Holding devices, machine tools, and machining systems
The compact retaining device with tiltable receiving devices and preloaded claws simplifies gear mounting and removal, reducing complexity and enabling efficient bundle machining by eliminating the need for universal joints, thus improving machining efficiency and alignment.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- ナーゲル テクノロジーズ ゲゼルシャフト ミット ベシュレンクテル ハフツング
- Filing Date
- 2024-06-24
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-08
AI Technical Summary
Conventional holding devices for machining axial bores in gears are complex, requiring cumbersome manual or automatic mounting and removal processes, often involving gimbal mounting and universal joints, which complicates the design and increases parts count.
A compact retaining device with a tiltable receiving device and preloaded claws that automatically latch onto gear teeth, allowing for quick and easy mounting and removal of gears, and enabling bundle machining without drawers or universal joints, using a housing with continuous openings for machining tools and guided mobility.
The solution provides a robust, less complex design that facilitates rapid and efficient mounting and removal of gears, reduces parts count, and enables simultaneous machining of multiple gears with improved alignment and torque absorption, enhancing machining efficiency.
Smart Images
Figure 2026522600000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a holding device for holding at least one gear having an axial bore, the axial bore being adapted to be honed along the machining axis of the holding device. The present invention also relates to a machine tool for machining at least one axial bore. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a machining system having such a machine tool.
Background Art
[0002] When honing the axial bore of a workpiece, for example a gear, a holding device for holding the workpiece is usually used, which is designed such that the workpiece floats laterally, i.e. radially, with respect to the tool axis. Furthermore, such a conventional holding device is often designed such that the workpiece can tilt laterally with respect to the tool axis. In general, the tiltability of the workpiece is achieved by holding the receiving device for receiving the gear to the housing of the holding device via a universal joint, i.e. by gimbal mounting. As a result of the gimbal mounting and / or the floating ability, an axial offset between the tool axis and the bore axis of the honed axial bore can be corrected. In the receiving device, in order to counteract the torque exerted on the workpiece by the honing tool, the gear is usually held in a radially fitting manner in a rotationally fixed state with respect to the tool axis.
[0003] In some known holding devices, the holding device is embodied as a drawer that can be pulled out or pushed into the housing for mounting or removing the gear. This mounting or removal is usually done from above substantially parallel to the tool axis.
Summary of the Invention
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0004] The present invention addresses the problem of producing a retaining device for holding at least one gear having an axial bore for honing the axial bore, a machine tool for machining at least one axial bore having at least this type of retaining device, and a machining system having this type of machine tool, having improved characteristics compared to conventional devices. In particular, the intention is to produce a retaining device of a compact design, in which mounting and / or removal can be done quickly and easily by manual or automatic means. [Means for solving the problem]
[0005] This problem is resolved by the subject matter of the independent claim. Preferred embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claim.
[0006] The retaining device according to the present invention is suitable for holding at least one workpiece in the form of a gear having an axial bore. The gear may, in particular, be a spur gear having external teeth. In this case, the gear can be held by the retaining device so that the axial bore can be honed along the machining axis of the retaining device. During honing of the axial bore, the machining axis of the retaining device may be oriented coaxially with the tool axis of the honing tool, in particular by self-orientation.
[0007] A retaining device, also called a workpiece holder, comprises a housing and at least one receiving device for receiving gears, specifically gears to be honed. The receiving device is movably mounted to the housing so as to be tiltable, either alternatively or additionally, in a floating manner, within a limited range. Within the limits of the receiving device's mobility relative to the housing, the receiving device can move freely relative to the housing.
[0008] The receiving device has, in particular, a support base that can axially support the gear to be received for honing of its axial bore. The support base can be, for example, in the form of a plate having a flat support surface for the gear. In this case, "axial" can relate to the bore axis of the axial bore of the gear, which can be automatically oriented with respect to the tool axis during honing of the axial bore as a result of the movable mounting of the receiving device to the housing. In this respect, "axial" can also relate to the machining axis of the holding device, at least in the oriented state.
[0009] Furthermore, the receiving device has a stopping device, which allows the gear, supported axially on the support base, to be positioned radially in contact with the stopping device. In this case, "radial direction" is related to the bore axis and, in the orientation state, also to the machining axis. As a result of the radial positioning of the gear supported on the support base, the radial position of the gear relative to the receiving device is fixed. Needless to say, the gear is not part of the retaining device, nor is the honing tool part of the retaining device.
[0010] In the holding device according to the present invention, at least one receiving device has at least one claw. The claw is preloaded in the opposite direction to the stopping device of the receiving device by at least one spring (i.e., preloaded by a spring). The claw can deflect in the opposite direction to the preload with respect to the associated support base. In detail, the claw can pivot around a claw axis different from the machining axis (extending parallel to the machining axis in the oriented state). Alternatively or additionally, the claw can deflect linearly with respect to the stopping device, and in detail laterally with respect to the machining axis. The claw can automatically latch onto the external teeth of a gear positioned radially in contact with the stopping device. As a result of the claw latching onto the external teeth, the rotational possibility of the claw with respect to the receiving device that receives the gear is prevented, in detail, inhibited, with respect to the direction of rotation of the claw. The rotational possibility of the received gear with respect to the receiving device can be prevented in a mating manner by the latched claw in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction.
[0011] The pawls can enable a releasable coupling of the gear being machined to a receiving device, and the pawls are fixed so as to be rotatable with respect to the direction in which the pawls prevent rotation. The preventing action is preferably unidirectional, i.e., acting in only one of two possible directions of rotation. In particular, if the honing tool rotates in a constant direction of rotation with respect to the machining axis and / or the tool axis when machining a shaft hole, preventing rotation in only one direction of rotation of the gear being machined may be sufficient.
[0012] The claws can be released to release the gear without requiring the receiving base to move relative to the housing. At least one gear can be mounted in and / or removed from the retaining device laterally with respect to the machining axis. Thus, the retaining device according to the present invention can omit drawers and the like compared to conventional retaining devices. As a result, the retaining device according to the present invention is particularly less complex, has fewer parts, and can have a particularly robust structure compared to conventional retaining devices.
[0013] The holding device can also be configured to have only one receiving device. However, a preferred embodiment is designed to enable bundle machining, i.e., machining in which multiple workpieces having axial bores aligned with each other are machined simultaneously in a common machining operation. In an embodiment suitable for bundle machining, the housing has multiple shelves, e.g., 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6, and possibly more, arranged in series and spaced apart from each other along the machining axis. Each shelf serves to mount the respective receiving device of the holding device. Thus, in this configuration, the holding device has multiple receiving devices for receiving individual gears, each of which is to be machined. In detail, the spacing between the shelves is large enough so that each receiving device, along with the gear it receives, can be positioned on each shelf. A holding device with multiple receiving devices enables bundle machining of the axial bores of multiple gears, in which case one of the gears can be held by one of the receiving devices.
[0014] In one improvement of the present invention, the housing has a continuous opening along the machining axis to allow a machining tool, in particular a honing tool, to pass through. As a result, the housing may have an opening that extends continuously along the machining axis, in particular an opening in the form of a through bore. Also, at least one receiving device has a continuous opening along the machining axis to allow a machining tool to pass through. The receiving device may, in particular, have a continuous opening in the form of a through bore. In this specification, “along” can be understood as synonymous with “parallel.”
[0015] In a further improvement of the present invention, the mobility of at least one receiving device relative to the housing is limited by a gap between the receiving device and the housing, i.e., specifically as a result of the gap. In contrast, there is no gap between the received gear and the receiving device that receives the gear. The gap between the receiving device and the housing can be, in detail, a radial gap with respect to the machining axis. Alternatively or additionally, the mobility of at least one receiving device relative to the housing is limited by a gap between at least one through-opening provided in the support base of the receiving device and at least one guide pin of the retaining device, the guide pin being fixed to the housing and passing through the respective through-openings. The gap between the through-opening and the respective guide pin can be a radial gap. Each guide pin can be used to pass through multiple through-openings in the support bases if there are multiple receiving devices.
[0016] Conveniently, an axial clearance may exist between the received gear and the housing, which, in particular, allows for tilting of the receiving device and the gear it receives relative to the housing and the machining axis.
[0017] In a further improvement of the present invention, the retaining device comprises a mounting device. The mounting device is assigned to at least one receiving device. In this case, the mounting device helps to mount the support base of at least one receiving device so that it can float relative to the housing in a limited range, either alternatively or additionally, so that the support base can tilt within a limited range.
[0018] In a further improvement of the present invention, the mounting device has at least three, more specifically four, elastically compressible mounting legs. Each of the mounting legs can be formed by a compression spring section that can be screwed into a support base. More specifically, each of the mounting legs is compressible along the machining axis. The mounting legs can be positioned on a shelf of the housing along the machining axis to mount, more specifically, to set up, the support base so that it can tilt, alternatively or additionally, float, within a limited range relative to the shelf. In this way, the tiltability of the receiving device and the gear it receives, desired for honing, can be achieved without using a true gimbal mounting, i.e., a conventionally used universal joint.
[0019] In a further improvement of the present invention, the mounting device has at least one, more specifically, strip-shaped sliding unit. The sliding unit can help to contact the shelf of the housing. The sliding unit can be made of or from a material having specific sliding and / or wear properties. Such a material may contain or be graphite and / or carbides. Alternatively or additionally, the mounting device has at least one ball bearing unit. The ball bearing unit can help to contact the shelf of the housing.
[0020] Conveniently, the sliding unit and, alternatively or additionally, the ball bearing unit are housed in complementary, more specifically, groove-shaped notches of the support base.
[0021] Conveniently, the sliding unit and, alternatively or additionally, the ball bearing unit are fixed to either the support base or the housing shelf.
[0022] In a further improvement of the present invention, the housing has a handling section that assists in the handling of the holding device by a robot. The handling section can cooperate with the robot's gripper. In detail, the handling section protrudes along the machining axis. The handling section can be opened along the machining axis to allow a honing tool to pass through. In detail, the handling section can have a groove with a substantially flat bottom that is 180 degrees opposite to each other with respect to the machining axis. The groove can have shoulder surfaces opposite to each other along the machining axis. The groove can enable a shape fit of the holding device, and therefore in particular a capture grip.
[0023] In a further improvement of the present invention, the stopping device has a contact area for the radial arrangement of a gear supported axially with respect to a support base. In this case, the contact area can be formed, for example, in a circular manner complementary to the tip circular segment of the gear supported axially with respect to the support base, and / or in a prism manner. As a result of the gear being radially arranged on the contact area, the position of the gear with respect to the receiving device can be fixed radially. In particular, the radial position of the gear can be fixed such that the gear is in radial contact with the contact area of the stopping device in at least two contact areas.
[0024] In a further improvement of the present invention, the pawl has an engaging portion designed to engage with the external teeth when latched. In this case, the engaging portion may be a region of the pawl that intersects with the tip circle of the gear in question when latched, in order to project into the interdental space of the external teeth. In this case, the contact region of the stopper has an end located opposite the engaging portion such that, in the latched state of the pawl, the machined axis and the engaging portion intersect in a straight line, more specifically, with a virtual straight line perpendicular to the machined axis. In other words, in the latched state of the pawl, the engaging portion and the end can be positioned, with particular precision, 180 degrees opposite each other with respect to the machined axis.
[0025] In a further improvement of the present invention, the pawl can be radially unlatched from the latched state at the point where the pawl leaves the gear received in the preloading mode. As a result of the unlatched pawl, the fastening of the gear to the receiving device can be released. Specifically, the pawl can be radially unlatched in that its engaging portion is pivoted away from the received gear in the same direction as the rotation blocking direction. Alternatively or additionally, the pawl can be radially unlatched with respect to the gear in that the received gear is rotated in the direction opposite to the rotation blocking direction with respect to the support base, specifically with respect to the machining axis. When the latch of the pawl is released, the gear can be removed laterally with respect to the machining axis.
[0026] In a further improvement of the present invention, the pawl has a spring element, which applies a preload towards the engagement position to the engaging portion of the pawl with respect to each support base for automatic latching of the pawl. In this case, the spring element can be in the form of a leaf spring having two spring legs, and the support base and, alternatively or additionally, the pawl body of the pawl have a leg complementary groove for receiving one of the spring legs.
[0027] Advantageously, the stop device has a radial cutout through which a radially arranged gear can be removed from the stop device, specifically through the manipulator of a robot.
[0028] Preferably, the receiving device has only one pawl. The inventors have found that this is sufficient, for example, when there is no change in the rotational direction of the honing tool during honing. However, it is also possible for the receiving device to have two pawls preloaded in the opposite direction to the stop device. In this case, the two pawls can automatically latch onto the external teeth of the radially arranged gear in contact with the stop device to prevent the gear from rotating with respect to the receiving device for receiving the gear in relation to the rotation blocking direction of the opposite pawl. This makes it possible to machine the axial bore regardless of the rotational direction of the honing tool.
[0029] The machine tool according to the present invention is useful for machining at least one axial bore. In this case, the machine tool has at least one holding device according to the present invention as described above and below. In this regard, the advantages of the holding device according to the present invention described above also apply to the machine tool according to the present invention. Further, the machine tool has a machining tool, specifically a honing tool. The machining tool can be driven along the machining axis and around the machining axis in order to machine the axial bore of at least one gear held by the holding device. When the holding device has a plurality of receiving devices, it is possible to perform a bundled machining of a plurality of axial bores of a plurality of gears, each of which is received by one of the receiving devices. Specifically, the machining tool can be rotationally driven in a rotation blocking direction around the machining axis.
[0030] The machining system according to the present invention has a machine tool according to the present invention as described above. In this regard, the advantages of the machine tool according to the present invention described above also apply to the machining system according to the present invention having such a machine tool. The machining system also has a robot. The robot is designed to alternatively or additionally mount at least one gear on at least one holding device of the machine tool, or to remove a gear from at least one holding device of the machine tool. Alternatively or additionally, the robot is designed to handle at least one holding device. Specifically, when the holding device is mounted, or alternatively or additionally when it is removed, the robot can handle the holding device. The robot can have a manipulator, for example a gripper, for removing the machined gear from the holding device.
[0031] Further advantages and features will become apparent from the following description of the preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention illustrated by the claims and the drawings. In this case, the same reference signs refer to the same or similar or functionally identical components.
[0032] The features described above and those further described below can, of course, be used not only in the combinations specified in each example, but also in other combinations or individually, without departing from the scope of the present invention. [Brief explanation of the drawing]
[0033] [Figure 1] A schematic front view of one embodiment of the holding device according to the present invention is shown. [Figure 2] Figure 1 shows a schematic perspective view of the receiving device for the holding device. [Figure 3] Figure 2 shows a schematic plan view of the receiving device, with the receiving device's latch released. [Figure 4] Figures 2 and 3 show schematic plan views of the receiving device, where the pawl is latched onto the external teeth of the gear received by the receiving device. [Figure 5] A schematic front view of a further embodiment of the holding device according to the present invention is shown. [Figure 6] Figure 5 shows a schematic perspective view of the receiving device for the holding device. [Figure 7] A schematic side view of one embodiment of a machining system according to the present invention, which includes a holding device as shown in Figure 1 or Figure 5, is shown. [Figure 8] A schematic diagram and an exploded perspective view of a receiving device, which is a further embodiment of the holding device according to the present invention, are shown. [Modes for carrying out the invention]
[0034] Each of the exemplary embodiments of the retaining device 1 shown in the figure enables the bundle machining of multiple gears 30, each gear having an axial bore 31 intended to be “honed” by the machining process. The retaining device 1 is designed to hold each gear 30 individually, and its internal axial bore 31 is designed to be honed along the (virtual) machining axis B of the retaining device 1. When the retaining device is incorporated into a honing machine or other machine tool designed for honing (e.g., a multi-tasking machine tool), the machining axis B extends coaxially with the spindle rotation axis of the machine tool. The axial direction A of the retaining device 1 extends parallel to the machining axis B. The radial direction R of the retaining device 1 extends in a plane perpendicular to the axial direction A. When honing the gears 30, the axial direction A is generally oriented parallel to the direction of gravity.
[0035] The gears 30 (four in this embodiment) can be held by the holding device 1, and their internal axial bores 31 can be machined simultaneously in a bundled and / or stacked manner along the machining axis B. Thus, the holding device 1 enables the gears 30 to be machined in a bundled and / or stacked manner.
[0036] The holding device 1 has a housing 3, which in this embodiment is substantially cubic in shape and surrounds four identical receiving devices 2, each for receiving a single gear 30, with a rectangular frame.
[0037] The housing 3 has a handling section 13 on its upper surface for handling the holding device 1 by the robot 71. The handling section 13 protrudes upward along the machining axis B. The handling section 13 has grooves 14 that are 180 degrees opposite each other with respect to the machining axis B and each has a substantially flat bottom 15, so that it can be gripped and moved by a gripper.
[0038] Housing 3 has a number of shelves 7 spaced apart from each other along the machining axis B. Each of the shelves 7 serves to mount a receiving device 2 in any case. In this case, the spacing between the shelves 7 is large enough that there is space between two directly adjacent shelves 7 for both the respective receiving device 2 and the respective received gear 30. In this example, four shelves 7 are shown, which in any case divide the housing 3 into four sections along the axial direction A. The holding device 1 has four receiving devices 2 corresponding to the number of shelves 7. As a result, the holding device 1 can hold the four gears 30 in a bundle or stack for their joint honing.
[0039] The housing 3, comprising a frame and shelves, can be assembled from a plurality of components, for example, generally plate-shaped components. In this embodiment, the housing (frame and shelves) is manufactured from a single piece by, for example, milling and / or electrical discharge machining. As a result, the housing is inherently very stable and has precise dimensions.
[0040] Each receiving device 2 is mounted in a floating and movable manner, and is optionally or additionally mounted to tilt laterally within a limited range relative to the machining axis B. In this case, each of all receiving devices 2 is individually mounted to the housing 3 in a limited range of motion. Thus, the received gear 30 or its internal axial bore 31 can be oriented automatically and independently of each other along the machining axis B. The machining axis B can be fixed relative to the housing, i.e., the machining axis B can have a permanently unchanging position relative to the housing 3.
[0041] Each receiving device 2 has a support base 4 for axial support of each gear 30 to be received. The support base is in the form of a substantially flat rectangular plate and is movably mounted to the associated shelf or housing within a limited range. The support base 4 supports further components of the receiving device 2.
[0042] Each receiving device 2 has a stopper 5 mounted on a support base, and each gear 30, which is axially supported on the support base 4 in contact with the stopper, can be positioned radially to fix its radial position relative to the receiving device 2. The radial position of the gear 30 can be related to the orientation of the bore axis of each axial bore 31 relative to the receiving device 2.
[0043] Each receiving device 2 also has a pawl 6. The pawl 6 is preferably preloaded in the opposite direction to the associated stopping device 5 by at least one spring. In this case, the pawl 6 can automatically latch onto the external teeth 32 of the gear 30, which is positioned radially in contact with the stopping device 5. As a result of the pawl 6 latching onto the external teeth 32, the rotational capability of the associated radially positioned gear 30 relative to the receiving device 2 that receives the gear 30 is blocked by the rotation-blocking direction D of the pawl 6. Thus, the pawl 6 prevents the gear 30 from rotating in the rotation-blocking direction D relative to the receiving device 2 that receives the gear 30.
[0044] Each stop device 5 has a contact area 16 for the radial arrangement of a gear 30 that is axially pressed against its respective support base 4. In this case, each contact area 16 is designed to complement the tip circular segment 33 of the gear 30 that is axially supported on the associated support base 4. In the illustrated example, the contact area 16 is cylindrical in a concave cylindrical form and, in detail, has a cross-section of a circular segment. Alternatively, the contact area 16 may be designed in a prism form, for example, having two planar contact surfaces that are angled to each other.
[0045] Each of the stopping devices 5 has a radial cutout 26, more specifically a through bore, designed for the manipulator of the robot 71 to pass through. The manipulator can pass through each cutout 26 so that the claw 6 is released by moving the associated received gear 30 in the opposite direction to the rotational stopping direction D in order to act on the associated gear 30.
[0046] Each pawl 6 has an engaging portion 17, which is designed to engage with the external teeth 32 of the respective gear 30 when latched. Each contact area 16 has an end portion 19, which is located on the opposite side of the respective engaging portion 17 when the pawl 6 is latched, such that the machining axis B, the engaging portion 17, and the end portion 19 intersect in a straight line L. The straight line can be oriented perpendicular to the machining axis B. For example, when the pawl 6 is latched, the engaging portion 17 and the respective end portion 19 are 180 degrees opposite each other with respect to the machining axis B.
[0047] Each pawl 6 has a spring element 21. The spring element 21 preloads the engaging portion 17 of each pawl 6 toward the engaging position with respect to its respective support base 4. In this case, the engaging position means, for example, the position of the pawl 6 when it is automatically latched onto the external teeth 32 of the gear 30 to which it relates. In this example, the spring element 21 is in the form of a legged spring 22 having two spring legs 23. In this case, the support base 4 and, alternatively or additionally, the pawl body 25 of the pawl 6 have leg-complementary grooves 27 for receiving one of the spring legs 23 in each case. In this example, both the support base 4 and the pawl body 25 each have such leg-complementary grooves 27.
[0048] The pawl 6 can be transitioned from a latched state to an unlocked state, and thus becomes unlockable. In this example, the pawl 6 is radially unlockable when it moves away from each received gear 30 in a preloaded manner. During the preloading operation, when it moves away from each gear 30, the pawl 6 pivots in the same direction as the rotation-blocking direction D. Alternatively or additionally, the pawl 6 is unlockable when each received gear 30 rotates in the opposite direction to the rotation-blocking direction D relative to the support base 4. For example, in order to unlock the pawl 6, each received gear 30 can be rotated in the opposite direction to the rotation-blocking direction D relative to the support base 4 with respect to the machining axis B, and more specifically around the bore axis.
[0049] The housing 3 has a continuous opening along the machining axis B to allow the machining tool 51 to pass through. In this example, the housing 3 has a through bore, which extends continuously along the machining axis B to open the housing 3 for the machining tool 51. Furthermore, each of the receiving devices 2 has a continuous opening along the machining axis B to allow the machining tool 51 to pass through. In this case, each of the receiving devices 2 has a through bore that extends continuously along the machining axis B to allow the machining tool 51 to pass through. The through bore of the receiving device 2 is applied, for example, to each of the support bases 4.
[0050] The mobility of each receiving device 2 relative to the housing 3 is limited by the gap S between each receiving device 2 and the housing 3. This gap S can be a radial gap S. Alternatively or additionally, the mobility of each receiving device 2 relative to the housing 3 is limited by the gap S between at least one through-opening 8 in the support base 4 of each receiving device 2 and at least one guide pin 9 of the retaining device 1, the guide pin being fixed to the housing and passing through the respective through-opening 8. The gap S between the through-opening 8 and the respective guide pin 9 can be a radial gap S. In this case, each support base 4 of the receiving device 2 has two such through-openings 8. Thus, the retaining device 1 has two guide pins 9 extending continuously parallel to the machining direction B. Although a radial gap S exists between the guide pins 9 and the through-openings 8, the guide pins 9 can fit seamlessly into the fitting bore of the housing 3 at their ends. The guide pin 9 and the through-opening 8 can be located on either side of the received gear 30, lateral to the machining axis B. The axial gap S between each of the received gears 30 and the housing 3 limits the mobility of each receiving device 2 relative to the housing 3 along the machining axis B in this example.
[0051] The holding device 1 has a mounting device 10 for each of the receiving devices 2. The mounting device 10 allows the support base 4 of the associated receiving device 2 to be mounted to float within a limited range relative to the housing 3, either alternatively or additionally, so that it can tilt within a limited range.
[0052] According to the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the mounting device 10 has four elastically compressible mounting legs 11. The mounting legs 11 are elastically compressible. Each of the mounting legs 11 can be elastically reversible in which it can yield along the machining direction B in response to a pressure load applied by a machining tool 51, for example, during machining of the axial bore 31. In this case, the mounting legs 11 are positioned on each shelf 7 of the housing 3 along the machining axis B in order to suspend the support base 4 in conjunction with the shelf 7, so as to be tiltable and, in this example, floating within a limited range.
[0053] According to the embodiment in Figure 5, each mounting device 10 has a strip-shaped sliding unit 12. In this case, there are two sliding units 12 for each receiving device 2. Alternatively or additionally, the mounting device 10 may have ball bearing units. The sliding units 12 and, if present, the ball bearing units can help to contact each shelf 7 of the housing 3.
[0054] In the holding device 1 having the receiving device 2 shown in Figure 8, both a strip-shaped sliding unit 12 and elastically compressible mounting legs 11 are present.
[0055] In the exemplary embodiments, in each case there is only one pawl per receiving device. This is sufficient because the honing tool rotates in only one direction during honing. In embodiments of the holding device 1 not shown, each receiving device 2 may have two pawls 6 preloaded opposite to the associated stopping device 5. In this case, the two pawls can automatically latch into the external teeth 32 of the gear 30, which is radially positioned in contact with each stopping device 5, to prevent the gear from rotating relative to the receiving device 2 that receives the gear, with respect to the opposite rotational blocking direction D of the pawls 6. This can be advantageous when machining the axial bore 31 requires the machining tool 51 to be rotated in opposite directions of rotation.
[0056] Figure 7 schematically shows an embodiment of a machining system having a machine tool embodiment comprising at least one holding device 1 that incorporates the holding device 1 according to Figure 1 and / or Figure 5, and / or has a receiving device 2 according to Figure 8. The machine tool 50 is designed for stacked or bundled, i.e., joint machining of all axial bores 31 of four gears 30 received by the holding device 1. In this example, the machining tool 51 is a honing tool 52, which is coupled to the working spindle of the machine tool. The machining tool 51 is movable back and forth along the machining axis B of the machine tool 50 by the reciprocating drive means of the machine tool, and rotates in only one rotational direction (arrow) by the rotary drive means of the machine tool during machining. When fully set up for the machining tool 51, the holding device 1 is designed so that the tool axis of the machining tool 51 is coaxial with the machining axis B of the holding device 1. As a result of the floating mounting of the receiving device 2 to the housing 3, the axial bore 31 of the gear 30 can move laterally with respect to the machining axis B, specifically in a self-orienting manner, such that all bore axes align with the machining axis B and / or the tool axis. As a result of the tiltability of the receiving device 2 to the housing 3, the axial bore 31 can be automatically oriented with respect to the machining axis B and / or the tool axis, either alternatively or additionally, specifically to minimize the angular offset between the bore axes of the axial bore 31 with respect to the machining axis B and / or the tool axis, individually and independently of each other. The machining tool 51 can be driven to oscillate along the machining axis B, i.e., the machining tool 51 can reciprocate linearly along the machining axis B. In addition, the machining tool 51 can be driven to rotate around the machining axis B, specifically in the same direction as the rotation-blocking direction D of the jaws 6. Therefore, the torque applied to each gear 30 by the rotational motion of the machining tool 51 can be absorbed by the pawl 6 to prevent the gears 30 from co-rotating with the machining tool 51. As a result of the driving of the machining tool 51, the axial bores 31 of each gear 30 can be machined together.Therefore, the holding device 1 or the machine tool 50 enables bundle machining or stack machining of multiple gears 30 arranged in series along the machining direction B.
[0057] The illustrated machining system 70 has such a machine tool 50. In addition, the machining system 70 includes a robot 71, which has a schematically illustrated gripper 72. The robot 71 is designed to mount at least one gear 30 onto and remove from at least one holding device 1 of the machine tool 50. For this purpose, the gripper can grip individual gears laterally with respect to the machining axis B and insert them into or remove them from their respective receiving devices. During mounting, the gripper positions the gear by contacting a stopping device, pushing its jaws laterally in the process. Then, as the gripper releases the gear and moves backward, the jaws automatically latch to fix the gear in the machining position. During removal, as the gripper is laterally introduced into the gripping position, the fingers of the gripper push the jaws laterally, causing the jaws to disengage from the gear and release it. The robot 71 can further be designed to handle at least one holding device 1 of the machine tool 50. For example, if the holding device 1 is equipped with a gear 30, the robot 71 may be configured to handle at least one holding device 1 when the holding device 1 is not equipped, either as an alternative or additional measure. The holding device 1 when not equipped may not have a gear 30 attached. [Explanation of Symbols]
[0058] 1 Holding device 2 Receiving device 3 Housing 4 Support base 5 Stop device 6 claws 30 gears 31 Axial bore 32 External teeth B Machining axis D Rotation blocking direction
Claims
1. A retaining device (1) for holding at least one gear (30) having an axial bore (31), wherein the axial bore (31) can be honed along the machining axis (B) of the retaining device (1), A receiving device (2) for receiving the gear (30), A housing (3) wherein the receiving device (2) is movably mounted to the housing so as to be able to float and / or tilt within a range limited to the lateral direction with respect to the machining axis (B), Equipped with, The receiving device (2) has a support base (4) for applying the gear (30) to be received in the axial direction, The receiving device (2) has a stopping device (5) that can be positioned radially in order to fix the radial position of the gear (30) which is applied axially to the support base (4) relative to the receiving device (2), The receiving device (2) has at least one claw (6) that is preloaded in the opposite direction to the stopping device (5), and the holding device (1) is such that the claw (6) can automatically latch onto the external teeth (32) of the gear (30) which is radially positioned relative to the stopping device (5) in a rotation-preventing direction (D) of the claw (6) in order to prevent the gear from rotating relative to the receiving device (2) which receives the gear.
2. The housing (3) has a plurality of shelves (7) arranged in series at intervals from one another along the machining axis (B), each of which is for mounting the receiving device (2) which is in detail equipped with a received gear (30). The holding device (1) according to claim 1.
3. The housing (3) has a continuous opening along the machining axis (B) to allow the machining tool (51) to pass through, and The at least one receiving device (2) has a continuous opening along the machining axis (B) to allow the machining tool (51) to pass through. The holding device (1) according to claim 1 or 2
4. The mobility of the at least one receiving device (2) relative to the housing (3) is, - The gap (S) between the receiving device (2) and the housing (3), more specifically the radial gap, and / or - The gap (S), more specifically the radial gap, between at least one through-opening (8) of the support base (4) of the receiving device (2) and at least one guide pin (9) of the holding device (1), wherein the guide pin is fixed to the housing and passes through each of the through-openings (8), A holding device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, limited by...
5. The holding device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the holding device (1) is provided to the at least one receiving device (2) and has a mounting device (10) for attaching the support base (4) of the at least one receiving device (2), and the support base is capable of tilting and / or floating within a limited range relative to the housing (3).
6. The retaining device (1) according to claim 5, wherein the mounting device (10) has at least three, more specifically four, elastically compressible mounting legs (11).
7. The retaining device (1) according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the mounting device (10) more specifically has at least one, more specifically a strip-shaped sliding unit (12) and / or a ball bearing unit for contacting the shelf (7) of the housing (3).
8. The housing (3) has a handling portion (13) for handling the holding device (1) by a robot (71), more specifically, the handling portion (13) has grooves (14) that project along the machining axis (B) and / or are located diametrically opposite to each other and have substantially flat bottom portions (15), the holding device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7.
9. The holding device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the stopping device (5) has a contact area (16) for radial arrangement of the gear (30) which is axially applied to the support base (4), and the contact area (16) is formed in a manner complementary to the tip circular segment (33) of the gear (30) which is applied to the support base (4), and / or in a prism shape.
10. The claw (6) has an engaging portion (17) designed to engage with the external teeth (32) when latched, and The contact area (16) of the stop device (5) has an end (19), the end (19) is located on the opposite side of the engaging portion (17) when the claw (6) is in the latched state, and the machining axis (B), the engaging portion (17), and the end (19) intersect in a straight line (L), more specifically in a virtual straight line perpendicular to the machining axis (B). A holding device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9.
11. The holding device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the claw (6) can be released radially from a latched state by being separated from the received gear (30) in such a way that preload is applied, more specifically by pivoting it in the same direction as the rotation-preventing direction (D), and / or by rotating the received gear (30) relative to the support base (4), more specifically relative to the machining axis (B), in the opposite direction to the rotation-preventing direction (D).
12. The retaining device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the claw (6) has a spring element (21) that prepresses the engaging portion (19) of the claw (6) to the engaging position relative to the respective support base (4), thereby automatically setting the claw (6) to the latching position.
13. The holding device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the at least one receiving device (2) has only one claw, or the at least one receiving device (2) has two claws (6) that are preloaded in the opposite direction to the stopping device (5), and the claws (6) are automatically latchable onto the external teeth (32) of the gear (30) which are radially positioned relative to the stopping device (5) to prevent the gear (30) from rotating relative to the receiving device (2) which receives the gear (30), with respect to the opposite rotational blocking direction (D) of the claws (6).
14. A machine tool (50) for machining at least one axial bore (31), A holding device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 13, To machine the axial bore (31) in at least one gear (30) held by the holding device (1), a machining tool (51), more specifically a honing tool (52), which is drivable around the machining axis (B), more specifically in the rotation-preventing direction (D), A machine tool (50) having the following features.
15. The machine tool (50) described in claim 14, A robot (71) for mounting at least one gear (30) to at least one holding device (1), and / or for removing at least one gear (30) from at least one holding device (1), and / or for handling at least one, more specifically, mounted and / or unmounted holding device (1), A machining system (70) having the following features.