Tangential Drum Tool Magazine for Direct Multi-Spindle Tool Change
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tool magazines for machining centers are bulky and space-consuming, particularly when handling multiple tools, and are incompatible with multi-axis machining centers, as they cannot support simultaneous tool-changing operations across multiple spindles without using additional tool-changing arms.
Innovation Solution
A drum-type tool magazine with a rotating shaft and circularly arranged mounts, where tool clamps are aligned abreast and parallel to the tangential direction of the drum's periphery, allowing multiple spindles to perform tool-taking and tool-returning operations directly without the need for tool-changing arms, thereby increasing capacity and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the number of tools is increased in a disc-type tool magazine, then the tool capacity is improved, but the device becomes bulky and space-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a planar disc-type arrangement to a three-dimensional drum-type structure with tool clamps arranged both circumferentially and axially. This dimensional change allows tools to be stored in multiple layers along the axial direction, significantly increasing tool capacity without proportionally increasing the device's footprint area.
Solution Approach 2:
The drum-type structure effectively nests tool clamps within the cylindrical volume, with multiple tool clamps positioned at different axial heights on the same circumferential location. This nested arrangement maximizes the utilization of the drum's internal volume, allowing more tools to be stored within a compact form factor.
2Quantity of substance
If a chain-type tool magazine is used to increase tool capacity, then the number of tool pots is improved, but the device becomes bulky and space-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the linear chain-type arrangement with a three-dimensional drum structure where tool clamps are distributed both circumferentially and axially. This spatial redistribution allows the same number of tools to be accommodated in a more compact volume, eliminating the need for a long chain that extends in one dimension.
3Device complexity
If a single-spindle tool magazine is used, then the device structure is simple, but it is incompatible with multi-axis machining centers requiring simultaneous tool-changing
Solution Approach 1:
The drum-type tool magazine is designed with multiple tool clamps positioned at different circumferential and axial locations, allowing multiple spindles to simultaneously access different tools. This multi-functional design enables the same device to serve both single-spindle and multi-axis machining centers, greatly enhancing adaptability without significantly increasing structural complexity.
4Adaptability or versatility
If tool-changing arms are used for tool-changing operations, then multi-spindle tool-changing is enabled, but the device complexity and tool-changing time are increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the need for separate tool-changing arms by integrating multiple tool clamps directly into the drum structure. Each spindle can directly access its required tool from the drum without requiring intermediate tool-changing mechanisms, thereby reducing device complexity and minimizing tool-changing time.
Solution Approach 2:
The drum-type tool magazine enables spindles to perform tool-changing operations independently and simultaneously by positioning the required tools at accessible locations on the drum's periphery. This self-service capability allows each spindle to retrieve or return tools directly without relying on external tool-changing arms, significantly reducing tool-changing time and improving operational efficiency.
Data Source
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AI summary
A drum-type tool magazine (100) adaptive to a multi-axis machining center (200) allows the machining center (200) to use spindles (201, 202) to directly take and replace tool holders (300) that hold machining tools (301). The drum-type tool magazine (100) includes a driving member (10), a drum (20), and plural tool clamps (30). The drum (20) is centrally provided with a rotating shaft (21) and peripherally provided with plural separated mounts (23) that are arranged circularly. The driving member (10) drives the drum (20) to rotate. Plural tool clamps (30) are arranged abreast on each of the mount (23). Every tool clamp (30) of the same mount (23) has a tool-clamping jaw (31) parallel to a tangential direction (Y) at a periphery (22) of the drum (20) and communicated with the tool clamp (30) so that the machining tool (301) when clamped is laid horizontal and located close to the periphery (22) of the drum (20). This allows the volume of the tool magazine (100) to be minimized.