JP6947543B2 - Linen equipment - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to linen equipment. More specifically, the present invention relates to a linen facility having a plurality of cloth processing devices constituting a processing line.

A large amount of cloth such as sheets, towels and clothing is used in hotels and hospitals. It is common for used cloth to be collected, washed, ironed, folded at a laundry factory, and then transported to a hotel or hospital for use there.

In the laundry factory, a processing line is composed of a plurality of cloth processing devices. For example, a finishing line is composed of a throwing machine, a roll ironer, and a folding machine (for example, Patent Document 1). At the finishing line, when the washed and dried cloth is put into the loading machine, it is arranged in a slack-free shape, ironed with a roll ironer, and folded with a folding machine.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-113100

Some cloth processing devices switch the operation mode depending on the type of cloth to be processed. In the conventional linen equipment, when the worker switches the type of cloth, the leading loading machine is controlled to stop accepting new cloth for a predetermined waiting time. By controlling the loading machine in this way, it waits for all the cloths carried on the processing line to be discharged from the folding machine at the end. After that, the operation mode of the cloth processing device is switched.

The waiting time of the loading machine is set by adding a marginal time to the time required from the time when the cloth is loaded into the leading loading machine to the time when the cloth is discharged from the folding machine at the end. Generally, the waiting time is several tens of seconds. Every time the operation of switching the type of cloth is performed, a waiting time of several tens of seconds is generated, which causes a problem that the production efficiency of the linen equipment is lowered by that amount.

In view of the above circumstances, it is an object of the present invention to provide linen equipment capable of shortening the waiting time required for switching the operation mode of the cloth processing apparatus.

The linen equipment of the first invention is a leading machine which is a cloth processing device arranged at the head of a processing line, and one or a plurality of cloth processing devices arranged downstream from the leading machine of the processing line. The leading machine includes one or a plurality of bidirectional communication rear machines capable of bidirectional communication with the leading machine, and the leading machine includes an input unit that accepts a cloth type switching operation, a linen equipment control unit, and a plurality of cloths. The linen equipment control unit includes a storage unit that stores the type and each operation mode of the one or a plurality of the two-way communication rear units corresponding to each of the plurality of cloth types, and the linen equipment control unit is the input unit. Refers to the storage unit when the switching operation is received, and one or a plurality of the two-way communication that requires switching of the operation mode from the cloth type before the switching operation and the cloth type after the switching operation. Rear unit identification processing for identifying the rear unit, switching preparation signal transmission processing for transmitting a switching preparation signal to all of the one or more bidirectional communication rear units that require switching of the operation mode, and switching preparation signal transmission processing. All of the one or more bidirectional communication back units that need to switch the operation mode when the switching preparation completion signal is received from all of the one or more bidirectional communication back units that have transmitted the switching preparation signal. From all of the two-way communication back unit that transmitted the switching signal in the switching signal transmission processing from the time when the switching signal transmission process for transmitting the switching signal to the input unit receives the switching operation. Until the switching completion signal is received, the waiting process for stopping the acceptance of new cloth is performed, and each of the one or a plurality of the two-way communication rear units is provided with an individual control unit, and the individual control unit is provided. After receiving the switching preparation signal from the leading machine, the discharge determination process of determining that the cloth supplied to the leading machine has been discharged immediately before the switching operation, and after the discharge determination process, said After the switching preparation completion signal transmission process for transmitting the switching preparation completion signal to the leading machine, the operation mode switching process for switching the operation mode when the switching signal is received from the leading machine, and the operation mode switching process. It is characterized in that a switching completion signal transmission process for transmitting the switching completion signal to the leading machine is performed.
The linen equipment of the second invention is a leading machine which is a cloth processing device arranged at the head of the processing line, and one or a plurality of cloth processing devices arranged downstream from the leading machine of the processing line. The leading machine includes one or a plurality of bidirectional communication rear devices capable of bidirectionally communicating with the leading machine, and the leading machine includes an input unit that accepts a cloth type switching operation and a linen equipment control unit. When the input unit receives the switching operation, the linen equipment control unit transmits a switching preparation signal to all of the one or a plurality of the two-way communication rear units that need to switch the operation mode. One or more operation modes need to be switched when the switching preparation completion signal is received from all of the one or more bidirectional communication rear units that transmitted the switching preparation signal in the processing and the switching preparation signal transmission processing. One or more of the switching signal transmission processing for transmitting the switching signal to all of the two-way communication rear units and the switching signal transmission processing for transmitting the switching signal from the time when the input unit receives the switching operation. Until the switching completion signal is received from all of the two-way communication back units, a waiting process for stopping the acceptance of new cloth is performed, and each of the one or more two-way communication back units is individually used. The individual control unit includes a control unit, and the individual control unit is the last cloth identification information which is information for identifying the cloth supplied to the head machine immediately before the switching operation after receiving the switching preparation signal from the head machine. Based on the above, the last cloth identification process for determining whether or not the cloth to be processed corresponds to the cloth supplied to the leading machine immediately before the switching operation, and the leading machine immediately before the switching operation. Discharge determination processing for determining that the cloth supplied to the cloth has been discharged, switching preparation completion signal transmission processing for transmitting the switching preparation completion signal to the leading machine after the discharging determination processing, and the switching ready signal transmission processing from the leading machine to the above. The operation mode switching process for switching the operation mode when the switching signal is received, and the switching completion signal transmission process for transmitting the switching completion signal to the leading machine after the operation mode switching process are performed, and the last cloth is used. The type identification information includes one of the first parameter indicating the size of the cloth, the processing order of the cloth, the position of the cloth on the processing line, and the distance between the cloth and the immediately preceding cloth. Alternatively, one or a plurality of second parameters indicating a plurality of the second parameters are included, and the individual control unit of the two-way communication rear unit is the processing target in the last cloth identification process from the viewpoint of the first parameter. The cloth is the last cloth When the cloth to be processed corresponds to the last cloth specific information corresponding to the specific information and from the viewpoint of any one or a plurality of the second parameters, the cloth to be processed is switched. It is characterized in that it is determined that it corresponds to the cloth supplied to the leading machine immediately before the operation.
Regarding the linen equipment of the third invention, in the first or second invention, the linen equipment control unit of the leading machine is a plurality of bidirectional communication rear machines that need to switch the operation mode in the switching preparation signal transmission process. Among them, the switching preparation signal is transmitted only to the bidirectional communication rear unit arranged at the most downstream side.
In the linen equipment of the fourth invention, in the first or second invention, the linen equipment control unit of the leading machine receives the switching preparation completion signal from one of the two-way communication rear machines in the switching signal transmission process. Each time, the switching signal is transmitted to the bidirectional communication back unit that has transmitted the switching preparation completion signal.
Linen equipment of the fifth invention is the one Oite on whether said processing said top machine one or more cloth processing apparatus which is arranged downstream from the line of the first to fourth invention, from the top machine The linen equipment control unit of the leading machine is provided with one or more unidirectional communication rear machines capable of receiving only the signal of the above, and transmits the switching preparation signal in the switching signal transmission processing, and in the switching preparation signal transmission processing. When the switching ready signal is received from all of the one or more two-way communication back units, the switching signal is transmitted to all of the one or more one-way communication back units that need to switch the operation mode. Each of the one or a plurality of the unidirectional communication rear units performs an operation mode switching process for switching the operation mode when the switching signal is received from the leading unit.
In the fifth aspect of the linen equipment of the sixth invention, the leading machine has a plurality of cloth types and an operation mode of one or a plurality of the unidirectional communication rear machines corresponding to each of the plurality of cloth types. The linen equipment control unit of the leading machine refers to the storage unit when the input unit receives the switching operation, and refers to the cloth type before the switching operation and the switching. It is characterized in that a rear unit identification process for specifying one or a plurality of the unidirectional communication rear units that require switching of the operation mode is performed depending on the cloth type after the operation.
The linen equipment of the seventh invention is a leading machine which is a cloth processing device arranged at the head of the processing line, and one or more cloth processing devices arranged downstream from the leading machine of the processing line. The leading machine includes one or a plurality of bidirectional communication rear machines capable of bidirectional communication with the leading machine, and the leading machine includes an input unit that accepts a cloth type switching operation, a linen equipment control unit, and a plurality of cloths. The linen equipment control unit includes a storage unit that stores the type and each operation mode of the one or a plurality of the two-way communication rear units corresponding to each of the plurality of cloth types, and the linen equipment control unit is the input unit. Refers to the storage unit when the switching operation is received, and one or a plurality of the two-way communication that requires switching of the operation mode from the cloth type before the switching operation and the cloth type after the switching operation. The rear unit identification process for specifying the rear unit, the switching signal transmission process for transmitting the switching signal to all of the one or more bidirectional communication rear units that need to switch the operation mode, and the switching operation by the input unit. Waiting to stop accepting new fabrics from the time of acceptance until the switching completion signal is received from all of the one or more bidirectional communication back units that transmitted the switching signal in the switching signal transmission process. Each of the one or more bidirectional communication rear units includes an individual control unit, and the individual control unit receives the switching signal from the leading unit and immediately before the switching operation. After the discharge determination process for determining that the cloth supplied to the leading machine has been discharged, the operation mode switching process for switching the operation mode after the discharge determination process, and the operation mode switching process, the leading machine It is characterized in that the switching completion signal transmission process for transmitting the switching completion signal is performed.
The linen equipment of the eighth invention is a leading machine which is a cloth processing device arranged at the head of the processing line, and one or more cloth processing devices arranged downstream from the leading machine of the processing line. The leading machine includes one or a plurality of bidirectional communication rear devices capable of bidirectionally communicating with the leading machine, and the leading machine includes an input unit that accepts a cloth type switching operation and a linen equipment control unit. When the input unit receives the switching operation, the linen equipment control unit transmits a switching signal to all of the one or a plurality of the two-way communication rear units that need to switch the operation mode. From the time when the input unit receives the switching operation to the time when the switching completion signal is received from all of the one or more bidirectional communication rear units that transmitted the switching signal in the switching signal transmission process. Each of the one or more of the two-way communication rear units is provided with an individual control unit, and the individual control unit receives the switching signal from the leading unit. After that, the cloth to be processed is supplied to the leading machine immediately before the switching operation based on the last cloth identification information which is the information for identifying the cloth supplied to the leading machine immediately before the switching operation. The last cloth identification process for determining whether or not the cloth is compatible with the cloth, the discharge judgment process for determining that the cloth supplied to the leading machine has been discharged immediately before the switching operation, and the discharge judgment. After the processing, an operation mode switching process for switching the operation mode and a switching completion signal transmission process for transmitting the switching completion signal to the leading machine after the operation mode switching process are performed to obtain the last cloth specific information. Indicates one or more of the first parameter indicating the size of the fabric, the processing order of the fabric, the position of the fabric on the processing line, and the distance between the fabric and the immediately preceding fabric. The individual control unit of the two-way communication rear unit includes one or a plurality of second parameters, and in the last cloth identification process, the cloth to be processed is said to be the cloth to be processed from the viewpoint of the first parameter. When the cloth to be processed corresponds to the last cloth specific information and corresponds to the last cloth specific information from the viewpoint of any one or more of the second parameters, the cloth to be processed Is characterized in that it is determined that corresponds to the cloth supplied to the leading machine immediately before the switching operation.
In the first or seventh invention, the linen equipment control unit of the leading machine includes information for identifying each of a plurality of cloths conveyed on the processing line. The cloth specific information transmission process for transmitting the cloth specific information to one or more of the two-way communication rear units is performed, and the individual control unit of the two-way communication rear unit receives the cloth specific information from the leading machine. a specifying information receiving process, prior Symbol of cloth specifying information, the last cloth specifying information to extract the last cloth specifying information for specifying a switching operation cloth supplied to the head unit immediately prior to extraction After the processing and the last cloth specific information extraction process, whether or not the cloth to be processed corresponds to the cloth supplied to the leading machine immediately before the switching operation based on the last cloth specific information. It is characterized by performing the final cloth identification process for determining whether or not.
In the ninth invention, the linen equipment of the tenth invention includes the first parameter indicating the size of the cloth, the processing order of the cloth, the position of the cloth in the processing line, and the cloth identification information. One or a plurality of second parameters indicating one or more of the distances between the cloth and the immediately preceding cloth are included, and the individual control unit of the two-way communication rear unit is the last cloth. In the specific process, the cloth to be processed corresponds to the last cloth specific information from the viewpoint of the first parameter, and the cloth to be processed corresponds to the cloth to be processed from the viewpoint of any one or a plurality of the second parameters. When corresponds to the last cloth specific information, it is determined that the cloth to be processed corresponds to the cloth supplied to the leading machine immediately before the switching operation.

According to the first invention, since the operation mode switching is started at the timing when the preparation for switching the two-way communication rear unit is completed, no extra time is generated until the operation mode switching is started, and the waiting time of the leading unit is not generated. Can be shortened.
According to the second invention, by using the first parameter and the second parameter, it is possible to accurately determine whether the cloth to be processed corresponds to the last cloth.
According to the third invention, among a plurality of bidirectional communication rear units that need to switch the operation mode, only the bidirectional communication rear unit arranged at the most downstream is operated even if it is confirmed that the switching preparation is completed. It can be determined that the preparation for switching of all the two-way communication rear units that require mode switching is completed.
According to the fourth invention, the bidirectional communication rear unit for which the switching preparation is completed starts the operation mode switching without waiting for the completion of the switching preparation for the other bidirectional communication rear unit, so that the operation mode switching is necessary. It is possible to shorten the time required to complete the switching of the operation modes of all the two-way communication rear units. As a result, the waiting time of the leading machine can be further shortened.
According to the fifth invention, even when the linen equipment includes a unidirectional communication rear unit, the operation mode of the unidirectional communication rear unit can be switched.
According to the sixth invention, it is possible to identify a unidirectional communication rear unit that needs to switch the operation mode based on the information stored in the storage unit.
According to the seventh invention, since the operation mode switching is started at the timing when the preparation for switching the two-way communication rear unit is completed, no extra time is generated until the operation mode switching is started, and the waiting time of the leading unit is not generated. Can be shortened.
According to the eighth invention, by using the first parameter and the second parameter, it is possible to accurately determine whether the cloth to be processed corresponds to the last cloth.
According to the ninth invention, the last cloth can be specified based on the cloth identification information.
According to the tenth invention, by using the first parameter and the second parameter, it is possible to accurately determine whether the cloth to be processed corresponds to the last cloth.

It is a side view of the linen equipment which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram of the linen equipment. It is a flowchart of constant processing in 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart (first half part) of timely processing in 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart (second half) of timely processing in 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart (first half part) of timely processing in 4th Embodiment. It is a flowchart (second half) of timely processing in 4th Embodiment.

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[First Embodiment]
(Linen equipment)
The configuration of the linen equipment A according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described.
As shown in FIG. 1, the linen equipment A is composed of a plurality of cloth processing devices 10, 20, 30, and 40 for processing the cloth F. A processing line is formed by connecting a plurality of cloth processing devices 10, 20, 30, and 40 in series. The cloth F is subjected to various treatments by various cloth treatment devices 10, 20, 30, and 40 while being conveyed on the treatment line.

Here, the "cloth" is the object to be processed by the linen equipment A. Examples of the cloth include square cloth such as duvet cover, wrapping cloth, sheets, pillow case and towel, and clothing such as yukata and sick clothes. A "cloth processing device" is a device that performs some kind of processing on cloth. Examples of the cloth processing device include a washing machine, a dehydrator, a dryer, a handling device, a loading machine, a roll ironer, an inspection device, a folding machine, and a binding machine.

In the present specification, among the plurality of cloth processing devices 10, 20, 30, and 40 constituting the processing line, the cloth processing device 10 arranged at the head of the processing line is referred to as a "leading machine". Further, among the plurality of cloth processing devices 10, 20, 30, 40 constituting the processing line, the cloth processing devices 20, 30, 40 arranged downstream from the leading machine 10 of the processing line are referred to as "rear machines". Refer to. There may be one rear unit, but usually there are multiple units.

Among the rear units 20, 30, and 40, the rear unit capable of bidirectionally communicating with the leading unit 10 is referred to as a "two-way communication rear unit". Two-way communication The rear unit may be one unit or a plurality of units. Of the rear units 20, 30, and 40, the rear unit capable of only receiving the signal from the front unit 10 is referred to as a "unidirectional communication rear unit". The number of unidirectional communication rear units may be one or a plurality. Further, the configuration may be such that the unidirectional communication rear unit is not provided.

In the present embodiment, the cloth processing devices 10, 20, 30, and 40 are a loading machine 10, a roll ironer 20, an inspection device 30, and a folding machine 40. That is, the linen equipment A of the present embodiment includes a loading machine 10, a roll ironer 20, an inspection device 30, and a folding machine 40. The loading machine 10, the roll ironer 20, the inspection device 30, and the folding machine 40 are connected in this order to form a processing line.

The washed cloth F is put into the loading machine 10 by the worker W, deployed in a slack-free shape, ironed by the roll ironer 20, and quality-inspected by the inspection device 30. It is folded by the folding machine 40.

The loading machine 10 is a device into which the cloth F is loaded. The throwing machine 10 arranges the cloth F in a shape without slack and hands it over to the roll ironer 20. The throwing machine 10 includes a chuck for gripping the cloth F and a conveyor for transporting the cloth F. The cloth F can be unfolded by grasping both corners of one side of the cloth F with a chuck and suspending the cloth F.

The roll ironer 20 is a device for ironing the cloth F. The roll ironer 20 comprises one or more heating rolls. By transporting the cloth F while contacting it with the heating roll, the cloth F can be continuously dried.

The inspection device 30 is a device that inspects the quality of the cloth F based on the photographed image of the cloth F. The cloth F determined to be defective by the inspection device 30 is separately discharged by the subsequent folding machine 40, and is repeatedly washed.

The folding machine 40 is a device for folding the cloth F. The folding machine 40 includes a plurality of conveyors for transporting the cloth F and a plurality of folding devices for folding the cloth F conveyed by the conveyor at a predetermined folding position. The folding device includes a folded plate and an actuator for driving the folded plate. The folding device is configured to move the folded plate back and forth toward the connection between the two conveyors. The folded plate is driven at the timing when the folding position of the cloth F reaches the connecting portion of the conveyor, and the folding position of the cloth F is pushed toward the connecting portion of the conveyor. The cloth F is folded by allowing the folded cloth F to enter the connecting portion of the conveyor. By repeating such a folding operation a plurality of times, the cloth F can be folded into a predetermined shape.

As shown in FIG. 2, each cloth processing device 10, 20, 30, 40 includes individual control units 11, 21, 31, and 41. Each individual control unit 11, 21, 31, 41 is composed of a computer composed of a CPU, a memory, and the like. Each individual control unit 11, 21, 31, 41 has a function of controlling the operation of the corresponding cloth processing devices 10, 20, 30, and 40.

The leading machine 10 includes a linen equipment control unit 13 in addition to the individual control unit 11. The linen equipment control unit 13 is composed of a computer composed of a CPU, a memory, and the like. The linen equipment control unit 13 has a function of controlling the entire linen equipment A.

The linen equipment control unit 13, the individual control unit 31 of the rear unit 30, and the individual control unit 41 of the rear unit 40 are connected by a network line 51, and can communicate in both directions. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the rear units 30 and 40 are bidirectional communication rear units capable of bidirectional communication with the leading unit 10. The network line 51 is, for example, a LAN (Local Area Network). It may be a wired LAN using an Ethernet (registered trademark) cable or a wireless LAN.

The linen equipment control unit 13 and the individual control unit 21 of the rear unit 20 are connected by a communication line 52. The individual control unit 21 can only receive a signal from the linen equipment control unit 13. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the rear unit 20 is a unidirectional communication rear unit capable of only receiving a signal from the front unit 10.

The leading machine 10 includes a cloth detection unit 12. The cloth detection unit 12 has a function of acquiring cloth information (hereinafter, referred to as “lead machine cloth detection information”) obtained from detection results of various sensors provided in the leading machine 10. The leading machine cloth detection information acquired by the cloth detection unit 12 is input to the linen equipment control unit 13 via the individual control unit 11. The leading machine cloth detection information includes the time when the new cloth is supplied, the dimensions of the cloth currently being processed, and the distance between the cloth currently being processed and the cloth supplied immediately before that. And are included.

When the leading machine 10 is the loading machine 10, the time when new cloth is supplied can be detected from the open / closed state of the loading chuck that allows the worker to grip the cloth. The width dimension of the cloth can be detected from the opening width of the deployment chuck that grips and widens both corners of one side of the cloth. The vertical dimension of the cloth can be obtained from the time when the photoelectric sensor provided on the conveyor detects the cloth and the transport speed of the conveyor. The distance between the cloth and the cloth immediately before it can be obtained from the time when the photoelectric sensor provided on the conveyor does not detect the cloth and the transport speed of the conveyor.

Each of the two-way communication rear units 30 and 40 includes cloth detection units 32 and 42. The cloth detection units 32 and 42 are referred to as cloth information (hereinafter, referred to as "back machine cloth detection information") obtained from detection results of various sensors provided in the corresponding two-way communication back units 30 and 40. ) Has the function of acquiring. The rear machine cloth detection information acquired by the cloth detection units 32 and 42 is input to the corresponding individual control units 31 and 41. The rear machine cloth detection information includes the dimensions of the cloth that is currently being processed, the distance between the cloth that is currently being processed and the cloth that was supplied immediately before that, and the time when the cloth was discharged. included.

When the bidirectional communication back unit 30 is the inspection device 30, the width dimension and the vertical dimension of the cloth can be obtained from the image of the cloth taken by the camera. The distance between the cloth and the cloth immediately before it can be obtained from the time when the photoelectric sensor provided on the conveyor does not detect the cloth and the transport speed of the conveyor. A photoelectric sensor provided on the discharge conveyor can detect the time when the cloth is discharged.

When the bidirectional communication rear unit 40 is a folding machine 40, the vertical dimension of the cloth can be obtained from the time when the photoelectric sensor provided on the conveyor detects the cloth and the transport speed of the conveyor. The distance between the cloth and the cloth immediately before it can be obtained from the time when the photoelectric sensor provided on the conveyor does not detect the cloth and the transport speed of the conveyor. The time when the cloth is discharged can be detected from the timing when the mechanism for discharging the cloth operates.

Each of the cloth processing devices 10, 20, 30, and 40 switches the operation mode according to the type of cloth to be processed (hereinafter, referred to as "cloth type"). That is, each of the cloth processing devices 10, 20, 30, and 40 has a plurality of operation modes, and is controlled to operate in the operation mode most suitable for the type of cloth to be processed.

For example, in the case of the loading machine 10, the operation pattern of various devices (strength of the force for unfolding the cloth, the operation time and operation timing of the wrinkle removing mechanism, etc.), the conveyor transfer speed, and the like are switched depending on the cloth type. In the case of the roll ironer 20, the conveyor transfer speed and the like are switched depending on the cloth type. In the case of the inspection device 30, the image processing parameters, the conveyor transfer speed, and the like are switched depending on the cloth type. The folding machine 40 switches the operation pattern (folding number, folding method, etc.) of the folding device, the transport speed of the conveyor, and the like depending on the type of cloth.

The leading machine 10 includes a storage unit 15. The storage unit 15 stores information on the operation modes of the cloth processing devices 10, 20, 30, and 40. The linen equipment control unit 13 can access the storage unit 15.

For example, the storage unit 15 stores operation mode information in the form shown in Table 1.

In Table 1, F1, F2, F3, F4, and F5 mean different types of cloth. Cloth types include duvet cover (normal quality), duvet cover (high quality), duvet cover (colored), wrapping cloth, and sheets.

In Table 1, M11, M12, M13, M14, and M15 mean different operation modes of the leading machine 10. The leading machine 10 has five operation modes. For example, in the case of the cloth type F1, the operation mode M11 is selected. In the case of the cloth type F5, the operation mode M15 is selected. The operation modes M11, M12, M13, M14, and M15 also include information on set values of the leading machine 10 (setting values such as operation patterns of various devices and conveyor transfer speeds).

Similarly, M21 and M22 mean different operation modes of the unidirectional communication rear unit 20. M31, M32, and M33 mean different operation modes of the bidirectional communication rear unit 30. M41, M42, and M43 mean different operation modes of the two-way communication rear unit 40.

Note that Table 1 is merely an example, and the number of operation modes of each of the cloth processing devices 10, 20, 30, and 40 is not limited to this. The combination of the cloth type and the operation mode is not limited to this.

Further, the storage unit 15 stores information on the operation modes of all the bidirectional communication rear units and the unidirectional communication rear units constituting the linen equipment A. When there is only one two-way communication back unit, the operation mode information of the two-way communication back unit is stored. When there are a plurality of two-way communication back units, the operation mode information of the two-way communication back units is stored. Similarly, when there is one unidirectional communication rear unit, the operation mode information of the unidirectional communication rear unit is stored. When there are a plurality of unidirectional communication rear units, the operation mode information of the plurality of unidirectional communication rear units is stored. When the linen equipment A does not include the unidirectional communication rear unit, the operation mode information of the unidirectional communication rear unit is not stored.

That is, in the storage unit 15, one or a plurality of bidirectional communication back units corresponding to a plurality of cloth types F1, F2, F3, F4, F5 and a plurality of cloth types F1, F2, F3, F4, F5, respectively. Each operation mode of is stored. Further, when the linen equipment A includes a unidirectional communication rear unit, the storage unit 15 contains one or a plurality of unidirectional communication rear units corresponding to each of a plurality of cloth types F1, F2, F3, F4, and F5. Each operation mode of the machine is also stored.

The leading machine 10 includes an input unit 14 that receives a cloth type switching operation by an operator. The input unit 14 is composed of, for example, a touch panel. Immediately before starting the supply of the cloth of the cloth type different from the cloth supplied to the leading machine 10 until now, the worker performs an operation of switching the cloth type using the input unit 14. For example, when the cloth of the cloth type F1 is supplied to the leading machine 10, when the supply of the cloth of the cloth type F5 is started, the operation of switching from the cloth type F1 to the cloth type F5 is performed immediately before that.

The operation result of the input unit 14 is input to the linen equipment control unit 13. Therefore, the linen equipment control unit 13 can recognize that the cloth type switching operation has been performed and the cloth type before and after the switching. Further, the linen equipment control unit 13 performs a process of switching the operation modes of the cloth processing devices 10, 20, 30, and 40 when the cloth type switching operation is performed.

(Operation mode switching process)
Next, the operation mode switching process by the linen equipment A will be described.
The operation mode switching process includes a constant process that is always executed while the linen equipment A is operating and a timely process that is executed when the cloth type switching operation is performed. Hereinafter, they will be described in order.

(Constant processing)
First, the constant processing will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG.
The linen equipment control unit 13 of the leading machine 10 generates cloth specific information (step S101: cloth specific information generation process). The cloth identification information includes information for identifying each of the plurality of cloths transported on the processing line at the present time.

For example, the cloth specific information includes the information shown in Table 2. That is, the cloth specific information includes the "treatment order" of the cloth transported on the processing line, the "position" of the cloth in the processing line, the "dimensions" of the cloth, and the cloth. Includes "interval" with the immediately preceding fabric.

The "processing order" is the order in which the cloths are supplied to the leading machine 10. Normally, the processing order of the cloth supplied to the leading machine 10 immediately after the start of operation of the linen equipment A is 1, and the count is increased each time the cloth is supplied to the leading machine 10 thereafter. In the example shown in Table 2, five pieces of cloth are conveyed to the processing line. Cloths having a processing order of 150 are transported to the most downstream of the processing line. The cloth having the processing order of 154 is the cloth most recently supplied to the leading machine 10. The most recent processing order of cloth can be referred to as the number of processed linen equipment A.

The "position" on the processing line is the position of the cloth at the time when the cloth specific information is generated. The position on the processing line may be represented by the elapsed time from the time when the cloth is supplied to the leading machine 10, or may be represented as the transport distance obtained from the elapsed time and the transport speed of the conveyor.

The "dimensions" of the fabric may include both the width dimension (dimensions in the direction orthogonal to the transport direction) and the vertical dimensions (dimensions in the direction along the transport direction) of the fabric, or one of them. May only be included.

The "spacing" of a piece of cloth is the distance between the cloth and the cloth supplied immediately before it in the processing line. For example, it is the interval between the cloth having the processing order of 154 and the cloth having the processing order of 153. The space between the cloths may be expressed as the time interval between the cloths or as the distance interval on the conveyor.

The linen equipment control unit 13 generates cloth identification information based on the leading machine cloth detection information acquired by the cloth detection unit 12. The "processing order" is obtained by counting the time when the new cloth included in the leading machine cloth detection information is supplied. The elapsed time from the time when the new cloth included in the leading machine cloth detection information is supplied, or the transport position obtained from the elapsed time and the transport speed of the conveyor is defined as the "position" on the processing line. The dimensions of the cloth and the spacing of the cloth included in the leading machine cloth detection information are used as they are as the cloth specific information.

In this specification, the "dimensions" of the cloth are referred to as "first parameters". Further, each of the "treatment order" of the cloth, the "position" on the cloth treatment line, and the "distance" between the cloth and the immediately preceding cloth is referred to as a "second parameter". The cloth specific information may include all of these three second parameters, or may include one or more of them.

Next, the linen equipment control unit 13 transmits the generated cloth specific information to all the bidirectional communication back units 30 and 40 (step S102: cloth specific information transmission process). Then, the individual control units 31 and 41 of the two-way communication rear units 30 and 40 receive the cloth specific information from the leading unit 10 (step 201: cloth specific information reception process).

The linen equipment control unit 13 repeatedly performs the cloth specific information generation process (step S101) and the cloth specific information transmission process (step S102) at predetermined time intervals (for example, 1 second interval and 0.1 second interval). In each case, the individual control units 31 and 41 of the two-way communication rear units 30 and 40 receive the cloth specific information. Therefore, the leading machine 10 and the two-way communication rear machines 30 and 40 can share the latest cloth specific information.

(Timely processing)
Next, timely processing will be described based on the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.
Immediately before starting the supply of the cloth of the cloth type different from the cloth supplied to the leading machine 10 until now, the worker performs the cloth type switching operation using the input unit 14 (step S301: switching operation). ..

Then, the linen equipment control unit 13 of the leading machine 10 identifies the rear machine that needs to switch the operation mode (step S302: rear machine specifying process). Specifically, the linen equipment control unit 13 refers to the storage unit 15 when the input unit 14 receives the switching operation. Then, from the cloth type before the switching operation and the cloth type after the switching operation, one or a plurality of two-way communication rear units that need to switch the operation mode are specified. Further, from the cloth type before the switching operation and the cloth type after the switching operation, one or a plurality of unidirectional communication rear units that need to switch the operation mode are specified.

For example, it is assumed that the cloth type F1 is switched to the cloth type F3. The operation mode corresponding to the cloth type F1 of the bidirectional communication rear unit 30 is M31, and the operation mode corresponding to the cloth type F3 is M32. Since the operation modes M31 and M32 corresponding to the cloth types F1 and F3 before and after the switching are different, the bidirectional communication rear unit 30 needs to switch the operation mode.

The operation mode corresponding to the cloth type F1 of the bidirectional communication rear unit 40 is M41, and the operation mode corresponding to the cloth type F3 is M41. Since the operation modes M41 corresponding to the cloth types F1 and F3 before and after the switching match, the bidirectional communication rear unit 40 does not need to switch the operation mode.

For example, it is assumed that the cloth type F1 is switched to the cloth type F5. The operation mode corresponding to the cloth type F1 of the unidirectional communication rear unit 20 is M21, and the operation mode corresponding to the cloth type F5 is M22. Since the operation modes M21 and M22 corresponding to the cloth types F1 and F5 before and after the switching are different, the unidirectional communication rear unit 20 needs to switch the operation mode. Similarly, it is necessary to switch the operation modes of the leading machine 10 and the bidirectional communication rear machines 30 and 40.

In this way, based on the operation mode information stored in the storage unit 15, it is possible to identify the bidirectional communication rear unit and the unidirectional communication rear unit that need to switch the operation mode.

When it is determined in the rear machine identification process (step S302) that the operation modes of the cloth processing devices 10, 20, 30, and 40 do not need to be switched (No in step S303), the linen equipment control unit 13 remains as it is. End the process.

In the rear machine identification process (step S302), it may be determined that only the leading machine 10 needs to switch the operation mode. For example, it is a case where the cloth type F1 is switched to the cloth type F2. In this case as well, the linen equipment control unit 13 ends the process as it is (No in step S303).

When it is necessary to switch the operation mode of the leading machine 10, the linen equipment control unit 13 instructs the individual control unit 11 of the leading machine 10 to switch the operation mode. The individual control unit 11 switches the operation mode of the leading machine 10 based on an instruction from the linen equipment control unit 13.

When neither the unidirectional communication rear unit 20 nor the two-way communication rear unit 30 or 40 needs to switch the operation mode, the "waiting process" described later is not performed. Therefore, there is no waiting time for the worker to supply the cloth to the leading machine 10.

When it is determined in the rear unit identification process (step S302) that it is necessary to switch the operation mode for any of the unidirectional communication rear unit 20 and the bidirectional communication rear unit 30 and 40 (Yes in step S303), linen is used. The equipment control unit 13 issues an instruction to the individual control unit 11 of the leading machine 10, and stops accepting new cloth in the leading machine 10 (step S304: stop accepting).

The acceptance of new cloths in the leading machine 10 is stopped from step S304 to step 309 described later. The process of stopping the acceptance of new fabrics during this period is called "waiting process".

Next, the linen equipment control unit 13 transmits a switching preparation signal to all of the one or more bidirectional communication rear units that need to switch the operation mode specified in the rear unit identification process (step S302) (step S305: Switching preparation signal transmission processing).

For example, when the cloth type F1 is switched to the cloth type F3, the switching preparation signal is transmitted only to the bidirectional communication rear unit 30 that needs to switch the operation mode. For example, when the cloth type F1 is switched to the cloth type F5, the switching preparation signal is transmitted to both the bidirectional communication rear unit 30 and the bidirectional communication rear unit 40 that need to switch the operation mode.

Hereinafter, the processing of the bidirectional communication rear unit 40 in steps S401 to S405 will be described on the assumption that the switching preparation signal is transmitted to the bidirectional communication rear unit 40. The same applies to the processing of the bidirectional communication rear unit 30 when the switching preparation signal is transmitted to the bidirectional communication rear unit 30.

The individual control unit 41 of the bidirectional communication rear unit 40 receives a switching preparation signal from the leading unit 10 (step S401: switching preparation signal reception process). At this time, the individual control unit 41 refers to the cloth identification information transmitted from the leading machine 10 by the above-mentioned constant processing. Then, among the cloth specific information, the information for specifying the cloth (hereinafter, referred to as "last cloth") supplied to the leading machine 10 immediately before the switching operation (hereinafter, "last cloth specific information"). (No.) is extracted (step S402: final cloth specific information extraction process).

For example, in the cloth specific information shown in Table 2, the last cloth specific information is the information of the cloth having the processing order of 154. That is, among the cloth specific information, the cloth information having the largest processing order corresponds to the last cloth specific information. In addition, it can be said that among the cloth specific information, the cloth information in which the position of the cloth is closest to the upstream corresponds to the last cloth specific information.

Of the various information included in the cloth specific information, the "position" of the cloth changes with the passage of time. Therefore, the "position" of the cloth included in the last cloth specific information also changes with the passage of time.

Next, the individual control unit 41 acquires the back machine cloth detection information about the cloth currently being processed by the two-way communication back unit 40 from the cloth detection unit 42. Then, the last cloth specific information and the rear machine cloth detection information are compared, and it is determined whether or not the cloth currently being processed corresponds to the last cloth. That is, the individual control unit 41 determines whether or not the cloth to be processed corresponds to the last cloth based on the last cloth identification information (step S403: last cloth identification process).

The final cloth identification process (step S403) is performed as follows, for example.
The individual control unit 41 determines whether the cloth to be processed corresponds to the last cloth specific information for each of the viewpoints 1 to 4 described below.

Viewpoint 1: Dimensions (first parameter)
When the size of the cloth included in the rear machine cloth detection information and the size of the cloth included in the last cloth specific information match, the cloth to be processed corresponds to the last cloth specific information in the viewpoint 1. Then judge.

Viewpoint 2: Processing order (second parameter)
When the processing order of the cloth in the two-way communication rear unit 40 and the processing order of the cloth included in the last cloth specific information match, the cloth to be processed corresponds to the last cloth specific information in the viewpoint 2. Then judge. Here, the processing order of the cloths in the bidirectional communication rear unit 40 is the order in which the cloths are discharged from the bidirectional communication rear unit 40. The processing order of the cloths in the two-way communication back machine 40 is generated by counting up the time points when the cloths included in the back machine cloth detection information are discharged.

Viewpoint 3: Position (second parameter)
When the cloth included in the back machine cloth detection information is discharged, the position of the cloth included in the last cloth specific information coincides with the discharge position of the cloth of the two-way communication back machine 40 on the processing line. In this case, it is determined from the viewpoint 2 that the cloth to be processed corresponds to the last cloth specific information. Here, the discharge position of the cloth of the bidirectional communication rear unit 40 on the processing line is set in advance in the bidirectional communication rear unit 40.

Viewpoint 4: Interval (second parameter)
When the distance between the cloths included in the rear machine cloth detection information and the distance between the cloths included in the last cloth specific information match, the cloth to be processed corresponds to the last cloth specific information in the viewpoint 4. Then judge.

The dimensions of the cloth can be measured more accurately than other parameters. Therefore, by using this parameter, it is possible to accurately exclude cloths other than the last cloth. However, when a plurality of cloths having the same size are supplied to the linen equipment A, the last cloth cannot be specified only by the size of the cloths.

The detection accuracy of the position of the cloth is relatively low. This is because the relative positions of the plurality of cloth processing devices 10, 20, 30, and 40 constituting the linen facility A change depending on the installation method.

If some error occurs in the linen equipment A, the cloth being transported through the linen equipment A may be discharged from the processing line. If the cloth is discharged, even if it is the same cloth. The processing order of the first machine 10 and the processing order of the two-way communication rear machine 40 may not match. Further, when the cloth immediately before the last cloth is discharged from the processing line, the interval of the last cloth detected by the leading machine 10 and the interval of the last cloth detected by the two-way communication rear machine 40 match. It disappears.

As described above, there is a possibility that the last cloth cannot be detected accurately with each parameter alone. Therefore, it is preferable to detect the last cloth by combining these parameters. For example, the cloth to be processed corresponds to the last cloth specific information in the viewpoint 1 (the viewpoint of the first parameter), and the cloth to be processed corresponds to any of the viewpoints 2 to 4 (the viewpoint of the second parameter). When the cloth corresponds to the last cloth specific information, it is determined that the cloth to be processed corresponds to the last cloth.

As described above, the last cloth can be specified based on the cloth specific information. Further, by using the first parameter and the second parameter, it is possible to accurately determine whether the cloth to be processed corresponds to the last cloth.

Next, the individual control unit 41 determines that the two-way communication rear unit 40 has discharged the last cloth (step S404: discharge determination process). When the cloth detection unit 42 detects that the last cloth specified in the last cloth identification process (step S403) has been discharged, it is determined that the last cloth has been discharged.

Next, the individual control unit 41 transmits a switching preparation completion signal to the leading machine 10 (step S405: switching preparation completion signal transmission processing). Then, the linen equipment control unit 13 receives the switching preparation completion signal (step S306: switching preparation completion signal reception processing).

The linen equipment control unit 13 waits until the switching preparation completion signal is received from all of the one or more bidirectional communication rear units that have transmitted the switching preparation signal in the switching preparation signal transmission process (step S305). For example, when the switching preparation signal is transmitted to both the bidirectional communication rear unit 30 and the bidirectional communication rear unit 40 in the switching preparation signal transmission process (step S305), the bidirectional communication rear unit 30 and the bidirectional communication rear unit 40 Wait until the switching ready signal is received from both. By waiting for the linen equipment control unit 13 to receive the switching preparation completion signal, it can be determined that the switching preparations for all the bidirectional communication rear units that need to switch the operation mode are completed.

Next, the linen equipment control unit 13 transmits a switching signal to all of one or a plurality of unidirectional communication rear units that need to switch the operation mode specified in the rear unit identification process (step S302) (step S307: switching). Signal transmission processing).

The individual control unit 21 of the unidirectional communication rear unit 20 switches the operation mode when the switching signal is received from the head unit 10 (operation mode switching process). Therefore, even when the linen equipment A includes the unidirectional communication rear unit 20, the operation mode of the unidirectional communication rear unit 20 can be switched.

Further, the linen equipment control unit 13 transmits a switching signal to all of one or a plurality of bidirectional communication rear units that need to switch the operation mode specified in the rear unit identification process (step S302) (step S307: switching signal). Transmission processing).

Hereinafter, the processing of the bidirectional communication rear unit 40 in steps S406 to S408 will be described on the assumption that the switching signal is transmitted to the bidirectional communication rear unit 40. The same applies to the processing of the bidirectional communication rear unit 30 when the switching signal is transmitted to the bidirectional communication rear unit 30.

The individual control unit 41 of the bidirectional communication rear unit 40 receives a switching signal from the leading unit 10 (step S406: switching signal reception process). Then, the individual control unit 41 switches the operation mode of the bidirectional communication rear unit 40 (step S407: operation mode switching process).

The switching signal transmitted by the linen equipment control unit 13 may include the set value in the operation mode after the switching of the bidirectional communication rear unit 40. The individual control unit 41 switches the operation mode of the bidirectional communication rear unit 40 by applying the set value included in the switching signal.

The switching signal transmitted by the linen equipment control unit 13 may include only other information of the operation mode. In this case, the bidirectional communication rear unit 40 stores in advance the setting values corresponding to each operation mode. The individual control unit 41 switches the operation mode of the bidirectional communication rear unit 40 by applying a set value corresponding to the operation mode based on another information of the operation mode included in the switching signal.

Next, the individual control unit 41 of the bidirectional communication rear unit 40 transmits a switching completion signal to the leading unit 10 after the operation mode switching process (step S407) is completed (step S408: switching completion signal transmission process).

The linen equipment control unit 13 receives the switching completion signal (step S308: switching completion signal reception process). At this time, the linen equipment control unit 13 waits until the switching completion signal is received from all of the one or more bidirectional communication rear units that have transmitted the switching signal in the switching signal transmission process (step S307). For example, when the switching signal is transmitted to both the bidirectional communication rear unit 30 and the bidirectional communication rear unit 40 in the switching signal transmission process (step S307), both the bidirectional communication rear unit 30 and the bidirectional communication rear unit 40 transmit the switching signal. Wait until the switching completion signal is received. By waiting for the linen equipment control unit 13 to receive the switching completion signal, it can be determined that the switching of the operation modes of all the bidirectional communication rear units that require the switching of the operation modes has been completed.

Next, the linen equipment control unit 13 issues an instruction to the individual control unit 11 of the leading machine 10 and starts accepting new cloths in the leading machine 10 (step S309: acceptance start). Therefore, the leading machine 10 stops accepting new cloth from the time when the input unit 14 receives the switching operation (step S304) until the switching completion signal is received from the two-way communication rear machine (step S309). do.

As described above, since the operation mode switching is started at the timing when the preparation for switching the two-way communication rear unit is completed, no extra time is generated until the operation mode switching is started. For example, when it is necessary to switch the operation mode only for the bidirectional communication rear unit 30, the operation mode switching of the bidirectional communication rear unit 30 is started at the timing when the last cloth is discharged from the bidirectional communication rear unit 30. Therefore, there is no need to wait until the last cloth is discharged from the two-way communication rear unit 40. When it is necessary to switch the operation mode of the bidirectional communication rear unit 40, the operation mode switching of the bidirectional communication rear unit 40 is started at the timing when the last cloth is discharged from the bidirectional communication rear unit 40. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a margin of time that was conventionally required.

Since no extra time is generated before the operation mode switching is started, the waiting time of the leading machine 10 can be shortened. Therefore, the production efficiency of the linen equipment A is improved.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, the linen equipment A according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
The linen equipment A of the present embodiment differs from the timely processing of the first embodiment in the switching preparation signal transmission processing (step S305).

In the switching preparation signal transmission process (step S305), the linen equipment control unit 13 switches the operation mode instead of transmitting the switching preparation signal to all of the plurality of bidirectional communication rear units that need to switch the operation mode. Of the plurality of bidirectional communication rear units that require, the replacement preparation signal is transmitted only to the bidirectional communication rear unit located at the most downstream.

For example, when the cloth type F1 is switched to the cloth type F5, it is necessary to switch the operation modes of the two bidirectional communication rear units 30 and 40. Of these, the switching preparation signal is transmitted only to the bidirectional communication rear unit 40 arranged at the most downstream.

In this case, the linen equipment control unit 13 waits until the switching preparation completion signal is received from the bidirectional communication rear unit 40 arranged at the most downstream in the switching preparation completion signal reception process (step S306).

In this way, even if it is confirmed that the switching preparation is completed only for the bidirectional communication rear unit 40 arranged at the most downstream among the plurality of bidirectional communication rear units 30 and 40 for which the operation mode needs to be switched, it is possible to confirm that the switching preparation is completed. It can be determined that the preparations for switching of all the bidirectional communication rear units 30 and 40 that require switching of the operation mode are completed. This is because when the last cloth is discharged from the most downstream bidirectional communication rear unit 40, the last cloth is also discharged from the upstream bidirectional communication rear unit 30.

[Third Embodiment]
Next, the linen equipment A according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described.
The linen equipment A of the present embodiment differs in the switching signal transmission (step S307) in the timely processing of the first embodiment.

In the switching signal transmission process (step S307), the linen equipment control unit 13 sends a switching signal to the bidirectional communication back unit that has transmitted the switching preparation completion signal each time it receives a switching preparation completion signal from one bidirectional communication back unit. To send.

For example, when the switching preparation completion signal is first received from the bidirectional communication rear unit 30, the switching signal is transmitted to the bidirectional communication rear unit 30. After that, when the switching preparation completion signal is received from the bidirectional communication rear unit 40, the switching signal is transmitted to the bidirectional communication rear unit 40.

The bidirectional communication rear unit 30 for which the switching preparation is completed starts switching the operation mode without waiting for the completion of the switching preparation for the other bidirectional communication rear unit 40. Therefore, it is possible to shorten the time required to complete the switching of the operation modes of all the bidirectional communication rear units 30 and 40 that require the switching of the operation modes.

For example, it is assumed that the time required for switching the operation mode of the bidirectional communication rear unit 30 is longer than the time required for switching the operation mode of the bidirectional communication rear unit 40. When the switching of the operation modes of the two-way communication rear units 30 and 40 is started after waiting for the completion of the switching preparation of the two-way communication rear unit 40, the operation mode of the two-way communication rear unit 30 is switched after the two-way communication rear unit 40. Is completed. On the other hand, if the processing is performed as in the present embodiment, the switching of the operation mode of the bidirectional communication rear unit 30 is started before the switching of the operation mode of the bidirectional communication rear unit 40. Wasted time can be reduced. As a result, the waiting time of the leading machine 10 can be further shortened.

[Fourth Embodiment]
Next, the linen equipment A according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described.
The linen equipment A of the present embodiment differs in a part of the timely treatment of the first embodiment. Hereinafter, processing different from that of the first embodiment will be mainly described based on the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

The linen equipment control unit 13 of the leading machine 10 performs a switching operation (step S501), a rear machine specifying process (step S502), a step S503, and a reception stop (step S504). These processes are the same as in steps S301 to S304 in the first embodiment.

Next, the linen equipment control unit 13 transmits a switching signal to all of one or a plurality of bidirectional communication rear units that need to switch the operation mode specified in the rear unit identification process (step S502) (step S505: switching). Signal transmission processing).

For example, when the cloth type F1 is switched to the cloth type F3, the switching signal is transmitted only to the bidirectional communication rear unit 30 that needs to switch the operation mode. For example, when the cloth type F1 is switched to the cloth type F5, the switching signal is transmitted to both the bidirectional communication rear unit 30 and the bidirectional communication rear unit 40 that need to switch the operation mode.

Hereinafter, the processing of the bidirectional communication rear unit 40 in steps S601 to S606 will be described on the assumption that the switching signal is transmitted to the bidirectional communication rear unit 40. The same applies to the processing of the bidirectional communication rear unit 30 when the switching signal is transmitted to the bidirectional communication rear unit 30.

The individual control unit 41 of the bidirectional communication rear unit 40 receives a switching signal from the leading unit 10 (step S601: switching signal reception process). Next, the individual control unit 41 performs the last cloth identification information extraction process (step S602), the last cloth identification process (step S603), and the discharge determination process (step S604). These processes are the same as in steps S402 to S404 in the first embodiment.

Next, the individual control unit 41 performs an operation mode switching process (step S605) and a switching completion signal transmission process (step S606). These processes are the same as in steps S407 and S408 in the first embodiment.

Next, the linen equipment control unit 13 receives the switching completion signal (step S506: switching completion signal reception process). At this time, the linen equipment control unit 13 waits until the switching completion signal is received from all of the one or more bidirectional communication rear units that have transmitted the switching signal in the switching signal transmission process (step S505). For example, when the switching signal is transmitted to both the bidirectional communication rear unit 30 and the bidirectional communication rear unit 40 in the switching signal transmission process (step S505), both the bidirectional communication rear unit 30 and the bidirectional communication rear unit 40 transmit the switching signal. Wait until the switching completion signal is received. By waiting for the linen equipment control unit 13 to receive the switching completion signal, it can be determined that the switching of the operation modes of all the bidirectional communication rear units that require the switching of the operation modes has been completed.

Next, the linen equipment control unit 13 issues an instruction to the individual control unit 11 of the leading machine 10 and starts accepting new cloths in the leading machine 10 (step S507: acceptance start). Therefore, the leading machine 10 stops accepting new cloth from the time when the input unit 14 receives the switching operation (step S504) until the switching completion signal is received from the two-way communication rear machine (step S507). do.

As described above, since the operation mode switching is started at the timing when the preparation for switching the two-way communication rear unit is completed, no extra time is generated until the operation mode switching is started. As a result, the waiting time of the leading machine 10 can be shortened.

Moreover, when the switching signal is transmitted to the two bidirectional communication rear units 30 and 40, the bidirectional communication rear unit 30 switches the operation mode without waiting for the completion of the switching preparation of the other bidirectional communication rear unit 40. Start. Therefore, it is possible to shorten the time required to complete the switching of the operation modes of all the bidirectional communication rear units 30 and 40 that require the switching of the operation modes.

A Linen equipment 10 Leading machine 13 Linen equipment control unit 14 Input unit 15 Storage unit 20 Unidirectional communication rear unit 21 Individual control unit 30 Two-way communication rear unit 31 Individual control unit 32 Cloth detection unit 40 Two-way communication rear unit 41 Individual Control unit 42 Cloth detection unit 51 Network line 52 Communication line

Claims (10)

The leading machine, which is a cloth processing device placed at the beginning of the processing line,
One or a plurality of cloth processing devices arranged downstream of the leading machine of the processing line, including one or a plurality of bidirectional communication rear machines capable of bidirectional communication with the leading machine.
The leading machine is
An input unit that accepts cloth type switching operations and
Linen equipment control unit and
A storage unit that stores a plurality of cloth types and each operation mode of one or a plurality of the two-way communication rear units corresponding to each of the plurality of cloth types is provided.
The linen equipment control unit
When the input unit receives the switching operation, the storage unit is referred to, and one or a plurality of the operation modes need to be switched from the cloth type before the switching operation and the cloth type after the switching operation. Two-way communication Back unit identification processing to identify the back unit,
Switching preparation signal transmission processing for transmitting a switching preparation signal to all of the one or more bidirectional communication rear units that require switching of the operation mode, and
When the switching preparation completion signal is received from all of the one or the plurality of bidirectional communication rear units that have transmitted the switching preparation signal in the switching preparation signal transmission process, the operation mode needs to be switched. Switching signal transmission processing that transmits the switching signal to all the units behind the communication,
From the time when the input unit receives the switching operation to the time when the switching completion signal is received from all of the one or more bidirectional communication rear units that transmitted the switching signal in the switching signal transmission process, a new one is used. Waiting process to stop accepting cloth, and
Each of the one or more of the two-way communication rear units
Equipped with an individual control unit
The individual control unit
After receiving the switching preparation signal from the leading machine, the discharge determination process of determining that the cloth supplied to the leading machine has been discharged immediately before the switching operation, and the discharge determination process.
After the discharge determination process, the switching preparation completion signal transmission process for transmitting the switching preparation completion signal to the leading machine, and the switching preparation completion signal transmission process,
The operation mode switching process for switching the operation mode when the switching signal is received from the leading machine, and
A linen facility characterized in that after the operation mode switching process, a switching completion signal transmission process of transmitting the switching completion signal to the leading machine is performed. The leading machine, which is a cloth processing device placed at the beginning of the processing line,
One or a plurality of cloth processing devices arranged downstream of the leading machine of the processing line, including one or a plurality of bidirectional communication rear machines capable of bidirectional communication with the leading machine.
The leading machine is
An input unit that accepts cloth type switching operations and
Equipped with a linen equipment control unit
The linen equipment control unit
When the input unit receives the switching operation, a switching preparation signal transmission process for transmitting a switching preparation signal to all of the one or a plurality of the two-way communication rear units that need to switch the operation mode, and
When the switching preparation completion signal is received from all of the one or the plurality of bidirectional communication rear units that have transmitted the switching preparation signal in the switching preparation signal transmission process, the operation mode needs to be switched. Switching signal transmission processing that transmits the switching signal to all the units behind the communication,
From the time when the input unit receives the switching operation to the time when the switching completion signal is received from all of the one or more bidirectional communication rear units that transmitted the switching signal in the switching signal transmission process, a new one is used. Waiting process to stop accepting cloth, and
Each of the one or more of the two-way communication rear units
Equipped with an individual control unit
The individual control unit
After receiving the switching preparation signal from the leading machine, the cloth to be processed is the cloth to be processed based on the last cloth specifying information which is the information for identifying the cloth supplied to the leading machine immediately before the switching operation. Immediately before the switching operation, the last cloth identification process for determining whether or not the cloth is compatible with the cloth supplied to the first machine, and
Discharge judgment processing for determining that the cloth supplied to the leading machine has been discharged immediately before the switching operation, and
After the discharge determination process, the switching preparation completion signal transmission process for transmitting the switching preparation completion signal to the leading machine, and the switching preparation completion signal transmission process,
The operation mode switching process for switching the operation mode when the switching signal is received from the leading machine, and
After the operation mode switching processing, the changeover completion signal transmission processing that transmits the changeover completion signal to the head unit, a row stomach,
The last cloth specific information includes the first parameter indicating the size of the cloth, the processing order of the cloth, the position of the cloth on the processing line, and the distance between the cloth and the immediately preceding cloth. Contains one or more second parameters that indicate one or more of them.
In the last cloth identification process, the individual control unit of the two-way communication rear unit has one or more cloths to be processed corresponding to the last cloth identification information from the viewpoint of the first parameter. When the cloth to be processed corresponds to the last cloth specific information from the viewpoint of any of the second parameters, the cloth to be processed was supplied to the leading machine immediately before the switching operation. Linen equipment that is characterized by being judged to be compatible with cloth. The linen equipment control unit of the leading machine is only the bidirectional communication rear unit arranged at the most downstream of the plurality of bidirectional communication rear units that need to switch the operation mode in the switching preparation signal transmission process. The linen equipment according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the switching preparation signal is transmitted to the linen equipment. In the switching signal transmission process, the linen equipment control unit of the leading machine transmits the switching ready completion signal each time the switching ready signal is received from one of the bidirectional communication rear machines. The linen equipment according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the switching signal is transmitted to the rear unit. One or more cloth processing devices arranged downstream of the leading machine of the processing line, including one or a plurality of simplex communication rear machines capable of receiving only signals from the leading machine.
In the switching signal transmission processing, the linen equipment control unit of the leading machine transmits a switching preparation completion signal from all of one or a plurality of the two-way communication rear machines that have transmitted the switching preparation signal in the switching preparation signal transmission processing. Upon reception, the switching signal is transmitted to all of the one or more unidirectional communication rear units that need to switch the operation mode.
Any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein each of the one or a plurality of the unidirectional communication rear units performs an operation mode switching process for switching the operation mode when the switching signal is received from the leading unit. linen installation according to. The leading machine includes a storage unit that stores a plurality of cloth types and each operation mode of one or a plurality of the unidirectional communication rear machines corresponding to each of the plurality of cloth types.
When the input unit receives the switching operation, the linen equipment control unit of the leading machine refers to the storage unit and operates from the cloth type before the switching operation and the cloth type after the switching operation. The linen equipment according to claim 5 , further comprising performing a back unit identification process for specifying one or more of the unidirectional communication back units that require mode switching. The leading machine, which is a cloth processing device placed at the beginning of the processing line,
One or a plurality of cloth processing devices arranged downstream of the leading machine of the processing line, including one or a plurality of bidirectional communication rear machines capable of bidirectional communication with the leading machine.
The leading machine is
An input unit that accepts cloth type switching operations and
Linen equipment control unit and
A storage unit that stores a plurality of cloth types and each operation mode of one or a plurality of the two-way communication rear units corresponding to each of the plurality of cloth types is provided.
The linen equipment control unit
When the input unit receives the switching operation, the storage unit is referred to, and one or a plurality of the operation modes need to be switched from the cloth type before the switching operation and the cloth type after the switching operation. Two-way communication Back unit identification processing to identify the back unit,
Switching signal transmission processing that transmits a switching signal to all of the one or more bidirectional communication back units that require switching of the operation mode, and
From the time when the input unit receives the switching operation to the time when the switching completion signal is received from all of the one or more bidirectional communication rear units that transmitted the switching signal in the switching signal transmission process, a new one is used. Waiting process to stop accepting cloth, and
Each of the one or more of the two-way communication rear units
Equipped with an individual control unit
The individual control unit
After receiving the switching signal from the leading machine, the discharge determination process of determining that the cloth supplied to the leading machine has been discharged immediately before the switching operation, and
After the discharge determination process, the operation mode switching process for switching the operation mode and the operation mode switching process
A linen facility characterized in that after the operation mode switching process, a switching completion signal transmission process of transmitting the switching completion signal to the leading machine is performed. The leading machine, which is a cloth processing device placed at the beginning of the processing line,
One or a plurality of cloth processing devices arranged downstream of the leading machine of the processing line, including one or a plurality of bidirectional communication rear machines capable of bidirectional communication with the leading machine.
The leading machine is
An input unit that accepts cloth type switching operations and
Equipped with a linen equipment control unit
The linen equipment control unit
When the input unit receives the switching operation, the switching signal transmission process of transmitting the switching signal to all of the one or more bidirectional communication rear units that need to switch the operation mode, and the switching signal transmission processing.
From the time when the input unit receives the switching operation to the time when the switching completion signal is received from all of the one or more bidirectional communication rear units that transmitted the switching signal in the switching signal transmission process, a new one is used. Waiting process to stop accepting cloth, and
Each of the one or more of the two-way communication rear units
Equipped with an individual control unit
The individual control unit
After receiving the switching signal from the leading machine, the cloth to be processed is switched based on the last cloth specifying information which is the information for identifying the cloth supplied to the leading machine immediately before the switching operation. The last cloth identification process that determines whether or not it corresponds to the cloth supplied to the first machine immediately before the operation, and
Discharge judgment processing for determining that the cloth supplied to the leading machine has been discharged immediately before the switching operation, and
After the discharge determination process, the operation mode switching process for switching the operation mode and the operation mode switching process
After the operation mode switching processing, the changeover completion signal transmission processing that transmits the changeover completion signal to the head unit, a row stomach,
The last cloth specific information includes the first parameter indicating the size of the cloth, the processing order of the cloth, the position of the cloth on the processing line, and the distance between the cloth and the immediately preceding cloth. Contains one or more second parameters that indicate one or more of them.
In the last cloth identification process, the individual control unit of the two-way communication rear unit has one or more cloths to be processed corresponding to the last cloth identification information from the viewpoint of the first parameter. When the cloth to be processed corresponds to the last cloth specific information from the viewpoint of any of the second parameters, the cloth to be processed was supplied to the leading machine immediately before the switching operation. Linen equipment that is characterized by being judged to be compatible with cloth. The linen equipment control unit of the leading machine transmits cloth specific information including information for identifying each of the plurality of cloths conveyed on the processing line to one or more of the two-way communication rear machines. Performs specific information transmission processing and
The individual control unit of the two-way communication rear unit
The cloth specific information receiving process for receiving the cloth specific information from the leading machine, and
Among previous SL cloth specifying information, and the last cloth specifying information extraction processing for extracting a last cloth specifying information for specifying the immediately preceding the cloth supplied to the head unit of the switching operation,
After the last cloth specific information extraction process, it is determined based on the last cloth specific information whether or not the cloth to be processed corresponds to the cloth supplied to the leading machine immediately before the switching operation. The linen equipment according to claim 1 or 7 , wherein the last cloth identification process is performed. The cloth specific information includes the first parameter indicating the size of the cloth, the processing order of the cloth, the position of the cloth on the processing line, and the distance between the cloth and the immediately preceding cloth. Contains one or more second parameters indicating one or more
In the last cloth identification process, the individual control unit of the two-way communication rear unit has one or more cloths to be processed corresponding to the last cloth identification information from the viewpoint of the first parameter. When the cloth to be processed corresponds to the last cloth specific information from the viewpoint of any one of the second parameters, the cloth to be processed was supplied to the leading machine immediately before the switching operation. The linen equipment according to claim 9, wherein it is determined that the linen equipment is compatible with cloth.

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