Machine tool monitoring device

• US 8,386,067 B2
• Filed: 09/04/2007
• Issued: 02/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Krapf, Reiner, Braun, Heiko, Mahler, Michael, Hees, Alexander Werner
• Primary Examiner(s): Masinick, Michael D
• Application Number:
  US12/439,884
• Publication Number:
  US 20100057244A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,002 Days
• Field of Search: 700/174, 700/177, 82/49, 83/73, 833/64
• US Class Current: 700/174
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 11/0082 by determining whether the operator is in a dangerous position B23Q17/2438 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 17/24 using optics or electromagnetic waves
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 17/2438 of an operator or a part thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F16P 3/147 using electro-magnetic technology, e.g. tags or radar
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/0209 Systems with very large relative bandwidth, i.e. larger than 10 %, e.g. baseband, pulse, carrier-free, ultrawideband
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/04 Systems determining presence of a target based on relative movement of target G01S13/56
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/867 Combination of radar systems with cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/88 Radar or analogous systems specially adapted for specific applications electromagnetic prospecting or detecting of objects, e.g. near-field detection, G01V3/00
• 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 82/16049 Combined with means to sharpen tool[s]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/145 Including means to monitor product
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/531 With plural work-sensing means

Abstract

The invention relates to a machine tool monitoring device with an identification unity for identifying the operating situation of a machine tool. According to the invention, the machine tool monitoring device has at least one projection unit for defining at least one region to be monitored.

Claims

1. A machine tool monitoring device, comprising:

an identification unit for identifying an operating situation of a machine tool, the identification unit including at least one UWB radar sensor configured to determine position and/or speed of at least one of a human tissue and/or an animal tissue; and

at least one optical projection unit for defining at least one region to be monitored, wherein the at least one region to be monitored by the at least one optical projection unit marks at least one region to be monitored by the identification unit, wherein at least one region to be monitored by the at least one projection unit has an optical appearance, the at least one optical projection unit comprises;

a laser unit which projects a laser light, wherein if at least one of;

a human tissue; and

an animal tissue enters into said at least one region to be monitored, wherein the laser light changes at least one of color and light intensity resulting in a change in the optical appearance.

2. The machine tool monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the at least one projection unit defines at least two regions to be monitored for monitoring an operating process of the machine tool.

3. The machine tool monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the identification unit is configured for detecting at least one of:

a human tissue; and

an animal tissue.

4. The machine tool monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the identification unit is configured for detecting a workpiece.

5. The machine tool monitoring device of claim 2, wherein the identification unit defines at least two regions to be monitored for monitoring an operating process of the machine tool.

6. The machine tool monitoring device of claim 5, wherein the at least two regions to be monitored by the at least one projection unit and the at least two regions to be monitored by the identification unit at least partially overlap.

7. The machine tool monitoring device of claim 5, wherein the at least two regions to be monitored by the at least one projection unit optically mark off the at least two regions to be monitored by the identification unit.

8. The machine tool monitoring device of claim 1, wherein at least one region to be monitored by the at least one projection unit has a visual appearance, wherein the visual appearance changes if at least one of:

a human tissue;

an animal tissue; and

a workpiece moves into said at least one region to be monitored.

9. The machine tool monitoring device of claim 5, wherein a different mode of operation of the machine tool is in each case assigned to the at least two regions to be monitored when at least one of:

a human tissue; and

an animal tissue is detected.

10. The machine tool monitoring device of claim 9, wherein a warning mode of the machine tool is assigned to at least one of the at least two regions to be monitored.

11. The machine tool monitoring device of claim 10, wherein the identification unit, concurrently with a machine tool drive unit, slows down an actuation of the machine tool in the warning mode, wherein the machine tool drive unit is configured for actuating a tool.

12. The machine tool monitoring device of claim 9, wherein a safety cut-out of the machine tool is assigned to at least one of the at least two regions to be monitored.

13. The machine tool monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the identification unit is configured to determine position and speed of at least one of:

a human tissue;

an animal tissue; and

a workpiece.

14. The machine tool monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the machine tool monitoring device further comprises an antenna array.

15. The machine tool monitoring device of claim 14, wherein the identification unit is configured to include the antenna array.

16. The machine tool monitoring device of claim 15, wherein the antenna array comprises a phase-variable antenna array.

17. The machine tool monitoring device of claim 15, wherein the antenna array has at least one UWB radar antenna.

18. The machine tool monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the identification unit comprises a computation unit, wherein the computation unit is configured for identifying an operating situation by an evaluation based on at least one of:

a fuzzy logic; and

a neuronal logic.

19. The machine tool monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the identification unit comprises a data bank, and wherein an operating situation is assigned to a set of parameters in the data bank.

20. The machine tool monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the machine tool monitoring device is coupled to the machine tool.

21. A method of monitoring a machine tool, the method comprising:

monitoring at least one optical region defined by at least one optical projection unit; and

identifying an operating situation during an operating process of the machine tool using an identification unit including at least one UWB radar sensor configured to determine position and/or speed of at least one of a human tissue and/or an animal tissue within the at least one optical region to be monitored by a laser light, wherein at least one region to be monitored by the at least one projection unit has an optical appearance, wherein the optical appearance changes if at least one of;

a human tissue; and

an animal tissue enters into said at least one region to be monitored, and wherein a change in the optical appearance results from a change in at least one of;

a color and an intensity of the laser light.