Variable-Pitch Tool Changer Layout for Shorter Safe Transfers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tool and workpiece changers for machine tools face a dilemma in minimizing travel paths while ensuring safety and accommodating a larger number of tools or workpieces, as disk designs offer many holders but increased relative movement, and cross designs minimize travel paths but limit the number of ready tools.
Innovation Solution
A changer with rotatably arranged holders about a common axis of rotation, allowing variable relative positions between holders, enables closer packing on one side while maintaining sufficient distance at transfer positions to prevent collisions, using a common drive for cost-effectiveness and simplified coordination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a disk design with many holders is used, then the number of tools or workpieces that can be accommodated increases, but the relative movement between the changer and the spindle increases, leading to longer travel paths and increased collision risk
Solution Approach 1:
The changer is divided into multiple segments (holders) that can be independently positioned. Each holder can be selectively rotated into the machining position, allowing the system to accommodate many tools while only moving the necessary segment during operation, thus reducing travel paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The holder positions are made dynamically adjustable during operation. The holders can be rotated to different angular positions around the axis, allowing optimization of both tool capacity and travel distance by positioning holders closer to the spindle when fewer tools are needed.
2Quantity of substance
If a disk design with many holders is used, then the number of tools or workpieces that can be accommodated increases, but the risk of collision with the spindle increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary positioning of holders before machining operations begin. By pre-rotating the required holder into the correct angular position, the system ensures that the holder is properly positioned relative to the spindle, eliminating the need for large relative movements during machining and thus reducing collision risk.
3Length of moving object
If a cross-shaped structure is used, then travel paths are minimized, but the number of tools that can be kept at ready on the changer is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from a two-dimensional cross-shaped arrangement to a three-dimensional circular arrangement of holders around an axis. This allows holders to be distributed around the entire circumference, dramatically increasing tool capacity while maintaining short travel paths by rotating only the necessary angular distance to the machining position.
Data Source
AI summary
A changer (100) for tools (112, 122, 132, 142, 152, 162) or workpieces of a machine tool includes a plurality of holders (111, 121, 131, 141) for tools (112, 122, 132, 142, 152, 162) or workpieces, which are arranged rotatably about a common axis of rotation (D), in which the relative position of the holders (111, 121, 131, 141) for tools (112, 122, 132, 142, 152, 162) or workpieces to one another is variable, so that the distance between a first holder (111, 121, 131, 141) and the holders (111, 121, 131, 141) for tools (112, 122, 132, 142, 152, 162) or workpieces neighboring this first holder (121, 131, 141, 111) for tools (112, 122, 132, 142, 152, 162) or workpieces is different at different positions of the first holder (111, 121, 131, 141) for tools (112, 122, 132, 142, 152, 162) or workpieces.