Tool Magazine Expansion With Rack-and-Pinion Tool Exchange
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing machine tools face issues with size increase due to long feed screws when additional tool magazines are installed, leading to bending and complex operations, and when no additional magazines are installed, they lack flexibility for tool exchange.
Innovation Solution
A machine tool design incorporating a tool spindle, a tool housing apparatus with a standard and additional tool magazines, and a tool exchanging apparatus with a rack and pinion mechanism, featuring an extension member and additional magazine attachment units to extend the movement stroke and facilitate easy addition of tool magazines.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a long feed screw is used to move the tool exchanging apparatus between multiple tool magazines, then the tool magazine capacity is increased, but the feed screw bends during rotation causing jumping phenomenon
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the tool magazine system into multiple separate tool magazines instead of using a single large magazine. The tool exchanging apparatus can exchange tools within each magazine independently, eliminating the need for a single extremely long feed screw that would cause bending and jumping phenomena.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent arranges multiple tool magazines in different spatial positions (e.g., vertically stacked or horizontally distributed) rather than extending a single magazine in one direction. This dimensional arrangement allows the tool exchanging apparatus to serve multiple magazines without requiring an excessively long feed screw in a single direction.
2Quantity of substance
If a long feed screw is installed to support multiple tool magazines, then the tool magazine capacity is increased, but the machine tool size increases unnecessarily
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a compact arrangement where multiple tool magazines are nested or closely positioned around the tool exchanging apparatus. This nesting approach maximizes tool storage capacity within a minimized machine tool envelope, avoiding the need for excessive linear space that would result from a single extended magazine.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of expanding the machine tool size in one direction to accommodate more tools, the patent utilizes three-dimensional space by arranging multiple magazines in vertical or radial configurations around the tool exchanging apparatus, thereby increasing capacity without proportionally increasing overall machine size.
3Volume of stationary object
If a short feed screw is used to reduce machine tool size, then the machine tool size is reduced, but adding a second tool magazine becomes extremely complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the tool exchanging apparatus with a universal feed screw mechanism that can accommodate multiple tool magazines of standard dimensions. The feed screw is designed to work with any configured magazine arrangement within the machine's envelope, eliminating the need for complex removal and reinstallation operations when adding or reconfiguring magazines.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs adjustable and reconfigurable feed screw mechanisms that can dynamically adapt to different magazine configurations. The feed screw length and positioning can be modified through simple adjustment procedures rather than complete replacement, enabling flexible addition of tool magazines without extremely complicated operations.
4Quantity of substance
If multiple tool magazines are arranged side by side, then the tool magazine capacity is increased, but the feed screw length increases causing jumping phenomenon
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the tool storage system into multiple independent magazines positioned at different locations. The tool exchanging apparatus equipped with a feed screw of moderate length can service each magazine segment independently, avoiding the need for a single extremely long feed screw that would be required to span all magazines in a linear arrangement.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of arranging tool magazines in a linear sequence requiring a long feed screw, the patent positions magazines in a two-dimensional or three-dimensional configuration (e.g., vertical stacking or radial arrangement) around the tool exchanging apparatus. This allows the feed screw to maintain a reasonable length while still accessing multiple magazines through multi-axis movement.
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 design allows for size reduction and easy addition of tool magazines, maintaining movement accuracy and reducing construction costs while enabling quick tool exchange operations.
Implementation Method 1
a first moving mechanism that uses a rack and a pinion meshed to the rack to move the tool exchange arm in a first movement direction
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a machine tool which can be reduced in size and to which a tool magazine can easily be added. A machine tool includes a tool spindle on which a tool for machining a workpiece is mounted exchangeably, a tool housing apparatus having a standard tool magazine in which a plurality of tools to be mounted on the tool spindle are housed, and a tool exchanging apparatus having a tool exchange arm that grips the tool, and a first moving mechanism that uses a Z-axis rack and a pinion meshed to the Z-axis rack to move the tool exchange arm in a +Z direction, wherein the tool exchanging apparatus includes a thin plate part for attaching an extension member that extends a movement stroke of the tool exchange arm in the +Z direction, and the tool housing apparatus includes a rotation shaft projecting portion for attaching an additional tool magazine that increases the number of housed tools to the +Z direction side of the standard tool magazine.