JPH09155695A - Managing device for production state of facility - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simplify operation, to reduce a cost, and to rapidly cope with variation and the like of a facility process. SOLUTION: In a device wherein information on the production state of facilities 1 and 3 are transmitted and received between a plurality of the facilities 1-3 and a personal computer 4 and the production states of the facilities 1-3 are managed, the device comprises a communication means 5 to transmit and receive between each of a plurality the facilities 1-3 and the personal computer 4; and a connection shifting means to selectively communicatably interconnect the personal computer 4 and each of a pluralify of the facilities 1-3.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a production line comprising a plurality of equipments, wherein information on the production status of the equipments is transmitted and received between the equipments and equipment production status management means such as a computer. The present invention relates to a facility production status management device suitable for managing the production status of the equipment.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Normally, in a production line composed of a plurality of equipments, the production statuses of the production line are managed by reading out information on the production status such as the number of productions and the defective rate from each equipment.

For example, as shown in FIG. 2, when the production status is managed by the personal computer 100,
The production status information can be read, for example, by the first equipment 101.
~ RS485 standard communication terminals 101a to 103a provided in each of the third equipment 103 and the personal computer 100 via the branching unit 105 to the RS485.
Connected with standard cables, each equipment 101-
Data is transmitted and received between the personal computer 103 and the personal computer 100. The personal computer 100 side requires a communication board 100a compatible with the RS485 standard.

On the other hand, in FIG. 2, each equipment 101 to 10
3 includes sequencers 101b to 103b, respectively, and is configured to input / output to / from the sequencers 101b to 103b through the communication terminals 101a to 103a described above.

In such a configuration, information about the production status such as the number of productions or the defective rate can be transmitted to the personal computer 100 through the communication terminals 101a to 103a, and at the same time, between the sequencers 101b, 102b and 103b. Communication terminal 1
Through 01a to 103a, control information such as the start and end of the process can be exchanged, and the production line can be automated.

On the other hand, the personal computer 100 manages the production status based on the transmitted information on the production status.

With such a configuration, each sequencer 1
The communication terminal 101 is connected between 01b, 102b, and 103b.
a-103a, the personal computer 100 side can obtain the production status such as the number of productions or the defect rate, and RS
The data transfer rate of data transmission / reception by the 485 standard communication is high.

[0008]

However, when the personal computer 100 is constructed as described above to manage the production status, the personal computer 100 side has the communication board 1 corresponding to the RS485 standard.
00a is required and there is a problem that the cost becomes high.

Further, it is necessary to change the equipment process frequently in order to cope with high-mix low-volume production.
There is also a problem that it is difficult to change the software necessary for communication for obtaining information on the production status, and it is not possible to respond promptly.

Further, since the sequencers 101b, 102b and 103b used for each equipment process must also have a communication port corresponding to the RS485 standard, any sequencer cannot be used, and the equipment process There was also the problem that the change would be relatively expensive.

The present invention has been made in view of the above conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an equipment production status management apparatus which is simple and low-cost, and which can promptly respond to changes in equipment processes and the like. To do.

[0012]

A facility production status management apparatus according to the present invention transmits and receives information on the production status of the plurality of equipments between the plurality of equipments and the equipment production status management means to produce the status of productions of the plurality of equipments. Which is a device for managing, and selects one of the equipment production status management means and the plurality of equipment, and a communication means capable of transmitting and receiving data between the equipment production status management means and the plurality of equipment. And a connection switching means for connecting so as to be communicable with each other.

In the equipment production status management apparatus according to the present invention,
Communication means that enables data transmission and reception between the equipment production status management means and the plurality of equipments, for example, RS232C standard communication means is used. This communication means is realized relatively inexpensively.

Further, according to the present invention, by providing the connection switching means for selectively connecting the equipment production status management means and any one of the plurality of equipments, the connection switching means for connecting each of the plurality of equipments and the computer. By selectively connecting, the information regarding the production status of all the facilities can be acquired.

[0015]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of an equipment production status management apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing the construction of an embodiment of the equipment production status management apparatus according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, the first equipment 1, the second equipment 3 and the third equipment 3 are shown.
Constitutes a part of the production line, and each of the facilities 1 to 3 has a sequencer 1a required for sequence control of each facility.
3a are provided respectively.

For example, as each of the facilities 1 to 3, the first facility 1 comprises a plunger caulking process, the second facility comprises a valve seat caulking process, and the third facility 3 comprises a rotation stopping process. The facility produces, for example, solenoid valve valves for automotive parts.

The sequencers 1a to 3a are connected to each other by signal lines L1 and L2. For example, in the second equipment, a signal notifying the end of the process is sent from the first equipment through the signal line L1. When received, second
The process of the equipment is started, and the fact that the process is started is notified to the first equipment, which is the previous process, through the signal line L2.

When the process of the second equipment is completed,
A signal notifying the end to the third equipment is sent through the signal line L1. As a result, each equipment is activated in sequence and the production line is automated.

On the other hand, each equipment 1 to 3 has a sequencer 1
In addition to a to 3a, programmable controllers 1b to 3b each having a communication port of RS232C standard are provided, and the communication port and the communication port of RS232C standard provided in the personal computer 4 as standard are read signal line L5 and write. They are connected by a cable 5 of RS232C standard consisting of a signal line L6 and a communication shield signal line L7. Relays 1c to 3c are respectively interposed between the programmable controllers 1b to 3b and the cable 5 of RS232C standard. When the relays 1c to 3c are turned on and off, the personal computer 4 and each programmable controller 1b are turned on and off.
3b will be communicatively connected.

The process select signal line L8 sets each of the programmable controllers 1b to 3b in a communicable state by setting this signal to the Low level.

Further, each programmable controller 1b
DC power is supplied to DC power supplies 6 to 3b, and a power supply of 24 V can be used, for example.

The sequencers 1a to 3a and the programmable controllers 1b to 3b are connected to signal lines L3 and L4.
The sequencers 1a to 3a send information on the production status such as the number of productions and the defective rate to the programmable controllers 1b to 3b through the signal lines L3 and L4.

The RS232C standard is a standard for exchanging data by connecting computers or between computers and peripheral devices, and enables simultaneous communication between computers and a plurality of devices. Not something
It is a standard that allows one-to-one data transmission and reception.

Here, in the equipment production status management device thus configured, in order to read the data relating to the production status of each of the equipments 1 to 3, the personal computer 4 of the
For example, using the external output signal 7 such as a printer output signal, the process select signal line L8 is set to low level to turn on the input of the programmable controller 1b of the first equipment 1. Then, the programmable controller 1b is programmed to turn on the relay 1c connected to its own output, and the communication port of the programmable controller 1b of the first equipment 1 and the RS232C port of the personal computer 4 are connected for communication. It becomes possible.

When the personal computer 4 finishes reading the data regarding the production status from the sequencer 1a, the output signal from the programmable controller 1b of the first equipment 1 connected to the process select signal line L8 of the second equipment 2 Is set to the Low level, the input of the programmable controller 1 of the second equipment process is turned on, and at the same time, the relay 1c of the first equipment 1 is turned off.

As a result, the connection between the programmable controller 1b of the first equipment 1 and the RS232C communication port of the personal computer 4 is disconnected, and the programmable controller 2b of the second equipment 2 and the communication port of the personal computer 4 are connected. .

The above procedure is repeated for each equipment,
Data regarding the production status of all equipment is read out sequentially.

Here, if a unique number for each facility is written in the battery-backed memory of the programmable controllers 1b to 3b of each facility, this number is read by the personal computer 4 and compared with the data prepared in advance. The connection order can be checked.

If a large number of types of data are created in accordance with the product type, it is possible to check even when the product type is changed.

In the personal computer 4 as the facility production status management means, based on the received data on the production status, various management calculations such as the number of products produced per day and the defective rate are calculated and analyzed.

In the present embodiment, communication means of RS232C standard is used, and the personal computer 4 which reads out the data regarding the production status of each equipment also uses only standard input / output, so software for communication is created. The ANSI standard C language can be used for the software, and the software can be easily changed.

Further, in the communication means of the RS232C standard,
Personal computer 4 that is a host and programmable controllers 1b to 3b (terminals) that are clients
Can only make one-to-one connection, but according to this embodiment,
RS2 of the programmable controller itself as a terminal
The 32C communication port and the communication port of the personal computer are connected, and when the communication is completed, the connection is switched to the communication port provided in the programmable controller provided in the next facility.
Compared with the communication based on the 485 standard, it takes time to read the data regarding the production status of the entire production line, but the data regarding the production status of each facility can be read at low cost.

Furthermore, it is possible to easily confirm the required order when various processes are rearranged.

[0035]

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION According to the equipment production status management device of the present invention, by the above-mentioned configuration, the communication means that enables the data transmission / reception between the equipment production status management means and the plurality of equipments, for example, , RS232C standard communication means can be used, and since this communication means can be realized at a relatively low cost, the cost of the device can be reduced.

Further, by providing the connection switching means for selectively connecting the equipment production status management means and any one of the plurality of equipments, the connection switching means for connecting each of the plurality of equipments and the equipment production status management means. By selectively connecting with, it is possible to obtain information on the production status of all equipment.

Further, unlike the prior art, the type of sequencer provided on the equipment side does not need to be compatible with the communication board provided on the equipment production status management means, and as a result, the cost on the equipment side can be reduced. it can.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of an equipment production status management apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of a conventional equipment production status management device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1-3 1st-3rd equipment 1a-3a Sequencer 1b-3b Programmable controller 1c-3c Relay 4 Personal computer (equipment production status management means) 5 RS232C cable 6 DC power supply 7 External output signal 100 Personal computer 100a Communication board 101-103 1st-3rd equipment 101a-103a Communication terminal 101b-103b Sequencer 105 Branch unit

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. The production status information of the plurality of equipments (1, 2, 3) is transmitted and received between the plurality of equipments (1, 2, 3) and the equipment production status management means (4) to transmit the plurality of equipments (1, 2 and 3). 1, 2,
A device for managing the production status of 3), comprising the equipment production status management means (4) and the plurality of equipments (1,
2, 3), communication means (5) capable of transmitting and receiving data, the equipment production status management means (4) and the plurality of equipments (1,
An equipment production status management device comprising a connection switching means (1c) for selectively communicatively connecting any one of (2, 3).