TW201730704A - Smart allocation device and system - Google Patents

Abstract

In a smart allocation system, an identification tag stored with a unique identification code, which corresponds to a to-be-processed object, is mounted to the to-be-processed object. An allocation device carried with the to-be-processed object transmits the unique identification code read from the identification tag to a data server. Upon receipt of processing procedure data and workstation data that correspond to the unique identification code from the data server, for each processing procedure included in the processing procedure data in order, the allocation device transmits an allocation request to at least one workstation included in the workstation data and corresponding to the processing procedure. The allocation device determines, based on workstation information from the at least one workstation and at least one of multiple determination conditions, one workstation among the at least one workstation to serve as a target workstation corresponding to the processing procedure, and conveys the to-be-processed to a location where the target workstation is located.

Description

Intelligent distribution device and system

The present invention relates to a dispensing device and system, and more particularly to an intelligent dispensing device and system for dispensing work-in-progress.

When the factory is in the process of working in process (WIP), or testing the finished product, it is delivered to the relevant workstation for processing or testing by Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV) or conveyor belt mechanism.

However, the route of the existing automatic guided vehicle is already arranged in advance, and it is not possible to flexibly change the route according to the current situation of the machine on the production line or the processing situation of the workstation. For example, when an automated guided vehicle carries one or more work-in-progress items, the work item must be sent to the predetermined workstation in sequence according to the pre-arranged routing path. In such a delivery mode, if any of the preset workstations are in a busy state or a down state, even if the (or) WIP carried by the automated guided vehicle has been delivered to the preset workstation, it still has to wait until the pre-operation It can be processed after the workstation has processed the previous WIP or returned to the normal state. Therefore, there is still much room for improvement in the existing automatic guided vehicle delivery method.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an intelligent dispensing apparatus and system for dispensing work-in-progress.

Therefore, the intelligent distribution system of the present invention is applicable to an indoor space configured with a plurality of workstations, and the intelligent distribution system includes an identification tag, a delivery device, a reading device, and a data server.

The identification tag is adapted to be mounted to an item to be processed and stored with a unique identification code corresponding to the item to be processed.

The dispensing device includes a carrier unit adapted to carry the item to be processed moving between the stations, a communication unit mounted on the carrier unit, and a processing module mounted on the carrier unit. The communication unit can communicate with the workstations, the processing module electrically connecting the carrier unit and the communication unit.

The reading device is adapted to be fixed in the indoor space and includes a reading module and a communication module. When the dispensing device approaches the reading module, the reading module reads the unique identification code stored by the identification tag installed on the item to be processed. The communication module is electrically connected to the reading module to receive the unique identification code read by the reading module, and can communicate with the communication unit of the delivery device to transmit the unique identification code to the communication unit via the communication unit The processing module.

The data server can communicate with the communication unit of the delivery device and store processing information corresponding to the unique identification code, the processing information including processing program data and workstation data, the processing program information including the current desired item of the to-be-processed item Processing at least one processing program, the workstation material comprising at least one workstation corresponding to each of the at least one processing program.

The processing module of the delivery device transmits, by the communication unit, a data request including the unique identification code to the data server, and the data server responds to the data request upon receiving the data request from the delivery device. And transmitting a data containing the processing information to the delivery device.

After receiving the data reply from the data server via the communication unit, the processing module of the delivery device sequentially transmits a delivery request to each of the at least one processing program to the corresponding The at least one workstation of the processing program, and when receiving at least one delivery reply from the at least one workstation and each containing workstation information via the communication unit, according to the at least one delivery reply and at least one of a plurality of determination conditions And determining, from the at least one workstation, a target workstation corresponding to the processing program, and generating a motion control signal related to the target workstation, and outputting the motion control signal to the carrier unit, so that the carrier unit is configured according to the The movement control signal carries the item to be processed to a location of the target workstation.

Therefore, the intelligent distribution device of the present invention is suitable for distributing an item to be processed with an identification tag installed in an indoor space provided with a plurality of workstations and a reading device, the identification tag storing a unique item corresponding to the item to be processed The identification code, the intelligent delivery device comprises a carrier unit, a communication unit and a processing module.

The carrier unit is adapted to carry the item to be treated for movement between the stations. The communication unit is mounted on the carrier unit and is adapted to communicate with the workstation, the reading device and a data server, and when the carrier unit is in proximity to the reading device, receives the reading device and is The reading device reads the unique identification code stored by the identification tag installed on the item to be processed. The processing module is mounted on the carrier unit and electrically connects the carrier unit and the communication unit and receives the unique identification code from the communication unit.

The data server stores processing information corresponding to the unique identification code, where the processing information includes processing program data and workstation data, the processing program data includes at least one processing program currently to be processed by the to-be-processed item, and the workstation data includes At least one workstation for each of the at least one processing program.

The processing module uses the communication unit to transmit a data request including the unique identification code to the data server, and after receiving a data reply from the data server and including the processing information, the at least one is sequentially Each of the processing programs transmits a delivery request to the at least one workstation corresponding to the processing program, and receives, via the communication unit, at least one distribution from the at least one workstation and each containing workstation information Responding to, based on the at least one delivery reply, and at least one of the plurality of determination conditions, determining a target workstation corresponding to the processing program from the at least one workstation, and generating a mobile control related to the target workstation And transmitting the movement control signal to the carrier unit, so that the carrier unit transports the item to be processed to a location of the target workstation according to the movement control signal.

The effect of the present invention is that, for each processing procedure currently to be processed by the item to be processed, the dispensing device of the intelligent distribution system determines a corresponding target workstation according to at least one of the workstation information and the determination conditions. Then, the item to be processed is carried to the corresponding target workstation, thereby realizing the purpose of intelligent distribution.

Referring to Figures 1 through 3, one embodiment of the intelligent dispensing system 100 of the present invention is applicable to an indoor space 400 (Figure 3) configured with, for example, six workstations 401-406. In the present embodiment, the intelligent distribution system 100 is used to deliver, for example, three identical items to be processed 500, but not limited thereto, and includes, for example, three identification labels corresponding to the same item 500 to be processed. 1. A data server 2 and a delivery device 3. In addition, the waiting for processing article 500 is, for example, a work in process to be processed, but not limited thereto. In some embodiments, the waiting for processing article 500 may be a finished product yet to be tested. It should be noted that in other embodiments, the intelligent distribution system 100 of the present invention can also be used to deliver a plurality of different items 500 to be processed, so that the intelligent distribution system 100 of the present invention needs to include a plurality of different corresponding to each other. The identification tag 1 of the item 500 is processed.

In the present embodiment, the identification tags 1 are respectively attached to the waiting for processing article 500, and a unique identification code corresponding to the waiting for processing article 500 is stored. In other embodiments, when the waiting for processing items 500 are different from each other, the identification tag 1 installed in each item to be processed 500 stores a unique identification code corresponding to the item to be processed 500, in other words, the identification labels. The stored unique identifiers of 1 are different from each other. Further, in this embodiment, the identification tags 1 are RFID tags that achieve short-range wireless transmission using, for example, RFID technology, but are not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the identification tags 1 may be Bluetooth identification tags that utilize Bluetooth technology to achieve short-range wireless communication. In addition, the identification tags 1 may be detachably connected to the waiting-to-process articles 500, respectively, using a plurality of connection interfaces (not shown).

In this embodiment, the data server 2 stores, for example, processing information corresponding to the unique identification code, the processing information includes processing program data and workstation data, and the processing program data includes the same to be processed by the same to-be-processed item 500. At least one processing program, the workstation material comprising at least one workstation corresponding to each of the at least one processing program. For example, the processing program data includes three processing programs A, B, and C that are currently processed in the processing item 500, and the workstation data includes the workstations 401-403 corresponding to the processing program A, The workstations 404-405 corresponding to the handler B, and the workstation 406 corresponding to the handler C.

It should be noted that, in other embodiments, when the waiting for processing items 500 are different from each other, the data server 2 needs to store a plurality of different unique identification codes respectively corresponding to the different identification codes stored by the identification labels 1. Handling information.

The delivery device 3 includes a carrier unit 31, a communication unit 33 and a processing module 34.

The carrier unit 31 is adapted to carry the pending processing item 500 between the workstations 401-406. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the carrying unit 31 includes, for example, an automatic guided vehicle 311, and an array of shelves 312 disposed on the automated guided vehicle 311 for carrying the waiting for items 500. In other embodiments, the carrier unit 31 can also include a conveyor mechanism (not shown).

The communication unit 33 is mounted on the carrier unit 31 (not shown in Fig. 2). In this embodiment, the communication unit 33 includes a first communication module 331 connected to a first communication network 200, and a second communication module 332 connected to a second communication network 300. On the other hand, the workstations 401-460 are all connected to the first communication network 200, and the data server 2 is connected to the second communication network 300. The first communication module 331 can communicate with the workstations 401-406 via the first communication network 200, and the second communication module 332 can communicate with the data server 2 via the second communication network 300. For example, the first communication network 200 is a short-range wireless communication network using Bluetooth technology or wi-fi technology, and the second communication network 300 is an internet, but not limited thereto. In another example, the first communication network 200 can be an intranet. In still another example, the first communication network 200 and the second communication network 300 can be the same internal network.

The processing module 34 is mounted on the carrier unit 31 (not shown in FIG. 3) and electrically connected to the carrier unit 31, the first communication module 331, and the second communication module 332.

The reading device 5 is adapted to be fixed in the indoor space 400, for example, a starting position of the carrying unit 31, and includes a reading module 51 and a communication module 52. When the dispensing device 3 approaches the reading module 51, the reading module 51 reads the unique identification code stored in the identification tags 1 installed in the waiting for processing article 500. In this embodiment, the reading module 51 includes, for example, two radio frequency identification array sensors 321 , but not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the read module 51 can include a plurality of Bluetooth identification array sensors. The communication module 52 is electrically connected to the reading module 51 to receive the unique identification code read by the reading module 51, and can be connected to the communication unit 33 of the delivery device 3 via the first communication network 200. The first communication module 331 communicates to transmit the unique identification code to the processing module 34 via the first communication module 331.

When the processing module 34 receives the unique identification code from the first communication module 331, the processing module 34 uses the second communication module 332 to transmit a data including the unique identification code via the second communication network 300. Request to the data server 2.

Upon receiving the data request from the delivery device 3, the data server 2 transmits a data containing the processing information to the second of the delivery device 3 via the second communication network 300 in response to the data request. Communication module 332.

After the processing module 34 receives the data reply from the data server 2 via the second communication module 332, according to the above example, the processing module 34 sequentially processes the processing programs A, B, and C. Each of them performs a delivery process. In the following, an example is given of how this embodiment completes all the dispensing procedures of the pending processing item 500.

Referring to FIG. 4, first, the delivery program executed by the processing module 34 for the processing program A in the embodiment is described in the following example, and the delivery program includes the following steps.

In step S41, the processing module 34 uses the first communication module 331 to transmit a delivery request to the workstations 401-403 corresponding to the processing program A via the first communication network 200.

Thus, when the workstations 401-403 each receive the delivery request from the delivery device 3, each of the workstations 401-403 via the first communication network 200 will include a workstation information of its own. The delivery reply is transmitted to the first communication module 331. In this embodiment, for each of the workstations 401-406, the workstation information includes, for example, latency of actual executable processing, processing yield of the workstation station (not shown), and required Processing time. More specifically, for the processing program A, the workstation information includes the waiting time for actually executing the processing program A, the processing yield of the workstation machine processing the processing program A, and the processing required for processing the processing program A. Processing time. It should be noted that the processing yield is, for example, related to the old and new of the workstation machine, and the processing time is related to, for example, the model of the workstation machine, but is not limited thereto.

In step S42, when the processing module 34 receives the delivery replies from the workstations 401-403 via the first communication module 331, the processing module 34 responds according to the delivery, and for example, relative At least one of the shortest waiting time, the relatively highest processing yield, and the relatively short processing time, etc., determines a target workstation corresponding to the processing program A from the workstations 401-403. For example, if the processing module 34 only relies on the determination condition of the relatively shortest waiting time and the workstation information included in the delivery reply from the workstation 403, the waiting time is shorter than that from the other workstations 401, 402. The processing module 34 determines that the workstation 403 is a target workstation corresponding to the processing program A, by the processing module 34 determining the waiting time of the workstation information included in the delivery reply. In another more complicated example, if the processing module 34 is based not only on the determination condition of the relatively shortest waiting time, but also on the determination conditions of the relatively highest processing yield, the relative minimum processing cost, and the relatively short processing time. When the processing module 34 uses a plurality of weighting factors respectively corresponding to all the foregoing determination conditions, all the determination conditions are weighted, and a target workstation corresponding to the processing program A is determined according to a weighting result. . It is worth noting that the weighting factors are preferably automatically adjusted based on a customer satisfaction statistical result associated with a historical period.

In step S43, the processing module 34 generates a motion control signal related to the target workstation, and outputs the motion control signal to the carrier unit 31, so that the carrier unit 31 utilizes, for example, indoors according to the motion control signal. The positioning technique, but not limited thereto, transports the pending item 500 to a location of the target workstation such that the target workstation executes the processing A of the pending processing item 500. According to the foregoing example, for example, the carrier unit 31 transports the waiting for processing item 500 to the workstation 403 according to the movement control signal generated by the processing module 34, so that the workstation 403 executes the processing procedure of the waiting for processing item 500. A.

Then, after the target workstation executes the processing program A and puts the waiting for processing item 500 back to the carrying unit 31, the processing module 34 can repeatedly perform step S41 of FIG. 4 for the processing program B. S43 is to complete the delivery procedure corresponding to the processing program B. According to the previous example, since the workstations 404, 405 correspond to the processing program B, one of the workstations 404, 405 is designated by the processing module 34 as a target workstation corresponding to the processing program B.

Similarly, after the target workstation corresponding to the processing program B executes the processing program B and puts the waiting processing item 500 back to the carrying unit 31, the processing module 34 can also borrow the processing program C for the processing program C. The delivery procedure corresponding to the processing program C is completed by repeatedly performing steps S41-S43 of FIG. However, it is worth noting that, according to the previous example, since only the workstation 406 corresponds to the processing program C, the processing module 34 can only use the workstation 406 as a target workstation corresponding to the processing program C, in this case, The processing module 34 can control the carrier unit 34 to directly transport the waiting for processing article 500 to the workstation 406 by the movement control signal, and thus steps S41-S42 in FIG. 4 can be omitted.

In other embodiments, if the intelligent distribution system 100 of the present invention is used to deliver a plurality of different items 500 to be processed, the processing module 34 may sort the waiting items 500 according to the desired order, and For each item to be processed 500, all corresponding delivery procedures as described above are performed.

In summary, the intelligent distribution system 100 of the present invention can determine a corresponding target work according to the desired determination condition for each processing program currently to be processed by the waiting processing item 500, so that the corresponding target work can be performed in a relatively efficient manner. The waiting for processing item 500 is delivered, thereby achieving the purpose of intelligent distribution. On the other hand, since the intelligent distribution system 100 of the present invention can provide the function of intelligent distribution, the waiting for processing article 500 can then be processed with relatively high processing efficiency.

However, the above is only the embodiment of the present invention, and the scope of the invention is not limited thereto, and all the equivalent equivalent changes and modifications according to the scope of the patent application and the patent specification of the present invention are still The scope of the invention is covered.

100‧‧‧Intelligent distribution system
5‧‧‧Reading device
1‧‧‧identification label
51‧‧‧Reading module
2‧‧‧Data Server
511‧‧‧radio frequency identification array sensor
3‧‧‧Distribution device
52‧‧‧Communication module
31‧‧‧ Carrying unit
200‧‧‧First communication network
311‧‧‧Automatic guided vehicle
300‧‧‧Second communication network
312‧‧‧Array shelves
400‧‧‧ indoor space
33‧‧‧Communication unit
401-406‧‧‧Workstation
331‧‧‧First Communication Module
500‧‧‧ Items to be processed
332‧‧‧Second communication module
S41~S43‧‧‧Steps
34‧‧‧Processing module

Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the embodiments of the present invention, wherein: FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of the intelligent dispensing system of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a perspective view, an example One of the embodiments is illustrated with a plurality of dispensing devices loaded with the same item to be processed; FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating an interior space of the dispensing device, a reading module, and a plurality of workstations configured with the embodiment And FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a dispensing procedure for each processing procedure to be performed for the article to be tested mounted with the same identification tag in this embodiment.

100‧‧‧Intelligent distribution system

1‧‧‧identification label

2‧‧‧Data Server

3‧‧‧Distribution device

31‧‧‧ Carrying unit

33‧‧‧Communication unit

331‧‧‧First Communication Module

332‧‧‧Second communication module

34‧‧‧Processing module

5‧‧‧Reading device

51‧‧‧Reading module

52‧‧‧Communication module

401-406‧‧‧Workstation

200‧‧‧First communication network

300‧‧‧Second communication network

Claims (14)

An intelligent distribution system is applicable to an indoor space configured with a plurality of workstations, the intelligent distribution system comprising: an identification tag adapted to be mounted to an item to be processed, and storing a unique identification code corresponding to the item to be processed; a dispensing device comprising a carrying unit adapted to carry the item to be processed for movement between the workstations, a communication unit mounted on the carrying unit and capable of communicating with the workstation, a processing module, mounted on The carrying unit is electrically connected to the carrying unit and the communication unit; a reading device is adapted to be fixed in the indoor space, and includes a reading module for reading the waiting device when the dispensing device approaches Processing the unique identification code stored in the identification tag installed on the article, and a communication module electrically connecting the reading module to receive the unique identification code read by the reading module, and The communication unit of the device communicates to transmit the unique identification code to the processing module via the communication unit; and a data server, the communication book with the delivery device Communicating, and storing processing information corresponding to the unique identification code, the processing information including processing program data and workstation data, the processing program data including at least one processing program currently to be processed by the to-be-processed item, the workstation data corresponding to At least one workstation of each of the at least one processing program; wherein the processing module of the delivery device transmits a data request including the unique identification code to the data server by using the communication unit, and the data server is receiving Responding to the data request, transmitting a data including the processing information to the delivery device in response to the data request; wherein the processing module of the delivery device receives the data from the communication device After the data server replies the data, the communication unit transmits a delivery request to the at least one workstation corresponding to the processing program for each of the at least one processing program, and receives at least one workstation via the communication unit. a distribution from the at least one workstation and each containing workstation information And responsive to determining, by the at least one workstation, a target workstation corresponding to the processing program, and generating a motion control signal related to the target workstation, according to the at least one delivery reply and the plurality of determination conditions And outputting the movement control signal to the carrier unit, so that the carrier unit transports the item to be processed to a location of the target workstation according to the movement control signal. The intelligent distribution system of claim 1, wherein: for each of the at least one processing program, the workstation information included in the delivery reply from each of the at least one workstation includes a waiting time, a processing yield, and Processing time; the determining conditions include a relatively shortest waiting time, a relatively highest processing yield, and a relatively shortest processing time; and for each of the at least one processing program, the delivery reply from the target workstation includes The workstation information meets at least one of the determination criteria. The intelligent distribution system of claim 1, wherein the carrying unit of the dispensing device is provided with an array shelf suitable for placing the item to be processed, and the reading module of the reading device comprises a radio frequency Identify the array sensor. The intelligent distribution system of claim 1, wherein the communication unit of the delivery device comprises: a first communication module electrically connected to the processing module, and the workstation and the reading via a first communication network The communication module of the device is communicated; and a second communication module is electrically connected to the processing module and communicates with the data server via a second communication network. The intelligent distribution system of claim 4, wherein the first communication network is a short-range wireless communication network using one of Bluetooth technology and wi-fi technology, and the second communication network is an internet network . The intelligent dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the carrying unit of the dispensing device comprises one of an automated guided vehicle and a conveyor mechanism. The intelligent dispensing system of claim 6, wherein the automated guided vehicle utilizes indoor positioning technology to transport the item to be processed when the carrying unit includes the automated guided vehicle. An intelligent dispensing device is adapted to deliver an item to be processed with an identification tag installed in an indoor space configured with a plurality of workstations and a reading device, the identification tag storing a unique identification code corresponding to the item to be processed, The intelligent dispensing device comprises: a carrying unit adapted to carry the item to be processed moving between the workstations; a communication unit mounted on the carrying unit and adapted to be coupled to the workstation, the reading device and a Data server communication, and when the carrier unit approaches the reading device, receives the unique identification code stored from the reading device and read by the reading device to the identification tag installed by the item to be processed And a processing module mounted on the carrier unit and electrically connected to the carrier unit and the communication unit, and receiving the unique identification code from the communication unit; wherein the data server stores the unique identifier corresponding to the Processing information of the code, the processing information includes processing data and workstation data, and the processing data includes the to-be-processed item At least one processing program to be processed, the workstation data includes at least one workstation corresponding to each of the at least one processing program; wherein the processing module transmits, by using the communication unit, a data request including the unique identification code to And the data server, after receiving a reply from the data server and including the processing information, sequentially transmitting, to the each of the at least one processing program, a delivery request to the corresponding The at least one workstation of the processing program, when receiving at least one delivery reply from the at least one workstation and each containing workstation information via the communication unit, and according to the at least one delivery reply and at least one of the plurality of determination conditions Determining, from the at least one workstation, a target workstation corresponding to the processing program, and generating a motion control signal related to the target workstation, and outputting the motion control signal to the carrier unit, so that the carrier unit is configured according to the The mobile control signal carries the item to be processed to a location of the target workstation Set. The intelligent distribution device of claim 8, wherein: for each of the at least one processing program, the workstation information included in the delivery reply from each of the at least one workstation includes a waiting time, a processing yield, and Processing time; the determining conditions include a relatively shortest waiting time, a relatively highest processing yield, and a relatively shortest processing time; and for each of the at least one processing program, the delivery reply from the target workstation includes The workstation information meets at least one of the determination criteria. The intelligent distribution device of claim 8, wherein the reading module comprises a radio frequency identification array sensor, wherein the carrier unit is provided with an array shelf suitable for placing the item to be processed. The intelligent distribution device of claim 8, wherein the communication unit comprises: a first communication module electrically connected to the processing module and communicating with the workstation and the reading device via a first communication network; And a second communication module electrically connected to the processing module and communicating with the data server via a second communication network. The intelligent distribution device of claim 11, wherein the first communication network is a short-range wireless communication network using one of Bluetooth technology and wi-fi technology, and the second communication network is an internet network. . The intelligent dispensing device of claim 8, wherein the carrying unit comprises one of an automated guided vehicle and a conveyor mechanism. The intelligent dispensing device of claim 13, wherein the automated guided vehicle utilizes an indoor positioning technique to transport the item to be processed when the carrying unit includes the automated guided vehicle.