Work assistance system, management device, and work assistance method

Abstract

The present invention comprises at least one work assistance device (12) that assists with work by a worker; and a management device that sets, for each work assistance device (12), setting information indicating a work process and equipment (2) used in the work process, wherein the work assistance device (12) makes a request to the management device to change the work process and equipment (2) in response to an operation by the worker, and uses setting information in a notification from the management device after the change request as its own setting information, and the management device, in response to the change request from the work assistance device (12), changes the setting information for the work assistance device (12) and notifies the work assistance device (12) of the setting information after the change.

Description

Work support system, management device, and work support method

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a work support system, a management device, and a work support method for supporting work by a worker.

[0002] Conventionally, a work support device for supporting a worker's work has been known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In this work support device, the allocation of work processes to be performed is determined in advance based on a production plan. In addition, the work support device is connected to the equipment used in the allocated work processes. Then, the worker performs the work while receiving support from the work support device.

[0003] International Publication No. 2017 / 203598

[0004] However, conventional work assistance devices are connected to fixed equipment, and the equipment cannot be easily changed. Furthermore, the work processes that the work assistance device supports are also preset, and the work processes cannot be easily changed. Therefore, it is not possible to flexibly change the work processes and the equipment used in those work processes in accordance with the production plan. As a result, there is a risk of wasting personnel allocation.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a work assistance system that makes it possible to change the work process and equipment that are targeted by the work assistance device.

[0006] The work support system according to the present disclosure includes one or more work support devices that support work performed by a worker, and a management device that sets, for each work support device, setting information indicating a work process and equipment used in the work process; the work support device makes a change request to the management device for the work process and equipment in response to an operation by the worker, and uses the setting information notified by the management device after the change request as its own setting information; and the management device changes the setting information for the work support device in response to the change request from the work support device, and notifies the work support device of the changed setting information.

[0007] According to the present disclosure, with the above-described configuration, it is possible to change the work process and equipment targeted by the work assistance device.

[0008] 6A and 6B are diagrams showing an example of the operation of the work support system according to embodiment 1, in which FIG. 6A is a diagram showing an example of the state before the setting information in each work support device is changed, and FIG. 6B is a diagram showing an example of the state after the setting information in each work support device is changed. FIGS. 7A and 7B are diagrams showing an example of the hardware configuration of a management device and a work support device according to embodiment 1.

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Embodiment 1. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a work support system 1 according to embodiment 1. The work support system 1 is a system for supporting work by a worker. As shown in FIG. 1, the work support system 1 includes a PLC (control device) 11 and one or more work support devices 12. FIG. 1 shows a case in which N work support devices 12 are provided in the work support system 1. In the following description, when it is necessary to distinguish between each work support device 12 and the components of the work support device 12, suffixes (-1, -2, ..., -N) are added to the reference numerals. In addition to the work support system 1, FIG. 1 also shows a device 2 and a device information reader 3.

[0010] The device 2 is connected to the work support device 12 (in the example of FIG. 1 , a remote I / O unit 14, which will be described later). Examples of the device 2 include a screwdriver and a torque wrench. In FIG. 1 , a code 21 that enables device information to be read is attached to the device 2. The device information is information that indicates the device 2. Examples of the code 21 include a QR code (registered trademark).

[0011] The device information reader 3 reads device information from the device 2. An example of this device information reader 3 is a barcode reader that reads the code 21 attached to the device 2 to read the device information.

[0012] The PLC 11 is a management device that manages one or more work support devices 12 connected to the PLC 11. Also, in FIG. 1 , a device information reader 3 is connected to the PLC 11. The PLC 11 sets setting information for each work support device 12 and notifies the corresponding work support device 12 of the setting information. The setting information is information that indicates a target work process and a device 2 used in the work process. Furthermore, in response to a request from a work support device 12 to change the work process and the device 2, the PLC 11 changes the setting information for the work support device 12 and notifies the work support device 12 of the changed setting information. In FIG. 1 , the PLC 11 changes the setting information by acquiring the device information read by the device information reader 3. An example configuration of the PLC 11 will be described later.

[0013] The work support device 12 is a device for supporting work by a worker, and is connected to the PLC 11. The work support device 12 sets its own setting information based on the setting information notified from the PLC 11, and then supports the work by the worker based on the setting information. Furthermore, the work support device 12 requests the PLC 11 to change the work process and the device 2 in response to an operation by the worker, and after the change request, changes the setting information notified from the PLC 11 as the setting information of its own device.

[0014] 1 , the work support device 12 includes a tablet terminal 13 and a remote I / O unit 14. The tablet terminal 13 wirelessly communicates with the PLC 11 to support the work of the worker. The remote I / O unit 14 is connected to the device 2 and the PLC 11.

[0015] 1 illustrates a case where the work support device 12 includes a tablet terminal 13 and a remote I / O unit 14. However, the configuration of the work support device 12 is not limited to this, and the work support device 12 may also include a PC, for example.

[0016] An example of the configuration of this work support device 12 (the tablet terminal 13 in the example of FIG. 1) will be described later.

[0017] 1 shows an example in which a code 21 is attached to the device 2 and the device information is read from the code 21 of the device 2 using the device information reader 3. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and any method may be used as long as it is capable of inputting device information to the PLC 11.

[0018] Next, an example of the configuration of the PLC 11 will be described with reference to Fig. 2. As shown in Fig. 2, the PLC 11 includes a correspondence information acquisition unit 1101, a change request acceptance unit 1102, a device information acquisition unit 1103, a device determination unit 1104, a setting information setting unit 1105, and a notification unit 1106.

[0019] The correspondence information acquisition unit 1101 acquires correspondence information. The correspondence information is information that indicates the correspondence relationship between a work process and the device 2 used in the work process. This correspondence information is set for each product that is the target of the work.

[0020] The change request receiving unit 1102 receives a change request for a work process and a device 2 from the work support device 12. This change request includes change target information. The change target information is information that indicates the work process or device 2 that is the target of the change.

[0021] The device information acquisition unit 1103 acquires the device information input by the worker after the change request is accepted by the change request acceptance unit 1102. In Fig. 1, the device information acquisition unit 1103 acquires the device information read by the device information reader 3.

[0022] The device determination unit 1104 determines whether the device 2 indicated by the device information can be set based on the correspondence information acquired by the correspondence information acquisition unit 1101, the change request accepted by the change request acceptance unit 1102, and the device information acquired by the device information acquisition unit 1103. At this time, the device determination unit 1104 extracts, from the correspondence information, correspondence information that includes the same work process or device 2 as the work process or device 2 indicated in the change target information included in the change request. Then, the device determination unit 1104 determines whether the device 2 indicated by the device information is the same as the device 2 indicated by the extracted correspondence information, thereby determining whether the device 2 indicated by the device information can be set.

[0023] The setting information setting unit 1105 sets setting information for each work assistance device 12. Furthermore, when the device determination unit 1104 determines that the device 2 can be set, the setting information setting unit 1105 changes the setting information. At this time, the setting information setting unit 1105 changes the setting information for the work assistance device 12 that has requested the change to information indicating the work process and device 2 indicated by the correspondence information extracted when the device determination unit 1104 makes the above determination.

[0024] The notification unit 1106 notifies the corresponding work support device 12 of the setting information set by the setting information setting unit 1105. Furthermore, when the setting information is changed by the setting information setting unit 1105, the notification unit 1106 notifies the work support device 12 that is the source of the change request of the changed setting information.

[0025] Furthermore, when the device determination unit 1104 determines that the device 2 cannot be set, the notification unit 1106 may notify the work assistance device 12 that is the source of the change request to that effect.

[0026] Although FIG. 1 shows a case where the management device is the PLC 11, the management device is not limited to this and may be configured to have the above functions.

[0027] Next, a configuration example of the work support device 12 (tablet terminal 13 in FIG. 1) will be described with reference to FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 3, the work support device 12 (tablet terminal 13 in FIG. 1) includes a setting information acquisition unit 1201, a setting information setting unit 1202, and a change request unit 1203.

[0028] The setting information acquisition unit 1201 acquires the setting information notified from the PLC 11. Furthermore, the setting information acquisition unit 1201 acquires the setting information notified from the PLC 11 after the change request unit 1203 issues a change request.

[0029] The setting information setting unit 1202 sets the setting information of its own device based on the setting information acquired by the setting information acquisition unit 1201. At this time, the setting information setting unit 1202 sets the work process and device 2 targeted by its own device to the work process and device 2 indicated by the setting information acquired by the setting information acquisition unit 1201. Furthermore, if setting information is acquired by the setting information acquisition unit 1201 after a change request by the change request unit 1203, the setting information setting unit 1202 changes the setting information of its own device. At this time, the setting information setting unit 1202 changes the work process and device 2 targeted by its own device to the work process and device 2 indicated in the setting information acquired by the setting information acquisition unit 1201.

[0030] In response to an operation by a worker, the change request unit 1203 makes a change request to the PLC 11 for the work process and the device 2. This change request includes change target information. The change target information is information that indicates the work process or the device 2 that is the target of the change.

[0031] Next, an example of the operation of the work support system 1 according to the first embodiment shown in Fig. 1 will be described with reference to Fig. 4. Here, an example of the operation of changing the work process and the device 2 for the work support device 12 will be described. In the example of the operation of the work support system 1 according to the first embodiment shown in Fig. 1, as shown in Fig. 4, first, the work support device 12 requests the PLC 11 to change the work process and the device 2 in response to an operation by the worker (step ST101). That is, the change request unit 1203 requests the PLC 11 to change the work process and the device 2 in response to an operation by the worker.

[0032] Next, in response to the change request from the work assistance device 12, the PLC 11 changes the setting information for the work assistance device 12 and notifies the work assistance device 12 of the changed setting information (step ST102). An example of the operation of the PLC 11 in step ST102 will be described later.

[0033] Next, the work assistance device 12 changes the setting information of its own device to the setting information notified by the PLC 11 after the change request (step ST103). That is, the setting information acquisition unit 1201 acquires the setting information notified by the PLC 11 after the change request by the change request unit 1203. Then, the setting information setting unit 1202 changes the setting information of its own device based on the setting information acquired by the setting information acquisition unit 1201. At this time, the setting information setting unit 1202 changes the work process and device 2 targeted by its own device to the work process and device 2 indicated in the setting information acquired by the setting information acquisition unit 1201.

[0034] Next, an example of the operation of step ST102 by the PLC 11 according to the first embodiment shown in Fig. 2 will be described with reference to Fig. 5. Note that the correspondence information acquisition unit 1101 acquires correspondence information.

[0035] In the example of operation of step ST102 by the PLC 11 according to the first embodiment shown in Fig. 2, first, as shown in Fig. 5, the change request receiving unit 1102 receives a change request for the work process and the device 2 from the work support device 12 (step ST201). This change request includes information to be changed.

[0036] Next, the device information acquiring unit 1103 acquires the device information input by the worker (step ST202). In FIG.

[0037] Next, the device determination unit 1104 determines whether the device 2 indicated by the device information can be set based on the correspondence information acquired by the correspondence information acquisition unit 1101, the change request accepted by the change request acceptance unit 1102, and the device information acquired by the device information acquisition unit 1103 (step ST203). At this time, the device determination unit 1104 extracts, from the correspondence information, correspondence information including the same work process or device 2 as the work process or device 2 indicated in the change target information included in the change request. Then, the device determination unit 1104 determines whether the device 2 indicated by the device information is the same as the device 2 indicated by the extracted correspondence information, thereby determining whether the device 2 indicated by the device information can be set.

[0038] If the device determination unit 1104 determines in step ST203 that the device 2 cannot be set, the sequence returns to step ST202. At this time, the notification unit 1106 may notify the work assistance device 12 that has requested the change that the device 2 cannot be set. This enables the PLC 11 to prompt the worker using the work assistance device 12 that has requested the change to connect the correct device 2.

[0039] On the other hand, if the device determination unit 1104 determines in step ST203 that the device 2 can be set, the setting information setting unit 1105 changes the setting information (step ST204). At this time, the setting information setting unit 1105 changes the setting information for the work assistance device 12 that has requested the change to information indicating the work process and the device 2 indicated by the correspondence information extracted when the device determination unit 1104 makes the above determination.

[0040] Next, the notification unit 1106 notifies the work support device 12, which is the source of the change request, of the setting information changed by the setting information setting unit 1105 (step ST205).

[0041] Next, a specific example of the operation of the work support system 1 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 6. Fig. 6A shows the state before the setting information of each work support device 12 is changed, and Fig. 6B shows the state after the setting information of each work support device 12 is changed. Note that Fig. 6 shows a case where three work support devices 12 are connected to the PLC 11.

[0042] 6A , setting information is set for each of the three work support devices 12, and devices 2 are connected to each of them. Specifically, in FIG. 6A , setting information indicating work process A (not shown) and driver A, driver B, driver C, and torque wrench A, which are devices 2 used in work process A, is set for work support device 12-1. Driver A, driver B, driver C, and torque wrench A are connected to work support device 12-1 as devices 2. Furthermore, setting information indicating work process B (not shown) and driver D, driver E, driver F, and torque wrench B, which are devices 2 used in work process B, is set for work support device 12-2. Furthermore, driver D, driver E, driver F, and torque wrench B are connected to work support device 12-2 as devices 2. Furthermore, setting information indicating work process C (not shown) and driver G, driver H, driver I, and torque wrench C, which are devices 2 used in work process C, is set for work support device 12-3. The work support device 12-3 is connected with a driver G, a driver H, a driver I and a torque wrench C as the devices 2.

[0043] 6B , the work process and the equipment 2 have been changed for the three work support devices 12, for example, due to a change in the product to be worked on. Specifically, in FIG. 6B , the work process for the work support device 12-1 has been changed from work process A to work process A' (not shown), and driver D has been added as the equipment 2, while driver C has been deleted. That is, the setting information for the work support device 12-1 has been changed to information indicating work process A' and driver A, driver B, driver D, and torque wrench A, which are the equipment 2 used in work process A'. Furthermore, the work process for the work support device 12-2 has been changed from work process B to work process B' (not shown), and driver G and torque wrench C have been added as the equipment 2, while driver D and driver E have been deleted. That is, the setting information for the work support device 12-2 has been changed to information indicating work process B' and driver F, driver G, torque wrench B, and torque wrench C, which are the equipment 2 used in work process B'. Note that the work support device 12-3 is unused.

[0044] In this way, in the work assistance system 1 according to the first embodiment, the PLC 11 is used to manage the setting information for each work assistance device 12, making it possible to easily change the work process and the device 2 targeted by the work assistance device 12. As a result, in the work assistance system 1 according to the first embodiment, the work process and the device 2 used in the work process can be easily changed depending on the production plan or the skill of the workers, enabling flexible production.

[0045] Furthermore, in the work support system 1 according to the first embodiment, the device information acquisition unit 1103 in the PLC 11 acquires the device information read by the device information reader 3, which reads the device information by reading the code 21, thereby enabling the setting information to be changed more quickly.

[0046] As described above, according to the first embodiment, the work support system 1 includes one or more work support devices 12 that support work by a worker, and a management device that sets, for each work support device 12, setting information indicating a work process and a device 2 used in the work process, and the work support device 12 makes a change request to the management device for the work process and the device 2 in response to an operation by the worker, and uses the setting information notified by the management device after the change request as its own setting information, and the management device changes the setting information for the work support device 12 in response to the change request from the work support device 12 and notifies the work support device 12 of the changed setting information. This makes it possible for the work support system 1 according to the first embodiment to change the work process and the device 2 targeted by the work support device 12.

[0047] Finally, an example of the hardware configuration of the management device and work assistance device 12 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 7. First, the functions of the correspondence information acquisition unit 1101, change request acceptance unit 1102, device information acquisition unit 1103, device determination unit 1104, setting information setting unit 1105, and notification unit 1106 in the management device are realized by a processing circuit 51. The processing circuit 51 may be dedicated hardware as shown in Fig. 7A, or may be a CPU (also referred to as a central processing unit, processing unit, arithmetic unit, microprocessor, microcomputer, processor, or DSP (Digital Signal Processor)) 52 that executes a program stored in memory 53 as shown in Fig. 7B.

[0048] When the processing circuitry 51 is dedicated hardware, the processing circuitry 51 may be, for example, a single circuit, a composite circuit, a programmed processor, a parallel programmed processor, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), or a combination thereof. The functions of the correspondence information acquisition unit 1101, the change request acceptance unit 1102, the device information acquisition unit 1103, the device determination unit 1104, the setting information setting unit 1105, and the notification unit 1106 may be realized individually by the processing circuitry 51, or the functions of each unit may be realized collectively by the processing circuitry 51.

[0049] When the processing circuit 51 is a CPU 52, the functions of the correspondence information acquisition unit 1101, change request acceptance unit 1102, device information acquisition unit 1103, device determination unit 1104, setting information setting unit 1105, and notification unit 1106 are realized by software, firmware, or a combination of software and firmware. The software and firmware are written as programs and stored in the memory 53. The processing circuit 51 realizes the functions of each unit by reading and executing the programs stored in the memory 53. That is, the management device includes the memory 53 for storing programs that, when executed by the processing circuit 51, result in the execution of, for example, each of the steps shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 . Furthermore, these programs can also be said to cause a computer to execute the procedures and methods of the correspondence information acquisition unit 1101, change request acceptance unit 1102, device information acquisition unit 1103, device determination unit 1104, setting information setting unit 1105, and notification unit 1106. Here, examples of the memory 53 include non-volatile or volatile semiconductor memories such as RAM (Random Access Memory), ROM (Read Only Memory), flash memory, EPROM (Erasable Programmable ROM), and EEPROM (Electrically EPROM), as well as magnetic disks, flexible disks, optical disks, compact disks, minidisks, and DVDs (Digital Versatile Discs).

[0050] It is also possible to realize some of the functions of the correspondence information acquisition unit 1101, the change request reception unit 1102, the device information acquisition unit 1103, the device determination unit 1104, the setting information setting unit 1105, and the notification unit 1106 with dedicated hardware and some of the functions with software or firmware. For example, the function of the correspondence information acquisition unit 1101 can be realized by the processing circuitry 51 as dedicated hardware, and the functions of the change request reception unit 1102, the device information acquisition unit 1103, the device determination unit 1104, the setting information setting unit 1105, and the notification unit 1106 can be realized by the processing circuitry 51 reading and executing programs stored in the memory 53.

[0051] In this way, the processing circuitry 51 can realize each of the above-described functions by hardware, software, firmware, or a combination of these.

[0052] The functions of the setting information acquisition unit 1201, the setting information setting unit 1202, and the change request unit 1203 in the work assistance device 12 are realized by a processing circuitry 51. The processing circuitry 51 may be dedicated hardware as shown in Fig. 7A, or may be a CPU 52 that executes a program stored in a memory 53 as shown in Fig. 7B.

[0053] When the processing circuitry 51 is dedicated hardware, the processing circuitry 51 may be, for example, a single circuit, a composite circuit, a programmed processor, a parallel programmed processor, an ASIC, an FPGA, or a combination thereof. The functions of the setting information acquisition unit 1201, the setting information setting unit 1202, and the change request unit 1203 may be realized individually by the processing circuitry 51, or the functions of these units may be realized collectively by the processing circuitry 51.

[0054] When the processing circuitry 51 is a CPU 52, the functions of the setting information acquisition unit 1201, the setting information setting unit 1202, and the change request unit 1203 are realized by software, firmware, or a combination of software and firmware. The software and firmware are written as programs and stored in the memory 53. The processing circuitry 51 realizes the functions of each unit by reading and executing the programs stored in the memory 53. That is, the work assistance device 12 includes the memory 53 for storing programs that, when executed by the processing circuitry 51, result in the execution of, for example, each step shown in FIG. 4 . These programs can also be said to cause a computer to execute the procedures and methods of the setting information acquisition unit 1201, the setting information setting unit 1202, and the change request unit 1203. Here, the memory 53 may be, for example, a non-volatile or volatile semiconductor memory such as a RAM, a ROM, a flash memory, an EPROM, or an EEPROM, a magnetic disk, a flexible disk, an optical disk, a compact disk, a minidisk, or a DVD.

[0055] It is also possible to realize some of the functions of the setting information acquisition unit 1201, the setting information setting unit 1202, and the change request unit 1203 with dedicated hardware and some with software or firmware. For example, the function of the setting information acquisition unit 1201 can be realized by the processing circuitry 51 as dedicated hardware, and the functions of the setting information setting unit 1202 and the change request unit 1203 can be realized by the processing circuitry 51 reading and executing programs stored in the memory 53.

[0056] In this way, the processing circuitry 51 can realize each of the above-described functions by hardware, software, firmware, or a combination of these.

[0057] Any of the components of the embodiments may be modified or omitted.

[0058] The work assistance system 1 according to the present disclosure is capable of changing the work process and the equipment 2 targeted by the work assistance device 12, and is suitable for use as a work assistance system 1 for assisting a worker in work.

[0059] 1 Work support system, 2 Equipment, 3 Equipment information reader, 11 PLC (management device), 12 Work support device, 13 Tablet terminal, 14 Remote I / O unit, 21 Code, 51 Processing circuit, 52 CPU, 53 Memory, 1101 Correspondence information acquisition unit, 1102 Change request reception unit, 1103 Equipment information acquisition unit, 1104 Equipment determination unit, 1105 Setting information setting unit, 1106 Notification unit, 1201 Setting information acquisition unit, 1202 Setting information setting unit, 1203 Change request unit.

Claims

1. A work support system comprising: one or more work support devices that support work performed by a worker; and a management device that sets, for each of the work support devices, setting information indicating a work process and equipment used in the work process; wherein the work support devices make a change request to the management device for the work process and equipment in response to an operation by a worker, and use the setting information notified by the management device after the change request as the setting information of the work support device itself; and the management device changes the setting information for the work support device in response to the change request from the work support device, and notifies the work support device of the changed setting information.

2. The work support system according to claim 1, wherein the management device has: a correspondence information acquisition unit that acquires correspondence information indicating a correspondence between a work process and equipment used in the work process for each product; a change request receiving unit that receives a change request from the work support device; an equipment information acquisition unit that acquires equipment information indicating equipment input by a worker after the change request is received by the change request receiving unit; an equipment determination unit that determines whether the equipment indicated by the equipment information can be configured based on the correspondence information acquired by the correspondence information acquisition unit, the change request received by the change request receiving unit, and the equipment information acquired by the equipment information acquisition unit; a setting information setting unit that changes setting information for the work support device that is the source of the change request based on the correspondence information acquired by the correspondence information acquisition unit, the change request received by the change request receiving unit, and the equipment information acquired by the equipment information acquisition unit when it is determined by the equipment determination unit that the equipment can be configured; and a notification unit that notifies the work support device that is the source of the change request of the setting information set by the setting information setting unit.

3. The work support system according to claim 2, characterized in that the device information acquisition unit acquires device information read by a device information reader that reads device information by reading a code.

4. A management device that sets setting information indicating a work process and equipment used in the work process for each of one or more work support devices that support work by a worker, and that changes the setting information for the work support device in response to a request from the work support device to change the work process and equipment in response to an operation by the worker, and notifies the work support device of the changed setting information.

5. A work support method using a work support system including one or more work support devices that support work by a worker, and a management device that sets, for each of the work support devices, setting information indicating a work process and equipment used in the work process, comprising the steps of: the work support device making a change request for the work process and equipment to the management device in response to an operation by a worker, and setting the setting information notified by the management device after the change request as its own setting information; and the management device changing the setting information for the work support device in response to the change request from the work support device, and notifying the work support device of the changed setting information.

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