JP2004001155A - Automatic tool cleaning device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automatic tool cleaning device for cleaning a tool reference end face of a two-plane restraining tool adhered with foreign dust in a tool magazine. <P>SOLUTION: This device comprises a rotating ring 5 rotatably and externally fitted into a mouth on a tool insertion side of a tool pot 1 and having a rotary passive part formed on a cylinder outer peripheral surface, a cleaning member 4 mounted on an end face of the rotating ring 5 facing to the tool reference end face of the two-plane restraining tool, and a rotation imparting member 12 in contact with the rotary passive part and fixed to a magazine frame 11 along a magazine chain to rotate the rotating ring 5 when moving the tool pot 1. In the tool magazine, the tool reference end face of the two-plane restraining tool is cleaned while moving the tool pot 1. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
[Industrial applications]
The present invention relates to an automatic tool cleaning device for a two-sided restraint tool in a tool magazine of a machine tool.
[0002]
[Prior art]
When the two-face restraint tool mounted on the spindle is removed and replaced with the next tool, dirty cutting oil and fine chips are attached around the tool immediately after the completion of the machining operation. Since air is blown from the periphery toward the tool before the tool is removed, most of the fine chips and foreign matters are almost removed from the periphery of the tool. When the two-sided restraint tool is mounted on the spindle, the tool abuts on the two faces of the tapered hole of the spindle and the end face of the spindle end, and both end faces are in close contact, so it is unlikely that foreign matter has entered. .
However, when removing the tool from the spindle with the replacement arm and storing it in the tool magazine by air blowing around the tool, foreign matter adheres while transferring the tool several times with the replacement arm based on the positional relationship between the spindle head and the tool magazine. there is a possibility.
[0003]
FIG. 7 is an explanatory view of a conventional tool end dust-proof structure provided in a tool pot so that foreign matter does not adhere to the tool end surface on the tool macinine side.
In FIG. 7, the tool pot 101 is fitted in a hole of the chain link 102. In order to align the end faces of the tool pot 101 on the tool insertion side and use the same tool pot 101, a spacer 106 for adjusting the thickness of the link is incorporated for every two links to determine the axial position of the tool pot and stop. A magazine 103 is mounted on each of the chain links 102 by a ring 103 and connected by a connecting pin 107. The tool T is mounted on the tapered hole of the tool pot 101 by the exchange arm (not shown), and the storage in the tool magazine is completed.
[0004]
A ring-shaped dustproof member 104 such as a porous elastic body, for example, an oil-resistant sponge, which is deformed and abuts on the tool reference end face Ta is attached to the end face of the tool pot 101 on the side where the tool T is inserted. I have. The dust-proof member 104 does not become an obstacle when the tool T is fitted into the tapered hole of the tool pot 101, and the dust-proof member 104 is in contact with the tool reference end face Ta and when the tool T is mounted on the tool pot 101, dust is generated on the tool end face. And other foreign matter cannot be attached. Therefore, no new foreign matter adheres to the tool reference end surface Ta during storage in the tool magazine, so that even when the tool T is pulled out, there is an effect in that foreign matter is prevented from adhering to the tapered surface of the tool T.
[0005]
If the tool is not a two-face constrained tool, if the taper shank part on the tool side is clean, there is no problem when mounting it on the main spindle as the next tool, but for a two-face constrained tool, the tool side that contacts the reference end face of the main spindle If the end face, that is, the tool reference end face is not clean, the tool cannot be securely mounted in the main shaft tapered hole, and the axial position becomes uncertain and unstable. A two-sided restraint tool such as an end mill tool is used for three-dimensional engraving of a die or the like and is indispensable for accurately cutting a three-dimensional shape and dimensions.
[0006]
The conventional dustproof member 104 is effective in that when the tool T is mounted on the tool pot 101, the tool reference end surface Ta is covered with the dustproof member 104, and foreign substances are prevented from adhering during storage in the magazine chain 102. However, when the foreign matter is stored in the tool pot 101 with the foreign matter attached to the tool reference end surface Ta, the foreign matter is still sandwiched between the two surfaces in contact with the dustproof member 104. Therefore, when the tool T is pulled out by the exchange arm and transported to the main spindle, the tool is attached to the main spindle with foreign matters attached thereto, and the attachment of the tool becomes unstable, so that the mounting accuracy of the tool position is not maintained. This is because the dustproof member 104 does not have a function of wiping and cleaning the mating surface only by contacting the tool reference end surface Ta.
[0007]
Therefore, when installing a two-sided restraint tool on the spindle or storing it in the tool pot of the tool magazine, carefully blow air and wipe the tool reference end face with a special cloth that does not separate lint. Was.
However, at present, there is a demand for high-efficiency work by automating and unmanned machining operations, and as described above, managing the cleaning of tools and the like manually does not meet the demands of the times. . Further, no means has been found for effectively cleaning the tool reference end face of the two-sided restraint tool.
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The two-sided restraint tool described in the prior art can be removed from the main spindle with a replacement arm and stored in the tool pot of the tool magazine after the machining operation is completed. When it is stored in the machine and taken out again and mounted on the spindle, there is no guarantee that no foreign matter is completely adhered to the tool reference end face that abuts on the spindle reference end face and its surroundings, and cleanliness cannot be maintained. was there.
As a result, there has been a case where the mounting of the tool is unstable, and there has been a problem that it is not possible to promote machining automation on the assumption that the tool is automatically changed.
[0009]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems of the related art, and has as its object to provide a tool magazine for a machine tool using a two-sided restraint tool, in which a foreign matter adhering to a main shaft reference end surface before being mounted on the main shaft. Is eliminated and the tensioning of the tool is ensured. Therefore, during the indexing movement of the tool pot in the tool magazine, by rotating the rotating ring with the brush synchronously, or by appropriately disposing the brush with a long bristle on the magazine frame, An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic tool cleaning device for cleaning a tool reference end surface while moving in a tool magazine in which tools are stored.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, an automatic tool cleaning device according to claim 1 is a tool magazine for a machine tool in which a two-sided restraint tool can be used. A rotating member having a passive rotary part formed thereon, a cleaning member attached to an end face of the rotary ring opposed to a tool reference end face of the two-sided restraint tool, and movement of the tool pot in contact with the rotary passive part. And a rotation applying member fixed to the magazine frame along the magazine chain to rotate the rotating ring, and cleaning the tool reference end face of the two-sided restraint tool in the tool magazine during the movement of the tool pot. It is.
[0011]
According to the first aspect of the present invention, an end mill for engraving can be exemplified as the two-sided constraint tool. In order to form a three-dimensional shape, it is necessary to control the positioning in the tool axis (Z axis) direction. Therefore, it is essential that the tool be a two-sided restraining tool that comes into contact with the spindle reference end face of the spindle end. In addition, in order to accurately position the tool tip in the Z-axis direction, it is necessary to prevent foreign matter from adhering to any of the main shaft reference end surface and the tool reference end surface of the tool contacting the main shaft end surface. Regardless of the tool used, the cleaning of the tapered hole of the spindle and the subsequent end face is cleaned by air blowing around the spindle.
[0012]
Foreign matter can be removed from the tapered portion on the two-face restraint tool side by air blowing toward the tapered surface. The tool reference end face that has been in contact with the main spindle reference end face is air blown together with the tapered portion. However, the tool reference end face is orthogonal to the tapered shaft, and may result in insufficient air blow. Therefore, when the tool pot is moved by the indexing command on the tool magazine side, a rotating ring externally rotatable around the mouth of the tool pot and having a cleaning member attached to the end face is engaged with a rack gear fixed to the magazine frame body. The two-sided restraint tool is provided so as to rotate together with the cleaning member, and cleans the tool reference end surface of the two-surface restraint tool which comes into contact with the end surface of the cleaning member so that foreign matter is not pinched between the contact planes.
[0013]
An automatic tool cleaning device according to claim 2, wherein in a tool magazine of a machine tool that can use a two-sided restraint tool, a mouth end face of a tool pot connected and moved and positioned by a chain link and a tool stored in the tool pot. A brush that can be inserted into a gap formed with the tool reference end face and has a bristle length equal to or greater than the mouth radius of the tool pot; and a brush that is arranged to intersect the moving direction of the tool pot and can be inserted into the gap. A brush support attached to the magazine frame with the brush attached thereto, and removes foreign matter by rubbing around a tool reference end surface with a brush when the tool pot moves.
[0014]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, the foreign matter that has entered the gap between the mouth end face of the tool pot and the tool reference end face is brushed on the brush support fixed to the magazine frame. It is to be cleaned by releasing it to the outside by using the movement. It is effective to clean the brush by arranging the brushes with long bristles facing each other so that the bristle tips come into contact with each other and moving the tool pot forward and backward so as to cross the portion where the bristle tips come into contact.
Note that the brush is not limited to the above arrangement. It is possible to arbitrarily select an arrangement of brushes that can exert a better cleaning effect on the magazine frame.
[0015]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[Example 1]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a tool pot with a rotating ring on a chain link, FIG. 2 is a layout view of a rotating ring and a rotation imparting member that rotates in contact with the ring, and third is a gear of the rotating ring and a rack gear of the rotation imparting member. FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG.
[0016]
The relationship between the chain link, the tool pot, the spacer, the retaining ring and the connecting pin which constitute the magazine chain is substantially the same as that described in the prior art.
In FIG. 1, a tool pot 1 is fitted on a chain link 2, and an axial direction of the tool pot 1 is positioned by a retaining ring 3. A rotary ring 5 having a rotary driven portion 5 a having a tooth shape or the like formed on the outer periphery so as to be capable of transmitting and receiving a rotating force, and a cleaning member 4 attached to an end surface of the tool pot 1 on the side where the tool T is inserted is inserted into the tool pot 1. It is rotatably mounted on the side of the mouth. The rotating ring 5 is guided between the end face 1 a of the flange at the mouth of the tool pot 1 and the end face 2 a of the chain link 2 or the end face of the spacer 6. The spacers 6 are used every other link to connect the chain link 2 with the connecting pin 7, and constitute a magazine chain 10. The cleaning member 4 is in contact with a tool reference end surface Ta which is a large-diameter-side flange end surface of the taper shank of the tool T.
[0017]
The rotation of the tool T on the chain link 2 is restricted by a stopper 8 (see FIGS. 3 and 4). Therefore, the tool reference end surface Ta does not rotate. As will be described later, a brush 9 that is cut and hardly separated is used for the rotating cleaning member 4. When formed into a felt shape and used as a cleaning member, the felt is selected such that the felt pieces do not separate and adhere to the tool reference end surface Ta. The shape of the rotary passive portion 5a can be selected from gears, synchro belt wheels, V-belt wheels, tire wheels, and the like.
[0018]
In FIG. 2, a chain link 2 of a magazine chain 10 mounted on a magazine frame 11 (see FIG. 3) is used for storing a used tool or carrying out a next tool. It moves and is indexed to a predetermined position and positioned. In this embodiment, a rack gear 13 is fixed to the magazine frame 11 along the magazine chain 10 as a rotation imparting member 12 that is in contact with the rotation passive portion 5a of the one or more rotating rings 5 in parallel with the magazine chain 10. Therefore, during the indexing movement of the magazine chain 10, a rotation force is applied from the rotation applying member 12 to the rotating ring 5 provided on the tool pot 1.
[0019]
3 and 4, the chain link 2 of the magazine chain 10 is guided by a roller surface on the outer periphery of the tool pot 1, and tension is applied between a pair of chain wheels (not shown) to be indexed and driven in the front and back directions on the paper. The tool T is fitted to the tool pot 1 so as to always keep a certain direction by a stopper 8 fixed to the chain link 2. The gear of the rotation passive portion 5a of the rotating ring 5 engages with the rack gear 13 fixed to the magazine frame 11, and only the rotating ring 5 rotates. By this rotation, the cleaning member 4 attached to the end face of the rotating ring 5 cleans the tool reference end face Ta. The rotation applying member 12 can rotate the rotation ring 5 using a chain, a synchro belt, a V belt, and a V belt groove in accordance with the shape of the rack passive member 5a in addition to the rack gear 13.
[0020]
Next, the operation of the tool automatic cleaning device configured as described above will be described.
The used tool is stored in the tool pot 1 of the tool magazine by the operation of the tool change arm that holds the next tool and waits. FIG. 1 shows the state of the tool pot 1 and the rotating ring 5 before storing the tool (lower figure) and after storing the tool (upper figure). During storage, the tool reference end surface Ta is pressed against the brush 9, and the tool itself is held in the tool pot 1 by the taper shank surface Tb.
[0021]
Therefore, the brush 9 needs to have a length and a thickness of the bristle that can be deformed when pressed. If the bristle is too long, it will hinder the storage of the tapered shank portion, and if it is too short, the cleaning effect will decrease.
If the bristle is too thick, the taper shank portion will be resistant to fitting during storage, and there is a problem in the point of secure gripping with the tool pot. On the other hand, if the brush is too thin, the durability against repeated use is reduced.
[0022]
It is also possible to equip all the tool pots 1 with the rotating ring 5. It is also possible to provide the rotating ring 5 only for a specific tool pot and use it for storing a two-sided restraint tool. A rotation applying member 12 for rotating the tool pot 1 in contact with the rotation passive portion 5 a formed on the outer peripheral surface of the cylinder of the rotation ring 5 is fixed to the magazine frame 11 along the magazine chain 10. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, when the rotation imparting member 12 engages with the rotation passive parts 5a of the plurality of tool pots 1 like the rack gear 13, the rotation ring 5 engages and rotates over the entire area where it passes. Is given. When the magazine chain 10 moves forward and backward, the rotating ring 5 rotates forward and backward correspondingly.
[0023]
The shapes of the rotation passive portion 5a and the rotation imparting member 12 of the rotation ring 5 are as already described in the configuration of the embodiment, and the gear and the rack gear, the chain wheel and the chain, the belt and the corresponding wheel (V belt, timing belt) Etc.) It is possible to select from combinations of tires and corresponding guide grooves. When a tool pot with a rotary ring that does not store a tool is detected, the tool pot is detected, the tool pot is positioned at a specific position in the tool magazine, and the brush 9 and the taper hole 1b of the tool pot are air-blown. This is effective for improving the cleanliness of the next tool sent from the magazine. The rotation ring 5 only needs to rotate by transmitting a rotational force by contact with the rotation applying member 12, and does not necessarily need to rotate synchronously. Therefore, means for rotating the rotary ring 5 by frictional conduction by the V-shaped groove without engaging is advantageous in terms of economy.
[0024]
[Example 2]
FIG. 5 is a front view of a brush and a brush support for cleaning a gap between a tool pot mouth end face and a tool reference end face, and a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. 5.
5 and 6, a pair of upper and lower chains links 22A and 22B are connected by connecting pins 26 in the moving direction on the base of the magazine frame 11 of the tool magazine. The tool pot 1 is fitted to the center of the chain links 22A, 22B, and the retaining ring 3 positions the tool pot 1 in the axial direction.
[0025]
Adjacent chain links use spacers 24 of the plate thickness, and are driven and moved and positioned by pin rollers 25 by grooved wheels (not shown). The tool T is inserted into the drilled tapered hole 1b at the center of the tool pot 1. When the tool T is inserted into the tapered hole 1b, there is a slight gap S between the mouth end face 1a of the tool pot 1 and the tool reference end face Ta on the tool side. The thickness of the brush 21 is formed to such an extent that it can be inserted into the gap S, and the length L of the brush is longer than the dimension of the mouth radius of the tool pot 1 to constitute the brush 21.
[0026]
The brush 21 is horizontally attached to the upper surface of the brush support 23 at substantially the same height as the mouth end surface 1a of the tool pot 1, and the lower portion is fixed to the magazine frame 11. The brush of the brush 21 is fixed in a direction intersecting the axis of movement of the tool pot 1, but the angle of intersection can be changed as appropriate. Although the gap S is substantially constant, a slight dimensional difference may occur. By preparing brushes having different thicknesses corresponding to the variation of the gap S and installing them adjacent to each other, the thoroughness of the dust removing effect can be obtained.
[0027]
In the second embodiment, the fixing position of the brush unit including the brush 21 and the brush support 23 on the magazine frame 11 is arbitrary and free. Further, the brush units may be arranged to face each other. The cleaning effect can be enhanced by arbitrarily selecting the arrangement of the brushes 21 such as a staggered shape and a facing shape.
Further, it is necessary to make the bristle of the brush 21 long enough to withstand bending. For example, in order to push and bend the brush of the tool pot 1, the length of the brush must be always larger than the radius of the opening of the tool pot, and in consideration of the resilience and durability of the brush, the length of the brush is considered. The length is desirably at least twice the mouth radius. The brush 21 is elastic and needs sufficient fatigue strength against repeated bending in the opposite direction.
[0028]
Next, the cleaning action of the brush 21 will be considered.
The brush 21 initially has a bristle tip that comes into contact with the outer diameter surface of the large-diameter taper portion close to the tool reference end surface and is gradually bent. The foreign matter that has contacted the brush and moved to the brush side should be attached to the tip rather than being pinched by the middle part of the brush. Separation is easy.
[0029]
For this purpose, it may be cut diagonally so as to be sequentially contacted and bent from short to long brushes. Further, if the brush 21 is not a continuous flocking but an intermittent partial flocking, it is effective in separating foreign substances. Regarding the relationship between the moving direction of the tool pot and the cleaning effect of the brush, the cleaning effect can be expected to be improved by reciprocating the tool pot around the brush because the brush is fixed. Therefore, by taking into account the brush mounting position and the indexing method of the next tool so that the tool pot can move forward and backward around the brush 21 before the indexing of the next tool is completed, a better cleaning effect can be obtained.
[0030]
【The invention's effect】
Since the tool automatic cleaning device of the present invention is configured as described above, the following effects can be obtained.
By implementing the invention described in claim 1,
(1) Before the next tool is mounted on the spindle, manual work for cleaning the tool reference end face of the two-sided restraint tool that comes into contact with the spindle reference end face is unnecessary.
(2) Complete automatic operation of the machining process using the two-sided restraint tool has become possible.
(3) Since no cleaning device is provided on the main machine side of the processing machine, the cleaning operation is automatically performed on the tool magazine side, so that the conventional equipment does not need to be significantly changed.
(4) A rotating ring is provided at the mouth of the tool pot, and the rotating ring is engaged with a fixed rotation applying member in conjunction with the movement of the tool pot and is rotated to clean the tool-side reference end surface. The cost is low and the cleaning effect is large.
[0031]
The invention described in claim 2 prevents the invasion of foreign matter by moving and contacting the foreign matter attaching surface and the brush instead of the dustproof member inserted between the mouth end face of the tool pot and the tool reference end face of the tool. This has the effect that the tool reference end face can be positively wiped and cleaned.
The position where brushes with long bristles are opposed to each other can be installed in an arbitrary number of places regardless of the number of tool storages and the shape of the tool pot, and the cleaning effect can be enhanced. Having.
Since the cleaning action by the brush is performed every time the tool pot passes through the fixed brush in conjunction with the reciprocating movement at the time of index driving for storing the tool and taking out the next tool, the cleaning effect can be further improved.
The foreign matter is transferred to the brush side by utilizing the elastic deformation of the brush bridle, and the foreign matter is removed from the brush by the elasticity at the time of deformation recovery. Therefore, the brush is kept clean and the ability to remove foreign matter from the reference end face of the tool can be maintained. Has an effect.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a tool pot with a rotating ring on a chain link.
FIG. 2 is a layout view of a rotation ring and a rotation imparting member that rotates in contact with the rotation ring.
FIG. 3 is an engagement state diagram of a gear of a rotation ring and a rack gear of a rotation applying member.
FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a front view of a brush and a brush support for cleaning a gap between a mouth end surface of a tool pot and a tool reference end surface.
6 is a sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is an explanatory view of a conventional tool end face dust-proof structure.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Tool pot 2 Chain link 3 Retaining ring 4 Cleaning member 5 Rotating ring 6 Spacer 7 Connecting pin 8 Stopper 9 Brush 10 Magazine chain 11 Magazine frame 12 Rotation giving member 13 Rack gear 21 Brush 22A, 22B Chain link 23 Brush support 24 Spacer 25 pin roller 26 connecting pin

Claims (2)

In a tool magazine for a machine tool that can use a two-sided restraint tool, a rotating ring that is rotatably mounted around a tool insertion side mouth of a tool pot and has a rotation passive portion formed on a cylindrical outer peripheral surface, and a tool for the two-sided restraint tool A cleaning member attached to an end surface of the rotating ring opposed to a reference end surface; and a cleaning member fixed to a magazine frame along a magazine chain to contact the rotating passive portion and rotate the rotating ring when the tool pot moves. A tool for automatically cleaning the tool reference end surface of the two-sided restraint tool during movement of the tool pot in the tool magazine. In a tool magazine of a machine tool that can use a two-sided restraint tool, the tool magazine can be inserted into a gap formed between a mouth end face of a tool pot connected and moved and positioned by a chain link and a tool reference end face of a tool housed in the tool pot; A brush having a bristle length equal to or larger than a radius of a mouth of the tool pot; and a brush arranged to intersect with a moving direction of the tool pot and attached to the gap so as to be inserted into the gap, and fixed to a magazine frame. An automatic tool cleaning device, comprising: a brush support for removing foreign matter by rubbing around a tool reference end surface with a brush when the tool pot moves.

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