Lathe centering device

Abstract

To provide a technique that allows anyone to easily perform centering after attachment of a tool to a lathe.SOLUTION: A centering apparatus of a lathe includes a camera, a fixture, an image processing device and a display device. The fixture fixes the camera so as to be able to image a tool attached to the lathe. The fixture is fixed to the lathe. The image processing device is configured to generate a processing image with which a deviation after attachment of the tool can be recognized by using a photographed image obtained by photographing the tool acquired from the camera. The display device is configured to display the processing image generated by the image processing device.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a centering device for a lathe. [Background technology]

[0002] Lathe machining is a type of cutting process in which a tool such as a drill is fixed to the workpiece, which is fixed to the headstock of the lathe, is rotated and the tool is applied to the workpiece to cut it into a specified shape. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2017-104959 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, the mounting of tools such as drills onto lathes and the centering, which is the process of aligning the tool used for lathe processing with the central axis of rotation of the lathe headstock, are often performed manually. As a result, there has been a problem in that the time required for centering, including correcting for misalignment of the tool mounted on the lathe, and the accuracy of the centering are prone to variation due to the ability of the operator.

[0005] An object of one aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a technique that allows anyone to easily perform centering after mounting a tool on a lathe. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] One aspect of the present disclosure is a lathe centering device comprising a camera, a fixing jig, an image processing device, and a display device. The fixing jig fixes the camera so that it can capture an image of a tool attached to the lathe. The fixing jig is fixed to the lathe. The image processing device is configured to generate a processed image that allows recognition of misalignment of the tool after attachment, using an image of the tool captured by the camera. The display device is configured to display the processed image generated by the image processing device.

[0007] With this configuration, a camera can capture an image of a tool attached to a lathe, and the captured image can be used to generate a processed image that allows for recognition of any misalignment of the tool after attachment. Therefore, the processed image can be used to easily check any misalignment of the tool when it is attached to the lathe, such as the misalignment of the central axis of a tool such as a drill, and the misalignment of the central axis of the tool from the axis of rotation of the headstock of the lathe. Therefore, anyone can easily perform centering after attaching a tool to a lathe.

[0008] One aspect of the present disclosure may further include a light fixed to the fixture. The light may be positioned to face the camera across the tool attached to the lathe. In this configuration, the tool attached to the lathe can be imaged by the camera while the light is shining on the tool. This makes it easy to image the contour of the tool in an environment that is less susceptible to disturbances such as sunlight or room light. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a centering device for a lathe. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically illustrating a centering device of a lathe. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a processed image when the tool is mounted on a lathe with its central axis tilted. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a processed image when the tool is attached to the lathe without tilting the central axis thereof. [Figure 5]FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a processed image when the central axis of the tool is mounted so as to be misaligned with the rotation axis of the headstock. [Figure 6] 10 is a flowchart of a processing image generation process executed by the centering device of the lathe. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. [1. Configuration] 1 and 2 is a device that can recognize misalignment of a tool 3 when it is attached to the lathe 2. Misalignment of the tool 3 when it is attached includes, for example, misalignment of the central axis of the tool 3 and misalignment of the central axis of the tool 3 from the rotation axis of the headstock 21 provided in the lathe 2. Note that the centering device 1 for the lathe 2 can recognize that there is no misalignment even when there is no misalignment of the tool 3 when it is attached.

[0011] <Lathe> As shown in FIG. 1, the lathe 2 includes a headstock 21 , a chuck 22 , a tailstock 23 , a carriage 24 , and a head 25 .

[0012] The headstock 21 is a part including a shaft, a motor, and a transmission for rotating a workpiece to be turned. The chuck 22 is attached to the headstock 21 and is used to support the workpiece. The chuck 22 clamps and rotates the workpiece, and the workpiece can be cut by applying a tool 3, a cutting tool, etc. to the workpiece. There are various types and sizes of chucks 22, including two-jaw, three-jaw, four-jaw, and six-jaw chucks, for example.

[0013] The tailstock 23 is located above a head 25, which will be described later. In this embodiment, a tool 3 is attached to the tailstock 23. In this embodiment, the tool 3 is, for example, a drill. The carriage 24 is located above the head 25, which will be described later. A tool rest (not shown) is attached to the carriage 24. The carriage 24 is a part that can move the tool rest, to which the tools 3 and cutting tools are attached, back and forth and left and right. The carriage 24 can be moved either manually or automatically.

[0014] The head 25 is the main body of the lathe 2 and supports the tailstock 23 and carriage 24 .

[0015] <Lathe centering device> The centering device 1 for the lathe 2 includes a camera 11, a fixing jig 12, an image processing device 13, a display device 14, and a light 15.

[0016] The camera 11 is an imaging device capable of capturing an image of the tool 3. The camera 11 outputs the captured image of the tool 3 to the image processing device 13. The lighting 15 is a light-emitting device that can emit light when capturing an image. For example, an organic EL, an LED, or the like is used for the lighting 15. In this embodiment, the camera 11 captures an image of the tool 3 while the lighting 15 is emitting light.

[0017] The fixing jig 12 is a jig that fixes the camera 11 and the light 15 so as to be able to capture an image of the tool 3 attached to the lathe 2. The fixing jig 12 has a main body portion 121 and a fixing portion 122. The main body 121 is a rod-shaped portion that is held by the chuck 22 of the lathe 2. The first end 121a side of the main body 121 is held by the chuck 22 of the lathe 2, whereby the fixing jig 12 is fixed to the headstock 21 of the lathe 2.

[0018] The fixing portion 122 is a U-shaped portion that connects to a second end 121b on the opposite side of the first end 121a of the main body 121. The camera 11 and the light 15 are fixed to the fixing portion 122. Specifically, the camera 11 is fixed to a first plate portion 122a of the fixing portion 122, and the light 15 is fixed to a second plate portion 122b that is arranged parallel to and spaced apart from the first plate portion 122a of the fixing portion 122. As described above, by fixing the camera 11 and the light 15 by the fixing portion 122, the light 15 is arranged to face the camera 11 with the tool 3 sandwiched between them. The fixing jig 12 is fixed to the headstock 21 of the lathe 2, and is therefore rotatable 360° with the tool 3 sandwiched between the camera 11 and the light 15.

[0019] The image processing device 13 processes the captured image output from the camera 11. The image processing device 13 is mainly composed of a well-known microcomputer having a CPU, ROM, RAM, flash memory, etc. (not shown). The CPU executes a program stored in the ROM, which is a non-transitory tangible recording medium. Execution of the program results in the execution of a method corresponding to the program.

[0020] Specifically, the image processing device 13 executes a processed image generation process in accordance with the program, using a captured image of the tool 3 to generate a processed image in which misalignment of the tool 3 after installation can be recognized. For example, the processed image generated is one as shown in Figs. 3 to 5, in which the center line of the headstock 21, which is the reference for the rotation axis of the headstock 21 of the lathe 2, can be compared with the center line of the tool 3 derived from the contour of the tool 3 in the captured image. The image processing device 13 outputs the processed image generated using the captured image to the display device 14.

[0021] The display device 14 is a display for displaying an image, and displays the processed image output from the image processing device 13.

[0022] [2. Processing] Next, the processed image generation process executed by the image processing device 13 will be described with reference to the flowchart in Fig. 6. This processed image generation process is executed by the image processing device 13 acquiring the captured image output from the camera 11.

[0023] First, in S101, the image processing device 13 acquires a captured image of the tool 3 from the camera 11. Subsequently, in S102, the image processing device 13 generates a binary image from the captured image. Specifically, for example, a threshold is set for each pixel of the captured image to binarize the saturation, thereby generating the binary image.

[0024] Next, in S103, the image processing device 13 detects edges from the binarized image. Next, in S104, based on the edge detection result, the image processing device 13 detects a detected center line B, which is the center line of the tool 3. Specifically, the detected center line B is derived from the contour of the tool 3 shown in Fig. 3 detected by edge detection, for example, from the outer diameter line A of the drill.

[0025] Subsequently, in S105, the image processing device 13 compares the detected center line B with a reference center line C, which is the center line of the headstock 21 stored in advance. Next, in S106, the image processing device 13 displays the comparison results on the display device 14. In this embodiment, the processed images shown in Figs. 3 to 5 are displayed as the comparison results, which are generated by combining the captured image with the outer diameter line A, the detected center line B, the reference center line C, and a comparison table D that digitizes the results of comparing the detected center line B with the reference center line C. Thereafter, the image processing device 13 ends the processed image generation process of Fig. 6.

[0026] [3. Centering method] Next, we will explain the centering method that is performed after attaching the tool 3 to the lathe 2, which is a method for checking the deviation of the inclination of the center axis of the tool 3 and a method for checking the deviation of the center axis of the tool 3 from the rotation axis of the headstock 21.

[0027] <How to check for deviation in the tool's central axis tilt> First, the main body 121 of the fixing jig 12 is fixed to the chuck 22 of the lathe 2, the camera 11 is fixed to the first plate portion 122a of the fixing portion 122 of the fixing jig 12, and the light 15 is fixed to the second plate portion 122b of the fixing portion 122 of the fixing jig 12. Note that the main body 121 of the fixing jig 12, with the camera 11 and the light 15 already fixed to the fixing portion 122, may be fixed to the chuck 22 of the lathe 2.

[0028] Next, the tool 3 is attached to the tailstock 23 of the lathe 2 . Next, with the lighting 15 emitting light, the camera 11 captures an image of the tool 3 attached to the lathe 2 from the side.

[0029] Next, the deviation of the inclination of the central axis of the tool 3 is confirmed based on the processed image displayed on the display device 14 by executing the above-described processed image generating process. When the detected center line B of the tool 3 is misaligned with respect to the reference center line C of the headstock 21 on either the S side, which is the tip side of the tool 3, or the E side, which is the base side of the tool 3, as shown in FIG. 3, it is possible to recognize that the central axis of the tool 3 is fixed to the lathe 2 with an inclination. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the central axis of the tool 3 is fixed to the lathe 2 with an inclination, such that the center misalignment on the S side is 0 mm and the center misalignment on the E side is 1.14 mm. Note that when the central axis of the tool 3 is fixed to the lathe without an inclination, as shown in FIG. 4, the center misalignment on both the S side and the E side of the detected center line B of the tool 3 with respect to the reference center line C of the headstock 21 is 0 mm, and the reference center line C and the detected center line B overlap.

[0030] <How to check the deviation of the tool's center axis from the rotation axis of the headstock> First, in the same manner as in the method described above, the main body 121 of the fixing jig 12 is fixed to the chuck 22 of the lathe 2, the camera 11 is fixed to the first plate portion 122a of the fixing portion 122 of the fixing jig 12, and the light 15 is fixed to the second plate portion 122b of the fixing portion 122 of the fixing jig 12. Then, the tool 3 is attached to the tailstock 23 of the lathe 2.

[0031] Next, the camera 11 attached to the fixture 12 is rotated 360° together with the light 15 around the tool 3 attached to the lathe 2, and images of the side of the tool 3 are taken from all directions of 360°.

[0032] Next, the deviation of the center axis of the tool 3 from the rotation axis of the headstock 21 is confirmed based on the processed image displayed on the display device 14 by executing the above-described processed image generating process.

[0033] In any of the images captured from 360° directions, as shown in FIG. 5, if the center misalignment on both the S-side and E-side of the detection center line B of the tool 3 with respect to the reference center line C of the headstock 21 is the same, it is possible to recognize that the central axis of the tool 3 is fixed to the lathe 2 with a misalignment with the rotation axis of the headstock 21. In other words, it is possible to recognize the misalignment in the 360° direction, including the left-right and up-down directions, of the central axis of the tool 3 attached to the lathe 2. Note that the misalignment in the 360° direction indicates the direction and degree of misalignment with respect to the central axis. Note that when the central axis of the tool 3 is fixed to the lathe 2 without a misalignment with the rotation axis of the headstock 21, the reference center line C and the detection center line B overlap, as shown in FIG. 4.

[0034] [4. Effects] According to the embodiment described above in detail, the following effects can be obtained. (4a) In this embodiment, the tool 3 attached to the tailstock 23 of the lathe 2 can be imaged by the camera 11. Then, a processed image is generated that includes a comparison result that allows a comparison between the detected center line B of the tool 3 in the captured image of the tool 3 attached to the tailstock 23 of the lathe 2 and the reference center line C of the headstock 21. Therefore, using the processed image, it is easy to check the deviation in the inclination of the central axis of the tool 3 and the deviation of the central axis of the tool 3 from the rotation axis of the headstock 21. Therefore, anyone can easily perform centering after attaching the tool 3 to the lathe 2.

[0035] (4b) In this embodiment, the tool 3 attached to the tailstock 23 of the lathe 2 can be imaged by the camera 11 while the lighting 15 illuminates the tool 3. This makes it easy to image the contour of the tool 3 in an environment that is less susceptible to disturbances such as sunlight or room light. Furthermore, even when the centering device 1 of the lathe 2 is used for tools 3 of different sizes, it is easier to adjust the focus of the tool 3 in the captured image without having to adjust the position of the camera 11 relative to the fixture 12, compared to a configuration in which the tool 3 is imaged only by the camera 11.

[0036] 5. Other Embodiments Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, it goes without saying that the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments and can take on various forms.

[0037] (5a) In the above embodiment, a configuration is exemplified in which the misalignment of the tool 3 after installation is recognized by comparing the reference center line C of the headstock 21 with the detected center line B of the tool 3, but the method for recognizing the misalignment of the tool 3 after installation is not limited to this.

[0038] (5b) In the above embodiment, the method of capturing an image of the side of the tool 3 from a 360° angle to check for deviation of the central axis of the tool 3 from the rotation axis of the headstock 21 is exemplified, but the image capturing angle of the tool 3 is not limited to this. For example, the image may be captured from a direction of 90° or less or 180° or less in either the up / down or left / right direction.

[0039] (5c) In the above embodiment, the configuration in which the lighting 15 is used when the tool 3 is imaged by the camera 11 in the centering device 1 of the lathe 2 is exemplified, but the imaging method is not limited to this. For example, the lighting 15 does not have to be used when the tool 3 is imaged by the camera 11. Also, for example, the centering device 1 of the lathe 2 may be configured not to include the lighting 15.

[0040] (5d) In the above embodiment, the configuration in which the tool 3 is mounted on the tailstock 23 is exemplified, but the location where the tool is mounted is not limited to this. For example, the tool may be mounted on a tool rest such as a turret or a gang. Even with a tool mounted on a tool rest mounted on the carriage 24 in this way, it is possible to perform centering using the processed image as described above.

[0041] (5e) In the above embodiment, the centering device 1 is exemplified as being capable of recognizing misalignment of the tool 3 when it is attached to the lathe 2. However, the centering device 1 may also be capable of recognizing misalignment of the tool 3 when it is attached to, for example, a boring machine. Even for a tool 3 attached to a boring machine, the above-described centering device 1 can be used to recognize misalignment of the tool 3 when it is attached in a manner similar to the above-described centering method.

[0042] (5f) The image processing device 13 of the centering device 1 of the lathe 2 and the method thereof described herein may be realized by a special-purpose computer provided by configuring a processor and memory programmed to execute one or more functions embodied in a computer program. Alternatively, the image processing device 13 of the centering device 1 of the lathe 2 and the method thereof described herein may be realized by a special-purpose computer provided by configuring a processor with one or more dedicated hardware logic circuits. Alternatively, the image processing device 13 of the centering device 1 of the lathe 2 and the method thereof described herein may be realized by one or more special-purpose computers configured by combining a processor and memory programmed to execute one or more functions with a processor configured with one or more hardware logic circuits. Furthermore, the computer program may be stored in a computer-readable non-transitory tangible recording medium as instructions executed by a computer.

[0043] (5g) The function of one component in the above embodiments may be distributed among multiple components, or the functions of multiple components may be integrated into one component. Also, part of the configuration of the above embodiments may be omitted. Furthermore, at least part of the configuration of the above embodiments may be added to or substituted for the configuration of another of the above embodiments. All aspects included in the technical idea identified by the wording of the claims are embodiments of the present disclosure. [Explanation of symbols]

[0044] 1...centering device, 2...lathe, 3...tool, 11...camera, 12...fixed jig, 13...image processing device, 14...display device, 15...lighting, 21...headstock, 22...chuck, 23...tailstock, 24...carriage, 25...head, 121...main body, 121a...first end, 121b...second end, 122...fixed part, 122a...first plate part, 122b...second plate part, A...outer diameter line, B...detection center line, C...reference center line, D...comparison table.

Claims

1. A centering device for a lathe, A camera and a fixing jig that fixes the camera so as to be able to capture an image of a tool attached to the lathe, the fixing jig being fixed to the lathe; an image processing device configured to generate a processed image that can recognize misalignment of the tool after installation using a captured image of the tool acquired from the camera; and a display device configured to display the processed image generated by the image processing device; Equipped with The processed image shows a detected center line indicating the center line of the tool, a reference center line indicating the reference of the rotation axis of the lathe, and a numerical value indicating a result of comparing the detected center line with the reference center line. Lathe centering device.

2. 2. The lathe centering device according to claim 1, Further, a light fixture is provided which is fixed to the fixture. A lathe centering device, wherein the lighting is positioned opposite the camera across the tool.

Images