WO1998006538A1

WO1998006538A1 - A machine tool

Info

Publication number: WO1998006538A1
Application number: PCT/IB1997/000959
Authority: WO
Inventors: Andrea Allori
Original assignee: Gennelli - Allori S.R.L.
Priority date: 1996-08-09
Filing date: 1997-08-04
Publication date: 1998-02-19
Also published as: ITBO960437A1; CN1198697A; IT1299094B1; ITBO960437A0; AU3555397A; EP0859688A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a machine tool, including a tool-holder (2) and matrix (3), positioned or it being possible to position them opposite one another during operations on a workpiece (4) which is inserted between the two; the tool-holder (2) and matrix (3) being moved towards one another during operations on the workpiece (4) by moving them along a preset axis (Y); at least for the tool-holder (2) or matrix (3), the machine tool (1) has rotary fluid drive means (5; 5'), designed to cause at least the tool-holder (2) or matrix (3) to rotate so as to machine the workpiece (4).

Description

A machine tool

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a machine tool . In particular, the invention is part of the technical sector for the machining of materials (normally metallic) with a tool or a series of suitably powered tools.

These machines, called punches, normally have a pair of elements, respectively the die element and the matrix element, positioned opposite one another and designed to carry out given operations on a workpiece which is inserted between the two elements.

The configuration of such machine tools may vary depending on the possible applications for which they are designed: for example, there may be single-tool machines, which envisage a single tool-holder designed to support a die (or other similar means for the application of force) , or multi-tool machines, with a plurality of tool-holders and in which the tool change-over is effected automatically by the machine itself.

One of the possible applications of such machines is in turret machines; such punches can be used to carry out a series of operations with a plurality of tools supported by a substantially circular turret, whose structure supports the tools and, thanks to the rotation of the turret, places them in the appropriate operating position.

Background Art

Turret punches envisage a frame which defines the machine body and supports all of the various components. Such components envisage the coupling of a die element and a matrix element, positioned opposite one another, aligned during operating phases. Turret machines, like single-tool machines, can be used to carry out operations such as shearing, punching, threading, milling, boring, stamping, etc. These operations may, therefore, envisage movements defined by vertical sliding and/or rotation, depending on the type of treatment to be applied to the workpiece.

In other words, in the case of shearing or punching, a vertical sliding movement brings together a die and a matrix which is positioned under the die, whilst for operations such as threading or some types of milling, the tool is rotated on the workpiece.

For this type of rotation, machines of the known type may have motor-powered tool support bushings, the motion being transmitted by means of a crown and pinion.

Disclosure of the Invention

The present invention relates to a machine tool, in particular of the punch type, in which the rotation of the tools is obtained using a pneumatic or fluid dynamic system.

In other words, the vertical movement, obtained by transmission means of the substantially known type, is combined with rotation obtained pneumatically or by means of fluid dynamics .

The invention relates both to single- and multi-tool machines and, moreover, the rotation can be obtained with a suitable pneumatic or fluid dynamic drive on both the die and matrix parts of the machine. The advantages of the present invention include the obtainment of single- and multi-tool machines able to effect operations with both vertical and rotary movements, and the particular simplicity of construction and precision functioning which derives from a pneumatic or fluid dynamic drive . The technical features of the present invention, in accordance with the afore-mentioned objects, are described in the claims herein, and the advantages of the invention are more clearly described in the detailed description below with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment, and in which: figure 1 is a partial front schematic view of a possible embodiment of a machine tool of the type disclosed, with a scaled- up detail ; figures 2, 3 and 4 are schematic partial front views with some parts cut away, of other possible embodiments of the invention disclosed.

Figure 1 shows a schematic view of a machine tool of the turret type, but the innovative idea of the present invention can also be applied to single-tool machines, in which the tool change- over is manual, and which can be made as shown in the examples in the other figures .

In figure 1 the machine disclosed is labelled 1 as a whole, the numeral 10 indicating the base and 11 the upper part which supports the tool-holders 2 and relative matrices 3. The workpiece is labelled 4 and is represented (with a dashed line) by a metal sheet positioned on a worktable 12 which may be fitted with spheres 13 to limit friction between the material and the worktable.

As on machine tools of the known type, a vertical movement is envisaged (in the direction labelled Y in the figure) , designed to apply force to the sheet 4 which is compressed between a tool supported by the tool-holder 2 and the matrix 3.

An advantage of the present invention is that the vertical movement along the axis Y can be combined with a rotation R obtained using rotary fluid drive means 5 or 5', designed to cause at least the tool-holder 2 or matrix 3 to rotate.

These means may be pneumatic or fluid dynamic (for example, hydraulic) and connected to a circuit, labelled in general as P in the detail in figure 1. The rotary drive means may be positioned on the lower section of the machine, as labelled by the numeral 5 in the detail, or on the upper section of the machine, as labelled 5'.

In other words, such means can cause the tool-holder, the matrix, or both to rotate. In figures 2 to 4, Y is used to label the vertical movement of the tool on its operating stroke, similarly to the example in figure 1. In the examples in figures 2 to 4, a movement of the tool-holder 2 is envisaged, that is to say, relative to the upper section 11 of the machine tool, represented schematically only.

Figure 2 shows an embodiment of a milling unit, fitted with a milling cutter labelled 6. Obviously, the cutter 6 is shown by way of example only, and could be a shearing unit or similar. In this embodiment, the vertical movement characteristic of the machine tool 1 in direction Y is combined with a rotary movement R' of the cutter 6 about a horizontal axis X. This rotary movement R' is defined by the rotation of a driven shaft 7 about its own horizontal axis X. The driven shaft 7 is supported by bearings 71 and is connected by a bevel gear 70 to a drive shaft 8 which has a corresponding bevel gear 80, engaged with the gear 70. The drive shaft 8, supported by bearings 81, is the output shaft of a pneumatic motor M, that is to say, a motor of the type able to cause the drive shaft 8 to rotate thanks to the pressure energy possessed by a fluid, which may be compressed air, and may be mixed with a given percentage of oil.

The motor M is supplied with pressurised fluid through an inlet Mi and supplies it through an outlet Mo, which is connected by a tube that is not shown, to an inlet 9i. The inlet 9i gives onto an open pipe 9, at an outlet end 9o, at the cutter 6. The presence of this pipe 9 allows the rotary tool, consisting of the cutter 6, to be cooled (and lubricated in the case of an air-oil mixture) . Figures 3 and 4 show two embodiments in which the tool is represented by vertical cutters, where the corresponding parts are labelled using the same numbers as in the example in figure 2.

In the embodiment in figure 3, the cutter 6' is directly connected to the driven shaft 7', in which it is coaxial with the drive shaft 8 powered by the motor M.

In the embodiment in figure 4, the cutter 6' is directly connected to the driven shaft 7', in which it is coaxial with a connecting shaft 8'.

The connecting shaft 8' is connected by a bevel gear 80' 80'' to a drive shaft 8'' powered by the motor M. This solution allows the height of the tool-holder to be reduced, thanks to the substantially horizontal configuration of the motor M. The afore-mentioned cutters 6' can be driven (depending on the overall dimensions of the machine, the specifications of the motors used, or depending on other design specifications) by motors configured in such a way that they are perpendicular to or coaxial with the axis of rotation of the tool .

As indicated for the embodiment in figure 2 , the cutters 6 ' in the embodiments in figures 3 and 4 can be substituted with other tools, for example, units for tapping, threading or other operations . The present invention may be subject to numerous modifications and variations, all encompassed by the original design concept. Moreover, all components may be replaced with technically equivalent parts

Claims

1. A machine tool, including a tool-holder (2) and matrix (3), these being positioned or it being possible to position them opposite one another during operations on a workpiece (4) which is inserted between the two, said tool-holder (2) and matrix (3) being moved towards one another when the workpiece (4) is operated upon by moving along a preset axis (Y) , characterised in that at least for the tool-holder (2) or matrix (3) there are rotary fluid drive means (5; 5'), these being designed to make at least the tool-holder (2) or matrix (3) rotate so as to machine the workpiece (4) .

2. The machine tool as described in claim 1, characterised in that the rotary fluid drive means (5; 5') are pneumatic.

3. The machine tool as described in claim 1, characterised in that the rotary fluid drive means (5; 5') are fluid dynamic.

4. The machine tool as described in claim 1, characterised in that the rotary drive means (5) are positioned and operate at the matrix (3) .

5. The machine tool as described in claim 1, characterised in that the rotary drive means (5') are positioned and operate at the tool-holder (2) .

6. The machine tool as described in claim 1, characterised in that it includes a pneumatic motor (M) with an inlet (Mi) and an outlet (Mo) for a pneumatic drive circuit for the motor itself, said outlet (Mo) being connected to a pipe (9) leading to a tool (6; 6') driven by the motor.

7. The machine tool as described in claim 1, characterised in that it includes a pneumatic motor (M) , the motor being positioned coaxial with the axis of rotation of a tool (6; 6') supported.

8. The machine tool as described in claim 1, characterised in that it includes a pneumatic motor (M) , the motor being positioned so that its axis is perpendicular with an axis of rotation (X) of a tool (6; 6') supported.