Fixture for peripheral device control

Abstract

To provide a fixture for peripheral device control that performs operation confirmation of peripheral devices that do not have control devices.SOLUTION: A fixture for peripheral device control is used for a peripheral device capable of performing automatic control through connection to a host machine and includes: a control device for driving and controlling the connected peripheral device; a program input device for inputting a drive control program to drive a drive mechanism of the peripheral device to the control device; a drive circuit for driving and controlling the drive mechanism of the peripheral device; and an operation display unit equipped with control function input switches for causing the control device to execute various control functions. For example, the control device, the input device, the drive circuit, and the operation display unit are incorporated into a casing with casters.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a peripheral device control jig for checking the operation of peripheral devices in a processing machine line that does not have a control device. [Background technology]

[0002] An NC machine tool performs a predetermined machining process on a workpiece according to a machining program, but it is necessary to check whether the machining program is free of errors. For this reason, it is common to check the operation of the machine tool in advance by actually operating each drive unit using various control functions such as a single block function and an optional stop function. Patent Document 1 below discloses a control device for a machine tool equipped with such various control functions. Patent Document 2 below discloses a technology for verifying the processing of a control device that controls not only the machine tool but also the peripheral devices by using a simulator that simulates the operation of the machine tool and its peripheral devices without actually operating them. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2000-47722 A [Patent Document 1] JP 2012-14358 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the conventional example of Patent Document 2, each control program that appropriately drives and controls the machine tool and its peripheral devices is verified by a simulator. However, verification by simulation incurs costs due to the use of a simulator. In addition, simulation verification cannot verify assembly errors that occur in actual machines due to changeovers, such as tools in the machine tool and sensors in the inspection device. On the other hand, the conventional example of Patent Document 1, which performs operation checks on actual machines, targets machine tools and the like equipped with control devices. However, some peripheral devices that are controlled by the machine tool or the like as a host machine do not have their own control devices, so operation checks can only be performed by connecting them to the host machine. In other words, advance operation checks cannot be performed on peripheral devices that do not have control devices.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE In order to solve the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a peripheral device control tool for checking the operation of a peripheral device that does not have a control device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The peripheral device control jig of the present invention has a control device for driving and controlling a peripheral device connected to a host machine that can be automatically controlled by connecting the peripheral device to a host machine, a program input device for inputting a drive control program for driving the drive mechanism of the peripheral device to the control device, a drive circuit for driving and controlling the drive mechanism of the peripheral device, and an operation display unit provided with control function input switches that cause the control device to execute various control functions. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the above configuration, even if a peripheral device is capable of implementing automatic control by connecting to a higher-level machine but is not capable of automatic operation by itself, by connecting the peripheral device and inputting and saving the corresponding drive control program, it is possible to control the drive mechanism of the peripheral device without connecting it to a higher-level machine, and it is possible to confirm operation based on a specified control function by operating the control function input switch. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic diagram of an example of a processing machine line. [Diagram 2] FIG. 13 is an image diagram showing the usage status of the peripheral device control jig. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control system of the peripheral device control jig. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] An embodiment of the peripheral device control jig according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, a peripheral device control jig that enables operation confirmation of peripheral devices in a processing machine line mainly composed of machine tools will be described. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a processing machine line. In this processing machine line 1, workpieces to be processed are transported in order from the left side to the right side of the drawing, and predetermined processing is performed. In this processing machine line 1, a first machine tool 4 and a second machine tool 6 that actually process the workpieces are arranged in the workpiece transport direction. In addition to the first and second machine tools 4 and 6, a work stocker 3, a temporary placement table 5, an inspection device 7, and a pitch conveyor 8 are added to the processing machine line 1.

[0010] The work stocker 3 is a peripheral device located upstream of the work transport relative to the first machine tool 4, and equipped with a drive mechanism for sending out a specific work from among the multiple workpieces mounted thereon according to the processing content. The drive mechanism is an endless chain hung around a pair of sprockets in an oval shape, and multiple transport tables are connected to the chain in a line in the circumferential direction. A work transfer position for the first machine tool 4 is set in the work stocker 3. The drive mechanism rotates the chain by the output of a drive motor, and drive control is performed to stop the transport table carrying the corresponding work at the transfer position. Furthermore, an elevator is provided at the transfer position as a drive mechanism for the work stocker 3. The elevator lifts the workpiece mounted on the transport table, and work transfer control is performed between the workpiece and a loader provided on the first machine tool 4.

[0011] The temporary stand 5 is for temporarily storing a specific workpiece. For example, if the processing times of the first machine tool 4 and the second machine tool 6 are different, even if the processing is completed by the first machine tool 4, the second machine tool 6 located downstream may still be processing the workpiece. In that case, the workpiece that has been processed by the first machine tool 4 is temporarily stored on the temporary stand 5.

[0012] Next, the inspection device 7 is a peripheral device that inspects the machining dimensions of the workpiece that has been machined by the first and second machine tools 4, 6. The inspection device 7 is located downstream of the second machine tool 6, and measures the machining accuracy of the workpiece that has completed the process in the machining line 1. The inspection device 7 measures the machining accuracy by bringing a contact tip into contact with the machined portion of the machined workpiece, and the measuring head equipped with the contact tip is configured to be movable.

[0013] The inspection device 7 is provided with an inspection table on which a machined workpiece is set, and a drive mechanism is configured to move the measurement head and bring the contactor into contact with the machined surface of the workpiece positioned there. That is, the measurement head is mounted on a slider, and the drive mechanism configured via a ball screw mechanism controls the drive motor to move and adjust the head to a set position. Therefore, based on the processing information related to the type of workpiece and its processing content, the position of the contactor of the measurement head for inspection is adjusted by controlling the drive motor.

[0014] The pitch conveyor 8 is a peripheral device that automatically transports the processed workpieces, whose processing accuracy has been determined by the inspection device 7 to meet the standard, to the next process. For example, it transports the workpieces that have been processed in the processing machine line 1 to another processing machine line installed next to it. The driving mechanism of the pitch conveyor 8 is a belt conveyor in which a conveyor belt rotates by driving a conveyor motor, and the workpieces loaded on the belt conveyor at a constant pitch are sent sequentially at a predetermined timing. The conveyor belt is designed to control the conveyor motor using a work detection sensor so that the workpieces loaded on the supply side end can be accurately stopped at the discharge side end.

[0015] In the processing machine line 1, the first machine tool 4 and the second machine tool 6 are each equipped with a control device (host machine control device). The first machine tool 4 and the second machine tool 6 are a lathe, a machining center, etc., and a processing program corresponding to the processing content for a specific workpiece is input and stored in the memory of each control device, and the specified workpiece processing is performed using a cutting tool. Meanwhile, in the processing machine line 1, the work stocker 3, the inspection device 7, and the pitch conveyor 8 are also automatically controlled, but these peripheral devices are not equipped with their own control devices.

[0016] For this reason, peripheral devices such as the work stocker 3 are connected to the control device of the first or second machine tool 4, 6, which is a higher-level machine. Then, drive control programs created for the sending out of workpieces to the work stocker 3, the inspection of machined workpieces by the inspection device 7, and the pitch transport of workpieces by the pitch conveyor 8 are input and stored in the control device of the first or second machine tool 4, 6. Therefore, automatic control of each drive mechanism of the work stocker 3, the inspection device 7 and the pitch conveyor 8 in the processing machine line 1 is performed by the control device of the higher-level machine to which the drive control programs have been input.

[0017] The peripheral devices, the work stocker 3, the inspection device 7, and the pitch conveyor 8, have fixed operation patterns, unlike the first machine tool 4 and the second machine tool 6. For this reason, it is preferable to assemble the machining line 1 with such peripheral devices having their operation checked in advance. However, as described above, since the peripheral devices such as the work stocker 3 are not equipped with their own control devices, it is not possible to check the operation of the drive mechanisms unless they are connected to the first machine tool 4 and the second machine tool 6 and the machining line 1 is assembled.

[0018] Therefore, in this embodiment, a peripheral device control jig that enables the operation of a peripheral device that does not have a control device is proposed. FIG. 2 is an image diagram showing the usage of the peripheral device control jig, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the control system of the peripheral device control jig 2. The peripheral device control jig 2 is composed of a housing about 1 meter in height, and has casters 11 on the bottom, allowing the worker to freely move it from place to place. The peripheral device control jig 2 is provided with the control system shown in FIG. 3.

[0019] The peripheral device control jig 2 is equipped with a control device 10 in which a microprocessor (CPU) 11, a ROM 12, a RAM 13, and a non-volatile memory 14 are connected via a bus line. The CPU 11 controls the entire control device, and the ROM 12 stores system programs and control parameters executed by the CPU 11, while the RAM 13 stores temporary calculation data, display data, etc. The non-volatile memory 14 stores information necessary for the processing performed by the CPU 11, and stores a drive control program 30 (31, 32, 33) for causing the peripheral device to perform a predetermined operation, etc.

[0020] As described above, the peripheral devices (3, 7, 8) are configured with a drive mechanism using actuators such as servo motors and electric cylinders. In the peripheral device control jig 2, a drive circuit 21 is connected to an I / O port 15 provided in the control device 10, and the drive mechanism of the peripheral devices (3, 7, 8) is controlled via the drive circuit 21. In addition, in the peripheral device control jig 2, a program input device 23 is connected to the control device 10 via the I / O port 15, and a drive control program 30 (31, 32, 33) for the connected peripheral devices (3, 7, 8) can be input.

[0021] The program input device 23 is an interface that allows the drive control program 30 to be input from the outside for each peripheral device such as the work stocker 3. If the program is input via a network, the program input device 23 is a network interface, and if the program is input from an external storage device, it is an IC card reader or a USB interface. Furthermore, other interfaces may be used as long as they allow program input.

[0022] The peripheral device control jig 2 is provided with an operation display unit 25 having a monitor on the front of the device, which is also connected to the control device 10 via the I / O port 15. The operation display unit 25 is provided with a monitor that displays data related to operation checks, a keyboard through which the operator inputs predetermined data, and a control function input switch that executes various control functions such as a single block function and an optional stop function.

[0023] Therefore, in the example of the processing machine line 1, before being installed therein, the work stocker 3, the inspection device 7, and the pitch conveyor 8 are each subjected to an operation check by the peripheral device control jig 2. To check the operation of the work stocker 3, the work stocker 3 is connected to the peripheral device control jig 2 via the drive circuit 21, and a drive control program 31 for causing the work stocker 3 to perform a predetermined operation is input and stored in the non-volatile memory 14 from the program input device 23.

[0024] Similarly, when checking the operation of the inspection device 7 and pitch conveyor 8, the inspection device 7 or pitch conveyor 8 is connected to the peripheral device control jig 2 instead of the work stocker 3. When checking the operation of the inspection device 7, as shown in Fig. 2, the drive control program 31 of the work stocker 3 is rewritten and saved to the control device 10 of the peripheral device control jig 2 with the drive control programs 32, 33 of the inspection device 7. In the same manner, in the case of the pitch conveyor 8, exchange connection to the peripheral device control jig 2 and rewriting and saving of the corresponding drive control program 33 are performed in the control device 10.

[0025] Therefore, various peripheral devices can be connected to the peripheral device control jig 2, and predetermined drive control of the connected peripheral devices becomes possible by inputting and saving the corresponding drive control program 30. In other words, the peripheral devices connected to the peripheral device control jig 2 execute basic operations of the drive mechanism via the drive circuit 21 in response to command signals from the control device 10 based on the drive control program. If the peripheral device is a work stocker 3, these include operations such as rotating a chain in a predetermined direction by the output of the drive motor, moving a specific transport platform accurately to a transfer position and stopping it, and lifting a pallet carrying the workpieces by an elevator provided at the transfer position.

[0026] Various control functions can be selected in the peripheral device control jig 2, and the specified operation can be confirmed by operating various switch keys, etc. This makes it possible to check whether accurate operations based on drive control are being performed, such as the rotation direction for moving the workpiece along the shortest route and accurate movement and stopping, for workpiece transport.

[0027] The minimum necessary commands are provided in the peripheral device control jig 2. The command specifications include an emergency stop button that puts the device into an emergency stop state, an operation preparation button that puts the peripheral devices into an operation preparation state, a selection switch that switches between continuous operation and manual operation mode, an edit switch that enables or disables editing of data such as programs and parameters, and an automatic start button that starts continuous operation in automatic mode.

[0028] Therefore, in the processing machine line 1, the operation of the work stocker 3, which does not have its own control device, as well as the inspection device 7 and pitch conveyor 8 can be checked by driving control connected to the peripheral device control jig 2. Until now, the processing machine line 1 had to be connected to the control device of the first or second machine tool 4, 6 and the corresponding drive control program had to be input thereto. However, with the peripheral device control jig 2 of this embodiment, drive control is possible for peripheral devices that do not have a control device such as the work stocker 3, and the operation can be checked for the drive control programs 30 (31, 32, 33) created for each. In addition, operation based on a specified control function can be checked by operating the control function input switch. Moreover, since the peripheral device control jig 2 is a movable device with casters 11, it is easy to carry it to the location of the peripheral device where the operation is to be checked.

[0029] Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, in the above embodiment, in addition to the work stocker 3, the inspection device 7 and the pitch conveyor 8 are described as examples of peripheral devices, but the peripheral devices targeted by the peripheral device control jig 2 are not limited to these. [Explanation of symbols]

[0030] 1... Machining line 2... Peripheral device control jig 3... Work stocker 5... First machine tool 5... Temporary placement table 6... Second machine tool 7... Inspection device 8... Pitch conveyor 10... Control device 21... Drive circuit 23... Program input device 25... Operation display unit 30 (31, 32, 33)... Drive control program

Claims

1. A control device for controlling the operation of a peripheral device that can be automatically controlled by connecting to a host machine; a program input device for inputting a drive control program for driving a drive mechanism of the peripheral device into the control device; A drive circuit for controlling the drive mechanism of the peripheral device; an operation display unit provided with control function input switches for causing the control device to execute various control functions; A peripheral device control fixture having the same.

2. 2. The peripheral device control jig according to claim 1, wherein said control device, said input device, said drive circuit and said operation display are incorporated in a case with casters.

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