Control device and computer-readable recording medium

Abstract

A control device according to the present disclosure comprises: an operation information acquisition unit that acquires information related to an operation by a user; a machine state acquisition unit that acquires information related to a machine state, which is information related to a control state of an industrial machine to be controlled; and a log output unit that outputs log data in which the information related to the operation, the information related to the machine state, and the date and time when the information related to the operation is acquired are associated with each other.

Description

Control device and computer-readable recording medium

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a control device and a computer-readable recording medium.

[0002] The declining birthrate and aging population have led to a serious labor shortage in the manufacturing industry, and it is desirable for even beginners to be able to quickly use industrial machinery such as machine tools and industrial robots. To achieve this, safety is a given, but ease of use, or high usability, is also essential.

[0003] One method for evaluating usability is the Novice Expert Ratio Method (NEM), which calculates the ratio (NE ratio) between the operation time of a designer and the operation time of a novice user to efficiently identify areas with usability problems (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0004] JP 2011-145728 A

[0005] Calculating the NE ratio manually with just a stopwatch is inefficient. Therefore, a tool that measures the NE ratio based on log data is needed. Publicly known tools support general user interfaces, such as websites. However, the user interface of industrial machinery is unique. Also, the available operations may be limited depending on the state of the industrial machinery, such as not being able to cycle start during an emergency stop. Therefore, general measurement tools cannot accommodate the wide variety of states of industrial machinery. Manufacturing sites need a system to support the calculation of the NE ratio for industrial machinery.

[0006] The industrial machinery control device according to the present disclosure solves the above problem by outputting log data that associates date and time information and information related to the machine status with information indicating an operation or signal change when that operation or signal change occurs in the industrial machinery.

[0007] One aspect of the present disclosure is a control device that includes an operation information acquisition unit that acquires information related to user operations, a machine state acquisition unit that acquires information related to the machine state, which is information related to the control state of the industrial machine to be controlled, and a log output unit that outputs log data that associates the information related to the operation, the information related to the machine state, and the date and time when the information related to the operation was acquired.

[0008] [Correction based on Rule 91 18.12.2025] This is a schematic hardware configuration diagram of a control device according to a first embodiment. This is a block diagram showing the schematic functions of a control device according to a first embodiment. This is a schematic diagram showing addresses that are signal acquisition targets and are stored in a target address storage unit. This is a schematic diagram showing an example of log data created by a log output unit. This is a schematic diagram showing another example of log data created by a log output unit. This is a block diagram showing the schematic functions of a control device according to a second embodiment. This is a schematic diagram showing an example of related addresses stored in a related address storage unit. This is a schematic diagram showing another example of log data created by a log output unit.

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, components having the same or similar functions will be denoted by the same reference numerals. Duplicate descriptions of those components may be omitted.

[0010] In this application, "based on XX" means "based on at least XX," and includes cases where it is based on other elements in addition to XX. Furthermore, "based on XX" is not limited to cases where XX is used directly, but also includes cases where it is based on XX that has been calculated or processed. "XX" is any element (for example, any information).

[0011] 1 is a schematic hardware configuration diagram showing the main parts of a control device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The control device 1 of the present disclosure can be implemented as a control device that controls industrial machinery such as a machine tool or a robot. The following describes an example of the control device 1 that controls a machine tool that processes a workpiece by controlling the relative position of a tool and a workpiece.

[0012] The CPU 11 included in the control device 1 of the present disclosure is a processor that performs overall control of the control device 1. The CPU 11 reads a system program stored in the ROM 12 via the bus 22 and controls the entire control device 1 in accordance with the system program. The RAM 13 temporarily stores temporary calculation data, display data, various data input from outside, and the like.

[0013] The nonvolatile memory 14 is composed of, for example, a memory backed up by a battery (not shown) or an SSD (Solid State Drive), and retains its stored state even when the power to the control device 1 is turned off. The nonvolatile memory 14 stores control programs and data read from the external device 72 via the interface 15, data and control programs input via the input device 71, and various data acquired from the industrial machine 3. The control programs and data stored in the nonvolatile memory 14 may be expanded into the RAM 13 when executed / used. In addition, various system programs such as known analysis programs are written in the ROM 12 in advance.

[0014] [Amendment based on Rule 91, 18.12.2025] The interface 15 is an interface for connecting the CPU 11 of the control device 1 to an external device 72 such as a USB memory, CompactFlash (registered trademark), or SD card. For example, control programs and various data used to control the industrial machine 3 can be read from the external device 72. Control programs and various data edited within the control device 1 can be stored in the external device 72. The PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) 16 outputs signals via an I / O unit 17 to the industrial machine 3, its control panel, and peripheral devices (e.g., tool changers, actuators for robots, sensors attached to the industrial machine 3, etc.) using a sequence program built into the control device 1. The PLC 16 also receives signals from various buttons, dials, switches on an operation panel mounted on the main body of the industrial machine 3, machine door keys, personal authentication devices, peripheral devices, and other industrial machines that operate in conjunction with the industrial machine 3, and after performing the necessary signal processing, passes the signals to the CPU 11.

[0015] The display device 70 displays various data loaded into the memory, data obtained as a result of executing control programs, system programs, etc., output via the interface 18. Furthermore, the input device 71, which is comprised of a keyboard, a mouse, a touch panel or other pointing device, etc., passes instructions, data, etc. based on operations by an operator to the CPU 11 via the interface 19.

[0016] The interface 20 is an interface for connecting the CPU 11 of the control device 1 to a wired or wireless network 5. The network 5 may communicate using technologies such as serial communication such as RS-485, Ethernet (registered trademark), optical communication, wireless LAN, Wi-Fi (registered trademark), Bluetooth (registered trademark), etc. Other industrial machines 4, fog computers 6, cloud servers 7, PCs (Personal Computers) 8, etc. are connected to the network 5, and data is exchanged between the network 5 and the control device 1.

[0017] An axis control circuit 30 for controlling a control axis provided in the industrial machine 3 receives a position command related to the control axis from the CPU 11 and outputs a command for the control axis to the servo amplifier 40. The servo amplifier 40 receives this command and drives a servo motor 50 related to the control axis, moving each part provided in the industrial machine 3 along the respective control axis. Each servo motor 50 has a built-in position detector, and feeds back a position feedback signal from this position detector to the axis control circuit 30. The axis control circuit 30 performs feedback control of the servo motor 50 based on this position feedback signal. Note that although the hardware configuration diagram in FIG. 1 shows only one axis control circuit 30, servo amplifier 40, and servo motor 50, in reality, there are provided as many as the number of control axes provided in the industrial machine 3 to be controlled. For example, when controlling a general machine tool equipped with three linear axes and two rotational axes, five sets of axis control circuits 30, servo amplifiers 40, and servo motors 50 are provided to move the spindle to which the tool is attached and the workpiece relatively in the directions of the three linear axes and two rotational axes (X-axis, Y-axis, Z-axis, A-axis, and C-axis).

[0018] The spindle control circuit 60 receives a spindle rotation command and outputs a spindle speed signal to a spindle amplifier 61. The spindle amplifier 61 receives this spindle speed signal and rotates a spindle motor 62 of the industrial machine 3 at the commanded rotation speed to drive the spindle. A position coder 63 is connected to the spindle motor 62. The position coder 63 outputs a feedback pulse in synchronization with the rotation of the spindle, and the feedback pulse is read by the CPU 11.

[0019] 2 is a schematic block diagram illustrating functions of the control device 1 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. Each function of the control device 1 according to this embodiment is realized by the CPU 11 included in the control device 1 shown in FIG. 1 executing a system program and controlling the operation of each part of the control device 1.

[0020] The control device 1 of this embodiment includes a program analysis unit 100, a control unit 110, a display unit 120, an operation information acquisition unit 130, a machine state acquisition unit 140, and a log output unit 150. A control program 200 for controlling the industrial machine 3 is stored in the RAM 13 to the nonvolatile memory 14 of the control device 1. Furthermore, the RAM 13 to the nonvolatile memory 14 of the control device 1 are provided with a target address storage unit 210, which is an area that stores in advance the addresses of signals that are to be logged.

[0021] The program analysis unit 100 sequentially reads and analyzes the command blocks included in the control program 200. Then, based on the analysis results, it creates commands to control each part of the control device 1 and the industrial machine 3 and outputs them to the control unit 110. The command blocks included in the control program 200 may include a command block that commands movement related to a predetermined control axis, a command block that commands rotation of the spindle motor 62, a command block that commands input / output of various signals, and a command block that includes other known commands.

[0022] The control unit 110 controls each part of the control device 1 and the industrial machine 3 based on various commands input from the program analysis unit 100. The control unit 110 drives the servo motors 50 associated with each control axis of the industrial machine 3 based on, for example, commands related to the movement of the servo motors 50 associated with the axes input from the program analysis unit 100. The control unit 110 also drives the spindle motor 62 of the industrial machine 3 based on, for example, commands related to the rotation of the spindle motor 62. Furthermore, the control unit 110 controls the input and output of signals in the PLC 16 based on, for example, commands related to the control of peripheral devices of the industrial machine 3. The control unit 110 also acquires information related to the status of each part of the control device 1 and information related to the status of the industrial machine 3.

[0023] The display unit 120 displays and outputs a user interface screen related to the operation of the control device 1 and the industrial machine 3 on the display device 70. Furthermore, the display unit 120 displays and outputs the state of the control device 1 and the state of the industrial machine 3 on the display device 70 based on information related to the state of each part of the control device 1, information related to the state of the industrial machine 3, and information related to operation by the user, which information is acquired by the control unit 110. The operator can instruct the control device 1 and the industrial machine 3 to perform predetermined processing by operating the input device 71 while referring to the screen displayed on the display device 70 by the display unit 120.

[0024] The operation information acquisition unit 130 acquires information related to operations by a user. The operation information acquisition unit 130 includes an event input processing unit 132 and a signal input processing unit 134. The event input processing unit 132 acquires, as event data, input related to operations using an input device 71 such as a keyboard, a mouse, a touch panel, or other pointing device. The signal input processing unit 134 sets signals related to user operations of the control panel, keys, personal authentication devices, peripheral devices, and other industrial machines of the industrial machine 3 as addresses to be monitored, and acquires information related to the signals at those addresses. The operation information acquisition unit 130 then outputs the event data and information related to the signals to the log output unit 150 as operation information.

[0025] The signal input processing unit 134 determines the address from which to acquire a signal by referencing the target address storage unit 210. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing addresses from which to acquire signals stored in the target address storage unit 210. In the example of FIG. 3, signal addresses such as "G8.4" and "E1.0" are stored in the target address storage unit 210 as targets for acquiring signal-related information. For example, when a signal at an address such as "G8.4" or "E1.0" stored in the target address storage unit 210 changes, the signal input processing unit 134 may acquire signal-related information for that address. While the signal input processing unit 134 may acquire signal-related information for all addresses, acquiring only signals at the target addresses stored in the target address storage unit 210 in this manner allows for efficient use of resources such as the memory of the control device 1. It is desirable for the target address storage unit 210 to pre-store at least the addresses of signals that change when a user operates the machine's control panel, peripheral devices, or related machines. The manufacturer or other such entity may pre-register default addresses in the target address storage unit 210. Furthermore, the manufacturer or user of the peripheral device may be allowed to add target addresses as needed.

[0026] [Correction based on Rule 91 18.12.2025] The machine state acquisition unit 140 acquires information related to the control state of the industrial machine 3 from the control unit 110. Examples of information related to the control state of the industrial machine 3 include the operating state and coordinate values ​​of each axis of the industrial machine 3, the operating state of the main shaft, operation-related states (stopped state, operating state, emergency stop state, etc.), and information about the user operating the industrial machine 3. The machine state acquisition unit 140 outputs the acquired information related to the control state of the industrial machine 3 to the log output unit 150 as information related to the machine state.

[0027] The log output unit 150 creates log data by associating the operation information input from the operation information acquisition unit 130 and the information related to the machine status input from the machine status acquisition unit 140 with date and time information indicating the date and time when the operation information was acquired. The created log data is then output. The log output unit 150 may be configured to transmit and output the log to another computer, such as the fog computer 6, the cloud server 7, or the PC 8, via the network 5. The transmitted log can be used for NEM analysis in the fog computer 6, the cloud server 7, or the PC 8. Alternatively, the log may be output to a log recording area in the RAM 13 or the nonvolatile memory 14 of the control device 1. The recorded log can later be exported to another computer via an external device 72 or the like and used for analysis.

[0028] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of log data created by the log output unit 150. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the log data created by the log output unit 150 associates date and time information, information related to the machine status, and operation information. In the example of FIG. 4, input from the input device 71 is indicated by characters enclosed in triangle brackets. Furthermore, regarding the signal status, the address is enclosed in square brackets, and the signal status or signal change at that address is indicated by indicating the signal status or change next to it. For example, at 19:25:00 on June 28, 2023, the industrial machine 3 is in an emergency stop state. At this time, the user operates the "right arrow" key on the input device 71. Next, the user operates the "1" key and the "0" key, and then the "Enter" key. Thereafter, at 19:25:05 on June 28, 2023, the signal status at address G8.4 changes from 0 to 1. The log output unit 150 creates log data in which date and time information, information related to the machine state, and operation information are associated with each other, and outputs the log data to the outside.

[0029] Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram showing another example of log data created by the log output unit 150. As shown in Fig. 5, the log data created by the log output unit 150 may be associated with information related to the screen displayed on the display device 70, in addition to date and time information, information related to the machine status, and operation information.

[0030] The control device 1 according to this embodiment, which has the above configuration, can record information related to the machine state of the industrial machine 3 in log data, making it possible to understand changes in the state of the industrial machine 3 in response to user operations by analyzing the log data. Furthermore, because signal information can be recorded in the log data as operation information, it can accommodate a wide variety of input means, such as various buttons and dials on a control panel, switches, keys, personal authentication devices, peripheral devices, and signal states input from other industrial machines. Furthermore, when working with industrial machines, users may operate not only the industrial machine itself but also peripheral devices installed around it, or multiple industrial machines that operate in conjunction with each other. The sequential relationship of operations performed on these multiple machines can also be understood from the order in which signals are received, for example. Therefore, it is possible to measure usability without providing a special mechanism for the devices related to the industrial machine 3.

[0031] [Second Embodiment] A control device according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below. Fig. 6 is a schematic block diagram showing functions of the control device 1 according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure. As with the control device 1 according to the first embodiment, the functions of the control device 1 according to this embodiment are realized by the CPU 11 included in the control device 1 shown in Fig. 1 executing a system program and controlling the operation of each part of the control device 1.

[0032] The control device 1 of this embodiment differs from the control device 1 of the first embodiment in that it acquires information not only about signals at a target address but also about signals at related addresses. The control device 1 of this embodiment includes a program analysis unit 100, a control unit 110, a display unit 120, an operation information acquisition unit 130, a machine state acquisition unit 140, and a log output unit 150. A control program 200 for controlling the industrial machine 3 is stored in the RAM 13 to the nonvolatile memory 14 of the control device 1. Furthermore, the RAM 13 to the nonvolatile memory 14 of the control device 1 are provided with a target address storage unit 210, which is an area that stores in advance the addresses of signals that are the subject of log acquisition, and a related address storage unit 220, which is an area that stores in advance the addresses of signals that are related to the target address.

[0033] The program analysis unit 100, control unit 110, display unit 120, machine state acquisition unit 140, and log output unit 150 according to this embodiment have the same functions as those according to the first embodiment. The operation information acquisition unit 130 acquires information related to user operations, similar to the operation information acquisition unit 130 according to the first embodiment. The event input processing unit 132 included in the operation information acquisition unit 130 according to this embodiment is similar to the event input processing unit 132 according to the first embodiment. Meanwhile, the signal input processing unit 134 determines a target address from which a signal is to be acquired by referencing the target address storage unit 210, and determines a related address from which an additional signal is to be acquired by referencing the related address storage unit 220. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing the related addresses stored in the related address storage unit 220. The related address storage unit 220 stores related addresses, which are addresses of signals related to each target address stored in the target address storage unit 210, in association with the target address. In the example of FIG. 7 , "R0.0" and "R1.0" are stored in the related address storage unit 220 as related addresses for the target address "G8.4." Furthermore, "E1.1," "E1.2," and "R0.0" are stored in the related address storage unit 220 as related addresses for the target address "E1.0." When a signal at an address such as "G8.4" or "E1.0" stored in the target address storage unit 210 changes, the signal input processing unit 134 acquires information related to the signal at the target address and also references the related address storage unit 220 to acquire information related to the signal at the related address related to the target address from which the signal was acquired. The acquired information related to the signal at the target address and the status of the signal at the related address are then output to the log output unit 150. It is desirable for the related address storage unit 220 to pre-store at least the addresses of signals related to operations performed by the user. A manufacturer or the like may pre-register default addresses in the related address storage unit 220. Furthermore, peripheral device manufacturers and users may be able to add related addresses as needed.

[0034] Fig. 8 is a schematic diagram showing an example of log data created by the log output unit 150. In the example of Fig. 8, the signal state of address "G8.4" changes from 0 to 1 at 19:25:05 on June 28, 2023. At that time, information on the signals at related addresses "R0.0" and "R1.0" is also recorded.

[0035] The control device 1 according to this embodiment, which has the above-described configuration, can record signal information related to the operation in addition to signal information as operation information in the log data, making it possible to grasp the status of the user's operation in more detail and to measure usability without setting up a special mechanism for the related equipment.

[0036] Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described in detail above, the present disclosure is not limited to the individual embodiments described above. Various additions, substitutions, modifications, partial deletions, etc. are possible in these embodiments without departing from the gist of the invention or the idea and intent of the present disclosure derived from the content described in the claims and their equivalents. For example, in the above-described embodiments, the order of each operation and the order of each process are shown as examples and are not limited to these. The same applies when numerical values ​​or mathematical expressions are used in the description of the above-described embodiments.

[0037] The following are supplementary notes related to embodiments of the present disclosure. (Supplementary Note 1) A control device (1) according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes an operation information acquisition unit (130) that acquires information related to a user's operation, a machine state acquisition unit (140) that acquires information related to a machine state, which is information related to the control state of an industrial machine (3) to be controlled, and a log output unit (150) that outputs log data that associates the information related to the operation, the information related to the machine state, and a date and time when the information related to the operation was acquired. (Supplementary Note 2) The operation information acquisition unit (130) included in a control device (1) according to another aspect of the present disclosure includes an event input processing unit (132) that acquires input related to an operation using an input device (71) as event data, and a signal input processing unit (134) that sets the address of a signal related to a user's operation as a monitoring target address and acquires information related to the signal at the address, and acquires the event data and the information related to the signal as information related to the operation. The control device according to claim 1.

[0038] (Supplementary Note 3) A control device (1) according to another aspect of the present disclosure further includes a target address storage unit (210) that stores the address of a signal to be monitored as a target address, and a related address storage unit (220) that stores related addresses related to the target address, and when there is a change in the signal at the target address, the signal input processing unit (134) acquires information related to the signal at the target address, and also identifies a related address related to the target address by referring to the related address storage unit (220), and acquires information related to the signal at the identified related address. (Supplementary Note 4) The signal input processing unit (134) included in the control device (1) according to another aspect of the present disclosure also acquires a signal input from an industrial machine (4) different from the industrial machine (3).

[0039] (Supplementary Note 5) A computer-readable recording medium according to one aspect of the present disclosure records a program that causes a computer to operate as an operation information acquisition unit (130) that acquires information related to an operation by a user, a machine status acquisition unit (140) that acquires information related to a machine status, which is information related to the control status of an industrial machine (3) to be controlled, and a log output unit (150) that outputs log data that associates the information related to the operation, the information related to the machine status, and the date and time when the information related to the operation was acquired.

[0040] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Control device 3, 4 Industrial machine 5 Network 6 Fog computer 7 Cloud server 8 PC 11 CPU 12 ROM 13 RAM 14 Non-volatile memory 15, 18, 19, 20 Interface 16 PLC 17 I / O unit 22 Bus 30 Axis control circuit 40 Servo amplifier 50 Servo motor 60 Spindle control circuit 61 Spindle amplifier 62 Spindle motor 63 Position coder 70 Display device 71 Input device 72 External device 100 Program analysis unit 110 Control unit 120 Display unit 130 Operation information acquisition unit 132 Event input processing unit 134 Signal input processing unit 140 Machine state acquisition unit 150 Log output unit 200 Control program 210 Target address storage unit 220 Related address storage unit

Claims

1. A control device comprising: an operation information acquisition unit that acquires information related to operations by a user; a machine status acquisition unit that acquires information related to the machine status, which is information related to the control status of an industrial machine to be controlled; and a log output unit that outputs log data that associates the information related to the operation, the information related to the machine status, and the date and time when the information related to the operation was acquired.

2. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the operation information acquisition unit comprises: an event input processing unit that acquires input related to an operation using an input device as event data; and a signal input processing unit that sets the address of a signal related to an operation by a user as an address to be monitored and acquires information related to the signal at that address, and acquires the event data and information related to the signal as information related to the operation.

3. A control device as described in claim 2, further comprising: a target address storage unit that stores the address of a signal to be monitored as a target address; and a related address storage unit that stores related addresses related to the target address, wherein when there is a change in the signal at the target address, the signal input processing unit acquires information related to the signal at the target address, identifies a related address related to the target address by referring to the related address storage unit, and also acquires information related to the signal at the identified related address.

4. The control device according to claim 2, wherein the signal input processing unit also acquires signals input from other industrial machines different from the industrial machine.

5. A computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for causing a computer to operate as: an operation information acquisition unit that acquires information related to user operations; a machine status acquisition unit that acquires information related to the machine status, which is information related to the control status of the industrial machine to be controlled; and a log output unit that outputs log data that associates the information related to the operation, the information related to the machine status, and the date and time when the information related to the operation was acquired.

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