Interactive system between machine tool and operator

• US 6,397,124 B1
• Filed: 05/11/1999
• Issued: 05/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Falcon Machine Tools Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Falcon Machine Tools Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Lan, Huai-Sheng
• Primary Examiner(s): Grant, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): RODRIGUEZ, PAUL L
• Application Number:
  US09/309,593
• Time in Patent Office: 1,113 Days
• Field of Search: 700/180,172,181,184,183,185,194,164 451/5
• US Class Current: 700/185
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/409 characterised by using manual data input [MDI] or by using control panel, e.g. controlling functions with the panel; characterised by control panel details or by setting parameters G05B19/408, G05B19/4093 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/40931 concerning programming of geometry
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/40937 concerning programming of machining or material parameters, pocket machining
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

An interactive system involves a machine tool and an operator of the machine tool comprising a controller. The controller is formed of a central processing unit and a control panel connected with the central processing unit. The interactive system comprises a storage unit connected with the central processing unit and composed of a public data area and a program data area, a profile path editor disposed in the central processing unit and connected with the storage unit for converting a workpiece profile coordinate into an actual workpiece profile path pattern and a path program, and a pattern interface unit connected with the central processing unit and the storage unit for transmitting a signal from the central processing unit to the operator in the form of a pattern, so as to guide the operator to enter a finishing condition to actuate the controller to bring about a control signal to regulate the finishing operation of the machine tool.

Claims

1. An interactive system between a machine tool and an operator of the machine tool, the machine tool comprising a controller which comprises a central processing unit, and a control panel connected with the central processing unit, said interactive system comprising:

a storage unit connected with the central processing unit and comprising a public data area and a program data area whereby said public data area is for use in storing temporarily finishing condition data which are entered via the control panel of the controller and whereby said program data area is used to store finishing programs, and a special finishing program which is intended to regulate the advancing motion of a tool of the machine tool;

a profile path editor disposed in the central processing unit and connected with said storage unit for converting a workpiece profile coordinate into an actual workpiece profile path and a path program whereby said path program is stored in said storage unit; and

a pattern interface unit connected with the central processing unit and said storage unit for transmitting a specific signal generated by the central processing unit to the operator in the form of pattern, so as to guide the operator to enter a finishing condition into said storage unit via the control panel whereby said finishing condition actuates the controller to bring about a control signal to activate one of said finishing programs and said special finishing program to enable the machine tool to execute a finishing operation;

wherein said storage unit is a variable memory, and said program data area stores a grinding wheel finishing program and a workpiece polishing program.

2. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein said grinding wheel finishing program comprises instructions for a surface finishing, a formed rolling wheel finishing, a wheel head rolling wheel finishing, and a profile finishing.

3. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein said workpiece polishing program comprises instructions for a surface polishing, a cross polishing, an equidistance equidepth groove polishing, and a profile polishing.

4. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein said grinding wheel finishing program is an auxiliary program when said grinding wheel finishing program is called by said workpiece polishing program.

5. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein said special finishing program is a macro collection of instructions for executing the operation of a tool of the machine tool.