JPH048447A - Machine tool tool direction change device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To turn a tool around as far as 180 degrees at time of tool changing by operating plural pieces of cams successively, and rocking a tool pot via a cam follower. CONSTITUTION:A tool pot 24 is installed in a tool pot receiver 22 clamped to a chain 20 free of rotation, and this tool pot 24 is provided with two cam followers 25a, 25b. This cam follower 25a is inserted into a U-shaped cam groove 26a of a rocker arm 27a connected to a rotary actuator 28a when the tool pot 24 is indexed in a tool magazine. Another cam groove 26b is installed in a rocker arm 27b attached to an output shaft of another rotary actuator 28b. When the rocker arm 27a is rocked, the rocker arm 27b rocks as far as an angle theta2 after the tool pot 24 has rocked as far as an angle theta1 with a shaft 23 as the center, through which the tool pot 24 is turned around as far as 180 degrees as centering on the shaft 23.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] This invention relates to a machine tool having an automatic tool changer. More specifically, the present invention relates to a tool direction changing device for tools in a tool magazine suitable for machine tools such as vertical machining centers.

[Prior Art] For example, the tool magazine of a vertical machining center is usually placed on the side of the machine body (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 62-152
636, etc.). When exchanging tools between the spindle and the tool magazine, after selecting the tool in the tool magazine, the direction is changed by 90 degrees, and then the tool is exchanged with the tool attached to the spindle using the ATC arm.

With these configurations, it was not possible to rotate the tool 180 degrees. The well-known rack and binion method for achieving this operation requires a binion in every tool pot.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] This invention was invented under the above circumstances, and achieves the following problems.

An object of the present invention is to provide a tool direction changing device that can change the direction of a tool by 180 degrees when changing tools.

[Means to solve the problem] In order to solve the above problem, the following measures are taken.

a machine tool having a tool spindle for mounting a tool;
a tool magazine for storing and holding a plurality of the tools;
The machine tool includes an automatic tool exchange arm for automatically exchanging the tool in the tool magazine and the tool gripped by the tool spindle, a workpiece table for holding a workpiece, etc. a. A tool pot for accommodating and gripping the tool in the tool magazine; b. A shaft for rotatably supporting the tool pot; C. A plurality of cam followers provided on the tool pot; d. a plurality of cams for respectively engaging the cam followers; e. a plurality of cam drive means for driving the cams to drive the tool pot about the shaft; f. the plurality of cam drive means. This is a tool direction changing device for a machine tool, which comprises a sequential operating means for sequentially operating the machine tools.

It is preferable that the cam driving means is a rotary cam driving means that rotates and drives the cam.

It is further preferable that the cam rotation drive means is a hydraulic drive means, and the sequential actuation means is a hydraulic circuit.

[Operation] When a tool change command is issued to the machine tool from the numerical control device, the cam drive means is activated to drive the cam. The cam drives the cam follower by this drive. When the cam follower is driven, the tool pot is swung by a predetermined angle about the axis. After this predetermined angle swinging, another cam driving means is activated to continue swinging the tool pot. As a result, the direction of the tool pot will be changed by 180 degrees.

[Example] Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described in detail based on the drawings. FIG. 1 is a front view showing an embodiment of a machine tool according to the present invention. The bed 2 is a stand that constitutes the main body of the machine tool 1. A column 3.3 is vertically fixed on the bed 2. Column 3.3 is a pillar that constitutes the main body. A cross rail 4 is installed between the columns 3 and 3. A saddle 6 is provided on the cross rail 4. The saddle 6 is supported by the cross rail 4 so as to be movable in the horizontal direction (X-axis direction) left and right in the front view, and its horizontal movement is driven by an X-axis motor and a ball screw (not shown).

A spindle head 5 is supported by the saddle 6 so as to be movable in the vertical direction, that is, in the Z-axis direction. Movement of the spindle head 5 in the main axis direction is driven by a Z-axis motor (not shown) via a ball screw (not shown). An angular attachment 10 is attached to the lower end of the spindle head 5. This angular attachment 10 is flexible and can be indexed 90 degrees in the horizontal direction. A first main shaft 10' is rotatably supported within the spindle head 5.

The angular attachment 10 has this first main shaft 10.
A second main shaft 11 is provided which is interlocked with a gear. The first main shaft 10' and the second main shaft 11 are rotationally driven by the main shaft drive motor 7. A table 12 is provided below the angular attachment 10. This table 12
is for placing the workpiece W and clamping it with a mounting jig. This table 12 is disposed so as to be movable in the horizontal direction (Y-axis direction) perpendicular to the moving direction of the saddle 6, and is equipped with a Y-axis motor and a ball screw (
(not shown).

On the side of the machine tool 1, there is a tool magazine 1 that stores tools.
5 are provided. This tool magazine 15 is of a type in which required tools are selectively indexed by a drive means equipped with an indexing mechanism. The automatic tool changer (hereinafter referred to as ATC device 16) is configured to receive and transfer the tools of the second spindle 11 and the tools of the tool magazine 15.

The tool magazine 15 holds a tool bot 24 attached to a chain 20 (see FIG. 2). A chain 20 is arranged on the main body frame of the tool magazine 15. Tool bots 24 for gripping and fixing tools are provided at regular intervals on the chain 20. The chain 20 engages a sprocket (not shown) which is driven by a drive motor to index and control the desired toolbot 24 to the required position.

This indexing control device is a well-known technology and its details will not be disclosed.

A tool pot holder 22 is fixed to the chain 20 via a mounting fitting 21. The tool pot holder 22 has a shaft 23
The tool bot 24 is rotatably provided. In the tool bot 24, a cylindrical cam follower 25a and a cam follower 25b are provided at symmetrical positions with the center line of the tool bot 24 in between. The cam follower 25a is inserted into the U-shaped cam ring 26 of the swing arm 27a when the tool bot 24 is indexed within the tool magazine 15.

One end of the swing arm 27a having the cam groove 26 is connected to the output shaft of a rotary actuator 28a.

The rotary actuator 28a is a swinging cedar hydraulic actuator for swinging by a set angle θ. On the other hand,
A rotary actuator 28b is arranged to sandwich the tool bot 24 (see FIG. 3). One end of a swing arm 27b is attached to the output shaft of the rotary actuator 28b, and a cam groove 26b is similarly provided in the swing arm 27b.

When the swinging arm 27a of the rotary actuator 28a swings, the cam follower 25a is inserted into the cam end 6a of the swinging arm 27a of the rotary actuator 28a, so the tool bot 24 moves at an angle θ1 around the shaft 23. oscillate.

After this, the swinging arm 27b starts swinging to an angle θ2.
(imaginary line). As a result, the tool bot 24 has changed direction by 180 degrees around the axis 23.

FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b) show the rotary actuator 2.
Fig. 4 shows the hydraulic circuit for controlling 8a and 28b.
a) shows the operation of the rotary actuators 28a, 28b and the switching valve 32 when the tool is tilted to the tool exchange position. FIG. 4(b) shows the operation of the rotary actuators 28a, 28b and the switching valve 32 when the tool is returned to the tool magazine side. rotary actuator 28a,
28b is a type called a double vane type. The double vanes 30a, 30b have an angle θ1. It swings within the pressure chambers 31a and 31b by θ2. Vane 30a, 3
The output shaft of 0b is connected to one end of swing arms 27a and 27b.

Hydraulic pressure from the hydraulic pump 33 is connected to the switching valve 32 and the oil passage 33 via an oil passage 34 as shown in the figure. Therefore, the double vane 30a of the rotary actuator 28a stops after operation, and the oil pressure is applied to the oil path 34.
Pressure chamber 31 of rotary actuator 28a via
a and swing the double vane 30a. That is, after the rotary actuator 28a has finished operating, the rotary actuator 28b is operated, so that the direction of the aforementioned tool is changed by 180 degrees.

What is shown in FIG. 5 is a front view of the automatic tool change arm. This automatic tool exchange arm is for taking out a tool from the tool magazine 15 and exchanging it with a tool on the second spindle 11. The twin arm 40 has a substantially inverted T shape. Grips 41a and 41b are provided at both lower ends of the twin arm 40. Gripping parts 41a, 41
b has a gripping mechanism for gripping the tool.

This gripping mechanism is well known and its structure will not be described in detail.

The central axes of both gripping claws 41a and 41b are parallel and spaced apart from each other. This is to prevent interference when the two tools are gripped.

A lower end of an arm shaft 42 is fixed to the center of the twin arm 40. The arm shaft 42 has bearings 4 at two locations, upper and lower.
3 and 43, it is rotatably supported by a piston 44. Piston 44 is inserted into cylinder 45. The cylinder 45 is fixed to a moving table 46. A pinion 47 is fixed to the upper end of the arm shaft 42.

A rack 48 is engaged with the pinion 47. The rack 48 is formed at the piston mouth/bottom portion of the piston 49. Piston 49 is inserted into cylinder 50. The cylinder 50 is fixed to the moving table 46. The moving table 46 is movably provided on a guide surface 51.51 provided on the cross rail 4. On the other hand, a cylinder 52 is provided on the cross rail 4. cylinder 5
The tip of the second piston rod 53 is connected to the moving table 46. The cylinder 52 is a cylinder that can take three positions: both ends and an intermediate position.

Operation The operation of the automatic tool change of the machine tool of the above embodiment will be described below. FIGS. 6(a) to 6(o) show an overview of the operation of the automatic tool changer. Initially, the twin arm 40
As shown in Figure (a), it is waiting at the standby position. When a tool exchange command is issued from the numerical control device, the servo motor in the tool magazine 15 starts to be activated and the chain 20 is driven. By this drive, the tools in the chain 20 are indexed to the tool exchange position.

When this indexing is completed, the rotary actuator 28a is activated, the swinging arm 27a is swung, and the tool bot 24 is swung around the shaft 23. Furthermore, after this swinging, the rotary actuator 28b continues to swing the swinging arm 27b. This swinging causes the tool bot 24 to change direction by 180 degrees.

The second spindle 11 is moved to the tool exchange position.

[
6(,b)], the piston 44 is further driven to lower the arm shaft 42, and the gripping claw 41b grips the tool on the second main shaft 11 [FIG. 6(C)]. cylinder 52
operates again, pulls out the tool Tl from the second spindle 11, and stops at an intermediate position [(D) in FIG. 6].The piston 44 is driven and the twin arm 40 is raised again [FIG. 6(e)]. 1.

The cylinder 52 is actuated to move the twin arm 40 toward the tool magazine 15. The piston 44 descends, and the gripping claw 41b of the twin arm 40 grips the tool Tn in the tool magazine 15 [(FIG. 6(g)]).The cylinder 52 is activated to extract the tool Tn from the tool bot 24 [(
Figure 6(h)]. Operate the piston 49 to move the rack 48
to rotate the pinion 47. This rotation of the pinion causes the twin arm 40 to rotate 180 degrees.

After this, the cylinder 52 is operated to insert the tool T1 of the second spindle 11 into the tool bot 24 (Fig. 6(j))]
.

After the piston 44 rises again, the cylinder 52 is actuated and the twin arm 40 is moved toward the second main shaft 11 [(Fig. 6). (m)], the cylinder 52 is actuated and a new tool T is
After inserting n into the second main shaft 11 [Fig. 6 (n)], the Tsuniline arm rises again by the operation of the piston rod 44 [Fig. 6 (0)], and returns to the original standby position [Fig. 6 (n)]. figure(
a)]. During this period, the old tool T1 is inserted into the tool pot 44, and then the direction is changed by 180 degrees in an operation opposite to the above operation.

"Other Embodiments" Although the machine tools in the embodiments described above are machine tools having a vertical spindle, there is no need to be limited thereto, and other types such as a horizontal spindle type machine tool may be used. Further, in the embodiment described above, the cam follower 25 is driven by the rotary actuators 28a and 28b. However, instead of using these rotary actuators 28a and 28b, a linear cylinder is used, and the car A7 is attached to the swing arm.
1! The cam followers 25a and 25b may be driven by the cam followers 25a and 25b.

Furthermore, the rotary actuator 28a.

Although 28b is hydraulically operated, it may be electrically operated such as solenoid drive or motor drive.

Therefore, this hydraulic control circuit may also be a sequence control circuit or the like. In addition, each rotary actuator 28a
, 28b may be used to switch the switching valves to interlock each rotary actuator.

[Effects of the Invention] As detailed above, the effect of the present invention is that the direction of the tool can be changed by 180 degrees, so the tool can be stored in a position where it does not interfere with the tool and the tool can be replaced. Furthermore, the direction changing mechanism does not require any special mechanism; a conventional mechanism can be used.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure 1 is a front view of a machine tool equipped with a tool direction change device;
Figure 2 is a plan view showing the mechanism for changing the direction of the tool pot in the tool magazine by 180 degrees, Figure 3 is a front view of Figure 2, and Figures 4 (a) and (b) are hydraulic pressure of the rotary actuator. FIG. 5 is a front view of the automatic tool changing arm, and FIGS. 6(a) to 6(0) are operation diagrams showing the order of tool changing operations of the automatic tool changing arm. 1...Machine tool, 2...Bed, 3...Column,
4...Cross rail, 5...Spindle head, 6
... Saddle, 7... Spindle, 10... Angular attachment, 11... Second spindle, 12... Table, 15... Tool magazine, 16... Automatic tool changer, 17...・Automatic tool change arm, 20...
Chain, 21...Mounting bracket, 22...Tool pot holder, 23...Shaft, 24...Tool pot, 25...
Cam follower, 26... cam groove, 27... rocking arm, 28... rotary actuator, 30...
Double vane, 31.31a...pressure chamber, 33...
Hydraulic pump, 34... Oil path, 40... Twin arm, 41.41a, 41b... Gripping claw, 42... Arm shaft, 43... Bearing, 44.49... Piston, 45
．． 50...Cylinder, 46...Moving table Fig. 1

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A machine tool having a tool spindle for mounting a tool, a tool magazine for storing and holding a plurality of the tools, and the tool in the tool magazine and the tool gripped by the tool spindle. The machine tool comprises an automatic tool changing arm for automatically changing tools, a workpiece table for holding a workpiece, etc., comprising: a. for storing and gripping the tool in the tool magazine; b. a shaft for rotatably supporting the tool pot; c. a plurality of cam followers provided on the tool pot; d. a plurality of cams each engaging with the cam followers. e. a plurality of cam drive means for driving the cams to drive the tool pot around the axis; and f. a sequential actuation means for sequentially operating the plurality of cam drive means. A tool direction changing device for a machine tool, characterized by: 2. A tool direction changing device for a machine tool according to claim 1, wherein the cam driving means is a rotary cam driving means that rotates and drives the cam. 3. A tool direction changing device for a machine tool according to claim 2, wherein the cam rotation drive means is a hydraulic drive means, and the sequential actuation means is a hydraulic circuit.