JPH09221219A - Shift control method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an efficient operation for arranging the second container by confirming the identification number of the first container and grasping the name of a product when the product is taken out from the first container, and preparing the second container for storing the product in advance before the product is stored in the second container. SOLUTION: The pot number and measurement data from an information collecting device 6A and the product name information from a product name setting personal computer 5 are transmitted to a pot server 8 via a lower-level LAN and to a server 3 via an upper-level LAN. A control computer 12 receives the pot tracking information form the pot server 8 via an appropriate information collecting device 6C to monitor the pot position. The pot number set on an inverting unit can be known, and the pot number is recognized by a number recognizing device 10B before it is set to the inverting unit to confirm that both of them coincide with each other. When they differ, the pallet conveyance of a shifting device 13 is controlled based on the read pot number.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a system for automatically transferring a product from a first container to a second container in a distribution system in which a plurality of types of products are put in containers for transportation and storage. , A transfer control method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 57-21255, a host computer for centralized management reads the number of a transport container such as a pallet and draws out an operation procedure file prepared in advance according to the number and sets Techniques for controlling are disclosed.

[0003]

In a physical distribution system in which many kinds of products are packed in a container for each kind and transported between steps in random order, the products stored in the first container are accumulated or distributed. Some work involves transferring to a second container. This work is performed based on the product information stored in the first container that has reached the transfer work position, or the position of the first container in the middle of transportation and the product information stored therein. It is necessary to handle the second container. In this regard, in the related art, one host computer is responsible for all this information management. Therefore, if the host computer causes a trouble such as the loss of the information about the position of the first container or the product accumulated for some reason, the function of the entire distribution system may be stopped. is there. Further, if the amount of data to be handled increases, the time required for data processing becomes longer, waiting time for information is generated, and line tact may be disturbed. INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention enhances the reliability of the information management means, achieves efficient operation of the handling of the second container, and transfers and transports the required product to the next process without delay. The purpose is to provide a method.

[0004]

According to the present invention, a plurality of types of products are put into a first container for each type for transportation and processing, and the products are predetermined from the first container to the second container on the way. In a transfer control method for transferring a predetermined amount, when a product is put in a first container, the identification number of the container and the product name information of the product are stored in a server of an information system having a LAN configuration and tracking processing is performed. Then, when taking out the product from the first container, check the identification number of the container to grasp the product name, and before storing the product in the second container,
It is characterized in that a second container in which a product having the product name is to be stored is prepared in advance.

[0005]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The present invention will be described with reference to an example in which a product subjected to a heat treatment process is applied to a physical distribution line for carrying it to a processing process. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a transfer control system of the present embodiment, showing a pot packing process, a pot reversing process, and a pallet transfer process. here,
The first container for heat-treating a product (hereinafter referred to as a work) is the pot, and the second container is for carrying the work to the processing step.
This container is called a pallet. In the present embodiment, a transfer system in which works for two pots are transferred to one pallet will be described below. A server 3 that controls the physical distribution system is connected to the upper LAN. A product name setting personal computer 5 is connected to the upper LAN, and is also connected to the lower LAN by a communication personal computer 4 having a communication function. The product name setting personal computer 5 is used by an operator for inputting information such as the product name of a pot-filled work and for inquiring the production record information of the work in a pot filling process described later. The information collecting device 6 (6A, 6B, 6C), the programmable controller 7 (7A, 7B), the pot server 8 and the counting server 9 in each process are connected to the lower LAN.

The pot filling process will be described. In the pot filling process, a large number of works of the same type that have been sent apart from the previous process are put into the pot while being weighed. A code for identifying each pot number is attached to the pot, and the pot number is read by the number recognition device 10A. The operator uses the product name setting computer 5 to make it correspond to the pot number,
Enter the product name information of the work to be stored in the pot, for example, product type, material, process procedure, and the like. The pot number of each pot,
The weight measured by the scale is input to the information collecting device 6A via a programmable controller (hereinafter abbreviated as PLC) 7A. The information collecting device 6A has a communication function, a calculation function, a screen for displaying data, and a key for inputting data. In the pot filling process, the pot number and weighing data from the information collecting device 6A and the product name information from the product name setting personal computer 5 are stored in the lower LAN every time the pot is packed.
Is transmitted to the pot server 8 via both the server and the server 3 of the upper LAN. Therefore, after that, so-called tracking in which the position of each pot is tracked by the computer, and the product name information stored therein and the weight stored therein can be known.

Next, the pot inversion process will be described. When the heat treatment process (not shown) is completed for the pots containing the works in the pot filling process, it is necessary to replace works of the same product name for two pots with one pallet. Here, in the processing step, the number of pieces is managed, and contrary to the case of the present description, there are various transfer modes such as the case where workpieces of the same product name for one pot are replaced with two pallets. Instead of directly transferring the work from the pallet to the pallet, a step of flipping the pot and taking out the work inside is taken out on the conveyor as shown in FIG. 2 (referred to as pot inverting work) is provided. This is the pot inversion process.

The position information of the pot before arrival in the pot reversing step can be obtained by tracking, but the number recognition device 10B installed in front of the pot reversing machine 14 confirms the pot number. This information is output to the information collecting device 6B via the PLC 7B, and is output to the pot server 8 and the server 3 from the information collecting device 6B. The workpieces taken out on the conveyor by the pot reversing machine 14 are automatically loosened by the dispersion feeder 14 and then counted by the counter 11. It takes about 60 to 90 seconds for the work to pass through the counter after being inverted. Counter 1
1 is connected to the count management server 9, and count data is sent to the count management server 9.

Next, the pallet transfer process will be described.
The work that has been separated by the reversing machine 14 and passed through the counter 11 is sent to the transfer device 13 by another conveyer or the like and placed in the pallet. It is always necessary to transfer a predetermined amount of works having the same product name to the pallet, but the works sent to the transfer device 13 often have different product names each time. Therefore, it is important to efficiently prepare the pallets corresponding to the works to be sent. An information collecting device 6C is also provided in the pallet transfer process. The information collecting device 6C is connected to the counting management server 9 by a lower LAN.
Therefore, the number data can be added to the tracking information through the information collecting device 6C and can be written in a data carrier (hereinafter abbreviated as D / C) described later. Further, the information collecting device 6C is connected to the control computer 12 and can send the tracking information received from the pot server 8 to the control computer 12 to control the pallet conveyance of the transfer device 13. Further, a weighing machine and a D / C writer are also connected to the control computer 12, and the weighing machine measures the weight of the work dropped and stored on the pallet, and the information written in the D / C together with the number data described above. Become part of. In addition, the information collecting device 6C
Can transmit / receive to / from the server 3 via the lower LAN and the upper LAN.

A schematic configuration of the transfer device 13 will be described with reference to FIG. The transfer device 13 includes a carriage 15 for conveying pallets, a standby station 16 for preliminarily waiting a pallet for loading a work, a receiving station 17 for loading a work on the pallet, and a D / C writer for the pallet. D / C station 18 for writing data such as product type, quantity, weight and post-process to the D / C attached for each pallet retention station 19 (19A-) for temporarily placing a pallet containing a work for one pot 19
E), an empty pallet (abbreviated as an empty pallet) supply line 21 for supplying an empty pallet and an actual pallet (abbreviated as an actual pallet) transfer line 22 for transporting a pallet having stored two pots of work to the rack 23. Have

Next, the operation of the transfer device 13 will be described. The control computer 12 receives pot tracking information from the pot server 8 via the information collecting device 6C as appropriate, and monitors the pot position. By this, the pot number set in the reversing machine 14 can be known, but the pot before being set in the reversing machine 14 is recognized by the number recognition device 10B, and it is confirmed that they match.
If they differ, the transfer device 13 is controlled based on the read pot number. As a result, it is possible to correctly perform the pot processing even when there is a trouble such that the tracking information cannot be read or when the tracking processing has an error. In addition, if such a situation occurs several times,
You can do this by letting people know the cause.

When the control computer 12 determines the pot number reversed by the reversing machine 14, first, the pallet storing station 19A for the pallet in which the works of the same product name as the works packed in the pot are already stored for one pot.
.. to 19E to perform an assignment process. If a corresponding pallet exists in the pallet stay stations 19A to 19E, the pallet is placed on the carriage 15 and conveyed to the standby station 16. If the pallet concerned does not exist in the pallet stay stations 19A to 19E, an empty pallet is supplied from the empty pallet supply line 21 and carried by the carriage 15 to the standby station 16.

The pallet carried into the waiting station 16 is transferred to the work receiving station 17 by a carrying device (not shown) and waits for the work to drop. The processing during this period is completed within 60 seconds, and the pallet is ready by the time the work reversed by the reversing machine 14 begins to drop. The work falls onto the pallet set in the work receiving station 17, and the work for one pot is stored in the pallet. During this period, an inversion prohibition interlock signal is output to the reversing machine 14, but when the work is stored in the pallet, it is released and the next pot can be reversed. That is, works of different product names are prevented from flowing continuously without a gap. When the next pot is reversed, the product name information of the work is transmitted from the pot server 8 to the control personal computer 12 via the information collecting device 6C as described above. When the next work has the same product name as the work received earlier, the previous pallet remains in the receiving station 17,
Receive the next 1 pot of work. However, in the case of works having different product names, the pallets are transferred to the receiving station before a group of the works arrives at the receiving station 17.

First, the previous pallet is transferred to the adjacent D / C station 18. Here, the product name and the post-process data are recorded on the D / C attached to the pallet by the D / C writer as described above. The D / C writer is
The data can be obtained from the pot server 8 through the information collecting device 6C. In the meantime, a work for allocating a pallet containing the same work as the work arriving at the receiving station 17 is performed on the pallet stay stations 19A to 19E. If the relevant pallet is located on the pallet stay stations 19A to 19E, the relevant pallet is transported by the carriage 15 to the waiting station 16. If there is no corresponding pallet on the pallet retention stations 19A to 19E, the empty pallet is immediately conveyed from the empty pallet supply line 21 to the work receiving station 16. Thereafter, the pallet is sent to the work receiving station 17 as described above.

Here, the previous pallet transferred to the D / C station 18 is conveyed to the vacant station among the pallet retention stations 19A to 19E when the above-mentioned processing is completed. However, if all of the five pallet retention stations 19A to 19E are filled with pallets containing one pot of work, they cannot be transferred. As described above, the control computer 1
2 receives the pot number immediately before starting the reversing work and the tracking information for the pots after that. From this information, first, the product name information of the work stored in the pot to be reversed next and the pallet stay stations 19A to 19
Compare the product name information of the work temporarily placed in E and find the pallet containing the work that did not match. If there is a corresponding pallet, the pallet 15 is temporarily stored in the rack 23 through the actual pallet delivery line 22. As a result, the pallet at the D / C station is transported to the vacant station.

When there are a plurality of pallets to be expelled from the pallet staying station, the pallet staying at the pallet staying stations 19A to 19E for the longest time is expelled. As a result, even if there is a special work that produces only one pot, the pallet will not remain in the pallet retention stations 19A to 19E. When two pots storing works of the same type are consecutive, this replacement work is unnecessary and the trolley 15 can be spared. At this time, the control computer 12 recognizes the product name of the work following the sequentially reversed pot based on the tracking information of the pot, and compares it with the work of the pallet stay station,
Unwanted pallets can be expelled to the rack 23 in advance.

The transfer device 13 is provided with a spare station 20 next to the pallet retention stations 19A to 19E. In the D / C station 18, when writing or reading of information to the D / C attached to the pallet is defective, the pallet concerned can be transported to the spare station 20 and removed from the production line. With this function, it is possible to prevent a work holding unclear post-process data from flowing to the post-process. It should be noted that two pots of work having the same product name are continuously sent, and the pallet receiving the same is also recorded by the D / C writer at the D / C station 18 and then transferred to the rack 23. Further, in the case of replacing the work for one pot with two pallets, when the counter 11 calculates about half of the work calculated from the pot weight, another conveyor speed after that is calculated. This can be dealt with by slowing down and stopping the conveyor when the weight measurement value of the falling work reaches a predetermined value.

[0018]

The present invention described above has the following effects. 1) The information system is constructed by LAN, and the tracking information of the first container and the product name information are held in both the upper LAN server and the lower LAN pot server. Normally, the information is transmitted through the lower LAN. Therefore, even if the lower server goes down due to some trouble, information can be communicated with the upper server, and there is almost no risk of the distribution line stopping. 2) Also, since the information of each process is collected by the information collecting device and sent to the server, the server does not need to constantly monitor the information input, and the time for data processing, information output, etc. can be taken sufficiently, Since the data request from the transfer device can be answered in a short time, the transfer device does not have a dead time of waiting for information. 3) The transfer device can receive the tracking information of the first container, predict the destination, and prepare and handle the second container, so that the tact can be shortened. Even if tracking information cannot be obtained, the distribution line is unlikely to stop because the first container number is confirmed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a system configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an equipment layout of a pot reversal field and a pallet packing process.

[Explanation of Codes] 1 Upper LAN 2 Lower LAN 3 Server 5 Product name setting personal computer 6A to 6C Information collecting device 8 Pot server 9 Counting management server 10A to 10B Number recognition device 12 Controlling personal computer 13 Transfer device 14 Reversing device 16 Standby station 17 Receiving Station 19A-19F Pallet Retaining Station

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. Transfer for transferring a plurality of types of products into a first container for each type for transportation and processing, and transferring products from a first container to a second container by a predetermined amount in the middle of the process. In the control method, when the product is put in the first container, the identification number of the container and the product name information of the product are stored in the server of the information system having the LAN configuration and the tracking processing is performed, and the product is removed from the first container. When removing, check the identification number of the container, grasp the product name, and prepare the second container in which the product with that product name should be stored in advance before storing the product in the second container And transfer control method. 2. The LAN is composed of two layers, an upper layer and a lower layer, both of which have servers, and both servers exchange and process the same information. The transfer control method according to claim 1, which can be covered by a server.