Machine tool and method of operating same

Abstract

A machine tool comprises a tool assembly (1), the tool assembly (1) comprising a tool carrying support (11) and a tool magazine (12). The tool assembly (1) is displaceable parallel to the X-axis. The tool carrier support supports a tool carrier (101) for driving a tool. A tool magazine (12) of a tool assembly (1) is configured for supporting a plurality of tools. A tool magazine (12) is attached to the tool carrying support (11, 11A) for movement parallel to the X-axis with the tool carrying support. The tool assembly (1) comprises drive means (13) for displacing the tool magazine (12) relative to the tool carrier support (11) between a first position in which the tool magazine (12) does not face the tool carrier (101) and a second position in which the tool magazine (12) faces the tool carrier (101) to allow tool replacement.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a machine tool for performing machining operations such as drilling, boring, grinding, chamfering, milling, broaching and the like on a workpiece that requires machining at different positions, such as different positions in an XY plane. Background Art

[0002] It is known in the art to machine components having a considerable extension along at least one axis, for example along the X-axis. Many structural components, for example structural components for motor vehicles such as passenger cars and trucks, for aircraft or for trains, require machining at multiple locations along and across the component. For example, beams used in motor vehicles, aircraft or trains may have a considerable extension along at least one axis, for example, in the case of beams or the like, along their longitudinal axis. An example of such a beam is a beam of a so-called battery box used to support, position and hold batteries in electric vehicles.

[0003] In order to machine a workpiece having a considerable extension along at least one axis, such as the X-axis, it is usually necessary for one or more tools to be displaced parallel to the X-axis for interacting with the workpiece at different positions along the workpiece. In addition, the tool may have to be displaceable parallel to at least another axis, such as parallel to the Y-axis, so as to be able to interact with the workpiece at different positions of the workpiece in the XY plane, i.e. at different coordinates in the XY plane. Typically, the tool can also be arranged to be displaced parallel to the Z-axis in order to move towards or away from the workpiece. The X-axis, the Y-axis and the Z-axis are usually orthogonal axes, each axis being perpendicular to the other two axes.

[0004] Each tool is usually arranged in a tool carrier which holds and drives the tool, for example, so as to rotate the tool, for example, about an axis parallel to the Z axis. In some machine tools, there are several tool carriers which interact with one workpiece during machining of the workpiece, and these tool carriers may be provided with tools suitable for the same or different machining operations. In some machine tools, there are several tool carriers which interact with different workpieces for machining a plurality of workpieces simultaneously.

[0005] Typically, a tool change is performed during the machining of a workpiece, whereby at least one tool carrier is displaced along the X-axis to a tool magazine supporting a plurality of different tools, and at least one tool carrier interacts with the tool magazine so that the tool carried by the tool carrier is replaced by another tool. Sometimes, the tool carrier has to perform more than one tool change before the machining of the workpiece in the machine tool is terminated.

[0006] Although automatic tool changes can be performed quite quickly in modern machine tools, tool changes still imply a certain downtime during which the corresponding tool carrier does not perform any machining operations. Part of this downtime is due to the tool replacement operation itself, while another part is due to the time it takes for the tool carrier to move between the position where the last machining operation on the workpiece was performed and the position of the tool magazine and then return to the position where the next machining operation (with a new tool) is to be performed. If there are several tool changes, these displacements of the tool carrier to the tool magazine and back can add up to a considerable time. Although the tool carrier can be moved quickly, for example along the X axis, it has been found that it is desirable to improve efficiency by further reducing the time required for the entire tool change operation, including reducing the downtime caused by the displacement of the tool carrier to the tool magazine and back.

[0007] It is also considered known in the art to provide a dedicated device, such as a robot arm, to transfer tools between the tool carrier and the tool magazine. The incorporation of such a dedicated device may increase complexity. In addition, when a tool change has to be performed for several tool carriers (e.g., a plurality of tool carriers arranged on a tool carrier support column for machining a corresponding plurality of workpieces simultaneously), the dedicated device may have to perform a series of subsequent tool changes before machining can be restarted, which may mean considerable downtime. Alternatively, additional dedicated devices may be used, such as one dedicated device for each tool carrier. However, this may increase complexity and cost.

[0008] DE-10225143-A1 discloses a machine tool having a tool spindle for receiving tools, a backstage magazine in which the tools are stored, and a transfer device for transferring the tools between the backstage magazine and a transfer position. The machine tool is also provided with a mechanical magazine for receiving tools, and the tools can be exchanged with the tool spindle from the mechanical magazine. The mechanical magazine can be shifted parallel to the horizontal Y axis between a position for exchanging tools with the backstage magazine and a position for exchanging tools with the tool spindle.

[0009] US-2021 / 0060666-A1 discloses a machine tool having a rotatable tool magazine which can optionally also be displaced along a horizontal axis. Summary of the invention

[0010] A first aspect of the invention relates to a machine tool comprising a workpiece support for supporting at least one workpiece to allow machining of the workpiece. In some embodiments, the workpiece support is designed to support an elongated workpiece extending parallel to the X-axis of the machine tool, such as a workpiece having a length greater than 1 meter, 2 meters or 3 meters. The machine tool may be particularly advantageous for machining elongated workpieces, such as metal workpieces, such as metal profiles or beams, such as aluminum profiles or beams, such as profiles or beams intended to form part of a vehicle, such as a battery box for an electric vehicle. Such profiles or beams may have a considerable length, such as a length greater than 1 meter, 1.5 meters, 2 meters or 3 meters.

[0011] For each workpiece, the workpiece support may include an elongated support member to which the corresponding workpiece may be clamped. The support member may be arranged so that it can pivot about an axis parallel to the X-axis (e.g., to perform a full 360-degree rotation or a more limited rotation, such as up to 270, 180 or 90 degrees) so as to set a suitable angle of attack between the workpiece and the tool and / or to transfer the workpiece from a position for loading and unloading the workpiece onto and from the workpiece support, respectively, to a position for machining the workpiece, in which the workpiece faces the corresponding tool so that the tool can perform a machining operation on the workpiece. In some embodiments, the elongated support member may be arranged between two columns, such as two vertical columns, which may be spaced apart from each other by a distance of, for example, greater than 1 meter, 1.5 meters, 2 meters or 3 meters. When there are several elongated support members, they may be arranged in parallel one after another along an axis parallel to the Y-axis of the machine tool, such as one above the other when the Y-axis is a vertical axis.

[0012] The machine tool also includes a tool assembly, the tool assembly including a tool carrying support and a tool magazine, the tool assembly being displaceable parallel to the X-axis. The X-axis, which may also be referred to as the "first axis" of the system, may be, for example, horizontal or vertical. In some embodiments, the machine tool includes more than one tool assembly that is displaceable parallel to the X-axis.

[0013] The tool carrier support supports a tool carrier (in many embodiments, more than one tool carrier) configured to carry and drive a tool (in some embodiments, more than one tool) for machining a workpiece supported by the workpiece support. For example, each tool carrier may include one or more spindles for rotating one or more tools, as is known in the art. The tool carrier is supported on the tool carrier support (e.g., on one side of the tool carrier support) for movement parallel to the X-axis with the tool carrier support.

[0014] The tool magazine of the tool assembly is configured to support a plurality of tools. The tool magazine is attached to the tool carrier support for movement with the tool carrier support parallel to the X-axis.

[0015] The tool assembly includes a drive device for shifting a tool magazine relative to a tool carrier between a first position and a second position, wherein the tool magazine does not face the tool carrier and the tool carrier is faced with the tool magazine to allow another tool supported by the tool magazine to replace a tool carried by the tool carrier.

[0016] The term "facing" should be interpreted as the tool magazine being placed relative to the tool carrier in a manner that allows a tool change operation to be performed, wherein a tool previously carried by the tool carrier is replaced by a tool supported by the tool magazine. For example, in many embodiments, the tool magazine "faces" the tool carrier by being placed in front of the tool carrier, for example along a Z axis, which may correspond to the axis of rotation of the tool carried by the tool carrier. The tool carried by the tool carrier is typically held by a chuck or other holding device that forms part of the tool carrier in a manner that allows a tool drive device that forms part of the tool carrier to transmit torque to the tool to rotate the tool for performing a machining operation.

[0017] The fact that the tool magazine is attached to the respective tool carrier support so as to move parallel to the X-axis with the tool carrier support means that the tool magazine can remain positioned relatively close to one or more tool carriers, regardless of the position of the tool carrier support and the one or more tool carriers along the X-axis. This can be used to minimize downtime corresponding to the relative displacement between the tool carrier and the tool magazine corresponding to the tool change. For example, in many prior art machine tools, the tool magazine is in a fixed position, usually not facing the workpiece but beyond the end of the workpiece, so that depending on the position of the tool carrier along the X-axis when the tool change operation is started, the tool carrier may have to travel along the X-axis for a distance corresponding to most of the length of the workpiece or even a greater distance. In the case where the tool magazine is attached to the tool carrier support so that the tool magazine moves parallel to the X-axis with the tool carrier support, the amplitude of the relative movement (along the X-axis) between the tool carrier and the tool magazine required for the tool change operation can be significantly reduced and can remain the same, regardless of the position of the tool carrier relative to the X-axis when the tool change operation is started. This is obviously particularly advantageous in the case where the workpiece has a considerable extension along the X-axis, such as an extension of more than one or two meters. On the other hand, the travel of the tool magazine from the first position to the second position and back can be used as part of a tool change operation. In particular, in some embodiments, the tool magazine can be configured (for example, due to the configuration and arrangement of the tool gripper forming part of the tool magazine) to more or less automatically engage the tool held by the tool carrier towards the end of the travel, i.e. when the tool magazine approaches its second position. Similarly, the tool magazine can be configured (for example, due to the configuration and arrangement of the tool gripper forming part of the tool magazine) to release the tool that has become engaged by the tool carrier when the tool magazine moves away from its second position. Therefore, the movement of the tool magazine from its first position to its second position and back can not only be used to position the tool magazine in a suitable position for tool change, but also helps to engage and release the tool by, for example, the tool gripper of the tool magazine. This can eliminate or reduce the need for additional devices dedicated to transferring tools between the tool magazine and the tool carrier during a tool change operation.

[0018] References to, for example, "tool assembly" and "tool carrier" should not be interpreted as excluding the possibility that the machine tool comprises more than one tool assembly as described, and should not exclude the possibility that the tool carrier support supports more than one tool carrier. In practice, it may often be preferred that the tool carrier support supports two or more tool carriers arranged one after the other along a Y-axis, for example a vertical Y-axis, so that the tool assembly can be used to simultaneously machine several workpieces arranged one after the other in parallel along the Y-axis, for example one above the other in the case where the Y-axis is vertical. That is, in this case, each tool carrier can interact with a respective one of the workpieces so that the workpieces are machined simultaneously.

[0019] In some embodiments of the invention, the drive means for displacing the tool magazine relative to the tool carrier support between the first position and the second position is arranged to operate with a stroke of less than 500 mm, such as between 250 mm and 450 mm, such as between 350 mm and 425 mm. Preferably, the stroke of the drive means is relatively limited in order to minimize downtime for tool changes due to the time of relative displacement between the tool magazine and the tool carrier. The stroke is preferably the same regardless of the position of the tool carrier support along the X-axis.

[0020] In some embodiments of the invention, the tool magazine is slidably attached to the tool carrier support, so that a drive device for displacing the tool magazine relative to the tool carrier support slides the tool magazine between a first position and a second position. The tool magazine may, for example, comprise a member guided by a guide rail or guide groove or the like arranged on the tool carrier support and extending parallel to the X-axis, or the tool carrier support may, for example, comprise a member guided by a guide rail or guide groove or the like arranged on the tool magazine and extending parallel to the X-axis.

[0021] In some embodiments of the invention, the tool magazine is slidably attached to a side of the tool carrier that faces the workpiece support during machining. This arrangement may be preferred because it facilitates positioning the tool magazine in front of at least one tool carrier, facing the end of the tool carrier that carries the tool, such as the chuck end of the tool carrier. This can be used to facilitate tool changing operations.

[0022] In some embodiments of the invention, the drive means for displacing the tool magazine relative to the tool carrying support comprises an electric motor and a ball screw mechanism or an electric motor and a rack and pinion mechanism. Other options are for example hydraulic drives or pneumatic drives.

[0023] In some embodiments of the invention, the tool carrier is supported on the tool carrier support so that the tool carrier can be displaced relative to the tool carrier support parallel to a Z axis that is perpendicular to the X axis. Movement parallel to the Z axis can be used, for example, to bring a tool carried by the tool carrier into contact with a corresponding workpiece for machining, or to extract the tool from the workpiece, or to move the tool carrier toward and away from a tool magazine during a tool changing operation as part of a process of coupling and decoupling a tool from the tool carrier.

[0024] In some embodiments of the invention, the tool carrier is supported on the tool carrier support so that the tool carrier can be displaced relative to the tool carrier support parallel to a Y axis that is perpendicular to the X axis and the Z axis. Thus, typically, movement of the tool carrier parallel to the X axis and the Y axis is used to bring the tool into the correct position in the XY plane to interact with the workpiece at the desired location, while movement parallel to the Z axis is used to bring the tool into contact with the workpiece or move the tool away from the workpiece, or to move the tool carrier toward and away from the tool magazine during a tool changing operation. In many embodiments, the X axis and the Z axis are horizontal axes and the Y axis is a vertical axis.

[0025] In some embodiments of the invention, the tool magazine comprises a housing that at least partially encloses a tool support system including a tool gripper that can be displaced to and away from a tool change position within the tool magazine to interact with a tool carrier, wherein the housing comprises at least one opening corresponding to the tool change position, so that a first tool carried by the tool carrier can come into contact with the tool gripper, and so that a second tool supported in another tool gripper can become coupled to the tool carrier and be extracted from the other tool gripper during a tool change operation. Due to the small distance between the tool carrier and the tool magazine, the housing can be used to prevent material removed from the workpiece during machining from reaching sensitive parts of the tool magazine, such as the tool gripper and devices associated with the displacement of the tool gripper within the tool magazine, thereby minimizing the risk of jamming. One or more openings are used to provide the necessary access to the tool gripper, so that the tool carrier can place a tool in one tool gripper and extract a tool from another tool gripper during a tool change operation. The tool gripper can be constructed in any suitable manner compatible with the automatic tool changing operation, for example in the form of a resilient clamp, which can be used to receive the tool and grip the tool, and also allow the tool to be extracted from the tool carrier, for example by relative displacement along the X-axis between the tool carrier and the tool gripper and the tool magazine. The tool gripper can be arranged, for example, on a rotating belt or the like supported on a wheel or pinion or the like, as known in the art, for example, the wheel or pinion or the like forms a ring of the tool gripper in the housing of the tool magazine. The tool magazine optionally includes at least one shutter for selectively closing at least one opening. Since the tool magazine will be positioned relatively close to the tool carrier during machining, it may be preferred that some type of shutter is available to allow closing of at least one opening, thereby preventing material removed from the workpiece, such as metal chips, from entering the tool magazine. Thereby, the risk of the tool magazine getting stuck is reduced.

[0026] In some embodiments of the present invention, the tool magazine includes a plurality of tool grippers configured to engage corresponding tools, each of the plurality of tool grippers being selectively displaceable to a tool change position within the tool magazine. Each of the plurality of tool grippers may be configured such that when the tool gripper is in the tool change position,

[0027] As a result of the tool magazine being moved to the second position, the tool gripper can engage a tool held by a corresponding tool carrier.

[0028] as well as

[0029] As a result of the movement of the tool magazine from the second position, the tool gripper can release the tool held by the corresponding tool carrier.

[0030] That is, in these embodiments, the movement of the tool magazine is a movement that causes the tool gripper to engage with the tool or a movement that causes the tool to release from engagement with the tool gripper. That is, with the tool carrier correctly positioned along the Z axis for a tool change operation and the tool magazine moving toward the second position, the tool gripper can engage with the tool held by the tool carrier (typically at the end of the tool magazine's travel toward the second position). Similarly, when the tool gripper engages the tool held by the tool carrier, for example at the end of a tool change, the movement of the tool magazine away from the second position toward the first position will cause the tool gripper to release the tool. In this way, the entire tool change operation can be performed simply by the displacement of the tool gripper within the tool magazine (bringing the tool received from the tool carrier away from the tool change position and bringing the new tool to the tool change position), by the displacement of the tool magazine from the first position to the second position and back to the first position, by the movement of the corresponding tool carrier along the Z axis (moving backwards - i.e. away from the tool box - for releasing the tool previously engaged by the tool carrier, and moving forwards for engaging the new tool to be coupled to the tool carrier) and by the necessary operation of the tool holding device (such as a clutch) of the tool carrier. In particular, this arrangement allows tool change without any additional device, in particular without any special tool change device. For example, it is known in the art that a certain mechanical arm or the like is used to transfer tools between a tool carrier and a tool magazine. The need for such an arrangement can be avoided by means of a tool magazine and a tool gripper as described above. The tool gripper can, for example, have any suitable configuration that allows them to engage and release the tool held by the tool carrier due to the movement of the tool gripper parallel to the X-axis. For example, the tool gripper can be an elastically deformable device configured to engage the tool by snap fit or similar means. The tool gripper can include a spring device that biases the tool gripper toward the gripping configuration, or the tool gripper can be formed by an elastically deformable body that is shaped to be able to engage the tool and release the tool. For example, the tool gripper can have an opening for receiving a tool facing along the X-axis when the tool gripper is in a tool change position in the tool magazine.

[0031] When the tool assembly includes multiple tool carriers arranged along the Y-axis, the tools held by different tool carriers can be replaced simultaneously, each tool carrier interacting with a corresponding first tool gripper at a corresponding tool change position in the tool magazine and the first tool gripper receiving the tool from the tool carrier, and each tool carrier subsequently interacting with a corresponding second tool gripper at a corresponding tool change position and the second tool gripper delivering the tool to the corresponding tool carrier, as described above.

[0032] In some embodiments of the invention, the workpiece support is arranged for supporting at least one workpiece and for pivoting the at least one workpiece about an axis parallel to the X-axis. Such pivoting can be used, for example, to transfer the workpiece from a position for loading and unloading the workpiece onto and from the workpiece support, respectively, and can also be used to adjust the orientation of the workpiece relative to the respective one or more tool carriers in order to set a desired angle of attack between the tool and the workpiece without pivoting the tool carrier or the tool carrier support.

[0033] In some embodiments of the present invention, the workpiece support is arranged to support at least two workpieces so that they extend in parallel, and wherein the tool carrier support supports at least two tool carriers arranged to machine a corresponding one of the at least two workpieces at the same time. Thus, several workpieces can be machined simultaneously, thereby improving productivity. Two or more tool carriers, such as three tool carriers or four tool carriers, can be arranged to move together parallel to the X-axis due to the movement of the tool carrier support along the X-axis, and they can be arranged on a common slide member or the like, so as to move together along a Y-axis perpendicular to the X-axis, such as a vertical Y-axis, and the slide member is arranged to slide, for example, along one side of the tool carrier support. These movements along the X-axis and the Y-axis can be used to position the tool carrier in the XY plane for machining at the appropriate position of the workpiece. The tool carrier can be arranged to be driven independently parallel to the Z-axis, which is perpendicular to the X-axis and the Y-axis, and the Z-axis can be parallel to the axis of rotation of the tool. Thus, each tool carrier can be provided with its own drive for displacement "forwards" and "backwards" along the Z axis, i.e. towards and away from the workpiece support. Thus, if desired, one of the tool carriers can participate in a machining operation, while the other tool carrier can be idle. Of course, however, all tool carriers can also perform a machining operation simultaneously.

[0034] In some embodiments of the invention, the machine tool comprises at least two tool assemblies, each tool assembly comprising a tool-carrying support and a tool magazine. Thus, a workpiece can be machined simultaneously by tools supported by two different tool assemblies, and one tool assembly can perform machining of the workpiece while the other tool assembly is performing a tool change operation or downtime for maintenance, etc. The tool carriers of the two tool assemblies interacting with the same workpiece can carry different kinds of tools. These possibilities are used to increase productivity, reliability and efficiency. In addition, if one of the two tool assemblies fails, the workpiece can sometimes still be fully machined using the other tool assembly, thereby preventing a complete interruption in the production of the machined workpiece.

[0035] Another aspect of the present invention relates to a method of operating a machine tool as described above. The method comprises:

[0036] displacing at least one tool assembly comprising a tool-carrying support and a tool magazine parallel to the X-axis,

[0037] performing at least one machining operation on the workpiece using a first tool carried by the tool carrier;

[0038] displacing the tool carrier away from the workpiece;

[0039] activating the drive device to move the tool magazine from the first position to the second position;

[0040] performing a tool change by releasing a first tool carried by a tool carrier in the tool magazine and subsequently coupling a second tool supported by a tool gripper within the tool magazine to the tool carrier (this operation may be performed, for example, by a series of movements of the tool carrier parallel to the Z axis and by operating a chuck or the like of the tool carrier to release the first tool and engage the second tool so that the second tool becomes coupled to the tool carrier);

[0041] activating the drive device to shift the tool magazine from the second position to the first position;

[0042] At least one machining operation is performed on the workpiece using the second tool.

[0043] In some embodiments of the invention, the method comprises:

[0044] causing a first tool carried by the tool carrier to become engaged by a tool gripper of the tool magazine during displacement of the tool magazine from the first position to the second position (i.e., the tool gripper may come into contact with the tool to engage therewith due to movement of the tool magazine parallel to the X-axis toward the second position);

[0045] displacing the tool carrier parallel to the Z-axis in a direction away from the tool magazine to release the first tool from the tool carrier;

[0046] positioning a second tool held by a tool gripper of the tool magazine in front of the tool carrier;

[0047] displacing the tool carrier parallel to the Z axis in a direction toward the tool magazine in order to engage a second tool;

[0048] The second tool becomes released from the tool gripper by displacing the tool magazine from the second position towards the first position.Of course, the release and engagement of the tool carrier to the tool may involve corresponding operation of a chuck or the like forming part of the tool carrier.

[0049] In some embodiments of the invention, the method comprises machining a plurality of workpieces simultaneously, each workpiece being an elongated workpiece extending parallel to an X-axis, wherein the workpieces are arranged in parallel in a workpiece support, and wherein the method optionally comprises pivoting the workpieces about an axis parallel to the X-axis.

[0050] In some embodiments of the present invention, the tool carrier support can be shifted along the X-axis during at least a portion of the tool change operation so as to position the tool carrier (or multiple tool carriers) in the following position along the X-axis: the position is suitable for quickly continuing machining after the tool change operation, that is, continuing to machine the workpiece (or multiple workpieces) with a new tool (or multiple tools). BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0051] In order to complete the description and to provide a better understanding of the invention, a set of drawings is provided. Said drawings form an integral part of the specification and illustrate embodiments of the invention, which should not be interpreted as limiting the scope of the invention, but only as examples of how the invention can be implemented. The drawings include the following figures:

[0052] Figures 1 to 8 is a schematic perspective view of a machine tool according to a first embodiment of the invention at different moments in its operation, including a tool change.

[0053] Fig. 9 and Fig.10 is a perspective view of a machine tool according to another embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0054] Figures 1 to 8 The figure shows a first embodiment of the invention, wherein the machine tool comprises a workpiece support 1000 for supporting an elongated workpiece 2001, 2002, 2003 extending parallel to the X-axis of the machine tool. The workpiece may be, for example, a metal beam or profile having a length greater than 1 meter, such as a length greater than 1.5 meters, 2 meters or 3 meters.

[0055] For each workpiece, the workpiece support comprises an elongated support member 1001, 1002, 1003 to which the respective workpiece can be clamped. Each support member is arranged so that it can pivot about an axis parallel to the X-axis so as to allow for a smooth transition between the workpiece and the tool (e.g., in the case of the uppermost workpiece 2001, between the workpiece and the tool). Figure 1The tool 101A shown in FIG. 1 sets a suitable angle of attack and transfers the workpiece from a position for loading and unloading (e.g., a position where the workpiece faces away from the tool carrier) to a position for machining the workpiece, in which the workpiece faces the corresponding tool so that the tool can perform a machining operation on the workpiece. The elongated support members 1001, 1002, 1003 are arranged between the two vertical columns 1000A, 1000B. Figure 1 As shown in FIG. 1 , elongated support members 1001 , 1002 and 1003 are arranged in parallel one after the other, ie one above the other, along the vertical Y axis of the machine tool.

[0056] The machine tool also includes a tool assembly 1, which can be displaced parallel to the X-axis and is guided by a guide device extending parallel to the X-axis, such as a guide rail 110 or the like. That is, the tool assembly 1 can be displaced parallel to the elongated support members 1001, 1002 and 1003. The tool assembly can be driven by any suitable drive device, such as an electric motor. For example, the tool assembly 1 can be driven by one or more electric motors mounted on the tool assembly, for example, to drive the tool assembly parallel to the X-axis by means of one or more pinions driven by corresponding motors that interact with the rack. That is, the tool assembly can be displaced in a controllable manner along the X-axis by an electrically operated pinion-rack drive. In other embodiments, other types of drive devices can be used. In order to reduce the backlash between the pinion and the rack, it may be preferable to use two motors for each tool assembly. The motor is Figure 1 Not shown, but they can be similar to Fig. 9 The motor 111 of the embodiment is arranged to interact with the rack 112.

[0057] The tool assembly includes a tool carrying support 11 and a tool magazine 12. In this embodiment, the tool carrying support is a column or bracket, and the motor (such as Fig. 9 A motor 111 of an embodiment of the present invention is attached to the column or carriage, and the column or carriage is supported on the machine tool and driven along the X-axis, as described above. A tool magazine 12 is attached to the column or tool carrier support 11, as will be described in more detail below. The tool carrier support 11 has a side facing the X-axis direction (i.e., the X-axis is orthogonal to this side of the column), and three tool carriers 101, 102, 103 are supported on this side, and these three tool carriers 101, 102, 103 carry corresponding tools ( Figure 1101A of the uppermost tool carrier 101 is shown). Each of the tool carriers 101, 102, 103 is intended to perform a machining operation on a respective one of the workpieces 2001, 2002, 2003. As is known in the art, each tool carrier comprises a spindle for rotating the respective tool. The tool carriers are mounted on a carriage member 114 which is displaceable parallel to the vertical Y axis and driven by a corresponding drive device 115. The drive device may comprise one or more electric motors which may operate, for example, a ball screw mechanism or any other suitable mechanism, such as a rack-and-pinion mechanism.

[0058] In the illustrated embodiment, each tool carrier 101, 102 and 103 is capable of displacement parallel to a horizontal Z axis, and the tool 101A rotates about an axis parallel to the Z axis. In this embodiment, the displacement of the tool carrier parallel to the Z axis is caused by the corresponding electric motor 161, 162, 163, in which the electric motor 161, 162, 163 drives the corresponding ball screw mechanism to displace the corresponding tool carrier parallel to the Z axis. However, it is obvious that any other type of suitable drive system can be used. Movement in the Z direction can be used to bring one or more tools carried by the corresponding tool carrier 101, 102, 103 into contact with and away from the corresponding workpiece 2001, 2002, 2003. In this embodiment, the movement of each tool carrier parallel to the Z axis is independent of the movement of other tool carriers parallel to the Z axis: Figure 1 As shown in FIG. 1 , each tool carrier has its own drive 161 , 162, 163. Movement in the Z direction is also relevant for tool changing operations, as will be described below.

[0059] The tool magazine 12 is slidably attached to the other side of the tool carrier support 11, i.e., to the "front" side of the tool carrier support 11 facing the Z direction, i.e., facing the workpiece support 1000. The tool magazine comprises a housing 121, which comprises a shield 124 (see, e.g., Figure 1 ) are closed to prevent chips or other debris generated during machining from entering the multiple openings 123 of the housing (see, for example Figure 2). Within the housing 121, the workpiece magazine 12 includes a plurality of tool grippers 122 for gripping corresponding tools, i.e., for supporting the tools in the tool magazine. As is known in the art, the tool grippers are arranged on a belt or the like driven by a wheel or pinion or the like, so that the selected tool gripper can be shifted to a tool change position corresponding to one of the openings 123 for engaging a tool held by a tool carrier or for positioning a tool supported by the tool gripper so that the tool can be picked up by the tool carrier. The tool grippers can be implemented as elastic clamping devices, such as substantially C-shaped or U-shaped clamps, so that their elastic properties serve to receive and engage and reliably hold tools inserted into the tool grippers due to the movement of the tool grippers relative to the tool carrier, and allow the tool engaged by the tool gripper to be released from the tool gripper due to the movement of the tool magazine away from the tool carrier of the engaged tool.

[0060] The tool magazine 12 is usually movable along the X-axis together with the tool carrying support 11 to which the tool magazine 12 is attached. However, the tool magazine 12 is also capable of being displaced relative to the tool carrying support 11 parallel to the X-axis, that is, the tool magazine 12 is also capable of being moved relative to the tool carrying support 11. More specifically, in this embodiment, the tool magazine 12 is attached to the tool carrying support 11 in a slidable manner so that the tool magazine 12 can be moved by the drive device 13 ( Figure 1 ; however, they can be Fig. 9 and Fig.10 The tool magazine 12 can be displaced relative to the tool carrier support 11 by the drive device 13 (arrangement shown in FIG. 1 ). In this embodiment, the drive device 13 is implemented as an electric motor driving a ball screw mechanism. Therefore, the tool magazine 12 can be displaced relative to the tool carrier support 11 in a first position (e.g., in FIG. 1 ) by the drive device 13. Figure 1 ) and a second position (e.g., Figure 4 101, 102, 103, and in the second position the tool magazine 12 faces the tool carriers 101, 102, 103 to allow tool replacement. The tool magazine 12 can be attached to a carriage member 171 which is slidably arranged on a support member 172 forming part of the tool carrier support, as shown in Fig.10 In this embodiment, the travel of the tool magazine between the first position and the second position is less than about 500 mm, such as between 250 mm and 450 mm, such as between 350 mm and 425 mm.

[0061] Figure 1The figure shows a machine tool according to a first embodiment of the invention at a moment when a first sequence of machining operations on three workpieces 2001, 2002, 2003 has been completed using a set of first tools 101A, wherein one of the first tools 101A is in Figure 1 Here, the tool carriers 101, 102 and 103 still face the workpiece and the tool magazine 12 is in its first position (relative to the tool carrier support 11), that is, the tool magazine 12 is away from the tool carriers 101, 102, 103, that is, it does not face the tool carriers 101, 102, 103.

[0062] Figure 2 The figure shows the subsequent stage of the operation, that is, the beginning stage of the tool change operation. Here, the tool carriers 101, 102, 103 are retracted away from the workpieces 2001, 2002, 2003 along the Z axis to allow the tool magazine 12 to move to its second position. Figure 2 In the position, the tool carriers 101, 102 and 103 are in a position along the Z axis in which the tool carriers 101, 102 and 103 no longer block the movement of the tool magazine 12 to its second position. Figure 2 In the embodiment, a shield 124 (in the embodiment of FIG. 1 ) is used to prevent debris such as chips from entering the tool magazine 12 during machining. Figure 1 102, 103) has been opened, thereby providing access to the interior of the tool magazine via an opening 123 in the housing. There is one such opening for each tool carrier 101, 102, 103. In the illustrated embodiment, the openings extend along at least a portion of both sides of the housing.

[0063] exist Figure 3 In the embodiment, the tool magazine 12 has already started its movement toward the second position. Figure 3 As can be easily understood, here the first tools 101A and 102A approach the corresponding tool gripper in the tool gripper 122. Additionally, the tool carrier support 11 has been moved along the X-axis towards a position along the X-axis intended for the next machining operation. This movement of the tool carrier support 11 along the X-axis can be performed simultaneously with the relative movement between the tool magazine 12 and the tool carriers 101, 102, 103 parallel to the X-axis, thereby helping to reduce the cycle time.

[0064] exist Figure 4, the tool magazine 12 has reached its second position and is now facing the tool carriers 101, 102 and 103, and the first tools 101A, 102A have been inserted into the respective tool grippers, so that the respective tool grippers (embodied as elastically deformable clamping elements) engage the workpiece. Subsequently, the tool carriers 101, 102, 103 are displaced backwards along the Z axis after releasing the first tools 101A, 102A.

[0065] exist Figure 5 , the first tool 101A, now supported by the corresponding tool gripper, is displaced downwards, away from a position in the XY plane that matches the position of the clutch of the tool carrier 101. The same happens with the first tools held by the other tool carriers 102, 103. At the same time, a set of second tools ( Figure 5 102, 103) is displaced within the tool magazine due to the rotation of the belt so that the second tool will face the chucks of the tool carriers 101, 102, 103. The tool carriers can then be moved forward so that their chucks engage the new tool.

[0066] exist Figure 6 During the movement along the X-axis, the tool change operation has been completed and the tool magazine 12 has been moved back to its first position. During the movement along the X-axis, due to the movement of the tool magazine away from the second position, the set of second tools (including Figure 6 The tools 101B, 102B) shown in FIG. 1 are released from the corresponding tool grippers.

[0067] exist Figure 7 , the shutter 124 has been closed again. The machine tool is now ready to start a new sequence of machining operations on the workpieces 2001, 2002, 2003 using the new tools 101B, 102B.

[0068] exist Figure 8 In the embodiment of the present invention, the tool carriers 101, 102, 103 are moved forward along the Z-axis to approach the workpiece for machining.

[0069] Fig. 9 and Fig.10 A second embodiment of the invention is shown (elements corresponding to those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals), which differs from the first embodiment in particular in the presence of a second tool assembly 1A comprising a second tool-carrying support 11A and a second tool magazine 12A. What has been explained about the tool assembly of the first embodiment also applies to the second tool assembly.

[0070] In this document, the term "include" and its derivatives (such as "comprises", etc.) should not be understood in an exclusive sense, that is, these terms should not be interpreted as excluding the possibility that the described and defined contents may include other elements, steps, etc.

[0071] The present invention is obviously not limited to the specific embodiments described herein, but also includes any variants (for example, regarding the selection of materials, dimensions, components, configurations, etc.) that a person skilled in the art may consider within the general scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

Claims

1. A machine tool comprising: A workpiece support (1000) for supporting at least one workpiece to allow machining of the workpiece; as well as A tool assembly (1), the tool assembly (1) comprising a tool carrying support (11) and a tool magazine (12), the tool assembly (1) being displaceable parallel to an X-axis; wherein the tool carrier supports a tool carrier (101), the tool carrier being configured to carry and drive a tool for machining a workpiece supported by the workpiece support (1000), wherein the tool carrier (101) is supported on the tool carrier support (11) for movement parallel to the X-axis with the tool carrier support (11); Wherein, the tool magazine (12) of the tool assembly (1) is configured to support a plurality of tools; wherein the tool magazine (12) is attached to the tool carrying support (11, 11A) for movement with the tool carrying support parallel to the X-axis; And wherein, the tool assembly (1) includes a drive device (13), which is used to shift the tool magazine (12) relative to the tool carrying support (11) between a first position and a second position, in which the tool magazine (12) does not face the tool carrier (101) and in which the tool magazine (12) faces the tool carrier (101) to allow another tool (101B) supported by the tool magazine (12) to replace the tool (101A) carried by the tool carrier (101).

2. The machine tool according to claim 1, wherein: The drive device (13) is a drive device (13) for displacing the tool magazine (12) relative to the tool carrying support (11) parallel to the X-axis between the first position and the second position.

3. The machine tool according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The drive means for displacing the tool magazine (12) relative to the tool carrying support (11) between the first position and the second position is arranged to operate with a stroke of less than 500 mm, such as between 250 mm and 450 mm, such as between 350 mm and 425 mm.

4. A machine tool according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The tool magazine (12) is slidably attached to the tool carrying support (11) so that the drive means for displacing the tool magazine (12) relative to the tool carrying support (11) slides the tool magazine (12) between the first position and the second position.

5. The machine tool according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: The tool magazine (12) is slidably attached to the tool carrying support (11), so that the drive device for shifting the tool magazine (12) relative to the tool carrying support (11) causes the tool magazine (12) to slide between the first position and the second position parallel to the X-axis.

6. The machine tool according to claim 4 or 5, wherein: The tool magazine (12) is slidably attached to a side of the tool carrying support (11) that faces the workpiece support (1000) during machining.

7. A machine tool according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The drive device (13) for displacing the tool magazine (12) relative to the tool carrying support (11) comprises an electric motor and a ball screw mechanism or an electric motor and a rack and pinion mechanism.

8. A machine tool according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The tool carrier (101) is supported on the tool carrier support (11) such that the tool carrier (101) is displaceable relative to the tool carrier support (11) parallel to a Z axis perpendicular to the X axis.

9. The machine tool according to claim 8, wherein: The tool carrier (101) is supported on the tool carrier support (11) such that the tool carrier (101) is displaceable relative to the tool carrier support (11) parallel to a Y axis perpendicular to the X axis and the Z axis.

10. A machine tool according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The tool magazine (12) comprises a shell (121) which at least partially encloses a tool support system including a tool gripper (122), wherein the tool gripper (122) is capable of being shifted to a tool change position within the tool magazine (12, 12A) and away from the tool change position within the tool magazine (12, 12A) to interact with the tool carrier (101), wherein the shell comprises at least one opening (123) corresponding to the tool change position, so that a first tool (101A) carried by the tool carrier (101) can contact the tool gripper (122), and so that a second tool (101B) supported in another tool gripper (122) can become connected to the tool carrier (101) and be extracted from the other tool gripper (122) during a tool change operation.

11. The machine tool according to claim 10, wherein: The tool magazine (12) includes at least one shutter (124) for selectively closing the at least one opening (123).

12. A machine tool according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The tool magazine comprises a plurality of tool grippers (122) configured to engage corresponding tools (101A, 101B, 102A, 102B), each of the plurality of tool grippers being selectively displaceable to a tool change position within the tool magazine, wherein each of the plurality of tool grippers (122) is configured such that when each of the tool grippers is in the tool change position, As a result of the tool magazine (12) being moved to the second position, each tool gripper is enabled to engage a tool (101A, 102A) held by a corresponding tool carrier (101, 102, 103), as well as As a result of the tool magazine (12) being moved from the second position, each tool gripper can release a tool (101B, 102B) held by the corresponding tool carrier (101, 102).

13. A machine tool according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The workpiece support (1000) is arranged for supporting at least one workpiece (2001, 2002, 2003) and for pivoting the at least one workpiece (2001, 2002, 2003) about an axis parallel to the X-axis.

14. A machine tool according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The workpiece support (1000) is arranged to support at least two workpieces (2001, 2002, 2003) such that the at least two workpieces (2001, 2002, 2003) extend in parallel, and wherein the tool carrier support (11) supports at least two tool carriers (101, 102, 103) arranged to simultaneously machine a respective one of the at least two workpieces (2001, 2002, 2003).

15. The machine tool according to claim 8, wherein: The workpiece support (1000) is arranged to support at least two workpieces (2001, 2002, 2003) such that the at least two workpieces (2001, 2002, 2003) extend parallel to the X-axis and such that the workpieces are arranged one after another along an axis parallel to the Y-axis, the Y-axis being perpendicular to the X-axis and the Z-axis, and wherein the tool carrier support (11) supports at least two tool carriers (101, 102, 103) arranged to simultaneously machine a corresponding one of the at least two workpieces (2001, 2002, 2003), the at least two tool carriers (101, 102, 103) being arranged one after another along an axis parallel to the Y-axis.

16. The machine tool according to claim 15, wherein: The Y-axis is a vertical axis, so that the at least two workpieces (2001, 2002, 2003) are arranged one above the other and so that the at least two tool carriers (101, 102, 103) are arranged one above the other.

17. The machine tool according to claim 15 or 16, wherein: The workpiece support (1000) is arranged for pivoting each of the at least two workpieces (2001, 2002, 2003) about an axis parallel to the X-axis.

18. A machine tool according to any one of claims 14 to 17, wherein: The workpiece support is arranged for supporting at least two workpieces, each workpiece having a length greater than 2 m.

19. Machine tool according to any of the preceding claims, comprising at least two tool assemblies (1, 1A), each tool assembly comprising a tool-carrying support (11, 11A) and a tool magazine (12, 12A).

20. A method of operating a machine tool according to any preceding claim, the method comprising: displacing at least one of the tool assemblies (1) comprising the tool-carrying support (11) and the tool magazine (12) parallel to the X-axis, performing at least one machining operation on a workpiece (2001) using a first tool (101A) carried by the tool carrier (101); displacing the tool carrier (101) away from the workpiece (2001); activating the drive device (13) to shift the tool magazine (12) from the first position to the second position; Performing a tool change by releasing a first tool (101A) carried by the tool carrier (101) in the tool magazine (12) and subsequently coupling a second tool (101B) supported by a tool gripper (122) in the tool magazine (12) to the tool carrier (101); activating the driving device (13) to shift the tool magazine (12) from the second position to the first position; At least one machining operation is performed on the workpiece (2001) using the second tool (101B).

21. The method according to claim 20, comprising: causing the first tool (101A) carried by the tool carrier (101) to become engaged by a tool gripper (122) of the tool magazine (12) during displacement of the tool magazine from the first position to the second position; displacing the tool carrier (101) parallel to the Z-axis in a direction away from the tool magazine (12) so as to release the first tool (101A) from the tool carrier (101); Positioning the second tool (101B) held by a tool gripper (122) of the tool magazine (12) in front of the tool carrier (101); Displacing the tool carrier (101) parallel to the Z-axis in a direction toward the tool magazine (12) in order to engage the second tool (101B); The second tool (101B) becomes released from the tool gripper by displacing the tool magazine (12) from the second position toward the first position.

22. The method according to claim 20 or 21, wherein: The method comprises machining a plurality of workpieces (2001, 2002, 2003) simultaneously, each workpiece being an elongated workpiece extending parallel to the X-axis, wherein the workpieces are arranged in parallel in the workpiece support (1000), and wherein the method optionally comprises pivoting the workpieces around an axis parallel to the X-axis.

23. The method according to any one of claims 20 to 22, wherein: The step of activating the drive device (13) so as to shift the tool magazine (12) from the first position to the second position comprises: activating the drive device (13) so as to shift the tool magazine (12) from the first position to the second position parallel to the X-axis, And wherein, the step of enabling the driving device (13) to shift the tool magazine (12) from the second position to the first position includes: enabling the driving device (13) to shift the tool magazine (12) from the second position to the first position parallel to the X-axis.

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