JP2000210828A - Automatic tool changer - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] To increase the number of tools that can be set on a processing table. An automatic tool changer according to the present invention is configured to attach and detach a tool (9) to and from a tip of a spindle (11) movably provided in at least the Z-axis direction. A work table 3 on which a work 12 is mounted, having a pickup 12 smaller than the spindle 11 and capable of attaching and detaching the tool 9 at a tip end thereof
And a plurality of tools 9 provided on the processing table 3.
Is provided on the base 2, which is a part other than the processing table 3, for temporarily storing a tool 9, and the Z-axis movement of the spindle 11 around the tool cassette 8 It is characterized by having a pot 28 having a space for use.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic tool changer for attaching and detaching a tool such as a drill to and from a tip of a spindle of a machine tool.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an example of this type of automatic tool changer, there is an apparatus described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 29456/1990. The apparatus of this publication provides a pickup that has a spindle movably provided in the Z-axis direction and has an outer diameter smaller than that of the spindle and in which a tool can be attached to and detached from the tip.
The work table is provided so as to be movable in the axial direction, and a work table for mounting and fixing the work is provided so as to be movable in the XY axis directions. And, on a tool table provided at one end of the processing table, a tool cassette for accommodating a plurality of tools,
A pot for temporarily storing the tool and having a space for moving the spindle in the Z-axis direction around the tool is provided. Further, two pots are arranged side by side as the pot.

In the case of the above configuration, a desired tool is taken out of the tools stored in a tool cassette by a pickup, and the tool is stored in one pot. Then, the tool previously attached to the spindle is removed and housed in the other pot. Thereafter, the tool housed in one pot is attached to the spindle. Also,
The pick-up grips the tool contained in the other pot and returns it to the tool cassette. Thus, the configuration is such that the replacement work of the tool attached to the spindle is completed.

[0004]

In the case of the above conventional configuration,
This is a configuration in which a tool cassette and a pot are arranged together on (a tool table of) a processing table. Further, since a space for moving the spindle in the Z-axis direction must be provided in the pot, the space for disposing the pot becomes considerably large. For this reason, there is a tendency that the space for disposing the tool cassette tends to be considerably small, and as a result, the number of tools that can be set on (the tool table of) the working table is reduced.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an automatic tool changer capable of increasing the number of tools that can be set on a machining table.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An automatic tool changer according to the present invention is an automatic tool changer in which a tool is attached to and detached from a tip end of a spindle movably provided at least in the Z-axis direction. A pickup having a smaller outer diameter than the spindle and capable of attaching / detaching a tool at a tip end thereof, a processing table on which a work is mounted, and a tool provided on the processing table to accommodate a plurality of tools; It is characterized in that a cassette and a pot provided on a portion other than the processing table for temporarily storing tools and having a space around the spindle for moving the spindle in the Z-axis direction are provided around the cassette. Have.

According to the above configuration, since the pot is provided on a portion other than the processing table, a space for disposing the tool cassette on the processing table can be increased. For this reason, the number of tools that can be set on the processing table can be increased.

In the above configuration, it is preferable that the spindle and the pickup are provided so as to be integrally movable in the X-axis or Y-axis direction, and the pot is provided on a base. Further, the pot is separated from the spindle by a distance between the spindle and the pickup.
And a rotating mechanism for exchanging the positions of the two pots by rotating the two pots around the center of the two pots. This is an even more preferable configuration. Furthermore, it is preferable that the spindle and the pickup are arranged obliquely with respect to the X-axis or Y-axis direction.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to, for example, a printed board drilling machine will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, FIG. 1 is a top view of a printed board drilling machine according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a front view of the printed board drilling machine. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a processing table 3 is provided on a base 2 of the printed board drilling machine 1 so as to be movable in the X-axis direction (vertical direction in FIG. 1).

In this case, the processing table 3 is supported by two guide rails 4 provided on the base 2 so as to be movable in the X-axis direction, and the X-axis motor 5 rotates the X-axis through a ball screw 6. It is configured to be driven to move in the axial direction. The X-axis motor 5 is composed of, for example, a servo motor. A work (not shown) is configured to be removably mounted and fixed on the processing table 3. Then, at the lower end portion of the processing table 3 in FIG.
A tool tray 7 is provided integrally. The upper surface of the tool tray 7 is configured to be lower than the upper surface of the processing table 3, as shown in FIGS.

On the upper surface of the tool tray 7, a plurality of tool cassettes 8 are mounted and fixed. Thereby, the tool cassette 8 is configured to be provided on the processing table 3. Each of the tool cassettes 8 has the configuration shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality (for example, 50) of tools 9 can be accommodated. The tool 9 is a tool such as a drill, for example.

On the other hand, on the upper surface of the upper surface of the base 2 in FIG. 1, a base projection 10 is provided so as to extend along the Y-axis direction (left-right direction in FIG. 1). This base protrusion 1
At 0, a spindle 11 and a pickup 12 are provided so as to be integrally movable in the Y-axis direction. In particular,
As shown in FIG. 2, the Y-axis movable member 13 is supported by the base projection 10 via two guide rails 14, so as to be movable in the Y-axis direction. This Y-axis movable member 13
Is set to Y through a ball screw 16 by a Y-axis motor 15.
It is configured to be driven to move in the axial direction. Y above
The shaft motor 15 is composed of, for example, a servo motor.

The Y-axis movable member 13 supports a Z-axis movable member 17 via two guide rails 18 so as to be movable in the Z-axis direction. This Z-axis movable member 1
Reference numeral 7 is configured to be driven to move in the Z-axis direction by a Z-axis motor 19 via a ball screw 20. The Z-axis motor 19 is constituted by, for example, a servomotor.

As shown in FIG. 3, the spindle 11 has a spindle bracket 21
It is provided rotatably via the. Thus, the spindle 11 is configured to move in the Z-axis direction integrally with the Z-axis movable member 17. The spindle 11 is
For example, it is configured to be rotationally driven by a spindle motor (not shown) built in the spindle 11. Also, at the tip (lower end) of the spindle 11,
The spindle chuck 22 is provided, and the tool 9 can be detachably gripped by the spindle chuck 22.

Further, a pickup 12 is provided on the spindle bracket 21 so as to be movable in the Z-axis direction. The pickup 12 includes a pickup frame 23, a clamp cylinder 24, and a gripper 25. In this configuration, the pickup frame 23 is supported by the spindle bracket 21 via a guide rail 26 so as to be movable in the Z-axis direction, and is driven to move in the Z-axis direction by a pickup cylinder 27 provided on the spindle bracket 21. It is configured to be. Further, by driving the gripping claws 25 by the clamp cylinder 24, the tool 9 is gripped or the gripping of the tool 9 is released.

With the above-described configuration, the spindle 11 and the pickup 12 are configured to move in the Z-axis direction integrally with the Z-axis movable member 17. Pickup 1
2 is for the spindle 11 and the Z-axis movable member 17,
It is configured to be able to move independently in the Z-axis direction. Also, the spindle 11, the pickup 12, and the Z
The axis movable member 17 is configured to move in the Y axis direction integrally with the Y axis movable member 13.

Here, the spindle 11 and the pickup 1
As shown in FIG. 5, 2 is arranged obliquely to the X-axis or Y-axis direction. Specifically, they are arranged such that the X-axis component of the distance between the spindle 11 and the pickup 12 is a, and the Y-axis component of the distance is b.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1, for example, two pots 28, 28 are disposed in a substantially central portion of the upper end of the base 2 at the left end. These pots 28 are for temporarily storing the tool 9. The two pots 28 are provided so as to be separated by the same distance as the distance between the spindle 11 and the pickup 12, as shown in FIG. The two pots 28 are configured to be rotated around the center of the two pots 28 by the rotation mechanism 29.

The rotation mechanism 29 is, as shown in FIG.
The frame 30 includes a frame 30 fixed to the base 2, a pot shaft 32 rotatably supported by the frame 30 via a bearing 31, and a reversing cylinder 33 for driving the pot shaft 32 to rotate forward and reverse. . The two pots 28 are attached to both ends of the upper surface of the horizontal bar 32a formed at the upper end of the pot shaft 32.
Are protruding. In the case of this configuration, the reversing cylinder 33
When the pot shaft 32 is rotated forward by 180 degrees, the positions of the two pots 28 are exchanged. When the pot shaft 32 is inverted by 180 degrees by the reversing cylinder 33 in this exchanged state, the positions of the two pots 28 are exchanged again (return to the original position).

Further, when the reversing cylinder 33 of the rotating mechanism 29 is stopped, the horizontal bar 32 of the pot shaft 32 is stopped.
a (that is, the two pots 28) are arranged obliquely with respect to the X-axis or Y-axis direction. This oblique angle is determined by the spindle 11 and the pickup 1 described above.
It is the same as the oblique angle of 2 and is arranged such that the X-axis component of the distance between the two pots 28 is a and the Y-axis component of the distance is b. Further, the position of the rotation mechanism 29 placed on the base 2 depends on the position of the spindle 11.
The spindle 11 and the pickup 12 are set so as to be located directly above each of the two pots 28 when the pickup 12 and the pickup 12 are moved directly above the rotation mechanism 29.

Then, the spindle 11 and the pickup 1
By lowering the spindle 11 and the pickup 12 in the Z-axis direction in a state where 2 is positioned directly above each of the two pots 28, the spindle 11 and the pickup 12 are gripped by the spindle 11 and the pickup 12, respectively, as shown in FIG. Configuration in which the tool 9 can be accommodated in two pots 28, or
The tool 9 housed in each pot 28 is
1 and the pickup 12 respectively. In the case of this configuration, a space for moving the spindle 11 in the Z-axis direction is provided around the pot 28.

The spindle 11 and the pickup 12
Is positioned directly above each of the two pots 28, and only the pickup 12 is lowered in the Z-axis direction,
A configuration in which the tool 9 held by the pickup 12 can be stored in the pot 28 corresponding to the pickup 12, or the tool 9 stored in the pot 28 corresponding to the pickup 12 can be held by the pickup 12. It has a configuration.

Next, the operation of the above configuration, specifically, the operation of automatically changing the tool 9 attached to the spindle 11 will be described. First, as shown in FIG.
The X-axis motor 5 is driven to move the processing table 3 in the X-axis direction, and the Y-axis motor 15 is driven to move the Y-axis movable member 13 and thus the pickup 12 in the Y-axis direction. The tool 9 is positioned just above the tool 9 to be replaced among the tools 9 stored in the tool cassette 8.

Subsequently, the pickup cylinder 27 is driven to lower the pickup 12 in the Z-axis direction.
By driving the clamp cylinder 24, the pickup 9 holds the tool 9 to be exchanged. And
The pickup 12 is driven by driving the pickup cylinder 27.
Is raised in the Z-axis direction.

Thereafter, the Y-axis motor 15 is driven to move the spindle 11 and the pickup 12 in the Y-axis direction, thereby positioning the spindle 11 and the pickup 12 directly above each of the two pots 28. In this state, by driving the Z-axis motor 19 to lower the spindle 11 and the pickup 12 in the Z-axis direction, as shown in FIG. It is stored in two pots 28.

Subsequently, after driving the Z-axis motor 19 to raise the spindle 11 and the pickup 12 in the Z-axis direction, the reversing cylinder 33 of the rotating mechanism 29 is driven to rotate the pot shaft 32 forward by 180 degrees (or Inverted)
The positions of the two pots 28 are exchanged. As a result, the spindle 11 is located directly above the tool 9 to be replaced, and the pickup 12 is located immediately above the tool 9 previously mounted on the spindle 11.

In this state, the Z-axis motor 19 is driven to lower the spindle 11 and the pickup 12 in the Z-axis direction, so that the tools 9 accommodated in the two pots 28 are moved to the spindle 11 and the pickup 12, respectively. Hold. Thus, the tool 9 to be replaced with the spindle 11
Is attached. Thereafter, the Z-axis motor 19 is driven to raise the spindle 11 and the big-up 12. Next, the Y-axis motor 15 is driven to move the pickup 12
By moving the machining table 3 in the X-axis direction by driving the X-axis motor 5 while moving the pickup 12 in the axial direction, the pickup 12 is moved to a portion of the tool cassette 8 where the tool 9 is not accommodated (that is, (The part to accommodate the tool 9, which has been mounted up to this point).

In this state, the pickup cylinder 27 is driven to lower the pickup 12 in the Z-axis direction, and the clamp cylinder 24 is driven to move the tool 9 held by the pickup 12 into the tool cassette 8.
Housed in Then, the pickup cylinder 27 is driven to raise the pickup 12 in the Z-axis direction. Thereby, the automatic change operation of the tool 9 is completed.

According to the present embodiment having such a configuration, the two pots 28 are provided on portions other than the processing table 3, specifically, on the base 2. The tool cassette 8 can be accommodated on the entire surface of the tool tray 7 which is a space for disposing the tool cassette 8. In the case of this configuration, the space for disposing the tool cassette 8 is widened, and the number of tools 9 that can be set on the processing table 3 can be increased.

In the above embodiment, the spindle 11
And the pickup 12 are provided so as to be integrally movable in the Y-axis direction, and the pot 28 is provided on the base 2. According to this configuration, since the pot 28 is provided on the base 2, the degree of freedom in designing the arrangement position of the pot 28 is increased.

Further, in the above embodiment, the pot 28 is constituted by two pots 28, 28 provided at a distance between the spindle 11 and the pickup 12, and these two pots 28 are These two pots 2
A rotation mechanism 29 for exchanging the positions of the two pots 28 by rotating around the center of the
It was configured to have: According to this configuration, the time required for tool change can be reduced as compared with a configuration without the rotation mechanism 29 (or a conventional configuration). That is, the number of times the spindle 11 and the pickup 12 are moved up and down,
In addition, the number of times that the spindle 11 and the pickup 12 are moved in the Y-axis direction (or the number of times that the processing table 3 is moved in the X-axis or Y-axis direction) can be reduced.

Further, in the above embodiment, the spindle 11 and the pickup 12 are arranged obliquely with respect to the X-axis or Y-axis direction. According to this configuration,
The moving distance for moving the spindle 11 and the pickup 12 in the Y-axis direction and the moving distance for moving the processing table 3 in the X-axis direction can be minimized, that is, optimized.

In the above embodiment, the two pots 28 are rotated to exchange the positions. However, if it is not necessary to reduce the exchange time, the two pots 28 may not be rotated. good. Also, the number of pots 28
The number is not limited to two, and one or three or more may be provided.

Further, in the above embodiment, the spindle 11 and the pickup 12 are provided so as to be integrally movable in the Y-axis direction, and the machining table 3 is provided so as to be movable in the X-axis direction. 11 and pickup 1
2 may be provided so as to be integrally movable in the X-axis direction, and the processing table 3 may be provided so as to be movable in the Y-axis direction.

The spindle 11 and the pickup 12
Is stopped in the Y-axis direction (that is, the spindle 11 and the pickup 12 are configured to be movable only in the Z-axis direction), and the machining table is provided so as to be movable in the X-axis and Y-axis directions. good. In this configuration, for example, when the machining table is provided so as to be movable in the X-axis direction with respect to the sub-table and the sub-table is provided so as to be movable in the Y-axis direction, the pot is arranged on the sub-table. What is necessary is just to configure. That is, the pot may be provided on a portion other than the processing table.

Further, in the above embodiment, the automatic tool changer according to the present invention is applied to the printed circuit board drilling machine 1, but the present invention is not limited to this, and is applied to other machine tools having a spindle. Is also good.

[0037]

As is apparent from the above description, the present invention is provided with a pickup provided so as to be movable at least in the Z-axis direction, having an outer diameter smaller than that of the spindle, and capable of attaching and detaching a tool at the tip. A machining table on which a workpiece is placed, a tool cassette provided on the machining table for accommodating a plurality of tools, and provided on a portion other than the machining table for temporarily accommodating tools. And a pot having a space for moving the spindle in the Z-axis direction is provided around the pot, so that the space for disposing the tool cassette on the machining table can be increased. There is an excellent effect that the number of tools that can be set thereon can be increased.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a top view of a printed circuit board drilling machine showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of a printed circuit board drilling machine.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the vicinity of a spindle, a pickup, a tool cassette, and a pot.

FIG. 4 is a view corresponding to FIG. 3, showing an operation when a tool is stored in a pot from a spindle and a pickup.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the vicinity of a spindle and a pickup;

FIG. 6 is a top view of a pot and a rotation mechanism.

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of a pot and a rotation mechanism.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 is a printed circuit board drilling machine, 2 is a base, 3 is a processing table, 5 is an X-axis motor, 7 is a tool tray, 8 is a tool cassette, 9 is a tool, 10 is a base convex portion, 11 is a spindle,
12 is a pickup, 13 is a Y-axis movable member, 15 is a Y-axis motor, 17 is a Z-axis movable member, 19 is a Z-axis motor, 21
Is a spindle bracket, 22 is a spindle chuck,
27 is a pickup cylinder, 28 is a pot, 29 is a rotating mechanism, 30 is a frame, 31 is a bearing, 32 is a pot shaft, and 33 is a reversing cylinder.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An automatic tool changer for attaching and detaching a tool to and from a tip of a spindle movably provided in at least the Z-axis direction, wherein the outer diameter is smaller than that of the spindle. A pickup on which a tool can be attached and detached at a tip end; a processing table on which a work is placed; a tool cassette provided on the processing table and for accommodating a plurality of tools; and a portion other than the processing table. And a pot for temporarily storing a tool, and a pot having a space for moving the spindle in the Z-axis direction around the tool. 2. The spindle and the pickup,
2. The automatic tool changer according to claim 1, wherein the pot is provided so as to be integrally movable in the X-axis or Y-axis direction, and the pot is provided on a base. 3. 3. The pot comprises two pots provided at a distance between the spindle and the pickup, and the two pots are centered on the center of the two pots. 3. The automatic tool changer according to claim 2, further comprising a rotating mechanism that rotates the two pots to rotate the two pots. 4. The spindle and the pickup,
The automatic tool changer according to claim 3, wherein the automatic tool changer is disposed obliquely with respect to the X-axis or Y-axis direction.