JPH08175631A - Designating method for operation information in automatic warehouse - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a method by which operation information can be visually handled by means of a simple constitution when the operation information related to storage/delivery and stock parts are designated while the storage/ delivery and the stock parts in an automatic warehouse are controlled. CONSTITUTION: The specific partial area on a display screen is designated so as to be inputted, and in response to the designated input, an address value for operation information is computed so as to be sent out, and then, this address value is introduced for access to the previously stored operation information, and consequently, the specified operation information is gained. Alternatively, instead of computing the address value, the specified input is converted into the address value initially set in advance so as to be sent out. In addition, the operation information represents a conveying condition, in which stored/ delivery parts in a conveying installation are conveyed, or a stock condition, in which stock parts in a warehouse installation are controlled.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention manages entry / exit and inventory parts of an automatic warehouse in a factory, and at the same time, designates operation information in the automated warehouse for designating operation information on the entry / exit and inventory parts, and more particularly, The present invention relates to a method of designating operational information that allows visual handling of operational information with a simple configuration.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in an automatic warehouse for constant number management, a predetermined number of various production parts required for assembling a vehicle in a production factory are in stock and immediately supplied to a production line at a required time. When arranging various types of production parts in a variety of ways and moving them in and out continuously, the production parts are automatically transported and stored in an appropriate empty shelf, and the desired production parts are automatically taken out. , It is important that they can be transported and delivered again. In addition, the production parts that need to be in stock to assemble a vehicle range from minute ones to large ones such as bumpers, and their specifications reflect the recent expansion of demand, and are multi-models including RVs and subtle. There are paint colors that are favored in color shades and those that can be classified into a wide variety of destinations worldwide that have various safety standards in each country. Furthermore, it is also important for the operator to sequentially instruct the transfer status related to loading and unloading, and to operate the warehouse equipment in conjunction with it, and various methods for instructing the transfer status in the automated warehouse have been proposed for these purposes. ing.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view for explaining a general automatic warehouse system which manages stock status while controlling conventional warehouse equipment. In FIG. 3, the automatic warehouse system is a warehouse facility 1 for ...
1 and a transfer facility 2 that transfers production parts for loading and unloading
a, 2b, warehouse equipment 1, ... 1, and transportation equipment 2a, 2
The control equipment 3 which controls operation of b is provided. The transfer facilities 2a and 2b are provided with a storage facility 2a for entering the warehouse on the upper floor and a delivery facility 2b for discharging the warehouse on the lower floor.
Each production part is placed on a pallet that is a pedestal,
While being loaded from the loading port 2c of the loading facility 2a and stored at any position of the designated warehouse facility 1, ... 1,
It is adapted to be taken out from another designated position and carried out to the delivery port 2d of the delivery facility 2b. In addition, 4 is a lift facility for connecting the outlet 2d and the inlet 2c.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view for concretely explaining the warehouse facility in FIG. In FIG. 4, the warehouse facility 1 is
It has an automatic carrier 11 for transporting production parts, and a large number of parts shelves 12 for supporting and stocking production parts.
・ 12 banks are arranged vertically and horizontally to form one bank.
For example, the bay 1a (arrow) which is a horizontal position and the level 1b (arrow) which is a vertical position are set, and a specific parts shelf 12a is selected to store production parts. The automated guided vehicle 11 places the production parts on the pallet 13 and guides the guidance control device 14 to guide the pallets from the loading and unloading facilities 2a and 2b to a predetermined bay (arrow) 1a along the traveling path 15. 13 is conveyed and lifted up to the component shelf 12a designated by an elevator (not shown) to be stored.

FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram schematically illustrating control of the automatic warehouse in FIG. In FIG.
The automatic warehouse is controlled by a sequence control unit 35 that controls the overall sequence of the warehouse equipment, and storage / receipt equipment 2a, 2b.
And a transfer control unit 32 for controlling the storage and instructing devices 36a, 36b for instructing warehouse management while monitoring inventory and inventory.
36c and the guidance control device 14 described above. The sequence control device 35 includes an input / output interface 35a that receives an instruction of a loading / unloading operation from a plurality of second instruction devices 36a, 36b, 36c and notifies the control status of the automated warehouse, and a support system (not shown) that supports the automated warehouse. Communication interface 35b for receiving the requested information and for providing the requested information, and controlling the warehouse equipment by recognizing the state of the automatic warehouse, and the input / output and communication interfaces 35a, 35b as a common memory for exchanging information. And a management unit 35c that comprehensively manages via the.

Therefore, it becomes possible to control the loading and unloading facilities 2a, 2b via the transport control unit 32 and guide the automatic guided vehicles 11, ... 11 via the guidance control device 14. There is. The common memory has a specification array in which the specification information of storage / delivery and inventory parts is arranged, and each parts shelf 12,
.. Stores the stock status, which is information on the current status of inventory in 12, and the transport status, which is information on the current status of transportation in the storage / delivery equipment. Specifically, it is realized by a known sequence controller, sequencer or the like, but any other means may be used as long as it has a programmable control unit.

The indicating devices 36a, 36b, 36c are connected to the management section 31c via the input / output interface 31a, and display the specifications of the production parts and the graphic concerning the control state of the automatic warehouse on the screen in a preset manner. Then, a specific position and management work in the automatic warehouse are input to the sequence control device, and the operator confirms the control state and gives an instruction for the operation related to the loading / unloading of the production parts by pressing a graphic. It is operated by automated warehouse management software that controls inventory by monitoring the sequence control of loading and unloading and instructing loading and unloading.

One of the pointing devices 36a, 36b, 36c
The platform is the above-mentioned entrance 2c, the other one is the exit 2d,
The remaining one is placed as a comprehensive monitor for the inventory status and as a standby machine, so that it is possible to independently enter and exit instructions and register specification information. In this case, either one or two units may be installed, and four or more units may be added for the purpose of adjoining.
Specifically, it is realized by a well-known touch panel or touch screen having a CRT or LCD display, in which a plurality of screens are initialized and an arbitrary figure is designed and assigned to a specific portion of this figure. It is designed to detect that the operator has pressed each divided area and form and send an instruction command corresponding to this divided area. Anything that can be instructed to the automated warehouse system by touching a part of

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing a general procedure for controlling the automatic warehouse in FIG. In FIG. 6, the control of the automatic warehouse performs a management item setting step S1 in which various management items are classified by the instruction devices 36a, 36b, and 36c and preset in the management unit 35c, and an operation instruction regarding the operation of the automatic warehouse. An instruction step S2 for warehouse operation, a control step S3 for a sequence in which the management unit 35c controls a sequence related to management items according to a storage / receipt instruction, and a management item for the management unit 35c to update management items based on the result of sequence control. It comprises an updating step S4, and inventory control is performed while operating the mechanical section of the automatic warehouse.

The warehouse operation instruction step S2 is a step S21 of forming an operation instruction for displaying specific operation contents on the instruction devices 36a, 36b, 36c to form an arbitrary operation instruction by an operator, and the formed operation instruction. Is performed by the input / output interface 31a, and an operator can instruct any operation in the automated warehouse. The management items are information indicating specifications regarding the form of the production parts, and the parts shelves 12, ... 1
It includes shelf data indicating the stock status in 2.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart for explaining the steps of instructing the warehouse operation in FIG. 6, FIG. 7 (a) shows the process of forming the operation instruction, and FIG. 7 (b) shows the process of performing the operation instruction. It is shown. In FIG. 7A, in the operation instruction forming step S21, a specific operation content is introduced from the input / output interface 31a, and the operation content is displayed on the screens of the instruction devices 36a, 36b, and 36c. Display step S211 and key code generation step S212 for generating a key code fixedly assigned to the key pressed by the operator on the displayed operation content screen.
And a key code sending step S213 for sending the key code to the input / output interface 31a. The operator arbitrarily performs steps S211, S212, S213 of displaying the operation contents, generating the key code, and sending the key code. The operation instructions can be repeatedly formed.

In FIG. 7B, an operation instruction performing step S22 includes an operation information address forming step S221 in which the above-mentioned key code is introduced to form an address value in which operation information concerning new operation contents is stored. , The corresponding operation information is acquired from the address value, and the instruction device 36
The acquisition and transfer step S222 of operation information to be transferred to a, 36b, and 36c. The key code mentioned above is a simple number consisting of numerical values or letters that indicate the order of each key continuously arranged on the screen of the operation content, and the number of digits is minimized to prevent visual confusion by the operator. It is designed to assign a limited number of numbers. Therefore, the operation content cannot be acquired with the key code as it is, and in the operation of the operation content, the attribute preset according to the key is identified by the key code, and then the address based on this attribute is identified. -Calculation is performed using the offset value to obtain the address value for acquisition.

[0013]

However, by using the above-mentioned conventional method of instructing the transportation state in the automatic warehouse, various specification items included in the entering / outgoing parts or the stocked parts are key-inputted to instruct the entering / outgoing of goods. Also, there were the following problems when trying to manage inventory. (1) Since the operation control device forms the address value in the sequence control device, the effective processing speed of the entire sequence control is reduced by that amount. (2) Further, since the formation of this address value requires a complicated process, a large amount of the program occupies the software and the control memory of the sequence controller occupies a large storage area. (3) Furthermore, since the program amount is large, management is troublesome when software maintenance or specification changes in the future,
It also caused the mistake of design change. As described above, due to the problems (1) to (3), the visual automatic warehouse cannot be sufficiently managed with a simple software configuration. In view of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention manages entry / exit and inventory parts of an automated warehouse in a factory, and at the time of designating operation information about the entry / exit and inventory parts, the operation information can be visually visualized by a simple configuration. It is an object to provide a method of designating operation information in an automated warehouse that can be handled by

[0014]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention has the following means. (1) When managing the inventory of stocked parts in the warehouse equipment while monitoring the transportation of incoming and outgoing parts in the automated warehouse's transfer equipment, a plurality of operational information regarding this transportation and inventory is stored in advance, and specific operational information is stored. In the operation information specifying method in the automatic warehouse, specify the specific partial area on the display screen, calculate the address value of the operation information corresponding to this specified input, and calculate the address value to send. Operation information in an automated warehouse characterized by providing a step, accessing the operation information stored by introducing the sent address value, and obtaining an operation information acquisition step of acquiring specific operation information How to specify. (2) An address value conversion step is provided in place of the address value calculation step, and in this address value conversion step, the designated input is converted and transmitted to an address value which is initialized in advance. The method for designating operation information in an automated warehouse as set forth in (1) above, which is characterized. (3) The operation in the automated warehouse according to (1) above, wherein the operation information is a carrying state of carrying in / out parts in the carrying facility or an inventory status of managing inventory parts in the warehouse facility. How to specify the information.

[0015]

[Operation] A specific partial area on the display screen is specified,
In response to this, the address value of the operation information is calculated and transmitted, this address value is introduced, the operation information stored in advance is accessed, and the specific operation information is acquired. Further, instead of calculating the address value, the designated input of the partial area is converted to the address value which is initialized in advance and is sent. Further, the transportation state in which the storage / delivery parts in the transportation facility are transported, or the inventory state in which the inventory components in the warehouse facility are managed are treated as operation information.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT An embodiment of the present invention in an automatic warehouse of a factory will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an explanatory view for explaining a first embodiment according to the method of the present invention, and FIG. 1 (a) schematically shows a process of forming a new operation instruction in the instruction device. ) Schematically shows a process of executing a new operation instruction in the input / output interface and the management unit.

In FIG. 1A, the main part of the first embodiment is that, in the indicating devices 36a, 36b, 36c, the address value in which the operation information indicating the carrying state or the stock state is stored is based on the key code. It is an address calculation step S215 of the operation information to be calculated. Before the address calculation step S215, the operation content display step S211 and the key code generation step S212 are sequentially provided, and the address calculation step S215 is performed.
After step 215, there is provided an operation information address value sending step S216 for sending the address value obtained by the calculation to the input / output interface 31a, and each step S211, S212, S213, S215, S216.
The operator arbitrarily repeats to form operation instructions. The key code may be, for example, a number sequentially assigned a series of integers indicating the storage order of the operation information, corresponding to the attribute of each key on the screen of the operation content.

Therefore, in FIG. 1B, in the process of executing a new operation instruction according to this embodiment, the address value of the operation information is introduced in the operation information address value sending step S216. Operation information acquisition and transfer step S223 similar to the operation information acquisition and transfer step S222
Are provided in the sequence control device 35. That is, this step S223 is only repeated in the input / output interface 35a and the management unit 35c, and the operation information address forming step S221 in the conventional example can be substantially omitted.

In the operation information address calculation step S215,
First, the data length of the operation information determined for each category of operation contents is multiplied by a specific number that is a key code that has been introduced, and the obtained storage position is set to the beginning storage position in the operation information group as an address offset value. And add. That is,
When continuously storing a large number of operation information, each operation information can be accessed by a simple operation using the above-mentioned key code.

Next, a second embodiment according to the method of the present invention will be described. The main part of the second embodiment is the pointing device 36a,
36b and 36c is an address conversion step of converting the key code into a preset address value and sending the address value obtained by the conversion. This address conversion step is the first embodiment of FIG. There is no difference from the first embodiment except that it is replaced with the address calculation step S215 in FIG. In this address conversion step, the address value of the operation information is arranged corresponding to each key code, and the key code is converted into the corresponding address value by referring to the array table formed in advance for each key attribute and provided in advance. Therefore, the group of address values of necessary operation information can be collectively initialized. A register group corresponding to the key code may be provided in place of this array table, which is effective when the address value group is relatively small or when existing software for initial setting can be used. .

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view for explaining the display screen of the operation contents in FIG. 1 (a), FIG. 2 (a) shows the screen of the transportation state used when issuing a leaving instruction, and FIG. ) Shows a screen of stock status. In FIG. 2 (a),
The transport state screen is a partial screen R displaying the transport route itself for exiting and a partial screen T displaying the content of the transport state.
And a partial screen D for displaying correction instructions and the like, and when setting the delivery instruction, the delivery position of the delivery part whose specification information is to be confirmed is specified, and when the delivery instruction is corrected, the delivery position to be corrected Is to be specified. The partial screen R that displays the transportation route itself includes a derivation route R1 that derives the pallet to the delivery conveyor, a confluence channel R2 that selects each bank of the warehouse equipment and merges the pallet, and a pallet that is transferred from the automated guided vehicle. It includes a guide path R3 for guiding and an acquisition path R4 indicating that a pallet is being acquired from a predetermined shelf by an automated guided vehicle.

The lead-out path R1, the confluent path R2, and the respective guide paths R3, ... R3 are divided and displayed in a plurality of transport areas S, ... S based on a plurality of positions for moving. ,
Each of the taxiways R3, ... R3 and the acquisition path R4 is provided for each aisle, which is a path formed between two warehouse facilities 1, 2, ... Furthermore, according to the actual form of the transport route, the layout relationship between the exit conveyor route and the position of the automated guided vehicle is formed in a plan view graphic and displayed in a graphic that matches the physical configuration of each automated warehouse system. Therefore, the operator can recognize the progress status of the delivery work in the list.

The partial screen T displaying the contents of the carrying state is
Shelf position T1 that indicates the position of the storage shelf in the warehouse equipment by the name or number of the bank, bay, and level described above, the entry / exit history T2 that indicates the entry / exit date and entry number of the corresponding production part, and the production part. The specification content T3 indicates the type of specifications for each item by name or number. The partial screen D for displaying a correction instruction or the like is designed to display a specific instruction for correcting the above-mentioned conveyance deviation or changing the contents of the conveyance state. Each of the transport areas S, ... S has an identification name on the transport path that the transport area has and a priority order for delivery in a series of delivery instruction groups. It is indicated by lighting that the pallet actually exists at the present moment.

Further, by pressing on the figure of each of the transfer areas S, ... S, the contents of the transfer state of the production parts on which the pallets passing on the transfer area are placed are the contents of the delivery instruction described above. Is expanded and displayed on the partial screen T for displaying, and the operator visually recognizes the pallet being conveyed on the path, and the production parts placed on the pallet and being put in and out can be easily designated. . Furthermore, by this designation,
Immediately obtain all the necessary information regarding the stocking and stocking of production parts from the above-mentioned common memory, confirm the empty shelf or history by the shelf position T1, and estimate the manufacturing time and inventory period or the stocking time by the stocking history T2. According to the specification content T3, the operator can check the entry / exit instruction and collate the request of the production line with the operator in comparison with the transportation route. Although the screens for instructing to leave the goods have been described above, almost the same graphic can be used on the screen for the conveying path used for the instruction to enter the goods, except that the form of the conveying path, the conveying direction, and the instruction content are different. Therefore, the description of the screen according to the storage instruction is omitted.

In FIG. 2 (b), the inventory status display screen shows the identification numbers of the corresponding bank and automated guided vehicle.
Inventory correction title field F that declares the correction operation of inventory status
41, an instruction content field F42 showing the content of the loading / unloading instruction corresponding to this identification number, an inventory display field F43 specifically showing the stock status by a symbolic figure, and the various operations by explaining the correction operation. The operation guidance field F44 shows guidance for prompting an instruction. The instruction content column F42 distinguishes whether the instruction is a warehousing instruction or a warehousing instruction, the date when each instruction is set,
The position of the designated storage shelf and the specifications of the production parts to be stocked in this storage shelf are displayed.

The inventory display column F43 displays the positions of the storage shelves in a matrix formed by taking the numerical values of the bay in the horizontal direction and the numerical values of the level in the vertical direction, and each figure symbolizing the stock state at each position. Are assigned and displayed so that the operator can visually infer each production part that is actually in stock. The operation guidance field F44 displays the meanings of these symbolic figures, guidances, etc., and designates the keys for switching to the banks on both sides of the array, which are handled by the same automated guided vehicle, and the automated guided vehicles of other banks. Key and a key for switching to a screen showing the stock status.

A specific shelf position is designated by pressing the position of each storage shelf arranged in a matrix, and the contents of the specification information of the stock parts stored in that shelf position are displayed in the above-mentioned instruction content column F42. The specifications are shown as follows. By this designation, all the information necessary for displaying the specification contents is immediately acquired from the common memory described above, and the operator can correct errors in storage and inventory work without checking the actual inventory parts visually. It can be performed by a sequence controller.

As described above, in addition to selectively displaying the input / output parts in the transfer state during the transfer and the specification information of the stock parts at each shelf position in the stock state, the output / reception history and the output of a plurality of parts are summarized. It is possible to scroll each display line by using a specific number of lines as a key code when displaying the instruction on the list and designating only the displacement amount from the address currently accessed. In that case, by sending a relative address to the sequence control device, a new operation information group can be called continuously, and so on. Secondary information attached to a specific position on each display screen is added to the sequence control device. With a simple configuration that does not overwhelm the memory capacity of, it can be called from the common memory and displayed.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and, for example, the configuration of the partial screens and graphics on each screen, the types of jobs in the management work of the automated warehouse, and the specification items for inventory parts Various modes are allowed based on the priority order of, and in each partial screen, the graphic of each operation key displayed therein may be enlarged in descending order of frequency of use. Further, when the above-mentioned transport area or symbolic figure is displayed on the screen, it may be colored, enlarged, or emphasized by graphics or animation, or both may be used in combination, etc. It goes without saying that various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0030]

As described above, the present invention has the following effects. (1) Since the address value is formed not by the sequence control device but by the instruction device, the load of the entire sequence control is reduced and the effective processing speed is improved. (2) Further, since the complicated process for forming the address value is not required and the amount of program in software is reduced, a large amount of area can be saved in the control memory of the sequence controller. (3) Further, in the point that the amount of program is reduced, management becomes easy at the time of software maintenance and specification change in the future, and there is no cause for causing an error in design change. As described above, according to (1) to (3), when the operation information on the warehousing / moving and inventory parts is specified while managing the warehousing / moving and inventory parts of the automatic warehouse in the factory, this operation information is configured with a simple configuration. It is now possible to provide a method of specifying operational information in an automated warehouse that can be handled visually.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view schematically explaining an embodiment according to the method of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a display screen of operation contents in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a general automatic warehouse system that manages inventory status while controlling conventional warehouse equipment.

4 is an explanatory diagram for specifically explaining the warehouse facility in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram schematically illustrating control of the automatic warehouse in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a general procedure for controlling the automated warehouse in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining instruction steps for warehouse operation in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

S211 ・ ・ Display stage of operation contents S212 ・
.. Key code generation step S215 ... Operation information address calculation step S216 ... Operation information address value transmission step S217 ... Operation information acquisition and transfer step

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. When monitoring the transfer of incoming and outgoing parts in the transfer equipment of an automated warehouse and managing the inventory of stocked parts in the warehouse equipment, a plurality of operation information relating to this transfer and inventory are stored in advance, and Specifying operation information In the operation information specifying method in an automated warehouse, the specification value is specified to specify a specific partial area on the display screen, and the address value of the operation information is calculated according to this specification input and sent out. In the automatic warehouse, which is characterized in that a calculation step is provided, the stored address information is introduced to access the stored operation information, and an operation information acquisition step for acquiring specific operation information is provided and the operation is sequentially performed. How to specify operational information. 2. A step of converting an address value is provided in place of the step of calculating the address value, and the step of converting the address value converts the designated input to an address value which is initialized in advance and sends it out. The method for designating operation information in an automated warehouse according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The automated warehouse according to claim 1, wherein the operation information is a transportation state in which a loading / unloading component is transported in a transportation facility, or an inventory state in which inventory parts are managed in a warehouse facility. How to specify operational information.