Planning device, planning method and control program

Abstract

To plan a cutting plan corresponding to a situation in which an arrangement order constraint condition is imposed to a part of an original coil.SOLUTION: A planning device (1) comprises: a set identification part (12) for identifying an original coil set being a combination of selected multiple original coils in which, a total amount of collectable weight is equal to or more than prescribed reference weight, on the basis of a product part (43) which can be collected as a product coil (32) in each of multiple original coils before selection and included in an original coil group, and collectable weight; and an order identification part (13) for identifying an arrangement order of multiple original coils forming the original coil set for cutting the product coil, so as to satisfy an order constraint condition for fixing at least a part of the arrangement order in the multiple original coils forming the original coil set.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a planning device, a planning method, and a control program. [Background technology]

[0002] In manufacturing industries that perform made-to-order production with different order specifications for each customer, planning of the strip cutting work (strip cutting plan) for cutting out the product coils (hoops) to be shipped from, for example, rectangular plate-shaped raw coils is an important task that affects the manufacturing cost of the product coils. Patent documents 1 to 3 describe techniques related to the creation of strip cutting plans for efficiently cutting product coils by combining multiple raw coils. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 2778857 [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 4360864 [Patent Document 3] JP 2023-083089 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Incidentally, original coils usually vary in size (length, width, etc.), and may contain defects (flaws, etc.) in various locations. It is necessary to devise a strip cutting plan that can extract and combine parts that can be used as products from various original coils contained in an original coil group (a group of multiple original coils) to cut out product coils.

[0005] In addition, the strip cutting plan is made according to the strip cutting equipment used to cut out the product coils. In other words, the strip cutting plan is required to satisfy the constraints caused by the specifications of the strip cutting equipment (actual strip cutting environment).

[0006] The techniques described in Patent Documents 1 to 3 do not take into consideration the case where constraints on the arrangement order are imposed on some of the various original coils included in the original coil group, and there is room for improvement. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above problems, a planning device in one embodiment of the present invention is a planning device for planning a strip cutting operation to cut out product coils across multiple original coils selected from an original coil group including multiple original coils, and is equipped with a set identification unit that identifies an original coil set, which is a combination of multiple selected original coils, based on the product portions that can be harvested as the product coil in each of the multiple original coils before selection included in the original coil group and the harvestable weights corresponding to the product portions, such that the total of the harvestable weights is equal to or greater than a predetermined reference weight by arranging the product portions of a specific width that satisfies the width condition of the product coil continuously in the longitudinal direction, and an order identification unit that identifies the arrangement order of the multiple original coils that constitute the original coil set, in order to cut out the product coil so as to satisfy an order constraint condition that fixes at least a portion of the arrangement order of the multiple original coils that constitute the original coil set.

[0008] In addition, a planning method in one aspect of the present invention is a planning method in which a calculation device plans a strip cutting operation to cut out product coils across multiple original coils selected from an original coil group including multiple original coils, and includes a set identification step of identifying an original coil set, which is a combination of multiple selected original coils, based on the product portions that can be harvested as the product coil in each of the multiple original coils before selection included in the original coil group and the harvestable weights corresponding to the product portions, such that the total of the harvestable weights is equal to or greater than a predetermined reference weight by arranging the product portions of a specific width that satisfies the width condition of the product coil in continuous lengthwise direction, and an order identification step of identifying the arrangement order of the multiple original coils that constitute the original coil set, in order to cut out the product coil so as to satisfy an order constraint condition that fixes at least a portion of the arrangement order of the multiple original coils that constitute the original coil set. Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to one aspect of the present invention, a strip cutting plan can be made in response to a case where a constraint on the arrangement order is imposed on some of the various original coils included in the original coil group. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a main part of a planning device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram for explaining an overview of a strip-cutting device that cuts a product coil from an original coil. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining an overview of a strip cutting facility having a strip cutting device. [Figure 4] 4 is a flowchart showing an example of an overall processing flow executed by a planning device in one embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 5] 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining an example of a process for cutting off defective parts that cannot be used for product coils, etc., from an original coil. FIG. [Figure 6]13 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of a first identification process in the group identification process. [Figure 7] 11 is a diagram showing an example of each passing position of a cutting blade on an original coil, and an example of an evaluation index stored in a memory unit. FIG. [Figure 8] 13 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of a second identification process and an arrangement process in the set identification process. [Figure 9] 13 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of an order specification process. [Figure 10] FIG. 13 is an example of a schematic diagram for explaining the arrangement order of original cutting coils; [Figure 11] 13 is a flowchart showing an example of a flow of a product unit weight adjustment process. [Figure 12] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an arrangement of an original coil for cutting and a product coil; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. The planning device 1 according to this embodiment is a device for planning cutting one or more product coils into strips using a plurality of original coils selected from an original coil group including a plurality of original coils, in accordance with the product specifications (order details) required by the user and the specifications of the strip cutting equipment (particularly, constraints on the arrangement order of the original coils). The original coil means, for example, a coil material in which a metal material having a shape with a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction is wound into a roll along the longitudinal direction with the direction along the transverse direction as the winding axis direction, and is in a state before being strip-cut.

[0012] <Strip cutting equipment and facilities> First, an example of a line cutting device and line cutting equipment to which the line cutting plan created by the plan creation device 1 in this embodiment is applied will be described in outline. Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram for explaining an overview of the line cutting device that cuts a product coil from an original coil.

[0013] As shown in Fig. 2, the strip cutting device 3 includes a first cutting unit 30 used to separate the original coil 31 into the product coil 32 and a portion not used as the product coil 32. In the strip cutting device 3, the original coil 31 is fed in a predetermined direction (the direction indicated by the arrow A in Figs. 2 and 3 along the length direction D1 of the original coil), and the original coil 31 is cut in the length direction D1 by the first cutting unit 30 installed midway in the feeding direction of the original coil 31.

[0014] In general, the first cutting section 30 includes a plurality of cutting blades 30X (slitters) arranged side by side in the width direction D2 of the raw coil 31 fed in a predetermined direction. The cutting blades 30X may be, for example, round blades. The first cutting section 30 includes, as the plurality of cutting blades 30X, at least a first end side cutting blade 30A located at one end side (first end side) in the width direction D2 of the raw coil 31 and a second end side cutting blade 30B located at the other end side (second end side). The first cutting section 30 may further include, as the plurality of cutting blades 30X, one or more dividing cutting blades 30C located between the first end side cutting blade 30A and the second end side cutting blade 30B. The number of dividing cutting blades 30C changes the number of product coils 32 that can be cut out at the same time. In the example shown in Figure 2, multiple cutting blades 30X, including a first end side cutting blade 30A, a second end side cutting blade 30B, and five dividing cutting blades 30C, are arranged on the strip cutting device 3, and the example shows a case in which six product coils 32 are cut out in parallel from an original coil 31.

[0015] The line cutting device 3 also includes a welding section 36 (see FIG. 3) for welding together two original coils 31, or a portion (coil piece) remaining after a cut-off portion 42 (described later) is removed from one original coil 31, while feeding the two original coils 31 to the first cutting section 30. An example of the line cutting device 3 and a line cutting facility 100 having the line cutting device 3 will be further described with reference to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram for explaining an overview of the line cutting facility having the line cutting device.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 3, in the example of the line cutting equipment 100, the line cutting device 3 includes a welding section 36 located upstream of the first cutting section 30, and a second cutting section 35 located upstream of the welding section 36. The second cutting section 35 includes a cross-cutting blade 35A. In the second cutting section 35, the cross-cutting blade 35A can cut (cross) the original coil 31 in the width direction (lateral direction). The welding section 36 welds the rear end of the original coil 31 flowing through the line cutting device 3 to the front end of another original coil 31 replaced by the pay-off reel 9. This makes it possible to supply a coil consisting of a plurality of original coils having a length that allows the processing to be performed to the first cutting section 30, even when it is necessary to cut out the product coil 32 across a plurality of original coils 31. In addition, the welding section 36 welds the ends of the original coil 31 that has been cut off in the second cutting section 35 (a cut-off portion 42 described later) and divided into two pieces.

[0017] That is, in the strip cutting device 3, the product coil 32 is cut out so as not to include a part to be removed such as a defect present in the original coil 31 (hereinafter, a defective part 41), which will be described in detail later. For example, a part of the original coil 31 may be cut off at the second cutting section 35, and in this case, a cut-off part 42 including the defective part 41 is generated. Also, the end part 33 including the defective part 41 may be cut off from the original coil 31 at the first cutting section 30. That is, when the defective part 41 is present, for example, at an end part in the width direction of the original coil 31, it is possible to cut off the end part 33 side in the width direction including the defective part 41 from the original coil 31 at the first cutting section 30. On the other hand, when the defective part 41 is present in a part other than the end part in the width direction of the original coil, such as the central part in the width direction of the original coil 31, the second cutting section 35 performs cutting before and after the defective part 41 present in the original coil 31, respectively, so that the defective part 41 can be cut off from the original coil 31. The end portion 33 is treated as a loss that is wasted when manufacturing the product coil 32. On the other hand, the cut-off portion 42 may be reusable, and therefore, as will be described in detail later, the cut-off portion 42 may not be treated as a loss.

[0018] The line cutting device 3 is only required to be able to cut out the product coils 32 across a plurality of original coils 31, and the specific configurations of the first cutting section 30, the welding section 36, and the second cutting section 35 are not particularly limited. In the line cutting equipment 100, the welding section 36 is designed to be able to weld two original coils with their positions shifted in the width direction (see the explanation of welding below). In the line cutting device 3, for example, the edge scraps 33A obtained by shredding the end portion 33 may be transported to another location. In the line cutting device 3, for example, the cut-off portion 42 may be transported to another location for use in a different purpose.

[0019] Here, in the example shown in FIG. 3, the strip cutting equipment 100 is equipped with one pay-off reel 9. For ease of explanation, the situation of strip cutting work when strip cutting equipment equipped with multiple pay-off reels 9 is used will be referred to as a reference strip cutting situation. In the reference strip cutting situation, the original coils 31 respectively attached to the multiple pay-off reels 9 are used to switch the original coils 31 sent to the strip cutting device 3, thereby making it possible to relatively increase the degree of freedom in the order of the multiple original coils 31 sent to the strip cutting device 3 to cut out the product coils 32. In contrast, when using the strip cutting equipment 100 as shown in the example in FIG. 3, unlike the above-mentioned reference strip cutting situation, the degree of freedom in the order of the multiple original coils 31 sent to the strip cutting device 3 to cut out the product coils 32 is very low.

[0020] Furthermore, the strip cutting equipment 100 uses an original coil set 31GS selected from the original coils 31 included in the original coil group 31G. The original coil group 31G is stored, for example, in a coil storage area CY. Depending on the number of original coils 31 stored in the coil storage area CY and the storage state (such as stacking) of the original coil group 31G, the ease of removing the original coils 31 from the coil storage area CY for transport to the pay-off reel 9 may differ for each of the original coils 31 of the original coil group 31G. By cutting out the product coils 32 using the original coils 31 arranged in an order that makes them easy to remove, the efficiency of the strip cutting work in the strip cutting equipment 100 can be easily improved.

[0021] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 3, when the cut-off portion 42 is removed and the portions of the original coil 31 other than the cut-off portion 42 (portions that may become product portions, as described below) are welded together upstream of the first cutting section 30 from which the product coil 32 is cut out, the order in which those portions are arranged is fixed.

[0022] Therefore, the planning device 1 of the present invention sets a constraint (arrangement order constraint) on the arrangement order of some of the various original coils 31 included in the original coil group 31G in accordance with the specifications of the above-mentioned strip cutting equipment (actual strip cutting environment), and thereby creates a strip cutting plan that satisfies the conditions of this arrangement order constraint (sequence constraint condition).

[0023] <Example of planning device configuration> An example configuration of a planning device 1 that uses the above-mentioned strip cutting equipment 100 to create a strip cutting plan for cutting the product coils 32 into strips so as to satisfy the product specifications required by the user and the arrangement order constraints of the multiple raw coils 31 sent out to the strip cutting device 3 will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0024] In the following, for the sake of simplicity, a stripe cutting plan will be described as an example in which one product coil 32 is cut out from the raw coil 31 in the width direction D2 and one or more product coils are cut out in the length direction D1. That is, in the stripe cutting device 3, which is the subject of the stripe cutting plan planning in the planning device 1 of this embodiment, the first cutting section 30 uses two cutting blades 30X, a first end side cutting blade 30A and a second end side cutting blade 30B. In many cases, at least one end 33 on the first end side and the second end side is cut off from the raw coil 31 in the first cutting section 30. As a result, a product coil 32 having a specific width is cut out. The specific width of the product coil 32 corresponds to the distance between the first end side cutting blade 30A and the second end side cutting blade 30B. The positions of the first end side cutting blade 30A and the second end side cutting blade 30B may be adjustable. The interval between the first end-side cutting blade 30A and the second end-side cutting blade 30B is fixed so as to correspond to the width of the product coil 32. The raw coils 31 are appropriately welded and fed in a predetermined direction, so that the product coils 32 are cut out across the raw coils 31 based on the passing positions of the first end-side cutting blade 30A and the second end-side cutting blade 30B.

[0025] When two or more product coils 32 are cut out from the original coil 31 in the width direction D2 as shown in Fig. 2, for example, one or more dividing cutting blades 30C are positioned so as to correspond to the respective widths of the multiple product coils 32 to be cut out. This makes it possible to simultaneously cut out multiple product coils 32 in the width direction D2 in accordance with the intervals between adjacent cutting blades 30X among the multiple cutting blades 30X. In the example shown in Fig. 2, the total width of six product coils 32 arranged in the width direction D2 is set to the width of one virtual product coil 32 in the width direction D2, and a strip-cutting plan can be created by the planning device 1 in the same manner as described below.

[0026] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the main components of the planning device in this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the planning device 1 includes a control unit 10, a storage unit 21, an input unit 22, a communication unit 23, and an output unit 24. Each unit (each component) of the planning device 1 can exchange data with each other via a system bus SB. The control unit 10 includes an information acquisition unit 11, a set identification unit 12, an order identification unit 13, and a unit weight adjustment unit 14. The set identification unit 12 may include a first identification unit 121, a second identification unit 122, and an alignment unit 123. The order identification unit 13 may include a temporary arrangement unit 131, a judgment unit 132, and a decision unit 133. The components of the planning device 1 will be described in detail below together with the processing executed by the planning device 1, but will be briefly described as follows.

[0027] The control unit 10 is a control device that controls the entire planning device 1, and is, for example, one or more processors, and various types of processors such as an MPU (Micro Processing Unit), a CPU (Central Processing Unit), an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), or a PLD (Programmable Logic Device) can be used.

[0028] The information acquiring unit 11 acquires first information about each of the multiple original coils. The first information is information about each of the multiple original coils, and includes the shape, weight, and location of defective parts of the original coil. The information about the shape of the original coil may include, for example, information about the width, length, and thickness. The first information may include information about the density and thickness of the original coil. The first information may include data calculated based on the information acquired by the information acquiring unit 11. For example, the first information may include information about the length of the original coil calculated based on information about the width, thickness, weight, and density of the original coil.

[0029] Furthermore, the information acquiring unit 11 acquires second information about the product coil 32 cut out from the original coil group. The second information is information about the product coil 32 to be cut out, and includes a width condition for the product coil 32, a product weight condition which is a condition related to the product weight of the product coil 32, and the number of times the product coil 32 can be welded. The second information may include the length of the product coil 32, and may include a total product weight condition which is a condition related to the total product weight. Hereinafter, the condition related to the number of times the product coil 32 can be welded may be referred to as a welding constraint condition.

[0030] Here, the product unit weight is the weight that each product coil 32 should reach. The product total weight is the weight that the sum of the product unit weights of the multiple product coils 32 cut out from the original coil group should reach in the product specifications (i.e., order contents) required by the user. In other words, the product total weight is the total weight of a delivery coil set consisting of multiple product coils 32 to be delivered to the user, so it does not need to be satisfied by one line cutting operation, but only needs to be satisfied by multiple line cutting operations. The number of welding times is the upper limit of the number of welding times (i.e., the number of welding points) included in the product coil 32, and indicates how many welding times are allowed for each product coil 32 in the line cutting operation in which the product coil 32 is cut out so as to reach the product unit weight across multiple original coils. Details of welding and the number of welding times will be described later. In addition, the width condition, the product unit weight condition, and the product total weight condition may each include information on the lower limit of the numerical value, or the upper and lower limits (i.e., numerical ranges). When the product unit weight condition is set as a numerical range of weight that each of the product coils 32 must reach, the product unit weight of the product coil 32 may be specified as a certain numerical value within the numerical range of the product unit weight condition based on the product unit weight condition.

[0031] Furthermore, the information acquiring unit 11 acquires information on order constraint conditions, which will be described later. The source from which the information acquiring unit 11 acquires information may be, for example, the storage unit 21, or an external storage medium connected to the planning device 1. Furthermore, the information acquiring unit 11 may acquire information input via the input unit 22 as first information, second information, or information on order constraint conditions. As will be described later, the information on order constraint conditions may include first order constraint information related to the original coil groups, and second order constraint information set in the process of identifying the original coil sets in the set identifying unit 12.

[0032] The set specifying unit 12 sets a specific width that satisfies the width condition of the product coil 32 based on the first information and the second information, and specifies the position of the product portion that can be harvested as the product coil 32 without including a defective portion for each of the multiple original coils included in the original coil group, and the harvestable weight corresponding to the product portion. In other words, it calculates the position where the first end side cutting blade 30A and the second end side cutting blade 30B, which have the specific width as a predetermined interval, pass over the original coil, and the harvestable weight corresponding to the passing position. Then, it specifies an original coil set that is a combination of the selected multiple original coils in which the total harvestable weight becomes equal to or greater than a predetermined reference weight by continuously arranging the product portions in the length direction. The predetermined reference weight may be set in advance by the user (planner), for example, and is acquired when the planning device 1 starts calculation. The predetermined reference weight may be, for example, a target value of the total harvest amount of the product coil 32 (for example, an integer multiple of the product unit weight).

[0033] Hereinafter, each of the multiple original coils included in the original coil set and used to cut out the product coil 32 will be referred to as an "original coil for cutting." The multiple original coils included in the original coil group are divided into two or more original coils for cutting and zero or more original coils that are the remaining coils. The original coils for cutting may be associated with a virtual cutting pattern, which will be described later.

[0034] The order specification unit 13 specifies the arrangement order of the multiple cut-out original coils for cutting out the product coil 32 so as to satisfy the order constraint condition set for the multiple cut-out original coils included in the original coil set. The order constraint condition is a condition set to fix at least a part of the arrangement order of the multiple cut-out original coils. The specific reason for setting the order constraint condition is not particularly limited. The order constraint condition may be set based on the ease of removing the original coils from the coil storage site CY (see FIG. 3) as described above, and information on such order constraint condition corresponds to the first order constraint information. In addition, the order constraint condition may be set for an original coil that generates a cut-off portion 42 as described later, and information on such order constraint condition corresponds to the second order constraint information. The order constraint condition may be set as appropriate for other reasons.

[0035] The sequence specifying unit 13 specifies the arrangement sequence of the multiple raw coils for cutting so that multiple product coils 32 that satisfy the above-mentioned number of possible welds in the product specifications required by the user can be cut out.

[0036] The individual units included in the set identifying unit 12 and the order identifying unit 13 will be described in detail later.

[0037] The storage unit 21 is a storage device that at least temporarily stores various information, and stores, for example, the first information and the second information (as well as the information on the order constraint condition). The first information and the second information (as well as the information on the order constraint condition) stored in the storage unit 21 may be information input via the input unit 22, for example. The storage unit 21 may also be an external storage medium connected to the plan formulation device 1.

[0038] The input unit 22 accepts input of user operations to the planning device 1. The input unit 22 is, for example, a keyboard and a mouse. The user inputs the second information and the like to the planning device 1 via the input unit 22. Note that, when some of the product coils 32 have already been manufactured, the control unit 10 may use, as the total product weight, a value obtained by subtracting the total weight of the product coils 32 already manufactured from the total weight of the product coils 32 input as an order.

[0039] The communication unit 23 has a function of communicating with other devices via a network. The communication may be wireless communication or wired communication. In the planning device 1, the first information and the second information (as well as the information on the order constraint condition) acquired from an external database via the communication unit 23 may be stored in the storage unit 21.

[0040] The planning device 1 may be connected to the output device 2 in a wired or wireless manner so as to be capable of information communication. The output unit 24 outputs information on the strip cutting plan created (planned) by the planning device 1 to the output device 2 under the control of the control unit 10. The output device 2 outputs the strip cutting plan acquired from the planning device 1. The output device 2 is a device for presenting information on the strip cutting plan including the arrangement order of the specified multiple cut-out raw coils to a user, etc., and may be, for example, a monitor (display), a printing device (printer), or a projection device, or may be a storage device that stores the plan that has been planned. The strip cutting plan may include information such as the position in the cut-out raw coil where the product coil 32 is cut out and the product unit weight of the cut-out product coil 32.

[0041] The output device 2, which outputs information on the strip cutting plan from the output unit 24 based on the control by the control unit 10, may be a strip cutting facility 100 (see FIG. 3) associated with the planning device 1. More specifically, the output device 2 may be a control device (not shown) that controls the strip cutting facility 100. The strip cutting facility 100 (control device) can receive the strip cutting plan transmitted from the planning device 1 and perform strip cutting based on the strip cutting plan. The strip cutting work in the strip cutting facility 100 may be performed automatically or semi-automatically with assistance from an operator. Based on the original coil set 31GS and the arrangement order of the strip cutting plan created by the planning device 1, a plurality of original coils 31 are sequentially transferred from the coil storage area CY to the payoff reel 9 and attached thereto. While the original coil 31 is being paid out from the payoff reel 9, the next original coil 31 may be transferred from the coil storage area CY. Based on the line-cutting plan, the original coil 31 is appropriately cut across by the second cutting section 35, and two original coils 31 are welded at a welding section 36 while being shifted in the width direction. Then, in the first cutting section 30, the end portion 33 is cut off from the original coil 31 sent out in a predetermined direction by a first end-side cutting blade 30A and a second end-side cutting blade 30B fixed at a predetermined interval based on the line-cutting plan, and one or more product coils 32 are cut out.

[0042] It is not necessary that each unit included in the planning device 1 is incorporated in a single device. For example, one or more units may be included in separate devices and connected to each other so as to be able to communicate with each other, or one or more units may be arranged on a cloud and connected to each other so as to be able to communicate with each other. The planning device 1 and the strip cutting device 3 may be configured to be included in a single strip cutting system (for example, strip cutting equipment 100).

[0043] <Overall process flow> Next, a description will be given of the overall flow of processing executed by the planning device 1. Fig. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the overall flow of processing executed by the planning device in this embodiment.

[0044] 4, in the planning device 1, first, the information acquisition unit 11 acquires the first information and the second information (S1). The information acquisition unit 11 may acquire other information (information on order constraint conditions, etc.) as appropriate.

[0045] Next, the set specifying unit 12 performs a set specifying process to specify an original coil set so as to satisfy a predetermined condition (S3). Then, the order specifying unit 13 performs an order specifying process to specify an arrangement order of a plurality of original coils for extraction for the original coil set so as to satisfy at least an order constraint condition (S5). The set specifying process and the order specifying process will be described in detail later.

[0046] Next, when multiple product coils 32 are cut out from the original coil set according to the original coil set and arrangement order specified in S3 and S5 above, the unit weight adjustment unit 14 performs a unit weight adjustment process (S7) to adjust the product unit weight of each product coil 32 so as to reduce the total number of welding points of each of the multiple product coils 32. Details of this unit weight adjustment process will be described later.

[0047] Thereafter, the control unit 10 outputs the processing result (strip cutting plan) via the output unit 24 to, for example, the output device 2 (S9). The user can check the processing result output to the output device 2 and, for example, confirm the conditions for cutting the product coil 32 into strips in accordance with the product specifications.

[0048] In addition, the planning device 1 does not necessarily require the unit weight adjustment unit 14, but it is preferable to have the unit weight adjustment unit 14. In the following, an example in which the planning device 1 is provided with the unit weight adjustment unit 14 will be described, but if the planning device 1 is not provided with the unit weight adjustment unit 14, the process of S7 above may be omitted and the process of S9 above may be performed after S5 above.

[0049] (Group specific processing) The above-mentioned group identification process (S3 in FIG. 4) will be described. The group identification unit 12 refers to the first information and the second information as necessary in each process included in the group identification process. The group identification unit 12 first calculates the product portion (corresponding to the passing position of the cutting blade 30X) and the harvestable weight of each original coil. After that, the group identification unit 12 identifies an original coil group, which is a combination of multiple original coils, in which the total harvestable weight that can be harvested from the portion formed by continuously arranging the product portions in the length direction is equal to or greater than a predetermined reference weight. An original coil included in the original coil group is referred to as an original coil for cutting.

[0050] The set identifying unit 12 may identify one or more original coil sets by, for example, finding all possible combinations, or may identify one or more original coil sets by a metaheuristics method. The set identifying unit 12 calculates a set evaluation value (e.g., yield) for each of the one or more original coil sets. When a predetermined number of original coil sets having a set evaluation value that satisfies a predetermined reference value have been identified, the set identifying unit 12 may terminate the process of identifying (searching for) another original coil set.

[0051] The set identification unit 12 may then perform a process of rearranging (sorting) the multiple original coil sets in descending order of the set evaluation value for the subsequent order identification process. In the set identification process, consideration is given to which original coil is to be used as the original coil for cutting, but the arrangement order within the combination of original coils is not determined. The set identification process will be described in detail below.

[0052] {Determination and welding of cut-off portion 42} First, a process for determining the cut-off portion 42 in the original coil and welding, which are prerequisites for the group identification process, will be described. Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram for explaining an example of a process for cutting off a defective portion that cannot be used for the product coil 32, etc., from the original coil.

[0053] In the example shown in FIG. 5, an original coil 401 having three defective parts 41 is shown. The defective parts 41 are typically located at the end 33 in the width direction of the original coil, or may spread to the center. As shown by the hatched area in FIG. 5, the defective parts 41 may be set as a rectangular area. Note that the rectangular area has a size that allows defects on the original coil 401 that should be removed from the product coil to be contained therein. The information on the positions of the defective parts 41 of the original coil included in the first information is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, numerical coordinates corresponding to the four corners of a rectangle.

[0054] The first specifying unit 121 in the set specifying unit 12 sets the passing positions of the cutting blades 30X (the first end side cutting blade 30A and the second end side cutting blade 30B) at a predetermined interval w on the original coil. Here, the predetermined interval w is the width of the product coil 32. That is, the first specifying unit 121 sets the width of the product coil on the original coil. The width of the product coil 32 is set in the set specifying unit 12 to a specific width (one numerical value within a range) that satisfies the width condition of the product coil 32. The relative position of the cutting blade 30X having the predetermined interval and the original coil passing the cutting blade 30X are variable in the width direction of the original coil. The position of the original coil passing the first cutting unit 30 may be displaced in the width direction, or the position of the cutting blade 30X may be displaced in the width direction. The width of the product coil 32 is equal to or less than the width of the original coil. For example, when the width of the product coil 32 is equal to the width of the original coil, the end portion 33 does not need to be cut off. The passing position of the cutting blade 30X can be positioned on the original coil as an imaginary region having the width of the product coil 32 and extending in the length direction of the original coil.

[0055] If the defective portion 41 is located at the end 33 of the original coil, the defective portion 41 is cut off when the end 33 is cut off over the entire length direction, but if the defective portion 41 spreads to the center, it is necessary to cut off the entire width direction including the defective portion 41 as the cut-off portion 42 (cut off a part of the original coil so that the overall length is shortened) as shown in original coil 402. In this case, the cut-off portion 42 is cut off by the second cutting unit 35 (see FIG. 3). Even if the defective portion 41 is located at the end 33 of the original coil, the entire width direction including the defective portion 41 may be cut off as the cut-off portion 42.

[0056] The cut portions across the cut-off portions 42 are connected by welding. Welding is also performed when the length of the product coil 32 exceeds the length of the original coil, or when the ends of the original coils are connected to manufacture the product coil 32. A single product coil 32 is cut out across multiple original coils. The product specifications required by the user may include a requirement that the number of welds in each product coil 32 is a predetermined number or less. This is because welding requires a certain amount of time and energy, which may cause a decrease in production efficiency, and the outer or inner quality of the welded portion may be slightly altered due to the specifications. Note that when the cut portions are ultimately located at the ends of the product coil 32 in the length direction, the product portions 43 including the cut portions correspond to different product coils 32, so welding is not performed.

[0057] As a result, the original coil is in a state where the defective portion 41 has been removed, as shown in the original coil 403. In other words, the product coil 32 needs to be collected from a range excluding the end portion 33 and the defective portion 41 in the original coil. The weight of the original coil in the state shown in the original coil 403 is the harvestable weight of the original coil. In other words, the first identification unit 121 calculates the weight of the part excluding the end portion 33 and the cut-off portion 42 of the original coil as the harvestable weight. The harvestable weight can be calculated based on information included in the first information, for example. Specifically, it may be calculated by multiplying the area (length x width) of the cut-out portion as shown in the original coil 403 by the thickness and density of the original coil. In addition, the ratio of the harvestable weight to the weight of the original coil shown in the original coil 401 is the yield of the original coil 401. Therefore, an increase in the cut-off portion 42 in the original coil is a factor that reduces the yield. This yield can be said to be an order evaluation index used for relative comparison (ordering) of multiple original coils included in an original coil group when identifying an original coil set, and for group evaluation of original coil sets described later. Such an order evaluation index is not limited to the yield, and various known indexes can be appropriately adopted. Harvestable weight may be used as the order evaluation index.

[0058] As described above, the passing position of the cutting blade 30X at a predetermined interval is variable in the width direction of the original coil. The harvestable weight, yield, welding points, and number of weldings in a certain original coil may change depending on the passing position of the cutting blade 30X. For example, when a defective part 41 is located near the end 33 of the original coil, the passing position of the cutting blade 30X may be shifted in the width direction D2 to avoid the defective part 41, thereby obtaining the harvestable weight. Also, depending on the passing position of the cutting blade 30X, even if the defective part 41 is located near the end 33 of the original coil, if the width of the remaining part when the end 33 is cut off over the entire length direction is less than the width of the product coil, the entire width direction including the defective part 41 may be set as the cut-off part 42.

[0059] Therefore, the first identification unit 121 calculates the harvestable weight, yield (rank evaluation index), welding locations, and number of welds for each passing position while shifting the passing position of the cutting blade 30X at regular intervals in the width direction of the original coil, and stores each piece of information as an evaluation index in the storage unit 21. By the process described with reference to Fig. 5, when a defective portion 41 is located near the end portion 33 of the original coil, the passing position of the cutting blade 30X is shifted to avoid the defective portion 41, thereby making it possible to use the original coil without waste.

[0060] {First specific process} Based on the above premise, the flow of the group identification process will be described. Fig. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of the first identification process in the group identification process. The flowchart shown in Fig. 6 shows the first identification process (S3-1) executed by the first identification unit 121, which corresponds to a part of the process of S3 shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is performed for all original coils included in the original coil group. Fig. 7 shows each passing position of the cutting blade on the original coil, and an example of an evaluation index stored in the memory unit.

[0061] As shown in Fig. 6, the first identification unit 121 judges whether or not there is an original coil whose evaluation index has not been calculated among the multiple original coils included in the original coil group (S31). When the first identification unit 121 judges that there is an original coil whose evaluation index has not yet been calculated (YES in S31), it performs a process of calculating an evaluation index for the original coil. On the other hand, when the first identification unit 121 judges that there is no original coil whose evaluation index has not yet been calculated (NO in S31), it ends the first identification process (S3-1) in the flowchart shown in Fig. 6, and then the second identification unit 122 executes the second identification process (S3-2) and the alignment process.

[0062] In the process of calculating the evaluation index, the first determination unit 121 first calculates the position of the part (end 33 and cut-off portion 42) cut off from the original coil corresponding to the passing position of the cutting blade 30X (S32). Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, the multiple original coils included in the original coil group may be referred to as "X000M (M is an integer of 2 or more corresponding to the number of coils included in the original coil group)". In FIG. 7, the original coil X0001 is illustrated. The figures indicated by the reference numerals 701 to 703 in FIG. 7 respectively show an example of the passing position of the cutting blade 30X in the original coil X0001, and the end 33 and cut-off portion 42 corresponding to the passing position. For example, the passing position of the cutting blade 30X when the process of S32 is first performed on the original coil X0001 can be the position closest to one end side in the width direction D2 of the original coil X0001, as shown in the figure indicated by the reference numeral 701 in FIG. 7.

[0063] Based on the positions of the end portion 33 and the cut-off portion 42 calculated corresponding to the passing position of the cutting blade 30X, the first identification unit 121 calculates an evaluation index for the passing position (pattern) of the cutting blade 30X and stores it in the memory unit 21 (S33).

[0064] The table indicated by reference numeral 704 in FIG. 7 shows an example of the evaluation index stored in the storage unit 21 for the original coil X0001. The imaginary cutting patterns in which the pass positions and the evaluation indexes for the original coil X0001 are associated with each other are called X0001-1, X0001-2, and X0001-3. In the table indicated by reference numeral 704 in FIG. 7, the imaginary cutting patterns X0001-1 to 3 correspond to the figures indicated by reference numerals 701 to 703 in FIG. 7, that is, the cases where the pass positions of the cutting blade 30X are 0 mm, 20 mm, and 40 mm, respectively. The "pass position" indicates how far the pass position of the cutting blade 30X is from a predetermined reference position in the width direction of the original coil. In the example shown in FIG. 7, the predetermined position is the left end position of the original coil.

[0065] Reference numeral 701 in FIG. 7 indicates a case where the left end of the predetermined interval w coincides with the reference predetermined position as described above. The part where the predetermined interval w cannot be obtained due to the defective part 41 at the left end and the defective part 41 at the center of the original coil X0001 is set as the cut-off part 42, and the collectable weight (2000, 1000) is obtained in the two parts, the upper part and the lower part, which sandwich the defective part 41. Reference numeral 702 in FIG. 7 indicates a case where the predetermined interval w is obtained between the defective part 41 at the left end and the defective part 41 at the right end of the original coil X0001 in the width direction D2, and the collectable weight (2000, 4000) is obtained in the two parts, the upper part and the lower part, which sandwich the existing cut-off part 42. Reference numeral 703 in FIG. 7 indicates a case where the right end of the predetermined interval w coincides with the right end of the original coil X0001. The part of the original coil X0001 where the specified distance w cannot be obtained due to the defective part 41 at the right end and the defective part 41 in the center is set as the cut-off part 42, and the harvestable weight (4000) is obtained only from the part below this.

[0066] 7, for example, in the hypothetical cutting pattern X0001-1, the harvestable weight "2000,1000" indicates that a 2000 kg product portion 43 and a 1000 kg product portion 43 can be harvested from the original coil X0001, and one welded portion is generated at the end portion in the longitudinal direction of the 2000 kg product portion 43. For example, in the hypothetical cutting pattern X0001-3, the harvestable weight "4000" indicates that a single product portion 43 of 4000 kg can be harvested from the original coil X0001, and no welded portion is generated.

[0067] In the virtual cutting pattern X0001-1 illustrated in the table indicated by reference numeral 704 in FIG. 7, the passing position of the cutting blade 30X is "0 mm" from the reference predetermined position, the yield is "a%," and the collectable weight is "2000, 1000". In the virtual cutting pattern X0001-2 illustrated in the table indicated by reference numeral 704 in FIG. 7, the passing position of the cutting blade 30X is "20 mm" from the reference predetermined position, the yield is "b%," and the collectable weight is "2000, 4000". In the virtual cutting pattern X0001-3 illustrated in the table indicated by reference numeral 704 in FIG. 7, the passing position of the cutting blade 30X is "40 mm" from the reference predetermined position, the yield is "c%," and the collectable weight is "4000".

[0068] As shown in FIG. 6, the above-mentioned processes of S32 and S33 are executed multiple times by changing the passing position of the cutting blade 30X.

[0069] When the first determination unit 121 determines that there remains a position to which the passing position of the cutting blade 30X should be moved next in the width direction of the original coil (YES in S34), it sets the passing position of the cutting blade 30X to the position to which it should be moved (S35). Then, it executes the process from S32. The above-mentioned certain distance by which the passing position of the cutting blade 30X is moved in S35 may be an arbitrarily determined distance, and may be in mm or cm. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and the distance by which the passing position of the cutting blade 30X is moved in S35 may be changed every time it is moved.

[0070] When the first identification unit 121 determines that there is no position to which the passing position of the cutting blade 30X should be moved next (NO in S34), it ends the process of calculating the evaluation index for the target original coil (original coil X0001 in the example shown in FIG. 7), and then executes the process of S31. From another perspective, the determination of "NO" in S34 means that it has been determined that the passing position of the cutting blade 30X has been moved in the width direction at intervals of a predetermined distance and the evaluation index has been calculated for all positions where the evaluation index should be calculated.

[0071] As an example, the diagrams denoted by reference numerals 701 to 703 in Fig. 7 show a part of the state where the passing position of the cutting blade 30X of the imaginary cutting pattern X0001-1 denoted by reference numeral 701 is moved stepwise to the right in S35. If the passing position of the cutting blade 30X when the evaluation index was calculated most recently is the position of the imaginary cutting pattern X0001-3 denoted by reference numeral 703 in Fig. 7, the first specifying unit 121 determines that there is no position to which the passing position of the cutting blade 30X should be moved next and determines "NO" in S34. Moving the passing position of the cutting blade 30X can also be said to be moving the position of the product coil 32 cut out from the original coil.

[0072] 6 is completed, the evaluation indexes exemplified in the table indicated by reference numeral 704 in FIG. 7 for all the original coils (each of the above-mentioned multiple original coils X000M) are recorded in the storage unit 21, that is, the virtual cutting patterns calculated for each of the original coils X000M are recorded in the storage unit 21. In this manner, the first identification unit 121 calculates the harvestable weight corresponding to each position of the cutting blades 30X at predetermined intervals in the width direction of each original coil, and stores it in the storage unit 21.

[0073] Note that, in cases where the cut-off portion 42 is large and has a predetermined weight or more, the formula for calculating the ranking evaluation index such as the yield may be changed depending on the condition of the cut-off portion 42. For example, the first identification unit 121 may be configured not to include the cut-off portion 42 in the calculation of the yield, assuming that the cut-off portion 42 can be used for purposes other than the product coil 32.

[0074] The first identification unit 121 that executes the above-mentioned first identification process can be summarized as follows: That is, based on the first information and the second information, the first identification unit 121 uses a virtual area having a specific width that satisfies the width condition of the product coil 32 and extending in the length direction of the original coil for each of the multiple original coils before selection that are included in the original coil group, and identifies the product portion, harvestable weight, and ranking evaluation index (e.g., yield) for each position of the virtual area while allowing cutting off a part of the original coil so as to shorten the overall length so as not to include defective portions and changing the position of the virtual area in the width direction of the original coil.

[0075] {Second specific processing / sorting processing} Fig. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of the second identification process and sorting process in the group identification process. The flowchart shown in Fig. 8 shows the second identification process and sorting process (S3-2) executed by the second identification unit 122, which corresponds to a part of the process of S3 shown in Fig. 4. In S3-2, at least the second identification process (group identification and group evaluation process) is performed. The sorting process may be performed in S5 described later.

[0076] As shown in Fig. 8, the second determination unit 122 determines whether or not a combination of virtual cutting patterns of different original coils (a combination of original coils that are candidates for the original coil for cutting) remains based on the virtual cutting patterns set for each of the original coils (the above-mentioned original coils X000M) included in the original coil group (S36). Here, as described above, for example, in Fig. 7, for the original coil X0001, the virtual cutting patterns X0001-1 to 3 in which the evaluation index is associated with each of the three passing positions of the cutting blade 30X are shown in a table, but in reality, more virtual cutting patterns may be provided for each of the original coils included in the original coil group. For example, for the original coil X0001, a virtual cutting pattern X0001-N (N is an integer of 1 or more corresponding to the number of virtual cutting patterns) in which the passing position is associated with the evaluation index can be virtually set. Then, in the above-mentioned first identification process (S3-1), for each of all original coils X000M included in the original coil group, evaluation indexes corresponding to the multiple passing positions of the cutting blade 30X may be calculated. In this way, in the above-mentioned first identification process (S3-1), virtual cutting patterns X000M-N are virtually set for each of all original coils X000M included in the original coil group. Note that the number of virtual cutting patterns N may be different for each of the multiple original coils X000M, and the number of virtual cutting patterns N for all original coils may not be the same, such as the number of virtual cutting patterns N for at least one original coil being different from the number of virtual cutting patterns N for the remaining original coils. Then, using each of the virtual cutting patterns X000M-N, the combination determination in the above S36 and the combination setting in the following S37 are performed. In other words, the combination of virtual cut patterns determined (S36 above) or set (S37 below) by the second specifying unit 122 is a combination of two or more virtual cut patterns having different values ​​of M selected from the virtual cut patterns X000M-N.

[0077] The above will be explained in more detail as follows. First, for the sake of simplicity, the multiple original coils included in the original coil group are designated as Xi (i=1, 2...I). In this case, the original coil group is made up of I original coils. Considering that the number of virtual cutting patterns may differ for each original coil as described above, the number of virtual cutting patterns for each original coil Xi is designated as pi. When the second determination unit 122 selects j original coils (j is an integer between 2 and I) from the multiple original coils included in the original coil group, the number of combinations is calculated for each selected number (value of j) as follows: For j=2: I C2×pa×pb For j=3: I C3×pa×pb×pc ... For j = I: 1 × p1 × p2 × . . . × pI Here, since the number of virtual cut patterns differs for each original coil and cannot be expressed by a simple formula, for convenience of explanation, original coils selected from the original coil group are designated as original coils Xa, Xb, and Xc, and the numbers of virtual cut patterns of the original coils Xa, Xb, and Xc are used. The total number of combinations of virtual cut patterns determined (S36 above) or set (S37 below) by the second determination unit 122 is calculated by adding up the number of combinations calculated for each of the selected numbers of original coils (j values).

[0078] In addition, when the number of virtual cut patterns is the same for each original coil, the total number of combinations of virtual cut patterns that the second determination unit 122 determines (S36 above) or sets (S37 below) can be calculated by the following formula. i means p to the i power.

number

[0079] When the second identification unit 122 determines that the total harvestable weight has reached a predetermined reference weight (YES in S38), it identifies the combination of original coils corresponding to the combination of virtual cutting patterns that has reached the predetermined reference weight as an original coil set, calculates a set evaluation value, which is, for example, the yield in the entire combination, and stores it in the storage unit 21 in association with the original coil set (S39). As described above, the original coils included in the original coil set may be referred to as original coils for cutting, and the virtual cutting patterns may be associated with the multiple original coils for cutting included in the original coil set and stored in the storage unit 21. Here, the yield in the entire combination may be, for example, the average value of the yield in each virtual cutting pattern of the multiple original coils included in the combination, or may be the ratio of the total weight of the harvestable weight in each virtual cutting pattern of the multiple original coils included in the combination to the total weight of the multiple original coils included in the combination. In addition, the second identification unit 122 may calculate the harvestable weight in the entire combination of the original coil set as the set evaluation value and store it in the storage unit 21.

[0080] A weight equal to or greater than the product unit weight can be set in advance as the predetermined reference weight. The predetermined reference weight may be changed as appropriate. For example, the predetermined reference weight may be stored in the storage unit 21 by inputting it in advance via the input unit 22, and the predetermined reference weight stored in the storage unit 21 may be updated. The predetermined reference weight may be set to, for example, twice or more the product unit weight, or to a value between two and four times the product unit weight. Also, for example, in the case where a product coil 32 (actual product coil) equivalent to a part of the total product weight has already been manufactured for the product specifications required by the user, the weight obtained by subtracting the weight of the actual product coil from the total product weight may be set as the predetermined reference weight.

[0081] When the second identifying unit 122 determines that the total harvestable weight does not reach the total product weight (NO in S38), it subsequently executes the process of S36 and determines other combinations of imaginary cutting patterns.

[0082] The second identification unit 122 that executes the second identification process as described above can be organized as follows: The second identification unit 122 identifies, as an original coil set, a combination of a plurality of original coils with identified product parts (associated with a virtual cutting pattern) whose total harvestable weight is equal to or greater than a predetermined reference weight, based on the product parts and harvestable weights calculated for each arrangement position in the virtual area for each of the plurality of original coils before selection that are included in the original coil group.

[0083] As described above, by identifying a combination of original coils that meets a predetermined standard weight as an original coil set, the planning device 1 can create a strip cutting plan that ensures the amount of product that is required to be extracted in one strip cutting operation by the strip cutting device 3.

[0084] Then, when the second identification unit 122 determines that no combination of virtual cutting patterns remains (NO in S36), the alignment unit 123 of the set identification unit 12 then rearranges the original coil sets stored in the storage unit 21 in descending order of set evaluation value (S40). In summary, when the second identification unit 122 identifies a plurality of original coil sets, the alignment unit 123 rearranges the plurality of original coil sets in descending order of set evaluation value in the entire combinations, based on a set evaluation value, which is the yield in the entire combination calculated based on the yield (sequence evaluation index) in each virtual cutting pattern of the plurality of original coils for cutting that constitute each original coil set, for each of the plurality of original coil sets.

[0085] (Order specific processing) Next, the above-mentioned order specification process (S5 in FIG. 4) will be described. In each process included in the order specification process, the order specification unit 13 refers to the first information and the second information acquired by the information acquisition unit 11 as necessary. In the order specification process, the order specification unit 13 specifies the arrangement order of the multiple cut-out original coils for cutting out the product coil 32 so as to satisfy the order constraint condition and the requirements for the product coil 32. More specifically, first, a temporary arrangement order in which the multiple cut-out original coils in the original coil set are temporarily arranged is determined so as to satisfy the above-mentioned order constraint condition. Next, it is determined whether or not the above-mentioned welding constraint condition is satisfied when the product coil 32 is cut out from the multiple cut-out original coils arranged in the temporary arrangement order. If it is determined that the welding constraint condition is satisfied, the temporary arrangement order is determined as the arrangement order for cutting out the product coil 32.

[0086] Fig. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of the order specification process. The flowchart shown in Fig. 9 shows the order specification process executed by the order specification unit 13, which corresponds to the process of S5 shown in Fig. 4. The order specification process may be performed for each original coil set in descending order of group evaluation value sorted by the above sorting process, that is, for each original coil set in sorting order. At the start of the order specification process, the original coil set is composed of a combination of multiple original coils for cutting (hereinafter simply referred to as original coils for cutting) each associated with a virtual cutting pattern, as described above, and the arrangement order of the multiple original coils for cutting is undetermined.

[0087] First, the temporary arrangement unit 131 labels the multiple original coil sets arranged in the above S40 (sorted in descending order of the set evaluation value) as the i-th set in ascending order of the set evaluation value. Such labeling may be performed as a result of the above arrangement process. If the arrangement process is not performed in the above S3, the arrangement process may be performed at the beginning of the order specification process. For example, the multiple original coil sets can be labeled as the i-th set (i=1 to j: j is the total number of original coil sets specified in S39 of FIG. 8) in ascending order of the set evaluation value. Then, as shown in FIG. 9, first, the variable i referred to in the processing of the temporary arrangement unit 131 is initialized (i=0) (S51). Next, the temporary arrangement unit 131 increments (increases by 1) the variable i (S52). The temporary arrangement unit 131 sets the i-th original coil set (initially the first) as the processing target, and sets a temporary arrangement order in which the original coils for cutting included in the original coil set are temporarily arranged so as to satisfy the order constraint condition (S53). 9, the order specification process includes repeated processing so as to determine an appropriate arrangement order. In other words, if it is determined that an appropriate arrangement order cannot be determined for the original coil sets to be processed, the original coil set with the next highest yield in the entire combination is used as the processing target. In this way, in one embodiment, the order specification unit 13 performs processing to specify the arrangement order of the multiple original coils for cutting out, for cutting out the product coil 32, in descending order of the group evaluation value of the multiple original coil sets.

[0088] Following the processing of S53 above, the judgment unit 132 judges whether or not the number of welds will be equal to or less than the possible number of welds when the product coil 32 is cut out using the set provisional arrangement sequence of the raw coils for cutting, in other words, whether or not the condition regarding the number of welds (welding constraint condition) is satisfied in the provisional arrangement sequence of the raw coils for cutting (S54).

[0089] If the judging unit 132 judges that the number of welds included in the product coils 32 will be equal to or less than the possible number of welds (the number of welding points will not exceed the upper limit) when the product coils 32 are cut out from the original coils for cutting in the provisional arrangement order (YES in S54), the deciding unit 133 decides that the provisional arrangement order of the original coils for cutting that has been set is the arrangement order for cutting out the product coils 32 (S55). In this way, the processing is performed in sequence starting from the original coil set with the highest set evaluation value, and the order determination processing is terminated when a product coil is found that has the number of welds included in the product coils that is equal to or less than the possible number of welds, thereby speeding up the processing.

[0090] In addition, when there is no request for the number of times that welding can be performed for the product coil 32 (when the welding constraint condition is not set), the order specification unit 13 selects the original coil set with the highest group evaluation value without performing the above S54. Then, the order specification unit 13 may determine the arrangement order of the multiple original coils for cutting included in the original coil set so as to satisfy the order constraint condition. In addition, in the embodiment shown in Figs. 8 to 9, the original coil sets are arranged in descending order of the group evaluation value by S40 in Fig. 8, but the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. For example, S40 in Fig. 8 may not be performed. In this case, there is no guarantee that the smaller the label number, the higher the group evaluation value. Therefore, in the case of YES in S54 in Fig. 9, those with the number of times that welding can be performed or less may be stored in a memory or the like, and the process may proceed to S56, so that S55 is executed after all the original coil combinations (combinations of virtual cutting patterns) have been confirmed (YES in S58). Then, in S55, when there are multiple combinations stored in the memory or the like, a combination of virtual cutting patterns and an arrangement order of multiple original coils constituting the combination are determined based on the group evaluation value for cutting out the product coil 32. In this case, for example, in the case of YES in S54 of FIG. 9, only those that satisfy a predetermined criterion, such as whether the group evaluation value exceeds a predetermined threshold value, may be stored. Similarly, it is not necessary to check all combinations of original coils (combinations of virtual cutting patterns). For example, in the case of YES in S54 of FIG. 9, the process may proceed to S55 when a predetermined number of combinations to be stored are found. In addition, in S55, multiple types of strip cutting plans indicating (i) a combination of original coils for cutting out and (ii) an arrangement order of multiple original coils for cutting out that constitute the combination may be determined for cutting out the product coil 32. In the case of the output device 2 that presents the combinations to the user on a display or the like, the planning device 1 may be configured to display the multiple strip cutting plans by the output device 2.

[0091] FIG. 10 is an example of a schematic diagram for explaining the arrangement order of the cutting original coils. FIG. 10 shows an example of cutting two product coils (P1, P2) using three cutting original coils (X0001, X0002, X0003). The diagram indicated by reference numeral 1001 in FIG. 10 shows the cutting original coil X0001, and the table indicated by reference numeral 1002 in FIG. 10 shows an example of some evaluation indexes (harvestable weight) stored in the storage unit 21 for the cutting original coils included in the original coil set. The diagram indicated by reference numeral 1003 in FIG. 10 and the table indicated by reference numeral 1004 show an example of the provisional arrangement order of the three cutting original coils (X0001, X0002, X0003) included in the original coil set. The diagram indicated by reference numeral 1005 in Fig. 10 shows a case where product coils (P1, P2) are cut out from three raw coils for cutting (X0001, X0002, X0003) in a provisional arrangement order, and a table indicated by reference numeral 1006 in Fig. 10 shows information on each product coil (P1, P2). In the example shown in Fig. 10, for example, the product coil P1 has a product unit weight of 5000 kg and has been welded twice. Here, the product coil 32 is divided when the weight of the product portion 43 reaches the product unit weight, but if the product coil 32 is taken across multiple raw coils, welding is also performed between each raw coil. In the example shown in Figure 10, if the judgment unit 132 judges that the number of welding times for each of the two product coils (P1, P2) cut out from the three original coils for cutting (X0001, X0002, X0003) in the provisional arrangement order shown in the figure indicated by the symbol 1003 is less than or equal to the possible number of welding times, the determination unit 133 determines the provisional arrangement order as the arrangement order for cutting out the product coils (P1, P2).

[0092] The order specifying unit 13 may calculate the arrangement of each of the raw cutting coils in the width direction (arrangement during welding) so that the cutting blades 30X at predetermined intervals can pass in a straight line over each of the raw cutting coils.

[0093] Here, for example, if the predetermined reference weight is set to be twice or more the product unit weight, multiple product coils 32 are cut out from the original coil set. The determination unit 132 performs the determination in S54 above assuming that the multiple product coils 32 have equal product unit weights. In other words, the determination unit 132 determines whether each of the multiple product coils 32 lined up in the longitudinal direction satisfies the welding constraint condition when the multiple product coils 32 are cut out with equal product unit weights from a product portion of a specific width that is continuous in the longitudinal direction across the multiple original coils for cutting in the temporary arrangement order determined by the temporary arrangement unit 131.

[0094] On the other hand, if the judgment unit 132 judges that the number of welding times will exceed the possible number of welding times (the number of welding points will exceed the upper limit) when cutting out the product coil 32 from the original coil for cutting in the provisional placement sequence (NO in S54), the provisional placement unit 131 judges whether or not there remains another provisional placement sequence that satisfies the sequence constraint condition for the multiple original coils for cutting included in the original coil set (S56).

[0095] When the temporary arrangement unit 131 determines that another arrangement order that satisfies the order constraint condition remains for the multiple cut-out original coils included in the original coil set to be processed (YES in S56), it sets another temporary arrangement order in which the multiple cut-out original coils are temporarily arranged by rearranging them (S57).Then, the determination unit 132 performs the process of S54 for the another temporary arrangement order.

[0096] Here, the determination of "NO" in S56 above means, from another perspective, that it is determined that the welding constraint conditions are not satisfied for the original coil set to be processed, no matter how the arrangement order of the original coils for cutting is rearranged.

[0097] When the temporary arrangement unit 131 determines that there is no other arrangement order remaining that satisfies the order constraint condition (NO in S56), it sets (switches) the original coil set to be processed to the original coil set with the next highest yield in the entire combination, as described above. Specifically, when NO in S56, if i=j (total number of original coil sets) is not true (NO in S58), the process returns to S52 and the variable i is incremented by 1.

[0098] For example, it is assumed that a plurality of original coil sets including a first original coil set having the highest yield in the entire combination and a second original coil set having the second highest yield are identified by the above-mentioned set identification process. The order identification unit 13 performs the processes of S53, S54, and S56 for the first original coil set, and if the result of S56 is NO, the processing target is switched to the second original coil set (S52) and the processing from S53 is performed. That is, when the determination unit 132 determines that all of the tentative arrangement orders determined by the tentative arrangement unit 131 for the plurality of original coils for cutting out of the first original coil set do not satisfy the welding constraint condition, the order identification unit 13 determines an arrangement order for cutting out the product coils 32 for the plurality of original coils for cutting out constituting the second original coil set so as to satisfy the order constraint condition.

[0099] If the answer is YES in S58, that is, if there are no original coil sets to be set next, the sequence specifying unit 13 determines that there are no original coil sets and arrangement sequences that satisfy the conditions regarding the number of welding times, and ends the process shown in the flowchart of Fig. 9, and as a result, the process shown in Fig. 4 is stopped. In this case, for example, the control unit 10 outputs to the output device 2 via the output unit 24 a message that the process has been stopped, or that an appropriate original coil set and arrangement sequence cannot be specified.

[0100] (Product unit weight adjustment processing) Next, the above-mentioned product unit weight adjustment process (S7 in FIG. 4) will be described. As shown in the product unit weight column of the table indicated by reference numeral 1006 in FIG. 10, the product unit weights of the product coils 32 may be different from each other. When the product unit weight conditions are given within a certain range defined by an upper limit and a lower limit, it may be possible to reduce the number of welding points of the product coil by adjusting the width of the product coil within a range that satisfies the product unit weight conditions. It can be said that the fewer the number of welding points included in the product coil, the higher the quality. Therefore, in the product unit weight adjustment process, the product unit weights of the multiple product coils 32 are adjusted within a range that satisfies the product unit weight conditions so as to reduce the total number of welding points of the multiple product coils 32 cut out from the multiple cut-out raw coils in the arrangement order determined by the order specifying unit 13.

[0101] FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing an example of the flow of the product unit weight adjustment process. Here, an example will be described in which a plurality of product coils 32 to which the same product unit weight conditions are imposed are assigned to an original coil set. As shown in FIG. 11, the unit weight adjustment unit 14 first sets the product coil 32 to be processed among the plurality of product coils 32 assumed to be cut out by the sequence specification unit 13 with equal product unit weights (S71). For example, the unit weight adjustment unit 14 sets the product coil 32 located at the end in the length direction (the end on the upstream side or downstream side in the sending direction to the strip cutting device 3) in the arrangement sequence of the original coils to be cut out as the product coil 32 to be processed. Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, the product coil 32 to be processed is referred to as product coil P1, and the product coil 32 adjacent to the product coil P1 is referred to as product coil P2.

[0102] Next, the unit weight adjustment unit 14 searches to determine whether the number of welds (welding points) included in the product coil P1 increases or decreases when the product unit weight of the product coil P1 set as the processing target is increased or decreased within the range of the product unit weight conditions, in other words, whether there are any welding points within the range of the product unit weight conditions (S72).

[0103] If the welding point is within the range of the product unit weight condition (YES in S72), the unit weight adjustment unit 14 varies the product unit weights of the two product coils P1 and P2 so that the welding point becomes the boundary between the two adjacent product coils P1 and P2. In this case, it is determined whether the product weights of the two product coils P1 and P2 each satisfy the product unit weight condition (S73). If the product weight of the adjacent product coil P2 satisfies the product unit weight condition (YES in S73), it adjusts the product unit weight of the product coil P1 to be processed (S74) so ​​that the welding point becomes the boundary between the two adjacent product coils P1 and P2. As a result, the product unit weight of the product coil P2 adjacent to the product coil P1 to be processed is also adjusted. If the product weight of the adjacent product coil P2 does not satisfy the product unit weight condition (NO in S73), the unit weight adjustment unit 14 does not adjust the product unit weight and determines whether the product coil 32 to be processed remains (S75). If there are any product coils 32 remaining to be processed (YES in S75), the process returns to S71 above, another product coil 32 is set as the processing target, and the process of S72 above is performed. In this case, the product coil 32 adjacent to the product coil 32 that was the previous processing target becomes the processing target, but the adjacent end of the product coil 32 to be processed this time is fixed to a position connected to the end of the product coil 32 that was the previous processing target, and the processes from S72 onwards are performed. On the other hand, if there are no product coils 32 remaining to be processed (NO in S75), the unit weight adjustment unit 14 ends the product unit weight adjustment process.

[0104] Furthermore, the unit weight adjustment unit 14 also performs the process of S75 when there is no welding point within the range of the product unit weight conditions (NO in S72).

[0105] An example of the sequence specification process and the product unit weight adjustment process will be described with reference to Fig. 12. Fig. 12 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an arrangement of original coils for cutting and product coils 32. Fig. 12 shows an example of a case where two product coils (P1, P2) are cut out using three original coils for cutting (X0001, X0002, X0003) included in an original coil set, similar to Fig. 10 described above.

[0106] Based on the passing position of the cutting blade 30X in each of the original coils included in the original coil set, the order specifying unit 13 virtually arranges the original coils for cutting so that the passing positions of the cutting blade 30X are aligned in a straight line. Then, the order specifying unit 13 refers to the evaluation index of each original coil for cutting and specifies the arrangement order of the original coils for cutting out two product coils P1 and P2 with equal product unit weights, as described above. In the example shown in FIG. 12, as shown by reference numeral 1201 in FIG. 12, three original coils for cutting (X0001, X0002, X0003) are arranged in this order, and in this case, the product coil P1 includes two welded parts WP, and the product coil P2 includes one welded part WP.

[0107] In this case, as a result of adjusting the product unit weights of the product coils P1 and P2 by the unit weight adjustment unit 14 as described above, it is assumed that a case has been found in which the product portion of the product coil P1 excluding the cut-off portion 42 satisfies the product unit weight condition of the product coil P1, and the product portion of the product coil P2 that satisfies the product unit weight condition of the product coil P2 excluding the cut-off portion 42, as shown by reference numeral 1202 in FIG. 12. In the example shown by reference numeral 1202 in FIG. 12, by increasing the product unit weight of the product coil P1 and decreasing the product unit weight of the product coil P2 within the range that satisfies the product unit weight condition, the product coil P1 includes two welds WP, and the product coil P2 does not include a weld WP. As a result, the product unit weight adjustment process by the unit weight adjustment unit 14 can reduce the total number of welds from three before the process to two after the process.

[0108] (Output processing) Referring again to Figure 3, the control unit 10 determines the determined original coil set, the arrangement order of the original coils to be cut, and, if necessary, the arrangement (boundary positions) of multiple product coils as a strip cutting plan resulting from the processing, and outputs this to, for example, the output device 2 by the output unit 24 (S9).

[0109] The above describes an example of a planning method for a calculation device to plan strip cutting work, the planning method including a group identification processing step and an order specification step. According to the above method, a strip cutting plan can be created in response to a case where a constraint on the arrangement order is imposed on some of the various original coils included in the original coil group. The calculation device may be, for example, a planning device 1. The calculation device may have a processor, and the processor executes a preset program or a program read from a storage device. The processor executes the group identification processing step and the order specification step using data acquired from the storage device or the like. The group identification processing step and the order specification step may each be performed by a different calculation device.

[0110] (Other configurations) The set specifying unit 12 may be configured not to include the cut-off portion of the original coil having a predetermined weight or more in the yield calculation. In this case, the yield may be defined as the ratio of the weight obtained by subtracting the weight of the cut-off portion of the predetermined weight or more from the total harvestable weight to the weight obtained by subtracting the weight of the cut-off portion of the predetermined weight or more from the total weight of the original coil for cutting.

[0111] In addition, the group identification unit 12 can handle original coils, among the multiple original coils included in the original coil group, that have a portion cut off to form a continuous product portion of a specific width that satisfies the width condition of the product coil, as follows: (i) or (ii).

[0112] (i) The set specifying portion 12 can be formed, for example, by cutting off a portion of an original coil to obtain two split original coils, the opposing ends of which are welded together to form a single original coil to be cut out.

[0113] (ii) Alternatively, the set specifying unit 12 can treat the two divided original coils as separate original coils for cutting. In this case, an order constraint condition is set for the two divided original coils so that they are sent to the strip cutting device 3 in the order of the positional relationship of the two divided original coils in the original coil before division. The set specifying unit 12 may store in the storage unit 21 an evaluation index including an order constraint condition for an original coil in which a cut-off portion 42 is generated. Here, when welding the two divided original coils at the welding portion 36, it is also possible to displace them in the width direction. Therefore, for each of the two divided original coils, the passing position of the cutting blade 30X may be displaced stepwise to further calculate an evaluation index.

[0114] [Software implementation example] The functions of the planning device 1 (hereinafter referred to as the "device") are programs for causing a computer to function as the device, and can be realized by programs for causing a computer to function as each control block of the device (particularly the information acquisition unit 11, the set identification unit 12, the order identification unit 13, and the unit weight adjustment unit 14).

[0115] In this case, the device includes a computer having at least one control device (e.g., a processor) and at least one storage device (e.g., a memory) as hardware for executing the program. The control device and storage device execute the program to realize each function described in each of the above embodiments.

[0116] The program may be non-transitory and may be recorded in one or more computer-readable recording media. The recording media may or may not be included in the device. In the latter case, the program may be provided to the device via any wired or wireless transmission medium.

[0117] In addition, some or all of the functions of each of the control blocks can be realized by a logic circuit. For example, an integrated circuit in which a logic circuit that functions as each of the control blocks is formed is also included in the scope of the present invention. In addition, the functions of each of the control blocks can be realized by, for example, a quantum computer.

[0118] Furthermore, each process described in each of the above embodiments may be executed by AI (Artificial Intelligence). In this case, the AI ​​may be operated by the control device or another device (for example, an edge computer or a cloud server).

[0119] 〔summary〕 The planning device in aspect 1 of the present invention is a planning device for planning a strip cutting operation to cut out product coils across multiple original coils selected from an original coil group containing multiple original coils, and is equipped with a set identification unit that identifies an original coil set, which is a combination of multiple selected original coils, based on the product portions that can be harvested as the product coil in each of the multiple original coils before selection included in the original coil group and the harvestable weights corresponding to the product portions, such that the total of the harvestable weights is equal to or greater than a predetermined reference weight by arranging the product portions of a specific width that satisfies the width condition of the product coil in continuous lengthwise direction, and an order identification unit that identifies the arrangement order of the multiple original coils that constitute the original coil set, in order to cut out the product coil so as to satisfy an order constraint condition that fixes at least a portion of the arrangement order of the multiple original coils that constitute the original coil set.

[0120] According to the above configuration, the planning device can create a strip cutting plan for strip cutting work in which product coils are cut across multiple original coils, even when a constraint (order constraint) is set that partially fixes the arrangement order of the original coils.

[0121] In the planning device of aspect 2 of the present invention, in the above aspect 1, the order identification unit has a temporary placement unit that determines a temporary placement order in which the multiple original coils that constitute the original coil set are temporarily placed so as to satisfy the order constraint condition, a judgment unit that judges whether or not a welding constraint condition regarding an upper limit of the number of welding points of the product coil is satisfied when cutting out the product coil from the multiple original coils in the temporary placement order determined by the temporary placement unit, and a determination unit that determines the temporary placement order as the placement order for cutting out the product coil when the judgment unit judges that the welding constraint condition is satisfied.

[0122] According to the above configuration, the planning device can determine the arrangement order of multiple original coils for cutting out product coils by satisfying constraints (order constraints) that partially fix the arrangement order of the original coils and constraints (welding constraints) regarding the upper limit of the number of welding points based on product requirements.

[0123] In the planning device of aspect 3 of the present invention, in aspect 2, the predetermined reference weight is set to more than twice the product unit weight of the identified product coil based on product unit weight conditions for the range of product unit weights of the product coils, and the judgment unit judges whether each of the multiple product coils satisfies the welding constraint condition when multiple product coils lined up in the longitudinal direction are cut out with equal product unit weights from a product portion of a specific width that is continuous in the longitudinal direction across the multiple original coils in the temporary placement order determined by the temporary placement unit so as to satisfy the product unit weight conditions.

[0124] According to the above configuration, the planning device can determine the arrangement order of a plurality of original coils so that a plurality of product coils can be cut out while satisfying the order constraint condition and the welding constraint condition.

[0125] The planning device in aspect 4 of the present invention, in aspect 3, further includes a unit weight adjustment unit that adjusts the product unit weights of the multiple product coils within a range that satisfies the product unit weight conditions so as to reduce the total number of welding points of each of the multiple product coils cut out from the multiple raw coils in the arrangement order determined by the determination unit.

[0126] According to the above configuration, when cutting out a plurality of product coils, the planning device can create a line cutting plan that further reduces the total number of welding points for the plurality of product coils, thereby effectively improving the efficiency of the line cutting work.

[0127] In the planning device of aspect 5 of the present invention, in any one of aspects 2 to 4, when the judgment unit judges that the welding constraint condition is not satisfied, the order identification unit performs a judgment process by the judgment unit on another temporary placement order in which the temporary placement unit rearranges the multiple original coils so as to satisfy the order constraint condition.

[0128] According to the above configuration, when the planning device is unable to determine a tentative placement order that satisfies a desired constraint condition, the planning device can automatically proceed to a process for determining another tentative placement order. Therefore, the placement order of the original coils that is determined so as to be able to cut out a plurality of product coils while satisfying the sequence constraint condition and the welding constraint condition can be easily output from the planning device.

[0129] In the planning device of aspect 6 of the present invention, in aspect 5, the set identification unit identifies a plurality of original coil sets including a first original coil set and a second original coil set, and when the judgment unit determines that all of the temporary placement orders determined by the temporary placement unit for the plurality of original coils constituting the first original coil set do not satisfy the welding constraint condition, the order identification unit identifies an arrangement order for cutting out the product coils for the plurality of original coils constituting the second original coil set so as to satisfy the order constraint condition.

[0130] According to the above configuration, when the planning device is unable to determine an arrangement order that satisfies a desired constraint condition for a certain original coil set, the planning device can automatically proceed to a process for determining an arrangement order for another original coil set. Therefore, the original coil arrangement order that satisfies the order constraint condition and the welding constraint condition and that allows a plurality of product coils to be cut out can be easily output from the planning device.

[0131] In the planning device of aspect 7 of the present invention, in any one of aspects 1 to 6, the group identification unit, for an original coil among the multiple original coils included in the original coil group, a portion of which is cut off to connect the product portion of a specific width that satisfies the width condition of the product coil, (i) welds the opposing ends of two split original coils obtained by cutting off a portion of the original coil together and treats them as a single original coil, or (ii) treats the two split original coils as separate original coils and sets the order constraint condition on the two split original coils.

[0132] This configuration makes it possible to easily handle the original coils when transporting them from the coil storage area where the original coil group is located to the strip cutting equipment, and also makes it possible to appropriately deal with a situation in which the order of the two split original coils that are generated by removing the cut-off portion from the original coil cannot be switched due to restrictions on the strip cutting line at the strip cutting equipment. As a result, the efficiency of the strip cutting work can be effectively improved.

[0133] The planning device in an eighth aspect of the present invention is in any one of the first to seventh aspects, and includes an information acquisition unit that acquires first information including information on the shape, weight, and location of defective parts of each of the plurality of original coils before selection included in the original coil group, second information including information on width conditions of the product coils, product unit weight conditions related to the product weight of the product coils, and welding constraint conditions related to an upper limit of the number of welding points of the product coils, and information on the order constraint conditions, and the set identification unit, based on the first information and the second information, for each of the plurality of original coils before selection included in the original coil group, uses a virtual area having a specific width that satisfies the width conditions of the product coils and extending in the length direction of the original coils, allowing a part of the original coil to be cut off so as to shorten the overall length, while changing the arrangement position of the virtual area in the width direction of the original coil, and performs a process of cutting off the product coil so as to shorten the overall length of the product coil for each arrangement position of the virtual area. the harvestable weight and a sequence evaluation index used for ranking; a second identification unit that identifies, as the original coil group, a combination of the original coils for which the product parts have been identified, such that the total of the harvestable weight is equal to or greater than a predetermined reference weight, based on the product parts and the harvestable weights calculated for each of the original coils before selection for each of the original coils included in the original coil group; and, when the second identification unit identifies the original coil groups, an alignment unit that rearranges the original coil groups in order of highest group evaluation value for each of the original coil groups based on a group evaluation value calculated based on the sequence evaluation index of the original coils constituting each original coil group, and the sequence identification unit performs a process of identifying the arrangement order of the original coils constituting the original coil group in order of highest group evaluation value, so as to cut out the product coils in order of highest group evaluation value.

[0134] The output device according to a ninth aspect of the present invention outputs a plan for the cutting work performed by the planning device according to any one of the first to eighth aspects.

[0135] The planning method in aspect 10 of the present invention is a planning method in which a computing device plans a strip cutting operation to cut out product coils across multiple original coils selected from an original coil group containing multiple original coils, and includes a set identification step of identifying an original coil set, which is a combination of multiple selected original coils, based on the product portions that can be harvested as the product coil in each of the multiple original coils before selection included in the original coil group and the harvestable weights corresponding to the product portions, such that the total of the harvestable weights is equal to or greater than a predetermined reference weight by arranging the product portions of a specific width that satisfies the width condition of the product coil in continuous lengthwise direction, and an order identification step of identifying the arrangement order of the multiple original coils that constitute the original coil set, in order to cut out the product coil so as to satisfy an order constraint condition that fixes at least a portion of the arrangement order of the multiple original coils that constitute the original coil set.

[0136] A control program in an eleventh aspect of the present invention is a control program for causing a computer to function as the planning device in any one of the first to eighth aspects, and causes the computer to function as the set specifying unit and the order specifying unit.

[0137] [Additional notes] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims. Embodiments obtained by appropriately combining the technical means disclosed in different embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0138] 1 Planning device 2 Output Device 10 Control section 11 Information acquisition department 12 group specific section 13 Sequence identification part 14 Unit weight adjustment section 21 Memory section 22 Input section 23 Communications Department 24 Output section 3-line cutting device 30 1st cutting section 30A 1st end cutting blade 30B 2nd end side cutting blade 30C split cutting blade 30X cutting blade 31 Original coil 32 Product coils 33 (Original coil) end 33A Ear waste 35 2nd cutting section 35A Transverse Blade 36 Welding 41 Defective part 42 Cut-off part 43 (Original coil) product part 9 Payoff Reel 100 strip cutting equipment 121 1st Specific Part 122 Second Specific Part 123 Alignment Section 131 Temporary Placement Department 132 Judgment section 133 Decision Section D1 (Original coil) Length direction D2 (Original coil) width direction w Predetermined interval (width of product coil)

Claims

1. A planning device for making a plan for a strip cutting operation for cutting out product coils across a plurality of original coils selected from an original coil group including a plurality of original coils, a set identification unit that identifies an original coil set, which is a combination of a plurality of selected original coils, based on the product portions that can be harvested as the product coil in each of the plurality of original coils before selection included in the original coil group and the harvestable weights corresponding to the product portions, such that the total of the harvestable weights is equal to or greater than a predetermined reference weight by continuously arranging the product portions of a specific width that satisfies the width condition of the product coil in the longitudinal direction; and an order specification unit that specifies the order of arrangement of the multiple original coils that constitute the original coil set in order to cut out the product coil so as to satisfy an order constraint condition that fixes at least a portion of the order of arrangement of the multiple original coils that constitute the original coil set.

2. The order specification unit is a temporary arrangement unit that determines a temporary arrangement order in which the plurality of original coils that constitute the original coil set are temporarily arranged so as to satisfy the order constraint condition; a determination unit that determines whether or not a welding constraint condition regarding an upper limit of the number of welding points of the product coil is satisfied when cutting out the product coil from the plurality of original coils in the temporary placement order determined by the temporary placement unit; 2. The planning device according to claim 1, further comprising: a determination unit that, when the determination unit determines that the welding constraint condition is satisfied, determines the tentative placement order as a placement order for cutting out the product coils.

3. the predetermined reference weight is set to be equal to or greater than twice the product unit weight of the specified product coil based on a product unit weight condition for a range of product unit weights of the product coil, 3. The planning device according to claim 2, wherein the determination unit determines whether each of the multiple product coils satisfies the welding constraint condition when the multiple product coils are cut out with equal product unit weights from the product portion of a specific width that is continuous in the longitudinal direction across the multiple original coils in the temporary placement order determined by the temporary placement unit so as to satisfy the product unit weight condition.

4. The planning device according to claim 3, further comprising a unit weight adjustment unit that adjusts the product unit weights of the multiple product coils within a range that satisfies the product unit weight condition so as to reduce the total number of welding points of each of the multiple product coils cut out from the multiple raw coils in the arrangement order determined by the determination unit.

5. 3. The planning device according to claim 2, wherein, when the determination unit determines that the welding constraint condition is not satisfied, the order identification unit performs a determination process by the determination unit regarding another temporary placement order in which the temporary placement unit rearranges the multiple original coils so as to satisfy the order constraint condition.

6. The set identification unit identifies a plurality of the original coil sets including a first original coil set and a second original coil set, 6. The planning device according to claim 5, wherein when the judgment unit determines that the welding constraint condition is not satisfied for all of the temporary placement orders determined by the temporary placement unit for the multiple original coils constituting the first original coil set, the order identification unit identifies an arrangement order for cutting out the product coils for the multiple original coils constituting the second original coil set so as to satisfy the order constraint condition.

7. The planning device of claim 1, wherein, for an original coil among the multiple original coils included in the original coil group, a portion of which is cut off to connect the product portion of a specific width that satisfies the width condition of the product coil, the set identification unit (i) welds the opposing ends of two split original coils obtained by cutting off a portion of the original coil together and treats them as a single original coil, or (ii) treats the two split original coils as separate original coils and sets the order constraint condition on the two split original coils.

8. an information acquisition unit that acquires first information including information on the shape, weight, and location of a defective portion of each of the plurality of original coils before selection that are included in the original coil group, second information including information on a width condition of the product coil, a product unit weight condition related to a product unit weight of the product coil, and a welding constraint condition related to an upper limit of the number of welding points of the product coil, and information on the sequence constraint condition, The set identification unit is a first identification unit that, based on the first information and the second information, for each of the original coils before selection that are included in the original coil group, uses a virtual area that has a specific width that satisfies the width condition of the product coil and extends in the length direction of the original coil, allowing a part of the original coil to be cut off so as to shorten the overall length, while changing the arrangement position of the virtual area in the width direction of the original coil, and identifies the product portion, the harvestable weight, and a ranking evaluation index used for ranking for each arrangement position of the virtual area; a second identification unit that identifies, as the original coil set, a combination of the original coils having the identified product parts, such that the total of the harvestable weight is equal to or greater than a predetermined reference weight, based on the product parts and the harvestable weights calculated for each arrangement position of the virtual area for each of the original coils before selection that are included in the original coil group; and an alignment unit that, when a plurality of original coil sets are identified by the second identification unit, rearranges the plurality of original coil sets in descending order of group evaluation value based on the group evaluation value calculated based on the order evaluation index of the plurality of original coils constituting each original coil set, The planning device according to claim 1 , wherein the order specification unit performs processing for specifying an arrangement order of the plurality of original coils constituting the original coil set in order to cut out the product coils in descending order of the set evaluation value.

9. An output device that outputs a plan for the cutting work performed by the planning device according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. A planning method for a calculation device to plan a strip cutting operation for cutting out product coils across a plurality of original coils selected from an original coil group including a plurality of original coils, the method comprising the steps of: a set identification step of identifying an original coil set, which is a combination of a plurality of selected original coils, based on the product portions that can be harvested as the product coil in each of the plurality of original coils before selection included in the original coil group and the harvestable weights corresponding to the product portions, in which the product portions of a specific width that satisfies the width condition of the product coil are consecutively arranged in the longitudinal direction, so that the total of the harvestable weights is equal to or greater than a predetermined reference weight; and an order specifying step of specifying an arrangement order of the plurality of original coils constituting the original coil set so as to cut out the product coils so as to satisfy an order constraint condition that fixes at least a portion of the arrangement order of the plurality of original coils constituting the original coil set.

11. A control program for causing a computer to function as the planning device according to claim 1, the control program causing a computer to function as the set specifying unit and the order specifying unit.

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