Data processing: generic control systems or specific application – Specific application – apparatus or process – Product assembly or manufacturing
Reexamination Certificate
1998-03-11
2001-05-08
Beausoliel, Jr., Robert W. (Department: 2184)
Data processing: generic control systems or specific application
Specific application, apparatus or process
Product assembly or manufacturing
Reexamination Certificate
active
06230070
ABSTRACT:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application claims priority benefits under 35 USC §119 of Japanese Patent Application Serial No. 9-197265 filed on Jul. 23, 1997, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1.Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a work position adjusting apparatus and a work position adjusting method for correcting an error in inclination of a work surface of a work, for example, and an error in rotation along the work surface on a work table of a machine tool.
2. Description of Related Arts
Referring to
FIGS. 21 and 22
, reference numeral
30
denotes a machine tool such as an NC milling machine. Reference numeral
31
denotes a work table on which a work is carried. An upper surface
32
of the work table
31
is basically parallel to an X-Y motion plane (hereinafter merely referred to as an X-Y plane) of a machine. In the case of
FIG. 21
, the work table
31
is movable upon being guided by an X-axis guide rail
37
and a Y-axis guide rail
38
on the X-Y plane of the machine. A work
33
is carried and fixed on the upper surface
32
of the work table
31
directly or through a work supporting device
34
such as a vice. A cutting tool
35
is mounted on a spindle and is rotated around a pindle center M to cut the work
33
.
Referring to
FIG. 22
, at the time of working, a work surface
39
of the work
33
must be set in a correct positional relationship with the X-Y plane of the machine. In order to simplify the description, a case where the work surface
39
of the work
33
should be parallel to the X-Y plane will be hereafter premised. In this case, in such working that precision on the order of microns is required, the work surface
39
is not always completely parallel to the X-Y plane only by merely mounting the work
33
directly or through the work supporting device
34
.
Specifically, the work surface
39
is not always completely parallel to the X-Y plane by accumulating various errors such as an error in inclination of a surface of the work table
31
itself and an error caused by the work supporting device
34
, and generally, has an error in inclination on the order of microns (an error in the degree of parallelization). The work
33
has an error in rotation around an axis perpendicular to the X-Y plane. In either case, it is preferable that the error in inclination and the error in rotation are brought as close to zero as possible.
In the prior art, the error in inclination of the work surface
39
is measured prior to the working, and then the inclination is adjusted by lightly tapping a part of the work surface
39
of the work
33
or spreading a thin metal foil between a part of the bottom of the work
33
and a base metal
40
, for example. The error in inclination on the order of microns is brought close to zero by repeating such operations of measuring and correcting the error.
The error in the degree of parallelization related to the above-mentioned error in rotation is measured, and is measured again after slightly loosening a bolt
41
for mounting the work supporting device
34
on the work table
31
and lightly tapping a side part of the work supporting device
34
, thereby finely adjusting the degree of parallelization of the work supporting device
34
. The error in the degree of parallelization on the order of microns is brought close to zero by repeating such an operation as mentioned above.
The operations are very troublesome, and the efficiency of the operations significantly depends on the skill of a worker.
Furthermore, human intervention is always required for the operations, which presents a large problem in the case of unmanned automation of the working including a set-up operation such as replacement of the work and fine adjustment of the inclination and the degree of parallelization.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a work position adjusting apparatus and a work position adjusting method for adjusting the position of a work with high precision simply and in a short time without depending on the skill of a worker, which method is adapted to cope as required with unmanned automation.
In order to attain the above-mentioned object, in one mode of the present invention, a work position adjusting apparatus for adjusting the position of a work having first and second surfaces crossing each other, on the basis of mutually perpendicular first, second and third axes are set in a machine tool with respect to a relative motion between a tool head and a work table, comprises a base, a mounting member on which the work is mounted, and supporting means interposed between the base and the mounting member for supporting the mounting member. The supporting means comprises first correcting means for correcting the inclination of the first surface relative to a plane including the first and second axes, by driving the mounting member in a direction parallel to the third axis, and second correcting means for correcting the inclination of the second surface relative to the first axis by rotating the mounting member around an axis parallel to the third axis. The work position adjusting apparatus further comprises coordinate value detecting means for detecting coordinate values related to the inclination of the first surface relative to the plane including the first and second axes and a coordinate value inclination of the second surface relative to the first axis, and controlling means for controlling the operation of each of the correcting means in response to a signal from the coordinate value detecting means.
In the present embodiment, it is possible to detect the coordinate values related to the inclinations of the first and second surfaces of the work, control the operation of each of the correcting means depending on the detected coordinate values, and automatically correct the work to a desired mounting position. Further, the surface of the work is corrected on the basis of a motion axis of the machine tool, so that the correction can be made with high precision without being affected by an error in mounting between the base and the work table.
The correction of the inclination of the first surface relative to the plane including the first and second axes, means the correction is to assure that an angle between both the plane and the first surface is a required angle. The required angle includes zero (that is, a case where both the surfaces are parallel to each other). Further, the correction according to the invention could be a case where the angle is so corrected as to fall within an allowable range including the required range, or a case where it is strictly corrected to the required angle. The same are true for the correction of the inclination of the second surface of the work. When the machine tool is an electric discharge machine, an electrode head for mounting an electrode shall correspond to a tool head.
The base may be or may not be shared by components such as a work table of the machine tool.
The foregoing and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4602459 (1986-07-01), Drits et al.
patent: 4602540 (1986-07-01), Murofushi et al.
patent: 5558557 (1996-09-01), Dashevsky
Beausoliel, Jr. Robert W.
Bonzo Bryce
Fuji Seiki Co., Ltd.
Rabin & Champagne, P.C.
LandOfFree
Work position adjusting apparatus and adjusting method does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Work position adjusting apparatus and adjusting method, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Work position adjusting apparatus and adjusting method will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2570878