JP2004261918A - Tool exchange device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a tool exchange device capable of easily and safely carrying out exchange work of a tool at a position spaced from a machine tool, not requiring for stopping an operation of the machine tool for a long period of time in order to exchange the tool and enhancing machining efficiency of the machine tool. <P>SOLUTION: The tool exchange device is provided with a tool exchange arm 28 for carrying out attachment/detachment of the tool 15 against a main spindle device 13 of the machine tool 11. The tool exchange arm 28 is movably arranged between a tool exchange position P1a adjacent to the machine tool 11 and a stand-by position P1b spaced from the machine tool 11. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a tool changing device attached to a machine tool.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, in a machine tool without a tool magazine, if the tool mounted on the spindle device is worn or damaged, the operator stops the operation of the machine tool and manually moves the tool to the spindle device. On the other hand, it was directly detached and exchanged. Particularly, in the case of a heavy tool having a weight of 5 kg or more or a long tool, work with both hands is required.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described above, in the conventional tool changing method, since the tool changing operation is performed manually, the operator opens the shutter of the protective wall surrounding the machine tool and manually operates the tool mounted on the spindle in the machining area. The exchange work was carried out while holding it directly in an unnatural posture. Therefore, there is a problem that the replacement operation is troublesome and time-consuming, and labor is required. In addition, since the operation of the machine tool needs to be stopped for a long time during the tool changing operation, there is a problem that the machining efficiency is reduced.
[0004]
The present invention has been made by paying attention to the problems existing in such a conventional technique. The purpose is to easily and safely perform the tool change work from a position away from the machine tool, and it is not necessary to stop the machine tool operation for a long time for tool change, and the machining efficiency of the machine tool It is an object of the present invention to provide a tool changing device capable of improving the tooling.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 includes a tool changing arm for attaching and detaching a tool to and from a spindle device of a machine tool, and the tool changing arm is rotatable about a spindle. Two tool grippers for gripping a tool are provided at the tip of the tool change arm. The tool change arm is provided with a tool change position close to the main spindle and a standby position for taking out a tool separated from the main spindle. It is characterized by being arranged so as to be movable between positions.
[0006]
Therefore, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the operator does not perform the tool changing operation directly on the main spindle device of the machine tool, but uses the tool changing device to indirectly change the tool at a position separated from the machine tool. It can be done easily and safely. In addition, since the time required for tool change is shorter than when the operator directly performs tool change, it is not necessary to stop the operation of the machine tool for a long time for tool change, The processing efficiency of the machine can be improved. Further, the two tool gripping portions can be used separately for gripping the old tool and the new tool, and the tool changing operation can be performed continuously and quickly.
[0007]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the tool change arm is moved in a direction parallel to a transfer bar of the transfer machine, and the tool change position is located at a machining portion of a machine tool. And a shutter for isolating the shutter.
[0008]
Therefore, according to the second aspect of the present invention, when the tool changing device is attached to the machine tool of the transfer machine, the tool changing arm can be moved without interfering with the moving direction of the transfer bar. Therefore, it is possible to arrange the tool changing device with good ease.
[0009]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the present invention is embodied in a plurality of machine tools arranged along a transfer direction of a transfer machine by a transfer machine and a tool changing device attached to the machine tools will be described with reference to the drawings. .
[0010]
As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the frame 12 of each machine tool 11 is movable in the front-rear direction (the direction of the front and back of the paper in FIGS. 1 and 2). A spindle device 13 is provided on the front surface of the frame 12 so as to be movable in the vertical and horizontal directions, and a tool 15 such as a drill is detachably attached to a tip of the spindle 14 via a clamp device (not shown). I have. Therefore, the tool 15 can move in three directions of X, Y, and Z. Then, while the tool 15 is rotated by the main spindle device 13, a work such as piercing is performed on a work on a table (not shown).
[0011]
A transfer bar 16 is disposed in front of each machine tool 11 so as to extend in a horizontal direction (left and right directions in the drawing). Each time predetermined machining of a work is completed in each machine tool 11, the transfer bar 16 performs four feed movements of ascending, advancing, descending, and retreating, so that the work is transferred to an adjacent subsequent machine tool 11. It is to be transported.
[0012]
A tool changing device 17 is attached to the side of the machine tool 11 so that when the tool 15 on the spindle device 13 is worn or damaged, the tool 15 can be detached and replaced with a new one. . A partition 18 as a protective wall is provided between the machine tool 11 and the tool changing device 17, and a part 19 of the partition 18 has an opening 19 for tool change. A shutter 20 is attached to the opening 19 so as to be openable and closable, and is automatically opened and closed by a not-shown opening / closing cylinder or the like when the tool 15 is changed by the tool changing device 17. The shutter 20 is for isolating the processing portion of the machine tool 11 from the outside.
[0013]
A shielding plate 21 is provided on a side portion of the tool changing device 17, and a window 22 is formed in a part of the shielding plate 21, and the old tool 15 and the new tool are replaced through the window 22. Can be An opening / closing plate 23 is attached to the window portion 22 so as to be openable and closable. When an operator replaces the old tool 15 and the new tool with the tool changing device 17, the opening / closing plate 23 is manually opened and closed. It is made to let.
[0014]
A support plate 26 is provided on a frame 25 of the tool changing device 17 via a guide rail 27 so as to be movable in the left-right horizontal direction parallel to the extension direction of the transfer bar 16. On the support plate 26, a tool exchange arm 28 is rotatably supported in a vertical plane via a horizontal support shaft 29 extending in the front-rear direction. A moving motor 30 is provided on the frame 25, and the supporting plate 26 is moved in the left-right direction through the ball screw 31 by the moving motor 30. As a result, the tool change arm 28 has a tool change position P1a close to the main shaft 14 of the machine tool 11 as shown by a solid line in FIG. 1, and a chain line of the machine tool 11 as shown by a chain line in FIG. And a standby position P1b that is separated from the standby position P1b.
[0015]
First and second two tool grips 32A and 32B are provided at the tip of the tool change arm 28. The first tool grip 32A grips the old tool 15 and the second tool grip 32B. Holds the new tool 15. Each of the tool gripping portions 32A and 32B is provided with a pair of openable / closable gripping claws 33 and an opening / closing cylinder 34 for opening and closing the gripping claws 33.
[0016]
A turning motor 35 is provided on the support plate 26, and the tool changing arm 28 is turned in the above-described vertical plane by the turning motor 35 via gears 36 and 37. As a result, the tool change arm 28 is moved to a tool attachment / detachment position P2a corresponding to the spindle device 13 as shown by a solid line and a chain line in FIG. It is adapted to be pivotally arranged. The tool change arm 28 is disposed at the tool attachment / detachment position P2a at a first position P2a-1 shown by a solid line in FIG. 1 and a second position P2a-2 below it at a tool attachment / detachment position as shown by a dashed line in FIG. You.
[0017]
That is, a contact bolt 38 as a stopper is attached to the outer surface of the lower part of the tool changing arm 28 so that the amount of protrusion can be adjusted. A first stopper 39 is provided on the support plate 26 so as to be able to come into contact with the contact bolt 38 so as to be able to come into contact with the contact bolt 38 so as to be able to protrude and retract with respect to the rotation locus of the contact bolt 38. A second stopper 40 is fixedly disposed on the lower outer surface of the tool changing arm 28.
[0018]
When the tool change arm 28 is rotated to the tool attachment / detachment position P2a in a state where the first stopper 39 is located at the projecting position, as shown by a solid line in FIG. Abut. As a result, the tool change arm 28 is regulated and held at the first position P2a-1 corresponding to the main shaft 14 of the main shaft device 13 in the first tool holding portion 32A. When the tool change arm 28 is rotated to the tool attachment / detachment position P2a and the first stopper 39 is located at the retracted position, as shown by a chain line in FIG. Contacted. Thus, the second tool gripping portion 32B corresponds to the main shaft 14 of the main shaft device 13, and is regulated and held at the second position P2a-2 located below the first position P2a-1. The tool changing arm 28 is regulated and held at the tool changing position P2b by a stopper (not shown) or the like.
[0019]
A tool table 41 is provided at a position inside the window 22 of the shielding plate 21. Then, in a state in which the opening and closing plate 23 is opened by the operator, a tool provided on a support (not shown) on the bed 1 on the bed 1 outside the window 22 is provided with a tool also provided on a support (not shown) on the bed 1. The new tool 15 can be set on the table 41. Further, the old tool 15 can be taken out from the tool table 41 to the tool holder 42. In addition, the following operation is performed in a state where the tool change arm 28 is moved and arranged at the standby position P1b and is rotated and arranged at the tool change position P2b. That is, the old tool 15 is received from the first tool holding portion 32A of the tool changing arm 28 onto the tool table 41 via a transfer mechanism such as a manipulator (not shown), or is transferred from the tool table 41 to the second tool holding portion 32B. For example, the tool 15 is gripped.
[0020]
An interlock mechanism is interposed between the open / close plate 23 and a transport mechanism such as the manipulator, and the transport mechanism is operable only when the open / close plate 23 is closed.
[0021]
Next, the operation of the tool changing device 17 configured as described above will be described.
Now, during the machining operation of the machine tool 11, as shown in FIG. 2, the tool change arm 28 moves to the standby position P1b in a state where the new tool 15 is gripped by the second tool grip portion 32B of the tool change arm 28. It is arranged and pivotally arranged at a first position P2a-1 of the tool attaching / detaching position P2a. When the tool 15 mounted on the spindle 14 of the spindle device 13 is worn or damaged during the machining operation of the machine tool 11, the operation of the machine tool 11 is temporarily stopped. Next, the shutter 20 is opened, and the tool changing arm 28 is moved from the standby position P1b to the tool changing position P1a by the moving motor 30. Thereby, as shown by the solid line in FIG. 1, the first tool holding portion 32 </ b> A on the tool changing arm 28 holds the old tool 15 mounted on the main shaft 14 of the main shaft device 13.
[0022]
In this state, the frame 12 is retracted, the tool 15 is detached from the spindle 14, the old tool 15 is released from the clamped state on the spindle 14 by a clamp device (not shown), and the spindle device 13 is moved backward. . As a result, the old tool 15 is extracted from the tip of the main shaft 14 and is transferred to the first tool holding portion 32A on the tool change arm 28. Thereafter, the first stopper 39 is moved to the retracted position, and the tool changing arm 28 is rotated from the first position P2a-1 of the tool attaching / detaching position P2a to the second position P2a-2. For this reason, the new tool 15 gripped by the second tool gripping portion 32B is arranged to face the main shaft 14. When the spindle device 13 is moved forward, the new tool 15 is clamped by the clamping device of the spindle device and mounted on the spindle 14.
[0023]
Next, the tool changing arm 28 is moved from the tool changing position P1a to the standby position P1b by the moving motor 30, and is arranged at a position separated from the machine tool 11, and the shutter 20 is closed. At the same time as the closing, the work on the workpiece is restarted using the new tool 15. Thereafter, as shown by a chain line in FIG. You.
[0024]
Then, during the machining operation of the machine tool 11, the operator can easily and safely replace the old tool 15 and the new tool 15 with respect to the tool changing arm 28 at a position separated from the machine tool 11. . In other words, the old tool 15 is received on the tool table 41 from the first tool holding portion 32A of the tool changing arm 28 by the transfer device such as the manipulator with the opening / closing plate 23 opened. Next, the operator takes out the old tool 15 from the tool table 41 onto the tool holder 42. Further, the new tool 15 is set on the tool table 41 from the tool holder 42. Then, the new tool 15 on the tool table 41 is transferred to the second tool holding portion 32B of the tool change arm 28 by the transfer device.
[0025]
Thereafter, the first stopper 39 is moved to the protruding position, and the tool changing arm 28 is turned by the turning motor 35 from the tool changing position P2b to the first position P2a-1 of the tool attaching / detaching position P2a. Then, in this state, the process stands by for the next replacement of the tool 15 mounted on the spindle device 13 of the machine tool 11 during the machining operation.
[0026]
Therefore, according to this embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) The tool changing device 17 is provided with a tool changing arm 28 for attaching and detaching the tool 15 to and from the spindle device 13 of the machine tool 11. The tool changing arm 28 is movably arranged between a tool changing position P1a close to the machine tool 11 and a standby position P1b separated from the machine tool 11.
[0027]
For this reason, it is sufficient that the operator does not directly exchange the tool 15 of the machine tool 11 with the tool exchanging arm 28 that has been moved to the standby position P1b separated from the machine tool 11. Therefore, the replacement work of the tool 15 can be performed easily and safely. In addition, since the tool change for the machine tool 11 is performed mechanically without human power, it is not necessary to stop the operation of the machine tool 11 for a long time for the tool change, and the machining efficiency of the machine tool 11 is improved. Can be done.
[0028]
(2) In the tool changing device 17, the tool changing arm 28 is provided with two tool holding portions 32A and 32B for holding the tool 15. For this reason, the two tool holding portions 32A and 32B can be shared and used separately for holding the old tool 15 and the new tool 15, and the replacement work of the tool 15 can be performed easily and quickly.
[0029]
(3) In the tool changing device 17, the tool changing arm 28 is moved in a direction parallel to the transfer bar 16 of the transfer machine. Therefore, when the tool changing device 17 is attached to the machine tool 11 of the transfer machine, the tool changing arm 28 can be moved without interfering with the moving direction of the transfer bar 16. In other words, the moving direction of the tool changing arm 28 can be made to follow the moving direction of the transfer bar 16, so that the entire system including the plurality of machine tools 11 can be reduced in size.
[0030]
(Example of change)
This embodiment can be embodied with the following changes.
In the above embodiment, a moving cylinder is provided in place of the moving motor 30, and the moving cylinder is used to move the tool changing arm 28 together with the support plate 26 to the tool changing position P1a and the standby position P1b. thing.
[0031]
In the above embodiment, a rotation cylinder is provided in place of the rotation motor 35, and the tool exchange arm 28 is rotated by the rotation cylinder via a rotation lever and a gear.
[0032]
(Other technical ideas)
The technical ideas other than the technical ideas described in the claims are as follows.
(1) The tool changer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the tool changer is attached to a machine tool having no tool magazine.
[0033]
(2) The tool changing device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the tool changing device is arranged so as to be movable in a direction intersecting with an axial direction of a main shaft of the machine tool.
[0034]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, in the present invention, the tool replacement operation can be easily and safely performed at a position separated from the machine tool. In addition, there is no need to stop the operation of the machine tool for a long time for tool change, and the machining efficiency of the machine tool can be improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a main part of a tool changing device according to an embodiment.
FIG. 2 is an essential part cross-sectional view showing a standby state of the tool changing device of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a front view showing the entire machine tool.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Machine tool, 13 ... Spindle device, 14 ... Spindle, 15 ... Tool, 16 ... Transfer bar, 17 ... Tool exchange device, 20 ... Shutter, 26 ... Support plate, 28 ... Tool exchange arm, 29 ... Support shaft, 30 ... Moving motor, 32A ... First tool gripping part, 32B ... Second tool gripping part, 35 ... Rotating motor, 41 ... Tool table, P1a ... Tool change position, P1b ... Standby position.

Claims (2)

A tool changing arm for attaching and detaching a tool to and from a spindle device of a machine tool is provided. The tool changing arm is provided rotatably about a spindle. A tool changer provided with a tool gripper, wherein the tool change arm is movably arranged between a tool change position close to the main shaft and a standby position for taking out a tool separated from the main shaft. apparatus. The tool changing arm is moved in a direction parallel to a transfer bar of a transfer machine, and a shutter is provided at the tool changing position so as to isolate the tool changing portion from a machined portion of a machine tool. 2. The tool changing device according to 1.

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