Machine Tool Chip Bucket Cover Insertion for Clean Chip Removal
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Chips and cutting oil scattered by machining adhere to the inside surface of the opening cover in machine tools, leading to contamination of the outside environment when the cover is removed or during chip bucket disposal.
Innovation Solution
A machine tool design with a slit in the opening formation portion allows the opening cover to be inserted into the housing, featuring a support member to stabilize the cover's attitude and prevent chips and oil from falling out, and a protruding portion to hinder chip bucket removal when the cover is inserted.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the opening cover is removed from the housing and placed on the outside of the machine tool for chip bucket disposal, then the chip bucket can be accessed and emptied, but chips and cutting oil adhered to the inside surface of the opening cover may fall off and contaminate the outside environment
Solution Approach 1:
The opening cover is inserted into the housing through the opening, with the cover being received within the housing structure. The support member inside the housing supports the opening cover in its inserted state, creating a nested arrangement where the cover is temporarily housed within the main housing structure during the disposal process
Solution Approach 2:
The support member acts as an intermediary structure that receives and supports the opening cover when inserted into the housing. This intermediary support prevents chips and cutting oil from falling off the cover while it is in the inserted position, solving the contamination problem without interfering with the disposal operation
2Object-generated harmful factors
If the opening cover is inserted into the housing through the opening, then chips and cutting oil adhered to the cover are prevented from falling outside, but the chip bucket cannot be pulled out for disposal
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions between two dynamic states: (1) the opening cover is inserted into the housing to prevent contamination during disposal operations, and (2) the opening cover is removed from the housing to allow chip bucket access. The protruding portion on the cover provides a grip for removal when needed, enabling dynamic switching between these two functional states
Solution Approach 2:
The opening cover is designed as a separate, detachable component that can be independently inserted into or removed from the housing. This segmentation allows the cover to be positioned in different states (inserted or removed) depending on the operational requirement, either for contamination prevention or for chip bucket access
3Object-generated harmful factors
If the opening cover is made with a width wider than the opening to ensure complete coverage, then chips and cutting oil are effectively contained, but the cover cannot be inserted into the housing through the opening
Solution Approach 1:
The opening formation portion is divided into two segments: the opening itself and the slit. This segmentation allows the opening cover, which is wider than the opening, to be inserted by passing its ends through the slit while maintaining its full width for effective containment when in the inserted position
Solution Approach 2:
The insertion path is changed from a direct horizontal insertion (which would be blocked by the cover's width) to a two-step process: first passing the cover ends through the slit (vertical dimension), then allowing the cover body to rest on the support member. This dimensional approach enables insertion of a wider cover
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
[Problem] The present invention provides a machine tool and a chip removal method for a machine tool, with which contamination of the outside of the machine tool is suppressed. [Means of Solution] An NC lathe 1 for machining a work W includes a housing 11, a chip bucket 8 that is placed inside of the housing 11 in order to receive chips produced when the work W is machined, an opening formation portion 112 that is provided in the housing 11 and has an opening 1121 formed therein through which the chip bucket 8 can be pulled out to the outside of the housing 11, and an opening cover 15 that is detachably attached to the housing 11 so as to close the opening 1121 in an attached state attached to the housing 11, wherein the opening formation portion 112 has a slit 1122 that is formed continuously with the opening 1121 so as to extend in a width direction of the opening 1121, and that allows the opening cover 15 removed from the housing 11 to be inserted into the housing 11.