Verification system

Abstract

To increase the probability of normally reading a two-dimension code even when the two-dimension code attached to a component cannot be normally read at a specific position.SOLUTION: The collation system includes a two-dimension code reader 21 disposed at a specific position in a production line in which components 4A and 4B to which a two-dimension code 5 including unique information is attached are sequentially moved, a drone 2 equipped with the two-dimension code reader 21, and a control device 3 that handles a case where the two-dimension code 5 of the components 4A and 4B cannot be normally read by the two-dimension code reader 21 disposed at the specific position. When the two-dimension codes 5 cannot be normally read, the control device 3 moves the drone 2 to cause the two-dimension code reader 21 of the drone 2 to read the product codes 5 of the parts 4A and 4B that cannot be normally read.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a verification system. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 states that "parts are identified by humans checking the two-dimensional codes. At the same time, a two-dimensional code matching device is employed in the line, and the two-dimensional code matching device automatically matches parts as they flow down the line." [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6729498 (JP 2018-203467) Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the above Patent Document 1, for example, if the arrangement of components does not match the verification surface of the two-dimensional code, the two-dimensional code verification device may not be able to verify the two-dimensional code correctly.

[0005] In view of these circumstances, the present invention aims to provide a verification system that increases the probability of successfully reading a two-dimensional code attached to a part even if the code cannot be successfully read at a specific position. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The matching system of the present invention comprises a two-dimensional code reading device that is placed at a specific position on a production line along which parts with two-dimensional codes containing unique information attached are moved sequentially, a drone equipped with the two-dimensional code reading device, and a control device that deals with the case where the two-dimensional code of the part cannot be read properly by the two-dimensional code reading device placed at the specific position, and is characterized in that, when the reading is not successful, the control device moves the drone and causes the drone's two-dimensional code reading device to read the two-dimensional code of the part that could not be read properly.

[0007] This configuration makes it possible to increase the probability of successfully reading the two-dimensional code of a part that has been moved to the specific position.

[0008] In the verification system, the drone can be configured to be placed at the specific location, and the two-dimensional code reading device equipped on the drone can also be configured to serve as the two-dimensional code reading device placed at the specific location.

[0009] This configuration uses only the drone's two-dimensional code reader, which contributes to reducing the cost of the verification system.

[0010] The control device can also be configured to include a memory unit in which unique information of the part to be read is stored in advance, an extraction unit that extracts the unique information of the part from the memory unit, a reading unit that causes a two-dimensional code reading device located at the specific position to read the two-dimensional code of the part when it recognizes the part that has moved to the specific position, a determination unit that determines whether the two-dimensional code was successfully read by the reading unit, and a response unit that, if the determination unit makes a negative determination, moves the drone and causes the drone's two-dimensional code reading device to read the two-dimensional code of the part that could not be successfully read.

[0011] This configuration clarifies that the process of reading the two-dimensional code by the control device is simple.

[0012] In the collation system, the part may be one to which a matching accessory part is to be assembled, or one to which the part is to be assembled to a matching object to which it is to be assembled.

[0013] This configuration is advantageous in that it is possible to assemble a compatible accessory onto a part moving along the production line without making a mistake, and also to assemble a part moving along the production line onto a vehicle that is a compatible target for assembly without making a mistake. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a verification system that increases the probability of successfully reading a two-dimensional code attached to a part even when the code cannot be successfully read at a specific position. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an embodiment of a matching system according to the present invention; [Figure 2] 10 is a flowchart used to explain the operation of the verification system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0017] 1 and 2 show an embodiment of the present invention. The collation system shown in the figures includes a belt conveyor 1, a drone 2, and a control device 3.

[0018] The belt conveyor 1 conveys various parts 4A and 4B related to automobiles, for example, and is configured to convey two types of parts 4A and 4B alternately in a straight line, as shown in FIG.

[0019] A production line in which two types of parts 4A and 4B are transported by the belt conveyor 1 and accessory parts that match the two types of parts 4A and 4B are assembled to the parts 4A and 4B is called a "mixed flow production line."

[0020] The parts 4A and 4B are, for example, engines that are to be installed in various types of vehicles (not shown). Two-dimensional codes 5 are attached to predetermined positions of the parts 4A and 4B.

[0021] This two-dimensional code 5 is, for example, a so-called QR code (registered trademark of Denso Wave Inc.) or a two-dimensional barcode, and includes information (part information or specification information) for identifying the parts 4A and 4B.

[0022] The drone 2 is suspended above a specific position midway along the conveyor belt 1 in the transport direction by a support device 6 or the like, and can be detached from the support device 6 as needed to fly in any direction.

[0023] This drone 2 is configured to fly using a technology called SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping), which is a general term for technologies that simultaneously estimate the self-position of a moving object and create an environmental map.

[0024] The drone 2 is equipped with a two-dimensional code reader 21. The two-dimensional code reader 21 is made up of a camera that photographs the components 4A and 4B, the two-dimensional code 5, etc. Image information photographed by the two-dimensional code reader 21 made up of this camera is transmitted to the control device 3 by known wireless communication technology.

[0025] The control device 3 is composed of an ECU (Electronic Control Unit). Although not shown in detail, the ECU includes a CPU, a ROM (also called non-volatile memory), a RAM (also called memory), a communication I / F, and an input / output I / F, which are communicably connected to each other via a bus.

[0026] The control device 3 at least executes a process to deal with the case where the two-dimensional code reader 21 does not read the two-dimensional code 5 normally.

[0027] The nonvolatile memory stores in advance production information indicating the types of parts 4A and 4B (information indicating the type of the parts and information instructing what types of accessory parts are to be attached to the parts). This nonvolatile memory corresponds to the storage unit described in the claims. Note that the storage unit may be an external memory (not shown) instead of the nonvolatile memory.

[0028] Next, the operation of the control device 3 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

[0029] First, in step S1, the production information is extracted from the non-volatile memory, and in the following step S2, it is determined whether or not it has been recognized that parts 4A and 4B have been moved to a specific position on the belt conveyor 1 (the position where the drone 2 is located).

[0030] If the determination in step S2 is negative, the process returns to step S1, whereas if the determination is positive, the process proceeds to step S3.

[0031] In step S3, based on the production information extracted in step S1, the model information (referred to as part information) of the parts 4A and 4B recognized in step S2 is extracted, and based on this part information, the attachment position of the two-dimensional code 5 attached to the parts 4A and 4B is recognized, and the focus area of ​​the two-dimensional code reading device 21 of the drone 2 positioned at a specific position on the belt conveyor 1 is identified at this recognized position.

[0032] Thereafter, in step S4, it is determined whether the two-dimensional code 5 can be identified by the two-dimensional code reader 21.

[0033] If the judgment in step S4 is positive, that is, if the two-dimensional code 5 can be identified, the two-dimensional code 5 is read by the two-dimensional code reader 21 in step S5, and then it is judged in step S6 whether the two-dimensional code reader 21 was able to read it successfully.

[0034] If the result of step S6 is negative, i.e., if it is determined that the reading was not successful, the drone 2 starts flying in step S9, and then in step S10 the two-dimensional code reader 21 of the drone 2 reads the two-dimensional codes 5 of the parts 4A and 4B that were not read successfully.

[0035] On the other hand, if the determination in step S6 is affirmative, that is, if it is determined that the reading has been successful, the process proceeds to step S11 below.

[0036] If a negative determination is made in step S4, that is, if the two-dimensional code 5 cannot be identified, then in step S7 it is determined whether or not there are traces (dirt, misalignment, etc.) on the two-dimensional code 5 of the parts 4A and 4B or around the two-dimensional code 5. If the two-dimensional code 5 is dirty or misaligned, for example, the two-dimensional code 5 may not be identified.

[0037] If the determination in step S7 is affirmative, that is, if the trace is present, the process proceeds to step S9, whereas if the determination is negative, that is, if the trace is not present, the process proceeds to step S8 below.

[0038] In step S8, a notice is sent to the production manager or the like that there is a high possibility of an incorrect product, and then the flow chart is terminated. Note that the incorrect product is a part that should not be installed in the vehicle.

[0039] Then, in step S11, the part information of parts 4A and 4B to which the two-dimensional code 5 is attached is compared based on the two-dimensional code 5 read in step S5 with the part information extracted in step S3 to determine whether or not there is a match.

[0040] If a negative judgment is made in step S11, that is, if the part information does not match, a notice is sent to the production manager or the like in step S8 that there is a high possibility of an incorrect product, and then this flowchart is terminated.

[0041] On the other hand, if the determination in step S11 is affirmative, that is, if the part information matches, the recorded information of the parts 4A and 4B (for example, the manufacturing date of the parts) is saved in step S12, and then this flowchart ends.

[0042] Thereafter, in step S13, it is determined whether or not the reading in step S10 was performed normally.

[0043] If a negative determination is made in step S13, that is, if the reading was not successful, a notice is sent to the production manager or the like in step S8 that there is a high possibility of an incorrect product, and then this flowchart is terminated.

[0044] On the other hand, if the judgment in step S13 is affirmative, that is, if it is judged that the code has been read successfully, then in step S14, the part information of the parts 4A and 4B to which the two-dimensional code 5 is attached is compared based on the two-dimensional code 5 read in step S10 with the part information extracted in step S3 to determine whether or not there is a match.

[0045] If a negative judgment is made in step S14, that is, if the part information does not match, a notice is sent to the production manager or the like in step S8 that there is a high possibility of an incorrect product, and then this flowchart is terminated.

[0046] On the other hand, if a positive judgment is made in step S14, that is, if the part information matches, the recorded information of parts 4A and 4B (for example, the manufacturing date of the parts) is saved in step S15, and then drone 2 is returned to the flight start position in step S16, after which this flowchart ends.

[0047] Incidentally, step S1 corresponds to the extraction unit described in the claims, steps S2 to S5 correspond to the reading unit described in the claims, step S6 corresponds to the judgment unit described in the claims, and steps S9 to S16 correspond to the response unit described in the claims.

[0048] As described above, according to the embodiment to which the present invention is applied, if the two-dimensional code reader 21 of the drone 2 placed at a specific position on the belt conveyor 1 is unable to properly read the two-dimensional codes 5 of the parts 4A and 4B, the two-dimensional code reader 21 of the drone 2 is caused to read the two-dimensional codes 5 of the parts 4A and 4B that were unable to be properly read while the drone 2 is flying, thereby increasing the probability of properly reading the two-dimensional codes 5 of the parts 4A and 4B. This makes it possible to correctly assemble compatible accessory parts onto the parts 4A and 4B moving on the belt conveyor 1.

[0049] Furthermore, according to the above embodiment, the configuration uses only the two-dimensional code reader 21 of the drone 2, which contributes to reducing the cost of the verification system.

[0050] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but can be modified as appropriate within the scope of the claims and the equivalents thereof.

[0051] (1) In the above embodiment, an example was given in which the two-dimensional code reader 21 was a camera, but the present invention is not limited to this.

[0052] For example, although not shown, the two-dimensional code reader 21 can be an RFID (radio frequency identification) type.

[0053] The RFID is an automatic recognition technology that uses radio waves to read and write ID information without contact, and is a well-known technology that can read multiple IC information from a distance at once and instantly identify an individual. In the case of such an embodiment, the same effects and advantages as those of the above embodiment can be obtained.

[0054] (2) In the above embodiment, the two-dimensional code reading device 21 of the drone 2 is placed at a specific position on the mixed production line, and if the two-dimensional code 5 of the parts 4A and 4B cannot be read properly at that specific position, the drone 2 is flown to read the two-dimensional code 5, but the present invention is not limited to this.

[0055] Although not shown, the present invention can be embodied in an embodiment in which a dedicated two-dimensional code reader is fixedly installed at a specific position on the mixed production line and the drone 2 is placed in a standby position near the two-dimensional code reader. In such an embodiment, the same effects and advantages as those of the above embodiment can be obtained.

[0056] (3) In the above embodiment, an example is given in which the flowchart shown in Figure 2 is executed by a control device 3 separate from the drone 2, but the present invention is not limited to this.

[0057] For example, although not shown, the present invention can be implemented in an embodiment in which a control device for executing the flowchart shown in Figure 2 is mounted on the drone 2.

[0058] (4) In the flowchart shown in Fig. 2, it is possible to eliminate step S7 and proceed to step S8 if a negative determination is made in step S4. In such an embodiment, the same effects and advantages as those of the above embodiment can be obtained.

[0059] (5) In the above embodiment, an example was given in which two types of parts 4A and 4B were alternately moved by the belt conveyor 1, but the present invention is not limited to this.

[0060] For example, although not shown, the present invention can be embodied in an embodiment configured to move many different types of parts one by one to specific positions without using the belt conveyor 1. In such an embodiment, the same actions and effects as those of the above embodiment can be obtained.

[0061] (6) In the above embodiment, an example is given in which the present invention is applied to a mixed production line in which parts 4A and 4B consisting of two types of engines are assembled with corresponding accessory parts (not shown), but the present invention is not limited to this.

[0062] Although not shown, the present invention can be applied to a production line in which various parts (for example, 4A, 4B, etc.) are assembled to the body of a vehicle to which they are fitted.

[0063] (7) Although not shown, the present invention can be applied to an inspection process on a production line, such as checking for defects in the crimped head of a rivet at a specific position.

[0064] In this inspection process, it is conceivable that the crimping head is read in a planar manner by a camera (also called a fixed-point camera) at the specific position, and whether or not a crimping abnormality has occurred is determined based on this read image.

[0065] This determination determines whether the outer diameter of the crimping head is larger or smaller than a reference value, as well as whether cracks have occurred in the crimping head (cracks will distort the outline of the crimping head).

[0066] Here, if it is determined that the fixed camera was unable to read the data correctly, or if it was able to read the data correctly but it was difficult to determine whether there was a crimping abnormality, the drone can be moved and the camera equipped on the drone can be made to read the data from a different position or angle.

[0067] This increases the probability of correctly reading the crimped head, thereby providing the effect of making it possible to easily and accurately determine whether or not there is a crimping abnormality. [Industrial Applicability]

[0068] The present invention can be suitably used in a verification system. [Explanation of symbols]

[0069] 1 conveyor belt 2. Drone 21 Two-dimensional code reader 3. Control device 4A, 4B parts 5. 2D code 6 Support device

Claims

1. a two-dimensional code reader disposed at a specific position on a production line along which components having two-dimensional codes containing unique information attached thereto are sequentially moved; A drone equipped with a two-dimensional code reader, a control device that handles cases where the two-dimensional code of the component cannot be properly read by the two-dimensional code reader located at the specific position; The control device is characterized in that, if the reading is not successful, the control device moves the drone and causes the drone's two-dimensional code reading device to read the two-dimensional code of the part that was not read successfully.

2. 2. The verification system according to claim 1, The drone is placed at the specific location, and the two-dimensional code reader equipped on the drone is configured to also serve as the two-dimensional code reader placed at the specific location.

3. 3. The verification system according to claim 1, The control device includes a storage unit in which unique information of the component to be read is stored in advance; an extraction unit that extracts the component-specific information from the storage unit; a reading unit that reads the two-dimensional code of a part when the part that has moved to the specific position is recognized by the two-dimensional code reading device disposed at the specific position; a determination unit that determines whether the reading unit has successfully read the two-dimensional code; A matching system characterized by including a countermeasure unit that, if the judgment unit makes a negative judgment, moves the drone and causes the drone's two-dimensional code reading device to read the two-dimensional code of the part that could not be read normally.

4. 3. The verification system according to claim 1, A verification system characterized in that the part is intended to be assembled to a matching accessory part or to be assembled to a matching object.

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