Article Management Apparatus for Component Mounter Allocation

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing component mounter systems lack the ability for operators to set restriction conditions such as availability of substitutes, leading to allocation of articles under undesired conditions.

Innovation Solution

An article management apparatus and method that allows users to set restriction conditions and priorities for each production plan, enabling allocation of articles based on predetermined criteria, including availability of substitutes and location, to ensure optimal allocation for board product production.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If automatic article allocation is performed based on simple priority settings, then allocation speed is improved, but allocation accuracy according to operator requirements deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveallocation speedVSAvoidallocation accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The priority setting is segmented into multiple priority elements (first priority element, second priority element, etc.) that can be independently configured. This allows the system to evaluate articles based on multiple criteria simultaneously, improving allocation accuracy while maintaining automated processing speed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the parameter of priority evaluation from a single-value setting to a multi-element composite setting. By introducing multiple priority elements with different weights and conditions, the system achieves more precise allocation that reflects operator requirements while maintaining automated efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Device complexity

If restriction conditions are not set, then system complexity is reduced, but allocation reliability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem complexityVSAvoidallocation reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Restriction conditions and priority settings are configured in advance before the allocation process begins. This preliminary configuration ensures that the allocation system operates reliably according to predetermined rules without requiring complex real-time decision-making, thus maintaining low system complexity while improving reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If multiple priority elements are configured, then allocation accuracy is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveallocation accuracyVSAvoidease of operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides default priority element configurations that automatically adapt to different article types and production scenarios. This self-service capability allows the system to maintain high allocation accuracy through multiple priority elements while reducing the operational burden on users through intelligent defaults and automated adjustments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3927130B1Article management apparatus and article management method
Publication Date: 2024.07.03 FUJI CORP
  • EP3927130B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3927130B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP3927130B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

An article management apparatus allocates articles necessary for a board working machine in a production of the board product out of the articles stored in a storage based on a production plan of the board working machine that performs a predetermined board work on the board to produce the board product. The article management apparatus includes a first setting section, a second setting section, and a selecting section. The first setting section allows a user of the board working machine to set a restriction condition for each production plan of the board product. The second setting section allows the user to set a priority among multiple priority elements when allocating the articles for the articles needed in a case of producing the board product under the restriction condition set by the first setting section. The selecting section allocates the articles based on the priority of the priority element set by the second setting section.