JP2003117755A - Tool magazine device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a tool magazine device capable of making the installation area of a machine tool smaller compared to a conventional device and reducing the number of parts. SOLUTION: Two or more horizontal chain type magazines 12A, 12B holding a plurality of tools T vertically downward are provided at vertical spaces. All the magazines 12A, 12B are elevated by one hydraulic cylinder 13. The tools T held to all the magazines 12A, 12B are moved on a crawler by one magazine driving motor 18.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tool magazine device for holding a plurality of tools mounted on a spindle of a spindle head vertically downward in a machine tool such as a machining center.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, holding of a vertically downward tool in a machining center is carried out by one horizontally mounted chain magazine or one horizontally mounted disc magazine. Is done by.

However, when the number of tools to be held increases, these magazines become large in size, and as a result, there is a problem that the installation area of machine tools such as machining centers must be increased.

Therefore, as a tool magazine device which solves such a problem, a plurality of horizontal disk type magazines for holding a plurality of tools vertically downward are provided at intervals in the vertical direction, and one of all magazines is provided. It is known that one magazine is provided at a height position capable of delivering a spindle and tools, each magazine can be separately indexed and rotated, and a tool delivery means for delivering tools between the magazines is provided. (See JP-A-6-114666).

However, in this tool magazine device, a tool delivery means for delivering tools between the magazines is required, so that a space for installing the tool is required, and the installation area of a machine tool such as a machining center is increased. The problem of having to be solved is not completely solved. Moreover, since a tool delivery means is required, there is a problem that the number of parts increases and the cost increases.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems and to provide a tool magazine device capable of reducing the installation area of a machine tool as compared with a conventional device and reducing the number of parts. is there.

[0007]

In the tool magazine device according to the invention of claim 1, two or more horizontal magazines for holding a plurality of tools vertically downward are provided at intervals in the vertical direction, These magazines are moved up and down by the elevating means, and the tools held in the magazines are moved on the endless track by the moving means.

In the tool magazine device according to the first aspect of the present invention, since two or more horizontal magazines for holding a plurality of tools vertically downward are provided at intervals in the vertical direction, the conventional one magazine is provided. It is possible to reduce the size of each magazine as compared with the above device. Therefore, the installation area of the machine tool can be reduced. Further, since all the magazines can be moved up and down by the elevating means, it becomes possible to move each magazine to the required height position for delivering the tools, and the tool delivering means between the magazines. Becomes unnecessary. Therefore, a space for installing the tool delivery means becomes unnecessary, and the installation area of the machine tool can be reduced. Moreover, it is possible to reduce the number of parts,
The cost can be reduced.

A tool magazine device according to a second aspect of the present invention is the tool magazine device according to the first aspect, wherein all the magazines are lifted and lowered by a single lifting means. In this case, the tool magazine device can be downsized and the number of parts can be reduced as compared with the case where each magazine is lifted and lowered by a separate lifting means.

A tool magazine device according to a third aspect of the present invention is the tool magazine device according to the first or second aspect, wherein the tools held in all the magazines are moved on an endless track by one moving means. In this case, the tool magazine device can be downsized and the number of parts can be reduced as compared with the case where the tools held in the magazines are moved on the endless track by separate moving means. It will be possible.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

1 and 2 show the overall structure of a machining center equipped with a tool magazine device according to the present invention,
FIG. 3 shows the structure of the main part. In the following description, the upper and lower sides and the left and right sides in FIG. 1 are referred to as the upper and lower sides and the left and right sides respectively, the lower side in FIG. 2 (the right side in FIG. 3) is referred to as the front, and the opposite side is referred to as the rear.

1 and 2, the machining center comprises a pair of left and right columns (1), a cross rail (2) provided at the upper ends of both columns (1), and a front surface of the cross rail (2). The moving base (3) is provided so as to move in the left-right direction with respect to the cross rail (2), and the moving base
(3) A spindle head (4) provided so as to move vertically, a vertically downward spindle (5) rotatably supported by the spindle head (4), and the lower end of the column (1). A table (6) provided so as to project forward between the parts, a pallet (7) provided on the table (6) so as to move in the front-rear direction with respect to the table (6), and a column ( 1) and the tool magazine device (8) located to the left of the crossrail (2) and the crossrail (2)
The tool changing arm unit (9) is provided at the left end of the tool changing protrusion.

The tool magazine device (8) includes a cross rail (2).
A frame provided on a support plate (10) fixed so as to be in close contact with the left end face of the frame so as to move up and down with respect to the support plate (10).
(11) and a plurality of horizontal chain type magazines (1
2A) and (12B), and a lifting hydraulic cylinder (13) (lifting means) for lifting the frame (11).

As shown in FIG. 3, the frame (11) is a horizontal plate-shaped upper and lower frame members (14) (15) which are long in the front-rear direction and are arranged at intervals in the vertical direction so as to be parallel to each other. )
And a plurality of rod-shaped connecting members (16) that connect both frame members (14) and (15), and guides (14a) provided in the upper frame member (14) at intervals in the front-rear direction, respectively. The support plate (10) is vertically movable along a vertical guide surface (17) provided on the left side surface of the support plate (10) at intervals in the front-rear direction. Magazine drive motor (18) at the rear end of the upper surface of the upper frame member (14)
(Transportation means) is attached.

The upper chain type magazine (12A) is arranged below a portion of the upper frame member (14) slightly rearward of the center portion in the front-rear direction, and the magazine drive motor (18).
The drive-side sprocket (19A) that is driven to rotate about the vertical axis by the upper frame member (14A) and the drive-side sprocket (19A) are located below the front end of the upper frame member (14) in the same horizontal plane. A driven side sprocket (20A) rotatably supported on the member (14) about a vertical axis;
An endless chain (21A) hung on both sprockets (19A) and (20A) and a plurality of chains (21A) mounted at intervals in the lengthwise direction and holding the tool (T) vertically downward. It consists of a tool pot (22A). The drive-side sprocket (19A) has both upper and lower frame members
(14) It is fixed around the upper end of a vertical sprocket shaft (23) which is rotatably supported by the shafts (15). The vertical sprocket shaft (23) is connected to the magazine drive motor (18) via a reduction gear device (not shown), and the vertical sprocket shaft (23) is driven by being rotated by the magazine drive motor (18). The side sprocket (19A) is driven to rotate. The lower chain type magazine (12B) is
A drive side sprocket (19B) fixed around a portion of the vertical sprocket shaft (23) protruding below the lower frame member (15), and a drive side sprocket (19B) below the front end of the lower frame member (15). 19B) and the driven-side sprocket (20B) which is disposed in the same horizontal plane as that of the driven frame and is supported by the lower frame member (15) rotatably around the vertical axis.
B), the endless chain (21B) hung on both sprockets (19B) and (20B), and attached to the chain (21B) at intervals in the lengthwise direction, and the tool (T) faces vertically downward. It is composed of a plurality of tool pots (22B) held at. The drive side sprocket (19B) of the lower chain type magazine (12B) is also rotationally driven by rotating the vertical sprocket shaft (23) by the magazine drive motor (18). The upper chain type magazine (12A) and the lower chain type magazine (12B) have the same shape and size of the endless track where the tools held in the tool pots (22A) and (22B) move, and are viewed from the top. Completely overlap.

The hydraulic cylinder (13) is fixed to the left side surface of the left column (1) with its piston rod (13a) facing vertically upward, and the tip of the piston rod (13a) is fixed to the frame (11). It is fixed to the lower surface of the lower frame member (15). And the piston rod (13a) of the hydraulic cylinder (13)
As the frame moves forward and backward, the frame (11) can be moved up and down.

The tool exchanging arm unit (9) is provided with grippers (24a) at both ends, and is equipped with a tool exchanging arm (24) which is rotatable about a vertical axis and can be raised and lowered. The tool change arm (24) is
A drive device (not shown) for driving 4) is arranged below the casing (25). Casing (25)
Is a right bent portion (10) integrally formed at the front end of the portion of the support plate (10) projecting forward of the cross rail (2).
It is installed on the front of a).

A method of exchanging tools between the spindle (5) and the tool magazine device (8) in the machining center having such a configuration will be described.

During machining on the spindle (5), the tool change arm
(24) is the tool insertion position which is the ascending position and the standby position which is rotated by 90 degrees from the tool gripping position (see the solid line in FIG. 2). At this time, each gripper (24
a) is empty. Also, during machining on the spindle (5), the hydraulic cylinder (13) is operated by the tool change command from the NC device to move the frame (11) up and down, and the tool pot (which holds the next tool (T) ( Any chain type magazine (12A) (12B) having 22A (22B) is moved to a height position where the tool (T) can be transferred. For example, if the next tool (T) is held in one of the tool pots (22B) of the lower chain magazine (12B),
B) is moved to a height position where the tool (T) can be transferred (see the solid line in FIG. 1). Simultaneously with or after this, the magazine drive motor (18) is operated by the tool change command from the NC device, and the vertical sprocket shaft (23) is rotated, whereby the chains (21A) and (21B) run,
The tool pots (22A) and (22B) holding the next tool (T) are moved to the delivery position on the endless track. In this way, the next tool (T) is indexed to the tool transfer position.

When the machining using the tool (T) attached to the spindle (5) is completed, the spindle (5) is moved to the tool exchange position by the movement of the movable table (3) and the spindle head (4). To be made. Then, the tool change arm (24) is rotated 90 degrees from the standby position to the tool gripping position (see the chain line in FIG. 2), and one gripper (24a) grips the used tool of the spindle (5) and the other The next tool (T) indexed to the tool transfer position is gripped by the gripper (24a). Then the tool change arm (24) is lowered and the used tool is
From (5), the next tool (T) is pulled out from each of the tool pots (22A) and (22B). Then, the tool change arm (24) is 180
After being rotated, it is raised and the next tool (T) is the spindle (5).
The used tools are inserted into the tool pots (22A) and (22B), respectively. Thereafter, the tool changing arm (24) is rotated 90 degrees and returns to the standby position. Thus, the tool exchange is completed.

When the machining by the tool (T) newly attached to the main spindle (5) is started, the frame (11) is moved up and down by the hydraulic cylinder (13) according to the tool change command from the NC device and the magazine drive motor. Chain (21)
By running A) (21B), in the same manner as above,
Further, the next tool (T) is indexed to the tool transfer position.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, the frame (11) of the tool magazine device (8) can be moved up and down by the hydraulic cylinder (13), but the invention is not limited to this. For example, a ball screw or the like. It may be configured to be moved up and down by the feeding mechanism of. Further, in the above embodiment, the magazine (12A) (1
2B) is a chain type, but is not limited to this, and can be appropriately changed to a disc type, a drum type, or the like.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a machining center equipped with a tool magazine device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the same.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the tool magazine device as viewed from the left.

[Explanation of symbols]

(8): Tool magazine device (12A) (12B): Chain type magazine (13): Hydraulic cylinder (lifting means) (18): Magazine drive motor (moving means) (T): Tool

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Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. Two or more horizontal magazines for holding a plurality of tools vertically downward are provided at intervals in the vertical direction, and these magazines are moved up and down by an elevating means, and the tools held in the magazines are A tool magazine device that can be moved on an endless track by moving means. 2. The tool magazine device according to claim 1, wherein all the magazines are lifted and lowered by a single lifting means. 3. The tool magazine device according to claim 1, wherein the tools held in all the magazines are moved on an endless track by one moving means.