GB1256466A - - Google Patents

Abstract

1,256,466. Tool changers. A. MONFORTS. 24 Feb., 1970 [1 March, 1969], No. 8751/70. Headings B3B and B3T. A machine tool comprises a tool changing device 2 for transferring a tool between a tool support located at a machining station and a tool magazine 5 located outside the machining station, the tool support being movable during a machining operation, and is characterized in that the tool support can receive a second tool whilst a first tool is in use, and that during tool transfer between the tool support and the tool changing device a tool-carrier part of the tool changing device can follow the machining movement of the tool support. In the embodiment described a lathe comprises a headstock 23, a workpiece chuck 13, a rotary tool turret having a pair of tool supports 16, 18, a chain conveyer tool magazine 5 and a tool changing device 2. The tool support 16 carries an operative tool 12 and the next operative tool 4 which is placed therein by the changing device 2. This next operative tool 4 is removed from the magazine 5 by a gripper arm 1 which is rotated about the axis of its hydraulic piston rod 7 to align the tool 4 with a receiving socket in the tool support 16. The tool support 16 is rotatable about axis 20 to place the new tool in the operative position. The arm 1 includes a contact 9 which engages a stop 10 in the tool turret and automatically controls the movement of the piston rod 7 as the tool turret moves so that a tool exchange can take place while the operative tool 12 is machining the workpiece 14. To speed up a tool change a further gripper arm and control 30-33 may be provided so that a new tool can be taken from one position of the magazine and the old tool placed back in the said one position; that is, under a numerical control of the machine tool the tools are "tool-coded" rather than "placecoded". In a further embodiment (Figs. 3 and 4, not shown) a two arm gripper is provided on piston rod 7 the arms being movable laterally of the pivot axis to provide variable positions of the grippers. Tool turret.-The headstock 23 supports a pivot shaft 15 which is movable in the direction c and which carries a tool turret which is rotatable about the axis of the shaft 5. The turret carries tool support slides 16, 18 which are movable perpendicular to the said axis. The tool support slide 16 carries the exchangeable tools 12, 4 and the tool support slide 18 carries three tools 21 which may be finishing, non- rotary tools. Each tool support 16, 18 is also rotatable about axis 20.