Adjustable Tool Magazine for Machine Tools
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional tool magazines for machine tools face a challenge in efficiently storing a variety of tools with different diameters, leading to a growing space requirement and reduced flexibility, as tool holders are fixed at predetermined distances based on the largest tool diameter, resulting in underutilization of space and limited capacity.
Innovation Solution
The tool magazine design allows adjustable positioning of tool holders along a circular magazine wheel, enabling variable spacing based on the actual tool diameters, with tool holders engaging in a T-groove for secure fixation, allowing for optimal tool placement and increased storage capacity without increasing the magazine's physical size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If tool holders are arranged in fixed positions with predetermined distance based on the largest tool diameter, then tools can be accommodated without interference, but the space requirement increases rapidly with increasing number of storage locations
Solution Approach 1:
The tool holders are made adjustable in their positioning along the circular magazine wheel, allowing the distance between successive tool holders to be varied dynamically. This enables the tool magazine to adapt its configuration to match the actual tool diameters being stored, rather than maintaining fixed predetermined spacing based on the largest possible tool diameter.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of tool holder spacing from a fixed predetermined value to a variable parameter that can be adjusted according to the actual tool diameters. By allowing the distance between tool holders to be modified, the system optimizes space utilization while ensuring tools are accommodated without interference.
2Reliability
If tool holders are arranged in fixed positions with predetermined distance, then tools with largest diameter can be accommodated, but flexibility with regard to tools to be stored is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustable positioning mechanism allows the tool magazine to dynamically reconfigure its tool holder arrangement based on the specific tools to be stored. This provides versatility for different tool configurations while maintaining the capability to accommodate tools with the largest diameter when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal tool magazine system that can adapt to store various types of tools with different diameters and configurations. The adjustable tool holders enable the same magazine structure to serve multiple functions and accommodate diverse tool sets, rather than being optimized for a single tool configuration.
3Adaptability or versatility
If tool holders are arranged on a rotating chain with fixed grid spacing, then distance between tool holders can be varied to adapt to tool diameter, but unused space remains between successive tools
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous adjustable positioning of tool holders along the circular magazine wheel, allowing the distance between tool holders to be precisely varied to match the actual tool diameters. This eliminates the fixed grid spacing limitation of rotating chains and minimizes unused space between successive tools.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the spacing parameter from fixed discrete intervals (as in rotating chains) to continuously variable distances. This allows the tool holders to be positioned at optimal intervals that exactly match the tool diameters being stored, thereby eliminating unused space while maintaining adaptability to different tool configurations.
Data Source
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AI summary
The tool magazine for a machine tool has tool holders (50) which are adjustable in their position in the magazine (34) in the direction of the row in which the holders are located, and which can be releasably fixed in their respective position, for example by clamping. The tool magazine has a T-slot (48) in the direction of the row for engagement of the tool holders and in which the tool holders can be movably guided and clamped. The magazine has a circular magazine wheel and the row of tool holders is arranged on the wheel in the circumferential direction.