Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a machine tool.
Discussion of the Background
Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Application Publication No. 06-042044 and Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-045664 are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a machine tool includes a main machine, a pallet change unit, a main body cover, a machine entry door, an internal machine cover, and an internal entrance area. The main machine is configured to machine a workpiece. The pallet change unit is adjacent to the main machine. The main body cover is provided on the pallet change unit. The machine entry door is provided in the main body cover. The internal machine cover is connected to the machine entry door. The internal entrance area is defined by the machine entry door and the internal machine cover. The machine entry door and the internal machine cover are constructed to sweep the internal entrance area.
A more complete appreciation of the invention and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding or identical elements throughout the various drawings.
The machine tool 1 includes a pallet change unit 20 on the front side of a main machine 10, similarly to the conventional machine tool. The main machine 10 includes a table 12. The pallet change unit 20 includes a pallet change base 21, a pallet change slider 22, and a pallet turning arm 23. Referring to
The access door device 100 includes a machine entry door 110 and a first internal machine cover 120. The machine entry door 110 is mounted on a main body cover 26 of the pallet change unit 20 through a hinge 112, which is a link mechanism. The first internal machine cover 120 is mounted on the open edge of the machine entry door 110 through a hinge 122, which is a link mechanism. On the open edge of the first internal machine cover 120, a second internal machine cover 140 is mounted through a hinge 142, which is a link mechanism. The second internal machine cover 140 is guided by a linear guide 150 and a reciprocating-movement control mechanism 155. The movement of the first internal machine cover 120 is restrained by a link member 130.
An operation panel 40 is disposed on the opposite side of the hinge 112 across the machine entry door 110. The operation panel 40 is mounted on a turning mechanism 42, which is provided in the main machine 10. The turning mechanism 42 is turnable about a predetermined turning axis to change the position of the operation panel 40.
As illustrated in
In
When the machine entry door 110 is opened from its closed position, the first internal machine cover 120 is also moved, since the first internal machine cover 120 is connected to the machine entry door 110. Then, the second internal machine cover 140, which is connected to the first internal machine cover 120, is moved from a position S2 in the arrow L direction. The second internal machine cover 140 is guided by the linear guide 150 and the reciprocating-movement control mechanism 155. When the machine entry door 110 is opened completely, the second internal machine cover 140 is moved to a position S1. Thus, the work area E2 is secured.
Under the front cover 55 of the machine tool 1, a linear-guide mounting bracket 151 is mounted on the pallet change base 21 in parallel to the front cover 55. On the linear-guide mounting bracket 151, a linear-guide rail 150a of the linear guide 150 is mounted. A linear-guide block 150b is fitted with the linear guide rail 150a and movable on the linear guide rail 150a. An arm 156 is mounted on the linear-guide block 150b. A bracket 157 is fixed to the arm 156. On the bracket 157, a plurality of cam followers 158 are aligned perpendicularly to the direction in which the linear-guide block 150b moves. The cam followers 158 are engaged with an elongate hole 144, which is disposed in the longitudinal direction of a lower surface 140d of the second internal machine cover 140. With the cam mechanism thus configured, when the first internal machine cover 120 moves on a predetermined track confined by the link member 130 while turning the first internal machine cover 120 about the hinge 132 by means of opening the machine entry door 110, the second internal machine cover 140 moves between the position S1 and the position S2 at approximately the same angle relative to the linear-guide rail 150a.
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
In conjunction with closing of the machine entry door 110, the second internal machine cover 140 moves from the position S1 to the position S2, making no space for the operator in the work area E2. As the second internal machine cover 140 moves from the position S1 to the position S2, the work area E2 is gradually diminished. This requires the operator to go out to the position G through the internal passage area E1. This, as a result, prevents the operator from being left in the internal passage area E1 nor in the work area E2. Even if another operator erroneously attempts to close the machine entry door 110 while the former operator stays in the work area E2, the second internal machine cover 140 interferes with the operator to prevent the machine entry door 110 from being closed. Thus, as a result, safety of the operator is ensured.
In the access door device according to the above-described embodiment, the linear guide 150 and the reciprocating-movement control mechanism 155 constitute a guide mechanism for the second internal machine cover 140 to move between the position S1 and the position S2 at approximately the same angle relative to the linear-guide rail 150a. Instead of using the linear guide 150 and the reciprocating-movement control mechanism 155, the access door device according to this embodiment uses cam grooves 200 and cam followers (not illustrated) to be inserted into the cam grooves 200. The cam grooves 200 are disposed on the working floor 70, which is the floor surface of the work area E2 and fixed to the pallet change base 21. The cam followers are disposed on the lower surface 140d of the second internal machine cover 140. While a single cam follower suffices for guiding purposes, providing a plurality of cam followers makes the movement of the second internal machine cover 140 smoother.
The movement of the access door device 100 will be described by referring to
Then, the operator opens the machine entry door 110, and in conjunction with this, the first internal machine cover 120 and the second internal machine cover 140 move to form a space for the operator in the internal passage area E1 and the work area E2. After the space has been secured, the operator enters the internal passage area E1 of the machine tool 1, opens the operator door 50, and moves into the work area E2.
Then, the operator works on the table 12 or the spindle. Here, the operator swings the operation panel 40 into the internal passage area E1 to control the machine from the internal passage area E1 or the work area E2.
After the work, the operator moves to the internal passage area E1 and closes the operator door 50. Then, the operator closes the machine entry door 110, and in conjunction with closing of the machine entry door 110, the first internal machine cover 120 and the second internal machine cover 140 move. Here, the first internal machine cover 120 and the second internal machine cover 140 sweep the internal passage area E1 and the work area E2. This makes the operator go nowhere but to the position G. As a result, the operator is made go outside the machine tool 1.
When the operator swung the operation panel 40 into the internal passage area E1, the operator must move the operation panel 40 to outside the internal passage area E1; otherwise, the operator is unable to move to the position G. While the operation panel 40 leaves alone in the internal passage area E1, the operator is unable to close the machine entry door 110. Upon closing of the machine entry door 110, a door lock switch, not illustrated, locks the machine entry door 110.
With this device configuration, even if another operator erroneously attempts to close the machine entry door 110 while the former operator stays in the internal passage area E1 or the work area E2 of the machine tool 1, the machine entry door 110 or the internal machine cover 120 interferes with the former operator to prevent the machine entry door 110 from being closed.
The front surface of the front cover 55 and the front surface 50a of the operator door 50 may be disposed in the same plane. In this case, the operator works in the internal passage area E1, making the second internal machine cover 140 unnecessary. This also eliminates the need for the linear guide 150 and the reciprocating-movement control mechanism 155.
In the machine tool according to the embodiment of the present invention, the pallet change unit may include restraining means including one end mounted on the main body cover and another end mounted on the internal machine cover.
In the machine tool according to the embodiment of the present invention, the internal machine cover may include a first internal machine cover and a second internal machine cover abutting the first internal machine cover. The pallet change unit may include a work area communicating with the internal passage area and may be sweepable by the second internal machine cover.
In the machine tool according to the embodiment of the present invention, the pallet change unit may include a linear guide disposed in the work area, which may be coupled to the second internal machine cover through a bracket. The work area may be sweepable by the second internal machine cover on a track on which the second internal machine cover is guided by the linear guide. Here, the bracket and the second internal machine cover may be coupled to each other by a cam mechanism.
In the machine tool according to the embodiment of the present invention, the pallet change unit may include a cam groove on a floor surface of the work area. The second internal machine cover may include a cam follower on a surface of the second internal machine cover facing the floor surface. The cam groove and the cam follower may constitute a cam mechanism, and the work area may be sweepable by the second internal machine cover on a track on which the second internal machine cover is guided by the cam mechanism.
In the machine tool according to the embodiment of the present invention, the first internal machine cover may have a height greater than a height at which a pallet turning arm of the pallet change unit is disposed. The main machine may include a turning mechanism configured to turn about a predetermined turning axis. The turning mechanism may include an operation panel.
Obviously, numerous modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.
The present application is a continuation application of International Application No. PCT/JP2014/063587, filed May 22, 2014. The contents of this application are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
4705187 | Linn | Nov 1987 | A |
5265497 | Curless | Nov 1993 | A |
6364582 | Hoppe et al. | Apr 2002 | B1 |
20020033082 | Nakaminami et al. | Mar 2002 | A1 |
20020104935 | Schweizer | Aug 2002 | A1 |
20120137884 | Steinman | Jun 2012 | A1 |
20120255833 | Ryu | Oct 2012 | A1 |
20150016914 | Nishida et al. | Jan 2015 | A1 |
20150367472 | Suzuki et al. | Dec 2015 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
1275467 | Dec 2000 | CN |
10020804 | Nov 2001 | DE |
06-042044 | Jun 1994 | JP |
11-114767 | Apr 1999 | JP |
2000-045664 | Feb 2000 | JP |
2000-317766 | Nov 2000 | JP |
2002-096239 | Apr 2002 | JP |
2006-021262 | Jan 2006 | JP |
2007-190623 | Aug 2007 | JP |
5497972 | May 2014 | JP |
10-1235542 | Feb 2013 | KR |
WO 2014002173 | Jan 2014 | WO |
Entry |
---|
Machine translation of Decision to Grant a Patent in Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-541457, which decision was drafted on Oct. 29, 2014. |
Machine Translation of JP 2007-190623 A, which JP '623 was published. |
Chinese Office Action for corresponding CN Application No. 201480002379.8, Aug. 15, 2016. |
The decision to grant a patent for corresponding JP Application No. 2014-541457, Nov. 4, 2014. |
Chinese Office Action for corresponding CN Application No. 201480002379.8, Oct. 14, 2016 (w/ English machine translation). |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20150336229 A1 | Nov 2015 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
Parent | PCT/JP2014/063587 | May 2014 | US |
Child | 14810398 | US |