Tool Shuttle Gripper for Precise Heavy Tool Magazine Loading
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Solution Overview
Problem
The manual loading of tool magazines, especially chain magazines, is labor-intensive and challenging due to the need for precise axial and rotational alignment of heavy tools with large shaft diameters, which can weigh significantly, making handling and storage cumbersome.
Innovation Solution
An assembly device for machine tools that includes a tool shuttle and a gripping mechanism with a guide element and securing element, allowing tools to be moved between a staging area and a tool magazine, enabling secure transfer and handling of large-diameter tools without direct contact with the handling section, thus simplifying the insertion and removal of tools.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual loading of tool magazines is used, then operator flexibility is maintained, but operator effort and difficulty in handling heavy tools increases
Solution Approach 1:
A tool shuttle serves as an intermediary device between the operator and the tool magazine. The shuttle includes a gripping mechanism with guide and securing elements that automatically engage with tool features, allowing the operator to load tools without directly handling their full weight. The shuttle transfers tools between the loading position and magazine positions, mediating the interaction between human operator and heavy tools.
2Manufacturing precision
If direct manual handling of tools is used, then simplicity of operation is maintained, but alignment precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The tool shuttle acts as a mediating device that provides precise alignment between the tool and magazine. The guide element and securing element of the gripping mechanism ensure correct axial and rotational positioning of tools during transfer, achieving precise alignment without requiring the operator to manually position heavy tools with high precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The gripping mechanism performs preliminary alignment actions before tool insertion into the magazine. The guide element预先 guides the tool into correct position, and the securing element prepares the locking action, ensuring precise alignment is achieved automatically as part of the transfer process rather than requiring manual adjustment.
3Extent of automation
If automation is introduced to handle heavy tools, then operator effort is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tool shuttle serves as a relatively simple intermediary device that automates the heavy lifting and positioning tasks. Rather than implementing complex automated robotic systems, the shuttle provides mechanical automation through its gripping mechanism with guide and securing elements, achieving automation with moderate device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The gripping mechanism is designed to automatically engage with standard tool features (such as tool shafts or flanges) without requiring complex sensing or control systems. The guide element and securing element self-align and self-lock with the tool, providing automation through passive mechanical means rather than active control systems.
Data Source
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AI summary
A loading device (70) for a machine tool (10) comprises a tool shuttle (90) that is movable between a first transfer position (94) and a second transfer position (96), a staging station (144) for inserting or removing a tool (66), and a tool transfer unit (120) associated with the tool shuttle (90) with at least one gripping mechanism (190) configured to grip a tool (66) to be transferred and secure it to the tool shuttle (90). The staging station (144) is accessible to the tool shuttle (90) at the first transfer position (94). The tool shuttle (90) is configured to exchange a tool (66) between the staging station (144) and a magazine slot (64) of a tool magazine (60). The magazine space (64) is accessible for the tool shuttle (90) in the second transfer position (96).The gripping mechanism (190) comprises a guide element (198) movable relative to a base body (102) of the tool shuttle (90) and a locking element (208) movable relative to the guide element (198), wherein at least the guide element (198) is movable parallel to a longitudinal axis (130) of the tool (66). A machine tool (10) and a method for tool changing utilize such a loading device (70).