Information processing device, information processing method and program

Abstract

To enable a user to easily and accurately identify a machine tool suitable for a user to manufacture machining target products, out of a plurality of different machine tools.SOLUTION: An information processing device is provided with: a drawing data obtaining unit that obtains drawing data representing a machining target product; an extracting unit that extracts, from the drawing data, machining information including first shape information, first material information, first tool type information, first tool count information, first rotation speed information and first feeding speed information; a machine tool information obtaining unit that obtains machine tool information about each of a plurality of machine tools, from a storing device that stores the machine tool information which includes second shape information, second material information, second tool type information, second tool count information, second rotation speed information and second feeding speed information; and a selecting unit that selects a target machine tool out of the plurality of machine tools, on the basis of the machining information and the machine tool information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a program.

Background Art

[0002] As disclosed in Patent Document 1, there is known an operating device for a machining center including a CNC device that is connected to a machine tool and performs numerical control. The operating device of the machining center includes a learned model in which machining conditions, tool paths, and machining data including the execution program are associated and learned, and based on the learned model, automatically sets the machining process of a target machined product.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Machine tools differ in terms of the size and material of the workpieces that can be processed, the content and processes of the machining that can be performed, etc., depending on the predetermined equipment performance and the holding tools. Therefore, for example, a user who intends to procure a target machined product selects and uses a machine tool having equipment performance and holding tools suitable for manufacturing the machined product from among a plurality of machine tools with different equipment performance and holding tools.

[0005] However, when a plurality of machine tools are owned by, for example, a plurality of companies, it may be difficult for the user to select an appropriate machine tool.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to enable a user to easily and accurately identify, from among a plurality of different machine tools, a machine tool suitable for manufacturing a target machined product. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] An information processing device according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises: a drawing data acquisition unit that acquires drawing data representing a target machined product; an extraction unit that extracts from the drawing data processing information including first shape information representing the shape of the machined product, first material information representing the material of the machined product, first tool type information representing the type of tool required to machine the machined product, first tool number information representing the number of the tools, first rotation speed information representing the rotation speed of the tool, and first feed rate information representing the feed rate of the tool; a machine tool information acquisition unit that acquires the machine tool information from a storage device that stores machine tool information including, for each of a plurality of machine tools, second shape information representing the shape of a workpiece that can be machined, second material information representing one or more materials of a workpiece that can be machined, second tool type information representing the type of tool held, second tool number information representing the number of the tools held, second rotation speed information representing the maximum rotation speed of the tools held, and second feed rate information representing the maximum feed rate of the tools held; and a selection unit that selects a target machine from the plurality of machine tools based on the processing information and the machine tool information.

[0008] Another aspect of the present invention is an information processing method executed by an information processing apparatus. The information processing apparatus acquires drawing data representing a target processed product, and extracts from the drawing data processing information including first shape information representing the shape of the processed product, first material information representing the material of the processed product, first tool type information representing the type of tool required for processing the processed product, first tool number information representing the number of the tools, first rotation speed information representing the rotation speed of the tools, and first feed speed information representing the feed speed of the tools. For each of the plurality of machine tools, the information processing apparatus acquires machine tool information including second shape information representing the shape of a work piece that can be processed, second material information representing one or more materials of the work piece that can be processed, second tool type information representing the type of tool held, second tool number information representing the number of the tools held, second rotation speed information representing the maximum rotation speed of the tools held, and second feed speed information representing the maximum feed speed of the tools held from a storage device that stores the machine tool information, and selects a target machine from the plurality of machine tools based on the processing information and the machine tool information.

[0009] Another aspect of the present invention is a program for causing an information processing apparatus to acquire drawing data representing a target processed product, extract from the drawing data processing information including first shape information representing the shape of the processed product, first material information representing the material of the processed product, first tool type information representing the type of tool required for processing the processed product, first tool number information representing the number of the tools, first rotation speed information representing the rotation speed of the tools, and first feed speed information representing the feed speed of the tools, acquire from a storage device that stores machine tool information including second shape information representing the shape of a work piece that can be processed, second material information representing one or more materials of the work piece that can be processed, second tool type information representing the type of tool held, second tool number information representing the number of the tools held, second rotation speed information representing the maximum rotation speed of the tools held, and second feed speed information representing the maximum feed speed of the tools held for each of the plurality of machine tools, and select a target machine from the plurality of machine tools based on the processing information and the machine tool information.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010]

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Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. For the drawings, the same or equivalent elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and duplicate descriptions are omitted.

[0012] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an information processing system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the information processing system 100 includes a terminal device 102, a server 103, a terminal device 104, and a machine tool 105 connected via a network 101 (for example, the Internet).

[0013] For example, the terminal device 102 is installed in a procurement company that procures a target processed product from a processing company. The server 103 is installed in a service providing company that provides the information processing system 100. The terminal device 104 and the machine tool 105 are installed in each of a plurality of processing companies. The machine tool 105 of the present embodiment includes a processing control device that is a computer for controlling the machine tool 105, and an NC (Numerical Control) machine tool that performs predetermined processing on a workpiece according to the control of the processing control device.

[0014] In the example of FIG. 1, the terminal device 104 is installed in each of three processing companies A to C, and at least one machine tool 105 is installed. Processing company A has three machine tools 105, processing company B has one machine tool 105, and processing company C has two machine tools 105.

[0015] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the terminal device 102. As shown in FIG. 2, the terminal device 102 is a computer including a control unit 201, a storage unit 202, an operation unit 203, a display unit 204, a communication unit 205, and the like. The control unit 201 is a processor such as a CPU, for example, and operates according to a program stored in the storage unit 202. The storage unit 202 is an information recording medium composed of, for example, an information recording medium such as a hard disk, a ROM, or a RAM, and holds a program executed by the control unit 201.

[0016] The operation unit 203 is composed of an interface such as a keyboard, a mouse, buttons, etc., for example, and outputs the content of the instruction operation to the control unit 201 in response to the user's instruction operation. The display unit 204 is, for example, a liquid crystal display, a CRT display, or an organic EL display, and displays information according to an instruction from the control unit 201. The communication unit 205 is a network interface, and transmits and receives information via the network 101 in response to an instruction from the control unit 201.

[0017] The hardware configuration of the terminal device 104 of each processing company is the same as the hardware configuration of the above-mentioned procuring company's terminal device 102. In this embodiment, the procuring company's terminal device 102 and each processing company's terminal device 104 are both configured as personal computers.

[0018] Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of server 103. As shown in Fig. 3, server 103 is an information processing device including a control unit 301, a storage unit 302, and a communication unit 303. Control unit 301 is, for example, a processor such as a CPU, and operates according to a program stored in storage unit 302. Storage unit 302 is, for example, an information recording medium such as a hard disk, ROM, or RAM, and is an information recording medium that holds the program executed by control unit 301. Communication unit 303 is a network interface that transmits and receives information via network 101 in response to instructions from control unit 301.

[0019] Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the control unit 301 of the server 103. Fig. 4 also shows the flow of data and information in the information processing system 100, along with the functional configuration of the control unit 301. As shown in Fig. 4, the control unit 301 of the server 103 includes a drawing data acquisition unit 401, an extraction unit 402, a machine tool information acquisition unit 403, a selection unit 404, an area identification unit 405, an operation time acquisition unit 406, and a notification unit 407. These functional blocks are realized by the control unit 301 executing a program stored in the storage unit 302.

[0020] The drawing data acquisition unit 401 acquires drawing data 400 representing a target processed product. For example, a user of a procuring company uses a web browser on a terminal device 102 to access a server 103 of a service provider company. The user of the procuring company inputs drawing data 400 representing a processed product to be procured on a predetermined screen provided by the server 103. The input drawing data 400 is transmitted from the terminal device 102 to the server 103 and acquired by the drawing data acquisition unit 401.

[0021] The drawing data 400 of this embodiment is STL (Standard Triangulated Language) data. The drawing data 400 may be drawing data other than STL data, for example, drawing data in OBJ format. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a processed product to be processed indicated by the drawing data 400. In the example of FIG. 5, the processed product represented by the drawing data 400 is a square flange with a female thread formed in the center.

[0022] The extraction unit 402 extracts processing information 600 from the drawing data 400. The processing information 600 includes first shape information representing the shape of the processed product, first material information representing the material of the processed product, first tool type information representing the type of tool required for processing the processed product, first tool number information representing the number of tools, first rotation speed information representing the rotation speed of the tool, and first feed speed information representing the feed speed of the tool.

[0023] A specific example of the processing information 600 will be described. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the data configuration of the processing information 600. As shown in FIG. 6, the processing information 600 includes first shape information, first material information, and process form information extracted by the extraction unit 402 from the drawing data 400. For example, the extraction unit 402 automatically analyzes 3D data, file names, metadata, etc. included in the drawing data 400 and extracts this information. FIG. 6 illustrates the processing information 600 extracted from the drawing data 400 of FIG. 5. The first shape information indicates that the size of the processed product in the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis is 50 mm, 50 mm, and 10 mm. The first material information indicates that the material of the processed product is MC nylon.

[0024] The process chart information indicates a series of machining processes for producing a machined product using machine tool 105, and includes multiple process detail information indicating details of each process. In the example of FIG. 6, each process detail information includes a process number, first tool type information, first rotation speed information, first feed rate information, first tool number information, etc. The process number indicates the order in which the corresponding process is performed in ascending order. The first tool type information indicates the type of tool required for the corresponding process, and indicates, for example, the application type, tool manufacturer, shank diameter, tool diameter, and tool model. The first rotation speed information indicates the maximum rotation speed of the tool required for the corresponding process. The first feed rate information indicates the maximum feed rate of the tool required for the corresponding process. The first tool number information indicates the number of tools required for the series of machining processes indicated by the process chart information.

[0025] In the example of Fig. 6, the process chart information of the processing information 600 includes 19 detailed process information, corresponding to the fact that the target processed product indicated by the drawing data 400 in Fig. 5 is created through 19 processing steps. In the 19th detailed process information, the first tool type information indicates the tool of "pointer tap" used in the corresponding process, corresponding to the formation of a female thread in the target processed product as shown in Fig. 5. In addition, in the 19th detailed process information, the first rotation speed information indicates "640", which is the maximum rotation speed of the tool in the corresponding process, and the first feed rate information indicates "448", which is also the maximum rotation speed of the tool in the corresponding process.

[0026] In the machining information 600, if the first tool type information for each process does not match, different types of tools are used in each process. In the example of FIG. 6, tools with the application type "roughing" are used in both processes with process numbers "3" and "4," but because the shank diameters and other characteristics are different, the first tool type information does not match. Therefore, the number of tools used in process numbers "3" and "4" is counted as two in total. On the other hand, the first tool type information for processes with numbers "1" and "5" matches. Therefore, the number of tools used in process numbers "1" and "5" is counted as one in total. In this way, "11," which is the number of different types of tools used in the 19 machining processes, is set as the first tool quantity information.

[0027] The machine tool information acquisition unit 403 acquires the machine tool information 700 from a storage device that stores the machine tool information 700. The machine tool information 700 includes, for each of the plurality of machine tools 105, second shape information representing the shape of the workpieces that can be processed, second material information representing one or more materials of the workpieces that can be processed, second tool type information representing the types of tools held, second tool number information representing the number of tools held, second rotation speed information representing the maximum rotation speed of the tools held, and second feed speed information representing the maximum feed speed of the tools held.

[0028] A specific example of the machine tool information 700 will be described. For example, a user of each processing company uses a web browser on the terminal device 102 to access the server 103 of the service providing company. The user of each processing company registers the machine tool 105 owned by their processing company in advance in the machine tool information database 410 on a predetermined screen provided by the server 103. The machine tool information database 410 is a database managed by the service providing company and may be provided in the storage unit 302 of the server 103 or in a storage device different from the server 103. The machine tool information database 410 stores the machine tool information 700 corresponding to each of the registered machine tools 105.

[0029] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the data configuration of the machine tool information 700. As shown in FIG. 7, the machine tool information 700 includes a registration number, machine specification information, tool information, operating status information, operating time information, and machine position information. The registration number is automatically assigned to the machine tool information 700 in ascending order in the order in which the corresponding machine tool 105 is registered in the machine tool information database 410. In this way, the machine tool information 700 includes information in the registration order associated with each of the plurality of machine tools 105.

[0030] For example, when registering the machine tool 105, the user of each processing enterprise inputs and sets the machine specification information and tool information regarding the machine tool 105. In each machine tool information 700 of the machine tool information database 410, the machine specification information and tool information input and set for the corresponding machine tool 105 are set. Also, the user of each processing enterprise appropriately updates the machine specification information and tool information of the corresponding machine tool information 700 according to the repair and improvement of the machine tool 105, the replacement of the held tools, and the like.

[0031] The machine specification information is information regarding the specifications of the corresponding machine tool 105, and includes machine identification information, second shape information, second tool number information, second rotation speed information, second feed speed information, and the like. The machine identification information is information for identifying the corresponding machine tool 105, and is a unique name including, for example, the manufacturer name and the model name. The second shape information indicates the maximum size of the workpiece shape that the corresponding machine tool 105 can process. In the example of FIG. 7, the maximum sizes of the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis are all 1000 mm. The second rotation speed information indicates the maximum rotation speed of the tool that the corresponding machine tool 105 can execute. The second feed speed information indicates the maximum feed speed of the tool that the corresponding machine tool 105 can execute. The second tool number information indicates the maximum number of tools that the corresponding machine tool 105 can hold.

[0032] The tool information is information regarding the tools held by the corresponding machine tool 105, and includes second tool type information, second material information, etc. for each tool held by the corresponding machine tool 105. The second tool type information represents the type of the corresponding tool, and indicates, for example, the application type, tool manufacturer, shank diameter, tool diameter, and tool type in the same manner as the first tool type information. The second material information represents the material that can be processed by the corresponding tool. In the example of FIG. 7, the tool information regarding a plurality of center drills held by the corresponding machine tool 105 is illustrated. In the second tool type information of these tool information, the application type, tool manufacturer, and shank diameter are all the same, but the tool diameter and tool type are different from each other. Also, in the second material information of these tool information, ABS resin, MC nylon, and POM are all set as the materials that can be processed.

[0033] Of the machine tool information 700, the operating status information, operating time information, and machine position information are information collected from the corresponding machine tool 105. The machine tool information 700 includes operating status information relating to the operating status of each of the multiple machine tools 105. For example, if the corresponding machine tool 105 is currently operating, in other words, if it is available for product processing, the operating status information indicates "in operation." If the corresponding machine tool 105 is not currently operating due to a breakdown, maintenance, or the like, in other words, if it is not available for product processing, the operating status information indicates "unavailable."

[0034] The operating time information indicates the cumulative operating time counted by the corresponding machine tool 105. The machine position information indicates the location identified by the GPS function of the corresponding machine tool 105. For example, the machine position information indicates the administrative district of the prefecture and city / ward / town / village where the corresponding machine tool 105 is installed, and in the example of Fig. 7, it is "Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture." Note that the machine position information may indicate a larger administrative district such as a prefecture, or an administrative district smaller than a city / ward / town / village, or may indicate the GPS position of the machine tool 105, or may indicate a block of a predetermined range centered on this GPS position.

[0035] In this example, in each processing company, each machine tool 105 is connected to a terminal device 104 by wire or wirelessly. The terminal device 104 periodically or irregularly collects operation status information, operation time information, and machine location information from each machine tool 105, and transmits the information together with the machine identification information of each machine tool 105 to the server 103. Alternatively, when each machine tool 105 is connected to the network 101, the operation status information, operation time information, and machine location information may be transmitted directly from each machine tool 105 to the server 103.

[0036] When the control unit 301 of the server 103 acquires these pieces of information from the terminal device 104 or each machine tool 105, it identifies the corresponding machine tool information 700 from the machine tool information database 410 based on the machine identification information, and updates the operation status information, operation time information, and machine position information of the machine tool information 700. For example, the operation time acquisition unit 406 acquires information indicating the operation time of each of the plurality of machine tools 105, and updates the operation time information of the corresponding machine tool information 700.

[0037] The selection unit 404 selects a target machine from the plurality of machine tools 105 based on the processing information 600 and the machine tool information 700. When the target machine is selected, the notification unit 407 notifies the terminal device 102 that transmitted the drawing data 400 of the information indicating the target machine. Details of the selection unit 404 and the notification unit 407 will be described later.

[0038] The region specifying unit 405 specifies the region of the terminal device 102 that transmitted the drawing data 400. In the present embodiment, the terminal device 102 that transmitted the drawing data 400 is the terminal device 102 of the procurement company. For example, when the drawing data 400 is input using a web browser in the terminal device 102 as described above, the region specifying unit 405 specifies the prefecture and municipality administrative divisions where the terminal device 102 is located based on the IP address of the terminal device 102.

[0039] The processing executed by the information processing system 100 of the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a flowchart of the main processing executed by the server 103. As shown in FIG. 8, in S801, the drawing data acquisition unit 401 acquires the drawing data 400 from the terminal device 102 of the procurement company as described above. In S803, the extraction unit 402 analyzes the drawing data 400 and extracts the processing information 600 as described above.

[0040] In S805, the selection unit 404 executes the following matching process. As a result, the selection unit 404 selects, from among a plurality of machine tools 105, the target machine tool that satisfies all of the following conditions: a first condition that the shape indicated by the second shape information is larger than the shape indicated by the first shape information; a second condition that the material indicated by the second material information satisfies the material indicated by the first material information; a third condition that the type of tool indicated by the second tool type information satisfies the type of tool indicated by the first tool type information; a fourth condition that the number indicated by the second tool number information is larger than the number indicated by the first tool number information; a fifth condition that the maximum rotational speed indicated by the second rotational speed information is larger than the rotational speed indicated by the first rotational speed information; and a sixth condition that the feed rate indicated by the second feed rate information is faster than the feed rate indicated by the first feed rate information.

[0041] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a flowchart of the matching process of S805 in FIG. 8. At the start of the matching process, the selection unit 404 acquires one piece of unprocessed machine tool information 700 that has not yet undergone the matching process from among a plurality of pieces of machine tool information 700 registered in the machine tool information database 410. The selection unit 404 determines the first to sixth conditions as follows, using the acquired machine tool information 700 as the processing target.

[0042] As shown in FIG. 9, in S901, the selection unit 404 determines whether the shape of the target processed product is a shape that can be processed by the machine tool 105 based on the first condition. Specifically, when the shape indicated by the second shape information in the machine tool information 700 is larger than the shape indicated by the first shape information in the processing information 600, the first condition is satisfied, and it is determined that the shape of the target processed product is a shape that can be processed by the machine tool 105.

[0043] For example, in the processing information 600 of FIG. 6, the first shape information is "X = 50, Y = 50, Z = 10", and in the machine tool information 700 of FIG. 7, the second shape information is "X = 1000, Y = 1000, Z = 1000". In this case, since the processing size of the corresponding machine tool 105 is larger than the target processed product in all of the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis, the first condition is satisfied. Therefore, in S901, it is determined that the shape of the target processed product is a shape that can be processed by the machine tool 105.

[0044] When the first condition is satisfied, in S903, the selection unit 404 determines whether the target processed product is made of a material that can be processed by the machine tool 105 based on the second condition. Specifically, when the material indicated by the second material information in the machine tool information 700 includes the material indicated by the first material information in the processing information 600, the second condition is satisfied, and it is determined that the target processed product is made of a material that can be processed by the machine tool 105.

[0045] For example, in the processing information 600 of FIG. 6, the first material information is "MC", and in the machine tool information 700 of FIG. 7, the second material information is "ABS, MC, POM". In this case, since the material that can be processed by the corresponding machine tool 105 includes the material of the target processed product, the second condition is satisfied. Therefore, in S903, it is determined that the target processed product is made of a material that can be processed by the machine tool 105.

[0046] Note that in the machine tool information 700, the materials indicated by the second material information of each tool information may be different depending on the corresponding tool. In this case, the selection unit 404 identifies the tool information corresponding to all the tools used in a series of processing steps from the machine tool information 700 based on the first tool type information in the processing information 600 and the second tool type information in the machine tool information 700. When the second material information of all the identified tool information includes the first material information, all the tools used in a series of processing steps can process the material of the target processed product. In this case, the selection unit 404 may determine that the target processed product is made of a material that can be processed by the machine tool 105.

[0047] When the second condition is satisfied, in S905, the selection unit 404 determines whether the types of tools required to process the target processed product are available on the machine tool 105 based on the third condition. Specifically, when the types of tools indicated by the second tool type information in the machine tool information 700 include the types of tools indicated by the first tool type information in the processing information 600, the third condition is satisfied, and it is determined that the types of tools required for processing are available on the machine tool 105.

[0048] For example, the processing information 600 in FIG. 6 indicates that 11 types of tools are used in a total of 19 processing steps. In the machine tool information 700 shown in FIG. 7, the second tool type information of a plurality of tools (for example, 100 types of tools) possessed by the corresponding machine tool 105 is registered. Although not shown, in this machine tool information 700, since these plurality of second tool type information includes all of the 11 types of first tool type information, the third condition is satisfied. Therefore, in S905, it is determined that the types of tools required for processing are available in the machine tool 105.

[0049] When the third condition is satisfied, in S907, the selection unit 404 determines whether the number of tools required to process the target processed product is available in the machine tool 105 based on the fourth condition. Specifically, when the number of tools indicated by the second tool number information in the machine tool information 700 is greater than the number of tools indicated by the first tool number information in the processing information 600, the fourth condition is satisfied, and it is determined that the number of tools required for processing is available in the machine tool 105.

[0050] For example, since 11 types of tools are used in a series of processing steps in the processing information 600 in FIG. 6, the first tool number information is "11". The second tool number information in the machine tool information 700 shown in FIG. 7 indicates "500", which is greater than this first tool number information, as the maximum number of tools that the corresponding machine tool 105 can hold. Therefore, the third condition is satisfied. Thus, in S907, it is determined that the number of tools required for processing is available in the machine tool 105.

[0051] When the fourth condition is satisfied, in S909, the selection unit 404 determines whether the machine tool 105 can execute the number of rotations required to process the target processed product based on the fifth condition. Specifically, when the maximum number of rotations indicated by the second rotation number information in the machine tool information 700 is greater than the number of rotations indicated by the first rotation number information in the processing information 600, the fifth condition is satisfied, and it is determined that the machine tool 105 can execute the number of rotations required for processing.

[0052] For example, in the processing information 600 of FIG. 6, the fifth process among a series of processing steps has the highest rotational speed of the tool, and the first rotational speed information is "3490". Since the second rotational speed information of the machine tool information 700 shown in FIG. 7 indicates "12000", which is higher than this first rotational speed information, as the maximum rotational speed of the corresponding machine tool 105, the fifth condition is satisfied. Therefore, in S909, it is determined that the machine tool 105 can execute the rotational speed required for processing.

[0053] When the fifth condition is satisfied, in S911, the selection unit 404 determines whether the machine tool 105 can execute the feed rate required to process the target processed product based on the sixth condition. Specifically, when the feed rate indicated by the second feed rate information of the machine tool information 700 is higher than the feed rate indicated by the first feed rate information of the processing information 600, the sixth condition is satisfied, and it is determined that the machine tool 105 can execute the feed rate required for processing.

[0054] For example, in the processing information 600 of FIG. 6, the third process among a series of processing steps has the highest feed rate of the tool, and the first feed rate information is "805". Since the second feed rate information of the machine tool information 700 shown in FIG. 7 indicates "20000", which is higher than this first rotational speed information, as the maximum feed rate of the corresponding machine tool 105, the sixth condition is satisfied. Therefore, in S911, it is determined that the machine tool 105 can execute the feed rate required for processing.

[0055] When all of the above-described first to sixth conditions are satisfied, in S913, the selection unit 404 considers that the machine tool 105 corresponding to the machine tool information 700 to be processed has been matched with the target processed product, and sets this machine tool 105 as a selection candidate in the storage unit 302. On the other hand, when at least one of the above-described first to sixth conditions is not satisfied, in S915, the selection unit 404 considers that the machine tool 105 corresponding to the machine tool information 700 to be processed has not been matched with the target processed product.

[0056] After the execution of S913 or S915, in S917, the selection unit 404 determines whether there is unprocessed machine tool information 700 in the machine tool information database 410 that has not yet executed the matching process. If there is unprocessed machine tool information 700, the selection unit 404 uses the machine tool information 700 as the processing target and repeats the processing of S901 to S917 described above. If there is no unprocessed machine tool information 700, the selection unit 404 ends the matching process and returns the processing to the main process (see FIG. 8).

[0057] As shown in FIG. 8, in S807, the selection unit 404 determines whether the matching is successful. For example, if at least one machine tool 105 is set as a selection candidate in the storage unit 302 as a result of the above-described matching process, the selection unit 404 determines that the matching is successful. In this case, the selection unit 404 executes the notification process described later in S809 and ends the main process. If it is not determined in S807 that the matching is successful, the selection unit 404 ends the main process.

[0058] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a flowchart of the notification process in S809 of FIG. 8. In the following notification process, the selection unit 404 selects a target machine based on the operation status information from among at least one machine tool 105 that satisfies all of the first to sixth conditions. Further, the selection unit 404 selects a target machine based on the region specified by the region specifying unit 405 from among at least one machine tool 105 that satisfies all of the first to sixth conditions.

[0059] As shown in FIG. 10, at the start of the notification process, the selection unit 404 reads at least one machine tool 105 set as a selection candidate in the storage unit 302. In S1001, the selection unit 404 determines whether there is an operating machine tool 105 among the at least one read machine tool 105. For example, the selection unit 404 refers to the operation status information of the machine tool information 700 of each machine tool 105, and if this operation status information indicates "operating", it determines that there is an operating machine tool 105.

[0060] In this case, in S1003, the selection unit 404 determines whether there is a machine tool 105 near the ordering area among the at least one machine tool 105 read. The ordering area is, in this example, the area where the terminal device 102 of the procurement company is installed, but it may also be the area where the head office, branch office, or factory of the procurement company is installed. For example, the selection unit 404 determines whether there is a machine tool 105 near the ordering area based on the administrative division indicated by the machine position information of the machine tool information 700 of each machine tool 105 and the administrative division of the terminal device 102 specified by the area specifying unit 405.

[0061] In this example, the area specifying unit 405 specifies a plurality of intervals between the administrative division where the terminal device 102 is installed and each administrative division where the plurality of machine tools 105 are installed. The selection unit 404 selects the machine tool 105 belonging to the administrative division corresponding to the interval less than the predetermined interval among the plurality of intervals as the target machine tool. For example, the area specifying unit 405 specifies, as the interval between the administrative division of the terminal device 102 and the administrative division of the machine tool 105, the straight-line distance between the two administrative divisions, the number of administrative divisions on the shortest path between the two administrative divisions, etc. The selection unit 404 determines that there is a machine tool 105 near the ordering area when the straight-line distance between the two administrative divisions of the terminal device 102 and the machine tool 105 is less than a predetermined distance (for example, 100 km), or when the number of administrative divisions on the shortest path between the two administrative divisions is less than a predetermined number (for example, 3 prefectures).

[0062] In this case, in S1005, the selection unit 404 determines whether both conditions that only one machine tool 105 is in operation and it is near the ordering area are satisfied. For example, when it is determined that only one machine tool 105 is in operation in S1001 and it is determined that it is near the ordering area in S1003, the selection unit 404 determines that only one machine tool 105 satisfies both conditions. In this case, in S1007, the selection unit 404 selects the one machine tool 105 that satisfies both conditions as the target machine tool.

[0063] In S1005, when multiple machine tools 105 satisfy the above two conditions, the multiple machine tools 105 belong to administrative divisions corresponding to intervals less than a predetermined interval. In this case, the selection unit 404 selects, as the target machine, the machine tool 105 installed in the administrative division closest to the administrative division where the terminal device 102 is installed among the multiple machine tools 105. Specifically, in S1009, the selection unit 404 extracts the machine tool 105 closest to the order area among the multiple machine tools 105 that satisfy the above two conditions.

[0064] For example, the selection unit 404 extracts the machine tool 105 with the shortest linear distance among the multiple machine tools 105 where the linear distance between the above two administrative divisions is less than a predetermined distance. Alternatively, the selection unit 404 extracts the machine tool 105 with the smallest number of administrative divisions (for example, "0" for adjacent prefectures) among the multiple machine tools 105 where the number of administrative divisions between the above two administrative divisions is less than a predetermined number.

[0065] In S1011, the selection unit 404 determines whether only one machine tool 105 was extracted in S1009. If only one machine tool 105 was extracted in S1009, in S1013, the selection unit 404 selects the extracted one machine tool 105 as the target machine. On the other hand, if multiple machine tools 105 were extracted in S1009, there are multiple machine tools 105 belonging to the administrative division closest to the order area. In this case, the selection unit 404 selects the machine tool 105 with the shortest operating time as the target machine. Specifically, in S1015, the selection unit 404 refers to the machine tool information 700 of the multiple extracted machine tools 105, compares the movable time information of each machine tool 105, and extracts the machine tool 105 with the shortest movable time.

[0066] In S1017, the selection unit 404 determines whether only one machine tool 105 is extracted in S1015. If only one machine tool 105 is extracted in S1015, in S1013, the selection unit 404 selects the extracted one machine tool 105 as the target machine. On the other hand, if a plurality of machine tools 105 are extracted in S1015, there are a plurality of machine tools with the shortest operating time. In this case, the selection unit 404 selects the machine tool 105 with the earliest registration order as the target machine. Specifically, in S1019, the selection unit 404 refers to the machine tool information 700 of the extracted plurality of machine tools 105, compares the registration numbers of each machine tool 105, and extracts one machine tool 105 with the smallest registration number. In S1013, the selection unit 404 selects the extracted one machine tool 105 as the target machine.

[0067] When one machine tool 105 is selected as the target machine in S1007 or S1013, in S1021, the notification unit 407 notifies the terminal device 102 of the procurement company of the information indicating the target machine. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a screen 1100 for notifying information about the target machine. For example, the notification unit 407 refers to the machine tool information 700 of the machine tool 105 selected as the target machine, generates a screen 1100 including a photo, installation location, machine name, etc. of this machine tool 105, and transmits it to the terminal device 102. In the terminal device 102, the received screen 1100 is displayed on the display unit 204, and the user of the procurement company can view it. By referring to the screen 1100, the user of the procurement company can easily and accurately identify the target machine suitable for manufacturing the target processed product represented by the drawing data 400 from among a plurality of different machine tools 105.

[0068] Note that the screen 1100 illustrated in FIG. 11 includes an order button and other candidate buttons in addition to the information about the target machine. For example, when the order button is pressed on the screen 1100, an inquiry regarding the order of the target processed product including the drawing data 400 is transmitted to the terminal device 104 of the processing company having the target machine.

[0069] Also, when the other candidate button is pressed on the screen 1100, if there are a plurality of machine tools 105 that satisfy all of the first to sixth conditions, a machine tool 105 different from the target machine being displayed is displayed on the screen 1100 as a new target machine. For example, when the other candidate button is pressed, among the plurality of machine tools 105 that satisfy all of the first to sixth conditions, a machine tool 105 with a shorter operating time than the target machine being displayed may be displayed as the new target machine, or a machine tool 105 closer to the order area than the target machine being displayed may be displayed as the new target machine.

[0070] After the execution of S1021, the notification unit 407 returns the process to the main process (see FIG. 8). Also, if it is not determined to be in operation in S1001, or if it is not determined to be in the vicinity of the order area in S1003, the selection unit 404 returns the process to the main process (see FIG. 8) without the notification of S1021 being performed.

[0071] The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope shown in 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. Furthermore, by combining the technical means disclosed in each embodiment, new technical features can be formed.

[0072] In the above embodiment, the case where the extraction unit 402 extracts all of the processing information 600 from the drawing data 400 in S803 was exemplified. Instead of this, for example, a user of a procurement company may manually input part or all of the processing information 600 in the terminal device 102. In this case, the extraction unit 402 can omit part or all of the information extraction from the drawing data 400 by acquiring part or all of the input processing information 600.

[0073] In the above embodiment, the first tool type information and the second tool type information were exemplified as indicating the usage type of the tool, the tool manufacturer, the shank diameter, the tool diameter, and the tool type. However, a plurality of tools having the same usage type, shank diameter, and tool diameter may be regarded as substantially the same type of tool even if their tool manufacturers and tool types are different from each other. In this case, the first tool type information and the second tool type information may not include at least one of the tool manufacturer and the tool type.

[0074] In the above embodiment, when a plurality of machine tools 105 satisfy all of the first to sixth conditions, an example was given in which one machine tool 105 selected from among these machine tools 105 is notified as the target machine. Instead of this, at least one of a plurality of machine tools 105 that satisfy all of the first to sixth conditions may be notified as the target machine. For example, by omitting S1001 to S1019 in FIG. 10, all of a plurality of machine tools 105 that satisfy all of the first to sixth conditions may be notified as the target machine. When a plurality of machine tools 105 closest to the ordering area are extracted in S1009, all of these machine tools 105 may be notified as the target machine. When a plurality of machine tools 105 having the shortest operating time are extracted in S1015, all of these machine tools 105 may be notified as the target machine.

[0075] In the above embodiment, an example was given in which a machine tool 105 that satisfies all of the first to sixth conditions is notified as the target machine. Instead of this, a machine tool 105 that satisfies a part of the first to sixth conditions may be notified as the target machine. For example, a user of a procurement company may not care about the processable size of the machine tool 105 in order to produce target processed products in various shapes and sizes. In this case, by omitting S901 in FIG. 9, a machine tool 105 that satisfies all of the second to sixth conditions may be notified as the target machine. Also, a user of a procurement company may not care about the processable material of the machine tool 105 in order to produce target processed products in various materials. In this case, by omitting S903 in FIG. 9, a machine tool 105 that satisfies all of the first, third to sixth conditions may be notified as the target machine.

[0076] In the above embodiment, the case where each machine tool 105 determines whether all of the first to sixth conditions are satisfied has been exemplified. Instead of this, it may be determined whether each machine tool 105 satisfies some of the first to sixth conditions. Specifically, for example, due to insufficient data in the drawing data 400, the extraction unit 402 may not be able to effectively extract some information (for example, the first shape information) from the drawing data 400. When the user of the procurement company manually inputs the processing information 600, for example, some information (for example, the first shape information) may not be inputtable because the details of the product specifications are not determined. In such a case, the determination of the conditions using some information (for example, S901 in FIG. 9 corresponding to the determination of the first condition) may be omitted, and the determination of the other conditions (for example, S903 to S911 in FIG. 9 corresponding to the determination of the second to sixth conditions) may be performed.

[0077] In the above embodiment, the case where functional blocks such as the drawing data acquisition unit 401, the extraction unit 402, the machine tool information acquisition unit 403, the selection unit 404, the region specifying unit 405, the operation time acquisition unit 406, and the notification unit 407 are provided in the control unit 301 of the server 103 has been exemplified. Instead of this, some or all of these functional blocks may be provided in other electronic devices connected to the server 103. In this case, some or all of the processes described in the above embodiment are executed by other electronic devices connected to the server 103, and the processing load on the server 103 can be reduced.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0078] 100 Information processing system, 103 Server, 105 Machine tool, 401 Drawing data acquisition unit, 402 Extraction unit, 403 Machine tool information acquisition unit, 404 Selection unit, 405 Region specifying unit, 406 Operation time acquisition unit, 407 Notification unit

Claims

1. A drawing data acquisition unit that acquires drawing data representing a target processed product, An extraction unit that extracts processing information including first shape information representing the shape of the processed product, first material information representing the material of the processed product, first tool type information representing the type of tool required for processing the processed product, first tool number information representing the number of the tools, first rotation speed information representing the rotation speed of the tools, and first feed speed information representing the feed speed of the tools from the drawing data, For each of a plurality of machine tools, a machine tool information acquisition unit that acquires the machine tool information including second shape information representing the shape of a workpiece that can be processed, second material information representing one or more materials of the workpiece that can be processed, second tool type information representing the type of the tool held, second tool number information representing the number of the tools held, second rotation speed information representing the maximum rotation speed of the tools held, and second feed speed information representing the maximum feed speed of the tools held from a storage device that stores the machine tool information, A selection unit that selects a target machine from the plurality of machine tools based on the processing information and the machine tool information, An information processing apparatus comprising the above.

2. The selection unit selects, as the target machine, a machine tool that satisfies all of a first condition that the shape indicated by the second shape information is larger than the shape indicated by the first shape information among the plurality of machine tools, a second condition that the material indicated by the second material information satisfies the material indicated by the first material information, a third condition that the type of tool indicated by the second tool type information satisfies the type of tool indicated by the first tool type information, a fourth condition that the number indicated by the second tool number information is larger than the number indicated by the first tool number information, a fifth condition that the maximum rotation speed indicated by the second rotation speed information is larger than the rotation speed indicated by the first rotation speed information, and a sixth condition that the feed speed indicated by the second feed speed information is faster than the feed speed indicated by the first feed speed information in the information processing apparatus according to Claim 1.

3. The machine tool information includes operation status information regarding the operation status of each of the plurality of machine tools, The selection unit selects the target machine based on the operation status information from among at least one machine tool that satisfies all of the first to sixth conditions in the information processing apparatus according to Claim 2.

4. Further comprising a region specifying unit that specifies the region of the terminal device that transmitted the drawing data, The selection unit selects the target machine from among at least one machine tool that satisfies all of the first to sixth conditions based on the specified region, the information processing apparatus according to claim 2.

5. The region specifying unit specifies a plurality of intervals between the administrative division where the terminal device is installed and each of the administrative divisions where the plurality of machine tools are installed. The selection unit selects, as the target machine, a machine tool belonging to an administrative division corresponding to an interval less than a predetermined interval among the plurality of intervals, the information processing apparatus according to claim 4.

6. When a plurality of machine tools belong to an administrative division corresponding to an interval less than the predetermined interval, the selection unit selects, as the target machine, a machine tool installed in the administrative division closest to the administrative division where the terminal device is installed among the plurality of machine tools, the information processing apparatus according to claim 5.

7. Further comprising an operation time acquisition unit that acquires information indicating the operation time of each of the plurality of machine tools. When there are a plurality of machine tools belonging to the closest administrative division, the selection unit selects, as the target machine, the machine tool with the shortest operation time, the information processing apparatus according to claim 6.

8. The machine tool information includes information on the registration order associated with each of the plurality of machine tools. When there are a plurality of machine tools with the shortest operation time, the selection unit selects, as the target machine, the machine tool with the earliest registration order, the information processing apparatus according to claim 7.

9. When the target machine is selected, further comprising a notification unit that notifies the terminal device that transmitted the drawing data of information indicating the target machine, the information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. An information processing method executed by an information processing apparatus, wherein the information processing apparatus acquires drawing data representing a target processed product. extracts processing information including first shape information representing the shape of the processed product, first material information representing the material of the processed product, first tool type information representing the type of tool required for processing the processed product, first tool number information representing the number of tools, first rotation speed information representing the rotation speed of the tools, and first feed speed information representing the feed speed of the tools from the drawing data. For each of the plurality of machine tools, obtain the machine tool information including second shape information representing the shape of the workpieces that can be processed, second material information representing one or more materials of the workpieces that can be processed, second tool type information representing the types of tools held, second tool number information representing the number of tools held, second rotation speed information representing the maximum rotation speed of the tools held, and second feed speed information representing the maximum feed speed of the tools held, from a storage device that stores the machine tool information. Based on the processing information and the machine tool information, select a target machine from the plurality of machine tools. Information processing method.

11. A program for causing an information processing device to: Obtain drawing data representing a target processed product. Extract processing information including first shape information representing the shape of the processed product, first material information representing the material of the processed product, first tool type information representing the types of tools required for processing the processed product, first tool number information representing the number of the tools, first rotation speed information representing the rotation speed of the tools, and first feed speed information representing the feed speed of the tools, from the drawing data. For each of the plurality of machine tools, obtain the machine tool information including second shape information representing the shape of the workpieces that can be processed, second material information representing one or more materials of the workpieces that can be processed, second tool type information representing the types of tools held, second tool number information representing the number of tools held, second rotation speed information representing the maximum rotation speed of the tools held, and second feed speed information representing the maximum feed speed of the tools held, from a storage device that stores the machine tool information. Based on the processing information and the machine tool information, cause the target machine to be selected from the plurality of machine tools. Program.

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