Machine tool for machining workpieces and tool changing procedures for such a machine tool

The machine tool employs an acute-angled gripper with controlled motion and angled tool magazine to address compact design and efficient tool-changing issues, ensuring rapid and collision-free tool exchanges in multi-axis machines.

DE102024128355A1Pending Publication Date: 2026-04-02GEBR HELLER MASCHFAB GMBH
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Patent Information

Application Number
DE102024128355
Authority / Receiving Office
DE · DE
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2024-10-01
Publication Date
2026-04-02

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing machine tools face challenges with compact design and efficient tool-changing processes, particularly in multi-axis machines, due to interference circles and collision hazards from bearing or drive components during tool changes.

Method used

A machine tool with a tool-changing gripper featuring two gripper arms rotatable about a common axis at an acute angle, controlled to maintain gripper couplings outside an interference contour, allowing for a compact design and rapid tool changes, and a tool magazine positioned at an angle to the work spindle for closer staging and changeover positions.

Benefits of technology

Enables a compact machine tool configuration with reduced collision risk and faster tool changes by minimizing travel distances and lever arm forces, reducing downtime through concurrent preparatory and follow-up operations.

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Abstract

The present invention relates to a machine tool and a tool changing method. The machine tool has a tool changing gripper 14, which has two gripper arms 29 and 30 rotatable about a common axis of rotation D. The gripper arms 29 and 30 are arranged at an acute angle (less than 90°) to each other. The acute-angled arrangement of the gripper arms allows for particularly compact machine tool configurations. The control device for the tool changing gripper 14 is configured to control the tool changing gripper 14 such that the range of motion is changed depending on which of the two gripper couplings 34 and 35 is occupied by a tool, in order to keep it outside the projection of the interference contour 38 of the bearing block 21.In another independent aspect, the tool magazine 14 is arranged at an angle to the axis of rotation D in order to position the staging position 33 and the changeover position 32, into which two tools 27a and 27b are placed during a tool change operation, closer to each other. This allows the swing radius of the tool change gripper 14 to be reduced when rotating about the axis of rotation D.
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