A loading and unloading mechanism for a vertical machine tool

Abstract

This utility model provides a loading and unloading mechanism for a vertical machine tool, belonging to the field of mechanical technology. It solves the problem of low production efficiency. The loading and unloading mechanism for this vertical machine tool includes a loading and unloading turret, a pneumatic gripper assembly one, and a pneumatic gripper assembly two. The loading and unloading turret includes a cutter head with its axis arranged vertically. The mechanism also includes a connecting seat and a chip baffle. The connecting seat is fixedly connected to the bottom of the cutter head. Pneumatic gripper assembly one and pneumatic gripper assembly two are respectively fixedly connected to the left and right ends of the connecting seat. The chip baffle is arranged vertically, with a notch at its upper end. The connecting seat passes through the notch in the left-right direction, and the chip baffle is fixed to the connecting seat. It has the advantages of high production efficiency.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model belongs to the field of mechanical technology and relates to a loading and unloading mechanism for a vertical machine tool. Background Technology

[0002] Vertical machining centers are a common type of machine tool. They feature a vertically aligned spindle and two tool turrets positioned on either side of the area above the spindle. Workpieces are placed on the spindle and machined by the two turrets, which then move downwards. After machining, the workpiece is removed by the operator, and a new workpiece is placed on the spindle. However, in actual machining, for some parts, only one tool turret is needed to meet all machining requirements, leaving the other turret idle. Therefore, some have considered modifying the idle tool turret to automate loading and unloading.

[0003] For example, patent application number 202310206995.6 discloses a multi-station pneumatic clamping device on a turret, which includes a power turret. The lower end of the power turret is rotatably provided with a cutter head body having several circumferential stations. At least one pneumatic gripper assembly with two gripper bodies is provided on the outer circumferential side of the cutter head body, corresponding to each station. In practice, there are two pneumatic gripper assemblies, which are symmetrically distributed on the circumference of the cutter head body. The pneumatic gripper assembly includes a transfer plate detachably mounted on the station of the cutter head body. A pneumatic gripper seat is provided on the outer side of the transfer plate, and the gripper bodies are slidably mounted on the side of the pneumatic gripper seat away from the transfer plate. For ease of understanding, the two pneumatic gripper assemblies are distinguished as A and B. During operation, pneumatic gripper assembly A holds the workpiece blank, while pneumatic gripper assembly B picks up the machined workpiece from the spindle. Then, the cutter head rotates to allow pneumatic gripper assembly A to place the workpiece blank onto the spindle for machining. After placing the workpiece blank, pneumatic gripper assembly A is in an empty state.

[0004] Typically, both the workpiece blank and the finished workpiece are placed on the feed channel outside the machine tool. In this multi-station pneumatic clamping device on the turret, moving outside the machine tool requires the pneumatic gripper assembly A to first grab a new workpiece blank from the feed channel. Then, the cutter head rotates, and the pneumatic gripper assembly holding the finished workpiece places it onto the feed channel. However, during the process of grabbing a new workpiece blank from the feed channel and placing the finished workpiece onto it, the external protective door of the machine tool must be open. If the workpiece blank on the spindle is also being processed at this time, the coolant used during processing and the generated metal shavings will directly splash outside the machine tool, polluting the environment. Therefore, the exchange of workpiece blanks and finished products must be completed outside the feed channel before processing begins. This creates a downtime for the workpiece blank on the spindle, resulting in low production efficiency. Utility Model Content

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to address the aforementioned problems in the existing technology by proposing a loading and unloading mechanism for vertical machine tools, thereby solving the problem of low production efficiency.

[0006] The objective of this utility model can be achieved through the following technical solutions:

[0007] A loading and unloading mechanism for a vertical machine tool includes a loading and unloading turret, a pneumatic gripper assembly one, and a pneumatic gripper assembly two. The loading and unloading turret includes a cutter head with its axis arranged vertically. The mechanism further includes a connecting seat and a chip baffle. The connecting seat is fixedly connected to the bottom of the cutter head. The pneumatic gripper assembly one and the pneumatic gripper assembly two are respectively fixedly connected to the left and right ends of the connecting seat. The chip baffle is arranged vertically and has a notch at its upper end. The connecting seat passes through the notch in the left and right direction, and the chip baffle is fixed to the connecting seat.

[0008] A vertical machine tool includes a spindle and a machining turret. The loading / unloading turret and the machining turret are located on the left and right sides of the area above the spindle. Taking the loading / unloading turret as an example, located on the left side of the area above the spindle, during operation, pneumatic gripper assembly one grips the workpiece blank, while pneumatic gripper assembly two remains idle and waits at the spindle. At this time, pneumatic gripper assembly one is on the left and pneumatic gripper assembly two is on the right. After the workpiece on the spindle is machined, pneumatic gripper assembly two picks up the machined workpiece from the spindle. Then, the tool turret rotates 180°, causing pneumatic gripper assembly one to switch to the spindle and place the workpiece blank onto the spindle. After the workpiece blank is placed, pneumatic gripper assembly one is in an idle state.

[0009] Afterwards, the loading and unloading turrets move to the feed channel located near the outside of the machine tool. Pneumatic gripper assembly one picks up a new workpiece blank from the feed channel, and pneumatic gripper assembly two places a finished workpiece onto the feed channel. Since the connecting seat passes through the notch at the top of the chip baffle in the left-right direction and the chip baffle is fixed to the connecting seat, the chip baffle can isolate the external feed channel from the machine tool interior during both the picking up of a new workpiece blank and the placement of a finished workpiece onto the feed channel. This ensures that the workpiece blank on the spindle can be processed simultaneously during workpiece blank picking and finished product placement at the feed channel (the chip baffle can block coolant and metal chips splashed during processing), eliminating downtime and greatly improving production efficiency.

[0010] In the loading and unloading mechanism for a vertical machine tool described above, the notch is T-shaped, the connecting seat passes through the smaller part of the notch, and the cutter head passes through the larger part of the notch in the left-right direction.

[0011] The above settings result in a larger chip-blocking area for the chip baffle, making it less likely that coolant and chips will splash outside the machine tool when picking up a new workpiece blank from the feed channel or placing a machined workpiece onto the feed channel.

[0012] In the above-mentioned loading and unloading mechanism for a vertical machine tool, the chip baffle plate has a sheet-like connecting part protruding from the edge of the smaller notch portion. The connecting part abuts against the connecting seat, and the chip baffle plate and the connecting seat are fixed together by fastening screws that pass through the connecting part and are threaded into the connecting seat.

[0013] Since the chip baffle is plate-shaped, it cannot be directly fixed to the connecting seat. Therefore, a plate-shaped connecting part is provided on the edge of the smaller part of the chip baffle. When the connecting seat passes through the notch in the left and right direction, the connecting part will abut against the connecting seat. Then, a fastening screw is passed through the connecting part and threaded into the connecting seat to fix the chip baffle and the connecting seat together.

[0014] In the loading and unloading mechanism for a vertical machine tool described above, the upper end of the connecting seat is provided with a cylindrical boss, which is fixed to the bottom of the cutter head.

[0015] Both the loading / unloading turret and the machining turret are of standard specifications. Therefore, by protruding a cylindrical boss at the upper end of the connecting seat and fixing it to the cutter head, the height difference between the connecting seat and the machining turret can be increased, thus avoiding interference between the pneumatic gripper assembly 2 and the machining turret during the machining process when the pneumatic gripper assembly 2 is waiting at the spindle.

[0016] In the loading and unloading mechanism for a vertical machine tool described above, the bottom of the connecting seat is provided with a weight reduction groove.

[0017] Compared with existing technologies, the loading and unloading mechanism of this vertical machine tool uses a connecting seat fixedly connected to the bottom of the tool head of the loading and unloading turret. Pneumatic gripper assembly one and pneumatic gripper assembly two are fixedly connected to the left and right ends of the connecting seat, and a chip baffle is also fixed to the connecting seat. In this way, whether it is picking up a new workpiece blank from the feed channel or placing a finished workpiece on the feed channel, the chip baffle can be used to block the external feed channel from the machine tool interior. This ensures that the workpiece blank on the spindle can be processed simultaneously when picking up the workpiece blank at the feed channel and placing the finished product (the chip baffle can block the coolant and iron chips splashed during processing). This eliminates the downtime and greatly improves production efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the loading and unloading mechanism used in this vertical machine tool.

[0019] Figure 2This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the loading and unloading mechanism used in this vertical machine tool from another angle.

[0020] Figure 3 This is a 3D schematic diagram of the chip baffle.

[0021] In the figure, 1. Loading and unloading turret; 1a. Cutter head; 2. Pneumatic gripper assembly one; 3. Pneumatic gripper assembly two; 4. Connecting seat; 4a. Boss; 4b. Weight reduction groove; 5. Chip baffle; 5a. Notch; 5b. Connecting part; 6. Fastening screw. Detailed Implementation

[0022] The following are specific embodiments of the present invention, which are described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.

[0023] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, a loading and unloading mechanism for a vertical machine tool includes a loading and unloading turret 1, a pneumatic gripper assembly 1, a pneumatic gripper assembly 2 3, and a connecting seat 4. The loading and unloading turret 1 includes a cutter head 1a with its axis arranged vertically. The connecting seat 4 is fixedly connected to the bottom of the cutter head 1a. The pneumatic gripper assembly 1 2 and the pneumatic gripper assembly 2 3 are respectively fixedly connected to the left and right ends of the connecting seat 4. The pneumatic gripper assembly 1 2 and the pneumatic gripper assembly 2 3 are arranged opposite to each other and both protrude from the side of the cutter head 1a in the left-right direction. Specifically, both the pneumatic gripper assembly 1 2 and the pneumatic gripper assembly 2 3 include a gripper seat and a pair of grippers disposed on the gripper seat and capable of being close to or separated from each other. The gripper seats of both the pneumatic gripper assembly 1 2 and the pneumatic gripper assembly 2 3 are fixed to the connecting seat 4. A cylindrical boss 4a protrudes from the upper end of the connecting seat 4 and is fixed to the cutter head 1a.

[0024] Furthermore, such as Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, this loading and unloading mechanism also includes a chip baffle 5, which is vertically arranged. The upper end of the chip baffle 5 has a notch 5a. The connecting seat 4 passes through the notch 5a in a left-right direction, and the chip baffle 5 is fixed to the connecting seat 4. The notch 5a is T-shaped, with the connecting seat 4 passing through the smaller portion of the notch 5a, and the cutter head 1a passing through the larger portion of the notch 5a in a left-right direction. A sheet-like connecting portion 5b protrudes from the edge of the smaller portion of the notch 5a on the chip baffle 5. The connecting portion 5b abuts against the connecting seat 4, and the chip baffle 5 and the connecting seat 4 are fixed by fastening screws 6 that pass through the connecting portion 5b and are threaded into the connecting seat 4. A weight-reducing groove 4b is provided at the bottom of the connecting seat 4.

[0025] The vertical machine tool includes a spindle and a machining turret. The loading / unloading turret 1 and the machining turret are located on the left and right sides of the area above the spindle. Taking the loading / unloading turret 1 located on the left side of the area above the spindle as an example, during operation, pneumatic gripper assembly 2 grips the workpiece blank, while pneumatic gripper assembly 3 remains idle and waits at the spindle. At this time, pneumatic gripper assembly 2 is on the left and pneumatic gripper assembly 3 is on the right. After the workpiece on the spindle is machined, pneumatic gripper assembly 3 grips the machined workpiece from the spindle. Then, the tool disc 1a rotates 180° to switch pneumatic gripper assembly 2 to the spindle and place the workpiece blank onto the spindle. After the workpiece blank is placed, pneumatic gripper assembly 2 is in an idle state.

[0026] Afterwards, the loading and unloading turret 1 moves to the material channel located outside the machine tool to grip a new workpiece blank and place the already processed workpiece. Since the connecting seat 4 passes through the notch 5a at the upper end of the chip baffle 5 in the left-right direction and the chip baffle 5 is fixed to the connecting seat 4, the chip baffle 5 can be used to isolate the external material channel from the inside of the machine tool during the process of gripping a new workpiece blank from the material channel and placing the already processed workpiece onto the material channel. This ensures that the workpiece blank on the spindle can be processed simultaneously when gripping the workpiece blank and placing the finished product at the material channel (the chip baffle 5 can block the coolant and iron chips splashed during processing). This eliminates the downtime and greatly improves production efficiency.

[0027] The specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative examples illustrating the spirit of this utility model. Those skilled in the art to which this utility model pertains may make various modifications or additions to the described specific embodiments or use similar methods to substitute them, without departing from the spirit of this utility model or exceeding the scope defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A loading and unloading mechanism for a vertical machine tool, comprising a loading and unloading turret (1), a pneumatic gripper assembly one (2), and a pneumatic gripper assembly two (3), wherein the loading and unloading turret (1) comprises a cutter disc (1a) with its axis arranged vertically, characterized in that, The loading and unloading mechanism also includes a connecting seat (4) and a chip baffle (5). The connecting seat (4) is fixedly connected to the bottom of the cutter head (1a). The pneumatic gripper assembly 1 (2) and the pneumatic gripper assembly 2 (3) are fixedly connected to the left and right ends of the connecting seat (4) respectively. The chip baffle (5) is set vertically. The chip baffle (5) has a notch (5a) at the upper end. The connecting seat (4) passes through the notch (5a) in the left and right direction and the chip baffle (5) is fixed to the connecting seat (4).

2. The loading and unloading mechanism for a vertical machine tool according to claim 1, characterized in that, The notch (5a) is T-shaped, the connecting seat (4) passes through the smaller part of the notch (5a), and the cutter head (1a) passes through the larger part of the notch (5a) in the left-right direction.

3. The loading and unloading mechanism for a vertical machine tool according to claim 2, characterized in that, The chip baffle (5) has a sheet-like connecting part (5b) protruding from the edge of the smaller part of the notch (5a). The connecting part (5b) abuts against the connecting seat (4). The chip baffle (5) and the connecting seat (4) are fixed together by fastening screws (6). The shank of the fastening screw (6) passes through the connecting part (5b) and is threaded into the connecting seat (4).

4. A loading and unloading mechanism for a vertical machine tool according to claim 1, 2, or 3, characterized in that, The upper end of the connecting seat (4) is provided with a cylindrical boss (4a), which is fixed to the bottom of the cutter head (1a).

5. The loading and unloading mechanism for a vertical machine tool according to claim 4, characterized in that, The bottom of the connecting seat (4) is provided with a weight reduction groove (4b).

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