JPS6234483B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a machine tool adapted to drive a multi-axis tool head during machining operations.

With the advent of automated machine shops and automated machining lines, it has become important to be able to change multi-axis tool heads on machine tools. As disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 47-41506, a number of automatic machines for operating multi-axis tool heads have been developed by those skilled in the art, but the weight of such multi-axis tool heads is extremely heavy. In addition, an automatic machine such as that disclosed in that publication slides a previously used multi-axis tool head away from the tool head drive and then slides a new multi-axis tool head into the tool head drive. It used a sliding mechanism. However, with such a sliding mechanism, the operation must be done slowly, and the space for storing the multi-axis tool head becomes large, which obstructs the work.
Moreover, a complicated conveyor is required, and a transfer mechanism for moving the multi-axis tool head to the tool head drive device is also required.

Another type of conventional machine for operating multi-axis tool heads is the rotary turret type, in which a number of multi-axis tool heads are arranged around the turret and the turret is indexed to operate each of the multi-axis tool heads. They were designed to be moved to the operating position independently of each other. However, even with this rotary turret type, the operation was slow and the operating mechanism was large and complicated.

The fact that an excellent tool exchange mechanism can be obtained by using a rotary tool exchange arm was disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1973-
It has already been recognized that the tool exchange arm as disclosed in the publication No. 18881 is for transferring one tool between the tool storage magazine and the spindle. The tool exchange arm cannot be used for exchanging tips to multiple tools, which are extremely heavy. Furthermore, a machine tool having a machining unit for an exchangeable multi-axis head as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 46-7547 has been known, but this machine tool has a rotary tool head exchange arm. The tool head drive is made up of two supports that are separated at an angle of 90 degrees.
It has two surfaces on which a multi-axis tool head can be attached. The support is rotatable about an axis between the two faces, so that when one face is in a position to drive a multi-axis tool head, the other face is in a position to receive the next multi-axis tool head from the magazine. be. Thus, this conventional machine tool required that two sides of the support drive the multi-axis tool head. Providing two surfaces capable of driving a multi-axis tool head, and configuring one of the two surfaces to be rotatable around an axis so as to face a workpiece on a work table,
This is extremely difficult when precision machining is required since structural errors accumulate.
Therefore, this conventional machine tool, in which the multi-axis tool head can be mounted on either of two surfaces and driven for machining, cannot be used for precision machining, and is used exclusively for rough machining. It was used only for processing purposes.

The present invention was made in view of the problems of the prior art described above, and its purpose is to have a simpler structure than the prior art described above, and to enable rapid exchange of multi-axis tool heads. It is an object of the present invention to provide a multi-axis tool head driving machine tool which is capable of performing precision machining.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to move a multi-axis tool head from one of a pair of grippers provided on a rotary tool head exchange arm to a storage magazine, and to transfer a new multi-axis tool head from the storage magazine to its rotary tool head exchange. This can also be achieved in a machine tool equipped with a tool head moving device that moves one of a pair of grippers provided on the arm.

By using such a tool head movement device, the length of the arm portion of the rotary tool head changing arm can be considerably shortened, which prevents large bending moments from acting on the rotary tool head changing arm, thereby The rotary tool head exchange arm also makes it possible to handle heavy multi-axis tool heads. Furthermore, with the rotary tool head changing arm described above, the multi-axis tool head that is machining the workpiece is always connected to one part of the tool head drive.
It is mounted only on one surface, allowing extremely precise machining work to be performed.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring to FIG. 1, one preferred embodiment of the present invention has a first bed portion 20 on which a work table 22 is slidably mounted for movement along a horizontal X-axis. and is rotatably mounted to rotate about a longitudinal B-axis perpendicular to the X-axis. Workpiece 26
A pallet 24 carrying the is shown mounted on the work table 22.

The second bed portion 28 has a tool head drive 30 that drives the track plate 32 for movement along a Z-axis 34 toward or away from the worktable 22.
It is slidably mounted on the top. The tool head drive 30 is selectively moved along the track board 32 by a Z-axis motor 36, along with conventional mechanical couplings (not shown) and conventional electrical controls (not shown). driven by The tool head drive 30 has a drive shaft 38 (FIG. 12) that includes a conventional mechanical linkage (not shown) and a conventional electrical control system (not shown). together with the main shaft drive motor 40
(Fig. 1). Further, the tool head drive 30, as will be explained later,
It has a pair of gripping bodies for positioning, gripping, and fixing the multi-axis tool head 42.

Each multi-axis tool head 42 has a plurality of spindles 44. These spindles 44 are each equipped to receive a drill or tap and are all rotated simultaneously by a common drive shaft 46 (FIG. 12). The drive shaft 46 is connected to and driven by the tool head drive shaft 38. In operation of this embodiment, the multi-axis tool head 42 is gripped and secured relative to the tool head drive 30 and then drilled or tapped to simultaneously drill or tap a predetermined pattern of holes in the workpiece 26. is moved relative to the workpiece 26.

In this embodiment of the invention, tool head storage magazine 48 (FIG. 1) and tool head transport mechanism 50 are mounted on an elevated frame 52. The frame 52 includes a single rear post 54
and a pair of front posts 56, which are arranged in a triangular pattern with the front posts 56 facing the sides of the tool head drive 30. The tool head transfer mechanism 50 includes a tool head exchange arm 58 journalled by a frame 52 for rotation about an axis 60, and a tool head transfer device for moving the tool head 42 from the tool head magazine 48 to an adjacent end of the tool head exchange arm 58. 62. The rotational axis 60 of the tool head exchange arm 58 is parallel to the Z axis 34.
It is inclined at an angle of 45° to the Diametrically opposed ends 64, 66 of tool head exchange arm 58 are each inclined at a 45 DEG angle to axis of rotation 60 as indicated by respective longitudinal tool head axes 68 and 70. Due to the particular arrangement of the axes 60, 68, 70, the tool head exchange arm 58 allows the tool head 42 to be pivoted from a horizontal position to a vertical position and from a vertical position to a horizontal position. As tool head exchange arm 58 rotates along a 180 DEG arc to interchange tool heads 42, tool heads 42 move along a conical path of motion having a 90 DEG apex angle.

The mechanism for rotating tool head exchange arm 58 is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The tool head exchange arm 58 is connected to the frame 5 by a bearing 74.
It has a central circular hub 72 journalled at 2. A ring gear 76 is fixedly connected to the arm 58 around the hub 72 and is driven by a pinion 78 arranged on a shaft 79 . Shaft 79 is bearing 8
It is journalled by the frame 52 by pins 0 and 82. Shaft 79 is driven by bevel gear set 84. The pinion of the bevel gear set 84 is connected to the shaft 8
6, and the shaft 86 is attached to bearings 88, 9.
It is journalled to the frame 52 by pins 0 and 91. Shaft 86 is driven by a spiroid gear set 92. The worm of the spiroid gear set 92 is mounted on a shaft 94 which is journalled relative to the frame 52 by bearings 96 and 98.
It is driven by an electric motor 100 attached to.

Electric motor 100 is energized by conventional control circuitry (not shown) to drive the aforementioned gear train to rotate tool head changing arm 58 along an arc of 180 degrees, and then It is stopped in the position shown in FIGS. 2 and 2, with the tool head at one end adjacent the tool head storage magazine 48 and the tool head 42 at the other end adjacent the tool head drive 30. Tool head exchange arm 58 again
When rotated along an arc of 180°, the positions of the two tool heads 42 are interchanged.

5 through 8 show a pair of tool head exchange arms 58, one at each end 64 of the tool head exchange arm 58, to enable two multi-axis tool heads 42 to be secured to the tool head exchange arm 58. The tool head grip is shown. Each tool head 42 has a pair of tapered rails 1
02 (FIGS. 5 and 6) is connected thereto by bolts 103. Each rail 102 has an inwardly tapered surface 104 and each gripper has a pair of opposed gripping blocks 106 that are pressed against the tapered surface 104. The gripping block 106 is slidably mounted on two guide rods 107 that serve to support the weight of the tool head 42. A gripping block 106 is coupled to each opposite end of a threaded shaft 108 by a threaded socket 110. The socket 110 is connected to the gripping block 1 by a bolt 112.
06. One end of the shaft 108 is right-handed threaded and the other end is left-handed so that the gripping blocks 106 are deployed apart from each other when the shaft 108 is rotated in one direction. , are pulled closer together when the shafts 108 are rotated in opposite directions.

Shaft 108 is supported in a bore 114 in end 66 of tool head exchange arm 58 by bearings 116, 118 and has a worm gear 120 coupled and secured to its interior portion. Worm gear 120
meshes with another worm gear 122 (FIG. 8) disposed on the shaft 124, and the shaft 124 is connected to the bearing 1.
It is journalled to the end 66 via 26 and 128. Shaft 124 extends perpendicularly to axis 108 and is driven by a hydraulic motor 130.

Hydraulic motor 130 rotates in one direction when tool head exchange arm end 66 is desired to grip tool head 42 and secure tool head 42 to end 66, and releases gripping action on tool head 42. When it is desired, the conventional electric
Controlled by a hydraulic motor control circuit (not shown). The gripping action is performed by the gripping block 106.
This is accomplished by squeezing the gripping block 106 outwardly into contact with the rail 102, and releasing the gripping action by pushing the gripping block 106 inwardly away from the rail 102 to a position far enough away from the rail 102 to avoid contact with the rail 102. This is achieved by exercising.

The same gripper is also attached to the other end 64 of the tool head exchange arm 58 for clamping the tool head 42 thereto.

9 to 15 show the tool head drive device 3.
The positioning and tightening of tool head 42 relative to 0 is shown. The tool head 42 has a pair of protrusions 132 (see FIGS. 9 and 1) disposed at its end.
0) to the tool head drive 30. A pair of projections 132 rest on a pair of mating brackets 134 projecting from the front of tool head drive 30. Tool head 42
are clamped to the tool head drive 30 by the cooperation of four clamp assemblies 136 (FIG. 10) located on the tool head drive 30.
Clamp assembly 136 rotates ears 138 into recesses 139 at the rear of rail 140 in tool head 42;
is pressed against the rail 140. rail 140
is tightened against a block 141 attached to clamp assembly 136. Each lug 138 projects perpendicularly from a rotating sleeve 142 (FIG. 14), which
(FIG. 13) has a pinion gear 144 that meshes with the gear. The rack 146 is slidably mounted on the clamp assembly 136 and is moved back and forth by a hydraulic cylinder 148 to rotate the lug 138 through a 90° arc to engage and disengage the rail 140. be exercised.

After the lug 138 is engaged to the rail 140, the second portion of the clamp structure engages the lug 138.
is actuated to press against the rail 140. Said second portion of the clamp structure is shown in FIGS. 14 and 15. Sleeve 142 rotates 90 degrees on camshaft 143. camshaft 14
3 has a cam slot 150 (FIG. 14) configured to interact with a wedge 152. The wedge 152 is connected to the clamp assembly 136.
is slidably mounted on the hydraulic cylinder 1.
It is moved back and forth by 54. When wedge 152 is moved in one direction by hydraulic cylinder 154, it forces lug 138 against rail 140. When the wedge is moved in the other direction,
It relieves the pressure on the lug 138 and releases the lug 138 from the rail 140.

Each of the clamp assemblies 136 is the same as the clamp assemblies 136 previously described and includes conventional hydraulic cylinder control circuitry for simultaneously tightening or unclamping all four corners of the tool head 42. (not shown).

2 additional clamp assemblies 156, 158
(FIG. 10) is attached to the front of the tool head drive 30. Clamp assembly 156 includes a hydraulic cylinder 160 and a clamp member 162, where clamp member 162 is connected to hydraulic cylinder 160.
A mating clamp member 164 (FIGS. 9 and 11) located on tool head 42 is moved by
Figure). Clamp assembly 158 includes a hydraulic cylinder 166 and a clamp member 168 that is moved by hydraulic cylinder 166 to interact with rail 140 .

In FIG. 12, the drive connection between tool head 42 and tool head drive 30 is illustrated. The tool head 42 has a drive shaft 46 supported therein by a bearing 170 and projecting outwardly therefrom. The alignment flange 172 is connected to the drive shaft 46
is fixedly coupled to the alignment notch 174 (FIG. 11).
has been cut out. The notch 174 engages an alignment pin 176 (FIG. 12) when the tool head 42 is separated from the tool head drive 30. Drive shaft 46 always stops with alignment notch 174 aligned with alignment pin 176. Matching pin 176
shaft 4 is biased outwardly by spring 178 and released by release pin 180 on hub 182 surrounding drive shaft 38 on tool head drive 30.
6 is squeezed inward to release it for rotation. The drive shaft 38 moves the tool head 42 by means of the Z-axis drive of the tool head drive device 30.
Driving connection is made to the drive shaft 46 through a key 184 on the shaft 38 which engages a slot 185 formed in the shaft 46 when in contact with the shaft 46 . This movement also causes release pin 180 to push alignment pin 176 down, thus releasing shaft 46 to rotate.
When tool head drive 30 is moved away from tool head 42 by the Z-axis drive, alignment pin 176 is retracted to align alignment notch 1.
74, thus securing drive shaft 46 in place.

16, 17 and 18, details of the tool head transfer device 62 for moving the tool head 42 from the tool head magazine 48 to the adjacent end of the tool head exchange arm 58 are illustrated. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 17, the tool head 42 is moved to the horizontal rail 1 by means of rollers 188.
It is rotatably supported on 86. Horizontal rail 186 connects vertical arm 19 with rack 192.
Supported by 0. The vertical arm 190 is slidably mounted on the frame 52 so as to be able to move up and down, and is driven upward and downward by pinion gears 194 and 196. pinion gear 194
and 196 are attached to opposite ends of shaft 198. Shaft 198 is supported relative to frame 52 by bushing 200. pinion gear 19
6 extends through rack 192 and is connected to shaft 204.
(FIG. 16). Shaft 204 is slidably mounted to frame 52 and driven by hydraulic cylinder 206 .
When shaft 204 is extended by hydraulic cylinder 206, it raises arm 190. axis 2
When 04 is retracted by hydraulic cylinder 206, it lowers arm 190.

The tool head 42 is connected to the roller 18 by means of a pin 208 that engages a socket 210 located at the bottom of the tool head 42.
8 in the longitudinal direction. Two sockets 210 are disposed at the bottom of each tool head 42;
Two types of travel movements are allowed for each tool head 42. The pin 208 is slidably attached to a carriage 212, which is rollably mounted to the frame 52 by rollers 214. The pin 208 is a pinion gear 21 disposed on a shaft 218 journalled by a carriage 212.
6 (FIG. 18). Pinion gear 216 engages a second rack 220 disposed on shaft 222. The shaft 222 is extended or retracted by a hydraulic cylinder 224 to raise and lower the pin 208. The entire carriage 212 is moved horizontally by a relatively large hydraulic cylinder 226 coupled thereto.

To move the tool head 42 from the end of the tool head exchange arm 58 to the tool head magazine 48, the hydraulic cylinder 226 is first actuated to position the pin 208 under the socket 210 closest to the tool head magazine 48. Next,
Hydraulic cylinder 224 is actuated to raise pin 208 into socket 210. Hydraulic cylinder 226 is then extended to move carriage 212 toward toolhead magazine 28.
The first stroke of hydraulic cylinder 226 causes tool head 42 to move into tool head magazine 48.
Move to the halfway point that reaches . Then pin 208
is removed from the socket 210, and the hydraulic cylinder 22
6, the pin 208 is connected to the tool head magazine 48
is retracted until it is located below the socket 210 furthest from the socket. Pin 208 is inserted into socket 210. Hydraulic cylinder 226 is then extended again to move tool head 42 the remaining path length and advance it into tool head magazine 48. Then the pin 208 is inserted into the socket 21
0 and the hydraulic cylinder 226 is withdrawn.

The process described above is reversed to move tool head 42 from tool head magazine 48 to the end of tool head exchange arm 58. The previously described lifting mechanism is used to lower the horizontal rail 186 to place it out of contact with the tool head 42 just prior to tool head interchange.

The tool head magazine 48 is adapted for slidably receiving the tool head 42, along with a conventional indexing device for selectively providing any desired compartment thereof to a loading and unloading position adjacent the tool head transfer device 62. including suitable rollers (not shown).

Although embodiments of the invention have been described in considerable detail in order to fully disclose the operative mechanisms for carrying out the invention, the specific equipment shown and described herein is intended to be merely illustrative. and
It is to be understood that various novel features of the invention may be incorporated into other forms of construction without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as delineated in the following claims.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure 1 is a side view of one recommended embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2
1; FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary side view showing the drive mechanism for the tool head changing arm shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 4 is a top view of the embodiment shown in FIG.
FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary end view of one end of the tool head exchange arm taken along line 5--5 of FIG. 1; FIG. 6 is an end view similar to FIG. 5, with the external portion cut away to show internal details;
7 is a fragmentary side view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 5; FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along line 8-8 of FIGS. 5 and 6; FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary side view of the tool head drive and the tool head fastened thereto; FIG. 10 is a fragmentary end view of the tool head drive taken along line 10-10 in FIG. 9; FIG. 11- in Figure 9
A fragmentary end view of the tool head taken along line 11; FIG. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view showing the drive connection between the tool head drive and the tool head; FIG. An enlarged fragmentary end view, partially cut away, of the tool head clamp of FIG.
Figure 15 is an enlarged fragmentary side view taken along line 15-15 of Figure 14; Figure 16 is from the tool head storage magazine to the tool head exchange arm. An enlarged fragmentary side view of a tool head moving device for moving a tool head; FIG. 17 is 17-17 of FIG.
FIG. 18 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view taken along line 18--18 of FIG. 16; In the drawing, 20 is the "bed part"; 24 is the "pallet"; 22 is the "work table"; 26 is the "workpiece"; 28 is the "bed part"; 30 is the "tool head drive device"; 32 is the "road branch". ”; 36 is a “motor”; 38 is a “drive shaft”; 42 is a “multi-axis tool head”; 44 is a “spindle”; 46 is a “drive shaft”; 48 is a “tool head storage magazine”; 5
0 is the "tool head transfer mechanism"; 52 is the "frame"; 58 is the "tool head exchange arm"; 6
4 and 66 are "end parts"; 62 is a "tool head moving device".

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 A machine tool that drives a multi-axis tool head in machining work, a work table that receives a workpiece to be machined, a bed part, a tool head drive device mounted on the bed part, and a machine tool that drives a multi-axis tool head in machining work. a fixing device on the tool head drive device for fixing any one of the plurality of multi-axis tool heads to the tool head drive device for performing work; and a fixing device within the tool head drive device and fixed to the tool head drive device. a drive source for driving a multi-axis tool head, a frame, a tool head storage magazine provided on the frame for storing a plurality of multi-axis tool heads; a tool head preparation station in said tool head storage magazine for receiving a multi-axis tool head to be returned from a drive; and said tool head preparation station for selectively moving a multi-axis tool head carried in said tool head storage magazine to said tool head preparation station. In a multi-axis tool head drive machine tool having a drive device installed in a tool head storage magazine, one multi-axis tool head is transferred from the tool head preparation station to the tool head drive device, and at the same time a used multi-axis tool head is transferred. a rotary tool head exchange arm rotatably mounted on the frame for returning the tool head from the tool head drive to the tool head preparation station; a pair of multi-axis tool heads adapted to be simultaneously secured to a multi-axis tool head exchange arm for simultaneously removing a used multi-axis tool head from said tool head drive and simultaneously transferring a new multi-axis tool head from said tool head storage magazine to said tool head drive; a tool head gripper;
movably supported on the frame, removing a used multi-axis tool head from the rotary tool head exchange arm and moving it to the tool head preparation station, and then transferring a new multi-axis tool head to the tool head drive; a tool head moving device for moving a new multi-axis tool head from the tool head preparation station to the tool head grip of the rotary tool head exchange arm in order to perform the next machining operation. Drive machine tools.