Tool-changing mechanism
AssigneeFriedrich Deckel Aktiengesellschaft
InventorsMichael Geiger, Manfred Schneider, Jorg Lutzkendorf
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A tool-changing mechanism for machine tools of the kind in which tools can be inserted into a spindle. A tool magazine receives several tools and a double-ended tool-changing arm is provided on each of its two ends with gripping mechanisms. The tool-changing arm is rotatable about an axis of rotation which is parallel to the spindle axis and the tool-changing arm can be moved along the direction of its axis of rotation. The tool-changing arm can also be pivoted, between a working position and a rest position, about a pivot axis which is parallel to its axis of rotation.
Claims18
A tool-changing mechanism for tool machines of the kind having a working spindle which receives a tool, said tool-changing mechanism including a tool magazine which contains several tools and a double-arm tool-changing arm which has on its two ends respective gripping mechanisms, said tool-changing arm being rotatable about an axis of rotation parallel to the spindle axis and being movable along the direction of said axis of rotation, said arm having a gripping position in which it simultaneously grips a tool which is in the magazine and a tool which is in the working spindle and exchanges these tools by rotation about said axis of rotation, said arm being pivotable about a pivot axis between a working position and a rest position outside of the spindle area, said pivot axis being parallel to said axis of rotation and to said spindle axis, wherein the improvement is comprised by means locating said pivot axis on said machine and with respect to said axis of rotation for pivoting of said tool-changing arm about its pivot axis from its said rest position into its said gripping position directly and thus without need for rotation about its said axis of rotation, and for later pivoting of said tool-changing arm back to its said rest position.
A tool-changing mechanism for tool machines of the kind in which tools can be inserted into a spindle, said tool-changing mechanism having a tool magazine which receives several tools and a double-ended tool-changing arm, said arm being provided on each of its two ends with gripping mechanisms, said tool-changing arm being rotatable about an axis of rotation parallel to the spindle axis, said tool-changing arm being movable along the direction of its axis of rotation, wherein the improvement is comprised in that said tool-changing arm is pivotable between a working position and a rest position, about a pivot axis parallel to said axis of rotation and to said spindle axis, said axis of rotation of said arm being supported in a bearing housing pivotable about said pivot axis and secured at the end of a hollow shaft for the support of said changing arm, said hollow shaft extending along said pivot axis, said hollow shaft being supported rotatably and movably in a carrier housing fixed to the machine, a drive shaft supported rotatably within said hollow shaft and arranged for rotatably driving said tool-changing arm about said axis of rotation, a rotary drive for rotation of said hollow shaft and a further rotary drive engaging a part of said drive shaft for rotating same, wherein the rotary drive for the hollow shaft includes a longitudinally movable rack, which drives a gear which is concentric with the hollow shaft and is supported in the carrier housing, wherein the latter gear has axial clutch teeth which, when the changing arm is retracted, engage with axial clutch teeth which are constructed on the rearward end of the hollow shaft and the latter gear has an internal tooth system which engages a first external tooth system which is constructed on the drive shaft.
A tool-changing mechanism for tool machines of the kind in which tools can be inserted into a spindle, said tool-changing mechanism having a tool magazine which receives several tools and a double-ended tool-changing arm, said arm being provided on each of its two ends with gripping mechanisms, said tool-changing arm being rotatable about an axis of rotation parallel to the spindle axis, said tool-changing arm being movable along the direction of its axis of rotation, wherein the improvement is comprised in that said tool-changing arm is pivotable between a working position and a rest position, about a pivot axis parallel to said axis of rotation and to said spindle axis, said axis of rotation of said arm being supported in a bearing housing pivotable about said pivot axis and secured at the end of a hollow shaft for the support of said changing arm, said hollow shaft extending along said pivot axis, said hollow shaft being surrounded rotatably and movably in a carrier housing fixed to the machine, a drive shaft supported rotatably within said hollow shaft and arranged for rotatably driving said tool-changing arm about said axis of rotation, a rotary drive for rotation of said hollow shaft and a further rotary drive engaging a part of said drive shaft for rotating same, wherein said hollow shaft is provided with means for locking it against rotation in a position corresponding with said working position, and wherein the means for locking the hollow shaft against rotation includes a channel which is constructed on the outer surface of the hollow shaft, into which channel engages a slider tooth which is arranged on the inner surface of the carrier housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.