Order support apparatus

Abstract

To provide an ordering support device for supporting ordering of an appropriate number of consumables at an appropriate frequency.SOLUTION: An ordering support device that supports ordering of consumables consumed by a plurality of molding machines that inject a molding material into a cavity of a clamped mold to mold a molded article, the ordering support device comprising: A counting process of counting a first number N1 which is the number of consumables whose remaining time until reaching a replacement time is less than a first time and a second number N2 which is the number of consumables whose remaining time is equal to or more than the first time and less than a second time longer than the first time among the consumables mounted on each of the plurality of molding machines; And notification processing of notifying the number of consumables to be ordered.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an ordering support device that supports ordering consumables for a molding machine. [Background technology]

[0002] A molding machine that injects molding material into a mold to form a molded product continues to mold the molded product while consuming various consumables (e.g., grease, packing, servo motor, ball screw, electrical components, molding material). Therefore, if the lifespan of consumables cannot be properly managed, the molding machine may stop. Therefore, Patent Document 1 discloses a management support device that determines the lifespan of consumables based on the operating status of the machine. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-318262 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, if the number of consumables ordered at one time is increased but the order frequency is reduced, the stockpile of consumables will not be stable.On the other hand, if the number of consumables ordered at one time is reduced but the order frequency is increased, the burden on the logistics industry that transports the consumables will increase.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an ordering support device that supports ordering an appropriate number of consumables at an appropriate frequency. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problem, the present invention provides an ordering support device that supports the ordering of consumables to be consumed by a plurality of molding machines that inject molding material into the cavity of a clamped mold to form molded products, and is characterized by performing a counting process to count, among the consumables installed in each of the plurality of molding machines, a first number N1 which is the number of consumables for which the remaining time until replacement is less than a first hour, and a second number N2 which is the number of consumables for which the remaining time is equal to or greater than the first hour and less than a second hour that is longer than the first hour, and a notification process to notify the number of consumables to be ordered based on a stockpile number N which is the number of consumables stockpiled at the installation location of the molding machine, a predetermined lower limit value Nmin and upper limit value Nmax of the stockpile number N, and the first number N1 and second number N2 counted in the counting process. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] The present invention can assist in ordering the appropriate number of consumables at the appropriate frequency. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an ordering support system. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of an order support server. [Figure 3] 10A and 10B are examples of a parameter setting screen and an order notification screen, respectively. [Figure 4] 10 is a screen example of a grease remaining amount notification screen. [Figure 5] 10 is a flowchart of an order support process. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] An ordering support system 1 according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of the ordering support system 1. The ordering support system 1 is a system that supports the ordering of consumables consumed by a plurality of injection molding machines 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D, etc. (hereinafter, these may be collectively referred to as "injection molding machines 10"). The ordering support system 1 includes at least an ordering support server 20 (ordering support device). The ordering support system 1 may further include a plurality of injection molding machines 10. Furthermore, the ordering support system 1 may further include a consumables supply server 30.

[0010] The injection molding machine 10 and the order support server 20 are installed, for example, in a factory. The order support server 20 can receive various information (e.g., cycle time, number of remaining shots) from the injection molding machine 10 via a communication network (e.g., LAN) not shown. However, the order support server 20 may be installed in a location different from the injection molding machine 10 (e.g., a head office that manages a factory) as long as it can receive information from the injection molding machine 10.

[0011] [Configuration of injection molding machine 10] The injection molding machine 10 is a molding machine that injects a measured amount of molding material (plasticized resin) into a mold to form a molded product (hereinafter referred to as "injection molding"). However, specific examples of molding machines are not limited to the injection molding machine 10, and may also be die-casting machines that inject molten metal (molding material) into a mold to form a molded product. Furthermore, the number of injection molding machines 10 connected to the order support server 20 is not limited to four, and may be any number (two or more).

[0012] As shown in FIG. 1, the injection molding machine 10 mainly includes a mold clamping device 11, an injection device 12, a grease supplying device 13, and a control device 14. The mold clamping device 11 opens, closes, and clamps the mold. The injection device 12 plasticizes, measures, and injects the molding material into the cavity of the clamped mold. The grease supplying device 13 supplies grease to each part of the injection molding machine 10 (e.g., joints and sliding parts). More specifically, the grease supplying device 13 supplies grease stored in a detachably attached grease can 15 to each part of the injection molding machine 10. The control device 14 controls the operations of the mold clamping device 11, the injection device 12, and the grease supplying device 13, and transmits various information to the order support server 20.

[0013] The control device 14 also molds multiple molded products in sequence by repeatedly executing the following series of processes (hereinafter referred to as "molding cycles"). Hereinafter, the number of molding cycles repeatedly executed (in other words, the number of molded products to be molded) will be referred to as the "number of shots," and the execution time of a molding cycle (in other words, the time required to mold a molded product) will be referred to as the "cycle time."

[0014] First, the control device 14 causes the mold clamping device 11 to close and clamp the mold. Next, the control device 14 causes the injection device 12 to inject plasticized resin into the cavity of the clamped mold. Next, the control device 14 causes the injection device 12 to measure the next amount of plasticized resin to be injected. Next, the control device 14 causes the mold clamping device 11 to open the mold. Next, the control device 14 causes the robot arm to remove the molded product from the opened mold. The control device 14 executes a molding cycle in accordance with predetermined molding conditions (operating conditions of the injection molding machine 10 executing the molding cycle). Therefore, if the molding conditions (in other words, the mold attached to the mold clamping device 11 or the shape and size of the molded product) change, the cycle time may also change.

[0015] Furthermore, in response to the execution of a predetermined number of molding cycles (e.g., 20,000 shots), the control device 14 controls the grease supply device 13 to supply the grease stored in the grease can 15 to each part of the injection molding machine 10. The grease can 15 stores an amount of grease that allows for a predetermined number of grease supply cycles (e.g., 10 times). That is, when a new grease can 15 is attached to the grease supply device 13 and 200,000 molding cycles are executed, the grease can 15 becomes empty. After the grease can 15 becomes empty, the injection molding machine 10 executes a predetermined number of molding cycles (e.g., 5,000 shots) and then becomes inoperable.

[0016] Furthermore, the control device 14 can grasp the remaining amount of grease in the grease can 15 attached to the grease supply device 13 (in other words, the remaining number of shots that can be performed before the grease can 15 is empty). As one example, the control device 14 may grasp the remaining number of shots using a sensor mounted on the grease supply device 13 or the grease can 15. As another example, the control device 14 may grasp the remaining number of shots by counting the number of shots since a new grease can 15 was attached.

[0017] Grease can 15 (or the grease stored in grease can 15) is an example of a consumable item that is gradually consumed when injection molding machine 10 molds a molded product (i.e., executes a molding cycle). In other words, grease can 15 (or the grease stored in grease can 15) is an example of a consumable item that is gradually consumed as the number of molding cycles executed by injection molding machine 10 increases, and that needs to be replaced (i.e., becomes empty) after a predetermined number of molding cycles (e.g., 200,000 shots) have been executed. However, specific examples of consumable items are not limited to grease can 15 (grease), and may include packing, servo motors, ball screws, electrical components, molding materials, etc.

[0018] Furthermore, grease cans 15 may be stockpiled at the installation location of injection molding machine 10 (for example, in the factory where injection molding machine 10 is installed, or in a warehouse adjacent to the factory where injection molding machine 10 is installed). That is, when the grease can 15 attached to injection molding machine 10 becomes empty, a user (for example, a factory worker or a factory manager) removes the empty grease can 15 from injection molding machine 10 and attaches a stockpiled grease can 15 to injection molding machine 10. Also, the user orders grease cans 15 from a service center at a predetermined time and stockpiles the delivered grease cans 15. That is, the number of stockpiled grease cans 15 increases or decreases.

[0019] [Configuration of ordering support server 20] 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of the order support server 20. The order support server 20 is an example of an order support device that supports ordering of consumables consumed by the injection molding machine 10. Note that the order support device is not limited to being realized by a single server, but may be realized by multiple devices that operate in cooperation with each other.

[0020] The ordering support server 20 is realized by, for example, a general-purpose computer such as a workstation or a personal computer. As shown in Fig. 2, the ordering support server 20 mainly includes a CPU 21, a memory 22, a storage 23, an input device 24, a display 25, and a communication I / F 26. The components of the ordering support server 20 are connected to a communication bus 27.

[0021] The CPU 21 performs the processing described below by executing a series of instructions included in the order support program 28 loaded into the memory 22. The memory 22 is realized, for example, as RAM or other volatile memory. The storage 23 is realized, for example, as ROM, a hard disk drive, a flash memory, or other non-volatile storage device. The order support program 28 is stored in the storage 23, and is loaded into the memory 22 as needed and executed by the CPU 21.

[0022] The input device 24 is an input interface, such as a keyboard or a pointing device, that accepts input operations from the administrator of the ordering support server 20. The display 25 is an output interface that outputs (displays) information to the administrator of the ordering support server 20. The communication I / F 26 is a communication interface that transmits and receives data to and from external devices (e.g., the injection molding machine 10, the consumable supply server 30) via a communication network.

[0023] [Consumables Supply Server 30] The consumables supply server 30 is a server that manages the number of delivery days D0 of consumables that can be supplied at a service center that supplies consumables for the injection molding machine 10. The consumables supply server 30 is connected to the order support server 20, for example, via a communication network 2 (for example, the Internet, a mobile communication system, a LAN, or a combination thereof). The configuration of the consumables supply server 30 may be the same as that of the order support server 20, for example.

[0024] In response to a request from the ordering support server 20, the consumables supply server 30 transmits the number of delivery days D0 of the consumables that can be supplied at present to the ordering support server 20 via the communication network 2. In addition, the consumables supply server 30 executes processing (e.g., notifying the person in charge at the service center) to ship the number of consumables ordered by the ordering support server 20 to the specified location (factory).

[0025] [Order support processing] FIG. 3 shows example screens of a parameter setting screen (A) and an order notification screen (B). FIG. 4 shows an example screen of a grease remaining amount notification screen. FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the order support process. The order support program 28 causes the order support server 20 (computer) to execute processing, thereby realizing the following processing. Hereinafter, the order support program 28 causing the order support server 20 to execute processing will be simply referred to as "the order support server 20 executes processing."

[0026] The ordering support process is a process for supporting the ordering of grease cans 15. More specifically, the ordering support process is a process for notifying the number of grease cans 15 to be ordered based on the remaining amount of grease cans 15 attached to each of the multiple injection molding machines 10. Furthermore, prior to the start of the ordering support process, the ordering support server 20 can display a parameter setting screen shown in FIG. 3(A) and a grease remaining amount notification screen shown in FIG. 4 on the display 25. More specifically, the ordering support server 20 can display the parameter setting screen or the grease remaining amount notification screen on the display 25 in accordance with a user instruction entered through the input device 24.

[0027] The parameter setting screen is a screen that allows the user to set various parameters (e.g., the number of stockpiles N, the upper stockpiling limit Nmax, and the lower stockpiling limit Nmin) used in the order support process. The order support server 20 displays the parameter setting screen shown in FIG. 3(A) on the display 25, and accepts user input operations (i.e., input of parameters, tapping of icons) through the input device 24. Then, the order support server 20 stores the number of stockpiles N, the lower stockpiling limit Nmin, and the upper stockpiling limit Nmax that have been set (changed) through the parameter setting screen in the memory 22.

[0028] The stockpile number (stock quantity) N is the number of grease cans 15 currently stockpiled in a factory or warehouse. In other words, the user decreases the stockpile number N every time a stockpiled grease can 15 is attached to the injection molding machine 10, and increases the stockpile number N every time a new grease can 15 is delivered. Normally, the stockpile number N is within the range between the stockpile lower limit value Nmin and the stockpile upper limit value Nmax. However, it is permissible for the stockpile number N to temporarily (short-term) deviate from the range between the stockpile lower limit value Nmin and the stockpile upper limit value Nmax.

[0029] The stockpile upper limit (upper limit) Nmax is the upper limit of the number of grease cans 15 that can be stockpiled in a factory or warehouse. The stockpile lower limit (lower limit) Nmin is the lower limit of the number of grease cans 15 that should be stockpiled in a factory or warehouse. In other words, the user can change the stockpile upper limit Nmax and the stockpile lower limit Nmin every time the number of injection molding machines 10 installed in the factory increases or decreases, or every time the space for stockpiling grease cans 15 increases or decreases.

[0030] The grease remaining amount notification screen is a screen that notifies the user of the amount of grease remaining in the grease cans 15 attached to each of the multiple injection molding machines 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D, etc. installed in the factory (i.e., the remaining amount of consumables). The order support server 20 receives various information (e.g., cycle time, number of remaining shots) from each of the multiple injection molding machines 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D, and displays the received information in a list on the display 25. More specifically, the grease remaining amount notification screen displays a list of the molding machine ID that uniquely identifies the injection molding machine 10, the cycle time, and an indicator showing the number of remaining shots for each of the multiple injection molding machines 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D, etc., as well as an [Order] icon.

[0031] As one example, the ordering support server 20 may acquire a cycle time at the timing of displaying the grease remaining amount notification screen, and display the acquired cycle time on the grease remaining amount notification screen. As another example, the ordering support server 20 may acquire a new cycle time from each injection molding machine 10 every time the cycle time (in other words, molding conditions) is changed in that injection molding machine 10. Then, the ordering support server 20 may display the average value of the cycle times acquired so far (for example, the average value of the cycle times for a predetermined period from the present to the past) on the grease remaining amount notification screen. Furthermore, the ordering support server 20 may acquire the number of remaining shots at the timing of displaying the grease remaining amount notification screen, and display an indicator indicating the acquired number of remaining shots on the grease remaining amount notification screen.

[0032] The user determines whether to order a grease can 15 based on the content of the grease remaining amount notification screen and the number of stockpiled grease cans 15 (=stock number N). Then, the ordering support server 20 starts the ordering support process when it receives a user operation of tapping the [Order] icon through the input device 24. As another example, the ordering support server 20 may start the ordering support process when it receives a user operation of changing a parameter through a parameter setting screen through the input device 24.

[0033] First, the order support server 20 counts up the number N1 (first number) of grease cans 15 in the red zone and the number N2 (second number) of grease cans 15 in the yellow zone among the grease cans 15 attached to each of the multiple injection molding machines 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D, etc. (S11). The processing of step S11 is an example of the counting processing.

[0034] The red zone refers to a state in which the time remaining until grease can 15 is empty (i.e., grease can 15 needs to be replaced) is less than a first hour. The yellow zone refers to a state in which the time remaining until grease can 15 is empty is equal to or greater than a first hour and less than a second hour. That is, the first time is set, for example, to a value such that grease can 15 will soon need to be replaced (e.g., a value of several hours to one day, which is shorter than the number of days for delivery D0). The second time is set, for example, to a time longer than the first time (e.g., about two to five days).

[0035] As one example, the ordering support server 20 may calculate the remaining time by multiplying the average value of the number of remaining shots and the cycle time obtained from each of the injection molding machines 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D, etc. As another example, the ordering support server 20 may calculate the remaining time by multiplying the average value of the number of remaining shots and the latest cycle time obtained from each of the injection molding machines 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D, etc. Then, the ordering support server 20 may compare the calculated remaining time with the first time and the second time for each of the injection molding machines 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D, etc., and tally up the numbers N1 and N2 of grease cans 15 in the red zone and the yellow zone.

[0036] Next, the order support server 20 acquires the delivery days D0 of the grease cans 15 (S12). The delivery days D0 refer to the number of days from when the grease cans 15 are ordered until they are delivered. As an example, the order support server 20 may receive the delivery days D0 from the consumable supply server 30 through the communication I / F 26. As another example, when the delivery days D0 are fixed, the order support server 20 may acquire the pre-stored delivery days D0 from the memory 22 or the storage 23. The process of step S12 is an example of an acquisition process.

[0037] Next, based on the stocked quantity N, the minimum stocked quantity Nmin, and the maximum stocked quantity Nmax set through the parameter setting screen, and the quantities N1 and N2 aggregated in the aggregation process (S12), the order support server 20 executes a notification process (S17, S18) to notify the number of grease cans 15 to be ordered.

[0038] More specifically, the order support server 20 determines whether the value obtained by subtracting the quantity N1 from the stocked quantity N (= N - N1) is less than the minimum stocked quantity Nmin (S13). And when the order support server 20 determines that N - N1 < Nmin (S13: Yes), it identifies the first remaining days D1 until the N1 grease cans 15 in the red zone reach the replacement time (S15). More specifically, the order support server 20 may convert the longest remaining time among the remaining times of the grease cans 15 in the red zone (less than the first hour) calculated in step S11 into days. The process of step S15 is an example of a first identification process.

[0039] Then, when the ordering support server 20 determines that the number of delivery days D0 acquired in the acquisition process (S12) is longer than the first remaining days D1 identified in the first identification process (S15) (S16: Yes), it notifies the user that the number of grease cans 15 obtained by subtracting (stock number N - number N1) from the stockpile upper limit value Nmax should be ordered (S17).On the other hand, when the ordering support server 20 determines that the number of delivery days D0 acquired in the acquisition process (S12) is equal to or less than the first remaining days D1 identified in the first identification process (S15) (S16: No), it notifies the user that the number of grease cans 15 obtained by subtracting the stockpile number N from the stockpile upper limit value Nmax should be ordered (S18).

[0040] That is, the number of orders notified in step S17 (= Nmax - (N - N1)) is greater than the number of orders notified in step S18 (= Nmax - N). The processing of steps S17 and S18 is an example of notification processing. The specific method of notification in steps S17 and S18 is not particularly limited, and may be a screen display on the display 25, or sending a message to an external device (e.g., a user terminal) via the communication I / F 26. As an example, a method of notification via the order notification screen shown in Figure 3 (B) will be described below.

[0041] In steps S17 and S18, the ordering support server 20 displays, for example, an order notification screen shown in FIG. 3(B) on the display 25. The order notification screen includes the number of items to be ordered (seven in the example of FIG. 3(B)) to be notified in steps S17 and S18, a spin button for accepting changes to the number of items to be ordered, an "Order" icon, and a "Cancel" icon. The ordering support server 20 then accepts user operations on the order notification screen (more specifically, the spin button, the "Order" icon, and the "Cancel" icon) via the input device 24.

[0042] Then, when the [Order] icon is tapped without operating the spin button (i.e., the notified order quantity is not changed), the order support server 20 places an order for the 15 grease cans with the order quantity notified in steps S17 and S18. Also, when the [Order] icon is tapped after the spin button is operated (i.e., the notified order quantity is changed), the order support server 20 places an order for the 15 grease cans with the changed order quantity. Further, when the [Cancel] icon is tapped, the order support server 20 does not place an order for the 15 grease cans.

[0043] Note that the specific method by which the order support server 20 places an order for the 15 grease cans is not particularly limited, and for example, the following methods are conceivable. As an example, the order support server 20 may transmit an order request including the order quantity of the 15 grease cans to the consumable supply server 30 through the communication I / F 26. Then, the consumable supply server 30 may execute a process for shipping the 15 grease cans with the order quantity included in the order request. As another example, the order support server 20 may transmit an order request including the order quantity of the 15 grease cans to the mobile terminal possessed by the person in charge at the service center through the communication I / F 26. Then, the person in charge may ship the 15 grease cans with the order quantity included in the order request. As yet another example, the user who viewed the order notification screen may contact the person in charge at the service center to place an order for the desired number of 15 grease cans.

[0044] On the other hand, when the order support server 20 determines that the value obtained by subtracting the quantity N1 from the stock quantity N is equal to or greater than the stock lower limit value Nmin, and the value obtained by subtracting the quantity N1 + N2 from the stock quantity N is less than the stock lower limit value Nmin (S13: No & S14: Yes), it specifies the second remaining days D2 until the value obtained by subtracting the quantity N1 from the stock quantity N reaches the stock lower limit value Nmin (i.e., N - N1 < Nmin) (S19). In other words, the order support server 20 specifies the second remaining days D2 until (N - Nmin - N1 + 1) of the 15 grease cans in the yellow zone specified in step S11 reach the red zone. The process of step S19 is an example of the second specifying process.

[0045] Then, when the ordering support server 20 determines that the number of delivery days D0 is longer than the second remaining days D2 (S20: Yes), it executes the notification process of step S18. Furthermore, when the ordering support server 20 determines that the number of delivery days D0 is equal to or less than the second remaining days D2 (S20: No), it does not execute the notification process (S17, S18). Furthermore, when the ordering support server 20 determines that the value obtained by subtracting the number N1+N2 from the stockpiled number N is equal to or greater than the stockpiled lower limit Nmin (S14: No), it does not execute the notification process (S17, S18).

[0046] [Effects of the embodiment] According to the above embodiment, the number of grease cans 15 to be ordered is notified based on the stockpile number N, stockpile lower limit Nmin, stockpile upper limit Nmax, and numbers N1 and N2, thereby assisting in ordering the appropriate number of grease cans 15 at the appropriate frequency.

[0047] Furthermore, according to the above embodiment, by executing the notification process when the value obtained by subtracting the number of grease cans in the red zone N1 from the stockpile number N becomes less than the stockpile lower limit Nmin (S13: Yes), it is possible to shorten the time during which the stockpile number N falls below the stockpile lower limit Nmin as much as possible. This makes it possible to prevent the injection molding machine 10 from stopping due to the stock of grease cans 15 running out.

[0048] Furthermore, according to the above embodiment, by adjusting the number of grease cans 15 to be ordered based on the relative magnitude of the number of delivery days D0 and the first remaining number of days D1 (S16), the number of stockpiled grease cans 15 after the ordered grease cans 15 arrive can be made to approach the stockpiled upper limit value Nmax. This reduces the frequency of ordering grease cans 15, thereby reducing the burden on the logistics industry as long as the stockpiled number N does not exceed the stockpiled upper limit value Nmax.

[0049] Furthermore, according to the above embodiment, even if there are only a few grease cans 15 in the red zone at present (S13: No & S14: Yes), if it is predicted that the value obtained by subtracting the number of red zone cans N1 from the stockpile number N will fall below the stockpile lower limit value Nmin in the near future (S20: Yes), the time during which the stockpile number N falls below the stockpile lower limit value Nmin can be further shortened by ordering grease cans 15 in advance.

[0050] On the other hand, according to the above embodiment, if it is predicted that the value obtained by subtracting the number of red zone bottles N1 from the number of stockpiled bottles N will not fall below the stockpiled lower limit value Nmin in the near future (S14: No / S20: No), the ordering of grease cans 15 is not notified, thereby reducing the frequency of ordering grease cans 15.

[0051] Furthermore, according to the above embodiment, the remaining time until the grease can 15 is empty is calculated using the average value of the cycle time, thereby improving the accuracy of predicting the remaining time. This makes it possible to reduce the frequency of ordering grease cans 15 while maintaining the stockpile number N within the range between the stockpile lower limit value Nmin and the stockpile upper limit value Nmax.

[0052] The above-described embodiments are merely illustrative examples of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention to these embodiments. Those skilled in the art can implement the present invention in various other forms without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0053] Furthermore, the program according to the present invention is not limited to a single program, but may be a collection of multiple programs. Furthermore, the program according to the present invention is not limited to being executed by a single device, but may be executed by multiple devices in a shared manner. Furthermore, the division of roles among the injection molding machine 10, the order support server 20, and the consumable supply server 30 is not limited to the example described above.

[0054] Furthermore, some or all of the means implemented by the program can be implemented by hardware such as an integrated circuit. Furthermore, the program may be provided recorded on a non-transitory recording medium that can be read by a computer. Examples of recording media include hard disks, SD cards, DVDs, and servers on the Internet. [Explanation of symbols]

[0055] 1...Ordering support system, 2...Communication network, 10...Injection molding machine, 11...Mold clamping device, 12...Injection device, 13...Grease supply device, 14...Control device, 15...Grease can, 20...Ordering support server, 21...CPU, 22...Memory, 23...Storage, 24...Input device, 25...Display, 26...Communication I / F, 27...Communication bus, 28...Ordering support program, 30...Consumables supply server

Claims

1. An ordering support device that supports ordering of consumables consumed by a plurality of molding machines that mold molded products by injecting molding material into a cavity of a clamped mold, a counting process for counting a first number N1, which is the number of consumables for which the remaining time until replacement is less than a first hour, among the consumables attached to each of the plurality of molding machines, and a second number N2, which is the number of consumables for which the remaining time is equal to or greater than the first hour and less than a second hour that is longer than the first time; An ordering support device characterized by executing a notification process to notify the number of consumables to be ordered based on a stockpile number N, which is the number of consumables stockpiled at the installation location of the molding machine, a predetermined lower limit value Nmin and upper limit value Nmax of the stockpile number N, and the first number N1 and second number N2 tallied in the aggregation process.

2. 2. The ordering support device according to claim 1, The ordering support device is characterized in that, when a value obtained by subtracting the first number N1 from the stockpiled number N is less than the lower limit value Nmin, the notification process is executed.

3. 3. The ordering support device according to claim 2, an acquisition process for acquiring the number of delivery days D0 from when the consumable is ordered until when the consumable is delivered; and further executing a first determination process for determining a first remaining number D1 of days until the first number N1 of consumables reaches the replacement time. When the number of delivery days D0 is longer than the first remaining number of days D1, the notification process is executed to notify the customer that the number of consumables obtained by subtracting (the stockpiled number N - the first number N1) from the upper limit value Nmax should be ordered; When the number of delivery days D0 is equal to or less than the first remaining number of days D1, the ordering support device executes the notification process to notify that the number of consumables equal to the upper limit value Nmax minus the stock number N should be ordered.

4. 2. The ordering support device according to claim 1, an acquisition process for acquiring the number of delivery days D0 from when the consumable is ordered until when the consumable is delivered; and further executing a second determination process for determining a second remaining number D2 of days until the value obtained by subtracting the first number N1 from the stockpiled number N reaches the lower limit value Nmin. When the value obtained by subtracting the first number N1 from the stockpiled number N is equal to or greater than the lower limit Nmin, and the value obtained by subtracting the first number N1 and the second number N2 from the stockpiled number N is less than the lower limit Nmin, When the number of delivery days D0 is longer than the second remaining number of days D2, the notification process is executed to notify the customer that the number of consumables obtained by subtracting the stock number N from the upper limit value Nmax should be ordered; An ordering support device characterized in that the notification process is not executed when the number of delivery days D0 is equal to or less than the second remaining number of days D2.

5. 5. The ordering support device according to claim 4, An ordering support device characterized in that, when a value obtained by subtracting the first number N1 and the second number N2 from the stockpiled number N is equal to or greater than the lower limit value Nmin, the notification process is not executed.

6. 2. The ordering support device according to claim 1, An ordering support device characterized in that, in the tallying process, the remaining time is calculated by multiplying the number of molded products that can be molded before the consumable reaches the replacement time by the average time required to mold the molded products.

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