Tool pot

Abstract

This tool pot provides a simple configuration that can detect the tool's holding status and the presence or absence of tools in the tool pot, thereby reducing the risk of false detections and malfunctions. [Solution] The tool pot 11 comprises a tool pot body A, a holding part B that holds the end of the tapered shank portion 3 of the tool 1, and a detection part C that detects information including the state in which the tool 1 is held by the holding part B. The holding part B includes a clamp member 20 configured to be pressed against a recess 3c provided at the end of the tapered shank portion 3 when the tool pot 11 holds the tool, and a shaft member 15 that is movably arranged in the axial direction of the tool pot body A and is configured to move the clamp member 20 in conjunction with its movement. The shaft member 15 is movable between a tool holding position in which the tool pot 11 holds the tool and a tool release position in which the tool holding is released. The detection part C is capable of detecting whether the shaft member 15 is in the tool holding position.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a tool pot for holding a tool in a machine tool such as a machining center having an automatic tool changing function.

Background Art

[0002] In this specification, the term "tool" may mean a single tool or a combination of a tool holder and a single tool attached thereto.

[0003] In an automatic tool changer of a machining center, as a tool pot used for redeposition for transporting a tool between a tool magazine and a tool changing arm, or a tool pot used for a tool magazine, conventionally, a tool is housed in a tapered hole corresponding to the tapered shape of a tapered shank portion provided on the tool to hold the tool.

[0004] As such a tool pot, it includes a cylinder provided in the tool pot body, a shaft member (piston and piston rod) disposed to be movable forward and backward within the cylinder, and a clamp member (clamp arm) disposed to be movable in the radial direction of the tool pot in conjunction with the movement of the shaft member, and is known to hold the tool by the clamp member moving inward in the radial direction of the tool pot and engaging with the pull stud of the tool. (For example, see Patent Document 1)

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] In tool pots like the one described above, the presence or absence of a tool inside the tool pot has traditionally been detected by a proximity switch placed near the tip of the tool in the tool pot when a tool is being held. However, detection using a proximity switch has problems such as difficulty in adjusting the proximity switch during installation, and a high likelihood of false detections or malfunctions due to sludge, etc.

[0007] The object of this invention, made in view of the above-mentioned problems, is to provide a tool pot that can detect the holding state of a tool and the presence or absence of a tool in the tool pot with a simple configuration that is easy to install, and that can reduce the risk of false detection and malfunction. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] To achieve the above objective, this invention comprises the following embodiments.

[0009] 1) A tool pot for holding a tool that has a tapered shank portion, A hollow tool pot body, A retaining part that holds the end of the tapered shank portion of the tool, It includes a detection unit that detects information including the state in which the tool is held by the holding unit, The holding portion includes a clamp member that is movably positioned radially of the tool pot body and is configured to press against a recess provided at the end of the tapered shank portion when the tool pot holds the tool at a predetermined position in its movement stroke, and a shaft member that is movably positioned axially of the tool pot body and is configured to move the clamp member in conjunction with its movement. The shaft member is movable between a tool holding position in which the tool is held by the tool pot and a tool release position in which the tool is released. The detection unit is a tool pot capable of detecting whether the shaft member is in the tool holding position.

[0010] 2) The tool pot according to 1), wherein the detection unit is capable of detecting whether the shaft member is in the tool release position.

[0011] 3) The tool pot according to 1) above, wherein the detection unit is capable of detecting whether the shaft member has moved from the tool release position to the tool holding position.

[0012] 4) The tool pot according to 1) above, wherein the detection unit is capable of detecting whether the shaft member has moved from the tool release position beyond the tool holding position to the opposite side of the tool release position.

[0013] 5) The tool pot according to 2) above, wherein the detection unit includes a first auto switch for detecting whether the shaft member is in the tool release position and a second auto switch for detecting whether the shaft member is in the tool holding position, and determines that the tool is properly held when the second auto switch is ON and determines that the tool is not held when the first auto switch is ON.

[0014] 6) The tool pot as described in 5) above, wherein the detection unit determines that there is no tool in the tool pot when the first auto switch is turned on, then the second auto switch is turned on, and then the first and second auto switches are turned off. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] According to the tool pot described in 1) above, it is possible to detect whether the tool is properly held by the tool pot by detecting that the shaft member is in the tool holding position.

[0016] According to the tool pot described in 2) above, detecting that the tool is in the release position allows for quicker proceedings to the tool installation and removal processes, thereby improving work efficiency.

[0017] According to the tool pot of 3) above, by detecting whether the shaft member is moving from the tool release position to the tool holding position, the working efficiency can be improved, and the risk of expansion of malfunctions and accidents can be reduced by early detection of malfunctions in the device.

[0018] According to the tool pot of 4) above, by detecting whether the shaft member has moved from the tool release position beyond the tool holding position to the side opposite the tool release position, it is possible to detect whether the clamp member that moves in conjunction with the movement of the shaft member has moved beyond the position where it abuts against the recess of the taper shank portion, that is, to detect the presence or absence of the tool in the tool pot.

[0019] According to the tool pot of 5) above, since the position of the shaft member is detected by an auto-switch, it is possible to reduce the risk of false detection and failure due to sludge or the like with a simple configuration that is easy to install.

[0020] According to the tool pot of 6) above, it is possible to reduce the risk of false detection and failure due to sludge or the like with a simple configuration that is easy to install, and it is possible to surely detect the presence or absence of the tool in the tool pot and the holding state of the tool by the tool pot.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0021] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of a tool pot (11) according to this invention, showing a state in which the shaft member (15) is in the tool release position and the tool (1) is moving downward. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 similarly shows a state in which the tool (1) has moved to the lowest position and the shaft member (15) is in the tool holding position. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 similarly shows a state in which the tool (1) is moving downward and the tool (1) is not properly held. [[ID=********]] [Figure 4] FIG. 4 similarly shows a state in which the tool (1) is not in the tool pot (11) and the shaft member (15) has moved from the tool release position beyond the tool holding position to the side opposite the tool release position.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0022] Hereinafter, embodiments of this invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the up and down of each figure are referred to as up and down. Although the vertical movement (axial direction) of the tool pot (11) with respect to the tool (1) is relative, hereinafter, it will be described as if the tool (1) moves vertically.

[0023] The tool pot (11) is used, for example, in an automatic tool changer of a machining center when transferring the tool (1) between the tool magazine and the tool exchange arm.

[0024] The tool pot (11) of this embodiment is for a tool (1) with a two-sided constrained hollow taper shank called the HSK type. The tool (1) has a V flange portion (2) provided with an annular V groove having a V-shaped cross section, and a hollow tapered shank portion (3) connected below this.

[0025] The tapered shank portion (3) has a tapered surface whose outer peripheral surface (3a) decreases in diameter as it goes to the lower end, and the lower end surface is perpendicular to the axis of the tapered surface. The outer diameter on the large diameter side of the tapered shank portion (3) is made smaller than the outer diameter of the V flange portion (2). Further, on the inner peripheral surface (3b), a recess (3c) configured to abut against the clamp member (20) of the tool pot (11) is formed at a predetermined location when the tool pot (11) holds the tool (1). Specifically, the inner peripheral surface (3b) includes a lower cylindrical surface (4) extending upward from the lower end surface and perpendicular to the lower end surface, a tapered surface (5) extending so as to increase in diameter as it goes upward from the upper end of the lower cylindrical surface (4), and an upper cylindrical surface (6) extending upward from the upper end of the tapered surface (5). The recess (3c) is composed of the tapered surface (5) and the upper cylindrical surface (6).

[0026] The tool pot (11) comprises a hollow tool pot body (A), a holding part (B) that enables the tool (1) to be held by the tool pot (11) by holding the end of the tapered shank portion (3) of the tool (1), and a detection part (C) that detects information including the state in which the tool (1) is held by the tool pot (11).

[0027] The tool pot body (A) includes a base member (12) located at the lower end (the side furthest from the tool (1)), a cylinder chamber (13) provided in the base member (12), and a cylindrical holder (14) fixed to the upper surface of the base member (12).

[0028] The base member (12) consists of a rectangular parallelepiped body (12a) and a flange portion (12b) provided at the lower end of the body (12a) through which a bolt (12c) is inserted.

[0029] The cylinder chamber (13) is provided so as to penetrate the main body (12a) of the base member (12) vertically, and consists of a small-diameter portion (13a) at the upper end having the smallest diameter, an intermediate-diameter portion (13b) connected to the lower side of the small-diameter portion (13a), and a large-diameter portion (13c) connected to the lower side of the intermediate-diameter portion (13b).

[0030] The holder (14) consists of a cylindrical peripheral wall (14a) and a flange portion (14b) provided at the lower end of the peripheral wall (14a).

[0031] The outer diameter of the peripheral wall (14a) is such that it can slide against the lower cylindrical surface (4) of the inner circumferential surface (3b) of the tapered shank portion (3).

[0032] The holding portion (B) includes a clamp member (20) which is arranged within the tool pot body (A) so as to be movable in the radial direction of the tool pot body (A), and is configured to press against a recess (3c) of the tapered shank portion (3) when the tool pot (11) holds the tool at a predetermined position in its movement stroke, and a shaft member (15) which is arranged within the tool pot body (A) so as to be movable in the axial direction of the tool pot body (A), and is configured to move the clamp member (20) in conjunction with its movement.

[0033] The clamping member (20) consists of, for example, steel balls (20) that are movably inserted radially into a plurality (three in this embodiment) radial through holes (19) formed in the peripheral wall (14a) at appropriate intervals (e.g., equal intervals) in the circumferential direction.

[0034] The shaft member (15) is, for example, a cylindrical rod (15) that is arranged to move vertically across both the cylinder chamber (13) and the holder (14). The rod (15) consists of an upper part (15a) that is guided by the inner surface of the peripheral wall (14a) of the holder (14) and the small diameter portion (13a) of the cylinder chamber (13), a lower part (15b) that is formed to have a smaller diameter than the upper part (15a) and is guided by the guide (17), and an intermediate part (15c) that is provided between the upper part (15a) and the lower part (15b) and is guided by the intermediate diameter portion (13b) of the cylinder chamber (13).

[0035] The upper end of the upper part (15a) of the rod (15) has a tapered surface (22) with a smaller diameter on the upper end surface side.

[0036] The intermediate portion (15c) of the rod (15) consists of a large-diameter portion (24) in which an O-ring (23) fitted into an O-ring groove in the center slides against the intermediate diameter portion (13b) of the cylinder chamber (13), and upper and lower small-diameter portions (25) (26) which have a smaller diameter than the large-diameter portion (24) and are provided on both the upper and lower sides of the large-diameter portion (24). The upper small-diameter portion (25) of the intermediate portion (15c) has a larger diameter than the upper portion (15a) of the rod (15), thereby forming a gap between the lower end of the upper portion (15a) of the rod (15) and the upper small-diameter portion (25) of the intermediate portion (15c) and the intermediate diameter portion (13b) of the cylinder chamber (13), which is to be the upper air introduction chamber (27). Similarly, the lower small-diameter portion (26) of the intermediate portion (15c) is larger in diameter than the lower portion (15b) of the rod (15), thereby forming a gap that serves as the lower air introduction chamber (28) between the upper end of the lower portion (15b) of the rod (15), the lower small-diameter portion (26) of the intermediate portion (15c), and the intermediate diameter portion (13b) of the cylinder chamber (13).

[0037] Upper and lower air intake passages (27a) and (28a) are connected to the upper and lower air intake chambers (27) and (28), respectively, to which air intake piping for supplying compressed air is connected. Compressed air introduced into the upper air intake chamber (27) presses the middle section (15c) of the rod (15) (the upper surface of the upper small-diameter section (25) and the upper surface of the large-diameter section (24)) downward. Compressed air introduced into the lower air intake chamber (28) presses the middle section (15c) of the rod (15) (the lower surface of the lower small-diameter section (26) and the lower surface of the large-diameter section (24)) upward. Therefore, the rod (15) can be moved up and down by switching the supply of compressed air to each air intake chamber (27) and (28).

[0038] When compressed air is introduced into the upper air inlet chamber (27) and the rod (15) is at the lower end of its movement stroke, the upper part of the tapered surface (22) of the rod (15) is configured to face the radially inward opening of each radial through hole (19). This configuration restricts further movement of each steel ball (20) as it moves radially inward within the radial through hole (19) by contacting the upper part of the tapered surface (22) of the rod (15). Furthermore, the radially outward end of the radial through hole (19) is configured to be tapered so that the opening is smaller in diameter than the diameter of each steel ball (20), preventing each steel ball (20) from falling out radially outward from the radial through hole (19) even when each steel ball (20) has moved to its outermost radial position. In other words, the radial movement stroke of each steel ball (20) is defined by the tapered surface (22) of the rod (15) and the radially outward end of each radial through hole (19).

[0039] The lower end of the vertical movement stroke of the rod (15) is positioned where the lower surface of the lower small-diameter portion (26) of the intermediate portion (15c) contacts the upper surface of the guide (17), and the upper end is positioned where the steel ball (20) that has moved furthest outward in the radial direction contacts the tapered surface (22), or where the upper surface of the upper small-diameter portion (25) of the intermediate portion (15c) contacts the lower surface of the small-diameter portion (13a) of the cylinder chamber (13).

[0040] When compressed air is discharged into the upper air inlet chamber (27) and air is introduced into the lower air inlet chamber (28), the rod (15) moves upward relative to the holder (14). During this upward movement, the upper part (15a) of the rod (15) is guided by the inner surface of the peripheral wall (14a) of the holder (14), the middle part (15c) is guided by the intermediate diameter part (13b) of the cylinder chamber (13), and the lower part (15b) is guided by the guide (17). As the rod (15) moves upward, the multiple steel balls (20), which are restricted by the radial through-hole (19) and allowed to move radially, are pushed by the tapered surface (22) of the rod (15) and moved radially outward within the radial through-hole (19). Each steel ball (20) is configured to be pressed against a recess (3c) in the tapered shank portion (3) by the radially outward movement of multiple steel balls (20) which is linked to the upward movement of the rod (15). In this embodiment, the steel balls (20) are configured to be pressed against the tapered surface (5) provided on the inner circumferential surface (3b) of the tapered shank portion (3) by riding on it. By moving the rod (15) upward, the tapered surfaces (5) (22) push against each other via the steel balls (20), thereby restricting the upward movement of the tool (1) and allowing the tool pot (11) to hold the tool (1).

[0041] When the rod (15) moves downward in the movement stroke and no force is acting to push each steel ball (20) radially outward, the tool (1) is released from being held by the tool pot (11), and the tool (1) can be freely lowered to hold it in the tool pot (11) and raised to remove it from the tool pot (11). In the following description, this position of the rod (15) will be referred to as the tool release position. Also, when the rod (15) moves upward in the movement stroke and moves the multiple steel balls (20) radially outward, pressing them against the recess (3c) of the tapered shank portion (3), the upward movement of the tool (1) is restricted, and the tool (1) is properly held by the tool pot (11). In the following description, this position of the rod (15) will be referred to as the tool holding position.

[0042] The configuration of the clamping member, and the mechanism for linking the radial movement of the clamping member with the vertical movement of the shaft member, are not limited to those described above. For example, when holding a tool having a pull stud, it may be a collet claw that opens and closes in conjunction with the axial movement of the shaft member, or a clamp arm configured such that one end is connected to the shaft member with the pivot axis in between, and the other end is able to move back and forth relative to the pull stud in conjunction with the axial movement of the shaft member. As long as it is able to move radially in conjunction with the movement of the shaft member and is configured to press against the recess of the tapered shank of the tool during its movement stroke, it can be appropriately modified according to the structure of the end of the tapered shank of the tool being held.

[0043] The detection unit (C) includes a first auto switch (31) for detecting whether the rod (15) is in the tool release position, a second auto switch (32) for detecting whether the rod (15) is in the tool holding position, and first and second display devices (41) (42) for informing the user of the detection results from the first and second auto switches (31) (32).

[0044] In this embodiment, the first and second auto switches (31) and (32) are positioned on the wall of the cylinder chamber (13) in the base member (12) so as to react to a magnet (30) positioned in the middle portion (15c) of the rod (15). In this embodiment, the first auto switch (31) is positioned to turn on when it detects that the rod (15) is in the tool release position, and the second auto switch (32) is positioned to turn on when it detects that the rod (15) is in the tool holding position.

[0045] The first and second display devices (41)(42) are, for example, first and second lamps (41)(42) connected to the first and second auto switches (31)(32) (not shown) and positioned where the user can see them, which light up when the first and second auto switches (31)(32) detect the rod (15) and turn on, and turn off when they turn off. The first and second display devices (41)(42) are not limited to lamps, and other display devices that allow the user to confirm detection by the first and second auto switches (31)(32) may be used.

[0046] Furthermore, it is preferable that the tool pot body (A) has an opposing member (16) located opposite the base member (12) and on the upper end side (the side that receives the V-flange portion (2) of the tool (1)), a guide (17) positioned at the lower end of the cylinder chamber (13) to guide the lower part (15b) of the rod (15), and a connecting member (18) that connects the base member (12) and the opposing member (16).

[0047] The opposing member (16) is plate-shaped and has a circular through-hole for inserting the tapered shank portion (3). The through-hole is sized to create a gap with respect to the tapered surface (3a) on the outer circumference of the tapered shank portion (3). In addition, the upper end surface of the opposing member (16) is formed to have a gap with respect to the lower end surface of the V-flange portion (2).

[0048] The opposing member (16) is provided with a plurality of pins (29) (three in this embodiment) that protrude upward from the outer circumferential surface of the V-flange portion (2) at appropriate intervals (e.g., equal intervals). The plurality of pins (29) are positioned to be in substantially contact with the outer circumference of the V-flange portion (2), and when holding a tool, they guide the V-flange portion (2) when the tool pot (11) moves in the vertical direction, and thereafter prevent radial movement of the tool (1).

[0049] The guide (17) is inserted from the opening side of the lower end of the base member (12) so as to close the lower end opening of the large diameter portion (13c) of the cylinder chamber (13), and is fixed to the base member (12) by bolts.

[0050] The upper surface of the guide (17) is shaped to receive the lower surface of the lower small-diameter portion (26) of the middle portion (15c) of the rod (15) when the rod (15) moves downward.

[0051] The connecting member (18) consists of a pair of plate-shaped members arranged to sandwich the base member (12), with the lower end surface of each plate-shaped member fixed to the base member (12) and the upper end surface fixed to the opposing member (16).

[0052] The tool (1) is held and released by the tool pot (11) in the above embodiment, and the holding state and the presence or absence of the tool are detected as follows.

[0053] For the tool (1) to be held by the tool pot (11), air is first introduced into the upper air intake chamber (27), so that the rod (15) is in the tool release position and the multiple steel balls (20) are positioned radially inward in contact with the tapered surface (22) of the rod (15). The first auto switch (31) detects that the rod (15) is in the tool release position and turns on, sending a detection signal to the first lamp (41), which lights up. The user confirms that the first lamp (41) is lit and moves the tool (1) downward relative to the tool pot (11). Figure 1 shows the state of the tool (1) during its movement, where the outer surface of the peripheral wall (14a) of the holder (14) is guided by the lower cylindrical surface (4) of the inner surface (3c) of the tapered shank portion (3) of the tool (1), and the multiple pins (29) are separated from the V-flange portion (2) of the tool (1). If the tool (1) is moved further downward relative to the tool pot (11) from the state in Figure 1, the multiple pins (29) will slide against the outer circumference of the V-flange portion (2). The movement of the tool (1) is stopped when the lower end surface of the tapered shank portion (3) is caught by the upper surface of the flange portion (14b) of the holder (14). In this way, the radial movement of the tool (1) is prevented by the multiple pins (29) facing the outer circumference of the V-flange portion (2).

[0054] Furthermore, even if some external force acts on each steel ball (20) as the tool (1) moves downward, causing each steel ball (20) to move to its outermost radial position, the radially outer end of the radial through hole (19) is configured such that the opening is smaller in diameter than the diameter of each steel ball (20). Therefore, when the rod (15) is in the tool release position, each steel ball (20) can move radially inward by being pushed by the tapered surface (5) on the inner circumference of the tool (1), and thus the downward movement of the tool (1) is not hindered.

[0055] When the downward movement of the tool (1) is complete, air is discharged from the upper air intake chamber (27) and introduced into the lower air intake chamber (28). This causes the rod (15) to move upward relative to the holder (14). When the rod (15) moves upward from the tool release position, the first auto switch (31) is unable to detect that the rod (15) is in the tool release position and turns off, and the first lamp (41) turns off. As the rod (15) moves upward, the multiple steel balls (20) are pushed by the tapered surface (22) of the rod (15) and move outward within the radial through hole (19). The multiple steel balls (20) that are pushed out from the outer opening of the radial through hole (19) ride up onto the tapered surface (5) on the inner circumference of the tool (1). Then, with the multiple steel balls (20) pressed against the tapered surface (5), their radially outward movement is stopped, and the upward movement of the rod (15) is also stopped by the pressure between the tapered surfaces (5) and (22) via the multiple steel balls (20). In this state, the upward movement of the tool (1) is restricted, and the downward movement of the tool (1) is restricted as the lower end surface of the tapered shank portion (3) is strongly pressed against the upper surface of the flange portion (14b) of the holder (14), and the tool (1) is held in a more stable position. This state is shown in Figure 2, and with this, the tool (1) is held by the tool pot (11). In this state, the stopping position of the rod (15) is the tool holding position, and the second auto switch (32) detects that the rod (15) is in the tool holding position and turns on, sending a detection signal to the second lamp (42), which lights up. The user can confirm that the second lamp (42) is lit and that the tool (1) is properly held by the tool pot (11).

[0056] When the tool (1) is released from the tool pot (11), air is discharged from the lower air intake chamber (28) and introduced into the upper air intake chamber (27). This causes the rod (15) to move downward. When the rod (15) moves downward from the tool holding position, the second auto switch (32) cannot detect that the rod (15) is in the tool holding position, and the second lamp (42) turns off. When the rod (15) moves downward and reaches the tool release position, the first auto switch (31) detects that the rod (15) is in the tool release position and turns on, sending a detection signal to the first lamp (41), which then lights up. The user confirms that the first lamp (41) is lit and moves the tool (1) upward relative to the tool pot (11). The multiple steel balls (20), which had been moving radially outward, are no longer subjected to force from the tapered surface (22) of the rod (15), allowing them to move radially within the radial through-hole (19). They are then pushed radially inward by the tapered surface (5) on the inner circumference of the upward-moving tool (1). This allows the tool (1) to move upward, and by moving the tool (1) upward to a position where it does not interfere with the tool pot (11), the tool (1) can be removed from the tool pot (11).

[0057] Figure 3 shows an example of a state in which the tool (1) is not properly held by the tool pot (11). This is a state in which, during the process of moving the tool (1) downward from the state shown in Figure 1, the movement of the tool (1) stops midway due to some malfunction, and the recess (3c) of the tool (1) does not face the outer opening of the radial through hole (19). In this state, when air is discharged from the upper air inlet chamber (27) and introduced into the lower air inlet chamber (28), the rod (15) moves upward relative to the holder (14), and the multiple steel balls (20) are pushed by the tapered surface (22) of the rod (15) and move outward inside the radial through hole (19), the multiple steel balls (20) cannot move to a position where they ride up on the tapered surface (5) of the inner circumference of the tool (1), and instead come into contact with the inner surface of the tool (1) before reaching the intended stopping position, and their movement stops. As the movement of the multiple steel balls (20) stops, the upward movement of the rod (15) also stops below the tool holding position due to the pushing between the inner circumferential surface of the tool (1) and the tapered surface (22) via the multiple steel balls (20). As a result, the second auto switch (32) cannot detect that the rod (15) is in the tool holding position and remains off, and the second lamp (42) does not light up. The user can detect the malfunction of the device by confirming that the first lamp (41), which was lit, turns off as the rod (15) is moved upward, and then the second lamp (42) does not light up.

[0058] Figure 4 shows a state in which, as the tool (1) moves downward, the movement of the tool (1) stops midway due to some malfunction, and the tapered shank portion (3) does not enter the tool pot (11). In this state, air is discharged from the upper air inlet chamber (27) and introduced into the lower air inlet chamber (28), causing the rod (15) to move upward relative to the holder (14). As the multiple steel balls (20) are pushed by the tapered surface (22) of the rod (15) and move outward within the radial through hole (19), the multiple steel balls (20) move to the outermost radial position because the tapered shank portion (3), which should be in contact with the balls, is not inside the tool pot (11). In addition, the rod (15) also moves beyond the tool holding position where upward movement should stop due to the pushing of the tapered surfaces (5)(22) against each other via the multiple steel balls (20). Therefore, the second auto switch (32) detects that the rod (15) has moved to the tool holding position and turns on, and the second lamp (42) lights up. However, when the rod (15) moves beyond the tool holding position, the second auto switch (32) turns off again, and the second lamp (42) turns off. The user can detect that the tool (1) is not inside the tool pot (11) by observing that the first lamp (41), which is lit, turns off, the second lamp (42) lights up, and then the second lamp (42) turns off as the rod (15) moves upward.

[0059] As can be seen from the above, in this embodiment, when the first auto switch (31) is ON, it can be confirmed that the rod (15) is in the tool release position and can be moved for attaching and detaching the tool (1), and when the second auto switch (32) is ON, it can be confirmed that the tool (1) is properly held. Furthermore, by confirming that the second auto switch (32) does not turn ON after the first auto switch (31) has turned OFF, it can be detected that the rod (15) has stopped midway through its movement stroke from the tool release position to the tool holding position, and that the tool (1) is not properly held. Furthermore, by confirming that the first auto switch (31) turns from on to off, the second auto switch (32) turns on, and then the second auto switch (32) turns off again, and that both the first and second auto switches (31) and (32) are off, it is possible to detect that the rod (15) has moved from the tool release position beyond the tool holding position to the opposite side of the tool release position, and that the tool (1) is not inside the tool pot (11). In other words, the axial movement of the rod (15) in the tool pot (11) controls the radial movement of the clamp member (20) in the tool pot (11), particularly the movement in the direction that contacts the recess (3c) of the tapered shank portion (3) of the tool (1) when holding the tool (1). Furthermore, when the movement of the clamp member (20) in the direction that contacts the recess (3c) stops, the movement of the rod (15) also stops. In a tool pot (11) configured such that the stopping position of the clamp member (20) differs depending on whether there is a tool in the tool pot (11) and the state in which the tool pot (11) is holding the tool (1), the position of the rod (15) can be detected by the first and second auto switches (31) and (32), thereby detecting whether there is a tool (1) in the tool pot (11), and also whether the tool (1) is properly held by the tool pot (11) when there is a tool (1) in the tool pot (11).This prevents the device from operating when the tool (1) is not properly held, and allows for the early identification of the cause and location of any abnormalities (e.g., malfunction of the tool (1) movement mechanism, contamination with foreign matter, etc.), thereby preventing the escalation of malfunctions and serious accidents, and reducing the downtime of the device. Furthermore, since the presence or absence of the tool (1) in the tool pot (11) can be directly detected, the risk of false detections and malfunctions caused by conventional proximity switches can be reduced.

[0060] Furthermore, the system may determine that the tool is properly held when the second auto switch (32) is ON, and that the tool (1) is not held when the first auto switch (31) is ON, and send signals to a control device (not shown) in each case to automatically perform the next action corresponding to each case. In addition, if the second auto switch (32) does not turn ON within a specified time after the first auto switch (31) has turned OFF, it may be determined that the tool (1) is not properly held, and if the first auto switch (31) turns ON first, then the second auto switch (32) turns ON, and then the first and second auto switches (31)(32) turn OFF, it may be determined that the tool (1) is not in the tool pot (11), and send signals to a control device (not shown) in each case to stop the device or emit a warning sound to prevent the spread of malfunctions or accidents, or to allow the user to more reliably notice malfunctions.

[0061] Furthermore, the detection unit may be configured to have only one auto switch that detects when the shaft member is in the tool-holding position, depending on the installation space and manufacturing costs, or it may be configured to have one more auto switch in addition to the first and second auto switches (31) and (32) that detects when the shaft member has moved from the tool-release position beyond the tool-holding position to the opposite side of the tool-release position.

[0062] According to the tool pot (11) of the above embodiment, it is possible to detect the holding state of the tool (1) and the presence or absence of the tool (1) in the tool pot (11) with a simple configuration that is easy to install, and the risk of false detection and malfunction can be reduced. [Explanation of symbols]

[0063] (1):Tools (2): V-flange section (3): Tapered shank section (3a): Outer surface (tapered surface on the outer circumference) (3b):Inner surface (3c): recessed (4): Lower cylindrical surface (5): Tapered surface (11): Tool pot (12): Base member (13): Cylinder chamber (14): Holder (14a): Peripheral wall (14b): Flange section (15): Shaft member (rod) (16): Opposing member (17): Guide (18): Connecting member (19): Through hole (20): Clamp member (steel ball) (22): Tapered surface (31): First auto switch (32): Second auto switch (41): First display device (lamp) (42): Second display device (lamp) (A): Tool pot body (B): Holding part (C): Detection unit

Claims

1. A tool pot for holding a tool that has a tapered shank, A hollow tool pot body, A retaining part that holds the end of the tapered shank portion of the tool, It includes a detection unit that detects information including the state in which the tool is held by the holding unit, The holding portion includes a clamp member that is movably positioned radially of the tool pot body and is configured to press against a recess provided at the end of the tapered shank portion when the tool pot holds the tool at a predetermined position in its movement stroke, and a shaft member that is movably positioned axially of the tool pot body and is configured to move the clamp member in conjunction with its movement. The shaft member is movable between a tool holding position in which the tool is held by the tool pot and a tool release position in which the tool is released. The detection unit is a tool pot capable of detecting whether the shaft member is in the tool holding position.

2. The tool pot according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit is capable of detecting whether the shaft member is in the tool release position.

3. The tool pot according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit is capable of detecting whether the shaft member has moved from the tool release position to the tool holding position.

4. The tool pot according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit is capable of detecting whether the shaft member has moved from the tool release position beyond the tool holding position to the opposite side of the tool release position.

5. The detection unit includes a first auto switch for detecting whether the shaft member is in the tool release position and a second auto switch for detecting whether the shaft member is in the tool holding position, wherein it is determined that the tool is properly held when the second auto switch is ON, and that the tool is not held when the first auto switch is ON, as described in claim 2.

6. The tool pot according to claim 5, wherein the detection unit determines that there is no tool in the tool pot when the first auto switch is turned on, then the second auto switch is turned on, and then the first and second auto switches are turned off.

Images