Protective Bellows Mounting for Compact Machine Tool Openings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing protective covers for machine tools, particularly for compact machines, require multiple components, occupy significant installation space, and negatively impact dynamics, making them impractical and costly.
Innovation Solution
A protective cover system for machine tools using a single fabric-based protective bellows mounted on a mounting collar, allowing relative movement between the tool spindle and workpiece fixture, with minimal force requirements and easy maintenance, while maintaining machine dynamics and reducing resource consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If multiple pairs of facing bellows or telescopic plates are used to create a movable opening, then the working area can be effectively shielded, but the installation space requirement increases and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple protective cover functions into a single fabric-based protective bellows that integrates the shielding function while accommodating tool spindle movement, eliminating the need for multiple separate bellows or telescopic plates
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a flexible fabric material for the protective bellows that can deform and move with the tool spindle, providing effective protection without requiring rigid structures or multiple components that would occupy significant space
2Object-affected harmful factors
If multiple pairs of facing bellows are used with opposing movements, then the movable opening can follow the moving machine part, but the bellows must be moved by the moving machine parts themselves leading to disadvantages in terms of dynamics
Solution Approach 1:
The fabric-based protective bellows is sufficiently flexible to be moved by the tool spindle itself during machining operations, requiring minimal force and not negatively impacting machine dynamics
Solution Approach 2:
The protective bellows is designed to be automatically moved by the tool spindle during its translational movements, eliminating the need for separate actuation mechanisms and reducing overall system complexity
3Device complexity
If a single fabric-based protective bellows is used, then the number of components is reduced and installation space is minimized, but effective protection must still be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The fabric material provides effective protection against particles and fluids while allowing the bellows to deform and move with the tool spindle, maintaining protection effectiveness with a single component
Solution Approach 2:
The single protective bellows serves multiple functions: shielding the machine kinematics from contaminants, accommodating tool spindle movement, and providing a cost-effective maintenance solution, replacing what would traditionally require multiple separate components
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 system provides effective protection for machine kinematics with minimal impact on dynamics and reduced resource consumption, offering easy maintenance and cost-effectiveness, suitable for compact machine tools.
Implementation Method 1
The protective bellows can be mounted on the mounting collar in a relaxed state of the tension member and is secured on the mounting collar in a tensioned state of the tension member
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a machine tool (10) comprising a frame (12), a tool spindle (32) having a tool holder (34), a tool receptacle (30) and a protective bellows (58). The tool spindle (32) and the tool receptacle (30) are movable relative to one another along at least two translational axes (92, 94, 96) in a working space (24). The working space (24) is delimited by at least one partition (56) which has at least one movement opening (62) and, adjacent to the movement opening (62), a mounting collar (64) which surrounds at least portions of the movement opening (62). At least the tool spindle (32) or the tool receptacle (30) is coupled to the frame (12) through the movement opening (62). The protective bellows (58) comprises a mounting edge (106) which is adapted to the mounting collar (64) and is provided with a tension member (110). The protective bellows (58) can be mounted at the mounting collar (64) when the tension member (110) is in a slackened state and is secured at the mounting collar (64) when the tension member (110) is in a tensioned state.