JP2795555B2 - Tool information management device in machining system - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a tool ID (Ide) for reading and rewriting information stored in a tool.
The present invention relates to a tool information management device in a machining system in which a plurality of machining cells having an (identity) system and a tool management computer are connected via a network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 4 is a view showing a machining system in which a plurality of machining cells having a tool ID system and a tool management computer are connected via a network. The machining system mutually associates the machining management computer 6, the tool management computer 2, the plurality of machining cells 1, the network 5 connecting them, and the tool management computer 2 and the plurality of machining cells 1 for carrying the tool 4. Transfer machine 3 to be connected
Consists of

[0003] The processing management computer 6 manages the entire processing system. That is, for example, a machining plan for performing efficient machining over the entire machining system is created, a machining program is transmitted to the machining cell 1 based on the machining plan, and the tool 4 required for machining is applied to the tool management computer 2. It is instructed to convey to the processing cell 1. The tool management computer 2 prepares the tool 4 based on the machining plan created by the machining management computer 2 or sends the worn tool 4 to a tool grinder (not shown) so that it can be used again. 4. Make a tool management plan so that efficient operation of
The tool 4 is supplied to the processing cell 1 by the transfer device 3.
The transporter 3 is a means for transporting the tool to a target place, and transports the tool 4 between the processing cells 1 and between the processing cell 1 and the tool management computer 2. The machining cell 1 refers to a single machine such as a numerically controlled lathe or a numerically controlled machining center. The tool ID system 10 in the processing cell 1 stores the tool ID stored in the storage means provided in the tool 4.
Read and rewrite information. Note that the tool ID information includes a tool identifier and tool information, and the tool information includes data representing physical characteristics of the tool such as a tool length and a tool diameter required for machining.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a conventional configuration of one machining cell 1 and a tool management computer 2 in the machining system shown in FIG. First, the processing cell 1 will be described. When the tool 4 having the tool ID information is carried into the machining cell 1 from the transfer machine 3, the tool carry-in recognition means 12a recognizes the carry-in and notifies the tool management means 11a of the tool carry-in. The tool management means 11a, which has received the notification of the tool loading, checks the tool ID.
The tool ID of the tool 4 carried in using the system 10a
Read the information to get the tool identifier. Tool management means 11
a generates tool correspondence information in which a tool designation number and a tool identifier are associated with each other in order to uniquely identify the tool 4 in the machining cell 1. This tool correspondence information is used for specifying the tool 4 to be used for machining from the tool designation number instructed in the machining program at the time of machining. When using the specified tool 4 for machining,
The tool management means 11a reads out the tool ID information of the tool 4 using the tool ID system 10a, whereby the machining cell 1 performs machining according to the physical characteristics indicated in the tool information.

Since the shape of the tool 4 physically changes when it is used for machining, it is necessary to change the tool information accordingly. That is, the tool information changing unit 13a changes the tool information as necessary, and notifies the tool management unit 11a of the changed tool information and the tool identifier of the corresponding tool 4. The tool management unit 11a rewrites the tool ID information stored in the corresponding tool 4 using the tool ID system 10a.

The tool management computer 2 also has a tool management means 11b, a tool ID system 10b, a tool carry-in recognition means 12b, and a tool information change means 13b, like the machining cell 1, and the tool management means 11b has the same configuration. The tool of the machining system is managed by reading and rewriting the tool ID information by the method.

As described above, the tool 4 is provided with the storage means, and the tool ID information is stored in the tool itself, while the machining cell 1 and the tool management computer 2 are provided with the tool ID system 10 for reading and writing the tool ID information. This makes it possible to automatically obtain information on the tool 4 by carrying in the tool 4. Therefore, tool information can be obtained without the intervention of an operator, so that unmanned machining steps can be achieved.

[0008]

By the way, in the above-mentioned tool information management apparatus in the conventional machining system, the tool management computer 2 manages the tools based on the planned machining plan. In the case of the deviation from the machining plan, the deviation cannot be recognized, and the efficiency of the operation of the tool deteriorates.

In addition, if a broken tool is replaced with a new tool and the processing system has only a limited number of tools, the worn tool 4 must be subjected to a grinding machine so that it can be used again. Must. However, since the tool information is physically attached to the tool, the tool information can be known only after the tool is returned to the tool management computer 2 and is stored in the machining cell 1 and on the transfer machine 3. Sometimes there is no way to know the tool information. Therefore, when the tool is returned to the tool management computer 2, processing such as tool exchange and polishing is concentrated, so that efficient operation cannot be performed.

Therefore, there is a problem that the number of tools possessed by the system must be increased in order to perform machining without impairing the efficiency of the conventional system.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to manage the use conditions such as the location and state of all tools in real time, thereby improving the efficiency. It is an object of the present invention to provide a tool information management device in a machining system capable of operating a tool.

[0012]

According to the present invention, there is provided a tool ID for reading or rewriting information stored in a tool.
The present invention relates to a tool information management device in a machining system in which a plurality of machining cells having a system and a tool management computer are connected via a network, and the object of the present invention is to provide a plurality of machining cells, a tool management computer,
A machining system is configured by a transporter and a network, and the tool has a function of storing tool ID information including a tool identifier for identifying itself and tool information representing its own physical characteristics, and the machining cell Each reads the tool ID information concerning the transported tool, obtains a tool identifier, generates tool correspondence information from the tool designation number and the tool identifier, and when the physical shape of the tool changes, the tool Information, and the tool ID information stored in the corresponding tool is rewritten together with the corresponding tool identifier, and the tool management computer is configured to manage tool usage information as tool management information. In the management device, when the tool is loaded, the machining cell inputs the tool identifier and uniquely identifies the machining cell. Tool input information generating means for generating a machining cell identifier for generating and outputting the tool input information together with the tool identifier, and when the physical characteristics of the tool change, the changed tool information and the tool of the tool A tool ID information generating unit that generates tool ID information based on an identifier; and a transmitting unit that transmits the tool carry-in information and the tool ID information through the network. Receiving means for receiving the tool ID information; time information generating means for generating time information; and time information indicating the time input to the tool management information corresponding to the tool determined by the tool identifier in the tool carry-in information. Registration means for registering a machining cell identifier in tool input information and a tool identifier and tool information included in the tool ID information. It is accomplished by configuring so as to have an update means for updating the tool management information of the corresponding tool Zui.

[0013]

According to the present invention, when a tool is loaded, each machining cell reads a tool identifier stored in the tool itself, and together with a machining cell identifier for uniquely identifying the machining cell. The tool management computer sends the received information to the tool management computer through the network as tool input information.The tool management computer stores the received information as tool management information together with information on the time at which the information was received. The tool ID information is generated based on the subsequent tool information and the tool identifier of the tool and transmitted to the tool management computer through the network, and the tool management computer updates the tool information in the tool management information based on the received tool ID information. By doing so, when a tool is loaded into a machining cell, the tool management computer It is possible to recognize which tool has been loaded into which machining cell at a given point in time, and if there is a change in the tool information of a tool owned by a certain machining cell, the tool information in which machining cell is immediately changed Can be recognized.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. The configuration of the entire processing system is the same as that shown in FIG. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a machining cell and a tool management computer in an embodiment of a tool information management device in a machining system according to the present invention.

In the machining cell 1, a machining cell identifier for uniquely identifying the own machining cell is generated, and the input tool identifier D2 and the machining cell identifier are combined with the tool loading information D.
4; a tool ID information generating unit 22 that receives the tool information D7 changed by the tool information changing unit 13a to generate tool ID information D8; a tool input information D4 and a tool ID A transmission unit 23 for transmitting the information D8 to the tool management computer 2 via the network 5 is newly added. Further, the tool management computer 2 includes a receiving unit 31 that receives the tool carry-in information D4 and the tool ID information D8 transmitted from the machining cell 1 via the network 5, a time information generating unit 32 that generates the time information D5, Registering means 33 for registering the tool loading information D4 received by the means 31 and the time information D5 generated by the time information generating means 32; and updating the tool management information based on the tool ID information D8 received by the receiving means 31. And updating means 34 to be added.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the tool information management device in the machining system according to the present invention when the tool 4 is carried into the machining cell 1. Therefore,
When the tool 4 is carried into the machining cell 1 from the transfer machine 3, the tool carry-in recognition means 12a recognizes that the tool 4 has been carried in, and recognizes the tool management means 11a and the tool carry-in information generation means 21.
The process is started by sending a tool carry-in notification D1 to the server (step S10). The tool management unit 11a that has received the tool carry-in notification D1 obtains the tool identifier D2 from the tool ID information of the carried-in tool 4 using the tool ID system 10a in the same manner as in the related art (step S11), and the tool carry-in information generating unit Send to 21. The tool carry-in information generating means 21 having received the tool identifier D2 generates a processing cell identifier for uniquely identifying the processing cell 1 (step S12), and converts the processing cell identifier and the input tool identifier D2 into a tool. Generated as carry-in information D4 (step S13),
Send to 3. The transmission unit 23 transmits the tool carry-in information D4 to the tool management computer 2 via the network 5 (Step S14), and the machining cell 1 ends the tool carry-in process (Step S15).

On the other hand, the receiving means 31 of the tool management computer 2 receives the tool carry-in information D4 through the network 5 (step S21). The time information generating means 32
Time information D5 representing the time at which the tool carry-in information D4 was received is generated (step S22). The registration unit 33 stores the tool 4 determined by the tool identifier D2 in the tool carry-in information D4.
Is registered in the tool management information corresponding to the time information D5 and the machining cell identifier D3 in the tool carry-in information D4 (step S23), and the tool management computer 2 ends the processing (step S24).

By the above-described series of tool loading processes, the machining cell 1 into which the tool has been loaded immediately notifies the tool management computer 2 of necessary information, and the tool management computer 2 records the information in the tool management information therein. . The tool management computer 2 can recognize which tool is the tool by the tool identifier D2 in the tool management information, can recognize which tool the tool is in by the processing cell identifier D3, and can recognize the tool in the processing cell by the time information D5. You can recognize when it was brought in. Therefore, the actual location and carry-in time of the tool can be managed using the tool management information.

Next, FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation when the tool information of the tool already owned by the machining cell 1 is changed. Therefore, when the physical shape of the tool 4 changes due to the use of the tool 4, the tool information changing means 13a as in the conventional case
Since the tool information of the tool 4 is changed, the changed tool information D7 and the tool identifier D6 of the tool 4 are stored in the tool management unit 1.
Notify 1a. In response to this notification, the machining cell 1 starts a tool information change process (step S30). The tool management unit 11a rewrites the tool ID information stored in the tool determined by the input tool identifier D6 using the tool ID system 10a (Step S31). Also,
The tool ID information generating means 22 is also a tool information changing means 13a.
Receives the tool identifier D6 and the tool information D7, generates the tool ID information D8 based on them, and sends it to the transmitting means 23 (step S32). The transmitting unit 23 transmits the tool ID information D8 to the tool management computer 2 via the network 5 (Step S33), and the processing of the machining cell 1 ends (Step S34).

On the other hand, the receiving means 31 of the tool management computer 2 starts the process of changing the tool information by receiving the tool ID information D8 via the network 5 (step S).
41). The receiving means 31 sends the received tool ID information D8 to the updating means 34, and the updating means 34 transmits the tool ID information D8.
The tool management information of the corresponding tool is updated based on the tool identifier D6 and the tool information D7 included in (1) (step S4).
2), the tool management computer 2 ends the processing (Step S43).

By the above-described series of tool information change processing,
The machining cell 1 in which the tool information has been changed immediately notifies the tool management computer 2 of necessary information, and the tool management computer 2 records the information in the tool management information therein. Therefore, the tool management computer 2 can manage the actual location and carry-in time of the tool using the tool management information.

[0022]

As described above, according to the tool management information device in the machining system of the present invention, the use status such as the location and state of all the tools in the machining system is managed in real time, and based on the machining results. Since the use time of the tool can be managed, the tool management computer does not need to wait for the end of the machining program even when the machining cell owns the tool, and performs the processing corresponding to the state of the tool in a time-dispersed manner. In this way, a lean and efficient tool management plan can be established. Therefore, the tools can be operated efficiently without increasing the number of tools. Further, even when the machining result deviates from the machining plan, the tool can be operated efficiently. Also, the effect of unmanned processing system is not impaired.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a machining cell and a tool management computer in an embodiment of a tool information management device in a machining system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation of the tool information management device in the machining system according to the present invention when a tool 4 is carried into a machining cell 1.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation when the tool information of a tool already owned by the machining cell 1 is changed.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a machining system in which a plurality of machining cells having a tool ID system and a tool management computer are connected via a network.

5 is a diagram showing a conventional configuration of one machining cell 1 and a tool management computer 2 in the machining system shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 processing cell 2 tool management computer 3 transfer machine 4 tool 5 network 6 processing management computer 10 tool ID system 11 tool management means 12 tool loading recognition means 13 tool information changing means 21 tool loading information generating means 22 tool ID information generating means 23 transmission Means 31 Receiving means 32 Time information generation means 33 Registration means 34 Update means

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Fields surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) B23Q 11/00 B23Q 3/155 B23Q 41/00

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A machining system comprising a plurality of machining cells, a tool management computer, a transporter, and a network, wherein the tool has a function of storing tool ID information, and each of the machining cells includes: The tool ID information concerning the transported tool is read to obtain a tool identifier, tool correspondence information is generated from the tool designation number and the tool identifier, and when the physical shape of the tool changes, the tool information is changed. ,
The tool ID information stored in the corresponding tool together with the corresponding tool identifier is rewritten, and the tool management computer is a tool information management device in a machining system that manages the use status of the tool as tool management information. When the tool is carried in, the machining cell inputs the tool identifier, generates a machining cell identifier for uniquely identifying the machining cell, and generates and outputs the tool identifier together with the tool identifier as tool carry-in information. A tool loading information generating means, and when a physical characteristic of the tool changes, a tool ID based on the changed tool information and a tool identifier of the tool.
Tool ID information generating means for generating information; and transmitting means for transmitting the tool loading information and the tool ID information through the network, wherein the tool management computer stores the tool loading information and the tool ID information. Receiving means for receiving, time information generating means for generating time information, and processing on time information indicating the time input to the tool management information corresponding to the tool determined by the tool identifier in the tool carry-in information and the tool carry-in information Machining comprising registering means for registering a cell identifier, and updating means for updating the tool management information of a corresponding tool based on the tool identifier and the tool information included in the tool ID information. Tool information management device in the system.