Tool changer for a processing center
AssigneeBernhard Steinel Werkzeugmaschinenfabrik GmbH & Co.
InventorsGuenther Buggle, Willi Schuetz
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A work tool changer for a work tool center with horizontal work tool spindle and an a work tool magazine, which receives the work tools in a vertical axis. The work tool changer is provided with a vertically transportable lift sled (28), on which a 2-armed gripper (94) is provided. The gripper (94) is mounted in a gripper head (66), which is pivotable between a position with horizontal gripper axle (90) and a position with a vertical gripper axis (90). The pivot movement of the gripper head (66) and the swivel movement of the gripper (94) about its gripper axle occurs by means of the same driver (44, 46, 50, 52), which drives the uplift movement of the lift sled (28).
Claims9
A work tool changer for a processing center, said processing center including a horizontal work spindle and a work tool magazine in which the work tools are positioned on their vertical axis, the work tool changer comprising
- a carriage mounted movably horizontally in the direction perpendicular to the work spindle (V-axis) and in the direction horizontally parallel to the work spindle (W-axis),
- a lift sled mounted on the carriage movably in the vertical direction (U-axis),
- a motor mounted on the carriage for driving the lift sled in the vertical direction (U-axis),
- a gripper head mounted swivelably on the lift sled,
- a two armed gripper mounted on said gripper head and rotatable about a gripper axle,
- a collision track into which the lift sled enters during the vertical movement of the lift sled for swiveling the gripper head between a position in which the gripper axle is horizontal and a position in which the gripper axle is vertical
- whereby the gripper is moveable between positions with vertical and with horizontal orientated work tools, and
- wherein the motor drives the lift sled over an endless running lift means and switchably drives the rotational movement of the gripper about its gripper axle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.