Device and method of exchanging tools
AssigneeHitachi Seiko Ltd.
InventorsYasushi Ito, Tamio Otani, Tadanori Dobashi, Akira Irie, Akihiro Matsuya
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Abstract
A device for exchanging tools for use with a spindle has a tool holding device having a plurality of tool holding members disposed at predetermined intervals. Each tool holding member is supported for movement in its axial direction and is axially driven by a drive device so that a tool is transferred between the tool holding member and the spindle. The invention is also concerned with a tool exchanging method.
Claims7
A tool exchange device for exchanging tools between a tool holding device having a plurality of tool holding members disposed at predetermined intervals and a spindle having an axis and axially movable toward and away from said tool holding device, wherein each of said plurality of tool holding members has an axis substantially parallel to the axis of said spindle and is supported for movement in an axial direction of said each of said plurality of tool holding members, and driving means is provided for moving said each of said plurality of tool holding members in the axial direction, said plurality of tool holding members being arranged in a matrix pattern, said driving means including a plurality of fluid-operated cylinders having axes and disposed in a matrix pattern in an axially aligned relationship with said plurality of tool holding members, respectively, wherein said driving means further include:
- fluid supplying means including a first group of a plurality of fluid passages for supplying a fluid pressure to respective rows of a first group of rows of cylinders, a second group of a plurality of fluid passages for supplying a fluid pressure to respective rows of a second group of rows of cylinders, a first group of a plurality of valves for respectively supplying fluid to the plurality of fluid passages of said first group so as to respectively provide the cylinders in the rows of said first group with downward forces, a second group of a plurality of valves for respectively supplying fluid to the plurality of fluid passages of said second group so as to respectively provide the cylinders in the rows of said second group with upward forces, and controlling means for operating said first and second groups of valves;
- and
- means for urging a tool holding member of said plurality of tool holding members aligned with one cylinder of said plurality of fluid-operated cylinders when said one cylinder is simultaneously provided with the downward and upward forces, to thereby keep said one cylinder at a lowered position.
A tool exchange device for exchanging tools between a tool holding device having a plurality of tool holding members disposed at predetermined intervals and a spindle having an axis and axially movable toward and away from said tool holding device, wherein each of said plurality of tool holding members has an axis substantially parallel to the axis of said spindle and is supported for movement in an axial direction of said each of said plurality of tool holding members, and driving means is provided for moving said each of said plurality of tool holding members in the axial direction, said plurality of tool holding members being arranged in a matrix pattern, said driving means including a plurality of fluid-operated cylinders having axes and disposed in a matrix pattern in an axially aligned relationship with said tool holding members, respectively, wherein said driving means further include:
- fluid supplying means including a first group of a plurality of fluid passages for supplying a fluid pressure to respective rows of a first group of rows of cylinders, a second group of a plurality of fluid passages for supplying a fluid pressure to respective rows of a second group of rows of cylinders, a first group of a plurality of valves for respectively supplying fluid to the plurality of fluid passages of said first group so as to respectively provide the cylinders in the rows of said first group with downward forces, a second group of a plurality of valves for respectively supplying fluid to the plurality of fluid passages of said second group so as to respectively provide the cylinders in the rows of said second group with upward forces, and controlling means for operating said first and second groups of valves;
- and
- pressure regulating means operative to control the fluid pressure such that the fluid pressure supplied to the fluid passages of said first group is higher than the fluid pressure supplied to the fluid passages of said second group whereby, when one cylinder of said plurality of fluid-operated cylinders is simultaneously provided with downward and upward forces, a tool holding member of the plurality of tool holding members associated with said one cylinder is kept at a lowered waiting position.
A method of exchanging tools between a tool holding device having a plurality of tool holding members disposed at predetermined intervals and a spindle having an axis and axially movable toward and away from said tool holding device, each of said plurality of tool holding members having an axis substantially parallel to the axis of the spindle, said method comprising the steps of:
- supporting each of said plurality of tool holding members for movement in an axial direction of said each of said plurality of tool holding members;
- positioning said spindle above a desired tool holding member of said plurality of tool holding members;
- applying upward forces to all of said plurality of tool holding members to move them upwardly;
- and
- downwardly moving said spindle to move said desired tool holding member downwardly against the upward force acting thereon while a tool is transferred between said spindle and said desired tool holding member wherein, when said desired tool holding member is moved downwardly by said spindle, said spindle is brought into engagement also with at least one other tool holding member of said plurality of tool holding members adjacent to said desired tool holding member, moving the at least one other tool holding member downwardly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.