# US 2019/0314944 A1 · Automatic tool changer > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0314944 A1 - Document ID: US20190314944A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/461,303 - Filed: 2017-11-15 - Published: 2019-10-17 - Earliest claimed: 2016-11-16 - Assignees: Horkos Corp. - Applicants: Horkos Corp - Inventors: Hiroaki Kiso; Kunihiro Ikeda - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190314944A1 ## CPC - B23Q 3/15539: {Plural magazines, e.g. involving tool transfer from one magazine to another (involving manual operation B23Q3/15533)} - B23Q 3/15526: {Storage devices; Drive mechanisms therefor} - B23Q 3/15713: {a transfer device taking a single tool from a storage device and inserting it in a spindle (B23Q3/15793 takes precedence)} - B23Q 3/15773: {a transfer device taking the tool from a storage device and passing it on to other transfer devices, which insert it in a spindle} - B23Q 11/08: Protective coverings for parts of machine tools; Splash guards - B23Q 11/0891: {arranged between the working area and the operator} - B23Q 3/15722: {Rotary discs or drums} - B23Q 3/15724: {Chains or belts} - B23Q 2003/155418: {the grippers moving together} - Y10T 483/115: Guard - Y10T 483/1795: Matrix indexes selected tool to transfer position - Y10T 483/1882: Rotary disc - Y10T 483/1891: Chain or belt - B23Q: DETAILS, COMPONENTS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR MACHINE TOOLS, e.g. ARRANGEMENTS FOR COPYING OR CONTROLLING (tools of the kind used in lathes or boring machines B23B27/00); 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 - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract An automatic tool changer includes a cover that partitions a machining area and a non-machining area, and an opening/closing member that opens/closes an opening of the cover by turning in synchronization with rotation of a tool changer magazine. The opening/closing member includes a plate section partitions the machining area and the non-machining area at a position of the opening of the cover. In a case where the tool changer magazine performs tool replacement with respect to a tool storage magazine, the plate section closes the opening of the cover by taking a horizontal posture. In a case where the tool changer magazine performs tool replacement with respect to a main spindle, the plate section opens the opening of the cover by changing its posture from the horizontal posture to an inclined posture or a vertical posture. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An automatic tool changer comprising: a tool storage magazine that stores a tool to be attached to a main spindle of a machine tool; a tool changer magazine that rotates, the tool changer magazine performing tool replacement with respect to the main spindle and with respect to the tool storage magazine; a cover that partitions a machining area where the tool changer magazine performs tool replacement with respect to the main spindle, and a non-machining area where the tool changer magazine performs tool replacement with respect to the tool storage magazine; an opening, disposed in the cover, that enables transfer of a tool between the tool changer magazine and the main spindle; and an opening/closing member that opens/closes the opening by turning in synchronization with rotation of the tool changer magazine, wherein the opening/closing member comprises a plate section that partitions the machining area and the non-machining area at a position of the opening, the plate section closes the opening by taking a horizontal posture or a vertical posture, in a case where the tool changer magazine performs tool replacement with respect to the tool storage magazine, and the plate section opens the opening by changing a posture from the horizontal posture to an inclined posture or the vertical posture, or from the vertical posture to the inclined posture or the horizontal posture, in a case where the tool changer magazine performs tool replacement with respect to the main spindle. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The automatic tool changer according to claim 1, wherein the opening/closing member turns in synchronization with rotation of the tool changer magazine, only in a case where the tool changer magazine performs tool replacement with respect to the main spindle, and the opening/closing member does not turn in synchronization with rotation of the tool changer magazine, in a case where the tool changer magazine performs tool replacement with respect to the tool storage magazine. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The automatic tool changer according to claim 1, further comprising a switch that switches between synchronization and asynchronization of the opening/closing member with respect to rotation of the tool changer magazine. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The automatic tool changer according to claim 3, wherein the switch comprises a pressing body section fixed to the tool changer magazine, and a pressed body section fixed to the opening/closing member, the pressing body section comes into contact with the pressed body section, and the opening/closing member turns integrally with the tool changer magazine, in a case where the tool changer magazine performs tool replacement with respect to the main spindle, and the pressing body section separates from the pressed body section, and only the tool changer magazine rotates and the opening/closing member does not turn, in a case where the tool changer magazine performs tool replacement with respect to the tool storage magazine. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The automatic tool changer according to claim 4, wherein the pressing body section is a cam follower comprising a roller and a shaft, the pressed body section is a groove body comprising a groove where the cam follower is guided, a cut-away section allowing the cam follower to move in and out of is formed to the groove body, the cam follower moves in from the cut-away section and comes into contact with the groove body, in a case where the tool changer magazine performs tool replacement with respect to the main spindle, and the cam follower is separated from the cut-away section and contact between the cam follower and the groove body is released, in a case where the tool changer magazine performs tool replacement with respect to the tool storage magazine. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The automatic tool changer according to claim 4, wherein one of the pressing body section and the pressed body section comprises an electromagnet, and the pressing body section and the pressed body section come into contact with each other by an attractive force of the electromagnet. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The automatic tool changer according to claim 1, wherein a rotation axis of the tool changer magazine and a rotation axis of the opening/closing member are offset from each other.