US 5,401,229 AGranted

Automatic machining apparatus

AssigneeDaifuku Co., Ltd.

InventorsHiroshi Otsuka, Kimiaki Yoshida, Shinjiro Nishiki, Suzushi Takao, Tsutomu Imamura

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Abstract

An automatic machining apparatus includes a rack for storing workpieces mounted on pallets, setting stations for setting the workpieces on the pallets, processing machines for processing the workpieces according to specified processing information, and a stacker crane for transporting the workpieces on the pallets between the rack and setting stations and between the rack and processing machines. The entire apparatus is operable under control of a main controller, with the processing machines controlled by an auxiliary controller. Each pallet carries an IC card for storing information on treatment done to the workpiece mounted thereon. The main controller includes a first communicating device for writing the information on treatment into the IC card. The auxiliary controller includes a second communicating device for reading the information on treatment from the IC card.

Claims19

Dependent claims

An automatic machining apparatus comprising:

storage means for storing workpieces, pallets, jigs for use in setting said workpieces on said pallets, and untreated, half-treated or finished products each including a workpiece on a pallet;
setting means for setting said workpieces on said pallets by using said jigs;
automatically controllable processing machines for automatically processing said workpieces according to specified processing information;
transport means for transporting said workpieces, said pallets, said jigs, and said untreated or half-treated products between said storage means and said setting means, and transporting said untreated, half-treated or finished products between said storage means and said processing machines;
data storage means provided on said pallets;
main control means for controlling processing of said workpieces and operation of said transport means;
and
auxiliary control means for controlling operation of said processing machines;
wherein said main control means includes first communicating means for writing information on the types of processing to be done to said workpieces onto said data storage means;
wherein said auxiliary control means includes second communicating means for reading said information on the types of processing to be done to said workpieces from said data storage means;
wherein said auxiliary control means is operable to write, through said second communicating means and onto said data storage means, information on results of processing done to said workpieces;
wherein said main control means is operable to read, through said first communicating means and from said data storage means, said information on the results of processing done to said workpieces so that said workpieces are transported based on said read information on the results of processing done to said workpieces;
and
wherein said information on the results of processing done to said workpieces includes information indicative of whether the processing has been carried out properly.

11 more elements

An automatic machining apparatus comprising:

storage means for storing workpieces, pallets, jigs for use in setting said workpieces on said pallets, and untreated, half-treated or finished products each including a workpiece on a pallet;
setting means for setting said workpieces on said pallets by using said jigs;
automatically controllable processing machines for automatically processing said workpieces according to specified processing information;
transport means for transporting said workpieces, said pallets, said jigs, and said untreated or half-treated products between said storage means and said setting means, and transporting said untreated, half-treated or finished products between said storage means and said processing machines;
data storage means provided on said pallets;
main control means for controlling processing of said workpieces and operation of said transport means;
and
auxiliary control means for controlling operation of said processing machines;
wherein said main control means includes first communicating means for writing information on the types of processing to be done to said workpieces onto said data storage means;
wherein said auxiliary control means includes second communicating means for reading said information on the types of processing to be done to said workpieces from said data storage means;
tool reserving means for keeping processing tools;
tool storage means provided for said processing machines to store said tools for use by the processing machines;
tool transport means for transporting said tools between said tool reserving means and said tool storage means;
control means for controlling information on tool reserves at said tool reserving means, information on tool storage at said tool storage means, operation of said tool transport means and operation of the processing machines;
and
tool measuring means for measuring characteristics of said tools,
wherein each of said tools or trays for supporting said tools includes tool data storage means for storing said information on characteristics of the tool obtained by said tool measuring means,
wherein said control means includes third communicating means for writing said information on characteristics of the tools obtained by said tool measuring means into said data storage means, and
wherein said control means for said processing machines include fourth communicating means for reading said information on characteristics of the tools from said data storage means.

16 more elements

An automatic machining apparatus comprising:

storage means for storing workpieces, pallets, jigs for use in setting said workpieces on said pallets, and untreated, half-treated or finished products each including a workpiece on a pallet;
setting means for setting said workpieces on said pallets by using said jigs;
automatically controllable processing machines for automatically processing said workpieces according to specified processing information;
transport means for transporting said workpieces, said pallets, said jigs, and said untreated or half-treated products between said storage means and said setting means, and transporting said untreated, half-treated or finished products between said storage means and said processing machines;
tool reserving means for keeping processing tools;
tool storage means provided for said processing machines to store said tools for use by the processing machines;
tool transport means for transporting said tools between said tool reserving means and said tool storage means;
control means for controlling information on tool reserves at said tool reserving means, information on tool storage at said tool storage means, operation of said tool transport means, and operation of the processing machines;
and
tool measuring means for measuring characteristics of said tools;
wherein each of said tools or trays for supporting said tools includes tool data storage means for storing said information on characteristics of the tool obtained by said tool measuring means;
said control means includes third communicating means for writing said information on characteristics of the tools obtained by said tool measuring means into said data storage means;
and
said control means or said processing machines include(s) fourth communicating means for reading said information on characteristics of the tools from said data storage means.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/081,666Filed 23 Jun 1993
Priority: JP 4-1752052 Jul 1992
Granted: 28 Mar 1995
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification12 codes

B23Q 3/15546
Parts of devices for automatically inserting or removing tools: devices for recognizing tools in a storage device, e.g. coding devices
B23Q 41/00
Combinations or associations of metal-working machines not directed to a particular result
G05B 19/4183
Total factory control, i.e. centrally controlling a plurality of machines, e.g. direct or distributed numerical control [DNC], flexible…:…
G05B 2219/31095
From computer integrated manufacturing till monitoring: read write intelligent chip on workpiece, pallet, tool for data exchange