# US 11,027,388 B2 · Machining system with interlock circuit

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- Number: US 11,027,388 B2
- Document ID: US11027388B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/331,386
- Filed: 2016-09-09
- Published: 2019-07-04
- Granted: 2021-06-08
- Earliest claimed: 2016-09-09
- Assignees: Makino J Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Makino J Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Takudai Maenosono; Takahiro Yoshida; Nobuhiro Uchida; Yuichi Aoyama
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11027388B2

## CPC

- B23Q 7/047: {the gripper supporting the workpiece during machining}
- B23Q 11/0891: {arranged between the working area and the operator}
- B23Q 7/00: Arrangements for handling work specially combined with or arranged in, or specially adapted for use in connection with, machine tools, e.g. for conveying, loading, positioning, discharging, sorting (incorporated in working-spindles B23B13/00)
- B23Q 7/05: by means of roller-ways ({B23Q7/1468,} B23Q7/16 take precedence)
- B23Q 7/1426: {with work holders not rigidly fixed to the transport devices (B23Q7/005, B23Q7/035 take precedence)}
- B23Q 11/00: Accessories fitted to machine tools for keeping tools or parts of the machine in good working condition or for cooling work {(accessories specially designed for sawing machines or sawing devices B23D59/00)}; Safety devices specially combined with or arranged in, or specially adapted for use in connection with, machine tools (in respect of boring or drilling machines B23B47/32 takes precedence; safety devices in general F16P)
- B23Q 11/0092: {actuating braking or stopping means}
- B23Q 11/08: Protective coverings for parts of machine tools; Splash guards
- B23Q 11/0825: {Relatively slidable coverings, e.g. telescopic}
- B23Q 2210/006: Curved guiding rails
- 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

## Abstract

A machining system comprises a machining device that machines a workpiece, a set-up station with which pallet workpiece attachment/detachment is carried out, and a pallet conveyance device that conveys the pallet between the machining device and the set-up station. A partially cylindrical operator door, which can rotate around a set-up table on which the pallet is mounted, includes a partially cylindrical outer door and a partially cylindrical inner door which rotate following coaxial circular trajectories of different radii. The set-up station is provided with an interlocking mechanism that causes the outer door and the inner door to rotate in an interlocked manner so that a shielded state is constantly maintained between the operator side and the pallet conveyance device side.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A machining system for machining a workpiece attached to a pallet, the machining system comprising:
a processing machine for machining the workpiece, the pallet being interchangeably mounted thereto;
a pallet transfer device for conveying and transferring the pallet;
a setup station for performing attachment and detachment of the workpiece on the pallet, the setup station comprising an operator door including a partially cylindrical outer door, a partially cylindrical inner door which define concentric circular tracks having different radii and which rotate around a setup table on which the pallet is placed, an outer door cylindrical part provided on a lower end of the outer door, and an inner door cylindrical part provided on a lower end of the inner door, and an interlocking mechanism for rotating the outer door and the inner door in association with each other wherein the outer door cylindrical part and the inner door cylindrical part have equal diameters and are arranged at different heights, thereby the outer door and the inner door are rotated in opposite directions in association with each other so that the rotation angles of the outer door and the inner door are equal so as to maintain an operator side and a pallet transfer device side are isolated from one another at all times; and
a controller for controlling the operations of the processing machine, the pallet transfer device, and the setup station, the controller comprising an interlock circuit configured to prohibit a transfer operation of the pallet transfer device onto the setup table when the operator door is open, and permit a transfer operation of the pallet transfer device onto the setup table when the operator door is closed.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The machining system according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of support rollers for supporting the outer door cylindrical part are disposed along the circumference thereof, a plurality of support rollers for supporting the inner door cylindrical part are disposed along the circumference thereof, and the support rollers for the outer door and the support rollers for the inner door are arranged on circumferences having identical diameters and located at different heights.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The machining system according to claim 1, wherein the setup table is provided so as to be slidable in the horizontal directions between a distal position near the pallet transfer device and a proximal position near an operator.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The machining system according to claim 1, wherein the outer door comprises two handles for rotating the outer door.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The machining system according to claim 1, wherein the interlocking mechanism comprises a first pulley and a second pulley, which are rotatably attached to a fixed part of the setup station, and a first wire rope and a second wire rope for connecting the outer door cylindrical part and the inner door cylindrical part;
the inner door cylindrical part comprises first and second connection points adjacently arranged on the outer peripheral surface thereof, and the outer door cylindrical part comprises third and fourth connection points adjacently arranged on the outer peripheral surface thereof;
one end of the first wire rope is connected to the first connection point, the first wire rope extends through the first pulley and along the outer peripheral surface of the outer door cylindrical part, and the other end of the first wire rope is connected to the fourth connection point; and
one end of the second wire rope is connected to the third connection point, the second wire rope extends through the second pulley and along the outer peripheral surface of the inner door cylindrical part, and the other end of the second wire rope is connected to the second connection point.