JPH04115805A - Control device for lathe - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To carry out automatic operation by measuring the length of a workpiece at a workpiece feed step performed by a gantry loader so that the workpiece is discarded if thus measured length is shorter than a standard length but it is cut by a length by which the measured length is longer than the standard length, upon initiation of machining by a lathe, if the measured length is longer. CONSTITUTION:After a workpiece (w) is gripped by a gantry loader 2, the length of the workpiece is measured by a length measuring means 20 at a workpiece feed step. If a measured length is shorter than a standard length, the gantry loader 2 discards the workpiece under instruction from a discard instructing means 22. If the measured length is longer than the standard length, the workpiece (w) is cut by a length by which the measured length is longer than the standard length upon initiation of machining by a lathe. Accordingly, the workpiece is machined in a normal manner after it is adjusted to the standard length. Thereby, even though the lengths of fed workpieces are not uniform, the automatic operation can be made, thereby it is possible to cope with an unmanned operation.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a control device for a lathe equipped with a gantry loader.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, in automatic lathes with gantry loaders, a bar cutting device was installed in the previous process! They have automatic loading facility.

In the cutting device, the bar material W supplied in a long state as shown in FIG. 7(A) is cut into a fixed length as shown in FIG. 7(B).
Each piece was cut into a workpiece W to be processed into a predetermined product using a lathe.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, since there are variations in the length of the supplied bar material W, the last cut workpiece Wa may be too long or too short.

Therefore, the line cannot be automated, and there is a problem in that it is necessary to manually measure the length of the last workpiece wa and then discard or re-cut it.

An object of the present invention is to provide a control device for a lathe that can perform automatic operation even if the lengths of the supplied workpieces vary, and that requires simple equipment.

[Means to solve the problem]

The configuration of this invention will be explained with reference to FIG. 1 which corresponds to an embodiment.

This invention provides a lathe control device equipped with a loader automatic operation means (19), which is provided with a length measuring means (20) for measuring the length of the workpiece during the workpiece conveyance process of the gantry loader (2), and the measured length is Discard command means (22) for causing the gantry loader (2) to discard the workpiece (-) when the measured length is shorter than the standard length, and a length error at the start of processing by the lathe when the measured length is longer than the standard length. A cutting execution means (29) for cutting by the length is provided.

The loader automatic operation means (19) is a gantry loader (2)
This is a means for gripping the workpiece (w) at the supply position and carrying it into the main spindle.

[For production]

According to this configuration, the gantry loader (2)
), the length of the workpiece is measured by the length measuring means (20) during the conveyance process.

If the measured length is shorter than the standard length, the disposal command means (
22), the gantry loader (2) loads the workpiece (-
) is discarded.

If the measured length is longer than the standard length, use the cutting means (
According to the command 29), the workpiece (-) is cut by the length error at the start of machining with the lathe. After this makes the standard length, normal processing begins.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the present invention will be described based on FIGS. 1 to 6.

A lathe to which this control device is applied is equipped with a gantry loader 2 on a lathe main body 1, as shown in FIG. The lathe main body 1 is a talent lathe, and a talent carriage 6 carrying a turret 5 is installed laterally movably on the side of a headstock 4 that supports a main spindle 3.

The gantry loader 2 has a loader 8 installed on a rail 7 constructed above the lathe main body 1 so as to be freely movable. The loader 8 is equipped with a back-and-forth moving table 9 that moves back and forth (in the Z-axis direction), and a loader head II is provided at the lower end of an elevating iron 10 that is installed on the back-and-forth moving table 9 so as to be movable up and down (in the Y-axis direction). be. The loader head 11 has two loader chucks 12 on the surface facing the main shaft 3 and on the lower surface, and the positions of both loader chucks 12 can be exchanged with each other by a turning mechanism (not shown).

In the travel range of the loader 8, an example of the lathe main body 1 is provided with a material supply conveyor 13 and an end post discharge conveyor 14,
A product delivery conveyor 15 is provided on the other side. The material supply conveyor 13 includes a cutting device (
It is connected to a subsequent process (not shown), and sequentially transports the work W to the supply position P. Above the supply position P, a photoelectric switch 16 consisting of a light emitting element 16a and a light receiving element 16b is provided at a predetermined height.

As shown in FIG. 1, the control device of this lathe includes a loader control device 17 that controls the gantry loader 2, and a lathe main body 1.
and an NC device 18 that controls the.

The loader control device 17 has a loader automatic operation means 19 consisting of a program for automatically operating the gantry loader 2,
This means 19 includes length measuring means 20.degree. determining means 21. Discard command means 22, offset means 23. Cutting command means 2
4. and loading continuation means 25 are provided. These means 20 to 25 perform operations that will be explained later in conjunction with the flowchart of FIG.

When the photoelectric switch 16 is turned on, the coordinate value of the loader head 11 in the Y-axis direction is read into the length measuring means 20 from the output of the encoder 30 of the Y-axis servo motor 31 that drives the lifting rod 1O. The offset means 23 is
This is a means for correcting the position of the loader head 11 in the Z-axis direction by giving an offset to the command value of the Z-axis servo motor 32 that drives the back-and-forth moving table 9 forward and backward.

The NC device 18 runs a cutting program 2 in the carnivorous program 26 in addition to a program 28 that performs normal machining.
7 is a provision. This cutting program 27 and the cutting command means 24 in the loader control device 17 constitute a cutting execution means 29.

The operation of the above configuration will be explained. Gantry loader 2 is
The following operations are repeatedly performed under the control of the loader automatic operation means 19. That is, the loader head 11 is lowered above the supply position P in FIG.
2 grips the workpiece W, and in the gripping state, the loader head 1
1 and travels above the main shaft 3. Here, the loader head 11 is lowered and the machined workpiece W on the main spindle 3 is
After the loader chuck 12 is placed in the front empty loader chunk 12, the positions of the two loader chucks 12 are switched and the workpiece W is loaded onto the main spindle 3. Next, the machine travels to the product delivery conveyor 15, and after discharging the processed workpiece W that has been picked up from the main shaft 3, goes to the supply position IP to pick up the workpiece W again.

In each of these repeating steps, the sorting operation shown in FIG. 6 is performed. First, when lifting the loader head 11 holding the workpiece W at the supply position P in FIG. 2, the length of the workpiece W is measured as follows (FIG. 6 (SL)), that is,
The loader head 11 is slowly raised under the control of the length measuring means 20 (FIG. 1), and as shown in FIG. 3, when the work W is removed upward from the optical path of the photoelectric switch 16 and the photoelectric switch 16 is turned on , is measured by reading the coordinate values of the loader head 11 in the Y-axis direction (FIG. 6 (S2)). The state shown by the solid line in Figure 3 is the standard length! Assuming that this is the state when reading the coordinates of the workpiece W, if the workpiece W is longer than this, the coordinate value will be read when the coordinate value has increased by an error of 61, as shown by the chain line in the figure.

This error Δl is the standard length set arbitrarily! and the read coordinate values (FIG. 6 (S3)), and control is changed in judgment step S4 (judgment means 21 in FIG. 1) depending on the value of the error Δ2.

When the error Δl is a negative value, that is, when the workpiece W is shorter than the standard length i, the discard command means (22) issues a discard command (S6) and a re-grip command (S7). In response to this command, the gantry loader 2 discards the gripped workpiece W onto the end post discharge conveyor 14, and then goes to the supply position P to pick up the next workpiece W.

If the error Δl is zero, a continuation command (S5) is given, and the operation of loading the main shaft 3 heel W is performed through the above-described repeating process. The loaded work W is subjected to normal processing.

Note that the standard length 2 has a certain width, and within that width, the error Δ! Suppose that is zero.

If the error Δ2 is a positive value, that is, if it is longer than the standard length l, the loading position of the loader head 11 is offset as shown in FIG.
Load. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 5, the tool 5a of the turret 5 is used to cut the length corresponding to the error Δl, and normal machining is performed.

To explain with reference to Fig. 6 and Fig. 1, the offset input (S
In the process of step 8), an error Δ is generated in the offset means 23 (Fig. 1).
l is memorized, and in the process of the cutting command (S9), the cutting command means 2
4 (Fig. 1), gives a cutting command to the NC device 18,
And error Δ! Transfers the value of . After this, continue command (S
5), the main shaft 3 is loaded, and at this time, the command value to the Z-axis servo motor 32 of the back-and-forth moving table 9 is offset by the above-mentioned stored error Δl.

When there is a cutting command, the NC device 18 stores the error Δl as a parameter, and when the cutting program 26 starts machining, calls the cutting program 27 to perform cutting with an error Δ2.

After this, the process shifts to normal processing.

The control device of this lathe measures the length of the workpiece W during the transportation process by the gantry loader 2 in this way, and the measured length is the standard length! If it is shorter than , the work W is discarded, and if it is longer, the error Δβ is cut off at the start of machining by the lathe main body 1, so automatic operation can be performed even if the length of the supplied work W varies. This makes it possible to operate unmanned and work 24 hours a day.

In addition, the length is measured during the transportation process of the gantry loader 2,
In addition, since the disposal work is performed by the gantry loader 2, there is no need to provide dedicated workpiece handling means for measurement and disposal, and only simple equipment is required.Moreover, the length is standard!
Since the cutting is performed using a lathe when the length is longer than that, the gantry loader 2 can also be used to transport the workpiece to the cutting process.

For this reason, unmanned operation can be achieved by adding a photoelectric switch 16 for length measurement to the existing equipment and making a simple change to the program.

In the above embodiment, the coordinate values are read at the timing of the ON operation of the photoelectric switch 16, but a dedicated length measuring instrument may be provided to measure the length during the transportation process by the gantry loader 2.

Further, the gantry loader 2 may have only one loader chuck 12 on the loader head 11.

The lathe is not limited to a turret lathe, and may be of any type.

〔Effect of the invention〕

The lathe control device of the present invention is provided with a workpiece length measuring means, and if the measured length is shorter than the standard length, the workpiece is discarded by a gantry loader, and if it is longer, the error is cut off at the start of machining by the lathe. As a result, automatic operation can be performed even if the length of the supplied workpieces varies, making it possible to cope with unmanned operation.

In addition, the length is measured during the transportation process by the gantry loader, and the disposal work is also done by the gantry loader, so there is no need to provide dedicated workpiece handling means for measurement and disposal.
All it takes is simple equipment. Moreover, since the lathe is used to cut the workpiece to a length longer than the standard length, the gantry loader can also be used to transport the workpiece to the cutting process. Because of these,
It has the effect of being able to cope with unmanned operation by adding a simple length measuring means and changing the operating program.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is an explanatory diagram of the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a front view of a lathe to which the control device is applied, Fig. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the measurement operation of the gantry loader, and Fig. 4 is the same. A side view showing the offset of the loader head, Fig. 5 is a plan view of the cutting process using the lathe, Fig. 6 is a flowchart showing the measurement operation, etc., and Fig. 7 is an explanatory diagram of the conventional bar cutting method. It is. 1... Lathe body, 2... Gantry loader, 3...
Main shaft, 5...Turret, 7...Rail, 8...Loader, 11...Loader head, 13...Material supply conveyor, 14...End column unloading conveyor, 16...Photoelectric switch , 17...Loader control device, 18...NC
Equipment, 19... Loader automatic operation means, 20... Length measuring means, 22... Discard command means, 23... Offset means, 24... Cutting command means, 27... Cutting program , 29... Cutting execution means, 2... Standard length, Δi... Error, P... Supply position! , W... Work Figure 1 Patent applicant Murata Machinery Co., Ltd. Figure Figure Figure Figure

Claims (1)

[Claims] In a lathe control device equipped with a loader automatic operation means that causes a gantry loader to grasp a workpiece at a supply position and carry it into the main spindle, a length measurement method that measures a workpiece length during the workpiece conveyance process of the gantry loader. means for instructing the gantry loader to discard the workpiece when the measured length is shorter than the standard length; and means for instructing the gantry loader to discard the workpiece when the measured length is longer than the standard length, and cutting the workpiece by the length error when starting machining with a lathe when the measured length is longer than the standard length. 1. A control device for a lathe, comprising: cutting execution means.