throbber
P 1008626_PIPM_SPE_EN_180406. doc
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`MANUFACTURING DEVICE MONITORING SYSTEM AND
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`MANUFACTURING DEVICE
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`BACKGROUND
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`1. Technical Field
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`The present disclosure relates to a manufacturing device monitoring
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`system and a manufacturing device in a factory having a plurality of
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`manufacturing devices.
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`2. Description of the Related Art
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`In a factory such as a component mounting field where components are
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`mounted on a board, a production system is constituted by a plurality of
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`manufacturing devices such as mounting machines.
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`In such a factory
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`manufacturing site, for a plurality of manufacturing devices operating at the
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`same time, a worker monitors an operation state of a manufacturing device and
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`performs a necessary response action.
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`In the manufacturing site in recent
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`years, as labor saving and automation have progressed with the request for
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`improvement in work efficiency, a production system that is configured to allow
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`remote operations from a remote location without requiring the worker to
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`access the manufacturing device has been introduced (for example,
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`see
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`Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. 2015-97224 (PTL 1)).
`
`In the related art shown in PTL I, in a component mounting system
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`constituted by a plurality of mounting machines, there is described an example
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`in which a mounting machine selected by an operation on an operation screen
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`of a portable operation terminal and the portable operation terminal are
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`connected to each other. Thereby, it is possible to perform various operations
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`on a plurality of mounting machines via an operation panel displayed on a
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`display panel of the operation terminal without accessing the individual
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`mounting machines.
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`SUMMARY
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`A manufacturing device monitoring system of the present disclosure
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`includes a plurality of manufacturing devices and a remote monitoring device.
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`The remote monitoring device is connected to a plurality of manufacturing
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`devices via a communication network, and a plurality of manufacturing devices
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`can be remotely operated. Each of the plurality of manufacturing devices
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`includes a work unit, an equipment notifier, an error detector, and an error
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`notifier. The error detector detects an error occurring in the work unit. The
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`error notifier determines whether or not the error detected by the error detector
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`may be corrected by an operation from the remote monitoring device, notifies
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`the remote monitoring device of the occurrence of the error in a case where the
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`error can be corrected, and operates the equipment notifier to notify a first
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`notification pattern in a case where the error cannot be corrected. The
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`manufacturing device of the present disclosure is connected to the remote
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`monitoring device via a communication network, and a remote operation can be
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`performed by the remote monitoring device.
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`The manufacturing device
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`includes a work unit, an equipment notifier, an error detector, and an error
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`notifier. The error detector detects an error occurring in the work unit. The
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`error notifier determines whether or not the error detected by the error detector
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`may be corrected by operation from the remote monitoring device, notifies the
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`remote monitoring device of the occurrence of the error in a case where the
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`error can be corrected, and operates the equipment notifier to notify a first
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`notification pattern in a case where the error cannot be corrected.
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`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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`FIG. I is a block diagram showing a configuration of a manufacturing
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`device monitoring system according to an embodiment;
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`FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control system of
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`a manufacturing device according to the embodiment;
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`FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a remote
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`monitoring unit constituting the manufacturing device monitoring system of
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`the embodiment;
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`FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an operation panel displayed on a remote
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`monitoring unit constituting the manufacturing device monitoring system
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`according to the embodiment; and
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`FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing error notification processing in the
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`manufacturing device monitoring system of the embodiment.
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`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
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`Operations required for a manufacturing device such as a mounting
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`machine include various such as items that may be executed only after
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`checking the device state of the manufacturing device and in particular, items
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`that may be handled only by remote control without requiring checking of the
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`device state. The mounting machine of the related art may be remotely
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`operated by an operation terminal. However, it is difficult for a worker to
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`determine whether each operation item may be executed by a remote operation.
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`For this reason, in a case where a notice requesting a response action
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`such as error notification is given to the portable terminal, the worker had to
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`access the mounting machine where the error occurred each time to check the
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`situation and to perform a response action. As a result, it is difficult to reduce
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`the workload of the worker who performs monitoring work in a factory having a
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`plurality of manufacturing devices to achieve labor saving, and effective
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`countermeasures have been desired.
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`Next,
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`the present embodiment will be described with reference to
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`drawings. First, referring to FIG. 1, a configuration of manufacturing device
`
`monitoring system 1 will be described. Manufacturing device monitoring
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`system 1 has
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`a function of monitoring the operation state of each
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`manufacturing device in a factory having a plurality of manufacturing devices.
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`In production area 2 where the worker performs work, production line 3
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`constituted by a plurality of pieces of equipment 4 which is a manufacturing
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`device (in this case,
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`three pieces of equipment 4(1), equipment 4(2), and
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`equipment 4(3)) is arranged. An example of production line 3 includes a
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`component mounting line in which equipment 4 for component mounting is
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`connected. Equipment 4 for component mounting is a component mounting
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`machine for mounting electronic components on a board, a printing machine for
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`printing solder for joining components, and the like.
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`The plurality of pieces of equipment 4 are connected to each other by
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`communication network 5 such as a LAN (Local Area Network) and connected
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`to information manager 6.
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`Information manager 6 provides various data
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`necessary for operating the plurality of pieces of equipment 4 and has a
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`function of collecting the state and operation information of these pieces of
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`equipment 4.
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`In the case where production line 3 is a component mounting
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`line, mounting data including component
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`information on the components
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`mounted on the board, mounting position information on which components are
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`mounted on the board, and the like are to be provided.
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`In addition, the data to be provided by information manager 6 contains
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`an error list that summarizes information on errors such as defects and failures
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`that are predicted to occur for each piece of equipment 4.
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`In the present
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`embodiment, the error list contains remote operation target error information
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`(see FIG. 2) which is previously selected and defined as an error that can be
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`handled by a remote operation by remote monitoring unit 8 to be described
`
`below.
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`Further, information manager 6 is connected to remote monitoring unit
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`8 which is a remote monitoring deVice in communication network 7 such as a
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`LAN or a public communication line. Remote monitoring unit 8 has a function
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`of monitoring the operation state of each piece of equipment 4 in production
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`area 2 from a remote location and performing a remote operation as necessary
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`in case of occurrence of an error or the like.
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`In this configuration, information
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`manager 6 functions as a relay terminal at the time of remote-monitoring and
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`performing a remote operation by remote monitoring unit 8.
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`As
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`remote monitoring unit
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`8,
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`a terminal
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`deVice haVing data
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`input/output, an arithmetic processing function, a display function, such as a
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`general-purpose PC (Personal Computer) is used. Remote monitoring unit 8
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`may be installed in a location different from production area 2 within the same
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`factory premises. Alternatively, remote monitoring unit 8 may be installed at
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`a remote location separated from a factory including remote monitoring unit 8,
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`such as another business office.
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`In a case where remote monitoring unit 8 is
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`located in the same factory premises,
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`remote monitoring unit 8 may be
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`connected to information manager 6 Via communication network 7 using a LAN
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`in the factory.
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`In a case where remote monitoring unit 8 is installed in a
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`remote location, remote monitoring unit 8 may be connected to information
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`manager 6 Via communication network 7 using a public communication line
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`such as optical communication.
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`Here, remote monitoring unit 8 is connected to a plurality of production
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`lines 3 arranged in a plurality of production areas 2 and therefore the plurality
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`of production lines 3 can be subjected to remote monitoring and a remote
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`operation. Therefore, manufacturing device monitoring system 1 may include
`
`at
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`least one remote monitoring unit 8.
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`That
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`is, manufacturing device
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`monitoring system 1 is configured to include remote monitoring unit 8 as at
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`least one remote monitoring device connected to a plurality of manufacturing
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`devices, equipment 4 via communication network 7 and capable of remotely
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`operating the plurality of pieces of equipment 4.
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`Next, referring to FIG. 2, a configuration of the control system of
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`equipment 4(1) will be described.
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`FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a
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`configuration of a control system of the manufacturing device (equipment 4)
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`according to the embodiment. Equipment 4(2) and equipment 4(3) also have
`
`the same configuration as equipment 4 (1). Here, among the functions of
`
`equipment 4(1), only the components relating to the remote operation functions
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`of monitoring an error occurring in equipment 4(1) by remote monitoring unit 8
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`and executing an error correction operation for correcting the error by remote
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`monitoring unit 8 are covered.
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`In FIG. 2, signals and information of touch panel 11, safety cover
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`detection sensor 12, foreign substance detection sensor 13, and unit attachment
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`detection sensor 14 are input to controller 10. Touch panel 11 is an operation
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`input device. When the worker touches the operation screen displayed on
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`touch panel 11, an input for operating equipment 4(1) is performed. Safety
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`cover detection sensor 12 detects the opening and closing state of a safety cover
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`provided at a part where the worker may be at risk if the worker carelessly
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`accesses such as the movable mechanism part of equipment 4(1). Foreign
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`substance detection sensor 13 detects the presence or absence of a foreign
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`substance which is not supposed to be present in equipment 4(1). Unit
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`attachment detection sensor 14 detects whether or not a detachable unit
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`constituting equipment 4(1), for example, a tape feeder or a feeder carriage in a
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`mounting machine, is properly attached.
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`Work unit 15 and equipment notifier 16 are connected to controller 10.
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`Work unit 15 is an operating mechanism unit that executes an operation in
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`equipment 4(1) and executes a predetermined operation according to a control
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`command from controller 10. Equipment notifier 16 is an alarm device such
`
`as a signal tower or a buzzer and performs predetermined notification on a
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`predetermined target such as an error notification in accordance with a
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`notification command from controller 10.
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`Controller 10 includes operation state determination unit 20, safety
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`state determination unit 21, remote operation determination unit 22, error
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`detector 23, error notifier 24, and operation mode change unit 25 as internal
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`processing functions.
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`Further, controller
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`10 includes
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`storage 30 and
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`communicator 26.
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`In storage 30, information necessary for the operation of
`
`the remote operation function for executing an error correction operation by
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`remote monitoring unit 8 is stored. Communicator 26 is a communication
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`interface and is connected to each piece of equipment 4 and information
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`manager 6 in production area 2 by communication network 5. As a result,
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`various data can be exchanged with remote monitoring unit 8 Via information
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`manager 6.
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`Operation state determination unit 20 determines whether the state of
`
`equipment 4(1) is in an operation state or a non-operation state and writes the
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`determination result
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`to ”operation state” 31 of storage 30.
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`Specifically,
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`operation state determination unit 20 determines whether or not a preset
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`predetermined time has elapsed from the timing at which the operation of
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`touch panel 11, an operation switch, or the safety cover is last executed.
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`If the
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`predetermined time has elapsed, it is determined that equipment 4(1) is in a
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`non-operation state, and information indicating ”not in operation” is written in
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`”operation state” 31.
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`In addition, in a case where the predetermined time has
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`not yet elapsed, it is determined that equipment 4(1) is in an operation state,
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`and information indicating ”in operation” is written in ”operation state” 31.
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`Based on detection signals from safety cover detection sensor 12,
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`foreign substance detection sensor 13, and unit attachment detection sensor 14,
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`safety state determination unit 21 determines whether equipment 4(1) is in a
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`safe state, and writes the determination result to ”safety state” 32 of storage 30.
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`That is, safety state determination unit 21 first checks that the safety covers
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`are all closed according to the detection result of safety cover detection sensor
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`12. Next, safety state determination unit 21 checks that there is no foreign
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`substance or the like that interferes with the movable mechanism unit within
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`equipment 4(1) according to the detection result of foreign substance detection
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`sensor 13. Further, safety state determination unit 21 checks that the unit
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`such as the tape feeder and the carriage is properly mounted based on the
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`detection result of unit attachment detection sensor 14.
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`In a case where all of these conditions are satisfied, safety state
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`determination unit 21 determines that equipment 4(1) is in a safe state in
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`performing a remote operation and writes information indicating ”safe” in
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`”safety state” 32 of storage 30.
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`In addition,
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`in a case where the above
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`conditions are not satisfied,
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`information indicating ”danger” is written in
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`”safety state” 32 of storage 30.
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`Remote operation determination unit 22 refers to ”operation state” 31,
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`”safety state” 32, and ”remote operation function setting information” 33 stored
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`in storage 30 to determine whether or not equipment 4(1) is in a state in which
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`a remote operation can be performed. Here, ”remote operation function
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`setting information” 33 is information indicating whether or not equipment 4(1)
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`is set in a state in which a remote operation function can be performed in
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`manufacturing device monitoring system 1.
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`Specifically, ”remote operation
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`function setting information” 33 includes license information indicating that a
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`license for accepting a service through the remote operation function in
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`manufacturing device monitoring system 1
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`is valid.
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`Further, ”remote
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`operation function setting information”
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`33
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`includes
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`function setting
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`information indicating whether equipment 4(1) has enabled the remote
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`operation function.
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`In the determination of the remote operation determination by remote
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`operation determination unit 22,
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`in a case where the operation state in
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`”operation state” 31 is ”not in operation”, the safety state in ”safety state” 32 is
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`”safe”, the remote operation function is valid in ”remote operation function
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`setting information” 33, and the license is valid, it is determined that the state
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`is ”remote operation acceptable”.
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`In other cases, it is determined that the
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`state is ”remote operation unacceptable”. The determination result is output
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`to information manager 6 via communicator 26 and communication network 5
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`and further transmitted to remote monitoring unit 8 via communication
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`network 7. Remote monitoring unit 8 that has accepted the determination
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`result identifies and displays whether or not equipment 4(1) is capable of
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`accepting a remote operation by letters, colors, or the like.
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`Error detector 23 detects an unusual event occurring in the equipment
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`as an error in a process in which controller 10 controls work unit 15 to execute a
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`predetermined work operation. This error detection is performed based on
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`signals and information sent from various sensors and measurement units
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`arranged in each part of work unit 15 during automatic operation.
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`In a case
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`where an error is detected, information (error code) indicating the error is
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`written in ”error state” 34 of storage 30.
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`In a case where the error is resolved,
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`the written error code is erased.
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`Among the error items detected by error detector 23, an error item that
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`can be corrected by a remote operation from remote monitoring unit 8 is stored
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`as ”error information for remote operation” 35 in storage 30. Here, the error
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`for remote operation means an error item that can be handled without
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`requiring a site work where the worker Visits the site of the equipment and
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`checks the site and performs a physical procedure. Specifically, the details of
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`the error can be specified by the screen information displayed on monitor 41
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`10
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`(see FIG. 3) of remote monitoring unit 8. An error item that can be handled
`
`only with an operation input from operation unit 42 such as a touch panel
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`corresponds to an error for remote operation. That is, in manufacturing device
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`monitoring system 1 shown in the present embodiment, the plurality of pieces
`
`of equipment 4 has ”error information for remote operation” 35 which is error
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`information defining an error that can be corrected at least by an operation
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`from remote monitoring unit 8.
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`By collating the error item detected by error detector 23 and stored in
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`”error state” 34 with ”error
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`information for remote operation” 35,
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`it
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`is
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`determined whether or not the detected error is an error that can be set as a
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`target of the remote operation performed Via remote monitoring unit 8. The
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`determination result
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`is
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`transmitted from communicator 26 to remote
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`monitoring unit 8 Via information manager 6 and communication network 7.
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`Error notifier 24 performs processing of notifying the worker who is in
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`charge of operation of the equipment or a remote operator who operates remote
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`monitoring unit 8 that an error occurs in equipment 4(1).
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`This error
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`notification is executed according to the case classification described below.
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`When the occurrence of an error is detected by error detector 23, first, it is
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`determined whether or not the error is an error to be remotely operated based
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`on the error code stored in ”error state” 34 of storage 30. That is, error notifier
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`24 determines whether or not the error can be corrected by a remote operation
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`from remote monitoring unit 8 by collating the error detected by error detector
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`23 with ”error information for remote operation” 35.
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`Here, in a case where the error is an error to be remotely operated that
`
`can be corrected by a remote operation from remote monitoring unit 8,
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`according to the state of the remote operation of target equipment 4(1), the
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`error it is handled as follows. That is, in a case where the state of equipment
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`4(1) is determined as ”remote operation unacceptable” by remote operation
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`determination unit 22, the occurrence of the error is notified to the worker at
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`the site of production area 2 by equipment notifier 16.
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`In this case, error
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`notifier 24 operates equipment notifier 16 to notify a first notification pattern.
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`Here, the first notification pattern is in a noticeable form with a high
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`degree of attention, which is also recognizable to the worker who is at a remote
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`location away from equipment 4(1) in production area 2. For example, the
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`first notification pattern is in a form of a large sound, a long sound, music, or
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`the like. By notifying an error with such the first notification pattern, it is
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`possible to reliably notify the worker at a location away from equipment 4(1)
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`where the error occurred that an error that cannot be corrected by a remote
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`operation has occurred. Thus, when an error occurs, a response delay due to
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`the insufficient notification is prevented, and quick error handling is executed
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`thoroughly.
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`In addition, in a case where remote operation determination unit 22
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`determines that the state of equipment 4(1) is ”remote operation acceptable”,
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`the occurrence of an error is notified from communicator 26 to remote
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`monitoring unit 8 Via information manager 6 and communication network 7.
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`In this way, monitoring and notification unit 43 (FIG. 3) included in remote
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`monitoring unit 8 operates to notify the remote operator in charge of the
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`operation of remote monitoring unit 8 of the occurrence of an error. At the
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`same time,
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`touch panel 11 of equipment 4(1) displays that an error to be
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`remotely operated has occurred.
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`In this case, it is not absolutely necessary to report an error to operate
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`equipment notifier 16. However, equipment notifier 16 may be operated to
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`allow the worker at the site of production area 2 to recognize that an error to be
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`remotely operated has occurred in equipment 4(1). For example, equipment
`
`notifier 16 may operate equipment notifier 16 to notify a second notification
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`pattern of a modest form with low attention (for example, in a form of a small
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`sound or a short sound) than the above-described first notification pattern.
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`On the other hand, in a case where the error is an error that cannot be
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`corrected by a remote operation from remote monitoring unit 8 and is not an
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`error to be remotely operated, the occurrence of an error is notified to the
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`worker who is at the site of production area 2 by equipment notifier 16
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`regardless of the remote operation state of equipment 4(1).
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`In this case,
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`notification is performed by operating equipment notifier
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`16 with the
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`above-described first notification pattern. As a result, similarly to the above
`
`case,
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`it is possible to reliably notify the worker at a location away from
`
`equipment 4 where the error occurred that an error that cannot be corrected by
`
`a remote operation has occurred.
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`That is,
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`in the error notification described above, error notifier 24
`
`determines whether or not the error detected by error detector 23 can be
`
`corrected by the operation from remote monitoring unit 8.
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`In a case where the
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`error cannot be corrected, at least equipment notifier 16 is operated with the
`
`first notification pattern, and in a case where the error can be corrected, at
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`least remote monitoring unit 8 is notified of the occurrence of the error.
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`In a
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`case Where the error detected by error detector 23 can be corrected by the
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`operation from remote monitoring unit 8, error notifier 24 notifies remote
`
`monitoring unit 8 of the occurrence of the error and also operates equipment
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`notifier 16 With the second operation pattern.
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`In addition, based on the error detected by error detector 23 and the
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`device state of equipment 4(1) Which is a manufacturing device, error notifier
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`24 determines Whether or not the error can be corrected by the operation from
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`remote monitoring unit 8. Here, the device state includes, for example, an
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`operation state indicating that touch panel 11 or an operation switch, which is
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`an operation unit that operates equipment 4, is operated, and a safety state
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`indicating Whether or not equipment 4 can be safely operated. Further, the
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`device state includes,
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`for example, function setting information indicating
`
`Whether equipment 4(1) can accept a remote operation by remote monitoring
`
`unit 8 and license information for equipment 4 to accept a remote operation by
`
`remote monitoring unit 8.
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`Operation mode change unit 25 has a function of switching the
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`operation mode for the equipment to an automatic operation mode and a
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`remote operation mode allowing a remote operation input
`
`from remote
`
`monitoring unit 8. That is, in a case Where the equipment is in the automatic
`
`operation mode and there is a remote operation request
`
`from remote
`
`monitoring unit 8, the operation mode is changed to the remote operation mode,
`
`and an exclusive state is set to restrict the functions of touch panel 11 and the
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`operation button of equipment 4(1). As a result, in a state in Which the remote
`
`operation from remote monitoring unit 8 is being executed, it is excluded that
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`the worker inadvertently operates on equipment 4(1) at the site.
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`After the operation mode is changed to the remote operation mode,
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`operation mode change unit 25 displays that the operation mode of equipment 4
`
`(1) is in the remote operation mode by touch panel 11 and equipment notifier 16.
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`In addition, in a case Where the operation mode of equipment 4(1) is the remote
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`operation mode and the remote operation is canceled by remote monitoring unit
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`8, the operation mode of equipment 4(1) is changed to the automatic operation
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`mode. At the same time, the display of the remote operation mode by touch
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`panel 11 and equipment notifier 16 is also erased.
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`Next, referring to FIG. 3, a configuration and function of remote
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`monitoring unit 8 will be described.
`
`In FIG. 3, processor 40 is a main unit
`
`including an arithmetic processor and a storage in a general-purpose PC. To
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`processor 40, monitor 41, operation unit 42, and monitoring and notification
`
`unit 43 are connected. Monitor 41 is a display panel such as a liquid crystal
`
`panel, and operation unit 42 is an input deVice such as a keyboard.
`
`Monitoring and notification unit 43 is a notifier such as a buzzer or an indicator
`
`light and notifies the remote operator Who operates remote monitoring unit 8.
`
`Processor 40 is provided With display processor 44, program 45(1),
`
`program 45(2), program 45(3), and communicator 46. Communicator 46 is a
`
`communication interface Which is connected to communication network 7 and
`
`communicates With equipment 4 arranged in production area 2 Via information
`
`manager 6. Display processor 44 is a processing function unit for causing
`
`10
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`15
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`20
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`monitor 41 to display a screen.
`
`Program 45(1), program 45(2), and program 45(3) are programs for
`
`displaying the operation panel for performing operating inputs for equipment
`
`4(1), equipment 4(2), and equipment 4(3) on monitor 41. By selectively
`
`25
`
`executing program 45(1), program 45(2), and program 45(3), display processor
`
`44 displays the operation panel for performing operating inputs for equipment
`
`4(1), equipment 4(2), and equipment 4(3) on monitor 41 according to the
`
`14
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`

`

`P 1008626_PIPM_SPE_EN_180406. doc
`
`selection.
`
`FIG. 4 shows a configuration of display screen 50 displayed on monitor
`
`41. Display screen 50 includes operation button display area 51, equipment
`
`state display area 52, and operation panel display area 54.
`
`In operation
`
`button display area 51, various operation buttons for selecting display contents
`
`displayed on display screen 50 are displayed.
`
`In equipment state display area
`
`52, the states of equipment 4(1), equipment 4(2), and equipment 4(3) that are
`
`monitored by remote monitoring unit 8 are displayed in equipment state
`
`display fields 53(1), 53(2), and 53(3), respectively.
`
`In each of equipment state display fields 53,
`
`the error state of
`
`equipment 4 is displayed.
`
`In addition to the error to be remotely operated by
`
`remote monitoring unit 8, an error not to be remotely operated is also displayed
`
`in this error state.
`
`In this error display, when an error to be remotely operated
`
`occurs, monitoring and notification unit 43 shown in FIG. 3 operates and
`
`equipment state display field 53 corresponding to equipment 4 blinks. As a
`
`result, the remote operator operating remote monitoring unit 8 is notified of the
`
`occurrence of an error to be remotely operated.
`
`In operation panel display area 54, operation panel window 55 for
`
`displaying the plurality of pieces of equipment 4 arranged in production area 2
`
`as remote operation targets is displayed. Operation panel window 55 has a
`
`screen configuration imitating the operation screen displayed on touch panel 11
`
`of equipment 4.
`
`By double clicking on equipment state display field 53
`
`corresponding to equipment 4 to be remotely operated in equipment state
`
`display area 52, operation panel window 55 for equipment 4 is opened and
`
`displayed in operation panel display area 54. FIG. 4 shows an example in
`
`which operation panel windows 55(1) and 55(2) corresponding to equipment
`
`4(1) and equipment 4(2) are opened. By operating operation panel windows 55,
`
`15
`
`10
`
`15
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`20
`
`25
`
`

`

`P 1008626_PIPM_SPE_EN_180406. doc
`
`various operations for equipment 4 can be executed.
`
`An example of the operations that can be executed by operation panel
`
`window 55 is switching processing for starting and ending a remote operation.
`
`For example, when operation panel window 55 is opened, a remote operation
`
`request
`
`is issued to corresponding equipment 4.
`
`In addition, by closing
`
`operation panel window 55, a remote operation mode for equipment 4 is
`
`canceled.
`
`The display mode of operation panel window 55 in remote
`
`monitoring unit 8 may be any mode, and when the occurrence of an error to be
`
`remotely operated is notified from equipment 4 to remote monitoring unit 8, the
`
`display mode may be set so that operation panel window 55 corresponding to
`
`equipment 4 is automatically displayed in operation panel display area 54.
`
`Next, with reference to FIG.
`
`5, error notification processing in
`
`manufacturing device monitoring system 1 will be described. Here,
`
`the
`
`processing executed by error notifier 24 in each piece of equipment 4
`
`constituting production line 3 is shown. First, in each piece of equipment 4,
`
`the error state at the time of operation in the automatic operation mode is
`
`checked (STD. That is, error notifier 24 checks the stored contents of ”error
`
`state” 34 of storage 30. Next, it is determined whether or not the checked
`
`error state has an error (ST2). That is, it is determined whether or not an
`
`error code indicating an error detected by error detector 23 is written in ”error
`
`state” 34.
`
`If the error code is written in “error state” 34 and there is an error,
`
`the process proceeds to the next step.
`
`If there is no error, the process returns
`
`to (ST 1) and the monitoring is continued.
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`10
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`15
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`20
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`(ST2), if there is an error, it is determined whether or not the error is an
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`25
`
`error for a remote operation (ST3). This determination is made by collating
`
`the error code of the error with the ”error information for remote operation” 35
`
`by error notifier 24.
`
`If it is determined that the error is an error for a remote
`
`16
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`

`P 1008626_PIPM_SPE_EN_180406. doc
`
`operation, then it is determined whether or not the device state of equipment 4
`
`can be remotely operated (8T4). This determination is made by referring to
`
`”operation state” 31, ”safety state” 32, and ”remote operation function setting
`
`information” 33 stored in storage 30 by remote operation determination unit
`
`22.
`
`Here, in a case where it is determined that a remote operation can be
`
`performed, the fact is notified to remote monitoring unit 8 (8T5). At this time,
`
`in equipment 4, notification by equipment notifier 16 may not be performed.
`
`However, in a case where it is necessary to notify a worker in the vicinity that
`
`10
`
`an error that can be remotely operated is occurring, equipment notifier 16 is
`
`operated by the second notification pattern of a modest form with low attention
`
`(8T6).
`
`On the other hand, in a case where it is determined that the error is not
`
`an error to be remotely operated in (8T3), or in a case where the remote state is
`
`15
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`determined that
`
`the equipment cannot be remotely operated in (8T4),
`
`equipment notifier 16 is operated by the first notification pattern (8T7). As a
`
`result, workers located

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