Production management system, production management program

Abstract

To prevent an erroneously printed label from being attached and to efficiently ensure the production of an accurate product.SOLUTION: A production control system 1 includes imaging means 202 for capturing an image of an object to be inspected, determination means 23 for determining whether a result of the imaging by the imaging means is good or bad, and prohibition means 24 for prohibiting production processing pertaining to the object to be inspected based on the determination result of the determination means. The production control system may be further provided with display means 201 for displaying a status of the production process. The object to be inspected is a label 110 that is attached to a product. The label is provided with printing means 104a for printing label printing time information indicating a printing time of the label together with product information. The determination means may determine whether the label is good or bad based on the label printing time information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a production management system and a production management program.

Background Art

[0002] In food factories that produce rice balls, sandwiches, box lunches, ready-to-eat side dishes, etc., the finished packages are labeled and shipped. This label contains a lot of information such as the product name, as well as information such as raw materials, allergenic substances, and expiration dates that cannot tolerate misprinting. As a cause of misprinting, events such as dust adhering to the thermal head provided in the printing section or a partial line of the thermal head being cut are conceivable. Also, even if there is no abnormality in the printing section, it is also conceivable that the label set in the label affixing device is incorrect. Therefore, the work of checking the printed label before affixing is essential.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the conventional method, the processes of label printing, inspection, and start of production processing were independent of each other and took time. Also, since the start of each operation was managed manually, inefficient and uncertain production management was carried out.

[0005] Therefore, one of the objects of the present invention is to prevent the affixing of misprinted labels and efficiently ensure the production of reliable products.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To achieve the above object, the production management system according to the present invention includes imaging means for imaging an object to be inspected, determination means for determining whether the imaging result by the imaging means is good or bad, and prohibition means for prohibiting the production process related to the object to be inspected based on the determination result of the determination means. Note that the production management system according to the present invention can also be configured as an invention related to a computer program having a similar configuration. The computer program can be provided by downloading via a network such as the Internet, or can be recorded on various computer-readable recording media such as a CD-ROM and provided.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0007]

Figure 1

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Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0008] Hereinafter, a production management system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. ● Overview of the production management system The production management system is a system that prints labels to be attached to products and starts the label attachment process only when the printing result is appropriate. As shown in FIG. 1, the production management system 1 is configured such that a label attaching device 10a, an inspection device 20, a vendor terminal 30, and a server 40 are connected to each other through a network NW. The network NW may be entirely wirelessly connected, or part or all of it may be wired. Also, each component included in the production management system 1 may be one or a plurality. In the figure, three label attaching devices 10a, 10b, and 10c are shown. The label attaching devices 10a, 10b, and 10c each constitute a part of the production line and are arranged at a workplace where products are actually produced. The label attaching devices 10a, 10b, and 10c may be on the same production line or may be arranged on different production lines respectively.

[0009] The vendor terminal 30 is a terminal that displays the status etc. of each component included in the production management system 1, and is, for example, a personal computer. The vendor terminal 30 is arranged, for example, in a management office different from the workplace and is browsed and operated by the person in charge of the production management system 1.

[0010] The server 40 is a management device of the production management system 1, and includes an arithmetic device such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) for executing information processing, and a storage unit 45 such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) and a ROM (Read Only Memory). The storage unit 45 stores a process management DB 41 and a label information DB 42. The process management DB 41 stores the process management information of the production management system 1. The process management information is, for example, information indicating tasks such as which product is to be produced on which production line, when, and information indicating the current state of each task. Examples of the information stored in the process management DB will be described later. The label information DB42 is information indicating the content of the label to be printed. In the label information DB42, at least the identification information of the product and the printing content of the label to be attached to the product are stored in association with each other. Also, data serving as standards for inspection objects, such as decorations pre-printed on the label paper separately from the printing process, the shape of the label, the attachment position of the label, the content printed on the packaging material, and the presentation state of the product, may be stored in various ways. In addition to the process management DB41 and the label information DB42, the storage unit 45 stores the results of inspections by the inspection device 20. Specifically, the storage unit 45 stores the imaging results of the inspection object and the results of the pass / fail judgment in association with each other. Also, the inspection conditions such as the inspection date and time and information on the production line where the inspection is performed may be stored together. The imaging results are associated with the identification information of the task in the process management information, and the inspection conditions may be callable from the process management DB41. According to this configuration, post-verification at a time point separate from the inspection time can be easily performed. The imaging results and judgment results that can be post-verified can be used, for example, as evidence that there were no problems during production when a product that had no problems at the time of label issuance or production has a soiled label, suspected misrecording, or misprinting during the distribution process such as during delivery, in-store sales, or after customer purchase.

[0011] ● Label affixing device The label affixing device 10a is a device that prints and attaches labels to products. The product is an example of an inspection object. The label affixing device 10a is an example of a processing device that performs production processing of products. In the present embodiment, since the production process of the product progresses by printing and attaching labels, the production processing refers to the printing and attachment of labels. Note that the production processing within the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the printing and attachment of labels, and may refer to some or all of the processes related to the production of products. For example, the production processing may be an operation of housing food in a packaging container or an operation of packaging food.

[0012] As shown in Fig. 2(a), the label affixing device 10a mainly includes a conveyance table 101a, a label roll holding mechanism 102a, a feed unit 103a, a printing unit 104a, an affixing unit 105a, and a display unit 106a.

[0013] The conveyance table 101a is a table equipped with a conveyance mechanism for conveying goods. The label roll holding mechanism 102a, the feed unit 103a, the printing unit 104a, and the affixing unit 105a are housed below the conveyance table 101a, print labels, and affix the printed labels to the bottom surface of the goods on the conveyance table 101a. Above the conveyance table 101a, an upper housing 121a supported by an arm 120a is arranged. Inside the upper housing 121a, a configuration similar to that of the label roll holding mechanism 102a, the feed unit 103a, the printing unit 104a, and the affixing unit 105a is housed, which prints labels and affixes the printed labels to the upper surface of the goods on the conveyance table 101a.

[0014] The label roll holding mechanism 102a has a function of holding the label roll 100 so that it can be sent out to the printing unit 104a. The label roll 100 is formed by winding a label paper in which labels 110 (see Fig. 3) are temporarily attached at regular intervals on a long strip-shaped backing paper in a roll shape. One side of the label 110 constitutes an adhesive surface with an adhesive attached, and the other side constitutes a printing surface to be printed, and the adhesive surface is adhesively attached to the backing paper so as to be peelable.

[0015] The feed unit 103a is a roller driven to rotate by a motor, which pulls out the label paper from the label roll 100 and sends out the pulled-out label paper to the printing unit 104a through a predetermined conveyance path.

[0016] The printing unit 104a is composed of a thermal head and a pressing roller arranged at a position facing the thermal head. The thermal head prints on the label 110 on the label paper sent out by the feed unit 103a.

[0017] Fig. 3 shows a state where a label 110 is attached to an onigiri as an example of a product. The printed content of the label 110 printed by the printing unit 104a is not particularly limited. However, for a product label for a convenience store, product data such as the product name, price, expiration date, ingredients, and barcode are printed. In addition, on the label 110, together with the product information, label printing time information indicating the printing time of the label is printed. Furthermore, on the label 110, information indicating the label printing position where the label 110 is printed is printed. The information indicating the label printing position is, for example, identification information for specifying a production line in the factory. In the present embodiment, on the label 110, inspection suitability information 111 including the label printing time information and the information indicating the label printing position is printed. In the present embodiment, "1111-1" is printed as the inspection suitability information 111. This indicates that it is a "label issued on the first line at 11:11".

[0018] As shown in Fig. 2(a), the sticking portion 105a sucks on the printed surface of the label 100a peeled from the backing paper to hold the label 100a, and presses the held label 100a against an object to be stuck such as a product from the adhesive surface, thereby sticking the label 100a to the object to be stuck.

[0019] The display unit 106a is a device for an operator to input and output information to and from the label sticking device 10a. The display unit 106a is supported by an arm 120a extending from the end of the transport table 101a. The display unit 106a is, for example, a touch panel display. The display unit 106a can input the printed content on the label, the sticking position of the label, etc. In addition, the display unit 106a displays the input content and the working status.

[0020] Note that the label sticking device included in the production management system according to the present invention is not limited to the above-described form, and any device that sticks a label to a product may be used.

[0021] Also, as shown in FIG. 1, the label affixing device 10a includes an arithmetic unit such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a computer program executed by the CPU, internal memories such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) and a ROM (Read Only Memory), etc., and constitutes each functional block including an input / output unit 11a, a printing control unit 12a, an affixing control unit 13a, and a communication processing unit 14a.

[0022] The input / output unit 11a is a functional unit that causes the display unit 106a to display information and acquires the information input to the display unit 106a. The printing control unit 12a is a functional unit that controls the printing unit 104a to perform printing on the label. The affixing control unit 13a is a functional unit that controls the affixing unit 105a to affix the label to the product. The printing control unit 12a and the affixing control unit 13a start printing and affixing based on the operation permission command received by the communication processing unit 14a.

[0023] The communication processing unit 14a is a functional unit that communicates with each component included in the production management system 1 through the network NW, and receives a signal regarding the operability of the printing control unit 12a or the affixing control unit 13a. In this embodiment, the signal regarding the operability is assumed to be transmitted from the inspection device 20, but it may be a configuration that is transmitted from the vendor terminal 30 or the server 40 and received by the communication processing unit 14a.

[0024] ● Inspection device The inspection device 20 is a device that images an object to be inspected, determines whether the imaging result is good or bad, and prohibits the production processes by the label applicators 10a, 10b, and 10c based on the determination result. The object to be inspected may be a label attached to a product, or the label itself, or the product itself. The label is inspected, for example, regarding the appearance of the printing on the label, including misprints in the content itself and the possibility of blurring or misreading of the printing. Further, as an inspection of the label itself, instead of the appearance of the printing, the decoration previously applied to the label paper may be inspected. On the label, a logo mark or illustration of a company that manufactures or sells the product is printed in advance separately from the printing process. In addition, grid lines, background colors, etc. are applied to the label, which may vary for each product. In the inspection device 20, by previously storing these logos, grid lines, background colors, etc., a determination of pass or fail can be made. Furthermore, when the shape of the label is a square, rectangle, ellipse, or other characteristic shape, the shape of the label can be stored and inspected. Also, the inspection device 20 may inspect the attachment position of the label. Furthermore, the inspection device 20 may use the state of the packaging material for packaging the product as the inspection object. Each product has characteristics regarding the packaging material. For example, in the case of an onigiri, a promotional text such as "using nori from 〇〇" is printed on the packaging material itself. Also, for products such as sandwiches, the product name is printed on the packaging material itself. Therefore, the inspection device 20 may inspect the printed content on these packaging materials themselves. Furthermore, as an inspection of the product, for example, the packaging state of the product may be inspected. As shown in Fig. 2(b), the inspection device 20 mainly includes a display unit 201 and an imaging unit 202.

[0025] The display unit 201 is a device that displays information related to the inspection, and is, for example, a touch panel display. The display unit 201 displays the imaging result of the product. Also, the display unit 201 displays the process management information received from the server 40 via the communication processing unit 25 (see Fig. 1). The specific content displayed on the display unit 201 will be described later.

[0026] The imaging unit 202 is a device that images the inspection object, for example, a camera. In the present embodiment, the light receiving unit faces downward.

[0027] Note that the inspection device included in the production management system according to the present invention is not limited to the above-described form, and any device that inspects the inspection object may be used.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 1, the inspection device 20 includes an arithmetic device such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a computer program executed by the CPU, and internal memories such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) and a ROM (Read Only Memory), and constitutes each functional block including an input / output unit 21, an imaging control unit 22, a determination unit 23, a prohibition unit 24, and a communication processing unit 25.

[0029] The input / output unit 21 is a functional unit that causes the display unit 201 to display information and acquires information input to the display unit 201. The input / output unit 21 acquires information stored in the process management DB from the server 40 via the network NW and causes the display unit 201 to display part or all of the information.

[0030] FIG. 4 shows an example of a worksheet screen displayed on the display unit 201. As shown in the figure, on the display unit 201, a process management table 202a and operation buttons 202b such as "barcode", "update", and "close" are displayed. The process management table 202a displays the production line of each task performed on the production line, the delivery flight of the product to be produced, the product number, product name, and the state of the production process in each task. The information on the production line corresponds to information on the position where the product is produced, and the information on the delivery flight corresponds to information on the time when the product is produced.

[0031] The status of each task includes information that can determine whether the operation by the operator is necessary. In the process management table 202a, the tasks that require operations are shaded and shown. In the present embodiment, the tasks that require operations are "printing standby", "replacement standby", and "completed". "Printing standby" is a state of waiting for the inspection of the label at the start of printing. "Replacement standby" is a state of waiting for the inspection of the label after the replacement of the label roll. "Completed" is a state of waiting for the inspection at the end of printing. The tasks that do not require operations are "printing" and "completed". "Printing" is during the label printing operation. "Completed" is a state where the inspection at the end of printing is completed and all processes of the task are completed.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 1, the imaging control unit 22 is a functional unit that controls the imaging unit 202 to image the inspection object.

[0033] The determination unit 23 is a functional unit that inspects the inspection object based on the data acquired by the imaging unit 202 and determines whether the imaging result is good or bad. The determination unit 23 determines whether there is a possibility of misdescription of the content of the label 110 (see FIG. 3), blurring of printing, and misreading.

[0034] Further, the determination unit 23 reads the inspection suitability information 111, obtains information on when and where the label 110 was printed, and determines whether the label 110 is suitable for inspection. Specifically, the determination unit 23 determines the pass / fail based on the label printing time information. For example, the determination unit 23 obtains the inspection request time from the process management DB that the server 40 has. For example, when the printing time included in the label printing time information is before the inspection request time, the label was not printed based on the inspection request. In such a case, the determination unit 23 determines that the label 110 is an inappropriate label for inspection and that there is a problem with the inspection result. Also, for example, in the case where the inspection of the label is performed at the end of the production process on the production line, and the printing time included in the label printing time information is before the printing time of the label related to the first inspection performed in the production on the production line, the label was not printed at the end of the production process. Even in such a case, the determination unit 23 determines that the label 110 is an inappropriate label for inspection and that there is a problem with the inspection result.

[0035] Furthermore, the determination unit 23 determines the pass / fail based on the information indicating the label printing position. The determination unit 23 obtains the production line to be inspected from the process management DB. When the production line to be inspected does not match the production line included in the information indicating the label printing position, the determination unit 23 determines that the label is an inappropriate label for inspection and that there is a problem with the inspection result.

[0036] Label inspection is usually performed at the start of printing, at the end of printing, and at the first printing after the label roll is replaced during printing. Assuming there is no label printing time information on the label itself, if multiple labels are printed at the start of printing and these labels are diverted at the end of printing or at the first printing after replacement, workers can skip the printing for inspection. Also, although label inspection is performed for each production line, if the same product is being produced on different production lines, by diverting labels printed on other production lines, it is possible to skip the inspection printing for that production line. According to the configuration where the determination unit 23 determines the pass / fail of the inspection result based on the label printing time information printed on the label, it is possible to detect attempts to use labels printed at different times for inspection, thereby improving the accuracy of the inspection. Also, according to the configuration where the determination unit 23 determines the pass / fail of the inspection result based on the information indicating the label printing position printed on the label, it is possible to detect attempts to use labels printed on different production lines for inspection, thereby improving the accuracy of the inspection.

[0037] When it is determined that there is a problem with the inspection result of the determination unit 23, the prohibition unit 24 is a functional unit that prohibits the production processes by the label applicators 10a, 10b, and 10c included in the production line of the inspection target. The prohibition unit 24 transmits a command to prohibit the production process to the label applicators 10a, 10b, and 10c via the network NW. Also, the prohibition unit 24 may transmit the fact that the production process is prohibited and the reason therefor to the label applicators 10a, 10b, and 10c, the inspection device 20, and the vendor terminal 30, and display it on each input / output unit or display unit. When it is determined that there is no problem with the inspection result of the determination unit 23, the prohibition unit 24 transmits a command to permit the production process to the label applicators 10a, 10b, and 10c via the network NW.

[0038] Note that the determination unit 23 and the prohibition unit 24 are provided in the inspection device 20 in the present embodiment, but the label attaching devices 10a, 10b, 10c, the vendor terminal 30, or the server 40 may have such functions. Further, the storage unit 45 is provided in the server 40 in the present embodiment, but the label attaching devices 10a, 10b, 10c, the inspection device 20, or the vendor terminal 30 may have such functions.

[0039] ●Flow of starting production processing Using FIG. 5, the flow in which the production management system 1 starts production processing will be described. In the figure, the solid arrows indicate the flow of information within the system, and the dashed arrows indicate the flow of operations by the operator. As shown in the figure, first, the inspection device 20 requests process management information from the server 40 (step S1). The server 40 transmits the process management information stored in the process management DB to the inspection device 20 (step S2). Based on the process management information, the inspection device 20 displays a request for label inspection together with information on the production line that requires inspection (step S3). The operator operates the label attaching device 10a based on the request and prints a label for inspection (step S4).

[0040] The operator places the label below the imaging unit 202 of the inspection device 20 and instructs the inspection device 20 to start the inspection. The inspection device 20 images the label with the imaging unit 202 (step S5). The inspection device 20 requests information from the label information DB from the server 40 together with information on the production line to be inspected (step S6), and the server 40 transmits label information based on the information on the production line to be inspected (step S7). Next, the determination unit 23 determines whether the imaging result is good or bad based on the imaging result and the label information (step S8). When there is no problem with the imaging result, a command permitting production processing is transmitted to the label attaching device 10a (step S9). The label attaching device 10a that has received the production processing permission command starts production processing (step S10).

[0041] Based on the inspection results, the inspection device 20 transmits the change information of the process management information and the editing request of the process management DB to the server 40 (step S11). The change information of the process management information is, for example, information regarding the "status" of a task. If there is no problem with the inspection results, the status of the task is changed to proceed to the next status. The server 40 updates the process management DB based on the said change information (step S12).

[0042] ●Flow for determining whether production processing can start Using FIG. 6, the flow for the production management system 1 to determine whether production processing can start will be described. First, the inspection device 20 captures an image of the inspection object (step S101). Next, the determination unit 23 determines whether the imaging result is appropriate (step S102). When the imaging result is appropriate, the inspection device 20 transmits a production permission command to the label affixing device 10a (step S103). Next, the label affixing device 10a starts the production processing (step S104).

[0043] In step S102, when it is determined that the imaging result is not appropriate, the determination unit 23 transmits a production prohibition command to the label affixing device 10a (step S105). Also, it notifies to that effect through the display unit 106a, the display unit 201, the vendor terminal 30, etc. (step S106).

[0044] The display unit 106a or the display unit 201 displays the imaging result and whether the determination result is OK or NG. Furthermore, the display unit 106a or the display unit 201 may also display that it is necessary to replace the label roll, etc. Therefore, since each of the display units 106a, 201 can output the situation of the production line, the operator can easily grasp the situation anywhere and can take appropriate measures.

[0045] Conventionally, while the label printing and affixing device has been placed at the workplace on the production line, the label inspection device for performing label checks has been placed in the administrative office. Workers transported the labels printed at the workplace to the administrative office for inspection, received instructions to start work, and then returned to the workplace to instruct the label affixing device to start production processing. On the other hand, according to the production management system 1 according to the present invention, the inspection device 20 can be installed on the workplace side, and since it transmits the approval of production processing to the label affixing devices 10a, 10b, and 10c connected by the network NW, there is no need for an operator to give an instruction to start production processing, and labor saving and reduction of human errors are possible. Also, on the administrative office side, the status of the inspection can be grasped by the vendor terminal 30.

[0046] According to the production management system 1 according to the above-described embodiment, it is possible to prevent the affixing of misprinted labels and efficiently ensure the accurate production of products.

[0047] ● Summary of the Embodiment The present invention relates to a production management system.

[0048] In food factories that produce items such as rice balls, sandwiches, box lunches, and prepared dishes, labels are affixed to the finished packaging and shipped. These labels contain a lot of information, including the product name, as well as information such as raw materials, allergenic substances, and expiration dates for which misprinting is not allowed. As causes of misprinting, events such as dirt adhering to the thermal head provided in the printing section or a partial line of the thermal head being cut are conceivable. Also, even if there is no abnormality in the printing section, there is a possibility that the label set in the label affixing device is incorrect. Therefore, the operation of checking the printed label before affixing is essential.

[0049] In the conventional method, the processes of label printing, inspection, and start of production processing were independent of each other and took time. Also, since the start of each operation was managed manually by humans, the production management was inefficient and uncertain.

[0050] For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-180653 is a prior art document.

[0051] Therefore, one of the objects of the present invention is to prevent the attachment of misprinted labels and efficiently ensure the production of accurate products.

[0052] To achieve the above object, a production management system according to the present invention includes imaging means for imaging an object to be inspected, determination means for determining whether the imaging result by the imaging means is good or bad, and prohibition means for prohibiting the production process related to the object to be inspected based on the determination result of the determination means.

[0053] It may further include display means for displaying the state of the production process.

[0054] The object to be inspected is a label attached to a product, and the label is provided with printing means for printing label printing time information indicating the printing time of the label together with product information. The determination means may determine whether the imaging result is good or bad based on the label printing time information.

[0055] The printing means may print information indicating the label printing position where the label is printed on the label, and the determination means may determine whether the information indicating the label printing position is printed on the label.

[0056] To achieve the above object, a production management system according to another aspect of the present invention causes a computer to execute an imaging command for imaging an object to be inspected, a determination command for determining whether the imaging result by the imaging command is good or bad, and a prohibition command for prohibiting the production process related to the object to be inspected based on the determination result of the determination command.

[0057] According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the attachment of misprinted labels and efficiently ensure the production of accurate products.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0058] 1 Production management system 10a Label Affixing Device 104a Printing Unit 12a Printing Control Unit 13a Affixing Control Unit 20 Inspection Device 201 Display Unit 202 Imaging Unit 23 Judgment Unit 24 Prohibition Unit

Claims

1. A production management system including a label attachment device that attaches a label to a product and an imaging device that captures an image of the label, a printing means for printing label printing time information indicating a printing time on the label; An acquisition means for acquiring an inspection request for an inspection, The imaging device includes: an imaging means for imaging the label printing time information; a requesting means for requesting the inspection of the application device, a determination means for determining that the label was not printed based on an inspection request if the label printing time information captured by the imaging means is earlier than the time of the inspection request; a prohibition means for prohibiting production processing relating to the label based on a result of the judgment by the judgment means; A production management system comprising:

2. Further comprising a display means for displaying the status of the production process. The production management system according to claim 1.

3. The production management system includes a plurality of the printing means, The printing means prints information indicating a printing position of a label to be attached to the product, the determining means determines whether the imaging result is good or bad based on information indicating the printing position of the label. The production management system according to claim 1 or 2.

4. A print command for printing label printing time information indicating a printing time on a label to be affixed to a product by an affixing device; An order to obtain an inspection request to conduct an inspection; an imaging command for an imaging device that images the label to capture the label printing time information; a request command from the imaging device to the attachment device to request the inspection; a judgment command for judging that the label was not printed based on the inspection request if the label printing time information captured by the imaging means is earlier than the time of the inspection request; a prohibition means for prohibiting production processing related to the label based on a result of the judgment made by the judgment command; A production management program executed by a computer.

Images