JP4120863B2 - Tool magazine - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Technical field to which the invention belongs]
The present invention relates to a tool holder separation type chain capable of detaching a tool holder (tool pot: registered trademark) for storing a tool used in a machining center or the like from the chain, and the tool holder separation type chain includes a plurality of curved track portions. It is related with the tool magazine which can run.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A tool magazine equipped with a chain that holds many tool holders for storing tools in a machining center is usually provided with a drive sprocket that suspends the chain and a plurality of driven sprockets (driven wheels) that guide the running of the chain. It has been. In addition, at that time, the chain is curved at several places in order to reduce the arrangement space of the chain. Such a configuration is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 59-76741.
[0003]
As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the tool holder chain used in such a tool magazine is disposed so as to face in the front-rear direction of the chain (in FIG. 6, the direction perpendicular to the paper surface; in FIG. 7, the left-right direction). A pair of plates 60 and 61, a hollow link 62, and a tool holder 63. In addition, a hole is provided at the center position of the plates 60 and 61, and the hollow link 62 is inserted into the hole so as to be slidable. A tool holder 63 is attached to the hollow portion of the hollow link 62.
[0004]
When the tool holder chain configured as described above is caused to travel along a curved path as shown in FIG. 6, the tool holder 63 has a central axis of the hollow link 62, that is, the tool holder 63. Travel freely from the central axis.
However, since the tool holder 63 is attached to the hollow link 62, it cannot be separated from the chain. That is, the tool holder 63 could not be removed outside the chain in a direction perpendicular to the running direction of the chain.
[0005]
Further, the curved track portion of the magazine body 50 has a drive sprocket 51 that suspends the outer ring of the hollow link 62 constituting the tool holder chain, and a plurality of followers for guiding the outer ring of the hollow link 62 to bend and travel. A wheel 52 is provided. Therefore, since such a tool magazine is freely curved at the central axis of the hollow link 62 constituting the chain in the curved track portion of the magazine main body 50, the space of the magazine main body 50 can be saved.
[0006]
However, not only the tool holder 63 cannot be removed from the chain outside the chain at the tool change position, but also a driven wheel 52 for guiding the running of the chain needs to be provided in the chain bending portion. For this reason, there has been a problem that the cost is very high in the processing step.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention has been made based on the above technical background.
Therefore, the problem to be solved by the present invention is
(1) Chain travel is possible even when there are multiple types of curved paths of concave and convex curves in the chain travel path.
(2) At the tool change position, the tool holder can be removed outside the chain,
(3) There is little inclination of the chain due to the tool load, and the running stability of the tool holder and chain is excellent.
(4) To provide a tool holder separation type chain that is low in cost.
[0008]
The problem to be solved by the present invention is as follows.
(5) The chain can be run without using a driven wheel.
(6) Enables traveling on a curved track portion having a concave curve or a convex curve,
(7) At the tool change position, the tool holder can be removed outside the chain,
(8) To provide a tool magazine capable of simplifying the curved track parts of the tool magazine and reducing the cost.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The above issues are
A tool magazine having a tool holder separation type chain capable of removing the tool holder from the chain,
The travel path of the chain has a concave curved portion and a convex curved portion,
Shaft is attached to the chain,
The shaft is provided with a pair of substantially concave plates facing the tip of the shaft so as to penetrate and protrude,
A rotating roller is disposed on the tip side of the shaft,
The substantially concave plate is formed such that the outer side of the leg part is inclined toward the inner side toward the tip side ,
The tool holder, which is detachably disposed in the opening between the legs of the substantially concave plate, extends from the opening in a direction orthogonal to the running direction of the chain and toward the outside of the chain. Configured to be removable,
Further, a guide member having a curved guide surface for guiding a rotating roller provided at a tip of a shaft attached to the chain is provided at a position of a curved portion of the travel route, and the chain is driven. The problem is solved by a tool magazine characterized in that a drive sprocket is provided .
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
1 to 5 show an embodiment of the present invention. 1 (1) is a schematic front view of a tool holder separation type chain, FIG. 1 (2) is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 1 (1), and FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic front view showing a mode in which a tool holder is attached to the U-shaped opening and a mode in which the tool holder is separated (removed) from the U-shaped opening, and FIG. 3 is a tool with a tool holder separation type chain attached thereto. 4 is a schematic front view of the magazine, FIG. 4 (1) is a schematic front view showing the relationship between the substantially concave plates in the convex curved portion of the chain, and FIG. 4 (2) is a cross-sectional view along BB in FIG. 4 (1). 5 (1) is a schematic front view showing the relationship between the substantially concave plates in the concave curved portion of the chain, and FIG. 5 (2) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC in FIG. 5 (1).
[0014]
In each figure, 1 is a magazine body. As shown in FIG. 3, the magazine body 1 is provided with a chain 2 of a travel path having one concave curved portion, four convex curved portions, and a substantially straight portion.
[0015]
Reference numeral 22 denotes a substantially concave link plate. The link plate 22 is provided so as to be opposed in the front-rear direction of the chain 2 (in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 1 (1) and in the left-right direction in FIG. 1 (2)). That is, a pair of link plates 22 and 22 are provided so as to sandwich the chain 2 therebetween. The link plate 22 is a substantially concave plate, and the heel plate is also a flat plate having two leg portions extending from the body portion. Therefore, a portion surrounded by the body portion and the leg portion is a U-shaped opening 25. Note that the opening of the U-shaped opening 25 is in a direction orthogonal to the traveling direction of the chain 2 and toward the outside of the chain 2. The tool holder 3 is attached to the U-shaped opening 25.
[0016]
Connection shafts 24 are respectively inserted into the body portions corresponding to the two leg portions of the link plate 22. The connecting shaft 24 is attached to the chain 2. Accordingly, the pair of link plates 22, 22 facing each other is configured to be attached to the chain 2 by the two connecting shafts 24, 24.
The outer side of the leg portion of the link plate 22 is formed as a tapered inclined portion 23. That is, each leg portion has a shape in which the outer side is inclined so that the tip sides approach each other.
[0017]
The connecting shaft 24 that supports the link plate 22 has a tip projecting through the link plate 22. A rotating roller 27 is provided in the penetrating / projecting portion. The rotating roller 27 may be various types such as a bearing, a metal roller, a plastic roller, or the like, but may be any one having a small resistance.
And since the rotation roller 27 is provided in the both sides, the chain 2 becomes easy to be balanced like Yajirobei, and the chain travels well.
[0018]
The internal bending (direction in which the inclined portion 23 contacts) at the time of traveling at the concave curved portion of the chain 2 configured as described above is as shown in FIG. Inward bending is possible within a range of an inclination angle until the inclined portions 23 outside the leg portions of the link plate 22 contact each other with the shaft 24 as a base point. Further, the outward bending mode during traveling at the convex curved portion is as shown in FIG. 4 (1), and the leg portion of the link plate 22 can be radially expanded with the connecting shaft 24 as a base point. . In addition, the inclination angle of the inclined portion 23 outside the leg portion in the link plate 22 constituting the chain 2 can be set to an arbitrary angle.
[0019]
Next, a method for mounting and holding the tool holder 3 in the U-shaped opening 25 of the link plate 22 will be described. A groove 26 that engages with the link plate 22 is provided on the outside of the tool holder 3. Therefore, the tool holder 3 is mounted by fitting the leg portion (U-shaped opening 25) of the link plate 22 into the groove 26. The U-shaped opening 25 is in the horizontal state (in FIG. 3, the tool holder 3 is running on the straight line in the vertical direction) or in the downward state (in FIG. 3, the lower straight line is in the tool holder). 3 is running), the magazine body 1 is provided with a guide plate or the like for guiding the outside of the tool holder 3 (provided at a place other than the tool change position) to prevent the tool holder 3 from falling off. I am doing so.
[0020]
Although not shown, a spring elastic body that holds the tool holder 3 is attached to the link plate 22, and a groove 26 that engages with the link plate 22 is provided outside the tool holder 3 to provide a U-shaped opening 25. The tool holder 3 is mounted on the chain 2 so that the spring elastic body does not drop the tool holder 3 from the U-shaped opening 25 when the chain 2 is running, and the tool holder 3 is opened at the tool replacement position. There is also a method of separating from the portion 25 to the outside of the chain in a direction orthogonal to the traveling direction of the chain 2. The present invention is not limited to these methods.
[0021]
Incidentally, the magazine body 1 is provided with a drive sprocket 11 for suspending the chain 2 constituting the tool holder separation type chain. Further, in the curved track portion (convex curved portion) where the tool holder 3 held in the U-shaped opening 25 of the link plate 22 of the chain 2 is outside the curved track, the curved guide member 12 corresponding to the curve is provided. , 13 and 14 are provided. Further, a curved guide member 15 corresponding to the curve is provided in a curved track portion (concave curved portion) where the tool holder 3 is inside the curved track. The guide members 12, 13, and 14 have a guide surface 16 that guides the traveling of the rotating roller 27, and the guide member 15 has a guide surface 17 that guides the traveling of the rotating roller 27, respectively. 5 and FIG. 4, it is provided on the center side of the bending radius of the curved track portion. Accordingly, as the chain travels, the rotating roller 27 travels along the curvature of the guide surfaces 16 and 17.
[0022]
A minimum gap is provided between the guide members 12, 13, 14, 15 provided on the magazine body 1 and the outer surface of the link plate 22. When the chain 2 travels on the curved track portion, it also serves to guide the travel of the rotating roller 27 and to regulate the swing of the link plate 22 in the front-rear direction, and is provided at a position where it is not hindered. ing.
[0023]
And if comprised as mentioned above, the tool provided with the drive sprocket 11 which suspends the chain 2, the guide members 12, 13, 14 which have the guide surface 16, and the guide member 15 which has the guide surface 17 In the magazine, when the chain 2 is suspended by the drive sprocket 11, the rotating roller 27 smoothly runs on the inside and outside of the curved track along the curvature of the guide surfaces 16 and 17 having a predetermined curvature. At the tool change position 40, the tool holder 3 can be removed from the chain 2 so as to be orthogonal to the traveling direction of the chain 2 and toward the outside of the chain 2.
[0024]
The guide members 12, 13, 14, and 15 provided in the magazine main body 1 are provided separately in the front-rear direction of the magazine main body 1. However, the guide members 12, 13, 14, and 15 may be integrally formed or may be rotating rollers. The outer shape of the outer ring 27 may be a concave shape, and the shape is not limited. Moreover, the constituent material can use a metal and a plastic suitably. However, it is preferable to use a molded product integrally formed of plastic from the viewpoint of noise prevention during chain running, low friction, cost and the like. In addition, the drive sprocket 11 that suspends the chain 2 can also run the chain 2 by rotating the rotating roller 27.
The tool magazine of the present invention can be applied to the above-described tool holder separation type chain, that is, a chain provided with rotating rollers on both sides.
[0025]
【The invention's effect】
The tool holder separation type chain according to the present invention is
(1) Chain travel is possible even when there are multiple types of curved paths of concave and convex curves in the chain travel path.
(2) At the tool change position, the tool holder can be removed from the outside of the chain. As a result, the removed tool holder is turned 90 ° and moved to a state parallel to the spindle of the machine tool. The tool can be exchanged between the tool holder and the spindle at the same time, for example, no standby tool holder is required, and it is not necessary to turn the tool changer 90 °, saving labor,
(3) Due to the presence of the rotating roller, there is little inclination of the chain due to the tool load, and the running stability of the tool holder and chain is excellent.
(4) The cost is low.
[0026]
The tool magazine according to the present invention is
(5) The chain can be run without using a driven wheel.
(6) Enables traveling on a curved track portion having a concave curve or a convex curve,
(7) At the tool change position, the tool holder can be removed outside the chain,
(8) The curved orbital parts of the tool magazine can be simplified, and the cost can be reduced.
[Brief description of the drawings]
1 is a schematic front view of a tool holder separation type chain, and FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a tool holding portion in a U-shaped opening of the tool holder separation type chain. FIG. 3 is a schematic front view showing a mode in which a tool is mounted and a mode in which a tool holder is separated from a U-shaped opening. FIG. 3 is a schematic front view of a tool magazine to which a tool holder separation type chain is attached. ) Is a schematic front view showing the relationship between the substantially concave plates in the convex curve portion of the chain, (2) is a sectional view taken along the line BB in (1). FIG. 5 (1) is a schematic diagram in the concave curve portion of the chain. FIG. 6 is a schematic front view showing the relationship between the concave plates; 2) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC in FIG. 6; FIG. 6 is a schematic front view of a conventional tool magazine; Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Magazine body 2 Chain 3 Tool holder 11 Drive sprocket 12, 13, 14, 15 Guide member 16, 17 Guide surface 22 Link plate 23 Inclined part 24 Connecting shaft 25 U-shaped opening part 27 Rotating roller 40 Tool change position

Claims (4)

A tool magazine having a tool holder separation type chain capable of removing the tool holder from the chain,
The travel path of the chain has a concave curved portion and a convex curved portion,
Shaft is attached to the chain,
The shaft is provided with a pair of substantially concave plates facing the tip of the shaft so as to penetrate and protrude,
A rotating roller is disposed on the tip side of the shaft,
The substantially concave plate is formed such that the outer side of the leg part is inclined toward the inner side toward the tip side ,
The tool holder, which is detachably disposed in the opening between the legs of the substantially concave plate, extends from the opening in a direction orthogonal to the running direction of the chain and toward the outside of the chain. Configured to be removable,
Further, a guide member having a curved guide surface for guiding a rotating roller provided at a tip of a shaft attached to the chain is provided at a position of a curved portion of the travel route, and the chain is driven. A tool magazine comprising a drive sprocket . 2. The tool magazine according to claim 1, wherein the rotating rollers are provided at both ends of the shaft . Claims opening between the legs of the generally U-shaped plate is characterized by comprising falling-off preventing mechanism for preventing detachment of the tool holder from the opening is provided in the case facing the lower or lateral side Item 1. Tool magazine. Tool magazine according to claim 1 in which the guide member is characterized in that it is of plastic.

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