Tool magazine

Abstract

tool magazine (100) in which several tools (T) detachably mounted in tool holders (120) are housed, comprising a frame (106-118) that holds each of the several tools (T) together with a tool holder (120); a tool transport device (130) that transports a single tool (T) together with the tool holder (120) in the tool magazine (100); and a tool loading station (200) designed to perform a tool exchange with the tool transport device (130), where the tool charging station (200) a sliding piece (302) which is designed to be movable back and forth between a tool storage location for the changeover, where the tool (T) is exchanged with the tool transport device (130), and an extension position outside the tool magazine (100); a holding element (308) which is formed on the tool magazine side of the sliding piece (302) and holds the tool holder (120); a tool holding element (310) which is formed on the sliding piece (302) on the side opposite the tool magazine (100) in relation to the receiving holding element (308) and which holds the tool (T) which is mounted in the tool holder (120) held on the receiving holding element (308); and a mounting / removal device which brings the receiving holding element (308) and the tool holding element (310) closer together and further apart at the tool storage location for the changeover, separates the tool (T) from the tool holder (120) held on the receiving holding element (308) and mounts a tool (T) in the tool holder (120) held on the receiving holding element (308).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a tool magazine provided with a tool loading station designed to transport tools into and out of the tool magazine. STATE OF THE ART

[0002] The transport of tools into and out of a tool magazine connected to a machining center is performed manually by a worker through an opening or tool insertion / removal opening formed on the tool magazine, or by a tool insertion / removal pulling device as described in JP 2009-66695 A. JP 2009-66695 A discloses a tool magazine in which a plurality of tools are stored and which is covered circumferentially with a cover. The tool magazine includes a tool storage part for storing the tools and a tool mounting / removal device provided on the side of the tool magazine.

[0003] A solution for exchanging tools is known from JP 2001 - 9 659 A. A tool holder is separated from a tool pot, and a tool holder receiving part is pulled out from the side to place the tool holder on it.

[0004] The published patent application EP 2 614 921 B1 discloses a tool changer for removably storing a tool with a circumferential retaining groove in a plurality of tool storage parts provided in a tool magazine, so that a tool axis has a substantially horizontal direction. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION TASK TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION

[0005] Since the tool magazine equipped with a conventional pulling device as described in JP 2009-66695 A is designed to pull a tool from a tool holder in a space inside the tool magazine behind the tool loading station, only pull the tool forward, and perform the tool changing operation, the operator must enter the tool magazine and clean the tool attachment opening of the tool holder. Therefore, not only is time required for cleaning the tool holder, but cleaning also becomes dangerous for the operator.

[0006] The technical object of the present invention is to solve this problem of the conventional technology, and the invention has the object of providing a tool magazine which is designed in such a way that the cleaning of the tool holder can be carried out easily and safely. MEANS FOR SOLVING THE TASK

[0007] To achieve the above-mentioned object, according to the present invention, a tool magazine in which a plurality of tools detachably mounted in tool holders are accommodated is provided, which is provided with a frame which holds each of the plurality of tools together with a tool holder; a tool transport device which transports a single tool together with the tool holder in the tool magazine; and a tool loading station which is designed to carry out a tool exchange with the tool transport device, wherein the tool loading station comprises a slider that is movable back and forth between a tool accommodation location for exchange, at which the tool is exchanged with the tool transport device, and an extraction position outside the tool magazine; a receptacle holding element that is formed on the tool magazine side of the slider and holds the tool receptacle; a tool holding element that is formed on the side of the slider opposite the tool magazine with respect to the receptacle holding element and holds the tool that is mounted in the tool receptacle held on the receptacle holding element;and an attachment / detachment device that brings the holder holding member and the tool holding member closer to and away from each other at the tool accommodation location for exchange, separates the tool from the tool holder held on the holder holding member, and attaches a tool to the tool holder held on the holder holding member; EFFECT OF THE INVENTION

[0008] Since the present invention allows the tool to be separated from the tool holder on the slider in a state where the slider has been pulled out to the pull-out position outside the tool magazine, it becomes possible to easily and safely clean the tool holder. BRIEF EXPLANATION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a schematic view showing a tool magazine according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is an oblique view of a tool loading station. Fig. 3 is an oblique view of the tool loading station at a tool storage location for changing. Fig. 4 is an oblique view of the tool loading station at a separation position. Fig. 5 is an oblique view of the tool loading station at a pull-out position. Fig. 6 is an oblique view of the tool loading station in a state where a slide assembly is fixed at the extension position with respect to a base assembly. Fig. 7 is an oblique view of the tool loading station in a state where the tool has been separated from a tool holder and a tool chuck at the pull-out position. Fig. 8 is an oblique view of the slider assembly. Fig. 9 is an oblique view of the basic structure. Fig. 10 is a front view showing rotational positions of a main lever. Fig. Figure 11 is a rear view of the main area of ​​the tool loading station at the tool storage location for changing. Fig. Figure 12 is a side view of the main area of ​​the tool loading station at the tool storage location for changing. Fig. 13(a) is an oblique view of the tool holding member at the tool accommodation position for change, and (b) is a bottom view of the tool holding member seen from the direction of arrow b in (a), showing the main portion of a cam device. Fig. 14 is an enlarged oblique view of area XIV in Fig. 7. Fig. 15 is a partially enlarged oblique view showing a sub-lever. Fig. Figure 16 is a flowchart explaining the tool changing operation. EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0009] With reference to the drawings, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be explained below. In Fig. 1, a tool magazine 100 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is configured to be disposed near a machine tool (not shown), such as a vertical or horizontal machining center, and to accommodate a plurality of workpiece machining tools used by the machine tool, such as end mills. An automatic tool exchange device (not shown) is installed between the machine tool and the tool magazine 100, and tools are exchanged between the machine tool and the tool magazine 100 by this automatic tool exchange device.

[0010] The tool magazine 100 has a plurality of support columns 106 to 118 standing on a base surface 104 and a cover 102 surrounding the support columns 106 to 118. Each of these support columns 106 to 118 is designed for the removable attachment of a plurality of tool holders 120. In Fig. 1, no tools are mounted in the tool holder 120, but in fact, in each tool holder 120 there is a tool T via a tool holder TH (see Fig. 7). In this way, the plurality of support columns 106 to 118 form a frame that holds tools T and tool holders TH arranged in a matrix.

[0011] The tool holder TH can be designed as a tool holder such as a double-surface contact tool holder (HSK holder) or a BT shank tool holder. The tool holder 120 has a tapered opening 120c (see Fig. 7). The tool holder 120 has a flange 120a and an engagement groove 120b formed in the flange 120a (see Fig. 2 to Fig. 7) with a V-shaped cross section. The support columns (frame) 106 to 118 have receptacle holding portions (not shown) that engage with the engaging grooves 120b of the tool holders 120 and hold the tool holders 120. Hereinafter, the tool T and the tool holder TH are collectively referred to as tool T.

[0012] A tool loading station 200 is configured within the cover 102 to transport a tool T from the outside into the tool magazine 100 or from the tool magazine 100 to the outside. The tool loading station 200 enables the operator of the machine tool to transport a new tool used for machining into the tool magazine 100 or to transport a tool no longer used for machining or a damaged or worn tool from the tool magazine 100.

[0013] Within the cover 102, a carrier 130 is further arranged as a tool transport device. The carrier 130 has a tool holding device (not shown) which releasably holds the rear end region of a tool holder 120. By means of the carrier 130 or a carrier drive device (not shown), the tool is moved in at least one vertical plane (a plane perpendicular to the blade surface of Fig. 1 parallel plane) allows movement in the two orthogonal directions of a Y-axis and a Z-axis.

[0014] The tool magazine 100 has a sub-arm or a slider, which is not Fig. 1. The carrier 130 removes a tool T together with its tool holder 120 from the frame 106 to 118 and transports it to a sub-arm position 124. At the sub-arm position 124, the sub-arm receives the tool T and the tool holder 120 from the carrier 130 and transports them to a tool exchange position (not shown) of the automatic tool exchange device. In addition, the sub-arm transports a tool T and a tool holder 120, which the sub-arm received at the tool exchange position, to the sub-arm position 124, where the carrier 130 receives this tool T and its tool holder 120 and attaches it to a specific position of the frame 106 to 118.

[0015] By actuating a control panel 122 mounted on a side surface of the cover 102 of the tool magazine 100, the operator can transport any tool along with its tool holder 120 to the tool loading station 200. As will be described in more detail below, the carrier 130 is configured to directly attach or detach the tool holder to a holder support element 308 of the tool loading station 200.

[0016] With reference to Fig. 2 to Fig. 12 the tool loading station 200 is explained.

[0017] The tool loading station 200 is provided with a base structure 400 which is fixed to a bottom surface 104 of the tool magazine 100, and a slider structure 300 which is installed and fixed on the base structure 400.

[0018] The base structure 400 includes a leg portion 402 fixed to the bottom surface 104 of the tool magazine 100, and base portions 404, 406 fixed to a pair of front and rear leg portions 420, 422 formed horizontally at upper ends of the leg portion 402. A column 418 is fixed to the base portion 406. A partition cover 408 is mounted on the column 418 so as to be rotatable in the horizontal direction. A cam 410 formed of a pair of arm members and a roller 412 are mounted on the partition cover 408. In addition, the base portions 404, 406 are provided with rollers 412 in the longitudinal direction (in Fig. 1 in the X-axis direction perpendicular to the blade surface) extending guide rails 414, 416.

[0019] The slider assembly 300 includes a slider 302 that can slide longitudinally along the guide rails 414, 416. Blocks (only one of the blocks 330 is shown in the drawings) are attached to the lower surface of the rear end of the slider 302, which slide along the guide rails 414, 416.

[0020] At the front end of the slider 302, a flat plate-shaped cover 304 is attached. On the outer surface of the cover 304, a main lever 316 of the slide assembly 300 is rotatably mounted as a first lever. A connecting rod 326 extending horizontally in the longitudinal direction is coupled to the main lever 316. At the rear end of the connecting rod 326, a cam device 340 (see Fig. 11 to Fig. 14), and the cam device 340 is operated in conjunction with the rotational operation of the main lever 316. In the present embodiment, a detachment / attachment device includes the main lever 316, the connecting rod 326, and the cam device 340.

[0021] In the present embodiment, the main lever 316 can be arranged as shown in Fig. 10, the slider 316-1 may occupy three positions: a starting point (locking position) 316-1, an unlocking position 316-2, and a slider fixing position 316-3. As an example, the unlocking position 316-2 may be a position shifted 90° counterclockwise from the starting point position 316-1, and the slider fixing position 316-3 may be a position further shifted 17° counterclockwise from the unlocking position.

[0022] A receiver holding member 308 and a tool holding member 310 are attached to the upper surface of the rear portion of the slider 302. The receiver holding member 308 has a recess 308a that receives the flange 120a of the tool receiver 120, and a fitting portion 308b formed in the recess 308a and fitted into the engagement groove 120b of the tool receiver 120. The receiver holding member 308 is positioned closer to the rear end side than the tool holding member 310 and is fixed so as not to move with respect to the slider 302. Furthermore, a roller 314 with a vertical rotation axis is attached to the receiver holding member 308.

[0023] The tool holding member 310 has a circular arc-shaped recess 310a that receives the flange (not shown) of the tool holder TH, and a fitting portion 310b formed in the recess 310a and fitted into a circumferential groove (not shown) of the tool holder TH. The tool holding member 310 is arranged further forward than the receiving holding member 308 and is slidably mounted with respect to the slider 302 in the longitudinal direction. On the upper surface of the slider 302, a pair of longitudinally extending rails (only one rail 318 ( Fig. 15) shown) and on the lower surface of the tool holding element 310 are blocks 320 ( Fig. 15) which move slidably on the pair of rails.

[0024] On the slider assembly 300, a sub-lever 312 of the tool holding member 310 is formed as a second lever. The sub-lever 312 is attached to a link member 332, which is rotatably coupled to the tool holding member 310 by a pin 332a, and a finger member 324 is attached to this link member 332. The finger member 324 is configured to engage and disengage from an engaging member 322 attached to the upper surface of the slider 302, following the rotation angle of the sub-lever 312. When the sub-lever 312 is rotated in the direction of the tool T, the finger member 324 disengages from the engaging member 322, and the tool holding member 310 becomes movable in the axis line direction of the tool T.When the operator releases his hand from the sub-lever 312, the finger member 324 and the engaging member 322 engage with each other at a predetermined position by the biasing force of a spring (not shown), and the tool holding member 310 is locked to the slider 302.

[0025] With reference to Fig. 11 to Fig. 14, the structure of the attachment / detachment device that attaches or detaches the tool T to or from the tool accommodation location for change on the tool holder 120 is explained. The cam device 340, which forms the main portion of the attachment / detachment device, includes a connecting plate 328 attached to the rear end of the connecting rod 326, a rod 342 coupled to the connecting plate 328, a cam follower holder 346 formed at the front end of the rod 342 and sliding along a rail 344 arranged orthogonally to the axis line of the tool T, a cam follower 348 held on the cam follower holder 346, and a cam plate 350 attached below the tool holding member 310, in which a cam groove 352 engaging with the cam follower 348 is formed.

[0026] In Fig. 11, the cam follower holder 346 when the main lever 316 is in the home position 316-1 is shown by a solid line and the cam follower holder 346 when the main lever 316 is in the unlock position 316-2 is shown by a dashed line. That is, the cam follower 348 reciprocates between a locking position 352-1 and an unlocking position 352-2 of the cam groove 352 of the cam plate 350 in conjunction with the rotational operation of the main lever 316. Since the cam follower holder 346 that holds the cam follower 348 can only move linearly along the rail 344, the cam plate 350 and the tool holding member 310 separate from the receiving holding member 308 along the rails 318 when the cam follower 348 moves from the locking position 352-1 of the cam groove 352 to the unlocking position 352-2.In the present embodiment, the stroke of the cam groove 352 is 20 mm, and the tool T is unclamped when it has moved 20 mm away from the receiving support member 308. The cam groove 352 is open on the unclamping position 352-2 side of the cam groove 352 in the axial line direction of the tool T. With this shape, the tool support member 310 can be moved further forward from the receiving support member 308 at the extension position of the slider 302. At this time, the engagement of the cam follower 348 with the cam groove 352 is released (see ). Fig. 14).

[0027] With reference to Fig. 2 to Fig. 7 and Fig. 16, the operation of the tool loading station 200 according to the present embodiment will be explained below.

[0028] First, by operating the control panel 122 for the tool loading station 200, the operator moves a tool to be replaced among the several tools accommodated in the tool magazine 100 as shown in Fig. 3 to the position of the holder holding member 308 and the tool holding member 310 waiting at the tool accommodation location for replacement (step S10), and lets the tool holding member 310 and the holder holding member 308 hold the tool to be replaced and the tool holder 120, respectively (step S12).

[0029] If YES in step S12, the operator rotates the main lever 316 as shown in Fig. 4, from the starting position 316-1 by 90° counterclockwise to the unlocking position 316-2 (step S14). As a result, the connecting plate 328 rotates, the slide assembly 300 becomes movable in the longitudinal direction with respect to the base assembly 400, and the tool holding member 310 moves forward from the receiving holding member 308 by a predetermined distance, for example, 20 mm, through the cam device 340. This separates the tool T from the tool receiving member 120. The position assumed by the tool holding member 310 at this time is called the separation position. A lock may be incorporated to prevent the main lever 316 from rotating when the tool T to be replaced has not moved to the tool accommodation location for replacement (if NO in step S12).

[0030] If the operator then pulls the main lever 316 forward, as shown in Fig. 5, the slider 302 is also pulled out of the tool magazine 100 to the pull-out position outside the tool magazine 100 (step S16). While the slider 302 is pulled out, the roller 314 attached to the receiving holding member 308 engages with the cam 410 of the separating cover 408, and the separating cover 408 rotates to the position shown in Fig. 5 to Fig. 7. Since the opening area for withdrawing the slide assembly 300 from the tool magazine 100 is closed by the partition cover 408, the operator is shielded from the interior of the tool magazine 100 during the tool changing operation, thereby enabling the operator to perform the operation safely.

[0031] If the operator then operates the main lever 316 as shown in Fig. 6, the slider 302 is fixed to the base portions 404, 406 (step S18). Subsequently, the operator rotates the sub-lever 312 in the direction of the tool T, whereby the sub-lever 312 rotates about the pin 332a, the finger member 324 is disengaged from the engaging member 322, and the tool holding member 310 becomes movable with respect to the slider 302. Now, the operator moves the sub-lever 312 forward while rotating it in the direction of the tool T, whereby the tool holding member 310 moves forward with respect to the slider 302 (step S20), and the tool T is released from the tool holder 120 ( Fig. 7).

[0032] When the operator then releases their hand from the sub-lever 312, the finger member 324 engages with the engaging member 322 due to the biasing force of the spring, and the tool holding member 310 is locked relative to the slider 302. After the tool holding member 310 is locked relative to the slider 302, the operator removes the tool T from the tool holding member 310 (step S22). Once the tool T is removed from the tool holding member 310, it becomes possible to clean the interior of the tapered opening 120c of the tool holder 120 (step S24).

[0033] After the operator removes the old tool T from the tool holding member 310, he or she fits a tool T to which a new tool T has been attached into the fitting portion 310b of the tool holding member 310, thereby placing the new tool T on the tool holding member 310 (step S26). The sub-lever 312 is rotated toward the tool T side, the engagement of the finger member 324 and the engaging member 322 is released, the tool holding member 310 is moved to the separation position, and the sub-lever 312 is returned (step S28).

[0034] When the operator then rotates the main lever 316 clockwise from the slider fixing position 316-3 by the specified angle, 17° in the present embodiment, toward the unlocking position 316-2, the lock of the slider 302 is released (step S30). Thus, the slider 302 becomes slidable in the longitudinal direction. The operator then pushes the main lever 316 toward the tool magazine 100, causing the entire slider 302 to slide relative to the base portions 404, 406, the entire slider assembly 300 to be housed inside the tool magazine 100, and the tool holding member 310 and the receiving holding member 308 to move to the tool receiving position for exchange (step S32).As the slide assembly 300 is housed inside the tool magazine 100, the roller 314 disengages from the cam 410 and the roller 412 of the partition cover 408 engages a longitudinally extending flat cam surface 334 of the slide 302, thereby opening the partition cover 408.

[0035] The main lever 316 is returned to the main lever starting position 316-1 by further rotating it clockwise from the unlocking position 316-2 by the specified angle (90° in the present embodiment), whereby the tool holding member 310 moves a specified distance (20 mm in the present embodiment) toward the receiving member 308, and the tapered portion of the tool T is fitted into the tapered opening 120c of the tool receiving member 120. This clamps the tool T to the tool receiving member 120 (step S34).

[0036] After the main lever 316 has returned to the home position 316-1 (YES in step S36), the operator operates the control panel 122 of the tool loading station 200, and the new tool T, together with its tool holder 120, is transported and mounted by the carrier 130 to a specific position of the rack 106 to 118 corresponding to the address assigned to the new tool T. A lock can be incorporated to prohibit the transport of the new tool T by the carrier 130 if the main lever 316 has not completely returned to the home position 316-1 (NO in step S36). LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS 100 tool magazine 102 Cover 104 floor area 106-118 Support columns 120 tool holder 120a flange 120b engagement groove 120c opening 122 Control panel 124 Sub-Arm Position 130 carriers 200 tool charging station 300 sliding block assembly 302 sliding piece 304 lid 308 Retaining element 308a Deepening 308b fitting section 310 tool holding element 312 secondary lever 314 roll 316 main lever 316-1 Starting point position 316-2 Unlocking position 316-3 Slider fixing position 318 Rail 320 Block 322 engagement element 324 Finger element 326 connecting rod 328 connecting plate 330 Block 332 connecting element 332a pin 340 cam device 342 rod 344 Rail 346 cam follower holder 348 cam follower 350 cam plate 352 cam groove 352-1 Locking position 352-2 Unlocking position 400 basic structure 402 leg section 404, 406 basic sections 408 Separator cover 410 cam 412 roll 414, 416 guide rails 418 Column 420, 422 leg section T tool TH tool holder

Claims

[1] Tool magazine (100) in which several tools (T) detachably mounted in tool holders (120) are accommodated, comprising a frame (106-118) holding each of the plurality of tools (T) together with a tool holder (120); a tool transport device (130) which transports a single tool (T) together with the tool holder (120) in the tool magazine (100); and a tool loading station (200) designed to exchange tools with the tool transport device (130), whereby the tool loading station (200) a slider (302) which is designed to be movable back and forth between a tool accommodation position for the change, at which the exchange of the tool (T) with the tool transport device (130) takes place, and a pull-out position outside the tool magazine (100); a holder holding member (308) formed on the tool magazine side of the slider (302) and holding the tool holder (120); a tool holding element (310) formed on the slider (302) on the side opposite the tool magazine (100) with respect to the receiving holding element (308) and holding the tool (T) mounted in the tool holder (120) held on the receiving holding element (308); and an attachment / detachment device that brings the holder holding element (308) and the tool holding element (310) closer to and away from each other at the tool accommodation location for the exchange, separates the tool (T) from the tool holder (120) held on the holder holding element (308), and attaches a tool (T) in the tool holder (120) held on the holder holding element (308). [2] The tool magazine (100) according to claim 1, wherein the attachment / detachment device is provided with a main lever (316) rotatably mounted on the slider (302) and a cam mechanism coupled to the main lever (316). [3] The tool magazine (100) according to claim 1, wherein the tool holding member (310) is movable with respect to the receiving holding member (308) in a direction in which it moves away from the receiving holding member (308) along a central axis line of the tool (T) held on the tool holding member (310) when the slider (302) is in the extended position. [4] Tool magazine (100) according to claim 1, which is provided with a partition cover (408) which shields the tool holding element (310) from a space inside the tool magazine (100) when the slider (302) is in the extension position.

Images