JP2008059321A - Process simulation system - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is a process simulation system in which a simulation model can be easily created and changed, and a simulation can be performed by accurately evaluating the transfer capability of a robot, an automated guided vehicle, an automated warehouse, a conveyor, and the like.
A simulation unit 104 is a simulator that operates on a computer, and includes a layout input unit 105 for inputting layout information 101 indicating a layout of equipment, and various parameters necessary for the simulation (such as an operation speed of a transport system). ) To set parameter definition means 106, program editing means 107 for editing and storing the common control program 102, and common control program 102 are executed to perform simulation, and aggregate and output various data of simulation results And a simulation execution means 108.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention evaluates the production capacity of a line part called a flow shop, for example, the production capacity of a line part that transports in units of substrates in an assembly line or a semiconductor / liquid crystal production line by simulation, and uses an automatic transport vehicle, a transport robot, an automatic The present invention relates to a process simulation system for developing a simulation model including a transport facility such as a warehouse and a conveyor.

  Simulation is often performed to evaluate the layout of a production system. In the simulation, a simulator is used to input the layout of the production equipment and transfer system, parameters such as process flow, production equipment capacity, and transfer equipment capacity are input, and control rules are programmed and the layout is made on the computer. Using the parameters and parameters, the program is executed to perform virtual production. This makes it possible to evaluate the production capacity and the conveyance capacity at the layout examination stage before the factory construction.

  However, when programming the control rules in the simulator, it is necessary to write the program using a simulation language that includes commands specific to the simulator, but this simulation language is very difficult, and to master to a certain level It takes several months. In addition, even for those who are masters, when the factory scale increases, a development period of several weeks is required to develop a simulation model.

  In recent years, the factory scale tends to be large and complicated, and therefore the simulation model development period tends to be prolonged.

  For example, liquid crystal substrates used for liquid crystal displays are becoming larger, cassette weights can reach several tons, and transport from cassette units has reached the limit from the structural point of view of factory constructions. From the above-mentioned transport, single-wafer transport for transporting in units of substrates is being introduced. In this single wafer transfer in units of substrates, the transfer system becomes complicated and enormous, so the development period of the simulation model is prolonged.

  Although the development period of the simulation model tends to be extended in this way, the production system designer evaluates the production capacity and transfer capacity of the system at the same time as the system design, and reflects the results in the system design. There is a desire to make it happen. That is, there is a need for a significant reduction in the simulation model development period.

  For this reason, Patent Document 1 proposes a method of automatically generating a simulation model that quickly reflects changes in equipment capacity and number of units.

In Patent Document 2, a series of simulation program arrays are automatically generated, and a simulation program created from the simulation program arrays is executed. Thereby, even when the element arrangement of the production system is changed, the simulation program can be easily generated.
JP 2004-102351 A JP-A-2005-148783

  However, Patent Documents 1 and 2 indicate that the simulation model can be easily changed according to the change in the capacity and number of facilities and the change in the arrangement. It was necessary to create a program with the same procedure, and the development period was prolonged.

  In addition, since the simulation is performed with the workpiece transfer time fixed, the transfer capability of the robot, automatic transfer vehicle, automatic warehouse, conveyor, etc. could not be accurately evaluated. For this reason, in order to accurately simulate the conveyance time and the like, it is necessary to create a conveyance model that models an actual conveyance operation and perform a simulation.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional problems, and it is easy to create and change a simulation model, and accurately evaluates the transfer capability of a robot, an automatic guided vehicle, an automatic warehouse, a conveyor, and the like. An object of the present invention is to provide a process simulation system capable of performing simulation.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides a process simulation system for simulating the flow of a workpiece on a production line, for each station where the workpiece is temporarily left stationary, Operation control data defining the transfer of workpieces between the other station and a common control program for performing operations at the station and transferring workpieces between the station and other stations based on the operation control data And simulating the work flow of the production line by executing the common control program.

  In addition, the operation control data includes transfer location information indicating a position for loading and unloading a workpiece, and the common control program includes not only the operation control data but also transfer capability information between a station and another station, The layout information is also used to simulate the work flow of the production line.

  Further, the operation control data includes station information including number information unique to each station, transport destination information including number information of the next station, and resource information indicating a work processing time and a tact time of the station. Including.

  The operation control data can have a plurality of pieces of transport destination information for each station, and branch condition information for determining whether to select the transport destination information for each transport destination information. , Transport destination station information, reservation destination station information, and transport location information indicating the position of loading and unloading the workpiece.

  Further, the operation control data includes station control number information for defining a plurality of control contents at the same station.

  The operation control data includes stop pattern information indicating a resource stop operation pattern related to the station and stop time information.

  Further, the operation control data includes processing order information indicating the order in which the work is carried out from the station when a plurality of works exist in the station.

  Further, the operation control data includes transport priority information indicating a priority of transporting a work when there is a transport request from a plurality of works in the transport system.

  Further, the operation control data includes pre-conveyance time information for calling the next workpiece before the processing of the workpiece at the station is completed.

  The common control program is a common program that can control the operations of all stations.

  According to the process simulation system of the present invention, based on the operation control data defining the operation at the station and the transfer of the workpiece between the station and another station, and the operation control data, the operation and the transfer are simulated. And a common control program. The common control program can be applied to all stations regardless of the station layout and station operation. For this reason, when designing a production system, simulation can be performed only by setting or changing station layout and operation control data without setting or changing a common control program. Therefore, even when building a new simulation model, program development is not required, programming and debugging are not required, and the development period of the simulation model can be greatly shortened (even if it took two weeks for model development in the past). Modeling is possible in about one day.)

  Previously, a series of cycles in which a factory layout designer created a layout plan, verified productivity and conveyance capability by simulation, extracted problems, and corrected the layout was about two weeks. On the other hand, if the present invention is applied, the verification result by simulation can be fed back almost simultaneously with the creation of the layout plan, so that the design period of the factory layout can be greatly shortened.

  In addition, in the present invention, modeling is possible only by layout input and creation of operation control data (text or Microsoft Excel format), and it is not necessary to create a program, so even a person who does not know the simulation language can easily do so. A model can be created.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a process simulation system of the present invention. In FIG. 1, layout information 101 is information indicating the arrangement and shape (layout) of production equipment, transfer equipment, stations, etc. of the production system. The common control program 102 controls the operation of the workpiece and each process equipment, reads data necessary for the simulation from a file (operation control data 103) such as a text format or an Excel format (Microsoft), and converts it into an internal variable. This is a program that describes the procedure for developing and storing and summing up and outputting various data of simulation results. It is a program that can be used in any layout regardless of the layout of the production system. . The operation control data 103 is a parameter file describing parameters used in the common control program 102.

  The simulation unit 104 is a simulator that operates on a computer, and sets a layout input unit 105 for inputting layout information 101 indicating a layout of equipment and various parameters (such as operation speed of the transport system) necessary for the simulation. Parameter defining means 106, program editing means 107 for editing and storing the common control program 102, and simulation execution means 108 for executing the simulation by executing the common control program 102, and collecting and outputting various data of simulation results. It consists of. Here, the simulation execution means 104 may be a commercially available general-purpose process simulator. The simulation result form 109 is a form created by editing the simulation result data output from the simulation execution means 108.

FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing the layout of the production system simulated by the process simulation system of the present embodiment. In FIG. 2, stations S001 to S005 are stations on which a workpiece is temporarily left, and two of these stations S001 and S005 serve as a table that can serve as a table on which only one workpiece can be placed. It is. The other station S003 is a buffer station serving as a buffer capable of storing and storing a plurality of works. Furthermore, the other two stations S002 and S004 are processing stations having processing equipment for processing the workpiece, and when the workpiece is processed in either of the stations S002 and S004,
The processing is performed in the order from station S002 to station S004.

  In this embodiment, the processing ratio of the station S002 is 10%, the processing ratio of the station S004 is 100% (S002 is skipped and the processing of S004 is 90%, and both the processing of S002 and S004 are performed. Since S004 is 10%, processing of 100% is performed in combination with S004.) Therefore, station S002 may be skipped and only processing of station S004 may be performed.

  The transfer locations L1 to L5 represent positions where the transfer robot 203 stops.

  Here, when a workpiece is input to the station S001, the processing rate of the next processing station, the station S002, is 10%, so it is determined whether to skip the station S002 using a random number. As a result, if it is determined that the station S002 is not skipped, it is confirmed whether or not the station S002 is empty. If the station S002 is empty, the work is transferred from the station S001 to the station S002. The workpiece is transferred to station S003 of the buffer station.

  In the station S003, the workpiece whose next processing station is the station S002 is transported to the station S002 when the station S002 becomes empty.

  The workpiece that has been processed in the station S002 is transferred from the station S002 to the station S004 if the next processing station, the station S004, is empty, and is transferred to the station S003, which is a buffer station, if it is not empty.

  In the station S003, the work whose next processing station is the station S004 is transported to the station S004 when the station S004 becomes empty.

  In the station S004, when the processing of the workpiece is completed, it is confirmed whether or not the station S005, which is a placement station, is empty. If the workpiece is empty, the workpiece is transferred to the station S005.

  The station S005 is set to a position for delivering the workpiece, and the workpiece that has reached this place is dispensed after a predetermined time and disappears from the production system.

  If it is determined in the station S001 that the next processing station, the station S002, is skipped, the next processing station is determined to be the station S004. If the station S004 is empty, the work is transferred to the station S004. If not, the work is transferred to station S003, which is a buffer station.

  In the station S003, the work whose next processing station is the station S004 is transported to the station S004 when the station S004 becomes empty.

  In the station S004, when the processing of the workpiece is finished, it is confirmed whether or not the station S005, which is a mounting station, is vacant, and if it is vacant, the workpiece is transferred to the station S005.

  The work that has reached the station S005 disappears after a certain time.

  The transfer robot 203 is a main part of the transfer system, and moves to the transfer location L1 when taking out the workpiece from the station S001. Similarly, when transferring the workpiece at each of the stations S002 to S005, each transfer location L2 is transferred. Move to ~ L5.

  The arm holding the workpiece of the transfer robot 203 may be a W-arm, and the workpiece before processing and the workpiece after processing may be carried simultaneously. By doing so, it is possible to carry the processing equipment into the stations S002 and S004 and carry it out from the processing equipment at a time, thereby reducing the number of times of conveyance and improving the conveyance efficiency, and replacing the workpiece at the processing equipment. Time is shortened.

  Further, the work replacement loss time of the processing equipment may be shortened by transporting the work to be processed next halfway before the processing is completed and waiting in front of the processing equipment.

  Further, the work replacement loss time of the processing equipment may be shortened by giving priority to the transfer to the stations S002 and S004 of the processing equipment over the transfer to other stations.

  FIG. 3 is a table showing the operation control data 103 that defines the operation of a workpiece or the like in the production system layout of FIG. In the table of FIG. 3, the station information includes a station number or a station control number, and the station control number may not be defined. The station number is a number unique to each station. The station control number is given to each control in order to distinguish these controls when a plurality of different controls are performed even in the same station. For example, in the station S003, since there are two next stations, the stations S002 and S004, the station control number 1 indicating the transfer to the station S002 and the station control number 2 indicating the transfer to the station S004 are defined. The next station can be distinguished by the station control number.

  Hereinafter, the station S003 is represented as stations S003.1 and S003.2 in order to distinguish the station S003 by the two station control numbers 1 and 2.

  The resource information includes a resource capacity, a processing time, a tact time, or a pre-transport time, and it is not necessary to define each of them. The resource capacity is the number of workpieces entering the station, and is the number of workpieces stored in a buffer or processing facility. For example, 10 workpieces can be stored in the buffer station S003. The processing time is a processing time from the start of the processing of the workpiece at the processing equipment station to the completion thereof. The tact time is a machining time per workpiece at a machining facility station. For example, if the processing time is 100 seconds and two workpieces are processed simultaneously, the tact time is 50 seconds. In other words, the tact time is also an interval (cycle time) of processing time when processing is continuously performed at a station of processing equipment. The pre-conveying time indicates the timing for permitting the reservation of the next workpiece for the station before the processing of the workpiece is completed at the processing equipment station. The reservation for the next workpiece to be carried into the station is entered. And the next workpiece can be transferred before the processing is completed. For example, at the processing equipment station S002, both the processing time and the tact time are 300 seconds, and the next workpiece is started to be transferred 20 seconds before the processing is completed. Further, at the processing equipment station S004, the processing time and the tact time are both 100 seconds, and the conveyance of the next workpiece is started 20 seconds before the processing is completed.

  The resource stop information includes a stop pattern, a stop interval, and a stop time. Also, a plurality of resource stop information can be combined. A stop pattern is defined by a pattern number that distinguishes stoppages that occur irregularly, such as failures, and maintenance that is performed regularly or stops during breaks, and each resource stop program is assigned to each pattern number. A resource stop program corresponding to the pattern number is started in advance. The average stop interval is an average value of the time required from the return after the previous stop until the next stop, and the average stop time is an average value of the time required from the stop to the return. For example, in the processing equipment stations S002 and S004, the stop pattern at the time of failure is defined by pattern number 1, and the stop pattern at the time of maintenance is defined by pattern number 2.

  The processing order information represents an order rule when a work arriving at a station proceeds to the next station. When this definition is “FIFO”, the work of the station is transferred to the next station in the order of arrival at the station. In the case of “Random”, the work of the station is transported when the next station becomes free regardless of the order of arrival at the station. For example, in the buffer station S003, there is a shelf that can store 10 workpieces, and each workpiece can be accessed at random, so that the processing order information is defined as “random”.

  The transport priority information represents the transport priority when transporting from the station. When the transfer priority is defined, the transfer system transfers the work of the station having a higher transfer priority with priority. In this production system, the processing ratio of the processing equipment station S004 is 100%, and the station S004 is rate-limiting, so that the workpiece transfer priority from the station S003.2 to the station S004 is increased.

  The transfer destination information includes a branch condition, a transfer destination station, a reservation destination station, a transfer position, a transfer source location, or a transfer destination location, and may not be defined. Further, a plurality of transport destination information can be combined to make a complicated branch. The branching condition represents the ratio of branching if the ratio is defined. If the branch condition ratio is not defined, if the reservation destination station is defined, after the reservation, the workpiece is transferred to the transfer destination station, and if the reservation destination station is not defined, unconditionally, The workpiece is moved to the transfer destination station. The transfer destination station is defined by two pieces of information including a station number indicating a transfer destination and a station control number. The reservation destination station indicates a station where a reservation should be made before the workpiece is transferred to the transfer destination station. If a reservation can be made in this reservation destination station, the workpiece is transferred to the transfer destination station defined in the transfer destination information. Be transported. Usually, the reservation destination station is the same as the transfer destination station, but it may be another place.

  When the branch condition ratio is defined, the transfer destination information including the branch condition is selected based on the ratio, the reservation destination station of the transfer destination information is reserved, and the workpiece is transferred to the transfer destination station.

  The transfer position represents the number of a plurality of arms held by the transfer robot 203. For example, since a W-arm transfer robot has two arms, it can be selected which arm is used. In the W-arm transfer robot, for example, by distinguishing an arm (position) for carrying a workpiece before processing into a processing equipment station and an arm (position) for carrying out a workpiece after processing from the processing equipment station, It is possible to easily control the replacement of workpieces at a processing facility station.

  The transfer source location represents a position where the work is placed on the transfer robot 203 when the work is unloaded from the station. The transfer destination location represents a position where the transfer robot 203 moves to the next station and unloads the workpiece at the next station.

  For example, in the station S001, the next station is the station S002 at a ratio of the branch condition of 10%, and the station S004 at the ratio of the branch condition of 90%. The work of the station S001 is transported to the station S002 or S2004 if the stations S002 and S2004 are free. If the station S002 is not empty, the work is transferred from the station S001 to the station S002 via the station S003.1 (station S003, station control number 1), and if the station S004 is not empty, the work is transferred from the station S001. Transported to station S004 via station S003.2 (station S003, station control number 2). Further, the work of the station S002 is transferred to the station S004 if the station S004 is empty, and is transferred to the station S003.2 if the station S004 is not empty. However, if both the station S004 and the station S003.2 are not vacant, the work is transported to the vacant one of the stations S004 and S003.2. The work of the station S003 is transferred to the station S002 when the station control number is 1, and is transferred to the station S004 when the station control number is 2 (even in the same station, control is distinguished by the station control number). . The work of station S004 is transported to station S005 after making a reservation in station S005. Station S005 is the last station from which the workpiece is paid out and disappears.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a process performed by the common control program 102 of the process simulation system of this embodiment.

  Steps 001 to 019 of the common control program 102 in FIG. 4 are executed by the simulation means 104 in FIG. 1 in order to perform a simulation of the production system. The simulation means 104 inputs the layout information 101 of FIG. 2 via the layout input means 105, inputs the operation control data 103 of FIG. 3, and inputs various parameters (such as the operation speed of the transport system) from the parameter definition means 106. 4 is input via the program editing means 107, and the common control program 102 in FIG. 4 is executed using the layout information 101 in FIG. 2, the operation control data 103 in FIG. 3, and various parameters. Then, the production system is simulated, and the simulation result is output through the simulation result form 109.

  First, in step 001, the work is transferred to the station, and the process proceeds to step 002. In this embodiment, since the movement of the workpiece within the station is not defined, it is assumed that the workpiece is placed at a certain position within the station. In actual machining equipment, the workpiece may move, but it is possible to assume a model in which the workpiece does not move in the station. In addition, when the movement of the work is affected, the processing equipment may be divided into a plurality of stations in detail and the transfer of the work between these stations may be defined.

  In step 002, since the work arrives at the station (hereinafter referred to as the current station) in step 001, the reservation of the transfer position of the transfer robot 203 used so far is canceled, and the process proceeds to step 003.

  In step 003, in order to keep the work at the current station only for the processing time required for the work processing, first, the work is kept only for the time obtained by subtracting the tact time from the processing time, and the process proceeds to step 004. For the remaining tact time, the work is stopped in step 006.

  In step 004, in order to limit the number of workpieces that execute the subsequent steps to one, if the processing control flag is not 0, that is, if the processing control flag is set to 1 in accordance with the processing of another previous workpiece. The process waits until the process control flag becomes 0 before proceeding to step 005.

  In step 005, since the process for determining the transfer destination station is started, the process control flag is set to 1, and the process proceeds to step 006.

  In step 006, in order to keep the work for the remaining tact time, the work is kept for the time obtained by subtracting the pre-conveyance time from the tact time, and the process proceeds to step 007. Further, for the remaining pre-conveyance time, the work is stopped in step 013.

  In step 007, if the processing order pattern is a FIFO, the process proceeds to step 009, and if not (if random), the process proceeds to step 008.

  In step 008, 0 is assigned to the process control flag, and the process proceeds to step 009.

  Since the FIFO is a rule for transferring workpieces to the next station in the order of arrival at the current station, in the case of FIFO, the workpiece that has arrived first at the current station (the workpiece that is currently being processed) is transferred. It is necessary to determine the destination with the highest priority, and it is necessary to limit the highest priority workpiece to the first one, and the process control flag is maintained at 1. In addition, random is a rule that is transferred when any workpiece can be transferred to the next station regardless of the order of arrival at the current station. All the workpieces must be able to determine the next transfer destination, and the processing control flag is returned to zero.

  In step 009, the destination station is determined according to the definition of the operation control data 103, and the process proceeds to step 010. At this time, if a reservation destination station is defined, the station is reserved. If you cannot make a reservation, wait until you can make a reservation.

  Step S009 will be described in detail later with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In step 010, the transport system is reserved and the process proceeds to step 011. At this time, if the reservation cannot be made, it waits until the reservation can be made. Here, the transfer system is a W-arm transfer robot 203, and a reservation is made with a transfer position number indicating one of the arms.

  In step 011, if the setting of the pre-conveying time for retaining the work at the current station (the pre-conveying time of the resource information in FIG. 3) is not 0, the process proceeds to step 012 in order to carry the next work into the current station. If the advance conveyance time is set to 0, the process proceeds to step 014.

  In step 012, the current station reservation is canceled so that the next work can reserve the current station. As a result, the next workpiece can be transferred to the current station.

  In step 013, until the remaining pre-transport time for holding the work at the current station reaches 0, that is, until the elapsed time after starting to hold the work for the tact time in step 006 exceeds the tact time. Fasten the work. This is because the reservation wait time in steps 009 and 010 is indefinite.

  In step 014, in order to place the work on the transfer robot 203, the transfer robot 203 is moved to the transfer source location of the current station, the work is transferred to the transfer robot 203, and the process proceeds to step 015.

  In step 015, if the workpiece processing pattern is FIFO, the conveyance of the workpiece to the next station has been started, so the routine proceeds to step 016 where 0 is assigned to the processing control flag and the routine proceeds to step 017. Move. If the processing pattern of the workpiece is not FIFO, 0 is already assigned to the processing control flag in step 008, and the process proceeds to step 017 without going through step S016.

  In step 016, 0 is assigned to the process control flag, and the process proceeds to step 017.

  In step 017, if the setting of the pre-conveyance time at which the work is to be kept at the current station is 0, the process does not go through step S012, so the process proceeds to step 018, where the reservation of the current station is canceled and the process proceeds to step 019. Move. If the advance transport time setting is not 0, the reservation of the current station is canceled in step S012, and the process proceeds to step 019 without going through step S018.

  In step 019, the transfer robot 203 moves to the transfer destination location of the next station.

  Thereafter, if the next station is defined, the processing from step 001 is repeated for the next station.

  In this way, when a work is loaded in the current station, the reservation of the transfer position of the transfer robot 203 is canceled, and the work is held and processed only for the processing time required for processing the work. During this process, the process control flag is processed. Is set to 1. At the same time, if the processing sequence pattern of the current station is FIFO, the transfer destination station of this work is reserved while the process control flag is kept at 1 in order to determine the transfer destination of this work with the highest priority. When the transfer position of the transfer robot 203 is reserved and the processing time elapses, the work is transferred to the transfer destination station by the transfer robot 203. If the processing sequence pattern of the current station is random, the processing control flag is returned to 0, the transfer destination station of the workpiece that can be transferred to the next station is reserved, and the transfer position of the transfer robot 203 is reserved. When the processing time has elapsed, the workpiece is conveyed. Furthermore, the reservation of the current station is canceled at a time before the pre-conveyance time before the end of the processing time, and the next work can be carried into the current station.

  Next, the procedure for determining the transfer destination station in step 009 of FIG. 4 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  First, in step 101, 1 is substituted into the transport destination information X, and the process proceeds to step 102.

  In step 102, the destination information X of the current station defined in the operation control data 103 is referred to. If the branch condition of the destination information X of the current station is NULL (undecided), the process proceeds to step 106. If it is not NULL (ratio is set), the process proceeds to step 103.

  In step 103, random number processing is performed at a rate set in the branch condition of the transport destination information X, and it is determined whether or not this transport destination information X is selected. That is, the transport destination information X is selected at the ratio of the branch condition. When the transport destination information X is selected, the process proceeds to step 106. If the transport destination information X is not selected, the process proceeds to step 104.

  In step 104, 1 is added to the transport destination information X, the transport destination information X is updated, and the process proceeds to step 105.

  If the branch condition of the updated transport destination information X is NULL in step 105, the process returns to step 104 and the transport destination information X is updated again. Otherwise, the process proceeds to step 103, and it is determined whether or not the transport destination information X is selected.

  By repeating steps 103 to 105, one of the pieces of transport destination information for which the branch condition ratio is set is selected at each ratio, and the process proceeds to step 106.

  Therefore, if the branch condition of the transport destination information X of the current station is NULL, the transport destination information X is immediately selected and the process proceeds to step 106, and if the branch condition of the transport destination information X of the current station is set. For example, one of the pieces of transport destination information for which the branch condition ratio is set is selected, and the process proceeds to step 106.

  In Step 106, the transport destination information X is substituted into the transport destination information Y, and the process proceeds to Step 107.

  If the reservation destination station of the transport destination information Y is defined in step 107, if the reservation destination station can be reserved, the process proceeds to step 110, where the reservation destination station is immediately reserved, and the processing of FIG. .

  If the reservation destination station is undecided, the reservation destination station is not reserved, the process proceeds to step 110, and the process of FIG. For example, station 005 corresponds.

  Even if the reservation destination station of the transfer destination information Y is defined, if the reservation destination station cannot be reserved, the process proceeds to step 108.

  In step 108, 1 is added to the transport destination information Y, the transport destination information Y is updated, and the process proceeds to step 109.

  In step 109, if the branch condition of the updated transport destination information Y is not NULL (the ratio is set) or the transport destination station is NULL (undecided), the process returns to step 106, and the transport destination information Y Substituting transport destination information X for, repeats the same processing. As a result, the process waits until the reservation destination station of the transport destination information X can be reserved. When the reservation destination station can be reserved, the process proceeds to step 110, where the reservation destination station is immediately reserved, and the processing of FIG. Will do. Thereby, the reservation destination station of the transport destination information X for which the branch condition ratio is set is always selected, and the branch condition ratio is maintained.

  If the branch condition of the updated transport destination information Y is NULL (whether the ratio is not set) or if the transport destination station is set, the process returns to step 107 to update the transport With reference to the reservation destination station of the destination information Y, if this reservation destination station is defined and can be reserved, the process proceeds to step 110, where the reservation destination station is immediately reserved, and the processing of FIG.

  Thereafter, the same processing is repeated to reserve the reservation destination station.

  Accordingly, each piece of transport destination information for which the ratio of the branch condition is set is preferentially selected by the respective ratio, and if the reservation destination station of this transport destination information is vacant, it is reserved. One of the pieces of transport destination information for which the condition ratio is not set is selected, and a reservation destination station for the transport destination information is reserved.

  The simulation shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 4 and 5 is performed for each work, and the result is output as a simulation result form 109.

  In the process simulation system of this embodiment, the common control program 102 can be applied to all stations regardless of the station layout and station operation. For this reason, it is not necessary to re-create the common control program 102 every time the production system is designed, and the layout information 101, various parameters of the parameter definition means, and the operation control data 103 may be set appropriately according to the production system. In addition, since the layout information 101, various parameters, and the operation control data 103 are only changed when the production system is changed, it is easy to create and change a simulation model.

  In addition, simulation can be performed by accurately evaluating the capabilities of a transport system such as a robot, an automatic transport vehicle, an automatic warehouse, and a conveyor.

  The process simulation system of the present invention is suitable for simulation evaluation of a production method called a push type of a line generally called a flow shop, such as an assembly line or a semiconductor / liquid crystal production line.

  In addition, it is possible to deal with the flow shop pull type production line by modifying the content of the operation control data 103.

It is a block diagram which shows one Embodiment of the process simulation system of this invention. It is a figure which shows roughly the layout of the production system simulated by the process simulation system of this embodiment. It is a table | surface which shows the operation control data which defined operation | movement of the workpiece | work etc. in the process simulation system of this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process process by the common control program of the process simulation system of this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process of step 009 of FIG. 4 in detail.

Explanation of symbols

101 Layout information 102 Common control program 103 Operation control data 104 Simulation means 105 Layout input means 106 Parameter definition means 107 Program editing means 108 Simulation execution means 109 Simulation result form 203 Transport robots L1 to L5 Locations S001 to S005 Station

Claims (10)

In the process simulation system for simulating the work flow of the production line, etc.
For each station where the workpiece is temporarily left stationary, motion control data defining the operation at the station and the transfer of the workpiece between the station and other stations;
Based on the operation control data, comprising a common control program for performing operations at a station and transferring a workpiece between the station and another station,
A process simulation system for simulating the flow of work on the production line by executing the common control program. The operation control data includes transport location information indicating a position for loading and unloading the workpiece,
The common control program simulates the flow of work on the production line using not only the operation control data but also the transfer capability information between the station and other stations and the layout information of the station. The process simulation system according to claim 1, wherein:   The operation control data includes station information including number information unique to each station, transport destination information including number information of the next station, and resource information indicating work processing time and tact time of the station. The process simulation system according to claim 1, further comprising:   The operation control data can have a plurality of transport destination information for each station. For each transport destination information, branch condition information for determining whether or not to select the transport destination information, and transport The process simulation system according to claim 1, further comprising destination station information, reservation destination station information, and conveyance location information indicating a position for loading and unloading a workpiece.   2. The process simulation system according to claim 1, wherein the operation control data includes station control number information for defining a plurality of control contents in the same station.   The process simulation system according to claim 1, wherein the operation control data includes stop pattern information indicating a resource stop operation pattern related to a station and stop time information.   2. The process simulation system according to claim 1, wherein the operation control data includes processing order information indicating an order in which the workpieces are carried out from the station when a plurality of workpieces exist in the station.   2. The process simulation system according to claim 1, wherein the operation control data includes transfer priority information indicating a priority of transferring a workpiece when a transfer request is received from a plurality of workpieces in the transfer system.   2. The process simulation system according to claim 1, wherein the operation control data includes pre-conveying time information for calling a next workpiece before processing of the workpiece at the station is completed.   The process simulation system according to claim 1, wherein the common control program is a common program capable of controlling operations of all stations.

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