A manufacturing management device includes a determination section configured to determine the necessity of maintenance on any of the multiple production devices during production by the production line; and a conveyance management section configured to stop loading circuit boards, at a predetermined time, onto a reference device among the multiple production devices when it is determined that maintenance is necessary, the reference device being positioned upstream in the production line from a maintenance target device having a cause for maintenance.

Conveyor system may comprise conveyor mechanism(s) provided with transport path(s) along which conveyed object(s) are conveyed to transport destination(s); electric current detector(s) and/or abnormality detector(s) that detect triggering event(s) which may be event(s) occurring at conveyor mechanism(s) due to conveyed object(s) during transport of conveyed object(s); and removal processor(s) that, when triggering event(s) detected by electric current detector(s) and/or abnormality detector(s) satisfy triggering condition(s), cause conveyed object(s) to be transported by conveyor mechanism(s) to removal area(s) which are not transport destination(s).

A method and system for motion control of movers in an independent cart system is disclosed. In one implementation, the independent cart system includes a plurality of track segments, each section having a respective controller. One of the controllers receives a motion command for a plurality of carts, respectively. The controller generates a force command for each of the plurality of carts and transmits the respective commands to the track segments commutating the plurality of carts.

The present disclosure provides a conveyor system controller (11, 12, 13, 14), comprising: a data storage unit (101) configured to store a plurality of data entries, each data entry comprising a data entry ID, a data entry version identifier, and a data payload representing operating information of the controller or another controller; a processing unit (102); a first interface (103) for communicating with another controller. The controller is configured to transmit a first data packet comprising data entry ID and data entry version identifier of a data entry in the data storage unit, to other controllers; and to receive a second data packet transmitted by said another controller, the second data packet comprising data entry ID and data entry version identifier of a data entry of said another controller; and compare the received data entry version identifier of the second data packet, with a data entry version identifier of a corresponding data entry in the data storage unit having a same data entry ID as the second data packet.

A substrate work system including a work device configured to perform predetermined work on a substrate by use of an exchangeable work unit includes a storage section configured to store the work unit, a maintenance device configured to perform maintenance of the work unit, a conveyance device capable of conveying the work unit, a determination section configured to determine a maintenance time for the work unit used in the work device based on quality information on work quality of the predetermined work, and a control section configured to, when the determination section determines that a maintenance time arrives, cause the conveyance device, the work device, and the maintenance device to unload the work unit, convey the work unit to the work device to exchange with the work unit that has been used, and convey the used-up work unit to the maintenance device.

A conveying system includes a robot apparatus, a second conveyor, and a controller. The robot apparatus has a holding unit configured to hold a package, and an arm configured to move the holding unit, and is located next to a first conveyor extending in a first direction, in a second direction, which is different from the first direction. The second conveyor is located next to the robot apparatus, in the first direction, and is configured to convey the package in the second direction toward the first conveyor. The controller is configured to control the robot apparatus so as to retrieve the package from an accumulation unit for the package and place the retrieved package on the second conveyor.

A system and an apparatus capable of independently driving movers are described herein. The system and apparatus includes: a track that forms a path for movers; a plurality of movers movably mounted on the track for moving along the path; and a plurality of drive elements fixedly arranged along the track. The drive elements each have a surface that is oriented to contact a driven member of the movers. The drive elements are configured to sequentially engage the driven member of a plurality of the movers to provide controlled independent motion of the movers along the track. The drive elements may be driven by rotary motors. A method of independently driving movers is also described herein.

The present document discloses a conveyor system comprising a plurality of workpiece carriers, each adapted for supporting at least one workpiece during transportation, a conveyor, adapted for transporting the workpiece carriers, at least one flow device for controlling a movement of one of the workpiece carriers relative to the conveyor, the flow device comprising a local controller, at least one workpiece carrier sensor and at least one actuator, and a central controller, which is in data communication with the flow device, and having a memory containing a flow plan comprising data describing an intended flow of workpieces in the conveyor system.

A method and system for motion control of movers in an independent cart system is disclosed. In one implementation, the independent cart system includes a plurality of track segments, each section having a respective controller. One of the controllers receives a motion command for a plurality of carts, respectively. The controller generates a force command for each of the plurality of carts and transmits the respective commands to the track segments commutating the plurality of carts.

A movable belt breakage prevention and catching system for a belt conveyor includes a detection device, two tracks, a plurality of catching devices, and a control system. The detection device is mounted on the belt conveyor, and is configured to detect whether a belt of the belt conveyor has a crack. The two tracks are symmetrically arranged on both sides of the belt conveyor, and the plurality of catching devices are symmetrically arranged on the two tracks. The control system is configured to control the plurality of catching devices to simultaneously catch the belt firmly when the detection device detects that the belt has a crack; and after firmly catching the belt, each catching device is able to unidirectionally move along with the belt along the track where the catching device is positioned.