Cart removal support system

Abstract

To reduce a burden on a worker.SOLUTION: A cart removal support system includes: an electronic label attached to a cart, the electronic label being capable of communicating information and displaying received information with a background color; schedule management means for creating production schedule information; display master information in which a background color to be displayed on the electronic label is set in accordance with the production schedule information created by the schedule management means; and label display update means for, when the production schedule information created by the schedule management means changes a current display state of the electronic label, updating the information displayed on the electronic label to information corresponding to the production schedule information created by the schedule management means, and updating the background color displayed on the electronic label to the background color set in the display master information in accordance with the production schedule information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a cart shipping support system.

Background Art

[0002] In the logistics process of an automobile prototype production factory, parts are sorted into logistics transport carts and supplied to the vehicle production process. In this case, when sorting and in the state of waiting for shipping (after sorting), it is necessary to rearrange the carts in consideration of the production order based on the vehicle production schedule, or to rearrange the carts each time the production order is changed. At that time, it is difficult for the operator to find the carts to be rearranged, and it is necessary to predict in advance so that the rearrangement does not occur again, which places a burden on the operator.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a system in which, based on a cart management signal, a cart operation display device provided on each cart performs a lighting display, and the operator can efficiently use an appropriate cart by looking at the lighting display.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In the system disclosed in Patent Document 1, there is a problem that it is assumed to be a lighting display (signal tower), and the shipping timing such as the date and time and the shipment required in the logistics process cannot be displayed in detail. In addition, generally, devices such as lighting displays need to be accompanied by devices having a certain power supply capacity, so that it is necessary to replace the power supply devices, which causes trouble for the operator. In addition, when using a tablet terminal or the like, there is a problem that it takes time for charging and the like.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the problems of the conventional technology as described above, and an object thereof is to provide a cart shipping support system capable of reducing the burden on workers.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is a cart shipping support system for supporting the shipping of carts, an electronic label attached to the cart, capable of communicating information and displaying the received information together with the background color, schedule management means for creating production schedule information, display master information in which the background color to be displayed on the electronic label is set according to the production schedule information created by the schedule management means, when the production schedule information created by the schedule management means changes the current display state of the electronic label, the information displayed on the electronic label is updated to information corresponding to the production schedule information created by the schedule management means, and the background color displayed on the electronic label is updated to the background color set according to the production schedule information in the display master information, and a label display update means.

Effects of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, the burden on workers can be reduced.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

Figure 1

Figure 2

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Figure 4

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Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0011] 〈System Configuration〉 First, the system configuration will be described.

[0012] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the cart exit support system of the present invention.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 1, this embodiment has an electronic label 10, a communication device 30, and information processing devices 40 and 50.

[0014] The electronic label 10, also called an ESL (Electronic Smart Label), is a thin display device capable of displaying information. As the electronic label 10, for example, one composed of electronic paper or the like may be used. The electronic label 10 incorporates communication means including an antenna capable of communicating wirelessly. The electronic label 10 displays the information transmitted wirelessly and displays the background color based on the control information transmitted wirelessly. For example, information can be displayed in black on a white background or in black on a blue background. The electronic label 10 can be driven with low power and can use a dry battery or the like. The thus configured electronic label 10 is attached to the cart 20. In FIG. 1, only one electronic label 10 and the cart 20 to which it is attached are shown, but there are a plurality of electronic labels 10 and the carts 20 to which they are attached.

[0015] The carriage 20 is, for example, for carrying components and the like that make up an automobile within an automobile prototype production factory. The electronic label 10 is attached at a position that is easily visible from the outside, such as the upper end of the carriage 20, for example.

[0016] The communication device 30 is capable of communicating with the electronic label 10 via radio and is connected to the network 61. The network 61 may be a public network such as the Internet. The communication device 30 is installed within a range where it can communicate with the electronic label 10 via radio. For example, as described above, when the electronic label 10 is attached to the carriage 20 that carries components and the like within an automobile prototype production factory, it is installed within the automobile prototype production factory.

[0017] The information processing device 40 is an example of the schedule management means in the present invention. The information processing device 40 is composed of a server computer or the like and can be connected to the information processing device 50 via the dedicated line 62. Note that the information processing device 40 may also be connectable to the information processing device 50 via the network 61 to which the information processing device 50 and the communication device 30 are connected. The information processing device 40 creates production schedule information. Specifically, it has a scheduler and, for example, assembles the schedule when prototyping an automobile. Also, the information processing device 40 changes the assembled schedule according to the current work progress status and the component procurement status. The information processing device 40 transmits the schedule information created in this way and, when there is a change in the schedule information, notifies the information processing device 50 of that fact via the dedicated line 62. In this way, the information processing device 40 plans and manages production and, when there is a change in the schedule, transmits information at the time of that change.

[0018] The information processing device 50 is composed of a server computer or the like and can be connected to the communication device 30 via the network 61.

[0019] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the information processing device 50 shown in FIG. 1.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 2, the information processing apparatus 50 shown in FIG. 1 has communication units 51 and 52, an electronic label management unit 53, a management information database 54, and display master information 55.

[0021] The communication unit 51 is for the information processing apparatus 50 to communicate with the information processing apparatus 40 via the dedicated line 62, and receives the schedule information transmitted from the information processing apparatus 40 via the dedicated line 62.

[0022] The communication unit 52 is for the information processing apparatus 50 to communicate with the electronic label 10 via the network 61 and the communication device 30, and transmits the information to be displayed on the electronic label 10 and the control information for setting the background color to be displayed on the electronic label 10 to the electronic label 10 via the network 61 and the communication device 30.

[0023] The electronic label management unit 53 is an example of the label display update means in the present invention. The electronic label management unit 53 is configured to be able to access the management information database 54 and the display master information 55. The electronic label management unit 53 manages each of the plurality of electronic labels 10 so as to be identifiable by a label ID or the like assigned to the electronic label 10. Transmission information for transmitting schedule information and control information for setting the background color is associated with the label ID, and further, for example, when used for automobile prototype as described above, it may be associated with a vehicle specification ID. These associations are registered in the management information database 54.

[0024] The display master information 55 is set with the background color to be displayed on the electronic label 10 according to the production schedule information created by the information processing apparatus 40.

[0025] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the display master information 55 shown in FIG. 2, and shows an example when the system shown in FIG. 1 is used for automobile prototype.

[0026] The display master information 55 shown in FIG. 2, as shown in FIG. 3 for example, corresponds to the vehicle specification ID 71, and includes flag information 72 indicating whether the schedule has been changed, date and time information 73 indicating the latest shipping date and time, time information 74 indicating the current date and time, difference information 75 indicating the difference between the latest shipping date and time and the current date and time, and color information 76 indicating the background color to be displayed on the electronic label 10 according to them. For example, when the schedule is changed in the work process where the vehicle specification ID is A, yellow is set as the background color to be displayed on the electronic label 10. Also, even when the schedule is not changed, if the difference between the latest shipping date and time and the current date and time is less than X minutes, white is set as the background color to be displayed on the electronic label 10. Also, even when the schedule is not changed, if the difference between the latest shipping date and time and the current date and time is X minutes or more and less than Y minutes, blue is set as the background color to be displayed on the electronic label 10. Also, even when the schedule is not changed, if the difference between the latest shipping date and time and the current date and time is Y minutes or more, green is set as the background color to be displayed on the electronic label 10.

[0027] The electronic label management unit 53 refers to the display master information 55 configured as described above, and transmits, via the communication unit 52, control information for making the background color displayed on the electronic label 10 correspond to the production schedule information created by the information processing device 40. At this time, the electronic label management unit 53 also transmits, via the communication unit 52, information corresponding to the schedule information created and transmitted by the information processing device 40.

[0028] <Control Processing of Display of Electronic Label 10> Next, the control processing of the display of the electronic label 10 in the cart shipping support system configured as described above will be described.

[0029] FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the control processing of the display of the electronic label 10 in the cart shipping support system shown in FIG. 1.

[0030] In the cart exit support system shown in FIG. 1, in the information processing device 40, production schedule information of products managed by the cart exit support system is created by a scheduler. The production schedule information created by the information processing device 40 is transmitted to the information processing device 50 via the dedicated line 62. At this time, the production schedule information transmitted from the information processing device 40 also includes information indicating whether there is a schedule change.

[0031] The production schedule information transmitted from the information processing device 40 is received by the communication unit 51 of the information processing device 50 via the dedicated line 62 (step S1).

[0032] When the production schedule information transmitted from the information processing device 40 is received by the communication unit 51 of the information processing device 50, first, the electronic label management unit 53 determines whether there is a change in the plan in the schedule according to the production schedule information (step S2). This is because the production schedule information transmitted from the information processing device 40 also includes information indicating whether there is a schedule change, so the electronic label management unit 53 can determine whether there is a change in the plan in the schedule according to the production schedule information.

[0033] If there is a change in the plan in the schedule according to the production schedule information (YES in step S2), the electronic label management unit 53 refers to the display master information 55 and acquires the background color to be displayed on the electronic label 10 when there is a change in the plan in the schedule (step S3). For example, when the display master information 55 has the configuration shown in FIG. 3, yellow is acquired as the background color to be displayed on the electronic label 10.

[0034] On the one hand, when there is no change in the plan in the schedule based on the production schedule information (NO in step S2), in the electronic label management unit 53, first, the difference between the latest shipment date and time included in the production schedule information transmitted from the information processing device 40 and the current date and time is calculated (step S4). Since the production schedule information transmitted from the information processing device 40 includes the latest shipment date and time of its parts and the like corresponding to the vehicle specification ID, the electronic label management unit 53 can recognize the latest shipment date and time.

[0035] Then, in the electronic label management unit 53, the display master information 55 is referred to, and the background color to be displayed on the electronic label 10 is acquired according to the calculated difference (step S3). For example, when the display master information 55 has the configuration shown in FIG. 3, if the difference between the latest shipment date and time and the current date and time is less than X minutes, white is acquired as the background color to be displayed on the electronic label 10. Also, if the difference between the latest shipment date and time and the current date and time is X minutes or more and less than Y minutes, blue is acquired as the background color to be displayed on the electronic label 10. Further, if the difference between the latest shipment date and time and the current date and time is Y minutes or more, green is acquired as the background color to be displayed on the electronic label 10.

[0036] After that, the shipment information such as the shipment date and time included in the production schedule information transmitted from the information processing device 40 and the control information for using the background color acquired in step S3 as the background color to be displayed on the electronic label 10 are transmitted from the electronic label management unit 53 via the communication unit 52 (step S5). At this time, in the electronic label management unit 53, the management information database 54 is referred to, the electronic label 10 to be transmitted is specified, and the shipment information and the control information are transmitted to the target electronic label 10 based on the transmission information registered in the management information database 54.

[0037] The shipping information and control information transmitted from the information processing device 50 are received by the target electronic label 10 via the network 61 and the communication device 30. Then, in the electronic label 10, the background color is displayed based on the received control information, and the received shipping information is displayed within the background color.

[0038] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a display example of the electronic label 10 shown in FIG. 1.

[0039] When the shipping information and control information transmitted from the information processing device 50 are received by the electronic label 10, as shown in FIG. 5, the shipping information consisting of the information 12 indicating the shipping date and the information 13 indicating the shipping flight is displayed within the background color 14 based on the received control information.

[0040] In this way, if the production schedule information created by the information processing device 40 is such that it changes the current display state of the electronic label 10, the information and background color displayed on the electronic label 10 are updated based on the production schedule information created by the information processing device 40 (step S6).

[0041] Accordingly, when assisting the shipment of the cart 20, the operator can grasp the work according to the production schedule created by the information processing device 40. At this time, the background color corresponding to the production schedule created by the information processing device 40 is displayed on the electronic label 10, and furthermore, when there is a change in the schedule, the background color indicating that fact is displayed on the electronic label 10, so that the operator can grasp the work without feeling a great burden. For example, when the background color displayed on the electronic label 10 is white, it can be grasped that the cart 20 to which the electronic label 10 is attached will be shipped on the next flight. When the background color displayed on the electronic label 10 is blue, it can be grasped that the cart 20 to which the electronic label 10 is attached will be shipped on the next flight after that. When the background color displayed on the electronic label 10 is green, it can be grasped that the cart 20 to which the electronic label 10 is attached will be shipped on the next flight after that. When the background color displayed on the electronic label 10 is yellow, it can be grasped that the shipping schedule of the cart 20 to which the electronic label 10 is attached has changed or the shipment has been delayed. Also, by using the electronic label 10, the amount of information transmitted to the operator can be increased, and the burden caused by replacing power supply devices, charging work, etc. will also be reduced.

Explanation of Signs

[0042] 10 Electronic label 20 Cart 30 Communication device 40, 50 Information processing device 51, 52 Communication unit 53 Electronic label management unit 54 Management information database 55 Display master information 61 Network 62 Dedicated line

Claims

Claim 1 A cart shipping support system for supporting the shipping of carts, comprising: an electronic label attached to the cart, capable of communicating information and displaying the received information together with a background color; schedule management means for creating production schedule information; display master information in which a background color to be displayed on the electronic label is set according to the production schedule information created by the schedule management means; label display update means for updating the information displayed on the electronic label to information corresponding to the production schedule information created by the schedule management means and updating the background color displayed on the electronic label to the background color set according to the production schedule information in the display master information when the production schedule information created by the schedule management means changes the current display state of the electronic label. A cart shipping support system.

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