Machine tool data system

• US 4,314,330 A
• Filed: 02/23/1979
• Issued: 02/02/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Strippit, Inc. (LVD-Invest CVA)
• Original Assignee: Houdaille Industries, Inc. (Smiths Group International Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Slawson, Kenneth L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gruber, Felix D.
• Application Number:
  US06/014,582
• Time in Patent Office: 1,075 Days
• Field of Search: 364/107, 364/474, 364/475, 364/110, 364/111, 364/113, 364/300, 364/200 MS File, 318/594, 318/596, 318/570, 318/572, 318/573, 318/574, 318/568, 318/601, 318/569
• US Class Current: 700/87
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/408 characterised by data handling or data format, e.g. reading, buffering or conversion of data
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/34388 Detect correct moment, position, advanced, delayed, then next command
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/36153 Two, several consoles, displays, panels, two different input, joystick
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/41478 Servo loop with combination of analog and digital sensor
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/42213 Position overshoot, axis still moves after stop

Abstract

A machine tool data system for receiving and storing abbreviated instructions representing blocks of machine tool control data and including pattern type instructions such as copy, mirror image and tool change each involving a series of such blocks, the computer responding to editing instructions such as insert or delete as to specified lines of stored instructions or computing the blocks represented by the stored instructions for transmission to an output device such as a tape punch, the computer generating the blocks of a pattern type series at the rate of utilization of said blocks by the output device. A machine tool may be connected on line and controlled by the computer simultaneously with the editing or tape preparation operations thereof, and the machine tool may be controlled manually from a data terminal on line with the computer when the terminal is not in use for tape preparation.

Claims

1. In a computer system,

(a) a manually controllable input device operable to produce coded input signals

as manually selected by an operator and pertaining to successive blocks of new machine control data to be generated,

(b) a stored program digital computer including a computer memory with memory locations for storing machine control data pertaining to positioning operations of a machine and containing a stored program, said digital computer under the control of said stored program being connected with said manually controllable input device and operable to respond to said coded input signals from said device to generate successive blocks of new machine control data in accordance with said coded input signals and expressing successive machine movements both as incremented displacement values relative to respective next preceding ones of said successive blocks and as absolute displacement values with respect to a common reference point.

2. In a computer system,

(a) a manually controllable input device operable to produce coded input signals

as manually selected by an operator pertaining to successive blocks of new machine control data to be generated,

(b) said manually controllable input device being operable to produce coded input signals representing at least the following:

(1) a plural digit decimal number representing a displacement value relative to one of a plurality of machine axes (2) a coded "list" input signal, (3) a coded "delete" input signal, and (4) a coded "copy" input signal, and

(c) a stored program digital computer including a computer memory with memory locations for storing machine control data pertaining to the operation of a machine, said computer memory having a stored program therein, and said digital computer under the control of said stored program being responsive to said coded input signals to generate siad sucessive blocks of new machine control data in accordance therewith and to store said successive blocks of machine control data at said memory locations, said digital computer under the control of said stored program being operable;

(1) to respond to said coded input signal representing a plural digit decimal number to generate a block of said new machine control data incorporating a displacement value relative to said one of a plurality of machine axes in accordance with said plural digit decimal number, (2) to respond to said coded "list" input signal to list all blocks of said machine control data in said memory locations, (3) to respond to said coded "delete" input signal to delete identified blocks of said machine control data from said memory locations, and (4) to respond to said coded "copy" input signal to produce additional blocks of machine control data corresponding to respective identified blocks of said machine control data in respective memory locations.

3. In a computer system,

(a) a manually controllable input device operable to produce coded input signals as manually selected by an operator pertaining to successive blocks of new machine control data to be generated, and

(b) a digital computer including a computer memory with memory locations for storing machine control data pertaining to positioning operations of a machine, said computer memory containing a stored program for assisting an operator in the generation of said successive blocks of new machine control data, said digital computer under the control of said stored program being responsive to said coded input signals from said input device to generate said successive blocks of new machine control data and to store said successive blocks at said memory locations of said computer memory, said digital computer under the control of said stored program being responsive to coded input signals representing respectively, displacement commands expressed incrementally from a next preceding block of said new machine control data, and displacement commands expressed as respective absolute values with respect to a common reference point to generate corresponding machine control data expressed in at least one of an incremental value from the next preceding block of machine control data and an absolute value with respect to said common reference point.

4. A computer system in accordance with claim 3 with said digital computer under the control of said stored program being operative to control print out from said memory locations of said computer, said successive blocks of new machine control data with the displacement commands of the respective blocks being expressed both as successive incremental values from respective next proceding blocks of said machine control data and as absolute values with respect to said common reference point.

5. In a computer system,

(a) a console including a manually controllable input device operable to produce a sequence of sets of function type and displacement type coded input signals as manually selected by an operator for representing a sequence of corresponding blocks of machine tool control data, each of said sets of coded input signals representing a corresponding block of machine tool function and displacement commands with respect to a predetermined type of machine tool and workpiece, and

(b) a stored program digital computer operably connectable on line with said console for receiving said coded input signals from said manually controllable input device and including a computer memory and a stored program stored in said computer memory for controlling the operation of said computer in responding to said coded input signals from said manually controllable input device,

(c) said stored program digital computer being operable under the control of said stored program to respond to each of said sets of coded input signals to generate the corresponding block of machine tool function and displacement commands, and to store said sequence of corresponding blocks at successive memory locations of said computer memory, with successive block numbers assigned thereto.

6. The computer system of claim 5 with

said console including a display device for displaying block numbers at said console and for displaying coded input signals as generated by said input device with reference to the successive block numbers, and

said stored program digital computer being operably connectable on line with said display device and being operable under the control of said stored program to generate block numbers for each of said sequence of corresponding blocks to be stored in said computer memory, and to cause said display device to display at said console the block number for the next one of said sequence of sets of coded input signals to be generated by said input device.

7. In a computer system in accordance with claim 5

said manually controllable input device being operable to generate a coded delete signal indentifying a particular series of block numbers to be deleted, and

said program digital computer being operable under the control of said stored program to respond to said coded delete signal to delete the series of blocks of machine tool control data stored in said computer memory which are identified by said particular series of block numbers identified by said coded delete signal.

8. In a computer system in accordance with claim 7,

said manually controllable input device being operable to generate said coded delete signal in response to a single character-generating manual actuation thereof, exclusive of manual actuations thereof to identify the particular series of block numbers to be deleted.

9. In a computer system in accordance with claim 5,

said manually controllable input device being operative to generate a code insert signal identifying a particular block number of a block in relation to which new blocks of machine control data are to be inserted, and

said stored program digital computer being operable under the control of said stored program to respond to said coded insert signal to insert new blocks of machine tool control data in the desired relationship to the identified block of machine tool control data already stored in said computer memory.

10. In a computer system in accordance with claim 9

said manually controllable input device being operable to generate said coded insert signal in response to a single character-generating manual actuation of said input device, exclusive of manual actuations of said input device to identify said particular block number.

11. In a computer system in accordance with claim 5,

said console having a data display device for displaying blocks of machine tool control data transmitted thereto from the computer together with the assigned block numbers thereof, said data display device being operably connectable on line with said stored program digital computer,

said manually controllable input device being operable to generate a coded list signal specifying a particular series of block numbers, and said stored program digital computer being operable under the control of said stored program to respond to said coded list signal from said input device to obtain from said computer memory and to transmit to said display device the series of blocks of machine tool control data to which said particular series of block numbers is assigned, for display of the series of blocks together with the assigned block numbers by said data display device at said console.

12. In a computer control system in accordance with claim 11,

said manually controllable input device being operable to generate said coded list signal in response to a single character-generating manual actuation of said input device, exclusive of the manual actuations of said input device to indentify said particular series of block numbers.

13. In a computer system in accordance with claim 5,

said manually controllable input device being operable to generate a pattern type coded input signal and a particular previous block identifying signal, and

said stored program digital computer being operable under the control of said stored program to respond to said pattern type coded input signal and to said particular block indentifying signal to call up from said computer memory the particular block of machine tool control data specified by said block identifying signal and to generate a new block of machine tool control data in accordance with said coded pattern type input signal and to store the new block in said computer memory, with a sequential block number assigned thereto.

14. In a computer control system in accordance with claim 13,

said manually controllable input device being operable to generate a repeat signal calling for repeated pattern type operations with respect to the particlar block identified by said block identifying signal, and

said stored program digital computer under the control of said stored program being responsive to said repeat signal to place the maching tool control data generated in accordance with said coded pattern type input signal at the number of new blocks specified by said repeat signal.

15. In a computer system in accordance with claim 13,

said manually controllable input device being operable in response to a single character-generating manual actuation to generate said coded pattern type input signal, exclusive of said block indentifying signal.

16. In a computer system in accordance with claim 13,

said manually controllable input device being operable to generate pattern type coded input signals including a mirror image coded input signal together with block indentifying signals identifying a particular series of block numbers, and

said stored program digital computer being operable under the control of said stored program to respond to said mirror image coded input signal to call up from said computer memory the blocks of machine tool control data having said series of block numbers to generate a new series of blocks of machine tool control data with signs of the machine tool displacement commands for at least one axis reversed, and to store the new series of blocks of machine tool control data in said computer memory with assigned sequential block numbers following the block number of the last of the blocks of machine tool control data previously stored in said computer memory.

17. In a computer system in accordance with claim 5,

said console having a coded record device for producing a coded record of successive blocks of machine tool control data,

said manually controllable input device being operable to generate a coded record signal together with a block identifying signal identifying a particular series of block numbers,

said stored program digital computer being operably connectable on line with said coded record device to control the production of a coded record thereby, being operable under the control of said stored program to respond to said coded record signal to supply the series of blocks of machine tool control data having the particular series of block numbers identified by said block identifying signal to said coded record device for recording thereby to produce said coded record.

18. In a computer system in accordance with claim 17,

said manually controllable input device operable in response to a single character-generating manual actuation to generate said coded record signal, exclusive of said block identifying signal.

19. In a computer system in accordance with claim 5,

said console including a coded record device operably connectable on line with said computer and operable for reading a coded record having successive blocks of machine tool control data recorded thereon,

said manually controllable input device being operable to generate a coded read signal together with a block identifying signal specifying a series of block numbers, and

said stored program digital computer being operable under the control of said stored program to respond to said coded read signal from said input device to cause said coded record device to read said coded record and to transmit to said computer the series of blocks of machine tool control data recorded on said coded record in accordance with said series of block numbers, said stored program digital computer being operable under the control of said stored program to store said series of blocks of machine tool control data from said coded record device in said computer memory with a sequence of block numbers assigned thereto.

20. In a computer system in accordance with claim 19

said coded record device being operable to read coded records having successive blocks of machine tool control data recorded thereon in two respective different formats,

said manually controllable input device being operable to generate respective first and second coded read signals specifying respectively the two different formats, and

said stored program digital computer being operable in response to said first and second coded read signals to receive the successive blocks of machine tool control data from said coded record device and to interpret said blocks as being in a corresponding one of said respective different formats, said computer under the control of said stored program being operable to convert successive blocks in at least one of said two formats to a different format prior to storage thereof in said computer memory.

21. In a computer system in accordance with claim 20,

said manually operable input device being operable to generate said respective first and second coded read signals in response to not more than two character-generating manual actuations of said input device, exclusive of generation of said block identifying signal.

22. In a computer system in accordance with claim 5,

said console having a coded record device operably connectable on line with said stored program digital computer for producing a coded record of successive blocks of machine tool control data,

said manually controllable input device being operable to generate a coded initial condition signal with respect to the predetermined type of machine tool,

said stored program digital computer being operable under the control of said stored program to respond to said coded initial condition signal to generate machine tool control data for placing the machine tool in an initial condition ready for a machine tool operation, including an initial displacement command and a machine tool function command for the predetermined type of machine tool, said stored program digital computer being operable to transmit to said coded record device said machine tool control data including said initial displacement command and said machine tool function command for recording on the coded record associated with said coded record device, and

said stored program digital computer being responsive to a record signal to transmit to said coded record device the sequence of corresponding blocks at the successive memory locations of said computer memory for recording on the coded record subsequent to the machine tool control data generated in response to said coded initial condition signal.

23. In a computer system in accordance with claim 22,

said manually operable input device being operable to generate said initial condition signal in response to a single character-generating manual actuation of said input device.

24. In a computer sytem in accordance with claim 5,

said manually controllable input device being operable to generate a coded tool change signal representing a move of the workpiece to an offset position relative to a tool operating position, and

said stored program digital computer being operable under the control of said stored program to respond to said coded tool change signal to compute new incremental displacement values required to move the workpiece from a present position as represented by the last of said sequence of corresponding blocks stored in said computer memory to said offset position, and to store said new incremental displacement values as a further block of machine tool control data in said computer memory.

25. In a computer system in accordance with claim 24,

said manually controllable input device being operable to generate said coded tool change signal in response to a single character-generating manual actuation of said device.

26. In a computer system in accordance with claim 24,

said stored program digital computer being operable under the control of said stored program to respond to a set of coded input signals from said input device subsequent to said coded tool change signal to compute incremental displacement values required to move the workpiece from said offset position to a new position as represented by the last-mentioned set of coded input signals and to store the last-mentioned incremental displacement values as a further block of machine tool control data in said computer memory.

27. In a computer system in accordance with claim 5,

said manually controllable input device being operable to generate sequences of digit-representing coded input signals representing incremental displacement values along respective axes of the machine tool in relation to a next previous position of the workpiece,

said stored program digital computer being operable under the control of said stored program to respond to said sequence of digit-representing coded input signals to generate corresponding blocks of machine tool control data including said incremental displacement values for the respective axes, and to calculate accumulated absolute displacement values for the respective corresponding blocks expressing displacement relative to a common reference point, and to store said corresponding blocks including said accumulated absolute displacement values in said computer memory.

28. In a computer system in accordance with claim 27,

said manually controllable input device being operable to generate first and second sequences of displacement-representing coded input signals representing respectively incremental displacement values in relation to a next previous position of the workpiece, and absolute displacement values in relation to the common reference point, and

said manually controllable input device being operable to signal whether a sequence of digit-representing coded input signals is a first sequence or a second sequence by means of a single character-generating manual actuation of said input device, exclusive of the manual actuations to generate said digit-representing coded input signals.