Tool Transport System, Control Method for Tool Transport System, and Control Program for Tool Transport System

A tool transport system comprising:

• a plurality of machine tools;
• a tool storage portion having a plurality of holding parts, each of the plurality of holding parts having a common holding mechanism capable of holding any of a plurality of tool holders;
• a transport device that transports a designated tool holder of the plurality of tool holders stored in the tool storage portion to a designated machine tool of the plurality of machine tools,
• a first tool holder of the plurality of tool holders having
• a common connection mechanism that is connectable to the common holding mechanism, and
• a first attachment mechanism to which a first tool to be used in a first machine tool of the plurality of machine tools is attachable,
• a second tool holder of the plurality of tool holders having
• the common connection mechanism, and
• a second attachment mechanism to which a second tool to be used in a second machine tool of the plurality of machine tools is attachable;
• and
• a tool setup device that exchanges a tool holder with the transport device,
• the tool setup device including
• a magazine that is capable of holding a plurality of tool holders,
• a driver that drives the magazine, and
• a controller that controls driving of the driver,
• the controller executing
• a process of driving the first tool holder to a predetermined setup position when the first tool is designated as a tool to be setup, and
• a process of driving the second tool holder to the predetermined setup position when the second tool is designated as a tool to be setup.

A tool transport system comprising:

• a plurality of machine tools;
• a tool storage portion having a plurality of holding parts, each of the plurality of holding parts having a common holding mechanism capable of holding any of a plurality of tool holders;
• and
• a transport device that transports a designated tool holder of the plurality of tool holders stored in the tool storage portion to a designated machine tool of the plurality of machine tools,
• a first tool holder of the plurality of tool holders having
• a common connection mechanism that is connectable to the common holding mechanism, and
• a first attachment mechanism to which a first tool to be used in a first machine tool of the plurality of machine tools is attachable,
• a second tool holder of the plurality of tool holders having
• the common connection mechanism, and
• a second attachment mechanism to which a second tool to be used in a second machine tool of the plurality of machine tools is attachable, wherein
• the common connection mechanism has
• a first groove part disposed on a first surface of the tool holder,
• a second groove part disposed in parallel with the first groove part on the first surface,
• a third groove part disposed on a second surface of the tool holder, and
• a fourth groove part disposed in parallel with the second groove part on the second surface,
• the first surface and the second surface face each other, and
• the common holding mechanism has
• a first guide part that fits with the first groove part,
• a second guide part that fits with the second groove part,
• a third guide part that fits with the third groove part, and
• a fourth guide part that fits with the fourth groove part.

A control method for a tool transport system,

• the tool transport system including
• a plurality of machine tools, and
• a tool storage portion having a plurality of holding parts, each of the plurality of holding parts having a common holding mechanism capable of holding any of a plurality of tool holders,
• the tool transport system further including
• a transport device that transports a designated tool holder of the plurality of tool holders stored in the tool storage portion to a designated machine tool of the plurality of machine tools,
• a first tool holder of the plurality of tool holders having
• a common connection mechanism that is connectable to the common holding mechanism, and
• a first attachment mechanism to which a first tool to be used in a first machine tool of the plurality of machine tools is attachable,
• a second tool holder of the plurality of tool holders having
• the common connection mechanism, and
• a second attachment mechanism to which a second tool to be used in a second machine tool of the plurality of machine tools is attachable,
• the tool transport system further including
• a tool setup device that exchanges a tool holder with the transport device,
• the tool setup device including
• a magazine that is capable of holding a plurality of tool holders, and
• a driver that drives the magazine,
• the control method comprising:
• driving the first tool holder to a predetermined setup position when the first tool is designated as a tool to be setup;
• and
• driving the second tool holder to the predetermined setup position when the second tool is designated as a tool to be setup.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising a control program for a tool transport system,

• the tool transport system including
• a plurality of machine tools, and
• a tool storage portion having a plurality of holding parts, each of the plurality of holding parts having a common holding mechanism capable of holding any of a plurality of tool holders,
• the tool transport system further including
• a transport device that transports a designated tool holder of the plurality of tool holders stored in the tool storage portion to a designated machine tool of the plurality of machine tools,
• a first tool holder of the plurality of tool holders having
• a common connection mechanism that is connectable to the common holding mechanism, and
• a first attachment mechanism to which a first tool to be used in a first machine tool of the plurality of machine tools is attachable,
• a second tool holder of the plurality of tool holders having
• the common connection mechanism, and
• a second attachment mechanism to which a second tool to be used in a second machine tool of the plurality of machine tools is attachable,
• the tool transport system further including
• a tool setup device that exchanges a tool holder with the transport device,
• the tool setup device including
• a magazine that is capable of holding a plurality of tool holders, and
• a driver that drives the magazine,
• the control program causing the tool transport system to execute:
• driving the first tool holder to a predetermined setup position when the first tool is designated as a tool to be setup;
• and
• driving the second tool holder to the predetermined setup position when the second tool is designated as a tool to be setup.