JPH03104543A - Work system equipped with transfer control device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve a transfer efficiency and to improve the operation rate of a machine tool and the productivity of a work, by selectably providing a 1st working means using a buffer station and 2nd working means disusing it. CONSTITUTION:A transfer control device 24 is connected via an interface 23 to a computer 20 and also an operation panel 25 is connected. On this operation panel 25 switches SW1, SW2 are arranged, the switch SW1 as for a 1st working means is taken as the transfer method using buffer stations BS1-BSn and the switch SW2 as for a 2nd working means is taken as the transfer method disusing the buffer stations BS1-BSn and a command is given. In the case of a worked pallet being placed on which of a pallet changer PC1 or PC2, a priority selecting means 26 automatically selecting the switch SW2 preferentially is connected to a CPU 20a even in the state of selecting the switch SW1.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] <Industrial Application Field> The present invention relates to a machining process equipped with a transfer control device that issues a command to transfer a pallet by a transfer device between a loading station, a buffer station, and a machine tool. Regarding the system.

<Prior art> As a second method of transporting workpieces in such a conventional processing system, for example, as shown in FIG. Fastestitan B
It is transported to SI and put on standby. This occurs when the machine tool does not have a pallet with a machined workpiece to take out and cannot exchange the pallet with the machine tool, or when the type of workpiece to be machined changes while the machining system is running and the machine tool's tools need to be replaced. The buffer station BSI is used as a temporary storage area when the workpiece is removed, and as a storage area for pallets with workpieces for unmanned operation of the processing system.

In those that use such a buffer station, the barrel lP2 with a machined workpiece in the machine tool MTI
is removed from inside the machine tool MTI and transported to the loading station LSI by the transport device (!II carriage) 1, and then the pallet P9 with the unprocessed workpiece is transported from the buffer station BSI to the inside of the machine tool MTI. There is. <Problems to be Solved by the Invention> However, in this conventional pallet transport system, an operator attaches an unprocessed workpiece to a pallet at a loading station, and exchanges this pallet with a pallet with a processed workpiece in the machine tool MTI. During manned operation, there is no need to pass the pallet with unprocessed workpieces through the buffer station, and if the transport device passes through the buffer station, a wasteful transport process will occur, which will reduce the operating efficiency of the machine tool and the productivity of machining workpieces. There is a fear.

<Means for Solving the Problems> In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a first method for issuing a command to a conveying device to load and unload workpieces between a loading station, a buffer station, and a pallet changer. an actuating means, a second actuating means for instructing the conveying device to carry the workpiece in and out only between the loading station and the pallet changer, and a second actuating means when there is a processed pallet on the pallet changer. and a preferential selection means for selecting preferentially.

<Operation> When the first actuating means is commanded, the conveyance device conveys the unprocessed pallet loaded from the loading station to the buffer station according to a signal from the conveyance control device, and then is placed on the pallet changer in the machine tool. The processed pallet is exchanged with the unprocessed pallet on the buffer station, and the processed pallet is transported to the loading station. When the second actuation means is commanded, the conveying device directly conveys the unprocessed pallet loaded from the loading station to the pallet changer without going through the buffer station, exchanges it with the processed pallet on the pallet changer, and transfers the unprocessed pallet loaded from the loading station directly to the pallet changer, and then transfers the unprocessed pallet loaded from the loading station to the pallet changer and exchanges it with the processed pallet on the pallet changer. The unloaded processed pallet is transported to the loading station.

On the other hand, when there is a processed pallet on the pallet changer, the second actuation means is preferentially selected by the priority selection means.

Example Embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on the drawings.

In FIG. 1, a conveyance path 10 indicates a movable course of a conveyance device 11 that conveys a workpiece W, and this conveyance device (v
Two pallets P on which workpieces W are placed are arranged on the carriage (a) 11. Two pallet changers PCI, PC2 are installed in the numerically controlled machine tools MTI, MT2 arranged along the conveyance path 10.

Further, a loading station LS for loading and unloading pallets P is provided along the transport path 10, and buffer stations BSI to BSn for storing the pallets P are also provided.

Next, the configuration of the control device will be described. The computer 20 includes a CPU (central processing unit) 20a and a priority selection stage 26, which will be described later. A magnetic disk device 2l is connected to the computer 20. NCI, N.C.
Numerical control devices 2 are provided corresponding to the numerically controlled machine tools MTI and MT2, respectively. These numerical control devices NCI and NC2 are connected to the computer 20 via an interface 22, and receive required numerical values from the computer 20. Control data is now transferred. Further, a transfer control device 24 is connected to the computer 20 via an interface 23, and an operation panel (selection means) is connected to the computer 20.
25 are connected. Switches SWI and SW2 are arranged on this operation panel 25, and switches SWI (
lth actuation means) is the buffer station BSI-BS
As the second transport method using n, switch SW2 (second operating means) instructs a transport method that does not use buffer stations BSI to BSn. Further, when there is a processed pallet on either of the pallet changers PCI and PC2, a priority selection means 26 that automatically selects the switch SW2 preferentially even when the switch SWI is selected is connected to the CPU 20a. has been done.

The transfer control device 24 controls the transfer of the pallet P by the transfer device 11 based on signals from the computer 20, and controls the transfer of the pallet P by the transfer device 11, and controls the buffer stations BS1 to BSn, the machine tools MTI and MT2, and the loading station LS.
The transfer of the pallet P between the two is controlled.

Next, a pallet transport control method in the processing system described above will be explained.

As shown in Figure 2.4, the pallet changer P
When there is no pallet with a processed workpiece in either CI or PC2 (4o), the operator presses the switch sw on the operation panel 25.
1 (first actuation means) is selected (41), first, in response to a signal from the transfer control device 24, the transfer device 11 moves the pallet P2 with unfinished workpiece carried out from the loading station LS to the workpiece set in advance by the CPU 20a. The workpiece is transported to the machine MTI and waits until the machining is completed. When the machining of the workpiece is completed in the machine tool MTI, the pallet changer PCI rotates 180' and the pallet changer PCI with the unprocessed workpiece placed in advance on the pallet changer PCI is moved. l-P3 and barrette with processed workpiece}P
4 is exchanged, and machining of pallet P3 with unprocessed workpiece by machine tool MTI is started.

On the other hand, the pallet P4 with processed workpieces is carried out from the pallet changer PCI to the transport device l1, and instead, the pallet P2 with unprocessed workpieces is carried into the pallet changer PCI on the machine tool MTI side (42). Thereafter, the pallet P4 with processed workpieces on the transport device 11 is transported to the loading station LS.

As shown in Figure 3.4, the pallet changer P
There is no pallet with processed workpiece in CI, PC2 (40
), when the operator selects the switch SW2 (41), if there is a pallet with processed workpieces at the buffer stations BSI to BSn (43), the unprocessed work on the loading station LS is first moved by the conveyance device 11. Pallet with workpiece P6 is buffer station BSI
~BSn and buffer station BSI~B
The barrette with the processed work on Sn}P5 is transported to the loading station LS (44). Later, when the pallet P7 with processed workpieces is completed on the machine tool MTI, the pallet P8 with unprocessed workpieces and the pallet P7 with processed workpieces placed in advance on the barre/process changer PCI are replaced, and the pallet P7 with processed workpieces is replaced by the machine tool MTI. Machining of pallet I-P8 with unprocessed workpieces is started by MTI.

After the pallet 7 with unprocessed workpieces P6 is taken out from the buffer station BSI-BSn by the conveyance device 11 and transferred to the machine tool MTI side, the pallet with unprocessed workpieces P6 is conveyed to the pallet changer Pct (transfer device 47L). The pallet P7 with processed workpieces is carried in at 11 and transported onto the loading station LS.

Also, when there is no pallet with machined workpieces on the machine tools MTI and MT2 side, buffer stations BSI to BSn
If there is an empty station ST on which no pallet is placed (45), the unprocessed pallet on the loading station LS is transported to the empty station ST by the transport device l1, and is used during unmanned operation such as during lunch breaks. stored for doing. For example, if you use the timer in the CPU20a to select SW1 a little before lunch break and set it to switch to SW2 at the end of lunch break, you can automatically switch between unmanned and manned operation. can.

Even if the operator selects the switch SWI, if there is a pallet with a processed workpiece in at least one of the pallet changers PCI and PC2, the switch SWI is ignored by the priority selection means 26 and the transfer device 1
1 is loading station LS and pallet changer P without going through buffer stations BSI to BSn.
Transports and unloads pallets between CI and PC2.

As described above, by operating switch SW2 for manned operation, buffer stations BSI to BS
Since there is no need to pass through n, there is no waste in the conveying process of the conveying device 11, and the conveying efficiency is improved. Further, when the switch SWI is activated, the buffer stations BSI to BSn can be used, and can be fully utilized for unmanned operation.

As another example of this embodiment, even in the case of the conveying device 1 loaded with one pallet, if an empty space is always provided in the pallet changer in which a pallet with an unprocessed workpiece can be placed, the conveying device 1 can be moved between the pallet changer and the loading station. Pallets can be exchanged between the pallet changer and the conveyance device without having to make two reciprocations, improving conveyance efficiency.

<Effects of the Invention> As described above, in the present invention, in the processing system, the first actuation means using a buffer station and the second actuation means not using a buffer station are provided in a selectable manner. In this case, the number of transport steps is reduced, transport efficiency is improved, and machine tool utilization rate and workpiece productivity are increased. Moreover, when there is a machined workpiece on the machine tool side, even if the first actuating means is selected, the priority selection means switches to the second actuating means, so that the conveyance efficiency is improved.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 shows the overall structure of the present invention, and Fig. 2 and 3 show the S
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the instructions of the computer in FIG. 1, and FIG. 5 is an overall configuration diagram of the conventional system. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1...Single sheet loading conveyance device, 10...Conveyance route, 11
...transport device, 20...computer, 21...
Magnetic disk device, 24... Conveyance control device, 25...
・Operation panel, 26...priority selection means, MTI, MT2・
...Machine tool, NC1, NC2...Numerical control device, L
S, LSI...Loading station, BSn~
BSI...Buffer station, Pct, PC2.
... Pallet changer, SW1... Variable actuation means, SW2... Actuation means, P... Pallet, P2, P
3, P6, P8, P9...Pallet with unprocessed workpiece,
P4, P5, P7, PIO...Pallets with processed workpieces. Patent author Toyota Machinery Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) A loading station that loads workpieces onto pallets, a plurality of machine tools that process the workpieces on the pallets that have been brought in, a pallet changer that is installed in these machine tools for loading and unloading pallets, and a plurality of said pallets. A buffer station that can store
A processing system comprising a transport device that transports a plurality of pallets between the loading station, the machine tool, and the buffer station, and a transport control device that controls the transport device, wherein the loading station and the buffer station are connected to each other. a first actuating means for instructing the conveyance device to carry workpieces in and out between each of the pallet changers; and a first actuation means for instructing the conveyance device to carry workpieces in and out only between the loading station and the pallet changer; a second actuation means for issuing a command to the pallet changer; and a priority selection means for preferentially selecting the second actuation means when there is a processed pallet on the pallet changer. Equipped processing system.