Race groove machining system and method therefor

• US 6,385,502 B1
• Filed: 03/29/1999
• Issued: 05/07/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NTN Corporation
• Original Assignee: NTN Corporation
• Inventors: Nakano, Takahiro, Takagi, Shigeyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Gordon, Paul P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GAIN, EDWARD F
• Application Number:
  US09/280,003
• Time in Patent Office: 1,135 Days
• Field of Search: 700/169, 700/9, 700/3, 700/7, 700/20, 700/173
• US Class Current: 700/169
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4185 characterised by the network communication
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31104 Remote configuration of parameters of controlled devices
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31205 Remote transmission of measured values from site, local to host
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31455 Monitor process status
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/33182 Uart, serial datatransmission, modem
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/34038 Web, http, ftp, internet, intranet server
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/42247 Remote reference transmitted to servo
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

A system for machining a component part having a race groove a along which ball elements run include a machine tool 3 for performing a machining operation on the component part, an acquisition unit 8 for acquiring information related to the machining operation, a control unit 4 for controlling the machine tool 3 based on the information acquired by the acquisition unit 8, a remote information processor 10 installed at a site remote from the control unit 4, and a communication system 9 for connecting the control unit 4 and the remote information processor 10 through a communication line 12. The remote information processor 10 has a capability of acquiring the information, acquired by the acquisition unit 8, through the control unit 4 and the communication line 12 and transmitting such information to the control unit 4 so that the component part can be machined to suit to a particular machining condition while satisfying a stabilized dimension.

Claims

1. A system for machining a component part having a race groove along which ball elements run, said system comprising:

a machine tool for performing a machining operation on the component part having the race groove;

an acquisition means for acquiring information related to the machining operation;

a control means for controlling the machine tool based on the information acquired by the acquisition means;

a remote information processing means installed at a site remote from the control means; and

a communication means for connecting the control means and the remote information processing means through a communication line;

said remote information processing means having a capability of acquiring the information, acquired by the acquisition means, through the control means and the communication line and transmitting the information to the control means; and

wherein the information related to the machining operation includes information descriptive of a machining status and wherein the acquisition means includes a machining detecting means comprised of a plurality of sensors for detecting statuses of the machining operation.

2. The race groove machining system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an additional information processing means intervening between the control means and the communication means and independent from the remote information processing means, said remote information processing means delivering the information with the control means through the additional information processing means.

3. The race groove machining system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the information related to the machining operation includes machining conditions stored in a machining condition storage device, said acquisition means having its acquiring capability of reading the information stored in the machining condition storage device.

4. The race groove machining system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the information related to the machining operation includes a product information, which is information descriptive of a product shape and an precision, stored in a product information storage device, said acquisition means having its acquiring capability of reading the product information stored in the product information storage device.

5. The race groove machining system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the component part is that of a bearing or a constant velocity flexible coupling.

6. The race groove machining system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the machine tool is a grinding machine.

7. The race groove machining system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the machine tool is a lather turning machine.

8. A method of machining a component part having a race groove along which ball elements run, said method comprising the steps of:

transmitting information related to a machining operation and acquired from an acquisition means that is provided in a machine tool or a control means for controlling the machine tool, to a remote information processing means remote from the control means through a communication line;

supplying to the controlling means information generated by the remote information processing means on the basis of the transmitted information;

controlling the machine tool by means of the control means that utilizes the supplied information; and

machining the component part having the race groove by means of the machine tool to form a race groove in the component part;

wherein the information related to the machining operation includes information descriptive of a machining status and wherein the acquisition means includes a machining detecting means comprised of a plurality of sensors for detecting statuses of the machining operation.

9. A system for machining a component part having a race groove along which ball elements run, said system comprising:

a machine tool for performing a machining operation on the component part having the race groove;

a control means for controlling the machine tool;

an acquisition means for acquiring information related to the machining operation;

a setting means for setting reference machining conditions;

a calculating means for calculating a difference between the reference machining conditions and the information acquired by the acquisition means;

a feed-back means for supplying a result of calculation, performed by the calculating means, to the control means as feed-back information;

a remote information processing means installed at a site remote from the control means; and

a communication means for connecting both the control means and the setting means with the remote information processing means through a communication line;

wherein said control means utilizing the feed-back information for controlling the machine tool, and

said remote information processing means having a capability of acquiring the feed-back information through the control means and the communication line and transmitting information to the control means and the setting means.

10. The race groove machining system as claimed in claim 9, further comprising a machine-side information processing means intervening between both of the control means and the setting means and the communication means and independent from the remote information processing means, said remote information processing means delivering the information with the control means and the setting means through the machine-side information processing means.

11. The race groove machining system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the reference machining conditions and the information related to the machining operation, acquired by the acquisition means, includes machining conditions.

12. The race groove machining system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the reference machining conditions and the information related to the machining operation, acquired by the acquisition means, includes information descriptive of the product and the precision thereof.

13. The race groove machining system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the reference machining conditions and the information related to the machining operation, acquired by the acquisition means, includes information descriptive of a machining status.

14. The race groove machining system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the component part is that of a bearing or a constant velocity flexible coupling.

15. The race groove machining system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the machine tool is a grinding machine.

16. The race groove machining system as claimed in claim 9,wherein the machine tool is a lather turning machine.

17. A method of machining a component part having a race groove along which ball elements run, with the use of a machine tool under the control of a control means, said method comprising the steps of

setting reference machining conditions in a setting means;

acquiring information related to a machining operation from the machine tool machining the component part having the race groove and the control means by an acquisition means;

calculating a difference between the reference machining condition, set in the setting means, and the information acquired by the acquisition means, by means of a calculating means;

supplying a result of calculation, performed by the calculating means, to the control means as feed-back information, said control means utilizing the feedback information for the control and to transmit the feed-back information to a remote information processing means that is installed at a site remote from the control means and connected with the control means through a communication line;

supplying to the control means and the setting means information generated by the remote information processing means on the basis of the transmitted information;

controlling the machine tool by means of the control means that utilizes the supplied information; and

updating contents of the reference processing conditions set in the setting means.