Multi-station synchronous tapping device for aluminum alloy production

Abstract

This invention discloses a multi-station synchronous tapping device for aluminum alloy production, including a rotary worktable, a synchronous tapping unit, a clamping unit, and an auxiliary unit. The rotary worktable has multiple adjustable stations to realize workpiece cyclic conveying. The synchronous tapping unit adopts gear transmission, and all drill bits are driven by a single motor to rotate synchronously, ensuring consistency across multiple holes. The X-shaped clamping block of the clamping unit can pass through the tool gap to elastically clamp the non-machined area of ​​the workpiece, preventing vibration and displacement. The auxiliary unit integrates cooling, protection, and automatic chip removal functions. This invention significantly improves the efficiency, accuracy, and automation level of drilling and tapping aluminum alloy workpieces through multi-station continuous operation and synchronous processing, and improves the working environment.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of machining equipment technology, specifically to a multi-station synchronous tapping device for aluminum alloy production. Background Technology

[0002] Tapping is a common and important process in the production of aluminum alloy products. Traditional tapping equipment is usually a single-station operation, meaning that it can only tap one hole of one workpiece at a time. This results in low processing efficiency and makes it difficult to meet the needs of mass production. In addition, manual loading, unloading, and positioning not only increase the labor intensity of workers, but also have problems such as unstable positioning accuracy, easy damage to workpieces, or poor thread quality.

[0003] To improve efficiency, some multi-axis tapping machines have emerged on the market, which can process multiple holes simultaneously. However, these machines are usually complex in structure, require high synchronization control between axes, and are expensive. In addition, during the processing, aluminum alloy chips are prone to splashing, and coolant may also spray everywhere, which not only affects the working environment but also poses safety hazards. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Technical problems to be solved To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, this invention provides a multi-station synchronous tapping device for aluminum alloy production, thus solving the aforementioned technical problems.

[0005] (II) Technical Solution To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution: a multi-station synchronous tapping device for aluminum alloy production, comprising: a workbench unit, including a device base and a rotating platform rotatably mounted on its top, the device base being provided with a discharge pipe, the center of the rotating platform being provided with a funnel-shaped discharge hole communicating with the discharge pipe, and the top of the rotating platform being provided with multiple sets of limiting components for positioning workpieces at intervals along the circumference. A frame unit is fixedly mounted on the base of the device; The synchronous tapping unit is mounted on the frame unit and includes a lifting platform driven to move up and down by a vertical drive mechanism, a gear transmission assembly disposed in the lifting platform, multiple drill bits driven to rotate synchronously by the gear transmission assembly, and a drive motor that drives the gear transmission assembly. The workpiece clamping unit is mounted on the frame unit and located to the side or directly below the synchronous tapping unit; The auxiliary operation unit includes a coolant spraying mechanism installed on the frame unit and spraying coolant onto the rotating platform.

[0006] Preferably, the gear transmission assembly includes a drive gear rotatably mounted in the transmission cavity of the lifting platform, and a plurality of driven gears meshing with the drive gear and distributed at intervals along its circumference. The drill bit is connected below each of the driven gears, and the output shaft of the drive motor is connected to the drive gear.

[0007] Preferably, the workpiece clamping unit includes an L-shaped connector mounted on the frame, a pressing drive mechanism disposed on the connector, and a clamping block connected to the output end of the pressing drive mechanism and having an X-shaped cross-section, wherein the clamping block is arranged alternately with a plurality of drill bits.

[0008] Preferably, the bottom of the clamping block is provided with a rubber block.

[0009] Preferably, the auxiliary operation unit further includes a splash-proof component, which includes a baffle assembly slidably disposed on the bottom guide rail of the frame and linked with the lifting platform, and a blower assembly disposed between the baffle assemblies and blowing air onto the rotating platform.

[0010] Preferably, the workbench unit further includes a rotary drive mechanism disposed within the device base and connected to the rotating platform for transmission.

[0011] Preferably, a detachable inspection plate is provided at the bottom opening of the transmission cavity, and the connecting shaft of the driven gear passes through the inspection plate.

[0012] Preferably, the limiting component includes two limiting blocks symmetrically fixed on the rotating platform, and the limiting blocks are provided with connecting ear plates, which are fixed to the rotating platform by bolts.

[0013] Preferably, the workpiece clamping unit further includes a limiting rod connected between the frame and the coolant spraying mechanism or the L-shaped connector, and the movable block at the output end of the pressing drive mechanism is slidably sleeved on the limiting rod.

[0014] Preferably, the frame unit is provided with a vertical guide rod connected to the lifting platform.

[0015] Compared with the prior art, the present invention provides a multi-station synchronous tapping device for aluminum alloy production, which has the following advantages: the absolute synchronous rotation of multiple drill bits is achieved through the gear transmission assembly, and combined with the rotatable multi-station worktable, the cyclical flow operation of loading, processing and unloading is realized, which significantly improves production efficiency. The workpiece clamping unit can operate independently before tapping. Through the cooperation of the X-shaped clamping block and the staggered drill bits, it applies stable downward pressure from the center area of ​​the top of the workpiece, effectively preventing the workpiece from shifting or vibrating during processing, thus ensuring tapping accuracy and tool safety. The device integrates multiple functions such as rotary drive, vertical feed, synchronous tapping, workpiece clamping, cooling and lubrication, and chip removal. It has a high degree of automation, reduces manual intervention, and lowers labor intensity. The coolant spraying mechanism provides targeted cooling and lubrication, improving machining quality and tool life. The anti-splash component moves in tandem with the lifting platform, surrounding the work area during machining to effectively block coolant and chip splashes. A blower mechanism promptly cleans the worktable, maintaining the cleanliness of the equipment and its surrounding environment. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the main structure of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional structural diagram of the device base, rotating platform, and frame of the present invention. Figure 3 For the present invention Figure 2 Enlarged schematic diagram of the structure at point A in the middle; Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional structural diagram of the driving gear and driven gear of the present invention. Figure 5 This is a cross-sectional structural diagram of the vertical guide rod and lifting platform of the present invention. Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the connection structure of the frame and baffle assembly of the present invention.

[0017] Among them: 1. Device base; 11. Rotary drive mechanism; 12. Discharge pipe 2. Rotating platform; 21. Discharge hole; 22. Limiting component; 23. Connecting ear plate; 3. Frame; 31. Vertical drive mechanism; 32. Vertical guide rod; 33. Lifting platform; 34. Drive motor; 35. Transmission chamber; 36. Drive gear; 37. Driven gear; 38. Inspection plate; 39. Drill bit; 4. Baffle assembly; 41. Air blower mechanism; 42. Guide rail; 43. Fan; 5. Clamping mechanism; 51. Downward driving mechanism; 52. Limiting rod; 53. Movable block; 54. Connecting rod; 55. Clamping block; 56. Rubber block; 57. L-shaped connector 6. Coolant spraying mechanism; 61. Nozzle. Detailed Implementation

[0018] The embodiments of the present invention will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and examples. The following examples are for illustrative purposes only and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention.

[0019] In the description of this invention, unless otherwise stated, "multiple" means two or more; the terms "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "inner," "outer," "front end," "rear end," "head," and "tail," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of the invention. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," "third," etc., are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0020] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "connected" and "linked" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0021] Please see Figure 1-6 The multi-station synchronous tapping device for aluminum alloy production integrates multiple processing stations on a rotating platform 2, and is equipped with a tapping unit that can synchronously drive multiple drill bits 39 to achieve continuous flow operation of clamping, processing and unloading. The device includes five main functional modules: a rotary indexing worktable module, a multi-axis synchronous tapping module, a workpiece clamping module, a cooling and lubrication module, and a safety protection and chip removal module.

[0022] The workbench unit includes: Device base 1: Constructed from heavy-duty steel plates, with an internal box structure providing sufficient rigidity and stability to absorb vibrations during processing. Anchor bolt mounting holes are provided at the bottom.

[0023] Rotary drive mechanism 11: preferably composed of a servo motor and a high-precision reducer. The servo motor can achieve precise angle control and smooth start and stop. The output shaft of the reducer directly drives the inner or outer ring of the slewing bearing through a key connection or flange.

[0024] Rotating platform 2: It is a circular thick steel plate, which is mounted on base 1 through a large slewing bearing. This bearing can withstand axial and radial loads and achieve precise rotation. The surface of the platform is finely ground to ensure flatness.

[0025] Discharge system: The funnel-shaped discharge hole 21 at the center of the rotating platform 2 is designed to be conical, ensuring that chips and liquids can slide down smoothly by gravity. The discharge pipe 12 below can be connected to the factory's centralized coolant recovery system or a separate collection box.

[0026] Limiting component 22: Each limiting component includes two independent limiting blocks. The limiting blocks are fixed to the rotating platform 2 by bolts through the connecting ear plate 23 on them. The distance between the two limiting blocks can be easily adjusted by loosening the bolts to accommodate workpieces of different widths or lengths. Limiting blocks with different clamping surfaces can also be customized according to the shape of the workpiece to achieve rapid production changeover.

[0027] The rack unit and synchronous tapping unit include: Frame 3: A gantry structure welded from high-quality square steel pipes, which has undergone stress relief treatment to ensure long-term stability. Its columns are firmly welded or bolted to the base 1.

[0028] Vertical drive mechanism 31: The vertical drive mechanism 31 can be a servo electric cylinder or a hydraulic cylinder. At least two vertical guide rods 32 are provided. They adopt high-rigidity linear optical shafts or rectangular guide rails and cooperate with linear bearings or sliders on the lifting platform 33 to ensure that the tapping feed is absolutely vertical.

[0029] The gear transmission assembly includes: Transmission cavity 35: A sealed cavity is machined or cast inside the lifting platform 33 to accommodate gears and lubricating oil.

[0030] Drive gear 36: Mounted in the center of the cavity, supported by a pair of angular contact ball bearings to withstand radial and axial loads. Its input axis extends upward and is connected to the output shaft of drive motor 34 via a flexible coupling. The flexible coupling can compensate for minor alignment errors and protect the motor and gear.

[0031] Driven gear 37: Multiple driven gears are evenly distributed around the driving gear 36 in a circle. Each driven gear 37 is also supported by a bearing. All gears use high-precision helical gears with the same module. Helical gear transmission is smoother, quieter, and has a stronger load-bearing capacity.

[0032] The power of the drive motor 34 is transmitted to all the driven gears 37 meshing with it through the drive gear 36. Since it is a rigid gear meshing, the rotation speed and rotation angle of all driven gears 37 are theoretically completely consistent, thus ensuring the absolute synchronous rotation of the tap or drill bit connected to its lower end.

[0033] Spindle connection and drill bit 39: The lower end of the output shaft of each driven gear 37 is equipped with a drill bit or tap 39 via a quick-change chuck. The quick-change chuck allows for quick replacement of tools of different specifications. The output shaft can be designed with a standard internal cooling hole, which is connected to an external coolant pipeline to achieve central internal cooling. The coolant reaches the tool tip directly, resulting in excellent cooling and chip removal effects.

[0034] Inspection plate 38: The bottom of the transmission chamber 35 is enclosed by an inspection plate 38, which is fixed with screws and equipped with an O-ring to prevent oil leakage. During maintenance, only the inspection plate 38 needs to be removed to access the connection parts of all driven gears, making it convenient to check gear wear, replace bearings or add lubricating oil without disassembling the entire lifting platform.

[0035] The workpiece clamping unit includes: Downward drive mechanism 51: Usually a compact cylinder is used because it is fast, simple in structure and low in cost. The cylinder is fixed to the frame 3 by an L-shaped connector.

[0036] Guiding and limiting: In order to ensure that the pressing block 55 only moves vertically and does not rotate or wobble, at least two limiting rods 52 are provided. The piston rod end of the pressing drive mechanism 51 is connected to a movable block 53, which is equipped with a linear bearing and slides on the limiting rod 52.

[0037] The clamping block 55 has an X-shaped cross section, allowing its four protruding arms to pass through the gaps between multiple drill bits 39, applying pressure to multiple non-machined areas of the workpiece without interfering with the movement of the cutting tools.

[0038] The bottom of the clamping block 55 is embedded or glued with polyurethane or oil-resistant rubber blocks, which can increase friction and prevent the workpiece from sliding. At the same time, as an elastic body, it avoids rigid contact that could damage the surface of softer aluminum alloy workpieces. It can also adapt to the slight unevenness of the workpiece surface and achieve uniform clamping.

[0039] The auxiliary operation unit includes: Coolant spraying mechanism 6: Consists of a coolant pump, piping, filter, and multiple adjustable nozzles. The nozzles are arranged around the tapping unit. The coolant is preferably an emulsion or semi-synthetic liquid specifically designed for aluminum alloy machining, which has good cooling, lubrication, and rust prevention properties.

[0040] Splash protection components: The baffle assembly 4 is mechanically linked with the lifting platform 33. When the lifting platform 33 descends, it drives the baffle assembly 4 to slide down synchronously, forming a protective cover around the processing area. The baffle can be made of transparent acrylic material, which makes it easy to observe the processing status.

[0041] Blowing mechanism 41: One or more small blowers 43 are installed inside the baffle. The air direction is tilted and aligned with the surface of the rotating platform 2 and pointing towards the central discharge hole 21. Its function is to use strong air to thoroughly blow away the residual chips and droplets during the tapping gap or after the tapping is completed, so as to provide a clean surface for clamping at the next station and promote chip removal.

[0042] Initially, the rotating platform 2 is stationary, the synchronous tapping unit is in the upper position, and the workpiece clamping unit is in the released state. The operator places the aluminum alloy workpiece to be processed between the corresponding limiting components 22 at one or two stations in front of the device. This station is far from the processing point to ensure operational safety. After loading, the rotary drive mechanism 11 is activated, driving the rotating platform 2 to rotate precisely clockwise or counterclockwise by a preset angle. This action rotates the station with the clamped workpiece to directly below the tapping unit, and simultaneously rotates the station with completed processing to the unloading position. At this time, the downward drive mechanism 51 of the workpiece clamping unit is activated, driving the clamping block 55 to descend rapidly, firmly clamping the workpiece and eliminating any possible minor movement or vibration. At the same time, the vertical drive mechanism 31 of the synchronous tapping unit is activated, driving the lifting platform 33 to descend smoothly along the vertical guide rod 32. Simultaneously, the drive motor 34 is activated, driving all drill bits through the gear transmission assembly. The rotating platform 33 continuously descends while the high-speed synchronous rotation of the drill bit 39 causes it to contact the workpiece and begin drilling or tapping. The coolant spraying mechanism 6 is activated simultaneously to cool and lubricate the cutting point and assist in chip removal. During the descent of the tapping unit, the baffle assembly 4 linked to it descends accordingly, forming a semi-enclosed processing area that effectively blocks splashing coolant and chips. The blower mechanism 41 inside the baffle assembly 4 is activated, generating a directional airflow that blows the chips and liquid falling on the rotating platform 2 toward the funnel-shaped discharge hole 21 in the center. When the tapping depth reaches the preset value, the vertical drive mechanism 31 reverses, driving the tapping unit to rise and reset. After the tapping unit is fully reset, the downward drive mechanism 51 of the workpiece clamping unit resets, releasing the clamping of the workpiece. At this time, the rotary drive mechanism 11 is activated again, and the rotating platform 2 rotates to the next station, starting a new cycle. On the other side, the operator can safely remove the processed workpiece.

[0043] Although embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions and variations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A multi-station synchronous tapping device for aluminum alloy production, characterized in that, include: The workbench unit includes a device base (1) and a rotating platform (2) rotatably mounted on its top. The device base (1) is provided with a discharge pipe (12). The center of the rotating platform (2) is provided with a funnel-shaped discharge hole (21) communicating with the discharge pipe (12). The top of the rotating platform (2) is provided with multiple sets of limiting components (22) for positioning workpieces at intervals along the circumference. The frame unit is fixed on the base (1) of the device; The synchronous tapping unit is installed on the frame unit and includes a lifting platform (33) driven to rise and fall by a vertical drive mechanism (31), a gear transmission assembly located in the lifting platform (33), a plurality of drill bits (39) driven to rotate synchronously by the gear transmission assembly, and a drive motor (34) driving the gear transmission assembly. The workpiece clamping unit is mounted on the frame unit and located directly below the synchronous tapping unit; The auxiliary operation unit includes a coolant spraying mechanism (6) installed on the frame unit and spraying coolant onto the rotating platform (2).

2. The multi-station synchronous tapping device for aluminum alloy production according to claim 1, characterized in that, The gear transmission assembly includes a drive gear (36) rotatably mounted in the transmission cavity (35) of the lifting platform (33), and a plurality of driven gears (37) meshing with the drive gear (36) and distributed at intervals along its circumference. The drill bit (39) is connected below each driven gear (37), and the output shaft of the drive motor (34) is connected to the drive gear (36).

3. The multi-station synchronous tapping device for aluminum alloy production according to claim 1, characterized in that, The workpiece clamping unit includes an L-shaped connector mounted on the frame (3), a pressing drive mechanism (51) disposed on the connector, and a clamping block (55) connected to the output end of the pressing drive mechanism (51) and having an X-shaped cross section. The clamping block (55) is arranged alternately with a plurality of drill bits (39).

4. The multi-station synchronous tapping device for aluminum alloy production according to claim 3, characterized in that, The bottom of the clamping block (55) is provided with a rubber block (56).

5. The multi-station synchronous tapping device for aluminum alloy production according to claim 1, characterized in that, The auxiliary operation unit also includes a splash-proof component, which includes a baffle assembly (4) that is slidably mounted on a guide rail (42) at the bottom of the frame (3) and linked with the lifting platform (33), and a blower assembly (41) that is located between the baffle assemblies (4) and blows air onto the rotating platform (2).

6. The multi-station synchronous tapping device for aluminum alloy production according to claim 1, characterized in that, The workbench unit also includes a rotary drive mechanism (11) located inside the device base (1) and connected to the rotating platform (2) in a transmission manner.

7. The multi-station synchronous tapping device for aluminum alloy production according to claim 2, characterized in that, The bottom opening of the transmission cavity (35) is provided with a detachable inspection plate (38), and the connecting shaft of the driven gear (37) passes through the inspection plate (38).

8. The multi-station synchronous tapping device for aluminum alloy production according to claim 1, characterized in that, The limiting component (22) includes two limiting blocks symmetrically fixed on the rotating platform (2). The limiting blocks are provided with connecting ear plates (23), which are fixed on the rotating platform (2) by bolts.

9. The multi-station synchronous tapping device for aluminum alloy production according to claim 3, characterized in that, The workpiece clamping unit also includes a limiting rod (52) connected between the frame (3) and the coolant spraying mechanism (6) or the L-shaped connector, and the movable block (53) at the output end of the pressing drive mechanism (51) is slidably sleeved on the limiting rod (52).

10. The multi-station synchronous tapping device for aluminum alloy production according to claim 1, characterized in that, The frame unit is provided with a vertical guide rod (32) that is connected to the lifting platform (33).

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