Tool changer apparatus and method of automating a machine tool
OwnerSteven E. Davisinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention provides a tool changer which can be placed on the table of an existing machine tool, while utilizing the existing control computer of the machine tool to automate the tool changing process. This simplified tool changer allows the owner of an entry level machine tool to automate the machine tool at a relatively low cost and without many modifications to the machine tool as compared to current alternatives. The tool changer of the present invention requires no external power, no additional motors, and no modifications to the spindle of the machine tool.
Claims10
A tool changer for exchanging tools with a spindle of a machine tool, said spindle comprising a tool holder portion having opposed spindle notches and opposed tool driving portions at a distal end thereof, said tool having driving portions corresponding to said tool driving portions in said spindle, said tool changer comprising:
- a tool rack extending from a table of said machine tool;
- at least one tool station for receiving said tools, where said tool station is attached as part of said tool rack;
- and
- at least one spindle orientation unit adjacent said at least one tool station and attached as part of said tool rack, and spindle orientation unit including a biases movable plunger, said movable plunger compressible by said spindle when an outside surface of said spindle contacts said plunger, one of said spindle and table being movable to position said plunger adjacent said spindle so that said plunger is automatically extendible into one of said notches of said spindle to stop rotation of said spindle, so as to align said spindle to exchange said tools.
A tool changer comprising:
- a tool rack extending from a table of a machine tool;
- at least one spindle orientation unit attached as part of said tool rack;
- and
- at least one tool station for receiving a tool, where said tool station is attached as part of said tool rack,
- said tool station including
- a tool station base,
- at least two bolts extending from said tool station base,
- a bottom plate slidably attached to said two bolts,
- two fingers slidably and rotatably attached to said two bolts and above said bottom plate,
- at least one vertical spring attached between said tool station base and said plate, and
- at least one horizontal spring attached between said two fingers at a rear end of each of said two fingers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.