Tool Holder Clamping With Vibration-Assisted Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional tool holders face challenges in achieving precise alignment between the key member and key groove during attachment, leading to difficulties in tool replacement efficiency due to misalignment and limited visual confirmation of the positional relation.
Innovation Solution
A tool holder design that includes a clamping member, a holder body, and an operational member, where vibration is applied to the contact portion between the clamping member and the holder body to correct misalignment, ensuring precise alignment and improved tool replacement efficiency through a vibration generating portion and torque detection for controlled vibration application.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the nut and holder body are threaded together to attach the clamping member, then the clamping member is securely attached to the holder body, but the operator cannot visually recognize the key member and key groove alignment during the process
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color changes by making the key groove visible through transparency or color indication. The holder body is designed with a transparent or colored portion that allows visual recognition of the key groove's position and orientation during the attachment process, enabling the operator to align the key member correctly before threading the nut and holder body together.
2Ease of operation
If the nut is rotated to clamp the colette, then the colette is pushed in along the axial direction, but friction between the nut and colette causes torsional strain and potential axis displacement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful frictional contact between the nut and colette by introducing a pressurizing member (coupling ring) that mediates the force transmission. The nut rotates without directly contacting the colette, instead transmitting axial force through the pressurizing member which pushes the colette along the axial direction only, preventing torsional strain and axis displacement.
3Manufacturing precision
If the pressurizing member is inserted within the nut to hold the colette, then relative rotation between the pressurizing member and holder body is inhibited, but the attachment process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the anti-rotation function into the key member and key groove pairing between the holder body and pressurizing member. This integration eliminates the need for separate anti-rotation mechanisms while maintaining precise alignment. The key groove in the holder body engages with the key member in the pressurizing member, preventing relative rotation during attachment and ensuring accurate positioning.
4Productivity
If the operator threads the nut with the holder body without visual confirmation of key alignment, then tool replacement can proceed, but misalignment may occur leading to reduced work efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by enabling visual recognition of the key groove position and orientation before the threading operation begins. The transparent or colored portion of the holder body allows the operator to align the key member with the key groove in advance, ensuring correct positioning before the nut is threaded onto the holder body, thus preventing misalignment and improving tool replacement efficiency.
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 tool holder achieves high-precision tool clamping and attachment by correcting misalignment using vibration, enhancing work efficiency and ensuring accurate alignment between the clamping member and holder body axes.
Implementation Method 1
when the clamping member clamps the tool, vibration is applied to a contact portion between the clamping member and the holder body
Data Source
AI summary
A tool holder (1) includes a clamping member (4) for clamping and holding a tool (5), a holder body (2) having, at a leading end thereof, a receiving portion (25) for receiving the clamping member (4) along an axis (AX) and an operational member (N) for attaching the clamping member (4) to the holder body (2). The clamping member (4) clamps the tool (5) by an operation of the operational member (N). Vibration is applied to a contact portion (T) between the clamping member (4) and the holder body (2) when the clamping member (4) clamps the tool (5).