Control system for application execution

Abstract

The present invention provides a control system for application program execution. The control system includes: a definition file storage unit for storing a definition file that defines instruction information to be sent according to the information and status of a control device; a definition file acquisition unit; a definition file analysis unit for analyzing the acquired definition file; a condition creation unit for creating determination conditions for the information and status of the control device based on the analysis result; a condition storage unit for storing the created determination conditions; a condition determination unit for performing condition determination based on the determination conditions according to various information of the control device; and an instruction information sending unit for sending the instruction information defined by the definition file when condition determination is performed and the information of the control device conforms to the determination conditions. The control system for application program execution is configured such that an application program execution device executes processing according to the instruction information sent from the instruction information sending unit.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a control system for executing an application program. Background Art

[0002] As is well known, for example, in the field of machine tools, by applying CNC (Computerized Numerical Control) technology, the computer numerically controls the movement amount, movement speed, etc. of a tool, thereby highly automating the repetition of the same machining process, the machining of complex shapes, etc. (for example, refer to Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2).

[0003] On the other hand, in the case of using CNC for driving control of industrial machines, etc., when an application program designer wants to make the CNC interlock with the created application program, it is often necessary to obtain the status and information of the CNC.

[0004] Specifically, in the case of wanting to switch the display content of the application program according to the status and information of the CNC, for example, the operation is advanced according to a process such as (1): obtaining the status and information of the CNC; (2): determining the content to be displayed based on (1).

[0005] Prior Art Documents

[0006] Patent Documents

[0007] Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2013-251651

[0008] Patent Document 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2011-140076 Summary of the Invention

[0009] Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0010] Here, all of the operation processes and structures such as the above (1) and (2) need to be prepared on the application program side.

[0011] However, in order for the application program to continuously cooperate with the CNC, it is necessary to continuously obtain and analyze the status and information of the CNC regularly, resulting in a very large burden on the application program side.

[0012] In addition, since the structure for obtaining and analyzing the information of the CNC is on the application program side, there is bound to be a situation where even for application programs that use the same information, the designs are different depending on the application program designers, and as a result, there may be a deviation in quality (maintainability, efficiency, etc. of the application program itself).

[0013] Therefore, there is a strong expectation to develop a method that can reduce the burden on the application side and reliably eliminate the quality deviation caused by different designs.

[0014] Solutions for Solving the Problems

[0015] One mode of the control system for application execution of the present disclosure is a system including a control device that sends action instruction information in cooperation with the internal state of the control device to an application execution device. The control system for application execution includes: a definition file storage unit that stores a definition file defining instruction information sent according to the information and state of the control device; a definition file acquisition unit that acquires the definition file; a definition file analysis unit that analyzes the acquired definition file; a condition creation unit that creates determination conditions for the information and state of the control device based on the result of the analysis; a condition storage unit that stores the determination conditions created by the condition creation unit; a condition determination unit that performs condition determination based on the determination conditions according to various information of the control device; and an instruction information sending unit that, when the condition determination is performed and the information of the control device conforms to the determination conditions, sends the instruction information defined by the definition file. The control system for application execution is configured such that the application execution device performs processing according to the instruction information sent from the instruction information sending unit.

[0016] Effects of the Invention

[0017] According to one mode of the control system for application execution of the present disclosure, without monitoring the information of a control device such as a CNC required by the application at all, but only by processing in response to the sent instruction information, cooperation with a control device such as a CNC can be achieved. Thereby, it is possible to reduce the load of the application and cut down the development man-hours.

[0018] In addition, by preparing determination conditions and instruction information in advance, it is possible to standardize the design on the application side, thereby eliminating the problem of quality deviation as in the past. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] Figure 1 is a block diagram showing one mode of the control system for application execution of the present disclosure.

[0020] Figure 2 is a flowchart showing a method and process of control for sending instruction information to an application execution device in one mode of the control system for application execution of the present disclosure.

[0021] Figure 3This is a diagram for the description of Example 1.

[0022] Figure 4 This is a diagram for the description of Example 2.

[0023] Figure 5 This is a diagram for the description of Example 1 and Example 2.

[0024] Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0025] 1: Control system for application execution; 2: Application execution device; 3: CNC (control device); 4: Definition file; 5: Definition file storage unit; 6: Definition file acquisition unit; 7: Definition file analysis unit; 8: Condition creation unit; 9: Condition storage unit; 10: Condition reading unit; 11: Condition determination unit; 12: Instruction information sending unit. Detailed implementation mode

[0026] Next, with reference to Figures 1 to 5 Let's describe the control system for application execution according to an embodiment. Here, in this embodiment, it is assumed that the control system for application execution is a control system using a CNC such as a machine tool of industrial machinery for explanation.

[0027] The control system 1 for application execution of this embodiment, for example Figure 1 is shown to include an application execution device 2, a CNC (Computerized Numerical Control) 3 as a control device, and a definition file storage unit 5 that stores a definition file 4. The control device is used to send action instruction information coordinated with the internal state of the control device to the application execution device 2, and the definition file 4 defines the instruction information sent according to the information and state of the CNC 3.

[0028] The CNC 3 of this embodiment includes: a definition file acquisition unit 6 that acquires the definition file 4 from the definition file storage unit 5 based on the information of the CNC 3; a definition file analysis unit 7 that analyzes the acquired definition file 4; a condition creation unit 8 that creates determination conditions for the information and state of the CNC 3 based on the analysis result; and a condition storage unit 9 that stores the determination conditions created by the condition creation unit 8.

[0029] In addition, the definition file acquisition unit 6, the definition file analysis unit 7, the condition creation unit 8, and the condition storage unit 9 constitute a condition reading unit 10.

[0030] The CNC 3 of this embodiment includes: a condition determination unit 11 that performs condition determination based on the determination conditions obtained by the condition reading unit 10 according to various information of the CNC 3; and an instruction information transmission unit 12 that transmits the instruction information defined by the definition file 4 when the condition determination is made and the information of the CNC 3 meets the determination conditions.

[0031] Moreover, the control system 1 for executing the application program of this embodiment is configured such that the application program execution device 2 executes processing according to the instruction information transmitted from the instruction information transmission unit 12.

[0032] Here, the definition file 4 is an input unit, such as a text screen, XML parameters, etc., and its form is not particularly limited.

[0033] In the control system 1 for executing the application program of this embodiment, the application program designer stores the information and status of the CNC 3 and the definition file 4 that defines the instruction information to be transmitted in the definition file storage unit 5.

[0034] When the definition file 4 is present in the definition file storage unit 5, the CNC 3 acquires and analyzes the definition file 4 in the condition reading unit 10, creates determination conditions composed of the information and status of the CNC 3, and stores the determination conditions and the instruction information to be transmitted when the conditions are met in the definition file storage unit 5.

[0035] In addition, in this embodiment, it is set that based on the determination conditions obtained by the condition reading unit 10, the condition determination unit 11 periodically performs condition determination according to various information of the CNC 3, and when the determination conditions are met, the instruction information transmission unit 12 transmits the specified instruction information.

[0036] Refer to Figure 2 ( Figure 1 )、 Figure 3 、 Figure 4 、 Figure 5 to more specifically describe the method of controlling the transmission of instruction information (operation instruction information) to the application program execution device 2 using the control system 1 for executing the application program of this embodiment in the control of the machine tool.

[0037] When performing the control of transmitting instruction information to the application program execution device 2, as Figure 2 shown, the definition file acquisition unit 6 acquires the definition file 4 that defines the instruction information transmitted according to the information and status of the CNC 3 from the definition file storage unit 5 (step 1).

[0038] <Example 1>

[0039] Here, as Figure 3 ( Figure 5) As shown, assume that in the case where the current screen representing the information and status of the CNC 3 is the tool offset and parameter screen, numeric keys are displayed on the screen, and the definition file 4 is defined as the instruction information indicating the display of the numeric keys.

[0040] In addition, in the CNC 3, through a periodic process of periodically making condition judgments based on various information of the CNC 3, a current screen confirmation process for confirming the current screen is performed.

[0041] Specifically, in the periodic process and the current screen confirmation process, first, as Figure 2 , Figure 3 ( Figure 5 ) As shown, the definition file acquisition unit 6 acquires the definition file 4, and the definition file analysis unit 7 analyzes the acquired definition file 4 to confirm whether there is a definition (steps 2 and 3).

[0042] In the case where there is no definition, the process ends without sending action instruction information to the application execution device 2.

[0043] In the case where there is a definition, the condition creation unit 8 creates a judgment condition composed of the information and status of the CNC 3 based on the analysis result (step 4), and stores the judgment condition and the instruction information to be sent when the condition is met in the condition storage unit 9 (step 5).

[0044] In addition, the condition judgment unit 11 starts the periodic process periodically (step 6). For example, various information of the CNC 3 such as the operation mode, screen number, and focus (parameters of the current screen, etc.) is referred to (step 7), and it is confirmed whether there is a condition that meets the judgment condition (step 8).

[0045] In the case where there is no judgment condition that meets, the process ends without sending action instruction information to the application execution device 2.

[0046] In the case where there is a judgment condition that meets, the specified instruction information is sent from the instruction information sending unit 12 (step 9), and the periodic process ends (step 10).

[0047] The application execution device 2 (application side) receives the instruction information sent from the instruction information sending unit 12, performs analysis processing of the instruction information, and performs keyboard (numeric key) display processing, etc.

[0048] <Example 2>

[0049] Next, an example of manually retrieving the information of the alarm that occurred when the alarm occurred will be described.

[0050] As Figure 4 ( Figure 5) As shown, when the current screen showing the information and status of the CNC 3 is the tool offset and parameter screen, the definition file 4 is defined as the information for sending the manual display instruction information and the alarm No.

[0051] In addition, in the CNC 3, through periodic processing that periodically makes conditional judgments based on various information of the CNC 3, an alarm confirmation process for confirming alarms is performed.

[0052] In the periodic processing and the alarm confirmation process, as Figure 2 , Figure 4 ( Figure 5 ) As shown, the acquisition of the definition file 4, the analysis of the acquired definition file 4, and the confirmation of whether there is a definition (Steps 2 and 3) are performed.

[0053] In the case where there is no definition, the process ends without sending action instruction information to the application execution device 2. In the case where there is a definition, a judgment condition composed of the information and status of the CNC 3 is created based on the analysis result (Step 4), and this judgment condition and the instruction information to be sent when the condition is met are stored in the condition storage unit 9 (Step 5).

[0054] In addition, the condition determination unit 11 starts periodic processing (Step 6) at regular intervals, confirms the alarm status of the current screen (Step 7), and confirms whether there is a condition that meets the judgment condition (Step 8).

[0055] In the case where there is no judgment condition that meets, the process ends without sending action instruction information to the application execution device 2.

[0056] In the case where there is a judgment condition that meets, that is, when the occurrence of an alarm is confirmed, the alarm No is acquired, and the specified instruction information is sent from the instruction information sending unit 12 (Step 9), and the periodic processing ends (Step 10).

[0057] The application execution device 2 (application side) receives the instruction information sent from the instruction information sending unit 12, performs analysis processing of the instruction information, and performs manual display processing, manual retrieval processing, etc.

[0058] Therefore, in the application execution control system 1 of the present embodiment configured as described above, without monitoring the information of control devices such as the CNC 3 required by the application program at all, but only by processing in response to the issued instruction information, cooperation with control devices such as the CNC 3 can be achieved. Thus, it is possible to reduce the load on the application program and the development man-hours.

[0059] In addition, by preparing determination conditions and instruction information in advance, it is possible to standardize the design on the application program side, thereby eliminating the problem of quality deviation as in the past.

[0060] As described above, an embodiment of the control system for executing an application program has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment and can be appropriately changed without departing from its gist.

[0061] For example, in the present embodiment, the control system for executing an application program is described as a control system using a CNC for a machine tool or the like of industrial machinery.

[0062] In contrast, the control system for executing an application program does not need to limit the control device to a CNC, and may also be a system using other control devices such as a robot controller or a PLC (programmable logic controller).

[0063] In other words, the objects controlled by the control device of the control system for executing an application program are not limited to industrial machines such as machine tools, robots, conveyors, measuring instruments, test devices, presses, press fitters, printing machines, die casting machines, injection molding machines, food machinery, packaging machines, welding machines, cleaning machines, painting machines, assembly devices, installation machines, woodworking machines, sealing devices, cutting machines, etc., but also include all devices that require automatic control such as automated warehouses, elevators, automatic doors, boilers, and various amusement facilities in theme parks.

[0064] Moreover, by applying the control system for executing an application program to the control of all the devices that require automatic control as described above, the same effects as those of the present embodiment can be obtained.

[0065] In addition, there may be a plurality of application program execution devices 2. In this case, it can be configured to include a relay application program execution device that receives the instruction information sent from the instruction information sending unit 12 and sends the instruction information from the relay application program device to the application program execution device 2 to which the instruction information should be sent. By providing such a relay application program device, it is not necessary for the CNC 3 side to select the destination of the instruction information sent from the instruction information sending unit 12. In addition, even if the application program execution device 2 is not started, the process of sending the instruction information from the CNC 3 side (instruction information sending unit 12) can be completed.

Claims

1. A control system for application execution, comprising an application execution device; a numerical control device that sends indication information in cooperation with the internal state of the numerical control device itself to the application execution device; and a definition file storage unit configured to store a definition file that defines indication information transmitted according to information and status of the numerical control device, The numerical control device includes: a definition file acquisition unit configured to acquire the definition file from the definition file storage unit; a definition file analysis unit configured to analyze the acquired definition file; a condition creation unit configured to create determination conditions for information and status of the numerical control device based on a result of the analysis; a condition storage unit configured to store the determination conditions created by the condition creation unit; a condition determination unit configured to periodically perform condition determination based on the determination conditions according to various information of the numerical control device; and an indication information transmission unit configured to transmit the indication information defined by the definition file when the condition determination is performed and information of the numerical control device conforms to the determination conditions, wherein the application program execution device executes processing according to the indication information transmitted from the indication information transmission unit.

2. The control system for application program execution according to claim 1, wherein the numerical control device includes at least one of a CNC that controls industrial machinery, a robot controller, and a PLC.

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