JP2851674B2 - Touring tower - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a tooling tower capable of efficiently storing and removing tools.

(Prior art) Various machine tools using tools such as dies, especially punch presses, require a tooling tower for storing and managing the dies, which is called a die rack and merely stores the dies. Various types of devices are used, from a shelf-like device to a device capable of automatically taking out a predetermined mold by inputting a key of a storage station number or a mold number, for example.

However, since these conventional tooling towers only manage the list of table data by associating the number of the mounting mold with the storage station number, if the input of the mold number is wrong, the The contents of the table data are erroneously stored, and the mold is lost in the tower, and there is a problem that a robot or the like accidentally removes another mold.

Therefore, the present applicant has proposed Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 63-165027 (a tooling tower equipped with a mold identification device) for recognizing the shape of a storage mold, and is working diligently to put it to practical use. By the way.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, the tooling tower proposed in this way has been inevitably variously improved from the viewpoint of usability in the recent systemization of FNS, SIM, and the like.

For example, in recent press processing lines, multiple CAD /
CAM and multiple presses are systematized by connecting them with a DNC line, and the tooling tower is installed for these multiple presses, so the mold can be properly removed for each press It must be flexible enough to accommodate the mold.

Specifically, there is a case where a plurality of dies having the same shape have to be prepared, and there is a case where the above-mentioned tool identification device cannot sufficiently cope with the situation.

Also, since the tooling tower is arranged at a certain distance from the place machine, it communicates with the press machine by, for example, a trolley to quickly remove or store a plurality of dies placed on the trolley. And must do so reliably.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a tooling tower capable of easily, quickly and surely taking out or storing a tool for a plurality of tools as well as reliably managing the storage tools.

[Constitution of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) In view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, the present invention provides a plurality of disk-shaped supports provided with a plurality of tool storage stations for supporting a tool in a removable manner. In a tooling tower having a structure in which plates are rotatably provided in a cylindrical container in multiple stages vertically and vertically, a tool take-out port and a storage port are provided in the cylindrical container, and the tool take-out and storage are provided in the take-out port and the storage port. Provided is a support plate notifying means for notifying a support plate corresponding to the tool, and moving a tool storage station of the support plate supporting the tool to be taken out in accordance with a command to take out the tool to the take-out port and supporting the tool taking out the tool. Is provided by the support plate notifying means, and the tool to be returned identified by the tool identification sensor is provided. Tool storage control means for determining a tool storage station for storing the tool to be returned based on the tool identification information, moving the tool storage station to the storage port, and notifying the support plate provided with the tool storage station corresponding to the tool storage by the support plate notification means. Is provided.

(Embodiment) Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with an example in which the present invention is used for die management of a processing line having a plurality of turret punch presses.

Referring to FIG. 1, the touring tower 1 of the present embodiment includes:
The dies (punches and dies) used by a plurality of turret punch presses are provided in one part of the processing line. The number of molds can be in the hundreds.

The tooling tower 1 is provided with a plurality of disk-shaped mold support plates 3 (3a, 3b) in a cylindrical container 2, and an odd-numbered play 3a counted from above is used as a support plate for the punch 4, and an even number The third plate 3b is used as a support plate for the die 5.

The support plate 3a of the punch 4 is provided with a large number of cuts on the outer periphery of the disk, and each cut is fitted and supported by a flange provided on the punch 4.

The support plate 3b of the die 5 is provided with a large number of concave portions on the outer periphery of the disk, and each concave portion supports the bottom of the die 5.

The center of the support plate 3 (3a, 3b) is fixed to a rotation shaft rotatably supported on the bottom surface and the lower surface of the ceiling of the cylindrical container 2, and the rotation shaft is moved at an arbitrary rotation position by a servo motor (not shown). It is driven to rotate so that it can be stopped.

On the other hand, one side surface of the cylindrical container 2 is provided with a vertically long mold take-out port 6 and a mold accommodating port 7.

A mold pick-up lamp 8 is provided corresponding to each of the support plates 3a and 3b of the mold take-out opening 6 as a support plate notifying means for notifying mold take-out. Also,
A take-out confirmation button 9 is provided for the mold take-out opening 6 at a height that allows easy operation.

Similarly, the mold housing opening 7 is provided with a mold housing lamp 10 as a support plate informing means for informing a support plate corresponding to the mold housing, and a housing confirmation button 11.

A rotating member 12 having a relatively short length is erected on the upper surface of the ceiling of the cylindrical container 2, and the rotating member 12 is provided with an arm 13 that can swing up and down with a certain resistance. . At an end of the arm 13, an operation box 14 that is swingable in a vertical plane with respect to the vertical member is suspended via a vertical member as appropriate. Therefore, the operator can rotate the operation box 14 to a position where it can be easily operated, move the operation box 14 up and down, and take an arbitrary posture.

The operation box 14 has a CRT 15 on the front and an operation key 1
6 is provided, and a mold identification sensor 17 using a bar code reading pen is provided on a side surface thereof. The mold identification sensor 17 may be changed to a magnetic sensor or a signal receiving antenna according to the type of the identification code. In the following example, an example of a code identification sensor that reads a unique number attached to a mold is shown.However, when the mold is provided with mold information of the shape and dimensions, the mold has the same shape and dimensions. Alternatively, the molds may be identified by assigning unique numbers to each other, and the molds may be recognized based on the mold information.

 FIG. 2 shows an enlarged front view of the operation pox 14.

In the figure, on the display screen of the CRT 15, for example, regarding punches, sizes [(1/2) ″, 1+ (1/4) ″, 3+ (1/2) ″,
4+ (1/2) ″], the storage state is shown by associating the shape and dimension data with the storage position. In addition, a switch for calling out mold information is provided below the CRT 15.
Further, on the right side of the CRT 15, various operation keys including a numeric keypad are provided.

FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of a tower control device provided inside the operation box 14.

In the figure, a tower control device 18 mainly includes a central processing unit 19, an operation signal input unit 20, a sensor signal input unit 21, a mold identification unit 22, and an IC card interface 24.
And a communication unit 25, a display control unit 26, a lamp control 27 and an actuator control unit 28, a storage mold list management unit 29,
The mold removing control unit 30 and the mold storing control unit 31 are connected.

The stored mold list management section 29 is connected to a mold information management section 32. The take-out mold control section 33 is connected to the mold take-out control section 30.

The central processing unit 19 is configured by a CPU and performs general central processing under an appropriate operating system.

The operation signal input unit 20 is provided with a key signal of the operation box 14 and operation signals of confirmation buttons 9 and 11 provided at the mold take-out port 6 and the mold storage port 7 of the cylindrical container 2 of the tooling tower 1. And so on.

The mold identifying section 23 is for inputting a detection signal of the sensor 17 via the sensor signal input section 11 to identify a mold number.

The IC card interface 24 updates contactlessly with an IC card (not shown), writes mold information on the IC card, or inputs NC data written on the IC card and information attached thereto.

The communication unit 25 is connected to an NC device or the like of a CAD / CAM and a turret punch press (not shown), and performs data communication with the CAD / CAM and the NC device.

The display control unit 26 controls the display of the CRT 15.

The lamp control 27 is for turning on or off the mold pickup lamp 8 and the mold housing lamp 10.

The actuator control unit 28 controls the drive of a servo motor for rotating the support plate 3 to index a predetermined storage station to the mold take-out opening 6 or the mold storage opening.

The storage die list management unit 29 manages the die storage state of the storage station by associating the storage station number (storage position) with the currently stored die number.

The mold removal control unit 30 includes a plurality of molds determined by the removal mold determination unit 33, a plurality of molds specified by the operation signal input unit 20, or a plurality of removals input via the communication unit 25. For the molds, the molds are sequentially taken out and controlled according to a procedure described later.

The mold storage control unit 31 controls to sequentially store the dies identified by using the mold identification sensor 17 in a predetermined storage station according to a procedure described later.

The mold information management unit 32 stores the shape / dimension data and its history information in association with the mold number, and when performing the list display shown in FIG. 2, the display control unit via the storage mold list management unit 29. 26 to provide geometry data, or
The internal information is updated with the mold history information input via the IC card interface 25 or the IC card interface 24, and the updated information is displayed. This is provided to the IC card.

The take-out mold discriminating unit 33 is the CAD / CAM or IC
Analyze the NC data input from the card, create a mold list to be used for processing to be performed from now on, enter the mounting mold list actually mounted on the turret of the turret punch press from the NC device, and enter both lists. By comparison, the die to be replaced in the turret punch press is determined.

This determination excludes, from the comparison result of the two lists, those which do not need to change the mold only by changing the turret mounting station number. The reason is that the same comparison is performed later in the NC device of the turret punch press, so that the mold can be replaced in the turret.

As described above, the comparison between the mounted mold list and the used mold list is performed on the tower controller side, and the exchange mold is determined by:
This is because even if the turret punch press performs other processing, the exchange mold can be prepared in advance for the next processing, and the system efficiency can be improved.

FIG. 4 shows a flowchart of a mold removal process performed mainly by the mold removal control unit 30. In this example, it is assumed that NC data is input from CAD / CAM via the communication unit 25, and the exchange mold is determined by the operation of the extraction mold determination unit 33.

In step 401, the determination is performed, and one or more molds to be replaced are presented. This is indicated on CRT15.

Then, in step 402, in response to the operation of the start button, the pick-up die is indexed to the die pick-up section 6 of the tower 1, a predetermined die pick-up lamp 8 is turned on during that time, and is switched to flashing simultaneously with the indexing.

Here, the operator may take out the die indexed at the position of the flashing lamp 8. After removing the mold, the operator presses the removal confirmation button 9.

Then, in step 403, this signal is input, and the end of taking out is confirmed. Next, at step 404, a list update command is output to the storage die list management unit 2 so that the storage station for the extracted die is empty.

In the next step 405, it is determined whether the removal of all the molds specified in step 401 is completed, and the process returns to step 401 until the removal is completed. However, in the process of the next step 401, a process of erasing the instruction of the die that has been taken out of the replacement die is performed.

With the above processing, after operating the start button, the operator refers to the removal instruction displayed on the CRT 15 and removes the die that is indexed at the position where the lamp 8 is turned on and then blinks, and this is, for example, placed on a bogie. , And press the confirmation button 9 to take out the next die and go out, and the take-out operation is extremely easy and reliable. Further, as described above, in the present example, for the turret punch press currently being processed, the removal die determination unit 33 determines the replacement die for the next processing, and allows the predetermined die to be removed in advance. System efficiency can be improved.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a mold storing process performed by the mold storing control unit 31.

First, convert the CRT screen to return mode in step 501,
In step 502, the mold number identified by the mold identification sensor 17 is recognized.

Then, the process proceeds to step 503, where the shape and dimensions of the mold are called from the mold information management unit 32 and displayed on the CRT 15. This display is for the operator's reference. Next, at step 504, the lamp 10 at the position where the mold storage port 7 is to be stored is turned on, and the storage station is indexed and changed to blinking.

Then, the worker can store the mold at the position of the blinking lamp 10.

Then, after that, the blinking of the lamp 10 by which the operator presses the storage confirmation lamp 10 disappears, the button operation is recognized in step 505, and in step 506, the storage is performed in order to update the list indicating that the mold has been stored in the storage station. Instruct the mold list management unit 29 to update the list.

In step 507, the end of all the molds is confirmed by a button operation, and the processing from step 502 onward is repeated until the end.

In the above-described mold storing process, the worker identifies the mold number with the mold identifying sensor 17 for the mold to be stored,
It may be stored in the storage station indicated by the lamp 10. Further, when there are a plurality of dies to be stored, it is only necessary to repeat this, and the operation is extremely simple and efficient.

As described above, in the tooling tower 1 of the present embodiment, it is possible to easily, quickly and surely take out the mold or store the mold.

Further, since the exchange mold is automatically determined for the turret punch press, the mold can be prepared for the next processing, and the system efficiency can be increased.

In addition, since the tool history is managed including the tool history, it is easy and appropriate not only to manage the tool life but also to decide which one of the dies with the same shape and size should be given priority, for example, by making thousands of tools with long remaining life. Can be set to

In the above embodiment, the tooling tower applied to the processing line of the turret punch press has been described. However, it is needless to say that the tooling tower can be applied to the processing lines of other multi-punch presses and the processing lines of various machine tools.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but can be implemented in an appropriate mode by making appropriate design changes.

[Effects of the Invention] As can be understood from the above description of the embodiments, in the present invention, the tooling tower is provided with a take-out port 6 for taking out tools and a storage port 7 for storing tools,
Support plate notifying means for arranging a support plate corresponding to tool take-out and tool storage is provided at the take-out port 6 and the storage port 7.

At the time of tool removal, tool removal control means
Under the control of 30, the tool station of the support plate supporting the tool to be removed is moved to the take-out port, and the corresponding support plate is notified by the support plate notification means. Therefore, the operator only needs to take out the tool from the take-out port 6 according to the notification by the support plate notification means. When storing tools, the tool identification sensor
The tool station of the support plate having the tool station to be stored is moved to the storage port 7 under the control of the tool storage control means by the tool identification information of the tool to be returned by 17 and the corresponding support plate notification means. Since the supporting plate is notified, the tool may be stored according to the notification.

That is, in the present invention, by taking out and storing the tool according to the notification of the support plate notifying means of the take-out port 6 and the storage port 7 of the tooling tower, the tool can be taken out and stored accurately without error. is there.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tooling tower according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an enlarged front view of an operation pox, FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a tower control device, and FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the mold storing process. 8: Mold pick-up lamp 9: Removal confirmation button 10: Mold storage lamp 11: Storage confirmation button 17: Mold identification sensor 30: Mold removal control unit 31: Mold storage control unit

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A tooling tower having a structure in which a plurality of disk-shaped support plates each having a plurality of tool stations for supporting a tool so as to be able to be taken out are provided in a cylindrical container (2) so as to be rotatable and vertically arranged in multiple stages. , The cylindrical container (2)
A tool take-out port (6) and a storage port (7) are provided at the outlet, and the tool take-out port (6) and the storage port (7) take out a tool.
A support plate notifying means for notifying a support plate corresponding to storage is provided, and a tool storage station of a support plate supporting a tool to be taken out is moved to the take-out opening (6) in accordance with a command to take out the tool, and the tool is taken out. A tool takeout control means (30) for notifying the corresponding support plate by the support plate notification means,
The tool storage station that stores the tool to be returned is determined based on the tool identification information of the tool to be returned identified by the tool identification sensor (17), moved to the storage port (7), and the tool storage corresponding to the tool storage is performed. A tooling tower comprising tool storage control means for notifying a support plate provided with a station by a support plate notifying means.