Production facility

Abstract

To provide a production facility that can prevent or suppress slowdown in operation of itself due to interference of a work-piece in a pallet supply device which can store work-pieces having different maximum sizes.SOLUTION: A production facility 10 comprises: a machine tool 12 which can process a work-piece W with a first work-piece size limit or less; a pallet supply device 16 which stores a plurality of pallets P on which the work-piece W is placed, and carries in / out the pallets P; a storage device 60 which previously determines a second work-piece size limit that the first work-piece size limit or less, and stores whether the work-piece W has a size exceeding the second work-piece size limit or not with respect to each pallet P; and a control device 62 which controls the pallet supply device 16 so as to avoid mutual interference of the work-pieces P placed on adjacent pallets P on the basis of information concerning the size exceeding the second work-piece size limit stored in the storage device 60.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a production facility. [Background technology]

[0002] In a production facility, in order to efficiently handle a large number of workpieces, it is common to have workpieces to be machined waiting in advance near a machine tool, and for this reason, a pallet supplying device for storing pallets on which workpieces are fixed is sometimes disposed adjacent to the machine tool. Workpieces of various sizes are fixed to the pallets stored in the pallet supplying device according to the production plan. For this reason, in order to safely and efficiently machine workpieces of various sizes fixed to the pallets, when transferring pallets between the work setting station and the processing chamber and the pallet supplying device, care must be taken, i.e., monitoring and confirmation must be performed, so that workpieces on adjacent pallets do not interfere with each other.

[0003] However, for example, in a machine tool system disclosed in Patent Document 1, which is equipped with an imaging device that images a workpiece fixed to a pallet from a direction parallel to the rotation axis of the rotary table, the imaging device is only used to confirm the positional relationship between one pallet and the workpiece fixed to it, and the spindle tool, and therefore cannot confirm interference between workpieces fixed to adjacent pallets. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6563037 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In consideration of the above circumstances, the present invention aims to provide a production equipment in a pallet supply device capable of storing workpieces of different maximum sizes, which can prevent or suppress disruption of the operation of the production equipment due to interference between the workpieces. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a production facility comprising: a machine tool capable of machining workpieces having a size equal to or smaller than a first workpiece size limit; a pallet supplying device that stores a plurality of pallets on which workpieces are placed and transports the pallets on which the workpieces are placed to and from the machine tool; a memory device that predetermines at least one second workpiece size limit equal to or smaller than the first workpiece size limit and stores, for each of a plurality of pallets, whether or not the size of a workpiece placed on the pallet exceeds the second workpiece size limit; and a control device that controls the pallet supplying device based on the information on sizes exceeding the second workpiece size limit stored in the memory device so as to prevent workpieces placed on adjacent pallets from interfering with each other. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to one aspect of the present invention, the production facility includes a pallet supply device that stores a plurality of pallets on which workpieces that are equal to or smaller than a first workpiece size limit that can be processed by a machine tool are placed, and that transports the pallets on which the workpieces are placed to or from the machine tool. The production facility also includes a storage device that predetermines at least one second workpiece size limit equal to or smaller than the first workpiece size limit, and stores, for each of the plurality of pallets, whether or not the workpieces placed on the pallet are larger than the second workpiece size limit, and a control device. The control device can control the pallet supply device so as to prevent workpieces placed on adjacent pallets from interfering with each other, based on the information on the size that exceeds the second workpiece size limit stored in the storage device. This can prevent or suppress the operation of the production facility from being delayed due to the interference of the workpieces. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a production facility according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 shows a plan view of a production facility in which the number of pallets stored in the pallet supply device is increased by reducing the second workpiece size limit. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 shows a plan view of a production facility in which workpieces with different second workpiece size limitations are mixed in a pallet supply device. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 shows a plan view of the production facility when a workpiece exceeding the second workpiece size limit is placed on a pallet. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 shows a side view of an imaging device that captures an image of a workpiece on a pallet. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 shows an example of an image captured by an imaging device and displayed on an operation screen. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 shows a flow chart of a control method for a pallet supply device. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 shows a plan view of a production facility according to a first variant, which includes a workpiece loading station. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 shows a plan view of a production installation according to a second variant, in which the pallet magazine is fixed. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Hereinafter, a production facility according to an embodiment will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Similar or corresponding elements are given the same reference numerals, and duplicated explanations will be omitted. In order to facilitate understanding, the scale of the drawings may be changed.

[0010] 1 shows a schematic plan view of a production facility 10 for producing and processing a wide variety of workpieces of various sizes. The production facility 10 also includes a processing chamber 14 equipped with a machine tool 12 for processing a workpiece W (see FIGS. 4 and 6) as the workpiece, and a pallet supply device 16 arranged adjacent to the processing chamber 14 and equipped with a pallet magazine 18 for storing pallets P on which the workpiece W is placed and fixed. The processing chamber 14 and the pallet supply device 16 are configured to be accessible through a processing chamber door 20 formed at the boundary between them in an openable and closable manner.

[0011] Machine tool 12 is a horizontal machining center in this embodiment, and includes a bed 22 fixed to the floor of the installation location (such as a factory), and a column 24 arranged on the upper surface of bed 22. Machine tool 12 also includes a pair of Z-axis guide rails 26 extending in the front-rear direction, i.e., along the Z-axis direction, on the front side of column 24 on the upper surface of bed 22 (the side of pallet supply device 16 in the figure), and a Z-axis slider 28 configured to be capable of reciprocating along Z-axis guide rails 26. The Z-axis slider may include a rotary table configured to rotate pallet P placed thereon.

[0012] Furthermore, the machine tool 12 is provided with a pair of X-axis guide rails 30 extending in the left-right direction, i.e., along the X-axis direction, on the upper surface of the bed 22, and the column 24 is disposed on the X-axis guide rails 30 so as to be capable of reciprocating along the X-axis guide rails 30. The machine tool 12 is also provided with a pair of Y-axis guide rails (not shown) extending in the up-down direction, i.e., along the Y-axis direction, on the front surface of the column 24, and a Y-axis slider 32 configured to be capable of reciprocating along the Y-axis guide rails. The machine tool 12 is further provided with an X-axis feed device for driving the column 24 along the X-axis guide rails 30, a Y-axis feed device for driving the Y-axis slider 32 along the Y-axis guide rails, and a Z-axis feed device for driving the Z-axis slider 28 along the Z-axis guide rail 26 (all not shown).

[0013] A spindle head 34 is disposed in front of the Y-axis slider 32, supporting a spindle 36 that is rotatable about a central axis along the horizontal direction. A tool TL for machining a workpiece W is detachably attached to the front of the spindle 36. The machine tool 12 is electrically connected to the spindle head 34, and includes an NC device 38 for controlling machining, and is configured to be able to control machining of the workpiece W using the tool TL. The machine tool 12 is configured to be able to machine a workpiece W up to a maximum machining size MP as a first workpiece size limit.

[0014] The production equipment 10 includes a tool magazine 40 for storing a plurality of tools TL required for machining in the machine tool 12, and a tool exchange device 42 that is electrically connected to an NC device 38 and for exchanging one of the tools TL stored in the tool magazine 40 with a tool TL attached to the tip of the spindle 36 of the machine tool 12 based on a command from the NC device 38.

[0015] A pallet supply device 16 equipped with a pallet magazine 18 for storing pallets P is disposed adjacent to the front side of the machining chamber 14. An openable and closable external door 44 is formed on an outer wall 16a of the pallet supply device 16, and access to the pallet supply device 16 can be provided from outside the pallet supply device 16 through the external door 44. This allows an operator to open the external door 44, replenish the pallets P in the pallet magazine 18, and fix the workpieces W to the pallet P with a jig (not shown).

[0016] The pallet magazine 18 comprises a magazine body 46 having a circular ring shape in a plan view, and a plurality of mounting tables 48 arranged on the magazine body 46 for mounting the pallets P. The mounting tables 48 are configured to be able to rotate (indicated by the arrow in the drawing) on ​​the magazine body 46 by a drive device (not shown), and the mounting tables 48 can be moved to the processing chamber door 20 side and the external door 44 side. This allows the transfer of the pallet P that has been mounted or is to be mounted on the mounting tables 48 between the processing chamber 14 and the outside of the pallet supply device 16 and the mounting tables 48.

[0017] The pallet supply device 16 can set a second workpiece size limit, a maximum size MS of the workpiece on the pallet, i.e., the maximum dimension (size) of the workpiece W fixed to the pallet P placed on the table 48, for each of the multiple tables 48 arranged on the magazine body 46. Here, the maximum size MS of the workpiece on the pallet is set to be smaller than the maximum processing size MP.

[0018] Since the pallet supply device 16 can set the maximum size MS of the workpiece on the pallet for each table 48, as shown in FIG. 2, by setting the maximum size MS of the workpiece on the pallet for each table 48 small, the number of pallets P and workpieces W placed on the table 48 on the magazine body 46 can be increased without interfering with adjacent workpieces W (eight in the case of FIG. 2). Also, by setting a different maximum size MS of the workpiece on the pallet for each table 48, as shown in FIG. 3, workpieces W of different sizes can be placed on the table 48 of the magazine body 46 without interfering with adjacent workpieces W. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 4, the pallet supply device 16 can fix a workpiece W of a size smaller than the maximum processing size MP to the pallet P while avoiding interference with the workpieces W on the adjacent pallet P, even if the workpiece W has a size larger than the maximum size MS of the workpiece on the pallet, and supply it to the machine tool 12 by using a control device 62 described later.

[0019] An arm 50 is disposed inside the annular magazine body 46. The arm 50 includes a support shaft 52 that extends in the vertical direction at the center of the pallet supply device 16 and is rotatable about an axis along the vertical direction, and an arm body 54 that is attached to the support shaft 52 so as to be movable up and down and is configured to be extendable and contractible along the horizontal direction. A gripping portion 56 for gripping the pallet P is attached to the tip of the arm body 54. Therefore, by rotating the gripping portion 56 toward the pallet P to be gripped and extending and contracting the arm body 54, the front-rear, left-right and up-down positions of the gripping portion 56 can be adjusted, and the pallet P can be stably gripped.

[0020] The arm 50 is configured so that the arm body 54 can be extended and retracted up to above the Z-axis slider 28 while gripping the pallet P on the machining chamber door 20 side. This allows the pallet P, on which the workpiece W is fixed before and after machining, to be delivered between the pallet supply device 16 and the machine tool 12.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 1, a camera 58 is disposed at a predetermined position of the pallet supply device 16 as an imaging device for imaging the workpiece W placed on the pallet P. The predetermined position here includes all positions where the pallet P can be imaged from above and it can be determined whether the size or position of the workpiece W or the jig (not shown) fixed to the pallet P exceeds the maximum size MS of the workpiece on the pallet or the maximum processing size MP. Although the camera 58 is described as being disposed on the outer door 44 side in the pallet supply device 16, this is not limited thereto, and the camera may be disposed at multiple locations including the machining chamber door side, for example. Furthermore, the camera 58 is described as being disposed on the upper side of the pallet P to image the workpiece W, but this is not limited thereto, and the camera may be disposed on the side of the pallet instead of the upper side, and the workpiece may be imaged from the side.

[0022] FIG. 5 shows a side view of a camera 58 that captures an image of a workpiece W (not shown) on a pallet P. A ToF (Time of Flight) camera, a stereo camera, or the like may be used as the camera 58. This allows the shape of the workpiece W to be grasped three-dimensionally, and it is possible to determine whether or not the size of the workpiece W exceeds the maximum size MS of the workpiece on the pallet. Alternatively, a three-dimensional laser displacement meter may be used instead of a camera to obtain the three-dimensional shape of the workpiece W as three-dimensional point cloud data. It is possible to determine whether or not the size of the workpiece W exceeds the maximum size MS of the workpiece on the pallet depending on whether or not a certain number or more of points in the point cloud data exist at positions exceeding the maximum size MS of the workpiece on the pallet.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 1, the pallet supply device 16 of the production facility 10 includes a storage device 60 and a control device 62 for avoiding interference between adjacent workpieces W on the magazine body 46. The storage device 60 can set and store in advance the maximum on-pallet workpiece size MS of the workpiece W for each placement table 48 and the pallet P placed thereon. The storage device 60 can also set and store a plurality of such maximum on-pallet workpiece sizes MS. This allows the setting of different on-pallet workpiece size MS for each pallet P when workpieces W of different sizes are mixed and placed in the pallet supply device 16, and allows workpieces W of different sizes to be placed on the placement table 48 on the magazine body 46 without interfering with adjacent workpieces W. Furthermore, the storage device 60 is configured to compare the size data of the workpieces W on the pallet P acquired by the camera 58 with the maximum on-pallet workpiece size MS for each pallet P to determine the size relationship, i.e., whether or not the size of the workpiece W exceeds the maximum on-pallet workpiece size MS, and to store this size relationship.

[0024] The control device 62 is configured to control the pallet supply device 16 so as to prevent the workpieces W placed on the adjacent pallets P from interfering with each other based on the size relationship between the size of the workpiece W on the pallet P stored in the storage device 60 and the maximum size MS of the workpiece on the pallet for each pallet P. Specifically, the control device 62 is configured to issue a warning depending on whether the size of the workpiece W obtained from the camera 58 exceeds the maximum size MS of the workpiece on the pallet or the maximum processing size MP, and to notify the operator of the risk of interference between the workpiece W and each element constituting the machine tool 12. In addition, the pallet supply device 16 is configured so that the operator who has received the notification can permit such a large-sized workpiece W to be kept on the pallet P even if the size of the workpiece W exceeds the maximum size MS of the workpiece on the pallet. When the operator gives such permission, the control device 62 is configured to limit the size of the workpiece W on the adjacent pallet P, prohibit the workpiece W exceeding the limited size from being placed on the pallet, and issue a warning.

[0025] The control device 62 can also calculate the weight of the workpiece W from the size data of the workpiece W obtained from the camera 58, and optimize the speed at which the table 48, on which the pallet P to which the workpiece W is fixed, rotates around the magazine body 46 in accordance with the weight of the workpiece W. This makes it possible to prevent or suppress vibrations and rattling when the workpiece W on the pallet P rotates, and to avoid interference between adjacent workpieces W.

[0026] The pallet supply device 16 of the production facility 10 is provided with a display device 64 for displaying images of the pallet P and the workpiece W obtained from the camera 58 on the operation screen DP of the machine tool 12 and the pallet supply device 16 to facilitate confirmation and judgment by the operator. FIG. 6 shows an example of an image displayed on the operation screen. The operation screen DP can display information including images of the workpiece W and the pallet P, the pallet number, the image capture date and time, and the size judgment result. The size judgment result is displayed in short words and simple figures so that the operator can easily understand. When the size of the workpiece W is equal to or smaller than the maximum size MS of the workpiece on the pallet, for example, "within range" is displayed, a cylindrical figure is displayed in broken lines below it, and a tick mark is displayed superimposed on the cylindrical figure. When the size of the workpiece W exceeds the maximum size MS of the workpiece on the pallet, for example, "exceeding (height)", "exceeding (width)", and "exceeding (height and width)" are displayed instead of "within range" in FIG. 6 according to the part that exceeds the size, and the part that exceeds the size is highlighted with a cylindrical figure. Specifically, for example, if the height exceeds the limit, the top surface of the cylinder is filled in yellow, if the width exceeds the limit, the side surface of the cylinder is filled in yellow, or if both the height and width exceed the limit, both the top and side surfaces of the cylinder are filled in yellow. Furthermore, if an image of the workpiece W fails to be captured, "measurement failed" can be displayed and an exclamation mark (!) can be displayed over the dashed cylindrical figure. Furthermore, if an image is not captured, "measurement incomplete" can be displayed and a question mark (?) can be displayed over the dashed cylindrical figure. From these images and information, the operator can immediately confirm and determine the state of the size of the workpiece W.

[0027] The effects of the production facility 10 according to this embodiment will be described below with reference to a flow chart of control by the control device 62 of the pallet supply device 16 shown in FIG.

[0028] If the control device 62 has succeeded in acquiring three-dimensional data of the workpiece W (in the figure, workpiece 3D data) from the image of the workpiece W captured by the camera 58 to the extent that the size of the workpiece W can be determined, the control device 62 proceeds to step S10. Upon proceeding to step S10, the control device 62 operates the storage device 60, determines whether the acquired size of the workpiece W exceeds the maximum size MS of a workpiece on a pallet or the maximum processing size MP, and stores this size relationship in the storage device 60. If the acquired size of the workpiece W exceeds the maximum processing size MP, the control device 62 proceeds to steps S20 and S30, prohibits the removal of the pallet P from the processing chamber 14 and the removal of the pallet P from the processing chamber 14, and displays a warning.

[0029] If the size of the workpiece W obtained is smaller than the maximum machining size MP but exceeds the maximum workpiece size MS on the pallet, the control device 62 proceeds to step S40 and issues a warning to the operator. If the operator allows the workpiece W exceeding the maximum workpiece size MS to remain fixed on the pallet P through the operation screen DP, the control device 62 proceeds to step S50 and predicts, based on the data stored in the storage device 60, whether or not there is a possibility that the workpiece W and the jig fixing it will interfere with other workpieces W and jigs.

[0030] If interference with other workpieces W and jigs is predicted, the process proceeds to steps S60 and S70, and the pallet P on which the workpiece W and jigs are placed after machining is completed is prohibited from being returned to the nearby stand 48 on which the other workpieces W and jigs with which interference is predicted are placed, and a warning display is issued to the operator about the predicted interference. On the other hand, if no interference with other workpieces W and jigs is predicted at all, the process proceeds to steps S80 and S90, and the pallet P on which the workpiece W and jigs are placed after machining is completed is not prohibited from being returned to the nearby stand 48 on which the other workpieces W and jigs are placed.

[0031] If the size of the acquired workpiece W is smaller than the maximum machining size MP but exceeds the maximum size MS of the workpiece on the pallet, and the operator does not allow the workpiece W, which exceeds the maximum size MS of the workpiece, to remain fixed to the pallet P and communicates this to the control device 62 via the operation screen DP, the control device 62 proceeds to steps S100 and S110, and if the camera 58 is installed in a location different from the external door 44 and the work setting station (WSS) described later using Figure 8, the control device 62 returns the pallet P on which the workpiece W and the jig are placed to the setup position of the workpiece W in front of the external door 44, or returns it to the work setting station WSS if the device is equipped with a work setting station (WSS).

[0032] If the size of the acquired workpiece W does not exceed the maximum size MS of the workpiece on the pallet, the control device 62 proceeds to step S120 and predicts, based on the data stored in the memory device 60, whether or not there is a possibility of interference between the workpiece W and the jig fixing it and other workpieces W and jig.

[0033] If interference with other workpieces W and jigs is predicted, the process proceeds to steps S130 and S140, and the pallet P on which the workpiece W and jigs are placed after machining is completed is prohibited from being returned to the stand 48 adjacent to the pallet P on which the other workpieces W and jigs with which interference is predicted are placed, and a warning display is issued to the operator about the predicted interference. On the other hand, if no interference with other workpieces W and jigs is predicted at all, the process proceeds to steps S150 and S160, and all movements of the pallet P on which the workpieces W and jigs are placed are permitted, and no warning is issued.

[0034] Furthermore, if the control device 62 determines from the imaging result of the workpiece W by the camera 58 that it has failed to acquire three-dimensional data of the workpiece W (in the figure, workpiece 3D data) to the extent that the size of the workpiece W can be determined, the process proceeds to step S200 and step S210, and notifies the operator that acquisition of the three-dimensional data of the workpiece W has failed. If the operator ignores this notification, the control device 62 proceeds to step S220 and step S230, and permits all movements of the workpiece W and the pallet P on which the jig is placed, without imposing any restrictions. On the other hand, if the operator receives this notification and instructs the control device 62 to take an image again, that is, transmits this instruction to the control device 62 through the operation screen DP, the process proceeds to step S240 and step S250, and the control device 62 operates the camera 58 to image the workpiece W again and attempts to reacquire the three-dimensional data of the workpiece W.

[0035] According to the production facility 10 of this embodiment, the production facility 10 stores a plurality of pallets P on which workpieces W of a maximum processing size MP or less that can be processed by the machine tool 12 are placed, and includes a pallet supply device 16 that carries the pallets P on which the workpieces W are placed to and from the machine tool 12. The production facility 10 also includes a storage device 60 that predetermines at least one maximum size MS of a workpiece on the pallet that is less than the maximum processing size MP, and stores, for each of the plurality of pallets P, whether or not the workpiece W placed on the pallet P exceeds the maximum size MS of a workpiece on the pallet, and a control device 62. The control device 62 can control the pallet supply device 16 so as to avoid the workpieces W placed on adjacent pallets P from interfering with each other, based on the information on the size exceeding the maximum size MS of a workpiece on the pallet stored in the storage device 60. This can prevent or suppress the operation of the production facility 10 from being delayed due to the interference of the workpieces W.

[0036] Moreover, according to the production equipment 10 of this embodiment, a camera 58 for capturing an image of the workpiece W placed on the pallet P is disposed at a predetermined position of the pallet supply device 16. This makes it possible to easily determine whether the size of the workpiece W exceeds the maximum size MS of the workpiece on the pallet. Furthermore, the control device 62 calculates the weight of the workpiece W from the size data of the workpiece W obtained from the camera 58, and can optimize the speed at which the placement table 48 on which the pallet P with the workpiece W fixed thereon is placed rotates around the magazine body 46 in accordance with the weight of the workpiece W. This makes it possible to prevent or suppress vibrations and rattling when the workpiece W on the pallet P rotates around, and to avoid interference between adjacent workpieces W.

[0037] Furthermore, according to the production equipment 10 of this embodiment, the pallet supply device 16 of the production equipment 10 is equipped with a display device 64 for displaying images of the pallet P and workpieces W obtained from the camera 58 on the operation screen DP of the machine tool 12 and the pallet supply device 16 to facilitate confirmation and judgment by the operator. Therefore, information including images of the workpieces W and pallet P, size determination results, etc. can be displayed on the operation screen DP, and the operator can immediately confirm and judge the state of the size of the workpieces W from these images and information.

[0038] Furthermore, according to the production equipment 10 of this embodiment, the control device 62 can issue a warning depending on whether the size of the workpiece W obtained from the camera 58 exceeds the maximum size MS of the workpiece on the pallet or the maximum machining size MP. This makes it possible to notify the operator of the risk of interference between the workpieces W and between the workpieces W and the machining chamber 14 that houses the machine tool 12. This makes it possible to prevent or suppress a delay in the operation of the machine tool 12 due to interference between the workpieces W and other components in the pallet supply device 16.

[0039] Furthermore, according to the production equipment 10 of this embodiment, the pallet supply device 16 can set the maximum size MS of the workpiece on the pallet for each placement table 48, so that by setting the maximum size MS of the workpiece on the pallet for each placement table 48 small, the number of pallets P and workpieces W placed on the placement tables 48 on the magazine body 46 can be increased without causing adjacent workpieces W to interfere with each other. Also, by setting a different maximum size MS of the workpiece on the pallet for each placement table 48, workpieces W of different sizes can be placed on the placement tables 48 of the magazine body 46 without causing adjacent workpieces W to interfere with each other. This allows workpieces W of different sizes to be stored in the pallet supply device 16 without interfering with each other according to the production plan.

[0040] Furthermore, according to the production equipment 10 of this embodiment, even if the size of the workpiece W is smaller than the maximum machining size MP but exceeds the maximum workpiece size MS on the pallet, the operator can check and predict the possibility of interference with other workpieces W and jigs, and then handle the workpiece W that exceeds the maximum workpiece size MS. This allows workpieces W of different sizes to be stored in the pallet supply device 16 without interference, depending on the production plan.

[0041] As described above, the production equipment 10 of this embodiment can prevent or suppress disruption of operation of the production equipment 10 due to interference between workpieces W in the pallet supply device 16 capable of storing workpieces W of different maximum sizes.

[0042] (First Modification) The following describes a first modified example of the production facility 10. Elements similar to or corresponding to those in this embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and duplicated descriptions will be omitted.

[0043] As shown in FIG. 8, the pallet supplying device 80 of the production equipment 10 according to the first modification includes a magazine body 82 having a rounded rectangular shape in a plan view. The arm 84 is disposed at a position facing the machining chamber door 20 in the pallet supplying device 80. A work setting station 86 is disposed adjacent to the pallet supplying device 80 as a work setting device for an operator to set up, i.e., place, the pallet P and the work W to be delivered to and from the pallet supplying device 80. The work setting station 86 is configured to be able to transfer the pallet P to the magazine body 82. For this reason, the operator can deliver the work W to and from the pallet supplying device 80 by opening a station door 88 of the work setting station 86 and placing the work W before machining on the pallet P or removing the work W after machining from the pallet P.

[0044] At a predetermined position inside the work setting station 86, a camera 90 is disposed as an imaging device for imaging the workpiece W placed on the pallet P in the work setting station 86. Therefore, it is possible to easily determine whether or not the size of the workpiece W placed on the pallet P exceeds the maximum size MS of the workpiece on the pallet. As a result, even if the size of the workpiece W transferred to the work setting station 86 is smaller than the maximum machining size MP but exceeds the maximum size MS of the workpiece on the pallet, the operator can check and predict the possibility of interference with other workpieces W and jigs, and then handle the workpiece W that exceeds the maximum size MS of the workpiece.

[0045] As described above, the production equipment 10 of the first modified example can prevent or suppress disruption of operation of the production equipment 10 due to interference between workpieces W in a pallet supply device 80 capable of storing workpieces W of different maximum sizes.

[0046] (Second Modification) The following describes a second modified example of the production facility 10. Elements similar to or corresponding to those in this embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and duplicated descriptions will be omitted.

[0047] As shown in Fig. 9, inside the pallet supplying device 100 of the production equipment 10 according to the second modified example, a plurality of fixed shelves 101 are arranged, each having a plurality of stages in the vertical direction on which a pallet P and a workpiece W are placed (not shown). In addition, adjacent to the pallet supplying device 100, a work setting station 102 is installed as a work setup device on which an operator places a pallet P and a workpiece W to be delivered to and from the pallet supplying device 100. Therefore, an operator can deliver the workpiece W to and from the pallet supplying device 100 by opening a station door 104 of the work setting station 102 and placing the unmachined workpiece W on the pallet P of the fixed shelf 101 or removing the machined workpiece W from the pallet P of the fixed shelf 101.

[0048] The pallet P carried in from the work setting station 102 is moved by the arm 50 to the fixed shelf 101 in the pallet supply device 80. In addition, the pallet P and the work W on the fixed shelf 101 are delivered between the gripping portion 56 of the arm 50 and a changer arm 112 of a pallet changer 108 arranged in the processing chamber 14. The pallet changer 108 is rotatable around a changer rotation axis 110, and the work W gripped by the changer arm 112 can be rotated between the arm 50 and the Z-axis slider 28 in the pallet supply device 80.

[0049] At a predetermined position inside the work setting station 102, a camera 106 is disposed as an imaging device for imaging the workpiece W on the pallet P placed on the fixed shelf 101 in the work setting station 102. Therefore, it is possible to easily determine whether or not the size of the workpiece W placed on the pallet P exceeds the maximum size MS of the workpiece on the pallet. As a result, even if the size of the workpiece W transferred to the work setting station 102 is smaller than the maximum machining size MP but exceeds the maximum size MS of the workpiece on the pallet, the operator can check and predict the possibility of interference with other workpieces W and jigs, and then handle the workpiece W that exceeds the maximum size MS of the workpiece.

[0050] As described above, the production equipment 10 of the second modified example can prevent or suppress disruption of operation of the production equipment 10 due to interference between workpieces W in a pallet supply device 100 capable of storing workpieces W of different maximum sizes.

[0051] Here, the first workpiece size limit has been described as the maximum machining size MP, and the second workpiece size limit as the maximum size of a workpiece on a pallet MS. However, this is not limited to the above, and the first workpiece size limit and the second workpiece size limit may be set to a size smaller than the maximum size that can be machined and a size smaller than the maximum size that can be placed on a pallet.

[0052] Although the embodiment of the production equipment 10 has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. In addition to the above, it is considered that a person skilled in the art would understand that various modifications of the above embodiment are possible. [Explanation of symbols]

[0053] 10 Production Facilities 12 Machine tools 16 Pallet supply device 58 Camera (imaging device) 60 Storage device 62 Control device 80 Pallet Feeder 86 Work setting station (work setting device) 90 Camera (imaging device) 100 Pallet Feeder 102 Work setting station (work setting device) 106 Camera (imaging device) DP operation screen MP Maximum machining size (first workpiece size limit) MS Maximum size of workpiece on pallet (Second workpiece size limit) P Palette W Work (processed item)

Claims

1. a machine tool capable of machining a workpiece having a size equal to or smaller than a first workpiece size limit; a pallet supply device that stores a plurality of pallets on which the workpieces are placed and transports the pallets on which the workpieces are placed to or from the machine tool; a storage device that predetermines at least one second workpiece size limit equal to or smaller than the first workpiece size limit, and stores, for each of the plurality of pallets, whether or not the workpiece placed on the pallet has a size that exceeds the second workpiece size limit; a control device that controls the pallet supply device so as to prevent the workpieces placed on adjacent pallets from interfering with each other based on information about the size exceeding the second workpiece size limit stored in the storage device; Equipped with production facilities.

2. 2. The production facility of claim 1, wherein a first workpiece size limit is a maximum machining size of the machine tool, and a second workpiece size limit is a maximum on-pallet workpiece size of the workpiece placed on the pallet, and the maximum on-pallet workpiece size is equal to or smaller than the maximum machining size.

3. 3. The production facility according to claim 2, wherein an imaging device for imaging the workpieces placed on the pallet is disposed at a predetermined position of the pallet supply device or at a work setup device provided adjacent to the pallet supply device.

4. The production equipment according to claim 3, configured to issue a warning depending on whether the size of the workpiece obtained from the imaging device exceeds the maximum size of a workpiece on the pallet or the maximum processing size, and to notify an operator of a risk of interference between the workpiece and other components in the production equipment.

5. The production facility according to claim 4, wherein, if the size of the workpiece exceeds the maximum size of the workpiece on the pallet, the placement of the workpiece exceeding the maximum size of the workpiece on the pallet can be permitted at the discretion of an operator.

6. The production facility according to claim 5 , wherein the images obtained from the imaging devices are displayed on operation screens of the machine tool and the pallet supply device.

7. 7. The production facility according to claim 6, wherein a plurality of maximum sizes of workpieces on the pallet are stored in one of the storage devices, and each of the pallets is set to one of the plurality of stored maximum sizes of workpieces on the pallet.

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