JP2542841B2 - Machine Tools - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A. Purpose of the Invention (1) Field of Industrial Application The present invention has a plurality of types of tools arranged around a processing unit to enable selective connection with the processing unit. Related to machine tools.

(2) Conventional Technology Conventionally, such a machine tool is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Publication No. 49-33992.
It is publicly known from Japanese Patent Publication No.

(3) Problems to be Solved by the Invention By the way, in the above-mentioned conventional one, the processing unit is movable only in the horizontal X-axis direction which is the axial direction of the spindle, and in the horizontal Z-axis orthogonal to the X-axis and The work range is covered by moving the work in the vertical Y-axis direction. However, although such a machine tool can handle small-quantity small-quantity production or small-process small-quantity production, in order to handle various mass-produced workpieces such as motorcycle engines, a plurality of machines must be used. It is necessary to prepare a machine tool. Moreover, since it is necessary to move the work side in the Z-axis and Y-axis directions, it is difficult to incorporate the machine tool in the transfer line, and it is necessary to prepare special equipment for the work transfer of the machine tool.

Further, in the above-mentioned conventional one, the tool is exchanged by rotating a frustoconical drum provided with a plurality of holding holes for holding a plurality of tools at intervals in the circumferential direction, and the axis of the drum is Since it is inclined, the structure for rotationally driving the drum becomes complicated.

Therefore, in order to solve the above problems, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 61-
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 95845 and Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 59-39139, a spindle of a processing unit that can move in any of the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis, and a rotary unit that can rotate about a horizontal or vertical axis and Machine tools that can transfer tools to and from magazine plates that can store multiple tools have already been proposed.In these proposals, the magazine plate is located on the spindle side of the machining unit (the former one). In the case of the publication, the upper side, and in the case of the latter publication, the side), which are arranged long along a plane orthogonal to the spindle axis,
If the magazine plate itself has a large diameter due to the large number of tools to be held, etc., it will be arranged so as to extend to one side of the spindle, which is a disadvantage in reducing the weight and size of the entire device. is there. Also, especially in the former publication,
Magazine plate (tool drum 23) and spindle (spindle)
3a, 3b) b) tool delivery is performed by rotating the movable part or the spindle axis of the delivery device including the tool holding carriage (13), the exchange arm (15), etc., which are specially interposed between them. Since the movement is performed along the direction (that is, while the spindle is stationary), the structure of the delivery mechanism is complicated as a whole and the delivery work cannot be performed quickly. On the other hand, the latter publication In order to transfer the tool between the magazine plate (32) and the spindle (spindle head 16), the magazine plate itself should be moved laterally in the direction orthogonal to the spindle axis (left and right in Figs. 3 and 5). Therefore, when handing over the tool, it is necessary to not only simply rotate the magazine plate but also linearly move it, which complicates the movement of the plate as a whole, and the work cannot be performed quickly. There's a problem.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a machine tool that can solve the problems of the above-mentioned conventional devices all at once.

B. Configuration of the Invention (1) Means for Solving the Problems To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a magazine plate for supporting a plurality of gripping mechanisms capable of detachably holding a plurality of types of tools, And a machining unit in which a spindle capable of detachably mounting these tools on the tip is arranged along the horizontal X axis, and between the gripping mechanism and the spindle,
In a machine tool capable of selectively delivering tools, a horizontal Z that is supported on a base and is orthogonal to the X axis.
A plurality of guide bars extending in the vertical Y-axis direction are erected on a slide table movable in the axial direction, and a processing unit is mounted on an elevating table that is guided and supported by these guide bars and is movable along the bars. The unit is provided so as to be able to move between the original position and the processing position along the X-axis direction, and a magazine plate horizontally arranged above the processing unit is erected on the elevation table around the processing unit. A ring member formed concentrically with the plate is connected to the magazine plate integrally via a guide post so as to be rotatable about a vertical axis passing through the center of the plate. A plurality of gripping mechanisms are arranged on the ring member side by side at intervals in the circumferential direction of the ring member so that the gripping mechanisms surround the spindle, and each gripping mechanism grips the tool. Has a plurality of gripping members that can be opened and closed between a closed position that opens the tool and an open position that allows the spindle to pass and each gripping mechanism is in a working position where it can face the spindle in the original position. When the tool is gripped by the tool, the tool is mounted on the spindle by the forward movement of the spindle in the X-axis direction, and the spindle is disengaged from the tool by the backward movement of the spindle in the X-axis direction. .

(2) Operation According to the above configuration, the processing unit can be moved in any of the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis directions, and the processing range can be expanded even when the workpiece is fixed. Moreover, since each gripping mechanism is supported by the ring member that rotates about the vertical axis, the mechanism for driving the gripping mechanism is simplified.

When changing the tool, rotate the ring member to
Place the two gripping mechanisms in the working position facing the spindle,
By simply moving the spindle back and forth along the X axis,
Since the tool can be mounted / removed to / from the spindle immediately, the tool delivery work between the holding mechanism on the magazine plate and the spindle on the processing unit, and the delivery device is specially interposed between them. It is possible to carry out the process directly without performing the above, and extremely easily and quickly without special lateral movement of the magazine plate. Further, when the processing unit advances to the processing position side after the delivery, it is only necessary to open the gripping member of the gripping mechanism to the open position so as not to hinder the advancement. It is not necessary to perform the avoidance operation, and the tool delivery process is greatly simplified as a whole, and the work time for tool exchange is greatly shortened.

Moreover, since the plurality of gripping mechanisms arranged in parallel in the circumferential direction on the ring member are arranged so as to surround the processing unit, even if there are a large number of these gripping mechanisms, they should be reasonably compact as possible around the processing unit. In addition, even if the magazine plate and the ring member have a large diameter by providing a large number of gripping mechanisms, they are placed on a horizontal plane substantially along the upper surface of the spindle, and the direction orthogonal to the spindle axis (that is, Therefore, it is possible to arrange a large number of gripping mechanisms around the processing unit without increasing the size of the apparatus as a whole, and to make the apparatus smaller and lighter as a whole.

(3) Embodiment Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, in FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, this machine tool is for machining a work W, for example, an engine of a motorcycle. The work W conveyed by the conveyance means 1 is fixed at a predetermined position, and the work W is selected from a plurality of kinds, for example, eight kinds of tools T1 to T8 corresponding to the kind and shape of the work W. W can be processed.

The machine tool is movable in the vertical Y-axis direction along a horizontal slide table 3 movable on the fixed base 2 in the Z-axis direction and four guide bars 4 installed upright on the slide table 3. Lift table 5, a processing unit 6 disposed on the lift table 5 so as to be able to move forward and backward at an original position HP and a processing position WP along a horizontal X axis direction orthogonal to the Z axis and the Y axis, and the lift table 5 And a horizontally arranged magazine plate 7, an annular guide rail 8 fixedly mounted on the magazine plate 7, and tools T1 to T8 that are detachably gripped and along the guide rail 8. And a plurality of, for example, eight gripping mechanisms 9, 9 ...

Conveying means 1 extending along the Z-axis direction is laid on one side of the base 2 along the X-axis direction, and the works W placed on the pallet 11 are sequentially conveyed by the conveying means 1. Moreover, a fixing means (not shown) for temporarily fixing the pallet 11 and the work W is provided at a part of the transport means 1 corresponding to the processing unit 6.

On the base 2, a pair of rails extending along the Z-axis direction
13,13 are fixed in parallel with each other with a space between them,
The slide table 3 is guided by those rails 13, 13 and is movable in the Z-axis direction.

A screw shaft 14 extending in the Z-axis direction penetrates and is screwed to the slide table 3 between both rails 13 and 13. One end of the screw shaft 14 is rotatably supported by a support portion 21 provided on the base 2. To be done. The other end of the screw shaft 14 is rotatably supported in a gear box 15 provided on the base 2. Further, a Z-axis motor 16 and a gear box 17 incorporating a gear mechanism connected to the Z-axis motor 16 are arranged on the side of the base 2, and the screw shaft 14 is provided in one of the gear boxes 15 to the screw shaft 14. The gear mechanism linked and linked and the gear mechanism in the other gear box 17 are linked via a transmission shaft 18. Therefore, the screw shaft 14 is rotationally driven by the operation of the Z-axis motor 16, and the slide table 3 is driven in the Z-axis direction.

On the slide table 3, four vertically extending guide bars 4 are provided upright, and the four guide bars 4 guide the elevating table 5 so that it can be moved up and down. The lifting table 5 has a pair of mutually parallel rails extending in the X-axis direction.
20 and 20 are fixedly provided, and the processing position WP for processing the work W fixed on the transfer means 1 by the rails 20 and 20.
And the original position HP retracted from the machining position WP, the machining unit 6 is guided in the X-axis direction.

An X-axis motor 22 having a rotation axis extending in the X-axis direction is attached to a side portion of the lifting table 5 opposite to the conveying means 1. Moreover, one end of the screw shaft is connected to the X-axis motor 22 and the other end is supported by the lifting table 5.
Reference numeral 23 is parallel to the X axis between both rails 20 and 20 and penetrates and is screwed into the processing unit 6, and the operation of the X axis motor 22 drives the processing unit 6 in the X axis direction.

In the processing unit 6, a spindle drive motor 25 having a rotation axis along the X-axis direction and a spindle drive motor 25 thereof are attached to a unit main body 24 fitted to both rails 20, 20 and screwed with the screw shaft 23. And a gear box 27 in which a spindle 26 connected to the gear mechanism is projected, and the spindle 26 is attached to the machining position WP side from the upper portion of the gear box 27 along the X-axis direction. Is projected to.

The lower ends of four cylindrical guide posts 28 that gently pass through the respective guide bars 4 are fixed to the lifting table 5, and the upper ends of these guide posts 28 are arranged horizontally above the processing unit 6. Fixed to the magazine plate 7, each guide bar 4 also penetrates the magazine plate 7. Therefore, the elevating table 5 and the magazine plate 7 are integrally connected via the four guide posts 28, and ascend and descend integrally.

Referring also to FIG. 4, the magazine plate 7 is formed in a disk shape having an opening 30 in the center thereof,
On the upper surface of the outer peripheral edge of the magazine plate 7, an annular guide rail 8 having the processing unit 6 located at the original position HP as the center is arranged so that its outer surface is flush with the outer surface of the magazine plate 7 by a plurality of bolts 31. It is fixed. Moreover, the diameters of the outer peripheral surfaces of the magazine plate 7 and the guide rail 8 are set so that the outer surfaces of the magazine plate 7 and the guide rail 8 are at the outer position than the tip of the spindle 26 when the processing unit 6 is at the original position HP. To be done.

In FIG. 5, on the magazine plate 7, the outer surface of a ring gear 32, which is a ring member arranged concentrically with the guide rail 8, is slidably mounted on the inner surface of the guide rail 8 by sliding contact with the outer surface thereof. Inner teeth 32a are formed on the inner surface of the ring gear 32. Moreover, magazine plate 7
An index motor 33 having a vertical axis is fixed above the bracket via a bracket 34, and a pinion gear 35 fixed to the output shaft of the index motor 33 is meshed with inner teeth 32a of the ring gear 32. Therefore, by operating the index motor 33, the ring gear 32 can be angularly displaced by a desired angle.

The upper end of each guide bar 4 is connected by a horizontal connecting plate 36, and a Y-axis motor 37 having a vertical axis is fixed and supported on the lower surface of the connecting plate 36. In addition, at the position displaced from the Y-axis motor 37, the upper end of a vertically extending ball tongue 38 is rotatably supported by the connecting plate 36.
The lower end of 38 is screwed onto the magazine plate 7. Moreover, Y
The upper ends of the shaft motor 37 and the ball screw 38 are connected via an endless chain 40 incorporated in a chain box 39 arranged above the connecting plate 36, and the connecting plate 36 and the magazine plate 7 are connected to each other with a ball. A telescopic cover 41 surrounding the screw 38 is provided. Therefore, the Y-axis motor
By actuating 37, the magazine plate 7 and the lifting table 5 integrated with it move in the Y-axis direction, that is, in the vertical direction.

Each gripping mechanism 9, 9 ... Includes a ring gear 3 as a ring member.
2, a support plate 43 supported in parallel in the circumferential direction and slidable along the guide rail 8, a pair of gripping members 44, 45 slidably supported by the support plate 43, and both gripping members. Member 44,
And a spring 46 stretched between 45.

The support plate 43 is formed in a substantially L-shaped vertical cross section so as to be in sliding contact with the outer surfaces of the magazine plate 7 and the guide rail 8 and the upper surface of the guide rail 8, and is connected to the ring gear 32 by a pin 47. I.e. ring gear 32
A plurality of fitting holes 38 into which the pins 47 are to be fitted are provided at intervals in the circumferential direction on the upper surface of the support plate 43, and press-fitting holes 49 into which the pins 47 are to be press-fitted are formed in the support plate 43. It Therefore,
By providing a large number of fitting holes 48 in the ring gear 32, the support plate 43 can be connected to the ring gear 32 at any position, and the number of gripping mechanisms 9 can be set within the number of fitting holes 48. Can be selected.

The gripping members 44 and 45 are formed in a substantially C-shape facing each other, and the gripping members 44 and 45 slide on the support plate 43 by the support shafts 51 and 52 at their upper portions separated from each other. Supported as possible. By the way, each of the tools T1, T2 ... T8 is attached to the holder 53, and is fitted into the annular groove 54 provided on the outer surface of the holder 53 to hold the holder 53 from both sides on the same axis as the spindle 26. The gripping claws 44a and 45a are provided below the gripping members 44 and 45, respectively. The spring 46 is stretched between the gripping members 44 and 45 at a position lower than the support shafts 51 and 52.
44 and 45 are urged in the direction in which their lower grip claws 44a and 45a approach each other, that is, in the direction in which the holder 53 is gripped from both sides.

On the upper part of the gripping members 44, 45, there are pressing portions 44b, 4 overlapping each other.
5b are provided respectively, and these pressing portions 44b, 45b are provided.
By pressing downwards, both gripping members 44, 45
The holding claws 44a, 45a are urged against the spring force of 6 in the direction in which they are separated from each other, that is, in the direction in which the holding state of the holder 53 is released.

The magazine plate 7 is fixed to the magazine plate 7 at a portion corresponding to the spindle 26 of the processing unit 6, and a bracket 55 projecting outward from the support plate 43 of the gripping mechanism 9 is fixed to the magazine plate 7. A cylinder 56 having is attached. The cylinder 56 is for releasing the gripping state of the gripping mechanism 9, and the bracket is provided at a position where the piston rod 57 can press both the pressing portions 44b, 44b of both gripping members 44, 45 downward. Mounted on 55. That is, the cylinder 57 presses the pressing portions 44b and 45b downward, whereby the two gripping members 44 and 45 of the gripping mechanism 9 rotate in the direction in which the gripped state of the holder 53 is released.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. The type shape and processing form of the work W conveyed by the conveying means 1 are detected before the work W is fixed by the fixing means, and based on the information. One of the tools T1 to T8 is selected and mounted on the spindle 26 of the processing unit 6. That is, while the machining unit 6 is in the original position HP, the index motor 33 is operated to drive the ring gear 32 for angular displacement, and the gripping mechanism 9 holding one selected from the tools T1 to T8 corresponds to the spindle 26. It is rotated to the position. Next, the processing unit 6 is moved to its original position by the X-axis motor 22.
Slightly advance from HP to processing position WP. As a result, the spindle 26 is fitted into the holder 53, and the holder 53 is connected to the spindle 26 by the fastening mechanism built in the holder 53.

Then, the cylinder 56 is extended so that the pressing portions 44b, 45b of the gripping mechanism 9 are pressed downward, and the gripping mechanism 9 is pressed.
The holding state of the holder 53 by is released. At this time, both gripping members 44, 45 of the gripping mechanism 9 not only release the gripped state of the holder 53 but also rotate upward to a position that does not prevent the processing unit 6 from advancing to the processing position WP. That is, the opening operation is performed.

Therefore, the X-axis motor 22 is further operated to move the machining unit 6 forward to the machining position WP, and the spindle drive motor
The working of the work W is started by operating 25. At this time, the processing unit 6 is on the elevating table 5 movable in the Y-axis direction, and the elevating table 5 is on the slide table 3 movable in the Z-axis direction. It is possible to move in any direction of the X-axis and the X-axis, and the workpiece W in the fixed state can be effectively processed over a wide range. Therefore, a special device for moving the work W on the side of the transfer means 1 is not required, and the structure of the transfer means 1 is simplified.

When removing the holder 53 from the processing unit 6, the holder is in the process of returning the processing unit 6 from the processing position WP to the original position P.
When the annular groove 54 of 53 reaches the position corresponding to the gripping mechanism 9 in the open state, the retracting operation of the processing unit 6 is temporarily stopped and the cylinder 56 is contracted. As a result, the two gripping members 44, 45 of the gripping mechanism 9 are gripped by the springs 46 by the gripping claws 44a, 45a.
Rotate so that they approach each other, and the gripping claws 44a and 45a fit into the annular groove 54 and grip the holder 53 from both sides thereof. Then, when the backward movement of the processing unit 6 is restarted, the fastening state between the holder 53 and the spindle 26 is released.

In this way, any of the tools T1 to T8 can be selected and mounted on the processing unit 6, and it is possible to cope with changes in the type, shape and processing form of the work W. Moreover, each gripping mechanism 9 uses the pin 47 to move the ring gear 32.
The number of gripping mechanisms 9 to be used can be increased or decreased by selecting the positions of the fitting holes 48 provided in the ring gear 32, and the attachment and removal thereof can be easily performed. Further, the other gripping mechanisms 9 except the gripping mechanism 9 at the position corresponding to the processing unit 6 can be easily attached / detached and exchanged during the processing, and it is not necessary to stop the processing operation, so that the processing time can be reduced. It can be shortened.

Further, each gripping mechanism 9 has a simple structure in which a spring 46 is stretched between two gripping members 44 and 45 supported by a support plate 43, and a cylinder 56 located at a position corresponding to the spindle 26.
By the expansion / contraction operation, any gripping mechanism 9 is surely opened / closed.

Furthermore, the guide rail 8 is a horizontal magazine plate 7
Is fixed to the guide rail 8 of each gripping mechanism 9.
Since it moves around the vertical axis along the
The structure for moving the is that the ring gear 32 slidably mounted on the magazine plate 7 is used as an index motor.
A simple one that is driven by 33 is enough.

C. Effects of the Invention As described above, according to the machine tool of the present invention, the machining unit can move in any of the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis directions, and the machining can be performed even if the workpiece is fixed. Since the range can be expanded, a device for specially moving the work is unnecessary. Moreover, since each gripping mechanism is supported by the ring member that rotates about the vertical axis, the structure for driving the gripping mechanism is simplified.

Further, in particular, the magazine plate is arranged horizontally above the processing unit, and a ring member formed concentrically with the plate is rotatably supported on the plate so as to be rotatable around a vertical axis passing through the center of the plate, A plurality of gripping mechanisms that are arranged in parallel in the circumferential direction at intervals in the circumferential direction and surround the spindle are arranged on the ring member, and each gripping mechanism releases the tool as well as the closing position where the gripping mechanism can grip the tool. Has a plurality of gripping members that can be opened and closed with respect to an open position that allows passage of the tool, and when each gripping mechanism is gripping the tool at a working position where it can face the spindle at the original position, Is mounted on the spindle by the forward movement of the spindle along the X-axis direction, and is also detached from the tool by the backward movement of the spindle along the X-axis direction. By rotating the ring member to place one gripping mechanism at a working position facing the spindle and simply moving the spindle back and forth along the X-axis, the tool can be immediately mounted and dismounted from the spindle. Therefore, the work of transferring tools between the gripping mechanism on the magazine plate and the spindle on the processing unit
Since it is possible to perform the delivery process directly without the interposition of a delivery device between them, and extremely easily and quickly without moving the magazine plate particularly laterally, the delivery process is greatly simplified. Furthermore, when the processing unit advances toward the processing position after the delivery, it is sufficient to simply open the gripping member of the gripping mechanism to the open position so as not to hinder the advancement, and specially avoid the magazine plate and the ring member itself. It doesn't need to work. As a result, the structure of the device can be simplified as a whole, and the time required for the tool replacement work can be greatly reduced.

Moreover, since the plurality of gripping mechanisms arranged in parallel in the circumferential direction on the ring member are arranged so as to surround the processing unit, even if there are a large number of these gripping mechanisms, they should be reasonably compact around the processing unit. In addition, even if the magazine plate and the ring member have a large diameter by providing a large number of gripping mechanisms, they are placed on a horizontal plane substantially along the upper surface of the spindle, and the direction orthogonal to the spindle axis ( That is, there is no large protrusion to the upper or side of the spindle, and therefore it is possible to reasonably arrange a large number of gripping mechanisms around the processing unit while reducing the size and weight of the device as a whole.

[Brief description of drawings]

The drawings show one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is an overall front view, FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line III-III of FIG. FIG. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of an arrow IV in FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of an arrow V in FIG. 2 ... Base, 3 ... Slide table, 5 ... Lifting table, 6 ... Processing unit, 7 ... Magazine plate,
8: guide rail, 9: gripping mechanism, HP: original position,
T1 to T8 …… Tool, W …… Workpiece, WP …… Machining position

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A magazine plate (7) for supporting a plurality of gripping mechanisms (9) capable of detachably holding a plurality of types of tools (T1 to T8) and a front portion of these tools (T1 to T8). And a machining unit (6) in which a spindle (26) that can be detachably mounted on the spindle is arranged along a horizontal X-axis, and a tool (T1 to In a machine tool designed to be able to selectively deliver T8), a slide table (3) supported on a base (2) and movable in a horizontal Z-axis direction orthogonal to the X-axis is vertically mounted. A plurality of guide bars (4) extending in the Y-axis direction are provided upright, and a processing unit (5) is supported on the guide bars (4) and movable on the lifting table (5) along the bars (4). 6), the unit (6) has an original position (HP) and a machining position (HP) along the X-axis direction. WP), and a magazine plate (7) arranged horizontally above the processing unit (6) on the lifting table (5).
Are integrally connected via a guide post (28) standing upright around the processing unit (6), and a ring member (concentric with the plate (7) is formed on the magazine plate (7) thereof. 32) is rotatably supported around a vertical axis passing through the center of the plate (7), and the ring member (3
2) a plurality of gripping mechanisms (9), and those gripping mechanisms (9)
So that the ring surrounds the spindle (26).
Are arranged side by side in the circumferential direction of each of the gripping mechanisms (9).
Is the closed position where the tool (T1 to T8) can be gripped, and the tool (T1
~ T8) and a plurality of gripping members (44, 4) that can be opened and closed with an open position that allows passage of the spindle (26).
5), each gripping mechanism (9) is in a working position where it can be opposed to the spindle (26) in the original position (HP), and the tools (T1 to T)
8) While holding the tool, attach the tool (T1 to T8) to the spindle (26) by moving the spindle (26) forward along the X-axis direction, and retreat the spindle (26) along the X-axis direction. A machine tool characterized in that the spindle (26) is disengaged from the tool (T1 to T8) by an operation.