Control Console for a Program-Controlled Machine Tool

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a control console for a program-controlled machine tool comprising a base, an ergonomically located control panel including changeable control panels, a plurality of function keys, and a display screen, the control panel and the display being arranged in a common housing.

2. Discussion of the Related Art

Modern program-controlled machine tools, particularly milling and drilling machines, are generally provided within a control console being located laterally adjacent to the machine and consisting of a base usually being movably hinged to the machine housing, one or more control panels including a plurality of function keys and a display screen standing almost upright. For optical reasons as well as reasons of space, the control panels and the display screen are usually accommodated in a common housing together with their electronic elements. The large number of different multiaxis machining possibilities has made the provision of an increased number of function keys on the control panel necessary, particularly in freely programmable machine tools and work stations so that, accordingly, the dimensions of the control panel have had to be made larger. The plurality of function keys, displays, etc., in connection with the relatively large dimensions of the control panel, however, made the operation complicated and affected the clearness of the control panel.

From U.S. Pat. No. 4,316,082 a computer console is known, in the rear part of the work table top of which a display screen is located, and in the front part of which a fixedly mounted user keyboard is provided. Under the table top a further keyboard is provided in a standby position, which can be positioned in front of the front edge of the table top when needed. A similarly designed control console for machining and measuring machines is shown in German patent publication 41 25 137.

According to German patent publication 38 38 401, a data processing device provided with a control panel designed as a separate control module is described, which is inserted in a vertical front chamber of the data processing device. In operation, the module may be positioned in an inclined operating position as well as a vertical position.

It is an object of the invention to provide a control console for machine tools which enables the provision of an increased number of function keys on a control panel in combination with relatively small dimensions and an ergonomic operability.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by providing a plurality of separate control panels which can be alternatively positioned in a recess provided in a control surface of the control console housing, the operational elements of which can be connected to the associated elements in the control console via electric connectors.

An embodiment of the invention, which is particularly suitable with respect to handling and dimensions, is characterized in that two control panels are provided on the upper and bottom surfaces of a preferably flat rectangular box or frame being borne in the recess of the housing while being pivotable between two stable positions. This form of the control panel enables the accommodation of about double the number of function keys. Suitably, the function keys, with the aid of which functionally similar operations of the machine tool are activated, are provided in both the control panels, so that the control console just occasionally needs to be pivoted from one of its stable positions to the other. In each position, the box-shaped housing is independent and fixable, for example, by spring-loaded catches, and in the range of its front side bearing tappets switches connected to the function keys via electric lines may be provided, which cooperate with respective switches in the housing in either stable position of the box-shaped housing and form the electric connections between the function keys and the allocated electronic elements of the control. As the electric connectors, flexible cables, such as the ones being used in telephones as so called helix cables, can be used as well.

According to a suitable constructive embodiment of the invention, a basin having an approximately semicircular cross section is formed in a recess in the front part of the control console housing, which basin is limited by the two side walls of the control console housing on the front side. In those front walls the bearing tappets of the box-shaped housing as well as the electrical switching connectors for coupling the respective energy and control lines are located. By arranging the box-shaped housing provided with the double sided control panels in a basin being closed, for example, by a bottom part, contamination of the interior space of the control console housing is avoided. Instead of a basin, a shaft (i.e. an open channel) may be provided.

The objects, features and advantages of the invention will be more readily perceived from the following detailed description, when read in conjunction with the single drawing FIGURE showing a sectional view of the control console of the invention.

The control console of the invention comprises housing 1 mounted on base 2. In the front part of the control console housing is located a fixedly mounted plane control panel 3 extending toward the front. Control panel 3 comprises a main keyboard and is provided with basic function keys for controlling the basic operations of machine tools which are coupled to the control console, and is further provided with optical displays if necessary. Further, display screen 4 is provided in the upper part of the control console housing in a known manner.

As shown, box-shaped housing or frame 5 is provided in front of display screen 4 and behind control panel 3 in basin or recess 6 of housing 1, limited by detachably connected, basin-shaped bottom cover or surface 7 and plane side walls. Instead of this basin-shaped cover, open channel 7c may be provided, through which possible dirt particles will pass. This channel is defined by front transverse wall 7a and rear transverse wall 7b and is closed at the bottom by removable cover plate 7d. Inspection, cleaning and assembly are facilitated by channel 7c upon removal of cover plate 7d. Frame 5 is provided on its upper surface and on its bottom surface with additional control panels 8 and 9 respectively, these two control panels being provided with a set of special function keys for controlling special machine tool operations. On the opposite side walls of box-shaped housing 5 central bearing tappets 10 are mounted, with the aid of which housing 5 can be turned, from the shown position, around its central horizontal axis by a half rotation using, for example, a laterally protruding hand wheel (not shown). Of course, the rotation of frame 5 could be mechanized if desired. After such rotation, the previously lower control panel 9 is located in the operational position accessible from above. For securing either of the stable positions of box-shaped housing 5 in the control console housing a detent mechanism or lock is provided, which may be suitably shaped and has the form of a spring-loaded ball catch 11. To electrically connect the function keys of either control panel 8 or 9 to lines 12 located in control console housing 1, switch arrangement 13 is provided in the area of at least one bearing tappet 10, which switch arrangement may contain segmented slip rings or switching fingers being connected to the respective function keys of the respective control panel 8,9 via control lines, and contacting associated fixedly located switching members on the end of control line 12 in the respective stable positions. A technically simpler electric connection comprises the usage of a twistable cable, i.e., a so-called helix cable, which makes slip ring contacts and switches superfluous. As illustrated in the sole drawing FIGURE, control panel 3, display screen 4 and additional control panels 8 and 9 are ergonomically arranged in housing 5 for ease of operation and enabling operational control from a single forward looking position.

The invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiment. Thus, instead of the approximately rectangular frame or housing 5, for example, a housing with a triangular cross section having a total of three control panels can be pivotably mounted in the recess of the control console housing in the illustrated or another position. The important factor is that the comfortable and ergonomically optimized operability of the function keys of the respective control panels is maintained.

A further advantageous embodiment of the invention may comprise a plurality of box-shaped housings having only one or both control panels replaceably mounted in the control console housing. This arrangement provides the advantage that different control panels may be used with identical control boards for different machine types. Further, the application and programming features of the machine control can be enhanced in a simple manner by providing each machine or each control console with a plurality of box-shaped housings having suitable control panels, which may be exchanged in the control console according to the demanded application. The different functional elements, such as keys, displays, and the like, should be arranged on each control panel such that complete operations may be carried out without changing the respective control panel.