JP2008036780A - Tool pot for chain - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a tool pot for a chain capable of easily changing a tool holding unit and of preventing rusting on steel balls and coil springs. <P>SOLUTION: In this tool pot for a chain 110, the tool holding unit 150 is fitted into the inside of a cylindrical hollow pin 140 for alternately connecting a pair of inner plates 120, 120 with a pair of outer plates 130, 130. The one end of the tool holding unit 150 is engaged with a stepped portion formed on the inner circumferential surface of the hollow pin 140, while the other end is prevented from slipping out with a snap ring 180 fit into the hollow pin 140. The tool holding unit 150 includes a tool holding member 152 in which a pull stud insertion hole 151 is formed and a sleeve-shaped cover 155 attached on the outer circumference of the tool holding member 152. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a chain tool pot used in an automatic tool changer installed in a machine tool such as a machining center.

Conventionally, a tool holding member for detachably holding a tool is fitted inside a cylindrical hollow pin that alternately connects a pair of inner plates and a pair of outer plates, and the tool holding member has a pull stud insertion hole. A tool holding member main body formed inside, a plurality of through holes penetrating from the outer peripheral surface of the tool holding member main body toward the pull stud insertion hole, and a tool pull stud disposed in each of the through holes. A chain tool pot comprising a steel ball partially protruding into a pull stud insertion hole so as to hold and a coil spring that biases the steel ball in a direction of protruding from the pull stud insertion hole is known (for example, (See Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-344638

  As shown in FIG. 9, conventionally, the C-type retaining ring 280 is fitted to the rear end portion of the hollow pin 240 to prevent the tool holding member 252 from coming off. However, when the tool holding member 252 is extracted from the hollow pin 240, the spring 254 disposed inside the through hole 252 a provided in the tool holding member 252 protrudes toward the outer peripheral surface, and the protruding spring 254 is inside the hollow pin 240. There was a problem of being caught in the concave groove 246 for fitting the C-type retaining ring 280 formed on the peripheral surface. As a result, in order to pull out the tool holding member 252, the spring 254 is deformed and pulled out, which is difficult for human hands, and the inner peripheral surface of the hollow pin 240 is damaged at that time. It was impossible to extract the top. Even when the tool holding member 252 is incorporated in the hollow pin 240, the tool holding member 252 must be inserted into the hollow pin 240 while simultaneously pressing the plurality of springs 254 so that the spring 254 does not protrude outward. There is a problem that a skillful technique is required for the operation of assembling the holding member 252.

 And because of the above problems, when the tool ball is used and the steel balls and springs are worn out and the tool holding member needs to be replaced, the tool holding member cannot be taken in and out. There was a problem that the entire tool pot had to be replaced.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a chain tool pot capable of solving the problems of the prior art, enabling the tool holding unit to be replaced, and preventing rusting of steel balls and coil springs. To do.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, a tool holding unit for detachably holding a tool is fitted inside a cylindrical hollow pin that alternately connects a pair of inner plates and a pair of outer plates, and the tool holding unit. Is a tool pot for a chain in which one end is engaged with a step formed on the inner peripheral surface of the hollow pin and the other end is secured by a retaining ring fitted to the hollow pin. A tool holding member having a hole formed therein and a sleeve-like cover attached to the outer periphery of the tool holding member, the tool holding member facing the pull stud insertion hole from the outer peripheral surface of the tool holding member A plurality of penetrating through holes, and steel balls partially disposed in the through holes to protrude the pull stud insertion holes so as to hold the pull studs; A coil spring that urges the steel ball in a direction in which the steel ball protrudes from the pull stud insertion hole, and the sleeve-like cover is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the tool holding member so as to close the through hole. The problem is solved by a structure of a tool pot for a chain that prevents the protrusion from protruding outward.

  According to the low friction chain of the present invention according to claim 1, the tool holding unit for detachably holding the tool is fitted inside the cylindrical hollow pin that alternately connects the pair of inner plates and the pair of outer plates. The tool holding unit is a tool holder for a chain in which one end is engaged with a step formed on an inner peripheral surface of the hollow pin and the other end is prevented from being removed by a retaining ring fitted to the hollow pin. The unit includes a tool holding member having a pull stud insertion hole formed therein and a sleeve-like cover attached to the outer periphery of the tool holding member, and the tool holding member is pulled from the outer peripheral surface of the tool holding member. A plurality of through holes penetrating toward the stud insertion hole, and a part of the pull hole is disposed inside the through hole to hold the pull stud. A steel ball protruding into the tad insertion hole, and a coil spring that urges the steel ball in a direction to protrude from the pull stud insertion hole, and the sleeve-like cover is formed on the tool holding member so as to close the through hole. The tool holding unit can be handled as a single unit by preventing the coil spring from protruding outward by being attached to the outer peripheral surface, so when removing the tool holding unit from the hollow pin, The coil spring protruding to the pin can be prevented from being caught in the groove for fitting the retaining ring formed on the inner peripheral surface of the hollow pin, and the tool holding unit can be easily assembled into the hollow pin and removed from the hollow pin. Can be done.

 As described above, since the tool holding unit can be replaced quickly and easily, it is easy to replace the tool holding unit as a result of wear of the steel balls and coil springs during use of the tool pot. Therefore, it is not necessary to replace the entire tool pot.

  In addition, since the through hole is closed by the sleeve-like cover, a lubricant such as grease can be enclosed in the through hole, and the problem of rusting of the steel balls and coil springs arranged in the through hole can be prevented. The tool holding unit can reliably hold the tool by a steel ball biased by a coil spring.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The through holes 152a provided in the tool holding unit 150 are represented as three in FIGS. 6 and 8, and are represented as four in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 5. ing.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the tool holding and conveying chain 100 is formed as an endless chain by alternately connecting a pair of opposed inner plates 120, 120 and a pair of outer plates 130, 130 with hollow pins 140. Is. The chain tool pot 110 has a tool holding unit 150 fitted inside a hollow pin 140.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the hollow pin 140 is a cylindrical body in which both end portions are smaller in diameter than the intermediate portion and outer peripheral step portions 141 and 141 are formed on both sides of the outer peripheral surface. A pair of inner plates 120 and 120 and outer plates 130 and 130 are alternately connected by mounting the plate 120 and the outer plate 130 through insertion holes 121 and 131 respectively provided in these plates. Further, the fixing rings 160 and 160 are fitted into the fixing ring grooves 142 and 142 provided in the outer peripheral step portions 141 and 141, so that the inner plate 120 and the outer plate 130 are prevented from coming off.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the hollow portion inside the hollow pin 140 has a front portion as a tool insertion portion 143, and a taper sleeve step portion 144 formed at the opening end portion has a resin taper sleeve 170. And a tool holding unit step 145 having a diameter larger than that of the front part is formed at the rear part. The tool holding unit 150 is fitted into the tool holding unit step part 145, and a rear end part is formed. A retaining ring 180 is fitted into the retaining ring groove 146 formed in the, thereby preventing the tool holding unit 150 from coming off.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 to 8, the tool holding unit 150 has a tool holding member 152 having a pull stud insertion hole 151 formed therein, and penetrates from the outer peripheral surface of the tool holding member 152 toward the pull stud insertion hole 151. The plurality of through holes 152a, the steel balls 153 that are respectively disposed in the through holes 152a and engage the pull studs P of the tool T, and the steel balls 153 that are respectively disposed in the through holes 152a are inserted into the pull studs. A coil spring 154 that is urged in the direction of projecting from the hole 151 and a sleeve-like cover 155 attached to a sleeve-like cover step 152b formed on the outer peripheral surface of the tool holding member 152 are integrally formed. . Note that the end portion of the through hole 152a on the pull stud insertion hole 151 side is narrowed in a tapered shape, and the steel ball 153 is disposed in a state in which a part protrudes into the pull stud insertion hole 151. The sleeve-like cover 155 is mounted so as to close the through hole 152 a from the outer peripheral surface side of the tool holding member 152.

  Next, a method for assembling the chain tool pot 110 will be described with reference to FIG. First, after the steel ball 153 is thrown into the through hole 152a provided in the tool holding member 152 from the outer peripheral surface side of the tool holding member 152, the coil spring 154 is disposed in the through hole 152a. Next, while pressing the coil spring 154 so that it does not protrude outward, the sleeve-like cover 155 is attached to the sleeve-like cover step portion 152b formed on the outer peripheral surface of the tool holding member 152, whereby the tool holding unit 150 is attached. assemble.

  Then, the tool holding unit 150 is disposed in a tool holding unit step portion 145 formed inside the hollow pin 140. Next, a tool is inserted into a hole 181 (see FIG. 7) formed in the retaining ring 180 to compress the diameter of the retaining ring 180, and the compressed retaining ring 180 is formed at the rear end of the hollow pin 140. After being disposed so as to be engaged with the groove 146, the diameter of the retaining ring 180 is enlarged and fitted into the retaining ring groove 146.

  Next, the effect of the chain tool pot 110 will be described below. The tool holding unit 150 is provided with a steel ball 153 biased by a coil spring 154 in the through hole 152a, so that when the tool T is mounted on the chain tool pot 110, as shown in FIG. The pull stud P is held by a steel ball 153 and is detachably held.

  Since the sleeve holding cover 155 is attached to the sleeve holding cover step portion 152b formed on the outer peripheral surface of the tool holding unit 150 so as to close the through hole 152a, the tool holding unit 150 is arranged inside the through hole 152a. The provided coil spring 154 is prevented from protruding to the outside, and when a lubricant such as grease is injected into the through hole 152a, the lubricant is sealed in the through hole 152a.

  In the thus obtained chain tool pot 110 of the present embodiment, the tool holding unit 150 is arranged in the tool holding member 152, the through hole 152a provided in the tool holding member 152, and the through hole 152a, respectively. The formed steel ball 153 and coil spring 154 are integrally formed with a sleeve-like cover 155 attached to a sleeve-like cover step portion 152b formed on the outer peripheral surface of the tool holding member 152 so as to close the through hole 152a. As a result, when the tool holding unit 152 is pulled out from the hollow pin 140, the coil spring 154 protruding outward can be prevented from being caught in the retaining ring groove 146 formed on the inner peripheral surface of the hollow pin 140. Assembling work of the unit 152 into the hollow pin 140 and from the hollow pin 140 The extraction operation can be achieved quickly and easily.

 As described above, since the replacement work of the tool holding unit 150 can be achieved quickly and easily, even if it is necessary to replace the tool holding unit 150 with a new tool holding unit due to wear of the steel ball 153 or the coil spring 154, it is easy. Exchange work can be performed.

  That is, when the steel ball 153 and the coil spring 154 are consumed due to the use of the tool pot 110, the integrated tool holding unit 150 is extracted after removing the retaining ring 180 fitted to the rear end of the hollow pin 140. Then, a new holding unit is incorporated into the hollow pin 140, and then the retaining ring 180 is fitted into the hollow pin 140 again. Since the tool holding member can be exchanged only by such simple work, the exchange work can be achieved quickly and easily. As a result, only the tool holding unit 150 needs to be exchanged, so that the tool pot 110 is exchanged. Therefore, it is not necessary to disassemble the chain 100.

  Further, since the through hole 152a is closed by the sleeve-like cover 155, a lubricant such as grease can be enclosed in the through hole 152a, and the steel balls 153 and the coil springs 154 disposed in the through hole 152a. Thus, the tool holding unit 150 can reliably hold the tool T by the steel ball 153 biased by the coil spring 154.

  As described above, as an example of the present invention, the taper sleeve is described as being made of resin, but it may be made of natural rubber, synthetic rubber, or synthetic resin. Moreover, although the description has been made assuming that the number of through holes provided in the tool holding unit is three or four, it is sufficient that at least three through holes are provided.

It is a partial top view which shows the tool holding | maintenance conveyance chain using the tool pot for chains of this invention Example. It is sectional drawing of the tool pot for chains. It is sectional drawing of the state which mounted | wore the tool pot for chains with the tool. It is a disassembled perspective view of the tool pot for chains. It is an assembly drawing of the tool pot for chains. It is a partially cutaway perspective view of a tool holding unit. It is a perspective view of a retaining ring. It is a top view of the tool pot for chains. It is sectional drawing of the tool pot for chains which fitted the conventional C type retaining ring.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Tool holding conveyance chain 110 ... Chain tool pot 120 ... Inner plate 121 ... Insertion hole 130 ... Outer plate 131 ... Insertion hole 140 ... Hollow pin 141 ... Outer periphery Step portion 142 ・ ・ ・ Fixing ring groove 143 ・ ・ ・ Tool insertion portion 144 ・ ・ ・ Tapered sleeve step portion 145 ・ ・ ・ Tool holding unit step portion 146 ・ ・ ・ Retaining ring groove 150 ・ ・ ・ Tool holding Unit 151 ... Pull stud insertion hole 152 ... Tool holding member 152a ... Through hole 152b ... Sleeve-shaped cover step 153 ... Steel ball 154 ... Coil spring 155 ... Sleeve-like cover 160 ・ ・ ・ Fixing ring 170 ・ ・ ・ Taper sleeve 180 ・ ・ ・ Retaining ring 181 ・ ・ ・ Hole , Ta ··· tool S ··· shank P ··· pull stud

Claims (1)

A tool holding unit for detachably holding a tool is fitted inside a cylindrical hollow pin that alternately connects a pair of inner plates and a pair of outer plates, and the tool holding unit is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the hollow pin. In the chain tool pot, one end is engaged with the stepped portion and the other end is retained by a retaining ring fitted to the hollow pin.
The tool holding unit includes a tool holding member having a pull stud insertion hole formed therein and a sleeve-like cover attached to the outer periphery of the tool holding member.
The tool holding member includes a plurality of through holes penetrating from the outer peripheral surface of the tool holding member toward the pull stud insertion hole, and a part of the tool holding member disposed inside the through hole to hold the pull stud. Comprises a steel ball protruding into the pull stud insertion hole, and a coil spring for biasing the steel ball in a direction of protruding from the pull stud insertion hole,
The chain-shaped tool pot, wherein the sleeve-like cover prevents the coil spring from projecting outward by being attached to the outer peripheral surface of the tool holding member so as to close the through hole.

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