Production Data Management System

Abstract

To provide a system capable of managing production data in accordance with the circumstances of production facilities.SOLUTION: A production data managing system 1 of the present invention is a system which manages the production data on an egg product obtained by egg-product production facilities, and which includes: a recording unit 2 that records, lot by lot, data on an egg measured or inspected on carrying units 11, 12 and 13 of the egg-product production facilities or data on a material applied for the egg product; and a selecting unit 4 that selects whether or not to utilize information on a lot out of a normal operation time and identified from the plurality of recorded lots.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a production data management system. [Background technology]

[0002] As a method for performing processing using production data, there is known a method for handling eggs based on the inspection results of each inspection device provided in an egg sorting device (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] Previously, in the field of egg grading equipment, it was sufficient to be able to remove defective eggs such as dirty eggs, cracked eggs, and bloody eggs, which are the cause of consumer complaints. Therefore, only the data necessary for egg handling was used, which was generated by simply processing the large amount of information-rich inspection results such as image data and vibration data obtained from each inspection device. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2016-97989 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] With the recent advancement and sophistication of information technology, there has been a noticeable trend in various fields to analyze the test results obtained from testing equipment as so-called big data and use it to develop new products and services.There is also a need to utilize the test results obtained from each testing equipment in egg product production facilities equipped with egg grading equipment, etc.

[0006] On the other hand, in egg product production facilities, measurement and inspection equipment is typically checked daily using test eggs to ensure it is operating correctly, so how to collect measurement and inspection results has been an issue.

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide a system that can manage production data in accordance with the circumstances of the production equipment. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The production data management system of the present invention is a system for managing egg product production data obtained in egg product production equipment, and includes a recording unit that records data on eggs measured or inspected on the conveying unit of the egg product production equipment or data on materials used in egg products for each lot, and a selection unit that selects whether or not to use information on a lot other than that used during normal operation that is identified from the multiple recorded lots. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, a system can be provided that can manage production data in accordance with the circumstances of the production equipment.

[0010] The above and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a plan view showing a sorting device to which a production data management system according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display unit according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of an operating state of the sorting device according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a data management method using the production data management system of the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] Hereinafter, the egg product production data management system 1 according to this embodiment is used in a production facility that produces egg products. The production facility is, for example, an egg grading device 10 as shown in FIG.

[0013] Egg sorting device 10 is mainly composed of, for example, a first conveying section 11, a second conveying section 12, and a third conveying section 13. First conveying section 11 is equipped with a plurality of inspection devices 14. A weighing device 15 is provided between first conveying section 11 and second conveying section 12. Second conveying section 12 is equipped with an inspection device 16 and a plurality of distribution devices 17. Eggs E are transported to third conveying section 13 after being distributed by distribution device 17. Eggs E are transported to third conveying section 13 in a container such as an egg pack, for example. Third conveying section 13 is also equipped with an inspection device (not shown).

[0014] The inspection devices 14, 16 acquire data that indicates the state of the eggs E. The data includes, for example, image data, sound data, light intensity data, pressure data, and the like.

[0015] The conveying units 11, 12, and 13, the weighing device 15, and the inspection devices 14 and 16 are used not only during normal operating hours, but also outside of normal operating hours. Normal operating hours refer to the time periods during which the production equipment is operating normally. On the other hand, times other than normal operating hours include times when a malfunction is discovered during production, and non-production times when the production equipment is operating but does not directly produce egg products. An example of times other than normal operating hours is a time period during which the production equipment is test-run using eggs E before or after normal operating hours for purposes such as maintenance.

[0016] The egg product production data management system 1 is a system for managing production data of egg products produced using egg product production equipment. The egg product production data management system 1 includes a recording unit 2, an identifying unit 3, a selecting unit 4, and a display unit 5.

[0017] The recording unit 2 records data on the eggs E measured or inspected on the conveying units 11, 12, and 13 for each lot. The recording unit 2 records data obtained from each of the inspection devices 14 and 16. The recording unit 2 also records data obtained from the weighing device 15. The recording unit 2 records data for each lot. A lot may be designated by a producer based on a production plan, for example, or may be set when operation of the production equipment stops. Lots may be managed by assigning a number to them, or may be managed in association with time information as shown in Figure 2.

[0018] The display unit 5 displays the state of the selection unit 4 being set. As an example, the display unit 5 displays the content shown in Figure 2. Figure 2 is an example of a production history display when the egg grading device 10 shown in Figure 3 is operated. The display unit 5 displays the production details of eggs E produced using the production equipment after production for each lot has been completed, or after production for one day has been completed.

[0019] The identification unit 3 identifies a lot other than that used during normal operation from among the multiple recorded lots. In this embodiment, for example, an operator or a manager identifies a lot other than that used during normal operation using a lot number or a production time period as a key. The identification unit 3 may also be configured to automatically identify a lot other than that used during normal operation. A lot other than that used during normal operation may be identified by naming a lot other than that used during normal operation, or conversely, by naming a lot used during normal operation.

[0020] The selection unit 4 selects whether or not to use the information identified by the identification unit 3. Here, "use" means, for example, aggregation, collection, output, etc. A specific example of the selection unit 4 is a unit that selects whether or not to include data for each of multiple recorded lots in the aggregated data. Multiple lots may be used for each production day, or multiple lots spanning multiple days may be used together. The selection unit 4 is provided, for example, on a touch panel display unit 5. The selection unit 4 selects, for example, whether or not to include lots other than those produced during normal operation of the production equipment that produces egg products in the aggregated data.

[0021] For example, the data obtained from the operation from 8:44 to 8:49 shown in Figure 2 is compiled into one lot. The button to the right of the production time is a button for performing the setting operation described below. The button is operated to the right (shown as a black circle), and this data is in an "invalid" state, meaning it is not included in the data that manages production. This data corresponds to the "test run" in Figure 3, and is data from the "non-production time period."

[0022] The data obtained during operation from 8:56 to 9:35 is compiled into one lot. The button is operated to the left (shown as a white circle), and this data is in the "valid" state, being included in the data that manages production. This data corresponds to "Egg a from Farm A" in Figure 3, and is data from the "normal operating hours."

[0023] The data obtained from operations from 9:52 to 10:26 is compiled into one lot. The button is operated to the left (shown as a white circle), and this data is in the "valid" state, being included in the data that manages production. This data corresponds to "Egg b from Farm B" in Figure 3, and is data from the "normal operating hours." The same applies to the data from 10:32 onwards. In FIG. 2, multiple lots are displayed on one screen, and the selection section 4 corresponding to each lot is displayed in a list, but it is also possible to provide a selection section 4 on the screen for each lot, rather than displaying a list.

[0024] Next, an example of a data management method using the egg product production data management system 1 of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

[0025] Inspection is performed on eggs E being transported on transport units 11, 12, and 13 of the production equipment (step S1), and the recording unit 2 records the inspection results. All inspection data is set to "valid" until an operation is performed in selection unit 4.

[0026] Next, the worker or manager looks at the display unit 5 displaying the recorded inspection results and identifies the data for the time period that corresponds to the "non-production time period." Specifically, the identification is performed based on information that identifies the lot, such as the lot number information assigned to each lot or the time information for the lot. The identified data is then set to "invalid." That is, when the aggregation setting operation is performed in the selection unit 4 (step S2), a calculation is performed so that the part of the inspection data that has been set to "invalid" is not reflected in the aggregation (step S3). In other words, only the inspection data that is set to "valid" at that time is aggregated.

[0027] If no setting operation for counting is performed in step S2, the initial value is used, that is, all test data that is set to "valid" at that time is counted (step S4).

[0028] The tabulated results obtained in steps S3 and S4 are output (step S5). The tabulated results may be displayed as numerical values ​​only, or may be displayed in the form of a time-series graph. The display method may be such that it is clear that there is "invalidated" data. For example, in a time-series graph, the time periods of some of the test data that have been "invalidated" may be left blank.

[0029] It is also possible to change the test data that has been set to "invalid" to "valid" and re-aggregate it. Also, although this example has been described for test data, it can also be applied to measurement data.

[0030] As described above, the egg product production data management system 1 according to this embodiment is a system for managing production data of egg products produced using egg product production equipment, and includes a recording unit 2 and a selection unit 4. The recording unit 2 records data on eggs measured or inspected on the conveying units 11, 12, and 13 of the egg product production equipment for each lot. The selection unit 4 selects whether or not to use information on a specified lot other than that used during normal operation from among the multiple recorded lots. This makes it possible to provide a system that can manage egg E production data in accordance with the circumstances of the production equipment. Since it is possible to display results obtained by changing the aggregation method based on the setting operation in the selection unit 4, it becomes possible to intuitively grasp the condition of the eggs E sorted by the sorting device 10 according to the purpose.

[0031] The selection unit 4 selects whether or not to include data from lots other than those during normal operation in the aggregated data, so that production data for eggs E can be managed in accordance with the circumstances of the production equipment. For example, by not using lots set as "invalid," i.e., by not including them in the aggregated data, only data from normal operation hours can be obtained.

[0032] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment.

[0033] The egg product production equipment is not limited to the grading device 10. For example, it may be an egg filling device called a farm packer, or a production line that produces egg products from graded eggs E. In the latter case, the conveying unit conveys containers such as trays or packs, and the inspection device may acquire data indicating the condition of the eggs, as well as data on the condition and number of materials used in the egg products (labels, tape, containers, etc.). The data on the eggs measured or inspected or the data on the materials used in the egg products may be any data that can be acquired on the conveying unit. The conveying unit may connect the chicken coop and the GP center.

[0034] The content set by the selection unit 4 is not limited to two types, "valid" or "invalid." Multiple types may be specified, and it may be selected whether or not to use the information specified for each type.

[0035] The identifying unit 3 may identify a lot other than that during normal operation before starting to record multiple lots. The selecting unit 4 may select whether or not to use the information identified by the identifying unit 3 before starting to record multiple lots. Conversely, the identifying unit 3 may identify a lot other than that during normal operation after recording multiple lots. The selecting unit 4 may select whether or not to use the information identified by the identifying unit 3 after recording multiple lots.

[0036] The information identified by the identification unit 3 may be numerical data or image data. The selection unit 4 may select whether or not to collect the information identified by the identification unit 3. The selection unit 4 may select whether or not to output the information identified by the identification unit 3.

[0037] The embodiments disclosed herein are examples and are not intended to be limiting. The present invention is defined not by the scope of the above description but by the scope of the claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the scope of the claims. [Industrial Applicability]

[0038] The present invention can be used in a production data management system for egg products. [Explanation of symbols]

[0039] 1...Production data management system 2...Recording section 3…Specific part 4...Selection section 5...Display section 10...Egg sorting device 11, 12, 13...Transport section 14...Inspection equipment 15...Measuring device 16...Inspection equipment 17…dispensing device E…egg

Claims

1. A system for managing egg product production data obtained in an egg product production facility, comprising: a recording unit that records data on eggs measured or inspected on a conveying unit of the egg product production equipment or data on materials used in the egg products for each lot; a selection unit that selects whether or not to use information on a lot other than that used during normal operation that is specified from among a plurality of recorded lots.

2. 2. The production data management system according to claim 1, wherein the selection unit selects whether or not data of the lot other than that during normal operation is to be included in the aggregate data.

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