Horizontal Boring Machine Attachment Exchange With Single Ball Screw
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing horizontal boring machines require a large table mechanism to prevent interference between ball screws on different horizontal planes, leading to increased size and unit price due to the need for independent operation of two ball screws.
Innovation Solution
A horizontal boring machine with an attachment exchange apparatus that uses a docking mechanism to exchange attachments between the spindle head and a stacker, and a locating mechanism to fix the stacker's position during machining, allowing the table and stacker mechanisms to be conveyed using a single ball screw during attachment exchange.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If two ball screws are used to independently operate the table mechanism and stacker mechanism on different horizontal planes, then the mechanisms can be operated independently, but the machine size increases and unit price increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the operation of the table mechanism and stacker mechanism by using a single ball screw. The coupling mechanism allows both mechanisms to be driven by one ball screw, eliminating the need for two separate ball screws and their associated control systems, thereby reducing machine size and cost while maintaining independent operation capability through selective engagement.
Solution Approach 2:
The single ball screw serves multiple functions by being able to drive both the table mechanism and the stacker mechanism. The coupling mechanism enables the ball screw to selectively engage with either the table or the stacker, making it a universal driving component that replaces two specialized components, thus reducing overall system complexity and size.
2Ease of operation
If two ball screws are used to independently operate the table mechanism and stacker mechanism, then independent control is achieved, but the unit price increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the control systems by using a single ball screw for both mechanisms, eliminating the need for two separate motors and control systems. The coupling mechanism provides the necessary control logic to selectively engage the ball screw with either the table or stacker, reducing component count while maintaining independent control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The single ball screw and coupling mechanism create a universal control system that can independently control both the table and stacker mechanisms. This multi-functional approach reduces the number of components from two complete drive systems to one shared drive system with selective engagement, thereby reducing device complexity and cost.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution reduces the size and complexity of the machine by eliminating the need for a separate ball screw and related components, resulting in a lower unit price while maintaining efficient operation in both machining and attachment exchange modes.
Implementation Method 1
The table mechanism may be moved toward a front side of the spindle head by a ball screw. The stacker mechanism may be moved toward the front side of the spindle head by another ball screw.
Data Source
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AI summary
An attachment exchange apparatus of a horizontal boring machine may include a docking mechanism and a locating mechanism. The docking mechanism may be disposed between a stacker for accommodating an attachment of the horizontal boring machine and a table for conveying a material in a horizontal direction. The docking mechanism may dock the stacker on the table in a mode in which an attachment mounted on a spindle head of the horizontal boring machine is exchanged for the attachment accommodated in the stacker. The locating mechanism may fix a position of the stacker in a mode in which the material is processed with the attachment mounted on the spindle head. Therefore, in the attachment exchange mode, a stacker mechanism may be conveyed together with a table mechanism by using only a single ball screw for conveying the table mechanism, and thus the attachment exchange apparatus may have a small size and a simple structure.