JP2023018287A - Machine tool - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a machine tool which enables reduction of the time needed to determine whether or not a processed dimension of a workpiece meets the desired quality.SOLUTION: A machine tool includes: a processing device which processes a workpiece; a table having a placement part on which the workpiece is placed; a loader which transports the workpiece between the processing device and the table; a control device which controls an operation of the loader; and a gauge member provided at a position where the workpiece passes when the loader transports the workpiece from the processing device to the placement part of the table, the gauge member having a passing area where the workpiece passes. The passing area is set so as to have a width according to a processed dimension which is targeted as a dimension of the workpiece processed by the processing device. The control device determines whether or not the workpiece held by the loader passes through the passing area of the gauge member when the workpiece held by the loader is transported from the processing device to the placement part based on an external force applied from the gauge member to the workpiece.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

The present application relates to a technique for confirming the shape of a workpiece.

Conventionally, various proposals have been made for methods of measuring workpieces during or after machining. Patent Literature 1 listed below describes a machine tool equipped with an external measuring device for measuring dimensions of a work. The external measuring device has a measuring stand and a measuring gauge, and measures the processing dimensions of the workpiece held by the gantry robot under the control of the main control section.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 04-19034 (Fig. 4, page 239, upper right column, page 240, lower left column)

In the external measuring device described above, after the workpiece is once placed on the external stand by the gantry robot, the measurement gauge is moved to bring the external gauge into contact with the workpiece on the external stand, thereby measuring the machining dimensions of the workpiece. In such a configuration, it is necessary to place the work on the external stand and move the measurement gauge every time the user performs an operation to instruct measurement in order to check the quality of the work. For this reason, there is a possibility that it takes a long time to determine the machining result after the work is transported.

The present application has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a machine tool capable of shortening the time required to determine whether or not the machining dimensions of a workpiece meet the desired quality. .

In order to solve the above problems, the present specification provides a processing apparatus for processing a workpiece, a table having a mounting section for mounting the workpiece, and a loader for transporting the workpiece between the processing apparatus and the table. a controller for controlling the operation of the loader; and a gauge member having a passing area that passes through the workpiece, wherein the passing area is set to a width corresponding to a target machining dimension of the workpiece after machining by the machining device, and the control device holds the workpiece by the loader. When the workpiece held by the loader passes through the passage area of the gauge member when the workpiece is conveyed from the processing device to the placement unit, the gauge member gives the workpiece information as to whether or not the workpiece passes through the passage area of the gauge member. Disclosed is a machine tool that makes decisions based on an applied external force.

According to the machine tool of the present disclosure, the control device determines whether or not the work held by the loader will pass through the passage area of the gauge member when the work is conveyed to the mounting section of the mounting table. Accordingly, by determining whether or not the work passes through the passage area during the operation of placing the work on the placement section, it is possible to determine whether the machining dimensions of the work satisfy the desired quality. Therefore, the time required to judge quality can be shortened.

It is a front view of the machine tool of this embodiment. 1 is a block diagram of a machine tool; FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the main unit and the stand as seen from the left side; It is a top view of a mounting stand. It is the schematic diagram which looked at the mounting part of the mounting stand from the front. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a state in which a workpiece is placed on the placing portion without contacting the gauge member; FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a state in which a workpiece is placed on the placing portion without contacting the gauge member; FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a state in which a workpiece contacts the gauge member; FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a state in which a workpiece contacts the gauge member; FIG. 11 is a top view showing another example of a gauge member; FIG. 11 is a top view showing another example of a gauge member;

An embodiment embodying the machine tool of the present application will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, a machine tool 10 of the present embodiment includes a main unit 11, a loader 13, an inlet device 15, an outlet device 17, and a workpiece stand (hereinafter referred to as "stand") 18. . It should be noted that FIG. 1 transparently illustrates a part of the devices and devices (rail base 47, etc.) provided in each device. Further, in the following description, as shown in FIG. The direction parallel to 19 and perpendicular to the left-right direction is referred to as the front-rear direction, and the direction perpendicular to the left-right direction and the front-rear direction is referred to as the up-down direction.

(Regarding the configuration of the machine tool 10)
The machine tool 10 has an exit device 17, a table 18, a main unit 11, and an entrance device 15 arranged in this order from the left in the left-right direction. FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of the machine tool 10. As shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the control device 21 of the machine tool 10 is mainly composed of a computer having a PU (processing unit) 23, a ROM 25, and a RAM 27, and executes numerical control and sequence control. The ROM 25 stores a control program 29 for controlling the operation of the machine tool 10 and various data. The RAM 27 stores information input by the user, production information such as the number of processed workpieces, and the like.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, inside the device cover 11A of the main device 11 are a spindle device 32 that holds and rotates the work W, a tool rest 33 that holds tools and executes machining of the work W, and the like. There is provided a processing device 31 having. The spindle device 32 and the tool post 33 are connected to the control device 21 via the drive section 34 . The drive unit 34 includes, for example, an amplifier for controlling the motor that is the drive source of the spindle device 32, an interface connected to various sensors attached to the processing device 31, and the like. The spindle device 32 changes the rotational speed of the workpiece W and the like under the control of the control device 21 . The tool post 33 changes the rotation angle (calculates the angle) and the like under the control of the control device 21 . An operation unit 35 is provided on the front surface of the device cover 11A. The operation unit 35 includes, for example, a touch panel, switches, and the like, and displays information about the machine tool 10 and receives operation instructions under the control of the control device 21 .

The loader 13 transfers the work W between the inlet device 15 , the spindle device 32 of the main device 11 , the table 18 and the outlet device 17 . The loader 13 is, for example, a gantry-type work transfer device, and includes an X-axis slide 41 , a Z-axis slide 43 and a head 45 . The X-axis slide 41 has a rail stand 47 fixed to the top of a frame member (not shown) provided inside the apparatus cover 11A. For example, a running rail and a running rack (not shown) are provided on the upper surface of the rail base 47 . The X-axis slide 41 has a running portion 48 configured to be slidable along the running rail, and drives an X-axis motor 49 incorporated in the running portion 48 under the control of the control device 21 . The X-axis motor 49 is, for example, a servomotor, and functions as a drive source for the loader 13. The pinion fixed to the output shaft is meshed with the toothed portion of the traveling rack of the rail base 47, thereby moving the traveling portion 48. Move to any position in the horizontal direction.

The Z-axis slide 43 is attached to the running portion 48 of the X-axis slide 41 . Therefore, the Z-axis slide 43 moves laterally based on the drive of the X-axis slide 41 . The Z-axis slide 43 has, for example, an elevating arm along the vertical direction. A head 45 is attached to the lower end of the lifting arm. Also, the Z-axis slide 43 has a Z-axis motor 51 as a drive source. The Z-axis motor 51 is, for example, a servomotor. The output shaft of the Z-axis motor 51 is drivingly connected to a rack formed on the lifting arm. The Z-axis slide 43 drives the Z-axis motor 51 under the control of the control device 21 to change the vertical position of the lifting arm. As a result, the head 45 changes its position in the vertical direction based on the driving of the Z-axis slide 43 . Therefore, the head 45 moves to any position in the left-right direction and the up-down direction based on the driving of the X-axis slide 41 and the Z-axis slide 43 . The X-axis motor 49 and the Z-axis motor 51 are not limited to servomotors, and may be other types of motors such as linear motors.

A pair of chuck mechanisms 53 (see FIG. 3) are attached to the head 45 . The pair of chuck mechanisms 53 are attached to a chuck main body 55 projecting rearward from the head 45 so as to face different directions (upward and downward in FIG. 3). The head 45 also incorporates, for example, a rotary actuator 54 (see FIG. 3) using air. The head 45 drives the actuator 54 under the control of the control device 21 to turn the chuck main body 55 about a predetermined rotation axis (for example, a rotation axis extending in the front-rear direction). As a result, the positions of the pair of chuck mechanisms 53 are changed, and the chuck mechanisms 53 that transfer the work W to and from the spindle device 32 and the table 18 are exchanged.

Also, each of the pair of chuck mechanisms 53 has a claw or the like that clamps the work W, and transfers the work W to and from another device. Each of the pair of chuck mechanisms 53 incorporates an air cylinder 56 (see FIG. 2) as a drive source for opening and closing the claws. The chuck mechanism 53 grips the work W or releases the grip of the work W by driving the air cylinder 56 based on the control of the control device 21 .

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the X-axis slide 41 is provided with a linear scale 57 that outputs positional information of the traveling portion 48 in the horizontal direction. The control device 21 controls the X-axis motor 49 based on the position information (scale value) acquired from the linear scale 57, and changes the position of the traveling portion 48 (head 45) in the horizontal direction. For example, based on the control program 29, the control device 21 determines the position of the next movement destination of the traveling section 48 (horizontal coordinate (X coordinate)). The control device 21 determines a target torque for operating the X-axis motor 49 based on the determined destination position and the current position of the traveling portion 48 . The control device 21 outputs the determined target torque to the amplifier of the driving section 34 . The driving unit 34 changes the electric power (the current value and period of the three-phase electric power, etc.) supplied to the X-axis motor 49 based on the target torque acquired from the control device 21, and moves the traveling unit 48 with the target torque. The driving unit 34 obtains position information (scale value) of the linear scale 57 at predetermined intervals, and feedback-controls the electric power supplied to the X-axis motor 49 based on the target torque and the position information to control the moving speed of the traveling unit 48. and acceleration, etc.

Similarly, the Z-axis slide 43 is provided with an encoder 59 that outputs position information of the head 45 in the vertical direction. The control device 21 controls the Z-axis motor 51 based on the position information (encoder value) acquired from the encoder 59 to change the position of the head 45 in the vertical direction. The control device 21 feedback-controls the electric power supplied to the Z-axis motor 51 via the amplifier of the drive unit 34, for example.

Further, the control device 21 performs control based on the external force applied to the work W and the chuck mechanism 53 when moving the loader 13 holding the work W. Specifically, the control device 21 executes torque limitation by torque generated in the X-axis motor 49 and the Z-axis motor 51 according to an external force (external additional torque) applied to the work W, for example. The control device 21 calculates torque generated in the X-axis motor 49 and the Z-axis motor 51 while the loader 13 is moving. Although the method of calculating the torque is not particularly limited, for example, the control device 21 calculates the torque (right and left directional external force). Similarly, the control device 21 calculates the torque (vertical external force) generated in the Z-axis motor 51 based on the current value generated in the amplifier of the drive unit 34, the rotation speed of the Z-axis motor 51, and the like. Alternatively, the machine tool 10 may include the travel section 48, the head 45, the chuck mechanism 53, a sensor (torque sensor or load sensor) for detecting an external force applied to the workpiece W or the like. Then, the control device 21 may detect the external force applied to the workpiece W and the chuck mechanism 53 based on the torque sensor.

As shown in FIG. 2, the ROM 25 stores a threshold torque T1 and a transfer torque T2. The threshold torque T1 is a threshold for determining whether or not the work W will pass through a passage area, which will be described later. The transfer torque T2 is a threshold for determining the external force applied to the workpiece W transferred by the loader 13 and the chuck mechanism 53 when the threshold torque T1 is not used. The details of the threshold torque T1 and the transfer torque T2 will be described later.

The inlet device 15 shown in FIG. 1 is a device that receives a workpiece W from a user or a previous process device (not shown) and delivers it to the loader 13 . A right fence 61 covers the front surface of the position where the entrance device 15 and the loader 13 deliver the work W. As shown in FIG. Also, the exit device 17 is a device for transferring the work W between a user and a post-process device (not shown). The front side of the position where the exit device 17 and the loader 13 deliver the work W is covered with the left fence 62 . The left fence 62 is a device cover that covers the front of the machine tool 10, is fixed to the left end of the device cover 11A, and partially covers the exit device 17. As shown in FIG. The left fence 62 is provided with a door 63 that allows access to the exit device 17 and the work W receiving position of the loader 13 . A stand 18 is arranged between the door 63 and the main unit 11 in the horizontal direction.

(Regarding the stand 18)
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the main unit 11 and the stand 18 viewed from the left. FIG. 4 is a top view of the pedestal 18. As shown in FIG. As shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4, the table 18 has a table body 71, a frame member 72, and a slide member 73. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 show both the slide member 73 pushed to the storage position P1 stored in the table main body 71 and the slide member 73 pulled out to the take-out position P2 from which the workpiece W can be taken out. there is The pedestal 18 is arranged in a state of standing (upright) with respect to the installation surface 19 by a plurality of (for example, four) frame members 72 . The stand body portion 71 is held at a predetermined height from the installation surface 19 by a frame member 72 . The frame member 72 is partly covered by the left fence 62 arranged in front.

The table main body 71 is, for example, a substantially rectangular plate-shaped member that is thin in the vertical direction, has a predetermined width in the horizontal direction, and is long in the front-rear direction. The slide member 73 is held so as to be slidable in the front-rear direction with respect to the table body portion 71 . For example, the stand main body 71 is provided with a bearing-type slide mechanism 75 and a rotating member 77 (such as a washer) to hold the slide member 73 slidably (pullable) from below. A front cover 79 is attached to the front end of the slide member 73 . The table 18 exposes the front cover 79 through an opening 62A (see FIG. 1) provided in the left fence 62 at the storage position P1. The user can pull the slide member 73 forward by pulling the handle 81 of the front cover 79 .

Further, the slide member 73 is provided with a placement portion 85 on which the workpiece W can be placed. The mounting portion 85 has a bottom plate 87 and a plurality of support members 89 . The bottom plate 87 is a plate-shaped metal member and is fixed to the upper surface of the slide member 73 . For example, three support members 89 are arranged side by side in the horizontal direction on the upper surface of the bottom plate 87 . The support member 89 has a groove formed at its upper end portion that matches the outer peripheral shape of the work W, and supports the work W inserted from above into this groove from below. The machine tool 10 can, for example, process workpieces W having different lengths in the axial direction. Of the three support members 89, the machine tool 10 may use, for example, only two support members 89 (two on the left side in FIG. 4) or three In some cases, all of the support members 89 are used. 4 omits illustration of the bottom plate 87 and the support member 89 at the take-out position P2.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the mounting portion 85 of the mounting table 18 viewed from the front. As shown in FIGS. 3-5, the slide member 73 is provided with a first side wall 101 and a second side wall 102 . The second side wall 102 is arranged on the side opposite to the first side wall 101 with the mounting portion 85 interposed therebetween in the left-right direction. The first side wall 101 is, for example, a metal plate member that is thin in the left-right direction, and is fixed along the left end (edge) of the slide member 73 . The second side wall 102 is a metal plate member that is thin in the left-right direction, and is fixed along the right end (edge) of the slide member 73 . The work W placed on the placement portion 85 is placed between the first and second side walls 101 and 102 in the left-right direction.

Further, the mounting table 18 is provided with a gauge member 104 having a passing area 111 (see FIG. 5) through which the workpiece W passes. The gauge member 104 has a first gauge member 105 , a second gauge member 106 , a slide base portion 107 , a rail portion 108 and a fixing member 109 . The first and second gauge members 105 and 106 are, for example, members made of metal, and have flat surfaces facing each other in the left-right direction. The passage area 111 is formed in a portion sandwiched between the opposed planes of the first and second gauge members 105 and 106 . In other words, the first and second gauge members 105 and 106 form a passage area 111 for inspecting the processing dimensions of the workpiece W between the planes facing each other.

The first gauge member 105 is held above the mounting portion 85 by the first side wall 101 . Also, the slide base 107 is fixed to the upper part of the second side wall 102 . A rail portion 108 is provided on the slide base portion 107 along the left-right direction. The second gauge member 106 is attached to the rail portion 108 and held so as to be slidable in the left-right direction with respect to the slide base portion 107 . Therefore, the second gauge member 106 is held above the mounting portion 85 by the second side wall 102 , the slide base portion 107 and the rail portion 108 . The second gauge member 106 is arranged on the side opposite to the first gauge member 105 with the passage area 111 interposed therebetween.

As noted above, the gauge member 104 is attached to the slide member 73 via the first and second side walls 101,102. The gauge member 104 and the first and second side walls 101 and 102 are slid forward and backward together with the slide member 73 to be pulled out of the left fence 62 (device). In addition, the gauge member 104 and the first and second side walls 101 and 102 are attached to, for example, the stand body portion 71 so that even if the slide member 73 is pulled out from the left fence 62, the slide member 73 is not pulled out together with the left fence 62. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the device is stored in the rear).

By sliding the second gauge member 106 with respect to the slide base 107, the user can change the distance between the first and second gauge members 105 and 106, that is, the width of the passage area 111 in the horizontal direction. Also, the second gauge member 106 can be fixed to the slide base 107 by a fixing member 109 . The fixing member 109 is, for example, a bolt inserted into the second gauge member 106 and screwed into a female thread provided on the slide base 107 . The sliding position of the second gauge member 106 is fixed by tightening the fixing member 109 , and the sliding position can be changed by loosening the fixing member 109 . The slide base portion 107 and the rail portion 108 are examples of the slide mechanism of the present disclosure.

For example, the user operates the operation unit 35 to set the target processing dimensions of the workpiece W to be processed by the processing device 31 . The control device 21 controls the processing device 31 according to the processing dimensions set by the user, and processes the workpiece W to the set processing dimensions. In addition, the user loosens the fixing member 109 and slides the second gauge member 106 before starting processing or performing a quality check. The user arranges the second gauge member 106 at a position where the passing area 111 has a width corresponding to the processing dimension (target dimension) set by the operation unit 35, and tightens the fixing member 109 to fix it. As a result, the width of the passage area 111 can be set according to the machining dimensions of the workpiece W after machining. The width according to the machining dimension here is, for example, the width obtained by adding the machining error to the value of the target machining dimension set by the operation unit 35 . The machining error is, for example, a dimensional error allowed in machining the workpiece W, and is a distance corresponding to the machining accuracy of the machining device 31 and the like. The machining error may be a value set in advance by the vendor of the machine tool 10, or may be a value set by the user based on the results of machining work or experience.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4 , a photoelectric sensor 91 and a proximity sensor 92 are provided on the stand body portion 71 . The photoelectric sensor 91 is configured such that the workpiece W on the mounting portion 85 is arranged between the optical axes connecting the light projecting portion and the light receiving portion. Therefore, the machine tool 10 can detect the presence or absence of the work W on the mounting portion 85 based on the detection signal of the photoelectric sensor 91 . A through hole is formed in each of the first and second side walls 101 and 102 so as to be aligned with the optical axis of the photoelectric sensor 91 . Thereby, the workpiece W placed on the placement portion 85 can be detected while the gauge member 104 is placed above the placement portion 85 .

The proximity sensor 92 is, for example, an inductive proximity sensor, and is arranged at a position a predetermined distance away from the tip of the work W in the axial direction of the work W placed on the placement section 85. . The proximity sensor 92 is fixed to the second side wall 102 with its detection direction fixed toward the tip of the workpiece W, for example. The proximity sensor 92 detects when a long work W using three support members 89 is placed on the placement section 85 and when a short work W using two support members 89 is placed on the placement section 85 . In some cases, the distance from the tip of the workpiece W changes, and different detection signals are output. Accordingly, the machine tool 10 can determine the type of the workpiece W placed on the placement portion 85 based on the detection signal of the proximity sensor 92 .

(Operation of placing workpiece W on table 18)
Next, the operation when the loader 13 places the workpiece W on the table 18 will be described. The control device 21 of the present embodiment inspects the outer diameter dimension of the workpiece W after machining by the gauge member 104 provided above the mounting section 85 when the workpiece W is mounted on the mounting section 85 . More specifically, for example, when the quality check button of the operation unit 35 is touch-operated, the control device 21 controls the loader 13 to remove the work W placed on the spindle device 32, that is, the work W after machining. to the mounting portion 85 of the mounting table 18 is executed. When the operation of placing the work W on the placement section 85 is completed, the control device 21 displays a message indicating that the placement has been completed on the operation section 35 or the like. By pulling out the slide member 73, the user can check the processing quality of the work W on the placement section 85, that is, the work W after processing.

In this embodiment, a gauge member 104 having a passage area 111 is provided above the mounting portion 85 . For example, before operating the quality check button, the user slides the second gauge member 106 to set the target processing dimensions of the workpiece W after processing by the processing device 31 (such as the set value of the above-described processing dimensions). ), the width of the passing area 111 in the left-right direction is set. For example, the user sets the passing area 111 to a width obtained by adding the machining error described above to the distance between the base end and the tip end of the work W that is long in the axial direction. Then, the control device 21 determines whether or not the work W passes downward through the passage area 111 according to the external force applied to the work W from the gauge member 104 (the first and second gauge members 105 and 106). is determined based on whether or not the torque generated in the Z-axis motor 51 is greater than or equal to the threshold torque T1. As a result, it is possible to determine whether or not the workpiece W after machining has been machined to the desired machining dimensions based on whether or not the workpiece W has passed.

As shown in FIG. 5, in the quality check operation, the control device 21 moves the head 45 of the loader 13 from the processing device 31 to above the table 18, and then moves the head 45 downward toward the table 85. move. For example, the control device 21 lowers the head 45 toward the mounting portion 85 from a position (the position indicated by the dashed line in FIG. 5) that is a predetermined distance above the mounting table 18 (the mounting portion 85) along the vertical direction. Let When the head 45 is lowered from the upper position, the control device 21 lowers the head 45 at the first speed V1 to the switching position P3, which is separated from the mounting portion 85 by a predetermined distance L. FIG. The control device 21 vertically lowers the head 45 from a position above the table 18 at a first speed V1. The control device 21, for example, stops the rotation of the X-axis motor 49 and controls the Z-axis motor 51 to lower the head 45 at the first speed V1.

In the example shown in FIG. 5, the switching position P3 is set at a position above the upper surface of the bottom plate 87 of the mounting portion 85 by a distance L along the vertical direction. The switching position P3 is located slightly above the upper surface of the gauge member 104 (the first and second gauge members 105 and 106). In other words, the distance L is the distance from the upper surface of the bottom plate 87 to a position slightly above the gauge member 104 . This slightly higher position/distance is obtained when, for example, the switching control for switching the moving speed of the head 45 from the first speed V1 to the second speed V2, which will be described later, is started at the switching position P3, the speed change is completed. This is the distance at which the workpiece W does not enter the passage area 111 by That is, the position of the switching position P3 is set at a position above the gauge member 104 by a moving distance necessary for executing the speed switching so that the workpiece W does not enter the passing area 111 before the speed is changed. ing. Therefore, the switching position P3 can be set according to the control error of the speed control of the head 45, the first speed V1, the second speed V2, and the like. Therefore, by making the distance L as short as possible according to the above conditions, the quality check of the work W can be appropriately started while shortening the transport time to the switching position P3. Note that the control device 21 may cause the head 45 to enter the passage area 111 while changing the speed of the head 45 (while decelerating it). Alternatively, the control device 21 may cause the head 45 to enter the passage area 111 at the second speed V2, and then gradually decelerate the head 45 toward the mounting portion 85 .

Further, the control device 21 determines whether or not the torque generated in the Z-axis motor 51 is greater than or equal to the transfer torque T2 while the loader 13 is moved from the processing device 31 to the switching position P3. For example, when the head 45 is lowered from the upper position shown in FIG. 5, if the torque generated in the Z-axis motor 51 is greater than or equal to the transfer torque T2, the control device 21 executes the abnormality process. The control device 21 executes, for example, a process of stopping the loader 13, a process of moving the head 45 to the retracted position, a process of displaying an alarm on the operation unit 35, a process of sounding an alarm sound, and the like. The user can recognize the abnormality from the display of the operation unit 35 or the like, and can check whether there is any foreign matter in the path through which the work W passes.

Note that the control device 21 may also execute determination based on the transfer torque T2 on another route from the processing device 31 to the mounting table 18 . For example, the control device 21 may determine the torque generated in the Z-axis motor 51 when the head 45 is lifted upward from the processing device 31 by the transfer torque T2. Further, the control device 21 may determine the torque generated in the X-axis motor 49 when the head 45 is moved toward the mounting table 18 (to the left) after being lifted from the processing device 31, based on the transfer torque T2. . In this case, the above-described abnormality processing may be executed in the same manner. Alternatively, the transfer torque T2 for the X-axis motor 49 and the transfer torque T2 for the Z-axis motor 51 may be set in the ROM 25 of the control device 21 and used for determination.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, for example, when the lower end of the workpiece W held by the head 45 reaches the switching position P3, the control device 21 sets the upper limit torque for determining the torque of the Z-axis motor 51 to the transfer torque T2. to the threshold torque T1. Further, when the workpiece W of the head 45 reaches the switching position P3, the control device 21 controls the Z-axis motor 51 to change the descending speed of the head 45 from the first speed V1 to the second speed V2. The second speed V2 is, for example, a speed slower than the first speed V1. The control device 21 determines whether or not the torque generated in the Z-axis motor 51 when the workpiece W passes through the passage area 111 is equal to or greater than the threshold torque T1. Note that the control device 21 may start changing the speed before the work W reaches the switching position P3 or after it passes the switching position P3.

As shown in FIG. 7, when the workpiece W passes through the passage area 111 without contacting both the first and second gauge members 105 and 106, the torque generated by the Z-axis motor 51 is maintained at the desired target torque. is equalized and does not exceed the threshold torque T1. When the work W is transported to the target position of the mounting portion 85 (support member 89 ), the control device 21 stops the head 45 and controls the chuck mechanism 53 to mount the work W on the support member 89 . The control device 21 retracts the head 45 from the mounting table 18 and displays on the operation unit 35 that the mounting of the workpiece W is completed. The user can check the quality of the work W by pulling out the slide member 73 . In addition, since the work W is placed on the placement portion 85, the work W is placed while passing through the passage area 111, that is, the width of the passage area 111 set by the gauge member 104 ( It is possible to make the user recognize that the processing dimension) is satisfied.

On the other hand, if, for example, a tool failure of the tool post 33, a chucking error of the head 45, or an error in the position of the spindle device 32 holding the work W occurs, an unacceptable error in the machining dimensions of the work W, that is, the passing area 111 Error over width. In this case, the workpiece W contacts at least one of the first and second gauge members 105 and 106, as shown in FIG. The workpiece W receives an external force (reaction force) F from the gauge member 104 by contacting the gauge member 104 while moving downward. The torque generated in the Z-axis motor 51 as the head 45 descends becomes equal to or greater than the threshold torque T1. In this case, the control device 21 controls the chuck mechanism 53 to place the workpiece W on the gauge member 104 as shown in FIG. When the work W is separated from the chuck mechanism 53 , the control device 21 retracts the head 45 from the table 18 . The control device 21 displays on the operation unit 35 that the placement of the work W has been completed, and also displays that an error has occurred in the inspection of the processing dimensions of the work W. From this, the user can recognize that the work W placed on the placement part 85 does not meet the desired quality (processing dimensions). Moreover, the workpiece W is placed on the gauge member 104 of the slide member 73 that has been pulled out, that is, the workpiece W is not placed in the correct position shown in FIG. ), it can be recognized that the workpiece W does not satisfy the machining dimensions set for the gauge member 104 .

In addition, the control device 21 controls using a speed slower than the first speed V1 before the switching position P3 as the speed after the switching position P3, that is, the second speed V2 when passing through the passage area 111. do. In addition, the control device 21 uses a torque smaller than the transfer torque T2 as the threshold torque T1 for the passage area 111 . As a result, by reducing the speed, it is possible to suppress vibration or the like that occurs in the workpiece W when it is passed through the passage area 111, and it is possible to accurately detect an increase in torque using a smaller threshold torque T1. Further, if the work W and the gauge member 104 come into contact with each other, the work W can be brought into contact with the gauge member 104 slowly, and deformation of the gauge member 104 can be suppressed. For example, by adopting the slowest speed among the speeds at which the head 45 can be moved downward as the second speed V2, an increase in torque can be detected more accurately.

In addition, the control device 21 determines the torque of the Z-axis motor 51 based on the transfer torque T2 until the head 45 reaches the switching position P3, and uses the transfer torque T2 as the torque used for determining that the head 45 reaches the switching position P3. to the threshold torque T1. As a result, appropriate transportation and inspection can be performed by changing the torque used for judgment when transporting to the switching position P3 and when inspecting when passing through the passage area 111 . For example, by increasing the transfer torque T2, the first speed V1 can be increased while allowing a certain degree of torque fluctuation during transfer. Further, by making the threshold torque T1 smaller, the conditions for inspecting the workpiece W based on the torque can be made stricter.

The threshold torque T1 may be the same value as the transfer torque T2, or may be a value larger than the transfer torque T2. Also, the second speed V2 may be the same speed as the first speed V1, or may be a speed higher than the first speed V1. In addition, the control device 21 does not need to perform torque determination based on the transfer torque T2 while the work W is being transferred from the processing device 31 to the switching position P3.

Further, the control device 21 determines whether or not the work W passes through the passage area 111 when the torque generated in the Z-axis motor 51 in accordance with the external force F applied to the work W from the gauge member 104 is equal to or greater than the threshold torque T1. decision based on whether or not With such a configuration, the quality of the work W can be judged by the torque generated in the Z-axis motor 51 . Further, the quality of the workpiece W can be determined by comparing the torque based on the current value or the like generated in the amplifier of the drive unit 34 and the threshold torque T1 without separately providing a sensor such as a torque sensor.

In addition, the gauge member 104 includes a slide mechanism (slide base 107 and rail portions 108) that changes the size of the passage area 111 by sliding the second gauge member 106 in the left-right direction, and a sliding position of the second gauge member 106. has a fixing member 109 for fixing the . According to this, by changing the position of the second gauge member 106 and fixing the slide position, the user can obtain a size that matches the desired machining dimensions, that is, the size that matches the outer diameter shape of the target work W. The size of the passing area 111 can be changed for inspection.

In addition, the passage area 111 of the gauge member 104 of this embodiment is arranged above the mounting portion 85 . According to this, the quality of the work W which descends straight from above toward the mounting portion 85 can be judged by whether or not the gauge member 104 has passed. Therefore, the quality can be judged in the process of linear movement to put on the placing table 18 . After placing the workpiece W once, unlike the prior art, the operation of moving the measurement gauge to perform measurement is no longer necessary.

Note that the configuration of the gauge member 104 described above and shown in FIG. 3 and the like is an example. For example, the second gauge member 106 may be configured such that its lateral position is fixed with respect to the second side wall 102 . That is, the gauge member 104 does not have to have a slide mechanism such as the slide base 107 or the rail portion 108 . Alternatively, the first gauge member 105 may be configured to be slidable, and both the first and second gauge members 105 and 106 may be configured to move. Also, although the first and second gauge members 105 and 106 are attached to the slide member 73 (the first and second side walls 101 and 102), at least one of the first and second gauge members 105 and 106 is attached to the main unit 11. You can install it. For example, the first gauge member 105 may be attached to the left side surface 11B of the main unit 11 (see FIG. 3). In this case, the first gauge member 105 and the first side wall 101 may not be provided on the table 18 . Also, although the gauge member 104 is installed above the mounting portion 85, this installation position is an example, and other positions through which the workpiece W passes may be used. For example, as shown in the gauge member 104A in FIG. 1, the gauge member 104A may be provided at a position through which the work W of the head 45 passes when the work W received from the processing device 31 is conveyed upward by the loader 13. . In this case, it is not necessary to provide the gauge member 104 on the mounting table 18 .

Alternatively, as shown in the gauge member 104B in FIG. 1, the gauge member 104B may be provided at a position through which the work W passes when moving the head 45 leftward from the processing device 31 side to the table 18 side. In this case, the control device 21 determines the torque generated in the X-axis motor 49 when moving to the left using the threshold torque T1 and the torque T2 during transportation, as in the determination based on the torque of the Z-axis motor 51 described above. You can Also, values corresponding to the X-axis motor 49 and the Z-axis motor 51 may be stored in the ROM 25 as the threshold torque T1 and the transfer torque T2 stored in the ROM 25 . In addition, while moving the head 45 downward to the left, that is, while driving both the X-axis motor 49 and the Z-axis motor 51, the control device 21 judges both the torque generated in each motor, and determines the torque generated by each motor. You may decide to pass.

Further, when the torque generated in the Z-axis motor 51 becomes equal to or greater than the threshold torque T1, that is, when it is determined that the work W does not pass through the passage area 111, the control device 21 moves the work W to the gauge member 104. It does not have to be placed on top of the For example, the control device 21 may transport defective workpieces W that do not pass through the passage area 111 to a predetermined defective product storage area or the like.

Also, the shape, number, etc. of the gauge members 104 can be changed as appropriate. FIG. 10 shows a gauge member 104C of another example, and shows a schematic view of the gauge member 104C viewed from above. As shown in FIG. 10, for example, the first and second gauge members 105 and 106 of the gauge member 104C may be shaped along the outer diameter of the workpiece W (ie, punched out). The notched portions of the first and second gauge members 105 and 106 may be made slightly larger than the target processing dimension of the workpiece W. In this case, the cut-out regions of the first and second gauge members 105, 106 function as the passage regions 111A.

Further, as shown in the gauge member 104D in FIG. 11, for example, when the chuck mechanism 53 clamps the ring-shaped work W with the flat surface facing upward, the three gauge members 104D with sharp tips are held by the chuck mechanism 53. You may arrange|position in the position which does not interfere with. In this case, the area surrounded by the tips of the three gauge members 104D functions as the passing area 111B. Accordingly, the gauge member of the present application may be composed of three or more members. Alternatively, the gauge member may be a single member (eg, only second gauge member 106 in FIG. 10).

Also, the gauge member 104 may be configured to be detachable from the mounting table 18 . The gauge member 104 may be configured to be replaceable by the user according to the shape of the workpiece W. Accordingly, the user can install the gauge member 104 on the table 18 according to the machining shape of the workpiece W to be machined next according to the setup change.

Incidentally, the slide base portion 107 and the rail portion 108 are an example of a slide mechanism. The X-axis motor 49 and the Z-axis motor 51 are examples of motors.

As described above, the present embodiment described above has the following effects.
The machine tool 10, which is one aspect of the present application, is provided with a gauge member 104 at a position through which the work W passes when the head 45 of the loader 13 transports the work W from the processing device 31 to the mounting portion 85 of the mounting table 18. ing. The control device 21 determines whether or not the work W held by the head 45 passes through the passage area 111 based on the external force F applied to the work W from the gauge member 104 . According to this, by judging whether or not the work W passes through the passage area 111 during the operation of placing the work W on the placement section 85, the machining dimensions of the work W satisfy the desired quality. can determine whether

In addition, the present application is not limited to the above embodiments, and can be implemented in various aspects with various modifications and improvements based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art.
For example, the configuration of the processing apparatus of the present disclosure is not particularly limited. For example, the processing device 31 may be a lathe, a milling machine, a drilling machine, a milling cell, a turning center, a machining center, or the like.
Also, the loader 13 may be configured to be movable in the front-rear direction (Y-axis direction). In this case, the head 45 may be moved in the Y-axis direction (front-rear direction) to pass the workpiece W through the passage area 111 of the gauge member 104 to determine the machining dimension. That is, the machine tool 10 may move the workpiece W in the front-rear direction to inspect the machining dimensions.
The pedestal 18 may be configured so that the slide member 73 cannot be pulled out. For example, the mounting portion 85 may be fixed to the mounting table 18 .

The control device 21 may determine whether or not the workpiece W has passed through the passage area 111 based on the external force detected by the torque sensor or the load sensor.
Although the control device 21 executes the operation of placing the work W on the table 18 in response to the quality check operation of the operation unit 35 and determines the processing dimensions of the work W, it may be executed at other timing. For example, the control device 21 may move the workpiece W to the passing area 111 each time machining of the workpiece W is completed, and determine the machining dimensions. Then, the control device 21 may pass only the work W that has passed through the passage area 111 to the exit device 17 . Further, the control device 21 may automatically inspect the machining dimensions of the work W by the gauge member 104 based on a predetermined condition, for example, every preset number of times (the number of times the work W is machined).

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 machine tool, 13 loader, 18 stand, 21 control device, 31 processing device, 49 X-axis motor (motor), 51 Z-axis motor (motor), 104 gauge member, 85 placement section, 104, 104A, 104B, 104C , 104D gauge member, 105 first gauge member, 106 second gauge member, 107 slide base (slide mechanism), 108 rail portion (slide mechanism), 109 fixed member, 111, 111A, 111B passage area, F external force, L distance , P3 switching position, T1 threshold torque, T2 torque during transfer, V1 first speed, V2 second speed, W workpiece.

Claims (7)

a processing device for processing a workpiece;
a mounting table having a mounting portion for mounting the workpiece;
a loader that transports the workpiece between the processing device and the table;
a control device that controls the operation of the loader;
a gauge member provided at a position through which the work passes when the loader conveys the work from the processing device to the mounting portion of the mounting table, the gauge member having a passage area through which the work passes;
with
The passing area is
The width is set according to the target processing dimensions of the workpiece after being processed by the processing device,
The control device is
When the work held by the loader is conveyed from the processing device to the placement unit, the gauge member determines whether or not the work held by the loader passes through the passage area of the gauge member. A machine tool that determines based on an external force applied to the workpiece. The passage area of the gauge member is
The machine tool according to claim 1, arranged above said mounting section. The table is
The placement section is configured to be able to be pulled out to the outside of the machine tool,
The control device is
placing the work held by the loader on the mounting portion in response to the work passing through the passage area;
3. The machine tool according to claim 1, wherein said workpiece held by said loader is placed on said gauge member in response to determining that said workpiece does not pass through said passage area. The gauge member is
a first gauge member;
a second gauge member disposed on the side opposite to the first gauge member with the passing area interposed therebetween;
a slide mechanism that slidably holds the second gauge member and slides the second gauge member to change the size of the passage area;
a fixing member that fixes the slide position of the second gauge member in the slide mechanism;
4. A machine tool according to any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising: The loader
having a motor functioning as a drive source,
The control device is
Whether or not the workpiece passes through the passage area is determined based on whether or not the torque generated in the motor according to the external force applied to the workpiece from the gauge member is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold torque. A machine tool according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The control device is
When the loader is moved from the processing device to the placement section, the torque generated in the motor is equal to the transfer torque until the loader moves to a switching position separated from the placement section by a predetermined distance. Determine whether or not
6. The method according to claim 5, wherein when the loader reaches the switching position, the transfer torque is switched to the threshold torque, and the torque generated in the motor when the workpiece passes through the passage area is determined from the threshold torque. Machine tools as described. The threshold torque is
a torque smaller than the torque during transportation,
The control device is
7. The machine tool according to claim 6, wherein a second speed at which said loader is moved when passing through said passage area from said switching position is slower than a first speed at which said loader is moved to said switching position.

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