JPH0442305A - Time limit operating device for programmable controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily set an operating time of a programmable controller PC by controlling the time limit operation through a computer device connected to the PC. CONSTITUTION:An FA monitor (computer device) 5 is provided with a CRT 2 and a keyboard 4 and connected to an I/O unit 1a of a PC 1 via a communication interface 5c. Then an operating time is set based on the input received from the keyboard 4, and the prescribed display is performed through the CRT 2. At the same time, the input/output operations are carried out between the monitor 5 and the PC 1 via the interface 5c. Then the input data are displayed on the CRT 2 as necessary. A time limit operating program is started at a set operating time. Thus a time limit operation is easily set.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a timed operation device that causes a programmable controller to perform a timed operation, such as starting a machine, at a predetermined time.

(Prior Art) A programmable controller (also referred to as a sequential controller. Hereinafter referred to as rPcJ).

) is a general-purpose sequential control device using a computer, and is used for controlling factory equipment, etc. Such PCs perform timed operations, such as automatically displaying the startup start setting input screen on the display at 9 a.m., the start time of work, and when the worker makes this setting, the machine starts. It would be convenient if it were like this.

Therefore, conventionally, as shown in Figure 5, PCI 110
CRT2 and switch input device 3 are connected to unit la, and this CRT2 is
By setting the relay output so that a predetermined screen is displayed and setting the display time, the timed operation as described above was realized.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) However, PCI is a computer device for controlling mechanical equipment, and it incorporates a sequential program such as a ladder program, and this system program executes control by scanning. For this reason, it was necessary to set the time for performing the above timed operation on this sequential program. Therefore, in the past, there was a problem in that it was not easy to set or change the operation time, and only an operator who was familiar with sequential programs could do it. Further, since it is necessary to connect the switch input device 3 to the I10 unit 1a by the number of switches used, the number of wires increases as the number of switches increases. Therefore, conventionally, I1
The wiring of the 0 unit 1a becomes complicated, and this complicated wiring also causes the problem that the switch input device 3 must be installed right next to the PCI to perform setting work.

In view of the above-mentioned circumstances, the present invention makes it easy to set the operation time by controlling the timed operation using a computer device connected to a PC, and also enables a worker to remotely perform setting operations during the timed operation. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a timed operation device for a programmable controller.

(Means for Solving the Problems) A timed operation device for a programmable controller according to the present invention is provided with a display and a keyboard, and sets an operation time based on input from the keyboard to a computer device connected to the programmable controller via an interface. a time setting means for setting; a timed operation program that displays a predetermined display on the display, performs input/output with the programmable controller via the interface, and displays input data on the display as necessary; A timed operation means is provided for activating the timed operation program at the operation time set by the time setting means, thereby achieving the above object.

(Function) With the above configuration, when the operation time comes, the timed operation means starts the timed operation program and causes the display to perform a predetermined display. At this time, the timed operation program can prompt the operator to input from the keyboard in an interactive manner, for example, and output the input to the PC via the interface, thereby allowing the operator to perform various setting operations. It is also possible to input various data from a PC and display this data on the display. Here, the timed operation means can be configured by, for example, a timer device that measures time and a control program that starts the timed operation program. When the time measured by the timer device reaches the operation time, the control program starts the timed operation program. In this case, the control program may be one that constantly monitors the time measured by the timer device and starts a timed operation program when the time reaches the operating time, or one that is activated by an interrupt from the timer device. good.

The above operation time is set by the time setting means based on input from the keyboard. At this time, if a message for prompting input is displayed on the display, the operator can make the settings in an interactive manner. The operation time data input from the keyboard is changed into a predetermined format and stored in a memory so that it can be referred to, for example, by a control program for the timed operation means. Further, if the timer device itself holds data on this operating time, the data is written directly into the timer device via an input/output means.

As a result, even a person other than an operator familiar with sequential programs can easily set or change the time of a timed operation.

Furthermore, since input/output to/from the PC is via a computer device, wiring can be reduced by encoding data and performing serial communication.

(Example) The invention will now be described with reference to examples.

As shown in FIG.
It is composed of an FA monitor 5 equipped with a T2 and a keyboard 4. The FA monitor 5 is a computer device 6 using a microcomputer, and is adapted to the environment within the factory. C
RT2 is a display that displays data and messages from this FA monitor 5, and keyboard 4 is an input device having a large number of keys for inputting to this FA monitor 5. Further, the FA monitor 5 has a built-in timer device 5a having a clock function. Further, the storage device 5b of the FA monitor 5 stores a system program as well as an operation time setting program, a timed operation control program, and a timed operation program that operate on this system program.

The FA monitor 5 is connected to the PCI I10 unit 1a via a communication interface 5C. PC
I is a general-purpose sequential control device in which this (1) 10 unit 1a and various other units are connected to a CPU unit 1b, and is connected to a manufacturing machine (not shown) to control it.

First, the operation of the operation time setting program stored in the storage device 5b of the FA monitor 5 will be explained based on FIG. 2(A). Note that this operation time setting program can be called up at any time by an operator's operation. This operation time setting program first displays a message prompting input of the operation time on the CRT 2, and accepts the input of the operation time (step Sl). Then, the operator uses the keyboard 4 to indicate, for example, 5:30 p.m. as shown in FIG. 3(a).
When you enter the minute time, the data for this time is stored in the storage device 5.
The data is stored in a predetermined area of b (step S2). When the storage of the operation time is completed, a message prompting the input of title characters is displayed on the CRT 2, and the input of the title characters is accepted (step S3). When the operator inputs title characters using the keyboard 4, for example, as shown in FIG.
In step S4), the process ends. The system program of the FA monitor 5 has a function of converting input in Roman characters into kana and kanji, so that Japanese characters can be input from the keyboard 4.

Next, the operation of the timed operation control program will be explained based on FIG. 2 (b). Note that this time-limited operation control program is constantly running on the FA monitor 5 by interrupt processing or time sharing using an appropriate method, or by other means.

This timed operation control program first starts with the timer device 5a.
The measured time is read (step 511), and the operation time set by the operation time setting program is referred to and compared with this measured time (step 512). If the measured time does not reach the operating time, the process returns to step Sll and repeats this process. Further, when the measured time reaches the operation time, a timed operation program is started by the system program of the FA monitor 5 (step 513). Note that if necessary thereafter, the time-limited operation control program may continue to monitor other set operation times.

The operation of the timed operation program started by the above-mentioned timed operation control program will be explained based on FIG. 2()\). This timed operation program first displays the title characters set by the operation time setting program on the CRT 2 (step 521). Then, the data stored in the predetermined address of the PCI is transferred to the communication interface 5.
C through communication processing (step S22)
, this data is displayed on the CRT 2 following the title characters (step 523), and the process ends.

For example, if a timed operation program is designed to read out the cumulative production quantity of the manufacturing machine for the day from the PCI, as a result of the operation of each of the above programs, at 5:30 p.m., the CRT 2 of the FA monitor 5 The work results for the day as shown in FIG. 4 will be displayed. In addition, if the timed operation program is a program that sets the start-up of the manufacturing machine and the operation time is set to 9 a.m., an input prompt message will be automatically displayed on the CRT2 screen at the start time of the morning work, and the operator will Setting input allows the PCI to start the manufacturing machine according to the settings.

110- As explained above, according to the timed operation device of this embodiment, anyone can easily set or change the time of the timed operation according to the input prompting message displayed on the CRT 2. Furthermore, since it is only necessary to connect the PCI and the FA monitor 5 via a communication line, it becomes possible to view the display on the CRT 2 and perform input operations from the keyboard 4 at a location away from the PCI.

(Effects of the Invention) As is clear from the above description, the timed operation device for a programmable controller of the present invention can easily set and change the timed operation, and moreover, By reducing the number of devices, remote control becomes possible.

4. Figures 1 to 4 show an embodiment of the present invention, in which Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a timed operation device of a programmable controller, and Figure 2 (Illustrated) shows an embodiment of the present invention. ) is a flowchart showing the operation of the operation time setting program;
is a flowchart showing the operation of the timed operation control program, FIG. 3(c) is a flowchart showing the operation of the timed operation program, FIG. 1 shows a display screen on a CRT, and FIG. 5 shows a conventional example, and is a block diagram of a programmable controller that performs timed operations.

1...PC, la...■10 units (interface), 2...CRT (display), 4...
・Keyboard, 5...FA monitor (computer device), 5a...timer device (timed operation means), 5C...
・Communication interface (interface).

that's all

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A computer device equipped with a display and a keyboard and connected to a programmable controller via an interface; a time setting means for setting an operating time based on input from the keyboard; and a time setting means for displaying a predetermined display on the display, A timed operation program that performs input/output with the programmable controller via the programmable controller and displays input data on the display as necessary, and starts the timed operation program at the operation time set by the time setting means. A timed operation device for a programmable controller, which is provided with a timed operation means.