Dual-Gripper Tool Change Layout for Faster Spindle Exchange
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing processing plants experience long tool change times due to inefficient transport of tools between the spindle and tool magazine, leading to increased non-productive times.
Innovation Solution
A method and device for tool change in processing plants, utilizing a gripper device with two units positioned at a gripper-unit distance, allowing simultaneous retrieval and storage of tools, and optionally including a second spindle for synchronous operation, manual insertion stations, and tool sorting to minimize distances and time for tool changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If a conventional tool magazine with sequential tool transport is used, then the tool storage capacity is maintained, but the tool change time becomes excessively long
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the required next tool in the tool magazine immediately adjacent to the current tool's location, so that when the gripper device retrieves the current tool, the next tool is already in position and can be picked up simultaneously. This preliminary arrangement of tools eliminates the need for sequential movement to different magazine positions, dramatically reducing tool change time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the tool removal operation and the next tool retrieval operation into a single simultaneous action. The gripper device with its two gripper units performs both functions at once - removing the current tool from the spindle while simultaneously picking up the next tool from the adjacent magazine position, thereby eliminating the sequential time delay between these operations.
2Ease of operation
If the gripper device moves to different positions in the tool magazine for each tool operation, then complete tool exchange is achieved, but the time effort for placing down and collecting tools increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tool magazine is configured with the next required tool positioned in an adjacent slot to the current tool. This preliminary positioning ensures that when the gripper device approaches the current tool's location, the next tool is already in the optimal position for simultaneous retrieval, eliminating the need for additional movement to a second position.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the tool placement and tool collection operations into a single simultaneous action at one location. The dual gripper units are positioned such that one unit places the removed tool into the adjacent magazine slot while the other unit simultaneously picks up the next tool, combining two separate operations into one efficient motion cycle.
3Quantity of substance
If processing tools are stored in the tool magazine without optimized arrangement, then storage capacity is maximized, but the distance for gripper device movement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tool magazine stores tools in an optimized sequence where the next required tool is always positioned in the slot adjacent to the current tool. This preliminary arrangement based on the processing sequence ensures that the gripper device never has to travel more than one slot distance, minimizing movement length while maintaining full storage capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local optimization to specific regions of the tool magazine, arranging tools in processing sequence order within adjacent slots. This creates localized clusters of frequently used tools in proximity to each other, reducing the average movement distance for the gripper device while the overall magazine maintains its full storage capacity.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a processing plant (1) comprising:at least one first working spindle (2);a tool magazine (6) for storing different processing tools (4), wherein at least one storage plane (10) having several tool receiving spaces (11) arranged next to one another is provided in the tool magazine (6);a tool change device (5) comprising at least one first gripper device (13) for exchanging the processing tool (4) held in the working spindle (2), wherein the gripper device (13) comprises at least one first gripper unit (15) and one second gripper unit (16) which are positioned at a gripper-unit distance (17) from one another.The gripper units (15, 16) can be displaced between the working spindle (2) and the tool magazine (6).