JPH0453882Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] This invention mainly relates to an automatic tool changer that is installed in a machine tool that processes metal mechanical parts and that automatically changes tools.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, automatic tool changers installed in machine tools that process small metal mechanical parts have a tool magazine that stores multiple tools, and a system that takes out the tools stored in the tool magazine one by one and transports them to the tip of the spindle. It consists of a tool exchange mechanism that attaches to the tip of the spindle and removes the used tool.
Tools can be replaced automatically based on commands from the control system.

[Problem that the invention attempts to solve]

However, in recent years, in order to shorten the time required to process a workpiece and increase productivity, many machine tools have been used that shorten the distance between the workpiece and the spindle tip, so attachments such as tool changers have been installed. The available space is decreasing, and it is necessary to change tools without interfering with the spindle or workpiece chucking mechanism, so the tool changer itself must be made smaller.
There were problems such as the structure being complicated and expensive.

This invention was made for the purpose of improving the above-mentioned problems.

[Means and actions for solving problems]

A chuck is provided at the tip of the hollow spindle that is rotatably supported by the spindle head, and there is also a tool magazine that stores tools behind the spindle, and a tool ejecting mechanism that pushes out tools one by one from this tool magazine into the spindle. In addition, a stopper mechanism is provided between the main spindle and the tool magazine to regulate the protrusion amount of the tool to a constant level, and the tool positioned by the stopper mechanism can be mounted on the chuck at the tip of the main spindle through the inside of the main spindle. Exchange device.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of this invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

In the figure, 1 is a multi-axis machine tool having multiple spindle devices (only one axis is shown in the figure), and the spindle head 2 is provided with a spindle 4 supported by a bearing 3, and the spindle 4 is not shown. It is designed to be rotationally driven by a main shaft motor.

The main shaft 4 is formed hollow, and a sleeve 5 is housed therein so as to be movable in the axial direction, and one end of the sleeve 5 is connected to a chuck 6 provided at the tip of the main shaft 4. The other end of the sleeve 5 protrudes from the rear end of the main shaft 4 and is connected to a chuck drive mechanism 7.

The chuck mechanism 7 includes a chuck cylinder 7a, a sleeve 7c that is moved in the axial direction of the main shaft 4 by the chuck cylinder 7a via a lever 7b, and a plurality of claw bodies 7e that are rotated by a tapered portion 7d of the sleeve 7c. The tool 8 can be gripped by the chuck 6 at the tip of the spindle 4 by pressing to the right a stopper 7f fixed to the rear end of the sleeve 6 at the proximal end of each claw 7e.

On the other hand, 10 is the main body of this device installed behind the main spindle 4, which includes a tool magazine 11 that accommodates a plurality of tools 8, a tool pushing mechanism 12 that presses the tools 8 one by one from this magazine 11, and a tool magazine 11 that stores a plurality of tools 8. It consists of a stopper mechanism 13 that aligns the tips. In the tool magazine 11, a large number of tools 8 are stored in a case 11a stacked vertically, and a tool ejection port 11b is provided at the bottom of the case 11a on the main shaft 4 side.
However, on the opposite side there is an entrance 11c for the extrusion rod 12d.
is opened. The tool extrusion mechanism 12 is connected to the main shaft 4
The air cylinder 12a (which may also be a hydraulic cylinder) has a stroke slightly longer than the total length of the cylinder 1, and the piston 12b of this cylinder 12a.
It consists of a holder 12c that is moved back and forth along the axis of the holder 12c, and an extrusion rod 12d whose proximal end is fitted into the holder 12c, and a compression spring 12e inside the holder 12c that biases the extrusion rod 12d forward. ,
A clamper 12 is attached to the front outer circumference of the holder 12c.
f is provided. The clamper 12f sets the protrusion amount of the extrusion rod 12d according to the length of the tool 8, and is housed in a small cylinder 12g and the cylinder 12g. It consists of a piston 12h whose tip protrudes toward the extrusion rod 12d and clamps the extrusion rod 12d, and can be automatically clamped and unclamped by commands from a control system (not shown). On the other hand, the stopper mechanism 13 is located between the rear end of the main spindle 4 and the tool magazine 11, and is constructed as follows.

That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the support member 13a
It has an air cylinder 13c installed with the piston rod 13b facing downward, and the piston rod 1
A stopper 13d is fixed to the tip of 3b. A guide rod 13e is supported on the support member 13a so as to be vertically slidable in parallel with the air cylinder 13c, and the lower end of the guide rod 13e is fixed to the stopper 13d.

The stopper 13d is moved up and down by the air cylinder 13c from the solid line position shown in FIG. ing.

Further, an adjustment screw 13f is inserted into the side surface of the tool outlet 11b of the stopper 13d, and the tip of the tool 8 is brought into contact with the head 13g of the adjustment screw 13f, and the adjustment screw 13f is adjusted. The position can be fixed with lock nut 13h.

In the figure, reference numeral 15 denotes a braking member provided at the tip of the spindle 4, which is made of an elastic plate or the like, and has the function of preventing the tool 8 fed through the spindle 4 from jumping out from the tip of the spindle 4 due to inertia.

Further, numeral 16 is a tool receiving tray for accommodating the tool 8 which has become used and has been released from the chuck.

Next, to explain the operation, when a tool change command is output from a control system (not shown), the stopper 13d of the stopper mechanism 13 is first lowered to the virtual line position by the air cylinder 13c, and then moved to the cylinder 12a of the tool pushing mechanism 12. Air is supplied, and the piston 12b within the cylinder 12a is advanced a certain distance.

As a result, the holder 12c connected to the piston 12b is also advanced a certain distance, and the holder 12c is also moved forward by a certain distance.
The tip of the extrusion rod 12d, whose rear end is supported at point c, pushes out the lowest tool 8 in the tool magazine 11 until the tip comes into contact with the adjustment screw 13f of the stopper 13d, as shown in a of FIG. Holder 12c
A compression spring 12e inside is compressed according to the length of the tool 8.

At this position, the clamper 12f moves the extrusion rod 1
2d is fixed, the distance from the tip of the tool 8 to the piston 12b is kept constant even if the length of the tool 8 varies.

Next, the piston 12b of the tool pushing mechanism 12 retreats to the stroke end as shown in FIG. 3b, and in this state, when the stopper 13d is raised,
Air is again supplied to the cylinder 12a of the tool extrusion mechanism 12, and the piston 13b is advanced to the forward stroke end as shown in FIG. 3c.

As a result, the tool 8 positioned by the stopper 13d passes through the inside of the spindle 4 and reaches the tip of the spindle 4, and is gripped by the chuck 6 when the tip protrudes from the spindle 4 by a certain length l.

If there is a tool 8 already gripped by the chuck 6 at this time, it is pushed out from within the main spindle 4 by the succeeding tool 8 and falls into the tool receiving tray 16.

On the other hand, even if the length of the tool 8 housed in the tool magazine 11 varies, it is possible to mount the tool 8 from the main shaft 4 with a constant amount l.

Next, to explain this, when the length of the tool 8 is long, the piston 12b is advanced a certain distance and the fourth
As shown in Figure a, the tip of the tool 8 is at the stopper 13d.
When the extrusion rod 12d comes into contact with the adjustment screw 13f, the rear end of the extrusion rod 12d is pushed into the holder 12c according to the length of the tool 8, and the extrusion rod 13d is fixed at that position. main shaft 4 via b and c
Even if the tool 8 is pushed out to the tip of the spindle 4, the amount l of the tool 8 protruding from the tip of the spindle 4 can always be kept constant.

[Effects of the invention] As detailed above, this invention allows the tools in the tool magazine installed at the rear of the spindle to be attached to the chuck at the tip of the spindle through the inside of the spindle, which reduces the distance between the tip of the spindle and the workpiece. It can also be easily implemented on machine tools.

In addition, a stopper mechanism installed between the spindle and the tool magazine allows the tool to be sent to the spindle after specifying the protrusion amount, so even if the length of the tool varies, the amount of tool protrusion from the spindle can be controlled. It can be kept constant at all times, and since the stopper mechanism is located just in front of the tool magazine, the tool pushed out from the tool magazine will not be accelerated and collide with the stopper, thereby damaging the tip of the tool. It is also possible to eliminate problems such as deterioration of the sharpness of the tool.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawings show one embodiment of this invention, with Fig. 1 being an overall sectional view, Fig. 2 being a front view of the stopper mechanism,
Figures 3a to 3c and 4a to 4c are explanatory diagrams of the operation. 2 is the spindle head, 4 is the spindle, 6 is the chuck, 8
11 is a tool magazine, 12 is a tool pushing mechanism, and 13 is a stopper mechanism.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A chuck 6 is provided at the tip of a hollow spindle 4 rotatably supported by the spindle head 2, and a tool magazine 11 containing tools 8 is provided at the rear of the spindle 4, and one tool 8 is stored in each tool magazine 11. Main shaft 4
In addition to providing a tool extrusion mechanism 12 for extruding the tool inward,
An automatic tool changer is provided with a stopper mechanism 13 between the spindle 4 and the tool magazine 11 for regulating the amount of protrusion of the tool 8 to a constant level.