US 5,300,006 AGranted

Automatic tool changer

AssigneeOkuma Machine Tools Inc.

InventorsNorio Tanaka, Sanae Hattori, Hiroyuki Suzuki

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Abstract

A machine tool having an automatic tool changer including a single drive motor for rotation and lateral movement of a tool storage magazine of the automatic tool changer. The single drive motor is connected to a transmission for selectively moving the magazine between a withdrawn storage position and an advanced position whereby a selected tool holder may be brought into engagement with the spindle. A carriage frame supports the magazine on a trackway for lateral movement and a rack gear extends parallel to a trackway. A speed reducer is connected to the drive motor and has an output shaft that supports a pinion gear positioned to engage the rack and a casing that is connected to the magazine. A locking pin is mounted to the carriage frame for selected movement between a first position whereby the magazine is locked and the rotation of the output shaft causes the carriage frame and magazine to advance along the trackway and a second position whereby the output shaft is locked and the rotation of the casing causes the magazine to rotate.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A machine tool having an automatic tool changing capability and comprising

a machine frame,
a spindle rotatably mounted to said machine frame for rotation about a central axis and for axial movement along said central axis, and including a tool engaging fixture,
a tool storage magazine for supporting a plurality of tools and including a plurality of tool holders disposed in a generally arcuate arrangement which defines a magazine axis which extends through said arcuate arrangement,
means mounting said tool storage magazine to said machine frame for movement about said magazine axis and for movement between a storage position withdrawn from said central axis and an advanced position proximate to said central axis, with said magazine axis being parallel to said central axis when said magazine is in said advanced position, and such that in said advanced position any one of said tool holders may be aligned with said central axis, and
drive means comprising a single drive motor for selectively moving said magazine between said withdrawn and advanced positions and moving said magazine about said magazine axis, so that when said magazine is in said advanced position a selected tool holder may be brought into alignment with said central axis and said spindle may be axially moved so that a tool may be transferred between the selected tool holder and said tool engaging fixture of said spindle.

2 more elements

A tool storage assembly adapted to be mounted to a machine tool frame for selective translational and rotational movement, and comprising

a carriage frame, said carriage frame having roller means adapted for mounting said carriage frame for movement along a trackway mounted to the machine tool frame,
a tool storage magazine for supporting a plurality of tools and including a plurality of tool holders disposed in a circular arrangement which defines a magazine axis which extends centrally through said circular arrangement,
means mounting said tool storage magazine to said carriage frame for movement about said magazine axis,
drive means comprising a single drive motor for selectively moving said magazine along said trackway and about said magazine axis, comprising a rack:
gear fixedly mounted to the machine tool frame and extending parallel to said trackway, a hub rotatably mounted to said carriage frame for rotation about said magazine axis and including a pinion gear positioned to engage said rack, and
transmission means connected to said drive motor and operable in a first mode wherein said drive motor rotates said hub about said magazine axis and said magazine is locked to said carriage frame so as to translate the carriage frame along said trackway, and a second mode wherein said drive motor rotates said magazine about said magazine axis and said hub is locked to said carriage frame.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.