Can management device, can management system, and can management method

Abstract

To provide a can management device that can obtain an arrangement state when a plurality of cans are conveyed in multiple rows in a manner that allows each can to be identified.SOLUTION: A can management device manages information related to a bottomed cylindrical can 10, which has a can identifier storage medium 100 storing a can identifier D1 attached to a can bottom 101, in a can management database 11A. A can manufacturing line comprises: a multi-row conveyance device 22A including a multi-row conveyance conveyor 222 capable of placing a plurality of cans 10 in an inverted or upright posture relative to the conveyance direction 220 and width direction 221 of the can 10; and a multi-row reading device 24A which obtains the can identifier D1 stored in the can identifier storage medium 100 attached to the can 10 and can placement position information D3 indicating a placement position of the can 10 on the multi-row conveyance conveyor 222 when the can 10 is conveyed and passes through a reading range 240. The can management device comprises a database management unit which registers the can identifier D1 and the can placement position information D3, obtained by the multi-row reading device 24A, in the can management database 11A by associating them.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a can management device, a can management system, and a can management method. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, in can manufacturing lines, identifiers are attached to cans in order to manage the lot, manufacturing date, raw materials, etc. of each can (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Also, in some manufacturing processes among the multiple manufacturing processes carried out in can manufacturing lines, multiple cans are transported in multiple rows (see, for example, Patent Document 2). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 8-175005 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-219538 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Patent Document 1 discloses that identifiers are used to manage the lot, manufacturing date, raw materials, etc. of each can, but does not disclose other uses of the identifiers. Also, as disclosed in Patent Document 2, when multiple cans are transported in multiple rows, acquiring the arrangement status of each can is considered useful for quality control of the cans and process control of the manufacturing process.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a can management device, a can management system, and a can management method that are capable of acquiring the arrangement status of multiple cans when they are transported in multiple rows in a manner that allows each can to be identified. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, a can management device according to one aspect of the present invention comprises: A can management device that manages, in a database, information about bottomed cylindrical cans, each having a can identifier storage medium that stores a can identifier attached to its bottom, when the can is manufactured on a can manufacturing line, the can management device comprising: The can manufacturing line comprises: a multi-row conveying device that is installed within or between manufacturing devices that manufacture the cans and has a multi-row conveyor that can place a plurality of the cans in an inverted or upright position relative to a conveying direction of the cans and a width direction perpendicular to the conveying direction, and that conveys the plurality of cans by sending the multi-row conveyor in the conveying direction; a multi-row reading device that sets a reading range for the can identifier storage medium to a partial range in the conveying direction of the multi-row conveyor, and acquires the can identifier stored in the can identifier storage medium attached to the can when the can placed on the multi-row conveyor is conveyed and passes through the reading range, and acquires can placement position information indicating the placement position of the can on the multi-row conveyor in the conveying direction and the width direction, The can management device includes: The system further includes a database management unit that associates the can identifiers and the can placement position information acquired by the multi-row reader and registers them in the database. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to one aspect of the present invention, when a plurality of cans are placed on a multi-row conveyor and conveyed, the can identifiers stored in the can identifier storage medium attached to the cans and the can placement position information indicating the placement position of the cans in the conveying direction and width direction on the multi-row conveyor are acquired. The can identifiers and can placement position information are associated and registered in a database. Therefore, when each can is transported by the multi-row transport conveyor, the placement position of each can on the multi-row transport conveyor is associated with the can identifier and registered in a database, so that the arrangement of multiple cans transported in a multi-row state can be obtained in a state in which each can can be identified.

[0008] Problems, configurations, and effects other than those described above will become apparent from the detailed description of the invention that follows. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing an example of a can management system 1 according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing an example of a can manufacturing line 2A according to a first embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a can 10. [Figure 4] 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a multi-row conveying device 22A and a multi-row reading device 24A. FIG. [Figure 5] 10 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a single-row conveying device 22B and a single-row reading device 24B. FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a can management device 3A according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7A] FIG. 2 is a data configuration diagram showing an example of a can management database 11A according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7B] FIG. 2 is a data configuration diagram showing an example of a can management database 11A according to the first embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 9 is a hardware configuration diagram showing an example of a computer 900 that constitutes each device. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a functional explanatory diagram showing an example of a method for identifying an abnormal can 10A by a first abnormal can identifying section 301A. [Figure 10] 10 is a functional explanatory diagram showing a first embodiment of a method for identifying a contaminated can 10B by a first contaminated can identifying section 302A. FIG. [Figure 11] 10 is a functional explanatory diagram showing a second embodiment of a method for identifying a contaminated can 10C by a first contaminated can identifying section 302A. FIG. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a functional explanatory diagram showing a third embodiment of a method for identifying a contaminated can 10D by a first contaminated can identifying unit 302A. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a functional explanatory diagram showing an example of a method for identifying an abnormal arrangement pattern P1 by a first abnormal arrangement acquisition unit 304A. [Figure 14] FIG. 10 is a functional explanatory diagram showing an example of a method for analyzing test results by a test result analysis unit 305. [Figure 15] FIG. 10 is a functional explanatory diagram showing a first embodiment of a method for analyzing the cause of a defect by a defect cause analysis unit 306. [Figure 16] FIG. 10 is a functional explanatory diagram showing a second embodiment of a method for analyzing the cause of a defect by the defect cause analysis unit 306. [Figure 17] FIG. 10 is a functional explanatory diagram showing a first embodiment of a method for analyzing an abnormality point in an apparatus by an abnormality point analysis unit 307. [Figure 18] FIG. 10 is a functional explanatory diagram showing a second embodiment of a method for analyzing an abnormality point in an apparatus by an abnormality point analysis unit 307. [Figure 19] FIG. 10 is an overall configuration diagram showing an example of a can manufacturing line 2B according to a second embodiment. [Figure 20] 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a multi-row conveying device 22A and a posture detection device 25. FIG. [Figure 21] FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing an example of a can management device 3B according to a second embodiment. [Figure 22A] FIG. 11 is a data configuration diagram showing an example of a can management database 11B according to the second embodiment. [Figure 22B] FIG. 11 is a data configuration diagram showing an example of a can management database 11B according to the second embodiment. [Figure 23] FIG. 10 is a functional explanatory diagram showing an example of a method for identifying an abnormal can 10A by a second abnormal can identifying section 301B. [Figure 24] FIG. 10 is a functional explanatory diagram showing a first embodiment of a method for identifying a contaminated can 10B by a second abnormal can identifying section 301B. [Figure 25] 10 is a functional explanatory diagram showing a second embodiment of a method for identifying a contaminated can 10C by a second contaminated can identifying section 302B. FIG. [Figure 26] FIG. 10 is a functional explanatory diagram showing an example of a method for identifying an abnormal arrangement pattern P2 by a second abnormal arrangement acquisition unit 304B. [Figure 27] FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing an example of a can management device 3C according to a third embodiment. [Figure 28]2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a multi-row conveying device 22A and a multi-row reading device 24A. FIG. [Figure 29A] FIG. 11 is a data configuration diagram showing an example of a can management database 11C according to the third embodiment. [Figure 29B] FIG. 11 is a data configuration diagram showing an example of a can management database 11C according to the third embodiment. [Figure 29C] FIG. 11 is a data configuration diagram showing an example of a can management database 11C according to the third embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Hereinafter, an embodiment for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The scope necessary for the explanation to achieve the object of the present invention will be schematically shown, and the scope necessary for explaining the relevant parts of the present invention will be mainly explained, and the parts that are omitted from the explanation will be based on publicly known techniques.

[0011] (First embodiment) FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing an example of a can management system 1 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is an overall configuration diagram showing an example of a can manufacturing line 2A according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a can 10. FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of a multi-row conveying device 22A and a multi-row reading device 24A. FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of a single-row conveying device 22B and a single-row reading device 24B.

[0012] Can management system 1 includes a can making line 2A that produces bottomed cylindrical cans 10, a can management device 3A that uses a can management database 11A to manage information about cans 10 when they are produced on can making line 2A, and a terminal device 4 used by a user (such as a manager or operator of can making line 2A). Each of devices 20-24 (described in detail below) provided on can making line 2A, can management device 3A, and terminal device 4 are configured to be able to communicate various types of data via a wired or wireless network 5.

[0013] As shown in Fig. 3, can 10 has a can bottom 101, a can body 102, and an opening 103. Can bottom 101 has a bottom portion 101a, a chime portion 101b, and a dome portion 101c. Can body 102 has an outer peripheral surface 102a, an inner peripheral surface 102b, a neck portion 102c, and a flange portion 102d. A can identifier storage medium 100 that stores a can identifier D1 is attached to can bottom 101.

[0014] Can 10 may be a steel can made of steel sheet metal, or an aluminum can made of aluminum or aluminum alloy sheet metal. Can 10 may have any of a two-piece can, a three-piece can, and a bottle-shaped can. The shape of can bottom 101 is not limited to the example shown in FIG. 3, and may be, for example, flat.

[0015] The can identifier D1 is information for individually identifying the can 10. The can identifier D1 is, for example, a combination of alphanumeric characters and symbols. The can identifier D1 is issued in accordance with predetermined issuing rules and is uniquely assigned to each can 10.

[0016] The can identifier storage medium 100 stores the can identifier D1 in a visually or optically readable state. The can identifier storage medium 100 may be, for example, a code image attached to the can 10 according to a standard such as a one-dimensional code or a two-dimensional code, or alphanumeric characters or symbols may be attached directly to the can 10. In this case, the can identifier storage medium 100 is attached to the can 10 by any method such as printing, engraving, burning, or attaching a sticker.

[0017] The can identifier storage medium 100 stores the can identifier D1 in a state that can be electromagnetically read with or without contact. For example, an electronic tag (IC tag) called RFID can be used as the can identifier storage medium 100. In this case, the can identifier storage medium 100 is attached to the can 10 by any method such as pasting or embedding.

[0018] In this embodiment, the can 10 is a two-piece can made of aluminum, and the description will be centered on a case where a can identifier storage medium 100 storing a can identifier D1 in the form of a two-dimensional code is attached to the can bottom 101.

[0019] 1, can manufacturing line 2A includes manufacturing equipment 20, inspection equipment 21, conveying equipment 22, can identifier assigning equipment 23, and can identifier reading equipment 24. Each of the equipment 20 to 24 included in can manufacturing line 2A is configured with, for example, a general-purpose or dedicated computer called an embedded computer (see FIG. 8 described later).

[0020] The manufacturing apparatus 20 is an apparatus that performs a manufacturing process for manufacturing the cans 10. In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 2, the manufacturing apparatuses 20 that perform each manufacturing process include, from upstream to downstream in a conveying direction 220 of the cans 10, an uncoiler 20A, a cupping press 20B, a body maker 20C, a trimmer 20D, a washer 20E, a body coater 20F, a first pin oven 20G, a printer 20H, a second pin oven 20I, a spray machine 20J, a bake oven 20K, a necker flanger 20L, and a palletizer 20M.

[0021] The uncoiler 20A feeds the aluminum sheet wound into a coil (uncoiler process). At this time, a lubricant for forming is applied to the surface of the aluminum sheet. The cupping press 20B punches out a circle from the aluminum sheet and forms a cup body by shallow drawing (cupping press process). The cupping press 20B forms multiple cup bodies in parallel, for example, using multiple cutting dies arranged in the width direction of the aluminum sheet. A die number is assigned to each cutting die as a process identifier D2 for identifying each cutting die.

[0022] The body maker 20C applies deep drawing and ironing processes to the cup body to stretch the side wall of the cup body to a predetermined height, forming the can 10 into which the can bottom 101 and the can body 102 are integrally formed (body maker process). The trimmer 20D cuts the upper end of the can body 102 and aligns it to a predetermined height (trimmer process).

[0023] Washer 20E washes and dries cans 10 to remove lubricants and other deposits applied to the surfaces of cans 10 (washing process). Inside washer 20E, cans 10 are washed by being sprayed with cleaning liquid from nozzles for supplying cleaning liquid arranged in a width direction 221 perpendicular to conveyance direction 220. Therefore, cans 10 are placed in an upside-down position with can bottom 101 facing upward to prevent cleaning liquid from accumulating inside the can. After washing, warm air is blown into cans 10 to dry them.

[0024] The body coater 20F applies paint to the outer peripheral surface 102a of the can body 102 (body coating process). The first pin oven 20G dries the paint on the outer peripheral surface 102a of the can body 102.

[0025] The printer 20H prints a predetermined design on the outer peripheral surface 102a of the can body 102 (printer process). For example, the printer 20H prints using blankets (plates) provided on a blanket wheel while multiple cans 10 are held on mandrels provided on a mandrel wheel. A plate number is assigned to each plate as a process identifier D2 for identifying the plate. The second pin oven 20I dries the design printed on the outer peripheral surface 102a of the can body 102.

[0026] The spray machine 20J applies paint to the inner circumferential surface 102b of the can body 102 and also applies paint to the bottom portion 101a (spray machine process). The bake oven 20K dries the paint on the inner circumferential surface 102b of the can body 102 and the paint on the bottom portion 101a.

[0027] The necker-flanger 20L reduces the diameter of the opening 103 of the can 10 to form a neck portion 102c and a flange portion 102d for attaching a can lid (necker-flanger process). For example, the necker-flanger 20L sequentially performs neck forming and flange forming processes on each of the cans 10 held in multiple pockets. A pocket number is assigned to each pocket as a process identifier D2 for identifying the pocket.

[0028] The palletizer 20M stacks the cans 10 in multiple layers on a pallet (palletizer process).

[0029] Note that a plurality of body makers 20C, trimmers 20D, and spray machines 20J are installed, and each manufacturing process is performed in parallel. Each device is assigned a machine number as a process identifier D2 for identifying the device. In addition, a rejection device (not shown) that rejects a specific can 10 during transport is installed downstream of or inside the washer 20E.

[0030] The inspection device 21 is a device that performs an inspection process to inspect cans 10 (including cans 10 in the middle of production). The inspection device 21 includes, for example, an imaging device (two-dimensional or three-dimensional) that captures an image of the can 10 and a measuring device that measures each part of the can 10. The inspection device 21 inspects the can 10 for various inspection items based on the images captured by the imaging device and the measurements taken by the measuring device, and acquires a can identifier D1 stored in a can identifier storage medium 100 attached to the can 10 and inspection result information D4 that indicates the inspection results for the can 10. The inspection items include the shape of each part of the can 10, the print quality on the outer peripheral surface 102a of the can body 102, the presence or absence of dirt on the inner peripheral surface 102b of the can body 102, the presence or absence of pinholes, etc.

[0031] The inspection device 21 is configured to be able to transmit inspection transmission data, including the can identifier D1 and inspection result information D4 acquired from each can 10 and the time at which they were acquired, to the can management device 3A. Note that a rejection device (not shown) is installed downstream of or inside the inspection device 21, which rejects a can 10 when the inspection result of the inspection device 21 on that can 10 is bad.

[0032] The conveying device 22 is a device that is installed inside the manufacturing device 20 or the inspection device 21 or between the manufacturing device 20 or the inspection device 21, and conveys the cans 10 (including cans 10 in the middle of being manufactured). The conveying device 22 installed inside the device may have a structure that is integrated with the manufacturing device 20 or the inspection device 21.

[0033] The conveying devices 22 are broadly divided into a multi-row conveying device 22A that conveys multiple cans 10 without aligning them, and a single-row conveying device 22B that conveys multiple cans 10 aligned in a single row. Note that a device (not shown) that aligns the cans 10 in a single row or distributes them into multiple rows is installed between the multi-row conveying device 22A and the single-row conveying device 22B.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 4 , the multi-row conveying device 22A includes a multi-row conveyor 222 capable of placing multiple cans 10 in an inverted or upright position relative to a conveying direction 220 of the cans 10 and a width direction 221 perpendicular to the conveying direction 220, and guides 223 provided on both sides of the multi-row conveyor 222 in the width direction 221. The multi-row conveying device 22A conveys multiple cans 10 by moving the multi-row conveyor 222 in the conveying direction 220. In this embodiment, the multi-row conveying device 22A will be described as conveying cans 10 in an inverted position, which is the normal position for the cans 10. Therefore, positions other than the inverted position, such as an inverted position, a slanted position, and an upright position, are collectively referred to as an “abnormal position.” Note that when the multi-row conveying device 22A conveys cans 10 in an upright position, which is the normal position for the cans 10, positions other than the upright position, such as an inverted position, a slanted position, and an inverted position, are collectively referred to as an “abnormal position.”

[0035] 5, the single-row conveying device 22B has a single-row conveyor 224 on which a plurality of cans 10 can be placed in an inverted or upright position so that they are lined up in a line along a conveying direction 220 of the cans 10, and guides 225 provided on both sides of the single-row conveyor 224 in a width direction 221. The single-row conveying device 22B conveys a plurality of cans 10 by sending the single-row conveyor 224 in the conveying direction 220. In this embodiment, a case will be described in which the single-row conveying device 22B conveys cans 10 in an inverted position, which is the normal position for the cans 10.

[0036] The can identifier assigning device 23 is a device for assigning a can identifier storage medium 100 storing a can identifier D1 to a can bottom 101. The can identifier assigning device 23 is configured to be able to issue a new can identifier D1 and transmit assignment transmission data including the can identifier D1 assigned to the can 10 and the time of assignment to the can management device 3A.

[0037] In this embodiment, the can identifier assigning device 23 is a laser marker that uses laser light to mark a two-dimensional code serving as the can identifier storage medium 100. As shown in FIG. 2, the can identifier assigning device 23 is installed upstream of the cupping press 20B and marks a two-dimensional code (can identifier storage medium 100) at a predetermined position on the aluminum plate that will become the can bottom 101. At this time, the assigned transmission data includes, in addition to the can identifier D1, a process identifier D2 (version number) for when the aluminum plate is subjected to the cupping press process.

[0038] The can identifier reader 24 is installed in a conveying device 22 located inside or outside the manufacturing apparatus 20 or the inspection apparatus 21, and reads the can identifier D1 stored in the can identifier storage medium 100. The can identifier reader 24 may also be installed inside the manufacturing apparatus 20 or the inspection apparatus 21. The can identifier reader 24 may be configured, for example, as a two-dimensional code reader that optically reads a two-dimensional code serving as the can identifier storage medium 100, an electronic tag reader that electromagnetically reads an electronic tag serving as the can identifier storage medium 100, or an imaging device that captures an image of the can 10 including the can identifier storage medium 100. When reading the can identifier D1 of an inverted can 10, the can identifier reader 24 is installed with its reading direction facing downward. When reading the can identifier D1 of an upright can 10, the can identifier reader 24 is installed with its reading direction facing upward.

[0039] The can identifier reading devices 24 are roughly divided into a multi-row reading device 24A installed on the multi-row conveying device 22A and a single-row reading device 24B installed on the single-row conveying device 22B.

[0040] 4, the multi-row reading device 24A defines a portion of the multi-row conveyor 222 in the conveying direction 220 as the reading range 240 of the can identifier storage medium 100, and when a can 10 placed on the multi-row conveyor 222 is conveyed and passes through the reading range 240 of the can identifier storage medium 100, the multi-row reading device 24A acquires the can identifier D1 stored in the can identifier storage medium 100 attached to the can 10 and can placement position information D3 indicating the placement position of the can 10 in the conveying direction 220 and the width direction 221 on the multi-row conveyor 222. The multi-row reading device 24A is configured to be able to transmit read transmission data including the can identifier D1 and can placement position information D3 acquired from each can 10 and the time at which they were acquired to the can management device 3A. The multi-row reader 24A may be configured by arranging a plurality of multi-row readers 24A in at least one of the conveyance direction 220 and the width direction 221, thereby forming a multi-row reader 24A.

[0041] In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, multi-row reader 24A is installed upstream and downstream of washer 20E, upstream and downstream of first pin oven 20G, upstream and downstream of second pin oven 20I, and upstream and downstream of bake oven 20K. In this case, the read transmission data includes a reader number for identifying multi-row reader 24A, in addition to can identifier D1 and can placement position information D3. Note that upstream multi-row reader 24A only needs to be installed upstream of downstream multi-row reader 24A and may be installed either inside or outside manufacturing apparatus 20. Also, downstream multi-row reader 24A only needs to be installed downstream of upstream multi-row reader 24A and may be installed either inside or outside manufacturing apparatus 20.

[0042] As shown in Fig. 5, the single-line reading device 24B uses a portion of the single-line transfer conveyor 224 in the transfer direction 220 as a reading range 241 of the can identifier storage medium 100, and when a can 10 placed on the single-line transfer conveyor 224 is transferred and passes through the reading range 241 of the can identifier storage medium 100, the single-line reading device 24B acquires the can identifier D1 stored in the can identifier storage medium 100 attached to the can 10. The single-line reading device 24B is configured to be able to transmit read transmission data including the can identifier D1 acquired from each can 10 and the time at which the can identifier D1 was acquired to the can management device 3A. Note that when the single-line reading device 24B is installed inside the manufacturing device 20 or the inspection device 21, the single-line reading device 24B may acquire the can identifier D1 while the can 10 is being held by the manufacturing device 20 or the inspection device 21.

[0043] 2, in this embodiment, the single line reader 24B is installed upstream of the body maker 20C, upstream of the body coater 20F, and upstream of the spray machine 20J. The single line reader 24B is also installed inside the printer 20H and inside the necker-flanger 20L. In this case, the read and transmitted data includes, in addition to the can identifier D1, a reader number for identifying the single line reader 24B and a process identifier D2 for each manufacturing process (the machine numbers of the body maker 20C, trimmer 20D, and spray machine 20J, the version number of the printer 20H, and the pocket number of the necker-flanger 20L).

[0044] Can management device 3A is a general-purpose or dedicated computer (see FIG. 8 described later), and is configured, for example, as a server-type computer or a cloud-type computer. Can management device 3A registers various pieces of information transmitted from devices 20-24 provided in can production line 2A in can management database 11A, and performs various processes by referring to the information registered in can management database 11A.

[0045] The terminal device 4 is a general-purpose or dedicated computer (see FIG. 8 described later), and is configured as, for example, a stationary computer or a portable computer. Programs such as a browser or application are installed in the terminal device 4, and the terminal device 4 accepts various input operations and outputs various information via a display screen or voice. The terminal device 4 is equipped with a reading device for reading the can identifier D1, and based on the reading result of the can identifier D1, the terminal device 4 can manage the can management database 11A. The reading device of the terminal device 4 is configured with, for example, a code reader, a camera, an electronic tag reader, etc., and may be a fixed type, a handheld type, or a built-in type incorporated into a portable computer (such as a smartphone).

[0046] (Configuration of can management device 3A) 6 is a block diagram showing an example of a can management device 3A according to the first embodiment. The can management device 3A includes a control unit 30 configured with a processor or the like, a storage unit 31 configured with an HDD, an SSD, memory or the like, a communication unit 32 that is a communication interface with the network 5, an input unit 33 configured with a keyboard, a mouse or the like, and an output unit 34 configured with a display or the like. Note that the input unit 33 and the output unit 34 may be omitted.

[0047] By executing can management program 310A stored in memory 31, control unit 30 functions as database management unit 300, first abnormal can identification unit 301A, first contaminated can identification unit 302A, can movement status estimation unit 303, first abnormal arrangement acquisition unit 304A, inspection result analysis unit 305, defect cause analysis unit 306, and equipment abnormality location analysis unit 307. Details of each unit 300 to 307 will be described later.

[0048] Storage unit 31 stores can management database 11A, device management database 12, and can management program 310A, as well as an operating system, other programs, data, and the like.

[0049] 7A and 7B are data configuration diagrams showing an example of can management database 11A according to Embodiment 1. Can management database 11A is a database for storing and managing various information related to cans 10.

[0050] The can management database 11A has a plurality of fields (columns) corresponding to the manufacturing process and the inspection process for each record (row) corresponding to each can 10. In each field, a can identifier D1, the time when the manufacturing process was carried out, a process identifier D2, can placement position information D3, can state, the time when the inspection process was carried out, and inspection result information D4 are registered.

[0051] As the process identifier D2, for example, a machine number, a model number, a version number, a pocket number, and a pallet number are registered. As the can placement position information D3, for example, a placement position on the upstream side and a placement position on the downstream side are registered. As the can state, the posture and contamination state of the can 10 are registered as the processing results by the first abnormal can identification unit 301A and the first contaminated can identification unit 302A. In this embodiment, since the normal posture of the can 10 is an inverted posture, the posture of the can 10 is classified into an "inverted posture" and an "abnormal posture" and registered. Note that if the normal posture is an upright posture, it is classified into an "upright posture" and an "abnormal posture" and registered.

[0052] The inspection result information D4 may include, for example, whether the inspection result is normal (OK) or defective (NG). The inspection result information D4 may also record whether the inspection result is normal or defective for each inspection item. The inspection result information D4 may also include images captured by imaging equipment and measurements taken by various measuring equipment when the can 10 is inspected.

[0053] In this embodiment, cans 10 that have an abnormal position while being transported inside washer 20E (abnormal cans) do not acquire downstream can placement position information D3, and are rejected downstream of washer 20E. Therefore, in Figures 7A and 7B, for the record of can identifier "C4" identified as an abnormal can, no information is registered in each field after can placement position information D3 downstream of washer 20E. Also, cans 10 (contaminated cans) whose outer surface 102a has become contaminated due to the influence of the abnormal can while being transported inside washer 20E are rejected downstream of washer 20E. Therefore, for the record of can identifier "C3" identified as a contaminated can, no information is registered in each field after can placement position information D3 downstream of washer 20E. Regarding the code, no information is registered for each field after the body coater 20F. Contaminated cans are mainly assumed to be cans 10 contaminated by cleaning fluids etc. that were splashed when an abnormal can was tipped over, but also include cans 10 that were damaged by contact with an abnormal can when it was tipped over.

[0054] The data configuration of can management database 11A is not limited to the above example and may be modified as appropriate, some of the above data may be omitted, or data other than the above may be added. Also, some or all of can management database 11A may be stored in an external device (or devices) connectable to network 5, in which case control unit 30 may access the external device(s) via communication unit 32.

[0055] Equipment management database 12 is a database for storing and managing the manufacturing conditions of manufacturing equipment 20 when the manufacturing process is performed, the inspection conditions of inspection equipment 21 when the inspection process is performed, and the conveying conditions (conveying speed, etc.) of conveying equipment 22. Note that, like can management database 11A, part or all of equipment management database 12 may be stored in an external device(s) connectable to network 5, and in that case, control unit 30 may access the external device(s) via communication unit 32.

[0056] 8 is a hardware configuration diagram showing an example of a computer 900 constituting each device. Each device in the can management system 1 is constituted by a general-purpose or dedicated computer 900.

[0057] 8, the computer 900 includes, as its main components, a bus 910, a processor 912, a memory 914, an input device 916, an output device 917, a display device 918, a storage device 920, a communication I / F (interface) unit 922, an external device I / F unit 924, an I / O (input / output) device I / F unit 926, and a media input / output unit 928. Note that the above components may be omitted as appropriate depending on the application of the computer 900.

[0058] The processor 912 is composed of one or more arithmetic processing devices (such as a central processing unit (CPU), a micro-processing unit (MPU), a digital signal processor (DSP), or a graphics processing unit (GPU)), and operates as a control unit that controls the entire computer 900. The memory 914 stores various data and programs 930, and is composed of, for example, a volatile memory (such as a DRAM or SRAM) that functions as a main memory, a non-volatile memory (ROM), a flash memory, etc.

[0059] The input device 916 is composed of, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, a numeric keypad, an electronic pen, etc., and functions as an input unit. The output device 917 is composed of, for example, a sound (audio) output device, a vibration device, etc., and functions as an output unit. The display device 918 is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal display, an organic EL display, electronic paper, a projector, etc., and functions as an output unit. The input device 916 and the display device 918 may be integrated into one device, such as a touch panel display. The storage device 920 is composed of, for example, an HDD, an SSD, etc., and functions as a storage unit. The storage device 920 stores various data necessary for executing the operating system and the program 930.

[0060] The communication I / F unit 922 is connected by wire or wireless to a network 940 such as the Internet or an intranet (which may be the same as the network 5 in FIG. 1), and functions as a communication unit that transmits and receives data to and from other computers in accordance with a predetermined communication standard. The external device I / F unit 924 is connected by wire or wireless to an external device 950 such as a camera, printer, scanner, or reader / writer, and functions as a communication unit that transmits and receives data to and from the external device 950 in accordance with a predetermined communication standard. The I / O device I / F unit 926 functions as a communication unit that transmits and receives data. The I / O device I / F unit 926 is connected to I / O devices 960 such as various sensors and actuators, and functions as a communication unit that transmits and receives various signals and data, such as detection signals from sensors and control signals to actuators, between the I / O devices 960. The media input / output unit 928 is composed of, for example, drive devices such as a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) drive and a CD (Compact Disc) drive, a memory card slot, and a USB connector, and reads and writes data from and to media (non-transitory storage media) 970 such as a DVD, CD, memory card, USB memory, etc.

[0061] In the computer 900 having the above configuration, the processor 912 loads a program 930 stored in the storage device 920 into the memory 914, executes the program, and controls each unit of the computer 900 via the bus 910. The program 930 may be stored in the memory 914 instead of the storage device 920. The program 930 may be recorded on the medium 970 in an installable file format or an executable file format and provided to the computer 900 via the media input / output unit 928. The program 930 may be provided to the computer 900 by being downloaded via the communication I / F unit 922 over the network 940. Furthermore, the computer 900 may implement various functions realized by the processor 912 executing the program 930 using hardware such as an FPGA (field-programmable gate array) or an ASIC (application specific integrated circuit).

[0062] The computer 900 is an electronic device of any type, such as a desktop computer or a portable computer. The computer 900 may be a client computer, a server computer, a cloud computer, or an embedded computer such as a control panel or a controller (including a microcomputer, a programmable logic controller, or a sequencer).

[0063] (Operation of Can Management System 1) In can management system 1 having the above configuration, a can management method performed by can management device 3A in response to cans 10 being produced on can production line 2A will be described.

[0064] (Database management processing) First, the database management process performed by the database management unit 300 of the can management device 3A will be described. When an aluminum plate, which is the raw material for cans 10, is sent out from the uncoiler 20A and a can identifier storage medium 100 is assigned to the aluminum plate by the can identifier assigning device 23, the can identifier assigning device 23 transmits the assigned transmission data to the can management device 3A.

[0065] When the database management unit 300 receives the assigned transmission data transmitted from the can identifier assigning device 23, it registers the can identifier D1 assigned to each can 10 by the can identifier assigning device 23 in the can management database 11A. At that time, the database management unit 300 adds a new record and registers the can identifier D1, process identifier D2 (model number), and time included in the assigned transmission data in the new record.

[0066] Thereafter, the cans 10 are sequentially transported by the transport device 22, and each manufacturing process is carried out by the multiple manufacturing devices 20. At this time, when a can 10 placed on the multi-row transport conveyor 222 passes through the reading range 240 of the can identifier storage medium 100, the multi-row reading device 24A installed at each location on the can manufacturing line 2A acquires the can identifier D1 and the can placement position information D3, and transmits the read transmission data to the can management device 3A. In addition, the single-row reading device 24B installed at each location on the can manufacturing line 2A acquires the can identifier D1 and the can placement position information D3 when the can 10 placed on the single-row transport conveyor 224 passes through the reading range 240 of the can identifier storage medium 100. When passing through the reading range 241, the can identifier D1 is acquired and the read transmission data is transmitted to the can management device 3A.

[0067] When the database management unit 300 receives the read transmission data transmitted from the multi-row reader 24A, it associates the can identifier D1 and the can placement position information D3 acquired from each can 10 by the multi-row reader 24A and registers them in the can management database 11A. Specifically, the database management unit 300 identifies an existing record in which the can identifier D1 included in the read transmission data is registered, and registers the can placement position information D3 and the time in that existing record.

[0068] In this embodiment, database management unit 300 associates can identifiers D1 and can placement position information D3 obtained by upstream multi-row reader 24A in washer 20E, first pin oven 20G, second pin oven 20I, and bake oven 20K, and registers them in can management database 11A. Database management unit 300 also associates can identifiers D1 and can placement position information D3 obtained by downstream multi-row reader 24A in washer 20E, first pin oven 20G, second pin oven 20I, and bake oven 20K, and registers them in can management database 11A.

[0069] When the database management unit 300 receives the read transmission data transmitted from the single row reader 24B, it registers the can identifier D1 acquired by the single row reader 24B in the can management database 11A. Specifically, the database management unit 300 identifies an existing record in which the can identifier D1 included in the read transmission data is registered, and registers the process identifier D2 (machine number, version number, pocket number) and time in that existing record.

[0070] Cans 10 manufactured through a series of manufacturing processes are transported by transport device 22 to inspection device 21, where an inspection process is carried out by inspection device 21. Inspection device 21 inspects cans 10, obtains can identifiers D1 and inspection result information D4, and transmits inspection transmission data to can management device 3A.

[0071] When database management unit 300 receives the inspection transmission data transmitted from inspection device 21, it associates the can identifier D1 and inspection result information D4 acquired by inspection device 21 and registers them in can management database 11A. Specifically, database management unit 300 identifies an existing record in which can identifier D1 included in the inspection transmission data is registered, and registers inspection result information D4 and time in that existing record.

[0072] As described above, when cans 10 are manufactured on can production line 2A, database management section 300 of can management device 3A repeatedly receives the assignment transmission data from can identifier assignment device 23, the read transmission data from can identifier reading device 24, and the inspection transmission data from inspection device 21, and registers each of these in can management database 11A. As a result, various types of information related to cans 10 are accumulated in can management database 11A, as shown in Figures 7A and 7B.

[0073] Therefore, according to the database management process performed by the database management unit 300, when a plurality of cans 10 are placed on the multi-row conveyor 222 and conveyed, the can identifier D1 stored in the can identifier storage medium 100 attached to the can 10 and the can placement position information D3 indicating the placement position of the can 10 in the conveying direction 220 and the width direction 221 on the multi-row conveyor 222 are acquired, and the can identifier D1 and the can placement position information D3 are associated with each other and registered in the can management database 11A. Therefore, when each can 10 is conveyed by the multi-row conveyor 222, the placement position of each can 10 on the multi-row conveyor 222 is associated with the can identifier D1 and registered in the can management database 11A, so that the arrangement of the plurality of cans 10 conveyed in a multi-row state can be acquired in a state in which each can 10 can be identified.

[0074] Next, various processes that are performed by the can management device 3A by referring to the can management database 11A will be described.

[0075] (First abnormal can identification process) FIG. 9 is a functional diagram illustrating an example of a method for identifying abnormal cans 10A using the first abnormal can identifying unit 301A. FIG. 9 illustrates the arrangement of multiple cans 10 identified by can identifiers D1, such as "C1-C9," upstream of the washer 20E and downstream of the washer 20E. The arrangement of the cans 10 can be reproduced by referencing information about the washing process registered in the can management database 11A, for example, based on the time when the can identifier D1 was acquired for each can 10 and the can placement position indicated by the can placement position information D3. If the can identifiers D1 were acquired at different times for each can 10, the arrangement of each can 10 can be reproduced by calculating the transfer distance of the can 10 using, for example, the transfer speed of the multi-row transfer conveyor 222 registered in the equipment management database 12.

[0076] The first abnormal can identification unit 301A refers to the can management database 11A and identifies a can 10 that has become abnormally oriented while being transported by the multi-row transport device 22A as an abnormal can 10A. Specifically, when a can identifier D1 obtained by the multi-row reading device 24A upstream of the manufacturing device 20 is not obtained by the multi-row reading device 24A downstream of the manufacturing device 20, the first abnormal can identification unit 301A identifies the can 10 identified by the can identifier D1 as an abnormal can 10A.

[0077] In FIG. 9, the multi-row reader 24A upstream of the washer 20E reads the can identifiers D1 "C1 to C9" in the upstream reading range, and the multi-row reader 24A downstream of the washer 20E reads the can identifiers D1 "C1 to C3, C5 to C9" in the downstream reading range. The figure shows a case where a can 10 identified by the can identifier D1 of "C4" was read, but the can identifier D1 of "C4" was not read. In this case, the first abnormal can identification unit 301A identifies the can 10 identified by the can identifier D1 of "C4" as an abnormal can 10A. That is, by calculating the difference in can identifier D1 between the upstream and downstream sides of the washer 20E, it can be assumed that the can 10 for which the can identifier D1 was not obtained downstream has tipped over for some reason related to the washer 20E or the multi-row conveying device 22A while being conveyed by the multi-row conveying device 22A.

[0078] 9, the first abnormal can identification process may be performed not only on the washer 20E but also on the first pin oven 20G, the second pin oven 20I, and the bake oven 20K. In this case, the first abnormal can identification process may be performed at any timing after the downstream multi-row reader 24A acquires the can identifier D1 and the can placement position information D3.

[0079] Therefore, according to the first abnormal can identification process performed by the first abnormal can identification unit 301A, the abnormal can 10A can be identified by distinguishing it from other cans 10 using the can identifier D1, without providing a dedicated device for detecting the abnormal can 10A.

[0080] (First process for identifying contaminated cans, process for estimating can movement status) Fig. 10 is a functional explanatory diagram showing a first embodiment of a method for identifying a contaminated can 10B by the first contaminated can identifying unit 302A. Fig. 11 is a functional explanatory diagram showing a second embodiment of a method for identifying a contaminated can 10C by the first contaminated can identifying unit 302A. Fig. 12 is a functional explanatory diagram showing a third embodiment of a method for identifying a contaminated can 10D by the first contaminated can identifying unit 302A.

[0081] The first contaminated can identifying unit 302A refers to the can management database 11A and identifies the can 10 contaminated by the influence of the abnormal can 10A during transportation by the multi-row transport device 22A as the first contaminated can 10B. Specifically, the first contaminated can identifying unit 302A uses the can placement position information D3 associated with the can identifier D1 of the abnormal can 10A identified by the first abnormal can identifying unit 301A. Based on this, the can 10 placed within a predetermined contamination range R1 from the placement position of the abnormal can 10A is identified as the first contaminated can 10B.

[0082] FIG. 10 illustrates a case where two cans 10 identified by can identifiers D1 of "C3, C5" are located upstream of the washer 20E within a contamination range R1 based on the abnormal can 10A "C4." FIG. 10 also illustrates a case where two cans 10 identified by can identifiers D1 of "C3, C8" are located downstream of the washer 20E within a contamination range R1 based on the abnormal can 10A "C4." In this case, the first contaminated can identification unit 302A identifies the can 10 identified by the can identifier D1 of "C3, C5, C8" as the first contaminated can 10B. That is, it can be estimated that the can 10 (first contaminated can 10B) located near the abnormal can 10A upstream or downstream of the washer 20E is contaminated by the cleaning fluid that spreads when the abnormal can 10A falls over.

[0083] Furthermore, when the inspection result of a can 10 indicated by the inspection result information D4 is bad, the first contaminated can identifying unit 302A identifies the can 10 as an inspection-failed can 10-NG. Then, when the first contaminated can identifying unit 302A estimates that the inspection-failed can 10-NG is contaminated by the abnormal can 10A based on the can placement position information D3 associated with the can identifier D1 of the inspection-failed can 10-NG and the can placement position information D3 associated with the can identifier D1 of the abnormal can 10A identified by the first abnormal can identifying unit 301A, the first contaminated can identifying unit 302A may identify a can 10 placed in a contamination range R2 corresponding to the positional relationship between the inspection-failed can 10-NG and the abnormal can 10A as a second contaminated can 10C.

[0084] 11 shows a case in which a contaminated can 10B identified by can identifiers D1 of "C3, C5, and C8" and three cans 10 identified by can identifiers D1 of "C2, C6, and C9" are located within the contamination range R2 based on the contaminated can 10A identified by can identifiers D1 of "C4." In this case, the first contaminated can identifying unit 302A identifies the three cans 10 identified by can identifiers D1 of "C2, C6, and C9" as the second contaminated can 10C. In other words, it can be assumed that the can 10 (second contaminated can 10C) that has a similar positional relationship to the defective can 10-NG relative to the abnormal can 10A has also been contaminated by the cleaning liquid that spreads when the abnormal can 10A is overturned.

[0085] Furthermore, can movement status estimation unit 303 estimates the can movement status when can 10 moves, based on can placement position information D3 acquired by multi-row reader 24A upstream of manufacturing apparatus 20 and can placement position information D3 acquired by multi-row reader 24A downstream of manufacturing apparatus 20, which are associated with the same can identifier D1. Then, first contaminated can identification unit 302A may identify can 10 that has moved within a predetermined contamination range R1 as third contaminated can 10D, based on the can movement status estimated by can movement status estimation unit 303.

[0086] FIG. 12 illustrates a movement trajectory T1 connecting a placement position on the upstream side of washer 20E and a placement position on the downstream side of washer 20E as a can movement state when can 10 identified by can identifier D1 of "C9" moves between the upstream and downstream sides of washer 20E during transport. Also illustrated is a case where movement trajectory T1 of can 10 identified by can identifier D1 of "C9" passes through contamination range R1 based on abnormal can 10A of "C4." In this case, first contaminated can identifying unit 302A identifies can 10 identified by can identifier D1 of "C9" as third contaminated can 10D. That is, can 10 (third contaminated can 10D) moving around abnormal can 10A during transport inside washer 20E is also identified as having tipped over abnormal can 10A. It can be assumed that the area was contaminated with the cleaning fluid that spreads when the area is cleaned.

[0087] 10 to 12, the size and shape of the contamination ranges R1 and R2 may be changed depending on, for example, the type and manufacturing conditions of the manufacturing apparatus 20 and the conveying conditions of the multi-row conveying apparatus 22A. Also, the closer the distance from the abnormal can 10A, the higher the degree of contamination of the contaminated cans 10B to 10D may be determined.

[0088] 10 to 12, the first contaminated can identification process may be performed not only on the washer 20E but also on the first pin oven 20G, the second pin oven 20I, and the bake oven 20K. In this case, the first contaminated can identification process may be performed at any timing after the can identifier D1 and the can placement position information D3 are acquired by the downstream multi-row reader 24A.

[0089] Therefore, according to the first contaminated can identification process performed by the first contaminated can identification unit 302A, the contaminated cans 10B-10D can be identified by distinguishing them from other cans 10 using the can identifier D1, without providing a dedicated device for detecting the contaminated cans 10B-10D. Also, by taking into account the inspection result information D4, the contaminated can 10C can be identified more reliably. Furthermore, by taking into account the can movement status of the can 10, the contaminated can 10D can be identified more reliably.

[0090] (First abnormal configuration acquisition process) FIG. 13 is a functional explanatory diagram showing an example of a method for identifying the abnormal arrangement pattern P1 by the first abnormal arrangement acquiring unit 304A.

[0091] The first abnormal placement acquisition unit 304A acquires an abnormal placement pattern P1 in which the abnormal can 10A occurs based on can placement position information D3 associated with the can identifier D1 of the abnormal can 10A identified by the first abnormal can identification unit 301A and can placement position information D3 associated with the can identifier D1 of the can 10 placed within a predetermined extraction range R10 from the placement position of the abnormal can 10A.

[0092] FIG. 13 illustrates a case in which eight cans 10 identified by can identifiers D1 of "C1-C3, C5-C9" are arranged upstream of the washer 20E within an extraction range R10 based on an abnormal can 10A "C4." In this case, the first abnormal arrangement acquisition unit 304A acquires an abnormal arrangement pattern P1 identified by the placement position of the abnormal can 10A "C4" and the placement positions of each of the cans 10 "C1-C3, C5-C9." The abnormal arrangement pattern P1 may indicate the two-dimensional arrangement of the cans 10 or the density or spacing of the cans 10. The size and shape of the extraction range R10 are not limited to the example shown in FIG. 13 and may be changed depending on, for example, the type and manufacturing conditions of the manufacturing apparatus 20 and the conveying conditions of the multi-row conveying apparatus 22A.

[0093] Abnormal arrangement pattern P1 may be registered in device management database 12 and used, for example, for tipping warning by multi-row reader 24A and tipping prevention control of washer 20E and multi-row conveying device 22A. In the tipping warning by multi-row reader 24A, for example, when an arrangement pattern similar to abnormal arrangement pattern P1 is detected based on can placement position information D3 of each can 10 acquired by multi-row reader 24A upstream of washer 20E, a warning is issued that there is a possibility of tipping of cans 10. Furthermore, in the tipping prevention control of washer 20E and multi-row conveying device 22A, when an arrangement pattern similar to abnormal arrangement pattern P1 is detected, the manufacturing conditions of washer 20E or the conveying conditions of multi-row conveying device 22A are changed.

[0094] As shown in FIG. 13, the first abnormal arrangement acquisition process is performed not only on the washer 20E but also on the first pin oven 20G, the second pin oven 20I, and the bay The same process may be performed for the oven 20K. In this case, the first abnormal arrangement acquisition process is performed at any timing after the first abnormal can identifying unit 301A identifies the abnormal can 10A.

[0095] Therefore, according to the first abnormal arrangement acquisition process performed by the first abnormal arrangement acquisition unit 304A, an abnormal arrangement pattern P1 when a can 10 is tipped over is acquired, which can be used to analyze the cause of the tipping that caused the abnormal can 10A to occur, or to control the system to warn of or suppress the occurrence of the abnormal can 10A.

[0096] (Test result analysis processing) Fig. 14 is a functional explanatory diagram showing an example of a method for analyzing the inspection results by the inspection result analysis unit 305. In Fig. 14, "OK" is written for an inspected normal can 10-OK whose inspection result is normal, "NG" is written for an inspected defective can 10-NG whose inspection result is defective, and "rejected" is written for a can 10 that has been identified as an abnormal can 10A or a contaminated can 10B to 10D and rejected.

[0097] If the inspection result information D4 indicates that the can 10 has a normal inspection result, the inspection result analysis unit 305 identifies the can 10 as a normal-inspection can 10-OK. If the inspection result information D4 indicates that the can 10 has a bad inspection result, the inspection result analysis unit 305 identifies the can 10 as a defective-inspection can 10-NG. The inspection result analysis unit 305 then tallies the number or percentage of the normal-inspection cans 10-OK or defective-inspection cans 10-NG that passed through each of the divided regions Z1-Z5, which are formed by dividing the multi-row conveyor 222 in the width direction 221, based on the can placement position information D3 associated with the can identifiers D1 of the multiple normal-inspection cans 10-OK and the multiple defective-inspection cans 10-NG. The tallied results are sent to, for example, the terminal device 4 and displayed on the terminal device 4.

[0098] 14 shows the results of tallying the inspection results for each can 10 for each of the five divided areas Z1 to Z5 when the multi-row conveyor 222 located downstream of the washer 20E is divided into five divided areas Z1 to Z5. In this case, the inspection result analysis unit 305 tallyes the number or percentage of inspected normally inspected cans 10 (OK) or inspected incorrectly inspected cans 10 (NG) for each of the divided areas Z1 to Z5 based on the placement position of each can 10 on the multi-row conveyor 222 and the inspection results of each can 10 by the inspection device 21.

[0099] 14, the inspection result analysis process may be performed not only on washer 20E but also on first pin oven 20G, second pin oven 20I, and bake oven 20K. In this case, the inspection result analysis process may be performed every time a predetermined time period has elapsed, every time a predetermined number of cans 10 have been manufactured, or in response to an instruction from a user.

[0100] Therefore, according to the inspection result analysis process performed by the inspection result analysis unit 305, when the inspection-defective can 10-NG is transported by the multi-row conveying device 22A, it is calculated which of the divided areas Z1 to Z5 it passed through, which can be used to analyze the cause of the defect.

[0101] (Defect cause analysis processing) Fig. 15 is a functional explanatory diagram showing a first embodiment of a method for analyzing the cause of a defect by the defect cause analysis unit 306. Fig. 16 is a functional explanatory diagram showing a second embodiment of a method for analyzing the cause of a defect by the defect cause analysis unit 306.

[0102] When the inspection result information D4 indicates that the can 10 is defective, the defect cause analysis unit 306 identifies the can 10 as an inspection-defective can 10-NG, and determines whether the can 10 is to be inspected by the multi-row transport conveyor 222 based on the can placement position information D3 associated with the can identifiers D1 of the multiple inspection-defective cans 10-NG. The distribution of the inspection-failed cans 10-NG is acquired. The defect cause analysis unit 306 then estimates the cause of the defect based on the distribution of the inspection-failed cans 10-NG. The distribution of the inspection-failed cans 10-NG may be based on, for example, the results of tallying the number or percentage of the inspection-failed cans 10-NG for each of the divided areas Z1 to Z5, as in the inspection result analysis unit 305. In this case, the frequency and duration of the occurrence of the inspection-failed cans 10-NG may also be taken into consideration. The cause of the defect is, for example, transmitted to the terminal device 4 and displayed on the terminal device 4.

[0103] Furthermore, the defect cause analysis unit 306 identifies cans 10 placed within the defect occurrence ranges R20 and R21 corresponding to the defect cause as first suspected defective cans 10E. At this time, the closer the distance from the inspection defective can 10-NG, the higher the degree of defect of the first suspected defective can 10E may be identified. Note that the first suspected defective can 10E may be rejected and visually inspected offline.

[0104] 15 illustrates the inspection results (OK or NG) for each can 10 on the multi-row conveyor 222, which is located downstream of the washer 20E and is divided into five divided areas Z1 to Z5. In FIG. 15, the distribution of the inspection-defective cans 10-NG is shown to be distributed only in divided area Z1. In this case, the defect cause analysis unit 306 estimates that the cause of the defect in the can 10 is contact with the guide 223 on the divided area Z1 side of the washer 20E. The defect cause analysis unit 306 then defines divided area Z1 as the defect occurrence range R20, and identifies the can 10 placed in the defect occurrence range R20 as the first suspected defective can 10E.

[0105] 16 illustrates the inspection results (OK or NG) for each can 10 on the multi-row conveyor 222, which is located downstream of the bake oven 20K and is divided into five divided regions Z1 to Z5. In FIG. 16, the distribution of the inspection-defective cans 10-NG is shown as being distributed throughout the divided regions Z1 to Z5. In this case, the defect cause analysis unit 306 estimates that the cause of the defects in the cans 10 is uneven baking or fumes from the bake oven 20K. The defect cause analysis unit 306 then defines the divided regions Z1 to Z5 as a defect occurrence range R21, and identifies the cans 10 placed in the defect occurrence range R21 as first suspected defective cans 10E.

[0106] 15 and 16, the defect cause analysis process may be performed not only on washer 20E and bake oven 20K, but also on first pin oven 20G and second pin oven 201. In this case, the defect cause analysis process may be performed every time a predetermined time period has elapsed, or every time a predetermined number of cans 10 have been manufactured, or may be performed in response to an instruction from a user.

[0107] Therefore, according to the defect cause analysis process performed by the defect cause analysis unit 306, the cause of the defect can be estimated from the distribution of the inspection-defective cans 10-NG, and appropriate measures can be taken to address the defect cause.

[0108] (Device abnormality location analysis processing) Fig. 17 is a functional explanatory diagram showing a first embodiment of a method for analyzing an apparatus abnormality location by the apparatus abnormality location analysis unit 307. Fig. 18 is a functional explanatory diagram showing a second embodiment of a method for analyzing an apparatus abnormality location by the apparatus abnormality location analysis unit 307.

[0109] When the inspection result information D4 indicates that the can 10 is defective, the apparatus abnormality portion analysis unit 307 identifies the can 10 as an inspection-defective can 10-NG, and determines whether the can 10 is defective by the multi-row conveyor 2 based on the can placement position information D3 associated with the can identifiers D1 of the multiple inspection-defective cans 10-NG. The distribution of the inspection-defective cans 10-NG on the manufacturing equipment 20 or the multi-row conveying equipment 22A is acquired. The equipment abnormality location analysis unit 307 estimates the equipment abnormality location where the abnormality occurred in the manufacturing equipment 20 or the multi-row conveying equipment 22A based on the distribution of the inspection-defective cans 10-NG. The distribution of the inspection-defective cans 10-NG may be based on the results of tallying the number or percentage of the inspection-defective cans 10-NG for each divided area Z1 to Z5, as with the inspection result analysis unit 305. In this case, the frequency and duration of the occurrence of the inspection-defective cans 10-NG may also be taken into consideration. The equipment abnormality location is transmitted to the terminal device 4, for example, and displayed on the terminal device 4.

[0110] Furthermore, the equipment abnormality location analysis unit 307 identifies cans 10 placed within the defect occurrence ranges R30 and R31 corresponding to the equipment abnormality location as second estimated defective cans 10F. In this case, the closer the distance from the inspection defective can 10-NG, the higher the degree of defect of the second estimated defective can 10F may be identified. Note that the second estimated defective can 10F may be rejected and visually inspected offline.

[0111] 17 illustrates the inspection results for each can 10 on the multi-row conveyor 222, which is located downstream of the washer 20E and is divided into five divided regions Z1 to Z5. In FIG. 17, the distribution of the defective cans 10-NG is limited to the divided region Z4. In this case, the equipment abnormality location analysis unit 307 estimates that the defective can is a clog in the nozzle that sprays cleaning liquid onto the divided region Z4. The equipment abnormality location analysis unit 307 then identifies the divided region Z4 as the defect occurrence range R30 and identifies the cans 10 placed within the defect occurrence range R30 as the second estimated defective can 10F.

[0112] 18 illustrates the inspection results for each can 10 on the multi-row conveyor 222, which is located downstream of the bake oven 20K and is divided into five divided areas Z1 to Z5. In FIG. 18, the distribution of the inspection-defective cans 10-NG is shown as being distributed throughout the divided areas Z1 to Z5. In this case, the equipment abnormality location analysis unit 307 estimates that the equipment abnormality location is the heater of the bake oven 20K. The equipment abnormality location analysis unit 307 then defines the divided areas Z1 to Z5 as a defect occurrence range R31, and identifies the cans 10 placed in the defect occurrence range R31 as second-presumed defective cans 10F.

[0113] 17 and 18, the abnormal part analysis process may be performed not only on washer 20E and bake oven 20K, but also on first pin oven 20G and second pin oven 201. In this case, the abnormal part analysis process may be performed every time a predetermined time period elapses, every time a predetermined number of cans 10 are manufactured, or in response to an instruction from a user.

[0114] Therefore, according to the equipment abnormality part analysis process performed by the equipment abnormality part analysis unit 307, the equipment abnormality part is estimated from the distribution state of the inspection-defective cans 10-NG, and therefore appropriate measures can be taken to address the equipment abnormality part.

[0115] (Second embodiment) Fig. 19 is an overall configuration diagram showing an example of a can manufacturing line 2B according to the second embodiment. Fig. 20 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of a multi-row conveying device 22A and a posture detection device 25. Fig. 21 is a block diagram showing an example of a can management device 3B according to the second embodiment.

[0116] The can management system 1 according to the second embodiment differs from the can management system 1 according to the first embodiment in that, in the can manufacturing line 2B, a multi-row reader 24A and a posture detector 25 are installed downstream of a washer 20E, a first pin oven 20G, a second pin oven 20I, and a bake oven 20K. Also, the can management system 3B includes a first abnormal can identifying unit 301A, a first contaminated can identifying unit 302A, a can movement status estimator 303A, a can transfer status detector 304A, a can transfer status detector 305A, a can transfer status detector 306A, a can transfer status detector 307A, a can transfer status detector 308A, a can transfer status detector 309A, a can transfer status detector 310A, a can transfer status detector 311A, a can transfer status detector 312A, a can transfer status detector 313A, a can transfer status detector 314A, a can transfer status detector 315A, a can transfer status detector 316A, a can transfer status detector 317A, a can transfer status detector 318A, a can transfer status detector 319A, a can transfer status detector 319B, a can transfer status detector 319C, a can transfer status detector 319D, a can transfer status detector 319E, a can transfer status detector 319F, a can transfer status detector 319G, a can transfer status detector 319H, a can transfer status detector 319H, a can transfer status detector 319I, a can transfer status detector 319I, a can transfer status detector 319I, a can transfer status detector 319J, a can transfer status detector 319K, a can transfer status detector 319K, a can transfer status detector 319K, a can transfer status detector 319K, a can transfer status detector 319K, a can transfer status detector The difference is that the can management system 1 of the first embodiment includes a second abnormal can identification unit 301B, a second contaminated can identification unit 302B, and a second abnormal arrangement acquisition unit 304B instead of the can identification unit 303 and the first abnormal arrangement acquisition unit 304A. The other basic configurations and operations are the same as those of the can management system 1 of the first embodiment, so the following description will focus on the differences between the two.

[0117] The attitude detection device 25 is installed in the multi-row conveying device 22A located inside or outside the manufacturing device 20 or the inspection device 21, and detects the attitude and placement position of the cans 10 placed on the multi-row conveying conveyor 222. The attitude detection device 25 may also be installed inside the manufacturing device 20 or the inspection device 21. The attitude detection device 25 is configured, for example, with an imaging device that captures images of the cans 10. For image recognition to detect the attitude and placement position of the cans 10 from the captured images of the cans 10, a trained model based on machine learning, for example, is used.

[0118] As shown in FIG. 20 , the orientation detection device 25 defines an image capturing range 250 as a portion of the multi-row conveyor 222 in the conveying direction 220. When a can 10 placed on the multi-row conveyor 222 passes through the image capturing range 250, the orientation detection device 25 acquires can orientation detection information D5 indicating the orientation of the can 10 and the placement position of the can 10 in the conveying direction 220 and the width direction 221 on the multi-row conveyor 222 from the captured image of the can 10. The orientation detection device 25 acquires information on can orientation detection D5, which indicates the orientation of the can 10 and the placement position of the can 10 in the conveying direction 220 and the width direction 221 on the multi-row conveyor 222, for example. The orientation detection device 25 acquires information on can orientation detection D5, which indicates the orientation of the can 10 in the conveying direction 220 and the width direction 221 on the multi-row conveyor 222, for example. When the can 10 is in an inverted or oblique position, the information on the orientation of the can bottom 101 or the opening 103 may be acquired. The orientation detection device 25 is configured to transmit, to the can management device 3B, orientation transmission data including the can orientation detection information D5 acquired from each can 10 and the time when the information was acquired.

[0119] Can management device 3B registers various pieces of information transmitted from devices 20 to 25 provided in can production line 2B in can management database 11B, and also refers to the information registered in can management database 11B to perform various processes.

[0120] The control unit 30 of the can management device 3B executes the can management program 310B stored in the memory unit 31, thereby functioning as a database management unit 300, a second abnormal can identification unit 301B, a second contaminated can identification unit 302B, a can movement status estimation unit 303, a second abnormal arrangement acquisition unit 304B, an inspection result analysis unit 305, a defect cause analysis unit 306, and an apparatus abnormality location analysis unit 307.

[0121] 22A and 22B are data configuration diagrams showing an example of can management database 11B according to the second embodiment.

[0122] The fields of can management database 11B register a can identifier D1, the time when the manufacturing process was performed, a process identifier D2, can placement position information D3, can attitude detection information D5, can status, the time when the inspection process was performed, and inspection result information D4. As the can status, the attitude and contamination status of can 10 are registered as the processing results by second abnormal can identifying unit 301B and second contaminated can identifying unit 302B.

[0123] (Database management processing) The posture detection devices 25 installed at various locations on the can manufacturing line 2A acquire can posture detection information D5 when the cans 10 placed on the multi-row conveyor 222 are transported and pass through the imaging range 250, and transmit posture transmission data to the can management device 3B.

[0124] When the database management unit 300 receives the attitude transmission data transmitted from the attitude detection device 25, it registers the can attitude detection information D5 acquired by the attitude detection device 25 in the can management database 11B. An existing record is identified in which the placement position indicated by the can orientation detection information D5 matches the placement position indicated by the can placement position information D3. For example, a match is determined when the placement position indicated by the can orientation detection information D5 is located within a predetermined distance from the placement position indicated by the can placement position information D3. The database management unit 300 then registers the orientation, placement position, and time indicated by the can orientation detection information D5 in the existing record.

[0125] Therefore, according to the database management processing performed by the database management unit 300, when each can 10 is transported by the multi-row transport conveyor 222, the placement position of each can 10 on the multi-row transport conveyor 222 is associated with the can identifier D1 and registered in the can management database 11B, so that the arrangement status when multiple cans 10 are transported in a multi-row state can be obtained in a state in which each can 10 can be identified.

[0126] (Second abnormal can identification process) FIG. 23 is a functional explanatory diagram showing an example of a method for identifying an abnormal can 10A by the second abnormal can identifying section 301B.

[0127] The second abnormal can identification unit 301B refers to the can management database 11B and identifies a can 10 that has become abnormally oriented while being transported by the multi-row conveying device 22A as an abnormal can 10A. Specifically, when the orientation of the can 10 indicated by the can orientation detection information D5 is abnormal, the second abnormal can identification unit 301B identifies the can 10 as an abnormal can 10A.

[0128] In FIG. 23, the multi-row reader 24A downstream of the washer 20E has a 23 illustrates a case in which the can identifiers D1 for "C5-C9" are read, but the can identifier D1 for "C4" is not read. Also, FIG. 23 illustrates a case in which the posture detection device 25 downstream of the washer 20E determines that the posture of the can 10 located in the center is "abnormal posture," and the postures of the other cans 10 are determined to be "upside-down posture." In this case, the second abnormal can identification unit 301B identifies the can 10 determined to be abnormal by the posture detection device 25 and identified by the can identifier D1 for "C4" as an abnormal can 10A. In other words, by supplementing the posture of the can 10 that cannot be obtained by the multi-row reading device 24A installed downstream of the washer 20E alone with the can posture detection information D5 obtained by the posture detection device 25, it is possible to identify cans 10 that have fallen over for some reason related to the washer 20E or the multi-row conveying device 22A during conveyance by the multi-row conveying device 22A.

[0129] 23, the second abnormal can identification process may be performed not only on the washer 20E but also on the first pin oven 20G, the second pin oven 20I, and the bake oven 20K. In this case, the second abnormal can identification process may be performed at any timing after the can identifier D1 and can placement position information D3 are acquired by the multi-row reader 24A and the can orientation detection information D5 is acquired by the orientation detection device 25.

[0130] Therefore, according to the second abnormal can identification process performed by the second abnormal can identification unit 301B, by combining a multi-row reading device 24A that acquires the can identifier D1 with an attitude detection device 25 that detects the attitude of the can 10, it is possible to identify the abnormal can 10A by distinguishing it from other cans 10 using the can identifier D1 without providing a dedicated device for detecting the abnormal can 10A.

[0131] (Second contaminated can identification process) Fig. 24 is a functional explanatory diagram showing a first embodiment of a method for identifying a contaminated can 10B by the second contaminated can identifying unit 302B. Fig. 25 is a functional explanatory diagram showing a second embodiment of a method for identifying a contaminated can 10C by the second contaminated can identifying unit 302B.

[0132] The second contaminated can identification unit 302B refers to the can management database 11B and identifies a can 10 that has been contaminated by the influence of the abnormal can 10A while being transported by the multi-row transport device 22A as a first contaminated can 10B. Specifically, the second contaminated can identification unit 302B identifies a can 10 that is placed within a predetermined contamination range R1 from the placement position indicated by the can attitude detection information D5 of the abnormal can 10A identified by the second abnormal can identification unit 301B as a first contaminated can 10B.

[0133] 24 illustrates a case in which a can 10 identified by a can identifier D1 of "C3" is located downstream of the washer 20E within a contamination range R1 based on the abnormal can 10A of "C4." In this case, the second contaminated can identifying unit 302B identifies the can 10 identified by the can identifier D1 of "C3" as the first contaminated can 10B. In other words, it can be estimated that the can 10 (first contaminated can 10B) located downstream of the washer 20E near the abnormal can 10A is contaminated by the cleaning fluid that spreads when the abnormal can 10A falls over.

[0134] Furthermore, when the inspection result of the can 10 indicated by the inspection result information D4 is bad, the second contaminated can identifying unit 302B identifies the can 10 as an inspection-failed can 10-NG. Then, when the second contaminated can identifying unit 302B estimates that the inspection-failed can 10-NG is contaminated by the abnormal can 10A based on the can placement position information D3 associated with the can identifier D1 of the inspection-failed can 10-NG and the can attitude detection information D5 of the abnormal can 10A identified by the second abnormal can identifying unit 301B, the second contaminated can identifying unit 302B may identify the can 10 placed in the contamination range R2 corresponding to the positional relationship between the inspection-failed can 10-NG and the abnormal can 10A as the second contaminated can 10C.

[0135] In Figure 25, the placement position of the defective can 10-NG identified by the can identifier D1 "C2" and the placement position of the abnormal can 10A identified by the can identifier D1 "C4" are located within a predetermined distance. Therefore, the defective can 10-NG identified by the can identifier D1 "C2" is presumed to have been contaminated by the abnormal can 10A identified by the can identifier D1 "C4." The contamination range R2 corresponding to the relative positions of the defective can 10-NG identified by the can identifier D1 "C2" and the abnormal can 10A identified by the can identifier D1 "C4" is shown. The figure also shows a case in which a second contaminated can 10C identified by the can identifier D1 "C3" and a can 10 identified by the can identifier D1 "C1" are located within the contamination range R2 based on the abnormal can 10A identified by the can identifier D1 "C4." In this case, the second contaminated can identifying unit 302B identifies the can 10 identified by the can identifier D1 "C1" as the second contaminated can 10C. In other words, it can be assumed that the can 10 (second contaminated can 10C) that has a similar positional relationship to the defective can 10-NG relative to the abnormal can 10A has also been contaminated by the cleaning liquid that spreads when the abnormal can 10A is overturned.

[0136] 24 and 25, and may be changed depending on, for example, the type and manufacturing conditions of the manufacturing apparatus 20 and the conveying conditions of the multi-row conveying apparatus 22A. Furthermore, when the orientation of the can bottom 101 or opening 103 is acquired by the attitude detection device 25, it is preferable that the contamination ranges R1 and R2 be set taking into account the opening 103 of the can 10, as shown in FIGS.

[0137] 24 and 25, the second contaminated can identification process may be performed not only on the washer 20E, but also on the first pin oven 20G, the second pin oven 20I, and the bake oven 20K. In this case, the second contaminated can identification process may be performed at any timing after the can identifier D1 and the can placement position information D3 are acquired by the multi-row reader 24A and the can position detection information D5 is acquired by the position detection device 25.

[0138] Furthermore, in the case where the multi-row reader 24A is installed on both the upstream side and the downstream side of the washer 20E as in the first embodiment, the can movement state estimation unit 303 determines the position of the can 1 based on the can placement position information D3 acquired by the upstream multi-row reader 24A and the can placement position information D3 acquired by the downstream multi-row reader 24A, which are associated with the same can identifier D1. The second contaminated can identification unit 302B may then identify the can 10 that has moved within the predetermined contamination range R1 as the third contaminated can 10D based on the can movement status estimated by the can movement status estimation unit 303.

[0139] Therefore, according to the second contaminated can identification process performed by the second contaminated can identification unit 302B, the contaminated cans 10B-10D can be identified by distinguishing them from other cans 10 using the can identifier D1, without providing a dedicated device for detecting the contaminated cans 10B-10D. Furthermore, by taking into account the inspection result information D4, the contaminated can 10C can be identified more reliably. Furthermore, by taking into account the can movement status of the can 10, the contaminated can 10D can be identified more reliably.

[0140] (Second abnormal configuration acquisition process) FIG. 26 is a functional explanatory diagram showing an example of a method for identifying the abnormal arrangement pattern P2 by the second abnormal arrangement acquiring unit 304B.

[0141] The second abnormal arrangement acquisition unit 304B acquires an abnormal arrangement pattern P2 in which the abnormal can 10A occurs based on the can attitude detection information D5 of the abnormal can 10A identified by the second abnormal can identification unit 301B and the can placement position information D3 associated with the can identifier D1 of the can 10 placed within a predetermined extraction range R10 from the placement position of the abnormal can 10A.

[0142] 26 shows a case where eight cans 10 identified by can identifiers D1 "C1 to C3, C5 to C9" are placed downstream of the washer 20E within an extraction range R10 based on the abnormal can 10A "C4." In this case, the second abnormal placement acquisition unit 304B acquires an abnormal placement pattern P2 identified by the placement position of the abnormal can 10A "C4" and the placement positions of each of the cans 10 "C1 to C3, C5 to C9."

[0143] Therefore, according to the second abnormal arrangement acquisition process performed by the second abnormal arrangement acquisition unit 304B, an abnormal arrangement pattern P2 when the can 10 is overturned is acquired, which can be used to analyze the cause of the overturn that caused the abnormal can 10A to occur, or to control the system to warn of or suppress the occurrence of the abnormal can 10A.

[0144] (Third embodiment) FIG. 27 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a can management system 3C according to a third embodiment. The can management system 1 according to the third embodiment differs from the can management system 1 according to the first embodiment in that, in a can production line 2A, a multi-row reader 24A acquires can position information D6 indicating the position of each can 10, along with can identifiers D1 and can placement position information D3 for each can 10. The can management system 3C also differs in that it includes a third abnormal can identification unit 301C, a third contaminated can identification unit 302C, and a third abnormal position acquisition unit 304C, instead of the first abnormal can identification unit 301A, the first contaminated can identification unit 302A, the can movement status estimation unit 303, and the first abnormal position acquisition unit 304A. Because the other basic configurations and operations are the same as those of the can management system 1 according to the first embodiment, the following description focuses on the differences between the two.

[0145] FIG. 28 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the multi-row conveying device 22A and the multi-row reading device 24A. When a can 10 placed on the multi-row conveyor 222 is conveyed and passes through the reading range 240, the multi-row reading device 24A acquires the can identifier D1, can placement position information D3, and can posture information D6 of the can. The multi-row reading device 24A is configured, for example, as in the first embodiment, with a two-dimensional code reader, an electronic tag reader, an imaging device, etc. Note that the multi-row reading device 24A according to this embodiment may be configured by combining the multi-row reading device 24A according to the first embodiment with the posture detection device 25 according to the second embodiment. The posture of the can 10 may be determined to be, for example, an inverted posture, a tipped posture, an upright posture, a slanted posture, etc., and the results are acquired. If the can 10 is in an upside-down or slanted position, the result of determining the orientation of the can bottom 101 or opening 103 may be acquired. The multi-row reading device 24A is configured to be able to transmit read transmission data including the can identifier D1, can placement position information D3, and can position information D6 acquired from each can 10, as well as the time at which they were acquired, to the can management device 3C.

[0146] Can management device 3C registers various pieces of information transmitted from devices 20 to 25 provided in can production line 2A in can management database 11C, and also refers to the information registered in can management database 11C to perform various processes.

[0147] The control unit 30 of the can management device 3C executes the can management program 310C stored in the memory unit 31, thereby functioning as a database management unit 300, a third abnormal can identification unit 301C, a third contaminated can identification unit 302C, a can movement status estimation unit 303, a third abnormal arrangement acquisition unit 304C, an inspection result analysis unit 305, a defect cause analysis unit 306, and an apparatus abnormality location analysis unit 307.

[0148] 29A, 29B, and 29C are data configuration diagrams showing an example of a can management database 11C according to the third embodiment. Each field of the can management database 11C stores a can identifier D1, the time when the manufacturing process was performed, a process identifier D2, can placement position information D3, can posture information D6, can status, the time when the inspection process was performed, and inspection result information D4. The posture and contamination status of the can 10 are registered as the processing results of the third abnormal can identifying unit 301C and the third contaminated can identifying unit 302C.

[0149] (Database management processing) The multi-row reading device 24A installed at each location on the can manufacturing line 2A acquires the can identifier D1, can placement position information D3, and can posture information D6 of the can when the can 10 placed on the multi-row conveyor 222 is transported and passes through the reading range 240, and transmits the read transmission data to the can management device 3C.

[0150] When the database management unit 300 receives the read transmission data transmitted from the multi-row reading device 24A, it associates the can identifier D1, can placement position information D3, and can posture information D6 acquired by the multi-row reading device 24A and registers them in the can management database 11C.

[0151] Therefore, according to the database management processing performed by the database management unit 300, when each can 10 is transported by the multi-row transport conveyor 222, the placement position and posture of each can 10 on the multi-row transport conveyor 222 are associated with the can identifier D1 and registered in the can management database 11C, so that the arrangement status when multiple cans 10 are transported in a multi-row state can be obtained in a state in which each can 10 can be identified.

[0152] (Third abnormal can identification process) The third abnormal can identifying unit 301C refers to the can management database 11C and identifies as an abnormal can 10A a can 10 that has become abnormally oriented while being transported by the multi-row conveying device 22A. Specifically, the third abnormal can identifying unit 301C identifies a can 10 as an abnormal can 10A when the can orientation information D6 indicates that the can 10 is abnormal. In the can management database 11C shown in Figures 29A, 29B, and 29C, in the record for can identifier "C4," the can orientation information D6 downstream of the washer 20E indicates an upside-down orientation, so the can 10 identified by the can identifier "C4" is identified as an abnormal can 10A. In this embodiment, because the abnormal can 10A is rejected downstream of the washer 20E, no information is registered in the fields following the body coater 20F for the record for can identifier "C4."

[0153] (Third contaminated can specific treatment) The third contaminated can identifying unit 302C refers to the can management database 11C and identifies a can 10 contaminated by the abnormal can 10A during transport by the multi-row transport device 22A as a first contaminated can 10B. Specifically, based on the can placement position information D3 associated with the abnormal can 10A identified by the third abnormal can identifying unit 301C, the third contaminated can identifying unit 302C identifies a can 10 placed within a predetermined contamination range R1 from the placement position of the abnormal can 10A as a first contaminated can 10B. In the can management database 11C shown in Figures 29A, 29B, and 29C, the can 10 identified by can identifier "C3" is identified as the first contaminated can 10B because it is placed within the predetermined contamination range R1 from the placement position of the abnormal can 10A identified by can identifier "C4." In this embodiment, the first contaminated can 10B is rejected downstream of the washer 20E, so for the record of the can identifier "C3", no information is registered in the fields after the body coater 20F.

[0154] Furthermore, when the inspection result of a can 10 indicated by the inspection result information D4 is bad, the third contaminated can identifying unit 302C identifies the can 10 as an inspection-failed can 10-NG. Then, when the third contaminated can identifying unit 302C estimates that the inspection-failed can 10-NG is contaminated by the abnormal can 10A based on the can placement position information D3 associated with the can identifier D1 of the inspection-failed can 10-NG and the can placement position information D3 associated with the can identifier D1 of the abnormal can 10A identified by the third abnormal can identifying unit 301C, the third contaminated can identifying unit 302C may identify a can 10 placed in a contamination range R2 corresponding to the positional relationship between the inspection-failed can 10-NG and the abnormal can 10A as a second contaminated can 10C.

[0155] Furthermore, can movement status estimation unit 303 estimates the can movement status when can 10 moves, based on can placement position information D3 acquired by upstream multi-row reader 24A and can placement position information D3 acquired by downstream multi-row reader 24A, which are associated with the same can identifier D1. Then, third contaminated can identification unit 302C may identify can 10 that has moved within predetermined contamination range R1 as third contaminated can 10D, based on the can movement status estimated by can movement status estimation unit 303.

[0156] Therefore, according to the third contaminated can identification process performed by the third contaminated can identification unit 302C, the contaminated cans 10B-10D can be identified by distinguishing them from other cans 10 using the can identifier D1, without providing a dedicated device for detecting the contaminated cans 10B-10D. Also, by taking into account the inspection result information D4, the contaminated can 10C can be identified more reliably. Furthermore, by taking into account the can movement status of the can 10, the contaminated can 10D can be identified more reliably.

[0157] (Third abnormal configuration acquisition process) The third abnormal arrangement acquisition unit 304C acquires the abnormal arrangement pattern in which the abnormal can 10A occurs based on the can placement position information D3 associated with the can identifier D1 of the abnormal can 10A identified by the third abnormal can identification unit 301C and the can placement position information D3 associated with the can identifier D1 of the can 10 placed within a predetermined extraction range R10 from the placement position of the abnormal can 10A.

[0158] Therefore, according to the third abnormal arrangement acquisition process performed by the third abnormal arrangement acquisition unit 304C, an abnormal arrangement pattern when a can 10 is tipped over is acquired, which can be used to analyze the cause of the tipping that caused the abnormal can 10A, or to control the system to warn of or suppress the occurrence of the abnormal can 10A.

[0159] (Other embodiments) The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, all of which are included in the technical concept of the present invention.

[0160] In the above embodiment, the units 300-307 included in the control unit 30 of the can management devices 3A-3C have been described as being implemented by a single device. However, the units 300-307 included in the control unit 30 may be implemented by multiple devices (computers) by being distributed across them. Note that the can management devices 3A-3C may not be equipped with some of the units 300-307.

[0161] In the above embodiment, the devices 20 to 25 provided in the can making lines 2A and 2B have been described. However, the arrangement order and number of the devices 20 to 25 may be changed as appropriate. Furthermore, some devices may be omitted, or other devices may be provided in addition to those described above. Examples of other devices include manufacturing devices 20 such as an emboss former that embosses the can body 102 of the can 10, and a bottom coater that applies paint to the can bottom 101 of the can 10. In this case, the can management devices 3A to 3C may be configured to change the processing content of each process as appropriate to match the configuration of the can making lines 2A and 2B.

[0162] Various aspects of the present disclosure are summarized below as appendices.

[0163] (Appendix 1) A can management device that manages, in a database, information about bottomed cylindrical cans, each having a can identifier storage medium that stores a can identifier attached to its bottom, when the can is manufactured on a can manufacturing line, the can management device comprising: The can manufacturing line comprises: a multi-row conveying device that is installed within or between manufacturing devices that manufacture the cans and has a multi-row conveyor that can place a plurality of the cans in an inverted or upright position relative to a conveying direction of the cans and a width direction perpendicular to the conveying direction, and that conveys the plurality of cans by sending the multi-row conveyor in the conveying direction; a multi-row reading device that sets a reading range for the can identifier storage medium to a partial range in the conveying direction of the multi-row conveyor, and acquires the can identifier stored in the can identifier storage medium attached to the can when the can placed on the multi-row conveyor is conveyed and passes through the reading range, and acquires can placement position information indicating the placement position of the can on the multi-row conveyor in the conveying direction and the width direction, The can management device includes: a database management unit that associates the can identifiers and the can placement position information acquired by the multi-row reader and registers them in the database; Can management device.

[0164] (Appendix 2) The can manufacturing line comprises: the upstream multi-row reader installed upstream; and a downstream multi-row reader installed downstream, The database management unit The can identifiers and the can placement position information acquired by the upstream multi-row reading device are associated and registered in the database, and the can identifiers and the can placement position information acquired by the downstream multi-row reading device are associated and registered in the database, The can management device includes: a first abnormal can identifying unit that refers to the database and identifies the cans that have become abnormally oriented during conveyance by the multi-row conveying device as abnormal cans; The first abnormal can identifying unit is When the can identifier acquired by the upstream multi-row reader is not acquired by the downstream multi-row reader, the can identified by the can identifier is classified as a different can. Identify it as a regular can, 10. The can management device of claim 1.

[0165] (Appendix 3) The can management device includes: a first contaminated can identifying unit that refers to the database and identifies the cans that have been contaminated due to the influence of the abnormal cans during transportation by the multi-row transport device as contaminated cans; The first contaminated can identifying unit is Based on the can placement position information associated with the can identifier of the abnormal can identified by the first abnormal can identification unit, the can placed within a predetermined contamination range from the placement position of the abnormal can is identified as the contaminated can. 10. A can management device as described in Appendix 2.

[0166] (Appendix 4) The can manufacturing line comprises: an inspection device that is installed downstream of the multi-row reading device, inspects the cans, and acquires the can identifiers stored in the can identifier storage medium attached to the cans and inspection result information that indicates the inspection results of the cans; The database management unit the can identifier and the inspection result information acquired by the inspection device are associated with each other and registered in the database; The first contaminated can identifying unit is If the inspection result of the can indicated by the inspection result information is defective, the can is identified as an inspection-defective can; When it is estimated that the inspection-failed can has been contaminated by the abnormal can based on the can placement position information associated with the can identifier of the inspection-failed can and the can placement position information associated with the can identifier of the abnormal can identified by the first abnormal can identification unit, the can placed in a contamination range corresponding to the positional relationship between the inspection-failed can and the abnormal can is identified as the contaminated can. 10. A can management device as described in Appendix 3.

[0167] (Appendix 5) The can management device includes: a can movement status estimation unit that estimates a can movement status when the can is moved based on the can placement position information acquired by the upstream multi-row reading device and the can placement position information acquired by the downstream multi-row reading device, both of which are associated with the same can identifier; The first contaminated can identifying unit is Identifying the can that has moved within the contamination range as the contaminated can based on the can movement state estimated by the can movement state estimation unit. 5. The can management device according to claim 3 or 4.

[0168] (Appendix 6) The can management device includes: a first abnormal arrangement acquisition unit that acquires an abnormal arrangement pattern in which the abnormal can occurs, based on the can placement position information associated with the can identifier of the abnormal can identified by the first abnormal can identification unit and the can placement position information associated with the can identifier of the can placed within a predetermined extraction range from the placement position of the abnormal can; 6. A can management device according to any one of Supplementary Notes 2 to 5.

[0169] (Appendix 7) The can manufacturing line comprises: a posture detection device that is installed upstream or downstream of the multi-row reading device, and that captures an image of a portion of the multi-row conveyor in the conveying direction as the can placed on the multi-row conveyor passes through the capture range, and acquires can posture detection information that indicates the posture of the can and the placement position of the can in the conveying direction and the width direction on the multi-row conveyor from the image captured of the can when the can is conveyed and passes through the capture range; The database management unit registering the can attitude detection information acquired by the attitude detection device in the database; The can management device includes: a second abnormal can identifying unit that refers to the database and identifies the cans that have become abnormally oriented during conveyance by the multi-row conveying device as abnormal cans; a second contaminated can identifying unit that refers to the database and identifies the cans that have been contaminated due to the influence of the abnormal cans during transportation by the multi-row transport device as contaminated cans, The second abnormal can identifying unit is When the can attitude indicated by the can attitude detection information is the abnormal attitude, the can is identified as the abnormal can; The second contaminated can identifying unit is Identifying, as the contaminated can, the can placed within a predetermined contamination range from the placement position of the abnormal can indicated by the can attitude detection information of the abnormal can identified by the second abnormal can identification unit. 7. A can management device according to any one of Supplementary Notes 1 to 6.

[0170] (Appendix 8) The can manufacturing line comprises: an inspection device that is installed downstream of the multi-row reading device and the attitude detection device, that inspects the cans and acquires the can identifiers stored in the can identifier storage medium attached to the cans and inspection result information that indicates the inspection results of the cans; The database management unit the can identifier and the inspection result information acquired by the inspection device are associated with each other and registered in the database; The second contaminated can identifying unit is If the inspection result of the can indicated by the inspection result information is defective, the can is identified as an inspection-defective can; When it is estimated that the inspection-failed can has been contaminated by the abnormal can based on the can placement position information associated with the can identifier of the inspection-failed can and the can attitude detection information of the abnormal can identified by the second abnormal can identification unit, the can placed within a contamination range corresponding to the positional relationship between the inspection-failed can and the abnormal can is identified as the contaminated can. 8. The can management device of claim 7.

[0171] (Appendix 9) The can manufacturing line comprises: the upstream multi-row reader installed upstream; and a downstream multi-row reader installed downstream, The database management unit The can identifiers and the can placement position information acquired by the upstream multi-row reading device are associated and registered in the database, and the can identifiers and the can placement position information acquired by the downstream multi-row reading device are associated and registered in the database, The can management device includes: a can movement status estimation unit that estimates a can movement status when the can is moved based on the can placement position information acquired by the upstream multi-row reading device and the can placement position information acquired by the downstream multi-row reading device, both of which are associated with the same can identifier; The second contaminated can identifying unit is Identifying the can that has moved within the contamination range as the contaminated can based on the can movement state estimated by the can movement state estimation unit. 10. The can management device according to claim 7 or 8.

[0172] (Appendix 10) The can management device includes: and a second abnormal arrangement acquisition unit that acquires an abnormal arrangement pattern in which the abnormal can occurs based on the can attitude detection information of the abnormal can identified by the second abnormal can identification unit and the can placement position information associated with the can identifiers of the cans placed within a predetermined extraction range from the placement position of the abnormal can. 10. A can management device according to any one of Supplementary Notes 7 to 9.

[0173] (Appendix 11) The multi-row reading device When the cans placed on the multi-row transport conveyor are transported and pass through the reading range, can position information indicating the position of the can is acquired together with the can identifier and the can placement position information of the can, The database management unit the can identifier, the can placement position information, and the can attitude information acquired by the multi-row reading device are associated with each other and registered in the database; 11. A can management device according to any one of Supplementary Notes 1 to 10.

[0174] (Appendix 12) The can management device includes: a third abnormal can identifying unit that refers to the database and identifies the cans that have become abnormally oriented during conveyance by the multi-row conveying device as abnormal cans; a third contaminated can identifying unit that refers to the database and identifies the cans that have been contaminated due to the influence of the abnormal cans during transportation by the multi-row transport device as contaminated cans, The third abnormal can identifying unit is When the can posture information indicates that the can is in an abnormal posture, the can is identified as the abnormal can; The third contaminated can identifying unit is Based on the can placement position information associated with the can identifier of the abnormal can identified by the third abnormal can identification unit, the can placed within a predetermined contamination range from the placement position of the abnormal can is identified as the contaminated can. 12. The can management device of claim 11.

[0175] (Appendix 13) The can manufacturing line comprises: an inspection device that is installed downstream of the multi-row reading device, inspects the cans, and acquires the can identifiers stored in the can identifier storage medium attached to the cans and inspection result information that indicates the inspection results of the cans; The database management unit the can identifier and the inspection result information acquired by the inspection device are associated with each other and registered in the database; The third contaminated can identifying unit is If the inspection result of the can indicated by the inspection result information is defective, the can is identified as an inspection-defective can; When it is estimated that the inspection-failed can has been contaminated by the abnormal can based on the can placement position information associated with the can identifier of the inspection-failed can and the can placement position information associated with the can identifier of the abnormal can identified by the third abnormal can identification unit, the can placed in a contamination range corresponding to the positional relationship between the inspection-failed can and the abnormal can is identified as the contaminated can. 13. The can management device of claim 12.

[0176] (Appendix 14) The can manufacturing line comprises: the upstream multi-row reader installed upstream; and a downstream multi-row reader installed downstream, The database management unit the can identifier, the can placement position information, and the can orientation information acquired by the upstream multi-row reading device are associated and registered in the database, and the can identifier, the can placement position information, and the can orientation information acquired by the downstream multi-row reading device are associated and registered in the database; The can management device includes: a can movement status estimation unit that estimates a can movement status when the can is moved based on the can placement position information acquired by the upstream multi-row reading device and the can placement position information acquired by the downstream multi-row reading device, both of which are associated with the same can identifier; The third contaminated can identifying unit is Identifying the can that has moved within the contamination range as the contaminated can based on the can movement state estimated by the can movement state estimation unit. 14. The can management device according to claim 12 or 13.

[0177] (Appendix 15) The can management device includes: and a third abnormal arrangement acquisition unit that acquires an abnormal arrangement pattern in which the abnormal can occurs based on the can placement position information associated with the can identifier of the abnormal can identified by the third abnormal can identification unit and the can placement position information associated with the can identifier of the can placed within a predetermined extraction range from the placement position of the abnormal can. The can management device according to claim 12.

[0178] (Appendix 16) The can manufacturing line comprises: an inspection device that is installed downstream of the multi-row reading device, inspects the cans, and acquires the can identifiers stored in the can identifier storage medium attached to the cans and inspection result information that indicates the inspection results of the cans; The database management unit the can identifier and the inspection result information acquired by the inspection device are associated with each other and registered in the database; The can management device includes: a defect cause analysis unit that, when the inspection result of the can indicated by the inspection result information is defective, identifies the can as an inspection-defective can, acquires a distribution state of the inspection-defective cans on the multi-row transport conveyor based on the can placement position information associated with the can identifiers of the plurality of inspection-defective cans, and estimates a defect cause that caused the defect based on the distribution state; Ru, 16. A can management device according to any one of Supplementary Notes 1 to 15.

[0179] (Appendix 17) The defect cause analysis unit Identifying the can placed within a defect occurrence range corresponding to the defect cause as a suspected defective can; 17. The can management device of claim 16.

[0180] (Appendix 18) The can manufacturing line comprises: an inspection device that is installed downstream of the multi-row reading device, inspects the cans, and acquires the can identifiers stored in the can identifier storage medium attached to the cans and inspection result information that indicates the inspection results of the cans; The database management unit the can identifier and the inspection result information acquired by the inspection device are associated with each other and registered in the database; The can management device includes: an apparatus abnormality location analysis unit that, when the inspection result of the can indicated by the inspection result information is defective, identifies the can as an inspection-defective can, acquires a distribution state of the inspection-defective cans on the multi-row conveyor based on the can placement position information associated with the can identifiers of the plurality of inspection-defective cans, and estimates an apparatus abnormality location where an abnormality has occurred in the manufacturing apparatus or the multi-row conveying apparatus based on the distribution state; 18. A can management device according to any one of Supplementary Notes 1 to 17.

[0181] (Appendix 19) The device abnormality location analysis unit identifying the can placed within a defect occurrence range corresponding to the abnormality location in the device as a suspected defective can; 19. The can management device of claim 18.

[0182] (Appendix 20) The can manufacturing line comprises: an inspection device that is installed downstream of the multi-row reading device, inspects the cans, and acquires the can identifiers stored in the can identifier storage medium attached to the cans and inspection result information that indicates the inspection results of the cans; The database management unit the can identifier and the inspection result information acquired by the inspection device are associated with each other and registered in the database; The can management device includes: an inspection result analysis unit that identifies a can as a normally inspected can when the inspection result information indicates that the can is normal, and identifies a can as a defective can when the inspection result information indicates that the can is defective, and that tally up the number or percentage of normally inspected cans or defective cans that have passed through each of a plurality of divided areas obtained by dividing the multi-row transport conveyor in the width direction, based on the can placement position information associated with the can identifiers of the plurality of normally inspected cans and the plurality of defective inspection cans, respectively; 19. A can management device according to claim 1. [Explanation of symbols]

[0183] 1...can management system, 2A, 2B...can manufacturing line, 3A to 3C...can management device, 4...Terminal device, 5...Network, 10...cans, 10A...abnormal cans, 10B-10D...contaminated cans, 10E, 10F...probably defective cans, 10-OK...Cans that were inspected normally, 10-NG...Cans that were inspected incorrectly, 11A to 11C...can management database, 12...equipment management database, 20... manufacturing equipment, 21... inspection equipment, 22... conveyance equipment, 22A... multi-row conveying device, 22B... single-row conveying device, 23... can identifier assigning device, 24...can identifier reader, 24A...multiple-row reader, 24B...single-row reader, 25... Posture detection device, 30...control unit, 31...storage unit, 32...communication unit, 33...input unit, 34...output unit, 100...can identifier storage medium, 101...can bottom, 102...can body, 222... multi-row conveyor, 224... single-row conveyor, 300...Database Management Department 301A...first abnormal can identifying unit, 301B...second abnormal can identifying unit, 301C...Third abnormal can identification section, 302A...first contaminated can identifying portion, 302B...second contaminated can identifying portion, 302C...Third contamination can specific part, 303...Can movement status estimation unit, 304A...first abnormality arrangement acquisition unit, 304B...second abnormality arrangement acquisition unit, 304C...Third abnormality configuration acquisition unit, 305...inspection result analysis unit, 306...defect cause analysis unit, 307...device abnormality location analysis unit, 310A~310C...Can management program

Claims

1. A can management device that manages, in a database, information about bottomed cylindrical cans, each having a can identifier storage medium that stores a can identifier attached to its bottom, when the can is manufactured on a can manufacturing line, the can management device comprising: The can manufacturing line comprises: a multi-row conveying device that is installed within or between manufacturing devices that manufacture the cans and has a multi-row conveyor that can place a plurality of the cans in an inverted or upright position relative to a conveying direction of the cans and a width direction perpendicular to the conveying direction, and that conveys the plurality of cans by sending the multi-row conveyor in the conveying direction; a multi-row reading device that sets a reading range for the can identifier storage medium to a partial range in the conveying direction of the multi-row conveyor, and acquires the can identifier stored in the can identifier storage medium attached to the can when the can placed on the multi-row conveyor is conveyed and passes through the reading range, and acquires can placement position information indicating the placement position of the can on the multi-row conveyor in the conveying direction and the width direction, The can management device includes: a database management unit that associates the can identifiers and the can placement position information acquired by the multi-row reader and registers them in the database; Can management device.

2. The can manufacturing line comprises: the upstream multi-row reader installed upstream; and a downstream multi-row reader installed downstream, The database management unit The can identifiers and the can placement position information acquired by the upstream multi-row reading device are associated and registered in the database, and the can identifiers and the can placement position information acquired by the downstream multi-row reading device are associated and registered in the database, The can management device includes: a first abnormal can identifying unit that refers to the database and identifies the cans that have become abnormally oriented during conveyance by the multi-row conveying device as abnormal cans; The first abnormal can identifying unit When the can identifier acquired by the upstream multi-row reader is not acquired by the downstream multi-row reader, the can identified by the can identifier is identified as the abnormal can. The canister management device according to claim 1 .

3. The can management device includes: a first contaminated can identifying unit that refers to the database and identifies the cans that have been contaminated due to the influence of the abnormal cans during transportation by the multi-row transport device as contaminated cans; The first contaminated can identifying unit is based on the can placement position information associated with the can identifier of the abnormal can identified by the first abnormal can identification unit, identifying the can placed within a predetermined contamination range from the placement position of the abnormal can as the contaminated can; The canister management device according to claim 2.

4. The can manufacturing line comprises: an inspection device that is installed downstream of the multi-row reading device, inspects the cans, and acquires the can identifiers stored in the can identifier storage medium attached to the cans and inspection result information that indicates the inspection results of the cans; The database management unit the can identifier and the inspection result information acquired by the inspection device are associated with each other and registered in the database; The first contaminated can identifying unit is If the inspection result of the can indicated by the inspection result information is defective, the can is identified as an inspection-defective can; When it is estimated that the inspection-failed can has been contaminated by the abnormal can based on the can placement position information associated with the can identifier of the inspection-failed can and the can placement position information associated with the can identifier of the abnormal can identified by the first abnormal can identification unit, the can placed within a contamination range corresponding to the positional relationship between the inspection-failed can and the abnormal can is identified as the contaminated can. The can management device according to claim 3.

5. The can management device includes: a can movement status estimation unit that estimates a can movement status when the can is moved based on the can placement position information acquired by the upstream multi-row reading device and the can placement position information acquired by the downstream multi-row reading device, both of which are associated with the same can identifier; The first contaminated can identifying unit is Identifying the can that has moved within the contamination range as the contaminated can based on the can movement state estimated by the can movement state estimation unit. The can management device according to claim 3.

6. The can management device includes: a first abnormal arrangement acquisition unit that acquires an abnormal arrangement pattern in which the abnormal can occurs, based on the can placement position information associated with the can identifier of the abnormal can identified by the first abnormal can identification unit and the can placement position information associated with the can identifier of the can placed within a predetermined extraction range from the placement position of the abnormal can; The canister management device according to claim 2.

7. The can manufacturing line comprises: a posture detection device that is installed upstream or downstream of the multi-row reading device, and that captures an image of a portion of the multi-row conveyor in the conveying direction as the can placed on the multi-row conveyor passes through the capture range, and acquires can posture detection information that indicates the posture of the can and the placement position of the can in the conveying direction and the width direction on the multi-row conveyor from the image captured of the can when the can is conveyed and passes through the capture range; The database management unit registering the can attitude detection information acquired by the attitude detection device in the database; The can management device includes: a second abnormal can identifying unit that refers to the database and identifies the cans that have become abnormally oriented during conveyance by the multi-row conveying device as abnormal cans; a second contaminated can identifying unit that refers to the database and identifies the cans that have been contaminated due to the influence of the abnormal cans during transportation by the multi-row transport device as contaminated cans, The second abnormal can identifying unit is When the can attitude indicated by the can attitude detection information is the abnormal attitude, the can is identified as the abnormal can; The second contaminated can identifying unit is Identifying, as the contaminated can, the can placed within a predetermined contamination range from the placement position of the abnormal can indicated by the can attitude detection information of the abnormal can identified by the second abnormal can identification unit. The canister management device according to claim 1 .

8. The can manufacturing line comprises: an inspection device that is installed downstream of the multi-row reading device and the attitude detection device, that inspects the cans and acquires the can identifiers stored in the can identifier storage medium attached to the cans and inspection result information that indicates the inspection results of the cans; The database management unit the can identifier and the inspection result information acquired by the inspection device are associated with each other and registered in the database; The second contaminated can identifying unit is If the inspection result of the can indicated by the inspection result information is defective, the can is identified as an inspection-defective can; When it is estimated that the inspection-failed can has been contaminated by the abnormal can based on the can placement position information associated with the can identifier of the inspection-failed can and the can attitude detection information of the abnormal can identified by the second abnormal can identification unit, the can placed within a contamination range corresponding to the positional relationship between the inspection-failed can and the abnormal can is identified as the contaminated can. The canister management device according to claim 7.

9. The can manufacturing line comprises: the upstream multi-row reader installed upstream; and a downstream multi-row reader installed downstream, The database management unit The can identifiers and the can placement position information acquired by the upstream multi-row reading device are associated and registered in the database, and the can identifiers and the can placement position information acquired by the downstream multi-row reading device are associated and registered in the database, The can management device includes: a can movement status estimation unit that estimates a can movement status when the can is moved based on the can placement position information acquired by the upstream multi-row reading device and the can placement position information acquired by the downstream multi-row reading device, both of which are associated with the same can identifier; The second contaminated can identifying unit is Identifying the can that has moved within the contamination range as the contaminated can based on the can movement state estimated by the can movement state estimation unit. The canister management device according to claim 7.

10. The can management device includes: and a second abnormal arrangement acquisition unit that acquires an abnormal arrangement pattern in which the abnormal can occurs based on the can attitude detection information of the abnormal can identified by the second abnormal can identification unit and the can placement position information associated with the can identifiers of the cans placed within a predetermined extraction range from the placement position of the abnormal can. The canister management device according to claim 7.

11. The multi-row reading device When the cans placed on the multi-row transport conveyor are transported and pass through the reading range, can position information indicating the position of the can is acquired together with the can identifier and the can placement position information of the can, The database management unit the can identifier, the can placement position information, and the can attitude information acquired by the multi-row reading device are associated with each other and registered in the database; The canister management device according to claim 1 .

12. The can management device includes: a third abnormal can identifying unit that refers to the database and identifies the cans that have become abnormally oriented during conveyance by the multi-row conveying device as abnormal cans; a third contaminated can identifying unit that refers to the database and identifies the cans that have been contaminated due to the influence of the abnormal cans during transportation by the multi-row transport device as contaminated cans, The third abnormal can identifying unit is When the can posture information indicates that the can is in an abnormal posture, the can is identified as the abnormal can; The third contaminated can identifying unit is based on the can placement position information associated with the can identifier of the abnormal can identified by the third abnormal can identification unit, identifying the can placed within a predetermined contamination range from the placement position of the abnormal can as the contaminated can; The canister management device according to claim 11.

13. The can manufacturing line comprises: an inspection device that is installed downstream of the multi-row reading device, inspects the cans, and acquires the can identifiers stored in the can identifier storage medium attached to the cans and inspection result information that indicates the inspection results of the cans; The database management unit the can identifier and the inspection result information acquired by the inspection device are associated with each other and registered in the database; The third contaminated can identifying unit is If the inspection result of the can indicated by the inspection result information is defective, the can is identified as an inspection-defective can; When it is estimated that the inspection-failed can has been contaminated by the abnormal can based on the can placement position information associated with the can identifier of the inspection-failed can and the can placement position information associated with the can identifier of the abnormal can identified by the third abnormal can identification unit, the can placed within a contamination range corresponding to the positional relationship between the inspection-failed can and the abnormal can is identified as the contaminated can. The canister management device of claim 12.

14. The can manufacturing line comprises: the upstream multi-row reader installed upstream; and a downstream multi-row reader installed downstream, The database management unit the can identifier, the can placement position information, and the can orientation information acquired by the upstream multi-row reading device are associated and registered in the database, and the can identifier, the can placement position information, and the can orientation information acquired by the downstream multi-row reading device are associated and registered in the database; The can management device includes: a can movement status estimation unit that estimates a can movement status when the can is moved based on the can placement position information acquired by the upstream multi-row reading device and the can placement position information acquired by the downstream multi-row reading device, both of which are associated with the same can identifier; The third contaminated can identifying unit is Identifying the can that has moved within the contamination range as the contaminated can based on the can movement state estimated by the can movement state estimation unit. The canister management device of claim 12.

15. The can management device includes: and a third abnormal arrangement acquisition unit that acquires an abnormal arrangement pattern in which the abnormal can occurs based on the can placement position information associated with the can identifier of the abnormal can identified by the third abnormal can identification unit and the can placement position information associated with the can identifier of the can placed within a predetermined extraction range from the placement position of the abnormal can. The canister management device of claim 12.

16. The can manufacturing line comprises: an inspection device that is installed downstream of the multi-row reading device, inspects the cans, and acquires the can identifiers stored in the can identifier storage medium attached to the cans and inspection result information that indicates the inspection results of the cans; The database management unit the can identifier and the inspection result information acquired by the inspection device are associated with each other and registered in the database; The can management device includes: a defect cause analysis unit that, when the inspection result of the can indicated by the inspection result information is defective, identifies the can as an inspection-defective can, acquires a distribution of the inspection-defective cans on the multi-row transport conveyor based on the can placement position information associated with the can identifiers of the plurality of inspection-defective cans, and estimates a defect cause that caused the defect based on the distribution; The canister management device according to claim 1 .

17. The defect cause analysis unit Identifying the can placed in a defect occurrence range corresponding to the defect cause as a suspected defective can; 17. The canister management device of claim 16.

18. The can manufacturing line comprises: an inspection device that is installed downstream of the multi-row reading device, inspects the cans, and acquires the can identifiers stored in the can identifier storage medium attached to the cans and inspection result information that indicates the inspection results of the cans; The database management unit the can identifier and the inspection result information acquired by the inspection device are associated with each other and registered in the database; The can management device includes: an apparatus abnormality location analysis unit that, when the inspection result of the can indicated by the inspection result information is defective, identifies the can as an inspection-defective can, acquires a distribution state of the inspection-defective cans on the multi-row conveyor based on the can placement position information associated with the can identifiers of the plurality of inspection-defective cans, and estimates an apparatus abnormality location where an abnormality has occurred in the manufacturing apparatus or the multi-row conveying apparatus based on the distribution state; The canister management device according to claim 1 .

19. The device abnormality location analysis unit identifying the can placed within a defect occurrence range corresponding to the abnormality location in the device as a suspected defective can; 19. The canister management device of claim 18.

20. The can manufacturing line comprises: an inspection device that is installed downstream of the multi-row reading device, inspects the cans, and acquires the can identifiers stored in the can identifier storage medium attached to the cans and inspection result information that indicates the inspection results of the cans; The database management unit the can identifier and the inspection result information acquired by the inspection device are associated with each other and registered in the database; The can management device includes: an inspection result analysis unit that identifies a can as a normally inspected can when the inspection result information indicates that the can is normal, and identifies a can as a defective can when the inspection result information indicates that the can is defective, and that tally up the number or percentage of normally inspected cans or defective cans that have passed through each of a plurality of divided areas obtained by dividing the multi-row transport conveyor in the width direction, based on the can placement position information associated with the can identifiers of the plurality of normally inspected cans and the plurality of defective inspection cans, respectively; The canister management device according to claim 1 .

21. A can management system including: a can making line that produces bottomed cylindrical cans having a can identifier storage medium that stores a can identifier attached to the can bottom; and a can management device that manages information about the cans in a database when the cans are produced on the can making line, The can manufacturing line comprises: a multi-row conveying device that is installed within or between manufacturing devices that manufacture the cans and has a multi-row conveyor that can place a plurality of the cans in an inverted or upright position relative to a conveying direction of the cans and a width direction perpendicular to the conveying direction, and that conveys the plurality of cans by sending the multi-row conveyor in the conveying direction; a multi-row reading device that sets a reading range for the can identifier storage medium to a partial range in the conveying direction of the multi-row conveyor, and acquires the can identifier stored in the can identifier storage medium attached to the can when the can placed on the multi-row conveyor is conveyed and passes through the reading range, and acquires can placement position information indicating the placement position of the can on the multi-row conveyor in the conveying direction and the width direction, The can management device includes: a database management unit that associates the can identifiers and the can placement position information acquired by the multi-row reader and registers them in the database; Can management system.

22. A can management method for managing, in a database, information about bottomed cylindrical cans, each having a can identifier storage medium storing a can identifier attached to its bottom, when the cans are manufactured on a can manufacturing line, using a computer, the method comprising: The can manufacturing line comprises: a multi-row conveying device that is installed within or between manufacturing devices that manufacture the cans and has a multi-row conveyor that can place a plurality of the cans in an inverted or upright position relative to a conveying direction of the cans and a width direction perpendicular to the conveying direction, and that conveys the plurality of cans by sending the multi-row conveyor in the conveying direction; a multi-row reading device that sets a reading range for the can identifier storage medium to a partial range in the conveying direction of the multi-row conveyor, and acquires the can identifier stored in the can identifier storage medium attached to the can when the can placed on the multi-row conveyor is conveyed and passes through the reading range, and acquires can placement position information indicating the placement position of the can on the multi-row conveyor in the conveying direction and the width direction, The can management method includes: performing a database management process for registering the can identifiers and the can placement position information acquired by the multi-row reader in association with each other in the database; How to manage cans.

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