JPS5816961B2 - Machine Tools - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an improved machine tool of the type described in US Pat. No. 26'44222.

In machine tools of the type described in this patent, a tool support turret is supported from the machine headstock and extends longitudinally along a workpiece chucked to a rotatable spindle.

The turret is indexable about an axis parallel to the spindle axis for indexing tools on different faces of the turret into machining relationship with the workpiece supported on the spindle and for moving the tool through the machining stroke. In the machine of the above-mentioned patent, which is movable in the axial direction of its axis of rotation in order to They are located at different distances from the support surface for positioning purposes.

When a rounding tool is machining close to the spindle, the support for the tool is a relatively long cantilevered support and must be constructed to have the required rigidity.

If the cutting depth or machining position of the tool relative to the workpiece has to be changed, the tool must be reinstalled.

This means that making these changes increases machine downtime.

Furthermore, this requires resetting the tool in order to machine workpieces of the same shape but different dimensions.

In addition to the foregoing, the configuration of the machine in the said patent is such that the tool moves through the same stroke regardless of the cutting length, so that the tools on different sides of the tool turret perform different machining strokes. When needed, wasted machine time occurs.

To this end, in order to position the tool so that it cuts metal only during the desired length of the turret's stroke, the tool is mounted so that the cutting edge of the tool is at a different position relative to the axial length of the turret. It will also be necessary.

This invention seeks to provide a new and improved machine tool with improved operating efficiency.

The present invention provides an indexable turret indexable about an axis extending parallel to the spindles, disposed on one side of the spindles, proximate to the spindle head, and arranged on one side of the spindles; A new and improved machine tool is provided which is supported toward and away from the spindles by means of passageways extending laterally to the wires.

Furthermore, this invention is of the type described in the above-mentioned patent,
To provide a new and improved machine tool in which setting time and the time required to change the relative machining positions of tools on an indexable turret are minimized.

The invention further provides that the means for supporting a turret that is indexable laterally to the spindles for feed movement and for indexing about an axis parallel to the spindles is provided. The present invention relates to a new and improved machine tool which is supported toward and away from the spindles by passageways extending from the main axis to the main axis.

Furthermore, in one embodiment of the present invention, the bed of the machine tool does not extend axially outwardly from the main spindle of the machine tool, and the tool support turret, which is indexable about an axis parallel to the main spindles, A new and improved workpiece formed on the bed near the housing and supported on one side of the spindles by a passageway extending from near the housing to the rear of the machine and transversely to the spindles. Provide machinery.

Furthermore, the present invention provides a variable length machining stroke for the turret as viewed in the axial direction of the workpiece, and provides a number of positions for mounting the tool along the turret surface, thereby providing a method for positioning the tool. To provide an improved machine that minimizes inaccuracies due to unnecessary turret movement.

The present invention further provides for an operator of the type described above to have easy access to the spindle chuck for positioning a workpiece in the spindle chuck, as well as to an indexable turret for setting and mounting tools; A new and improved machine tool constructed and arranged such that the turret is movable toward and away from the axis of the spindle.

Further, the present invention has a rotatable spindle on which a workpiece is chucked for machining, and an indexable turret located near the spindles is indexable about an axis parallel to the spindles. the machine bed is constructed and arranged so that the indexable turret can be moved laterally to the spindle lines to move tools on the turret toward and away from the spindle lines, and the bed of the machine is To provide a new and improved machine tool in which a turret is supported for lateral movement in a manner that does not unnecessarily restrict access to a tool holder.

Further, the present invention has a rotatable main shaft and a turret having a tool support surface extending parallel to the main shafts, the turret is indexable around an axis substantially parallel to the main shafts, and the turret is indexable around an axis substantially parallel to the main shafts. A new and improved machine tool is provided that is linearly movable along its index axis with variable length machining strokes for machining.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of the drawings.

This invention provides a rotatable workpiece spindle, and a tool support turret that is offset to one side of the spindle axis and indexable around an axis parallel to the spindles, and that is movable in the longitudinal direction of the indexing axis. To provide an improved machine tool of the type having.

Although the present invention can be implemented in various forms with such a machine tool, as an example, FIG. 1 shows a case where the invention is used in a machine tool 10.

Machine tool 10 includes a rotatable spindle 11 (FIG. 4) supported on a machine headstock.

A workpiece catching chuck 11a of a conventional construction is attached to the main spindle 11.

The chuck 11a rotates together with the main shaft 11, and as is well known,
It can act to capture the workpiece to be machined.

Machine tool 10 also includes a turret 12.

The turret 12 has a number of tool support surfaces 12a, and tools shown as examples 13 and 14 are supported on the tool support surfaces of the turret.

A tool supported by the turret is selectively movable to a position for machining a workpiece on the spindle by indexing rotational movement of the turret about an axis of rotation extending parallel to the spindles.

The up tool support surface 12a of the turret 12 lies in a plane extending parallel to the indexing motion axis of the turret, and also in a plane extending parallel to the axis of rotation of the spindle 110 when in the machining position.

The tool support surface 12a is adapted to receive tool supports, which are secured to the surface 12a by means of bolts.

A machine tool bed 20 has a headstock at one end.

This headstock consists of a rotatable main shaft and a main shaft housing 21 for the various elements that rotate the main shaft 11.

The main shaft 11 is rotated by any suitable conventional drive 29 (see FIG. 4).

The aforementioned patent describes a particular drive device for rotating the main shaft 11.

A pair of passages 30, 31 are formed in the bed 20 of the machine tool, extending transversely to the axis of rotation of the spindle.

As shown in FIG. 1, near the outer end of the spindle, a passage 30
is located near the left end of the machine tool bed, and passageway 31 is located near the right end of the machine tool bed.

Both passages extend transversely to the main axes and include passages 30.31
is located in four horizontal planes below the axis of rotation of the spindle and extends from the side of the spindle nozzle to the rear of the machine.

A turret carriage 40 is supported by the passageway 30.31 and is movable along the passageway transversely to the axis of rotation of the spindle in a direction towards and away from the axis of rotation of the spindle.

Carriage 40 supports turret 12, and in particular supports turret rod 41, which supports the turret at its outer end.

The turret 12 extends beyond the bed, and a turret rod 41 extends from the turret 12 to cooperatively engage the carriage 40.

The carriage 40 has suitable bearing support means 45, 46 for supporting the turret rod 41 for movement relative to the carriage 40.

The bearing support means 45 , 46 have housing support portions at both ends of the carriage 40 .

Bearing support means 45,46 support the turret rod 41 for longitudinal movement, as shown by arrow 50 in FIG.

This direction is parallel to the axis of rotation of the main shaft 11. Furthermore, the bearing support means 45, 46 support the turret rod for indexing rotational movement about its axis 51.

As the turret rotates about the axis 51, arrows 5 point in the longitudinal direction of the axis of rotation 51, which bring the different tools supported on the various tool support surfaces 12a of the turret into positions for machining the workpiece.
When the turret moves in the 0 direction, the turret moves along the workpiece and processes the workpiece.

Various mechanisms may be used to effect indexing rotational movement of the turret about axis 510, and various machines may be used to effect longitudinal movement of the turret along that axis in the direction of arrow 50. You can.

The figure schematically shows a mechanism 60 for effecting longitudinal movement of the turret 12 along its axis in the direction of arrow 50.

Mechanism 60 may act to cause variable amounts of movement of turret 12 in the direction of arrow 50 along its axis of rotation.

Mechanism 60 has a lead screw and nut arrangement in operative relationship with turret rod 41 to move turret rod 41 along its axis of indexing motion.

More specifically, the ball nut member 61 is attached to the turret rod 4.
1 and is held so as not to move in the axial direction along the turret rod 41.

A suitable collar 41a holds the nut member 61 against axial movement.

However, the turret rod 41 is rotatable within the ball nut.

A lead screw 62 cooperates with and passes through the nut, and its rotation causes the nut 61 and turret rod 41 to move in the direction of arrow 50.

Utilizing this, the turret 12 is caused to perform a machining movement in the direction of the arrow 50.

As shown in FIG. 4, the lead screw is rotated by a suitable prime mover 63.

Additionally, a suitable prime mover and drive, shown at 70 in FIG.
The turret rod is caused to perform a rotational movement about its axis 51.

The prime mover and drive may be of any of a number of suitable conventional types which, when energized, will effect the proper indexing movement of the turret rod.

During the indexing operation, turret rod 41 rotates within nut 61.

Furthermore, in order to drive the carriage 40 along the passages 30, 31 toward and away from the axis of rotation of the spindle,
A suitable drive mechanism is utilized.

To this end, FIG. 4 illustrates a conventional screw 71 driven by a prime mover 72.

The lead screw 71 cooperates with a ball nut structure supported on the carriage 40, the operation of which moves the carriage 40 at a rapid traverse speed.In FIG. 4, the prime mover 63.72 is schematically shown.

Since the carriage 40 moves laterally with respect to the main axis,
It goes without saying that the prime mover 63 and the turret indexing drive must be completely mounted on the carriage 40, or provision must be made to enable its movement.

Such means in the drive for the screw 62 consist of a relatively slidable drive connection which allows for lateral movement of the turret and the screw 62 without interrupting the drive for the prime mover 63. You can.

At the same time, the turret indexing drive, preferably of the type described in the above-mentioned patent, is provided with a slidable drive connection to interrupt the rotational drive to the rod 41 and to allow longitudinal movement of the rod 41. A similar device may be provided within the turret drive.

Such connections are not shown in the drawings, as they are possible to those skilled in the art.

As shown in FIG. 4, the operation of the various drives for controlling the movement of the turret and the rotation of the spindle is under the control of a numerical controller generally designated 80 in FIG.

A tape reader 81 is attached to the numerical controller 80, and the tape sends command signals to the numerical controller to control the operation of the prime movers 63, 72, the spindle drive 29, and the turret indexing drive 70 in the usual manner. .

By the operation of the tape reader 81 and the numerical control device 80,
The axial movement of the turret during machining operations, the movement of the turret toward and away from the main axis due to the energization of prime mover 72, and the indexing of the turret are controlled.

As is common in numerical controllers, signals indicating the position or movement of elements on a machine tool are sent back to the numerical controller, so that the controller knows when the element is being commanded by the numerical controller. You can see if it has moved to that position.

In this connection, depending on the particular control system, suitable signal means 85, such as an incremental pulse generator or a position encoder, may be associated with the lead screw 71 and commanded by the numerical control system. A signal indicating that the carriage 40 has moved to the desired position is sent back to the numerical control device 80.

Similarly, depending on the particular control system, suitable signaling means 86, such as an incremental pulse generator or a position encoder, may be associated with lead screw 62 to the position commanded by the numerical control system. Indicates that the turret has moved vertically.

Similarly, appropriate command signals are sent from the numerical controller to the tape reader to index the tape guide at the proper time, as is well known.

In a preferred embodiment of this machine, bearing means 45, 46 are supported towards and away from the main axles by bearing means in the form of passages 30, 31 to bring the turret close to and away from the main axes. Keep away from it.

Because the turret 12 is movable toward and away from the spindles, instead of reinstalling the entire tool,
By moving the turret laterally of the axis, the cutting depth or position of the tool can be easily changed.

Additionally, the tools on the turret can be used for operations such as milling and grooving.

This greatly reduces downtime when changing the machining position of the tool to a new diameter or due to other causes such as tool fatigue.

Furthermore, if the maximum diameter of the workpiece does not create interference problems, the tool can be mounted close to its support surface, although it will be machined close to the axis.

When numerically controlling the movement of the turret, the depth of cut or the position of the tool can be easily controlled by a program and changes can be easily made without wasting machine time.

Without numerical control, the operator may rely on conventional manually actuated controls to effect the desired positioning.

From the above, it can be seen that the turret 12 is not only movable toward and away from the spindles by the movement of the carriage 40, but also has a variable length machining stroke along the spindles during the machining operation. It is clear that it is movable across the range.

As a result, the tools supported on the surface 12a extending parallel to the main axes can be positioned so that their cutting edges lie within a common plane even if the machining strokes of the tools are different.

In the preferred embodiment shown, the tool turret 1 includes bolt holes 12b for receiving bolts for mounting and rigidly securing the tool holder to support the tool in position for machining a workpiece.
provided at each end of 2.

By providing different locations along the axial length of the turret 12 for attaching the tool holder, the tools can be attached to their It can be installed so that the cutting edge lies within a common plane perpendicular to the main axes.

Since the turret has a variable machining process from the index position,
From a machining point of view, tools can be supported with their machining edges in a common plane, resulting in a more efficient machine.

If the tool turret is movable over a fixed stroke, it is necessary to position the tool along the turret so that the tool has the correct machining stroke when the turret moves through its fixed stroke. .

In this application, since the turret has a variable machining stroke, the tools can be mounted so that their machining edges lie substantially in a common plane.

Furthermore, since the machining stroke of the tool is no longer dependent on the machining stroke of the turret, there is no need to provide a dovetail groove to be able to adjust the tool holder over the length of the turret.

In order to position the cutting edge of the tool within a substantially common plane,
Sufficient locations need only be provided so that it is not necessary to incorporate supports for short tools.

By using bolts and threaded holes in the turret instead of grooves, it is significantly easier to securely attach the tool holder to the turret.

The configuration described above minimizes wasted time during indexing, and also simplifies tool setup because the operator always knows the correct position of the tool relative to the cutting edge. Programming for numerical control is simplified because the work can proceed assuming that the tool is always in one plane.

The increased efficiency due to the features described above is best understood by considering an example of a comparison between the prior art and the present invention, as shown in FIG.

In the example of FIG. 5, an internal machining tool such as a drill 13 has a relatively long cutting length a, is attached to one tool support surface of the turret, and a rounding tool has a shorter cutting length b. 14 is attached to another tool support surface.

Assuming that the drill is initially engaged, as shown schematically in FIG. 5, in conventional machines the drill 13 moves away from the fixed turret indexing position by the distance indicated by arrow 90 in FIG. 5A. It moves over a machining stroke of a certain length.

During this movement, the drill drills the workpiece W over a distance a.

The turret then returns to a fixed indexing position where an indexing movement of the turret is performed to position the machining tool.

The turret is then moved through its machining stroke as indicated by arrow 93 in FIG. 5B, moving tool 14 that distance.

However, since the tool 14 is to machine the workpiece only during the distance, the tool 14 is used as shown in FIG. 5B.
It must be provided on the turret practically behind the position of the tool 13.

As a result, machine cycle time is wasted when the tool 14 moves toward the workpiece because the turret movement must be performed without the tool 14 machining the workpiece, as shown in FIG. 5B. become.

This wasted time occurs because the turret has a machining stroke of constant length, as shown by arrows 92 and 93 having the same length.

In contrast to the operation of conventional machine tools shown in Figures 5AIk and 5B, the machine tool of the present invention eliminates the wasted machine cycles of the example shown in Figure 5B.

As shown in FIGS. 5C and 5D, the tool is mounted so that its working cutting edge is in the same plane in the lateral direction of the main axes.

For ease of explanation, it is assumed that the operation of the drill 13 is substantially the same as that of the drill of FIG. 5A.

As a result, under the control of the numerical controller 80 and the tape reader 81, the prime mover 63 is energized as shown by the arrow 94 in FIG. 5C.
The turret 12 is moved along its indexing movement axis 51 through the stroke indicated by .

During this movement, the drill drills a hole in the workpiece over the distance indicated by a in FIG. The movement is notified to the numerical control device 80, and further movement of the turret 12 is stopped.

The drill is then reversed and returned to a position where it does not touch the workpiece, and the turret is indexed.

Once the turret has been indexed, the numerical control device again switches to the prime mover 6.
3 to move the turret and cut the cutting tool 1.
4 moves into engagement with the workpiece, and performs a round cutting operation on the workpiece over a distance.

When the tool 14 has machined the distance, a signal from the signal means 86 indicates this and the prime mover 63 is reversed;
Further machining movements of the turret are stopped.

The turret returns to indexing position.

In the operation of the machine tool shown in FIGS. 5C and 5D, the fifth
It is clear that the wasted machining time shown in Figure B has disappeared.

From the above, it can be seen that the tool turret, which is indexable around an axis parallel to the axis of the spindle that holds the workpiece in the chuck, has a tool support surface that extends in the longitudinal direction of its axis of rotation, and can be mounted at various positions along the spindle, and the turret is configured to move laterally to the spindle without obstructing the operator's access to the spindle or the turret, It will also be appreciated that the turret is controlled to have a variable stroke, so that losses in set-up time and machine time are minimized, increasing efficiency and accuracy of the machine tool.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a machine tool in which the present invention is implemented, Fig. 2 is a side view of the machine tool shown in Fig. 1 taken along line 2-2, and Fig. 3 is a plan view of the machine tool shown in Fig. -3 is a schematic diagram of the machine tool shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a machine tool in which the present invention is implemented, showing its control device. FIG. 5 is a work diagram illustrating the improved efficiency of the machine tool of the present invention. 11: Main shaft, 12: Turret, 13 King 14: Tool, 20
: Bed, 21 : Main shaft housing, 30° 31 : Passage, 40 : Carriage table, 41 Nitretsu rod, 45.46 : Bearing support means.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A bed, a spindle housing disposed on the bed, and a workpiece supporting spindle that is rotatably supported within the housing and has a spindle axis along which a workpiece is rotated by the spindle. , a movable carriage disposed above the bed; a passage disposed above the bed supporting the carriage so as to be movable in a first direction perpendicular to the main axis; a first driving device that moves the material seven times in the passage;
Ia supported by the carriage and extending parallel to the main axis on one side of the axis (vs. an indexing turret movable in a second direction; a second drive for rotating the indexing turret about the indexing axis; and a third drive for moving the indexing turret in the second direction. The operation of the first, second, and third driving devices is controlled based on a predetermined program to move the indexing turret toward or away from the main shaft axis, or to move the indexing turret toward or away from the main shaft axis. numerically controlled equipment for rotating about an axis and moving the turret over a machining stroke of variable length extending parallel to the spindle axis, the indexing turret having a center coincident with the indexing axis; The tool support surface has a plurality of tool support surfaces arranged in a polygonal shape, and the tool support surface is used to mount the tool so that the machining edges of the contour processing tool are aligned within a plane extending across the main axis, and the tool support surface supports the main axis.
- located adjacent to the axial end of the indexing turret, which is located towards the housing, so that the tool can machine approximately the entire length of the maximum flame machining stroke of the turret, and the tool support surface also has an internal shape. A machine tool characterized in that the tool is mounted so that the machining edge of the tool is within the plane, so that the tool can process almost the entire length of the maximum flame machining stroke of the indexing turret. 2. A bed, a spindle disposed on the bed, a housing, a workpiece support spindle that is rotatably supported within the housing and has a spindle axis around which the workpiece is rotated, and the bed. a movable carriage disposed above; a first movable carriage disposed above the bed and perpendicular to the spindle axis;
a first screw feed mechanism for moving the carriage along the passage; a first screw feed mechanism supported by the carriage and parallel to the spindle axis; an indexing turret rotatable about an indexing axis extending and offset to one side of the axis and movable in a second direction extending perpendicular to the first direction; an indexing drive mechanism that rotates the indexing turret, a second screw feeding mechanism that moves the indexing turret in the second direction, and the first screw feeding mechanism based on a predetermined program;
The operations of the indexing drive mechanism and the second screw feeding mechanism are controlled to respectively move the indexing turret toward and away from the main shaft axis, rotate the turret around the indexing axis, and The indexing turret consists of a numerical control device that moves the turret over a machining stroke of variable length extending parallel to the spindle axis, and the indexing turret has a plurality of polygonal shapes arranged in a polygonal shape having a center coincident with the indexing axis. the indexer has a tool support surface, the tool support surface is configured to mount the contour machining tool so that the machining edge of the tool is aligned in a plane extending across the spindle axis, and the indexer is disposed toward the spindle housing; located adjacent to the axial end of the turret to allow the tool to machine substantially the entire length of the maximum length machining stroke of the turret, the tool support surface still having the machining edge of the internal machining tool within the plane; The tool is mounted so that the tool can process almost the entire length of the maximum length machining stroke of the indexing turret, and the tool support surface supports the external machining tool or the internal machining tool at at least two locations. A machine tool characterized in that the machine tool is configured to have a threaded hole for a bolt supported by the machine tool.