U.S. patent application number 14/377405 was filed with the patent office on 2015-01-15 for machine tool.
This patent application is currently assigned to Citizen Holding Co., Ltd. a japanese limited company. The applicant listed for this patent is Citizen Holdings Co., Ltd., Citizen Machinery Miyano, Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Noriyuki Asahara.
Application Number | 20150019002 14/377405 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48984039 |
Filed Date | 2015-01-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150019002 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Asahara; Noriyuki |
January 15, 2015 |
MACHINE TOOL
Abstract
A machine tool includes a machining chamber, an illuminator in
the machining chamber, and an NC unit. The NC unit includes a
manual execution unit for executing the machining operation via a
pulse signal generated in response to operation of a manually
operated part, and has a one-block stop mode in which the NC
program is executed for one block and then stopped. A notification
unit issues a notification of completion of the execution of one
block of the NC program while the machining operation is executed
manually using the manual execution unit in the one-block stop
mode, and the notification unit includes the illuminator. A change
in the illumination state of the illuminator enables an operator to
observe the interior of the machining chamber continuously while
being notified of the completion of the execution of the one block
of the NC program.
Inventors: |
Asahara; Noriyuki; (Saitama,
JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Citizen Holdings Co., Ltd.
Citizen Machinery Miyano, Co., Ltd. |
Tokyo
Nagano |
|
JP
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
Citizen Holding Co., Ltd. a
japanese limited company
Citizen Machinery Miyano Co., Ltd. a japanese limited
company
|
Family ID: |
48984039 |
Appl. No.: |
14/377405 |
Filed: |
February 5, 2013 |
PCT Filed: |
February 5, 2013 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2013/052559 |
371 Date: |
August 7, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
700/185 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G05B 2219/31379
20130101; B23Q 1/0045 20130101; G05B 19/406 20130101; B23Q 11/0089
20130101; B23Q 11/0891 20130101; B23Q 17/2404 20130101; G05B
19/4063 20130101; G05B 2219/34384 20130101; G05B 2219/34394
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
700/185 |
International
Class: |
G05B 19/4063 20060101
G05B019/4063 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 15, 2012 |
JP |
2012-030619 |
Claims
1. A machine tool comprising a machining chamber for machining a
material, an illuminator provided in the machining chamber, and an
NC unit for controlling a machining operation on the basis of an NC
program, the NC unit including a manual execution unit for
executing the machining operation via a pulse signal generated in
response to operation of a manually operated part, and having a
one-block stop mode in which the NC program is executed for one
block and then stopped, wherein a notification unit is provided for
issuing a notification of completion of the execution of one block
of the NC program while the machining operation is manually
executed using the manual execution unit in the one-block stop
mode, and the notification unit comprises the illuminator.
2. The machine tool according to claim 1, wherein the notification
unit is configured to issue a notification by changing an
illumination state in the machining chamber achieved by the
illuminator.
3. The machine tool according to claim 2, wherein the notification
unit is configured to reduce the amount of luminescence of the
illuminator after one block of the NC program has been
executed.
4. The machine tool according to claim 2, wherein the notification
unit is configured to cause the illuminator to blink.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to a machine tool having a novel
means for notifying a machine operator of the completion of a block
of a numeric control (NC) program.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Japanese laid-open patent application No. 2011-175316
describes a conventional machine tool has a machining chamber for
machining a material, an illuminator provided in the machining
chamber, and an NC unit for controlling a machining operation on
the basis of an NC program. The conventional machine tool has a
one-block stop mode in which the NC program is executed for only
one block thereof, and then the machine tool stops its
operation.
[0003] In the one-block stop mode, the operation of the NC program
can be checked one block at a time. The conventional machine tool
also has a manual execution unit for manually executing the NC
program via a pulse signal generated in response to operation of a
manually operated part such as a manual pulse handle, to operate
the machine tool.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] A problem with the above-described conventional machine tool
is that, when a worker operates the manually operated part to
execute the NC program using the manual execution unit in the
one-block stop mode, a notification of the completion of the
execution of one block of the NC program is displayed on an
operation panel provided outside the machining chamber. Thus, the
worker may not immediately notice the completion of execution of
one block of the NC program while observing the interior of the
machining chamber, and may operate the manual operation part
unnecessarily.
[0005] An object of the invention, is to address the
above-described problem, and to provide a machine tool whereby a
worker operating a manual operation part in the one-block stop mode
can notice that one block of a machining program has been executed
while observing the interior of a machining chamber
[0006] According to a first aspect of the invention, a machine tool
includes a machining chamber for machining a material, an
illuminator provided in the machining chamber, and an NC unit for
controlling a machining operation on the basis of an NC program.
The NC unit includes a manual execution unit for executing the
machining operation via a pulse signal generated in response to
operation of a manually operated part, and has a one-block stop
mode in which the NC program is executed for one block and then
stopped. A notification unit is provided for issuing a notification
of completion of executing one block of the NC program while the
machining operation is manually executed using the manual execution
unit in the one-block stop mode. The notification unit includes the
illuminator.
[0007] According to a second aspect of the invention, the
notification unit is configured to issue a notification by changing
an illumination state in the machining chamber achieved by the
illuminator.
[0008] According to a third aspect of the invention, the
notification unit is configured to reduce the amount of
luminescence of the illuminator after one block of the NC program
has been executed.
[0009] According to a fourth aspect of the invention, the
notification unit is configured to blink the illuminator.
[0010] With the machine tool according to the first aspect of the
invention, a worker observing the interior of the machining chamber
can easily notice a notification of completion of the execution of
one block of the NC program issued via the illuminator. Thus, the
worker operating the manually operated part in the one-block stop
mode can know, without looking at an operation panel provided
outside the machining chamber, that one block of the NC program has
been executed while observing the action of various action parts in
the machining chamber, such as a spindle or a tool post, which
should be checked as the worker operates the manually operated
part.
[0011] Because the notification unit of the machine tool in
accordance with the second aspect of the invention is configured to
issue a notification by changing the illumination state in the
machining chamber achieved by the illuminator, the worker can
notice the change of the illumination state in the machining
chamber while observing the interior of the machining chamber
through a window. Thus, the worker operating the manually operated
part in the one-block stop mode can know that one block of the NC
program has been executed while observing the interior of the
machining chamber without looking at the operation panel provided
outside the machining chamber.
[0012] Because the notification unit of the machine tool according
to the third aspect of the invention is configured to reduce the
amount of luminescence of the illuminator after one block of the NC
program has been executed, the interior of the machining chamber
becomes darker when one block of the NC program has been executed.
Thus, the worker can easily know that one block of the NC program
has been executed.
[0013] Because the notification unit of the machine tool according
to the fourth aspect of the invention is configured to blink the
illuminator, the illuminator blinks after one block of the NC
program has been executed. The blinking of the illuminator also
makes it easy for the worker to know that one block of the NC
program has been executed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 is a front view schematically illustrating a machine
tool as one embodiment of the invention.
[0015] FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a machine tool as one
embodiment of the invention.
[0016] FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a sample operation of a
machine tool as one embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0017] Details of a machine tool as an embodiment of the invention
do not matter as long as the machine tool includes a machining
chamber for machining a material, an illuminator provided in the
machining chamber, and an NC unit for controlling a machining
operation on the basis of an NC program, the NC unit a manual
execution unit for executing the machining operation via a pulse
signal generated in response to operation of a manually operated
part, and has a one-block stop mode in which the NC program is
executed for one block and then stopped, and a notification unit is
provided for issuing a notification of completion of executing one
block of the NC program while the machining operation is manually
executed using the manual execution unit in the one-block stop
mode, and the notification unit includes the illuminator, so that a
worker operating a manual pulse handle in the one-block stop mode
can know that one block of the NC program has been executed while
observing the inside of the machining chamber without looking at an
operation panel provided outside the machining chamber.
[0018] For example, it does not matter how the illumination of the
illuminator is changed as long as a worker observing the interior
of the machining chamber can notice the change of the illumination
in the machining chamber.
[0019] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the machine tool 100 includes an
operation panel 110 to be operated by a worker, a controller 130
(FIG. 2) including an NC unit, and a machining chamber 160 in which
a material, or workpiece, is machined in accordance with an NC
program. Provided on the operation panel 110 are a manual pulse
handle 111, which is one example of a manually operated part,
switch buttons 112, and a monitor 113, for example. The machining
chamber 160 includes a cover 165, a door 166, and a window 167, for
example. The interior of the machining chamber 160 houses a spindle
161, a tool 162, a back spindle 163, and an illuminator 164, for
example.
[0020] The manual pulse handle 111 may be manually rotated by a
worker for executing the NC program in accordance with a mode to
manually operate the machine tool. Plural switch buttons 112 are
provided and may be used for activating the machine tool 100,
stopping the operation of the machine tool 100, and selecting a
mode. The monitor 113 displays current settings and the NC
program.
[0021] The spindle 161 and the back spindle 163 can grip, rotate,
or move the workpiece. The tool 162 can perform cutting and other
operations on the workpiece. The rotation and movement of the
spindle 161, the back spindle 163, and the tool 162 are controlled
by the controller 130 on the basis of the NC program to machine the
workpiece.
[0022] The illuminator 164 is provided in the machining chamber 160
to illuminate the workpiece, the tool 162, the spindle 161, and the
back spindle 163. The cover 165 is provided to cover the machining
chamber 160. The door 166 can be opened or closed as needed. The
window 167 is provided on the door 166 at a position such that it
enables a worker to see one or more of the workpiece, the tools
162, the spindle 161, and the back spindle 163, in the machining
chamber 160 as the worker operates the operation panel 110.
[0023] The controller 130 is equipped with a CPU and a RAM (not
shown in FIG. 2), and includes a manual execution unit 131 for
manually executing the NC program via operation of the manual pulse
handle 111, and an automatic execution unit 132 for automatically
executing the NC program. The controller 130 has a manual execution
mode achieved by the manual execution unit 131 and an automatic
execution mode achieved by the automatic execution unit 132. The
manual execution mode and the automatic execution mode can be
selected and switched on the operation panel 110.
[0024] The manual pulse handle 111 is connected to the controller
130 via a manual pulse generator 120. The manual pulse generator
120 generates a pulse signal in response to rotational operation of
the manual pulse handle 111. An output pulse signal generated by
the manual pulse generator 120 is transmitted to the manual
execution unit 131.
[0025] The controller 130 is configured so that, when the manual
execution mode is selected, the manual execution unit 131 executes
the NC program in accordance with a pulse signal from the manual
pulse generator 120 to machine a workpiece in the machining chamber
160. The controller 130 is also configured so that, when the
automatic execution mode is selected, the automatic execution unit
132 automatically and sequentially executes the NC program to
machine a material in the machining chamber 160 automatically.
[0026] The controller 130 also has a one-block stop mode in which
the NC program is executed for one block and then stopped, and a
normal mode in which all blocks of the NC program are executed
sequentially. The one-block stop mode and the normal mode can be
selected and switched on the operation panel 110.
[0027] The controller 130 is configured so as to be able to detect
completion of the execution of one block of the NC program. In the
one-block stop mode, a machining operation automatically stops when
one block of the NC program has been executed, and execution of
another block of the NC program can be started by operating the
switch buttons 112 on the operation panel 110. By selecting the
one-block stop mode of the controller 130, a worker can debug the
NC program one block at a time and check, for example, the
operating condition of the spindle 161, the back spindle 163, and
the tool 162.
[0028] The machine tool 100 further includes a notification unit
140 (FIG. 2) for issuing a notification of the completion of the
execution of one block of the NC program in the one-block stop
mode. The notification unit 140 includes the illuminator 164. The
notification unit 140 is configured so that the controller 130
changes the amount of luminescence of the illuminator 164 in the
machining chamber 160 after detecting the completion of the
execution of one block of the NC program. This enables a worker,
observing the interior of the machining chamber 160 through the
window 167, to notice the change of the illumination in the
machining chamber 164 achieved by the illuminator 164 and thereby
know that one block of the NC program has been executed.
[0029] As shown in FIG. 3, in step S11, the controller 130
determines whether or not the one-block stop mode is currently
selected. If the one-block stop mode is currently selected, the
operation proceeds to step S12; otherwise the operation is
finished.
[0030] In step S12, the controller 130 determines whether or not
one block of the NC program has been executed. If completion of the
execution of one block of the NC program is detected, the operation
proceeds to step S13; otherwise step S12 is repeated until
completion of the execution of one block of the NC program is
detected.
[0031] In step S13, the controller 130 changes the amount of
luminescence of the illuminator 164 by causing the illuminator 164
to blink, for example.
[0032] The one-block stop mode can be selected in both the manual
execution mode and the automatic execution mode. Particularly, when
the one-block stop mode is selected in the manual execution mode, a
worker is observing the interior of the machining chamber 160
through the windows 167, checking the position of the spindle 161
and the tool 162, for example, as the worker operates the manual
pulse handle 111. Thus, the worker, observing the interior of the
machining chamber 160 through the windows 167, can notice the
change of the illumination in the machine chamber 160 and thereby
know that one block of the NC program has been executed.
[0033] The change of the amount of luminescence of the illuminator
164 is achieved, for example, by reducing the amount of
luminescence of the illuminator 164 after one block of the NC
program has been executed. In this way, because the interior of the
machining chamber 160 becomes darker when execution of one block of
the NC program has completed, the worker can easily notice the
change of the illumination in the machining chamber 160.
[0034] The change of the amount of luminescence of the illuminator
164 may also be achieved by blinking the illuminator 164. In this
way, because the illuminator 164 blinks when one block of the NC
program has been executed, the worker can easily notice the change
of the illumination in the machining chamber 160.
[0035] After knowing that one block of the NC program has been
executed, the worker can operates the switch buttons 112 on the
operation panel 110 to return the luminescence of the illuminator
164 to the state in which it was prior to completion of the
execution of one block of the NC program.
[0036] When checking the operation of a next block of the NC
program, the worker operates the switch buttons 112 as well as the
manual pulse handle 111 on the operation panel 110 to start
executing the next block of the NC program. In other words, the
worker repeats steps S11 to S13.
[0037] As described above, the machine tool 100, as one embodiment
of the invention, includes the machining chamber 160 for machining
a material, the illuminator 164 provided in the machining chamber
160, and the controller 130, which is an NC unit for controlling a
machining operation on the basis of an NC program. The controller
130 includes the manual execution unit 131 for executing the
machining operation via a pulse signal generated in response to
operation of the manual pulse handle 111, which is one example of a
manually operated part, and has the one-block stop mode in which
the NC program is executed for one block and then stopped. The
notification unit 140 is provided for issuing a notification of a
completion of executing one block of the NC program while the
machining operation is executed manually using the manual execution
unit 131 in the one-block stop mode. The notification unit 140
includes the illuminator 164.
[0038] Because the notification unit 140 is configured to issue a
notification by changing the illumination state in the machining
chamber 160 achieved by the illuminator 164, a worker operating the
manual pulse handle 111 in the one-block stop mode can know,
without looking at the operation panel 110 provided outside the
machining chamber 160, that one block of the NC program has been
executed while observing the action of various action parts in the
machining chamber 160, such as the tool 162, a tool post holding
the tool 162, the spindle 161, and the back spindle 163, or the
state of the workpiece, which should be checked as the worker
operates the manual pulse handle 111.
[0039] Because the notification unit 140 is configured to reduce
the amount of luminescence of the illuminator 164 after one block
of the NC program has been executed, the worker can easily know
that one block of the NC program has been executed. Similarly, if
the notification unit 140 is configured to cause the illuminator
164 to blink, the worker can easily know that the execution of one
block of the NC program has been completed.
* * * * *