JPS6299040A - Automatic machining system having tool feeding device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the operating efficiency of a machine tool and a tool feeding device by providing a means of making a tool feeding schedule according to machining and machining order data and a means of changing said schedule in a control unit, and changing said schedule in accordance with change in the machining operation of said machine tool. CONSTITUTION:Machining and machining order data are inputted from an upper control unit 5 into a control unit 3, a tool feeding schedule which is controlled by a tool housing part 21, a tool assembling/disassembling part 22, and a tool conveying part 23, is prepared and sent to a feed control part 24, and a machine tool 11 starts machining via a numerical control part 12. The control unit 3 monitors change in machining operation and changes the tool feeding schedule in accordance with changes such as an indication of change in machining contents, extension or reduction in machining time, etc. and sends it to the feed control part 24, to reduce the waiting time for the machine tool 11. Also, in case of stopping machining operation due to a trouble, the tool feeding schedule is changed and sent to the feed control part 24 to reduce the waiting time.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to an improvement in an automatic machining system equipped with a tool feeding device.

[Technical background of the invention and its problems]

Conventionally, numerically controlled machine tools such as milling machines, lathes, and machining centers have often been used, but recently a machining system that combines this type of machine tool with a tool feeding device has been developed.

In this type of system, for example, tools corresponding to the work contents are stored in advance in the storage section of the tool supply device, and when the work contents are changed or the tool reaches the end of its life, the tool can be machined from the tool supply device according to instructions from the control device. This system automatically supplies new tools to the machine and collects used tools, greatly increasing the operating rate of machine tools. However, in this type of conventional device, all types of tools used must be stored in multiples as they are, which increases the size of the storage section and the tool transport device, and the initials of the tools The disadvantage was that the cost was high.

Therefore, recently, as an improved tool feeding device, the tool is divided into multiple module component parts such as the cutting edge part, the intermediate part, and the base part, and the necessary number of parts are prepared for each part and stored in the storage section. The applicant has already filed an application for a device that selects and assembles the necessary parts from the above-mentioned parts according to instructions from a control device when supplying tools, and supplies these to a machine tool. . If this type of device is used, the parts storage section and the transport section can be made smaller, and the tools can be reduced in size. When something goes wrong, it is only necessary to replace the cutting edge part of the module components of each tool, so the initial cost can be reduced.

When constructing an automatic machining system equipped with this type of parts supply device, a parts supply schedule is determined according to the processing details and processing order. However, if a machine tool's tool supply request is accelerated due to a change in machining content or a change in machining time, for example, it is not possible to supply tools immediately in response to this request, and as a result, the machine tool's waiting time becomes longer and the operation rate is lower. This results in a decrease in On the other hand, if the machine tool temporarily stops due to a malfunction or a change in machining time causes a delay in parts supply requests, the tool feeder will have a standby time, and the tool feeder should be prevented from standing by. It is necessary to increase the operating rate of the entire system.

[Purpose of the invention]

The present invention enables various operations related to optimal tool feeding to be performed according to the operating status of the machine tool, thereby shortening the running time of the machine tool and effectively utilizing the standby time of the tool feeding device to increase operation time. The object of the present invention is to provide an automatic machining system with an improved tool feeding device that can improve efficiency.

[Summary of the invention]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a tool supply schedule creation means for creating a tool selection, assembly, disassembly and supply/recovery schedule in accordance with machining data and machining order data given from the outside to a control device; The schedule changing means appropriately changes the tool supply schedule in response to a change in the machining operation of the machine tool.

[Embodiments of the invention]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an automatic addition system in one embodiment of the present invention. A tool is composed of modular component parts divided into, for example, a cutting edge part, an intermediate part, a base part, etc., and a large number of these parts are prepared, each having a different size, shape, and function. The combinations of the parts are determined according to the processing content, and after being assembled according to the combinations, they are assembled into a machine tool and subjected to processing. Although the above assembly may be performed using a machine tool, all storage is done in the storage section, so that the machine tool can also be used in common.

The machine tool 1 is comprised of a machine tool main body 11 consisting of, for example, a machining center, and a numerical control section 12 that numerically controls the machine tool main body 11. On the other hand, tool supply equipment @
2 selects a desired part from among the tool storage section 21 and the module component parts of the tools stored in the tool storage section 21 to assemble the tool, disassembles the tool after use, and disassembles the tool. Tool assembly and disassembly section 2 returned to storage section 21
2, a tool transport section 23 that transports tools between the tool assembly and disassembly section 22 and the machine tool 1, and a tool supply control section 24 that controls each of these parts to supply tools to the machine tool 1. It consists of Among these, the tool storage section 21 stores not only module components of various tools but also completed integrated tools.

This system also includes a control device 3 that controls the machine tool 1 and the tool supply device 2, respectively, and a storage device 4 that stores various data necessary for control operations of the control W device 3.
It is equipped with Note that 5 is for example 1 in the control fi position 3.
This upper control device 5 supplies daily machining data and machining order data, and performs similar control on other machining systems.

Now, the control device 3 consists of, for example, a small computer,
As shown in FIG. 2, its main control functions include a machine tool control means 31, a tool supply schedule creation means 32,
The tool supply schedule changing means 33 is also provided. First, the machine tool control means 31 supplies machining data and machining order data supplied from the host control device 5 to the control section 12 of the machine tool 1 to cause the machine tool main body 11 to perform machining operations. On the other hand, the tool supply schedule creation means 32 creates a schedule for assembling, supplying, collecting, and disassembling tools according to the machining data and machining order data supplied from the host controller 5, and uses this schedule to supply the tools. This signal is applied to the tool supply control section 24 of the device 2 to cause the tool supply control section 24 to supply tools. In addition, the tool supply schedule changing means 33 receives machining content change instructions from an operation input section (not shown) and the machine tool 1
The machining operation information sent from the numerical control unit 12 is monitored, and when a change occurs in the machining operation, the waiting time of the machine tool 1 or the waiting time of the tool feeding device 2 is minimized according to this change. This changes the tool supply schedule.

Next, the operation of the device configured as described above is controlled by the control device 3.
This will be explained according to the control procedure. For example, when processing data and processing order data for the day are sent from the host controller 5 at the beginning of the day, the control unit [3 detects the arrival of data in step 3a as shown in FIG. In step 3b, the processing data and processing order data are respectively introduced, and in step 3C, these data are stored in the storage device [4] as a processing data file. Then, in step 3d, a tool supply schedule is created according to the machining data and machining order data. For example, if the processing content is drilling, the tools required for this drilling are assembled during the previous processing period, and then transported to machine tool 1 during the interval time before the start of drilling. , select the parts that make up the tool, and specify the assembly and supply timing. At this time, the selection of the parts to be used is made in consideration of tool storage location data and tool life data stored in advance in the storage device 4. After creating the daily parts supply schedule, the control device 3 stores this schedule in the storage device W14 in step 3e, and then stores the processing data and processing order data in the storage device 4 in step 3f.
At the same time, in step 3Q, the above parts supply schedule is sent to the parts supply control unit 24 of the parts supply device 2. The machine tool 1 then starts machining the workpiece.

Now, when the machining operation is started in this way, the control device 3 monitors changes in the machining operation in steps 3h to 3 for each machining process. That is, first step 3h
In step 31, it is determined whether a machining content change instruction has been input from the operation input section, and then in step 31, it is determined whether the machining time has been shortened based on the machining operation information sent from the numerical control section 12 of the machine tool 1. do. Then, Fig. 3(b)
As shown in FIG. 3, it is determined in step 3j whether or not the machining operation has been temporarily stopped in the machine tool 1, and further in step 3 it is determined whether or not the machining time has been extended. If all of these judgments are judged as "NO", that is, if it is judged that there is no change in the machining operation,
The control unit M3 moves to step 3° C. and determines whether or not all machining steps for one day have been completed, and repeats the monitoring of changes in the machining operation from steps 3h to 3k described above until they are completed.

By the way, for example, if another machining system is down and the workpiece is brought in as an interruption, and an instruction to change the machining content is input accordingly, the control unit @3 detects this in step 3h and changes the workpiece to the third machining system. Step 3m in figure (b)
In step 3m, the tool supply schedule is changed.

In other words, if the machining content is changed, the tool must be replaced accordingly, so if a new tool is assembled and then supplied to the machine tool 1 according to the normal schedule, the waiting time of the machine tool 1 will be longer. Therefore, in order to minimize this waiting time, the schedule is changed so that the assembled integrated tool is transported without assembling the tool. In addition, even if machining ends earlier than the machining time predicted when creating the schedule, it will take longer to assemble the tools according to the schedule and then supply them. The schedule is changed so that the tool is selected and transported to machine tool 1.

Then, these changed schedules are transferred to step 3n.
The information is transmitted to the tool supply control section 24 of the tool supply device 12. Then, the tool will be immediately supplied to the machine tool 1, and the machine tool 1 can start machining quickly.

On the other hand, for example, if the machining operation is temporarily stopped due to a problem with the machine tool 1, the control device 3 moves from step 3j to step 3o, and here, depending on the type of trouble in the machine tool 1, etc., the waiting time is longer than a certain period of time. If there is, move to step 3p and change the schedule to, for example, assemble the tools to be used in the next machining or dismantle the tools that have been stored in the same state after collection. .

In addition, even if the actual machining time is longer than the predicted machining time when creating the schedule, the schedule is changed so that desired operations related to tool supply, such as tool assembly and disassembly, can be performed during the resulting waiting time. do. This changed schedule is then transmitted to the control unit 24 of the tool supply bag @2 in step 3q. As a result, the waiting time on the tool supply device 2 side caused by a change in the machining operation of the machine tool 1 can be effectively utilized to perform the opening operation related to the tool supply operation.

In this way, according to this embodiment, the tool supply schedule can be changed to the machine according to changes in machining operation, so the waiting time of the machine tool 1 can be minimized, and as a result, the machine tool The operating efficiency of the system can be increased. In addition, even if there is a standby time in the tool supply bag f12 due to trouble on the machine tool 1 side, this standby time can be used to perform operations such as assembling and disassembling tools, supplying and collecting tools, etc. Operational efficiency can be increased.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. For example, in the above embodiment, completed tools are supplied in order to shorten the waiting time of the machine tool, but not only completed tools but also semi-finished tools are stored, and depending on the interval time, these half-finished tools may be supplied. It is also possible to assemble and supply the assembly using a completed tool. In this case, the semi-finished tool may be assembled using the standby time of the tool supply device 2. In addition, the contents of the operations performed during the standby time of the tool supply bag M2, their priorities, the control procedures and control contents of the control a position, etc. can be modified in various ways without departing from the gist of the present invention.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, the control device includes a tool supply schedule creation means for creating a tool selection, assembly, disassembly and supply/recovery schedule according to machining data and machining order data given from the outside; By providing a schedule changing means, when a change occurs in the machining operation of the machine tool, the tool supply schedule is appropriately changed according to the change, so that the schedule changing means changes the tool supply schedule appropriately according to the change in the machining operation of the machine tool. A tool feeding device that can perform various operations related to optimal tool feeding, thereby shortening the operating time of the machine tool, and making effective use of the standby time of the tool feeding device, thereby improving the operating rate. An automatic adjustment system can be provided.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The figures are for explaining the control system in one sample of sake of the present invention. Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the system, Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the control function of the control device, and Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing the control function of the control device. Figures (a> and (b) are flowcharts showing the control procedure and control contents of the control device. 1... machine tool, 11... machine tool body, 2...
Tool supply device, 21... Tool storage section, 22... Tool assembly/disassembly section, 23... Tool transport section, 24... Tool supply control section, 3... Control device, 31... Machining 81 Machine control means, 32... Tool supply schedule creation means, 3
3... Tool supply schedule changing means, 4... Storage device, 5... The above-mentioned control device. Applicant's representative Patent attorney Takehiko Suzue Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 (b)

Claims (1)

[Claims] A numerically controlled machine tool, a tool supply device having a storage section, an assembly and disassembly section, and a transport section for module component parts of divided tools, and for assembling and disassembling tools and supplying and collecting tools to the machine tool; In an automatic machining system comprising a control device that provides control information to a machine tool and a tool feeding device to perform predetermined machining operations and tool feeding operations, the control device receives machining data given from the outside. and a tool supply schedule creation means for creating a schedule for tool selection, assembly, disassembly and supply/recovery according to the machining order data, and when there is a change in the machining operation of the machine tool, the tool supply schedule is adjusted according to the change. An automatic machining system equipped with a tool supply device, characterized in that it is provided with a schedule change means for appropriately changing the schedule.