# US 10,307,876 B2 · Machine tool > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,307,876 B2 - Document ID: US10307876B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/341,062 - Filed: 2016-11-02 - Published: 2017-05-25 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2015-11-20 - Assignees: Fanuc Corporation - Applicants: FANUC Corporation - Inventors: Shinji Okuda - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10307876B2 ## CPC - B23Q 11/0042: {Devices for removing chips (B23Q11/02, B23Q11/0875 take precedence)} - B05B 12/04: for sequential operation or multiple outlets - B05B 13/0405: {with reciprocating or oscillating spray heads (B05B13/0436, B05B13/0442, B05B13/0447, B05B13/0468 take precedence)} - B05B 13/0431: {with spray heads moved by robots or articulated arms, e.g. for applying liquid or other fluent material to three-dimensional [3D] surfaces} - B08B 3/024: {Cleaning by means of spray elements moving over the surface to be cleaned} - B08B 9/00: Cleaning hollow articles by methods or apparatus specially adapted thereto - B08B 17/025: {Prevention of fouling with liquids by means of devices for containing or collecting said liquids} - B23Q 11/005: {by blowing} - B23Q 11/0891: {arranged between the working area and the operator} - B23Q 11/1076: {with a cutting liquid nozzle specially adaptable to different kinds of machining operations} - B23Q 17/2433: {Detection of presence or absence} - B23Q 17/2452: {for measuring features or for detecting a condition of machine parts, tools or workpieces (B23Q17/2428, B23Q17/2433 take precedence)} - B08B 17/00: Methods preventing fouling {(preventing accumulation of deposits in pneumatic conveyors B65G53/521)} - Y02P 70/10: Greenhouse gas [GHG] capture, material saving, heat recovery or other energy efficient measures, e.g. motor control, characterised by manufacturing processes, e.g. for rolling metal or metal working - B23Q: DETAILS, COMPONENTS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR MACHINE TOOLS, e.g. ARRANGEMENTS FOR COPYING OR CONTROLLING (tools of the kind used in lathes or boring machines B23B27/00); MACHINE TOOLS IN GENERAL CHARACTERISED BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF PARTICULAR DETAILS OR COMPONENTS; COMBINATIONS OR ASSOCIATIONS OF METAL-WORKING MACHINES, NOT DIRECTED TO A PARTICULAR RESULT - B05B: SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES (spray-mixers with nozzles B01F25/72; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces by spraying B05D) - B08B: CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS ## Abstract A machine tool has a cover that prevents chips generated by machining and cutting fluid from scattering around and a plurality of movable nozzles with liquid discharge directions thereof being movable so as to wash out chips that have adhered to or accumulated on an inner surface of the cover. The machine tool is capable of changing a discharge direction of each of the movable nozzles individually. The machine tool compares the state of the inside of the cover before start of machining with the state of the inside of the cover after chips are generated to determine an adhesion or accumulation state of chips. The machine tool thus calculates the liquid discharge direction to wash out chips from the movable nozzles based on a result of the determination. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A machine tool, comprising: a table; a cover that covers (a) the table on which a workpiece is to be placed and (b) a machining area, to prevent chips generated by machining and cutting fluid from scattering around; a plurality of movable nozzles configured to discharge liquid for washing out chips that have adhered to or accumulated on an inner surface of the cover, wherein a discharge direction of the liquid from each of the plurality of movable nozzles is individually adjustable; a detection device configured to detect a state of an inside of the cover; a pre-machining storage configured to store a state of the inside of the cover before start of machining, which is detected by the detection device; a post-machining storage configured to store a state of the inside of the cover after chips are generated by the machining; a chip state determination unit configured to compare the state of the inside of the cover before start of machining, which is stored in the pre-machining storage, with the state of the inside of the cover after chips are generated by the machining, which is stored in the post-machining storage, to determine an adhesion or accumulation state of chips; and a discharge direction calculation unit configured to calculate, based on a result of the determination made by the chip state determination unit, the discharge direction of the liquid from each of the plurality of movable nozzles to wash out chips generated by the machining. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The machine tool according to claim 1, wherein the detection device is an imaging device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The machine tool according to claim 2, further comprising: a moving unit to which the detection device is provided, wherein the moving unit is configured to move the detection device into the inside of the cover from an outside of the cover during detection performed by the detection device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The machine tool according to claim 3, wherein the moving unit is a robot. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The machine tool according to claim 1, wherein the detection device is a heat detection device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The machine tool according to claim 1, wherein at least one nozzle of the plurality of movable nozzles is provided with a switching valve. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The machine tool according to claim 1, further comprising: a motor configured to move the plurality of movable nozzles. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The machine tool according to claim 1, further comprising: a robot configured to move the plurality of movable nozzles. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The machine tool according to claim 1, wherein the cover extends around a space in which the table is arranged, and the plurality of movable nozzles is arranged on the cover around the table. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The machine tool according to claim 1, wherein at least one nozzle of the plurality of movable nozzles has a movable nozzle tip, and the machine tool further comprises a robot configured to move the nozzle tip of said at least one nozzle to individually adjust the discharge direction of the liquid from said at least one nozzle to the discharge direction calculated by the discharge direction calculation unit for said at least one nozzle.