Handling system and control method

A control method executed by a computer and in a handling system that handles plural kinds of articles, the method comprising:

• transporting, by a first conveyance device, a target article to be processed among the plural kinds of articles to a work area for a robot to handle and process the target article;
• transporting, by a second conveyance device, the target article to a work area for a first operator to handle and process the target article;
• when the robot is unable to process the target article transported by the first conveyance device, receiving, by a third conveyance device, the target article, which cannot be processed, from the first conveyance device, and
• transporting, by the third conveyance device, the received target article to the second conveyance device,
• wherein the third conveyance device is connected to a first portion of the first conveyance device and a second portion of the second conveyance device, and
• the first portion of the first conveyance device is between end points of the first conveyance device and the second portion of the second conveyance device is between end points of the second conveyance device;
• controlling by:
• determining by which of the robot or the first operator the target article is to be processed, in accordance with process information generated based on a result of handling and processing of an article by the robot in past;
• and
• transporting the target article to the first conveyance device when it is determined that the target article is to be processed by the robot, and
• transporting the target article to the second conveyance device when it is
• determined that the target article is to be processed by the first operator;
• receiving an input of a result of inspection on the target article performed by a second operator;
• and
• inspecting the target article by an inspection robot configured to be operated by the second operator,
• wherein the robot has a normal operation mode and a stable operation mode.

A handling system that handles and processes plural kinds of articles, the handling system comprising:

• a first conveyance device configured to transport a target article to be processed among the plural kinds of articles to a work area for a robot to handle and process the target article;
• a second conveyance device configured to transport the target article to a work area for an operator to handle and process the target article;
• a third conveyance connected to a first portion of the first conveyance device and a second portion of the second conveyance device, wherein the first portion of the first conveyance device is between end points of the first conveyance device and the second portion of the second conveyance device is between end points of the second conveyance device,
• wherein the third conveyance device is configured to, when the robot is unable to process the target article transported by the first conveyance device, receive the target article, which cannot be processed, from the first conveyance device and transport the received target article to the second conveyance device;
• a control device configured to:
• determine by which of the robot or the operator the target article is to be processed, in accordance with process information generated based on a result of handling and processing of an article by the robot in past, and
• transport the target article to the first conveyance device when the control device determines that the target article is to be processed by the robot, and transport the target article to the second conveyance device when the control device determines that the target article is to be processed by the operator;
• a common conveyance device configured to transport the target article;
• a distribution device configured to transport the target article transported by the common conveyance device to the first conveyance device or the second conveyance device;
• and
• a distribution control device configured to control an operation of the distribution device,
• wherein the distribution device switches positions to which the target article is output, in accordance with control by the distribution control device.