Holding apparatus, machine tool and machining system
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- EP · EP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- NAGEL TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
- Filing Date
- 2024-06-24
- Publication Date
- 2026-04-29
AI Technical Summary
Conventional holding devices for machining axial bores in gears are complex and inefficient, particularly in loading and unloading processes, and lack a compact design that allows for quick and easy manual or automatic operation.
A holding device with a floating and tiltable receiving device that aligns the axial bore coaxially with the machining axis, featuring a spring-biased pawl for secure rotational locking and a compact design that eliminates the need for drawers, enabling easy loading and unloading transversely to the machining axis.
The solution provides a robust, low-complexity holding device that allows for efficient machining of multiple axial bores in a single operation, with improved alignment and locking mechanisms that enhance processing efficiency and reduce the number of parts, facilitating quick and easy handling of gears.
Smart Images
Figure EP2024067588_02012025_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] Holding device, machine tool and machining system
[0002] FIELD OF APPLICATION AND STATE OF THE ART
[0003] The invention relates to a holding device for holding at least one gear having an axial bore such that the axial bore can be machined by honing along a machining axis of the holding device. The invention also relates to a machine tool for machining at least one axial bore. Furthermore, the invention relates to a machining system comprising such a machine tool.
[0004] When honing an axial bore of a workpiece, such as a gear, a holding device is usually used to hold the workpiece, which holding device is designed to allow a floating movement of the workpiece that runs transversely, i.e. radially, to a tool axis. In addition, such a conventional holding device is often designed to allow a tilting movement of the workpiece transversely to the tool axis. Typically, the tilting mobility of the workpiece is achieved by a cardanic, i.e. universal joint, mounting of a receiving device for receiving the gear relative to a housing of the holding device. The cardanic suspension and / or the floating mobility can compensate for an axial offset between a tool axis and a bore axis of the axial bore to be honed.In the holding device, the gear is usually held radially in a form-fitting and rotationally fixed manner with respect to the tool axis in order to counteract the torques exerted by the honing tool on the workpiece.
[0005] In some known holding devices, the receiving device is designed with a drawer that can be extended or retracted relative to the housing using a gear for loading and unloading. Loading and unloading then usually occurs from above, more or less parallel to the tool axis.
[0006] TASK AND SOLUTION
[0007] It is an object of the invention to provide a holding device for holding at least one gear having an axial bore for honing its axial bore, a machine tool for machining at least one axial bore with at least one such holding device, and a machining system with such a machine tool, which have improved properties compared to conventional holding devices, machine tools, and machining systems. In particular, a holding device with a compact design is to be created in which loading and / or unloading is possible quickly and easily, either manually or automatically.
[0008] This problem is solved by the subject matter of the independent patent claims. Preferred embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent patent claims.
[0009] A holding device according to the invention is suitable for holding at least one workpiece in the form of a gearwheel having an axial bore. The gearwheel can, in particular, be an externally toothed spur gear. The gearwheel can be held by the holding device in such a way that the axial bore can be honed along a machining axis of the holding device. During honing, i.e., honing, of the axial bore, the machining axis of the holding device can be aligned coaxially with a tool axis of a honing tool, in particular with self-alignment.
[0010] The holding device, which can also be referred to as a workpiece holding device, comprises a housing and at least one receiving device for receiving a gear, in particular one to be honed. The receiving device is mounted relative to the housing in a floating manner and, alternatively or additionally, in a tiltable manner with limited movement. Within limits for the mobility of the receiving device relative to the housing, the receiving device can be freely movable relative to the housing.
[0011] The receiving device has a support base onto which a gear to be received can be placed axially, in particular for the honing of its axial bore. The support base can be designed, for example, in the form of a plate, preferably with a flat support surface for the gear. "Axial" can refer to a bore axis of the axial bore of the gear, wherein the bore axis can automatically align itself with the tool axis during the honing of the axial bore due to the movable mounting of the receiving device relative to the housing. In this respect, "axial" can also refer to the machining axis of the holding device, at least for the aligned state.
[0012] The holding device further comprises a stop device against which a gearwheel placed axially on the support base can be radially engaged. "Radial" can refer to the bore axis and—when aligned—also to the machining axis. The radial engagement of the gearwheel placed on the support base determines a radial position of the gearwheel relative to the holding device. It is understood that the gearwheel is not part of the holding device, nor is the honing tool.
[0013] In the holding device according to the invention, the at least one receiving device has at least one locking pawl. The locking pawl is preloaded counteracting the stop device of the receiving device, in particular by means of at least one spring, i.e., spring-loaded. The locking pawl can be deflected relative to the respective support base against this preload. In particular, the locking pawl is deflectable, in particular pivotable, about a pawl axis that is different from the machining axis and runs parallel to the machining axis when aligned. Alternatively or additionally, the locking pawl can be deflected linearly relative to the stop device, in particular transversely to the machining axis. The locking pawl can automatically engage an external toothing of a gear that is radially applied to the stop device.By engaging the pawl on the external toothing, the rotational mobility of the gear relative to the receiving device accommodating the gear can be locked, in particular blocked, with respect to a locking direction of the pawl. The rotational mobility of the received gear relative to the receiving device accommodating the gear can be positively prevented either clockwise or counterclockwise by the engaged pawl.
[0014] The pawl can enable a detachable, torsionally rigid connection of the gear to be machined relative to the receiving device, with respect to the locking direction of the pawl. The locking effect is preferably unidirectional, i.e., effective in only one of two possible directions of rotation. Locking the gear to be machined in only one direction of rotation can be sufficient, especially if the honing tool is rotated with a constant direction of rotation relative to the machining axis and / or relative to the tool axis while machining the axial bore.
[0015] The pawl can be releasable to release the gear without the receiving base having to be adjusted relative to the housing. The holding device can be loaded and / or unloaded with at least one gear transversely to the machining axis. Thus, in the holding device according to the invention, drawers or the like can be dispensed with compared to conventional holding devices. This can lead to a particularly low complexity and number of parts for the holding device according to the invention and to a robust construction, particularly compared to conventional holding devices. It is possible to construct a holding device such that it has only a single receiving device. Preferred embodiments, however, are designed for stack machining, thus enabling machining in which several workpieces with aligned axial bores are machined simultaneously in a common machining operation.In embodiments suitable for stack processing, the housing has a plurality of shelves arranged at a distance from one another along the processing axis, e.g. two, three, four, five or six shelves, or more if necessary. Each of the shelves serves to store a receiving device of the holding device. In this embodiment, the holding device therefore has a plurality of receiving devices, each for receiving a single gear to be machined. In particular, the distance between the shelves is large enough that the respective receiving device with the gear held therein can be arranged on the respective shelf. The holding device with a plurality of receiving devices enables the axial bores of a plurality of gears to be machined in a stack, each of which can be held by means of one of the receiving devices.
[0016] In one embodiment of the invention, the housing is continuously open along the machining axis for the passage of a machining tool, in particular the honing tool. Accordingly, the housing can have a continuous opening extending along the machining axis, in particular in the form of a through-bore. The at least one receiving device is also continuously open along the machining axis for the passage of the machining tool. The receiving device can have a continuous opening, in particular in the form of a through-bore. In this context, "along" can be understood as synonymous with "parallel to."
[0017] In a further embodiment of the invention, the mobility of the at least one receiving device relative to the housing is limited as a function of, i.e. in particular by, a play between the receiving device and the housing. In contrast, there is no play between the received gear and the receiving device receiving the same. The play between the receiving device and the housing can be a radial play, in particular with respect to the machining axis. Alternatively or additionally, the mobility of the at least one receiving device relative to the housing is limited as a function of, in particular by, a play between at least one through-opening in the support base of the receiving device and at least one guide pin of the holding device which is fixed to the housing and projects through the respective through-opening.The clearance between the through hole and the respective guide pin can be radial. A respective guide pin can be used to extend through the through holes of multiple support bases if multiple mounting devices are present.
[0018] It is expedient for there to be an axial play between a received gear and the housing, which in particular allows the tilting mobility of the receiving device and the gear received thereby relative to the housing or relative to the machining axis.
[0019] In a further embodiment of the invention, the holding device comprises a bearing device. The bearing device is assigned to the at least one receiving device. The bearing device serves to mount the support base of the at least one receiving device relative to the housing with limited tilting movement and—alternatively or additionally—limited floating movement.
[0020] In a further embodiment of the invention, the bearing device has at least three, in particular four, resiliently compressible bearing feet. The bearing feet can each be formed by compression spring pieces that can be screwed into the support base. In particular, the bearing feet are each compressible along the machining axis. The bearing feet can be positioned along the machining axis on a shelf of the housing in order to jointly support, in particular suspend, the support base relative to the shelf with limited tilting movement and - alternatively or additionally - with floating movement. In this way, the tilting mobility of the support device or the gear held thereby, which is desirable for honing, can be achieved without a true cardanic suspension, i.e. without the conventionally used universal joint.
[0021] In a further embodiment of the invention, the bearing device comprises at least one, particularly strip-shaped, sliding unit. The sliding unit can serve to contact a compartment floor of the housing. The sliding unit can be made with or from a material with special sliding and / or wear properties. Such a material can comprise or be graphite and / or hard metal. Alternatively or additionally, the bearing device comprises at least one ball bearing unit. The ball bearing unit can serve to contact the compartment floor of the housing.
[0022] The sliding unit and, alternatively or additionally, the ball bearing unit are conveniently accommodated in a complementary, particularly groove-shaped, recess in the support base. The sliding unit and, alternatively or additionally, the ball bearing unit are conveniently attached either to the support base or to the shelf of the housing.
[0023] In a further embodiment of the invention, the housing has a handling section for handling the holding device by means of a robot. The handling section can be adapted to a gripper of the robot. In particular, the handling section protrudes along the machining axis. The handling section can be open along the machining axis to allow the honing tool to pass through. The handling section can have grooves with essentially flat bases that are diametrically opposed to one another, in particular with respect to the machining axis. The grooves can have shoulder surfaces that are opposite one another along the machining axis. The grooves can enable a positive and thus particularly secure gripping of the holding device.
[0024] In a further embodiment of the invention, the stop device has a contact area for the radial engagement of the gearwheel placed axially on the support base. The contact area can be round, complementary to a tip circle segment of the gearwheel placed axially on the support base, and / or prismatic. By radially engaging the gearwheel on the contact area, the radial fixing of the position of the gearwheel relative to the receiving device can be achieved. In particular, the radial position of the gearwheel can be fixed by bringing the gearwheel into radial contact with the contact area of the stop device at least in two contact areas.
[0025] In a further embodiment of the invention, the pawl has an engagement portion designed to engage the external toothing upon engagement. The engagement portion can be that region of the pawl which intersects a tip circle of the respective gear upon engagement, in particular in order to protrude into a tooth space of the external toothing. The contact region of the stop device has an end portion which, when the pawl is in the engaged state, is opposite the engagement portion such that the machining axis, the engagement portion, and the end portion intersect a straight line, in particular perpendicular to the machining axis. In other words: when the pawl is in the engaged state, the engagement portion and the end portion can be diametrically opposite one another with respect to the machining axis, in particular exactly.In a further embodiment of the invention, the locking pawl can be radially disengaged from its engaged state by being pre-tensioned and moved away from a received gear. By disengaging the locking pawl, the gear can be released from the receiving device. In particular, the locking pawl can be radially disengaged by pivoting its engagement portion away from the received gear in the same direction as the locking rotation. Alternatively or additionally, the locking pawl can be radially disengaged with respect to the gear by rotating the received gear relative to the support base, in particular with respect to the machining axis, in the opposite direction to the locking rotation. Once the locking pawl is disengaged, the gear can be removed transversely to the machining axis.
[0026] In a further embodiment of the invention, the pawl has a spring element that preloads the engagement portion of the pawl relative to the respective support base into an engagement position for the automatic engagement of the pawl. The spring element can be designed as a leg spring with two spring legs, wherein the support base and—alternatively or additionally—a pawl body of the pawl have a leg-complementary groove for receiving one of the spring legs.
[0027] The stop device expediently has a radial recess through which a manipulator, in particular the robot, can be guided to remove the radially applied gear from the stop device.
[0028] Preferably, a receiving device has only a single locking pawl. The inventors have recognized that this may be sufficient, for example, if the honing tool does not change direction of rotation during honing. However, it is also possible for a receiving device to have two locking pawls preloaded in opposition to the stop device. The two locking pawls can be automatically engaged on the external toothing of the gearwheel radially positioned against the stop device in order to lock its rotational mobility relative to the receiving device accommodating the same gearwheel with respect to opposite locking directions of rotation of the locking pawls. In this way, machining of the axial bore is possible regardless of the direction of rotation of the honing tool.
[0029] A machine tool according to the invention serves to machine at least one axial bore. The machine tool has at least one holding device according to the invention, as described above and below. In this respect, the above-explained advantages of the holding device according to the invention also apply to the machine tool according to the invention. The machine tool also has a machining tool, in particular a honing tool. The machining tool can be driven along and about the machining axis in order to machine the axial bore of at least one gear held by the holding device. If the holding device has a plurality of holding devices, a plurality of axial bores of a plurality of gears, each held by one of the holding devices, can be machined in batches. In particular, the machining tool can be driven in rotation in the locking direction about the machining axis.
[0030] A machining system according to the invention comprises a machine tool according to the invention as described above. In this respect, the above-explained advantages of the machine tool according to the invention also apply to the machining system according to the invention with such a machine tool. The machining system also comprises a robot. The robot is configured to load and—alternatively or additionally—unload the at least one holding device of the machine tool with at least one gear. Alternatively or additionally, the robot is configured to handle the at least one holding device. In particular, the holding device can be handled by the robot when the holding device is loaded and—alternatively or additionally—unloaded. The robot can have a manipulator for removing a machined gear from the holding device, e.g., a gripper.
[0031] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0032] Further advantages and features will become apparent from the claims and the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention, which are illustrated with reference to the drawings. Like reference numerals refer to like, similar, or functionally identical components.
[0033] It is understood that the features mentioned above and those to be explained below can be used not only in the combination specified in each case, but also in other combinations or on their own, without departing from the scope of the present invention.
[0034] Fig. 1 shows a schematic front view of an embodiment of a holding device according to the invention,
[0035] Fig. 2 shows a schematic perspective view of a receiving device for the holding device according to Fig. 1, Fig. 3 shows a schematic plan view of the receiving device according to Fig. 2, wherein a locking pawl of the receiving device is disengaged,
[0036] Fig. 4 shows a schematic plan view of the receiving device according to Figs. 2 and 3, wherein the pawl is engaged on an external toothing of a gear wheel received by the receiving device,
[0037] Fig. 5 shows a schematic front view of another embodiment of the holding device according to the invention,
[0038] Fig. 6 shows a schematic perspective view of a receiving device for the holding device according to Fig. 5,
[0039] Fig. 7 shows a schematic side view of an embodiment of a machining system according to the invention with an embodiment of a machine tool according to the invention, which comprises the holding device according to Fig. 1 or Fig. 5, and
[0040] Fig. 8 shows a schematic and perspective exploded view of a receiving device for a further embodiment of the holding device according to the invention.
[0041] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0042] The exemplary embodiments of a holding device 1 shown in the figures each enable a package machining of a plurality of gears 30, each having an axial bore 31 to be machined using the “honing” machining method. The holding device 1 is designed to hold each of the gears 30 individually in such a way that its axial bore 31 can be machined by honing along a (virtual) machining axis B of the holding device 1. If the holding device is installed in a honing machine or another machine tool designed for honing (e.g. a machining center), the machining axis B runs coaxially to the spindle rotation axis of the machine tool. An axial direction A of the holding device 1 runs parallel to the machining axis B. A radial direction R of the holding device 1 extends in a plane oriented perpendicular to the axial direction A.During the honing of gears 30, the axial direction A is generally oriented parallel to the direction of gravity. The gears 30 (in the example, there are four) can be held by the holding device 1 such that their axial bores 31 can be honed simultaneously in packages and / or stacks along the machining axis B. The holding device 1 thus enables the machining of gears 30 in packages and / or stacks.
[0043] The holding device 1 has a housing 3, which in the example case is approximately cuboid-shaped and encloses with a rectangular frame four mutually identical receiving devices 2 for receiving a single gear wheel 30 each.
[0044] The housing 3 has a handling section 13 on its upper side for handling the holding device 1 by means of a robot 71. The handling section 13 projects upwards along the machining axis B. The handling section 13 has grooves 14 diametrically opposed to one another with respect to the machining axis B, each with a substantially flat base 15, and can thus be grasped and moved by means of a gripper.
[0045] The housing 3 has a plurality of shelves 7 arranged at a distance from one another along the machining axis B. Each of the shelves 7 serves to store one of the receiving devices 2. The distance between the shelves 7 is so large that there is space between two immediately adjacent shelves 7 for both the respective receiving device 2 and the respective gear 30 held therein. In the present case, four shelves 7 are shown, which delimit four compartments of the housing 3, each along the axial direction A. The holding device 1 has four receiving devices 2 corresponding to the number of shelves 7. Consequently, by means of the holding device 1, four gears 30 can be held in packages or stacks for their joint honing processing.
[0046] Housing 3, with its frame and shelves, can be composed of several components, e.g., more or less plate-shaped. In the example, the housing (frame and shelves) is manufactured from a single piece, e.g., by milling and / or spark erosion. This makes the housing inherently very stable and precisely dimensioned.
[0047] Each of the receiving devices 2 is mounted transversely to the machining axis B in a floating manner and, alternatively or additionally, in a tiltable manner with limited movement. In the present case, all receiving devices 2 are individually mounted with limited movement relative to the housing 3. The received gears 30 or their axial bores 31 can thus align themselves automatically and independently of one another according to the machining axis B. The machining axis B can be fixed to the housing, i.e., the machining axis B can have a permanently unchangeable position relative to the housing 3. Each of the receiving devices 2 has a support base 4 for the axial support of a respective gear 30 to be received. The support base is essentially in the form of a flat, rectangular plate and is mounted with limited movement relative to the associated shelf or the housing. The support base 4 carries further components of the receiving device 2.
[0048] Each receiving device 2 has a stop device 5 mounted on the support base, against which the respective gear 30 placed axially on the support base 4 can be radially applied in order to determine its radial position relative to the receiving device 2. The radial position of the gear 30 can relate to an alignment of a bore axis of the respective axial bore 31 relative to the receiving device 2.
[0049] Each of the receiving devices 2 also has a pawl 6. The pawl 6 is preloaded to counteract the respective stop device 5, preferably by means of at least one spring. The pawl 6 can automatically engage an external toothing 32 of a gear 30 radially attached to the stop device 5. By engaging the pawl 6 with the external toothing 32, the rotational mobility of the respective radially attached gear 30 relative to the receiving device 2 receiving it is blocked with respect to a locking direction of rotation D of the pawl 6. The pawl 6 thus prevents the gear 30 from rotating in the locking direction of rotation D relative to the receiving device 2 receiving the gear 30.
[0050] Each stop device 5 has a contact area 16 for the radial engagement of the gear 30 axially mounted on the respective support base 4. The respective contact area 16 is designed to complement a tip circle segment 33 of the gear 30 axially mounted on the respective support base 4. In the examples shown, the contact area 16 is concave-cylindrically rounded, in particular with a circular segment cross-section. Alternatively, the contact area 16 can be prismatic, e.g., with two flat contact surfaces at an angle to one another.
[0051] The stop devices 5 each have a radial recess 26, in particular a through-bore, which is designed to allow the passage of a manipulator of a robot 71. The manipulator can be guided through the respective recess 26 in order to act on the respective received gear 30, in particular such that the locking pawl 6 is disengaged by adjusting the respective gear 30 counter to the locking direction of rotation D. Each locking pawl 6 has an engagement section 17 designed to engage the external toothing 32 of a respective gear 30 upon engagement. The contact areas 16 each have an end section 19 which, when the locking pawl 6 is in the engaged state, is opposite the respective engagement section 17 such that the machining axis B and the engagement section 17 and the end section 19 intersect a straight line L. The straight line can be oriented perpendicular to the machining axis B.For example, the engagement portion 17 and the respective end portion 19 are diametrically opposite each other with respect to the machining axis B when the pawl 6 is engaged.
[0052] Each of the pawls 6 has a spring element 21. The spring element 21 preloads the engagement portion 17 of the respective pawl 6 relative to the respective support base 4 into an engaged position of the pawl 6. The engaged position refers, for example, to the position of the pawl 6 which the pawl 6 assumes when it is automatically engaged on the external toothing 32 of the respective gear 30. The spring element 21 is designed here as a leg spring 22 with two spring legs 23. The support base 4 and - alternatively or additionally - the pawl body 25 of the pawl 6 have a leg-complementary groove 27 for receiving one of the spring legs 23. In this case, both the support base 4 and the pawl body 5 each have such a leg-complementary groove 27.
[0053] The locking pawl 6 can be transferred from its engaged state into a disengaged state, i.e., it can be released. In this case, the locking pawl 6 can be radially disengaged by being pre-tensioned and moved away from the respective received gear 30. During the pre-tensioning movement away from the respective gear 30, the locking pawl 6 is pivoted in the same direction as the locking direction of rotation D. Alternatively or additionally, the locking pawl 6 can be disengaged by rotating the respective received gear 30 relative to the support base 4 counter to the locking direction of rotation D. For example, to disengage the locking pawl 6, the respective received gear 30 can be rotated relative to the respective support base 4 counter to the locking direction of rotation D with respect to the machining axis B, in particular about the bore axis.
[0054] The housing 3 is continuously open along the machining axis B for the passage of the machining tool 51. In the present case, the housing 3 has a through-bore that extends continuously along the machining axis B for opening the housing 3 for the machining tool 51. Furthermore, each of the receiving devices 2 is continuously open along the machining axis B for the passage of the machining tool 51. Each of the receiving devices 2 has a through-bore that extends continuously along the machining axis B for the passage of the machining tool 51. The through-bores of the receiving devices 2 are attached, for example, to the respective support base 4.
[0055] The mobility of the receiving devices 2 relative to the housing 3 is limited by a play S between the respective receiving device 2 and the housing 3. This play S can be a radial play S. Alternatively or additionally, the mobility of the respective receiving device 2 relative to the housing 3 is limited by a play S between at least one through-opening 8 of the support base 4 of the respective receiving device 2 and at least one guide pin 9 of the holding device 1 that is fixed to the housing and projects through the respective through-opening 8. The play S between the through-opening 8 and the respective guide pin 9 can be a radial play S. In the present case, the support base 4 of each of the receiving devices 2 has two such through-openings 8. The holding device 1 accordingly has two guide pins 9 that extend continuously parallel to the machining direction B.While the radial play S is present between the guide pins 9 and the through-holes 8, the guide pins 9 can be fitted at their ends into fitting holes of the housing 3 without play. The guide pins 9 and the through-holes 8 can flank the received gears 30 on both sides transversely to the machining axis B. An axial play S between each of the received gears 30 and the housing 3 additionally limits the mobility of the respective receiving device 2 relative to the housing 3 along the machining axis B.
[0056] The holding device 1 has a bearing device 10 for each of the receiving devices 2. The bearing device 10 enables a limited tilting movement and—alternatively or additionally—a limited floating movement of the support base 4 of the respective receiving device 2 relative to the housing 3.
[0057] According to the example in Fig. 1, the bearing device 10 has four spring-elastically compressible bearing feet 11. The bearing feet 11 are elastically compressible. The bearing feet 11 can each elastically and reversibly yield to a compressive load along the machining direction B, for example, applied by the machining tool 51 during machining of the axial bores 31. The bearing feet 11 stand on the respective compartment floor 7 of the housing 3 along the machining axis B in order to jointly suspend the support base 4 relative to the compartment floor 7 with limited tilting movement and, in this case, limited floating movement. According to the example in Fig. 5, the respective bearing device 10 has a strip-shaped sliding unit 12. Two sliding units 12 are provided for each receiving device 2. Alternatively or additionally, the bearing device 10 can have a ball bearing unit.The sliding unit 12 and - if present - the ball bearing unit can serve to contact the respective shelf 7 of the housing 3.
[0058] In the holding device 1 with the receiving device 2 according to Fig. 8, both strip-shaped sliding units 12 and spring-elastic compressible bearing feet 11 are present.
[0059] In the examples shown, only a single pawl is present per receiving device. This is sufficient because the honing tool only rotates in one direction during honing. In embodiments of the holding device 1 not shown, the receiving devices 2 can each have two pawls 6 preloaded to counteract the respective stop devices 5. The two pawls can be automatically engageable on the external toothing 32 of the gear 30 radially applied to the respective stop device 5 in order to lock its rotational mobility relative to the receiving device 2 receiving it with respect to opposite locking directions of rotation D of the pawl 6. This can be advantageous if the machining of the axial bores 31 requires a rotary drive of the machining tool 51 with opposite directions of rotation.
[0060] Fig. 7 schematically shows an embodiment of a machining system with an embodiment of a machine tool with built-in holding device 1 according to Figs. 1 and / or 5 and / or at least one holding device 1 with a receiving device 2 according to Fig. 8. The machine tool 50 is set up for the stack-wise or package-wise, i.e. joint, machining of all axial bores 31 of the four gears 30 received by the holding device 1. The machining tool 51 in the present case is a honing tool 52 which is coupled to a work spindle of the machine tool. The machining tool 51 can be moved back and forth along the machining axis B of the machine tool 50 by means of a lifting drive of the machine tool and is rotated during machining by means of a rotary drive of the machine tool exclusively in one direction of rotation (arrow).In its fully configured state, the holding device 1 is aligned relative to the machining tool 51 such that a tool axis of the machining tool 51 is coaxial with the machining axis B of the holding device 1. Due to the floating mounting of the receiving devices 2 relative to the housing 3, the axial bores 31 of the gears 30 can be adjusted in a self-aligning manner transversely to the machining axis B, in particular such that all bore axes are aligned with the machining axis B and / or the tool axis. Due to the tilting mobility of the receiving devices 2 relative to the housing 3, the axial bores 31 can alternatively or additionally be automatically aligned relative to the machining axis B and / or the tool axis, in particular in order to individually and independently minimize an angular offset between bore axes of the axial bores 31 relative to the machining axis B and / or the tool axis.The machining tool 51 can be driven in an oscillating manner along the machining axis B, i.e., the machining tool 51 can be adjusted linearly back and forth along the machining axis B. The machining tool 51 can also be driven in rotation about the machining axis B, in particular in the same direction as the locking direction D of the pawl 6. Thus, torques applied to the respective received gear 30 by the rotational movement of the machining tool 51 can be absorbed by the pawl 6 in order to counteract co-rotation of the gear 30 with the machining tool 51. By driving the machining tool 51, the axial bores 31 of the gears 30 can be machined together. The holding device 1 or the machine tool 50 thus enables package machining or stack machining of several gears 30 arranged in series along the machining direction B.
[0061] The illustrated machining system 70 has such a machine tool 50. In addition, the machining system 70 comprises a robot 71 having a schematically illustrated gripper 72. The robot 71 is configured to load at least one holding device 1 of the machine tool 50 with at least one gear 30 and to unload the holding device 1. For this purpose, the gripper can grip the individual gears and insert them into or remove them from the respective receiving devices transversely to the machining axis B. During loading, the gripper places the gear on the stop device and pushes the pawl aside. When the gripper then releases the gear and moves back, the pawl automatically engages and fixes the gear in the machining position.When the gripper is retracted laterally into a gripping position during the unloading operation, a gripper finger pushes the pawl aside, disengaging it from the gear and releasing it. The robot 71 can also be configured to handle the at least one holding device 1 of the machine tool 50. For example, the robot 71 can be configured to handle the at least one holding device 1 when the holding device 1 is loaded with gears 30 and—alternatively or additionally—when the holding device 1 is unloaded. The unloaded holding device 1 can be free of gears 30.
Claims
Patent claims 1. A holding device (1) for holding at least one gear (30) having an axial bore (31) such that the axial bore (31) can be machined by honing along a machining axis (B) of the holding device (1), wherein the holding device (1) comprises: at least one receiving device (2) for receiving a gear (30), and a housing (3), relative to which the receiving device (2) is mounted in a floating and / or tiltable manner transversely to the machining axis (B) with limited movement, wherein the receiving device (2) comprises a support base (4) for axially supporting a gear (30) to be received, wherein the receiving device (2) comprises a stop device (5) against which a gear (30) placed axially on the support base (4) can be radially supported in order to fix its radial position relative to the receiving device (2), characterized in thatthat the receiving device (2) has at least one locking pawl (6) pre-tensioned to counteract the stop device (5), wherein the locking pawl (6) can be automatically engaged on an external toothing (32) of a gear (30) radially applied to the stop device (5) in order to block its rotational mobility relative to the receiving device (2) receiving the same with respect to a locking direction of rotation (D) of the locking pawl (6).
2. Holding device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (3) has a plurality of shelves (7) arranged along the machining axis (B) at a distance from one another for storing a respective receiving device (2), in particular when a respective gear wheel (30) is received.
3. Holding device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the housing (3) is continuously open along the machining axis (B) for the passage of a machining tool (51), and that the at least one receiving device (2) is continuously open along the machining axis (B) for the passage of the machining tool (51).
4. Holding device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a mobility of the at least one receiving device (2) relative to the housing (3) is limited as a function of a, in particular radial, play (S) between the receiving device (2) and the housing (3), and / or a, in particular radial, play (S) between at least one through-opening (8) of the support base (4) of the receiving device (2) and at least one guide pin (9) of the holding device (1) which is fixed to the housing and projects through the respective through-opening (8).
5. Holding device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the holding device (1) has a bearing device (10) assigned to the at least one receiving device (2) for a limited tilting and / or limited floating mounting of the support base (4) of the at least one receiving device (2) relative to the housing (3).
6. Holding device (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the bearing device (10) has at least three, in particular four, spring-elastic compressible bearing feet (11).
7. Holding device (1) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the bearing device (10) has at least one, in particular strip-shaped, sliding unit (12) and / or a ball bearing unit, in particular for contacting a shelf (7) of the housing (3).
8. Holding device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (3) has a handling section (13) for handling the holding device (1) by means of a robot (71), in particular wherein the handling section (13) projects along the machining axis (B) and / or has diametrically opposed grooves (14) with a substantially flat base (15).
9. Holding device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the stop device (5) has a contact area (16) for radially applying the gear (30) placed axially on the support base (4), wherein the contact area (16) is complementary to a tip circle segment (33) of the gear (30) placed axially on the support base (4) and / or is prismatic.
10. Holding device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pawl (6) has an engagement section (17) which is designed to engage in the external toothing (32) when latching, and in that a contact area (16) of the stop device (5) has an end section (19) which, in a latched state of the pawl (6), lies opposite the engagement section (17) in such a way that the machining axis (B) and the engagement section (17) and the end section (19) intersect a straight line (L), in particular an imaginary straight line perpendicular to the machining axis (B).
11. Holding device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking pawl (6) can be radially disengaged from its engaged state by being pre-tensioned away from a received gear wheel (30), in particular by being pivoted in the same direction as the locking direction of rotation (D), and / or by rotating the received gear wheel (30) relative to the support base (4) in the opposite direction to the locking direction of rotation (D), in particular with respect to the machining axis (B).
12. Holding device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking pawl (6) has a spring element (21) which prestresses an engagement portion (19) of the locking pawl (6) relative to the respective support base (4) into an engagement position for the automatic locking of the locking pawl (6).
13. Holding device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one receiving device (2) has only a single pawl or that at least one receiving device (2) has two pawls (6) prestressed in opposition to the stop device (5), wherein the pawls (6) can be automatically engaged on the external toothing (32) of the gear (30) radially applied to the stop device (5) in order to block its rotational mobility relative to the receiving device (2) receiving the same with respect to opposite locking directions of rotation (D) of the pawls (6).
14. Machine tool (50) for machining at least one axial bore (31), comprising at least one holding device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, and a machining tool (51), in particular a honing tool (52), which can be driven along and, in particular in the locking direction of rotation (D), about the machining axis (B) in order to machine the axial bore (31) of at least one gear (30) held by means of the holding device (1).
15. Machining system (70), comprising a machine tool (50) according to claim 14, and a robot (71) for loading and / or unloading the at least one holding device (1) with at least one gear (30) and / or for handling the at least one, in particular loaded and / or unloaded, holding device (1).