The present invention relates to a machining apparatus. More particularly this invention concerns a method and apparatus for changing tools in such a machining apparatus.
A tool changer for a machining apparatus moves a machining tool such as a lathing or drill bit from a tool holder or magazine to the chuck of a machining spindle that can engage it with a workpiece and do a lathing, milling, drilling, or other machining operation, all under automatic computer control. In U.S. Pat. No. 7,229,397 the tool changer has two tool holders and a separate magazine holding a number of tools, and the tool changer moves tools one at a time from the magazine to one or the other of the holders and takes tools from the holders and puts them back in the magazine. Four pass-through or transit stations are provided where the tools can be temporarily held when moving in from the magazine to the tool holder or out from the tool holder back to the magazine. The various grabs are carried on slides and move with them. Each transit station has a holder in which a workpiece can be temporarily held, with actuators for locking a tool in the holder and releasing it therefrom.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved machining apparatus and method of changing tools therein.
Another object is the provision of such an improved machining apparatus and method of changing tools therein that overcomes the above-given disadvantages, in particular that improves the handling procedure.
Thus the instant invention is a method of operating a machining apparatus having
a frame,
a magazine holding a plurality of tools,
a loader capable of moving the tools between the magazine and a primary transfer position,
a chuck on the frame, adapted to hold a workpiece, and rotatable on the frame about a workpiece axis,
a drive spindle for rotating the chuck about the workpiece axis,
first and second tool holders each displaceable horizontally and vertically on the frame, and
a transfer arm carrying a grab.
The method according to the invention comprises the steps of sequentially
a) supporting each of the tool holders for movement into and out of a respective secondary transfer position,
b) removing one of the tools from the magazine with the loader and moving the one tool by the loader into the primary transfer position,
c) transferring the one tool in the first transfer position to the grab of the transfer arm,
d) pivoting the arm to move the one tool in the grab from the primary transfer position into one of the secondary transfer positions, and
e) transferring the tool at the one secondary transfer position from the grab to the respective holder.
The loader is of the 3-axis type so that, no matter what the orientation of the tool in the magazine is, it can be set in the required orientation into the holder.
What is more, according to the invention, the grab of the arm is a double grab shiftable on an outer end of the arm. Thus, during step c) the one tool is transferred to one of the grabs of the double grab and an other grab of the double grab is left empty. The method therefore further has according to the invention between steps d) and e) the steps of
d1) gripping a tool in the holder in the one secondary transfer position with the empty other grab,
d2) releasing the gripped tool from the holder in the one secondary transfer position,
d3) shifting the holder in the one secondary transfer position away from the gripped tool,
d4) moving the double grab to move the other grab and the gripped tool out of the one secondary position and to move the one grab with the one tool into alignment with the holder in the one secondary transfer position,
d5) shifting the holder in the one secondary transfer position toward the one tool held by the one grab to fit it to the holder of the one secondary transfer position,
d6) gripping the one tool with the holder of the one secondary transfer position, and
d7) releasing the one tool from the one grab.
Thus in accordance with this invention the movements of both the grab and the holder are fairly simple and allow fast transfer of a tool that is no longer needed to the grab and then loading of the next needed tool into the same holder. All of this is controlled centrally by the computer serving as controller.
The double grab according to the invention is pivoted about an axis on a free end of the arm. Thus once the no-longer-needed tool in the holder has been gripped by the one grab, the holder backs off, and the double grab is swung around through 180° to align the new tool in the other grab and the holder is moved back in a straight line, vertically or horizontally, to fit to and then grip this one tool. The grab then releases this one tool and can then return the no-longer-needed tool to the loader for return to the magazine.
The above and other objects, features, and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which:
As seen in
Respective unillustrated actuators and servomotors forming part of and operated by a central controller 27 move the holders 5 and 6 vertically and horizontally and rotate them about the respective axes 21. The holders 5 and 6 are provided with standardized DIN 69893, ABS tool sockets or chucks 28′, 28″ and 29′, 29″ of the HSK type market by Komet or Capto von Sanvik-Coromant for automated operation so that the holders 5 and 6 so that they can each hold two tools 11 extending parallel to each other along respective axes extending tangentially of and symmetrically flanking the respective axes 21. These tools 11 can be positioned by the holders 5 and 6 holding them in respective transfer positions 19 and 19a (
A multiplicity of the tools 11 for different machining purposes are carried in a chain- or belt-type recirculating magazine 13. A loader 14 has a grab 15 that can move in all three X-, Y-, and Z-directions between an outer transfer position 18 between the magazine 13 and the holders 5 and 6.
Laterally next to the main drive 3 is a transfer arm 16 having an inner end pivoted about a horizontal Y-direction axis 20 equispaced between the stations 19 and 19a and the holders 5 and 6 and carrying on its outer end two tool grabs 17 pivotal about an axis 23 parallel to the axis 20 and each capable of taking a tool 11 from or handing a tool 11 to the grab 15 in the transfer station 18. Here the axis 20 lies in a common horizontal plane with the workpiece axis 24.
The machine described above operates as follows to change tools:
As shown in
Meanwhile (
As shown in
Either holder 5 or 6 as shown in
A tool 11, 11a, or 11b taken out of one of the holders 5 and 6 can be transferred to the other holder 5 or 6 or can be moved back to the loader 14 to be put back into the magazine 13, as needed.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
10 2013 011 760 | Jul 2013 | DE | national |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
7229397 | Hagmann | Jun 2007 | B2 |
20060189464 | Corbean | Aug 2006 | A1 |
20070184954 | Muser | Aug 2007 | A1 |
20090209398 | Yoshida | Aug 2009 | A1 |
20100145498 | Uchikawa | Jun 2010 | A1 |
20110107573 | Fujioka | May 2011 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
54-005278 | Jan 1979 | JP |
63-074507 | Apr 1988 | JP |
63-134146 | Jun 1988 | JP |
Entry |
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Machine Translation JP 63-134146-A, which JP '146 was published Jun. 1988. |
Machine Translation JP 63-074507 A, which JP '507 was published Apr. 1988. |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20150018179 A1 | Jan 2015 | US |