A flexible production line and its control method

Abstract

The present application provides a kind of flexible production line and its control method, flexible production line includes: several main stem transmission lines, main stem transmission line is arranged along the longitudinal direction, and several main stem transmission lines are parallel and interval arrangement, one side of several main stem transmission lines is equipped with several processing area, and several processing area is sequentially interval arranged along main stem transmission line;Several feeding transmission lines, feeding transmission line is arranged along the horizontal direction, and several feeding transmission lines are parallel and interval arrangement, each processing area is connected with one feeding transmission line, and several feeding transmission lines and several main stem transmission lines are arranged in longitudinal and horizontal staggered manner.The flexible production line of the present application is formed by several main stem transmission lines and several feeding transmission lines arranged in longitudinal and horizontal staggered manner, and the product to be processed can be transported to any processing area for processing according to different processing orders, processing links and processing requirements, so that the conveying scheme can be flexibly adjusted according to actual needs, and the intelligent manufacturing degree and processing efficiency are improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of intelligent manufacturing technology, and in particular to a flexible production line and its control method. Background Technology

[0002] In the processing of physical products such as furniture, automated conveyor systems, such as assembly lines, are generally used to improve production efficiency. These systems are used to transport physical products for processing and transfer, thereby increasing production efficiency.

[0003] In the current technology, the common approach is to configure one processing station with one production line, or to configure multiple processing stations sequentially on one production line. However, regardless of the approach, products can only be processed sequentially according to the direction of the production line. It is impossible to flexibly adjust the conveying scheme according to different processing orders, processing stages, and processing requirements. The level of intelligent manufacturing is low, and the processing efficiency is relatively low. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Therefore, the purpose of this invention is to provide a flexible production line and its control method to solve at least one technical problem in the prior art.

[0005] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a flexible production line includes:

[0006] Several main transmission lines are arranged longitudinally, and the several main transmission lines are parallel and spaced apart. Several processing areas are provided on one side of the several main transmission lines, and the several processing areas are arranged sequentially and spaced apart along the main transmission lines.

[0007] A plurality of feeding conveyor lines are arranged in a horizontal direction, and the plurality of feeding conveyor lines are parallel and spaced apart. Each processing area is connected to one of the feeding conveyor lines. The plurality of feeding conveyor lines and the plurality of main conveyor lines are arranged in a crisscross pattern.

[0008] The feeding conveyor line includes multiple transverse feeding sections, which are respectively located below each of the main conveyor lines. The bottom of each transverse feeding section is provided with a first lifting device that drives the transverse feeding section to rise and fall. After the multiple transverse feeding sections are raised, they can transfer the products to be processed that are being transported on the main conveyor line to the feeding conveyor line for transport.

[0009] Preferably, each of the main transmission lines is equipped with a position sensor and a first barcode scanning device at the position of the transverse feeding section. The position sensor is used to detect the position of the product to be processed being transported by the main transmission line, and the first barcode scanning device is used to identify the identification code on the product to be processed being transported by the main transmission line.

[0010] Preferably, the flexible production line further includes several discharge conveyor lines, which are arranged horizontally and are parallel and spaced apart. Each discharge conveyor line is connected to a processing area, and the discharge conveyor lines and the main conveyor lines are arranged in a crisscross pattern.

[0011] Preferably, the discharge conveyor line includes multiple transverse discharge sections, which are respectively arranged below each of the main conveyor lines, and a second lifting device is provided at the bottom of each transverse discharge section to drive the transverse discharge section to rise and fall.

[0012] Preferably, the feeding conveyor line and the discharging conveyor line are connected in the corresponding processing area, and a temporary storage line is provided at the end of the discharging conveyor line away from the processing area. The temporary storage line is located on the side of the plurality of main conveyor lines away from the processing area.

[0013] Preferably, one of the feeding conveyor lines is located at one end of the main conveyor line to serve as the main feeding line of the plurality of main conveyor lines, and the feeding end of the main feeding line is provided with a second barcode scanning device for identifying the identification code on the product to be processed.

[0014] In another aspect, the present invention also proposes a control method for a flexible production line, wherein the flexible production line is the aforementioned flexible production line, and the control method includes:

[0015] Obtain the pre-planned processing flow information of the target product to be processed;

[0016] Based on the processing flow information, determine the target main transmission line and target processing area corresponding to the target product to be processed, and determine the corresponding target transverse feeding section and target first lifting device based on the target main transmission line and target processing area corresponding to the target product to be processed.

[0017] The target product to be processed is conveyed through the target main transmission line, and it is detected whether the target product to be processed has been conveyed to the location of the target transverse feeding section;

[0018] When the target product to be processed is detected to be transported to the location of the target transverse feeding section, the target first lifting device is controlled to drive the target transverse feeding section to rise, so as to transfer it to the feeding conveyor line corresponding to the target transverse feeding section for transport to the target processing area for processing.

[0019] Preferably, the step of detecting whether the target product to be processed has been conveyed to the location of the target transverse feed section includes:

[0020] The presence of a product to be processed is detected by a positioning sensor at the location of the target transverse feed section on the target main transmission line.

[0021] If so, the first barcode scanning device at the location of the target transverse feeding section on the target main transmission line is activated to identify the identification code of the currently passing product to be processed, so as to identify whether the currently passing product to be processed is the target product to be processed.

[0022] If so, it is determined that the target product to be processed has been transported to the location of the target transverse feed section.

[0023] Preferably, after the step of controlling the first lifting device to drive the target transverse feeding section to lift the target transverse feeding section when the target product to be processed is detected to be conveyed to the target processing area for processing, the method further includes:

[0024] When an instruction is received that the target product to be processed will be processed in the target processing area, it is determined whether the target product to be processed has another processing area based on the processing flow information.

[0025] If so, then the corresponding target transverse discharge section and the target second lifting device are determined based on the target processing area and the target main transmission line;

[0026] The second lifting device of the target is controlled to raise the horizontal discharge section of the target so as to transport the currently processed target product to the target main transmission line, and then to the next processing area via the target main transmission line.

[0027] Preferably, after determining whether the target product to be processed has another processing area, the method further includes:

[0028] If so, obtain the current task volume of the next processing location, and determine the current load of the next processing location based on the current task volume and the rated task throughput.

[0029] When the current load of the next processing area is less than or equal to the threshold, the step of determining the corresponding target transverse discharge section and the target second lifting device based on the target processing area and the target main transmission line is executed.

[0030] When the current load of the next processing area is greater than the threshold, the discharge conveyor line corresponding to the target processing area is controlled to transport the currently processed target product to the corresponding temporary storage line for temporary storage.

[0031] Compared to existing technologies, this flexible production line, composed of several main conveyor lines and several feed conveyor lines arranged in a crisscross pattern, can transport products to be processed to any processing area according to different processing orders, processing stages, and processing requirements. This allows for flexible adjustment of the conveying scheme based on actual needs, improving the level of intelligent manufacturing and processing efficiency. Simultaneously, the feed conveyor lines employ a segmented arrangement with lifting mechanisms to cross the main conveyor lines, ensuring that the two crisscrossing production lines can operate independently while still achieving seamless conveying connections. This highly integrated and flexible adjustment effect significantly reduces the space occupied by the flexible production line. Attached Figure Description

[0032] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the flexible production line in Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0033] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure of the transverse feeding section in Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0034] Figure 3 This is a flowchart of the control method for a flexible production line in Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

[0035] The following detailed description, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, will further illustrate the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0036] To facilitate understanding of the present invention, a more complete description will be given below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Several embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings. However, the invention can be implemented in many different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete.

[0037] It should be noted that when a component is said to be "fixed to" another component, it can be directly on the other component or there may be an intervening component. When a component is said to be "connected to" another component, it can be directly connected to the other component or there may be an intervening component. The terms "vertical," "horizontal," "left," "right," and similar expressions used in this document are for illustrative purposes only.

[0038] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains. The terminology used herein in the description of the invention is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. The term "and / or" as used herein includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0039] Example 1

[0040] Please see Figures 1-2 The diagram shows a flexible production line according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, comprising several main conveyor lines 10, several feeding conveyor lines 20, and several discharging conveyor lines 30, wherein:

[0041] The main conveyor lines 10 are arranged longitudinally, with several main conveyor lines 10 arranged parallel and side-by-side. Several processing areas are located on one side of each main conveyor line 10, and these processing areas are arranged sequentially and at intervals along the main conveyor lines 10. The processing types of these processing areas can be completely identical, partially identical, or distinct from each other. For example, there could be ten processing areas, with five for spraying, three for sanding, and two for cleaning, or all ten could be spraying. The specific layout can be determined according to actual production needs, and the arrangement order of the processing areas is not limited. Feed conveyor lines 20 are arranged transversely, with several feed conveyor lines 20 arranged parallel and at intervals. Each processing area is connected to one feed conveyor line 20. The feed conveyor lines 20 and the main conveyor lines 10 are arranged in a crisscross pattern. The feed conveyor lines 20 are used to transfer products to be processed from the main conveyor lines 10 to the corresponding processing areas for processing.

[0042] Specifically, in this embodiment, the main transmission line 10 includes two parallel longitudinal guide rails 11. A transmission chain 12 is mounted on each longitudinal guide rail 11, extending from one end of the longitudinal guide rail 11 to the other and driving the transmission along the longitudinal guide rail 11 under the drive of a motor. In practice, the product to be processed can be placed on a bracket, which rests on the two longitudinal guide rails 11 and is driven along the main transmission line 10 by the transmission chain 12. The feeding conveyor line 20 includes a fixed feeding section 21 and multiple movable transverse feeding sections 22. The multiple transverse feeding sections 22 are respectively located below each main conveyor line 10, specifically between two longitudinal guide rails 11. The bottom of the transverse feeding section 22 is provided with a first lifting device 23 that drives the transverse feeding section 22 to rise and fall, so that the transverse feeding section 22 can rise and fall freely between the two longitudinal guide rails 11. The fixed feeding section 21 connects the processing area and the multiple transverse feeding sections 22. After the transverse feeding sections 22 are raised, they are higher than the main conveyor line 10. After the multiple transverse feeding sections 22 are raised, they are combined with the fixed feeding section 21 to form the entire feeding conveyor line 20, so that the products to be processed on the main conveyor line 10 can be transferred to the feeding conveyor line 20 for transmission. In specific implementation, both the transverse feeding section 22 and the fixed feeding section 21 can adopt the same transmission structure as the main transmission line 10. Alternatively, in other embodiments, the transverse feeding section 22, the fixed feeding section 21, and the main transmission line 10 can also adopt other commonly used transmission line forms, such as roller transmission lines.

[0043] In addition, each main conveyor line 10 is equipped with a position sensor 40 and a first barcode scanner 50 at the position of the transverse feeding section 22. The position sensor 40 is used to detect the position of the product to be processed conveyed by the main conveyor line 10, and the first barcode scanner 50 is used to identify the identification code on the product to be processed conveyed by the main conveyor line 10. In specific implementation, the first scanning device 50 can be set on any longitudinal guide rail 11 of the main transmission line 10 to facilitate the identification of the marking information. The position sensor 40 can be set on the transverse feeding section 22, so that the transverse feeding section 22 and the main transmission line 10 can share a position sensor 40. The position sensor 40 can be an infrared sensor, proximity switch, limit switch, etc. The marking code can be a QR code, barcode, or RFID, etc., and can be affixed to the product to be processed or the bracket carrying the product to be processed. The marking code contains relevant information about the product to be processed, such as processing flow information, or the product number. By scanning, the corresponding pre-made processing flow information can be obtained from the back-end server according to the product number. The first scanning device 50 can be a scanning device corresponding to a QR code or a barcode. The installation distance between the position sensor 40 and the first scanning device 50 can be adjusted according to the size of the product to be processed, so that when the product to be processed is transmitted to the position of the position sensor 40 on the main transmission line 10, the position sensor 40 sends an arrival signal. At this time, the first scanning device 50 at the current position can just scan the QR code or barcode of the product to be processed, thereby reading the information of the product to be processed.

[0044] In this embodiment, one of the feeding conveyor lines 20 is located at one end (front end) of the main conveyor line 10, serving as the main feeding line 20a of the main conveyor lines 10. The fixed feeding section of the main feeding line 20a serves as the feeding end of the entire production line. The feeding end is equipped with a second barcode scanning device 60 for identifying the identification code on the product to be processed. That is, in this embodiment, the number of feeding conveyor lines 20 is at least one more than the number of processing areas, serving as the feeding line of the entire flexible production line.

[0045] In practical implementation, the identification code of the product to be processed can be scanned by the second scanning device 60 to identify the pre-made processing flow information of the product. This processing flow information includes a pre-planned target main transmission line 10 and corresponding target processing area. Based on the target main transmission line 10, it is known which transverse feeding sections 22 of the main feed line 20a need to be lifted to transfer the product to be processed onto the target main transmission line 10. Simultaneously, based on the target processing area, the corresponding target feeding transmission line 20 is identified. Furthermore, based on the target feeding transmission line 20 and the target main transmission line 10, it is known which transverse feeding sections 22 of the target feeding transmission line 20 need to be lifted to transfer the product from the target main transmission line 10 to the target processing area for processing. Additionally, special... It should be noted that after the target feed conveyor line 20 is determined, the target positioning sensor 40 at the intersection of the target feed conveyor line 20 and the target main conveyor line 10 will be activated. The positioning sensors 40 on the target main conveyor line 10 before the target positioning sensor 40 will not be activated. This ensures that the product to be processed will not be detected by other positioning sensors 40 before it is transferred to the target feed conveyor line 20, thereby avoiding the phenomenon of frequent interruption of the conveyor line due to the positioning sensors 40 frequently detecting the target. Only when the product reaches the position of the target feed conveyor line 20 will it be detected by the target positioning sensor 40, thereby stopping the target main conveyor line 10. Then, by controlling the corresponding transverse feed section 22 of the target feed conveyor line 20 to lift, the product to be processed is transferred from the target main conveyor line 10 to the target processing area for processing.

[0046] In addition, the flexible production line also includes several discharge conveyor lines 30, which are arranged laterally and are parallel and spaced apart. Each discharge conveyor line 30 is connected to a corresponding processing area. The discharge conveyor lines 30 and several main conveyor lines 10 are arranged in a crisscross pattern. The feed conveyor line 20 and the discharge conveyor line 30 are connected in the corresponding processing area, so that the products to be processed can enter the processing area through the feed conveyor line 20 for processing, and after processing, they can be transported out of the processing area through the discharge conveyor line 30. Specifically, the structure of the discharge conveyor line 30 is basically the same as that of the feed conveyor line 20, that is, the discharge conveyor line 30 includes a fixed discharge section 31 and a movable discharge section 32. The multi-segment transverse discharge section 32 is located below each main conveyor line 10, specifically between two longitudinal guide rails 11. The bottom of the transverse discharge section 32 is equipped with a second lifting device that drives the transverse discharge section 32 to rise and fall freely between the two longitudinal guide rails 11. The fixed discharge section 31 connects the processing area and the multi-segment transverse discharge section 32. After the transverse discharge section 32 is raised, it is higher than the main conveyor line 10. After the multi-segment transverse discharge section 32 is raised, it is combined with the fixed discharge section 31 to form the entire feeding conveyor line 20, so that the processed products can be transferred to the original or re-planned main conveyor line 10 for transmission.

[0047] In practical implementation, both the first lifting device 23 and the second lifting device can be hydraulic lifting platforms, ball screw lifting platforms, etc. In practical implementation, when the transverse discharge section 32 or the transverse feed section 22 is raised, the transverse discharge section 32 or the transverse feed section 22 automatically starts transmission, and at the same time, the main transmission line 10 at the corresponding position preferably stops running to avoid interference between the product and the feed section.

[0048] In practical implementation, a third barcode scanner 70 can be installed on the fixed discharge section 31 to identify the identification code on the product. This allows the processing flow information on the product to be scanned when it leaves the processing area. Based on the product's processing flow information and its current processing area, the next processing area for the product is determined. If there is no next processing area, the product is transported to the end of the original or replanned main transmission line 10 for unloading. In practical implementation, after the product is processed, the current load of the original main transmission line 10 (i.e., the planned target main transmission line 10) is first checked. If the current load of the original main transmission line 10 is not higher than the threshold, the product is still transported back to the original main transmission line 10 to ensure orderly product transportation. Specifically, the transverse discharge section 32 between the original main transmission line 10 and the processing area can be raised to transport the product back to the original main transmission line 10, and then transported to the next processing area or to the end of the original main transmission line 10 for unloading. When the current load of the original main transmission line 10 is higher than the threshold, the product is transported to the main transmission line 10 with the lowest load at the current time, and the product's processing flow information is modified, thereby dynamically adjusting the transport plan to ensure the processing efficiency of each product and avoid processing delays caused by line congestion. In practical implementation, the current transmission volume on each main conveyor line can be calculated based on the total number of units put into the main conveyor line, the processing output volume, the processing return volume, and the total number of units removed from the main conveyor line. The total number of units put into the main conveyor line refers to the total amount of units fed into the main feed line 20a. The processing output volume refers to the total amount of units transferred from the main conveyor line to be processed. The processing return volume refers to the total amount of units that return to the main conveyor line after processing. The total number of units removed from the main conveyor line refers to the total amount of units removed from the main conveyor line. For example, if the cumulative number of units put into the main conveyor line is 100, and 30 units are removed after processing, 30 units are transferred to be processed, and 10 units are returned after processing, then the current transmission volume on the main conveyor line is 100 - 30 - 30 + 10 = 50 units. The rated transmission volume of the main conveyor line is 100 units, and the load at this time is 50%.

[0049] In a preferred embodiment, a temporary storage line 33 is provided at the end of the discharge conveyor line 30 furthest from the processing area. The temporary storage line 33 is located on the side of several main conveyor lines 10 furthest from the processing area. That is, the processing area and the temporary storage line 33 are located on opposite sides of the main conveyor lines 10. When transporting products out of the processing area, if all the main conveyor lines are overloaded and / or the next processing area for the product is overloaded, the product can be transferred to the temporary storage line 33 via the discharge conveyor line 30 for a transition, thus creating a good production buffer. In addition, a temporary storage line 33 can also be provided at the end of the feed conveyor line 20 furthest from the processing area, so that when the corresponding processing area is overloaded, the product to be processed can be transferred to the temporary storage line 33 for a transition. In summary, the flexible production line in this embodiment of the invention, composed of several main conveyor lines 10 and several feeding conveyor lines 20 arranged in a crisscross pattern, can transport products to be processed to any processing area according to different processing orders, processing stages, and processing requirements. This allows for flexible adjustment of the conveying scheme based on actual needs, improving the level of intelligent manufacturing and processing efficiency. Simultaneously, the feeding conveyor lines 20 employ a segmented arrangement with lifting mechanisms to cross the main conveyor lines, ensuring that the two crisscrossing production lines can operate independently while still achieving seamless conveying connections. This highly integrated and flexible adjustment effect significantly reduces the space occupied by the flexible production line.

[0050] Example 2

[0051] Another aspect of this invention provides a control method for a flexible production line; please refer to [link to relevant documentation]. Figure 3 The diagram illustrates a control method for a flexible production line according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The flexible production line is the same as that described in the previous embodiment. The control method includes steps S01-S04, specifically:

[0052] Step S01: Obtain the pre-planned processing flow information of the target product to be processed.

[0053] In practice, processing flow information can be pre-defined for each product to be processed, and this information can be uploaded to a backend server, such as a Warehouse Control System (WCS). The processing flow information includes at least the target main transmission line and multiple target processing areas arranged sequentially according to the processing flow. In other words, the product to be processed needs to pass through each target processing area sequentially under the transmission of the target main transmission line and its corresponding feed transmission line.

[0054] In addition, each product to be processed needs to be assigned a unique identification code, such as a serial number, and an identification code is generated based on the unique identification code and affixed to the product or its tray. This unique identification code is associated with pre-defined processing flow information, allowing the processing flow information to be retrieved from the backend server by scanning the identification code. In practice, this can be achieved using a second scanning device on the main feed line to scan the code and obtain the processing flow information of the target product.

[0055] Step S02: Determine the target main transmission line and target processing area corresponding to the target product to be processed based on the processing flow information, and determine the corresponding target transverse feeding section and target first lifting device based on the target main transmission line and target processing area corresponding to the target product to be processed.

[0056] It should be understood that the target transverse feeding section is the transverse feeding section located between the target main conveyor line and the target processing area, and the target first lifting device is the first lifting device at the bottom of the target transverse feeding section. By controlling the target first lifting device, the target transverse feeding section can be raised, thereby smoothly lifting the target product to be processed, causing it to fall off the target main conveyor line and be transferred to the corresponding feeding conveyor line for transmission, and finally being transmitted to the target processing area for processing.

[0057] Step S03: The target product to be processed is transported through the target main transmission line, and it is detected whether the target product to be processed has been transported to the location of the target transverse feeding section.

[0058] Specifically, the step of transporting the target product to be processed through the target backbone transmission line may include:

[0059] The response transverse feeding section and the response first lifting device on the main feed line are determined according to the target trunk transmission line. The response transverse feeding section is the transverse feeding section between the feed end of the target trunk transmission line and the main feed line, and the response first lifting device is the first lifting device at the bottom of the response transverse feeding section.

[0060] The control response first lifting device lifts the response transverse feeding section to transfer the target product to be processed to the target main conveyor line, so as to transfer the target product to be processed through the target main conveyor line.

[0061] Specifically, when the positioning sensor on the responsive transverse feeding section below the target main conveyor line senses the target product to be processed, the responsive transverse feeding section stops conveying. At this time, the target product to be processed falls completely onto the responsive transverse feeding section. Then, the first lifting device at the bottom of the responsive transverse feeding section is controlled to descend. At this time, the bracket of the target product to be processed will be placed on the two longitudinal guide rails of the target main conveyor line, so as to smoothly put the target product to be processed into the target main conveyor line for conveying.

[0062] Specifically, the step of detecting whether the target product to be processed has been conveyed to the location of the target transverse feed section includes:

[0063] Based on the target main transmission line and the target processing area, determine the corresponding target positioning sensor, where the target positioning sensor is the positioning sensor at the intersection of the feed transmission line and the target main transmission line corresponding to the target processing area.

[0064] When the target product to be processed is placed into the target main transmission line for conveying, the target positioning sensor is activated and the positioning detection signal of the target positioning sensor is continuously detected.

[0065] When the target positioning sensor detects the positioning signal, it is determined that the target product to be processed has been transported to the position of the target transverse feeding section.

[0066] Step S04: When the target product to be processed is detected to be transported to the location of the target transverse feeding section, the first lifting device of the target is controlled to drive the target transverse feeding section to rise, so as to transfer it to the feeding conveyor line corresponding to the target transverse feeding section for transport to the target processing area for processing.

[0067] Specifically, when the target positioning sensor detects the positioning signal, the main target transmission line and the main transmission line between the target main transmission line and the target processing area can be controlled to stop transmission. The target transverse feed section is then raised to transfer the target product to the corresponding feed transmission line. When the positioning sensor on the target transverse feed section stops sensing the target product, indicating that the product has been transferred downwards, the target transverse feed section is lowered, and the operation of the main transmission line at the location of the target transverse feed section is resumed.

[0068] In a preferred embodiment, the step of detecting whether the target product to be processed has been conveyed to the location of the target transverse feed section may further include:

[0069] The presence of a product to be processed is detected by a positioning sensor at the location of the target transverse feed section on the target main transmission line.

[0070] If so, the first barcode scanning device at the location of the target transverse feeding section on the target main transmission line is activated to identify the identification code of the currently passing product to be processed, so as to identify whether the currently passing product to be processed is the target product to be processed.

[0071] If so, it is determined that the target product to be processed has been transported to the location of the target transverse feed section.

[0072] In other words, after the target product to be processed is detected to be in place, the first barcode scanner at the corresponding location will be used to identify the identification code of the target product to be processed in order to reconfirm the processing flow information of the target product to be processed. Only when it is confirmed again that the target product to be processed is indeed to enter the processing area at the current location will it be transferred to the processing area at the current location for processing to avoid processing errors.

[0073] Furthermore, in some preferred embodiments, after the step of controlling the first lifting device to drive the target transverse feeding section to lift the target transverse feeding section when the target product to be processed is detected to be conveyed to the target processing area, so as to transfer it to the corresponding feeding conveyor line for conveying to the target processing area for processing, the method further includes:

[0074] When an instruction is received that the target product to be processed will be processed in the target processing area, it is determined whether the target product to be processed has another processing area based on the processing flow information.

[0075] If so, the corresponding target transverse discharge section and target second lifting device are determined according to the target processing area and the target main transmission line, and the target second lifting device is controlled to lift the target transverse discharge section so as to transport the currently processed target product to the target main transmission line, and then transport it to the next processing area through the target main transmission line.

[0076] If not, the second lifting device of the target is controlled to lift the horizontal discharge section of the target, so as to transport the currently processed target product to the target main transmission line, and then transport it to the end of the line for unloading.

[0077] The target transverse discharge section is the transverse discharge section below the target main conveyor line and between the target main conveyor line and the target processing area. The target second lifting device is the second lifting device at the bottom of the target transverse discharge section. In specific implementation, when the scanning signal of the third scanning device is received, it is assumed that the instruction for the target product to be processed to be completed within the target processing area has been received. At this time, based on the processing flow information of the target product to be processed and its current processing area, it can be determined whether there is another processing area for the target product to be processed. If there is no next processing area, it is transported off the line through the target main conveyor line. If there is a next processing area, it is transported to the next processing area through the target main conveyor line. Furthermore, the next positioning sensor is determined based on the next processing area and the target main conveyor line. By activating the next positioning sensor, the target is sensed to determine whether it has arrived in place, thereby successfully transferring the product to the next processing area.

[0078] Furthermore, in some preferred embodiments, after determining whether the target product to be processed has another processing area, the method further includes:

[0079] If so, obtain the current task volume of the next processing location, and determine the current load of the next processing location based on the current task volume and the rated task throughput.

[0080] When the current load of the next processing area is less than or equal to the threshold, the step of determining the corresponding target transverse discharge section and the target second lifting device based on the target processing area and the target main transmission line is executed.

[0081] When the current load of the next processing area is greater than the threshold, the discharge conveyor line corresponding to the target processing area is controlled to transport the currently processed target product to the corresponding temporary storage line for temporary storage.

[0082] In practical implementation, the current workload can be determined based on the processing input and output of the processing area. For example, if the current cumulative input is 10 units and the output is 5 units, then 5 units are currently being processed or are about to be processed in the processing area, and the current workload is 5 units. If the rated processing capacity is 10 units, then the current load is 50%. That is, in this embodiment, the load of the next processing area will also be dynamically monitored. If the next processing area is overloaded (i.e., the current load is greater than the threshold), the products to be processed will be transported to the corresponding temporary storage line for temporary storage. At the same time, the load of the next processing area will be continuously monitored so that the products to be processed will be transported to the next processing area when the next processing area is not overloaded. Alternatively, in other embodiments, when the next processing area is overloaded, a processing area of ​​the same type that is not overloaded will be found as the next processing area for the product, and the processing flow information will be changed.

[0083] In addition, it should be noted that the above embodiments and their features can be combined with each other as needed, provided there is no conflict.

[0084] The embodiments described above are merely illustrative of several implementations of the present invention, and while the descriptions are specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of the present invention, and these modifications and improvements all fall within the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of this patent should be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A control method of a flexible production line, characterized by, The flexible production line comprises: a plurality of main transmission lines arranged in a longitudinal direction, the main transmission lines being arranged in parallel and at intervals, one side of the main transmission lines being provided with a plurality of processing positions, the processing positions being arranged in sequence and at intervals along the main transmission lines; a plurality of feeding transmission lines arranged in a transverse direction, the feeding transmission lines being arranged in parallel and at intervals, each processing position being connected to one feeding transmission line, the feeding transmission lines and the main transmission lines being arranged in a longitudinal and transverse interlaced manner; wherein the feeding transmission line comprises a plurality of transverse feeding sections, the transverse feeding sections being arranged below the main transmission lines respectively, the bottom of the transverse feeding section being provided with a first lifting device for driving the transverse feeding section to lift, the transverse feeding sections being capable of transferring the products to be processed transmitted on the main transmission lines to the feeding transmission lines for transmission after being lifted; The control method comprises: obtaining processing flow information of a target product to be processed planned in advance; determining a target main transmission line and a target processing position corresponding to the target product to be processed according to the processing flow information, and determining a target transverse feeding section and a target first lifting device according to the target main transmission line and the target processing position corresponding to the target product to be processed; transmitting the target product to be processed through the target main transmission line, and detecting whether the target product to be processed is transmitted to the position where the target transverse feeding section is located; when it is detected that the target product to be processed is transmitted to the position where the target transverse feeding section is located, driving the target first lifting device to lift the target transverse feeding section to be transferred to the feeding transmission line corresponding to the target transverse feeding section for transmission, so as to be transmitted to the target processing position for processing; Specifically, the step of detecting whether the target product to be processed is transmitted to the position where the target transverse feeding section is located comprises: detecting whether a product to be processed passes through the position where the target transverse feeding section is located on the target main transmission line through a position sensor at the position; if yes, starting a first code scanning device at the position to identify the identification code of the product to be processed passing through currently, so as to identify whether the product to be processed passing through currently is the target product to be processed; if yes, it is determined that the target product to be processed is transmitted to the position where the target transverse feeding section is located; wherein, after the step of, when it is detected that the target product to be processed is transmitted to the position where the target transverse feeding section is located, driving the target first lifting device to lift the target transverse feeding section to be transferred to the feeding transmission line corresponding to the target transverse feeding section for transmission, so as to be transmitted to the target processing position for processing, the method further comprises: when an instruction of completing processing of the target product to be processed in the target processing position is received, judging whether the target product to be processed has a next processing position according to the processing flow information. If yes, a corresponding target transverse discharge section and a target second lifting device are determined according to the target processing position and the target main transmission line; The target second lifting device is controlled to lift the target transverse discharge section to transport the target product whose current processing is completed to the target main transmission line and then to a next processing position through the target main transmission line.

2. The control method of a flexible production line according to claim 1, characterized in that, Each main transmission line is provided with a position sensor and a first code scanning device at the position of the transverse feeding section, the position sensor is used for detecting the position of the product to be processed transported by the main transmission line, and the first code scanning device is used for identifying the identification code on the product to be processed transported by the main transmission line.

3. The control method of a flexible production line according to claim 1, characterized in that, The flexible production line further comprises a plurality of discharge transmission lines, the discharge transmission lines are arranged in a transverse direction, and the plurality of discharge transmission lines are arranged in parallel and at intervals, each discharge transmission line is connected to one processing position, and the plurality of discharge transmission lines and the plurality of main transmission lines are arranged in a longitudinal and transverse manner.

4. The control method of a flexible production line according to claim 3, characterized in that, The discharge transmission line comprises a plurality of transverse discharge sections, and the plurality of transverse discharge sections are arranged below the respective main transmission lines, and the bottom of the transverse discharge section is provided with a second lifting device for lifting the transverse discharge section.

5. The control method of a flexible production line according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that, The feeding transmission line and the discharge transmission line are connected in the corresponding processing position, and one end of the discharge transmission line away from the processing position is provided with a temporary assembly line, and the temporary assembly line is located on one side of the plurality of main transmission lines away from the processing position.

6. The control method of a flexible production line according to claim 1, characterized in that, One feeding transmission line is located at one end of the main transmission line to serve as a main feeding line of the plurality of main transmission lines, and the feeding end of the main feeding line is provided with a second code scanning device for identifying the identification code on the product to be processed.

7. The control method of a flexible production line according to claim 1, characterized by, After the step of determining whether the target product to be processed has a next processing position, the method further comprises: If yes, the current task amount of the next processing position is obtained, and the current load degree of the next processing position is determined according to the current task amount and a rated task digestion amount; When the current load degree of the next processing position is less than or equal to a threshold value, the step of determining the corresponding target transverse discharge section and the target second lifting device according to the target processing position and the target main transmission line is performed; When the current load degree of the next processing position is greater than the threshold value, the current product whose processing is completed is transported to the corresponding temporary assembly line for temporary storage by controlling the discharge transmission line corresponding to the target processing position.

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