Press machine

Abstract: To eliminate the need for manual input of tool information to a control apparatus which is otherwise required to replace a cartridge, thereby reducing the time required to arrange for replacement of cartridges and avoiding input errors. The present invention is applied to a punch press in which a cartridge (6) on which a plurality of tools (7,8) are mounted is replaced for processing. The punch press includes a control means (4) for controlling a press machine body (1) and a tool information storage means (15) for storing plural pieces of tool information (Da,Db) and tool identification information (P) on each of the tools (7,8) in such a way that the pieces of information mutually correspond. It also includes a cartridge replacement input means (17) for inputting the tool identification information (P) to the control means (4). The control means (4) has an identification means (20) for using the input tool identification information (P) to identify the tool information (D) on the plurality of tools (7,8) stored in the tool information storage means (15).

Description: Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a press machine such as for example a cartridge type punch press wherein a tool holder on which a plurality of tools are mounted is replaced for processing or a turret type punch press etc. Background of the Invention US-A 5 595 560 refers to a turret punch press having a plurality of tool holders forming a magazine from which paired tools are individually picked up and mounted on a pressing head and a fixed base. Depending on information including shape, size, clearance of the upper and lower tools of a tool pair and the numbers of times each tool has been used, the tools may be compared and replaced. Cartridge type or turret type punch presses are for example, sheet metal processing machines that are able to deal with various processes through replacement of tools. In particular, in a cartridge type punch press such as a press machine including an automatic cartridge replacement apparatus in which a large number of tools are replaced at a time, the input-output process required may reduce productivity. It is an object of the present invention to provide a cartridge type press machine that enables the replacement of tools without the need for the manual input of tool information, tools to be simply monitored for wear and tool information to be simply managed. This object is accomplished by a press machine with the features of the claim. According to this configuration, when, for example, a tool holder is replaced in order to replace the tools, the input means inputs the tool identification information to a storage section in the control means. Based on the input tool identification information, the identification means in the control means identifies the tool information on the tools stored in the tool information storage means. The tool information comprises information on the types and history of the tools, and the tool history information may comprise the number of punches of the tool. The control means may include a history rewrite means for counting the number of punches to rewrite the tool history information in the tool information stored in the storage means. The history of the individual tool, as indicated by the number of punches, is rewritten in response to the operation of a punch press. Consequently, the tools can be simply monitored for wear. The tool identification information may comprise numbers specific to the individual tools, enabling tool information to be managed easily. Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 is a block diagram showing a conceptual configuration of a press machine according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is flowchart of the control operation of the press machine. Figure 3 is a top view of a cartridge. Figure 4 is a block diagram showing a conceptual drawing of a press machine according to a proposed example. Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments One embodiment of thr present invention is described with reference to Figures 1 and 3. The press machine shown in these figures is a cartridge type punch press, wherein a cartridge 6 on which a plurality of tools 7, 8 are mounted is replaced for processing. The machine is mainly composed of a press machine body 1 that processes a workpiece W using at least one cartridge 6, a cartridge magazine 2, a cartridge replacement apparatus 3, a control means 4 for the press machine body 1 and a cartridge replacement control means 5. The press machine body 1 process the workpiece W using a vertical pair of cartridges 6, 6 acting as a tool holder. The vertical pair of cartridges 6 have a plurality of tool stations T (Figure 3), with a punch tool 7 or a die tool 8 mounted on each of the tool station T. The tool stations T have station numbers T1, T2, ..., respectively. The vertical pair of cartridges 6 are supported so as to move back and forth along vertical guides 10, 10 provided in a press frame 1a, and are moved by a cartridge driving apparatus 11 so as to be indexed at a position at which any tool 7 or 8 is opposed to a press head 9. The press head 9 has a ram that beats the punch tool 7 and a punch drive source that drives the ram. The punch drive source may be mechanical or hydraulic, but in this example, comprises a servo motor. The workpiece W is moved by a workpiece feeding apparatus 12 on a table (not shown in the drawings) in the moving direction of the cartridges 6 and the direction perpendicular thereto. The cartridge magazine 2 houses a plurality of vertical pairs of cartridges 6. The cartridge replacement apparatus 3 replaces the vertical pair of cartridges 6 between the press machine body 1 and the cartridge magazine 2. The cartridge replacement apparatus 3 is controlled by a cartridge replacement control means 5 comprising an NC apparatus. The control means 4 controls the press machine body 9 according to a processing program 14 and is composed of a computerized NC ("Numerically Controlled") apparatus and a programmable controller. A press body control section 13 provided in the control means 4 is a means for outputting processing instructions to the press machine body 1 instructing it to drive the press head 9, the cartridge driving apparatus 11, and the workpiece feeding apparatus 12. The control means 4 has a currently-used-tool information storage means 19 for storing parameters for a tool currently used for punching, and the press body control section 13 controls the speed at which the press head elevates and lowers the ram, according to tool information such as the tool parameters stored in the currently-used-tool information storage means 19. The punch press according to this embodiment, having the above configuration, registers tool information such as tool parameters and history in a tool information storage means 15 together with tool numbers. To replace a cartridge, the cartridge replacement input means 17 inputs only a tool identification information P. This reduces the time required to replace cartridge and prevents input errors. Specifically, in addition to the tool information storage means 15 and the cartridge replacement input means 17, the punch press includes in the control means 4, a correspondence information storage section 18, an identification means 20, a punch-times count means 21, and a history rewrite means 22, and also includes a station/tool correspondence information storage means 16 as described below. The tool information storage means 15 stores plural pieces of tool information D and plural pieces of tool identification information P for each tool 7 or 8 in such a way that the pieces of information mutually correspond, and stores such information for all tools 7 and 8 used for at least one press machine. The tool information storage means 15 is a database that may be provided in a storage means installed in the control means 4, or that may be provided separate from the control apparatus 4 or the press machine body 1 by connecting the storage means 15 to the apparatus 4 or the body 1 through signal transmission paths. The tool information storage means 15 may be provided in, for example, the cartridge replacement control means 5, a memory for an exclusive tool management computer, or a press machine of the same type that is installed in the same factory. The tool information storage means 15 is constantly linked with the control means 4 to enable reads and writes as required. The tool identification information P is information specific to a set of tools (in this example, the punch tool 7 and the die tool 8, but if a separate stripper is provided, the set includes the punch tool 7, the die tool 8, and the stripper), and is given as tool numbers. The tool identification information P, comprising tool numbers, is set in such a way that the numbers are not duplicated within the same machine or the same factory. The tool numbers are not only added virtually to the tools 7 and 8 but also added physically so as to be recognized by some method. For example, they are marked on the surface of the tools 7 and 8 so that a tool replacement operator can visually recognize them, or are provided on the tools 7 and 8 using bar codes or memory chips so as to be electronically recognized. The tool information D comprises tool type information Da, Db and tool history information Dc. The tool type information Da, Db is generally called " tool parameters" and comprises in this example, information Da on the shape of the tool (shape and size) and information Db on the form of the tool indicating the use of shear. Other tool type information may include clearance and the type of the stripper. The information Dc on the history of the tool denotes the number of punches executed using the tool 7 or 8. To replace the cartridge, the cartridge replacement input means 17 inputs the tool identification information P to the control means 4 each time the tool is replaced. In this example, the cartridge replacement input means 17 inputs to the control means 4, station/tool correspondence information U for a single cartridge that indicates the station numbers T1, T2, ... of the cartridge 6 and the corresponding tool identification information P1, P2, ... on the tools 7 and 8 installed on the tool stations T. The cartridge replacement input means 17 may be an input means such as a keyboard from which the operator manually inputs data, but in this example, the station/tool correspondence information U is read from the station/tool correspondence storage means 1 and input to the control means 4. The station/tool correspondence information storage means 16 stores the station/tool correspondence information U, and comprises, for example, a storage medium such as memory chip or a card which is provided on the individual cartridge 6. The storage medium may be fixed to the cartridge 6 or may be detached therefrom. In addition, the station/tool correspondence information storage means 16 is controlled separately from the cartridge 6 and may be provided in a storage means for a computer. It may be provided in, for example, the cartridge replacement control means 5 or a storage means for a tool management computer. The correspondence information storage section 18 provided in the control means 4 is a means for storing the station/tool correspondence information U input from the cartridge replacement input means 17. An identification means 20 uses the tool identification information P input from the cartridge replacement input means 17 in order to identify the tool information D on the plurality of tools 7 and 8 stored in the tool information storage means 15. In this example, the identification means 20 uses the tool identification information P in the station/tool correspondence information U stored in the correspondence information storage section 18 in order to identify the tool information D in the tool information storage means 15. The punch-times count means 21 counts the number of times that each of the tools 7 and 8 on the cartridge 6 used in the press machine body 1 has been actually punched by the press head 9. The number of punching times is counted in a predetermined processing unit. For example, the count value may be cleared each time the tools 7 or 8 (the tools used for punching) that is handled by the press head 9 are replaced, or alternatively, the count value for each of the tools 7 and 8 may be accumulated until the processing of a single workpiece W is finished. Finally, the count value for each of the tools 7 and 8 may be accumulated until the cartridge 6 in the press machine body 1 is replaced. The history rewrite means 22 writes the number of punching times stored in the tool information storage means 15 as the tool history Dc based on the number of punching times counted by the punch-times count means 21. Rewrite timings are based on the counting unit used by the punch-times count means 21. The operation of the above configuration is described with reference to the flowchart in Figure 2. First, as a preliminary step, the tool identification information (tool numbers) P on the tools 7 and 8 are registered in the tool information storage means 15, and parameters constituting the tool information D are input to the storage means 15 (step S1). In addition, the tools 7 and 8 are mounted on each cartridge 6 that is provided in the cartridge magazine 2 (S2). When the cartridge in the press machine body 1 is replaced, the cartridge replacement input means 17 inputs the station/tool correspondence information U to the correspondence information storage section 18 as an input of tool numbers (S3). Prior to punching, the processing program 14 specifies the station number T1, T2, ... as a tool instruction 14T (S4). In response to the tool instruction 14T, the control means 4 uses the press machine body control section 13 to control the indexing of the tools in the press machine body 1, and recognizes the tool identification information P in the station/tool correspondence information U stored in the correspondence information storage section 18. The control section then uses the tool identification information P to identify the corresponding tool information D in the tool information storage means 15, and loads the information (tool parameters) Da and Db on that tool type in the currently-used-tool information storage means 19. When, for example, the tool instruction 14T from the processing program 14 is for (T1), a tool number P1 is identified from the station/tool correspondence information U, and based on this number P1, tool information D 6 and no shear" is obtained from the tool information storage means 15. The press machine body control section 13 uses each of the tool parameters in the tool information D loaded in the currently-used tool information storage means 19 in order to output a processing instruction such that punching can be optimally controlled. For example, a curve denoting the variation of a punch stroke speed is controlled according to the corresponding tool parameter. Once predetermined processing has been finished, the numbers of punching times counted by the punch-times count means 21 for the individual tools 7 and 8 during the processing are added to the tool history Dc of the corresponding tool numbers P in the tool information storage means 15. This addition, that is, rewrite is executed by the history rewrite means 22. The operation or processing from the mounting of the tools on the cartridge 6 (S2) through the addition of the number of punching times (S5) is repeated. The mounting of the tools on the cartridge 6 (S2) is executed only when required, and the process normally returns from the addition of the number of punching times (S5) to the replacement of the cartridge (S3). The tool history information Dc stored in the tool information storage means 15 can be read out as required, thereby enabling the tools 7 and 8 to be monitored for wear. This press machine requires only the tool identification information P (specifically, the station/tool correspondence information U) to be input in order to replace the cartridge. It can optimize processing using appropriate tool parameters and control wear to the tools 7 and 8 by monitoring the tool history, without any need to manually input to the control means 4, tool parameters such as shape, size, and type and/or tool information D such as the tool history Dc. Figure 4 shows a proposed example of a press machine. This example is the embodiment shown in Figure 1 wherein the tool information storage means 15 is substituted by a tool information storage means 15A that stores the tool identification information P and tool information D for each cartridge. In a store region R that stores the tool identification information P and tool information D for each cartridge, the information on the tools 7 and 8 installed on the respective stations T on the cartridge 6 is stored in such a way as to correspond to the station numbers T1, T2, .... The number of store regions R for the respective cartridges is preferably set larger than the number of cartridges provided in a single press machine. In addition, one of the store regions R stores the tool identification information P and tool information D on the tools 7 and 8 that are not mounted on the cartridges 6 in such a way that the pieces of information mutually correspond. A cartridge replacement input means 17A inputs cartridge numbers K1, K2, ... to the control means 4. A correspondence information storage section 18A in the control means 4 is a region in which the input cartridge numbers are stored. According to this proposed example, in response to the tool instruction 14T from the processing program 14 (Figure 1), the identification means 20 uses the cartridge number in the correspondence information storage section 18A to select from the station numbers T1, T2, ... in that store region R of the tool information storage means 15A which belongs to the corresponding cartridge number, and loads the currently-used-tool information storage means 19 with the tool information D identified by the tool identification information P for the selected station numbers T1, T2, .... The other configuration and functionality of the proposed example are the same as in the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 3. The tool history information Dc in the tool information storage means 15A is rewritten by the history rewrite means 22 as described above. In the proposed example, a large amount of tool information D is divided for each cartridge unit (for example, the number of tools is about 12 to 30) for management, thereby enabling fast and easy retrievals and modifications. The simple input of the cartridge number enables the rewrite of tool information D such as the tool parameters Da and Db, which is required when replacing the cartridge. In addition, the tool information D on the tools 7 and 8 used for processing can be distinguished from the tool information D on the tools 7 and 8 not used for processing, using the cartridge numbers, thereby enabling the tool information D on the tools 7 and 8 not used for processing to be rewritten safely. This configuration allows external arrangements to be dealt with during processing and enables the tool information D in the tool information storage means 15A to be changed during processing. In addition, if the set number of store regions R for the respective cartridges is larger than the capacity of the cartridge in the press machine, the following advantage is also obtained. A new store region R must be created each time cartridges having a new tool layout are introduced, but with a relatively large available capacity, the needs for re-entry of information is eliminated in the reuse of a previously created tool layout. Although the above embodiment and the proposed example control the punch tool 7 and the die tool 8 as a set, the tools 7 and 8 may be individually controlled. In this case, for example, in the above embodiment, the tool identification information P is specific to each of the tools 7 and 8, and the tool information storage means 15 stores the tool information D on each of the tools 7 and 8 so as to correspond to the tool identification information P. The station/tool correspondence information U indicates the station numbers and the corresponding tool identification information on the punch tool 7 and the die tool 8. The current die management usually manages punch tool and die tool as a set, but in relation to processing thicknesses of workpieces, only the die is replaced with one having a different clearance to the punch which must remain unchanged. In such a case, the punch tool 7 and the die tool 8 must be individually managed. In addition, although the above embodiment has been described in conjunction with the application to the cartridge type punch press, the present invention is applicable to various other press machines such as turret type punch presses. The present press machine includes the storage means for storing the tool information and tool identification information on each tool and the input means for inputting the tool identification information, and the control means has the identification means for identifying the stored tool information on the plurality of tools based on the input tool identification information. This configuration obviates the needs for manual input of tool information to the control apparatus which is otherwise required to replace the tool, thereby reducing the time required to arrange for the replacement of the tool and also avoiding input errors. If the tool information consists of the tool type information and the tool history information, the tool history information indicates the number of times that the tool has been punched, and the control means causes the history rewrite means to rewrite the tool history information in the tool information stored in the storage means, then the history of the tools can be read out and thus the tools can be simply monitored for wear. In addition, if the tool identification information is specific to the individual tools, the tool information can be further simply managed.

Claims: A press machine comprising a tool holder (6) having a plurality of stations (T) for mounting a plurality of replaceable tools (7, 8) a control means (4) for controlling the operation of the press machine, a storage means for storing tool information (D) and tool identification information (P) based on the type and history of each tool input in the control means (4), an identification means (20) for identifying the stored tool information for the plurality of tools based on the input tool identification information, a tool magazine (2) storing a plurality of tool holders (6), and a tool holder replacement input means (17) which inputs to the control means (4) station and tool correspondence information (U) composed of tool identification information and station information of the tools and their stations in a holder.

Inventors: AIZAWA HIDETO, AIZAWA, HIDETO, Aizawa, Hideto c/o Murata Kikai Inuyamaryo
Applicants: MURATA MACHINERY LTD, MURATA KIKAI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Application year: 1998
Main classification: B23Q3
IPC codes: B23Q41, B21D28, G05B19, B23Q13, B23Q3, B21D37