# US 9,886,023 B2 · Method for managing turret tools by using visual information for machine tool > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,886,023 B2 - Document ID: US9886023B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/436,749 - Filed: 2013-10-17 - Published: 2016-06-30 - Granted: 2018-02-06 - Earliest claimed: 2012-10-18 - Assignees: Doosan Machine Tools Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Doosan Infracore Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Ji Eun Yi; Sung Hoon Cho - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9886023B2 ## CPC - G05B 19/4093: characterised by part programming, e.g. entry of geometrical information as taken from a technical drawing, combining this with machining and material information to obtain control information, named part program, for the NC machine - B23Q 1/0045: {Control panels or boxes} - B23Q 3/155: Arrangements for automatic insertion or removal of tools {, e.g. combined with manual handling (B23Q7/046 takes precedence)} - B23Q 17/2409: {Arrangements for indirect observation of the working space using image recording means, e.g. a camera} - G05B 19/40938: {Tool management} - B23Q 2003/15586: {of tools in turrets} - B23Q 2220/002: Tool turrets - G05B 2219/32128: Gui graphical user interface - G05B 2219/36186: Programming languages for lathe, mill or general use mixed - Y02P 90/02: Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS] - 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) - 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 The present disclosure relates to a method for managing turret tools for a machine tool, and more particularly, by setting tool information and changing a mounting location of the tool, which is to be mounted or has been mounted, by using visual information about a turret mounted in the machine tool and the tool mounted in the turret, a user may intuitively check information about a tool mounted on the turret and to easily set tool installation information which needs to be set when mounting and detaching the tool, changing a location of the tool, or installing the tool in a machine tool. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for managing turret tools by using visual information for a machine tool, which manages values of respective items of inherent tool information and installation information about a tool required for writing a numerical control (NC) program, the method comprising: a controller defining a tool required for a processing process of a machine tool; the controller determining a tool mounting location of the defined tool on a turret; a display unit, coupled to the controller, displaying a virtual image of the turret; the display unit displaying a virtual image of mounting the defined tool on the displayed virtual image of the turret according to the determined tool mounting location; the controller communicating data associated with the determined tool mounting location to a programmable machine controller; and the programmable machine controller mounting the defined tool on the turret according to the data associated with the determined tool mounting location. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: the controller checking whether the defined tool corresponding to the determined tool mounting location is mounted so as to be optimized to an actual work order; and the programmable machine controller changing a tool mounting order on the turret as necessary. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: the controller checking whether an unnecessary tool, which is not defined in the defining of the tool, is mounted on the turret; and the programmable machine controller separating the unnecessary tool from the turret when the unnecessary tool is mounted. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: the controller checking whether all of the defined tools corresponding to the determined tool mounting positions are mounted. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: the controller checking whether all of the tools mounted in the virtual image of the turret are actually and correctly mounted on the turrets. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: the controller changing a tool mounting location of the mounted tool on the display unit when a user selects a soft key on a touchscreen of the display unit. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: the controller checking a turret number for checking whether a corresponding tool is mounted for each number of the displayed turret; the controller searching for a tool corresponding to the number of the displayed turret in a tool database when a user selects a tool database soft key on a touchscreen of the display unit; and the programmable machine controller mounting the searched tool. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: the controller checking tool information by checking whether installation information about the mounted tool corresponds to preset installation information about a tool; and the controller correcting tool installation information when a user selects a tool correction soft key on a touchscreen of the display unit when the installation information about the mounted tool does not correspond to preset installation information about a tool. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: the programmable machine controller changing a tool mounting location of the mounted tool on the turret.