JPS61252040A - Tool changing apparatus in machining center - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To shorten the changing time of a working tool by pivoting a tool changer arm by a segmental included angle to make the direction of either of two sandwiching pawls cross the center line of a spindle. CONSTITUTION:When working is completed by a working tool T, a movable frame 7b and a spindle 3a are moved to the working tool changing position. When a forward and backward movable bed 4f is moved forward by the extension of a cylinder unit 6a, one tool sandwiching piece 7c withdraws the sandwiched working tool T inserted in the spindle 3a. And a tool changer arm 7 is pivoted with a pivoting means 8 by -alpha deg.. When the other tool sandwiching piece 7b is located in front of the spindle to retreat the movable bed 4f, the working tool T sandwiched and prepared by the other piece 7b is inserted into the spindle 3a and mounted by a tensile screw rod 3g. Thus, time taken for changing the working tools can be shortened.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention is used in the technical field of machine tools, and particularly relates to a tool change device for a machining center.

(Prior art) For example, a conventional tool change device for a numerically controlled machine tool is provided with a total of two tool clamping claws at both ends of a swing arm, and by rotating this swing arm 180 degrees, the tool clamping claws are alternately moved. The tool changer arm is configured to be operated. However, when attaching and removing a machining tool from the main shaft of a machining center, if the rotation speed is increased in an attempt to shorten the amount of time it takes to rotate this swing arm 180 degrees, the problem is that the machining tool will come off the tool clamping claw. . Furthermore, during the operation of the machining center, this swing arm is retracted with the rain tool clamping claws empty without any processing tools being clamped, and depending on the timing of replacing the processing tool on the main shaft of the machining center, the swing arm is moved from this retracted position. Because the tool is replaced by moving the tool between the spindle and the tool magazine, it takes an even longer time to replace the tool on the spindle, including the long time required to rotate the swing arm. ,
During this time, there was a problem that the machining center was idle.

(Object of the Invention) In view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, the present invention is designed to shorten the time required to replace a machining tool with respect to the main spindle of a machining center, thereby reducing idle time of the machining center. The purpose is to provide a tool change device.

(Structure of the Invention) Means for achieving the above-mentioned object of the present invention is to clamp and take out a processing tool prepared in a tool magazine.

In a tool change device that is attached to the main spindle of a machining center, it is rotatably supported by a support shaft, and is rotatably supported in the normal direction of this rotation. a tool changer arm in which two tool holding claws facing toward the direction are provided on a line having a fan-shaped included angle with respect to a support shaft; and a movable table that supports the tool changer arm by the support shaft.

The moving table is placed between the tool magazine and the spindle in a preparation position for taking out or mounting the processing tool on the tool magazine, and the processing tool taken out from the tool magazine is placed in one of the two tool gripping claws. a first moving means for moving the moving table to three positions; a retracting position where the processing tool is retracted while being held in the main shaft; and an exchange position where the processing tool is taken out or attached to the spindle; a second moving means for moving the tool changer arm in the direction of the center line of the support shaft; and a rotation means for rotating the tool changer arm; One of the gripping claws is arranged to intersect the center line of the main shaft.

The action of the means is to operate the first moving means to position the movable table supporting the tool changer arm in a preparation position for taking out or loading a processing tool with respect to the tool magazine. Then, one tool holding claw of the tool changer arm is brought into engagement with a processing tool prepared in the tool magazine and to be used next. Thereafter, the second moving means is operated to clamp the processing tool between the one tool clamping claw. Then, the first moving means and the rotating means are operated to move the moving table to the retracted position and to position the other tool holding claw of the tool changer arm toward the main axis of the machining center. Then, depending on the timing of replacing the machining tool of the main spindle of the machining center,
After activating the moving means to position the moving table at the exchange position, take out the processing tool on the main spindle by holding it between the other tool gripping claws, and then actuating the rotating means to move the tool changer arm by the included angle. The processing tool to be used next, which is being rotated and held by the one tool holding claw, is positioned on the same axis as the main spindle, and the second moving means is operated to fit this processing tool onto the main spindle. and attach it. Then, the first moving means, the second moving means, and the rotating means are operated again to prepare the first processing tool.

(Example) Hereinafter, a first example of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

The tool change device 1 of this embodiment includes a tool magazine 2
and a main shaft 3a of the machining center 3; a first moving means 5 for moving the moving table 4 to three positions: a preparation position, a retracted position, and a replacement position; A second moving means 6 that moves in the direction of the center line of a support shaft 7a, which will be described later, a tool changer arm 7 rotatably supported on the movable table 4 by the support shaft 7a, and a tool changer arm 47 that moves in the direction of the center line of the support shaft 7a; One tool clamping claw 7b and the other tool clamping claw 7G provided in the normal direction of The clamping claws 7c are provided adjacent to each other on a line having a fan-shaped included angle α with respect to the support shaft to the extent that the tools do not interfere with each other.

The tool magazine 2 is arranged in a plane perpendicular to the support shaft 7a (first
An endless chain 2G is provided which is wound around a chain sprocket 2a and a guide pulley 2b so as to circulate within the paper surface of the figure.A holding means 2d for holding a processing tool T is provided at each joint of the endless chain 2c. It is formed. Note that the chain sprocket 2a is rotated by a servo motor 2e. The guide pulley 2b is rotatably supported.

The machining center 3 has a movable frame 3b on the left and right (left in FIGS. 1 and 2) with respect to the base 1a.

right) and front and rear (lower and upper in Fig. 2).The main shaft is supported on the movable frame 3b so as to be movable up and down and rotatable around an axis in the front-rear direction. 3a
is provided. The left and right positions of the moving frame 3b are controlled by a servo motor 3c.

The longitudinal position is controlled by a servo motor 3d, and the vertical position of the main shaft 3a is controlled by a servo motor 3e. The main shaft 3a is rotationally driven by a motor 3f via a conductor, and is provided with a tension threaded rod 3g for attracting and attaching the processing tool T to the main shaft 3a.

The moving table 4 is supported by a first left-right guide 4a provided in the left-right direction on the base 1a, and includes a first left-right moving table 4b that is movable in the left-right direction, and a first left-right moving table 4b that is further supported in the left-right direction. A second left-right moving table 4d is supported by a second left-right guide 4c provided and is movable in the left-right direction; It is provided with a back-and-forth movable table 4f that is movable in the direction, and can be moved between the tool magazine 2 and the machining center 3. The support shaft 7a is provided on the back-and-forth movable table 4f in the same direction as the main shaft 3a. Further, the back and forth moving table 4f has a rotating means 8 for rotating the tool changer arm 7.
A drive motor 8a and an index unit 8b for inputting the rotation of the drive motor 8a and indexing the rotation of the tool changer arm 7 are provided.

A first moving means 5 is provided between the base 1a and the moving table 4, and a first moving means 5 is provided between the base 1a and the first left-right moving table 4b, and is fixed to the base 1a in the left-right direction. a first cylinder device 5a, a rack 5c formed at the tip of the rod 5b of the first cylinder device 5a, and a pinion 5d that is pivotally supported by a longitudinal axis on the base 1a and meshes with the rack 5c.
, an arm 5B extending in the normal direction of this pinion 5d and provided integrally, and a tip portion of this arm 5e and a first
A lower moving means 5g is constituted by a "<"-shaped link 5f pivoted to a part of the left and right moving table 4b.

- A second cylinder device 5h is provided in the left-right direction between the force cylinder 1 left-right moving table 4b and the second left-right moving table 4d. The first moving means 5 configured in this way moves the second
When the first cylinder device 5a is contracted while the cylinder device 5h is extended, the second left-right moving table 4d is moved to the exchange position (
(solid line position in FIGS. 1 and 2), and while the second cylinder device 5h remains extended, the first cylinder device 5a
When the arm 5B is extended, the arm 5B rotates 180 degrees counterclockwise in the figure, and the second left-right moving table 4d becomes the retracted position (4d' in FIG. 1), and in this state, the second cylinder device 5h When contracted, the second left/right moving table 4d is in the ready position (4d" in FIG. 1).
The means for moving the first left-right moving table 4b laterally by expanding and contracting the cylinder device 5a has a small acceleration at the beginning and end of the left-right movement, and is advantageous in terms of strength.

A cylinder device [6a is provided in the front-rear direction between the second left-right moving table 4d and the front-back moving table 4f, and the second left-right moving table 4f is provided with a cylinder device [6a].
d has a cylinder 6b, and the left/right moving table 4f has a rod 6c.
are fixedly installed, respectively, to form the second moving means 6.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained step by step in the cycle diagram of FIG.

At the retracted position of the second left-right moving table 4d, the cylinder device E6a is contracted and the back-and-forth moving table 4f is moved backward (solid line state in FIG. 2), and the tool changer arm 7 is rotated by the rotation means 8 to move 7c is horizontal and facing towards machining center 3.

A posture in which one of the tool clamping claws 7b is directed downward by an angle α (
7' in FIG. 1) (step 1), and the other tool holding claw 7c
is empty, and one tool holding claw 7b holds a processing tool T to be used next by the machining center 3.

Then, the machining by the machining tool T attached to the main shaft 3a of the machining center 3 is completed.

Stop the rotation of the spindle 3a, and move the moving frame 3b and spindle 3a to the processing tool exchange position (solid line position in Figures 1 and 2).
move it to At this time, the other tool clamping claw 7c is in a state facing the processing tool T attached to the main shaft 3a. At the same time, when the first cylinder device 5a is contracted and the second left-right moving table 4d is moved to the exchange position, the other tool holding claw 7c is moved to the processing tool T attached to the main shaft 3a.
It engages with and clamps it. Then, the tension screw rod 3g of the machining center 3 is loosened to release the tension on the processing tool T (step 2).

Next, when the cylinder device 6a is extended and the back-and-forth moving table 4f is moved forward (dashed line in FIG. 2), the other tool clamping claw 7c is pulled out while clamping the processing tool T that has been fitted into the main shaft 3a ( Step 3).

Then, the tool changer arm 7 is rotated by one α degree (α degree counterclockwise in FIG. 1) by the rotation means 8, and one tool clamping claw 7b is positioned in front of the main shaft 3a. , when the cylinder device 6a is contracted and the back-and-forth moving table 4f is retreated to its original position, one of the tool clamping claws 7
The processing tool T, which is being prepared while being held between the handles b, is inserted into the main shaft 3a.

The tension screw 3g is screwed into this processing tool T, and the processing tool T is attached to the main shaft 3a (step 4).

Then, while extending the first cylinder device 5L, the second cylinder device 5L is extended.
The cylinder device 5h is contracted, the second left-right moving table 4d is moved toward the preparation position, and one tool holding claw 7b is removed from the processing tool T attached to the main shaft 3a. During the movement of the second left-right moving table 4d, the tool changer arm 7 is rotated by -(180 degrees - α degrees) (first
7'' position), the cylinder device 6a is extended, the front-rear moving table 4f is moved forward, the second left-right moving table 4d is positioned at the ready position, and the empty space in the tool magazine 2 at the tool exchange position is moved. The used processing tool T held by the other tool holding claw 7c is made to face the holding means 2d' (step 5).

Then, the back and forth moving table 4f is moved backward, and the used processing tool T is inserted into the empty holding means 2d' (step 6).
).

Next, the second left-right moving table 4d is moved to the retracted position, and the processing tool T after use is placed in the holding means 2d' (step 7).
).

Further, the tool changer arm 7 is rotated by -1 degree, and the tool magazine 2 rotates the endless chain 2c by the servo motor 2e to set the holding means 2d'' holding the processing tool T to be used next to the processing tool exchange position. The second left/right moving table 4d is moved to the preparation position (step 8).

Then, one of the tool clamping claws 7b of the tool changer arm 7 will be in a state of clamping the processing tool T to be used next, and the front and rear moving table 4f will be set to the forward position (step 9), and the new processing tool T will be held in one of the tool clamping claws. Switch to 7b.

Then, move the second left and right moving table 4d to the retracted position and move the first back and forth moving table 4.
f to the rear position, and rotate the tool changer arm 7 by 180 degrees + α degrees clockwise in the figure to return to the state of step 1.

Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

However, in FIG. 4, the same means as in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and the points that are different from the first embodiment will be mainly described.

In this embodiment, there is a difference in height between the main shaft 3a and the holding means 2d of the tool magazine 2 when the processing tool T is transferred. In order to cope with this height difference, the second left and right guide 4c and the second left and right moving base 4d are not necessary for the moving base 4, and the front and rear guide 4e is provided on the first left and right moving base 4b. A vertically movable table 4f is provided with a vertical guide tool 4g in the vertical direction, and a vertically movable table 4h that moves vertically by this is provided. Further, the first moving means 5 is further provided with a vertically operating cylinder device 51 between the longitudinally moving table 4f and the vertically moving table 4h, and the vertical position of the vertically moving table 4h is controlled.

In this embodiment, the vertical moving table 4h at the exchange position
is the position indicated by the solid line in the figure, the position of the vertically movable table 4h in the preparation position is 4h'' in the figure, and the position of the vertically moving table 4h in the retreat position is 4h in the figure.
' is directly above the position. By moving the vertically movable table 4h up and down between the evacuation and preparation positions, one or the other of the clamping claws 7b or 7c can clamp or extract the processing tool T in the holding means 2d of the tool magazine 2. It is something. Other means and operations are the same as in the first embodiment.

(Effects of the Invention) According to the present invention, with the above-described configuration, the tool changer arm is provided with two tool clamping claws adjacent to each other with an appropriate included angle between them, so that it is possible to replace old and new machining tools on the main shaft of a machining center. Therefore, the angle at which the tool changer arm is rotated is only the included angle mentioned above.Furthermore, in order to prepare a new machining tool to the retracted position by gripping one of the clamping claws of the tool changer arm, the machining tool must be rotated relative to the main axis of the machining center. The time required for replacement is shortened.

This has the effect of reducing the idle time of the machining center and improving the efficiency of one work.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings illustrate embodiments of the present invention, and FIGS. 1 to 3 show the first embodiment, FIG. 1 is a front view, FIG. 2 is a plan view, and FIG. 3 is a cycle diagram. It is. FIG. 4 is a front view of the second embodiment. 1... Tool change device, 2... Tool magazine, 3... Machining center, 3a
...Main shaft, 4...Movement table, 5...
...First transportation means, 6...Second transportation means, 7.
...Tool changer arm, 7a...
Support shaft, 7b... One tool clamping claw, 7c.
...Other tool clamping claw, 8...Rotating means, T...Processing tool, α...Included angle.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) In a tool change device that grips and takes out a processing tool prepared in a tool magazine and attaches it to the main spindle of a machining center, it also grips and removes a processing tool that is attached to the main spindle and returns it to the tool magazine. a tool changer arm rotatably supported by a shaft, and two tool gripping claws oriented in the normal direction of the rotation are provided on a line having a sector-shaped included angle with respect to the support shaft; A moving table that supports the tool changer arm by a shaft, a preparatory position in which the moving table is placed between the tool magazine and the main shaft to take out or mount the processing tool to the tool magazine, and a preparatory position for taking out or installing the processing tool from the tool magazine. a retraction position where the tool is retracted while being held by one of the two tool gripping claws; and an exchange position where the processing tool is taken out or attached to the main spindle.
a first moving means for moving the moving table to a position, a second moving means for moving the moving table in the direction of the center line of the support shaft between a processing tool mounting position and a processing tool removal position, and a rotating movement for rotating the tool changer arm. and means for rotating the tool changer arm by the included angle.
A tool change device for a machining center, characterized in that the direction of one of the gripping claws intersects the center line of the main shaft.