Cutter changing systems and methods for internal crankshaft miller

A method for changing a cutter in an internal crankshaft miller in which a cutter body having tips attached thereto along an inner peripheral surface thereof is fitted with and fixed to a cutter adapter so as to be rotatable together with the cutter adapter, thereby permitting a workpiece to be machined therewith by milling to fabricate a crankshaft, the cutter changing method comprising the steps of:

• providing said cutter adapter with a means for clamping said cutter body detachably;
• providing a cutter changing apparatus adjacent to said miller that includes a means for detachably holding said cutter body;
• holding with said means for detachably holding said cutter body;
• transferring with said cutter changing apparatus said cutter body on said means for detachably holding said cutter body to a cutter changing position;
• then, pushing said transferred cutter body into said cutter adapter and mounting said cutter body onto said cutter adapter with said means for clamping to complete loading said cutter body onto said cutter adapter;
• and
• unloading said cutter body from said cutter adapter by dismounting said cutter body from said cutter adapter by effecting the preceding mounting steps of operation in a reversed manner.

A method for changing a cutter in an internal crankshaft miller in which a cutter body having tips attached thereto along an inner peripheral surface thereof is fitted with and fixed to a cutter adapter for rotation together with the cutter adapter, thereby permitting a workpiece to be machined therewith by milling to fabricate a crankshaft, the cutter changing method comprising the steps of:

• providing said cutter adapter with a means for clamping said cutter body detachably;
• providing an automatic loader that loads and unloads a workpiece onto and out of said miller with a means for detachably holding a cutter body;
• holding with said means for detachably holding said cutter body;
• transferring with said automatic loader said cutter body on said means for detachably holding said cutter body to a cutter changing position;
• pushing said transferred cutter body into said cutter adapter and mounting said cutter body onto said cutter adapter with said means for clamping to complete loading said cutter body onto said cutter adapter;
• and
• unloading said cutter body from said cutter adapter by dismounting said cutter body from said cutter adapter by effecting the preceding mounting steps of operation in a reversed manner.

A cutter changing system for an internal crankshaft fabricating miller in which a cutter body having tips attached thereto along an inner peripheral surface thereof is fitted with and fixed to a cutter adapter so as to be rotatable together with the cutter adapter about an axis, thereby permitting a workpiece to be machined therewith by milling to fabricate a crankshaft, the cutter changing system comprising:

• at least one recessed portion formed in an outer peripheral portion of said cutter body;
• at least one clamping means including:
• a pawl member disposed in said cutter adapter so as to be movable in a radial direction thereof to set a forward end of said pawl member to protrude and withdraw from an inner peripheral surface of said cutter adapter, said pawl member having an inclined engagement surface and an inclined guide surface both formed on said forward end of the pawl member and located respectively at a fore and a rear portion thereof in a direction in which said cutter body is fitted to said cutter adapter, and
• a means for biasing said pawl member in said radial direction to set said forward end thereof to protrude from said inner peripheral surface of said cutter adapter;
• and
• at least one pawl retracting means operable when said cutter body is fitted into said cutter adapter, whereby upon insertion of said at least one pawl retracting means into said at least one recessed portion, said at least one pawl retracting means comes into a pressure contact with the inclined guide surface of said pawl member, retracting said pawl member against said means for biasing, and whereby
• fitting said cutter body into said cutter adapter causes the outer peripheral portion of said cutter body to retract said pawl member and thereafter causes said pawl member to project into said at least one recessed portion, thereby clamping said cutter body onto said cutter adapter with said inclined engagement surface, and
• inserting said at least one pawl retracting means into said at least one recessed portion causes said pawl member to be retracted to release said clamping and to thereby permit said cutter body to be removed together with said at least one pawl retracting means from said cutter adapter.

A cutter changing system for an internal crankshaft fabricating miller in which a cutter body having tips attached thereto along an inner peripheral surface thereof is fitted with and fixed to a cutter adapter so as to be rotatable together with the cutter adapter about an axis, thereby permitting a workpiece to be machined therewith by milling to fabricate a crankshaft, the cutter changing system comprising:

• at least one recessed portion formed in an outer peripheral portion of said cutter body;
• and
• at least one clamping means including:
• a pawl member disposed in said cutter adapter so as to be movable in a radial direction thereof to set a forward end of said pawl member to protrude and withdraw from an inner peripheral surface of said cutter adapter, said pawl member having an inclined engagement surface and an inclined guide surface both formed on said forward end of the pawl member and located respectively at a fore and a rear portion thereof in a direction in which said cutter body is fitted to said cutter adapter, and
• a means for biasing said pawl member in said radial direction to set said forward end thereof to protrude from said inner peripheral surface of said cutter adapter;
• whereby
• fitting said cutter body into said cutter adapter causes the outer peripheral portion of said cutter body to retract said pawl member and thereafter causes said pawl member to project into said at least one recessed portion, thereby clamping said cutter body onto said cutter adapter with said inclined engagement surface.