Machine control apparatus for a computer controlled machine tool system

Claim 2

In a computer controlled machine tool system including a computer for controlling the operation of a plurality of machine tools in accordance with computer control data through machine control apparatus, each of said machine control apparatus comprising: registering means connected to said computer to receive a predetermined amount of interpolation data therefrom, said registering means being capable of providing pulses to pulse motors in accordance with said interpolation data, pulse generating means for generating a series of pulses of a frequency determined by said computer control data, the pulses being supplied to said registering means to trigger the pulses provided by said registering means, and first counter means responsive to said registering means to supply first and second signals when said registering means has finished supplying the pulses in accordance with said interpolation data, said first signals being supplied to said pulse generating means to stop the supply of the pulses to said registering means and said second signals being supplied to said computer so that said computer provides new interpolation data to said registering means.

Claim 3

Machine control apparatus according to claim 1, which further comprises direction selecting means connected to said registering means to supply the pulses therefrom to said pulse motors in directions required by the computer control data.

Claim 4

Machine control apparatus according to claim 1, which further comprises second counting means for counting the number of pulses supplied to said pulse motors from said registering means, said counting means being capable of providing third signals to said computer when the pulses according to the predetermined amount of computer control data have been supplied thereto.

Claim 5

Machine control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said pulse generating means comprises: first register means for receiving data concerning the mode of operations of the machine tools and the frequency of the pulses, and a pulse generator responsive to said first register means for generating a series of the pulses of the frequency determined by the computer control data, first AND-gate means for controlling the flow of the pulses therethrough in accordance with a fourth signal from said registering means and said first signals from said first counting means.

Claim 6

Machine control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said registering means comprises a plurality of shift registers for registering a predetermined amount of interpolation data from said computer, and second AND-gate means being connected to said shift registers and said pulse generating means for allowing the passage of the pulses only when said shift registers apply a signal ''''1'''' thereto.

Claim 7

Machine control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first counting means comprises a counter for generating a fifth signal when a predetermined amount of the pulses is applied to said registering means, and flip-flop means responsive to said fifth signal from said counter to stop a pulse supply of said pulse generating means and to a data shift finish signal from said computer to start the pulse supply thereof.

Claim 8

Machine control apparatus according to claim 1, which further comprises gate means connected to said pulse generating means for controlling the flow of the pulses, direction selecting means connected to said gate means to supply the pulses to said pulse motors in the directions required by the computer control data, and second counting means connected to said gate means for counting the number of the pulses supplied to said pulse motors, said second counting means being capable of providing the third signal to said computer and a sixth signal to said gate means when the pulses according to a predetermined amount of computer control data have been supplied thereto whereby said gate means stops the flow of the pulses therethrough and said computer provides new information to said machine control apparatus.

Claim 9

Machine control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first counting means comprises a counter for generating the second signal by which said computer transmits new interpolation data to said registering means.

Claim 10

Machine control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said direction selecting means comprises second register means for registering information from said computer concerning the direction of rotation of said pulse motors, and third AND-gate means connected to said second register means and said registering means to apply the pulses to said pulse motors in selected directions.

Claim 11

Machine control apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said second counting means comprises a plurality of subtracting counters connected to said computer for registering information according to a predetermined amount of the computer control data, each of said subtracting counters being capable of counting the pulses supplied to said pulse motors and generating a seventh signal when all the pulses according to the predetermined amount of the computer control data have been applied thereto, and fourth AND-gate means connected to all of said subtracting counters for applying the third signal to said computer when all of said subtracting registers apply the seventh signal thereto, so that said computer applies new interpolation data to said registering means and information according to new computer control data to said subtracting counters.

Claim 12

In a computer controlled machine tool system including a computer for controlling the operation of a plurality of machine tools in accordance with computer control data through machine control apparatus, each of said machine control apparatus comprising: pulse generating means for generating a series of pulses of a frequency determined by the computer control data and for supplying the pulses to pulse motors of said machine tools. first counting means for controlling the supply of the pulses from said pulse generating means to said pulse motors, direction selecting means operably connected to said pulse generating means to apply the pulses in the directions required by the computer control data, and second counting means for counting the number of the pulses supplied to said pulse motors, said second counting means being capable of providing a third signal to said first counting means and said computer when the pulses according to a predetermined amount of the computer control data have been supplied thereto, whereby said first counting means stops the supply of the pulses from said pulse generating means to said pulse motors unTil information according to new computer control data has been registered by said second counting means.

Claim 13

In a computer controlled machine tool system including a computer for controlling the operation of a plurality of machine tools in accordance with computer control data through machine control apparatus, each of said machine control apparatus comprising: pulse generating means for generating a series of pulses of a frequency determined by the computer control data and for supplying the pulses to pulse motors of said machine tools. first counting means for controlling the supply of the pulses from said pulse generating means to said pulse motors, direction selecting means operably connected to said pulse generating means to apply the pulses in the directions required by the computer control data, and second counting means for counting the number of the pulses supplied to said pulse motors, said second counting means being capable of providing a third signal to said first counting means and said computer when the pulses according to a predetermined amount of the computer control data have been supplied thereto, whereby said first counting means stops the supply of the pulses from said pulse generating means to said pulse motors unTil information according to new computer control data has been registered by said second counting means.

Claim 14

Machine control apparatus according to claim 11, which further comprises gate means provided between said pulse generating means and said direction selecting means, said gate means being operable to stop the flow of the pulses therethrough when the pulses according to a predetermined amount of the computer control data have been supplied to said pulse motors.