JP2008036763A - Workpiece processing machine, workpiece processing system, and method therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a workpiece processing system which can save a space, reduce the machining cost of the workpiece, and facilitates preparation of a machining program. <P>SOLUTION: A set of two workpiece processing machines 1, 1' having three spindles 111, 112, 113 and a plurality of tool posts provided corresponding to at least the spindles are disposed so that the disposition of the spindles is axisymmetric relationship. A third spindle 113 of one side workpiece processing machine 1 positioned at the upstream side of the machining process among two workpiece processing machines 1, 1' composing the set and a third spindle 113' of the other workpiece processing machine 1' positioned at the downstream side are opposed on the same axis line. The workpiece is transferred from the third spindle 113 of the one side workpiece processing machine to the third spindle 113' of the other workpiece processing machine by moving the third spindle 113 of the one side workpiece processing machine 1 and the third spindle 113' of the other workpiece processing machine 1' in the direction approaching to each other. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a workpiece processing machine that processes a workpiece while exchanging workpieces between a plurality of spindles, a workpiece processing system including the plurality of workpiece processing machines, and a workpiece processing method using the workpiece processing system.

  When performing multi-step machining on a single workpiece, a workpiece processing machine such as a machine tool having a plurality of spindles and turrets is used, and workpieces are sequentially processed while transferring workpieces between spindles. Yes.

For example, the workpiece processing machine described in Patent Document 1 has two opposed spindle stocks 24 and 26 that are movable in the X direction, and is an unmachined gripped by the rotatable spindles 28 and 30 of the spindle stocks 24 and 26. The workpiece 46 is processed by tools 36 and 38 attached to turret tool rests 32 and 34 provided corresponding to the headstocks 24 and 26, respectively.
The two headstocks 24 and 26 are moved closer to each other by the movement of the headstocks 24 and 26 in the Z direction, and the work is transferred from one main shaft 28 to the other main shaft 30.

The raw work 46 is supplied directly from the work stocker 44 provided at one end on the bed 10 to the spindle 28. Further, the workpiece 52 is unloaded from the spindle 30 by a workpiece unloading device 50 provided at one end on the bed 10 so as to face the workpiece stocker 44.
German Patent Publication No. 4310038 (see drawing)

  However, the workpiece processing machine described in this document has a problem that the number of processing steps that can be performed on the workpiece is limited. Further, in order to receive the supply of the unmachined workpiece 46 from the workpiece stocker 44, the headstock 24 must move from the machining position at the other end of the bed 10 to the workpiece supply position at one end, during which the workpiece is machined. There is a problem that the system stops and causes a lot of wasted time. This problem is the same when a processed workpiece is transferred from the spindle 30 to the workpiece unloading device 50.

On the other hand, for processing workpieces that require multi-step processing, multiple workpiece processing machines are arranged side by side, and a workpiece transfer device such as a loader or robot is installed near the workpiece processing machine in correspondence with each workpiece processing machine. It is arranged that the workpiece is sequentially processed by the workpiece transfer device while the workpiece is transferred from the workpiece processing machine to the workpiece processing machine.
FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of such a workpiece machining system.
In the illustrated example, six NC lathes (work processing machines) 601 to 606 are arranged in parallel. Each NC lathe 601 to 606 is mounted with a rotatable main shaft 611 to 616 having a chuck for gripping the workpiece W and a plurality of tools T1 to T6, and is moved by the tools T1 to T6 by relative movement with the main shafts 611 to 616. The tool rests 621 to 626 for processing the workpiece W are provided.

  And the transfer of the workpiece | work W between adjacent NC lathes 601-606 is performed by workpiece | work conveyance apparatuses 701-707, such as a loader and a robot, installed outside the machine in the vicinity of the NC lathes 601-606. A workpiece transfer device 701 located at the left end in the figure is for taking out the workpiece W from the workpiece storage unit 8 such as a parts feeder or workpiece stocker, and delivering the workpiece W to the spindle 611 of the NC lathe 601 that performs machining first. is there. Further, the workpiece transfer device 707 located at the right end in the drawing receives the workpiece W from the spindle 616 of the NC lathe 606 that performs the last machining, and unloads the workpiece W that has been machined from the workpiece machining system in order to pass it to the next process. Is for.

  However, in the workpiece processing system as described above, a workpiece transfer device such as a loader or a robot must be provided for each workpiece processing machine, and a plurality of workpiece processing machines and workpiece transfer devices are installed. For this reason, there is a problem that a large space is required and the machining cost of the workpiece becomes high.

  If a plurality of multi-axis workpiece processing machines as described in the above-mentioned document 1 are arranged side by side, the number of workpiece processing machines to be arranged can be reduced even with the same processing man-hour. In the processing machine, a workpiece transfer device must be provided between the workpiece processing machine, and there are still problems in terms of space saving and cost reduction.

  Furthermore, as in the workpiece processing machine described in the above-mentioned document 1, an NC program is provided for a workpiece processing machine that has a plurality of spindles and a plurality of tool rests and processes workpieces while exchanging workpieces between the spindles. Depending on the number of spindles, there are multiple systems, and each system controls each spindle and the corresponding tool post. In this case, the NC program of each system is generally started at the same time and rewinded at the same time after the machining is completed.

In such a control method, a series of machining programs are created for each system, and in this machining program, in order to control from workpiece supply to machining and workpiece unloading, the workpiece machining machine is started first. When machining the workpiece is started, the machining movement is performed on the second and subsequent spindles. However, since there is no workpiece to be machined yet, there is a problem in that unnecessary power is consumed due to air cut. Such a problem is the same at the end of machining of the last workpiece.
Such a problem can be solved, for example, by creating a subprogram that counts the number of workpieces to be machined and outputs a command to wait for a predetermined spindle in order to prevent air cut according to the counted number. However, there is a problem that it is troublesome to create a machining program because a dedicated subprogram must be prepared separately from the original machining program.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a workpiece processing machine that can have a multi-axis and compact configuration, and that does not waste when processing workpieces, and a plurality of workpieces. An object of the present invention is to provide a workpiece machining system and a workpiece machining method that can save space and reduce the machining cost of a workpiece and can easily create a machining program in a workpiece machining system in which processing machines are arranged side by side.

  In order to solve the above problems, a workpiece processing machine according to the present invention has a plurality of spindles, and performs a plurality of processes on the workpiece while transferring workpieces between the spindles. A first spindle that receives a workpiece to be machined, and one or a plurality of tools for machining the workpiece gripped by the first spindle, are mounted, and the workpiece is machined by relative movement with respect to the first spindle. A turret, a third spindle arranged side by side so as to face the same direction as the first spindle, and one or a plurality of tools for processing the workpiece gripped by the third spindle, A third tool post for machining the workpiece by relative movement with the third spindle; and a position on the spindle axis of the first spindle and the spindle axis of the third spindle provided to face the first spindle. Can move forward and backward between positions on the line A second spindle that receives the workpiece from the first spindle and transfers the workpiece to the third spindle by moving forward and backward along the spindle axis of the first spindle or the spindle axis of the third spindle. A second tool post that mounts one or a plurality of tools for processing the workpiece gripped by the second spindle, and processes the workpiece by relative movement with the second spindle, and the first spindle Controlling the relative movement between the first spindle and the first tool post, the relative movement between the second spindle and the second tool post, and the relative movement between the third spindle and the third tool post. Enables machining of the workpiece gripped by the second or third spindle, and controls the relative movement between the first spindle and the second spindle and the relative movement between the second spindle and the third spindle. Receiving workpieces from the first spindle to the second spindle From passing and the second spindle configured to have a control device that enables the delivery of the work to the third main spindle.

According to this configuration, a workpiece whose first spindle is not machined is received from the workpiece supply device, and machining is performed by relative movement between the first spindle and the tool mounted on the first tool post. The workpiece that has been processed by the first spindle is transferred to the second spindle by the relative movement between the first spindle and the second spindle, and by the relative movement between the second spindle and the tool mounted on the second tool post. The workpiece is processed.
When the machining of the workpiece with the second spindle is completed, the second spindle moves in a direction crossing the spindle axis, moves to a position where the spindle axis of the second spindle coincides with the spindle axis of the third spindle, It moves relative to the third spindle on the same spindle axis, approaches the third spindle, and delivers the workpiece to the third spindle.
The workpiece transferred to the third spindle is processed by relative movement between the third spindle and the tool mounted on the third tool post.
The relative movement of these first spindle, first turret, second spindle, second turret, third spindle, and third turret is controlled by a control device.

  In this case, the third main shaft is provided so as to be movable back and forth at least in the direction of the main shaft axis, and moves forward and backward between a processing position for processing the workpiece and an unloading position for unloading the workpiece from the workpiece processing machine. It is good to do so.

As a more specific configuration of the workpiece processing machine of the present invention, a first spindle stock supporting the first spindle, a second spindle stock supporting the second spindle, and a third spindle stock supporting the third spindle Is provided in the same plane of the workpiece processing machine, and in this plane is provided a Z-direction guide for guiding each of the first spindle stock, the second spindle stock and the third spindle stock in the spindle axial direction. The Z-direction guide of the third main shaft extends to one end of the plane, and the second main shaft moves forward and backward between a position on the main shaft axis of the first main shaft and a position on the main shaft axis of the third main shaft. A Y-direction guide to be moved is provided, and when the third head stock moves to one end in the plane, an interference avoiding portion for avoiding interference with the second main head stock and the Y-direction guide is provided. be able to.
Further, as another configuration, the first main spindle supporting the first main spindle and the second main spindle supporting the second main spindle support the third main spindle in the first plane of the work machine. A third spindle stock is provided in a second plane intersecting the first plane, and each of the first spindle stock and the second spindle stock is guided in the spindle axial direction in the first plane. A direction guide is provided, a Z direction guide is provided in the second plane for guiding the third main axis in the main axis direction to one end in the second plane, and the second main axis is the main axis of the first main axis. A Y-direction guide that moves forward and backward between a position on the line and a position on the main axis line of the third main shaft can be provided.

The control device has three control systems corresponding to the first to third spindles, and each control system receives a workpiece reception control unit that controls the operation of the first spindle related to reception of an unprocessed workpiece. A workpiece machining control unit for controlling machining of the workpiece; and a workpiece unloading control unit for controlling unloading of the workpiece after machining, and the workpiece unloading control unit and the second in the control system of the first spindle The workpiece receiving control unit in the spindle control system is associated with each other, the workpiece unloading control unit in the second spindle control system and the workpiece reception control unit in the third spindle control system are associated with each other, and the second spindle The workpiece receiving control unit of the control system commands waiting for the operation of the second spindle until the workpiece of the first spindle can be unloaded, and the control system of the third spindle controls The workpiece receiving control unit commands the waiting of the operation of the third spindle until the workpiece of the second spindle can be unloaded, and the control system performs the above operation until the number of workpieces to be processed reaches a predetermined number. Control by the workpiece reception control unit, the workpiece machining control unit, and the workpiece reception control unit is repeated for each workpiece.
By doing in this way, in each system | strain, useless operation | movement when a workpiece | work does not exist can be prevented. In addition, the work can be paid out without preparing a dedicated program at the end.

The workpiece machining system of the present invention includes a plurality of workpiece machining machines configured as described above. That is, one or a plurality of sets of two workpiece processing machines in which the arrangement of the main shafts is in a line-symmetrical relationship, and of the two workpiece processing machines constituting the set, on the upstream side of the machining process The third main shaft of one of the workpiece processing machines positioned and the first main shaft of the other workpiece processing machine positioned downstream are opposed to each other on the same axis, and the first of the one workpiece processing machine is By moving the three main spindles and the first main spindle of the other work processing machine in a direction to approach each other, the work is transferred from the third main spindle to the third main spindle.
With this configuration, it is possible to directly deliver a workpiece from one workpiece machine to the other workpiece machine without using a workpiece transfer device such as a loader or a robot.
Of course, a workpiece transfer means for transferring a workpiece from the third spindle to the first spindle may be provided between the adjacent workpiece machines.

  As the workpiece supply means in the present invention, among the plurality of workpiece processing machines, the workpiece is provided in the vicinity of the workpiece processing machine positioned at the beginning of the processing step, and the workpiece is directly supplied to the first spindle in the workpiece processing machine. Can be used. As such a workpiece supply device, for example, a rod material supply device that supplies the rod-shaped workpiece through the through hole of the first main spindle can be used.

In the workpiece machining method of the present invention, the workpiece supplied from the workpiece supply device to the first spindle of one of the workpiece machines is transferred to the second spindle and the third spindle while the first turret, the second turret, and the third turret. After machining with the tool of the tool post and the completion of machining of the workpiece with the third spindle of the one workpiece machining machine, the third spindle and the first spindle of the other workpiece machining machine are relatively relative to each other. To move the workpiece from the third spindle to the first spindle at an intermediate position between the third spindle and the first spindle,
From the first spindle of the other workpiece processing machine, the workpiece is processed with the tools of the first turret, the second turret and the third turret while delivering the workpiece to the second and third spindles.
In addition, the workpiece supplied from the workpiece supply device to the first spindle of one workpiece processing machine is processed with the tools of the first tool post, the second tool post and the third tool post while being transferred to the second spindle and the third spindle. And after the workpiece has been processed on the third spindle of the one workpiece processing machine, the third spindle is moved to the workpiece unloading position, and the workpiece is transferred to the workpiece transfer means. Supplying the work to the first main spindle of the other work machine, and transferring the work from the first main spindle of the other work machine to the second main spindle and the third main spindle, You may make it process with the tool of a 2 tool post and a 3rd tool post.

  Since the workpiece processing machine of the present invention is configured as described above, the workpiece can be processed while directly transferring the workpiece between the three main spindles. Further, in the workpiece machining system using the workpiece machining apparatus of the present invention, the third spindle moves to the workpiece carry-out position and can directly deliver the workpiece to the first spindle of the other workpiece machining machine. A workpiece transfer device such as a robot is not required, the configuration of the workpiece machining system can be simplified, and the workpiece machining cost can be reduced.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[Outline of workpiece machining system]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining the configuration and operation according to an embodiment of a workpiece machining system and a machining method of the present invention.
In this embodiment, a three-axis NC lathe (hereinafter referred to as “NC lathe”) 1 having three main shafts 111, 112, and 113 and an NC lathe 1 ′ having three main shafts 111 ′, 112 ′, and 113 ′ are provided. , Arranged in parallel in the Z direction.

  One (left side in the figure) of the NC lathe 1 includes a first spindle 101 that can move forward and backward in the Z direction, a hollow first spindle 111 that is rotatably supported by the first spindle 101, A third spindle 103 that is arranged in parallel to the spindle stock 101 and is movable back and forth in the Z direction, a third spindle 113 that is rotatably supported by the third spindle stock 103, and a first spindle stock 101 are arranged opposite to each other. The second head stock 102 that is movable back and forth in the Y direction between a position facing the first head stock 101 and a position facing the third head stock 103 and the second head stock 102 are rotatably supported. And a second main shaft 112.

  The other (right side) NC lathe 1 'includes a first spindle base 101' that is movable back and forth in the Z direction, a first spindle 111 'that is rotatably supported by the first spindle base 101', and a first spindle. A third spindle 103 'that is arranged side by side on the platform 101' and is movable back and forth in the Z direction, a third spindle 113 'that is rotatably supported by the third spindle 103', and a first spindle 101 ' The second spindle stock 102 'and the second spindle stock which are arranged to face each other and are movable back and forth in the Y direction between a position facing the first spindle stock 101' and a position facing the third spindle stock 103 '. And a second main shaft 112 'rotatably supported by 102'.

  As shown in the figure, the arrangement of the three spindle stocks 101, 102, 103 of one NC lathe 1 and the arrangement of the three spindle stocks 101 ', 102', 103 'of the other NC lathe 1' are in the Y direction. Are arranged so as to be symmetric with respect to the axis of the axis, and in the order indicated by reference numerals (i) to (v) in the drawing, that is, in one NC lathe 1, the first main spindle 111 and the second main spindle 112 are arranged. In the order of the third main spindle 113, on the other NC lathe 1 ′, the workpiece W is transferred in the order of the third main spindle 113 ′, the second main spindle 112 ′, and the first main spindle 111 ′.

  Although not shown in FIG. 1, the NC lathe 1 is provided with at least three turrets corresponding to each of the first main spindle 101, the second main spindle 102, and the third main spindle 103. With the tool mounted on the tool post, the workpiece W gripped by the chucks of the first spindle 101, the second spindle 102, and the third spindle 103 can be simultaneously processed. Similarly, the NC lathe 1 ′ is provided with three turrets corresponding to the first main spindle 101 ′, the second main spindle 102 ′, and the third main spindle 103 ′, and is attached to the three turrets. With this tool, the workpiece W gripped by the chucks of the first spindle 101 ', the second spindle 102' and the third spindle 103 'can be processed simultaneously.

[Specific configuration of NC lathe]
FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a specific configuration of the NC lathe 1, 1 ′, a front view of the NC lathe 1, 1 ′, and FIG. 3 is a side view of the NC lathe 1 of FIG.
The other NC lathe 1 ′ is the same as the one NC lathe 1 except that the arrangement of the components is axisymmetric, so that one NC lathe 1 will be described in detail, and the other NC lathe 1 ′. The detailed description is omitted here.

The three headstocks 101, 102, and 103 are provided on the ZY surface 121 of the bed 120 formed in a substantially inverted L shape when viewed from the side so as to be movable forward and backward in the Z direction. That is, three sets of guide rails 131, 132, 133 are laid in the Z direction on the ZY surface 121, and the first headstock 101 is mounted on the saddle 134 that moves forward and backward in the Z direction while being guided by the guide rail 131, A second spindle stock 102 is provided on a saddle 135 that moves forward and backward in the Z direction while being guided by the guide rail 132, and a third spindle stock 103 is provided on a saddle 136 that moves forward and backward in the Z direction while being guided by the guide rail 133.
The saddle 135 is formed in a rectangular shape when viewed from the front having a long side in the Y direction, and a guide rail 137 is laid on the surface thereof in the Y direction. The second head stock 102 can move forward and backward in the Y direction while being guided by the guide rail 137.

The guide rail 133 that guides the movement of the third spindle stock 103 in the Z direction extends to the other end (the right end in FIG. 2) of the ZY plane 121 and is held by the chuck at the tip of the third spindle 111. W can be moved to a position where it can be transferred to the first main spindle 111 'of the other adjacent NC lathe 1' (see FIG. 1).
By the way, when the third spindle stock 103 moves to the other side, it is necessary that the third spindle stock 103 and the saddle 136 do not interfere with the saddle 137 of the second spindle stock 102.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration for avoiding the above interference.
As shown in FIG. 4A, the saddle 136 on which the third spindle stock 103 is placed is formed with a recess 136a for avoiding interference with the saddle 135 of the second spindle stock 102. When the third spindle stock 103 moves to the other end of the ZY plane 121 in order to deliver the workpiece W from the third spindle 113 of one NC lathe 1 to the first spindle 111 ′ of the other NC lathe 1 ′, FIG. As shown in b), the saddle 135 and the guide rail 137 enter the inside of the recess 136a, and interference between them can be prevented.
As shown in FIG. 4B, the saddle 136 ′ of the first headstock 101 ′ of the other NC lathe 1 ′ is also formed with a recess 136a ′ in the same manner as the saddle 136.

  A gate-shaped tool post support portion 138 is provided from the center of the front portion of the base 122 of the bed 120 to the center of the upper portion of the ZY plane 121. The tool post supporting part 138 was gripped by the first tool rest 150 mounted with a plurality of tools T1 for processing the workpiece W gripped by the chuck of the first main spindle 111 and the chuck of the second main spindle 112. A second tool post 160 on which a plurality of tools T2 for processing the workpiece W are mounted, and a third tool post 170 on which a plurality of tools T3 for processing the workpiece W gripped by the chuck of the third spindle 113 are mounted. Is provided.

The first tool rest 150 is provided on the surface facing the first head stock 101 side above the tool rest supporting portion 138, and a guide 151 laid in the X direction and the X direction while being guided by the guide 151. A saddle 152 that moves forward and backward, a guide rail 153 laid on one surface of the saddle 152 in the Y direction, and a tool post body 154 that moves forward and backward in the Y direction while being guided by the guide rail 153.
The plurality of tools T1 are mounted side by side in a comb blade shape on the blade mounting portion 155 of the tool post body 154. Then, the predetermined tool T1 is indexed to the machining position by the movement of the saddle 152 in the X direction, and the workpiece W by the tool T1 is moved by the movement of the tool rest main body 154 in the Y direction and the movement of the first spindle stock 101 in the Z direction. Is processed.

The second tool post 160 is provided on a surface facing the second head stock 102 side above the tool post supporting portion 138, and a guide 161 laid in the X direction and the X direction while being guided by the guide 161. A saddle 162 that moves forward and backward, a guide rail 163 laid on one surface of the saddle 162 in the Y direction, and a tool post body 164 that moves forward and backward in the Y direction while being guided by the guide rail 163.
The plurality of tools T2 are mounted side by side in a comb blade shape on the blade mounting portion 165 of the tool rest main body 164. Then, the predetermined tool T2 is indexed to the machining position by the movement of the saddle 162 in the X direction, and the workpiece W by the tool T2 is moved by the movement of the tool post body 164 in the Y direction and the movement of the second headstock 102 in the Z direction. Is processed.

The third tool post 170 is provided on the surface facing the third spindle stock 103 side below the tool post supporting part 138, and a guide 171 laid in the Y direction and the Y direction while being guided by the guide 171. A saddle 172 that moves forward and backward, a guide rail 173 laid on one surface of the saddle 172 in the Y direction, and a tool post body 174 that moves forward and backward in the Y direction while being guided by the guide rail 173.
The plurality of tools T3 are mounted side by side in a comb blade shape on the blade mounting portion 175 of the tool rest main body 174. Then, the predetermined tool T3 is indexed to the machining position by the movement of the saddle 172 in the X direction, and the workpiece W by the tool T3 is moved by the movement of the tool post body 174 in the Y direction and the movement of the third spindle stock 103 in the Z direction. Is processed.

In this embodiment, a fourth tool post 180 for processing the workpiece W held by the chuck of the second main spindle 112 or the third main spindle 113 is provided above the third tool post 170 in the tool post supporting part 138. ing.
The fourth tool post 180 is attached to the tool mounting portion 187 of the tool post body 186 that can be moved forward and backward in the three axial directions of X, Y, and Z by the X direction guide rail 181, the Y direction guide rail 182, and the Z direction guide rail 183. A plurality of tools T4 are arranged in the X direction, the tool T4 is indexed to the machining position by the movement of the tool post body 186 in the X direction, and the movement in the Z direction of the second headstock 102 or the third headstock 103 and the tool The workpiece W is machined with the tool T4 by the movement of the base body 186 in the Y direction.
Further, by moving the tool post body 186 in the Z direction, the tool T4 can be used without interfering with the tool (the tool T2 or the tool T3) of another tool post (the second tool post 160 or the third tool post 170). It is possible to process the workpiece W simultaneously with the tool T2 or the tool T3.
In addition, as above-mentioned tools T1-T4, rotary tools, such as a drill and a tap other than cutting tools, such as a cutting tool, can be used.

  The base 122 of the bed 120 is provided with inclined surfaces 123 for collecting cutting waste and coolant when the workpiece W is processed by the tools T1 to T4. The cutting waste and coolant recovered by the inclined surfaces 123 and 123 are recovered in a recovery tank 124 provided in the base 122 so as to be able to be drawn out.

[Description of Other Embodiments of NC Lathe]
The configuration of the three-axis NC lathe is not limited to the above.
Hereinafter, another embodiment of a three-axis NC lathe constituting the workpiece machining system of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.
In the following description, only parts and members that are different from the NC lathe 1 of the first embodiment will be described, and common parts and members will be assigned the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof will be omitted. Also in this embodiment, the other three-axis NC lathe arranged adjacently is the same except that the arrangement of the one NC lathe and each component is axisymmetric, and thus detailed description thereof is omitted. .

In this embodiment, a guide rail 140 in the Z direction is laid on the ZX plane of the base 122. A third spindle stock 103 is provided on a saddle 141 that moves forward and backward in the Z direction while being guided by the guide rail 140.
According to this configuration, it is necessary to provide the saddle 141 with a recess 136a (see FIG. 4) for preventing interference between the third headstock 103, the saddle 137, and the second headstock 102, as in the previous embodiment. There is no advantage.

[Description of control]
Next, the respective headstocks 101 to 103, 101 'to 103', the tool rests 150 to 180, 150 'to 180' and other moving parts of the NC lathes 1 and 1 'having the above-described configuration, An NC device for controlling the rotation of 113, 111 'to 113' will be described.
The NC device of this embodiment is provided on each of the NC lathes 1 and 1 '. Each NC device has three independent control systems according to the number of spindles.
FIG. 7 is a block diagram for explaining the program configuration of the NC apparatus in this embodiment. Since the program configuration is the same for the NC lathes 1 and 1 ', only the one for the NC lathe 1 will be described, and the description for the other NC lathe 1' will be omitted.

The control system for the first spindle 111 (hereinafter referred to as system 1) includes a workpiece supply program for supplying the workpiece W from the bar feeder 2 to the first spindle 111, a tool T1 mounted on the first tool post 150, and a first tool T1. A workpiece machining program for machining the workpiece W by relative movement with respect to the one spindle 111 and a workpiece delivery program for delivering the workpiece W that has been machined by the tool T1 to the second spindle 112 are provided.
The workpiece supply program, workpiece machining program, and workpiece delivery program are independent programs. The workpiece machining program starts on the condition that the workpiece supply program ends, and the workpiece delivery program starts on the condition that the workpiece machining program ends. ing.
Then, by sequentially executing these programs, the workpiece W supplied from the bar feeder 2 is processed, and the processed workpiece W is transferred to the second spindle 112.

  The control system (hereinafter referred to as system 2) of the second spindle 112 includes a workpiece receiving program that receives the workpiece W from the first spindle 111 and grips it with the chuck at the tip, a tool T2 mounted on the second tool post 160, and / or Alternatively, the workpiece machining program for machining the workpiece W by the relative movement of the tool T4 mounted on the third tool post 180 and the second spindle 112, and the workpiece W that has been machined by the tool T2 and / or the tool T4 are second And a workpiece transfer program transferred to the spindle 113.

  Also in this system 2, the workpiece receiving program, the workpiece machining program, and the workpiece delivery program are independent programs, and the workpiece machining program is activated on the condition that the workpiece acceptance program ends, and the workpiece delivery program on the condition that the workpiece machining program ends. Is supposed to start. Then, by sequentially executing these programs, the workpiece W received from the first spindle 111 is processed, and the processed workpiece W is transferred to the third spindle 113. The workpiece receiving program is associated with the workpiece delivery program of the system 1, and the workpiece receiving operation of the second spindle is started after completion of preparation for workpiece delivery on the first spindle 111.

  The control system of the third spindle 113 (hereinafter referred to as system 3) includes a workpiece receiving program that receives the workpiece W from the second spindle 112 and grips it with a chuck at the tip, and a tool T3 mounted on the third tool post 170 and / or Alternatively, the workpiece machining program for machining the workpiece W by the relative movement between the tool T4 mounted on the fourth tool post 180 and the third spindle 113, and the workpiece W after machining by the tool T3 and / or the tool T4 are removed from the machine. And a work carry-out program to be paid out.

  In this system 3 as well, the workpiece receiving program, the workpiece machining program, and the workpiece delivery program are independent programs. The workpiece machining program is activated on the condition that the workpiece acceptance program is terminated, and the workpiece delivery program is activated on the condition that the workpiece machining program is terminated. It is supposed to start. Then, by sequentially executing a workpiece supply program, a workpiece machining program, and a workpiece unloading program, the workpiece W received from the second spindle 112 is machined, and the workpiece W after machining is unloaded from the machine. The workpiece receiving program is associated with the workpiece delivery program of the system 2, and the workpiece receiving operation of the third spindle is started after completion of preparation for workpiece delivery on the second spindle 112.

In this embodiment, the workpiece carry-out program in the system 3 of one NC lathe 1 receives a processed workpiece W from the third spindle 113 of one NC lathe 1 to the third spindle 113 ′ of the other NC lathe 1 ′. It outputs a command to pass. Further, the work supply program of the system 3 ′ in the other NC lathe 1 ′ issues a command for receiving the work W from the third main spindle 113 of the one NC lathe 1.
Furthermore, the workpiece carry-out program in the system 1 'of the other NC lathe 1' gives a command to deliver the processed workpiece W from the first spindle 111 'to the loader.

8 and 9 are flowcharts for explaining the processing procedure by the NC program described above. 10 to 13 are diagrams showing the operation of the workpiece machining system in each step of this flowchart.
Simultaneously with the start (start), a work supply program is first executed (step S100). By executing this program, the bar-shaped workpiece W is sent from the bar feeder 2 to the through hole of the first main spindle 111.

Prior to this, the tool post body 154 of the first tool post 150 moves in the X direction, and the positioning tool T1 is indexed to the machining position. Then, the positioning tool T1 is positioned at a predetermined position in front of the first main spindle 111.
As shown in FIG. 10 (a), the bar-shaped workpiece W fed from the bar feeder 2 through the through hole of the first main shaft 111 protrudes from the tip of the first main shaft 111 and contacts the positioning tool T1. Positioning is performed. After this positioning is completed, the chuck provided at the tip of the first spindle 111 is closed and the workpiece W is gripped. This is the end of the workpiece supply program.

Next, a workpiece machining program is executed (step S101).
By executing this program, as shown in FIG. 10B, the tool T1 for machining the workpiece W is determined at the machining position, and the movement of the tool T1 in the Y direction and the Z direction of the first spindle 111 are performed. The workpiece W is processed by the movement of.
When the machining of the workpiece W by the tool T1 is completed (step S102), the workpiece machining program is terminated, and the workpiece delivery program is executed. By executing this program, it is first determined whether or not the system 2 is activated (step S103). If the system 2 is not activated, it is temporarily stopped and waits until the system 2 is activated (steps S104 and S105).

When the system 2 is activated, the system 2 waits with the system 2 according to the command of the workpiece transfer program (step S106).
After the completion of waiting (after completion of preparation for receiving), the first head stock 101 is moved together with the second main head stock 102 in a direction approaching each other on a common Z axis. Then, as shown in FIG. 10 (c), the workpiece W is transferred from the first spindle 111 to the second spindle 112 at a substantially intermediate position between the two headstocks 101 and 102 (step S107). Thereafter, the first head stock 101 returns to the initial position for receiving the next workpiece W from the bar feeder 2.

Then, it is determined whether or not machining of a preset number of workpieces W has been completed (step S108), and if it has been completed, the program is terminated. If not completed, the process returns to step S100 to execute the workpiece supply program, and receives the workpiece W for the next machining supplied from the bar feeder 2 as shown in FIG.
Thereafter, the processes and operations after step S101 are repeated.

In the system 2, the work receiving program is executed simultaneously with the start (start), and it is determined whether or not the system 1 which is the counterpart of the work W is being started (step 200).
When the system 1 is not activated, the system 1 is temporarily stopped and waits until the system 1 is activated (steps S201 and S202).
When the system 1 is activated, the system waits until the first spindle 111 completes preparation for delivery of the workpiece W (step S203). After the waiting is completed, the second spindle stock 102 is moved as shown in FIG. The first headstock 101 is moved in a direction approaching each other. Then, the workpiece W is received from the first spindle 111 to the second spindle 112 at a substantially intermediate position between the two headstocks 101 and 102 (step S204).

  Although not specifically shown, prior to receiving the workpiece W from the first spindle 111 to the second spindle 112 by the command of the workpiece receiving program of the system 2, the tool T2 for cutting off the second tool post 160 is set to the machining position. I have indexed. Then, the workpiece W is cut off with the tool T2 for cutting-off while the second spindle 112 is rotated in the same direction at a speed synchronized with the rotation speed of the first spindle 111, and the workpiece which has been processed by the first spindle 111 is completed. Separate W from the bar. Thereafter, the second head stock 102 returns to the initial position for processing the workpiece W. As described above, since the delivery of the workpiece W from the first spindle 111 to the second spindle 112 is completed, the workpiece machining program is executed next (step S205).

By executing the workpiece machining program, the tool T2 and / or the tool T4 for machining the workpiece W is determined at the machining position. Then, as shown in FIG. 10D, the workpiece W is machined by the movement of the tool T2 and / or the tool T4 in the Y direction and the movement of the second spindle 112 in the Z direction.
When the machining of the workpiece W by the tool T2 and / or the tool T4 is completed (step S206), the workpiece transfer program is executed, and first, it is determined whether or not the system 3 is activated (step S207). If the system 2 is not activated, the system 2 is temporarily stopped and waits until the system 3 is activated (steps S208 and S209).

If the system 3 is activated, the system waits until the work receiving preparation of the third spindle 113 is completed (step S210).
After completion of the waiting, as shown in FIG. 11A, the second headstock 102 is moved in the Y direction and the Z direction, and is moved in the direction of approaching each other on the same Z axis as the third headstock 103, The workpiece W is transferred from the second spindle 112 to the third spindle 113 (step S211). After the delivery of the workpiece W is completed, the second head stock 102 returns to the initial position as shown in FIG. Then, it is determined whether or not machining of a preset number of workpieces W has been completed (step S212). If completed, the workpiece delivery program is terminated. If not completed, the process returns to step S200 to execute the workpiece receiving program and waits with the first spindle 111 (step S203). As shown in FIG. The work W is received from (step S204).
Thereafter, the processes and operations after step S205 are repeated.

In the system 3, the work receiving program is executed simultaneously with the start (start), and it is determined whether or not the system 2 which is the counterpart of the work W exchange is being started (step 300).
When the system 2 is not activated, it is temporarily stopped and waits until the system 2 is activated (steps S301 and S302).
When the system 2 is activated, the system waits until the second spindle 112 completes preparation for delivery of the workpiece W (step S303), and when the preparation is completed, as shown in FIG. Are moved in a direction approaching each other on the third spindle stock 103 and the Z-axis. Then, the workpiece W is received from the second spindle 112 to the third spindle 113 at a substantially intermediate position between the two spindle stocks 102 and 103 (step S304), and returned to the initial position for processing the workpiece W.

Thus, since the delivery of the workpiece W from the second spindle 112 to the third spindle 113 is completed, the workpiece machining program is executed next (step S305). By executing this program, the tool T3 and / or the tool T4 for machining the workpiece W are determined at the machining position, and the tool T3 and / or the tool T as shown in FIGS. The workpiece W is machined by the movement of the T4 in the Y direction and the movement of the third spindle 113 in the Z direction.
When the machining of the workpiece W by the tool T3 and / or the tool T4 is completed (step S306), the workpiece unloading program is executed, and waiting with the first main spindle 111 'of the other NC lathe 1' is performed (step S307). After the end of the waiting, as shown in FIG. 11 (d), the third spindle stock 103 is moved in the direction approaching the third spindle 113 ′ of the other NC lathe 1 ′ and the Z-axis, so that the third spindle 113 The workpiece W is delivered to the third main spindle 113 'of the other NC lathe 1' (step S308).

After the delivery of the workpiece W is completed, the third head stock 103 returns to the initial position for processing the workpiece W. Then, it is determined whether or not the machining of the preset number of workpieces W has been completed (step S309), and if completed, the program is terminated. If not completed, the process returns to step S300 to execute the workpiece receiving program, waits with the second spindle 112 (step S303), and as shown in FIG. The work W is received from (step S304).
Thereafter, the processing after step S304 is repeated.

In the other NC lathe 1 ′, the same processing and operation as described above are repeated.
However, on the NC lathe 1 ′, the workpiece W is transferred in the order of the third main spindle 113 ′, the second main spindle 112 ′, and the first main spindle 111 ′.
In the third spindle 113 ', after receiving the workpiece W from the third spindle 113 of one NC lathe 1' and returning to the initial position for processing the workpiece W, the same as in step S101 and subsequent steps in the flowchart of FIG. While executing the steps, the operations shown in FIGS. 12A, 12B, and 12C are performed.
The second spindle 112 ′ performs the operations shown in FIGS. 12B, 12C, and 13A while executing the same steps as those in step S200 and subsequent steps in the flowcharts of FIGS.
The first spindle 111 ′ performs the operations shown in FIGS. 13A, 13B, and 13C while executing the same steps as those in step S300 and subsequent steps in the flowchart of FIG.
In the waiting of step S307, the waiting is performed with the loader 3 for carrying out the workpiece after the completion of machining, and the workpiece W is transferred from the first spindle 111 'to the loader 3 in step S308.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the workpiece machining system of the present invention.
Similar to the previous embodiment, a plurality of (two in the illustrated example) NC lathes 1 and 1 ″ having three opposing main shafts are arranged side by side in the Z direction, which is the same as the previous embodiment. However, in this embodiment, the loader 4 is arranged between one NC lathe 1 and the other NC lathe 1 ″. The configuration of the other NC lathe 1 ″ is the same as the configuration of one NC lathe 1.

In the workpiece machining system of this embodiment, machining of the workpiece W is started by the spindle 111 that has been supplied with the bar-shaped workpiece W from the bar feeder 2, and the path indicated by (i), (ii), (iii) in the drawing is used. Processing is performed while the workpiece W is sequentially transferred from the first spindle 111 to the second spindle 112 and from the second spindle 112 to the third spindle 113. The operation at the time of workpiece transfer between the spindles 111, 112, and 113 is the same as that in the previous embodiment.
When the machining of the workpiece W by the third spindle 113 is completed, the workpiece W of the third spindle 113 is unloaded from the NC lathe 1 by the loader 4 and loaded into the other adjacent NC lathe 1 ″.

The loader 4 delivers the workpiece W carried out from one NC lathe 1 to the first main spindle 111 ″ of the other NC lathe 1 ″.
After that, in the figure (iv),
Work is performed while the workpiece W is sequentially transferred from the first main spindle 111 "to the second main spindle 112" and from the second main spindle 112 "to the third main spindle 113" along the paths shown in (v), (vi), (vii). Is called. The operation at the time of workpiece transfer between the spindles 111 ″, 112 ″, 113 ″ is the same as that in the previous embodiment.
When the machining of the workpiece W by the third spindle 113 ″ is completed, the workpiece W of the third spindle 113 ″ is unloaded from the NC lathe 1 ″ by the loader 5.

  In the workpiece machining system shown in FIG. 14, the workpiece W carried from one NC lathe 1 by the loader 4 is transferred to the third spindle 113 ″ of the other NC lathe 1 ″, and the second spindle 113 ″ is transferred from the third spindle 113 ″. Processing may be performed while the workpiece W is being transferred from the 112 ″ and second spindle 112 ″ to the first spindle 111 ″. In this case, when the processing of the workpiece W on the first spindle 111 ″ is completed, the workpiece W is unloaded from the first spindle 111 ″ by the loader 5.

Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments.
For example, in another embodiment of the workpiece machining system described with reference to FIG. 14, the configuration of the other NC lathe 1 ″ is described as being the same as that of the one NC lathe 1, but as in the previous embodiment. In addition, a work machining system may be configured by using an NC lathe 1 'that is in a line-symmetrical relationship with the arrangement of the headstocks 111, 112, and 113 of one NC lathe 1. May constitute a workpiece machining system using NC lathes having different arrangements and numbers of headstocks and arrangements and numbers of tool rests.
Further, the number of NC lathes constituting the workpiece machining system is not limited to two and may be three or more.

  The present invention can be widely applied to a multi-axis work processing machine that sequentially performs a number of processes on one work, a work processing system that includes a plurality of multi-axis work processing machines, and a work processing method.

It is the schematic for demonstrating the structure and effect | action concerning one Embodiment of the workpiece | work processing system and processing method of this invention. It is a figure explaining the specific structure of NC lathe, and is a front view of NC lathe. It is a right view of NC lathe of FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of a structure for preventing a 3rd spindle stock and its saddle from interfering with the saddle on the 2nd spindle stock side. FIG. 5 is a front view of another embodiment of a three-axis NC lathe constituting the workpiece machining system of the present invention. It is a right view of NC lathe of FIG. It is a block diagram explaining the program structure of NC unit. It is a flowchart explaining the processing procedure of NC program. It is a flowchart explaining the processing procedure of NC program. It is a figure which shows operation | movement of the workpiece processing system in each step of the flowchart of FIG.8 and FIG.9. It is a figure which shows operation | movement of the workpiece processing system in each step of the flowchart of FIG.8 and FIG.9. It is a figure which shows operation | movement of the workpiece processing system in each step of the flowchart of FIG.8 and FIG.9. It is a figure which shows operation | movement of the workpiece processing system in each step of the flowchart of FIG.8 and FIG.9. It is a figure which shows other embodiment of the workpiece processing system of this invention. It is the schematic which concerns on a prior art example of this invention and demonstrates an example of a workpiece | work processing system.

Explanation of symbols

1: NC lathe 101: First spindle 102: Second spindle 103: Third spindle 111: First spindle 112: Second spindle 113: Third spindle 120: Bed 121: ZY surface 122: Base 123: Inclined Surface 124: Collection tanks 131-133: Guide rails 134-136: Saddle 137: Guide rails 138, 139: Tool post support 150: First tool post 160: Second tool post 170: Third tool post 180: Fourth Tool post 181: X direction guide rail 182: Y direction guide rail 183: Z direction guide rail 186: Tool post body 187: Tool mounting portion T1 to T4: Tool

Claims (11)

In a workpiece processing machine that has a plurality of spindles and performs a plurality of machining operations on the workpiece while transferring workpieces between the spindles,
A first spindle for receiving an unmachined workpiece from the workpiece supply device;
A first tool post for mounting one or a plurality of tools for processing the workpiece gripped by the first spindle, and for processing the workpiece by relative movement with the first spindle,
A third spindle arranged side by side so as to face the same direction as the first spindle;
A third tool post for mounting one or a plurality of tools for processing the workpiece gripped by the third spindle and for processing the workpiece by relative movement with the third spindle;
The first main shaft is opposed to the first main shaft and is movable back and forth between a position on the main shaft axis of the first main shaft and a position on the main shaft axis of the third main shaft, and the main shaft axis of the first main shaft Or by moving forward and backward along the main axis of the third main axis, the second main axis receives the work from the first main axis and delivers the work to the third main axis,
A second tool post for mounting one or a plurality of tools for processing the workpiece gripped by the second spindle, and for processing the workpiece by relative movement with the second spindle,
Controlling the relative movement between the first spindle and the first turret, the relative movement between the second spindle and the second turret, and the relative movement between the third spindle and the third turret; Enables machining of the workpiece gripped by one main spindle, second main spindle or third main spindle, and relative movement between the first main spindle and the second main spindle and relative movement between the second main spindle and the third main spindle. A control device that controls movement and enables workpiece transfer from the first spindle to the second spindle and workpiece transfer from the second spindle to the third spindle;
A workpiece processing machine characterized by comprising:   The third main shaft is provided so as to be movable back and forth at least in the main shaft axis direction, and moves forward and backward between a processing position for processing the workpiece and an unloading position for unloading the workpiece from the workpiece processing machine. The workpiece processing machine according to claim 1. A first spindle stock supporting the first spindle, a second spindle stock supporting the second spindle, and a third spindle stock supporting the third spindle are provided in the same plane of the workpiece processing machine;
In this plane, there is provided a Z-direction guide for guiding each of the first main spindle, the second main spindle and the third main spindle in the main shaft axis direction, and the Z-direction guide of the third main spindle to one end of the plane. Extend,
Providing a Y-direction guide for moving the second main spindle back and forth between a position on the main spindle axis of the first main spindle and a position on the main spindle axis of the third main spindle;
An interference avoidance unit for avoiding interference between the second spindle stock and the Y-direction guide when the third spindle stock moves to one end in the plane;
The work processing machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein The first main spindle for supporting the first main spindle and the second main spindle for supporting the second main spindle are in the first plane of the work processing machine, and the third main spindle for supporting the third main spindle is the first main spindle. Provided in a second plane intersecting the first plane,
A Z-direction guide is provided in the first plane to guide each of the first and second spindle stocks in the spindle axial direction.
A Z-direction guide for guiding the third main shaft in the main shaft axis direction to one end in the second plane is provided in the second plane,
Providing a Y-direction guide for moving the second spindle back and forth between a position on the spindle axis of the first spindle and a position on the spindle axis of the third spindle;
The work processing machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein The control device is
Having three control systems corresponding to the first to third spindles;
Each control system controls the workpiece receiving control unit that controls the movement of the first spindle related to the reception of unmachined workpieces, the workpiece machining control unit that controls machining of received workpieces, and the control of unloading of workpieces that have been machined A workpiece unloading control unit to perform,
The workpiece reception control unit in the control system of the second spindle is associated with the workpiece carry-out control unit in the control system of the first spindle, and the workpiece reception control unit of the control system of the second spindle is the first spindle Wait for the operation of the second spindle until the workpiece can be unloaded,
The workpiece reception control unit in the control system of the third spindle is associated with the workpiece unloading control unit in the control system of the second spindle, and the workpiece reception control unit of the control system of the third spindle is Wait until the movement of the third spindle until the workpiece can be unloaded,
Repeating the control by the workpiece reception control unit, the workpiece processing control unit and the workpiece reception control unit in each control system until the number of workpieces reaches a preset number,
The work processing machine according to claim 1, wherein: A workpiece machining system comprising a plurality of workpiece machining machines according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the workpiece machining system sequentially performs a plurality of machining operations while delivering workpieces between the workpiece machining machines. And
Having one or a plurality of sets of two workpiece processing machines in which the arrangement of the main axes is in a line-symmetric relationship;
Of the two work machines constituting the set, the third main shaft of one of the work machines located on the upstream side of the machining process and the third of the other work machine located on the downstream side. Make the main axis face the same axis,
By moving the third main shaft of the one work processing machine and the third main shaft of the other work processing machine in a direction to approach each other, the third work shaft of the one work processing machine is moved to the other work. Delivering the workpiece to the third spindle of the processing machine;
A workpiece machining system characterized by A workpiece machining system comprising a plurality of workpiece machining machines according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the workpiece machining system sequentially performs a plurality of machining operations while delivering workpieces between the workpiece machining machines.
A workpiece conveying means for conveying a workpiece from the third spindle of one workpiece machining machine to the first spindle or the third spindle of the other workpiece machining machine between the adjacent workpiece machining machines. Processing system.   A workpiece supply device that is provided in the vicinity of a workpiece processing machine positioned at the beginning of a machining process among the plurality of workpiece processing machines and that directly supplies a workpiece to the first spindle of the workpiece processing machine. Item 8. The workpiece machining system according to Item 6 or 7.   The workpiece processing system according to claim 8, wherein the workpiece supply device is a rod supply device that supplies the rod-shaped workpiece by inserting the through hole of the first main shaft. In the workpiece processing method in the workpiece processing system according to claim 6,
The workpiece supplied from the workpiece feeder to the first spindle of one workpiece processing machine is processed with the tools of the first turret, second turret and third turret while delivering it to the second and third spindles. ,
After completion of machining the workpiece on the third spindle of the one workpiece processing machine, relatively move the third spindle and the third spindle of the other workpiece machining machine in a direction approaching each other,
Passing the workpiece at an intermediate position between the third spindle of the one workpiece processing machine and the third spindle of the other workpiece machining tool;
Machining from the third spindle of the other workpiece processing machine with the tool of the third turret, the second turret and the first turret while delivering the workpiece to the second spindle and the first spindle;
A workpiece machining method characterized by In the workpiece processing method in the workpiece processing system according to claim 7,
The workpiece supplied from the workpiece feeder to the first spindle of one workpiece processing machine is processed with the tools of the first turret, second turret and third turret while delivering it to the second and third spindles. ,
After completion of machining of the workpiece on the third spindle of the one workpiece processing machine, the third spindle is moved to the workpiece unloading position, and the workpiece is transferred to the workpiece conveying means.
The work conveying means supplies the work to the first main spindle or the third main spindle of the other work processing machine, and from the first main spindle of the other work processing machine, the work is supplied to the second main spindle and the third main spindle. While handing over, work with the tools of the first tool post, second tool post and third tool post from the third main spindle of the other work machine while transferring the work to the second main spindle and the first main spindle. To do the
A workpiece machining method characterized by

Images