Apparatus for identifying tools and for managing tool data

• US 5,257,199 A
• Filed: 02/17/1993
• Issued: 10/26/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/1985
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Omron Tateisi Electronics Co. (Omron Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Omron Tateisi Electronics Co. (Omron Corporation)
• Inventors: Yamada, Hiroyuki, Tsujino, Koichi
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US08/022,619
• Time in Patent Office: 251 Days
• Field of Search: 364/474.02, 364/474.21, 364/474.37, 364/468, 364/478, 235/375, 235/385, 318/16, 340/680, 340/825.06, 340/825.15, 340/825.22, 340/825.23, 340/825.52, 340/825.54, 340/825.72, 340/870.29, 340/870.39, 279/9.1, 279/19.4, 279/126, 279/900, 279/905, 483/4-11
• US Class Current: 700/160
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/128 the workpiece itself serves as a record carrier, e.g. by its form, by marks or codes on it
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/41825 machine tools and manipulators only, machining centre
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/33207 Physical means, radio, infra red, ultrasonic, inductive link
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/49302 Part, workpiece, code, tool identification
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/50253 Selection tool
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/04 characterised by the shape
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 483/12 with means to regulate operation by means of replaceable information supply [e.g. , templet, tape, card, etc. ]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 483/134 Identifying information on tool or tool holder

Abstract

In a machine tool such as a machining center or the like having an automatic tool changing apparatus, the tool holders adapted to respectively hold the tools provided for the automatic tool change are equipped with transmitters for transmitting signals indicative of tool data including the tool discrimination data of the tools. The receiver which receives the transmitted signals from the transmitters is attached to the machine tool. When a transmitter approaches the receiver, the transmitted data is received by the receiver. The kind and other data concerning the tool stored in the tool holder to which a transmitter is attached can be discriminated by the control unit of the machine tool on the basis of the received data.

Claims

1. An apparatus for identifying tools for use in a machine tool having an automatic tool changing apparatus, the automatic tool changing apparatus having tool keeping means for holding a plurality of tool holders to which the tools are respectively fixed, each of said tool holders having an associated pull stud, said tool changing apparatus automatically exchanging a tool attached to a spindle of the machine tool for a desired tool in said tool keeping means, by using the pull stud of the tool holders for the exchanged tools to hold the tools, said tool identifying apparatus comprising:

a plurality of transmitting means respectively provided for each of said tool holders, each of said transmitting means being provided in a respective pull stud of a respective tool holder and having data setting means for setting tool data including tool discrimination data indicative of the kind of tool which is held in said respective tool holder, each said transmitting means transmitting a signal representative of said tool data, each said pull stud being a self-contained unit which is attachable to and detachable from a respective tool holder to permit exchange of a respective transmitting means; and

receiving means, fixed to said machine tool, for receiving a signal transmitted from one of said transmitting means when said one transmitting means approaches said receiving means to thereby discriminate at least the kind of tool held by the tool holder associated with said one transmitting means.

2. A tool identifying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said receiving means is fixed to a predetermined position of said tool keeping means of said machine tool.

3. A tool identifying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said receiving means is fixed to a predetermined position in said automatic tool changing apparatus.

4. A tool identifying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each said transmitting means has a coil and said receiving means has a coil and each said transmitting means is electromagnetically coupled to said receiving means when each said transmitting means approaches said receiving means.

5. A tool identifying apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said receiving means has means for supplying operating electric power to each of said transmitting means through electromagnetic coupling of a coil of a transmitting means with the coil of said receiving means.

6. A tool identifying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each said transmitting means has a receiving function, said receiving means has a transmitting function, and said data setting means of an associated transmitting means holds data transmitted from the receiving means to said associated transmitting means.

18. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said tool holders rotate about a longitudinal axis during use of a tool.

7. An apparatus for managing tool data for use in a machine tool having an automatic tool changing apparatus, the automatic tool changing apparatus having tool keeping means for holding a plurality of tool holders to which the tools are respectively fixed, each of said tool holders having an associated pull stud, said tool changing apparatus automatically exchanging the tool attached to a spindle of the machine tool for a desired tool in said tool keeping means by using the pull stud of the tool holders for the exchanged tools to hold the tools, said tool data managing apparatus comprising:

(A) a data storing apparatus respectively provided for each of said plurality of tool holders, said data storing apparatus, for each tool holder, being provided in a respective pull stud which is provided as a self-contained unit and is attachable to and detachable from one end of the tool holder and having;

(i) holding means for holding tool data concerning a respective tool holder,

(ii) first transmitting/receiving means for transmitting and receiving data, and

(iii) control means for allowing data held in said holding means to be transmitting to said first transmitting/receiving means and for allowing data received by the first transmitting/receiving means to be stored into said holding means; and

(B) a data input/output apparatus fixed to said machine tool and having;

(i) second transmitting/receiving means for transmitting and receiving data to and from a said first transmitting/receiving means when a said first transmitting/receiving means approaches said second transmitting/receiving means,

(ii) output means for outputting the data received by said second transmitting/receiving means, and

(iii) input means for transferring input data to said second transmitting/receiving means.

8. A tool data managing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said data input/output apparatus is fixed to a predetermined position in said tool keeping means of said machine tool.

9. A tool data managing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said data input/output apparatus is fixed to a predetermined position in said automatic tool changing apparatus.

10. A tool data managing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said first transmitting/receiving means in said data storing apparatus of a respective tool holder and said second transmitting/receiving means in said data input/output apparatus respectively have coils adapted to face each other when said first and second transmitting/receiving means approach each other, thereby bidirectionally transmitting the data by electromagnetic coupling of said coils.

11. A tool data managing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein operation electric power of said data storing apparatus is supplied from said data input/output apparatus to said data storing apparatus through the electromagnetic coupling of said coils.

19. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said tool holders rotate about a longitudinal axis during use of a tool.

12. An apparatus for identifying tools for use in a machine tool having an automatic tool changing apparatus, the automatic tool changing apparatus having tool keeping means for holding a plurality of tool holders to which the tools are respectively fixed, each of said tool holders having an associated pull stud, said tool changing apparatus automatically exchanging the tool attached to a spindle of the machine tool for a desired tool in said tool keeping means by using the pull stud of the tool holders for the exchanged tools to hold the tools, said tool identifying apparatus comprising:

a plurality of transmitting means respectively provided for each of said tool holders, each of said transmitting means being provided in a respective pull stud which is provided as a self-contained unit which is attachable to and detachable from a respective tool holder, each of said transmitting means having data setting means for setting tool data including tool discrimination data indicative of the kind of tool which is held in said respective tool holder, each said transmitting means having a respective coil through which a signal representative of tool data is transmitted; and

receiving means, fixed to said machine tool, and including a coil for receiving, by electromagnetic coupling, signals transmitted from each of said transmitting means when each of said transmitting means approaches said receiving means to thereby discriminate at least the kind of tool held by each of said tool holders.

13. An apparatus for managing tool data for use in a machine tool having an automatic tool changing apparatus, the automatic tool changing apparatus having tool keeping means for holding a plurality of tool holders to which the tools are respectively fixed, each of said tool holders having an associated pull stud, said tool changing apparatus automatically exchanging the tool attached to a spindle of the machine tool for a desired tool in said tool keeping means, by using the pull stud of the tool holders of the exchanged tools to hold the tools, said tool data managing apparatus comprising:

(A) a data storing apparatus respectively provided for each of said plurality of tool holders, said data storing apparatus, for each tool holder, being provided in a respective pull stud attachable to and detachable from one end of the tool holder and having;

(i) holding means for holding tool data concerning a respective tool holder,

(ii) first transmitting/receiving means, including a coil, for transmitting and receiving data, and

(iii) control means for allowing data held in said holding means to be transmitting by said first transmitting/receiving means through said coil and for allowing data received by the first transmitting/receiving means through said coil to be stored into said holding means; and

(B) a data input/output apparatus fixed to said machine tool and having;

(i) second transmitting/receiving means including a coil, for transmitting and receiving data to and from said first transmitting/receiving means of each tool holder through the coils of said first and second transmitting/receiving means when a said first transmitting/receiving means approaches said second transmitting/receiving means,

(ii) output means for outputting the data received by said second transmitting/receiving means, and

(iii) input means for transferring input data to said second transmitting/receiving means.

14. An apparatus for identifying tools for use in a machine tool having an automatic tool changing apparatus, the automatic tool changing apparatus having tool keeping means for holding a plurality of tool holders to which the tools are respectively fixed, each of said tool holders having an associated pull stud, said tool changing apparatus automatically exchanging a tool attached to a spindle of the machine tool for a desired tool in said tool keeping means by using the pull stud of the tool holders of the exchanged tools to hold the tools, said tool identifying apparatus comprising:

a plurality of transmitting means respectively provided for each of said tool holders, each of said transmitting means being provided in a respective pull stud of a respective tool holder and having data setting means for setting tool data including tool discrimination data indicative of the kind of tool which is held in said respective tool holder, each said transmitting means transmitting a signal representative of said tool data, each said pull stud being a self-contained unit which is attachable to and detachable from a respective tool holder to permit exchange of a respective transmitting means, each said pull stud having a cylindrical exterior shape and containing a threaded portion which is in threaded engagement with said respective tool holder, said threaded engagement enabling said pull stud to be attachable to and detachable from said respective tool holder;

receiving means, fixed to said machine tool, for receiving a signal transmitted from one of said transmitting means when said one transmitting means approaches said receiving means to thereby discriminate at least the kind of tool held by the tool holder associated with said one transmitting means; and

each of said transmitting means having a coil and said receiving means having a coil, each of said transmitting means being electromagnetically coupled to said receiving means when each said transmitting means approaches said receiving means, said receiving means having means for supplying operating electric power to each of said transmitting means through the electromagnetic coupling of a coil of a transmitting means with a coil of said receiving means.

15. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said tool holders rotate about a longitudinal axis during use of a tool.

16. An apparatus for managing tool data for use in a machine tool having an automatic tool changing apparatus, the automatic tool changing apparatus having tool keeping means for holding a plurality of tool holders to which the tools are respectively fixed, each of said tool holders having an associated pull stud, said tool changing apparatus automatically exchanging the tool attached to a spindle of the machine tool for a desired tool in said tool keeping means by using the pull stud of the tool holders of the exchanged tools to hold the tools, said tool data managing apparatus comprising:

(A) a data storing apparatus respectively provided or each of said plurality of tool holders, said data storing apparatus, for each tool holder, being provided in a respective pull stud which is provided as a self-contained unit and which is attachable to and detachable from one end of the tool holder and having;

(i) holding means for holding tool data concerning a respective tool holder,

(ii) first transmitting/receiving means for transmitting and receiving data, and

(iii) control means for allowing data held in said holding means to be transmitting to said first transmitting/receiving means and for allowing data received by the first transmitting/receiving means to be stored into said holding means; and

(B) a data input/output apparatus fixed to said machine tool and having;

(i) second transmitting/receiving means for transmitting and receiving data to and from a said first transmitting/receiving means when a said first transmitting/receiving means approaches said second transmitting/receiving means,

(ii) output means for outputting the data received by said second transmitting/receiving means,

(iii) input means for transferring input data to said second transmitting/receiving means;

(C) wherein said first transmitting/receiving means in said data storing apparatus of a respective tool holder and said second transmitting/receiving means in said data input/output apparatus respectively having coils adapted to face each other when said first and second transmitting/receiving means approach each other, thereby bidirectionally transmitting the data by electromagnetic coupling of said coils; and

(D) wherein operation electric power of said data storing apparatus is supplied from said data input/output apparatus to said data storing apparatus through the electromagnetic coupling of said coils.

17. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said tool holders rotate about a longitudinal axis during use of a tool.