JPH06304836A - Stock tool changer for machine tools - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] A desired tool can be quickly and easily replaced with respect to a spindle of a machine tool, and a plurality of tools can be simultaneously replaced. [Structure] Of the plurality of tools T held in the tool magazine 64 and the tool stocker 89, two tools T each are provided.
First and second chuck means 10 capable of simultaneously gripping
2, 104 and the first and second chuck means 10
A single opening / closing mechanism 106 for integrally opening and closing 2, 104
And a single displacement mechanism 10 for advancing and retracting the first and second chuck means 102, 104 integrally and in different directions.
8 and a single swivel mechanism 110 that swivels the first and second chucking means 102, 104 holding the tool T integrally.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a stock of a machine tool for simultaneously exchanging two or more tools between a tool magazine that moves integrally with a machine tool and a tool stocker that accommodates a plurality of tools. Tool changing device for use.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Normally, in NC (numerical control) machine tools,
It has been pointed out that since a single spindle is used to machine a workpiece, the machining efficiency is reduced when a plurality of workpieces that require machining are used. For this reason, various improvements have been made in order to solve this kind of problem.

For example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 4-66663, a tool magazine capable of accommodating a plurality of tools is prepared and mounted on a carriage which moves between the tool magazine and the machine tool. There is known an automatic tool changer for automatically exchanging a predetermined tool between the tool magazine and the spindle of the machine tool via an exchange arm.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional technique, the carriage is moved between the machine tool and the tool magazine, and the replacement arm provided on the carriage is rotated, moved back and forth, and swung. By doing so, the tools are exchanged one by one between the spindle of the machine tool and the tool magazine. For this reason, it has been pointed out that the tool replacement work takes a considerable amount of time, and particularly when the tool replacement work is frequently performed, the efficiency of the tool replacement work is not easily achieved.

The present invention is intended to solve this type of problem and allows the desired tool to be quickly and easily replaced with respect to the spindle of a machine tool, and yet allows multiple tools to be replaced simultaneously. An object is to provide a tool changing device for stock of a machine tool that can be used.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a tool magazine provided on a moving table which holds a plurality of tools and constitutes a machine tool, and a tool magazine outside the moving range of the machine tool. A stock tool changer for automatically transferring a predetermined tool, which is arranged between a tool stocker and a tool stocker capable of accommodating a plurality of tools, and is held by the tool magazine and the tool stocker. A plurality of tools, first and second chuck means capable of simultaneously gripping two or more tools simultaneously, and a single opening / closing mechanism for integrally opening and closing the first chuck means and the second chuck means , A single displacement mechanism for integrally advancing and retracting the first chuck means and the second chuck means in different directions, and integrally pivoting the first and second chuck means holding the tool Characterized in that it comprises a single pivot mechanism, a to.

Further, the opening / closing mechanism is fixed to the first and second driven gears, which are rotated in different directions via a gear train connected to a single rotary drive source, and the first driven gear. At the same time, the first rotary shaft having the one gripping portion forming the first and second chuck means at both ends and the second driven gear are fixed, and the first and second chucks are provided at both ends. It is preferable that the second rotary shaft is provided with the other gripping portion that constitutes the means.

Further, the displacement mechanism is a spline for connecting the respective gripping parts constituting the first chuck means and the respective gripping parts constituting the second chuck means so as to be movable back and forth and integrally rotatable. Means, a single actuator for integrally advancing and retracting the respective gripping parts constituting the second chucking means, and the movement of the respective gripping parts constituting the second chucking means in one direction in synchronization with each other. Rack and pinion means for integrally moving the respective gripping portions constituting the first chuck means in the other direction opposite to the one direction is preferable.

[0009]

In the tool changing device for stock of a machine tool according to the present invention described above, under the action of the opening / closing mechanism, at least two tools held in the tool magazine are gripped by the first chuck means and at the same time The two or more tools held in the stocker are gripped by the second chuck means. Then, the displacement mechanism is driven so that the first chuck means and the second chuck means move integrally in the direction of approaching each other, and two or more tools are respectively taken out from the tool magazine and the tool stocker. Furthermore, after the first and second chuck means holding the two or more tools are integrally turned via the turning mechanism, the tools held by the first chuck means are actuated by the tool stocker under the action of the displacement mechanism. On the other hand, the tool held by the second chuck means is held by the tool magazine.

Further, the opening and closing mechanism is rotated in different directions via gear trains connected to a single rotary drive source, and first and second driven gears, and the first and second driven gears.
A first and a second rotary shaft to which a driven gear is fixed, and the first and second rotary shafts are operated under the action of the single rotary drive source.
Respective gripping parts that constitute the chuck means are opened and closed integrally.

Further, the displacement mechanism comprises a spline means, a single actuator, and a rack and pinion means, and the respective gripping portions constituting the first and second chuck means under the action of the single actuator. Can be integrally moved forward and backward in different directions, and two tools can be simultaneously attached and detached between the tool magazine and the tool stocker.

[0012] With this, it is possible to replace two tools at a time by one replacement work, which improves the efficiency of the tool replacement work and simplifies the configuration.

[0013]

EXAMPLES Examples of stock tool changer according to the present invention will be described in connection with machine tools incorporating the same.
The following is a detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings.

2 to 4, reference numeral 10 indicates
1 shows a machine tool incorporating a stock tool changing device according to an embodiment. This machine tool 10 has an arrow X on the base 12.
Via a movable table 14 which is arranged so as to be movable back and forth in a direction, a main body 16 which is supported on the movable table 14 and is movable back and forth in the direction of arrow Z, and a first servomotor 18 which is provided on the front surface of the main body 16 First lift table 20 that can be lifted and lowered
And a second lifting table 2 provided on the front surface of the first lifting table 20 and capable of moving up and down via a second servo motor 22.
4 and first and second spindle units 26, 28 fixed to the first and second lifting tables 20, 24 and arranged vertically.

On the base 12, guide rails 30a to 3 are provided.
0c and the first drive motor 32 are fixedly mounted, and a ball screw 34 connected to the first drive motor 32 and extending in the arrow X direction engages with a nut member 36 provided on the moving table 14 (see FIG. 4). ). Guide rails 38, 38 and a second drive motor 40 are fixed to the moving table 14, and a ball screw 42 connected to the second drive motor 40 and extending in the arrow Z direction is engaged with the main body 16 (see FIG. 3).

A ball screw 44 extending vertically downward from the first servomotor 18 is provided on the first lifting table 20.
The ball screw 46 extending vertically downward from the second servo motor 22 is engaged with the second lifting table 24. The first and second spindle units 26, 28 include spindles 48, 50, which are connected to the same motor or different motors.

The moving table 14 is provided with a tool magazine 64 for automatically exchanging the tool T with the spindles 48, 50 of the machine tool 10 via a tool exchanging mechanism 62. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the tool changing mechanism 62
Is a drive unit 70 provided on a side portion of the main body 16,
A gear case 72 supported by the drive unit 70 so as to be movable back and forth in the axial direction (arrow Z direction) of the first and second spindle units 26, 28, a casing member 74 pivotally supported by the gear case 72, and The first and second spindle units 2 are mounted movably on both sides in the radial direction (direction of arrow X) with respect to the casing member 74.
6, 28 and the tool magazine 64, each of which holds two or more tools T held in the tool magazine 64 at the same time.
With.

The drive unit 70 is provided with a motor 78. The motor 78 moves the gear case 72 and the casing member 74 forward and backward, rotates the casing member 74, and further comprises two upper and lower parts constituting a tool gripping means 76. Chuck members 80a, 80b and 82a, 82
It has a function of opening and closing b.

The tool magazine 64 has a polygonal shape (hexagonal shape), is supported by the side portion of the moving table 14 via a mounting member 84, and a motor 86 fixed to the mounting member 84 is used. A plurality of sets of two tools T each are detachably held via a tool pot 88 on the outer side thereof.

A tool stocker 89 capable of accommodating a plurality of tools T is arranged outside the moving range of the machine tool 10. As shown in FIG. 2, the tool stocker 89 is provided with a pair of columns 90, 90 standing upright outside the base 12, and a frame 92 is fixed to the upper portions of the columns 90, 90. A drive motor 94 is mounted on the frame 92, and the drive motor 94
As a result, the endless transport chain 96 runs around. A plurality of tool pots 98 are attached to the transport chain 96 at predetermined intervals, and a plurality of types of tools T are held in each tool pot 98 so as to support multiple processes.

Between the tool magazine 64 and the tool stocker 89, the stock tool changing device 100 according to the present embodiment.
Is provided. As shown in FIG. 1, this tool changer 1
00 indicates two tools T out of the plurality of tools T held in the tool magazine 64 and the tool stocker 89.
A first chuck means 102 and a second chuck means 102 that can simultaneously grip
A chuck means 104, a single opening / closing mechanism 106 for integrally opening and closing the first chuck means 102 and the second chuck means 104, and the first chuck means 102 and the second chuck means 104 are integrally formed. And a single turning mechanism 110 for moving the first and second chuck means 102, 104 holding the tool T together.

A support 112 is provided on the base 12 between the tool magazine 64 and the tool stocker 89, and the rotating body 114 is supported by the support 112. The drive cylinder 11 that constitutes the turning mechanism 110 is attached to the column 112.
6 is provided, and a rack bar 118 extends horizontally from the drive cylinder 116.
Engages with the pinion 120 fixed to the rotating body 114.

As shown in FIG. 6, the rotary body 114 includes
The through holes 122a and 122b are provided in parallel with each other, and the outer rod bodies 124a and 124b are inserted into the through holes 122a and 122b so as to be rotatable and forward and backward in different directions. A plurality of circumferential grooves (rack grooves) 12 are provided on the outer peripheral surfaces of the outer rod bodies 124a and 124b over a predetermined length.
6a and 126b are formed one by one, and the peripheral groove 126a and the peripheral groove 126b are integrally meshed with the synchronizing gear 128 to form the rack and pinion means 130.

Holes 132a and 132b are formed from one end of the outer rods 124a and 124b to a predetermined length, and spline groove portions 134a and 134b are provided at one end thereof. The holes 132 of the outer rods 124a and 124b
The spline shaft bodies 136a and 136b are inserted into the a and 132b, and the spline shaft bodies 136a and 136b mesh with the spline groove portions 134a and 134b to form the spline means 138.

Openable and closable gripping portions 140a and 140b constituting the first chuck means 102 are attached to the end of the spline shaft body 136a and the end of the outer rod body 124b, and the end portion of the outer rod body 124a. And spline shaft 13
Openable and closable grip portions 142a and 142b forming the second chuck means 104 are attached to the end of 6b.

The opening / closing mechanism 106 includes a spline shaft body 136.
The end of a and the end of the outer rod body 124b are
A gear case 146 rotatably supported via 4a and 144b, and a single drive motor (rotational drive source) 148 fixed to the gear case 146 are connected to a rotary shaft 150 via a gear train 152 in different directions. The first and second driven gears 154 and 156 that are rotated, the spline shaft body 136a and the outer rod body 124a that are the first rotating shafts to which the first driven gear 154 is fixed, and the second driven gear 156 are fixed. The outer rod body 124b and the spline shaft body 136b, which are the second rotating shafts, are provided.

The displacement mechanism 108 includes a single shift cylinder (actuator) 158 fixed to the rotary body 114.
And the outer rod body 1 via the bearings 160a and 160b.
A connecting plate 162 that rotatably supports the end portion of 24a and the end portion of the spline shaft body 136b, and is fixed to a rod 158a extending from the shift cylinder 158,
Spline means 138 and rack and pinion means 130
With.

As shown in FIG. 3, on the base 12, in addition to the main body 16 described above, a main body 16a is individually movably arranged via a moving table 14a.
The same reference numerals are given to the same components as those of the above, and the detailed description thereof will be omitted. A stock tool changing device (not shown), which is the same as the stock tool changing device 100 described above, is mounted on the side of the main body 16a, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In front of the main bodies 16 and 16a, the work W
A work mount (not shown) for positioning and holding (see FIG. 4) is provided.

Next, the operation of the stock tool changing device 100 configured as described above will be described in relation to the machine tool 10.

First, while the work W is positioned and held on the work mount in a predetermined working posture, the first and second spindle units 26 and 28 mounted on the main body 16 are used for working the work W. Correspondingly predetermined tool T,
T is pre-installed. Therefore, this first and second
Tools T, T mounted on the spindle units 26, 28
Is rotated integrally with the first servomotor 1
The height positions of the workpiece W and the workpiece W are adjusted under the action of the servomotor 8 and the second servomotor 22.

Next, the first and second spindle units 26, 28 are positioned in the direction of arrow X with respect to the work W by driving the first drive motor 32, and the second drive motor 40 is further driven. As a result, the workpiece W is moved toward each processed portion (forward in the arrow Z direction).

Therefore, by selectively performing the above operations, the first and second spindle units 26, 28 are
The tools T, T attached to and rotating on the workpiece automatically perform a machining operation on a predetermined machining portion of the work W. After this machining operation is completed, the second drive motor 40 is driven in the opposite direction to the above, and the main body 16 moves in the direction away from the work W to separate the tools T, T from the work W. Then, the work W after finishing the machining is removed from the work mount, and a new work W before machining is attached to the work mount, and the machining work for the work W is performed by performing the above-described machining work. To be done.

Next, when performing a working operation on the works W of different types, the tool magazine 64 is rotated by a predetermined angle under the action of the motor 86, and the desired tools T, T held on the outer side thereof are It is stopped at a position arranged horizontally. On the other hand, the first and second servomotors 18 and 22 are driven to drive the first and second lifting tables 2
0 and 24 are vertically displaced so that the tools T and T mounted on the first and second spindle units 26 and 28 are positioned corresponding to the height of the tool gripping means 76 of the casing member 74.

Then, the motor 78 constituting the drive unit 70 is driven, and the desired tools T, T held in the tool magazine 64 are gripped by the chuck members 80a, 80b, while the spindle members are chucked by the chuck members 82a, 82b. The tools T, T attached to 50, 48 are gripped. When the motor 78 is further rotated, the gear case 72 and the casing member 74 move forward, and then the casing member 74 turns 180 °.

Then, the gear case 72 and the casing member 74 are retracted, so that the chuck members 80a,
The tools T gripped by 80b are the spindles 48, 50
The tool T, which is mounted on the tool magazine 88 and is held by the chuck members 82a and 82b, is held in the tool pots 88 and 88 of the tool magazine 64. Then, the chuck member 80
a, 80b and 82a, 82b are tool T,
The tool is removed from T and moved inward of the casing member 74, and the tool replacement work is completed.

When a plurality of tools T are used to process a work W that requires a multi-step machining operation, the number of tools T held in the tool magazine 64 is often insufficient. Therefore, in this embodiment, the tool stocker 89 capable of accommodating a plurality of tools T is arranged outside the base 12, and the tool magazine 6 is inserted via the tool changer 100.
4 and the tool stocker 89 automatically exchanges two predetermined tools T at a time.

That is, the moving table 14 is moved to the side of the base 12, and the tool magazine 64 is moved to the tool changing device 1.
It is arranged corresponding to 00. Here, the shift cylinder 158 that constitutes the displacement mechanism 108 is driven to move the rod 15
When 8a extends outward (direction of arrow A in FIG. 6), the outer rod body 124a and the spline shaft body 136b integrally move outwardly via the connecting plate 162 that engages with the rod 158a ( (See FIG. 8), the gripping portions 142a, 142b forming the second chuck means 104 are positioned with respect to the predetermined tools T, T held in the tool pots 98, 98 of the tool stocker 89.

At this time, when the outer rod body 124a moves in the direction of arrow A, the synchronizing gear 128 which meshes with the circumferential groove 126a formed on the outer peripheral surface of the outer rod body 124a is moved to the position shown in FIG.
Inside, it rotates in the direction of arrow B, and the outer rod body 124b moves to the side opposite to the direction of arrow A (direction of arrow C) via the circumferential groove 126b that meshes with the synchronizing gear 128. A spline shaft body 136a is connected to the outer rod body 124b via a gear case 146, and the spline shaft body 13 is
6a moves in the direction of arrow C. As a result, the gripping portions 140a and 140b forming the first chuck means 102 are positioned with respect to the predetermined tools T and T held in the tool pots 88 and 88 of the tool magazine 64.

Next, the drive motor 148 which constitutes the opening / closing mechanism 106 is driven, and the first and second driven gears 154 are driven through the gear train 152 connected to the rotary shaft 150.
156 is rotated in different directions, and the spline shaft body 136a and the outer rod body 124b to which the first and second driven gears 154, 156 are fixed are rotated in different directions. The outer rod body 124a and the spline shaft body 136b are engaged with the spline shaft body 136a and the outer rod body 124b through the spline means 138, and the grip portion 14 is operated under the action of a single drive motor 148.
0a, 140b and the grips 142a, 142b integrally swing (close). Therefore, the predetermined tools T held in the tool pots 98 of the tool stocker 89,
T and the predetermined tools T, T held in the tool pots 88, 88 of the tool magazine 64 are simultaneously gripped (see FIG. 7).

Further, when the shift cylinder 158 is driven and the rod 158a is moved in the direction of the arrow C, the outer rods 124a, 1a via the rack and pinion means 130.
24b and the spline shaft bodies 136a and 136b move in a direction in which they approach each other (inward). Therefore, the tool T gripped by the grips 140 a, 140 b and the grips 142 b, 142 a is taken out from the tool magazine 64 and the tool stocker 89.

Therefore, when the rack bar 118 moves under the action of the drive cylinder 116 which constitutes the turning mechanism 110, the rotary body 114 is rotated by 180 ° via the pinion 120 meshing with the rack bar 118. After that, the shift cylinder 158 is driven to move the first chuck means 102 to the tool stocker 89 side via the rack and pinion means 130, while the second chuck means 104 is moved.
Moves to the tool magazine 64 side. Therefore, the grip 1
The two tools T gripped by 42a, 142b are held in the tool pots 88, 88 of the tool magazine 64, and the two tools T gripped by the grips 140a, 140b are moved by the tool stocker 89. Tool pot 98, 9
Held at 8.

Further, the drive motor 148 constituting the opening / closing mechanism 106 is rotated in the opposite direction to the above, and the grip 140
a, 140b, 142a and 142b are separated (opened) from the tool T, and the grip portions 140a, 140b, 142a and 142b are retracted under the action of the shift cylinder 158.

As described above, in this embodiment, the tool exchanging device 100 is arranged between the tool magazine 64 and the tool stocker 89, and the first and second chuck means 102,
Respective gripping portions 140a and 140b constituting 104
The two tools T and T can be simultaneously replaced via the grips 142a and 142b. Thereby, two tools T are simultaneously exchanged between the tool stocker 89 and the tool magazine 64, and the tool exchange mechanism 6 is exchanged between the tool magazine 64 and the spindles 48, 50.
By exchanging two tools T at the same time via two, an efficient tool exchanging work can be easily performed especially when a work W requiring a multi-step machining work is to be performed by using many kinds of tools T. The effect of being automatically performed is obtained.

Further, the first chuck means 102 and the second chuck means 104, which respectively hold two tools T, are provided with a single drive motor 148 to form a single opening / closing mechanism 1.
06 are integrally opened and closed, and are integrally moved in different directions via a single displacement mechanism 108 provided with a single shift cylinder 158, and a single drive cylinder 116 is provided. It is swung integrally through one swivel mechanism 110. Therefore, the configuration of the entire tool changing device 100 is simplified at once as compared with the case where the gripping portions 140a, 140b, 142a and 142b for gripping the four tools are driven by respective opening / closing mechanisms, displacement mechanisms and turning mechanisms. At the same time, there is an effect that downsizing and cost reduction of the tool changer 100 can be easily performed.

[0046]

The stock tool changing device for machine tools according to the present invention has the following effects.

The two or more tools held in the tool magazine are held by the first chuck means, and the two or more tools held in the tool stocker are held by the second chuck means. The two or more tools are simultaneously and automatically exchanged with the tool stocker. Therefore, the efficiency of the tool exchange work can be easily performed.

Further, the first and second chuck means are
Since a predetermined operation is performed via a single opening / closing mechanism, a single displacement mechanism, and a single swivel mechanism, the entire tool changer can be simplified and compared with a system in which each chuck means is operated by a separate mechanism. The cost can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of a stock tool changing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view for explaining the tool changing device and a machine tool incorporating the same.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the machine tool.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory plan view of a main part of the machine tool.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the tool changing device, the tool magazine, and the tool changing mechanism.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of a main part of the tool changing device.

FIG. 7 is a front explanatory view of the tool changing device.

FIG. 8 is a partial vertical sectional view for explaining the operation of the tool changing device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 ... Machine tools 12, 12a ... Base 14, 14a ... Moving table 16, 16a ... Main body 18, 22 ... Servo motors 26, 26a, 28, 28a ... Spindle unit 48, 48a, 50, 50a ... Spindle 62 ... Tool exchange Mechanism 64 ... Tool magazine 89 ... Tool stocker 100 ... Tool changer 102, 104 ... Chuck means 106 ... Opening / closing mechanism 108 ... Displacement mechanism 110 ... Swivel mechanism 116 ... Drive cylinder 118 ... Rack bar 120 ... Pinion 124a, 124b ... Outer rod body 128 ... Synchronization gear 130 ... Rack and pinion means 136a, 136b ... Spline shaft body 138 ... Spindle means 140a, 140b, 142a, 142b ... Gripping portion 148 ... Drive motor 154, 156 ... Drive gear 158 ... Shift cylinder

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A tool magazine provided on a moving table which holds a plurality of tools and constitutes a machine tool, and a tool stocker which is arranged outside the moving range of the machine tool and is capable of accommodating the plurality of tools. A stock tool changer for automatically delivering a predetermined tool, which is capable of simultaneously gripping two or more tools among a plurality of tools held in the tool magazine and the tool stocker. First and second chuck means, a single opening / closing mechanism for integrally opening and closing the first chuck means and the second chuck means, the first chuck means and the second chuck means integrally And a single displacement mechanism that advances and retracts in different directions, and a single swivel mechanism that integrally swivels the first and second chuck means holding the tool. Machinery of the stock for the tool changer. 2. The tool changer according to claim 1, wherein the opening / closing mechanism includes first and second driven gears that are rotated in different directions via a gear train connected to a single rotary drive source. While the first driven gear is fixed, and the first driven shaft is fixed to both ends of the first rotating shaft, and the second driven gear is fixed. , A second rotating shaft provided with the other gripping portion constituting the first and second chucking means at both ends, respectively, and a stock tool changing device for a machine tool. 3. The tool changer according to claim 1, wherein the displacement mechanism is capable of advancing and retracting the respective gripping portions constituting the first chuck means and the respective gripping portions constituting the second chuck means. And a single actuator that integrally and rotatably connects the spline means, which integrally advances and retracts the respective gripping portions that form the second chuck means, and a single gripping portion that forms the second chuck means. Rack and pinion means for integrally moving the respective gripping portions constituting the first chuck means in the other direction opposite to the one direction in synchronization with the movement in the one direction. Tool changing device for stock of machine tools.