Work Process Tracking via Mark Recognition for Transfer Decisions

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current systems for managing the progress of jobs with multiple work processes in factories require manual entry to determine if a work object has completed its current process, making it inefficient and prone to errors in determining transferability to the next process.

Innovation Solution

An information processing system that uses imagers to capture forms with mark images indicating transferability, allowing a processor to manage work processes and determine if a work object is ready for the next process based on recognized image data, integrating with automated guided vehicles for seamless transfer.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual entry is used to determine work object completion status, then the system can track work progress, but the process becomes inefficient and error-prone

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of transferability determinationVSAvoidefficiency of work process management

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the manual mechanical entry system with an automated optical recognition system. Imagors (cameras) capture images of mark images on work objects, and an image processing unit automatically recognizes and processes these marks to determine completion status and transferability, eliminating manual data entry operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The work objects themselves carry mark images that automatically indicate their completion status. The system allows work objects to 'self-report' their state through these visual marks, eliminating the need for workers to manually enter status information into the management system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Ease of operation

If manual entry is required for work object status, then the management system can track completion, but the operation becomes complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity of status update processVSAvoidtime for determining transferability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual status update operations with automated image capture and processing. Imagors continuously or periodically capture images of work objects, and the image processing unit automatically analyzes mark images to update completion status, eliminating time-consuming manual data entry operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The mark images are pre-prepared and attached to work objects before they enter the work process. These marks contain predetermined information about completion status and transferability conditions, allowing the system to quickly determine status without requiring time-consuming manual assessment or data entry during the work process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Loss of information

If barcode or RFID tags are used for tracking, then work progress can be managed, but manual intervention is still needed to update completion status

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetracking accuracy of work objectsVSAvoidautomation of status update process

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSExtent of automation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces RFID tags and barcode scanning systems with an optical recognition system using imagors. The system captures images of mark images on work objects and uses image processing to automatically recognize and process completion status information, achieving full automation without manual intervention for status updates.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses visual mark images that can be captured as digital copies by imagors. These mark images serve as visual copies of work object status information, which can be rapidly replicated and processed by the image processing unit, enabling automated tracking and status determination without physical contact or manual reading.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS11445084B2Work process managing system to manage progress of a job including multiple work processes, work process managing method, and work process managing apparatus

Publication Date: 2022.09.13 RICOH CO LTD

AI summary

An information processing system manages progress of a job including one or more work processes. The information processing system includes one or more imagers that are associated with the one or more work processes of the job and configured to capture a form being transferred together with a work object of the job; and a processor programmed to execute a process including managing the one or more work processes of the job based on the one or more imagers capturing the form, recognizing a mark image indicating transferability from image data of the form captured by the one or more imagers, and managing whether the work object is transferable to a next work process based on the mark image recognized from the image data obtained by capturing the form.