JPH0379142B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application This invention relates to a vertical machining center.

Conventional technology In conventional vertical machining centers, the seventh
As shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 8, an automatic tool changer 2 and a tool magazine 3 are attached to the side surface of the column 1, and a tool 6 is attached to the spindle 5 of the spindle head 4, or a tool 6 is attached to the spindle 5 of the spindle head 4. As shown in the figure, the tool magazine 3' is built into the opening 1a of the column 1 so as to be movable in the front and back direction, and when the tool 6 is automatically replaced, the entire tool magazine 3' is moved toward the front side of the column 1 as shown by the dashed line. There is one in which the tool is moved and the tool can be exchanged directly with respect to the spindle 5 of the spindle head 4 without using a tool exchange arm.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention In the prior art shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 above, the automatic tool changer 2 and the tool magazine 3 are exposed and arranged on the side surface of the column 1, so the appearance of the machine body becomes large. Not only that, but the appearance is poor, and the storage tool 6
It is not easy to expand the number of tools, the machine occupies a large space, and it is not easy to take dust-proof measures for the tools 6 stored in the tool magazine 3. Further, although the conventional technique shown in FIG. 9 can simplify the appearance, the entire tool magazine 3' must be moved, so the drive mechanism is large and complicated. After first returning the item to the empty space in the tool magazine 3',
Index the next tool to the tool change position and spindle 5
Since the tool must be attached to the tool exchange position during machining the workpiece, the next tool cannot be taken out to the tool exchange position in advance, which increases the time required for tool exchange. The type that moves back and forth has the problem that it is not easy to add more storage tools.

Means for Solving the Problems The present invention provides a column having an opening extending through it in the front-rear direction, a main shaft head mounted on the front surface of the column so as to be movable up and down, and having a main shaft arranged vertically, and the above-mentioned main shaft head. It has a tool magazine located at the rear of the column that holds tools vertically and can rotate in a horizontal plane, tool gripping claws at both ends, and a center part that can be rotated 180 degrees in a horizontal plane around a vertical axis.゜Equipped with a tool exchange arm that can be rotated and indexed, is disposed within the opening of the column so as to be movable in the front and back direction, and reciprocates between the spindle head and the tool magazine to automatically exchange tools. A vertical machining center is constructed with an automatic tool changer.

Effect: Although the present invention is similar to the format in which the tool magazine is provided in a column, the next tool can be taken out from the tool magazine to the tool exchange arm and kept on standby while machining a workpiece. The tool change time can be reduced. Further, by incorporating the tool magazine and the automatic tool changer in the column, the dedicated space can be reduced and the appearance can be simplified, and in particular, dust prevention measures can be easily taken during processing of the workpiece. Furthermore, it is possible to easily increase the number of stored tools.

Example In Figures 1 to 3, 10 is a bed, 11
is the table, 12 is the column, 13 is the spindle head,
14 is a main shaft, 15 is a tool magazine, 16 is an automatic tool changer, 17 is a tool, 18 is a cover surrounding the machining section, and 19 is an operation box.

This embodiment shows a type in which the table 11 moves only in the left-right direction and the column 12 moves in the front-back direction with respect to the bed 10, but the column 12 is fixed and the table 11 moves in the front-back direction. It may be of a type that moves in the left and right directions.

The column 12 is equipped with a main shaft head 13 on the front surface of which is capable of driving a main shaft 14 in the vertical direction so that it can be driven up and down, and is also configured to be able to be driven back and forth in the front and rear directions with respect to the bed 10. As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, it has an opening 12a that penetrates in the front-rear direction.

As is clear from FIGS. 4 and 5, the tool magazine 15 includes a chain 15b, which is equipped with tool gripping claws 15a at equal intervals for gripping the tool 17 at the proximal position of its handle, and a driven chain wheel 15c. The chain wheels 15d are stretched in an endless manner, and the frame 15e is connected to the bed 1.
It is installed integrally at the rear of the 0.

The tool gripping claw 15a of the tool magazine 15 is
It is opened by an opening/closing means 15f such as a cylinder provided at a tool exchange position with the automatic tool changer 16, and is configured to be closed at other positions by a spring force or the like to securely hold the tool 17. [See Figure 4]. The tools 17 stored in the tool magazine 15 are registered in the machine body, and the next tool to be used is indexed and driven to the exchange position with the automatic tool changer 16 in response to a command from the machine body.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the automatic tool changer 16 has tool gripping claws 16a, 16a at both ends, and the center portion is arranged in a horizontal plane around a vertical axis 16b via a bearing cylinder 16c. The tool changing arm 16d is attached to a movable table 16e via a bearing cylinder 16c, and the movable table 16e is attached to the bottom of the opening 12a of the column 12 in the longitudinal direction. The tool exchange position of the spindle head 13 with respect to the spindle 14 is controlled by a reciprocating drive means 16g such as a cylinder installed on the column 12, which is slidably provided in the front-rear direction via a sliding guide 16f provided parallel to the main shaft 14. The movable base 1 is capable of reciprocating in the front and back direction between [set as the forward end] and a tool exchange position with the tool magazine 15 [set as the backward end].
Index drive means 16h such as a cylinder provided in 6e
This makes it possible to rotate and index 180 degrees about the axis 16b in a horizontal plane.

It is preferable that the opening 12a formed in the column 12 has the minimum necessary size in order to avoid a decrease in the rigidity of the column 12, and the tool magazine 15 is placed in the bed 10 compared to the conventional example shown in FIG. By fixing it and moving only the automatic tool changer 16 back and forth, the opening area can be reduced and the rigidity can be improved. A side-opening type dustproof cover 20 is attached to the front surface of the opening 12a as shown in FIG. A force in the opening direction is applied, and the hook 20a on the inner surface of the dustproof cover 20 is pulled by the spring-loaded locking pin 23 provided on one side of the front end of the movable base 16e (the hinge side of the dustproof cover) when the movable base 16e retreats. This configuration allows the opening 1 to be opened when changing the tool, and especially during machining, when the opening 1 is closed.
2a is reliably closed to prevent chips, cutting oil, etc. from scattering and adhering to the automatic tool changer 16 and the tool magazine 15. As the opening/closing means for the dustproof cover 20, various methods other than the above-mentioned embodiments can be adopted.

In the embodiment described above, when exchanging tools with the main spindle 14, the column 12 is retracted to the retracted end position in order to avoid interference with the workpiece on the table 11. At this time, since the tool magazine 15 is integrally supported at the rear of the bed 10,
Since there is no change in the relative positional relationship with the automatic tool changer 16 and the next tool is gripped by the tool gripping claw 16a of the automatic tool changer 16 in advance, the moving table 16e is moved in the forward direction by the reciprocating drive means 16g. The movement of the dustproof cover 20 is started, and the spring 2
1 to reach the exchange position with the main shaft 14. When this position is reached, tools are automatically exchanged in the same manner as in the past, and the used tools are returned to the tool magazine 15. At the same time, machining of the workpiece is restarted and the column 12 moves forward. While this workpiece is being processed, the next tool is prepared and placed on standby.

To increase the number of tools stored in the tool magazine 15, as shown in FIG. 6, a spare magazine 24 may be installed at the rear of the tool magazine 15, and a second automatic tool changer 25 may be used in between. In this case, tools are exchanged with the spare magazine 24 while the workpiece is being processed.

In the above embodiment, the case where the column 12 is movable in the front-rear direction has been explained. However, if the column 12 is of a fixed type, a mechanism for moving the magazine back and forth in order to transfer tools to the automatic tool changer may be installed. Alternatively, the reciprocating drive means 16g may be driven in two stages.

Effects of the Invention According to the present invention, the automatic tool changer is built into the column, and the tool magazine is placed at the rear of the automatic tool changer, thereby shortening the tool change time and making it easier to increase the number of stored tools. It has the advantages of improving the dustproof effect of stored tools, simplifying the appearance of the machine body, and reducing the space occupied by the machine.The splash cover is easy to design and has a very simple structure, so it is easy to implement. It is easy to use, has few failures, and can be provided at a relatively low cost.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is an external perspective view of a vertical machining center according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is a side view thereof, Fig. 3 is a front view thereof, Fig. 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional side view of the main part, and Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional plane of the main part. Figure 6 is a plan view for explaining the procedure for adding a spare magazine, and Figures 7 to 9 are conventional examples of vertical machining centers, of which Figure 7 is a type in which a tool magazine is attached to the side of the column. 8 is a front view thereof, and FIG. 9 is a schematic longitudinal sectional side view of a type in which a tool magazine is housed in a column. 10... bed, 11... table, 12...
Column, 12a...Opening, 13...Spindle head, 14...Spindle, 15...Tool magazine, 16
...Automatic tool changer, 16a...Tool gripping claw,
16d...Tool exchange arm, 17...Tool.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A column formed with an opening penetrating in the front-rear direction, and a column mounted on the front surface of the column so as to be movable up and down,
It has a spindle head with a spindle arranged vertically, a tool magazine placed behind the column that holds tools vertically and can rotate in a horizontal plane, tool gripping claws at both ends, and a center The tool exchange arm is equipped with a tool exchange arm that can be rotated and indexed by 180 degrees in a horizontal plane about a vertical axis, and is disposed within the opening of the column so as to be movable in the front and back direction, and is connected to the spindle head and the tool magazine. A vertical machining center characterized by comprising an automatic tool changer that automatically exchanges tools by reciprocating between the machine and the machine.