Assembly Process Design for Product-Specific Special Tasks

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing process design devices struggle to effectively handle special task processes unique to a product, which are difficult to define in advance, limiting their ability to optimize assembly procedures.

Innovation Solution

A process design device that includes a standard process acquisition unit, facility acquisition unit, procedure acquisition unit, process determination unit, and display control unit to identify and emphasize special task processes not defined in standard data, allowing users to associate executing subjects with these processes and generate design process data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If standard process data is used to define all task processes, then process design can be automated and standardized, but special task processes unique to each product cannot be handled

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomation of process designVSAvoidhandling of special task processes
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments task processes into two categories: standard processes (handled automatically by the system) and special processes (requiring user input). This segmentation allows the system to automate routine tasks while preserving flexibility for product-specific variations, resolving the contradiction between automation and adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism (the determination unit and display control unit) that identifies special processes and prompts users to provide necessary information. This intermediary bridges the gap between automated standard process handling and manual special process definition, enabling both automation and adaptability to coexist.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If all task processes are defined in advance according to standard rules, then process optimization can be performed efficiently, but product-specific unique processes cannot be accommodated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveefficiency of process optimizationVSAvoidaccommodation of product-specific processes
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary identification of special processes before optimization begins. By using the determination unit to identify which processes are standard versus special, and the display control unit to prompt users in advance, the system prepares the necessary information structure ahead of time, allowing efficient optimization while accommodating product-specific variations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Loss of time

If simulation is executed with pre-defined task element information, then process analysis can be performed quickly, but processes that cannot be defined in advance cannot be simulated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetime for process analysisVSAvoidsimulation of undefined processes
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary identification and user prompting for special processes before simulation execution. This preliminary action ensures that all necessary information is gathered in advance, allowing the simulation to proceed quickly without requiring redefinition of processes during execution, thus reducing time loss while maintaining adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3499392B1Process design device, procedure generation device, method of controlling process design device, and recording medium
Publication Date: 2024.10.02 OMRON CORP
  • EP3499392B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3499392B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3499392B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A process design device, a procedure generation device, a method of controlling a process design device, and a recording medium are provided, such that during an assembly procedure of a product, even when a special task process unique to the product, which is difficult to define in advance, is included, the process of assembling the product is designed. The process design device (1) determines whether or not each task process (PP) in procedure data is a special process (SP), displays the task process (PP) that has been determined to be the special process (SP) in an emphasized manner, and allows a user to decide a facility (R) that is caused to execute the task process (PP).