Automatic tool-changing mechanism

Abstract

The present invention is related to an automatic tool-changing mechanism adapted to be used in a machining center and including a power source, a machine frame and an automatic tool changing device secured to the machine frame, wherein the automatic tool changing device includes a tool changer secured to the machine frame for functioning in tool-grasping, tool-extracting, tool-interchanging, tool-inserting and tool-returning motions; a rotating device secured to a driving shaft and coupled to the tool changer and a swing arm device, the rotating device including a first and second rotating elements in which the first rotating element is used for enabling a to-and-fro swing motion of the swing arm device and the second rotating element is used for enabling a to-and-fro rotary motion of the tool changer to perform the tool-grasping, tool-interchanging and tool-returning motions; and the swing arm device having an intermediate portion thereof pivotally coupled to the machine frame and a first end portion and a second end portion thereof pivotally coupled to the first rotating element and the tool changer, respectively, so as to swing to and fro stably in response to an operation of the first rotating element to facilitate the tool-extracting and tool-inserting motions of the tool changer. The present invention has less mechanical elements compared to the conventional mechanism so that the assembling time can be reduced. In addition, the present invention can effectively lower the rocking of the tool-changing arm upon swinging so as to enhance the positioning precision.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.