Tool changing – Including machine tool or component – Rotary spindle machine tool
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-14
2001-03-13
Briggs, William (Department: 3722)
Tool changing
Including machine tool or component
Rotary spindle machine tool
C029S560000, C408S234000, C409S134000, C409S202000, C409S212000, C483S003000, C483S054000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06200247
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a machine tool and more especially a drilling and/or milling machine, comprising a machine stand, on which a first slide, which is borne on guide rails and is power driven, is able to be moved in a first horizontal direction of motion, a second slide, which is power driven, adapted to run in a second horizontal direction of motion perpendicular to the first direction of motion on the first slide, a working head, arranged on the second slide and having a drive device for at least one rotary tool, and a machining table in a working area underneath the working head, said head being adapted to be power-moved on vertical guide rails for the performance of vertical machining movements during the machining of workpieces by the working head.
THE PRIOR ART
Such a machine tool as disclosed in the German patent publication 1,477,580 A comprises a machine stand, which is made up of two plates joined together by the intermediary of four vertical rods. In this arrangement the rods serve as vertical guide rails for a machining table, whereas the top plate serves as the slide guide. The working range or area is open to all sides so that no regular, controlled removal of shavings removed from the material being machined, and also coolant and lubricant is possible. A further point is that the known design with rods is unsuitable for accurate work.
The non-prior published European patent application 97122348.2 also discloses a machine tool in accordance with the preamble of claim
1
herein. In the case of this machine tool vertical guide rails for the machining table are arranged on a part of the stand connecting two side walls of the machine stand. The disadvantage here is that on the one hand owing to such guide rails the tool magazine arranged behind is difficult to access and on the other hand owing to special design considerations it is necessary for a clearing passage for shavings etc. and also coolant and lubricant to extend perpendicularly to the side walls to one side of the machine, this conflicting with the desire to have a narrow overall design and with placing such machines in a row side by side.
SHORT SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One object of the invention is to so improve a machine tool of the type initially mentioned that a narrower design with better access and arrangement of a tool magazine is provided.
In order to achieve these and/or other objects appearing from the present specification, claims and drawings, in the present invention the working area is delimited by two side walls of the machine stand at least partly laterally, which side walls extend in parallelism to the first horizontal direction of movement and the vertical guide rails for the machining table are arranged on one of the side walls.
Owing to the arrangement of the vertical guide rails for the machining table on one of the two side walls the wall facing the machining area of the stand area connecting the two side walls is free for design developments so that it is simple to provide access to a tool magazine arranged behind. A further advantage is that the working area may be tapered underneath the machining table to a narrow discharge area, which extends in parallelism to that side wall, on which the vertical guide rails are arranged. This makes it possible have a discharge passage extending in parallelism to the two side walls or, respectively, between the same for shavings, coolant and lubricant, such passage extending toward the rear of the machine. This in turn renders possible a very narrow overall shape and a tandem arrangement of several such machine tools. Finally there is a substantial advantage because after machining of the mounting faces for the vertical guide rails a simple and exact subsequent adjustment of the longitudinal guide rails for the first slide, as for example using shims or padding, is possible. This may for instance be performed by placing the machine on that side wall which is provided for receiving the vertical guide rails.
The measures recited in the claims constitute advantageous further developments and improvements of the machine tool.
Two horizontal guide rails for the first slide extend at least partly on the side walls and parallel to same so that a slide guide for the first slide is produced which is extremely strong mechanically and is highly accurate.
One of these horizontal guide rails is best made longer than the other and the first slide possesses a three point guide means, two mutually spaced guide elements running on the longer guide rail and one guide element running on the shorter one. This means that the portion between the two guide rails remains free so that a tool magazine arranged here is readily accessible. An arrangement with particularly simple design advantages is one in which the machine stand possesses an asymmetrical rear wider part as an extension of the side wall bearing the longer guide rail, such extension carrying the rear part of such guide rail.
Preferably the asymmetrical wider part, which is more particularly arranged to the side of the center line between the two guide rails for the first slide, of the machine stand also has a lead screw drive for the first slide so that in this respect as well the middle portion having the tool magazine of the machine stand is readily accessible from the top.
The vertical guide rails for the machining table are preferably arranged on the side wall bearing the longer guide rail for the first slide, something which additionally contributes to strength and resistance to twisting.
The working area underneath the machining table preferably has an oblique face extending from the side wall not having the vertical guide rail obliquely downward to the oppositely placed side wall, such oblique face being designed as a guide face for shavings produced during machining and furthermore lubricant and coolant to a discharge duct arranged underneath the working area, which duct preferably extends between the side walls to the rear end area of the machine stand. The shavings or, respectively, the material cut from the work may accordingly removed in an ideal manner to the rear with the result that the two side walls remain free, this meaning that a compact arrangement of such machine tools in a row is possible. The discharge duct extending to the rear also makes its contribution to an extremely narrow design of the machine.
Underneath a machining plate the machining table has a configuration adapted to the form of the bottom part, which is delimited on one side by the oblique face of the machining area, so that in spite of the oblique face it is possible to adopt extremely low working positions and a compact arrangement.
At least in the lowermost position a drive motor secured to the stand for the machining table fits in a cavity in the machining table, the drive motor preferably driving a lead screw for the machining table. This is also something contributing to a compact and space saving arrangement.
It is an advantage to provide an area of the stand which delimits the working area to a third side, facing away from the machine operator, and which connects the two side wall, such stand area preferably comprising a tool magazine. For this purpose the stand area connecting the side walls possesses an access opening to the tool magazine from the working area. Owing to having ample access from the rear as well it is possible for this tool magazine to be arranged in the middle, something which also leads to a narrow design of the machine tool.
Owing to such satisfactory possibility of access it is possible for this tool magazine to be designed in the form of a drum or revolver magazine as well.
The vertical guide rails for the machining table are preferably arranged in the side wall, and preferably let into it more particularly so that the machining table as well fits into a vertical guide passage in this side wall.
Further advantageous developments and convenient forms of the invention will be understood from the following detailed descriptive disclosure of one embodiment the
Briggs William
Browdy and Neimark
Maschinenfabrik Berthold Hermle AG
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