Tool shape measurement apparatus and machine tool

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10293448-B2
Application number	US-201515548923-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 13, 2015
Priority date	Feb 13, 2015
Publication date	May 21, 2019
Grant date	May 21, 2019

Abstract

A tool shape measurement apparatus for imaging a tool is provided with: a camera for imaging the tool disposed at a previously determined imaging position; a shutter disposed on the opposite side of the tool from the camera; an illuminating device for shining light toward the shutter; and a control device for calculating the shape of the tool from an image of the tool. The illuminating device is disposed so that an image in which the tool is darker than the background of the tool is captured due to light reflected at the reflecting surface of the shutter.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A tool shape measurement device mounted on a machine tool and configured to measure a shape of a tool by picking up an image of the tool, the tool shape measurement device comprising:
an image pickup device that picks up the image of the tool disposed at a predetermined image pickup position;
a reflector disposed on a side opposite to the image pickup device with respect to the tool in a direction from the image pickup device toward the tool disposed at the image pickup position;
a light source that irradiates a reflective surface of the reflector with light; and
a control device that calculates the shape of the tool from the image of the tool picked up by the image pickup device, wherein
the light source is disposed at a position at which the image in which the tool is darker than a background is captured by light reflected from the reflective surface of the reflector.

2. The tool shape measurement device according to claim 1 , wherein
the reflective surface is formed so as to scatter light, and
the reflector is disposed so that at least a part of light scattered at the reflective surface proceeds toward the image pickup device.

3. A machine tool configured to machine a workpiece by relatively moving a spindle on which a tool is attached and a table on which the workpiece is placed, the machine tool comprising:
an image pickup device that picks up an image of the tool disposed at a predetermined image pickup position;
a reflector disposed on a side opposite to the image pickup device with respect to the tool in a direction from the image pickup device toward the tool disposed at the image pickup position;
a light source that irradiates a reflective surface of the reflector with light; and
a control device that calculates a shape of the tool from the image of the tool picked up by the image pickup device.

4. The machine tool according to claim 3 , further comprising a partition wall that partitions between a machining chamber in which the workpiece is machined and a tool storage chamber in which the tool is stored, wherein
the reflector is formed by a shutter supported by the partition wall, and
the shutter is formed so as to be movable with respect to the partition wall.

5. The machine tool according to claim 4 , further comprising a removal member that comes into contact with the reflective surface of the shutter and is formed so as to remove foreign substances adhered to the reflective surface of the shutter, wherein
the removal member extends in a direction perpendicular to movement direction of the shutter and slides on the reflective surface as the shutter moves.

6. The machine tool according to claim 3 , wherein
the reflector is formed by an oil pan disposed in bottom portion of the tool storage chamber in which the tool is stored.

7. The machine tool according to claim 3 , wherein
the reflective surface is formed so as to scatter light, and
the reflector is disposed so that at least a part of light scattered at the reflective surface proceeds toward the image pickup device.

Assignees

• Makino Milling Machine

Inventors

• Kasahara Tadashi
• Ohata Kenichi

Classifications

• B23Q17/249

  using image analysis, e.g. for radar, infrared or array camera images · CPC title

• G01B11/24

  for measuring contours or curvatures · CPC title

• B23Q3/15722

  Rotary discs or drums · CPC title

• B23Q3/155

  Arrangements for automatic insertion or removal of tools {, e.g. combined with manual handling (B23Q7/046 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B23Q11/08

  Protective coverings for parts of machine tools; Splash guards · CPC title