Method and system for returning association points after cross-floor task cancelling

Abstract

The invention provides a method and a system for returning an association point after a cross-floor task canceling. The method and the system aim at the method for returning the association point after the cross-floor task canceling. The method is characterized by comprising the following steps: setting return points: setting at least one return point on each floor, and setting a return point number for each return point; associating the equipment with a return point: setting an equipment number for each piece of equipment, and setting association between the starting equipment and the return point through the equipment number and the return point number according to each carrying task; and when the materials are checked to be abnormal and the cross-floor carrying task is cancelled, the carrying vehicle finds the corresponding returning point according to the association between the starting equipment and the returning point, a new carrying task from the current floor to the returning point is started, and the materials are carried to the returning point.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of semiconductor logistics handling technology, and in particular to a method and system for returning to a related point after canceling a task across floors. Background Art

[0002] In the semiconductor automated production process, the efficiency of logistics can often affect the cost of production, so any loss in transportation time must be reduced.

[0003] Cross-floor transportation often requires more transportation time. When the transport vehicle (AGV) reaches other floors, if the material is detected to be abnormal, the material needs to be sent back. In most cases, the system only controls the vehicle to return the material to the fixed stop point on the original floor. If the factory is larger, the fixed stop point will be some distance away from the starting equipment, and a lot of time may be wasted when reloading the material. If the material is detected to be abnormal, the staff will manually change the transportation route task, which will consume manpower and be costly.

[0004] In view of the above situation, there is a need for a transportation method that can save the time loss and labor cost of reloading after the cross-floor transportation task is cancelled. Summary of the invention

[0005] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention aims to provide a method and system for returning to the associated point after canceling a task across floors.

[0006] To achieve the above object, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0007] The present invention provides a method for returning to an associated point after a cross-floor transport task is cancelled, and the method is characterized in that it includes: setting a return point: setting at least one return point on each floor, and setting a return point number for each return point; associating equipment with the return point: setting an equipment number for each equipment, and setting the association between the starting equipment and the return point according to the equipment number and the return point number for each transport task; transporting materials to the return point: when the material inspection is abnormal and the cross-floor transport task is cancelled, the transport vehicle finds the corresponding return point according to the association between the starting equipment and the return point, starts a new transport task from the current floor to the return point, and transports the material to the return point.

[0008] Furthermore, in the method provided by the present invention for returning to the associated point after canceling a task across floors, the following features may also be provided: wherein, a prerequisite for the transport vehicle to start a new transport task from the current floor to the return point is that the transport vehicle picks up materials from the starting equipment and then transports them to the target floor via the elevator, and the transport vehicle reaches the target floor but has not reached the return point.

[0009] Furthermore, in the method provided by the present invention for returning to the associated point after canceling a task across floors, the following feature may also be present: wherein, in a new transport task from the current floor to the return point, the starting point of the transport task is the elevator entrance of the target floor, and the purpose of the transport task is the return point.

[0010] The present invention also provides a control system for returning to the associated point after canceling a task across floors, which is used to perform the above-mentioned method for returning to the associated point after canceling a task across floors, and is characterized in that it includes: an MCS system, an RSC system, an AGV transport vehicle, and a return point warehouse, wherein the MCS system establishes a communication connection with the RSC system and the return point warehouse; the AGV transport vehicle is controlled by the RSC system; the return point warehouse is set at the return point; the MCS system is provided with an associated data construction module, an associated data storage module, an associated data search module, and a new transport request generation module; the associated data construction module is used for the user to set the equipment number and the return point number and to establish an associated relationship; the associated data storage module stores the direct associated relationship between the equipment number and the return point number; the associated data search module searches for the return point number through the equipment number of the starting equipment according to the transport task based on the direct associated relationship between the equipment number and the return point number; the new transport request generation module generates a new transport task from the current floor to the return point according to the search result of the associated data search module.

[0011] Furthermore, in the method for returning to the associated point after canceling a task across floors provided by the present invention, the following features may be provided: wherein the workflow of the system is as follows:

[0012] 1) The MCS system sends a cross-floor transport task request to the RSC system, where the starting point of the cross-floor transport task is the starting device and the destination is the target device located on a different floor from the starting device;

[0013] 2) The RSC system controls the AGV to pick up materials from the starting equipment and transport them to the floor where the target equipment is located;

[0014] 3) When the AGV transport vehicle arrives at the target floor and detects that the material is abnormal, the MCS system sends a request to cancel the cross-floor transport task to the RSC system;

[0015] 4) After the RSC system successfully cancels the cross-floor transport task, it feeds back the information to the MCS system, and the MCS system finds the return point through the starting device and generates a new transport task from the target floor to the return point;

[0016] 5) The MCS system sends a new transport task request to the RSC system, and the RSC system controls the AGV transport vehicle to transport from the target floor to the return point;

[0017] 6) After receiving the materials, the return point warehouse feeds back task completion information to the MCS system.

[0018] Furthermore, in the control system provided by the present invention for returning to the associated point after canceling a task across floors, it may also have the following characteristics: wherein, in step 2, when the AGV transport vehicle enters the elevator after picking up materials, the RSC system feeds back corresponding information to the MCS system to determine whether the AGV transport vehicle has left the original floor; when the AGV transport vehicle arrives at the destination floor and leaves the elevator, the RSC system feeds back corresponding information to the MCS system to determine whether the AGV transport vehicle has arrived at the target floor.

[0019] Functions and effects of the present invention:

[0020] In the method and system for returning to the associated point after canceling a task across floors of the present invention, an associated relationship is established between the starting device and the return point, so that for each task, different task starting devices will have an exclusive stop point, so that when canceling the task, the transport vehicle can transport the material to the return point instead of the fixed stop point on the original floor, which can save the time of reloading. The new transport task is automatically issued and executed by the system, and no manual operation is required, thereby avoiding the increase of labor costs. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] Figure 1 Schematic diagram of a cross-floor transport task in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 2 It is a block diagram of a control system for returning to a related point after canceling a task across floors in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 3 is a block diagram of an MCS system in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 4 This is an operation interface for establishing the association between the starting device and the return point in the embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the symbols are: 1, starting device; 2, elevator on the starting floor; 3, elevator on the target floor; 4, AGV transporter; 5, target device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] In order to make the technical means, creative features, objectives and effects achieved by the present invention easy to understand, the following embodiments are combined with the accompanying drawings to specifically illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention.

[0026] See also Figure 1 , the figure shows a cross-floor transport task. An embodiment of the present invention provides a method for returning to a related point after canceling a cross-floor task, the method comprising:

[0027] Set return point: Set at least one return point on each floor and set a return point number for each return point.

[0028] Equipment and return point association: Set an equipment number for each equipment, and set the association between the starting equipment and the return point according to each handling task through the equipment number and the return point number.

[0029] Material transport to the return point: When the material inspection is abnormal and the cross-floor transport task is cancelled, the transport vehicle finds the corresponding return point based on the association between the starting device and the return point, starts a new transport task from the current floor to the return point, and transports the material to the return point. The prerequisite for the transport vehicle to start a new transport task from the current floor to the return point is: the transport vehicle picks up the material from the starting device and transports it to the target floor via the elevator, and the transport vehicle reaches the target floor but does not reach the return point. In the new transport task from the current floor to the return point, the starting point of the transport task is the elevator entrance of the target floor, and the purpose of the transport task is the return point.

[0030] The embodiment of the present invention also provides a control system for returning to the associated point after canceling a task across floors, which is used in the above method for returning to the associated point after canceling a task across floors. Figure 2 The system includes: MCS system (Material Handling Control System), RSC system (Vehicle Dispatch System), AGV transporter, and return point warehouse. The MCS system establishes communication connection with the RSC system and return point warehouse. The AGV transporter is controlled by the RSC system. The return point warehouse is set at the return point.

[0031] See also Figure 3 The MCS system is provided with an associated data construction module, an associated data storage module, an associated data search module, and a new transport request generation module.

[0032] The associated data building module is used by the user to set the device number and return point number and to build the association relationship between the starting device and the return point. Figure 4 The figure shows the operation interface of the association between the starting device and the return point. The event source asset in the left interface is the starting device, and the associated asset in the right interface is the associated return point. The number is represented by the name. In the figure, the starting device number is PLASMA_NG, and the return point number is RTR-BLACK-B1.A.IN.

[0033] The associated data storage module stores the direct associated relationship between the device number and the return point number.

[0034] The associated data search module is based on the direct association between the equipment number and the return point number, and searches for the return point number through the equipment number of the starting equipment according to the handling task.

[0035] The new transport request generation module generates a new transport task from the current floor to the return point according to the search results of the associated data search module.

[0036] The working process of the control system for returning to the associated point after canceling a task across floors in the embodiment of the present invention is as follows:

[0037] 1) The MCS system sends a cross-floor transport task request to the RSC system. The starting point of the cross-floor transport task is the starting device, and the destination is the target device located on a different floor from the starting device.

[0038] 2) The RSC system controls the AGV to pick up materials from the starting equipment and transport them to the floor where the target equipment is located.

[0039] When the AGV transporter enters the elevator after picking up materials, the RSC system feeds back corresponding information to the MCS system to determine whether the AGV transporter has left the original floor. When the AGV transporter reaches the destination floor and leaves the elevator, the RSC system feeds back corresponding information to the MCS system to determine whether the AGV transporter has reached the target floor.

[0040] 3) When the AGV transport vehicle arrives at the target floor and detects material abnormalities, the MCS system sends a request to cancel the cross-floor transport task to the RSC system.

[0041] 4) After the RSC system successfully cancels the cross-floor transport task, it will feed back the information to the MCS system. The MCS system will find the return point through the starting device and generate a new transport task from the target floor to the return point.

[0042] 5) The MCS system sends a new transport task request to the RSC system, and the RSC system controls the AGV transport vehicle to transport from the target floor to the return point.

[0043] 6) After returning to the warehouse to receive the materials, the task completion information will be fed back to the MCS system.

[0044] The above embodiments are only preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, the present invention may have various modifications and variations. Any modification, equivalent replacement, improvement, etc. made within the spirit and principle of the present invention are included in the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for returning to a related point after canceling a task across floors, characterized in that: include: Set return point: set at least one return point on each floor and set a return point number for each return point; Equipment and return point association: Set an equipment number for each equipment, and set the association between the starting equipment and the return point according to each handling task through the equipment number and the return point number; Material transportation to the return point: When the material inspection is abnormal and the cross-floor transportation task is cancelled, the transport vehicle finds the corresponding return point based on the association between the starting equipment and the return point, starts a new transportation task from the current floor to the return point, and transports the material to the return point.

2. The method for returning to the associated point after canceling a task across floors as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: in, The prerequisite for the transport vehicle to start a new transport task from the current floor to the return point is: the transport vehicle picks up the material from the starting equipment and transports it to the target floor via the elevator, and the transport vehicle reaches the target floor but has not reached the return point.

3. The method for returning to the associated point after canceling a task across floors as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that: in, In a new transport task from the current floor to the return point, the starting point of the transport task is the elevator entrance of the target floor, and the purpose of the transport task is the return point.

4. A control system for returning to a related point after canceling a task across floors, used to perform a method for returning to a related point after canceling a task across floors as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: include: MCS system, RSC system, AGV transporter, return point warehouse, Wherein, the MCS system establishes a communication connection with the RSC system and the return point warehouse; The AGV transport vehicle is controlled by the RSC system; The return point warehouse is arranged at the return point; The MCS system is provided with a related data construction module, a related data storage module, a related data search module, and a new transport request generation module; The associated data building module is used for the user to set the device number and the return point number and to build an associated relationship; The associated data storage module stores a direct association relationship between the device number and the return point number; The associated data search module searches for the return point number through the device number of the starting device according to the handling task based on the direct association between the device number and the return point number; The new transport request generating module generates a new transport task from the current floor to the return point according to the search result of the associated data searching module.

5. The control system for returning to the associated point after canceling a task across floors as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: The workflow of the system is as follows: 1) The MCS system sends a cross-floor transport task request to the RSC system, where the starting point of the cross-floor transport task is the starting device and the destination is the target device located on a different floor from the starting device; 2) The RSC system controls the AGV to pick up materials from the starting equipment and transport them to the floor where the target equipment is located; 3) When the AGV transport vehicle arrives at the target floor and detects that the material is abnormal, the MCS system sends a request to cancel the cross-floor transport task to the RSC system; 4) After the RSC system successfully cancels the cross-floor transport task, it feeds back the information to the MCS system, and the MCS system finds the return point through the starting device and generates a new transport task from the target floor to the return point; 5) The MCS system sends a new transport task request to the RSC system, and the RSC system controls the AGV transport vehicle to transport from the target floor to the return point; 6) After receiving the materials, the return point warehouse feeds back task completion information to the MCS system.

6. The control system for returning to the associated point after canceling a task across floors as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that: in, In step 2, when the AGV transport vehicle enters the elevator after picking up materials, the RSC system feeds back corresponding information to the MCS system to determine whether the AGV transport vehicle has left the original floor; When the AGV transport vehicle arrives at the destination floor and leaves the elevator, the RSC system feeds back corresponding information to the MCS system to determine whether the AGV transport vehicle arrives at the destination floor.

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