EP0000138B1 - Multiple spindle machine tool - Google Patents
Multiple spindle machine tool Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0000138B1 EP0000138B1 EP78100140A EP78100140A EP0000138B1 EP 0000138 B1 EP0000138 B1 EP 0000138B1 EP 78100140 A EP78100140 A EP 78100140A EP 78100140 A EP78100140 A EP 78100140A EP 0000138 B1 EP0000138 B1 EP 0000138B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- toolhead
- changer
- driver
- machine tool
- rails
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
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Classifications
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B23Q—DETAILS, COMPONENTS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR MACHINE TOOLS, e.g. ARRANGEMENTS FOR COPYING OR CONTROLLING; MACHINE TOOLS IN GENERAL CHARACTERISED BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF PARTICULAR DETAILS OR COMPONENTS; COMBINATIONS OR ASSOCIATIONS OF METAL-WORKING MACHINES, NOT DIRECTED TO A PARTICULAR RESULT
- B23Q3/00—Devices holding, supporting, or positioning work or tools, of a kind normally removable from the machine
- B23Q3/155—Arrangements for automatic insertion or removal of tools, e.g. combined with manual handling
- B23Q3/157—Arrangements for automatic insertion or removal of tools, e.g. combined with manual handling of rotary tools
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B23Q—DETAILS, COMPONENTS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR MACHINE TOOLS, e.g. ARRANGEMENTS FOR COPYING OR CONTROLLING; MACHINE TOOLS IN GENERAL CHARACTERISED BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF PARTICULAR DETAILS OR COMPONENTS; COMBINATIONS OR ASSOCIATIONS OF METAL-WORKING MACHINES, NOT DIRECTED TO A PARTICULAR RESULT
- B23Q3/00—Devices holding, supporting, or positioning work or tools, of a kind normally removable from the machine
- B23Q3/155—Arrangements for automatic insertion or removal of tools, e.g. combined with manual handling
- B23Q2003/1558—Arrangements for automatic insertion or removal of tools, e.g. combined with manual handling involving insertion or removal of other machine components together with the removal or insertion of tools or tool holders
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- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T483/00—Tool changing
- Y10T483/17—Tool changing including machine tool or component
- Y10T483/1733—Rotary spindle machine tool [e.g., milling machine, boring, machine, grinding machine, etc.]
- Y10T483/1736—Tool having specific mounting or work treating feature
- Y10T483/1738—Tool head
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- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T483/00—Tool changing
- Y10T483/17—Tool changing including machine tool or component
- Y10T483/1733—Rotary spindle machine tool [e.g., milling machine, boring, machine, grinding machine, etc.]
- Y10T483/1748—Tool changer between spindle and matrix
- Y10T483/1752—Tool changer between spindle and matrix including tool holder pivotable about axis
- Y10T483/1755—Plural tool holders pivotable about common axis
- Y10T483/1757—Plural tool holders pivotable about common axis including intermediate tool changer
Definitions
- This invention relates to multiple spindle machine tools which utilize a plurality of interchangeable multiple spindle toolheads.
- French Patent No. 2,091,166 a rotary toolhead changer or turret is adapted to receive toolheads from a toolhead magazine.
- the turret is disposed for rotation about an axis which intersects the axis of movement of the machine tool driver at an angle of 45°.
- the rotary turret is mounted on the same housing containing the machine tool driver and moves with the machine tool driver and away from the workpiece.
- the object of this invention is to provide a multiple spindle machine tool which overcomes this problem and which has a toolhead transfer mechanism which is simpler and faster than those heretofore known in the art.
- the rotary toolhead changer is mounted independently of and in an elevated position above the toolhead driver.
- the toolhead driver has clamping means thereon for clamping thereto a toolhead, the toolhead being released from the toolhead changer for movement toward and away from the worktable upon engagement of said clamping means.
- one preferred embodiment of the invention includes a first bed portion 20 upon which a worktable 22 is slidably mounted for movement along a horizontal X axis and is rotatably mounted for rotation about a vertical B axis perpendicular to the X axis.
- a pallet'24 carrying a workpiece 26 is shown mounted on worktable 22.
- a second bed portion 28 has a toolhead driver 30 slidably mounted thereon on ways 32 for movement along a Z axis 34 toward and away from worktable 22.
- Toolhead driver 30 is selectively driven along ways 32 by a Z axis motor 36 along with the conventional mechanical coupling means (not shown) and the conventional electrical control means (not shown).
- Toolhead driver 30 contains a drive shaft 38 (Fig. 12) which is rotated by a spindle drive motor 40 (Fig. 1) along with the conventional mechanical coupling means (not shown) and the conventional electrical control means (not shown).
- Toolhead driver 30 also contains clamp means for locating and clamping multiple spindle toolhead 42 thereto as described in later paragraphs.
- Each multiple spindle toolhead 42 has a plurality of spindles 44 which are each equipped to receive a drill or a tap and are all simultaneously rotated by a common drive shaft 46 (Fig. 12) which mates with toolhead drive shaft 38 and is driven thereby.
- a common drive shaft 46 Fig. 12
- multiple spindle toolheads 42 are clamped to toolhead driver 30 and are then moved against workpiece 26 to simultaneously drill or tap a predetermined pattern of holes therein.
- a toolhead storage magazine 48 (Fig. 1) and toolhead transfer mechanism 50 are mounted on an elevated frame 52 which is supported above toolhead driver 30 by a single rear post 54 and a pair of front posts 56 (Fig. 2) which are arranged in a triangular pattern with front posts 56 flanking toolhead driver 30.
- Toolhead transfer mechanism 50 includes a toolhead changer arm 58, which is journalled to frame 52 for rotation about an axis 60, and a toolhead shifter 62, which shifts toolhead 42 from toolhead magazine 48 to the adjacent end of toolhead changer arm 58.
- the rotary axis 60 of toolhead changer arm 58 is inclined at an angle of 45° to Z axis 34.
- the diametrically opposed ends 64 and 66 of toolhead changer arm 58 are each inclined at an angle of 45° to the rotary axis 60 thereof as indicated by the corresponding longitudinal toolhead axes 68 and 70.
- This particular disposition of the axes 60, 68 and 70 permit tooihead changer arm 58 to swing toolheads 42 from a horizontal to a vertical position and vice versa.
- Toolhead changer arm 58 has a central circular hub 72 which is journalled to frame 52 by bearings 74.
- a ring gear 76 is rigidly attached to arm 58 around hub 72 and is driven by a pinion 78 on shaft 79 which is journalled to frame 52 by bearings 80 and 82.
- Shaft 79 is driven by a bevel gear set 84 whose pinion is attached to a shaft 86 which is journalled to frame 52 by bearings 88, 90 and 91.
- Shaft 86 is driven by a spiroid gear set 92 whose worm is attached to a shaft 94 which is journalled by bearings 96 and 98 to frame 52 and is driven by an electric motor 100 mounted on frame 52.
- Motor 100 is energized by conventional control circuitry (not shown) to drive the above-described gear train to cause toolhead changer arm 58 to rotate through a 180° arc and then to stop at the location shown in Figs. 1 and 2 with the toolhead 42 on one end being adjacent to tool storage magazine 48 and the toolhead 42 on the other end being adjacent to toolhead driver 30.
- toolhead changer arm 58 is rotated a second time through an 180° arc, the position of the two toolheads 42 is interchanged.
- Figs. 5-8 show the clamp on the ends of toolhead changer arm 58 for clamping the toolheads 42 thereto.
- Each of the toolheads 42 have a pair of tapered rails 102 (Figs. 5 Et 6) attached thereto by bolts 103.
- Each of the rails 102 has an inwardly tapered surface 104 against which a pair of opposed clamp blocks 106 are wedged.
- Clamp blocks 106 are slidably mounted on two guide rods 107 which serve to carry the weight of toolhed 42.
- Clamp blocks 106 are connected to opposite ends of a threaded shaft 108 by threaded sockets 110 which are attached to blocks 106 by bolts 112.
- One end of shaft 108 is threaded in the right hand direction while the other is threaded in the left hand direction so that blocks 1061 will be spread apart when shaft 108 is rotated in one direction and will be drawn together when shaft, 108 is rotated in the opposite direction.
- Shaft 108 is journalled within a bore 114 in the end 66 of tool changer arm 58 by bearings 116 and 118 and has a worm gear 120 rigidly attached to its inner portion. Worm gear 120 meshes with another worm gear 122 (Fig. 8) on shaft 124 which is journalled to arm end 66 through bearings 126 and 128. Shaft 124 extends at right angles to shaft 108 and is driven by a hydraulic motor 130.
- Motor 130 is controlled by a conventional electro-hydraulic motor control circuit (not shown) to turn in one direction when it is desired to clamp a toolhead 42 to tool changer arm end 66 and to turn in the other direction when it is desired to unclamp the toolhead 42. Clamping is effected by pressing clamp blocks 106 outwardly against rails 102 and unclamping is effected by moving clamp blocks 106 inwardly away from rails 102 far enough to clear rails 102.
- An identical clamping structure is mounted on other end 64 of the toolhead changer arm 58 for clamping a toolhead 42 thereto.
- Figs. 9-15 show the locating and clamping of toolhead 42 to toolhead drive - r 30.
- Toolhead 42 is supported on toolhead driver 30 by a pair of lugs 132 (Figs. 9 Et 10) on the end of toolhead 42 which rest on a pair of matching brackets 134 that project from the front of toolhead driver 30.
- Toolhead 42 is clamped to toolhead driver 30 by the combination of four clamp assemblies 136 (Fig. 10) on the toolhead driver 30 which rotate lugs 138 into recesses 139 (Fig. 11 & 14) behind rails 140 on toolhead 42 and then press lugs 138 against rails 140.
- Rails 140 are clamped against blocks 141 that are fastened to clamp assembly 136.
- Each of the lugs 138 projects at right angles from a rotatable sleeve 142 (Fig. 14) which has a pinion gear 144 thereon which meshes with a rack 146 (Fig. 13).
- Rack 146 is slidably mounted in clamp assembly 136 and is moved back and forth by a hydraulic cylinder 148 to cause lug 138 to rotate through a 90° arc to engage and disengage rail 140.
- a second portion of the clamp structure is actuated to press lug 138 against rail 140.
- This second portion of the clamp structure is illustrated in Figs. 14 and 15.
- Sleeve 142 rotates 90° on camshaft 143 which has a cam slot 150 therein (Fig. 14) which is shaped to interact with a wedge 152 which is slidably mounted in clamp assembly 136 and is moved back and forth by a hydraulic cylinder 154.
- wedge 152 is moved in one direction by cylinder 154, it wedges lug 138 against rail 140.
- One wedge 152 is moved in the other direction, it releases the pressure on lug 138 and frees it to be disengaged from rail 140.
- Each of the clamping assemblies 136 is identical to the above-described clamping assembly 136 and are actuated simultaneously by conventional hydraulic cylinder control circuits (not shown) to simultaneously clamp or unclamp all four corners of toolhead 42.
- Clamping assembly 156 has a hydraulic cylinder 160 and a clamp member 162 which is moved thereby and which interacts with a matching clamp member 164 (Figs. 9 & 11) on toolhead 42.
- Clamping assembly 158 has a hydraulic cylinder 166 and a clamp member 168 which is moved thereby and which interacts with rail 140.
- Fig. 12 shows the driving connection between toolhead 42 and toolhead driver 30.
- Toolhead 42 has a drive shaft 46 which is journalled therewithin by bearings 170 and projects outwardly therefrom.
- An alignment flange 172 is rigidly attached to shaft 46 and has alignment notches 174 (Fig. 11) cut therein which engage an alignment pin 176 (Fig. 12) when toolhead 42 is detached from toolhead driver 30.
- Shaft 46 always stops with a notch 174 aligned with pin 176.
- Alignment pin 176 is spring loaded outwardly by a spring 178 and is pressed inwardly to release shaft 46 for rotation by a release pin 180 on hub 182 which surrounds drive shaft 38 on toolhead driver 30.
- Drive shaft 38 makes driving connection with drive shaft 46 via a key 184 on shaft 38 which engages a slot 185 in shaft 46 when toolhead driver 30 is moved by the Z axis drive into contact with toolhead 42. This movement also causes release pin 180 to depress alignment pin 176 and thus to release shaft 46 for rotation. When toolhead driver 30 is moved by the Z axis drive away from toolhead 42, alignment pin 176 moves back into contact with alignment notch 174 and thus locks drive shaft 46 in position.
- Figs. 16, 17 and 18 show the details of toolhead shifter 62 which transfers toolheads 42 from toolhead magazine 48 to the adjacent end of toolhead changer arm 58.
- toolhead 42 is rollably supported on horizontal rails 186 by rollers 188.
- Horizontal rails 186 are supported by vertical arms 190 having rack gears 192 thereon.
- Vertical arms 190 are slidably mounted on frame 52 for upward and downward movement and are driven upwardly and downwardly by pinion gears 194 and 196.
- Pinion gears 194 and 196 are mounted on opposite ends of a shaft 198 which is journalled to frame 52 by bushings 200.
- Pinion gear 196 extends past rack 192 and engages a rack 202 on a shaft 204 (Fig.
- Toolhead 42 is shifted longitudinally along rollers 188 by a pin 208 which engages a socket 210 in the bottom of toolhead 42.
- Two sockets 210 are provided in the bottom of each toolhead 42 to permit two shifting movements for each toolhead 42.
- Pin 208 is slidably mounted in a carriage 212 which is rollably mounted on frame 52 by rollers 214.
- Pin 208 has a rack gear formed therein which engages a pinion gear 216 (Fig. 18) on a shaft 218 journalled to carriage 212.
- Pinion gear 216 engages a second rack gear 220 on a shaft 222 which is extended and retracted by a hydraulic cylinder 224 to raise and lower pin 208.
- the entire carriage 212 is moved horizontally by a relatively large hydraulic cylinder 226 which is coupled thereto.
- cylinder 226 is first actuated to place pin 208 under the socket 210 nearest toolhead magazine 48. Cylinder 224 is then actuated to raise pin 208 into socket 210. Cylinder 226 is then extended to move carriage 212 toward toolhead magazine 28. The first stroke of cylinder 226 moves toolhead 42 halfway to toolhead magazine 48. Pin 208 is then detached from socket 210 and cylinder 226 is retracted until pin 208 is under socket 210 furthest from toolhead magazine 48. Pin 208 is inserted into socket 210. Cylinder 226 is then extended a second time to move toolhead 42 the rest of the way into the toolhead magazine 48. Pin 208 is then disengaged from socket 210 and cylinder 226 is retracted.
- Toolhead magazine 48 contains suitable rollers (not shown) for slidably receiving toolheads 42 along with conventional indexing means for selectively presenting any desired compartment thereof to the loading and unloading position adjacent to toolhead shifter 62.
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Automatic Tool Replacement In Machine Tools (AREA)
Description
- This invention relates to multiple spindle machine tools which utilize a plurality of interchangeable multiple spindle toolheads.
- In the past, such machines had relatively complicated toolhead transfer mechanisms for transferring toolheads from the storage magazine to the toolhead driver and a relatively long time was required to effect this transfer. Transfer of the toolheads from the toolhead driver back to the storage magazine was equally complex and time-consuming.
- One such prior art arrangement is shown in French Patent No. 2,091,166 in which a rotary toolhead changer or turret is adapted to receive toolheads from a toolhead magazine. The turret is disposed for rotation about an axis which intersects the axis of movement of the machine tool driver at an angle of 45°. In the French Patent the rotary turret is mounted on the same housing containing the machine tool driver and moves with the machine tool driver and away from the workpiece. As a result, toolheads connot be transferred to or from the turret when the machine tool is performing a machining function.
- The object of this invention is to provide a multiple spindle machine tool which overcomes this problem and which has a toolhead transfer mechanism which is simpler and faster than those heretofore known in the art.
- In accordance with the present invention, the rotary toolhead changer is mounted independently of and in an elevated position above the toolhead driver. The toolhead driver has clamping means thereon for clamping thereto a toolhead, the toolhead being released from the toolhead changer for movement toward and away from the worktable upon engagement of said clamping means.
- In the drawings:
-
- Figure 1 is a side elevation view of one preferred embodiment of the invention;
- Fig. 2 is a plan view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1;
- Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation view of the drive mechanism for the toolhead changer arm shown in Fig. 1;
- Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary cross- sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;
- Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary end view of one end of the toolhead changer arms taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1;
- Figure 6 is an end view similar to Fig. 5 but with exterior portions cut away to reveal inner details.
- Figure 7 is a fragmentary side view taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 5;
- Figure 8 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Figs. 5 and 6.
- Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation view of the toolhead driver and the toolhead clamped thereto;
- Figure 10 is a fragmentary end view of the toolhead driver taken on line 10-10 of Fig. 9;
- Figure 11 is a fragmentary end view of the toolhead taken on the line 11-11 of Fig. 9;
- Figure 12 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the drive connection between the toolhead driver and the toolhead;
- Figure 13 is an enlarged fragmentary end view, partially cut away, of one toolhead clamp on the toolhead driver;
- Figure 14 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view taken on the line 14-14 of Fig. 13;
- Figure 15 is an enlarged fragmentary side view taken on the line 15-15 of Fig. 14;
- Figure 16 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation view of the toolhead shifter for shifting the toolheads from the toolhead storage magazine to the toolhead changer arm;
- Figure 17 is an enlarged fragmentary cross- sectional view taken on line 17-17 of Fig. 16; and
- Figure 18 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view taken on the line 18-18 of Fig. 16.
- Referring to Fig. 1, one preferred embodiment of the invention includes a first bed portion 20 upon which a
worktable 22 is slidably mounted for movement along a horizontal X axis and is rotatably mounted for rotation about a vertical B axis perpendicular to the X axis. A pallet'24 carrying aworkpiece 26 is shown mounted onworktable 22. - A
second bed portion 28 has atoolhead driver 30 slidably mounted thereon onways 32 for movement along a Z axis 34 toward and away fromworktable 22. Toolheaddriver 30 is selectively driven alongways 32 by aZ axis motor 36 along with the conventional mechanical coupling means (not shown) and the conventional electrical control means (not shown). Toolheaddriver 30 contains a drive shaft 38 (Fig. 12) which is rotated by a spindle drive motor 40 (Fig. 1) along with the conventional mechanical coupling means (not shown) and the conventional electrical control means (not shown). Toolheaddriver 30 also contains clamp means for locating and clampingmultiple spindle toolhead 42 thereto as described in later paragraphs. - Each
multiple spindle toolhead 42 has a plurality ofspindles 44 which are each equipped to receive a drill or a tap and are all simultaneously rotated by a common drive shaft 46 (Fig. 12) which mates withtoolhead drive shaft 38 and is driven thereby. In the operation of this embodiment,multiple spindle toolheads 42 are clamped totoolhead driver 30 and are then moved againstworkpiece 26 to simultaneously drill or tap a predetermined pattern of holes therein. - In this embodiment of the invention, a toolhead storage magazine 48 (Fig. 1) and
toolhead transfer mechanism 50 are mounted on an elevatedframe 52 which is supported abovetoolhead driver 30 by a singlerear post 54 and a pair of front posts 56 (Fig. 2) which are arranged in a triangular pattern withfront posts 56flanking toolhead driver 30. Toolheadtransfer mechanism 50 includes atoolhead changer arm 58, which is journalled to frame 52 for rotation about an axis 60, and atoolhead shifter 62, which shiftstoolhead 42 from toolheadmagazine 48 to the adjacent end oftoolhead changer arm 58. The rotary axis 60 oftoolhead changer arm 58 is inclined at an angle of 45° to Z axis 34. The diametricallyopposed ends toolhead changer arm 58 are each inclined at an angle of 45° to the rotary axis 60 thereof as indicated by the correspondinglongitudinal toolhead axes 68 and 70. This particular disposition of theaxes 60, 68 and 70 permittooihead changer arm 58 toswing toolheads 42 from a horizontal to a vertical position and vice versa. Astoolhead changer arm 58 swings through an 180° arc to interchange thetoolheads 42, thetoolheads 42 travel in a conical path which has an apex angle of 90°. - The mechanism which rotates
toolhead changer arm 58 is shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Toolheadchanger arm 58 has a centralcircular hub 72 which is journalled to frame 52 bybearings 74. Aring gear 76 is rigidly attached toarm 58 aroundhub 72 and is driven by apinion 78 on shaft 79 which is journalled to frame 52 bybearings spiroid gear set 92 whose worm is attached to ashaft 94 which is journalled bybearings frame 52 and is driven by anelectric motor 100 mounted onframe 52. -
Motor 100 is energized by conventional control circuitry (not shown) to drive the above-described gear train to causetoolhead changer arm 58 to rotate through a 180° arc and then to stop at the location shown in Figs. 1 and 2 with thetoolhead 42 on one end being adjacent totool storage magazine 48 and thetoolhead 42 on the other end being adjacent totoolhead driver 30. Whentoolhead changer arm 58 is rotated a second time through an 180° arc, the position of the twotoolheads 42 is interchanged. - Figs. 5-8 show the clamp on the ends of
toolhead changer arm 58 for clamping thetoolheads 42 thereto. Each of thetoolheads 42 have a pair of tapered rails 102 (Figs. 5 Et 6) attached thereto bybolts 103. Each of therails 102 has an inwardlytapered surface 104 against which a pair ofopposed clamp blocks 106 are wedged.Clamp blocks 106 are slidably mounted on twoguide rods 107 which serve to carry the weight of toolhed 42.Clamp blocks 106 are connected to opposite ends of a threadedshaft 108 by threadedsockets 110 which are attached toblocks 106 bybolts 112. One end ofshaft 108 is threaded in the right hand direction while the other is threaded in the left hand direction so that blocks 1061 will be spread apart whenshaft 108 is rotated in one direction and will be drawn together when shaft, 108 is rotated in the opposite direction. - Shaft 108 is journalled within a bore 114 in the
end 66 oftool changer arm 58 bybearings 116 and 118 and has aworm gear 120 rigidly attached to its inner portion.Worm gear 120 meshes with another worm gear 122 (Fig. 8) onshaft 124 which is journalled toarm end 66 throughbearings 126 and 128. Shaft 124 extends at right angles toshaft 108 and is driven by ahydraulic motor 130. -
Motor 130 is controlled by a conventional electro-hydraulic motor control circuit (not shown) to turn in one direction when it is desired to clamp atoolhead 42 to toolchanger arm end 66 and to turn in the other direction when it is desired to unclamp thetoolhead 42. Clamping is effected by pressingclamp blocks 106 outwardly againstrails 102 and unclamping is effected by movingclamp blocks 106 inwardly away fromrails 102 far enough to clearrails 102. - An identical clamping structure is mounted on
other end 64 of thetoolhead changer arm 58 for clamping atoolhead 42 thereto. - Figs. 9-15 show the locating and clamping of
toolhead 42 to toolhead drive-r 30. Toolhead 42 is supported ontoolhead driver 30 by a pair of lugs 132 (Figs. 9 Et 10) on the end oftoolhead 42 which rest on a pair of matchingbrackets 134 that project from the front oftoolhead driver 30.Toolhead 42 is clamped totoolhead driver 30 by the combination of four clamp assemblies 136 (Fig. 10) on thetoolhead driver 30 which rotate lugs 138 into recesses 139 (Fig. 11 & 14) behindrails 140 ontoolhead 42 and then press lugs 138 againstrails 140.Rails 140 are clamped againstblocks 141 that are fastened to clampassembly 136. Each of thelugs 138 projects at right angles from a rotatable sleeve 142 (Fig. 14) which has apinion gear 144 thereon which meshes with a rack 146 (Fig. 13).Rack 146 is slidably mounted inclamp assembly 136 and is moved back and forth by ahydraulic cylinder 148 to causelug 138 to rotate through a 90° arc to engage and disengagerail 140. - After
lug 138 is engaged with rail 140 a second portion of the clamp structure is actuated to presslug 138 againstrail 140. This second portion of the clamp structure is illustrated in Figs. 14 and 15.Sleeve 142 rotates 90° oncamshaft 143 which has acam slot 150 therein (Fig. 14) which is shaped to interact with awedge 152 which is slidably mounted inclamp assembly 136 and is moved back and forth by ahydraulic cylinder 154. Whenwedge 152 is moved in one direction bycylinder 154, it wedges lug 138 againstrail 140. Onewedge 152 is moved in the other direction, it releases the pressure onlug 138 and frees it to be disengaged fromrail 140. - Each of the
clamping assemblies 136 is identical to the above-describedclamping assembly 136 and are actuated simultaneously by conventional hydraulic cylinder control circuits (not shown) to simultaneously clamp or unclamp all four corners oftoolhead 42. - Two
additional clamping assemblies 156 and 158 (Fig. 10) are mounted on the front oftoolhead driver 30. Clampingassembly 156 has ahydraulic cylinder 160 and aclamp member 162 which is moved thereby and which interacts with a matching clamp member 164 (Figs. 9 & 11) ontoolhead 42. Clampingassembly 158 has ahydraulic cylinder 166 and aclamp member 168 which is moved thereby and which interacts withrail 140. - Fig. 12 shows the driving connection between
toolhead 42 andtoolhead driver 30.Toolhead 42 has adrive shaft 46 which is journalled therewithin bybearings 170 and projects outwardly therefrom. Analignment flange 172 is rigidly attached toshaft 46 and has alignment notches 174 (Fig. 11) cut therein which engage an alignment pin 176 (Fig. 12) whentoolhead 42 is detached fromtoolhead driver 30.Shaft 46 always stops with anotch 174 aligned withpin 176.Alignment pin 176 is spring loaded outwardly by aspring 178 and is pressed inwardly to releaseshaft 46 for rotation by arelease pin 180 onhub 182 which surroundsdrive shaft 38 ontoolhead driver 30. Driveshaft 38 makes driving connection withdrive shaft 46 via a key 184 onshaft 38 which engages aslot 185 inshaft 46 whentoolhead driver 30 is moved by the Z axis drive into contact withtoolhead 42. This movement also causesrelease pin 180 to depressalignment pin 176 and thus to releaseshaft 46 for rotation. When toolheaddriver 30 is moved by the Z axis drive away fromtoolhead 42,alignment pin 176 moves back into contact withalignment notch 174 and thus locks driveshaft 46 in position. - Figs. 16, 17 and 18 show the details of
toolhead shifter 62 which transfers toolheads 42 fromtoolhead magazine 48 to the adjacent end oftoolhead changer arm 58. Referring to Figs. 1 and 17,toolhead 42 is rollably supported onhorizontal rails 186 byrollers 188.Horizontal rails 186 are supported byvertical arms 190 having rack gears 192 thereon.Vertical arms 190 are slidably mounted onframe 52 for upward and downward movement and are driven upwardly and downwardly by pinion gears 194 and 196. Pinion gears 194 and 196 are mounted on opposite ends of ashaft 198 which is journalled to frame 52 bybushings 200.Pinion gear 196 extendspast rack 192 and engages arack 202 on a shaft 204 (Fig. 16) which is slidably mounted inframe 52 and is driven by ahydraulic cylinder 206. Whenshaft 204 is extended byhydraulic cylinder 206, it causesarm 190 to raise, and whenshaft 204 is retracted byhydraulic cylinder 206, it causesarms 190 to lower. -
Toolhead 42 is shifted longitudinally alongrollers 188 by apin 208 which engages asocket 210 in the bottom oftoolhead 42. Twosockets 210 are provided in the bottom of each toolhead 42 to permit two shifting movements for eachtoolhead 42.Pin 208 is slidably mounted in acarriage 212 which is rollably mounted onframe 52 byrollers 214.Pin 208 has a rack gear formed therein which engages a pinion gear 216 (Fig. 18) on a shaft 218 journalled tocarriage 212.Pinion gear 216 engages asecond rack gear 220 on ashaft 222 which is extended and retracted by ahydraulic cylinder 224 to raise andlower pin 208. Theentire carriage 212 is moved horizontally by a relatively largehydraulic cylinder 226 which is coupled thereto. - To shift toolhead 42 from the end of
toolhead changer arm 58 to toolheadmagazine 48,cylinder 226 is first actuated to placepin 208 under thesocket 210nearest toolhead magazine 48.Cylinder 224 is then actuated to raisepin 208 intosocket 210.Cylinder 226 is then extended to movecarriage 212 towardtoolhead magazine 28. The first stroke ofcylinder 226 moves toolhead 42 halfway totoolhead magazine 48.Pin 208 is then detached fromsocket 210 andcylinder 226 is retracted untilpin 208 is undersocket 210 furthest from toolheadmagazine 48.Pin 208 is inserted intosocket 210.Cylinder 226 is then extended a second time to movetoolhead 42 the rest of the way into thetoolhead magazine 48.Pin 208 is then disengaged fromsocket 210 andcylinder 226 is retracted. - The foregoing process is reversed to shift a
toolhead 42 fromtoolhead magazine 48 to the end oftoolhead changer arm 58. The elevator mechanism described previously is used to lowerhorizontal rails 186 clear oftoolhead 42 just previous to a toolhead interchange. -
Toolhead magazine 48 contains suitable rollers (not shown) for slidably receiving toolheads 42 along with conventional indexing means for selectively presenting any desired compartment thereof to the loading and unloading position adjacent to toolheadshifter 62. - Although the illustrative embodiments of the invention have been described in considerable detail for the purpose of fully disclosing a practical operative structure incorporating the invention, it is to be understood that the particular apparatus shown and described is intended to be illustrative only and that the various novel features of the invention may be incorporated in other structural forms without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the subjoined claims.
Claims (10)
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US05/808,107 US4125932A (en) | 1977-06-20 | 1977-06-20 | Multiple spindle machine tool |
US808107 | 1991-12-16 |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0000138A1 EP0000138A1 (en) | 1979-01-10 |
EP0000138B1 true EP0000138B1 (en) | 1981-01-07 |
Family
ID=25197880
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP78100140A Expired EP0000138B1 (en) | 1977-06-20 | 1978-06-13 | Multiple spindle machine tool |
Country Status (6)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US4125932A (en) |
EP (1) | EP0000138B1 (en) |
AU (1) | AU513794B2 (en) |
CA (1) | CA1091484A (en) |
DE (1) | DE2860400D1 (en) |
IT (1) | IT1159738B (en) |
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Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE3242439C2 (en) * | 1982-11-16 | 1993-10-14 | Kessler Kg Maschf | Tool changing device |
DE3341167A1 (en) * | 1983-11-14 | 1985-05-30 | Alfing Kessler Sondermaschinen GmbH, 7080 Aalen | TOOL CHANGE DEVICE FOR A MULTI-SPINDLE MACHINE |
JPH078443B2 (en) * | 1986-03-25 | 1995-02-01 | 豊田工機株式会社 | Machine tool with gearing head changer |
US4847978A (en) * | 1987-10-28 | 1989-07-18 | Litton Industrial Automation Systems, Inc. | Tool head changer and drive mechanism |
GB2273067B (en) * | 1992-11-24 | 1996-04-10 | Honda Motor Co Ltd | Turret machine tool |
TW251251B (en) * | 1993-12-08 | 1995-07-11 | Honda Motor Co Ltd | |
ES2208251T3 (en) * | 2000-02-04 | 2004-06-16 | Vigel S.P.A. | APPARATUS FOR MACHINING CLAMPS AND DISK BRAKES FOR CARS. |
Family Cites Families (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CH531396A (en) * | 1970-05-29 | 1972-12-15 | Bw Weber Verwaltungs Gmbh | Machine tool with a processing unit for accommodating interchangeable multi-spindle heads |
GB1327253A (en) * | 1970-11-16 | 1973-08-22 | Mollart Eng Co Ltd | Machine tools having interchangeable tool carrying units |
GB1475768A (en) * | 1974-12-04 | 1977-06-10 | Mollart Eng Co Ltd | Machine tools having interchangeable tool carrying units |
US3964616A (en) * | 1975-09-29 | 1976-06-22 | Cincinnati Milacron, Inc. | Machine tool interchange arm |
-
1977
- 1977-06-20 US US05/808,107 patent/US4125932A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
1978
- 1978-06-08 CA CA305,004A patent/CA1091484A/en not_active Expired
- 1978-06-09 AU AU36980/78A patent/AU513794B2/en not_active Expired
- 1978-06-13 EP EP78100140A patent/EP0000138B1/en not_active Expired
- 1978-06-13 DE DE7878100140T patent/DE2860400D1/en not_active Expired
- 1978-06-19 IT IT68426/78A patent/IT1159738B/en active
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP0000138A1 (en) | 1979-01-10 |
CA1091484A (en) | 1980-12-16 |
US4125932A (en) | 1978-11-21 |
AU3698078A (en) | 1979-12-13 |
IT1159738B (en) | 1987-03-04 |
IT7868426A0 (en) | 1978-06-19 |
AU513794B2 (en) | 1981-01-08 |
DE2860400D1 (en) | 1981-02-26 |
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