An integrated tool magazine and spindle cooperative automatic tool changer system

Abstract

This utility model discloses an integrated automatic tool changing system that coordinates the tool magazine and spindle, belonging to the field of cutting equipment technology. It includes a cutting spindle assembly and a tool magazine worktable. The cutting spindle assembly is mounted on an XY-axis planar movement module. The cutting spindle assembly has a tilting axis, a cutting execution component that rotates around the tilting axis, and an angle adjustment motor that drives the cutting execution component to change the cutting angle. The axis of the tilting axis is parallel to the X-axis. The tool magazine worktable is located above the front side of the cutting spindle assembly. The tool magazine worktable includes a bracket and a moving frame. The moving frame is mounted on the lower part of the bracket via a horizontal movement drive mechanism, which drives the moving frame to move horizontally in the Z-axis direction. N clamping units are installed at intervals along the X-axis direction on the moving frame. This system significantly reduces reliance on manual operation, avoids errors and safety hazards caused by frequent manual tool changes, and improves the stability of the machining process and the level of intelligent tool management.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model belongs to the field of cutting equipment technology, and in particular relates to an automatic tool changing system in which an integrated tool magazine and spindle work together. Background Technology

[0002] Automated manufacturing plays a crucial role in modern production. By introducing advanced control systems and intelligent equipment, it significantly improves production efficiency and product consistency, while substantially reducing labor costs and human error rates. Simultaneously, automated manufacturing enables precise control and continuous operation of complex processes, enhancing product quality stability and meeting the diverse needs of large-scale, flexible, and customized production. This powerfully drives the transformation and upgrading of the manufacturing industry towards high efficiency, intelligence, and green practices.

[0003] In existing technologies, cutting, as a key process in machining, faces numerous challenges due to the increasing complexity of product structures and the diversification of materials. Specifically, in current cutting processes, to meet the different requirements of products in terms of cutting angle, material type, and cutting width, it is usually completed in multiple steps. Each step often requires changing to a different model of saw blade and manually adjusting the cutting angle. This operating mode not only greatly increases the complexity of the process and reduces production efficiency, but also increases the dependence on the operator's skills, making it prone to human error and affecting the processing quality and consistency.

[0004] Furthermore, saw blades, as a type of cutting tool, typically have large dimensions and unique structures, making them unsuitable for replacement using standard tool magazines found in traditional machining centers. Traditional tool magazines are primarily designed for small or standard-shaped tools and cannot accommodate or accurately pick up large saw blades, thus hindering automated saw blade replacement. This limitation forces frequent manual intervention throughout the machining process, reducing automation levels and restricting the flexible application of machining equipment. Therefore, existing cutting equipment still faces technological gaps and significant bottlenecks in tool management and automatic tool changing, urgently requiring an automatic tool changing system adapted to the characteristics of saw blades to achieve efficient, stable, and intelligent cutting processes. Utility Model Content

[0005] To address the problems of low processing efficiency and insufficient automation in existing cutting processes, such as the need for manual operation to change saw blades, the inability to automatically change tools, and the incompatibility of traditional tool magazines with large-sized saw discs, this utility model provides an integrated tool magazine that works in conjunction with the spindle for automatic tool changing.

[0006] This utility model is implemented as follows: an integrated automatic tool changer system that coordinates the tool magazine and spindle, characterized in that it includes a cutting spindle assembly and a tool magazine worktable; the cutting spindle assembly is mounted on an XY-axis planar moving module, the cutting spindle assembly has a tilting shaft, a cutting execution component that rotates around the tilting shaft, and an angle adjustment motor that drives the cutting execution component to change the cutting angle, the axis of the tilting shaft being parallel to the X-axis; the tool magazine worktable is located above the front side of the cutting spindle assembly, the tool magazine worktable includes a hanging bracket and a moving frame, the moving frame is mounted on the lower part of the hanging bracket through a horizontal moving drive mechanism, the horizontal moving drive mechanism drives the moving frame to move horizontally in a straight line in the Z-axis direction, and N clamping units are installed at intervals along the X-axis direction on the moving frame.

[0007] In the above technical solution, preferably, the cutting spindle assembly includes a spindle bracket, the tilting shaft is mounted on the spindle bracket, the tilting shaft is mounted on a cutting support that rotates around the tilting shaft, the cutting execution component is mounted on the cutting support, the angle adjustment motor is mounted on the cutting support, the angle adjustment motor is connected to the tilting shaft for transmission, and the axis of the output shaft of the angle adjustment motor is parallel to the axis of the tilting shaft.

[0008] In the above technical solution, preferably, the cutting execution component includes a cutting drive motor, a tool holder interface assembly, and a cutting head for cutting. The cutting drive motor and the tool holder interface assembly are mounted on the cutting support and are connected in a driving connection. The cutting head is detachably connected to the tool holder interface assembly to realize automatic replacement of the cutting head.

[0009] In the above technical solution, preferably, the clamping unit includes an arc-shaped bayonet and an electromagnetic locking pin disposed on the side of the arc-shaped bayonet. The electromagnetic locking pin has a pin tongue that extends radially into the arc-shaped bayonet and is used to clamp the handle of the cutter head inside the arc-shaped bayonet.

[0010] In the above technical solution, preferably, the hanging bracket forms a box structure with an opening at the bottom, the movable frame, the horizontal movement drive mechanism, and the clamping unit are located inside the box structure, the bottom of the box structure has a horizontally extending opening, the hanging bracket is equipped with an arc-shaped rotating door through a door hinge, the arc-shaped rotating door rotates around the door hinge to realize the closing and opening of the opening, and a door drive assembly for driving the arc-shaped rotating door to flip is installed inside the box structure.

[0011] This integrated tool magazine and spindle-operated automatic tool changer system demonstrates significant innovation and practical value in its structural and functional design. Its greatest advantage lies in achieving automated and rapid tool changing for saw blades, solving the problem in traditional cutting equipment where large, uniquely shaped saw blades cannot be automatically changed using conventional tool magazines. Through the coordinated spatial movement between the cutting spindle assembly and the tool magazine worktable, the system enables efficient switching between multiple angles and different tool types, significantly improving machining continuity and production efficiency.

[0012] The cutting spindle assembly in the system is mounted on the XY-axis planar movement module, equipped with a tilting axis and angle adjustment motor, allowing for flexible adjustment of the cutting execution components' angles to meet different machining angle requirements. The tool magazine worktable is located above the front of the spindle, employing a combination of a hanger and a moving frame. A horizontal movement drive mechanism propels the moving frame precisely linearly along the Z-axis, ensuring multiple gripping units accurately align with the spindle position for automatic tool loading and unloading. This compact and rational design effectively utilizes space, saving equipment floor space and enhancing the overall system's modularity and integration.

[0013] Furthermore, this system significantly reduces reliance on manual operation, avoiding errors and safety hazards caused by frequent manual tool changes, and improving the stability of the machining process and the level of intelligent tool management. It is highly scalable, allowing for flexible configuration of different numbers and types of tool units according to machining needs, adapting to multi-variety, small-batch, and even flexible production modes. Therefore, this automatic tool changer not only breaks through the bottlenecks of existing technologies in terms of functionality but also demonstrates superior efficiency in practical applications, possessing broad prospects for widespread adoption. Attached Figure Description

[0014] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of this utility model;

[0015] Figure 2 This is a side view of the present invention;

[0016] Figure 3 This is a structural schematic diagram of the cutting spindle assembly in this utility model;

[0017] Figure 4 This is a top view of the cutting spindle assembly;

[0018] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the installation structure of the angle adjustment motor in the cutting spindle assembly;

[0019] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the cutting support in the cutting spindle assembly;

[0020] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the cutter head in this utility model;

[0021] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the tool magazine worktable in this utility model;

[0022] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the tool magazine worktable;

[0023] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the gripping unit on the tool magazine worktable;

[0024] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the gate driver component. Detailed Implementation

[0025] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this utility model clearer, the following detailed description is provided in conjunction with embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative and not intended to limit the scope of this utility model.

[0026] To address the problems of low processing efficiency and insufficient automation in existing cutting processes, such as the need for manual saw blade replacement, the inability to automatically change tools, and the incompatibility of traditional tool magazines with large-sized saw discs, this utility model provides an integrated automatic tool changing system that coordinates the tool magazine with the spindle. To further illustrate the structure of this utility model, a detailed description is provided below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings:

[0027] Please see Figure 1 and Figure 2 An integrated automatic tool changer system that coordinates the tool magazine and spindle operation includes a cutting spindle assembly 1 and a tool magazine worktable 2. The cutting spindle assembly is mounted on an XY-axis planar motion module 3. The tool magazine worktable is located above the front side of the cutting spindle assembly. The XY-axis planar motion module and the tool magazine worktable can be mounted on a dedicated bracket or on the same frame.

[0028] For details, please refer to Figures 3-7The cutting spindle assembly includes a spindle support 1-1, a tilting shaft 1-2, a cutting support 1-3, a cutting execution component, and an angle adjustment motor 1-4. The axis of the tilting shaft is parallel to the X-axis. The tilting shaft is mounted on the spindle support, and the cutting support, which rotates around the tilting shaft, is mounted on the tilting shaft. The cutting execution component is mounted on the cutting support, and the angle adjustment motor is mounted on the cutting support. The angle adjustment motor is driven by the tilting shaft, and the axis of the output shaft of the angle adjustment motor is parallel to the axis of the tilting shaft. The cutting execution component includes a cutting drive motor 1-5, a tool holder interface assembly 1-6, and a cutting head 1-7. The cutting drive motor and the tool holder interface assembly are mounted on the cutting support and are driven by each other. The cutting head is detachably connected to the tool holder interface assembly to achieve automatic cutting head replacement. A conical positioning + snap-fit ​​fixing structure is preferred to ensure a fast replacement process with high repeatability. This cutting head structure is adapted to the gripping unit of the tool magazine worktable, supporting automatic tool changing operations. When installed, the blade's axis is horizontal, thus ensuring the blade's posture remains stable during the cutting angle adjustment process.

[0029] The upper part of the cutting support forms a mounting platform. One side of the cutting support has a sleeve hole 1-3-2, and the other side has a box-shaped section 1-3-1. The angle adjustment motor is mounted on the mounting platform. The output shaft of the angle adjustment motor is connected to the tilting shaft through a synchronous transmission belt 1-8 that passes through the box-shaped section. The tool holder interface assembly is installed inside the sleeve hole. The tool holder interface assembly is the transmission component connecting the cutting drive motor and the cutter head. The cutting support, which forms the box-shaped section, mounting platform, and sleeve hole, adopts an integrated design. The installation functions of the angle adjustment motor, tool holder interface assembly, and cutting drive motor are integrated into one unit, reducing the need for multi-layered split structures. This structural design not only effectively reduces the number of components but also optimizes weight distribution, reducing the overall weight of the equipment while maintaining sufficient structural rigidity and stability. Because the cutting support integrates multiple functional modules, and these modules are tightly connected by a design, the internal space layout of the equipment can be effectively optimized, and heat dissipation management is facilitated. Due to the high degree of integration in the design, the overall equipment is more compact, reducing space waste and making the entire cutting machine operation process smoother.

[0030] The tool holder interface assembly is a key transmission component connecting the cutting drive motor and the cutter head. Its main function is to effectively transmit the torque from the cutting drive motor to the cutter head and provide stable support for it. The tool holder interface assembly is typically designed with a standardized interface for easy and quick cutter head replacement. In this embodiment, the tool holder interface assembly is connected to the output shaft of the cutting drive motor, ensuring stable operation of the cutter head and torque transmission. This design allows the cutting machine to complete cutting tasks efficiently and accurately, while also facilitating automatic cutter head replacement. The tool holder interface assembly is an optional externally purchased integrated component, such as the HSK63A or BT30 tool holder interface assembly.

[0031] The main spindle support is a U-shaped frame. The tilting shaft consists of two shaft sections fixedly installed inside the U-shaped frame. The sleeve portion and the box portion of the cutting support are connected to the two shaft sections via bearings. The shaft section connecting the box portion extends into the inner side of the box portion and is fixedly mounted with a transmission pulley connected to the synchronous transmission belt. This transmission pulley is connected to the shaft section via a key. The cutting drive motor is located on the rear side of the box portion. The cutting drive motor and the tool holder interface assembly are axially parallel and connected via synchronous belt drive. The angle adjustment motor drives its output shaft to rotate, which drives the transmission pulley via the synchronous transmission belt, thereby driving the cutting support to rotate around the tilting shaft. The tilting shaft is fixed, realizing the angle adjustment of the cutting support. For example, the rotation angle range of the tilting shaft can be set to ±90°, realizing continuous angle adjustment from horizontal to vertical cutting to adapt to the processing requirements of different workpiece shapes. The angle adjustment process can be automatically controlled by the control system, with high adjustment accuracy and fast response. The tilting shaft is connected to the cutting support via a high-precision deep groove ball bearing.

[0032] Please see Figures 8-11 The tool magazine worktable is mounted on the frame and has N clamping units for mounting the tool heads of the cutting spindle assembly. In this embodiment, specifically, the tool magazine worktable includes a hanging frame 2-1 and a moving frame 2-2. The moving frame is mounted on the lower part of the hanging frame via a horizontal movement drive mechanism, which drives the moving frame to move horizontally in the Z-axis direction. N clamping units are installed at intervals along the X-axis direction on the moving frame.

[0033] In this embodiment, specifically, a linear slide rail 2-3 is provided at the bottom of the hanger, which cooperates with the movable frame to form a guide. The horizontal movement drive mechanism 2-4 is a hydraulic cylinder. The rear end of the hydraulic cylinder is hinged to the lower part of the hanger via a shaft, and the front piston rod is connected to the movable frame, which is used to drive the movable frame to move horizontally and linearly under the guidance of the linear slide rail.

[0034] The clamping unit includes an arc-shaped bayonet 2-5 and an electromagnetic locking pin 2-6 located on the side of the arc-shaped bayonet. The electromagnetic locking pin has a pin tongue that extends radially into the arc-shaped bayonet to clamp the tool holder inside the arc-shaped bayonet. The curvature of each arc-shaped bayonet matches the outer diameter of the tool holder's locking groove to ensure stable clamping. The tip of the electromagnetic locking pin's pin tongue has a tapered or rounded head structure to facilitate guiding the tool holder's positioning during automatic loading.

[0035] The hanging bracket forms a box-like structure with an open lower section. The moving frame, horizontal movement drive mechanism, and clamping unit are located inside the box-like structure. The lower part of the box-like structure has a horizontally extending opening. An arc-shaped revolving door 2-7 is mounted on the hanging bracket via a door hinge. The arc-shaped revolving door rotates around the door hinge to close and open the opening. A door drive assembly that drives the arc-shaped revolving door to rotate is installed inside the box-like structure. The arc-shaped revolving door is made of aluminum plate or engineering plastic, offering advantages in lightweight design and strength matching. Both ends of the door hinge can be connected to the hanging bracket via bearing-supported pivot seats to ensure smooth rotation. The door drive assembly includes a miniature cylinder 2-8, which drives the arc-shaped revolving door to rotate via a crank 2-9 connected to the arc-shaped revolving door. Specifically, the rear part of the miniature cylinder is hinged to the inner wall of the hanging bracket, and the piston rod of the miniature cylinder is hinged to the crank. The crank connects to the part of the arc-shaped revolving door that fits onto the door hinge, thus enabling the miniature cylinder to drive the arc-shaped revolving door to rotate and open / close.

[0036] Traditional tool magazines often employ an open structure, leaving them exposed to the external environment and highly susceptible to contaminants such as cutting debris and dust. This can negatively impact the reliability of tool holder clamping and the sensitivity of the electromagnetic lock. In contrast, the tool magazine in this design can be sealed when not in use, effectively preventing foreign objects from entering. This protection is not achieved through a complex sealing system, but rather through a controllable opening / closing rotary door in conjunction with the housing structure. This not only improves cleanliness but also reduces system complexity, achieving a balance between simple design and high reliability. The curved rotary door not only provides a sealing function but also acts as a safety barrier during tool changing when flipped. If the cutting spindle assembly is not precisely aligned with the tool holder or the tool holder is not fully inserted into the clamping unit, and an accidental detachment occurs, the open rotary door acts as a buffer and physical barrier, preventing the tool tip from falling and damaging other structures. This is difficult to achieve in traditional open tool magazine systems. In this structure, the presence of the rotating door cleverly establishes a new functional bridge between "sealed dust prevention" and "safety and anti-detachment", producing an unexpected composite technical effect.

[0037] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present utility model and is not intended to limit the present utility model. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present utility model should be included within the protection scope of the present utility model.

Claims

1. An automatic tool changer system that integrates a tool magazine and a spindle for coordinated operation, characterized in that: The system includes a cutting spindle assembly and a tool magazine worktable. The cutting spindle assembly is mounted on an XY-axis planar movement module. The cutting spindle assembly has a tilting shaft, a cutting execution component that rotates around the tilting shaft, and an angle adjustment motor that drives the cutting execution component to change the cutting angle. The axis of the tilting shaft is parallel to the X-axis. The tool magazine worktable is located above the front side of the cutting spindle assembly. The tool magazine worktable includes a bracket and a moving frame. The moving frame is mounted on the lower part of the bracket via a horizontal movement drive mechanism. The horizontal movement drive mechanism drives the moving frame to move horizontally in a straight line in the Z-axis direction. N clamping units are installed at intervals along the X-axis direction on the moving frame.

2. The automatic tool changer system with integrated tool magazine and spindle working in coordination according to claim 1, characterized in that: The cutting spindle assembly includes a spindle bracket, a tilting shaft mounted on the spindle bracket, a cutting support that rotates around the tilting shaft mounted on the tilting shaft, a cutting execution component mounted on the cutting support, an angle adjustment motor mounted on the cutting support, the angle adjustment motor being drivenly connected to the tilting shaft, and the axis of the output shaft of the angle adjustment motor being parallel to the axis of the tilting shaft.

3. The automatic tool changer system with integrated tool magazine and spindle working in coordination according to claim 2, characterized in that: The cutting execution component includes a cutting drive motor, a tool holder interface assembly, and a cutting head for cutting. The cutting drive motor and the tool holder interface assembly are mounted on the cutting support and are connected in a driving manner. The cutting head is detachably connected to the tool holder interface assembly to realize automatic replacement of the cutting head.

4. The automatic tool changer system with integrated tool magazine and spindle working in coordination according to claim 3, characterized in that: The clamping unit includes an arc-shaped bayonet and an electromagnetic locking pin located on the side of the arc-shaped bayonet. The electromagnetic locking pin has a pin tongue that extends radially into the arc-shaped bayonet and is used to clamp the handle of the cutter head inside the arc-shaped bayonet.

5. The automatic tool changer system with integrated tool magazine and spindle working in coordination according to claim 3, characterized in that: The hanging bracket forms a box structure with an opening at the bottom. The movable frame, horizontal movement drive mechanism, and clamping unit are located inside the box structure. The bottom of the box structure has a horizontally extending opening. The hanging bracket is equipped with an arc-shaped rotating door through a door hinge. The arc-shaped rotating door rotates around the door hinge to close and open the opening. A door drive assembly that drives the arc-shaped rotating door to flip is installed inside the box structure.

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