so that the data can only be rewritten upon completion of communication. A separate memory area is provided for this purpose.

In addition, in the above embodiment, each cell controller lIA to LI
Although D is configured with a plurality of block control units 37 to 41, it is not necessary to divide it into blocks.

〔Effect of the invention〕

In the automatic processing equipment control device of the present invention, each local controller is provided with a buffer memory connected to a backup power source, and data to be communicated with a higher-level controller is always written in the buffer memory (thereby, the power source of the local controller is Even if the power is cut off quickly, the necessary data is saved in the buffer 7 memory.Therefore, when returning to the operating state under the control of the host controller, it is possible to continue operation from the state at the time of the quick power cut. Therefore, when returning from online operation/\, there is no need to perform work such as removing the workpiece in the processing cell to return to the initial state, which has the effect of facilitating maintenance and improving the operating rate.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the layout of the automatic processing equipment, FIG. 3 is a front view showing the processing cell, and FIG. Similarly, the block diagram of the traverser group controller,
The fifth stage is a block diagram showing the configuration of the cell controller. 1...Automated warehouse, 2A~2D...Processing cell, 3A~
3C...Traverser (transport device), 5...Traverser main controller, 10...Plate material processing machine, IIA
~IID...Cell controller (local controller), 12...Plate processing machine, 13...Loader conveyor, 14...Unloader conveyor, 15...Loader, 16...Unloader, 24... Traverser group controller (local controller), 29... Upper controller, 31... Automatic warehouse controller, 32.
...Palette buffer memory, 33...Work buffer memory, W...Work Patent applicant Murata Machinery Co., Ltd. Representative Patent attorney Masashi Noda 2:1 Figure 1 32 JJ
JJ :jj :3JC
CD
L-Figure 4

Claims (1)

[Claims] In a control device for automatic processing equipment, which includes a plurality of local controllers that each control a processing cell or a transport device following the processing cell, and a higher-level controller that manages and controls these plurality of local controllers, each of the local controllers has: A buffer memory is provided in which data to be communicated with the upper controller is always written,
A control device for automatic processing equipment that connects a backup power source to each of these buffer memories.