The present invention relates to a tool support provided for working a work piece at the working spindle of a lathe.
Tool supports for tools to be mounted on the working spindle of a lathe are known and serve for machining work pieces of any kind of material. Depending on the work to be performed, the appropriate tools have to be chosen and to be mounted at the tool support. An operation, which often is very time consuming (secondary processing time). In order to avoid this very complicated and complex turret heads with different tools are used.
An object of the present invention was to elaborate a tool support which provides highest precision with a very simple construction and which reduces the secondary processing time (re-tooling) practically to zero.
This object is achieved with a tool support of the type defined herein above according to the present invention having the features of the characterizing part of claim 1.
Particularly advantageous embodiments of the invention are defined in the depending claims.
According to this invention, the tool support enables to hold two different tools and to selectively use them, keeping the cost of the constructive elements of the support and their number at the minimum, particularly if for moving the components of this support a single motor is used having a driving shaft for displacing the slide and also selectively the desired tool support, this by the intermediary of a lever with an inner control curve or two cam discs.
The enforced sequence of movement is made in a controlled manner, sequencially or simultaneously along the trajectory axis X and Y or by a translatory path. This ensures that the secondary processing time for the selection of the tool is reduced to a minimum.
In order to carry out complicated working steps it is possible to arrange several tool supports at the spindle (each with two different tools), preferably with angular spaces of 120°, which excludes on the one hand the risk of collision with a neighbouring tool and on the other hand reduces the secondary processing time for the tools selection practically to zero.
Thanks to this surprising concept the productivity of a lathe can be substantially increased, keeping the cost at a low level.
If the tool supports are mounted on a longitudinally movable slide (tool slide), it is possible to enlarge the use of each double tool additionally in a further working plane (along the Z-axis).
The invention will be herein after described in more detail on the basis of embodiments and sequences of movement represented in the drawing. In the drawings:
The basic plate 8 is usually mounted on a Z-slide (not represented), thus allowing an additional controlled movement in Z-direction (along the spindle).
Due to the additional Z-movements further simultaneous working operations are possible which permit particularly for turning automats a massive increase of productivity.
Motor 1 drives by the intermediary of shaft 1′ the control elements, namely lever 2 and cam 3. The lever 2 with inner curve 2′ surves to displace the slide 5 in transverse direction (Y) until reaching adjustable stops 4 (e.g. looking screws), such limitation of the displacement path serving to bring the tools 9,9′ into their middle position (
The shifting in Y-direction can be performed as shown by means of lever 2 (up to the desired stop, if the motor shaft continues to rotate the follower element of the inner curve of the inner curve of the lever is further advanced against a spring force, whilst the slide is stopped), or a separate drive with a measuring system can be used (attacking e.g. on the longitudinal side of the slide).
The feed of the tools 9,9′ by means of the corresponding cams 3,3′ is carried out by the attack of the cams on an extension of the tool holders 6,6′. The latter are moved against a resetting force (spring, not represented), such that any tool which is not being controlled by the cam remains always out of its working position. The motor shaft 1′, departing from the middle position, can be rotated in both directions up to 180°.
As already mentioned, it is possible to arrange a plurality of tool supports around a spindle whereby the described advantages can be used in multiple manners. The increase in performance allows to replace the curve-controlled turning automats which up to now where held as “irreplaceable”.
Also object of the invention is a tool support as shown in
The tool support with that rotatable arm 20 is displaceable, if mounted on a lathe, preferably in a longitudinal and transverse direction with respect to the spindle (X- and Z-axis).
This tool support is particularly suitable for being used in combination with that tool support described herein before, leading to a particularly versatile application of the different tools such possible applications are schematically represented in
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/CH03/00526 | 7/31/2003 | WO | 3/27/2006 |