Tool Turret Drive Coupling for Automatic Tool Holder Change
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tool turrets require significant manual effort and increased operational costs due to frequent changes of tool holders for different working tools, especially in small series production, leading to inefficiencies and increased labor costs.
Innovation Solution
A tool turret with a fixing device that can be actuated by the drive when uncoupled from the working tool, allowing for automatic and cost-effective tool holder changes, where the drive is used to both operate the working tool and change the tool holder, eliminating the need for a separate drive for the fixing device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If a separate drive for the fixing device is provided, then the tool holder change can be performed automatically, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The drive unit is designed to perform multiple functions: it drives the working tool during machining operations and actuates the fixing device during tool holder changes. The drive unit can be coupled to either the output shaft of the working tool or the fixing device, allowing one drive mechanism to serve dual purposes and eliminate the need for a separate drive for the fixing device.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the drive function and the fixing device actuation function into a single integrated drive unit. By merging these two previously separate functions into one drive mechanism, the overall device complexity is reduced while maintaining automated tool holder change capability.
2Ease of operation
If the fixing device is actuated by the drive in the working position, then accessibility for removing and inserting tool holders is improved, but the working tool cannot be operated simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between two operational modes: during machining, the drive is coupled to the working tool for production; during tool holder changes, the drive is decoupled from the working tool and coupled to the fixing device for maintenance. This dynamic reconfiguration allows the same physical space to serve different functions at different times, improving accessibility without permanently sacrificing productivity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If tool holders are changed frequently in small series production, then manufacturing flexibility is improved, but labor costs and setup time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The fixing device is designed to be actuated automatically by the drive unit, enabling the tool holder change process to occur with minimal manual intervention. The system essentially serves itself by using its own drive mechanism to perform the tool holder exchange, reducing the need for operator involvement and decreasing setup time while maintaining flexibility for frequent tool holder changes.
Data Source
AI summary
A tool turret, in particular provided for the use for a machine tool, has a pivotable tool disk (10), which has on its outer circumference a plurality of receptacles (14) for holders (18) provided with working tools. The holders (18) are attached to the tool disk (10) in a changeable manner by a fixing device (20). Each holder (18) can be swiveled into a working position to permit the assigned working tool to be driven by a drive (22). For this purpose, the working tool can be coupled to an output shaft (16) of the respective holder (18) by a coupling device (26). The fixing device (20) can be actuated by the drive (22) when this drive (22) is uncoupled while stopping the working tool.