JPH06262495A - Control device for numerically controlled machine tool group - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a control device for a numerically controlled machine tool group wherein a workpiece of completing its machining can be prevented from staying for a long period in a line though inputting workpieces is given top priority. CONSTITUTION:A workpiece is inputted in accordance with order of inputting a production data (step 110). However, when a workpiece input in accordance with the inputting order can not be performed unless the input passes the inputting order ahead by a permissible number or more (judge step 106 is No), the workpiece, not generating for a while its return in accordance with the inputting order, (final workpiece) of pallets of completing machining is selected to be returned to a loading station LS, to remove the workpiece of completing machining (step 107). The pallet, not generating for a while its return in accordance with the inputting order, of the pallets of completing machining is selected by confirming that the workpiece, mounted on the machining completed pallet of select judging object, is not in agreement with the workpiece expected to be inputted in accordance with the inputting order.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a control device for a group of numerically controlled machine tools which mounts a work on a pallet and conveys it to a numerically controlled machine tool for automatic machining.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In order to automatically machine a work by a machine tool, a loading station for mounting the work on the pallet and a buffer station for temporarily storing the pallet on which the work is mounted are provided, and the pallet is stored in the buffer station. There is a device that realizes unmanned processing by automatically loading and unloading pallets from the buffer station to and from the machine tool by a carrier truck. Some of these devices have a function of automatically selecting a pallet to which the work can be attached and returning the pallet to the loading station by inputting the loading order of the work in advance. In the apparatus having this function, when the pallet for mounting the work according to the loading order cannot be returned to the loading station because it is in use, (1) wait until the processing of the pallet is completed and becomes usable (2). Return the pallet for overtaking the loading order and attaching the work in the next loading order,
Either of the operations can be selected.

[0003]

In the apparatus having the above-mentioned function, the loaded work is processed and then returned to the loading station for replacement of the work when the next work of the same kind is loaded. Therefore, in the case of mass production of small products, the processed work is efficiently returned to the loading station. However, since this type of apparatus is developed for efficiently processing a wide variety of small quantities of workpieces, it is often used under such conditions. In the case of this multi-product machining, it is unstable when "the next introduction of the same kind of work" occurs. Also, in the case of small-volume machining, for example, when machining only two workpieces, the first workpiece is put into the loading station so that the first workpiece is put in and the second workpiece is attached when this machining is completed. However, there is a problem that the second work is always placed in the line because there is no plan to put in the work after the second work is finished.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to put a work into a line for a long period of time while giving the highest priority to inputting the work. It is an object of the present invention to provide a control device for a numerically controlled machine tool group that can eliminate the above.

[0005]

As shown in FIG. 1, a structure of an invention for solving the above-mentioned problems is that a plurality of numerically controlled machine tools MA and a carrier truck 11 for carrying a pallet P to which works are attached. And a loading station LS for mounting the work on the pallet, and a computer for controlling the transfer of the pallet P is controlled by a computer of a group of numerically controlled machine tools, which holds information on the order of loading the work. A loading order holding means 1 for holding, a pallet information holding means 2 for holding information regarding whether or not the pallet P has been processed, and a pallet for mounting a work according to the loading order held by the loading order holding means 1. After the mounting pallet selecting means 3 to be selected and the pallet selected by this mounting pallet selecting means 3 have been processed. Determines pallet determining means whether Luke based on the information of the palette information holding means 2 4
When it is determined by the pallet determining means 4 that the selected pallet has been processed, it is decided to return the pallet to the loading station, and it is determined that the processing of the pallet is not completed. In this case, a pallet that has already been processed based on the information in the pallet information holding means 2 and in which the work input based on the input order holding means 1 does not occur within the set order is selected. Pallet deciding means 5 for deciding returning the pallet to the loading station.

[0006]

According to the above construction, the loading order holding means 1 holds the loading order of the works, and the pallet information holding means 2 holds the information as to whether or not the pallet has been processed. Then, the mounting pallet selecting means 3 first selects a pallet to which the work can be mounted in order to load the work according to the loading order held by the loading order holding means 1, and then the pallet determining means 4 selects the pallet. Is determined by checking whether or not processing has been completed based on the information held in the pallet information holding means 2. When the processing of the selected pallet is completed, the selected pallet is returned to the loading station and the work is loaded in the above loading sequence. On the other hand, when the selected pallet has not been processed and cannot be returned to the loading station, the pallet has already been processed on the basis of the information of the pallet information holding means 2, Select a pallet that does not cause the loading of workpieces based on the sequence within the set sequence, that is, the pallets that will not be returned for loading the workpieces for a while, and return the selected pallets to the loading station to load the processed workpieces. Collect. In this way, when the pallet for loading the work according to the loading order cannot be returned to the loading station, the pallet that has been processed and is not returned to the loading station for a while depending on the loading order. Select and return to the loading station to remove the processed work.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a controller for a numerically controlled machine tool group according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Figure 2
1 shows a transfer line 10 for transferring a pallet P on which a work is attached by a stacker crane type transfer carriage 11. Machine tool MA along this transfer line 10.
1, MA2, MA3, loading station LS and buffer station BS are arranged respectively. The pallet No. assigned to the pallet P is displayed on the carrier 11. A pallet inspection device 12 for reading is provided. Further, each machine tool MA1, MA2, MA3 is provided with a pallet loading / unloading device PC1, PC2, PC3. These pallet loading / unloading devices PC1, PC2, PC3.
The machine tools MA1, MA2, MA3 are configured to convey the pallet P to and from the conveyance carriage 11 via the machine 3.

The buffer station BS is divided along the transfer line 10 into a total of 21 rows of 7 rows and 3 columns, and each has a shelf number of 401 to 421. Is given. And this shelf No. Is the pallet No. of the pallet P. There is a one-to-one correspondence with. Also, pallet P
Is the palette number. The type of work to be attached is decided.

Next, the configuration of the control system of this embodiment will be described. The numerical control device NC provided corresponding to each machine tool MA1, MA2, MA3 is a storage device 2
0 is connected to a management device 21 including a computer having a pallet No. 0. The numerical control data for machining corresponding to is held, and a plurality of works attached to the pallet P are machined based on the numerical control data. Further, each of the numerical control devices NC has a pallet No. of the pallet conveyed by the carriage 11.
Are transferred from the management device 21. The management device 21 is further connected to the carrier 11, the buffer station BS, and the operation panel 22, controls the transfer of the pallet P between the loading station LS and the buffer station BS, and controls the buffer station BS and the machine tool MA1. The transfer of the pallet P is controlled between each of the MA2 and MA3. on the other hand,
As shown in FIG. 3, the operation panel 22 includes a display device 23 and an attachment completion switch 25 that is pressed when the attachment of the work to the pallet P is completed. The display device 23 is designed to indicate to the operator the work to be attached to the pallet P carried into the loading station LS based on the work attachment data described later.

Storage device 2 connected to management device 21
0 stores various data for controlling the numerically controlled machine tool group. As an area for holding this data, a work data area WDE for holding work data related to the type of NC data corresponding to the work part number and machine groups that can be processed, and pallet data for attachable works for each pallet are held. A pallet data area PDE, a production data area MDE that holds production data relating to the order of the input (machining) of the workpiece to be machined and the number of machining, and machine state data relating to the states of the machine tools MA1, MA2, MA3. A machine state data area MIE to be stored, a pallet position data area PIE to store pallet position data relating to the destination of the pallet P, and a machine group data area MGE to hold machine group data that classifies machine tools that can be similarly machined. ,palette There the working order list area PSE for storing machining sequence list for the order of processing, and priority order list area USE for storing priority order list for priority order to return the processed pallet P is.

The work data stored in the work data area WDE of the storage device 20 is, for each work, as shown in FIG. 4, a "work No." column, a "work part number" column, and a pallet P. The "Attitude" column attached to the machine and the "NC data" column at the time of machining, and the "Attitude" column is a machine showing a group of machine tools capable of machining in that posture. Group "G
The column "R" and the column "First" instructed how to process the work when it is the first product. This work data is created by the operator inputting data relating to the work in each of the above fields. When "1" is set in the "first" column, the device of the present embodiment is
When the first original work is loaded into the machine, it is stopped and the operator call is lit to call the operator.
When "2" is set, the work is stopped as a permanent first product and an operator call is made every time the work is loaded into the machine.

As shown in FIG. 5, the pallet data stored in the pallet data area PDE of the storage device 20 has a "No." column, a "face" column for attaching a work, and Each pallet used for machining (pallet No. in this embodiment is composed of a "mounting" column for setting which position is to be attached and a "workpiece No.", "product number" and "posture" columns for mounting. 401
~ 421) about the work that can be attached,
It is created by the operator inputting data in the above-mentioned fields. This example shows that only the work of the product number A can be attached to the pallet 401. However, when a plurality of works can be attached to the pallet, the "face" and the "attachment" position to be attached are set for each of the plurality of works. ,
Information on the "work No." to be attached, the "product number", and the "posture" is held.

The production data area M of the storage device 20 described above.
As shown in FIG. 6, the production data held in the DE includes a “No.” column indicating a work input sequence and a “work N”.
o. Column, a "product number" column of the work, a "planning" column indicating the number of workpieces planned for machining, and a "posture" column for each. Then, it is created by setting the order of machining and the number of workpieces to be machined every day when a schedule is prepared for the operator who carries out machining, for example, when a schedule is created on a daily basis, and weekly when it is a weekly basis. This is the production planning data. The apparatus of the present embodiment is designed so that the workpieces are sequentially loaded based on this production data, starting from the workpiece having the highest loading sequence, and the processing is advanced. This "posture"
The column of "ON" in the column indicates the cumulative total of workpieces that have been input, the column of "Complete" indicates the total number of workpieces that have been processed, and these "ON" and "Complete" are updated as the machining progresses. It has become so.

The above production data is stored in the operation panel 22 shown in FIG.
It is configured to be able to input from, and to instruct correction by operating the operation keys 26 of the display device 23 of the operation panel 22. That is, as described above, this production data is stored in the “work N” in descending order of the input order when the production plan (production schedule) is created on a daily or weekly basis.
o. No. of the work to be processed in the column of "." (In this embodiment, the other is automatically set by inputting either "work No." or "article number"). It is created by inputting the number of workpieces to be processed in the field. In addition, in this embodiment, the "number of overtakings" is displayed from the operation panel 22.
Can be entered. That is, in the present embodiment, when the workpieces selected according to the order of inputting the production data are loaded into the apparatus and the pallet for mounting the selected workpieces cannot be returned and the workpieces cannot be loaded, the loading order of the workpieces is set. Overtake and put in the lower work. At that time, the number of passing orders was set to be the number of passing
Is. In the present embodiment, when the number of overtakings of the work input exceeds the set "overtaking number", it is determined that the finished work is the final work instead of performing the pallet collection for the work input. The pallet to which the work is attached is returned to the loading station LS, and the final work is removed. This processing will be described later in detail.

On the other hand, the machine state data held in the machine state data area MIE of the above-mentioned storage device 20 is machine tool MA1, MA2, MA3 as shown in FIG.
"Machine No." column and the pallet No. currently put in each machine tool. Etc., the "state" of the machine tool "MA1""40" in the example of this figure.
7 "indicates that the pallet No. 407 has been loaded into the machine tool MA1 and the" state "of the machine tool" MA2 ".
"0" indicates that no pallet is currently loaded in the machine tool MA2. The pallet position data stored in the pallet position data area PIE of the storage device 20 is composed of a pallet “No.” column, a “destination” column, and a “state” column as shown in FIG. , "00" in the "Destination" column of the palette is buffer station B
S, "01" is the loading station LS,
“03” indicates the machine tool, and in the “Status” column of the pallet,
"00" is unprocessed, "01" is the first process, "02"
Indicates the second step, and “03” indicates the completion of processing. Further, as shown in FIG. 9, the machine group data in the machine group data area MGE includes the “machine group” column in which the machine tools that can be machined in common are classified, and the “machine” of the machine tool designated by the machine group. Number ”column. The machining sequence list in the machining sequence list area PSE is composed of a "machining sequence" column and a "pallet No." column as shown in FIG. Will be registered. Further, as shown in FIG. 11, the priority order list in the priority order list area USE includes a “priority order” field and a “pallet No.” field, and the pallet No. according to the order loaded into the machine tool. Will be registered.

With the above-mentioned configuration, the management device 21 selects a work to be loaded according to the order of the production data stored in the storage device 20 shown in FIG. 6, and loads the pallet P to which this work can be attached. Returning to the station LS, an instruction to attach a work to the pallet P shown in FIG. 3 is displayed on the display device 23 of the operation panel 22. According to this, the worker attaches the instructed work to the attachment position of the pallet P, and when the attachment is completed, pushes the attachment completion switch 25. As a result, the pallet P is conveyed to the machine tools MA1, MA2, MA3 and processing is started. In this embodiment, when selecting the pallet P to be returned to the loading station LS,
When the pallet to which the work selected based on the input order of the above production data can not be returned because it is in use and the set “overtaking number” input order is overtaken and the selected pallet cannot be returned, Instead of selecting a pallet for machining, a work (final work) that has not been returned for a while is selected from among the completed works, and this is returned to the loading station LS to remove the processed work. .

Next, the operation of the management device 21 will be described with reference to FIG.
2, and will be described in detail based on the flowcharts of FIGS. The flowchart of FIG. 12 shows the processing of the management device 21 that returns the pallet P to the loading station. First, here, assuming that “2” is selected as the “overtaking number”, the process of returning the pallet P to the loading station LS and loading the work will be described.
The variable n is set to 1 in step 101, and then step 1
The production data shown in FIG.
o. Work No. set in the 1st column. The work of 0001 product number A is extracted. Then, the determination step 103
Then, based on the production data, it is further checked whether or not the work of the product number A has reached the planned number of productions. Here, the input order No. Since the number of production “planned” of the work of the product number A set in the column 1 is “02” and the number of “input” is “00”, the judgment step 103 becomes No and the next step Proceed to 104. In step 104, a pallet to which the work of the processed product number of the nth data (here, the work of product number A) can be attached is searched. That is, FIG.
The pallet data shown in is searched to find the pallet “No. 401” to which the work of product number A can be attached. Then, in a decision step 105, it is determined whether this pallet is in use, that is, the pallet number. The pallet 40 corresponding to the pallet position data shown in FIG.
Confirm by searching the "state" of 1. Here, since the “state” of the pallet 401 is “03”, that is, the processing is completed, the determination step 105 becomes No and the process proceeds to the next step 110.

On the other hand, in the judgment step 105, it is judged whether the pallet is in use or not.
If there is no empty space and the answer is Yes, the next judgment step 1
At 06, it is determined whether or not the loading order can be overtaken depending on whether or not the "number of overtakings" reaches "2" set as above. Here, the input order No. Since the "number of overtakings" is currently "1" by overtaking the work No. 1 of work No. 1, the determination step 106 is Yes, and the process proceeds to step 108, and 1 is added to the variable n. Then, the process proceeds to a judgment step 109, and it is judged whether or not the mounting of the work for which the production is “planned” is completed based on the number of “input” of the production data shown in FIG. If the mounting of all the workpieces is completed (Yes at judgment step 109), all the processing is completed, while if the mounting is not completed yet (No at judgment step 109), the process returns to step 102 and a new operation is performed. A work is selected, and the processing from step 103 is continued. This process is the same when the work to be judged has reached the planned number in the judgment of whether the production planned number has been reached in the judgment step 103, and is the same.

When the judgment in the above-mentioned judgment step 105 whether the pallet is in use is No, the process proceeds to step 110, and the corresponding pallet 401 is conveyed to the loading station LS. Next, the process proceeds to step 111, and another work that can be further attached to the pallet 401 to which the work of the product number A selected in step 102 is attached is extracted. That is, when the pallet data shown in FIG. 5 is searched and there is a work that can be further attached to the pallet in addition to the work of the product number A, information about this work is acquired and the operator is instructed to attach the work to the pallet. Create work attachment data. Then, in step 112, based on the created work attachment data, the display device 2 of the operation panel 22 shown in FIG.
3, the pallet mounting "face", "mounting" position,
Display a list of "part numbers" of workpieces.

According to this list display, the worker attaches the work of the designated "product number" to the "attachment" position of the designated "face" of the pallet 401 transported to the loading station LS in the above-mentioned step 110. And
When the installation is completed and the operator presses the installation completion switch 25 on the operation panel 22 shown in FIG.
3 is Yes), and the processing order of this pallet 401 is shown in FIG.
Registered in the machining order list shown in (step 114),
The pallet is conveyed to the buffer station BS, one processing routine is completed, and the process returns to step 101 to start the work input process in the next input sequence.

Next, in the judgment step 106 of the flow chart of FIG. 12, when the overtaking input cannot be made, for example, the input order No. in the production data shown in FIG. The pallet 401 to which the product No. A work of No. 1 is attached is currently in use (decision step 1
05 is Yes), and the order of loading the work of the product number A is overtaken by one (determination step 106 is Yes).
9 through step 102, the next input order No. Work No. 2 [0003] Even when the work of the product number C is attempted, if the pallet to which the work of the product number C can be attached is also in use (determination step 105 is Yes), the work order is further exceeded, and the work is overtaken. Is "2"
And becomes equal to the set “overtaking number” “2”.
In such a case, it is determined that overtaking is impossible, and the determination step 106 is No and step 10
Proceed to the process of 7, and instead of returning the pallet to load the work according to the loading order, select the final work from the processed pallets in the current line, and load the pallet to which this final work is attached to the loading station. Return to LS and collect processed workpieces. It should be noted that the final work here means that the work is returned to the loading station LS for a while (for example, machining is not started on the same day) depending on the pallet returning process according to the feeding order among the processed works as described above. Means no work.

The processing in step 107 is shown in FIG.
Will be described in detail with reference to. First, in step 301, the variable j is set to 1. Then, in step 302, the j-th data in the priority list shown in FIG. 11 is searched, that is, the first set palette number. To obtain 409. At this time, in decision step 303, it is decided whether or not the j-th palette is in the priority order list. Here, it is assumed that the j-th pallet exists (No in determination step 303). Next, in a judgment step 304, it is judged whether or not the processing of the j-th pallet is completed by referring to the "state" column of the pallet position data shown in FIG. Here, it is assumed that the processing of the pallet 409 has been completed (Yes in the determination step 304).
Then, in step 305, the work attached to the pallet 409, which is the j-th pallet, is obtained by searching the work attachment data shown in FIG. 3, and this work is a final work determination target in the following processing. And Here, the palette number. It is assumed that the work of item number F is attached to 409.

At the next step 306, the work of the next input order is obtained. That is, the loading order No. selected in step 102 of the flowchart shown in FIG. The work to be put in next to the work with the product number A of No. 1 is the input order No. 1 here. The work of the product number C set to 2 is obtained. Then, in the next judgment step 307, this product number C
It is determined whether or not the work of No. 1 matches the work of the product number F which is the determination target of the final work. Here, it is determined that they do not match (No at the determination step 307), and the process proceeds to the next determination step 308. In the judgment step 308, the examination of the work to be input next according to the input order is performed by the “final determination number”.
To determine if you have reached. That is, when the pallet to which the final work is attached is returned, it is premised that the work is not changed to this pallet for a while. Therefore, it is judged whether or not the work is the final work by examining the set number (final determination number) of the work input schedule according to the input sequence and confirming that the input schedule is not set for a while. For this reason, the processes of step 306 and judgment step 307 are repeated until the “final judgment number” is reached. In this example, the pallet to which the work that has been determined to be the final work is attached will not be selected as the pallet to which the work is loaded by the overtaking process of the loading order. number"
It is assumed that the same "2" is set.

As described above, the work according to the machining (input) order is examined for the product number C work of the "1" -th next input order, but until the "final judgment number""2" is reached. Since the determination has not been made, the determination step 308 first becomes No, and the process returns to step 306. Then, in step 306, the production data is searched and the product number C is obtained.
No. of the input order to be input after the work. The work of the product number D of 3 is obtained. Then, in the determination step 307, the product number D
It is determined whether or not the work of No. 1 matches the work of the product number F (final work candidate), and the determination in step 307 is N.
Therefore, the process proceeds to the judgment step 308, and it is judged whether or not the "final judgment number" has been reached. Here, since the examination of the work to be put in is carried out until it reaches “2” which is set as the “final determination number”, the determination step 30
8 becomes Yes, the process proceeds to step 309, and it is determined that the work of the product number F is the final work, and the pallet 409 to which the work is attached is returned. Then, in step 310, the pallet 409 is returned to the loading station LS, and the worker removes the work of the product number F which is the processed product.

On the other hand, in the judgment step 304,
When the machining of the selected j-th pallet is not completed (No in determination step 304), or in the determination step 307, the work to be input next matches the processed finished product (final work candidate). If YES (determination step 307 is Yes), the process proceeds to step 311, and 1 is added to the variable j, and then the process returns to step 302,
The next palette in the priority list shown in FIG. 11 is selected and the subsequent processing is continued. When all the palettes have been searched and the j-th palette does not exist (determination step 303 is Yes), the process proceeds to step 312 and it is determined that there is no final work and there is no return palette.

Next, the processing by the management device 21 that processes the work attached to the pallet P by the above processing will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, in step 201, the variable i is set to 1. Then, in step 202, the i-th data in the machining sequence list shown in FIG. 10 is searched, that is, the first set palette number. Get 401. Next, in step 203, from the work attached to the pallet 401, as shown in FIG.
Search the work data shown in to search the machine group. Here, the palette number. It is searched that the work of the product number A attached to the work piece 401 is processed by the machine group 1. Next, in step 204, first, a machine tool belonging to the machine group 1 is searched from the machine group data shown in FIG.
Obtain machine tools MA1 and MA2. Next, this machine tool M
The machine state data shown in FIG. 7 is searched for the states of A1 and MA2. As a result of this search, since the "state" of the machine tool "MA2" is "0" and it is in an empty state, the determination step 205 becomes Yes and the process proceeds to the next step 207. On the other hand, when neither of the machine tools MA1 and MA2 is vacant, the judgment step 205 becomes No and the routine proceeds to step 206, where 1 is added to the variable i and the routine returns to step 202 to start the processing for the next pallet.

If the judgment step 205 is Yes, in the next step 207, a machining program for the pallet 401 is generated. This extracts the corresponding NC data for the work attached to the pallet 401 according to the work attachment data created in step 111 described above with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Next, in step 208, the pallet 401 is conveyed to the machine tool MA2, and in step 209, machining is performed.
Then, when the machining is completed, in step 210, the "destination" and "state" columns of the pallet of the pallet position data shown in FIG. 8 and the "posture" of the production data shown in FIG.
Change the number of "On" and "End" in the column of
"401" in the selected "Palette No." column in the machining sequence list shown in FIG. 10 is erased to update the machining sequence list. At the same time, "401" is added to the "Palette No." field of the priority order list shown in FIG. 11 to update the priority order list. As a result, one routine is completed and processing of the next pallet is started.

In the above description, the case where only one work is attached to the pallet has been described for the sake of convenience of explanation, but this embodiment can also be applied to the case where a plurality of works are attached to the pallet. is there. In this case, in step 305 of FIG. 13, the work attachment data is searched to obtain a plurality of works attached to the pallet. Further, in step 306, the work in the next loading order is acquired and the work to be attached together with this work is also acquired.
In 07, it is determined whether or not the plurality of works acquired in step 306 match the machining-completed works that are the final work determination targets. Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, only one type of work can be attached to the pallet, but the above-described example can be applied even when a plurality of similar types of work are attached. In this case, in the process of step 305 of FIG.
A plurality of types of works that can be attached to the j-th pallet are acquired, and the determination regarding the plurality of types of works is advanced in the following processing.

In the present invention, it is also possible to equally or in sequence prioritize either the input of the work according to the input order set in the production data or the collection of the processed work. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the "overtaking number" and the "final determination number" are set to the same value of "2". However, by changing the value of this "overtaking number" to a larger value, the introduction of the work is prioritized. It is also possible to prioritize the collection of the work-completed work over the input of the work by reducing the value of the "overtaking number". (For example, if the "overtaking number" is set to 1, the final pallet will be immediately collected if there is no pallet to which the work to be loaded with the highest priority is attached at the moment.)

In the embodiment described above, when the workpieces are input according to the input order set in the production data and the input order of the workpieces must be overtaken by the set "overtaking number", Instead of returning the pallet for the work input, the work that has been processed and is not collected for a while depending on the work input sequence according to the production data (final work).
The pallet attached with is returned to the loading station LS. As a result, the processed work can be promptly collected.

In the conventional apparatus, when one workpiece is processed over a plurality of postures, for example, the production data input sequence number shown in FIG. Like the work of item number A of 1
When two pieces are to be machined while straddling the posture 1 and the posture 2, first, in the posture 1, when the machining of the first workpiece is completed, the pallet 4 is processed.
01 is returned to the loading station LS and the second work is loaded, but there is no plan to load the second work after the machining is finished, that is, the third work is loaded. Since it is not performed, it will stay in the line without returning to the loading station LS. For this reason, there is a problem that the machining in the posture 2 cannot be started promptly even if the machining in the posture 1 is completed. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, if it is determined that this is the final work after machining the second workpiece in posture 1, the workpiece is returned to the loading station LS, so that machining in posture 2 can be started quickly. There are also advantages.

[0032]

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION The present invention is configured as described above, and in order to improve the efficiency of the device, the work that has been processed is retained in the line for a long period of time while giving the highest priority to inputting the work into the device. It is possible to shorten the time required to complete the machining of all workpieces.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram for clarifying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an overall configuration diagram of a numerically controlled machine tool group according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an external view of an operation panel displaying the contents of work attachment data.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the contents of work data.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the contents of palette data.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the contents of production data.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the contents of machine state data.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the contents of pallet position data.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the contents of machine group data.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the contents of a processing order list.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating the contents of a priority order list.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating pallet return processing according to this embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a final work selection process in the flowchart of FIG.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a processing operation according to the present exemplary embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Transport Line 11 Transport Cart 12 Pallet Inspection Device 20 Storage Device 21 Management Device 22 Control Panel 23 Display Device LS Loading Station BS Buffer Station MA1, MA2, MA3 Machine Tool

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of numerically controlled machine tools, a carriage for transporting a pallet on which a work is mounted, and a loading station for mounting the work on the pallet, and the transport of the pallet is controlled by a computer. In the control device of the numerically controlled machine tool group configured as described above, a loading order holding means for holding information on a loading order of workpieces, a pallet information holding means for holding information on whether or not a pallet has been processed, The mounting pallet selecting means for selecting a pallet for mounting a work according to the loading order held by the loading order holding means, and the pallet information holding means for checking whether or not the pallet selected by the mounting pallet selecting means has been processed. Pallet determining means for determining based on the information of
When it is determined by the pallet determining means that the selected pallet has been processed, it is decided to return the pallet to the loading station, and when it is determined that the pallet has not been processed. Is a pallet that has already been machined based on the information of the pallet information holding means, and selects a pallet in which the loading of the work based on the loading order holding means does not occur within the set order, and loads the selected pallet. A control device for a group of numerically controlled machine tools, comprising: pallet determining means for determining returning to the station.