JPH0632279Y2 - Pallet transfer control circuit - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] "Industrial application field" The present invention detects the arrival of a pallet carrier truck that automatically carries out and carries in a pallet according to a carrier instruction output from a carrier controller, and The present invention relates to a pallet transfer control circuit that issues a pallet transfer activation signal.

"Prior art" Automatic pallet carrier that automatically unloads and loads pallets to and from a machine tool is transferred to a specified machine tool by a transfer instruction output from a transfer controller that receives a work load / unload request from the machine tool. After being positioned, the pallet is automatically carried out or carried in by transmitting and receiving a transfer signal between the carriage side and the machine tool side after positioning.

The output of the work carry-out / carry-in request and the transfer of the transfer signal from the machine tool are performed on the premise of a continuous operation command for ensuring safety. The continuous operation refers to a so-called system operation state in which no worker intervenes. Therefore, when an abnormality occurs in the machine tool or the like, the continuous operation command is cut off and the machine tool or the like is stopped to prevent danger.

"Problems to be solved by the invention" In the above case, the pallet carrier that receives the carrier instruction
If the continuous operation command is interrupted due to an error while moving toward a predetermined machine tool, the pallet carrier that arrives at the machine tool cannot transfer a transfer signal and cannot transfer a pallet. Becomes

The pallet carrier receives the data of only the destination from the carrier control device as a carrier instruction, and after reaching the machine tool and being positioned, the pallet loader is controlled by the sequence control of its own sequence controller based on the transfer of the transfer signal. Is operated to transfer the pallet. For this reason, when transfer becomes impossible as described above, it is normally possible to receive the transfer instruction after the transfer is completed, and therefore it becomes impossible to transfer or move. Also, in a transfer machine system that arranges multiple machine tools and performs machining sequentially, pallets cannot be transferred to one machine tool, and work on other machine tools that are operating normally under a continuous operation command is also stopped. This will cause inconvenience.

Therefore, by setting the transfer signal transfer as a condition that the continuous operation mode switch is turned on and off instead of the continuous operation command,
Even if it is not in the continuous operation state due to an abnormality, if it is in the continuous operation mode, it is possible to send and receive transfer signals regardless of the operation stop of the machine tool body.
By transferring the pallet, the pallet carrier can be moved to perform the next work.

However, simply turning on and off the continuous mode switch may inadvertently turn on the switch and suddenly start the trolley, so that safety is not ensured.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned inconvenience that the pallet carrier cannot move due to the failure of pallet transfer due to an abnormality or the like, and a pallet transfer control circuit capable of ensuring safety during pallet transfer work. To provide
This is a problem to be solved.

"Means for Solving the Problem" A specific means for solving the above problem is to automatically carry out / carry in a pallet according to a carrier instruction output from a carrier controller in response to a work carrier carry-out / carry-in request of a machine tool. In a pallet transfer control circuit that detects the arrival of a pallet carrier truck and issues a pallet transfer start signal to the carrier carrier, a continuous operation mode switch circuit, an operation preparation switch circuit, and pallet carry-out / carry-in conditions provided in the circuit. Even when at least one of the detection circuits is not closed, and even after all of the circuits are closed after that, the transfer start signal is interlocked to start transfer of the pallet carrier truck. And an interlock release button for releasing the interlock is provided in the circuit. It is what

[Operation] As has been clarified in the description of the concrete means, the present invention provides the pallet transfer control circuit with the continuous operation mode switch circuit, the operation preparation switch circuit, and the pallet carry-out / carry-in condition detection circuit. Even if at least one of the circuits is not closed, and even if all the circuits are recovered afterwards and all are closed, the interlock circuit operates and does not send the transfer start signal to the automatic pallet carrier. However, when the operator operates the interlock release button provided in the interlock circuit to release the interlock, only the automatic pallet carrier truck can be activated to transfer the pallets.

[Embodiment] An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a transfer machine provided with a numerically controlled machine tool equipped with the pallet transfer control circuit of the present invention. Reference numeral 1 is a host computer that controls the entire machine, and its control program is stored in the magnetic disk device 3. Host computer 1
The numerical control machine tools MT1, MT2, MT3 are connected to each other by a control bus or the like via the interface 2. Four
Is a pallet exchanger, the numerically controlled machine tool MT
It is attached to each of 1 to MT3. The pallet transfer carriage 5 operates the pallet loader 5a from the pallet stocker 8 to operate the pallet P before processing on the circulating transfer route 6 in accordance with the destination instruction of the transfer control device 7 that receives the load / unload request from each machine tool MT. The pallet is transferred by the pallet loader 5a to the pallet exchanger 4 of the designated machine tool and carried in, or the processed pallet P is carried out. The processed pallet P that has been carried out is placed on the unloading station 9.

FIG. 2 shows a pallet exchanger 4 and a machine tool body MT,
FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram showing a relationship with a pallet transport vehicle 5.

The pallet exchanger 4 and the machine tool main body have a sequence controller 10 that constitutes a sequence control circuit that controls various operations of the main body and a pallet transfer circuit that issues a pallet transfer start signal to the pallet transfer carriage 5. ,
The input device 11 and the output device 12 are connected to each other.
The input device 11 is provided with a continuous operation mode switch circuit 31 and is connected to the sequence controller 10. The circuit 31 has a continuous operation mode switch for switching between a continuous operation mode and an individual operation mode in which each machine tool is operated individually. Interpose SW1. Further, a starting circuit 32 for starting the machine tool main body by the starting button SW2 is provided and connected to the sequence controller 10. Sequence controller 1
0 is a machining completion signal from the machine tool body and pallet P
In response to various signals such as the processing status of the pallet, a pallet loading / unloading request is output to the transport control device 7 via the multiplex transmission device 15. Upon receiving the request, the transfer control device 7 wirelessly outputs a transfer instruction to the pallet transfer carriage 5.

On the other hand, the pallet carrier 5 has a sequence controller 20 and connects an input device 21 and an output device 22 to each. The output device 22 is provided with a traveling unit 24 for traveling on the transport path 6, a pallet driving unit 25 for driving the pallet loader 5a during pallet transfer, and the like.
Further, optical data transmission devices 13 and 23 are connected to both sequence controllers 10 and 20 to exchange pallet transfer signals, and as a result of the transfer of the signals, the pallet transfer control circuit 30 configured in the sequence controller 10 transfers the pallet. The pallet loader 5 of the pallet carrier truck 5 is driven by a pallet transfer start signal, which is substantially a pallet carry-in / carry-out signal, input to the sequence controller 20 of the carriage 5.
The transfer of the pallets P before and after processing by a is controlled respectively.

FIG. 3 shows a pallet transfer control circuit 30 for carrying out a pallet transfer operation by the sequence controller 10.

The control circuit 30 is provided with a transfer activation signal circuit 33, a transfer operation command circuit 34, and a transfer operation storage circuit 35, and further interlocks the restart of the arrived pallet carrier 5 for pallet transfer. An interlock circuit 36 is provided. The interlock circuit 36 is connected in series with an operation preparation switch circuit 37 having a contact 40 and a coil 41 for detecting arrival of the pallet carrier 5 and provided with an operation preparation switch 42. Reference numeral 31 is a continuous operation mode switch circuit including the continuous operation mode switch SW1 described above, and 38 is a so-called carry-out / carry-out equipped with a limit switch 43 for detecting whether the pallet carry-in / carry-out position of the pallet exchanger 4 is a normal position. In the carry-in condition detection circuit, each circuit 31, 38 is connected in parallel with the interlock circuit 36. A hold circuit 39 holds the interlock of the interlock circuit 36, and has a contact 44 operated by the coil 41 and an interlock release button 45 in series. In the interlock circuit 36, any one of the operation preparation switch circuit 37, the continuous operation mode switch circuit 31, and the carry-out / carry-in condition detection circuit 32 connected in series or in parallel,
When opened by a switch or the like provided in each circuit, it operates to interlock, and the coil 41 operates the contact 44 of the hold circuit 39 to hold the interlock. Therefore, each of the circuits 37, 31 and 3
When the interlock hold button 39 is opened by operating the interlock release button 45 with the pallet carrier 5 having arrived at the position 2 closed and the interlock is released, the coil 41 becomes inoperative. The normally-closed contact 46 of the transfer start signal circuit 33 is recovered, the circuit 33 is closed, the transfer operation command circuit 34 is closed by the coil 47, and is self-held by the coil 48, and then the transfer operation is performed. The middle storage circuit 35 is closed, and the coil 49 holds the circuit 35 and the transfer starting circuit 33, respectively, and outputs the transfer signal.

The pallet transfer operation by the pallet transfer control circuit 30 of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, in step S101 (the following steps will be omitted), it is determined whether or not the pallet carrier 5 arrives, and then S1.
In each step of 02 to S104, it is determined whether or not the operation preparation switch circuit 37, the continuous operation mode switch circuit 31, and the pallet carry-out / carry-in condition detection circuit 38 are turned on, and at least one of the circuits is turned off. In this case, the activation of the pallet carrier truck 5 is interlocked (S105). If YES in any of the steps S102 to S104, it is determined in S106 whether the interlock circuit 36 is on. If it is on, the operator turns on the interlock release button 45 (S).
If YES at 107, the pallet carry-out / carry-in cycle (S108) is executed. If it is turned off in S106, it means that the interlock circuit is not turned on and the operation is normal. Therefore, the process proceeds to S108 to execute the pallet carry-out / carry-in cycle.

[Advantage of the Invention] As has been clarified in the description of the concrete means and operation, the present invention provides the pallet transfer control circuit with the continuous operation mode switch circuit, the operation preparation switch circuit, and the pallet carry-out / carry-in condition detection circuit. , The interlock circuit operates even if at least one circuit of the respective circuits is not closed, and if each circuit is recovered and then all are closed,
Although the transfer start signal is not sent to the pallet automatic carrier, the operator operates the interlock release button provided in the interlock circuit to release the interlock so that only the pallet carrier is activated. Since it is possible to transfer pallets, a pallet carrier that receives a transfer instruction for only the destination starts moving and arrives at a predetermined machine tool before an abnormal condition occurs and a continuous operation command is issued. Even if the machine tool is stopped and the machine tool is stopped, the pallet carrier can be transferred from the pallet carrier to the pallet exchanger, and the pallet carrier is not restricted by the machine tool stopped due to an abnormality or the like and stopped. Further, since the interlock is released based on the operator's intention to operate the interlock release button, there is an effect that safety is ensured completely.

[Brief description of drawings]

The attached drawings show an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a block diagram, FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram showing the relationship between a machine tool main body, a pallet exchanger and a pallet carrier, and FIG. 3 is a pallet transfer control circuit. 4 and 5 are flowcharts showing the transfer operation. 4 ... Pallet exchanger, 5 ... Pallet carrier, 7 ...
... Transport control device, 10,20 ... Sequence controller, 30 ... Pallet transfer control circuit, 31 ... Continuous operation mode switch circuit, 36 ... Interlock circuit, 3
7 ... Operation preparation switch circuit, 38 ... Carry-out / carry-in condition detection circuit, 45 ... Interlock release button.

Front page continued (72) Hiroyuki Naito, Toyota Town, Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture, Toyota, 1st Toyota Motor Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. An arrival of a pallet carrier truck for automatically carrying out and carrying in a pallet is detected according to a carrying instruction output from a carrying control device in response to a work carrying-out and carrying-in request of a machine tool,
In a pallet transfer control circuit that issues a pallet transfer activation signal to the carrier, at least one circuit of a continuous operation mode switch circuit, an operation preparation switch circuit, and a pallet carry-out / carry-in condition detection circuit provided in the circuit is provided. An interlock circuit that interlocks the transmission of the transfer start signal and disables transfer start of the pallet carrier even when the transfer start signal is not closed, and even after all the circuits are closed. A pallet transfer control circuit, wherein the circuit is provided with an interlock release button for releasing the interlock.