JP2022133103A - automatic tool changer - Google Patents

Abstract

To make it possible to hold more tools while minimizing increase in size of an automatic tool changer.SOLUTION: An automatic tool changer 100, which holds a plurality of tools 10 and changes tools between a machine tool and itself, comprises: a stocker 130 which is so supported as to be rotatable around a rotation axis O, and holds a plurality of tools; and a replacement arm assembly 150 which comprises grippers 120, 122, 124, 126 which grip the tools on both ends, and changes the tools between the stocker and a main spindle of the machine tool. The plurality of tools are held around the rotation axis of the stocker so that a longitudinal center axis OT is located in a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis without passing through the rotation axis.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to an automatic tool changer that holds a plurality of tools and exchanges tools with a machine tool.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an automatic tool changer that holds a plurality of tools in a rotatably supported tool magazine and exchanges tools between the tool magazine and a machine tool has been widely used in the field of machine tools. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a tool magazine that holds a plurality of tools and indexes one of the plurality of tools to a predetermined position, and replaces the indexed tool with the tool gripped by the rotary spindle. , a tool changer is described.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2020-199570

With rotary tool magazines, as the number of tools to be held increases, the radius of the tool magazine must be increased. There is a problem that the space for installing the device must be widened.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to solve the problems of the prior art, and to provide an automatic tool changer capable of holding a greater number of tools while minimizing an increase in the size of the device. and

To achieve the above object, according to the present invention, in an automatic tool changer for holding a plurality of tools and exchanging tools with a machine tool, a plurality of tools rotatably supported around a rotation axis are provided. and an exchange arm assembly having grippers for gripping tools at both ends thereof for exchanging tools between the stocker and a spindle of a machine tool, wherein the stocker holds the plurality of tools in the longitudinal direction holding the plurality of tools around the rotation axis such that the center axis of the tool is arranged in a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis without passing through the rotation axis is provided.

According to the present invention, a plurality of tools are arranged around the axis of rotation of the stocker such that the central axis of the longitudinal axis of the tool is arranged in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the stocker without passing through the axis of rotation of the stocker. Arranged and held by the stocker, the tools are oriented obliquely to the axis of rotation of the stocker, allowing a greater number of tools to be held without increasing the radius of the stocker.

1 is a perspective view of an automatic tool changer according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; FIG. FIG. 2 is a front view of the automatic tool changer of FIG. 1; FIG. 2 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1 of the automatic tool changer with the tool and working fluid supply sleeve removed; FIG. 3 is a front view similar to FIG. 2 of the automatic tool changer with the tool and machining fluid supply sleeve removed; FIG. 4 is a side view of the automatic tool changer with the tool and machining fluid supply sleeve removed; FIG. 4 is a rear view of the automatic tool changer with the tool and machining fluid supply sleeve removed; 1 is a perspective view of the tool with the grinding wheel removed; FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the working fluid supply sleeve with the nozzle removed;

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Referring to FIG. 1 , the automatic tool changer 100 includes a stocker 130 that holds a plurality of tools 10 and machining fluid supply sleeves 20 . Automatic tool changer 100 is positioned adjacent to a machine tool (not shown) using tool 10 and working fluid supply sleeve 20 .

Referring to FIG. 7, the tool 10 is a rotary tool and is closely fitted into a tool mounting hole (not shown) or a tapered hole (not shown) formed at the tip of a spindle (not shown) of a machine tool. It has a mating tapered portion 14 and a V groove 16 extending in the circumferential direction. In this example, the V-groove 16 is provided in the large-diameter portion adjacent to the tapered portion 14 . If the machine tool is, for example, a grinder, tool 10 may have a shank portion 12 for mounting a grinding wheel or grinding wheel (not shown).

The machining fluid supply sleeve 20 has a tapered portion 24 closely fitted into the sleeve mounting hole of the machine tool, a nozzle mounting portion 22, and a V-groove 26 extending in the circumferential direction. The sleeve mounting hole can be provided near the spindle of the machine tool. A sleeve mounting hole can be provided in a spindle head that rotationally supports the spindle of the machine tool. A machining fluid passage (not shown) for supplying machining fluid to the machining fluid supply sleeve 20 can be provided in the sleeve mounting hole. When the machine tool is, for example, a grinding machine, the machining fluid can be a grinding fluid (a machining fluid used for polishing).

The nozzle mounting portion 22 is a hollow cylindrical member, and a machining liquid supply pipe line (not shown) is arranged inside. A nipple (not shown) for mounting a nozzle (not shown) on the outer peripheral surface of the machining fluid supply pipe is arranged. A large number of nozzle mounting holes 22 a are formed in the nozzle mounting portion 22 . Each nozzle mounting hole 22a is arranged at a position accessible to the nipple of the machining fluid supply pipe, and is formed with a size and a shape that allows a nozzle to be mounted on each nipple.

The V-groove 26 is arranged between the tapered portion 24 and the nozzle mounting portion 22 in the example shown in FIG. A V-groove 26 may be provided adjacent to the tapered portion 24 . The V-grooves 16 of the tool 10 and the V-grooves 26 of the working fluid supply sleeve 20 are preferably formed in the same shape.

The automatic tool changer 100 includes a stand 110 fixed to a bed (not shown) or the like of a machine tool to be installed. Stand 110 supports stocker 130 . In this embodiment, the stocker 130 is rotatably supported around a rotation axis O extending horizontally. The automatic tool changer 100 includes a motor (not shown) that drives the stocker 130 to rotate. The motor may be controlled by a machine controller (not shown) of the machine tool associated with automatic tool changer 100 .

The stocker 130 has a plurality of radially projecting arms 132 . In this embodiment, the stocker 130 has eight arms 132, but may have more or less than eight arms. Moreover, although the arm portion 132 has a generally triangular shape, it may have another shape. A tool holding member 140 is attached to each of the arms 132 . Each of the tool holding members 140 has a tool mounting portion 142 and a sleeve mounting portion 144 . The tool mounting portion 142 and the sleeve mounting portion 144 hold the tool 10 and the working fluid supply sleeve 20 in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis O. As a result, the plurality of tools 10 are arranged on the outer peripheral portion of the stocker 130 so that each longitudinal axis _OT does not pass through the rotation axis O and is arranged in a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis O. Array, preserved.

Also, the tool 10 and the working fluid supply sleeve 20 are parallel to each other. That is, the tool 10 and the machining fluid supply sleeve 20 are held by the tool mounting portion 142 and the sleeve mounting portion 144 so that their longitudinal axes O _T and O _S are parallel to each other. The working fluid supply sleeve 20 is thus arranged with its longitudinal axis O _S in the same plane as the longitudinal axis O _T of the tool 10 is arranged.

A replacement arm assembly 150 is provided at the upper end of the stand 110 . The exchange arm assembly 150 is provided reciprocatingly in the direction of the rotation axis O of the stocker 130 so as to approach and separate from the stocker 130 . The exchange arm assembly 150 includes a base portion 116 provided at the top of the stand 110 so as to approach and separate from the stocker 130 , and an exchange arm 118 attached to the base portion 116 .

A pair of guide rails 112 and 114 extend in the rotation axis O direction on the top of the stand 110 . A slider 136 that slides along the guide rails 112 and 114 is attached to the lower surface of the base portion 116 . Thus, the base portion 116 can reciprocate in the direction of the rotation axis O. As shown in FIG.

In this specification, when the exchange arm assembly 150 moves toward the stocker 130 , the exchange arm assembly 150 is defined as “moving forward” or “advancing”, and moving away from the stocker 130 . When moving, the exchange arm assembly 150 is defined as "moving rearward" or "retracting."

The exchange arm assembly 150 includes an actuator (not shown) that reciprocates the base portion 116 in the direction of the rotation axis O. As shown in FIG. The actuator can be, for example, a hydraulic cylinder, such as a hydraulic cylinder or a pneumatic cylinder. The actuators may be controlled by the machine controller of the machine tool associated with automatic tool changer 100 .

In this embodiment, the replacement arm 118 is made of a plate member provided parallel to the rotation axis O of the stocker 130 . Exchange arm 118 includes grippers 120 , 122 , 124 , 126 . The grippers 120 , 122 , 124 , 126 engage with the V-grooves 16 , 26 of the tool 10 and the machining fluid supply sleeve 20 to hold the tool 10 and the machining fluid supply sleeve 20 .

The upper grippers 120, 122 are arranged at the same height. The lower grippers 124, 126 are likewise arranged at the same height. Also, the forwardly disposed grippers 120, 124 are disposed in the same position relative to each other when viewed vertically, and the rearwardly disposed grippers 122, 126 are likewise aligned relative to each other when viewed in the vertical direction. placed in the same position. That is, the pair of grippers located at each end of the exchange arm 118 are arranged in a vertical plane parallel to the axis O of rotation.

The exchange arm assembly 150 can reciprocate in the direction of the rotation axis O of the stocker 130 as described above. More specifically, the exchange arm 118 can reciprocate in the direction of the rotational axis O of the stocker 130 between the forward position and the retracted position. In the advanced position, the forwardly disposed grippers 120, 124 engage the V-grooves 16, 26, respectively, of the tool 10' and machining fluid supply sleeve 20' held in the tool holding member 140' in the exchange position. do. Preferably, in the exchange position, the tool 10' held by the tool holding member 140' and the V-grooves 16, 26 of the working fluid supply sleeve 20' are arranged in the same vertical plane.

The exchange arm 118 is rotatable about an axis O ₁ extending horizontally perpendicular to the rotation axis O of the stocker 130 . The exchange arm assembly 150 includes a hydraulic cylinder (not shown) that rotationally drives the exchange arm 118 _about the axis O1. The hydraulic cylinders may be controlled by the machine controller of the machine tool associated with automatic tool changer 100 .

Furthermore, the exchange arm 118 is provided so as to be able to reciprocate in the direction of the axis _O1 . The exchange arm assembly ₁₅₀ includes an actuator (not shown) that reciprocates the exchange arm 118 in the direction of the axis O1. The actuator can be a hydraulic cylinder, for example a hydraulic cylinder or a pneumatic cylinder. The actuator may be controlled by a machine controller of a machine tool associated with automatic tool changer 100 .

In this embodiment, the automatic tool changer 100 is specifically configured such that the axis O ₁ of the changer arm assembly 150 is parallel to the axis of rotation of the spindle of the machine tool associated with the automatic tool changer 100 . there is That is, in the case of the automatic tool changer 100 according to the illustrated embodiment, the machine tool is a horizontal machine tool.

After finishing the machining process with one tool, the tool is changed according to the machining program input to the NC unit of the machine tool. First, the tool to be used in the next process is indexed to the replacement position. Exchange arm 118 is then advanced to engage tool 10' and machining fluid supply sleeve 20' in the exchange position.

Next, the tool 10' held by the tool holding member 140' in the exchange position and the tool 10' held by the tool holding member 140' in the exchange position are moved by projecting the exchange arm 118 along the axis _O1 , that is, moving leftward in FIGS. The machining fluid supply sleeve 20' is removed from the tool mounting portion 142 and the sleeve mounting portion 144, respectively.

In the retracted position, the rearwardly disposed grippers 122, 126 engage a tool (not shown) mounted in the tapered bore of the spindle of the machine tool and the V-groove of the working fluid supply sleeve mounted in the sleeve mounting hole. 16 and 26 respectively. Next, by protruding the replacement arm 118 along the axis O1, it is removed from the tapered hole of the _main shaft and the sleeve mounting hole.

In this way, with the tool 10 and the working fluid supply sleeve 20 held at both ends of the exchange arm 118, the exchange arm 118 is rotated by ₁₈₀ ° around the axis O1, whereby the tool attached to the spindle and the stocker 130 are rotated. The tool 10' attached to the machine is replaced together with the working fluid supply sleeve 20. - 特許庁

Next, the tool 10' and the machining fluid supply sleeve 20' are mounted in the tapered hole and the sleeve mounting hole of the spindle according to the procedure opposite to the above-described procedure, and then the tool and the sleeve mounting portion 142 are mounted on the tool mounting portion 142 and the sleeve mounting portion 144. The machining fluid supply sleeve is installed and the tool change process is complete.

In this embodiment, the plurality of tools 10 are rotated so that the longitudinal center axis OT of the tools 10 does not pass through the rotation axis O of the _stocker and is arranged in a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis O. Arranged about the axis O and held by the stocker 130 , the tool 10 is oriented obliquely with respect to the rotation axis O of the stocker 130 . Therefore, it is possible to hold more tools 10 without increasing the radius of the stocker 130 . Although the inclination angle of the center axis OT of the tool 10 with respect to the rotation axis O of the _stocker 130 is not particularly limited, it is preferably 45°.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 tool 12 shank portion 14 tapered portion 16 V groove 20 machining fluid supply sleeve 22 nozzle mounting portion 22a nozzle mounting hole 24 tapered portion 26 V groove 100 automatic tool changer 110 stand 112 guide rail 114 guide rail 116 base portion 118 exchange arm 120 Gripper 122 Gripper 124 Gripper 126 Gripper 130 Stocker 130 Arm support plate 132 Arm 136 Slider 140 Tool holding member 142 Tool mounting section 144 Sleeve mounting section 150 Exchange arm assembly

Claims (7)

In an automatic tool changer that holds multiple tools and exchanges tools with a machine tool,
a stocker rotatably supported about a rotation axis and holding a plurality of tools;
a tool exchange arm assembly provided with grippers at both ends for gripping tools, and a tool exchange arm assembly between the stocker and the spindle of the machine tool;
The stocker holds the plurality of tools around the rotation axis such that the longitudinal central axes of the plurality of tools are arranged in a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis without passing through the rotation axis. An automatic tool changer characterized by: 2. The automatic tool changer of claim 1, wherein said stocker includes a plurality of radially projecting arms, each arm having a tool holder for holding one end of said tool. 3. The automatic tool changer according to claim 2, wherein said exchange arm assembly can move toward and away from said stocker in the direction of said rotational axis between an advanced position and a retracted position. The stocker is indexable so that one of the plurality of arms is positioned at a replacement position at a predetermined angular position about the rotation axis,
4. The automatic tool changer of claim 3, wherein when said change arm assembly is in said advanced position, said gripper engages a tool held by said arm in said change position. 3. The automatic tool changer according to claim 2, wherein said arm further has a sleeve holding part holding a working fluid supply sleeve parallel to the tool held by said arm. 6. The automatic tool changer of claim 5, wherein said changer arm assembly has a pair of grippers at each end for gripping said tool and said working fluid supply sleeve. 7. The automatic tool changer of claim 6, wherein each pair of grippers are arranged in a vertical plane parallel to the axis of rotation.

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