JP2853124B2 - Tool identification device - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tool identification device, and particularly to a machine tool having an automatic tool changer such as a machining center for identifying a predetermined tool from a plurality of tools. The present invention relates to a tool identification device for performing

[Summary of the Invention]

According to the present invention, an automatically readable mark such as a bar code is displayed by performing printing on a tool holder used in a machining center or the like by an etching method. The information is managed by the automatic reading means such as the information on the cutting tool attached to the tool holder and the offset amount.

[Conventional technology]

The machining center is equipped with an automatic tool changer,
This apparatus automatically performs a plurality of machining operations while automatically exchanging tools. In addition, by equipping this machining center with a work changer,
Work exchange is also performed automatically, so that machining is further automated.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

In the magazine of the automatic tool changer of the machining center, there is a number corresponding to the tool pot, the operator puts the tool at the place specified by the program, and automatically takes out the tool of the number specified by the program on the machine side Like that. Therefore, there is no problem when a tool is set in the machine, but no tool information exists when the tool is removed from the machine. Normally, the dimensions of the cutting tool when it is removed from the machine and the dimensions (offset amount) from the cutting edge to the luggage line of the holder are noted and taken into account. However, when the number of tools is increased, there is a problem in that identification and management of similar tools cannot be performed in storage.

The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a tool identification device that ensures that tool information is retained even when a tool is removed from a machine. It is assumed that.

[Means for solving the problem]

The present invention relates to an apparatus in which a tool is attached to a holder and the tool is attached to an automatic tool changer by the holder. Are directly engraved by etching along the circumferential direction, and at least the type of the tool and the offset amount of the tool are displayed by the mark.

[Action]

Therefore, by reading a mark such as a bar code formed on the outer peripheral surface of the flange-shaped projection of the holder by the reading means, information on the tool held by the holder and an offset amount of the tool with respect to the holder are automatically detected. Is done.

〔Example〕

FIG. 2 shows the overall configuration of a machining system using a machining center using a tool identification device according to one embodiment of the present invention. This system includes a setup machining center 10 and three normal machining centers 11. ,
It is composed of 12 and 13. Tool holder storage 14 and pallet rack are located on the side of the setup machining center 10.
15 and are arranged. A tool insertion table 16 is provided in the tool holder storage 14, and the tool insertion table 16
A tool holder 17 for holding a tool is inserted into the hole.

As shown in FIG. 1, the tool holder 17 has a tubular portion 20 at the lower end thereof, and the tool 21 is held by the tubular portion 20. Further, the tool holder 17 has a flange-shaped attaching / detaching / holding portion 22, and the upper side thereof is a tapered fitting portion. Further, the upper side of the tapered fitting portion 23 is a protrusion 24, and the protrusion 24 is pulled to press-fit the tapered fitting portion 23 into a fitting hole of the automatic tool changer. A mark made of a bar code 25 is engraved on the outer peripheral surface of the flange-shaped stopper 22. Note that the mark 25 is formed by etching. The bar code 25 is read by a bar code reader 26 provided on the tool insertion table 16 shown in FIG. Bar code reader 26 reads computer
27 to be entered.

The tools taken out of the tool holder storage 14 are used for three normal machining centers 11, 1 by the tool case 30.
2, 13 are supplied to the automatic tool changers 31, 32, 33, respectively. Furthermore, machining centers 11, 1
2 and 13 are equipped with pallet changers 34, 35 and 36,
The pallet 37 supplied from the pallet rack 15 is received. In addition, machining centers 11 for normal processing,
12 and 13 are provided with computers 38, 39 and 40, respectively, and are controlled by these computers 38-40. The computers 38 to 40 are connected to the computer 27 on the setup machining center 10 via a communication cable. Machining center 1
Work platforms 41, 42 between 1 and 12 and between 12 and 13 respectively
Is arranged.

For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the machining center 11 for normal machining is provided with a receiving base 45 so as to face a tip end of an automatic tool changer 31, and a tool case 30 on the receiving base 45 is provided.
The tool inside is taken out by the tool changing robot 46. The pallet changer 34 for receiving the pallet 37 supplied from the pallet rack 15 is disposed vertically upright, and the processing section main body 47 is disposed on the side thereof. In this processing part main body 47, the selected pallet
The work held by 37 is processed by a predetermined tool 21.

In the above configuration, a bar code 25 is engraved on the outer peripheral surface of the flange-like attachment / detachment holding portion 22 of the tool holder 17 holding the tool 21. Information such as a serial number is entered in the barcode 25, and the blade 27 information corresponding to the number is stored and managed by the computer 27. When used, information is called up by the bar code reader 26 and the information is input to the machining centers 10-13.

For example, when storing a tool, the tool holder 16
17 is set, the bar code 25 is read by the bar code reader 26, and the bar code is automatically stored at the designated address. When taking out a tool, the computer 27 inputs a tool number and calls a necessary tool. At this time, the tool information is output on the display of the computer 27.

The cutting tool information corresponding to the bar code 25 is supplied to the setup machining center 10 by supplying the tool 21 held by the holder 17 to obtain information by the machining center 10. The set length and the cutting depth of the attached tool 21 are obtained. The reading is performed by the computer 27 through the machining center 10. Furthermore, the setup machining center 10 reads the coordinate values of various pallets 37 in the pallet rack 15, thereby supplying information corresponding to the work of each pallet 37 to the computer 27. The setup machining center 10 also performs the initial processing of the work held on the specific pallet 37, and checks the contents of the NC tape at this time.

Next, the tool 21 held in the tool holder storage 14
Is supplied to each of the machining centers 11 to 13. The tool is supplied by arranging the tool holder 17 holding the tool 21 in the tool case 30. At this time, the designation of the seat of the tool case 30 is performed by the computer 27. The tool case 30 is used as a support for the automatic tool changers 31, 32, and 33 of the machining centers 11, 12, and 13.
When placed on 45, the user designates the seat number of the tool case 30 from the computer 27 through the corresponding computers 38, 39, and 40 to select a predetermined tool 21. The tool robot 46 is mounted on a predetermined seat of the automatic tool changer 31. Therefore, when the robot 46 selects a tool, it is performed only by selecting a seat. Robot for tool change
Bar code reader 26 that reads bar code 25 each
In this case, the computer 27 does not need to instruct the seat of the tool case 30.

On the other hand, the work is supplied from the pallet rack 15 and the work is supplied to the pallet changers 34 to 36 of the machining centers 11 to 13, respectively. Then, a predetermined work held on the pallet 37 is selected in the pallet changers 34 to 36, and this work is processed by the predetermined tool selected by the automatic tool changers 31 to 33 in the processing unit main body 47. It has become.

In such a system, since the management of the tool 21 is performed by the barcode 25, the operation is simplified. Further, since tool management is performed using the barcode 25, writing and reading errors of blade tool information are prevented. Tool management such as the number of tools, tool types, and tool usage time is managed by a computer.
Will be done freely through Further, recording of the offset amount of the tool 21 and transfer of data to the NC side can be easily performed. Further, the tool can be easily identified simply by attaching the bar code 25 to the commercially available tool holder 17.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the present invention, an automatically readable mark such as a bar code is directly engraved on the outer peripheral surface of the flange-shaped protrusion of the holder for holding the tool by etching along the circumferential direction, and at least the tool is formed by the mark. And the offset amount of the tool are displayed.

Therefore, by reading the automatically readable mark on the outer peripheral surface of the flange-like projection of such a holder by the reading means, the type of tool and the offset amount of the tool can be automatically identified on the machine tool side. Will be possible.
Then, automatic machining can be performed based on such information on the type of tool and information on the offset amount of the tool.

Also, by automatically reading information on the type of tool,
Tool management is ensured, and erroneous machining and failure of the machine tool can be prevented. Further, by identifying the offset amount of the tool, not only machining with an accurate machining dimension is performed, but also programming of the machine tool can be simplified.

In addition, since the automatically readable mark is directly engraved on the outer peripheral surface of the flange-shaped protrusion of the holder by etching along the circumferential direction, it is possible to clearly form an accurate display by etching. The display does not peel off or fall off. Further, the display position does not shift with time.

In particular, since an automatically readable mark such as a bar code is formed on the outer periphery of the flange-shaped protrusion of the holder, the above-mentioned indication is stained or damaged by the chuck on the machine side holding the holder. This prevents reading errors from occurring.

In addition, since an automatically readable mark such as a barcode as described above is formed along the circumferential direction on the outer peripheral surface of the flange-shaped protrusion of the holder, a comparison is made to form such a mark. Thus, it is possible to secure a target wide space, and it is possible to reliably display necessary information in such a wide space.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a tool holder provided with an identification device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view of an entire system including four machining centers, and FIG. 3 is a front view of the machining center. is there. In the reference numerals used in the drawings, 14: tool holder storage 16: tool insertion table 17: tool holder 20: cylindrical part 21: tool 22: flange-shaped stopper 23: tapered fitting Part 24: Projecting part 25: Bar code 26: Bar code reader 27: Computer.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A tool identification device in which a tool is mounted on a holder and the tool is mounted on an automatic tool changer by the holder, wherein a bar code or the like can be automatically read on the outer peripheral surface of the flange-shaped projection of the holder. A tool mark directly engraved along the circumferential direction by etching, and the mark indicates at least the type of the tool and the offset amount of the tool.