Tool Magazine Arm Layout to Prevent Interference in Compact Magazines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Machine tools with tool magazines face interference and size increase issues due to adjacent arms for large and small-diameter tools, which complicates their design and operation.
Innovation Solution
The design includes support rods with inclined portions and grip portions that allow adjacent arms to overlap without interfering, using an urging member to grip tools, and positioning these rods in opposite directions to facilitate easy alignment and prevent size increase along the axis of rotation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the arm for a large-diameter tool and the arm for a small-diameter tool are positioned at different locations in the direction parallel to the axis of rotation to prevent interference, then arm interference is prevented, but the tool magazine increases in size in the direction parallel to the axis of rotation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dimensional change by allowing adjacent arms to overlap in the direction parallel to the rotation axis (adding vertical dimension utilization) while preventing interference through positional differentiation in the circumferential direction. This resolves the contradiction by utilizing three-dimensional space more efficiently rather than only horizontal separation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements nesting by allowing the arm for a small-diameter tool to be positioned within the spatial envelope of the arm for a large-diameter tool in the rotation axis direction, while maintaining circumferential separation. This nested arrangement prevents interference while suppressing the overall size increase of the tool magazine.
2Length of stationary object
If the positions of the tool grip side end portions of the two support rods are different in the rotation axis direction to allow arm overlap, then the tool magazine size is suppressed, but the arm structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The arm is segmented into a support plate and two support rods with distinct functions. The support rods are positioned at different locations in the rotation axis direction, with each rod having simplified individual structures. This segmentation allows the overall arm structure to achieve compact positioning while maintaining simplicity at the component level.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of making the entire arm structure complex to achieve compact positioning, the patent inverts the approach by using simple support rod structures positioned at different heights. The complexity is reduced by inverting the problem: rather than complicating individual components, the solution lies in their spatial arrangement.
3Length of stationary object
If two adjacent arms are overlapped in the direction parallel to the axis of rotation, then the tool magazine size is suppressed, but alignment precision between arms becomes more difficult to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the positional relationships of different parts of the arm structure. The support rods are positioned at different locations in the rotation axis direction, while the tool grip portions maintain precise circumferential alignment. This local differentiation allows compact overall positioning while maintaining high precision where needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The support plate is pre-positioned and fixed to the tool magazine before the support rods are installed. This preliminary action establishes a precise reference framework that simplifies subsequent alignment of the support rods, ensuring manufacturing precision is maintained even with overlapping arm configurations.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are an arm, a tool magazine, and a machine tool capable of suppressing interference between tool storage arms and suppressing an increase in size in the direction parallel to an axis of rotation. The arm is provided in the tool magazine of the machine tool and configured to grip a tool. The arm includes a support plate configured to be fixed to the tool magazine and two support rods configured to rotate on both sides of the support plate. The positions of the tool grip side end portions of the two support rods are different in the rotation center axis direction of the tool magazine.