Tool Magazine With Pivotable Dual-Socket Holder
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tool magazines face limitations in increasing storage capacity without incurring high manufacturing costs or complex mechanisms, particularly in shifting tools between storage and exchange orientations.
Innovation Solution
A tool magazine design featuring a movable tool carriage with pivotable tool holders having two sockets, allowing tools to be shifted between storage and exchange orientations using a simple actuator-free mechanism, thereby increasing storage capacity without altering the magazine's size or adding expensive actuators.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the number of tool pots per tool holder is increased to increase storage capacity, then the tool magazine capacity is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional actuators and mechanisms required
Solution Approach 1:
The tool holder is divided into multiple independent tool pot sockets (first tool pot socket and second tool pot socket) that can be independently filled with tools. Each socket is positioned at different angles around the pivot axis, allowing tools to be stored in segmented locations without requiring complex mechanisms to access them all.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of adding more tool holders along the circulation path, the invention utilizes the angular dimension around the pivot axis by positioning multiple tool pot sockets at different angles (e.g., 90 degrees apart). This transforms a linear storage expansion problem into a spatial/angular arrangement, increasing capacity without adding actuators.
2Ease of operation
If expensive actuators such as servo motors are used to shift tool holders between orientations, then the ease of operation is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tool holder automatically switches between tool storage orientation and tool exchange orientation through its own pivoting mechanism driven by the circulation path movement. The tool pot stopper provides automatic positioning by stopping the tool pot at predetermined locations, eliminating the need for external expensive actuators like servo motors.
Solution Approach 2:
The tool pot stopper acts as an intermediary mechanism that facilitates the orientation switching by providing mechanical stopping positions. Instead of using complex servo-controlled actuators, the stopper provides simple mechanical intervention to achieve precise positioning at predetermined angles.
3Productivity
If complex mechanisms are added to enable tool holder pivoting, then the productivity is improved by enabling multiple tool exchanges, but the ease of repair worsens due to increased maintenance burden
Solution Approach 1:
The tool holder serves multiple functions: it stores multiple tools in different sockets, pivots to different orientations, and works with the circulation path and stopper mechanism. This multi-functionality is achieved through a simple universal design where the same pivot mechanism handles all orientation changes, reducing the number of specialized components that would require maintenance.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention provides a tool magazine that can be manufactured at low cost with simple configuration and can increase the number of tools to be stored. A tool magazine (1) according to the invention includes: a tool carriage (14) that is movable along a circulation path; a tool holder (16) to which tool pots (18, 19) are mountable; a tool holder actuator (64) that allows the tool holder (16) to pivot; and a tool pot stopper (74) that positions each of the tool pots (18). The tool holder (16) has two tool pot sockets (50, 52). In a state in which the first tool pot (18) is mounted to the first tool pot socket (50) and the second tool pot (19) is mounted to the second tool pot socket (52), the first tool pot (18) forms a predetermined angle with the second tool pot (19).