JPH11345005A - Machine tool control system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To remove the necessity of switching a screen in the whole screen unit at the time of operating external equipment from an I/O device in a numerical controller and to improve the operability of the external equipment by hierarchically and logically linking plural divided menus to constitute an external equipment operating menu and displaying one of optionally selected divided menus on the screen of a CRT. SOLUTION: A physical user interface in an I/O device 20 is constituted of a CRT screen 21, a key input, operation panel 30 and function keys F1 to F6. Divided menus 26 displayed on a divided menu display area 22 are switched as necessity, required external equipment controlling operation is found out of the displayed divided menus 26 and a control operation key (one of the function keys F1 to F6) positioning just under a corresponding command item 27 is depressed to carry out the control operation of the external equipment. Consequently it is unnecessary to interrupt the operation being executed at present such as data input operation and the operability and the working efficiency can be improved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention controls a machine tool by a numerical controller, controls an external device related to a machine by a sequence controller, and comprises a display and a key input device of the numerical controller. The present invention relates to a machine tool control system capable of performing a control operation on the external device from an input / output device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been a function of operating external devices related to machining, such as a grinding wheel shaft motor, a sizing device, and a coolant, connected to a sequence control device from a numerical control device. For example, a function for guiding or prompting the user to perform a control operation of an external device using an external device operation menu that occupies the entire screen as shown in FIG. 6 is provided. FIG. 6 shows a CRT screen display format diagram of an external device operation menu in the prior art (a) and a circuit diagram (b) of a sequential circuit of the sequence control device. Conventionally, a screen call operation of an external device operation menu is performed from a screen in use at the time of operating a numerical control device, and a control operation list for each external device as shown in FIG. 6A is displayed on a CRT of the numerical control device. For example, "ON", "OF"
The control operation of the external device has been performed by moving the cursor over the character string of "F" display and pressing the execution key in that state. By these control operations, FIG.
The relay switches such as SW1 (sizing device ON command), SW2 (coolant ON command), and SW3 (grinding wheel motor ON command) in the sequential circuit 57 shown in FIG.
When the command state for each external device in the external device operation menu of FIG.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Due to these configurations,
Conventionally, on the screen in use during the operation of the numerical control device, for example, even if you want to consistently continue to input data on the shape of the workpiece, even if you want to operate external devices,
It is necessary to call and operate a predetermined external device operation menu (FIG. 6A) each time. Therefore, if it is not desired to switch the entire screen, walk to the operation panel of the sequence control device. External devices had to be operated, and in any case, the operability for the external devices was poor. In addition, a conventional external device operation menu (FIG. 6A)
Since the control operations related to all external devices were registered and consolidated on one screen, guidance or prompting was also provided for control operations related to external devices that were completely unrelated to the work being performed or the screen being operated. The operability for external devices was poor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and has as its object to perform screen switching in units of whole screens when operating an external device from an input / output device of a numerical controller. It is to eliminate the necessity and improve the operability of the external device.

[0005]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the following means are effective. That is, the first means controls a machine tool by a numerical control device, controls an external device related to the work by a sequence control device, and has an input / output constituted by a display and a key input device of the numerical control device. In a machine tool control system capable of controlling an external device from the device, the control is a key code of an input key of a key input device corresponding to various control operations in an external device operation menu displayed on a display screen. An external device operation menu is constituted by hierarchically and logically connecting an input key processing means for identifying an operation key code and a plurality of divided menus for accepting a control operation to the external device to the displayed image in a hierarchical manner. Screen display means for displaying one of the divided menus selected on the screen in a partial area on the screen of the display, and a screen of an image output to the display Signal, a divided menu number of a divided menu displayed in a partial area when an image is output, a sequence signal output unit for outputting a control operation key code, and a screen number output to the sequence controller by the sequence signal output unit. And a sequential circuit for inputting a divided menu number and a control operation key code and outputting an external device control signal for controlling an external device. The control operation key code may be a key number (F1, F2,...) Of a function key of the key input device.

A second means is that, in the first means, the sequential circuit is realized by a program executed by a sequence control device. With the above means, the above-mentioned problem can be solved.

[0007]

By configuring the means for solving the problems as described above, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of divided menus 26 are hierarchically and logically connected to operate an external device. A menu is constituted, and one divided menu 26 arbitrarily selected can be displayed in the partial area 22 on the CRT screen 21. As a result, the divided menu 26 displayed in the partial area 22 is switched as necessary, and the divided menu 2 displayed here is switched.
6, a desired external device control operation is found, and control operations of the external device can be performed by pressing control operation keys (function keys F1 to F6) corresponding to the desired command item 27. Therefore, on the screen in use at the time of operating the numerical control device, for example, even when it is desired to continuously input data on the shape of the workpiece, it is possible to easily connect the external device without switching the screen every screen unit. Since the operation can be performed, it is not necessary to interrupt a currently performed operation such as a data input operation, and operability and work efficiency are improved. In addition, since the sequential circuit of the sequence control device is realized by a program executed by the sequence control device, the sequential circuit can be easily changed or expanded, thereby improving the maintainability and expandability of the sequence control device. I do.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on specific embodiments. FIG. 1 shows a system configuration diagram of a machine tool control system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The numerical control device 10 includes a CPU 1 (arithmetic means), a ROM 2, a RAM
3, the input / output interfaces IF4, 5, 6, etc. The input / output device 20 is connected to the CPU via the IF4.
1 is transmitted to the user. The table moving motor drive circuit 41 includes the table moving motor 4
3 control the rotation speed, start and stop. Encoder 45
Detects the rotation speed of the table moving motor 43 and outputs a detection signal to the table moving motor drive circuit 41. The wheel head moving motor drive circuit 42 controls the rotation speed, start and stop of the wheel head moving motor 44. The encoder 46 detects the rotational speed of the wheel head moving motor 44 and outputs a detection signal to the wheel head moving motor drive circuit 42.

The sequence control device 50 includes a CPU (not shown).
(Arithmetic means), a ROM, a RAM, an input / output interface IF 54, a sequential circuit 57, and the like. The sequential circuit 57 includes a screen number Sm transferred from the numerical controller 10, a divided menu number Mn, a control operation key (function key) number Fi (m, n, and i are natural numbers), and an external circuit transmitted from the input circuit 61. Device status signal LSj
(J is a natural number) and input the external device control signal SOLk
(K is a natural number) is output to the output circuit 62. The input circuit 61 includes a sizing device (not shown), a coolant, a grindstone shaft motor,
The state of various external devices such as a dresser, an actuator, a solenoid, etc. or various external device-related devices is detected or input as an external device status signal LSj and sent to the sequence control device 50. The output circuit 62 is connected to the sequence control device 50.
The received external device control signal SOLk is transferred to various external devices or various external device-related devices (not shown) to control these devices or devices.

FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of the input / output device 20 according to the embodiment of the present invention. The physical user interface of the input / output device 20 includes a CRT screen 21, a key input operation panel 30, and function keys F1 to F6. The key input operation panel 30 includes an alphabet input key, a numerical input key, and a cursor movement key 3.
1, a shift key 32, an execution key 33 and the like. As shown in FIG. 2, the CRT screen 21 has a divided menu display area 22 for displaying a divided menu 26.
And a drawing / data input / output area 23 for inputting or outputting data and drawings relating to the processing shape or processing method of the workpiece. Split menu 26
Is composed of six command items 27. These commands include commands related to switching control of the CRT screen 21 or the split menu 26 and commands related to control operations of various external devices. On the upper right of the CRT screen 21, there is a screen number display 24 (Sm = 0012), and on the upper left of the split menu 26, a split menu number display 25 (Mn = 0002).
There is. In this system, the split menu 26 displayed in the split menu display area 22 is switched as necessary,
A desired external device control operation is found out of the divided menu 26 displayed here, and a control operation key (function key F1) located immediately below the corresponding command item 27 is found.
To F6), the control operation of the external device can be performed.

FIG. 3 shows a function list (a) of the divided menu and a function hierarchy diagram (b) of the external device operation menu in the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3A, for example, in the split menu 1, a command item (F2) for turning on the coolant, a command item (F3) for turning off the coolant, and the next split menu are displayed. And a command item (F6) for displaying the previous divided menu, and the function key F
1 and function key F4 are undefined commands. Also, the split menu 2 includes a command item (F2) for starting the grindstone shaft motor, a command item (F3) for stopping the grindstone shaft motor, a command item (F5) for displaying the next split menu, and Command item (F
6) are prepared, and the function keys F1 and F4 are undefined commands. To display the next screen, press the function key F11 (press the function key F5 while pressing the shift key 32). To display the previous screen, press the function key F12. Press (press function key F6 while holding down shift key 32).

As shown in FIG. 3B, for example, from the screen 1, the external device operation menu 1 can be operated while the drawing or data input screen is displayed in the drawing / data input / output area 23. The external device operation menu 1 includes four divided menus of divided menus 1, 2, 5, and 7. That is, from the screen 1, the divided menus 1, 2,
It is possible to operate four divided menus 5 and 7.
For example, if the function key F6 (previous page) is pressed while the split menu 1 is displayed on the screen 1, the split menu 7 is displayed because this command wraps around. When the function key F5 (next page) is pressed while the divided menu 7 is displayed on the screen 1, the divided menu 1 is displayed because this command wraps around. When the function key F5 (next page) is pressed while the divided menu 2 is displayed on the screen 1, the registered divided menu 5 is displayed immediately after the divided menu 2. When an arbitrary division menu is displayed on the screen 1 and the function key F6 (previous page) is pressed while pressing the shift key 32, the rearmost (Mth)
Is displayed. The external device operation menu M on the screen M is composed of three divided menus of divided menus 2, 3, and N. As described above, for each screen, a divided menu belonging to that screen is defined.

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram of a sequential circuit 57 included in the sequence control device according to the present invention. The sequential circuit 57 includes a screen number Sm transferred from the numerical controller 10, a divided menu number Mn, a control operation key (function key) number Fi (m, n, and i are natural numbers), and an external circuit transmitted from the input circuit 61. A device status signal LSj (j is a natural number) is input, and each of the relay switches Sm,
The external device control signal SOLk (k is a natural number) is output to the output circuit 62 by the action of Mn, Fi, LSj, and SOLk. Sequential circuit 5 of sequence controller of the present invention
7, for example, the relay switch S1 (corresponding to the screen number S1) and the relay switch M1 (divided) perform an operation equivalent to the operation of SW2 (coolant ON command) of the conventional sequential circuit 57 shown in FIG. (Corresponds to menu number M1)
And relay switch F2 (function key number F
2 (corresponding to 2) in series.

By providing a relay switch Sm corresponding to the screen number Sm in addition to the relay switch Mn and the relay switch Fi in the sequential circuit 57, the same function key Fi in the same divided menu Mn is provided.
, The external device control signal SOLk corresponding to each screen is individually defined for each screen, and the output circuit 6
2 can be output. Therefore, the types of the divided menus 26 to be registered in the numerical control device 10 can be reduced. In addition, this allows conceptually the same control operation performed from different screens to be controlled by the same operation in the same split menu 26 even when the external device control signal SOLk output to the output circuit 62 is different. Therefore, types or combinations of control operations are reduced, and operability is improved.

FIG. 5 shows a flowchart (a) of a control operation processing routine executed by the numerical controller in the embodiment of the present invention, and a functional configuration diagram (b) of this routine. This routine is called from the input / output interrupt processing routine (not shown) by the numerical controller 10 when the function keys (F1 to F12) are pressed while the divided menu 26 is displayed on the CRT screen 21. Be executed. In this routine, first, in step 510, the pressed function key is F11 (shift key 32 + F5) or F12 (shift key 32 + F).
6) is determined, and if F11 or F12, the process proceeds to step 520; otherwise, the process proceeds to step 540. In step 520, a screen switching process is performed. That is, a screen one before or one behind the self screen is displayed according to the command, and the screen number of the displayed screen is displayed in a predetermined display area. At this time, for the divided menu to be displayed, the one with the smallest divided menu number is selected from among the divided menus (operable from the screen) registered in the displayed screen and displayed together with the divided menu number. . In step 530, the screen number Sm currently displayed on the CRT screen 21 and the divided menu number Mn are transmitted to the sequence control device 50.

At step 540, it is determined whether or not the pressed function key is a division menu switching command. That is, if the pressed function key is F5 or F6, the process proceeds to step 550; otherwise, the process proceeds to step 560. Step 5
At 50, a split menu switching process is performed. That is, in response to the command, one or one before the currently displayed divided menu.
The divided menu registered immediately after is displayed in a predetermined area together with the divided menu number. In step 560, it is determined whether the command of the pressed function key is a defined command. If the command is not defined, the process proceeds to step 570; otherwise, the process proceeds to step 580. In step 570, divided menu number display 2
On the right side of 5, an error message indicating that an undefined function key has been pressed is displayed. Step 580
Then, the key number of the pressed function key is transmitted to the sequence control device 50.

As shown in FIG. 5B, the input key processing means according to claim 1 and the first means comprises the above steps 510, 540 and 560.
Further, the screen display means according to claim 1 and the first means is constituted by the above steps 520 and 550. The sequence signal output means according to the first and the first means is constituted by the steps 530 and 580 described above.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a machine tool control system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of the input / output device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are a function list of a divided menu and a function hierarchy diagram of an external device operation menu according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIGS.

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram of a sequential circuit included in a sequence control device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are a flowchart of a control operation processing routine executed by the numerical controller according to the embodiment of the present invention, and a functional configuration diagram of the routine;

FIG. 6 shows an external device operation menu C in the related art.
The RT screen display format diagram (a) and the circuit diagram of the sequential circuit of the sequence control device (b).

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... CPU2 ... ROM3 ... RAM10 ... Numerical control device 20 ... I / O device 21 ... CRT screen 24 ... Screen number display 25 ... Divided menu number display 26 ... Divided menu 30 ... Key input operation panel 50 ... Sequence control device 57 ... Sequence circuit 59 ... Operation panel 61 ... Input circuit 62 ... Output circuit Fi ... Control operation keys (i is a function
Key number) LSj… External device status signal (j is a natural number) SOLk… External device control signal (k is a natural number) Sm… Screen number (m is a natural number) Mn… Divided menu number (n is a natural number)

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A machine tool is controlled by a numerical controller,
A machine tool control system that controls an external device related to a machine by a sequence control device and that can perform a control operation on the external device from an input / output device including a display and a key input device that a numerical control device has, Input key processing means for identifying a control operation key code which is a key code of an input key of the key input device corresponding to various control operations in an external device operation menu displayed on a screen of a display; The external device operation menu is configured by hierarchically and logically linking a plurality of divided menus for accepting displayed images to the displayed image, and the one arbitrarily selected divided menu is displayed on the screen of the display unit. Screen display means for displaying in a partial area of the image, a screen number of an image output to the display, and the partial area when the image is output. A sequence signal output unit for outputting the divided menu number of the divided menu displayed on the screen and the control operation key code; the screen number output to the sequence control device by the sequence signal output unit; A machine tool control system, comprising: a sequence number for inputting a menu number and the control operation key code and outputting an external device control signal for controlling the external device. 2. The machine tool control system according to claim 1, wherein the sequential circuit is realized by a program executed by the sequence control device.