JP7639428B2 - Glass plate manufacturing method, original plate processing device, processing device, glass plate manufacturing system, and information processing program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing glass sheets.

In general, in the manufacture of glass sheets, it is required to produce products with flat surfaces with few irregularities such as scratches, foreign matter, and undulations. Few irregularities are particularly required in the manufacture of glass substrates for flat panel displays. The various glass sheets described above are often produced by forming molten glass melted in a melting furnace into a band-shaped glass ribbon, and cutting this glass ribbon to a specified size after sufficient cooling. Here, in addition to the float method, downdraw methods such as the overflow downdraw method (fusion method) and the slot downdraw method are generally used to form the glass ribbon.

Then, the glass original plate (including large-sized glass substrates for large displays and mother glass substrates from which multiple small glass substrates are cut) formed from the glass ribbon through the process described above is sent to an inspection process in which the characteristics of the glass original plate, such as surface irregularities, are inspected using an inspection device such as that disclosed in Patent Document 1. After the inspection process, the glass original plate is sent to a packaging process. In the packaging process, as disclosed in Patent Document 2, for example, a package is constructed by stacking multiple glass original plates and protective sheets alternately and placing them on a pallet. The package constructed of the pallet and multiple glass original plates is transported to a processing factory where the glass original plates are processed.

JP 2009-236771 A JP 2020-75752 A

Generally, in processing plants and the like where the processing process is carried out, original plate data relating to processing is referenced. For example, the original plate data includes information specifying how to cut out a glass plate from a glass original plate, and is referenced in order to properly and efficiently cut out products such as glass substrates from the glass original plate. For example, original plate data is created for each glass original plate based on the inspection results obtained in the above-mentioned inspection process. Then, in the processing process, the original plate data corresponding to the glass original plate to be processed is read out.

As a method for reading out original plate data corresponding to a glass original plate, for example, it is possible to attach individual identification information to each glass original plate to identify the glass original plate. However, attaching individual identification information to each glass original plate is thought to require a great deal of effort and cost. Therefore, there is a demand for a method for easily realizing correspondence between glass original plates and original plate data with less effort and cost.

One aspect of the present invention aims to provide a method, system, etc. for easily associating glass original plates with original plate data.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a manufacturing method according to one aspect of the present invention is a method for manufacturing a glass plate, comprising: an original plate process for loading a plurality of glass original plates on a pallet; and a processing process for manufacturing a glass plate by removing and processing each of the glass original plates loaded on the pallet, wherein the original plate process corresponds, for each of the glass original plates loaded on the pallet, original plate data relating to the processing of the glass original plate with the loading order of the glass original plates on the pallet, and adds representative original plate identification information for identifying the representative glass original plate to the original plate data of a representative glass original plate located in a predetermined loading order on the pallet. The processing step includes a storage step for storing the representative original plate identification information in association with the representative original plate identification information in a storage device for each pallet, and an information output step for outputting the representative original plate identification information to an information storage medium for each pallet. The processing step includes a reading step for reading the representative original plate identification information from each of the information storage media, and an acquisition step for acquiring from the storage device, for each pallet, a predetermined number of pieces of original plate data associated with the consecutive loading orders, starting from the original plate data of the representative glass original plate identified by the read representative original plate identification information.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an original plate processing device according to one embodiment of the present invention is an original plate processing device that controls an original plate process in which a plurality of glass original plates are loaded onto a pallet, and includes a data management unit that performs, for each of the glass original plates loaded onto the pallet, a process of associating original plate data relating to the processing of the glass original plate with the loading order of the glass original plates on the pallet, and a process of associating representative original plate identification information for identifying the representative glass original plate with the original plate data of the representative glass original plate located in a predetermined loading order on the pallet and storing the associated representative original plate identification information in a storage device, and an output control unit that performs, for each of the pallets, a process of outputting the representative original plate identification information to an information recording medium.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a processing device according to one aspect of the present invention is a processing device that controls a processing process for taking out and processing each of the glass original plates loaded on a pallet, and includes an identification information reading unit that performs a process of reading representative original plate identification information for identifying a representative glass original plate located in a predetermined loading order among the glass original plates loaded on the pallet from an information recording medium that stores the representative original plate identification information for each of the glass original plates loaded on the pallet, and a data acquisition unit that performs a process of acquiring a predetermined number of original plate data associated with the consecutive loading orders, starting from the original plate data of the representative glass original plate identified by the read representative original plate identification information, for each of the pallets, from a storage device that stores original plate data related to the processing of the glass original plate loaded on the pallet in association with the loading order of the glass original plates on the pallet and associates the original plate data of the representative glass original plate with the representative original plate identification information.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a glass plate manufacturing system according to one aspect of the present invention includes an original plate process device that controls an original plate process in which a plurality of glass original plates are loaded onto a pallet, and a processing process device that controls a processing process in which each of the glass original plates loaded onto the pallet is taken out and processed. The original plate process device associates, for each of the glass original plates loaded onto the pallet, original plate data related to the processing of the glass original plate with the loading order of the glass original plates on the pallet, and also associates representative original plate identification information for identifying the representative glass original plate with the original plate data of a representative glass original plate located in a predetermined loading order on the pallet. and an output control unit that performs a process of storing the representative original plate identification information in a storage device in association with the representative original plate identification information for each pallet, and a process of outputting the representative original plate identification information to an information storage medium for each pallet. The processing device includes an identification information reading unit that reads the representative original plate identification information from each of the information storage media, and a data acquisition unit that performs a process of acquiring from the storage device, for each pallet, a predetermined number of pieces of original plate data associated with the consecutive loading orders, starting from the original plate data of the representative glass original plate identified by the read representative original plate identification information, among the original plate data stored in the storage device.

The original plate processing device according to each aspect of the present invention may be realized by a computer. In this case, the information processing program of the original plate processing device that causes the computer to operate as each part (software element) of the original plate processing device to realize the original plate processing device, and the computer-readable recording medium on which it is recorded, also fall within the scope of the present invention.

The processing device according to each aspect of the present invention may be realized by a computer. In this case, the information processing program of the processing device that causes the computer to operate as each part (software element) of the processing device to realize the processing device, and the computer-readable recording medium on which it is recorded, also fall within the scope of the present invention.

According to one aspect of the present invention, it is possible to easily associate glass original plates with original plate data.

1 is a diagram showing an overview of a glass sheet manufacturing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part of a master plate processing apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention; 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part of a machining process device 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a data structure of information stored in an information recording medium 15 associated with a palette 14. FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a data structure of an original management database stored in a storage device. 2 is a sequence diagram showing a flow of processes in a glass sheet manufacturing method executed by the glass sheet manufacturing system 100. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a data structure of loading interruption information 512. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a data structure of processing interruption information 612. FIG.

[Embodiment 1]
<Glass sheet manufacturing system>
An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of a glass sheet manufacturing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The glass sheet manufacturing system 100 is a system for manufacturing a glass sheet by processing an original glass sheet. The manufacturing method of a glass sheet implemented in the glass sheet manufacturing system 100 is roughly divided into an original sheet process and a processing process. In the original sheet process, a plurality of original glass sheets are manufactured, and the manufactured original glass sheets are loaded on a pallet and shipped. The original sheet process may be implemented, for example, in an original glass sheet manufacturing factory. In the processing process, each of the original glass sheets loaded on the pallet is taken out and processed to manufacture a glass sheet. The processing process may be implemented, for example, in a glass sheet manufacturing factory. There is no particular restriction on the location of the original glass sheet manufacturing factory and the glass sheet manufacturing factory. As an example, the original glass sheet manufacturing factory may be located in a first country, and the glass sheet manufacturing factory may be located in a second country that is different from the first country.

(Each piece of equipment in the base plate process)
The glass sheet manufacturing system 100 includes, for example, an original sheet processing device 10, an original sheet manufacturing facility 11, an inspection device 12, and a loading machine 13 as facilities for carrying out an original sheet process. In the present embodiment, as an example, the original sheet processing device 10 as a link server, the inspection device 12, and the loading machine 13 are connected by wire or wirelessly so as to be able to communicate via a communication network (not shown). The communication network (not shown) may be, for example, a LAN (Local Area Network).

The plate manufacturing equipment 11 is an apparatus for manufacturing glass plate from molten glass, and performs, for example, the forming process, the annealing process, and the plate extraction process of the plate manufacturing process. The plate manufacturing equipment 11 includes, for example, a forming furnace 111, an annealing furnace 112, a cooling chamber 113, and a cutting chamber 114. The plate manufacturing equipment 11 shown in FIG. 1 forms glass plate by the down-draw method, but the method of forming the glass plate is not particularly limited. For example, a float method of forming glass plate in a float bath may be used. The plate manufacturing equipment 11 can also manufacture glass products for electronic devices such as glass substrates for flat panel displays, glass substrates for wafer supports, and glass substrates for cover glass of solid-state imaging devices, as well as video equipment.

The forming furnace 111 forms the supplied molten glass into a ribbon shape. The glass formed into a ribbon shape in the forming furnace 111 is transported to the annealing furnace 112 located vertically below the forming furnace 111. Hereinafter, the glass in the process of being formed into a ribbon shape in the forming furnace 111 until it is cut is referred to as ribbon glass G1. The annealing furnace 112 anneals the ribbon glass G1 in the forming furnace 111. The annealing furnace 112 is provided with a plurality of rollers 221.

The rollers 221 are arranged in pairs to sandwich the ribbon glass G1. In the example of FIG. 1, four pairs of rollers 221 are arranged along the conveying direction (+Y direction) of the ribbon glass G1. Note that FIG. 1 only shows the rollers 221 on the front side of the ribbon glass G1, and does not show the ones on the back side. The rollers 221 clamp the ribbon glass G1 and convey the ribbon glass G1 vertically downward (+Y axis direction) while pulling the ribbon glass G1 so that it does not shrink in the width direction (±X axis direction) due to surface tension or the like. Also, although not shown in FIG. 1, the annealing furnace 112 is provided with a heater, which is used to heat and anneal the ribbon glass G1.

The ribbon glass G1 that has been annealed in the annealing furnace 112 is transported to the cooling chamber 113, where it is cooled to a predetermined temperature range. The ribbon glass G1 that has been cooled to the predetermined temperature range is then transported to the cutting chamber 114, where it is cut to a predetermined size and extracted as a sheet of glass. Hereinafter, the glass cut to a predetermined size is referred to as the original glass sheet G.

The inspection device 12 is a device for inspecting the quality of each of the extracted glass original sheets G, and performs the inspection process of the original sheet process. The inspection device 12 may be, for example, a protrusion inspection device that checks the presence or absence of unevenness on the surface of the glass original sheet G and identifies the position where the unevenness is detected. In this embodiment, the inspection device 12 performs the inspection process to generate original sheet data related to the processing of each glass original sheet G. The original sheet data may be, for example, inspection result data indicating the result of the protrusion inspection. The inspection result data includes, for example, determination information indicating the presence or absence of unevenness for the glass original sheet G to be inspected, and, if unevenness is detected, position information indicating the position of the unevenness on the glass original sheet G. In this embodiment, the inspection device 12 transmits the original sheet data generated for each glass original sheet G, i.e., the inspection result data, to the original sheet process device 10 in association with a glass number uniquely assigned to the glass original sheet G.

In another example, the inspection device 12 may generate cutting position data as original sheet data, which indicates a cutting position determined based on the above-mentioned judgment information and position information obtained as a result of the inspection. The cutting position data includes, for example, a cutting position for cutting out the glass sheet so as to avoid unevenness on the glass original sheet G and reduce waste. The inspection device 12 may transmit the cutting position data as original sheet data to the original sheet process device 10 in association with the glass number. In addition, the inspection device 12 may perform an edge cutting process, as necessary, for cutting off the edge of the glass original sheet G, which corresponds to the left and right ends of the ribbon glass G1.

The loading machine 13 is a device that loads glass original sheets G onto a pallet 14 that holds multiple glass original sheets G, and performs the loading process of the original sheet process. If necessary, the loading machine 13 may also perform an edge cutting process that cuts off the edges of the glass original sheet G, which correspond to the left and right ends of the ribbon glass G1.

The loader 13 loads the glass original sheets G removed from the inspection device 12 onto the pallet 14. In this embodiment, the individual glass original sheets G are loaded onto the pallet 14 by the loader 13 in the same order as they were inspected by the inspection device 12. For example, the glass original sheets G are inspected by the inspection device 12, removed, and then loaded onto the pallet 14 by the loader 13 in the same order as they were cut in the original sheet manufacturing facility 11.

The loader 13 may be configured to always load a predetermined maximum number of glass original sheets G (hereinafter, the full number) onto one pallet 14. For example, the loader 13 may be configured to always load 100 glass original sheets G onto one pallet 14.

In the packing and shipping process, the pallet 14 and the full number of glass original plate groups Gs loaded on the pallet 14 are packed and shipped as one package. In this embodiment, one package is packed with an information recording medium 15 that holds an information code for reading information about the glass original plate groups Gs loaded on the pallet 14. The package packed with the information recording medium 15 is transported to a glass plate manufacturing factory that performs the processing process. A plurality of pallets 14 may be transported from one glass original plate manufacturing factory to another glass plate manufacturing factory. The information code is output to the information recording medium 15 by the original plate processing device 10 for each pallet 14 to be shipped. Details of the information code output to the information recording medium 15 and the information about the glass original plate groups Gs that can be obtained by the information code will be described later. In addition, the pallet 14 and the glass original plate groups Gs (not shown) may be covered with a bag and transported to the glass plate manufacturing factory.

The original plate processing device 10 is an information processing device that controls the original plate process in which multiple glass original plates are loaded onto a pallet. Specifically, the original plate processing device 10 manages information relating to a group of glass original plates Gs loaded onto a pallet 14. The original plate processing device 10 may be, for example, a data link server. However, the original plate processing device 10 is not limited to this example as long as it is a device capable of executing various information processing tasks performed by the original plate processing device 10, which will be described later. The original plate processing device 10 may be, for example, a PC (Personal Computer), a tablet terminal, etc.

Information on the glass original plate group Gs processed by the original plate processing device 10 is accumulated for each pallet and referred to in the glass plate manufacturing system 100 as an original plate management database (hereinafter, original plate management DB). The original plate management DB may be stored in a memory unit (memory device, original plate process memory device) locally held by the original plate processing device 10, or may be stored in an external memory unit 30 (memory device) such as a cloud server shared by the original plate processing device 10 and the processing process device 20 described later. The original plate management DB may also be transmitted from the original plate processing device 10 to the processing process device 20 via a wide area network NW such as the Internet, and stored in a memory unit (memory device, processing process memory device) locally held by the processing process device 20. In the following, when it is not necessary to distinguish between the memory unit of the original plate processing device 10, the memory unit 30, and the memory unit of the processing process device 20 as the memory device that stores the original plate management DB, they are collectively referred to as the memory device.

(Regarding each piece of processing equipment)
The glass sheet manufacturing system 100 includes, for example, a processing process device 20, a reader 21, and a processing machine 22 as facilities that perform a processing process. In the present embodiment, as an example, the processing process device 20 as a server, the reader 21, and the processing machine 22 are connected to each other so as to be able to communicate with each other via wire or wirelessly. The communication may be performed, for example, via a communication network (not shown) such as a LAN (Local Area Network), or via a short-distance wireless communication means.

The reader 21 is a device that reads the information code from the information recording medium 15 included in the package. The reader 21 can be configured appropriately depending on the form in which the information recording medium 15 holds the information code. As an example, if the information recording medium 15 is a printed paper and the information code is a barcode or two-dimensional code printed on the printed paper, the reader 21 is configured as a barcode reader or two-dimensional code reader. If the information recording medium 15 is an electronic tag called an RF tag or IC tag, the reader 21 is configured as an electronic tag reader that reads the information code embedded in the electronic tag. The reader 21 transmits the information code read from the information recording medium 15 to the processing device 20. The reader 21 may be a device dedicated to reading information codes, or may be a mobile communication terminal with multiple functions such as a smartphone.

The processing process device 20 is an information processing device that controls the processing process of taking out and processing each of the glass original sheets G loaded on the pallet 14. Specifically, the processing process device 20 acquires information about the glass original sheet group Gs loaded on the pallet 14 that is necessary for processing the glass original sheet G, and supplies this information to the processing machine 22. The processing process device 20 may be, for example, a server. However, the processing process device 20 is not limited to this example as long as it is a device capable of executing various information processing tasks performed by the processing process device 20, which will be described later. The processing process device 20 may be, for example, a PC (Personal Computer), a tablet terminal, etc.

The processing device 20 acquires information about the glass original plate group Gs loaded on the pallet 14 from the original plate management DB based on the information code acquired via the reader 21. The information code includes information for identifying the information about the glass original plate group Gs loaded on the pallet 14 from among the information about the glass original plate group Gs included in the original plate management DB. The information about the glass original plate group Gs may include, for example, the original plate data of each of the glass original plates G described above.

The processing machine 22 is a device that takes out the glass original sheets G one by one from the pallet 14 and processes the glass original sheets G. The processing machine 22 includes, for example, a cutting machine that cuts out glass of a predetermined size from a predetermined position of the glass original sheet G to manufacture a glass sheet as a product. The processing machine 22 receives information about the glass original sheet group Gs loaded on the pallet 14 from the processing process device 20, and processes each glass original sheet G according to the information. For example, the processing machine 22 cuts the glass original sheet G according to the original sheet data of the glass original sheet G to manufacture a glass sheet.

<Configuration of Master Sheet Processing Equipment>
2 is a block diagram showing the main configuration of the original sheet processing apparatus 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The original sheet processing apparatus 10 includes, for example, a control unit 50, a storage unit 51, a communication unit 52, and an output unit 53.

The control unit 50 controls each part of the original sheet processing apparatus 10. The control unit 50 may be configured, for example, by a control device such as a central processing unit (CPU) or a dedicated processor.

As an example, the control unit 50 includes a data management unit 71 and an output control unit 72. Each of these units of the control unit 50 can be realized by a control device such as a CPU reading out a program stored in a storage device (e.g., the storage unit 51) realized as a read only memory (ROM) or the like into a random access memory (RAM) or the like and executing the program.

The memory unit 51 (memory device, original plate process memory device) is a memory device for storing data used by the control unit 50 to process information and data processed by the control unit 50. As an example, the memory unit 51 may store the above-mentioned original plate management DB. Hereinafter, the original plate management DB is referred to as original plate management DB 511. The data structure of the original plate management DB 511 will be described in detail later. In this embodiment, the loading interruption information 512 may be omitted from the memory unit 51.

The communication unit 52 communicates with other devices via a communication network. For example, the communication unit 52 may communicate with the inspection device 12 and the loading machine 13 via a communication network within the factory, such as a LAN. For example, the communication unit 52 may access the storage device 30 or communicate with the processing device 20 via a wide area communication network NW, such as the Internet.

The output unit 53 outputs data processed by the control unit 50 to the outside. In this embodiment, in particular, the output unit 53 outputs the information code generated by the control unit 50 to the information recording medium 15. The output unit 53 can be configured appropriately depending on the form in which the information recording medium 15 holds the information code. As an example, when the information recording medium 15 is printing paper, the output unit 53 is configured as a printing device for printing an information code such as a barcode or a two-dimensional code on the printing paper. When the information recording medium 15 is an electronic tag, the output unit 53 is configured as an electronic tag writer for writing the information code to the electronic tag.

The data management unit 71 manages the original sheet management DB 511, and in particular executes a process of registering original sheet data of the glass original sheet G in the original sheet management DB 511. Specifically, the data management unit 71 associates the original sheet data for each glass original sheet G loaded on the pallet 14 with the loading order of the glass original sheets G on the pallet 14. The data management unit 71 also executes a process of associating the original sheet data of the representative glass original sheet located in the predetermined loading order on the pallet 14 with a representative glass number (representative original sheet identification information) for identifying the representative glass original sheet and storing the associated data in a storage device. Specifically, the data management unit 71 registers the original sheet data of the representative glass original sheet together with the representative glass number in the original sheet management DB 511 stored in at least one of the storage devices of the storage unit 51, the storage device 30, and the storage unit 61 of the processing device 20 described later. The data management unit 71 may execute the above-mentioned process of storing the original sheet data of the representative glass original sheet together with the representative glass number in a storage device for each pallet 14 to be shipped.

The output control unit 72 executes a process of outputting the representative glass number to the information recording medium 15. For example, the output control unit 72 outputs an information code including the representative glass number located in the predetermined loading order on the pallet 14 to the information recording medium 15. The output control unit 72 may execute the above-mentioned process of outputting the representative glass number to the information recording medium 15 for each pallet 14 to be shipped.

The data management unit 71 may identify the final glass original sheet that was last loaded onto the pallet 14 as the representative glass original sheet. In other words, the representative glass original sheet may be the final glass original sheet that is last (e.g., the 100th) in the loading order on the pallet 14.

In another example, the data management unit 71 may identify the glass original sheet G that was first loaded onto the pallet 14, i.e., the first in the loading order, as the representative glass original sheet. In yet another example, the data management unit 71 may identify a glass original sheet G at any position between the first and last in the loading order (e.g., the 50th) as the representative glass original sheet.

As an example, the inspection device 12 inspects 100 glass original sheets G loaded on one pallet 14 to generate 100 pieces of original sheet data. The inspection device 12 inspects the glass original sheets G, for example, in the order in which they were manufactured in the original sheet manufacturing facility 11, and transmits the 100 pieces of original sheet data for the 100 sheets to the original sheet processing device 10. The inspection device 12 may sequentially transmit one piece of original sheet data to the original sheet processing device 10 each time the inspection of one glass original sheet G is completed. Alternatively, the inspection device 12 may link each of the 100 pieces of original sheet data with a glass number including information indicating the manufacturing date and time or manufacturing order of each glass original sheet G, and transmit the 100 pieces of original sheet data together to the original sheet processing device 10.

In this embodiment, as an example, the glass number is composed of a character string including a number representing the manufacturing date and a number representing the manufacturing time down to the second. For example, a glass original sheet G manufactured at 1:50:01 PM on January 15, 2021 may be assigned the glass number "20210115_135001". The glass number may include a separator between the number representing the manufacturing date and the number representing the manufacturing time.

For example, when the communication unit 52 receives a notification from the loader 13 that loading of 100 glass original sheets G onto the pallet 14 has been completed, the data management unit 71 associates the original sheet data of each glass original sheet G received from the inspection device 12 with the loading order and registers the order in the original sheet management DB 511. As an example, the data management unit 71 associates the loading order of the original sheet data for 100 sheets so that it matches the manufacturing order or inspection order of the original sheet data. Specifically, the data management unit 71 associates the first loading order, i.e., "first", with the original sheet data linked to the glass number indicating the oldest manufacturing date and time among the 100 pieces of original sheet data.

The output control unit 72 may, for example, control the output unit 53, which is a printing device, to print an information code with an embedded representative glass number on the information recording medium 15, which is a paper medium. The information recording medium 15, which is a paper medium on which the information code is printed, is output by the output unit 53. This information recording medium 15 may be packed together with the pallet 14 on which the representative glass original plates are loaded, and assembled into a single package.

For example, the data management unit 71 associates the stacking order with all 100 pieces of original glass plate data and registers them in the original glass plate management DB 511. The output control unit 72 reads out the representative glass number of the representative glass original plate associated with the default stacking order, for example, "100th," from the original glass plate management DB 511. The output control unit 72 prints and outputs a two-dimensional code embedded with the read representative glass number on an information recording medium 15 such as paper. The output information recording medium 15 is attached to the pallet 14 on which the above-mentioned 100 glass original plates G are loaded, and is then packaged together.

According to the above-mentioned configuration, by reading the information code from the information recording medium packed with the pallet, the original plate data of all the loaded glass plates can be acquired all at once before opening the pallet and removing the glass plates one by one. Therefore, after unpacking, it is possible to omit the cumbersome process of reading the glass number of each glass plate and then acquiring the original plate data of the glass plate each time the glass plate is put into the processing machine 22 one by one.

<Configuration of processing device>
3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part of the processing device 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The processing device 20 includes, as an example, a control unit 60, a storage unit 61, a wireless communication unit 62, and a communication unit 63.

The control unit 60 controls each part of the processing device 20. The control unit 60 may be configured, for example, by a control device such as a CPU or a dedicated processor.

As an example, the control unit 60 includes a reading control unit 81 (identification information reading unit) and a data acquisition unit 82. In this embodiment, the control unit 60 may further include a data output unit 83. In this embodiment, the process management unit 84 may be omitted from the control unit 60. These parts of the control unit 60 can be realized by a control device such as a CPU reading out a program stored in a storage device (e.g., the storage unit 61) realized by a ROM or the like into a RAM or the like and executing the program.

The memory unit 61 (memory device, processing process memory device) is a memory device for storing data used by the control unit 60 to process information and data processed by the control unit 60. As an example, the memory unit 61 may store the above-mentioned original plate management DB. In the following, the original plate management DB stored in the memory unit 61 is referred to as the original plate management DB 611. In the following, when there is no need to distinguish between the original plate management DB stored in the memory unit 51, the original plate management DB stored in the memory unit 61, and the original plate management DB stored in the memory unit 30, they will be referred to simply as the original plate management DB without being given a reference symbol.

The original plate management DB 611 may include all the original plate data included in the original plate management DB 511. In other words, the original plate management DB 611 and the original plate management DB 511 may refer to the same original plate management DB. Alternatively, the original plate management DB 611 may include original plate data for one or more pallets 14 that arrived in one transportation among the original plate data included in the original plate management DB 511. In other words, the original plate management DB 611 may be a subset of the original plate management DB 511. The original plate management DB 611 basically has the same data structure as the original plate management DB 511. The data structure will be described in detail later. In this embodiment, the processing interruption information 612 may be omitted in the memory unit 61.

The wireless communication unit 62 wirelessly communicates with other devices located in a short distance from the processing device 20, or with other devices via a communication network within the factory. For example, the wireless communication unit 62 may wirelessly communicate with the reader 21.

The communication unit 63 communicates with other devices via a communication network. For example, the communication unit 63 may communicate with the processing machine 22 via a communication network within the factory, such as a LAN. Instead of the wireless communication unit 62, the communication unit 63 may communicate with the reader 21 via a communication network within the factory. Also, for example, the communication unit 63 may access the storage device 30 or communicate with the original plate processing device 10 via a wide area communication network NW, such as the Internet.

The reading control unit 81 executes a process of reading the representative glass number embedded in the information code from the information recording medium 15. For example, the reading control unit 81 reads from the information recording medium 15 the representative glass number of the representative glass original sheet G that is located in the predetermined loading order (e.g., the 100th sheet) among the glass original sheets G loaded on the pallet 14. Specifically, the reading control unit 81 may obtain the representative glass number read by the reader 21 via the wireless communication unit 62. The reading control unit 81 may execute the above-mentioned process of obtaining the representative glass number from the information recording medium 15 for each information recording medium 15 associated with the pallet 14.

The data acquisition unit 82 acquires the original plate data of each of the glass original plates G loaded on the pallet 14 from the storage device that stores the original plate management DB. The data acquisition unit 82 can acquire the original plate data for 100 sheets loaded on the pallet 14 from which the representative glass number has been read from the original plate management DB stored in the storage device. The original plate management DB stores the loading order of the glass original plates G on the pallet 14 in association with the original plate data of the glass original plates G. Here, the representative glass number of the representative glass original plate loaded in the default loading order (100th) is identified by the reading control unit 81. The data acquisition unit 82 executes a process of acquiring a predetermined number of original plate data associated with consecutive loading orders from the original plate data registered in the original plate management DB, starting from the original plate data of the representative glass original plate identified by the read representative glass number. For example, the data acquisition unit 82 acquires from the original plate management DB original plate data associated with successive loading orders, starting from the original plate data of the representative glass original plate associated with the 100th identified by the representative glass number. That is, the data acquisition unit 82 acquires from the original plate management DB 100 pieces of original plate data associated with successive loading orders, beginning with the 100th. The data acquisition unit 82 executes the above-described process of acquiring original plate data from the original plate management DB on a pallet-by-pallet basis for each transported pallet 14.

When the representative glass original plate is the final glass original plate last loaded on the pallet 14, the data acquisition unit 82 acquires from the storage device a predetermined number of pieces of original plate data associated with successive descending loading orders, starting from the original plate data of the final glass original plate associated with the representative glass number read from the information recording medium 15. As a specific example, if the loading order of the final glass original plate is the 100th, the data acquisition unit 82 acquires from the storage device 100 pieces of original plate data associated with the 100th, 99th, 98th, ..., 1st loading orders.

According to the above-mentioned configuration, the original plate data of each glass plate loaded on the same pallet is acquired in a state where the loading order is known. In the processing step, when the glass plates are removed in the reverse order to the loading order when they were loaded on the pallet and processed in the order they were removed, the processing machine 22 can acquire each original plate data in the reverse order to the associated loading order, starting with the original plate data of the last glass plate. In this way, the original plate data is referenced in the order of processing, so that it is easy to associate the glass plates with the original plate data.

The control unit 60 may further include a data output unit 83. The data output unit 83 outputs the above-mentioned predetermined number of pieces of original plate data acquired by the data acquisition unit 82 in the reverse order of the loading order associated with each piece to a device that processes glass original plates, such as the processing machine 22.

According to the above-mentioned configuration, in the processing step, each glass original plate loaded on the pallet is removed in the reverse order of the loading order when loaded on the pallet, and is preferably used in the case where the glass original plates are processed in the order removed. According to the above-mentioned configuration, the original plate data is output to the processing machine 22 in the reverse order of the loading order on the pallet, that is, in the order in which the glass original plates are input into the processing machine 22. This allows the processing machine 22 to process each glass original plate based on the correct original plate data.

<Data structure>
(Information recording medium)
4 is a diagram showing an example of a data structure of information stored in the information recording medium 15 associated with the pallet 14. The information recording medium 15 stores at least the representative glass numbers of the representative glass original plates loaded on the pallet 14 in a predetermined loading order.

If necessary, the information recording medium 15 may further hold, for example, a factory name as information that uniquely identifies the factory where the glass original plate group Gs loaded on the pallet 14 was manufactured. Furthermore, the information recording medium 15 may hold, for example, a line name as information that uniquely identifies the line in the above-mentioned factory where the above-mentioned glass original plate group Gs was manufactured.

For example, the output unit 53 of the original glass processing device 10 prints an information code, in which the above-mentioned factory name, line name, and representative glass number of the representative original glass plate are embedded, on the information recording medium 15 to be associated with the pallet 14. The information recording medium 15 on which the above-mentioned information code is printed is packed together with the pallet 14 in one package and shipped.

(Original plate management DB)
5 is a diagram showing an example of the data structure of the original plate management DB stored in the storage device. In the original plate management DB, one record is created and registered for one glass original plate G. Record set P1 indicates information about a group of 100 glass original plates Gs loaded on one pallet, for example, the first pallet, and record set P2 indicates information about a group of 100 glass original plates Gs loaded on another pallet, for example, the second pallet.

As an example, each record is composed of the data items of factory name, line name, glass number, original plate data, and loading order. The factory name is information that uniquely identifies the factory where the glass original plate G was manufactured. The line name is information that uniquely identifies the line where the glass original plate G was manufactured in the above-mentioned factory. The glass number is original plate identification information that uniquely identifies the glass original plate G. As described above, as an example, the glass number may be composed of a number string that indicates the date when the glass original plate G was manufactured, a number string that indicates the date and time of manufacture down to the second, and a delimiter that separates these number strings.

The original plate data is information related to the processing of the glass original plate G generated by the inspection device 12. The original plate data is, for example, inspection result data, and may include determination information indicating the presence or absence of unevenness, and position information indicating the position of the unevenness. In another example, the original plate data may be cutting position data for processing the glass original plate G without waste by avoiding unevenness.

The loading order is information indicating the order in which the glass original sheets G were loaded onto the pallet 14. For example, according to the top record of the original sheet management DB shown in FIG. 5, it can be seen that the glass original sheet G with glass number "20210115_135001" is the first on the pallet 14, that is, it was loaded first. Also, according to record R1, it can be seen that the glass original sheet G with glass number "20210115_135036" is the 100th on the same pallet 14 mentioned above, that is, it was loaded last. And because the default loading order, the 100th, is associated with the glass original sheet G, it can be seen that the glass original sheet G with "20210115_135036" is the representative glass original sheet of the same pallet 14 mentioned above. It can also be seen that "20210115_135036" is the representative glass number on the pallet 14 mentioned above.

The data management unit 71 of the original plate processing device 10 receives the original plate data for 100 sheets to be loaded onto the same pallet 14 from the inspection device 12 along with the glass number.

The data management unit 71 registers 100 records, for example, record group P1, in the original plate management DB as shown in FIG. 5, by associating the loading order with the oldest manufacturing date and time indicated in the glass number. When the data management unit 71 receives original plate data for 100 sheets for another pallet 14 from the inspection device 12, it registers 100 records, for example, record group P2, in the original plate management DB in a similar manner.

The data management unit 71 may receive a notification from the loader 13 that loading of the group of 100 glass original plates Gs onto the pallet 14 has been completed. Based on receiving the original plate data for 100 plates from the inspection device 12 and receiving the above-mentioned notification from the loader 13, the data management unit 71 may start a process of registering the group of 100 records in the original plate management DB.

<Processing flow>
Fig. 6 is a sequence diagram showing a process flow of the glass plate manufacturing method executed by the glass plate manufacturing system 100. The manufacturing method shown in Fig. 6 may be started, for example, when the inspection device 12 generates original plate data of a full number of glass original plates G to be loaded on one pallet, for example, data of 100 original plates, and the original plate processing device 10 receives the generated data. Furthermore, the above-mentioned manufacturing method may be started, for example, when the loading machine 13 receives a notification that loading of the full number of glass original plates G has been completed.

The glass sheet manufacturing method carried out by the glass sheet manufacturing system 100 generally includes an original sheet process and a processing process.

In the original plate process, the original plate process device 10 executes a storage step for each pallet 14 in which the original plate data relating to the processing of the glass original plate G is associated with the loading order of the glass original plates G on the pallet 14, and a process of storing in the memory unit 51 (memory device) in association with the original plate data of the representative glass original plate located in the predetermined loading order on the pallet 14, and a representative glass number (representative original plate identification information) for identifying the representative glass original plate, and performs an information output step for each pallet 14 in which the representative glass number is output to the information recording medium 15.

In the processing process, the processing process device 20 executes a reading step of reading the representative glass number from each of the information recording media 15, and an acquisition step of acquiring from the storage device, for each pallet 14, a predetermined number of pieces of original plate data associated with a consecutive loading order, starting from the original plate data of the representative glass original plate identified by the read representative glass number, among the original plate data stored in the storage device.

In the processing step, the processing device 20 may further execute a data output step in which the data of a predetermined number of original plates acquired in the acquisition step is output to a device that processes the glass original plates in the reverse order of the associated loading order.

The original plate process includes, for example, steps S101, S102, S104, S107, and S108 shown in FIG. 6. Alternatively, the original plate process may include steps S101 to S111 as necessary. The processing process includes, for example, steps S112 to S114 shown in FIG. 6.

In step S101, the data management unit 71 of the original plate processing device 10 refers to the original plate data group for one pallet transmitted from the inspection device 12. For example, the data management unit 71 may refer to the original plate data for 100 pieces of glass original plate G loaded on the first pallet. The original plate data group transmitted from the inspection device 12 is assumed to be stored in advance, for example, in the memory unit 51 or a primary memory device (not shown) provided in the original plate processing device 10.

In step S102 (storage step), the data management unit 71 associates one stacking order with one piece of original plate data. For example, the data management unit 71 may associate the stacking orders in ascending order in the order in which the 100 pieces of original plate data were received. Alternatively, the data management unit 71 may associate the stacking orders in ascending order in the order of the oldest manufacturing date and time indicated by the glass numbers associated with each of the 100 pieces of original plate data.

In step S103, the data management unit 71 determines whether the loading order associated in S102 is a specified loading order. For example, in S102, the data management unit 71 associates the "100th" order with the original plate data with the latest manufacturing date and time among the 100 original plate data. If the specified loading order is "100th", the data management unit 71 determines YES in S103 and proceeds to step S104. If the loading order associated in S102 is other than the specified loading order "100th", the data management unit 71 determines NO in S103 and proceeds to step S105.

In step S104 (storage step), the data management unit 71 identifies the glass original sheet G that is "100th" in the specified loading order as the representative glass original sheet, and associates a representative glass number with the original sheet data of the representative glass original sheet to which the specified loading order "100th" is associated. Here, if a glass number is already associated with the original sheet data of the representative glass original sheet referenced in S101, the data management unit 71 may treat the original glass number obtained in S101 as the representative glass number as it is. Alternatively, the data management unit 71 may generate a representative glass number composed of a character string that can uniquely identify the original sheet data of the representative glass original sheet, and associate it with the original sheet data of the representative glass original sheet.

In step S105, the data management unit 71 determines whether or not the matching of the loading order has been completed for all of the original plate data referenced in S101. For example, if there is any original plate data to which the order of description has not been matched among the 100 pieces of original plate data referenced in S101, the data management unit 71 proceeds from NO in S105 to step S106. If the data management unit 71 has matched the 100 pieces of original plate data with the order of description from 1st to 100th, the data management unit 71 proceeds from YES in S105 to step S107.

In step S106, the data management unit 71 references the next unprocessed original plate data, increments the description order to be associated by one, and returns to step S102 to repeat the subsequent processes.

In step S107 (storage step), the data management unit 71 stores in a storage device a group of original plate data for one pallet, in which the order of description is associated with each piece of original plate data and the representative glass number is associated with the original plate data of at least the representative glass original plate. For example, the data management unit 71 may register the above-mentioned group of original plate data in the original plate management DB 511.

In step S108 (information output step), the output control unit 72 outputs the representative glass number associated with the original plate data of the representative glass plate in S104 to the information recording medium 15. As an example, the output control unit 72 controls the output unit 53 to print an information code with the above-mentioned representative glass number embedded therein on the information recording medium 15, which is a paper medium. The printed information recording medium 15 is packed together with the pallet 14 (the first pallet in the above example) as one package.

In this embodiment, as an example, the data management unit 71 may repeat each of the above steps for each of multiple pallets shipped to the same glass sheet manufacturing plant.

In step S109, the data management unit 71 determines whether steps S102, S104, S107, and S108 have been executed for all pallets scheduled for shipment. If there is unprocessed original plate data for another pallet, the data management unit 71 proceeds from NO in S109 to step S110. If registration in the original plate management DB 511 and output to the information recording medium 15 have been completed for all pallets, the data management unit 71 proceeds from YES in S109 to step S111.

In step S110, the data management unit 71 references the original plate data group for the next palette and returns to step S102, where it repeats the subsequent processes.

In step S111, the data management unit 71 may notify the processing process device 20 that the original plate management DB including information related to the processing of the glass original plate G has been stored in a storage device readable by the processing process device 20. For example, the data management unit 71 may directly transmit the original plate management DB 511 stored locally in the storage unit 51 to the processing process device 20 via the communication unit 52. Alternatively, the data management unit 71 may upload the original plate management DB 511 to the storage device 30 and notify the processing process device 20 of this fact. Alternatively, the data management unit 71 may transmit an access permission notification to the original plate management DB 511 stored in the storage unit 51 to the processing process device 20.

In step S112 (reading step), the reading control unit 81 of the processing device 20 reads the representative glass number from the information recording medium 15 corresponding to the pallet on which processing of the glass original sheet G is to begin (hereinafter, the processing target pallet). Specifically, the reader 21 reads the representative glass number of the representative glass original sheet in the processing target pallet from the information code printed on the information recording medium 15 packed together with the processing target pallet. The reading control unit 81 acquires the representative glass number read by the reader 21.

In step S113 (acquisition step), the data acquisition unit 82 acquires a group of original glass sheet data for each glass sheet G loaded on the target pallet for starting work from the storage device. As an example, the data acquisition unit 82 may extract 100 pieces of original glass sheet data corresponding to 100 glass sheets G loaded on the target pallet for starting work from the original glass sheet management DB generated by the original glass sheet processing device 10.

Specifically, the data acquisition unit 82 acquires from the storage device a predetermined number of pieces of original plate data associated with consecutive stacking orders, starting from the original plate data of the representative glass original plate identified by the representative glass number read in S112.

A specific example will be given. Assume that the representative glass plate number read by the reading control unit 81 in S112 is "20210115_135036." The data acquisition unit 82 identifies the record R1 of the representative glass plate associated with the representative glass plate number "20210115_135036" from the plate management DB shown in FIG. 5.

The data acquisition unit 82 extracts 100 records from the original plate management DB that correspond to successive orders of description starting from the "100th" order of description in record R1, which is the starting point. Here, the representative glass original plate is the final glass original plate that was last loaded onto the pallet 14, i.e., the 100th. Therefore, starting from record R1, which is the original plate data of the final glass original plate, the data acquisition unit 82 extracts from the original plate management DB a group of 100 original plate data items that correspond to successive loading orders in descending order. In the example shown in FIG. 5, a record group P1 consisting of 100 records that correspond to successive orders of description (99th, 98th, ..., 1st) in descending order starting from "100th" is extracted from the original plate management DB.

In step S114 (data output step), the data output unit 83 outputs the predetermined number of original plate data acquired in S113 to a device that processes the glass original plate in the reverse order of the corresponding loading order. As a specific example, the data output unit 83 outputs 100 records of the record group P1 extracted in S113 to the processing machine 22 in descending order starting from the "100th" record R1, which is the last loading order. When unpacking the pallet to be processed, the processing machine 22 takes out the glass original plate G that was last loaded on the pallet to be processed one by one in order and feeds it into the cutting machine. Since the original plate data of the glass original plate G is input to the cutting machine in the order in which the glass original plate G is fed, the cutting machine can cut the glass original plate G based on the correct original plate data corresponding to the glass original plate G.

<Action and effect>
According to the above-mentioned configuration and method, in the original plate process, for each pallet, the original plate data of each glass original plate loaded on the pallet is stored in the storage device in association with the loading order on the pallet. Here, the original plate data of the representative glass original plate loaded on the pallet in the predetermined loading order (e.g., the last 100th) is stored in the storage device in association with the representative glass number for identifying the representative glass original plate.

In the processing step, the representative glass number is read from the information recording medium. Then, starting from the original plate data of the representative glass original plate identified in the storage device from the representative glass number, a predetermined number of original plate data (for example, 100 consecutive pieces in descending order from the default loading order "100th") associated with consecutive loading orders are read from the storage device.

In this way, the original plate data of each glass plate loaded on the same pallet including the representative glass plate is read out together with the loading order when the glass plates were loaded on the pallet. Because the loading order is associated with the original plate data, the factory that carries out the processing process can correctly associate each glass plate on the pallet with the original plate data based on the loading order. By correctly associating the glass plates, the glass plates can be processed appropriately.

According to the above-mentioned configuration and method, it is not necessary to directly affix a glass number to each glass plate loaded on a pallet, and it is sufficient to store the representative glass number in an information recording medium for the representative glass plate loaded in the predetermined loading order.

As described above, the above-mentioned glass plate manufacturing method makes it easy to associate the glass original plate with the original plate data.

The process of printing individual identification information such as a two-dimensional code directly onto each glass plate would require large-scale equipment (such as a dedicated inkjet printer for printing on large-format glass) to print the two-dimensional code onto the glass plate. The above-described method for manufacturing glass plates makes it possible to omit the need for such large-scale equipment, which is particularly advantageous in terms of reducing labor and costs.

[Embodiment 2]
Other embodiments of the present invention will be described below. For ease of explanation, the same reference numerals are given to components having the same functions as those described in the above embodiment, and the description thereof will not be repeated.

In this embodiment, the loader 13 may be allowed to complete loading of one pallet 14 with a number of sheets less than the full number (hereinafter, a fraction) depending on the situation. In this embodiment, the loader 13 sends a notification to the original sheet processing device 10 that loading onto the pallet 14 has been completed, including the number of glass original sheets G loaded onto the pallet 14.

In this embodiment, for example, the data management unit 71 of the original sheet processing device 10 may store the number of glass original sheets G loaded on the pallet 14 in a storage device in association with the representative glass number in step S104 shown in FIG. 6. In another example, the output control unit 72 may output the number of glass original sheets G loaded on the pallet 14 together with the representative glass number to the information recording medium 15 in step S108 shown in FIG. 6.

In this embodiment, the data acquisition unit 82 of the processing device 20 acquires the same number of original plate data as the number associated with the representative glass number from the storage device in S113 shown in FIG. 6.

A specific example is as follows. Suppose the number of sheets associated with the representative glass number of the representative glass original sheet that was loaded 80th is "80 sheets". In this case, the data acquisition unit 82 acquires from the storage device the above-mentioned number of sheets of original sheet data associated with successive stacking orders in descending order, starting from the original sheet data of the representative glass original sheet. In other words, the data acquisition unit 82 acquires from the storage device 80 pieces of original sheet data with stacking orders from "80th" to "1st".

<Action and effect>
According to the above-mentioned configuration and method, even if the number of glass sheets loaded on each pallet is different, the data of the glass sheets loaded on one pallet can be acquired from the storage device without excess or deficiency. Therefore, the glass sheet manufacturing method of the present invention can be applied to a case where, for example, pallets with different maximum loading numbers are mixed, and also to a case where pallets with a full number of sheets loaded and pallets with a fractional number of sheets loaded are mixed. In other words, the glass sheet manufacturing system 100 of the present invention can be applied to all shipping cases.

[Embodiment 3]
Other embodiments of the present invention will be described below. For ease of explanation, the same reference numerals are given to components having the same functions as those described in the above embodiment, and the description thereof will not be repeated.

In this embodiment, each pallet 14 is assigned a pallet ID, which is identification information for uniquely identifying each individual pallet. In this embodiment, the pallet 14 is provided with an information recording medium 16 (see FIG. 1) that holds the pallet ID.

In the original plate process, the loader 13 may be communicatively connected to a reader (not shown) for reading the pallet ID from the information recording medium 16 provided on the pallet 14. For example, the loader 13 can obtain the pallet ID of the pallet 14 on which the glass original plate G is loaded from the information recording medium 16 via the above-mentioned reader.

<About interruption of loading operations>
In the present embodiment, as an example, the original glass processing apparatus 10 may use a pallet ID to manage the progress of the loading operation of the original glass sheets G onto the pallet 14 .

In this embodiment, loading interruption information 512 may be stored in the memory unit 51 of the original glass processing device 10. The loading interruption information 512 is information that indicates the progress of the loading work of the glass original glass G onto the pallets 14 for each pallet 14.

Figure 7 is a diagram showing an example of the data structure of loading interruption information 512. As an example, loading interruption information 512 is composed of two data items: a pallet ID and the number of loaded sheets. In another example, loading interruption information 512 may have a status data item as necessary.

The pallet ID is identification information that uniquely identifies the pallet 14. The number of loaded sheets is information indicating the number of glass original sheets G already loaded on the pallet 14. The number of loaded sheets may be expressed, for example, as a fraction with the full number of pallets 14 as the denominator and the number of sheets currently loaded on the pallet 14 as the numerator. The status is information indicating the progress of the loading operation on the pallet 14.

In this embodiment, before starting to load the glass original sheets G onto the pallet 14, the loader 13 acquires the pallet ID of the pallet 14 via the above-mentioned reader. The loader 13 transmits the acquired pallet ID to the original sheet processing device 10 and notifies the original sheet processing device 10 that loading onto the pallet 14 corresponding to the pallet ID will begin.

The data management unit 71 of the original sheet processing device 10 registers the notified pallet ID in the loading interruption information 512. The data management unit 71 may register the pallet ID in association with a status of "loading" indicating that loading work is currently in progress.

When the loading machine 13 interrupts the loading operation before the number of glass original sheets G loaded is full, it transmits the pallet ID of the pallet 14 on which loading is to be interrupted and the number of sheets already loaded on the pallet 14 to the original sheet processing device 10, and notifies the original sheet processing device 10 of the interruption of the loading operation.

The data management unit 71 may further execute a raw glass process recording step of storing in the memory unit 51 a pallet ID (pallet identification information) for identifying a pallet 14 on which the number of loaded glass sheets G is less than the full number (upper limit value) in association with the number of sheets already loaded on the pallet 14 (information indicating the number of sheets loaded). The information associating the pallet ID with the number of sheets loaded may be stored not only in the memory unit 51 but also in any memory device that can be referenced by the raw glass process device 10, such as the memory device 30.

According to the above-mentioned configuration, when loading is resumed, it is possible to determine how many glass original sheets are loaded on the pallet and what number on the pallet the next glass original sheet will be, based on the pallet ID and the number of sheets loaded (loading number). Therefore, even if loading is interrupted midway, it is possible to resume, store the original sheet data in the correct loading order, and load the full number of glass original sheets.

As a specific example, the data management unit 71 registers the notified number of loaded sheets in the loading interruption information 512 in association with the notified pallet ID. The data management unit 71 may further associate the pallet ID with a status of "interrupted," which indicates that the loading operation is currently interrupted, and registers the pallet ID.

When the loading machine 13 resumes the suspended loading operation onto the above-mentioned pallet 14, it reads the pallet ID of the pallet 14 and transmits it to the original plate processing device 10, notifying the original plate processing device 10 that loading onto the pallet 14 corresponding to the pallet ID will be resumed.

If the number of loaded sheets associated with the notified pallet ID is registered in the loading interruption information 512, the data management unit 71 returns the number of loaded sheets to the loading machine 13.

Based on the received number of loaded sheets, the loading machine 13 can resume loading the glass original sheets G from the next loaded number. When the loading machine 13 has completed loading a predetermined number of glass original sheets G, it may transmit the pallet ID and the number of loaded sheets to the original sheet processing device 10 to notify the original sheet processing device 10 that loading is complete.

When the data management unit 71 receives a notification from the loader 13 that loading is complete, the data management unit 71 may delete various information associated with the pallet ID included in the notification from the loading interruption information 512. Alternatively, the data management unit 71 may register the pallet ID, the number of sheets that have been loaded, and a status of "Completed" indicating that loading is complete in the loading interruption information 512.

<About interruption of processing work>
In the present embodiment, as an example, the processing device 20 may use the pallet ID to manage the progress of processing of the glass blank G in the processing start target pallet.

In this embodiment, processing interruption information 612 may be stored in the memory unit 61 of the processing process device 20. The processing interruption information 612 is information that indicates the progress of processing work on the glass raw sheet G in the processing target pallet for each pallet 14.

In this embodiment, the control unit 60 further includes a process management unit 84. The process management unit 84 uses the processing interruption information 612 to manage the progress of processing work on the glass raw sheet G in the processing start target pallet.

Figure 8 is a diagram showing an example of the data structure of the processing interruption information 612. As one example, the processing interruption information 612 is composed of two data items: a pallet ID and the number of sheets removed. In another example, the processing interruption information 612 may have a status data item as necessary.

The pallet ID is identification information that uniquely identifies the pallet 14. The number of sheets removed is information indicating the number of glass original sheets G removed from the pallet 14. The number of sheets removed may be expressed, for example, as a fraction with the full number of pallets 14 as the denominator and the number of sheets removed from the pallet 14 as the numerator. The status is information indicating the progress of the processing work related to the pallet 14.

In this embodiment, the reader 21 or another reader (not shown) reads the pallet ID of the pallet 14 from the information recording medium 16. Before starting processing of the glass raw sheets G loaded on the pallet 14, the processing machine 22 acquires the pallet ID of the pallet 14 via the reader 21 or another reader (not shown). The processing machine 22 transmits the acquired pallet ID to the processing process device 20, and notifies the processing process device 20 that it will begin processing the pallet 14 corresponding to the pallet ID.

The process management unit 84 of the processing device 20 registers the notified pallet ID in the processing interruption information 612. The process management unit 84 may register the pallet ID in association with a status of "Processing" indicating that processing work is currently being performed.

When the processing machine 22 interrupts processing operations while leaving glass original sheets G on the pallet 14, it transmits the pallet ID of the pallet 14 for which processing is to be interrupted and the number of sheets already removed from the pallet 14 to the processing process device 20, and notifies the processing process device 20 of the interruption of processing operations.

The process management unit 84 may execute a processing process recording step of storing in the memory unit 61 a pallet ID (pallet identification information) for identifying the pallet 14 and a removal number indicating the number of glass original sheets G removed from the pallet 14 in association with each other. The information associating the pallet ID with the removal number may be stored not only in the memory unit 61 but also in any memory device that can be referenced by the processing process device 20, such as the memory device 30.

According to the above-mentioned configuration, when removal is resumed, it is possible to identify which pallet the glass original sheet to be removed is and which glass original sheet it is loaded on. Therefore, even if processing is interrupted midway, it is possible to resume processing by reading out the correct original sheet data corresponding to the glass original sheet to be removed when it is resumed.

As a specific example, the process management unit 84 registers the notified number of sheets to be removed in the processing interruption information 612 in association with the notified pallet ID. The process management unit 84 may further associate the pallet ID with a status of "interrupted," which indicates that processing work is currently interrupted, and registers the pallet ID.

When the processing machine 22 resumes the interrupted processing work on the above-mentioned pallet 14, it reads the pallet ID of the pallet 14 and transmits it to the processing process device 20, and notifies the processing process device 20 that processing work on the pallet 14 corresponding to the pallet ID will be resumed.

If the number of sheets to be removed that corresponds to the notified pallet ID is registered in the processing interruption information 612, the process management unit 84 returns the number of sheets to be removed to the processing machine 22.

Based on the received number of removed glass sheets, the processing machine 22 can resume removing glass sheets G from the next removed number. Furthermore, the data output unit 83 can output the original sheet data to the processing machine 22 in order, starting with the original sheet data of the glass sheet G for which removal has been resumed. When the processing machine 22 has completed processing of all glass sheets G on the pallet 14, it may transmit the pallet ID to the processing process device 20 to notify the processing process device 20 that removal and processing have been completed.

When the process management unit 84 receives a notification from the processing machine 22 that processing of the pallet 14 has been completed, the process management unit 84 may delete the various information associated with the pallet ID included in the notification from the processing interruption information 612. Alternatively, the process management unit 84 may register the pallet ID and a status of "Complete" indicating that processing has been completed in the processing interruption information 612.

[Software implementation example]
The functions of the original plate processing apparatus 10 (hereinafter referred to as the "apparatus") are realized by a program for causing a computer to function as the apparatus, and by a program for causing a computer to function as each control block of the apparatus (particularly each part included in the control unit 50).

The functions of the processing device 20 (hereafter referred to as the "device") are realized by a program for causing a computer to function as the device, and by a program for causing a computer to function as each control block of the device (particularly each part included in the control unit 60).

In this case, the above-mentioned device includes a computer having at least one control device (e.g., a processor) and at least one storage device (e.g., a memory) as hardware for executing the above-mentioned program. The above-mentioned program is executed by this control device and storage device, thereby realizing each of the functions described in each of the above-mentioned embodiments.

The above-mentioned program may be recorded on one or more computer-readable recording media, not on a temporary basis. The recording media may or may not be included in the above-mentioned device. In the latter case, the above-mentioned program may be supplied to the above-mentioned device via any wired or wireless transmission medium.

In addition, some or all of the functions of each of the above-mentioned control blocks can be realized by a logic circuit. For example, an integrated circuit in which a logic circuit that functions as each of the above-mentioned control blocks is formed is also included in the scope of the present invention. In addition, it is also possible to realize the functions of each of the above-mentioned control blocks by, for example, a quantum computer.

The processes described in each of the above embodiments may be executed by AI (Artificial Intelligence). In this case, the AI may run on the above-mentioned control device, or on another device (such as an edge computer or a cloud server).

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims. The technical scope of the present invention also includes embodiments obtained by appropriately combining the technical means disclosed in different embodiments.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 Original plate process device 11 Original plate manufacturing equipment 12 Inspection device 13 Loader 14 Pallet 15 Information recording medium 20 Processing process device 21 Reader 22 Processing machine 30 Storage device 50 Control unit 51 Storage unit (storage device, original plate process storage device)
52 Communication unit 53 Output unit 60 Control unit 61 Memory unit (memory device, processing process memory device)
62 Wireless communication unit 63 Communication unit 71 Data management unit 72 Output control unit 81 Reading control unit (identification information reading unit)
82 Data acquisition unit 83 Data output unit 84 Process control unit 100 Glass plate manufacturing system G Glass plate

Claims (12)

A method for manufacturing a glass plate, comprising: an original plate step of loading a plurality of glass original plates on a pallet; and a processing step of manufacturing a glass plate by taking out and processing each of the glass original plates loaded on the pallet,
The original plate process includes:
a storage step of associating original plate data relating to the processing of each of the original glass plates loaded on the pallet with the loading order of the original glass plates on the pallet, and storing the data of a representative original glass plate located in a predetermined loading order on the pallet in association with representative original plate identification information for identifying the representative original glass plate in a storage device, for each of the pallets;
an information output step of outputting the representative original identification information onto an information recording medium for each of the pallets;
The processing step includes:
a reading step of reading the representative original identification information from each of the information recording media;
and an acquisition step of acquiring from the storage device, for each pallet, a predetermined number of pieces of original plate data associated with the consecutive loading orders, starting from the original plate data of the representative glass original plate identified by the read representative original plate identification information, among the original plate data stored in the storage device. the representative glass blank is a final glass blank that is last loaded on the pallet,
The method for manufacturing a glass sheet according to claim 1 , wherein in the acquiring step, a predetermined number of pieces of original sheet data associated with the successive loading orders in descending order are acquired from the storage device, starting from original sheet data of the last glass sheet. The processing step includes:
3. The method for manufacturing a glass plate according to claim 2, further comprising: a data output step of outputting the predetermined number of pieces of original plate data acquired in the acquisition step to a device that processes the glass original plates in a reverse order to the associated loading order. the information recording medium is packed together with the pallet on which the representative glass original plate is loaded,
The method for manufacturing a glass plate according to claim 1 , wherein in the information outputting step, the information recording medium on which an information code in which the representative original plate identification information is embedded is printed is output. In the storing step, the number of glass original plates loaded on the pallet is stored in the storage device in association with the representative original plate identification information,
The method for manufacturing a glass plate according to claim 1 , wherein in the acquiring step, the original plate data is acquired with the number of sheets associated with the representative original plate identification information set to the predetermined number. The original plate process includes:
6. The method for manufacturing a glass sheet according to claim 1, further comprising: a raw sheet process recording step of: for the pallet in which the number of loaded glass sheets is less than an upper limit value, storing pallet identification information for identifying the pallet and information indicating the loaded number in an raw sheet process storage device in association with each other. The processing step includes:
7. The method for manufacturing a glass sheet according to claim 1, further comprising: a processing step recording step of storing pallet identification information for identifying the pallet and information indicating the number of the glass original sheets taken out from the pallet in a processing step storage device in association with each other. A glass plate processing device for controlling a glass plate processing step in which a plurality of glass plate pieces are loaded onto a pallet,
a data management unit that performs, for each of the glass original plates loaded on the pallet, a process of associating original plate data related to the processing of the glass original plate with a loading order of the glass original plates on the pallet, and storing, in a storage device, representative original plate identification information for identifying a representative glass original plate in a predetermined loading order on the pallet in association with the original plate data of the representative glass original plate;
an output control unit that performs a process of outputting the representative original identification information to an information recording medium for each pallet. A processing process device that controls a processing process in which each glass blank loaded on a pallet is taken out and processed,
an identification information reading unit that performs a process of reading representative original plate identification information for identifying a representative original plate located in a predetermined loading order among the glass original plates loaded on the pallet from an information recording medium that stores the representative original plate identification information, for each of the information recording media associated with the pallet;
and a data acquisition unit that stores, for each of the glass original plates loaded on the pallet, original plate data related to the processing of the glass original plates in association with the loading order of the glass original plates on the pallet, and performs a process of acquiring, for each of the pallets, a predetermined number of original plate data associated with the consecutive loading orders, starting from the original plate data of the representative glass original plate identified by the read representative original plate identification information, from a storage device that stores the original plate data of the representative glass original plate in association with the representative original plate identification information. an original glass processing device for controlling an original glass processing step of loading a plurality of original glass plates onto a pallet;
a processing step device for controlling a processing step of taking out and processing each of the glass blanks loaded on the pallet,
The original plate processing device is
a data management unit that performs, for each of the glass original plates loaded on the pallet, a process of associating original plate data related to the processing of the glass original plate with a loading order of the glass original plates on the pallet, and storing, in a storage device, representative original plate identification information for identifying a representative glass original plate in a predetermined loading order on the pallet in association with the original plate data of the representative glass original plate;
an output control unit that performs a process of outputting the representative original identification information to an information recording medium for each of the pallets,
The processing device includes:
an identification information reading unit that reads the representative original identification information from each of the information recording media;
a data acquisition unit that performs a process of acquiring from the storage device a predetermined number of pieces of original plate data, each of which is associated with a successive loading order, from the original plate data stored in the storage device, starting from the original plate data of the representative glass original plate identified by the read representative original plate identification information. An information processing program for causing a computer to function as the original plate processing device according to claim 8, the information processing program causing a computer to function as the data management unit and the output control unit. An information processing program for causing a computer to function as the processing device according to claim 9, the information processing program causing a computer to function as the identification information reading unit and the data acquisition unit.

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