WO2006136128A2

WO2006136128A2 - Adapter system and quick-change device comprising an adapter system

Info

Publication number: WO2006136128A2
Application number: PCT/DE2006/000838
Authority: WO
Inventors: Heinz Finzer
Original assignee: Heinz Finzer
Priority date: 2005-06-22
Filing date: 2006-05-16
Publication date: 2006-12-28
Also published as: DE112006002233A5; WO2006136128A3

Abstract

The invention relates to an adapter system which comprises an adapter shaft (19) which is used to operate tools which are produced by different manufactures, a drive, a toothed central wheel (17) which can have any particular producer-specific tooth geometry which can be adapted to the toothing by means of the central wheel (17), an adapter pinion (16) which can be exchanged and also fixed in a radially rigid and axially rigid manner to the adapter shaft (19) and can also be in contact with the toothed central wheel (17). The invention also relates to a quick-change device and/or a machine tool which comprises at least one of the two and can be a cutting-bending machine.

Description

Adapter system and quick-change device with adapter system

The invention relates to an adapter system and to a quick-change device with such an adapter system as they are used in particular in stamping and bending machines.

Various systems are known which make it possible to quickly change tools on stamping and bending machines. Disadvantage of these solutions is that this always a manufacturer-specific technology is used. As a result, it is not possible to build and operate the tool or a quick-change device of one manufacturer on the machine tool of another manufacturer and operate.

Another problem with the existing state of the art is that the quick change still takes quite a long time, because a variety of elements are to be changed.

In particular, gantry systems are on the market in which the main drive is mounted in a gantry. Here, the top-heaviness poses dangers when removing and reinserting. In addition, the storage of work modules is complex and requires special additional transport facilities.

Object of the present invention is to operate tools of any manufacturer with a jDeliebigen machine tool. Another task is to be able to operate a quick coupler of any manufacturer with any machine tool.

Still another object is to be able to operate a quick coupler of any manufacturer with any punching and bending machine. Object of the present invention is to make tools of different manufacturers quick change and to accelerate the quick change on a machine tool, especially a punch-bending machine on.

In the case of machine tools, it is fundamentally to be distinguished between the conversion of a tool on the one hand and a quick change on the other hand. In case of a change Usually, only the manufacturer-specific tool is changed to another, while in a quick change, however, a tool set is completely replaced.

This object is achieved by the features of the independent claims.

The claimed adapter system comprises an adapter shaft, a drive, with the help of which ultimately driven tools are driven, these tools can come from any manufacturer. In this case, there is the special feature that these tools have only manufacturer-specific drive options, in particular manufacturer-specific toothing, which serve the drive. In the drive shaft is usually at least one controllable in its speed rotating shaft, which can be mounted axially displaceable in order to adjust the point of intervention of the drive flexible. The adapter shaft is thus the driving element of the adapter system. The claimed adapter system further comprises a toothed central wheel, wherein the central wheel can have any manufacturer-specific toothing geometry. The gearing geometry is in this case manufacturer-specific, if this central wheel is to intervene directly in the manufacturer-specific gearing of the selected tool. The central wheel is the driven element of the adapter system, which in turn drives tools of any manufacturer. Since many manufacturers equip their tools with manufacturer-specific features, they are, according to experience, incompatible with the tools of other manufacturers. Therefore, the central wheel to drive the tools of a manufacturer to have these manufacturer-specific features. One of these manufacturer-specific features is the gearing geometry. The central wheel therefore has the same toothing geometry as the tool to be driven in such a case.

In the event that more than one tool is to be driven by more than one manufacturer, then the skilled person will provide an equal number of central wheels, as there are tools to be driven with different characteristics. These central wheels can then drive the expert in each case individually, or with the help of a One skilled in the art converter to summarize a single central gear, this can for example go with the help of gear stages, in which a final central wheel itself drives more than one gear stage, which in turn drives at least one tool of a manufacturer. The claimed adapter system further comprises an adapter pinion, wherein the adapter pinion is designed both interchangeable, and on the one hand radially fixed and axially fixed on the adapter shaft is fixed and on the other hand can be brought into engagement with the toothed central wheel. This adapter pinion initiates the rotation of the drive shaft in the central wheel, which then in turn either directly or indirectly by means of other central wheels or drives the tools. For this purpose, the adapter pinion is designed to be interchangeable in order to be able to engage with the gearing geometry of the central wheel.

The claimed invention further comprises a quick-change device of machine tools, comprising the adapter system just outlined. This is achieved by the quick-change device comprising a carrier element, wherein the carrier element is designed separable from the machine tool. The carrier element in turn comprises at least one tool to be driven, which can be mounted on any position on the support element, as long as it is driven by the central wheel. The central wheel forms an at least single-stage gearbox for the tool. The quick-change device further comprises the adapter shaft, wherein the central wheel can be driven by the adapter shaft by means of the adapter system according to claim 1. This has the effect that at least one tool of at least one manufacturer with its manufacturer-specific characteristics, such as the teeth of the gears, can be driven by the adapter shaft and all these elements can be removed from the function when changing at once and against an alternative support member with his at least one tool at least one other manufacturer in function on the machine tool can be brought. Since the at least one drive shaft with the aid of which the adapter shaft can be set in rotation can be detachably configured with the adapter shaft, all the components can be combined on the drive side of the drive shaft in the claimed quick-change device. changing device can be exchanged quickly for another in a really short machine downtime. This brings with it the advantage of significantly reduced machine downtime.

The claimed invention further comprises a quick-change device according to the invention in which a main drive is guided by a linear guide and this can engage the main drive shaft in the adapter shaft of the quick-change device. This causes the main drive via the main drive shaft and the adapter shaft can move the elements in the quick-change device in motion.

The claimed invention further comprises a quick-change device in which the support element is aligned in all directions by means of a guide, which in particular can have a prism shape, whereby the guide is self-centering in connection with a rod, and with the aid of a stop on the machine tool. This has the effect that, with the aid of such a prismatic guide or an element having the same effect, alignment of the clip changing device can be ensured quickly and reliably.

The claimed invention further comprises a quick-change device comprising a holding device which aligns the carrier element perpendicular to the front side thereof. This holding device thus secures the carrier element against slipping or tilting in the forward direction.

The claimed invention further comprises such a quick-change device, wherein the location of the engagement of the adapter shaft can be done at a radially arbitrary position of the toothed central wheel. This causes the adapter shaft is not at a single point to be engaged with the central wheel, but at any point of the toothing of the central wheel is to be engaged. As a result, it is also possible to use drives which are set in rotation by larger motors on a machine tool according to the invention for driving. Moreover, in such a case, if the location of the engagement of the adapter shaft as a reference point can be determined, then it can be ensured that the same drive can always be brought in the same place with the same central wheel in engagement. Such an always same point can thus be referred to as a reference point. Such a reference point can then be stored advantageously in the control of the machine tool and thus be called to any point. Such a reference point can therefore be both drive-specific and tool-specific.

The claimed invention further includes such a quick-change device wherein more than one adapter shaft is engaged with the gear stage simultaneously. This means that more than one tool can be used by more than one manufacturer and in this case can be driven by a single drive. Alternatively, several drives are possible, for example, to achieve a high driving force with a small size for a motor. Thus, if such a quick-change device can be controlled by more than one main drive independently of at least one other main drive, for example, a further drive can always be activated if the already activated drives have a certain previously defined, e.g. Drive power, or exceed speed, or if the connection appears necessary for operational reasons, or stability reasons. When in such a quick-change device, the drive of more than one main drive is synchronized with at least one other main drive. This results in a particularly stable operation and a particularly uniform drive speed even in the case when the loads to be handled by the tools are not always identical during machining.

The claimed invention further comprises at least one such quick-change device, wherein a suspension device is attached to the carrier element. As a result, a change can be made particularly quickly, for example with the help of a crane.

The claimed invention further comprises such a quick-change device which comprises more than a single quick-change device, both of which are at an angle to each other. In particular, if both are at a right angle to each other, there are advantages in loading elements, such as a welder, a tapping attachment, or other processing station, etc., each of which can be assembled into assemblies in a single manufacturing cycle.

Such quick-change devices can be installed anywhere where driving elements with manufacturer-specific characteristics are to be driven. In such a case, with the aid of quick-change devices according to the invention, a wide variety of tools from a wide range of manufacturers can be driven quickly and easily in order to realize just-in-time production in the production of different parts on the same machine tool.

The claimed invention further comprises each machine tool comprising at least one quick-change device according to the invention. In particular, punch-bending machines are suitable for the use of such quick-change device. In addition, such a machine tool may be part of a production cell, which includes a clean room exhaust system. In this case, an embodiment is conceivable in which cleaned air flows from above via the quick-change device to the outside. As a result, foreign bodies can be sucked particularly easily at the punching unit.

The claimed invention further includes machine tools comprising a frame, wherein the frame is capable of accommodating at least one support member. As a result, a stable recording of more than one carrier element is made possible.

The invention will become apparent from the figures with reference to further embodiments. This shows

1a: the front view of a quick-change device according to the invention, Fig.1b: section through the guide,

2 shows the side view of a quick-change device according to the invention, installed in a machine tool, 3 shows the top view of a quick-change device according to the invention, installed in a machine tool,

4 shows the section through an inventive adapter system,

5 shows the section through the connection of an adapter system according to the invention to the drive, and

6 shows the device according to the invention installed in a clean room.

In particular, FIG. 1a shows the front view of a quick-change device according to the invention, wherein the quick-change device comprises the carrier element 1, the adapter pinion 16 and the central wheel 17. The tools (not shown here) are located on the support element 1 and are mounted by the skilled person so that they can be driven by the central element 17. The drive is ensured in a preferred manner by a gear drive (not shown in Fig. 1a). To support element 1, the driving adapter pinion 16 has no contact. Alternatively, any other drive would be conceivable if this is provided by the manufacturer of the tool. For example, if a manufacturer were to drive through a belt connection in a future generation of tools, those skilled in the art would design the central wheel to be compatible with that tool. In an analogous manner, the person skilled in the art will also ensure the operation of tools from more than one manufacturer on the carrier element 1. Instead of the central wheel, therefore, for example, a drive point in a linear module is possible.

The support member 1 is in turn held by the lower cross member 13 and aligned by the prismatic guide consisting of the support member 1 and the support plate 11 by means of the rod 22, which itself is in turn held by the stopper 2. One or more quick couplers 1 are preferably fixed by means of such a prism-shaped guide and the rod 22 for the linear and stop 2 for the axial position. The person skilled in the art will alternatively also consider further guides which serve the same purpose. In the direction perpendicular to the surface of the carrier element 1 shown in FIG. 1 a, the carrier element 1 is held by a fastening angle 6, not shown in FIG. 1 a but shown in FIG. 2, which in turn is fastened to the upper cross member 10. On the lower cross member 13, in turn, the receiving plate 11 is mounted. The manufacturing cell, which consists of elements 10, 13, 14, 15, is designed to comply with existing safety regulations. In Fig. 1b, a way is shown how a formed by the support member 1 and the support plate 11 prism-shaped guide with a rod therein 22 cooperate with each other for alignment and thereby cause accurate alignability of the support member 1.

Although the adapter pinion 16 is in principle engageable on any point of the circumference of the central wheel, however, the skilled person will provide a fixed reference point and program into the control of the machine, which is always started when the same tools are to be driven. As a result, the quick change is much easier.

Fig. 2 shows the side view of a quick-change device according to the invention, as it is installed in a machine tool.

In addition to FIG. 1, it can be seen here that the carrier element 1 is held on both sides with the aid of the stopper 2.

The side view in Fig. 2 and plan view Fig. 3 also show a main drive 3, which may for example be an electric motor, and which is movable by means of an axial linear guide 4 in the direction of the support member 1. The linear guide 4 can also be designed as a cross guide or another way to effect a linear movement.

The drive pinion 16 is easily replaceable in order to adapt to the different gears of the various manufacturers of tools, with which it is indirectly connected via the central wheel 17.

The engagement of the adapter pinion 16 in the toothing of the central wheel 17 is ideally done by setting a reference point, which defines an ideal point of engagement with each possible combination of drive pinion 16 with central wheel 17, which can also be called reference point. Fig. 2 also shows in addition to the lower cross member 13 nor the front support 14 and the lower support 15. This axial movement of the main drive can by a feed drive 21st optionally operated electrically or pneumatically or by hand, which is limited in its extreme position by the axial stop 5.

For bending machines with feed device from the left, the expert is also provided a Umsteckmöglichkeit the adapter shaft 19. The person skilled in the art can also provide simultaneous or sequential drive by more than one main drive 3. If more than one quick coupler are operated simultaneously, then at least one main drive 3 is required for each of the quick couplers to be operated.

The quick couplers can be controlled individually or synchronously.

If more than one support element 1 is mounted on a machine, then all of these as well as the feed drives 21 required for this purpose can be mounted on the lower cross member 13.

In Fig. 4, an inventive adapter system is shown in section. On the adapter shaft 19 of the bearing flange 28 is fixed axially fixed and radially fixed, for example by spacers 32 and O-rings 31. In addition, the bearing flange 29 by means of the bearing, in particular Needle bearing 23 is connected to the drive shaft 19 so that it can rotate and the bearing flange 28 with the support member 1 to make a firm connection is capable. In addition, the adapter shaft 19 at its pointing in the direction of the central wheel 17 end at least one stage, which serves as a stop 2für a to be mounted after this stage adapter pinion 16. To fix the adapter pinion, he will select a person skilled in the known options, such as spacers 32, which are clamped as well as the washer 36 by the locking screw 35 against each other and axially fixed. For example, to allow for radial force transmission, one skilled in the art may provide a first key 18, but may also provide any other connection that allows for radial power transmission. The carrier element 1 has no contact with the central wheel 17 during operation.

5 shows the section through the connection of an adapter system according to the invention to the main drive shaft 33. This connection can take place, for example, by the main drive shaft 33 and adapter shaft 19 are preferably connected to each other with a feather key 34, the skilled artisan will introduce the feather so that a non-rotatable connection on the one hand and a solid but again releasable axial connection on the other hand is possible. In this case, the solution proposed in FIG. 5 with the aid of a feather key 34 thus primarily enables the radial force transmission and, in addition, sufficient axial fixation, if feather key 34 and both shafts are matched to one another with the aid of a transition fit or slight press fit.

6 shows the device according to the invention installed in a clean room. In addition, precautions have been taken to enable clean room production at all times. The free space in the machine frame is of considerable advantage and enables the easy removal of the produced parts.

A ready-made quick coupler can be sent to any location and placed in a manufacturing cell and set in motion.

Fig. 6 shows a clean room according to the invention, in which a machine according to the invention is included, wherein 41 represent the filter unit, 42 the suction and punching unit and 43 the cover

The illustrated examples are not meant to be limiting in any way. The person skilled in the art will also consider equally effective solutions and combine the features of the invention with one another.

Claims

Patent claims

1. adapter system comprising

an adapter shaft (19), a drive,

a toothed central wheel (17), wherein the central wheel (17) can have any manufacturer-specific toothing geometry,

- An adapter pinion (16), wherein the adapter pinion (16) is designed both interchangeable, and on the one hand radially fixed and axially fixed on the adapter shaft (19) can be fixed and on the other hand with the toothed central wheel (17) can be brought into engagement.

2. Quick-change device, comprising: a carrier element (1), wherein the carrier element (1) is designed separable from the machine tool and at least one tool to be driven, and at least one gear stage comprises, wherein the at least one gear stage, the toothed central wheel (17), the Adapter shaft (19), wherein the central wheel (17) through the adapter shaft (19) by means of the adapter system according to claim 1 is driven.

3. Quick-change device according to claim 2, characterized in that a main drive (3) with a linear guide (4) and this the main drive shaft (33) in the adapter shaft (19) of the quick-change device (1) can engage.

4. Quick-change device according to claim 2, characterized in that the carrier element (1) by means of a guide (22) and a stop (2) is aligned on the machine tool in all directions.

5. Quick-change device according to claim 4, characterized in that the quick-change device comprises a holding device (6) which aligns the carrier element (1) perpendicular to its front side.

6. Quick-change device according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the location of the engagement of the adapter shaft (19) at a radially arbitrary position of the toothed central wheel (17) can be done.

7. Quick-change device according to claim 6, characterized in that the location of the engagement of the adapter shaft (19) can be fixed as a reference point and can be controlled as a reference point.

8. Quick-change device according to one of the preceding claims 2 to 7, characterized in that more than one adapter shaft (19) with the gear stage is engaged simultaneously.

9. Quick-change device according to claim 8, characterized in that more than one main drive (3) can be controlled independently of at least one further main drive (3).

10. Quick-change device according to claim 9, characterized in that the drive of more than one main drive (3) takes place synchronously with at least one further main drive (3).

11. Quick-change device according to one of the preceding claims 2 to 10, characterized in that on the carrier element (1) one or more suspension devices is mounted.

12. Quick-change device according to one of claims 2 to 11, characterized in that, the overall device comprises more than a single quick-change device, wherein these are at an angle to each other.

12. A machine tool, comprising at least one adapter according to one of claims 1 to 12.

13. Machine tool according to claim 12, characterized in that the machine tool is a punch-bending machine.

14. Machine tool according to one of claims 12 and 13, characterized in that the machine tool is part of a manufacturing cell.

15. clean room according to claim 14, characterized in that it comprises a machine tool according to claim 14 and an extraction system for clean rooms.

16. Machine tools according to one of claims 12 to 15, characterized in that the machine tool comprises a frame formed as a frame, wherein the frame is capable of receiving at least one quick-change device in a position.