Material Management System

The material management system addresses the inefficiencies in existing systems by using cameras and display units to visually confirm material identities on pallets, thereby simplifying and speeding up material processing workflows.

JP7659401B2Active Publication Date: 2025-04-09AMADA CO LTD
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Patent Information

Application Number
JP2021024662
Authority / Receiving Office
JP · JP
Patent Type
Patents
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2021-02-18
Publication Date
2025-04-09
Estimated Expiration
2041-02-18

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

In existing material processing systems, it is difficult to efficiently manage and identify materials stored on pallets within storage shelves, leading to complex and inefficient workflows due to the need for manual visual confirmation and input of material information.

Method used

A material management system that includes a camera for capturing images of materials on pallets, a storage unit for associating image data with storage units on the shelf, and a display unit for showing corresponding image data, allowing for visual confirmation of materials without physical presence.

Benefits of technology

This system enhances work efficiency by allowing workers to confirm material identities through images, reducing the need for manual visual inspection and improving the overall complexity and speed of material processing operations.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Patent Text Reader

Abstract

To enable confirmation of material stored in a storage shelf by an image.SOLUTION: A material management system includes: a processing machine that processes a material; a storage shelf that includes a plurality of storage parts capable of storing materials; a camera for photographing the material; a storage part that stores image data of the material photographed by the camera in association with the storage parts in which the materials are stored; and a display part that displays the corresponding image data for each storage part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1
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Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a materials management system. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, a processing system has been known that includes a laser processing machine that performs laser processing on materials placed on a pallet, a storage shelf that stores a plurality of pallets, and a pallet loading / unloading device configured to transport the pallets between the laser processing machine and the storage shelf (Patent Document 1, etc.).

[0003] In the pallet loading / unloading device of Patent Document 1, a lifter is provided on each side of the storage shelf, and while one lifter is used to load a pallet into the laser processing machine, the other lifter is used to remove the pallet containing the processed products, making it possible to recover the products or prepare materials for the next processing. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 5-139512 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In the processing system of Patent Document 1, once a pallet on which materials are placed is stored in a storage shelf, it is difficult to easily determine which material is placed on which pallet in the storage shelf. Therefore, in the processing system of Patent Document 1, a worker must move to the material position on the storage shelf and visually check the material before processing, which is a problem in that the work is cumbersome.

[0006] In this regard, in the processing system of Patent Document 1, it may be possible to manage which material is placed on which pallet in the storage shelf by manually inputting information on the material when storing the pallet on the storage shelf. However, the method of manually inputting information on the material has problems in that the work efficiency is low and the work is cumbersome. In addition, when materials are frequently transferred to the pallet, the deterioration of the work efficiency is particularly noticeable, and there is a possibility that the intentional non-input of information or unintentional input omission may occur, resulting in a discrepancy between the actual material and the input information. For this reason, the problem remains that the worker must move to the material position on the storage shelf before processing and visually check the material, which makes the work cumbersome.

[0007] One aspect of the present invention is a material management system that allows materials stored in a storage shelf to be confirmed by image. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] A material management system according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises a processing machine for processing materials, a storage shelf including a plurality of storage sections capable of storing the materials, a camera for photographing the materials, a memory unit for storing image data of the materials photographed by the camera in correspondence with the storage section in which the material is stored, and a display unit for displaying the corresponding image data for each storage section.

[0009] According to the material management system of one aspect of the present invention, the image data of the material photographed by the camera is displayed on the display unit in association with the storage section of the storage shelf in which the material is stored, allowing the material stored in the storage shelf to be confirmed by image. Effect of the Invention

[0010] According to a material management system according to one aspect of the present invention, the materials stored in the storage shelves can be confirmed by images. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a material management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the laser processing machine of the present embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram that illustrates the material management system of the present embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the image management register of this embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the state of image data captured by the camera of this embodiment before correction. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the state of image data captured by the camera of this embodiment after correction. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the end face position detection of this embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of a product processing and material management procedure using the material management system of this embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of a product processing and material management procedure using the material management system of this embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the inventions according to the claims, and all of the combinations of features described in the embodiments are not necessarily essential to the solution of the invention.

[0013] [Overall configuration of the material management system according to this embodiment] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a material management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the material management system 1 according to this embodiment generally includes a laser processing machine 10 (processing machine) for processing a material W, a storage shelf 100 including a plurality of storage sections 110 (110a to 110k) capable of storing the material W, and a camera 30 for photographing the material W. The material management system 1 according to this embodiment further includes a pallet P capable of transporting the material W between the laser processing machine 10 and the storage shelf 100, and an operation panel 200 capable of operating the laser processing machine 10 and the storage shelf 100. The operation panel 200 includes a display section 240 capable of displaying image data photographed by the camera 30. Details of the material management system 1 according to this embodiment will be described below.

[0014] Hereinafter, in this specification, when the term "image data" is used simply, it is intended to include both the original image data captured by the camera 30 and the corrected image data corrected by the operation panel 200 described below.

[0015] [Laser processing machine configuration] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the laser processing machine of the present embodiment. 1 and 2, the laser processing machine 10 includes a housing 11, a support stand 12 provided in the housing 11, and a pallet support unit 14 that supports a pallet P on an upper portion of the support stand 12. The pallet support unit 14 is configured to be able to move the pallet P toward the storage shelf 100.

[0016] The laser processing machine 10 also includes a pair of guide rails (not shown) provided above the pallet support portion 14, a carriage base 16 suspended between the pair of guide rails, a carriage 18 provided on the carriage base 16, and a laser processing head 20 provided on the carriage 18.

[0017] The pair of guide rails are provided along the longitudinal direction (z-axis direction) of the support table 12. The carriage base 16 is configured to be movable in the z-axis direction by driving a carriage base drive unit (not shown). The carriage 18 is configured to be movable in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the support table 12 (x-axis direction) by driving a carriage drive unit (not shown). The laser processing head 20 is configured to be able to irradiate laser light (laser beam) toward the material W, and is configured to be movable in the vertical direction (y-axis direction) by driving a laser processing head drive unit (not shown).

[0018] Since the laser processing machine 10 can adopt various known configurations, detailed description thereof will be omitted. Also, the laser processing machine 10 is not limited to the above-mentioned configuration, and can adopt various configurations. Furthermore, the material management system 1 according to this embodiment is not limited to a configuration in which the material is processed by the laser processing machine 10, and can adopt various processing machines such as a so-called turret punch press, a milling machine, a cutting torch, etc.

[0019] [Camera configuration] As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the camera 30 is attached to the inside of the laser processing machine 10, for example, to the ceiling inside the housing 11 of the laser processing machine 10, and is configured to be able to photograph the materials W on the pallet P supported by the pallet support part 14. The camera 30 includes an imaging unit 32 and a lens 34. The imaging unit 32 has an imaging element (not shown) and a shutter (not shown), and is configured to be able to transfer the photographed image data to the operation panel 200. In addition, the lens 34 has an angle of view that can photograph the entire pallet P supported by the pallet support part 14 of the laser processing machine 10. With this configuration, the camera 30 can photograph all of the materials W when multiple materials W are placed on the pallet P supported by the pallet support part 14 of the laser processing machine 10.

[0020] [Storage Shelf Configuration] As shown in Fig. 1, the storage shelf 100 has a rectangular main body frame 101 as a base extending along the longitudinal direction (z-axis direction) of the support table 12 of the laser processing machine 10. The main body frame 101 is provided with a number of storage sections 110 (110a to 110k) capable of storing pallets P on which materials W are placed. An elevator 120 is provided on the side of the main body frame 101. The elevator 120 is configured to be able to rise and fall in the y-axis direction by being driven by an elevator drive section (not shown). The elevator 120 also has a pair of support guides 122 that support the pallet P movably in the x-axis direction.

[0021] The storage shelf 100 is further provided with a traverser 130 for transporting the pallet P between a pair of support guides 122 of the elevator 120 and an arbitrary storage section 110, and between a pair of support guides 122 of the elevator 120 and the pallet support section 14. The traverser 130 is movable in the x-axis direction on the support guides 122 and on the pallet support section 14 by being driven by a traverser drive section (not shown).

[0022] [Operation panel configuration] FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram that illustrates the material management system of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, the operation panel 200 generally includes a main control unit 210 for controlling the laser processing machine 10 and the storage shelf 100, a memory unit 220 for storing image data of the material W captured by the camera 30 in association with the storage unit 110 in which the material W is stored, an input unit 230 for accepting operation instructions from a user (operator), and a display unit 240 capable of displaying various information including image data.

[0023] The storage unit 220 includes a program 222 and an image management ledger 224, and is configured with a storage medium such as a RAM, a ROM, a HDD, or an SSD, and stores processing programs, image data, etc. in a readable and writable manner. The program 222 has a processing program for operating the laser processing machine 10 and processing the material W, a transport program for transporting the pallet P, an image capture program for the camera 30, an image correction program for correcting image data captured by the camera 30, and an operating system for the operation panel 200. The processing program has laser processing conditions including plate thickness information, and a tool path.

[0024] Fig. 5 is a diagram for explaining the state of image data captured by the camera of this embodiment before correction. Fig. 6 is a diagram for explaining the state of image data captured by the camera of this embodiment after correction. An image correction program for correcting image data captured by the camera 30 will be described with reference to Figures 5 and 6. As described above, the camera 30 attached to the ceiling of the laser processing machine 10 includes a lens 34 having an angle of view capable of capturing an image of the entire pallet P supported by the pallet support part 14 of the laser processing machine 10. Therefore, the image captured by the camera 30 is distorted so that the center of the image bulges, as shown in Figure 5, and distortion aberration occurs in which what should be a rectangular shape becomes barrel-shaped.

[0025] Furthermore, since the shooting position and focal length of the camera 30 are always constant, even when a material W having the same surface area is shot, the surface area of ​​the material W that occupies the angle of view changes depending on the plate thickness of the material W.

[0026] For example, if the camera 30 were to capture a rectangular piece of material W 1 and a rectangular piece of material W with a thickness of 5 mm 5 When the image is captured, the distance between the surface of the material and the image sensor (not shown) of the camera 30 is 5 mm thick. 5 is closer, and a rectangular material W with a thickness of 1 mm is 1Since the object is farther away, the surface area of ​​the material that occupies the angle of view of the captured image data is 1 mm thick rectangular material W 1 A rectangular piece of material W with a thickness of 5 mm is 5 In this way, if the material W is not displayed at the correct size within the field of view, the end face correction cannot be performed accurately. Therefore, as shown in Figure 6, distortion correction and thickness correction using the thickness information are performed on the image data.

[0027] The image correction program stored in the storage unit 220 is configured to be capable of executing distortion correction and plate thickness correction for correcting the above-mentioned distortions, etc. Plate thickness information used for plate thickness correction may be plate thickness information included in the processing program used after photographing, or plate thickness information set in the program when the photographed material W is actually processed may be used. In the latter case, the image data and plate thickness information are associated with each other and stored in the image management ledger 224 of the storage unit 220. Plate thickness information manually inputted into the image management ledger 224 of the storage unit 220 described later may also be used.

[0028] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the image management register of this embodiment. 4, the image management ledger 224 has a storage section memory area 224a for registering information relating to the storage section 110a on the top level of the storage shelf 100, a storage section memory area 224b for registering information relating to the storage section 110b on the level below the storage section 110a (the second level from the top of the storage shelf 100), and similarly, storage section memory areas 224c to 224k for registering information relating to the storage sections 110c to 110k of the storage shelf 100. The storage section memory areas 224a to 224k store image data of the material W photographed by the camera 30, the photographing date and time of the image data, and the storage section 110 of the storage shelf 100 in which the pallet P on which the material W is placed is stored, in association with each other.

[0029] Furthermore, the storage unit memory areas 224a to 224k of the image management ledger 224 can be further associated with information (not shown) related to the material W stored in the storage unit 110 of the storage shelf 100 by manual input by the user. The information related to the material W stored in the storage unit 110 of the storage shelf 100 can be exemplified by the material quality, thickness, dimensions, etc. of the material W.

[0030] 3, the main control unit 210 functionally includes an operation management unit 212, a shelf management unit 214, a program management unit 216, and an image management unit 218, and is configured, for example, by an integrated arithmetic processing device having a CPU and a GPU. The operation management unit 212 is configured to be able to control the operation of the laser processing machine 10 according to a processing program stored in the memory unit 220 of the operation panel 200. In addition, the operation management unit 212 is configured to be able to control the camera 30 according to a shooting program stored in the memory unit 220 of the operation panel 200.

[0031] The shelf management unit 214 is capable of operating the storage section 110, elevator 120, and traverser 130 of the storage shelf 100, and is configured to transport the pallet P between the laser processing machine 10 and the storage shelf 100. The program management unit 216 manages a processing program for processing the material W by the laser processing machine 10, and is configured to be able to edit the processing program. In addition, the program management unit 216 is configured to be able to detect the end face position and correct the end face of the processing program.

[0032] The image management unit 218 manages the image management ledger 224 of the storage unit 220. Specifically, the image management unit 218 performs a process of registering image data transferred from the camera 30 in the image management ledger 224 of the storage unit 220 in association with the photographing date and time of the image data and the storage unit 110 of the storage shelf 100 in which the material W is stored, a process of reading out the image data from the image management ledger 224 of the storage unit 220 and correcting it, a process of displaying the image data on the display unit 240, etc. In addition, when the image data registered in the image management ledger 224 of the storage unit 220 in association with each storage unit 110 of the storage shelf 100 is outdated, the image data can be deleted or updated.

[0033] Furthermore, the image management unit 218 is configured not to overwrite and save the original image data when reading out image data from the image management register 224 of the storage unit 220 and correcting the image data according to the image correction program. With this configuration, the image management unit 218 can display image data corrected according to the multiple plate thicknesses on the display unit 240 when the image data shows multiple materials W with different plate thicknesses.

[0034] The input unit 230 is composed of input devices such as push button switches, tact switches, key lock switches, keyboards, etc., and by operating the input unit 230, operations such as selecting a machining program to be used for machining can be performed.

[0035] The display unit 240 displays various screens such as a selection screen for selecting the processing program to be used for processing and the storage unit 110 of the storage shelf 100 in which the material W to be used for processing is stored, and captured image data. The display unit 240 is also configured with a touch panel (touch screen) having an input function, and is configured to be able to accept input operations of measurement points for end face position detection, which will be described later. With such a configuration, the user can, for example, operate the display unit 240 to select the processing program to be used for processing, or specify the measurement start position of the measurement points for end face position detection, which will be described later.

[0036] FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the end face position detection of this embodiment. The detection of the end face position and the correction of the processing program will be described with reference to Fig. 7. When the material W is placed on the pallet P so that the end face (end) of the material W is parallel to the end face of the pallet P, the end faces of the material W and the pallet P are parallel to the X-axis and Y-axis along which the laser processing head 20 of the laser processing machine 10 moves along the tool path of the processing program, so that the material W can be normally laser processed without correcting the processing program.

[0037] On the other hand, when the material W is placed on the pallet P so that the end face of the material W is oblique to the end face of the pallet P, the end face of the material W is not parallel to the X-axis and Y-axis along which the laser processing head 20 of the laser processing machine 10 moves along the tool path of the processing program. If laser processing is performed in this state without correcting the processing program, a deviation will occur between the tool path and the placement position of the material W, resulting in processing defects. In order to prevent such processing defects, the end face position is detected and the processing program is corrected.

[0038] Specifically, first, three measurement points are set, and the end face of the material W is measured to detect the end face position. Then, the machining origin of the machining program and the angle of the tool path are corrected based on the detected end face position (end face correction). Here, the display unit 240 of the operation panel 200 is configured to be able to display information related to the end face position detection, and further, the display unit 240 of the operation panel 200 is configured to be able to display the measurement points of the end face position detection on the image data. With such a configuration, as shown in FIG. 7, the user can check the image data of the material W stored in the storage unit 110 of the storage shelf 100 on the display unit 240 of the operation panel 200, further select the measurement pattern of the end face position detection on the image data, and directly specify the measurement start position of the measurement point of the end face position detection by the touch panel.

[0039] [Operation of the material management system according to this embodiment] 8 and 9 are flow charts showing an example of a product processing and material management procedure using the material management system of this embodiment. A series of operations for product processing and material management for unprocessed material W that has never been processed into a product will be described with reference to FIG.

[0040] First, the start of the operation panel 200 is used as a trigger to cause the operation management unit 212 of the main control unit 210 of the operation panel 200 to read out a processing program for performing laser processing by the laser processing machine 10 from the storage unit 220 of the operation panel 200 (S1 in FIG. 8). After that, the operation management unit 212 transfers the read processing program to the laser processing machine 10 (S2 in FIG. 8).

[0041] The shelf management unit 214 of the main control unit 210 of the operation panel 200 operates the elevator 120 and the traverser 130 etc. equipped on the storage shelf 100 to transport the pallet P on which the material W is placed to the pallet support unit 14 of the laser processing machine 10. After the pallet P on which the material W is placed is transported, the carriage base 16 of the laser processing machine 10 moves from the standby position, and the laser processing head 20 moves to the processing origin. The laser processing head 20 of the laser processing machine 10 irradiates the material W on the pallet P supported by the pallet support unit 14 of the laser processing machine 10 with laser light, and starts laser processing of the material W along the tool path of the processing program (S3 in FIG. 8).

[0042] When the laser processing head 20 of the laser processing machine 10 finishes emitting laser light and the carriage base 16 of the laser processing machine 10 retreats to the standby position, the laser processing by the laser processing machine 10 is completed (S4 in FIG. 8). The laser processing machine 10 notifies the operation management unit 212 of the operation panel 200 that the carriage base 16 of the laser processing machine 10 has retreated and the entire pallet P supported by the pallet support unit 14 of the laser processing machine 10 is now in a state where it can be seen by the camera 30 installed on the ceiling of the laser processing machine 10.

[0043] Thereafter, the operation management unit 212 of the operation panel 200 reads out the photography program for the camera 30 from the memory unit 220 of the operation panel 200, and starts up the camera 30. The operation management unit 212 controls the camera 30 in accordance with the photography program that has been read out, and causes the camera 30 to take an image of the entire pallet P supported by the pallet support unit 14 of the laser processing machine 10 (S5 in FIG. 8). Then, the image data taken by the camera 30 is transferred to the operation panel 200 (S6 in FIG. 8).

[0044] The image management unit 218 of the operation panel 200 registers the image data transferred from the camera 30 in the image management ledger 224 of the memory unit 220 of the operation panel 200 (S7 in FIG. 8). When registering the image data, the image management unit 218 of the operation panel 200 also registers the photographing date and time of the image data and the storage unit 110 of the storage shelf 100 in which the pallet P on which the material W is placed is stored, in association with the image data.

[0045] The shelf management unit 214 operates the elevator 120, the traverser 130, etc., equipped in the storage shelf 100, and moves the pallet P on which the material W is placed from inside the laser processing machine 10 to the storage section 110 of the storage shelf 100. Specifically, the shelf management unit 214 first transports the pallet P from the pallet support section 14 of the laser processing machine 10 to the support guide 122 of the elevator 120 by the traverser 130 of the storage shelf 100. Next, the shelf management unit 214 raises the pallet P supported by the support guide 122 of the elevator 120 by the elevator 120 of the storage shelf 100 to the position of a vacant storage section 110. Then, the storage shelf 100 stores the pallet P by transporting the pallet P supported by the support guide 122 of the elevator 120 by the traverser 130 to a vacant storage section 110 (S8 in FIG. 8).

[0046] Next, a series of operations for second and subsequent product processing and material management for the material W stored in the storage section 110 of the storage shelf 100 will be described with reference to Fig. 9. First, triggered by the start of the operation panel 200, the operation management section 212 reads out a processing program for carrying out laser processing by the laser processing machine 10 from the memory section 220 of the operation panel 200 (S10 in Fig. 9).

[0047] At the same time as or after the processing program is read out, a selection screen for the pallets P stored in each storage section 110 of the storage shelf 100 is displayed on the display section 240 of the operation panel 200 (S11 in FIG. 9). This selection screen may be automatically displayed on the display section 240 in conjunction with the reading out of the processing program, or may be manually displayed on the display section 240 by the user operating the operation panel 200. When the user selects an arbitrary pallet P (storage section 110a to 110k) on the selection screen (S12 in FIG. 9), the image management section 218 of the main control section 210 of the operation panel 200 checks whether the image data of the material W photographed by the camera 30 is associated with the selected pallet P (storage section 110) and registered in the image management register 224 of the memory section 220.

[0048] If the image data is not registered in association with the pallet P stored in the storage unit 110 selected by the user (NO in S13 of FIG. 9), that is, if the material W is not placed (stored) on the pallet P stored in the storage unit 110 of the storage shelf 100, the image management unit 218 causes the display unit 240 of the operation panel 200 to display a message indicating that the image data is not registered or that the material W is not placed on the selected pallet P (S15 of FIG. 9). After that, the display unit 240 of the operation panel 200 returns to the pallet selection screen again.

[0049] On the other hand, if the image data is registered in correspondence with the pallet P stored in the storage section 110 selected by the user (YES in S13 of FIG. 9), that is, if the material W is placed (stored) on the pallet P stored in the storage section 110 of the storage shelf 100, the image management unit 218 reads out the image data from the image management ledger 224 (S14 of FIG. 9).

[0050] The image management unit 218 acquires thickness information of the material W from the processing program read by the operation management unit 212 from the memory unit 220 of the operation panel 200 (S16 in FIG. 9). Then, the image data read is corrected based on the acquired thickness information (S17 in FIG. 9), and the image data is displayed on the display unit 240 of the operation panel 200 (S18 in FIG. 9). The user checks the material W on the pallet P using the image data displayed on the display unit 240 of the operation panel 200. If the user does not want to use the confirmed pallet P for laser processing (NO in S19 in FIG. 9), the display unit 240 of the operation panel 200 returns to the pallet selection screen again.

[0051] On the other hand, when the user uses the confirmed pallet P for laser processing (YES in S19 of FIG. 9), the program management unit 216 of the main control unit 210 of the operation panel 200 causes the display unit 240 of the operation panel 200 to display information related to end face position detection. As the information related to end face position detection, for example, image data corrected by the image management unit 218 and a measurement pattern are displayed. The user operates the input unit 230 of the operation panel 200 or the display unit 240 configured by the touch panel of the operation panel 200 to specify three measurement start positions of the measurement points for end face position detection on the image data. When the measurement start positions of the measurement points for end face position detection are specified, the program management unit 216 starts end face position detection (S20 of FIG. 9).

[0052] The program management unit 216 corrects the machining origin and the tool path angle of the machining program read by the operation management unit 212 according to the detected end face position (S21 in FIG. 9). When the end face correction is completed, the operation management unit 212 transfers the corrected machining program to the laser processing machine 10 (S2 in FIG. 8), and the same procedures as the first product machining and material management are repeated. Through the above steps, a series of operations for product machining and material management by the material management system 1 according to this embodiment is executed.

[0053] [Advantages of the material management system according to this embodiment] As described above, the material management system 1 of this embodiment includes a laser processing machine 10 (processing machine) that processes material W, a storage shelf 100 including a plurality of storage sections 110 capable of storing material W, a camera 30 for photographing the material W, a memory unit 220 that stores image data of the material W photographed by the camera 30 in correspondence with the storage section 110 in which the material W is stored, and a display unit 240 that displays corresponding image data for each storage section 110.

[0054] The material management system 1 according to this embodiment, having such a configuration, can confirm the material W stored in the storage shelf 100 by image. This eliminates the need for an operator to go to the material position on the storage shelf and visually confirm the material before processing, which has the advantage of dramatically improving work efficiency compared to conventional processing systems.

[0055] Moreover, the material management system 1 according to the present embodiment includes a pallet P capable of transporting the material W between the laser processing machine 10 and the storage shelf 100. By including such a configuration, it has an advantage that a plurality of materials W to be used in a series of laser processing can be transported at once.

[0056] Furthermore, in the material management system 1 according to this embodiment, the camera 30 is attached inside the laser processing machine 10. By providing such a configuration, it is possible to advantageously photograph the material W immediately before and after laser processing.

[0057] Moreover, the material management system 1 according to the present embodiment corrects the image data based on the plate thickness information. By being provided with such a configuration, there is an advantage that information regarding the surface area of ​​the material W can be obtained accurately.

[0058] Furthermore, in the material management system 1 according to this embodiment, the camera 30 is configured to capture an image of the material W after it has been processed by the laser processing machine 10. This configuration has the advantage that it is easier to determine whether the material W that has already been used in processing can be reused for the processing to be performed, without being discarded as waste.

[0059] In the material management system 1 according to this embodiment, the display unit 240 is configured to be able to display information related to end face position detection together with image data. This configuration has the advantage that end face position detection can be performed while visually checking the image data of the material W photographed by the camera 30.

[0060] Furthermore, in the material management system 1 according to this embodiment, the display unit 240 is configured to be able to display the measurement points for end face position detection on the image data. By providing such a configuration, there is an advantage that the measurement points for end face position detection can be visually confirmed on the image data of the material W photographed by the camera 30.

[0061] In the material management system 1 according to this embodiment, the display unit 240 is configured to be able to accept an input operation of the measurement point for detecting the end face position. By providing such a configuration, there is an advantage that the measurement start position of the measurement point for detecting the end face position can be intuitively specified on the image data of the material W photographed by the camera 30.

[0062] [Variations] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above-mentioned embodiments. Various modifications and improvements can be made to the above-mentioned embodiments.

[0063] For example, in the above embodiment, the pallet P capable of transporting the material W between the laser processing machine 10 and the storage shelf 100 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. The material W may be transported by, for example, a robot arm, a suction gripper, or the like, and stored in the storage section 110 of the storage shelf 100.

[0064] In the above embodiment, the camera 30 has been described as being attached inside the laser processing machine 10, but is not limited to this. For example, the camera 30 may be attached to the ceiling of each storage section included in the storage shelf 100, may be attached so as to face the top surface of the elevator 120 provided in the storage shelf 100, or may be installed on the ceiling of the work area in which the material management system 1 is installed.

[0065] In the above-described embodiment, the material management system 1 has been described as correcting image data based on plate thickness information, but this is not limited thereto, and the material management system 1 does not have to correct the image data.

[0066] In the above embodiment, the camera 30 has been described as being configured to photograph the material W after it has been processed by the laser processing machine 10, but this is not limited thereto. For example, the camera 30 may photograph the material W before it is processed by the laser processing machine 10, may photograph the material W while it is stored in the storage section 110 of the storage shelf 100, or may photograph the material W at any other timing.

[0067] In the above-described embodiment, the display unit 240 has been described as being configured to be capable of displaying information related to end face position detection together with image data, but this is not limited thereto, and the display unit 240 does not necessarily have to be configured to be capable of displaying information related to end face position detection together with image data.

[0068] In the above-described embodiment, the display unit 240 has been described as being configured to be capable of displaying the measurement points for end face position detection on the image data, but this is not limited thereto, and the display unit 240 does not necessarily have to be configured to be capable of displaying the measurement points for end face position detection on the image data.

[0069] In the above-described embodiment, the display unit 240 has been described as being configured to be capable of accepting input operations of measurement points for end face position detection, but this is not limited thereto, and the display unit 240 does not necessarily have to be configured to be capable of accepting input operations of measurement points for end face position detection.

[0070] In the above-described embodiment, the display unit 240 of the operation panel 200 has been described as being configured with a touch panel having an input function, but this is not limited thereto and it does not have to be configured with a touch panel having an input function.

[0071] In the above embodiment, the lens 34 has been described as having an angle of view capable of capturing an image of the entire pallet P supported by the pallet support portion 14 of the laser processing machine 10, but is not limited to this. For example, the lens 34 may have an angle of view capable of capturing an image of only the material W on the pallet P supported by the pallet support portion 14 of the laser processing machine 10. In addition, the camera 30 is not limited to a single configuration, and multiple cameras may be installed.

[0072] In the above embodiment, the image correction program stored in the memory unit 220 of the operation panel 200 has been described as having a plate thickness correction for correcting distortion due to plate thickness, but is not limited thereto. For example, the image correction program stored in the memory unit 220 of the operation panel 200 does not have a plate thickness correction for correcting distortion due to plate thickness, and the lens 34 of the camera 30 is configured to be able to change the focal length, and when photographing the pallet P supported by the pallet support unit 14 of the laser processing machine 10, the image may be photographed at a focal length corresponding to the plate thickness of the material W to correct distortion due to plate thickness.

[0073] In the above-mentioned embodiment, the material management system 1 has been described as a system in which the laser processing machine 10 immediately starts processing after the pallet P on which the material W is placed is transported, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, in the material management system 1, after the pallet P on which the material W is placed is transported, the camera 30 takes an image of the entire pallet P supported by the pallet support unit 14 of the laser processing machine 10, and the operation panel 200 compares the image data with the photographed data registered in the image management register 224 of the storage unit 220 of the operation panel 200 to detect whether the position of the material W placed on the pallet P has moved. For positional deviation detection, various detection methods such as difference detection can be adopted. [Explanation of symbols]

[0074] 1. Material Management System 10 Laser processing machine 11. Cabinet 12 Support stand 14 Pallet support 16 Carriage base 18 Carriage 20 Laser processing head 30 Camera 32 Imaging unit 34 Lens 100 Storage Shelf 101 Main frame 110 Storage area 120 Elevator 122 Support Guide 130 Traversa 200 Control panel 210 Main control unit 212 Operation Management Department 214 Shelf Management Department 216 Program Management Division 218 Image Management Department 220 Storage section 222 Program 224 Image Management Register 224a~224k Storage area 230 Input section 240 Display section P Palette W Material

Claims

1. A processing machine for processing the material; a storage shelf including a plurality of storage sections capable of storing the material; A camera for photographing the material; a storage unit that stores image data of the material photographed by the camera in association with the storage unit in which the material is stored; a display unit that displays the image data corresponding to each of the storage units; a main control unit for controlling the processing machine and the storage shelf; Equipped with the main control unit has an image management unit that executes a process of reading out the image data from the storage unit and correcting the image data, and a process of displaying the corrected image data on the display unit; The image management unit is configured to correct the image data read from the storage unit based on plate thickness information, The image management unit is configured not to overwrite and save the original image data when correcting the image data. Material management system.

2. A processing machine for processing the material; a storage shelf including a plurality of storage sections capable of storing the material; A camera for photographing the material; a storage unit that stores image data of the material photographed by the camera in association with the storage unit in which the material is stored; a display unit that displays the image data corresponding to each of the storage units; a main control unit for controlling the processing machine and the storage shelf; Equipped with the display unit is configured to be able to display measurement points of the end face position detection together with the image data as information related to the end face position detection, and is configured to be able to specify measurement start positions of the measurement points of the end face position detection on a screen of the display unit; the main control unit has a program management unit configured to manage a processing program for processing the material by the processing machine and to be able to correct the processing program; The program management unit is configured to be capable of detecting the end face position and correcting the end face of the machining program, and is configured to correct a machining origin and an angle of a tool path of the machining program according to the end face position detected by the measurement point of the end face position detection. Material management system.

3. 3. The material management system according to claim 1, further comprising a pallet capable of transporting the material between the processing machine and the storage shelf.

4. The material management system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the camera is attached inside the processing machine.

5. The material management system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the camera is configured to photograph the material after it has been processed by the processing machine.

Citation Information

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