Machining center

Abstract

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a machining center which is provided with an LED display mechanism so as to be more easily visible from a wide range outside the machining center than before, the LED display mechanism displaying the operating state of a machine tool in greater detail. The machining center is provided with a light-emitting diode (LED) display mechanism in which a light-emitting unit is provided in at least a part of the front region above an exterior cover that surrounds the outer periphery of the machine tool. The light-emitting unit is provided with: a slit hole that is drilled in the exterior cover in an elongate shape in the horizontal direction; and an LED tape fixing plate that is attached so as to close the slit hole from the inside over the entire length thereof and holds an RGB-LED tape light over the entire length thereof. A lower end surface of an upper edge of the opening of the slit hole forms a first reflecting surface that reflects LED light downward, and an inclined surface of the LED tape fixing plate forms a second reflecting surface that reflects and diffuses LED light downward and forward.

Description

Machining Center

[0001] The present invention relates to a machining center provided with an LED display mechanism for indicating the operating status of a machine tool in at least the front area of the exterior cover of the machine tool.

[0002] A machine tool performs cutting by driving and controlling a rotating spindle to which various tools are interchangeably attached with respect to a workpiece placed on a machining table in a machining section. In this machining process, cutting chips and cutting fluid scatter vigorously around.

[0003] Usually, as a splash guard for preventing such cutting chips and cutting fluid from scattering outside the machining area, an exterior cover formed by sheet metal working is provided so as to surround at least the machining area. This exterior cover also functions as a safety cover for avoiding risks such as approaching and contacting the machining section during operation.

[0004] Also, some machining centers have a system of transporting a workpiece placed on one end side to the machining table on the other end side by rotating the workpiece. In this case, an opening / closing door is provided in the front area of the exterior cover facing the rotary table for access to perform operations such as placing and removing the workpiece with respect to the rotary table etc.

[0005] On the other hand, as machine tools in recent years, many have a form of a machining center that includes a magazine storing various tools, an automatic tool changer for exchanging tools between the magazine and the rotating spindle of the machining section, and is driven and controlled by a computer numerical control device, a so-called CNC (Computerized Numerical Control) device, and has become widespread.

[0006] In such machining centers, the control panel for the CNC device is installed on one side of the outer cover, and this CNC device automatically operates the machine tool according to a predetermined NC machining program. That is, a predetermined cutting process is performed while a predetermined tool is automatically replaced on the rotating spindle of the machining section at a predetermined timing. Thus, various types of products are formed by the automatic operation of the machine tool using various NC machining programs.

[0007] Such machining centers generally have an overall configuration enclosed in an exterior cover, encompassing not only the machining area including the machining section, but also the front section including the swivel table that transports the workpiece to the machining area, as well as the automatic tool changer and magazine that are linked to the machining area. Furthermore, some older models have a large red rotating warning light that illuminates when a malfunction occurs. However, for machining centers operating under normal automatic conditions, it is difficult to visually assess their operating status from the outside due to the cover enclosing the entire perimeter.

[0008] Therefore, it is desirable that machining centers be equipped with display means that allow for easy external determination of the specific operating status of the machine tool, such as whether it is operating normally, preparing for operation, or has completed operation, except in cases of malfunction.

[0009] Therefore, machining centers have been developed that are equipped with multiple types of LED light-emitting diodes that emit light in different colors, and have an LED display means on the front area of ​​the exterior cover (guard) that emits light of the corresponding color LED according to the operating conditions (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

[0010] Utility Model Registration No. 3178520 Utility Model Registration No. 3179056 Japanese Patent Publication No. 2019-219784

[0011] However, the aforementioned LED display device had a semi-cylindrical shape, protruded from the surface of the guard, and was installed on the side that did not interfere with the opening and closing of the sliding door. As a result, it emitted light from only one point and almost exclusively forward. Consequently, the angle range in which this LED display device could be seen from the outside was limited, and the area that could not be seen was larger than the area that could be seen from the entire outer circumference of the machining center.

[0012] Furthermore, Patent Document 3 discloses a device for notifying the operating status of a machine tool, in which a full-color LED is provided on the top of a housing that houses the machining area of ​​the machine tool. However, this illumination only emits light upwards, and while it can be seen if the top of the device is relatively low, if the illumination position is above a certain height, it becomes difficult to see as one has to look up from below.

[0013] Especially in recent machining centers, devices such as tool storage magazines and automatic tool changers are installed, and because these devices protrude in a complex manner upwards, the entire machine tool is almost always enclosed in a tall cover. Consequently, in machining centers enclosed in such tall covers and with a large overall footprint, even if LED lighting is installed somewhere on the outer edge of the top surface area, it is extremely difficult to clearly see it by looking up from below, making it impractical for monitoring the operating status of the machine tool.

[0014] In view of the above problems, the object of the present invention is to provide a machining center equipped with an LED display mechanism that displays the operating status of the machine tool in more detail, in a manner that is more easily visible from a wider area outside the machining center than in conventional designs.

[0015] To achieve the above objective, the machining center according to the present invention is a machining center equipped with a computer numerical control (CNC) device that performs numerical control on a machine tool, and is equipped with an LED (light-emitting diode) display mechanism in which a light-emitting part is provided in a part of the front area of ​​the front cover portion that surrounds the front section of the machine tool in a substantially U-shape, above the outer cover that surrounds the outer periphery of the machine tool, and the LED display mechanism is equipped with a light-emitting part, which comprises: a slit hole drilled in the outer cover in an elongated shape along the horizontal direction, an LED tape fixing plate attached from the inside of the outer cover so as to close the slit hole along its entire length, and an RGB-LED tape light that is held along the entire length of the LED tape fixing plate and has a plurality of chip light-emitting diodes, each embedded with a red LED, a green LED, and a blue LED, mounted in a row at predetermined intervals, and is equipped with LED power supply wiring for supplying power to the RGB-LED tape light, and a color tone control unit that causes the RGB-LED tape light to emit light in a plurality of different light colors that are set in advance according to various operating conditions of the machine tool. The LED tape fixing plate comprises a horizontal bottom surface to which the RGB-LED tape light is attached on its back surface, and an inclined surface extending forward from the rear end side of the horizontal bottom surface in the direction of the inner side of the outer cover, above the RGB-LED tape light and above the upper side edge of the opening of the slit hole. The lower end surface of the upper side edge of the opening of the slit hole forms a horizontal, smooth first reflective surface that reflects light from the RGB-LED tape light downward, and the inclined surface forms a smooth second reflective surface that reflects and diffuses light from the RGB-LED tape light downward and forward.

[0016] In a machining center with the above configuration, the RGB-LED tape light is installed embedded inside a slit hole drilled in the outer cover. The light emitted from the RGB-LED tape light is reflected well downward and forward from the outer cover by the first and second reflective surfaces of the LED tape fixing plate, so that it is clearly and reliably visible from the outside of the outer cover.

[0017] In other words, a portion of the light emitted from the RGB-LED strip light is reflected downward as a sharp beam of light by the horizontal, smooth lower end surface of the upper edge of the slit opening that forms the first reflective surface. Simultaneously, the remaining light emitted from the RGB-LED strip light is diffusely reflected forward from the outer cover by a smooth, inclined surface that acts as a second reflective surface, extending from the rear side in the inner direction of the outer cover above the RGB-LED strip light to a position above the lower end surface of the slit opening in the front. Therefore, even if the outer cover itself is tall and the light-emitting part is installed at a high position, these two types of reflected light allow the LED light to reach a wide area from close to the outer cover to a relatively distant position, resulting in very high visibility from the outside.

[0018] Furthermore, since the light-emitting section using RGB-LED tape lights is installed horizontally in a long, elongated shape on at least a portion of the front area of ​​the upper part of the outer cover, the light emitted from the RGB-LED tape lights can be seen from anywhere within the visible range of the front of the machining center's outer cover. Therefore, compared to conventional LED display means, the present invention allows for more reliable confirmation of the LED light color of the light-emitting section from a wider visible range of the front of the machining center, thereby enabling the user to understand the operating status of the machine tool.

[0019] Furthermore, in the LED display mechanism according to the present invention, the light-emitting part is installed inside a slit hole formed in the outer cover by an LED tape fixing plate attached to the inside of the outer cover, and the RGB-LED tape light is mounted on the inside of the outer cover. Therefore, there is no part that protrudes outward from the surface of the outer cover. Consequently, even if some object comes into contact with it from the outside, it is unlikely that the light-emitting part will be damaged or otherwise affected. For example, even if the opening and closing door, which is usually located in the front area, is of the sliding type, and the light-emitting part is positioned in the area that the door covers when it is open, it will not cause any problems not only with the sliding opening and closing of the door, but also with the light-emitting part itself.

[0020] Furthermore, the visibility of the elongated light-emitting section according to the present invention can be further improved by making it longer and providing it on more sides. For example, if the light-emitting section is provided at least at one corner of the front cover, even a single light-emitting section will have a wider light-emitting area because it spans the two sides forming the corner. In this case, the slit hole should be formed in an L-shape that extends horizontally and continuously across the two mutually orthogonal sides at the corner, and the LED tape fixing plate should be attached in a substantially L-shape so as to cover the entire length of the slit hole.

[0021] Thus, by providing light-emitting elements at at least one corner of the front cover, the light emitted from the RGB-LED strip light can be seen from anywhere within the range where the front and sides of the outer cover, including the corner where the light-emitting element is installed, are visible, across the entire circumference of the machining center. Therefore, even with a single light-emitting element, the LED light color of the element can be seen from a significantly wider range of directions compared to conventional LED display means, allowing for more reliable visualization of the machine tool's operating status.

[0022] Furthermore, commercially available RGB-LED strip lights can be used in this invention, making them easy to prepare. A typical LED strip light consists of numerous RGB chip LEDs mounted on a tape-shaped substrate at predetermined intervals along with wiring. Terminal connectors are attached to the wiring cords extending from the end contacts, and the strip light is used by connecting it to a power source via a DC jack or the like.

[0023] Furthermore, each RGB chip LED has embedded light-emitting diodes (LEDs) of the three primary colors of light: red (R), green (G), and blue (B). By adjusting the current flowing through each of the R, G, and B LEDs, different colors of light can be emitted, resulting in an RGB-LED strip light.

[0024] Normally, RGB-LED strip lights have the light-emitting side facing up and are installed by attaching them to a designated position on the back. However, some commercially available products have double-sided adhesive tape on the back, allowing for easy attachment and retention to an LED strip mounting plate using this tape. Furthermore, if the adhesive tape is removable, the RGB-LED strip light itself can be easily removed. This makes it easier to replace the RGB-LED strip light when it deteriorates or malfunctions due to aging.

[0025] Furthermore, there are also tube-type products in which the front side of the tape is covered with a waterproof cover. This cover is usually made of a flexible, milky white silicone material, and the dot-like light emission of each chip is softened by the diffusion effect of the cover material. In this invention, since it is installed on an outer cover that prevents the scattering of cutting chips and cutting fluid generated during the operation of a machine tool, such a tube-type RGB-LED tape light with a waterproof cover is preferred.

[0026] Typically, commercially available RGB-LED strip lights come with a controller that is connected to the power supply via a DC jack. This controller adjusts the current to each color LED according to the input control signal, thereby adjusting the light emission to a predetermined color. Therefore, such a controller can be incorporated and used as the light color control unit of the present invention.

[0027] There are two main control methods for adjusting the light color: a full-color type that allows for nearly continuous color changes by adjusting the amount of current flowing to each color LED, and a type that selectively switches between multiple colors by adjusting the on / off state of power supply to each color LED, resulting in different combinations of three colors.

[0028] In the machining center of the present invention, it is sufficient to obtain light colors corresponding to several operating conditions of the machine tool, so a switchable type is sufficient. In this case, the control signal only needs to instruct the on / off of the current to each color LED according to the combination of color LEDs that obtain the light colors set in advance for each operating condition.

[0029] Therefore, the CNC device of a machining center automatically operates the machine tool according to tool information stored in the memory and a preset NC machining program, but when the above-mentioned switching type is adopted, the control unit shall be equipped with a color control signal generation unit that outputs color control signals that command the color control unit to emit light in different colors, which are preset to correspond to each operating condition of the machine tool.

[0030] Therefore, the light color control unit is connected between the RGB-LED tape light and the LED power supply wiring, and in response to the light color control signal input from the light color control signal generator, it switches the power supply to the red LED, green LED, and blue LED on and off to change the light color by emitting light in combinations of different LEDs.

[0031] For example, a control signal that supplies current only to the red LED will cause the entire LED strip to emit red light due to the red LED being lit alone, and a control signal that supplies current only to the green LED will cause the entire LED strip to emit green light due to the green LED being lit alone. To make the entire LED strip emit yellow light, a control signal that supplies roughly the same amount of current to the red and green LEDs should be input, and to make it emit white light, a control signal that supplies current to all color LEDs should be input, causing all colors to light up. These different light colors can then be matched to the operating conditions of the machine tool.

[0032] With this configuration, in the automated operation process of a machine tool controlled by a CNC device, a light color control signal corresponding to the operating conditions is output at each operating stage, so that the light color of the light-emitting part of the LED display mechanism is automatically changed in conjunction with changes in the operating conditions of the machine tool.

[0033] In this invention, the following are examples of light color control signals that need to be output from the light color control signal generation unit of the control unit of the CNC device as light color control signals that command the adjustment of the light color of the light-emitting part according to the operating status. Specifically, the light color control signals include a first light color control signal that commands adjustment to a light color indicating the energized state during non-machining operation of the machine tool, a second light color control signal that commands adjustment to a light color indicating the state during machining operation of the machine tool, a third light color control signal that commands adjustment to a light color indicating the completion state of machining operation of the machine tool, and a fourth light color control signal that commands adjustment to a warning light color indicating an alarm has occurred in the machine tool. These allow the operating status of the machine tool to be understood to be distinguished and visually identified by different light colors of the LEDs.

[0034] Furthermore, most commercially available RGB-LED strip lights can be cut in predetermined pitch increments, allowing them to be cut to any length depending on the installation area. When cutting, wiring cords with terminal connectors can be connected to the contacts at the cut ends by soldering. In addition, RGB-LED strip lights installed in multiple different locations can be connected to a controller via commercially available branch boxes equipped with branch wiring, allowing all RGB-LED strip lights to be synchronized and have the same color temperature adjustment controlled by the same controller.

[0035] Therefore, in the machining center of the present invention, even if RGB-LED tape lights are installed not only on a part of the outer cover, but also on one or more sides, or on one or more corners or all corners of the four corners of the outer cover, it is possible to adjust the light color in synchronization with each other.

[0036] For example, in the case of a relatively small machining center with a narrow front area and an opening / closing door positioned near one corner of the front cover, it is efficient and practical to install the light-emitting elements only in the other corner area. In contrast, if the front area is relatively wide and there is ample space on both sides of the opening / closing door, it is sufficient to place the light-emitting elements in two locations, at the corners on both sides of the front cover.

[0037] The outer cover is formed by sheet metal processing using general structural rolled steel such as SS400, or steel materials such as hot-rolled mild steel (SPHC) or cold-rolled steel (SPCC), according to the configuration of the machine tool in question. Therefore, the slit holes that constitute the light-emitting part of the LED display mechanism in this invention can also be formed during this molding process.

[0038] Furthermore, since the LED tape fixing plate in this invention is provided to cover the slit holes in the outer cover and constitutes part of the splash guard, it is desirable that it has a strength comparable to that of the outer cover itself. Therefore, it is preferable to form it from the same steel material as the outer cover and fix it to the inside of the slit holes by welding or the like. The LED tape fixing plate can also be fixed with a metal adhesive. Such an LED tape fixing plate is sufficient as long as the horizontal lower end surface of the upper side edge of the opening of the slit hole, which becomes the first reflective surface, and the inclined surface, which becomes the second reflective surface, are smooth and can reflect LED light well.

[0039] Furthermore, if the machining center is large and the distance between the front and back is large, making it difficult to see from the back with only the front-facing light source, then by adding light sources to one or both of the left and right corners of the back side in addition to the front, almost all blind spots can be eliminated.

[0040] Furthermore, the RGB-LED strip lights in this invention are not limited to being installed one strip in a single row on the horizontal base of the LED strip fixing plate; they can also be arranged in two strips in two rows, provided that the width of the horizontal base of the LED strip fixing plate is wide enough to secure sufficient installation area.

[0041] In the machining center according to the present invention, as described above, in at least a part of the front region above the exterior cover, a RGB-LED tape light is installed in a long shape along the horizontal direction so as to emit light downward from the inside of the slit hole as a light emitting part of the LED display mechanism. Therefore, the influence of obstacles on the light emitting part from the outside is suppressed, and the light emission from the RGB-LED tape light can be visually recognized anywhere within the range where at least the front of the machining center can be seen. As a result, the LED light color of the light emitting part can be confirmed more reliably than in the past, and the operation status of the machine tool can be easily grasped.

[0042] It is a front side perspective view showing a machining center according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 1. It is an explanatory view showing the configuration of the light emitting part of the machining center of FIG. 1. It is a block diagram showing the schematic configuration of the machining center of FIG. 1. It is a rear side perspective view of the machining center of FIG. 1. It is a front side perspective view showing a machining center according to an embodiment different from FIG. 1. It is a front side perspective view showing a machining center when the shape of the light emitting part is different from that of FIG. 1. It is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of each light emitting part in FIG. 7.

[0043] A machining center 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1 to 4. FIG. 1 is a front side perspective view showing the machining center 1, and FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing the configuration of the light emitting part in the present embodiment, and FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the schematic configuration of the machining center 1.

[0044] In the machining center 1 according to the present embodiment, the machine tool 2 is provided with an automatic tool changer 4 and a tool magazine M in which a plurality of types of tools are stored. A rotary table for transporting the workpiece to the machining unit 3 is arranged in the front section, and the whole is surrounded in a substantially rectangular shape by an exterior cover 10.

[0045] Among this exterior cover 10, a slide-type opening / closing door 11 is provided at the center of the front surface of a front cover portion 12 that surrounds a front section in a substantially U shape. Through this opening / closing door 11, operations such as placing a workpiece on a turntable and retrieving the workpiece are performed. Also, on the side surface of the exterior cover 10, an operation panel 6 of a CNC device 5 for numerically controlling the machine tool 2 is provided as in the prior art.

[0046] This operation panel 6 is provided with a touch panel type display D. On this touch panel type display D, items of various work operation modes for the machine tool 2 that are pre-provided in the CNC device 5 are respectively displayed selectably on a menu screen, for example, as icons. Around the display D, input / output parts for various data such as USB ports are provided. Also, below the display D, as an input part I, a keyboard including a mouse pad and mouse buttons is arranged, and in a further lower region, various switches and buttons related to various operations of the machine tool 2 are provided.

[0047] In a control unit 7 of the CNC device 5, in order to obtain a target product by cutting a workpiece of a material, first, in a necessary work operation mode selected by a menu screen, necessary operations such as setting tool information F in a storage unit 9 related to each tool stored in a tool magazine M, various settings of a rotating shaft in a machining part 3, and selection and editing of an NC machining program P are performed. Then, after necessary various settings are completed, the control unit 7 causes a machining part 3 to execute a predetermined automatic operation along an NC machining program P set in advance using the tool information F. Thereby, predetermined cutting is performed on the workpiece conveyed from the turntable onto the rotating table of the machining part 3.

[0048] In the machining center 1 of this embodiment, when executing cutting in the machine tool 2 as described above, it is provided with an LED display mechanism that can visually observe its operating status from the outside. That is, among the four corners of the front, rear, left, and right of the exterior cover 10, light emitting parts (20a, 20b) of the LED display mechanism are provided in upper regions of both left and right corner parts (13a, 13b) of the opening / closing door 11 of the front cover portion 12.

[0049] These light-emitting sections (20a, 20b) are mainly composed of L-shaped slit holes (21a, 21b) drilled in a long, continuous horizontal direction from the front of each corner (13a, 13b) to the right and left sides, respectively; LED tape fixing plates (25a, 25b) attached to the inside of the outer cover 10 so as to cover these slit holes (21a, 21b) along their entire length; and RGB-LED tape lights (30a, 30b) held in an L-shape along their entire length by each LED tape fixing plate (25a, 25b).

[0050] Each LED tape fixing plate (25a, 25b) has a horizontal bottom surface (26a, 26b) to which the RGB-LED tape light (30a, 30b) is attached via double-sided adhesive tape 36 on its back surface, and an inclined surface (27a, 27b) that extends forward from the upper end of the rising wall on the rear end side of the outer cover side of the horizontal bottom surface (26a, 26b) to a position above the RGB-LED tape light (30a, 30b) and above the lower end surface (22a, 22b) of the upper edge of the opening of the slit hole (21a, 21b).

[0051] The LED tape fixing plates (25a, 25b) in this embodiment are made of the same steel material as the outer cover 10. Although the slit holes (21a, 21b) are formed during the sheet metal manufacturing process of the outer cover 10, the LED tape fixing plates (25a, 25b) can also be attached after the slit holes (21a, 21b) are formed during the manufacturing process of the outer cover 10.

[0052] In the light-emitting sections (20a, 20b) of this embodiment, the lower end surfaces of the upper side edges of the slit holes (21a, 21b) form horizontal, smooth first reflective surfaces (22a, 22b) that reflect light from the RGB-LED tape lights (30a, 30b) downward. This first reflective surface (22a, 22b) causes a narrow, sharp reflected beam of LED light to be projected downward.

[0053] Furthermore, the inclined surfaces of the LED tape fixing plates (25a, 25b) form a smooth second reflective surface that reflects and diffuses light from the RGB-LED tape lights (30a, 30b) downward and forward. This second reflective surface (27a, 27b) causes the LED light to illuminate a wide area around the lower part of the outer cover 10.

[0054] These two types of reflected light ensure that the LED light color from the RGB-LED tape lights (30a, 30b) is clearly visible whether the user is close to or far from the outer cover 10. Furthermore, the LED light color can be seen from a wide area within the range where the wall surface of the outer cover 10, on which these light-emitting parts (20a, 20b) are located, is visible from all directions of the machining center 1, making it easy to grasp the operating status of the machine tool 2 at any given moment without having to approach the machining center 1.

[0055] The LED display mechanism in this embodiment includes an LED power supply wiring W for supplying power to each RGB-LED tape light (30a, 30b), and a color control unit 40 that causes each RGB-LED tape light (30a, 30b) to emit light in one of several different colors, which are set in advance, according to the various operating conditions of the machine tool 2.

[0056] The light color adjuster 40 controls the on / off power supply to each color LED of the RGB-LED tape light (30a, 30b) according to the light color control signal Cs output from the light color control signal generation unit 8 located in the control unit 7 of the CNC device 5. This control enables LED illumination of a predetermined light color using color LEDs or a combination thereof.

[0057] The RGB-LED strip lights (30a, 30b) incorporated into the light-emitting sections (20a, 20b) of this embodiment are the same RGB-LED strip light 30, each adjusted to an appropriate length. This RGB-LED strip light 30 has a number of RGB chip LEDs 32 mounted on a tape-shaped substrate 31 at predetermined intervals along with wiring. A terminal connector 34 is attached to a wiring cord 33 extending from the end contacts, and it is connected to the power supply circuit S of the machine tool 2 via a DC jack or the like. Therefore, as soon as the main power supply of the machine tool 2 is turned on, power is supplied to the RGB-LED strip lights (30a, 30b) at an appropriate voltage.

[0058] The RGB-LED strip light 30 used in this embodiment is a tube-type product with a flexible, milky white silicone waterproof cover 35 on its front side. This waterproof cover 35 softens the dot-like light emission from each RGB chip LED 32 due to the diffusion effect of the cover material. Therefore, the light-emitting sections (20a, 20b) provide uniform LED illumination overall.

[0059] Each RGB chip LED 32 has embedded light-emitting diodes (LEDs) of the three primary colors of light: red (R), green (G), and blue (B). By adjusting the current flowing through the red (R) LED, green (G) LED, and blue (B) LED in each RGB chip LED 32, different colors of light can be emitted.

[0060] In this embodiment, a color temperature adjuster 40 is connected between each RGB-LED tape light (30a, 30b) and the power supply circuit S via a branch box B for adding more tape lights. Therefore, the color temperature adjuster 40 synchronizes the color temperature adjustment for the two RGB-LED tape lights (30a, 30b). In this embodiment, the color temperature is changed by controlling the on / off switching of the current supply to the wiring of each color LED, thereby changing which color LED is emitted and their combination.

[0061] In the RGB-LED strip lights (30a, 30b) of this embodiment, multiple RGB chip LEDs 32 are connected independently to LEDs of different colors, and LEDs of the same color are connected in a continuous manner, so that the on / off switching of the current is adjusted synchronously.

[0062] The light color adjuster 40 then switches the current supply to each color LED wiring on and off in response to the input of a light color control signal Cs, which is output from the light color control signal generation unit 8 of the control unit 7 of the CNC device 5 and commands a preset light color corresponding to each operating status of the machine tool 2.

[0063] In this embodiment, the preset light color control signals Cs include, for example, a first light color control signal Cs1 that commands adjustment to a light color indicating the energized state of the machine tool 2 during non-machining operation, a second light color control signal Cs2 that commands adjustment to a light color indicating the state of the machine tool 2 during machining operation, a third light color control signal Cs3 that commands adjustment to a light color indicating the state of the machine tool 2 after the machining operation is complete, and a fourth light color control signal Cs4 that commands adjustment to a warning light color indicating an alarm has occurred in the machine tool 2.

[0064] Each of these light color control signals Cs (Cs1 to Cs4) can be assigned a color LED to be emitted and a combination thereof, as shown in Table 1, for example. Accordingly, the light color controller 40 controls the on / off connection of the power supply to the wiring from each color LED so that the LED or combination thereof emits a preset light color according to the input light color control signals Cs (Cs1 to Cs4).

[0065]

[0066] Specifically, when white is assigned as the light color indicating the normal powered state, such as before machining operation of the machine tool 2, the light color controller 40 powers all three color LEDs by turning on the power supply connection to all wiring to the red, green, and blue LEDs in response to the input of the first light color control signal Cs1. As a result, the RGB-LED tape lights (30a, 30b) emit white light. Furthermore, when green is assigned as the light color indicating the state during machining operation of the machine tool 2, the light color controller 40 turns on the power supply connection to the wiring to the green LED only, in response to the input of the second light color control signal Cs2, and turns off the power supply connections to the other color LEDs, thus de-energizing them. As a result, the RGB-LED tape lights (30a, 30b) emit green light.

[0067] Furthermore, if yellow is assigned as the light color indicating the completion of machining operation of machine tool 2, the light color controller 40, in response to the input of the third light color control signal Cs3, turns on the power supply connections to the red LED and green LED, and turns off the power supply connection to the blue LED, thus de-energizing it. As a result, the RGB-LED tape lights (30a, 30b) emit yellow light. In addition, if red is assigned as the warning light color indicating an alarm has occurred in machine tool 2, the light color controller 40, in response to the input of the fourth light color control signal Cs4, turns on the power supply connection only to the red LED, and turns off the power supply connections to the other color LEDs, thus de-energizing them. As a result, the RGB-LED tape lights (30a, 30b) emit red light.

[0068] The light color control signal generator 8 outputs corresponding light color control signals (Cs1 to Cs4) according to the operating status of the machine tool 2, but it is more efficient to link them to each process when a predetermined NC machining program P is executed in the control unit 7. In this case, for example, the light color control signal generator 8 can be set to output a second light color control signal Cs2 when the start of execution of the predetermined NC machining program P is commanded, and to output a third light color control signal Cs3 when the execution of the NC machining program P is completed.

[0069] Furthermore, the first color control signal Cs1 should be output simultaneously when the main power to the machining center 1 is turned on for the operation of the machine tool 2. In addition, normally, the control unit 7 of the CNC device 5 stops the running NC machining program P and stops the driving of the machining unit 3 and the automatic tool changer 4, etc., when a malfunction occurs in the machine tool 2. In practice, the color control signal generation unit 8 is set to output a fourth color control signal Cs4 in conjunction with the generation of the alarm signal.

[0070] While the above four colors can indicate at least the operating status of the necessary machine tool 2, the light color control method using power switching for the three-color LEDs in this embodiment allows for the acquisition of other light colors by combining other color LEDs, making it possible to assign other operating statuses to these other light colors. For example, emitting both a red LED and a blue LED produces a purple light color, and emitting both a green LED and a blue LED produces a sky blue light color. Of course, emitting only a blue LED produces a blue light color. These other light colors can be used to understand conditions other than the operating status described above.

[0071] Furthermore, in this embodiment, a punched-out display section 15 with the product name and number punched out is provided on the exterior cover 10 in the area above the light-emitting section 20b at the left corner (13b) of the opening / closing door 11 in the front area of ​​the exterior cover 10. LED light is transmitted from the back side of this punched-out display section 15 by another LED lighting device, thereby making it easy to visually identify the product name and number of the target machining center 1. In this case, the color of the LED light emitted in the punched-out display section 15 is different from the color of the light emitted by the RGB-LED tape lights (30a, 30b) in the light-emitting sections (20a, 20b) to indicate the operating status. For example, the blue light color from Table 1 above can be used for the punched-out display section 15.

[0072] Furthermore, if the machining center 1 is relatively large, providing light-emitting units in the corner areas on the rear side of the outer cover 10 will widen the area over which the LED light color can be perceived. For example, as shown in the rear perspective view of Figure 5, a light-emitting unit 20c can be provided in the area including one of the left and right corners (13c, 13d) of the four corners on the rear side, specifically in the area including one corner 13c. Here, as shown in Figure 5, since the upper area on the rear of the outer cover 10 does not have a section that divides the wall surface, such as the front opening and closing door 11, the rear area of ​​the light-emitting unit 20c can be extended to near the opposing corner 13d.

[0073] This light-emitting section 20c mainly consists of an L-shaped slit hole 21c drilled horizontally, with the rear side region being longer than the side region; a roughly L-shaped LED tape fixing plate 25c fixed to the outer cover 10 from the inside so as to cover the slit hole 21c along its entire length; and an RGB-LED tape light 30c held in an L-shape on its horizontal bottom surface along the entire length of the LED tape fixing plate 25c.

[0074] This RGB-LED strip light 30c can also be connected to the above-mentioned color temperature adjuster 40 via the branch box B, so that its color temperature is adjusted in sync with the other RGB-LED strip lights (30a, 30b).

[0075] The LED tape fixing plate 25c has the same cross-sectional shape as shown in Figure 2, except that it is of a different length from the other LED tape fixing plates (25a, 25b). Specifically, it has a horizontal bottom surface 26c to which the RGB-LED tape light 30c is attached on its back surface, and an inclined surface that extends forward from the upper end of the rising wall on the rear end side of the horizontal bottom surface 26c to a position above the RGB-LED tape light 30c and above the upper side edge of the opening of the slit hole 21c. The horizontal lower end surface of the upper side edge of the opening of the slit hole 21c forms the first reflective surface 22c, and the inclined surface forms the second reflective surface 27c. These two types of reflective surfaces (22c, 27c) illuminate a wide area below the back side of the outer cover 10 with light from the RGB-LED tape light 30c.

[0076] Furthermore, in a relatively small machining center 51, as shown in Figure 6, where the width of the front area of ​​the exterior cover 60 is narrow and the opening / closing door 61 is positioned closer to one of the left and right corners (73a, 73b) of the front cover portion 62 (73a, 73b), it is sufficient to provide the light-emitting part 70 of the LED lighting mechanism only at the other corner 73a. In this machining center 51, the control panel 56 of the CNC device is located on the right side of the exterior cover 60, but the machine tool as a whole is compactly constructed within the exterior cover 60. For this reason, the visible area of ​​the front and left side occupies a relatively large area relative to the entire outer circumference of the machining center 51.

[0077] This light-emitting section 70 has the same configuration as the light-emitting section 20b shown in Figures 1 to 3 above, and mainly consists of an L-shaped slit hole 71 drilled in a long area extending horizontally from the front to the left side of the corner 73b, an LED tape fixing plate 75 attached to the inside of the outer cover 60 so as to cover the slit hole 71 along its entire length, and an RGB-LED tape light 80 held in an L-shape along its entire length on the horizontal bottom surface 76 of the LED tape fixing plate 75.

[0078] The LED tape fixing plate 75 here has the same cross-sectional shape as shown in Figure 2, and includes a first reflective surface 72 which is the horizontal lower end surface of the upper edge of the opening of the slit hole 71, and a second reflective surface 77 which is an inclined surface. These two types of reflective surfaces (72, 77) are configured to illuminate a wide area downwards on the rear side of the outer cover 60 with light from the RGB-LED tape light 80.

[0079] In this relatively small machining center 51, an L-shaped light-emitting section 70 is simply provided on one of the left and right corners (73a, 73b) of the front cover section 62, which has a wider area available. However, the LED light emission can be seen from anywhere within the range where the front and left side sides, where the light-emitting section 70 is located, are visible from the entire outer circumference of the machining center 51.

[0080] As described above, the LED lighting mechanism according to the present invention has an L-shaped light-emitting section arranged at at least one corner on the front side of the four corners (front, back, left, and right) of the outer cover. By appropriately increasing the number of corners where the light-emitting section is arranged according to the size of the machining center, the LED lighting can be more reliably seen in any type of machining center, and the operating status of the machine tool can be more easily grasped by the color of the light.

[0081] In the above embodiment, the case shown is one in a single row of RGB-LED strip lights installed on the horizontal bottom surface of the LED strip fixing plate for each light-emitting unit. However, if the horizontal bottom surface of the LED strip fixing plate has sufficient width to secure a sufficient installation area, it is also possible to increase the amount of light emitted by arranging two strips in two rows.

[0082] Furthermore, in the embodiments described above, the light-emitting portion is shown to be composed of L-shaped continuous slit holes formed at the corners of the outer cover. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and rectangular portions may be provided on each side.

[0083] For example, as shown in Figure 7, in a machining center 100 of the same type as in Figure 1, instead of having L-shaped continuous openings and closings at the left and right corners (113a, 113b) of the front cover portion 112, which has an opening and closing door 111 in the center, independent rectangular slit holes (121a, 121b, 121c) are formed on each side, and LED tape fixing plates (125a, 125b, 125c) to which RGB-LED tape lights (130a, 130b, 130c) are fixed are attached to the back surface of each, thereby forming rectangular light-emitting sections (120a, 120b, 120c).

[0084] As shown in Figure 8, the LED tape fixing plates (125a, 125b, 125c) of each light-emitting section (120a, 120b, 120c) have the same cross-sectional shape as those shown in Figure 2 in the above embodiment.

[0085] Specifically, each LED tape fixing plate (125a, 125b, 125c) includes a horizontal bottom surface (126a, 126b, 126c) to which the RGB-LED tape lights (130a, 130b, 130c) are attached via double-sided adhesive tape 36 on its back surface, and an inclined surface (127a, 127b, 127c) extending forward from the upper end of the rising wall on the rear end side of the outer cover of the horizontal bottom surface (126a, 126b, 126c) towards the RGB-LED tape lights (130a, 130b, 130c), above the lower end surface (122a, 122b, 122c) of the upper edge of the opening of the slit holes (121a, 121b, 121c).

[0086] In these light-emitting sections (120a, 120b, 120c), the lower end surface of the upper side edge of the slit hole (121a, 121b, 121c) forms a horizontal, smooth first reflective surface (122a, 122b, 122c) that reflects light from the RGB-LED tape light (130a, 130b, 130c) downward, and this first reflective surface projects a narrow, sharp reflected light of the LED downward.

[0087] Furthermore, the inclined surfaces of the LED tape fixing plates (125a, 125b, 125c) form smooth second reflective surfaces (127a, 127b, 127c) that reflect and diffuse the light from the RGB-LED tape lights (130a, 130b, 130c) downward and forward. These second reflective surfaces cause the LED light to illuminate a wide area around the lower part of the outer cover 110.

[0088] As described above, when multiple rectangular light-emitting units (120a, 120b, 120c) are provided on the outer cover 110, they can be easily installed as light-emitting units of the same shape by preparing and attaching components of the same dimensions and design.

[0089] 1, 51, 100: Machining center 2: Machine tool 3: Machining section 4: Automatic tool changer M: Tool magazine 5: CNC device 6, 56: Control panel D: Display I: Input section 7: Control unit 8: Light color control signal generator Cs (Cs1, Cs2, Cs3, Cs4): Light color control signal 9: Memory section P: NC machining program F: Tool information 10, 60, 110: Outer cover 11, 61, 111: Opening / closing door 12, 62, 112: Front cover section 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d, 73a, 73b, 113a, 113b: Corner section 15: Punching display section 20a, 20b, 20c, 70, 120a, 120b, 120c: Light-emitting section 21a, 21b, 21c, 71, 121a, 121b, 121c: Slit holes 22a, 22b, 22c, 72, 122a, 122b, 122c: First reflective surface (lower end surface of the upper edge of the opening) 25a, 25b, 25c, 75, 125a, 125b, 125c: LED tape fixing plate 26a, 26b, 26c, 76, 126a, 126b, 126c: Horizontal bottom surface 27a, 27b, 27c, 77, 127a, 127b, 127c: Second reflective surface (inclined surface) 30, 30a, 30b, 30c, 80, 130a, 130b, 130c: RGB-LED tape light 31: Tape-shaped substrate 32: RGB chip LED 33: Wiring cord 34: Terminal connector 35: Waterproof cover 36: Double-sided adhesive tape B: Branch box 40: Light color adjuster W: LED power wiring S: Power circuit

Claims

1. A machining center equipped with a computer numerical control (CNC) device for numerically controlling a machine tool, wherein an LED (light-emitting diode) display mechanism is provided, wherein a light-emitting part is provided in a part of the front area of ​​the front cover portion that surrounds the front section of the machine tool in a substantially U-shape, above the outer cover surrounding the outer periphery of the machine tool, and the LED display mechanism comprises, as the light-emitting part, a slit hole drilled in the outer cover in a long length along the horizontal direction, an LED tape fixing plate attached from the inside of the outer cover so as to cover the slit hole along its entire length, and an RGB-LED tape light held along the entire length of the LED tape fixing plate, in which a plurality of chip light-emitting diodes, each embedded with a red LED, a green LED, and a blue LED, are mounted in a row at predetermined intervals, and the LED power supply wiring for supplying power to the RGB-LED tape light, and a light color control unit that causes the RGB-LED tape light to emit light in a plurality of different light colors preset according to various operating conditions of the machine tool. The LED tape fixing plate comprises a horizontal bottom surface to which the RGB-LED tape light is attached on its back surface, and an inclined surface extending forward from the rear end side of the horizontal bottom surface in the direction of the inner side of the outer cover, above the RGB-LED tape light and above the upper side edge of the opening of the slit hole, wherein the lower end surface of the upper side edge of the opening of the slit hole forms a horizontal and smooth first reflective surface that reflects light from the RGB-LED tape light downward, and the inclined surface forms a smooth second reflective surface that reflects and diffuses light from the RGB-LED tape light downward and forward.

2. The machining center according to claim 1, characterized in that the light-emitting portion is provided at least at one corner of the front cover portion, the slit hole is formed in an L-shape along the horizontal direction continuously across two mutually orthogonal sides at the corner, the LED tape fixing plate is attached in a substantially L-shape so as to cover the slit hole along its entire length, and the RGB-LED tape light is held in an L-shape along the entire length of the LED tape fixing plate.

3. The control unit of the CNC device includes a color control signal generator that outputs color control signals to the color control unit, each of which commands the color control unit to emit light in a preset color corresponding to each operating condition of the machine tool, and the color control unit is connected between the RGB-LED tape light and the LED power supply wiring, and changes the color of light by turning on and off the power supply to the red LED, green LED and blue LED in response to the input color control signals, thereby emitting light in combination with different LEDs, as described in claim 1 or 2.

4. The machining center according to claim 3, characterized in that the light color control signal comprises a first light color control signal that commands adjustment to a light color indicating the energized state of the machine tool during non-machining operation; a second light color control signal that commands adjustment to a light color indicating the state of machining operation of the machine tool; a third light color control signal that commands adjustment to a light color indicating the state of completion of machining operation of the machine tool; and a fourth light color control signal that commands adjustment to a warning light color indicating an alarm has occurred in the machine tool.

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