Metal working – Plural diverse manufacturing apparatus including means for... – Common reciprocating support for spaced tools
Patent
1989-04-06
1990-09-11
Howell, Daniel W.
Metal working
Plural diverse manufacturing apparatus including means for...
Common reciprocating support for spaced tools
29 26A, B23Q 3157
Patent
active
049551272
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
DESCRIPTION
1. TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to an automatic tool changing device for a machine tool, which device is capable of automatically exchanging a tool on the machine tool for a desired tool from among various tools stored in a turret magazine.
2. BACKGROUND ART
Automatic tool changing devices have been developed which, when necessary, can select a required tool from among a plurality of tools stored in a magazine.
The applicant of the present patent application has invented and has applied for a patent for such a tool changing device (Japanese Patent Application No. 56-145242). The construction of this tool changing device is shown in FIG. 6A, in which the machine tool is being used for a machining operation and a tool is fastened to the spindle, and FIG. 6B, in which the machine tool is in a tool changing position whereat a tool is released from the spindle and fixed in a magazine.
As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, this tool changing device of a prior art comprises a bevel gear 71 joined to the end of a spindle X rotatably supported on a spindle head 7, a magazine 1 storing a plurality of tools 72 and able to move along the spindle head 7, and a bevel gear 21 engaged with the bevel gear 71.
When exchanging tools after a machining process is completed, the tool 72 is unclamped from the spindle X with a tool setting and removing means, not shown, including a draw bar, the tool 72 on the spindle X is removed therefrom by raising the spindle head 7 to a position at which the bevel gears 21 and 71 are engaged as shown in FIG. 6B, while the magazine 1 remains at the same position, rotating the spindle X to rotate the magazine 1 and bring a required tool 72 opposite to the spindle X, inserting and attaching the required tool to the spindle X with the tool setting and removing means including the draw bar, and then raising the magazine 1 along the spindle head 7 to disengage the bevel gear 21 from the bevel gear 71, whereby the machine tool is returned to a machining position.
In this state, one of the tool holding parts of the magazine 1 remains near the end of the spindle X, but machining can be performed, as the magazine 1 is not connected to the spindle X.
This tool exchanging device is not equipped with an individual motor for exchanging tools and the magazine thereof is rotated for selecting a desired tool by the motor for rotatively driving the main spindle. Accordingly, the tool exchanging device can be controlled easily for indexing, has a simple construction and is useful for industrial application.
In the foregoing tool exchanging position, since the tool holding part of the magazine remains near the end of the spindle, and the tools held on the adjacent tool holding parts remain within the machining zone, unavoidably the space available for the machining operation is reduced.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to solve the foregoing problem in the conventional tool exchanging device by retracting the magazine to a standby position after exchanging the tools, by advancing the magazine to a tool exchanging position so that sufficient space becomes available for the machining operation. Improvements are made to the tool exchanging device to prevent the tools from being detached from the magazine by vibration produced when retracting the magazine to the standby position.
For example, in an embodiment shown in FIG. 1, an operating cam 6 is attached to a spindle head 7 formed integrally with a Z slider S, which slides vertically along a column C between a lower working (machining) position and an upper tool exchanging position, a magazine supporting member 2 is supported pivotally on a pivot shaft 01 on an upper column part C, a strong extension spring 8 is extended between the upper end of the supporting member and the column C, i.e., a fixed frame, to constantly bias the supporting unit 2 in the direction of an arrow F so that the supporting member 2 rests on a stopper 10 provided on the column C, and a roller R and a stopper block 5 are fixed to the
REFERENCES:
patent: 4827600 (1989-05-01), Miyano
Fujimoto Akihiko
Suda Nobuyuki
Suzuki Ryuji
Fanuc Ltd.
Howell Daniel W.
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