WO2022079741A1

WO2022079741A1 - Twin gantry system and method for automated double spindle cnc machine

Info

Publication number: WO2022079741A1
Application number: PCT/IN2021/050990
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gaurav Sarup; Siddhant Sarup
Original assignee: SARUP Gaurav
Priority date: 2020-10-17
Filing date: 2021-10-18
Publication date: 2022-04-21

Abstract

The present invention provides a system and a method for double spindle machine that may include two independent gantry systems which may pass or transfer jobs from one spindle to the other spindle. The system may include one independent gantry system that may accept job from another independent gantry system while maintaining the orientation of the job same at both the gantry systems, such that in the process of accepting jobs from one gantry system by the other, a machined face of the job at one spindle may become a butting face of the same job at the other spindle. Thus, the present system may avoid the time and cost of turnaround operation or a separate turnaround device or mechanism for jobs in order to machine more than one faces or sides of the job.

Description

TWIN GANTRY SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATED DOUBLE SPINDLE CNC MACHINE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[001] The present invention is generally related to CNC machines. More particularly, the present invention relates to loading and unloading of jobs in a double spindle CNC machine using twin gantry.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

[002] In a CNC environment, vast majority of turned components are chucking jobs, i.e. they are machined without support of tailstock on a lathe machine/CNC turning center. Many small jobs are mass produced, where cycle times are low, and so, the human operators get fatigued.

[003] Further, these small jobs need to be machined from all of its sides. So, in an automated environment, a CNC machine should include turnaround stations to turn the machines in order to turn and move the jobs in between spindles for machining all the sides of the jobs. The turnaround stations increase the cost of the machine. In manually operated machines, the operators need to do the turning of the jobs for machining every side of the job. Manual operation can be slow, inefficient, error prone and may cause fatigue to the operators.

[004] Conventional automation with robots or other methods are too expensive and slow and require turnaround stations. They also occupy more space and need protective enclosures.

[005] Therefore, there is a need of a system and a method in CNC machines that can overcome the above-mentioned shortcomings.

OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION

[006] The present invention provides a system and a method for double spindle CNC machines with an objective to minimize or eliminate step of job turnaround device, time and cost required in it.

[007] It is an object of the present invention to reduce overall machining time of jobs. [008] An object of the present invention is to provide a human-free automated loading and unloading of jobs in a CNC machine without Wastage of precious machine time.

[009] Another object of the present invention is to make the production and machining of small jobs more effective and quicker by eliminating the step of turnaround for machining both or all faces of the jobs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] An aspect of the present invention provides two system of gantries that each load and unload jobs at one spindle of a CNC machine, while machining is being done on the other spindle.

[0011] An aspect of the present invention provides a second independent 2-axis gantry system that accepts job from first independent gantry system, and in this process of passing the jobs in between the gantry systems, the machined face of a job at one spindle becomes the butting face of that job at another spindle. In this case, the time and cost of turnaround operation is avoided. [0012] Another aspect of the present invention provides human-free automated loading and unloading system because the system uses two independent gantry systems with simultaneous working and transfer of jobs between the two gantries (that saves job turnaround time and cost).

[0013] An aspect of the present invention provides a system for a double spindle CNC machine, comprising: two independent movable gantry systems, each located near one spindle of the double spindle CNC machine, where one of the independent gantry systems unloads and passes semi-finished job, after being semi-worked on at one spindle, to another independent gantry system, while maintaining orientation of the semi-finished job same at both the independent gantry systems, such that in process of passing the semi-finished job from the one independent gantry system to the other independent gantry system, a nonmachined side of the semi-finished job at the one spindle is oriented and loaded as outward facing side of the same semi-finished job at the other spindle, due to coordination of the two independent gantry systems, thereby there eliminating a need to specifically include a separate mechanism, whether automated or manual, to turnaround the semi-finished job for machining more than one sides of the semifinished job. [0014] An embodiment of the present invention provides one or both the independent gantry systems are movable in 2-axis of movement.

[0015] Another embodiment of the present invention provides one or both the independent gantry systems are movable in multiple axes of movement.

[0016] An embodiment of the present invention provides one or both the independent gantry systems have more than one gripper to clamp or grip jobs.

[0017] In an embodiment of the present invention, the two independent gantry systems include a first independent gantry system and a second independent gantry system, and the orientation of the semi-finished job is the same during a process including picking -up the semi-finished job from a first spindle by the first independent gantry system, passing the semi-finished job by the first independent gantry system to the second independent gantry system, and loading the semifinished job by the second independent gantry system at a second spindle.

[0018] An aspect of the present invention provides a method for a double spindle CNC machine, comprising: unloading and passing a semi-finished job, after being semi-worked on at one spindle of the double spindle CNC machine, by a first independent gantry system to a second independent gantry system, while maintaining orientation of the semi-finished job same at both the first and the second independent gantry systems, such that in process of passing the semifinished job from the first independent gantry system to the second independent gantry system, a non-machined side of the semi-finished job at the one spindle is oriented and loaded as outward facing side of the same semi-finished job at the other spindle, due to coordination of the first and the second independent gantry systems, thereby there eliminating a need to specifically include a separate mechanism, whether automated or manual, to turnaround the semi-finished job for machining more than one sides of the semi-finished job, and wherein the first and the second independent gantry systems are independently movable, and each are located near one spindle of the double spindle CNC machine.

[0019] Another aspect of the present invention provides picking up, by the first independent gantry system, a raw job from a pick-up zone using a first gripper; unloading, by the first independent gantry system, a semi-finished job from a first chuck of a first spindle of the double spindle CNC machine, using a second gripper of the first independent gantry system, and then loading the raw job, by the first independent gantry system, at the first chuck of the first spindle, using a first gripper of the first independent gantry system; passing the semi-finished job, after being semi-worked on at the first spindle, by the first independent gantry system to the second independent gantry system, while maintaining the orientation of the semi-finished job same at both the first and the second independent gantry systems; loading, by the second independent gantry system, the semi-finished job at a second chuck of a second spindle of the double spindle CNC machine, after unloading a finished job from the second chuck of the second spindle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0020] For a better understanding of the embodiments of the systems and methods described herein, and to show more clearly how they may be carried into effect, references will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals represent like elements/components throughout and wherein:

[0021] FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram showing an exemplary environment of a system including a double spindle CNC machine, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; [0022] FIGs. 2-5 illustrate an exemplary double spindle machine including two gantry systems for loading and unloading of jobs, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and

[0023] FIG. 6 illustrates a flow diagram showing a method for loading and unloading of jobs in a double spindle CNC machine, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

[0024] This patent describes the subject matter for patenting with specificity to meet statutory requirements. However, the description itself is not intended to limit the scope of this patent. The principles described herein may be embodied in many different forms.

[0025] Illustrative embodiments of the invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all embodiments of the invention are shown. Indeed, the invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. [0026] The present invention provides a system and a method for double spindle machine, such as a CNC machine, that may include two independent gantry systems which may pass or transfer semi-finished jobs from one spindle to the other spindle. The system may include one independent gantry system that may accept job from another independent gantry system while maintaining the orientation of the job same at both the gantry systems, such that in the process of accepting jobs from one gantry system by the other, a machined face of the job at one spindle or one gantry system may become a butting face of the same job at the other spindle or the gantry system. Thus, the present system may avoid the time and cost of turnaround operation for jobs in order to machine more than one faces or sides of the job.

[0027] Referring to FIG. 1 which illustrates a block diagram showing an exemplary environment of a system including a double spindle CNC machine, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The exemplary environment of the system 100 shows a double spindle CNC machine 102 that may comprise two spindles, a first spindle 104 and a second spindle 106; two chucks at the two spindles, first chuck 108 and second chuck 110. Further, the CNC machine 102 may comprise two independently moving gantry systems, a first gantry system 112 and a second gantry system 114.

[0028] In an embodiment, one or both the gantry systems may be movable in 2- axis of movement. In another embodiment, one or both the gantry systems may be movable in multiple axes of movement.

[0029] In an embodiment, one or both the gantry systems may have more than one gripper to clamp or grip the jobs.

[0030] In an exemplary operation at the CNC machine, the first gantry system 112 may pick up a raw material from a pick-up zone using a first gripper and may load the raw job at the first chuck 108 of the first spindle 104 using the first gripper. Before loading the raw job, the first gantry system 112 may employ its second gripper to unload a semi-finished job from the first chuck 108 of the first spindle 104. The semi-finished job unloaded from the first chuck 108 of the first spindle 104 may have its one face or side machined at the first spindle 104, this machined side at the first spindle 104 may be the one which are facing outward at the first spindle 104. [0031] After being semi-machined at the first spindle 104, the semi-finished job may be picked up by the second gripper of the first gantry system 112. The first gantry system 112 may then transfer or pass this semi-finished job to the second gantry system 114. The second gantry system 114 may accept this semi-finished job using one of its grippers, may be a first gripper. While passing the semifinished job by the first gantry system 112 to the second gantry system 114, both the gantry systems 112 and 114 may maintain the orientation of the semi-finished job same at both the gantry systemsll2 and 114, such that in the process of accepting or passing the semi-finished job, a machined face of the semi-finished job at the first spindle 104 may become a butting face of the same semi-finished job at the second spindle 106. Thus, there is no need to include a separate mechanism, whether automated or manual, to turnaround the semi-finished job for machining more than one faces or sides of the semi-finished job. Additionally, there is no need to specifically turnaround the semi-finished job by either of the two gantry systems 112 and 114 also. Therefore, the system 100 may avoid the time and cost of an additional turnaround operation for semi-finished job in order to machine more than one faces or sides of the semi-finished job.

[0032] After accepting the semi-finished job from the first gantry system 112, the second gantry system 114 may load the semi-finished job at the second chuck 110 of the second spindle 106. While loading the semi-finished job, the second gantry system 114 may employ its second gripper to unload a finished job from the second chuck 110 of the second spindle 106. The finished job may be dropped in an outfeed bin to be collected from the machine 102.

[0033] In an embodiment, the orientation of the semi-finished job is the same during the whole process of picking-up the semi-finished job from the first spindle 104 by the first gantry system 112, passing the semi-finished job by the first gantry system 112 to the second gantry system 114, and loading the semi-finished job by the second gantry system 114 at the second spindle 106.

[0034] FIGs. 2-5 illustrate an exemplary double spindle machine including two gantry systems for loading and unloading of jobs, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. It should be understood that the present invention is not restricted to the design, shape and operation of the system as shown in the FIGs. 2-5, and may well include other design, shape and operation of the system that may be able to perform and fulfill the purpose of the invention, without deviating from the meaning and scope of the invention.

[0035] Referring to FIG. 2, in an exemplary CNC environment 200, a pick-up zone 202 may be included for a CNC machine 204 to pick-up raw jobs. A first gantry system 206 may pick up a raw job 208 from the pick-up zone 202 using one of its grippers, a first gripper of the first gantry system 206.

[0036] Referring to FIG. 3, the first gantry system 206 may unload a semi-finished job 300 from a first chuck 302 using a second gripper of the first gantry system 206, and may subsequently load the raw job material 208 at the first chuck 302.

[0037] Referring to FIG. 4, the first gantry system 206 may pass the semi-finished job 300 to the second gantry system 400, and the second gantry system 400 may accept the semi-finished job 300, from the first gantry system 206, using its first gripper of the second gantry system 400. While passing the semi-finished job 300 by the first gantry system 206 to the second gantry system 400, both the gantry systems 206 and 400 may maintain the orientation of the semi-finished job 300 same at both the gantry systems 206 and 400, such that in the process of accepting or passing the semi-finished job 300, a machined face of the semi-finished job 300 at the first chuck 302 may become a butting face of the same semi-finished job 300 at the second chuck 402.

[0038] Referring to FIG. 5, the second gantry system 400 may load the semifinished job 300 at the second chuck 402 after a finished job may get ejected from the second chuck 402 and may fall into an outfeed part catcher 500 from which the finished jobs may be collected.

[0039] In one or both the gantry systems, 206 and 400 may be movable in 2-axis of movement. In another embodiment, one or both the gantry systems 206 and 400, may be movable in multiple axes of movement.

[0040] In an embodiment, one or both the gantry systems 206 and 400, may have more than grippers to clamp or grip the jobs.

[0041] FIG. 6 illustrates a flow diagram showing a method for loading and unloading of jobs in a double spindle CNC machine, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The method 600 should be read and understood in conjunction with the FIGs. 1-5, and include at least one or more of the embodiments of the system described in the FIGs. 1-5. Further, the method 600 may or may not follow a step flow as described by steps 602-610 in the method flowchart 600 in Fig. 6.

[0042] The method 600 may include a step 602 at which the first gantry system 112 may pick up a raw job from a pick-up zone using a first gripper. Further, at step 604, the first gantry system 112 may load the raw job at the first chuck 108 of the first spindle 104 using the first gripper. At a step 606, before loading the raw job, the first gantry system 112 may employ its second gripper to unload a semifinished job from the first chuck 108 of the first spindle 104. The semi-finished job unloaded from the first chuck 108 of the first spindle 104 at the step 606 may have its face or side machined at the first spindle 104, this machined side at the first spindle 104 may be the one which are outwardly facing the first spindle 104.

[0043] Thereafter, at step 608, the first gantry system 112 may then transfer or pass this semi-finished job to the second gantry system 114. The second gantry system 114 may accept this semi-finished job using one of its grippers, may be a first gripper. While passing the semi-finished job by the first gantry system 112 to the second gantry system 114, both the gantry systems 112 and 114 may maintain the orientation of the semi-finished job same at both the gantry systemsl l2 and 114, such that in the process of accepting or passing the semi-finished job, a machined face of the semi-finished job at the first spindle 104 may become a butting face of the same semi-finished job at the second spindle 106.

[0044] At step 610, the second gantry system 114 may load the semi-finished job at the second chuck 110 of the second spindle 106. In an embodiment, before loading the semi-finished job, the second gantry system 114 may employ its second gripper to unload a finished job from the second chuck 110 of the second spindle 106. The finished job may be dropped in an outfeed bin to be collected from the machine 102.

[0045] Thus, advantageously there is no need to include a separate mechanism, whether automated or manual, to turnaround the semi-finished job for machining more than one faces or sides of the semi-finished job. Additionally, there may not be any need to specifically turnaround the semi-finished job by either of the two gantry systems also. Therefore, the system may avoid the time and cost of an additional turnaround operation for semi-finished job in order to machine more than one faces or sides of the semi-finished job.

[0046] Also, unlike existing gantry automations of chucking jobs, in the present invention balancing of machining times of two machining operations is not required as the machine has two spindles and one slide and sequential machining based on the pendulum principle is done. (i.e. one spindle machining is done while loading/unloading is done on another spindle) [0047] It is intended that the disclosure and examples be considered as exemplary only. Though the present disclosure includes examples from CNC machines, the system and method disclosed herein may be employed for various other types of manufacturing machines and environment as would be appreciated by one skilled in the art.

[0048] While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Indeed, the novel methods, devices, and systems described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms. Furthermore, various omissions, substitutions, and changes in the form of the methods, devices, and systems described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure.

Claims

CLAIMS ) A system for a double spindle CNC machine, comprising: two independent movable gantry systems, each located near one spindle of the double spindle CNC machine, where one of the independent gantry systems unloads and passes semi-finished job, after being semi- worked on at one spindle, to another independent gantry system, while maintaining orientation of the semi-finished job same at both the independent gantry systems, such that in process of passing the semifinished job from the one independent gantry system to the other independent gantry system, a non-machined side of the semi-finished job at the one spindle is oriented and loaded as outward facing side of the same semi-finished job at the other spindle, due to coordination of the two independent gantry systems, thereby there eliminating a need to specifically include a separate mechanism, whether automated or manual, to turnaround the semi-finished job for machining more than one sides of the semi-finished job. ) The system of claim 1 , wherein one or both the independent gantry systems are movable in 2-axis of movement. ) The system of claim 1, wherein one or both the independent gantry systems are movable in multiple axes of movement. ) The system of claim 1 , wherein one or both the independent gantry systems have more than one gripper to clamp or grip jobs. 5) The system of claim 4, wherein the two independent gantry systems include a first independent gantry system and a second independent gantry system, and wherein the orientation of the semi-finished job is the same during a process including picking-up the semi-finished job from a first spindle by the first independent gantry system, passing the semi-finished job by the first independent gantry system to the second independent gantry system, and loading the semi-finished job by the second independent gantry system at a second spindle.

6) A method for a double spindle CNC machine, comprising: unloading and passing a semi-finished job, after being semi-worked on at one spindle of the double spindle CNC machine, by a first independent gantry system to a second independent gantry system, while maintaining orientation of the semi-finished job same at both the first and the second independent gantry systems, such that in process of passing the semifinished job from the first independent gantry system to the second independent gantry system, a non-machined side of the semi-finished job at the one spindle is oriented and loaded as outward facing side of the same semi-finished job at the other spindle, due to coordination of the first and the second independent gantry systems, thereby there eliminating a need to specifically include a separate mechanism, whether automated or manual, to turnaround the semi-finished job for machining more than one sides of the semi-finished job, and wherein the first and the second independent gantry systems are independently movable, and each are located at one spindle of the double spindle CNC machine. ) The method of claim 6, wherein the method further comprises picking up, by the first independent gantry system, a raw job from a pickup zone using a first gripper; unloading, by the first independent gantry system, a semi-finished job from a first chuck of a first spindle of the double spindle CNC machine, using a second gripper of the first independent gantry system, and then loading the raw job, by the first independent gantry system, at the first chuck of the first spindle, using a first gripper of the first independent gantry system; passing the semi-finished job, after being semi- worked on at the first spindle, by the first independent gantry system to the second independent gantry system, while maintaining the orientation of the semi-finished job same at both the first and the second independent gantry systems; loading, by the second independent gantry system, the semi-finished job at a second chuck of a second spindle of the double spindle CNC machine, after unloading a finished job from the second chuck of the second spindle. ) The method of claim 6, wherein one or both the independent gantry systems are movable in 2-axis of movement. ) The method of claim 6, wherein one or both the independent gantry systems are movable in multiple axes of movement. 0) The method of claim 6, wherein one or both the independent gantry systems have more than one gripper to clamp or grip jobs.