JP2005081463A - Machine Tools - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a machine tool provided with a tool changer capable of storing and automatically changing special tools such as large diameter tools and long tools in addition to standard tools without increasing the size of the whole device.
An automatic tool changer 11 holds a tool T on a tool support plate 33 in addition to an annular tool magazine 13 for holding a plurality of tools and rotating them so that they can be indexed along a circular path. A magazine 19 is further provided. The rack-shaped tool magazine 19 is located at the center of the internal space of the annular tool magazine 13 when in the retracted position. The tool support plate 33 is movable in the direction of the central axis of the orbit of the tool held by the annular tool magazine 13. When the tool is exchanged between the rack type tool magazine 19 and the main shaft 15, the tool support plate 33 is moved. 33 moves from the standby position to the tool change position in the spindle movable region, and the tool T on the tool support plate 33 is directly mounted on the spindle 15 at the tool change position.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a machine tool provided with a tool changer for automatically changing a tool between a spindle of a machine tool such as a machining center and a tool magazine storing a plurality of tools.

  In a machine tool, a plurality of tools are generally used for machining one workpiece. Therefore, a tool changer having a tool magazine storing a plurality of tools and automatically changing the tool between the tool magazine and the spindle. Is used.

  As an example of such a tool changer, Patent Document 1 discloses that a plurality of pots are detachably held in an annular tool magazine, and a pot containing a tool to be exchanged is indexed at a predetermined position. There is a swivel arm type tool changer that uses a swivel means to turn the pot 90 ° inside the tool magazine to make the axis of the tool to be exchanged parallel to the main axis, and to exchange the swivel arm by advancing and retracting and rotating. It is disclosed.

JP 2003-94273 A

  In the swivel arm type tool changer as described in Patent Document 1, when a large-diameter tool, a long tool, or a deformed tool is handled, a tool stored next to the tool magazine interferes. There is a problem in that it is necessary to increase the interval, and as a result, it is necessary to increase the size of the tool magazine in order to store the required number of tools. Further, when handling a heavy tool, it is difficult to turn the arm from the viewpoint of output and arm strength. Furthermore, since special tools such as large diameter tools, long tools, deformed tools, and heavy tools are used less frequently, mixing standard and special tools in one tool magazine increases the time required for tool indexing. However, there arises a problem that the time required for tool change becomes long.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and the object of the present invention is to add a large-diameter tool, a long tool, a modified tool, An object of the present invention is to provide a compact machine tool having a tool changer capable of storing and automatically changing special tools such as heavy tools.

  In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, in a machine tool that advances a workpiece by exchanging a tool between a tool magazine containing a plurality of tools and a spindle on which the tool is mounted, it is within a predetermined size and weight limit. A first tool magazine for storing a plurality of standard tools, a tool changing means for exchanging a tool between the tool stored in the first tool magazine and the spindle, and exceeding the predetermined size and weight limits A rack-shaped second tool magazine that mainly stores special tools, performs relative movement with the spindle, and directly exchanges tools, and is provided in the second tool magazine, and positions and holds the tools. There is provided a machine tool comprising first moving means for moving a tool support base between a retracted position outside a machining area and a tool changing position where the tool can be changed with the spindle.

  In the machine tool of the present invention, the standard tool of the first tool magazine can be exchanged with the spindle as usual by the tool exchange means. In addition, if the special tool stored in the second tool magazine is also provided with the first moving means for advancing and retracting the tool support, it can be directly moved by the relative movement operation with respect to the main shaft without providing any special tool changing means. It is possible to change tools. That is, so-called armless ATC can be performed. The tool support is normally in the retracted position and moves to the tool change position when changing the tool, so that it does not hinder the machining of the workpiece by the spindle.

  The second tool magazine may be provided with a machine tool further comprising second moving means for moving the tool support in the axial direction of the main shaft at the tool change position. By having the second moving means, the tool in the second tool magazine can be attached to and detached from the spindle even if the machine tool does not move in the axial direction of the spindle.

  Furthermore, the first tool magazine is a circular or oval annular tool magazine that holds a plurality of tools and revolves the tools so that they can be indexed along a circular path, and the second tool magazine includes the tool support base. Is provided so as to pass through the inner space of the annular tool magazine and move forward and backward between the retracted position and the tool change position.

  The tool support of the second tool magazine moves forward and backward between the retreat position and the tool change position so as to penetrate the inner space of the annular first tool magazine, and the tool change of the special tool can be performed. That is, it is possible to effectively utilize the internal space of the first tool magazine and suppress an increase in the size of the tool changer even if two tool magazines are provided. Since the first tool magazine and the second tool magazine are centrally arranged in one place, tool replacement and tool inspection compared to the case where the two tool magazines are installed apart from each other. It is also possible to improve the efficiency of maintenance work.

  As described above, according to the present invention, in addition to the first tool magazine for storing standard tools, the second tool magazine for mainly storing special tools is provided. Automatic replacement of heavy tools is possible. In addition, the second tool magazine has a configuration in which the tool support is moved back and forth between the retracted position and the tool changing position, and the tool is changed directly by the relative movement between the second tool magazine and the spindle. A compact machine tool is provided that does not have a large tool changer for changing tools. By adopting a configuration in which the tool support of the second tool magazine moves forward and backward so as to penetrate the inner space of the annular first tool magazine, a more compact machine tool can be provided.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 is a perspective view of a tool changer of a machine tool in which a rack-type tool magazine is in a tool change position, and FIG. 2 is a tool changer in FIG. 1 in which the rack-type tool magazine is in a retracted position. FIG. 3 is a side view of a long tool held in a rack-type tool magazine.

  The tool changer 11 for a machine tool according to the present invention is accommodated in an annular tool magazine 13 as a first tool magazine provided on the side of a machine tool (not shown) and a pot 27 of the annular tool magazine 13. An exchange arm 17 as a tool exchange means for exchanging the tool mounted on the spindle 15 of the machine tool, and a rack as a second tool magazine disposed in the center of the inner space of the annular tool magazine 13 The ring-shaped tool magazine 13 and the rack-shaped tool magazine 19 are arranged outside the movable range of the main shaft 15 so as not to hinder the movement of the main shaft 15.

  The annular tool magazine 13 holds a plurality of tools adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction, and circulates the tool along a circular path about an axis perpendicular to the rotation axis 21 of the main shaft 15 (hereinafter referred to as a central axis 23). Can be determined at a predetermined position. The tool held in the annular tool magazine 13 is changed in posture so that its axis is parallel to the rotation axis 21 of the main shaft 15, and then attached to the main shaft 15 by the replacement arm 17.

  In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the annular tool magazine 13 is a pot holder (not shown) made of a leaf spring along the inner periphery of the annular magazine body 25 as shown in Patent Document 1. A tool pot 27 for receiving a tool by each pot holder is detachably held, and the annular magazine body 25 is a rotary actuator such as a servo motor using appropriate means such as a belt, a chain, and a gear. (Not shown) is driven to rotate in an indexable manner. The tool pot 27 indexed at a predetermined position is arranged so that the axis thereof is parallel to the rotation axis 21 of the main shaft 15 by a tool pot turning device or a robot arm (not shown) described in Patent Document 1. After being turned 90 ° to the inner space side of the annular tool magazine 13, it is pulled out of the tool pot 27 by the exchange arm 17 having grippers 29 for gripping the tool at both ends and mounted on the spindle 15 after the turning operation. The The exchange arm 17 is mounted on a frame 31 provided between the annular tool magazine 13 and the machine tool. The tool pot turning device and the exchange arm 17 can be replaced by a robot arm or the like that can perform complicated operations.

  The rack-type tool magazine 19 is constituted by a tool support plate 33 as a tool support base supported on the frame 31 via a slide mechanism, and the tool support plate 33 is formed by the slide mechanism. The tool can be moved in parallel with the center axis 23 of the orbit of the tool held by the tool, that is, in the X-axis direction. The slide mechanism includes a base 35 supported by the frame 31, a first slider 37 slidable in the X-axis direction along the guide with respect to the base 35, and the guide with respect to the first slider 37. The second slider 39 is slidable in the X-axis direction, and the tool support plate 33 is supported on the second slider 39. Then, the first slider 37 is driven by a hydraulic cylinder 41 as first moving means attached to the base 35, and the first slider 37 moves with respect to the base 35 by a known double speed mechanism (not shown). Further, the movement of the second slider 39 relative to the first slider 37 is linked. The hydraulic cylinder 41 is used as an X-axis actuator, but other appropriate drive means such as a motor can be used as the X-axis actuator. With such a configuration, the tool support plate 33 is operated by the hydraulic cylinder 41 which is an X-axis actuator, and the tool is located in the retracted position located in the center of the inner space of the annular tool magazine 13 and in the movable area of the spindle 15. It can be moved between exchange positions.

  In the rack-type tool magazine 19, a third slider 43 slidable in the direction of the rotation axis 21 of the main shaft 15, that is, in the Z-axis direction is further provided on the second slider 39, and a tool support plate is provided on the third slider 43. Preferably 33 is attached. In this case, if the third slider 43 is driven by a hydraulic cylinder 45 as second moving means attached to the second slider 39, the tool support plate 33 can be moved in the Z-axis direction. Therefore, the tool T can be attached and detached between the main shaft 15 and the tool support plate 33 even if the main shaft 15 is not provided with a moving mechanism in the Z-axis direction. The hydraulic cylinder 45 is used as a Z-axis actuator, but other appropriate drive means such as a motor can be used as the Z-axis actuator.

  Further, the tool support plate 33 is driven from the retracted position at the center of the internal space of the annular tool magazine 13 by driving the first slider 37 and the second slider 39 by an X-axis actuator or manually. It is preferable to be able to move not only to the side approaching the shaft but also to the side moving away from the main shaft 15. As a result, the tool support plate 33 can be pulled out to the operator side opposite to the main shaft 15 across the internal space of the annular tool magazine 13, and the tool T held on the tool support plate 33 can be inspected. Maintenance work such as replacement of old and new tools becomes easy, and work efficiency can be improved.

  In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, since the hydraulic cylinder 41 is connected to the first slider 37 as an X-axis actuator, the problem of the stroke of the hydraulic cylinder 41 causes the inside of the annular tool magazine 13. It is difficult to move the first slider 37 to both the main shaft 15 side and the operator side across the space. Therefore, in the above embodiment, the rod 41a of the hydraulic cylinder 41 is connected to the base 35 via the locking device 47, and the rod 41a of the hydraulic cylinder 41 can be released from being locked to the base 35 by releasing the locking device 47. ing. When the rod 41 a of the hydraulic cylinder 41 is released from the base 35, the first slider 37 can freely slide with respect to the base 35 regardless of the stroke of the hydraulic cylinder 41. It can be manually pulled out to the operator side opposite to the main shaft 15 across the space.

  The tool T on the tool support plate 33 is disposed so that its axis is parallel to the rotation axis 21 of the main shaft 15, and is positioned and held at a predetermined position by a tool holder. The tool holder shown in FIG. 3 is for holding the long tool T on the tool support plate 33 and includes a support member 49 in which a recess corresponding to the outer shape of the tool T is formed. The two support members 49 receive and hold the long tool T on the tool support plate 33 by receiving the neck part and the tip part of the long tool in the recesses, respectively. Further, in order to hold the large deformed tool T on the tool support plate 33, a positioning formed on the lower surface of the tool T by supporting the lower surface of the large deformed tool T with a plurality of support pins and at least two positioning pins. The tool T is positioned and held on the tool support plate 33 by engaging a positioning pin with the hole. In this manner, each tool T on the tool support plate 33 is held at a predetermined position by the tool holder.

  Next, the operation of the tool changer 10 shown in FIG. 1 will be described.

  In the tool changer 10 according to the present invention, the annular tool magazine 13 normally stores standard tools within a predetermined size and weight limit, and the rack tool magazine 19 has a special tool exceeding the above limit. A tool T of various shapes, dimensions and weights is stored. Further, the tools stored in the annular tool magazine 13 are arranged so that the axis thereof extends in the X-axis direction perpendicular to the rotation axis 21 of the main shaft 15, and the tool T stored in the rack-type tool magazine 19 is The axis is arranged so as to extend in the Z-axis direction parallel to the rotation axis 21 of the main shaft 15. Further, during the machining of the workpiece by the tool T mounted on the spindle 15, the tool support plate 33 of the rack-type tool magazine 19 is in the retracted position outside the machining area, and is outside the movable area of the spindle 15 so as not to disturb the machining. It moves to the center part of the internal space of the annular tool magazine 13 located at the position.

  When it is desired to mount the standard tool on the main shaft 15, first, the annular magazine body 25 of the annular tool magazine 13 is rotated by the rotary actuator, and the tool pot 27 containing the tool is placed on the orbit around the central axis 23. The tool pot 27 containing the desired tool is indexed at a predetermined position. At this predetermined position, the tool pot 27 is turned 90 ° toward the internal space of the annular tool magazine 13 so that its axis is parallel to the rotation axis 21 of the main shaft 15 by a tool pot turning device (not shown). It is done. At this time, the spindle 15 is also moved in advance to a position for tool change.

  Next, by turning the exchange arm 17 by 90 °, the tool in the tool pot 27 is grasped by one gripper 29 of the exchange arm 17 and at the same time the tool attached to the spindle 15 is grasped by the other gripper 29, The exchange arm 17 is moved to the side away from the main shaft 15 in parallel with the rotation axis 21 of the main shaft 15 to remove the tool from the tool pot 27 and remove the tool from the main shaft 15 at the same time. Then, after the exchange arm 17 is rotated by 180 °, the exchange arm 17 is moved in parallel to the rotation axis 21 of the main shaft 15 toward the main shaft 15 so that the new tool is mounted on the main shaft 15 and at the same time the old tool is attached to the tool pot. 27. The exchange arm 17 turns 90 ° and waits at the position shown in FIG. Next, the tool pot 27 is turned 90 ° by the tool pot turning device, and the tool pot 27 is pushed again into the pot holder of the annular tool magazine 13 to hold the tool pot 27 in the annular tool magazine 13. In this way, the standard tool is automatically changed.

  On the other hand, automatic replacement of special tools T other than standard tools such as large diameter tools, long tools, deformed tools, and heavy tools is performed as follows. When it is desired to mount the tool T accommodated in the rack-shaped tool magazine 19 on the main shaft 15, first, the standard tool mounted on the main shaft 15 is removed from the main shaft 15 according to the above procedure, and the main shaft 15 is attached to the main shaft 15. Make sure the tool is not attached. Next, in a state where the rod 41a of the hydraulic cylinder 41 is locked to the base 35 by the locking device 47, the hydraulic cylinder 41, which is an X-axis actuator, is operated to advance the first slider 37 toward the main shaft 15 side. Then, as shown in FIG. 1, the second slider 39 that supports the tool support plate 33 moves to the tool change position in conjunction with the advancement of the first slider 37 by the double scale mechanism. Next, the spindle 15 is moved to a position facing the tool to be replaced on the tool support plate 33 in the Z-axis direction. Then, the hydraulic cylinder 45, which is a Z-axis actuator, is operated to move the third slider 43 on the second slider 39 from the tool change position in the Z-axis direction toward the main shaft 15, and the tool support plate 33 is moved to the main shaft. Approach 15 Then, the shank portion of the tool T is inserted into the main shaft 15, and the tool T held on the tool support plate 33 is mounted on the main shaft 15 by operating the clamping device built in the main shaft 15.

  When the special tool T other than the standard tool is mounted on the spindle 15, the special tool T mounted in the reverse procedure to the above procedure is placed in the Z-axis direction and the position to be accommodated on the tool support plate 33. After the main shaft 15 is moved to the opposite position, the hydraulic cylinder 45, which is a Z-axis actuator, is actuated to bring the tool support plate 33 closer to the main shaft 15, and the clamping device in the main shaft 15 is released to allow the tool holder to operate the tool holder. Hold T. Then, the tool T is removed from the main shaft 15 by moving the tool support plate 33 away from the main shaft 15 while the tool T is held by the tool holder. The replacement of the special tool T does not use the replacement arm 17 as described above, but adopts an armless system in which the tool is directly exchanged between the tool support plate 33 and the main shaft 15.

  When the tool T held on the tool support plate 33 is worn out and a new tool T needs to be replaced, or when it is necessary to check the state of the tool T, the lock device 47 uses the hydraulic pressure as the X-axis actuator. The lock between the rod 41 a of the cylinder 41 and the base 35 is released so that the first slider 37 can freely move with respect to the base 35 regardless of the stroke of the hydraulic cylinder 41. Then, the tool support plate 33 is pulled out to the operator position opposite to the main shaft 15 with the internal space of the annular tool magazine 13 interposed therebetween. At this time, the first slider 37 and the second slider 39 are also moved to the operator side along the guide in conjunction with the movement of the tool support plate 33 by the double speed double speed mechanism. At this work position, since there are no obstacles such as the annular tool magazine 13 around the tool support plate 33, maintenance work such as tool change and tool inspection is facilitated, and work efficiency can be improved. At this work position, maintenance work of the tool T accommodated in the annular tool magazine 13 can also be performed, so that maintenance work can be performed in one place, leading to work efficiency.

  The automatic tool changer 11 according to the present invention has been described above based on the embodiment shown in the drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiment. For example, the ring-shaped tool magazine 13 may have an annular shape such as a circle, an oval, or an ellipse having an internal space at the center, and an appropriate method is used as a tool holding method and a method of rotating the tool. be able to. As an alternative embodiment, instead of holding the tool in the annular magazine body 25 via the tool pot 27, the tool is directly inserted into and held in a hole formed in the annular magazine body 25 in the circumferential direction. It is also possible to do so. Further, the tool pot turning device and the exchange arm 17 can be replaced by a robot arm that can exchange tools between the annular tool magazine 13 and the main shaft 15.

  Further, the first tool magazine is not limited to an annular shape, and may be any disc type having no internal space, a chain drive type, a matrix type, or the like. Accordingly, the second tool magazine may not be in a form penetrating the internal space of the first tool magazine. Further, it is preferable that the first tool magazine and the second tool magazine are arranged close to each other from the viewpoints of compactness and maintainability, but they are installed separately on the right and left sides of the column, the upper part of the column, and the side of the column. May be.

  In the above embodiment, the horizontal machine tool in which the rotation axis 21 of the main shaft 15 extends in the horizontal direction has been described as an example. However, the vertical machine tool in which the rotation axis 21 of the main shaft 15 extends in the vertical direction (vertical direction). In addition, the automatic tool changer 11 described above can be used. In this case, the tool T is placed on the tool support plate 33 of the rack-type tool magazine 19 so that the axis of the tool T is parallel to the rotation axis 21 of the main shaft 15, that is, the axis of the tool T extends in the vertical direction. Just hold it.

It is a perspective view of the tool change apparatus of the machine tool in which the rack type tool magazine which shows embodiment of this invention exists in a tool change position. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the tool changer of FIG. 1 with a rack-type tool magazine in a retracted position. It is a side view of the long tool currently hold | maintained at the rack-type tool magazine.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Automatic tool changer 13 Ring-shaped tool magazine 15 Main axis | shaft 19 Rack type tool magazine 21 Rotation axis 23 Center axis 33 Tool support plate

Claims (3)

In a machine tool that moves a workpiece by exchanging a tool between a tool magazine containing a plurality of tools and a spindle on which the tool is mounted,
A first tool magazine for storing a plurality of standard tools within a predetermined size and weight limit;
A tool changer for exchanging a tool between the tool stored in the first tool magazine and the spindle;
A rack-shaped second tool magazine that mainly stores special tools that exceed the predetermined dimensions and weight limits, and performs a relative movement with respect to the spindle to directly exchange tools;
A first movement means provided in the second tool magazine for moving a tool support for positioning and holding a tool between a retreat position outside a machining area and a tool exchange position where the spindle and a tool can be changed;
A machine tool characterized by comprising:   2. The machine tool according to claim 1, wherein the second tool magazine further includes second moving means for moving the tool support in the axial direction of the main shaft at the tool change position.   The first tool magazine is a circular or oval annular tool magazine that holds a plurality of tools and circulates the tools in an indexable manner along a circular trajectory. 3. The machine tool according to claim 1, wherein the machine tool is disposed so as to be capable of moving forward and backward between the retracted position and the tool changing position through the inner space of the annular tool magazine.

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