阅读说明：本技术 链条设备监视系统 (Chain equipment monitoring system ) 是由 柴山智成 关野祐司 森川明文 于 2019-06-25 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明的目的在于得到一种链条设备监视系统,本发明能够有效地进行设置在多个据点的链条设备的监视。能够将设置在多个据点的链条设备的信息集中到服务器装置,在服务器装置侧判定是否应该更换环状链条的链节,并且在服务器装置侧预测所述链节的更换时期。本发明的链条设备监视系统,具备：多个链条设备,该链条设备包括将多个链节相连而成的环状链条及其驱动装置；设备信息取得单元,设置于每个上述链条设备；以及服务器装置,经由网络而与多个所述设备信息取得单元相连,所述服务器装置具有存储单元、更换判定单元以及更换判定预测单元。(The invention aims to obtain a chain equipment monitoring system which can effectively monitor chain equipment arranged at a plurality of sites. Information on chain devices installed at a plurality of sites can be collected in a server device, whether or not a link of an endless chain should be replaced is determined on the server device side, and the time of replacement of the link can be predicted on the server device side. The chain equipment monitoring system of the present invention includes: a plurality of chain devices including an endless chain formed by connecting a plurality of links and a driving device thereof; an equipment information acquiring unit provided for each of the chain equipments; and a server device connected to the plurality of device information acquisition means via a network, the server device including storage means, replacement determination means, and replacement determination prediction means.)

1. A chain equipment monitoring system is provided with:

a plurality of chain devices including an endless chain formed by connecting a plurality of links and a driving device thereof;

an equipment information acquiring unit provided for each of the chain equipments; and

a server device connected to the plurality of device information acquisition units via a network,

the equipment information acquiring unit acquires, from the chain equipment:

equipment operation information including information on operation conditions under which the chain equipment is operated respectively;

link unique information which is information unique to the link; and

link state information indicating the state of each of all the links in the endless chain during a chain circulation period, which is a period unique to each of the chain devices, and/or during a predetermined measurement period, which is a period longer than the chain circulation period, wherein the endless chain circulates once,

the server device includes a storage unit, a replacement determination unit, and a replacement determination prediction unit,

the storage unit stores:

the equipment operation information of each of the chain equipment;

the link intrinsic information of each of the links; and

the link state information during each chain cycle and/or during the prescribed measurement,

the replacement determination unit determines whether or not the link should be replaced, based on the link unique information and the link state information stored in the storage unit,

the replacement determination prediction unit predicts a time at which the replacement determination unit can determine that the link should be replaced, for each of the chain devices, in accordance with a future operating condition, which is an operating condition expected to be applied in the future, based on the device operating information, the link unique information, and the link state information stored in the storage unit.

2. The chain equipment monitoring system of claim 1,

the storage unit stores:

a link life period, which is a period from the first use in the chain apparatus to the time when the replacement determination means determines that the link determined to be replaced by the replacement determination means should be replaced; and

link passing information relating to the equipment operating information of the chain equipment including the link during the link life and the link status information during each chain cycle and/or the prescribed measurement period for the link,

the replacement determination prediction unit is a unit that determines that,

determining a correction value according to the operating condition based on the link life span and the link passage information stored in the storage unit,

the timing at which each of the chain devices determines that the link corresponding to the future operating condition should be replaced is predicted based on the correction value information, which is information relating to the correction value corresponding to the future operating condition, the link unique information and the link state information stored in the storage unit.

3. The chain equipment monitoring system of claim 2,

the replacement determination prediction unit is a unit that determines that,

when the link life duration and the link passing information are newly stored in the storage unit,

the correction value according to the operating condition is newly determined based on the newly stored link life span and link passage information and the link life span and link passage information stored up to now.

4. The chain equipment monitoring system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3,

the equipment operation information further includes information on an operation environment, which is an environment in which each of the chain equipments is operated.

5. The chain equipment monitoring system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3,

the equipment operation information includes, as operation conditions, the length of the endless chain, the operation time of the chain equipment per day, and the weight of the conveyed object.

6. The chain equipment monitoring system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3,

the endless chain includes:

a center link formed of an elongated annular member or a rod-like member having pin holes penetrating in the vertical direction at front and rear end portions;

upper and lower pairs of links formed of plate-like members having pin holes penetrating in the vertical direction at front and rear end portions; and

a connecting pin connecting the center link and the pair of upper and lower side links,

the link state information is information relating to a distance between a leading end portion of the preceding center link and a leading end portion of the center link that is continuous therewith.

7. The chain equipment monitoring system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3,

the server device further includes a difference information calculation unit that calculates link state difference information indicating a difference between the link state information acquired during the chain circulation period and/or the predetermined measurement period and the link state information acquired during the previous chain circulation period and/or the predetermined measurement period,

the replacement determination unit determines whether the link should be replaced based on the link-specific information and the link-state differential information,

the storage unit further stores the link state difference information for each chain cycle period and/or each predetermined measurement period for each link,

the replacement determination prediction means may replace the link state information with the link state difference information, and predict a time at which the replacement determination means can determine that the link should be replaced, in each of the chain devices, in accordance with a future operation condition, which is an operation condition expected to be applied in the future.

8. The chain equipment monitoring system of claim 7,

the link state information includes information relating to the interval of the link, i.e. link interval information,

the link state difference information is information of a difference between the intervals of the links measured during each chain cycle and/or the predetermined measurement period for each link.

9. The chain equipment monitoring system of claim 7,

the chain device further includes an automatic oil supply unit that supplies oil to the endless chain when a change rate of the link state difference information calculated for each of the chain cycle periods and/or the predetermined measurement period becomes a predetermined value or more.

10. The chain equipment monitoring system of claim 8,

the chain device further includes an automatic oil supply unit that supplies oil to the endless chain when a change rate of the link state difference information calculated for each of the chain cycle periods and/or the predetermined measurement period becomes a predetermined value or more.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a monitoring system for monitoring a chain facility including an endless chain formed by connecting a plurality of links and a driving device thereof.

Background

In a manufacturing line of a factory or the like, a chain facility including an endless chain formed by connecting a plurality of links and a driving device thereof is widely used.

In such a chain apparatus, an endless chain stretched over a drive sprocket, a steering wheel, and the like circulates, and the endless chain is repeatedly bent while tension is applied to the endless chain, and thus the endless chain is gradually worn.

When the wear of the endless chain progresses, the operation of the chain device is hindered, or the endless chain breaks and stops operating, so that it is necessary to monitor the wear state of the endless chain.

Conventionally, most of the equipment manufacturers have been inefficient in that they regularly incorporate a measuring device into a chain equipment to measure elongation of the endless chain due to wear, and preparation and arrangement of the measurement takes time.

On the other hand, there is also a technique of monitoring the wear state of the endless chain by automatically measuring the elongation of the endless chain due to wear (see, for example, patent documents 1 and 2).

In patent document 1, light LH is emitted from a light source 5 toward an endless chain C, an optical reader V that receives the light LH reads the mutual interval between the links, and a computer 4 processes a data signal output from the optical reader V to calculate the length of the gap (link gap) between 2 central links.

The computer 4 then determines "dangerous link" when the length of the link gap is longer than the dangerous length, determines "attention link" when the length of the link gap is shorter than the dangerous length and longer than the attention length, determines "safe link" when the length of the link gap is shorter than the attention length, and outputs and displays these link numbers on the display 7, the printer 9, and the like.

In the method of the second invention of patent document 2, the distance to the upper surface of the endless chain 2 is continuously measured by one noncontact laser displacement meter 3, and the CPU11 as the calculation means calculates the wear elongation between the link chains from the measurement time of the noncontact laser displacement meter 3 and the moving speed of the endless chain 2.

Then, the CPU11 issues, for example, an alarm when the found actual wear elongation exceeds a predetermined threshold.

In the present situation, monitoring for automatically measuring elongation of the endless chain due to wear as in patent documents 1 and 2 is performed independently in each chain facility.

On the other hand, there is a technique of grasping and performing maintenance or the like of the state of a machine or an industrial device installed at a plurality of locations (for example, see patent documents 3 and 4).

The management system a for machine equipment of patent document 3 includes an integrated management center 1, plant sites 21, 22, …, a user PC3, and the like.

The management system a transmits the operation information of the compressors installed at the respective plant sites 21, 22, … at each moment to the central management center 1 via the network N1, stores the information in association with the identification information of the compressors in the operation information storage unit 104 of the central management center 1, and the information processing unit 109 of the central management center 1 analyzes the operation tendency of the compressors in a predetermined period based on the operation information read from the operation information storage unit 104.

For example, the information processing device 109 determines whether or not the proportion occupied by the no-load operation is equal to or greater than a predetermined value as the operation tendency of the compressor during a predetermined period, and determines a set value for making the proportion occupied by the no-load operation smaller than the predetermined value based on the analysis of the operation information when the proportion occupied by the no-load operation is equal to or greater than the predetermined value, and transmits the set value to the computer PC3 of the user corresponding to the compressor via the network N2. The user who receives the set value changes the set value of the compressor to an appropriate value, thereby improving the operation efficiency of the compressor.

The maintenance support system 1 of patent document 4 is configured such that a data collection module 10 and a component life management server 20 provided in association with an apparatus 30 such as an industrial furnace or an industrial boiler are connected via a network N.

The data collection module 10 has: a generation unit 12 that generates data indicating the usage status of the components used in the device 30, using the control data C obtained from the device 30; and a transmission unit 13 for transmitting the data generated by the generation unit 12 to the network N.

The component lifetime management server 20 includes: a database 22 storing thresholds that specify whether components used in the device 30 need to be replaced or inspected; and a determination unit 23 that compares the data transmitted from the data collection module 10 via the network N with the threshold stored in the database 22 to determine whether or not maintenance of the device 30 is necessary.

Since the data collection module 10 generates data indicating the use status of the components used in the device 30 and transmits the data to the network N, and the component life management server 20 compares the data transmitted via the network N with a threshold value that specifies whether or not replacement or inspection of the components is necessary, and determines whether or not maintenance of the device 30 is necessary, the maintenance support system 1 can be realized at low cost, and support can be performed so as to appropriately perform maintenance of various devices.

Patent document 1: japanese Kokai publication Hei 01-014722

Patent document 2: japanese laid-open patent publication No. 11-325829

Patent document 3: japanese patent No. 5887217

Patent document 4: japanese patent No. 6123361

In the conventional method of monitoring the wear state by measuring the elongation due to wear of the endless chain, since the determination is performed independently using the measurement results independently performed in each chain device, it takes a lot of time to compare the measurement data with the past and to compare and verify the measurement data with other chain devices.

Therefore, the inventors of the present application consider the following cases: instead of monitoring the wear state of the endless chain in each of the chain facilities installed at a plurality of sites independently, the chain facilities installed at a plurality of sites are connected via a network as in patent documents 3 and 4, and the wear state of the endless chain is monitored efficiently.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention aims to obtain a chain equipment monitoring system which can effectively monitor chain equipment arranged at a plurality of sites.

The inventors of the present application have completed the present invention in view of the following circumstances: information on chain devices installed at a plurality of sites can be collected in a server device, whether or not a link of an endless chain should be replaced is determined on the server device side, and the time of replacement of the link can be predicted on the server device side.

The gist of the present invention is as follows.

[1] A chain equipment monitoring system is provided with:

a plurality of chain devices including an endless chain formed by connecting a plurality of links and a driving device thereof;

an equipment information acquiring unit provided for each of the chain equipments; and

a server device connected to the plurality of device information acquisition units via a network,

the equipment information acquiring unit acquires, from the chain equipment:

equipment operation information including information on operation conditions under which the chain equipment is operated respectively;

link unique information which is information unique to the link; and

link state information indicating the state of each of all the links in the endless chain during a chain circulation period, which is a period unique to each of the chain devices, and/or a predetermined measurement period, which is a period longer than the chain circulation period, in which the endless chain circulates once,

the server device includes a storage unit, a replacement determination unit, and a replacement determination prediction unit,

the storage unit stores the device operation information for each of the chain devices, the link unique information for each of the links, and the link state information for each of the chain cycle periods and/or the predetermined measurement periods,

the replacement determination unit determines whether or not the link should be replaced, based on the link unique information and the link state information stored in the storage unit,

the replacement determination prediction means predicts a time at which the replacement determination means can determine that the link should be replaced, for each of the chain devices, in accordance with a future operating condition, which is an operating condition expected to be applied in the future, based on the device operating information, the link unique information, and the link state information stored in the storage unit.

[2] The chain equipment monitoring system according to item [1], wherein,

the storage unit stores:

a link life period, which is a period from the first use in the chain apparatus to the time when the replacement determination means determines that the link determined to be replaced by the replacement determination means should be replaced; and

link passing information relating to the equipment operating information of the chain equipment including the link during the link life and the link status information during each chain cycle and/or during the prescribed measurement of the link,

the replacement determination prediction unit is a unit that determines that,

determining a correction value according to the operating condition based on the link life span and the link passage information stored in the storage unit,

the timing at which each of the chain devices determines that the link corresponding to the future operating condition should be replaced is predicted based on the correction value information, which is information relating to the correction value corresponding to the future operating condition, the link unique information and the link state information stored in the storage unit.

[3] The chain equipment monitoring system according to [2], wherein,

the replacement determination prediction unit is a unit that determines that,

when the link life duration and the link passing information are newly stored in the storage unit,

and re-determining the correction value according to the operating condition based on the newly stored link life and link passage information and the link life and link passage information stored so far.

[4] The chain equipment monitoring system according to any one of [1] to [3], wherein,

the equipment operation information further includes information on an operation environment, which is an environment in which each of the chain equipments is operated.

[5] The chain equipment monitoring system according to any one of [1] to [3], wherein,

the equipment operation information includes, as operation conditions, the length of the endless chain, the operation time of the chain equipment per day, and the weight of the conveyed object.

[6] The chain equipment monitoring system according to any one of [1] to [3], wherein,

the endless chain includes:

a center link formed of an elliptical ring member or a rod member having pin holes penetrating in the vertical direction at front and rear end portions;

upper and lower pairs of links formed of plate-like members having pin holes penetrating in the vertical direction at front and rear end portions; and

a connecting pin connecting the center link and the pair of upper and lower side links,

the link state information is information relating to a distance between a leading end portion of the preceding center link and a leading end portion of the center link that is continuous therewith.

[7] The chain equipment monitoring system according to any one of [1] to [3], wherein,

the server device further includes a difference information calculation unit that calculates link state difference information indicating a difference between the link state information acquired during the chain circulation period and/or the predetermined measurement period and the link state information acquired during the previous chain circulation period and/or the predetermined measurement period,

the replacement determination means determines whether or not the link should be replaced based on the link unique information and the link state difference information,

the storage unit further stores the link state difference information for each chain cycle period and/or each predetermined measurement period for each link,

the replacement determination prediction means predicts a time at which the replacement determination means can determine that the link should be replaced, in each of the chain devices, in accordance with a future operating condition that is an operating condition expected to be applied in the future.

[8] The chain equipment monitoring system according to item [7], wherein,

the link state information includes link interval information that is information relating to the interval of the link,

the link state difference information is information of a difference between the intervals of the links measured during each chain cycle and/or the predetermined measurement period for each link.

[9] The chain equipment monitoring system according to item [7], wherein,

the chain device further includes an automatic oil supply unit that supplies oil to the endless chain when a change rate of the link state difference information calculated for each of the chain cycle periods and/or the predetermined measurement period becomes a predetermined value or more.

[10] The chain equipment monitoring system according to item [8], wherein,

the chain device further includes an automatic oil supply unit that supplies oil to the endless chain when a change rate of the link state difference information calculated for each of the chain cycle periods and/or the predetermined measurement period becomes a predetermined value or more.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF INVENTION

The chain equipment monitoring system according to the present invention mainly has the following effects.

(1) In a plurality of chain devices each including an endless chain formed by connecting a plurality of links and a driving device thereof, device operation information, link unique information, and link state information are acquired from the plurality of chain devices by a device information acquiring unit provided for each chain device, and are collected in a server apparatus.

(2) A replacement determination unit of the server device determines whether the link should be replaced or not based on the link unique information and the link state information.

(3) The replacement determination prediction unit of the server device predicts, based on the device operation information, the link unique information, and the link state information, a time at which the replacement determination unit determines that the link should be replaced, the time corresponding to a future operation condition, which is an operation condition expected to be applied in the future, in each of the plurality of chain devices.

(4) By collecting the measurement results of the plurality of device information acquisition means in the server apparatus, it is possible to analyze not only a specific endless chain but also measurement results of a plurality of portions of the endless chain together, and therefore it is possible to perform prediction with high accuracy.

(5) By transmitting the determination result by the replacement determination means and the prediction result by the replacement determination prediction means to the user apparatus, the user apparatus can use the results, and therefore, the plurality of chain devices can be monitored very efficiently.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a network of a chain equipment monitoring system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing a system outline of the chain equipment monitoring system.

Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram mainly showing the flow of signals and data.

Fig. 4 is a graph showing the link lengths of the respective link numbers of the endless chain measured by the chain wear measuring device as the equipment information acquiring means.

Fig. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation of the control unit of the device information acquisition means.

Fig. 6 shows an example of a transition diagram and a prediction diagram, where (a) shows a prediction diagram in the case of continuous use under the current use condition, and (b) shows a prediction diagram matching the future use condition.

Fig. 7 is a flowchart showing an operation of the control unit of the server device.

Fig. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of the replacement determination prediction by the control unit.

Fig. 9 is a schematic plan view showing an example of arrangement of a chain wear measuring device as a device information acquiring unit in the chain device.

Fig. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the endless chain.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the chain wear measuring device.

Fig. 12 is a partial longitudinal cross-sectional view of the chain wear measuring device.

Fig. 13 is a front perspective view showing a sensor of the chain wear measuring device.

Fig. 14 is a front view of the chain wear measuring device.

Description of the symbols

1 chain equipment monitoring system

2 chain equipment

3 server device

3A transceiver

3B control part

3C memory cell

4-user device

4A transceiver

4B control part

4C display unit

5 device information acquisition unit

5A transmitting/receiving unit

5B control part

5C memory cell

6 magnetic yoke

7 guide rail

8 contact wheel

9 running roller

10 ring chain

11 center link

11A pinhole

12 side chain segment

12A pin hole

13 connecting pin

14 drive device

15 drive sprocket

16 steering wheel

17 turning roll

18 tensioner

19 reflecting plate

20 chain wear measuring device

21 reflection type photoelectric sensor (measurement start position detection unit)

22 transmission type photoelectric sensor (reference position detecting unit)

22A projector

22B light receiver

23 laser CCD Length measuring sensor (distance measuring unit)

23A projector

23B light receiver

24 support member

25 sensor controller

C circulation path

D0 reference length

D distance from the reference position to the subsequent reference position

L1, L2, L3 light

N network

P1 first prescribed position

P2 second prescribed position

RP measurement reference position

Width of measurement of W

Detailed Description

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In the following embodiments, the traveling direction of the endless chain is set to the front, the opposite direction is set to the rear, the left and right are defined toward the front, and the left and right are viewed from the front.

< monitoring system for chain equipment >

As shown in a schematic diagram showing a network in fig. 1, a block diagram showing a system outline in fig. 2, and a schematic diagram showing a flow of main signals and data in fig. 3, a chain device monitoring system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a server apparatus 3 connected to the plurality of chain devices 2, …, i.e., the first chain device, the second chain device, and the … … nth chain device, via a network N; and a user device 4 connected to the network N.

The chain device 2 includes an endless chain 10 formed by connecting a plurality of links and a driving device thereof, and a device information acquiring unit 5 is provided for each chain device 2.

The network N is, for example, a wan (wide Area network) having the same connection method as the internet, and the device information acquisition unit 5, the server apparatus 3, and the user apparatus 4 are independently connected to the network N.

The user device 4 may be located in each chain apparatus 2, may be located near the server device 3, or may be located in another place such as a management center.

The server device 3 includes a transmission/reception unit 3A, a control unit 3B, and a storage unit 3C, the user device 4 includes a transmission/reception unit 4A, a control unit 4B, and a storage unit 4C, and the device information acquisition unit 5 includes a transmission/reception unit 5A, a control unit 5B, and a storage unit 5C, and transmits/receives signals and data as shown in fig. 3.

The device information acquisition unit 5 transmits the acquired data to the server apparatus 3 without analyzing the acquired data.

The server apparatus 3 acquires data collected in the plurality of chain devices 2, … from the device information acquisition means 5, … using, for example, an existing cloud service. Thus, the information of the plurality of chain devices 2, … is collected in the server apparatus 3, the data is analyzed, whether or not the links of the endless chain 10 should be replaced is determined on the server apparatus 3 side, and the replacement timing of the links is predicted.

The server apparatus 3 also performs data processing (such as graphic processing) for displaying on the user apparatus 4, and transmits the result to the user apparatus 4 in response to an arbitrary request from the user apparatus 4.

When the server device 3 determines that the link of the endless chain 10 should be replaced by data analysis, it transmits a "link replacement instruction" to the user device 4.

The user apparatus 4 displays data collected by the server apparatus 3, a graph generated by the server apparatus 3, and the like.

When receiving the "link replacement instruction" from the server apparatus 3, the user apparatus 4 displays the link number of the endless chain 10 to be replaced.

< device information acquiring Unit >

The device information acquiring unit 5 acquires, from the chain devices 2, device operation information including information on the operation conditions for operating the respective chain devices 2 and link unique information unique to the links of the endless chain 10.

Here, the operation conditions are, for example, the operation time of the chain apparatus 2 for one day, the weight of the conveyed material, the number and radius of curvature of the curved portion in the circulation path of the endless chain 10, the conveying speed, and the like, and the link unique information is the model number of the link, the initial link length of each link number, and the like.

In a preferred embodiment, the equipment operation information further includes information on an operation environment such as temperature and humidity, which is an environment in which each of the chain equipments 2 operates.

The device information acquiring unit 5 acquires, from the chain device 2, link state information indicating the state of each of all the links in the endless chain 10 during a chain circulation period, which is a period unique to the chain device 2 and/or a predetermined measurement period, which is a period longer than the chain circulation period, in which the endless chain 10 circulates once.

Here, the chain circulation period is a time during which the endless chain 10 is wound once around the circulation path, and the predetermined measurement period may be a period longer than the chain circulation period which is a time during which the endless chain 10 is wound once around the circulation path, and may be, for example, a time unit such as 1 hour, 1 day, or 1 week, or may be a time during which the endless chain 10 is wound a predetermined number of times around the circulation path.

The link state information is information related to the state of the link such as the link length (for example, the distance from the measurement reference position of the center link to the measurement reference position of the subsequent center link).

(example of measurement data of device information acquiring means)

Fig. 4 is an example of a graph showing the link length of each link number of the endless chain 10 measured by a chain wear measuring device, which will be described later in detail, as the equipment information acquiring unit 5.

By periodically measuring the length of each link of the endless chain 10, it is possible to identify a link which is particularly worn and detect a sudden breakage of the link.

(operation of control section of device information acquisition means)

The description is made with reference to the flowchart of fig. 5.

Here, a case will be described as an example in which the device information acquiring unit 5 acquires the link state information every predetermined measurement period.

The control unit 5B of the equipment information acquiring unit 5 first determines the operating state of the chain equipment 2 (S11), and if not, ends the process.

If the chain device 2 is in operation and the flag F is 1, the control unit 5B determines that the link state information is being acquired, and then determines whether or not the link state information of all the links is acquired (S12 to S13).

If the link state information of all the links is not acquired, the control unit 5B returns to S11.

If the link state information of all the links is acquired, the control unit 5B transmits the link state information of all the links from the transmission/reception unit 5A to the server device 3 together with the device operation information and the link unique information (S14), and returns to the standby state with the flag F set to 0 (S15).

If the chain device 2 is in operation and the flag F is 0, the standby state is established, and the control unit 5B then determines the elapsed time state (S16). That is, the control unit 5B determines the elapse of a predetermined measurement period T (for example, 1 day, 1 week, etc.) by the timer T specific to each chain device 2 (S16).

When the control unit 5B determines that the predetermined measurement period T has elapsed, it starts to acquire the link state information, the device operation information, and the link unique information for each link number from the chain device 2 (S17), and starts to count the time after resetting the timer T (S18), releases the standby state, sets the flag F to 1, indicates that the link state information is being acquired (S19), and returns to S11.

When the acquisition of the link state information by the equipment information acquisition unit 5 is performed for each chain cycle, the control unit 5B may perform transmission of the link state information of all the links from the transmission/reception unit 5A to the server apparatus 3 together with the equipment operation information and the link unique information (S14) and start acquisition of the link state information, the equipment operation information and the link unique information for each link number from the chain equipment 2 by determining whether or not the standby state is managed by the flag F (S12, S15, S19) and the time elapsed by the timer t (S16, S18) (S13) instead of performing management of the standby state and management of the time elapsed by the flag F.

< Server device >

The device operation information for each chain device 2, the link unique information for each link number of the endless chain 10, and the link state information for each chain cycle period and/or each predetermined measurement period, which are received by the transmission/reception unit 3A of the server apparatus 3 from the transmission/reception unit 5A of the device information acquisition means 5, are stored in the storage means 3C of the server apparatus 3.

The control unit 3B of the server device 3 includes a replacement determination unit and a replacement determination prediction unit.

The replacement determination unit determines whether or not a link should be replaced, based on the link unique information and the link state information stored in the storage unit 3C.

The replacement determination prediction means predicts a time at which the replacement determination means may determine that the link should be replaced, in each of the chain devices 2, in accordance with a future operating condition, which is an operating condition expected to be applied in the future, based on the device operating information, the link unique information, and the link state information stored in the storage means 3C.

The storage unit 3C of the server apparatus 3 preferably stores: the link life period is a period from when the link determined by the replacement determination means to be replaced is first used in the chain apparatus 2 until when the link determined by the replacement determination means to be replaced; and link passing information relating to the equipment operating information of the chain equipment 2 including the link during the link life and the link state information during each chain cycle and/or each prescribed measurement period of the link.

In a preferred embodiment, the replacement determination prediction means determines a correction value according to the operating condition based on the link life time and the link passage information stored in the storage means 3C, and predicts a time at which it is determined that the link according to the future operating condition should be replaced in each of the chain devices 2 based on correction value information, which is information relating to the correction value according to the future operating condition, and the link unique information and the link state information stored in the storage means 3C.

In a more preferred embodiment, when the link life and the link passage information are newly stored in the storage unit 3C, the replacement determination prediction unit newly determines the correction value according to the operating condition based on the newly stored link life and the link passage information and the link life and the link passage information stored up to this time.

In a more preferred embodiment, the server device 3 further includes difference information calculation means for calculating link state difference information indicating a difference between the link state information acquired during the chain circulation period and/or the predetermined measurement period and the link state information acquired during the immediately preceding chain circulation period and/or the predetermined measurement period.

In this case, the replacement determination means determines whether or not the link should be replaced based on the link unique information and the link state difference information, the storage means 3C further stores the link state difference information for each chain cycle period and/or each predetermined measurement period for each link, and the replacement determination prediction means replaces the link state information with the link state difference information to predict a time at which the replacement determination means may determine that the link should be replaced, depending on a future operating condition, which is an operating condition expected to be applied in the future, for each of the chain devices 2.

In a further preferred embodiment, the link state information includes link interval information that is information on the intervals of the links, and the link state difference information is information on the difference between the intervals of the links measured for each of the chain cycle periods and/or each of the predetermined measurement periods.

(example of transition map and prediction map generated by Server device)

Fig. 6(a) shows an example of a transition diagram of the wear amount of the endless chain 10 in the chain facility 2 and a prediction diagram in the case of continued use under the current use condition, and fig. 6(B) shows an example of a transition diagram of the wear amount of the endless chain 10 in the chain facility 2 and a prediction diagram matching the use condition (for example, use condition a and use condition B) in the future.

As described above, the replacement determination prediction means of the control unit 3B of the server device 3 can predict the time when the wear limit corresponding to the future operating condition is reached.

The wear amount in fig. 6(a) and 6(b) shows, as an example, the wear amount with respect to the initial length of the endless chain 10 of the chain device 2, and as parameters of each axis of the transition map and the prediction map created by the server apparatus 3, for example, an average value of the wear amount with respect to the initial link length, a transition map of the average value of the link length, and a prediction line map in each measurement period of the link units of all the links may be used, as will be described later.

(operation of control section of Server device)

The main routine is explained with reference to the flowchart of fig. 7.

The control unit 3B of the server apparatus 3 determines whether or not the transmission/reception unit 3A has received information from the equipment information acquisition means 5 of the chain equipment 2 (S1), and stores the information in the storage means 3C when receiving the information from the equipment information acquisition means 5 (S2).

The replacement determination means of the control unit 3B determines whether or not the link should be replaced based on the received information (S3). For example, the replacement determination unit determines that the link should be replaced when the link length is greater than a predetermined length.

When the replacement determination means determines that the link should be replaced, an instruction indicating that the link should be replaced is transmitted from the transmission/reception unit 3A to the user apparatus 4 (S4).

If the replacement determination means does not determine that the link should be replaced, the transition map of the link state information in each chain device 2 is updated (S5).

Specifically, in the transition diagram, the link state information is a link length, and represents the link length in units of the measurement period as an average value of the link lengths of all the links in the endless chain 10 of the chain device 2.

In fact, not limited to this, various transition maps may be created according to the request of the user apparatus 4, and for example, a transition of the link length per measurement period of the unit of a link, a transition of the wear amount per measurement period, and the like may be created.

That is, in the "update of the transition map of the link state information" (S5), the change may be appropriately made in accordance with the request of the user apparatus 4, or the transition map may be created (updated) only when there is a request from the user apparatus 4.

Next, the control unit 3B generates and corrects a model function (S6), and performs replacement judgment prediction using the model function (S7).

(model function)

The model function is generated in a form (unit and form) matching the transition map of the previous "transition map update of link state information" process (S5).

The model function can predict the period until the wear limit of the links is reached by determining the operating conditions of the chain device 2 (for example, the length of the endless chain 10, the operating time per 1 day, and the weight of the conveyed object). On the other hand, the constant or the like changes according to the "transition diagram of the link state information". Therefore, the model function can be appropriately adjusted according to the request of the user apparatus 4.

(correction of model function based on machine learning)

For example, the model function is corrected each time the server device 3 receives information transmitted by the equipment information acquisition unit 5 of the chain equipment 2. Specifically, machine learning based on a deep Neural network is preferably used, and more specifically, it is preferably designed to recognize a pattern such as time series data of rnn (current Neural networks). Among these, machine learning based on lstm (long Short Term memory) suitable for machine learning for a longer period is more preferable.

Next, the subroutine is described with reference to the flowchart of fig. 8.

The control unit 3B of the server apparatus 3 receives the information from the equipment information acquiring means 5 of the chain equipment 2, and thus regenerates the model function, and also regenerates the prediction line map for each of all the equipment (S71).

The control unit 3B manages the operation conditions for each chain device 2, and uses the operation conditions to be applied in the future for creating the prediction graph (S72).

The control unit 3B creates (updates) a prediction line map in a format (matching the unit and format) matching the "transition map of the link state information" updated from the main routine (S73).

< example of device information acquiring means >

The chain wear measuring device 20, which is an example of the device information acquiring unit 5, will be described.

In the chain apparatus 2 shown in the schematic plan view of fig. 9, the endless chain 10 is wound around the sprocket 15, the diverting pulleys 16, …, and the diverting rollers 17, … of the driving device 14, and is given tension by the tensioner 18. The endless chain 10 circulates on a predetermined circulation path C while traveling in the direction indicated by the arrow in the figure.

In such a chain apparatus 2, as described above, the endless chain 10 is repeatedly bent in a state where tension is applied, and therefore the endless chain 10 is gradually worn.

Therefore, in order to measure the wear of the endless chain 10, as shown in the schematic plan view of fig. 9, a chain wear measuring device 20 as the equipment information acquiring unit 5 is disposed at an appropriate position of the circulation path C of the endless chain 10.

(Ring chain)

As shown in the exploded perspective view of fig. 10, the endless chain 10 includes, for example, a center link 11, upper and lower pairs of side links 12, and connecting pins 13, 13.

The center link 11 is formed of an elliptical ring-shaped member having pin holes 11A penetrating in the vertical direction at front and rear end portions. The center link 11 may be a rod-shaped member having pin holes 11A penetrating in the vertical direction at the front and rear ends.

The side links 12 are formed of plate-like members having pin holes 12A penetrating in the vertical direction at the front and rear ends.

The connecting pin 13 is inserted through the pin hole 12A of one side link 12, the pin hole 11A of the center link 11, and the pin hole 12A of the other side link 12, and is turned by 90 °, thereby connecting the center link 11 to the pair of upper and lower side links 12, 12.

As shown in the perspective view of fig. 11 and the front view of fig. 14, pulleys 8, … are attached to the endless chain 10, and the left and right running rollers 9, 9 of the pulleys 8 are supported by the guide rails 7, 7 supported by the yoke 6.

As shown in the perspective view of fig. 11 and the partial vertical cross-sectional view of fig. 12, the guide rails 7 and 7 are a pair of left and right channel steels having a substantially コ -shaped cross section, with openings facing each other at a distance in the left-right direction, but the traveling rollers may be engaged on the left and right sides as one guide rail formed of I-shaped steel.

(constitution of chain wear measuring device)

As shown in the perspective view of fig. 11, the partial vertical cross-sectional view of fig. 12, and the front view of fig. 14, the chain wear measuring device 20 is supported by a support member 24, is disposed at an appropriate position of the circulation path C of the endless chain 10, and includes a sensor controller 25 such as a reflection type photosensor 21 as measurement start position detecting means, a transmission type photosensor 22 as reference position detecting means, a laser type CCD length measuring sensor 23 as distance measuring means, and an amplifier including these sensors.

The reflection type photoelectric sensor 21 projects light L1 (see fig. 13) toward a detection object and receives the reflected light to detect the object.

The transmissive photosensor 22 includes a projector 22A and a light receiver 22B that are disposed to face each other, and projects light L2 (see fig. 13) from the projector 22A to the light receiver 22B, and detects interruption of the light L2 by an object passing between the projector 22A and the light receiver 22B.

The laser type CCD length measuring sensor 23 includes a light projector 23A and a light receiver 23B, projects light L3 (see fig. 13) having a measurement width W from the light projector 23A to the light receiver 23B, and detects a position in a traveling direction of an object passing between the light projector 23A and the light receiver 23B when the object blocks the light L3 at a predetermined timing.

As shown in the front perspective view of fig. 13 and the front view of fig. 14, the reflective photosensor 21 as the measurement start position detection means is disposed at the first predetermined position P1, and the transmissive photosensor 22 as the reference position detection means is disposed at the second predetermined position P2 on the downstream side of the first predetermined position P1.

The laser CCD length measuring sensor 23 as the distance measuring means is disposed such that the center of the measurement width W is located upstream of the second predetermined position P2 by, for example: an initial link length (a distance from the measurement reference position RP of the center link 11 to the measurement reference position RP of the subsequent center link 11) D0 (see fig. 14) when the endless chain 10 is first set in the chain device 2.

The laser CCD length measuring sensor 23 is disposed at a predetermined distance D0 from the second predetermined position P2, and is positioned in advance by a reference plate or the like that determines the distance.

(operation of chain wear measuring device)

A reflection plate 19 for determining a measurement start position is attached to the endless chain 10. Light L1 is projected from the reflection type photosensor 21 as measurement start position detection means, and the link number of the center link 11 when the reflection plate 19 is detected by receiving the reflected light from the reflection plate 19 is 1.

Light L2 is projected from the transmission type photosensor 22 as reference position detecting means, and the timing at which the detected light L2 is blocked by the measurement reference position RP, which is the tip end portion of the center link 11, is triggered by the laser type CCD length measuring sensor 23, which is distance measuring means.

As shown in fig. 13, at the above timing, the laser CCD length measuring sensor 23 detects the position of the measurement reference position RP of the subsequent center link 11 when the measurement reference position RP of the distal end portion of the subsequent center link 11 blocks the light L3, and thereby the distance D from the measurement reference position RP to the subsequent measurement reference position RP, that is, the link length, can be sequentially measured for each of the link numbers 1, 2, 3, ….

When the reflection plate 19 of the endless chain 10 is detected by the reflection type photoelectric sensor 21, the measurement of the link lengths of all the links of the endless chain 10 is completed, and thus the measurement is completed.

The chain wear measuring device 20 serving as the equipment information acquiring means 5 measures the link length serving as the link interval information periodically, for example, for each of the chain cycle periods and/or the predetermined measurement period, and transmits the measured link length to the server device 3.

In the server apparatus 3, as the link state difference information, the difference for each of the link numbers 1, 2, 3, and … can be easily obtained for all the links of the endless chain 10. This allows the server device 3 to identify a link in which wear has particularly progressed, and to detect a link fracture that occurs suddenly.

In a preferred embodiment, the chain device 2 includes an automatic oil supply unit that supplies oil to the endless chain 10 when a change rate of the link state difference information calculated for each of the chain cycle periods and/or the predetermined measurement period becomes equal to or greater than a predetermined value.

Since the abrasion of the endless chain 10 is caused by the sliding of the links, the amount of abrasion of the endless chain 10 increases as the friction coefficient of the sliding portion increases. This increases the rate of change of the link state difference information.

Since the friction coefficient of the sliding portion is largely controlled by the oil-supplied state of the chain, for example, when the change rate of the link state difference information becomes equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the automatic oil supply unit supplies oil to the endless chain 10, thereby making it possible to keep the change rate of the link state difference information substantially constant.

The chain equipment monitoring system 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention described above includes: a server device 3 connected to a plurality of chain devices 2, … via a network N, the chain devices including an endless chain 10 formed by connecting a plurality of links and a drive device 14 thereof; and a user device 4 connected to the network N, for acquiring device operation information, link unique information, and link state information from the plurality of chain devices 2, and … by a device information acquisition unit 5 provided for each of the chain devices 2, and for concentrating the information on the server device 3.

Then, the replacement determination unit of the server apparatus 3 determines whether the link should be replaced or not, based on the link unique information and the link state information.

Further, the replacement determination prediction means of the server device 3 predicts, based on the device operation information, the link unique information, and the link state information, a time at which the replacement determination means can determine that the link should be replaced, in accordance with a future operation condition, which is an operation condition expected to be applied in the future, in each of the plurality of chain devices 2, ….

Further, by concentrating the measurement results of the plurality of device information acquiring units 5, and … in the server apparatus 3, not only a specific one of the endless chains 10 can be analyzed, but also the measurement results of the plurality of portions of the endless chains 10, and … can be analyzed in combination, and thus highly accurate prediction can be performed.

By transmitting the determination result of the replacement determination means and the prediction result of the replacement determination prediction means to the user device 4, the results can be used flexibly on the user device 4 side, and therefore, the plurality of chain devices 2, … can be monitored very efficiently.

The above description of the embodiments is illustrative, and not restrictive. Various improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.