Method for managing machining tool

Abstract

To provide a method for managing a machining tool, which can suppress mistakes made when the types of machining tools held in a stocker are managed.SOLUTION: This method for managing the machining tool comprises: a storage step of storing the type of a cutting blade held in a first holding unit by a control unit; a reading step 1012 of reading a code by a reading unit; a determination step 1013 of determining whether the type of a cutting blade read in the reading step 1012 and the type of the cutting blade stored in the storage step coincide with each other; and a movement step 1014 of holding the cutting blade in the first holding unit by a conveyance arm when coincidence is determined, and feeding the cutting blade to a second holding unit that holds cutting blades not targeted by the conveyance arm when no coincidence is determined, and executes management so as to hold a desired type of a cutting blade in the first holding unit.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 14

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for managing machining tools using a stocker that holds the machining tools. [Background technology]

[0002] When using a stocker that holds multiple machining tools (see, for example, Patent Document 1), conventionally, the types of machining tools held by the stocker were manually registered by manually inputting the types or reading codes formed on the machining tools. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2022-103852 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] When the types of machining tools are manually registered as in the stocker shown in Patent Document 1 and the like, there are problems such as the risk of errors occurring in the registration work of the machining tools and the amount of man-hours required.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a method for managing machining tools that can reduce mistakes when managing the types of machining tools held in a stocker. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the object, a method for managing machining tools of the present invention is a method for managing machining tools such that only predetermined types of machining tools are held in a stocker, the stocker comprising a holding section for holding the machining tools, a reading section for reading a code or an RFID tag formed on the machining tool, a transport arm for carrying the machining tool in and out of the holding section, and a control unit, the method comprising the steps of: a storage step in which the control unit stores the type of the machining tool held in the holding section; a reading step in which the reading section reads the code or the RFID tag; and The method includes a storage data creation step of creating storage data for the machining tools linking the holding unit and the type of machining tool held in the holding unit from the read information, a determination step of determining whether the type of machining tool read in the reading step matches the type of machining tool stored in the storage step, and a movement step of holding the machining tool in the holding unit by the transport arm if they match, and transporting the machining tool by the transport arm to a second holding unit that holds non-target machining tools if they do not match, and is characterized in that the method manages so that only the desired type of machining tool is held in the holding unit.

[0007] In the method for managing a machining tool, the storage data may be updated after the moving step.

[0008] In the above-mentioned method for managing machining tools, the stocker may be installed adjacent to a machining device that uses the machining tools, and the method may further include a transport step of transporting the machining tools between the stocker and the machining device by the transport arm.

[0009] In the method for managing a machining tool, the reading step, the determining step, and the moving step may be performed at a timing when the transporting step is not being performed.

[0010] In the above-mentioned method for managing machining tools, the machining device has a holding table for holding a workpiece, a mount on which the machining tool is attached, and a spindle to which the mount is fixed at its tip, and the machining tool may be a cutting blade. Effect of the Invention

[0011] The present invention has an effect of preventing mistakes when managing the types of machining tools held in a stocker. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of the configuration of a processing device and an auxiliary device for implementing a processing tool management method according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a machining unit of the cutting device shown in FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a rear view of the cutting blade, which is the processing tool shown in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a configuration example of the auxiliary device shown in FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is another perspective view showing an example of the configuration of the auxiliary device shown in FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a schematic view of a holding portion of a storage unit of the auxiliary device shown in FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a schematic diagram of a replacement head of a replacement unit of the auxiliary device shown in FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a typical configuration of a blade holding portion of the replacement head shown in FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a nut holding portion of the interchangeable head shown in FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of first machining condition data generated by a data generating section of the control unit of the machining apparatus shown in FIG. 1 and stored in a data storing section. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of second machining condition data generated by a data generating section of the control unit of the machining apparatus shown in FIG. 1 and stored in a data storing section. [Figure 12]FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of blade storage data generated by the data generating section of the control unit of the processing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 and stored in the data storing section. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a part of the flow of the processing tool management method according to the first embodiment. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the remaining flow of the processing tool management method according to the first embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] The form (embodiment) for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to the contents described in the following embodiment. Furthermore, the components described below include those that a person skilled in the art can easily imagine and those that are substantially the same. Furthermore, the configurations described below can be appropriately combined. Furthermore, various omissions, substitutions, or modifications of the configurations can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0014] [Embodiment 1] A method for managing a machining tool according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of the configuration of a machining device and an auxiliary device for implementing the method for managing a machining tool according to the first embodiment. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing an exploded view of a machining unit of the cutting device shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a rear view of a cutting blade, which is a machining tool shown in Fig. 2.

[0015] (Processing equipment) The method for managing machining tools according to the first embodiment is carried out by an auxiliary device 5, which is a stocker installed adjacent to a machining device 1 shown in Fig. 1. The machining device 1 shown in Fig. 1 is a machining device that cuts a workpiece 200 using a cutting blade 21, which is a machining tool. In the first embodiment, the workpiece 200 is a wafer such as a disk-shaped semiconductor wafer or an optical device wafer, whose base material is silicon, sapphire, gallium nitride, gallium arsenide, or the like. The workpiece 200 has devices formed in areas partitioned in a lattice pattern by a plurality of planned division lines formed in a lattice pattern on a surface 201.

[0016] The device is, for example, an integrated circuit such as an IC (Integrated Circuit) or an LSI (Large Scale Integration), an image sensor such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) or a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor), or a memory (semiconductor memory device).

[0017] The workpiece 200 of the present invention may be a so-called TAIKO (registered trademark) wafer in which the central portion is thinned and a thick portion is formed on the outer periphery, or may be a rectangular package substrate having a plurality of devices sealed with resin, a ceramic substrate, a ferrite substrate, or a substrate containing at least one of nickel and iron, etc. In the first embodiment, the back surface 202 of the workpiece 200 is attached to an adhesive tape 204 having an annular frame 205 attached to the outer periphery, and is supported by the annular frame 205.

[0018] The processing device 1 shown in FIG. 1 is a cutting device that holds the workpiece 200 on a holding table 10 and cuts (corresponding to processing) the workpiece 200 along a planned division line with a cutting blade 21 to divide the workpiece into individual devices. As shown in FIG. 1, the processing device 1 includes a holding table 10 that holds the workpiece 200 by suction on a holding surface 11, a processing unit 20 that cuts the workpiece 200 held by the holding table 10 with the cutting blade 21, and an imaging unit 30 that images the workpiece 200 held by the holding table 10. As shown in FIG. 1, the processing device 1 according to the first embodiment is a so-called facing dual type cutting device that includes two processing units 20, that is, a two-spindle dicer. In the following, when distinguishing between the processing units 20, one will be referred to as a first processing unit 20-1 and the other will be referred to as a second processing unit 20-2.

[0019] 1, the processing device 1 includes a moving unit 40 that moves the holding table 10 and the processing unit 20 relatively. The moving unit 40 includes an X-axis moving unit 41 that moves the holding table 10 for processing in the X-axis direction parallel to the horizontal direction, a Y-axis moving unit 42 that indexes and feeds the processing unit 20 in the Y-axis direction parallel to the horizontal direction and perpendicular to the X-axis direction, a Z-axis moving unit 43 that cuts and feeds the processing unit 20 in the Z-axis direction parallel to the vertical direction perpendicular to both the X-axis and Y-axis directions, and a rotational moving unit 44 that rotates the holding table 10 around an axis parallel to the Z-axis direction.

[0020] The X-axis moving unit 41 moves the holding table 10 in the X-axis direction, which is the processing feed direction, to relatively feed the holding table 10 and the processing unit 20 along the X-axis. The X-axis moving unit 41 is installed in the device body 2, and moves the holding table between a carry-in / out area where the workpiece 200 is carried in and out, and a processing area where the workpiece 200 is cut.

[0021] The Y-axis moving unit 42 moves the machining unit 20 in the Y-axis direction, which is the indexing feed direction, to relatively index-feed the holding table 10 and the machining unit 20 along the Y-axis direction. The Y-axis moving unit 42 is installed on a gate-shaped support frame 3 standing upright from the device main body 2. In the first embodiment, the Y-axis moving unit 42 is installed on one surface of the support frame 3 on the machining area side.

[0022] The Z-axis moving unit 43 moves the machining unit 20 in the Z-axis direction, which is the cutting feed direction, to relatively feed the holding table 10 and the machining unit 20 along the Z-axis direction. The Z-axis moving unit 43 is installed on a moving frame 4 that is moved in the Y-axis direction by the Y-axis moving unit 42. The rotational moving unit 44 is supported by the X-axis moving unit 41, supports the holding table 10, and is disposed so as to be freely movable in the X-axis direction together with the holding table 10.

[0023] The X-axis moving unit 41, the Y-axis moving unit 42 and the Z-axis moving unit 43 each include a well-known ball screw rotatably provided around its axis, a well-known motor for rotating the ball screw around its axis, and a well-known guide rail for supporting the holding table 10 or the processing unit 20 movably in the X-axis, Y-axis or Z-axis direction. The rotational movement unit 44 includes a motor for rotating the holding table 10 around its axis.

[0024] The holding table 10 is disk-shaped, and a holding surface 11 for holding the workpiece 200 is formed from porous ceramics or the like. The holding table 10 is provided so as to be movable in the X-axis direction by an X-axis moving unit 41 across a processing area below the processing unit 20 and a carry-in / out area spaced from below the processing unit 20 for carrying in and out the workpiece 200, and is provided so as to be rotatable around an axis parallel to the Z-axis direction by a rotary moving unit 44.

[0025] The holding table 10 is connected to a vacuum suction source (not shown), and is sucked by the vacuum suction source to suck and hold the workpiece 200 placed on the holding surface 11. In the first embodiment, the holding table 10 sucks and holds the back surface 202 side of the workpiece 200 via an adhesive tape 204. In addition, a plurality of clamp units 12 that clamp an annular frame 205 are provided around the periphery of the holding table 10, as shown in FIG.

[0026] The processing unit 20 is a cutting means having a spindle 23 to which a cutting blade 21 for cutting a workpiece 200 held by the holding table 10 is detachably attached. The processing units 20 are each provided so as to be movable in the Y-axis direction by a Y-axis moving unit 42 and movable in the Z-axis direction by a Z-axis moving unit 43 with respect to the workpiece 200 held by the holding table 10.

[0027] The processing units 20 are provided on a gate-shaped support frame 3 erected from the device body 2 via a Y-axis moving unit 42, a Z-axis moving unit 43, etc. The processing units 20 are capable of positioning the cutting blade 21 at any position on the holding surface 11 of the holding table 10 by the Y-axis moving unit 42 and the Z-axis moving unit 43.

[0028] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the processing unit 20 comprises a cutting blade 21, a spindle housing 22 movable in the Y-axis and Z-axis directions by a Y-axis moving unit 42 and a Z-axis moving unit 43, a spindle 23 rotatably mounted on the spindle housing 22 about its axis, a spindle motor (not shown) that rotates the spindle 23 about its axis, a mount 24 (shown only in Figure 2) attached to the tip of the spindle 23, a nut 25 screwed into the tip of the spindle 23 to sandwich and fix the cutting blade 21 between the mount 24, and a cutting water supply nozzle 26 that supplies cutting water to the cutting blade 21, etc.

[0029] The cutting blade 21 is an extremely thin cutting grindstone having a substantially ring shape. In the first embodiment, the cutting blade 21 includes an annular cutting edge 211 for cutting the workpiece 200, and an annular base 212 for supporting the cutting edge 211 at its outer edge and detachably attached to the spindle 23. The cutting edge 211 is made of abrasive grains such as diamond or CBN (Cubic Boron Nitride) and a bond material such as metal or resin, and is formed to a predetermined thickness. In the present invention, the cutting blade 21 may be a so-called washer blade consisting of only the cutting edge 211.

[0030] 3, when the cutting blade 21 is attached to the spindle 23 of the annular base 212, a code 27 is formed on the surface facing the spindle housing 22. In the first embodiment, the code 27 stores information indicating the type of the cutting blade 21. Note that, although the code 27 is a so-called two-dimensional code in the first embodiment, the present invention does not limit the type of code as long as it is an identification code or identification mark that can identify an individual, such as a bar code, a character string, a symbol, or an uneven surface.

[0031] The spindle housing 22 is supported by a Z-axis moving unit 43 so as to be freely movable in the Z-axis direction, and is supported by a Y-axis moving unit 42 via the Z-axis moving unit 43 so as to be freely movable in the Y-axis direction. The spindle housing 22 accommodates a portion of the spindle 23 excluding the tip end thereof, as well as a spindle motor (not shown), and supports the spindle 23 so as to be rotatable about its axis.

[0032] The spindle 23 fixes the cutting blade 21 to the tip via the mount 24. The spindle 23 has the mount 24 fixed to the tip, rotated by a spindle motor (not shown), and the tip protrudes from the tip surface of the spindle housing 22. The tip of the spindle 23 is formed with a screw groove 231 into which the nut 25 is screwed. The mount 24 is used to mount the cutting blade 21. The mount 24 is formed in an annular shape and is fixed to the tip of the spindle 23. The nut 25 is formed in an annular shape and has a screw groove formed on its inner circumferential surface to screw into the screw groove 251. The nut 25 is screwed into the screw groove 231 of the spindle 23 and attached to the tip of the spindle 23. A plurality of holes 252 (four in the first embodiment) are arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction on the exposed surface. The cutting water supply nozzle 26 supplies cutting water to the cutting blade 21 during cutting.

[0033] The axes of the spindle 23 and cutting blade 21 of the processing unit 20 are set parallel to the Y-axis direction.

[0034] In the first embodiment, the imaging unit 30 is supported on the support frame 3 so as to be movable in the Y-axis direction by a second Y-axis moving unit 45 installed on the other surface of the support frame 3 on the side of the carry-in / out area. The imaging unit 30 includes an imaging element that images an area to be divided of the workpiece 200 before cutting held on the holding table 10. The imaging element is, for example, a CCD (Charge-Coupled Device) imaging element or a CMOS (Complementary MOS) imaging element. The imaging unit 30 images the workpiece 200 held on the holding table 10 to obtain an image for performing alignment to align the workpiece 200 with the cutting blade 21, and outputs the obtained image to the control unit 100.

[0035] The processing device 1 also includes an X-axis position detection unit (not shown) for detecting the position of the holding table 10 in the X-axis direction, a Y-axis position detection unit (not shown) for detecting the position of the processing unit 20 in the Y-axis direction, and a Z-axis position detection unit for detecting the position of the processing unit 20 in the Z-axis direction. The X-axis position detection unit and the Y-axis position detection unit can be configured with a linear scale parallel to the X-axis direction or the Y-axis direction, and a reading head. The Z-axis position detection unit can be configured to detect the position of the processing unit 20 in the Z-axis direction by the pulse of the motor of the Z-axis moving unit 43.

[0036] The X-axis position detection unit, the Y-axis position detection unit, and the Z-axis position detection unit detect the X-axis position of the holding table 10 and the Y-axis or Z-axis position of the lower end of the cutting edge 211 of the cutting blade 21 of the processing unit 20, and output the detection results to the control unit 100. In the first embodiment, the positions of the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis of each component of the processing device 1 are determined based on a predetermined reference position (not shown). The reference position in the Z-axis is the position of the processing unit 20 where the lower end of the cutting edge 211 of the cutting blade 21 is located on the same plane as the holding surface 11.

[0037] (auxiliary equipment) Next, the auxiliary device 5 will be described. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a configuration example of the auxiliary device shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 5 is another perspective view showing a configuration example of the auxiliary device shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a typical holding section of a storage unit of the auxiliary device shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a typical replacement head of a replacement unit of the auxiliary device shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a typical configuration of a blade holding section of the replacement head shown in FIG. 7. FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a typical configuration of a nut holding section of the replacement head shown in FIG. 7.

[0038] The auxiliary device 5 is a device that stores replacement cutting blades 21 for the processing unit 20, replaces the cutting blades 21 of the processing unit 20, and stores used cutting blades 21 removed from the processing unit 20. The auxiliary device 5 is installed adjacent to the processing device 1 that uses the cutting blades 21, and is installed on the processing area side of the processing device 1 in the first embodiment.

[0039] 4 and 5, the auxiliary device 5 includes an apparatus main body 6, a storage unit 50, a replacement unit 60, a reading unit 70 which is a reading section, and a control unit 100. The apparatus main body 6 is installed on the processing area side of the apparatus main body 2 of the processing apparatus 1. In the first embodiment, the auxiliary device 5 includes a flat base plate 7 and a stand-shaped stand 8.

[0040] The storage unit 50 is a unit that stores the cutting blade 21 for replacement of the processing unit 20 and stores the used cutting blade 21 removed from the processing unit 20. The storage unit 50 is installed on a support column 9 erected from the base plate 7 of the device body 6, and includes a drive gear 52 rotated around an axis parallel to the Y-axis direction by a motor 51 attached to the center of the longitudinal direction of the support column 9, a driven gear 53 supported on the upper end of the support column 9 so as to be rotatable around an axis parallel to the Y-axis direction, a ring-shaped endless track 54 stretched around the outer periphery of the drive gear 52 and the driven gear 53, and a plurality of holding parts 55 installed on the endless track 54. The driven gear 53 is supported on the upper end of the support column 9 so as to be freely raised and lowered in the Z-axis direction by a lifting means (not shown).

[0041] The endless track 54 is made up of a large number of interconnected link pieces (reference numbers omitted), and is wound around the outer periphery of the drive gear 52 and the driven gear 53. The endless track 54 travels in a circular motion (also called endless travel) around the outer periphery of the drive gear 52 and the driven gear 53 as the drive gear 52 rotates due to the motor 51. In addition, the length of the endless track 54 can be adjusted according to the distance between the drive gear 52 and the driven gear 53 that changes as the driven gear 53 rises and falls, by adjusting the number of link pieces.

[0042] The holding portions 55 are provided at intervals (equidistant intervals in the first embodiment) along the longitudinal direction of the endless track 54 on the surface of the endless track 54 facing the replacement unit 60 along the Y-axis direction. In the first embodiment, the holding portions 55 are provided around the entire circumference of the endless track 54.

[0043] The holding portion 55 holds the cutting blade 21. As shown in Fig. 6, the holding portion 55 has a thick disk-shaped base portion 56 connected to the endless track 54, and a cylindrical shaft portion 57 extending in the Y-axis direction from an end face of the base portion 56. The outer diameter of the shaft portion 57 is smaller than the outer diameter of the base portion 56, and is formed to be slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the central hole of the annular base 212 of the cutting blade 21.

[0044] In the holding portion 55, the shaft portion 57 is inserted into a central hole of the annular base 212 of the cutting blade 21, and the shaft portion 57 holds a plurality of cutting blades 21 (five in the first embodiment). In the first embodiment, as can be understood by referring to Figs. 4 and 5, half of the plurality of holding portions 55 hold replacement cutting blades 21. When distinguishing between the holding portions 55, the holding portion 55 holding the replacement cutting blade 21 is referred to as a first holding portion 55-1, and the remaining holding portion 55 is referred to as a second holding portion 55-2. In addition, as shown in Fig. 6, the holding portion 55 has a plurality of ball plungers 58 attached at intervals in the circumferential direction on the tip side of the shaft portion 57 to prevent the cutting blade 21 supported by the shaft portion 57 from jumping out.

[0045] 6, the holder 55 has flow passages 59 formed inside the base 56, and one end of each flow passage 59 opens to the end face of the base 56 on the caterpillar track 54 side. The other end of each flow passage 59 opens to the end face of the base 56 on the cutting blade 21 side, radially outward from the shaft 57. In the first embodiment, the holder 55 located at the lowest end in the orbit of the holder 55 accompanying the rotation of the caterpillar track 54 has the flow passage 59 of the base 56 facing the tip of an air nozzle (not shown) that is installed on the support column 9 and connected to a high-pressure air supply means (not shown).

[0046] When the cutting blade 21 is removed from the holding part 55 at the lowest position, high pressure air is supplied from the air nozzle to the flow path 59 of the base part 56, so that the cutting blade 21 remaining on the shaft part 57 can be pushed out toward the tip side of the shaft part 57. However, the action of the ball plunger 58 prevents the cutting blade 21 from falling off the shaft part 57.

[0047] The replacement unit 60 holds the replacement cutting blade 21 stored in the storage unit 50, removes the nut 25 and the cutting blade 21 from the spindle 23 of the processing unit 20, attaches the replacement cutting blade 21 and the nut 25 to the spindle 23 of the processing unit 20, and transports the replaced, used cutting blade 21 to the storage unit 50. The replacement unit 60 includes a lifting table 61 installed on the stand 8, a frame 63 supported by the lifting table 61 for movement in the Y-axis direction by a Y-axis moving unit 62, and a transport arm 64 supported by the frame 63.

[0048] The lifting table 61 is provided so as to be movable up and down in the Z-axis direction by a lifting unit 611 installed on the base 8. In addition, the lifting table 61 has cylindrical legs 612 attached to the four corners of the lower surface thereof, the legs being inserted into holes provided at the four corners of the base 8.

[0049] The frame body 63 includes a flat bottom plate 631 which is mounted on the lifting table 61 so as to be movable in the Y-axis direction by the Y-axis moving unit 62, a flat ceiling plate 632 which is disposed above the bottom plate 631, and pillars 633 which connect the four corners of the bottom plate 631 and the four corners of the ceiling plate 632.

[0050] The transport arm 64 transports the cutting blade 21 into and out of the holder 55. The transport arm 64 includes a robot arm 65 and an exchange head 66 provided at the tip of the robot arm 65.

[0051] 5 and the like, the robot arm 65 includes a first arm 652 whose base end is rotated around an axis parallel to the Z-axis direction by a motor 651 attached to a ceiling plate 632, a second arm 654 whose base end is rotated around an axis parallel to the Z-axis direction at the tip of the first arm 652 by a motor 653 attached to the base end and whose base end is rotated around an axis parallel to the Z-axis direction at the tip of the first arm 652 by a motor 653 attached to the base end, and an exchange head 66 attached to the tip of the second arm 654. The robot arm 65 can position the exchange head 66 at any position by rotating the base ends of the arms 652 and 654 around their axes by the motors 651 and 653.

[0052] 7, the replacement head 66 includes a casing 661, a blade holding portion 67, and a nut holding portion 68. In the first embodiment, the casing 661 has a regular hexagonal top plate 662 and six rectangular side walls 663 hanging down from the periphery of the top plate 662. A Z rotation shaft 664 protrudes from the upper surface of the top plate 662, the axis of which is parallel to the Z axis direction and which is attached to the tip of the second arm 654. The casing 661 accommodates a motor (not shown) therein that rotates the Z rotation shaft 664 about its axis.

[0053] The blade holding parts 67 are attached to four of the six side walls 663 of the casing 661, and the nut holding parts 68 are attached to the remaining two of the six side walls 663 of the casing 661, and the two nut holding parts 68 are provided on a pair of opposing side walls 663. In this way, the interchangeable head 66 has two blade holding parts 67 for one nut holding part 68.

[0054] 8, the blade holding part 67 is formed in a cylindrical shape with its axis parallel to the horizontal direction, and is provided with a circular central opening 672 on an end face 671 capable of receiving the shaft part 57 of the holding part 55 and the tip end of the spindle 23, and a plurality of suction holes 673 arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction around the central opening 672. Each suction hole 673 is connected to suction means (not shown).

[0055] When the blade holding portion 67 is positioned at a position where the end face 671 contacts the annular base 212 of the cutting blade 21 stored in the storage unit 50 or the cutting blade 21 attached to the tip of the spindle 23, the blade holding portion 67 is configured to hold the cutting blade 21 by generating suction force in each suction hole 673 using the suction means.

[0056] As shown in FIG. 9, the nut holding portion 68 includes a cylindrical housing 681 fixed to the side wall 663 of the casing 661 and having an axis parallel to the horizontal direction, an annular rotating body 682 rotatably accommodated inside the housing 681, and a motor (not shown) that rotates the rotating body 682.

[0057] The rotor 682 has a central opening 684 formed in the center of the end face 683, which can receive the tip of the spindle 23. The rotor 682 has a plurality of suction holes 685 and a plurality of pins 686 alternately provided at intervals in the circumferential direction around the central opening 684 of the end face 683. Each suction hole 685 is connected to a suction means (not shown). The pin 686 is positioned at a position protruding from the end face 683 (position shown in FIG. 9) by a spring (not shown) built in the rotor 682, and when the pin 686 is pressed toward the inside of the rotor 682, the spring contracts and the pin 686 is accommodated inside the rotor 682. The pin 686 is also arranged in a position corresponding to the position of the hole 252 formed in the nut 25.

[0058] The nut holding portion 68 generates suction force at each suction hole 685 using the suction means to hold the nut 25 by suction, and with a pin 686 inserted into the hole 252 formed in the nut 25, the rotating body 682 is rotated around its axis by the motor, so that the nut 25 for fixing the cutting blade 21 to the spindle 23 can be screwed and unscrewed into the thread groove 231 formed at the tip of the spindle.

[0059] Even if the position of pin 686 is misaligned with the position of hole 252 of nut 25 when unscrewing (removing) nut 25 from spindle 23, nut holding portion 68 positions end face 683 of rotating body 682 on nut 25 attached to spindle 23, and accommodates pin 686 inside rotating body 682, and then rotates the motor using rotating body 682, aligning the position of pin 686 with the position of hole 252, and using a spring to push pin 686 out and insert it into hole 252, thereby rotating nut 25.

[0060] The reading unit 70 is a unit that reads the code 27 of the cutting blade 21. In the first embodiment, the reading unit 70 is provided below the driven gear 53 of the support column 9 facing the replacement unit 60, but the installation position of the reading unit 70 is not limited to the position in the first embodiment. In the first embodiment, the reading unit 70 is an imaging unit equipped with an imaging element such as a CCD imaging element or a CMOS imaging element that images the code 27 of the cutting blade 21 held by the blade holding portion 67 of the replacement head 66 of the replacement unit 60. The reading unit 70 reads the code 27 by outputting the image of the captured code 27 to the control unit 100.

[0061] (Control Unit) Next, the control unit 100 will be described. Fig. 10 is a diagram showing an example of first machining condition data generated by the data generation section of the control unit of the processing device shown in Fig. 1 and stored in the data storage section. Fig. 11 is a diagram showing an example of second machining condition data generated by the data generation section of the control unit of the processing device shown in Fig. 1 and stored in the data storage section. Fig. 12 is a diagram showing an example of blade storage data generated by the data generation section of the control unit of the processing device shown in Fig. 1 and stored in the data storage section.

[0062] The control unit 100 controls each of the components of the processing device 1 and the auxiliary device 5, and causes the processing device 1 to perform a processing operation on the workpiece 200 and an exchange operation of the cutting blade 21. The control unit 100 is a computer having an arithmetic processing device having a microprocessor such as a CPU (central processing unit), a storage device having a memory such as a ROM (read only memory) or a RAM (random access memory), and an input / output interface device. The arithmetic processing device of the control unit 100 performs arithmetic processing according to a computer program stored in the storage device, and outputs control signals for controlling the processing device 1 to each of the components of the processing device 1 and the auxiliary device 5 via the input / output interface device.

[0063] The control unit 100 is connected to a display unit such as a liquid crystal display device that displays the status and images of the machining operation, an input unit used by the operator to register machining content information, and a notification unit. The input unit is composed of at least one of a touch panel provided on the display unit and an external input device such as a keyboard. The notification unit emits at least one of sound and light to notify the operator.

[0064] The control unit 100 also includes an operation control unit 101, a data generation unit 102, and a data storage unit 103. The operation control unit 101 controls the above-mentioned components of the processing device 1 to cause the processing device 1 to perform a processing operation on the workpiece 200 and an exchange operation of the cutting blade 21. When processing conditions are registered in the control unit 100, the data generation unit 102 generates first processing condition data 301 shown in Fig. 10, second processing condition data 302 shown in Fig. 11, and blade storage data 303 (corresponding to storage data of a processing tool) shown in Fig. 12.

[0065] The first processing condition data 301 is data in which the ID of each holding part 55, the type of each holding part 55 including whether it is a holding part 15 that holds a cutting blade 21 to be used in processing (i.e., the first holding part 15-1) or a holding part 15 that holds a cutting blade 21 that is not to be used in processing (i.e., the first holding part 15-2), and the number of cutting blades 21 held by each first holding part 55-1 are associated with each other. The ID of the holding part 55 is information given to each holding part 55, and is information for identifying the holding parts 55 from each other, and is a natural number different from each other in the first embodiment. The type of the holding part 55 indicates whether each holding part 55 is the first holding part 55-1 or the second holding part 55-2 described above.

[0066] The second machining condition data 302 is data in which each of the machining units 20-1, 20-2 corresponds one-to-one to the type of cutting blade 21 attached to the spindle 23 of each machining unit 20. That is, the second machining condition data 302 indicates the type of cutting blade 21 attached to the spindle 23 of each machining unit 20, and thus indicates the type of cutting blade 21 held by the first holding portion 55-1.

[0067] The blade storage data 303 is data in which the ID of each holding unit 55, the type of each holding unit 55, the type of the first cutting blade 21 held by each first holding unit 55-1, the type of the second cutting blade 21, and the number of cutting blades 21 are associated with each other in a one-to-one manner. The first cutting blade 21 is the cutting blade 21 closest to the replacement unit 60 among the multiple cutting blades 21 held by each first holding unit 55-1, and the second cutting blade 21 is the cutting blade 21 closest to the first cutting blade 21 among the multiple cutting blades 21 excluding the first cutting blade 21 held by each first holding unit 55-1. In the blade storage data 303 generated by the data generating unit 102, the type of the first cutting blade 21 and the type of the second cutting blade 21 are blank.

[0068] Moreover, the data generating unit 102 performs a reading step 1012, a determining step 1013, a moving step 1014, and a storage data creating step 1015 of the machining tool management method according to the first embodiment described below, thereby updating the blade storage data 303 shown in Fig. 12. Specifically, the data generating unit 102 performs the reading step 1012, the determining step 1013, the moving step 1014, and the storage data creating step 1015, thereby identifying the types of the first cutting blade 21 and the second cutting blade 21 held in each first holding unit 55-1 of the blade storage data 303 shown in Fig. 12.

[0069] The data storage unit 103 stores the first machining condition data 301, the second machining condition data 302, and the blade storage data 303. The functions of the operation control unit 101 and the data generation unit 102 are realized by the above-mentioned arithmetic processing device performing arithmetic processing in accordance with the computer program stored in the storage device. The function of the data storage unit 103 is realized by the above-mentioned storage device.

[0070] (Method of managing machining tools) Next, a method for managing machining tools according to the first embodiment will be described. Fig. 13 is a flowchart showing a part of the flow of the method for managing machining tools according to the first embodiment. Fig. 14 is a flowchart showing the remaining flow of the method for managing machining tools according to the first embodiment. The method for managing machining tools according to the first embodiment is also a processing operation of the processing device 1 that cuts the workpiece 200 along the planned division lines and divides the workpiece 200 into individual devices.

[0071] The method for managing machining tools is a method for identifying the type of cutting blade 21 held in each holding portion 15 of the auxiliary device 5, and further managing the cutting blades 21 so that only the predetermined type of cutting blade 21 to be attached to the machining unit 20 is held in the first holding portion 55-1, which holds the cutting blade 21 to be used in machining. The method for managing machining tools includes a storage step 1001, a reading step 1012, a determination step 1013, a movement step 1014, a storage data creation step 1015, and a transport step 1006, as shown in Figs. 13 and 14.

[0072] (Memory step) In the storage step 1001, the control unit 100 stores the type of the cutting blade 21 held in the first holding section 55-1. In the storage step 1001, the machining conditions are registered in the control unit 100 by an operator or the like, the workpiece 200 before cutting is placed on the holding surface 11 of the holding table 10, and a plurality of cutting blades 21 are held in the first holding section 55-1 of the storage unit 50 of the auxiliary device 5. When the control unit 100 receives an instruction to start a machining operation from the operator, the operation control section 101 starts cutting the workpiece 200 (step 1002), and the data generation section 102 generates machining condition data 301, 302 and blade storage data 303 and stores them in the data storage section 103.

[0073] The machining conditions include information indicating whether each holding part 55 is a first holding part 55-1 that holds a cutting blade 21 to be used in machining or a second holding part 55-2 that holds a cutting blade 21 that is not to be used in machining, information indicating the number of cutting blades 21 held in each first holding part 55-1, and information indicating the type of cutting blade 21 to be attached to the spindle 23 of each machining unit 20, i.e., information indicating the type of cutting blade 21 held in the first holding part 55-1. In the storage step 1001, the data generating part 102 generates machining condition data 301, 302 and stores it in the data storage part 103, so that the control unit 100 stores the type of cutting blade 21 held in the first holding part 55-1.

[0074] In the first embodiment, when cutting processing is started, the operation control section 101 of the control unit 100 sucks and holds the back surface 202 side to the holding surface 11 of the holding table 10 via the adhesive tape 204, and clamps the annular frame 205 with the clamp section 12. In the first embodiment, in the cutting processing, the operation control section 101 of the control unit 100 rotates the spindle 23 about its axis, and supplies cutting water from the cutting water supply nozzle 26 to the cutting blade 21. In the first embodiment, in the cutting processing, the operation control section 101 of the control unit 100 controls the moving unit 40 to move the holding table 10 toward the processing area, the imaging unit 30 images the workpiece 200, and performs alignment based on the image captured by the imaging unit 30.

[0075] In embodiment 1, in cutting processing, the control unit 100 has an operation control unit 101 that controls the moving unit 40, the processing unit 20, etc., to move the workpiece 200 and the processing unit 20 relatively along the planned division lines, while cutting the cutting blade 21 into each planned division line to divide the workpiece 200 into individual devices.

[0076] In the first embodiment, during cutting, the control unit 100 determines whether the operation control section 101 is at a predetermined timing (step 1003). The predetermined timing is the timing to replace the cutting blade 21, for example, every time a predetermined number of workpieces 200 are cut, every time a predetermined number of planned dividing lines are cut, when the cutting blade 21 cutting edge exposure amount falls below a predetermined value, when the cutting blade 21 is damaged, when the workpieces 200 to be processed are changed and the type of cutting blade to be used is changed, etc.

[0077] In the first embodiment, when the operation control section 101 determines that it is a predetermined timing (step 1003: Yes) during cutting, the control unit 100 determines whether or not the cutting blade 21 can be replaced (step 1004). In the first embodiment, during cutting, the control unit 100 determines whether or not the cutting blade 21 can be replaced by causing the operation control section 101 to refer to the second processing condition data 302 and the blade storage data 303 and determining whether or not the cutting blade 21 of the type to be attached to the processing unit 20 to which the cutting blade 21 is to be replaced is present among the first cutting blade 21 or the second cutting blade 21 held by the first holding section 55-1 (step 1004).

[0078] In embodiment 1, when the operation control unit 101 refers to the second machining condition data 302 and the blade storage data 303 and determines that the first cutting blade or the second cutting blade held in the first holding unit 55-1 does not contain a cutting blade 21 of the type to be attached to the machining unit 20 for which the cutting blade 21 is to be replaced, the control unit 100 determines that replacement of the cutting blade 21 is impossible (step 1004: No), causes the alarm unit to notify the operator, and stops the cutting process (step 1005).

[0079] In embodiment 1, during cutting processing, when the operation control unit 101 refers to the second processing condition data 302 and the blade storage data 303 and determines that the cutting blade 21 of the type to be attached to the processing unit 20 to be replaced is present among the first cutting blade or the second cutting blade held in the first holding portion 55-1, the control unit 100 determines that the cutting blade 21 can be replaced (step 1004: Yes) and proceeds to the transport step 1006.

[0080] (Transportation step) The transport step 1006 is a step in which the cutting blade 21 is transported between the storage unit 50 of the auxiliary device 5 and the processing unit 20 of the processing device 1 by the transport arm 64 of the replacement unit 60 or the like. In the transport step 1006, the operation control section 101 of the control unit 100 stops the rotation of the cutting blade 21 around the axis of the spindle 23 of the processing unit 20 to be replaced and stops the supply of cutting water from the cutting water supply nozzle 26.

[0081] In the transport step 1006, the operation control section 101 of the control unit 100 controls the lifting unit 611, the Y-axis moving unit 62, the transport arm 64, and the storage unit 50 of the auxiliary device 5 to hold the cutting blade 21 held by the first holder 55-1 of the type to be attached to the spindle 23 of the processing unit 20 to be replaced in the blade holding section 67. In the transport step 1006, the operation control section 101 of the control unit 100 controls the lifting unit 611, the Y-axis moving unit 62, the transport arm 64 of the auxiliary device 5, and the Y-axis moving unit 42, the Z-axis moving unit 43, etc. of the processing device 1 to hold the nut 25 in the nut holding section 68 and remove it from the spindle 23, and hold the cutting blade 21 to be replaced that is attached to the spindle 23 in the blade holding section 67. Conventionally, when an operator places the cutting blade 21 in the auxiliary device 5, the information of the cutting blade 21 is registered in the storage device of the control unit 100, and in the subsequent transport step 1006, the replacement unit 60 takes out the cutting blade 21 of the type specified in the processing condition data 301, 302 from the auxiliary device 5 based on the information registered by the operator, and during the transport step 1006, the code 27 of the cutting blade 21 is read by the reading unit 70 to check whether the type of the cutting blade 21 is correct. Therefore, even if the operator makes a registration error, it is not discovered until the reading unit 70 reads it in the transport step 1006, and if the incorrect cutting blade 21 is held in each holding section 55 due to the operator's registration error, it takes time to return the cutting blade 21 to the auxiliary device 5, select the cutting blade 21 again, and transport it, which leads to a decrease in productivity. In the present invention, the type of cutting blade 21 is automatically identified by the replacement unit 60 prior to the transport step 1006, and if an incorrect type of cutting blade 21 has been mixed in, it is moved to the second holding section 55-2, so there is no risk of transporting the incorrect cutting blade 21 in the transport step 1006 and interrupting processing.

[0082] In the conveying step 1006, the operation control section 101 of the control unit 100 controls the lifting unit 611, the Y-axis moving unit 62, the conveying arm 64 of the auxiliary device 5, and the Y-axis moving unit 42, the Z-axis moving unit 43, etc. of the processing device 1 to remove the cutting blade 21 to be replaced held by the blade holding section 67 from the spindle 23, attach the replacement cutting blade 21 held by the blade holding section 67 to the spindle 23, and attach the nut 25 held by the nut holding section 68 to the spindle 23. In the conveying step 1006, the operation control section 101 of the control unit 100 controls the lifting unit 611, the Y-axis moving unit 62, the conveying arm 64, etc. of the auxiliary device 5 to hold the used cutting blade 21 in the second holding section 55-2. In this way, in the conveying step 1006, the cutting blade 21 is conveyed between the auxiliary device 5 and the processing device 1 to replace the cutting blade 21 of the processing unit 20.

[0083] After the cutting blade 21 is replaced, the control unit 100 causes the operation control unit 101 to rotate the spindle 23 of the processing unit 20 in which the cutting blade 21 has been replaced around its axis, and supplies cutting water to the cutting blade 21 from the cutting water supply nozzle 26, and returns to step 1002. After the cutting blade 21 is replaced, the control unit 100 causes the data generation unit 102 to update the blade storage data 303 by setting the type of the second cutting blade 21 of the first holding unit 55-1 that held the first cutting blade 21 transported to the processing unit 20 and attached to the spindle 23 in the blade storage data 303 as the type of the first cutting blade 21 and leaving the type of the second cutting blade 21 blank. In the case of a device having two spindles 23, the replacement unit 60 may hold two cutting blades 21 at a time. Therefore, it is preferable that the reading step 1012 and the determination step 1013 are performed for the first cutting blade 21 on the front side of each holding part 15 and the second cutting blade 21 adjacent to and located at the rear of the first cutting blade 21. After replacing the cutting blade 21, the control unit 100 positions the first holding part 55-1, which has held the first cutting blade 21 that has been transported to the processing unit 20 and attached to the spindle 23 by the operation control part 101, at the lowest end, and supplies high-pressure air from the air nozzle to push the cutting blade 21 remaining on the shaft part 57 to the tip side of the shaft part 57.

[0084] In the first embodiment, when the operation control unit 101 determines that the timing is not the predetermined timing (step 1003: No) during cutting, the control unit 100 determines whether the cutting has been completed (step 1007). In the first embodiment, when the operation control unit 101 has not cut all the planned dividing lines of the workpiece 200 held on the holding table 10, the control unit 100 determines that the cutting has not been completed (step 1007: No) and returns to step 1002. In the first embodiment, when the operation control unit 101 has cut all the planned dividing lines of the workpiece 200 held on the holding table 10, the control unit 100 determines that the cutting has been completed (step 1007: Yes), moves the holding table 10 to the carry-in / out area, stops the suction holding of the workpiece 200 after cutting on the holding table 10, and releases the clamp of the annular frame 205 of the clamp unit 12 to end the cutting.

[0085] During cutting, the control unit 100 repeatedly executes the flowchart shown in Fig. 14. The control unit 100 determines whether the operation control unit 101 is in the transport step 1006 (step 1010). If the control unit 100 determines that the operation control unit 101 is not in the transport step 1006 (step 1010: No), the control unit 100 determines whether the blade storage data 303 needs to be updated (step 1011).

[0086] If the operation control unit 101 determines that the types of the first cutting blade 21 and the second cutting blade 21 of the first holding unit 55-1 which holds the cutting blade 21 are blank, i.e., not specified, before the blade storage data 303 is generated or by referring to the latest blade storage data 303, the control unit 100 determines that the blade storage data 303 needs to be updated (step 1011: Yes) and proceeds to reading step 1012.

[0087] (Read step) The reading step 1012 is a step of reading the code 27 by the reading unit 70. In the first embodiment, in the reading step 1012, the control unit 100 controls the lifting unit 611, the Y-axis moving unit 62, and the transport arm 64 of the auxiliary device 5 to hold the cutting blade 21 and hold the first cutting blade 21 and the second cutting blade 21 of the first holding unit 55-1, whose types are not specified, in the blade holding unit 67. In the first embodiment, in the reading step 1012, the control unit 100 controls the lifting unit 611, the Y-axis moving unit 62, and the transport arm 64 of the auxiliary device 5 to make the code 27 of the first cutting blade 21 and the second cutting blade 21, whose types are not specified and which are held in the blade holding unit 67, face the reading unit 70 along the Y-axis direction, and then reads it with the reading unit 70, and proceeds to the determination step 1013.

[0088] (Decision step) The determination step 1013 is a step for determining whether the types of the first cutting blade 21 and the second cutting blade 21 read in the immediately preceding reading step 1012 match the types of the cutting blade 21 in the second machining condition data 302 stored and generated in the storage step 1001. In the first embodiment, in the determination step 1013, the control unit 100 identifies the types of the first cutting blade 21 and the second cutting blade 21 whose codes 27 are read by the data generating unit 102, determines whether the identified types of the first cutting blade 21 and the second cutting blade 21 exist in the second machining condition data 302, determines that they exist and match, or determines that they do not exist and do not match, and proceeds to the movement step 1014.

[0089] (Movement Step) In the moving step 1014, if it is determined in the judgment step 1013 that they match, the first cutting blade 21 and the second cutting blade 21 are held by the original first holding unit 55-1 using the transport arm 64 or the like, and if it is determined in the judgment step 1013 that they do not match, the cutting blade 21 is carried out by the transport arm 64 or the like to the second holding unit 55-2 that holds the non-target cutting blade 21. In the first embodiment, in the moving step 1014, if the data generating unit 102 determines that they match in the judgment step 1013, the control unit 100 controls the lifting unit 611, the Y-axis moving unit 62, and the transport arm 64 of the auxiliary device 5 to hold the first cutting blade 21 and the second cutting blade 21 held by the blade holding unit 67 in the original first holding unit 55-1.

[0090] In embodiment 1, in the movement step 1014, if the data generation unit 102 determines that there is no match in the judgment step 1013, the control unit 100 controls the lifting unit 611, Y-axis movement unit 62, and transport arm 64 of the auxiliary device 5 to hold the cutting blade 21 held by the blade holding portion 67 in the second holding portion 55-2.

[0091] (Storage data creation step) The storage data creation step 1015 is a step of creating or updating blade storage data 303 linking the holding unit 15 with the type of cutting blade 21 held in the holding unit 15 from the information read in the reading step 1012. In the first embodiment, in the storage data creation step 1015, if the data generation unit 102 determines that there is a match in the determination step 1013, the control unit 100 generates or updates the blade storage data 303 by setting the type of cutting blade 21 identified in the determination step 1013 as the type of the first cutting blade 21 and the second cutting blade 21 of the first holding unit 55-1 to which the cutting blade 21 was returned in the movement step 1014, and returns to step 1010.

[0092] Thus, in storage data creation step 1015, if the data generation unit 102 determines in the determination step 1013 that there is a match, the type of cutting blade 21 identified in the determination step 1013 is set as the type of the first cutting blade 21 and the second cutting blade 21 of the first holding unit 55-1 to which the cutting blade 21 was returned in the movement step 1014, and the blade storage data 303 is generated or updated to link the holding unit 15 with the type of cutting blade 21 held in the holding unit 15 from the information read in the reading step 1012. Also, in storage data creation step 1015, the data generation unit 102 creates or updates the blade storage data 303, thereby updating the blade storage data 303 after the movement step 1014.

[0093] In the first embodiment, when the operation control unit 101 determines that the cutting blade 21 is being transported to the processing device 1 in the transport step 1006 (step 1010: Yes) and when the control unit 100 determines that the blade storage data 303 does not need to be updated (step 1011: No), the control unit 100 returns to step 1010. When the operation control unit 101 has identified the types of the first cutting blade 21 and the second cutting blade 21 of the first holding unit 55-1 that holds the cutting blade 21 by referring to the latest blade storage data 303, the control unit 100 determines that the blade storage data 303 does not need to be updated (step 1011: No). Thus, in the management method of the processing tool according to the first embodiment, the reading step 1012, the determination step 1013, and the moving step 1014 are performed by utilizing the timing when the transport step 1006 is not being performed and the replacement unit 60 is not being used, and the processing tool is managed so that only the desired type of cutting blade 21 is held in the first holding unit 55-1. Therefore, the number of steps required for the worker to read and register the identification code of the cutting blade 21 can be reduced, and further, interruption of the transport step 1006 due to a registration error by the worker can be prevented.

[0094] In this way, in the machining tool management method according to the first embodiment, the blade storage data 303 is updated every time the cutting blade 21 is replaced.

[0095] As described above, the machining tool management method according to the first embodiment stores the type of cutting blade 21 held by the first holding unit 55-1, i.e., the type of cutting blade 21 to be attached to the spindle 23 of the machining unit 20, in a storage step 1001, reads the type of cutting blade 21 held by the first holding unit 55-1 in a reading step 1012, and determines whether or not the type of cutting blade 21 stored in the storage step 1001 matches the type of cutting blade 21 read in the reading step 1012, in a determination step 1013. For this reason, the machining tool management method according to the first embodiment can determine whether or not the type of cutting blade 21 held by the first holding unit 55-1 is the type to be attached to the spindle 23 of the machining unit 20.

[0096] Furthermore, in the machining tool management method of embodiment 1, if it is determined that there is a match in judgment step 1013, the cutting blade 21 of the matching type is held in the first holding portion 55-1 in movement step 1014, so that the cutting blade 21 held in the first holding portion 55-1 can be used to replace the cutting blade 21 of the machining unit 20.

[0097] In this way, in the machining tool management method according to the first embodiment, even if various types of cutting blades 21 are held by the first holding unit 55-1, by repeating the reading step 1012, the determination step 1013, and the movement step 1014, only the desired type of cutting blade 21 to be attached to the spindle 23 of the processing unit 20 is held by the first holding unit 55-1. As a result, the machining tool management method according to the first embodiment has the effect of eliminating the need to input the type of cutting blade 21 held by the first holding unit 55-1 of the auxiliary device 5, and suppressing mistakes when managing the type of cutting blade 21 held by the first holding unit 55-1 of the auxiliary device 5.

[0098] The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. In other words, various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, in the present invention, the processing tool is not limited to the cutting blade 21, and may be various consumables or maintenance items used by the processing device 1, such as a dresser board, a cleaning tool for the workpiece or mount 24 for checking processing marks, etc.

[0099] In addition, in the present invention, the second holding portion 55-2 that holds the non-target cutting blades 21 may hold cutting blades 21 of types that are not used in the processing device 1, as well as cutting blades 21 whose code 27 has an abnormality such as dirt or baldness on the code 27 making it unreadable.

[0100] In addition, in embodiment 1, the second holding section 55-2 is installed in the storage unit 50, but in the present invention, it may be installed in a location separate from the storage unit 50 (for example, a shaft used as the second holding section 55-2 may be installed below the reading unit 70).

[0101] Also, in the present invention, instead of the code 27, an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tag storing information indicating the type may be provided on a processing tool such as the cutting blade 21, and the reading unit 70 may be a reader that reads the information on the RFID tag. In short, in the present invention, instead of the code 27 or RFID tag, something indicating the type may be provided on the cutting blade 21, and the reading unit 70 may be appropriately changed depending on what is used for the cutting blade 21. [Explanation of symbols]

[0102] 1 Processing equipment 5. Auxiliary equipment (stocker) 10 Holding table 21 Cutting blade (machining tool) 23 Spindle 24 Mount 27 Code 55 Holding part 55-1 First holding part (holding part) 55-2 Second holding part 64 Transport Arm 70 Reading unit (reading part) 100 Control Unit 303 Blade Storage Data (Storage Data) 1001 Memory Step 1006 Transport Step 1012 read steps 1013 Judgment step 1014 Movement Steps 1015 Storage data creation step

Claims

1. A method for managing machining tools so that only predetermined types of machining tools are held in a stocker, comprising the steps of: The stocker is A holding portion for holding a processing tool; A reading unit that reads a code or an RFID tag formed on the processing tool; a transfer arm that transfers the processing tool to and from the holding unit; A control unit, a storage step of storing the type of the machining tool held by the holding unit by the control unit; a reading step of reading the code or the RFID tag by the reading unit; a storage data creation step of creating storage data of the processing tool linking the holding unit with the type of the processing tool held by the holding unit from the information read in the reading step; a determination step of determining whether the type of the machining tool read in the reading step coincides with the type of the machining tool stored in the storage step; If the two tools match, the tool holder holds the tool by the conveying arm, and if the two tools do not match, the tool holder moves the tool by the conveying arm to a second holding section that holds a tool other than the tool to be processed; A method for managing machining tools such that only desired types of machining tools are held in the holding section.

2. 2. The method for managing machining tools according to claim 1, further comprising the step of updating the stored data after the moving step.

3. The stocker is installed adjacent to a processing device that uses the processing tool, 2. The method for managing machining tools according to claim 1, further comprising a transport step of transporting the machining tool between the stocker and the machining device by the transport arm.

4. 4. The method for managing a machining tool according to claim 3, wherein the reading step, the determining step, and the moving step are performed at a timing when the transporting step is not being performed.

5. The processing device is A holding table for holding the workpiece; A mount on which the machining tool is attached and a spindle for fixing the mount to a tip thereof, 5. The method for managing a machining tool according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the machining tool is a cutting blade.

Images