JP7624948B2 - Industrial Equipment - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to industrial equipment, and in particular to remotely controlling the operation of industrial equipment.

In recent years, various systems have been proposed that connect industrial equipment to the Internet and allow remote monitoring and remote operation over the Internet. Programs that can perform multiple operations are pre-installed on the industrial equipment, and the operation of the equipment can be changed by operating the operation panel on the equipment. However, it is not desirable to give the user who actually uses the equipment the authority to change the operation, as this could lead to unauthorized use of the equipment or abnormal operation. In addition, it is time-consuming for the equipment administrator to operate the equipment's operation panel to change the operation. For this reason, consideration is being given to the possibility of changing the operation remotely over the network.

One example of industrial equipment is an air shower device. Air shower devices are installed at the entrances and exits of clean rooms where semiconductors and precision machinery are manufactured, and food is processed, and they use an air jet to remove dust, pollen, and other particles that have adhered to the user. When using an air shower device, the user may be inside or near the device, and in this state, changing the operation remotely without checking the conditions inside and around the device can be dangerous, as the user may become trapped inside the device. For this reason, when changing the operation remotely, it is necessary to ensure that the user is not inside or near the device, and that a facility manager is present near the device while the operation is being changed.

Patent Document 1 is a background technology in this technical field. Patent Document 1 describes a remote device operation device that has a control that allows remote operation when the monitoring results of a sensor satisfy predetermined operation permission conditions so that changes in the operation of the device do not adversely affect users in the vicinity of the device.

JP 2010-34957 A

The control method described in Patent Document 1 has the problem that it is difficult for the sensor to completely detect the user, and increasing the detection accuracy in an attempt to detect the user accurately leads to an increase in the cost of the device.

The object of the present invention is to provide an industrial device that can ensure that a person in charge is present at the device even when changes to the device's operation are made remotely.

As an example, the present invention is an industrial device equipped with a control unit that controls each mechanism of the industrial device, a display setting unit for setting and displaying guidance related to the operation, and a communication device, in which the control unit switches to an operation change authentication state by setting through the operation of the display setting unit, generates a first authentication code in the operation change authentication state, displays the first authentication code on the display setting unit, compares a second authentication code input via the communication device with the first authentication code, and if they match, switches to an operation change permission state, and in the operation change permission state, changes the operation of the industrial device based on an operation change command input via the communication device by remote operation.

The present invention provides industrial equipment that ensures the safety of users during remote operation change work by ensuring that a person in charge is present at the equipment.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional plan view of the air shower device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the remote control of the air shower device according to the first embodiment. 4 is a process flowchart for changing the operation of the air shower apparatus by remote control in the first embodiment. 10 is a process flowchart for changing the operation of the air shower apparatus by remote control in the second embodiment.

The following describes an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings. Note that this embodiment will be described using an air shower device as an example of an industrial device.

Figure 1 is a cross-sectional plan view of the air shower device in this embodiment. In Figure 1, the air shower device 1 has an air shower room 10, and is composed of an antechamber door 2, a clean room door 3, side walls 11 and 12 on both sides, and a ceiling (not shown). Air jet mechanisms 11a and 12a are installed on the side walls 11 and 12 of the air shower room 10, respectively, and the air jet mechanisms are driven and controlled by the control unit 5 to spray air jets.

The control unit 5 is provided to control the entire air shower device, and receives detection signals from the door switches of the front room door 2 and the clean room door 3, the human detection sensor, and the door lock release switch 4, and controls the air jet mechanism to operate the air jet. The control unit 5 is connected to a network (not shown) by a communication device 6. In this embodiment, the control unit 5 and communication device 6 are shown as being provided inside the side wall 11 to make the entire device compact, but they may be provided on the other side wall 12 or externally. The control unit 5 can be realized by a PLC or microprocessor, and has a program installed in advance that can perform multiple operations.

The display setting unit 7 is installed on the side wall 11 and is provided for making settings related to the operation of the air shower device and for displaying precautions (guidance) for the user. The network is like a cloud, and allows the status of the air shower device to be checked and its operation to be changed remotely from a computer or other device connected to the same network.

Figure 2 is a schematic diagram for explaining the remote operation of the air shower device in this embodiment. In Figure 2, the same components as those in Figure 1 are given the same reference numerals, and their explanation will be omitted. In Figure 2, 15 denotes devices to be controlled by the control unit 5, such as the air jet mechanism and door lock control device of the air shower device. 20 denotes a network, such as a cloud, connected to the communication device 6 of the control unit 5. In addition, a user 100 refers to a person who actually uses the air shower device 1 and moves between the antechamber side and the clean room side, a person in charge 101 refers to a person who inspects and maintains the air shower device 1, and a manager 102 refers to a person who manages the operating status of the entire building, including the air shower device 1, and allows users to use the air shower device optimally, as well as a maintenance person of the air shower device manufacturer.

In this embodiment, while a person in charge 101 is present at the air shower device 1, a manager 102 remotely controls the operation of the air shower device 1. The details of this operation are described below using FIG. 3 with reference to FIG. 2.

Figure 3 is a process flow chart for remotely changing the operation of the air shower device in this embodiment. In Figure 3, first, in step S11, the person in charge 101 requests the administrator 102 in advance that he/she wants to change the operation. Then, in step S12, the person in charge 101 operates the display setting unit 7 of the air shower device 1 (hereinafter simply referred to as the device) to set the device to change to the operation change authentication state. The operation to change to the operation change authentication state is allowed only to the person in charge 101 or higher, and the user 100 is not allowed to make changes. For this purpose, for example, the operation of the display setting unit 7 is restricted by a password known only to the person in charge 101 or higher. The person in charge 101 informs the user 100 in advance that the operation of the device will be changed, and the safety of the user can be ensured by the person in charge 101 being present during the change work.

In step S13, the control unit 5 switches the device to the operation change authentication state in response to the switching operation to the operation change authentication state by the person in charge 101, and stops the operation control of the device so that the air jet is not operated between the operation change authentication state and the operation change permission state described below. Then, the front room side of the air shower door is always open, and the clean room side is always closed. This makes it possible to perform change work without trapping people inside the air shower room 10 while preventing dust from leaking into the clean room side. Even in this case, both doors can be opened by pressing the door lock release switch 4 provided on the air shower device, so people will not be trapped in the clean room side.

Next, in step S14, the control unit 5 generates an authentication code in response to switching to the operation change authentication state or in response to the operation of the display setting unit 7 by the person in charge 101. Then, the control unit 5 displays the generated authentication code on the display setting unit 7. Note that the authentication code generated by the control unit 5 is like a password composed of multiple numbers and character strings, but is not limited to this, and other configurations may be used as long as the difficulty of authentication is similar.

Next, in step S15, the person in charge 101 checks the authentication code displayed on the display setting unit 7 as shown in FIG. 2, and transmits the authentication code to the administrator 102. The method of transmission may be oral communication by telephone, e-mail, or the like, or may be transmission via the communication device 6 of the device. Next, in step S16, the administrator 102 receives the authentication code, and in step S17, the administrator 102 transmits the received authentication code from the network 20 to the control unit 5 via the communication device 6 of the device. Note that, if the network 20 is a cloud, the administrator 102 inputs the received authentication code into the cloud, and the cloud program transmits it to the control unit 5 via the communication device 6 of the device. In step S18, the control unit 5 receives the authentication code, and in step S19, the control unit 5 compares the received authentication code with the generated authentication code, and if they match, in step S20, the control unit 5 switches to an operation change permission state and is in a state in which an operation change command from the administrator 102 can be accepted.

If multiple air shower devices are installed in the same location, there is a possibility that there will be a misunderstanding between the person in charge 101 and the manager 102 regarding the target device when trying to change its operation at the same time. By providing an authentication code, therefore, even if the person in charge 101 miscommunicates the authentication code or the manager 102 inputs the authentication code into the wrong device, authentication will not be possible, and it is possible to prevent the device where the misunderstanding has occurred from transitioning to a state where operation changes are permitted.

In step S21, the administrator 102 transmits a remote operation change command to the control unit 5 of the device from the network 20. In step S22, the control unit 5 receives the operation change command. In step S23, since the control unit 5 is in an operation change permission state, the control unit 5 changes the operation of the device to one of the multiple programs preinstalled in the control unit 5 in response to the received operation change command, and changes the operation of the device. In step S24, the administrator 102 monitors the operation of the device, and after confirming that the operation change has been completed, transmits a command to end the operation change permission state by remote operation from the network 20. In step S25, the control unit 5 receives the operation change permission state end command, and in step S26, the control unit 5 changes the device to a standby state. Note that the operation change authentication state and the operation change permission state can also be ended when the person in charge 101 operates the display setting unit 7 or presses the door lock release switch 4.

According to the present embodiment described above, it is possible to provide industrial equipment that can ensure the safety of the user during remote operation by ensuring that a person in charge is present at the equipment. In addition, the use of an authentication code can prevent the wrong target being operated when operating multiple devices.

In this embodiment, we will explain an industrial device that can ensure that a person in charge is present at the device during remote operation without using the authentication code described in the first embodiment.

Figure 4 is a process flow chart for changing the operation of the air shower device by remote control in this embodiment. In Figure 4, the same processes as those in Figure 3 are given the same reference numerals, and their explanations are omitted. Figure 4 differs from Figure 3 in that steps S13 to S19 have been deleted, step S12 has been changed to S31, and step S20 has been changed to S32.

In FIG. 4, in step S31, the person in charge operates the display setting unit 7 of the air shower device (hereinafter simply referred to as the device) to set the device to change to the operation change permission state. The operation to change to the operation change permission state is allowed only to the person in charge 101 or higher, and the user 100 cannot make the change. For this purpose, for example, the operation of the display setting unit 7 is restricted by a password known only to the person in charge 101 or higher. The person in charge 101 can ensure the safety of the user by notifying the user 100 in advance that the operation change of the device will be carried out and being present during the change work. In step S32, the control unit 5 switches the device to the operation change permission state in response to the person in charge's operation change permission switch operation, and stops the operation control of the device so that the air jet is not operated during the operation change permission state. Then, the front room side of the air shower door is always open, and the clean room side is always closed. This makes it possible to perform the change work without being trapped inside the air shower while preventing dust from flowing out to the clean room side. Even in this case, both doors can be opened by pressing the door lock release switch 4 on the air shower device, so no one will be trapped in the clean room.

After that, in steps S21 to S26, the administrator 102 remotely changes the operation, and then the operation change permission state is terminated and the device is changed to a standby state.

The timing of sending the operation change command by remote operation of the administrator 102 in step S21 may be determined at a time agreed upon when the person in charge 101 makes a request to the administrator 102 in advance in step S11 to change the operation, or may be triggered by receiving a notification from the control unit 5 via the communication device 6 to the administrator 102 that the operation change is now permitted upon switching to the operation change permitted state in step S32.

In this way, in this embodiment, it is possible to provide industrial equipment that can ensure that a person in charge is present at the equipment during remote operation, and that can ensure the safety of the user during remote operation. Note that, as in the first embodiment, if multiple devices are installed in the same location, it is not possible to prevent the wrong operation target from being selected when operating multiple devices. However, if multiple devices are not installed in the same location, there is an advantage in that the work procedures of the person in charge or the administrator can be simplified.

The above describes an embodiment of the present invention, which can provide industrial equipment that can ensure the safety of users during remote operation. As a result, the operation of the industrial equipment can be changed safely remotely, improving efficiency and reducing human resource costs. Therefore, the present invention contributes to achieving a high level of economic productivity through technological improvement and innovation in order to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in item 8, "Decent work and economic growth."

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but includes various modified examples. For example, the above-described embodiment has been described using an air shower device as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to industrial devices such as air compressors and inkjet printers. The present invention has been described in detail to make it easier to understand, and is not necessarily limited to devices that include all of the configurations described.

1: Air shower device, 2: Front room door, 3: Clean room door, 4: Door lock release switch, 5: Control unit, 6: Communication device, 7: Display setting unit, 10: Air shower room, 11, 12: Side wall, 11a, 12a: Air jet mechanism, 15: Control target device, 20: Network, 100: User, 101: Person in charge, 102: Administrator (maintenance person)

Claims (12)

An industrial device including a control unit that controls each mechanism of the industrial device, a display setting unit for setting operations and displaying guidance, and a communication device,
The control unit is
Switching to an operation change authentication state by operating the display setting unit;
generating a first authentication code in the operation change authentication state, displaying the first authentication code on the display setting unit, comparing a second authentication code input via the communication device with the first authentication code, and if the first authentication code matches the second authentication code, switching to an operation change permission state;
In the operation change permitted state, the operation of the industrial device is changed based on an operation change command inputted by remote control via the communication device. 2. The industrial device according to claim 1,
The control unit stops operation control of the industrial apparatus during the operation change authentication state and the operation change permission state. 2. The industrial device according to claim 1,
The control unit switches, in the operation change permitted state, to a standby state based on a command to end the operation change permitted state by remote control input via the communication device. 2. The industrial device according to claim 1,
The industrial device is characterized in that the setting by operating the display setting unit for switching to the operation change authentication state is restricted by a password. 2. The industrial device according to claim 1,
The industrial device is characterized in that the first authentication code is generated in response to switching to the operation change authentication state or in accordance with an operation of the display setting unit. An industrial device including a control unit that controls each mechanism of the industrial device, a display setting unit for setting operations and displaying guidance, and a communication device,
The control unit is
Switching to an operation change permission state by operating the display setting unit;
In the operation change permitted state, changing the operation of the industrial device based on an operation change command inputted by remote operation via the communication device;
The industrial device is characterized in that the setting by operating the display setting unit for switching to the operation change permission state is restricted by a password. 7. The industrial apparatus according to claim 6,
The control unit stops operation control of the industrial device while the operation change is permitted. 7. The industrial apparatus according to claim 6,
The control unit switches, in the operation change permitted state, to a standby state based on a command to end the operation change permitted state by remote control input via the communication device. 2. The industrial device according to claim 1,
The industrial device is an air shower device,
The facility has an air shower room equipped with an air jet mechanism that sprays air jets at visitors,
The control unit controls the operation of the air jet, and stops operational control of the air jet between the operation change authentication state and the operation change permission state. 10. The industrial apparatus according to claim 9,
the air shower room has a front room door, a clean room door and side walls on both sides, the air jet mechanism is installed on the side walls,
The control unit keeps the front room door open and the clean room door closed during the operation change authentication state and the operation change permission state. 7. The industrial apparatus according to claim 6,
The industrial device is an air shower device,
The facility has an air shower room equipped with an air jet mechanism that sprays air jets at visitors,
The control unit controls the operation of the air jet, and stops operational control of the air jet while the operation change permission state is in effect. 12. The industrial apparatus according to claim 11,
the air shower room has a front room door, a clean room door and side walls on both sides, the air jet mechanism is installed on the side walls,
The control unit, while in the operation change permitted state, keeps the front room door open and the clean room door closed.

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