JPH04199305A - Production control system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable repair without fail while supplying necessary repair information when a processing out of a management range in any stage is executed by supplying information supplied from a sensor detecting the state of processing executed in a control means of each stage to a host control means controlling each control means. CONSTITUTION:The control means of each stage supplies information supplied from the sensor detecting the state of processing to be executed of each stage to the host control means controlling each control means. For example, the output data from the sensor which detects the operation results of each automatic device 25 is supplied to a general board 29 as a host control means against each automatic device 25, then to a repair management part 46 and to a repair stage 47. The general board 29 compares the supplied operation state information with reference data, discriminate the necessity of repair, and, when the necessity is acknowledged, it transmits repair instruction data and data to identify corresponding object to be worked to the repair control part 46. Thus, the occurrence of abnormality in any object to be worked can be properly notified, and the most appropriate repair can be rapidly selected according to the content of abnormality.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field]

The present invention can be applied to automatic production lines such as automatic assembly lines for automobiles, etc., to improve the reliability of each process, and to easily repair any defects in processing. This is related to the production management system.

[Conventional technology]

Generally, on an automobile assembly line, a wide variety of automobiles with different types, derived models, and specifications are produced on the same line. On such an assembly line, it is necessary to perform the appropriate type of processing for the automobile (workpiece) in each of the various processing steps. , ID plates are attached to conveyance means such as pallets that convey workpieces along the line. In other words, this ID plate records information (number) for identifying the workpiece, and data (operation factor data) related to the processing content according to the car model, derivative type, ob/yon specification, etc. These data are read from the ID plate in each processing step, and the read data causes the automatic machine in that step to perform an operation based on a corresponding operation program.

[Invention or problem to be solved] For example, the self-VhR used in the above process operates the robot along a predetermined trajectory according to the operation program corresponding to the operation factor code, and also performs various tasks supported by these robots. The tool is configured to perform processing while setting the necessary work results. Consider, for example, a wrench for tightening bolts and bolts as a work tool attached to the robot mentioned above.In order to guarantee the quality of automobiles, the tightening torque as a result of work must be kept within a predetermined control range. What is required to be maintained? Furthermore, when considering a welding machine as a work tool, it is necessary to maintain the welding current as a work result within a predetermined range, and when considering a paint machine, it is necessary to maintain the welding current as a work result within a predetermined range. What is needed to maintain within range? Therefore, in conventional production line management systems, the above-mentioned work results are displayed on a monitor, etc., and this display is visually checked by the worker to monitor the work results. If this occurs, it is necessary to remove the affected workpiece from the line and perform repair work. However, there is a problem in that the order of the workpieces on the line is disturbed when the workpieces are removed for the repair work or when the workpieces are put in after the repair is completed. In addition, in a situation where workpieces are continuously fed into a large number of automatic machines, it is necessary to accurately understand which workpiece has an abnormality, and to carry out appropriate repairs depending on the nature of the abnormality. There is a problem in that it is difficult to quickly select a process. The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to appropriately manage the work results of a working tool. [Means to solve the problem]

: To achieve the goal of footfall. The invention according to claim 1 provides a method for sequentially performing predetermined processing on the workpiece by controlling a plurality of processes arranged along the movement direction of the workpiece by control means provided for each process. In an automatic line configured to perform
The apparatus is configured to supply information supplied from a sensor that detects the status of the process executed in the process to a higher-level control means that controls each control means. The invention according to claim 2 provides a plurality of steps arranged along the moving direction of the workpiece,
In an automatic line in which the workpiece is sequentially subjected to predetermined processing by being controlled by a control means for each process based on data written in an information storage means that moves together with the workpiece. Each of the steps is provided with a sensor for detecting the status of the process executed in the step, and a writing device for writing information detected by the sensor into the information storage device. The invention as set forth in claim 3 is the invention as set forth in claim 1, wherein, on the downstream side of the plurality of steps, necessary repair processing is performed on the workpiece based on the information supplied from the binary control means. The structure is such that a repair process is provided. The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 2, further comprising a repair step downstream of the plurality of steps for performing repair processing on a necessary workpiece based on the information written in the information storage means. It is configured so that it is provided.

[Effect]

With the above configuration, the necessity of repair is determined based on whether the content of the processing performed in each process differs from the reference value, and the result of this determination is sent to the upper control means or via the information storage means. By sending it to the repair process and selecting bare processing as necessary, it is possible to carry out appropriate bare processing.

【Example】

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, the flow of automobiles, which are workpieces, in a production line to which the present invention is applied will be explained with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a part of an automobile production line to which the present invention is applied. In this figure, numeral 1 is a housing, and numerals 2 to 9 are processing stations that each carry out a predetermined process, such as window installation, door bar installation, etc., respectively. Further, when the processing at the processing station 9 is completed, the casing moves to the next line. Each of the processing stations 2 to 9 is equipped with an automatic machine 11, which performs predetermined processing on bodies moving along the line. In addition, the second
In the figure, some automatic machines are omitted for the sake of simplification. Further, in the line shown in FIG. 2, each body is placed on an automatic transport vehicle 12, and the automatic transport vehicle 12 moves the housing 1 along the line. However, when the processing at the processing station 9 of the line shown in the figure is completed, the automatic transport vehicle 12 and the cassettes are separated, and only the automatic transport vehicle 12 is moved to the input section 15 (as indicated by the broken line in FIG. 2). In this way, the automatic transport vehicle 12 circulates along the line shown in FIG. 2. In the input section 15, the processing in the previous process line or the empty automatic transport cart X2 is carried out.
It is now being transferred to. Further, an ID plate 20 is provided at the center of the side surface of the automatic transport vehicle 12. This ID plate 20 is
Various information is written by microwaves generated from the antenna, and the written information can be read out via the antenna. Further, the ID plate attached to the barrel l/l- has a structure as shown in FIG. 3. That is, the ID plate 20 includes the number n of the car that is the object to be processed that is mounted on the valet to which the ID plate 20 is attached, and an operation factor code Cn that indicates the details of the process to be performed in each process for this number n. or the n−+−ith (in the example case = i
Storage areas 20a to 20d are provided for electrically recording information about the automobiles up to 3). Next, the overall configuration of the production management system controlled by the ID brake +-20 will be explained with reference to FIG. Reference numeral 21 is a host computer, and the host computer 21 sends a processing object (car) 1 with a certain number n.
When body information Db indicating a specific car model, derived type, and open model specification is output, the control contents of each automatic machine (the contents of processing performed in each process) are operated in accordance with this body information Db. A factor code Cn is output from the device verification terminal 22, and this operating factor code Cn is written on the ID plate 20 together with the number data n by the antenna 23 as a writing/reading means. This ID plate 20 is the target car number 11.
The number data n and the operation are recorded by an antenna 26 as a writing/reading means attached to the automatic machine 25 of each process. The cause code Cn can be read. and,
Each automatic I! by the factor food Cn read by the reading means 26! By controlling 25, the corresponding car 1
The process corresponding to the operation factor code Cn is executed. Note that if it is necessary to transfer the workpiece from one automatic conveyance cart 12 to another pallet 12 due to layout conditions such as when the line spans multiple levels, this transfer Accordingly, the reading means 26 is made to read the data once, and
The data is supplied to the writing means 23 via the transfer control unit 27, and the 1. By writing on the D plate, the corresponding data is moved together with the automatic transport vehicle 12. Note that if the automatic transport vehicle 12 is empty, that is, if the workpiece is removed from the automatic transport vehicle 12 due to some reason such as detection of a defect, data indicating this is written by a writing device owned by a line worker. is written on the ID plate of the automatic transport vehicle 12, or the operation factor code Cn for the automatic transport vehicle 12 is erased. Furthermore, the automatic machines 25 are connected to a controller 28 in units of multiple units or individually, and are further connected to the overall panel 29 via this controller 28 to transmit data regarding the work status to these. It is designed to be output. That is, this data is supplied to the overall panel 29 provided for each of the multiple automatic machines, and the work status (
What number of cars has been worked on, or
(time required for the work, etc.) is aggregated by the overall panel 29 and supplied to other terminals connected to the LAN. Further, the controller 28 controls the reading means 26 to read information from the ID plate, and based on the read information, the automatic machine 28 under control reads the information from the ID plate.
The contents of the cutting work to be carried out by 5 are specified. In this embodiment, the entire board 29 of each line is connected to a local network (LAN) via a data manager 30, and this
The configuration of this network will be described later. Furthermore, in addition to the above-mentioned terminals, terminals such as a collation backup terminal 40, a file manager 41, and an office terminal 42 are connected to the LAN. The verification bar and Quanobu terminal 40 have exactly the same configuration and functions as the model verification terminal 22, and perform the same data communication with the Nast computer 21 and with each terminal connected to the network. I'm doing it. This is model verification terminal 2
This is to enable immediate replacement in case 2 goes down for some reason. The file manager 41 reads various information flowing through the network (for example, equipment operation information, etc.) and files it, and periodically monitors whether each terminal is operating normally. The office terminal 42 divides the entire line into several blocks and monitors whether each block is in an operating state. It also issues a command to start or stop the line. The operating state monitor in the office terminal 42 displays, for example, the line layout on a CRT display device, and also indicates by color whether each block is in an automatic operation state, a manual operation state, or an end state. In this case, since the automatic machine 25 can recognize its own operating state, it sends information indicating this to the overall panel 29 and data manager 30.
The file manager 41 displays the above-mentioned colors based on the information. In addition, a file manager 41 and an office terminal 42
has the same function as the data manager 30, and becomes a substitute when the data manager 30 goes down. On the other hand, during normal operation, each terminal extracts and captures only the information necessary for its own operation. Further, the data manager 30, file manager 41, and office terminal 42 store each entry number and its corresponding ID information as a set. If the information on the ID plate 20 is lost for some reason, it can be restored according to the respective stored contents. Furthermore, if the ID information stored in the data manager 30 is destroyed for some reason, recovery processing can be performed using the ID information stored in the file manager 41 or office terminal 42. . Furthermore, the LAN is provided with a repair management unit 46, which collects data regarding the work results supplied from the general board 29 for each input number for each work. For example, the data on tightening torque, liquid injection amount, etc. supplied from each automatic machine 25 is checked against the respective reference data in the overall control panel (or controller) (to determine whether it is within the control range or not). data regarding the work result as a result of this verification is supplied to the repair management section 46 together with the input data. If the data related to the work result indicates that the data is abnormal (outside the management range), the repair management unit 46 notifies the data to that effect and takes steps to repair it according to the content of the abnormality. If necessary, information about the content of bare processing is supplied to the bare process 47 together with the input number. In addition, the removal process 47 is performed by an automatic machine 2 located upstream from this stage.
5, and has the same function as at least one of the automatic machines 25 located on the upstream side, for example, N. It consists of an automatic machine with functions such as tightening parts and injecting liquid, or it is equipped with a worker who performs the above processing, a display device that informs the worker of the contents of the repair work, a repair part, and a removal tool for the worker. It consists of a human process consisting of automatic supply means etc. Note that the revere process does not necessarily have to be installed at the most downstream part of the line, but can be installed midway along the line (at least downstream of the automatic machine that is subject to re-pair processing), and can be installed at any point upstream from this point. Of course, any device that can perform processing equivalent to that of an automatic machine will suffice. Next, the operation of this embodiment according to configuration 1 will be explained. First, body information is sequentially output from the host computer 21 according to the production plan. This body information is converted into an operating factor code at the model verification terminal 22 according to a text file. Then, at the first loading section of the process, the operating factor code is written on the ID plate 20 of the corresponding body, and from then on, each automatic machine
Automatic processing is carried out by reading the operating factors in the hood. For example, in the automatic machine R of the processing section 2, the window installation shown in FIG. The window is selected, moved, and installed according to the factor hood.This process is probably the same in other processing units.In this case, the operation factor code is formed corresponding to each model, so there is no need to worry about different models on the line. Even if they are mixed, each automatic machine 2
5 can perform corresponding processing. Further, since the operation factor foot is a code that only determines the basic operation of each automatic machine, the combination thereof can be changed as appropriate, and the degree of freedom of the automatic machine is large. Therefore, even if a major model change occurs, by rewriting the text file in the model verification terminal 22 accordingly, an operation factor code corresponding to the change will be created, so each automatic machine can respond immediately. be able to. Next, the contents of the repair management process will be explained with reference to FIG. Each automatic machine 25 is provided with a sensor (path shown) that detects its operation result (operation status). The data output from this sensor regarding the operation results of the automatic machine (for example, the torque for tightening, the appropriateness of the liquid injection amount) is the information about the workpiece read from the ID plate (
At least, the input number as identification data that can identify the workpiece is supplied to the whole board 29, and further, from this whole board 29, it is once supplied to the bear management section 46 via the LAN. , this repair management section 46
It is supplied to the repair process 47 via . Note that the repair information and identification data are stored in the repair process 47.
It may also be sent directly to. That is, the overall board 29 as a control means located at a higher level with respect to each automatic machine 25 controls the automatic machine 25 ( or its control means), and after waiting for this request (step 1), data regarding the operation results is input to the overall panel 29 (step 2).
). The overall board 29 compares the supplied operating status information with reference data for each process (step 3).
, based on this, determine whether repair is necessary or not (Step 4)
If it is not necessary, return to step 1 and wait for operation status information about the next workpiece to be input. If it is determined that repair is necessary, data instructing that repair is to be performed and data identifying the relevant workpiece are sent to the repair management section 46 via the LAN (step 5). , stored (step 6). and,
The information stored in the repair management section 46 is supplied to the repair process 47 together with information for identifying the workpiece. Note that information about the identification data and bear instruction information for the workpiece for which repair has been instructed is sent to the LAN.
It may also be supplied to other terminals connected to the . Furthermore, what kind of repair instruction has been given to what workpiece is recorded in the repair management section 46 itself or by another device that receives information from the repair management section 46.
Saved. Next, the contents of the processing in the repair process will be explained with reference to FIG. The control means (shown in the diagram) provided in the repair process waits for the repair instruction information to be input together with the identification data from the repair management section 46 (step 10), and when this is input, it stores the information ( Step 11). Next, the repair process 47 waits for the workpiece with the corresponding identification data to arrive (step 1.2), and performs a predetermined process on the arrived workpiece based on the pre-fertilization pair instruction information. Perform processing (Step 13). Specifically, this process involves instructing the automatic machine 25 installed in the repair process to perform a predetermined operation, or by providing some display means (
This is done by displaying the work details on an electrical display means such as an EL display or a CR7 display, or a document on which the details of the corresponding bare processing are printed. It goes without saying that the repair instruction may be supplied to a process that supplies necessary tools, parts, etc. to the repair process 47 depending on the content of the repair instruction. Then, wait until the repair is completed (step 1).
4) Completion of the repair is determined by the completion of the reproduction of the predetermined ride bearing operation program in the automatic machine 25 set in the repair process, or by an artificial operation by the worker in the repair process 47 (instruction that the repair is completed). It is recognized by the computer in the repair process by the switch operation). When the repair is completed, information indicating that the repair has been completed is output to the repair management section 46 via the LAN (step 15). In the above embodiment, the repair information is managed by the pair management unit 46 connected to the LAN, but the process that should be executed by the repair management unit is configured to be executed by another computer connected to the LAN. Of course you can. If each device that performs repair processing in the production line management system is analyzed by function, it can be expressed as shown in FIG. That is, in the A process to C process 51 to 53 in the execution line, sensors 5 are installed to detect the status of the processing performed in each process.
4 to 56 are provided, and these sensors 54 to 56
The detected data is supplied to the beam pair discrimination section 57. This repair determination section 57 is generally an overall panel that controls multiple automatic machines on a production line.
It may also be a higher-level control means such as another overall panel or a personal computer connected via an AN. On the other hand, the standard data storage unit 58 attached to the revere determining unit 57 stores standard data regarding the processing status in each process.
This reference data and the detected data are compared by the bear discrimination section 57. In addition, the repair determination unit 5
7 compares the detection data supplied from the sensor with reference data to determine whether or not repair is necessary. Furthermore, the repair instruction storage unit 59 stores information on the contents of the detected abnormality and bare processing, such as menus for instructing the repair processing to be executed, and operating programs for automatic machines that are most suitable for the repair processing. Repair instruction information representing the repair instruction information is stored, and this repair instruction information is
It is selected and output based on the determination result of step 7. The bare instruction information output in this way is sent to the automatic machine 60 that executes the repair process, or the display 61 that displays a message instructing the contents of the repair process.
It is supplied to a repair process 62 consisting of, and subjected to predetermined glue bear processing. Furthermore, the result of the repair in the repair process 62 is determined by the repair completion determination means (automatic machine 6
The repair information is determined by a sensor (33, or a switch 64 for notifying completion provided at the manual process) provided at the repair information storage section 65, and stored in the repair information storage section 65. Note that the repair process 65 does not necessarily need to be provided separately from the normal production line; for example, if an abnormal process occurs in process A, the repair process 65 is not necessarily provided separately from the normal production line.
It is also possible to display the contents of the Nice Play Glue Bear process provided in the C process, or to operate one of the automatic machines provided in the C process. In other words, the repair process may be performed in one of the processes constituting the normal production line. Nao, in the above embodiment, the judgment result as to whether or not repair is necessary for the entire board is supplied to the repair unit along with the identification data of the workpiece via the upper control means. The provided antenna may be used to immediately write the determination result as to whether or not repair is necessary on the corresponding ID plate. And as above the ID
If the necessity of repair is written in the play [., it is possible to determine whether repair is necessary or not by reading the information of the +D plate in the repair process, and perform bare processing if necessary. [Effects of the Invention] As is clear from the above explanation, the present invention detects the status of processing executed by various devices that make up an automatic line, compares the detection results with reference data, and determines the need for repair. Depending on the result of this judgment, bare processing is selected as necessary, and information for executing this repair processing is supplied to the repair process along with identification data about the workpiece. If processing outside the control range is performed in a process, bare information can be supplied to the repair process if necessary, and the workpiece can be reliably repaired when it arrives at the repair process. play.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The 11th side is the fruit of the present invention, the sub-row is ・Bamboo r t: + v, and Figure 1 is %a lie, ・'nrei~', pa] up, -
0. Figure 2 is a block diagram of the production line management/stem, Figure 3 is the ID Brake! FIG. 4 is a flowchart of beam bear discrimination processing; FIG. 5 is a flowchart of beam bear execution processing; and FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram of the system. 1 Workpiece, 25 ・Automatic machine, 46 Repair management department, 47 , Repair process, 51-53・Works-, 5
4-56 Sensor, 57. Repair determination section, 58.-
Reference data storage unit, 59--IJ bare instruction storage unit, 6
〇 -Automatic machine, 61- Display, 62--Repair process,
63...sensor, 64...switch, 65...
Repair information storage unit. Applicant Honda Motor Co., Ltd. Figure 4 Figure 6

Claims (4)

[Claims] (1) A plurality of processes arranged along the moving direction of the workpiece are controlled by control means provided for each process, so that the workpiece is sequentially subjected to predetermined processing. In the automatic line, the control means for each process supplies information supplied from a sensor that detects the status of the process executed in the process to a higher-level control means that controls each control means. production management system. (2) By having the control means for each process control a plurality of processes arranged along the moving direction of the workpiece based on data written in an information storage means that moves together with the workpiece. , in an automatic line that sequentially performs predetermined processing on the workpiece, each of the steps includes a sensor that detects the status of the processing performed in the step, and the information detected by the sensor is transmitted to the 1. A production management system comprising a writing means for writing into an information storage means. (3) A repair process is provided on the downstream side of the plurality of processes for performing repair processing on necessary workpieces based on information supplied from the higher-level control means. production management system. (4) A repair process is provided downstream of the plurality of processes to perform repair processing on a necessary workpiece based on the information written in the information storage means.
Production control system described.