Device and method for analyzing state of manual work by worker, and work analysis program

A work analysis device which generates determination data for determining whether or not a worker's manual work is now repeatedly performed according to a predetermined work procedure, the work analysis device comprising:

• an imaging unit imaging, as a work video, a state where a plurality of fundamental work operations are performed repeatedly and manually in a predetermined order by the worker;
• a setting unit setting delimitation information for delimiting the work video at detection timings at each of which a predetermined motion is detected, based on the predetermined motion which is previously set for each of the fundamental work operations;
• and
• a generation unit generating the determination data which includes both the work video and the delimitation information.

A work analysis device which generates a work video for a work analysis by repeatedly imaging a predetermined work in which a plurality of fundamental work operations are repeatedly performed with worker's manual work in a predetermined order, the device comprising:

• an imaging unit imaging the predetermined work repeatedly performed by the worker;
• a monitoring area setting unit setting a plurality of monitoring areas including a first monitoring area for detecting a first operation among the fundamental work operations and a second operation among the fundamental work operations, for each of the fundamental work operations in an imaging range of the imaging unit;
• a reliability setting unit setting, for each of the monitoring areas, reliability such that the reliability increases with an increase in a possibility that a motion related to the fundamental work operations is performed in the monitoring area, based on a comparison made between a portion corresponding to the monitoring area in an image captured by the imaging unit and a portion corresponding to the monitoring area in a further image captured by the imaging unit, the further image being captured prior to the image;
• a determination unit determining whether or not a mutually corresponding fundamental work operation among the fundamental work operations is performed, based on the reliabilities which are set to the first and second monitoring areas;
• and
• a delimitation information setting unit setting delimitation information which enables a work video imaged by the imaging unit to be delimited every fundamental work operation determined to be perfumed by the determination unit, based on at least one of a timing at which the image for setting the reliability is set for the first monitoring area and a timing at which the image for setting the reliability is set for the second monitoring area.

A work support device which supports work performed in a predetermined work procedure, the work involving taking out parts accommodated in a plurality of parts boxes, the device comprising:

• an imaging unit;
• a monitoring area setting unit setting monitoring areas respectively to the parts boxes within an imaging range of the imaging unit;
• a detection section detecting a worker's taking action of the parts from each of the parts boxes, based on a comparison made between a portion corresponding to the monitoring area in a designated image captured by the imaging unit and a portion corresponding to the monitoring area in a further image captured by the imaging unit, the further image being captured prior to the designated image;
• a determination unit determining whether or not the work according to the predetermined work procedure is performed, based on a detection result provided by the detection section;
• and
• a notification unit notifying the worker of a determined result provided by the determination unit,
• wherein the monitoring area setting unit is configured to set, based on an image captured by the imaging unit, the monitoring areas every one of the parts boxes, the monitoring aeras corresponding to the parts boxes which are moved in a predetermined movement state, when the parts boxes are individually moved in the predetermined movement state.

A work support device which supports work performed in a predetermined work procedure, the work involving taking out parts accommodated in a plurality of parts boxes, the device comprising:

• an imaging unit;
• a monitoring area setting unit setting monitoring areas respectively to the parts boxes within an imaging range of the imaging unit;
• a detection section detecting a worker's taking action of the parts from each of the parts boxes, based on a comparison made between a portion corresponding to the monitoring area in a designated image captured by the imaging unit and a portion corresponding to the monitoring area in a further image captured by the imaging unit, the further image being captured prior to the designated image;
• a determination unit determining whether or not the work according to the predetermined work procedure is performed, based on a detection result provided by the detection section;
• and
• a notification unit notifying the worker of a determined result provided by the determination unit, wherein
• each of the parts boxes has a peripheral wall having an upper end face, the upper end face being formed into a polygonal ring shape with a plurality of corners, and
• the monitoring area setting unit is configured to i) detect a boundary in an image captured by the imaging unit, the boundary starting from a stat point designed by a worker's finger touched to one of the corners, extending along line segments of the polygonal ring shape with a turn at each of a plurality of intersections configured by two of the corners, and return to the start point, and ii) set a polygonal ring shaped area surrounded by the boundary as the monitoring area for each of the parts boxes.

A work support device which supports work performed in a predetermined work procedure, the work involving taking out parts accommodated in a plurality of parts boxes, the device comprising:

• an imaging unit;
• a monitoring area setting unit setting monitoring areas respectively to the parts boxes within an imaging range of the imaging unit;
• a detection section detecting a worker's taking action of the parts from each of the parts boxes, based on a comparison made between a portion corresponding to the monitoring area in a designated image captured by the imaging unit and a portion corresponding to the monitoring area in a further image captured by the imaging unit, the further image being captured prior to the designated image;
• a determination unit determining whether or not the work according to the predetermined work procedure is performed, based on a detection result provided by the detection section;
• and
• a notification unit notifying the worker of a determined result provided by the determination unit,
• wherein
• the monitoring area setting unit is configured to i) respond to a state where the imaging unit captures a ring-shaped trajectory drawn by a worker's finger which traces an upper end face of a peripheral wall of each of the parts boxes, and ii) set, every one of the parts boxes, the monitoring area which is an area surround by the ring-shaped trajectory.

A work analysis method which generates determination data for determining whether or not a worker's manual work is now repeatedly performed according to a predetermined work procedure, the work analysis method comprising:

• making an imaging unit image, as a work video, a state where a plurality of fundamental work operations are performed repeatedly and manually in a predetermined order by a worker;
• setting delimitation information for delimiting the work video at detection timings at each of which a predetermined motion is detected, based on the predetermined motion which is previously set for each of the fundamental work operations;
• and
• generating the determination data which includes both the work video and the delimitation information.