JPH07204978A - Method of and device for controlling nozzle direction - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a method of and device for controlling the direction of a novel nozzle in which means for measuring nozzle is incorporated with nozzle means. CONSTITUTION:A spindle 3 for a machine tool 10 or the like incorporates nozzle means N for coolant, whose nozzle direction can be controlled, and means for measuring a sensor rod for detecting a length of a tool mounted on the spindle, integrally thereto. These means are connected to a remote control part E provided to the spindle head or the like, and are therefore synchronously operated in order to direct the nozzle means in a direction the same as that of the measuring means for measuring the front end of a tool.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and device for controlling the direction of a nozzle used in a tool of a machine tool.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various nozzle direction control devices for supplying coolant or cooling air have been used in order to cool the machining point of a tool to prolong the life of the tool and to remove the chips that wind around the tool during resin machining. Proposed. If the nozzle direction control is performed by the NC program, a servo motor and an amplifier for using the NC additional axis are required, which is expensive in terms of cost and mechanism. Therefore, there are many problems in terms of cost, mechanism, and software, and it is not practical.

Further, since it is necessary to detect a breakage of the tool when the tool is replaced, if a breakage detector is separately provided in addition to the nozzle device, installation space, cost, and software for interlocking with the tool replacement operation are provided. It takes a lot of time and cost to develop the wear, and it increases the awkwardness.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems and demands of the prior art, and a novel nozzle direction control method in which tool length measuring means and nozzle means are combined, and The purpose is to provide a device.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides nozzle means such as coolant capable of controlling direction on a spindle of a machine tool, and measuring means of a sensor rod for detecting the tool length of the spindle. Of the nozzle characterized in that the nozzle means is directed in the same direction as the measuring means for detecting the tool tip by connecting the above means to a remote operation part provided on the spindle head or the like for synchronous operation. The directional control method and its device are the main components.

[0006]

According to the present invention, the tool length is detected and the nozzle direction is controlled during the movement of the spindle head after the tool is changed, and the tool is detected again during the ascending after the machining of the workpiece to determine whether or not the tool has broken. Carry out a cycle to replace with the next new tool. That is, a nozzle length control technology of a completely new idea is provided in which the tool length measuring means mounted on the spindle and the nozzle direction control are interlocked with each other so that the functions of both can be exhibited simultaneously.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The embodiments of the drawings including the techniques described in claims 1 to 7 of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of the present invention. A machine tool 10 is a bed B, a table T on which a work W is placed, a spindle 3 on which a tool TH is mounted and its spindle head H, and an ATC device 20 for exchanging various tools TH1 and THn. Equipped with. Nozzle means N such as a coolant capable of controlling direction is provided at an outer peripheral portion of the spindle 4 in the machine tool 10.
And a touch sensor type measuring means F (hereinafter referred to as a sensor rod F) for detecting the tip of the tool.
In order to direct the nozzle n of the nozzle means N toward the tip of the tool TH, the sensor rod and the nozzle are interlocked and controlled in that direction.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, these means N and F are provided with a remote operation section E (motor M and cylinder C) for synchronous operation. In this mechanism E, the spindle head HT moves from the tool change position O1. During horizontal movement to the position O2 directly above the work, the dog 1 actuates the switch K1, and the controller MC receiving this ON signal activates the motor M and the cylinder C,
The nozzle n facing the axial direction A of the main shaft and the plate-shaped sensor rod F are projected from the solid line as shown by the chain double-dashed line, and both are synchronized and rotated in the direction A'of the same posture. Here, the sensor rod is fixed toward the tip of the tool TH, and the sensor rod is immersed in the solid line position.

After this, the main spindle descends from the position O2 directly above to the processing position O3, and enters the processing of the work. After the processing, the dog 2 causes the switch K2 to actuate only the cylinder C to move the sensor rod while moving from O3 to O2.
Here, if the tool length is detected again and an ON signal is issued,
It is determined that there is no tool breakage. After that, it is operated in a cycle of moving from O2 to O1 and replacing with a new tool.

2 to 4, the connection structure of the remote operation section E, the nozzle means N and the sensor rod F will be described. In the remote control unit E, torque is transmitted to the worm 19 in the drive box 16 mounted on the main shaft 4 by the band 50 by the flexible wire 30A via the screw rod 11 driven by the motor M with a speed reducer. A worm wheel 17 is attached to a rotary shaft 15 supported in the drive box 16, and a worm meshes with the worm wheel 17 to attach a nozzle unit U of a nozzle means N to a small diameter portion 15C that reduces the rotation speed of a motor. A nozzle n, which can swing freely, is screwed onto the front surface. The nozzle n is provided with a pipe 30B for supplying a coolant liquid or a fluid R of an air flow from the operation section E, and is connected to the closed space 16A by a connection port 16B. 16B is a partition wall material that protects the members 17 and 18 from the coolant. The fluid R supplied into this space has a hole 15B which is opened from the hole 15A of the rotating shaft 15 to the shaft center.
From the hole 22A passing through the unit U to the nozzle n
Sent to. It should be noted that the nozzle n faces downward from the spindle n 3
The vertical position of the nut 14 screwed onto the screw rod 11 is detected by two proximity sensors (magnetic sensors, etc.) 12 and 13 in order to regulate the turning by 90 degrees in the direction, and the motor is stopped.

Next, a sensor rod F which is a measuring means of the tool tip.
With regard to the above configuration, the resin unit U is penetrated through a through hole 22B having a flat cross section at a position near the nozzle n, and the tip of the through hole 22B protrudes along with the nozzle n. Then, the rear end side of the sensor rod F is a flat tube 3 made of an insulating material.
Guided in 0C, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the piston rod CA of the cylinder C is connected via an insulator FA. Further, the sensing rod SA of the touch sensor body S is brought into contact with the rear end of the sensor rod, and there is no electrical conduction in this state,
The touch sensor S is off. However, when the tool TH touches the tip of the sensor rod, it becomes electrically conductive, the touch sensor is turned on, and the tool length is detected by this ON signal. As the touch sensor S, any means such as electrical conduction, electrostatic capacitance, or electromagnetic joining means can be adopted.

As shown in FIG. 4, the sensor rod F has a flat cross section in which the nozzle n side is recessed, and the algae and the nozzle n which hold the extended state with a large force against the external force from the nozzle n side.
The material of the tape measure made of steel, which bends easily with a small force to the side, is used. As a result, the sensor rod bends with respect to a large external force, but restores when the external force disappears.

The above-mentioned members (motor, cylinder C, switches K1, K2, touch sensor S, etc.) are a signal source and an actuator which are sequence-controlled by the controller MC. The function of the controller MC is that when the switch K1 is turned on while moving from the O1 position to the O2 position after the tool change,
Upon receiving this signal, the motor M is normally rotated. Thus, the sensor rod F and the nozzle n in the axial direction A are swung to the tool TH side, and when the sensor rod touches the tip of the tool, the ON signal of the touch sensor S is received and the motor is suddenly stopped. At this time, the nozzle is fixed and held in the tool tip direction A '.
At the same time, the cylinder C is operated and the tip of the sensor rod F is retracted and retracted. See FIG. In this state, the fluid R is jetted from the nozzle n to the tool to process the work. After the machining, the switch K2 is turned on while the tool TH is returning from O3 to O2, and the cylinder C is pushed to project the sensor rod.
To operate. When the sensor rod touches the tool, the touch sensor S works and it is confirmed that the tool is not broken. If it is OFF, it is determined that there is breakage and an alarm is issued to the NC control device. After this, advance the spindle from O2 to O1 to replace it with a new tool. At the same time, the motor M is rotated in the reverse direction, the sensor rod F and the nozzle n are returned in the direction A directly below, and the system stands by. A sequence program is installed in advance so that the controller MC functions as described above.

The nozzle direction control method and apparatus of the present invention are configured as described above and operate as follows. The description will be centered on the flowchart of FIG. 9 and FIGS. When "Machining / finishing" (a) is started by the start, "protrusion of sensor rod / working point O3 goes up O2"
(B) Move it. During this process, the breakage detection function is activated by turning on the switch K2, and if the protruding sensor rod does not touch the tip of the tool, it remains "OFF" to notify the NC control device as a "breakage / alarm" (c). On the other hand, if it is turned on, the sensor rod is contracted and moved to the replacement position O1. At this time, the nozzle n and the sensor rod are returned in the axial direction A in preparation for the new tool detection and the nozzle direction control command. After tool change ・ Move the tool from O1 to O2. Here, the switch K1 operates to cause the "remote tool protrusion / nozzle unit rotation" (f) to synchronously perform "tool length detection / nozzle direction adjustment" (g) by the remote operation unit E.

Subsequently, when the "touch sensor is turned on" (h), "motor stop / cylinder action" (r) is performed and "sensor rod is contracted and nozzle direction is fixed" (n). With this, the nozzle n correctly faces the tool. With the movement of the spindle to the machining position O3 (ru) and the "completion of machining" (wo), the spindle returns from O3 to O2 again, and the sensor rod F protruding here.
If the tool touches, there is no breakage, and if it does not touch, there is a breakage / alarm (c). If there is no breakage, move to the next new tool change. Hereinafter, the same operation is sequentially performed. If it is not necessary, the operation program may be a program in which the tool breakage detection after machining is omitted.

It is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and design changes can be freely made within the scope of the invention. For example, as shown in FIG.
The housing UH and the drive box 16 may be integrated, and the nozzle unit U accommodated in the housing may be swivel-controlled in a solid line direction orthogonal to the main axis and in a section of 90 degrees in the axial direction A. This embodiment has the advantage that the nozzle and sensor means can be constructed more compactly. Further, in the embodiment of FIG. 5, the nozzle unit U is provided with the waterproof function from the coolant or the like as shown in FIG. 6, and the waterproof cover 70 is put between the rotating nozzle unit U and the housing UH. In addition, the internal pressure is increased with air to prevent coolant from entering. Further, each means of the nozzle n and the sensor F is set to 18
In order to swivel 0 degrees, the front and rear 71, 72 of the housing UH may be widely incised to swivel the nozzle unit U in a wide range.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the driving source of the sensor rod F is a motor MD, and the claws 70A of the ratchet wheel 70 are ...
The sensor rod F having the hole (a) may be slid to perform the retracting operation. A tape measure 71 is provided at the rear end of the sensor rod F. The above introduces a limited number of types of embodiments of the present invention, and modifications other than these are possible within the scope of the present invention.

[0018]

[Effect] Since the present invention is configured as described above, the following effects are expected. In connection with the tool exchange, the tool length detection and nozzle direction control are simultaneously performed at high speed and automatically. The program of the NC controller is not required, and the nozzle control operation can be easily performed by the detection interaction with the sensor rod at the tool tip. Since this nozzle and sensor rod are integrated,
In addition to being easy to attach to the spindle of existing machine tools,
It also contributes to the effective use of space. It is also possible to use it together with the tool breakage detection function after processing, and it is possible to achieve cost reduction while achieving both multifunctionalization of the device and simplification of the configuration. Each part can be unitized, reducing installation work and maintainability. There are many effects.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a machine tool including a nozzle direction control device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of a main shaft portion provided with a nozzle direction control device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a drive unit, nozzle means, and the like.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged side view of a nozzle and a sensor rod.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of another nozzle means showing the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a front view of another nozzle means according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a front view of another nozzle means showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a driving member of a second embodiment of the sensor rod.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 3 Spindle N Nozzle Means F Sensor Rod E Remote Control M, MD Motor C Cylinder K1, K2 Switch TH Tool 10 Machine Tool S Touch Sensor MC Controller U Nozzle Unit

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A spindle of a machine tool or the like is integrally provided with nozzle means such as coolant capable of controlling direction and measuring means of a sensor rod for detecting a tool length of the spindle mounted, and each of the above means is provided with a spindle head or the like. A method for controlling the direction of a nozzle, characterized in that the nozzle means is connected to a remote operation section provided in the device for synchronous operation, and the nozzle means is directed in the same direction as the measuring means for detecting the tool tip. 2. A spindle of a machine tool or the like is integrally provided with nozzle means such as coolant capable of controlling direction and measuring means of a sensor rod for detecting a tool length of the spindle attached, and each of the above means is provided with a spindle head or the like. A nozzle direction control device characterized in that the nozzle means is directed in the same direction as the measuring means for detecting the tip of the tool by connecting to a remote operation section provided in the synchronous operation. 3. The method for controlling the direction of a nozzle according to claim 1, wherein the sensor rod of the measuring means can be retracted. 4. The nozzle direction control device according to claim 2, wherein the sensor rod of the measuring means can be retracted. 5. A nozzle direction control device according to claim 2, wherein the turning section of the measuring means and the nozzle means is regulated and controlled by the remote operation section. 6. The tool length is detected and the nozzle direction is controlled during the movement of the spindle head after the tool is changed, the tool length is detected again during the ascending after the machining of the work, and the presence or absence of the tool breakage is determined. A method for controlling the direction of a nozzle, which is characterized by a cycle in which a new tool is replaced. 7. The tool length is detected and the nozzle direction is controlled during the movement of the spindle head after the tool is changed, and the tool length is detected again during the ascent after the machining of the workpiece to determine whether or not the tool has broken, and then A nozzle direction control device characterized by a cycle for replacing with a new tool.