JP2002018667A - Machine tool - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To accurately measure a shape of a machined work waiting on a set-up station even during machining of a work, in a machine tool having an automatic pallet exchanging device and a work shape measuring device in a machine tool body. SOLUTION: This machine tool comprises a lateral machining center 10, the set-up station 20 disposed around the lateral machining center 10, the automatic pallet exchanging device 30 for mutually exchanging a pallet P having the work W between the set-up station 20 and the lateral machining center 10, and the work shape measuring device 40 disposed adjacent to the set-up station 20 for measuring a shape and a dimension of the machined work W waiting on the set-up station 20. The set-up station 20 and the work shape measuring device 40 are perfectly separated from the lateral machining center 10.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic pallet changing apparatus and a setup for exchanging a pallet on which a work is mounted between a work processing station and a work setup station on a machine tool body such as a machining center or an NC lathe. A machine tool equipped with a work shape measuring device such as a three-dimensional measuring machine that measures the shape of the work at the station, especially during the processing of other works, the shape of the processed work waiting at the setup station The present invention relates to a machine tool capable of measuring with high accuracy.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in a machine tool such as a machining center, if the shape of the work becomes complicated, it becomes difficult to directly transfer the work or to automatically attach and detach the work to and from the machine tool body. The work is transported while being attached to the pallet, and is attached to and detached from the machine tool body.The workpiece is transported while being attached to the pallet to a setup station provided around the machine tool body. The machine tool body is equipped with an automatic pallet changer (APC) to set the machine into the machining station of the machine tool body or to return the work machined by the machine tool body from the machining station of the machine tool body to the setup station. Have been.

In order to automate the operation of a machine tool, it is necessary to measure and manage the shape and dimensions of a machined work. Therefore, a three-dimensional coordinate measuring machine equipped with a sensor probe is provided on the machine tool body. A work shape measuring device for measuring the shape and dimensions of the work by bringing the sensor probe close to the work after processing, and comparing the shape measurement data with the preset shape model data By doing so, a shape error generated in the processing step is detected.

[0004] As shown in FIG. 4, the automatic pallet changing device 60 described above is installed on a pallet support table 61 installed on a bed 51 which is a processing station of a machine tool main body 50 and on a setup station 70. A pallet support table 62; and a pallet exchange mechanism 63 having a swivel arm 64 for exchanging the pallets P, P supported by the pallet support tables 61, 62, respectively.
The pallet support 62 and the pallet exchange mechanism 63 on the setup station 70 side are attached to a base 71 of the setup station 70 provided adjacent to the machine tool main body 50.

In order to efficiently measure the shape of the processed workpiece W, the shape of the processed workpiece W waiting at the setup station 70 during the processing of the workpiece W is not provided without providing an independent measuring station. In many cases, measurement is performed, and therefore, the workpiece shape measuring device 80 is provided adjacent to the setup station 70 as shown in FIG. Note that reference numeral 82 in the figure indicates a sensor probe.

As described above, in a machine tool in which the automatic pallet changing device 60 and the work shape measuring device 80 are attached to the machine tool main body 50, the pallet support 62 and the pallet changing mechanism 63 of the automatic pallet changing device 60 are attached. The base 71 of the setup station 70 is connected to the bed 51 of the machine tool main body 50.
And a separate base 81 not connected to the base 71 of the setup station 70.

[0007]

By the way, the measurement of the shape of the machined work is performed by the work W in the machine tool body 50.
As described above, the setup station 7 in which the pallet support 62 and the pallet exchange mechanism 63 of the automatic pallet exchange device 60 are attached.
Since the base 71 of the machine tool 50 is connected to the bed 51 of the machine tool main body 50, the vibration when the machine tool main body 50 performs the axis movement and the vibration when the workpiece W is processed are transmitted to the setup station 70. There is a problem that the work is easily propagated to the processed work W waiting, and the shape of the processed work W cannot be accurately measured by the work shape measuring device 80.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a machine tool in which an automatic pallet changing device and a work shape measuring device are attached to a machine tool main body, even during machining of a work.
It is an object of the present invention to accurately measure the shape of a processed workpiece waiting at a setup station.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a method for manufacturing a workpiece between a work processing station in a machine tool main body and a setup station provided around the machine tool main body. An automatic pallet changing device for changing a pallet on which the work is mounted, and a work shape measuring device for measuring a shape of the processed work mounted on the pallet waiting at the setup station; In the machine tool attached to the above, the setup station and the workpiece shape measuring device are separated from the machine tool main body.

[0010] The term "separated from the machine tool main body" as used herein means that it is not in contact with the machine tool main body, and is directly connected to the machine tool main body by being directly connected to the machine tool main body. Not only the case but also the case where it is indirectly in contact with the machine tool main body by being connected to the machine tool main body via another member is not included. And indirect contact.

In the machine tool configured as described above, the setup station in which the machined workpiece to be measured is on standby and the workpiece shape measuring device for performing shape measurement are completely separated from the machine tool body. Therefore, the vibration when the machine tool body performs the axis movement and the vibration when the workpiece is being machined are not easily propagated to the machined workpiece waiting at the setup station 70, and the machining of another workpiece is performed. Even in the middle, the shape measurement of the processed work by the work shape measuring device can be performed with high accuracy.

In particular, in the case where the setup station and the workpiece shape measuring device are mutually connected or integrated as in the machine tool according to the second aspect, the vibration of the machine tool main body is installed. Even when the processed work propagates to the setup station and the workpiece shape measuring device that are on standby via the floor, relative displacement between the setup station and the workpiece shape measurement device is unlikely to occur, and the setup station and the workpiece shape measurement device are hardly displaced. Since the shape measurement device and the integrated shape measurement device vibrate together, the shape measurement of the processed workpiece with the work shape measurement device can be performed more accurately than when the setup station and the workpiece shape measurement device are not connected or integrated. There is an effect that can be performed.

[0013]

Embodiments will be described below with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG.
Is a horizontal machining center 10 which is a machine tool body,
A setup station 20 provided around the horizontal machining center 10; and an automatic pallet changer 30 for exchanging the pallets P with the workpieces W between the setup station 20 and the processing station of the horizontal machining center 10. Is arranged adjacent to the setup station 20 and the setup station 2
And a work shape measuring device 40 for measuring the shape and dimensions of the processed work W waiting at zero.

The automatic pallet changing device 30 includes a bed 1 of a horizontal machining center 10 serving as a processing station.
The pallet support table (table) 13 installed on the spindle head 12 so as to be able to approach and separate from the spindle head 12, the pallet support table 32 installed in the setup station 20, and the pallet support tables 13 and 32 respectively support the pallet support table. The pallets P, P are lifted and pivoted 180 degrees with the pallets P, P held at the tips, so that the pallets P, P are moved to the pallet supports 13, 32.
And a pallet exchange mechanism 33 having a swivel arm 34 for exchanging between them. The pallet support 13
A machining indexing mechanism (not shown) for rotating the work W attached to the pallet P by a predetermined angle is mounted on the pallet P as shown by an arrow in FIG.

The pallet changing mechanism 33 includes a bed 11 of the horizontal machining center 10 and a setup station 20.
It is attached to the base 31 installed between
The base 31 is connected to the bed 11 of the horizontal machining center 10. Between the bed 11 of the horizontal machining center 10 serving as a processing station and the setup station 20, there is provided a partition plate (not shown) for preventing chips and oil during processing from scattering to the setup station 20. , Provided as needed.

The pallet support 32 is fixed to a base 21 installed in the setup station 20, but the base 21 is not in direct contact with the horizontal machining center 10 as shown in FIG. Also not connected to 10. Also, the pallet support 3
The base 2 and the base 21 do not contact the base 31 connected to the bed 11 of the horizontal machining center 10 and the pallet changing mechanism 33 attached to the base 31.

Although not shown in FIG. 1, the oil pan attached to the horizontal machining center 10 extends below the turning arm 34 of the pallet changing mechanism 33 to the setup station 20. The pallet support 32 is attached so as to penetrate the horizontal machining center 10 because the oil pan and the pallet support 32 are sealed with a so-called labyrinth seal.
Completely separated from the

The workpiece shape measuring device 40 is a three-dimensional measuring device which supports a spindle 43 into which a sensor probe 42 is inserted so as to be movable in three directions of X-axis, Y-axis and Z-axis. After being processed,
The shape and dimensions of the work W are measured by bringing the sensor probe 42 into contact with the surface of the work W waiting at the setup station 20. A pallet support 32 installed at the setup station 20 has a measurement indexing mechanism (not shown) for rotating the pallet P on which the work W is mounted by a predetermined angle, as indicated by an arrow in FIG. Is installed.

The workpiece shape measuring device 40 is mounted on a base 41 installed adjacent to the setup station 20. As shown in FIG. 2, the base 41 is in direct contact with the horizontal machining center 10. No
It is not connected to the horizontal machining center 10 either. Further, the workpiece shape measuring device 40 and the base 41 are connected to the base 3 connected to the bed 11 of the horizontal machining center 10.
1 and the pallet changing mechanism 33 attached to the base 31 thereof. Therefore,
The workpiece shape measuring device 40 is completely separated from the horizontal machining center 10.

On the other hand, the base 41 on which the workpiece shape measuring device 40 is mounted and the base 21 of the pallet support 32 installed in the setup station 20 are mutually connected.

A series of machining operations by the machine tool 1 configured as described above will be briefly described below. First, when an unprocessed work W is transferred from a transfer loader (not shown) while being attached to the pallet P, the work W (pallet P) is drawn into the pallet support table 32 installed in the setup station 20.

Next, the pallet P supported by the pallet support table 32 is lifted while being held at the tip of the turning arm 34 of the pallet changing mechanism 33, turned 180 degrees, and then the turning arm 34 is lowered. , The bed 1 which is a processing station of the horizontal machining center 10
The pallet P on which the unprocessed work W is mounted is delivered to the pallet support 13 installed on the pallet 1, and the work W mounted on the pallet P is processed. At this time, the work W to be processed next is transferred from the transport loader to the pallet support table 32 on the setup station 20 side.
The pallet P to which is attached is pulled in.

Thus, the horizontal machining center 1
The work W processed in step 0 is exchanged by the automatic pallet changer 30 with the pallet P to which the unprocessed work W is mounted, which is supported by the pallet support 32 on the setup station 20 side, and the processed work W Is mounted on the pallet P and is supported by the pallet support 32, and waits at the setup station 20.

Here, at the same time as the processing of the work W attached to the pallet P supported by the pallet support 13 of the horizontal machining center 10 is started, the pallet supported by the pallet support 32 of the setup station 20 is started. After the shape, dimensions, and the like of the processed work W attached to the P are measured by the above-described work shape measuring device 40, the pallet P to which the processed work W is attached is paid out to the transport loader, and the next. Unprocessed workpiece W
Pallet P on which the pallets are attached
Is pulled into the pallet support 32 on the side.

However, as a result of the dimensional measurement by the workpiece shape measuring device 40, if dimensional adjustment is required, a dimensional correction command is output to the horizontal machining center 10 so that the defective workpiece W waiting at the setup station 20 is removed. It is also possible to return the mounted pallet P to the processing station again without processing it to the transfer loader, and to perform processing again.

As described above, in the machine tool 1, the base 21 to which the pallet support 32 on the setup station 20 side is fixed and the base 41 to which the work shape measuring device 40 is attached are composed of the horizontal machining center 1.
0, since it is completely separated from the pallet changing mechanism 33 and its base 31, the vibration when the horizontal machining center 10 performs the axial movement and the vibration when processing the workpiece W are directly or pallet changing mechanism 33. And base 31
And the like, it does not propagate to the pallet P (work W) supported on the pallet support table 32 or the work shape measuring device 40.

Therefore, as described above, in order to efficiently perform a series of operations from processing of the work W to measurement of the shape, the horizontal machining center 10 waits at the setup station 20 while processing the next work W. Even when the shape or the like of the processed workpiece W is measured by the workpiece shape measuring device 40, the shape of the processed workpiece W is accurately measured without being affected by the vibration of the operating horizontal machining center 10. Can be.

As described above, the base 41 on which the workpiece shape measuring device 40 is mounted and the base 21 on which the pallet support 32 for supporting the pallet P waiting at the setup station 20 are mounted. Are connected to each other, so that the horizontal machining center 1
Even if the vibration of 0 propagates to the setup station 20 and the workpiece shape measuring device 40 where the processed workpiece W is waiting via the installation floor, the setup station 20
And the workpiece shape measuring device 40 are not easily displaced relative to each other, and the setup station 20 and the workpiece shape measuring device 40 vibrate together. The shape measurement of the processed work W by the work shape measuring device 40 can be performed with higher accuracy than in the case where it is not connected to or integrated with the workpiece.

In the above-described embodiment, the base 21 of the pallet support 32 installed in the setup station 20 and the base 41 on which the workpiece shape measuring device 40 is mounted are interconnected. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG.
It is also possible to form with both bases 21, 4
It is also possible to completely separate 1 without connecting them. However, as described above, when measuring the shape and dimensions of the processed workpiece W, the two bases 21 and 41 are connected to each other in order to reduce the influence of vibration generated from the horizontal machining center 10 during processing. Do or
It is desirable to integrate them.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the base 31 on which the pallet changing mechanism 33 of the automatic pallet changing device 30 is attached is connected to the bed 11 of the horizontal machining center 10. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it is also possible to connect or integrate the base 31 with the base 21 installed in the setup station 20 without bringing the base 31 into contact with the bed 11 of the horizontal machining center 10.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the machine tool 1 employing the horizontal machining center 10 as the machine tool main body has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. As long as it has sufficient positioning accuracy and rigidity, it can be applied to, for example, a vertical machining center or an NC lathe.

In the above-described embodiment, the work shape measuring device 40 using the contact type sensor for measuring the work shape by bringing the sensor probe 42 into contact with the work surface of the work is additionally provided. The present invention is not limited to this, and a work shape measuring device using a non-contact type sensor can be additionally provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an embodiment of a machine tool according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an arrangement view showing an arrangement of a base in the machine tool.

FIG. 3 is an arrangement view showing an arrangement of a base in a machine tool according to another embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing a conventional machine tool.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Machine tool 10 Horizontal machining center (machine tool main body) 11 Bed (processing station) 13 Pallet support 20 Setup station 21, 22 Base 30 Automatic pallet changer 31 Base 32 Pallet support 33 Pallet exchange mechanism 34 Swivel arm 40 Work shape measurement Equipment 41 Base 42 Sensor probe P Pallet W Work (processed work)

Claims (2)

[Claims] An automatic pallet changer for exchanging a pallet on which the work is mounted between a work processing station of the machine tool main body and a setup station provided around the machine tool main body; A work shape measuring device for measuring the shape of the processed work attached to the pallet that is waiting at a machine tool attached to the machine tool body, wherein the setup station and the work shape measuring device are: A machine tool which is separated from the machine tool body. 2. The machine tool according to claim 1, wherein the setup station and the workpiece shape measuring device are interconnected or integrated.