JPH0772962A - Virtual operation device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a virtual operation device (simulator)useful for learning operation to all the equipments arranged in a plant. CONSTITUTION:Data concerning all the producing equipments arranged in the plant is stored in an operation specification data base 12. An input device 14 displays the input device of same equipment based on information stored in the data base (e.g. the pendant of a robot). On the other hand, a display device 16 displays the output device of the equipment displayed on the input device (e.g. LED). At the time of pressing a switch, etc., displayed on the input device 14 from the surface of a picture, a computer 10 makes the display of the output device, which is displayed on the display device 16 based on storage information of the data base 12 display similarly to a real device.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a virtual operating device for facilitating the learning of FA operating devices such as programmable controllers and robots, regardless of differences in models or manufacturers.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Various robots and programmable controllers are arranged in a production factory, and these FA devices are in charge of respective processes. These F
As for the A-equipment, since each company supplies its own characteristic products, even the production factory selects and adjusts the most suitable product for the process and performs the respective operations.

[0003]

However, if the optimum one is selected and installed in this way, it will be satisfactory in terms of work, but in terms of operation or maintenance of the equipment, Such a problem occurs.

In other words, as a result of selecting the equipment most suitable for the work, equipment of various manufacturers is introduced, and even those of the same manufacturer have different functions (different grades). Due to the existence of a large number of workers, workers must learn how to operate a large number of devices, each of which has a different operation method, and those who perform maintenance also need to learn how to operate most devices in factory equipment. It is inevitable, and in order to acquire it, operation training using an actual machine is required.

In addition, it is necessary to prepare spare parts for the operation pendant for operating these devices for each model, which causes a problem of economical burden.

The present invention has been made to solve such a conventional problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a virtual operation device useful for learning operations for all devices.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION To achieve the above object, the present invention provides an operating equipment information storage means for storing information related to the operation of equipment installed in a factory, and the operating equipment information storage means. Based on the information stored in the input / output section, the input / output section display means for displaying the layout of the input / output section of the operating device and the control when the input section displayed on the input / output section display means are operated. Control content storage means for storing the control content of the equipment to be operated and the control content storage means when the input section of the operating device displayed on the input / output section display means is operated. Display means for displaying the operating status of the equipment on the output part of the input / output part display means based on the control content.

[0008]

The virtual operating device of the present invention thus constructed operates as follows.

The operating device information storage means is information relating to the operation of equipment installed in the factory, for example, image information such as the shape of a pendant or the arrangement of keys used when teaching a robot, or the like. The image information of the display unit such as a programmable controller is stored. The input / output unit display means displays the layout of the input / output unit of the operating device based on the image information as described above. The control content storage means stores the control content of the equipment controlled when the input unit displayed on the input / output display means is operated. When the input unit of the operating device displayed on the input / output unit display unit is operated, the display unit displays the operating status of the equipment based on the control content stored in the control content storage unit. It is displayed on the output section of the entry output section display means.

As a result, an operator or the like can learn the operation regardless of the actual machine.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the basic configuration of a virtual operating device according to the present invention.

The computer 10 is a central part of the operation of the apparatus of the present invention, and functions as an input / output display means and a display means. Further, the operation specification database 12 functions as an operation device information storage unit and a control content storage unit, and when the information on the layout of the input / output unit of various operation devices described below and the input device 14 described below are operated. It stores the control contents of the equipment controlled by. The input device 14 functions as a display unit and displays the input unit of the operating device as an image. The input device 14 is provided with a touch panel so that the displayed input section can be accessed with the touch panel. The display unit 16 functions as a display unit and displays the output unit of the operating device as an image.

The operation specification database 12 stores input section layout data as shown in FIG. 2, for example. This data is image data for displaying on the input device 14 a pendant that is actually used for operating a robot or the like. The computer 10 expands the data stored in the operation specification database 12 and causes the input device 14 to display an image as shown in FIG.

The operation specification database 12 also stores the input section meaning data as shown in FIG. This data indicates what function each switch portion of the pendant displayed on the input device 14 has. For example, with respect to the "jog" switch of the pendant displayed as shown in the figure, the assignment name is "JOG", the input type is push button, the contact type is A contact, and so on.

Based on the input section layout data and the input section meaning data, the computer can determine what the operation of the touch panel by the operator specifies.

Further, the operation specification database 12 stores output section layout data as shown in FIG. This data is displayed on the display 1 that is used to display the actual operating state of the robot.
6 is image data to be displayed on 6. The computer 10 expands the data stored in the operation specification database 12 and causes the display 16 to display an image as shown in FIG.

The operation specification database 12 also stores output section meaning data as shown in FIG. This data shows what specifications each display lamp of the display displayed on the display 16 has. For example,
The display displayed as shown is
The logical name is "DISPLAY", the output type is "LCD", the display specification is a character type of 12x5, and the display color is black.

Further, although the input / output condition definition data is also stored in the operation specification database 12, the input / output condition definition data is as shown in FIG. 6 and displayed on the input device 14. , For example, when the switch of "JOG" is operated, LED-A displayed on the display device 16 is turned on, and the display processing and control contents for the input operation are shown.

Although the input / output of the robot has been exemplified above, it is needless to say that information of production machines such as all types of robots and programmable controllers existing in the factory other than this is stored.

The operation specification database 12 stores the above-mentioned data, but these data are, of course, input by the operator when the device is manufactured.
Based on the above data, the computer 10 virtually operates the production machine as shown in the following flowchart.

First, the computer 10 takes out the input section layout data stored in the operation specification database 12 and displays it on the input device 14 (S).
1). Next, similarly, the output section layout data stored in the operation specification database 12 is taken out and displayed on the display 16 (S2). When the touch panel provided on the input device is operated with respect to the image displayed on the input device 14, the coordinates of the operated touch panel are recognized and the operation specifications as shown in FIG. With reference to the input meaning data in the database 12, the display color is output according to the contact condition (S3, S4). Next, the computer 10 searches the input / output condition definition data stored in the operation specification database 12 for the input corresponding to the touch panel, interprets the target of the display process name from the input / output condition definition data, The target display name is searched from the output meaning data. Then, the output meaning data is displayed on the display 16. For example, in the image shown in FIG. 2 displayed on the input device 4, when the push button marked “JOG” is pressed on the screen, this is recognized on the touch panel, and the input unit meaning data in this case is 3, "JOG" is selected as the allocation name, and the input / output condition definition data as shown in FIG. 6 is referred to. The input "JOG" is displayed on LED-A. The LED displayed on the display 16 is turned on in green with reference to the output meaning data. That is, when the "JOG" button displayed on the input device 14 is pressed, the LED displayed on the display device 16 is lit in green (S5 to S).
8).

Further, the computer 10 interprets the target control process name according to the input / output condition data and executes the target process. In the above example, as shown in FIG.
Since there is no control process, the target process does nothing, but
When "JOG" and "x" are operated at the same time, a process of jogging the x axis is performed. When this target process is executed, communication data relating to the control process is created (S9 to S).
10). When the creation of this communication data is completed (S1
1) S5 to S11 until this communication data is transferred to the target device and the search for the input condition definition data is completed.
Process step. When all searches are completed, S3
It returns to step 3 and waits for a new input (S12).

As described above, the apparatus of the present invention can be used as a simulator for an operation master of an arbitrary apparatus by inputting all the data relating to the operation of the production equipment arranged in the factory. In addition, the information about the operation input by this device can be output to the corresponding device through the communication line.
It can also be used as an operating device.

[0024]

As described above, according to the present invention, when the input section of the operating device displayed on the input / output section display section is operated, the control stored in the control content storage section is controlled. Since the operating status of the equipment is displayed on the output section of the input / output means based on the contents, it becomes possible to easily perform a simulation regarding the operation of all the input equipment.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a virtual operating device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of an image displayed on an input device according to input section layout data of the device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram provided for explaining input unit meaning data.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of an image displayed on a display according to output section layout data of the device of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining output unit meaning data.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of input / output condition definition data.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the device of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of the device of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 ... Computer 12 ... Operation specification database 14 ... Input device 16 ... Display device

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An operating device information storage means for storing information related to operation of equipment installed in a factory, and an operating device information storage device for storing the operating device information based on the information stored in the operating device information storage device. An input / output section display means for displaying a layout of the input / output section; a control content storage means for storing control content of equipment controlled when the input section displayed on the input / output section display means is operated; When the input unit of the operating device displayed on the input / output unit display unit is operated, the operation status of the equipment is determined based on the control content stored in the control content storage unit. A virtual operation device comprising: a display unit for displaying the output unit of the display unit.