JP3027247B2 - Pallet changer controller for machine tools - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention makes it possible to properly operate both an NC device and a pallet changer even if a workpiece is set out of order with respect to a pallet changer attached to a machine tool having an NC device. The present invention relates to a pallet changer control device for a machine tool.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There is a case where a pallet changer is attached to a machine tool equipped with an NC device, and different works are sequentially set on a plurality of pallets of the pallet changer to automatically operate the machine tool.

In such a case, a series of machining programs to be loaded into the NC device are determined by matching the machining programs for the respective workpieces to the types of the workpieces sequentially loaded into the machine tool via the pallet changer. It is essential to prepare in accordance with the loading order.
That is, when the pallet changer carries in the first work to the machine tool in response to the work carry-in command from the NC device, the NC device operates the machine tool according to the machining program corresponding to the work, and thereafter, the subsequent work , It is necessary to repeat the same operation. At this time, the work carried into the machine tool and the operation content of the machine tool controlled by the NC device have a one-to-one correspondence. It is essential.

[0004]

According to the conventional technique, the order of the workpieces processed by the machine tool is as follows.
Since the work order is uniquely determined by the order of the machining programs to be loaded into the NC device, the operator must set the work on the pallet of the pallet changer in accordance with the order. There is no flexibility in the order of operations and processing, and it is impossible to deal with changes in the processing schedule, etc. In addition, there is a risk that a mistake in the order of set work may cause a fatal accident. Was inevitable.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a plurality of ready switches corresponding to pallets on a pallet changer and discriminating means in view of the problems of the prior art, thereby setting work on the pallet changer. It is an object of the present invention to provide a pallet changer control device for a machine tool that can smoothly operate an NC device or a pallet changer in any order.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a plurality of ready switches corresponding to a pallet on a pallet changer, which are input when a work is set on the pallet, are provided. , A pallet designating signal from the NC device and a ready switch are compared with each other. When the ready switch corresponding to the pallet designating signal is turned on, Output pallet loading instruction,
If not, the gist is to output a skip signal to the NC device.

[0007]

With this configuration, the ready switch is turned on when a work is set on a specific pallet by an operator. Therefore, when there is a pallet designation signal from the NC unit, the discriminating means is activated. By comparing the contents with the ready switch, it is possible to determine whether or not the work is set on the pallet, based on whether or not the ready switch corresponding to the pallet designation signal is turned on. That is, the discriminating means outputs a pallet carry-in command to the pallet changer depending on whether or not the work has been set on the designated pallet corresponding to the pallet designation signal from the NC device. On the other hand, a skip signal can be output.

The pallet changer can carry in the designated pallet to the machine tool by following the pallet carry-in command from the discriminating means. Thereafter, the NC device executes a machining program corresponding to the work on the pallet. do it. When no work is set on the designated pallet corresponding to the pallet designation signal, the NC device outputs the next pallet designation signal without executing the corresponding machining program in accordance with the skip signal from the determination means. I do. In the same manner, the pallet changer carries only the pallet on which the work is set to the machine tool by following the work carry-in command from the determination means, and the NC device follows the skip signal by following the skip signal.
It is possible to execute the machining program corresponding to the work on the loaded pallet and operate so as not to execute the machining program corresponding to the other work. It is possible to respond appropriately.

[0009]

Embodiments will be described below with reference to the drawings.

A pallet changer control device (hereinafter, simply referred to as a control device) 10 for a machine tool includes a plurality of ready switches SWi (i = 1, 2,...
And drive means 12 (FIG. 1). However, the control device 10 controls a pallet changer A attached to a machine tool M such as a machining center.
Is provided with an NC device N.

The pallet changer A has n pallets Pi (i = 1, 2,..., N). Each pallet Pi moves to an exchange position A1 facing the machine tool M and is unloaded to the machine tool M. Can be set, and the setup position A
Pull out to 2 to set the work.
However, different works are mounted on each pallet Pi via a mounting jig (not shown).

The ready switch SWi is connected to the determination means 11
It is connected to the. The ready switch SWi corresponds to the pallet Pi of the pallet changer A, is manually turned on when the setting of the work on the pallet Pi is completed, and can be automatically reset by the determination means 11.

The discriminating means 11 receives a pallet designation signal Sm from the NC unit N. In addition, determination means 1
1, the skip signal Ssk is output to the NC device N.

Another output of the discriminating means 11 is input to the pallet changer A via the driving means 12 as a pallet carry-in command Sp. Pallet changer A
, The completion signal Sfi (i = 1, 2,... N)
2 and the completion signal Sf from the driving means 12 is N
Output to C device N. However, the completion signal Sfi is
The pallet changer A indicates that the pallet Pi has been carried into the machine tool M, and the completion signal Sf is
It is assumed that the operation of the control device 10 is completed in response to the pallet designation signal Sm from the NC device N.

The NC device N and the machine tool M are bidirectionally connected.

The control device 10 operates together with the NC device N in accordance with the program flowcharts shown in FIGS.

First, when the control device 10 starts its operation (FIG. 2), the pallet designation signal Sm from the NC device N
Check whether or not information Mi (i = 1, 2,... N) is given (see the program step (p
1), hereinafter simply referred to as (p1)), when there is no information Mi, further until information Ma is given (p1
0), circulating through the program steps (p1) and (p10) and waiting. However, here, the information Mi indicates that the NC apparatus N is in a state of executing the machining program Fi (i = 1, 2,... N) of the work corresponding to the pallet Pi of the pallet changer A. Ma indicates that the machining of the workpiece corresponding to all the information Mi has been completed and the machining operation is ready to be completed.

On the other hand, the NC device N firstly receives the index i
As i = 1 (program step (n1) in FIG. 3)
The information Mi = M1 is output to the control device 10 via the pallet designation signal Sm (n2). When the control device 10 recognizes the information Mi = M1 provided in this way (p1), the information Mi = M1
Is determined by whether or not the ready switch SWi = SW1 corresponding to the index i is turned on (p2), the index i at that time
A pallet carry-in command Sp containing = 1 is output to the pallet changer A (p3), or the skip signal Ssk is output.
Is output to the NC device N (p12). In the former case, the skip signal Ssk is immediately reset (p
4).

Here, the ready switch SWi = SW1
Is to be manually input by an operator when the work is completed on the pallet Pi = P1 corresponding to the pallet Pi = P1. Therefore, the program is executed when the ready switch SWi = SW1 is turned on. It can be recognized that the work is set in the. At this time, the pallet changer A responds to the pallet carry-in command Sp from the control device 10 to specify the designated pallet Pi.
= P1 is loaded into the machine tool M, and a completion signal Sfi = Sf1 is sent to the control device 10 upon completion of the loading operation. Therefore, the control device 10 recognizes this (p5) and prepares the ready switch SWi = SW1 is automatically reset (p6), and a completion signal Sf can be output to the NC unit N (p7).

When the completion signal Sf from the control device 10 is input, the NC device N causes the pallet changer A to carry the pallet Pi = P1 into the machine tool M in accordance with the information Mi = M1. Since it is possible to recognize that the corresponding operation of No. 10 has been completed (n3), after that, the information Mi = M1 is reset (n4), and it is confirmed that there is no skip signal Ssk from the control device 10 (n3).
5) The machining program Fi = F1 corresponding to the work on the pallet Pi = P1 is executed (n11). By executing the machining program Fi = F1, the NC device N can control the drive of the machine tool M and execute machining of the workpiece on the pallet Pi = P1. When the machining program F1 ends, the NC device N sets the index i = i + 1 (n12) and outputs the next information Mi = M2 to the control device 10 (n2).

When the processing preparation switch SWi = SW1 is not turned on (p2), the control device 10 outputs a skip signal Ssk (p12) and resets the processing preparation switch SWi = SW1 (p6). The completion signal Sf is output to the NC unit N (p7). Then, the NC apparatus N considers that the operations of the pallet changer A and the control apparatus 10 corresponding to the information Mi = M1 have been completed (n3).
The information Mi = M1 is reset (n4), and the presence or absence of the skip signal Ssk is checked (n5). At this time, since the skip signal Ssk from the control device 10 exists (n
5), confirming that the total number of pallets Pi has not been completed (n6), and setting index i = i + 1 (n12)
The next information Mi = M2 is output (n2). That is,
At this time, the pallet changer A does not operate at all,
Also, the NC device N does not execute the machining program Fi = F1.

In any of the above cases, when the control device 10 outputs the completion signal Sf (p7), N
C device N by its program step (n4)
It waits for resetting the information Mi = M1 included in the pallet designation signal Sm (p8). When the information Mi = M1 is reset (p8), the control device 10 resets the completion signal Sf (p9), and the new information Mi and Ma are transmitted to the NC device N.
And waits ((p1), (p
2)). Therefore, if the next information Mi = M2 is given from the NC device N (p1), the control device 10 can operate similarly to the new information Mi = M2.

Similarly, each time the NC unit N outputs information Mi = M1, M2,... Mn via the pallet designation signal Sm, the control unit 10 sets the corresponding ready switch SWi = SW1, When the switches SW2... SWn are loaded, the corresponding pallets Pi = P1, P2... Pn are loaded into the machine tool M via the pallet changer A, and the corresponding machining programs Fi = F1. F2... Fn can be executed. Also, the ready switch SWi = SW1, SW2
... SWn are not operated, the corresponding pallet changer A is not operated, and the execution of the machining programs Fi = F1, F2,.

When the designated pallet Pi is carried into the machine tool M, the pallet changer A, when another pallet Pj (j = 1, 2,... N, i ≠ j) already exists in the machine tool M, First, it is assumed that the pallet Pj is unloaded from the machine tool M, and then the pallet Pi is loaded. In addition, the worker may set the work corresponding to the pallet Pj carried out from the machine tool M in this manner, but at this time, the machine tool M
It is not necessary to set the works in the order of the pallets Pj carried out from the pallet. This is because the pallet Pj on which the workpiece is not set is not re-loaded into the machine tool M by not turning on the corresponding ready switch SWj, and the machining program Fj for the pallet Pj is not executed.

In the NC unit N, if the index i is i =
When n is reached, a series of operations for all the pallets Pi on the pallet changer A is completed (n6).
The C device N outputs information Ma via the pallet designation signal Sm (n7).

When the information Ma is given (p10), the control device 10 sets the ready switch SW at that time.
i is checked (p11), and if all of them are not in the closed state, a skip signal Ssk is output (p1).
2) If at least one of the ready switches SWi is turned on (p11), the skip signal Ssk is reset (p13). Thereafter, the control device 10 outputs the completion signal Sf (p7), and waits for the disappearance of the information Mi = Ma (p8). However, at this time, the control device 10 transmits the information M
Since there is no ready switch SWi corresponding to a, the program step (p6) ignores it.

When the NC unit N detects that the operation corresponding to the information Ma is completed based on the completion signal Sf from the control unit 10 (n8), it resets the information Ma (n8).
9) If there is a skip signal Ssk (n10), all program operations are terminated. If there is no skip signal Ssk (n10), the above operation is repeated with index i = 1 (n1). On the other hand, the control device 10 resets the completion signal Sf by resetting the information Ma (p8) (p9), and returns to the standby state. That is, at the time of the index i = n, all the ready switches SWi
Is not turned on, the NC device N ends its operation, otherwise, the NC device N sends the information Mi =
By sequentially re-outputting M1, M2,... Mn, the control device 10 can find the ready switch SWi that has been turned on, and can again instruct the loading of the corresponding pallet Pi and the execution of the machining program Fi. .

That is, when the work is reset on an arbitrary pallet Pi before the NC device N stops operating, the control device 10 detects the fact via the ready switch SWi and detects the fact that the pallet changer A , The NC device N can continue to carry in the pallet Pi and process the work on the pallet Pi.

Here, comparing the block diagram of FIG. 1 with the program flowchart of FIG. 2, the former drive means 12 is a part of the program steps (p3), (p7), (p9) of FIG. It is clear that the other program steps correspond to the determination means 11.

In the above description, the ready switch S
When the setting of the work on the pallet Pi is completed, Wi uses an appropriate work detection sensor or the like instead of manually inputting by the operator, and the pallet Pi is used.
May be automatically turned on in response to a signal from the controller.

As the pallet designation signal Sm output from the NC unit N, an auxiliary function (so-called M function) provided in a standard NC unit can be used for each of the information Mi and Ma. Further, the execution of the machining program Fi is omitted by the skip signal Ssk input to the NC unit N,
Alternatively, as a function of re-executing the program from the beginning, an optional block skip function in a standard NC device can be used. Therefore, the present invention can be applied to an existing machine tool equipped with an NC device as it is without adding any modification to the interior of the NC device even when adding the pallet changer A.

In FIG. 1, the control means 10 may open-loop control the pallet changer A in response to the pallet carry-in command Sp.
The completion signal Sfi from the pallet changer A can be omitted.

[0033]

As described above, according to the present invention, a plurality of ready switches corresponding to the pallets on the pallet changer, and the discriminating means for comparing the pallet designation signal from the NC device with the ready switches are provided. Is provided, the discriminating means outputs a work transfer command to the pallet changer according to the ON state of the ready switch, and causes the pallet for which the work has been set to be carried into the machine tool, or to the NC device. In response to this, a skip signal is output, and the execution of the machining program corresponding to the pallet for which the setting of the work is not completed can be omitted. Therefore, the NC device can actually set the work set on the pallet and loaded into the machine tool. The corresponding machining program can be executed only for I also, pallet changer, N
The C device has an excellent effect that it can respond appropriately without any problem.

[Brief description of the drawings]

Fig. 1 Overall block system diagram

FIG. 2 is a program flowchart (1).

FIG. 3 is a program flowchart (2).

[Explanation of symbols]

 N: NC unit A: Pallet changer Pi: Pallet SWi: Ready switch Sm: Pallet designation signal Sp: Pallet loading command Ssk: Skip signal Sf: Completion signal 10: Control device 11: Judgment means

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] A plurality of ready switches corresponding to a pallet on a pallet changer and input when a work is set on the pallet are compared with a pallet designation signal from an NC device and the ready switch. When the ready switch corresponding to the pallet designation signal is turned on,
A pallet changer control device for a machine tool, which outputs a pallet carry-in command to a pallet changer and outputs a skip signal to an NC device when the pallet changer is not loaded.