U.S. patent application number 17/049165 was filed with the patent office on 2021-08-19 for machine tool operation monitoring system.
The applicant listed for this patent is Matsuura Machinery Corporation. Invention is credited to Koichi Amaya, Yasunori Takezawa, Kazuya Yamauchi.
Application Number | 20210255599 17/049165 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005750156 |
Filed Date | 2021-08-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20210255599 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Amaya; Koichi ; et
al. |
August 19, 2021 |
Machine Tool Operation Monitoring System
Abstract
A machine tool operation monitoring system which detects an
abnormal operation of a machine tool 1 and in which when the
operation of each machine tool 1 exceeds a normal operating range
of each machine tool 1 and/or when a moving state of a constituent
portion of the machine tool 1 and a material exceeds a normal
range, wherein the machine tool 1 breaking out an operation
abnormality is identified by any one of the following operations:
a. monitoring an image obtained by projecting reflected light from
a reflecting display plate 22 provided for each machine tool 1 onto
a camera 31; and b. monitoring a difference in projecting direction
of emitted light from a lamp 21 provided for each machine tool 1
onto an optical sensor 32.
Inventors: |
Amaya; Koichi; (Fukui City,
JP) ; Takezawa; Yasunori; (Fukui City, Fukui, JP)
; Yamauchi; Kazuya; (Fukui City, Fukui, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Matsuura Machinery Corporation |
Fukui City, Fukui |
|
JP |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000005750156 |
Appl. No.: |
17/049165 |
Filed: |
March 16, 2020 |
PCT Filed: |
March 16, 2020 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2020/011490 |
371 Date: |
October 20, 2020 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G05B 19/4065 20130101;
G05B 2219/34465 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G05B 19/4065 20060101
G05B019/4065 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 1, 2019 |
JP |
2019-141876 |
Claims
1. A machine tool operation monitoring system that detects an
abnormal operation in any of a plurality of machine tools which
perform cutting work on a material, the system comprising: a camera
photographing each machine tool, a reflecting display plate
provided for each machine tool for projecting reflected light as a
projection onto the camera to identify the machine tool breaking
out an operation abnormality by moving the reflecting display plate
provided for each machine tool to a position where the reflecting
display plate can reflect illumination light in a plant to produce
an image associated with the projection when one of the following
occurs: a torque of a drive motor exceeds a normal operating range
in any of the plurality of machine tools, a speed of a drive motor
exceeds a normal operating range in any of the plurality of machine
tools, or moving positions of a constituent portion and of a
material in one of reciprocating movement or rotational movement
relative to the machine tool operated by the drive motor exceed a
predetermined normal operating region range, and a monitor for
monitoring the image associated with said projection.
2. A machine tool operation monitoring system that detects an
abnormal operation in any of a plurality of machine tools which
perform cutting work on a material, the system comprising: an
optical sensor, a lamp provided for each machine tool for
projecting emitted light as a projection onto the optical sensor
situated at a position where the optical sensor can receive the
emitted light from each lamp to identify the machine tool breaking
out an operation abnormality when one of the following occurs: a
torque of a drive motor exceeds a normal operating range in any of
the plurality of machine tools, a speed of a drive motor exceeds a
normal operating range in any of the plurality of machine tools, or
moving positions of a constituent portion and of a material in one
of reciprocating movement or rotational movement relative to the
machine tool operated by the drive motor exceed a predetermined
normal operating region range, and a monitor for monitoring a
difference in a direction of said projection of the emitted
light.
3. The machine tool operation monitoring system according to claim
1, wherein one of the following is set as a standard for detecting
the operation abnormality of a torque, speed or moving position
deviated from a normal operating range: an input voltage for a
drive motor, or an input current for the drive motor.
4. The machine tool operation monitoring system according to claim
1, wherein a number is assigned to each machine tool, and the
machine tool which is identified by detecting the operation
abnormality is additionally identified by displaying an image of
the number.
5. The machine tool operation monitoring system according to claim
4, wherein the machine tool which is identified by detecting the
operation abnormality is additionally identified by a sound
providing an announcement of the number.
6. The machine tool operation monitoring system according to claim
1, further comprising at least one controller unit that controls
each corresponding machine tool and which produces control output
signals for the machine tools, and a color lamp configured to
irradiate emitted light in a color different from the reflected
light, wherein, when at least some of all control output signals
are not continuous for a predetermined period in each controller
unit that controls each corresponding machine tool, the abnormal
operation of the controller unit is notified by turning on the
color lamp to irradiate emitted light in a color different from the
reflected light, and by projecting the emitted light onto the
camera.
7. The machine tool operation monitoring system according to claim
1, further comprising a color lamp configured to irradiate emitted
light in a color different from the reflected light, which is
turned on to project said emitted light on the camera when one of
the following occurs: a flow rate of at least one of a lubricating
oil or of a cooling oil circulating in each machine tool to one of
lubricate or to cool an operation in each machine tool is detected
and the flow rate falls below a lower limit value, a temperature
detector is set at a constituent portion that performs one of a
reciprocating movement or rotational movement in each machine tool
and a detected temperature exceeds an upper limit value in a
predetermined period, at least one of a replacement device for a
tool to be used for working, a transfer device for the tool, a
pallet on which a workpiece serving as a unit of the material to be
worked is mounted, and a device for transferring the pallet does
not operate although an input voltage or input current is applied
to the drive motor for driving each device, or a flow rate of air
blowing required to move at least one of chips and fumes generated
due to an operation of each machine tool to a collector with a
filter or an air pressure based on the air blowing is detected and
the flow rate or the air pressure falls below a lower limit
value.
8. (canceled)
9. (canceled)
10. (canceled)
11. The machine tool operation monitoring system according to claim
7, wherein mutually different colors are selected for the light
irradiated by the color lamp and the light irradiated by the color
lamp is projected onto the camera.
12. The machine tool operation monitoring system according to claim
2, wherein each lamp emits light in a color corresponding to a case
in which an operation of each machine tool falls within a normal
operating range, in a color corresponding to a case in which the
operation exceeds the normal operating range, or in a color
corresponding to a case in which the operation has ended, and the
monitor records a state of change in the color of each machine tool
along with aggregation of the frequency of abnormal operation
breaking out in each machine tool.
13. The machine tool operation monitoring system wherein each
reflecting display plate defined in claim 1 is set at a position
corresponding to a case in which an operation of each machine tool
falls within a normal operating range, at a position corresponding
to a case in which the operation exceeds the normal operating
range, or at a position corresponding to a case in which the
operation has ended, and the monitor records a state of change in
the position of each reflecting plate along with aggregation of the
frequency of abnormal operation breaking out in each machine
tool.
14. The machine tool operation monitoring system according to claim
2, wherein one of the following is set as a standard for detecting
the operation abnormality of a torque, speed or moving position
deviated from a normal operating range: an input voltage for a
drive motor, or an input current for the drive motor.
15. The machine tool operation monitoring system according to claim
2, wherein a number is assigned to each machine tool, and the
machine tool which is identified by detecting the operation
abnormality is additionally identified by displaying an image of
the number.
16. The machine tool operation monitoring system according to claim
15, wherein the machine tool which is identified by detecting the
operation abnormality is additionally identified by a sound
providing an announcement of the number.
17. The machine tool operation monitoring system according to claim
2, further comprising at least one controller unit that controls
each corresponding machine tool and which produces control output
signals for the machine tools, and a lamp configured to irradiate
emitted light in a color different from the reflected light,
wherein, when at least some of all control output signals are not
continuous for a predetermined period in each controller unit that
controls each corresponding machine tool, the abnormal operation of
the controller unit is notified by turning on the color lamp
configured to irradiate emitted light in a different from the
previously recited emitted light, and by projecting the emitted
light of color onto the optical sensor.
18. The machine tool operation monitoring system according to claim
2, further comprising a lamp configured to irradiate emitted light
in a color different from the previously recited emitted light,
which is turned on to project said emitted light in a different
color on the optical sensor when one of the following occurs: a
flow rate of at least one of a lubricating oil or of a cooling oil
circulating in each machine tool to one of lubricate or to cool an
operation in each machine tool is detected and the flow rate falls
below a lower limit value, a temperature detector is set at a
constituent portion that performs one of a reciprocating movement
or rotational movement in each machine tool and a detected
temperature exceeds an upper limit value in a predetermined period,
at least one of a replacement device for a tool to be used for
working, a transfer device for the tool, a pallet on which a
workpiece serving as a unit of the material to be worked is
mounted, and a device for transferring the pallet does not operate
although an input voltage or input current is applied to the drive
motor for driving each device, or a flow rate of air blowing
required to move at least one of chips and fumes generated due to
an operation of each machine tool to a collector with a filter or
an air pressure based on the air blowing is detected and the flow
rate or the air pressure falls below a lower limit value.
19. The machine tool operation monitoring system according to claim
18, wherein mutually different colors are selected for the light
irradiated by the color lamp and the light irradiated by the color
lamp is projected onto the optical sensor.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a machine tool operation
monitoring system that monitors whether a plurality of machine
tools placed in a workplace are normally operating or not.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] When a plurality of process units placed in a workplace
automatically process a predetermined object under automatic
control, it is essential to have a monitoring system that
determines whether an operation state of each process unit is
normal.
[0003] Necessary state of the determination is especially
outstanding when a process unit is a machine tool. In conventional
technology, when the operation of a machine is detected, a
detection signal to notify an abnormality that has occurred in an
individual process unit in operation is transmitted to a monitoring
apparatus in a wired or wireless manner.
[0004] However, when such a signal is transmitted, the monitoring
apparatus needs to have a mechanism for accurately distinguishing
from which process unit the signal is generated.
[0005] More specifically, it is necessary to perform accurate
distinguishing on the basis of the voltage, current, frequency (in
the case of AC signals), waveform, or the like that each signal
uses depending on the location of each process unit and
additionally, the monitoring apparatus needs to have the mechanism
for performing this accurate distinguishing.
[0006] Concretely, it is considerably cumbersome to transmit
different signals in correspondence with the respective process
units and install an accurate distinguishing mechanism for the
respective signals.
[0007] When a lamp is turned on to notify the abnormality upon
occurrence of the abnormality in each process unit, it is not
necessary to transmit the above signal.
[0008] However, when there are a plurality of machine tools
installed in a workplace, it is very difficult for a person in
charge of monitoring to avoid an accident of overlooking a lighting
of the lamp, and eventually, this makes it very difficult to
monitor an abnormality reliably in the operation of each process
unit in the workplace.
[0009] According to Patent Document 1 disclosing a server
abnormality detection system, an imaging device 11 photographs an
abnormality detection lamp provided on a front panel of a server
51, and a control management unit 20 calculates a difference
between a first luminance which is the luminance of the lamp
photographed by the imaging device 11 and a second luminance which
is the luminance of the lamp in a reference image, and determines
that the server 51 is abnormal if the calculated difference is
equal to or more than a preset threshold (in the section of
"Solution" of Abstract).
[0010] However, because turning on the abnormality detection lamp
allows the server 51 to sense the possibility of the abnormality in
the server 51, there is a great deal of uncertainty as to whether
the calculation of the difference as described above is necessary
or not.
[0011] In addition, when a plurality of the servers 51 are placed
in the workplace, the control management unit 20 needs to
incorporate the mechanism for accurately distinguishing each
imaging device 11 in order to determine whether the corresponding
difference is equal to or more than the threshold. In this regard,
this mechanism is the same as the mechanism for transmitting a
signal as in the conventional technology.
[0012] According to Patent Document 2 disclosing a monitoring
diagnosis system for a plant, an abnormality in the state of the
plant is monitored and diagnosed (in claim 3), and an embodiment
configured to display in color the state of the plant is also
adopted, and furthermore, it is understood that this embodiment is
configured to also display in color the abnormality in the
plant.
[0013] Patent Document 2, however, gives no specific description
about how the system accurately distinguishes an abnormal operation
in a plurality of constituent elements of the plant in the
operation.
[0014] As far as the present applicant has searched, there is no
known technique that can identify the machine tool breaking out the
abnormality while eliminating the need for a mechanism for
accurately distinguishing a signal notifying the abnormality in a
plurality of the machine tools when comprehensively monitoring an
operation abnormality in each machine tool placed in the
workplace.
PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS
Patent Documents
[0015] Patent Document 1: Japanese Published Unexamined Patent
Application No. 2018-112920
[0016] Patent Document 2: Japanese Published Unexamined Patent
Application No. H06-331507
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
Technical Problem
[0017] The present invention stands on technical problem to provide
the configuration of a machine tool operation monitoring system
that can quickly identify a machine tool breaking out an
abnormality without requiring any mechanism for accurately
distinguishing a signal transmitting an abnormal operation in a
plurality of machine tools in operation in a workplace.
Solution to Problem
[0018] In order to achieve the object described above, basic
configurations of the present invention are provided by:
(1) a machine tool operation monitoring system that detects an
abnormal operation in a machine tool which performs cutting work on
a material, wherein when a torque or speed of a drive motor exceeds
a normal operating range in each of a plurality of machine tools
and/or when moving positions of a constituent portion and of the
material in reciprocating movement or rotational movement relative
to the machine tool operated by the drive motor exceed a
predetermined normal operating region range, the system identifies
the machine tool breaking out an operation abnormality by
projecting reflected light onto a camera photographing each machine
tool by moving a reflecting display plate provided for each machine
tool to a position where the reflecting display plate can reflect
illumination light in a plant, and by monitoring the image
associated with said projection; (2) a machine tool operation
monitoring system that detects an abnormal operation in a machine
tool which performs cutting work on a material, wherein when a
torque or speed of a drive motor exceeds a normal operating range
in each of a plurality of machine tools and/or when moving
positions of a constituent portion and of the material in
reciprocating movement or rotational movement relative to the
machine tool operated by the drive motor exceed a predetermined
normal operating region range, the system identifies the machine
tool breaking out an operation abnormality by projecting emitted
light from a lamp provided for each machine tool onto an optical
sensor situating at a position where the optical sensor can receive
the emitted light from each lamp, and by monitoring a difference in
a direction of said projection of the emitted light.
Advantageous Effects of Invention
[0019] According to the present invention based on the basic
configurations (1) and (2), it is possible to identify the machine
tool having experienced the abnormal operation by identifying the
position of the reflecting display plate reflecting the
illumination light by the camera photographing a plurality of the
machine tools (in the case of the basic configuration (1)) or by
identifying the direction of an optical signal in the optical
sensor that has received the optical signal based on the flashing
of the lamp in each machine tool (in the case of the basic
configuration (2)), and therefore, this makes it possible to
execute and achieve a monitoring function without any special
mechanism required for accurately distinguishing a signal notifying
the abnormal operation and performing identification as in the
Prior Arts.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0020] FIG. 1 is a schematic side view showing the basic
configuration (1); and
[0021] FIG. 2 is a schematic side view showing the basic
configuration (2).
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0022] Typical examples of an abnormal operation state in which a
machine tool 1 operating in a workplace is deviating from a normal
operation state include:
a. a state in which the torque or speed of a drive motor exceeds a
normal operating range; and b. a state in which a constituent
portion relative to the machine tool 1 operated by the drive motor
and moving positions of material in a reciprocating movement or
rotational movement exceed a predetermined normal operating region
range.
[0023] In the basic configuration (1), in the state a and/or the
state b, as shown in FIG. 1, a reflecting display plate 22 provided
for each machine tool 1 is moved to a position in a plant at which
illumination light 5 can be reflected to project reflected light
onto a camera 31 photographing each machine tool 1, and therefore,
an image of projection is monitored to identify the machine tool 1
breaking out an operation abnormality.
[0024] In the basic configuration (2), in the state a and/or the
state b, as shown in FIG. 2, light emitted from a lamp 21 provided
for each machine tool 1 is projected onto an optical sensor 32
situated at a position where the optical sensor 32 can receive the
light emitted from each lamp 21, and the differences in projecting
direction are monitored, thereby identifying the machine tool 1
breaking out the operation abnormality.
[0025] In the basic configuration (1), monitoring each image
described above can identify the machine tool 1 breaking out the
operation abnormality, and hence the above effect can be obtained
without requiring an accurate distinguishing mechanism required for
that identifying operation.
[0026] In the basic configuration (2) as well, monitoring the
differences in the projecting direction among flashing light beams
projected onto the optical sensor 32 can identify the machine tool
1 breaking out the operation abnormality, and hence the above
effect can be obtained without requiring the accurate
distinguishing mechanism required for that identifying
operation.
[0027] Note that in order to perform each monitoring operation
described above, in this invention, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2,
respectively, a monitoring region 4 is set for the images of the
basic configuration (1), and the monitoring region 4 is set for the
differences in direction of the basic configuration (2).
[0028] Moreover, in the basic configurations (1) and (2), in order
to distinguish the abnormal operation based on the state a, an
input voltage or input current is set for the drive motor by
standard with the normal operating range of the torque, speed, or
the moving position described above as a standard.
[0029] The present invention can adopt a new embodiment to be
described below on the basis of the basic configurations (1) and
(2).
[0030] The machine tool 1 breaking out the operation abnormality
can be satisfactorily identified by monitoring the images of the
basic configuration (1) and monitoring the differences in the
projecting direction of the basic configuration (2).
[0031] Note, however, that adopting an embodiment (hereinafter
referred to as the "first embodiment") characterized by assigning a
number to each machine tool and additionally identifying the
machine tool 1, identified by the detection of the operation
abnormality, by displaying an image of the number of the machine
tool 1, the machine tool 1 breaking out the operation abnormality
with the displayed number can be quickly identified.
[0032] The identifying operation by the addition of the number is
not limited to only the operation of displaying the image as
described above.
[0033] Adopting an embodiment (hereinafter referred to as the
"second embodiment") characterized by assigning a number to each
machine tool 1 and additionally identifying the machine tool 1, and
then identified by the detection of the operation abnormality with
sound accompanying announcement of the number of the machine tool
1, the machine tool 1 breaking out the operation abnormality by the
announcement can be identified even if there is no person in charge
in the monitoring region 4 concerning the images of the basic
configuration (1) and the directions of the basic configuration
(2).
[0034] Each machine tool 1 performs continuous control with respect
to the reciprocating movement or rotational movement of each
constituent portion and the material, and this control is executed
by a continuous signal for the constituent portion.
[0035] In such a case, an abnormal operation of a controller in
each machine tool 1 can be quickly found by adopting an embodiment
(hereinafter referred to as the "third embodiment") characterized
by following construction:
[0036] when at least some of all control output signals are not
continuous for a predetermined period in each controller unit that
controls each corresponding machine tool 1, the abnormal operation
of the controller unit is notified by turning on the lamp 21
configured to irradiate emitted light in a color different from the
emitted light defined in the basic configuration (2) or the
reflected light defined in the basic configuration (1), and by
projecting the emitted light onto the camera 31 defined in the
basic configuration (1) or the optical sensor 32 defined in the
basic configuration (2).
[0037] And then this makes it possible to avoid a serious accident
caused by an abnormality in control.
[0038] In each constituent portion of the machine tool 1, it is not
possible to avoid friction due to contact between two portions and
heat generation as a result of the friction.
[0039] Under these situations, each machine tool 1 is configured to
perform cooling by circulating a lubricating oil for reducing and
mitigating the friction due to contact and/or by circulating a
cooling oil for mitigating the heat generation.
[0040] When the lubricating oil and/or the cooling oil are not
normally circulated, in this case, the machine tool 1 may enter the
abnormal operation state like the state b due to the friction or
the heat generation.
[0041] In such a case, the abnormal operation state such as the
state b can be prevented by adopting an embodiment (hereinafter
referred to as the "fourth embodiment") characterized by following
construction:
[0042] when the flow rate of the lubricating oil and/or of the
cooling oil circulating in each machine tool 1 to lubricate and/or
to cool the operation in each machine tool 1 is detected and the
flow rate falls below a lower limit value, the lamp 21 configured
to irradiate emitted light in a color different from the emitted
light defined in the basic configuration (2) or the reflected light
defined in the basic configuration (1) is turned on, and the
emitted light is projected onto the camera 31 defined in the basic
configuration (1) or the optical sensor 32 defined in the basic
configuration (2).
[0043] As in the fourth embodiment, the abnormal heat generation
sometimes occurs locally in the constituent portion regardless of
mitigating a friction state of the portion that performs the
reciprocating movement or rotational movement and mitigating a heat
generation state by circulating a lubricating oil and/or a cooling
oil.
[0044] The above abnormal heat generation occurs in most cases even
if a lubricating oil and/or a cooling oil normally circulates when
the constituent portion is deformed to result in a complete
inability to cope with a problem by the circulation.
[0045] In such a case, a constituent portion that has entered the
abnormal heat generation state can be quickly detected and repair
of the constituent portion can be quickly executed by adopting an
embodiment (hereinafter referred to as the "fifth embodiment")
characterized by following construction:
[0046] when a temperature detector is set at the constituent
portion that performs the reciprocating movement or rotational
movement in each machine tool and detected temperature exceeds an
upper limit value in the predetermined period, the lamp 21
configured to irradiate emitted light in a color different from the
emitted light defined in the basic configuration (2) or the
reflected light defined in the basic configuration (1) is turned
on, and the emitted light is projected onto the camera 31 defined
in the basic configuration (1) or the optical sensor 32 defined in
the basic configuration (2).
[0047] In order to make each machine tool 1 operate, it is
essential that a tool to be used for working be replaced with a
corresponding one, the tool be transferred to the machine tool 1,
and a pallet be transferred to each machine tool 1 after a
workpiece serving as a unit of the material to be worked by the
tool is mounted on the pallet.
[0048] However, a replacement device for the tool, a transfer
device for the tool, and a pallet transfer device each sometimes
undergo an accident such as the abnormal operation because of an
abnormal connection relationship between corresponding drive
regions and the respective devices although drive motors for
driving the respective devices normally operate.
[0049] In such a case, the abnormal state of each device can be
quickly detected and a necessary repair measure can be quickly
taken by adopting an embodiment (hereinafter referred to as the
"sixth embodiment") characterized by following construction:
[0050] when each of the replacement device for the tool to be used
for working, the transfer device for the tool, the pallet on which
the workpiece serving as a unit of the material to be worked is
mounted, and a device for transferring the pallet does not operate
although the input voltage or the input current is applied to the
drive motor for driving each device, the lamp 21 configured to
irradiate emitted light in a color different from the emitted light
defined in the basic configuration (2) or the reflected light
defined in the basic configuration (1) is turned on, and the
emitted light is projected onto the camera 31 defined in the basic
configuration (1) or the optical sensor 32 defined in the basic
configuration (2), in each device.
[0051] When the machine tool 1 operates and cuts the workpiece, the
machine tool 1 inevitably produces chips and/or fumes, and then the
chips and fumes are moved by air blowing and collected by a
collector with a filter.
[0052] When the air blowing that moves such chips and/or fumes does
not reach a predetermined level, the chips and fumes remain in the
machine tool 1, resulting in a serious trouble in the normal
operation of the machine tool 1.
[0053] In such a case, it is possible to quickly detect that the
flow rate of the air blowing or pressure of the air blowing has not
reached the predetermined level and to quickly avoid the
accumulation of the chips and the fumes in the workplace by
adopting an embodiment (hereinafter referred to as the "seventh
embodiment") characterized by following construction:
[0054] when the flow rate of the air blowing required to move the
chips and/or the fumes generated due to the operation of each
machine tool 1 to the collector with the filter or the air pressure
based on the air blowing is detected and the flow rate or the air
pressure falls below a lower limit value, the lamp 21 configured to
irradiate emitted light in a color different from the emitted light
defined in the basic configuration (2) or the reflected light
defined in the basic configuration (1) is turned on, and the
emitted light is projected onto the camera 31 defined in the basic
configuration (1) or the optical sensor 32 defined in the basic
configuration (2).
[0055] The first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh
embodiments described above can be adopted separately and in
combination with each other.
[0056] In particular, assume that all the first, second, third,
fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh embodiments are adopted, and an
embodiment is adopted which is characterized by selecting mutually
different colors for light irradiated from the respective lamps 21
according to the respective embodiments and projecting each color
of light onto the camera 31 of the basic configuration (1), or the
optical sensor 32 of the basic configuration (2), in this case, it
is possible to solve all the seven types of the abnormal states
upon accurate distinguishing of the abnormal states to be monitored
in the respective embodiments.
[0057] The following description will be made with reference to
Examples 1 and 2.
Example 1
[0058] Example 1 is based on the basic configuration (2) and
characterized in that each lamp 21 emits light in a color
corresponding to a case in which the operation of each machine tool
1 falls within the normal operating range, in a color corresponding
to a case in which the operation exceeds the normal operating
range, or in a color corresponding to a case in which the operation
has ended, and the state of change in the color of each machine
tool 1 is recorded in a place where the operation of each machine
tool 1 is monitored, concretely in the monitoring region 4,
moreover, frequency of abnormal operation breaking out in each
machine tool 1 is aggregated.
[0059] By aggregating the frequency of the abnormal operation
breaking out in each machine tool 1, it is possible to
statistically analyze problems and defects in the operation of each
machine tool 1.
Example 2
[0060] Example 2 is based on the basic configuration (1) and
characterized in that each reflecting display plate 22 is set at a
position corresponding to a case in which the operation of each
machine tool 1 falls within the normal operating range, at a
position corresponding to a case in which the operation exceeds the
normal operating range, or at a position corresponding to a case in
which the operation has ended, and the state of change in the
position of each reflecting plate is recorded in a place where the
operation of each machine tool 1 is monitored, concretely in the
monitoring region 4, moreover, the frequency of abnormal operation
breaking out in each machine tool 1 is aggregated.
[0061] In Example 2 as well as in Example 1, it is possible to
statistically analyze the problems and defects in the operation of
each machine tool 1.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0062] The present invention offers a revolutionary technical merit
in quick identification of the machine tool breaking out the
operation abnormality based on simple information, namely the image
projected on the camera or the direction of projection onto the
optical sensor, corresponding to the case that the machine tool
placed in the workplace breaks out the operation abnormality, and
offers a wide range of applications in the field of machine
tools.
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST
[0063] 1: Machine tool [0064] 21: Lamp [0065] 22: Reflecting
display plate [0066] 31: Camera [0067] 32: Optical sensor [0068] 4:
Monitoring region [0069] 5: Illumination light
* * * * *