System capable of immediately performing operation on workpiece

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9856095-B2
Application number	US-201615003977-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 22, 2016
Priority date	Jan 23, 2015
Publication date	Jan 2, 2018
Grant date	Jan 2, 2018

Abstract

A precision machining/measurement device and a robot that conveys a workpiece to the device are covered by a cover, and a space covered by the cover is partitioned by a partition cover into a space where the precision machining/measurement device is installed and a space where the robot is installed. When a temperature inside the space where the robot is installed falls within a predetermined temperature range, a door provided in the partition cover is opened, and the robot supplies the workpiece to the precision machining/measurement device through the opened door.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system, comprising:
a device configured to perform work on a workpiece;
a robot configured to convey the workpiece to an area where the device performs the work;
a cover that covers the device and the robot;
a partition cover that partitions a space covered by the cover into a first space where the robot is installed and a second space where the device is installed;
a door provided in the partition cover;
a first controller configured to control an operation of the door to open the door when a temperature inside the first space falls within a predetermined value range;
a first air conditioner configured to control the temperature inside the first space to a constant temperature, wherein
the first air conditioner includes a vent hole configured to blow temperature-controlled air into the first space,
the first air conditioner further includes a duct extending into the first space,
the duct penetrates a wall of the first space, and
the vent hole is provided at an end of the duct in the first space; and

a workpiece conveyor provided within the first space and in front of the vent hole of the first air conditioner,
wherein,
the workpiece is one among a plurality of workpieces conveyed by the workpiece conveyor to be sequentially machined by the work performed by the device,
a second controller to control the robot to rearrange the plurality of workpieces on the workpiece conveyor in a manner that, among the plurality of workpieces on the conveyor, a workpiece to be machined earliest is located closest to the vent hole, and
the first air conditioner is configured to blow, through the vent hole, the temperature-controlled air directly against the workpiece arranged by the robot and disposed in the first space closest to the vent hole.

2. The system according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a second air conditioner configured to control a temperature inside the second space to a constant temperature, wherein
when the temperature inside the first space falls within a set temperature range with respect to the temperature inside the second space, the first controller is configured to control the operation of the door to open the door.

3. The system according to claim 1 , further comprising a measurement unit configured to measure a temperature of the workpiece existing inside the first space and being disposed closest to the vent hole, wherein
when the measured temperature of the workpiece falls within a predetermined temperature range, the first controller is configured to control the operation of the door to open the door and cause the robot to convey the workpiece through the opened door to the device.

4. The system according to claim 1 , further comprising a base on which the device, the robot, the cover, and the partition cover are installed, wherein
the base is placed on a vibration absorbing device.

5. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the first controller is further configured to control the operation of the door to open the door when a temperature of the workpiece, which is located closest to the vent hole of the conveyor, falls within a predetermined value range.

6. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the wall of the first space that the duct penetrates is opposite to the partition cover.

Assignees

• Fanuc Corp

Inventors

• Ebihara Kenzo
• Oda Takayuki

Classifications

• B23Q17/00

  Arrangements for {observing,} indicating or measuring on machine tools (for automatic control or regulation of feed movement, cutting velocity or position of tool or work B23Q15/00) · CPC title

• B65G47/905 Primary

  Control arrangements · CPC title

• B23Q11/08 Primary

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

• B23Q7/10

  by means of magazines · CPC title

• B23Q2707/003

  in a lathe · CPC title