TW202322039A - Automatic scheduling system and method - Google Patents

Abstract

An automatic scheduling system, comprising: at least one machine for processing at least one workpiece; a machine monitoring module for monitoring a machine status information and controlling the at least one machine; a storage module for monitoring a material storage status and delivering the materials; and a central control module signal connected to the machine monitoring module and the storage module; when the central control module receives at least one manufacturing order requesting for processing the at least one workpiece, the central control module executes the following steps: capturing a material information from the storage module; capturing the machine status information of the at least one machine from the machine monitoring module; and scheduling the at least one manufacturing order according to the material information and the machine status information.

Description

Automatic scheduling system and method

The present invention relates to a scheduling system and method, in particular to an automatic scheduling system and method that can be used for automatic processing.

At present, metal parts manufacturers usually use a single machine as a unit to process, but the signals or data between the machines are not transmitted to each other, making it difficult for the machine and its peripheral equipment to cooperate with each other. They can only perform processing operations independently, and there is no system. Management and distribution of machine operation efficiency. In addition, since each machine and equipment requires personnel to operate, move and store materials, record operation information, and perform continuous operations within a specific period of time, a large amount of personnel costs are required.

Although the current automated production can produce in large quantities to reduce personnel costs, it also limits the variability and complexity of products to a considerable extent. For the industry that uses machine tools to process parts, it needs to meet the product production mode that can be diversified or customized in a small amount. It is difficult for general automated production to meet the needs of this industry.

The existing scheduling system pre-arranges the work sequence of related machines, equipment and materials based on the order-making schedule and production-related data. However, the pre-scheduled work sequence cannot take into account the operation of the actual production line, and cannot clearly arrange the details of the operation of each machine, making it difficult for the automated production line to operate according to it. In addition, most of the existing scheduling systems are static scheduling, so real-time dynamic adjustments cannot be made according to the actual operation status of the production line, making it difficult for the scheduling system to actually control automated production, resulting in poor production efficiency.

Therefore, the present invention discloses an automatic scheduling system and method applicable to automatic processing to solve the above problems.

In order to solve the above problems, an embodiment of the present invention discloses an automatic scheduling system, which includes: at least one machine for processing at least one workpiece; A group is used to monitor a machine status information corresponding to at least one machine and control at least one machine to process; a storage module is used to monitor a material storage status and distribute materials for processing at least one workpiece; and a middle The control module, the signal is connected to the machine monitoring module and the storage module; when the central control module receives at least one order for requesting processing of at least one workpiece, the central control module performs the following steps: extract from the storage module Material information; machine status information of at least one machine is retrieved from the machine monitoring module; and at least one production order is scheduled according to the material information and the machine status information.

In order to solve the above problems, an embodiment of the present invention discloses an automated scheduling method, which is used in an automated scheduling system. The automated scheduling system includes a central control module, at least one machine, a machine monitoring module, and a warehouse module, and the central control module signal is connected to the machine monitoring module and the storage module, and the machine monitoring module signal is connected to at least one machine. The automatic scheduling method includes: through the machine monitoring module to monitor at least one corresponding machine status information of one machine and control at least one machine for processing; through the storage module, monitor the storage status of a material and distribute it for processing at least one workpiece material; and receive at least one production order through the central control module; when receiving When at least one order is made, the central control module performs the following steps: retrieve a piece of material information from the storage module; retrieve the machine status information of at least one machine from the machine monitoring module; and according to the material information and the machine Status information, at least one order will be scheduled.

Compared with the prior art, the automated scheduling system of an embodiment of the present invention can use the "machine monitoring module to monitor the status information of a machine corresponding to at least one machine and control at least one machine for processing", "A storage module, used to monitor the storage status of a material and distribute the material for processing at least one workpiece" and "When the central control module receives at least one order for processing at least one workpiece, the central control module Execute the following steps: retrieve a piece of material information from the storage module; retrieve the machine status information of at least one machine from the machine monitoring module; and schedule at least one production order according to the material information and the machine status information ” technical features, reduce human intervention, personnel costs and enhance the overall production line integration, production efficiency and machine utilization rate.

Compared with the prior art, the automated scheduling method of another embodiment of the present invention can be achieved by "monitoring the state information of a machine corresponding to at least one machine through the machine monitoring module and controlling at least one machine for processing", "Through the warehousing module, monitor the storage status of a material and distribute it to process at least one workpiece material" and "Receive at least one production order through the central control module; when receiving at least one production order, the central control module executes the following steps : Extract a piece of material information from the storage module; extract the machine status information of at least one machine from the machine monitoring module; and schedule at least one order according to the material information and machine status information" Features, reduce human intervention, personnel costs and improve overall production line integration, production efficiency and machine utilization rate.

In order to enable those skilled in the art to further understand the present invention, the preferred embodiments of the present invention are listed below, and the composition and desired effects of the present invention are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the accompanying drawings are all simplified schematic diagrams, therefore, only the components and combinations related to the present invention are shown to provide a clearer description of the basic structure or implementation method of the present invention, while the actual components and layout may be more accurate. for complex. In addition, for the convenience of description, the components shown in the drawings of the present invention are not drawn in proportion to the number, shape, and size of the actual implementation, and the detailed proportions can be adjusted according to design requirements.

Please refer to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of an automatic scheduling system of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of the automatic scheduling system of the present invention. An automated scheduling system 1000 of the present invention includes: at least one machine M, a machine monitoring module 102, a storage module 103, and a central control module 101, the signal is connected to the machine monitoring module 102 and the storage module 103; For example, the central control module 101 is an industrial computer, used to control the automatic scheduling system 1000 of the present invention.

At least one machine M is used to process at least one workpiece. At least one machine M can be a CNC processing machine, a cleaning machine or any machine or peripheral equipment (such as a manual workstation) that can control signals and actuate through the monitoring module 102 , the present invention does not limit the type and quantity of the machine M. The machine monitoring module 102 is signal-connected to the at least one machine M for monitoring a machine status information corresponding to the at least one machine M and controlling the at least one machine M for processing. The machine monitoring module 102 can be a programmable logic controller (Programmable Logic Controller; PLC), an industrial computer or a combination thereof, and the machine monitoring module 102 is programmed to control the at least one machine M to process at least one workpiece , wherein the program is PLC language or other programs that can run in the machine monitoring module 102, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

The warehousing module 103 is used to monitor a material storage status and distribute materials for processing at least one workpiece. The warehousing module 103 can be an automated warehousing system, including PLC and/or industrial computers, storage areas W and At least one distribution unit D (as shown in FIG. 2 ), the aforementioned materials can be stored in the storage area W, and the storage area W and the machine M can be moved and distributed through at least one distribution unit D. Specifically, the distribution unit D may be a stacker, a conveyor belt, a robotic arm or a combination thereof, and the storage area W may be a storage area, a plurality of shelves, a container, or other objects for placing or storing materials. It is not limited to the example of the delivery unit D or the storage area W mentioned above.

When the central control module 101 receives at least one order for requesting processing of at least one workpiece, the central control module 101 executes an automatic scheduling method, which includes the following steps A, B and C (steps A, The naming of B and C is for the convenience of description, and it is not used to limit the order of execution):

Step A: Retrieve a piece of material information from the warehouse module 103;

Step B: Retrieving a machine status information of at least one machine M from the machine monitoring module 102; and

Step C: Schedule at least one order according to material information and machine status information.

In step A, the central control module 101 sends a first signal to the storage module 103 , and the storage module 103 transmits the material information to the central control module 101 when receiving the first signal. In this embodiment, the storage module 103 monitors the storage status of materials in the storage area W, and forms corresponding material information to transmit to the central control module 101. The storage status and information of materials include material types, quantities, storage Information such as location, size, and corresponding workpieces that can be manufactured, and the storage module 103 can monitor the storage status of materials through sensors, weights, or signals connected to an inventory database, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

In step B, the central control module 101 sends a second signal to the machine monitoring module 102. When the machine monitoring module 102 receives the second signal, it transmits a machine status information of at least one machine M to Central control module 101. In this embodiment, the machine monitoring module 102 sends a confirmation signal to each machine M corresponding to at least one workpiece to obtain its respective machine status information; the machine status information can be: Use (available), processing (occupied), standby, shutdown, warning (warning) and abnormal (alarm), etc., are used to correspond to the current machine status information of at least one machine M, but the present invention does not take this as a limit. It should be noted that there is no sequence relationship between steps A and B, and the central control module 101 can also send the first signal and the second signal to the storage module 103 and the machine monitoring module 102 at the same time to retrieve the aforementioned information. In addition, in this embodiment, the central control module 101, the machine monitoring module 102, and at least one machine M can transmit signals or information to each other through an industrial network protocol (EtherNet/IP, EIP), but the present invention does not This is the limit.

In step C, the central control module 101 schedules at least one production order according to the captured material information and machine status information. In this embodiment, the bill includes information such as the type and quantity of workpieces to be processed, the machine M corresponding to the processing, the processing formula, and the process, but the present invention is not limited thereto. It should be noted that at least one order of the present invention may include a plurality of orders, that is to say, each order may correspond to all processes of processing a workpiece, or one of a plurality of processes (processing of the workpiece) Part of the process), the present invention does not limit the quantity or sequence of the corresponding workpieces and processes of the order. Next, the manner of scheduling at least one production order is further described below.

Please refer to FIG. 3 , which is a schematic flowchart of an automated scheduling system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the automatic scheduling system 1000 of the present invention, scheduling the at least one order includes:

Step S101: The central control module 101 determines whether the material is sufficient to execute at least one order according to the material information, and does not execute at least one order when the material is not enough to execute at least one order (step S199);

Step S103: when the material is sufficient to execute at least one order, the central control module 101 judges whether the machine status information of the corresponding at least one machine M is available; and

Step S105: When the corresponding machine state information of at least one machine M is available, the central control module 101 sends a piece of incoming material information to the storage module 103, and the storage module 103 will correspond to at least one machine M according to the incoming material information. The materials for the order making are delivered to at least one machine M for processing, and if the machine state information of the corresponding at least one machine M is not all available, at least one order making is not executed (step S199 ).

In step S101 , the central control module 101 judges whether the materials stored in the storage area W are sufficient to execute the order making according to the material information sent by the warehouse module 103 . When the material is insufficient, there is no need to judge whether the machine corresponding to the order making is usable, and then directly choose not to execute the order making (step S199 ). In step S103, when the machine state information of each corresponding machine M is available, the central control module 101 executes the order making (step S105); that is, if there is any machine M The machine status information of M is not usable (for example, the execution of this order requires three machines M to process successively, but the status information of one of the machines is processing), then the described order will not be executed (step S199). In step S105, when the storage module 103 receives the incoming material information, the materials corresponding to the incoming material information (corresponding to the order making) are transported to the corresponding machine M through the distribution unit D; in addition, when When materials need to be used in other machines M during processing, they can also be transported through the distribution unit D.

In another embodiment, in step S103, when the machine status information of one of the machines M corresponding to the order making is usable, the central control module 101 sends another input information to the storage module 103. The storage module 103 distributes the materials corresponding to the available machine M according to the incoming material information for processing. After one of the above-mentioned machines M completes the processing of a part of the aforementioned order making, if the machine status information of the other machine M corresponding to the aforementioned order making is usable, continue to execute other parts of the order making; if the corresponding When the machine status information of other machines M is not usable, the central control module 101 sends a temporary storage information to the storage module 103, and the storage module 103 will only execute part of the workpiece corresponding to the order according to the temporary storage information (Only partially processed workpieces) are temporarily stored back to the storage module 103 (for example, transported back to the storage area W through the distribution unit D for storage).

Please refer to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 . FIG. 4 is a schematic flowchart of an automated scheduling system including step S104 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the automatic scheduling system 1000 of the present invention, scheduling the at least one production order further includes:

Step S104: After a certain time, the central control module 101 determines whether the machine status information of at least one machine M is about to be available for use.

As mentioned above, in step S104, if the machine state information of any one of the corresponding machines M is not usable, but will be usable after a certain time, the central control module 101 Step S105 is still performed to execute the corresponding order making. It is worth mentioning that the above-mentioned specific time is less than or equal to the time required for the delivery of materials corresponding to at least one order to at least one machine M, that is, before the material is delivered to the machine M, the previous processing over.

Please refer to FIG. 5 and FIG. 2 . FIG. 5 is a schematic flowchart of an automated scheduling system including step S102 and step S104 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The automated scheduling system 1000 of the present invention further includes: at least one assembly and disassembly module 104, used for disassembling or assembling the materials required for processing at least one workpiece and the corresponding at least one mold, and in the automated scheduling system 1000, the Schedule at least one order, further including:

Step S102: the central control module 101 determines whether the materials required for at least one workpiece before processing must be assembled with at least one corresponding mold; and

Step S107: Send another input information to the storage module 103, and the storage module 103 distributes the material corresponding to at least one order to at least one disassembly module 104 for assembly according to the aforementioned another input information, and then distributes to Each has at least one machine M for processing.

In step S102, if the central control module 101 judges that the materials required for at least one workpiece before processing do not need to be assembled with the mold, the subsequent steps are still performed (step S104 or step S105). In addition, in this embodiment, the disassembly module 104 is a mechanical disassembly station or a manual disassembly station, and the mechanical disassembly station includes at least one robot arm and at least one turning platform corresponding to the robot arm (FIG. 2 In practical application, different disassembly modules 104 can be set according to the way the mold and the material are fixed (such as locking, fitting or clamping), so as to process the material into a workpiece. For example, when the material needs to be assembled with at least one corresponding mould, the other input information can include information such as the number of moulds, storage locations, fixing methods, and corresponding disassembly modules 104, and can be delivered through the delivery unit D The materials and their corresponding molds are delivered to the corresponding disassembly module 104 for disassembly. It should be noted that the sequence of steps S102 and S104 in the automated scheduling system 1000 in this embodiment is just an example. For example, step S102 may also be performed after step S103, or step S104 may be performed after step S102. Step S103 is then performed, and the present invention does not limit the sequence of the aforementioned steps.

In one embodiment of the present invention, at least one form includes a first form and a second form, the first form has a first priority, the second form has a second priority, and the central control The module 101 schedules the first order making and the second order making according to the first priority and the second priority. Taking the first priority higher than the second priority as an example, the central control module 101 can judge whether the material is enough to execute the first order making according to the material information; if it is not enough to execute the first order making, then the first order making will not be executed; If it is enough to execute the first order making, then the central control module 101 judges whether the machine status information of at least one machine M corresponding to the execution of the first order making is all usable; if all are usable, then send a first The input information is sent to the storage module 103, and the storage module 103 distributes the materials corresponding to the first order to at least one machine M for processing according to the first input information; If the machine status information of any machine M in the machine M is processing, a pause signal is sent to the machine monitoring module 102 to suspend execution of the order making currently being executed by the machine M, and send the first The input information is sent to the storage module 103, and the storage module 103 distributes the materials corresponding to the first order to at least one machine M for processing according to the first input information. If the aforementioned machine state information is in other states, such as standby or shutdown, a corresponding signal can be sent to the machine monitoring module 102, so that the machine state information of the machine M can be used; or, not Execute the first bill making. In addition, in this embodiment, as described in the aforementioned step S103, only a part of the first form and/or the second form may be executed, and the present invention is not limited thereto; the detailed execution method is the same as the above, so No more details here.

Please refer to FIG. 6 , which is a schematic flowchart of an automated scheduling system according to another embodiment of the present invention. The main difference between another embodiment of the present invention and the first embodiment is that the order of step S101 and step S103 is opposite, and the automated scheduling system 1000 of this embodiment may further include steps S102, S104, S105, and S107 as described in the first embodiment. and other steps, the present invention is not limited thereto. In addition, it should be noted that other technical features and implementations of the automated scheduling system 1000 have been described in the foregoing embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

Compared with the prior art, the automated scheduling system of an embodiment of the present invention can use the "machine monitoring module to monitor the status information of a machine corresponding to at least one machine and control at least one machine for processing", "A storage module, used to monitor the storage status of a material and distribute the material for processing at least one workpiece" and "When the central control module receives at least one order for processing at least one workpiece, the central control module Execute the following steps: retrieve a piece of material information from the storage module; retrieve the machine status information of at least one machine from the machine monitoring module; and schedule at least one production order according to the material information and the machine status information ” technical features, reduce human intervention, personnel costs and enhance the overall production line integration, production efficiency and machine utilization rate.

Compared with the prior art, the automated scheduling method of another embodiment of the present invention can be achieved by "monitoring the status information of a machine corresponding to at least one machine through the machine monitoring module and controlling at least one machine for processing", "Through the warehousing module, monitor the storage status of a material and distribute it to process at least one workpiece material" and "Receive at least one production order through the central control module; when receiving at least one production order, the central control module executes the following steps : Extract a piece of material information from the storage module; extract the machine status information of at least one machine from the machine monitoring module; and schedule at least one order according to the material information and machine status information" Features, reduce human intervention, personnel costs and improve overall production line integration, production efficiency and machine utilization rate. The above descriptions are only preferred embodiments of the present invention, and all equivalent changes and modifications made according to the scope of the patent application of the present invention shall fall within the scope of the present invention.

1000: Automatic scheduling system 101: Central control module 102:Machine monitoring module 103: Storage module 104: Disassembly and assembly of modules M: machine W: storage area D: delivery unit S101, S102, S103, S104, S105, S107, S199: Steps

Fig. 1 is a functional block diagram of an automatic scheduling system of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of the automatic scheduling system of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic flowchart of an automated scheduling system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a schematic flowchart of the automated scheduling system including step S104 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a schematic flowchart of an automated scheduling system including steps S102 and S104 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic flowchart of an automated scheduling system according to another embodiment of the present invention.

S101, S103, S105, S199: steps

Claims (16)

An automated scheduling system comprising: at least one machine for processing at least one workpiece; A machine monitoring module, the signal is connected to the at least one machine, and the machine monitoring module is used to monitor a machine state information corresponding to the at least one machine and control the at least one machine to process; a storage module for monitoring a material storage status and distributing the material for processing at least one workpiece; and A central control module, the signal is connected to the machine monitoring module and the storage module; when the central control module receives at least one order for requesting processing of the at least one workpiece, the central control module executes the following step: Retrieve a piece of material information from the storage module; retrieving the machine status information of the at least one machine from the machine monitoring module; and According to the material information and the machine status information, schedule the at least one production order. The automated scheduling system as described in claim 1, wherein scheduling the at least one order according to the material information and the machine status information includes: The central control module judges whether the material is sufficient to execute the at least one order according to the material information; When the material is insufficient to execute the at least one manufacturing order, the at least one manufacturing order is not executed; When the material is sufficient to execute the at least one order, the central control module judges whether the machine status information of the corresponding at least one machine is available. The automated scheduling system as described in claim 2, wherein judging whether the corresponding machine status information of the at least one machine is available includes: When the corresponding machine state information of the at least one machine is available, the central control module sends a piece of incoming material information to the storage module, and the storage module will correspond to the at least one machine according to the incoming material information. The material for making the order is delivered to each of the at least one machine for processing; When not all of the machine state information of the corresponding at least one machine is usable, the at least one order making is not executed. The automated scheduling system as described in claim 2, wherein judging whether the corresponding machine status information of the at least one machine is available includes: When the machine status information corresponding to one of the at least one machine is usable, the central control module sends another input information to the storage module, and the storage module delivers according to the input information The material corresponding to the machine whose state information is usable can be processed. The automated scheduling system as described in claim 1, wherein scheduling the at least one order according to the material information and the machine status information includes: The central control module judges whether all the machine state information of the at least one machine corresponding to the at least one order is usable according to the machine state information; When the corresponding machine status information of the at least one machine is not all usable, the at least one order is not executed; When the corresponding machine status information of the at least one machine is available, the central control module judges whether the material is sufficient to execute the at least one order according to the material information. The automated scheduling system as described in claim 5, wherein scheduling the at least one production order according to the material information and the machine status information further includes: The central control module judges whether the material is sufficient to execute the at least one order according to the material information; When the material is insufficient to execute the at least one manufacturing order, the at least one manufacturing order is not executed; When the material is sufficient to execute the at least one order, the central control module sends a material input information to the storage module, and the storage module distributes the material corresponding to the at least one production order according to the input information to Each has at least one machine for processing. The automated scheduling system as described in claim 1, further comprising: at least one assembly and disassembly module, used to disassemble or assemble the material and at least one corresponding mold required for processing the at least one workpiece; wherein, according to the material information and the machine status information, the scheduling of the at least one order further includes: the central control module determines whether the material required for the at least one workpiece before processing must be assembled with the corresponding at least one mold. The automated scheduling system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one order preparation includes a first order preparation and a second order preparation, the first order preparation has a first priority, and the second order preparation has a A second priority, the central control module schedules the first order making and the second order making according to the first priority and the second priority. An automated scheduling method, used in an automated scheduling system, the automated scheduling system includes a central control module, at least one machine, a machine monitoring module and a storage module, and the central control module signal Connecting the machine monitoring module and the storage module, and the machine monitoring module signal is connected to the at least one machine, the automatic scheduling method includes: Monitoring a machine status information corresponding to at least one machine and controlling the at least one machine to process through the machine monitoring module; Monitoring a material storage status and distribution for processing at least one workpiece material through the storage module; and At least one order is received through the central control module; when at least one order is received, the central control module performs the following steps: Retrieve a piece of material information from the storage module; retrieving the machine status information of the at least one machine from the machine monitoring module; and According to the material information and the machine status information, schedule the at least one production order. The automatic scheduling method as described in claim item 9, wherein scheduling the at least one production order according to the material information and the machine status information includes: The central control module judges whether the material is sufficient to execute the at least one order according to the material information; When the material is insufficient to execute the at least one manufacturing order, the at least one manufacturing order is not executed; When the material is sufficient to execute the at least one order, the central control module judges whether the machine status information of the corresponding at least one machine is available. The automated scheduling method as described in claim item 10, wherein judging whether the corresponding machine state information of the at least one machine is available includes: When the corresponding machine state information of the at least one machine is available, the central control module sends a piece of incoming material information to the storage module, and the storage module will correspond to the at least one machine according to the incoming material information. The material for making the order is delivered to each of the at least one machine for processing; When not all of the machine state information of the corresponding at least one machine is usable, the at least one order making is not executed. The automated scheduling method as described in claim item 10, wherein judging whether the corresponding machine state information of the at least one machine is available includes: When the machine status information corresponding to one of the at least one machine is usable, the central control module sends another input information to the storage module, and the storage module delivers according to the input information The material corresponding to the machine whose state information is usable can be processed. The automatic scheduling method as described in claim item 9, wherein scheduling the at least one production order according to the material information and the machine status information includes: The central control module judges whether all the machine state information of the at least one machine corresponding to the at least one order is usable according to the machine state information; When the corresponding machine status information of the at least one machine is not all usable, the at least one order is not executed; When the corresponding machine status information of the at least one machine is available, the central control module judges whether the material is sufficient to execute the at least one order according to the material information. The automated scheduling method as described in claim 13, wherein scheduling the at least one order according to the material information and the machine status information further includes: The central control module judges whether the material is sufficient to execute the at least one order according to the material information; When the material is insufficient to execute the at least one manufacturing order, the at least one manufacturing order is not executed; When the material is sufficient to execute the at least one order, the central control module sends a material input information to the storage module, and the storage module distributes the material corresponding to the at least one production order according to the input information to Each has at least one machine for processing. The automated scheduling method as described in claim 9, wherein the automated scheduling system further includes: at least one disassembly module, used to disassemble or assemble the material required for processing the at least one workpiece and its corresponding at least one Mold; wherein, according to the material information and the machine status information, scheduling the at least one order further includes: the central control module determines whether the material required for the at least one workpiece before processing must first correspond to the The at least one mold is assembled. The automated scheduling method according to claim 9, wherein the at least one order preparation includes a first order preparation and a second order preparation, the first order preparation has a first priority, and the second order preparation has a A second priority, the central control module schedules the first order making and the second order making according to the first priority and the second priority.

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