JPH11272322A - Design supporting device for process control program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the efficiency of design work by inputting or changing the machine specification and the operation specification of a machine device that previously stores a basic operation program, combining them and designing one factory equipment. SOLUTION: Basic operation programs which are individual at the respective operation parts of a machine device are previously stored in a source generation basic file 3. A fixed form pattern for setting a machine specification by a numeric value and a fixed form pattern for setting an operation specification to the lapse of time on the operation part by the numeric value are previously stored in a data file 4. When the numeric values are inputted to the fixed form patterns of the machine specification and the operation specification, a design support control part 1 inputs or changes the machine specification and the operation specification of the machine device that previously stores the basic operation program. They are combined and simulatively executed on a computer device 2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is applied to an apparatus for continuously processing or manufacturing a large number of articles. INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention is used for factory equipment operated in combination with a plurality of automatic control system process control systems.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A plurality of conveyor devices are arranged, and a number of devices for processing articles are arranged along each of the plurality of conveyor devices. Articles conveyed by the plurality of conveyor devices are gradually changed from a material form. Factory equipment that becomes semi-finished products, further merges into one conveyor device as a product, and is packed in a form that can be shipped in large quantities and continuously discharged products at the exit of the conveyor device is widely known. I have.

[0003] Such factory equipment is devised so that it can be automated with as little human intervention as possible, and various techniques for designing such factory equipment in accordance with the type and properties of products are known.

[0004] In recent years, computerized control panels called sequence controllers or programmable controllers have become widespread, and it has become possible to flexibly change the specifications of factory equipment.

[0005]

In such a computerized control panel, specialized knowledge is often required for designing or changing the program. Therefore, the person who actually designed the factory equipment is not always able to design or change the program, and there is an increasing number of cases where a dedicated person for designing or changing the program is separately provided.

However, it goes without saying that the efficiency of the design work is improved by the person who actually designed the factory equipment directly designing or changing the program, and such a work form is desired. I have.

The present invention has been made in such a background, and an object of the present invention is to provide a design support apparatus for process control software capable of easily designing or changing a control program for factory equipment. I do.

[0008]

The above-mentioned factory equipment, as a whole, has a different configuration and performs different operations, as a matter of course, when looking at the overall configuration of individual factory equipment. However, looking at a plurality of mechanical devices constituting a factory facility, most of them are general-purpose products, and those whose basic operations are known in advance are frequently used.

Therefore, the inventors pay attention to this point, and store in advance the basic operation program of each of these mechanical devices, and the designer of the factory equipment can use the machine operation of the mechanical device in which the basic operation program is stored. The present invention proposes that one factory facility is designed by inputting or changing specifications and operation specifications and combining them.

[0010] Furthermore, the designed combination of mechanical devices is simulated on a computer, and when it is found that there is no mutual interference in the operation, this operation is automatically converted into source file data to be given to the process control program. Even a person who does not have specialized knowledge for creating a process control program can automatically create a process control program.

Here, the process control program is generated by combining basic operation programs set in advance for each machine, and the source file data is defined as data of data required when executing the process control program. It is a set. For example, if the process control program operates in accordance with pulse data, at the time of inputting the operation specifications, the predetermined operation is converted into pulse data from what was input as speed data. Can be converted to data.

As described above, the source file is a program for operating the target device as specified, but is a program that can be executed through a compile link operation.

Here, the compile link operation is a term in which the compile operation and the link operation are combined into one word, and the compile operation is an operation of converting a source file into an object file. An object file is an intermediate file between a source file and a library file. The source file is as described above, and the library file is a collection of basic programs for inputting and outputting data. The link operation is an operation of combining an object file and a library file to generate an execution program.

That is, the present invention relates to a design support apparatus for a process control program. A feature of the present invention is that an individual basic operation program is stored in advance for each operation part of a machine to be controlled. Means,
Means for preliminarily storing a fixed pattern for setting a machine specification for the operation part by a numerical value and a fixed pattern for setting an operation specification for the operation part with the passage of time by a numerical value; When a numerical value is entered in the standard pattern of the specification,
There is provided a means for simulating the basic operation program on a computer in accordance with the machine specifications and the operation specifications, and a means for displaying on a screen the state of the simulated operation.

[0015] The fixed pattern is in a table format, and it is desirable to have means for displaying the table on a screen of a computer device.

[0016] It is desirable to have a means for displaying the operation specifications set in the fixed pattern on a screen of a computer device in a graph format with a time axis as a horizontal axis.

The means for displaying the operation status on the screen preferably includes means for displaying the operation specifications of a plurality of related operation parts in parallel on the same time axis.

When the simulated execution means evaluates that the mutual interference is not inconsistent with respect to a plurality of operation parts, source file data for giving the operation executed by the simulated execution means to the process control program. It is desirable to have a means for converting to.

[0019]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a process control program design support apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The present invention relates to a process control program design support apparatus 10, which is characterized by:
A basic file 3 for source creation, which is a means for pre-storing an individual basic operation program for each operation part of a mechanical device to be controlled, a fixed pattern for setting the machine specifications of the operation part by numerical values, and When a numerical value is input to the data file 4 which is a means for previously storing a standard pattern for setting an operation specification with respect to the elapse of time for the operation portion with a numerical value, and A design support controller 1 for simulating the basic operation program on a computer in accordance with the machine specifications and the operation specifications; and a means for displaying on a screen the state of the simulated operation. And a computer device 2.

The fixed pattern is in the form of a table, and the design support control section 1 can display the table on the screen of the computer device 2. Further, the operation specifications set in the fixed pattern can be displayed on the screen of the computer device 2 in a graph format with the time axis as a horizontal axis.
Further, the design support controller 1 can display the operation specifications of a plurality of related operation parts in parallel on the same time axis.

Further, the design support control section 1 simulates the basic operation program of the machine in accordance with the machine specifications and the operation specifications set for the machine, so that a plurality of operating parts of the machine are provided. When it is evaluated that the mutual interference does not contradict each other, the simulated operation is converted into source file data to be given to the process control program.

This process control program is generated in advance by combining basic operation programs set in advance for each machine and stored in the source creation basic file 3. In the embodiment of the present invention, the process control program is automatically generated by the design support control unit 1 when the designer selects a desired mechanical device. Source file data is a set of data required when executing this process control program.If the process control program operates according to pulse data, at the time of inputting operation specifications,
This operation is converted into source file data by converting what was input as speed data into pulse data. This source file data is stored in the source file 5.

[0024]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a process control system to which the embodiment of the present invention is applied. As shown in FIG. 2, in the process control system, a command pulse output from the process control device 20 is received by servo drivers as drive circuits 21 and 22, and the drive circuits 21 and 22 drive servo motors 31 and 32, respectively. . Servo motor 31
Performs the operation of rotating the ball screw 41 and pushing the work in the apparatus A. Further, the servo motor 32 rotates the ball screw 42 to perform an operation of lifting the work in the apparatus B.

These operations are performed in accordance with a reference pulse input to the process control device 20. The reference pulse is a synchronization pulse of the conveyor device for transporting the work, and is generated by the encoder 51 converting the rotation of the main shaft 52 of the conveyor device into a pulse. Thereby, the apparatus A and the apparatus B can perform each operation | movement according to the conveyance speed of a conveyor apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the input status of the machine specifications. On the screen of the computer device 2 shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7, a fixed pattern for setting the specification of the operation part by numerical values is displayed. In the example of FIG. 3, by inputting each hardware specification (hard specification) for each item as shown in a display D3, the mechanical specifications of the device A are displayed as a display D1, and the mechanical specifications of the device B are displayed in a display D2. Will be displayed as The settings of this specification are stored in the data file 4.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an input state of an operation pattern. On the screen of the computer device 2 shown in FIG. 1, as shown in FIG. 4, a fixed pattern for setting an operation pattern with respect to the elapse of time with respect to an operation portion by a numerical value is displayed. In the example of FIG. 4, by inputting a displacement corresponding to time for each point as shown in the display D6, the operation pattern of the device A is displayed as the display D4, and the operation pattern of the device B is displayed as the display D5. . The setting of the operation pattern is stored in the data file 4. Since the set operation pattern is immediately displayed on the screen, it is easy to grasp the relationship between the position of the apparatus and time.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state of study of the operation by simulation. On the screen of the computer device 2 shown in FIG. 1, a simulation can be executed according to the set operation pattern as shown in FIG. The display D7 displays the elapsed time and the displacement according to the operation pattern of the device A, and the display D8 displays the elapsed time and the displacement according to the operation pattern of the device B. As a result, it is possible to easily determine the presence or absence of mutual interference that is hardly noticeable only by inputting numerical values.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a design work procedure according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 6, machine specifications and operation specifications are set, setting items are checked by simulation and the like, and a process control program is created. In the embodiment of the present invention, since a configuration using a mechanical device as shown in FIG. 2 is assumed, a process control program can be created by creating a pulse pattern used in the device A or the device B from a reference pulse of the conveyor device. It can be carried out. This creation procedure is a technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-242829.

This technology will be briefly described. In one place of the equipment, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, an encoder 51 interlocking with a main shaft 52 for applying a rotating force to a conveyor has a frequency proportional to a reference operating speed. Is generated. The frequency of this reference pulse is, for example, 10 to 20 kHz.
Range. The reference pulse train is branched and connected to the input terminal of the process control device 20.

Then, the process control device 20 controls whether to pass or block the reference pulse train and sends it to an output terminal. During the period when the reference pulse train is completely passed, the controlled device is operated at the maximum speed. During a period in which the reference pulse train is completely blocked, the controlled device is stopped. When passing every other reference pulse train, the controlled device is operating at half the maximum speed. As the number of missing reference pulse trains is gradually increased, the controlled device decelerates. As the loss of the reference pulse train is gradually reduced, the operation of the controlled device is accelerated. If reverse rotation is required for the operation of the controlled device, provide another output terminal in addition to the above output terminal, and add a polarity signal (for example, 1 for plus direction and 0 for minus direction). Thus, the configuration can be simplified.

Such control is extremely simple and the circuit scale can be reduced, so that the device can be manufactured at low cost and the reliability can be improved. Also, by monitoring the signals at the input and output terminals of the process control device with an oscilloscope or frequency counter,
The person performing the maintenance work can visually inspect. Therefore, there is a sense of security that is easy to understand compared to the one that involves software control. If there is a failure, it can be dealt with immediately and the failure can be prevented. By branching the signal of the reference pulse train and connecting it to the input terminal, it is possible to easily add equipment.

By changing the frequency of the reference pulse train, the operating speeds of all devices can be changed synchronously. For example, by changing the rotation speed of the main shaft 52, the operation speeds of all the devices are simultaneously changed in synchronization.

A pulse pattern is obtained by calculating how many command pulses should be sent to the servomotor while receiving the reference pulse based on the operation specifications and machine specifications. 4 shows an example of the command pulse 6, the command pulse 12 for the reference pulse 12, and the command pulse 6 for the reference pulse 10.

As an example of a source file, [0, DL, 0, -3516] [1, EX, 10, 0] [2, AN, 1880, 1953] [3, CN, 2490, 0] [4 , DN, 1880, 0] [5, EX, 10, 0] [6, AP, 1880, 5469] in the second row from the left (D
L, EX, AN, CN, DN, EX, AP) are commands, and are the third column from the left (0, 10, 1880, 249).
0, 1880, 10, 1880) is the number of reference pulses, and is the fourth row from the left (−3516, 0, 1953, 0,
0, 0, 5469) is the number of command pulses. Such a character string is source file data, and is automatically generated based on a pulse pattern as shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a servo pattern design work procedure according to the embodiment of the present invention. A machine specification and an operation specification are input (S1), and a simulation is performed according to a process control program in which a basic operation program is combined to check for the presence of interference (S1).
2). Further, it is determined whether the pattern is an operable pattern (S3), and the speed pattern is converted into a pulse pattern (S4). Source file data is created based on the pulse pattern (S5), and a compile link operation is performed (S6).

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the management status of the change history. As shown in FIG. 8, the use of the embodiment of the present invention makes it possible to easily manage the history of specification changes.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an algorithm of a main program of the design support control section 1. As shown in FIG.
When the main program is selected (S10), a menu is displayed on the screen of the computer device 2 (S1).
1). The designer selects this menu (S12, S1
3). The menu type is the new input of the machine specification (S2
0), modification of machine specifications (S30), new input of operation specifications (S40), correction of operation specifications (S50), simulation of operation (S60), conversion to source files (S7)
0).

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an algorithm for newly inputting machine specifications. As shown in FIG. 10, a new input of a machine specification is selected (S20), and a data storage file name is input (S21). In the embodiment of the present invention, the data file 4 shown in FIG. 1 is a data storage file name. When the file name of the data file 4 is input, the data file 4 is set to a state where data can be input. Here, a new machine specification is input (S22, S23). When the input is completed, the data is stored in a file (S24).

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an algorithm for modifying the machine specifications. As shown in FIG. 11, correction of the machine specification is selected (S30), and a correction file name is input (S3).
1). In the embodiment of the present invention, the data file 4 shown in FIG. When the file name of the data file 4 is input, the data can be read from the data file 4, so that desired data is read (S3).
2). The read data is corrected (S33, S3
4). The corrected data is stored in the data file 4 again (S35).

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an algorithm for newly inputting operation specifications. As shown in FIG. 12, a new operation specification is selected (S40), and a data storage file name is input (S41). In the embodiment of the present invention, the data file 4 shown in FIG. 1 is a data storage file name. When the file name of the data file 4 is input, the data file 4 is set to a state where data can be input. Here, a new operation specification is input (S42, S43). When the input is completed, the data is stored in a file (S44).

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an algorithm for modifying the machine specifications. As shown in FIG. 13, correction of the operation specification is selected (S50), and a correction file name is input (S5).
1). In the embodiment of the present invention, the data file 4 shown in FIG. When the file name of the data file 4 is input, the data can be read from the data file 4, so that desired data is read (S5).
2). The read data is corrected (S53, S5
4). The corrected data is stored in the data file 4 again (S55).

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an algorithm of the operation simulation. As shown in FIG. 14, an operation simulation is selected (S60), and data is read from the machine specification file of the data file 4 (S61). Further, data is read from the operation specification file of the data file 4 (S62). When simulation conditions are input (S63), a simulation is performed on the read data and the result is displayed (S64). According to the result, the simulation conditions are corrected and the machine specification data and the operation specification data are changed (S6).
5).

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an algorithm for conversion to a source file. As shown in FIG. 15, when the conversion to the source file is selected (S70), the design support controller 1 converts the data as the software for converting the operation specification data into the source data file from the source creation basic file 3. Reading (S71), data is read from the operation specification file of the data file 4 (S72).
The design support controller 1 converts the operation specification data into a source data file according to software for converting the operation specification data read from the source creation basic file 3 into a source data file (S73).
The converted source data file is stored in the source file 5 (S74).

[0045]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to easily design or change the process control program of the factory equipment.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a process control program design support apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a process control system to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an input state of machine specifications.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an input state of an operation pattern.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state of study of an operation by simulation.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a design work procedure according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a servo pattern design work procedure according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a management status of a change history.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an algorithm of a main program of a design support control unit.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an algorithm for newly inputting machine specifications.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an algorithm for modifying mechanical specifications.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an algorithm for newly inputting an operation specification.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an algorithm for modifying mechanical specifications.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an algorithm of an operation simulation.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an algorithm for conversion to a source file.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Design support control part 2 Computer device 3 Source creation basic file 4 Data file 5 Source file 6 Compile link part 7 Library file 8 Executable file 10 Design support device 20 Process control device 21, 22 Drive circuit 31, 32 Servo motor 41, 42 Ball screw 51 Encoder 52 Spindle

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A means for preliminarily storing an individual basic operation program for each operation part of a mechanical device to be controlled, a fixed pattern for setting machine specifications of the operation part by numerical values, and an operation part thereof Means for storing in advance a fixed pattern for setting the operation specifications with respect to the passage of time by numerical values, and when a numerical value is input to the fixed pattern of the machine specifications and the operation specifications, the basic operation program And a means for simulating execution on a computer in accordance with the operation specifications, and means for displaying on a screen the state of the simulated operation, the design control apparatus for a process control program. . 2. The process control program design support apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fixed pattern is in a table format, and the table includes means for displaying the table on a screen of a computer device. 3. The process control program design support apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for displaying, on a screen of a computer device, the operation specifications set in the fixed pattern in a graph format having a time axis as a horizontal axis. 4. The process control program design according to claim 3, wherein the means for displaying the operation status on the screen includes means for displaying the operation specifications of a plurality of related operation parts in parallel on an equal time axis. Support equipment. 5. A source for providing an operation executed by the simulated execution means to the process control program when the simulated execution means evaluates that mutual interference is not inconsistent for a plurality of operation parts. 5. The process control program design support device according to claim 4, further comprising means for converting the data into file data.