Information processing device, and information processing method

Abstract

To provide an information processing device capable of easily acquiring a molding condition similar to a molding condition to be a standard among a plurality of molding conditions in blow molding.SOLUTION: An information processing device 4 comprises: a standard molding condition acquisition unit 400 for acquiring standard molding condition information A2 that shows a molding condition to be a standard when blow molding a to-be-molded body into a molded body in accordance with a molding condition identified by a plurality of molding condition parameters; an existing information acquisition unit 401 for acquiring a plurality of pieces of existing molding condition information A1 that show existing molding conditions when blow molding the to-be-molded body into the molded body; and a molding condition processing unit 402 for acquiring existing molding condition information A1 similar to the standard molding condition information A2 acquired by the standard molding condition acquisition unit 400 among the plurality of pieces of existing molding condition information A1 acquired by the existing information acquisition unit 401 as similar molding condition information A4.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing device and an information processing method. [Background technology]

[0002] Since the shape of a molded product obtained by blow molding is affected by various molding conditions in blow molding, it is necessary to find conditions to adjust the molding conditions. Patent Document 1 discloses a design system that calculates, by simulation, the molding conditions for blow molding to obtain a molded product that satisfies the container shape requirements. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2003-62896 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The design system disclosed in Patent Document 1 calculates the blow molding conditions for the target values ​​of the molded body, which are the container shape requirements. Here, the blow molding conditions are specified by multiple molding condition parameters, so when there are multiple molding conditions with different calculated values ​​for the molding condition parameters, the relationship between those molding conditions is unclear. For example, when there are reference molding conditions, there is no means to check whether there are molding conditions similar to those among the multiple molding conditions.

[0005] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide an information processing device and an information processing method that make it possible to easily obtain molding conditions similar to reference molding conditions from multiple molding conditions in blow molding. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, an information processing device according to one aspect of the present invention comprises: a reference molding condition acquisition unit that acquires reference molding condition information indicating molding conditions that are used as a reference when blow molding a molded body into a molded body according to molding conditions specified by a plurality of molding condition parameters; an existing information acquisition unit that acquires a plurality of existing molding condition information indicating the existing molding conditions when the molded body is blow molded into the molded body; The system is equipped with a molding condition processing unit that acquires, from the multiple existing molding condition information acquired by the existing information acquisition unit, existing molding condition information that is similar to the reference molding condition information acquired by the reference molding condition acquisition unit as similar molding condition information. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the information processing device and information processing method of the present invention, molding conditions similar to reference molding conditions can be easily obtained from a plurality of molding conditions in blow molding. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a molding management system 1. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view showing an example of a blow molding apparatus 20f. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a molding unit 22. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a blow molding device 20f. [Diagram 5] 1 is a flowchart showing a flow of a blow molding process. [Figure 6] 2 is a data configuration diagram showing an example of a database 30 managed by a database device 3. FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a first information processing device 4. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a functional explanatory diagram showing an example of a first information processing device 4. [Figure 9]FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a second information processing device 5. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is a functional explanatory diagram showing an example of a second information processing device 5. [Figure 11] 1 is a first functional explanatory diagram showing an example of a performance evaluation unit 403 of a first information processing device 4. FIG. [Figure 12] FIG. 2 is a second functional explanatory diagram showing an example of the performance evaluation unit 403 of the first information processing device 4. [Figure 13] FIG. 9 is a hardware configuration diagram showing an example of a computer 900. [Figure 14] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of an information processing method by the first information processing device 4. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Hereinafter, an embodiment for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following, the scope necessary for the explanation to achieve the object of the present invention will be shown in a schematic manner, and the scope necessary for the explanation of the relevant part of the present invention will be mainly explained, and the parts that are omitted from the explanation will be based on the publicly known technology.

[0010] (Configuration of molding management system 1) Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a molding management system 1. The molding management system 1 functions as a system for producing a molded body by blow molding a molded body into a molded body. The molding management system 1 is also a system for managing various information related to the molded body, the molded body, molding conditions, etc.

[0011] In this embodiment, a case will be described in which a hollow bottle 11 (e.g., a PET bottle), which is one type of molded body, is produced from a preform 10, which is one type of molded body, by a biaxial stretch blow molding method. Note that the molded body is not limited to the bottle 11, and may have any shape as long as it is blow molded from a molded body.

[0012] As shown in Fig. 1, the molding management system 1 mainly comprises a container production device 2, a database device 3, a first information processing device 4, a second information processing device 5, and a user terminal device 6. Each of the devices 2 to 6 is, for example, a general-purpose or dedicated computer (see Fig. 13 described later), and is connected to a wired or wireless network 7 so as to be able to transmit and receive various data to and from each other. Note that the number of the devices 2 to 6 and the connection configuration of the network 7 are not limited to the example in Fig. 1, and may be changed as appropriate.

[0013] The container production apparatus 2 is an apparatus that uses a mold 200 and operates according to molding conditions to blow mold the preform 10 into a bottle 11. The molding condition information A is information indicating the molding conditions, and is specified by a plurality of molding condition parameters. The molded body information B is information that specifies the bottle 11 as a molded body, and is specified by a plurality of molded body parameters. Note that the molded body information B may further include information that specifies the preform 10 as the body to be molded. Details of the molding condition information A and the molded body information B will be described later.

[0014] The container production apparatus 2 includes an injection molding apparatus 20a that injects synthetic resin, which is a raw material, into the preforms 10, a preform removal apparatus 20b that removes the preforms 10 from the injection molding apparatus 20a and transfers them to a preform transport conveyor 21c, a preform transport conveyor 21c that transports the preforms 10, a preform heating apparatus 20d that is provided midway along the preform transport conveyor 21c and heats the preforms 10, and a preform transport conveyor 21c. The apparatus includes a preform supplying device 20e that receives preforms 10 from the bear 21c and supplies them to the blow molding device 20f, a blow molding device 20f that molds the heated preforms 10 into bottles 11, a molded body removing device 20g that removes the bottles 11 from the blow molding device 20f and transfers them to a molded body transporting conveyor 21h, and a molded body transporting conveyor 20h that transports the molded bottles 11. The configuration of the container production apparatus 2 is not limited to the example in FIG. 1 and may be changed as appropriate.

[0015] The database device 3 includes a database 30 capable of registering molding condition information A indicating molding conditions when the preform 10 is blow molded into a bottle 11 and molded body information B relating to the bottle 11 in association with each other. The molding condition information A and molded body information B registered in the database 30 are referenced by the second information processing device 5, the first information processing device 4, and the user terminal device 6. The details of the database 30 will be described later.

[0016] The first information processing device 4 is a device that acquires molding condition information A similar to the reference molding condition information A by referring to the database 30 based on the molding condition information A indicating the reference molding conditions, and acquires molded body information B regarding the bottle 11 blow molded in accordance with the reference molding conditions.

[0017] The second information processing device 5 is a device that acquires molded body information B similar to the molded body information B related to the target bottle 11 by referring to the database 30 based on the molded body information B related to the target bottle 11, or acquires molding condition information A indicating the molding conditions when blow molding the target bottle 11. The second information processing device 5 is a device equivalent to the "molding condition derivation device" disclosed in the applicant's prior application (Patent Application No. 2022-197549), and can be used in the second information processing device 5 by referring to the contents disclosed in the prior application.

[0018] The user terminal device 6 is a device used by a user such as a production manager of the bottles 11. Programs such as application programs and a web browser are installed in the user terminal device 6, and the user terminal device 6 accepts various input operations and outputs various information via a display screen or voice. The user terminal device 6 is used when a user inputs instructions to the first information processing device 4 and the second information processing device 5, outputs the processing results of the first information processing device 4 and the second information processing device 5, and edits the database 30.

[0019] Fig. 2 is a schematic plan view showing an example of the blow molding apparatus 20f. Fig. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of the molding unit 22. The blow molding apparatus 20f uses a plurality of (12 in this embodiment) molds 200, supplies a blow fluid into the preform 10 held between the molds 200, and repeatedly performs a blow molding process for each mold 200, in which a hollow bottle 11 is blown from the preform 10. Note that, in this embodiment, the blow fluid is described as being air, but it may be any gas other than air or a liquid.

[0020] The blow molding apparatus 20f comprises, as its main components, a rotary unit 21, a plurality of molding units 22 (12 in this embodiment) arranged at predetermined intervals on the circumferential orbit of the rotary unit 21, and a control unit 23 that controls each part of the blow molding apparatus 20f.

[0021] The rotary unit 21 includes, for example, a rotary support part 210 formed in a disk shape and supporting the multiple molding units 22, and a rotation mechanism part 211 that rotates the rotary support part 210 at a predetermined rotation speed (rotation period).

[0022] Each of the multiple molding units 22 includes a mold support mechanism 220 that supports the mold 200 so that it can be opened and closed, a seal support mechanism 221 that supports the preform 10 clamped by the mold 200 in a sealed state, a stretch rod 222 that is inserted into the preform 10 supported by the seal support mechanism 221, a stretch rod support mechanism 223 that supports the stretch rod 222 so that it can move back and forth, a blow fluid supply and discharge mechanism 224 that supplies or discharges blow fluid (air) to or from the stretch rod 222, and a temperature control mechanism 225 that adjusts the temperature of the mold 200.

[0023] The blow fluid supply / discharge section 224 includes a main pipe 2240 connected to the stretch rod 222 via the seal support section 221, three branch pipes 2241A to 2241C branched from the main pipe 2240, a pre-blow valve 2242 provided in the branch pipe 2241A connected to a low-pressure pre-blow air supply source, a main blow valve 2243 provided in the branch pipe 2241B connected to a high-pressure main blow air supply source, an exhaust valve 2244 provided in the branch pipe 2241C connected to an exhaust system, and a pressure sensor 2245, a flow rate sensor 2246, and a temperature sensor 2247 provided in the main pipe 2240 or the seal support section 221. The pressure sensor 2245, the flow rate sensor 2246 and the temperature sensor 2247 each function as a measurement unit capable of measuring the pressure, flow rate and temperature of the blow fluid (pre-blow air, main blow air, blow air exhaust) supplied into the preform 10 at a predetermined measurement time interval, and output the measurement value at each point in time as the measurement result.

[0024] 2 and 3, the specific configurations of the rotation mechanism 211, the mold support mechanism 220, the seal support mechanism 221, and the stretch rod support mechanism 223 are omitted, but for example, they are configured by appropriately combining modules for generating driving force such as servo motors and cylinders, driving force transmission mechanisms such as linear guides, ball screws, gears, cams, belts, couplings, and bearings, and sensors such as linear sensors, encoder sensors, and limit sensors. Also, while the specific configuration of the temperature adjustment mechanism 225 is omitted in Figs. 2 and 3, they are configured by appropriately combining modules for adjusting temperature such as electric heaters and sensors such as temperature sensors.

[0025] Fig. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of a blow molding apparatus 20f. The control unit 23 is electrically connected to the module group and the sensor group of the rotary unit 21 and the multiple molding units 22, and functions as a control unit that comprehensively controls the rotary unit 21 and the multiple molding units 22. Note that Fig. 4 illustrates a pre-blow valve 2242, a main blow valve 2243, and an exhaust valve 2244 as part of the module group, and a pressure sensor 2245, a flow rate sensor 2246, and a temperature sensor 2247 as part of the sensor group, but does not illustrate other module groups and sensor groups.

[0026] The control unit 23 is configured, for example, by a general-purpose or dedicated computer (see FIG. 13 described later). The control unit 23 includes, as its main components, a control unit 230, a communication unit 231, an input unit 232, an output unit 233, and a storage unit 234.

[0027] The control unit 230 is composed of, for example, an arithmetic processing device (a processor such as a CPU, an MPU, or a GPU) and a sequencer. The control unit 230 functions as a blow molding control unit 2300, a pressure monitoring unit 2301, a flow rate monitoring unit 2302, and a temperature monitoring unit 2303, for example, by executing a blow molding program 2340 stored in the storage unit 234.

[0028] The blow molding control unit 2300 operates the modules of the rotary unit 21 and the modules of each molding unit 22. The pressure monitoring unit 2301 monitors the results of measurement by each pressure sensor 2245, and notifies the monitoring results of the air pressure to the blow molding control unit 2300. The flow rate monitoring unit 2302 monitors the results of measurement by each flow rate sensor 2246, and notifies the blow molding control unit 2300 of the monitoring results of the air pressure. The temperature monitoring unit 2303 monitors the measurement results of the temperature sensors 2247, and notifies the blow molding control unit 2300 of the monitoring results of the air temperature.

[0029] The communication unit 231 is connected to a communication network and functions as a communication interface for transmitting and receiving various data between, for example, a terminal device (not shown) used by an apparatus user (operator, manager, etc.) of the blow molding apparatus 20f and a production management device (not shown) that performs production management of the molding management system 1. The input unit 232 accepts various input operations by the user of the blow molding apparatus 20f, and the output unit 233 functions as a user interface by outputting various information to the apparatus user through the display of a screen, the lighting of a signal tower, and the sounding of a buzzer.

[0030] The storage unit 234 stores various programs (such as an operating system (OS) and a blow molding program 2340) and data (such as device setting information 2341) used in the operation of the blow molding apparatus 20f. The device setting information 2341 is information that can register various operating conditions when the blow molding apparatus 20f executes a blow molding process, and is configured to be editable by the device user via a display screen (setting interface), for example.

[0031] 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of the blow molding process. The blow molding process is a process for performing a blow molding process according to molding conditions, heating the preform 10, setting the heated preform 10 in a mold 200, and blow molding the set preform 10 to produce a bottle 11. The blow molding process includes a preform heating process (step S100), a pre-blow process (steps S110 to S114), and a main blow process (steps S120 to S124).

[0032] First, in step S100, the preform heating device 20d heats the preforms 10 transported by the preform transport conveyor 21c to a predetermined temperature when the preforms 10 pass through a heating section of the preform heating device 20d. Then, the preform supplying device 20e supplies the heated preforms 10 to the blow molding device 20f.

[0033] Next, in step S110, the blow molding apparatus 20f supports the heated preform 10 with the seal support portion 221. In step S111, the blow molding apparatus 20f closes the mold 200 with the mold support mechanism portion 220. In step S112, the blow molding apparatus 20f advances the stretch rod 222 along the central axis of the preform 10 to stretch the preform 10. In step S113, the blow molding apparatus 20f opens the pre-blow valve 2242. In step S114, the blow molding apparatus 20f maintains the pre-blow pressure by continuing to supply pre-blow air while advancing the stretch rod 222.

[0034] Next, in step S120, the blow molding apparatus 20f closes the pre-blow valve 2242 to stop the supply of pre-blow air, and opens the main blow valve 2243 to increase the main blow pressure. In step S121, the blow molding apparatus 20f continues the supply of main blow air to maintain the main blow pressure at a target pressure. In step S122, the blow molding apparatus 20f closes the main blow valve 2243 and opens the exhaust valve 2244 to discharge the blow fluid from the main pipe 2240 to the outside. In step S123, the blow molding apparatus 20f opens the mold 200 by the mold support mechanism 220 while causing the stretch rod 222 to retreat from inside the preform 10. In step S124, the blow molding apparatus 20f releases the fixation of the bottle 11 by the seal support 221. Then, the molded body removal device 20g removes the blow-molded bottle 11 from the mold 200.

[0035] 6 is a data configuration diagram showing an example of the database 30 managed by the database device 3. The database 30 has a plurality of records for each bottle management ID for associating various information handled by the molding management system 1. The bottle management ID is information for identifying the bottle 11. Each record has a field in which, for example, a plurality of molding condition parameters included in the molding condition information A and a plurality of molded body parameters included in the molded body information B can be registered.

[0036] The molding condition information A and molded body information B registered in the database 30 can be referenced from the first information processing device 4, the second information processing device 5, and the user terminal device 6 as existing molding condition information A1 and existing molded body information B1, respectively, associated with each existing bottle 11. Editing operations such as addition, deletion, and correction of each data are performed on the display screen of the user terminal device 6. The existing molding condition information A1 and the existing molded body information B1 may be obtained as production results when the bottle 11 is actually produced by the container production device 2, or may be obtained as test results by a test device that simulates the container production device 2, or may be obtained as simulation results by a simulation device.

[0037] The molding condition information A is information indicating molding conditions in the blow molding process shown in Fig. 5. The molding condition information A includes, for example, at least one of preform heating conditions in the preform heating process (step S100), preblow conditions in the preblow process (steps S110 to S114), and main blow conditions in the main blow process (steps S120 to S124). In this embodiment, the molding condition information A will be described as including preform heating conditions, preblow conditions, and main blow conditions.

[0038] The preform heating conditions include at least one of the preform temperature and the preform temperature control conditions as molding condition parameters. The preform temperature is the temperature of the preform 10 when it is heated by the preform heating device 20d and supplied to the blow molding device 20f by the preform supplying device 20e. The preform temperature control conditions include at least one of the heater temperature in the preform heating device 20d, the length of the heating section, and the conveying speed of the preform conveyor 21c.

[0039] The pre-blow conditions include at least one of the following molding condition parameters: pre-blow pressure, pre-blow time (pre-blow start timing, pre-blow maintenance time), pre-blow air flow rate, the amount of stretching of the preform 10 by the stretch rod 222, and the stretching speed by the stretch rod 222.

[0040] The main blow conditions include at least one of the following molding condition parameters: main blow pressure, main blow time (main blow start timing, main blow maintenance time), main blow air flow rate, and main blow maintenance time.

[0041] The molded body information B includes bottle shape information related to the shape of the bottle 11 and preform shape information related to the shape of the preform 10. In this embodiment, the molded body information B is described as including the bottle shape information and the preform shape information, but the molded body information B does not have to include the preform shape information.

[0042] The bottle shape information includes at least one of drawing information, image information, and design parameter information of the bottle 11. The drawing information includes, for example, two-dimensional or three-dimensional CAD data. The image information includes two-dimensional or three-dimensional image data.

[0043] The design parameter information of the bottle 11 includes the type of the bottle 11, strength characteristics, measurement characteristics, material characteristics, etc. The characteristics of the bottle 11 include, for example, compressive strength, drop strength, and environmental stress crack resistance. The measurement characteristics include, for example, body diameter, minimum body diameter, wall thickness, property distribution, capacity, height, and false bottom height. The material characteristics include current-voltage characteristics, transparency, thermal properties, crystallinity, and carbon dioxide gas permeability. Other characteristics include, for example, tipping angle, perpendicularity, longitudinal stretch ratio, transverse stretch ratio, volumetric ratio, and circumference ratio. The longitudinal stretch ratio, transverse stretch ratio, volumetric ratio, and circumference ratio are all ratios of the bottle 11 to the preform 10.

[0044] The preform shape information includes at least one of drawing information, image information, and design parameter information of the preform 10. The drawing information includes, for example, two-dimensional or three-dimensional CAD data. The image information includes two-dimensional or three-dimensional image data.

[0045] The design parameter information of the preform 10 includes the type, metrological characteristics, and material properties of the preform 10. The types of the preform 10 are divided into, for example, for carbonated beverages, for aseptic beverages, and a plurality of sizes corresponding to the carbonated beverages and the aseptic beverages, respectively. The metrological characteristics include the body diameter, wall thickness, property distribution, capacity, and height, and the material properties include the current-voltage characteristics, transparency, thermal properties, crystallinity, and carbon dioxide gas permeability.

[0046] (First information processing device 4) Fig. 7 is a block diagram showing an example of the first information processing device 4. Fig. 8 is a functional explanatory diagram showing an example of the first information processing device 4. The first information processing device 4 includes a control unit 40 including a processor, a storage unit 41 including a HDD, an SSD, a memory, etc., a communication unit 42 which is a communication interface with the network 7 and external devices, an input unit 43 including a keyboard, a mouse, etc., and an output unit 44 including a display, etc. The input unit 43 and the output unit 44 may be omitted.

[0047] The storage unit 41 stores a second information processing program 510, as well as an operating system, other programs, data, and the like.

[0048] The control unit 40 functions as a reference molding condition acquisition unit 400, an existing information acquisition unit 401, a molding condition processing unit 402, a performance evaluation unit 403, and an output processing unit 404 by executing the second information processing program 510 stored in the memory unit 41.

[0049] The reference molding condition acquisition unit 400 acquires reference molding condition information A2 indicating molding conditions that are used as a reference when blow molding the preform 10 into the bottle 11 in accordance with the molding conditions. For example, the reference molding condition acquisition unit 400 acquires the reference molding condition information A2 by accepting an input operation by the user to the display screen of the output unit 44 or the user terminal device 6 via the input unit 43 or the user terminal device 6. In this embodiment, a case will be described in which the reference molding condition information A2 includes preform heating conditions, pre-blow conditions, and main blow conditions.

[0050] The existing information acquisition unit 401 acquires a plurality of pieces of existing molding condition information A1 indicating existing molding conditions when the preform 10 is blow molded into the bottle 11. The existing information acquisition unit 401 also acquires a plurality of pieces of molded body information B related to the existing bottle 11 when blow molded according to the existing molding conditions indicated by the existing molding condition information A1 as existing molded body information B1. For example, the existing information acquisition unit 401 refers to the database 30 to acquire a plurality of pieces of existing molding condition information A1 and existing molded body information B1 registered in a plurality of records, respectively, in a state in which the existing molding condition information A1 and the existing molded body information B1 registered in the same record are associated with each other.

[0051] The molding condition processing unit 402 acquires existing molding condition information A1 similar to the reference molding condition information A2 acquired by the reference molding condition acquisition unit 400 from among the multiple existing molding condition information A1 acquired by the existing information acquisition unit 401 as similar molding condition information A4. The molding condition processing unit 402 has a conversion processing unit 402A, a calculation processing unit 402B, and an acquisition processing unit 402C as each unit that performs processing to acquire the similar molding condition information A4.

[0052] The conversion processing unit 402A converts the reference molding condition information A2 and the multiple existing molding condition information A1 into molding condition feature A3. For example, a feature vector in a vector space can be used for the molding condition feature A3. That is, the molding condition feature A3 is expressed by a feature vector in a vector data format, with multiple molding condition parameters included in the reference molding condition information A2 or the existing molding condition information A1 as each element.

[0053] When using the feature vector, the conversion processing unit 402A performs a scaling process for each of the molding condition parameters included in the reference molding condition information A2 and the existing molding condition information A1 according to the statistical index of the molding condition parameter. The scaling process includes normalization and standardization, and uses statistical indexes such as minimum value, maximum value, average value, and standard deviation. At that time, a dummy variable such as one-hot encoding may be introduced. When the scaling process is performed by the conversion processing unit 402A, the molding condition processing unit 402 uses the feature vector after the scaling process in the subsequent processing.

[0054] Moreover, the conversion processing unit 402A performs weighting processing to assign a weighting coefficient corresponding to the statistical index of the molding condition parameter to each element of the feature vector for each molding condition parameter, thereby converting the feature vector into a weighted feature vector. As the weighting coefficient, a coefficient using a statistical index such as a minimum value, a maximum value, an average value, or a standard deviation, for example, a coefficient of variation or a correlation coefficient, is used. When the weighting processing is performed by the conversion processing unit 402A, the molding condition processing unit 402 uses the feature vector after the weighting processing in the subsequent processing.

[0055] In this embodiment, the conversion processing unit 402A is described as performing a scaling process and then a weighting process, but either the scaling process or the weighting process may be omitted, or both may be omitted.

[0056] The calculation processing unit 402B calculates molding condition similarities C1 when comparing the molding condition feature values ​​A3 of the reference molding condition information A2 with the molding condition feature values ​​A3 of the multiple existing molding condition information A1. For example, when a feature vector is used as the molding condition feature value A3, the molding condition similarity C1 is calculated using either a similarity related to distance or a similarity related to similarity. For the distance similarity, for example, any of Euclidean distance, Manhattan distance, Chebyshev distance, Minkowski distance, Mahalanobis distance, and Hellinger distance is calculated. For the similarity similarity, for example, any of cosine similarity, deviation pattern similarity, and Pearson's correlation coefficient is calculated.

[0057] The acquisition processing unit 402C acquires existing molding condition information A1 whose molding condition similarity C1 satisfies a predetermined similarity condition from among a plurality of existing molding condition information A1 as similar molding condition information A4. The similarity conditions include (1A) acquiring existing molding condition information A1 whose molding condition similarity C1 is the highest, (1B) acquiring existing molding condition information A1 from the top to a predetermined rank (for example, top N rank) when the molding condition similarity C1 is arranged in descending order, and (1C) acquiring existing molding condition information A1 whose molding condition similarity C1 is higher than a predetermined threshold.

[0058] In addition, the molding condition processing unit 402 acquires, as similar molded body information B4, existing molded body information B1 related to an existing bottle 11 when blow molded according to molding conditions indicated by the similar molding condition information A4 from among the multiple existing molded body information B1 acquired by the existing information acquisition unit 401. For example, the molding condition processing unit 402 acquires the similar molded body information B4 by identifying the existing molded body information B1 associated with the similar molding condition information A4 from among the multiple existing molded body information B1 registered in the database 30.

[0059] The method by which the molding condition processing unit 402 obtains the similar molded body information B4 for the reference molding condition information A2 is not limited to the above. For example, the molding condition processing unit 402 may use a first learning model in which the correlation between the molding condition information A and the molded body information B is learned by machine learning, with the molding condition information A as an explanatory variable and the molded body information B as an objective variable. In that case, the molding condition processing unit 402 obtains the similar molded body information B4 for the reference molding condition information A2 by inputting the reference molding condition information A2 into the first learning model.

[0060] The performance evaluation unit 403 evaluates the processing performance of the other information processing device, that is, the second information processing device 5. The specific contents of the performance evaluation unit 403 will be explained after the explanation of the second information processing device 5.

[0061] The output processing unit 404 performs output processing to output the acquisition results acquired by the molding condition processing unit 402 and the evaluation results obtained by the performance evaluation unit 403 evaluating the processing performance of the second information processing device 5 to an external device. As an example of the output processing, the output processing unit 404 transmits the acquisition results by the molding condition processing unit 402 and the evaluation results by the performance evaluation unit 403 to the second information processing device 5 or the user terminal device 6. The acquisition results by the molding condition processing unit 402 include similar molding condition information A4 and similar molded body information B4 relative to the reference molding condition information A2.

[0062] (Second information processing device 5) Fig. 9 is a block diagram showing an example of the second information processing device 5. Fig. 10 is a functional explanatory diagram showing an example of the second information processing device 5. The second information processing device 5 includes a control unit 50 including a processor or the like, a storage unit 51 including an HDD, an SSD, a memory, or the like, a communication unit 52 which is a communication interface with the network 7 and external devices, an input unit 53 including a keyboard, a mouse, or the like, and an output unit 54 including a display, or the like. Note that the input unit 53 and the output unit 54 may be omitted.

[0063] The storage unit 51 stores a second information processing program 510, as well as an operating system, other programs, data, and the like.

[0064] The control unit 50 executes a second information processing program 510 stored in the storage unit 51 to function as a target compact acquisition unit 500, an existing information acquisition unit 501, a compact processing unit 502, and an output processing unit 503.

[0065] The target molded body acquisition section 500 acquires target molded body information B2 indicating molded body information B related to the target bottle 11 when the preform 10 is blow molded into the bottle 11. For example, similar to the reference molding condition acquisition section 400, the target molded body acquisition section 500 acquires the target molded body information B2 by accepting an input operation by the user on the display screen of the output section 54 or the user terminal device 6 via the input section 53 or the user terminal device 6. In this embodiment, a case will be described in which the target molded body information B2 includes bottle shape information and preform shape information.

[0066] The existing information acquisition unit 501 acquires a plurality of pieces of existing molding condition information A1 indicating the existing molding conditions when the preform 10 was blow molded into the bottle 11. The existing information acquisition unit 501 also acquires a plurality of pieces of molded body information B related to the existing bottle 11 when blow molded according to the existing molding conditions indicated by the existing molding condition information A1 as existing molded body information B1. For example, the existing information acquisition unit 501, like the existing information acquisition unit 401, can refer to the database 30. Thus, a plurality of pieces of existing molding condition information A1 and existing molded body information B1 registered in a plurality of records are acquired while the existing molding condition information A1 and existing molded body information B1 registered in the same record are associated with each other.

[0067] The molded body processing unit 502 acquires, from among the multiple existing molded body information B1 acquired by the existing information acquisition unit 501, existing molded body information B1 similar to the target molded body information B2 acquired by the target molded body acquisition unit 500 as similar molded body information B5. The molded body processing unit 502 has a conversion processing unit 502A, a calculation processing unit 502B, and an acquisition processing unit 502C as units that perform processing to acquire the similar molded body information B5.

[0068] The conversion processing unit 502A converts the target compact information B2 and the multiple existing compact information B1 into compact feature values ​​B3. As with the molding condition feature values ​​A3, the compact feature values ​​B3 can be represented by feature vectors in vector space. That is, the compact feature values ​​B3 are represented by feature vectors in vector data format, with multiple compact parameters included in the target compact information B2 or the existing compact information B1 as elements.

[0069] When using the feature vector, the conversion processing unit 502A performs a scaling process for each of the multiple compact parameters included in the target compact information B2 and the multiple existing compact information B1, according to the statistical index of the compact parameter, in the same manner as the conversion processing unit 402A. When the scaling process is performed by the conversion processing unit 502A, the conversion processing unit 502A uses the feature vector after the scaling process in subsequent processing.

[0070] In addition, the conversion processing unit 502A converts each element of the feature vector into a weighted feature vector by performing a weighting process in which a weighting coefficient according to the statistical index of the compact parameter is assigned to each compact parameter. When the weighting process is performed by the conversion processing unit 502A, the conversion processing unit 502A uses the feature vector after the weighting process in the subsequent processes.

[0071] In this embodiment, the conversion processing unit 502A is described as performing a scaling process and then a weighting process, but either the scaling process or the weighting process may be omitted, or both may be omitted.

[0072] The calculation processing unit 502B calculates each of the compact similarities D1 when comparing the compact feature values ​​B3 of the target compact information B2 with the compact feature values ​​B3 of the multiple existing compact information B1. For example, when a feature vector is used as the compact feature value B3, either a similarity related to distance or a similarity related to similarity is used for the compact similarity D1, as with the molding condition similarity C1.

[0073] The acquisition processing unit 502C acquires existing compact information B1 whose compact similarity D1 satisfies a predetermined similarity condition as similar compact information B5 from among the multiple existing compact information B1. The similarity condition may be (2A) acquiring existing compact information B1 whose compact similarity D1 is the highest, (2B) acquiring existing compact information B1 from the top to a predetermined rank (e.g., top N rank) when the compact similarity D1 is arranged in descending order, or (2C) acquiring existing compact information B1 whose compact similarity D1 is higher than a predetermined threshold.

[0074] Further, the molded body processing unit 502 acquires, as similar molding condition information A5, existing molding condition information A1 indicating existing molding conditions when the existing bottle 11 specified by the similar molded body information B5 was blow molded, from among the multiple existing molding condition information A1 acquired by the existing information acquisition unit 501. For example, the molded body processing unit 502 acquires, as similar molding condition information A5, existing molding condition information A1 indicating existing molding conditions when the existing bottle 11 specified by the similar molded body information B5 was blow molded, from among the multiple existing molding condition information A1 registered in the database 30. By setting the similar molding condition information A5, the similar molding condition information A5 is acquired.

[0075] The method by which the molded body processing unit 502 obtains the similar molding condition information A5 for the target molded body information B2 is not limited to the above. For example, the molded body processing unit 502 may use a second learning model in which the correlation between the molded body information B and the molding condition information A is learned by machine learning, with the molded body information B as an explanatory variable and the molding condition information A as an objective variable. In this case, the molded body processing unit 502 inputs the target molded body information B2 into the second learning model to obtain the similar molding condition information A5 for the target molded body information B2.

[0076] The output processing unit 503 performs output processing to output the results obtained by the molded body processing unit 502 to an external device. As an example of the output processing, the output processing unit 503 transmits the results obtained by the molded body processing unit 502 to the first information processing device 4 or the user terminal device 6. The results obtained by the molded body processing unit 502 include similar molded body information B5 and similar molding condition information A5 for the target molded body information B2.

[0077] (Method of evaluating performance of other information processing devices by the performance evaluation unit 403) Fig. 11 is a first functional explanatory diagram showing an example of the performance evaluation unit 403 of the first information processing device 4. Fig. 12 is a second functional explanatory diagram showing an example of the performance evaluation unit 403 of the first information processing device 4. The performance evaluation unit 403 of the first information processing device 4 evaluates the processing performance of the second information processing device 5, which is another information processing device, based on the results acquired by the molding condition processing unit 402 and the results acquired by the molded body processing unit 502. As the processing performance of the second information processing device 5, the validity of the similar molded body information B5 and similar molding condition information A5 acquired by the molded body processing unit 502 for the target molded body information B2 is evaluated.

[0078] The performance evaluation unit 403 is configured to be able to acquire the results acquired by the molded body processing unit 502 from the second information processing device 5. In addition, when the results acquired by the molded body processing unit 502 are stored in the database 30, the performance evaluation unit 403 may acquire the results acquired by the molded body processing unit 502 from the database 30. In addition, the molding condition processing unit 402 may acquire the similar molding condition information A5, which is the result acquired by the molded body processing unit 502, as the reference molding condition information A2, and acquire the similar molding condition information A4 and similar molded body information B4 for the reference molding condition information A2, so that the performance evaluation unit 403 may acquire the similar molding condition information A4 and similar molded body information B4 as the results acquired by the molding condition processing unit 402.

[0079] As specific performance evaluation methods by the performance evaluation unit 403, the first to fourth performance evaluation methods will be described below. The first performance evaluation method will be described with reference to Fig. 11. The second to fourth performance evaluation methods will be described with reference to Fig. 12.

[0080] (First performance evaluation method) 6 and 11, existing molding condition information A1 and existing molded body information B1 are registered in the database 30 in association with each other for each existing bottle 11. (ID001), (ID002), ..., (ID100) in parentheses in Fig. 11 each indicate a bottle management ID for identifying the existing bottle 11.

[0081] The existing information acquisition unit 401 of the first information processing device 4 acquires two pieces of existing molding condition information A1 from the database 30 for each combination of two existing bottles 11. The combination of two existing bottles 11 is created by, for example, using the bottle management IDs, by exhaustively searching two different bottle management IDs.

[0082] The molding condition processing unit 402 calculates a molding condition similarity C2 between two existing molding condition information A1 acquired from the database 30 by the existing information acquisition unit 401. The molding condition similarity C2 is calculated for each combination of torques 11. The molding condition similarity C2 is calculated by the conversion processing unit 402A and the calculation processing unit 402B.

[0083] 11 indicates the molding condition similarity C2 obtained when comparing the existing molding condition information A1 (ID001) associated with the first existing bottle 11 identified by the bottle management ID "ID001" with the existing molding condition information A1 (ID002) associated with the second existing bottle 11 identified by the bottle management ID "ID002." Furthermore, while FIG. 11 indicates molding condition similarity C2 (ID001⇔ID003), ..., molding condition similarity C2 (ID099⇔ID100), molding condition similarity C2 is calculated for each of the other combinations of two existing bottles 11 in the same manner.

[0084] The existing information acquisition unit 501 of the second information processing device 5 acquires, from the database 30, two pieces of existing molded body information B1 for each combination of two existing bottles 11. Similar to the first information processing device 4, the combination of two existing bottles 11 is created by, for example, using the bottle management IDs, by exhaustively searching two different bottle management IDs.

[0085] The molded body processing unit 502 calculates a molded body similarity D2 when comparing two pieces of existing molded body information B1 acquired from the database 30 by the existing information acquisition unit 501, for each combination of two existing bottles 11. The molded body similarity D2 is calculated by a conversion processing unit 502A and a calculation processing unit 502B.

[0086] 11 indicates the molded body similarity D2 (ID001⇔ID002) when comparing the existing molded body information B1 (ID001) associated with the first existing bottle 11 identified by the bottle management ID "ID001" with the existing molded body information B1 (ID002) associated with the second existing bottle 11 identified by the bottle management ID "ID002". Furthermore, while FIG. 11 shows the molded body similarity D2 (ID001⇔ID003), ..., the molded body similarity D2 (ID099⇔ID100), the molded body similarity D2 is calculated for each of the other combinations of two existing bottles 11 in the same manner.

[0087] The performance evaluation unit 403 evaluates the processing performance of the molded body processing unit 502 by performing correlation analysis based on the molding condition similarity C2 for each combination calculated by the molding condition processing unit 402 and the molded body similarity D2 for each combination calculated by the molded body processing unit 502. The molding condition similarity C2 and the molded body similarity D2 calculated for each combination are plotted on a two-dimensional graph G consisting of an X-axis and a Y-axis, as shown in FIG. 11. For example, one point P (ID001⇔ID002) shown in FIG. 11 is plotted with the value of the molding condition similarity C2 (ID001⇔ID002) as the X-axis coordinate and the value of the molded body similarity D2 (ID001⇔ID002) as the Y-axis coordinate. As a result of correlation analysis for a data set (each point shown in FIG. 11) consisting of the molding condition similarity C2 and the molded body similarity D2 for each combination, a correlation coefficient between the molding condition similarity C2 and the molded body similarity D2 is calculated. The higher the correlation coefficient, the higher the validity of the processing results by the molded body processing unit 502 is evaluated.

[0088] (Second performance evaluation method) The performance evaluation unit 403 converts the similar molding condition information A4 acquired by the molding condition processing unit 402 and the similar molding condition information A5 acquired by the molded body processing unit 502 into molding condition feature values ​​A6 and A7, respectively. At that time, the performance evaluation unit 403 converts into the molding condition feature values ​​A6 and A7 in the same manner as the conversion processing unit 402A of the molding condition processing unit 402.

[0089] Next, the performance evaluation unit 403 evaluates the molding condition feature amount A6 of the similar molding condition information A4 acquired by the molding condition processing unit 402 by comparing the molding condition feature amount A6 of the similar molding condition information A4 acquired by the molding condition processing unit 402 with the molding condition feature amount A6 of the similar molding condition information A4 acquired by the molding condition processing unit 502. The molding condition similarity C3 is calculated when comparing the molding condition feature amount A7 of the information A5. Then, the performance evaluation unit 403 evaluates the processing performance of the molded body processing unit 502 based on the molding condition similarity C3. The higher the molding condition similarity C3, the higher the validity of the processing result by the molded body processing unit 502 is evaluated to be.

[0090] (Third performance evaluation method) The performance evaluation unit 403 converts the similar molded body information B4 acquired by the molding condition processing unit 402 and the similar molded body information B5 acquired by the molded body processing unit 502 into molded body feature amounts B6 and B7, respectively. At that time, the performance evaluation unit 403 converts into the molded body feature amounts B6 and B7 in the same manner as the conversion processing unit 502A of the molded body processing unit 502.

[0091] Next, the performance evaluation unit 403 calculates a green body similarity D3 when comparing the green body feature amount B6 of the similar green body information B4 acquired by the molding condition processing unit 402 with the green body feature amount B7 of the similar green body information B5 acquired by the green body processing unit 502. Then, the performance evaluation unit 403 evaluates the processing performance of the green body processing unit 502 based on the green body similarity D3. The higher the green body similarity D3, the higher the validity of the processing result by the green body processing unit 502 is evaluated to be.

[0092] (Fourth performance evaluation method) The performance evaluation unit 403 converts the similar molding condition information A4 acquired by the molding condition processing unit 402 and the similar molding condition information A5 acquired by the molded body processing unit 502 into molding condition feature values ​​A6 and A7, respectively. In addition, the performance evaluation unit 403 converts the similar molded body information B4 acquired by the molding condition processing unit 402 and the similar molded body information B5 acquired by the molded body processing unit 502 into molded body feature values ​​B6 and B7, respectively.

[0093] Next, the performance evaluation unit 403 calculates the molding condition similarity C3 in the same manner as the second performance evaluation method. Also, the performance evaluation unit 403 calculates the molded body similarity D3 in the same manner as the third performance evaluation method. Then, the performance evaluation unit 403 evaluates the processing performance of the second information processing device 5 based on the molding condition similarity C3 and the molded body similarity D3. The higher the molding condition similarity C3 and the molded body similarity D3 are, the higher the validity of the results obtained by the molded body processing unit 502 is evaluated to be. Note that, when using the molding condition similarity C3 and the molded body similarity D3, the performance evaluation unit 403 may evaluate the processing performance of the second information processing device 5 based on the correlation coefficient of the molding condition similarity C3 and the molded body similarity D3.

[0094] In addition, the performance evaluation unit 403 may perform the first to fourth performance evaluation methods using the results obtained by the molding condition processing unit 402 for multiple reference molding condition information A2 and the results obtained by the molding body processing unit 502 for multiple target molding body information B2.

[0095] Furthermore, in the case where the molding processing unit 502 adopts (2B) acquiring existing molding information B1 from the top to a predetermined rank (e.g., top N rank) as the similarity condition for molding similarity D1, N pieces of similar molding information B5 and similar molding condition information A5 are acquired for the target molding information B2 as the acquisition results by the molding processing unit 502. In that case, the performance evaluation unit 403 may carry out the first to fourth performance evaluation methods using the N pieces of similar molding information B5 and similar molding condition information A5 as the acquisition results by the molding processing unit 502.

[0096] 13 is a hardware configuration diagram showing an example of a computer 900 constituting each device. Each device 2 to 6 constituting the molding management system 1 is constituted by a general-purpose or dedicated computer 900.

[0097] 13, the computer 900 includes, as its main components, a bus 910, a processor 912, a memory 914, an input device 916, an output device 917, a display device 918, a storage device 920, a communication I / F (interface) unit 922, an external device I / F unit 924, an I / O (input / output) device I / F unit 926, and a media input / output unit 928. Note that the above components may be omitted as appropriate depending on the application of the computer 900.

[0098] The processor 912 is composed of one or more arithmetic processing devices (such as a central processing unit (CPU), a micro-processing unit (MPU), a digital signal processor (DSP), or a graphics processing unit (GPU)) and operates as a control unit that controls the entire computer 900. The memory 914 stores various data and programs 930, and is composed of, for example, a volatile memory (DRAM, SRAM, etc.) that functions as a main memory, a non-volatile memory (ROM), a flash memory, etc.

[0099] The input device 916 is, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, a numeric keypad, an electronic pen, etc., and functions as an input unit. The output device 917 is, for example, a sound (audio) output device, a vibration device, etc., and functions as an output unit. The display device 918 is, for example, a liquid crystal display, an organic EL display, electronic paper, a projector, etc., and functions as an output unit. The input device 916 and the display device 918 may be integrally configured, such as a touch panel display. The storage device 920 is, for example, a HDD, an SSD, etc., and functions as a storage unit. The storage device 920 stores various data necessary for the execution of the operating system and the program 930.

[0100] The communication I / F unit 922 is connected to a network 940 (which may be the same as the network 7 in FIG. 1) such as the Internet or an intranet by wire or wirelessly, and functions as a communication unit that transmits and receives data to and from other computers according to a predetermined communication standard. The external device I / F unit 924 is connected to an external device 950 such as a camera, a printer, a scanner, a reader / writer by wire or wirelessly, and functions as a communication unit that transmits and receives data to and from the external device 950 according to a predetermined communication standard. The I / O device I / F unit 926 is connected to an I / O device 960 such as various sensors and actuators, and functions as a communication unit that transmits and receives various signals and data, such as detection signals from sensors and control signals to actuators, between the I / O device 960. The media input / output unit 928 is composed of a drive device such as a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) drive or a CD (Compact Disc) drive, a memory card slot, and a USB connector, and reads and writes data from and to a medium (non-temporary storage medium) 970 such as a DVD, a CD, a memory card, or a USB memory.

[0101] In the computer 900 having the above configuration, the processor 912 calls up the program 930 stored in the storage device 920 into the memory 914, executes the program, and controls each unit of the computer 900 via the bus 910. The program 930 may be stored in the memory 914 instead of the storage device 920. The program 930 may be recorded in the medium 970 in an installable file format or an executable file format, and provided to the computer 900 via the media input / output unit 928. The program 930 may be provided to the computer 900 by downloading it via the network 940 via the communication I / F unit 922. In addition, the computer 900 may realize various functions realized by the processor 912 executing the program 930, for example, with hardware such as a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) or an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC).

[0102] The computer 900 is, for example, a desktop computer or a portable computer, and is an electronic device of any type. The computer 900 may be a client computer, a server computer, or a cloud computer, or may be, for example, an embedded computer called a control panel, a controller (including a microcomputer, a programmable logic controller, and a sequencer), etc.

[0103] (Information processing method by first information processing device 4) FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing an example of an information processing method by the first information processing device 4.

[0104] First, in step S200, the reference molding condition acquisition unit 400 acquires reference molding condition information A2 indicating the molding conditions to be used as references.

[0105] Next, in step S210, the existing information acquisition unit 401 refers to the database 30 to acquire multiple pieces of existing molding condition information A1 and existing molded body information B1, in a state in which the existing molding condition information A1 indicating the existing molding conditions is associated with existing molded body information B1 regarding an existing bottle 11 when blow molded according to the existing molding conditions.

[0106] Next, in steps S220 to S222, the molding condition processing unit 402 acquires existing molding condition information A1 similar to the reference molding condition information A2 acquired in step S200 from the multiple existing molding condition information A1 acquired in step S210 as similar molding condition information A4.

[0107] As a specific process, in step S220, the conversion processing unit 402A converts the reference molding condition information A2 and the multiple existing molding condition information A1 into molding condition feature values ​​A3. Here, the molding condition feature values ​​A3 are feature vectors in a vector space, and are described as having been subjected to scaling and weighting processes.

[0108] Next, in step S221, the calculation processing unit 402B calculates the molding condition similarities C1 when comparing the molding condition features A3 of the reference molding condition information A2 converted in step S220 with the molding condition features A3 of each of the multiple existing molding condition information A1.

[0109] Next, in step S222, the acquisition processing unit 402C acquires, from among the multiple existing molding condition information A1 acquired in step S210, the existing molding condition information A1 whose molding condition similarity C1 calculated in step S221 satisfies a predetermined similarity condition as similar molding condition information A4.

[0110] Next, in step S230, the molding condition processing unit 402 acquires, from the multiple existing molded body information B1 acquired in step S210, existing molded body information B1 regarding an existing bottle 11 when blow molded according to the molding conditions indicated by the similar molding condition information A4 acquired in step S222, as similar molded body information B4.

[0111] Next, in step S240, the output processing unit 404 performs an output process to output the similar molding condition information A4 acquired in step S220 and the similar molded body information B4 acquired in step S230 as the acquisition results by the molding condition processing unit 402, for example, to the user terminal device 6. Then, the user terminal device 6 displays a display screen based on the acquisition results, and the acquisition results of the similar molding condition information A4 and the similar molded body information B4 for the molding conditions are presented to the user.

[0112] Next, in step S250, the performance evaluation unit 403 acquires the results acquired by the molded body processing unit 502 from the second information processing device 5, and evaluates the processing performance of the second information processing device 5, which is another information processing device, based on the results acquired by the molding condition processing unit 402 and the results acquired by the molded body processing unit 502. A specific performance evaluation method may be any of the first to fourth performance evaluation methods described above, or a combination of a plurality of methods may be used.

[0113] Then, in step S260, the output processing unit 404 performs an output process of outputting the evaluation result by the performance evaluation unit 403 in step S250 to, for example, the user terminal device 6. Then, the user terminal device 6 displays a display screen based on the acquired result, whereby the evaluation result of the second information processing device 5 is presented to the user.

[0114] In this manner, the series of information processing methods shown in Fig. 14 is completed. In the above information processing method, step S200 corresponds to a reference molding condition acquisition step, step S210 corresponds to an existing information acquisition step, steps S220 to S230 correspond to a molding condition processing step, step S250 corresponds to a performance evaluation step, and steps S240 and S260 correspond to an output processing step.

[0115] As described above, according to the first information processing device 4 and the information processing method by the first information processing device 4 according to the present embodiment, the molding condition processing unit 402 acquires existing molding condition information A1 similar to the reference molding condition information A2 acquired by the reference molding condition acquisition unit 400 from among the multiple existing molding condition information A1 acquired by the existing information acquisition unit 401 as similar molding condition information A4. Therefore, it is possible to easily acquire similar molding condition information A4 similar to the reference molding condition information A2 from the multiple existing molding condition information A1 in blow molding.

[0116] At that time, the conversion processing unit 402A converts the reference molding condition information A2 and the multiple existing molding condition information A1 into molding condition feature values ​​A3 (specifically, feature vectors in a vector space), the calculation processing unit 402B calculates molding condition similarities C1 (specifically, similarities related to distance and similarity) when comparing the molding condition feature values ​​A3 of the reference molding condition information A2 with the molding condition feature values ​​A3 of the multiple existing molding condition information A1, and the acquisition processing unit 402C acquires existing molding condition information A1 whose molding condition similarity C1 satisfies a predetermined similarity condition as similar molding condition information A4 from among the multiple existing molding condition information A1. Therefore, by using the molding condition feature values ​​A3 and the molding condition similarity C1, the similar molding condition information A4 can be easily acquired without performing complicated processing.

[0117] Furthermore, the conversion processing unit 402A converts the molding condition feature A3 into a weighted feature vector by applying a weighting coefficient to the feature vector obtained by performing scaling processing on the multiple molding condition parameters included in the reference molding condition information A2 and the multiple existing molding condition information A1. Therefore, even if the multiple molding condition parameters include various parameters with different conditions such as parameter units, ranges, and dispersion, the molding condition feature A3 is converted into an appropriate molding condition feature A3, so that the similar molding condition information A4 can be easily obtained.

[0118] Furthermore, the molding condition processing unit 402 acquires the existing molded body information B1 corresponding to the similar molding condition information A4 from among the multiple existing molded body information B1 as similar molded body information B4. Therefore, it is possible to easily acquire similar molded body information B4 similar to the existing molded body information B1 regarding the existing bottle 11 obtained when blow molding is performed according to the molding conditions indicated by the reference molding condition information A2.

[0119] Furthermore, the performance evaluation unit 403 compares the results obtained by the molding condition processing unit 402 (specifically, similar molding condition information A4 and similar molded body information B4) with the results obtained by the molded body processing unit 502 (specifically, Specifically, the processing performance of the second information processing device 5 (another information processing device) is evaluated based on the similar molded body information B5 and the similar molding condition information A5. As a result, the validity of the similar molded body information B5 and the similar molding condition information A5 acquired by the molded body processing unit 502 for the target molded body information B2 is evaluated as the processing performance of the second information processing device 5 (another information processing device). Therefore, it is possible to appropriately evaluate whether the similar molded body information B5 is actually similar to the target molded body information B2 and whether the molded body information B regarding the bottle 11 when blow molded according to the molding conditions indicated by the similar molding condition information A5 is actually similar to the target molded body information B2, with the acquisition result by the molding condition processing unit 402 being regarded as the correct answer.

[0120] (Other embodiments) The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. All such modifications are included in the technical concept of the present invention.

[0121] In the above embodiment, the database device 3 has been described as having the database 30. In contrast, the first information processing device 4 and the second information processing device 5 may each have a database equivalent to the database 30. In that case, the molding condition information A and the molded body information B registered in each database may be the same or different.

[0122] In the above embodiment, the first information processing device 4 and the second information processing device 5 are described as being configured as separate devices. In contrast, the first information processing device 4 and the second information processing device 5 may be configured as a single information processing device. In that case, the performance evaluation unit 403 may evaluate the processing performance of the molded body processing unit 502 by treating the information processing device when the molded body processing unit 502 is executed as another information processing device.

[0123] In the above embodiment, when the conversion processing unit 402A of the molding condition processing unit 402 converts the reference molding condition information A2 and the multiple existing molding condition information A1 into molding condition feature values ​​A3 (feature vectors), it has been described that the conversion processing unit 402A converts into one molding condition feature value A3 (feature vector). In contrast, the molding condition feature value A3 (feature vector) may be converted into three molding condition feature values ​​A3 (feature vectors) by separately converting, for example, the preform heating conditions, pre-blow conditions, and main blow conditions included in the molding condition information A. In that case, the calculation processing unit 402B may calculate the similarity for the three molding condition feature values ​​A3 separately, and then integrate the three similarities to calculate the molding condition similarity C1.

[0124] In the above embodiment, the first information processing device 4 is described as having the functional units shown in Fig. 7 and Fig. 8, and operating according to the steps shown in the flowchart of Fig. 14. However, some of the functional units and steps may be omitted, or other functional units and steps may be added. In this case, the omitted functional units and steps may be executed by an external system.

[0125] For example, steps S250 and S260 do not have to be executed immediately after step S240, and may be executed at any timing, such as when an instruction from the user is received.

[0126] In addition, the molding condition processing unit 402 may not have a function of acquiring the similar molded body information B4. In that case, step S230 may be omitted, and the similar molded body information B4 may not be output in step S240. The first information processing device 4 may not have a performance evaluation unit 403. In that case, steps S250 and S260 may be omitted.

[0127] Various aspects of the present disclosure are summarized below as appendices.

[0128] (Appendix 1) a reference molding condition acquisition unit that acquires reference molding condition information indicating molding conditions that are used as a reference when blow molding a molded body into a molded body according to molding conditions specified by a plurality of molding condition parameters; an existing information acquisition unit that acquires a plurality of existing molding condition information indicating the existing molding conditions when the molded body is blow molded into the molded body; A molding condition processing unit that acquires, as similar molding condition information, the existing molding condition information similar to the reference molding condition information acquired by the reference molding condition acquisition unit among the plurality of existing molding condition information acquired by the existing information acquisition unit. Information processing device.

[0129] (Appendix 2) The molding condition processing unit includes: A conversion processing unit that converts the reference molding condition information and the plurality of existing molding condition information into molding condition feature quantities, respectively; a calculation processing unit that calculates molding condition similarities when comparing the molding condition feature values ​​of the reference molding condition information with the molding condition feature values ​​of a plurality of the existing molding condition information; and an acquisition processing unit that acquires, as the similar molding condition information, the existing molding condition information in which the molding condition similarity satisfies a predetermined similarity condition among the plurality of existing molding condition information. 2. An information processing device according to claim 1.

[0130] (Appendix 3) The conversion processing unit is The reference molding condition information and the plurality of existing molding condition information are converted into feature vectors in a vector space having the plurality of molding condition parameters as elements, The calculation processing unit: Calculating the molding condition similarity when comparing the feature vector of each of the plurality of existing molding condition information with the feature vector of the reference molding condition information; 3. An information processing device according to claim 1 or 2.

[0131] (Appendix 4) The conversion processing unit is performing a scaling process for each of the molding condition parameters included in the reference molding condition information and the plurality of existing molding condition information in accordance with a statistical index of the molding condition parameter; The molding condition processing unit includes: In a subsequent process, the feature vector having the plurality of molding condition parameters after the scaling process as elements is used. 4. The information processing device according to claim 1,

[0132] (Appendix 5) The conversion processing unit is performing a weighting process for assigning a weighting coefficient corresponding to a statistical index of the molding condition parameter to each element of the feature vector for each molding condition parameter; The molding condition processing unit includes: In a subsequent process, the feature vector after the weighting process is used. 5. The information processing device according to claim 1,

[0133] (Appendix 6) Molded body information regarding the molded body is The information is specified by a plurality of molded body parameters, The existing information acquisition unit, Acquire a plurality of pieces of existing molded body information regarding the existing molded body when blow molded according to the existing molding conditions indicated by the existing molding condition information, The molding condition processing unit includes: Among the plurality of pieces of existing molded body information acquired by the existing information acquisition unit, existing molded body information regarding the existing molded body when blow molded according to the molding conditions indicated by the similar molding condition information is acquired as similar molded body information. 5. The information processing device according to claim 1,

[0134] (Appendix 7) A performance evaluation unit for evaluating the processing performance of the other information processing device is further provided, The other information processing device is a molded body processing unit that acquires molded body information relating to a target molded body when the molded body is blow molded into the molded body as target molded body information, acquires existing molded body information similar to the target molded body information as similar molded body information, and acquires existing molding condition information indicating the existing molding conditions when the existing molded body specified by the similar molded body information is blow molded as similar molding condition information, The performance evaluation unit includes: Evaluating the processing performance based on the results obtained by the molding condition processing unit and the results obtained by the molded body processing unit. 6. An information processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

[0135] (Appendix 8) The molding condition processing unit includes: For each combination of the two existing molded bodies, a molding condition similarity is calculated when comparing the two existing molding condition information related to the two existing molded bodies; The molded body processing section includes: For each of the combinations, a molded body similarity is calculated when comparing the two pieces of existing molded body information related to the two existing molded bodies; The performance evaluation unit includes: The processing performance is evaluated by performing a correlation analysis based on the molding condition similarity for each of the combinations calculated by the molding condition processing unit and the molded body similarity for each of the combinations calculated by the molded body processing unit. 8. An information processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

[0136] (Appendix 9) The performance evaluation unit includes: The similar molding condition information acquired by the molding condition processing unit and the similar molding condition information acquired by the molded body processing unit are converted into molding condition feature quantities, respectively; The processing performance is evaluated based on a molding condition similarity obtained by comparing the molding condition feature amount of the similar molding condition information acquired by the molding condition processing unit with the molding condition feature amount of the similar molding condition information acquired by the molded body processing unit. 9. An information processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

[0137] (Appendix 10) The performance evaluation unit includes: The similar molded body information acquired by the molding condition processing unit, and the molded body processing unit The similar molded body information acquired by the above is converted into a molded body feature amount, The processing performance is evaluated based on a molding similarity obtained by comparing the molding feature amount of the similar molding information acquired by the molding condition processing unit with the molding feature amount of the similar molding information acquired by the molding condition processing unit. 10. The information processing device according to claim 1,

[0138] (Appendix 11) The performance evaluation unit includes: The similar molding condition information acquired by the molding condition processing unit and the similar molding condition information acquired by the molded body processing unit are converted into molding condition feature quantities, respectively; The similar molded body information acquired by the molding condition processing unit and the similar molded body information acquired by the molded body processing unit are converted into molded body feature amounts, respectively; The processing performance is evaluated based on a molding condition similarity obtained by comparing the molding condition feature amount of the similar molding condition information obtained by the molding condition processing unit with the molding condition feature amount of the similar molding condition information obtained by the molding condition processing unit, and a molding body similarity obtained by comparing the molding body feature amount of the similar molding condition information obtained by the molding condition processing unit with the molding body feature amount of the similar molding body information obtained by the molding condition processing unit. 11. The information processing device according to claim 1. [Explanation of symbols]

[0139] 1...Molding management system, 2...Container production device, 3...Database device, 4...First information processing device (information processing device), 5... second information processing device (another information processing device), 6... user terminal device, 10 ... preform (molded body), 11 ... bottle (molded body), 40: control unit, 41: storage unit, 42: communication unit, 43: input unit, 44: output unit, 50: control unit, 51: storage unit, 52: communication unit, 53: input unit, 54: output unit, 400: Reference molding condition acquisition unit; 401: Existing information acquisition unit; 402: Molding condition processing unit; 402A: conversion processing unit, 402B: calculation processing unit, 402C: acquisition processing unit, 403: performance evaluation unit; 404: output processing unit; 410: first information processing program; 500: target compact acquisition unit; 501: existing information acquisition unit; 502: compact processing unit; 502A: conversion processing unit, 502B: calculation processing unit, 502C: acquisition processing unit, 503: output processing unit, 510: second information processing program, 900: computer

Claims

1. a reference molding condition acquisition unit that acquires reference molding condition information indicating molding conditions that are used as a reference when blow molding a molded body into a molded body according to molding conditions specified by a plurality of molding condition parameters; an existing information acquisition unit that acquires a plurality of existing molding condition information indicating the existing molding conditions when the molded body is blow molded into the molded body; A molding condition processing unit that acquires, as similar molding condition information, the existing molding condition information similar to the reference molding condition information acquired by the reference molding condition acquisition unit among the plurality of existing molding condition information acquired by the existing information acquisition unit. Information processing device.

2. The molding condition processing unit includes: A conversion processing unit that converts the reference molding condition information and the plurality of existing molding condition information into molding condition feature quantities, respectively; a calculation processing unit that calculates molding condition similarities when comparing the molding condition feature values ​​of the reference molding condition information with the molding condition feature values ​​of a plurality of existing molding condition information; and an acquisition processing unit that acquires, as the similar molding condition information, the existing molding condition information in which the molding condition similarity satisfies a predetermined similarity condition, among the plurality of existing molding condition information. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

3. The conversion processing unit is The reference molding condition information and the plurality of existing molding condition information are converted into feature vectors in a vector space having the plurality of molding condition parameters as elements, The calculation processing unit: Calculating the molding condition similarity when comparing the feature vector of each of the plurality of existing molding condition information with the feature vector of the reference molding condition information; The information processing device according to claim 2 .

4. The conversion processing unit is performing a scaling process for each of the molding condition parameters included in the reference molding condition information and the plurality of existing molding condition information in accordance with a statistical index of the molding condition parameter; The molding condition processing unit includes: In a subsequent process, the feature vector having the plurality of molding condition parameters after the scaling process as elements is used. The information processing device according to claim 3 .

5. The conversion processing unit is performing a weighting process for assigning a weighting coefficient corresponding to a statistical index of the molding condition parameter to each element of the feature vector for each molding condition parameter; The molding condition processing unit includes: In a subsequent process, the feature vector after the weighting process is used. The information processing device according to claim 3 .

6. Molded body information regarding the molded body is The information is specified by a plurality of molded body parameters, The existing information acquisition unit, The existing molding condition information indicates the existing molding condition. acquiring a plurality of pieces of existing molded body information relating to the existing molded body as existing molded body information; The molding condition processing unit includes: Among the plurality of pieces of existing molded body information acquired by the existing information acquisition unit, existing molded body information regarding the existing molded body when blow molded according to the molding conditions indicated by the similar molding condition information is acquired as similar molded body information. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

7. A performance evaluation unit for evaluating the processing performance of the other information processing device is further provided, The other information processing device is a molded body processing unit that acquires molded body information relating to a target molded body when the molded body is blow molded into the molded body as target molded body information, acquires existing molded body information similar to the target molded body information as similar molded body information, and acquires existing molding condition information indicating the existing molding conditions when the existing molded body specified by the similar molded body information is blow molded as similar molding condition information, The performance evaluation unit includes: The processing performance is evaluated based on the results obtained by the molding condition processing unit and the results obtained by the molded body processing unit. The information processing device according to claim 6.

8. The molding condition processing unit includes: For each combination of the two existing molded bodies, a molding condition similarity is calculated when comparing the two existing molding condition information regarding the two existing molded bodies; The molded body processing section includes: For each of the combinations, a molded body similarity is calculated when comparing the two pieces of existing molded body information related to the two existing molded bodies; The performance evaluation unit includes: The processing performance is evaluated by performing a correlation analysis based on the molding condition similarity for each of the combinations calculated by the molding condition processing unit and the molded body similarity for each of the combinations calculated by the molded body processing unit. The information processing device according to claim 7.

9. The performance evaluation unit includes: The similar molding condition information acquired by the molding condition processing unit and the similar molding condition information acquired by the molded body processing unit are converted into molding condition feature quantities, respectively; The processing performance is evaluated based on a molding condition similarity obtained by comparing the molding condition feature amount of the similar molding condition information acquired by the molding condition processing unit with the molding condition feature amount of the similar molding condition information acquired by the molded body processing unit. The information processing device according to claim 7.

10. The performance evaluation unit includes: The similar molded body information acquired by the molding condition processing unit and the similar molded body information acquired by the molded body processing unit are converted into molded body feature amounts, respectively; The processing performance is evaluated based on a molding similarity obtained by comparing the molding feature amount of the similar molding information acquired by the molding condition processing unit with the molding feature amount of the similar molding information acquired by the molding condition processing unit. The information processing device according to claim 7.

11. The performance evaluation unit includes: The similar molding condition information acquired by the molding condition processing unit, and the molding processing converting the similar molding condition information acquired by the unit into molding condition feature quantities, The similar molded body information acquired by the molding condition processing unit and the similar molded body information acquired by the molded body processing unit are converted into molded body feature amounts, respectively; The processing performance is evaluated based on a molding condition similarity obtained by comparing the molding condition feature amount of the similar molding condition information obtained by the molding condition processing unit with the molding condition feature amount of the similar molding condition information obtained by the molding condition processing unit, and a molding body similarity obtained by comparing the molding body feature amount of the similar molding condition information obtained by the molding condition processing unit with the molding body feature amount of the similar molding body information obtained by the molding condition processing unit. The information processing device according to claim 7.

12. 1. A computer-implemented information processing method, comprising: a reference molding condition acquisition step of acquiring reference molding condition information indicating molding conditions to be used as a reference when blow molding a molded body into a molded body according to molding conditions specified by a plurality of molding condition parameters; an existing information acquisition step of acquiring a plurality of existing molding condition information indicating the existing molding conditions when the molded body was blow molded into the molded body; A molding condition processing step of acquiring, as similar molding condition information, existing molding condition information similar to the reference molding condition information acquired by the reference molding condition acquisition step, from among the plurality of existing molding condition information acquired by the existing information acquisition step, Information processing methods.

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