KR20230077400A - Automatic Tool Changer - Google Patents

Abstract

An automatic tool changing device is disclosed. The automatic tool changing device according to an embodiment of the present invention is provided with a purge unit that sprays fluid onto a twin arm holding multiple tools, thereby capable of stably removing foreign substances remaining in the tool.

Description

Automatic Tool Changer {Automatic Tool Changer}

The present invention relates to removing foreign matter remaining in a tool gripped by a twin arm, and more particularly, to an automatic tool changer.

In general, a machine tool refers to a machine used for the purpose of processing a metal or non-metal material into a specific shape and dimension using a tool for various cutting processing methods or non-cutting processing methods, or for more precise processing in a semi-material state. .

Among the machine tools, a machine tool generating chips during a machining process is referred to as a cutting machine tool, and a non-cutting machine tool that does not generate chips during a machining process is referred to as a metal processing machine.

Examples of the cutting machine tools include a lathe, a milling machine, a machining center, a drilling machine, a boring machine, a grinding machine, a gear processing machine, and a special processing machine.

Examples of the metal forming machine include a mechanical press, a hydraulic press, a cutting and bending machine, a forging machine, and a drawing machine.

Recently, automation and numerical control (NC) in the cutting processing field are also rapidly progressing, and multifunctional machining centers have emerged by combining the numerical control (NC) of machine tools, which were divided into rotary lathe series and milling series, in a complex manner. Thanks to the wide demand in the field, the market is rapidly expanding.

The machining center is an NC machine tool that automatically performs several types of cutting processes in one machine, and has an automatic tool exchange function and a function to automatically cut and divide two or more surfaces of a workpiece.

The machining center can be divided into two types: a type for processing non-rotating parts and a type for processing rotating parts. The form of processing the non-rotating parts has been improved in various parts by using an NC milling machine or an NC drilling machine, an automatic tool changer (ATC), a tool magazine, an automatic workpiece changer (Automatic Loader, AL) to form a machining center.

The type of processing the rotating part is to use an NC lathe to turn the rotating body part and then perform various processing such as angle division, grooving, hole processing, and tap work. In addition to the automatic tool changer (ATC), the automatic workpiece changer (AL ) is composed of

In addition, by holding the material with a separately prepared chuck during processing and releasing the processed workpiece from the chuck, the attachment and detachment of the workpiece is automated.

The automatic tool changer has a structure in which tools necessary for various operations are exchanged and supplied using a tool holder while holding a plurality of tools required for each process in a tool magazine device.

In the automatic tool changer, the tool stored in the tool magazine device moves to the standby port for automatic tool exchange, and at the same time, the main shaft moves to the tool exchange position in the working space, and the tool in the standby port and the tool in the main shaft are twin arms. The replacement is made by the rotation of

An operating state according to automatic tool change in a conventional machine tool will be described with reference to drawings. For reference, FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a conventional automatic tool changer, and FIGS. 2 and 3 are diagrams for explaining tool exchange of the conventional automatic tool changer.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3 , the conventional automatic tool changer includes a magazine for determining and storing the positions of a plurality of tools used in a spindle while being rotated by the rotational power of a magazine motor 1 . In addition, a plurality of tool ports 3a are continuously disposed in the magazine chain 3, and the magazine chain 3 is automatically driven by the driving of the magazine motor 1.

In addition, the automatic tool changer includes a tool holder 3 located on the circumference of the magazine and holding the tool so that the tool does not escape when the magazine rotates, and the tool shift motor 4 rotates the tool in the magazine. A tool shifter (5) for moving to the exchange position, a stopper (6) for stopping the standby port at the tool exchange position, a twin arm (9) for exchanging the tool between the standby port and the main shaft (10), and a cam box motor It is configured to include a cam box 8 that rotates the twin arms 9 using the rotational power of (7).

In the conventional automatic tool changer, the magazine motor 1 operates to rotate the magazine 2 to move the exchange tool in the magazine to the tool change position, thereby moving the tool port 3a to the position of the tool shifter 5. move up to

In addition, the tool port 3a is moved to the tool position by the operation of the tool shift motor 4. When the cam box motor (7) is operated, the twin arm (9) assembled in the cam box (8) rotates clockwise by 90°, and the actual processing tool (10a) fixed to the main shaft (10) and the tool port (3a) ) to clamp.

After gripping the actual processing tool 10a and the tool port 3a, the twin arms 9 rotate 180° clockwise and exchange the positions of the actual processing tool 10a and the tool port 3a. Then, the twin arm 9 rotates 90° counterclockwise and returns to the initial position.

However, in the conventional automatic tool changer, since the tool shank of the tool is exposed to the outside during tool exchange, foreign substances such as dust or fine chips are attached or stacked, and the machining performance may be deteriorated due to poor bonding between the spindle and the tool. This has caused a need for countermeasures.

Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2018-0046488

The present embodiments are intended to provide an automatic tool changer capable of conveniently removing chips remaining in a tool tool gripped by a twin arm provided in the automatic tool changer.

The automatic tool changer according to the present embodiment includes a twin arm 100 having a tool insertion groove 110 into which a tool tool 2 is selectively inserted; and a purge unit 200 that is installed inside the twin arm 100 and injects the fluid toward the surface of the tool tool 2 only when the twin arm 100 grips the tool tool 2 . ).

The purge unit 200 extends toward the front end of the twin arm 100 and has a finger 212 provided to selectively contact the tool tool 2, and the movement of the fluid to the tool tool 2 A first shift 210 including a first communication portion 214 formed for; an elastic member 220 elastically supporting the purge unit 200 in an axial direction; a second shift 230 coupled to an outer side of the first shift 210 and having a second communication unit 232 selectively communicated with the first communication unit 214; a guide bush 240 for guiding an amount of displacement generated in an axial direction of the purge unit 200; A nozzle unit 260 provided on the outside of the twin arm 100 is included to spray the tool tool 2 .

The purge unit 200 is operated by receiving fluid from the fluid supply unit 250 that supplies fluid.

The finger 212 includes a first inclined portion 212a that makes initial contact with the tool tool 2; The extended end of the first inclined portion 212a is inclined toward the tool insertion groove 110 and maintains contact with the outer circumferential surface of the tool 2 inserted into the tool insertion groove 110. It includes 2 inclined portions 212b.

The twin arm 100 is provided with a stopper S provided to limit the maximum moving distance of the first shift 110 .

The first communication part 214 has a relatively larger opening than the second communication part 232 .

The first communication part 214 is opened in an elliptical shape extending a predetermined length in the axial direction of the first shift 210 .

The purge unit 200 further includes an O-ring 201 provided for sealing the first and second communication parts 214 and 232 .

The guide bush 240 includes a first guide bush 242 provided in the first shift 210; A second guide bush 244 provided on the second shift 230 and positioned adjacent to the second communication part 232 is included.

The guide bush 240 is characterized in that a linear guide is used.

The fluid supply unit 250 includes a first fluid supply unit 252 for injecting fluid to the upper side of the tool tool 2; A second fluid supply unit 254 for injecting fluid to the lower side of the tool tool 2 is included.

When displacement in the axial direction occurs in the second shift 230, the displacement adjusting unit 300 is provided to adjust the displacement applied to the second shift 230 by moving in a predetermined stroke.

The displacement control unit 300 includes a displacement transfer unit 310 inclined downward in an orthogonal direction facing the second shift 230; A support 320 inserted into the displacement transmission unit and elastically supporting the displacement transmission unit 310 in an axial direction is included.

In the present embodiments, high-pressure compressed air is sprayed to the tool tool only when gripping is performed by the twin arm to remove foreign matter on the tool tool, so that foreign matter remaining on the tool tool can be easily removed without using separate pneumatic equipment. there is.

In the present embodiments, it is possible to remove foreign matter from a tool tool using a twin arm, thereby improving manufacturability and productivity at the same time.

1 to 3 show a conventional automatic tool changer;
4 is a cross-sectional view showing an automatic tool changer and a twin arm according to the present embodiment.
5 is a perspective view showing a state in which the twin arm grips the tool according to the present embodiment;
6 is a cross-sectional view showing a state before a tool tool is coupled to a twin arm according to the present embodiment.
7 is a view showing a state in which first and second communication units are communicated after the tool tool is gripped by the twin arm according to the present embodiment;
8 is a view showing another embodiment of the first communication unit according to the present embodiment.
9 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a tool tool is coupled to a twin arm according to the present embodiment.
10 is a view showing another embodiment of a guide bush according to this embodiment.
11 is an operating state diagram of the automatic tool changer according to the present embodiment.

Advantages and features of the present disclosure, and methods of achieving them, will become clear with reference to embodiments described below in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below, but will be implemented in various different forms, and only the present embodiments make the disclosure of the present disclosure complete, and common knowledge in the art to which the present disclosure belongs. It is provided to fully inform the person who has the scope of the disclosure, and the disclosure is only defined by the scope of the claims. Like reference numbers designate like elements throughout the specification.

A component is said to be "connected to" or "coupled to" another component when it is directly connected or coupled to the other component or through another component in between. include all cases. On the other hand, when one component is referred to as “directly connected to” or “directly coupled to” another component, it indicates that another component is not intervened. “And/or” includes each and every combination of one or more of the recited items.

Terminology used herein is for describing embodiments and is not intended to limit the present disclosure. In this specification, singular forms also include plural forms unless specifically stated otherwise in a phrase. As used in the specification, "comprises." and/or "comprising" does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other elements, steps, operations and/or elements.

Although first, second, etc. are used to describe various constituent elements, these constituent elements are not limited by these terms, of course. These terms are only used to distinguish one component from another.

An automatic tool changer according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

For reference, FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the automatic tool changer and the twin arm according to the present embodiment, FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state in which the twin arm grips the tool tool according to the present embodiment, and FIG. It is a cross-sectional view showing a state before a tool tool is coupled to the twin arm according to the embodiment, and FIG. 7 shows a state in which the first and second communication parts are communicated after the tool tool is gripped by the twin arm according to the present embodiment. it is a drawing

Referring to FIGS. 4 to 7 , the automatic tool changer 50 according to the present embodiment is described as being installed in a machining center as an example, but may also be installed in other machine tools.

The automatic tool changer 50 is installed together inside the twin arm 100 and the twin arm 100 having a tool insertion groove 110 formed on one side so that the tool 2 is selectively inserted therein, and a purge unit 200 that injects fluid towards the surface of the tool tool 2 only upon contact with the tool tool 2 when the arm 100 is rotated to grip the tool tool 2. .

When the twin arm 100 grips the tool tool 2, fluid is supplied through a fluid supply unit 250, which will be described later, so that foreign substances remaining in the tool insertion groove 110 or the tool tool 2 are removed or removed. Since it can be washed, it can be used immediately without replacing or stopping the twin arm as in the past, improving quality and improving productivity at the same time.

To this end, the purge unit 200 according to the present embodiment is installed inside the twin arm 100 and sprays the fluid to the tool tool 2 only when the tool tool 2 is gripped, and the grip is released. In this case, the fluid injection is configured to stop, so that foreign substances can be cleaned while being in close contact with the tool 2 as much as possible.

The purge unit 200 according to the present embodiment includes a finger 212 extending toward the front end and selectively contacting the tool tool 2, and formed for the movement of fluid to the tool tool 2. A first shift 210 including a first communication part 214, an elastic member 220 for elastically supporting the purge unit 200 in an axial direction, and coupled to an outer side of the first shift 210, , the second shift 230 provided with the second communication part 232 to selectively communicate with the first communication part 214 and the guide bush for guiding the amount of displacement generated in the axial direction of the purge unit 200 240, and a nozzle unit 260 provided on the outside of the twin arm 100 to be sprayed to the tool tool 2.

The first shift 210 corresponds to a configuration in which a finger 212 is provided in a direction facing the tool tool 2 , and the finger 212 makes direct contact with the tool tool 2 .

The tool insertion groove 110 is formed in the first shift 210 so that the tool tool 2 can be stably inserted, and the tool tool 2 is orthogonal to the tool insertion groove 110. located in position In this case, when the tool tool 2 is located in the tool insertion groove 110 , contact is made with the finger 212 and the first shift 210 can be moved in the axial direction.

A first communication part 214 is formed in the first shift 210 for fluid movement to the tool tool 2, and when the finger 212 comes into contact with the tool tool 2, the first shift to be described later The second communication part 232 and the first communication part 214 communicate with each other (see FIG. 7 ), so that the fluid can be injected toward the tool tool 2 .

The first shift 210 is formed in a pipe shape, for example, but may be changed into another shape.

The finger 212 according to the present embodiment includes a first inclined portion 212a that makes initial contact with the tool tool 2, and the tool insertion groove 110 at the extended end of the first inclined portion 212a. and a second inclined portion 212b that is inclined toward and maintained in contact with the outer circumferential surface of the tool tool 2 inserted into the tool insertion groove 110.

A noise reduction member may be attached to the surface of the finger 212 to a predetermined thickness to reduce noise that may be generated when it comes into contact with the tool tool 2 . The noise reducing member may be made of urethane, rubber, plastic, or various materials having functions for reducing noise.

Therefore, the finger 212 minimizes noise reduction caused by direct contact with the tool tool 2 and minimizes the impact applied to the first shift 210 to enable stable operation of the twin arm 10. can

The first inclined portion 212a extends obliquely toward the tool tool 2 so that the tool insertion groove 110 does not interfere with the moving direction of the tool tool 2 when it comes into contact with the tool tool 2. stable movement can be achieved.

The second inclined portion 212b is a place where contact is maintained with the outer circumferential surface of the tool tool 2 after the tool tool 2 is inserted into the tool insertion groove 110 (see FIG. 10). It may have a curvature corresponding to the curvature of the outer circumferential surface of (2) or be configured in an inclined shape as shown in the drawing.

Since the first inclined portion 212a extends relatively longer than the second inclined portion 212b, when the tool tool 2 is moved to the tool insertion groove 110, stable movement is possible.

As shown in the drawing, the first communication part 214 is formed as a circular hole, but may be changed into other shapes and is formed to supply fluid to a fluid supply part 250 to be described later.

The elastic member 220 according to this embodiment uses a coil spring and is inserted outside the first shift 210 in the axial direction to move the first shift 210 toward the outside of the twin arm 100 (refer to FIG. 4 ). left) for elastic support.

When the finger 212 is in contact with the tool tool 2, the elastic member 220 is elastically compressed to move the first shift 210 in the axial direction in the direction of the second shift 230 to be described later. It can be elastically supported during construction to enable stable movement.

7 or 9, the second shift 230 according to the present embodiment is coaxially coupled to the first shift 210 and selectively communicates with the first communication unit 214. Since two communication parts 232 are formed, when the first communication part 241 coincides with the second communication part 232, the movement of the fluid can be performed.

The second shift 230 is stably supported so as not to be shaken in the axial direction by a guide bush 240 to be described later.

The second communication part 232 is opened with the same diameter as the first communication part 214, so that when the fluid is moved, it can move stably without pressure loss.

Referring to attached FIG. 8 , the first communication unit 214 according to the present embodiment may be opened in an elliptical shape extending a predetermined length in the axial direction, unlike the above-described embodiment.

The reason why the first communication part 214 is opened in an elliptical shape is because the first shift 210 is moved in the axial direction due to a displacement difference, so even when the center of the second communication part 232 does not coincide with the fluid to move stably.

Therefore, even when the first shift 210 is always moved to the correct position or when a slight error occurs, the fluid can be stably moved.

The guide bush 240 according to the present embodiment is axially inserted into the second shift 230 and minimizes axial shaking caused by the first shift 210 relatively moved by the second shift 230, thereby providing a stable purge unit ( 200) promotes stable operation.

The guide bush 240 is illustrated as being installed only in the second shift 230 as an example, but is not necessarily limited to the above-described position.

A linear guide is used for the guide bush 240, and the linear guide is used to constantly maintain stability according to support in a mechanical part in which a linear motion is performed.

The guide bush 240 minimizes a phenomenon in which the second shift 230 is shaken through rolling contact between a plurality of balls provided therein, and the balls are in rolling contact. During this process, wear heat is not generated with the outer circumferential surface of the second shift 230 .

In addition, even when an axial load is applied to the second shift 230, the amount of displacement according to the movement is minimized, enabling stable movement of the first shift 210 and the second shift 230.

Referring to FIG. 10, the guide bush 240 according to the present embodiment is, for example, provided in the first guide bush 244 provided in the first shift 210 and the second shift 230, A second guide bush 242 positioned adjacent to the second communication part 232 is included.

In this embodiment, the guide bush 240 is composed of first and second guide bushes 244 and 242 and may be installed on the first shift 210 and the second shift 230, respectively.

The first guide bush 244 is installed on the first shift 210 to minimize shock or shaking transmitted by the finger 212, and the second guide bush 242 moves the first shift 210. It stabilizes the shock transmitted through it to enable stable operation.

Accordingly, stable movement and operation of the first and second shifts 210 and 230 in the axial direction are always kept constant, so that the injection of fluid toward the tool tool 2 is kept constant.

The twin arm 100 according to this embodiment is provided with a stopper S provided to limit the maximum moving distance of the first shift 110 . The stopper (S) can stably limit excessive axial movement by allowing it to move only by a predetermined allowable distance in the axial direction.

The purge unit 200 further includes an O-ring 201 provided for sealing the first and second communication parts 214 and 232, and the O-ring 201 is composed of a plurality of the first shift ( 210) restricts the movement of compressed air when it is not operated.

Referring to FIG. 11, the fluid supply unit 250 according to the present embodiment uses, for example, an air compressor that generates compressed air when the fluid corresponds to compressed air, and coolant is supplied when the fluid is liquid. A cooling water supply unit may be used.

In this embodiment, the fluid supply unit 250 is limited to using compressed air, and foreign substances such as chips remaining on the surface of the tool tool 2 can be easily separated or removed, so convenience is improved. .

The fluid supply unit 250 includes, for example, a first fluid supply unit 252 for dispensing fluid to the upper side of the tool tool 2 and a second fluid supply unit 254 for dispensing fluid to the lower side of the tool tool 2 . ).

Since the tool tool 2 extends to a predetermined length, it is more advantageous to separate foreign substances remaining on the outside of the tool tool 2 when the first and second fluid supply units 252 and 254 are provided, respectively.

The first fluid supply unit 252 injects high-pressure compressed air to the upper side of the tool tool 2, and the second fluid supply unit 254 injects compressed air to the lower side of the tool tool 2 to the tool tool 2 (2) Remove foreign substances remaining on the surface.

In this embodiment, when an axial displacement is generated in the second shift 230, the displacement control unit 300 is provided to move in a predetermined stroke and adjust the displacement applied to the second shift 230.

The displacement control unit 300 is inserted into the displacement transfer unit 310 inclined downward in an orthogonal direction facing the second shift 230 and the displacement transfer unit, and rotates the displacement transfer unit 310 as an axis. It includes a support 320 that elastically supports in the direction.

The displacement transfer unit 310 maintains the position shown in the figure by the support 320 as the second shift 230 does not move before the first shift 230 grips the tool 2. do.

When the first shift 310 is moved to the second shift 230, the displacement transfer unit 310 is moved in the 6 o'clock direction based on the drawing by the guide bush 240 coupled to the second shift 230. The support 320 is elastically compressed.

In the displacement control unit 300, the second shift 230 is moved to an inclined position, and as shown in the drawing, the displacement transfer unit 310 moves downward while moving the second shift 230 in the axial direction. Stroke is stably controlled.

In the above, one embodiment of the present invention has been described, but those skilled in the art can add, change, delete, or add components within the scope not departing from the spirit of the present invention described in the claims. The present invention can be variously modified and changed by the like, and this will also be said to be included within the scope of the present invention.

2: tool tool
100: twin arm
110: tool insertion groove
200: purge unit
210: first shift
212: finger
214: first communication unit
220: elastic member
230: second shift
232: second communication unit
240: guide bush
250: fluid supply unit
252, 254: first and second fluid supply units
260: nozzle part
S : stopper

Claims (13)

a twin arm 100 having a tool insertion groove 110 into which the tool tool 2 is selectively inserted; and
A purge unit 200 installed together with the twin arm 100 and injecting fluid toward the surface of the tool tool 2 only when the twin arm 100 grips the tool tool 2 automatic tool changer. According to claim 1,
The purge unit 200 extends toward the front end of the twin arm 100 and has a finger 212 provided to selectively contact the tool tool 2, and the movement of the fluid to the tool tool 2 A first shift 210 including a first communication portion 214 formed for;
an elastic member 220 elastically supporting the purge unit 200 in an axial direction;
a second shift 230 coupled to an outer side of the first shift 210 and having a second communication unit 232 selectively communicated with the first communication unit 214;
a guide bush 240 for guiding an amount of displacement generated in an axial direction of the purge unit 200;
An automatic tool changer comprising a nozzle unit 260 provided on the outside of the twin arm 100 to spray fluid to the tool tool 2. According to claim 2,
The automatic tool changer according to claim 1 , wherein the purge unit 200 operates by receiving fluid from a fluid supply unit 250 supplying fluid. According to claim 2,
The finger 212 includes a first inclined portion 212a that makes initial contact with the tool tool 2;
The extended end of the first inclined portion 212a is inclined toward the tool insertion groove 110 and maintains contact with the outer circumferential surface of the tool 2 inserted into the tool insertion groove 110. An automatic tool changer comprising two inclined portions 212b. According to claim 2,
The automatic tool changer is provided with a stopper (S) provided in the twin arm (100) to limit the maximum moving distance of the first shift (110). According to claim 2,
The automatic tool changer of claim 1 , wherein the first communication part (214) has a relatively larger opening than the second communication part (232). According to claim 6,
The first communication part 214 is opened in an elliptical shape extending a predetermined length in the axial direction of the first shift 210. According to claim 2,
The purge unit 200 further includes an O-ring 201 provided for sealing the first and second communication parts 214 and 232. According to claim 2,
The guide bush 240 includes a first guide bush 242 provided in the first shift 210;
The automatic tool changer includes a second guide bush 244 provided on the second shift 230 and positioned adjacent to the second communication part 232. According to claim 2,
The guide bush 240 is an automatic tool changer in which a linear guide is used. According to claim 3,
The fluid supply unit 250 includes a first fluid supply unit 252 for injecting fluid to the upper side of the tool tool 2;
Automatic tool changer comprising a second fluid supply unit 254 for injecting fluid to the lower side of the tool tool (2). According to claim 2,
The automatic tool changer having a displacement adjusting unit (300) for adjusting the displacement applied to the second shift (230) by moving in a predetermined stroke when displacement in the axial direction is generated in the second shift (230). According to claim 2,
The displacement control unit 300 includes a displacement transfer unit 310 inclined downward in an orthogonal direction facing the second shift 230;
and a supporter (320) inserted into the displacement transmission unit and elastically supporting the displacement transmission unit (310) in an axial direction.

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