JP2002132321A - System and method for maintaining machine tool - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system and a method for machine-tool maintenance which enable administrators of machine tools to easily unify and use the machine tools without being aware of their makers, machine types, etc. SOLUTION: A monitor device 20 sends sensor information obtained from an NC machine tool 50 to a network server 40 at arbitrary intervals and also sends emergency alarm information to the network server 40 once obtaining it from the NC machine tool 50. The network server 40 notifies the NC machine tool administrators of the operation states of the NC machine tools 50 (the value of some sensor exceeds a sensor threshold or the emergency alarm information is present) by performing notifying operations (notifying method) defined as class objects by NC machine tools 50 by using the sent sensor information and emergency alarm information, i.e., according to instances generated from the class objects.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a maintenance system and a maintenance method for a machine tool such as an NC (Numeric Control) machine tool for machining a part by numerical control.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An NC machine tool reads a machining program and operates a servomotor or a sensor to change the position of a machining tool (tool) and control machining contents at high speed. Recently, NC devices using personal computers (personal computers) have also become widespread.
Area Network), a gateway device using a personal computer and an Internet service provider (ISP:
There is also a maintenance system that runs via the Internet Service Provider).

[0003]

The NC machine tool is a facility that plays a vital role in the processing and manufacturing industry.
It is not unusual for a four-hour, 365-day operation.
For this reason, preventive maintenance to prevent troubles of the NC machine tool, such as replacement of consumable parts before an abnormality occurs in consideration of the operation time of the NC machine tool,
Remote maintenance is required for quick recovery in the event of trouble. However, expensive dedicated gateway equipment is often required, and when there are NC machine tools of multiple manufacturers, There is a problem that the administrator of the NC machine tool needs double and triple additional investment due to the difference in the maintenance system of the above, and it has not yet been widely used.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and enables a machine tool manager to easily and inexpensively use a machine tool regardless of the manufacturer and model of the machine tool. An object of the present invention is to provide a maintenance system and a maintenance method for a machine.

[0005]

A maintenance system for a machine tool according to the present invention is capable of data communication with the machine tool, acquires sensor information from various sensors of the machine tool, and is connected to a network. A monitoring device, and a network server connected to the network and capable of performing data communication with the monitoring device.
The acquired sensor information is transmitted to the network server at arbitrary intervals, and the network server executes a method defined as a class object based on object-oriented programming for each machine tool using the transmitted sensor information, It is characterized in that a state of the machine tool is notified to a manager of the machine tool.

A method of maintaining a machine tool according to the present invention is capable of performing data communication with a machine tool, acquiring sensor information from various sensors of the machine tool, and monitoring a device connected to a network. A network server connected to the network and capable of data communication with the monitoring device, the monitoring device transmits the acquired sensor information to the network server at arbitrary intervals, and the network server transmits the transmitted sensor information. The method is characterized in that a method defined as a class object based on object-oriented programming is executed for each machine tool using information, and a state of the machine tool is notified to an administrator of the machine tool.

In the maintenance system and the maintenance method for a machine tool according to the present invention, the monitoring device transmits the acquired sensor information to the network server at an arbitrary interval, and the network server uses the transmitted sensor information to perform the machining. Executes a method defined as a class object based on object-oriented programming for each machine, and notifies the machine tool administrator of the machine tool operating status. The state of the machine tool can be monitored centrally without depending on the machine tool, and the manager of the machine tool can perform the maintenance work of the machine tool easily and at low cost.

In the maintenance system for a machine tool according to the present invention, the monitoring device further acquires, from the machine tool, abnormality information indicating that the machine tool is in an abnormal state, and transmits the acquired abnormality information to the network server. Using the transmitted abnormal information, the network server executes a method defined as a class object based on object-oriented programming for each machine tool, and notifies a machine tool administrator of the state of the machine tool. Is preferred.

Further, in the machine tool maintenance method according to the present invention, the monitoring device further acquires abnormality information indicating that the machine tool is in an abnormal state from the machine tool, and transmits the acquired abnormality information to the network server. The network server executes the method defined as a class object based on object-oriented programming for each machine tool using the transmitted abnormality information, and notifies the machine tool administrator of the machine tool status. Is preferred.

In such a configuration, the monitoring device further acquires abnormality information indicating that the machine tool is in an abnormal state from the machine tool and transmits the acquired abnormality information to the network server. Using the transmitted abnormality information, a method defined as a class object based on object-oriented programming is executed for each machine tool, and a machine tool state is notified to a machine tool manager. In this way, the abnormal state of the machine tool can be further monitored centrally without depending on the machine tool maker and the machine tool type, and the machine tool manager can perform the maintenance work of the machine tool simply and at low cost. .

[0011] The maintenance system for a machine tool according to the present invention comprises:
Data communication is possible with the machine tool, and the abnormality information indicating that the machine tool is in an abnormal state is acquired, and data communication between the monitoring device connected to the network and the monitoring device connected to the network is performed. A monitoring server transmits the acquired abnormality information to the network server, and the network server uses the transmitted abnormality information to perform object-oriented programming for each machine tool. The method is characterized in that a method defined as a class object is executed to notify a machine tool manager of a machine tool state.

Further, according to the method for maintaining a machine tool according to the present invention, data communication is possible with the machine tool to obtain abnormality information indicating that the machine tool is in an abnormal state, and a monitoring method connected to a network is provided. Using the device and a network server connected to the network and capable of data communication with the monitoring device, the monitoring device transmits the acquired abnormality information to the network server, and the network server
Using the transmitted abnormality information, execute a method defined as a class object based on object-oriented programming for each machine tool, and notify the machine tool administrator of the machine tool status. I have.

In the maintenance system and the maintenance method for a machine tool according to the present invention, the monitoring device acquires abnormality information indicating that the machine tool is in an abnormal state from the machine tool, and transmits the acquired abnormality information to the network server. The network server executes the method defined as a class object based on object-oriented programming for each machine tool using the transmitted abnormality information, and notifies the machine tool administrator of the machine tool status. Therefore, the network server can monitor the abnormal state of the machine tool centrally without depending on the machine tool maker and machine tool type, and the machine tool manager can perform the maintenance work of the machine tool easily and at low cost. It can be carried out.

In the machine tool maintenance system according to the present invention, it is preferable that the class object is defined by a machine tool object definition program created in JAVA (registered trademark) language as object-oriented programming. With this configuration, a class object can be easily defined. Further, by creating the machine tool object definition program in the JAVA language, the program size can be reduced.

In the maintenance system for a machine tool according to the present invention, the monitoring device includes a wireless communication unit.
The wireless communication means preferably performs data communication with the network server wirelessly. In the case of such a configuration, in existing facilities (factories), there is little facility construction for introducing the present system such as wiring of communication lines, and the present system can be introduced simply and at low cost.

In the maintenance system for a machine tool according to the present invention, the monitoring device includes a wired communication unit.
It is preferable that the wire communication means performs data communication with the network server by wire. With such a configuration, data communication can be appropriately performed between the monitoring device and the network server regardless of the state of radio waves or the like, and erroneous transmission of sensor information and / or abnormality information can be easily prevented. .

In the machine tool maintenance system according to the present invention, the monitoring device has a different unique device ID, and the sensor information from the machine tool includes the device ID.
It is preferable that the sensor information is transmitted to the network server, and the network server stores the sensor information transmitted from the monitoring device using the device ID as a search key in a database. With this configuration, the sensor information transmitted from the monitoring device can be appropriately managed for each monitoring device. Further, since the unique device ID of the monitoring device is used as the search key, the sensor information stored in the database of the network server can be read out appropriately and easily for each monitoring device.

In the machine tool maintenance system according to the present invention, the network server creates an instance of the class object, generates a unique instance ID for the class object, and
And the device ID are preferably stored in a database in pairs. When configured in this way, the device ID
By linking the class object with the class object, the class object can be appropriately mapped to a physical machine tool that actually exists.

Further, in the machine tool maintenance system according to the present invention, the network server searches the database for the instance ID based on the device ID, and detects the sensor information with respect to the threshold determined by the instance having the instance ID. Is greater than the threshold, it is preferable to notify the administrator of the machine tool that the sensor information exceeds the threshold value according to the method. With this configuration, it is possible to easily and reliably notify the manager of the machine tool that the sensor information exceeds the threshold value.

The maintenance system for a machine tool according to the present invention further includes an information processing device on the manager side connected to the network, wherein the information processing device on the manager side is based on a state monitoring program. It is preferable that the sensor information stored in the database can be browsed.
In such a configuration, the information processing device on the administrator side can easily browse the sensor information of the machine tool stored in the database of the network server.

Further, in the machine tool maintenance system according to the present invention, the monitoring device has a unique device ID which differs for each monitoring device, and assigns the device ID to the abnormality information from the machine tool to the network server. Preferably, the network server stores the abnormality information transmitted from the monitoring device using the device ID as a search key in a database. With such a configuration, the abnormality information transmitted from the monitoring device can be appropriately managed for each monitoring device. Also, the unique device I of the monitoring device
Since D is used as the search key, the abnormality information stored in the database of the network server can be read out appropriately and easily for each monitoring device.

In the maintenance system for a machine tool according to the present invention, the network server searches the database for an instance ID based on the device ID, and when there is abnormal information determined by the instance having the instance ID, It is preferable to notify the administrator of the machine tool that the abnormal information exists according to the method. With this configuration, it is possible to simply and reliably notify the administrator of the machine tool that abnormal information exists.

Further, in the machine tool maintenance system according to the present invention, the information processing device on the manager side further connected to the network, wherein the information processing device on the manager side is based on a state monitoring program. It is preferable that the abnormality information stored in the database can be browsed. In such a configuration, the information processing apparatus on the administrator side can easily browse the abnormality information of the machine tool stored in the database of the network server.

[0024]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of a machine tool maintenance system and a maintenance method according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. In the description of the drawings, the same or corresponding elements will be denoted by the same reference characters, without redundant description. In the present embodiment, the present invention
An example applied to a maintenance system and a maintenance method for a C (Numeric Control) machine tool is shown.

First, the configuration of the machine tool maintenance system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the block diagram shown in FIG. The maintenance system 1 for this machine tool
C Machine tool manager information processing device (client system) 10, monitoring device 20, and network server 4
0 and so on. These client systems 1
0, the monitoring device 20, and the network server 40 are connected via a network line N (for example, an IP network line or the like). A mobile phone 60 owned by the NC machine tool administrator is connected to the network line N via a wireless transmission line R1.

The monitoring device 20 includes a plurality of NC machine tools 5
0 is connected. Each of the NC machine tools 50 includes a tool unit 51 including a plurality of tools such as a drill or a cutting tool, a drive unit 53 including a servomotor for operating various tools included in the tool unit 51, and various units of the NC machine tool 50. And an NC (Numeric Control) control unit 57 for controlling the operation of the drive unit 53 (tool unit 51) based on a predetermined machining program. The sensor unit 55 includes an oil temperature sensor, a water temperature sensor, a gas pressure sensor, a cooling water conductivity sensor, a pulse generator for detecting rotation of a servomotor, a breakage detection sensor for a tool (byte) included in the tool unit 51, and the like. Includes various sensors, oil temperature, water temperature, gas pressure,
Sensor information indicating values such as the cooling water conductivity is sent to the NC control unit 57. The NC control unit 57 determines whether or not the operation of the NC machine tool 50 has an abnormality, for example, whether or not the NC machine tool 50 has stopped abnormally, based on the sensor information sent from the sensor unit 55. Issue emergency alarm information (abnormal information).

The client system 10 includes an input unit 11
, An image display unit 13 and an arithmetic processing unit 15. The input unit 11 is connected to the arithmetic processing unit 15,
A signal or the like for causing the arithmetic processing unit 15 to execute various processes can be input. As the input unit 11, for example, a mouse or a keyboard is used.
The image display unit 13 is connected to the arithmetic processing unit 15,
Image information obtained by various processes in the arithmetic processing unit 15 and image information provided via the network N can be displayed on a display screen. As the image display unit 13, for example, a liquid crystal display or the like is used.

The arithmetic processing unit 15 is connectable to the network server 40 via the network line N, and executes various processes based on a signal input by the input unit 11, a signal sent from the network server 40, and the like. And a program control unit, a program storage unit, and the like (both not shown). The program storage unit stores an OS program for managing various programs and data, a browser program for connecting to an Internet line, an access button display program for displaying various access buttons on the image display unit 13, and the like. The program control unit can read and execute each of these programs.

As shown in FIG. 2, the monitoring device 20 includes a digital radio communication unit 21 as radio communication means.
And an input / output control unit 22.
0 (NC control unit 57), and obtains the above-described sensor information and emergency alarm information. In addition, the monitoring device 20 transmits the acquired sensor information and emergency alarm information to the network server 40. A device ID unique to the monitoring device 20 is assigned to the monitoring device 20. The digital wireless communication unit 21 includes a wireless transmission path R2
Is connected to the network line N via the. The monitoring device 20 connected to the network server 40
The number is not limited to one, but may be plural.

Generally, there are a circuit switching system and a packet switching system as communication systems. The circuit switching method is charged based on the time from when an end-to-end connection is completed to when it is disconnected, and the packet switching method is charged not for the time but for the amount of packets actually communicated. In the present embodiment, the digital wireless communication unit 21 performs wireless communication of a packet switching method in order to transmit a relatively small amount of packets to the network server 40 for 24 hours 365 days.

The input / output control unit 22 has up to 16 N
A connector unit 23 for connecting the C machine tool 50, a control unit 24 including a CPU for performing various processes, and a program ROM for storing control programs and program data
Unit 25, RAM unit 26 for temporarily holding input signals (sensor information and emergency alarm information) from NC control unit 57 in NC machine tool 50, and set value memory for holding set values such as device IDs Unit 27, watchdog timer unit 28 for diagnosing system operation, etc., control unit 2
The selector 29 switches input signals from the 16 connectors 23 in accordance with the selector instruction signal from the selector 4, the input / output interface 30 existing between the selector 29 and the controller 24, and the connection with the digital wireless communication unit 21. And a communication control unit 37 for performing the communication. The above-described set value memory unit 27 is constituted by, for example, a nonvolatile memory.

The connector unit 23 of the input / output control unit 22
It is connected to the NC control unit 57 of the C machine tool 50 by a cable or the like. Generally, the NC machine tool 50 has a serial interface such as RS232C or an Ethernet interface for connecting external devices. Therefore, the input / output control unit 22 is connected to the NC machine tool 5
It is necessary to select an interface that matches 0. In the present embodiment, the input / output interface unit 3
Numeral 0 is configured to be selectable according to the connection interface and data transfer procedure on the NC machine tool 50 side.
That is, the input / output interface unit 30
A serial input / output unit 31 corresponding to a serial interface represented by
system interface 32), a USB input / output unit 33 corresponding to a USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface, a parallel input / output unit 34 corresponding to a printer interface, etc., and an Ethernet corresponding to Ethernet (registered trademark). Input / output unit 3
5, and A / D conversion unit 36 corresponding to analog input / output
Etc.

The interval at which sensor information is transmitted to the network server 40 is stored in the set value memory unit 27.
The emergency alarm information indicating that the NC machine tool 50 has stopped abnormally does not depend on a fixed transmission interval, and the NC machine tool 5
The monitoring device 20 transmits to the network server 40 at the time when the monitoring device 20 is transmitted from the NC control unit 57 of “0”. The monitoring device 20 adds a device ID to the sensor information and the emergency alarm, and transmits the device information and the emergency alarm to the network server 40.

In the present embodiment, the input / output control unit 22
Has the connector section 23 and the selector section 29, so that a maximum of 16 NC machine tools 50 can be connected to one input / output control section 22, so that the management becomes very simple and the cost is reduced. be able to.

Referring back to FIG. 1, the network server 40 has a program storage unit 41, a first database 43, a second database 45, and a third database 47. The program storage unit 41 is constituted by, for example, a magnetic disk or the like, and stores a machine tool object definition program, a device ID registration program, and a state monitoring program.

These work object definition program, device ID registration program, and state monitoring program are created using the JAVA language. Thus, the machine tool object definition program and the device ID
By configuring and executing the registration program and the status monitoring program with component modules created in the JAVA language, various functions can be divided as component modules, and the size of the program operating on the client system 10 can be reduced. be able to. Also, machine tool object definition program,
By creating the device ID registration program and the status monitoring program in the JAVA language, if there is a Java Virtual Machine (JVM) environment, it does not depend on the operating system or specific hardware.

The machine tool object definition program, device ID registration program, and status monitoring program are supplied from the network server 40 (program storage unit 41) to the client system 10 via the network line N. Arithmetic processing unit 1 of client system 10
5 executes a machine tool object definition program, a device ID registration program, and a state monitoring program supplied from the network server 40. Instead of supplying each program stored in the program storage unit 41 of the network server 40 to the client system 10, each program may be installed in advance on a magnetic disk or the like of the client system 10.
By installing each program on a magnetic disk or the like of the client system 10 in advance, communication for supplying each program becomes unnecessary, and communication costs can be reduced.

The machine tool object definition program is an object-oriented programming created in the JAVA language as described above, and defines a class object for each of a plurality of NC machine tools 50, and stores the class object in the first database 43 of the network server 40. Is to be stored in This class object includes the name of the NC machine tool 50, sensor information, thresholds for values output by various sensors, a notification method when the sensor information exceeds the threshold, the type of emergency alarm information, and A notification method for the case is defined. The class object is provided with a unique object ID in the network server 40 and stored in the first database 43. The first database 43, as shown in FIG.
The object ID and the class object corresponding to the object ID can be stored as a pair.

Here, the form of notification to the administrator of the NC machine tool includes a notification by voice call to the mobile phone 60,
A notification by a screen display, a notification by Internet mail, a notification by a pager (registered trademark), or the like to the status monitoring program operating on the client system 10 can be considered. The notification method in the present embodiment is described in the above-described form (notification subsystem). ) Means startup procedure.
For example, when notification by Internet mail is selected, a start command of a mail transmission program represented by sendmail is defined in the class object.

The device ID registration program is for linking the unique device ID held in the setting value memory unit 27 of the monitoring device 20 with the class object, whereby the physical object in which the class object actually exists Of the NC machine tool 50.

The class object stored in the first database 43 is instantiated in the network server 40, and is developed in a memory on the network server 40 so as to be executable. In the network server 40, a unique instance ID is assigned to the instantiated class object. This instance ID is combined with the device ID corresponding to the instantiated class object to form a second
Stored in the database 45. Second database 45
Is configured to be able to store an instance ID and a device ID as a pair, as shown in FIG.

The status monitoring program is for monitoring sensor information and emergency alarm information transmitted from the monitoring device 20 and stored in the network server 40.
The state monitoring program can display a list of sensor information on the image display unit 13 of the client system 10, and is configured to display a transition from the past to the present time of each sensor as a table list or a graph. The state monitoring program is also configured so that the NC machine tool 50 to be monitored can be switched by designating a device ID.

The sensor information transmitted from the monitoring device 20 is stored as received data in the third database 47 of the network server 40, and the sensor information exceeding the threshold defined by the machine tool object definition program is described above. The instantiated class object detects this, and activates a notification subsystem according to a notification method defined in advance, that is, a notification operation (method). The emergency alarm information transmitted from the monitoring device 20 is stored in the third database 47 of the network server 40. The emergency alarm information defined by the machine tool object definition program is based on the above-described instantiated class object. And activates a notification subsystem according to a predefined notification method, that is, a notification operation (method). The notification subsystem activates a mail program to generate a mail to the NC machine tool manager, and communicates with the status monitoring program to display a warning on the client system 10. The third database 47, as shown in FIG.
D, reception date and time, and reception data (sensor information, emergency alarm information) can be stored as a pair.

The operation of the machine tool maintenance system 1 (machine tool maintenance method) according to this embodiment will now be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. First, a series of operations of class object definition will be described with reference to FIG. The definition of the class object is
This is realized by the above-described machine tool object definition program.

The NC machine tool manager connects to the network server 40 from the client system 10 using the HTTP protocol by the web browser (S10).
1). The network server 40 sends the JA to the network server 40 client system 10 based on the program distribution request from the client system 10.
The machine tool object definition program created as a VA applet is distributed (S102), and the client machine 10 executes the machine tool object definition program on the JAVA virtual machine (S103).

On the display screen of the machine tool object definition program executed on the JAVA virtual machine displayed on the image display unit 13 of the client system 10, the NC machine tool manager displays the name, sensor information, and sensor related to the NC machine tool 50. The threshold value of the sensor output, the activation method of the notification subsystem that notifies when the sensor threshold value is exceeded, the emergency alarm information, the notification subsystem that notifies when the emergency alarm information occurs The activation method is input as machine tool definition information regarding the NC machine tool 50 (S104).

When the input of the machine tool definition information is completed, a request for storing a class object is issued from the client system 10 (S105). Based on the request for storing the class object, the network server 40 causes the network server 40 to input the machine tool input in the client system 10. The device definition information is fetched and stored in the temporary area (S106). When the machine tool definition information is stored, the network server 40 performs a logic check on the input value with respect to the machine tool definition information (S107). If the input value is normal (S107
, "Yes"), the network server 40 generates a class object from the temporarily stored machine tool definition information (S108). If the input value is not normal (S
("No" at 107), the network server 40 notifies the client system 10 that the input value is not normal, and upon receiving this notification, the NC machine tool manager inputs again as machine tool definition information.

When the class object is generated, the network server 40 generates a unique object ID that does not overlap with the class object. Thereafter, the network server 40 sets the class object body and the object ID as a pair and stores
3 (S109).

Next, a series of operations for instance definition will be described with reference to FIG. The instance definition is realized by the device ID registration program described above.

First, the client system 10 connects to the network server 40 using the HTTP protocol by a web browser (S201). The network server 40, based on a program distribution request from the client system 10, sends a device I created as a JAVA applet to the client system 10.
The D registration program is distributed (S202), and the client system 10 executes the device ID registration program on the JAVA virtual machine (S203).

On the display screen of the device ID registration program started on the JAVA virtual machine displayed on the image display unit 13 of the client system 10, the NC machine tool administrator sets the device ID unique to each monitoring device 20. The object ID of the class object defining the NC machine tool 50 connected to the monitoring device 20 is input as device definition information (S204).

When the input of the device definition information is completed, a request for storing the device definition information is issued from the client system 10 (S205). Based on the request for storing the device definition information, the network server 40 inputs the request in the client system 10. The device definition information is fetched and stored (S206). When the device definition information is stored, the network server 40 searches the first database 43 using the object ID input as the device definition information as a search key,
The class object corresponding to D is extracted (S20).
7).

The network server 40 instantiates the extracted class object, expands the class object in a memory unit included in the network server 40, and sets it to an executable state (S208). When instantiating a class object, the network server 40 creates and assigns a unique instance ID that does not overlap in the network server 40 to the executable class object. After that, the network server 40 stores the generated instance ID and the device ID input as the device definition information as a pair in the second database 45 (S209).

Next, an operation of acquiring information of the NC machine tool 50 in the machine tool maintenance system 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

First, when the power is turned on to the NC machine tool 50 and the NC control section 57 of the NC machine tool 50 is started (S)
301), the control unit 24 of the input / output control unit 22 detects that the NC machine tool 50 has been started via the input / output interface unit 30. The control unit 24 activates the communication control unit 37 to establish a data link to the network server 40. Then, the device ID of the monitoring device 20 stored in the setting value memory unit 27 is read in advance, a connection request packet to which the device ID is added is created, and a connection request is made to the network server 40 (S302). The network server 40 checks the contents of the connection request from the monitoring device 20 and the device ID, and permits the connection if the connection request is correct (S303).

The NC machine tool 50 transmits the sensor information to the monitoring device 20 at an arbitrary interval, and transmits the emergency alarm information to the monitoring device 20 asynchronously when it occurs (S304). The sensor information and the emergency alarm information transmitted by the NC machine tool 50 are taken into the control unit 24 via the input / output interface unit 30 by the cyclic monitoring operation of the selector unit 29 of the input / output control unit 22. The fetched information is temporarily stored in the RAM unit 26, and the communication control unit 3 adds the device ID held in the setting value memory unit 27 together with a necessary header as transmission data as transmission data.
7. The data is transmitted to the network server 40 via the digital wireless communication unit 21 (S305).

The network server 40 includes the monitoring device 20
, The second database 45 is searched using the device ID added to the received data as a search key, and an instance ID corresponding to the NC machine tool 50 connected to the monitoring device 20 is obtained. (S
306). In the network server 40, when the instance ID corresponding to the NC machine tool 50 connected to the monitoring device 20 is acquired, the acquired instance I
The received data from the monitoring device 20 is passed to the instance having D, and this instance stores the received data, device ID, reception date and time in the third database 47 (S307). Here, the instance is an instance in which the class object extracted from the first database 43 in S208 in FIG. 7 is instantiated, and is developed into a memory unit included in the network server 40 and becomes executable. It is a thing.

In the network server 40, sensor information, sensor thresholds relating to values output from various sensors, a method of starting a notification subsystem for notifying when the sensor thresholds are exceeded, emergency alarm information, emergency alarm A class object is generated by a machine tool object definition program from a machine tool definition information including a method of starting a notification subsystem for notifying when information is generated, and is stored in the first database 43. The above-mentioned instance (instantiated class object) checks whether the value included in the sensor information exceeds the sensor threshold (S308). The subsystem is started (S309). Further, the above-mentioned instance (instantiated class object) checks whether emergency alarm information exists (S
310), if present, activates a predefined notification subsystem (S311). If the value included in the sensor information does not exceed the sensor threshold, and
If the emergency alarm information does not exist, the notification subsystem is not activated (S312).

Next, an operation of monitoring the state of the NC machine tool 50 in the machine tool maintenance system 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The status monitoring of the NC machine tool 50 is realized by the status monitoring program described above.

First, the client system 10 connects to the network server 40 using the HTTP protocol by a web browser (S401). The network server 40 distributes a status monitoring program created as a JAVA applet to the client system 10 based on the program distribution request from the client system 10 (S402), and monitors the status on the JAVA virtual machine in the client system 10. The program is executed (S403).

On the display screen of the status monitoring program started on the JAVA virtual machine displayed on the image display unit 13 of the client system 10, the NC machine tool administrator is connected to the NC machine tool 50 desired to be monitored. The device ID of the monitoring device 20 is input (S40).
4). The client system 10 transmits the input device ID to the network server 40 according to the status monitoring program (S405).

The network server 40 uses the device ID sent from the client system 10 in accordance with the state monitoring program as a search key and retrieves the third database 4
7, and retrieves reception data including sensor information and emergency alarm information and the reception date and time (S406).
These are transmitted to the client system 10 (S40)
7). Then, the network server 40 interrupts the process for a certain period of time (S408), returns to step S6 again, repeats the operation of extracting the reception data and the reception date and time from the third database 47 and transmitting them to the client system 10. .

The client system 10 displays the reception data and the reception date / time sent from the network server 40 on the image display unit 13 according to the status monitoring program (S409).

As described above, in the machine tool maintenance system 1 (machine tool maintenance method) according to the present embodiment, the monitoring device 20 transmits the sensor information acquired from the NC machine tool 50 to the network server 40 at arbitrary intervals. To the network server 40, acquire emergency alarm information indicating that the NC machine tool 50 is in an abnormal state from the NC machine tool 50, and transmit the acquired information to the network server 40.
Executes a notification operation (notification method) defined as a class object for each NC machine tool 50 using the transmitted sensor information and emergency alarm information, that is, according to an instance generated from the class object, The operating state of the machine tool 50 (a state in which the value of any sensor exceeds the sensor threshold value or a state in which emergency alarm information exists) is indicated by NC
Since the notification is sent to the machine tool manager, the network server 40 unifies the NC machine tool 50 independently of the manufacturer of the NC machine tool 50 and the type of the NC machine tool 50.
Can be monitored, and the NC machine tool administrator
Maintenance work of the C machine tool 50 can be performed easily and at low cost.

Further, in the machine tool maintenance system 1 according to the present embodiment, the monitoring device 20 uses the unique device I.
D, and adds a device ID to the sensor information and the emergency alarm information from the NC machine tool 50 and transmits them to the network server 40.
Since the sensor information and the emergency alarm information transmitted from the monitoring device 20 are stored in the third database 47 using the device ID as a search key, the sensor information and the emergency alarm information transmitted from the monitoring device 20 can be appropriately stored for each monitoring device 20. Can be managed. Further, since the unique device ID of the monitoring device 20 is used as a search key, the sensor information and the emergency alarm information stored in the third database 47 can be read out appropriately and easily for each monitoring device 20.

In the machine tool maintenance system 1 according to the present embodiment, the network server 40 creates an instance of a class object, generates an instance ID unique to the class object, and Since the device ID and the pair are stored in the second database 45, the device ID and the class object are linked, and the class object can be appropriately mapped to the physical NC machine tool 50 actually existing. .

In the machine tool maintenance system 1 according to this embodiment, the network server 40 uses the instance ID from the database based on the device ID.
When the sensor information exceeds the threshold determined by the instance having the instance ID, the notification subsystem is started, and the sensor information exceeds the threshold for the NC machine tool administrator. Therefore, it is possible to easily and reliably notify the NC machine tool administrator that the sensor information exceeds the threshold value.

In the machine tool maintenance system 1 according to the present embodiment, the network server 40 uses the instance ID from the database based on the device ID.
When the emergency alarm information determined by the instance having the instance ID exists, the notification subsystem is started to notify the NC machine tool administrator that the emergency alarm information exists. It is possible to simply and reliably notify the NC machine tool manager that emergency alarm information exists.

The machine tool maintenance system 1 according to the present embodiment further includes a client system 10 connected to a network. Since the sensor information and the emergency alarm information stored in the database 47 can be browsed, the client system 1
At 0, the sensor information and the emergency alarm information of the machine tool stored in the third database 47 can be easily browsed.

In the machine tool maintenance system 1 according to the present embodiment, the monitoring device 20 includes a digital radio communication unit 21.
Performs data communication with the network server 40 wirelessly, so that the existing equipment (factory) requires less equipment work for introducing the maintenance system, such as wiring of communication lines, and the maintenance system can be implemented simply and at low cost. Can be introduced.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but may be applied to machine tools other than NC machine tools as long as sensor information and / or emergency alarm information (abnormal information) can be output. The present invention can be applied.

Further, in this embodiment, sensor information and emergency alarm information are acquired, and it is possible to deal with the case where the value included in the sensor information exceeds the sensor threshold value or when emergency alarm information exists. The notification subsystem is configured to be activated, but the invention is not limited to this. Only the sensor information is acquired, and the notification subsystem is acquired when the value included in the sensor information exceeds the sensor threshold. The system may be configured to be activated, or only the emergency alarm information may be acquired and the notification subsystem activated when the emergency alarm information exists.

In the present embodiment, the network server 40 is configured to have the first to third databases 47, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, in one database, object I
A part that can store D and a class object as a pair, a part that can store an instance ID and a device ID as a pair, and a part that can store a device ID, a reception date and time, and reception data as a pair. May be used.

In this embodiment, the monitoring device 2
0 includes a digital wireless communication unit 21 and is configured to perform data communication between the monitoring device 20 and the network server 40 wirelessly. However, the present invention is not limited to this. You may comprise so that data communication with the network server 40 may be performed.
In this case, the monitoring device 20 includes wired communication means for performing data communication by connecting the monitoring device 20 and the network server 40 (network line N) by wire, regardless of the state of radio waves and the like. Data communication can be appropriately performed between the monitoring device 20 and the network server 40, and erroneous transmission of sensor information and / or abnormality information can be easily prevented.

[0075]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, a machine tool manager can use the machine tool administrator in a unified and simple manner without depending on the manufacturer and model of the machine tool. A maintenance system and a maintenance method for a machine tool can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a machine tool maintenance system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an input / output control device included in the maintenance system for the machine tool according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a chart showing an example of a configuration of a first database included in the maintenance system for the machine tool according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a chart showing an example of the configuration of a second database included in the machine tool maintenance system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a chart showing an example of a configuration of a third database included in the maintenance system for the machine tool according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a series of operations for defining a class object in the operation of the machine tool maintenance system (machine tool maintenance method) according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a series of operations for instance definition in the operation of the machine tool maintenance system (machine tool maintenance method) according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an information acquisition operation of the NC machine tool in an operation (a machine tool maintenance method) of the machine tool maintenance system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a state monitoring operation of the NC machine tool in an operation (a machine tool maintenance method) of the machine tool maintenance system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Machine tool maintenance system, 10 ... Client system, 20 ... Monitoring device, 21 ... Digital wireless communication part,
22 input / output control unit, 24 control unit, 27 set value memory unit, 37 communication control unit, 40 network server
41: Program storage unit, 43: First database, 4
5 ... second database, 47 ... third database, 50
... machine tool, 51 ... tool unit, 53 ... drive unit, 55 ... sensor unit, 57 ... NC control unit, N ... network line, R2
... Wireless transmission path.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Nao Haga 846 Nishikubo Nishikubo, Chigasaki-shi, Kanagawa F-term (reference) 5H223 AA06 BB02 BB08 CC06 DD03 DD07 DD09 EE06 5H269 AB01 BB12 KK03 NN07 NN14 PP02 QC01 QC03 QD02

Claims (17)

[Claims] 1. A monitoring device connected to a network, capable of performing data communication with a machine tool, acquiring sensor information from various sensors of the machine tool, and connecting the monitoring device to the network. The monitoring device transmits the acquired sensor information to the network server at an arbitrary interval, and the network server transmits the transmitted sensor information to the network server. Using information, a method defined as a class object based on object-oriented programming is executed for each of the machine tools, and a state of the machine tool is notified to an administrator of the machine tool. Machine tool maintenance system. 2. The monitoring apparatus further acquires, from the machine tool, abnormality information indicating that the machine tool is in an abnormal state, and transmits the acquired abnormality information to a network server. Executing a method defined as a class object based on object-oriented programming for each of the machine tools by using the performed abnormality information, and notifying a state of the machine tool to a manager of the machine tool. Claim 1 characterized by the following:
The maintenance system for a machine tool according to item 1. 3. A monitoring device connected to a network, which acquires abnormality information indicating that the data communication is possible with the machine tool and the machine tool is in an abnormal state, and the monitoring device is connected to the network. A network server capable of performing data communication with the device, wherein the monitoring device transmits the acquired abnormality information to a network server, and the network server uses the transmitted abnormality information. Executing a method defined as a class object based on object-oriented programming for each of the machine tools, and notifying a manager of the machine tool of a state of the machine tool. Maintenance system. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the class object is defined by a machine tool object definition program created in JAVA language as the object-oriented programming. Machine tool maintenance system. 5. The monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring device includes a wireless communication unit, and the wireless communication unit performs the data communication with the network server wirelessly.
The maintenance system for a machine tool according to claim 3. 6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring device includes a wired communication unit, and the wired communication unit performs the data communication with the network server by a wire.
The maintenance system for a machine tool according to claim 3. 7. The monitoring device has a different unique device ID, adds the device ID to the sensor information from the machine tool, and transmits the sensor information to the network server. The machine tool maintenance system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor information transmitted from the monitoring device is stored in a database using an ID as a search key. 8. The network server creates an instance of the class object, generates a unique instance ID for the class object, and stores the instance ID and the device ID in a database in pairs. The maintenance system for a machine tool according to claim 7, wherein: 9. The network server searches the database for the instance ID based on the device ID, and when the sensor information exceeds a threshold determined by the instance having the instance ID. 9. The maintenance system for a machine tool according to claim 8, wherein, according to the method, a manager of the machine tool is notified that the sensor information exceeds the threshold value. 10. The information processing device on the administrator side connected to the network, wherein the information processing device on the administrator side stores the information stored in the database based on a state monitoring program. The machine tool maintenance system according to claim 7, wherein the sensor information can be browsed. 11. The monitoring device has a unique device ID that is different for each monitoring device, adds the device ID to the abnormality information from the machine tool, and transmits the abnormality information to the network server. 4. The machine tool maintenance system according to claim 2, wherein the server stores the abnormality information transmitted from the monitoring device in a database using the device ID as a search key. 5. 12. The network server creates an instance of the class object and generates a unique instance ID for the class object.
The maintenance system for a machine tool according to claim 11, wherein the instance ID and the device ID are stored in a database in pairs. 13. The network server searches the database for the instance ID based on the device ID, and, when the abnormality information determined by the instance having the instance ID exists, according to the method. 13. The maintenance system for a machine tool according to claim 12, wherein a manager of the machine tool is notified that the abnormality information exists. 14. An information processing device on the administrator side connected to the network, wherein the information processing device on the administrator side stores the information stored in the database based on a state monitoring program. The maintenance system for a machine tool according to claim 11, wherein the abnormality information can be browsed. 15. A monitoring device connected to a network, capable of performing data communication with a machine tool, acquiring sensor information from various sensors of the machine tool, and connecting the monitoring device to the network. The monitoring device transmits the obtained sensor information to the network server at an arbitrary interval, and the network server uses the transmitted sensor information. Executing a method defined as a class object based on object-oriented programming for each of the machine tools, and notifying a manager of the machine tool of a state of the machine tool. Maintenance method. 16. The monitoring device further acquires abnormality information indicating that the machine tool is in an abnormal state from the machine tool, transmits the acquired abnormality information to a network server, and the network server transmits Executing a method defined as a class object based on object-oriented programming for each of the machine tools by using the performed abnormality information to notify a state of the machine tool to an administrator of the machine tool. Claim 1 characterized by the following:
6. The maintenance method for a machine tool according to 5. 17. A monitoring device connected to a network, which acquires abnormal information indicating that the data communication is possible with the machine tool and indicates that the machine tool is in an abnormal state, and the monitor connected to the network. Using a network server capable of data communication with the device, the monitoring device transmits the acquired abnormality information to a network server, and the network server uses the transmitted abnormality information to A method for maintaining a machine tool, wherein a method defined as a class object based on object-oriented programming is executed for each machine tool, and a state of the machine tool is notified to an administrator of the machine tool.