JPS58181538A - Tool exchanger - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the efficiency of work, by transferring a tool gripper supporting a tool, between a tool magazine and a spindle head so that the magazine does not need to be put aside for the spindle head. CONSTITUTION:A tool magazine 10 is provided with a plurality of tool holding sections 40 for holding various tools T. To attach a desired tool T to a spindle head 60, the spindle head is pulled up and a support plate 56 is thereafter moved forth through a midget cylinder 54. Subsequently, a magazine turning section 12 is rotated by a motor 18 so that the tool T is indexed just under a tool receiving hole 60a. The spindle head 60 is then moved down so that the tool T is put in the receiving hole 60a. The support plate 56 is thereafter moved back. The spindle head 60 is then moved down further so that a tool gripper 38 is moved down together. After that, the tool T held by the gripper 38 starts machining.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a tool changing device for a machine tool, and more particularly to an improved structure of a tool magazine in a tool changing device.

A machining center is equipped with a tool changer that has a tool magazine that holds all of the tools, and machining is automatically performed by exchanging tools between the machine's spindle head and the tool magazine according to the machining groder. Progress will be made. In this case, in a system in which tools are exchanged by moving the tool magazine and the spindle head away from each other, when the desired exchange tool approaches the spindle head, the tools on both sides of the desired exchange tool and the spindle In order to prevent the heads from contacting and interfering with each other, methods have been adopted, such as increasing the pitch between the tools in the tool magazine or forming a small-diameter nose portion at the tip of the spindle head. However, in the former case, if the tool magazine is formed, for example, into a circular shape, its outer diameter will become unnecessarily large, and as a result, the tool magazine will be indexed and rotated by a rotary drive source with a large driving force. In addition, there is a disadvantage that a large braking force is required even when the magazine is stopped. In the latter case, the mechanical rigidity of the spindle head is reduced, which is unavoidable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to automatically change tools without moving the tool magazine and the spindle head toward each other, and without using a tool change arm, thereby improving the conventional tool change method described above. It is an object of the present invention to provide a tool changing device that overcomes various disadvantages and can quickly change tools.

That is, according to the present invention, when converting tools between a tool magazine holding a plurality of tools and a spindle head of a machine, each tool holding part of the tool magazine is moved closer to the spindle head as the tool rotates. The tool holder is provided so as to be able to be moved sequentially to the tool exchange position, and the tool holder for returning the used tool and the tool holder for holding the next used tool are alternately indexed to the tool exchange position, and the operator is moved to the tool exchange position. There is provided a tool changing device characterized in that a bridge is passed between the gripper and the spindle head. Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a tool converting device according to the present invention, and FIGS. 2 and 3 are taken along n-I! of FIG. m, m
-mg is a partial plan view along mg.

Now, FIG. 1 shows the tool changer according to the present invention.
and the spindle head 60 of the machine are configured to be able to move close to each other during the tool exchange operation, but in this embodiment, the tool magazine 10 is placed at a fixed position on the machine, and their As shown in FIG.
It is configured to be movable in the downward direction, as indicated by the arrow "S". The rotation of the magazine rotating section 12 of the tool magazine 10 is started by a rotational drive source 18 such as a serve motor via a reduction gear mechanism consisting of a pair of meshing gears 14 and 16. The vertical and downward movement of the broken spindle head 60 is achieved by a drive device (not shown in FIG. 1) similar to the spindle head drive device of a well-known machine tool. The rotation of the magazine rotation unit 12 and the vertical movement of the spindle head 60 are all controlled by another control device, for example, an NC control device, as in a normal machining center.

The above-mentioned magazine rotating section 12 rotates in multiple clockwise directions or in multiple counterclockwise directions with respect to the fixed shaft 20, and is therefore supported on the fixed shaft 20 by a rotary bearing 22. The magazine rotating section 12 has a disk shape, and a plurality of shaft rods 26 are arranged radially around the outer periphery of the magazine rotating section 12 through seven flanges 24 at regular intervals. A sliding sleeve 28 is inserted into each of the shaft rods 26 so as to be slidable along the shaft through a transfer pole (not shown) disposed inside the sleeve. On the other hand, a tool grit flat base 30 is fixed to the tip of each sliding sleeve 28,
This tool grit 4 pace 30 is movable together with its associated sliding sleeve 28 in the direction toward and away from the magazine rotation section 12. A cam follower 32 is provided on the lower surface of the tool gripper pace 30, and the cam follower 32 is merged into a cam groove 36 formed in a cam plate 34. As is clear from FIG. 2, the cam groove 36 formed in the cam plate 34 has the shape of an endless cam path, and most of it forms an annular path concentric with the axis of the fixed shaft 20. However, a portion protrudes in the direction of the main axis t7R60. As a result of the cam groove 36 being engaged with the 4tj element 32, the sliding sleeve 28 which is slidably inserted onto the shaft rod 26 and the tool grit/# pace 30 are fixed together when the magazine rotating section rotates 120 times. Since the follower 32 attached to the lower surface of the tool gripper pace 30 moves along the cam groove 36 of the cam plate 34 while rotating around the axis of the shaft 20, When the spindle head 60 is rotated to a position close to it, the sliding sleeve 28 on the spindle 26 and the tool glyph A? The base 30 slides outward in the radial direction and approaches the spindle head 60.

That is, each of the plurality of shaft rods 26 fixed to the magazine rotating section 12 of the tool magazine 10 rotates to rotate the spindle head 60.
When approaching, the sliding sleeve 28 on each shaft rod 26 and the tool gripper pace 30 slide toward the spindle head 50 from the magazine rotating section 12 in the radial direction. Now, according to the present invention, the sliding sleeve 2 on each shaft rod 26 described above
8 and tool glyph/f pace 30, and this tool glyph/
The tool holder 40 is formed by tool grits 38, which will be described below, and which is detachably held on the holding base 30. Now, a tool T is always rotatably supported on the tool grid/blue 38 through a rotary bearing 42 at a substantially central position thereof, and an elastic spring 44 is provided at the joint with the tool grid T4 pace 30 in an outward direction. The zygote 46 receives the pressing force.

Furthermore, a fall prevention pin 48 of the tool gripper 38 is provided at an intermediate position between the connector 46 and the tool T and receives a downward pressing force from an elastic spring 52. The lower end 48a of this fall prevention pin 48 is engaged and received in a cam groove 58 of a support plate 56 that can move back and forth between a solid line position and a broken line position in FIG. The cam groove 58 of this support plate 56 is such that the support plate 56 is connected to the mini cylinder 5.
4, the cam # of the second cam plate 64 supports the fall prevention pin 48 and is fixed to the fixed shaft 20 below the cam plate 34.
66 in a row. When the cam groove 58 of the support plate 560 and the cam groove 66 of the second cam plate 64 are continuous, the two cam grooves 58 and 66 form one endless cam path, and the endless cam path and the cam groove 66 of the second cam plate 64 are continuous. cam groove 36 formed in
and have mutually similar shapes. In addition, the support plate 56
is configured to be received in a recess 68 (FIG. 3) of the second cam plate 64 when activated by the operation of the mini-cylinder 54, and the upper surface of the support plate 56 and the upper surface of the second cam plate 64 are are in the same plane. The support plate 56 is a second cam plate 64.
When received within the recess 68 of the support plate 56, the distal end 56a of the support plate 56
is formed so as to be pulled back toward the fixed shaft 20@ from the joining line between the tool Grit No Yapase 30 and the tool Grits +38. That is, at the tool exchange position, the tool T supported by the tool grip/#38 trap is installed in the tool receiving hole 60a of the spindle head 60 and clamped by a well-known clamping method, and then the support plate 56 is moved to the second cam. When the spindle head 60 moves downward when it is received in the recess 68 of the plate q, the connector 46 of the tool glyph/4'38 automatically disengages from the engagement groove 30a of the tool gripper pace 30 and moves downward. The supporting plate 56 is moved and lowered to the machining position by the tool T, but at this time, the tip 56a of the support plate 56 is pulled back so as not to interfere with the tip of the tool glyph/mother 38 of the tool T clamped to the spindle head 60. -ing The pin 70 is a lock pin fixed to the lower end stationary part 62 of the spindle head 60, and is formed in the tool glyph /938 when the tool T is attached to the spindle head 60 and clamped together with the tool grit flat 38. The tool gripper 38 is inserted into the pin hole 72 during machining in which the rotating part of the spindle head 60 and the tool T rotate.
2 to provide a rotation-stopping effect.

The tool changing operation of the tool changing device of the present invention having the above configuration will be explained below.

Now, the tool magazine 10 at the tool exchange position according to the present invention is provided with a plurality of tool holders 40, and therefore the same number of various tools T are held in each tool holder 40. Now, in order to install the desired tool T in the plurality of machining operations T into the tool receiving hole 6011 of the spindle head 60, the spindle head 60 is pulled up to a sufficiently high position above the rotation plane of the tool magazine 10 in advance. I'll keep it. When performing this lifting operation of the spindle head 60, the support plate 56 is moved behind by the mini-cylinder 54 as necessary, and none of the tools T is indexed to the tool exchange position while the spindle head 60 is being raised. Just leave it there. After the spindle head 60 has been pulled up in this manner, the support plate 56 is moved forward by the operation of the mini cylinder 54, thereby making the cam groove 66 of the second cam plate 64 and the cam groove 58 of the support plate 56 continuous. Next, the motor 18 is operated based on a command from the control device, and the magazine rotation unit 12 is rotated to index the desired tool T to the tool exchange position, that is, directly below the tool receiving hole 6Qa of the spindle head 60. In the present invention, based on the shape of the cam groove 36 of the cam plate 34, only the tool holder M40 that holds the desired tool T approaches the spindle head 60. The tool holders 40 that hold the tools on both sides are located at a distance from the spindle head 60. Therefore, even when the spindle head 60 approaches the desired tool TK during the tool exchange process described below, the tools T on both sides are held. The risk of contact interference with the spindle head 60 is completely avoided.The means for detecting that the desired tool T has been indexed to the tool exchange position is, for example, a rod using a rotary encoder. When the desired tool T is indexed to the tool exchange position, the spindle head 6o descends to grip and clamp the tool T in the tool receiving hole 60a.Tool T When the clamping of the tool T is completed, the support plate 56 is moved back by operating the mini cylinder 54 again.Then, when the spindle @60 is further lowered, the tool holder 40 that holds the clamped tool T Glyph/Hei 38 Zygote 4
6 is tool grits! It is automatically disengaged from the engagement groove 30a of the base 30 by the descending force of the spindle head 60, and the tool g 11 horn groove 38 descends together with the spindle head 60 to the machining position, and is moved by the tool T supported by the tool gripper 38. Machining operations are performed.

Next, the tool T mounted on the spindle head 60 (hereinafter referred to as a used tool) is transferred to the desired tool 'r' held in the tool magazine 10.
We will explain the effect when replacing it.

In this case, the spindle head 60 to which the used tool T is attached is moved upward by the operation of the repair machine body. At this point, the support plate 56 in the tool magazine 10 is gradually retracted. In addition, the used tool T mounted on the spindle head 60 is in a protruding state due to the action of the tool grits and retainers 46 and springs 44 that supported the used tool T. 12 is the serge motor 18
The empty tool holder 40 to which the used tool T is returned, that is, the tool holder 40 from which the tool glyph 938 has been removed from the tool glyph 9 pace 30, is indexed to the tool exchange position. It will be done.

When the spindle head 60 rises and reaches the tool exchange position,
Tool gripper base 30 already indexed in its position
The protruding engager 46 of the tool gripper 38 of the used tool automatically engages with the engagement groove 30a of the tool due to the upward force of the spindle head 60, and at this point the upward movement of the spindle head 60 is stopped. Next, the mini-cylinder 54 of the tool magazine 10 is activated to release the support plate 5.
Advance 6. As a result, the tip 48a of the fall prevention pin 48 of the tool grit 38 engages with the cam groove 58 of the support plate 56. In this way, the tool gripper 38 of the used tool attached to the spindle head 60 is engaged with the tool magazine 10 side.7 Next, the spindle head 60 unlocks the clamp in its tool receiving hole 60a and further rises. The used tool is returned to the tool magazine 10 with the spindle head 60 raised from the tool exchange position. Next, tool magazine 1
The tool holder 40 holding the used tool is evacuated from the tool exchange position by rotating the zero magazine rotation unit 12, and at the same time indexed to the tool exchange position where the desired tool Tt is newly mounted on the spindle head 60. Next, by lowering the spindle head 60, this new desired tool T is inserted into the tool receiving hole 60a of the spindle head 60.
The operating process for attaching it to the device is the same as described above.

As can be understood from the above description, in the present invention, the connector 46 that joins the tool gripper base 30 and the tool grit 438 and the fall prevention pin 48 that engages with the cam groove 58 of the support plate 56 have corresponding engagements. It has a spherical shape so that it can be smoothly engaged and detached from the fitting groove 30 & and the cam groove 58.

As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, a configuration is provided in which the tool glyph f itself that supports the tool during tool exchange is passed between the spindle head 60 and the tool magazine 10. This eliminates the need for the retracting operation of moving the tool magazine away from the spindle head, which was seen in conventional tool changers, after the completion of the tool change operation. Alternatively, the effect of improving the working efficiency of the machining center can be obtained. Furthermore, among the plurality of tools held in the tool magazine 10, only the desired replacement tool is projected to the tool replacement position, thereby preventing contact interference between the spindle head 60 and the tool magazine side during tool replacement. This has the effect of avoiding the risk of causing problems. It should be noted that the above-described tool exchange process is just one embodiment, and it goes without saying that the order of operation of each part of the tool magazine 10 and the spindle head 60 is slightly variable based on the control of the NC control device or the like.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of the configuration of a tool changing device according to the present invention, and FIGS. 2 and 3 are plan views taken along lines 1--2 and 2--2 in FIG. 1, respectively. 10--Tool magazine, 12--Magazine rotating section, 1
8... Rotation drive source, 20... Fixed shaft, 26... Shaft rod, 28... Sliding sleeve, 30... Tool gripper pace, 30a... Engagement groove, 34... Cam plate, 36
...Cam groove, 38...Tool gripper, 40...Tool holding part, 44...Spring, 46...Engager, 48...
... Fall prevention pin, 52 ... Spring, 54 ... Mini cylinder, 56 ... Support plate, 58 ... Cam groove, 60 ...
...Spindle head, 60a--Tool receiving hole, 62...Stationary part, 64...Second cam plate, 66...Cam groove, 68-
...Recess, 70... Rotation prevention pin.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. When exchanging tools between a tool magazine holding a plurality of tools and the spindle head of the machine, each tool holding portion of the tool magazine is rotated so that each tool holding portion approaches the spindle head of the machine. A worker holding part which is provided so as to be able to protrude and move sequentially to the tool exchange position, and which alternately indexes the worker holding part for returning the used tool and the tool holding part for holding the next used tool to the tool changing position and holds the tool using its tool gripper. A worker changing device characterized in that a bridge is passed between the spindle head and the spindle head. 2. In the tool changer according to claim 1, each of the tool holding parts is attached to and detached from the grit 9 pace which is always held on the tool magazine side via an elastic engagement pin. A tool changing device comprising the tool gripper described above.