Electricity: motive power systems – Positional servo systems – Program- or pattern-controlled systems
Patent
1992-01-23
1993-11-30
Ip, Paul
Electricity: motive power systems
Positional servo systems
Program- or pattern-controlled systems
318572, 3185681, 36447401, G05B 19417, G05B 1502
Patent
active
052668789
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to a CNC (Computerized Numerical Control) apparatus for controlling a plurality of machine tools, and more particularly to a CNC apparatus for controlling a plurality of machine tools, which apparatus can be manufactured in a small size, make the plurality of machines operate at high speed, permit software to be rewritten easily, and has the maintainability of software improved substantially.
BACKGROUND ART
As described in JP-A-61-105616, for example, a conventional CNC apparatus for controlling a plurality of machines is arranged such that machine tools are connected on a one-to-one correspondence with CNC units, and that each CNC unit is connected to a host unit. Therefore, data is exchanged between the CNC units and the host unit (a cell controller and a program file unit) by serial transfer or via a LAN or the like. The CNC units and the host unit are each equipped with an operator input/output function.
The CNC apparatus in general incorporates a microcomputer, and therefore, software of several hundred kilobytes is used to operate the microcomputer. This software comprises a part program including machining data used in machining a workpiece with a machine tool, and a system program for controlling the motions of the machine tool by interpreting the part program in execution. The software is normally stored in ROM contained in each CNC unit, and cannot be modified easily.
For this reason, with a conventional CNC unit used for controlling a plurality of machine tools, when the system program and the part program need to be changed, the ROM has to be replaced. Another problem of the conventional CNC unit is that the CPU of the host unit and the respective CNC units are loosely coupled, and when changing the system program and the part program, it is necessary to exchange signals and transfer the programs between the CPU of the host unit and a CNC unit, and the host unit and the CNC unit must operate in a pair at all times. Therefore, the transfer speed of data including the system program and part program between the host unit and each CNC unit is relatively slow. When any one of the machine tools becomes unable to operate due to a fault in the system program or the part program, maintenance of the program for recovery to normal operation is complicated.
Therefore, the present invention has as its object to provide a general-purpose CNC apparatus for controlling a plurality of machines, which allows the system program and the part program to be changed easily and quickly, and which ensures the ease with which the system program or the part program can be maintained even when the program becomes not executable, and which can handle various kinds of machining operations.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
In brief, a CNC apparatus for controlling a plurality of machines, comprises a main CPU unit including a RAM, a plurality of CNC units for driving and controlling the machines, an external storage device, connected to the main CPU unit, for storing system programs for controlling the machines, part programs and necessary data, a CRT for displaying the status of the CNC units connected to the main CPU unit, and input means, connected to the main CPU unit, for inputting operation commands to be passed between the CNC units and the main CPU unit, and in this CNC apparatus, the main CPU unit and the CNC units are connected in common connection by a bus line, and a RAM is shared by the main CPU unit and the CNC units.
The above-mentioned RAM is arranged to have a plurality of storage areas corresponding to the number of the CNC units.
The above-mentioned input means is so arranged to be able to input command signals to drive and control the plurality of CNC units concurrently.
Furthermore, the above-mentioned input means can be arranged to enter on a time series basis the command signals for controlling the plurality of CNC units to control different kinds of machines concurrently.
When the control contents of a CNC unit is to be changed, this can be done by down-loading a
REFERENCES:
patent: 4118771 (1978-10-01), Pomella et al.
patent: 4415965 (1983-11-01), Imazeki et al.
patent: 4519026 (1985-05-01), Nozawa et al.
patent: 4530046 (1985-07-01), Munekata et al.
patent: 4550375 (1985-10-01), Sato et al.
patent: 4580207 (1986-04-01), Arai et al.
patent: 4608645 (1986-08-01), Niwa et al.
patent: 4787049 (1988-11-01), Hirata et al.
patent: 4882670 (1989-11-01), Isobe et al.
patent: 4902951 (1990-02-01), Ohta et al.
patent: 4956785 (1990-09-01), Kawamura et al.
patent: 4965500 (1990-10-01), Mizuno et al.
patent: 5005134 (1991-04-01), Nakashima et al.
patent: 5057755 (1991-10-01), Naka
Makino Toshiyuki
Yamaguchi Tuyoshi
Hitachi Seiko Ltd.
Ip Paul
LandOfFree
CNC apparatus for controlling a plurality of machines does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with CNC apparatus for controlling a plurality of machines, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and CNC apparatus for controlling a plurality of machines will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2099428