Automatic tool changer and tool change method
AssigneeAmada Company, Limited
InventorKatsumi WATANABE
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An automatic tool changer includes first and second tool change units that is driven respectively by a pair of servo motors and move along an arrangement direction of a plurality of tools installed on a tool installation unit, a torque detection unit that detects a torque of each of the pair of servo motors, and a control device that controls operations of the first and second tool change units. The control device fixes the first tool change unit at a reference position, and moves the second tool change unit toward the first tool change unit. The control device determines, based on a torque change of each servo motor, that a plurality of upper tools are brought together at the first tool change unit as a result of a movement of the second tool change unit.
Claims11
An automatic tool changer for storing, in a tool storage unit, a plurality of tools installed side by side on a tool installation unit of a press brake, the automatic tool changer comprising:
- a pair of servo motors;
- first and second tool change units configured to be driven respectively by the pair of servo motors and move along an arrangement direction of the tools on the tool installation unit;
- a torque detection unit configured to detect a torque of each of the pair of servo motors;
- and
- a control device configured to control operations of the first and second tool change units, wherein
- the control device is configured to
- fix the first tool change unit at a predetermined reference position,
- move the second tool change unit toward the first tool change unit, and
- determine, based on a torque change of each of the servo motors detected by the torque detection unit, that the plurality of tools are brought together at the first tool change unit as a result of a movement of the second tool change unit.
A tool change method of storing, in a tool storage unit, a plurality of tools installed side by side on a tool installation unit of a press brake, the tool change method comprising:
- placing a fixing unit configured to regulate a movement of the tool at a reference position;
- moving the plurality of tools installed on the tool installation unit to one side along an arrangement direction of the tools on the tool installation unit;
- and
- bringing the plurality of tools together at the fixing unit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.