JPS61192437A - Automatic tool exchanger - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To automatically replace a tool for a tool mounting part by installing a tool replacing apparatus body onto a tool rest having the tool mounting part and a tool replacing mechanism and a replaced-tool accommodating mechanism onto said body. CONSTITUTION:A tool rest 5 is installed onto the upper part of a cross slide 4 installed onto a bed 1, and said tool rest 5 can be shifted in the longitudinal and transverse directions on the bed 1. A tool installation part 6 is installed onto a part of the tool rest 5, and a various sorts of tools 7 can be mounted. A tool exchanger 11 installed onto the cross slide 4 acts for the tool rest 5. A tool exchanging mechanism 12 and an exchanged-tool accommodating mechanism 13 are installed onto the tool exchanger 11. An elevation rotary shaft 15 projecting upwardly is installed in erection onto a driving mechanism 14. Further, a tool holding tool 17 for holding a tool is installed at the top edge part of an expandable turning shaft 16.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to an automatic tool changer that automatically attaches and detaches a tool to and from a tool attachment portion provided on a tool rest of a lathe, for example.

[Technical background of the invention and its problems]

Replacing tools in the tool mounting section on the tool post of a lathe has traditionally relied on the manual labor of workers, but recently a tool magazine containing multiple tools has been installed near the tool mounting section, and the tools can be replaced easily. 2. Description of the Related Art A machine tool is known that is equipped with an automatic tool exchange mechanism that takes out a tool from a magazine with a rotating hand and mounts it on the tool mounting section. In addition, a robot is installed near the machine tool and independent of the machine tool, and this robot can grasp tools from the tool storage section, attach them to the tool mounting section of the machine tool, and remove tools from the tool mounting section. An automatic tool change system has been developed that allows tools to be returned to the tool storage.

However, as mentioned above, equipping a machine tool with an automatic tool change mechanism requires major modifications to the structure of the machine tool itself, and also requires a robot to be installed near the machine tool so that tools can be exchanged by the robot. This requires large-scale equipment, and it is necessary to keep the position of the tool mounting portion constant when replacing tools. That is, when exchanging a tool in a lathe, an operator's operation is required to return the tool post having the tool mounting portion to the original position in order to oppose the turning locus of the turning arm of the robot. Therefore, conventional automatic tool changing systems have the problems of being costly and lacking in versatility.

[Purpose of the invention]

This invention was made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and its purpose is to provide a highly versatile product that can be installed in various types of machine tools such as lathes without requiring major modifications. An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic tool changer.

[Summary of the invention]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a tool exchange device on a carriage, and the tool exchange device includes an exchange tool storage mechanism in which a plurality of tools are arranged, and a tool gripper for the tools in the exchange tool storage mechanism. A tool changing mechanism is provided, which is provided with a tool gripping part that is attached to a tool mounting part of the tool rest, and which removes a tool from the tool mounting part and stores it in the exchange tool storage mechanism.

C Example of Invention] This invention will be described below based on an example shown in the drawings.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, 1 is a lathe bed, 2 is a headstock, and 3 is a tailstock. A tool rest 5 is provided above the cross slide 4 provided on the bed 1, and the tool rest 5 is movable on the bed 1 in the vertical and horizontal directions. Further, a tool mounting section 6 is provided in a part of the tool rest 5, and various different tools 7 can be mounted thereon. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, this tool mounting part 6 consists of a mounting recess 8 consisting of a vertical straight groove and an engaging protrusion 9 provided inside the recess 8 that can move forward and backward. The engagement protrusion 9 is connected to an actuator (not shown). On the other hand, the tool 7
The base portion 7a has an engagement recess 10 that fits into the engagement protrusion 9.
is provided, and with the engaging concave portion 1o fitted into the engaging convex portion 9, the engaging convex portion 9 is pulled in by the actuator, thereby being pressed against the inner peripheral surface of the engaging concave portion 10, and the tool 7
The mounting is such that it is fixed in the recess 8.

A tool changer 11 provided on the cross slide 4 operates on the tool rest 5 configured as described above. This device 11 includes a tool changing mechanism 1.
2 and a replacement tool storage mechanism 13 are provided.

The tool exchange mechanism 12 will be explained based on FIGS. 1 and 2. Reference numeral 14 is a drive mechanism, and a lift rotation shaft 15 that projects upward is provided on the drive mechanism 14. A telescopic pivot shaft 16 is provided at the upper end of this elevating rotation shaft 15 at right angles to this axis. In other words, the vertical rotation shaft 15 is used to adjust the height and the range of rotation of the telescopic pivot shaft 16, and the telescopic pivot shaft 16 is configured to adjust the amount of extension of the shaft. A tool gripper 17 serving as a tool gripper for gripping the tool 7 is provided at the tip of the telescopic pivot shaft 16 .

Further, the exchange tool storage mechanism 13 is provided outside the tool exchange mechanism 12. That is, 18.18 is a pair of sprockets, and a conveyor 19 consisting of a chain is passed between these sprockets 18.18 so that it can run endlessly. Locking pawls (not shown) are provided on the inner circumferential surface of the conveyor 19 at equal intervals, and the conveyor 19 is intermittently run one pitch at a time via the locking pawls by a travel drive mechanism 20 consisting of a rack and a binion. It looks like this. Roughly speaking, tool mounting tables 21 are arranged on the outer circumferential surface of the conveyor 19 at equal intervals in its running direction.

These tool mounting tables 21 are provided with a holding mechanism 22 consisting of an electromagnet that magnetically attracts the tool 7 or a holding mechanism 22 consisting of a cap lock that is locked to the inner peripheral surface of the engagement recess 10 of the tool 7. This prevents the tool from falling from the tool mounting table 21 even if it is positioned on the lower side as the tool moves. Various different tools 7 can be selectively positioned at the tool delivery position 23 by this exchange I tool storage machine #I73. The tool exchange mechanism 12 and the exchange tool storage mechanism 13 have a control device for controlling the machine tool in conjunction with a control device for controlling the machine tool. The effect will be explained. First, the tool 7 held on the tool rest 21 of the exchangeable tool storage mechanism 13 is placed on the tool rest 5.
When the tool 7 is mounted on the tool mounting section 6 of the tool 7, the designated tool 7 is positioned at the tool delivery position 23 by the operation of the exchange tool storage mechanism 13 and the movement of the conveyor 19. At the same time, the telescopic pivot shaft 16 is lowered while rotating due to the elevation and rotation of the elevating rotary shaft 15 of the tool exchange mechanism 12, and the tool gripper 17 is positioned at the tool transfer position 23. Then, the tool 7 on the tool mounting table 21 is gripped by the tool gripper 17, and the tool 7 is guided to the tool mounting 16 of the tool rest 5 by raising and rotating the telescopic pivot shaft 16. Then, the tool 7 gripped by the tool gripper 17 is made to face the upper part of the tool mounting section 6. Here, when the lifting rotation shaft 15 is lowered to lower the tool 7, the tool mounting portion 6 is inserted into the recess 8 from above. When the tool 7 is inserted into the mounting recess 8 , the engagement recess 10 of the tool 7 engages with the engagement protrusion 9 of the mounting recess 8 . At this point, the tool 7 is released from the tool gripper 17, and the tool gripper is removed.

When the tool 17 is raised and the engagement protrusion 9 is pulled in by the actuator, the engagement protrusion 9 comes into pressure contact with the inner circumferential surface of the engagement recess 10 and the tool 7 is fixed.

Further, when removing the tool 7 mounted on the tool mounting portion 6 and storing the tool 7 in the replacement tool storage mechanism 13, the engaging convex portion 9 is projected by the actuator and the engaging concave portion of the tool 7 is Release the connection with 10. Next, the tool gripper 17 is opposed to the tool 7 in the tool mounting section 6 and is lowered to grip the tool 7. After gripping the tool 7, the tool gripper 17 is raised and the tool R7 is removed upward from the recess 8. Next, the telescopic pivot shaft 16 is rotated to transport the removed tool 7 to the replacement tool storage mechanism 13 and place it on a predetermined tool mounting table 21. In this case, the mounting table 21
Since the tool 7 is provided with a holding mechanism 22, the tool 7 is held fixedly.

In this way, the tool 7 of the replaceable tool storage mechanism 13 on the telescopic pivot shaft 16 is mounted on the tool mounting section 6, or the tool 7 mounted on the tool mounting section 6 is removed and stored in the replaceable tool storage mechanism 13. The work, that is, the replacement work of the tool 7 can be performed automatically. In this case, the tool exchange mechanism 12
Since the exchangeable tool storage mechanism 13 is provided on the cross slide 4 that interlocks with the tool rest 5, the tool gripper 17 can be moved to any position within the telescopic rotation axis 16 and the rotation trajectory. . Therefore, the tool 7 can be replaced regardless of whether the tool rest 5 with the tool mounting part 6 is located in either the horizontal or vertical direction, and there is no need to return the tool rest 5 to the origin as in the conventional case. .

In addition, in the above embodiment, the exchange tool storage mechanism 13
Although the conveyor 19 is configured to run intermittently, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the rotating shaft 25 of the drive motor 24
Tool mounting tables 27 are arranged at regular intervals along the outer periphery of the circular disk-shaped turntable 26 mounted on the tool mounting table 27, and the tools 7 are placed on the tool mounting tables 27. The desired tool 7 may be guided to the tool delivery position 23 by rotating the turntable 26 intermittently. In this case, the turntable 26 can be used to easily replace the replacement tool storage mechanism 13 that stores a different type of cutting tool.

Roughly, tool exchange mechanism 12 and exchange tool storage mechanism 13
The arrangement structure is not limited to the above embodiment, and as shown in FIG. 6, an exchange tool storage mechanism 13 may be provided between the tool rest 5 and the tool exchange mechanism 12. 5 can be rotated, the 1800 rotary eccentric tool 7 may be replaced. In addition, in this example,
Although pick-and-place is applied to the tool exchange mechanism 12, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, a robot or a change arm may be used as appropriate.

Further, in this embodiment, the tool exchange mechanism 12 and the exchange tool storage mechanism 13 are configured to be attached to the cross slide 4, but the structure is not limited to this, and may include a saddle, an apron, a tool feeder, a tool rest, etc. A tool change mechanism 12 and a change tool storage mechanism 13 can be attached to the generic carriage. In particular, in the case of an NC turret lathe, it is appropriate to attach it to the tool post 5.

(Effects of the Invention) As explained above, according to the present invention, the tool post having the tool mounting portion is provided with a tool changer main body, and this main body is provided with the tool change mechanism and the replaceable tool storage mechanism. Since tools can be replaced automatically, work efficiency can be improved. Moreover,
Tools can be changed automatically simply by attaching a tool changer to the tool rest, and there is no need to make any major modifications to the machine tool itself, which has the effect of being able to provide it at a low price and improving its versatility. .

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figures 1 to 3 show an embodiment of this invention.
Fig. 1 is a front view of the whole, Fig. 2 is a side view of the tool exchanger, Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the tool and the tool mounting section, and Fig. 4 is another embodiment of the exchange tool storage mechanism of the present invention. A plan view showing,
FIG. 5 is a side view thereof, and FIG. 6 is a side view showing a modification of the arrangement structure of the exchangeable tool storage mechanism. 5... Tool rest, 6... Tool mounting part, 7... Tool,
11... Tool exchange device, 12... Tool exchange mechanism, 1
3... Replacement tool storage mechanism. Applicant's agent Patent attorney Takehiko Suzue Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) A tool exchange device is provided on the carriage, and this tool exchange device includes an exchange tool storage mechanism in which a plurality of tools are arranged, and a tool holding mechanism that holds the tools in the exchange tool storage mechanism and attaches them to the tool mounting section of the tool rest. An automatic tool changer characterized in that a tool changer is provided with a tool gripping part for attaching a tool and removing a tool from the tool attaching part and storing the tool in the replaceable tool storage mechanism. (2) The exchangeable tool storage mechanism consists of tool mounting tables arranged at equal intervals on the outer circumferential surface of an endlessly running conveyor, and the exchangeable tool storage mechanism moves intermittently one pitch at a time. Automatic tool changer. (3) The exchangeable tool storage mechanism is characterized in that it consists of tool mounting tables arranged at equal intervals along the outer periphery of the turntable, and rotates intermittently one pitch at a time. Automatic tool changer.