Machine tool

Details Machine tool Machine tool

2000-02-11

2001-11-06

Tsai, Henry (Department: 3722)

Turning

Lathe

With tool turret

C082S122000, C082S129000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06311591

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a machine tool, comprising a machine frame, at least one workpiece receiving means which is rotatable about an axis and can be fixed in a defined rotary position and in which a workpiece can be accommodated for the machining, a tool carrier arrangement which comprises a tool spindle for receiving a tool which is driven for rotation about a tool spindle axis, can be moved transversely to the axis and in the direction of the axis by means of a control and can be aligned, in addition, in the space such that the tool spindle axis is located in planes intersecting the axis and forming with this axis an angle in the range of approximately 0° to approximately 90°.
A machine tool of this type is known, for example, from European patent application 0 538 515.
With a machine tool of this type there is the problem of the tool spindle axis being arranged on the tool carrier arrangement comprising a turret such that during machining of a workpiece with a tool seated in the tool spindle and driven for rotation by it considerable traveling distances for the movement of the rotatingly driven tool into a machining position and out of this into a rest position have to be overcome.
The object underlying the invention is therefore to improve a machine tool of the generic type in such a manner that the distances to be traveled can be reduced.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This object is accomplished in accordance with the invention, in a machine tool of the type described at the outset, in that the tool carrier arrangement comprises a tool spindle carrier which is pivotable about a pivot axis in relation to a bearing housing and can be fixed on the bearing housing in at least one machining position, this tool spindle carrier extending only on one side of the pivot axis in an angular range of less than 180° around the pivot axis and away from it and that the tool spindle is arranged on the tool spindle carrier such that its tool spindle axis is in a position non-coaxial to the pivot axis.
The advantage of the inventive solution is to be seen in the fact that with the provision of the pivotable tool spindle carrier it is possible to position the bearing housing at an adequately large distance from the workpiece and to bridge the distance from the bearing housing to the workpiece by pivoting the workpiece spindle carrier relative to the bearing housing so that, on the one hand, it is possible to machine the workpiece on all sides with the rotatingly driven tool and, on the other hand, it is possible to pivot the rotatingly driven tool away from the workpiece by pivoting the tool spindle carrier, namely onto a position, in which neither the rotatingly driven tool nor the tool spindle carrier hinder other machining operations, which is also possible, in particular, due to the fact that the tool spindle carrier extends in an angular range of less than 180° around the pivot axis, as a result of which the possibility is created of aligning the tool spindle carrier such that this does not extend with any of its areas closer in the direction of the workpiece than the bearing housing of the tool carrier.
As a result, a simple possibility is already created, without utilizing the movability of the bearing housing, of being able, on the one hand, to carry out all the desired machinings on the workpiece with the rotatingly driven tool and, on the other hand, of bringing the rotatingly driven tool without any problem into a position, in which this does not hinder further machinings, without any movement of the bearing housing over large distances being necessary, as is the case with the state of the art described at the outset.
An even more advantageous solution provides for the tool spindle carrier to extend in an angular range of less than 120°, even better less than 90°, around the pivot axis so that, as a result, a position, in which the tool spindle carrier does not come closer to the workpiece than the bearing housing, can already be reached as a result of an even smaller rotation of the tool spindle carrier about the pivot axis.
In order, in particular, to be able to use tool spindles which make a large metal-removing capacity available it is preferably provided for the tool spindle carrier to comprise a tool spindle housing which mounts the tool spindle and is an integral section of the tool spindle carrier. This means that the tool spindle housing is part of the tool spindle carrier and is not intended, like, for example, a tool holder, to be connected to the tool spindle carrier so as to be interchangeable.
As a result of the integration of the tool spindle housing in the tool spindle carrier, a receiving means for the tool spindle, in particular, a tool spindle for large metal-removing capacities may be created which does, on the one hand, save on space and, on the other hand, is stable.
With respect to the design of the tool spindle carrier itself, no further details have so far been given. One advantageous embodiment, for example, provides for the tool spindle carrier to comprise a bearing head penetrated by the pivot axis, an arm extending away from the bearing head and a tool spindle housing connected to the arm. Such a solution has great advantages, in particular, on account of its space-saving construction.
The solution is especially space-saving, in particular, when the arm of the tool spindle carrier extends solely between the tool spindle housing and the bearing head, i.e. merely forms a connection between them and does not extend sideways beyond them. This solution is the most space-saving solution.
It is, however, also conceivable to design the tool spindle carrier in such a manner that the arm extends from the bearing head to the tool spindle housing and also to one or several additional tool receiving means which are, for example, arranged at an angular distance in relation to the tool spindle housing. These additional tool receiving means can likewise be additional tool spindle housings. It is, however, also conceivable to design these receiving means as simple receiving means for stationary tools.
With respect to the fixing of the tool spindle carrier in position relative to the bearing housing, it has so far merely been assumed that at least one machining position is provided so that when, for example, one workpiece spindle is provided the tool spindle carrier can be fixed in one machining position relative to it and, in addition, can be moved into a rest position, in which a fixing in position which is stable with respect to momentum is not, however, absolutely necessary.
It is, however, even more advantageous when the tool spindle carrier can be fixed in at least two machining positions in relation to the bearing housing since these two machining positions can be used to carry out all the possible machinings in a simple manner and, in particular, avoiding long paths of travel during the movement of the tool carrier arrangement relative to the workpiece of a workpiece receiving means, wherein in one machining position the tool spindle axis moves in planes which intersect the axis and form with it an angle of less than 45° whereas in the other machining position the tool spindle axis is located in all the planes which intersect the axis and form with it an angle of more than 45°.
These two intended machining positions may be arranged particularly favorably when they are arranged on opposite sides of a plane of symmetry extending through the pivot axis. In this respect, it is not absolutely necessary to provide the machining positions at an angular distance of approximately 180° from one another. The inventive advantages can also occur at smaller angular distances. It is, however, particularly favorable, in order to be able to use the tool overall on the workpiece with the greatest possible distance between workpiece and bearing housing, when the at least two machining positions are arranged so as to be turned about the pivot axis through approximately 180° in relation to one another.
In principle, it would be conceivable to arrange the t

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