JP2002011633A - Tool gripper for tool rack type magazine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a tool gripper for a tool rack type magazine capable of being mounted and demounted with an exchange tool kept in a state that its groove is positioned in a vertical direction. SOLUTION: In the tool gripper for a tool rack type magazine to hold the exchange tool 1 such that its axis is positioned approximately horizontally, the tool gripper 2 consists of a pair of upper and lower tool holding members 4 and 5 supported at a base body 3. The tool gripper of the tool rack type magazine is formed that the upper tool holding member 4 is provided with a moving-aside means to cause passage in a snap type of an exchange tool as approach of the exchange tool loaded in a holding part 7 through an opening part 6 of the tool gripper 2 is allowed; the lower tool holding member 5 is provided with a support part 8 to bring the exchange tool 1, loaded in the holding part 7, into a static state in a home position; and at least one of the upper or lower tool holding member 4 or 5 is provided with a protrusion part 10 engaged with a key groove 9 of the exchange tool.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tool rack-type magazine tool gripper provided for accommodating a large number of replacement tools in a machine tool having an automatic tool changer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a machine tool equipped with an automatic tool changer, a tool suitable for a machining mode of a workpiece is selected from a number of change tools provided in advance in a tool gripper of a tool rack type magazine, and the tool is transported by a tool transfer means. It is mounted on the machine tool main body to perform a work. The conventional tool gripper is such that the replacement tool 12 is held by a holding portion 11 opened horizontally as shown in FIG. 7 so that the axis of the replacement tool 12 is horizontal. In order to prevent the rotation of the holding tool 11, a protrusion 14 is provided at the end of the holding part 11 to be engaged with the key groove 13 of the replacement tool 12.

[0003]

The keyway serves as a reference for the orientation of a tool suitable for mounting on a rotary shaft of a machine tool main body. As described above, a projection is provided at the end of the holding portion. In the present situation where only a certain mode exists, there is a problem that a rotation mechanism for changing the direction of the keyway from horizontal to vertical during transport according to the specifications of the machine must be provided to the tool transport unit. However, if the laterally opened tool gripper into which the replacement tool is moved substantially horizontally and inserted is replaced by a vertically opposed protrusion instead of the protrusion at the end, when the replacement tool is loaded on the tool gripper. Interference between the replacement tool and the projection occurs, and the loading is not achieved.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide a tool gripper of a tool rack type magazine which can be attached and detached while maintaining a state in which a groove of an exchange tool is positioned in a vertical direction.

[0005]

According to the present invention, there is provided a tool rack type tool gripper for a tool rack type magazine which holds an exchange tool so that its axis is substantially horizontal. In the tool gripper, the tool gripper is composed of a pair of upper and lower tool holding members supported by the base body, and the upper tool holding member receives the ingress of the replacement tool loaded into the holding portion from the opening of the tool gripper while snapping. The lower tool holding member has a receiving portion for stopping the replacement tool loaded in the holding portion at a fixed position, and is replaced with at least one of the upper tool holding member or the lower tool holding member. It is characterized in that it has a projection that engages with the keyway of the tool.

[0006] In order to receive the approach of the replacement tool loaded into the holding portion from the opening of the tool gripper, the tip shape of the upper tool holding member and the lower tool holding member is inserted into the opening of the tool gripper. The shape is such that it does not hinder the opening of the opening when expanding, and if possible, a slope that functions to actively guide to the holding portion while expanding the opening as the replacement tool enters is formed. desirable.

[0007] The "snap-through" means that when the replacement tool is inserted into the opening of the tool gripper, for example, when the upper holding member or the lower holding member, or both ends or the whole of the holding member have elasticity. Although it receives the resistance due to the elasticity of the tip, once passed through the opening, the tip expanded by the replacement tool returns to the direction to close the opening, and the inserted replacement tool is held by the holding portion of the tool gripper. Refers to the passage process of the exchange tool that enables the configuration to stably hold the tool. Conversely, it is desirable to provide the upper tool member or the lower tool member with a structure that can pass through the opening portion in a snap manner even when the replacement tool is detached from the holding portion, and in which direction the tool is attached to or detached from the protrusion. A structure provided with a mountain-shaped slope that can guide the vehicle can also be adopted.

The upper tool holding member is swingably supported by the base, and the opening of the tool gripper is opened to allow the exchange tool to pass when the exchange tool passes, so that the exchange tool passes. When the replacement tool is completed, the configuration including the urging means for closing and returning the replacement tool to such an extent that the exchange tool cannot pass is an example of a retracting means for urging the tool holding member having no elasticity in a direction to close the opening. The configuration in which the upper tool holding member is formed of an elastic member having one end fixed to the base is an example of a retracting unit that imparts elasticity to the tool holding member itself. When the elasticity of the tool holding member is given in this way, it is also possible to integrally form the protrusion engaging with the key groove of the replacement tool by using the elastic member constituting the tool holding member.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a tool gripper in a tool rack type magazine according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The tool gripper according to the present invention is a tool gripper of a tool rack type magazine that holds the replacement tool 1 so that the axis thereof is substantially horizontal. For example, as shown in FIG. The upper tool holding member 4 and the lower tool holding member 5 are supported by a base member 3.

The lower tool holding member 5 has a receiving portion 8 for stopping the replacement tool 1 loaded in the holding portion 7 at a fixed position, and the lowermost of the receiving portion 8 is engaged with the key groove 9 of the replacement tool 1. It is provided with a protruding portion 10 that matches.

The receiving portion 8 is formed with an abutting edge that is concave in an arc shape so as to follow the side surface shape of the replacement tool 1 loaded in the tool gripper 2, and is formed on the opening 6 side of the receiving portion 8. ,
A leading edge 16 and a feed edge 22 are provided as slopes for guiding the exchange tool 1 into and out of the holding portion 7. The contact edge, the feed edge 22 and the attack edge 16 of the receiving portion 8
Is a V-shaped holding groove 1 formed on the peripheral surface of the replacement tool (see FIG. 5) 1 gripped by the tool gripper 2.
7 has a V-shaped cross-sectional shape, and the projection 10 is provided integrally with the lowermost part of the receiving portion 8 or separately formed and fitted to perform its function. Will fulfill.

The shape of the receiving portion 8 is merely an example, and in order to fulfill its function, the exchange tool 1
The shape may be such that it can be held at a fixed position so as not to rotate, and the protrusion 10 may be located at the center of the holding position. The lower tool holding member 5 may be formed integrally with the base 3 as shown in FIG.
And may be fixed separately by bolts or the like.

The upper tool holding member 4 is provided with a retracting means for receiving the intrusion of the replacement tool 1 loaded into the holding portion 7 from the opening 6 of the tool gripper 2 and passing the replacement tool 1 in a snap manner. FIGS. 1 and 3 show different types of evacuation means.

The first embodiment of the upper tool holding member 4 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 includes a holding portion 18 which is concave in an arc shape like the receiving portion 8 of the lower tool holding member 5. 18 has a contact edge having a V-shaped cross-sectional shape,
At the opening 6 side of the holding portion 18, a V-shaped cross-section receiving edge 19 serving as a slope for guiding to the holding portion 7 while expanding the opening 6 as the replacement tool 1 enters, and a replacement tool It has a feed edge 23 having a V-shaped cross-sectional shape which is a slope that is guided to the outside of the holding portion 7 while pushing open the opening portion 6 with the detachment of 1.

In this example, the upper tool holding member 4 is swingably supported by the base 3 and, when the replacement tool 1 passes through the opening 6 of the tool gripper 2 as shown in FIG. There is provided an urging means for opening the exchange tool 1 so that the exchange tool 1 can pass, and closing and returning the exchange tool 1 so that the exchange tool 1 cannot pass when the exchange tool 1 has passed. As the urging means, a spiral spring 2 as shown in FIG.
An urging member, such as a leaf spring or a bar spring, which exists today, may be used as appropriate, such as a bridge between the tool grippers 2 and 2 vertically adjacent to each other.

In the second embodiment of the upper tool holding member 4 shown in FIG. 3, an elastic member having one end fixed to the base 3, for example, a bar spring 21 is bent in an inverted shape to form a reverse. The long side of the U-shape is defined as a leading edge 19, and the bent portion is integrally formed as a protruding portion 10 and a pressing portion 18 that engage with the key groove 9 of the exchange tool 1.

The projecting portion 10 of this example is set at a position symmetrical to the projecting portion 10 of the lower tool holding member 5 in the holding portion 7 of the tool gripper 2, so that the tool gripper 2 is loaded. The exchange tool 1 to be replaced has a pair of keyways 9, provided symmetrically with respect to the axis of the exchange tool 1.
By locking both of 9, a reliable detent measure is taken. In the projecting portion 10 of the second embodiment, the short side of the inverted character is the feed edge 2 of the first embodiment.
A mountain-like slope having three functions is formed.
In addition, it is needless to say that a projection 10 that engages with the key groove 9 of the replacement tool 1 may be provided in the first embodiment, and the mountain-like shape is provided so that the replacement tool 1 can be easily attached and detached. It is desirable to form a slope.

In the second embodiment having the above-mentioned structure, as shown in FIG.
Is retracted upward, so that the opening 6 of the tool gripper 2 is opened.
Is opened to the extent that the exchange tool 1 can pass, and when the exchange tool 1 has passed, the bar spring 21 returns downward and closes so that the exchange tool 1 cannot pass in the opposite direction. . At the same time, the keyway 9 of the exchange tool 1 and the protrusions 1 of the upper tool holding member 4 and the lower tool holding member 5
0 and 10 are engaged with each other, so that the tool rotation preventing function works.

In the above example, the replacement tool 1 is attached to the opening 6 side of the receiving portion 8 of the lower tool holding member 5 which is concave in an arc shape, or the projection 10 itself provided on the lower tool holding member 5. Since no evacuation measures have been taken for the approach of the vehicle, the replacement tool 1 to be loaded is
In order to avoid the interference between the opening 6 side of the receiving portion 8 and the protruding portion 10 at the time of insertion, the track is inserted straight or horizontally obliquely from above the opening 6 side into the holding portion 7 of the tool gripper 2 and then lowered. You will enter in a changed form. Therefore, the angle of the leading edge 19 of the upper tool holding member 4 is set in consideration of the approach path of the replacement tool 1 in accordance with the specifications of the tool transfer means.

[0020]

As described above, if the tool gripper of the tool rack type magazine according to the present invention is used, the key groove of the replacement tool must be set up and down in accordance with the specifications of the machine tool, and the tool must be mounted on the machine tool body. If it is not possible to carry the key while it is still loaded in the tool rack type magazine, that is, while maintaining the keyway of the replacement tool in the vertical position, the key A rotating mechanism for changing the direction of the groove from the horizontal direction to the vertical direction is not required, so that the structure of the tool conveying means can be simplified. Further, the transfer speed of the exchange tool can be improved, and the exchange time of the exchange tool can be shortened.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory view showing an embodiment of a tool gripper of a tool rack type magazine according to the present invention.

FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C are schematic explanatory diagrams illustrating an example of a process of loading and unloading a replacement tool from a tool rack type magazine to a tool gripper according to the present invention.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are schematic explanatory diagrams showing an example of a process of loading and unloading a replacement tool from a tool rack type magazine to a tool gripper according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic explanatory view showing an example of a tool rack type magazine.

5A and 5B are a front view and a top view showing an example of a replacement tool.

FIG. 6 is a schematic explanatory view showing an example of a loaded state of a replacement tool to a tool gripper of a tool rack type magazine according to the present invention, as viewed from an opening side.

FIG. 7 is a schematic explanatory view showing an example of a process of loading a replacement tool into a tool gripper of a conventional tool rack type magazine.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 exchange tool 2 tool gripper 3 base 4 upper tool holding member 5 lower tool holding member 6 opening 7 holding portion 8 receiving portion 9 keyway 10 projecting portion

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A tool rack type tool gripper for holding an exchange tool (1) such that its axis is substantially horizontal, wherein said tool gripper (2) is a pair of upper and lower tools supported on a base (3). The upper tool holding member (4) is constituted by holding members (4, 5), and receives the entry of the replacement tool (1) loaded into the holding portion (7) from the opening (6) of the tool gripper (2). The lower tool holding member (5) is provided with a receiving portion (8) for stopping the replacement tool (1) loaded in the holding portion (7) at a fixed position, while having a retracting means for allowing the tool to pass through in a snap manner. The upper tool holding member (4)
Alternatively, a tool rack-type magazine tool gripper having a protrusion (10) on at least one of the lower tool holding members (5) for engaging the keyway (9) of the replacement tool. 2. The upper tool holding member (4) is swingably supported by the base (3), and the exchange tool (1) passes through an opening (6) of the tool gripper (2). When the replacement tool (1) has passed through the opening, the replacement tool (1) is opened when the replacement tool (1) has passed.
2. The tool gripper of a tool rack type magazine according to claim 1, further comprising an urging means for closing and returning the tool grip to such a degree that the tool cannot pass. 3. The tool gripper of a tool rack type magazine according to claim 1, wherein said upper tool holding member (4) comprises an elastic member having one end fixed to said base (3). 4. The tool gripper for a tool rack magazine according to claim 3, wherein a protrusion (10) that engages with the key groove (9) of the replacement tool (1) is integrally formed with the elastic member.