JP7024809B2 - Controls, control methods, and programs - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a control device, a control method, and a program, and more particularly to a control device, a control method, and a program for controlling the operation of the processing device.

A system has been developed that automatically unpacks boxes containing goods. In Patent Document 1, after the roller conveyor and the elevator move the box to a predetermined position, the position of the box is positioned by a guide, and a cutter provided with an unpacking device cuts the upper peripheral edge of the box. The system for unpacking the box is disclosed.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2002-249116 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2005-047555 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2018-073176

With related technology, the user cannot easily grasp the operating status of the unpacking device (processing device). For example, wear on the cutter of the unpacking device can slow down the speed of unpacking the box. However, the user cannot easily know this. Therefore, it may not be possible to prevent the processing efficiency of the unpacking device from being lowered.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a means for a user to easily grasp the operating status of a processing device.

The control device according to one aspect of the present invention includes a generation means for generating graph data related to the processing executed by the processing device, an instruction means for causing the processing device to execute each step of the processing, and a state of the processing device. A first index value calculating means for calculating the first index value related to the object, a second index value calculating means for calculating the second index value related to the state of the object to be processed, the first index value and the first index value. It is provided with an output means for inputting two index values and displaying the first index value and the second index value on the screen of a graph based on the data of the graph.

The control method according to one aspect of the present invention generates graph data related to the processing executed by the processing apparatus, causes the processing apparatus to execute each step of the processing, and has a first index value related to the state of the processing apparatus. Is calculated, a second index value related to the state of the object to be processed is calculated, the first index value and the second index value are input, and the second index value is displayed on the screen of the graph based on the data of the graph. 1 Includes displaying the index value and the second index value.

The program according to one aspect of the present invention is the first relating to the generation of graph data relating to the processing executed by the processing apparatus, causing the processing apparatus to execute each step of the processing, and the state of the processing apparatus. The index value of the above is calculated, the second index value related to the state of the object to be processed is calculated, and the first index value and the second index value are input and based on the data of the graph. The computer is made to display the first index value and the second index value on the screen of the graph.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the user can easily grasp the operating status of the processing device.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the system which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows schematic the structure of the system which concerns on one Example of Embodiment 1. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the control device which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the graph of the 1st index value and the 2nd index value which the control device which concerns on Embodiment 1 displays on a display device. It is a sequence diagram which shows the flow of the process which each of the control apparatus, the processing apparatus, and the display apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 performs. It is a figure which shows the screen of the graph which the control device which concerns on one modification of Embodiment 1 displays on a display device. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the control device which concerns on Embodiment 3. FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the graph of the 1st index value and the 2nd index value which the control device which concerns on Embodiment 3 displays on a display device. It is a figure which shows the hardware configuration of the control device which concerns on one of Embodiments 1 to 3.

[Embodiment 1]
The first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6.

(System 1)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a system 1 according to the first embodiment. System 1 automatically unpacks a box containing goods (an example of an object to be processed). As shown in FIG. 1, the system 1 includes a display device 80, a processing device 90, and a control device 100. The number of processing devices 90 may be one or a plurality. FIG. 1 shows a case where the system 1 includes one processing device 90. When there are a plurality of processing devices 90, the control device 100 executes the control described below for each processing device 90.

The display device 80 and the processing device 90 are connected to the control device 100 so as to be able to communicate wirelessly or by wire. The display device 80 may be a display device independent of the control device 100, or may be a display integrated with the control device 100. The processing device 90 executes processing by controlling the operation by the control device 100. In one example, the processing device 90 is an unpacking device for unpacking a cardboard box or the like in which articles are packed.

(Configuration of control device 100)
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control device 100 included in the system 1 according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, the control device 100 includes a generation unit 110, an instruction unit 120, a first index value calculation unit 130, an output unit 140, and a second index value calculation unit 150.

The generation unit 110 generates graph data related to the processing executed by the processing apparatus. The generation unit 110 is an example of the generation means. Specifically, the generation unit 110 generates graph data including a horizontal axis indicating time and a vertical axis indicating a first index value and a second index value. The first index value is a value related to the state of the processing device 90, and is calculated by the first index value calculation unit 130. The second index value is a value related to the state of the object to be processed (here, the box), and is calculated by the second index value calculation unit 150. Specific examples of the first index value and the second index value will be described later. The generation unit 110 outputs the generated graph data to the output unit 140. The graph data output at this time does not include the data of the first index value and the data of the second index value.

The instruction unit 120 causes the processing device 90 to execute each process of processing. The instruction unit 120 is an example of the instruction means. Specifically, the instruction unit 120 sequentially outputs commands for executing each process to the processing device 90. For example, when the processing device 90 is an unpacking device, the instruction unit 120 sequentially outputs commands to the processing device 90 for executing each step of the processing related to unpacking the box. Further, each time the processing device 90 starts each process of processing, the instruction unit 120 outputs a start signal indicating the processing start time to the first index value calculation unit 130 and the second index value calculation unit 150, respectively. .. In addition, the instruction unit 120 may output information indicating the operating status of the processing device 90 to the output unit 140 (a modification of the first embodiment).

The first index value calculation unit 130 calculates the first index value related to the state of the processing device 90. The first index value calculation unit 130 is an example of the first index value calculation means. Specifically, the first index value calculation unit 130 acquires the data of the first sensor value detected by various sensors 91 provided in the processing device 90 after receiving the start signal from the instruction unit 120. The first index value calculation unit 130 calculates the first index value based on the acquired first sensor value data. In the first embodiment, the first index value calculation unit 130 calculates the number of objects (boxes in this case) processed by the processing device 90 based on the acquired first sensor value. However, the first index value related to the state of the processing device 90 is not limited to the number of objects processed by the processing device 90.

For example, the first index value calculation unit 130 reads the barcode or code (including numbers and letters) attached to each box by the sensor 91, and the box type information (shipper, weight) registered in the database. , Contents, box size, and box material, etc.). Then, the first index value calculation unit 130 specifies the size and material of each box processed by the processing apparatus 90.

Next, the first index value calculation unit 130 calculates the number of unpacked boxes for each size or material of the boxes processed by the processing apparatus 90. The first index value calculation unit 130 outputs the data of the first index value thus calculated to the output unit 140.

The second index value calculation unit 150 calculates the second index value related to the state of the object to be processed (here, the box). The second index value calculation unit 150 is an example of the second index value calculation means. Specifically, the second index value calculation unit 150 acquires the data of the second sensor value detected by various sensors 91 provided in the processing device 90 after receiving the start signal from the instruction unit 120. The first sensor value and the second sensor value may be obtained from the same type of sensor 91 or may be obtained from different types of sensors 91. The second index value calculation unit 150 calculates the second index value based on the acquired second sensor value data. In the first embodiment, the second index value calculation unit 150 calculates the size, dent, and wetness of the box as the second index value. The second index value given here is just an example. The second index value may differ depending on the object.

For example, the second index value calculation unit 150 specifies the size of the box by reading the barcode or code attached to each box by the sensor 91. The second index value calculation unit 150 calculates the average of the dents of the box in one direction by scanning the box with the sensor 91. Further, the second index value calculation unit 150 calculates the wetness of the box based on the humidity of the warehouse in which the box is placed. The second index value calculation unit 150 outputs the data of the second index value thus calculated to the output unit 140.

The output unit 140 inputs the first index value and the second index value, and displays the first index value and the second index value on the screen of the graph based on the data of the graph. The output unit 140 is an example of an output means. Specifically, the output unit 140 receives graph data from the generation unit 110 and generates screen data of the graph based on the received data. In one example, the output unit 140 causes the display device 80 to display a graph screen based on the screen data of the generated graph before receiving the first index value and the second index value.

Next, the output unit 140 receives the data of the first index value from the first index value calculation unit 130. Further, the output unit 140 receives the data of the second index value from the second index value calculation unit 150. The output unit 140 causes the display device 80 to display a graph screen based on the graph data generated by the generation unit 110, and displays the first index value and the second index value on the graph screen.

(Example of graph screen)
FIG. 4 shows an example of a graph screen displayed on the display device 80 by the output unit 140. The graph screen shown in FIG. 4 is composed of two graphs. The graph above is a graph showing the first index value. The graph showing the first index value shows that the first index value (here, the number of boxes processed by the processing apparatus 90) increases with time. The sudden drop in the first index value indicates that the first index value has been reset as a result of the maintenance of the processing device 90. The graph at the bottom of the screen of the graph shown in FIG. 4 shows the second index value. The second index value is here the size, dent, and wetness of the box.

(Operation of control device 100)
The operation executed by the control device 100 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing executed by each of the display device 80, the processing device 90, and the control device 100 included in the system 1.

As shown in FIG. 5, first, the generation unit 110 of the control device 100 generates a graph regarding the processing executed by the processing device 90 (S201). The generation unit 110 outputs the generated graph data to the output unit 140.

The output unit 140 generates the screen data of the graph by using the graph data received from the generation unit 110. Then, the output unit 140 transmits the screen data of the graph to the display device 80. The display device 80 displays the graph screen based on the graph screen data received from the output unit 140 (S101).

Next, the instruction unit 120 of the control device 100 controls the processing device 90 by inputting a command (S202).

Each time the processing device 90 starts each process of processing, the instruction unit 120 outputs information indicating the processing start time to the first index value calculation unit 130 and the second index value calculation unit 150, respectively. In one example, the instruction unit 120 causes the processing apparatus 90 to repeatedly execute the entire processing process until a predetermined input operation for stopping the processing apparatus 90 is performed. Each time the processing device 90 starts each process of processing, the instruction unit 120 outputs a start signal indicating the processing start time to the first index value calculation unit 130 and the second index value calculation unit 150, respectively.

On the other hand, the processing apparatus 90 executes one step of processing (S301). While the processing device 90 is executing the process, the sensor 91 included in the processing device 90 transmits the data of the first sensor value to the first index value calculation unit 130 (S302). Further, the sensor 91 outputs the data of the second sensor value to the second index value calculation unit 150 (S303).

The first index value calculation unit 130 receives the data of the first sensor value from the sensor 91. The first index value calculation unit 130 measures the state of the processing device 90 based on the first sensor value (S203). Specifically, the first index value calculation unit 130 calculates the number of boxes processed by the processing device 90. The first index value calculation unit 130 outputs information indicating the number of boxes processed by the processing device 90 to the output unit 140 as data of the first index value (S204).

The output unit 140 receives the data of the first index value from the first index value calculation unit 130. The output unit 140 displays the first index value received from the first index value calculation unit 130 on the screen (FIG. 4) of the graph displayed by the display device 80 (S102).

The second index value calculation unit 150 receives the data of the second sensor value from the sensor 91. The second index value calculation unit 150 measures the state of the object to be processed (here, the box) based on the second sensor value (S205). Specifically, the second index value calculation unit 150 calculates the size, dent, and wetness of the box, respectively. The second index value calculation unit 150 outputs information indicating the size, dent, and wetness of the box to the output unit 140 as the data of the second index value (S206).

The output unit 140 receives the data of the second index value from the second index value calculation unit 150. The output unit 140 displays the second index value received from the second index value calculation unit 150 on the screen (FIG. 4) of the graph displayed by the display device 80 (S103).

This completes the operations of the display device 80, the processing device 90, and the control device 100 provided in the system 1.

(Modification example)
In one modification, the output unit 140 receives information indicating the operating status of the processing device 90 from the instruction unit 120. The output unit 140 displays a graph showing the first index value and the second index value together with the operating status of the processing device 90.

FIG. 6 shows an example of a modification of the graph screen displayed on the display device 80 by the output unit 140. The screen of the graph shown in FIG. 6 includes a graph showing the operating status of the processing apparatus 90 in addition to the graph showing the first index value and the graph showing the second index value. It is different from the screen of.

The graph screen shown in FIG. 6 is composed of three graphs. The graph above is a graph showing the first index value. The graph showing the first index value shows that the first index value increases with time. The sharp drop in the first index value indicates that the first index value has been reset. In the graph screen shown in FIG. 6, the graph in the middle shows the operating status (operation / stop) of the processing device 90. And the graph at the bottom shows the second index value. The second index value is here the size, dent, and wetness of the box.

(Effect of this embodiment)
According to the configuration of the present embodiment, the generation unit 110 generates graph data related to the processing executed by the processing device, the instruction unit 120 causes the processing device to execute each process of the processing, and the first index value calculation unit. The 130 calculates the first index value related to the state of the processing device, the second index value calculation unit 150 calculates the second index value related to the state of the object to be processed, and the output unit 140 calculates the second index value. The 1st index value and the 2nd index value are input, and the 1st index value and the 2nd index value are displayed on the screen of the graph based on the graph data.

As a result, the user can confirm the first index value related to the state of the processing device 90 and the second index value related to the state of the object to be processed by looking at the screen of the graph. Therefore, the user can easily grasp the operating status of the processing device.

[Embodiment 2]
In the first embodiment, the first index value is the state of the processing device 90. On the other hand, in the second embodiment, the first index value indicates the state of the consumables provided in the processing apparatus 90. For example, the first index value is the degree of wear of the cutter for unpacking the box.

In this modification, the first index value calculation unit 130 reads the barcode or code (including numbers and letters) attached to each box by the sensor 91, and the box type information (shipping) registered in the database. Refer to the main, weight, contents, box size, and box material, etc.).

The first index value calculation unit 130 specifies the size and material of each box processed by the processing apparatus 90. The first index value calculation unit 130 refers to a table showing the relationship between the size and material of the box and the degree of wear of the cutter when the box is processed.

The first index value calculation unit 130 calculates the degree of wear for each size or material of the box processed by the processing apparatus 90. Then, the first index value calculation unit 130 sets the total wear degree of the boxes processed by the processing device 90 so far as the first index value. The first index value calculation unit 130 outputs the data of the first index value thus calculated to the output unit 140.

(Effect of this embodiment)
According to the configuration of the present embodiment, the generation unit 110 generates graph data related to the processing executed by the processing device, the instruction unit 120 causes the processing device to execute each process of the processing, and the first index value calculation unit. The 130 calculates the first index value related to the state of the processing device, the second index value calculation unit 150 calculates the second index value related to the state of the object to be processed, and the output unit 140 calculates the second index value. The 1st index value and the 2nd index value are input, and the 1st index value and the 2nd index value are displayed on the screen of the graph based on the graph data.

As a result, the user can confirm the first index value related to the state of the processing device 90 and the second index value related to the state of the object to be processed by looking at the screen of the graph. Therefore, the user can easily grasp the operating status of the processing device.

Further, according to the configuration of the second embodiment, the first index value is the state of the consumables provided in the processing device 90. The user can see the graph showing the first index value and take appropriate measures for improving efficiency such as replacement of consumables at an appropriate timing.

[Embodiment 3]
The third embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 to 8. The members described in the first embodiment will be omitted in the third embodiment. The members having the same reference numerals as the members described in the first embodiment have the functions described in the first embodiment also in the third embodiment.

(Configuration of control device 200)
FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control device 200 according to the third embodiment. As shown in FIG. 7, the control device 200 includes a generation unit 110, an instruction unit 120, a first index value calculation unit 130, an output unit 140, and a second index value calculation unit 150. The control device 200 further includes an alert unit 160.

The alert unit 160 notifies an alert when the first index value exceeds a certain threshold value. The alert unit 160 is an example of an alert means. As described in the first embodiment, the first index value is a value related to the state of the processing device 90, and is calculated by the first index value calculation unit 130.

Specifically, the alert unit 160 receives the data of the first index value from the first index value calculation unit 130. The alert unit 160 compares the first index value with a certain threshold value. The threshold may be determined in any way. When the first index value is the number of boxes, in one example, the threshold value is determined based on the maintenance cycle of the processing device 90. When the first index value exceeds the threshold value, the alert unit 160 outputs an alert by any means. For example, the alert unit 160 outputs a warning sound. Alternatively, the alert unit 160 outputs a warning display. As will be described below, the alert unit 160 may instruct the output unit 140 to display the alert on the display device 80.

(An example of a graph screen that displays alerts)
FIG. 8 shows an example of a graph screen displayed on the display device 80 by the output unit 140. In the screen of the graph shown in FIG. 9, in the same manner as the screen of the graph shown in the modified example of the first embodiment, in addition to the graph showing the first index value and the graph showing the second index value, the processing apparatus. A graph showing the operating status of 90 is also shown. However, the graph showing the operating status of the processing device 90 does not have to exist.

In FIG. 8, the graph showing the first index value shows the above-mentioned threshold value. When the first index value exceeds the threshold value, the alert unit 160 instructs the output unit 140 to display a warning. The alert criteria described here are just an example. The criteria for alerts may be determined in any way.

The user can monitor the state of the processing apparatus 90 by looking at the graph shown in FIG. Further, the alert output when the first index value exceeds the threshold value allows the user to quickly take appropriate measures such as repairing the processing device 90.

(Effect of this embodiment)
According to the configuration of the present embodiment, the generation unit 110 generates graph data related to the processing executed by the processing device, the instruction unit 120 causes the processing device to execute each process of the processing, and the first index value calculation unit. The 130 calculates the first index value related to the state of the processing device, the second index value calculation unit 150 calculates the second index value related to the state of the object to be processed, and the output unit 140 calculates the second index value. The 1st index value and the 2nd index value are input, and the 1st index value and the 2nd index value are displayed on the screen of the graph based on the graph data.

As a result, the user can confirm the first index value related to the state of the processing device 90 and the second index value related to the state of the object to be processed by looking at the screen of the graph. Therefore, the user can easily grasp the operating status of the processing device.

Further, the alert unit 160 notifies an alert when the first index value exceeds a certain threshold value. As a result, the alert allows the user to quickly take appropriate measures such as repairing the processing device 90.

(About hardware configuration)
Each component of the control devices 100 and 200 described in the first to third embodiments shows a block of functional units. Some or all of these components are realized by, for example, the information processing apparatus 900 as shown in FIG. FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the information processing apparatus 900.

As shown in FIG. 10, the information processing apparatus 900 includes the following configuration as an example.

-CPU (Central Processing Unit) 901
-ROM (Read Only Memory) 902
-RAM (Random Access Memory) 903
-Program 904 loaded into RAM 903
A storage device 905 that stores the program 904.
Drive device 907 that reads and writes the recording medium 906.
-Communication interface 908 for connecting to the communication network 909
-I / O interface 910 for inputting / outputting data
-Bus 911 connecting each component
Each component of the control devices 100 and 200 described in the first to third embodiments is realized by the CPU 901 reading and executing the program 904 that realizes these functions. The program 904 that realizes the functions of each component is stored in, for example, a storage device 905 or ROM 902 in advance, and the CPU 901 is loaded into the RAM 903 and executed as needed. The program 904 may be supplied to the CPU 901 via the communication network 909, or may be stored in the recording medium 906 in advance, and the drive device 907 may read the program and supply the program to the CPU 901.

According to the above configuration, the control devices 100 and 200 described in the first to third embodiments are realized as hardware. Therefore, it is possible to obtain the same effect as the effect described in the first to third embodiments.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be used not only to control an unpacking device for unpacking a box, but also to control a processing device that automatically executes various processes such as processing, transportation, assembly, and disassembly.

80 Display device 90 Processing device 100 Control device 110 Generation unit 120 Indicator unit 130 First index value calculation unit 140 Output unit 150 Second index value calculation unit 160 Alert unit 200 Control device

Claims (6)

A generation means for generating graph data related to the unpacking process of the box executed by the processing device, and
An instruction means for causing the processing device to execute each step of the unpacking processing, and
As the first index value related to the state of the processing device, the first index value calculating means for calculating the number of boxes processed by the processing device, and
As the second index value related to the state of the box which is the object of the treatment, a second index value calculating means for calculating the size, dent, and wetness of the box which is the object of the treatment, and
An output means for inputting the first index value and the second index value and displaying the first index value and the second index value on the screen of the graph based on the data of the graph.
A control device equipped with. The control device according to claim 1 , further comprising an alert means for notifying an alert when the first index value exceeds a certain threshold value. The control device according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the output means displays the graph showing the first index value and the second index value together with the operating status of the processing device. Generates graph data about the box unpacking process performed by the processing device,
Let the processing device execute each step of the unpacking processing,
As the first index value related to the state of the processing device, the number of boxes processed by the processing device is calculated.
As a second index value related to the state of the box that is the object of the treatment, the size, dent, and wetness of the box that is the object of the treatment are calculated.
A control method comprising inputting the first index value and the second index value and displaying the first index value and the second index value on the screen of a graph based on the data of the graph. To generate graph data about the unpacking process of the box performed by the processing device,
To have the processing device execute each step of the unpacking processing,
As the first index value related to the state of the processing device, the number of boxes processed by the processing device is calculated, and
As the second index value related to the state of the box that is the object of the treatment, the size, the dent, and the wetness of the box that is the object of the treatment are calculated.
The first index value and the second index value are input , and the computer is executed to display the first index value and the second index value on the screen of the graph based on the data of the graph. Program to make you. The control device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 and
A processing device whose operation is controlled by the control device,
A system including a display device that displays a graph related to the processing performed by the processing device.

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