Automatic programming method for punch press and apparatus for the same

• US 6,247,006 B1
• Filed: 05/07/1998
• Issued: 06/12/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Amada Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Amada Metrecs Co. Ltd. (Amada Company Limited)
• Inventors: Kurasawa, Mutsuyoshi, Tanabe, Kazuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Davis, George B.
• Application Number:
  US09/073,957
• Time in Patent Office: 1,132 Days
• Field of Search: 706/47, 382/151, 382/209
• US Class Current: 706/47
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/40937 concerning programming of machining or material parameters, pocket machining
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/36238 Derive marking from punching program, secondary from principal program
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

According to an aspect of the disclosed invention, characteristic portions of graphic images to be used for machining in the form of profiles of a plurality of templates are first registered in advance along with machining design data corresponding to the respective profiles of the templates and including machining methods adapted to the respective profiles of the templates in the form of template machinings. Then, a specific characteristic portion is extracted out of the graph image given for a machining operation and the extracted characteristic portion is collated with each of the registered template profiles. Thereafter, the template machinings for the template profile recognized to be corresponding to the extracted characteristic portion as a result of the collation are read out from the registered data. Finally, the related machining design data is assigned to the extracted characteristic portion according to the read out template machinings to automatically prepare a machining program for a punch press.

Claims

1. An automatic programming method to be used for preparing a machining program for a punch press, the method comprising:

registering a plurality of template profiles and template machining data in association with each of the plurality of template profiles, each of the template profiles representing a characteristic portion of a graphic image to be used for machining, the template machining data including a machining method that achieves the associated template profile;

extracting a characteristic portion of a graphic image for a machining operation of a workpiece;

collating the extracted characteristic portion and each of the registered template profiles;

reading out the template machining data associated with one of the plurality of template profiles recognized based upon the collating, to be corresponding to the extracted characteristic portion; and

automatically preparing a machining program by assigning the read out template machining data to the extracted characteristic portion.

2. An automatic programming method to be used for preparing a machining program for a punch press, the method comprising:

registering a plurality of template profiles and at least one template machining data in association with each of the plurality of template profiles, each of the template profiles representing a characteristic portion of a graphic image to be used for machining, each of the at least one template machining data including a machining method that achieves the associated template profile;

extracting a characteristic portion of a graphic image for a machining operation of a workpiece;

collating the extracted characteristic portion and each of the registered template profiles;

reading out the at least one template machining data associated with one of the plurality of template profiles recognized based upon the collating, to be corresponding to the extracted characteristic portion; and

automatically preparing a machining program by assigning one of the read out at least one template machining data having a highest priority to the extracted characteristic portion.

3. An automatic programming method to be used for preparing a machining program for a punch press according to claim 2, wherein the highest priority is given to a most recently registered template machining data.

4. An automatic programming method to be used for preparing a machining program for a punch press according to claim 2, wherein higher priority is given to more frequently used template machining data.

5. An automatic programming apparatus used for preparing a machining program for a punch press, comprising:

a machining rule memory that registers a plurality of template profiles and at least one template machining data in association with each of the plurality of template profiles, each of the template profiles representing a characteristic portion of a graphic image to be used for machining, each of the at least one template machining data including a machining method that achieves the associated template profile;

a characteristic extracting section that extracts a characteristic portion of a graphic image for a machining operation of a workpiece;

a collating section that collates the extracted characteristic portion and each of the registered template profiles;

a machining design data reader that reads the at least one template machining data associated with one of the plurality of template profiles recognized based upon the collating, to be corresponding to the extracted characteristic portion; and

a machining program preparing section that automatically prepares a machining program by assigning one of the read at least one template machining data having a highest priority to the extracted characteristic portion.

6. An automatic programming apparatus to be used for preparing a machining program for punch press according to claim 5, wherein the machining program preparing section gives the highest priority to a most recently registered template machining data.

7. An automatic programming apparatus to be used for preparing a machining program for punch press according to claim 5, wherein the machining program preparing section gives higher priority to more frequently used template machining data.