Machine tool and protection member

Abstract

The present invention provides a machine tool and a protection member which are inexpensive and cover a portion of a moving mechanism of a column exposed to the outside, wherein a plate-shaped fixed cover (30) is fixed to a lower portion of a spindle head (6). The fixed cover (30) protects the moving mechanism in the column (5) from chips and the like. When the spindle head (6) is positioned at the uppermost end of a moving range, a moving cover (40) covers and protects a portion of the fixed cover (30) exposed to the outside, which is not completely covered by the column (5). When the spindle head (6) is positioned at the lowermost end of the moving range, the moving cover (40) abuts against engagement protrusions (55A, 55B), and movement toward the lower side is restricted. Concomitantly with lowering of the spindle head (6), the moving cover (40) relatively moves upward with respect to the fixed cover (30) and is accommodated to the back side of the fixed cover (30).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a machine tool and a protective component. Background Technology

[0002] The machine tool described in Patent Document 1 has a Z-axis cover fixed to the lower part of the spindle head. A column is mounted on the machine base and has a head moving mechanism for moving the spindle head. The Z-axis cover moves along the Z-axis direction on the front surface of the column as the spindle head moves. The Z-axis cover protects the head moving mechanism from damage by chips.

[0003] Existing technical documents

[0004] Patent documents

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2006-123045 Summary of the Invention

[0006] To increase the spindle head's range of motion, the Z-axis cover must extend along the Z-axis direction. However, when the spindle head is moved to its lowest position along the Z-axis, the Z-axis cover may interfere with other structures on the machine tool. Using a serpentine or nested cover for the Z-axis cover increases the number of parts, leading to higher machine tool costs.

[0007] The purpose of this invention is to provide an inexpensive machine tool and protective component that covers the exposed portion of a moving mechanism mounted on a column.

[0008] According to a first embodiment of the present invention, a machine tool is provided, comprising: a base; a column disposed on the base; a spindle for detachably mounting a cutting tool; a support body disposed on one side of the column and supporting the spindle; a moving mechanism disposed on the column for moving the support body axially along the spindle; and a protective member covering the portion of the moving mechanism exposed on the one side of the column as the support body moves, wherein the protective member comprises: a first protective portion fixed to the support body and moving axially along with the support body via the moving mechanism; and a second protective portion on the side of the first protective portion opposite to the support body and moving relative to the first protective portion.

[0009] The first protective part covers the portion of the moving mechanism exposed on one side of the column as the support moves axially toward the spindle. When the support moves downward, the first protective part approaches the base. When the support moves upward and the protective member moves away from the base, the first protective part cannot completely cover one side, and the moving mechanism is exposed. The second protective part moves relative to the first protective part. The second protective part covers the portion of the moving mechanism exposed where the first protective part cannot completely cover it. Therefore, the first and second protective parts can prevent chips generated by the cutting tool from adhering to the moving mechanism. Moreover, since the protective member is a structure that fixes the first protective part to the support and the second protective part moves relative to the first protective part, it can be manufactured inexpensively.

[0010] In a first embodiment, one of the first and second protective portions may also have an opening extending along the axial direction, and the other protective portion includes a protrusion that protrudes into the opening and moves relative to the opening along the axial direction. When the support moves upward and the protective member moves away from the base, the second protective portion moves downward relative to the first protective portion due to its own weight. At this time, the protrusion is guided by the opening, thereby allowing the second protective portion to move reliably relative to the first protective portion.

[0011] The second protective portion in the first embodiment may also have the opening, and is located further away from the moving mechanism than the first protective portion. That is, the first protective portion is located further away from the worktable where the object to be cut is being processed than the second protective portion. Therefore, the first protective portion prevents chips generated by the cutting tool during the processing of the object from entering the opening of the second protective portion.

[0012] The first protective portion in the first embodiment may also have a guide portion that guides the movement of the second protective portion toward the axial direction. Guided by the guide portion, the second protective portion can move more reliably toward the axial direction of the main shaft relative to the first protective portion.

[0013] The protective member of the first embodiment may also be provided with an elastic member at the protrusion or the opening. When the support moves upward and the protective member moves away from the base, the second protective part moves downward relative to the first protective part due to its own weight. The opening of the second protective part moves downward relative to the protrusion of the first protective part. When the protrusion approaches the axial end of the opening, the elastic member disposed on the protrusion or opening is sandwiched between the end of the protrusion and the end of the opening. The elastic member undergoes elastic deformation, and the contact area with the end of the protrusion and the opening increases. As a result, the elastic member can reduce the stress applied to the first protective part due to the movement of the second protective part due to its own weight, thereby improving the durability of the second protective part. Moreover, the elastic member can mitigate the impact of the collision between the end of the protrusion and the opening, which would be assuming no elastic member.

[0014] The elastic member described in the first embodiment can also be formed as a ring surrounding the protrusion. When the ring-shaped elastic member is sandwiched between the protrusion and the end of the opening, it can reliably contact the end and undergo elastic deformation regardless of the deviation in the relative position of the opening and the protrusion or the shape of the end of the opening. Therefore, the elastic member can more effectively mitigate the impact when the first protective part collides with the second protective part.

[0015] The protective member of the first embodiment may also have a pad disposed between the protrusion and the elastic member, the elastic member being circumferentially rotatable relative to the protrusion. By disposing a pad between the elastic member and the protrusion, the elastic member can rotate relative to the protrusion. When the elastic member is sandwiched between the end of the protrusion and the opening, due to the rotation of the elastic member, the impact applied to the elastic member is not concentrated at a specific location but dispersed throughout the circumferential area. Therefore, the elastic member can have a longer service life, thereby providing long-term cushioning of the impact when the first protective part collides with the second protective part.

[0016] In the first embodiment, it may also include: a third protective portion fixed to the column on the side closer to the base than the protective member; and an engaging portion provided on the third protective portion, which engages with the second protective portion when the support moves axially toward the third protective portion, the engaging portion being elastic. The third protective portion is fixed to the column on the side closer to the base than the protective member and includes the engaging portion. When the support descends, the second protective portion approaches the base. The second protective portion engages with the engaging portion without contacting other structures. The engaging portion contacts the second protective portion and deforms elastically, thereby mitigating the impact during a collision.

[0017] In the first embodiment, a notch may be formed at the end of the second protective part on the base side along the axial direction. The notch is cut away from the base and has an inclined edge that is inclined relative to the axial direction. The engaging part abuts against the inclined edge of the notch when the support moves in the axial direction toward the third protective part. When the support descends, the engaging part abuts against the inclined edge of the notch formed in the second protective part. The inclined edge is inclined relative to the axial direction. Therefore, the resistance force applied to the second protective part due to the abutment with the engaging part is dispersed in the axial direction and in the direction orthogonal to the axial direction. That is, the axial resistance force applied to the second protective part during the abutment with the engaging part is reduced. Therefore, the engaging part can further mitigate the axial impact applied to the second protective part. Therefore, the second protective part can suppress the axial rebound caused by the resistance force when the inclined edge abuts against the engaging part.

[0018] In the first embodiment, either the first protective part or the second protective part has a protrusion on either a first surface of the first protective part facing the second protective part, or a second surface of the second protective part facing the first protective part, protruding towards the other surface and with its protruding tip contacting the other surface. The protrusion on either the first or second surface forms a gap between the first and second surfaces by contacting the other surface. That is, the opposing surfaces of the first and second protective parts do not directly contact each other due to the gap formed by the protrusion. Therefore, the second protective part is difficult to fix to the first protective part, and its relative movement with respect to the first protective part is not hindered.

[0019] According to a second embodiment of the present invention, a protective member is provided to cover and protect the portion of a moving mechanism exposed on one side of a column of a machine tool, which moves along with the movement of a support body. The machine tool includes a base, a column disposed on the base, a spindle for detachably mounting a cutting tool, a support body disposed on the one side of the column and supporting the spindle, and a moving mechanism disposed on the column and causing the support body to move axially along the spindle. The protective member includes: a first protective portion fixed to the support body and moving axially along with the support body via the moving mechanism; and a second protective portion moving relative to the first protective portion. One of the first and second protective portions has an opening extending along the axial direction, and the other protective portion includes a protrusion that protrudes into the opening and moves axially relative to the opening.

[0020] The first protective part covers the portion of the moving mechanism exposed on one side of the column as the support moves axially toward the spindle. When the support moves downward, the first protective part approaches the base. When the support moves upward and the protective member moves away from the base, the first protective part cannot completely cover one side, and the moving mechanism is exposed. The second protective part moves relative to the first protective part. The second protective part covers the portion of the moving mechanism exposed where the first protective part cannot completely cover it. Therefore, chips generated by the cutting tool on the workpiece will not adhere to the moving mechanism, thus the first and second protective parts can protect the moving mechanism. Moreover, since the protective member is a structure that fixes the first protective part to the support and the second protective part moves relative to the first protective part, it can be manufactured inexpensively. Furthermore, when the second protective part moves downward relative to the first protective part due to its own weight, the protrusion is guided by the opening, thereby allowing it to move reliably axially relative to the first protective part.

[0021] In the second embodiment, an elastic member may also be disposed on the protrusion or the opening. When the second protective part moves downward toward the first protective part due to its own weight, the elastic member is sandwiched between the ends of the protrusion and the opening. The elastic member undergoes elastic deformation, increasing the contact area with the ends of the protrusion and the opening. As a result, the elastic member can reduce the stress exerted on the first protective part by the movement of the second protective part due to its own weight, thereby improving the durability of the second protective part. Moreover, the elastic member can mitigate the impact of the collision between the ends of the protrusion and the opening, which would be assuming no elastic member. Attached Figure Description

[0022] Figure 1 This is a 3D view of machine tool 1.

[0023] Figure 2 This is a front view of the spindle head 6 and column 5 with the protective cover 25 removed.

[0024] Figure 3 This is an exploded perspective view before the spindle head 6, protective cover 25 and lower cover 50 are assembled into the column 5.

[0025] Figure 4 This is a front view of the protective cover 25 and the lower cover 50 when the spindle head 6 is at the top of the movement range.

[0026] Figure 5 This is a rear perspective view of the protective cover 25 and the lower cover 50.

[0027] Figure 6 This is an exploded perspective view of the protective cover 25 and the lower cover 50.

[0028] Figure 7 This is a front view of the protective cover 25 and the lower cover 50 during the descent of the spindle head 6.

[0029] Figure 8 This is a front view of the protective cover 25 and the lower cover 50 when the spindle head 6 is at the bottom of its movement range.

[0030] Figure 9 This is a 3D view of the rear of the protective cover 125.

[0031] Figure 10 This is an exploded perspective view of the protective cover 225.

[0032] Figure 11 This is a front view of the column when the spindle head 306 is at the top of the Z-axis.

[0033] Figure 12 This is a front view of the column when the spindle head 306 is at the lowest point in the Z-axis direction.

[0034] Figure 13This is a front view of the fixed cover 330 assembled with the movable cover 340 including the rubber foot pads 345.

[0035] Figure 14 This is a front view of the fixed cover 430, which is assembled with the rotating movable cover 440. Detailed Implementation

[0036] This invention describes a machine tool 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The following description uses the arrows indicating left, right, front, back, and up / down directions in the figures. The left-right, front-back, and up / down directions are respectively the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis directions of the machine tool 1.

[0037] Reference Figures 1-3 The structure of machine tool 1 will be described below. Machine tool 1 includes a base 2, a machine body 3, a worktable 10, a tool changer 17, etc. The base 2 is a roughly rectangular iron base. The machine body 3 is located at the upper rear of the base 2. The machine body 3 cuts the workpiece (not shown) held on the upper surface of the worktable 10. The base 2 includes a conveying device at its upper center. The conveying device moves the worktable 10 along the X-axis and Y-axis. The conveying device will be described later. The tool changer 17 is fixed to a frame 18 located on the upper part of the column 5 of the machine body 3. The tool changer 17 replaces the tool (not shown) mounted on the spindle 4 of the machine body 3 with other tools.

[0038] The machine body 3 includes a column 5, a spindle head 6, a moving mechanism, a protective cover 25, a lower cover 50, a spindle 4, and a control box 19. The column 5 is an iron column-shaped component located at the upper rear of the base 2. The spindle head 6 moves up and down along the Z-axis direction along the front surface of the column 5. The moving mechanism is located on the front surface of the column 5. The moving mechanism causes the spindle head 6 to move along the Z-axis direction. The moving mechanism includes a pair of Z-axis rails 21, a Z-axis ball screw 22, and a Z-axis motor 23. The Z-axis rails 21 and the Z-axis ball screw 22 extend along the Z-axis direction. The spindle head 6 moves along the Z-axis rails 21. The spindle head 6 includes a nut (not shown) on its rear surface. The nut is threaded into the Z-axis ball screw 22. The Z-axis motor 23 is located above the Z-axis ball screw 22. The Z-axis motor 23 rotates the Z-axis ball screw 22, causing the nut to move along the Z-axis direction. Therefore, the spindle head 6 moves together with the nut along the Z-axis. The protective cover 25 is fixed to the spindle head 6 and disposed on the front surface of the column 5. The protective cover 25 includes a fixed cover 30 and a movable cover 40. The protective cover 25 will be described later. The lower cover 50 is a metal plate. The lower cover 50 is fixed to the front surface of the column 5 on the side closer to the base 2 than the protective cover 25. The lower cover 50 protects the column 5 on the lower side than the Z-axis track 21. The rear cover device of the Y-axis conveyor 8 (described later) is disposed at the lower part of the lower cover 50. The rear cover device moves along the Y-axis.

[0039] The spindle head 6 supports the spindle 4, enabling it to rotate. The spindle 4 houses the tool mount and is driven by the spindle motor 11. The spindle motor 11 is located on the upper part of the spindle head 6. The control box 19 is mounted on the rear surface side of the column 5. Various devices are stored inside the control box 19. These devices include, for example, a digital control (NC) control board, a direct current (DC) switching power supply, a circuit breaker, an inverter for the tool changer 17, wiring conduits, servo amplifiers, etc.

[0040] The conveying device includes a Y-axis conveyor 8, a transport body 7, and an X-axis conveyor 9. The Y-axis conveyor 8 is located on the upper surface of the base 2. The Y-axis conveyor 8 moves the transport body 7 along the Y-axis direction. The Y-axis conveyor 8 includes a pair of Y-axis rails (not shown), a Y-axis ball screw (not shown), and a Y-axis motor (not shown). The Y-axis rails and the Y-axis ball screw extend along the Y-axis direction. The Y-axis ball screw is positioned between the pair of Y-axis rails. The transport body 7 moves along the Y-axis rails. The transport body 7 is cuboid in shape and includes a nut (not shown) on its lower surface. The nut is threaded onto the Y-axis ball screw. The Y-axis motor rotates the Y-axis ball screw, causing the nut to move along the Y-axis direction. Therefore, the transport body 7 and the nut move together along the Y-axis direction.

[0041] X-axis conveyor 9 is disposed on the upper surface of transport body 7. X-axis conveyor 9 moves worktable 10 along the X-axis direction. X-axis conveyor 9 includes a pair of X-axis rails (not shown), an X-axis ball screw (not shown), an X-axis motor (not shown), etc. The X-axis rails and X-axis ball screw extend along the X-axis direction. The X-axis ball screw is disposed between the pair of X-axis rails. Worktable 10 moves along the X-axis rails. Worktable 10 includes a nut (not shown) on its lower surface. The nut is threaded into the X-axis ball screw. The X-axis motor rotates the X-axis ball screw, causing the nut to move along the X-axis direction. Therefore, worktable 10 moves together with the nut along the X-axis direction. Furthermore, worktable 10 moves along the Y-axis direction via transport body 7. That is, worktable 10 moves along the X-axis and Y-axis directions via X-axis conveyor 9, Y-axis conveyor 8, and transport body 7. Therefore, the workpiece disposed on worktable 10 moves relative to the cutting tool. Machine tool 1 uses a cutting tool to cut a workpiece that is moving relatively.

[0042] The worktable 10 includes a right cover device 12 on the right side and a left cover device 13 on the left side. The X-axis conveyor 9 is exposed on the right and left sides of the worktable 10. The right cover device 12 and the left cover device 13 respectively cover the exposed portions of the X-axis conveyor 9. The right cover device 12 and the left cover device 13 are structures in which multiple covers with a mountain-shaped cross-section overlap in a nested manner. The right cover device 12 and the left cover device 13 extend and retract in the left-right direction, i.e., the X-axis direction, in accordance with the movement of the worktable 10.

[0043] The transport body 7 includes a front cover device 14 on its front side and a rear cover device (not shown) on its rear side. The Y-axis conveyor device 8 is exposed on both the front and rear sides of the worktable 10. The front cover device 14 and the rear cover device respectively cover the exposed portions of the Y-axis conveyor device 8. The front cover device 14 is a structure in which multiple covers in a mountain-shaped cross-section overlap in a nested manner. The front cover device 14 extends and retracts along the front-to-back direction (Y-axis direction) in response to the movement of the transport body 7 in the Y-axis direction. The rear cover device is a metal plate in a mountain-shaped cross-section. The rear cover device moves together with the transport body 7 along the Y-axis direction. When the transport body 7 moves to the side of the column 5, the column 5 retracts the rear cover device into its lower interior.

[0044] Reference Figure 2 , Figures 4-6 The protective cover 25 and lower cover 50 are described below. The protective cover 25 and lower cover 50 are protective components that prevent chips generated during machining from adhering to the Z-axis moving mechanism. The protective cover 25 includes a fixed cover 30 and a movable cover 40.

[0045] The fixing cover 30 is a metal plate with its edges bent, and is roughly rectangular in shape when viewed from the front. The upper end 31 of the fixing cover 30 is bent forward. The upper end 31 has screw holes for fixing to the lower part of the spindle head 6 with screws. The left and right side ends 32 of the fixing cover 30 are bent backward respectively. The side ends 32 position the movable cover 40 in the left and right direction and guide the up and down movement of the movable cover 40. The center of the lower end 33 of the fixing cover 30 in the left and right direction is located higher than the two ends. Therefore, when the spindle head 6 is lowered, the lower end 33 avoids interference with the mountain-shaped rear cover device. Furthermore, the lower end 33 has a notch 34 in the approximately central part in the left and right direction. The notch 34 is cut into a trapezoidal shape facing upward.

[0046] The fixed cover 30 has a pair of fixing holes 36 located at a lower end 33 than the center in the vertical direction. The fixing holes 36 are spaced apart from each other in the horizontal direction. A pair of guide screws 35 are respectively fixed to the pair of fixing holes 36. The guide screws 35 fastened to the fixing holes 36 protrude to the rear of the fixed cover 30. The guide screws 35 are respectively disposed in a pair of guide holes 41 of the movable cover 40.

[0047] The gasket 27 is a cylindrical metal tube into which a pair of guide screws 35 are embedded. The gasket 27 is rotatable around the guide screws 35. The elastic member 28 is annular and disposed on the outer periphery of the gasket 27. The elastic member 28 is made of resin and is elastic. Examples of the elastic member 28 are urethane, nitrile rubber, fluororubber, etc. The elastic member 28 is only required to be a member with a Young's modulus smaller than that of the movable cover 40 described later and more elastic than the movable cover 40. The elastic member 28 is disposed around the guide screws 35 via the gasket 27. By providing the gasket 27 between itself and the guide screws 35, the elastic member 28 is rotatable around the guide screws 35. The elastic member 28 is disposed within the guide hole 41. Therefore, the outer peripheral surface of the elastic member 28 is opposite to the inner peripheral surface of the guide hole 41 of the movable cover 40.

[0048] The fixed cover 30 has multiple protrusions 37 on its back surface 30A. The back surface 30A is the side facing the movable cover 40. The protrusions 37 are provided in the back surface 30A of the fixed cover 30 when the movable cover 40 is at its lowest position within its range of motion (see reference). Figure 4 The area overlapping with the movable cover 40 in the front-to-back direction. The protrusions 37 are spaced apart. The protrusions 37 are portions punched out towards the back surface 30A during the stamping process of the fixed cover 30 (see reference). Figure 5 (See arrow section II). The protrusion 37 forms a gap D between the back surface 30A of the fixed cover 30 and the front surface 40A of the movable cover 40. Therefore, the protrusion 37 prevents close contact between the back surface 30A and the front surface 40A. The front end of the protrusion 37 is hemispherical. Therefore, the contact area between the protrusion 37 and the front surface 40A is small.

[0049] The movable cover 40 is a resin plate. An example of the movable cover 40 is made of polyvinyl chloride resin (polyvinyl chloride, PVC). When viewed from the front, the movable cover 40 is a generally rectangular shape that is elongated in the left-right direction. The left-right length of the movable cover 40 is slightly shorter than that of the fixed cover 30. The vertical length of the movable cover 40 is 1 / 2 to 1 / 3 the size of the fixed cover 30. The movable cover 40 has a pair of guide holes 41. The guide holes 41 are elongated openings in the vertical direction, extending through the front-back direction of the movable cover 40. The positions of the guide holes 41 in the left-right direction correspond to the positions of the fixed holes 36 on the fixed cover 30. The upper and lower ends of the guide holes 41 are circular. The radii of curvature of the upper and lower ends of the guide holes 41 are greater than the radius of the outer periphery of the elastic member 28. Therefore, the left-right length of the guide holes 41 is greater than the diameter of the elastic member 28. Therefore, the movable cover 40 is allowed to move in the left-right direction relative to the fixed cover 30. The side end 32 of the fixed cover 30 positions the left and right side end 42 of the movable cover 40. The side end 32 and the side end 42 have a small gap in the left and right direction. Therefore, the movable cover 40 can move in the left and right direction relative to the fixed cover 30 within the range of the gap.

[0050] The lower end 43 of the movable cover 40 has a notch 44. The notch 44 is shaped by cutting off approximately the central portion in the left-right direction upwards. When the spindle head 6 descends, the notch 44 engages with the engaging protrusions 55A and 55B of the lower cover 50. Inclined portions 44A and 44B are provided in the notch 44. The inclined portions 44A and 44B are the side portions connecting the upper end of the notch 44 to the bottom of the notch 44 on the left and right sides. The inclined portions 44A and 44B are inclined in the direction that causes the notch 44 to expand downwards. The engaging protrusions 55A and 55B engage with the inclined portions 44A and 44B respectively.

[0051] A movable cover 40 is disposed on the rear side of a fixed cover 30. A pressing plate 26 is disposed on the rear side of the movable cover 40. The pressing plate 26 extends in the left-right direction. The pressing plate 26 has through holes at both ends. A guide screw 35 is inserted from the rear of the movable cover 40 through the through holes of the pressing plate 26 to a guide hole 41. The guide screw 35 is tightened to the fixed hole 36 with the gasket 27 and the elastic member 28 disposed in the guide hole 41. The pressing plate 26 has a gap with the movable cover 40. The fixed cover 30 has a gap with the movable cover 40 formed by the protrusion 37. Therefore, the movable cover 40 can move up and down relative to the fixed cover 30.

[0052] The lower cover 50 is plate-shaped and longer than the protective cover 25 in the left-right direction. The upper end 51 of the lower cover 50 has an upwardly extending portion 51A. The extending portion 51A is wider than the notch 44 of the movable cover 40 when viewed directly. When the spindle head 6 rises, the extending portion 51A prevents the Z-axis track 21 and the column 5 from being exposed from the notch 44 of the movable cover 40. The lower end 53 of the lower cover 50 has a notch 54. The notch 54 is shaped with its central portion in the left-right direction cut upwards into a mountain shape. The rear cover device of the Y-axis conveyor 8 is disposed in the notch 54. Above the notch 54, the lower cover 50 has a pair of engaging protrusions 55A and 55B. The engaging protrusions 55A and 55B are made of resin and are elastic, and are cylindrical. Examples of engaging protrusions 55A and 55B are urethane, nitrile rubber, fluororubber, etc. The engaging protrusions 55A and 55B can be any parts whose Young's modulus is smaller than that of the movable cover 40 but are more elastic than the movable cover 40. The engaging protrusions 55A and 55B are fixed to the front surface of the lower cover 50 by screws 56. The engaging protrusions 55A and 55B are provided at the positions where the inclined portions 44A and 44B of the notch 44 of the movable cover 40 abut against each other when the spindle head 6 descends.

[0053] Reference Figure 2 , Figure 4 , Figure 7 , Figure 8 To illustrate the operation of the fixed cover 30 and the movable cover 40. For example... Figure 2 As shown, the upper end 31 of the fixing cover 30 is fixed to the lower part of the spindle head 6 with screws.

[0054] The movable cover 40 moves downward relative to the fixed cover 30 due to its own weight. The movable cover 40 moves downward until the upper end of the guide hole 41 abuts against the elastic member 28 disposed around the guide screw 35. The side end 42 of the movable cover 40 is positioned in the left-right direction relative to the side end 32 of the fixed cover 30. Therefore, the movable cover 40 moves in the left-right direction while allowing a positional deviation within the gap range between the side end 32 and the side end 42. The protective cover 25 has a gap D formed by the protrusion 37 between the back surface 30A of the fixed cover 30 and the front surface 40A of the movable cover 40. Therefore, the movable cover 40 does not come into close contact with the fixed cover 30 and moves smoothly.

[0055] like Figure 4As shown, an elastic member 28 surrounding the guide screw 35 abuts against the upper end of the guide hole 41, restricting the downward movement of the movable cover 40. The elastic member 28 undergoes elastic deformation, mitigating the impact of the upper end of the guide hole 41 colliding with the guide screw 35. The radius of the elastic member 28 is smaller than the radius of curvature of the upper end of the guide hole 41. Therefore, when the elastic member 28 undergoes elastic deformation, it contacts the upper end of the guide hole 41 over a wider range. Consequently, the fixed cover 30 more reliably holds the movable cover 40 at the lowest point of its movement range. The elastic member 28 is disposed around the guide screw 35 via a pad 27 and can rotate freely. Therefore, the contact position between the elastic member 28 and the upper end of the guide hole 41 changes circumferentially. Therefore, the impact applied to the elastic member 28 can be dispersed throughout the circumferential direction, thus extending the service life of the elastic member 28. Approximately half of the lower side of the movable cover 40 in the vertical direction protrudes from the lower end 43 of the fixed cover 30.

[0056] When the spindle head 6 moves to the uppermost position of its movable range, the fixed cover 30 covers the front surface of the column 5. With a larger movable range than before, when the spindle head 6 is at its uppermost position, a portion of the column 5 and the Z-axis track 21 protrudes from the lower end 33 of the fixed cover 30. Approximately half of the lower side of the movable cover 40 is located below the lower end 33 of the fixed cover 30. The movable cover 40 covers the portion of the column 5 and the Z-axis track 21 exposed from the fixed cover 30. Therefore, the protective cover 25 protects the moving mechanism of the column 5 from chips and the like during operation. The movable cover 40 is located further rearward than the fixed cover 30. Therefore, the guide hole 41 is located behind the fixed cover 30 and does not protrude from the front surface. Therefore, the fixed cover 30 prevents chips and the like from entering the guide hole 41 during operation.

[0057] When the spindle head 6 moves downward in the Z-axis direction, the movable cover 40, relative to the fixed cover 30, maintains its position at the lowest movable end by its own weight. Figure 7As shown, during the descent of the spindle head 6, the inclined portions 44A and 44B of the notch 44 in the moving cover 40 abut against the engaging protrusions 55A and 55B of the lower cover 50. The inclined portions 44A and 44B abut against the engaging protrusions 55A and 55B with inclined surfaces that are inclined relative to the vertical direction. The inclined surface of the inclined portion 44A is inclined at an angle θ relative to the horizontal direction. The direction perpendicular to the inclined surface of the inclined portion 44A is downward to the right. The inclined surface of the inclined portion 44B is inclined at an angle θ relative to the horizontal direction. The direction perpendicular to the inclined surface of the inclined portion 44B is downward to the left. When the inclined portions 44A and 44B abut against the engaging protrusions 55A and 55B, they bear a resistance force N from the engaging protrusions 55A and 55B in the vertical direction of their inclined surfaces. The inclined portion 44A bears a force of Nsinθ in the left direction as the horizontal component of the resistance force N. The inclined portion 44B bears a force of Nsinθ in the rightward direction as the horizontal component of the resisting force N. Therefore, the horizontal component of the resisting force N borne by the movable cover 40 is offset. The inclined portions 44A and 44B bear a force of Ncosθ in the upward direction as the vertical component of the resisting force N. θ is less than 90 degrees. Therefore, compared to the case where the inclined surface is horizontal instead of inclined, the inclined portions 44A and 44B can reduce the resisting force N borne by the movable cover 40 when it comes into contact with the engaging protrusions 55A and 55B, thus mitigating the impact. The engaging protrusions 55A and 55B are elastic. By elastically deforming the engaging protrusions 55A and 55B upon impact, the movable cover 40 can further mitigate the impact during the collision. Therefore, the movable cover 40 suppresses upward rebound.

[0058] like Figure 8 As shown, even if the spindle head 6 from Figure 7As the spindle head 6 descends further, the movable cover 40 maintains the state where the inclined portions 44A and 44B abut against the engaging protrusions 55A and 55B. During the descent of the spindle head 6, the movable cover 40 does not move vertically. The lower end 43 of the movable cover 40 has a small gap with the rear cover assembly of the Y-axis conveyor 8 and does not abut against the rear cover assembly. The fixed cover 30 moves downward relative to the movable cover 40. On the rear side of the fixed cover 30, the movable cover 40 moves upward relative to the fixed cover 30. Therefore, the movable cover 40 does not obstruct the downward movement of the fixed cover 30. The position of the lowest point of the spindle head 6 is positioned by control during the drive of the Z-axis motor 23. When the spindle head 6 is at the lowest point of its movable range, the position of the lower end 33 of the fixed cover 30 is controlled to have a small gap with the rear cover assembly of the Y-axis conveyor 8. Therefore, the fixed cover 30 does not abut against the rear cover assembly. The notch 34 does not contact the engaging protrusions 55A and 55B. The lower end 43 of the movable cover 40 is located at approximately the same height as the lower end 33 of the fixed cover 30. The movable cover 40 moves upward relative to the fixed cover 30 and is housed on the back side of the fixed cover 30. Therefore, the movable cover 40 does not obstruct the downward movement of the fixed cover 30.

[0059] As explained above, the fixed cover 30 covers the portion of the Z-axis track 21 and column 5 exposed on the front surface of the column 5 as the spindle head 6 moves axially toward the spindle 4. When the spindle head 6 moves downward, the fixed cover 30 approaches the base 2. When the spindle head 6 moves upward and the protective cover 25 moves away from the base 2, the fixed cover 30 cannot completely cover the front surface, and the Z-axis track 21 and column 5 are exposed. The movable cover 40 moves relative to the fixed cover 30. The movable cover 40 covers the portion of the Z-axis track 21 and column 5 exposed that the fixed cover 30 cannot completely cover. Therefore, the fixed cover 30 and the movable cover 40 prevent chips generated by the tool machining the cutting object from adhering to the Z-axis track 21 and column 5. Moreover, since the protective cover 25 is a structure that fixes the fixed cover 30 to the spindle head 6 and the movable cover 40 moves relative to the fixed cover 30, it can be manufactured inexpensively.

[0060] When the spindle head 6 moves upward and the protective cover 25 moves away from the base 2, the movable cover 40 moves downward relative to the fixed cover 30 due to its own weight. At this time, the guide screw 35 is guided by the guide hole 41, thereby enabling the movable cover 40 to move reliably relative to the fixed cover 30.

[0061] The fixed cover 30 is located on the worktable 10 side where the cutting object is being machined, which is closer to the movable cover 40. Therefore, the fixed cover 30 prevents chips generated by the cutting tool from entering the guide hole 41 of the movable cover 40.

[0062] The movable cover 40, guided by the side end 32, can move more reliably along the axial direction of the main shaft 4 relative to the fixed cover 30.

[0063] When the spindle head 6 moves upward and the protective cover 25 moves away from the base 2, the movable cover 40 moves downward relative to the fixed cover 30 due to its own weight. The guide hole 41 of the movable cover 40 moves downward relative to the guide screw 35 of the fixed cover 30. When the guide screw 35 approaches the upper end of the guide hole 41, the elastic member 28 disposed around the guide screw 35 is clamped between the guide screw 35 and the upper end of the guide hole 41. The elastic member 28 undergoes elastic deformation, and the contact area with the guide screw 35 and the upper end of the guide hole 41 increases. As a result, the elastic member 28 can reduce the stress applied to the fixed cover 30 due to the movement of the movable cover 40 due to its own weight, thereby improving the durability of the movable cover 40. Moreover, the elastic member 28 can mitigate the impact of the guide screw 35 colliding with the end of the guide hole 41 if there were no elastic member 28.

[0064] When the annular elastic member 28 is sandwiched between the end of the guide screw 35 and the guide hole 41, it can reliably contact the end and undergo elastic deformation regardless of the deviation in the relative position of the guide hole 41 and the guide screw 35 or the shape of the end of the guide hole 41. Therefore, the elastic member 28 can more effectively mitigate the impact when the fixed cover 30 and the movable cover 40 collide.

[0065] By providing a shim 27 between the elastic member 28 and the guide screw 35, the elastic member 28 can rotate relative to the guide screw 35. When the elastic member 28 is sandwiched between the guide screw 35 and the upper end of the guide hole 41, the impact applied to the elastic member 28 is not concentrated at a specific location but is distributed throughout the circumferential area due to the rotation of the elastic member 28. Therefore, the elastic member 28 can have a longer service life, thereby mitigating the impact of the collision between the fixed cover 30 and the movable cover 40 for a longer period of time.

[0066] The lower cover 50 is fixed to the column 5 on the side closer to the base 2 than the protective cover 25 and includes engaging protrusions 55A and 55B. When the spindle head 6 descends, the movable cover 40 approaches the base 2. The movable cover 40 engages with the engaging protrusions 55A and 55B without contacting other structures. The engaging protrusions 55A and 55B contact the movable cover 40 and deform elastically, thereby mitigating the impact during a collision.

[0067] When the spindle head 6 descends, the engaging protrusions 55A and 55B abut against the inclined portions 44A and 44B formed in the notch 44 of the movable cover 40. The inclined portions 44A and 44B are inclined relative to the Z-axis direction. Therefore, the resistance force N applied to the movable cover 40 due to the contact with the engaging protrusions 55A and 55B is dispersed to the Z-axis direction and the direction orthogonal to the Z-axis direction. That is, the resistance force N applied to the movable cover 40 in the Z-axis direction during the contact with the engaging protrusions 55A and 55B is reduced. Therefore, the engaging protrusions 55A and 55B can further mitigate the impact applied to the movable cover 40 in the Z-axis direction. Therefore, the movable cover 40 can suppress the rebound in the Z-axis direction due to the resistance force N when the inclined portions 44A and 44B abut against the engaging protrusions 55A and 55B.

[0068] A protrusion 37 on the back surface 30A of the fixed cover 30 forms a gap D between the back surface 30A and the front surface 40A by contacting the front surface 40A of the movable cover 40. That is, the opposing surfaces of the fixed cover 30 and the movable cover 40 do not directly contact each other due to the gap D formed by the protrusion 37. Therefore, the movable cover 40 is difficult to fix to the fixed cover 30, and its relative movement with respect to the fixed cover 30 is not hindered.

[0069] In the described embodiment, the front surface of the column 5 corresponds to a "side surface" of the present invention. The spindle head 6 corresponds to a "support body" of the present invention. The Z-axis ball screw 22 and the Z-axis track 21 correspond to a "moving mechanism" of the present invention. The protective cover 25 corresponds to a "protective member" of the present invention. The fixed cover 30 corresponds to a "first protective part" of the present invention. The movable cover 40 corresponds to a "second protective part" of the present invention. The guide hole 41 corresponds to an "opening" of the present invention. The guide screw 35 corresponds to a "protrusion" of the present invention. The side end 32 corresponds to a "guide part" of the present invention. The lower cover 50 corresponds to a "third protective part" of the present invention. The engaging protrusions 55A and 55B correspond to "engaging parts" of the present invention. The inclined parts 44A and 44B correspond to "inclined edges" of the present invention. The notch 44 corresponds to a "notch" of the present invention. The back surface 30A of the fixed cover 30 corresponds to a "first surface" of the present invention. The front surface 40A of the movable cover 40 corresponds to a "second surface" of the present invention.

[0070] This invention is not limited to the described embodiment, and various modifications can be made. The guide holes 41 of the movable cover 40 are provided as a pair, but may also be one, or even three or more. When there is only one guide hole 41, the movable cover 40 can reliably move in the vertical direction by being guided by the side end 32 of the fixed cover 30. If there are two or more guide holes 41, the side end 32 of the fixed cover 30 may be omitted. The pressing plate 26 may also be omitted. A washer having an outer diameter with a radius of curvature larger than that of the guide hole 41 may be assembled to the guide screw 35, replacing the pressing plate 26. The notch 34 of the fixed cover 30 may also be omitted. The notch 44 of the movable cover 40 may also include inclined portions 44A and 44B corresponding to the engaging protrusions 55A and 55B, forming a pair of V-shapes. In this case, the engaging protrusions 55A and the inclined portions 44A may be located in the center of the left-right direction, without the engaging protrusions 55B and the inclined portions 44B.

[0071] The protrusion 37 is not limited to being formed by punching; it can also be formed on the back surface 30A of the fixed cover 30 by screwing or stamping. The front end of the protrusion 37 does not necessarily have to be hemispherical. The protrusion 37 is not limited to a columnar shape; it can also be a shape that extends in a peak-like projection. The protrusion 37 can also be provided on the front surface 40A of the movable cover 40. The radius of curvature of the end of the guide hole 41 can also be the same as the radius of the outer periphery of the elastic member 28. The shape of the end of the guide hole 41 is not limited to a semi-circular shape; it can also be rectangular or a trapezoidal shape with chamfered corners. It can also be a pad 27.

[0072] like Figure 9 As shown, the protective cover 125 may also have an elongated oval-shaped elastic member 128 fixed inside the guide hole 141 of the movable cover 140. In this case, the pad 127 is formed larger than the pad 27 of this embodiment. The pad 127 is arranged to surround the guide screw 135 fastened to the fixed cover 130. The radius of the outer peripheral portion of the pad 127 is smaller than the radius of curvature of the end of the inner peripheral portion of the elastic member 128. With this configuration, the guide screw 135 can contact the guide hole 141 via the elastic member 128. Therefore, the elastic member 128 can mitigate the impact during collision. Alternatively, the pad 127 may be omitted. The elastic member 128 is not limited to an annular shape; it may be arranged only at the upper end of the guide hole 141, or it may be arranged at both the upper and lower ends.

[0073] like Figure 10As shown, the protective cover 225 may also have a guide hole 241 formed in the fixed cover 230, and a guide screw 235 provided in the movable cover 240. The guide screw 235 is inserted into the guide hole 241 from the front side of the press plate 226 through the through holes at both ends. With the gasket 227 and the elastic member 228 disposed in the guide hole 241, the guide screw 235 is fastened to the fixed hole 236 of the movable cover 240. Even with this configuration, the movable cover 240 can move vertically relative to the fixed cover 230. In addition, the guide hole 241 is formed on the front surface of the fixed cover 230. Therefore, a cover covering the guide hole 241 may be provided on the front surface of the fixed cover 230 to prevent chips and the like from entering the guide hole 241 during operation. In this case, a washer with an outer diameter having a radius of curvature larger than that of the guide hole 241 can be assembled to the guide screw 235 instead of the press plate 226.

[0074] like Figure 11 As shown, the lower cover 350 of machine tool 301 may also not include the engaging protrusion. For example... Figure 12 As shown, when the spindle head 306 is at the lowest position of its movable range, the lower end 333 of the fixed cover 330 is positioned with a small gap between it and the cover assembly of the Y-axis conveyor. Therefore, the fixed cover 330 does not abut against the cover assembly. The lower end 343 of the movable cover 340 abuts against the cover assembly from a position lower than the lower end 333 of the fixed cover 330. Thus, the movable cover 340 moves upward relative to the fixed cover 330 and is housed on the back side of the fixed cover 330. Therefore, the movable cover 340 does not obstruct the downward movement of the fixed cover 330. Furthermore, compared to the case where a metal fixed cover 330 collides with the cover assembly, the resin movable cover 340 suppresses collision noise or impact caused by collision with the cover assembly.

[0075] Furthermore, such as Figure 13 As shown, the movable cover 340 may also be provided with a rubber foot 345 or other elastic cushioning material at its lower end 343. In this case, the movable cover 340 may also be made of metal. When the spindle head 306 moves to the vicinity of the lower end of the movement range, the rubber foot 345 of the movable cover 340 abuts against the cover device on the base 2. The elastic deformation of the rubber foot 345 can suppress the sound or impact generated during the abutment.

[0076] Furthermore, the guide screw 335 of the fixed cover 330 may not be equipped with an elastic member and gasket surrounding its outer periphery. In this case, the width of the guide hole 341 in the left-right direction is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the guide screw 335, and there is a small gap between the guide hole 341 and the guide screw 335 in the left-right direction, which allows for smooth movement and is therefore more ideal. Furthermore, the side ends 332 on both sides of the fixed cover 330 guide the side ends 342 on both sides of the movable cover 340. Therefore, the movable cover 340 can move more vertically downwards in the vertical direction.

[0077] like Figure 14 As shown, the movable cover 440 may also be configured to move vertically relative to the fixed cover 430. For example, the movable cover 440 may be configured to rotate about a rotation axis 441 located near the center of the fixed cover 430 in the left-right direction. A pair of movable covers 440 are configured, rotating by their own weight between a position where they are housed on the back side of the fixed cover 430 and a position where they are exposed from the fixed cover 430. When the spindle head descends, the pair of movable covers 440 abut against the cover assembly and rotate upwards towards the left and right ends, thus being housed on the back side of the fixed cover 430. When the spindle head rises, the pair of movable covers 440 rotate downwards towards the left and right ends due to their own weight, thereby being exposed from the fixed cover 430. The pair of movable covers 440 abut against each other at the center in the left-right direction, thereby positioning them to protect the shape inside the column.

Claims

1. A machine tool, comprising: Base; The upright is mounted on the base. Spindle, for the tooling to be detachably mounted; A support body is provided on one side of the column to support the main shaft; A moving mechanism is provided on the column to move the support body along the axial direction of the main shaft; as well as A protective member covers the portion of the moving mechanism exposed on one side of the column as the support moves, characterized in that... The protective component includes: The first protective part is fixed to the support body and moves along the axis with the support body through the moving mechanism; as well as The second protective part is located on the side of the first protective part opposite to the support body, and moves relative to the first protective part. One of the first protective portion and the second protective portion has an opening extending along the axial direction. The first protective part and the second protective part include a protrusion that protrudes into the opening and moves relative to the opening along the axial direction.

2. The machine tool according to claim 1, characterized in that, The second protective part has the opening and is located closer to the moving mechanism than the first protective part.

3. The machine tool according to claim 2, characterized in that, The first protective part has a guide part that guides the movement of the second protective part toward the axial direction.

4. The machine tool according to claim 3, characterized in that, The protective member includes an elastic member that is resilient and is disposed in the protrusion or the opening.

5. The machine tool according to claim 4, characterized in that, The elastic member is formed as a ring surrounding the protrusion.

6. The machine tool according to claim 5, characterized in that, The protective member includes a pad disposed between the protrusion and the elastic member. The elastic member is circumferentially rotatable relative to the protrusion.

7. The machine tool according to claim 6, characterized in that... include: The third protective part is fixed to the column on the side closer to the base than the protective component; as well as A locking portion is provided in the third protective portion, which engages with the second protective portion when the support moves axially toward the third protective portion. The engaging part is elastic.

8. The machine tool according to claim 7, characterized in that, At the end of the second protective part on the base side along the axial direction, a notch is formed, and the notch has an inclined edge that is inclined relative to the axial direction. The engaging portion abuts against the inclined edge of the notch portion when the support moves axially toward the third protective portion.

9. The machine tool according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, The first protective part or the second protective part has another protrusion on either the first protective part facing the second protective part or the second protective part facing the first protective part, with the protruding front end contacting the other side.

10. A protective member covering and protecting a portion of a moving mechanism exposed on one side of a column of a machine tool, the machine tool comprising a base, the column disposed on the base, a spindle for detachable mounting of a cutting tool, a support body disposed on the one side of the column and supporting the spindle, and the moving mechanism disposed on the column and causing the support body to move axially along the spindle, the protective member being characterized in that it comprises: The first protective part is fixed to the support body and moves along the axis with the support body through the moving mechanism; as well as The second protective section moves relative to the first protective section. One of the first protective portion and the second protective portion has an opening extending along the axial direction. The first protective part and the second protective part include a protrusion that protrudes into the opening and moves relative to the opening along the axial direction.

11. The protective member according to claim 10, characterized in that, An elastic member with elasticity is provided in the protrusion or the opening.

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