Conveyor device and method for setting network address of conveyor device

Abstract

The present invention addresses the problem of providing a conveyor device with which it is possible to easily set a network address of a zone controller for controlling a zone.　This conveyor device includes a host control device and transports an object being conveyed from a start position to a target place. The conveyor device is divided into a plurality of zones, and each zone is connected in series, the conveyor device conveying the object being conveyed across the zones. Each of the plurality of zones has a zone controller for controlling the zone, and the host control device and each zone controller can communicate with each other via a network. The host control device can automatically set the network address to each zone controller on the basis of arrangement layout of the plurality of zones and a conveyor connection diagram showing the network address of the zone controller of each zone.

Description

Conveyor device and method for setting network address of conveyor device

[0001] The present invention relates to a conveyor system in which a conveying path is divided into a plurality of short zones and the conveying path branches into a plurality of paths, so that there are a plurality of destinations for conveying conveyed objects. In particular, the present invention relates to a method for setting network addresses for the zones of the conveyor system.

[0002] Conveyor systems are often installed in delivery areas, collection points, warehouses, etc. For example, at delivery areas, it is necessary to sort transported items according to their destination, so conveyor systems installed at delivery areas have multiple branched conveying paths. In other words, conveyor systems installed at delivery areas often have multiple delivery destinations. Conveyor systems installed at delivery areas have multiple child branched conveying paths branching off from a main conveying path, and these branched conveying paths further branch off to form grandchild branched conveying paths and great-grandchild branched conveying paths. Furthermore, conveyor systems installed at delivery areas have multiple straight conveying paths that make up the main conveying path, child branched conveying paths, and grandchild branched conveying paths, as well as a conveying direction changing device that changes the conveying direction, and the conveying direction changing device is located at the branching point.

[0003] A conveyor system in which a series of conveyors is composed of multiple zones is known (see Patent Document 1). Each zone has a zone controller, and the motors in each zone are controlled by the respective zone controller. A conveyor including a zone with a branching function is also known (see Patent Document 2). This branching zone performs a branching operation in response to an external signal. That is, a branching zone has the function of, for example, moving conveyed objects in a straight line or discharging conveyed objects laterally. Furthermore, a conveyor system is known in which a host controller that functions as an integrated control system (ICS) is provided and this host controller is capable of transmitting and receiving information to and from multiple zone controllers (see Patent Document 3).

[0004] JP 2012-211015 A JP 2013-230914 A WO 2014 / 189045 A

[0005] In many conventional conveyor systems, a network is formed to enable communication between a host control device and multiple zone controllers. In these conveyor systems, network addresses are assigned to the host control device and each of the multiple zone controllers to enable communication between them. Conventional network address settings include assigning addresses to each zone controller individually using a rotary switch, or having an operator input addresses into multiple zone controllers via a personal computer. However, these methods have the drawback of taking time to set network addresses when the conveyor layout is changed. The present invention addresses the above-mentioned problems of the conventional technology and aims to provide a conveyor system that can easily and automatically assign and set network addresses.

[0006] An aspect for solving the above-described problems is a conveyor system including a host control device that transports an article from a start position to a destination, the conveyor system being divided into a plurality of zones that are connected in sequence, and transporting the article across the zones, wherein each of the plurality of zones has a zone controller that controls that zone, the host control device and each of the zone controllers are capable of communicating with each other via a network, and the host control device is capable of automatically setting a network address to each zone controller based on a conveyor connection diagram that shows the layout of the plurality of zones and the network addresses of the zone controllers for each zone.

[0007] In the conveyor system of this aspect, the host control device can determine the network address of each zone controller based on a conveyor connection diagram showing the layout of multiple zones designed using a CAD device or the like, and set that network address in each zone controller. In other words, the program on the host control device can achieve high-speed network address assignment. This makes it possible to assign addresses to all zone controllers in a shorter time than conventional methods such as assigning addresses to zone controllers one by one using rotary switches, or methods in which an operator inputs addresses into multiple zone controllers from a PC.

[0008] In the above-described aspect, the zone controllers of the plurality of zones are capable of detecting the zones to which the zone to which they belong is connected and transmitting this as connection destination information to the upper-level control device via the network, and the upper-level control device is capable of recognizing a network system indicating the actual connection relationships of the conveyor device from the connection destination information obtained from the plurality of zones.

[0009] The zone controllers of the multiple zones can detect the zones to which their own zones are connected and send this information as connection destination information to the host control device via the network. Therefore, when the host control device receives connection destination information from all zone controllers, it can recognize the network system that indicates the actual connection relationships of the conveyor devices.

[0010] In the above-described aspect, it is desirable that the upper control device be able to compare the conveyor connection diagram with the network system showing the recognized actual connection relationships of the conveyor devices and clearly indicate any inconsistencies.

[0011] In this conveyor system, the host control device can compare the conveyor connection diagram obtained during design with the network system showing the actual connection relationships of the conveyor system, and clearly indicate any discrepancies. This makes it possible to confirm whether the actually installed conveyor system is operating as designed.

[0012] In the above-described aspect, it is desirable that the conveyor device not update the network address when the mismatch occurs. In other words, this indicates that the actual conveyor device is not realized according to the conveyor connection diagram. Therefore, updating the network address is unnecessary.

[0013] In the above-described aspect, it is desirable that the zone controller has a plurality of ports, the ports of the zone controllers of adjacent zones are connected to each other, and the connected zone controller is detected via the port of the zone controller.

[0014] In the above-described aspect, it is desirable that each of the ports has a port number, the zone controller has a unique address, each of the zone controllers is capable of transmitting zone controller information to a higher-level control device via the network, the zone controller information including the port number of each of its own ports and the port number and unique address of the connected zone controller, and the higher-level control device aggregates the zone controller information from all of the zone controllers to recognize the network system.

[0015] An aspect for solving the above-described problems is a method for setting a network address for a conveyor device, the method comprising: a conveyor device including a host control device that transports an article from a start position to a destination location; the conveyor device being divided into a plurality of zones and transporting the article across the zones; each of the plurality of zones having a zone controller; the host control device and each of the zone controllers being capable of communicating with each other via the network; and the method comprising the step of automatically setting a network address for each zone controller based on a conveyor connection diagram that shows a layout of the plurality of zones and the network addresses of the zone controllers for each zone.

[0016] According to the conveyor device and the method for setting a network address for a zone of the conveyor device of the present invention, a network address can be automatically assigned and set, so that a network address for a zone can be set easily and in a short time.

[0017] 1 is a diagram illustrating the layout configuration of a conveyor device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a zone conveyor constituting a linear conveyance zone.

[0024] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a linear conveyance path to which three zone conveyors are connected.

[0025] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an example of a conveyance direction changing device.

[0026] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the direction changing device of FIG. 5.

[0027] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the vicinity of a conveyance direction changing zone constituted by the conveyance direction changing device of FIG. 5.

[0028] FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a zone controller.

[0029] FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the connection status of zone controllers corresponding to the layout configuration of the conveyor device of FIG. 1, hereinafter referred to as a conveyor connection diagram.

[0029] FIG. 8(a) is an enlarged view of zone controller 10b and its adjacent parts in the conveyor connection diagram of FIG. 8, and

[0029] FIG. 9(b) is a diagram illustrating the connection status of zone controllers installed to realize this.

[0029] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the contents of connection information messages sent by each zone controller to a higher-level control device.

[0029] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a conveyor layout installed to realize the conveyor layout of FIG. 8.

[0029] FIG. 12 is a network system diagram created by a higher-level control device based on connection information messages from each zone controller.

[0029] FIG. 13 is a network system diagram after the contents of the conveyor connection diagram have been reflected. 13 is a diagram illustrating the network system of FIG. 12 in a case where the two zone conveyors that are present in the design drawings are not present in the actually installed conveyor device. FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating the procedure for automatically setting an IP address according to the present embodiment.

[0018] The following describes embodiments of the present invention. The conveyor system 1 of the first embodiment is a conveyor with a layout as shown in FIG. 1 , in which a conveying path branches into multiple paths, and there are multiple destinations for conveying objects. In the conveyor system 1 of the first embodiment, the straight portion of the conveying path is divided into multiple short zones 9. That is, in the conveyor system 1, the straight portion of the conveying path is configured by multiple linear conveying zones connected in series. The conveyor system 1 also includes multiple conveying direction change zones, forming a branched conveying path. The conveyor system 1 is intended to transport objects of approximately a fixed size, such as pallets, containers, and trays, and each zone is long enough to accommodate at least one object.

[0019] Each zone is equipped with one transport module. The transport module integrates a mechanical structure and a zone controller 10. The transport module installed in the linear transport zone is a zone conveyor 2 as shown in Figure 2. The transport module installed in the transport direction change zone is a transfer device 20 as shown in Figure 4.

[0020] The zone conveyor 2 is a roller conveyor, and is configured by a pair of parallel-arranged left and right side frames 3, 3, between which a plurality of conveying rollers 5 for conveying the objects W are supported at predetermined intervals in the conveying direction. The conveying rollers 5 consist of freely rotating driven rollers 5b and motorized rollers 5a incorporating a drive motor (not shown). In this embodiment, there is only one motorized roller 5a, and the rest are all driven rollers 5b.

[0021] Adjacent conveying rollers 5 in the zone conveyor 2 are wound with a transmission belt 6. This allows the rotational driving force of the motorized roller 5a to be transmitted to all of the driven rollers 5b. In this embodiment, the motorized roller 5a is located in the center. The zone conveyor 2 can reverse the carry-in direction and conveying direction by rotating the motorized roller 5a forward and backward, but it does not have the function of branching off destinations or introducing conveyed items from multiple carry-in routes.

[0022] As shown in Figure 2, the zone conveyor 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.

[0023] A photoelectric sensor can be used as the load sensor S, and a light-emitting element (not shown), such as a light-emitting diode or infrared diode, is provided on the opposing side frame 3. When an object is conveyed, the light from the light-emitting element is blocked and an ON (H level) signal is output, and when there is no object being conveyed, an OFF (L level) signal is output. In this way, the photoelectric sensor is turned ON / OFF, making it possible to detect that the object has been conveyed to a predetermined position.

[0024] The straight portion of the conveyor path of the conveyor system 1 is configured by connecting zone conveyors 2, which are conveying modules, in series, as shown in Figure 3. One side frame 3 of each zone conveyor 2a, 2b, 2c, ... is equipped with a zone controller 10 for controlling the drive of the motor in each motorized roller 5a, as shown in Figure 3. The zone controller 10 is attached integrally to the zone conveyor 2, which is a mechanical structural part, and is part of the conveying module. The function of the zone controller 10 will be described later.

[0025] Next, the conveying direction changing zone will be described. The conveying module installed in the conveying direction changing zone is a transfer device 20 as shown in Figures 4, 5, and 6. The transfer device 20 has a direction changing mechanism that switches the conveying direction or the carrying-in direction. As shown in Figure 5, the transfer device 20 is composed of a main conveyor 21, a sub-conveyor 22, and an elevator 23. The main conveyor 21 of the transfer device 20 is a belt conveyor with multiple thin belts 25 arranged at regular intervals. The main conveyor 21 is driven by a motorized roller 28 provided at the end.

[0026] The auxiliary conveyor 22 of the transfer device 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 auxiliary conveyor 22 is arranged so that the rollers 26 are located between the belts 25 of the main conveyor 21, as shown in Figure 4.

[0027] The lifting device 23 has a linear cam 29 and raises and lowers the main conveyor 21 and the auxiliary conveyor 22. To move an object placed on the transfer device 20 in a straight line, the lifting device 23 raises the main conveyor 21 above the auxiliary conveyor 22, drives the motorized rollers 28 of the main conveyor 21, and runs the belt 25. To discharge an object placed on the transfer device 20 laterally, after the object is pulled onto the main conveyor 21, the lifting device 23 raises and lowers the auxiliary conveyor 22, causing the auxiliary conveyor 22 to extend above the main conveyor 21, drives the motorized rollers of the auxiliary conveyor 22, and rotates each roller 26. The transfer device 20 is also provided with a load sensor (not shown). The transfer device 20 is also equipped with a zone controller (not shown). The zone controller 10 is integrally attached to the transfer device 20, which is a mechanical structural part, and is a part of the transport module.

[0028] The conveyor system 1 configured as shown in FIG. 1 is controlled by a host control device 46 and zone controllers 10 in each zone 9. The host control device 46 is a known personal computer with a built-in CPU and memory (not shown) that performs overall control of the entire system. As shown in FIG. 8, a display device 47 and an input device 48 such as a keyboard are connected to the host control device 46. The host control device has a port 71a connected to the zone controller 10 in the most upstream zone 9. As described above, the zone controller 10 controls the drive of the motor in the motorized roller 5a in each zone 9 based on commands from the host control device 46 and the status of the adjacent zone 9. As shown in the block diagram of FIG. 7, the zone controller 10 includes one or more (up to four) ports 71a, 71b, 71c, and 71d, a control unit 72, a memory unit 73, and a drive circuit unit 74.

[0029] The four ports 71a, 71b, 71c, and 71d each have a port number. That is, they are named as follows: port 1 71a, port 2 71b, port 3 71c, and port 4 71d. As shown in FIG. 8 , port 71a of the host control device 46 and each of the ports 71a, 71b, 71c, and 71d of the zone controllers 10 of each zone are connected when they are adjacent to each other. Data can be sent and received between the host control device 46 and the zone controllers 10 adjacent to each other using these ports 71a, 71b, 71c, and 71d. The host control device 46 and the zone controllers 10 form a network using the connections between the ports described above. Therefore, communication is possible between the host control device 46 and any zone controller 10, and between any zone controllers 10.

[0030] The control unit 72 controls the drive circuit 74 in response to commands from the host control device 46 and the zone drive status of the adjacent zone 9, thereby controlling the current supplied to the motor built into the motor-integrated roller. The memory unit 73 includes an area for storing setting values ​​necessary for communication over the network. For example, the network address assigned to each zone controller 10 by the host control device 46 and used to identify each zone controller 10 in network communication is stored in this memory unit 73.

[0031] As described above, the conveyor system 1 of this embodiment is capable of two types of communication. One is communication with the higher-level control means 46 and any zone controller 10 via a network, and the other is communication with an adjacent zone controller 10 via a port. These two types of data transmission and reception will be described in more detail below using Figures 1, 2, 8, 9(a), and 9(b).

[0032] Data communication via a network will be described below. In this communication configuration, each of the zones 9 shown in Figure 1 has a zone controller 10 that controls that zone 9, as shown in Figure 2. During the design stage, which is performed using CAD or the like for the electrical components, a conveyor connection diagram 80 is created, as shown in Figure 8, showing the connection status of the zone controllers 10. In this conveyor connection diagram 80, the connections between adjacent zones 9 are depicted as connections between ports 71a, 71b, 71c, and 71d of the zone controller 10. The connection between the host controller 46 and the adjacent zone 9 is also depicted as a connection between port 1 71a of the host controller 46 and the port of the adjacent zone 9.

[0033] The host control device 46 and the zone controllers 10 each have a network address, which is an identifier on the network. In this embodiment, an IP address is used as the network address. An IP address is an identification number used to identify information devices communicating over a network. In this embodiment, the IP address value is determined at the design stage. This configuration allows the host control device 46 to recognize the IP address of each zone controller 10, and therefore can send commands via the network to control the motors in the desired zone, thereby controlling the motors, such as stopping or starting them. Meanwhile, each zone controller 10 sends the motor's control status (e.g., whether it is stopped or starting, or whether an abnormality has occurred) to the host control device 46, and the host control device 46 can then send appropriate control commands to each zone controller 10.

[0034] Next, communication between zone controllers 10 via ports will be described. In this embodiment, the main purpose of communication via these ports is to learn the attributes of the destination zone controller. All devices connected to the network are assigned a unique physical address (also simply referred to as a unique address) to distinguish them from other devices. In this embodiment, MAC addresses, which are established and registered by the IEEE and widely accepted by many device manufacturers, are used as the unique addresses. That is, different unique addresses (MAC addresses) are assigned to the upper control device 46 and each zone controller 10. These MAC addresses can be sent to adjacent zone controllers via port-to-port communication. For example, in FIG. 8, port 2 of zone controller 10b is connected to port 1 of zone controller 10c, so that data transmission between zone controller 10b and zone controller 10c allows the two zone controllers 10 to learn the MAC address of the destination zone controller 10. The detailed operation will be described below. In the conveyor connection diagram of Figure 8, the section including zone controller 10b and its adjacent parts (shown enlarged in Figure 9(a)) will be described below. In an actually assembled conveyor system 1, as shown in Figure 9(b), the MAC address of zone controller 10a is set to 00:00:a1, the MAC address of zone controller 10b is set to 00:00:a2, the MAC address of zone controller 10c is set to 00:00:a3, and the MAC address of zone controller 10d is set to 00:00:a9. Here, when a command requesting a MAC address is sent from port 1 of zone controller 10b to port 2 of zone controller 10a, zone controller 10a sends its own MAC address, 00:00:a1, to zone controller 10b in response to this command. Furthermore, when a command is sent requesting which port of the destination zone controller 10a is connected to port 1 of zone controller 10b, zone controller 10a responds by transmitting to zone controller 10b that it is connected to port 2.Through the above exchange, it can be known that port 1 of zone controller 10b (MAC address 00:00:a2) is connected to port 2 of zone controller 10a (MAC address 00:00:a1).

[0035] From similar inter-port communication, it can be learned that port 2 of zone controller 10b is connected to port 1 of zone controller 10c and that the MAC address of zone controller 10c is 00:00:a3. It can also be learned that port 3 of zone controller 10b is connected to port 1 of zone controller 10d and that the MAC address of zone controller 10d is 00:00:a9. Through this operation, zone controller 10b can learn the attributes (MAC addresses, destination port numbers) of the zone controllers in all adjacent zones 9. In other words, through this inter-port communication, zone controller 10b can learn the MAC addresses of the zone controllers 10 in all adjacent zones 9 and the port numbers of the connected zone controllers. Other zone controllers 10 can also obtain the attributes (MAC addresses, destination port numbers) of adjacent zone controllers 10 by performing inter-port communication in the same manner as the inter-port communication in zone controller 10b described above.

[0036] That is, each zone controller 10 compiles the connection information of its own ports as a connection information message 81, shown in Figure 10, to be sent to the upper control device. In more detail, this configuration includes the MAC addresses and IP addresses of the zone controllers connected to each of port numbers 1 to 4 possessed by the zone controller 10, and the port numbers of these connected zone controllers 10. As will be described later, based on this connection information message from each zone controller 10, the upper control device 46 creates network system diagrams 82, 83, and 84 that show, in figures and tables, the connection status of the zone controllers 10 in the conveyor system to be installed.

[0037] Next, the procedure for automatic IP address setting in this embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart in Figure 14. Automatic IP address setting in this embodiment automatically sets the IP addresses of the zone controllers 10 for each zone, determined at the design stage and described in a conveyor connection diagram 80 showing the layout of multiple zones, to each zone controller in the actual automated conveyor system 1. The conveyor connection diagram 80 shown in Figure 8 must be converted in advance into a known, predetermined file format that can be read by the upper-level control device 46 of the conveyor system 1 so that it can be recognized by the upper-level control device 46 and displayed on the display device 47. In this embodiment, it is converted into a known XML file.

[0038] First, as shown in step 1 of FIG. 14, the conveyor system 1 of this embodiment is powered on. When power is turned on, the zone controllers 10 of each zone autonomously execute an operation to confirm, via port-to-port communication, whether their own ports 71a, 71b, 71c, and 71d are connected to the ports of the higher-level control device 46 or to ports 11a, 12b, 13c, and 14d of other zone controllers 10. At the same time, they also autonomously execute an operation to confirm the MAC addresses of the zone controllers 10 connected to their respective ports. As described above, all zone controllers 10 execute this operation, and each zone controller 10 creates a connection information message 81 shown in FIG. 10. Note that the IP addresses of all zone controllers 10 at the time of power-on are set to their initial value of 1.1.

[0039] Next, as shown in step 2 of FIG. 14 , the upper control device 46 commands each zone controller 10 to transmit its own connection information message 81 to the upper control device 46. This connection information message 81 is transmitted to the upper control device 46 via the network. As described above, the IP addresses of all zone controllers 10 are set to 1.1, which is their initial state, after power-on. Therefore, as shown in step 3 of FIG. 14 , the upper control device 46 receives all of the connection information messages 81 from the multiple zone controllers 10 with IP address 1.1. Next, as shown in step 4 of FIG. 14 , the connection information messages from all zone controllers are assembled to create a network system diagram 82 such as that shown in FIG. 11 . The network system diagram 82 is composed of a diagram (the upper diagram of FIG. 11 ) showing the connection status of the zone controllers in a diagram-based manner and a connection table (the lower diagram of FIG. 11 ) showing the connection status with other zone controllers 10 in a table-based manner.

[0040] Next, as shown in step 5 of Figure 14, a command is issued to import conveyor connection diagram 80, which is a design drawing of zone controller 10 in the form of an XML file, into host control device 46. Next, as shown in step 6 of Figure 14, a check is made to see if the configuration of conveyor connection diagram 80 matches network system diagram 82. Here, if the zones 9 of conveyor system 1 are assembled as designed (Yes in step 6), the configuration of zone controller 10 in network system diagram 82, which shows the connection status of the installed conveyor system 1, matches the conveyor connection diagram. In this case, the IP addresses of each zone controller 10 listed in conveyor connection diagram 80 are written directly into network system diagram 82 as the IP addresses of the corresponding zone controllers 10 in network system diagram 82, as shown in Figure 12, to become network system diagram 83.

[0041] Next, the host controller is instructed to update the IP addresses as shown in step 8 of Fig. 14. In this case, since the answer to step 9, which is executed after step 8 of Fig. 14, is No, the IP addresses of each zone controller 10 are automatically updated to the values ​​written in the conveyor connection diagram as shown in step 10 of Fig. 14.

[0042] Next, in this embodiment, the display when the connection status of the zone controllers 10 in the network system diagram and the conveyor connection diagram differ will be described. That is, the case where step 6 in FIG. 14 is answered "No" will be described. In this case, as shown in step 7 in FIG. 14, the network system diagram 82 becomes a network system diagram 84 including an error location display. For example, if two zones 9 including two zone controllers 10e and 10f that are present in the conveyor connection diagram in FIG. 8 are not present in the conveyor system 1 to be installed, they are displayed in the shaded areas of the network system diagram 84 on the screen of the display device 47, as shown in FIG. 13. In other words, these two zone controllers 10 are zone controllers 10 that should actually be present and connected to the conveyor system 1. In this case, even if an IP address update command is issued from the upper control device 46 as shown in step 8 in FIG. 14, since step 9 after execution of step 8 is answered "Yes," the IP addresses of the actual zone controllers 10 are not updated as shown in step 11 in FIG. 14. Conversely, in this embodiment, an error message is displayed even when a zone is not included in the conveyor connection diagram 80 showing the design drawings but is included in the actual conveyor device 1. Also, an error message is displayed when the port number to be connected differs from that in the conveyor connection diagram 80 showing the design drawings.

[0043] In this embodiment, the zone controller 10 is arranged to control one zone 9. However, the zone controller 10 may be configured to control two or more zones 9.

[0044] The present disclosure includes the following items: [Item 1] A conveyor system including a host control device that transports objects from a start position to a destination, the conveyor system being divided into a plurality of zones that are connected in sequence, and transporting objects across the zones, wherein each of the plurality of zones has a zone controller that controls that zone, and the host control device and each of the zone controllers are capable of communicating with each other via a network, and the host control device is capable of automatically setting a network address in each zone controller based on a conveyor connection diagram that shows the layout of the plurality of zones and the network addresses of the zone controllers for each zone. [Item 2] The conveyor system according to item 1, wherein the zone controllers of the plurality of zones are capable of detecting the zones to which their respective zones are connected and transmitting this information as connection destination information to the host control device via the network, and the host control device is capable of recognizing a network system that shows the actual connection relationships of the conveyor system from the connection destination information obtained from the plurality of zones. [Item 3] The conveyor system according to item 2, characterized in that the upper control device is able to compare the conveyor connection diagram with a network system showing the recognized actual connection relationships of the conveyor system and clearly indicate any inconsistencies. [Item 4] The conveyor system according to item 3, characterized in that the conveyor system does not update the network address when an inconsistency occurs. [Item 5] The conveyor system according to any one of items 2 to 4, characterized in that the zone controller has multiple ports, the ports of zone controllers in adjacent zones are connected to each other, and the connected zone controller is detected via the port of the zone controller.[Item 6] The conveyor system according to Item 5, wherein each of the ports has a port number and the zone controller has a unique address, each of the zone controllers is capable of transmitting zone controller information to a higher-level control device via the network, the zone controller information including the port number of each of its own ports and the port number and unique address of the connected zone controller, and the higher-level control device aggregates the zone controller information from all of the zone controllers to recognize the network system. [Item 7] The conveyor system according to Item 6, wherein the higher-level control device is capable of comparing a conveyor connection diagram designed using a CAD device or the like with a network system showing the actual connection relationships of the conveyor system, and clearly indicating any inconsistencies. [Item 8] The conveyor system according to Item 7, wherein the conveyor system does not update the network address when a inconsistency occurs. [Item 9] A method for setting a network address for a conveyor device, wherein the conveyor device includes a host control device and transports an object from a start position to a destination, the conveyor device is divided into a plurality of zones and transports the object across the zones, each of the plurality of zones has a zone controller, and the host control device and each of the zone controllers are capable of communicating with each other via a network, and the method includes a step of automatically setting a network address for each zone controller based on a conveyor connection diagram that shows the layout of the plurality of zones and the network addresses of the zone controllers for each zone.

[0045] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 conveyor device 2 zone conveyor (conveying module of linear conveying zone) 9 zone 10 zone controller 20 transfer device (conveying module of conveying direction changing zone) 46 upper control device (initial information transmitting means) 47 display device 48 input device 71a, 71b, 71c, 71d port 72 control unit 73 memory unit 74 drive circuit 80 conveyor connection diagram 81 connection information message 82, 83, 84 network system diagram

Claims

1. A conveyor system including a host control device that transports objects from a start position to a destination, the conveyor system being divided into a plurality of zones that are connected in sequence, and transporting objects across the zones, wherein each of the plurality of zones has a zone controller that controls that zone, and the host control device and each of the zone controllers are capable of communicating with each other via a network, and the host control device is capable of automatically setting a network address in each zone controller based on a conveyor connection diagram that shows the layout of the plurality of zones and the network addresses of the zone controllers for each zone.

2. The conveyor device according to claim 1, characterized in that the zone controllers of the multiple zones are capable of detecting the zones to which their own zones are connected and transmitting this information as connection destination information to the upper control device via the network, and the upper control device is capable of recognizing the network system indicating the actual connection relationships of the conveyor device from the connection destination information obtained from the multiple zones.

3. The conveyor system according to claim 2, wherein the upper control device is capable of comparing the conveyor connection diagram with a network system showing the recognized connection relationships of the actual conveyor system, and clearly indicating any discrepancies.

4. The conveyor device according to claim 3, wherein the conveyor device does not update the network address when the inconsistency occurs.

5. The conveyor device according to claim 2, wherein the zone controller has a plurality of ports, the ports of the zone controllers of adjacent zones are connected to each other, and the connected zone controller is detected via the port of the zone controller.

6. A conveyor system as described in claim 5, characterized in that each of the ports has a port number, and each of the zone controllers has a unique address, each of the zone controllers is capable of transmitting zone controller information to a higher-level control device via the network, the zone controller information including the port number of each of its own ports and the port number and unique address of the connected zone controller, and the higher-level control device aggregates the zone controller information from all of the zone controllers to recognize the network system.

7. The conveyor system according to claim 6, wherein the host control device is capable of comparing a conveyor connection diagram designed using a CAD system or the like with a network system showing the connection relationships of the actual conveyor system, and clearly indicating any discrepancies.

8. The conveyor system according to claim 7, wherein the conveyor system does not update the network address when the inconsistency occurs.

9. A method for setting a network address for a conveyor device, wherein the conveyor device includes a host control device and transports an object from a start position to a destination, the conveyor device is divided into a plurality of zones and transports the object across the zones, each of the plurality of zones has a zone controller, and the host control device and each of the zone controllers are capable of communicating with each other via a network, and the method for setting a network address for a conveyor device comprises the step of automatically setting a network address for each zone controller based on a conveyor connection diagram showing the layout of the plurality of zones and the network addresses of the zone controllers for each zone.

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