阅读说明：本技术 线性输送机系统、线性模块以及线性模块的控制方法 (Linear conveyor system, linear module and control method of linear module ) 是由 上野贤治 藤田贵吉 青木俊介 于 2019-05-08 设计创作，主要内容包括：用于识别滑动件(4)的识别符(ID)被赋予该滑动件(4)。对于此,向多个线性驱动器(D)发送的控制信号(Sc)将对于滑动件(4)的位置指令值(Cp)以及速度指令值(Cv)与该滑动件(4)的识别符(ID)建立对应地表示。线性驱动器(D)从在其负责区域(Rb)上重叠的滑动件(4)读取用于识别该滑动件(4)的识别符(ID),并将对应于通过控制信号(Sc)而与该识别符(ID)建立了对应的位置指令值(Cp)以及速度指令值(Cv)的电流向线性马达定子(23)供给。这样,能够使对应于滑动件(4)所存在的负责区域(Rb)的线性驱动器(D)准确地执行滑动件(4)的驱动。(An Identifier (ID) for identifying the slider (4) is given to the slider (4). In contrast, the control signal (Sc) transmitted to the plurality of linear actuators (D) indicates the position command value (Cp) and the speed command value (Cv) for the slider (4) in association with the Identifier (ID) of the slider (4). The linear actuator (D) reads an Identifier (ID) for identifying the slider (4) from the slider (4) overlapped on the responsible region (Rb), and supplies a current corresponding to a position command value (Cp) and a speed command value (Cv) corresponding to the Identifier (ID) by a control signal (Sc) to the linear motor stator (23). Thus, the linear actuator (D) corresponding to the charge region (Rb) where the slider (4) is present can be made to accurately drive the slider (4).)

1. A linear conveyor system is provided with:

a slider having a linear motor mover including a permanent magnet;

a linear module having a plurality of actuators arranged corresponding to a plurality of charge areas arranged in a driving direction of the slider, respectively, each of the plurality of actuators being responsible for driving the slider overlapped on the corresponding charge area in the driving direction; and

a main control device which transmits a control signal to the driver,

the slider has a storage portion storing an identifier for identifying the slider,

the control signal represents a drive command for the slider in correspondence with the identifier of the slider,

the driver includes a linear motor stator including an electromagnet and disposed in the corresponding charge area, a reading unit that reads the identifier from the storage unit of the slider overlapped on the corresponding charge area, and a drive control unit that supplies a current to the linear motor stator, and the drive control unit supplies the current corresponding to the drive command corresponding to the identifier read by the reading unit by the control signal to the linear motor stator, thereby driving the slider overlapped on the corresponding charge area in the drive direction.

2. The linear conveyor system of claim 1,

the master control device sends the same control signal to the plurality of drivers.

3. The linear conveyor system of claim 1 or 2,

the linear module is capable of driving a plurality of slides using the plurality of drivers,

the storage section stores the identifier for identifying each of the plurality of sliders,

the control signal associates the drive instruction for the slider with the identifier of the slider that is the object of the drive instruction, and represents it for each slider.

4. The linear conveyor system of any one of claims 1 to 3,

the drive unit attempts to read the identifier by the reading unit in a predetermined reading cycle, and the drive control unit supplies a current corresponding to the drive command corresponding to the identifier that has been successfully read by the control signal to the linear motor stator.

5. The linear conveyor system of claim 4,

the control device transmits the control signal to the plurality of drivers at a predetermined transmission cycle, and the read cycle is shorter than the transmission cycle.

6. The linear conveyor system of any one of claims 1 to 5,

the driver does not supply the current to the linear motor stator by the drive control unit when the identifier cannot be read by the reading unit.

7. A linear module includes a plurality of actuators arranged corresponding to a plurality of charge areas arranged in a driving direction of a slider, the slider having a linear motor mover including a permanent magnet,

each of the plurality of drivers is responsible for driving of the slider overlapped on the corresponding responsible area in the driving direction,

the actuator includes linear motor stators each including an electromagnet and arranged in the corresponding charge area, a reading unit that reads an identifier for identifying the slider from the slider overlapped on the corresponding charge area, a drive control unit that supplies a current to the linear motor stators, and a communication processing unit that receives a control signal indicating that a drive command for the slider is associated with the identifier of the slider, and the drive control unit supplies the current corresponding to the drive command associated with the identifier read by the reading unit by the control signal to the linear motor stators, thereby driving the sliders overlapped on the corresponding charge area in the drive direction.

8. A method for controlling a linear module including a plurality of actuators arranged respectively corresponding to a plurality of charge areas arranged in a driving direction of a slider, the slider including a linear motor mover including a permanent magnet, and the actuators including linear motor stators arranged in the corresponding charge areas and including electromagnets, the method comprising:

the driver reads an identifier for identifying the slider from the slider overlapped on the corresponding charge area;

transmitting a control signal representing a drive instruction for the slider in correspondence with the identifier of the slider to the driver; and

the driver supplies a current corresponding to the drive command corresponding to the identifier read from the slider by the control signal to the linear motor stator, and drives the slider overlapped on the corresponding charge area in the drive direction.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a technique for driving a slider by a linear module.

Background

Patent document 1 describes a linear module in which a slider is driven by a linear motor system. That is, the slider has a stator including a permanent magnet, and the linear module has a stator including an electromagnet. And, the linear module drives the slider by magnetic interaction generated between the stator and the electromagnet due to the supply of current to the electromagnet.

In particular, patent document 1 sets a plurality of regions arranged in the driving direction of the slider, and the linear module includes a plurality of drivers each including a segment controller and a stator, and the plurality of drivers correspond to the plurality of regions. Each driver drives the slider existing in the corresponding region.

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1: USRE39747E

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

In order to drive the slider by providing the linear modules having the plurality of charge areas for each of the plurality of actuators, it is necessary to accurately drive the slider by the actuator corresponding to the charge area in which the slider exists.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide the following techniques: in a linear module in which a plurality of charge areas are provided corresponding to each of a plurality of drivers, the driver corresponding to the charge area in which the slider exists can be made to accurately perform driving of the slider.

Means for solving the problems

The linear conveyor system of the present invention includes: a slider having a linear motor mover including a permanent magnet; a linear module having a plurality of drivers arranged corresponding to a plurality of charge areas arranged in a driving direction of the slider, respectively, each of the plurality of drivers being responsible for driving the slider overlapped on the corresponding charge area in the driving direction; and a main control device for transmitting a control signal to a drive, the slide having a storage unit for storing an identifier for identifying the slide, the control signal indicating a drive command for the slide in association with the identifier of the slide, the drive having a linear motor stator including an electromagnet and arranged in a corresponding charge area, a reading unit for reading the identifier from the storage unit of the slide overlapped on the corresponding charge area, and a drive control unit for supplying a current to the linear motor stator, the drive control unit supplying the current corresponding to the drive command established in association with the identifier read by the reading unit by the control signal to the linear motor stator, thereby driving the slide overlapped on the corresponding charge area in a drive direction.

The linear module of the present invention includes a plurality of drivers arranged corresponding to a plurality of charge areas arranged in a driving direction of a slider, the slider having a linear motor mover including a permanent magnet, each of the plurality of drivers being responsible for driving the slider overlapped on the corresponding charge area in the driving direction, the driver having a linear motor stator including an electromagnet arranged in the corresponding charge area, a reading unit reading an identifier for identifying the slider from the slider overlapped on the corresponding charge area, a drive control unit supplying a current to the linear motor stator, and a communication processing unit receiving a control signal indicating that a drive command for the slider is associated with the identifier of the slider, the current corresponding to the drive command read by the reading unit by the control signal being supplied to the linear motor stator by the drive control unit, thereby driving the sliders overlapped on the corresponding responsible area in the driving direction.

A method for controlling a linear module according to the present invention, the linear module including a plurality of actuators arranged corresponding to a plurality of charge areas arranged in a driving direction of a slider, the slider including a linear motor mover including a permanent magnet, the actuators including linear motor stators arranged in the corresponding charge areas and including electromagnets, includes: the driver reads an identifier for identifying the slider from the slider overlapped on the corresponding charge area; transmitting a control signal indicating that a drive command for the slider corresponds to the identifier of the slider to the driver; and a driver for supplying a current corresponding to a drive command corresponding to the identifier read from the slider by the control signal to the linear motor stator, thereby driving the slider overlapped on the corresponding responsible region in the drive direction.

In the present invention (linear conveyor system, linear module, and linear module control method) configured as described above, an identifier for identifying a slide is given to the slide. In contrast, the control signals transmitted to the plurality of drivers indicate the drive commands for the slider in association with the identifier of the slider. The driver reads an identifier for identifying the slider from the slider overlapped on the area in charge of the slider, and supplies a current corresponding to a drive command corresponding to the identifier by a control signal to the linear motor stator. That is, the driver corresponding to the charge range in which the sliders overlap among the plurality of drivers reads the identifier from the slider, and drives the slider in accordance with the drive command corresponding to the identifier. In this way, the driver corresponding to the area in charge where the slider exists can be made to accurately perform driving of the slider.

In addition, the linear conveyor system may be configured such that the main control device transmits the same control signal to a plurality of drives. In this configuration, the main control device generates a control signal including an identifier of the slider to be controlled and a drive command, and can cause the actuator corresponding to the charge area where the slider exists to accurately drive the slider only by transmitting the control signal to the plurality of actuators. That is, the slider can be appropriately driven by a simple control of transmitting control signals to the plurality of actuators at once, not by a control of determining the actuator to be driven from among the plurality of actuators and transmitting a drive command to the actuator.

The linear conveyor system may be configured such that the linear module can drive the plurality of sliders using the plurality of drivers, the storage unit stores an identifier for identifying each of the plurality of sliders, and the control signal associates a drive command for a slider with an identifier of the slider to be subjected to the drive command and indicates the drive command for each slider. In this configuration, by generating a control signal indicating that the drive command for the slider is associated with the identifier for each of the plurality of sliders and transmitting the control signal to the plurality of drivers, each of the plurality of sliders can be accurately driven.

In the linear conveyor system, the drive may try reading the identifier by the reading unit at a predetermined reading cycle, and the drive control unit may supply a current corresponding to a drive command associated with the identifier that has been successfully read by the control signal to the linear motor stator. In this configuration, since each driver attempts to read the identifier at a predetermined reading cycle, when the charge area where the sliders overlap changes as the sliders move, the driver corresponding to the charge area of the destination of movement of the sliders drives the sliders. In this way, the actuator for driving the slider can be changed in accordance with the movement of the slider.

In the linear conveyor system, the control device may transmit the control signal to the plurality of drives at a predetermined transmission cycle, and the read cycle may be shorter than the transmission cycle. In this configuration, the change of the actuator that drives the slider can be made to accurately follow the movement of the slider.

In the linear conveyor system, the drive may be configured not to supply the current to the stator of the linear motor by the drive control unit when the identifier cannot be read by the reading unit. In this configuration, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of disturbance in the movement of the slider or unnecessary power consumption due to the occurrence of an unnecessary induced magnetic field resulting from the current supply to the linear motor stator by the actuator corresponding to the region in charge where the sliders do not overlap.

Effects of the invention

According to the present invention, in a linear module in which a plurality of charge areas are provided for each of a plurality of drivers, the drivers corresponding to the charge areas in which the sliders exist can be caused to accurately drive the sliders.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a diagram schematically showing an example of a linear conveyor system according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of the linear module of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view partially showing the inside of the linear module of fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of the linear block of fig. 2 in the Y-direction.

Fig. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of the linear module of fig. 2 in the X-direction.

Fig. 6 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the linear conveyor system of fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a diagram showing control signals generated by the main controller.

Fig. 8 is a flowchart showing reception control performed by the linear driver.

Fig. 9 is a flowchart showing drive control performed by the linear actuator.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 is a diagram schematically showing an example of a linear conveyor system according to the present invention. Fig. 1 shows XYZ orthogonal coordinate axes having an X direction parallel to the horizontal direction, a Y direction orthogonal to the X direction and parallel to the horizontal direction, and a Z direction parallel to the vertical direction. Further, one side in the X direction is denoted as an X1 side, and the other side opposite to the one side in the X direction is denoted as an X2 side. The same reference numerals are used as appropriate in the following drawings. The linear conveyor system 1 is provided with four linear modules 2. In the figure, four linear modules 2 are denoted by reference numerals 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d different from each other.

The linear blocks 2a and 2b are fixed linear blocks fixed to the installation surface of the linear conveyor system 1, and the linear blocks 2c and 2d are movable linear blocks movable in the Y direction with respect to the installation surface. The fixed linear blocks 2a and 2b and the movable linear blocks 2c and 2d have the same width in the Y direction and have different lengths in the X direction. However, these components have a basic structure described below with reference to fig. 2 to 5 in addition to the length in the X direction.

The two fixed linear modules 2a and 2b are arranged in parallel to the X direction with a space therebetween in the Y direction. The fixed linear modules 2a and 2b arranged in the X direction have the same length in the X direction. On the other hand, the movable linear blocks 2c, 2d have the same length shorter than the fixed linear blocks 2a, 2b in the X direction. However, the dimensional relationship between the movable linear modules 2c and 2d and the fixed linear modules 2a and 2b is not limited to this example.

The linear conveyor system 1 has two actuators 5c, 5d that drive the movable linear modules 2c, 2d in the Y direction. The actuator 5c is disposed in parallel to the Y direction on the X1 side in the X direction of the fixed linear blocks 2a and 2 b. The actuator 5d is disposed in parallel to the Y direction on the X2 side in the X direction of the fixed linear blocks 2a and 2 b. In this way, the two actuators 5c and 5d are arranged so as to sandwich the two fixed linear modules 2a and 2b from the X direction.

The actuator 5c is, for example, a single-axis robot having a ball screw parallel to the Y direction, and the movable linear block 2c is attached to a nut of the ball screw of the actuator 5 c. The actuator 5c drives the movable linear block 2c in the Y direction along the movable region Rc. Here, the movable region Rc includes a facing range Fca that faces an end of the fixed linear block 2c on the X1 side from the X1 side in the X direction, a facing range Fcb that faces an end of the fixed linear block 2b on the X1 side from the X1 side in the X direction, and is a region extending in the Y direction.

The actuator 5d is, for example, a single-axis robot having a ball screw parallel to the Y direction, and the movable linear module 2d is attached to a nut of the ball screw of the actuator 5 d. The actuator 5d drives the movable linear block 2d in the Y direction along the movable region Rd. Here, the movable region Rd includes a facing range Fda facing from the X2 side to the end of the fixed linear module 2a on the X2 side in the X direction, a facing range Fdb facing from the X2 side to the end of the fixed linear module 2b on the X2 side in the X direction, and is a region extending in the Y direction.

The linear conveyor system 1 further includes actuator drivers 50c and 50d for driving the actuators 5c and 5 d. The actuator driver 50c drives the linear block 2c in the Y direction by supplying a current to the motor of the actuator 5c, and the actuator driver 50d drives the linear block 2d in the Y direction by supplying a current to the motor of the actuator 5 d.

In such a linear conveyor system 1, the slide 4 can be driven cyclically. For example, in a state where the movable linear block 2c is located within the facing range Fca, the slider 4 can be moved from the fixed linear block 2a to the movable linear block 2c by driving the slider 4 engaged therewith toward the X1 side in the X direction by the fixed linear block 2 a. Then, after the actuator 5c moves the movable linear block 2c from the opposing range Fca to the opposing range Fcb, the movable linear block 2c positioned in the opposing range Fcb drives the slider 4 engaged therewith to the X2 side in the X direction, thereby moving the slider 4 from the movable linear block 2c to the fixed linear block 2 b.

Further, in a state where the movable linear block 2d is located within the facing range Fdb, the fixed linear block 2b drives the slider 4 engaged therewith to the X2 side in the X direction, and thereby the slider 4 can be moved from the fixed linear block 2b to the movable linear block 2 d. Then, after the actuator 5d moves the movable linear block 2d from the opposing range Fdb to the opposing range Fda, the movable linear block 2d positioned within the opposing range Fda drives the slider 4 engaged therewith to the X1 side in the X direction, thereby moving the slider 4 from the movable linear block 2d to the fixed linear block 2 a.

This enables the slider 4 to be cyclically driven counterclockwise. Further, by performing the operation opposite to the above, the slider 4 can be circularly driven clockwise. The circulation driving is only an example of a driving method of the slider 4 that can be performed by the linear conveyor system 1, and the slider 4 may be driven in other various manners.

The linear conveyor system 1 includes a main controller 10 that collectively controls the drive of the linear modules 2(2a to 2d) and the actuators 5c and 5 d. The main controller 10 is a computer having an arithmetic function necessary for control.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of a linear block according to the present invention, fig. 3 is a perspective view showing a part of the interior of the linear block of fig. 2 exposed, fig. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of the linear block of fig. 2 in a Y direction, and fig. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of the linear block of fig. 2 in an X direction. As described above, the linear modules 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d have a common basic configuration except for the length in the X direction. Therefore, they are not distinguished in particular in fig. 2 to 5, but are shown as linear modules 2.

Fig. 2 and 3 show a linear module 2 extending in the X direction, a base member 3 supporting the linear module 2 from below, and a slider 4 engaged with the linear module 2. The linear modules 2 are attached to the upper ends of three base members 3 arranged at equal intervals in the X direction. The linear module 2 extends over an entire length Ra in the X direction (i.e., has a length of the entire length Ra), and the slider 4 engaged with the linear module 2 is movable in the X direction over the entire length Ra.

The linear module 2 has a substrate 21 extending in the X direction. In this example, the substrate 21 is composed of two divided substrates 211 arranged in the X direction. Of the two divided substrates 211, the divided substrate 211 on the X1 side is bridged between the base member 3 on the X1 side end portion and the base member 3 in the center among the three base members 3, and the divided substrate 211 on the X2 side is bridged between the base member 3 on the X2 side end portion and the base member 3 in the center among the three base members 3. The number of the module units 20 constituting the substrate 21 is not limited to two, and may be one or three or more. Further, by changing the number of the divided substrates 211 constituting the substrate 21, the length (total length range Ra) of the linear module 2 can be changed.

The substrate 21 has a rectangular shape in a plan view in the Z direction. Two guide rails 22 parallel to the X direction are attached to the upper surface of the base plate 21 at intervals in the Y direction, and a plurality of linear motor stators 23 aligned in the X direction at a predetermined alignment interval P23 are attached. In the Y direction, the plurality of linear motor stators 23 are disposed between the two guide rails 22. Each linear motor stator 23 is an electromagnet composed of a coil and a core into which the coil is inserted.

Further, a plurality of (8) servo units 24 aligned in a row in the X direction at a predetermined arrangement pitch P24 are mounted on the board 21. In the Y direction, the plurality of servo units 24 are disposed between the plurality of linear motor stators 23 and one guide rail 22. In addition, the arrangement pitch P24 of the servo unit 24 is longer than the arrangement pitch P23 of the linear motor stators 23, and a plurality of linear motor stators 23 are provided corresponding to one servo unit 24.

Each of the plurality of servo units 24 has a magnetic sensor 25 mounted on the upper surface of the substrate 21, and a driver substrate 26 mounted on the lower surface of the substrate 21. The magnetic sensor 25 is a position sensor that detects the position of the slider 4 in the X direction. The driver board 26 is mounted with a circuit for performing feedback control for supplying a current corresponding to the detection result of the magnetic sensor 25 to the linear motor stator 23.

In the linear module 2, the total length range Ra is divided equally in the X direction by the number of servo units 24, and the responsible region Rb corresponding to the number of servo units 24 is set. That is, the entire range Ra is divided into a plurality of responsible regions Rb, and one servo unit 24 is disposed in each responsible region Rb. In each of the responsible regions Rb, a plurality of linear motor stators 23 provided corresponding to one servo unit 24 as described above are arranged.

In this way, in each responsible region Rb, one linear actuator D including one servo unit 24 (in other words, one magnetic sensor 25 and one actuator substrate 26) and a plurality of linear motor stators 23 corresponding thereto is arranged, and a plurality of (8) linear actuators D are arranged at equal intervals in the X direction over the entire length range Ra.

The linear module 2 has a cover member 27 covering the guide rail 22 and the linear actuator D from above and having a rectangular shape in plan view. The cover member 27 has a support leg 271 protruding downward at the center in the Y direction, and the support leg 271 is attached to the upper surface of the base plate 21. Gaps 272 are formed between the cover member 27 and the substrate 21 at both ends in the Y direction.

The slider 4 has a slider housing 40. The slider case 40 includes an upper plate 401 covering the cover member 27 of the linear module 2 from above, a side plate 402 extending downward from an end portion of the upper plate 401 in the Y direction, and a flange 403 which enters between the cover member 27 and the base plate 21 from a lower end of the side plate 402 through a gap 272. An engaging member 42 is attached to a lower surface of the flange 403, and the engaging member 42 is engaged with the linear motor stator 23. Thereby, the movement of the slider 4 is guided in the X direction by the guide rail 22.

The slider 4 has a linear motor mover 43 attached to the slider case 40 so as to face the linear motor stator 23. The linear motor mover 43 is composed of a permanent magnet and a back yoke that holds the permanent magnet. Further, the slider 4 has a magnetic scale 45 attached to the slider case 40 so as to face the magnetic sensor 25. The magnetic scale 45 shows the position of the slider 4 in the X direction.

The slider 4 can enter the center side of the linear module 2 from the end of the linear module 2 in the X direction and engage with the guide rail 22 of the linear module 2. The slider 4 can be separated from the guide rail 22 of the linear module 2 by being separated outward from the end of the linear module 2 in the X direction.

In the linear module 2 configured as described above, the plurality of linear actuators D share and perform driving of the slider 4. That is, the linear motor stator 23 of each linear actuator D can apply the magnetic driving force to the linear motor mover 43 of the slider 4 overlapping the charge-responsible region Rb arranged in the linear actuator D, and cannot apply the magnetic driving force to the linear motor mover 43 of the slider 4 not overlapping the charge-responsible region Rb. Therefore, the plurality of linear actuators D are responsible for driving the sliders 4 overlapping the corresponding responsible regions Rb in the full-length range Ra. Next, the driving of the slider 4 by the linear actuator D will be described.

Fig. 6 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the linear conveyor system of fig. 1, and fig. 7 is a diagram showing a control signal generated by the main controller. As shown in fig. 6, the main controller 10 includes an initial processing unit 11, a program processing unit 12, a command processing unit 13, a motion control unit 14, an axis state management unit 15, and a communication control unit 16. The functional units 11 to 15 are realized by a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) provided in the main controller 10.

The initialization processing unit 11 executes initialization of the linear conveyor system 1 when the power is turned on. The initial setting includes a setting of an identifier ID for identifying the plurality of sliders 4. That is, different identifiers ID are given to the plurality of sliders 4 provided in the linear conveyor system 1, and the sliders 4 are identified by the identifiers ID. An identifier ID for identifying the slider 4 is stored (magnetized) in the magnetic scale 45 of the slider 4. In contrast, the initial processing unit 11 performs the following processing for all the sliders 4 while changing the target slider 4 among the plurality of sliders 4: the magnetic sensor 25 of the driver D disposed in the charge area Rb where one target slider 4 overlaps reads the identifier ID from the magnetic scale 45 of the target slider 4, associates the identifier ID with the target slider 4, and manages the identifier ID. In this way, the setting of the identifier ID of the slider 4 is performed. The identifier ID is managed in association with the shaft numbers sequentially assigned to the plurality of sliders 4.

The program processing unit 12 stores a program for specifying the movement of each slider 4. The program is generated by a user using, for example, a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) or the like and installed in the program processing unit 12. The command processing unit 13 generates a movement command for moving the slider 4 in a manner prescribed by a program, and the motion control unit 14 generates command values (a position command value Cp and a velocity command value Cv) for causing the linear actuator D to execute the movement of the slider 4 in accordance with the movement command generated by the command processing unit 13.

Thus, the control signal Sc shown in fig. 7 is generated. The control signal Sc associates the identifier ID of the slider 4 with the position command value Cp and the speed command value Cv for the slider 4, and indicates the identifier ID for each slider 4. That is, the control signal Sc indicates, for each of the plurality of sliders 4, a command for driving the slider 4 identified by the identifier ID in accordance with the position command value Cp and the speed command value Cv corresponding to the identifier ID. The command code is a code indicating the type of command given to the slider 4. The control signal Sc is a signal in which data including the identifier ID, the command code, the position command value Cp, and the speed command value Cv are arranged in the order of the shaft numbers of the slider 4, and is transmitted to all the linear drivers D included in the linear conveyor system 1 by serial communication.

The shaft state management section 15 manages the state of each of the plurality of sliders 4 (shafts). Specifically, the shaft state management unit 15 performs the following processing for all the sliders 4 while changing the target slider 4 among the plurality of sliders 4: the position (axial state) of the slider 4 is read from the magnetic scale 45 of the object slider 4 by the magnetic sensor 25 of the driver D disposed in the charge area Rb where one object slider 4 overlaps, and is managed in association with the object slider 4.

The communication control unit 16 controls communication between the main controller 10 and the linear driver D of the linear module 2. The communication control unit 16 transmits the control signal Sc to the linear driver D and acquires the axis state from the linear driver D.

In contrast, the driver board 26 of each linear driver D includes an initialization processing unit 261, a communication control unit 262, an axis state management unit 263, and a servo control unit 264. The initialization processing unit 261 performs initialization of the linear driver D when the power is turned on. The communication control section 262 controls communication with the communication control section 262 of the main controller 10 or the other linear drive D.

The shaft state manager 263 manages the position (state) of the slider 4 (shaft). Specifically, the shaft state managing unit 263 causes the magnetic sensor 25 to periodically attempt to read the identifier ID and the position indicated by the magnetic scale 45 of the slider 4. When the reading is successful, the identifier ID of the slider 4 and the position are stored in association with each other, and they are transmitted to the main controller 10 via the communication control unit 262. Then, the axis state management section 15 of the main controller 10 manages them in the above-described manner.

The servo control unit 264 performs servo control for driving the slider 4 overlapped with the charge area Rb. That is, the servo control unit 264 drives the slider 4 by servo control for controlling the current supplied to the linear motor stator 23 based on the deviation between the position command value Cp and the speed command value Cv received from the main controller 10 and the position and speed of the slider 4 read by the magnetic sensor 25.

In addition, the plurality of linear drives D provided in the linear conveyor system 1 are connected in series. Specifically, as shown by the broken line in fig. 1, the linear block 2d, the linear block 2b, the linear block 2a, and the linear block 2c are connected in series in this order by the wiring Lo. In each linear module 2, as shown in fig. 5, the linear drivers D are connected in series by a wiring Li. In contrast, the main controller 10 transmits a control signal Sc common to the linear drivers D to the wiring paths Lo and Li to which the plurality of linear drivers D are connected in series, without distinguishing the linear drivers D from each other (fig. 7). Thereby, the control signal Sc sequentially passes through the plurality of linear drivers D. On the other hand, each linear driver D performs driving of the slider 4 based on the received control signal Sc. Details of such reception control and drive control are as follows.

Fig. 8 is a flowchart showing reception control performed by the linear driver. In addition, since the flow chart of fig. 8 is commonly executed by each of the plurality of linear drivers D, the reception control will be described here with one linear driver D as a representative.

In step S101, the communication control unit 262 confirms whether or not the control signal Sc is received from the axis state management unit 15 of the main controller 10. The transmission of the control signal Sc from the master controller 10 is performed in a predetermined transmission cycle Ts. When the control signal Sc is received (yes in step S101), the control signal Sc is stored in the memory of the servo control unit 264 (step S102). Thus, the control signal Sc stored in the initial processing unit 261 is updated every time the control signal Sc is received.

Fig. 9 is a flowchart showing drive control performed by the linear actuator. In addition, since the flowchart of fig. 9 is commonly executed by each of the plurality of linear drivers D, the description of the drive control will be made here with one linear driver D as a representative.

In step S201, the axis state managing unit 263 confirms whether or not a predetermined reading cycle Tr has elapsed. In addition, the reading period Tr is shorter than the transmission period Ts. When the reading cycle Tr has elapsed (yes in step S201), the shaft state managing unit 263 makes the magnetic sensor 25 attempt to read the identifier ID from the slider 4 (step S202). In step S203, the shaft state management unit 263 confirms whether or not the reading of the identifier ID is successful.

In the case where none of the sliders 4 overlaps the corresponding charge area Rb corresponding to the corresponding linear actuator D, the magnetic scale 45 opposing the magnetic sensor 25 disposed in the charge area Rb does not exist. As a result, the identifier ID cannot be read (no in step S203), and the process returns to step S201. On the other hand, when any of the sliders 4 overlaps the corresponding responsible region Rb corresponding to the corresponding linear actuator D, the magnetic scale 45 of the slider 4 faces the magnetic sensor 25 disposed in the responsible region Rb. As a result, the reading of the identifier ID from the slider 4 is successful (yes in step S203).

When the identifier ID is successfully read in this way, the servo control unit 264 reads the position command value Cp and the velocity command value Cv corresponding to the identifier ID read by the shaft state management unit 263 from the control signal Sc stored in step S102 (step S204). The servo control unit 264 controls the current supplied to the linear motor stator 23 by feedback control (servo control) based on the deviation between the position command value Cp and the speed command value Cv and the position and speed of the slider 4 read by the magnetic sensor 25 (step S205). Thereby, the slider 4 is driven according to the position command value Cp and the speed command value Cv. In the linear drive D, this process is performed every reading cycle Tr.

In the embodiment described above, the slider 4 is given the identifier ID for identifying the slider 4. In contrast, the control signal Sc transmitted to the plurality of linear actuators D indicates the position command value Cp and the velocity command value Cv for the slider 4 in association with the identifier ID of the slider 4 (fig. 7). Then, the linear actuator D reads an identifier ID for identifying the slider 4 from the slider 4 overlapping the charge area Rb (steps S202 and S203), and supplies a current corresponding to the position command value Cp and the speed command value Cv corresponding to the identifier ID by the control signal Sc to the linear motor stator 23 (steps S204 and S205). That is, the linear actuator D corresponding to the charge range Rb in which the slider 4 overlaps among the plurality of linear actuators D reads the identifier ID from the slider 4, and drives the slider 4 in accordance with the position command value Cp and the speed command value Cv corresponding to the identifier ID. In this way, the linear driver D corresponding to the charge-responsible region Rb where the slider 4 exists can be made to accurately perform driving of the slider 4.

In this way, when the identifier ID from the slider 4 is read, the linear driver D autonomously determines that it is responsible for driving the slider 4 and performs servo control on the slider 4. Therefore, the main controller 10 does not need to determine which of the plurality of linear actuators D is to control the driving of the slider 4, and may generate and transmit the position command value Cp and the velocity command value Cv for the slider 4.

In addition, the main controller 10 transmits the same control signal Sc to the plurality of linear drivers D (fig. 7). In this configuration, the main controller 10 generates the control signal Sc including the identifier ID of the slider 4 to be controlled, the position command value Cp, and the speed command value Cv, and can cause the linear actuator D corresponding to the charge area Rb where the slider 4 exists to accurately drive the slider 4 by transmitting the control signal Sc to the plurality of linear actuators D. That is, the slider 4 can be appropriately driven by a simple control of sending the control signal Sc to the plurality of linear actuators D all at once, instead of a control of specifying the linear actuator D to be driven by the slider 4 from among the plurality of linear actuators D and sending the position command value Cp and the velocity command value Cv to the specified linear actuator D.

Further, the linear conveyor system 1 includes a plurality of linear actuators D, and the plurality of sliders 4 can be individually driven by using the plurality of linear actuators D. In addition, the magnetic scale 45 of each slider 4 stores an identifier ID for identifying each of the plurality of sliders 4. The control signal Sc associates the position command value Cp and the speed command value Cv for the slider 4 with the identifier ID of the slider 4 to which the command values Cp and Cv are to be applied, and indicates the control signal Sc for each slider 4 (fig. 7). In this configuration, the control signal Sc indicating the command values Cp and Cv of the slider 4 in association with the identifier ID is generated for each of the plurality of sliders 4 and transmitted to the plurality of linear drivers D, whereby each of the plurality of sliders 4 can be accurately driven.

The linear drive D attempts to read the identifier ID by the magnetic sensor 25 at a predetermined reading cycle Tr (steps S201 and S202). Then, a current corresponding to the position command value Cp and the velocity command value Cv corresponding to the identifier ID successfully read by the control signal Sc is supplied from the driver substrate 26 to the linear motor stator 23 (steps S204 and S205). In this configuration, since each linear driver D attempts to read the identifier ID at a predetermined reading cycle Tr, when the charge area Rb in which the slider 4 overlaps changes with the movement of the slider 4, the linear driver D corresponding to the charge area Rb of the movement destination of the slider 4 drives the slider 4. In this way, the linear actuator D that drives the slider 4 can be changed in accordance with the movement of the slider 4.

In addition, the reading period Tr is shorter than the transmission period Ts in which the main controller 10 transmits the control signal Sc to the plurality of linear drivers D. In this configuration, the change of the linear actuator D that drives the slider 4 can be made to accurately follow the movement of the slider 4.

When the magnetic sensor 25 cannot read the identifier ID (no in step S203), the linear drive D does not supply current from the drive board 26 to the linear motor stator 23. In this configuration, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of an unnecessary induced magnetic field and the disturbance of the movement of the slider 4 or the wasteful consumption of electric power due to the linear actuator D corresponding to the charge-responsible region Rb in which the slider 4 does not overlap, by supplying current to the linear motor stator 23.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the linear conveyor system 1 corresponds to an example of the "linear conveyor system" of the present invention, the main controller 10 corresponds to an example of the "main controller" of the present invention, the linear module 2 corresponds to an example of the "linear module" of the present invention, the linear motor stator 23 corresponds to an example of the "linear motor stator" of the present invention, the magnetic sensor 25 corresponds to an example of the "reading unit" of the present invention, the driver substrate 26 corresponds to an example of the "drive control unit" of the present invention, the slider 4 corresponds to an example of the "slider" of the present invention, the linear motor mover 43 corresponds to an example of the "linear motor mover" of the present invention, the magnetic scale 45 corresponds to an example of the "storage unit" of the present invention, the position command value Cp and the speed command value Cv correspond to an example of the "drive command" of the present invention, and the linear driver D corresponds to an example of the "driver" of the present invention, the identifier ID corresponds to an example of the "identifier" of the present invention, the responsible region Rb corresponds to an example of the "responsible region" of the present invention, the control signal Sc corresponds to an example of the "control signal" of the present invention, the read cycle Tr corresponds to an example of the "read cycle" of the present invention, the transmission cycle Ts corresponds to an example of the "transmission cycle" of the present invention, and the X direction corresponds to an example of the "driving direction" of the present invention.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications may be made to the above embodiment without departing from the gist thereof. For example, each linear driver D stores and updates the control signal Sc each time it receives it (fig. 7). However, each linear actuator D may store and update the control signal Sc when the slider 4 overlaps the responsible region Rb, and may not store and update the control signal Sc when the slider 4 does not overlap the responsible region Rb.

The number and arrangement of the linear modules 2 may be changed as appropriate.

The driving method of the slider 4 in the linear conveyor system 1 is not limited to the circular driving, and may be a linear driving in which the slider 4 is linearly driven in a predetermined direction.

The specific configuration of the linear module 2 or the slider 4 may be changed, for example, the shape or size.

The reading of the identifier ID from the slider 4 may be performed not magnetically but optically or electrically.

Description of the reference symbols

1 … linear conveyor system

10 … Main controller (Main control device)

2 … Linear Module

23 … linear motor stator

25 … magnetic sensor (reading part)

26 … driver base plate (drive control part)

4 … sliding part

43 … linear motor mover

45 … magnetic scale (memory part)

Cp … position command value (drive command)

Cv … speed command value (drive command)

D … Linear actuator (actuator)

ID … identifier

Rb … responsible for region

Sc … control signal

Tr … read cycle

Ts … Transmission period

X … X direction (Driving Direction)