JP5950338B2 - Production line - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a production line, and more particularly, to a production line that enables an inspection for determining whether work contents are correct or not to be performed within the line.

  For example, in an assembly line of an automobile engine unit, an inspection is performed as to whether or not the assembly is properly assembled with respect to the assembly. As a general inspection method, there is a method in which an inspection process is provided on an assembly line, and in this inspection process, an inspection by an operator or an automatic inspection by an inspection apparatus is performed. Here, for example, in Patent Document 1 below, an inspection device for determining whether or not an appropriate type of assembly (valve spring) is assembled in the inspection area of the assembly line is installed. A method is described in which an operator checks the suitability of the assembly using an apparatus.

JP 2012-31757 A

  By the way, when performing an inspection by an operator, for example, in the case of an inspection of a kind in which the correctness of the work content can be determined based on the appearance of the workpiece, the time required for the inspection is short (for example, about several seconds to several tens of seconds). Therefore, the time required for work is shorter than that of other workers. As a result, there was a problem that the worker in charge of inspection had a lot of free time before the next workpiece was brought into the inspection area, and the work efficiency when viewed as a whole production line was reduced. . In addition, there is also a problem that personnel costs are increased by assigning personnel only to this inspection process.

  Here, for example, by performing image processing on an image captured by a camera or the like, a method of automatically inspecting the correctness of the work contents without relying on a human hand (by a machine) can be considered. In this case, dedicated equipment such as a camera dedicated to image processing is required, which causes a rise in cost. Even if expensive image processing facilities are introduced, the accuracy is not sufficient, and the reliability of inspection is still poor.

  In view of the above circumstances, in the present specification, an accurate inspection can be performed without requiring an expensive inspection device or an inspection-dedicated worker, thereby providing a production line with excellent work efficiency at a low cost. Is a technical problem to be solved by the present invention.

The solution of the technical problem is achieved by the production line according to the present invention. That is, this line has a common transfer line for a plurality of human work areas where work is performed by an operator, a plurality of machine work areas where work is performed by a machine, and an image acquisition area for acquiring an appearance image of a work. provided above, it is conveyed workpiece on the conveyance line with a predetermined tact time, implementation determining test based on the correctness of the performed the work at a predetermined human work area or machine work area to the work of the appearance image A production line that can be used, further comprising: an imaging unit that captures an image of a work carried into the image acquisition area; and a display unit that displays an image captured by the imaging unit. of human work area, when subtracting the time required for human work from tact time, and the human work area left over the time necessary for inspection tact surplus area, the tact extra Display means area is characterized with a point disposed.

  As described above, the present invention is made by paying attention to the presence of an operator who has a spare time before the next work, in other words, the time required for hand-held work is shorter than the tact time. After performing work to be inspected in the tact surplus area where the time required for inspection is left out when the time required for human work is subtracted from the tact time among the multiple human work areas that make up the line Display means for displaying the appearance image of the workpiece is provided. Thereby, the worker arranged in the human work area serving as the tact surplus area can perform an inspection for determining whether the work content is correct or not based on the appearance image of the work displayed on the display means. In this way, among workers placed on the production line, workers having free time can be used effectively, so the waiting time until the next work is reduced and the work efficiency of the entire production line is improved. Can do. In addition, since a person (operator) can determine the correctness of the work contents based on the image displayed on the display means, accurate inspection can be performed without introducing an inspection apparatus having an expensive image processing function. This can be done at low cost. In addition, since it is sufficient for the imaging unit to acquire (capture) an image that can determine whether the work content is correct or not, an expensive imaging unit for image processing is not necessary, and a general-purpose imaging unit (such as a consumer camera) is used. Can be used. Therefore, the facility cost can be reduced also in this respect.

  Further, the production line according to the present invention may be a tact surplus area, and a display means may be arranged in a human work area where work to be inspected is performed.

  As described above, the display means for displaying the external appearance image of the work is actually the inspection object by being arranged in the tact surplus area and the human work area where the work to be inspected is performed. The worker who performed the work can inspect whether the work content is correct or incorrect. Therefore, it is possible for the operator himself to recognize an error in work, leading to work improvement, and further improving the efficiency and accuracy of human work. In particular, this configuration is effective when a machine work area is provided before and after the image acquisition area and the image acquisition area is away from the tact surplus area. That is, for the worker, the image acquisition area is separated from the person's work area in charge, so that the work time for a plurality of workpieces has already passed since the actual operation, and the worker himself is no longer working. I don't remember the time. Therefore, it is possible to prevent an erroneous determination due to a belief that may occur when the worker himself / herself performs a correct / incorrect determination inspection immediately after the operation, and an objective and accurate determination is possible.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to perform an accurate inspection without requiring an expensive inspection device or an operator dedicated to the inspection, thereby providing a production line with excellent work efficiency at a low cost. Can do.

It is a top view which shows the whole structure of the manufacturing line which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is the graph which expressed the idea of recognition of a tact surplus area typically.

  Hereinafter, the manufacturing line which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention is demonstrated based on FIGS. 1-2. In the present embodiment, description will be given below by taking an assembly line of the engine unit as an example.

  FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of a production line according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the production line 10 acquires a plurality of human work areas 11 in which work by a worker Op is performed, a plurality of machine work areas 12 in which work is performed by a machine, and an appearance image of a workpiece. An image acquisition area 13 to be performed, a workpiece conveyance line 14 that passes through all these areas 11 to 13, an imaging unit 15 that is disposed at a position where the workpiece carried into the image acquisition area 13 can be imaged, and an imaging unit And display means 16 for displaying an image obtained by imaging at 15. In the production line 10, it is possible to perform an inspection for determining whether the work content performed in a predetermined human work area 11 or the machine work area 12 is correct based on an appearance image of the work. In this embodiment, the inspection for determining the correctness of the work content performed in the human work area 11a located on the most upstream side of the production line 10 (conveyance line 14) is performed in the image acquisition area 13 and a tact surplus area described later. Shall. Further, regarding the layout of the production line 10, in the present embodiment, the image acquisition area 13 is disposed downstream of the plurality of human work areas 11 (11 a to 11 c), and before and after the image acquisition area 13. The machine work area 12 is disposed. Thereby, the image acquisition area 13 is located at a position away from the worker Op in any human work area 11.

  In this embodiment, the production line 10 is disposed in the vicinity of the display unit 16, and the operator Op in charge performs a selection operation related to the inspection based on the appearance image of the workpiece displayed on the display unit 16. Based on the selection operation means 17 and the content selected and operated by the selection operation means 17, the control unit 18 that controls the conveyance of the work in the image acquisition area 13 to the next process (the machine work area 12 adjacent to the downstream side). Are further provided.

  The display means 16 is disposed in the tact surplus area where the time required for the inspection is surplus when the time required for the human work is subtracted from the tact time of the production line 10 among the plurality of human work areas 11. . Hereinafter, the method for identifying the tact surplus area will be described in detail by taking the production line 10 shown in FIG. 1 as an example. For example, in the human work area 11a located on the most upstream side of the transfer line 14, the tact time T determined for each production line 10 is changed to one work in this area 11a (one human work by the worker Op). A time obtained by subtracting the necessary time Ta is a so-called idle time Ts (= T−Ta). Then, the free time Ts is compared with the time Ti required for the operator Op to look at the appearance image of the work displayed on the display means 16 and operate the selection operation means 17, and the free time Ts is necessary for the inspection. If it is longer than the time Ti (T-Ta-Ti> 0), the worker Op in charge of the work area 11a performs the work he / she is responsible for, and the time Ti necessary for the inspection still remains, The human work area is recognized as a tact surplus area.

  In this way, it is determined whether or not each of the human work areas 11a to 11c corresponds to a tact surplus area, and the display means 16 is arranged in the human work area 11a recognized as a tact surplus area. More specifically, the display means 16 is disposed at a position where the worker Op who is in charge of the work in the human work area 11a can visually recognize the work position (in the human work area 11a). In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, since only the worker Op in charge of the most upstream human work area 11a has a free time Ts that can be inspected, the work in this human work area 11a is performed. The display means 16 is disposed only at a position where the operator Op can visually recognize the work position.

  The selection operation means 17 is used for the operator Op in charge to determine whether the work content to be inspected is correct or not based on the appearance image of the work. The arrangement position is a position where the operator Op can operate at the work position of the corresponding human work area 11 (in the present embodiment, the most upstream human work area 11a). The specific configuration of the selection operation means 17 varies depending on the contents of the inspection, but for example, when a part (valve spring) assembled to a work (cylinder head) is to be inspected, this part has a plurality of types. When present, the selection operation means 17 is provided with a number of buttons (two in FIG. 1) corresponding to the type of the assembled part.

  The control unit 18 is electrically connected to the selection operation unit 17 and, based on the content selected by the selection operation unit 17, moves the workpiece to the next process (the machine work area 12 located downstream of the image acquisition area 13). A command to stop conveyance or workpiece conveyance is sent to the conveyance line 14. In the present embodiment, the control unit 18 is configured to be able to read the content of work to be inspected (for example, the type of component to be assembled) from an ID tag or the like attached to a pallet or the like conveyed with the work to be inspected. The work content read (obtained) from the ID tag or the like and the content selected by the selection operation means 17 are collated, so that the work content is correct or incorrect (the type of parts actually assembled on the workpiece is correct). Whether or not) can be determined.

  Hereinafter, the flow of the workpiece in the manufacturing line 10 having the above configuration will be described focusing on the inspection mode of the workpiece carried into the image acquisition area 13.

  First, a plurality of human work areas 11 and a plurality of machine operations arranged in a predetermined order from the upstream side along the transfer line 14 by transferring a workpiece (not shown) on the transfer line 14 in a predetermined direction. A predetermined work is performed on the workpiece in the area 12. In this embodiment, first, a work by a worker Op (for example, a work for assembling a valve spring to a cylinder head) is performed in a human work area 11a, and then a machine work is performed in two mechanical work areas 12 respectively. After that, the work by the operator Op or the machine is performed in the order of the human work area 11b, the two machine work areas 12, the human work area 11c, and the four machine work areas 12 arranged on the downstream side. Is done.

  Then, when the work is carried into the image acquisition area 13 disposed further downstream, an external image of the work (may be an external image of only a part to be inspected) is captured by the imaging unit 15, The captured image is displayed on the display unit 16 electrically connected to the imaging unit 15. Here, the display means 16 is disposed in the most upstream human work area 11a which is a tact surplus area, and an image in which the worker Op in charge of the human work area 11a is displayed on the display means 16 is displayed. Based on the above, the correctness of the work content (part assembly work) performed in the human work area 11a is determined. In this embodiment, by pressing a button (for example, the color applied to the outer surface of the part matches the color of the button) corresponding to the type of the part (valve scrolling) assembled to the work, The operator Op selects and operates the type of parts assembled to the workpiece.

  The selected content (type of part) is sent to the control unit 18 and is collated with information (type of part) regarding the work content acquired by reading from an ID tag or the like in advance, so that the correctness of the work content (actually appropriate) It is automatically determined whether or not a correct part is assembled. When it is determined that the work content is appropriate, a command to convey the workpiece toward the machine work area 12 located downstream of the image acquisition area 13 is sent to the conveyance line 14. In addition, when it is determined that the work content is inappropriate (incorrect parts are assembled), the conveyance of the workpiece to the conveyance line 14 is stopped, or the area outside the regular conveyance line 14 (rework area) Send a command to convey to As a result, the work that properly reflects the result of the inspection is handled.

  Thus, in the present invention, a part of the inspection work (acquisition work of the appearance image of the work by the image pickup means 15) is mechanically performed in the image acquisition area 13, and the remaining part (correction determination work of the work content to be inspected) ) Is performed by the worker Op in the human work area 11a, which is a tact surplus area, the worker Op located at a position away from the image acquisition area 13 is based on the appearance image of the work displayed on the display means 16. Thus, it is possible to perform an inspection for determining whether the work content is correct or incorrect. As described above, among the workers Op arranged in the production line 10, the worker Op having the free time Ts can be used effectively, so that the waiting time until the next work is reduced and the work of the entire production line 10 is performed. Efficiency can be improved. In addition, since the person (worker Op) can determine the correctness of the work content based on the appearance image of the work displayed on the display means 16, it is possible to introduce an inspection device having an expensive image processing function. Accurate inspection can be performed at low cost. Further, since it is sufficient for the imaging unit 15 to acquire (capture) an image that can determine whether the work content is correct or not, an expensive product for image processing is not necessary as the imaging unit 15, and a general-purpose product such as a consumer camera. Can be used. Therefore, the facility cost can be reduced also in this respect.

  In particular, in the present embodiment, since the selection operation content by the worker Op and the information acquired by the control unit 18 from the work side are collated, the correctness / incorrectness determination is performed. However, it is possible to reliably avoid a situation where an unsuitable workpiece is conveyed to a subsequent process. Therefore, it is possible to improve the inspection accuracy and the reliability of the inspection as compared with the case where correct / incorrect determination is performed by image processing or when the final decision is left to the operator Op.

  In the present embodiment, the display means 16 for displaying the external appearance image of the workpiece is disposed in the human work area 11a which is a tact surplus area and where the work to be inspected is performed. The operator Op himself who actually performed the work to be inspected can inspect the correctness of the work contents based on the appearance image of the work displayed on the display means 16. For this reason, the operator Op can recognize the error of the work, which leads to work improvement and further improvement in efficiency and accuracy of human work. In particular, in this embodiment, the machine work area 12 is arranged before and after the image acquisition area 13, and the image acquisition area 13 is separated from the tact surplus area (human work area 11a). Work time for a plurality of workpieces has already passed since then, and the worker Op himself no longer stores the contents at the time of the work. Therefore, it is possible to prevent an erroneous determination due to a belief that may occur when the operator Op itself performs a correct / incorrect determination inspection immediately after the operation, and an objective and accurate determination (inspection) is possible.

  As mentioned above, although one Embodiment of this invention was described, the manufacturing line which concerns on this invention can take arbitrary forms within the scope of the present invention, without being limited to the form of the said illustration.

  For example, as the selection operation unit 17, as illustrated in the above embodiment, in addition to the number of operation units (buttons and the like) corresponding to the selection items related to the work content, the operator Op who looks at the display unit 16 is provided. Two types of operation units that can make a final determination and select a determination result may be provided. That is, when the determination content relates to the suitability of the work content (for example, whether or not the adhesive can be applied to the predetermined area without omission), by selecting and operating one corresponding operation unit as the work content is appropriate, A transfer command to the next process is sent to the transfer line 14, or a transfer stop command or a workpiece sweep command is sent to the transfer line 14 by selecting and operating the corresponding other operation unit because the work contents are inappropriate. The control unit 18 may be configured as described above.

  In addition, regarding the display unit 16, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the display unit 16 is disposed in one human work area 11 (11 a) that satisfies the condition as a tact surplus area is illustrated, but of course the present invention is not limited thereto. . For example, when there are a plurality of human work areas 11 that satisfy the condition of a tact surplus area, a part of the human work areas 11 (for example, the human work area 11 with the longest free time Ts) or all of them. The display unit 16 and the selection operation unit 17 may be provided.

  In the above description, the case where the inspection for determining the correctness of the work content performed in the human work area 11 has been described. Of course, the correctness of the work content can be determined based on the appearance image of the work. As long as the work content to be inspected is arbitrary, for example, the work content in the machine work area 12 can be the inspection target.

  Of course, other specific forms can be adopted for matters other than the above as long as the technical significance of the present invention is not lost.

10 Production Line 11 Human Work Area 11a Tact Surplus Area (Human Work Area)
12 Machine work area 13 Image acquisition area 14 Transfer line 15 Imaging means 16 Display means 17 Selection operation means 18 Control unit Op Worker

Claims (2)

A plurality of human work areas in which work by workers is performed, a plurality of machine work areas in which work by machines is performed, and an image acquisition area for acquiring an appearance image of a work are provided on a common transport line ,
The workpiece is transported on the transport line at a predetermined tact time,
A production line that enables an inspection to be performed based on an appearance image of the workpiece to determine whether the work content performed in the predetermined human work area or the machine work area is correct or incorrect,
Imaging means for imaging the workpiece carried into the image acquisition area;
Display means for displaying an image obtained by imaging with the imaging means,
Wherein the display means, the plurality of human work area, when subtracting the time required for the human work from the tact time, the human work area for the time necessary to the inspection left over a tact surplus area A production line in which the display means is disposed in the tact surplus area .   The production line according to claim 1, wherein the display unit is disposed in a human work area that is the tact surplus area and in which the work to be inspected is performed.

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