Cutting device control method

Abstract

To provide a method of controlling a cutting device that can prevent decrease in an operating rate of anode straightening equipment.SOLUTION: There is provided a method of controlling a cutting device, wherein a thickness of an ear portion r of an anode A is measured by comparing a measured value of the thickness of the ear portion r of the anode A with a predetermined tolerance value for the thickness of the ear portion r of the anode A, and if the value is equal to or below the allowable value, a feed speed of the cutting device 10 is set as a reference speed; if the measured value of the thickness of the ear portion r of the anode A exceeds the allowable value, the feed speed of the cutting device 10 is set lower than the reference speed. The method includes: a normal operation mode S1 in which the feed rate of the cutting device is switched between a reference speed and a low speed on the basis of the measured value of the thickness of the ear portion r of the anode A; and a forced low-speed operation mode S2 in which the feed speed of the cutting device 10 is forcibly executed at a low speed. In the forced low-speed operation mode S2, when a load applied to the cutting device 10 exceeds a predetermined value, the feed speed of the cutting device 10 is switched to a very low speed lower than the low speed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for controlling a cutting device, and more particularly to a method for controlling a cutting device that cuts the edge surface of an anode used in electrolytic refining. [Background technology]

[0002] When producing electrolytic copper from copper concentrate, the electrolytic copper is produced by the following steps. First, copper concentrate is melted in a flash furnace to produce matte, and this matte is then oxidized in a converter to produce blister copper. This blister copper is refined in a refining furnace and cast to form anodes, which are then electrolytically refined to produce electrolytic copper.

[0003] In electrolytic refining, anodes and cathodes are arranged alternately and immersed in a copper sulfate solution in a copper electrolytic cell, and the anodes and cathodes are suspended from electrodes (bus bars) that supply electricity to the anodes and cathodes.

[0004] However, as-cast anodes have distortions and bends, and therefore cannot be suspended in an electrolytic cell as is. Therefore, the anodes are shaped in an anode pressing process (anode shaping machine) of anode correction equipment. In this anode pressing process, the anode's verticality is corrected, and a cutting device is used to level the lower surfaces of the anode's lugs that come into contact with the busbar and remove any casting burrs from the lugs. Specifically, the lower surfaces of the anode's lugs are cut and leveled using a milling cutter or the like of the cutting device (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The cutting device is equipped with a milling cutter or the like that cuts a surface that intersects with the lower surfaces of the anode's lugs (a surface located on the front or back side of the anode, sometimes referred to as the lug plane). This milling cutter or the like cuts the lower surfaces of the anode's lugs and simultaneously cuts the lug plane of the anode to remove any casting burrs.

[0005] During the anode pressing process, the thickness of the anode's lug is also measured, and the measured thickness may deviate from a preset thickness (hereinafter referred to as the normal thickness). For example, the thickness of the anode's lug may be thicker than the normal thickness. A milling cutter or other tool used to cut the anode's lug surface is adjusted to a predetermined depth (i.e., an amount sufficient to properly remove burrs) based on the assumption that the anode's lug is of normal thickness. Therefore, if the anode's lug thickness becomes thicker than the normal thickness, the contact condition of the milling cutter or other tool used to cut the anode's lug surface may change, potentially increasing the cutting resistance when cutting the anode's lug surface. If the cutting resistance increases, an overload error may occur in the servo amplifier that supplies power to the motor of the milling cutter or other tool. This can lead to a rough cut surface.

[0006] Therefore, when the thickness of the anode lug deviates from the normal thickness, the feed speed of the cutting device is slowed down to reduce cutting resistance in order to prevent an overload abnormality in the servo amplifier. Specifically, when a notification is received that the thickness of the anode lug deviates from the normal thickness, an operator operates a control panel or the like to switch the feed speed of the cutting device from the normal feed speed to a low speed.

[0007] On the other hand, in order to improve the operating rate of anode straightening equipment, it is desirable to speed up the cutting of the lower surface and flat surface of the anode lug by the cutting device. In other words, it is desirable to perform cutting by setting the feed speed of the cutting device as fast as possible. However, when cutting the flat surface of the anode lug at a high feed speed, an overload error occurs easily in the servo amplifier even if the thickness of the anode lug is within the normal thickness range. For this reason, in actual operation, in order to prevent an overload error in the servo amplifier, the feed speed is forcibly slowed down and cutting is performed (forced low-speed operation) without performing the feed speed switching control described above. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] Jippan No. 60-134510 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0009] However, even when forced slow-speed operation is performed, an overload error may occur in the servo amplifier depending on the thickness of the anode lug. If an overload error occurs in the servo amplifier during forced slow-speed operation, the cutting device will stop and the anode straightening equipment will immediately stop. If the anode straightening equipment immediately stops, adjustment work such as manually operating each device of the anode straightening equipment individually to move it to its origin will be required to resume automatic operation, resulting in increased labor burden for workers and repair costs. Furthermore, if automatic operation stops frequently, the availability rate of the anode straightening equipment will decrease, causing delays in operation.

[0010] In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a cutting device control method that can prevent a decrease in the availability rate of anode straightening equipment. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] The control method for a cutting device of the first invention is a method for cutting an anode ear portion, which compares the measured thickness of the anode ear portion with a predetermined allowable value for the thickness of the anode ear portion, and controls the feed speed of the cutting device to a reference speed if the measured thickness of the anode ear portion is equal to or less than the allowable value, and controls the feed speed of the cutting device to be slower than the reference speed if the measured thickness of the anode ear portion exceeds the allowable value.The method has a normal operation mode in which the feed speed of the cutting device is switched between the reference speed and a low speed based on the measured thickness of the anode ear portion, and a forced low-speed operation mode in which the feed speed of the cutting device is forced to be low, and in the forced low-speed operation mode, the load applied to the cutting device exceeds a predetermined value. If exceedingThe cutting device is characterized by switching the feed speed of the cutting device to a slow speed, which is slower than the low speed. The control method for a cutting device of the second invention is characterized in that, in the first invention, when the measured value of the thickness of the ear portion of the anode exceeds a limit value greater than the allowable value in forced low-speed operation mode, the feed speed of the cutting device is switched from low speed to very slow speed. A third aspect of the present invention is a method for controlling a cutting device according to the first or second aspect of the present invention, characterized in that the normal operation mode and the forced low-speed operation mode are switched by an external input from an external input means operated by an operator. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to the first aspect of the present invention, the operating state of the cutting device can be maintained in an appropriate state according to the operating state, so that the cutting device can be effectively prevented from stopping due to overload, and therefore, a decrease in the availability rate of the anode straightening equipment due to the stopping of the cutting device can be prevented. According to the second aspect of the present invention, the cutting speed is switched between slow and slow speeds based on the measured thickness of the ear portion of the anode, so that the cutting device can be effectively prevented from stopping due to overload. According to the third aspect of the present invention, an operator can switch between the normal operation mode and the forced low-speed operation mode by operating the external input means, which makes it easier to prevent overloading of the cutting device. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a schematic control flow diagram of a control method for the cutting device of the present embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram of cutting equipment 1. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a view seen from the X direction in FIG. 2. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] The method for controlling a cutting device of this embodiment is a method for controlling a cutting device that cuts the ear portion of an anode used in copper electrolytic smelting, and is characterized by being able to maintain the operating state of the cutting device appropriately.

[0015] <About the anode press process> First, before describing the cutting device control method of this embodiment, an example of cutting equipment 1 that performs an anode press process employing a cutting device 10 controlled by the cutting device control method of this embodiment will be described.

[0016] 2 and 3, the symbol C indicates a chain conveyor that conveys the anode A. This chain conveyor C is equipped with a pair of chains Ca, Ca, and the anode A is conveyed with a pair of lugs r, r hooked on the pair of chains Ca, Ca.

[0017] A cutting facility 1 is provided on the movement path of the chain conveyor C. This cutting equipment 1 includes a clamping device 2 that clamps the anode A, a lifting device 3 that moves the anode A between the position of the clamping device 2 and a pair of chains Ca, Ca, a pair of cutting devices 10, 10 that cut the pair of ears r, r of the anode A held by the clamping device 2, and a pair of moving mechanisms 5, 5 that move the pair of cutting devices 10, 10 toward and away from the anode A, respectively.

[0018] The clamp device 2 has holding portions 2a, 2a that sandwich and hold the anode A from the front and rear. The anode A is held by moving the holding portions 2a, 2a closer to and farther from each other using a cylinder mechanism or the like.

[0019] The lifting device 3 is equipped with holding bars 3a, 3a that hook and hold a pair of ears r, r of the anode A. By raising and lowering these holding bars 3a, 3a using a cylinder mechanism or the like, the anode A can be moved between the position of the clamping device 2 and the pair of chains Ca, Ca.

[0020] The pair of cutting devices 10, 10 cut the lug portions r of the anode A held by the clamping device 2, and are provided on both sides of the clamping device 2 (see FIG. 2). Specifically, the pair of cutting devices 10, 10 include a milling cutter 12 that cuts the underside of the pair of lug portions r, r of the anode A, and a milling cutter (not shown) that cuts the lug plane of the anode A, so that the underside of the pair of lug portions r, r and the lug plane ra of the anode A can be cut simultaneously. The lug plane ra of the anode A here refers to the plane that intersects with the underside of the lug portion r of the anode A (the plane to the side of which the front or back surface of the anode is located; the plane on the left or right of the lug portion r of the anode A in FIG. 3).

[0021] The pair of cutting devices 10 can be simultaneously moved toward and away from the anode A by a pair of moving mechanisms 5, 5 equipped with moving tables 5a on which each cutting device 10 is placed. The moving tables 5a of each moving mechanism 5 are movably mounted on rails or the like, and can be moved by a cylinder or the like provided between the moving tables 5a and the frame of the equipment or the like.

[0022] With the above-described configuration, the anode A operates as follows to cut the lower surfaces of the pair of ears r, r and the ear plane ra.

[0023] First, the anode A is suspended from a pair of chains Ca, Ca of the chain conveyor C with a certain gap (L2 in Figure 3) between them, and is transported to the cutting equipment 1 by moving the pair of chains Ca, Ca.

[0024] When the anode A reaches a predetermined position, the pair of chains Ca, Ca stops moving. Then, the holding bars 3a, 3a of the lifting device 3 rise, and the anode A is lifted above the chain conveyor C with its pair of lugs r, r hooked on the holding bars 3a, 3a.

[0025] When the anode A eventually rises to the position of the clamp device 2, the anode A is sandwiched and held from the front and back by the holding portions 2a, 2a. When the anode A is held by the holding portions 2a, 2a of the clamp device 2, the holding bars 3a, 3a of the lifting device 3 descend.

[0026] When the holding bars 3a, 3a of the lifting device 3 are lowered, the pair of moving mechanisms 5, 5 moves the pair of cutting devices 10, 10 toward the anode A, and the pair of cutting devices 10, 10 cuts the underside and the edge planes ra of the pair of ears r, r of the anode A, respectively. Note that the movement speed of the pair of cutting devices 10, 10 by the pair of moving mechanisms 5, 5, i.e., the speed at which the pair of cutting devices 10, 10 approach the pair of ears r, r of the anode A, is the feed speed of the pair of cutting devices 10, 10. Hereinafter, the movement speed of the pair of cutting devices 10, 10 by the pair of moving mechanisms 5, 5 will be simply referred to as the feed speed of the pair of cutting devices 10, 10.

[0027] When cutting of the lower surface and the lug plane ra of the pair of lugs r, r of the anode A is completed, the pair of moving mechanisms 5, 5 moves the pair of cutting devices 10, 10 away from the anode A. Then, the holding bars 3a, 3a of the lifting device 3 rise to a position where they can hook the pair of lugs r, r of the anode A, and the clamping by the clamping device 2 is released.

[0028] When the clamping device 2 is released, the holding bars 3a, 3a of the lifting device 3 descend, and eventually the pair of ears r, r of the anode A become caught on the pair of chains Ca, Ca of the chain conveyor C.

[0029] When the holding bars 3a, 3a of the lifting device 3 are further lowered and the anode A is suspended from the pair of chains Ca, Ca of the chain conveyor C, the pair of chains Ca, Ca of the chain conveyor C move and the anode A is transported out of the cutting equipment 1.

[0030] <Method for controlling the cutting device according to this embodiment> Before being carried into the above-described cutting equipment 1, the anode A is shaped by an anode shaping machine, during which the thickness of the pair of ears r, r of the anode A (the length in the left-right direction in FIG. 3) is measured. In the cutting equipment 1 employing the cutting device control method of this embodiment, the feed speed of the pair of cutting devices 10, 10 is adjusted based on the measured value of the thickness of the pair of ears r, r of the anode A (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as the measured value). In other words, information about the measured value is supplied to a control unit that controls the operation of the pair of moving mechanisms 5, 5, and the control unit has the function of controlling the operation of the pair of moving mechanisms 5, 5, i.e., the feed speed of the pair of cutting devices 10, 10, based on this information about the measured value.

[0031] In the anode pressing process, the thicknesses of the pair of ears r, r of the anode A are measured separately, so it is desirable to control the feed rate differently for each cutting device 10 that cuts each ear r. In other words, even for the same anode A, it is desirable to adjust the feed rate of each cutting device 10 depending on the thickness of each ear r. However, because the thicknesses of the pair of ears r, r are often roughly the same and the difference between them is small, the feed rate of the pair of cutting devices 10, 10 may be controlled using the average value of the measured thicknesses of the pair of ears r, r or one of the measured thicknesses of the pair of ears r, r as a representative value. In this case, the feed rate of the pair of cutting devices 10, 10 will be the same.

[0032] In the following explanation, it is assumed that the control unit controls the operation of the pair of moving mechanisms 5, 5 so that the feed speeds of the pair of cutting devices 10, 10 are the same, and the "feed speed of the pair of cutting devices 10, 10" will simply be referred to as the "feed speed of the cutting device 10."

[0033] 1, the control unit has a normal operation mode S1 and a forced low-speed operation mode S2 as operation modes of the moving mechanism 5. Note that switching between the normal operation mode S1 and the forced low-speed operation mode S2 can be performed by an operator operating a touch panel provided on the cutting equipment 1 to send a switching signal to the control unit. Note that switching between the normal operation mode S1 and the forced low-speed operation mode S2 may be performed by the control unit based on the load factor of the cutting device 10.

[0034] First, normal operation mode S1 is a mode in which, when the measured value is below a predetermined value (allowable value), the operation of the moving mechanism 5 is controlled so that the feed speed of the cutting device 10 becomes a reference speed, and when the measured value exceeds the allowable value, the operation of the moving mechanism 5 is controlled so that the feed speed of the cutting device 10 becomes slower than the reference speed.

[0035] On the other hand, the forced low-speed operation mode S2 is a mode in which the operation of the movement mechanism 5 is controlled so as to maintain the feed speed of the cutting device 10 at a low speed. In this forced low-speed operation mode S2, the feed speed of the cutting device 10 is maintained at a low speed even if the measured value is below the allowable value.

[0036] The control unit also has a function to control the operation of the movement mechanism 5 so that the feed speed of the cutting device 10 becomes a very slow speed, which is slower than the low speed, when the measured value exceeds a limit value that is larger than the allowable value while the movement mechanism 5 is operating in the forced low-speed operation mode S2. In other words, even while the movement mechanism 5 is operating in the forced low-speed operation mode S2, the control unit also has a function to switch the feed speed of the cutting device 10 between a low speed state and a very slow speed state based on the measured value.

[0037] <Operation of the Cutting Device According to the Control Method of the Present Embodiment> Since the control unit that controls the operation of the moving mechanism 5 has the above-mentioned functions, the feed rate of the cutting device 10 is controlled as follows. The control of the feed rate will be explained below based on the flow in FIG.

[0038] First, when operation starts, the operation of the moving mechanism 5 is normally controlled in normal operation mode S1. That is, if the measured value of the thickness of the ear portion r of the anode A measured in the anode pressing process is equal to or less than the allowable value, the ear portion r of the anode A is cut using the feed speed as the reference speed, and if the measured value exceeds the allowable value, the feed speed is switched from the reference speed to a low speed and the ear portion r of the anode A is cut. Note that in normal operation mode S1, after the ear portion r of the anode A is cut using the low feed speed, if the measured value becomes equal to or less than the allowable value, the feed speed is returned to the reference speed and the ear portion r of the anode A is cut.

[0039] On the other hand, if the operator determines that the feed speed should be slowed down based on the operating status of the cutting equipment 1 and the shape of the anode A to be processed, the operator operates the touch panel on the work table to switch the operation mode of the moving mechanism 5 from normal operation mode S1 to forced low-speed operation mode S2. Then, the operation of the moving mechanism 5 is controlled by forced low-speed operation mode S2. In other words, regardless of the measured thickness of the edge portion r of the anode A measured in the anode pressing process, the edge portion r of the anode A is cut at a slow feed speed. The operation mode may be switched to operate in the forced low-speed operation mode S2 from the start of operation.

[0040] Here, when the operation of the moving mechanism 5 is controlled by the forced low-speed operation mode S2, if the measured value exceeds a limit value that is greater than the allowable value, the cutting device 10 may automatically stop even if the ear r of the anode A is cut at a low feed speed. Therefore, when the measured value exceeds the limit value, the feed speed of the moving mechanism 5 is controlled to switch from low speed to slow speed. This prevents the cutting device 10 from automatically stopping even if the ear r of the anode A whose measured value exceeds the limit value is cut. After cutting the ear r of the anode A at a slow feed speed, if the measured value falls below the limit value, the feed speed is returned to slow speed and the ear r of the anode A is cut.

[0041] Furthermore, when the operation of the moving mechanism 5 is controlled by the forced low-speed operation mode S2, if the worker determines that there will be no problem if the moving mechanism 5 is operated in the normal operation mode S1, the worker can switch the operation mode of the moving mechanism 5 from the forced low-speed operation mode S2 to the normal operation mode S1 by operating the touch panel on the work panel.

[0042] As described above, if the control unit has the normal operation mode S1 and the forced low-speed operation mode S2 as the operating modes of the moving mechanism 5 and has the function of switching between these, the operating state of the cutting device can be maintained in an appropriate state according to the operating conditions.

[0043] Furthermore, when the moving mechanism 5 is operating in the forced low-speed operation mode S2, even if the measured thickness of the ear portion r of the anode A exceeds the limit value, the cutting device can be effectively prevented from stopping due to overload.

[0044] Furthermore, because an operator can switch between normal operation mode S1 and forced low-speed operation mode S2 simply by inputting information from the touch panel on the control panel, it becomes easier to prevent overload on the cutting device 10. Moreover, because the mode can be changed without using a maintenance computer or the like, an on-site operator can easily change the mode without requiring the work of an engineer with special skills, improving the operability of the cutting device 10.

[0045] <About external input methods> In the above example, a touch panel provided on the control panel is used as a means for the operator to switch between the normal operation mode S1 and the forced low-speed operation mode S2. However, the external input means for switching modes is not particularly limited, and various known input means can be used.

[0046] <About the phenomenon that determines the mode change> Furthermore, the phenomenon that serves as the criterion for switching the feed speed of the cutting device 10 between slow and slow in the forced low-speed operation mode S2 is not limited to the measured thickness of the pair of ears r, r of the anode A. Any phenomenon in which the load on the cutting device 10 exceeds a predetermined value, that is, a phenomenon that causes the cutting device 10 to automatically stop, may be used. For example, the feed speed of the cutting device 10 in the forced low-speed operation mode S2 may be switched between slow and slow based on the load current of the cutting device 10, etc. When a phenomenon such as an overload of the cutting device 10 occurs, the cutting device 10 cuts the ears r of the anode A at a slow feed speed, even if the measured thickness of the pair of ears r, r of the anode A does not exceed the above-mentioned limit value or allowable value. [Example]

[0047] It has been confirmed that the operational efficiency can be improved when the cutting device is controlled by the cutting device control method of the present invention and the anode press process is carried out.

[0048] When comparing the situation where the cutting device was controlled using the conventional control method to carry out the anode press process and the situation where automatic operation was stopped, when the cutting device control method of the present invention was adopted, the monthly automatic operation stop time was able to be reduced to approximately 14% or less on average over a three-month period.

[0049] From the above results, it was confirmed that the operational efficiency of the anode press process can be significantly improved by controlling the cutting device using the cutting device control method of the present invention. [Industrial Applicability]

[0050] The method for controlling a cutting device of the present invention is suitable as a method for controlling a device for cutting the ears of an anode used in copper electrolytic smelting. [Explanation of symbols]

[0051] 1 Cutting equipment 2. Clamping device 3 Lifting device 5 Moving mechanism 10 Cutting equipment 12 Milling cutter A Anode r ears ra ear plane S1 Normal operation mode S2 Forced low speed operation mode

Claims

1. A method for controlling a cutting device for cutting an anode ear, comprising: comparing a measured thickness of an anode ear with a predetermined allowable thickness of the anode ear; setting the feed speed of the cutting device to a reference speed when the measured thickness of the anode ear is equal to or less than the allowable value; and setting the feed speed of the cutting device to a speed slower than the reference speed when the measured thickness of the anode ear exceeds the allowable value; a normal operation mode in which the feed rate of the cutting device is switched between a standard rate and a slow rate based on the measured thickness of the anode ear; a forced low-speed operation mode in which the feed rate of the cutting device is forced to be low; In the forced low speed operation mode, if the load applied to the cutting device exceeds a predetermined value, the feed speed of the cutting device is switched to a slow speed slower than the low speed. A method for controlling a cutting device.

2. In forced low speed operation mode, If the measured thickness of the anode ear exceeds a limit value that is greater than the allowable value, the feed rate of the cutting device is switched from slow to slow.

2. The method for controlling a cutting device according to claim 1.

3. Switching between normal operation mode and forced low-speed operation mode is performed by an external input from an external input means operated by an operator.

3. The method for controlling a cutting device according to claim 1 or 2.

Images