JPS5810182B2 - Machine tool with tool changer - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an improvement in an automatic tool changer for a large machine tool in which the spindle head moves in the up-down Z direction and the table moves in the back-and-forth X and left-right Y directions.

The first purpose is to take out the tool for the next process from the tool storage magazine while the spindle tool is machining, and to locate it in a position that is closest to the tool exchange with the spindle tool and that does not interfere with the workpiece being machined. This is an automatic system that allows the tool to be placed on standby and transported to the tool change preparation position at the same time as the workpiece retreats during tool exchange, so that the tool does not interfere with the workpiece and tool exchange can be performed in a short time. The purpose is to provide a tool changing device.

The second purpose is to provide a device that reliably transports tools between the tool exchange preparation position corresponding to the tool spindle and the tool storage magazine in a machine tool equipped with a tool exchange device in which the tool storage magazine is installed separately from the machine body. In automatic tool exchange using the key drive method, the tool can be removed from the spindle without waiting for the angular positioning movement of the tool spindle for tool exchange, and the tools can be stored randomly without having to align the tool keyways. An automatic tool changer is provided having a tool angular positioning device adapted to align tools in a storage magazine with the position of a key in a spindle.

The present invention will be explained below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5.

1 and 2, a magazine is installed behind the tool spindle 2 of a known machine tool main body 1 in which a table 3o slides in the X-Y direction and a spindle head 8 slides in the Z direction on the side surface of the column. A support 3 is provided independently.

The magazine support is provided with a known tool storage magazine 3A in which a tool support tube 13 connected in a loop shape with a link is freely supported by a sprocket wheel 6, and a fixed horizontal guide path is provided on the top of the magazine support 3. Provide 7A.

Further, a vertical guide path 9 parallel to the moving direction of the spindle head is independently provided beside the spindle head 8, and a slide 10 that can be raised and lowered is provided in the guide path 9.

The slide 10 holds the movable guide path 7B horizontally, and when the guide path 7B reaches the highest position, the guide paths 7A and 7B are configured to be connected together.

A tool transport device 11 for transporting tools is slidably provided on the guide paths 7A and 7B, and as a means for making the tool transport device 11 move by itself, a pinion that engages with a rack on the guide path is provided as a means for moving the tool. A known self-propelled device is provided which is attached to the hydraulic motor shaft of the conveyance device 11.

The tool transport device 11 has a tool storage body 12, and transports the tool 5 between a tool transfer position 12A located above the magazine support 3 and a tool change preparation position 12D located beside the main spindle 2.

In addition, in the transfer of tools between the tool storage body 12 of the tool transport device 11 and the tool support tube 13 of the tool storage magazine 3A, the forward travel locus is shown by a solid line with an arrow and a dotted line in FIG. 3, respectively. A known tool changing arm 14A is used, and the tool changing arm 14A is attached to the magazine support 3 (FIG. 1).

Further, in order to exchange the tool in the tool housing 12 that has arrived at the tool exchange preparation position 12D beside the main spindle 2 with the tool on the main spindle, a tool exchange arm 14B using a known method is used. It is attached to the upper part of the spindle head 8 of 1.

The center lines of the tool transfer position 12A of the tool storage magazine, the tool change preparation position 12D where the tool storage body 12 of the tool transport device 11 is located, and the tool spindle 2 are as shown in FIG.
It is most rational to arrange them so that they are located on a vertical plane.

In FIG. 5, the tool transport device 11 is provided with a tool tightening collet 15 behind the tool insertion hole of the tool housing 12, and has a tool holding ball 16 inside the collet so as to be slidable only in the axial direction. A rod 17 is provided.

The tightening rod is configured to move linearly together with a piston rod 19 of a cylinder 18 provided in the tool transport device 11 via a bearing, and when the piston rod 19 is pressed by a spring 20, the tool 5 is tightened. , so that the tool is released when pushed in the opposite direction by pressure oil.

The claw body 21A of the clutch 21 is fixed to the rear end of the tool holding rod 17, and the other end of the clutch 21 is connected to the shaft end of the drive source 22 fixed to the magazine support 3 via a spline 31 and a spring 32. A claw body 21B is provided.

The claw body 21B is located at the tool transfer position 12 when the tool transport device 11
When it is in position A, it engages with the pawl body 21A, and the drive source 22 is transmitted.

Further, the tool transport device 11 is provided with a lever 24 for position confirmation via a pin 23.

The lever 24 is constantly rotated counterclockwise about the pin 23 by a spring 25, and the front end of the lever is pressed so as to engage with the keyway 26 in the flange of the key drive type tool, and the other end acts to move away from the position detection limit switch 27 provided on the tool transport device 11.

Next, the operating sequence of tool exchange will be explained with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

Now, when the tool 5 for the next process is determined, a tool call command is issued, and the tool support tube 13 of the tool storage magazine 3A is actuated via the sprocket 6 by the hydraulic motor 28 shown in FIG. A predetermined tool 5 is indexed to the tool delivery position 13A by a known tool selection device 29 such as the above.

The tool exchange arm 1 is used for the tool at the tool delivery position 13A
4A operates in the direction of the solid line arrow shown in FIG. insert.

The inserted tool 5 is reliably fixed to the tool accommodating body 12 by the retraction of the tool holding rod 17 by the spring 20.

At this time, the keyway 26A of the insertion tool and the lever 24 for position confirmation
(Fig. 5), the tool conveyance device 11 immediately moves on the guide paths 7A and 7B, but when they do not engage, the lever 24 is pushed against the spring 25 and the limit switch Activate 27.

When the drive source 22 is rotated by this signal and the tool transport device 11 is already located at the tool delivery position 12A, the tool storage body 12 is moved through the engaged clutch 21 and the tool holding rod 17 as shown in FIG. Rotate.

This allows the front end of the lever 24 and the keyway 26A of the tool 5 to
When engaged, the limit switch 27 operates, issues a tool angular positioning completion signal, stops the drive source 22, and at the same time, the tool transport device 11 moves on the guide paths 7A and 7B.

This movement stops when the tool housing 12 reaches the timing position 12B.

When the machining of the current process is completed, the spindle head 8 stops at that position, and in response to the stop signal, the table 30 on which the workpiece is placed moves away from the tool spindle 2 to avoid interference between the tool 5 and the workpiece during tool exchange. At the same time as the tool escapes in the direction, the slide 10 of the vertical guide path 9 descends while holding the guide path 7B, tool transport device 11, tool storage body 12, etc.

When the slide 10 stops at the upper part 12C of the spindle head 8, the tool transport device 11 moves forward again along the guide path 7B, and as a result, the tool storage body 12 reaches the tool exchange preparation position 12D of the spindle 2 and stops. .

Further, the movement of the tool transport device 11 along the guide path 7B can be made more efficient if it is performed simultaneously with the movement of the slide 10 using the vertical path 9 as a guide, as shown in the dotted line path of the tool transport device 11 shown in FIG. be.

When the tool storage body 12 arrives at the tool change preparation position 12D, in response to that signal, the tool change arm 14B on the tool spindle first turns 90 degrees to grasp both tools, and then both tools 5 are released. The tool exchange arm 14B moves forward in response to the time signal and extracts each tool from the main spindle 2 and the tool storage body 12.

Next, the tool exchange arm 14B turns 180 degrees to exchange the positions of both tools, and then each tool 5 is further inserted into the main shaft 2 and the tool housing 12.

When the insertion is completed, the tool exchange arm 14B separates from both tools 5 and changes direction horizontally, and stands by in preparation for machining the tool spindle 2.

When the tool change is completed, the tool 5 of the spindle 2 starts the specified machining,
The tool storage body 12 also includes a slide 10 and a tool transport device 1 in order to return the used tools 5 to the tool storage magazine 3A.
1 causes it to retreat.

That is, the tool transport device 11 moves the tool container 12 to the position 12C.
At the same time, the slide 10 rises along the vertical guide path 9.

When the tool storage body 12 reaches the position 12B due to the movement of these two, the guide paths 7B and 7A are connected into one, so the tool transport device 11 moves back on the guide paths 7B and 7A again and arrives at the tool delivery position 12A. do.

When the tool storage body 12 reaches the tool transfer position 12A, the tool support tube 13 of the tool storage magazine 3A that is to hold the transported used tools has already been indexed to the tool transfer position, so the tool exchange arm By operating along the dotted line movement locus 14A (FIG. 3), the tool in the tool storage body 12 is returned to a predetermined tool support tube 13.

After the tool exchange arm 14A has been returned, it retreats to a position where it does not interfere with the indexing operation of the tool storage magazine 3A when calling up a tool for the next process.

Thereafter, the same operations as those described above are continued.

According to the present invention, during machining, the tool for the next process is placed on standby in a position where it will not interfere with the machining process, and in a position close to the tool exchange preparation position, and when machining is completed, the waiting tool is moved back as the workpiece is moved back. Since the tool is transported to the tool preparation position, the tool does not interfere with the workpiece, and the tool can be replaced in a short time.

In addition, the tool storage magazine has a structure that can be separated from the machine body and is placed at the rear of the machine body, making it easy for the operator to inspect and replace tools from the operator's position in the spindle head. The tool shank is less likely to be covered with dust.

In addition, during the tool transport process, the tool is angularly positioned so that the keyway of the tool matches the stop position of the spindle key.
The tool can be removed from the spindle without maintaining the angular positioning movement of the tool spindle for tool exchange, and the tool can be removed into the tool storage magazine, and the tool can be removed when inserted into the tool storage magazine. There is no need to align them one by one.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of a machine tool with a tool changer according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a front view of the machine tool shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the machine tool with a tool changer according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the tool storage magazine, tool exchange arm, and tool transport device. FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the tool transport device. In the figure,
1...Machine body, 2...Tool spindle, 3
...Magazine support, 3A ... Tool storage magazine, 4 ... Link, 5 ... Tool, 6 ... Sprocket wheel, 7A ...
...Fixed horizontal guideway, 7B... Movable horizontal guideway, 8... Spindle head, 9... Vertical guideway, 10... Slide, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11... Tool conveyance device, 12... Tool storage body (12A-D tool storage body positions), 13... Tool support tube, 14A
......Tool exchange arm, 14B...Tool exchange arm, 15...Collet, 16...Ball, 17...Tool holding rod , 18...
... Cylinder, 19 ... Piston rod, 2
0...Spring, 21...Clutch 21A...Clutch pawl, 21B...
・Clutch claw body, 22... Drive source, 23...
...Pin, 24...Lever for position confirmation, 2
5...Spring, 26A...Keyway, 26B...Key, 27...Position detection limit switch, 28...Hydraulic motor ,
29... Tool selection device, 30... Table, 31... Spline, 32...
spring.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A machine tool with a tool changer that has a tool change arm near the main shaft and a tool transfer device between the tool change arm and a tool storage magazine, which is rotatably provided on the tool transfer device and has a clutch at the rear. A tool accommodating body having a claw, a fastening device for a tool gripped by the tool accommodating body which is also provided in the tool transport device, and a keyway for a tool inserted into the tool accommodating body for indexing to a specific position. The tool comprises a tool angular position detecting device provided on a tool transport device near the outer periphery of the tool storage body, and a drive source that engages with a clutch pawl of the tool storage body and transmits rotational force when the tool transport device is at a moving end. A machine tool with a tool changer, characterized in that tools in a tool storage magazine stored at random are aligned with key positions on a spindle.