Vertical Pivot-Arm Tool Changer for Compact Gear Skiving
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tool changers for machine tools, particularly gear cutting machines, are not suitable for gear skiving tools and require significant space, making them inefficient and unsuitable for compact integration.
Innovation Solution
A tool changer with a vertically movable lifting carriage and a pivot arm mounted on it, allowing for a compact design with tool holders arranged vertically, enabling a combined lifting and pivoting movement for tool exchange, reducing space requirements and facilitating easy loading and unloading.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If existing tool changers are used for gear cutting machines, then tool exchange functionality is provided, but space requirements become excessive and compatibility with gear skiving tools is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The tool changer is designed with a universal interface that can accommodate both gear skiving tools and other tool types. The gripper mechanism and tool holder configuration are made adaptable to handle different tool geometries and mounting requirements, enabling a single device to serve multiple machining operations without requiring tool-specific hardware
Solution Approach 2:
The tool magazine is arranged in a vertical configuration with tool holders stacked along the vertical axis rather than horizontally. The lifting carriage moves vertically to access different tool levels, and the pivot arm rotates in a vertical plane. This vertical dimensionality reduces the horizontal footprint while maintaining adequate tool capacity and exchange functionality
2Ease of operation
If existing tool changers are used, then tool exchange capability is provided, but the device complexity increases and integration into machine tools becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The tool changer is divided into distinct functional modules: a vertical tool magazine with independently adjustable tool holders, a lifting carriage with vertical translation capability, a pivot arm with rotational capability, and a gripper mechanism. Each module performs a specific function and can be independently controlled or maintained, simplifying the overall system architecture and facilitating integration into different machine tool configurations
Solution Approach 2:
The tool changer employs dynamic positioning mechanisms where the lifting carriage can move to different vertical levels, the pivot arm can rotate to different angular positions, and the tool holders can be selectively activated. This dynamic capability allows the system to adapt its configuration based on which tools need to be exchanged, reducing the need for fixed, complex mechanical linkages
Data Source
AI summary
A tool changer is used for changing tools in a machine tool. The tool changer has a support structure on which a lifting carriage is guided along a vertical lifting direction. A pivot arm is pivotably mounted to the lifting carriage about a vertical pivot axis. A plurality of tool holders arranged vertically one above the other form a tool magazine. A tool gripper is attached to the pivot arm. The tool gripper grips a tool. The tool is subsequently moved between one of the tool holders and the tool spindle of the machine tool by a combined lifting and pivoting movement of the pivot arm. Optionally, an auxiliary arm pivotably attached to the pivot arm can be used to change a workpiece clamping means of the machine tool.