JPS60172436A - Tool feeding method by tool cassette - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve tool feeding capacity and adaptability for a variation in machining conditions of a work, by changing the tool selected according to a machining program for the work at a space with a machining center via a tool cassette changer. CONSTITUTION:In a tool feeding method by means of a tool cassette, the tool T required is fed to the spindle of a machining center M in regular sequence according to a machining program for a work being inputted into a computer in advance. First of all, prior to the start of machining, a necessary tool T is selected at a concentration tool room TSC according to the machining program of the work. Next, the selected tool T is taken out of the tool room TSC onto a tool cassette 2 having a tool housing function, and the tool cassette 2 housing the specified number of tools T is transferred to an automatic tool changer 4' at the side of the machining center M via a tool cassette changer TCC having a changing function in a tool feeding direction in terms of cassette unit. And, the tool T is changed at the tool changing position 4.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a tool feeding method using a tool cassette, and more specifically to a tool cassette configured to selectively feed necessary tools to the main spindle of a machining center according to the cutting program of a workpiece. The present invention relates to a tool supply method that utilizes a tool supply method.

B. A machining center known in the prior art is equipped with a magazine storing a predetermined number of tools for each machine, and the tools selected in advance are swaged in accordance with the cutting program of the workpiece to be machined by the machining center and are sequentially attached to the main shaft of the machining center. It is configured so that it can be supplied.

However, there is a limit to the number of tools that can be stored in a single magazine, and a magazine attached to one machining center cannot perform tool exchange functions for other machining centers. When a change occurs in the machining conditions (2) of a workpiece in a production line consisting of multiple machining centers, it is extremely difficult to quickly adapt to the change.

4. OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION The main object of the present invention is to propose a tool feeding method using a tool cassette that improves the ability to feed tools to a machining center and the adaptability to changes in workpiece machining conditions.

Structure of the Invention The present invention is a machining center (CM) according to a pre-caulking program of a work inputted into a computer.
A tool supply method that sequentially supplies the necessary tools (T) to the main spindle of the workpiece, in which the necessary tools (T) are selected according to the machining program of the workpiece in a centralized tool room (TSC) before starting machining of the workpiece. and a step of taking out the selected tool (T) from the centralized tool room (TSC) onto a tool case (2) having a tool storage function;
The tool cassette (which stores a predetermined number of tools (T))
2) is transferred to an automatic tool changer (4') on the machining center (M) side via a tool cassette changer (TCC) having a function of converting the tool supply direction in tool cassette units; The gist of the present invention is a tool supply method using a tool cassette, which comprises a step of exchanging tools (T) between a tool cassette (2) and a machining center (M) using the automatic tool exchange device at a tool exchange position (4). It is something.

2. Embodiment FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a tool (T) supply path illustrating the method of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a workpiece machining line including a machining center employing the method of the present invention. 3(A) and 3(B) are a plan view and a front view of the tool cassette, respectively.

In these drawings, the machining center (M) is not equipped with a well-known tool storage device, that is, a magazine, and is instead expected to be used in a workpiece processing line that includes the machining center (M). A centralized tool room (TOOL 5TO1?AGE) that stores a large number of tools (T) (4)
CENTER (hereinafter referred to as TSC) is arranged so as to constitute a common tool storage device for a plurality of machining centers (M), (M).

The cassette (2) is a tool transport means configured to store a plurality of tools (T) necessary for processing a workpiece while being divided into a relatively small number of lofts. In this case, on one cassette (2) located on the tool delivery station (5), there are two rows of tool storage stages each supporting six tools (T), and the cutting edges of the tools (T). They are arranged with their directions reversed. Therefore, one cassette (2) has a total of 12 tools (T).
is stored.

Assuming that 30 tools are required for each workpiece when machining a workpiece, the first cassette (2) and the second cassette (2゛) are machined according to a workpiece machining program stored in a computer (not shown). each with 12 tools (T) and a third cassette (2”
(5) Six tools (T) are sent from the centralized tool room (TSC) according to the selected arrangement order. The cassettes (2) and (2°
) and (2) are loaded onto the barrels 7) and (6) at the tool delivery station (5), and moved toward the cassette standby station (7) while maintaining this loaded state, where they are transferred to the workpiece processing nib program. The cassette waits at the cassette standby station (7) until a call command is issued. When the workpiece is processed and a call command is issued from the workpiece processing program, the cassette standby station (7)
The cassettes (2), (2゛), and (2'') waiting at the cassette standby station (7) are sequentially transferred from the cassette waiting station (7) to the transport trolley (ATL) while being loaded on the valentine (6).
) onto the tool cassette changing device (TOOL).
CASSI! TTE CHANGER (hereinafter referred to as TCC) and then the machining center (M) tool change position (
4).

The tool cassette changing device (TCC) is (6) a rotating disk mechanism installed near the machining center (M), and is a rotating disk mechanism that stores a cassette (2) containing tools (T) before use and the main shaft of the machining center (M). a cassette rotation mechanism (9) for exchanging the cassette storing the used tool (T) removed from the cassette; and two rows arranged on the cassette with the directions of the cutting edges reversed to each other. Each of the tool storage stages is provided with a cassette rotation mechanism (10) for securing a tool exchange position with an automatic tool exchanger (4 degrees) described later.

Thus, the three cassettes (2), (2゛) and (2
A total of 30 tools (T) stored in the tool cassette (TCC) were sent to the tool changing position (4) one cassette at a time, and the tool changing position was controlled by the tool cassette changing device (TCC). Under this condition, the automatic tool changer (4') disposed at the tool change position (4) sequentially attaches the workpiece to the main spindle of the machining center (M) according to the cutting program.The workpiece is removed from the main spindle of the machining center (M). After being stored in the cassette, the used tool (7) (T) is sent to the centralized tool room (TSC) following a movement path opposite to that of the newly supplied tool (T). It will be sent back.

In the first embodiment of the present invention, a tool exchange operation similar to the tool exchange operation in the machining center (M> side) is provided between the tool transfer station (5) and the centralized tool room (TSC). A second operable automatic tool changer (4'') is provided, providing removal and return movements to the tools (T) between the cassette (2) and the central tool compartment.

However, the gist of the present invention is not limited to these examples, and the machining center may be modified by other automatic tool changers or remote automatic tool changers (none of which are shown) that can perform tool change operations different from those described above. Tools can be exchanged on the side and the central tool room side.

E9 Effects of the Invention As is clear from the above explanation, by employing the method of the present invention (8), tools necessary for subsequent workpieces to be machined at a machining center can be pre-crimped before machining starts. It is possible to select and store it in the drawer. Therefore, the transition to the subsequent processing stage can be carried out quickly.

Furthermore, according to the method of the present invention, there is virtually no limit to the number of tools required for machining a workpiece, so it is more adaptable to workpiece machining conditions than the conventional machining method in which a magazine is attached to each machining center. This greatly improves the performance and makes it possible to use common tools for multiple machining centers.

Therefore, the centralized management of tools is significantly facilitated, and the tool feeding performance can be adjusted in advance to suitably adapt to the cutting program of the workpiece inputted into the computer.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a tool supply path illustrating the method of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a workpiece machining line including a machining center employing the method of the present invention. 3(A) and 3(B) are a plan view and a front view of the tool cassette, respectively. (M)...Machining center, (T)...Tool, (T
SC)...Intensive tool room, (2)...Tool cassette,
(TCC) ・Tool cassette changing device, (4゛)
...Tool exchange device, (5) ...Tool delivery station, (6) ...Pallet, (7) ...Waiting station. (10) i

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) A tool supply method that sequentially supplies the required tools to the main spindle of a machining center according to the machining program of the workpiece, in which the necessary tools are selected in accordance with the machining program of the workpiece in a centralized tool room before starting machining of the workpiece. a step of taking out the selected tool from the centralized tool room onto a tool cassette having a tool storage function, and a function of converting the tool feeding direction of the tool cassette storing a predetermined number of tools in tool cassette units. A tool cassette consisting of a step of transferring the tool force to the machining center via a tool changer, and a step of exchanging tools between the tool cassette and the machining center using an automatic tool changer at the tool change position. Tool feeding method. (1)