Production facility

Abstract

A production facility (10) comprises: a machine tool (12) capable of machining workpieces (W) that are equal to or less in size than a first workpiece size limit; a pallet feed device (16) that houses a plurality of pallets (P) on which the workpieces (W) are to be placed, and that conveys the pallets (P) in and out; a storage device (60) that presets a second workpiece size limit which is equal to or is less than the first workpiece size limit, and stores, with regard to each of the pallets (P), information as to whether or not the workpiece (W) has a size that exceeds the second workpiece size limit; and a control device (62) that, on the basis of the information stored in the storage device (60) about the size that exceeds the second workpiece size limit, performs control on the pallet feed device (16) so as to prevent interference between workpieces (W) placed on adjacent ones of the pallets (P).

Description

Production Equipment

[0001] The present invention relates to production equipment.

[0002] In production facilities, in order to efficiently handle a large number of workpieces, it is common to store workpieces to be machined near the machine tool in advance. For this reason, a pallet supply device for storing pallets on which workpieces are fixed is sometimes located adjacent to the machine tool. Workpieces of various sizes are fixed to the pallets stored in the pallet supply device according to the production plan. Therefore, in order to safely and efficiently machine workpieces of various sizes fixed to the pallets, care must be taken, i.e., monitoring and confirmation must be performed, to ensure that workpieces on adjacent pallets do not interfere with each other when transferring pallets between the work setting station and the processing chamber and the pallet supply device.

[0003] However, for example, in a machine tool system equipped with an imaging device that images a workpiece fixed to a pallet from a direction parallel to the rotation axis of the rotary table, such as that disclosed in Patent Document 1, the imaging device is only used to confirm the positional relationship between one pallet, the workpiece fixed to it, and the spindle tool, and therefore it is not possible to confirm interference between workpieces fixed to adjacent pallets.

[0004] Patent No. 6563037

[0005] In view of the above circumstances, the present invention aims to provide a production facility that can prevent or suppress disruption of operation of the production facility due to interference between workpieces in a pallet supply device that can store workpieces of different maximum sizes.

[0006] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a production facility comprising: a machine tool capable of processing workpieces having a size equal to or smaller than a first workpiece size limit; a pallet supply device that stores a plurality of pallets for placing workpieces on and transports the pallets on which the workpieces are placed to and from the machine tool; a memory device that predetermines at least one second workpiece size limit equal to or smaller than the first workpiece size limit and stores, for each of a plurality of pallets, whether or not the size of the workpiece placed on the pallet exceeds the second workpiece size limit; and a control device that controls the pallet supply device based on the information on sizes exceeding the second workpiece size limit stored in the memory device to prevent workpieces placed on adjacent pallets from interfering with each other.

[0007] According to one aspect of the present invention, a production facility includes a pallet supply device that stores multiple pallets for carrying workpieces that are equal to or smaller than a first workpiece size limit that can be processed by a machine tool, and that loads and unloads the pallets carrying the workpieces into and out of the machine tool. The production facility also includes a storage device that predetermines at least one second workpiece size limit equal to or smaller than the first workpiece size limit, and stores, for each of the multiple pallets, whether the workpieces loaded on the pallet exceed the second workpiece size limit. The control device controls the pallet supply device to prevent workpieces loaded on adjacent pallets from interfering with each other based on the information about the size exceeding the second workpiece size limit stored in the storage device. This prevents or minimizes disruption to the operation of the production facility due to workpiece interference.

[0008] FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a production facility according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 shows a plan view of a production facility in which the number of pallets stored in a pallet supply device is increased by reducing the second workpiece size limit. FIG. 3 shows a plan view of a production facility in which workpieces with different second workpiece size limits are mixed in a pallet supply device. FIG. 4 shows a plan view of a production facility in which a workpiece exceeding the second workpiece size limit is placed on a pallet. FIG. 5 shows a side view of an imaging device that captures images of workpieces on a pallet. FIG. 6 shows an example of an image captured by the imaging device and displayed on an operation screen. FIG. 7 shows a flowchart of a method for controlling a pallet supply device. FIG. 8 shows a plan view of a production facility according to a first modified example, which includes a workpiece loading station. FIG. 9 shows a plan view of a production facility according to a second modified example, which includes a fixed pallet magazine.

[0009] Hereinafter, a production facility according to an embodiment will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Similar or corresponding elements are designated by the same reference numerals, and duplicated explanations will be omitted. For ease of understanding, the scale of the drawings may be changed.

[0010] 1 shows a schematic plan view of a production facility 10 for producing and processing a wide variety of workpieces of various sizes. The production facility 10 also includes a processing chamber 14 equipped with a machine tool 12 for processing workpieces W (see FIGS. 4 and 6 ), and a pallet supply device 16 disposed adjacent to the processing chamber 14 and equipped with a pallet magazine 18 for storing pallets P on which the workpieces W are placed and secured. The processing chamber 14 and the pallet supply device 16 are accessible through a processing chamber door 20 formed at the boundary between them in an openable and closable manner.

[0011] Here, the machine tool 12 is a horizontal machining center and includes a bed 22 fixed to the floor of the installation location (such as a factory), and a column 24 disposed on the upper surface of the bed 22. The machine tool 12 also includes, on the front side of the column 24 on the upper surface of the bed 22 (the pallet supply device 16 side in the figure), a pair of Z-axis guide rails 26 extending in the front-to-rear direction, i.e., along the Z-axis direction, and a Z-axis slider 28 configured to be able to reciprocate along the Z-axis guide rails 26. The Z-axis slider may include a rotary table configured to rotate a pallet P placed thereon.

[0012] The machine tool 12 further includes a pair of X-axis guide rails 30 extending in the left-right direction, i.e., along the X-axis direction, on the upper surface of the bed 22, and the column 24 is disposed on the X-axis guide rails 30 so as to be reciprocatable along the X-axis guide rails 30. The machine tool 12 also includes a pair of Y-axis guide rails (not shown) extending in the up-down direction, i.e., along the Y-axis direction, on the front surface of the column 24, and a Y-axis slider 32 configured to be reciprocatable along the Y-axis guide rails. The machine tool 12 further includes an X-axis feed device for driving the column 24 along the X-axis guide rails 30, a Y-axis feed device for driving the Y-axis slider 32 along the Y-axis guide rails, and a Z-axis feed device for driving the Z-axis slider 28 along the Z-axis guide rails 26 (all of which are not shown).

[0013] A spindle head 34 is disposed in front of the Y-axis slider 32, supporting a spindle 36 that is rotatable about a horizontal central axis. A tool TL for machining a workpiece W is detachably attached to the front of the spindle 36. The machine tool 12 is electrically connected to the spindle head 34 and includes an NC device 38 for controlling machining, and is configured to be able to control machining of the workpiece W using the tool TL. The machine tool 12 is configured to be able to machine a workpiece W up to a maximum machining size MP, which is defined as a first workpiece size limit.

[0014] The production equipment 10 includes a tool magazine 40 for storing a plurality of tools TL required for machining in the machine tool 12, and a tool changer 42 that is electrically connected to the NC device 38 and that, based on a command from the NC device 38, exchanges one of the tools TL stored in the tool magazine 40 with a tool TL attached to the tip of the spindle 36 of the machine tool 12.

[0015] A pallet supply device 16 equipped with a pallet magazine 18 for storing pallets P is disposed adjacent to the front side of the processing chamber 14. An openable and closable external door 44 is formed on an outer wall 16a of the pallet supply device 16, and access to the pallet supply device 16 is possible from outside the pallet supply device 16 through the external door 44. This allows an operator to open the external door 44, replenish the pallets P into the pallet magazine 18, and fix the workpieces W to the pallets P with a jig (not shown).

[0016] The pallet magazine 18 comprises a magazine body 46 that is annular in plan view, and a plurality of tables 48 arranged on the magazine body 46 for placing pallets P. The tables 48 are configured to be able to rotate (indicated by the arrow in the drawing) on ​​the magazine body 46 by a drive device (not shown), and the tables 48 can be moved toward the processing chamber door 20 and toward the external door 44. This allows the transfer of pallets P that have been placed on the tables 48 to the outside of the processing chamber 14 and the pallet supply device 16, or to be placed on the tables 48.

[0017] The pallet supply device 16 can set a second workpiece size limit, a maximum size MS of the workpiece on the pallet, i.e., the maximum dimension (size) of the workpiece W that can be fixed to the pallet P placed on the table 48, for each of the multiple tables 48 arranged on the magazine body 46. Here, the maximum size MS of the workpiece on the pallet is set to be smaller than the maximum processing size MP.

[0018] The pallet supply device 16 can set the maximum workpiece size MS on the pallet for each table 48. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, by setting a small maximum workpiece size MS on each table 48, the number of pallets P and workpieces W that can be placed on the table 48 on the magazine body 46 can be increased (eight in the case of FIG. 2) without causing interference between adjacent workpieces W. Furthermore, by setting different maximum workpiece sizes MS on each table 48, workpieces W of different sizes can be placed on the table 48 of the magazine body 46 without causing interference between adjacent workpieces W, as shown in FIG. 3. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 4, by using the control device 62 described below, the pallet supply device 16 can secure a workpiece W that is larger than the maximum workpiece size MS on the pallet but smaller than the maximum machining size MP to the pallet P while avoiding interference with workpieces W on adjacent pallets P, and supply the workpiece W to the machine tool 12.

[0019] An arm 50 is disposed inside the annular magazine body 46. The arm 50 extends vertically in the center of the pallet supply device 16 and includes a support shaft 52 that is rotatable about an axis that also extends vertically, and an arm body 54 that is attached to the support shaft 52 so as to be movable up and down and is configured to be extendable and contractible in the horizontal direction. A gripping portion 56 for gripping the pallet P is attached to the tip of the arm body 54. Therefore, by rotating the gripping portion 56 toward the pallet P to be gripped and extending and contracting the arm body 54, the front-to-back, left-to-right, and up-down positions of the gripping portion 56 can be adjusted, enabling the pallet P to be gripped stably.

[0020] The arm 50 is configured so that the arm body 54 can be extended and retracted up to above the Z-axis slider 28 while gripping the pallet P on the machining chamber door 20 side. This allows the pallet P, on which the workpiece W is fixed before and after machining, to be transferred between the pallet supply device 16 and the machine tool 12.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 1 , a camera 58 is disposed at a predetermined position on the pallet supply device 16 as an imaging device for capturing images of the workpieces W placed on the pallet P. The "predetermined position" here refers to any position at which the pallet P can be imaged from above and it can be determined whether the size or position of the workpieces W or the jig (not shown) fixed to the pallet P exceeds the maximum size MS or the maximum machining size MP for the workpieces on the pallet. While the camera 58 is described as being disposed on the exterior door 44 side of the pallet supply device 16, this is not a limitation and the camera may be disposed at multiple locations, including the machining chamber door side. Furthermore, while the camera 58 is described as capturing images of the workpieces W from above the pallet P, this is not a limitation and the camera may be disposed on the side of the pallet instead of above, capturing images of the workpieces from the side.

[0022] FIG. 5 shows a side view of a camera 58 that captures an image of a workpiece W (not shown) on a pallet P. A ToF (Time of Flight) camera, a stereo camera, or the like may be used as the camera 58. This allows the shape of the workpiece W to be grasped in three dimensions, and it is possible to determine whether the size of the workpiece W exceeds the maximum size MS of a workpiece on a pallet. Alternatively, a three-dimensional laser displacement sensor may be used instead of a camera to acquire the three-dimensional shape of the workpiece W as three-dimensional point cloud data. It is possible to determine whether the size of the workpiece W exceeds the maximum size MS of a workpiece on a pallet based on whether a certain number or more of points in the point cloud data exist at positions exceeding the maximum size MS of a workpiece on a pallet.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 1 , the pallet supply device 16 of the production equipment 10 includes a storage device 60 and a control device 62 for preventing interference between adjacent workpieces W on the magazine body 46. The storage device 60 can preset and store a maximum on-pallet workpiece size MS for each workpiece W placement table 48 and each pallet P placed thereon. The storage device 60 can also set and store multiple such maximum on-pallet workpiece sizes MS. This allows different maximum on-pallet workpiece sizes MS to be set for each pallet P when a mixture of large and small workpieces W is placed in the pallet supply device 16, allowing workpieces W of different sizes to be placed on the placement table 48 on the magazine body 46 without interfering with adjacent workpieces W. Furthermore, the storage device 60 is configured to compare the size data of the workpieces W on the pallets P acquired by the camera 58 with the maximum on-pallet workpiece size MS for each pallet P to determine the size relationship, i.e., whether the size of the workpieces W exceeds the maximum on-pallet workpiece size MS, and store this size relationship.

[0024] The control device 62 is configured to control the pallet supply device 16 so as to prevent workpieces W placed on adjacent pallets P from interfering with each other, based on the size relationship between the size of the workpieces W on the pallets P stored in the storage device 60 and the maximum workpiece size MS on each pallet P. Specifically, the control device 62 is configured to issue a warning depending on whether the size of the workpiece W obtained from the camera 58 exceeds the maximum workpiece size MS on the pallet or the maximum machining size MP, and to notify the operator of the risk of interference between the workpiece W and each element constituting the machine tool 12. Furthermore, the pallet supply device 16 is configured so that the operator, upon receiving the notification, can allow such a large workpiece W to remain on the pallet P even if the size of the workpiece W exceeds the maximum workpiece size MS on the pallet. If the operator grants such permission, the control device 62 is configured to limit the size of the workpieces W on the adjacent pallets P, prohibit the placement of a workpiece W exceeding the limited size on the pallet, and issue a warning.

[0025] The control device 62 also calculates the weight of the workpiece W from the size data of the workpiece W obtained from the camera 58, and can optimize the speed at which the table 48, on which the pallet P with the workpiece W fixed thereon is placed, rotates around the magazine body 46 in accordance with the weight of the workpiece W. This makes it possible to prevent or suppress vibrations and rattles when the workpiece W on the pallet P rotates around, and to avoid interference between adjacent workpieces W.

[0026] The pallet supply device 16 of the production facility 10 is equipped with a display device 64 for displaying images of the pallet P and workpieces W obtained from the camera 58 on the operation screen DP of the machine tool 12 and the pallet supply device 16 to facilitate operator confirmation and decision-making. FIG. 6 shows an example of an image displayed on the operation screen. The operation screen DP can display information including images of the workpieces W and pallet P, the pallet number, the image capture date and time, and the size determination results. The size determination results are displayed in short words and simple graphics to make them easy for the operator to understand. For example, if the size of the workpiece W is equal to or smaller than the maximum workpiece size MS on the pallet, the display may read "Within Range," with a dashed cylindrical shape below it and a check mark superimposed on the cylindrical shape. Furthermore, if the size of the workpiece W exceeds the maximum workpiece size MS on the pallet, the display may read, for example, "Exceeds (Height)," "Exceeds (Width)," or "Exceeds (Height and Width)," depending on the portion of the workpiece that exceeds the maximum workpiece size MS, and the portion that exceeds the size may be highlighted by the cylindrical shape. Specifically, for example, if the height exceeds the limit, the top surface of the cylindrical shape is filled in yellow, if the width exceeds the limit, the side surface of the cylindrical shape is filled in yellow, or if both the height and width exceed the limit, both the top and side surfaces of the cylindrical shape are filled in yellow. Furthermore, if an image of the workpiece W fails to be captured, the message "Measurement failed" can be displayed, and an exclamation mark (!) can be superimposed on the cylindrical shape drawn in dashed lines. Furthermore, if an image is not captured, the message "Measurement incomplete" can be displayed, and a question mark (?) can be superimposed on the cylindrical shape drawn in dashed lines. From these images and information, the operator can immediately confirm and determine the size of the workpiece W.

[0027] The effects of the production facility 10 according to this embodiment will be described below with reference to the flowchart of control by the control device 62 of the pallet supply device 16 shown in FIG.

[0028] If the control device 62 has successfully acquired three-dimensional data of the workpiece W (workpiece 3D data in the figure) from the image of the workpiece W captured by the camera 58 to the extent that the size of the workpiece W can be determined, the control device 62 proceeds to step S10. Upon proceeding to step S10, the control device 62 activates the storage device 60, determines whether the acquired size of the workpiece W exceeds the maximum size MS of a workpiece on a pallet or the maximum processing size MP, and stores this size relationship in the storage device 60. If the acquired size of the workpiece W exceeds the maximum processing size MP, the control device 62 proceeds to steps S20 and S30, prohibits the pallet P from being carried into or out of the processing chamber 14, and displays a warning.

[0029] If the size of the acquired workpiece W is smaller than the maximum machining size MP but exceeds the maximum size MS of a workpiece on a pallet, the control device 62 proceeds to step S40 and issues a warning to the operator. If the operator allows, via the operation screen DP, that a workpiece W that exceeds the maximum size MS of a workpiece be left fixed to the pallet P, the control device 62 proceeds to step S50 and predicts, based on the data stored in the storage device 60, whether or not the workpiece W and the jig fixing it will interfere with other workpieces W and jigs.

[0030] If interference with other workpieces W and jigs is predicted, the process proceeds to steps S60 and S70, and the pallet P on which the workpiece W and jigs are placed after machining is completed is prohibited from being returned to the stand 48 near the pallet P on which the other workpieces W and jigs with which interference is predicted are placed, and a warning message is displayed to the operator to warn that interference is predicted. On the other hand, if no interference with other workpieces W and jigs is predicted at all, the process proceeds to steps S80 and S90, and the pallet P on which the workpiece W and jigs are placed after machining is completed is not prohibited from being returned to the stand 48 near the pallet P on which the other workpieces W and jigs are placed.

[0031] If the size of the acquired workpiece W is smaller than the maximum machining size MP but exceeds the maximum size MS of the workpiece on the pallet, and the operator does not allow the workpiece W that exceeds the maximum size MS of the workpiece to remain fixed to the pallet P and communicates this to the control device 62 through the operation screen DP, the control device 62 proceeds to steps S100 and S110, and if the camera 58 is installed in a location different from the external door 44 and the work setting station (WSS) described later using Figure 8, the control device 62 returns the pallet P on which the workpiece W and jig are placed to the setup position of the workpiece W in front of the external door 44, or if the system is equipped with a work setting station (WSS), returns it to the work setting station WSS.

[0032] If the size of the acquired workpiece W does not exceed the maximum size MS of the workpiece on the pallet, the control device 62 proceeds to step S120 and predicts, based on the data stored in the memory device 60, whether or not there is a possibility of interference between the workpiece W and the jig fixing it and other workpieces W and jigs.

[0033] If interference with other workpieces W and jigs is predicted, the process proceeds to steps S130 and S140, where the pallet P on which the workpiece W and jigs are placed after machining is completed is prohibited from being returned to the table 48 adjacent to the pallet P on which the other workpieces W and jigs with which interference is predicted are placed, and a warning message is displayed to the operator to inform them of the predicted interference. On the other hand, if no interference with other workpieces W or jigs is predicted, the process proceeds to steps S150 and S160, where all movement of the pallet P on which the workpieces W and jigs are placed is permitted, and no warning is issued.

[0034] Furthermore, if the control device 62 determines from the results of imaging the workpiece W by the camera 58 that it has failed to acquire three-dimensional data of the workpiece W (workpiece 3D data in the figure) sufficient to determine the size of the workpiece W, it proceeds to steps S200 and S210 and notifies the operator that acquisition of the three-dimensional data of the workpiece W has failed. If the operator ignores this notification, the control device 62 proceeds to steps S220 and S230 and allows all movement of the workpiece W and the pallet P on which the jigs are placed without imposing any restrictions. On the other hand, if the operator receives this notification and instructs, i.e., transmits, to the control device 62 via the operation screen DP to take another image, it proceeds to steps S240 and S250, where the control device 62 activates the camera 58 to image the workpiece W again and attempts to reacquire the three-dimensional data of the workpiece W.

[0035] The production equipment 10 according to this embodiment stores multiple pallets P on which workpieces W each having a size equal to or smaller than the maximum machining size MP that can be machined by the machine tool 12 are placed, and includes a pallet supply device 16 for transporting the pallets P carrying the workpieces W to and from the machine tool 12. The production equipment 10 also includes a storage device 60 that predetermines at least one maximum workpiece size MS on the pallet, which is equal to or smaller than the maximum machining size MP, and stores, for each of the multiple pallets P, whether the workpiece W placed on the pallet P exceeds the maximum workpiece size MS on the pallet, and a control device 62. Based on the information about the size exceeding the maximum workpiece size MS stored in the storage device 60, the control device 62 can control the pallet supply device 16 to prevent workpieces W placed on adjacent pallets P from interfering with each other. This prevents or minimizes disruption to the operation of the production equipment 10 due to interference between workpieces W.

[0036] Furthermore, according to the production equipment 10 of this embodiment, a camera 58 for capturing images of the workpieces W placed on the pallet P is disposed at a predetermined position on the pallet supply device 16. This makes it possible to easily determine whether the size of the workpieces W exceeds the maximum size MS of workpieces on the pallet. The control device 62 calculates the weight of the workpieces W from the size data of the workpieces W obtained from the camera 58, and can optimize the speed at which the table 48 on which the pallet P with the workpieces W fixed thereon is placed, rotates around the magazine body 46 in accordance with the weight of the workpieces W. This prevents or suppresses vibrations and rattles when the workpieces W on the pallet P rotate, and makes it possible to avoid interference between adjacent workpieces W.

[0037] Furthermore, according to the production equipment 10 of this embodiment, the pallet supply device 16 of the production equipment 10 is equipped with a display device 64 for displaying images of the pallet P and workpieces W obtained from the camera 58 on the operation screen DP of the machine tool 12 and the pallet supply device 16, in order to facilitate confirmation and judgment by the operator. As a result, information including images of the workpieces W and pallet P, size determination results, etc. can be displayed on the operation screen DP, and the operator can immediately confirm and judge the state of the size of the workpieces W from these images and information.

[0038] Furthermore, according to the production equipment 10 of this embodiment, the control device 62 can issue a warning depending on whether the size of the workpiece W obtained from the camera 58 exceeds the maximum size MS of a workpiece on a pallet or the maximum machining size MP. This makes it possible to notify the operator of the risk of interference between workpieces W or between the workpieces W and the machining chamber 14 that houses the machine tool 12. This makes it possible to prevent or suppress delays in the operation of the machine tool 12 due to interference between the workpieces W and other components in the pallet supply device 16.

[0039] Furthermore, according to the production equipment 10 of this embodiment, the pallet supply device 16 can set the maximum size MS of workpieces on a pallet for each table 48. Therefore, by setting a small maximum size MS of workpieces on a pallet for each table 48, the number of pallets P and workpieces W that can be placed on the tables 48 on the magazine body 46 can be increased without causing interference between adjacent workpieces W. Also, by setting a different maximum size MS of workpieces on a pallet for each table 48, workpieces W of different sizes can be placed on the tables 48 of the magazine body 46 without causing interference between adjacent workpieces W. This allows workpieces W of different sizes to be stored in the pallet supply device 16 without interfering with each other, according to the production plan.

[0040] Furthermore, according to the production equipment 10 of this embodiment, even if the size of a workpiece W is smaller than the maximum processing size MP but exceeds the maximum size MS of a workpiece on a pallet, the operator can check and predict whether or not there is a possibility of interference with other workpieces W and jigs, and then handle the workpiece W that exceeds the maximum size MS of a workpiece. This allows workpieces W of different sizes to be stored in the pallet supply device 16 without interference, depending on the production plan.

[0041] As described above, the production equipment 10 according to this embodiment can prevent or suppress disruption of operation of the production equipment 10 due to interference from the workpieces W in the pallet supply device 16, which can store workpieces W of different maximum sizes.

[0042] (First Modification) The following describes a first modification of the production facility 10. Elements similar to or corresponding to those in this embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted.

[0043] As shown in FIG. 8 , the pallet supply device 80 of the production equipment 10 according to the first modification includes a magazine body 82 that has a rounded rectangular shape in a plan view. An arm 84 is disposed in a position facing the machining chamber door 20 inside the pallet supply device 80. A workpiece setting station 86 is installed adjacent to the pallet supply device 80 as a workpiece setup device where an operator sets up, i.e., places, a pallet P and a workpiece W to be transferred to or from the pallet supply device 80. The workpiece setting station 86 is configured to transfer a pallet P to the magazine body 82. Therefore, an operator can transfer a workpiece W to or from the pallet supply device 80 by opening a station door 88 of the workpiece setting station 86 and placing a pre-machined workpiece W on the pallet P or removing a machined workpiece W from the pallet P.

[0044] A camera 90 is disposed at a predetermined position inside the work setting station 86 as an imaging device for capturing images of the workpiece W placed on the pallet P in the work setting station 86. This makes it possible to easily determine whether the size of the workpiece W placed on the pallet P exceeds the maximum size MS of a workpiece on the pallet. As a result, even if the size of the workpiece W transferred to the work setting station 86 is smaller than the maximum machining size MP but exceeds the maximum size MS of a workpiece on the pallet, the operator can check and predict whether there is a possibility of interference with other workpieces W and jigs, and then handle the workpiece W that exceeds the maximum size MS of a workpiece.

[0045] As described above, the production equipment 10 according to the first modified example can prevent or suppress disruption of operation of the production equipment 10 due to interference from the workpieces W in the pallet supply device 80, which can store workpieces W of different maximum sizes.

[0046] (Second Modification) The following describes a second modification of the production facility 10. Elements similar to or corresponding to those in this embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted.

[0047] 9 , a pallet supply device 100 of the production equipment 10 according to the second modified example has a plurality of fixed shelves 101 each having a plurality of vertically arranged stages (not shown) on which pallets P and workpieces W are placed. Also, adjacent to the pallet supply device 100, a work setting station 102 is installed as a work setup device on which an operator places a pallet P and workpiece W to be transferred to or from the pallet supply device 100. Therefore, an operator can transfer a workpiece W to or from the pallet supply device 100 by opening a station door 104 of the work setting station 102 and placing an unmachined workpiece W on the pallet P on the fixed shelf 101 or removing a machined workpiece W from the pallet P on the fixed shelf 101.

[0048] The pallet P carried in from the workpiece setting station 102 is moved by the arm 50 to the fixed shelf 101 in the pallet supply device 80. The pallet P and workpiece W on the fixed shelf 101 are transferred between the gripping portion 56 of the arm 50 and a changer arm 112 of a pallet changer 108 arranged in the processing chamber 14. The pallet changer 108 is rotatable around a changer rotation axis 110, and the workpiece W gripped by the changer arm 112 can be rotated between the arm 50 and the Z-axis slider 28 in the pallet supply device 80.

[0049] A camera 106 is disposed at a predetermined position inside the work setting station 102 as an imaging device for capturing images of the workpiece W on the pallet P placed on the fixed shelf 101 in the work setting station 102. This makes it possible to easily determine whether the size of the workpiece W placed on the pallet P exceeds the maximum size MS of a workpiece on the pallet. As a result, even if the size of the workpiece W transferred to the work setting station 102 is smaller than the maximum machining size MP but exceeds the maximum size MS of a workpiece on the pallet, the operator can check and predict whether there is a possibility of interference with other workpieces W and jigs, and then handle the workpiece W that exceeds the maximum size MS of a workpiece.

[0050] As described above, the production equipment 10 according to the second modified example can prevent or suppress disruption of operation of the production equipment 10 due to interference from the workpieces W in the pallet supply device 100, which can store workpieces W of different maximum sizes.

[0051] Here, the first workpiece size limit has been described as the maximum machining size MP, and the second workpiece size limit as the maximum size of the workpiece on the pallet MS. However, this is not limited to this, and the first workpiece size limit and the second workpiece size limit may be set to a size smaller than the maximum size that can be machined and a size smaller than the maximum size that can be placed on the pallet.

[0052] Although the embodiment of the production equipment 10 has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. In addition to the above, it is believed that a person skilled in the art would understand that various modifications of the above embodiment are possible.

[0053] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 Production equipment 12 Machine tool 16 Pallet supply device 58 Camera (imaging device) 60 Storage device 62 Control device 80 Pallet supply device 86 Work setting station (work setup device) 90 Camera (imaging device) 100 Pallet supply device 102 Work setting station (work setup device) 106 Camera (imaging device) DP Operation screen MP Maximum machining size (first workpiece size limit) MS Maximum size of workpiece on pallet (second workpiece size limit) P Pallet W Work (workpiece)

Claims

1. A production facility comprising: a machine tool capable of machining workpieces having a size equal to or smaller than a first workpiece size limit; a pallet supplying device that stores a plurality of pallets on which the workpieces are placed and transports the pallets on which the workpieces are placed to and from the machine tool; a memory device that predetermines at least one second workpiece size limit equal to or smaller than the first workpiece size limit and stores, for each of a plurality of pallets, whether the workpieces placed on the pallet have a size that exceeds the second workpiece size limit; and a control device that controls the pallet supplying device so as to prevent the workpieces placed on adjacent pallets from interfering with each other, based on the information about the size that exceeds the second workpiece size limit stored in the memory device.

2. The production facility of claim 1, wherein a first workpiece size limit is a maximum machining size of the machine tool, and a second workpiece size limit is a maximum size of a workpiece on the pallet of the workpiece placed on the pallet, and the maximum size of a workpiece on the pallet is equal to or smaller than the maximum machining size.

3. The production facility according to claim 2, wherein an imaging device for imaging the workpiece placed on the pallet is disposed at a predetermined position of the pallet supply device or in a work setup device provided adjacent to the pallet supply device.

4. The production equipment of claim 3, configured to issue a warning depending on whether the size of the workpiece obtained from the imaging device exceeds the maximum size of a workpiece on the pallet or the maximum processing size, and to notify an operator of the risk of interference between the workpiece and other components within the production equipment.

5. The production facility according to claim 4, which is configured such that, if the size of the workpiece exceeds the maximum size of a workpiece on the pallet, the operator can decide to permit the placement of the workpiece exceeding the maximum size of the workpiece on the pallet.

6. The production facility according to claim 5, which is configured so that images obtained from said imaging device are displayed on operation screens of said machine tool and said pallet supply device.

7. The production facility according to claim 6, wherein a plurality of maximum sizes of workpieces on the pallet are stored in one of the storage devices, and each of the pallets is set to one of the plurality of stored maximum sizes of workpieces on the pallet.

Images