JP4511964B2 - production management system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a production management system, and for example, relates to a production management system that efficiently recognizes RFID and improves production management efficiency when a member having an RFID tag as a wireless tag is moved along a line.

In recent years, the RFID system has been significantly expanded in the range of use of RFID configured with a small IC chip. In this type of RFID system, a member having an RFID tag functions as a transponder, and data is exchanged between the transponder and a reader / writer (or reader). and for communicating data Ru performed using antenna, communication even though the transponder and the reader / writer is apart is possible, production management factory, physical distribution management, used in various fields such as entering and leaving management Has been.

  For example, in use in production management in a factory, a product or the like to be produced is completed through several processes. An RFID is attached to the target product for identification of the product to be managed in each process, and the target product is identified by exchanging signals by radio signals between the reader / writer and the RFID to perform process management and production management. (See, for example, Patent Document 1).

Special table 2002-536726 (FIG. 5, FIG. 6, [0032]-[0036])

  In such a production management system, an antenna and a reader / writer for wireless communication with an RFID attached to a target product are installed for each production line process, and data obtained by a number of reader / writers is managed on the management device side. It is sent as data. The above is a description of RFID, but the same applies to all wireless tags that transmit and receive signals via an antenna.

  However, the conventional production management system as disclosed in Patent Document 1 has the following problems.

  That is, the product production line is divided into a plurality of processes, and two antennas and two readers for reading and writing RFID tags attached to the target product on the upstream and downstream sides of each process. A writer is installed, and each reader / writer is connected to a computer device on the management device side. When total management is required, all computer devices are connected to the server device via a network.

  In such a conventional production management system, two antennas and two reader / writers are required for reading and writing communication between the RFID tag on the upstream side and the downstream side for each process. Since a computer device is also required for the writer, the number of necessary antennas, reader / writers, and computer devices as a whole is large, resulting in a complicated structure and a problem in cost.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a production management system that enables efficient communication with a simple configuration and low cost.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a production management system that enables efficient communication with the smallest possible number of antennas, reader / writers, and devices for controlling them.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the production management system according to the present invention employs the following characteristic configuration.

(1) A wireless tag having ID information is attached to each, the target member to be managed is transported from the upstream side toward the downstream side, and the target member is operated at work positions that are separated from each other. In a production management system for managing the work state of the target member for a plurality of processes,
A plurality of antennas arranged one by one on the upstream side and the downstream side of the processing of each step, and for transmitting and receiving radio signals to the wireless tag attached to the target member, and arranged corresponding to the plurality of antennas A plurality of reader / writers that exchange radio signals, and an RFID control device that is connected to the plurality of reader / writers and exchanges signals with the plurality of reader / writers,
In the RFID control device, the wireless tag of the target member enters the communication area of the first antenna, which is one of the plurality of antennas, and the first RFID identification information related to the wireless tag is read first Read time, last read time when the RFID tag of the target member exited the communication area of the first antenna and last read RFID identification information related to the wireless tag, or first read time and last read time When any one of the intermediate readout times is selected as the reception time for the first antenna and a plurality of RFID identification information related to a plurality of wireless tags is received, a specific time is determined based on the reception time. Having filtering means for extracting RFID identification information;
The RFID controller, be those by operation time before Symbol steps for managing the working state of said object member, said antenna disposed on the upstream side and downstream side at a predetermined process among the plurality of steps A production management system for obtaining an operation time required for the predetermined process based on the reception time of the RFID identification information extracted by the filtering means read out of the reception time .
(2) Production management according to (1) above, further comprising a plurality of RFID control devices according to different types of processes of the target member, and further comprising a management device for sending RFID information from the plurality of RFID control devices. system.
(3) The production control system according to (1) or (2), wherein the RFID control device includes a data storage circuit that stores data of the target member in each step.
(4) The RFID control device includes a state display interface to which a display device that supports processing of the target member and an alarm unit that issues an alarm are connected to each process, a push button that sends work information, and an imaging of each process The production management system according to (1), (2), or (3), further including a state signal input interface to which an imaging unit for obtaining a data signal is connected.
(5) The production management system according to (4), wherein the imaging data signal obtained by the imaging unit is stored together with identification information of a wireless tag attached to the target member and an identification number of the process.
(6) The production management system according to (4) or (5), wherein the imaging data signal obtained by the imaging means is deleted when the target member is determined to be a non-defective product.
(7) The production management system according to (4) or (5), wherein the imaging data signal obtained by the imaging means is stored and used for cause analysis when a defect occurs in the target member.
(8) The production management system according to (4) or (5), wherein the imaging data signal having the maximum and minimum working time and stagnation time for each process is stored.

  According to the production management system of the present invention, it is possible to construct a simple configuration with low cost, that is, with a minimum number of antennas, reader / writers, and devices for controlling these, and to enable efficient communication. More specifically, a single wireless tag (RFID) control device can read and write a multi-step reader / writer. In addition, since a display device for a plurality of processes for displaying work status and contents of work and a data output device for a plurality of processes for transmitting work information are connected to the same wireless tag control device, the same single wireless tag The control device can display a plurality of states in a plurality of steps and output a plurality of states in a plurality of steps. Further, a single RFID tag control device controls the reading and writing operations of a plurality of adjacent antennas in a time-sharing manner via a reader / writer interface, thereby eliminating interference between antennas and reading and writing a plurality of adjacent RFID tags. Processing is possible. In addition, the server device controls the production line by sending information to the server device via the wireless tag control device by the operator that the product or wireless tag malfunction information and the product has been removed from the production line, Can prevent confusion. Furthermore, using the video signal data of the maximum and minimum working time and stagnation time for each process, analyzing the data signal that required the maximum time to analyze the problem of the process and worker skill, By analyzing data signals that have been completed in a minimum amount of time, it is possible to develop an efficient work method laterally. Other effects are apparent from the description of the following examples.

  Hereinafter, the configuration and operation of a preferred embodiment of a wireless tag control apparatus or production management system according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an FRID control apparatus 100 according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a system configuration diagram of an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a production management system. Although an RFID tag (RFID) is described below as a wireless tag, it is obvious that the present invention can be applied to all wireless tags that perform communication via an antenna.

  In FIG. 1, the RFID control device 100 is connected to a plurality of reader / writers (not shown) at connection points 10 </ b> A to 10 </ b> F,... (See FIG. 2). State display interface comprising connection points 20A, 20B,..., 30A, 30B,... Connected to a display device for displaying the status of each process in the production management system and a state display unit such as a buzzer for notifying an alarm. 20 and a connection point with a plurality of push buttons and a video camera, and a state signal input interface 30 to which a state signal is input, and further read out the control circuit 11 and the reader / writer interface 10 for integrated control of the RFID controller 100. Read / write control circuit 12 for controlling the writing and writing, for example, a production management system related to this control A data storage circuit 13 that stores data of a video camera that captures the status of each process in the system, a state display control circuit 14 that controls the state display interface 20, and a state signal input control circuit that controls a plurality of state signal input interfaces 30 15 and a network interface 16 for performing network control.

  In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, antennas are installed on the upstream side and the downstream side of each of the processes P11, P12, P13,..., Different types of processes P21,. In the illustrated example, the antenna 110A is installed on the upstream side of the process P11, and the antenna 110B is installed on the downstream side. Similarly, the antenna 110C is installed on the upstream side of the process P12, and the antenna 110D is installed on the downstream side of the process P13. The antenna 110E is installed downstream of the antenna 110E, the antenna 210A is installed upstream of the process P21, and the antenna 210B is installed downstream.

  Readers / writers 120A to 120F, 220A, and 220B are installed on the antennas 110A to 110F, 210A, and 210B, respectively, and reading and writing are performed between each antenna and the RFID attached to the production management target member (product). Information is exchanged.

  As described above, the reader / writers 120A to 120F, which are provided on the upstream side and the downstream side of the plurality of steps P11, P12, P13,... And connected to the antennas 110A to 110F,. Are connected to connection points 10A to 10F of the RFID control apparatus 100 shown in FIG.

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. Antennas 110A and 110B are provided on the upstream side and the downstream side of the process P11, respectively, and the RFID identification information of the RFID tag attached to the member is read via the antenna 110A before starting the work of the process P11. On the upstream side of the process P11, the RFID identification information of the RFID attached to the member is read by the antenna 110A. The read RFID identification information is sent to the reader / writer interface 10 of the RFID control apparatus 100 via the reader / writer 120A connected to the antenna, and subjected to signal processing by the read / write control circuit 12, and the control circuit 11, the RFID identification information is sent to the network connection point via the network interface 16 and sent to the server apparatus 300.

  At the end of the process P11, the RFID identification information of the RFID tag attached to the member (product) is read by the antenna 110B. On the downstream side of the process P11, RFID identification information is read by the antenna 110B. The read RFID identification information is connected to a connection point with the network via the reader / writer interface 10, the control circuit 11, the read / write control circuit 12, and the network interface 16 of the RFID control apparatus 100 as described above. Sent to the device 300.

  Similarly, when the member moves from the process P11 to the process P12, the information of the RFID tag attached to the member is read by the antennas 110C and 110D installed on the upstream side and the downstream side of the process. The same operation is performed after step P13.

  The RFID control device 200 different from the RFID control device 100 is in charge of the process from the process P21 in which the work content or the like changes greatly or the work place is different, and the information of the RFID tag attached to the member after the process P21 is read. And writing are performed by the antennas 210A, 210B,... And the corresponding reader / writers 220A, 220B,..., For example, read RFID information is sent to the server apparatus 300 via the RFID control apparatus 200. .

  RFID identification information and the like obtained with the RFID control devices 100 and 200 (at least one RFID control device is sufficient in this example) is transmitted to the server device 300, and predetermined production management is executed. Corresponding work instructions required for each process are sent from the server apparatus 300 to the RFID control apparatus 100 or 200.

  FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing another aspect of the embodiment according to the present invention, and is a diagram showing work status display, work content display and status signal input using the RFID control apparatus according to the present invention.

  At each process (for example, process P11) location, the display device 130 is connected to the status display interface 20 via the connection point 20A of the RFID control device 100, and displays necessary information such as work status and contents. Similarly, the buzzer 140 is also connected to the status display interface 20 via the connection point 20B and notifies an alarm. In addition, information data output from the push button 150 for transmitting work information in each step and the video camera 160 for photographing the work situation is output to the state signal input interface 30 via the connection points 30A and 30B of the RFID control device 100. And sent to the server apparatus 300 via the network interface 16 and the network.

  Similarly, after the process P12, the display device 130, the buzzer 140, the push button 150, the video camera 160, and the like are connected to the RFID control device 100 via the status display interface 20 and the status signal input interface 30 of the RFID control device 100. .

The same configuration is adopted in the different process P21, and the display device 230, the buzzer 240, the push button 250, the video camera 260, and the like are connected to the RFID control device 200 via the status display interface 20 and the status signal input interface 30 of the RFID control device 200. Connected to.

Next, the production management system according to the present invention will be described.
In the case where a member (product) with an RFID tag is passed through the production line and processed through a plurality of processes P11, P12, P13,..., An antenna (for example, 110A) or a reader / writer (for example, for each process) 120A), the RFID controller 100 reads and writes the RFID identification information of the RFID tag attached to the member. The RFID control device 100 sends and receives information such as RFID identification information and production instruction information via the network with the server device 300, and manages the production line.

  In step P11, RFID identification information including an identification number, a product number, and a product name is read from an RFID tag attached to the member by an antenna 110A connected to the reader / writer 120A on the upstream side. The RFID identification information is sent from the reader / writer 120A to the RFID control apparatus 100 via the reader / writer interface 10 of the RFID control apparatus 100.

  The control circuit 11 of the RFID control device 100 displays on the display device 130 that the RFID identification information has been read on the upstream side of the process via the status display interface 20, and further displays the RFID identification information on the display device 130. At the same time, the RFID identification information and the identification information of the process P11 are transmitted to the server apparatus 300 via the network interface 16 of the RFID control apparatus 100.

  The server apparatus 300 sends the work instruction, work drawing, and work standard time of the process P11 to the RFID control apparatus 100 based on the RFID identification information and the identification information of the process P11. The RFID control device 100 displays work instructions and work drawings on the display device 130 via the status display interface 20.

  The read / write control circuit 12 of the RFID control apparatus 100 performs filtering processing on the RFID information data (read signal) received via the reader / writer interface 10. As an example of the filtering process, for example, when RFID identification information is read a plurality of times in the communication area of the antenna 110A, a plurality of read times are generated, but the read times are set by setting specific times. There is a process to select a time. Also, select the time when the first RFID identification information was read out within the communication area of the antenna 110A, the time when the RFID identification information was read out after exiting the communication area of the antenna 110A, and the time between the first and the last Can be set.

  If the time from the time when the RFID identification information was last read on the upstream side of the process P11 to the time when the first RFID identification information was read on the downstream side of the process P11 is measured, the working time taken in the process P11 is measured. it can.

  The RFID control apparatus 100 displays the work standard time on the display device 130 and displays the work remaining time obtained by subtracting the work time from the work standard time during the work.

  By pressing the push button 150, an operator on the production line transmits work information such as work progress status, product and component defect information, RFID tag information abnormality, and tag damage via the status signal input interface 30. It transmits to the control apparatus 100. The control circuit 11 of the RFID control device 100 transmits work information to the server device 300 via the network interface 16.

  The server device 300 stores the information as management information, and transmits the management information to a department that requires the management information via a network. Of course, a touch panel button and a keyboard button can be used instead of the push button 150.

  In the case of defect information on a product or an RFID tag, the operator removes the product from the production line and transmits the fact that the product has been removed from the production line to the server device 300 via the RFID control device 100 when the push button 150 is pressed. The server device 300 records the defect information of the product or RFID tag, the fact that the product is removed from the production line, etc., and the RFID identification information of the RFID tag attached to the product is not read by the next antenna. Control the production line so as not to make an error.

  When the operation of the above process is completed, the product provided with the RFID tag is sent to the downstream side of the process, and the RFID identification information of the RFID tag is read by the antenna 110B connected to the reader / writer 120B. The RFID identification information is sent from the reader / writer 120B to the RFID control apparatus 100 via the reader / writer interface 10 of the RFID control apparatus 100.

  The control circuit 11 of the RFID control device 100 displays on the display device 130 via the status display interface 20 that the RFID identification information has been read on the downstream side of the process and the RFID identification information. The RFID identification information and the identification information of the process P11 are transmitted to the server device 300 via the network interface 16.

  The server apparatus 300 determines the completion of the process P11 from the RFID identification information and the identification information of the process P11. Further, the server apparatus 300 instructs the RFID tag to write the work completion information of the process P11. Upon receiving the instruction, the RFID control apparatus 100 writes the completion information of the process P11 to the RFID tag by the antenna 110B connected to the reader / writer 120B via the reader / writer interface 10. At the same time, the RFID control device 100 causes the display device 130 to display the completion of the writing of the work completion information of the process P11 to the RFID tag and the work completion of the process P11 via the status display interface 20.

  The subsequent steps are performed in the same manner, and the process of the production management system as an embodiment of the present invention is performed as described above.

  By the way, although it may occur in the above-described embodiment, problems such as radio wave interference occur when a plurality of arranged antennas and reader / writers are close to each other. In order to solve this problem, in another embodiment of the present invention, time division control for reading and writing is executed.

  For example, when a plurality of antennas are located at a short distance with respect to one RFID tag, read / write instruction signals simultaneously output from the plurality of antennas interfere with radio waves, resulting in a read / write error. In addition, a plurality of antennas receive signals output from one RFID tag, and a plurality of reader / writers respond to the signals simultaneously, and a plurality of response signals interfere with radio waves, resulting in a read / write error.

  In this embodiment, the read / write control circuit 12 of the RFID control device 100 controls the plurality of adjacent antennas 110A to 110C to perform read or write operations in a time division manner to prevent radio wave interference.

  In order to solve the problem that the radio wave interference as described above occurs in the antennas 110A, 110B, and 110C arranged close to each other and the reliability of the data is lost, the read / write control circuit 12 of the RFID control device 100 performs time division by each. FIG. 4 shows a timing chart for explaining an operation for controlling reading or writing of the antenna.

  Referring to FIG. 4, first, antenna 110A performs reading or writing in time slot T1, antenna 110B performs reading or writing in the next time slot T2, and antenna 110C performs reading or writing in the next time slot T3. Controlled to do. Thereafter, the above control is repeated at time slots 1 to T3.

  When the same RFID identification information is read from the antennas 110A, 110B, and 110C, the read / write control circuit 12 of the RFID control device 100 is highest from the radio signal level of the RFID tag input to the plurality of reader / writers. It is determined that there is an RFID tag in the vicinity of the antenna connected to the reader / writer indicating the value.

  In addition, when the distance between each process is short and the antenna between each process causes radio wave interference such as the antenna 110B and the antenna 110C and the antenna 110D and the antenna 110E, the upstream antennas 110A, 110C, and 110E in each process The downstream antennas 110B, 110D, and 110F in each step can be collectively controlled so as to be read or written alternately in a time division manner, thereby preventing radio wave interference.

  When the control circuit 11 of the RFID control apparatus 100 determines that the RFID tag is normally read in each process, the control circuit 11 sounds the buzzer 140 of the process via the status display interface 20. Further, the RFID identification information read from the RFID tag is displayed on the display device 130 of each process via the status display interface 20.

  In addition, an image data signal obtained by imaging the work state of each process with the video camera 160 is stored in the data storage circuit 13 of the RFID control apparatus 100 via the state signal input interface 30. From the time when the RFID identification information was last read on the upstream side of the process to the time when the first RFID identification information was read on the downstream side of the process using the filtering of the RFID read signal of the read / write control circuit 12 As a session of the process, the data signal of the video camera 160 is stored together with the RFID identification information and the process identification number. The data storage circuit 13 of the RFID control apparatus 100 stores data signals sent from a plurality of processes.

  When the final check determines that the product is non-defective, the data signal obtained by the video camera 160 to which the RFID identification information determined to be non-defective is assigned is deleted. When a product failure occurs, in order to determine what is the cause of which process, the imaging data signal of the video camera 160 to which the RFID identification information of each process of the product is attached is stored and used for cause analysis can do.

  In addition, the imaging data signal of the video camera 160 having the maximum and minimum working time and stagnation time for each process is stored together with RFID identification information and a process identification number. Analyze data signals that take the longest time to analyze process problems and worker skills. By analyzing data signals that have been completed in a minimum amount of time, it is possible to perform efficient lateral development of work methods.

  The storage and deletion of the imaging data signal by the video camera 160 can also be performed by operating a push button by an operator in the production line process.

  The firmware of the RFID control apparatus 100 can be revised through a network interface via a LAN. Changing the display device 130 connected to the status display interface 20, changing the display specification contents, changing the data output device connected to the status signal input interface 30, or changing the output signal specification is performed by updating the firmware of the RFID control device 100. It becomes possible to respond.

  The configuration and operation of the preferred embodiment of the present invention have been described in detail above. However, it should be noted that such examples are merely illustrative of the invention and do not limit the invention in any way. Those skilled in the art will readily understand that various modifications and changes can be made according to a specific application without departing from the gist of the present invention.

It is a block diagram of the configuration of the RFID control device according to the present invention. It is a block diagram of a production management system as an application example of an RFID control device according to the present invention. It is a block diagram of a production management system as an application example of an RFID control device according to the present invention. 6 is a timing chart for explaining antenna operation control in the RFID control apparatus according to the present invention;

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Reader / writer interface 11 Control circuit 12 Read / write control circuit 13 Data storage circuit 14 Status display control circuit 15 Status signal input control circuit 16 Network interface 20 Status display interface 30 Status signal input interface 110A-110F, 210A, 210B Antenna 120A- 120F, 220A, 220B Reader / writer 130 Display device 140 Buzzer 150 Push button 160 Video camera 100, 200 RFID control device 300 Server device

Claims (8)

A plurality of steps in which a wireless tag having ID information is attached, a target member to be managed is transported from the upstream side to the downstream side, and the work of the target member is performed at work positions that are separated from each other. In the production management system for managing the working state of the target member,
A plurality of antennas arranged one by one on the upstream side and the downstream side of the processing of each step, and for transmitting and receiving radio signals to the wireless tag attached to the target member, and arranged corresponding to the plurality of antennas A plurality of reader / writers that exchange radio signals, and an RFID control device that is connected to the plurality of reader / writers and exchanges signals with the plurality of reader / writers,
In the RFID control device, the wireless tag of the target member enters the communication area of the first antenna, which is one of the plurality of antennas, and the first RFID identification information related to the wireless tag is read first Read time, last read time when the RFID tag of the target member exited the communication area of the first antenna and last read RFID identification information related to the wireless tag, or first read time and last read time When any one of the intermediate readout times is selected as the reception time for the first antenna and a plurality of RFID identification information related to a plurality of wireless tags is received, a specific time is determined based on the reception time. Having filtering means for extracting RFID identification information;
The RFID controller, be those by operation time before Symbol steps for managing the working state of said object member, said antenna disposed on the upstream side and downstream side at a predetermined process among the plurality of steps The production management system characterized in that the working time required for the predetermined process is obtained based on the reception time when the RFID identification information extracted by the filtering means is read out of the reception time .   2. The RFID control device according to claim 1, further comprising a management device that is provided in a plurality according to different types of processes of the target member, and that transmits RFID information from the plurality of RFID control devices. Production management system.   The production management system according to claim 1, wherein the RFID control device includes a data storage circuit that stores data of the target member in each step.   The RFID control device includes a status display interface to which a display device for displaying the processing of the target member and an alarm means for issuing an alarm are connected to each process, a push button for sending work information, and an imaging data signal for each process. The production management system according to claim 1, further comprising a state signal input interface to which an imaging unit to be obtained is connected.   5. The production management system according to claim 4, wherein the imaging data signal obtained by the imaging means is stored together with identification information of a wireless tag attached to the target member and an identification number of the process.   6. The production management system according to claim 4, wherein the imaging data signal obtained by the imaging unit is deleted when the target member is determined to be a non-defective product.   6. The production management system according to claim 4, wherein the imaging data signal obtained by the imaging means is stored and used for cause analysis when a defect occurs in the target member.   6. The production management system according to claim 4, wherein the imaging data signal having the maximum and minimum working time and stagnation time for each process is stored.

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