JPS61244451A - Method of managing production of articles - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make it possible to carry out a new process step in a certain station in accordance with the working situation upto now, by storing the results of working in working stations, into a memory section in a mobile communicating device through a stationary communicating device. CONSTITUTION:When a working operation for a workpiece 2 is completed in accordance with a working order in, for example, a working station in which a robot 3 is laid, a production process control computer 40 stores the information of result of working by an automatic inspecting machine 5, into a memory section in a mobile communicating device 10 attached to the workpiece through a stationary communicating device 20 and an antenna 24b. Further, when a detector 30 detects the entrance of the next workpiece 2, the production process control computer 40 reads the result of working in the previous station from the mobile communicating device 10 through the antenna 21a and the stationary communicating device 20. In accordance with the information of the result the mode of working is determined and an instruction is delivered to the robot controller 4. Thus, the production management of articles may be made with a higher degree of efficiency.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to the manufacturing of articles, in which work instructions for each work station on a production line are transmitted based on information transmitted from a mobile communication device attached to the work. Regarding management methods.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, a technique disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 57-211437, for example, is known as a manufacturing control method for this type of article. This involves attaching a mobile communication device that internally stores production information (model, standard, etc.) unique to the workpiece to a workpiece that moves on the production line, while at the same time transmitting, for example, optical data from the mobile communication device to each work station. A fixed communication device is installed to receive the above-mentioned unique information of the workpiece, which is wirelessly transmitted to the workpiece. The fixed communication device is in a state where it is constantly transmitting a start signal towards the conveyance path, and the workpiece moves on the conveyance path and the attached mobile communication device can receive the transmitted information from the fixed communication device. When the mobile communication device enters the mobile communication device, the mobile communication device receives the activation signal, and based on the activation signal, power is supplied to the internal transmission system, etc., and the stored unique information is transmitted. On the other hand, when the fixed communication device receives unique information from the mobile communication device, it transmits the unique information to a higher-level device such as a process control computer, and this higher-level device uses this unique information to control the work at the work station. I am trying to give work instructions to the staff. Specifically, the robot installed at the work station is controlled to drive according to work contents predetermined in accordance with the unique information.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

By the way, if the work on the workpiece is not performed according to the work instructions at each work station, for example, when a robot is used to attach multiple parts supplied by the automatic parts feeder to the workpiece, some parts in the automatic parts feeder may be Previously disclosed cases include cases where the supply system malfunctions and a part to be attached to the workpiece is missing, or when a nut is not tightened to the specified torque for some reason when tightening the nut on the workpiece. Technology has always only been able to take uniform measures to prevent quality deterioration. In other words, since each work station does not know the work status of the previous work station, it is assumed that all work at the previous work station is complete. If this is not the case), the only option available is to take measures to return to a state that ensures this premise. Specifically, for example, when a part of the parts supply system in an automatic parts supply machine breaks down as mentioned above, the production line is stopped, the workpiece is removed from the line, and the broken parts supply system is repaired or the parts concerned are repaired. The unit in the supply system is replaced, and then the production line is returned to its original state, and the missing parts are attached to the extracted workpiece and the workpiece is reintroduced into the production line.

On the other hand, even if the work at each work station is incomplete, subsequent work may be continued. For example, when injecting grease from outside the workpiece, if the grease supply tank is empty and the injecting is not possible, the grease can be injected after all processes are completed, and the nut exposed to the outside of the workpiece. During tightening, there are cases where it is possible to change the order, such as when nuts cannot be tightened because nuts are not supplied and the work can be done last. In this case, the operator can compensate for the missing work by, for example, replacing the grease supply tank or replenishing the parts feeder with nuts. In such cases, if a uniform countermeasure is taken based on the assumption that all work at the previous work station is complete, as described above, it will cause production efficiency to drop unnecessarily, such as stopping the production line. It is something.

[Means for solving problems]

The present invention has been made by focusing on the above-mentioned problems, and information regarding the production of the workpiece is transmitted from a mobile communication device attached to a workpiece moving on a production line and stored in a storage section within the mobile communication device. is transmitted to a fixed communication device installed corresponding to each work station, and work instructions are given to the work at the work station based on information regarding the production of the work received by the fixed communication device. In the management method, each work station is able to grasp the work status of the previous work station, and if work is not performed according to the work instructions at each work station, we try to prevent a decline in manufacturing efficiency as much as possible. It is something to do. In the first invention, after the work on the workpiece at the work station in accordance with the work instruction is completed, information regarding the work result is transmitted to the storage unit in the mobile communication device via the fixed communication device. This is how it is written. In addition, in the second invention, after writing the work results in the storage section in the mobile communication device as described above, before starting work at the next work station, the device is installed corresponding to the next work station. The work mode for the workpiece at the next work station is determined based on the information regarding the work result at the previous work station written in the storage unit in the mobile communication device, which is received by the fixed communication device. It is something.

[Embodiments of the invention]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on the drawings.

First, a system for implementing the article manufacturing control method according to the present invention has a trap as shown in FIG. 2, for example. In the figure, 1 is a conveyor installed in the production line, 2 is a workpiece moved by the conveyor 1, and this workpiece 2
A mobile communication device 10 having a configuration as described later is attached to a predetermined portion of the mobile communication device 10 . In addition, each work station appropriately set along the conveyor 1 is equipped with a robot 7).
6 and a robot controller 4 for controlling the drive of the robots 3 and 6. T is installed.

Here, if we pay attention to the work station where the robot 3 is installed, the work 2 corresponds to this work station.
A fixed communication device 20 is installed that performs wireless information communication with the FI10 made by Mobile Communications Co., Ltd. attached to the robot 3. Before the robot 3 works, the fixed communication device 20 communicates with the mobile communication device 10 via an antenna 21a. While they communicate wirelessly with each other, after the robot 3 is working, it communicates wirelessly with the mobile communication device 10 via the antenna 21b. Further, in this work station, an automatic inspection machine 5 for inspecting the work result of the workpiece 2 by the robot 3, and a mobile communication device 10 are installed with an antenna 21a.
A detection device 30 is installed to detect that the workpiece 2 has entered an area (hereinafter referred to as a communication area) in which wireless communication is possible with the fixed communication device 20 via the communication area. The detection device 30 includes a light projector 31 that emits a spot light in response to a drive signal from a drive device 33, and a light receiver 32 that receives the light from the projector 31. When the light emitter 31 to the receiver 3
The optical path leading to 2 is blocked.

Furthermore, in the figure, 40 is a process control computer, and this process control computer 40 is connected to the detection device 30.
After the detection signal is input from the robot controller 4 and the automatic inspection machine 5, it issues a start command to the robot controller 4 and the automatic inspection machine 5, controls the fixed communication device 20, and stores the inspection information from the automatic inspection machine 5 internally. That's what I do.

Note that the specific configuration of the mobile communication device [10] at the work station where the robot 6 is installed may include, for example, specifications, model, etc.
This is a data storage unit that stores information such as standards or inspection results. This data storage unit 101 is composed of a writable semiconductor memory (RAM), etc., and production information specific to the fixed communication device 20 is stored in advance in the data storage unit 101. is stored in 102a and 102b are receiving and transmitting antennas, respectively; 103 is an amplifier that amplifies the signal (for example, PCM system) from the fixed communication device 20 that is input via the receiving antenna 102a; and 104 is a demodulating signal received via the amplifier 103. A demodulation circuit 105 inputs a demodulation signal from the demodulation circuit 104 based on a transmission signal from the fixed communication device 20, and determines what command information is included in this signal, that is, a write or read command for the data storage unit 101. This is a comparison circuit that compares and determines whether it is either.

106 is a shift register that serially stores and outputs the data to be written to the data storage unit 101 via the comparison circuit 105 when the command information determined by the comparison circuit 105 is a write command;
are respective unique oscillation frequencies fl.

oscillator with f2, in particular f from oscillator 107
The 1 signal is used as a timing signal in the shift register 106. 109 is a data storage unit 10 read out according to a read command from the fixed communication device 20;
A transmission data creation section 110 creates data to be transmitted based on production information etc. from 1;
The bit data corresponding to production information etc. serially output from 9 is sent to the oscillator 1 corresponding to its "θ" and "work".
111 is an amplifier that amplifies the modulation signal from the modulation circuit 110, and applies a predetermined amplification to the modulation signal based on the output signal from the transmission data creation section 109. was done,
The signal is transmitted from the transmitting antenna 102b. In addition, 112 in the figure is a power switch, and this power switch 112 supplies current from battery B to each part when startup information (outputted together with a read or write command) is received from the fixed communication device 20. .

Next, the processing process of the process management computer 40 and the operation of the entire system will be explained according to the process flow of the process management computer 40 shown in FIG.

First, the process control computer 40 constantly monitors the detection signal from the detection device [30 (■), and detects when the workpiece 2 from the previous work station is moved by the conveyor 1 and enters the communication area. When the output signal is output from the device 30, the internal process control computer 40 confirms that the reading of information by the fixed communication device 20 is completed, and also checks whether the internal timer Tl exceeds the predetermined time Tot. (■, ■). This predetermined time TOI is determined based on, for example, the moving speed of the conveyor 1, the installation position of the detection device 30, and the distance to the working position of the robot 3.
When the work position is reached and a read command is issued, the fixed communication device 20 transmits a read command for production information and the like to the mobile communication device 10 along with activation information. This fixed communication device 2
When the mobile communication device 10 receives the start-up information and read command from 0, the mobile communication device 10 starts up by operating the power switch 112 based on the start-up information to supply battery B power to each part. Furthermore, when the comparison circuit 105 determines that the command from the fixed communication device 20 via the demodulation circuit 104 is a read command, the production information and the work result information at the previous work station (previous (written after the work at the work station is finished) is read out, and a data signal from the transmission data creation section 109 based on this production information and work result information is sent to the modulation circuit 110 and the amplifier 11.
1. Transmitted via the transmitting antenna 102b. When the fixed communication device [20 receives the production information for the workpiece 2 and the work result information at the previous work station transmitted from the mobile communication device 10 in this way, the fixed communication device 20 receives the response signal to the above-mentioned information reading command. The production information and work result information are sent to the process control computer 40.
to be transmitted. At this point, if the internal timer T1 has not reached the predetermined time To1 (■), the process control computer 40 confirms the completion of information reading by the response signal from the fixed-line fFt20 (■), and after this confirmation. ,
Production information and work result information are input, and a check for errors in reading the production information, etc., is performed. If the reading is normal, it is determined whether or not work should be performed at the work station based on the input work result information (■). If it is determined that work should be performed at the work station, the process control computer 40 issues a work command to the robot controller 4 based on the input production information (■). Then, the robot 3 is driven under the control of the robot controller 4 based on the work command, and the work 2 is assembled based on the production information stored in the mobile communication device 10.

On the other hand, the process control computer 40 outputs an inspection command to the automatic inspection machine 5 along with the above-mentioned work command to the robot controller 4, and then monitors the inspection signal output from the automatic inspection machine 5 at the end of the inspection. Maintain (■). When the automatic inspection machine 5 finishes inspecting the workpiece 2 and the process control computer 40 inputs the inspection signal from the automatic inspection machine 5, another internal timer T2
(■), create work result information at the relevant work station based on the inspection results from the automatic inspection machine 5 [phase]), and further transfer this work result information to the data in the mobile communication bag @10. Information output processing is performed, such as issuing a command to the fixed communication device 20 to write in the storage unit 101 (■). After that, the process control computer 40 checks whether the internal timer 12 reaches a predetermined time 702 or more, and maintains the confirmation operation that the process is completed (
e, 4)).

On the other hand, when the fixed communication device 20 receives a write command from the process control computer 40 as described above, the fixed communication device 20 transmits the write information and work result information via the antenna 21b, and transmits each information to the mobile communication. device 10
When received, the internal comparison circuit 105 determines whether the fixed communication product! It is determined that the command from 120 is a write command, and the subsequent work result information is transferred to shift register 1.
The data is sequentially written into the data storage unit 101 via the data storage unit 06. When writing of such work result information is completed, a response signal indicating completion of writing is transmitted from the mobile communication device 10, and the internal timer T2 receives the response signal via the fixed communication @20 for a predetermined time To2. If the process control computer 40 inputs an input before reaching the number, the process control computer 40 performs an error check regarding the writing, and then ends a series of writing-related processes.

In the process of the process control computer 40 as described above, the internal timer T1 is activated for a predetermined period of time before the reading 9 of the information stored in the mobile communication device 10 is completed.
If the reading of the information is not completed by the time the workpiece 2 enters the communication area and reaches the working position of the robot 3, or if the mobile communication bag fl! If the other internal timer T2 reaches the predetermined time TO2 before the writing of information into the antenna 21b is completed, that is, the inspection of the workpiece 2 is completed and the workpiece 2 leaves the communication area determined by the directivity of the antenna 21b, etc. If the writing of the information is not completed by then, abnormality processing, such as warning and stopping of the conveyor 1, is performed (0).

When the workpiece 2 that has escaped from the work station where the robot 3 is installed according to the above process reaches the work station where the robot 6 is installed next, the same process is performed at the water work station. Here, it is assumed that the robot 3 does not work on the workpiece 2 as specified. In this case also a mobile communication device! ! Based on the work result information (inspection results from the automatic inspection machine 5, etc.) read together with the production information from the data storage unit 101 in the i1G, it is determined whether or not to perform work at the next work station where the mouth bot 6 is installed. You will have to make a judgment (■ in Figure 1). At that time, even if the work is performed at the next work station based on the work status at the previous work station (the work station where the robot 3 is installed) as determined from the work result information above, the work at the next work station will not be If it is determined that it is possible to correct the part that was not performed according to the regulations (for example, based on the data in the work list held by the process control computer 40, it is determined whether the order of the work can be changed or not). , and also determine which station later can supplement the work, etc.)
The process control computer 40 then moves forward, and the work results are further stored in the data storage unit 1 in the mobile communication device 10.
01. On the other hand, if the work is performed at the next work station based on the work status at the previous work station determined from the work result information (at the work station where the robot 3 is installed), in the subsequent work, If it is determined that it is impossible to correct the part that has not been carried out according to the regulations (for example, as described above), the process control computer 40 issues a work stop command (work path) (see Figure 1). [phase]). Based on this work stop command, no work is performed at the next work station, and the information that the work was not performed is written in the data storage unit 101 in the mobile communication device 10 as work result information, as described above. It will be done.

From now on, at each work station, before the work,
It is determined whether or not to perform work at the work station based on the work results at the work station so far, and a work order is issued only when it is determined that work will be performed.
After the work is completed, the work result information (including the work path) is written into the data storage unit 101 within the mobile communication device 10.

Then, the necessary work is supplemented by a robot at a later station, and instructions are given to the worker for replenishment work, for example, to replace the grease supply tank, or to supply parts such as nuts to the parts feeder.

The final station of the production line determines whether the work 2 is good or bad based on the work result information at each work station stored in the data storage unit 101 in the mobile communication device 10, and selects the next work 2 in the work path. is considered to be a good product, while work 2 that had a work pass is moved to the repair lane.
i + get it.

Then, in the repair lane, after the work on the work path has been done, the work 2 is transported to the next process.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the next work is performed or canceled depending on the result of the previous work, but in addition, part of the next work is performed depending on the result of the previous work. You can do it like this.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, the work results at each work station are stored in the mobile communication device, so that each work station can recognize the work status up to now before starting work. Depending on the work situation, it becomes possible to work at the relevant work station. As a result, when work on a workpiece is not carried out according to the specified schedule, the degree of freedom in taking countermeasures increases, and more efficient product manufacturing management can be achieved.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 is a flowchart showing an example of the method for controlling the production of articles according to the present invention; FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a specific example of the configuration of the mobile communication device in FIG. 2. 1... Conveyor 2... Workpiece 3.6...
・Robot 4.7...Robot controller 5...Automatic inspection machine 10...Mobile communication device 20...Fixed communication device

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) Information regarding the production of the workpiece stored in the storage section of the mobile communication device is sent from the mobile communication device attached to the workpiece moving on the production line to the fixed communication device installed corresponding to each work station. A manufacturing control method for an article in which a work order is given to the workpiece at the work station based on the information regarding the production of the workpiece received by the fixed communication device. 1. A method for manufacturing and managing an article, characterized in that, after work on a workpiece is completed, information regarding the work result is written into a storage unit in the mobile communication device via a fixed communication device. (2) Information regarding the production of the workpiece stored in the storage section of the mobile communication device is sent from the mobile communication device attached to the workpiece moving on the production line to the fixed communication device installed corresponding to each work station. In a manufacturing control method for an article, a work instruction is given to the workpiece at the station based on the information regarding the production of the workpiece received by the fixed communication device. After completing the work at the next work station, the information regarding the work result is written to the storage section of the mobile communication device via the fixed communication device, and then, before working at the next work station, the information about the work result is written to the memory section of the mobile communication device. to determine the work mode for the work at the next work station based on the information regarding the work result at the previous work station written in the storage unit in the mobile communication device, which is received by the fixed communication device installed at the mobile communication device. A manufacturing control method for an article, characterized in that: