Machine tool

Abstract

To prevent complexity to request for acquiring an operation right for each operation.SOLUTION: A machine tool 1 comprises a machine tool body 10 that processes a material, a body operation terminal 12 that is provided in the machine tool body 10 and operates the machine tool body 10, a communication unit 18 that communicates with an external operation terminal 3 capable of remotely operating the machine tool body 10, and a calculation unit 13 that assigns an operation right for operating the machine tool body 10 to the external operation terminal 3 in addition to the body operation terminal 12 in response to a request for acquiring the operation right from the external operation terminal 3. When an operation is accepted from the body operation terminal 12 under a state in which the operation right is assigned to both the body operation terminal 12 and the external operation terminal 3, the calculation unit 13 executes tool operation prioritization processing for setting the operation from the body operation terminal 12 as a valid operation while setting an operation from the external operation terminal 3 as an invalid operation.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a machine tool. [Background technology]

[0002] In machine tools that process materials, there are known configurations that allow the machine tool to be operated by multiple operation terminals. If the machine tool accepts operations from multiple operation terminals simultaneously, it may perform unintended operations. For this reason, measures are usually taken to prevent the machine tool from accepting operations from multiple operation terminals simultaneously.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a control system having a target device to be controlled and a plurality of control devices (operation terminals) connected to the target device via a network. In this control system, control rights are managed so that only one of the control rights issued to any of the plurality of operation terminals is valid and the other control rights are invalid. In other words, only the operation terminal whose control right is valid can exclusively control the target device. Patent Documents 2 to 5 also disclose the contents of exclusive control. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2019-086901 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2019-179513 A [Patent Document 3] JP 2014-085782 A [Patent Document 4] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 9-259083 [Patent Document 5] Patent No. 3846666 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, in situations where operations are performed by switching between different operation terminals, a request for operation authority must be made every time an attempt is made to operate the machine tool, which poses the inconvenience of requiring complicated operations. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A machine tool of one embodiment of the present invention comprises a machine tool main body for processing material, a main body operation terminal provided on the machine tool main body for operating the machine tool main body, a communication unit for communicating with an external operation terminal capable of remotely operating the machine tool main body, and a calculation unit for granting operation authority to operate the machine tool main body to the main body operation terminal and, in response to a request for acquisition of operation authority from the external operation terminal, granting operation authority to operate the machine tool main body to the external operation terminal in addition to the main body operation terminal, when the calculation unit receives an operation on the machine tool main body from the main body operation terminal when operation authority has been granted to both the main body operation terminal and the external operation terminal, performs machine operation priority processing in which the operation on the machine tool main body from the external operation terminal is treated as an invalid operation and the operation on the machine tool main body from the main body operation terminal is treated as a valid operation.

[0007] According to the machine tool of one aspect of the present invention, even if both the main body operation terminal and the external operation terminal are given operation authority, the operation from the external operation terminal is treated as an invalid operation and the operation from the main body operation terminal is treated as a valid operation, triggered by the operation of the main body operation terminal. This makes it possible to prevent the mixing of operations by the main body operation terminal and the external operation terminal. In addition, the main body operation terminal does not need to request acquisition of operation authority every time it tries to operate the machine tool main body. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to one aspect of the present invention, it is possible to reduce the need for cumbersome operations such as making a request to obtain operating authority every time an attempt is made to operate a machine tool. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a machine tool according to this embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a sequence chart showing the flow of operations of the machine tool according to this embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a sequence chart showing the flow of operations of the machine tool according to this embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an operation screen displayed on the operation display unit of the main body operation terminal. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an operation screen displayed on the operation display unit of the external operation terminal. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an operation screen displayed on the operation display unit of the main body operation terminal and the external operation terminal. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Hereinafter, the machine tool according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0011] 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a machine tool according to this embodiment. The machine tool 1 according to this embodiment includes a machine tool main body 10 that processes materials, a main body operation terminal 12 that is provided in the machine tool main body 10 and operates the machine tool main body 10, a communication unit 18 that communicates with an external operation terminal 3 that can remotely operate the machine tool main body 10, and a calculation unit 13 that grants operation authority to operate the machine tool main body 10 to the main body operation terminal 12 and grants operation authority to operate the machine tool main body 10 to the external operation terminal 3 in addition to the main body operation terminal 12 in response to a request for operation authority from the external operation terminal 3. When the calculation unit 13 receives an operation on the machine tool main body 10 from the main body operation terminal 12 in a state in which operation authority is granted to both the main body operation terminal 12 and the external operation terminal 3, the calculation unit 13 performs machine operation priority processing that treats the operation on the machine tool main body 10 from the external operation terminal 3 as an invalid operation and treats the operation on the machine tool main body 10 from the main body operation terminal 12 as a valid operation.

[0012] Next, the configuration of the machine tool 1 will be described in detail. The machine tool 1 includes a machine tool main body 10, a control unit 11, a calculation unit 13, a main body operation terminal 12, and a communication unit 18. The machine tool 1 is a device that processes materials using the machine tool main body 10. The machine tool 1 is configured to be able to communicate with an external operation terminal 3 via a network 5. An example of the network 5 is a LAN (Local Area Network). The network 5 may use the Internet, or may use mobile communications such as 4G / LTE or 5G.

[0013] The machine tool body 10 is a processing machine that processes materials. The machine tool body 10 is, for example, a laser processing machine that cuts metal materials (for example, plate materials) using a laser. However, the machine tool body 10 may be a processing machine such as a laser welding machine, a punching machine, a bending machine, or a band saw machine other than a laser processing machine, or may be a composite processing machine that performs different types of processing in a composite manner.

[0014] The control unit 11 is a control device that controls the machine tool body 10 based on a machining program, and is, for example, an NC device (numerical control device). The control unit 11 is composed of a computer having a hardware processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a memory, and various interfaces. The memory and various interfaces are connected to the hardware processor via a bus. The hardware processor executes a program stored in the memory, thereby realizing various functions of the control unit 11. The control unit 11 is communicatively connected to the machine tool body 10 and the calculation unit 13, and is electrically connected to the main body operation terminal 12.

[0015] The main body operation terminal 12 is an operation terminal for operating the machine tool main body 10. The main body operation terminal 12 is provided near the machine tool main body 10, for example, on the main body frame of the machine tool main body 10. The main body operation terminal 12 makes it possible to operate the machine tool main body 10 while visually checking the machine tool main body 10. The main body operation terminal 12 is used by an operator who performs machining using the machine tool main body 10.

[0016] The main body operation terminal 12 includes a calculation unit 13, an operation display unit 14, and a switch 17. The calculation unit 13 may be provided outside the main body operation terminal 12, and the main body operation terminal 12 only needs to include at least the operation display unit 14 and the switch 17.

[0017] The calculation unit 13 is a control device that controls the main body operation terminal 12 and the communication unit 18. The calculation unit 13 is configured by a computer having a hardware processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a memory, and various interfaces. The memory and various interfaces are connected to the hardware processor via a bus. The hardware processor executes a program stored in the memory, thereby realizing various functions of the calculation unit 13. The calculation unit 13 is electrically connected to the control unit 11, the operation display unit 14, and the communication unit 18. The configuration of the calculation unit 13 will be described in detail later.

[0018] The operation display unit 14 includes an operation unit 15 and a display unit 16. The operation unit 15 is operated by an operator, and outputs operation data corresponding to the operator's operation to the calculation unit 13. The display unit 16 displays information that can be viewed by the operator. The information displayed on the display unit 16 is controlled by the calculation unit 13.

[0019] Display unit 16 is, for example, a liquid crystal panel, and operation unit 15 is a touch panel attached to display unit 16. Operation display unit 14 is configured to display an operation screen including operation items for operating machine tool main body 10 on display unit 16, and to accept operations on this operation screen at operation unit 15. Predetermined functions for operating machine tool main body 10 and setting the operation of machine tool main body 10 are assigned to the operation items.

[0020] The switch 17 is an operating member that exists independently of the operation unit 15, and is an appropriate hardware switch such as a push button switch. A predetermined function of operating the machine tool main body 10 and setting the operation of the machine tool main body 10 is assigned to the switch 17. When operated by an operator, the switch 17 outputs a switch signal according to the operator's operation. The switch signal output from the switch 17 is directly input to the control unit 11. The function assigned to the switch 17 can also be changed through an operation on the operation screen displayed on the operation display unit 14.

[0021] The communication unit 18 includes one or more wired or wireless communication interfaces. The communication unit 18 enables transmission and reception of data including predetermined information between the machine tool 1 (specifically, the main body operation terminal 12) and the external operation terminal 3. For example, a wired LAN (Local Area Network) is used as the wired communication interface. For example, a wireless LAN is used as the wireless communication interface. The communication unit 18 transmits data between the machine tool 1 and the external operation terminal 3 in accordance with a communication protocol defined by the network 5. The communication unit 18 may be mounted on the main body operation terminal 12.

[0022] The external operation terminal 3 is an operation terminal capable of remotely operating the machine tool body 10. Therefore, by using the external operation terminal 3, the machine tool body 10 can be operated at a location different from the installation location of the machine tool body 10. The external operation terminal 3 is typically used by a manager who maintains or manages the machine tool 1, but may also be used by a third party other than the operator and the manager. Although one external operation terminal 3 is shown in FIG. 1, two or more external operation terminals 3 may be provided.

[0023] The external operation terminal 3 is, for example, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a wearable terminal, or the like. The external operation terminal 3 may be a general-purpose computer. A client program (application) for remotely operating the machine tool body 10 is installed in the external operation terminal 3, and the administrator remotely operates the machine tool body 10 using this client program.

[0024] The external operation terminal 3 includes a control unit 30, an operation display unit 31, and a communication unit .

[0025] The control unit 30 is a control device that controls the external operation terminal 3. The control unit 30 is configured by a microcomputer having a hardware processor such as a CPU, a memory, and various interfaces. The memory and various interfaces are connected to the hardware processor via a bus. By executing application programs stored in the memory, various functions of the control unit 30 are realized. The control unit 30 is electrically connected to the operation display unit 31 and the communication unit 34.

[0026] The operation display unit 31 includes an operation unit 32 and a display unit 33. The operation unit 32 is operated by an administrator to output operation data corresponding to the administrator's operation to the control unit 30. The display unit 33 displays information in a manner that is visible to the administrator. The information displayed on the display unit 33 is controlled by the control unit 30.

[0027] The display unit 33 is, for example, a liquid crystal panel, and the operation unit 32 is a touch panel attached to the display unit 33. The operation display unit 31 is configured to display an operation screen including operation items for operating the machine tool main body 10 on the display unit 33, and to accept operations on this operation screen at the operation unit 32. The operation screen displayed on this display unit 33 is displayed by the control unit 30 based on screen data received from the machine tool 1. As a result, the display unit 33 shares and displays the operation screen displayed on the display unit 16 of the main body operation terminal 12. In other words, the display unit 16 of the main body operation terminal 12 and the display unit 33 of the external operation terminal 3 display a mutually shared operation screen.

[0028] The communication unit 34 includes one or more wired or wireless communication interfaces. The communication unit 34 enables transmission and reception of data including predetermined information between the machine tool 1 and the external operation terminal 3. For example, a wired LAN is used as the wired communication interface. For example, a wireless LAN is used as the wireless communication interface. The communication unit 34 transmits data between the machine tool 1 and the external operation terminal 3 in accordance with a communication protocol defined by the network 5.

[0029] In the machine tool 1 configured as described above, the calculation unit 13, which is one of the features of this embodiment, sends and receives information to and from the control unit 11, and controls each part of the main body operation terminal 12 and the communication unit 18.

[0030] The calculation unit 13 displays an operation screen on the display unit 16. The operation screen includes operation items for operating the machine tool main body 10 and setting the operation of the machine tool main body 10. Furthermore, the calculation unit 13 can display various information related to the machine tool main body 10 on the display unit 16 based on information output from the control unit 11.

[0031] Furthermore, the calculation unit 13 performs various processes in response to operation data output from the operation unit 15. The calculation unit 13 determines which operation item has been operated based on the operation coordinates on the touch panel which is the operation unit 15 and the coordinates of the operation item on the operation screen displayed on the display unit 16, and thereby accepts an operation on the machine tool main body 10. The calculation unit 13 outputs information on the operation on the machine tool main body 10 performed on the main body operation terminal 12 to the control unit 11. The control unit 11 controls the machine tool main body 10 in response to the operation of the machine tool main body 10 by the main body operation terminal 12.

[0032] The operations on the main body operation terminal 12 are not limited to those for operating the machine tool main body 10. The operations on the main body operation terminal 12 include screen operations such as transition of the operation screen displayed on the display unit 16, enlargement or reduction, and the like.

[0033] When the external operation terminal 3 is connected to the machine tool 1, the calculation unit 13 transmits screen data of the operation screen displayed on the display unit 16 to the external operation terminal 3 via the communication unit 18. As a result, the display unit 33 of the external operation terminal 3 shares the operation screen displayed on the display unit 16 of the main body operation terminal 12. In addition, the calculation unit 13 receives operation data output from the operation unit 32 of the external operation terminal 3 in response to the operation of the administrator via the communication unit 18. The calculation unit 13 performs various processes in response to the operation data output from the operation unit 32 of the external operation terminal 3, similar to the operation data output from the operation unit 15 of the main body operation terminal 12. The calculation unit 13 outputs information on the operation performed on the machine tool main body 10 by the external operation terminal 3 to the control unit 11. As a result, the control unit 11 controls the machine tool main body 10 in response to the operation performed on the machine tool main body 10 by the external operation terminal 3.

[0034] In relation to this embodiment, the calculation unit 13 grants operation authority to operate the machine tool main body 10 to the main body operation terminal 12. In this case, the calculation unit 13 treats an operation on the machine tool main body 10 from the main body operation terminal 12 to which the operation authority has been granted as a valid operation. On the other hand, the calculation unit 13 treats an operation on the machine tool main body 10 from the external operation terminal 3 to which the operation authority has not been granted as an invalid operation. On the other hand, when the calculation unit 13 receives a request to acquire operation authority from the external operation terminal 3, in response to this acquisition request, it grants operation authority to operate the machine tool main body 10 to the external operation terminal 3 in addition to the main body operation terminal 12.

[0035] The calculation unit 13 performs machine operation priority processing when an operation on the machine tool main body 10 is received from the main body operation terminal 12 in a state in which operation authority is granted to both the main body operation terminal 12 and the external operation terminal 3. The machine operation priority processing is processing in which an operation on the machine tool main body 10 from the external operation terminal 3 is treated as an invalid operation, and an operation on the machine tool main body 10 from the main body operation terminal 12 is treated as a valid operation.

[0036] 2 and 3 are sequence charts showing the flow of operation of the machine tool according to this embodiment. The flow of operation of the machine tool according to this embodiment will be described below. First, it is assumed that in an initial state, the calculation unit 13 grants the operation authority to operate the machine tool main body 10 to the main body operation terminal 12. The calculation unit 13 may grant the operation authority to the main body operation terminal 12 in response to an operation from the main body operation terminal 12 (a request to acquire operation authority), or may grant the operation authority to the main body operation terminal 12 as an initial setting.

[0037] The calculation unit 13 starts accepting a connection from the external operation terminal 3 (step S10).

[0038] The control unit 30 of the external operation terminal 3 transmits a connection request command to the machine tool 1 in response to an operation by the administrator, thereby establishing a connection with the machine tool 1 (step S12). For example, the transmission of the connection request command is executed by starting a client program in the external operation terminal 3.

[0039] When the external operation terminal 3 is connected, the calculation unit 13 starts transmitting an operation screen (screen data) to the external operation terminal 3 (step S14). Meanwhile, the control unit 30 of the external operation terminal 3 starts receiving the operation screen (step S16). When reception of the operation screen starts, the control unit 30 displays the received operation screen on the display unit 33. As a result, the operation screen is shared between the display unit 33 of the external operation terminal 3 and the display unit 16 of the main body operation terminal 12. When the operation screen is shared, when a screen operation such as a transition of the operation screen is performed on one of the main body operation terminal 12 and the external operation terminal 3, the screen operation is reflected on the display unit 33 of the external operation terminal 3 and the display unit 16 of the main body operation terminal 12, respectively.

[0040] Next, the control unit 30 of the external operation terminal 3 transmits a request command to the machine tool 1 to request acquisition of operation authority (step S18). When the calculation unit 13 accepts the request to acquire operation authority, it grants operation authority to the external operation terminal 3 that requested the acquisition of operation authority, in addition to the main body operation terminal 12 (step S20). Then, the calculation unit 13 starts accepting operations (external operations) on the machine tool main body 10 by the external operation terminal 3 (step S22).

[0041] After granting operation authority to both the main body operation terminal 12 and the external operation terminal 3, the calculation unit 13 treats operations (main body operations) on the machine tool main body 10 from the main body operation terminal 12 and external operations from the external operation terminal 3 to which operation authority has been granted as valid operations. However, even if the calculation unit 13 receives an external operation from the external operation terminal 3 to which operation authority has been granted, the calculation unit 13 exceptionally treats this operation as an invalid operation during execution of a machine operation priority process described later (details will be described later). Also, even if the calculation unit 13 receives an external operation from another external operation terminal (not shown) to which operation authority has not been granted, the calculation unit 13 treats this operation as an invalid operation.

[0042] 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an operation screen displayed on the operation display unit of the main body operation terminal. After the external operation terminal 3 is granted operation authority in this way and the acceptance of external operations is started, the calculation unit 13 displays information indicating that the external operation terminal 3 is operating the terminal on the operation display unit 14 (display unit 16) of the main body operation terminal 12. In the example shown in FIG. 4, information 14a including "Sharing" indicating that the external operation terminal 3 is operating the terminal, and information identifying the external operation terminal 3, for example, "Administrator A" indicating the identifier of the administrator operating the external operation terminal 3, is displayed. Such a screen display may be performed only on the display unit 16 of the main body operation terminal 12, or may be shared on the display unit 33 of the external operation terminal 3.

[0043] Referring to Figure 2, when the calculation unit 13 determines that the operation received while operation authority has been granted to both the main body operation terminal 12 and the external operation terminal 3 is a main body operation from the main body operation terminal 12 (step S24: Yes), it starts machine operation priority processing (step S26).

[0044] 3, when the machine operation priority process is started, the calculation unit 13 performs a process according to the main body operation (step S28). Therefore, the calculation unit 13 outputs information on the main body operation to the control unit 11 so that the machine tool main body 10 operates according to the main body operation. As a result, the main body operation is treated as valid.

[0045] On the other hand, suppose that an external operation is performed from the external operation terminal 3 to which operation authority has been granted after the machine operation priority process is started (step S30). The calculation unit 13 receives operation data corresponding to the external operation from the external operation terminal 3 via the communication unit 18 (step S32), but ignores this operation when it is determined that this operation is from the external operation terminal 3 to which operation authority has been granted (step S34). Therefore, the calculation unit 13 does not output information on the external operation to the control unit 11. As a result, the operation from the external operation terminal 3 is treated as invalid. That is, during the execution of the machine operation priority process, the calculation unit 13 exceptionally treats this operation as invalid even if it is an external operation from the external operation terminal 3 to which operation authority has been granted. Also, even if there is an external operation from another external operation terminal (not shown) to which operation authority has not been granted, the calculation unit 13 naturally treats this as invalid.

[0046] Of the operations from the external operation terminal 3 to which operation authority has been granted, the operations that are treated as invalid are limited to those related to the operation on the machine tool main body 10. Therefore, the calculation unit 13 treats operations other than the operation on the machine tool main body 10, such as screen operations such as screen transition, zooming in and out, and changing the function assigned to the switch 17, as valid operations. However, the calculation unit 13 may treat all operations from the external operation terminal 3 to which operation authority has been granted, not limited to operations on the machine tool main body 10, as invalid operations.

[0047] FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an operation screen displayed on the operation display unit of the external operation terminal. When the machine operation priority process is started in this way, the calculation unit 13 displays information indicating that the machine operation priority process is being performed on the operation display unit 31 (display unit 33) of the external operation terminal 3. In the example shown in FIG. 5(a), the operation display unit 31 displays information 31a indicating that the machine operation priority process is being performed, which is "machine operation priority in progress." In addition, when the external operation is treated as invalid, the calculation unit 13 displays information indicating that the external operation is treated as invalid on the operation display unit 31 of the external operation terminal 3. In the example shown in FIG. 5(b), the operation display unit 31 displays information 31a indicating that the external operation is treated as invalid, which is "operation is invalid."

[0048] 3, when the calculation unit 13 determines that the elapsed time from the last operation of the main body operation terminal 12 reaches a predetermined upper limit time (step S36: Yes), it ends the machine operation priority process (step S38). If the elapsed time does not reach the predetermined upper limit time, it returns to the process of step S28.

[0049] On the other hand, as shown in Fig. 2, even after the external operation terminal 3 is given the operation authority, the calculation unit 13 does not start the machine operation priority process unless the main body is operated (step S24: Yes). As shown in Fig. 3, when an external operation is performed by the external operation terminal 3 to which the operation authority is given (step S30), the calculation unit 13 receives operation data corresponding to the external operation via the communication unit 18 (step S40). Then, when the calculation unit 13 determines that the operation is from the external operation terminal 3 to which the operation authority is given, it performs processing according to the external operation (step S42). Therefore, the calculation unit 13 outputs information on the external operation to the control unit 11 so that the machine tool main body 10 operates in response to the external operation. As a result, the external operation from the external operation terminal 3 to which the operation authority is given is treated as valid.

[0050] When a termination operation for terminating the operation authority is performed on the external operation terminal 3 (step S44), the calculation unit 13 ends this process (step S48) using the reception of the termination operation as a trigger (step S46: Yes). On the other hand, when the calculation unit 13 does not determine that a termination operation has been performed (step S46: No), the process returns to step S24.

[0051] As described above, according to the machine tool 1 of this embodiment, when an operation is received from the main body operation terminal 12 in a state where operation authority is granted to both the main body operation terminal 12 and the external operation terminal 3, machine operation priority processing is performed. By performing machine operation priority processing, even in a state where operation authority is granted to both the main body operation terminal 12 and the external operation terminal 3, the operation from the external operation terminal 3 is treated as an invalid operation and the operation from the main body operation terminal 12 is treated as a valid operation. This makes it possible to prevent the mixing of operations by the main body operation terminal 12 and the external operation terminal 3. In addition, the main body operation terminal 12 does not need to request acquisition of operation authority every time the machine tool main body 10 is to be operated. This makes it possible to prevent complicated operations for the operator of the main body operation terminal 12, thereby improving the convenience of the operator.

[0052] According to the machine tool 1 according to the present embodiment, the calculation unit 13 ends the machine operation priority process when the upper limit time has elapsed as a trigger. This makes it possible to restrict a state in which the operation of the external operation terminal 3 is treated as invalid, even though the external operation terminal 3 has been granted operation authority, from continuing for a long period of time. This makes it possible to prevent the administrator of the external operation terminal 3 from being subjected to excessive restrictions on the operation. Furthermore, once the machine operation priority process ends, the external operation from the external operation terminal 3 to which the operation authority has been granted is treated as valid, so that there is no need to perform an operation such as re-issuing a request to obtain operation authority on the external operation terminal 3 side. This makes it possible to eliminate the need for complicated operations for the administrator of the external operation terminal 3, thereby improving the convenience of the administrator.

[0053] According to the machine tool 1 according to this embodiment, the main body operation terminal 12 and the external operation terminal 3 share an operation screen with each other. This allows the main body operation terminal 12 and the external operation terminal 3 to alternately operate the machine tool main body 10 while sharing the operation screen. Even in a situation in which the subject of operation alternates, the main body operation terminal 12 does not need to make a request to obtain operation authority every time the machine tool main body 10 is to be operated. This eliminates the need for the operator of the main body operation terminal 12 to perform complicated operations, thereby improving the convenience for the operator.

[0054] Fig. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an operation screen. As shown in Fig. 6(a), the operation screen displayed on the operation display unit 14 (display unit 16) of the main body operation terminal 12 includes, as an operation item for operating the machine tool main body 10, a specific operation item 14b involving a mechanical operation of the machine tool main body 10. As shown in Fig. 6(b), the display of the specific operation item 14b is also displayed in the same manner on the operation display unit 31 (display unit 33) of the external operation terminal 3.

[0055] Even when operation authority is granted to the external operation terminal 3 in addition to the main body operation terminal 12, the calculation unit 13 may treat an operation on the specific operation item 31c from the operation display unit 31 of the external operation terminal 3 as an invalid operation. Note that, as shown in Fig. 6(b), when an operation on the specific operation item 31c is treated as an invalid operation, it is preferable to make the display form of the specific operation item 31c different from the normal display form.

[0056] According to the machine tool 1 according to this embodiment, the machine tool main body 10 can be remotely operated by the external operation terminal 3. Therefore, the manager of the external operation terminal 3 operates the external operation terminal 3 without actually seeing the machine tool main body 10 and the main body operation terminal 12. Therefore, by disabling the operation for the specific operation item 31c from the external operation terminal 3, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the machine tool main body 10 operates unexpectedly for the operator of the main body operation terminal 12.

[0057] Furthermore, a situation may occur in which the function assigned to switch 17 is changed without the operator's knowledge through the operation of external operation terminal 3 to which operation authority has been granted. In such a case, when the operator of main body operation terminal 12 operates switch 17, machine tool main body 10 executes an operation of a function different from the operation of the function intended by the operator. Therefore, when operation authority has been granted to external operation terminal 3, control unit 11 may treat the operation of switch 17 as an invalid operation. This makes it possible to prevent a situation in which machine tool main body 10 operates unexpectedly from the operator's point of view.

[0058] Furthermore, even when the calculation unit 13 is performing the machine operation priority process, the calculation unit 13 may treat an operation on the specific operation item 14b from the main body operation terminal 12 as an invalid operation.

[0059] According to the machine tool 1 of this embodiment, when the machine operation priority process is being performed, the operation of the machine tool main body 10 from the external operation terminal 3 to which the operation authority has been granted is invalid. On the other hand, even when the machine operation priority process is being performed, screen operations such as the transition of the operation screen that are not related to the operation of the machine tool main body 10 are also possible from the external operation terminal 3. Therefore, the operation screen may transition without the operator noticing, in response to an operation from the external operation terminal 3. In a situation where the operation screen is shared, the transition of the operation screen is reflected on both display units 16 and 33. When an operation screen occurs in a case where the operator operates the main body operation terminal 12 without keeping the main body operation terminal 12 in view while gazing at the machine tool main body 10, the operator may unintentionally operate the specific operation item 14b. In this case, a situation occurs in which the machine tool main body 10 operates unexpectedly for the operator. However, according to the machine tool 1 of this embodiment, when the machine operation priority process is being performed, the operation of the specific operation item 14b is treated as an invalid operation. This makes it possible to prevent a situation in which the machine tool main body 10 operates unexpectedly for the operator.

[0060] In the above embodiment, the calculation unit 13 receives operation data from the external operation terminal 3 and ignores the external operation, thereby treating the external operation as an invalid operation. However, the method of treating the external operation as an invalid operation is not limited to this. For example, the calculation unit 13 may not receive operation data from the external operation terminal 3 at the communication unit 18 while performing the machine operation priority process. Furthermore, the calculation unit 13 may output, to the control unit 30 of the external operation terminal 3, a command to prohibit transmission of operation data from the communication unit 34 or a command to invalidate operation on the operation unit 32 while performing the machine operation priority process. Various methods can be applied as a method of treating the external operation as an invalid operation.

[0061] As described above, the embodiment of the present invention has been described, but the description and drawings forming a part of this disclosure should not be understood as limiting this invention. From this disclosure, various alternative embodiments, examples and operating techniques will become apparent to those skilled in the art. [Explanation of symbols]

[0062] 1 Machine tools 10 Machine tool body 11 Control section 12 Main unit operation terminal 13 Arithmetic section 14 Operation display section 15 Operation unit (1st operation unit) 16 Display section (1st display section) 17 Switch 18 Communications Department 3. External operation terminal 30 Control section 31 Operation display section 32 Operation unit (second operation unit) 33 Display section (second display section) 34 Communications Department

Claims

1. A machine tool body that processes materials; a main body operation terminal provided on the machine tool main body and operating the machine tool main body; a communication unit that communicates with an external operation terminal that can remotely operate the machine tool body; a calculation unit that grants operation authority to operate the machine tool main body to the main body operation terminal, and grants operation authority to operate the machine tool main body to the external operation terminal in addition to the main body operation terminal in response to a request for operation authority from the external operation terminal, The calculation unit is When an operation on the machine tool main body is accepted from the main body operation terminal in a state where operation authority is granted to both the main body operation terminal and the external operation terminal, a machine operation priority process is performed in which the operation on the machine tool main body from the external operation terminal is treated as an invalid operation and the operation on the machine tool main body from the main body operation terminal is treated as a valid operation; The main body operation terminal includes: a first display unit that displays an operation screen for operating the machine tool body; a first operation unit that accepts an operation on the operation screen displayed on the first display unit, The external operation terminal includes: A second display unit that displays the operation screen; a second operation unit that accepts an operation on the operation screen displayed on the second display unit, the first display unit and the second display unit display the mutually shared operation screen; the operation screen includes, as an operation item for operating the machine tool main body, a specific operation item involving a mechanical operation of the machine tool main body, The calculation unit is Even if an operation authority is granted to the external operation terminal, the operation on the specific operation item from the external operation terminal is treated as an invalid operation; The calculation unit is Even when the machine operation priority process is being performed, the operation on the specific operation item from the main body operation terminal is treated as an invalid operation. Machine tools.

2. The calculation unit is When it is determined that the elapsed time from the last operation on the main body operation terminal has reached a predetermined upper limit time, the machine operation priority process is terminated. The machine tool according to claim 1.