JPS6254657A - Physical distribution control method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To simplify the factory automation system by memorizing a transportation schedule for each cell into a physical distribution control system according to a production schedule, and providing means for demanding workpiece delivery and discharge in each cell. CONSTITUTION:A transportation schedule for each cell 103 is preliminarily set in a physical distribution control system 102. And the switch 1S of the terminal device 103d for each cell is operated to output a delivery demand signal W1. Then, said system 102 recognizes a workpiece to be carried and the quantity thereof, referring to a transportation schedule, and a workpiece is carried from an automated warehouse 104 to the demanding cell 103 via an unmanned carrier 105. And when a machine tool 103b has finished the specified number of processes and the result therefrom has been notified to a cell control system 101, a list of production progresses and the like is updated and a succeeding NC program is transferred. Also, a processed workpiece is carried to the automated warehouse 104, according to a discharge command WO. The factory automation system can be thereby simplified without any need of an expensive key board and display device.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] <Industrial Application Field> The present invention relates to a logistics control method in an FA system, and in particular, a terminal for generating a request signal for loading or unloading a workpiece is provided in each cell, and the loading/unloading signal generated from the terminal is provided in each cell. Alternatively, the present invention relates to a distribution control method for controlling the distribution of workpieces based on a carry-out request signal.

<Prior art> In addition to arranging a large number of cells including at least an NC device and a machine tool, a cell control system for controlling the operation of the cells according to a production schedule, an automated warehouse, an automated guided vehicle, and an automated guided vehicle are provided. F equipped with a logistics control system that transports unprocessed workpieces from the automated warehouse to each cell and transports processed workpieces from each cell to the automated warehouse.
There is an A system.

In such an FA system, the cell control system (1) instructs the logistics control system as to which workpiece and how many are to be transported to which cell, based on the production schedule input from the host device, etc., and (2) controls the NC of each cell. Transfer the NC program to the device.

The logistics mJ control system transports the workpieces based on instructions from the cell control system, and when the workpieces have been transported to each cell, it notifies the cell control system of the completion of transport. Furthermore, when each cell finishes receiving the NC program, it similarly notifies the cell control system of the completion of the reception.

Then, when preparations for machining are completed as described above, the cell control system instructs each cell to start operation, and machining is performed by the cells. When the machining is completed, the cell notifies the cell control system, and the cell control system thereafter performs the same processing as described above according to the production schedule, and thereafter the machining according to the production schedule is automatically continued.

<Problems to be solved by the invention> In the above FA system, the cell control system controls the logistics control system and each cell, etc. to automatically perform production and processing according to the schedule, so it is not a large-scale system. Become.

By the way, rather than such a large-scale system, a simple F
In other words, there may be a need for a system that does not automatically perform all operations, but rather involves the intervention of a worker to some extent and performs machining according to the production schedule according to the worker's instructions.

However, in the past, even a simple FA system required an expensive keyboard/display device for each cell for inputting work instructions, making the system expensive.

From the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a logistics control method that can provide an inexpensive and simple FA system that does not require a keyboard/display device.

Means for solving the above problems〉 The figure shows a simple FA that realizes the logistics control method according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the system.

101 is a cell control system, 102 is a logistics control system, 103 is a cell, 104 is an automated warehouse, and 105 is an automatic guided vehicle.

The cell 103 includes an NC device 103a, a machine tool 103b, workpiece stands 103cm1, 103c-2, etc., and a terminal device 1 that generates a signal requesting loading and unloading of the workpiece.
03d.

If a transportation schedule is set for each cell in the logistics TJJ control system, the logistics control system will refer to the transportation schedule and determine the type and number of workpieces to be transported to the cell just by receiving a delivery request. Recognize it. In other words, each cell only needs to send a carry-in request to the logistics control system, and there is no need to input the type or number of workpieces. In addition, in case of carrying out, it is sufficient to issue a carrying out request. Therefore, by storing the transport schedule of each cell in the logistics control system, there is no need to provide a keyboard/display device for each cell, and it is possible to simply provide a switch that can output a transport/transport request signal (the system can be made at low cost). Can be done.

Therefore, in the present invention, a requesting means for generating a signal requesting loading and unloading of a workpiece is provided in each cell, and
A transport schedule for each cell according to the production schedule is stored in the logistics control system, and when there is a request to carry in a workpiece from the requesting means of a predetermined cell, the logistics control system refers to the transport schedule of the cell. Identifying the workpiece and quantity to be transported, transporting the workpiece of the corresponding quantity from the automated warehouse to the cell that has issued the carry-in request using an automatic guided vehicle, and if there is a request for carrying out the workpiece from the requesting means of a predetermined cell, The distribution control system transports processed workpieces from the cell to an automated warehouse.

<Embodiment> FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an FA system that implements the logistics control method according to the present invention.

101 is a cell control system, 1o2 is a logistics control system, 103 is a cell, 104 is an automated warehouse, and 105 is an automatic guided vehicle.

The cell control system 101 is composed of a computer-configured central management control unit 101a, a LAN 101b that controls data exchange between each unit, a program file unit 1010, etc.
A production schedule is stored in the storage device 01a. The production schedule is based on the following data in processing order for each cell: (1) job number, (2) part number, (3) process,
It consists of (4) serial number, (51N C program number), (6) number of commands, (7) number of completions, etc.

The physical distribution control system 102 is capable of exchanging data with the central management control unit 101a via the LAN 101b, and a transportation schedule corresponding to the production schedule is stored in advance in a storage device (not shown). The transport schedule is configured to include the following data in order of processing: (1) job number, (2) part number, (3) number of commands, etc.

The cell 103 includes an NC device 103a, a machine tool 103b, workpiece stands 103cm1, 103c-2, etc., and a terminal device 1 that generates a signal requesting loading and unloading of the workpiece.
03d.

The terminal device 103d has a switch Is such as a push button that requests loading of the workpiece, and a similar switch O8 that requests loading of the workpiece, and the loading request signal w11 and the loading request signal WO generated from the switches IS and OS respectively are iLl, It is designed to be taken into the physical distribution control system 102 via L2.

A transport schedule for each cell is set in advance in the storage device of the physical distribution control system 102. The transport schedule may be created by the cell control system 101 according to the production schedule and set in the storage device of the logistics control system 102, or the transport schedule may be set by an operator from a data input device (not shown) of the logistics control system according to the production schedule. It's okay.

In this state, a worker (not necessarily one person) can
The switch Is of the terminal device 103d of No. 3 is operated to output the carry-in request Wl.

When the logistics control system 102 receives a carry-in request W+ from a cell, it refers to the transport schedule of the cell, identifies the work to be transported and its quantity, and then transfers the work in the quantity from the automated warehouse 104 to the automatic guided vehicle 105. sends a carry-in request and has it transported to the cell. Thereafter, each time the delivery is completed, the physical distribution control system 102 repeats the same process as described above in the order of the cells that received the delivery request.

In addition, the cell control system 101 It controls each cell 10 according to the production schedule in parallel with the upper gE logistics control.
The NC program is transferred to the NC device 103a of No. 3.

The operator loads the workpiece placed on the workpiece table 102c-i into the machine tool 41i1i103b, and then starts the machine tool 41i1i103b. As a result, the 81
t machining is performed, and when the instructed machining is completed, the cell notifies the cell control system 101 to that effect. Thereby, the cell control system 101 updates the production progress list of the corresponding cell, and also transfers the next NC program according to the production schedule.

On the other hand, when the operator confirms with a lamp or the like that the commanded number of machining operations has been completed, he operates the switch O8 and outputs a carry-out request WO.

When the physical distribution control system 102 receives a carry-out request WO from a cell, it causes the automatic guided vehicle 105 to transport the processed work from the workpiece table of the cell that issued the carry-out request to the automated warehouse 104.

When the unloading of the processed workpiece is completed, the operator operates the loading switch tS to request loading of the workpiece according to the next production schedule. As a result, the same operation as described above is repeated thereafter.

If there are two or more workpiece mounting tables, the distribution control system 102 can manage for each cell which mounting table the currently processed workpiece is placed on, which mounting table the workpiece is not placed on, etc. It would be possible to reduce the number of terminals 103d to one per cell.

Alternatively, the terminal device 103d can instruct the loading platform for carrying in unprocessed workpieces or the loading platform for carrying out processed workpieces without having the physical distribution control system 102 perform the management, but the terminal device 103 becomes more complicated and expensive. Furthermore,
A terminal device can also be provided for each work placement table.

<Effects of the Invention> According to the present invention, a request means for generating a signal requesting loading and unloading of a workpiece is provided in each cell, and a transportation schedule for each cell according to the production schedule is stored in the logistics control system. If there is a request for carrying in a workpiece from the requesting means of a predetermined cell, the logistics control system refers to the transport schedule of the cell, identifies the workpiece and quantity to be transported, and delivers the workpiece of that quantity from the automated warehouse. An unmanned guided vehicle transports the work to the cell that has issued the carry-in request, and if there is a request for carrying out the work from the requesting means of the predetermined cell,
Since the logistics control system is configured to transport processed workpieces from the cell to the automated warehouse, there is no need for an expensive keyboard/display device, and each cell is simply provided with a terminal device that can generate carry-in requests and carry-out requests. Therefore, an inexpensive and simple FA system can be provided.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The figure is a block diagram of an FA system that implements the physical distribution control method according to the present invention. 101--Cell control system 102--Logistics control system, 103--Cell, 103a--NC device, 103b--
Machine tool, 103 c-i...work stand, 103d...terminal device, 104...automated warehouse, 105...automated guided vehicle,

Claims (1)

[Claims] A cell control system that includes a large number of cells including at least an NC device and a machine tool, and controls the operation of the cells according to a production schedule, an automated warehouse, an automated guided vehicle, and an automated guided vehicle. F is equipped with a logistics control system that transports unprocessed workpieces from the automated warehouse to each cell and transports processed workpieces from each cell to the automated warehouse.
In the logistics control method in the A system, a request means is provided to generate a signal requesting loading and unloading of workpieces to each cell, and a transportation schedule for each cell according to the production schedule is stored in the logistics control system, When there is a request to carry in a workpiece from the requesting means of a predetermined cell, the logistics control system refers to the transport schedule of the cell to identify the workpiece and quantity to be transported, and transports the workpiece in the corresponding quantity from the automated warehouse to the automatic guided vehicle. and transport the processed work to the cell that has issued the transport request, and if there is a request for transport of the work from the requesting means of a predetermined cell, the distribution control system transports the processed work from the cell to the automated warehouse. Logistics control method.