In-factory environmental control system

Abstract

To provide a system that collects data from each sensor (airflow, temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, illuminance, and air pollution) that measures an environmental factor and can evaluate an environment in a factory in a complex manner. Environmental sensors that measure environmental elements including at least airflow from among the airflow, temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, illuminance, and a degree of air pollution, which are the environmental elements in a factory where a machining operation is performed, a display unit that visualizes and displays measurement results of a plurality of environmental elements measured by the environmental sensors, an evaluation and determination unit that evaluates and determines at least one of machine accuracy, work environment, and image accuracy based on the measurement results of the plurality of environmental elements, and a control unit that controls in-factory equipment so that an environment in the factory becomes a preset environment based on results of evaluation and determination by the evaluation and determination unit are included.

Claims

1. An in-factory environmental control system, comprising: environmental sensors that measure a plurality of environmental elements including at least airflow from among the airflow, temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, illuminance, and a degree of air pollution, which are the environmental elements in a factory where a machining operation is performed; a display unit that visualizes and displays measurement results of the plurality of environmental elements measured by the environmental sensors; an evaluation and determination unit that evaluates and determines at least one of a static accuracy of a machine, work environment, and image accuracy based on the measurement results of the plurality of environmental elements; and a control unit that controls in-factory equipment so that an environment in the factory becomes a preset environment based on results of evaluation and determination by the evaluation and determination unit, wherein the in-factory environmental control system has a mechanism that estimates a change in the static accuracy of the machine from the measurement results of the temperature and the airflow measured by the environmental sensors and machine information obtained in advance by another method and a compensation is applied to a machining program based on the estimated change in the static accuracy.

2. The in-factory environmental control system according to claim 1, wherein the display unit displays the measured airflow in a form of a vector of an air direction and air volume.

3. An in-factory environmental control system, comprising: environmental sensors that measure a plurality of environmental elements including at least airflow from among the airflow, temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, illuminance, and a degree of air pollution, which are the environmental elements in a factory where a machining operation is performed; a display unit that visualizes and displays measurement results of the plurality of environmental elements measured by the environmental sensors; an evaluation and determination unit that evaluates and determines at least one of machine accuracy, work environment, and image accuracy based on the measurement results of the plurality of environmental elements; and a control unit that controls in-factory equipment so that an environment in the factory becomes a preset environment based on results of evaluation and determination by the evaluation and determination unit, wherein the in-factory environmental control system has a mechanism that causes a factory monitor to provide a warning of a risk level of rust generation on an iron casting based on the measurement results of the temperature and the humidity measured by the environmental sensors and information of a cutting fluid obtained in advance by another method.

4. An in-factory environmental control system, comprising: environmental sensors that measure a plurality of environmental elements including at least airflow from among the airflow, temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, illuminance, and a degree of air pollution, which are the environmental elements in a factory where a machining operation is performed; a display unit that visualizes and displays measurement results of the plurality of environmental elements measured by the environmental sensors; an evaluation and determination unit that evaluates and determines at least one of machine accuracy, work environment, and image accuracy based on the measurement results of the plurality of environmental elements; and a control unit that controls in-factory equipment so that an environment in the factory becomes a preset environment based on results of evaluation and determination by the evaluation and determination unit, wherein the in-factory environmental control system has a mechanism that divides a risk level of heatstroke into several stages based on the measurement results of the temperature and the humidity measured by the environmental sensors and displayed on a factory monitor, and optimum air conditioning and ventilating methods are indicated based on the risk level of the heatstroke.

5. The in-factory environment control system according to claim 4, wherein the display unit displays the measured airflow in a form of a vector of an air direction and air volume.

6. The in-factory environment control system according to claim 3, wherein the display unit displays the measured airflow in a form of a vector of an air direction and air volume.

7. The in-factory environment control system according to claim 1, wherein each of the measurement sensors is installed at a different height around a machine tool or on a column of the factory.

8. The in-factory environment control system according to claim 4, wherein each of the measurement sensors is installed at a different height around a machine tool or on a column of the factory.

9. The in-factory environment control system according to claim 3, wherein each of the measurement sensors is installed at a different height around a machine tool or on a column of the factory.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The FIGURE is a diagram illustrating an in-factory environmental control system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(2) With reference to the FIGURE, an in-factory environmental control system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

(3) Herein, the in-factory environmental control system according to the present embodiment relates to a system for controlling an environment in a factory in which a machining operation is performed using a machining machine such as a machine tool.

(4) Specifically, as shown in the FIGURE, the in-factory environmental control system A of the present embodiment is provided at an arbitrary position in a factory 1, and includes: environmental sensors 2 that measure environmental elements, i.e., airflow, temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, illuminance, and the degree of air pollution in the factory 1; a display unit 3 that visualizes and displays a plurality of measurement results of the environmental elements measured by the environmental sensors 2; an evaluation and determination unit 4 that evaluates and determines at least one of machine accuracy, work environment, and image accuracy (visibility of objects and monitors, visible performance, etc.) based on the plurality of the measurement results of the environmental elements; and a control unit 5 that controls in-factory equipment so that an environment in the factory 1 becomes a preset environment based on the results of evaluation and determination by the evaluation and determination unit 4.

(5) Herein, the environmental sensors 2 may be sensors (separate measurement devices) that individually measure each of airflow, temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, illuminance, and the degree of air pollution, or the sensor may measure at least two of the environmental elements and be included in a measurement device.

(6) In addition, if a plurality of the environmental elements including at least airflow are measured in the factory 1, all of the environmental elements, i.e., airflow, temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, illuminance, and the degree of air pollution, may not be necessarily measured.

(7) The environmental sensors 2 are installed at arbitrary positions in the factory 1 and are preferably installed at different heights around a machining machine or on a factory column or the like.

(8) The degree of air pollution is, for example, PM2.5.

(9) The evaluation and determination unit 4 that evaluates and determines at least one of machine accuracy, work environment, and image accuracy based on the plurality of the measurement results of the environmental elements, and the control unit 5 that controls the in-factory equipment so that the environment in the factory 1 becomes a preset environment based on the results of the evaluation and determination by the evaluation and determination unit 4, are provided in, for example, a controller (control system) 6.

(10) The in-factory equipment controlled by the control unit 5 is, for example, an air conditioner, a lighting device, a humidifier/dehumidifier, and an air supply/exhaust device.

(11) The display unit 3 is provided in, for example, a centralized control room, and visualizes and displays the plurality of the measurement results of the environmental elements measured by the environmental sensors 2. Further, the display unit 3 displays the result and status of determination by the evaluation and determination unit 4.

(12) The display unit 3 of the present embodiment displays airflow measured, for example, in the form of a vector of an air direction and air volume. The display unit 3 displays temperatures and humidity measured in the form of a distribution map by color or discomfort indices. The difference between a measured atmospheric pressure and the outside air is calculated, and its transition (change with time) is graphically displayed. Illuminances or the degrees of air pollution measured are displayed in the form of a distribution map by color, or its transition is graphically displayed.

(13) Further, in the in-factory environmental control system A of the present embodiment configured as above, the environmental sensors 2 that measure the environmental elements, i.e., airflow, temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, illuminance, and the degree of air pollution in the factory 1 where a machining operation is performed, is provided. By analyzing the measurement results of the environmental sensors 2 in a complex manner or by installing each environmental sensor 2 at a different height around a machining machine or on a factory column or the like, and constantly monitoring in-factory environment three-dimensionally, it is possible to grasp the statuses of air flow, temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, illuminance, and the degree of air pollution in the factory 1 where a machining operation is performed, as well as the relationship between the machining operation and each environmental element, and the like.

(14) In addition, the in-factory environmental control system A of the present embodiment can be applied to the adjustment of air conditioning and the improvement of equipment so that the in-factory environment becomes uniform. Furthermore, it is possible to show monitoring results of the in-factory environment with numerical values, colors, vector expressions, graphs, and the like on an in-factory map, and to intuitively grasp the in-factory environment.

(15) Therefore, according to the in-factory environmental control system A of the present embodiment, it is possible to prevent defective machining from occurring due to the change of each environmental element associated with the machining operation, for example, due to change of machine posture associated with the in-factory environment. In addition, if defective machining occurs, it is possible to reduce man-hours required for identifying a cause to taking measures.

(16) Moreover, it is possible to reduce a burden on a worker due to work environment, to increase work efficiency, and to prevent a health hazard from occurring.

(17) Herein, the in-factory environmental control system A of the present embodiment may include a mechanism whereby the change of static accuracy of a machine is estimated from the measurement results of temperature and airflow obtained by the environmental sensors 2 and machine information obtained in advance by another method (for example, a machine temperature of a machine tool (machining machine)) and a compensation is applied to a machining program of a CNC (computer numerical control) device or the like. If it is configured in this manner, the change of the static accuracy of the machine can be grasped and estimated, and the machining program is compensated, thereby reflecting the machining operation. As a result, it is possible to prevent defective machining from occurring due to the change of the static accuracy of the machine associated with the in-factory environment. In addition, if defective machining occurs, it is possible to reduce man-hours required for identifying a cause to taking measures.

(18) In addition, the in-factory environmental control system A of the present embodiment may include a mechanism whereby the risk level of heatstroke is divided into several stages based on the measurement results of temperature and humidity obtained by the environmental sensors 2 and displayed on a factory monitor provided in a factory centralized control room or the like and optimum air conditioning and ventilating methods are specified. This configuration can greatly reduce the risk of the onset of heatstroke in people in the factory, such as workers.

(19) Furthermore, the in-factory environmental control system A of the present embodiment may include a mechanism whereby a warning is provided to a machine that generates a large amount of mist of a cutting fluid during machining based on the measurement results of the degree of air pollution being PM2.5 and airflow obtained by the environmental sensors 2 and instructions are provided for maintenance of a mist collector. In this configuration, it is possible to prevent operation from being performed in a state where the air environment in the factory is deteriorated, and it is possible to effectively prevent people in the factory, such as workers, from taking PM2.5 into the body, thus causing a health hazard.

(20) Furthermore, the in-factory environmental control system A of the present embodiment may include a mechanism whereby a factory monitor provides a warning of a risk level of rust generation on an iron casting based on the measurement results of temperature and humidity obtained by the environmental sensors 2 and information of a cutting fluid (for example, concentration and pH) obtained in advance by another method. In this instance, it is possible to prevent rust from occurring due to the influence of the cutting fluid on iron castings such as machine equipment in the factory, the structural materials of the factory, and machining raw materials (machining materials) in the factory. This makes it possible to extend the life of the equipment and the like, to prevent a reduction in productivity due to rust, and to provide machined products with high reliability.

(21) The above description has been given of an embodiment of the in-factory environmental control system of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment and can be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

EXPLANATION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

(22) 1 FACTORY 2 ENVIRONMENTAL SENSOR 3 DISPLAY UNIT 4 EVALUATION AND DETERMINATION UNIT 5 CONTROL UNIT 6 CONTROLLER A IN-FACTORY ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL SYSTEM