Conveyance device operation confirmation device and computer program

Abstract

Provided is an apparatus for checking the operation of a conveyor device, with which it is possible to replicate and check the operation of a conveyor device.　The present invention comprises a display device 53, a log data creation means 51, and an operation replication means 71. The log data creation means 51 creates log data obtained by recording individual operating conditions of a load sensor S and driving motors of respective conveyor units 2 of a conveyor device 1. The operation replication means 71, on the basis of the log data, creates moving picture data that schematically replicates the operation of the conveyor device 1, moment-by-moment operating condition data of the driving motors, and operating condition data of the load sensor. Both a moving picture based on the moving picture data replicated by the operation replication means 71 and display based on the respective operating condition data are displayed on the display device 53.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an operation checking device for a transport device that reproduces and checks the operation of the transport device. The present invention also relates to a computer program for controlling an operation checking device for a transport device. [Background technology]

[0002] Conveying devices are often installed in delivery points, collection points, warehouses, and the like. A distributed control type conveying device is known as one type of conveying device (Patent Document 1). Distributed control involves arranging multiple conveyor units called zone conveyors in a linear or branched configuration to form a continuous conveying path, with each conveyor unit having its own independent drive motor (drive device). Each conveyor unit is also equipped with a load sensor. The load sensor is a sensor that detects whether or not an article is present on the conveyor unit. In a distributed control type transport device, each conveyor unit forms one zone, and the zones are connected to one another. When certain conditions are met, for example, an item is present in the own zone (transport unit) and no item (transported object) is present in the downstream zone, the drive motor of the own zone (transport unit) is started and the item is sent to the downstream zone. A conveying device including a zone with a branching function is also known (Patent Document 2). The zone with a branching function is composed of a conveyor unit that has the function of, for example, moving an article in a straight line or discharging an article laterally. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-231745 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-230914 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Conveying devices can sometimes experience problems during operation. For example, an item being conveyed may jam or overrun a position where it should stop. When a malfunction occurs, the cause is immediately investigated and corrected. However, there are cases where the frequency of the malfunction is low. In other words, the malfunction does not always occur when an item reaches the zone, but rather, the malfunction may occur due to a combination of factors. In such cases, it is difficult to determine the cause, and the maintenance engineer must wait near the transport device and wait for the malfunction to recur, wasting time. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention focuses on the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and has as its object to provide an operation checking device for a transport device that can reproduce and check the operation of the transport device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] An aspect for solving the above-mentioned problems is an operation confirmation device for confirming the operation of a conveying device, wherein the conveying device has a portion configured by connecting a plurality of conveying units, and has an individual control device having a control circuit that controls each conveying unit individually, and the control circuit includes a sequence circuit, the operation confirmation device for a conveying device having a log data creation means and an operation reproduction means, wherein the log data creation means acquires information regarding the simultaneous on / off status of switches that constitute the sequence circuit of each individual control device and creates log data for each control device, and the operation reproduction means reproduces the operation of the sequence circuit of each control device based on the log data.

[0006] The transport device targeted by the operation checking device of this aspect has an individual control device having a control circuit for individually controlling each transport unit, and the individual control device includes a sequence circuit. The log data creation means employed in the operation confirmation device of this aspect acquires information regarding the simultaneous on / off states of the switches that make up the sequence circuit of each individual control device, and creates log data for each control device. Therefore, the current flow state of the sequence circuit can be reproduced, making it easy to investigate the cause of the malfunction.

[0007] In the above-described aspect, it is desirable to be able to perform individual reproduction, which reproduces the operation of the sequence circuit of the control circuit that specifies a transport unit and controls the transport unit, and multiple reproduction, which simultaneously reproduces the operation of the sequence circuit of the control circuit that specifies multiple transport units and controls the transport units.

[0008] In each of the above-mentioned aspects, the transport unit includes a drive device for driving the transport unit and a load sensor for detecting whether or not there is an article on the transport unit, and the log data created by the log data creation means includes the Drive unit It is desirable that the log data includes data that individually records the operating status of the inventory sensor, and that the operation reproduction means is capable of creating video data that schematically reproduces the operation of the conveying device based on the log data.

[0009] In each of the above aspects, it is desirable that a display device is provided, that a moving image is displayed on the display device based on the log data, and that the moving image can be paused, stepped forward, and fast forwarded.

[0010] Another aspect for solving a similar problem is an operation confirmation device for confirming the operation of a conveying device, wherein the conveying device has a plurality of conveying units, each of which has a drive device for driving the conveying unit and a load sensor for detecting whether or not there is an item on the conveying unit, the operation confirmation device having a display device, a log data creation means, and an operation reproduction means, wherein the log data creation means creates log data that individually records the operating status of the drive device and load sensor of each conveying unit of the conveying device, and the operation reproduction means creates video data that schematically reproduces the operation of the conveying device, moment-by-moment operating status data of the drive device and moment-by-moment operating status data of the load sensor based on the log data, and a video based on the video data created by the operation reproduction means and a display based on the operating status data are displayed on the display device.

[0011] The transport device may be, for example, a conveyor device. The transport device may include, for example, conveyors installed in multiple levels, one above the other, and an elevator device for transferring articles between the conveyors. Furthermore, devices that transport articles in the vertical direction, such as elevators, are also included in the transport device.

[0012] Another aspect for solving the above-mentioned problem is an operation confirmation device that confirms the operation of a conveying device, wherein the conveying device has a portion made up of a plurality of conveying units connected together, and the conveying units include a drive device that drives the conveying unit and a load sensor that detects whether or not there is an item on the conveying unit, and the operation confirmation device has a display device, a log data creation means, and an operation reproduction means, and the log data creation means creates log data that individually records the operating status of the drive device and load sensor of each conveying unit of the conveying device, and the operation reproduction means creates video data that schematically reproduces the operation of the conveying device, moment-by-moment operating status data of the drive device and moment-by-moment operating status data of the load sensor based on the log data, and the operation confirmation device for a conveying device is characterized in that a video based on the video data created by the operation reproduction means and a display based on the operating status data are displayed on the display device.

[0013] The operation confirmation device for a conveying device of this embodiment (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as the operation confirmation device) has a log data creation means, and the operating status of the drive device and the inventory sensor of each conveying unit of the target conveying device are individually recorded to create log data. For example, if a malfunction occurs during the operation of the conveying device, the operating status of the drive device of each conveying unit and the inventory sensor at that time is also recorded. The transport device operation checking device of this aspect also has an operation reproduction means, which generates video data that schematically reproduces the operation of the transport device based on the log data, and displays the video on the display device, thereby reproducing the situation in which the malfunction occurred on the display device. Furthermore, since the display device displays a display based on the operating status data, information for investigating the cause of the malfunction is provided, which helps in investigating the cause.

[0014] In the above-mentioned aspect, it is desirable that the drive device is a motor, and that the log data creation means acquires information regarding the on / off status of the inventory sensor, the on / off status of the drive device, and the rotation of the drive device when it is operating, and creates the log data.

[0015] The information about the rotation is, for example, the number of rotations per one time and the rotation speed. The operation checking device of this aspect has high accuracy in reproducing operations.

[0016] In each of the above aspects, it is desirable that the transport unit has a control circuit that controls the transport unit, the control circuit includes a sequence circuit, and the log data creation means acquires information regarding the on / off status of switches that constitute the sequence circuit and creates the log data.

[0017] According to the operation checking device of this aspect, it is easy to investigate the cause of the malfunction.

[0018] In each of the above aspects, the display displayed on the display device based on the video data includes an overview graphic that resembles the conveying device, and the overview graphic is a series of connected graphics that resemble the conveying units, and it is desirable that a graphic that resembles an item be displayed on the graphic of the conveying unit when the inventory sensor detects an item.

[0019] The operation checking device of this aspect has high accuracy in reproducing operations.

[0020] In the above-described aspect, when the inventory sensor detects an item and the drive unit is energized, it is desirable that a figure resembling the item moves toward an adjacent transport unit.

[0021] The operation checking device of this aspect has high accuracy in reproducing operations.

[0022] In the above aspect, it is desirable that the transport unit has a control circuit for controlling the transport unit, and that the display device can display the moment-to-moment operating status of the control circuit of a specific transport unit.

[0023] According to the operation checking device of this aspect, it is easy to investigate the cause of the malfunction.

[0024] In each of the above-mentioned aspects, it is desirable that the operation reproduction means has a configuration memory means and a circuit memory means, the configuration memory means stores the configuration of the transport units that make up the transport device and the connections between each transport unit, and the circuit memory means stores the control circuit of each transport unit.

[0025] The operation checking device of this aspect has high accuracy in reproducing operations, and also makes it easy to track down the cause of a malfunction.

[0026] Another aspect for solving a similar problem is a computer program for operating an operation confirmation device that confirms the operation of a conveying device, wherein the conveying device is composed of a plurality of conveying units connected together, and the conveying units include a drive device that drives the conveying unit and a load sensor that detects whether or not there is an item on the conveying unit, and the computer program is characterized in that log data that individually records the operating status of the drive device and the load sensor of each conveying unit of the conveying device is input, and based on the log data, video data that schematically reproduces the operation of the conveying device and moment-by-moment operating status data of the drive device and the load sensor are created.

[0027] The computer program of this aspect creates video data that schematically reproduces the operation of the transport device and operation status data based on the log data, making it possible to reproduce the situation when a malfunction occurs. [Effects of the Invention]

[0028] According to the transport device operation checking device and computer program of the present invention, the operation of the transport device can be reproduced and checked. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0029] [Figure 1] 1 is a conceptual diagram of a conveyor system including an operation confirmation device for a conveying device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 shows the layout of a transport device to be checked for operation and a display screen of a display device. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a conveyor unit that constitutes a linear transport zone. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the vicinity of a conveying direction changing zone formed by a conveying direction changing device. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a zone controller and a circuit diagram showing the relationship between each zone controller and a log data creation means. [Figure 6] 10A, 10B, and 10C are explanatory diagrams showing moving images displayed on a display screen, in which (a), (b), and (c) show how the state changes over time. [Figure 7] The sequence circuit of zone 12 displayed on the display screen, (a), (b), and (c) respectively show the energized state at the same time as (a), (b), and (c) in FIG. 6. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0030] Further embodiments of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a conveyor system 100 that is configured by a conveyor operation checking device 50 and a conveyor device 1 to be checked. 1, the operation checking device 50 of this embodiment is configured by a log data creation means 51 and an external device 48. In this embodiment, the log data creation means 51 is built into the upper control device 46 of the conveyor device 1. The external device 48 is a known personal computer, a mobile terminal, or the like, and has a control device 52 and a display device 53 . The control device 52 also includes a storage means 70, a communication means 72, and an operation reproduction means 71. The operation confirmation device 50 of this embodiment creates log data that individually records the operating status of each conveyor unit 2, 20 in the actual conveyor device 1, and can display on the display device 53 the operation of items when each conveyor unit is operated in accordance with the log data, as well as the state of the electrical circuit at that time, for confirmation.

[0031] Any conveyor device 1 may be used, but an example is shown in FIG. The conveyor device 1 is a conveyor having a layout such as that shown in FIG. 2, in which the conveying path branches into multiple paths and there are multiple destinations to which articles are conveyed. The conveyor system 1 is a distributed control system in which the straight portion of the conveying path is divided into multiple short zones. That is, in the conveyor system 1, multiple straight conveying zones are connected in series to form the straight portion of the conveying path. The conveyor system 1 also includes multiple conveying direction change zones, forming a branched conveying path.

[0032] Each zone is equipped with one conveyor unit (transport unit) 2, 20. The conveyor units 2, 20 are integrated with a mechanical structure and a zone controller 10. The zone controller 10 is an individual control device that has a control circuit for individually controlling the transport units. The conveyor unit 2 installed in the linear conveying zone is a typical conveying unit, and is a zone conveyor as shown in Figure 3. The conveyor unit 20 installed in the conveying direction changing zone is a transfer device as shown in Figure 4. The conveyor unit 20 is also a type of conveying unit.

[0033] The conveyor unit 2 is a short roller conveyor, with multiple conveying rollers 5 axially supported at a predetermined interval between a pair of parallel-arranged left and right side frames 3, 3. The conveying rollers 5 consist of a freely rotating driven roller 5b and a motorized roller 5a. In this embodiment, there is only one motorized roller 5a, and all the others are driven rollers 5b. A drive motor (not shown) is built into the motorized roller 5a as a drive device. The built-in drive motor has the function of outputting a pulse signal in response to rotation. The same applies to the drive motors of the other motorized rollers. The pulse signal is an example of "information regarding rotation when the drive motor is driven."

[0034] Adjacent transport rollers 5 in the conveyor unit 2 are wound around each other by a transmission belt 6. Therefore, the rotational driving force of the motor-incorporating roller 5a can be transmitted to all of the driven rollers 5b.

[0035] As shown in Figure 3, the conveyor unit 2 is provided with a load sensor S. The load sensor S is provided on the side frame 3. The load sensor S is located near the downstream end.

[0036] The presence sensor S detects whether or not an article is present on the conveyor unit 2.

[0037] Next, the conveying direction changing zone will be explained. The conveyor unit (conveying unit) 20 installed in the conveying direction changing zone is a transfer device as shown in Figure 4. The conveyor unit 20 has a direction changing mechanism that switches the conveying direction or the loading direction. As shown in FIG. 4, the conveyor unit 20 is made up of a main conveyor 21, a sub-conveyor 22, and an elevator (not shown). The main transport conveyor 21 of the conveyor unit 20 is a belt conveyor in which multiple thin belts 25 are arranged at regular intervals. The main transport conveyor 21 is driven by a motorized roller 28 provided at the end.

[0038] The auxiliary conveyor 22 of the conveyor unit 20 is a roller conveyor. The auxiliary conveyor 22 has multiple rollers 26 arranged in parallel, which are linked by a belt 27. One of the multiple rollers 26 that make up the auxiliary conveyor 22 is a motorized roller, and all of the rollers 26 rotate when the motorized roller is driven. The secondary conveyor 22 is arranged so that rollers 26 are present between the belts 25 of the main conveyor 21 as shown in FIG.

[0039] When an item W placed on the conveyor unit 20 is to be moved in a straight line, the main conveyor 21 is extended above the secondary conveyor 22 by a lifting device (not shown), and the motor-integrated roller 28 of the main conveyor 21 is driven to run the belt 25. When an item W placed on the conveyor unit 20 is to be discharged horizontally, the item is pulled into the main conveyor 21, and then the sub-conveyor 22 is raised and the main conveyor 21 is lowered by a lifting device (not shown), causing the sub-conveyor 22 to protrude above the main conveyor 21, and the motor-equipped rollers of the sub-conveyor 22 are driven to rotate each roller 26. The conveyor unit 20 is also provided with a load sensor (not shown). The conveyor unit 20 is also equipped with a zone controller (not shown).

[0040] Each zone is assigned a unique address. For convenience, addresses are assigned from 1 to 88 as shown in FIG. 2. In this embodiment, the address of the first zone is 1, the address of the second zone is 2, and so on. Addresses are assigned sequentially thereafter. The address of each zone is stored in the zone controller (individual control device) 10 of each zone.

[0041] As mentioned above, each zone has a zone controller 10 and a presence sensor S. The zone controller 10 supplies power to the drive motors of the conveyor units 2 and 20 in each zone and starts and stops the drive motors of the conveyor units in each zone. That is, the zone controller 10 has a control circuit 40 that controls the drive motor 15 as shown in Figure 5, and the control circuit 40 includes a drive circuit 42. Part or all of the control circuit 40 is a sequence circuit. The zone controller 10 also includes a transmitter / receiver 41 built in.

[0042] The zone controller 10 is an individual control device that controls each transport unit individually. A zone controller 10 is provided in every zone, and adjacent zone controllers 10 are connected to each other by signal lines 43. In addition, each zone controller 10 receives a signal from the inventory sensor S of the respective zone. The conveyor device 1 has a host control device 46, which is also connected to the zone controller 10 via a signal line.

[0043] In this embodiment, each zone controller 10 communicates with the upper control device 46 via a communication means. Information from the load sensor S and information about the driving status of the zone are input from each zone controller 10 to the upper control device 46 via the communication means. Specifically, the on / off status of the drive motors of each conveyor unit 2, 20, the rotation speed of the drive motors, the power supply status of the control circuit 40, etc. are input to the host controller 46. In this embodiment, the zone controller 10 has a sequence circuit, so the on / off status and power supply status of switches, timers, and other devices within the circuit are all input to the host controller 46. In addition, pulse signals generated in response to the rotation of the drive motors are also all input to the host controller 46.

[0044] The host controller 40 inputs information regarding the on / off status of the drive motors of the conveyor units 2 and 20, the rotation speed of the drive motors, the power supply status of the control circuit 40, and the on / off status of the switches that make up the sequence circuit, at the same time, to the host controller 46. That is, information for the same time in each zone is all input to the host controller 46.

[0045] Next, the conveyor operation checking device 50 will be described. The operation checking device 50 of this embodiment is composed of a log data creating means 51 built into the upper control device 46 and an external device 48 installed in another location.

[0046] The log data creating means 51 includes an information acquiring means 60 , a time determining means 61 , a storage means 62 and a communication means 63 . The time determining means 61 is a clock. The information acquisition means 60 is realized by a computer program and acquires all information from the inventory sensors S sent from the zone controllers 10 of each conveyor unit 2, 20 to the upper control device 46, as well as the operating status of each zone.

[0047] The information acquisition means 60 acquires information regarding the on / off status of the drive motors of the conveyor units 2, 20, the rotation speed of the drive motors, the power supply status of the control circuit 40, and the on / off status of the switches that make up the sequence circuit.

[0048] The information acquired by the information acquisition means 60 is stored in the storage means 62 as log data together with the time of acquisition of the information. The information in the storage means 62 is continuously accumulated. The information is also organized and saved according to the operation period of the conveyor device 1. For example, the information is saved in separate files such as "Information on the conveyor device 1 on May 20, 2020" and "Information on the conveyor device 1 on May 21, 2020." When memory capacity is low, past information is automatically erased. The information stored in the storage means 62 is transmitted to the external device 48 via the communication means 63. The communication means 63 may be one that uses, for example, an internet line.

[0049] Next, a description will be given of the external device 48. The external device 48 has a control device 52 and a display device 53 built therein. The control device 52 includes a storage means 70 , an operation reproduction means 71 , and a communication means 72 . The communication means 72 communicates with the communication means 63 of the log data creation means 51, and the log data stored in the storage means 62 of the log data creation means 51 is acquired by the external device 48. The log data acquired by the communication means 72 is stored in the storage means 70.

[0050] The operation reproduction means 71 is realized by a computer program, and creates operation reproduction video data that schematically reproduces the operation of the conveyor device 1 based on the log data, and power supply status reproduction video data that displays the operating status of each drive motor and the operating status of the inventory sensor S in video format. That is, the operation reproducing means 71 includes a computer program serving as operation animation creating means 80 for creating operation reproduction animation data, and a computer program serving as circuit animation creating means 81 for creating current flow state reproduction animation data.

[0051] In addition, the operation reproducing means 71 has a configuration storing means 73 and a circuit storing means 75 . The configuration storage means 73 stores the configuration of the conveyor units that make up the conveyor device 1 and the connections between the respective conveyor units. The configuration storage means 73 is a memory that stores the layout of the conveyor device 1 as shown in FIG. 2 and the conveyor units 2 and 20 in each zone. The circuit storage means 75 also stores the control circuits 40 built into each of the conveyor units 2, 20. At least part or all of the sequence circuits included in the control circuits 40 of each of the conveyor units 2, 20 are stored.

[0052] Next, the function of the operation checking device 50 of this embodiment will be described. For ease of explanation, the actual conveyor system 1 will be referred to as the "actual conveyor system 1," and the adjective "actual" will be used to refer to events that occurred in the actual conveyor system 1. The matters reproduced by the operation checking device 50 will be distinguished by the adjective "virtual."

[0053] In the operation confirmation device 50 of this embodiment, the operation reproduction means 71 creates operation reproduction video data and power supply status reproduction video data based on the log data input from the log data creation means 51 to the external device 48, and the videos are displayed on the display device 53. Videos can be paused, stepped, fast forwarded, rewound, played in slow motion, and zoomed in. The display device 53 displays a schematic representation of the layout of the actual conveyor device 1, as shown in FIG. The figure displayed on the display device 53 is a schematic figure imitating the conveyor device 1, and is made up of connected rectangular figures imitating the conveyor units 2 and 20.

[0054] The virtual layout can be enlarged to any position, as shown in Figure 6. In addition, in the zone where an item was placed on the actual conveyor system 1, a display M simulating the item is displayed on the virtual layout. Figures 1 and 6(a) show the state where an item was present at addresses 10 and 11. The date and time are displayed on the display screen, making it clear what the situation was at that time.

[0055] The display M imitating an item is displayed based on the operating status of the presence sensor S included in the log data. Specifically, if the presence sensor S of the real conveyor device 1 detects the presence of an item at a specific time and this record exists in the log data, the display M imitating an item is displayed in the virtual zone. Furthermore, the zones in which the drive motors of the real conveyor device 1 are energized are displayed as moving animations, for example, wavy, in the virtual zones. If the drive motor of the zone where the article is placed on the actual conveyor device 1 were energized, an animation would be displayed in which the virtual display M is moving. The moving speed and moving distance are determined by the interval and total number of pulses emitted by the drive motor. Furthermore, by clicking on a specific zone, the energized state of the conveyor units that make up that zone is displayed as a moving image.

[0056] For example, if there are items in zone 10 and zone 11 at a specific time when the actual conveyor device 1 is operating, and the presence sensors S10 and S11 are on, this fact is recorded in the log data. If there is a record that the load sensor S10 and the load sensor S11 are on, the motion animation creation means 80 of the motion reproduction means 71 displays the display M in the virtual zones 10 and 11 as shown in Figure 6(a).

[0057] In addition, in the actual conveyor device 1, when an item in zone 10 or zone 11 is transported to zone 12, the log data records that the drive motors in zones 10, 11, and 12 are turned on and energized. If there is a record that the load sensor S10 and the load sensor S11 are on and the drive motor of the zone is on and energized, the operation animation creation means 80 of the operation reproduction means 71 moves the display M of the virtual zones 10 and 11 as shown in Figure 6(b).

[0058] In an actual conveyor system 1, when items in zones 10 and 11 have been moved to zones 11 and 12, respectively, the log data will record that the presence sensors S11 and S12 are on. If there is a record that the presence sensor S11 and the presence sensor S12 are on, the operation animation creating means 80 displays the display M in the virtual zone 11 and zone 12 as shown in FIG. 6(c).

[0059] In addition, in the operation checking device 50 of this embodiment, the moment-to-moment power supply status of each conveyor unit 2, 20 is displayed on the display device 53. The display can be displayed on the same screen as the layout described above, or the screen can be switched to display the status. Furthermore, the operation confirmation device 50 can perform individual reproduction, which specifies a zone by specifying a zone controller (transport unit) 10 and reproduces the operation of the sequence circuit of the control circuit that controls that zone, and multiple reproduction, which specifies multiple zones and simultaneously reproduces the operation of the sequence circuit of the control circuit that controls each zone.

[0060] FIG. 7 is a video showing the energization status of conveyor unit 2 in zone 12. According to the above example, at a specific time, in the actual conveyor device 1, there are articles in zones 10 and 11, but there are no articles in zone 12, which is the display target.

[0061] Therefore, the presence sensor S12 was off. Also, the drive motor of conveyor unit 2 in zone 12 was off and stopped, with no power being applied to the drive motor. These facts are recorded in the log data. FIG. 7(a) corresponds to FIG. 6(a), and in the virtually displayed circuit, the load sensor S12 is off and the drive motor is also off.

[0062] According to the above example, in the actual conveyor device 1, when articles in zones 10 and 11 are transported to zone 12, the log data records that the drive motor in zone 12 has been energized. FIG. 7(b) corresponds to FIG. 6(b), and the circuit displayed on the display device shows that the load sensor S12 is off and the drive motor is on.

[0063] In the actual conveyor device 1, when the movement of an item from zone 11 to zone 12 is completed, the log data records that the presence sensor S12 is on, the drive motor is off, and power supply has been stopped. FIG. 7(c) corresponds to FIG. 6(c), and the circuit displayed on the display device shows that the load sensor S12 is on and the drive motor is off.

[0064] Even if there is some kind of malfunction in the actual conveyor device 1, the log data records the operating status of the load sensor S and the drive motor at that time. This allows us to virtually recreate the situation in which the problem occurred, and to check the state of the electrical circuit at that time, making it easy to discover the cause of the malfunction.

[0065] In the above-described embodiment, two typical conveyor units are exemplified, but the structure and form of the conveyor unit are not limited to these two types. For example, the conveyor unit may be one that forms a curved path or one that uses a bar or the like to guide the path of the article. For ease of understanding, the above description has been given using a simple control circuit 40. However, the actual control circuit 40 is more complicated. In addition, some actual conveyor systems have zones that do not have load sensors or zones that are always running, but the present invention does not exclude conveyor systems that include these. The circuit displayed on the display device 53 may be a still image. In the embodiment described above, the presence sensor S is described as being turned on when an article is detected, but it may also be turned off when an article is detected.

[0066] The present invention includes a computer-readable recording medium on which the computer program is recorded, and a non-transitory recording medium on which the computer program is recorded. [Explanation of symbols]

[0067] 1 Conveyor equipment 2, 20 Conveyor unit (transport unit) 5a Motorized roller 10 Zone controller (individual control device) 28 Motorized roller 40 Control circuit 46 Upper control device 48 External device 50 Conveyor device operation check device 51 Log data creation method 52 Control device 53 Display device 60 Information acquisition means 61 Time determination means 62 Memory means 63 Means of communication 70 Memory means 71 Action Reproduction Method 72 Means of communication 73 Form memory means 75 Circuit storage means 80 Motion video creation method 81 Circuit animation creation method 100 Conveyor System S inventory sensor

Claims

1. An operation confirmation device for confirming the operation of a transport device, the transport device having a portion configured by connecting a plurality of transport units, and an individual control device having a control circuit for individually controlling each transport unit, the control circuit including a sequence circuit, A log data creating means and an operation reproducing means are included, the log data creation means acquires information about the simultaneous on / off states of switches constituting the sequence circuit of each individual control device and creates log data for each control device; The operation confirmation device for a transport device, wherein the operation reproduction means reproduces the operation of the sequence circuit of each control device based on the log data.

2. The operation confirmation device for a transport device according to claim 1, characterized in that it is capable of performing individual reproduction, which reproduces the operation of the sequence circuit of a control circuit that specifies a transport unit and controls the transport unit, and multiple reproduction, which simultaneously reproduces the operation of the sequence circuit of a control circuit that specifies multiple transport units and controls the transport units.

3. The transport unit includes a drive device that drives the transport unit and a load sensor that detects whether or not an item is present on the transport unit, The log data created by the log data creation means includes data individually recording the operating states of the drive device and the inventory sensor, 3. The operation checking device for a transport device according to claim 1, wherein the operation reproducing means is capable of creating video data that schematically reproduces the operation of the transport device based on the log data.

4. 4. The operation confirmation device for a conveying device according to claim 1, further comprising a display device, wherein a video is displayed on the display device based on the log data, and the video can be paused, stepped forward, or fast forwarded.

5. An operation confirmation device that confirms the operation of a conveying device, the conveying device having a plurality of conveying units, each of the conveying units having a drive device that drives the conveying unit and a load sensor that detects whether or not an article is present on the conveying unit, A display device, a log data creating means, and an action reproducing means, The log data creation means creates log data that individually records the operating states of the drive devices and the load sensors of each transport unit of the transport device, The operation reproduction means generates video data that schematically reproduces the operation of the conveying device, moment-by-moment operation status data of the driving device, and moment-by-moment operation status data of the cargo presence sensor, based on the log data, A transport device operation checking device, characterized in that a moving image based on the moving image data created by the operation reproducing means and a display based on the operation status data are displayed on the display device.

6. An operation confirmation device that confirms the operation of a conveying device, the conveying device having a portion configured by connecting a plurality of conveying units, the conveying units including a drive device that drives the conveying unit and a load sensor that detects whether or not an article is present on the conveying unit, A display device, a log data creating means, and an action reproducing means, The log data creation means creates log data that individually records the operating states of the drive devices and the load sensors of each transport unit of the transport device, The operation reproduction means generates video data that schematically reproduces the operation of the conveying device, moment-by-moment operation status data of the driving device, and moment-by-moment operation status data of the cargo presence sensor, based on the log data, A transport device operation checking device, characterized in that a moving image based on the moving image data created by the operation reproducing means and a display based on the operation status data are displayed on the display device.

7. the drive device is a motor; The operation confirmation device for a conveying device as described in claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the log data creation means creates the log data by obtaining information on the on / off status of the cargo sensor, the on / off status of the drive device, and information on the rotation when the drive device is operating.

8. the transport unit has a control circuit for controlling the transport unit, the control circuit including a sequence circuit; 8. The operation checking device for a conveying device according to claim 5, wherein the log data creating means creates the log data by acquiring information about the on / off status of switches constituting the sequence circuit.

9. the display displayed on the display device based on the video data includes a schematic diagram simulating the transport device, and the schematic diagram is a series of connected diagrams simulating the transport units; 9. The operation confirmation device for a transport device according to claim 5, wherein a graphic imitating an object is displayed as a graphic of the transport unit when the load sensor detects an object.

10. The operation confirmation device for a conveying device described in claim 9, characterized in that when the inventory sensor detects an item and the drive device is powered, a figure resembling the item moves toward an adjacent conveying unit.

11. An operation confirmation device for a conveying device as described in any one of claims 5 to 10, characterized in that the conveying unit has a control circuit that controls the conveying unit, and the moment-to-moment operating status of the control circuit of a specific conveying unit can be displayed on the display device.

12. the operation reproduction means has a configuration storage means and a circuit storage means, the configuration storage means stores the configuration of the transport units constituting the transport device and the connections between the transport units; 12. The operation checking device for a transport device according to claim 1, wherein the circuit storage means stores the control circuit of each of the transport units.

13. A computer program for operating an operation confirmation device that confirms the operation of a transport device, The conveying device is configured by connecting a plurality of conveying units, and the conveying units include a drive device that drives the conveying units and a load sensor that detects whether or not there is an item on the conveying unit, Log data individually recording the operating status of the drive device and the load sensor of each transport unit of the transport device is input, A computer program that creates video data that schematically reproduces the operation of the conveying device, and data on the moment-to-moment operating status of the drive device and the operating status of the inventory sensor based on the log data.

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