JP2018038604A - Safety device for machine by biological signal monitoring - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problems that emergency stop buttons of machine tools and work machines are just based on an active action such as an operator's pushing the button through his/her own sensing the danger or the like, but the effective function of the safety device requires the operators' danger prediction capability; therefore, the operators who are inexperienced and have less danger prediction capability, especially, trainees or students who are learning skills cannot effectively work or secure the safety of the work.SOLUTION: A safety device for machine is invented and biological signals, such as cardiac rate, blood pressure, body temperature and brain waves, are detected, the detected biological signals are compared to reference values, then, the machine tools or work machines can be stopped safely if the probabilities of danger, e.g., deterioration of the health state or decline of concentration following it or due to other factors are degraded lower than the reference.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention detects and monitors biological signals such as brain waves, heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, etc. of operators operating machine tools and work machines with sensors, etc., and when a decrease in concentration or an abnormality in the body is observed, the state is detected. This invention relates to a safety device for machines that displays and informs the surroundings, and at the same time, safely stops machine tools and work machines.

In current machine tools and work machines, a button for emergency stop is installed from the viewpoint of preventing machine malfunctions, programming mistakes and accidents between workers.

JP2009-104563 JP 10-262942 JP2004-329956

However, these emergency stop buttons are based on the active act of the operator detecting the danger and pressing the button. However, in order for such a safety device to function effectively, it is necessary for the operator to have a risk prediction capability. For this reason, inexperienced operators, especially trainees, students, and students for skill acquisition, function effectively and cannot secure work safety.

Therefore, it detects biological signals such as heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, and EEG, and compares the detected biological signals with a reference value. If there is a possibility of danger, for example, deterioration of health condition or other factors We have invented a safety device for machinery that stops the machine safely when the concentration is reduced due to the condition and falls below the set standard.

In the prior art, Patent Documents 1 and 2 use biological signals as input devices, but do not consider use as safety devices.

Patent Document 3 uses a biological signal as a safety device, but is an invention for an automobile driver, and is not an invention intended to prevent an accident caused by being caught by a machine such as a machine tool or a work machine. .

Therefore, these prior art documents cannot be a means for solving the object of the present invention, and only the present invention is a means for solving this problem as a safety device for machine tools and work machines using biological signals. It becomes.

It is a system outline figure of the present invention. The system that realizes the safety device is large and consists of a biological signal detection sensor part, a signal calculation and comparison computer part, and an interface for machine axis motor control. FIG. 2 shows how the safety device of the present invention is added to an existing shaft motor control unit of a machine tool. This means that the machine axis motor control interface of the safety device system is added to interrupt the existing axis motor and the control circuit for starting and stopping it. FIG. 3 shows a headset having an electroencephalogram detection function used for detecting an electroencephalogram as a biological signal as an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 shows an embodiment in which an operator wears the headset type biological signal detection sensor of FIG. FIG. 5 is a part of a screen for displaying a result obtained by calculating a signal obtained from a biological signal detection sensor represented by the embodiment of FIG. 3 by a signal calculation and comparison computer. In the embodiment of the present invention, the operator concentration is displayed as an attention bar graph. FIG. 6 shows the control flow of the system in the signal calculation and comparison computer section, and is the control flow when it is determined that the degree of concentration from the biological signal to the operator's work is reduced in the embodiment. FIG. 7 shows the control flow of the system in the signal calculation and comparison computer unit. In the embodiment, the operator's concentration level is recovered from the state where it is determined that the operator's concentration level is once reduced. This is the control flow when it is judged that there is no problem even if the machine safety device is restored. FIG. 8 shows a state of the embodiment when the operation is carried out using a lathe apparatus to which the apparatus according to the present invention is added.

In the practice of the present invention, a machine shaft motor control interface is interposed as shown in FIG. 2 in a motor (hereinafter referred to as a shaft motor) that drives the main shaft or feed shaft of the machine and its power control unit.

Next, a sensor device for detecting a biological signal (in the embodiment, the electroencephalogram detection sensor in FIG. 3) is put on the body as shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 shows the state of the embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the brain wave detection headset shown in FIG. An operator wearing a sensor for detecting a biological signal based on the embodiment operates a lathe to which a machine axis control interface shown in FIG. 2 is added.

During the work, the operator's brain waves are sequentially measured and transmitted to the biological signal calculation and comparison computer. In the present embodiment, wireless communication is used, but other information transmission by wired communication is also conceivable.

The transmitted measurement value is calculated, and in the present embodiment, the display of FIG. 5 is presented on the display as the degree of concentration, and at the same time, it is compared with the value previously set in the signal calculation and control computer unit. .

In this comparison, computer processing is performed in the control flow as shown in FIG. If the degree of concentration falls below the reference, an emergency stop signal is sent from the signal calculation and comparison computer to the machine shaft motor controller.

The emergency stop signal shuts off the power of the shaft motor by the machine shaft motor control interface, and decelerates the motor shaft by regenerative braking to stop the shaft.

In this embodiment, the main shaft is stopped because a lathe is used. However, as another example, it is conceivable to stop the feed shaft motor.

Once the safety device is activated, the signal calculation and comparison computer returns to the mode in which the motor shaft can be activated according to the flowchart of FIG. 6 until the biological signal of the operator (here, concentration by brain waves) is recovered and is recognized as safe. Without doing so, we continue to measure the biological signal of the operator. The machine tool can be used once the biological signal is recovered and the return operation is executed.

In the above embodiment, the electroencephalogram is used as the biological signal detection means. Similarly, by using a sensor or the like for detecting heartbeat, blood pressure, body temperature, etc., these detected values are calculated alone or in combination to safely stop the machine. It can be applied as a system.

In the present invention, the health status of an operator of a machine tool, particularly an inexperienced operator, a person with anxiety about health or an elderly operator, or practical training for trainees, students, students, etc. during skill acquisition training, etc. It is highly feasible to implement safe work while allowing third parties to check on the display.

Claims (5)

A safety device for machines that detects and monitors biological signals with sensors, etc., and safely stops machine tools and work machines when a physical abnormality is recognized. The biological signal means heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, electroencephalogram, myoelectric potential, etc., and a mechanical safety device having means for detecting it. The safety device is a machine safety device having a calculation device and a measuring method capable of comparing a detected biological signal with a reference signal. The safety device is a mechanical safety device capable of displaying a measured biological signal and providing a display function capable of presenting current mental and physical states to the worker and the surrounding area. The safety device is a machine safety device having an interface system for allowing a general-purpose machine tool and a work machine to be urgently stopped by a biological signal.