Working machinery
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- SUGINO MACHINE
- Filing Date
- 2024-07-18
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-03
AI Technical Summary
Existing machine tools face issues with heavy tools coming off due to centrifugal force when the tool magazine rotates, and large tools like angle tools cannot be loaded, leading to a bulky magazine configuration.
A machine tool with a spindle head, spindle, tool magazine, gripping claws, levers, and release cylinders that allow for secure tool holding even with heavy or angle tools, using a plunger mechanism to lock and unlock gripping jaws, and a compact magazine design.
Enables secure holding of tools with a compact configuration, allowing for higher rotational speeds and increased tool capacity in the magazine, including angle tools, without interference or tool loss.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
[Technical Field]
[0001] The present invention relates to a machine tool having a tool magazine. [Background technology]
[0002] BACKGROUND ART Machine tools are known that have a tool magazine, and the spindle retrieves a tool held in the tool magazine and mounts the tool on the spindle (for example, Japanese Patent No. 5949174). Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]
[0003] When heavy tools are loaded into a tool magazine and the rotation speed of the tool magazine is increased, the centrifugal force acting on the tool can cause the tool to come off the gripping jaws. Also, large tools such as angle tools may not be able to be loaded into the tool magazine. Furthermore, storing many large tools in the tool magazine can result in the magazine becoming too large. An object of the present invention is to provide a machine tool having a tool magazine that can hold tools in a compact configuration even when heavy tools or angle tools are loaded in the tool magazine. [Means for solving the problem]
[0004] A first aspect of the present invention is The spindle head and a spindle having a spindle hole, rotatably supported by the spindle head, and protruding from a tip of the spindle head; A tool magazine for exchanging tools between the spindle and the tool magazine, A magazine holder; A pair of gripping claws arranged to be swingable on the magazine holder, a pair of claws disposed at a first end for gripping the tool; a pair of levers disposed at the second end; a pair of gripping claws having a plunger disposed in the magazine holder, the plunger being disposed between the pair of levers so as to be movable back and forth between a release position and a holding position, the pair of gripping claws being openable and closable when the plunger is in the release position, and the pair of gripping claws being held in a closed state when the plunger is in the holding position; a first release cylinder that is disposed between the spindle head and the magazine holder when the spindle is at a tool changing position and moves the plunger back and forth; a tool magazine having It is a machine tool having the above.
[0005] The machine tool is, for example, a horizontal machine tool. The machine tool is, for example, a machining center. The tool magazine may have a second elastic body disposed on the pair of levers, the second elastic body biasing the pair of levers so as to move them apart. The tool may have two-surface constraint. The first gauge surface is a surface having a reference diameter that is the basis for the taper dimension of the spindle bore. The second gauge surface is a surface having a reference diameter of the shank. When the tool is installed in the spindle bore, the first gauge surface and the second gauge surface coincide. The first release cylinder can move the plunger forward and backward when the gripping jaws are in the tool changing position. When the first release cylinder is retracted, the pusher is retracted. Then, the pusher is retracted from the magazine holder and the gripping jaws.
[0006] The cover may have a back surface, and preferably, a distance from the second gauge surface of the tool held by the gripping jaws to the back surface is smaller than the length of the spindle projection. The cover may have an inspection door. The detachment position faces the inspection door. The door closure confirmation switch is arranged near the detachment window. The door closure confirmation switch is, for example, an electronic lock, a safety plug, or a proximity switch. [Effects of the Invention]
[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a machine tool having a tool magazine that can hold tools with a compact configuration even when heavy tools or angle tools are loaded in the tool magazine. [Brief explanation of the drawings]
[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a tool magazine according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] Cross section of line II-II in Figure 1 [Figure 3] Enlarged view of part III in Figure 1 [Figure 4] An enlarged cross-sectional view of the tool magazine and the spindle of the embodiment during tool replacement. [Figure 5] Cross section of line VV in Figure 4 [Figure 6] 1 is a flowchart of a method for transferring a tool from a tool magazine to a spindle according to an embodiment. [Figure 7] 1 is a flowchart of a method for transferring a tool from a spindle to a tool magazine according to an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0009] 1 and 2, a machine tool 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention has a spindle head 11, a main bearing 14, a spindle 13, a tool magazine 21, and a frame 2. The tool magazine 21 has a base plate 23, a motor (magazine rotation drive) 25, a magazine disk (magazine holder) 27, a first release cylinder 29, a second release cylinder 31, brackets 30 and 32, a hold detection switch 33, a cover 51, a shutter 53, an inspection door 55, a lock (door closure confirmation switch) 56, a control device 57, and a plurality of (20 in this embodiment) tool holders 35. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II in FIG. 2.
[0010] The tool holder 35 holds the tool 1. As shown in FIG. 3, the tool 1 has a shank 1a, a tool body 1b, a second gauge surface 1c, a central axis (shank central axis) 1e, and a keyway 1f (see FIG. 4). The tool 1 may have a protrusion 1g (see FIG. 4). The shank 1a is, for example, a tapered shank. The tool 1 is transferred between the tool holder 35 and the spindle 13. The protrusion 1g protrudes from the central axis 1e. When the tool 1 is attached to the tool holder 35, the protrusion 1g extends toward the center of the magazine disk 27. The distance between the protrusion 1g and the second gauge surface 1c is defined as a protrusion length 1h (see FIG. 4). The second gauge surface 1c is a surface having a reference diameter of the shank 1a. The second gauge surface 1c is located at the -Z direction end of the tapered surface of the shank 1a. The nominal diameter is determined by the industry standard for the shank 1a.
[0011] As shown in Figure 1, the spindle head 11 can move freely in the left-right (X) direction, the up-down (Y) direction, and the front-back (Z) direction relative to the frame 2. Hereinafter, the direction toward the tip of the spindle 13 is referred to as the +Z direction, and the direction toward the base end of the spindle 13 is referred to as the -Z direction.
[0012] The spindle 13 is supported by the spindle head 11 via a main bearing 14. The spindle 13 extends in the Z direction. The spindle 13 has a spindle bore 13a, a tip end (spindle tip end) 13b, a first gauge surface 13c (see FIG. 3), and a tool clamping device (not shown). A shank 1a is attached to the spindle bore 13a. The tip end 13b protrudes from the spindle head 11. As shown in FIG. 4, the distance from the first gauge surface 13c to the spindle head 11 is defined as a spindle protrusion length 13d. The tip end 13b has a radius (spindle radius) 13f. The first gauge surface 13c is a surface having a reference dimension that serves as a reference for the taper dimension of the spindle bore 13a. The first gauge surface 13c is located at the end of the spindle bore 13a in the -Z direction. When the tool 1 is attached to the spindle hole 13a, the first gauge surface 13c and the second gauge surface 1c coincide with each other.
[0013] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the base plate 23 is fixed to the frame 2. The base plate 23 is, for example, a rectangular plate. The motor 25 is disposed on the base plate 23. The magazine disk 27 is disk-shaped. The magazine disk 27 is connected to the motor 25. The motor 25 rotates the magazine disk 27. The motor 25 positions one of the tool holders 35 at a change position (tool change position) 3 or a detachment position 4 of the tool magazine 21. As shown in FIG. 2, the change position 3 is located in the -X direction from the center of the magazine disk 27. The detachment position 4 is located in the +X direction from the center of the magazine disk 27.
[0014] The first release cylinder 29 is fixed to the base plate 23 via a bracket 30. As shown in FIG. 3, the first release cylinder 29 has a pusher 29a. The first release cylinder 29 is arranged at the replacement position 3. The first release cylinder 29 moves the pusher 29a back and forth in the Z direction. As shown in FIG. 4, the cylinder protrusion amount 29d is shorter than the spindle protrusion length 13d. The cylinder protrusion amount 29d is the distance from the second gauge surface 1c of the tool 1 held by the gripping jaws 39 to the base end of the first release cylinder 29. A cylinder distance 29f from the central axis 1e of the tool 1 held by the gripping jaws 39 to the first release cylinder 29 is longer than the radius 13f.
[0015] 1, the second release cylinder 31 is disposed on the base plate 23 via a bracket 32. The second release cylinder 31 is disposed at the detachment position 4. The hold detection switch 33 is disposed in the attachment / detachment position 4. The hold detection switch 33 detects that the plunger 47 is in the hold position 7. The hold detection switch 33 is, for example, a photoelectric switch or a proximity switch.
[0016] The cover 51 covers the entire tool magazine 21. The cover 51 has a back surface 51a, a side surface 51b, an exchange window 51c, and a detachable window 51f. The back surface 51a is located on the +Z side of the tool 1 in the exchange position 3. As shown in FIG. 4, the back surface distance 51d is shorter than the spindle protrusion length 13d. The back surface distance 51d is the distance from the second gauge surface 1c of the tool 1 held by the gripping jaws 39 to the back surface 51a. The back surface 51a is located on the -Z side of the spindle head 11 in the exchange position 5. The side surface 51b extends in the -Z direction from the outer periphery of the back surface 51a and surrounds the tool 1 and the tool magazine 21.
[0017] 1 and 2, the exchange window 51c faces the tool 1 at the exchange position 3. The exchange window 51c extends from the back surface 51a to the side surface 51b. The exchange window 51c opens in the XY plane and the YZ plane. The exchange window 51c is large enough to allow the spindle 13, to which the tool 1 is attached, to move in the -X direction at the exchange position (tool exchange position) 5. The attachment / detachment window 51f faces the attachment / detachment position 4. The attachment / detachment window 51f has a size that allows the tool 1 to be attached to and detached from the tool holder 35 located at the attachment / detachment position 4.
[0018] The shutter 53 is disposed on the cover 51 and covers the replacement window 51c. The shutter 53 is a sliding door. Fig. 2 shows the shutter 53 in an open state. In Fig. 2, the shutter 53 opens in the -Y direction.
[0019] The inspection door 55 is disposed in the removable window 51f. The inspection door 55 is a single swing door. The lock 56 is disposed near the removable window 51f. The lock 56 is an electronic lock. The lock 56 locks the inspection door 55.
[0020] The control device 57 has a numerical control device. As shown by the long dashed lines in Figure 1, the control device 57 numerically controls the spindle head 11 and the spindle 13. The control device 57 controls the motor 25, the first release cylinder 29, the second release cylinder 31, the shutter 53, and the lock 56. When the lock 56 detects that the inspection door 55 is closed and the hold detection switch 33 detects that the plunger 47 is in the hold position 7, the control device 57 controls the motor 25 to rotate the magazine disc 27.
[0021] 1 and 3, the tool holders 35 are arranged side by side on the outer periphery of the magazine disc 27. Each tool holder 35 has a pair of pins 37, a pair of gripping claws 39, a key 41, a spring (first elastic body) 43, a plunger case 45, a plunger 47, and a spring (second elastic body) 48.
[0022] 2, a plurality of pins 37 are arranged on the outer periphery of the magazine disk 27. Each pin 37 extends in the Z direction. The gripping claws 39 are arranged on the magazine disc 27 so as to be swingable around the pin 37. Each gripping claw 39 has a claw portion 39a, a lever 39b, and a spring guide 39c. The claw portion 39a is arranged closer to the tip end than the pin 37. The lever 39b is arranged closer to the base end than the pin 37. Here, the tip end side is the radially outer side of the magazine disc. The base end side is the radially inner side of the magazine disc. The spring guide 39c is arranged inside the lever 39b. The spring guide 39c is, for example, a bottomed circular hole.
[0023] 3 and 5, the spring 43 is disposed between the pair of spring guides 39c. The spring 43 is a compression coil spring. The spring 43 biases the pair of levers 39b in a direction in which the pair of levers 39b open from each other. This causes the pair of claws 39a to grip the tool 1.
[0024] The key 41 is disposed between the pair of gripping claws 39. The key 41 is fastened to the magazine disk 27. As shown in FIG. 5, the key 41 fits into the key groove 1f.
[0025] As shown in FIG. 3, the plunger case 45 is disposed between the pair of levers 39b. The plunger case 45 penetrates the magazine disk 27. The plunger case 45 extends in the -Z direction from the magazine disk 27. The plunger case 45 is hollow cylindrical. The plunger case 45 has a cylinder chamber 45a and a through hole 45b. The cylinder chamber 45a opens to the end face in the +Z direction. The through hole 45b has a smaller diameter than the cylinder chamber 45a. The through hole 45b is connected to the cylinder chamber 45a and penetrates the plunger case 45 in the -Z direction. The through hole 45b extends coaxially with the cylinder chamber 45a.
[0026] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the plunger 47 is disposed in the plunger case 45. The plunger 47 reciprocates between a holding position 7 and a release position 8. The plunger 47 is cylindrical. The plunger 47 has, in order from the +Z end, a small-diameter portion 47b, a large-diameter portion 47a, a stem 47c, and a stopper 47d. The small-diameter portion 47b has a smaller diameter than the large-diameter portion 47a. The large-diameter portion 47a slides in the cylinder chamber 45a. When the plunger 47 is in the holding position 7, the large-diameter portion 47a protrudes from the magazine disk 27 in the +Z direction. When the plunger 47 is in the release position 8, the large-diameter portion 47a is housed in the magazine disk 27. The stem 47c has a smaller diameter than the large-diameter portion 47a and passes through the through-hole 45b. The stopper 47d has a larger diameter than the through-hole 45b. The stopper 47 d holds the plunger 47 in the plunger case 45 against the elastic force of the spring 48 .
[0027] The left half of FIG. 5 shows the plunger 47 in the holding position 7. The right half of FIG. 5 shows the plunger 47 in the release position 8. In the right half of FIG. 5, the open state of the gripping jaws 39 is indicated by a solid line, and the closed state of the gripping jaws 39 is indicated by a two-dot chain line. As shown in FIG. 5, the diameter 47f of the large diameter portion 47a is substantially equal to the distance 39f between the pair of levers 39b when the gripping jaws 39 are closed. "Substantially equal" means that the diameter 47f is the same as the distance 39f or is larger than the distance 39f to the extent that the gripping jaws 39 do not release the tool 1. The diameter 47g of the small diameter portion 47b is small enough to allow the gripping jaws 39 to open and remove the tool 1 from the gripping jaws 39 in the -X direction.
[0028] The spring 48 is disposed inside the cylinder chamber 45a and biases the plunger 47 in the +Z direction.
[0029] A method for transferring the tool 1 from the tool magazine 21 to the spindle 13 will be described with reference to FIG. In step S1, as shown in FIG. 2, the motor 25 rotates the magazine disk 27 to move the tool 1 to be mounted on the spindle 13 to the tool changing position 3. In step S2, the controller 57 commands the shutter 53 to open. In step S3, as shown in Fig. 3, the main shaft 13 is moved to the standby position 6. The standby position 6 is a position of the main shaft 13 on an extension of the central axis 1e. In step S4, as shown in Fig. 4, the spindle 13 is moved to the replacement position 5. This causes the shank 1a to come into contact with the spindle hole 13a.
[0030] In step S5, the spindle 13 clamps the tool 1. In step S6, the first release cylinder 29 extends the pusher 29a, and moves the plunger 47 to the release position 8. This releases the lock on the gripping jaws 39. In step S7, the main shaft 13 is moved in the −X direction to the outside of the cover 51. In step S8, the first release cylinder 29 pulls back the pusher 29a, and the plunger 47 moves to the holding position 7. This locks the gripping jaws 39 from opening and closing. In step S9, the shutter 53 is closed.
[0031] Steps S1 and S2 may be executed simultaneously, and steps S2 and S3 may be executed simultaneously.
[0032] Next, a method for transferring the tool 1 attached to the spindle 13 to the tool magazine 21 will be described with reference to FIG. In step S11, the motor 25 rotates the magazine disc 27 to index the empty tool holder 35 to the replacement position 3. In step S12, the controller 57 commands the shutter 53 to open. In step S13, the first release cylinder 29 extends the pusher 29a, and moves the plunger 47 to the release position 8. This releases the lock on the gripping jaws 39. In step S14, the spindle 13 moves in the +X direction, and the spindle 13 moves to the exchange position 5.
[0033] In step S15, the first release cylinder 29 pulls back the pusher 29a, and the plunger 47 moves to the holding position 7. This locks the gripping jaws 39 from opening and closing. In step S16, the spindle 13 unclamps the tool 1. In step S17, the spindle 13 moves in the +Z direction and is positioned at the standby position 6. At this time, the tool 1 is removed from the spindle 13. In step S18, the shutter 53 is closed.
[0034] According to the machine tool 10 of this embodiment, the plunger 47 is normally in the holding position 7. Therefore, the gripping jaws 39 do not open unless the first release cylinder 29 is unlocked. When the motor 25 rotates the magazine disc 27, centrifugal force acts on the tool 1. This causes the gripping jaws 39 to open and attempt to remove the tool 1 from the tool holder 35. However, because the gripping jaws 39 are locked, the tool 1 cannot be removed. The centrifugal force acting on the tool 1 increases with the mass of the tool 1, the rotational speed of the magazine disc 27, and the diameter of the magazine disc 27. Because the gripping jaws 39 are mechanically locked, the rotational speed of the magazine disc 27 can be increased even when a tool 1 with a large size or mass is attached. Furthermore, the diameter of the magazine disc 27 can be increased. Therefore, a large number of tool holders 35 can be arranged on the magazine disc 27.
[0035] The first release cylinder 29 is disposed closer to the spindle 13 (+Z side) than the magazine disk 27. The plunger 47 is disposed on the face of the magazine disk 27 opposite the spindle 13. This allows only the plunger case 45 and plunger 47 to protrude from the face of the magazine disk 27 opposite the spindle 13. The length of the plunger 47 in the Z direction is sufficiently smaller than the length of the first release cylinder 29 in the Z direction. This allows for a larger space on the -Z side of the plunger 47. A tool 1 having a large protrusion 1g can be mounted in the tool holder 35. In particular, the protrusion length 1h from the second gauge surface 1c to the protrusion 1g can be reduced. This reduces restrictions on the tools 1 that can be mounted in the tool magazine 21. For example, a tool 1 such as an angle head can be mounted in the tool magazine 21.
[0036] The cylinder protrusion amount 29d is greater than the spindle protrusion length 13d. When the spindle 13 is moved to the changing position 5, there is no interference between the spindle head 11 and the first release cylinder 29. This allows the tool holder 35 to be configured compactly. It also allows the size of the spindle head 11 to be increased. The cylinder distance 29f is greater than the radius 13f. This prevents interference between the spindle 13 and the first release cylinder 29.
[0037] The operator can attach the tool 1 to the tool holder 35 at the attachment / detachment position 4 through the attachment / detachment window 51f. At this time, the tool 1 may tilt, and the gripping jaws 39 may not be able to fully grip the tool 1. The tool magazine 21 has a holding detection switch 33. The holding detection switch 33 can detect that the plunger 47 is at the holding position 7. When the plunger 47 returns to the holding position 7 due to the elastic force of the spring 48, the gripping jaws 39 are properly gripping the tool 1. This allows the control device 57 to determine that the tool 1 has been properly attached to the tool holder 35. This prevents the tool 1 from falling off due to an improper attachment of the tool 1.
[0038] The back surface distance 51d is shorter than the spindle protrusion length 13d. Therefore, when the spindle 13 is moved to the replacement position 5, only the spindle 13 enters the cover 51. The spindle head 11 does not enter the cover 51. This makes it possible to narrow the width of the replacement window 51c in the Y direction, as shown in FIG. 2. This also makes it possible to reduce the stroke of the shutter 53. This also makes it possible to shorten the time it takes for the shutter 53 to open.
[0039] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention, and all technical matters included in the technical ideas described in the claims are subject to the present invention. The above-described embodiments are preferred examples, but a person skilled in the art can realize various alternatives, modifications, variations, or improvements from the contents disclosed in this specification, and these are included in the technical scope described in the appended claims. [Explanation of symbols]
[0040] 1 tool 7 Holding position 8 release position 10 Machine tools 11 Spindle head 21 Tool magazine 27 Magazine disc (magazine holder) 29 First release cylinder 39 Gripping claw 39a Claw part 39b Lever 47 Plunger
Claims
1. The main shaft head, A spindle having a spindle hole, rotatably supported on the spindle head, and protruding from the tip of the spindle head, A tool magazine for exchanging tools between the main spindle, Magazine holder and A pair of gripping claws, which are pivotably disposed on the magazine holder, A pair of claws for gripping the tool, positioned at the first end, A pair of levers positioned at the second end, A pair of gripping claws having, A plunger disposed on the magazine holder, which is positioned between the pair of levers so as to be able to move back and forth between a release position and a holding position, such that when the plunger is in the release position the pair of gripping claws can be opened and closed, and when the plunger is in the holding position the pair of gripping claws are held in a closed position, When the spindle is in the tool change position, a first release cylinder is positioned between the spindle head and the magazine holder and moves the plunger forward and backward, A tool magazine that has, A machine tool having
2. The tool magazine has an elastic body that biases the plunger toward the holding position. The machine tool according to claim 1.
3. When the spindle is in the tool change position, the release position is positioned further toward the tip of the spindle than the holding position. The machine tool according to claim 1 or 2.
4. The main shaft has a first gauge surface at its tip, The tool has a second gauge surface, The spindle projection length from the spindle head to the first gauge surface is longer than the distance from the second gauge surface held by the gripping claw to the base end of the first release cylinder. The machine tool according to claim 1 or 2.
5. The spindle has a spindle tip portion that protrudes from the spindle head, The distance from the central axis of the shank of the tool held by the gripping claw to the first release cylinder is longer than the radius of the tip of the main spindle. The machine tool according to claim 4.
6. The first release cylinder has a pusher that can push out the plunger when extended. The machine tool according to claim 1 or 2.
7. The plunger has a small diameter portion and a large diameter portion. When in the aforementioned holding position, the large diameter portion contacts the pair of levers, When in the released position, the small diameter portion is located between the pair of levers. The machine tool according to claim 1 or 2.
8. The tool magazine has a magazine rotation drive mechanism, The magazine holder is disc-shaped, Multiple pairs of gripping claws are arranged on the periphery of the magazine holder, The plungers are positioned for each of the pair of gripping claws and penetrate the magazine holder in the thickness direction. The machine tool according to claim 1 or 2.
9. The tool magazine is enclosed by a cover having an inspection door, When the gripping claw is in the detachment position, a second release cylinder moves the plunger forward and backward, A holding detection switch detects the plunger in the holding position when the gripping claw is in the attachment / detachment position, A control device that rotates the magazine holder by the magazine rotary drive when the inspection door is closed and the plunger is in the holding position, The machine tool according to claim 8, further comprising the following: