Process design support apparatus

Abstract

To provide a production management support apparatus equipped with a production management function that is provided inside the production management support apparatus, processes information thereof using operating means via communication means, and communicates it to a cloud.SOLUTION: A production management support apparatus includes: weight measurement means (weighing scale 6) provided in a workplace allowing communication with a cloud or the like; communication means such as Wi-Fi that links to the cloud; and a program that is operating means that makes it possible to operate cloud computing or a local PC via the communication means. The weight measurement means can be selectively installed in a pre-work box 2 or a post-work box 3 by an operation by a working person. When the worker moves a component 1 as a post-work component that have been processed by a processing machine 5 from the pre-work box to the post-work box, the weight measurement means communicates a change quantity to the operating means. The communication means estimates and calculates the production number.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to weighing scales and scales, and more particularly to a process management support device that works in conjunction with a process support program and automatically measures cycle time and takt time without requiring a two-dimensional code reader, manual switch, or beacon. [Background technology]

[0002] Cycle time refers to the actual measured value from the start to the end of a production process or inspection process (hereinafter referred to as "process") from a pre-operation part to a post-operation part in the production process or inspection process. Traditionally, 2D code readers have been the standard method of measuring cycle time in factories. This is because, with the trend toward small-lot, high-mix production, production management is impossible without a production support program. In these systems, 2D code readers are built in as a means of inputting actual results for shipment completion, and as a side effect, they are programmed to measure cycle time. However, in small and medium-sized factories, the license fees for the 2D code reader system, PC, and system are expensive, making them difficult to distribute to workers in each process. As a result, workers enter results all at once after completing their work. In search of an alternative method, the company began considering the possibility of using relatively inexpensive Wi-Fi or Bluetooth-enabled weighing scales and scales. Incidentally, cycle time is the actual measured value from the start to the end of work on a part in a process, while takt time is the ideal value, but since the purpose is the same, hereafter we will refer to it as cycle time. To measure cycle time, boxes are separated before and after the process work, and parts are stored separately. A weight scale is placed under one or both of the boxes, and the cycle time is measured by the change in weight. In a typical factory, the manufacturing and inspection departments replace parts in new boxes before and after work as described above, and distinguish the condition of the parts. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Application No. 2022-108252 Publication [Patent Document 2] Patent Application No. 2008-149269 Publication [Patent Document 3] Patent Application No. 2006-237703 Publication [Patent Document 4] Patent Application No. 2000-151137 Publication [Patent Document 5] Patent No. 4849403 Publication [Patent Document 6] Patent Application No. 2021-159897 Publication [Patent Document 7] Patent Application No. 2019-234222 Publication [Patent Document 8] Patent Application No. 2022-86058 Publication [Patent Document 9] Patent Application No. 2017-117382 Publication [Patent Document 10] Patent No. 6993688 Publication [Patent Document 11] Patent Application No. 2009-251420 Publication [Patent Document 12] Patent Application No. 2001-180223 Publication [Patent Document 13] Patent Application No. 2004-373131 Publication [Patent Document 14] Patent Application No. 2000-247106 Publication [Patent Document 15] Patent Application No. 2020-110646 Publication [Patent Document 16] Patent Application No. 2017-109480 Publication Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, inexpensive weighing scales and scales are mainly in units of 50g or 100g, and factory parts exist in units of just a few grams, so they cannot be used to measure cycle time using weight changes. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] In order to solve the above problem, claim 1 provides a weight measuring device including a measuring means for measuring weight, a recording means for recording weight information obtained by the measuring means, and a communication means for outputting the weight information recorded by the recording means to an information processing device. and an operation means for analyzing the weight information obtained through the communication means in the information processing device. A production management support device equipped with a measuring means for measuring the weight of a load, which changes depending on the operation of a worker (4), wherein the measuring means can be selectively installed at a pre-work position or a post-work position by the operation of the worker (4); The production management support device is provided with a production management function, characterized in that the production management support device is provided inside the production management support device, and the information is processed by an operation means via a communication means and communicated to the cloud.

[0006] That is, when part 1 is loaded or removed from weighing scale 6, the change in value is transmitted via communication means such as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth to a cloud computing or local PC using a program, which is an operating means for giving instructions. The weight information is linked to production management information, or processed based on said information and a calculation formula, and used for production management work. For example, when part 1 is removed from pre-operation box 2 and moved to post-operation box 3 after the operation, a change in weight occurs. The time it takes for this change to occur is the cycle time. When operations are performed continuously, an average value with variation can be calculated.

[0007] According to the invention described in claim 2, in contrast to claim 1, a production management support device is provided which is characterized by being equipped with a program that is a prediction means that can calculate the amount of work per part by taking into account the number of orders in the order information, the weight of the parts, and the number of defects.

[0008] In other words, if part 1 is lighter than the weighing scale's measurement accuracy, it cannot be measured. However, by detecting the start and end times of the work and dividing by the number of production units minus the number of defects, the cycle time per unit can be calculated. Also, by measuring the weight of the parts in advance, it is possible to calculate the number of units produced. In this way, we provide a production management support device that is characterized by calculating weights outside the measurement accuracy. Furthermore, by adding the weighing scale's unique MAC address during communication, it is possible to identify which weighing scale 6 the information is from, and by linking the worker 4 to the weighing scale 6, it becomes even more useful information.

[0009] Furthermore, according to the invention described in claim 3, a production management support device is provided which is characterized in that, in comparison with claim 1, it processes information using a relay means of a smart device having an information input means and enables communication with a communication means.

[0010] That is, by relay means such as a smartphone7, tablet, or smart glasses. Even if weighing scale 6 only has a short-range communication means such as Bluetooth, it can communicate with the cloud via a relay means. In this case, the information can be more useful if input information from smartphone 7 or the smartphone's unique MAC address is added to the communication. Program development can be made more efficient by linking the programs that run smartphone 7 and the cloud using a predetermined API. APIs can also be used to make weighing scale 6 more efficient when developed in-house.

[0011] According to the invention described in claim 4, in contrast to claim 1, a production management support device is provided which is characterized by having a measurement object holding means equipped with ribs having a height equal to or greater than the plate thickness.

[0012] That is, when a large pre-work box 2 or post-work box 3 or a cart is loaded onto the loading section of the weighing scale, the weight and size can cause the loading section to deform, and the actual weight may not be transmitted sufficiently to the strain gauge, which is the weight sensor. In such cases, bending the loading section to a height greater than the plate thickness to form a rib 8 can provide an inexpensive and strong sanction section.

[0013] According to the invention described in claim 5, in contrast to claim 1, there is provided a production management support device characterized by having weight measuring means equipped with a program that goes into a sleep state when the weight is below a specific weight.

[0014] That is, when the weight falls below a preset value, it determines that there is no intention to measure and goes into sleep mode to save power.Normal weighing scales go into sleep mode to save power when there is no weight change, but in the case of weighing scales designed for people, there is a drawback in that they will not start up unless the weight changes by 2 kg or more, so we provide a weight measurement means that is more suitable for this purpose.

[0015] According to the invention as set forth in claim 6, there is provided a production management support device according to claim 1, characterized in that it has weight measurement means equipped with a program for constantly transmitting weight information at startup.

[0016] In other words, when it is started, it continues to transmit weight information in chronological order. Normally, weighing scales stop measuring for about 30 seconds after determining the weight, and then measure again. This provides a weight measurement means that is more suitable for this purpose.

[0017] The purpose of this device is to link weight information from weigh scale 6 with production information via a program and convert it into parts processing information. Previously, reading work using a 2D code reader system was required, but by installing a weight measuring device under the box during normal box replacement work, it is now possible to measure cycle time during normal work.

[0018] However, conventional inexpensive weighing scales have been designed for use on people, etc., and have had issues with small parts being outside the measurement accuracy range and not being able to be measured, while large parts cause the loading area to deform, resulting in inaccuracies.

[0019] By linking this to production information and making calculations, there is no longer a need to use a high-precision weighing scale even for small parts, and even for large parts, accuracy is improved by attaching a ribbed steel plate to the loading section, solving the above problems. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0020] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention in which a weight scale is installed under the work box. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention in which a weight scale is installed under the work box. [Figure 3] Figure 1 showing a typical smartphone configuration [Figure 4] Figure 1 shows an example of a weighing scale with ribs installed at the bottom. [Figure 5] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment in which ribs are provided on the weight measuring section. [Figure 6] Detailed diagram of weighing scale loading section (one example) [Figure 7] An example of an enlarged view of the rib in Figure 6 [Figure 8] FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a standard low-cost size weighing scale. [Figure 9] FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a large-sized weighing scale. [Figure 10] Figure showing the form of the UI display screen on a smartphone. One example DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In Figure 1, a weighing scale 4, which is a weight measuring means, is installed under a post-processing box 3, and a worker 4 processes a part 1 with a processing machine 5 and loads the part 1 into the post-processing box 3. This operation also automatically uploads the weight change to the cloud via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, which is a communication means of the weighing scale 4, in accordance with instructions from a program, which is an operating means. It also shows that it is possible to calculate the number of lightweight parts to be produced from production management information and calculate the cycle time.

[0022] FIG. 2 shows the state in which the weight measuring means of FIG. 1 is placed in the pre-operation box 2.

[0023] FIG. 3 shows that weight change information is transmitted via Bluetooth, which is a communication means provided by weighing scale 4, and uploaded to the cloud via smartphone 7.

[0024] Figure 4 shows that downward ribs 8 have been installed in the loading section of a weighing scale 4. Normally, steel plates with a thickness of 1 to 6 mm are used for the loading section, and the sides are bent to form ribs 8, which inexpensively improve strength. As they face downward, they will not collide with the load.

[0025] FIG. 5 shows that the rib 8 in FIG. 4 is installed at the top and also serves as a stopper.

[0026] Figure 6 shows a design plan that adopts Figures 4 and 5.

[0027] FIG. 7 shows an enlarged view of the rib 8 in FIG.

[0028] Figure 8 shows an example of a normal-sized weighing scale 4.

[0029] Figure 9 shows an example of a large-sized weighing scale 4. It also shows that the strength is improved by the ribs 8.

[0030] Figure 10 shows the screen of the smartphone 7 in Figure 3. It allows users to check the quantity and input the NG number, and also shows that it supports information sharing and accuracy improvement.

[0031] It is shown that the system is simple and easy to manufacture because it is composed of only a high-precision and high-strength link mechanism, with a configuration of a normal-precision weight scale and production pipe information. [Industrial Applicability]

[0032] The process management support device is composed of a weighing scale and a cloud computing or local PC that obtains production management information, and can achieve the same judgments as a high-precision weighing scale using a normal-precision weighing scale. [Explanation of symbols]

[0033] 1 part 2 Pre-work box 3. Box after work 4. Workers 5 Processing machine 6 Weight scale 7. Smartphones 8. Ribs

Claims

1. a weight measuring means including a measuring means for measuring weight, a recording means for recording weight information obtained by said measuring means, and a communication means for outputting the weight information recorded by said recording means to an information processing device; and an operation means for analyzing the weight information obtained through the communication means in the information processing device.

2. The operation means is installed on a cloud computing or local PC, and has a means for inputting production information and the number of defects generated between processes, 2. The production management support device according to claim 1, further comprising a program serving as prediction means for calculating the amount of work per part, taking into consideration the planned production quantity, the weight of parts and the number of defects from said production information.

3. 2. The production management support device according to claim 1, wherein a relay means of a smart device having an information input means processes information and enables communication with said communication means.

4. 2. The production management support device according to claim 1, further comprising a measuring object holding means provided with ribs having a height equal to or greater than the plate thickness.

5. 2. The production management support device according to claim 1, further comprising a weight measuring means having a program for going into a sleep state when the weight is below a specific weight.

6. 2. The production management support device according to claim 1, further comprising a weight measuring means having a program for constantly transmitting weight changes at startup.

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