JPH0448575B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an apparatus for changing the conveyance order of works on a line.

[Prior Art] In the vehicle manufacturing process in a factory, multiple vehicles are often manufactured on the same line in each process.In particular, with the diversification of consumer tastes in recent years, the number of vehicles manufactured on the same production line has increased. The types of vehicles used are also increasing.

By the way, vehicle manufacturing in a factory often consists of multiple production lines, such as a painting line and an assembly line, and it is important to improve the overall work efficiency by properly managing the production progress of the equipment and work on each of these lines. In order to achieve this, it is necessary to rearrange the conveyance order of vehicles each time to obtain the optimal combination for each line.

In particular, on the vehicle assembly line, it is necessary to send vehicles with high assembly difficulty and vehicles with low assembly difficulty at an appropriate frequency, and if there is a specification vehicle to which specific parts are assembled, the specification vehicle It is necessary to send both cars and cars with other specifications to the line at an appropriate frequency.

This is because a car with a high level of body assembly difficulty takes longer to assemble than a car with a lower level of assembly difficulty, so if vehicles with a high level of difficulty to assemble are continuously sent to the assembly line, this assembly line will become saturated and the worst case scenario will occur. This is because in such a case, a problem arises in that the entire line stops.

Additionally, if vehicles that require specific parts to be assembled are continuously supplied onto an assembly line, there will be frequent shortages of parts on the assembly line, which will reduce work efficiency. be.

For this reason, multiple storages for storing vehicles are installed between the vehicle assembly line and, for example, a painting line located upstream thereof, and vehicles sent from the painting line are temporarily stored in each of these storages. The vehicles are then sent out sequentially to a rearrangement assembly line.

FIG. 8 shows such a transport order rearranging device, which has a plurality of line-type storages 14-1, 14-2, ... 14- between the painting line 10 and the assembly line 12. Vehicles 16 are arranged in parallel and transported from the painting line.
are temporarily stored in this storage 14, and then the transport order is rearranged and sent out to the assembly line 12 one after another. Here, the transport order of vehicles within the storage 14 needs to be rearranged so as to satisfy various constraints on the introduction of vehicles to the assembly line 12.

Such input constraints include, for example, prohibition of continuous input of vehicles that are difficult to assemble, prohibition of continuous input of vehicles that require specific parts, etc. A loading instruction is given, and the materials are sequentially loaded from the storage 14 to the assembly line 12.

The applicant has already proposed several methods for automatically rearranging the order of loading.

For example, in the proposal of Japanese Patent Application No. 1122-1982,
Vehicles conveyed from a painting line 10 are separated and stored in each storage 14 according to vehicle type in advance.
Then, the vehicles are placed on the assembly line based on the constraint conditions for inputting vehicles to the assembly line 12, the number of vehicles stored in each vehicle storage 14, the transport order of a predetermined number of vehicles that have already been serially transported to the assembly line 12, etc. The vehicle types with the optimal combination of transport orders are sequentially calculated in real time, and the vehicle types thus determined are sequentially introduced from the corresponding vehicle storage 14 to the assembly line 12.

In addition, in the proposal of patent application No. 60-49956,
A method is shown in which, before storing the vehicles 16 in the storage 14, the order of loading the vehicles from the storage 14 to the assembly line 12 is determined in advance. According to this method, the vehicles 16 stored in the storage 14 are Vehicles are sequentially loaded onto the assembly line 12 in accordance with a predetermined order of loading.

Each of these proposals differs in the timing of determining the order of vehicle introduction to the assembly line, but in any of the methods, from each storage 14 to the assembly line 1
The introduction of vehicles into the second vehicle can be carried out satisfactorily so that fluctuations in the frequency of introduction of each vehicle type are as small as possible after satisfying each of the above-mentioned introduction constraint conditions.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Vehicles are generally loaded onto the assembly line 12 from storage, but vehicles are often inserted from outside the storage if necessary.

For example, a vehicle 16a that has been removed from the painting line due to a paint defect, etc., or a vehicle 16b that has been removed from the line due to a defect in an assembled part, etc., may be removed from the painting line after the painting has been reworked or the defective parts have been replaced. This is because it is necessary to reintroduce it to the assembly line.

That is, these vehicles 16a, 16b often stay outside the line for a long time compared to other vehicles, and from the viewpoint of delivery date management, these vehicles 16a, 16b are
16b needs to be reintroduced to the assembly line 12 as soon as possible, and for this reason each vehicle 16a, 1
6b is directly reintroduced to the assembly line 12 without going through the storage 14.

However, all of the conventional conveyance order rearranging devices issue a loading command only to the vehicles 16 stored in the storage 14, and the vehicles 16a, 1 that are inserted from outside the storage are
The input command could not be given to 6b.

Therefore, in such a conventional device, the operator has to judge whether or not the cut-in vehicles 16a, 16b satisfy the input constraint conditions on the assembly line before inputting them. There has been a problem in that, due to mistakes, the cut-in vehicles 16a, 16b are often thrown into the assembly line at a time when the injection constraint conditions are not satisfied.

In particular, with the diversification of today's vehicle specifications, input constraints on assembly lines tend to increase, making it difficult for workers to accurately judge whether or not these input constraints are satisfied. , effective countermeasures have been desired.

Purpose of the Invention The present invention has been made in view of such conventional problems, and its purpose is to rearrange the order of transporting workpieces transported from the first line to the second line from outside the storage. An object of the present invention is to provide a workpiece conveyance order rearranging device that can perform workpiece conveyance order reordering in consideration of interruption workpiece input.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a system that is provided between a first line and a second line to store workpieces carried out from the first line. By controlling the loading and unloading of workpieces into and out of the storage, the loading order of the workpieces conveyed from the first line can be adjusted according to the loading frequency of each type of workpiece. a rearranging means for rearranging the conveyance order so as to meet input restriction conditions that define the input limit conditions; an interrupt work input means for inputting data regarding the interrupt work to be input to the second line from outside the storage; an interrupt work storage means for storing interrupted work that has been stored; a determining means for determining whether or not the stored interrupt work satisfies the input constraint condition; an interrupt input control means for inputting the interrupt work to a second line with priority over the stored work in the storage if the conditions are satisfied; The feature is that the workpiece is introduced into the second line.

[Function] The present invention has the above configuration, and its function will be explained next.

First, when interrupting work from outside the storage using the apparatus of the present invention, the input means is used to input the interrupt work data, which is written and stored in the interrupt work storage means.

When the interrupt work is written and stored in the storage means in this way, the calculation means determines whether the stored interrupt work satisfies the input constraint condition every time the operation of inputting the work to the second line is started. Perform calculations to determine whether the condition is satisfied or not.

If the interrupt work satisfies the input constraint conditions, the interrupt work that is the lever preceding the storage work in the storage is input to the second line.

Furthermore, if the interrupt work does not satisfy the input constraint conditions, the optimal work stored in the storage is input to the second line.

In this way, according to the present invention, it is possible to give priority to the work stored in the storage and to properly input the interrupt work to the second line while satisfying the input constraint conditions.

[Example] Next, a preferred example of the present invention will be described based on the drawings. Incidentally, the same reference numerals are given to the members corresponding to those of the apparatus shown in FIG. 8, and the explanation thereof will be omitted.

FIRST EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 shows a vehicle conveyance order rearranging device using the present invention, and the device of the embodiment has a painting line 10 as a first line and an assembly line as a second line. A plurality of vehicle storages 14-1, 14-2, . Here, the transport order is rearranged and the parts are sequentially sent out to the assembly line.

In the embodiment, this transport order rearranging device includes vehicle type identification sensors 18, which are provided near the exit of the painting line 10 and the entrance of the assembly line 12, respectively.
20 and each storage 14-1, 14-2,...1
Limit switches 22 and 24 for detecting vehicle entry provided at the entrance and exit of 4-5, each of these sensors 18 and 20, and the limit switch 2
a sensor circuit 26 for detecting signals from 2 and 24;
A vehicle row storage device 28 that stores the storage status of each vehicle in the storages 14-1, 14-2, ... 14-5, and a storage device 28 that stores the storage status of each vehicle in the storages 14-1, 14-2, ... 14-5, and
a constraint setting device 30 that sets constraint conditions for introducing vehicles into the assembly line 2; a charging instruction device 32 that instructs vehicles to be loaded from the storage 14 to the assembly line; an arithmetic device 34 that performs various calculations; and a calculation device 34 that displays various displays. A display 36 is included.

When using the device of this embodiment, first, the constraint setting device 30 sets the loading constraint conditions when loading a vehicle from the storage 14 to the assembly line 12. The following two conditions are set.

[] The interval between vehicles A shall be two or more.

[] A maximum of two vehicles B may be entered in succession.

The arithmetic device 34 then operates the vehicle row storage device 2.
Storage line 14-1,1 stored in 8
4-2. Based on the storage status of various vehicles in... The calculation results are displayed on the display 36.

FIG. 3 shows a display image of the display 36 of the embodiment, and each storage 14-1,
An image representing 14-2,... is displayed, and the arithmetic unit 34
The storage for the car model that was calculated and output will be displayed blinking.

Therefore, the loading operator only needs to select the storage 14 blinking on the display from the storage number buttons arranged on the loading instruction device 32 and simply operate the button. The calculated input vehicle is stored in the storage 14
From then on, they will be put into the assembly line 12.

In this way, in this embodiment, the input vehicles are sequentially calculated in real time so that the vehicle transport order in the assembly line 12 satisfies the input constraint conditions, and the storage 14 in which the vehicle is stored is displayed as an image on the display 36. Since the display data is displayed, the inputting operator can accurately recognize the storage 14 in which the vehicle to be loaded next is stored based on this display data, and perform the loading operation.

In addition, in the device of this embodiment, the input instruction device 32
By switching the mode from the manual side to the automatic side, the arithmetic unit 34 can automatically sequentially input the stored vehicles in the storage 14, which are displayed blinking on the display 36, toward the assembly line 12.

By the way, in such a conveyance order rearranging device, vehicles are often loaded into the assembly line 12 not only from the storage 14 but also from outside the storage if necessary. Since vehicles often remain outside the assembly line for a longer period of time than ordinary vehicles that are introduced from storage, it is preferable to introduce them to the assembly line with priority for delivery management and other reasons.

A characteristic feature of the present invention is that it automatically calculates whether or not such an interrupting vehicle satisfies each input constraint condition, and the assembly line of the interrupting vehicle is prioritized over the vehicle stored in the storage 14. 12.

For this reason, the device of the present invention is suitable for vehicles 16a, 16 that are input into the assembly line 12 from outside the storage.
Interrupt work input device 40 for inputting data b
and an interrupt work storage device 42 that stores the input vehicle, and a calculation device 34 calculates whether or not the stored interrupt vehicle satisfies each input constraint condition, and calculates whether or not the input constraint condition is satisfied. If the conditions are satisfied, an instruction is given to input the levered vehicle ahead of the vehicle in the storage 14 to the assembly line 12. Further, if the input constraint conditions are not satisfied, the calculation device 34 calculates the optimal input vehicle from the vehicles stored in the front row of the storage 14,
An instruction is given to direct this vehicle to the assembly line 12 and input it.

FIG. 2 shows a flowchart showing the operation of the conveyance order rearranging device of this embodiment, and the device of this embodiment first registers an interrupting vehicle in the storage device 42 at the same time as starting the operation. Determine whether or not there are any.

If the interrupting vehicle is not registered, the optimal vehicle that satisfies the input constraint conditions is calculated from the vehicles stored in the front row in the storage 14, the input is instructed, and the optimal vehicle is assembled. After confirming that the vehicle has been introduced into the line 12, calculation operation for the next vehicle introduced is started.

Further, if an interrupting vehicle is registered in the storage device 42, it is then calculated whether or not this interrupting vehicle satisfies preset input constraint conditions.

Here, if a plurality of interrupting vehicles are registered in the storage device 42, a calculation is performed to determine whether or not the registered vehicles satisfy the input constraint conditions in the order of registration.

As a result of such calculation, if there is even one vehicle that satisfies the input constraint conditions,
Among them, the vehicle with the earliest registration order, for example 16
a blinks on the display 36 as shown in FIG.

Therefore, the input operator only has to select the cut-in vehicle blinking on the display 36 from among the cut-in vehicle input buttons arranged on the cut-in instruction device 32 and simply operate the button. Thereby, the cut-in vehicle calculated by the calculation device 34 will be cut-into the assembly line 12.

After confirming the completion of the input operation of the interrupted vehicle toward the assembly line 12 in this way, the device of the embodiment clears the data of the input vehicle stored in the storage device 42, and transfers the next vehicle. Start the charging operation.

Further, as described above, if it is determined that there is no vehicle that satisfies the input constraint conditions as a result of calculating the input vehicle data registered in the storage device 42, the same applies as in the normal case. Then, an optimal vehicle is calculated from the vehicles stored in the storage 14, and the optimal vehicle is directed to the assembly line 12 and introduced.

In this way, in this embodiment, when an interrupting vehicle is registered in the storage device 42, loading conditions are sequentially calculated in real time so that the vehicle transport order in the assembly line 12 satisfies the loading constraint vehicles. Since this is displayed as an image on the display 36, the inputting operator can accurately recognize the vehicle to be loaded next based on this display data and manually operate the loading instruction device 32.

Therefore, even if the input worker is performing other tasks at the same time in addition to inputting vehicles into the assembly line 12, he or she can accurately recognize the next vehicle to input based on the display and read various manuals. This makes it possible to effectively prevent mistakes in loading vehicles due to carelessness of the loading operator.

In addition, in this embodiment, the input instruction device 32
By switching the mode from the manual side to the automatic side, the input vehicles displayed on the display 36 by the arithmetic unit 34 can be automatically sequentially input toward the assembly line 12.

4 and 5 show the specific operation of the device of this embodiment. In addition, two vehicles A and C are registered in the storage device 42 as interrupting vehicles.

First, in the state shown in Fig. 4, vehicles A and C
are registered as interrupting vehicles one by one, but in this case, the constraint condition is satisfied no matter which vehicle is entered next.

Therefore, in this case, vehicle A, which is earlier in the registration order, is loaded onto the assembly line 12, and when the loading operation is completed, vehicle A is cleared from the storage device 42, resulting in the state shown in FIG. 5.

Even in the state shown in FIG. 5, since the registered vehicle C satisfies the input constraint conditions, this vehicle C will be input to the assembly line 12 in priority to the vehicles stored in the storage 14. .

In this way, in the embodiment, vehicles A and C registered in the storage device 42 are sequentially interrupted and inputted to the assembly line 12 according to the registration order, giving priority to the vehicles stored in the storage 14. After the introduction of such an interrupting vehicle is finished,
A normal vehicle loading operation from the storage 14 to the assembly line 12 is performed.

Second Embodiment FIGS. 6 and 7 show a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, and this embodiment is of a type in which vehicles whose loading order has already been determined are stored in the storage 14. The present invention is applied to this device.

In FIG. 6, one vehicle A and one vehicle C are registered as interrupting vehicles in the storage device 42, but
When vehicle A is introduced, vehicle A is placed on the assembly line 12.
3 cars will be lined up in a row, which violates the input constraint condition.

Therefore, in this case, the registered vehicle C that does not violate the input constraint conditions interrupts and inputs to the assembly line 12, and after the input operation is completed, the data of vehicle C is cleared and the state shown in FIG. 7 is reached.

Then, in the state shown in FIG. 7, the registered vehicle A satisfies the constraint conditions, so the next vehicle A registered in the storage device 42 will be interruptedly inputted to the assembly line 12. .

Incidentally, in the state shown in FIG. 6, if vehicle A is first introduced and then vehicle C is introduced, the injection constraint condition is satisfied, but if the number of vehicles registered in the storage device 42 is large. If such a method is adopted, the algorithm for determining whether or not the input constraint conditions are met becomes complicated, and the calculation time increases. For this reason, in this embodiment, only the vehicles that can be introduced at each calculation time are calculated without considering subsequent vehicles to be introduced, and the vehicles are then introduced to the assembly line.

Although the present embodiment has been described using a painting line and an assembly line as examples of the first line and the second line, the present invention is not limited to this.
In addition to this, it can also be used to rearrange the conveyance order in various lines.

In addition, in this embodiment, a vehicle was used as an example of the workpiece to be rearranged in the transport order.
The present invention is not limited to this, and it is possible to efficiently rearrange the transport order of other workpieces.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, interrupt input of work from outside the storage toward the second line is given priority over work stored in the storage, and input to the second line is It becomes possible to perform the process satisfactorily while satisfying the constraint conditions.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a preferred embodiment of the device of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the device shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a diagram used in the embodiment shown in FIG. FIGS. 4 and 5 are explanatory diagrams showing the display surface of the display device. FIGS. 4 and 5 are explanatory diagrams of the vehicle loading order rearranging operation of the device of this embodiment. FIGS. 6 and 7 are diagrams of the vehicle of the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a loading operation rearranging operation, and FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a conventional transport order rearranging device. 10...Painting line as the first line, 12
...Assembly line as a second line, 14...Storage, 16...Vehicle as work, 34...Arithmetic device, 40...Interrupt input device, 42...Interrupt work storage device.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of rows of storage provided between a first line and a second line for storing workpieces carried out from the first line; and carrying the workpieces into the storage. By controlling the unloading of the workpieces from the storage, the transporting order is adjusted so that the unloading order of the workpieces transported from the first line matches the loading restriction condition that defines the loading frequency for each type of workpiece. a recombination means for rearranging; an interrupt work input means for inputting data regarding the interrupt work inputted to the second line from outside the storage; and an interrupt work storage means for storing the input interrupt work; a determination means for determining whether or not the stored interrupt work satisfies the input constraint; and if the determination result by the determination means satisfies the input constraint, the stored work in the storage; an interrupt input control means for inputting the interrupt work to the second line with priority over the work, and inputting the interrupt work to the second line with priority over the work stored in the storage. A device for changing the transport order of workpieces.