JP3209890B2 - Production cell - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a numerical control machine tool and a production cell for continuously producing various kinds of parts by a supporting device for the machine tool.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in a numerically controlled machine tool (NC machine tool), a support device for smoothly performing an operation of the NC machine tool is provided in parallel. The support device includes a work table on which a workpiece to be machined is placed, a chuck stocker for storing a plurality of types of chuck claws for gripping a workpiece in an NC machine tool, and a chucking / removing work for a workpiece and a chuck for an NC machine tool ( A loader that performs loading / unloading, and a hand stocker that stores a plurality of types of gripping hands of the loader. Such an NC machine tool and the entire support device as described above are called a production cell. Conventionally, when such a production cell is used to produce a large number of types and small quantities or produce a variety of variables, the NC machine tool uses a machining sequence, chuck jaws, and a loader hand based on information on the type and quantity to be produced. In addition, a method of storing a program for exchanging workpieces and the like is employed, and the production is executed by the program. This program is a so-called schedule program created as a series of operations from the start to the end of production.

[0003]

In the conventional apparatus as described above, the program describes the operations from the start to the end of the production as a series, so that the quantity and the order of the types to be produced are determined. There is a problem in that when the is changed, it is necessary to re-create the entire program accordingly. Also, if any defective work occurs during the production, it is necessary to stop the work after the defective work and perform a skip process for skipping the work, but this skip process causes a problem that a program becomes very complicated. there were. The complication caused by the skip processing makes it difficult to re-create the above-mentioned program. In addition, the operator needs to prepare a work material on a predetermined work table according to a work production plan and store chuck claws and a loader hand in each stocker. Was read and judged, and the burden of operation was heavy. In addition, there is a problem that the order and storage position of the work tables are incorrect. The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems, and has as its object to provide a production cell which can easily respond to a change in a production plan and can reduce the burden on an operator. .

[0004]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a production cell according to the present invention comprises a numerical control machine tool for machining a workpiece, and a numerical control machine tool for performing a predetermined operation by the numerical control machine tool. A work device including a support device for performing support, and an integrated control device that instructs the work device to perform work in accordance with a predetermined production plan. In the work device, a work program corresponding to each type of work and each type of work process, and a work program including a system variable that is setting information related to the type of work and the work process is stored, and the integrated control device includes: A plurality of types of steps are sequentially executed by designating the work program and the set values of the system variables in accordance with the order of the work to be processed and the steps. In this production cell, in the work apparatus, one work program is created and stored for each type of work and process corresponding to one process of one type of component. Then, in the integrated control device, the above-described sequential work program is designated based on the production plan, and the production is performed. In the work program, information indicating the setting of the NC machine tool for performing the work is described as a variable (system variable). Then, based on the set values of the system variables determined for each process, which are instructed by the integrated control device, each working device can make settings for the work. Therefore, for example, whatever the chuck pawl or hand used in the previous step, the chuck pawl or hand required for the step is appropriately set. As described above, even if a change occurs in the production plan, it is possible to cope with the plan change only by changing the work program instruction in the integrated control device.

Further, another production cell according to the present invention includes a numerical control machine tool for machining a workpiece, a support device for supporting the numerical control machine tool to perform a predetermined operation, and a predetermined device. An integrated control device for instructing the numerically controlled machine tool to perform an operation according to a production plan. The numerical control device includes a system variable that corresponds to the type of work and the type of work process, and is a setting information related to the type of work and the work process.
A machining program for instructing the support device based on a set value of a system variable is stored, and the support device includes:
A support program corresponding to each type of support work is stored, and the integrated control device sequentially instructs the machining program and the set values of the system variables in accordance with the order of the work to be processed and the process, thereby sequentially performing a plurality of types of processes. Execute. In this production cell, numerically controlled machine tools
One machining program is created and stored for each type of workpiece and process corresponding to one process of one type of component. And in the integrated control device,
The aforementioned machining programs are sequentially designated based on the production plan, and production is performed. In the machining program,
Information indicating the setting of the NC machine tool for performing the work is described as a variable (system variable). Then, the numerically controlled machine tool determines whether or not the current setting is an appropriate setting based on the set value of the system variable specified for each process, which is instructed by the integrated control device. If not appropriate, the numerically controlled machine tool
Instruct support work so that the settings are appropriate. Thus, the setting for the work can be performed.
Therefore, for example, whatever the chuck pawl or hand used in the previous step is, the chuck pawl or hand required for the step is appropriately set. As described above, even if a change occurs in the production plan, it is possible to cope with the plan change only by changing the machining program instruction in the integrated control device.

Further, the numerically controlled machine tool has a defect determining means for determining a processing defect, and a defective work notifying means for notifying the integrated processing device of the work for which the defect has been determined. May have a defective work skip means for prohibiting a subsequent work process relating to the defective work and instructing to jump to the next work process. In this production cell,
When a defective work is generated, the production can be continued by excluding the defective work from a subsequent production plan. At this time, there is no need to make any changes to the work program or machining program itself, and it is not necessary to create these programs in consideration of the skip processing.

[0007] Further, each of the above-mentioned production cells includes preparation information creating means for creating preparation information, which is information relating to initial setting of the support device, from a production plan and set values of the system variables. And a preparation information notifying means for notifying the operator of the above. The operator only has to perform the initial setting based on the preparation information, and it is not necessary to read directly from the machining program, so that the burden is reduced and the erroneous setting is reduced.

[0008]

FIG. 1 shows an example of a system configuration of a production cell according to an embodiment of the present invention. The integrated control device 1 includes a computer body such as a personal computer, a CRT, a keyboard, a printer, and the like, and manages a processing schedule and a work master for operating the production cell. The working device 2 is an NC machine tool that is a kind of NC machine tool.
A lathe 3, a loader 4 for loading / unloading a work or chuck jaws, a work table 5 for placing a work, a reversing device 6 for reversing the work as needed between processes, a plurality of loader hands each suitable for the type of work. Loader hand stocker (AHC) 7, which stores
It comprises a chuck claw stocker (AJC) 8 for accommodating a plurality of chuck claws for exchanging the chuck claws for gripping the work with the NC lathe according to the shape of the work. The integrated control device 1 and the working device 2 are connected by a communication line,
It exchanges control information such as start-up, management information such as system variables for operation, and performance information such as the operation status of the work device 2.

FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are diagrams for explaining the flow of information / program according to the present embodiment. The integrated control device 1 is provided with an area for storing a machining schedule 13 representing a production plan and a work master 14 representing a machining program name corresponding to each work and each machining step and setting conditions such as the NC lathe 3. The work schedule NO. A processing mode that defines the part name, the number, and the processing order of the work is registered for each production plan.
The work master 14 has a process number for each part name to be machined, a machining program name for designating a machining program, necessity of reversing by the reversing device 6, a name of a chuck claw to be used, a name of a loader hand to be used, a used tool, and the like. Is registered according to the processing content. Further, in the integrated control device 1, after extracting the chuck jaws and the loader hand to be used based on the data registered in the processing schedule 13 and the work master 14, the addresses of the chuck jaw stocker 8 and the loader hand stocker 7 are determined. Then, the AJC address information and the AHC address information 15 are automatically created. Also,
Tool information 24 such as tool life management information registered in the numerical control device 11 and ATC magazine information indicating which tool number of the tool is installed in correspondence with the number of the tool magazine pot is integrated with the integrated control device. Transfer to 1 2
1 to compare the tool currently mounted on the ATC magazine with the tool used in the work master 14 based on the part name specified in the machining schedule 13, and
Automatically created as collection information 16. Thereafter, by issuing a work instruction command, the preparation information 22 is created, and the AJC
Preparation instruction, AHC preparation instruction, material preparation instruction, tool input /
The work instruction 20 of the collection preparation instruction is the CR of the integrated control device 1.
T, output to printer.

When the system operation is started after the completion of the preparation, the integrated controller 1 sends system variables such as the chuck jaw address 18, the loader hand address 19, the presence / absence of work reversal, and the load / unload work table address 20 to the numerical controller 11. Sent. Then, by instructing the numerical control device 11 from the integrated control device 1 to select the NC program and start the NC program 17,. The MIN machining program 23 starts operating. The machining program 23 includes chuck jaw exchange operation control OAJC, loader hand exchange operation control OAHC, and work exchange operation control OAWC as shown in the figure.
1. Subprograms created for general use such as OAWC2 are programmed. Then, in the case of the chuck jaw address 18, for example, based on the system variable transmitted from the integrated control device 1, the system variable is referred to in the chuck jaw replacement operation control OAJC and compared with the chuck jaw currently mounted on the working device 2. If not, the chuck exchange operation is performed using the loader 4. The machining program 23 stored in the numerical controller 11 executes chuck jaw exchange, loader hand exchange, work exchange, work machining, and the like based on the received system variables. The numerical controller 11 selects a program for the loader control NC 12 and executes a loader operation based on the selected loader operation program 26 and loader point data 27. Further, the system variables (address No. 28, inversion 2
An instruction is performed based on 9), and a work table index 30 and a work reversing operation 31 are performed.

FIG. 4 shows the relationship between an NC program as a machining program when loading a workpiece and a loader program as one of support programs. The NC main program 40 is composed of several sub-programs, for example, chuck chuck replacement (OAJC.SSB), loader hand replacement (OAHC.SSB), and tool replacement (OAT).
C. SSB), for loading / unloading work (OAW
C1. SSB, OAWC2. SSB) and work processing (OCUTi.SSB), work measurement (OGAG
i. A subprogram such as SSB) is prepared.
The subprograms for work machining and work measurement are different for each work because they depend on the type of work, but the other subprograms are programmed as common subprograms for the work. For this reason, chuck jaws, loader hands and work loading /
The unloading operation and the like are sent from the integrated control device 1 to the numerical control device 11 as system variables, and the operation is programmed so as to differ depending on the system variables. FIG.
The relationship among the NC main program 40, the subprogram 41, the loader operation program 42 and the loader point data 43 shown in FIG. Since the loader point data differs depending on the work, the NC main program 4
0 to CALL ~. A loader point data file of a work to be processed in the form of the LPD is selected 45. Next, CALL OAWC1. S
The subprogram 41 is selected 44 in the form of SB, and the called subprogram 41 first loads the loader operation program CA
LL AWC. The LDR 42 is selected 46. According to the system variables sent from the integrated control device 1, for example, V6 of the given system variable 50 shown in FIG. One process per one work,
Requests by selecting a processing mode such as 1 / 2-step work attachment / detachment for processing two consecutive processes, temporary placement work attachment / detachment in which a temporary placement table is placed in front of the working device 2 and the next work is prepared on the temporary placement table in advance. 47, the common variables V7 to V15 in FIG. 4 are written into the register of the loader point data 43, and the loader operation program 42 refers to the point data and the register data of the loader point data 43.
Then, a predetermined operation is performed.

FIG. 5 shows a subprogram O for performing work exchange.
AWC1. 2 shows a flowchart of SSB and system variables provided from the integrated control device 1. The subprogram for work exchange first selects a loader operation program file for work attachment / detachment, loads it into the memory (S1), and selects V7 of the system variables 50 transferred from the integrated control device 1.
To V15 are written to the registers of the loader point data file (S2), and the system variables V6:
The machining mode is determined based on the machining mode, and if the machining modes are the same (S3), the O0001 same-step work wear is requested and activated (S5), and the machining mode is set to 1 /
If it is 2 (S4), O0002 1/2 process work wear is requested and activated (S6), otherwise, O0003 temporary placement work wear is requested and activated (S7). The loader operation program requested in the designated processing mode performs a predetermined operation while referring to the point data of the loader point data 43 and the register data.

Next, a description will be given of a skipping process for a defective workpiece when an abnormality such as a defective workpiece measurement result or an overload occurs, with reference to FIG. First, the configuration of the skip processing will be described with reference to FIGS. When the defective work information is transmitted from the numerical control device 11, the integrated control device 1 manages the next work (the next work to be processed) determined based on the processing schedule 13 by the integrated control device 1 (not shown). Based on the normal / defective information for each work, it is determined whether the processing step before the next work is a normal work or a defective work. If the work is defective, the next work is determined as a work to be processed next. If this work is a normal work, the work table address of the determined work is searched, the address of the work table on which the defective work is placed is skipped, and the load work table address of the work to be processed next determined is determined. Is set to the set value of the system variable and transferred to the numerical controller 11. At the same time, the unload work table address of the processed work in the NC lathe 3 is set to the set value of the system variable and transferred to the numerical controller 11. In this case, if the specified address of the unload work table is the same as the address of the load work table when the processed work is loaded, it is returned to the original position (address).

The numerical controller 11 receives a load / unload work table address from the integrated controller 1 (2).
0, the work exchange operation control (OAWC1, OAWC2) described in the machining program 23 is executed, and the system variable of the load / unload work table address instructed by the integrated control device 1 to the loader control NC12 is set. The value is instructed from the numerical control device 11, and the loader control NC 12 sends the address NO.
, The work table address on which the defective work is placed is skipped, and the work table 30 on which the normal work is placed is calculated.

The example of FIG. 6 is a case where the machining mode is the same step, and when the same work is continuous, for example, when three work A are placed on the work table in succession. The processing order is the processing of the first step of A, the processing of the second step of A, the processing of the third step of A, and the processing of the first step of A. , A is a machining mode in which the same process as the second process of A is processed, and then the next process is processed. In order to explain the skip operation, the work is displayed on the work table as A. , A, A, B,
The operation will be described in detail with an example where B, C, D, D, and D are placed in this order. First, after the first process of three A works is completed as a normal work, the second process is started.
When the second work in the second process of the work is determined to be a defective work, the work is returned to the original position of the work table 5 by the loader 4. Next, when processing the third step of the A work, the second piece of the A work is determined to be a defective work. Work table NO. Is skipped, and the integrated control device 1 designates the next work table address where the third work A is placed by a system variable, so that a predetermined address of the work table 5 is calculated. Similarly, in the case of the D work, the first work of the D work 1
If the first work is determined to be a defective work, it is returned to the work table 5, and the first D work is skipped from the second step onward and is not processed. If the second work in the second step of the D work is determined to be a defective work, the third and subsequent steps are skipped.

As described above, when it is determined that the work is defective due to a failure in the measurement result, the defective work information is transmitted from the numerical control device 11 to the integrated control device 1, and based on the result, the integrated control device 1 performs the defective work. By giving an instruction to return the work to the work table 5 and managing the quality of the work placed on the work table, if the work placed on the work table is a defective work, the work on which the defective work is placed is provided. Skip the table address and indicate the next work table address. In the above embodiment, the command from the integrated control device is sent back to the support device such as the loader via the numerical control machine tool. However, the command is directly sent from the integrated control device to the working device such as the numerical control machine tool and the support device. It is also possible to issue a command and execute the work program of each device.

[0017]

According to the present invention, by changing the production plan by the integrated control device, the work sequence and loader operation can be easily changed, and even when a defective work occurs, the work can be skipped without changing the program. Processing becomes easy. In addition, since the preparation information is reported based on the registered data, a preparation operation without errors can be performed, and a system operation with a high operation rate can be performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing a production cell according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a flow of information / program of a production cell according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a flow of information / program of a production cell according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 illustrates an NC main program, a subprogram, a loader operation program,
It is a figure showing the relation of loader point data.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a configuration of a subprogram according to the present embodiment, and a diagram illustrating system variables provided;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a skip operation when a defective work occurs according to the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 integrated control device, 2 working device, 3 NC lathe, 4
Loader, 5 work table, 6 reversing device, 7 loader hand stocker (AHC), 8 chuck claw stocker (AJC).

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Fields surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G05B 19/4155 G05B 19/418 B23Q 15/00

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A working device including a numerically controlled machine tool for processing a workpiece, and a support device for supporting the numerically controlled machine tool to perform a predetermined work; and And an integrated control device that instructs the work device to perform a work, wherein the work device corresponds to each type of work and each type of work process, and sets information on the type of work and the work process. The integrated control device sequentially executes a plurality of types of processes by instructing the work program and the set values of the system variables in accordance with the order of the machining work and the process. Production cell. 2. A numerically controlled machine tool for machining a workpiece, a support device for supporting the numerically controlled machine tool to perform a predetermined operation, and a numerically controlled machine according to a predetermined production plan. An integrated control device that instructs a machine to perform a work, wherein the numerical control device corresponds to each type of work and each type of work process, and is a system that is setting information on the type of the work and the work process. A machining program that includes a variable and instructs the support device based on a set value of a system variable; a support program corresponding to each type of support work is stored in the support device; A production cell for sequentially executing a plurality of types of processes by designating the machining program and the set values of the system variables in accordance with the order of the machining workpiece and the process 3. The production cell according to claim 1, wherein said numerically controlled machine tool has a defect determining means for determining a processing defect, and a defective work notification for notifying the integrated processing device of the work for which the defect has been determined. Means, wherein the integrated processing apparatus comprises a defective work skip means for prohibiting a subsequent work process relating to the defective work and instructing to jump to the next work process. 4. The preparation cell creating unit according to claim 1, wherein preparation information that is information relating to initial settings of the support device is created from a production plan and set values of the system variables. A production cell having preparation information notifying means for notifying the operator of the production cell of the preparation information.