Machine tool

Abstract

A machine tool according to one embodiment of the present disclosure comprises: a machining mechanism that has a plurality of drive shafts and performs machining; an intrusion detection device that detects the intrusion of a worker into an operation region of the machining mechanism; and a control device that can be connected with an operation panel and controls the machining mechanism. The control device includes: an automatic operation control unit that automatically operates the machining mechanism; an operation panel detection unit that detects the connection of the operation panel; an intrusion information acquisition unit that acquires intrusion information indicating the whether or not there has been an intrusion by a worker from the intrusion detection device; and an automatic operation permission unit that enables the machining mechanism to be automatically operated when the operation panel is not connected and the intrusion of a worker has not been detected.

Description

machine tool

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

[0002] A detachable control panel may be provided in a control device for a machine tool. When an emergency stop switch is provided on the control panel, it has been proposed to provide a circuit that disables the emergency stop switch so that the separation of the control panel is not mistaken for the operation of the emergency stop switch, resulting in an operation stop (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2018-122397

[0004] Even if a circuit for disabling the emergency stop switch is provided, the circuit for disabling the emergency stop switch must be manually operated, and if this operation is performed incorrectly, the machine tool will come to an emergency stop when the control panel is removed. For this reason, a machine tool that allows the control panel to be removed reliably is desired.

[0005] A machine tool according to one aspect of the present disclosure comprises a machining mechanism having multiple drive axes and performing machining, an intrusion detection device that detects intrusion of an operator into the operating area of ​​the machining mechanism, and a control device to which an operation panel can be connected and that controls the machining mechanism, wherein the control device has an automatic operation control unit that automatically operates the machining mechanism, an operation panel detection unit that detects connection of the operation panel, an intrusion information acquisition unit that acquires intrusion information indicating whether or not the operator has intruded from the intrusion detection device, and an automatic operation permission unit that enables automatic operation of the machining mechanism when the operation panel is not connected and intrusion of the operator is not detected.

[0006] 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a machine tool according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG.

[0007] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a machine tool 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The machine tool 1 includes a machining mechanism 10, an intrusion detection device 20, and a control device 30.

[0008] The machining mechanism 10 has multiple drive axes and processes the workpiece by moving the workpiece and the machining head relative to each other. The type of machining may be, for example, cutting, grinding, welding, etc., and is not particularly limited. The axis configuration of the machining mechanism 10 is also not particularly limited.

[0009] The intrusion detection device 20 detects the possibility of an operator intruding into the operating area of ​​the machining mechanism 10. The intrusion detection device 20 may be a device that detects the intrusion of an operator or the like using a laser sensor or the like, or may have a safety fence, safety cover, or the like surrounding the machining mechanism 10 and determine that an operator or the like has intruded when it detects that these have been opened. The safety fence or the like may also be provided with a locking device that is operated by the control device 30 to disable opening.

[0010] The control device 30 controls the operation of the machining mechanism 10. The control device 30 has a memory, a processor, an input / output interface, etc., and can be realized by one or more computer devices that execute appropriate control programs.

[0011] The control device 30 is configured to be connectable to an operation panel 40 that enables an operator to input data to the control device 30. The connection of the operation panel 40 may be made by short-range communication or the like, but a physical connection involving electrical contact is preferable. For this reason, the control device 30 may be configured to have a connector 41. The position to which the operation panel 40 is connected is preferably provided outside a safety fence or the like. The control device 30 may also be configured to be connectable via a network 51 to an external device 50, such as a management computer that manages multiple machine tools. The control device 30 may also be connectable to an operation panel 40 that can be connected to another machine tool 1 or a machine tool of the same type. In other words, multiple machine tools 1 may share one or multiple operation panels 40.

[0012] The control device 30 has an operation panel detection unit 31, an operation permission unit 32, a network operation unit 33, an operation setting unit 34, an intrusion information acquisition unit 35, an automatic driving control unit 36, and an automatic driving permission unit 37. These components categorize the functions of the control device 30, and do not necessarily have to be clearly distinguishable in terms of their physical configuration and program configuration.

[0013] The operation panel detection unit 31 detects the connection of the operation panel 40. The operation panel detection unit 31 is preferably configured to identify the individual connected operation panel 40. For this reason, a serial number, an ID, etc. may be readably recorded on the operation panel 40.

[0014] The operation permission unit 32 permits operation using the operation panel 40 only when a pre-registered operation panel 40 is connected. The operation permission unit 32 may be configured to be able to set operable functions for each individual operation panel 40. In other words, the operation panel 40 may be given the function of a certificate indicating the range of operation authority of the worker. For example, by providing an operation panel 40 shared by a group of facility managers and another operation panel 40 shared by a group of on-site operators, the operable range of the worker can be easily managed. Furthermore, the operation permission unit 32 may be configured to unlock a safety fence or the like when a pre-registered operation panel 40 is connected. This makes it easy to manage the entry of workers into the operating area of ​​the machining mechanism 10.

[0015] The network operation unit 33 accepts operations from the external device 50 via the network 51. It is preferable that the network operation unit 33 is configured to accept operations from the external device 50 via the network 51 when the operation panel 40 is not connected. This makes it possible to avoid conflict between local operations by the operation panel 40 and remote operations by the external device 50.

[0016] The operation setting unit 34 sets the operation of the machining mechanism 10 according to input from the operation panel 40 or the external device 50. The operation of the machining mechanism 10 can be recorded as a machining program written in a language such as G-code. When setting the operation of the machining mechanism 10 using the operation panel 40, it is preferable that the operator actually operate the machining mechanism 10 so that the operator can check the operation and correct the input values.

[0017] The intrusion information acquisition unit 35 acquires intrusion information indicating whether or not a worker has intruded from the intrusion detection device.

[0018] The automatic operation control unit 36 ​​automatically operates the machining mechanism 10. That is, it controls the machining mechanism 10 to execute the operation set in the operation setting unit 34. The automatic operation control unit 36 ​​preferably has a function of waiting for permission to start automatic operation to be given by the automatic operation permission unit 37, which will be described next.

[0019] When the operation panel 40 is not connected and no intrusion of an operator is detected, the automatic operation permission unit 37 enables automatic operation of the processing mechanism 10. In other words, the automatic operation permission unit 37 permits automatic operation of the processing mechanism 10 by the automatic operation control unit 36 ​​only when two conditions are met: the operation panel 40 is detached, and the intrusion information does not indicate the intrusion of an operator or the like.

[0020] The operation panel 40 may have any input device for inputting information to the control device 30, but preferably also has a display device to form a user interface that enables appropriate input of necessary information. The operation panel 40 also preferably has an emergency stop button that immediately stops the machining mechanism 10 if the machining mechanism 10 performs an unintended operation during an input operation. The emergency stop button on the operation panel 40 is preferably a normally closed switch that forms a physical circuit integrated with the control device 30. The operation panel 40 may also be realized by installing dedicated application software on a general-purpose portable electronic device.

[0021] In the machine tool 1 having the above configuration, the connection of the control panel 40 is treated as an indication that an operator is in or near the operating area of ​​the machining mechanism 10, and automatic operation of the machining mechanism 10 is prohibited, thereby preventing human error such as starting automatic operation while the operator is inside the operating area, or causing an emergency stop of the machine tool 1 by inappropriately removing the control panel 40 during automatic operation.

[0022] Furthermore, in the machine tool 1, the control panel 40 can be used as authentication to identify the attributes of the worker, thereby simplifying the confirmation of operating authority, and particularly simplifying the work of on-site workers, thereby reducing accidents caused by cutting corners on safety confirmation work, etc.

[0023] The following supplementary note is further disclosed regarding the above embodiment and modified examples. (Supplementary note 1) A machine tool (1) includes a machining mechanism (10) having multiple drive axes and performing machining, an intrusion detection device (20) that detects intrusion of an operator into an operating area of ​​the machining mechanism (10), and a control device (30) to which an operation panel (40) can be connected and that controls the machining mechanism (10), and the control device (30) includes an automatic operation control unit (36) that automatically operates the machining mechanism (10), an operation panel detection unit (31) that detects connection of the operation panel (40), an intrusion information acquisition unit (35) that acquires intrusion information indicating whether or not an operator has intruded from the intrusion detection device (20), and an automatic operation permission unit (37) that enables automatic operation of the machining mechanism (10) when the operation panel (40) is not connected and intrusion of an operator is not detected.

[0024] (Supplementary Note 2) In the machine tool (1) of Supplementary Note 1, the control panel detection unit (31) identifies the individual control panel (40) connected, and the control device (30) may further have an operation permission unit (32) that permits operation by the control panel (40) only when a pre-registered control panel (40) is connected.

[0025] (Supplementary Note 3) In the machine tool (1) of Supplementary Note 2, the operation permission unit (32) may set operable functions for each operation panel (40).

[0026] (Supplementary Note 4) In the machine tool (1) of any of Supplementary Notes 1 to 3, the control device (30) may further include a network operation unit (33) that accepts operations via the network (51) when the operation panel (40) is not connected.

[0027] (Supplementary Note 5) In the machine tool (1) of any one of Supplementary Notes 1 to 4, the control device (30) may be connectable to an operation panel (40) connectable to another machine tool.

[0028] (Supplementary Note 6) In the machine tool (1) of any one of Supplementary Notes 1 to 5, the operation panel (40) may be realized by installing dedicated application software on a general-purpose portable electronic device.

[0029] Although the present disclosure has been described in detail above, the present disclosure is not limited to the individual embodiments described above. Various additions, substitutions, modifications, partial deletions, etc. are possible to these embodiments without departing from the gist of the present disclosure or the gist of the present disclosure derived from the content of the claims and their equivalents.

[0030] For example, in a machine tool according to the present disclosure, the operation permission unit and the network operation unit may have any configuration.

[0031] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 machine tool 10 machining mechanism 20 intrusion detection device 30 control device 31 operation panel detection unit 32 operation permission unit 33 network operation unit 34 operation setting unit 35 intrusion information acquisition unit 36 ​​automatic operation control unit 37 automatic operation permission unit 40 operation panel 41 connector 50 external device 51 network

Claims

1. A machine tool comprising: a machining mechanism having a plurality of drive axes for performing machining; an intrusion detection device for detecting intrusion of an operator into the operating area of ​​the machining mechanism; and a control device to which an operation panel can be connected and for controlling the machining mechanism, wherein the control device has: an automatic operation control unit for automatically operating the machining mechanism; an operation panel detection unit for detecting connection of the operation panel; an intrusion information acquisition unit for acquiring intrusion information indicating whether or not the operator has intruded from the intrusion detection device; and an automatic operation permission unit for enabling automatic operation of the machining mechanism when the operation panel is not connected and intrusion of the operator has not been detected.

2. A machine tool as described in claim 1, wherein the operation panel detection unit identifies the individual operation panel connected, and the control device further has an operation permission unit that permits operation using the operation panel only when a pre-registered operation panel is connected.

3. The machine tool according to claim 2, wherein the operation permission unit sets operable functions for each of the operation panels.

4. A machine tool according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the control device further has a network operation unit that accepts operations via a network when the operation panel is not connected.

5. A machine tool as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the control device is connectable to an operation panel connectable to another machine tool.

6. A machine tool according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the operation panel can be realized by installing dedicated application software on a general-purpose portable electronic device.

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