Sliding Guide Channel Bar Loader for Multi-Spindle Turning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bar loader devices for turning machines lack efficient and reliable bar loading capabilities, especially for longer bars, and do not provide adequate guidance during machining operations, leading to inaccuracies and instability in multi-spindle turning machines.
Innovation Solution
A bar loader apparatus with a storage portion, loading system, and transfer device, featuring a guide channel assembly with fixed and slidable guide portions that rotate with the turret body, allowing for precise and flexible guidance of bars into workpiece spindles, enabling independent spindle movement and improved bar handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a bar loader device is used for turning machines, then bar loading capability is improved, but guidance accuracy during machining operations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The guide channel assembly is divided into a fixed guide portion and a slidable guide portion. The fixed guide portion provides stable structural support, while the slidable guide portion moves with the workpiece spindle to maintain accurate guidance throughout the machining cycle, thereby preserving guidance accuracy while enabling automated bar loading.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide channel assembly acts as an intermediary between the bar loader device and the workpiece spindle. It transfers and guides the bar stock while maintaining precise alignment through its dual-portion design, ensuring that the automated loading process does not compromise guidance accuracy during machining.
2Volume of moving object
If a compact bar loader design is implemented, then device size is reduced, but bar guidance capability for longer bars deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The slidable guide portion is designed to move dynamically with the workpiece spindle during machining operations. This dynamic adjustment allows the guide channel assembly to maintain accurate guidance for bars of varying lengths without requiring a larger device footprint, thus preserving guidance capability while keeping the design compact.
3Adaptability or versatility
If independent spindle movement is enabled, then machining flexibility is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guide channel assembly serves multiple functions: it guides bars during loading, maintains alignment during spindle movement, and provides structural support. This multi-functionality allows independent spindle movement and machining flexibility without proportionally increasing system complexity, as the same component structure supports multiple operational requirements.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3A
Figure 3B~3C
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a bar loader 300 and machine tool 200 equipped with such bar loader, wherein the machine tool 100 comprises at least one workpiece spindle 30 configured to receive an elongated workpiece B, and the bar loader apparatus 300 comprises, for each workpiece spindle 30 of the machine tool being configured to move in a longitudinal direction Z being axially arranged with respect to the spindle axis of the respective workpiece spindle 30, a respective associated workpiece guide channel assembly for receiving and guiding a respective one of the elongated workpieces, and each respective workpiece guide channel assembly includes a fixed guide channel portion 361 and at least one slidable guide channel portion 351 and/or 371, the at least one slidable guide channel portion being movable into the longitudinal direction Z of the spindle axis of the respective associated workpiece spindle 30.