Operation state management system

Abstract

The invention provides an operation state management system capable of efficiently managing operation states and the like of a plurality of industrial machines. An operation state management system (1) is provided with one or more servers (2) and one or more terminals (3) that manage the operation states of a plurality of industrial machines (10). Information on the operating state of the industrial machine (10) is periodically transmitted to the server (2) and stored. The server is provided with an operation state management screen (40) called out from the terminal. A plurality of cards (41) corresponding to each of a plurality of industrial machines (10) are displayed on an operation state management screen (40), and an industrial machine identification name, an operation rate, and a current operation state of the corresponding industrial machine (10) are displayed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an operating state management system for managing the operating states of a plurality of industrial machines such as injection molding machines installed in a factory. Background Art

[0002] In a factory, a plurality of industrial machines such as injection molding machines are installed and operated by controllers provided for each of them. For these industrial machines, various screens prepared for the industrial machines can be displayed on monitors provided in the controllers to confirm the operating state and view measurement data measured by various sensors.

[0003] Prior Art Documents

[0004] Patent Documents

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-116757 Summary of the Invention

[0006] Patent Document 1 describes an injection molding machine that can be operated from a network terminal. A WEB server function and a screen application program are provided in the controller of the injection molding machine. If a terminal such as a PC connected to the network accesses the injection molding machine, an operation screen can be displayed to confirm the operating state of the injection molding machine, view measurement data, etc.

[0007] If the operation screen of the injection molding machine is displayed on a network-connected terminal as described in Patent Document 1, the injection molding machine can be remotely managed, which is very convenient. If the operation screens of other industrial machines other than the injection molding machine are also called up through network connection in the same way, remote management can be performed, which is highly efficient. However, problems to be solved have also been found. If the operation screens of industrial machines are called up one by one in a network-connected PC, their respective operating states, etc. can be viewed in sequence. However, it is difficult to efficiently investigate and manage the operating states of a plurality of industrial machines installed in a factory.

[0008] In the present disclosure, an operating state management system is provided that can efficiently manage the operating states, etc. of a plurality of industrial machines installed in a factory.

[0009] Other problems and new features will become clear from the description of this specification and the attached drawings.

[0010] The present disclosure is configured as an operating state management system, which includes: one or more servers for managing the operating states of multiple industrial machines; and one or more terminals for communicating with the servers. Information on the operating states of the industrial machines is periodically sent to and stored in the servers. An operating state management screen that is displayed on the terminal by being called up from the terminal is provided in the servers. Multiple cards corresponding to the respective multiple industrial machines are displayed on the operating state management screen, and the industrial machine identification name, operating rate, and current operating state of the corresponding industrial machine are displayed in each card.

[0011] Advantages of the Invention

[0012] The present disclosure enables efficient confirmation of the operating states of multiple industrial machines and the like through the operating state management screen. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] Figure 1 It is a network diagram showing the operating state management system of the present embodiment and industrial machines such as injection molding machines.

[0014] Figure 2 It is a front view of the injection molding machine of the present embodiment that is the management object of the operating state management system of the present embodiment.

[0015] Figure 3 It is the operating state management screen of the present embodiment included in the operating state management system of the present embodiment.

[0016] Figure 4A It is the injection molding machine screen of the present embodiment included in the operating state management system of the present embodiment.

[0017] Figure 4B It is the injection molding machine screen of the present embodiment included in the operating state management system of the present embodiment.

[0018] Figure 4C It is the injection molding machine screen of the present embodiment included in the operating state management system of the present embodiment.

[0019] Figure 5A It is the job input screen of the present embodiment included in the operating state management system of the present embodiment.

[0020] Figure 5B It is the job input screen of the present embodiment included in the operating state management system of the present embodiment.

[0021] Figure 5C It is the job input screen of the present embodiment included in the operating state management system of the present embodiment.

[0022] Figure 6This is the operation report screen of the present embodiment included in the operation status management system of the present embodiment.

[0023] Figure 7 This is the operation status management screen of a modification example of the present embodiment.

[0024] Explanation of reference numerals

[0025] 1: Operation status management system, 2: Server, 3: Personal computer, 4: Mobile terminal, 6: Processing software, 7: Database, 8: Screen AP group, 10: Injection molding machine, 11: Extruder, 40: Operation status management screen, 41: Injection molding machine card, 42: Extruder card, 45: Industrial machine identification name, 46: Pie chart, 47: Operation status display bar, 60: Injection molding machine screen, 64: Main display bar, 71: Sub-display mode selection bar, 80: Job input screen, 95: Operation report screen. Detailed implementation manners

[0026] Hereinafter, specific implementation manners will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, it is not limited to the following implementation manners. For the sake of clarity of explanation, the following descriptions and drawings are appropriately simplified. In each drawing, the same reference numerals are assigned to the same elements, and repeated explanations are omitted as needed. In addition, in order to avoid making the drawings complicated, some parts with hatching are omitted.

[0027] <Operation status management system>

[0028] As Figure 1 shown, in a factory, there are multiple industrial machines 10, 11,... such as injection molding machines 10, 10,... and extruders 11. The operation status management system 1 of the present embodiment manages the operation status of such multiple industrial machines 10, 11,.... The operation status management system 1 includes a server 2 provided on a network and one or more terminals 3, 3, 4,... that communicate with the server 2. The server 2 is Figure 1 illustrated as one computer in the figure, but it may also be composed of two or more computers. As the terminals 3, 4,..., not only personal computers 3, 3 can be used, but also mobile terminals 4, 4 such as smart phones can be used.

[0029] In Server 2, there is processing software 6 that processes the operation status management system 1 of this embodiment. The processing software 6 can be constructed by importing so-called business management clouds sold commercially, such as salesforce (registered trademark), kintone (registered trademark), etc., or can also be constructed without importing a business management cloud. The processing software 6 includes a database 7, a screen AP group 8 provided to terminals 3 and 4, etc. The current operation status is regularly sent from industrial machines 10 and 11 to the processing software 6 and stored in the database 7. In the case of injection molding machines 10 and 10, various data such as molding conditions and measurement data are also regularly sent and stored in the database 7.

[0030] <Injection Molding Machine>

[0031] The objects managed by the operation status management system 1 of this embodiment are various types of industrial machines 10, 11, …, but for injection molding machines 10 and 10, not only the operation status is managed, but also various data such as measurement data and setting data are managed in detail. That is to say, the operation status management system 1 of this embodiment can perform more detailed management for injection molding machines 10, 10, … installed in the factory. The injection molding machine 10 as the management object will be briefly described.

[0032] The injection molding machine 10 is as Figure 2 shown and includes a mold clamping device 12 and an injection device 13. The injection molding machine 10 is equipped with a controller 14 that controls the mold clamping device 12 and the injection device 13. A monitor 14a is provided on the controller 14 to display various screens. It is possible to set molding conditions and view measurement data measured by sensors provided on the injection molding machine 10, etc. The operation report screen 95 provided by the operation status management system 1 of this embodiment is also displayed on the monitor 14a, which will be described later.

[0033] <Mold Clamping Device>

[0034] The mold clamping device 12 includes a fixed platen 17 fixed to the base B, a movable platen 18 slidable on the base B, and a mold clamping housing 19. The fixed platen 17 and the mold clamping housing 19 are connected by a plurality of tie rods 21, 21, …, and the movable platen 18 is slidable between the fixed platen 17 and the mold clamping housing 19. A mold clamping mechanism is provided between the mold clamping housing 19 and the movable platen 18, that is, a toggle mechanism 23 is provided in this embodiment. Fixed-side molds 25 and movable-side molds 26 are respectively provided on the fixed platen 17 and the movable platen 18. Therefore, if the toggle mechanism 23 is driven, the molds 25 and 26 open and close.

[0035] <Injection Device>

[0036] The injection device 13 includes a heating cylinder 29, a screw 30 disposed within the heating cylinder 29, and a screw driving device 32. The heating cylinder 29 is supported by the screw driving device 32, and the screw 30 is driven in the rotational direction and the axial direction by the screw driving device 32. A hopper 33 and an injection nozzle 34 are provided in the heating cylinder 29. A plurality of heaters 35, 35,... are provided in the heating cylinder 29.

[0037] Advance the injection device 13 to bring the injection nozzle 34 into contact with the fixed-side mold 25. Supply power to the heaters 35, 35,... according to an instruction from the controller 14 to heat the heating cylinder 29, supply an injection material from the hopper 33, and rotate the screw 30. Thereby, the injection material melts and is sent to the tip of the screw 30. That is, it is metered. After the injection material is metered, control the screw driving device 32 according to an instruction from the controller 14 to drive the screw 30 in the axial direction. Thereby, the injection material is extruded forward as the screw 30 advances. That is, the injection material is injected into the molds 25, 26.

[0038] <Operation status management screen>

[0039] The screen AP group 8 included in the processing software 6 of the operation status management system 1 (refer to Figure 1 ) of the present embodiment will be described. The most characteristic screen in the present embodiment is Figure 3 the operation status management screen 40 shown. The operation status management screen 40 is included in the screen AP group 8 and can be called up to and displayed on the terminals 3, 4,... by operations performed from the terminals 3, 4,.... As will be described in detail below, the operation status management screen 40 displays the operation status, etc. based on the data stored in the database 7 for multiple industrial machines 10, 11,... installed in the factory.

[0040] In the operation status management screen 40, a group name 50 is displayed at the top. The group name 50 can be the factory name, or can also be the name of each group obtained by grouping the injection molding machines 10, 10,... (refer to Figure 1 ) in the factory. Hereinafter, for ease of explanation, it is assumed to be "Group A" to show the factory name. Below the group name 50, an average operation rate display column 51 indicating the average operation rate is displayed. In Figure 3 , for the average operation rate, the average operation rate of all the injection molding machines 10, 10,... within Group A, that is, within the factory, is displayed.

[0041] On the operation status management screen 40, multiple cards 41, 41,... are displayed. One card 41 corresponds to one injection molding machine 10, and the same number of cards 41, 41,... as the multiple injection molding machines 10, 10,... set in the factory are displayed. When the number of cards 41, 41,... is too many to be displayed at once, the corresponding cards 41, 41,... can be displayed for the desired injection molding machines 10, 10,... by operating the scroll bar 44.

[0042] In this embodiment, since the cards 41, 41,... manage the operation status of the injection molding machines 10, 10,..., they can be called injection molding machine cards 41, 41,.... At the top of the injection molding machine cards 41, 41,... are displayed the industrial machine identification names 45, 45,... for identifying the injection molding machines 10, 10,... (refer to Figure 1 ). For example, they are "Injection Molding Machine 01", "Injection Molding Machine 02", etc.

[0043] Next, in these injection molding machine cards 41, 41,... are displayed pie charts 46, 46,... showing the operation ratios of the injection molding machines 10, 10,.... In the pie charts 46, 46,..., the cumulative operation time 46a, rest time 46b, and stop time 46c from the start date of operation are shown in sizes corresponding to their respective ratios. Instead of cumulative from the start date of operation, it can also be displayed as the ratio of the operation time 46a, rest time 46b, and stop time 46c within the current year, or within the current month, or within the current day. By the pie charts 46, 46,..., the operation ratios of the respective injection molding machines 10, 10,... can be read, so even if the number of injection molding machines 10, 10,... is large, their status can be easily managed.

[0044] In the injection molding machine cards 41, 41,... are also provided operation status display bars 47, 47,... showing the current operation status. If the injection molding machines 10, 10,... (refer to Figure 1 ) are in operation or at rest, it is displayed as "Online", and if they are in a stopped state, it is displayed as "Offline".

[0045] In the injection molding machine cards 41, 41,... are displayed the molding condition identification names for identifying the molding conditions currently set in the injection molding machines 10, 10,.... The molding condition identification names are displayed in the molding condition identification name display bars 49, 49,.... In addition, detailed display buttons 53, 53,... are provided. If a certain detailed display button is selected, the injection molding machine screen 60 described below is displayed, and detailed information about the corresponding injection molding machines 10, 10,... is shown.

[0046] <Injection Molding Machine Screen>

[0047] AsFigure 4A As shown, the injection molding machine screen 60 displays detailed information about an injection molding machine 10 (refer to Figure 1 ). The injection molding machine screen 60 can select a specified display mode from multiple types of display modes and change the displayed data as described below. However, there is data that is always displayed regardless of the display mode. As the data that is always displayed, first, there is an operating status display bar 61 displayed at the top layer of the screen, which shows information on whether it is currently in operation. Second, the shot count display bar 62 on the left side of the screen is always displayed. In the shot count display bar 62, the production shot count, defective shot count, etc. since the start of the operation of the injection molding machine 10 are displayed.

[0048] A main display bar 64 is provided in the center of the injection molding machine screen 60. A plurality of labels 64a, 64b,... are provided in the main display bar 64. In the labels 64a, 64b,..., "main specifications", "measurement values", "history",... etc. are respectively recorded, and these are display category names indicating the display mode. If the label 64a of "main specifications" is selected, the display mode is switched and displayed as Figure 4A shown. A simplified diagram 67 of the injection molding machine is shown in the main display bar 64, and data on the main specifications, that is, the product specifications of the injection molding machine 10 (refer to Figure 1 ), such as the screw diameter, injection pressure, etc., are displayed.

[0049] If the label 64b of "measurement values" is selected in the main display bar 64 on the injection molding machine screen 60, the display mode is switched and the screen shown in Figure 4B is displayed. At this time, a sub-display mode selection bar 71 for selecting any one of "data", "chart", and "comparison" as three sub-display modes is displayed at the upper part of the main display bar 64. Initially, the state where "data" is selected is set, and the screen is displayed in a data display mode for displaying measurement data, etc., as shown in Figure 4B . In the data display mode, in the main display bar 64, the set data set in the injection molding machine 10, various measurement data measured, etc. are displayed for each injection number.

[0050] If "chart" is selected in the sub-display mode selection bar 71, it is displayed in a chart display mode as shown in Figure 4C . If the data to be chart-displayed is selected in the item selection drop-down menu 72 and the X-axis of the chart is selected in the X-axis selection drop-down menu 73, a chart is displayed for the selected data. If "comparison" is selected in the sub-display mode selection bar 71, the data in different injection numbers can be compared.

[0051] <Job Input Screen>

[0052] In the screen AP group 8 included in the processing software 6 of the operation state management system 1 (refer to Figure 1 ), there is also a screen that causes the monitor 14a of the controllers 14 (refer to Figure 2 ) of the injection molding machines 10, 10,... to display by operating the monitor 14a. Specifically, it is the Figure 5A -shown job input screen 80. The job input screen 80 is a screen that can simply generate a job report regarding the job performed by the operator on the injection molding machine 10. The operator who performs the job on the injection molding machine 10 makes a connection request to the operation state management system 1 in the monitor 14a before starting the job and performs a prescribed operation. Thereby, the job input screen 80 is displayed on the monitor 14a.

[0053] On the job input screen 80, there are provided a status display column 81, a basic setting column 82, a report content input column 84, and a job start button 85. The status display column 81 shows the execution status of the job input screen. In the basic setting column 82, basic items in the job report are set. In the basic setting column 82, there are a worker selection drop-down menu 87, a mold selection drop-down menu 88, and a resin selection drop-down menu 89. Before starting the job, the operator selects his / her name, the mold to be used, and the resin to be used from these drop-down menus 87, 88, 89. Then the job start button 85 is selected.

[0054] Thereby, the job input screen 80 is displayed as shown in Figure 5B . The name of the operator, the mold to be used, and the resin to be used are stored in the database 7 of the operation state management system 1 (refer to Figure 1 ). Moreover, on the job input screen 80, "recording" is displayed in the status display column 81, and the start time is displayed in the basic setting column 82. In addition, the job start button 85 (refer to Figure 5A ) changes to a job end button 91.

[0055] The operator then starts the job on the injection molding machine 10 (refer to Figure 1 ). If a report should be made regarding the job, the operator inputs from the report content input column 84. The state where the report content is input in the report content input column 84 is shown in Figure 5C . On the injection molding machine 10 (refer to Figure 1 ), when the operator's job ends, the job end button 91 is selected. Thereby, the end time is set in the basic setting column 82. The end time and the report content are stored in the operation state management system 1 (refer to Figure 1)'s database 7. That is, it is saved in the database 7 as a job record. Regarding the job input screen 80, the operator can directly operate on the injection molding machine 10 where the job is being performed to generate a job record. Therefore, not only is the generation of the job record easy, but also the omission of generating the job record can be prevented.

[0056] <Job Report Screen>

[0057] From the injection molding machine 10 ( Figure 1 Referenced) to the operation status management system 1 and saved in the database 7, the job record can be viewed by calling up Figure 6 the job report screen 95 shown. The detailed content of the job record is displayed on the job report screen. That is, it displays information about the injection molding machine 10 (refer to Figure 1 ) on which the operator performed the job, the name of the operator, the start date and time of the job, the end date and time of the job, the mold, the resin, and the report content. The job record displayed on the job report can also be printed.

[0058] [Modification Example of the Present Embodiment]

[0059] <Operation Status Management Screen>

[0060] The present embodiment can be variously modified. For example, the operation status management screen 40 can be deformed. In Figure 7 the operation status management screen 40' of the modification example of the present embodiment is shown. The operation status management screen 40' not only displays the operation status of the injection molding machines 10, 10,... ( Figure 1 Referenced), but also displays the operation status of the extruder 11. That is, in the operation status management screen 40', not only the injection molding machine cards 41, 41,... are displayed, but also the extruder card 42 is displayed.

[0061] In the extruder card 42, similar to the injection molding machine cards 41, 41,..., the identification name of the extruder as the industrial machine identification name 45, such as "Extruder 01", is displayed, a pie chart 46 indicating the operation ratio is shown, and an operation status display bar 47 indicating the operation status is displayed. However, in the extruder card 42, different from the injection molding machine cards 41, 41,..., the molding condition identification name display bar 49 is not provided, and the detailed display button 53 is not provided either.

[0062] In the operation state management screen 40' of the modified example, it has been described that not only for the injection molding machines 10, 10,... but also for the extruder 11, cards 41, 42,... indicating the operation state can be displayed and the operation state can be managed. However, for other types of industrial machines, such as presses, NC machine tools, etc., similar cards 41, 42,... can be prepared and displayed in the operation state management screen 40'. That is to say, for three or more types of industrial machines 10, 11,... they can be collectively displayed in the operation state management screen 40'.

[0063] As described above, the invention completed by the inventors of the present application has been specifically described based on the embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the described embodiments, and various modifications can undoubtedly be made without departing from its gist. The multiple examples described above can also be implemented by appropriate combination.

Claims

1. A running status management system, characterized in that: include: One or more servers that manage the operating status of multiple industrial machines; and one or more terminals communicating with the server, The information on the operating status of the plurality of industrial machines is periodically sent to the server and stored. The server includes an operation status management screen that is called out from the terminal and displayed on the terminal. A plurality of cards corresponding to the plurality of industrial machines are displayed on the operation status management screen, and an industrial machine identification name, an operation rate, and a current operation status of the corresponding industrial machine are displayed on each of the cards.

2. The operation status management system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The industrial machine is an injection molding machine.

3. The operation status management system according to claim 2, characterized in that: The molding condition identification name of the molding condition set in the injection molding machine is sent to the server and stored. The molding condition identification name is displayed on the card of the operation status management screen.

4. The operation status management system according to claim 2, characterized in that: The measurement data in the injection molding machine is periodically sent to the server and stored. The server has an injection molding machine screen, When the operation status management screen is displayed on the terminal, if any of the cards is selected by screen operation, the injection molding machine screen is displayed on the terminal, and the measurement data on the injection molding machine corresponding to the selected card is displayed.

5. The operation status management system according to claim 3, characterized in that: The measurement data in the injection molding machine is periodically sent to the server and stored. The server has an injection molding machine screen, When the operation status management screen is displayed on the terminal, if any of the cards is selected by screen operation, the injection molding machine screen is displayed on the terminal, and the measurement data on the injection molding machine corresponding to the selected card is displayed.

6. The operation status management system according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that: The injection molding machine screen includes a data display mode in which the measurement data is displayed in a historical format for each injection of a molding cycle.

7. The operation status management system according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that: The controller of the injection molding machine includes a work input screen which is displayed on an attached monitor and operated. The work performed by the user in the injection molding machine is input as a work record into the work input screen. The job record input on the job input screen is transmitted to the server and stored.

8. The operation status management system according to claim 7, characterized in that: The server includes a work report screen that is called out from the terminal and displayed on the terminal. The work record is displayed on the work report screen.

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