JPH04164536A - Connector protecting device for machine tool - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To always accomplish a proper protecting function for a connector without inhibiting an effective use of a pallet area by carrying a cover plate between a storage place and a movable connector by the movement of a spindle to be attached and detached to and from the movable connector. CONSTITUTION:Stopping hooks C4 for a cover plate 30 are projected on right and left of a connector main body C2 and a lower portion on the front of a case C1 of a movable connector C, and the movable connector C is installed on a working table. A main body portion 31 of the cover plate 30 is adapted to cover the front of the connector main body C2 of the movable connector C, and on the back side, a recess portion 31a conformable to the connector main body C2 is formed and a recess portion 31b conformable to a projecting portion C2a of the connector main body C2 is formed. The cover plate 30 can be held by a gripping mechanism 20 by making a nipper 23 of a gripping mechanism 20 advance into a groove 33a and nipping a connecting portion 33 from both sides, and be stored with a tool holder 10 in the quite same manner as the other tools in an arbitrary tool storage position of a tool magazine while it is not used.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application This invention is applicable to a machine tool such as a machining center, which has a spindle that is movable in three dimensions relative to a processing table. This invention relates to a machine tool connector protection device for effectively protecting connectors that connect electricity, pressure fluid, etc. to attachments on pallets from a poor processing atmosphere.

In a conventional machine tool MC such as a machining center, when a workpiece W is carried onto the processing table TB via a pallet P, the workpiece W may be loaded onto the pallet P via an attachment A (see Fig. 8). ). Attachment A is, for example, an automatic indexing device such as an index table or a low table;
If you use
Even if machining cannot be performed only by three-dimensional movement of spindle C, machining can be completed smoothly by driving attachment A and changing the attitude of workpiece W.

At this time, since it is necessary to change the posture of the workpiece W during a series of machining operations by the machine tool MC, the attachment A is supplied with driving power from the outside via the automatically connected connectors CI and C2. However, control signals must be exchanged with an external control device CL. In this case, the connector C2 on the pallet P side is usually a fixed connector, and the connector C1 on the machine tool MC side is a movable connector mounted on a part of the processing table TB. Once carried in, the movable connector C1 is driven by an air cylinder or the like to complete the automatic connection with the fixed connector C2.

On the other hand, the connector C2 on the pallet P side does not need to be installed when the attachment A is not required for processing the workpiece W. In this case, the connector C1 on the machine tool MC side is left unconnected to the connector C2, so
There is a significant risk of contamination and performance deterioration due to the processing atmosphere, and it is essential to protect the connector C1 by some means. Therefore, conventionally, a dummy connector equivalent to the connector C2 is mounted on a pallet P that does not have an attachment A, and the connector C1 is connected to this dummy connector, or another automatic operation type is installed. Alternatively, a manually operated cover device is provided to protect the connector C1.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention According to the prior art, if a dummy connector is used, a certain area on the pallet is occupied by the dummy connector, which prevents effective use of the pallet area. Furthermore, if a dedicated cover device is provided, it is unavoidable that the eyes of this cover device will become soiled due to the processing atmosphere, and therefore, when such a soiled cover device is used repeatedly, it will have a negative effect on the connector, and even worse. There was an unavoidable risk that the protective function would be impaired. Furthermore, when the cover device is of an automatic operation type, there is also the drawback that the cover device itself becomes exaggerated and the structure becomes complicated.

Therefore, in view of the problems of the prior art, an object of the present invention is to use a cover plate that is conveyed by using the movement of the spindle of a machine tool and that is attached to and detached from a connector, thereby hindering the effective use of pallet area. To provide a connector protection device for a machine tool, which can always realize an appropriate protection function for a connector without causing any problems, and has a simple overall configuration.

Means for Solving the Problems The present invention has a structure in which a tool holder that can be attached to a spindle, a gripping mechanism that can be attached to the tool holder, and a tool that can be gripped by the gripping mechanism and installed on a processing table. The cover plate is attached to the spindle via a tool holder and a gripping mechanism, and the cover plate is attached to the spindle through a tool holder and a gripping mechanism, and the movement of the spindle allows movement between a predetermined storage location and the movable connector. The gist is to transport and attach/detach it to a movable connector.

Note that the storage location can be a tool storage position of an automatic tool changer.

In addition, in the transportation route between the storage location and the movable connector,
An air blower for cleaning the lid plate may be attached.

In this configuration, the lid plate is gripped by a gripping mechanism attached to the spindle via the tool holder, and by moving the spindle, it can be freely transported between a predetermined storage location and the movable connector. By keeping this storage location clean, it can always be kept sufficiently clean. Further, since the cover plate can be attached to and detached from the movable connector in the same manner, no special attaching/detaching device is required.

If the tool storage location of the automatic tool changer is used as the storage location, there is no need to prepare a special storage location.

If an air blowing device is attached, the cover plate can be blown with air from the air blowing device during transportation and immediately before being attached to the movable connector, so that it can be attached to the movable connector in a clean state. I can do it.

Example Examples will be described below with reference to the drawings.

A machine tool connector protection device includes a tool holder 10 that can be attached to a spindle SP of a machine tool, and a tool holder 1.
0, and a cover plate 30 that is attached to and detached from the movable connector C (FIG. 1).

The spindle SP uses a tool holder of the same shape as the tool holder 10 to mount various tools, and can perform arbitrary cutting on a workpiece (not shown).

The spindle SP is capable of rotationally driving the attached tool by a spindle motor (not shown), and also moves three-dimensionally within a predetermined range with respect to the processing table by a control device (not shown) to determine the processing position with respect to the workpiece. It is possible to select.

The movable connector C is installed on a processing table (not shown). The movable connector C is connected to a power source and control device (not shown), and by automatically connecting to a fixed connector (not shown) on the pallet, it transmits power to the attachment on the pallet and creates a connection between the attachment and the control device. The control signal transmission path can be completed.

The movable connector C includes a case C1 and a connector main body C2 installed inside the case C1.
2 can be moved back and forth in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1 by means of a short stroke air cylinder C3 housed in the case C1. That is, by moving the connector main body C2 forward, the connection with the fixed connector can be completed, and by moving it backward, the connection with the fixed connector can be severed.

Note that a protrusion C2a is formed on the front surface of the connector body C2 and serves as a positioning guide when connecting to a fixed connector, and a seal gasket C2b is attached to the front peripheral edge of the connector body C2. Further, on the front surface of the case C1, locking hooks C4, C4, .

The tool holder 10 has a taber shank part 11 that fits the spindle SP in the rear part, a holding groove 12 for tool exchange in the middle part, and a body part in the front part for mounting tools and a gripping mechanism 20. 13 is formed. A set screw (not shown) is screwed into the body part 13 from the side, and a mounting part for a tool or the like to be inserted into the body part 13 can be fixed. A pull stud lla may be provided on the rear end surface of the tapered shank portion 11.

The gripping mechanism 20 includes a stud 21 on the upper side that fits the body 13 of the tool holder 10 (FIGS. 1 and 2), and brackets 21b, 21b are fixed to the base of the stud 21 via a collar 21a. 0 bracket 21b,
A plate member 22.22 is screwed to the plate member 21b via a spacer 22a, and a pair of scissor members 23.23 are attached between the plate members 22.22 via a bolt 24. A tension spring 25 is installed between the scissors 23.23, and hemispherical steel balls 23a, 23a are fixed to the inner surface of the tip of the scissors 23.23.

The scissors 23.23 can open outward against the tension of the tension spring 25, and even in their natural state, they are held at a constant opening angle by a regulating member (not shown).

The lid plate 30 includes a disc-shaped main body part 31 and an auxiliary part 32 concentric with the main body part 31. The main body part 31 and the auxiliary part 32 are connected by a short cylindrical connecting part 33, and the connecting part 3
3 is smaller than the diameter of the auxiliary part 32, a groove 33a is formed between the main body part 31 and the auxiliary part 32, into which the scissors 23, 23 of the gripping mechanism 20 can enter. A pair of recesses 33b, 33b, into which the steel balls 23a, 23a of the scissors 23.23 engage, are formed at the bottom of the groove 33a, that is, on the outer periphery of the connecting portion 33.

The main body portion 31 is capable of covering the front surface of the connector main body C2 of the movable connector C (FIG. 3). Main body part 3
1 has a recess 31 that fits the connector body C2.
a is formed, and furthermore, a protrusion C2a of the connector main body C2 is formed.
A recessed portion 31b is formed to fit.

An air blower 41 is disposed near the movable connector C (FIG. 1). The air blower 41 is connected to an air source (not shown) via an air pipe 41a, and can blow air onto the back side of the cover plate 30 just before it is attached to the movable connector C.

This cover plate 30 is attached to the scissors 23 and 23 of the gripping mechanism 20.
can enter the groove 33a, sandwich the connecting portion 33 from both sides with the scissors 23.23, and hold it with the gripping mechanism 20 (FIGS. 2 and 3). At this time, in the scissors body 23.23, the distance d1 between the vertices of the steel balls 23a, 23a in its natural state is di<
If Dl (FIG. 4), the scissors 23.23 are simply advanced toward the connecting portion 33, and the steel balls 23a,
23a can be engaged with the recesses 33b, 33b to grip the lid plate 30. The scissor body 23.23 is a steel ball 23
This is because a, 23a slides along the outer periphery of the connecting portion 33 and is pushed outward. Furthermore, the grip can be released by simply fixing the lid plate 30 and retracting the scissors 23, 23.

The machine tool has tool magazine A in addition to spindle SP.
When equipped with automatic tool changer AT including TI (5th
), the lid plate 30 is gripped by the gripping mechanism 20, and is held together with the tool holder 10 by other tools Tf (i=1.2...
), when not in use, any tool storage position Pi (i=1.2...
) (double-dashed line in the same figure). In addition, the cover plate 30 and the tool Ti can be attached to the arrow 1 in the same figure as necessary.
, Tool exchange arm AT2 rotates in the K2 direction and moves up and down.
, the spindle S is moved to a predetermined tool exchange location via the tool exchange position Pc of the tool magazine ATL.
It is possible to freely transfer between P and the tool magazine ATL (FIGS. 5 and 6). That is, the cover plate 30 can also be attached to the spindle SP in exactly the same way as the tool Ti (FIG. 6).

The cover plate 30 can be attached to the front surface of the movable connector C by utilizing the three-dimensional movement of the spindle SP to protect the movable connector C (FIG. 7).

The spindle S via the gripping mechanism 20 and the tool holder 10
By moving the spindle SP, the cover plate 30 attached to the movable connector C is moved above the front surface of the movable connector C ((A) in the same figure). Therefore, by operating the air blow device 41, the back side of the cover plate 30 can be blown with the air from the air blow device 41 to remove dust and the like adhering thereto. At this time, the connector body C2 of the movable connector C is moved to the case C1 by the air cylinder C3.
It shall be moved inward to the retraction limit.

Next, the spindle SP is lowered, and the cover plate 30 is positioned on the front surface of the connector body C2 (FIG. 3(B)). At this time, the cover plate 30 is attached to the locking hooks C4 and C of the movable connector C.
4... can be positioned by fitting in from above (FIGS. 2 and 3).

Next, when the air cylinder C3 is driven to move the connector body C2 forward (FIG. 7(C)), the cover plate 30 is prevented from moving by the locking hooks C4, C4... Therefore, the connector main body C2 engages with the four parts 31a on the back side of the cover plate 30, and the seal gasket C2b
(FIG. 3), so that the cover plate 30 can cover the front surface of the connector main body C2 in an airtight state. Further, at this time, the protrusion C2a on the front surface of the connector body C2 engages with the recess 31b of the cover plate 30, thereby preventing the cover plate 30 from moving along the front surface of the connector body C2. Can be fixed.

Next, if you move the spindle SP upward (Fig. 7 (
D)) Since the cover plate 30 is fixed to the front surface of the connector main body C2, the gripping mechanism 20 is automatically removed from the cover plate 30, and the attachment of the cover plate 30 to the movable connector C can be completed.

The spindle SP then moves to a predetermined tool exchange location, and the automatic tool changer AT removes the gripping mechanism 20 together with the tool holder 10 from the spindle SP and replaces it with a predetermined tool Ti. The gripping mechanism 20 is a tool holder 1
0, the tool storage position Pi of the tool magazine ATI
You can store it in .

In addition, when using the movable connector C, the gripping mechanism 20 is attached to the tool magazine AT together with the tool holder 10.
Transfer from L to spindle SP, then spindle S
P is moved to the position of the movable connector C, and the cover plate 30 is removed from the movable connector C. The procedure at this time is shown in Figure 7 (
The order of D) or A) may be followed. However, the air blow device 41 cannot be operated on the lid plate 30 after being removed.

The lid plate 30 returned to the spindle SP in this way is
The automatic tool changer AT stores the tool together with the tool holder 10 and the gripping mechanism 20 in the tool storage position Pi of the tool magazine ATI in preparation for the next reuse.

Note that when the automatic tool changer AT is not attached to the machine tool, the tool holder 10 and the gripping mechanism 20 are attached to the cover plate 3.
0 or without the cover plate 30, it may be stored in an appropriate storage location provided within the processing range of the spindle SP. There are no particular restrictions on this storage location as long as it is a clean place that is not affected by the processing atmosphere, but appropriate tool exchange is required so that the tool holder 10 can be attached and detached only by moving the spindle SP. It is preferable to have a mechanism.

In the above description, the air blow device 41 is not limited to the vicinity of the movable connector C, but is located at the storage location of the cover plate 30 including the tool storage position Pi of the automatic tool changer AT, and the movable connector C.
It can be installed at any location within the transport route between. In particular, if it is incorporated into the automatic tool changer AT, it is convenient because it can be used not only for the cover plate 30 but also for air blowing the tool Ti. Note that the air blow device 41 may be provided as necessary, and it goes without saying that it may be omitted.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, a tool holder that can be attached to a spindle, a gripping mechanism, and a cover plate are provided,
Since the cover plate is transported between the storage location and the movable connector by moving the spindle and attached to and detached from the movable connector, there is no need to install a special dummy connector on the pallet, so the pallet area can be used effectively. If a clean storage location is selected that will not interfere with use, the cover plate will not be contaminated by the processing atmosphere and will therefore always provide adequate protection for the movable connector. In addition, there is no need for an exaggerated cover device, which has the excellent effect of making the overall configuration extremely simple.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 7 show an embodiment, FIG. 1 is an overall exploded perspective view, FIGS. 2 to 4 are main part configuration views, and FIGS. 5 and 6 are usage state views. FIGS. 7(A) to 7(D) are explanatory diagrams of the operation. FIG. 8 is a schematic plan view explaining the background technology. SP...Spindle C...Movable connector AT...Automatic tool changer Pi (i=1.2...)...Tool storage position 10...
・Tool holder 20...gripping mechanism 30...cover plate 41...air blow device

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1) A tool holder that can be attached to a spindle, a gripping mechanism that is attached to the tool holder, and a tool that can be gripped by the gripping mechanism and that can be attached and detached from the front of a movable connector installed on a processing table. The lid plate is attached to the spindle via the tool holder and the gripping mechanism, and is transported between a predetermined storage location and the movable connector by movement of the spindle, and is attached to and detached from the movable connector. A machine tool connector protection device characterized by: 2) The machine tool connector protection device according to claim 1, wherein the storage location is a tool storage position of an automatic tool changer. 3) The machine tool according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that an air blowing device for cleaning the cover plate is provided in the conveyance path between the storage location and the movable connector. Connector protection device.