JPH09192902A - Automatic bar material feeder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automatic bar material feeder which fully achieves covering of a bar material feeding mechanism and which is able to smoothly cope with practical use of a personal computer aided N.C. device in an automatic lathe in the future. SOLUTION: A bar material feeder 1 is provided with an interface 12 which can be connected to a personal computer aided N.C. device 30 of a lathe 2 via a control cable 11. Actuation of both a bar material feed mechanism and a new material supply mechanism of the bar material feeder 1 is substantially and fully controlled by the personal computer aided N.C. device 30. The interface 12 is provided with an input port, which inputs a control signal of the personal computer aided N.C. device, which controls the actuation of both bar material feed mechanism and new material supply mechanism, a limit switch, which detects the motion of both bar material feed mechanism and new material supply mechanism, and an output port, which outputs an output signal from an encoder.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic bar feeder, more specifically, a so-called "personal computer N".
The present invention relates to an automatic bar feeder that can be connected to an automatic lathe equipped with a "C" device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A bar material is continuously supplied to an automatic lathe such as an NC lathe which cuts a tip portion of the bar material based on a preset product processing program in accordance with a series of bar material supply cycle operations. An automatic bar feeder configured to do so has been put to practical use. In recent years, the bar material feeder has been designed with a molding cover molded into a predetermined shape by metal molding or resin molding for safety reasons, mechanism protection, or for design reasons. Is generally covered (hereinafter referred to as “covering” or “covering tendency”). Further, as the function and mechanism of the bar feeder have become more sophisticated and precise, various kinds of various operation switches, control switches, failure indications, etc. have been installed on the control panel or body frame of the bar feeder. There is. On the other hand, so-called "personal computer" NC devices have been recently developed and are expected to be put to practical use in the near future (for example, 1995).
See Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun, Nikkei Mechanical 1995.6.12 No.456, etc. from December 6th to December 8th of the same year). It is expected that such a "personal computer NC" device will be installed in an NC automatic lathe as an NC device of a conventional type NC automatic lathe, and such a personal computer NC device has a control unit of the NC automatic lathe that has been conventionally made into a black box. It can be used as a general-purpose general control device whose settings can be changed relatively freely, and the "openness" of the "PC NC"
It will allow the user of the NC automatic lathe himself to modify or improve the software of the controller of the automatic lathe to achieve the desired usage pattern. Therefore, it is considered that the personal computer NC device is extremely likely to be actually developed and put into practical use as a control unit for future NC automatic lathes.
It is predicted that such a personal computer NC device will become the mainstream in the future as a control device for an NC automatic lathe.

[0003]

However, the bar material feeder currently put into practical use is provided with a control device for the bar material feeder itself, and the control device is an operation switch, a button, an input key, or the like. An operating unit, a display unit such as a display, a driving unit such as a driver, and a control unit such as a calculation / determination unit. In such a bar material feeder provided with various and various control means or operating means, each control means or operating means must be arranged in an appropriate position of the bar material feeding machine, and therefore, the above bar material feeding It is difficult to fully cover the mechanism.
Moreover, with such a tendency to cover, it is difficult to visually recognize the operation of the bar supply mechanism from the outside, and in order to compensate for the difficulty of visual recognition, the display device of the control device is refined and There are circumstances in which it must be upsized. Such refinement or enlargement of the display device not only increases the manufacturing cost of the bar material feeder, but also goes against the tendency of the bar material supply mechanism to be covered. Make it more difficult. Also, when the "personal computer" NC device of the automatic lathe is put to practical use as described above, the control means or operating means provided in the conventional type bar feeder will be "personal computer" N.
It is assumed that the C device interferes with or overlaps with the automatic control function.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to sufficiently achieve the cover of the bar feeding mechanism and to provide a future "personal computer" NC device for an automatic lathe. An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic bar feeder capable of coping with practical application of the above.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is an automatic bar feeder for automatically supplying a bar to an automatic lathe equipped with a personal computer NC device. The machine is provided with an interface connectable to a control line of the personal computer NC device for controlling the operation of the bar material feeding mechanism, the interface being a control signal of the personal computer NC device for controlling the operation of the bar material feeding mechanism. And an output port for outputting an output signal of a detection device for detecting the operation of the bar feeding mechanism, the automatic bar feeder. According to the bar feeder having the above structure, the main body frame of the bar feeder is substantially completely covered with the molding cover so that the bar feeding mechanism cannot be easily accessed from the external area of the bar feeder. be able to. Moreover, manufacturing and using the bar material feeder without providing the bar material feeder with various control means or operation means arranged in the body frame of the bar material feeder in the conventional bar material feeder. You can Also, a personal computer NC
Since the device is equipped with a large and precise display display device, a large-capacity and diversified display can be displayed on the display device of the personal computer NC device due to the complicated and precise control of the bar feeder. In particular, the operation of the bar feed mechanism such as a feed arrow and the position of the bar that are strictly controlled,
Further, since the opening / closing operation of the rotation steadying device can be visually displayed on the display device of the personal computer NC device in a graphic format, it is of practical value to use the bar feeder having the above-mentioned configuration together with the automatic lathe equipped with the personal computer NC device. Is extremely large.

Further, according to the present invention, the bar feeding mechanism of the bar feeding machine is controlled by the personal computer NC device of the automatic lathe, so that the collet chuck opening / closing signal of the automatic lathe, the feeding completion signal of the bar feeding machine and the feed arrow are fed. The amount of movement and the like can be collectively processed in the personal computer NC device, which makes it possible to unify the control means and achieve efficient control consistency or cooperation.

[0007]

In a preferred embodiment of the automatic bar feeder of the present invention, the interface has a connection port to which a power supply line for supplying the power of the bar feeding mechanism can be connected. More preferably, the input port is
It includes a plurality of input ports capable of inputting a start command signal, a cycle start command signal, an emergency stop command signal, a manual forward / backward command signal, and a new material replenishment command signal. ON / OFF signal output of a limit switch, pulse signal output of an encoder for detecting the position of a feed arrow forming the bar material feeding mechanism, mode signal indicating an operation mode of the bar material feeding mechanism, and various types of the bar material feeding mechanism A plurality of output ports capable of outputting the alarm signals of the abnormality detecting means are provided.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of an automatic bar feeder according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic front view showing an automatic bar feeder according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, an automatic bar material feeder 1 for supplying a bar material W to a bar material processing machine is arranged adjacent to an NC automatic lathe 2 and has a bar material feeding axis line. Coincides with the machining axis XX of the lathe 2. Lathe 2
The tip portion of the bar material W supplied by the bar material feeder 1 is cut to cut a desired product from the tip portion of the bar material W. The lathe 2 has a main spindle 21 having a main spindle internal pipe 24 having a machining axis XX as an axis, a collet chuck 22 arranged at a front end portion of the main spindle 21, and a cutting tool arranged in front of the main spindle 21. And 23. A personal computer NC device 30 including a large-sized display 25 such as a liquid crystal display or a CRT and an operation unit 26 such as a keyboard is arranged in the housing of the lathe 2. The bar material feeder 1 includes a main body frame 3 oriented so as to extend along a machining axis X--X of a lathe 2, a bar material feeding mechanism including a feed arrow 4, and a new bar material to be replenished. A (bar) replenishment mechanism (not shown) is provided. The body frame 3 is supported by front and rear stands or legs 9,
It extends parallel to the machining axis XX of the lathe 2. Since the main body frame 3 is substantially completely covered by the bar material supply mechanism covering cover 8 formed of an assembly of metal plates and the like, a bar material supply mechanism can be installed from an external area of the bar material feeder 1. It is not visible, and the bar feeder 1 is not provided with the operation switches or buttons, key input section, display, lighting device, etc., which are arranged in the conventional bar feeder.

The bar material supplying mechanism of the bar material supplying machine 1 comprises a feed arrow 4 for supplying the bar material W to the lathe 2 and a feed arrow driving device for applying a driving force or a propulsive force to the feed arrow 4. Endless chain 7 (the upper traveling band is partially shown), and the plate-shaped blade member or the connecting member 6 projecting from the rear end of the feed arrow 4 is locked to the endless chain 7. To be done.
The endless chain 7 is wound around a drive sprocket connected to a drive motor (not shown) and a driven sprocket that can move freely. The finger chuck 5 is rotatably attached to the front end portion of the feed arrow 4, and the rear end portion of the bar W to be machined by the lathe 2 is inserted into the finger chuck 5, and the finger chuck 5 causes the feed arrow 4 to move. Is rotatably gripped with respect to the rod portion of the. The bar feeder 1
A relay box 10 having a connecting portion of the control line 11 or an interface 12 is provided. The control line 11 is a drive device for the bar material supply mechanism, for example, an electric motor that constitutes a feed arrow drive device, a fluid pressure operating device for a rotation steadying device, or
A control signal line and a power supply line connected to a fluid pressure operating device or the like of a bar material attaching / detaching mechanism that grips or releases the bar material W when the bar material is attached / detached, a limit switch or an encoder of a bar material supply mechanism or the like (not shown). ) Output signal line and the like. Control line 11
Is connected to a connection portion or an interface of a PC main body (not shown) that constitutes the heart of the personal computer NC device 30.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing the structure of the interface 12 arranged in the relay box 10. The interface 12 includes a plurality of input / output ports to which the signal lines of the control line 11 are connected. Control line 1
The power supply line that constitutes No. 1 is connected to each drive device such as a bar material supply mechanism and a new material supply mechanism. Interface 1
2 is a signal line that constitutes the control line 11, for example, a start command signal, a cycle start command signal, an emergency stop command signal,
It is provided with a plurality of input ports to which respective signal lines for inputting a manual forward / backward command signal, a new material replenishment command signal, etc. to the bar material feeder 1. These various command signals are input from the personal computer NC device 30 by key input of the operation unit 26 of the personal computer NC device 30. The start command signal is
This is a signal for instructing power-on of each drive device of the bar material supplying mechanism and the new material supplying mechanism to start the bar material supplying machine 1. The cycle start command is a continuous signal by the bar material supplying mechanism and the new material supplying mechanism. This is a signal for instructing the start of a series of rod material supply cycle operations. Further, the emergency stop command signal is a command signal for executing the forced emergency stop of the bar material feeder 1 determined by the personal computer NC device 30, and the manual forward / backward command signal indicates the operation of the bar material feeder 1. It is an operation command signal for manual operation. Further, the new material replenishment command signal is a command signal for instructing the drive device of the new material replenishment mechanism to execute the new material replenishment operation. These command signals are used for the rotation steadying device that constitutes the bar supply mechanism and new material supply mechanism, material supply motor, material attachment / detachment operation motor, primary feed motor, secondary feed motor, shortcut clutch, new material supply disc. Alternatively, it is input to each control circuit such as an arm operation motor.

Further, the interface 12 turns ON / OFF various limit switches of a bar material supplying mechanism or a new material supplying mechanism.
OFF signal output line, encoder pulse signal output line (feed arrow position signal) that detects the position of the feed arrow 4, mode signal line indicating the operation mode of the bar feed machine, and further a bar feed mechanism or new material replenishment It is provided with a plurality of output ports to which output lines (alarm signals) of various abnormality detecting means of the mechanism can be connected. The limit switch is the backward end of the feed arrow 4, the new material feeding position,
Limit switches for detecting the material attachment / detachment position, primary feed forward end position, shortcut position, etc., limit switch for detecting residual material discharge, stock material (new material)
A limit switch for detecting the presence or absence of the above, and a limit switch forming a tip detection sensor are included. Also,
The encoder is arranged to detect the rotational position of the sprocket on which the endless chain 7 is wound, and outputs the position of the feed arrow 4 as a pulse signal, which is processed by the CPU and RAM of the personal computer NC device 30. To be done. The mode signal indicates the operating position or operating state of each mechanism of the bar feeder such as the operation of the rotation steadying device (open position, closed position or re-tightening position), the inching operation of the feed arrow 4, and the like. Further, the abnormality detecting means is configured to reduce the control air pressure, stop passing each other, improperly set the shortcut length, insufficient movement of the feed arrow, excessive movement of the feed arrow, decrease in battery voltage,
It is a detection means for detecting various abnormalities such as cycle time over and residual material not yet discharged. It should be noted that some or all of these abnormality detecting means are not provided in the bar feeder 1, and the personal computer NC device 30 performs abnormality detection or abnormality determination based on the output of the limit switch and the pulse signal of the encoder. It is also possible to configure.

As described above, the bar feeder 1
Has an interface 12 connectable to a personal computer NC device 30 of a lathe 2 via a control line 11, and the personal computer NC device 30 operates the rod material supply mechanism and the new material supply mechanism of the bar material feeder 1. Virtually completely controlled. The interface 12 is an input port for inputting a control signal of the personal computer NC device 30 for controlling the operation of the bar material supplying mechanism and the new material supplying mechanism, and a limit switch and an encoder for detecting the operation of the bar material supplying mechanism and the new material supplying mechanism. And an output port for outputting the output signal of. Therefore,
The bar feeder 1 has a main body frame 3 so that the bar feeder cannot be easily accessed from an area outside the bar feeder 1.
Can be substantially completely covered by the bar material feeding mechanism covering cover 8, and the bar material feeding device 1 does not need to be provided with an operation switch or button, a key input unit, a display, a lighting device, and the like. The machine 1 can be manufactured and used.

[0013]

As described above, according to the above-mentioned configuration of the present invention, it is possible to sufficiently achieve the cover of the bar feeding mechanism and to put the future "personal computer" NC device in the automatic lathe into practical use. It is possible to provide an automatic bar feeder that can deal with this.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic front view showing an automatic bar feeder according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing a configuration of an interface arranged in the relay box shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Automatic Bar Material Feeder 2 NC Automatic Lathe 3 Main Frame 4 Feed Arrow 8 Bar Material Supply Mechanism Cover Cover 10 Relay Box 11 Control Line 12 Interface 21 Main Spindle 25 Display 26 Operation Section 30 PC NC Device W Bar Material XX Processing Axis

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An automatic bar feeder for automatically supplying a bar to an automatic lathe equipped with a personal computer NC device, wherein the bar feeder controls the operation of a bar feeding mechanism. An interface capable of connecting a control line of the device is provided, the interface including an input port for inputting a control signal of the personal computer NC device for controlling an operation of the bar material feeding mechanism, and an operation of the bar material feeding mechanism. An automatic bar feeder, comprising: an output port for outputting an output signal of a detection device for detecting. 2. The automatic bar feeder according to claim 1, wherein the interface includes a connection port to which a power supply line for supplying power of the bar feeding mechanism can be connected. 3. The input port, start command signal, cycle start command signal, emergency stop command signal, manual forward /
The automatic bar feeder according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a plurality of input ports capable of respectively inputting a retreat command signal and a new material replenishment command signal. 4. The output port outputs ON / OFF signals of various limit switches of the bar feeding mechanism, a pulse signal output of an encoder for detecting the position of a feed arrow forming the bar feeding mechanism, and the bar. 4. A plurality of output ports capable of respectively outputting a mode signal indicating an operation mode of the supply mechanism and an alarm signal of various abnormality detecting means of the bar material supply mechanism.
An automatic bar feeder according to the item.