US20020006853A1 - Machine tool with improved tool changer means - Google Patents
Machine tool with improved tool changer means Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20020006853A1 US20020006853A1 US09/362,106 US36210699A US2002006853A1 US 20020006853 A1 US20020006853 A1 US 20020006853A1 US 36210699 A US36210699 A US 36210699A US 2002006853 A1 US2002006853 A1 US 2002006853A1
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- United States
- Prior art keywords
- tool
- spindle
- tool changer
- holding means
- holding
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Classifications
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B23Q—DETAILS, COMPONENTS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR MACHINE TOOLS, e.g. ARRANGEMENTS FOR COPYING OR CONTROLLING; MACHINE TOOLS IN GENERAL CHARACTERISED BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF PARTICULAR DETAILS OR COMPONENTS; COMBINATIONS OR ASSOCIATIONS OF METAL-WORKING MACHINES, NOT DIRECTED TO A PARTICULAR RESULT
- B23Q3/00—Devices holding, supporting, or positioning work or tools, of a kind normally removable from the machine
- B23Q3/155—Arrangements for automatic insertion or removal of tools, e.g. combined with manual handling
- B23Q3/157—Arrangements for automatic insertion or removal of tools, e.g. combined with manual handling of rotary tools
- B23Q3/15713—Arrangements for automatic insertion or removal of tools, e.g. combined with manual handling of rotary tools a transfer device taking a single tool from a storage device and inserting it in a spindle
- B23Q3/1572—Arrangements for automatic insertion or removal of tools, e.g. combined with manual handling of rotary tools a transfer device taking a single tool from a storage device and inserting it in a spindle the storage device comprising rotating or circulating storing means
- B23Q3/15726—Arrangements for automatic insertion or removal of tools, e.g. combined with manual handling of rotary tools a transfer device taking a single tool from a storage device and inserting it in a spindle the storage device comprising rotating or circulating storing means the storage means rotating or circulating in a plane parallel to the axis of the spindle
- B23Q3/1574—Arrangements for automatic insertion or removal of tools, e.g. combined with manual handling of rotary tools a transfer device taking a single tool from a storage device and inserting it in a spindle the storage device comprising rotating or circulating storing means the storage means rotating or circulating in a plane parallel to the axis of the spindle the axis of the stored tools being arranged perpendicularly to the rotating or circulating plane of the storage means
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B23Q—DETAILS, COMPONENTS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR MACHINE TOOLS, e.g. ARRANGEMENTS FOR COPYING OR CONTROLLING; MACHINE TOOLS IN GENERAL CHARACTERISED BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF PARTICULAR DETAILS OR COMPONENTS; COMBINATIONS OR ASSOCIATIONS OF METAL-WORKING MACHINES, NOT DIRECTED TO A PARTICULAR RESULT
- B23Q3/00—Devices holding, supporting, or positioning work or tools, of a kind normally removable from the machine
- B23Q3/155—Arrangements for automatic insertion or removal of tools, e.g. combined with manual handling
- B23Q3/1552—Arrangements for automatic insertion or removal of tools, e.g. combined with manual handling parts of devices for automatically inserting or removing tools
- B23Q3/15526—Storage devices; Drive mechanisms therefor
- B23Q3/15536—Non-rotary fixed racks
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B23Q—DETAILS, COMPONENTS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR MACHINE TOOLS, e.g. ARRANGEMENTS FOR COPYING OR CONTROLLING; MACHINE TOOLS IN GENERAL CHARACTERISED BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF PARTICULAR DETAILS OR COMPONENTS; COMBINATIONS OR ASSOCIATIONS OF METAL-WORKING MACHINES, NOT DIRECTED TO A PARTICULAR RESULT
- B23Q3/00—Devices holding, supporting, or positioning work or tools, of a kind normally removable from the machine
- B23Q3/155—Arrangements for automatic insertion or removal of tools, e.g. combined with manual handling
- B23Q3/1552—Arrangements for automatic insertion or removal of tools, e.g. combined with manual handling parts of devices for automatically inserting or removing tools
- B23Q3/15526—Storage devices; Drive mechanisms therefor
- B23Q3/15539—Plural magazines, e.g. involving tool transfer from one magazine to another
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B23Q—DETAILS, COMPONENTS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR MACHINE TOOLS, e.g. ARRANGEMENTS FOR COPYING OR CONTROLLING; MACHINE TOOLS IN GENERAL CHARACTERISED BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF PARTICULAR DETAILS OR COMPONENTS; COMBINATIONS OR ASSOCIATIONS OF METAL-WORKING MACHINES, NOT DIRECTED TO A PARTICULAR RESULT
- B23Q3/00—Devices holding, supporting, or positioning work or tools, of a kind normally removable from the machine
- B23Q3/155—Arrangements for automatic insertion or removal of tools, e.g. combined with manual handling
- B23Q3/1552—Arrangements for automatic insertion or removal of tools, e.g. combined with manual handling parts of devices for automatically inserting or removing tools
- B23Q3/1554—Transfer mechanisms, e.g. tool gripping arms; Drive mechanisms therefore
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B23Q—DETAILS, COMPONENTS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR MACHINE TOOLS, e.g. ARRANGEMENTS FOR COPYING OR CONTROLLING; MACHINE TOOLS IN GENERAL CHARACTERISED BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF PARTICULAR DETAILS OR COMPONENTS; COMBINATIONS OR ASSOCIATIONS OF METAL-WORKING MACHINES, NOT DIRECTED TO A PARTICULAR RESULT
- B23Q3/00—Devices holding, supporting, or positioning work or tools, of a kind normally removable from the machine
- B23Q3/155—Arrangements for automatic insertion or removal of tools, e.g. combined with manual handling
- B23Q3/157—Arrangements for automatic insertion or removal of tools, e.g. combined with manual handling of rotary tools
- B23Q3/15706—Arrangements for automatic insertion or removal of tools, e.g. combined with manual handling of rotary tools a single tool being inserted in a spindle directly from a storage device, i.e. without using transfer devices
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B23Q—DETAILS, COMPONENTS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR MACHINE TOOLS, e.g. ARRANGEMENTS FOR COPYING OR CONTROLLING; MACHINE TOOLS IN GENERAL CHARACTERISED BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF PARTICULAR DETAILS OR COMPONENTS; COMBINATIONS OR ASSOCIATIONS OF METAL-WORKING MACHINES, NOT DIRECTED TO A PARTICULAR RESULT
- B23Q3/00—Devices holding, supporting, or positioning work or tools, of a kind normally removable from the machine
- B23Q3/155—Arrangements for automatic insertion or removal of tools, e.g. combined with manual handling
- B23Q3/157—Arrangements for automatic insertion or removal of tools, e.g. combined with manual handling of rotary tools
- B23Q3/15713—Arrangements for automatic insertion or removal of tools, e.g. combined with manual handling of rotary tools a transfer device taking a single tool from a storage device and inserting it in a spindle
- B23Q3/1572—Arrangements for automatic insertion or removal of tools, e.g. combined with manual handling of rotary tools a transfer device taking a single tool from a storage device and inserting it in a spindle the storage device comprising rotating or circulating storing means
- B23Q3/15726—Arrangements for automatic insertion or removal of tools, e.g. combined with manual handling of rotary tools a transfer device taking a single tool from a storage device and inserting it in a spindle the storage device comprising rotating or circulating storing means the storage means rotating or circulating in a plane parallel to the axis of the spindle
- B23Q3/1574—Arrangements for automatic insertion or removal of tools, e.g. combined with manual handling of rotary tools a transfer device taking a single tool from a storage device and inserting it in a spindle the storage device comprising rotating or circulating storing means the storage means rotating or circulating in a plane parallel to the axis of the spindle the axis of the stored tools being arranged perpendicularly to the rotating or circulating plane of the storage means
- B23Q3/15746—Arrangements for automatic insertion or removal of tools, e.g. combined with manual handling of rotary tools a transfer device taking a single tool from a storage device and inserting it in a spindle the storage device comprising rotating or circulating storing means the storage means rotating or circulating in a plane parallel to the axis of the spindle the axis of the stored tools being arranged perpendicularly to the rotating or circulating plane of the storage means the storage means comprising pivotable tool storage elements
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B23Q—DETAILS, COMPONENTS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR MACHINE TOOLS, e.g. ARRANGEMENTS FOR COPYING OR CONTROLLING; MACHINE TOOLS IN GENERAL CHARACTERISED BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF PARTICULAR DETAILS OR COMPONENTS; COMBINATIONS OR ASSOCIATIONS OF METAL-WORKING MACHINES, NOT DIRECTED TO A PARTICULAR RESULT
- B23Q3/00—Devices holding, supporting, or positioning work or tools, of a kind normally removable from the machine
- B23Q3/155—Arrangements for automatic insertion or removal of tools, e.g. combined with manual handling
- B23Q3/1552—Arrangements for automatic insertion or removal of tools, e.g. combined with manual handling parts of devices for automatically inserting or removing tools
- B23Q3/15526—Storage devices; Drive mechanisms therefor
- B23Q2003/15537—Linearly moving storage devices
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B23Q—DETAILS, COMPONENTS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR MACHINE TOOLS, e.g. ARRANGEMENTS FOR COPYING OR CONTROLLING; MACHINE TOOLS IN GENERAL CHARACTERISED BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF PARTICULAR DETAILS OR COMPONENTS; COMBINATIONS OR ASSOCIATIONS OF METAL-WORKING MACHINES, NOT DIRECTED TO A PARTICULAR RESULT
- B23Q3/00—Devices holding, supporting, or positioning work or tools, of a kind normally removable from the machine
- B23Q3/155—Arrangements for automatic insertion or removal of tools, e.g. combined with manual handling
- B23Q3/1552—Arrangements for automatic insertion or removal of tools, e.g. combined with manual handling parts of devices for automatically inserting or removing tools
- B23Q3/1554—Transfer mechanisms, e.g. tool gripping arms; Drive mechanisms therefore
- B23Q2003/155414—Transfer mechanisms, e.g. tool gripping arms; Drive mechanisms therefore the transfer mechanism comprising two or more grippers
- B23Q2003/155421—Transfer mechanisms, e.g. tool gripping arms; Drive mechanisms therefore the transfer mechanism comprising two or more grippers the grippers moving independently from each other
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B23Q—DETAILS, COMPONENTS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR MACHINE TOOLS, e.g. ARRANGEMENTS FOR COPYING OR CONTROLLING; MACHINE TOOLS IN GENERAL CHARACTERISED BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF PARTICULAR DETAILS OR COMPONENTS; COMBINATIONS OR ASSOCIATIONS OF METAL-WORKING MACHINES, NOT DIRECTED TO A PARTICULAR RESULT
- B23Q3/00—Devices holding, supporting, or positioning work or tools, of a kind normally removable from the machine
- B23Q3/155—Arrangements for automatic insertion or removal of tools, e.g. combined with manual handling
- B23Q3/1552—Arrangements for automatic insertion or removal of tools, e.g. combined with manual handling parts of devices for automatically inserting or removing tools
- B23Q3/1554—Transfer mechanisms, e.g. tool gripping arms; Drive mechanisms therefore
- B23Q2003/155414—Transfer mechanisms, e.g. tool gripping arms; Drive mechanisms therefore the transfer mechanism comprising two or more grippers
- B23Q2003/155425—Transfer mechanisms, e.g. tool gripping arms; Drive mechanisms therefore the transfer mechanism comprising two or more grippers pivotable
- B23Q2003/155432—Transfer mechanisms, e.g. tool gripping arms; Drive mechanisms therefore the transfer mechanism comprising two or more grippers pivotable about different axes
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B23Q—DETAILS, COMPONENTS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR MACHINE TOOLS, e.g. ARRANGEMENTS FOR COPYING OR CONTROLLING; MACHINE TOOLS IN GENERAL CHARACTERISED BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF PARTICULAR DETAILS OR COMPONENTS; COMBINATIONS OR ASSOCIATIONS OF METAL-WORKING MACHINES, NOT DIRECTED TO A PARTICULAR RESULT
- B23Q3/00—Devices holding, supporting, or positioning work or tools, of a kind normally removable from the machine
- B23Q3/155—Arrangements for automatic insertion or removal of tools, e.g. combined with manual handling
- B23Q3/1552—Arrangements for automatic insertion or removal of tools, e.g. combined with manual handling parts of devices for automatically inserting or removing tools
- B23Q3/1554—Transfer mechanisms, e.g. tool gripping arms; Drive mechanisms therefore
- B23Q2003/155414—Transfer mechanisms, e.g. tool gripping arms; Drive mechanisms therefore the transfer mechanism comprising two or more grippers
- B23Q2003/155425—Transfer mechanisms, e.g. tool gripping arms; Drive mechanisms therefore the transfer mechanism comprising two or more grippers pivotable
- B23Q2003/155435—Transfer mechanisms, e.g. tool gripping arms; Drive mechanisms therefore the transfer mechanism comprising two or more grippers pivotable and linearly movable
- B23Q2003/155446—Transfer mechanisms, e.g. tool gripping arms; Drive mechanisms therefore the transfer mechanism comprising two or more grippers pivotable and linearly movable with translation of the pivoting axis
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10S483/00—Tool changing
- Y10S483/902—Tool grippers
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T483/00—Tool changing
- Y10T483/17—Tool changing including machine tool or component
- Y10T483/1733—Rotary spindle machine tool [e.g., milling machine, boring, machine, grinding machine, etc.]
- Y10T483/1748—Tool changer between spindle and matrix
- Y10T483/1752—Tool changer between spindle and matrix including tool holder pivotable about axis
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T483/00—Tool changing
- Y10T483/17—Tool changing including machine tool or component
- Y10T483/1733—Rotary spindle machine tool [e.g., milling machine, boring, machine, grinding machine, etc.]
- Y10T483/1748—Tool changer between spindle and matrix
- Y10T483/1752—Tool changer between spindle and matrix including tool holder pivotable about axis
- Y10T483/1774—Distinct tool changer for each tool
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T483/00—Tool changing
- Y10T483/17—Tool changing including machine tool or component
- Y10T483/1733—Rotary spindle machine tool [e.g., milling machine, boring, machine, grinding machine, etc.]
- Y10T483/1748—Tool changer between spindle and matrix
- Y10T483/1752—Tool changer between spindle and matrix including tool holder pivotable about axis
- Y10T483/1781—Tool holder pivotable about plural nonparallel axes
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T483/00—Tool changing
- Y10T483/17—Tool changing including machine tool or component
- Y10T483/1733—Rotary spindle machine tool [e.g., milling machine, boring, machine, grinding machine, etc.]
- Y10T483/1748—Tool changer between spindle and matrix
- Y10T483/1783—Tool changer between spindle and matrix including linearly translatable tool changer [e.g., shuttle, ram, etc.]
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T483/00—Tool changing
- Y10T483/18—Tool transfer to or from matrix
- Y10T483/1845—Plural matrices
- Y10T483/1855—Plural matrices including tool replenishing
Definitions
- This invention relates to CNC machine tools and more particularly to a tool changer for such machines.
- the invention further contemplates a novel automatic tool changer operable to reduce the cycle times of machining parts requiring the use of different tools to perform various machining operations.
- the present invention overcomes the disadvantages of prior art automatic tool changers by providing a tool changer mountable on the toolhead assembly of a CNC machine tool generally consisting of an array of tool holders pivotally connected to the toolhead assembly and spaced apart relative to the axis of the toolhead spindle, with each of the tool holders being selectively angularly displaceable in a plane including the axis of the spindle between a retracted position and an extended position aligning the tool holder for loading or unloading a tool with respect to the spindle.
- various tools may not only be loaded and unloaded unto and off of the spindle but may be transferred between the tool holder assembly mounted on the toolhead assembly and tool holders either mounted on other components of the machine or on separate equipment.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a CNC machine tool embodying the present invention, illustrating a portion of a conventional bulk tool changer which comprises a component of another embodiment of the invention;
- FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the machine tool and bulk tool changer shown in FIG. 1, having portions thereof broken away;
- FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the machine tool shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;
- FIG. 4 is an enlarged top plan view of a gripper section of a tool holder comprising a component of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 through 3;
- FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken along line 5 - 5 of FIG. 4;
- FIG. 6 is an enlarged, top plan view of the tool changer shown in FIGS. 1 through 3, embodying the present invention, having portions thereof broken away;
- FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken along line 7 - 7 in FIG. 6;
- FIG. 8 is an enlarged, vertical cross sectional view of the spindle assembly forming a component of the toolhead assembly shown in FIGS. 1 through 3;
- FIG. 9 is and enlarged view of the view shown in FIG. 8, designated by the reference numeral 9 .
- FIGS. 1 through 3 there is illustrated a CNC machine tool 10 adapted to perform various machining functions on workpieces positioned thereon including routing, drilling, sawing, sanding and the like, and a bulk tool changer 11 .
- the machine generally consists of a base member 12 , a movable workpiece support table 13 , a gantry 14 , a toolhead support assembly 15 and a toolhead assembly 16 .
- the base member includes a lower section 17 , a pair of longitudinally disposed, transversely spaced boxed beam sections 18 and 19 and a set of longitudinally disposed, transversely spaced guideways 20 and 21 .
- Table 13 is supported and displaceable longitudinally or along an x-axis or line of travel on guideways 20 and 21 , and includes a rectangularly configured workpiece support surface 22 .
- Gantry 14 includes a pair of leg sections 23 and 24 disposed astride table 13 , rigidly connected at their lower ends to base section 17 , and a bridge section 25 secured to the upper ends of leg sections 23 and 24 , spaced above table 13 and disposed transversely.
- the front face of bridge section 25 is provided with a pair of transversely disposed, vertically spaced guideways 26 and 27 on which there is mounted and guided, toolhead support assembly 15 for displacement transversely along a y-axis or line of travel.
- Toolhead assembly 16 similarly is mounted and guided vertically along a z-axis or line of travel on a pair of vertically disposed, transversely spaced guideways mounted on a front face of the toolhead support assembly.
- the toolhead assembly includes a support frame 28 and a spindle assembly 29 , a DC servomotor 30 and a tool changer assembly 31 mounted on the support frame.
- the spindle assembly is best illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9 and is driven through a belt drive by servomotor 30 .
- Tool changer assembly 31 is best shown in FIGS. 4 through 7.
- the machine is provided with a number of additional DC servomotors for displacing the table along the x-axis, displacing the toolhead support assembly along the y-axis and displacing the toolhead assembly along the z-axis.
- Such motors are operated by a controller (not shown) pursuant to the execution of a program loaded into the controller in the conventional manner.
- tool changer assembly 31 includes a support bracket 32 secured to support frame 28 , and a plurality of arcuately spaced tool holders 33 pivotally connected to the support bracket.
- the support bracket includes a base section 32 a mounted on the side of the support frame by means of a set of bolts or other suitable means, and disposed longitudinally, extending beyond the front end of the toolhead assembly, and a transversely disposed section 32 b , spaced from and extending across the front of the assembly, substantially at a right angle relative to the base section.
- Each of the tool holders consists of an arm section 34 and a gripper section 35 .
- Each arm section 34 has a j-shaped portion 34 a pivotally connected to bracket section 32 b , as at 34 b and an arcuate portion 34 c formed integrally on the end of the J-shaped portion.
- gripper section 35 includes an arcuate portion 35 a mounted on and secured to arcuate arm portion 34 c by means of a set of bolts 35 b , and arcuately spaced sets 35 c of finger portions extending into the space in arcuate arm portion 34 c and yieldably biased to engage a tool 36 therebetween as shown in FIG. 3.
- Each of the tool holders is provided with an air actuated cylinder assembly 37 for pivoting the tool holder between a retracted position as shown in solid lines in FIG.
- Each cylinder assembly consists of a cylinder member 37 a pivotally connected adjacent its rod end to transverse section 32 b of the support bracket as at 37 b , and an extendable rod member 37 c pivotally connected to the arm section of a tool holder as at 37 d .
- the various cylinder assemblies are operated by the controller pursuant to the execution of a software program loaded into the controller to selectively extend and retract selected tool holders for loading and unloading tools with respect to the spindle.
- each of the tool holders permits each of the holders to hold and maintain a tool in a retracted position clear of the lower end of the spindle so as not to interfere with any machining operation of the spindle, and an extended position in which the collet of the spindle may grip or release a tool held by the holder.
- the inwardly biased fingers 35 c of the gripping portion of each tool holder will yieldingly grip and hold a tool in the tool holder permitting the tool to be retained in the extended position for storage purposes, and displaced from the retracted to the extended position and easily be released or gripped in attaching and detaching the tool with respect to spindle.
- the toolhead assembly includes a spindle assembly 40 generally consisting of a housing 41 , a spindle 42 mounted in the housing and a cylinder assembly 43 .
- the housing is provided with a lower section 41 a and an upper section 41 b .
- Housing section 41 a is provided with a cylindrical bore 41 f therethrough having a first enlarged section 41 c at a lower end thereof, a second enlarged section 45 and a third enlarged section 46 at the upper end thereof.
- Enlarged bore section 41 c provides a bearing seat including an annular wall 41 d and an annular seat 41 e .
- Enlarged section 45 similarly provides a bearing seat including an annular side wall 45 a and an annular seating surface 45 b .
- a cylindrical sleeve 47 having the outer cylindrical surface thereof adhesively bonded to annular wall 41 d of the housing.
- a pair of roller bearings 48 and 49 are seated in enlarged bore section 41 c with the outer surfaces of the outer races thereof engaging the inner annular surface of cylindrical sleeve 47 and an annular end surface of outer race 48 engaging annular surface 41 e of enlarged bore section 41 c .
- a cylindrical sleeve 50 is disposed in enlarged bore section 45 with the outer cylindrical surface thereof adhesively bonded to the annular side wall surface 45 a of enlarged bore section 45 .
- roller bearing 51 Disposed within cylindrical sleeve 50 and axially displaceable relative thereto is roller bearing 51 .
- the inner races of bearings 48 and 51 are maintained in axially spaced relation by means of a spacer tube 52 .
- a spring washer 53 is provided between the outer race of bearing 51 and annular surface 45 b of enlarged bore section 45 .
- Spindle 42 has a generally tubular configuration and is journaled in lower bearings 48 and 49 and upper bearing 51 .
- Outer cylindrical surface 60 is provided with a recessed cylindrical section 61 providing an annular shoulder on which the inner race of bearing 49 is seated, and an upper threaded portion 62 .
- the upper end of the tool is provided with a neck portion 70 and a head portion 71 received within enlarged bore section 64 of the spindle.
- the upper end of axial bore 63 is provided with an enlarged section 72 .
- bearings and the spindle journaled in the bearings are retained within the housing with the bearings seated within enlarged bore sections 41 c and 45 by means of a lower cover plate 80 , a bearing washer 81 and a jam nut 82 .
- Cover plate 80 has an annular configuration and is secured to the bottom end of housing 11 by a set screws.
- An inner end of plate 80 engages the outer race of bearing 49 and is provided with a seal 83 engaging the spindle about the periphery thereof
- Bearing washer 81 also has an annular configuration and has a depending, annular portion which engages the inner race of bearing 51 .
- Jam nut 52 is provided with an axial bore 84 having an enlarged, threaded section 84 a threaded onto the upper threaded end of the spindle so that it engages bearing washer 81 which bears on the inner race of bearing 51 .
- Outer annular surface 84 b of the jam nut is provided with an annular recess 84 c which is adapted to receive a pair semi-circular retaining flanges 85 .
- Upper housing section 41 b has a cylindrical configuration and is adapted to seat on and be secured to the upper end of lower housing section 41 a by means of a set of bolts 86 . Such section is axially aligned with axial bore 41 f of lower housing section 41 a .
- a floating cylinder mount 90 mounted within upper housing section 41 b is a floating cylinder mount 90 provided with an axially disposed bore 90 a aligned axially with lower housing bore 41 f and spindle 42 , having a lower enlarged section 90 a which receives the upper end of jam nut 82 .
- Axial displacement of the cylinder mount is restricted relative to the spindle by means of retainer plates 85 which are secured to the underside of the cylinder mount by means of a set of screws, and project into annual grove 84 c of jam nut 82 .
- Axially displaceable in spindle bore 63 is a draw bar 100 having a lower enlarged section 101 disposed in enlarged spindle bore section 64 and an upper enlarged section 102 received in an upper enlarged section 64 a of spindle bore 63 .
- a collet 103 is provided on the lower end of enlarged draw bar section 101 having a set of fingers which are adapted to cam inwardly when the draw bar is urged in an upward direction to grip head portion 71 of the tool, and to spring apart when the draw bar is moved in a downward direction to release the head portion of the tool.
- the draw bar is urged into the upper position by means of a set of spring washers 105 disposed between an annular shoulder provided by enlarged spindle bore section 64 a and a lower cylindrical surface of enlarged draw bar section 102 .
- Cylinder assembly 43 includes a cylinder 110 retained in a frame 111 secured to the upper end of cylinder mount 90 and a rod member 112 which extends through bore 90 b of the cylinder mount in axial alignment with draw bar 100 .
- rod member 112 When rod member 112 is in the retracted position, it will be out of engagement with enlarged draw bar section 102 so that spring washers 105 will urge the draw bar into an upper position causing the fingers of the collet to be cammed inwardly and grip head portion 71 of the tool and correspondingly secure the tool to the spindle for performing a machining function.
- the rod member is extended as shown in FIGS.
- the rod member will engage and downwardly displace the draw bar against the biasing action of spring washers 105 , allowing the fingers of collet 103 to spring apart and thus release the head portion of the tool, allowing it to be removed from the lower end of the spindle.
- the detachment of rod member 112 from draw bar 100 permits the draw bar to rotate as part of the spindle assembly during machining operations.
- the spindle assembly In the normal operation of the spindle assembly to perform a machine function, the tool will be received in the lower end of the spindle and firmly gripped by the collet formed on the lower end of draw bar, and the spindle with the tool will be free to rotate relative to the housing, the cylinder mount and the cylinder assembly.
- the spindle drive is discontinued, suitable controls are operated to supply air under pressure to the base of the cylinder 110 , to extend rod member 112 into engagement with the draw bar against the biasing actin of spring washers 105 , thus causing the collet to displace downwardly and permit the gripping fingers thereof to spring outwardly, releasing the tool.
- a new tool then may be inserted into the lower end of the spindle and the cylinder assembly operated to allow the draw bar to displace upwardly under the biasing action of the spring washers thus causing the gripping fingers of the collet to be cammed inwardly and grip the upper end of the tool.
- a selected air cylinder will be operated to angularly displace a selected tool holder from the retracted to the extended position below and in axial alignment with the tool attached to the lower end of the spindle to grip the tool
- the tool head assembly will be displaced downwardly along the z-axis to position the attached tool in the aligned tool holder permitting the spring biased fingers of the tool holder to grip the tool
- cylinder assembly 43 will be operated to extend the draw bar of the spindle assembly to cause the fingers of collet 103 to spring outwardly and release the tool
- the air cylinder for such a tool holder is operated to displace the tool holder from the extended position shown in phantom lines in FIG.
- the machine is then ready to receive another tool carried by the tool changer.
- Such loading occurs simply by the operation of the cylinder assembly for the other selected tool whereby the tool holder of the selected tool will be caused to be angularly displaced from its retracted position to its extended position, positioning the selected tool below the spindle in axial alignment therewith.
- the selected tool is then attached to the lower end of the spindle by operating cylinder assembly 43 to allow the collet at the lower end of the spindle to move upwardly, camming the fingers thereof inwardly to grip and thus retain the head portion of the selected tool.
- the tool head assembly may then be displaced along the z-axis as well as the x and y-axes to continue the machining operation.
- Each of tool holders 33 mounted on support bracket 32 is operable to be angularly displaced in a plane including the axis of spindle 42 so that when displaced from its retracted to its extended position, its gripper section 35 will be positioned below and in axial alignment with spindle 42 to permit the relinquishment or receipt of a tool.
- Such tool changing operation can be performed as the toolhead assembly is displaced along the x, y and/or z-axis of the machine, moving from one coordinate to another.
- the cycle time of the machining operation being performed is substantially reduced.
- the dynamics in the displacement of the toolhead assembly are negligently effected.
- tool holders 33 resemble and function like the arms of an early typewriter in which an arm corresponding to a certain key would angularly displace and strike a platen upon the key being pressed.
- the tool changer as described may be used in conjunction with a conventional tool bar 120 mounted on the machine or a conventional bulk tool changer 121 as best shown in FIG. 2.
- the bar tool changer typically consists of a base plate 122 mounted on the rear edge 123 of the machine table, and a number of transversely spaced tool grippers 35 a which are comparable in construction and function to tool grippers 35 .
- spindle 42 may be positioned in axial alignment with a selected one of tool grippers 35 a to relinquish and receive a tool in the manner as described in connected with tool changer assembly 31 . Furthermore, through the use of the collet arrangement on spindle 42 , tools may be transferred between any of tool grippers 35 and tool grippers 35 a.
- Bulk tool changer 11 consists of a separate apparatus which may be positioned adjacent to the machine and operated in cooperation with the toolhead assembly by the controller to accept tools from and provide tools to the spindle of the toolhead assembly. It consists of a base member 30 which is adapted to be positioned adjacent a side of a machine table, close to the gantry, and a carriage 131 mounted on the base member and displaceable longitudinally. Journaled at each end of the carriage is a vertically disposed shaft 132 having a gear 133 . An endless chain 134 is trained about each of gears 133 and is provided with a plurality of tool grippers 35 b spaced along the length thereof.
- Each of tool grippers 35 b is similar to each of tool grippers 35 of tool changer assembly 31 and tool grippers 35 a of bar tool changer assembly 120 , and may be positioned below and in axial alignment with spindle 42 of the toolhead assembly.
- the bulk tool changer is provided with various drives for longitudinally displacing the carriage thereof and rotating a gear shaft 132 to index the tool grippers, thus permitting a selected one of tool grippers 35 b to be positioned at a location where spindle 42 of the toolhead assembly may be positioned in axial alignment therewith.
- the toolhead assembly may be used in conjunction with the bulk tool changer assembly to either change a tool as between spindle 24 and the bulk tool changer or transfer one or more tools between the bulk tool changer and toolhead mounted tool changer 31 .
- This is accomplished merely by operating the controls of the bulk tool changer to displace the carriage thereof and index the chained conveyor to position a selected tool thereon to a selected position, and then operating other machine controls to displace the toolhead assembly so that spindle 42 may be displaced to a position above and in axial alignment with a tool retained by a tool gripper of the bulk tool transfer assembly at the selected position.
- the cylinder assembly of the spindle may then be operated to cause the collet component of the spindle to grip the selected tool in the manner previously described. If the tool thus retrieved from the bulk tool changer assembly is to be transferred to a tool holder of tool changer assembly 31 , the selected one of the tool holders of such assembly is then operated to transfer the tool from the spindle to the selected tool holder.
- Tool changer assembly 31 may be used independently or in conjunction with one or both of bar tool changer assembly 120 and bulk tool changer assembly 121 to provide a greater availability of tools and a minimum amount cycle time in the performance of a machining operation.
- the arrangement further permits a program used to operate the machine to be devised in a manner whereby prior to the execution of the machining function with respect to a particular workpiece, the machine will be caused to select the appropriate tools from either or both of the bar or bulk tool changer assemblies and mount them on the toolhead mounted tool changer assembly. Such preliminary routine would be repeated upon each new machining procedure.
- the components of a tool changer assembly 31 are formed of a lightweight materials such as aluminum, plastic and perhaps lightweight composite materials. Any form of gripping device may be utilized allowing for the proper gripping, retaining and releasing of the various tools used with the assembly.
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Abstract
Description
- This invention relates to CNC machine tools and more particularly to a tool changer for such machines. The invention further contemplates a novel automatic tool changer operable to reduce the cycle times of machining parts requiring the use of different tools to perform various machining operations.
- In many machining operations performed by conventional CNC machine tools used in the woodworking, plastic and airframe industries, multiple tasks are required to be performed, requiring the use of different tools. Initially, tool changes were performed manually, simply by having the operator interrupt the operation of the machine, change out the tool and then resume operation. Because of the time consuming aspect of manual tool changes, automatic tool changes were developed which generally have involved moving the toolhead to a tool changer positioned on or adjacent the machine or moving the tool changer to the toolhead assembly to effect the tool change. In either of such arrangements, considerable machine motion and time has been required, resulting still in undue cycle times and less than optimal productivity. It thus has been found to be desirable and therefore the principal object of this invention to provide a tool changer for a CNC machine tool in which tool changes may be performed with minimal movement and rapidly, thereby reducing cycle times and correspondingly increasing productivity.
- The present invention overcomes the disadvantages of prior art automatic tool changers by providing a tool changer mountable on the toolhead assembly of a CNC machine tool generally consisting of an array of tool holders pivotally connected to the toolhead assembly and spaced apart relative to the axis of the toolhead spindle, with each of the tool holders being selectively angularly displaceable in a plane including the axis of the spindle between a retracted position and an extended position aligning the tool holder for loading or unloading a tool with respect to the spindle. Through the use of the collet on the end of the toolhead spindle, various tools may not only be loaded and unloaded unto and off of the spindle but may be transferred between the tool holder assembly mounted on the toolhead assembly and tool holders either mounted on other components of the machine or on separate equipment.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a CNC machine tool embodying the present invention, illustrating a portion of a conventional bulk tool changer which comprises a component of another embodiment of the invention;
- FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the machine tool and bulk tool changer shown in FIG. 1, having portions thereof broken away;
- FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the machine tool shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;
- FIG. 4 is an enlarged top plan view of a gripper section of a tool holder comprising a component of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 through 3;
- FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken along line5-5 of FIG. 4;
- FIG. 6 is an enlarged, top plan view of the tool changer shown in FIGS. 1 through 3, embodying the present invention, having portions thereof broken away;
- FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken along line7-7 in FIG. 6;
- FIG. 8 is an enlarged, vertical cross sectional view of the spindle assembly forming a component of the toolhead assembly shown in FIGS. 1 through 3; and
- FIG. 9 is and enlarged view of the view shown in FIG. 8, designated by the reference numeral9.
- Referring to FIGS. 1 through 3, there is illustrated a
CNC machine tool 10 adapted to perform various machining functions on workpieces positioned thereon including routing, drilling, sawing, sanding and the like, and a bulk tool changer 11. The machine generally consists of abase member 12, a movable workpiece support table 13, agantry 14, a toolhead support assembly 15 and atoolhead assembly 16. The base member includes a lower section 17, a pair of longitudinally disposed, transversely spaced boxedbeam sections guideways 20 and 21. Table 13 is supported and displaceable longitudinally or along an x-axis or line of travel onguideways 20 and 21, and includes a rectangularly configuredworkpiece support surface 22. - Gantry14 includes a pair of
leg sections bridge section 25 secured to the upper ends ofleg sections bridge section 25 is provided with a pair of transversely disposed, vertically spacedguideways 26 and 27 on which there is mounted and guided, toolhead support assembly 15 for displacement transversely along a y-axis or line of travel. Toolheadassembly 16 similarly is mounted and guided vertically along a z-axis or line of travel on a pair of vertically disposed, transversely spaced guideways mounted on a front face of the toolhead support assembly. - The toolhead assembly includes a
support frame 28 and aspindle assembly 29, a DC servomotor 30 and atool changer assembly 31 mounted on the support frame. The spindle assembly is best illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9 and is driven through a belt drive by servomotor 30.Tool changer assembly 31 is best shown in FIGS. 4 through 7. In addition to servomotor 30, the machine is provided with a number of additional DC servomotors for displacing the table along the x-axis, displacing the toolhead support assembly along the y-axis and displacing the toolhead assembly along the z-axis. Such motors are operated by a controller (not shown) pursuant to the execution of a program loaded into the controller in the conventional manner. - As best shown in FIGS. 4 through 7,
tool changer assembly 31 includes asupport bracket 32 secured to supportframe 28, and a plurality of arcuately spacedtool holders 33 pivotally connected to the support bracket. The support bracket includes a base section 32 a mounted on the side of the support frame by means of a set of bolts or other suitable means, and disposed longitudinally, extending beyond the front end of the toolhead assembly, and a transversely disposed section 32 b, spaced from and extending across the front of the assembly, substantially at a right angle relative to the base section. Each of the tool holders consists of anarm section 34 and agripper section 35. Eacharm section 34 has a j-shaped portion 34 a pivotally connected to bracket section 32 b, as at 34 b and an arcuate portion 34 c formed integrally on the end of the J-shaped portion. As best seen in FIGS. 4 and 5,gripper section 35 includes anarcuate portion 35 a mounted on and secured to arcuate arm portion 34 c by means of a set ofbolts 35 b, and arcuately spaced sets 35 c of finger portions extending into the space in arcuate arm portion 34 c and yieldably biased to engage atool 36 therebetween as shown in FIG. 3. Each of the tool holders is provided with an air actuatedcylinder assembly 37 for pivoting the tool holder between a retracted position as shown in solid lines in FIG. 7 and an extended position as shown in phantom lines in FIG. 7 in whichtool gripper section 35 is disposed coaxially with and below a spindle of the toolhead assembly for yielding or accepting a tool relative to the spindle. Each cylinder assembly consists of a cylinder member 37 a pivotally connected adjacent its rod end to transverse section 32 b of the support bracket as at 37 b, and an extendable rod member 37 c pivotally connected to the arm section of a tool holder as at 37 d. The various cylinder assemblies are operated by the controller pursuant to the execution of a software program loaded into the controller to selectively extend and retract selected tool holders for loading and unloading tools with respect to the spindle. The configuration of the arm sections and gripper sections of each of the tool holders permits each of the holders to hold and maintain a tool in a retracted position clear of the lower end of the spindle so as not to interfere with any machining operation of the spindle, and an extended position in which the collet of the spindle may grip or release a tool held by the holder. The inwardly biased fingers 35 c of the gripping portion of each tool holder will yieldingly grip and hold a tool in the tool holder permitting the tool to be retained in the extended position for storage purposes, and displaced from the retracted to the extended position and easily be released or gripped in attaching and detaching the tool with respect to spindle. - Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, the toolhead assembly includes a
spindle assembly 40 generally consisting of a housing 41, a spindle 42 mounted in the housing and acylinder assembly 43. The housing is provided with a lower section 41 a and an upper section 41 b. Housing section 41 a is provided with a cylindrical bore 41 f therethrough having a first enlarged section 41 c at a lower end thereof, a second enlarged section 45 and a third enlargedsection 46 at the upper end thereof. Enlarged bore section 41 cprovides a bearing seat including anannular wall 41 d and an annular seat 41 e. Enlarged section 45 similarly provides a bearing seat including an annular side wall 45 a and an annular seating surface 45 b. Provided in enlarged section 41 c is a cylindrical sleeve 47 having the outer cylindrical surface thereof adhesively bonded toannular wall 41 d of the housing. A pair ofroller bearings 48 and 49 are seated in enlarged bore section 41 c with the outer surfaces of the outer races thereof engaging the inner annular surface of cylindrical sleeve 47 and an annular end surface ofouter race 48 engaging annular surface 41 e of enlarged bore section 41 c. Similarly, a cylindrical sleeve 50 is disposed in enlarged bore section 45 with the outer cylindrical surface thereof adhesively bonded to the annular side wall surface 45 a of enlarged bore section 45. Disposed within cylindrical sleeve 50 and axially displaceable relative thereto is roller bearing 51. The inner races ofbearings 48 and 51 are maintained in axially spaced relation by means of aspacer tube 52. A spring washer 53 is provided between the outer race of bearing 51 and annular surface 45 b of enlarged bore section 45. - Spindle42 has a generally tubular configuration and is journaled in
lower bearings 48 and 49 and upper bearing 51. Outercylindrical surface 60 is provided with a recessed cylindrical section 61 providing an annular shoulder on which the inner race of bearing 49 is seated, and an upper threaded portion 62. It further is provided with an axially disposedbore 63 having a lower, first enlargedsection 64 and a second enlargedsection 65 opening into anend portion 66 provided with a diverging, conically configuredwall 67 adapted to receive an upper portion 68 of atool 36, provided with a complimentary conical surface relative tosurface 67. The upper end of the tool is provided with aneck portion 70 and ahead portion 71 received within enlargedbore section 64 of the spindle. The upper end ofaxial bore 63 is provided with an enlarged section 72. - The bearings and the spindle journaled in the bearings are retained within the housing with the bearings seated within enlarged bore sections41 c and 45 by means of a lower cover plate 80, a bearing washer 81 and a
jam nut 82. Cover plate 80 has an annular configuration and is secured to the bottom end of housing 11 by a set screws. An inner end of plate 80 engages the outer race of bearing 49 and is provided with a seal 83 engaging the spindle about the periphery thereof Bearing washer 81 also has an annular configuration and has a depending, annular portion which engages the inner race of bearing 51.Jam nut 52 is provided with an axial bore 84 having an enlarged, threaded section 84 a threaded onto the upper threaded end of the spindle so that it engages bearing washer 81 which bears on the inner race of bearing 51. Outer annular surface 84 b of the jam nut is provided with an annular recess 84 c which is adapted to receive a pair semi-circular retaining flanges 85. - Upper housing section41 b has a cylindrical configuration and is adapted to seat on and be secured to the upper end of lower housing section 41 a by means of a set of bolts 86. Such section is axially aligned with axial bore 41 f of lower housing section 41 a. Mounted within upper housing section 41 b is a floating
cylinder mount 90 provided with an axially disposed bore 90 a aligned axially with lower housing bore 41 f and spindle 42, having a lower enlarged section 90 a which receives the upper end ofjam nut 82. Axial displacement of the cylinder mount is restricted relative to the spindle by means of retainer plates 85 which are secured to the underside of the cylinder mount by means of a set of screws, and project into annual grove 84 c ofjam nut 82. - Axially displaceable in spindle bore63 is a
draw bar 100 having a lower enlarged section 101 disposed in enlargedspindle bore section 64 and an upper enlarged section 102 received in an upper enlarged section 64 a of spindle bore 63. A collet 103 is provided on the lower end of enlarged draw bar section 101 having a set of fingers which are adapted to cam inwardly when the draw bar is urged in an upward direction to griphead portion 71 of the tool, and to spring apart when the draw bar is moved in a downward direction to release the head portion of the tool. The draw bar is urged into the upper position by means of a set of spring washers 105 disposed between an annular shoulder provided by enlarged spindle bore section 64 a and a lower cylindrical surface of enlarged draw bar section 102. -
Cylinder assembly 43 includes a cylinder 110 retained in a frame 111 secured to the upper end ofcylinder mount 90 and arod member 112 which extends through bore 90 b of the cylinder mount in axial alignment withdraw bar 100. Whenrod member 112 is in the retracted position, it will be out of engagement with enlarged draw bar section 102 so that spring washers 105 will urge the draw bar into an upper position causing the fingers of the collet to be cammed inwardly andgrip head portion 71 of the tool and correspondingly secure the tool to the spindle for performing a machining function. When the rod member is extended as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the rod member will engage and downwardly displace the draw bar against the biasing action of spring washers 105, allowing the fingers of collet 103 to spring apart and thus release the head portion of the tool, allowing it to be removed from the lower end of the spindle. The detachment ofrod member 112 fromdraw bar 100 permits the draw bar to rotate as part of the spindle assembly during machining operations. - In the normal operation of the spindle assembly to perform a machine function, the tool will be received in the lower end of the spindle and firmly gripped by the collet formed on the lower end of draw bar, and the spindle with the tool will be free to rotate relative to the housing, the cylinder mount and the cylinder assembly. When it is desired to change the tool, the spindle drive is discontinued, suitable controls are operated to supply air under pressure to the base of the cylinder110, to extend
rod member 112 into engagement with the draw bar against the biasing actin of spring washers 105, thus causing the collet to displace downwardly and permit the gripping fingers thereof to spring outwardly, releasing the tool. A new tool then may be inserted into the lower end of the spindle and the cylinder assembly operated to allow the draw bar to displace upwardly under the biasing action of the spring washers thus causing the gripping fingers of the collet to be cammed inwardly and grip the upper end of the tool. - Most machining operations on a particular workpiece have been found not to require more than five tools to perform the desired machining operation. Accordingly, up to five tools required by a particular software program to be run may be inserted in one or more of the tool holders carried by the toolhead assembly to perform the desired machining operation. Once the appropriate number of tools have been loaded on the tool changer as described, and the appropriate program has been loaded into the controller of the machine, the controller will execute the program to load and unload the proper tools with respect to the spindle and in the appropriate sequence, the spindle will be stopped and started as required and the toolhead assembly will be displaced along the x, y and z axes to perform the programmed machining operation. Whenever a tool on the spindle is to be changed, the spindle will be stopped, a selected air cylinder will be operated to angularly displace a selected tool holder from the retracted to the extended position below and in axial alignment with the tool attached to the lower end of the spindle to grip the tool, the tool head assembly will be displaced downwardly along the z-axis to position the attached tool in the aligned tool holder permitting the spring biased fingers of the tool holder to grip the tool,
cylinder assembly 43 will be operated to extend the draw bar of the spindle assembly to cause the fingers of collet 103 to spring outwardly and release the tool, and the air cylinder for such a tool holder is operated to displace the tool holder from the extended position shown in phantom lines in FIG. 7 to the retracted position as shown in solid lines therein. The machine is then ready to receive another tool carried by the tool changer. Such loading occurs simply by the operation of the cylinder assembly for the other selected tool whereby the tool holder of the selected tool will be caused to be angularly displaced from its retracted position to its extended position, positioning the selected tool below the spindle in axial alignment therewith. The selected tool is then attached to the lower end of the spindle by operatingcylinder assembly 43 to allow the collet at the lower end of the spindle to move upwardly, camming the fingers thereof inwardly to grip and thus retain the head portion of the selected tool. The tool head assembly may then be displaced along the z-axis as well as the x and y-axes to continue the machining operation. - Each of
tool holders 33 mounted onsupport bracket 32 is operable to be angularly displaced in a plane including the axis of spindle 42 so that when displaced from its retracted to its extended position, itsgripper section 35 will be positioned below and in axial alignment with spindle 42 to permit the relinquishment or receipt of a tool. Such tool changing operation can be performed as the toolhead assembly is displaced along the x, y and/or z-axis of the machine, moving from one coordinate to another. By being capable of effecting a tool change while the toolhead assembly is repositioned, the cycle time of the machining operation being performed is substantially reduced. Furthermore, because of the simple and lightweight construction of the tool holders, the dynamics in the displacement of the toolhead assembly are negligently effected. - In a sense,
tool holders 33 resemble and function like the arms of an early typewriter in which an arm corresponding to a certain key would angularly displace and strike a platen upon the key being pressed. - To expand the number of tools that may be used to perform a particular machining operation, the tool changer as described may be used in conjunction with a
conventional tool bar 120 mounted on the machine or a conventionalbulk tool changer 121 as best shown in FIG. 2. The bar tool changer typically consists of abase plate 122 mounted on therear edge 123 of the machine table, and a number of transversely spacedtool grippers 35 a which are comparable in construction and function totool grippers 35. By displacement of the machine table along the x-axis and the displacement of the toolhead assembly along the y and z-axes, spindle 42 may be positioned in axial alignment with a selected one oftool grippers 35 a to relinquish and receive a tool in the manner as described in connected withtool changer assembly 31. Furthermore, through the use of the collet arrangement on spindle 42, tools may be transferred between any oftool grippers 35 andtool grippers 35 a. - Bulk tool changer11 consists of a separate apparatus which may be positioned adjacent to the machine and operated in cooperation with the toolhead assembly by the controller to accept tools from and provide tools to the spindle of the toolhead assembly. It consists of a base member 30 which is adapted to be positioned adjacent a side of a machine table, close to the gantry, and a
carriage 131 mounted on the base member and displaceable longitudinally. Journaled at each end of the carriage is a vertically disposed shaft 132 having agear 133. Anendless chain 134 is trained about each ofgears 133 and is provided with a plurality oftool grippers 35 b spaced along the length thereof. Each oftool grippers 35 b is similar to each oftool grippers 35 oftool changer assembly 31 andtool grippers 35 a of bartool changer assembly 120, and may be positioned below and in axial alignment with spindle 42 of the toolhead assembly. The bulk tool changer is provided with various drives for longitudinally displacing the carriage thereof and rotating a gear shaft 132 to index the tool grippers, thus permitting a selected one oftool grippers 35 b to be positioned at a location where spindle 42 of the toolhead assembly may be positioned in axial alignment therewith. - The toolhead assembly may be used in conjunction with the bulk tool changer assembly to either change a tool as between
spindle 24 and the bulk tool changer or transfer one or more tools between the bulk tool changer and toolhead mountedtool changer 31. This is accomplished merely by operating the controls of the bulk tool changer to displace the carriage thereof and index the chained conveyor to position a selected tool thereon to a selected position, and then operating other machine controls to displace the toolhead assembly so that spindle 42 may be displaced to a position above and in axial alignment with a tool retained by a tool gripper of the bulk tool transfer assembly at the selected position. The cylinder assembly of the spindle may then be operated to cause the collet component of the spindle to grip the selected tool in the manner previously described. If the tool thus retrieved from the bulk tool changer assembly is to be transferred to a tool holder oftool changer assembly 31, the selected one of the tool holders of such assembly is then operated to transfer the tool from the spindle to the selected tool holder. -
Tool changer assembly 31 may be used independently or in conjunction with one or both of bartool changer assembly 120 and bulktool changer assembly 121 to provide a greater availability of tools and a minimum amount cycle time in the performance of a machining operation. The arrangement further permits a program used to operate the machine to be devised in a manner whereby prior to the execution of the machining function with respect to a particular workpiece, the machine will be caused to select the appropriate tools from either or both of the bar or bulk tool changer assemblies and mount them on the toolhead mounted tool changer assembly. Such preliminary routine would be repeated upon each new machining procedure. - To minimize the effects of the additional mass possibly adversely affecting the dynamics of the movement of the toolhead assembly, the components of a
tool changer assembly 31 are formed of a lightweight materials such as aluminum, plastic and perhaps lightweight composite materials. Any form of gripping device may be utilized allowing for the proper gripping, retaining and releasing of the various tools used with the assembly. - Although the invention has been described in the context of a CNC machine tool utilizing a moveable table and a stationary gantry, it is contemplated within the scope of the invention may be used with a CNC machine provided with a stationary table and a moveable gantry. In either of such arrangements, it further is contemplated that the toolhead mounted tool changer assembly as described may be used independently or in conjunction with either or both a bar tool changer assembly and a bulk tool transfer assembly as described.
- From the foregoing detailed description, it will be evident that there are a number of changes, adaptations and modifications of the present invention which come within the province of those persons having ordinary skill in the art to which the aforementioned invention pertains. However, it is intended that all such variations not departing from the spirit of the invention be considered as within the scope thereof as limited solely by the appended claims.
Claims (46)
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Cited By (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20070167302A1 (en) * | 2004-06-14 | 2007-07-19 | Dirk Prust | Machine tool and method for changing tools on this machine tool |
US7347807B2 (en) * | 2004-06-14 | 2008-03-25 | Chiron-Werke Gmbh & Co. Kg | Machine tool and method for changing tools on this machine tool |
US7287941B1 (en) | 2006-09-05 | 2007-10-30 | Kennametal Inc. | Apparatus for amplifying the pull back force on a lock rod used to secure a toolholder |
WO2008125310A1 (en) * | 2007-04-16 | 2008-10-23 | Index-Werke Gmbh & Co. Kg Hahn & Tessky | Tool changing device |
US10675813B2 (en) * | 2014-11-26 | 2020-06-09 | Homag Bohrsysteme Gmbh | Device for forming 3D bodies |
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