Axially Movable Tool Magazine for Fast Tool Changes
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Machine tools face a conflict in achieving fast tool change times while maintaining a large tool capacity and minimizing workspace interaction, which is challenging due to the need for compact design and reduced footprint.
Innovation Solution
A tool changing device with a rotatable tool magazine that can move along its axis, combined with a transfer device that can move between two positions, allows for efficient tool transfer directly between the magazine and the tool holder, reducing the need for additional handling units and minimizing workspace interaction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a large number of tools are stored in the tool magazine, then tool capacity is improved, but tool change time increases and machine footprint increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tool magazine is divided into multiple levels with tools arranged in a multi-tier configuration. The transfer device operates between specific levels (first transfer level and second transfer level) to enable parallel tool handling operations, allowing multiple tools to be accessed and transferred simultaneously, thus maintaining fast tool change times while accommodating large tool capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The tool magazine transitions from a two-dimensional radial arrangement to a three-dimensional multi-level structure with tools distributed across different heights. This vertical dimensionality allows increased tool capacity without proportionally increasing the machine footprint, while the transfer device moves between levels to maintain efficient tool access.
2Ease of operation
If additional handling units are installed within the tool magazine to enable tool displacement, then tool accessibility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The transfer device is extracted from the interior of the tool magazine and positioned externally between the first and second transfer levels. This external positioning eliminates the need for complex internal handling mechanisms within the magazine, reducing device complexity while maintaining tool accessibility through the simplified transfer mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The transfer device acts as an intermediary between the tool magazine levels and the tool spindle. It provides a simple mediation function by transferring tools between levels without requiring complex internal magazine mechanisms, thus improving accessibility while minimizing added complexity.
3Speed
If the tool magazine is positioned close to the work area for fast tool changes, then tool change speed is improved, but workspace contamination increases
Solution Approach 1:
The transfer device is extracted from the work area and positioned in a dedicated transfer zone between the tool magazine and the tool spindle. This separation allows fast tool changes to occur in the transfer zone while minimizing the opening required in the work area enclosure, thus reducing workspace contamination from chips and coolant.
Solution Approach 2:
The transfer device serves as an intermediary zone that mediates between the tool magazine and the work area. Tool changes occur in this intermediate space, allowing rapid tool exchange while minimizing direct interaction with the work area, thus reducing contamination risks.
4Area of stationary object
If a compact machine tool design is implemented, then machine footprint is reduced, but tool magazine capacity and transfer mechanism space are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The tool magazine utilizes vertical space with multiple levels arranged at different heights. This three-dimensional arrangement increases tool capacity without proportionally increasing the horizontal footprint, enabling compact machine design while maintaining large tool capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The tool magazine is segmented into multiple levels with tools distributed across different heights and radial positions. This segmentation allows efficient space utilization, maximizing tool capacity within a compact footprint by organizing tools in a multi-level configuration rather than a single-plane arrangement.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4
AI summary
A tool changing device (30) for a machine tool (10) comprises a tool magazine (32) which is rotatable about a magazine axis (132) by a rotary drive (130) and has a plurality of tool positions (140) for tools (180), at least some of which are arranged relative to each other along the magazine axis (132) and at least some of which are offset relative to each other about the magazine axis (132). The tool changing device (30) further comprises a transfer device (90) having a transfer slide (92) which is movable between a first transfer position (108) with respect to the tool magazine (32) and a second transfer position (110) in order to transfer tools (180) between the tool magazine (32) and a tool holder (62) of the machine tool (10).The tool changing device (30) further comprises a linear drive (128) for the tool magazine (32), which moves the tool magazine (32) along the magazine axis (132) relative to the transfer device (90) in order to provide, together with the rotary drive (130), a selected holding position (140) in the first transfer position (108). The holding positions (140) are designed to hold tools (180) on a holding groove (188).