JPH05269647A - Cell controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a cell controller for predicting tool change time accurately. CONSTITUTION:A tool change time calculation device 11 of a cell controller 1 predicts a tool change time from a tool used time, working schedule, part number information, and transport time. A display device displays the tool change time in the order of time. Thus a tool life control suitable for an automatic production line of small lot multi-production can be conducted to reduce the number of workers and use man power more effectively.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cell controller, and more particularly to a cell controller having a function of predicting tool change time.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A technique for managing the life of a tool in a numerically controlled machine tool is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 61-249248 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-60954.
The technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 61-249248 calculates a machining completion value by accumulating a value proportional to the number of times of use and a usage time each time machining is completed, and the machining completion value is set to a preset tool life set value. When is reached, an alarm is issued to instruct tool change. The technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-60954 calculates a life value by integrating cutting distances by tools, and when the life value reaches a preset tool life set value, a tool replacement instruction is issued. It gives an alarm.

[0003]

In the above prior art, an alarm is issued when it is time to replace the tool, but it is not possible to notify in advance the time at which the tool should be replaced. This is because the time when the tool is not used (for example, the time to wait for the workpiece to be transported) cannot be taken into consideration, and the tool replacement time cannot be predicted. For this reason, the operator's intuition is used to predict the tool replacement time, and the operator is always kept near the numerically controlled machine tool to monitor whether a warning is issued.

However, there is a problem that the error is too large when the tool replacement time is predicted based on the intuition of the operator. Further, keeping the workers on standby by the numerically controlled machine tool has a problem that the number of workers is reduced and the effective use of human resources is hindered.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a cell controller which can notify in advance the time at which a tool should be replaced.

[0006]

The cell controller of the present invention is a cell controller for controlling a machining cell consisting of a numerically controlled machine tool and a workpiece carrier, and is used for a tool such as a tool use time or a number of times of use and a work transfer time. It is a structural feature that a tool change time calculation means for calculating the time to change the tool based on the waiting time of the tool is provided. In addition to the above configuration, it is preferable to include a tool change time display means for displaying a list of tool numbers and tool change times in order of time.

[0007]

In the cell controller of the present invention, the tool replacement time is calculated in consideration of not only the tool usage time or the number of times of use but also the tool waiting time such as the work transfer time. Therefore, the tool change time can be accurately predicted. Also,
There is no need for the operator to be always on the side of the numerically controlled machine tool.

[0008]

The present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings. However, this does not limit the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a cell controller 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. This cell controller 1
The operation management device 10 receives the product number information and the processing schedule from the storage device 9. Then, a transportation command is sent to the transportation control device 4. The transfer control device 4 controls the transfer device 5 to transfer the work from the warehouse 6 to the machine tools 3a and 3b. Next, the operation management device 10 of the cell controller 1
The machining program is downloaded to the numerical control devices 2a and 2b and a machining start command is sent. Numerical device controller 2
When the machining start command is received, a and 2b control the machine tool according to the machining program and perform machining.

The numerical value controller 2a, 2b uploads the processing result to the cell controller 1 after finishing the processing. Further, the tool life management devices 7a and 7b of the numerical device control devices 2a and 2b count the use time of the tool,
Upload to the tool life management device 8 of the cell controller 1.

Tool life management device 8 of cell controller 1
Manages the tool life of the machine tools 3a, 3b in a concentrated manner. Tool change time calculation device 11 of cell controller 1
Receives the tool usage time from the tool life management device 8. Further, the product number information and the processing schedule are received from the storage device 9. Further, the transportation time is received from the operation management device 10. Then, the tool replacement time is predicted based on the tool usage time, the part number information, the machining schedule, and the transportation time, and is output to the display device 12.

The display device 12 displays the predicted tool change times in chronological order. FIG. 2 is a display example of the tool replacement time on the display device 12.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the tool change time prediction process by the cell controller 1. Step 20
Then, the operator inputs a designated end time when the calculation of the tool change time ends, on the screen. In step 21, it is checked whether the storage device 9 has a processing schedule. If there is a processing schedule, the process proceeds to step 22. If there is no processing schedule, the process ends. Example of processing schedule
Shown in. In step 22, it is checked whether the current time is the designated end time. If it is not the end designated time, the process proceeds to step 23, and if it is the end designated time, the process is ended.

In step 23, it is checked whether or not the machining of a predetermined number of works has been completed. This check is to finish the processing when the number of non-defective products matches the planned number. If the processing of the predetermined number of workpieces has been completed, the process proceeds to step 31. If the processing of the predetermined number of works has not been completed, the process proceeds to step 24.

In step 24, the product number is taken out from the processing schedule. In step 25, product number information is extracted from the product number. An example of product number information is shown in FIG. Step 26
Then, the tool number to be used and the cutting time are extracted from the product number information. Then, the cutting time is added to the cumulative usage time of the corresponding tool.

In step 27, it is checked whether the cumulative usage time has reached the end of life of each tool. If it has reached the end of its life,
Go to step 28. If it has not reached the end of its life, the process proceeds to step 29. At step 28, the current time is set as the tool change time. Then, the tool number of the tool that has reached the end of life and the tool replacement time are output.

In step 29, the carry-in time and the carry-out time are added to the cumulative use time. In step 30, processing end processing is performed. With the tool change time calculation function, since all the processing is processed as being normally completed, the number of non-defective products in the processing schedule is counted up. And step 22
Return to.

In step 31, the next processing schedule is taken out. Then, the process returns to step 21.

[0019]

According to the cell controller of the present invention,
The tool change time can be accurately predicted. Therefore, it becomes possible to perform tool life management suitable for an automated line for high-mix low-volume production. Further, it is not necessary to keep the operator on standby by the numerically controlled machine tool. Therefore, the number of workers can be reduced and human resources can be effectively used.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a cell controller according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view showing an example of a tool change time display.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the operation of the cell controller of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a view showing an example of a processing schedule.

FIG. 5 is a view showing an example of product number information.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Cell Controller 2 Numerical Control Device 3a Machine Tool 3b Machine Tool 4 Transfer Control Device 5 Transfer Device 6 Warehouse 7 Tool Life Management Device 8 Tool Life Management Device 9 Memory Device 10 Operation Management Device 11 Tool Change Time Calculator 12 Display Device

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A cell controller for controlling a processing cell including a numerically controlled machine tool and a work transfer device, wherein a tool is replaced based on a tool use time or number of times and a tool standby time such as a work transfer time. A cell controller comprising a tool change time calculating means for calculating a time to be performed. 2. The cell controller according to claim 1, further comprising tool replacement time display means for displaying a list of tool numbers and tool replacement times in order of time.