Machine tool having cable guide device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cable guiding device, comprising: a guide device, a slide movably guided by the guide device, a deflection roller connected to the slide, a first tension weight, and a cable tensioning device connecting the first tension weight to the slide guided by the guide device, wherein a connecting cable has a free end and a fixed end fixed to the connecting device and extends over the deflection roller, and further comprises a second tension weight and a second guide device in which the tension weights are movably guided, wherein the connecting cable extending over the deflection roller is pretensioned in a first displacement area of ​​the free end by a force generated by the weight of the first tension weight and preloaded in a second displacement area of ​​the free end by a force generated by the sum of the forces of the weights of the tension weights.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The invention relates to a cable guiding device for a cable connection of a cable connection tool and to a machine tool comprising a cable guiding device for guiding a flexible connection cable. [Background technology]

[0002] Numerically controlled machine tools are known from the prior art, which position the tool and the workpiece to be machined relative to one another by means of one or more controllable machine axes, the tool may be a cable-connected tool, which is supplied with the material required for machining via a connecting cable and / or which may be connected to an external energy supply via a connecting cable.

[0003] In the case of more complex machining centers, such a cable-connected tool usually represents just one of the tools available to the machine tool, so that the supply via the connecting cable usually does not take place via a permanently installed, rigidly designed supply line, but via a connecting cable that is directly connected to the tool, which connecting cable is in this context often also called a trailing cable (Schleppkabel).

[0004] Such connecting cables are typically flexible and configured with corresponding lengths and degrees of freedom of movement to track the movements of the cable connecting tool controlled by the machine tool during the machining process.

[0005] However, such long connecting cables can be difficult to handle and should therefore be guided so that when the cable connecting tool is moved, there is no risk of twisting the connecting cable, which is usually particularly sensitive, and so as not to interfere with the actual machining, for example by colliding with mechanical parts of the machine tool.

[0006] For this reason, the connection cable is pretensioned by means of a device configured for this purpose in order to ensure a certain degree of tension in the connection cable, thereby reducing sagging caused, for example, by the own weight of the connection cable or by problems when winding or unwinding the connection cable.

[0007] Solutions known from the prior art use spring-loaded retractors, spring-loaded drums or tension weights for the above purposes.

[0008] For example, US 2012 / 037274 A1 discloses a laser-based machine tool for woodworking, which includes a system for guiding and tensioning a flexible connection cable. To track the movement of the tool configured as a laser head and thereby prevent curling of the connection cable, the connection cable runs on a series of deflection rollers, some of which are configured to apply a pretension (Vorspannung) to the connection cable via spring retractors.

[0009] Outside the field of machine tools, utility model DE 20 2019 102323 U1 also comprises a system for the shrink guidance of a connecting cable for electric vehicles, which comprises a number of deflection rollers, through which the connecting cable running is pretensioned by means of a tension weight configured as a lever.

[0010] However, one problem with machine tools having such cable guides is that they The guides running on the deflection rollers usually take up a lot of valuable installation space in the machine tool, and the pretension of the connecting cable is poorly adjusted, especially with regard to the deflection states or displacements associated with various applications of the cable end connected to the tool. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0011] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a machine tool which has a space-saving device for guiding a connection cable of a cable connection tool and which ensures that the pretension of the connection cable is adapted to the different deflection states of the tool.

[0012] To this end, a numerically controlled machine tool is proposed which comprises a cable guiding device as claimed in claim 1. Furthermore, a cable guiding device for guiding a flexible connecting cable as claimed in claim 18 is proposed.

[0013] Each dependent claim relates to a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention and may be provided individually or in any combination.

[0014] According to a first aspect of the invention, a numerically controlled machine tool is provided, comprising a cable guiding device for providing and guiding a flexible connection cable of a cable connection tool. The machine tool comprises at least a machining device configured to receive the cable connection tool and one or more numerically controlled machine axes configured to relatively position the machining device and a workpiece to be machined. The cable guiding device of the machine tool comprises a first guiding device, a slide movably guided in the first guiding device, a first deflection roller rotatably connected to the slide, a first tension weight G1, and a cable pulling device connecting the first tension weight G1 to the slide guided in the first guiding device, a connection cable running on the first deflection roller to connect the cable connection tool to the connection device of the machine tool. The cable guiding device further comprises a second tension weight G2 and a second guiding device in which the tension weights G1 and G2 are movably guided, respectively. The cable guide device is configured such that the connection cable running on the first deflection roller is pretensioned in a first displacement area of ​​the cable connection tool by a force generated by the weight of the first tension weight G1 and is pretensioned in a second displacement area of ​​the cable connection tool by a force generated by the sum of the weights of the tension weights G1 and G2.

[0015] The cable connection tool may be received by the machining device of the machine tool and moved via a numerically controlled machine axis to be positioned on the opposite side of the workpiece to be machined. The flexible connection cable is connected at a fixed end to the connection device of the machine tool and at its other free end to the cable connection tool. The flexible design of the connection cable allows the cable connection tool to be moved through the machining device while maintaining the connection to the connection device of the machine tool established via the connection cable. The flexibly designed connection cable may be a trailing cable for connecting two machine parts that are movable relative to each other, in this case the connection device and the tool.

[0016] The connection device of the machine tool provides materials and / or media and / or signals necessary for the operation of the cable connection tool, which are transmitted to and / or from the cable connection tool via a connection cable connected to the connection device. Here, the materials and / or media and / or signals transmitted via the connection cable may be electrical, optical or materials in the form of solid, liquid or gaseous substances. The connection may preferably be bidirectional so that materials and / or media and / or signals can be transmitted not only from the connection device to the cable connection tool, but also from the tool to the connection device. Examples of this include the connection of a machine tool to a cable connection tool. These include a suction device that sucks in particles and / or gases generated during machining and delivers them to a connection device, or transmitting an electrical signal from a sensor device additionally attached to the tool.

[0017] The central requirements of the machine tool according to the invention with a cable connecting tool include providing and guiding the described connecting cable. The cable needs to be adequately pretensioned so that it can be guided to the first pulley without problems and without curling or jamming. At the same time, adequate pretension ensures a reduction in the deflection caused by the own weight of the connecting cable, which under certain circumstances would unnecessarily interfere with the machining. Both of these points are reliably prevented in the case of the machine tool according to the invention, since the cable guiding device provides two displacement areas, which pretension the connecting cable by two forces that are usually constant, but of different magnitude. In contrast to a spring-retracted pretension, a pretension that is as constant as possible can be realized in an advantageous manner in the connecting cable. This is advantageous not only with respect to the material load on the connecting cable, but also with respect to the machining accuracy of the machine tool, since when controlling the machine tool, only the approximately constant contraction force acting on the machining device via the connecting cable has to be taken into account during machining.

[0018] By moving the tool in the first displacement region, the connecting cable is unwound via the first deflection roller and via the cable tensioning device leads to the displacement of the first tension weight G1 in the second guiding device. In this region, the connecting cable is pretensioned with the weight of the first tension weight G1, which force is transmitted via the cable tensioning device.

[0019] The pretension of the connecting cable caused by the first tension weight G1 in the first displacement region can be used as a base pretension in the initial state, in which the cable connecting tool is, for example, in the rest position and is not used for machining the workpiece at this time. This base pretension ensures a consistently uniform pretension in the connecting cable in the rest position without unnecessarily loading the connecting cable with an excessively high pretension or preventing the tool from tipping over in the rest position. In this position, the material load in the connecting cable can be kept relatively low so as not to unnecessarily shorten the service life of the connecting cable to the connecting device of the machine tool or tool and / or its connecting parts.

[0020] When the displacement of the cable connecting tool enters the second displacement region, the displacement of the tool unfolds the connecting cable onto the first deflection roller with both the first tension weight G1 and the second tension weight G2 being moved into the second guiding device via the cable tensioning device, so that in this region the connecting cable is pretensioned with the sum of the weights of the first tension weight G1 and the second tension weight G2 and is transferred through the cable tensioning device.

[0021] The second guide device is configured in such a way that during the transition from the first displacement region to the second displacement region, the weight of the second tension weight G2 starts to act on the pretension of the connecting cable via the cable tensioning device.

[0022] The additional pretension of the connecting cable in the second displacement area, caused by the weight of the second tension weight G2, may be used in an advantageous manner during machining operations with a cable connecting tool received by the machining device, whereby the second displacement area is adapted to the displacements of the cable connecting tool from its rest position that normally occur during the machining process. For example, large deflections of the connecting cable caused by its own weight can be significantly reduced by the pretension provided by the two tension weights G1 and G2.

[0023] Furthermore, the machine tool according to the present invention having a cable guide device may be provided with a cable guide having a plurality of deflection rods, as shown, for example, in US Patent Application Publication No. 2012 / 037274. It turns out to be particularly advantageous in that only pretensioning the cable via the first deflection roller, as opposed to an embodiment with a roller, allows for a significantly space-saving embodiment. Such a space saving turns out to be extremely advantageous, in particular in the context of industrial mass production, where the installation space for machine tools is limited. Furthermore, depending on the nature of the connection cable, the mass of the two tension weights G1 and G2 may be easily adapted to the requirements of the connection cable, for example by exchanging the tension weights, thus ensuring optimal guiding and pretensioning of the connection cable without excessively high loads on its material.

[0024] The first and / or second guide device may advantageously be configured as a linear guide with two parallel guide rails, which allows for a space-saving and cost-effective configuration.

[0025] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the second guiding device comprises a stop device AG1 for the first tension weight G1 and a stop device AG2 for the second tension weight G2, the second guiding device defining the starting positions of the tension weights G1 and G2 relative to the second guiding device, thereby defining the first and second displacement areas.

[0026] The stop devices AG1 and AG2 define the start positions from which the tension weights G1 and G2 are moved via the cable tensioning device by moving the cable connection tool. The stop devices determine the two displacement areas and their transition positions. The stop devices may advantageously be removably connected to the second guide device so as to allow subsequent adjustment or adaptation of the first and second displacement areas.

[0027] In a particularly preferred embodiment, said cable splicing tool is a cable splicing laser tool for laser machining.

[0028] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the cabled laser tool is configured for additive laser processing, and the connection cable of the cabled laser tool comprises at least one or more supply lines for a powder mixture for additive laser processing and a line fiber for laser guiding therein.

[0029] In particular, cable-connected tools are used for laser-based processing of workpieces, and the machine tool according to the invention has a cable guide that is particularly advantageously suitable for the use of a laser tool for additional laser processing. Sensitive supply lines, which transport the material essential for processing and guide the laser, can be guided reliably with only small deflections from the connection device of the machine tool to the tool. The laser is usually guided to the laser tool via a fiber-based optical waveguide.

[0030] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the cable guiding device is configured such that the bending radius of the connection cable does not fall below the minimum bending radius specific to the cable.

[0031] In particular with regard to connection cables for tools for additional laser processing, this embodiment is particularly advantageous since, when maintaining the minimum bending radius, the power supply lines running inside the connection cable are not damaged by twisting.

[0032] In the above-mentioned applications, the minimum bending radius of the connection cable is usually 150 mm to 300 mm.

[0033] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the machine tool has a working space configured for machining the workpiece and a cable guide space adjacent to one side of the working space, The cable guide space and the working space are separated from each other by a partition having an opening, and the cable guide device arranged in the cable guide space is configured to guide the connection cable into the working space through the opening in the partition.

[0034] The cable guide space is preferably arranged separately from the working space on one side of the machine tool. In this way, the cable guide device may advantageously be accessible from the outside of the machine tool, i.e. not via the working space, for example, in order to simplify maintenance operations. The spatial separation of the machining carried out in the working space and the cable guide of the connecting cable in the cable guide space is advantageous in that contaminants that arise during machining, for example in the form of powder particles or material chips, do not enter the cable guide device and damage it.

[0035] The bulkhead with the introduced opening should preferably be configured so as not to impede movement of the connecting cables while minimizing the possibility of dirt entering the cable guide space.

[0036] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the machine tool also includes a controllable lid disposed at the opening in the bulkhead for opening and closing the opening in the bulkhead.

[0037] This allows a reliable protection of the cable guide device as a supplement to the partition between the cable guide space and the working space. In this case, the stop position of the cable connection tool described above may be set in the cable guide space. If the cable connection tool is not used, it may be completely arranged in the cable guide space together with the connection cable or completely separated from the working space by closing the opening with a controllable lid.

[0038] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the cable guide device also includes a second deflection device configured to guide the connection cable coming from the connection device and running on the first deflection roller through the opening in the bulkhead and into the working space.

[0039] The second deflection device advantageously makes it possible to ensure a constant contact area between the connecting cable and the first deflection roller and furthermore makes it possible to allow a constant freedom of movement for the connecting cable in the working space. The second deflection device may advantageously be configured to allow not only a cable orientation but also a movement of the connecting cable, so that the movement of the connecting cable required for using the cable connecting tool is performed without the risk of twisting or jamming of the connecting cable, especially in the area of ​​the first deflection roller.

[0040] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the machine tool also includes a storage station configured to receive the cable connection tool.

[0041] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the storage station for the cable connection tool is configured to be movable and to be moved through the opening in the partition between a storage position P0 in the cable guide space and a transition position P1 in the working space.

[0042] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the first displacement area is defined such that when the tool is in the storage station, the displacement area extends from the storage position P0 in the cable guide space to the transition position P1 in the working space.

[0043] The mobile storage station is used when cable connection tools are not in use and when machining It may be used in an advantageous manner to store the cable connection tool when it is provided in the device. When not in use, the storage station with the cable connection tool therein may be moved to a storage position P0 located entirely in the cable guide space and preferably completely separated from the working space by a controllable lid. When the lid is open, the storage station may be moved through the opening to a transition position P1 in the working space to provide the cable connection tool for reception by the machining device of the machine tool. Advantageously, the first displacement area may be defined in such a way that during the movement of the storage station from the storage position P0 to the transition position P1, the connection cable is pretensioned only by the weight of the first tension weight. Thereby, the forces acting on the tool due to the pretension of the connection cable may be kept low so as not to tip or jam from the stop position.

[0044] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the first and / or the second guiding device of the cable guiding device are arranged such that the direction of movement of the slide guided by the first guiding device and / or the tension weights G1 and G2 guided by the second guiding device is perpendicular or parallel to the Earth's gravitational field.

[0045] In order to optimally utilize the weights of the two tension weights G1 and G2, the two guide devices may be arranged parallel to the Earth's gravitational field. In addition, this minimizes the risk of the tension weights G1 and G2 and the slides getting stuck in the guide devices. Furthermore, the parts of the connecting cable that run to or come from the first deflection roller may also be oriented parallel to the Earth's gravitational field. This ensures that in these areas the connecting cable does not bend under its own weight.

[0046] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the connection between the cable tensioning device and the slide, which is guided in the first guide device, is effected via an elastic or viscoelastic part.

[0047] Since the translation movements of the machining devices of the machine tools are usually jerky or fast, additional elastic or viscoelastic components can also reduce dynamic effects transmitted to the cable guide device, such as unwanted vibrations of the tension weight.

[0048] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the cable guiding device further comprises, in addition to the two tension weights G1 and G2, N additional tension weights [ZG1, . . . , ZG n , , Z.G. N ], and the N additional tension weights are arranged such that the connection cable running on the first deflection roller is in the (n+2)-th displacement area of ​​the (N+2) displacement areas of the cable connection tool, and the tension weights G1, G2 and ZG1 to ZG2 are arranged in a direction parallel to the axis of the cable connection tool. n and the second guide device is movably guided by the second guide device so that the pretensioning force is generated by the sum of the weights of the first and second guide devices.

[0049] Therefore, the invention is not limited to a cable guiding device having only two tension weights, but may advantageously be further developed by using further additional tension weights, the number of which is indicated as N, e.g., if N=0 then two tension weights, if N=1 then three tension weights are arranged in the second guiding device, etc., in case the cable guiding device has five tension weights in total, which are indicated as G1, G2, ZG1, ZG2 and ZG3.

[0050] By using a plurality of tension weights, a corresponding multiplicity of displacement areas with various levels of pretension of the connection cable may be provided in an advantageous manner. Depending on the geometric size of the machine tool or the transverse distance of the cable connection tool held by the machining device, the necessary pretension may be applied taking into account the relatively large distances of the freely hanging connection cable in order to avoid excessive deflections caused by its own weight.

[0051] According to an embodiment with N additional tension weights, the second guide device is connected to up to N additional stop devices [ZAG1, . . . , ZAG n , , , ZAG N ], and stopping devices [ZAG1, . . . , ZAG n , , , ZAG N ] is the additional tension weight [ZG1, . . . , ZG n , , Z.G. N ], thereby defining N further displacement regions.

[0052] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the second guide device includes a stop device AG1 for the first tension weight G1 and a stop device AG2 for the second tension weight G2, the stops AG1 and AG2 defining the starting positions of the tension weights G1 and G2 relative to the second guide device, thereby defining the first and second displacement regions.

[0053] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the slide, which is guided by the first guide device, is also connected to the machine tool via a restoring elastic component which acts in the direction of movement of the slide.

[0054] Such a restoring elastic component may, for example, be configured in the form of a spring which generates a restoring force dependent on the displacement of the slide, which acts on the slide itself for additional pretension of the connecting cable. In addition to the forces which are constant in the individual displacement regions of the cable connecting tool and which are caused by the weights of the tension weights G1 and G2, the displacement-dependent restoring force also acts on the pretension of the connecting cable. Depending on the configuration of the spring and its specific spring characteristics (e.g. linear dependence or polynomial dependence of a higher degree), any piecewise continuous polynomial pretension curve may be provided for the connecting cable based on the displacement of the cable connecting tool. As a result, the pretension curve in the respective displacement region can be optimally adapted to the specific application.

[0055] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the machining device of the machine tool is configured to be moved via three numerically controlled machine axes which are configured as linear axes.

[0056] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the machine tool also includes two numerically controlled machine axes configured as rotational axes, perpendicular or inclined to each other and configured to orient the worktable, configured to transport the workpiece, relative to the machining device.

[0057] An embodiment of the machine tool according to the invention has three linear axes for moving the machining device and two rotational axes for orienting the workpiece-carrying worktable. The positioning and orientation possibilities of the workpiece to be machined with respect to the tool-carrying machining device thus achieved allow for extensive machining of the workpiece without the need for each readjustment of the workpiece on the worktable itself.

[0058] Advantageously, the work table may be oriented via a rotation axis so as not to prevent the cable connection tool from being received from and / or inserted into a movably configured storage station provided for this purpose.

[0059] According to a further aspect of the invention, a cable guiding device is provided for providing and guiding a flexible connecting cable, said cable guiding device comprising a first guiding device, a slide movably guided in said first guiding device, a first deflection roller rotatably connected to said slide, a first tension weight G1, and a cable tensioning device connecting said first tension weight G1 to said slide guided in said first guiding device. The connecting cable has a free end and a fixed end connected to the connecting device and is wound on said first deflection roller. The cable guiding device also comprises a second tension weight G2 and a second guiding device in which the tension weights G1 and G2 are movably guided, respectively. The cable guiding device is configured as follows: the connecting cable running on the first deflection roller is pretensioned in a first displacement area of ​​the free end by a force generated by the weight of the first tension weight G1 and pretensioned in a second displacement area of ​​the free end by a force generated by the sum of the weights of the tension weights G1 and G2.

[0060] The cable guiding device according to the invention is not limited to use on numerically controlled machine tools, but may also be used to guide and tension various kinds of connecting cables, for which pretensioning with various force magnitudes has proven to be particularly advantageous. The advantages listed below also apply to the aforementioned machine tools with the cable guiding device.

[0061] The cable guide device according to the invention is particularly suitable for use in fixed and / or mobile supply stations arranged to connect a supply source to a consumer via a specially formed adapter at the free end of the connecting cable. The medium transmitted by the connecting cable may be electrical, optical or a material in the form of a solid, liquid or gaseous substance. Non-limiting examples thereof are charging stations for supplying electric energy to vehicles or vehicle-like devices, fuel supply stations or pumping stations for supplying gaseous and / or liquid fuels to consumers or compressed air supply devices for various tools.

[0062] The pretension of the connecting cable caused by the first tension weight G1 in the first displacement region may be used as a base tension in an initial state, for example in a starting position of the adapter provided for establishing a connection, which base tension ensures a fixed position of the adapter and a consistently uniform pretension of the connecting cable in said starting position. In such a starting position, the pretension caused by the first tension weight G1 may be selected to be relatively low in order to keep the material loads on the connecting cable and the individual parts of the cable guide low and thus not to unnecessarily shorten their service life.

[0063] The deflection of the free end or adapter for the purpose of establishing a connection with a consumer usually requires an adjustment of the pretension of the connecting cable, since the pretension set in the starting position is usually no longer sufficient if the deflection of the cable end or adapter increases. Large deflections of the connecting cable caused by, for example, the own weight of a single tension weight, in this case the first tension weight G1, cannot be reliably prevented, resulting in difficulties in use and unnecessarily hindering the desired function.

[0064] Such a situation can be prevented by the additional use of the second tension weight G2 provided within the scope of the device according to the invention, since the connecting cable is advantageously pre-tensioned in the process of establishing the above-mentioned connection not only by using the weight of the first tension weight G1 but also by using the weight of both tension weights G1 and G2. The second displacement region of the device according to the invention should be adapted to the specific situation and follows the first displacement region after a relatively small deflection of the free end or adapter.

[0065] In contrast to using a pretension based on spring return, the device according to the invention is particularly advantageous since it provides a constant pretension on the connection cable with increasing deflection / displacement of the free end or adapter in both the first and second displacement regions, whereas a spring return with a pretension on the connection cable that increases with deflection, for example, would unnecessarily complicate the deflection of the free end / adapter, which is usually performed by a person, especially in the case of large displacements.

[0066] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the cable guide device further comprises one or more successive further deflection devices configured to deflect the connection cable coming from the fixed end of the connection device and running over the first deflection roller.

[0067] The deflection of the connection cable via the further deflection device ensures that the device can be used in various configurations, so that the pull-out direction of the free end of the connection cable can extend in various spatial directions relative to the cable guiding device. For example, if the cable guiding device according to the invention is used in a supply station as described above, a pull-out direction extending parallel to the reference plane may prove to be advantageous if the supply station is arranged at a reference level, whereas it may be arranged that a pull-out direction perpendicular to the reference plane is advantageous if the supply station is arranged at a height above the reference plane.

[0068] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the cable guiding device further comprises, in addition to the two tension weights G1 and G2, N additional tension weights [ZG1, . . . , ZG n , , Z.G. N ], and the N additional tension weights are configured such that the connection cable running on the first deflection roller in the (n+2)-th displacement area of ​​the (N+2) displacement areas of the cable connection tool is pulled by the tension weights G1, G2 and ZG1 to ZG2. n and the second guide device is movably guided by the second guide device so that the pretensioning force is generated by the sum of the weights of the first and second guide devices.

[0069] Therefore, the cable guiding device according to the invention is not limited to using only two tension weights but may advantageously be further developed by using further additional tension weights, the number of which is indicated as N, e.g., if N=0 then two tension weights, if N=1 then three tension weights are arranged in the second guiding device, etc., and these are indicated as G1, G2, ZG1, ZG2 and ZG3, if the cable guiding device comprises five tension weights in total.

[0070] The multiple displacement regions thus obtained with different degrees of pretensioning of the connecting cable may therefore be advantageously adapted to the application-specific deflection of the free end. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0071] Further aspects and advantages for the above-mentioned aspects and features, as well as a selection of more specific embodiments, are described below with the aid of the drawings illustrated in the accompanying figures.

[0072] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a machine tool configured for laser machining, along with a diagram of the workspace. [Figure 2a] FIG. 2a shows a cross section of a machine tool according to the invention together with a view of a cable guide device, but without the connecting cables. [Figure 2b]FIG. 2b shows the same cable guide arrangement structure as in FIG. 2a in an alternative perspective view on one side of the machine tool. [Figure 3a] FIG. 3a shows a schematic diagram of a part of a cable guiding device with a pretension of the connecting cable provided by a first deflection roller, the acting forces being shown in a free body diagram. [Figure 3b] FIG. 3b, as a complement to the schematic diagram of the structure of FIG. 3a, shows an exemplary curve of the pretension acting on the connecting cable via the first deflection roller of the cable guide device. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 shows a reduced view of a portion of a cable guide device having a movable storage station for a cable connection tool.

[0073] Here, the same or similar parts in the figures may be designated by the same reference symbols or by different reference symbols.

[0074] It is emphasized that the present invention is in no way limited to the exemplary embodiments described below and their implementation features: the present invention also includes modifications of the exemplary embodiments mentioned, in particular modifications resulting from modifications and / or combinations of one or more features of the exemplary embodiments described within the scope of the independent claims. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0075] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a machine tool 10 configured for laser machining according to the present invention, along with a view of the workspace.

[0076] The figure shows a numerically controlled machine tool 10 having a machining device 11 which can be moved via three linear axes and which carries a cable-connected tool 12 with a flexible connecting cable 101, in this case a tool configured for laser machining.

[0077] The machining device 11 on which the tool 12 is received is used to machine a workpiece (not shown here) fixed on a worktable 13, which can be oriented relative to the machining device 11 via two machine axes R1 and R2 which are perpendicular to each other and configured as rotation axes.

[0078] The figure shows a working space of a machine tool 10, in which machining is carried out on a workpiece mounted on a worktable 13. A connecting cable 101 of a cable connection tool 12 is guided and provided by a cable guiding device 100 (not shown) arranged behind a bulkhead 20 in a cable guiding space adjacent to the working space. As a result, the high-precision machine parts of the cable guiding device 100 are protected from contamination occurring during machining.

[0079] The connecting cable is introduced through an opening 21 formed in the bulkhead 20, which is shown open in FIG. 1 and which, in the illustrated exemplary embodiment, can be closed by a controllable lid 22.

[0080] When the cable connection tool 12 is not in use, it is advantageously arranged in a cable guide space which may be completely separated from the working space by closing a controllable lid 22 .

[0081] By using the cable guide device 100 (not shown here), the connection cable is pretensioned in accordance with the second displacement region by a force based on the sum of the weights of the two tension weights G1 121 and G2 122 when used by the machining device 11, so that the deflection of the connection cable 101 caused by its own weight as shown in Fig. 1 is significantly reduced. As a result, it can be prevented that the connection cable 101 interferes with the machining of the workpiece or even collides with other machine parts of the machine tool 10, such as the worktable 13.

[0082] Furthermore, reducing the sagging of the connection cable is advantageous in that damage to the connection cable 101 itself as a result of excessive bending can be avoided.

[0083] FIG. 2a shows a cross-section of a machine tool 10 according to the invention together with a view of a cable guide device 100, but without the connecting cable 101 being shown.

[0084] The figure shows two guide devices 110, 120 in which the slide 111 and the tension weights G1 121 and G2 122 are movably guided. The weights G1 121 and G2 122 and the slide 111 are arranged vertically on one side of the machine tool 10 such that the direction of movement of the weights G1 121 and G2 122 and the slide 111 extends parallel to the Earth's gravitational field. Furthermore, the two guide devices 110, 120 in the illustrated exemplary embodiment are configured as parallel arranged guide rails to ensure optimal and resistance-free guiding of the tension weights G1 121 and G2 122 and the slide.

[0085] In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the cable tensioning device 130 includes a connecting cable 131 and two deflection rollers 132, connecting the slide 111 to the first tension weight G1 121.

[0086] The connecting cable 101 (not shown here) runs from the connecting device 102 on a first deflecting roller 103 and is guided by a second deflecting device 104 into the working space of the machine tool 10. The second deflecting device 104 is configured in such a way that the connecting cable 101 coming from the first deflecting roller 103 and running vertically in this section is directed in an approximately arc-shaped path into the working space, in which case no drop below the minimum bending radius of 200 mm of the connecting cable 101 occurs. The second deflecting device 104 has a section tapered on the upper side so that the connecting cable 101 entering this position can be received in the most accurate position possible. The side of the second deflecting device facing the working space for the supply line has an open shape in order to ensure a corresponding degree of freedom of movement of the cable connecting tool 12 when it is guided through the machining device 11.

[0087] In contrast to the first deflection roller 103, the second deflection device 104 is not configured to be movable. When moving, the connecting cable slides on the surface of the second deflection device, for which reason a material combination with the lowest possible coefficient of friction between the second deflection device 104 and the connecting cable 101 is preferred.

[0088] In the configuration of the cable guide device 100 shown in Figure 2a, only the weight of the first tension weight G1121 acts on the slide 111 via the connecting cable 131 of the cable tensioning device 130, thereby acting on the first deflection roller 103 to pretension the connecting cable 101 (not shown here).

[0089] The second tensioning weight G2122 abuts against a stop device AG2124 arranged for this purpose on the side of the second guiding device 120. Since the second tensioning weight G2122 is not connected to the connecting cable 131 of the cable tensioning device 130, its weight does not influence the pretension of the connecting cable 101 in the configuration shown.

[0090] When the end of the connecting cable 101 arranged on the tool 12 gradually points or changes direction towards the working space of the machine tool, the first deflection roller 103 is pulled vertically downwards along the direction specified by the first guide device 110.

[0091] The cable tensioning device 130 thereby pulls the first tension weight G1121 upwards along the direction specified by the second guiding device 120. As the displacement of the first tension weight G1121 increases, it comes into contact with the second tension weight G2122, which is also guided by the second guiding device 120, in the transition between the first and second displacement regions. The contact surfaces of the two tension weights G1121 and G2122 are configured such that as the first tension weight G1121 is displaced upwards, the second tension weight G2122 is also displaced. In this case, the lower side of the second tension weight G2122 rests on the upper side of the first tension weight G1121. Thus, the weight of the second tension weight G2 122 acts, through contact with the first tension weight G1 121, on the connecting cable 131 of the cable tensioning device 130 and therefore also on the slide 111 connected to the first deflection roller 103, so that the connecting cable 10 running thereon is pulled down. 1 is pretensioned by a force based on the sum of the weights of the two tension weights G1 121 and G2 122.

[0092] Thus, during the downward movement of the first tension weight G1121 and the second tension weight G2122 starting from the second displacement region, when the stop AG2124 is reached, a loss of contact between the two tension weights 121, 122 occurs, with the result that, when transitioning to the first displacement region, only the weight generated by the first tension weight G1121 is used to pretension the connecting cable 101.

[0093] Here, the position of the stop AG2 124 may be used to adjust the transition position between the first and second displacement regions.

[0094] At this point, it should be noted that the embodiment of the various pretensioning of the connecting cable 101, in particular the individual displacement areas with their movement relative to one another, is not limited to the direct contact between the tension weights 121, 122 presented in this exemplary embodiment. The pretensioning by the tension weights 121, 122 may also be applied by corresponding stops fixed at predetermined positions on the connecting cable 131 of the cable tensioning device 130, the connecting cable 131 being guided through the tension weights 121, 122 or through cutouts in the tension weights 121, 122, and by increasing the deflection of the connecting cable 131, a contact is formed between such a stop on the connecting cable 131 and one of the tension weights 121, 122, so that the weight of the associated tension weight 121, 122 is applied to the connecting cable 131 via the fixed stop and thus acts on the slide 111 in the first guiding device 110.

[0095] It should also be noted that the cable tensioning device 130 is not limited to the structure shown in FIG. 2a, but may also be arranged in a pulley-like configuration in order to achieve various transmission ratios between the force generated by the weight of the tension weights 121, 122 and the pretension acting on the connecting cable 101.

[0096] The structure of the cable guide device 100 shown in FIG. 2a can be provided on one side of the machine tool 10 in a small installation space, and is very space-saving due to its relatively small depth.

[0097] FIG. 2b shows the same structure of the cable guide device 100 as in FIG. 2a, but in an alternative perspective view on one side of the machine tool 10.

[0098] As a complement to the perspective view shown in FIG. 2a, the stop device AG1123 of the first tension weight G1121 is also shown in FIG. 2b.

[0099] The stop device AG1123 defines a starting position for the first tension weight G1121 and thus a first displacement area of ​​the cable guiding device 100 and further prevents the first tension weight G1 from falling off the first guiding device 110. This proves to be particularly beneficial for maintenance and / or assembly operations of the cable guiding device, since the tension weight G1121 cannot fall off the guide even if, for example, the connecting cable 131 is not tensioned or fixed.

[0100] There is also a detailed view of the slide 111 guided by the first guiding device 110. The slide 111 has a triangular structure and is slidably attached at two points to one guide rail of the first guiding device 110 and at one point to the other guide rail of the first guiding device 110, so that jamming of the slide 111 can be reliably avoided. Figure 3a shows a schematic diagram of a part of the cable guiding device 100 with the pretension of the connecting cable 101 brought about by the first deflection roller 103, the acting forces being shown in a free body diagram.

[0101] A connecting cable 101 coming from a connecting device 102 of the machine tool runs over a first deflecting roller 103. The displacement of the position of the connecting cable 101 after the first deflecting roller 103 is indicated with x and indicates how strongly the connecting cable 101 is deflected. The deflecting roller is rotatably connected to a slide 111 (not shown in FIG. 3a), on which a force F for pretensioning the connecting cable 101 acts by tension weights G1 and G2 via a connecting cable 131 of a cable tensioning device 130, the pretensioning force being depicted in FIG. 3a as a free-body force (Schnittkraft) S.

[0102] In the structure shown in Figure 3a, the relationship S = 0.5 x F applies to the free body force S based on the force F acting on the slide, where the free body force S is interpreted as the normal force acting on the connecting cable.

[0103] When the deflection x > 0, the first deflection roller 103 on which the force F acts is pulled downward. According to the deflection x, the force F is based on either the weight of the first tension weight G1121 in the first displacement region or the total weight of the two tension weights G1121 and G2122 in the second displacement region.

[0104] In addition to the schematic diagram of the structure of FIG. 3a, FIG. 3b shows an exemplary curve of the pre-tension acting on the connecting cable 101 via the first deflection roller 101 of the cable guiding device 100.

[0105] The masses of the tension weights G1121 and G2122 are represented by the formula symbols m1 and m2, and the gravitational constant of the earth's gravitational field is represented by g. S represents the free body force representing the pre-tension in the connecting cable 101, and x represents the deflection or displacement state.

[0106] In the illustrated piecewise continuous curve, the first displacement region is x0 < x < x1, where the weight of m1g acts on the slide via the cable tensioning device 130. According to the force relationship shown in FIG. 3(a), this results in a free body force S = 0.5m1g in the connecting cable.

[0107] Based on the deflection x = x1, a transition from the first displacement region to the second displacement region occurs. As a result, for deflections x > x1, the pre-tension in the connecting cable 101 is based on the total weight of the two tension weights G1121 and G2122. That is, S = 0.5(m1g + m2g).

[0108] The exact position of the transition position x = x1 may be determined, among other things, by the positions of the stop devices AG1 and AG2 in the second guide device 120.

[0109] Regarding an embodiment of the machine tool 10 having the movable storage station 140, the storage position P0 is selected to be within the first displacement region where x0 < x < x1. The transition position P1 for moving the cable connection tool 12 to the machining device 11 is preferably selected near the transition position x = x1 within the first displacement region.

[0110] It should be noted that the physical relationships shown in Figures 3a and 3b are based on simplifying assumptions, e.g., only those components useful for functionally explaining the mechanism are shown, and therefore the effects of friction or the weight of the connecting cable 131, etc., are not taken into account.

[0111] Even though this is not explicitly shown, for the piecewise continuous curve of pretension shown in FIG. 3b, the use of N additional tension weights (N≧1) would result in N further pretension stages with their own displacement regions in addition to the two pretension stages shown. As the deflection increases, a given pretension, which is constant over the pretension region, will be greater than the pretension at the previous pretension stage. This results in a stepped pretension profile with N+2 (pretension) steps in the direction of increasing deflection.

[0112] 4 shows a reduced-scale view of a portion of the cable guide apparatus 100 having a movable storage station 140 for the cable connection tool 12. The tension weights G1 121 and G2 122 and the cable tensioning device 130 are not shown in FIG.

[0113] A connecting cable 101 running over a first deflecting roller 103 and over a second deflecting device 104 connects a connecting device 102 of the machine tool 10 to the cable connecting tool 12 .

[0114] In the example shown in FIG. 4, the cable connection tool 12 is not received by the machining device 11 but is arranged in a storage station 140 of the machine tool 10 which is arranged to be movable in the direction R.

[0115] To receive the cable connection tool 12, the storage station 140 has a notch on the upper side that fits over the outer edge of the tool 12 so that the tool can be inserted with a precise fit.

[0116] The storage station 140 is configured to move in a direction R from a storage position P0 to a transfer position P1 for receipt by the machining device 11 of the machine tool, the movement direction R advantageously extending perpendicular to the Earth's gravitational field.

[0117] The storage station 140 is arranged in such a way that the part of the connecting cable 101 coming from the second deflection device 104 runs approximately parallel to the movement direction R. This ensures that the forces acting from the connecting cable 101 on the cable connecting tool 12 act approximately parallel to the movement direction R, as a result of which jamming of the tool 12 in the storage station can be avoided. Jamming is further prevented by the inventive configuration of the cable guiding device 100 of the machine tool, since the pretension of the connecting cable 101 when the tool 12 is in the storage station is preferably brought about only by the weight of the first tension weight 121. [Explanation of symbols]

[0118] 10 Machine tools 11 Machining equipment 12 Cable connection tool 13 Workbench 20 Bulkhead 21 Bulkhead opening 22 Lid 100 Cable guide device 101 Connection cable 102 Connection device 103 First deflection roller 104 Second deflection device 110 First guide device 11 Slides 120 Second guide device 121 First tension weight G1 122 Second tension weight G2 123 First stop device AG1 for first tension weight G1 124 Second stop device AG2 for first tension weight G2 130 Cable tensioning device 131 Connection cable 132 Deflection Roller 140 Storage Station S Free body force in the connecting cable F. Pulling force of the cable tensioning device R Storage station movement direction R1 First rotation axis R2 Second rotation axis

Claims

1. A numerically controlled machine tool (10) having a cable guiding device (100) for providing and guiding a flexible connection cable of a cable connection tool (12), said machine tool (10) comprising: a machining device (11) configured to receive said cable connection tool (12); one or more numerically controlled machine axes configured to relatively position the machining device (11) and the workpiece to be machined; At least The cable guide device (100) comprises: A first guide device (110); a slide (111) movably guided by the first guide device (110); a first deflection roller (103) rotatably connected to said slide (111); First tension weight G 1 (121) and The first tension weight G １ a cable tensioning device (130) connecting the slide (121) to the slide (111) guided by the first guide device (110); Including, A connecting cable (101) runs over the first deflection roller (103) to connect the cable connecting tool (12) to a connecting device (102) of the machine tool (10); The cable guide device (100) comprises: Second tension weight G ２ (122) and Tension weight G １ (121) and G ２ a second guide device (120) in which the second guide device (122) is movable and guided, Further comprising: The connecting cable (101) running on the first deflection roller (103) is connected to the first tension weight G １ The cable connection tool (12) is pretensioned in the first displacement area by the force generated by the weight of the tension weight G １ (121) and G ２ 13. The machine tool (10), characterized in that the cable connection tool (12) is pretensioned in the second displacement area by a force generated by the sum of the weights of the cable connection tool (122).

2. The second guide device (120) is １ First stopping device AG for (121) １ (123) and the second tension weight G ２ Second stop device AG for (122) ２ (124), and the second guide device (120) includes the tension weight G relative to the second guide device (120). １ (121) and G ２ 2. The machine tool (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the first and second displacement regions are defined by defining respective start positions of a first displacement region (122).

3. 3. The machine tool (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the cable-connected tool (12) is a cable-connected laser tool for laser-based machining.

4. 4. The machine tool according to claim 3, characterized in that the cabled laser tool (12) is configured for additive laser processing, and the connection cable (101) of the cabled laser tool (12) comprises at least one or more supply lines for a powder mixture for additive laser processing and a line fiber for laser guiding therein.

5. The machine tool (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the cable guide device (100) is configured so that the bending radius of the connection cable (101) does not fall below the minimum bending radius specific to the cable.

6. The machine tool (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the machine tool (10) has a working space configured for machining the workpiece and a cable guide space adjacent to one side of the working space, the cable guide space and the working space being separated from each other by a partition wall (20) having an opening (21), and the cable guide device (100) arranged in the cable guide space is configured to guide the connection cable (101) into the working space through the opening (21) of the partition wall (20).

7. The machine tool (10) according to claim 6, characterized in that the machine tool further comprises a controllable lid (22) arranged in the opening (21) of the partition (20) for opening and closing the opening (21) of the partition (20).

8. 8. The machine tool (10) according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the cable guide device (100) further comprises a second deflection device (104) configured to guide the connection cable (101) coming from the connection device (102) and running on the first deflection roller (103) through the opening (21) in the partition (20) into the working space.

9. The machine tool (10) according to any one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the machine tool (10) further comprises a storage station (140) configured to receive the cable connection tool (12).

10. The machine tool (10) according to claim 9, characterized in that the storage station (140) for the cable connection tool (12) is configured to be movable and configured to be moved through the opening (21) in the partition (20) between a storage position P0 in the cable guide space and a transition position P1 in the working space.

11. 11. The machine tool (10) according to claim 10, characterized in that the first displacement area is defined to extend from the storage position P0 in the cable guide space to the transition position P1 in the working space when the tool (12) is in the storage station (140).

12. The first and / or second guide devices (110, 120) of the cable guide device (100) are arranged to guide the tension weight G guided by the slide (111) and / or the second guide device (120). １ (121) and G ２ 12. Machine tool (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the direction of movement of (122) is arranged perpendicular or parallel to the gravitational field of the Earth.

13. 13. The machine tool (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the connection between the cable tensioning device (130) and the slide (111) guided by the first guide device (110) is made via an elastic or viscoelastic part.

14. The cable guide device (100) includes two tension weights G １ (121) and G ２ In addition to (122), N additional tension weights [ZG １ , ..., ZG ｎ , ..., ZG Ｎ ], and the N additional tension weights are arranged such that the connection cable (101) running on the first deflection roller (103) is in the (n+2)th displacement area of ​​the (N+2) displacement areas of the cable connection tool (12), and the tension weight G １ (121), G ２ (122) and ZG １ From ZG ｎ 14. Any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the first and second guide devices (120) are respectively movably guided in the second guide device (120) so that they are pretensioned by a force generated by the sum of the weights of the first and second guide devices (120) and (120). The machine tool (10) described in item 2.

15. The machine tool (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the slide (111) guided by the first guide device (110) is further connected to the machine tool (10) via a restoring elastic part acting in the direction of movement of the slide (111).

16. The machine tool (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the machining device (11) of the machine tool (10) is configured to be moved via three numerically controlled machine axes configured as linear axes.

17. The machine tool (10) according to claim 16, characterized in that the machine tool (10) further comprises two numerically controlled machine axes configured as rotation axes and perpendicular or inclined to each other, and configured to orient a worktable (13) configured to support the workpiece in a direction opposite to the machining device (11).

18. A cable guide device (100) for providing and guiding a flexible connecting cable (101), said cable guide device (100) comprising: A first guide device (110); a slide (111) movably guided by the first guide device (110); a first deflection roller (103) rotatably connected to said slide (111); First tension weight G 1 (121) and The first tension weight G １ a cable tensioning device (130) connecting the slide (121) to the slide (111) guided by the first guide device (110); The connecting cable (101) has a free end and a fixed end connected to a connecting device (102) and runs over the first deflecting roller (103); The cable guide device (100) comprises: Second tension weight G ２ (122) and Tension weight G １ (121) and G ２ a second guide device (120) in which the second guide device (122) is movable and guided, Further comprising: The connecting cable (101) running on the first deflection roller (103) is connected to the first tension weight G １ The force generated by the weight of (121) pretensions the cable connection tool (12) in the first displacement area, and the tension weight G １ (121) and G ２ A cable guiding device (100) characterized in that a pretension is applied in the second displacement area of ​​the cable connection tool (12) by a force generated by the sum of the weights of the cable connection tool (122).

19. The cable guide device (100) according to claim 18, characterized in that it further comprises one or more successive further deflection devices (104) configured to respectively deflect the connection cable (101) coming from the fixed end of the connection device (102) and running on the first deflection roller (103).

20. The cable guide device (100) includes two tension weights G １ (121) and G ２ In addition to (122), N additional tension weights [ZG １ , ..., ZG ｎ , ..., ZG Ｎ ], and the N additional tension weights are configured such that the connection cable (101) running on the first deflection roller (103) in the (n+2)-th displacement area of ​​the (N+2) displacement areas of the cable connection tool (12) is pulled by the tension weight G １ (121), G ２ (122) and ZG １ From ZG ｎ The second guide device (120) is pretensioned by the force generated by the sum of the weights of 20. The cable guide device (100) according to claim 18 or 19, characterized in that the cable guide device (100) is movably guided by the cable guide member (102).

Images