JPH0871892A - Production line system - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] By using a common buffer area without being aware of the different optimum buffers for each work station, a sufficient buffer area is secured for each work station, It is possible to prevent a decrease in production efficiency due to tact fluctuations. [Configuration] For a work on a pallet that is input based on the work instruction data, an ID (Ident
a plurality of work stations that perform a predetermined work based on the
A production line system having a production line for sequentially performing a predetermined work, wherein a production line is provided with a rotary buffer device for transferring works on a plurality of pallets in a rotary form independently of the production line. system.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a production line system, and more particularly, in a production line intended for production of a variety of variables, when the tact variation of each work station is large or each work station has a large variation. If it is difficult to estimate the matching buffer station capacity,
It can be applied to the connection method between the plurality of work stations and the line configuration technology. In particular, a sufficient buffer area is secured for each work station without paying attention to the optimum buffer that is different for each work station. It is possible to prevent a decrease in production efficiency due to tact fluctuations of the work stations of the above, and to overtake the work stations of the workpieces even in the case of mixing multiple products, eliminating unnecessary waiting for workpieces and increasing the production efficiency. Production line system that can prevent the deterioration of

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a production line system is composed of a plurality of work stations and a transfer means connected in series, and a work transfer method is a synchronous transfer method or a free flow transfer method. . And, in particular, FMS (Flexible Manufacture)
In the production line system such as ng System), the work transfer method is based on the latter free-flow transfer method described above. In the production line system based on the free-flow type transfer method as the method of transferring the work, the transfer means not only plays the role of transfer by the free-flow type transfer method, but also the role of the buffer until it is loaded into the next work station. Since it can also be achieved, there is an advantage that it is possible to prevent a decrease in production efficiency due to a difference in tact of each work station.

Generally, the buffer size provided between individual work stations is ideally the amount of work transferred from the previous work station from the stop to the repair due to a failure of the work station, and from the stop to the repair. And the amount of work required by the next work station.

[0004]

However, in the conventional production line system having a plurality of work stations such as the above-mentioned FMS, the tact fluctuation tends to be large due to reasons such as setup change and equipment failure. Since it is difficult to determine the optimum buffer size, it is not possible to secure a sufficient buffer area for each work station, and there is a problem that the production efficiency is likely to decrease due to the tact variation of each work station. there were.

Further, in the conventional production line system constituted by connecting a plurality of work stations and transfer means in series, in the case of mixing a large number of products, some work products may be connected to each other in series even if they only pass through. Since the work cannot be overtaken at the time of transfer due to the large number of connections, there is a problem that production efficiency is lowered because of waiting in order.

Therefore, the present invention provides a line configuration that does not depend on the front and back connections between the work stations by using a common buffer area without paying attention to the optimum buffer which differs for each work station, and each work station is provided. A sufficient buffer area can be secured for each station to prevent a decrease in production efficiency due to tact fluctuations at each work station.In addition, even in the case of mixing multiple products, it is possible to overtake the work station for work. It is an object of the present invention to provide a production line system capable of preventing a decrease in production efficiency by eliminating unnecessary waiting time.

[0007]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
For the work on the pallet input based on the work instruction data, ID (Identifier) on the pallet
in a production line system having a production line for sequentially performing a predetermined work by connecting a plurality of work stations for performing a predetermined work on the basis of a plurality of pallets independently of the production line. It is characterized in that a rotary buffer device for transferring the work in a rotary form is provided.

According to a second aspect of the invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the branching means provided after the work station on the production line is based on the work status of the work station of the next process and the type of work. Then, the transfer direction of the work is selectively determined by the rotary buffer device or the work station of the next process.

The invention according to claim 3 is the same as claim 1 or claim 2.
In the invention described above, the branching means on the rotary buffer device returns the work to the return destination work station on the production line based on the work progress data of the work, the work type and the work status of the return destination work station. It is characterized by. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the above-described first to third aspects, the branching means provided on the rotary buffer device is based on a work type and defective data or a work allowable range of the rotary buffer device. The work is discharged from the rotary buffer device.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to the first to fourth aspects, the transfer device for connecting the branching means on the production line and the branching means on the rotary buffer device is a controller for the transfer device. Based on the above, the work is bidirectionally transferred and self-propelled to a predetermined branching means.

[0011]

According to the invention described in claim 1, a plurality of work stations for performing a predetermined work based on the ID on the pallet are connected to the work put on the pallet based on the work instruction data by the transfer station. In a production line that sequentially performs a predetermined work, a rotary buffer device that transfers workpieces on a plurality of pallets in a rotary manner is provided independently of the production line.

Therefore, since the works on a plurality of pallets can be transferred in a rotary form independently of the production line, a common buffer area can be provided without paying attention to the different optimum buffer capacity for each work station. By using it, a sufficient buffer area can be secured for each work station. Therefore, it is possible to have a line configuration that does not rely on the front and rear connections between the work stations, and it is possible to prevent a decrease in production efficiency due to tact fluctuations at each work station.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the branching means provided after the work station on the production line is selectively driven by the rotary buffer device or the next work buffer based on the work status of the work station of the next process and the kind of work. The work station of the process is configured to determine the transfer direction of the work. Therefore, the transfer direction of the work can be selectively determined to the rotary buffer device or the work station of the next process based on the work status of the work station of the next process and the kind of the work, so that the work station of the next process can be determined. Even if there is a large tact change such as a failure, there is a destination of the work transferred from the work station, so that it is possible to prevent a decrease in the production efficiency of the entire production line.

Further, by using the common buffer area, it is possible to overtake the work station of the work due to the difference in product type, so that it is possible to eliminate unnecessary waiting for the work, and to prevent the deterioration of the production efficiency. be able to. In the invention according to claim 3, the branching means on the rotary buffer device returns the work to the return destination work station on the production line based on the work progress data of the work, the work type and the work status of the return destination work station. To configure.

Therefore, the work can be returned to the return destination work station on the production line based on the work progress data of the work, the type of work and the work status of the return destination work station. Even if there is a tact fluctuation in the work station of the process, the required work can be supplied from the rotary buffer device (provided that the required work is on the rotary buffer device).

Therefore, it is possible to prevent a decrease in the production efficiency of the entire production line. Further, since the destination of the work station of the work due to the difference in the type can be efficiently determined, it is possible to eliminate unnecessary waiting for the work, and prevent the production efficiency from decreasing. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the branching means provided on the rotary buffer device is configured to discharge the work from the rotary buffer device based on the type and defective data of the work or the work allowable range of the rotary buffer device. To do.

Therefore, the work can be discharged from the rotary buffer device based on the type and defective data of the work or the work allowable range of the rotary buffer device. Can be eliminated, and a decrease in production efficiency can be prevented. Further, it is possible to prevent the number of works from exceeding the work allowable range of the rotary buffer device.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the transfer device for connecting the branching means on the production line and the branching means on the rotary buffer device is used to transfer the work bidirectionally based on the controller of the transfer device. It is configured to self-propell to a predetermined branching means. Therefore, based on the control device of the transfer device, the work can be transferred bidirectionally and can be self-propelled up to a predetermined branching means. Therefore, a plurality of branching means on the production line and a plurality of rotary buffer devices can be used. It is not necessary to provide the branching means with power for transferring the respective works.

[0019]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment according to the present invention. In the production line system of this embodiment, a plurality of work stations that perform a predetermined work based on the ID on the pallet are connected to the work put on the pallet based on the work instruction data by a transfer station. A production line 1 for sequentially performing a predetermined work, a rotary buffer device 2 for transferring workpieces on a plurality of pallets independent of the production line 1 in a rotary manner, and a self-propelled transfer device 3.

In the production line 1, work stations 4,
5 and 6 are provided for each work station 4,
Reference numerals 5 and 6 are composed of NCs, robots, etc., and are controlled by the control devices 7, 8 and 9, and are connected to the central control device 11 together with the control device 10 of the self-propelled transfer device 3.
At this time, each of the work stations 4, 5 and 6 reads the ID of the loaded pallet and work progress information, performs a predetermined work, and writes the performed work information in the loaded work progress information.

Further, on the transfer station which connects the work stations in series, there is provided a pallet branching station capable of reading the ID of the pallet and the work progress information. It is composed of 13, 14 and unloading stations 15, 16, 17.

The rotary buffer device 2 is also provided with a pallet branching station capable of reading the pallet ID and work progress information. These branching stations are loading stations 18, 19, respectively.
20 and unloading stations 21, 22, 2
It consists of 3,24. However, branching stations on the rotary buffer device 2 are provided with loading buffer stations 25, 26, 27 and unloading buffer stations 28, 29, 30, respectively. Here, the unloading station 24 is for discharging the work on the rotary buffer device 2 to an area other than the production line 1.

Although not shown here, the loading station and the unloading station on the production line 1 and the rotary buffer device 2 are connected to and controlled by the control device 10 of the self-propelled transfer device 3. Here, the content described in each claim of the present invention will be described. First, a normal work flow will be described.

Work 31 positioned on the pallet
Is input to the work station 4 via the transfer path on the production line 1, completes a predetermined work, is input to the work station 5 via the transfer path, and is then input to the work station 6. Then, a desired finished work is obtained. Here, the operation of this system when a trouble occurs in the work station 5 will be described.

When the work station 5 cannot accept the work due to a trouble, the control device 8 notifies the central control device 11 of the trouble of the work station 5.
The central control device 11 then, via the control device 10,
The unloading station 15 is used as a branch point to notify the predetermined work to be discharged onto the rotary buffer device 2.

In conjunction with this, the self-propelled transfer device 3
Connects a predetermined unloading station 15 and the unloading buffer station 28 on the rotary buffer device 2 so that the work discharged from the work station 4 is put together with the pallet in the rotary buffer device 2.
Transfer to. In this case, this operation continues until the trouble of the work station 5 is repaired, and the trouble of the work station 5 can be prevented from affecting the work station 4 having the work station 5 in the subsequent process. It is possible to prevent the production efficiency of the entire production line from decreasing.

In addition to the trouble of the work station 5 as described above, a work which does not need to be input to the next work station 5 due to the ID on the pallet is processed by the rotary buffer as described above. Device 2
For example, the work can be transferred to the next work station 6 without being passed through the work station 5 after being discharged.

Next, the operation of the rotary buffer device 2 will be described. The workpiece 32 on the rotary buffer device 2 is the unloading buffer station 2
It is transferred via the rotary buffer device 2, and when it is transferred (returned) from the rotary buffer device 2 to the production line 1, one of the loading buffer stations 25, 26, and 27 is used. Transferred via.

Work 32 on rotary buffer device 2
However, the selection of which loading buffer station is to be loaded into each loading station 18,
Workpiece I stored on the pallet at 19 and 20
D, the work progress information is read. A case where a trouble occurs in the work station 5 will be described.

When a trouble occurs in the work station 5, a plurality of works 32, which have completed a predetermined work in the work station 4 via the unloading buffer station 28, are present on the rotary buffer device 2. . An ID and work progress information (work completion up to the work station 4 in this case) are written in the pallet of the work 32.

Each loading station reads the work ID and work progress information flowing on the rotary buffer device 2, and refers to this information and the work procedure table for each work ID stored in the central control unit 11, Determine whether to transfer the work to the loading buffer station. In this case, the loading station 19 transfers the work 32 to the loading buffer station 26 when the loading buffer station 26 is empty.

When the work station 5 is ready to receive the work, the self-propelled transfer device 3 connects the loading buffer station 26 and the loading station 13 and loads the work 32 into the work station 5. To do. Further, the work 33 passing only through the work stations 4 and 6 passes through the rotary buffer device 2 and then the loading buffer 2
7, self-propelled transfer device 3, loading station 14
It is thrown into the work station 6 via.

However, when the loading buffer station is not empty, the work is circulated and transferred on the rotary buffer device 2. Further, the unloading station 24 discharges the work from the rotary buffer device 2 based on the work type and defective data or the work allowable range of the rotary buffer device 2.

As described above, the present embodiment (Claim 1) is constructed so that the rotary buffer device 2 for transferring the works on a plurality of pallets in a rotary manner is provided independently of the production line 1. ing. For this reason, since the works on a plurality of pallets can be transferred in a rotary form independently of the production line 1, the common buffer area can be used without being aware of the optimum buffer capacity which differs for each work station. As a result, a sufficient buffer area can be secured for each work station.

Therefore, it is possible to form a line structure that does not rely on the front and rear connections between the work stations, and
It is possible to prevent a decrease in production efficiency due to a tact variation of each work station. In the present embodiment (claim 2), the unloading station 1 serving as branching means provided after the work stations 4, 5, 6 on the production line 1.
5, 16 and 17 are configured to selectively determine the transfer direction of the work to the rotary buffer device 2 or the work station of the next process based on the work status of the work station of the next process and the kind of work. .

Therefore, the transfer direction of the work can be selectively determined in the rotary buffer device 2 or the work station of the next process based on the work status of the work station of the next process and the kind of work. Even if there is a large tact change such as a failure of the work station, there is a destination of the work transferred from the work station, so that it is possible to prevent a decrease in the production efficiency of the entire production line 1.

Further, by using the common buffer area, it is possible to overtake the work station of the work due to the difference in product type, so that it is possible to eliminate unnecessary waiting for the work, and prevent the production efficiency from decreasing. be able to. In this embodiment (Claim 3), the branching means on the rotary buffer device 2 is used to return the work to the return destination on the production line 1 based on the work progress data of the work, the work type and the work status of the return destination work station. It is configured to return to the work station. For example, the return destination work step
For loading station 12 of section 4,
The branching means on the rotary buffer device 2 becomes the loading station 18.

Therefore, the work can be returned to the return destination work station on the production line 1 based on the work progress data of the work, the type of work and the work status of the return destination work station. Even if the tact of the work station in the previous process changes, the required work can be supplied from the rotary buffer device (provided that the required work is on the rotary buffer device).

Therefore, it is possible to prevent the production efficiency of the entire production line from being lowered. Further, since the destination of the work station of the work due to the difference in the type can be efficiently determined, it is possible to eliminate unnecessary waiting for the work, and prevent the production efficiency from decreasing. In this embodiment (claim 4), loading stations 18, 19, 2 serving as branching means provided on the rotary buffer device 2 are provided.
0 is configured to discharge the work from the rotary buffer device 2 based on the work type and defective data or the work allowable range of the rotary buffer device 2.

Therefore, the work can be discharged from the rotary buffer device 2 on the basis of the type and defective data of the work or the work allowable range of the rotary buffer device 2. Therefore, the work at each work station is not required. The waiting time can be eliminated and the production efficiency can be prevented from lowering. Further, it is possible to prevent the number of works from exceeding the work allowable range of the rotary buffer device 2.

In the present embodiment (claim 5), a branching means (eg loading station 12, 1) on the production line 1 is used.
3) and a self-propelled transfer device 3 for connecting the branching means (for example, unloading buffer stations 25 and 26) on the rotary buffer device 2 to the controller 10 of the transfer device 3.
On the basis of the above, the work is bidirectionally transferred and self-propelled to a predetermined branching means.

Therefore, the control device 1 of the self-propelled transfer device 3
Based on 0, the work can be transferred bidirectionally and can be self-propelled up to a predetermined branching means, so that the plurality of branching means on the production line 1 and the plurality of branching means on the rotary buffer device 2 are respectively provided. It is possible to dispense with the power for transferring the work.

[0043]

According to the present invention, a sufficient buffer area is secured for each work station without paying attention to the optimum buffer which is different for each work station.
It is possible to prevent a decrease in production efficiency due to tact fluctuations at each work station, and to overtake work stations for work even in the case of mixing multiple products.
There is an effect that it is possible to prevent a decrease in production efficiency by eliminating unnecessary waiting for works.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a production line system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Production line 2 Rotary buffer device 3 Self-propelled transfer device 4, 5, 6 Working station 7, 8, 9, 10 Control device 11 Central control device 12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20 Loading station 15, 16, 17, 21, 22, 23, 24 Unloading station 25, 26, 27 Loading buffer station 28, 29, 30 Unloading buffer station 31, 32 Work

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A pallet ID (Iden) for a work on a pallet input based on work instruction data.
In a production line system having a production line that performs a predetermined work in sequence by connecting a plurality of work stations that perform a predetermined work on the basis of a plurality of pallets on a plurality of pallets independently of the production line. A production line system comprising a rotary buffer device for transferring a work in a rotary form. 2. A branching means provided after the work station on the production line selectively selects the rotary buffer device or the work station for the next process based on the work status of the work station for the next process and the kind of work. The production line system according to claim 1, wherein the transfer direction of the work is determined. 3. The branching means on the rotary buffer device returns the work to the return destination work station on the production line based on the work progress data of the work, the type of work and the work status of the return destination work station. The production line system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: 4. The branching means provided on the rotary buffer device discharges the work from the rotary buffer device based on the type and defective data of the work or the work allowable range of the rotary buffer device. The production line system according to claim 1. 5. A transfer device for connecting the branching means on the production line and the branching means on the rotary buffer device transfers a work bidirectionally based on a control device of the transfer device,
The production line system according to claim 1, wherein the production line system is self-propelled to a predetermined branching means.