WO2009047777A1

WO2009047777A1 - Component tracking system and method of tracking components thereof

Info

Publication number: WO2009047777A1
Application number: PCT/IN2008/000304
Authority: WO
Inventors: Rahul Thete; Asheem Panakkat; Manish Jaiswal
Original assignee: Tata Motors Limited
Priority date: 2007-10-08
Filing date: 2008-05-14
Publication date: 2009-04-16

Abstract

This invention relates to a component tracking system and a method of tracking components thereof. Component tracking system consists of machine cells (1) one or more gantries and their controllers (3), conveyor (5), component readers (4), central server (6), wherein operation wise machine cells (1 ) are interconnected by martial handling conveyor (2). Said one or more gantry is connected to gantry controller (3) and machine controller, said component reader/s (4) is mounted on conveyor (5) at pick up points and is interfaced to gantry controller (3), all said gantry controllers (3) are interfaced to central server (6). Gantry head picks up the material to be processed from conveyor (2) and carries it to the machine and carries it back to conveyor (2) from machine after processing. Movement of gantry is controlled by gantry controller (3). Said component reader/s (4) reads the components on conveyor only. Information of component reading on a conveyor (5) at pick up points is transferred to server through gantry controller (3) because of which component can be traced by retrieving information from server.

Description

COMPONENT TRACKING SYSTEM AND METHOD OF TRACKING COMPONENTS THEREOF

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to multiple operations - multiple machines manufacturing setups and more particularly this relates to the tracking / tracing of components in multiple operations - multiple machine manufacturing setups.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

In multi machine - multi operation manufacturing set up, as shown in fig. I, it is essential to trace the component by the origin of the machine and time of performing the operation to analyze the production history / quality data of the component.

Conventionally many methods are used to track components in mass production. A combination of technologies like 2D matrix, radio frequency identification device (RFID) tags is used along with a combination of various reading /writing devices and network to track the components. Essentially it calls for networking of machines and equipments to track the component. This requires a large number of reading and writing devices on most of the equipments in the manufacturing line. This amounts to large investments and complicated system.

Large number of machines and long operation sequences requires costly and complicated component tracking system. Also it is required to integrate the control system of various machines to a single central system which also increases the complexity. The drawbacks associated with conventional tracking system are that the system is very complex in nature and yields to high cost.

Refer to Fig I, it typically show multiple operations multiple-machines manufacturing setup.

Machines are arranged in form of cells. Operations and cells are numbered as per sequence of operation. Illustration showed in fig. I shown three operations. First operation is termed as Operation (OP 10), second operation is termed as Operation (OP20) & third operation is termed as Operation (OP 30). Individual group of operations is termed as Object (1). Said object (1) forms a cell for operation. All these cells are interconnected by material carrying conveyor termed as Object (5).

Cross gantry (2) is used to transfer the components from conveyor to the machines. Component is picked from conveyor by gantry head and dropped on the machine. Every component is picked up from the component pick up point. Gantry head shuttles between components pick up point to all machines in the cell.

Gantry (2) movement is controlled by Gantry Controller (3). Machine controllers give signal to gantry controller for loading the fresh component after finishing earlier component. The Gantry controller loads the component on a machine as per the sequence of completion of process by the machine.

Reading devices (4) are mounted on each of the machines in cell. This is communication device to read unique identification code written on component. Central Server (6) is interfaced with all said reading devices (4) and machines. Component tracking information from readers (4) and machine controller is collected in the computer.

Above mentioned are standard components of any multi machine-multiple operation set up. Conventional component tracking system will use readers on each machine, and transfer this unique identification code to server. Component tacking information can be retrieved from sever. The drawback associated with the conventional component tracking system is that said system is complex in nature as it requires huge network in manufacturing set up.

OBJECTS OF INVENTION

The main object of this invention is to provide a component tracking system with minimum complexity by using least number of reading and writing devices.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a component tracking system which is easy to maintenance.

Another object of this invention is to provide a component tracking system which is simple in construction and cost effective.

STATEMENT OF INVENTION

Component tracking system comprises of at least one machine cell, one or more gantries, gantry controller /s, material handling system, component reader/s, central server, wherein operation wise said machine cells are interconnected by material handling system, said gantry is interfaced to gantry controller and machine controller, said component reader/s is mounted on said material handling system and is interfaced to gantry controller, all said gantry controllers are interfaced with central server.

Component tracking system wherein said component reader/s is mounted on said material handling system at pick up points.

Component tracking system wherein said material handling system is a conveyor.

Component tracking system wherein said machine cell comprises of one or more machines with unique identification for each of said machines.

Component tracking system wherein said unique identification of machine is done by either physical co-ordinate on horizontal axis of gantry or by digital code of a machine.

Component tracking system wherein said component reader is selected based on format of unique identification mark of component.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

Component tracking system in accordance with this invention basically comprises of machine cells, one or more gantries and their controllers, conveyor, component readers, central server, wherein operation wise machine cells are interconnected by martial handling conveyor. Said one or more gantry is connected to gantry controller and machine controller, said component reader/s is mounted on conveyor at pick up points and is interfaced to gantry controller, all said gantry controllers are interfaced to central server. Gantry head picks up the material to be processed from conveyor and carries it to the machine and carries it back to conveyor from machine after processing. Movement of gantry is controlled by gantry controller. Said component reader/s reads the components on conveyor only. Information of component reading on a conveyor at pick up points is transferred to server through gantry controller because of which component can be traced by retrieving information from server.

This system identifies / read component at pick up point only. This information is transferred to gantry controller. Component picked up is assigned by gantry controller to a specific machine. These machine number and component numbers are linked together and transferred to central server along with details like time and date. This information can be used to track the component. This system reduces number of readers and network connection. Also makes track system less expansive and less complicated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Fig. I shows schematic representation of a conventional component tracing system with component readers on each machine and network connecting to each of the machine.

Fig. II shows schematic representation of component tracking system in accordance with this invention. Component reader fitted on the pick up point of the conveyor.

DETAILED DESCRD?TION OF INVENTION Referring now to the figures wherein the drawings are for the purpose of illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention only, and not for the purpose of limiting the same,

Referring to fig II

Operation- wise cells (1) are interconnected by material transfer mechanisms such as conveyor (2). Components being processed are picked up from loading position of conveyor and dropped on unloading position on conveyor after processing. After component is picked up by gantry head, the gantry controller (3) communicates with the machines in the said cell/s to find out which machine is ready to accept the component for processing. Gantry controller (3) identifies the machine by coordinates on horizontal axis of gantry and component is transferred to the identified machine. The coordinates / address of machines are stored in the gantry controller (3). The address / coordinate are unique for individual machines. The address is linked to unique identification code of the component read by component reader (4) which is mounted on said conveyor (5). The linkage is captured from the gantry controller and used to trace back the origin of each component through central server (6) like the machines on which the particular component has been processed.

Method of tracking components by capturing information /sequence is as mentioned below a) Putting unique identification mark on the component by punching or laser marking in the form of 2D - matrix or bar code; b) Putting components on conveyor; c) Reading unique identification mark at pick up points; d) Transferring information of identification mark to the gantry controller; e) Assigning component to a particular machine; f) Transferring identified component to the assigned machine; g) Assigning the information of steps (d) and (e); h) Transferring information obtained from step(g) to central server; i) Information from central server is used to trace the origin of the component.

The component tracking system requires reader only at pick point of each gantry / cell, communication port on only gantry controller.

The foregoing description is a specific embodiment of the present invention. It should be appreciated that this embodiment is described for purpose of illustration only, and that numerous alterations and modifications may be practiced by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is intended that all such modifications and alterations be included insofar as they come within the scope of the invention as claimed or the equivalents thereof.

Claims

1. Component tracking system comprises of at least one machine cell, one or more gantries, gantry controller /s, material handling system, component reader/s, central server, wherein operation wise said machine cells are interconnected by material handling system, said gantry is interfaced to gantry controller and machine controller, said component reader/s is mounted on said material handling system and is interfaced to gantry controller, all said gantry controllers are interfaced with central server.

2. Component tracking system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said component reader/s is mounted on said material handling system at pick up points.

3. Component tracking system as claimed in claims 1 and 2 wherein said material handling system is a conveyor.

4. Component tracking system as claimed in claims 1 and 3 wherein said machine cell comprises of one or more machines with unique identification for each of said machines.

5. Component tracking system as claimed in claims 4 wherein said unique identification of machine is done by either physical co-ordinate on horizontal axis of gantry or by digital code of a machine.

6. Component tracking system as claimed in claims 1 to 5 wherein said component reader is selected based on format of unique identification mark of component.

7. Method of tracking components by suing component tracking system as claimed in claims 1 to 6 comprises of a. Putting unique identification mark on the component; b. Putting components on conveyor; c. Reading unique identification mark at pick up points; d. Transferring information of identification mark to the gantry controller; e. Assigning component to a particular machine; f. Transferring identified component to the assigned machine; g. Assigning the information of steps (d) and (e); h. Transferring information obtained from step(g) to central server; i. Information from central server is used to trace the origin of the component.

8. Method of tracking components as claimed in claim 7 wherein putting unique identification mark on components is done by punching or laser marking in the form of 2D - matrix or bar code.

9. Component tracking system and method of tracking components substantially as herein described with reference to accompanying drawings.