Machine tool

Abstract

The present invention is a machine tool with which it is possible to change the content of a power saving function according to user preference, the machine tool comprising: a plurality of devices; a power supply unit capable of adjusting the power supply amounts to the plurality of devices; a power saving function execution unit that executes processing related to the power saving function for reducing the power supply amount from the power supply unit to a target device among the plurality of devices in accordance with setting information with which an operating state is set in which the power supply amount to the target device is reduced; an operation unit; and a content change unit that changes the operating state, in which the power supply amount is reduced, of the target device set with the setting information in accordance with an instruction received via the operation unit.

Description

machine tools

[0001] The present invention relates to a machine tool capable of reducing power consumption during operation.

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a machine tool equipped with a power-saving function that can reduce power consumption. In the machine tool described in Patent Document 1, when the operating state is standby, the amount of power supplied to each device is reduced to reduce power consumption.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-134563

[0004] The power-saving functions of machine tools are generally executed according to preset programs, etc., and therefore, after shipping from the factory, the user can switch the power-saving functions on and off, but cannot change the content of the power-saving functions themselves. Therefore, for example, depending on the usage conditions of the machine tool, the content of the power-saving functions may not be what the user desires, in line with the actual usage conditions of the machine tool.

[0005] The present invention has been made to solve the above problem, and has an object to provide a machine tool that allows the contents of the power saving function to be changed in accordance with the user's preferences.

[0006] A machine tool according to one aspect of the present invention includes a plurality of devices, a power supply unit capable of adjusting the amount of power supplied to the plurality of devices, a power saving function execution unit that executes processing related to a power saving function that reduces the amount of power supplied from the power supply unit to a target device in accordance with setting information that sets an operating state in which the amount of power supplied to the target device among the plurality of devices is reduced, an operation unit, and a content change unit that changes the operating state in which the amount of power supplied to the target device, set in the setting information, is reduced in accordance with an instruction received via the operation unit.

[0007] The machine tool having the above configuration can execute processing related to a power saving function that reduces the power supply from the power supply unit to the target device in accordance with the setting information. Furthermore, the operating state in which the amount of power supply to the target device set in the setting information is reduced can be changed in accordance with an instruction received via the operation unit. This allows the user to change the content of the power saving function by operating the operation unit even after the machine tool has been shipped from the factory, and cause the machine tool to execute processing related to the power saving function with content that suits the user's preferences and matches the actual usage situation.

[0008] According to the above configuration, for a machine tool equipped with a power saving function, the machine tool can be made to execute a power saving function according to the user's preferences, thereby enabling the power saving function to be used more effectively.

[0009] FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a machine tool from the front; FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the internal structure of the machine tool with the machine body cover removed; FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a control system that controls the machine tool; FIG. 4 is a diagram explaining setting information; FIG. 5 is a flowchart explaining the processing procedure for changing setting information in response to an operation on an operation display device; and FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a screen displayed on an operation display device.

[0010] One embodiment of a machine tool according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 is a perspective view of the machine tool from the front, and Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the internal structure of the machine tool with the machine body cover removed. The machine tool 1 will be described using a front two-spindle lathe as an example.

[0011] Machine tool 1 is equipped with spindle units 3, 4 arranged on the left and right sides, and turret units 5, 6. A machining chamber is provided inside the machine, which is covered by a machine body cover 50, and opening / closing doors 53, 55 are provided on both the left and right sides of a central section 51 on the front of machine body cover 50. Machine tool 1 is also equipped with an automatic workpiece transporter 2 for automatically transporting workpieces between an external stocker and the inside of the machine. The automatic workpiece transporter 2 is a gantry-type workpiece transporter, and is configured so that a robot hand capable of gripping a workpiece can move up and down, left and right, and back and forth.

[0012] Each of the spindle units 3 and 4 grips a workpiece with a spindle chuck, and rotation of the spindle motor is applied to the workpiece. Each of the turret units 5 has a polygonal tool rest 11 to which multiple tools T are detachably attached via tool holders, and the tool T to be used for machining is rotated and indexed from the multiple tools T by drive control of a servo motor that rotates the tool rest 11. The tool rest 11 then moves in each axial direction, bringing the tool T into contact with the rotating workpiece, thereby performing outer diameter cutting and the like. This type of machining control is performed independently on the left and right lathes.

[0013] 3 is a block diagram showing a control system for controlling machine tool 1. A microprocessor (CPU) 31, ROM 32, RAM 33, and non-volatile memory 34 are connected to control device 8 of machine tool 1 via a bus line. CPU 31 controls the entire control device 8. ROM 32 stores system programs and control parameters executed by CPU 31. RAM 33 is a work area in which the programs and control parameters stored in ROM 32, as well as temporary calculation data and display data, are expanded.

[0014] Furthermore, the nonvolatile memory 34 stores sequence programs and the like as information necessary for the processing performed by the CPU 31. The control device 8 is provided with an I / O port 35, through which the drive motors of the spindle devices 3 and 4, the turret devices 5 and 6, the automatic workpiece transporter 2, and the like are connected via their respective drivers.

[0015] A signal from an opening / closing sensor 9 that detects a change in the opening / closing state of the opening / closing doors 53, 55 is input to the I / O port 35. When the opening / closing doors 53, 55 are in the open position, the opening / closing sensor 9 outputs a detection signal corresponding to the open position to the I / O port 35 of the control device 8, and when the opening / closing doors 53, 55 are in the closed position, the opening / closing sensor 9 outputs a detection signal corresponding to the closed position to the I / O port 35 of the control device 8.

[0016] Furthermore, the I / O port 35 is connected to, for example, a machine light 20, a signal tower 21, a hydraulic motor 22, and a coolant pump 23, and the control device 8 is capable of controlling each device according to a sequence program. The machine light 20 is attached, for example, inside the machine body cover 50 and illuminates to allow a user to see inside the machining chamber. The signal tower 21 is attached, for example, outside the machine body cover 50 and is a lamp that emits light in different display modes depending on the operating state of the machine tool 1. The hydraulic motor 22 circulates oil in a hydraulic circuit device (not shown) to generate pressure for gripping a workpiece in the spindle chuck, etc. The coolant pump 23 is a pump that supplies coolant to the machining chamber inside the machine body cover 50.

[0017] A power supply device 80 is connected to the I / O port 35, and the control device 8 can adjust the amount of power supplied from the power supply device 80 to each component by outputting a control signal. The power supply device 80 includes, for example, an AC / DC conversion circuit that converts AC power supplied from an external power source into DC power and a DC / AC conversion circuit that converts the converted DC power back into AC power. When executing processing related to a power saving function (described below), the control device 8 outputs a control signal to the power supply device 80 according to the amount of power supplied by the power saving function, thereby adjusting the amount of power (specifically, the supply voltage) supplied to each component. Note that, for convenience, only one power supply device 80 is shown in FIG. 3 , but the power supply device 80 may be composed of multiple devices each equipped with the AC / DC conversion circuit or DC / AC conversion circuit described above.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 1 , the machine tool 1 is fitted with an operation and display device 7 having a monitor on the front of the machine body, and is connected to the control device 8 via an I / O port 35. The operation and display device 7 has push buttons such as a start button, as well as touch panel type buttons that are displayed on the monitor and enable intuitive operation. The operation and display device 7 can also change the screen displayed on the monitor by accepting operation of the push buttons or buttons displayed on the monitor. In this embodiment, the operation and display device 7 is an example of an operation unit.

[0019] By operating the push buttons on the operation display device 7 or the buttons displayed on the monitor, the user can switch the operating state of the machine tool 1 between normal operation, emergency stop, and operation preparation in accordance with the sequence program, and operate the machine tool 1. In normal operation, the user can operate the control device 8 to continuously operate the machine tool 1 in accordance with the sequence program by operating the start button on the operation display device 7. In operation preparation, prior to normal operation, the user can operate the machine tool 1 to check the operation of the machine tool 1 in accordance with the sequence program and change the setting of the tool feed rate, etc.

[0020] In the individual mode of the operation preparation, the user can operate the machine tool 1 block by block according to the sequence program each time the user presses the start button on the operation display device 7. By executing the individual mode, the user can visually check the inside of the machining chamber with the doors 53 and 55 open and confirm whether the machine tool 1 is operating according to the program. In the automatic operation of the operation preparation, the user can press the start button on the operation display device 7 to continuously operate the machine tool 1 according to the sequence program without gripping a workpiece. Note that the operation preparation may be equipped with a machine lock that monitors changes in the position of each part of the machine tool 1 without moving the tool. The emergency stop is a state in which the operation of the machine tool 1 is temporarily stopped by operating the emergency stop button on the operation display device 7 or by the occurrence of a predetermined stop condition while the machine tool 1 is operating.

[0021] Machine tool 1 is equipped with a power-saving function that reduces power consumption by reducing the power supplied from power supply device 80 to each device during operation. The content of the power-saving function is generally preset by a program or parameters (setting information 36, described later) stored in non-volatile memory 34. In conventional machine tools, after shipping from the factory, a user could enable or disable the power-saving function but could not change the content of the power-saving function. However, depending on the actual usage conditions of machine tool 1 after shipping from the factory, a user may wish to change the content of the power-saving function. For example, a user may wish to change the devices that reduce power consumption for each specific operating state of machine tool 1. Additionally, a user may wish to change the power consumption of machine tool 1 in a specific operating state. Therefore, machine tool 1 of this embodiment is configured to accept an instruction to change the content of the power-saving function via operation and display device 7, thereby changing the content of the power-saving function.

[0022] Next, the setting information 36 stored in the nonvolatile memory 34 will be described. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating values ​​registered in the setting information. Hereinafter, in the power saving function, a state in which power supply to a target device is stopped will also be referred to as a "power saving state." In FIG. 4 , the vertical axis lists examples of target devices, such as machine lighting, signal towers, hydraulic motors, and coolant pumps. The horizontal axis lists, for each target device, a standard setting indicating an operating state in which the power saving state can be enabled or disabled, and an individual setting (emergency stop, operation preparation). Note that by setting "enabled" to "1," the operating state of the target device becomes a power saving state and the power supply is stopped. By setting "disabled" to "0," the operating state of the target device becomes a power saving state and the power supply is stopped.

[0023] The standard setting indicates an operating state that is determined in advance by the vendor of the machine tool 1 to be a power-saving state, and is set in a program or the like before shipping from the factory. For example, by setting the standard setting to enabled "1" in the setting information 36, power supply to the target device is stopped in the operating state linked to the standard setting. In this embodiment, the operating states linked to the standard setting include emergency stop and all operation preparations. Note that when the standard setting is enabled "1," the contents of the individual settings are invalid. In this embodiment, the standard setting is set to enabled or disabled individually for each target device (machine light, signal tower, hydraulic motor, coolant pump), but this is not limiting and the standard setting may be set to enabled or disabled collectively for all target devices.

[0024] The power-saving state corresponding to the individual setting is enabled or disabled in response to an instruction received via the operation display device 7. The operating states corresponding to the individual setting include "emergency stop" and "operation preparation." In the operation preparation, "individual mode" and "automatic mode" can be individually set. Furthermore, in the automatic mode, "stopped" and "automatic operation" can be individually set. Furthermore, in the individual mode and automatic mode, the power-saving state can be enabled or disabled by distinguishing between "door closed," in which the doors 53 and 55 are closed, and "door open," in which the doors 53 and 55 are open. By setting the operating states of emergency stop and operation preparation, which are relatively easy to reduce power consumption, to the power-saving state, the power-saving effect of the power-saving function can be enhanced.

[0025] The operating states corresponding to the individual settings are not limited to those shown in Fig. 4. For example, in the individual mode and the automatic mode while the unit is stopped, the power saving state may be enabled or disabled all at once without distinguishing between a state in which the doors 53 and 55 are open (door open) and a state in which the doors 53 and 55 are closed (door closed).

[0026] In the setting information 36 shown in FIG. 4 , the standard setting for the target device "machine light" is set to "0" (disabled), and the individual setting is set to "door open" in individual mode and "door open" while stopped in automatic mode as enabled power-saving states. Note that the power-saving states other than these are set to "0" (disabled). Therefore, by enabling the power-saving function in machine tool 1, power consumption is reduced in machine light 20 when doors 53 and 55 are open in the operating state "individual mode" and when doors 53 and 55 are open in the operating state "automatic mode." On the other hand, if the standard setting for the target device "machine light" is set to "1" (enabled), power consumption is reduced in machine light 20 in each operating state linked to that setting. Note that a description of devices other than machine light 20 will be omitted.

[0027] Next, a process in which the control device 8 changes the values ​​registered in the setting information 36 in response to an instruction received via the operation and display device 7 will be described with reference to Fig. 5. The process shown in Fig. 5 is executed, for example, when the control device 8 detects that the user has operated the power saving function setting button on the operation and display device 7.

[0028] In step 10 (hereinafter, step S) the control device 8 changes the screen of the operation display device 7 to an instruction acceptance screen 71 shown in FIG. 6 . The instruction acceptance screen 71 includes vertically arranged device display objects 72 indicating target devices, horizontally arranged status display objects 73 indicating operating states for which a power saving state can be enabled, and designation buttons 74A and 74B identified by the device display objects 72 and the status display objects 73. The devices indicated by the device display objects 72 and the operating states indicated by the status display objects 73 correspond to the target devices and the operating states registered in the setting information 36 described with reference to FIG. 4 . Of the multiple designation buttons 74A and 74B, the designation button 74A is a designation button corresponding to the standard settings of each target device. The designation button 74B is a designation button corresponding to the individual settings of each target device.

[0029] In S11, when the control device 8 receives a button operation including a button operation on the designated button 74A or 74B, the control device 8 stores information corresponding to the received button operation in the RAM 33. When the control device 8 detects a button operation on the designated button 74A or 74B, the control device 8 stores in the RAM 33 the target equipment and operating status associated with the designated button 74A or 74B as information corresponding to the operated designated button 74A or 74B. For example, when the designated button 74A or 74B is operated once, the display state of the designated button 74A or 74B changes to the active state. When the designated button 74A or 74B is operated again, the display state changes from the active state to the normal state. For example, if the designated button 74B identified by the equipment display object 72 indicating a "signal tower" and the status display object 73 indicating an "emergency stop" is in the active state, the control device 8 stores the associated information, the target equipment "signal tower" and the operating status "emergency stop," in the RAM 33. Also, when the user operates another designated button 74B, the information linked to the newly operated designated button 74B is additionally stored in RAM 33 in addition to the information linked to the previously operated designated button 74B.

[0030] For example, by operating the buttons, the designation button 74A specified by the device display object 72 indicating "signal tower" and the status display object 73 indicating "standard setting" changes to an active state, causing the control device 8 to store the linked information of the target devices "signal tower" and "standard setting" in the RAM 33. Note that by canceling the active state of the designation buttons 74A and 74B, the control device 8 deletes the corresponding information stored in the RAM 33.

[0031] When the control device 8 detects in S12 that the confirmation button to confirm the change in the contents of the power saving function has been operated (S12: YES), it proceeds to S13 and refers to the information stored in RAM 33 to determine whether the designated button 74A corresponding to the standard setting has been operated.

[0032] If the designation button 74A corresponding to the standard setting has not been operated (S13: NO), the control device 8 proceeds to S15, updates each value of the individual setting in the setting information 36 using the information stored in the RAM 33, and ends the processing shown in Fig. 5. That is, the operating state of the corresponding target device is changed to the power saving state in accordance with the received instruction.

[0033] On the other hand, if the designation button 74A corresponding to the standard setting has been operated (S13: YES), the control device 8 proceeds to S14, sets the standard setting to enabled "1" in the setting information 36, sets the operating state corresponding to the individual setting (in this example, emergency stop, operation preparation) to disabled "0," and terminates the processing shown in FIG. 5 . In other words, the power-saving state of the operating state associated with the standard setting is enabled for the corresponding target device. As a result, if the user does not need to set individual operating states for each target device, specifying the standard setting can improve user convenience. In this embodiment, the control device 8 functions as a content change unit by executing the processing in S14 and S15.

[0034] Thereafter, when machine tool 1 is operating in any of the operating states for which "1" is set as the enabled power saving state in setting information 36, control device 8 executes processing related to the power saving function for reducing the power consumption from power supply device 80. At this time, control device 8 determines the open / closed states of doors 53, 55 in accordance with the detection signal from opening / closing sensor 9, and distinguishes between a "door closed" state in which doors 53, 55 are closed and a "door open" state in which doors 53, 55 are open in the individual mode and the automatic mode. This allows the user to change the content of the power saving function by operating operation display device 7, even after machine tool 1 has been shipped from the factory, and causes machine tool 1 to execute processing related to the power saving function with content suited to actual usage conditions. In this embodiment, control device 8 functions as a power saving function execution unit by executing processing related to the power saving function by referring to setting information 36.

[0035] While one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited thereto and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. In the above-described embodiment, the instruction acceptance screen 71 displayed on the operation and display device 7 has status display objects 73 arranged horizontally, indicating the timing of power reduction. Alternatively, the instruction acceptance screen 71 may have multiple text objects arranged horizontally, indicating the level of power consumption reduction. In this example, the combination of operating states specified by button operation for each text object changes such that the power consumption reduction level for the corresponding target device increases as the arrangement position moves from left to right. In other words, in this example, the user can intuitively select the amount of power consumption reduction for the corresponding target device using the power saving function by operating the text objects displayed on the instruction acceptance screen 71.

[0036] In the above embodiment, the operation display device 7 is a touch panel type as an example of the operation unit, but the operation display device 7 is not limited to this, and may be a device that has only push buttons.

[0037] In the above-described embodiment, the power saving function reduces power consumption by stopping the power supply from the power supply device 80 to each device, but this is not limiting, and power consumption may also be reduced by reducing the amount of power supplied from the power supply device 80 to each device compared to normal. In addition, the power saving function may reduce power consumption by combining stopping the power supply from the power supply device 80 to each device with reducing the amount of power supplied.

[0038] In the above embodiment, a two-spindle front lathe is shown as the machine tool 1, but any machine tool equipped with an operation display device and a power saving function may be used.

[0039] 1...machine tool, 2...automatic workpiece transporter, 3, 4...spindle device, 5, 6...turret device, 7...operation display device, 8...control device, 20...machine lighting, 21...signal tower, 22...hydraulic motor, 23...coolant pump, 36...setting information, 80...power supply device

Claims

1. A machine tool comprising: a plurality of devices; a power supply unit capable of adjusting an amount of power supply to the plurality of devices; a power saving function execution unit that executes processing related to a power saving function of reducing the amount of power supply from the power supply unit to a target device in accordance with setting information that sets an operating state in which the amount of power supply to the target device is reduced among the plurality of devices; an operation unit; and a content change unit that changes the operating state in which the amount of power supply is reduced in the target device set by the setting information in accordance with an instruction received via the operation unit.

2. The machine tool according to claim 1, wherein the operation unit is capable of displaying an instruction receiving screen capable of receiving an instruction for an operating state in which the amount of power supply is reduced from a plurality of operating states, and the content change unit receives an instruction for the operating state for each of the plurality of devices via the instruction receiving screen displayed on the operation unit, and changes the operating state in which the amount of power supply is reduced for the target device set in the setting information in accordance with the received instruction.

3. The machine tool of claim 2, wherein the setting information includes a standard setting that defines an operating state in which the amount of power supply in the target equipment is reduced, and wherein the content change unit, when receiving an instruction to designate the standard setting via the instruction receiving screen displayed on the operation unit, sets the operating state linked to the standard setting as the operating state in which the amount of power supply in the target equipment is reduced, and when receiving an instruction for the operating state for each of a plurality of the equipment via the instruction receiving screen displayed on the operation unit, changes the operating state in which the amount of power supply in the target equipment set in the setting information is reduced in accordance with the received instruction.

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