JPH04183583A - Manufacturing method of product - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obviate the need for executing the change of a program with a line equipment being stopped each time due to the conditions change of a line, by executing work with a work robot itself detecting the contents of the work onto a work object. CONSTITUTION:The work information of a proper work object is memorized on an information memory medium 3, this information memory medium 3 is flowed to a transfer line in the set with a work object 2, and a work robot 8 detects the position of the information memory medium 3 by a sensor, then this information memory medium 3 is directly set in a data in and output part 7, and the work information is fed to the robot 8 with an information in and output part 7 reading it. According to this fed work information the work robot 8 executes work for the work object 2, after completion of the work the information in and output part 7 writes the work information in the information memory medium 3 with its renewing, after the writing the work robot 8 takes the information memory medium 3 from the information in and output part 7 returning it to the specific position of a transfer line.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Field of Application] The present invention relates to a product manufacturing method in which a work robot is used to manufacture a product in work steps such as assembly and processing.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, when manufacturing a product using a work robot on a production line, a method was used in which the work process schedule was centrally controlled by a central computer. This is a central combinator that is pre-programmed to determine the presence of semi-finished products on the line, to synchronize the supply of parts to the line with the working robots, or to synchronize the semi-finished products to be worked on between lines. The manufacturing process was scheduled according to the schedule, and the line was run according to this schedule.

In recent years, with the diversification of customer demands, it has become necessary to manufacture products with different manufacturing processes using the same line equipment.

However, according to the above control method, if there is a failure in the central computer or line equipment, the robot's work based on control information from the central computer and the work target such as semi-finished products or parts flowing on the line will be interrupted. In order to repair this problem, it was necessary to stop the line and change the program on the central computer, resulting in a significant decrease in work efficiency in the event of a problem. The same applies when line conditions are changed due to renewal of line equipment or the introduction of new products.Furthermore, as products become more diversified and manufacturing processes become more diverse, the amount of information handled by computers becomes enormous. Database management of process-related work information also becomes complex.

In order to eliminate such inconveniences, recently, simple information storage media such as IC cards are used to store simple product information such as ID information, which is then fixed to a pallet 7) and flowed through the line before being transferred to the conveyance system. The idea is to read the information using a sensor, etc., and manage the manufacturing of the product.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

In this conventional method, special measures have been taken to match the line conveyance system, such as the coupling structure of sensors, noise countermeasures during reading, etc., and tuning specific to the product manufacturing equipment is applied. It lacks versatility because it is exclusive to that product or equipment.

Furthermore, the information that associates work objects with work processes is at most simple ID information, and this information only allows the central computer to control the traffic of work objects flowing along the line. However, as products become more diverse and individualized in the future, information management for individual products will become even more complex.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is possible to have a large amount of work information regarding the work target, and to facilitate product manufacturing management even in a product manufacturing line where product variety and individualization are highly advanced. The purpose of this invention is to provide a product manufacturing method that is easy to generalize.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention is such that a work robot having a manipulator hand stores work information specific to a work object in an information storage medium, and sends this information storage medium along with the work object to a conveyance line. When the work robot detects the position of the information storage medium using the sensor, the information storage medium is sent directly to the data input/output section using the manipulator hand, and the information input/output section reads the work information and sends it to the robot. The work robot performs the work on the work target according to the work information, and after the work is completed, the information input/output unit updates the work information and writes it to the information storage medium, and after writing, the work robot uses the manipulator hand to write the work information to the information storage medium. It is characterized in that the information is taken from the information input/output section and returned to a specific position on the conveyance line.

[For production]

As the information storage medium, general media such as floppy disks, which have a larger capacity than conventional IC cards, can be used.In addition to ID information, the information storage medium can also contain information on the parts used, assembly conditions, and processing information. The ability to have a large amount of work information related to the work object, such as design information such as work priorities, and process scheduling information such as work priorities.

In addition, it is now possible to associate one information storage medium with each product and manage it on an information storage medium basis, making it possible to manufacture products with different manufacturing processes using the same line equipment, and making it possible to manufacture a wide variety of products. Product manufacturing management becomes easier even on product manufacturing lines that are highly specialized and individualized.

Furthermore, since the work robots carry out manufacturing processes based on information obtained from individual products and also update work information, the line control computer does not need to process large amounts of data, which significantly reduces the processing load. , control flexibility is improved.

In addition to the traditional manufacturing process, we also handle product ordering, design,
Product management becomes easier by centralizing information such as aftercare.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an example of a manufacturing system for implementing the present invention. In Figure 1, 1 is a conveyance device such as a belt conveyor, 2 is a work object such as a semi-finished product, part, or material, and 3 is object identification information such as product name and product number, and design information such as parts used, assembly conditions, processing conditions, etc. An information storage medium is a magnetic disk such as a floppy disk, which stores information necessary for performing a task, such as work information such as job priority and work priority. 4 is a pallet for moving the work object and information storage medium onto the conveyance device; 5 is a manipulator of the work robot;
6 is a control unit of the working robot, 7 is an input/output device into which the information storage medium 3 is set by the manipulator 5, and 8 is a working robot with a sensor.

Next, the operation of this system will be explained. A work object 2 and an information storage medium 3 are placed on a pallet 4, and a conveyance device 1 transports them onto a line. When it reaches the designated position, the work robot 8
A sensor (not shown) attached to the robot detects the information storage medium 3, and the robot control unit 6 instructs the manipulator 5 to set the information storage medium 3 to the input/output Wt7.

The manipulator 5 sets the information storage medium 3 in the input/output device 7, and the robot control unit 6 reads the information stored in the information storage medium 3. The work robot performs the work according to this information.

When the work is completed, the robot control unit 6 updates work information such as the work progress of the work target, work completion conditions, and handover information to subsequent processes, and writes the updated work information into the information storage medium 3.

Subsequently, the manipulator 5 takes out the information storage medium 3 from the input/output device 7 and returns it to a predetermined position, and the transport device 1 transports the pallet 4 to the subsequent process.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained in detail above, according to the present invention, the work robot itself detects the content of the work to be performed on the work object and performs the work, so that products with different manufacturing processes can be manufactured using the same line equipment. In this case, there is no need to stop the line equipment and change the program each time the line conditions are changed.

Since the information storage medium used has a larger capacity than before, the information storage medium can hold a large amount of information about the work object, such as design information and process scheduling information, in addition to ID information. It is also easy to create a process schedule according to the finish of the product, and it is easy to perform different operations on each item. This makes it possible to efficiently produce a wide variety of products on the same line using work robots, making it easier to manage the manufacturing process for individual products of a wide variety of products in response to diversifying customer demands.

In addition, because the necessary work information is stored in the information storage medium specific to the work object, it is possible to easily respond to unforeseen situations such as breakdowns in line equipment, and it is possible to check whether the work has been reliably performed on the work object. It also becomes easier to manage such items.

Furthermore, it is of course possible to use general information storage media and input/output devices, and there is no need for line-specific specifications tailored to individual manufacturing processes, making it easy to generalize.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of the configuration of a product manufacturing method according to an embodiment of the present invention. l... Conveyance device, 2... Work object, 3... Information storage medium, 4... Pallet, 5... Robot manipulator, 6... Robot control unit, 7... Input/output Device.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] In a process in which a work robot having a manipulator hand performs work on a work object that is passed along a transport line by a transport device to manufacture a product, the work robot uses a sensor to identify and recognize an object of a specific shape. It is equipped with a means for calculating the spatial position of the detected object, and an information storage medium in which work information unique to the work object is stored in electronic form is placed at a specific position on the pallet together with the work object. The work robot detects the information storage medium from the pallet flowing on the transport line, calculates its spatial position, and uses the manipulator hand to input and output information from the information storage medium based on the calculated result. The information input/output section reads the work information from the set information storage medium and sends it to the work robot, and the work robot performs the work on the work object according to the work information, and after the work is completed, the information input/output part reads the work information from the set information storage medium and sends it to the work robot. The information input/output section updates the work target, and after the update is completed, the manipulator hand takes the information storage medium from the information input/output section and returns it to a specific position on the pallet. method.