JP3180234U - Equipment that supplies and receives multiple fluids, electricity, and light to tools and related equipment in machines where tools can be changed, especially in machining centers - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides an apparatus that can automatically supply fluids, electricity, and the like under optimum conditions to various tool holders, devices, and the like, and that enables mutual communication between a machine side and a device side.
A power source 12 is distributed by a distribution device 17 to devices a ′, b ′, c ′, and d ′ that require these power sources. The distributed power source 12 is sent to an opening / closing adjustment device 18 having an opening / closing function and an adjustment function that can be controlled from the machine side, and is guided to a rotary joint 20 by a connecting tube 19. In the connection tube 19, there are a plurality of connection tubes through which the power source 12 passes. These tubes enter the connecting pipe 21 through the rotary joint 20 and are guided to the telescopic tube 22 to reach the devices a ′, b ′, c ′, d ′ with the supply pipe 23.
[Selection] Figure 7

Description

The present invention relates to an apparatus for facilitating the supply and reception of fluid, electricity, and light to a tool holder and related equipment in a tool-changeable machine.

Among machine tools, a machining center that can automatically change tools is a very convenient machine that can be used to change tools one after another according to commands from the control side. Although these machining centers and the like have various structural forms, a simple structure of a typical small three-axis machining center will be described with reference to FIG.

The magazine 2 installed in the machine body 1 has a structure in which a plurality of tool holders 4 and devices 4 to which tools 3 are attached can be mounted. The magazine 2 can be rotated to the left and right as indicated by an arrow around the rotation axis with a plurality of tool holders and devices attached, and the necessary tool holders can be called to the lower part of the magazine. The called tool holder is mounted on the spindle 6 through a tool change operation 5 according to a tool holder change command. The main shaft 6 is attached to the side surface of the main body 1 and incorporates a motor capable of rotating a tool holder or the like. The main shaft 6 is not fixed to the machine body 1 and can be moved up and down via a motor or the like by a command from the control side. A workpiece 8 to be machined is fixed on a generally called table 7. This table 7 can also be moved back and forth and left and right via a motor or the like by a command from the spindle 6 and the control side. An arbitrary tool holder with a tool or the like attached to the magazine 2 by a control program is attached to the spindle by a tool change operation, and a workpiece 6 is moved by a spindle 6 that moves up and down while rotating the tool and a table 7 that can move forward and backward and left and right. A machine having a structure capable of processing the object 8 is called a machining center.

FIG. 2 briefly explains a tool holder replacement method of a machining center having such a tool holder replacement method. A tool holder attached to the spindle 6 is assumed to be A, and a tool holder attached to the uppermost portion of the magazine 2 is assumed to be B. The plurality of tool holders are supported by a plurality of arms C attached to the magazine 2. In response to the tool holder replacement command, the magazine 2 moves by a counterclockwise angle around the fulcrum D, and the arm C engages with the tool holder A. Next, the spindle 6 moves up the side surface of the main body 1 to the point F. At this time, the tool holder A is fixed to the arm C that is pulled out of the spindle 6 and attached to the magazine 2. Next, the magazine 2 is rotated 180 degrees for convenience by the rotation mechanism 9 and the positions of the tool holder B at the uppermost position and the tool holder A at the lowermost position are switched. The main shaft 6 at the point F is lowered to the point E, and the tool holder B is mounted on the main shaft 6. Finally, the magazine 2 moves clockwise around the fulcrum D, and the arm C attached to the magazine 2 is pulled out from the tool holder B and returns to the initial state. With such a series of operations, the tool holder replacement is completed by the tool holder replacement command.

Machining centers, etc. that can perform machining operations while exchanging tools and equipment unattended are very convenient machines. With the progress of motors that rotate tools, machines that can rotate tools more than 30,000 revolutions per minute are not uncommon.

However, in order to manufacture products quickly, shorten delivery times, and reduce costs, further efforts for high-speed machining and high precision are indispensable for improving machine performance. Increasing the rotation speed of the spindle as a means for shortening the machining time of the work piece leads to shortening of the machining work. This is easily obtained from the formula shown in Equation 1. If the rotational speed is simply doubled, the machining time can be reduced to one-half.

Machine tools and equipment for high-speed rotation machining by attaching a high-speed spindle of an air turbine or electric motor that uses a fluid or electricity as a power source as a means to reduce machining time by rotating the spindle at high speed. Have been developed, and these have made it possible to perform high-speed rotation in the region of tens of thousands of rotations, which is difficult with ordinary machines, and the processing time has been dramatically reduced. In addition, processing methods that realize unmanned operation and high accuracy by using devices such as touch sensors and chucks using fluid or electricity have been gradually performed.

FIG. 3 shows an example of the use of these tools. A state in which a main spindle 6 is equipped with a device 10 such as a high-speed spindle that uses fluid or electricity as a power source, a touch sensor 11 used for dimension measurement, or the like. It is the schematic which showed. Normally, these 10 and 11 are attached to the main shaft 6 of the machine body through a tool changing operation, and it is necessary to supply a power source such as fluid or electricity from the outside in order to operate them.

There are roughly two methods for supplying fluid or electricity. As shown in FIG. 4, the power source 12 is guided to a so-called supply block 14 using an expansion tube, an expansion cable 13 and the like. A device called a supply pipe 15 is attached to a device such as a high-speed spindle, and the supply pipe 15 is automatically inserted into the supply block 14 by performing the tool holder changing operation 5. Therefore, the device 10 can be operated and stopped by turning on and off the power source 12. Although there may be a plurality of power sources designated by the tool holder, the equipment, or the like, several power sources can be switched using a switching valve or the like for one supply block. These are well-known mechanisms.

In the case of FIG. 5, there is a method in which the power source 12 is automatically and manually mounted using a coupler 16 after the tool holder is automatically replaced. This method is common when a high-speed rotating spindle or the like is used in an existing machine.

A schematic diagram of tool holder replacement when using a supply block is shown in FIG. A supply pipe 15 is attached to the tool holder B side mounted on the upper portion of the magazine 2. The power source 12 such as fluid and electricity is guided to the supply block 14 by using a pipe 13 or a cable 13. An exchange operation is performed in accordance with the tool holder exchange command, the supply pipe 15 is inserted into the supply block 14, and the power source 12 is supplied to the device or the like on the holder B side. By turning the power source 12 on and off in accordance with a command on the machine side, the tool holder, equipment, etc. can be operated independently of the main spindle of the machine body.

Using the method of Fig. 4 and Fig. 5, supplying fluid or electricity as a power source, machining work in high-speed machining area that is impossible only with the main spindle of the machine body, and various work using various equipment It is very convenient to be able to do it. However, these power source supply methods have several problems and have been desired to be improved.

First, due to the structure of the machine, there is a restriction that only one or a few supply blocks can be installed because of the space around the main shaft, and it is not possible to provide a plurality of power sources such as fluid or electricity under optimum conditions for various devices. This is because the supply block cannot be installed at a position other than the position designated by the machine manufacturer due to space problems, and the position desired by the user or a plurality of supply blocks cannot be handled. In the case of fluid, there is a method in which a plurality of fluids are prepared for one supply block as described above, and switching is performed by control on the machine side. Oil mist containing oil, oil, etc. may mix near the supply block outlet. For this reason, troubles may occur in the equipment and the like due to the flow of fluid other than the fluid specified by the equipment.

Second, mutual communication between the machine body and the tool holder, equipment, etc. is difficult. In the case of a supply block having an electrical contact, the contact itself is often exposed, and if the number of contacts is increased, there is a possibility that short circuit or contact failure may occur due to adhesion of foreign matters. Although there is a communication device using a non-contact sensor such as an infrared ray that does not have an electrical contact, similarly to the above, communication failure or malfunction is likely to occur due to adhesion of foreign matter or electrical noise. In addition, a non-contact switch such as a proximity switch cannot send electricity and cannot be used as a power source transmission.

Third, in the case of a machine not having a supply block, as shown in FIG. 5 described above, the power source is directly inserted into the supply pipe manually. Therefore, when the power source is inserted into the supply pipe, the machine must be stopped once and automatically Therefore, it is not efficient because it cuts the advantages of a machining center that can be operated unattended by exchanging tool holders and equipment one after another.

Fourthly, retrofitting is difficult for existing machines that do not have a supply block or the like. Unless the mounting accuracy of the supply block and the supply pipe is increased, fluid leakage and electrical contact failure are likely to occur, and it is very difficult to perform these works with high accuracy by retrofitting an existing machine. Therefore, it is expensive. This is why retrofitting supply blocks are not widespread.

These problems are a major obstacle for users who are trying to take on new machining areas using high-speed spindles and various equipment, and they are a factor that does not become popular even though they recognize the advantages of those equipment. . In addition, due to liquid leakage and contact trouble, the safety of workers is also a serious problem due to machine stoppage or malfunction.

JP 2008-264924 A JP 2003-89028 A JP 2003-159628 A JP-A-8-150536

In the current fluid or electricity supply method, it is difficult to increase the supply line, and it is difficult to supply fluid or electricity corresponding to various tools and equipment.

In the current supply method, there is a problem in automation and safety because fluid leakage and communication are likely to be disturbed due to adhesion or deterioration of foreign matter at the joint between the machine body and the tool holder and equipment.

The current supply method has various machine manufacturer specifications, and there is a problem in the compatibility of tool holders and equipment.

In the current supply method, the supply pipes and the like must be manually connected, and the connected supply pipes are not fixed in the machine, so there is a problem in safety and efficiency.

The connecting portion between the machine main body, the tool holder, and the equipment is required to have considerable accuracy, and retrofitting work is difficult, and it is difficult to provide fluid or electricity supply and communication to an existing machine.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention is a device that can automatically supply fluids, electricity, etc. under optimum conditions to various tool holders, devices, etc., and enables mutual communication between the machine side and the device side. The purpose was to provide.

The present invention equips the magazine side of the machine with several fluid, electrical, and optical communication supply lines that serve as power sources, and places rotary joints between these power sources and communication sources and tool holders and equipment. The main feature is that fluid or electricity under optimum conditions can be individually supplied and received for various tool holders and devices automatically or manually.

Although the present invention is a machine in which the tool can be exchanged, the machine control unit and the tool holder and the equipment can be connected with a plurality of electric cables and optical cables, so that electrical signals and optical signals can be exchanged. It is possible to communicate.

The present invention is characterized in that it can be retrofitted to an existing machine because it can be unitized into several components and piping can be arranged.

Although the supply device of the present invention is a machine capable of changing tools, it can supply a plurality of fluids or electricity under optimum conditions to various tool holders and equipment online, so that high-speed machining can be performed using a high-speed turbine spindle or the like. Diversification of processing methods such as promotion and unattended utilization of equipment such as a plurality of suction chucks can be realized.

Since both the machine side and the device side can be connected online with multiple electrical cables and optical cables, communication between the two is possible, and multiple devices such as touch sensors are used to feed back the measured values to the machine control side to It is possible to improve the accuracy, and to control the equipment etc. from the machine side or from a remote location, and to feed back data such as measured values to a remote location.

Since the supply device itself is unitized and piping and the like can be made small, it can be mounted on a worker's safety and existing machines relatively easily.

A simple diagram of a typical three-axis compact machining center that can automatically process tools by numerically controlling tool changes. The schematic diagram which demonstrated the tool holder replacement | exchange method of the small machining center of the said FIG. 1 from the side. Schematic diagram of when the main shaft is equipped with equipment such as a high-speed spindle or touch sensor that uses fluid or electricity as a power source. Schematic diagram illustrating a method of supplying fluid or electricity to a tool holder or the like using a supply block. Schematic showing how to connect a supply pipe using a manual coupler etc. that does not use a supply block. The schematic diagram which shows the typical structure in the case of supplying the fluid, electricity, etc. by a supply block using the said small-sized machining center of FIG. 1 from the side. 1 is an overall view of a fluid and electricity, light supply and receiving device according to the present invention. The main part figure of the magazine of the said fluid, electricity, light etc. supply and receiving apparatus.

Although it is a machine that can change tools such as a machining center, especially a machine center, it achieves the purpose of supplying and receiving multiple fluids, electricity, and light to various tool holders and equipment. It is also possible to communicate with. In addition, by making the entire device into a unit, it can be easily mounted on existing machines.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of a device capable of supplying and receiving a plurality of fluids, electricity, and light, and further communicable according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

The power source 12 is fed from the outside from a compressor, hydraulic equipment, electrical equipment, or the like, and becomes a power source for a tool holder, equipment, or the like. These power sources 12 are distributed to a plurality of devices such as devices a ', b', c 'and d' that require these power sources by a distribution device 17 having a distribution function. The distributed power source 12 is fed into an opening / closing adjustment device 18 having an opening / closing function and an adjustment function that can be controlled from the machine side, and is opened / closed and controlled to an optimum condition by a command from the machine side. However, 17 and 18 may be reversed. The optimized plurality of power sources 12 are led to the rotary joint 20 by a connecting tube 19 and an electric cable 19. Commercially available parts such as fluid only, electricity only, and both fluid and electricity can be used for the rotary joint 20 as they are, and the three functions of fluid and electricity supply and telecommunications can be combined. FIG. 27 is a cross-sectional view of the connecting tube 19 of FIG. 7 taken along the cutting line 26. In the connecting tube 19, a plurality of power sources 12 distributed and optimized by the distributing device 17 and the opening / closing adjusting device 18 are passed. A, b, c, d, etc. are included. For example, a and b can be fluid tubes, c can be an electric cable, and d can be an optical cable. These tubes enter the connecting pipe 21 through the rotary joint 20 and are guided to the telescopic tube 22 and the telescopic cable 22, and are attached to the supply pipe 23, which is a tool holder, equipment, or the like that requires these power sources. Reach ', c', d '. The telescopic tube 22 and the telescopic cable 22 are covered with a metal or resin cover using a coil hose, coil cable, telescopic cylinder, etc. to protect them from foreign matters such as cutting dust, and to prevent unnecessary rotation of the tool holder, equipment, etc. It also serves as a stop to prevent it. In the figure, a, b, c, d and a ', b', c ', d' are a pair. As a result, the plurality of power sources 12 optimized for the equipment and the like can be individually led online to each tool holder and equipment without interruption from the entrance. If fluid and electrical rotary joints and optical rotary joints are used in parallel with the magazine rotation axis, both electricity and light can be connected online, so multiple electrical cables and optical fibers are used and electricity or light is used. Two-way communication is possible. Since a series of these pipes and the like can be constituted by a single unit attached to 24 flanges and the like, they can be easily attached to existing machines by means of screws and bolts 25 in the figure.

A plurality of tool holders and devices that use fluid or electricity as a power source can be used, and high-speed and high-precision processing and automation using a plurality of sensor devices such as a plurality of touch sensors are promoted.

More power supply and electrical communication lines can be taken than before, and it can be used for purposes other than cutting, assembly of equipment using electric screwdrivers, on-machine inspection, etc. Can be found.

Since power sources and communication lines are connected online, fluid leakage and electrical contact troubles are reduced, which helps reduce unexpected machine stop troubles.

Since it can be composed of several units as a whole and troubles due to entanglement of piping etc. can be reduced, it helps to improve the safety of workers. Moreover, it can be easily attached to existing equipment, and the processing area of the existing equipment can be expanded without renewing new equipment.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Machine main body 2 Magazine which fixes tool holder etc. 3 Tool etc. which work a workpiece 4 Tool holder, equipment etc. which attach tool etc. 5 Movement for attaching tool holder etc. attached to magazine 2 to a spindle
Work 6 Spindle 7 with tool holder mounted and rotated 7 Table 8 controlled by machine control and can be moved back and forth and left and right Workpiece 9 fixed on table 9 Motor for rotating and moving magazine 2, etc. However, there are machines that do not exist.
10 High-speed spindle, ultrasonic spindle, etc. using air or electricity as the power source 11 Electricity, etc., power source and equipment such as touch sensor or suction chuck 12 Power of fluid or electricity that can drive the high-speed spindle, equipment, etc. source.
13 Tubes and cables for guiding the power source 12 to the supply block 14 14 Supply block for guiding fluid, electricity, etc. to equipment such as a high-speed spindle.
15 Supply pipe 16 that can connect a supply block and a high-speed spindle, etc. A coupler for connecting the power source 12 and a supply pipe attached to a device such as a high-speed spindle.
17 Distributing equipment that can distribute fluid, electricity, etc. as a power source.
18 Opening / closing adjuster 19 that controls the distributed power source to the conditions desired by the tool holder, equipment, etc. and opens and closes by command 19 Flexible tube and electrical cable connecting the individually adjusted power source and the rotary joint.
20 Rotary joints that send individually adjusted power sources to tool holders, equipment, etc. and also have electrical contacts.
21 A connecting pipe that sends a power source to a certain distance from the rotary joint.
22 A telescopic connection pipe, an electric cable, or the like that connects the connection pipe 21 and a supply pipe 23 attached to a tool holder or a device. With a cover that doubles as a non-rotating function and protects pipes and electrical cables.
23 Supply pipes from tool holders and equipment.
24 Flange for attaching the device of the present invention to a machine.
25 Screws to fix the flange etc. to the machine.
26 A cutting line for cutting the connecting tube 19.
27 is a sectional view showing the inside of the connecting tube 19.
A Tool holder attached to spindle 6
B Tool holder already installed in magazine 2
C Components attached to the magazine 2 to grasp the tool holder
D Support point for rotating magazine 2
E Position where spindle 6 can be replaced with tool holder
F Position where the tool holder comes off the spindle 6

Claims (5)

It is possible to supply and receive multiple fluids under optimum conditions for multiple tool holders and machine tools arbitrarily and automatically via various rotary joints installed in the tool holder storage magazine in a tool replaceable machine. apparatus. 2. The fluid and electricity according to claim 1, wherein the power source and the tool holder and various devices are connected online via the various rotary joints to reduce fluid leakage and poor electrical contact individually and automatically. Equipment that can be supplied with In a tool-changeable machine, a controller on the machine side or outside and various tool holders and devices with communication functions can be electrically connected online via various rotary joints, enabling multiple bidirectional communications. An apparatus capable of supplying and receiving the fluid, electricity and the like according to claim 1 individually and automatically. It is possible to connect a plurality of tool holders and devices with communication functions to a machine control unit or the outside via an optical rotary joint in a machine where tools can be exchanged, and to control the machine etc. from the machine control unit or the outside. 4. A device according to claim 3, wherein said plurality of fluids, electricity and light can be supplied and received individually and automatically. 2. A plurality of fluids, electricity, and light can be individually and automatically added to an existing machine, and a plurality of high-speed rotation functions and automation functions that are impossible with an existing machine can be added. Equipment that can be supplied with

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