JPS6246698A - Method of controlling exchange of recording pen for automatic drawing instrument - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention has a pen stocker on the machine body side that holds a plurality of recording pens each having a built-in writing lead, and the recording pens are exchanged between the pen stocker and a drawing head. The present invention relates to a recording pen exchange control method for an automatic drafting machine.

[Conventional technology]

A drawing device that holds a plurality of lead writing instruments, selects one of them to draw, and when it detects that the writing instrument has no lead, selects the next lead writing instrument and draws. It is disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 53-91768.

This device holds a plurality of lead writing instruments on a drum rotatably disposed on one drawing head.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

In the above-mentioned conventional device, when a plurality of different types of lead writing instruments are arranged on the drum, the leads of the lead writing instruments are worn out by drawing, so the leads may run out. For example, in a pen stocker, there are four writing implements of the same type (type A) and four writing implements of the same type (type B) that are different from these, but are arranged side by side, and both types of A and B are arranged side by side. Inside each of the four core writing instruments.

Assume that the first three lead writing instruments are in the leadless state.

Now, a pen change command is input to the controller,
When the A type lead writing instrument is selected, the controller 1-○-ra
Even if the first three writing instruments are without lead,
First, select the single-core writing instrument of type A, which has the highest priority. Then, after detecting the lack of a lead, the next ranked lead writing instrument is selected. In this way, you have to select the lead writing instruments in order and check the presence or absence of the lead each time, which increases the drawing time.In this case, you can use the pen change command to select the first type Even if a lead writing instrument is selected, it is desirable that one drawing head directly select the fourth type A lead writing instrument.

The present invention aims to eliminate the above-mentioned defects.

[Means to solve problems]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has a pen stocker disposed on the machine body side that holds a plurality of recording pens each having a built-in consumable writing lead, and the recording pens are mutually exchanged between the pen stocker and the drawing head. I decided to do this. In an automatic drawing machine controlled by a computer, a counter is provided corresponding to each recording pen holder assigned a ranking number of the pen stocker, and the initial value of each counter is set to be the same as the ranking number, A pen change command specifies one of the recording pen holders.

The recording pen held in the recording pen holder with the rank number corresponding to the count value of the counter corresponding to the specified recording pen holder is held in the drawing head, and the drawing head performs a drawing operation in response to a drawing command. Before transferring, the presence or absence of a lead in the recording pen held by the drawing head is checked, and if the remaining amount of lead in the recording pen is less than the specified amount, the computer confirms that there is no lead and transfers the lead to the recording pen without a lead. 1 is added to the corresponding counter, and the leadless recording pen is returned to the pen stocker 1; the 1 drawing head is held in the recording pen holder with the rank number corresponding to the added value of the counter to which l is added. Each of the counters is configured to hold a recording pen that is attached to the recording pen, and each of the counters is reset to 1 when the count value exceeds a set value.

[Effect]

In the above-mentioned control method/method, each fa of the pen-entering force is
A counter corresponds to each recording pen holder, and the initial value of the counter corresponds to the ranking number in the pen stocker.One recording pen in the pen stocker is selected, and the selected recording pen is leadless. If so, the corresponding counter of the recording pen holder that holds the recording pen is marked with ■.
is added. When the recording pen holder in the pen stocker corresponding to the counter incremented by 1 is instructed again by the pen change command, the computer changes the count value of the corresponding counter based on the count contents of the corresponding counter. A recording pen selection signal for selecting the corresponding recording pen holder is output, and the recording pen in the recording pen holder in the first order is directly selected. When the selected recording pen is in a leadless state, 1 is further added to the corresponding force counter. In this way, the computer
If the recording pen held in the recording pen holder in the pen stocker specified by the pen change command is without a lead, this recording pen is not selected and other pens with core cloth are selected based on the contents of the counter. A signal for selecting a recording pen is generated so that the drawing head directly selects the recording pen in the 8-position state.

〔Example〕

The structure of the present invention will be described below with reference to embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

In FIG. 9, 2 is the body of an X-Y plotter, and a Y rail 6 is disposed on a table 4 so as to be movable along the X coordinate axis direction, and a plotting head 8 is movably disposed on the Y rail 6. installed on. As shown in FIG. 3, the printing head 8 includes a pen holding frame 12 fixed to an elevating body 10 made of a non-magnetic material such as aluminum, and one end of which is attached to the elevating body 10 against the table 4 surface. A pen holder 16 is provided with a pen holder arm 14 which is rotatably supported in a plane parallel to the pen holder 16 and is biased in a direction toward which the open end side approaches the pen holder frame 12. A recording pen 18 with a built-in feeding mechanism is detachably held. The elevating body 10 is slidably inserted into a guide shaft 20 fixed to the base plate of the head 8, and the elevating body 10 is urged upward by a coil spring 22. A solenoid 24 is fixed to the base plate of the head 8, and its output shaft faces a protrusion 10a formed on the elevating body 10. The solenoid 24 is connected to a pen up/down control circuit 32 of a controller consisting of a microcomputer CPU 30 (see FIG. 2). 3
Reference numeral 3 denotes a pen holding detector disposed on the elevating body 10, which is composed of a limit switch. Said Y rail 6
The printing head 8 is linked to an XY motor (I8, not shown) controlled by a motor control circuit 35, and is sent to a predetermined position on the table 4 by these drives. 38
is a pen stocker in which a plurality of recording pens 18 are held. A pen change command programmed into the computer moves the drawing head 8 to an empty holding part 38a of the pen stocker 38, positions the pen holder 16 in the holding part 38a, and then changes the drawing head 8. When the is separated from the holding portion 38a.

A known pen exchange mechanism built into the pen stocker 38 (
(not shown), the recording pen 18 held in the pen holder 16 is moved to the holding portion 38a, and the pen is replaced. Also, by a pen change command, the drawing head 8 that does not hold a recording pen is replaced with the pen stocker 38 that holds a recording pen.
When the pen holder 16 is moved to the holding part 38b and the pen holder 16 is positioned in the holding part 38b, and then the drawing head 8 is separated from the holding part 38b, it is held in the holding part 38b by the pen exchange mechanism. The recording pen is held in a pen holder 16 of the printing head 8, and the pen is configured to be replaced. , 39 is a coreless detector consisting of a magnetic flux detector, and is fixed to the substrate of the head 8, and the detector 39 is fixed to a yoke (iron core) 61 fixed to the rising part of the protrusion 10a. It is fixedly installed opposite to the permanent magnet 59.

Next, the internal structure of the recording pen will be explained with reference to FIGS. 6 to 8.

40 is a holder cylinder, and a guide cylinder 42 is fixed to the inner circumferential surface of the holder cylinder. A head block 44 has an annular collar 44a formed on its outer periphery, and the lower part of the block 44 is fixed to the upper part of the guide tube 42. At the center of the block 44 is a consumable writing lead 4 made of lead.
A shaft hole for slidably holding 6 is provided through the shaft hole. A tapered surface 42a whose diameter increases downward is formed on the lower inner wall surface of the guide tube 42. 48.50 is a pair of lead chucks, and a curved surface 4 is provided at the bottom of these so that the width of the lead chucks 48.50 increases downward.
8 a + 50 a is formed. A plurality of steel balls 52 are arranged between the tapered surface 42a and the curved surfaces 48a and 50a. The pair of core chucks 48
50 is biased in two directions by the elastic force of the coil spring. Reference numeral 54 denotes a bottomed cylinder fixed to the lower part of the holder cylinder 40, and the outer peripheral surface of the flange of the core holding tube 56 is slidably fitted into the inner peripheral surface of this cylinder. The lower half of the holding tube 56 protrudes downward from a hole formed in the bottom of the cylindrical body 54. A coil spring is compressed and disposed between the two sides of the flange of the holding tube 56 and the lower surface of the core chuck 48.50. Reference numeral 57 denotes an annular rubber body, which is fixed to the upper end of the holding tube 56 , and the diameter of the shaft hole of the rubber body 57 is formed to be slightly smaller than the diameter of the core 46 . Shaft hole of the block 44, core chuck 48
,50. One core 46 is inserted into the shaft hole of the rubber body 57 and the holding tube 56 . Reference numeral 70 denotes a pen type discriminator classified by core diameter or core color, and is constituted by a detector that reads a barcode 72 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the recording pen 18. In FIG. 2, 60 is an interface circuit, which is connected to the host computer. 62 is a pen type memory, 64a is an a counter, 64a is a b counter, 64c is a C counter, 64d
is a d counter, 64e is a C counter, 64f is an f counter, 64g is a g counter, 64h is an h counter,
These counters are stored in each recording pen holding section No., 1, No. 2, of the pen stocker 38. No.

3, No, 4. No, 5. No, 6. No.

7 and N008 in order. A preset input terminal and a count input terminal of each of the counters are connected to the CPU.
30, and the output end of each counter is connected to the CPU 30 via a pen number and designation circuit 66. 80 is a pen change command memory, and 82 is a counter selection circuit, which is connected to each output gate of the counter. 68
is an N counter.

- A preset value N is reset and predetermined for each drawing operation, and the pulse from the CPU 30 is subtracted from the preset value N. 69 is a pen type comparison circuit. Reference numeral 72 denotes a pen presence/absence determination circuit for inputting the number N of pens installed in the pen stocker 38, that is, the pen line section, to the CPU 30, and is constituted by a data input device consisting of a keyboard. The pen presence/absence determination circuit 72 has a pen detector or a pen detection switch arranged for each pen holding portion of the pen stocker 38, and outputs an output signal from the pen detector etc. to the CPU 3 using a data in switch.
0 may be input, and the number N of pens attached may be input to the CPU 30.

The head block 44 and other components of the recording pen are made of transparent material, and are configured so that the amount of lead 46 remaining in the recording pen 18 can be seen from the outside.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, a new long lead 46 is set in the recording pen 18. The protruding shape of the core 46 is set so that its lower end exactly coincides with the lower end of the core holding tube 56. The recording pen I8 with a new lead set is placed in each holding part a of the pen stocker 38.

b+ Cr do O+ ft g+ h; n
Then, the pen presence/absence determination circuit 72 determines the number of pens installed (N=8
). Further, a data input device (not shown) connected to the CPU 30 sets the preset value a of the a counter 64a corresponding to the holding section a to a=1, and sets the preset value a of the b counter 64b corresponding to the holding section a to 1. Set b = 2, and in the same way, set C = 3, d
=4. e=5. f=6. g=7. Priscella 1- at h=8
(Step 1). The a counter increments l every time a pulse is sent.

It is set to count 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and then return to 1 when one pulse is counted, and repeat this sequence. Other counters 64b, 64c, 64d,
Similarly, the pulses 64e, 64f, 64g, and 64h are set to return to 1 when one pulse is counted in a state in which 8 is counted.

Next, press remote i~ switch 74, N=8 is CP
is input to U (step 2). As a result, the N counter 68 is reset to 1-, and N;8 is preset.

Next, a command is input from the host computer to the CPU 30 (step 3). The CPU 30 determines whether the command is a pen change command or not in step 4.
), if it is a pen change command, the CPU 30 analyzes the pen change command and analyzes which holding section of the pen stocker 38 is the target of the pen change (
Step 5). As shown in FIG. 9, each holding part of the pen stocker 30 is assigned a number X from N091 to N088, and the pen change command specifies the number X. Now, recording pens with a built-in 0.3 mm lead are held in the holding parts from No. 1 to No. 4, and from No. 5 to No.
It is assumed that a recording pen with a built-in 0.5 mm lead is held in the holding section 8.

The CPU 30 receives the specified number xt of the pen change command!
-Pc is input from the command memory 80 to the counter selection circuit 82, and the counter corresponding to number X is selected. The specified number 1 of the pen change command corresponds to the a counter 64a, and the specified number 2 corresponds to the b counter 64b.
Designation number 3 is sent to the C counter 64c, designation number 4 is sent to the d counter 64d, designation number 5 is sent to the C counter 64c, designation number 6 is sent to the f counter 64f, designation number 7 is sent to the g counter 64g, and designation number 8 is sent to the h counter. Each corresponds to the counter 64h. Therefore, if the designated number of the pen change command is NO, l, the a counter 64 is selected, and the output of the counter 64 is sent to the pen number, passes through the designated circuit 66, and is sent to the CPU.
30 is input. Based on this input signal, the CPU 30 outputs forward and reverse drive pulses to drive the motor control circuit 35, controls the movement of the print head 8 in pen change mode, and causes the print head 8 to output the output of the a counter 64a. 0.3mm held in the recording pen holder with the number corresponding to
When holding the core recording pen 18 as shown in FIG. 3 (step 6), the pen type discriminator 70 discriminates the type of the recording pen 18 from the barcode 72 of the recording pen 18, and outputs the discrimination signal. is input to the CPU 30. The CPU 30 creates pen type data based on the discrimination signal and stores the data in the pen type memory 62 (step 7).
). Next, when a drawing command is input from the host computer, the CPU 30 confirms the drawing command and instructs the one-stroke head 8 to perform a center check operation (step 8). This core checking operation is performed in the following manner (step 9).

The CPU 30 outputs a pen down signal to the control circuit 32. As a result, the solenoid 24 is energized, and the rod of the solenoid 24 is lowered in FIG.

As a result of this descent, the elevating body 10 is lowered, and the recording pen 18 held in the pen holder 16 is lowered, so that the tip of the lead 46 inside the recording pen 18 is moved between both sides on the table 4 as shown in FIG. It comes into elastic contact with the paper surface under a predetermined pressure due to the excitation force of the solenoid 24. When the core 46 comes into pressure contact with both papers, the core 46 becomes
The pressure from both papers tends to rise relative to the core chuck 48.50. When the core chuck 48, 50 tries to rise, the steel ball 52 bites tightly between the curved surface 48a and the tapered surface 42a, and the steel ball 52 presses the chucks 48, 48a in a direction toward each other. be done. This pressing force causes the core 46 to move to the chuck piece 48.4.
Movement in the upward direction relative to 8a is prevented. Core 46
When the lower ends of the elevating member 10 come into pressure contact with both papers on the table 4, that is, the drawing surface, the elevating body 10 stops descending. At this time, since the permanent magnet 59 is located above the coreless detector 39 by a predetermined distance, the coreless detector 39 does not output a coreless signal. As a result, if the pen-down signal is supplied to the drawing head but the coreless detector 39 does not operate, the CPU 30 determines that 8 is present. If there is no lead in the recording pen 18, or if the lead is worn out and is about to run out as shown in FIG. 8, a pen down signal is sent from the CPU 30 to the solenoid 2.
4, the elevating body 10 descends to a position where the permanent magnet 59 closely faces the coreless detector 39, and as a result of the lowering, the coreless detector 39 outputs a coreless signal. C.P.
U30 supplies the pen down signal to the solenoid 24 again, and when the coreless detector 39 outputs a coreless signal again, the CPU 30 determines that there is no core based on the signal. When the 8-presence state is confirmed by the core check operation described above (step IO).

Based on the drawing command, pulses are supplied to the motor control circuit 35, the XY motors are driven, and the drawing head 8 is moved in a predetermined direction in a plane parallel to the table 4, and drawings are made on both sheets of paper. is carried out (step 11). During this drawing, the lead 46 remains fixed in the lead chuck 48, 50 and its tip is worn away. As the tip of the lead 46 wears out, the elevating body 10 and the pen holder 16 are lowered by the excitation force of the solenoid 24, and the pressure between the lower end of the lead 46 and the drawing surface is maintained constant. Due to the wear of the lower end of the core 46, the holding tube 56 rises relative to the cylinder 54 by the same amount as the amount of wear of the core 46 against the elasticity of the coil spring, and the lower end of the flange of the holding tube 56 rises. is separated from the upper surface of the bottom wall of the cylindrical body 54. - When the drawing operation is completed, the CPU 30 outputs a pen-up signal. Assuming that the initial setting interval between the permanent magnet 41 and the detector 30 is X, and the decreasing length of the core 46 in one drawing operation is y,
The line length of one drawing operation by the -drawing command is set so that x>y. When the pen up/down control circuit 32 is driven by the pen up signal and the power supply to the solenoid 24 is cut off, the elevating body 10 is raised to a predetermined position by the elastic force of the coil spring 22.

As the elevating body 10 rises, the recording pen 18 rises,
The tip of the lead 46 separates from the drawing surface. This recording pen 18
When the holding tube 56 rises, the coil spring S1
The flange of the holding tube 56 is lowered relative to the cylinder 54 until it is locked to the bottom wall of the cylinder 54 due to the elastic force. As the holding tube 56 descends relative to the cylindrical body 54, the core 46, which is tightly fitted into the rubber body 57, moves downward in conjunction with the holding tube 56 due to the frictional force with the rubber body 57. As the core 46 descends, the core 46 is pulled in the downward direction relative to the chucks 48 and 50, but the direction in which the core 46 is pulled is in the direction in which the clamping force between the chucks 48 and 50 is loosened. Therefore, the core 46 is damaged by the amount of wear on the retaining tube 56.
Slide between chucks 48 and 50 in conjunction with.

It will be rolled out downwards. In this way, the pen-up operation causes the lead 46 to be drawn downward by the amount of wear. A center check operation command is issued to the CPU 30 for each drawing operation, and in the case of 8', the drawing command is executed in the manner described above. In this way, the drawing commands are executed sequentially. In this case, if no core is detected, the preset value N=8 of the N counter 68 remains unchanged.

When coreless is detected by the core check operation in step 9, the CPU 30 inputs one pulse to the N counter 68, and the N counter 68 counts and outputs N=N-1. , is reset and preset to its output N-1 value.

The CPU 30 determines whether N=O or not (step 13),
If not, one pulse is input to the a counter 64a. As a result, the a counter 64a is set to a=a+1, that is, 2.
step 14), and convert the count value a to CP
Enter into U30. The CPU 30 determines whether or not a=9 (step 15); if not, the CPU 30 controls the print head 8 to move the recording pen 18 currently held by the print head 8 to the original empty pen stocker 38. At the same time, the recording pen 18 of No. 2 in the pen stocker 38 is held in the drawing head 8 based on the input signal from the pen type comparison circuit 66 (step 17). In addition, when the a counter 64a counts 8, it further counts 1.
, the count value a of the a counter 64a becomes l (step 16).

This means that when the recording pen 18 held by the first drawing head 8 has no lead, the first drawing head 8 goes to pick up the recording pen with the next sequential number from the pen stocker 38. When the drawing head 8 holds the pen 18 of No. 2, the pen type discriminator 70 detects the type of the held pen 18 and determines the type of the held pen 18 and the held pen when the pen change command is analyzed. That is, the pen type comparison circuit 69 compares the type of recording pen held in the No. 1 holding section of the pen stocker 38 (step 18).

If the pens are of the same type, the process returns to step 8 and a core check operation is performed. If no lead is found through this lead checking operation, or if a different type of pen is found in step 18, the process moves to step 12. In step 12, one pulse is supplied to the input terminal of the N counter 68, and the output N (N-1) of the N counter 68 becomes N=O
If not (step 12), l is further added to the contents of the a counter 64a (step 14) and the next ranking number N of the recording pen 18 held in the pen stocker 38 is obtained.
O63 is specified, and under the control of the CPU 30, the printing head 8 moves the recording pen 18 currently held to the pen stocker 3.
After returning the recording pen 18 to the original position of No. 8, the recording pen 18 of the designated number No. 3 in the pen stocker 38 is selected and held.

The above explanation is for the case where the a counter 64a is selected, but when the pen change command specifies the recording pen in the No. 2 recording pen holding section of the pen stocker 38, the b counter 64b is selected and the pen When the change command specifies the recording pen in the recording pen holding section N003 of the pen stocker 38, the C counter 64G is selected, and in the same manner, d, QHf'+ g+ h counters 64d, 64e, 64f, 64g are selected. , 64h are selected.

When the content of the a counter 64a is a=3, that is, when the recording pens in the recording pen holding parts N001 and NO,2 of the recording pen holding parts of the pen stocker 38 are in a leadless state, the CPU 30 is instructed to When a pen change command is entered that specifies a recording pen.

The CPtJ 30 outputs a signal for selecting the recording pen in the holding section No. 003 of the pen stocker 38 to the printing head 8 based on the content a=3 of the a counter 64a. Go to pick up the recording pen in the holding section 3 and hold it. Similarly.

When the contents of the e-counter 64g are a=8.

When a pen change command for selecting the recording pen in the holding section No. 8 in the pen stocker is input to the CPU, the CPU 30 selects the recording pen held in the holding section No. 8 in the pen stocker. The output signal to the drawing head 8 differs from the contents of the pen change command. Go to pick up the recording pen in the holding section No. 8 and hold it. That is, the CPU 30 prevents the drawing head 8 from picking up a recording pen without a lead, and controls the drawing head 8 to directly pick up a recording pen with a lead.

Note that if N=O is confirmed in step 12, C
PU30 rings the buzzer (illustrator 1118) three times,
The printing head 8 returns the currently held recording pen 18 to its original position in the pen stocker 38 and stops at a predetermined position.
The CPU 30 shifts to a LOCAL state, that is, a state in which it receives data from the host computer but does not output it. Before the N counter 68 outputs zero, the operator checks the state of the recording pen 18 in the pen stocker 38, removes the recording pen 18 without a lead from the holder of the pen stocker 38, and records a new long lead. pen 18
the recording pen 18.

If you set it in the recording pen holder of the pen stocker 38,
-N counter 68 for each drawing operation by drawing command
Since the preset value of 8 is automatically preset to 8, the drawing operation (a series of multiple drawing operations) continues without interruption. In addition, when N=0, white from the local state! ! ! To return the drawing machine to the drawing state, turn on the remote button or use a remote command from the host computer.

〔effect〕

As described above, when one of the recording pens held in a plurality of recording pen holders on the pen stocker side is specified by a pen change command, the core of the recording pen at the specified position is changed. The computer determines whether the pen is present or not based on the contents of the counter corresponding to the recording pen holder.

Since the signal for holding the recording pen in the 8-position state is outputted to the drawing head, there is an effect that the unnecessary operation of replacing the lead of one drawing head can be omitted.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The figures show preferred embodiments of the present invention, in which Figure 1 is a flowchart, Figure 2 is a block circuit diagram, Figure 3 is a sectional view, and Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view.
5 is a side view, FIG. 6 is a sectional view, FIG. 7 is a sectional view, FIG. 8 is a sectional view, and FIG. 9 is a plan view. 2... Aircraft, 4... Table, 6...
Y rail, 8...printing head, 10...
Lifting body, 12... Pen holding frame, 14.
...Pen holding arm, 16...Pen holder. 18...Recording pen, 20...Guide shaft. 22...Coil spring, 24...Solenoid. 30...CPU, 33...Pen holding detector. 34.36... Motor, 38... Pen stocker, 40... Holder tube, 44... Head block, 42... Guide tube, 46... Lead, 48 .50...core chuck, 56...
・Lead holding tube, 70...Pen type discriminator patent applicant Mutoh Nigyo Co., Ltd. Representative patent attorney
Aya Nishijima Figure 2

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) A computer in which a pen stocker disposed on the machine body holds a plurality of recording pens with built-in consumable writing leads, and the recording pens are mutually exchanged between the pen stocker and the drawing head. In the automatic drawing machine controlled by the pen stocker, a counter means is provided corresponding to each recording pen holding portion to which a rank number is attached, and an initial value of each counter means is set to be the same as the rank number. ,
The pen change command specifies one of the recording pen holders, and the pen holder is held in the recording pen holder of the order number corresponding to the count value of the counter means corresponding to the designated recording pen holder. The recording pen held by the recording head is held in the drawing head, and before the drawing head shifts to a drawing operation in response to a drawing command, the presence or absence of a lead in the recording pen held by the drawing head is checked, and the remaining amount of lead in the recording pen is checked. When the amount is less than the specified amount, the computer confirms that there is no lead, adds 1 to the counter means corresponding to the leadless recording pen, returns the leadless recording pen to the pen stocker, and the drawing head The recording pen held in the recording pen holder has a ranking number corresponding to the added value of the counter means that has added 1, and each of the counter means is set to 1 when the count value exceeds a set value. A recording pen exchange control method characterized in that the recording pen is reset.