JPH0541377B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a tool storage magazine in a machine tool equipped with automatic tool changing means for small diameter tools.
More specifically, there is a machine in which small-diameter tools are exchanged during machining work between a small-diameter tool holding means in a tool storage magazine that stores a mixture of large-diameter and small-diameter tools, and a parent tool also in the tool storage magazine. This invention relates to a tool storage magazine for a machine.

[Prior Art] Small-diameter tools used in machining centers, such as drills, end mills, and taps, are frequently processed. In some cases, processing exceeds 50% of all work. However, there are many types of tools such as processing types and sizes,
As a result, the number of tools used increases significantly, so the size of the tool storage magazine tends to increase. Conventionally, for this type of automatic tool changer, a) Tokkosho
50-20703, b) Japanese Patent Publication No. 57-46984, c) Japanese Patent Publication No. 61-257737, and Japanese Patent Publication No. 61-38840.

b) What is stated in Special Publication No. 50-20703,
In order to store a large number of tools in a circular magazine of limited size without changing the diameter of the magazine, a turret is arranged to store a plurality of tools in groups. Also, b) the one described in Special Publication No. 57-46984 has a large diameter,
In order to store a mixture of small-diameter tools, dedicated sockets are fixedly arranged in the tool storage magazine.

c) In JP-A-61-257737 and JP-A-61-38840, a small-diameter tool magazine is arranged adjacent to the main tool magazine in order to increase the number of tools stored in the tool magazine. The small-diameter tool in the small-diameter tool magazine and the tool mounted on the mother tool in the main magazine are exchanged by a small-diameter tool changer while the main spindle tool is being processed.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, a) In the case of Japanese Patent Publication No. 50-20703, the structure of the turret and tool storage device becomes complicated because a rotation indexing mechanism is incorporated into each turret. There was no idea of arranging small-diameter tools and large-diameter tools together, and the tool shank diameter could only accommodate tools of a single size.

Also, b) Regarding the Japanese Patent Publication No. 57-46984, the socket group for small-diameter tools arranged in the tool storage magazine is fixed, so that even if the machining process changes, small-diameter tools can be mixed among large-diameter tools. It cannot be recombined, and there is little flexibility in making changes.

Furthermore, c) JP-A-61-257737, JP-A-61-
Regarding No. 38840, in addition to the main tool magazine that accommodates large-diameter tools, there is a separate sub-magazine that accommodates small-diameter tools. Therefore, there remained the problem that a driving device and a control device were required for each magazine, which increased the space occupied by the magazine.

The first object of the present invention is to provide a tool storage system that allows small-diameter tools to be mixed and stored in one tool storage magazine without changing the form of the conventionally used tool storage magazine, thereby increasing the number of stored tools. The aim is to provide magazines.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a small diameter tool holder for simultaneously storing a plurality of small diameter tools in the same pot in a tool storage magazine.

[Means for solving the problem] In order to solve the above problem, the following main steps are taken.

a. In order to insert a large diameter tool that has a tool shank part that is removably inserted into the main shaft of a machine tool,
A tool storage magazine for a machine tool in which a tool pot 10 having an insertion opening formed in the same shape as the insertion portion of the main spindle is provided in a chain and rotatably indexable, and b. A small-diameter tool insertion opening 54 for inserting a small-diameter tool 11 which is detachably inserted and has a small-diameter tool shank portion having a smaller shank diameter than the large-diameter tool is provided along the running direction of the tool pot. a plurality of integrated bases 52 formed at a predetermined pitch dimension narrower than the pitch dimension between the pots; c removably inserted into the tool pot and the main shaft; a parent tool 13 having a tool shank portion for a large-diameter tool to be inserted into the tool shank portion; and a small-diameter tool insertion opening having the same shape as the base for inserting the small-diameter tool on the axis of the tool shank portion; d. a small-diameter tool holder 51 that holds the base and has a tool shank portion having the same shape as a large-diameter tool to be inserted into the tool pot; e. A large-diameter tool and the small-diameter tool can be stored together, and the tool can be indexed and positioned at intervals of the pitch between the tool pots or the pitch of the small-diameter tool insertion opening. This is a tool storage magazine for machine tools.

[Function] By adopting the above configuration, small-diameter tools mixedly stored in the tool storage magazine can be exchanged with the main tool in the tool storage magazine by the small-diameter tool exchange means during machining work, as required. Insert and attach. The master tool equipped with this small diameter tool is inserted into the machining spindle of the machine tool by the action of the tool changing means,
Performs machining work on small diameter tools.

[Example] The machine tool of the present invention increases the number of tools that can be stored in a tool storage magazine used in a machining center without adding a tool storage magazine, and stores frequently used small diameter tools in the tool storage magazine. This is a tool storage magazine for an automatic tool changer that can be used selectively in combination with a parent tool. Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail based on the drawings. FIG. 1 is an overall view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

A spindle head 2 is provided on a column (not shown) of a machining center 1, which is a machine tool body, so as to be slidable in the Y-axis (vertical direction), and in front of this spindle head 2 is a table on which a workpiece is placed. 3 is provided on the bed 4 so as to be slidable in the X-axis direction (direction perpendicular to the page) and Z-axis direction (horizontal direction). A tool storage magazine 5 is disposed on the side surface of the column, and a twin arm 6, which is a known tool changing means, is provided between the tool storage magazine 5 and the spindle rotatably supported by the spindle head 2. It is provided.

This twin arm 6 swings 90 degrees in a horizontal plane about a vertical axis 8 in order to exchange the tool indexed at the tool exchange position 7 with the tool inserted into the main shaft of the spindle head 2. It is configured to stand by at a standby position, which is an intermediate angular position of its swing, and also performs a 180-degree rotation operation and an extension/retraction operation for inserting and removing tools. A plurality of chain pots 10 are connected to the tool storage magazine 5 in a loop shape. These chain pots 10 suitably house small-diameter tool holders 12, which are small-diameter tool holding means for accommodating a plurality of small-diameter tools 11.

This small-diameter tool holder 12 is provided with an insertion opening 54 (FIGS. 3 and 4) for storing three small-diameter tools 11 in series at equal intervals in the running direction of the chain pot 10. Furthermore, the chain pot 10 has an insertion opening 54 into which only the small diameter tool 11 is inserted.
Three or more master tools 13 are housed at appropriate positions. On the other hand, in the tool storage magazine 5 near the tool exchange position 7, a single arm 14, which is a small diameter tool exchange means, is attached.

Single Arm Next, the configuration of the single arm 14 is shown in Figure 2.
This will be explained based on FIG. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the single arm 14, and FIG. 3 is a plan view of the single arm 14.
It is an arrow view. Base 1 of tool storage magazine 5
A support 17 is fixedly provided on 6. A cylinder 1 is connected to this support 17 via a pin 18.
The rear end of 9 is pivotably supported. Furthermore, a pin 22 is provided on the front outer periphery of the cylinder 19.

The tip of a piston rod 21, which is moved forward and backward by a cylinder 20 erected on the base 16, is inserted into the pin 22 and supports the pin 22. The cylinder 220 is the cylinder 19
is given a swinging motion about the pin 18. Further, a horizontally long bracket 23 is attached to the tip of the cylinder 19. A guide bar 25 is provided on the bracket 23 via a bush 24 so as to be slidable in parallel with the cylinder 19.

A gripper 26 for gripping the small-diameter tool 11 is provided at the tip of the guide bar 25. The tip of a piston rod 27, which is moved forward and backward by the cylinder 19, is fixed to a protrusion 26a that protrudes laterally of the gripper 26. Immediately below the guide bar 25, an air supply pipe 28 is provided, the rear end of which is connected to a hose 29 for supplying air pressure via an electromagnetic switching valve (not shown). The air supply pipe 28 is slidably supported by a stand 30 erected on the base 16 in parallel with the guide bar 25 .

Furthermore, a sleeve 3 is provided in front of the air supply pipe 28.
4 is provided slidably in the axial direction. Two locking pins 33 are provided on the outer periphery of the sleeve 34 in the diametrical direction.
(Figure 6). This sleeve 34 is
Two collars 31 are slidably mounted on the air supply pipe 28.
A spring 32 is provided between a and 31b.
On the other hand, in front of the guide bar 25 near the gripper 26, an engaging member 36 having a circular recess formed at its lower end is fixed. A circular recess is inserted into the sleeve 34. Diagonal engagement cams 35 are formed at both ends of the recessed portion of the engagement member 36. Therefore, the air supply pipe 28 is engaged with the engaging member 36 via the locking pin 33 of the sleeve 34, and moves forward and backward together with the gripper 26 at the tip of the guide bar.

Small-diameter tool holder and main tool Next, the small-diameter tool holder 12 and main tool 13, which are small-diameter tool holding means, will be explained. Third
The small-diameter tool holder 12 in the figure holds three small-diameter tools 11.
is held. FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of one of the small-diameter tool holders 12, and FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view taken from FIG. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 4. Holder 5 forming a taper shank
1 has a rectangular base 52 fixed to it. Three sleeves 53 having tapered small-diameter tool insertion openings 54 at their tips are fixed to the base 52 in series at equal intervals in the running direction of the chain pot 10.

Furthermore, a hole 56a is formed on the outer periphery of the sleeve 53.
A block 56 having a shape formed therein is mounted concentrically with said sleeve 53. Pistons 57, which are slidably inserted into the sleeves 53, are slidably inserted into the holes 56a of the blocks 56, respectively. Ball 58 in sleeve 53 and small diameter tool 11
FIG. 3 shows the small diameter tool 11 engaged with the ball 58 of the sleeve 53 and locked.

Next, the structure of the parent tool 13 will be explained based on FIG. 7. Components that are the same as the small-diameter tool holder 12 in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted. A sleeve 62 is formed on a circular base 61 at the tip of the holder 51 . This sleeve 62 is formed with a small diameter tool insertion opening 54 which is a tapered hole into which the taper shank 11C of the small diameter tool 11 is inserted.

A cylinder 63 is attached to the circular base 61. The piston 57, which was slidably inserted into the sleeve 62, is slidably inserted into the cylinder 63. The ball 58 within the sleeve 62 is engageable with the small diameter tool 11. FIG. 7 shows the small diameter tool 11 engaged with the ball 58 of the sleeve 62 and in a locked state. The piston 57 is constantly pressed rearward by a spring 59 to maintain a locked state.

In order to release this locked state, the cylinder 63 is operated to move the piston 57 forward.
A port 65 for air supply is formed. The sleeve 62 is provided with a small hole 66 which releases the engagement between the ball 58 and the taper shank 11C by movement of the piston 57 and communicates with the rear of the small diameter tool 11 inserted therein.

In addition, a known ID chip 67, which is a rewritable element that stores tool information etc., is embedded in the keyway of the main tool 13, similar to other large-diameter tools and small-diameter tool holders 12, etc. 11 has an ID chip 68 embedded in its side.
The type of the small-diameter tool is identified by a tool identification device (not shown) that reads information from an element provided at the small-diameter tool exchange position 40 (FIG. 1). Other tools are identified by reading the information on the ID chip 67 with the identification device 15 (FIG. 1) provided near the tool loading position 50.

Operation of Automatic Tool Changer Next, the operation of the present invention configured as described above will be explained based on the flow chart shown in FIG.

First, when the commanded tool requested by the tool change command is not on the spindle and also not in the standby position of the twin arm 6, the twin arm 6 in the standby position
If another tool is being held, the chain pot 10 in the tool storage magazine 5 is called to the exchange position 7, and the tool is stored in the chain pot 10 (storage pot) by the operation of the twin arm 6.
Next, when the commanded tool is a small-diameter tool 11 and the commanded small-diameter tool 11 is inside the master tool 13, the master tool 13 is called to the tool change position 7, and the twin arm 6 moves to change the position in the spindle. exchanged for tools.

However, if the small diameter tool 11 in the parent tool 13 called to the small diameter tool exchange position 40 is not the commanded tool, the single arm 14 stores the tool in the small diameter tool holder 12. Next, the small-diameter tool holder 12 in which the commanded tool is stored is called to the small-diameter tool exchange position 40, and the commanded tool is stored in the master tool 13 by the single arm 14.

Next, the small diameter tool exchange operation using the single arm 14 will be explained with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

When a specific tool among the three small-diameter tools 11 housed in the small-diameter tool holder 12 is a command tool, the chain pots 10 in the tool storage magazine 5 are divided at intervals of the small-diameter tools 11, and the small-diameter tool holder The command tool 12 is indexed and positioned at the small diameter tool exchange position 40 (in the illustrated example, the center tool is the command tool). Incidentally, in the exchange operation of a large-diameter tool, that is, the exchange operation when the single arm 14 is not in operation, indexing and positioning are performed at the usual pitch between the chain pots 10. Called small diameter tool 11
When pulling out the small diameter tool 11 from the small diameter tool holder 12 using the single arm 14, the gripper 26 is advanced by the action of the cylinder 19 to grip the small diameter tool 11. At this time, the air supply pipe 2 together with the gripper 26
8 also moves forward, and the nozzle at the tip of this supply pipe 28 is connected to the air supply port 65 of the block 56.

From the air supply pipe 28 to the block hole 56a
When compressed air is supplied to the piston 57, the piston 57 moves forward against the spring 59, and the ball 58 and the small diameter tool 1
The engagement with 1 is released. Therefore, the piston 5
7 moves forward, the small hole of the sleeve 53 is opened, and air is also supplied to the rear of the small diameter tool 11 inserted into the sleeve 53. Therefore, the single arm 14, which grips the small diameter tool 11 with the gripper 26, advances the piston rod 21 by the action of the cylinder 20, and swings about the pin 18.

By swinging the single arm 14, the small diameter tool 11 commanded is extracted from the small diameter tool holder 12. At this time, the air supply pipe 28 is guided by the engagement cam groove 35 of the engagement member 36 of the guide bar 25 and moves to a slightly retracted position. Subsequently, due to the action of the cylinder 19, the gripper 26 and the air supply pipe 28 are retracted, and the empty master tool 13 (FIG. 4)
is called to the small diameter tool change position 40, the gripper 26 and air supply tube 28 are again advanced. The single arm 14, which had been swinging up while gripping the commanded small diameter tool 11, is now in the cylinder 2 position.
The command small diameter tool 11 is swung down by the action of 0, and the commanded small diameter tool 11 is installed inside the main tool 13.

At this time, the engaging member 36 is again connected to the air supply pipe 2.
8 and connects the nozzle of the air supply pipe 28 to the air supply port 65 of the main tool 13. The piston 57 in the parent tool 13 moves forward due to the air supply pressure, the ball 58 becomes free, and the taper shank 11c of the commanded small diameter tool 11 is inserted into the tool insertion opening 54. Subsequently, when the supplied air is shut off by an electromagnetic switching valve (not shown), the piston 57 is moved by the spring 5.
The commanded small-diameter tool 11 is locked by the ball 58 and stored in the master tool 13.

The master tool 13 holding the commanded small diameter tool 11 is called to the tool exchange position 7 and gripped by the twin arms 6, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. Next, the commanded small diameter tool 11 is exchanged with the tool in the spindle by the twin arm 6, the twin arm 6 returns to the standby position, and the exchange operation of the commanded small diameter tool 11 is completed.

As described above, the automatic tool change system of the present invention allows even if small-diameter tools are mixedly stored in a conventional tool storage magazine, they can be exchanged with the tools in the spindle using the T code and M06 command as before. Management of tool groups becomes easy.

[Other Embodiments] Although the tool storage magazine 5 described above is of the chain pot type, it is not limited to this type. It has a parent tool 13 that holds the small diameter tools 11 described above, such as one arranged in a matrix, one arranged in a straight line, one arranged on the circumferential surface of a cylinder, and a small diameter tool holding means 12 that holds a plurality of small diameter tools 11. It's fine as long as it's something.

The small diameter tool 11 described above is replaced by being transferred to the parent tool in the tool storage magazine 5 by the small diameter tool changing means 14, but the small diameter tool 11 in the tool storage magazine 5 is directly transferred to the parent tool in the spindle 2. Tool 13
It may be replaced with the small diameter tool 11 inside. The exchange means at this time may be a twin-arm type exchange arm having claws capable of exchanging both small-diameter tools and large-diameter tools, a cross-shaped arm, a T-shaped arm, or the like.

What is shown in FIG. 8 is the tool storage magazine 5.
Another example of the small-diameter tool holder 70 housed in is shown. This small diameter tool holder 70 mechanically holds the small diameter tool 11. Small diameter tool holder 7
A base 52 is fixed to the holder 51 of 0. The base 52 is provided with three tapered small diameter tool insertion openings 54, and three small diameter tools 11 are provided in the base 52.
is held. The taper shank 11c of the small-diameter tool 11 is formed with an outer circumferential groove 72 having a semicircular cross section.

A ball 71 is inserted into the outer circumferential groove 72 to stop the small diameter tool 11. The ball 71 is pushed by a spring (not shown) and engaged with the outer circumferential groove 72 . When taking out the small diameter tool 11, use the small diameter tool 1.
1 is pulled out, the ball 71 is released from the outer circumferential groove 72 against the spring force, and is taken out.

[Effects of the Invention] With the above configuration, the present invention can store an increased number of small-diameter tools without adding a tool storage magazine, thereby securing space and providing an independent magazine exclusively for small-diameter tools. is also no longer necessary. Furthermore, it is easy to rearrange large and small diameter tools in the tool storage magazine according to the machining process.
During the machining operation, the small-diameter tool exchange means attached to the tool storage magazine can be used to exchange the parent tool, which has excellent effects such as improved machining efficiency.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 is an overall view showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front view of a single arm, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 2, FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 2, and FIG. The figure is a sectional view of FIG. 4, FIG. 6 is a sectional view of FIG. 2, FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the parent tool, FIG. 8 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the small diameter tool holder, and FIG. is a flowchart of the tool exchange operation. 1... Machine tool body, 5... Tool storage magazine, 6
...Twin arm, 11,70...Small diameter tool, 12...
Small diameter tool holding means, 13... Parent tool, 14... Small diameter tool changing means.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1 a. An insertion opening formed in the same shape as the insertion part of the main spindle for inserting a large-diameter tool having a tool shank part that is removably inserted into the main spindle of a machine tool. A tool storage magazine for a machine tool in which tool pots 10 having a diameter of 10 are arranged in a chain and are rotatably indexable, and b. A plurality of small-diameter tool insertion ports 54 for inserting small-diameter tools 11 having small-diameter tool shank portions are arranged at predetermined intervals narrower than the pitch between the tool pots along the running direction of the tool pots. c. a tool shank portion for a large-diameter tool that is detachably inserted into the tool pot and the spindle, and is to be inserted into the tool pot and the spindle; a parent tool 13 having a small-diameter tool insertion opening having the same shape as the base for inserting the small-diameter tool on the axis of the tool shank; d holding the base and being inserted into the tool pot; A small-diameter tool holder 51 having a tool shank portion of the same shape as a large-diameter tool for use is provided, and the large-diameter tool and the small-diameter tool can be mixed and stored in a tool pot formed in a chain. A tool storage magazine for a machine tool, characterized in that f is capable of indexing and positioning at intervals of the pitch between the tool pots or the pitch of the small-diameter tool insertion opening.