Fluid ejection tool, chip removal method, and chip removal system

Abstract

To provide a technology that safely and reliably removes chips and other residues from machine tools while suppressing a decrease in work efficiency. [Solution] The fluid ejection tool 50 is attached to the spindle 3 of a machining center 1A capable of ejecting fluids such as coolant liquid in a center-through manner. The fluid ejection tool is provided on the tip end 54 side and has a lateral through-hole 63 that penetrates to the outside from the inner circumferential surface 60b of the internal flow path 60 and ejects the fluid that has passed through the internal flow path to the outside. The tip end is provided with a tip through-hole 61 that penetrates to the outside along the tool axis. The lateral through-hole is inclined so that the outer opening 63d is closer to the base than the inner opening 63c. The lateral through-hole is provided at a position that is a first distance from the tip and at a position that is a second distance, and both the first distance and the second distance are less than or equal to 1 / 4 of the length of the part of the tool that protrudes from the tool holder along the tool axis direction.

Description

Technical Field

[0004] , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

[0001] The present invention relates to a fluid ejection tool attached to a tool attachment portion of a machine tool, a chip removal method using the fluid ejection tool, and a chip removal system.

Background Art

[0002] When machining a tapped hole of a blind hole, for example, using a machine tool such as a machining center equipped with an automatic tool changer (autochanger), a NC lathe, or a turning center (composite machine tool), between the process of machining a pilot hole and the process of cutting a screw thread in the pilot hole, or between the process of cutting a screw thread and the process of finishing, the operation of the machine tool is once stopped, and the operator removes the chips in the pilot hole or the screw hole by himself / herself using an air gun or the like.

[0003] As a technique related to such chip removal, conventionally, for example, a chip removal device described in Patent Document 1 below is known. In the chip removal device described in Patent Document 1, a spiral flow generation part composed of a plurality of guide pieces twisted in a screw shape is provided at the tip of an air blow nozzle. The spiral flow generation part is for changing the air flowing in the air blow nozzle into a spiral flow, and has a cut portion provided every 120 degrees around the axis and an opening provided at the tip of the axis. By using such a chip removal device having a spiral flow generation part, it is said that residues such as chips in the machining hole can be lifted up in a toroidal shape from near the bottom of the machining hole such as a pilot hole or a screw hole toward the opening direction of the machining hole and removed outside the opening.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, even when removing chips using the air blow nozzle described in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to temporarily stop the operation of the machine tool, such as a machining center. Therefore, even if the machine tool is equipped with an automatic tool changer, it is not possible to complete all processes, including chip removal, with just the input operation at the start of machining, and there was room for improvement in improving work efficiency.

[0006] Furthermore, in machining environments using machine tools, when workers manually remove chips using air guns, chips and coolant (cutting oil) can scatter towards the workers, creating a need for technologies that can prevent injuries and contamination. There was also a need for technologies that could ensure reliable chip removal regardless of the worker's experience.

[0007] This invention was made in view of these circumstances. Specifically, its objective is to provide a technology for safely and reliably removing chips and other residues from machine tools while suppressing a decrease in work efficiency. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] One embodiment of a fluid ejection tool developed to solve the above problem is: A fluid ejection tool that can be attached to the tool mounting section of a machine tool, which is capable of automatically changing the tool used, machining the workpiece by rotating either the workpiece or the tool, and injecting a fluid, such as coolant liquid or air, in a center-through manner, The base end, which is the side attached to the tool mounting portion, is tubular with an opening. An internal channel section extending in the direction of the tool axis, through which the fluid injected passing through the inside of the tool mounting section passes, It comprises a lateral through-hole provided on the tip side opposite to the base, which penetrates from the inner circumferential surface of the internal flow channel to the outside of the fluid ejection tool, and ejects the fluid that has passed through the internal flow channel to the outside of the fluid ejection tool, The fluid ejection tool is characterized in that the lateral through-hole portion is inclined at a predetermined angle in the direction of the tool axis rather than the radial direction of the tool axis, which is perpendicular to the direction of the tool axis, such that the outer opening is closer to either the base or the tip than the inner opening.

[0009] This fluid ejection tool is capable of ejecting a fluid, such as coolant or air, in a center-through manner and is mounted on a tool mounting section such as the spindle of a machine tool that allows for automatic tool replacement. The fluid that flows into the tool mounting section is ejected to the outside through a lateral through-hole. The lateral through-hole is inclined at a predetermined angle in the axial direction of the tool rather than the radial direction of the tool, such that the outer opening is located closer to either the base or the tip than the inner opening. Therefore, if the lateral through-hole is inclined so that the outer opening is closer to the base than the inner opening, chips can be effectively blown away toward the base of the fluid ejection tool. If the lateral through-hole is inclined so that the outer opening is closer to the tip than the inner opening, chips can be effectively blown away toward the tip of the fluid ejection tool. Thus, it is possible to remove chips using the fluid ejected through the tool mounting section without stopping the operation of the machine tool. As a result, it is possible to remove chips from inside the machine tool safely and reliably, while suppressing a decrease in work efficiency, compared to manual cleaning by workers using air guns, etc.

[0010] In the fluid ejection tool according to the above embodiment, It is desirable that the aforementioned lateral through-holes are provided in multiple locations in the circumferential direction of the fluid ejection tool.

[0011] This embodiment of the fluid ejection tool makes it easy to eject fluid evenly across the entire circumferential area of ​​the tool. Therefore, it is possible to improve the accuracy of chip removal.

[0012] Furthermore, in the fluid ejection tool of the above embodiment, The aforementioned lateral through-hole portion is Multiple fluid ejection tools are provided in the circumferential direction of the fluid ejection tool at a first position where the distance from the tip in the tool axis direction is a first distance, It is desirable that a plurality of fluid ejection tools be provided in the circumferential direction of the fluid ejection tool at a second position where the distance from the tip in the tool axis direction is a second distance that is longer than the first distance.

[0013] In this embodiment of the fluid ejection tool, multiple lateral through-holes are provided at different positions (first position and second position) in the tool axis direction. Therefore, chips blown away by the fluid ejected from the multiple lateral through-holes at either the first or second position can be further blown away by the fluid ejected from the multiple lateral through-holes at the other of the first or second positions. Consequently, the accuracy of chip removal can be further improved.

[0014] Furthermore, in the fluid ejection tool of the above embodiment, The lateral through-hole portion is inclined such that the outer opening is closer to the base than the inner opening. It is desirable that the tip portion is provided with a through-hole that extends from the inner tip surface of the internal flow channel portion to the outside of the fluid ejection tool, along the axis of the fluid ejection tool.

[0015] With this type of fluid ejection tool, fluid can be ejected from the tip through-hole along the tool axis, thereby causing chips remaining on the workpiece and on the workpiece fixing jig to be blown into the air. The airborne chips can then be blown away towards the base of the fluid ejection tool (tool mounting side) by the fluid ejected from the lateral through-hole, which is inclined so that the outer opening is closer to the base than the inner opening. Therefore, it is easy to blow away chips remaining on the workpiece and on the workpiece fixing jig from the workpiece and the fixing jig.

[0016] Furthermore, one embodiment of a chip removal method developed to solve the above problem is: A method for removing chips using a fluid ejection tool according to the above embodiment, A machining step is performed to machine a blind hole or a threaded blind hole in the workpiece, followed by a replacement step in which the tool used is replaced with the fluid ejection tool. An insertion step in which the fluid ejection tool is inserted into the bottomed hole formed by the above processing step to position the lateral through hole and the tip through hole within the bottomed hole, The chip removal method is characterized by including a chip removal step of moving the fluid ejection tool in a direction away from the bottomed hole while rotating the fluid ejection tool in the opposite direction to the tool rotation direction when the bottomed hole was formed, while ejecting the fluid from the lateral through-hole and the tip through-hole.

[0017] According to this chip removal method, after inserting the fluid ejection tool attached to the tool mounting section into the blind hole to position the tip through-hole and lateral through-hole within the blind hole, the fluid ejection tool is rotated in the opposite direction to when the blind hole was formed while ejecting fluid from the tip through-hole and lateral through-hole, and moved in the direction of exiting the blind hole, thereby reliably blowing away any chips remaining inside the blind hole. Furthermore, if the blind hole is a blind screw hole, the chips can be moved spirally along the screw groove and completely expelled from the blind hole.

[0018] Furthermore, one embodiment of a chip removal system developed to solve the above problems is: A chip removal system comprising a fluid ejection tool according to the above embodiment and the machine tool, wherein the machine tool has a control unit that controls the operation of the machine tool based on input work instruction data, The control unit, After the machining process in which a blind hole or a threaded blind hole is machined into the workpiece, a tool change process is performed in which the tool used is replaced with the fluid ejection tool. A tool insertion process of inserting the fluid ejection tool into the bottomed hole formed by the machining process and positioning the side through hole and the tip through hole in the bottomed hole, A chip removal process of rotating the fluid ejection tool in a direction opposite to the tool rotation direction during the formation of the bottomed hole while ejecting the fluid from the side through hole and the tip through hole, and moving the fluid ejection tool in a direction to exit the bottomed hole. The chip removal system is characterized by performing the above operations.

[0019] According to the chip removal system of this aspect, the control unit of the machine tool replaces the tool to be used with a fluid ejection tool after the machining process of machining the workpiece, inserts the fluid ejection tool into the bottomed hole, and positions the tip through hole and the side through hole in the bottomed hole. Then, while ejecting the fluid from the tip through hole and the side through hole, the fluid ejection tool is rotated in a direction opposite to that during the formation of the bottomed hole and moved in a direction to exit the bottomed hole. Thereby, it is possible to reliably blow out the chips remaining in the bottomed hole to the outside of the bottomed hole. Further, when the bottomed hole is a tapped hole of a blind hole, it is possible to move the chips spirally along the thread groove and discharge them completely to the outside of the bottomed hole.

[0020] In the chip removal system of the above aspect, It is desirable that the control unit moves the fluid ejection tool to the same position as the machining position of the workpiece in the machining process in the tool insertion process.

[0021] According to the chip removal system of this aspect, since the fluid ejection tool is moved to the same position as the bottomed hole formed in the machining process, it is possible to improve the accuracy of removing chips in the bottomed hole.

[0022] Also, in the chip removal system of the above aspect, It is desirable that the control unit inserts the fluid ejection tool into the bottomed hole at a depth not exceeding the insertion depth of the tool in the machining process in the tool insertion process.

[0023] This chip removal system prevents the fluid ejection tool from being inserted too deeply into the bottomed hole, thus preventing damage to the workpiece caused by the fluid ejection tool hitting the bottom of the bottomed hole.

[0024] Furthermore, in the above-described chip removal system, In the chip removal process, it is desirable for the control unit to rotate the fluid ejection tool at a rotational speed corresponding to the rotational speed of the tool in the machining process.

[0025] In this chip removal system, the control unit of the machine tool rotates the fluid ejection tool at a rotational speed corresponding to the rotational speed of the tool during the machining process. Therefore, it is possible to remove chips suitable for the machined blind hole. Furthermore, if a blind screw hole is machined, the fluid ejection tool is rotated in the opposite direction to the machining process at a rotational speed corresponding to the rotational speed of the tool when the thread was cut. This allows the chips to be reliably moved spirally along the screw groove, enabling accurate removal of chips from within the screw hole.

[0026] Furthermore, in the above-described chip removal system, In the chip removal process, it is desirable that the control unit moves the fluid ejection tool in a direction that exits the bottomed hole at a feed rate corresponding to the feed rate of the tool in the machining process.

[0027] In this chip removal system, the control unit of the machine tool moves the fluid ejection tool out of the bottomed hole at a feed rate corresponding to the tool feed rate in the machining process. Therefore, it is possible to remove chips appropriate to the machined bottomed hole. In other words, it is possible to prevent the speed at which the fluid ejection tool is withdrawn from the bottomed hole from being too fast or too slow, and to balance the accuracy of chip removal with the efficiency of the removal work.

[0028] Furthermore, in other embodiments of fluid ejection tools developed to solve the above problems, It is desirable that the lateral through-hole portion is inclined such that the outer opening is closer to the tip than the inner opening.

[0029] With this embodiment of the fluid ejection tool, the fluid ejected from the lateral through-hole, where the outer opening is closer to the tip than the inner opening, can blow chips towards the tip side of the fluid ejection tool (towards the workpiece or fixing jig). Therefore, it is possible to effectively remove chips remaining in machining areas that penetrate the workpiece.

[0030] Furthermore, other embodiments of the chip removal method developed to solve the above problems include: A chip removal method using a fluid ejection tool of the above-described other embodiment, After the machining process of machining a through hole or a threaded through hole portion in the workpiece, the tool used is replaced with the fluid ejection tool in a replacement step, The chip removal method is characterized by including a chip removal step of passing the fluid ejection tool through the hole while ejecting the fluid from the lateral through hole and rotating the fluid ejection tool in the same direction as the tool rotation direction when forming the hole.

[0031] According to this chip removal method, by rotating a fluid ejection tool attached to the tool mounting section through the through-hole while ejecting fluid from the lateral through-hole, in the same direction as when the through-hole was formed, it is possible to reliably blow away any chips remaining inside the through-hole. Furthermore, if the through-hole is a threaded hole, it is possible to completely expel the chips from the through-hole by moving them spirally along the thread groove.

[0032] Furthermore, other embodiments of the chip removal system developed to solve the above problems include: A chip removal system comprising a fluid ejection tool of the other embodiment described above and the machine tool, wherein the machine tool has a control unit that controls the operation of the machine tool based on input work instruction data, The control unit, After the machining process in which a through hole or a threaded through hole is machined into the workpiece, a tool change process is performed in which the tool used is replaced with the fluid ejection tool. This chip removal system is characterized by performing a chip removal process in which the fluid ejection tool is passed through the hole in the manner described above, while the fluid ejection tool is rotated in the same direction as the tool rotation direction used to form the hole in the manner described above, while ejecting the fluid from the lateral through-hole.

[0033] According to this chip removal system, after the machining process of the workpiece, the control unit of the machine tool replaces the tool with a fluid ejection tool and moves the fluid ejection tool through the through hole while rotating it in the same direction as when the through hole was formed, ejecting fluid from the lateral through-hole. This makes it possible to reliably blow away any chips remaining in the through hole. Furthermore, if the through hole is a threaded through hole, it is possible to move the chips spirally along the threads and completely expel them from the through hole.

[0034] Furthermore, another embodiment of the chip removal method developed to solve the above problem is: A method for removing chips using a fluid ejection tool according to one embodiment described above, A replacement step of replacing the tool to be used with the fluid ejection tool, The chip removal method is characterized by including a chip removal step of positioning the lateral through-hole and the tip through-hole within a T-slot groove formed in the table of the machine tool, and moving the fluid ejection tool in the direction in which the T-slot groove extends while rotating it, while ejecting the fluid from the lateral through-hole and the tip through-hole.

[0035] According to this chip removal method, the tip through-hole and lateral through-hole of the fluid ejection tool attached to the tool mounting section are positioned within the T-slot groove of the table of the machine tool, and while ejecting fluid from the tip through-hole and lateral through-hole, the fluid ejection tool is rotated and moved in the direction extending of the T-slot groove, making it possible to reliably blow away any chips remaining in the T-slot groove to the outside of the T-slot groove.

[0036] Furthermore, another embodiment of the chip removal system developed to solve the above problems is: A chip removal system comprising a fluid ejection tool according to one embodiment described above and the machine tool, wherein the machine tool has a control unit that controls the operation of the machine tool based on input work instruction data, The control unit, A tool change process in which the tool to be used is replaced with the fluid ejection tool, The chip removal system is characterized by performing a chip removal process in which the lateral through-hole and the tip through-hole are positioned within T-slot grooves formed in the table of the machine tool, and the fluid is ejected from the lateral through-hole and the tip through-hole while the fluid ejection tool is rotated and moved in the direction in which the T-slot groove extends.

[0037] According to this chip removal system, after the machining process of processing the workpiece, the control unit of the machine tool replaces the tool with a fluid ejection tool, positions the tip through-hole and lateral through-hole of the fluid ejection tool within the T-slot groove of the machine tool table, and moves the fluid ejection tool in the direction extending of the T-slot groove while rotating it and ejecting fluid from the tip through-hole and lateral through-hole. This makes it possible to reliably blow away any chips remaining in the T-slot groove to the outside of the T-slot groove.

[0038] Furthermore, another embodiment of the chip removal method developed to solve the above problem is: A method for removing chips using a fluid ejection tool according to one embodiment described above, A replacement step of replacing the tool to be used with the fluid ejection tool, The chip removal method is characterized by including a chip removal step of rotating the fluid ejection tool while ejecting the fluid from the lateral through-hole and the tip through-hole, and bringing it closer to the chuck of the machine tool.

[0039] According to this chip removal method, after replacing the tool with a fluid ejection tool, the fluid ejection tool is rotated while ejecting fluid from the tip through-hole and the side through-hole, and brought closer to the chuck of the machine tool, thereby reliably blowing away any chips remaining on the chuck.

[0040] Furthermore, another embodiment of the chip removal system developed to solve the above problems is: A chip removal system comprising a fluid ejection tool according to one embodiment described above and the machine tool, wherein the machine tool has a control unit that controls the operation of the machine tool based on input work instruction data, The control unit, A tool change process in which the tool to be used is replaced with the fluid ejection tool, The chip removal system is characterized by performing a chip removal process in which the fluid is ejected from the lateral through-hole and the tip through-hole while the fluid ejection tool is rotated and brought closer to the chuck of the machine tool.

[0041] According to this chip removal system, after the machining process of processing the workpiece, the control unit of the machine tool replaces the tool with a fluid ejection tool and rotates the fluid ejection tool while ejecting fluid from the tip through-hole and the side through-hole, bringing it closer to the chuck of the machine tool. This makes it possible to reliably blow away any chips remaining on the chuck away from the chuck.

[0042] Furthermore, in yet another embodiment of a fluid ejection tool developed to solve the above problem, The tip portion has a cutting edge for processing the workpiece, The lateral through-hole is preferably inclined such that the outer opening is closer to the base than the inner opening, and is drilled so that the fluid ejected from the lateral through-hole hits the chips cut by the blade.

[0043] With this embodiment of the fluid ejection tool, a fluid such as coolant or air is ejected from a lateral through-hole that is inclined so that the outer opening is closer to the base than the inner opening. By rotating the fluid ejection tool relatively or absolutely to bring the cutting edge into contact with the workpiece, cutting can be performed, and the chips generated by the machining can be blown away towards the base side (tool mounting side) by the fluid ejected from the lateral through-hole. In other words, it is possible to perform workpiece machining and chip removal simultaneously. As a result, it is possible to greatly improve work efficiency. [Effects of the Invention]

[0044] The technology disclosed herein makes it possible to safely and reliably remove chips from a machine tool while suppressing a decrease in work efficiency. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0045] [Figure 1] This is a schematic perspective view showing a chip removal system according to a first embodiment of the present invention, which includes a fluid ejection tool and a machining center. [Figure 2] This is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the tip (lower end) of the spindle of a machining center according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] This is a front view of a fluid ejection tool held in a tool holder. [Figure 4] This is a perspective view of a fluid ejection tool. [Figure 5] This is a bottom view of a fluid ejection tool. [Figure 6] This is a cross-sectional view along line AA in Figure 5. [Figure 7]This is a plan view of a workpiece or similar object with a blind screw hole formed inside, showing the state of chips accumulating inside the blind screw hole. [Figure 8] This figure shows an example of a method for removing chips accumulated in a blind hole (pilot hole) using a fluid ejection tool. [Figure 9] This figure shows an example of a method for removing chips accumulated in blind screw holes using a fluid ejection tool. [Figure 10] This is a flowchart of the screw hole formation process performed by the control device of the machine tool in the chip removal system of the first embodiment. [Figure 11A] This figure shows an example of a method for removing chips accumulated in the threaded holes of blind holes formed by helical machining using a fluid ejection tool. [Figure 11B] This is a flowchart of the screw hole formation process performed by the control system of a machine tool when forming blind screw holes by helical machining. [Figure 12] This is a bottom view of the fluid ejection tool according to the second embodiment. [Figure 13] Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view along line BB. [Figure 14] This figure shows an example of a method for removing chips remaining in a threaded hole of a through-hole using a fluid ejection tool according to the second embodiment. [Figure 15] This is a schematic perspective view showing a chip removal system according to a third embodiment, which includes a machining center different from the machining center according to the first embodiment and the same fluid ejection tool as the fluid ejection tool according to the first embodiment. [Figure 16] This is a perspective view showing the state in which chips have accumulated on the top surface of the table and in the T-slot grooves of a machining center according to the third embodiment. [Figure 17] This figure shows an example of a method for removing chips accumulated in the T-slot grooves of a table using a fluid ejection tool, and is a diagram showing a portion of the longitudinal cross-section along the short side of the table. [Figure 18]This diagram shows an example of a method for removing chips accumulated in the T-slot grooves of a table using a fluid ejection tool, and is a partial perspective view of the table from the upper left. [Figure 19] This is a schematic perspective view showing a chip removal system according to a fourth embodiment, which includes a multi-tasking machine tool with a turning function added to a machining center, and a fluid ejection tool identical to that of the first embodiment. [Figure 20] This figure shows an example of a method for removing chips accumulated in the chuck of the spindle of a multi-tasking machine tool using a fluid ejection tool. [Figure 21] This is a perspective view showing a fluid ejection tool according to the fifth embodiment and an example of its use. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0046] 1. First Embodiment The chip removal system KSA of the first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. As shown in Figure 1, the chip removal system KSA includes a machining center 1A (an example of a machine tool) and a fluid ejection tool 50. The machining center 1A comprises a machining head 2, an automatic tool changer 20, and a control device 30. The control device 30 can automatically exchange one of the multiple tools set in the tool magazine 22 of the automatic tool changer 20 with the tool mounted on the spindle 3 (an example of a tool mounting part) of the machining head 2 based on work instruction data. The chip removal system KSA includes a fluid ejection tool 50 held in a tool holder 80 as one of the tools set in the tool magazine 22. As shown in Figure 1, the fluid ejection tool 50 can be attached to the spindle 3 by the tool exchange process performed by the control device 30. The work instruction data is a program for causing the machining center 1A to perform desired operations such as machining, and can be appropriately input by an operator (worker), etc.

[0047] The fluid ejection tool 50 can be attached to the tool mounting section (spindle, turret, etc.) of various known machine tools such as machining centers, NC lathes, and multi-tasking machine tools (turning centers). The fluid ejection tool 50 is provided with multiple through-holes (tip through-hole 61 and lateral through-hole 63, described later). The fluid ejection tool 50 is a cleaning tool that ejects a fluid such as coolant liquid or air, which is sprayed through the inside of the tool mounting section such as the spindle 3 in a center-through manner, to the outside from multiple through-holes (in other words, oil holes), and is used to remove chips and other debris remaining in the machining space (the area where the workpiece is machined) inside the machine tool.

[0048] In this specification, the vertical and horizontal directions of each part of the machining center 1A and the fluid ejection tool 50 are described as corresponding to the vertical and horizontal directions as viewed from a person facing the machining center 1A with the fluid ejection tool 50 attached to the spindle 3 which is aligned vertically. Furthermore, the forward direction of each part of the machining center 1A and the fluid ejection tool 50 is described as the direction toward a person facing the machining center 1A in the same state, and the backward direction of each part of the machining center 1A is described as the direction toward a person facing the machining center 1A in the same state. The horizontal direction is defined as the X-axis, the front-back direction as the Y-axis, and the vertical direction as the Z-axis.

[0049] Machining center 1A is a vertical machining center and, as shown in Figure 1, comprises a machining head 2, a workpiece support device 40 for supporting the workpiece Wa, a moving device 48 for moving the machining head 2 relative to the workpiece support device 40, an automatic tool changer 20, and a control device 30. Although not shown in Figure 1, machining center 1A is provided with an outer wall (casing) surrounding the workpiece support device 40 and the machining head 2, and a sliding door that opens and closes an opening formed in the outer wall. By opening and closing the sliding door, the machining space in which the workpiece Wa is machined can be opened and closed.

[0050] The workpiece support device 40 comprises a table 41 that supports the workpiece Wa via a fixing jig 43, and a base 42 that rotatably supports the table 41. The table 41 is supported on the base 42 so as to be rotatable around an axis AX1 along the vertical direction (Z-axis direction) by a drive device (not shown). The workpiece support device 40 may also be capable of pivoting the table 41 around the X-axis. Alternatively, the workpiece support device 40 may be such that the table 41 cannot rotate around axis AX1.

[0051] The moving device 48 moves the machining head 2 relative to the workpiece support device 40 and is supported by a base 49. The moving device 48 includes a drive source and a drive mechanism and is capable of moving the machining head 2 along the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis directions (i.e., moving it in three dimensions).

[0052] The automatic tool changer 20 includes a tool magazine 22 containing various tools such as end mills, drills, taps, and reamers, and a change arm (not shown). It changes the tool attached to the spindle 3 of the machining head 2 with the tool set in the tool magazine 22 by operating the change arm, etc. The chip removal system KSA includes a fluid ejection tool 50, which will be described in detail later, as a tool set in the tool magazine 22 and attachable to the spindle 3.

[0053] The control device 30 (an example of a control unit) controls the rotation of the tool attached to the spindle 3, the movement of the machining head 2 (operation of the moving device 48), the rotation of the table 41, and the operation of the automatic tool changer 20. The control device 30 also controls the operation of a fluid supply device (not shown) that supplies coolant (cutting oil) and air, and a chip recovery device (not shown) that collects chips generated by machining the workpiece Wa. Known devices can be appropriately used for the fluid supply device and the chip recovery device.

[0054] The control device 30 includes a processor (not shown), memory (RAM, ROM, etc.), communication circuits, etc., and also includes an input / output device 32. The memory stores data necessary for processing the workpiece Wa and programs for operating each component of the machining center 1A, and the processor executes the programs stored in the memory. In this embodiment, the input / output device 32 is a touch panel capable of displaying and inputting images. The input / output device may consist of input devices such as buttons, switches, levers, pointing devices, and keyboards, and output devices such as liquid crystal displays and organic EL displays. The operator (worker) of the machining center 1A can appropriately input work programs (work instruction data) for processing the unprocessed workpiece Wa into a desired finished product by operating the input / output device 32. When the processor executes the work program, various devices such as the moving device 48 operate.

[0055] The machining head 2 has a spindle 3. Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the tip (lower end in the figure) of the spindle 3. As shown in Figure 2, the spindle 3 includes a rotating body 5 that holds a tool holder 80 gripping a tool, a bearing 6, and a housing 7 that supports the rotating body 5 via the bearing 6 so that it can rotate around an axis AX2 along the Z-axis direction. The rotating body 5 is rotationally driven around the axis AX2 by a rotary drive device (not shown). The rotary drive device can be configured to include, for example, a motor having a stator fixed to the housing 7 and a rotor fixed to the rotating body 5.

[0056] The rotating body 5 has a configuration in which a drawbar 5b is arranged inside the rotating shaft body 5a, and a tool holder 80 that grips a tool is attached to the mounting part of the tip of the drawbar 5b (lower end in Figure 2) via a pull stud 8.

[0057] The machining center 1A in this embodiment is capable of spraying various fluids, such as coolant and air, through the spindle 3 (rotating body 5) in a center-through manner. Specifically, piping (not shown) for supplying these fluids passes through an internal through-hole in the drawbar 5b and reaches the top of the pull stud 8, allowing coolant and air to be supplied into the tool through the internal through-hole in the pull stud 8, which communicates with the internal through-hole in the drawbar 5b, and the internal through-hole in the tool holder 80. The configuration of the spindle 3 can be any known configuration as long as it allows for the attachment and detachment of the tool holder 80 that grips the tool, and enables the spraying of fluids such as coolant in a center-through manner.

[0058] A tool holder 80 that grips the tool is attached to the spindle 3. Figure 3 is a front view of the fluid ejection tool 50 and the tool holder 80 that grips it. As shown in Figure 3, the tool holder 80 comprises a holder body 81 and a nut portion 83 attached to the tip (lower end in Figure 3) side of the holder body 81. The fluid ejection tool 50 has a stepped shape in which the base end 50b (upper end in Figure 3) has a smaller diameter than the tip 50a (lower end in Figure 3) when viewed in the axial direction.

[0059] The fluid ejection tool 50 is held in the tool holder 80 via a collet 85. Specifically, the fluid ejection tool 50 is inserted into the holder body 81 from the tip with the small-diameter shank portion 57, which is at the base end 50b, inserted into the collet 85 attached to the nut portion 83. As the nut portion 83 rotates, the tapered portion of the collet 85 is pressed down, thereby holding the fluid ejection tool 50 in the tool holder 80 and preventing it from coming loose. The stepped portion of the fluid ejection tool 50 comes into contact with the tip surface of the collet 85 (the lower end surface in Figure 3) when the collet 85 is fitted onto the fluid ejection tool 50, thus providing a positioning function. The fluid ejection tool 50 may also have a shape without steps.

[0060] Next, the fluid ejection tool 50 will be described in detail. Figure 4 is a perspective view of the fluid ejection tool 50, Figure 5 is a bottom view (view of the tip surface) of the fluid ejection tool, and Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in Figure 5. As shown in Figures 3 to 6, the fluid ejection tool 50 has a bottomed cylindrical shape, comprising a circular bottom portion 51 in bottom view and a cylindrical peripheral wall portion 52 extending upward from the periphery of the bottom portion 51. The periphery of the bottom portion 51 is chamfered. The fluid ejection tool 50 is made of iron. As described above, the fluid ejection tool 50 has a stepped shape in which the base end 50b has a smaller diameter than the tip 50a side (bottom side) when viewed in the axial direction. The axial length L1 of the fluid ejection tool 50 is approximately 100 mm, and the ratio of the axial length L2 of the large-diameter main body 55 including the tip 54 to the axial length L3 of the small-diameter shank 57 including the base 56 is approximately 3:2. The outer diameter D1 of the main body 55 is approximately 15 mm, and the outer diameter D2 of the shank 57 is approximately 12 mm.

[0061] Furthermore, an internal flow channel 60 is formed inside the fluid ejection tool 50 to allow fluids such as coolant liquid or air, which are ejected through the spindle 3, to flow in. The diameter d1 of the internal flow channel 60 (that is, the inner diameter d1 of the fluid ejection tool 50 common to the main body 55 and the shank 57) is about 8 mm. The thickness of the bottom 51 is about 2 mm, and the total length of the internal flow channel 60 extends almost the entire length from the base end 50b to the tip 50a of the fluid ejection tool 50.

[0062] The tip 54 of the fluid ejection tool 50 is provided with multiple through-holes that penetrate the internal flow path 60 and the outside, ejecting the fluid that has passed through the internal flow path 60 to the outside. Specifically, a tip through-hole 61 is formed in the center of the circular bottom 51, extending from the inner tip surface 60a of the internal flow path 60 to the outside, along the axial direction of the fluid ejection tool 50. The tip through-hole 61 is a cylindrical through-hole and is located coaxially with the central axis of the internal flow path 60 (axis AX3 of the fluid ejection tool 50). The diameter of the tip through-hole 61 is approximately 3 mm. The fluid that has passed through the internal flow path 60 is ejected from the tip through-hole 61 in the axial direction.

[0063] Furthermore, the tip portion of the peripheral wall 52 is provided with multiple lateral through-holes 63 that penetrate from the inner circumferential surface 60b of the internal flow channel 60 to the outside. The multiple lateral through-holes 63 include four first lateral through-holes 63a, which are provided at 90-degree intervals in the circumferential direction at a position of approximately 5 mm (an example of a first distance) from the tip 50a (an example of a first position), and four second lateral through-holes 63b, which are provided at 90-degree intervals in the circumferential direction, offset by 45 degrees from each of the first lateral through-holes 63a, at a position of approximately 10 mm (an example of a second distance) from the tip 50a (an example of a second position).

[0064] Each lateral through-hole 63 (each first lateral through-hole 63a, each second lateral through-hole 63b) is a cylindrical through-hole opening with an elliptical shape, with the axial direction being the longitudinal direction. The circumferential width dimension of each lateral through-hole 63 is approximately 2 mm. Each lateral through-hole 63 is opened so that its axis intersects with the axis of the fluid ejection tool 50 (internal flow path 60). Furthermore, each lateral through-hole 63 is inclined at a predetermined inclination angle θ1 (see Figure 6) in the axial direction with respect to the radial direction of the fluid ejection tool 50, so that the fluid that has passed through the internal flow path 60 is ejected towards the base 56 side rather than the radial direction of the fluid ejection tool 50. In other words, the lateral through-hole 63 is inclined so that the outer opening 63d is located closer to the base 56 than the inner opening 63c. In this embodiment, the inclination angle θ1 of each lateral through-hole 63 is approximately 40 degrees. The various dimensions of the fluid ejection tool 50, including the inclination angle θ1, can be appropriately changed within a range that allows the chip removal function to be effectively performed. The inclination angle θ1 is preferably in the range of 10 to 70 degrees.

[0065] Furthermore, the inner bottom surface 50c of the fluid ejection tool 50 (the inner front surface 60a of the internal flow channel 60) is a mortar-shaped inclined surface that becomes thinner from the periphery towards the center. This makes it difficult for the fluid that has passed through the internal flow channel 60 to accumulate on the inner bottom surface 50c of the fluid ejection tool 50.

[0066] As described above, the fluid ejection tool 50 in this embodiment is provided with multiple through-holes (tip through-hole 61 and each lateral through-hole 63) in a range of approximately 15 mm in the axial direction from the tip 50a. Therefore, the fluid ejection tool 50 allows the fluid ejected through the inside of the main spindle 3 to flow into the internal flow channel 60 from the opening on the base 56 side of the fluid ejection tool 50, and further ejects the fluid that has passed through the internal flow channel 60 from the tip through-hole 61 along the axial direction, as well as from the first lateral through-hole 63a and the second lateral through-hole 63b so as to be directed towards the base 56 side rather than radially. By using the fluid ejection tool 50 in this embodiment, it is possible to remove chips generated by machining the workpiece Wa by ejecting fluid in this manner, as will be described below.

[0067] Next, a method for removing chips using the fluid ejection tool 50 of this embodiment will be described. Figure 7 is a plan view of a workpiece Wa processed by a machining center 1A. In Figure 7, a fixing jig 43 is fixed to the table 41, and the workpiece Wa is fixed to the fixing jig 43. Four blind screw holes Ha (an example of a bottomed hole) are formed in the workpiece Wa by cutting (drilling, threading, etc.). In this specification, blind screw holes Ha are also referred to as blind screw holes Ha. Each blind screw hole Ha is provided at one of the four corners of the workpiece Wa. The four blind screw holes Ha are the same shape, and the diameter of each blind screw hole Ha is larger than the outer diameter D1 of the main body 55 of the fluid ejection tool 50. Chips K generated by cutting are accumulated inside each blind screw hole Ha.

[0068] Conventionally, after thread cutting, the chips K accumulated in the no-tap thread hole Ha had to be removed by the operator (worker) using an air gun or similar device, after stopping the operation of the machining center 1A. Also, after drilling the pilot hole (hole drilling) before thread cutting, chips accumulate in the pilot hole before thread cutting. Therefore, the operator (worker) had to stop the operation of the machining center 1A and remove the chips in the pilot hole using an air gun or similar device, making it impossible to perform pilot hole drilling and thread cutting as a single automated operation.

[0069] According to this chip removal system KSA, after drilling a pilot hole or threading, the tool attached to the spindle 3 is replaced from a cutting tool to a fluid ejection tool 50 by an automatic tool changer 20. Then, by operating the fluid ejection tool 50 as follows, chips K are removed from the pilot hole or thread hole.

[0070] Figure 8 shows an example of removing chips K from a pilot hole Fa before threading using a fluid ejection tool 50. As shown in Figure 8, the control device 30 of the machining center 1A replaces the tool attached to the spindle 3 from a drill for drilling to a fluid ejection tool 50, then moves the fluid ejection tool 50 to the position of the pilot hole Fa (an example of a bottomed hole), and inserts the tip 54 of the fluid ejection tool 50 into the pilot hole Fa. At this point, the control device 30 moves the fluid ejection tool 50 in the X-axis and Y-axis directions so that the central axis of the pilot hole Fa and the rotation axis AX3 of the fluid ejection tool 50 coincide. The control device 30 also inserts the fluid ejection tool 50 into the pilot hole Fa at a depth where the tip 50a (tip surface) of the fluid ejection tool 50 does not touch the bottom surface Fb of the pilot hole Fa (for example, with the tip 50a about 5 to 8 mm away from the bottom surface Fb) (moves it in the Z-axis direction).

[0071] The control device 30 then drives a fluid supply device (not shown) to supply coolant (cutting oil) to the internal flow path 60 of the fluid ejection tool 50, while moving the fluid ejection tool 50 (in other words, the spindle 3) axially toward the base 56 (upward) at a predetermined feed rate. The predetermined feed rate can be set as appropriate, but for example, it is good to set it to the same feed rate as the drill during pilot hole drilling. The predetermined feed rate should be set in a range of approximately 70% to 130% of the drill feed rate during pilot hole drilling. Feed rates within this range correspond to the feed rate of the tool in the machining process.

[0072] The fluid supplied to the fluid ejection tool 50 passes through the internal flow path 60 and is ejected axially from the tip through-hole 61. When the fluid ejected from the tip through-hole 61 hits the bottom surface Fb of the pilot hole Fa, it passes through the gap between the tip 50a (tip surface) and the bottom surface Fb and enters the gap M between the outer surface of the fluid ejection tool 50 and the inner surface Fc of the pilot hole Fa. Due to this fluid flow, the chips K accumulated on the bottom surface Fb of the pilot hole Fa are blown towards the periphery of the bottom surface Fb and lifted upward, entering the gap M between the outer surface of the fluid ejection tool 50 and the inner surface Fc of the pilot hole Fa.

[0073] Furthermore, the fluid sent to the fluid ejection tool 50 is also ejected from the lateral through-holes 63 (first lateral through-hole 63a, second lateral through-hole 63b) through the internal flow path 60. Since there are eight lateral through-holes 63 provided at 45-degree intervals around the entire circumference of the fluid ejection tool 50, the fluid ejected from the lateral through-holes 63 is thoroughly sprayed over the entire circumference of the inner circumferential surface Fc of the pilot hole Fa. In addition, the lateral through-holes 63 are inclined toward the base part 56 side than the radial direction of the fluid ejection tool 50. Therefore, the fluid ejected from the lateral through-holes 63 is ejected at an inclination toward the base part 56 side than the radial direction of the fluid ejection tool 50 (i.e., at an upward inclination than the left-right direction in Figure 8). As a result, when the fluid ejected from the lateral through-holes 63 hits the inner circumferential surface Fc of the pilot hole Fa, it rises along the inner circumferential surface Fc. In other words, by injecting coolant (cutting oil) from the tip through-hole 61 and lateral through-hole 63 of the fluid ejection tool 50, a linear upward flow is formed that sends the chips K from the bottom of the pilot hole Fa to the upper opening Fe.

[0074] The chips K that are blown out by the fluid ejected from the tip through-hole 61 and enter the gap M between the fluid ejection tool 50 and the inner circumferential surface Fc of the pilot hole Fa are then sent upward along the inner circumferential surface Fc by the fluid ejected from the lateral through-hole 63. As the fluid ejection tool 50 is withdrawn from the pilot hole Fa (by moving upward in the Z-axis direction), the position where the fluid ejected from the lateral through-hole 63 hits also gradually rises above the inner circumferential surface Fc. In this way, as the fluid ejection tool 50 inserted into the pilot hole Fa is withdrawn upward while ejecting fluid, the chips K accumulated in the pilot hole Fa are blown towards the upper opening Fe of the pilot hole Fa and discharged to the outside of the pilot hole Fa through the upper opening Fe. Thus, using the fluid ejection tool 50 of this embodiment, it is possible to effectively remove chips K from a blind hole such as the pilot hole Fa.

[0075] The size, number, and shape of the openings of the through-holes (tip through-hole 61, lateral through-hole 63) of the fluid ejection tool 50 can be appropriately changed within a range where the velocity of the ejected fluid can effectively remove the chips K. However, if the total opening area of ​​the through-holes becomes too large, the flow velocity of the ejected coolant may become too slow, potentially reducing the chip removal performance. Conversely, if the total opening area of ​​the through-holes becomes too small, the chip removal efficiency may decrease. Therefore, it is desirable to design the tool appropriately while maintaining a balance between these factors. Furthermore, the pressure at which the fluid, such as coolant (cutting oil) or air, is supplied should be set appropriately within a range that can blow away the chips K.

[0076] Next, the removal of chips from a blind screw hole Ha will be described. Figure 9 shows an example of removing chips K from inside a blind screw hole Ha using a fluid ejection tool 50. As shown in Figure 9, the control device 30 of the machining center 1A replaces the tool attached to the spindle 3 from a threading tap to a fluid ejection tool 50, then moves the fluid ejection tool 50 to the position of the blind screw hole Ha and inserts the tip 54 of the fluid ejection tool 50 into the blind screw hole Ha. Here, the control device 30 moves the fluid ejection tool 50 in the X-axis and Y-axis directions so that the central axis of the blind screw hole Ha and the rotation axis AX3 of the fluid ejection tool 50 coincide. The control device 30 also inserts the fluid ejection tool 50 into the blind screw hole Ha at a depth where the tip 50a of the fluid ejection tool 50 does not touch the bottom surface Hb of the blind screw hole Ha (for example, with the tip 50a about 5 to 8 mm away from the bottom surface Hb) (moves it in the Z-axis direction).

[0077] The control device 30 then drives a fluid supply device (not shown) to supply coolant (cutting oil) to the internal flow path 60 of the fluid ejection tool 50, while rotating the fluid ejection tool 50 (in other words, the spindle 3) at a predetermined rotational speed in the opposite direction to that used during thread cutting (i.e., the direction in which the screw loosens; specifically, counterclockwise for right-hand threads, and clockwise for left-hand threads), and moving it axially toward the base part 56 (upward) at a predetermined feed rate. The predetermined rotational speed and feed rate can be set as appropriate, but for example, they should be the same as the rotational speed and feed rate of the tap used during thread cutting. This is because the amount of fluid ejected per rotation of the fluid ejection tool 50 can be matched to the pitch of the blind screw hole Ha, and smooth removal of chips K along the screw groove Hd can be expected. The predetermined rotational speed should be set in a range of about 70% to 130% of the rotational speed of the tap used during thread cutting. The rotational speed in this range corresponds to the rotational speed of the tool in the machining process. Furthermore, the predetermined feed rate should be set within a range of approximately 70% to 130% of the tap feed rate used during thread cutting. Feed rates within this range correspond to the feed rate of the tool used in the machining process.

[0078] The fluid supplied to the fluid ejection tool 50 passes through the internal flow path 60 and is ejected axially from the tip through-hole 61. When the fluid ejected from the tip through-hole 61 hits the bottom surface Hb of the blind screw hole Ha, it passes through the gap between the tip 50a and the bottom surface Hb and enters the gap N between the outer surface of the fluid ejection tool 50 and the inner surface Hc of the blind screw hole Ha. Due to this fluid flow, the chips K accumulated on the bottom surface Hb of the blind screw hole Ha are blown upwards towards the periphery of the bottom surface Hb and enter the gap N between the outer surface of the fluid ejection tool 50 and the inner surface Hc of the blind screw hole Ha.

[0079] Furthermore, the fluid sent to the fluid ejection tool 50 is also ejected from the lateral through-holes 63 (first lateral through-hole 63a, second lateral through-hole 63b) through the internal flow path 60. There are eight lateral through-holes 63 provided around the entire circumference of the fluid ejection tool 50 at 45-degree intervals. The fluid ejection tool 50 is rotated in the direction of loosening the screw and moved in the direction of exiting the blind screw hole Ha (upward in the Z-axis direction). The lateral through-holes 63 are inclined toward the base part 56 side than the radial direction of the fluid ejection tool 50 (i.e., they are inclined upward than the left-right direction in Figure 9). Therefore, when the fluid ejected from the lateral through-holes 63 hits the inner circumferential surface Hc of the blind screw hole Ha, it rises spirally along the screw groove Hd on the inner circumferential surface Hc. In other words, by rotating the fluid ejection tool 50 and spraying coolant (cutting oil) from the tip through-hole 61 and the lateral through-hole 63, the chips K accumulated at the bottom of the blind screw hole Ha are sent into the gap N between the fluid ejection tool 50 and the inner circumferential surface Hc of the blind screw hole Ha. At the same time, the chips K sent into the gap N, along with the chips K accumulated in the screw groove Hd, are sent along the screw groove Hd to the upper opening He of the blind screw hole Ha, forming a spiral upward flow.

[0080] This spiral upward flow propels the chips K inside the blind screw hole Ha upward along the screw groove Hd. Furthermore, as the fluid ejection tool 50 is withdrawn from the blind screw hole Ha (as it moves upward in the Z-axis direction), the position where this upward flow strikes gradually rises above the inner circumferential surface Hc. In this way, all the chips K accumulated inside the blind screw hole Ha are discharged outside the blind screw hole Ha through the upper opening He of the blind screw hole Ha. Thus, using the fluid ejection tool 50 of this embodiment makes it possible to effectively remove chips K from the blind screw hole Ha.

[0081] In this embodiment, the first lateral through-hole 63a and the second lateral through-hole 63b of the fluid ejection tool 50 are positioned axially offset from each other. Therefore, the chips K that have been blown towards the base 56 by the fluid ejected from the first lateral through-hole 63a, which is closer to the tip 50a of the fluid ejection tool 50, can be further blown towards the base 56 by the second lateral through-hole 63b.

[0082] Furthermore, using the fluid ejection tool 50 in this embodiment, not only can chips K accumulated in blind holes such as pilot holes Fa and blind screw holes Ha be effectively removed, but coolant (cutting oil) accumulated in blind holes can also be effectively removed. Chips K and coolant (cutting oil) and other materials that require removal are collectively referred to as residues.

[0083] To remove the coolant liquid accumulated in the bottomed holes, it is sufficient to simply change the fluid injected from the tip through-hole 61 and lateral through-hole 63 of the fluid ejection tool 50 from coolant liquid to air. In this embodiment, the machining center 1A can supply not only coolant liquid but also air through the spindle 3 into the fluid ejection tool 50. Specifically, the control device 30 of the machining center 1A supplies air to the fluid ejection tool 50 while inserting the fluid ejection tool 50 into the pilot hole Fa shown in Figure 8 and the blind screw hole Ha shown in Figure 9 at a predetermined feed rate. This makes it possible to suitably discharge the coolant liquid accumulated in the pilot hole Fa and the coolant liquid accumulated in the blind screw hole Ha to the outside of each bottomed hole. The feed rate of the fluid ejection tool 50 can be set as appropriate. The process of removing the coolant liquid from the bottomed holes by ejecting air from the fluid ejection tool 50 is called the residue removal process.

[0084] Next, the processing of the control device 30 when the machining center 1A forms blind screw holes Ha in an unprocessed workpiece will be explained with reference to Figure 10. With the chip removal system KSA of this embodiment, which includes the fluid ejection tool 50, the operator only needs to perform the machining instruction operation once, and the machining center 1A will perform all processes, including cleaning the workpiece, until the completion of machining. When the operator operates the input / output device 32 and the processor of the control device 30 receives the instruction to machine screw holes, the processor of the control device 30 performs, for example, the screw hole formation process shown in Figure 10. The screw hole formation process shown in Figure 10 is the process of forming four blind screw holes Ha in the workpiece Wa, as shown in Figure 7.

[0085] As shown in Figure 10, the processor of the control device 30 first drills four center holes in the workpiece Wa, then replaces the tool on the spindle 3 with a drill for drilling pilot holes to form four pilot holes Fa (step S1). Next, the processor of the control device 30 operates the automatic tool changer 20, etc., to perform a tool change operation in which the tool on the spindle 3 is replaced from the drill for drilling pilot holes to a fluid ejection tool 50 (step S2). Then, a chip removal operation is performed using the fluid ejection tool 50 to remove chips K from the pilot holes Fa (step S3).

[0086] In the chip removal process (S3), chips K are removed from each of the four pilot holes Fa. First, the fluid ejection tool 50 is moved coaxially with the central axis of the first pilot hole Fa. Then, the fluid ejection tool 50 is inserted into the pilot hole Fa to a depth corresponding to the depth of the pilot hole Fa (a depth such that the tip 50a of the fluid ejection tool 50 does not come into contact with the chips K accumulated in the pilot hole Fa). The program (work instruction data) for moving the fluid ejection tool 50 coaxially with the central axis of the pilot hole Fa can be easily input into the control device 30 by the operator by referring to the position data (position data in the X-axis and Y-axis directions) during pilot hole machining. Similarly, the program for inserting the fluid ejection tool 50 into the pilot hole Fa to the optimal depth can also be easily input into the control device 30 by the operator by referring to the depth data (position data in the Z-axis direction) during pilot hole machining and taking into account the amount of chips K generated by the pilot hole machining.

[0087] Next, the processor of the control device 30 sends coolant liquid through the inside of the spindle 3 to the internal flow path 60 of the fluid ejection tool 50, and while ejecting it from each through-hole (tip through-hole 61 and lateral through-hole 63), moves the spindle 3 (fluid ejection tool 50) in the direction of exiting the pilot hole Fa at a predetermined feed rate (see Figure 8). The feed rate here is set to a certain range (approximately plus or minus 30%) based on the feed rate of the drill during pilot hole machining. This is because if the feed rate is too high, the chips K may not be removed sufficiently, and if the feed rate is too low, the machining efficiency may be poor.

[0088] By controlling the fluid ejection tool 50 (spindle 3) in this manner, chips K in the pilot hole Fa are effectively removed. Once the removal of chips K from the first pilot hole Fa is complete, the processor of the control device 30 performs the same removal of chips K from the remaining pilot holes Fa one by one. In this embodiment of the chip removal system KSA, the operating conditions (operation data) of the fluid ejection tool 50 can be determined by referring to the machining conditions (machining data) of the pilot hole Fa. Therefore, the fluid ejection tool 50 can be moved to the optimal position relative to the machined pilot hole Fa, and the fluid ejection tool 50 can be operated at the optimal speed for removing chips K in the pilot hole Fa. Thus, it is possible to remove chips K in the pilot hole Fa more accurately than in a configuration where the operator performs the removal manually.

[0089] Next, the processor of the control device 30 replaces the tool on the spindle 3 with a chamfering tool to chamfer the entrance of each pilot hole Fa, and then replaces the tool on the spindle 3 with a tap for threading to cut threads into each pilot hole Fa and form blind thread holes Ha (step S4). If coolant liquid accumulates in the pilot hole Fa due to the chip removal process in step S3, it is advisable to perform a residue removal process between step S3 and step S4 by injecting air from the fluid ejection tool 50.

[0090] Following step S4, the processor of the control device 30 operates the automatic tool changer 20 and the like to perform a tool change operation to change the tool on the spindle 3 from a tap for threading to a fluid ejection tool 50 (step S5). Then, a chip removal operation is performed to remove the chips K in the blind thread hole Ha using the fluid ejection tool 50 (step S6).

[0091] In the chip removal process (S6), chips K are removed from each of the four blind screw holes Ha. First, the fluid ejection tool 50 is moved coaxially with the central axis of the first blind screw hole Ha. Then, the fluid ejection tool 50 is inserted into the blind screw hole Ha to a depth corresponding to the depth of the blind screw hole Ha (a depth such that the tip 50a of the fluid ejection tool 50 does not come into contact with the chips K accumulated inside the blind screw hole Ha). The program (work instruction data) for moving the fluid ejection tool 50 coaxially with the central axis of the blind screw hole Ha can be easily input by the operator into the control device 30 by referring to the position data during thread cutting (position data in the X-axis and Y-axis directions). Similarly, the program for inserting the fluid ejection tool 50 into the blind screw hole Ha to the optimal depth can also be easily input by the operator into the control device 30 by referring to the depth data during thread cutting (position data in the Z-axis direction) and taking into account the amount of chips K generated by thread cutting.

[0092] Next, the processor of the control device 30 sends coolant liquid through the spindle 3 to the internal flow path 60 of the fluid ejection tool 50, and while ejecting it from each through-hole (tip through-hole 61 and lateral through-hole 63), rotates the fluid ejection tool 50 at a predetermined rotational speed in the direction of loosening the screw and moves the spindle 3 (fluid ejection tool 50) at a predetermined feed rate in the direction of exiting the stop screw hole Ha (see Figure 9). The rotational speed and feed rate here are set to be the same as the rotational speed and feed rate of the tap during thread cutting. In this way, by matching the operating conditions (operational data) of the fluid ejection tool 50 to the thread cutting conditions (processing data), the coolant liquid can easily come into contact with all the screw grooves Hd, and the chips K can be easily discharged along the screw grooves Hd without leaving any outside the stop screw hole Ha. Note that even if the rotational speed and feed rate of the fluid ejection tool 50 do not perfectly match the thread cutting conditions, they can be appropriately changed within a range that allows for suitable removal of chips K. For example, the rotational speed and feed rate of the fluid ejection tool 50 may be set within a certain range (approximately plus or minus 30%) based on the rotational speed and feed rate of the tap used during thread cutting.

[0093] By controlling the fluid ejection tool 50 (spindle 3) in this manner, chips K in the blind screw holes Ha are effectively removed. Once the removal of chips K from the first blind screw hole Ha is complete, the processor of the control device 30 performs the same removal of chips K from the remaining blind screw holes Ha one by one. In this embodiment of the chip removal system KSA, the operating conditions (operation data) of the fluid ejection tool 50 can be determined by referring to the machining conditions (machining data) of the blind screw holes Ha. Therefore, the fluid ejection tool 50 can be moved to the optimal position relative to the machined blind screw hole Ha, and the fluid ejection tool 50 can be operated at the optimal rotational speed and feed rate for removing chips K in the blind screw holes Ha. Thus, the removal of chips K in the blind screw holes Ha can be performed more accurately than in a configuration where the operator performs the removal manually.

[0094] Next, the processor of the control device 30 performs a residue removal process (step S7). In the residue removal process, air is supplied to the fluid ejection tool 50 while the fluid ejection tool 50 is sequentially inserted into each blind screw hole Ha. This allows the coolant liquid accumulated in each blind screw hole Ha due to the chip removal process in step S6 to be discharged from each blind screw hole Ha.

[0095] As described above, with the chip removal system KSA in this form, which includes the fluid ejection tool 50, the operator (worker) only needs to operate the input / output device 32 once at the start of machining, and the machining center 1A can continuously perform all processes, including cleaning the workpiece, until the machining is complete. Therefore, the operator does not need to temporarily stop the operation of the machining center 1A after the formation of the pilot hole Fa or the blind screw hole Ha to remove residual materials such as chips K. Thus, the operator's work efficiency is improved, and the factory's production efficiency can be increased. In addition, compared to configurations where the operator removes chips themselves, there is no risk of injury to the operator, and they do not get dirty.

[0096] Furthermore, as mentioned above, the chip removal system KSA of this embodiment offers higher accuracy in removing chips K (residues) compared to removal by the operator themselves (fewer chips K are left behind). Thus, this embodiment makes it possible to remove chips K with high precision safely, cleanly, and efficiently.

[0097] Next, the removal of chips K from a blind screw hole formed by helical machining will be explained with reference to Figure 11A. The blind screw hole Ja shown in Figure 11A is a larger diameter screw hole than the blind screw hole Ha shown in Figure 9. This blind screw hole Ja is formed by helical machining, in which a threading tool (e.g., a tap mill) is moved in a spiral motion. When removing chips K from such a blind screw hole Ja, the processor of the control device 30 replaces the tool attached to the spindle 3 with a fluid ejection tool 50, and then moves it in the reverse direction and in the reverse order of machining the blind screw hole Ja.

[0098] In other words, the processor of the control device 30 inserts the fluid ejection tool 50 close to the bottom surface Jb of the dead screw hole Ja, and moves the fluid ejection tool 50 closer to the inner surface Jc so that the axis AX3 of the fluid ejection tool 50 is closer to the inner surface Jc than the central axis AX4 of the dead screw hole Ja. Then, the direction of rotation of the fluid ejection tool 50 (rotation around the axis AX3 of the fluid ejection tool 50) is reversed from that during machining, and the direction of revolution of the fluid ejection tool 50 along the inner surface Jc of the dead screw hole Ja (rotation around the central axis AX4 of the dead screw hole Ja) is also reversed from that during machining, so that the fluid ejection tool 50 is pulled up in a circular motion along the inner surface Jc (i.e., pulled up in a spiral). At this time, the movement of the fluid ejection tool 50 is controlled so that it rises in the Z-axis direction by one pitch of the dead screw hole Ja for each revolution of the fluid ejection tool 50. In other words, the rotation and feed of the fluid ejection tool 50 are synchronized, and the feed amount per rotation is controlled to match the pitch amount of the blind screw hole Ja. The processor of the control device 30 then ejects coolant liquid from the tip through-hole 61 and the side through-hole 63 of the fluid ejection tool 50, along with this movement control. With this control of the fluid ejection tool 50, the chips K in the blind screw hole Ja are reliably transported along the screw groove Jd of the blind screw hole Ja to the upper opening Je. Therefore, it is possible to remove the chips K in the blind screw hole Ja with high precision. This control of the movement and fluid ejection of the fluid ejection tool can also be suitably used to remove chips K from blind holes without threads formed by helical machining.

[0099] In addition, the relatively large-diameter blind screw hole Ja shown in Figure 11A may also be formed by cutting an internal thread using a threading tool with a helical feed from the bottom of the hole toward the opening of the hole after the pilot hole has been formed. When removing chips K in the case of blind screw hole Ja formed by this method, the processor of the control device 30 may set the direction of rotation and revolution of the fluid ejection tool 50 to the same direction as during threading.

[0100] Here, when forming a blind screw hole Ja by helical machining, the processor of the control device 30 performs the screw hole formation process shown in Figure 11B. The processes from steps S1 to S6 in the screw hole formation process shown in Figure 11B are the same as the processes from steps S1 to S6 in the screw hole formation process shown in Figure 10, so the explanation is omitted. As shown in Figure 11A, a blind screw hole Ja is formed by helical machining (step S4), and after chip removal processing using the fluid ejection tool 50 (steps S5 and S6), the processor of the control device 30 replaces the tool on the spindle 3 with a thread cutting tool for finishing and performs finishing processing on the blind screw hole Ja (step S10). After that, the processor of the control device 30 replaces the tool on the spindle 3 with the fluid ejection tool 50 again (step S11) and removes the chips K generated by the finishing process from the blind screw hole Ja (step S12). Subsequently, the processor of the control device 30 performs residue removal processing (step S13). In the residue removal process, the processor of the control device 30 inserts the fluid ejection tool 50 into the stop screw hole Ja while supplying air to the fluid ejection tool 50, and discharges the coolant liquid accumulated in the stop screw hole Ja by the chip removal process in step S12. With this embodiment of the chip removal system KSA, which includes the fluid ejection tool 50, even when machining a workpiece that includes threading by helical machining, the operator (worker) only needs to operate the input / output device 32 once at the start of machining, and the machining center 1A can continuously perform all processes from finishing to subsequent cleaning.

[0101] As described in detail above, the fluid ejection tool 50 according to the first embodiment is a tool attached to the spindle 3 of the machining center 1A. The machining center 1A can automatically change the tool attached to the spindle 3, can machine a workpiece by rotating the tool, and can eject a fluid, such as coolant liquid or air, in a center-through manner (see Figure 1). The fluid ejection tool 50 is tubular in shape with an opening at the base 56 end, and when attached to the spindle 3, it extends in the tool axis direction along the axial direction of the spindle 3. It includes an internal flow path 60 through which fluid is ejected by passing through the inside of the spindle 3, and a lateral through-hole 63 (first lateral through-hole 63a, second lateral through-hole 63b) provided on the tip 54 end opposite the base 56, which penetrates from the inner circumferential surface 60b of the internal flow path 60 to the outside of the fluid ejection tool 50, ejecting the fluid that has passed through the internal flow path 60 to the outside of the fluid ejection tool 50 (see Figures 4-6). The lateral through-hole 63 is inclined at an angle θ1 (approximately 40 degrees in this embodiment) in the tool axis direction rather than the tool radial direction, such that the outer opening 63d is closer to the base 56 than the inner opening 63c (see Figure 6).

[0102] With this embodiment of the fluid ejection tool 50, fluid such as coolant that is injected from the spindle 3 and flows into the interior can be ejected to the outside from the lateral through-hole 63. The lateral through-hole 63 is inclined at an angle θ1 in the axial direction of the tool rather than in the radial direction of the tool, such that the outer opening 63d is located closer to the base 56 than the inner opening 63c. This allows the chips K to be effectively blown away toward the base 56 side of the fluid ejection tool 50. Therefore, it is possible to remove the chips K using the fluid injected through the spindle 3 without stopping the operation of the machining center 1A. As a result, it is possible to remove the chips K inside the machining center 1A safely and reliably, while suppressing a decrease in work efficiency, compared to manual cleaning by an operator using an air gun or the like.

[0103] Furthermore, the first embodiment discloses a chip removal method using a fluid ejection tool 50, which includes: a replacement step (steps S2 and S5 in Figure 10) in which the tool to be used is replaced with a fluid ejection tool 50 after a machining step in which a bottomed hole (pilot hole Fa or blind screw hole Ha) is machined into the workpiece Wa; an insertion step (partial processing included in steps S3 and S6 in Figure 10) in which the fluid ejection tool 50 is inserted into the bottomed hole formed by the machining step to position the lateral through hole 63 and the tip through hole 61 within the bottomed hole; and a chip removal step (other partial processing included in steps S3 and S6 in Figure 10) in which the fluid ejection tool 50 is moved in a direction away from the bottomed hole while fluid is ejected from the lateral through hole 63 and the tip through hole 61 and the fluid ejection tool 50 is rotated in the opposite direction to the tool rotation direction when the bottomed hole was formed.

[0104] Furthermore, the first embodiment discloses a chip removal system KSA comprising a machining center 1A having a control device 30 that controls operation based on input work instruction data, and a fluid ejection tool 50. In this chip removal system KSA, the control device 30 performs the following operations after the machining process in which a blind hole (pilot hole Fa or blind screw hole Ha) is machined into the workpiece Wa: a tool change process (steps S2 and S5 in Figure 10) in which the tool to be used is replaced with a fluid ejection tool 50; a tool insertion process (partially included in steps S3 and S6 in Figure 10) in which the fluid ejection tool 50 is inserted into the blind hole formed by the machining process to position the lateral through hole 63 and the tip through hole 61 within the blind hole; and a chip removal process (other partial processes included in steps S3 and S6 in Figure 10) in which the fluid ejection tool 50 is moved out of the blind hole while rotating it in the opposite direction to the tool rotation direction during the formation of the blind hole, while ejecting fluid from the lateral through hole 63 and the tip through hole 61.

[0105] According to the chip removal method and chip removal system KSA disclosed in the first embodiment, after inserting the fluid ejection tool 50 attached to the spindle 3 into a blind hole (pilot hole Fa or blind screw hole Ha) to position the tip through hole 61 and the lateral through hole 63 within the blind hole, the fluid ejection tool 50 is rotated in the opposite direction to when the blind hole was formed while ejecting fluid from the tip through hole 61 and the lateral through hole 63, and moved in the direction of exiting the blind hole, thereby reliably blowing away the chips K remaining in the blind hole (see Figures 8 and 9). In particular, when the blind hole is a blind screw hole Ha, it is possible to completely remove the chips K from the blind hole by moving them spirally along the screw groove Hd (see Figure 9). Furthermore, when removing residual materials such as chips K using the fluid ejection tool 50, the machining space is sealed off by closing the sliding door (not shown) of the machining center 1A, so the coolant liquid and chips K will not be scattered outside the machining center 1A.

[0106] Furthermore, in the chip removal system KSA disclosed in the first embodiment, the control device 30 moves the fluid ejection tool 50 to the same position as the workpiece machining position in the machining process, making it possible to improve the accuracy of removing chips K in the bottomed hole.

[0107] Furthermore, in the chip removal system KSA disclosed in the first embodiment, the control device 30 inserts the fluid ejection tool 50 into the bottomed hole to a depth that does not exceed the insertion depth of the tool in the machining process. This prevents damage to the workpiece caused by the fluid ejection tool 50 hitting the bottom of the bottomed hole (bottom surface Fb of the pilot hole Fa, bottom surface Hb of the blind screw hole Ha).

[0108] Furthermore, in the chip removal system KSA disclosed in the first embodiment, the control device 30 rotates the fluid ejection tool 50 at a rotational speed corresponding to the rotational speed of the tool during the machining process, making it possible to remove chips K suitable for the machined blind hole. In particular, when machining a blind screw hole Ha, by rotating the fluid ejection tool 50 in the opposite direction to the machining process at a rotational speed corresponding to the rotational speed of the tool when the thread was cut, the chips K can be reliably moved spirally along the screw groove Hd, making it possible to remove chips K in the blind screw hole Ha with high precision.

[0109] Furthermore, in the chip removal system KSA disclosed in the first embodiment, the control device 30 moves the fluid ejection tool 50 in the direction of exiting the bottomed hole at a feed rate corresponding to the tool feed rate in the machining process, so that chips K suitable for the machined bottomed hole can be removed. In other words, it is possible to prevent the speed at which the fluid ejection tool 50 is removed from the bottomed hole from being too fast or too slow, and to balance the accuracy of chip removal K with the efficiency of the removal work.

[0110] 2. Second Embodiment Next, a chip removal system of the second embodiment will be described. The chip removal system of the second embodiment includes a fluid ejection tool 50A shown in Figures 12 and 13, and the same machining center 1A as in the first embodiment. That is, in the second embodiment, the machining center 1A is equipped with the fluid ejection tool 50A shown in Figures 12 and 13 as a tool that can be replaced by an automatic tool changer 20. In the description of the second embodiment, components with the same configuration and function as in the first embodiment may be denoted by the same reference numerals and their description may be omitted.

[0111] Figure 12 is a bottom view of the fluid ejection tool 50A according to the second embodiment, and Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in Figure 12. As shown in Figures 12 and 13, the fluid ejection tool 50A according to the second embodiment differs from the fluid ejection tool 50 of the first embodiment in that the circular bottom portion 51A in bottom view does not have a tip through-hole, and the lateral through-hole portion 63A formed in the cylindrical peripheral wall portion 52A extending upward from the peripheral edge of the bottom portion 51A is inclined toward the bottom portion 51A (tip 50Aa of the fluid ejection tool 50A) from the inner opening 63Ac to the outer opening 63Ad. Other configurations are generally the same as those of the fluid ejection tool 50 of the first embodiment.

[0112] In detail, in the fluid ejection tool 50A according to the second embodiment, the bottom portion 51A is completely closed, as shown in Figure 12, on its bottom surface (the surface of the tip 50Aa of the fluid ejection tool 50A). Therefore, the fluid (coolant liquid, air) that passes through the internal flow path 60A is not ejected in the axial direction of the fluid ejection tool 50A. Furthermore, in the fluid ejection tool 50A according to the second embodiment, the lateral through-hole portion 63A is inclined at a predetermined inclination angle θ2 in the axial direction with respect to the radial direction of the fluid ejection tool 50A, as shown in Figure 13, so that the fluid that passes through the internal flow path 60A is ejected towards the bottom portion 51A (tip 50Aa of the fluid ejection tool 50A) rather than towards the radial direction of the fluid ejection tool 50A. In other words, the lateral through-hole portion 63A is inclined so that the outer opening 63Ad is located closer to the bottom portion 51A (tip 50Aa of the fluid ejection tool 50A) than the inner opening 63Ac. In this embodiment, the inclination angle θ2 of the lateral through-hole portion 63A is approximately 40 degrees.

[0113] In the second embodiment as well, the lateral through-holes 63A are provided in two positions: a first position closer to the bottom 51A when viewed in the axial direction, and a second position further from the bottom 51A than the first position, with four through-holes provided at 90-degree intervals along the circumferential direction. Each first lateral through-hole 63Aa at the first position closer to the bottom 51A and each second lateral through-hole 63Ab at the second position further from the bottom 51A are offset by 45 degrees in the circumferential direction. The dimensions of each part of the fluid ejection tool 50A according to the second embodiment are the same as those of the fluid ejection tool 50 according to the first embodiment, and the position of the outer opening 63Ad of each lateral through-hole 63A in the second embodiment is the same as the position of the outer opening 63d of each lateral through-hole 63 in the first embodiment. The various dimensions of the fluid ejection tool 50A can be appropriately changed within a range in which the chip removal function can be suitably performed. The inclination angle θ2 is preferably in the range of 10 to 70 degrees.

[0114] The fluid ejection tool 50A according to the second embodiment, configured in this way, allows fluid ejected through the inside of the main shaft 3 to flow into the internal flow channel 60A from the opening on the base end 56A side of the fluid ejection tool 50A, and further, the fluid that has passed through the internal flow channel 60A can be ejected from the first lateral through-hole 63Aa and the second lateral through-hole 63Ab so as to be directed towards the bottom end 51A (tip 50Aa of the fluid ejection tool 50A) rather than radially. By using the fluid ejection tool 50A of this embodiment, it is possible to suitably remove chips K adhering to the threaded holes of through-holes formed in the workpiece by ejecting fluid in this manner, as will be described below.

[0115] Figure 14 shows an example of removing chips K from a through-hole threaded hole Pa (hereinafter also referred to as "through-hole Pa") using a fluid ejection tool 50A. When removing chips K from a through-hole Pa (an example of a through-hole), as shown in Figure 14, the control device 30 of the machining center 1A replaces the tool attached to the spindle 3 from a threading tap to a fluid ejection tool 50A, and then moves the fluid ejection tool 50A in the X-axis and Y-axis directions so that the central axis AX5 of the through-hole Pa and the rotation axis of the fluid ejection tool 50A coincide.

[0116] The control device 30 then drives a fluid supply device (not shown) to supply coolant (cutting oil) to the internal flow path 60A of the fluid ejection tool 50A, while rotating the fluid ejection tool 50A (in other words, the spindle 3) at a predetermined rotational speed in the same direction as during thread cutting (i.e., the direction in which the thread tightens, specifically clockwise for right-hand threads and counterclockwise for left-hand threads), and moving it along the axial direction (Z-axis direction) toward the lower opening Pf side of the through-thread hole Pa (downward) at a predetermined feed rate. The predetermined rotational speed and predetermined feed rate can be set as appropriate, but for example, it is preferable to set them to the same rotational speed and feed rate as the tap during thread cutting. This is because the amount of fluid ejected per rotation of the fluid ejection tool 50 can be matched to the pitch of the through-thread hole Pa, and smooth removal of chips K along the thread groove Pd can be expected. The predetermined rotational speed should be set in a range of about 70% to 130% of the tap rotational speed during thread cutting. The rotational speed within this range corresponds to the rotational speed of the tool during the machining process. Furthermore, the predetermined feed rate should be set within a range of approximately 70% to 130% of the tap feed rate during thread cutting. The feed rate within this range corresponds to the feed rate of the tool during the machining process.

[0117] The fluid supplied to the fluid ejection tool 50A passes through the internal flow path 60A and is ejected from the lateral through-holes 63A (first lateral through-hole 63Aa, second lateral through-hole 63Ab). There are eight lateral through-holes 63A arranged around the entire circumference of the tip 54A of the fluid ejection tool 50A at 45-degree intervals. The fluid ejection tool 50A is rotated in the direction of tightening the screw and moved in a direction that passes through the through-screw hole Pa (downward in the Z-axis direction). The lateral through-holes 63A are inclined toward the bottom 51A side than radially toward the fluid ejection tool 50A (i.e., they are inclined downward toward the left-right direction in Figure 14). Therefore, when the fluid ejected from the lateral through-holes 63A hits the inner circumferential surface Pc of the through-screw hole Pa, it spirals downward along the screw groove Pd of the inner circumferential surface Pc. In other words, by rotating the fluid ejection tool 50A and injecting coolant (cutting oil) from the lateral through-hole 63A, a spiral downward flow is formed that sends the chips K adhering to the inner circumferential surface Pc of the through-hole Pa along the screw groove Pd to the lower opening Pf of the through-hole Pa.

[0118] This spiral downward flow sends the chips K inside the through-hole Pa downward along the screw groove Pd. Furthermore, as the fluid ejection tool 50A moves downward (downward in the Z-axis direction) inside the through-hole Pa, the position where this downward flow strikes also gradually moves downward towards the inner circumferential surface Pc. In this way, all the chips K adhering inside the through-hole Pa are discharged outside the through-hole Pa through the lower opening Pf. Thus, using the fluid ejection tool 50A of this embodiment, it is possible to effectively remove chips K from the through-hole Pa.

[0119] In this embodiment, the first lateral through-hole 63Aa and the second lateral through-hole 63Ab are provided in the fluid ejection tool 50A with their positions offset in the axial direction. Therefore, the chips K that have been blown towards the bottom 51A by the fluid ejected from the second lateral through-hole 63Ab, which is farther from the bottom 51A of the fluid ejection tool 50A, can be further blown towards the bottom 51A by the first lateral through-hole 63Aa.

[0120] As described above, the fluid ejection tool 50A according to the second embodiment has a lateral through-hole portion 63A that is inclined at an angle θ2 (approximately 40 degrees in this embodiment) such that the outer opening 63Ad is closer to the bottom 51A (tip 50Aa of the fluid ejection tool 50A) than the inner opening 63Ac, as shown in Figure 13, and does not have a tip through-hole portion (see Figure 13).

[0121] With this embodiment of the fluid ejection tool 50A, the fluid ejected from the lateral through-hole 63A can blow away the chips K toward the tip 50Aa side of the fluid ejection tool 50A (the side where the workpiece or fixing jig is located). Therefore, it is possible to effectively remove chips remaining in machining areas that penetrate the workpiece.

[0122] The second embodiment discloses a chip removal method using a fluid ejection tool 50A, which includes a replacement step of replacing the tool used with a fluid ejection tool 50A after a machining step of machining a through hole (for example, a through screw hole Pa) in a workpiece, and a chip removal step of passing the fluid ejection tool 50A through the through hole while rotating the fluid ejection tool 50A in the same direction as the tool rotation direction when the through hole was formed, while ejecting fluid from the lateral through hole 63.

[0123] A second embodiment discloses a chip removal system comprising a machining center 1A having a control device 30 that controls operation based on input work instruction data, and a fluid ejection tool 50A. In this chip removal system, the control device 30 performs a tool change process in which the tool to be used is replaced with a fluid ejection tool 50A after a machining process in which a through hole (for example, a through screw hole Pa) is machined into the workpiece, and a chip removal process in which the fluid ejection tool 50A is passed through the through hole while rotating the fluid ejection tool 50A in the same direction as the tool rotation direction when the through hole was formed, while ejecting fluid from the lateral through hole 63.

[0124] According to the chip removal method and chip removal system disclosed in the second embodiment, by rotating the fluid ejection tool 50A attached to the spindle 3 through the through hole (e.g., through screw hole Pa) in the same direction as when the through hole was formed, while ejecting fluid from the lateral through hole 63, it is possible to reliably blow away any chips K remaining in the through hole (see Figure 14). In particular, when the through hole is a through screw hole Pa, it is possible to completely remove the chips K from the through hole by moving them spirally along the screw groove Pd (see Figure 14).

[0125] 3. Third Embodiment Next, the chip removal system KSB of the third embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 15 to 18. In the description of the third embodiment, components with the same configuration and function as those of the first embodiment may be denoted by the same reference numerals and their description may be omitted.

[0126] The chip removal system KSB of the third embodiment includes a machining center 1B (an example of a machine tool) and the same fluid ejection tool 50 as in the first embodiment, as shown in Figure 15. The machining center 1B, like the machining center 1A according to the first embodiment, is equipped with a machining head 2, an automatic tool changer 20, and a control device 30. The control device 30 can automatically exchange one of the multiple tools set in the tool magazine 22 of the automatic tool changer 20 with the tool mounted on the spindle 3 (an example of a tool mounting part) of the machining head 2 based on work instruction data. The chip removal system KSB is equipped with a fluid ejection tool 50 as one of the tools set in the tool magazine 22, and the fluid ejection tool 50 can be attached to the spindle 3 by the tool exchange process performed by the control device 30, as shown in Figure 15.

[0127] The machining center 1B according to the third embodiment has a longer length in the X-axis direction (left-right direction) compared to the machining center 1A according to the first embodiment. The machining center 1B includes a table 200, which is rectangular in plan view, with the X-axis direction (left-right direction) as the longitudinal direction and the Y-axis direction (front-back direction) as the short direction, as a workpiece support device for supporting the workpiece. The machining center 1B also includes a moving device 48 for moving the machining head 2 relative to the table 200. The control device 30 controls the rotation of the tool attached to the spindle 3, the movement of the machining head 2 (operation of the moving device 48), the operation of the automatic tool changer 20, the operation of a fluid supply device (not shown) that supplies coolant (cutting oil) and air, and the operation of a collection device (not shown) that collects chips K generated by machining the workpiece. Although not shown in Figure 15, the machining center 1B is provided with an outer wall (casing) surrounding the table 200 and the machining head 2, and a sliding door that opens and closes an opening formed in the outer wall. By opening and closing the sliding door, it is possible to open and close the machining space where the workpiece is machined.

[0128] Furthermore, the machining center 1B in this embodiment, like the machining center 1A according to the first embodiment, is capable of injecting various fluids such as coolant and air through the spindle 3 using a center-through method.

[0129] Next, a method for removing chips using a fluid ejection tool 50 in the machining center 1B will be described. Figure 16 is a perspective view of the table 200 of the machining center 1B. After machining a workpiece by the machining center 1B, chips K remain on the table 200 as shown in Figure 16. Chips K also remain in the T-slot groove 210 provided in the table 200. The T-slot groove 210 is an inverted T-shaped groove in left view for fixing a fixing jig for fixing a workpiece to the table 200, and the groove width on the bottom side is wider than the groove width on the upper opening side (width in the Y-axis direction). The wider lower part of the T-slot groove 210 is called the wide groove 210a, and the narrow upper part is called the narrow groove 210b. The width of the narrow groove 210b is longer than the outer diameter D1 of the main body 55 of the fluid ejection tool 50. The T-slot grooves 210 extend along the longitudinal direction across the entire length of the table 200, from the left end to the right end, and there are five of them, spaced evenly apart from the front end to the rear end of the table 200.

[0130] As shown in Figure 16, if chips K remain on the table 200 and in the T-slot grooves 210, the machining center 1B cannot be used for the next machining operation. Conventionally, cleaning the table 200 of such a machining center 1B was performed by the operator (worker) using an air gun or the like. With the chip removal system KSB of this embodiment, it is possible to automate this cleaning of the table 200. That is, the operator can complete the cleaning of the table 200 simply by operating the input / output device 32 of the control device 30 to replace the tool attached to the spindle 3 with the fluid ejection tool 50 and operating the fluid ejection tool 50 as follows.

[0131] Figures 17 and 18 show an example of removing chips K from the T-slot groove 210 of the table 200 using a fluid ejection tool 50. After the control device 30 of the machining center 1B replaces the tool attached to the spindle 3 with the fluid ejection tool 50, it inserts the fluid ejection tool 50 into the T-slot groove 210 as shown in Figure 17. The insertion depth of the fluid ejection tool 50 is such that the tip through-hole 61 and the lateral through-hole 63 reach the lower wide groove 210a of the T-slot groove 210. At this point, the control device 30 moves the fluid ejection tool 50 in the X-axis and Y-axis directions so that the axis AX3 of the fluid ejection tool 50 is positioned at the center of the T-slot groove 210 in the front-rear direction. The control device 30 also inserts the fluid ejection tool 50 into the T-slot groove 210 (moves it in the Z-axis direction) at a depth such that the tip 50a of the fluid ejection tool 50 does not come into contact with the bottom surface 210c of the T-slot groove 210 (for example, with the tip 50a about 2 mm away from the bottom surface 210c).

[0132] The control device 30 then drives a fluid supply device (not shown) to supply coolant (cutting oil) to the internal flow path 60 of the fluid ejection tool 50, and, as shown in Figures 17 and 18, rotates the fluid ejection tool 50 (in other words, the spindle 3) at a predetermined rotational speed and in a predetermined rotational direction (counterclockwise in this embodiment), while moving it in a predetermined direction (rightward or leftward) along the extension direction of the T-slot groove 210 at a predetermined feed rate. When cleaning one T-slot groove 210, it is desirable to move the fluid ejection tool 50 from the left end to the right end of the T-slot groove 210 at least once. Alternatively, the fluid ejection tool 50 may be moved back and forth between the left and right ends of one T-slot groove 210 once or more times. The rotational speed and feed rate of the fluid ejection tool 50 can be set as appropriate.

[0133] As described above, by using the fluid ejection tool 50, the fluid ejected axially from the tip through-hole 61 can blow away and lift up the chips K adhering to the bottom surface 210c of the wide groove 210a of the T-slot groove 210 in the radial direction of the tool. Furthermore, the fluid ejected from each lateral through-hole 63 toward the base 56 side, accompanied by the rotation of the fluid ejection tool 50, creates an upward flow that spirals upward toward the upper opening of the T-slot groove 210. This makes it possible to blow away all the chips K, both in the wide groove 210a and the narrow groove 210b, from the T-slot groove 210.

[0134] In particular, according to this embodiment, since the lateral through-hole 63 is inclined toward the base portion 56 with respect to the tool radial direction, fluid can also be applied to the chips K adhering to the upper surface 210d of the wide groove 210a of the T-slot groove 210. Therefore, no chips K remain on the upper surface 210d of the wide groove 210a, and it is possible to remove almost all of the chips K in the T-slot groove 210.

[0135] The chip removal system KSB of the third embodiment described above comprises a machining center 1B having a control device 30 that controls operation based on input work instruction data, and a fluid ejection tool 50. The control device 30 performs a tool change process in which the tool to be used is replaced with the fluid ejection tool 50, and a chip removal process in which the fluid ejection tool 50 is rotated and moved in the direction in which the T-slot groove 210 extends, while positioning the lateral through-hole 63 and the tip through-hole 61 within the T-slot groove 210 formed in the table 200 and ejecting fluid from the lateral through-hole 63 and the tip through-hole 61 (see Figures 17 and 18). As a result, it is possible to reliably blow away any chips K remaining in the T-slot groove 210 to the outside of the T-slot groove 210.

[0136] A third embodiment discloses a chip removal method using a fluid ejection tool 50, which includes a replacement step of replacing the tool to be used with the fluid ejection tool 50, and a chip removal step of positioning the lateral through-hole 63 and the tip through-hole 61 within the T-slot groove 210 formed in the table 200 of the machining center 1B, and moving the fluid ejection tool 50 in the direction in which the T-slot groove 210 extends while rotating it and ejecting fluid from the lateral through-hole 63 and the tip through-hole 61.

[0137] 4. Fourth Embodiment Next, the chip removal system KSC of the fourth embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 19 to 20. In the description of the fourth embodiment, components with the same configuration and function as those of the first embodiment may be denoted by the same reference numerals and their description may be omitted.

[0138] The chip removal system KSC of the fourth embodiment includes a multi-tasking machine tool 1C (an example of a machine tool) and the same fluid ejection tool 50 as in the first embodiment, as shown in Figure 19. The multi-tasking machine tool 1C is a machine tool that adds a turning function to a machining center, and comprises a spindle 3 (tool spindle) of a machining head 2 and a machining spindle section 300 that includes a machining spindle for rotating the workpiece. The multi-tasking machine tool 1C also includes an automatic tool changer 20 and a control device 30, similar to the machining center 1A according to the first embodiment, and the control device 30 can automatically exchange one of the multiple tools set in the tool magazine 22 of the automatic tool changer 20 with the tool mounted on the spindle 3 (an example of a tool mounting section) of the machining head 2 based on work instruction data. The chip removal system KSC is equipped with a fluid ejection tool 50 as one of the tools set in the tool magazine 22, and the fluid ejection tool 50 can be attached to the spindle 3 as shown in Figure 19 by the tool change process performed by the control device 30.

[0139] Furthermore, a chuck (vise) 310 for fixing the workpiece Wb is attached to the work spindle 300 of the multi-tasking machine tool 1C. In this embodiment, the chuck 310 is a three-jaw chuck with three jaws 312 spaced 120 degrees apart around the central axis AX6 of the work spindle 300. Each jaw 312 is movable radially around the chuck 310 by a drive device (not shown). By moving each jaw 312 closer to the central axis AX6 of the chuck 310, the workpiece Wb can be clamped and fixed to the work spindle 300, and by moving each jaw 312 further away from the central axis AX6 of the chuck 310, the workpiece Wb can be removed.

[0140] The multi-tasking machine tool 1C is also equipped with a moving device 48 that moves the machining head 2 relative to the chuck 310. The control device 30 controls the rotation of the tool attached to the spindle 3, the movement of the machining head 2 (operation of the moving device 48), the rotation of the workpiece attached to the machine spindle 300, the opening and closing of the chuck 310, the operation of the automatic tool changer 20, the operation of a fluid supply device (not shown) that supplies coolant (cutting oil) and air, and a collection device (not shown) that collects chips K generated by machining the workpiece. Although not shown in Figure 19, the multi-tasking machine tool 1C is provided with an outer wall (casing) surrounding the machine spindle 300 and the machining head 2, and a sliding door that opens and closes an opening formed in the outer wall, making it possible to open and close the machining space where the workpiece is machined by opening and closing the sliding door.

[0141] Furthermore, this embodiment of the composite machine tool 1C, like the machining center 1A according to the first embodiment, is capable of injecting various fluids such as coolant and air through the spindle 3 using a center-through method.

[0142] Next, a method for removing chips using a fluid ejection tool 50 in a multi-tasking machine tool 1C will be described. After machining a workpiece with the multi-tasking machine tool 1C, as shown in Figure 20, chips K remain on the surface near the center of the disc-shaped body 314 of the chuck 310 and on the inside of the jaw portion 312 (on the central axis side of the chuck 310). With chips K remaining in the chuck 310 in this state, the multi-tasking machine tool 1C cannot be used for the next machining operation. Conventionally, cleaning the chuck 310 of such a multi-tasking machine tool 1C was performed by the operator (worker) using an air gun or the like. With the chip removal system KSC of this embodiment, it is possible to automate the cleaning of the chuck 310. That is, the operator can complete the cleaning of the chuck 310 simply by operating the input / output device 32 of the control device 30 to replace the tool attached to the spindle 3 with the fluid ejection tool 50 and operating the fluid ejection tool 50 as follows.

[0143] In other words, after the tool attached to the spindle 3 is replaced with the fluid ejection tool 50, the control device 30 of the multi-tasking machine tool 1C moves the position and orientation (posture) of the spindle 3 so that the rotation axis of the fluid ejection tool 50 is aligned with the central axis AX6 of the chuck 310, for example as shown in Figure 20. Then, while driving a fluid supply device (not shown) to send coolant liquid (cutting oil) into the internal flow path 60 of the fluid ejection tool 50, the fluid ejection tool 50 (in other words, the spindle 3) is rotated at a predetermined rotational speed and in a predetermined rotational direction (counterclockwise in this embodiment) and moved towards the chuck 310 (to the left in this embodiment) at a predetermined feed rate. Here, the fluid ejection tool 50 is brought close to the chuck 310 so that the tip 50a of the fluid ejection tool 50 does not touch the surface of the body 314 of the chuck 310 (for example, the tip 50a is about 5 to 8 mm away from the surface of the body 314). The rotational speed and feed rate of the fluid ejection tool 50 can be set as appropriate.

[0144] As described above, by using the fluid ejection tool 50, the fluid ejected axially from the tip through-hole 61 can blow away the chips K adhering to the surface of the body 314 of the chuck 310 in the radial direction of the chuck 310. In addition, as the fluid ejection tool 50 rotates, the fluid ejected from each lateral through-hole 63 toward the base 56 side (spindle 3 side in Figure 20) forms a spiral flow that moves away from the chuck 310. This blows away the chips K adhering to each jaw portion 312 away from the chuck 310, and as the fluid ejection tool 50 approaches the body 314, the spiral flow also enters the gaps between the jaw portions 312 and the body 314, making it possible to blow away the chips K adhering to the body 314 and the chips K adhering to the base of the jaw portions 312 (the part on the body 314 side) away from the chuck 310.

[0145] As described above, when using the fluid ejection tool 50 according to this embodiment, the lateral through-hole portion 63 is inclined toward the base portion 56 side (spindle 3 side) with respect to the tool radial direction, making it difficult for chips K to remain trapped in various gaps on the chuck 310, and making it possible to remove almost all of the chips K adhering to the chuck 310.

[0146] The cleaning method of the chuck 310 using the fluid ejection tool 50 described above is just one example, and the operation of the fluid ejection tool 50 can be appropriately changed depending on the degree of chip K adhering to the chuck 310. Specifically, it is desirable to appropriately change the operation of the fluid ejection tool 50 using numerical control by the control device 30, for example, by spraying the fluid ejected from the fluid ejection tool 50 onto the chuck 310 from above or diagonally above before cleaning the center of the chuck 310, by moving the fluid ejection tool 50 sequentially towards each chuck 310, or by moving the fluid ejection tool 50 in a circular motion along the circumferential direction of the chuck 310. Furthermore, the chuck 310 may be rotated when cleaning the chuck 310 using the fluid ejection tool 50. In this case, the chuck 310 and the fluid ejection tool 50 may be rotated together, or only the chuck 310 may be rotated. Furthermore, when rotating both the chuck 310 and the fluid ejection tool 50, it is desirable that their rotational speeds be different. In other words, when cleaning the chuck 310 using the fluid ejection tool 50, it is sufficient for the fluid ejection tool 50 to rotate relative to the chuck 310.

[0147] Furthermore, the fluid ejection tool 50 of this embodiment can also be suitably used in multi-tasking machine tools that have two work spindles. Specifically, for example, after cleaning the chuck of the first work spindle as described above, the spindle to which the fluid ejection tool 50 is attached is rotated by a predetermined angle (e.g., 180 degrees) so that the fluid ejected from the fluid ejection tool 50 hits the chuck of the second work spindle, which is on the opposite side from the first work spindle. In this way, the chuck of the second work spindle can be cleaned in the same way as the chuck of the first work spindle.

[0148] The chip removal system KSC of the fourth embodiment described above comprises a composite machine tool 1C having a control device 30 that controls operation based on input work instruction data, and a fluid ejection tool 50. The control device 30 performs a tool change process to replace the tool to be used with the fluid ejection tool 50, and a chip removal process to bring the fluid ejection tool 50 closer to the chuck 310 of the composite machine tool 1C while rotating it and ejecting fluid from the lateral through-hole 63 and the tip through-hole 61 (see Figure 20). As a result, it is possible to reliably blow away any chips K remaining on the chuck 310 away from the chuck 310.

[0149] The fourth embodiment discloses a chip removal method using a fluid ejection tool 50, which includes a replacement step of replacing the tool to be used with the fluid ejection tool 50, and a chip removal step of rotating the fluid ejection tool 50 while ejecting fluid from the lateral through-hole 63 and the tip through-hole 61, and bringing it closer to the chuck 310 of the composite machine tool 1C.

[0150] 5. Fifth Embodiment Next, the chip removal system of the fifth embodiment will be described. The chip removal system of the fifth embodiment includes the fluid ejection tool 50B shown in Figure 21 and the same machining center 1A as in the first embodiment. That is, in the fifth embodiment, the machining center 1A is equipped with the fluid ejection tool 50B shown in Figure 21 as a tool that can be replaced by the automatic tool changer 20. In the description of the fifth embodiment, components with the same configuration and function as in the first embodiment may be denoted by the same reference numerals and their description may be omitted.

[0151] As shown in Figure 21, the fluid ejection tool 50B according to the fifth embodiment is an end mill with replaceable cutting edges and a lateral through-hole 63B. Specifically, the fluid ejection tool 50B has two cutting edges (tips) T attached to the tip 54B at equal intervals around the tool axis AX7. Inside the fluid ejection tool 50B, there is a cylindrical internal flow channel 60B through which the fluid (coolant liquid, etc.) ejected through the spindle 3 flows. The tip (lower end in the figure) of the internal flow channel 60B has a smaller diameter than the inlet side (upper side in the figure). Note that the shape of the internal flow channel 60B is not limited to having a smaller diameter tip than the inlet side, and can be configured in any suitable shape.

[0152] The fluid ejection tool 50B has two lateral through-holes 63B that penetrate the small-diameter tip channel section 60Ba in the internal channel section 60B and the outside. Each lateral through-hole 63B is drilled with the same inclination angle θ1 (see Figure 6) as the lateral through-hole 63 of the first embodiment, such that the outer opening 63Bd is located closer to the tool base in the axial direction than the inner opening 63Bc. The outer opening 63Bd of the lateral through-hole 63B is located on the surface (groove surface GA) of the groove adjacent to the blade T.

[0153] Using the fluid ejection tool 50B configured in this manner according to the fifth embodiment, it is possible to simultaneously perform cutting of the workpiece Wc with the blade T and removal of chips K by coolant liquid ejected from the lateral through holes 63B. Specifically, for example, when machining a bottomed pocket hole Qa (an example of a bottomed hole) with a rectangular bottom in plan view in the workpiece Wc as shown in Figure 21, the control device 30 of the machining center 1A drives a fluid supply device (not shown) to send coolant liquid (cutting oil) into the internal flow path 60B of the fluid ejection tool 50B when the fluid ejection tool 50B is attached to the spindle 3 and operated according to the machining program for the desired pocket hole Qa. The coolant liquid that has passed through the internal flow path 60B is ejected from each lateral through hole 63B.

[0154] Each lateral through-hole 63B is provided corresponding to each cutting edge T of the fluid ejection tool 50B and is inclined toward the tool base side (in other words, upward, which is the opening direction of the pocket hole Qa) rather than the radial direction of the fluid ejection tool 50B. Therefore, the coolant liquid ejected from each lateral through-hole 63B strikes the chips K cut by the corresponding cutting edge T and blows the chips K out of the pocket hole Qa. This makes it possible to prevent chips from remaining in the pocket hole Qa formed by the cutting process.

[0155] As described above, the fluid ejection tool 50B according to this embodiment makes it possible to perform cutting and remove the chips K generated by this cutting process simultaneously. Therefore, the removal of chips K is completed at the same time as the cutting process is finished, resulting in extremely high work efficiency. In addition, it is possible to prevent the chips K generated by the cutting process from getting caught between the blade T and the workpiece Wc, thus preventing damage to the blade T and the workpiece Wc.

[0156] Furthermore, the fluid ejection tool 50B in this embodiment differs from conventional end mills with oil holes in that the coolant liquid ejected from the lateral through-hole 63B is not ejected towards the tip of the blade T (cutting point), but rather towards the chips K generated by cutting (the lateral through-hole 63B is inclined towards the tool axis with respect to the tool's radial direction to achieve this).

[0157] Although this method is less efficient than the first embodiment, it is also possible to remove the chips K accumulated in the pocket hole Qa after forming it with an end mill using the fluid ejection tool 50 according to the first embodiment. Even in this case, it is still possible to significantly improve work efficiency compared to manually removing the chips K by the operator. In this case, it is preferable to operate the fluid ejection tool 50 in accordance with the operating conditions of the tool used when machining the pocket hole Qa with the end mill.

[0158] The fluid ejection tool 50B according to the fifth embodiment described above has a cutting edge T for machining the workpiece Wc at its tip 54B, and a lateral through-hole 63B that is inclined at the same inclination angle θ1 as in the first embodiment, such that the outer opening 63Bd is closer to the base (spindle) than the inner opening 63Bc. The lateral through-hole 63B is drilled so that the fluid such as coolant ejected from the lateral through-hole 63B hits the chips K cut by the cutting edge T. Therefore, while machining is being performed, the chips K generated by the machining can be blown away toward the base (spindle) by the fluid ejected from the lateral through-hole 63B. In other words, it is possible to machine the workpiece Wc and remove the chips K simultaneously. As a result, it is possible to greatly improve work efficiency.

[0159] In the fifth embodiment, the number of blades in the fluid ejection tool 50B is set to two, but this can be changed to three, four, six, or other numbers as appropriate. In this case, it is preferable to increase the number of lateral through-holes 63B in accordance with the number of blades (providing the same number of lateral through-holes 63B as the number of blades). Also, in the fifth embodiment, the fluid ejection tool 50B is an end mill with replaceable cutting edges, but lateral through-holes may also be provided in tools that do not have replaceable cutting edges, such as solid mills.

[0160] Furthermore, in a cutting tool used for machining in which the workpiece is rotated without rotating the tool, a lateral through-hole may be provided in the same manner as in the fifth embodiment. That is, the cutting tool is provided with an internal flow channel similar to the internal flow channel 60B of this embodiment, and further, a lateral through-hole is provided near the cutting edge of the cutting tool similar to the lateral through-hole 63B of this embodiment. Then, a cutting tool with such a lateral through-hole (an example of a fluid ejection tool) is set in the turret (an example of a tool mounting part) of an NC lathe (an example of a machine tool). The turret functions as an automatic tool changer, and the NC lathe is capable of sending fluid such as coolant into the tool through the turret using a center-through method. By performing machining such as boring using a cutting tool with a lateral through-hole with such an NC lathe, the chips generated by boring can be discharged out of the hole during machining by the fluid ejected from the lateral through-hole, thus preventing chips from accumulating in the workpiece and improving work efficiency. Furthermore, if it is possible to spray fluids such as coolant through the tool using a center-through method, a cutting tool with a side-through hole may be mounted on an NC lathe equipped with a comb-type tool post (an example of a tool mounting part).

[0161] Although the chip removal systems of the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth embodiments have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and can be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0162] The fluid ejection tools 50, 50A, and 50B described above are not limited to use with the machine tools described above, but can be used with various machine tools that can eject fluids such as coolant through the tool in a center-through manner.

[0163] Furthermore, in the fluid ejection tool 50 according to the first embodiment, the lateral through-holes 63 are provided in two rows (first lateral through-hole 63a, second lateral through-hole 63b) at different positions in the tool axis direction, but they may be in one row, or three or more rows in the tool axis direction. The same applies to the fluid ejection tool 50A according to the second embodiment. Also, in the fluid ejection tool 50B according to the fifth embodiment, the lateral through-holes 63B may be provided in two or more rows in the tool axis direction.

[0164] Furthermore, in the fluid ejection tool 50 according to the first embodiment, eight lateral through-holes 63 (first lateral through-hole 63a, second lateral through-hole 63b) are provided in the circumferential direction to enable the uniform ejection of fluids such as coolant in a radial manner. However, if this point is not considered, at least one lateral through-hole 63 is sufficient. The same applies to the fluid ejection tool 50A according to the second embodiment and the fluid ejection tool 50B according to the fifth embodiment. However, considering cleaning performance, it is desirable that two to three or more lateral through-holes 63 are provided in the circumferential direction of the tool.

[0165] Furthermore, in the fluid ejection tool 50 according to the first embodiment, one tip through-hole 61 is provided in the bottom portion 51 along the tool axis direction, but two or more may be provided. Alternatively, the tool may be configured without a tip through-hole 61.

[0166] Furthermore, when cleaning the pilot hole Fa using the fluid ejection tool 50 according to the first embodiment, the fluid ejection tool 50 inserted into the pilot hole Fa may be rotated while being removed from the pilot hole Fa. In this case, the rotation direction of the fluid ejection tool 50 may be the same as or opposite to the direction in which the pilot hole Fa was machined.

[0167] Alternatively, the pilot hole Fa may be cleaned by inserting the fluid ejection tool 50 into the pilot hole Fa while ejecting fluid from the tip through-hole 61 and the lateral through-hole 63. If the depth of the pilot hole Fa is not too deep (for example, 20 mm), the force of the fluid ejected from the fluid ejection tool 50 can sufficiently blow away the chips K inside the pilot hole Fa while the fluid ejection tool 50 is being inserted to near the bottom surface Fb of the pilot hole Fa.

[0168] Furthermore, the fluid ejection tool 50 according to the first embodiment may be used to clean through holes that are not threaded (an example of a through hole). In this case, the fluid ejection tool may be passed through the through hole while rotating it in the opposite or the same direction as when the through hole was machined, or it may be passed through the through hole without rotation. By cleaning the through hole using the fluid ejection tool 50, any chips adhering to the inner circumferential surface of the through hole can be effectively removed.

[0169] In the third embodiment, it is also preferable to remove the chips K adhering to the upper surface of the table 200 after or before cleaning the T-slot groove 210. By numerical control, the chips K adhering to the upper surface of the table can be suitably removed simply by changing the position of the fluid ejection tool 50, similar to the cleaning of the T-slot groove 210.

[0170] Furthermore, the removal of residues such as chips K and coolant using the fluid ejection tool 50 according to the first embodiment may be performed on parts other than the workpiece, table, chuck (fixing fixture), etc. (parts other than these in the machining space of the machine tool).

[0171] Furthermore, in each of the above embodiments, the chips K are removed by ejecting coolant liquid from the fluid ejection tools 50, 50A, and 50B. However, in machine tools capable of ejecting air, the chips K may be removed by ejecting air from the fluid ejection tools 50, 50A, and 50B.

[0172] In addition, although the fluid ejection tools 50, 50A, and 50B in the above embodiments are made of iron, they may be made of other metals such as stainless steel.

[0173] Furthermore, in each of the above configurations, the processor of the control device 30 may be configured to automatically calculate and set the operating conditions of the fluid ejection tool 50 (movement position, depth, rotational speed, feed rate) by referring to the numerical values ​​of the machining process (operating conditions of the machining tool). In this case, if the rotational speed of the tool in the machining process is less than a predetermined lower threshold, the rotational speed of the fluid ejection tool 50 in the chip removal process should be set to be greater than that during machining, and if the rotational speed of the tool in the machining process is greater than a predetermined upper threshold, the rotational speed of the fluid ejection tool 50 in the chip removal process should be set to be less than that during machining. Also, if the feed rate of the tool in the machining process is slower than a predetermined lower threshold, the feed rate of the fluid ejection tool 50 in the chip removal process should be set to be faster than that during machining, and if the feed rate of the tool in the machining process is faster than a predetermined upper threshold, the feed rate of the fluid ejection tool 50 in the chip removal process should be set to be slower than that during machining. This is to achieve both chip removal performance and work efficiency.

[0174] In this invention, the configurations "rotating the fluid ejection tool" and "the fluid ejection tool rotates" include both configurations in which the fluid ejection tool itself rotates, and configurations in which the fluid ejection tool rotates relative to the object to be cleaned (workpiece, table, chuck, etc.) as it rotates. In other words, "rotation of the fluid ejection tool" includes both absolute and relative rotation of the fluid ejection tool. [Explanation of symbols]

[0175] 1A, 1B... Machining center (machine tool) 1C…Compound machine tool (machine tool) 3…Spindle 30…Control device (control unit) 50, 50A, 50B…Fluid jetting tool 54, 54A, 54B... Tip 56, 56A…Motobe 60, 60A, 60B... Internal flow path section 60b…Inner peripheral surface 61...Tip through hole section 63, 63A, 63B...Side through hole section 63a, 63Aa...first side through hole section 63b, 63Ab...Second side through hole section 63c, 63Ac, 63Bc…inner opening 63d, 63Ad, 63Bd...Outer opening 210...T-slot groove 310... Chuck KSA, KSB, KSC... Chip removal systems Wa, Wb, Wc... Work Fa... pilot hole Ha... blind screw hole Pa...Through screw hole T…blade θ1, θ2…Inclination angle

Claims

1. A fluid ejection tool attached to the tool mounting section of a machine tool that is capable of automatically changing the tools used, and which can process the workpiece by rotating either the workpiece or the tool, and which can eject a fluid, such as coolant liquid or air, in a center-through manner, It is used to remove residue after machining a workpiece. The base end, which is the side attached to the tool mounting portion, is tubular with an opening. An internal flow channel extending in the direction of the tool axis, through which the fluid injected passing through the inside of the tool mounting portion, It comprises a lateral through-hole provided on the tip side opposite to the base, which penetrates from the inner circumferential surface of the internal flow channel to the outside of the fluid ejection tool, and ejects the fluid that has passed through the internal flow channel to the outside of the fluid ejection tool, The lateral through-hole portion is inclined at a predetermined angle in the direction of the tool axis rather than in the tool radial direction perpendicular to the tool axis, such that the outer opening is closer to the base than the inner opening. The aforementioned outer opening is drilled into the outer circumferential surface that forms the outer diameter of the fluid ejection tool. The tip portion is provided with a tip through-hole that extends from the inner tip surface of the internal flow channel portion to the outside of the fluid ejection tool, along the axis of the fluid ejection tool. The lateral through-hole is provided at least at a first position where the distance from the tip in the tool axis direction is a first distance, and at a second position where the distance from the tip in the tool axis direction is a second distance that is longer than the first distance. A fluid ejection tool characterized in that both the first distance and the second distance are less than or equal to one-quarter of the length of the portion of the fluid ejection tool that protrudes from the tool holder along the tool axis direction.

2. A fluid ejection tool according to claim 1, The fluid ejection tool is characterized in that the lateral through-holes are provided in multiple locations in the circumferential direction of the fluid ejection tool, both at the first and second positions.

3. A method for removing chips using a fluid ejection tool according to claim 1 or claim 2, A replacement step of replacing the tool to be used with the fluid ejection tool, A chip removal method characterized by comprising the step of positioning the lateral through-hole and the tip through-hole within a T-slot groove formed in the table of the machine tool, and moving the fluid ejection tool in the direction in which the T-slot groove extends while rotating it, while ejecting the fluid from the lateral through-hole and the tip through-hole.

4. A chip removal system comprising a fluid ejection tool according to claim 1 or claim 2, and the machine tool, wherein the machine tool has a control unit that controls the operation of the machine tool based on input work instruction data, The control unit, A tool change process in which the tool to be used is replaced with the fluid ejection tool, A chip removal system characterized by performing a chip removal process in which the lateral through-hole portion and the tip through-hole portion are positioned within a T-slot groove formed in the table of the machine tool, and the fluid is ejected from the lateral through-hole portion and the tip through-hole portion while the fluid ejection tool is rotated and moved in the direction in which the T-slot groove extends.

5. A method for removing chips using a fluid ejection tool according to claim 1 or claim 2, A replacement step of replacing the tool to be used with the fluid ejection tool, A chip removal method characterized by comprising a chip removal step of rotating the fluid ejection tool while ejecting the fluid from the lateral through-hole and the tip through-hole, and bringing it closer to a chuck of the machine tool that is not holding a workpiece.

6. A chip removal system comprising a fluid ejection tool according to claim 1 or claim 2, and the machine tool, wherein the machine tool has a control unit that controls the operation of the machine tool based on input work instruction data, The control unit, A tool change process in which the tool to be used is replaced with the fluid ejection tool, A chip removal system characterized by performing a chip removal process in which the fluid ejection tool is rotated while ejecting the fluid from the lateral through-hole and the tip through-hole, and brought closer to a chuck of the machine tool that is not holding a workpiece.

Images