Information transmitting system for use in factory

• US 6,516,234 B2
• Filed: 12/03/1998
• Issued: 02/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fanuc Ltd (Fanuc Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fanuc Ltd (Fanuc Corporation)
• Inventors: Saito, Osamu, Kukita, Atsuyuki, Kamiguchi, Masao
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, RAMESH B
• Application Number:
  US09/125,001
• Publication Number:
  US 20020065571A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,524 Days
• Field of Search: 700/2, 700/4-5, 700/19, 700/20, 700/28, 700/60, 700/95, 700/100, 700/106, 700/112, 700/115, 700/116, 700/213-219, 700/228-230, 297/01, 297/02, 297/03, 297/11, 297/39, 414/285, 414/807
• US Class Current: 700/20
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4185 characterised by the network communication
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31089 Direct communication between cooperating parts of a cell, not over server
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31094 Data exchange between modules, cells, devices, processors
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31145 Ethernet
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31324 Distributed real time knowledge, database
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/34192 Memory management
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/60 Electric or hybrid propulsion means for production processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53004 with means to regulate operation by use of templet, tape, card or other replaceable information supply
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53009 with comparator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53048 Multiple station assembly or disassembly apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53174 Means to fasten electrical component to wiring board, base, or substrate

Abstract

An information transmitting system for use in a factory, which is capable of transmitting information among controllers simply without the complicated lead-around of a communication line nor the need of complicated communication protocol. A controller for every molding cell Ai, where i=1,2 . . . max and max is a maximum number of molding cells, a conveyance controller to control an automatic conveyor, a stock cell and a centralized controller are connected to each other via an Ethernet line to provide a common information storage unit, and information is transmitted among the controllers through the common information storage unit. Since there is no need of parallel communication lines between the controllers, an I/O port or a communication line may be prevented from increasing in number and the lead-around of the communication line is prevented from being complicated, resulting in a reduction of cost required for setting up the devices.

Claims

1. An information transmitting system for use in a factory, comprising:

a plurality of controllers for controlling various machines in the factory;

a communication line for interconnecting said plurality of controllers; and

a storage device connected to said communication line storing information regarding operations of the controllers;

wherein said plurality of controllers transmit information regarding operations of the controllers to each other through said storage device and obtain information from said storage device by making access to said storage device.

2. An information transmitting system, comprising:

a plurality of lower conveyors arranged substantially horizontally and parallel to each other and having a same traveling direction, to form lower stock spaces;

a plurality of upper conveyors arranged substantially horizontally and parallel to each other above said lower conveyors and having the same traveling direction, to form upper stock spaces on said lower stock space in layers; and

a handling robot disposed in a vicinity of one end of said lower and upper conveyors so that an operational range of the handling robot reaches said one end of said lower and upper stock spaces, the robot capable of taking out a first pallet stored in said lower stock space and a second pallet stored in said upper stock space from the respective stock spaces and putting said first and second pallets into the respective stock spaces.

3. An information transmitting system for use in a factory, comprising:

a plurality of machining cells for performing machining by machines;

a first controller provided in every machining cell for controlling each machining cell;

a stock cell for collecting and storing products produced by said machines;

automatic conveyance means for conveying stocks between said plurality of machining cells and said stock cell;

a second controller for controlling said automatic conveyance means and said stock cell;

a central controller for centrally controlling said machining cells and said stock cell;

a communication line for interconnecting said first controller, said second controller and said central controller; and

storage means connected to said communication line wherein

said first controller, said second controller and said central controller transmit information to each other through said storage means;

said first and said second controllers read information stored from said storage means by making access to said storage means;

said central controller controls conveyance of the stocks between each machining cell and said stock cell; and

said stock cell comprises

a plurality of lower conveyors arranged substantially horizontally and parallel to each other and having the same traveling direction, to form lower stock spaces;

a plurality of upper conveyors arranged substantially horizontally and parallel to each other above said lower conveyors and having the same traveling direction, to form upper stock spaces on said lower stock space in layers; and

a handling robot disposed in the vicinity of one end of said lower and upper conveyors so that an operational range of the handling robot reaches said one end of said lower and upper stock spaces, for taking out a first pallet stored in said lower stock space and a second pallet stored in said upper stock space from the respective stock spaces and for putting said first and second pallets into the respective stock spaces.

4. An information transmitting system according to claim 3, wherein said first pallet is loaded with products produced by said machine, and said second pallet is loaded with no product.

5. An information transmitting system according to claim 3, wherein said lower conveyors comprise inclined coasting conveyors descending with the distance from said handling robot, and said upper conveyors comprise drive conveyors for feeding the second pallets towards said handling robot.

6. An information transmitting system according to claim 5, wherein each of said lower and upper conveyors has a lock pin independently arranged on one end close to said handling robot so as to lock up the pallets on said one end or release the pallets from the locked state.

7. An information transmitting system for use in a factory, comprising:

a plurality of machining cells for performing machining by machines;

a first controller provided in every machining cell for controlling each machining cell;

a stock cell for collecting and storing products produced by said machines;

an automatic conveyance device conveying stocks between said plurality of machining cells and said stock cell;

a second controller for controlling said automatic conveyance device and said stock cell;

a central controller for centrally controlling said machining cells and said stock cell;

a communication line for interconnecting said first controller, said second controller and said central controller; and

a storage device connected to said communication line storing information regarding operations of the first controller and the second controller;

wherein said first controller, said second controller and said central controller transmit information regarding operations of the first controller and the second controller to each other through said storage device,

said first and said second controllers read information stored from said storage means by making access to said storage device, and

said central controller controls conveyance of the stocks between each machining cell and said stock cell.