WO2008020688A1

WO2008020688A1 - An optical magnifier integrated with an arbor

Info

Publication number: WO2008020688A1
Application number: PCT/KR2007/003780
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ho Kyu Chio; Soon Ju So; Dong Seob Jin
Original assignee: Ho Kyu Chio; Soon Ju So; Dong Seob Jin
Priority date: 2006-08-17
Filing date: 2007-08-06
Publication date: 2008-02-21
Also published as: KR100728872B1

Abstract

The present invention relates to an optical magnifier integrated with an arbor, and more par¬ ticularly, to an optical magnifier integrated with an arbor, in which an optical magnifying unit is mounted to an arbor for connecting a cutting tool to a spindle head of a machining center, thereby performing primary numerical measurement and check for a workpiece while the workpiece is mounted to the machining center during setting, machining and checking processes for the workpiece after machining it.

Description

AN OPTICAL MAGNIFIER INTEGRATED WITH AN ARBOR Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to an optical magnifier integrated with an arbor, and more particularly, to an optical magnifier integrated with an arbor, in which an optical magnifying unit is mounted to an arbor for connecting a cutting tool to a spindle head of a machining center, thereby performing primary numerical measurement and check for a workpiece while the workpiece is mounted to the machining center during setting, machining and checking processes for the workpiece after machining it.

[2]

Background Art

[3] Generally, a machining center (MC) is a multi-processing machine that conducts various kinds of works, such as boring, milling and drilling, by coupling a tool to a spindle acting as a main axis and then rotating the tool. In addition, a tool is mounted to the spindle of the machining center through an automatic tool changer (ATC) that automatically changes tools conforming to a cutting condition, wherein the tool operates by the control of a computer numerical control (CNC) device.

[4] Meanwhile, when a variety of tools are mounted to the automatic tool changer, an arbor is coupled to an upper portion of the tool such that the tool can be fixedly engaged with the spindle of the machining center.

[5] When machining a workpiece using such a machining center, check processes for checking a machined state of the workpiece are performed from a setting step of fixing a workpiece to the machining center to a check step of checking the workpiece completely machined through a machining step for machining the workpiece and a series of processes.

[6] In particular, a conventional method for checking a machined degree of a completely machined workpiece and then measuring primary numerical values will be described. After separated from the machining center, the workpiece is measured using a measuring tool, such as a vernier caliper, micrometer or height gage, and a measuring device, such as an electronic tool probe, optical magnifier, projector or 3D measuring device.

[7] The conventional method for measuring and checking a machined degree of a workpiece after separating the workpiece from the machining center has a problem in that the workpiece may be damaged or deformed while being separated from the machining center. There is also a problem in that when a workpiece is required to be re-machined as a result of the check, the workpiece should be repeatedly set to the machining center, which is so cumbersome.

[8] There are additional problems in that a worker should consider errors caused by variety of variables while the workpiece is reset to the machining center, which deteriorates working efficiency and consumes much time and cost required for machining the workpiece.

[9]

Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[10] The present invention is conceived to solve the problems. That is, an object of the present invention is to provide an optical magnifier integrated with an arbor, in which an optical magnifying unit is integrated with an arbor mounted to a spindle of a machining center and a setting state of the workpiece to the machining center and a machined state of the workpiece completely machined by a series of machining processes may be easily checked without separating the workpiece from the machining center, thereby being capable of enhancing the working efficiency.

[11] In addition, another object of the present invention is to provide an optical magnifier integrated with an arbor, which can reduce time and cost required for checking a machined state of a workpiece in such a manner that the workpiece is checked instantly without being separated from the machining center.

[12]

Technical Solution

[13] In order to achieve the aforementioned objects, an optical magnifier integrated with an arbor according to the present invention, which is to check a fixed state of a workpiece or a machined state of a completely machined workpiece without separating the workpiece fixed to a machining center, comprises: an image sensor (10) having a cylindrical body to optically magnifying a workpiece and take a photograph thereof; a controller (30) having a body with the same shape as the image sensor (10), the controller being coupled to an upper end of the image sensor (10) and processing an image taken by the image sensor (10) into a digital signal to provide the digital signal as an output signal; catching projections (20) symmetrically protruding on both sides of an outer circumference of a cylindrical body, the cylindrical body being formed by coupling the image sensor (10) and the controller (30); and an arbor (40) being hollow so that the catching projection (20) is inserted into the arbor to be rotatable therein.

[14] Further, in order to achieve the aforementioned objects, an optical magnifier integrated with an arbor according to the present invention, which is to check a fixed state of a workpiece or a machined state of a completely machined workpiece without separating the workpiece fixed to a machining center, comprises: an arbor (40) for mounting a tool to a spindle of the machining center; a coupling portion (48) having a circular tube shape, coupled to a lower portion of the arbor (40), and having a thread formed on an outer circumference thereof; a collet chuck (90) having a rotary body (92) with a thread formed on an inside thereof to be engaged with the thread formed on the coupling portion (48), and a fastening portion (94) having a diameter changed as the rotary body (92) is coupled to the coupling portion (48) and rotates; a shaft (35) having a circular rod shape to be inserted into the fastening portion (94) of the collet chuck (90); a controller (30) coupled to a lower end of the shaft (35) at a center of an upper surface thereof to process an image signal into a digital signal and provide the digital signal as an output signal; and an image sensor (10) coupled to a lower portion of the controller (30) and optically magnifying an image of the workpiece and taking a photograph thereof to provide the image to the controller (30). [15]

Advantageous Effects

[16] According to an optical magnifier integrated with an arbor according to the present invention, an optical magnifying unit is integrated with an arbor mounted to a spindle of a machining center and is then mounted to an automatic tool changer, whereby it is possible to easily check a setting state of a workpiece to the machining center and a machined degree of the workpiece during and after a machining process and thus to enhance the work efficiency without separating the workpiece from the machining center.

[17] In addition, since a workpiece can be checked and measured instantly without separating the workpiece from the machining center, there is an advantage in that it is possible to reduce time and cost consumed for checking a machined state of a workpiece.

[18]

Brief Description of the Drawings

[19] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an optical magnifier integrated with an arbor according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[20] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the optical magnifier integrated with an arbor, showing a cross section taken along line A-A of FIG. 1.

[21] FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the optical magnifier integrated with an arbor, showing a cross section taken along line B-B of FIG. 2.

[22] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an optical magnifying unit of the optical magnifier integrated with an arbor according to the present invention.

[23] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an optical magnifier integrated with an arbor according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [25] [Explanation of Reference Numerals for Major Portions Shown in Drawings]

[26] 10: image sensor 20: catching projection

[27] 22: catching groove 30: controller

[28] 35: shaft 40: arbor

[29] 50: insertion groove 60: side groove

[30] 70: protrusion 90: collet chuck

[31]

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[32] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[33] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an optical magnifier integrated with an arbor according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[34] Referring to FIG. 1, the optical magnifier integrated with an arbor according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes an image sensor 10 for optically magnifying of a workpiece and taking a photograph thereof, a controller 30 for processing an image of the workpiece taken from the image sensor 10 to provide an output signal, catching projections 20 symmetrically protruding on both sides of a body of an optical magnifying unit consisting of the image sensor 10 and the controller 30, and an arbor 40 having a hollow body into which the catching projections 20 are inserted and which allows the catching projections 20 to rotate without being separated downward.

[35] A body of the controller 30, which is coupled to an upper end of the image sensor

10, is also formed in the shape of a cylinder, wherein both cylindrical bodies of the controller and the image sensor have the same diameter such that they makes one cylindrical optical magnifying unit when being coupled with each other.

[36] The catching projections 20 are provided at positions facing each other on the outer circumference of the body of the optical magnifying unit consisting of the image sensor 10 and the controller 30. That is, the pair of catching projections 20 are symmetrically positioned.

[37] The arbor 40 has a body which has a tapered external shape allowing the arbor can be fixedly inserted into a spindle of a machining center and an internal hollow portion with a lower portion open. The hollow portion of the arbor 40 with the lower portion open has the same diameter as the controller 30.

[38] In addition, the arbor 40 has insertion grooves 50 formed in the surface of the open lower portion to have the same cross section as the catching projections 20 so that the catching projections 20 can be positioned in the internal hollow portion. The insertion grooves 50 are formed in a pair at positions facing each other on the outer circumference of the hollow portion, like the catching projections 20.

[39] Meanwhile, side grooves 60 are formed in the arbor 40 with a depth equivalent to the protruding length of the catching projections 20 so that the optical magnifying unit is not separated downward when the controller 30 enters the hollow of the arbor 40 and the catching projections 20 are inserted into the insertion grooves 50. That is, the side grooves 60 are provided so that the catching projections 20 can rotate by a predetermined angle inside of the arbor 40. The side groove 60 has the same depth as the catching projection 20.

[40] Protrusions 70 are provided in to both ends of the side grooves 60 so that the catching projections 20, having already rotated at a predetermined angle, do not rotate further.

[41] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the optical magnifier integrated with an arbor, showing a cross section taken along line A-A of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the optical magnifier integrated with an arbor, showing a cross section taken along line B- B of FIG. 2.

[42] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the arbor 40 to be mounted to a spindle of a machining center includes a hollow tapered body 44 whose the outside is symmetrically inclined; a stud bolt 42 coupled to an upper end of the tapered body 44 to thereby be coupled to the spindle of the machining center; and a lower body 46 coupled to a lower portion of the tapered body 44, having a groove formed on an outer side circumference of the lower body so as to be mounted to an automatic tool changer, and having the insertion grooves 50 formed in a lower portion thereof in order to allow the catching projections 20 to enter the inside of the body and the side grooves 60 for allowing the inserted catching projections 20 to rotate a predetermined angle.

[43] Further, in an enlarged portion of FIG. 2, the protrusions 70 are formed in the lower body 46 such that at a position where the catching projections 20 does not rotate further after already rotating by a predetermined angle, the catching projections 20 cannot further rotate freely in a reverse direction.

[44] The protrusion 70 basically has a ball bearing structure. That is, the protrusion 70 includes a ball 72 contacting with the catching projection 20, a spring 74 bringing the ball 72 into close contact with the catching projection 20, and an anti-separation plate 76 for supporting the ball 72 not to escape out by the elastic force of the spring 74.

[45] Meanwhile, in order to prevent the catching projection 20 from rotating in a reverse direction, a catching groove 22 is formed in a hemispherical shape on an upper end of the catching projection 20 in correspondence to the ball 72 of the protrusion 70.

[46] That is, in a state where the catching projections 20 rotate a predetermined angle and then do not rotate further, the balls 72 of the protrusions 70 are engaged with the catching grooves 22 of the catching projections 20 to be prevented from rotating freely.

[47] A buffer layer 32 of epoxy resin or silicon pad is provided on an outside of the body of the controller 30. The buffer layer 32 relieves an impact applied when the body of the controller 30 is inserted into the arbor 40 and when the optical magnifier integrated with an arbor according to the present invention is exchanged by means of an automatic tool changer, thereby preventing the controller 30 from being damaged.

[48] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the optical magnifying unit of the optical magnifier integrated with an arbor according to the present invention.

[49] Referring to FIG. 4, in the optical magnifier integrated with an arbor according to the present invention, the optical magnifying unit is made of a combination of the image sensor 10 and the controller 30, wherein the image sensor 10 includes a camera 12 for taking an image of an object, a lens 14 for controlling magnifying power of the camera 12, a focus control module 16 for bring the image taken by the camera 12 into focus, and a sealing film 18 positioned in front of the lens 14 to protect the inner components against external impurities or impacts. In addition, the controller 30 coupled integrally with the image sensor 10 to form the optical magnifying unit includes a composite synchronizing signal control module 31 for receiving an image signal of a workpiece taken by the image sensor 10 and harmonizing frequency and phase of the image signal, an automatic gain control module 34 for detecting an amplitude change of the image signal and keeping an amplitude of an output signal to be always constant, an image treating and processing module 36 for analyzing and processing the image signal, and an image output module 38 for providing the output signal such that a user may recognize the processed image signal from the outside.

[50] The camera 12 is a kind of digital camera, which may be selected from a CCD camera, which converts an image into electric signals using a charge coupled device, and a CMOS camera, which has a low-energy consumption image pickup device having a complementary metal oxide semiconductor structure. The CCD camera advantageously gives an excellent quality of image rather than the CMOS camera, while the CMOS camera is more advantageous in terms of power consumption and cost than the CCD camera.

[51] The lens 14, which is formed by finely grinding a surface of a transparent material such as glass, causes light from an object to converge or diverge thereby forming an optical image. A standard lens having a focal length substantially identical to a diagonal length of a screen of the camera 12 or a high-magnification lens if necessary may be selected as the lens.

[52] The focus control module 16 includes a driving lever capable of bringing an image of a workpiece into focus manually or an auto-focusing device bringing an image thereof into focus automatically. [53] The image output module 38 includes a wireless signal receiving portion for providing an output signal so that a user can confirm an image through an output device such as a monitor provided in the outside.

[54] An inner substrate of the optical magnifying unit consisting of the image sensor 10 and the controller 30 is provided with a buffering silicon pad in order to relieve shake or impact applied from the outside.

[55]

Mode for the Invention

[56] Hereinafter, an optical magnifier integrated with an arbor according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4 described above.

[57] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an optical magnifier integrated with an arbor according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[58] Referring to FIG. 5, the optical magnifier integrated with an arbor according to the second embodiment of the present invention includes an arbor 40 for mounting a tool to a spindle of a machining center, a coupling portion 48 coupled to a lower portion of the arbor 40 and having a thread formed on an outer circumference of its body with a circular tube shape, a collet chuck 90 coupled with the coupling portion 48 to fix the tool, an image sensor 10 having a cylindrical body and optically magnifying an image of the tool and taking a photograph thereof, a controller 30 having a body with the same shape as the image sensor 10 and coupled to an upper end of the image sensor 10 to process the image taken by the image sensor 10 into a digital signal and then to output the digital signal as an output signal, and a shaft 35 having a circular rod shape and coupled to an upper end of the controller 30 so as to be inserted into a fastening portion 94 of the collet chuck 90.

[59] The arbor 40 includes a tapered body 44 whose the outside is symmetrically inclined; a stud bolt 42 coupled to an upper end of the tapered body 44 to thereby be coupled to the spindle of the machining center; a lower body 46 coupled to a lower portion of the tapered body 44 and having a groove formed on an outer side circumference of the lower body so as to be mounted to an automatic tool changer, and the coupling portion 48 protruding downward from the lower body 46 and having the thread formed on the outer circumference thereof.

[60] The collet chuck 90 includes a rotary body 92 having a thread formed on the inside thereof to be engaged with the thread of the coupling portion 48 and having six flat surfaces on the outer side of the body, and a fastening portion 94 of which the diameter is changed as the rotary body 92 is coupled to the coupling portion 48 and rotates.

[61] The image sensor 10 and the controller 30 form an optical magnifying unit, and in the second embodiment, the catching projection 20 shown in FIG. 5 can be omitted if it is not utilized.

[62] This optical magnifier integrated with an arbor according to the present invention is mounted to the automatic tool changer of the machining center. Then, the arbor integrated with the optical magnifying unit is mounted to the spindle of the machining center by means of the automatic tool changer just after a workpiece to be machined is set to the machining center and after the workpiece is completely machined through a series of machining processes.

[63] At this time, the automatic tool changer exchanges and mounts the optical magnifier integrated with an arbor automatically using a CNC device.

[64] If the optical magnifier integrated with an arbor according to the present invention is mounted to the spindle of the machining center as mentioned above, a worker can take a photograph of a desired surface of a workpiece to be machined by moving a bed portion of the machining center. The worker may control a focal length and magnifying power according to a distance between the workpiece and the spindle of the machining center by directly moving the spindle in a vertical direction. In the present invention, however, the focal length and magnifying power are preferably controlled using the lens 14 and the focus control module 16 of the image sensor 10 of the optical magnifying unit without moving the spindle vertically.

[65] Further, in order to check a state after a workpiece is completely machined using the optical magnifier integrated with an arbor according to the present invention, after chips generated due to a cutting process, lubricant used during a machining process, or other impurities are removed with a pneumatic or hydraulic removing device, it is checked whether a machined surface or outline of the workpiece is machined properly to be a line or specific shape.

[66] After the workpiece is checked, the optical magnifier integrated with an arbor may be exchanged in position with another tool mounted to the automatic tool changer by means of a CNC device, and also be manually separated from the spindle of the machining center.

[67] The present invention described above is not defined by the aforementioned embodiments and the accompanying drawings. Further, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various replacements, changes and modifications can be made thereto without departing from the technical spirit and scope of the present invention.

[68]

Industrial Applicability

[69] The optical magnifier integrated with an arbor according to the present invention can be applied to a machining process using a machining center, which makes it possible to easily check a setting state of a workpiece to the machining center and a machined degree of the workpiece during and after a machining process and thus to enhance the work efficiency without separating the workpiece from the machining center, and to reduce time and cost consumed for checking a machined state of a workpiece.

[70]

[71]

[72]

Claims

[1] An optical magnifier integrated with an arbor, which is to check a fixed state of a workpiece or a machined state of a completely machined workpiece without separating the workpiece fixed to a machining center, the optical magnifier comprising: an image sensor (10) having a cylindrical body to optically magnifying a workpiece and take a photograph thereof; a controller (30) having a body with the same shape as the image sensor (10), the controller being coupled to an upper end of the image sensor (10) and processing an image taken by the image sensor (10) into a digital signal to provide the digital signal as an output signal; catching projections (20) symmetrically protruding on both sides of an outer circumference of a cylindrical body, the cylindrical body being formed by coupling the image sensor (10) and the controller (30); and an arbor (40) being hollow so that the catching projection (20) is inserted into the arbor to be rotatable therein.

[2] The optical magnifier as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controller (30) has a buffer layer (32) of epoxy resin or silicon pad provided on an outside of its body.

[3] The optical magnifier as claimed in claim 1, wherein the arbor (40) includes: a tapered body (44) having both opposite side surfaces symmetrically inclined, the tapered body being hollow so that the controller (30) is inserted therein; a stud bolt (42) coupled to an upper end of the tapered body (44) to fix the tapered body to the spindle of the machining center; and a lower body (46) integrally coupled to a lower portion of the tapered body (44), the lower body (46) including insertion grooves (50) for guiding the catching projections (20) into the body, side grooves (60) for allowing the catching projections (20) to be inserted into the body and to be rotatable therein, and protrusions (70) positioned at both ends of the side grooves (60) to prevent reverse rotation of the rotated catching projections (20).

[4] The optical magnifier as claimed in claim 3, wherein the catching projection (20) has a catching groove (22) recessed at an upper end thereof in a hemispherical shape to prevent reverse rotation due to the protrusion (70).

[5] The optical magnifier as claimed in claim 4, wherein the protrusion (70) includes: a ball (72) partially inserted into the catching groove (22) to be in contact with the catching projection (20) and prevent it from rotating; a spring (74) for bring the ball (72) into close contact with the catching projection (20); and an anti-separation plate (76) for supporting the ball (72) not to escape to the outside.

[6] An optical magnifier integrated with an arbor, which is to check a fixed state of a workpiece or a machined state of a completely machined workpiece without separating the workpiece fixed to a machining center, the optical magnifier comprising: an arbor (40) for mounting a tool to a spindle of the machining center; a coupling portion (48) having a circular tube shape, coupled to a lower portion of the arbor (40), and having a thread formed on an outer circumference thereof; a collet chuck (90) having a rotary body (92) with a thread formed on an inside thereof to be engaged with the thread formed on the coupling portion (48), and a fastening portion (94) having a diameter changed as the rotary body (92) is coupled to the coupling portion (48) and rotates; a shaft (35) having a circular rod shape to be inserted into the fastening portion (94) of the collet chuck (90); a controller (30) coupled to a lower end of the shaft (35) at a center of an upper surface thereof to process an image signal into a digital signal and provide the digital signal as an output signal; and an image sensor (10) coupled to a lower portion of the controller (30) and optically magnifying an image of the workpiece and taking a photograph thereof to provide the image to the controller (30).