JPH04315204A - Numerical controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To automatically load a control program to the controller. CONSTITUTION:A MODEM 14 to be connected to a telephone line and a memory 13 to set and input the idle time zone of a machine are provided and while utilizing the telephone line during the idle time of the machine, the control program is loaded by communication. Therefore, the version-up of the control program and the loading work can be automated.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a numerical control device such as an electrical discharge machining device or a laser machining device, and more particularly to loading a control program into the numerical control device.

0002

[Prior art] Control programs for electrical discharge machining equipment, etc.
The control program may be updated to add new functions or improve performance, so it is required to always keep the control program up to date. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a conventional control device for this type of electric discharge machining apparatus. In the figure, 1 is a CPU, and 2 is a memory for storing a control program, which is composed of ROM or RAM. 3 is a display interface connected to the CRT 4; A keyboard interface 5 is connected to the keyboard 6. Reference numeral 7 denotes a contact interface through which input/output with the machine and power supply contacts 8 is performed. A servo interface 9 is connected to a servo amplifier 10 to control the drive shaft. Reference numeral 11 denotes an I/O interface, which is connected to an external device 12 and inputs and outputs data to and from the control device. External device 1
2, a paper tape reader, floppy device, printer, RS-232C, etc. are connected. Also, memory 2
In the case of RAM, most of them are backed up by a battery (not shown).

Next, the operation of loading a control program into a control device will be explained. If the memory 2 that stores the control program is a ROM, the printed circuit board on which the ROM is mounted is replaced. Also, the memory 2 is RA
In the case of M, the control program is input from the external device 12 via the I/O interface 11 to the memory 2 that stores the control program. The input method is that the CPU 1 reads whether or not to load the control program when the power is turned on via the contact 8 and the contact interface 7, executes the boot program, and sends the information from the external device 12 via the I/O interface 11. Load the control program into memory 2.

0004

The conventional method of loading a control program into a control device was constructed as described above, and therefore could not be carried out without manual intervention. For example, if memory 2 is ROM, RO
It is impossible for the user to replace the printed circuit board on which M is mounted, and the replacement work must be performed by the manufacturer's service personnel, and at that time, the machine must be stopped. Also, even if memory 2 is RAM, the manufacturer must send the latest control program and load it when the machine is free. At that time, the machine must be stopped. There wasn't.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it is possible to load a control program into a control device without human intervention, and also to keep the control program updated at all times. The purpose is to obtain a numerical control device.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, a numerical control device according to the present invention includes a modem that can be connected to a general public line, a means for connecting to a host station via the modem, and an internal control device. A means for grasping the version of the control program of the controller, a means for comparing the version of the host station and the version of the control program in the control device, a means for downloading the control program from the host station, and a means for setting the time zone for connecting to the host station. By providing a means to do this, it is possible to load the control program into the control device by communication using the telephone line when the machine is idle.

[0007]

[Operation] In the present invention, the idle time of the machine is determined based on the completion of processing at night. The communication means is a modem and a general public telephone line.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a control block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a CPU, 2 is a memory that stores a control program, and is composed of a RAM. 3 is a display interface connected to the CRT 4; A keyboard interface 5 is connected to the keyboard 6. 7 is a contact interface, mechanical and power contact 8
Input/output is performed with. A servo interface 9 is connected to a servo amplifier 10 to control the drive shaft. Reference numeral 11 denotes an I/O interface, which is connected to an external device 12 and inputs and outputs data to and from the control device. The external device 12 includes a paper tape reader, a floppy device,
A printer, RS-232C, etc. are connected. I/O
The interface 11 is also connected to a modem 13. 14 is the memory 2 for controlling the modem 13 and the control program.
This is the memory in which the program to be loaded is stored.

The following operation will be explained. When the machining program for electrical discharge machining is completed, the time at that time is checked to determine whether or not the machine is idle. The idle time of the machine is input in advance into the control device by the user using the keyboard 6, and is stored in the memory 14. Machine idle time refers to the time period during which the machine is stopped when a machining program is completed during that time period. If the machining program ends while this machine is idle, memory 1
The program No. 4 runs, and the control program is loaded. The operation will be explained using the flowchart of FIG. First, the modem 13 is initialized via the I/O interface 11, dials the host station, and connects the telephone line (step 20). If the connection is not completed, repeat step 20. When the connection is completed, the ID number of the control device is transmitted to the host station (step 21). Next, the latest control program version is received from the host station (step 22) and compared with the version in the control device stored in the memory 14 (step 23).
). If the versions do not match, the host station is requested to download the control program, and the control program is downloaded to the memory 2 (step 24). When the download is completed, the version in the memory 14 is updated (step 25).
), and disconnects from the host station (step 26). if,
When compared with the version in the control device (step 23), if the versions match, the control program is not downloaded and the connection with the host station is cut off (step 26). In addition, in this embodiment, loading of all the control programs has been explained, but the control programs can be divided into, for example, display programs, servo programs, etc.
Compare individual versions of relay sequence programs, etc.
May be loaded individually.

0010

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, the control program can be loaded into the control device by communication using the telephone line when the machine is idle, so that the control program is always updated to the latest version. version can be maintained. In addition, since the loading work itself does not require any human labor, it has the effect of not interfering with the operation of the machine.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a numerical control device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a control program loading method according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a conventional numerical control device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 CPU 2 Memory 3 for storing control programs Display interface 4 CRT 5 Keyboard interface 6 Keyboard 7 Contact interface 8 Machine and power contacts 9 Servo interface 10 Servo amplifier 11 I/O interface 12 External device 13 Modem 14 Program for loading Memory stored

Claims (1)

[Claims] [Claim 1] A modem that can be connected to a general public line,
means for connecting to a host station via the modem; means for grasping the version of a control program within the control device; means for comparing the version of the host station with the version of the control program within the control device; A numerical control device comprising: means for downloading the control program from a station; and means for setting a time zone for connecting to the host station.