Display language management system, operation device, and program

Abstract

To display information about a device to be managed, in a language suitable for an operator without a troublesome operation.SOLUTION: A display language management system comprises: a display processing unit which causes a display unit to display information about a device to be operated, in a preset initial language; an acquisition unit which acquires identification information identifying a first operator; and a specification unit which specifies a registered language associated with the identification information. In response to acquisition of the identification information, the display processing unit changes the display language on a screen displayed by the display unit to the registered language associated with the identification information. Further, when a prescribed condition is satisfied after the change of the display language, the display processing unit returns the display language to the initial language.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a display language management system, an operation device, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, in factories, equipment is operated by operators of different nationalities. For example, even in factories in Japan, foreigners who do not fully understand Japanese operate the equipment. For this reason, the operation panels of manufacturing equipment in factories often support multiple languages. Patent Document 1 discloses a technology that switches between displaying Japanese and Hepburn-style romanization, which corresponds to the pronunciation of the Japanese language, on the operation panel of a production machine. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2020-16983 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the technology of Patent Document 1, in order to switch the language, an operator having the authority to do so must display a language setting screen and perform a language switching operation on the language setting screen. In this way, in the conventional technology, in order to switch the language, it was necessary to display a screen for language setting. For this reason, for example, if the operator does not switch the language and the language is set to one that the operator does not understand, and a warning screen is displayed, there is a problem that the operator cannot take prompt action.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of such problems, and has an object to display information about devices to be managed in a language suitable for the operator, without requiring the operator to perform troublesome operations. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention is a display language management system comprising a display processing unit that displays information relating to a device to be operated on a display unit in a preset initial language, an acquisition unit that acquires identification information that identifies a first operator, and an identification unit that identifies a registered language associated with the identification information, wherein when the display processing unit acquires the identification information, it changes the display language of a screen being displayed on the display unit to the registered language associated with the identification information, and further, after changing the display language, if a predetermined condition is satisfied, it returns the display language to the initial language.

[0007] Another aspect of the present invention is an operating device comprising: a display processing unit that causes information relating to the device to be operated to be displayed on a display unit in a preset initial language; and an acquisition unit that acquires identification information that identifies a first operator, wherein when the display processing unit acquires the identification information, it changes the display language of a screen being displayed on the display unit to a registered language associated with the identification information, and further, after changing the display language, if a predetermined condition is satisfied, it returns the display language to the initial language.

[0008] Another aspect of the present invention is a program that causes a computer to function as a display processing unit that displays information relating to a device to be operated on a display unit in a preset initial language, and an acquisition unit that acquires identification information that identifies a first operator, and when the display processing unit acquires the identification information, it changes the display language of a screen being displayed on the display unit to a registered language associated with the identification information, and further, after changing the display language, if a predetermined condition is satisfied, returns the display language to the initial language. Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to display information about devices to be managed in a language suitable for the operator, without requiring complicated operations. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a display language management system. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic external view of the packaging device. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a packaging device main body. [Figure 4] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data configuration of an operator table. [Diagram 5] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a display example of an initial screen. [Figure 6] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a language setting screen. [Figure 7] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a warning screen displayed in Japanese. [Figure 8] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a warning screen displayed in English. [Figure 9] 13 is a flowchart showing a display language switching process. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of the display language management system 1. The display language management system 1 includes a packaging device 10 and a management device 20. The packaging device 10 and the management device 20 are connected via a network N such as the Internet or a LAN (Local Area Network). The packaging device 10 is a device that forms a packaging material into a cylindrical shape and generates a package in which a packaged product is packed. The management device 20 manages the packaging device 10. The management device 20 of this embodiment switches the display language that indicates information about the packaging device 10, which is displayed on the packaging device 10. Specifically, the management device 20 switches the display language to a language used by an operator, such as Japanese or English. The information about the packaging device 10 includes information indicating the state of the packaging device 10, operation guidance, error information about the packaging device 10, and the like. The packaging device 10 is an example of a device to be operated. The devices include packaging devices such as vertical pillow packaging devices and horizontal pillow packaging devices, as well as devices related to packaging, such as a forming device that forms cardboard to fill the package. Furthermore, the device may be any device that is operated by an operator, and is not limited to a packaging device. Examples of the device include manufacturing devices and inspection devices.

[0012] 1 shows only one packaging device 10, the display language management system 1 includes multiple packaging devices 10, and the management device 20 manages each of the multiple packaging devices 10. For example, multiple packaging devices 10 are installed in a factory, and the management device 20 manages them. Also, in the factory, multiple operators are in charge of operating the multiple packaging devices 10. For example, it is assumed that multiple operators are in charge of operating one packaging device 10, such as two operators being in charge of five packaging devices 10.

[0013] FIG. 2 is a schematic external view of the packaging device 10. The packaging device 10 includes a packaging device main body 100 and an operation device 120. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of the packaging device main body 100. The packaging device main body 100 shown in FIG. 2 is a vertical pillow packaging device. The operation device 120 is mainly provided with an operation panel 130, an emergency stop button 132, and an operation start button 134. In addition to these, the operation device 120 may be provided with buttons for operating the packaging device 10. The operation panel 130 includes a display and a touch panel, displays various information, and accepts user operations. The emergency stop button 132 is a button for stopping the operation of the packaging device 10. The operation start button 134 is a button for starting the operation of the packaging device 10. The operation device 120 is further provided with a photographing unit (camera) 128. The photographing unit 128 is used to photograph a face image for authenticating the operator.

[0014] In Fig. 3, 111 is a packaging material (packaging material) supply section, 112 is a tension adjustment section, 112a is a swing mechanism, 113 is a date printing section, 113a is a date printing device, 113b is a lift roller, 114 is a packaged product supply section, 114a is a hopper, and 114b is a filling tube. 115 is a tube making section, 115a is a tube making device (former), 115b is a pressing member, 115c is a slide roller, 116 is a packaging material feeding section, 116a is a pulley, and 116b is a feed belt. 117 is a vertical seal section, and 117a and 117b are vertical seal blocks. 118 is a horizontal seal and cutting section, 118a and 118b are horizontal seal blocks, 118am and 118bm are central grooves, 118as and 118bs are sealing surfaces, 119 is a package discharge section, and 119a is a belt conveyor. Fi is the packaging material (film), gr is a guide roller, MR is the rolled packaging material, Ba is a bag, Pc is the packaging body, ts is the vertical seal section, and ys is the horizontal seal section.

[0015] The packaging device main body 100 includes a packaging material supply section 111, a tension adjustment section 112, a date printing section 113, a packaged product supply section 114, a tube making section 115, a packaging material feed section 116, a vertical sealing section 117, a horizontal sealing and cutting section 118, and a package discharge section 119.

[0016] The packaging material supply unit 111 includes a rolled packaging material supply device (not shown) that pays out the rolled packaging material MR, and pays out the packaging material Fi from the rolled packaging material MR. The tension adjustment unit 112 includes a rocking mechanism 112a that rocks a plurality of rollers, frames, and the like, and adjusts the tension so that the packaging material Fi paid out from the packaging material supply unit 111 is not subjected to a sudden tension.

[0017] The date printing unit 113 is equipped with a date printing device 113a, lifting rollers 113b, etc., and prints the date on the packaging material Fi. The packaged product supply unit 114 is equipped with a filling tube 114b with a hopper 114a at the top, a packaged product input device (not shown), etc., and receives packaged products such as snacks input from the packaged product input device in the hopper 114a and fills the filling tube 114b.

[0018] Cylinder making unit 115 includes cylinder former 115a, pressing member 115b, slide rollers 115c, etc. Cylinder making unit 115 guides packaging material Fi, which has been fed from packaging material supply unit 111 and has the date printed by date printing unit 113, with slide rollers 115c, forms it into a cylindrical shape with cylinder former 115a, and presses it against the outer circumferential surface of stuffing tube 114b with pressing member 115b. Packaging material feed unit 116 has a pair of packaging material feed mechanisms, each equipped with pulleys 116a, feed belt 116b, a motor (not shown), etc., arranged on both sides of stuffing tube 114b, and feeds packaging material Fi wrapping the outer circumferential surface of stuffing tube 114b downward by a fixed length.

[0019] The vertical seal unit 117 includes vertical seal blocks 117a, 117b, a heater (not shown), etc., and vertically seals both ends of the packaging material Fi that is overlapped around the outer periphery of the filling tube 114b to form a vertical seal portion ts. The horizontal seal / cut unit 118 includes horizontal seal blocks 118a, 118b, a heater (not shown), a cutting device (not shown), etc. The horizontal seal blocks 118a, 118b have central grooves 118am, 118bm and sealing surfaces 118as, 118bs, and form a horizontal seal portion ys by applying a horizontal seal to the vertically sealed packaging material filled with the packaged product using the sealing surfaces 118as, 118bs. Then, a cutting blade (not shown) protruding from one central groove 118am and entering the other central groove 118bm cuts the center of the horizontal seal portion ys to form a bag Ba, and a package Pc in which the packaged product is packed is produced in the bag Ba. The package discharge section 119 includes a belt conveyor 119a and the like, and discharges the package Pc by the belt conveyor 119a.

[0020] The operation device 120 of the packaging device 10 shown in FIG. 1 includes a first control unit 121, a first recording medium 124, a first communication unit 125, a display unit 126, an input unit 127, and an image capturing unit 128. The first control unit 121 includes a processor such as a central processing unit (CPU) and a memory such as a read only memory (ROM) and a random access memory (RAM) for the processor to execute processes, and executes various processes. The first control unit 121 executes various programs stored in the first recording medium 124, the ROM, and the like. The first control unit 121 of this embodiment controls the entire packaging device 10 by executing the program stored in the first recording medium 124. The first communication unit 125 is a device that communicates with an external device such as the management device 20 via the network N. The first control unit 121 transmits and receives information via the first communication unit 125.

[0021] The display unit 126 is a display device that displays various information. The input unit 127 is a user interface for receiving instructions input by an operator. The display unit 126 and the input unit 127 are integrally provided as the above-mentioned operation panel 130. As another example, the display unit 126 and the input unit 127 may be provided as separate members. The photographing unit 128 is a camera that photographs an image of the face of the operator.

[0022] The first control unit 121 includes an acquisition unit 122 and a display processing unit 123. The functions of the acquisition unit 122 and the display processing unit 123 are realized by a processor reading out a program stored in the first recording medium 124 or the like and executing the program. That is, the processes described as being executed by the acquisition unit 122 and the display processing unit 123 are processes executed by the first control unit 121. The acquisition unit 122 acquires a facial image of the operator from the photographing unit 128. Here, the facial image of the operator is an example of identification information for identifying the operator. The display processing unit 123 displays various information on the display unit 126 (operation panel 130). The display processing unit 123 switches the displayed language, for example.

[0023] In this embodiment, the operating device 120 is provided integrally with the packaging device main body 100 as the packaging device 10, but these may be provided as separate devices.

[0024] The management device 20 is configured, for example, by a stationary general-purpose computer or a cloud-type server. The management device 20 switches the display language on the operation device 120 of the packaging device 10. Note that the management device 20 also performs other processes related to the management of operators, such as authentication of operators and recording of the operation history of the operators, but the following mainly describes switching of the display language.

[0025] The management device 20 includes a second control unit 200, a second recording medium 210, and a second communication unit 220. The second control unit 200 includes a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a memory such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) or a RAM (Random Access Memory) for the processor to execute processes, and executes various processes. The second control unit 200 executes various programs stored in the second recording medium 210, the ROM, and the like. The second control unit 200 of this embodiment controls the entire management device 20 by executing the program stored in the second recording medium 210. The second communication unit 220 is a device that communicates with an external device such as the packaging device 10 via the network N. The second control unit 200 transmits and receives information via the second communication unit 220.

[0026] The second control unit 200 includes a communication processing unit 201, an authentication unit 202, and an identification unit 203. These functions are realized by a processor reading out a program stored in the second recording medium 210 or the like and executing this program. In other words, the processes described as being executed by each of the above units are processes executed by the second control unit 200.

[0027] The communication processing unit 201 receives information such as a facial image of the operator from the packaging device 10 via the second communication unit 220. The authentication unit 202 authenticates the operator based on the facial image of the operator. For the authentication of the operator, a machine learning model created using the facial image of each operator registered in an operator table 211 described later as training data is used.

[0028] In this embodiment, the first control unit 121 is realized by a computer. However, some of the functions realized by the first control unit 121 may be realized by a hardware circuit. As another example, at least some of the functions and processes of the processor may be realized by, for example, cooperation between a plurality of processors, a RAM, a ROM, and a storage medium. Similarly, the second control unit 200 may be realized in part by a hardware circuit, or may be realized by cooperation between a plurality of processors, etc.

[0029] The second recording medium 210 stores an operator table 211. Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the data configuration of the operator table 211. The operator table 211 mainly stores an operator ID, operator information, and a registered language in association with each other. The operator ID is identification information of a registered operator. The operator information is personal information of an operator, and includes, for example, the name, date of birth, sex, date of joining the company, etc. The registered language is a language that the operator can understand, such as the operator's native language.

[0030] Next, a display screen displayed on the operation panel 130 of the operation device 120 will be described. Various information is displayed on the operation panel 130. For example, a home screen (initial screen) 300 as shown in FIG. 5 is displayed on the operation panel 130, and the display screen transitions appropriately in response to an operation by the operator. For example, a language change button 302 is displayed on the home screen 300, and when the operator selects the language change button 302, the display screen switches to a language setting screen 310 shown in FIG. 6. Buttons 312a to 312e for selecting a language are displayed on the language setting screen 310. Here, when a language button 312a to 312e is selected, the display language of the operation panel 130 is changed (setting updated) to the selected language.

[0031] Furthermore, when an abnormality occurs in the packaging device 10, the packaging device 10 stops its operation, and a warning screen 320 as shown in FIG. 7 is displayed on the operation panel 130 in an interrupt manner. Furthermore, in this case, the operation start button 134 of the operation device 120 becomes inoperable. The warning screen 320 displays the contents of the abnormality. The operator checks the contents of the abnormality and takes appropriate measures for the packaging device 10. The warning screen 320 displays a confirmation button 322, and the operator selects the confirmation button 322 after completing the measures. When the confirmation button 322 is selected, the operation start button 134 becomes operable. When the operator selects the operation start button 134, the packaging device 10 resumes operation. The warning screen 320 shown in FIG. 7 is a screen in which Japanese is used as the display language. In contrast, the packaging device 10 can display a warning screen 330 in English as shown in FIG. 8 by switching the display language. Such switching of the display language will be described below.

[0032] Fig. 9 is a flowchart showing the display language switching process. When the power supply of the packaging device 10 is turned on, information display on the operation panel 130 is started, and the display language switching process is started accordingly. In parallel with the display language switching process, for example, the display screen is appropriately switched as shown in Figs. 5 and 6 in response to the operation of the operator. Also, the display language on the display screen of the operation panel 130 is set to a preset initial language as an initial setting. In this embodiment, the initial language is Japanese.

[0033] In the display language switching process, first, in step S100, the first control unit 121 of the packaging device 10 waits until a face image captured by the photographing unit 128 is acquired (N in step S100). When an operator operates the packaging device 10, face authentication is used to confirm that the operator has the operating authority. The photographing unit 128 photographs a face image for this face authentication. Then, when the face image is captured, the acquiring unit 122 acquires the face image.

[0034] When the first control unit 121 acquires the face image (Y in step S100), it transmits the face image to the management device 20 in step S102. In response to this, in the management device 20, the communication processing unit 201 of the second control unit 200 receives the face image in step S200. Next, in step S202, the authentication unit 202 authenticates the operator based on the face image. When the operator is identified as a result, next, in step S204, the identification unit 203 refers to the operator table 211 and identifies the registered language associated with the operator ID of the identified operator, that is, the registered language of the operator. Next, in step S206, the communication processing unit 201 transmits the registered language of the operator to the packaging device 10.

[0035] In the packaging device 10, after transmitting the face image in step S102, the first control unit 121 receives the registered language of the operator in step S104. Next, in step S106, the display processing unit 123 changes the display language displayed on the display screen being displayed on the operation panel 130 to the registered language.

[0036] For example, assume that face authentication is performed while warning screen 320 in Japanese is displayed on operation panel 130, and packaging device 10 receives information indicating that English is the registered language of the operator. In this case, the display on operation panel 130 switches from warning screen 320 in Japanese shown in FIG. 7 to warning screen 330 in English.

[0037] In this manner, in this embodiment, the display language of the operation panel 130 is quickly changed to the operator's registered language upon authentication of the operator. This allows the operator to quickly check, in a language that he or she can understand, even content that needs to be checked as soon as possible, such as a warning screen.

[0038] Note that operation panel 130 is capable of displaying a plurality of display screens other than the warning screen, and the display language is changed in the same manner regardless of which display screen is being displayed.

[0039] When the display language is changed in step S106, the first control unit 121 then determines in step S108 whether a reference period has elapsed since the timing when the display language was changed without any operation from the operator to the operation panel 130. Here, the reference period is a period of a predetermined length, for example, 5 minutes. If the reference period has elapsed (Y in step S108), the display processing unit 123 changes the display language of the operation panel 130 from the language registered by the operator to the initial language (step S110). In this way, if there is no operation for a certain period of time, the display language automatically returns to the initial language. This eliminates the need for the operator to perform an operation to return the display language to its original state.

[0040] On the other hand, if the reference period has not elapsed (N in step S108), the first control unit 121 checks whether a facial image has been acquired (step S112). For example, assume that a first operator whose registered language is the first language performs facial authentication in step S100, and as a result, the display language is changed to the first language. Then, assume that in this state, an abnormality occurs in the packaging device main body 100, a warning screen is displayed, and a second operator whose registered language is the second language takes action. In this case, facial authentication of the second operator is newly performed.

[0041] If the first control unit 121 has acquired a face image (Y in step S112), the process proceeds to step S102, and the first control unit 121 authenticates the face image of the new operator (second operator). Then, in step S106, the display language of the operation panel 130 is changed to the registered language of the new operator (second operator). As a result, the display language is changed, for example, from English to Korean.

[0042] As described above, the display language management system 1 of this embodiment can display information about the packaging device 10 to be managed in a language suitable for the operator without performing any cumbersome operations. In the display screen of a conventional manufacturing device, the display language could not be changed unless the initial screen was switched to the language setting screen. Therefore, even when a warning screen was displayed, if the operator could not understand the display language, he or she had to return to the initial screen and display the language setting screen before changing the display language. This caused a problem that it was not possible to quickly respond to an abnormality in the device.

[0043] It is also possible to display a language selection button on each screen to transition to a language setting screen. However, the size of the operation panel provided on the device is limited, and the content that can be displayed is also limited. For this reason, it is not preferable to always display the language selection button.

[0044] In contrast, the display language management system 1 of this embodiment can change the display language in response to authentication of the operator without using a language selection button. This allows the display language to be changed quickly. In addition, since the initial language is not changed even if the display language is changed, there is no need to perform an operation to change the initial language every time the operator changes.

[0045] Furthermore, the display language management system 1 of this embodiment automatically returns the display language to the initial language when a certain condition is met, such as the passage of a reference time after the display language is changed. Therefore, the operator does not need to perform any operation to return the display language to the initial language after completing the work.

[0046] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments, and various modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention as defined in the claims.

[0047] As a first modified example, at least a part of the processing of the packaging device 10 may be performed by the management device 20, or as another example, at least a part of the processing of the management device 20 may be performed by the packaging device 10. For example, the packaging device 10 may store an operator table 211 and perform authentication of the operator. Also, the packaging device 10 may change the display language by itself without including the management device 20. That is, the packaging device 10 may specify the registered language in addition to the authentication. As another example, the management device 20 may also perform processing for screen display on the operation panel 130 of the packaging device 10, and may specify the registered language as well as change the display language on the display screen.

[0048] As a second modified example, the condition for returning the display language to the initial language after changing the display language to the registered language is not limited to the embodiment. For example, when the display language of the warning screen is changed to the registered language, the first control unit 121 may return the display language to the initial language when the operator completes the handling of the packaging device main body 100, presses the operation start button 134, and inputs an operation start instruction. When the operation start button 134 is pressed, the work by the operator is completed, so by returning to the initial state in this way, the operator can save the trouble of returning to the initial language. Note that the operation start button 134 is controlled so that it cannot be operated unless the confirmation buttons 322, 332 on the warning screen are pressed. In this way, the condition for returning to the initial language can be freely set by the administrator or the like according to the type of the target device, etc.

[0049] As a third modified example, all operation buttons other than the emergency stop button may be displayed as soft buttons on the operation panel 130. In this case, the operation start button may be displayed only after the confirmation buttons 322, 332 on the above-mentioned warning screen are pressed.

[0050] As a fourth modified example, the first control unit 121 acquires a face image as the identification information of the operator, but the identification information is not limited to a face image as long as it can identify the operator. The identification information may be, for example, a password, a fingerprint, or an iris. That is, instead of face authentication, authentication by a password, fingerprint authentication, or iris authentication may be adopted. As another example, the operation device 120 may be equipped with an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) reader, and the operator may acquire the identification information by holding up an RFID tag that he or she owns or wears. [Explanation of symbols]

[0051] 1 Display Language Management System 10 Packaging equipment 20 Management device 100 Packaging equipment body 120 Operating device 121 First Control Section 122 Acquisition Department 123 Display Processing Unit 124 First Recording Medium 125 First Communications Department 126 Display section 127 Input section 128 Filming Department 200 Second Control Section 201 Communication processing unit 202 Authentication Department 203 Specific section 210 Second Recording Medium 211 Operator Table

Claims

1. a display processing unit that displays information about the device to be operated on a display unit in a preset initial language; an acquisition unit that acquires identification information that identifies a first operator; an identification unit that identifies a registered language associated with the identification information; Equipped with The display processing unit is A display language management system that, when the identification information is acquired, changes the display language of the screen displayed on the display unit to the registered language associated with the identification information, and further, after the display language is changed, returns the display language to the initial language if a specified condition is satisfied.

2. 2. The display language management system according to claim 1, wherein when the display processing unit acquires the identification information while displaying a warning screen indicating an abnormality in the device, the display language of the warning screen is changed to the registered language associated with the identification information.

3. The display language management system according to claim 2 , wherein the display processing unit returns the display language to the initial language when an instruction to start driving is input to the device.

4. The display language management system according to claim 1 , wherein the display processing unit returns the display language to the initial language when no operation is performed by an operator on the device for a preset period of time.

5. 2. The display language management system according to claim 1, wherein, when the display processing unit acquires identification information of a second operator after changing the display language of the screen, the display processing unit changes the display language to a registered language associated with the identification information of the second operator.

6. A display language change button is displayed on the initial screen displayed on the display unit, The display language management system according to claim 1 , wherein the display language is set in response to selection of the change button on the initial screen.

7. a display processing unit that displays information about the device to be operated on a display unit in a preset initial language; an acquisition unit that acquires identification information that identifies a first operator; Equipped with The display processing unit is When the identification information is acquired, the display language of the screen displayed on the display unit is changed to a registered language corresponding to the identification information, and further, after the display language is changed, if a predetermined condition is satisfied, the display language is returned to the initial language.

8. Computer, a display processing unit that displays information about the device to be operated on the display unit in a preset initial language; An acquisition unit for acquiring identification information for identifying a first operator Function as a The display processing unit is When the identification information is acquired, the display language of the screen displayed on the display unit is changed to a registered language associated with the identification information, and further, after the display language is changed, if a predetermined condition is satisfied, the display language is returned to the initial language.

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