# US 12,109,660 B2 · Machine tool and machine tool control system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,109,660 B2 - Document ID: US12109660B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/999,510 - Filed: 2021-05-25 - Published: 2023-09-14 - Granted: 2024-10-08 - Earliest claimed: 2020-05-26 - Assignees: Dmg Mori Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Dmg Mori Co., Ltd - Inventors: Ryosuke Izumi; Kenjiro Iga - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12109660B2 ## CPC - B23Q 11/0891: {arranged between the working area and the operator} - B23Q 11/0078: {Safety devices protecting the operator, e.g. against accident or noise (protecting the machine tool B23Q5/58; protecting people, in general F16P1/00, F16P3/00)} - B23Q 11/08: Protective coverings for parts of machine tools; Splash guards - B23Q 11/10: Arrangements for cooling or lubricating tools or work - 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 - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS ## Abstract Disclosed is a machine tool including: a cover that encloses a processing space in which a workpiece is processed and has a window portion for visual inspection of the processing space from outside; a machining processing unit provided in the processing space; an operation panel for inputting instructions to the machining processing unit, the operation panel being provided outside of the cover; and a cooling system for cooling the machining processing unit, wherein the cooling system includes: a coolant supply unit for supplying a coolant into the processing space; a coolant protection unit that operates to limit adhesion of the coolant to the window portion; and a control unit that switches a state of the coolant protection unit based on a result of detection performed by a sensor for detecting an operator present around the cover. With this machine tool, waste of energy can be suppressed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A machine tool comprising: a cover that encloses a processing space in which a workpiece is processed and has a window portion for visual inspection of the processing space from outside; a machining processing unit provided in the processing space; an operation panel for inputting instructions to the machining processing unit, the operation panel being provided outside of the cover; and a cooling system for cooling the machining processing unit, wherein the cooling system includes: a coolant supply unit for supplying a coolant into the processing space; a coolant protection unit that operates to limit adhesion of the coolant to the window portion; and a control unit that switches a state of the coolant protection unit based on a result of detection performed by a sensor for detecting an operator present around the cover, wherein the control unit is switchable between a first mode and a second mode, in the first mode, the control unit switches the state of the coolant protection unit based on the result of detection performed by the sensor, and in the second mode, the state of the coolant protection unit can be manually switched. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The machine tool in accordance with claim 1, wherein the control unit brings the coolant protection unit into a first state when the sensor has detected the operator, and brings the coolant protection unit into a second state when the sensor has not detected the operator, the first state is a state in which the coolant protection unit operates, and the second state is a dormant state in which the coolant protection unit does not operate or a state in which the coolant protection unit operates at an output lower than that in the first state. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The machine tool in accordance with claim 2, wherein the first state is selected from among a plurality of output states, and the control unit selects one from among the plurality of output states based on a duration of the most recent second state. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The machine tool in accordance with claim 2, wherein the control unit decreases or increases the output in the first state based on a duration of the first state. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The machine tool in accordance with claim 1, wherein the sensor detects the operator based on an intended operation of the operator. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A machine tool control system comprising: a plurality of machine tools, each being the machine tool in accordance with claim 1; and an image capturing apparatus for monitoring the plurality of machine tools, wherein the sensor is the image capturing apparatus and detects the operator. ### Claim 7 A machine tool comprising: a cover that encloses a processing space in which a workpiece is processed and has a window portion for visual inspection of the processing space from outside; a machining processing unit provided in the processing space; an operation panel for inputting instructions to the machining processing unit, the operation panel being provided outside of the cover; and a cooling system for cooling the machining processing unit, wherein the cooling system includes: a coolant supply unit for supplying a coolant into the processing space; a coolant protection unit that operates to limit adhesion of the coolant to the window portion; and a control unit that switches a state of the coolant protection unit based on a result of detection performed by a sensor for detecting an operator present around the cover, wherein the control unit brings the coolant protection unit into a first state when the sensor has detected the operator, and brings the coolant protection unit into a second state when the sensor has not detected the operator, the first state is a state in which the coolant protection unit operates, the second state is a dormant state in which the coolant protection unit does not operate or a state in which the coolant protection unit operates at an output lower than that in the first state, and the control unit decreases or increases the output in the first state based on a duration of the first state. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The machine tool in accordance with claim 7, wherein the first state is selected from among a plurality of output states, and the control unit selects one from among the plurality of output states based on a duration of the most recent second state. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The machine tool in accordance with claim 7, wherein the control unit is switchable between a first mode and a second mode, in the first mode, the control unit switches the state of the coolant protection unit based on the result of detection performed by the sensor, and in the second mode, the state of the coolant protection unit can be manually switched. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The machine tool in accordance with claim 7, wherein the sensor detects the operator based on an intended operation of the operator. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) A machine tool control system comprising: a plurality of machine tools, each being the machine tool in accordance with claim 7; and an image capturing apparatus for monitoring the plurality of machine tools, wherein the sensor is the image capturing apparatus and detects the operator. ### Claim 12 A machine tool comprising: a cover that encloses a processing space in which a workpiece is processed and has a window portion for visual inspection of the processing space from outside; a machining processing unit provided in the processing space; an operation panel for inputting instructions to the machining processing unit, the operation panel being provided outside of the cover; and a cooling system for cooling the machining processing unit, wherein the cooling system includes: a coolant supply unit for supplying a coolant into the processing space; a coolant protection unit that operates to limit adhesion of the coolant to the window portion; and a control unit that switches a state of the coolant protection unit based on a result of detection performed by a sensor for detecting an operator present around the cover, wherein the control unit brings the coolant protection unit into a first state when the sensor has detected the operator, and brings the coolant protection unit into a second state when the sensor has not detected the operator, the first state is a state in which the coolant protection unit operates, the second state is a dormant state in which the coolant protection unit does not operate or a state in which the coolant protection unit operates at an output lower than that in the first state, the first state is selected from among a plurality of output states, and the control unit selects one from among the plurality of output states based on a duration of the most recent second state. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The machine tool in accordance with claim 12, wherein the control unit decreases or increases the output in the first state based on a duration of the first state. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The machine tool in accordance with claim 12, wherein the control unit is switchable between a first mode and a second mode, in the first mode, the control unit switches the state of the coolant protection unit based on the result of detection performed by the sensor, and in the second mode, the state of the coolant protection unit can be manually switched. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The machine tool in accordance with claim 12, wherein the sensor detects the operator based on an intended operation of the operator. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The machine tool in accordance with claim 15, wherein the intended operation is an operation performed around the operation panel or the window portion by the operator. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The machine tool in accordance with claim 15, wherein the intended operation is a visual inspection operation of visually inspecting the processing space via the window portion performed by the operator. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The machine tool in accordance with claim 17, wherein the sensor detects an action of the operator approaching the window portion as the visual inspection operation. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The machine tool in accordance with claim 18, wherein the sensor is an image capturing apparatus that is installed in the processing space, and detects the action of the operator approaching the window portion. ### Claim 20 (depends on 12) A machine tool control system comprising: a plurality of machine tools, each being the machine tool in accordance with claim 12; and an image capturing apparatus for monitoring the plurality of machine tools, wherein the sensor is the image capturing apparatus and detects the operator.