WO2005042205A1

WO2005042205A1 - Apparatus for tool rotation of automatic tool changer

Info

Publication number: WO2005042205A1
Application number: PCT/KR2004/000162
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sang-Dae Yoon
Original assignee: Fine Ace Technology Co. Ltd
Priority date: 2003-10-31
Filing date: 2004-01-30
Publication date: 2005-05-12
Also published as: KR100414994B1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a fixed address type of automatic tool changer, and more particularly, to a tool turning device of a fixed address type of automatic tool changer which can conduct in a single process the operations of clamping, turning and mounting the tools stored in a tool magazine, without having the need for any separate devices, thereby making the exchanging time of the tools substantially reduced. The tool turning device of a fixed address type of automatic tool changer according to the present invention that can conduct in a single process the operations of clamping, turning and mounting the tools stored in a tool magazine, without having the need for any separate devices, thereby making the exchanging time of the tools substantially reduced.

Description

APPARATUS FOR TOOL ROTATION OF AUTOMATIC TOOL CHANGER

Technical Field The present invention relates to a fixed address type of automatic tool changer, and more particularly, to a tool turning device of a fixed address type of automatic tool changer which can conduct in a single process the operations of clamping, turning and mounting the tools stored in a tool magazine, without having the need for any separate devices, thereby making the exchanging time of the tools substantially reduced.

Background Art Machine tools are generally used for treating metal or non-metal materials in a cutting or non-cutting process by use of an appropriate tool so that they are processed to have desired shape or dimension, or they are used for applying high precision to a semi-material . In the process, if chips are produced, the machine tools are called metal cutting machine tools, and contrarily, if the chips are not produced at all, they are called non-cutting machine tools or metal forming machine tools . Examples of the metal cutting machine tools are a lathe, a milling machine, a machining center, a drilling machine, a boring machine, a grinding machine, a gear working machine, a special working machine, and so on, and examples of the metal forming machine tools are a mechanical press, a hydraulic press, a cutting and bending machine, a forging machine, a drawing machine, and so on. The machining center is a kind of metal cutting machine tools that automatically processes a workpiece that is processed in a variety of manners on the lathe, the milling machine, the drilling machine, and the boring machine. The machining center includes a column, an automatic tool changer that changes tools in an automatic manner, a main spindle head that transfers a turning motion to the workpiece or a selected tool, a table on which the workpiece is disposed, a cutting oil pump that pumps cutting oil, a cutting oil tank in which the cutting oil is stored, a bed that provides a support force, a leveling bolt that adjusts the height of the bed, a saddle that is located on the bed, a splash guard, a main operating panel that controls the whole operations, and a numerical control (NC) device that is used for numerical control . Hereinafter, an explanation of an example of the tool turning device of the fixed address type of automatic tool changer in the conventional practices will be given. FIG. 1 is a view showing the tool turning device of fixed address type of automatic tool changer in the conventional practices . As shown in FIG. 1, the tool turning device according to the conventional practice includes a tool magazine 10 that is turned relative to a rotary shaft 12, a tool pot 13 that is assembled on the outer peripheral surface of the tool magazine 10 rotatably relative to a turning shaft 14, a tool 16 that is detachably inserted into the tool pot 13, a hydraulic cylinder 17 that is fixed to the rotary shaft 12 of the tool magazine 10 for turning the tool pot 13 that is assembled with the tool magazine 10, and a turning roller 15 that is located on an one side of the tool pot 13 in such a manner as to be rotatably inserted into a hook 19 that is provided at an end portion of a piston rod 18 of the hydraulic cylinder 17. In the conventional tool turning device of the fixed address type of automatic tool changer, the turning roller 15 on the tool pot 13 with the tool 16 inserted thereinto is inserted into the hook 19 as the tool magazine 10 is rotated, and thus, the hydraulic cylinder 17 that is assembled with the hook 19 is operated to turn the tool pot 13. Then, the tool 16 that is inserted into the tool pot 13 being turned is deviated from the tool pot 13 by means of a separate tool change arm (which is not shown) and then mounted onto a spindle 11. As a result, the tool that has been previously mounted onto the spindle 11 is inserted into the tool pot 13 of the tool magazine 10 by the tool change arm, thereby completing the change to the selected tool 16. In the conventional tool turning device of the fixed address type of automatic tool changer, however, an operation of turning a tool pot housing in which the tool pot is inserted and an operation of obtaining the tool pot from the tool pot housing being rotated such that the tool pot is drawn to mount it on the spindle are carried out in separate machines. Therefore, there occurs a problem that the change time to the selected tool is relatively extended. In this manner where each tool pot is inserted and stored in the tool pot housing, also, the tool pot housing corresponding to each tool pot should be manufactured, and there is a need for precision in the insertion of the turning roller of the tool pot housing into the clamps of the turning device, which makes it difficult to manufacture each tool pot housing. Brief Description of the Drawings FIG. 1 is a view showing the tool turning device of fixed address type of automatic tool changer in the conventional practices. FIG. 2 is a front view of a tool turning device of a fixed address type of automatic tool changer according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a side view of the tool turning device of FIG. 2. FIGS. 4 and 5 are views showing the operations of the clamp part of the tool turning device of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the internal structure of the fixing part of the tool turning device of the present invention. FIGS . 7 and 8 are views showing the turning operations of the tool turning device of the present invention.

Disclosure of Invention Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a tool turning device of a fixed address type of automatic tool changer that can improve the structures of rotating and drawing the tool pot, thereby making the changing time of the tool pot substantially shortened. According to an aspect of the invention for realizing the above objects, there is provided a fixed address type of automatic tool changer having a tool magazine in which a plurality of tools are separably mounted by means of respective tool grippers, a tool change arm rotatably mounted in such a manner that each tool of the tool magazine is mounted on a spindle, and a tool turning device disposed between the tool magazine and the tool change arm for deviating each tool from the tool magazine and rotating the tool to thereby convey each tool to the tool change arm, wherein the tool turning device comprises: a clamp part for fixing the tool mounted in the tool magazine or the tool change arm for deviation of the tool; a plate part for rotatably supporting the clamp part and guiding the turning path of the clamp part; and a hydraulic cylinder for rotating the clamp part assembled with the plate part, the clamp part and the hydraulic cylinder being connected with each other by means of a rotary link and a rotary shaft each serving to change a straight line movement of the hydraulic cylinder to a rotating movement thereof. Preferably, the clamp part may comprise a pair of clamps provided in a symmetrical relation to each other, the pair of clamps each having a pressurizing surface corresponding to the outer shape of the tool formed on the inside thereof to thereby apply a prescribed pressure to the tool for fixing the tool, a clamp body to which the pair of clamps are rotatably fixed, the clamp body being fixed at one end of the rotary shaft, and an air cylinder provided at the other side of the clamp body for rotating the pair of clamps in a facing direction to each other, the plate part comprises a generally semicircular rotary groove provided at one side thereof for rotatably fixing the rotary shaft to a frame of the tool magazine, a generally circular arc guide groove for guiding the rotating path of the rotary link around the semicircular rotary groove, and a pair of stoppers provided at the both ends of the guide groove for restricting the rotation of the rotary link, and the hydraulic cylinder pivotally assembled with the frame of the tool magazine at one end thereof comprises a piston rod having a coupling end assembled with the rotary link at the end portion thereof, and a protrusion provided at one side of the coupling end of the piston rod, the protrusion being inserted into the guide groove of the plate part . And preferably, the automatic tool changer may further comprise a fixing part having a plurality of through holes radically formed relative to the tool fixed to the insides of the pair of clamps, an elastic spring member inserted into each of the plurality of through holes, and a pressurizing ball elastically supported by the spring member for preventing the deviation into each of the plurality of through holes such that the outer peripheral surface of the tool is pressurized.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention Now, an explanation of a tool ^'turning device of a fixed address type of automatic tool changer according to the present invention will be in detail given with reference to attached drawings . While the preferred embodiment of the present invention is being discussed hereinafter, the terms defined in this description are used in consideration with the functions in the present invention, which may be varied in accordance with the intention or usual practice of those skilled in the art and therefore, they are not to be construed as limiting the technical components of the invention . FIG. 2 is a front view of a tool turning device of a fixed address type of automatic tool changer according to the present invention, FIG. 3 is a side view of the tool turning device .of FIG. 2, FIGS. 4 and 5 are views showing the operations of the clamp part of the tool turning device of the present invention, FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the internal structure of the fixing part of the tool turning device of the present invention, and FIGS. 7 and 8 are views showing the turning operations of the tool turning device of the present invention. First of all, since the present invention is directed to the tool turning device of a fixed address type of automatic tool changer, a detailed explanation of the structure of the automatic tool changer will be hereinafter avoided for the brevity of description. As shown, the automatic tool changer includes a tool magazine 20 in which a plurality of tools 30 are separably mounted by means of respective tool grippers 22, a tool change arm 50 rotatably mounted in such a manner that each tool 30 of the tool magazine 20 is mounted on a spindle 40 in a perpendicular direction to the rotary shaft of the tool magazine 20, and a tool turning device 100 disposed between the tool magazine 20 and the tool change arm 50 for deviating each tool 30 from the tool magazine 20 and rotating the tool 30 to thereby convey the tool 30 to the tool change arm 50. The tool turning device 100 of the present invention includes a clamp part 110 that fixes the tool 30 mounted on the tool magazine 20 or the tool change arm 50 for deviation the tool 30, a plate part 120 that rotatably supports the clamp part 110 and guides the turning path of the clamp part 110, and a hydraulic cylinder 130 that turns the clamp part 110 that is assembled with the plate part 120. In this manner, the clamp part 110 and the hydraulic cylinder 130 are connected with each other by means of a rotary link 142 and a rotary shaft 140 that serve to change a straight line movement of the hydraulic cylinder 130 to a turning movement thereof . In such the manner, the clamp part 110 has a pair of clamps 112 that are provided in a symmetrical relation to each other in such a manner as to apply a prescribed pressure to one and the other sides of each tool 30, a clamp body 114 in which the pair of clamps 112 are rotatably fixed, the clamp body being fixed at one end of the rotary shaft 140, an air cylinder 116 that is provided at the other side of the clamp body 114 for rotating the pair of clamps 112 such that they come in contact with the one and the other sides of each tool 30 at the application of a prescribed pressure, a pressurizing surface 112a that is provided on the insides of the pair of clamps 112, respectively, the pressurizing surface 112a being in a shape corresponding to the outer shape of each tool 30, and a fixing part 117 that is provided on the insides of the pair of clamps 112, respectively, for applying a prescribed pressure that is separate from the pressurizing force of the pair of clamps 112 to the one side of each tool 30, thereby preventing the tool 30 held in the pair of clamps 112 from being moved. The fixing part 117 is provided with a plurality of through holes 118 that are radically formed relative to the tool 30 fixed thereto, an elastic spring member 119 that is inserted into each of the through holes 118, and a pressurizing ball 119a that is elastically supported by the spring member 119 for preventing the deviation to each of the through holes 118 such that it is adapted to pressurize the outer peripheral surface of the tool 30. And, the plate part 120 is adapted to be fixed to a frame of the tool magazine 20, and it has a generally semicircular rotary groove 122 that serves to rotatably fix the rotary shaft 140 to the frame of the tool magazine 20, at one side thereof, a generally circular arc guide groove 124 that guides the rotary path of the rotary link 142 relative to the semicircular rotary groove 122, and a pair of stoppers 126 that are provided at the both ends of the guide groove 124 for restricting the rotation of the rotary link 142. The hydraulic cylinder 130 is pivotally assembled with the frame of the tool magazine 20 at one end thereof, and it is provided with a piston rod 132 that has a coupling end 134 assembled with the rotary link 142 at the end portion thereof and a protrusion 136 that is provided at one side of the coupling end 134 of the piston rod 132, the protrusion 136 being inserted into the guide groove 124 of the plate part 120. Now, an explanation of the operation of the tool turning device of the fixed address type of automatic tool changer according to the present invention will be given. As shown in FIGS. 4 to 8, the tool magazine 20 is rotated and thus, if the tool 30 to be drawn from the tool magazine 20 is positioned on the tool turning device 100, a high pressure of air is supplied to the air cylinder 116 of the clamp part 110 such that the pair of clamps 112 clamps and holds the tool 30. At this time, the tool 30 that is fixed by the pair of clamps 112 is fixed by means of the pressurizing surfaces 112a formed- on the insides of the pair of clamps 112, and the pressurizing balls 119a that are elastically supported by the spring members 119 to the fixing part 117 prevent the movement of the tool 30. Then, the hydraulic cylinder 130 is operated, and the rotary link 142 assembled with the end portion of the piston rod 132 of the hydraulic cylinder 130 and the rotary shaft 140 that is assembled with the rotary link 142 are all rotated. Thereby, the clamp part 110 that is assembled with the end portion of the rotary shaft 140 is rotated. At this time, the rotary link 142 is rotated along the guide groove 124 that is formed on the plate part 120, while restricting its rotating angle by means of the stoppers 126. As the clamp part 110 is rotated, the tool 30 that is fixed to the clamp part 110 is deviated from the tool gripper 22 of the tool magazine 20, and the deviated tool

30 is rotated by the rotation of the clamp part 110 and then mounted on the tool change arm 50 that is separately provided. After that, the pair of clamps 112 release their pressure applied to the tool 30, and the tool change arm 50 is rotated to fix the tool 30 fixed thereto onto the spindle 40 and at the same time to move the tool previously fixed on the spindle 40 into the inside of the pair of clamps 112. In the reverse order to the above-mentioned operations, then, the tool turning device 100 mounts the tool on the spindle 40 onto the tool gripper 22 of the tool magazine 20. While the present invention has been described with reference to a few specific embodiments, the description is illustrative of the invention and is not to be construed as limiting the invention. Various modifications may occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Industrial Applicability As clearly mentioned above, the tool turning device of a fixed address type of automatic tool changer according to the present invention that can conduct in a single process the operations of clamping, turning and mounting the tools stored in a tool magazine, without having the need for any separate devices, thereby making the exchanging time of the tools substantially reduced.

Claims

What Is Claimed Is:

1. A fixed address type of automatic tool changer having a tool magazine in which a plurality of tools are separably mounted by means of respective tool grippers, a tool change arm rotatably mounted in such a manner that each tool of the tool magazine is mounted on a spindle, and a tool turning device disposed between the tool magazine and the tool change arm for deviating each tool from the tool magazine and rotating the tool to thereby convey each tool to the tool change arm, wherein the tool turning device comprises: a clamp part for fixing the tool mounted in the tool magazine or the tool change arm for deviation of the tool; a plate part for rotatably supporting the clamp part and guiding the turning path of the clamp part; and a hydraulic cylinder for rotating the clamp part assembled with the plate part, the clamp part and the hydraulic cylinder being connected with each other by means of a rotary link and a rotary shaft each serving to change a straight line movement of the hydraulic cylinder to a rotating movement thereof.

2. The automatic tool changer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the clamp part comprises a pair of clamps provided in a symmetrical relation to each other, the pair of clamps each having a pressurizing surface corresponding to the outer shape of the tool formed on the inside thereof to thereby apply a prescribed pressure to the tool for fixing the tool, a clamp body to which the pair of clamps are rotatably fixed, the clamp body being fixed at one end of the rotary shaft, and an air cylinder provided at the other side of the clamp body for rotating the pair of clamps in a facing direction to each other, the plate part comprises a generally semicircular rotary groove provided at one side thereof for rotatably fixing the rotary shaft to a frame of the tool magazine, a generally circular arc guide groove for guiding the rotating path of the rotary link around the semicircular rotary groove, and a pair of stoppers provided at the both ends of the guide groove for restricting the rotation of the rotary link, and the hydraulic cylinder pivotally assembled with the frame of the tool magazine at one end thereof comprises a piston rod having a coupling end assembled with the rotary link at the end portion thereof, and a protrusion provided at one side of the coupling end of the piston rod, the protrusion being inserted into the guide groove of the plate part.

3. The automatic tool changer as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a fixing part having a plurality of through holes radically formed relative to the tool fixed to the insides of the pair of clamps, an elastic spring member inserted into each of the plurality of through holes, and a pressurizing ball elastically supported by the spring member for preventing the deviation into each of the plurality of through holes such that the outer peripheral surface of the tool is pressurized.