# US 2020/0319619 A1 · Numerical controller and numerical control system

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 2020/0319619 A1
- Document ID: US20200319619A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/826,959
- Filed: 2020-03-23
- Published: 2020-10-08
- Earliest claimed: 2019-04-04
- Assignees: Fanuc Corporation
- Applicants: Fanuc Corporation
- Inventors: Tomoya ITOU
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20200319619A1

## CPC

- G05B 19/4063: Monitoring general control system (G05B19/4062 takes precedence)
- G05B 19/4065: Monitoring tool breakage, life or condition
- G05B 19/4155: characterised by program execution, i.e. part program or machine function execution, e.g. selection of a program
- G05B 2219/32226: Computer assisted repair, maintenance of system components
- G05B 2219/49135: Active clamping, use servo to keep in position
- G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G)

## Abstract

A numerical controller, which is configured to control maintenance of a machine tool, includes a mode shift part configured to shift an operation mode of the machine tool to a maintenance mode, on the basis of input of a trigger for starting the maintenance of the machine tool, an operation execution part configured to make the machine tool operate on the basis of predetermined maintenance contents; and an output control part configured to control output of an operation result of the machine tool, as a maintenance result. The mode shift part returns the operation mode of the machine tool to a normal operation mode, after the output of the maintenance result by the output control part.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A numerical controller configured to control maintenance of a machine tool, the numerical controller comprising:
a mode shift part configured to shift an operation mode of the machine tool to a maintenance mode, on a basis of input of a trigger for starting the maintenance of the machine tool;
an operation execution part configured to make the machine tool execute a maintenance operation on a basis of predetermined maintenance contents; and
an output control part configured to control output of a result of the maintenance operation of the machine tool, as a maintenance result, wherein
the mode shift part returns the operation mode of the machine tool from the maintenance mode to a normal operation mode, after the output of the maintenance result by the output control part.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The numerical controller according to claim 1, wherein
the mode shift part acquires, in advance, restriction contents of the maintenance operation in the maintenance mode, and sets the acquired restriction contents of the operation in the machine tool, on the basis of the input trigger.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The numerical controller according to claim 1, wherein
the output control part outputs display of guidance of a procedure of the maintenance contents to a worker.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The numerical controller according to claim 1, wherein
the maintenance contents include operation instruction information for making the machine tool operate actually, and
the operation execution part makes the machine tool execute the maintenance operation on a basis of the operation instruction information.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The numerical controller according to claim 1, wherein
the mode shift part returns the operation mode of the machine tool to the normal operation mode, after a predetermined period of time elapses after the output of the maintenance result.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The numerical controller according to claim 1, wherein
the mode shift part and the operation execution part execute a plurality of maintenance types of the maintenance selected in advance by a worker, in order.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

A numerical control system comprising:
the numerical controller according to claim 1;
the machine tool configured to be controlled by the numerical controller; and
a control terminal connected to the numerical controller and the machine tool, the control terminal configured to control maintenance operations of the numerical controller and the machine tool.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

A numerical control system comprising:
a plurality of the numerical controllers and a plurality of the machine tools according to claim 1; and
a control terminal connected to the plurality of numerical controllers and the plurality of machine tools, the control terminal configured to control maintenance operations respectively of the numerical controllers and the machine tools.