Rotary Tool Holder Locking Plate for Safe Manual Tool Change
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The manual change of rotary tools in machine tools is hazardous due to the risk of the spanner slipping off, causing uncontrollable rotation and potential injury, as existing solutions like the double-hooked wrench still pose risks of accidental engagement or disengagement with the spindle, leading to injury or tool damage.
Innovation Solution
A kit comprising a forked holding element with two fingers that fit onto the shaft flats and a locking plate with a recess, which, when mounted, prevents the shaft from rotating, allowing safe tool change with both hands by locking the holding element in a housing formed by the recess and the front wall.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a spanner is used to apply torque to the shaft during manual tool change, then the tool can be changed, but the spanner may slip off the shaft flats causing uncontrollable rotation and injury risk
Solution Approach 1:
A locking plate is introduced as an intermediary component between the shaft and the operator's hand. The locking plate engages with the shaft flats to prevent rotation, while a separate forked holding element provides the torque application interface. This mediator isolates the operator from direct contact with the rotating shaft, eliminating the injury risk while maintaining operational capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The tool changing system is segmented into distinct functional components: a locking plate for preventing rotation, a forked holding element for applying torque, and the shaft with flats. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in its function - the locking plate exclusively prevents rotation while the holding element exclusively applies torque, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and safety.
2Ease of operation
If one hand holds the shaft to prevent rotation while the other hand changes the tool, then tool change is possible, but the operation becomes arduous and unsafe
Solution Approach 1:
The manual operation is segmented into two independent actions: one hand operates the locking plate to prevent rotation while the other hand uses the forked holding element to change the tool. This segmentation eliminates the need for one hand to simultaneously perform both locking and tool changing, reducing operational complexity and arduousness.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking plate serves as a mechanical intermediary that takes over the rotation prevention function from the operator's hand. This allows both hands to be freely used for tool changing operations without the constraint of one hand needing to continuously hold and stabilize the shaft.
3Ease of operation
If a double-hooked wrench is used to arrest spindle rotation, then both hands are free for actuating the tensioning nut, but the wrench may slip causing accidental disengagement or engagement leading to injury or tool damage
Solution Approach 1:
The forked holding element acts as a reliable intermediary between the operator and the shaft. Its forked structure with two fingers provides stable engagement with the shaft flats, preventing the slipping issues experienced with the double-hooked wrench. The locking plate further mediates by providing a positive mechanical lock that cannot accidentally disengage.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking plate is designed to be mounted on the front wall before tool changing begins, establishing the rotation prevention mechanism in advance. This preliminary action ensures that the shaft is already secured against rotation before the tool changing operation commences, eliminating the risks of accidental engagement or disengagement during the operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A known rotary tool holder (10) comprises a rotary tool gripper (11) and a non-rotary part (16) presenting a flat front wall (18), the rotary tool gripper projecting from the flat front wall and comprising a shaft segment (15) having two shaft flats (12, 13). A kit to assist in the manual change of a tool from such a rotary tool holder comprises a forked holding element (20) provided with two fingers (22, 23) that are suitable to be fitted by their inside on the two shaft flats, and a locking plate (30) that comprises a recess (31) and is suitable to be fixedly mounted on the front wall with the recess facing it, said recess being configured to house the two fingers fitted on the two shaft flats when the locking plate is mounted on the front wall, the recess extending across the locking plate and being delimited by two steps (32, 33) against which the two fingers can be fitted by their outside.