# US 9,751,173 B2 · Tool magazine and tool changer

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- Number: US 9,751,173 B2
- Document ID: US9751173B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/348,987
- Filed: 2016-11-11
- Published: 2017-03-02
- Granted: 2017-09-05
- Earliest claimed: 2014-09-05
- Assignees: Yamazaki Mazak Corporation
- Applicants: Yamazaki Mazak Corporation
- Inventors: Javon D. Carson; Jonathon Marshall; Takuya Il
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9751173B2

## CPC

- B23Q 3/15724: {Chains or belts}
- B23Q 3/157: of rotary tools {(in combination with non-rotary tools B23Q3/15506, B23Q3/15513)}
- B23Q 3/15726: {the storage means rotating or circulating in a plane parallel to the axis of the spindle}
- B23Q 2003/15531: {by pivoting projection movement}
- B23Q 2003/15532: {the storage device including tool pots, adaptors or the like}
- Y10T 483/1755: Plural tool holders pivotable about common axis
- Y10T 483/1836: Pivoting
- Y10T 483/1864: including tool pot or adapter
- Y10T 483/1891: Chain or belt
- B23Q: DETAILS, COMPONENTS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR MACHINE TOOLS, e.g. ARRANGEMENTS FOR COPYING OR CONTROLLING (tools of the kind used in lathes or boring machines B23B27/00); MACHINE TOOLS IN GENERAL CHARACTERISED BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF PARTICULAR DETAILS OR COMPONENTS; COMBINATIONS OR ASSOCIATIONS OF METAL-WORKING MACHINES, NOT DIRECTED TO A PARTICULAR RESULT
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A tool magazine includes at least one tool carriage movable along a circulation path. The tool holders each have tool pot sockets to which the tool pots are mountable. The tool holders are disposed pivotably about a pivot axis with respect to the at least one tool carriage. The tool pot sockets include a first and second tool pot sockets. An angle is created in a pivoting direction about the pivot axis between a first tool pot mounted to the first tool pot socket and a second tool pot mounted to the second tool pot socket. The turning device turns each of the tool holders about the pivot axis at a position on the circulation path. The tool pot stopper positions each of the tool pots and stops one of the first tool pot and the second tool pot at a pivotable location in the pivoting direction.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A tool magazine comprising:
at least one tool carriage movable along a circulation path;
tool pots including a first tool pot and a second tool pot to hold a tool;
tool holders each having tool pot sockets to which the tool pots are mountable, the tool holders being pivotably attached to the at least one tool carriage for pivoting with respect to the at least one tool carriage about a pivot axis, the tool pot sockets including a first tool pot socket and a second tool pot socket, a non-zero angle being created in a pivoting direction about the pivot axis between a longitudinal axis of the first tool pot mounted to the first tool pot socket and a longitudinal axis of the second tool pot mounted to the second tool pot socket;
a turning device to turn each of the tool holders about the pivot axis at a position on the circulation path; and
a tool pot stopper to position each of the tool pots and to stop the pivoting of one of the first tool pot and the second tool pot in the pivoting direction.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The tool magazine according to claim 1, further comprising:
an annular rail disposed along the circulation path and having a straight line portion, wherein
the pivot axis is parallel to a direction along which the at least one tool carriage moves on the straight line portion.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The tool magazine according to claim 2, wherein
the at least one tool carriage includes a plurality of tool carriages, and
each of the plurality of tool carriages comprises:
a guide member guided along the annular rail; and
a linkage structure to link one tool carriage among the plurality of tool carriages with another tool carriage among the plurality of tool carriages that follows the one tool carriage.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The tool magazine according to claim 2, wherein
the tool pot stopper comprises:
a stop member to stop one of the first tool pot and the second tool pot; and
an actuator to move the stop member.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The tool magazine according to claim 1, wherein
the tool pot stopper comprises:
a stop member to stop one of the first tool pot and the second tool pot; and
an actuator to move the stop member.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The tool magazine according to claim 1, wherein
the tool pots are removable from the tool pot sockets.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The tool magazine according to claim 1, wherein
each of the tool pots has a substantially identical construction.

### Claim 8

A tool changer comprising:
a tool magazine to hold a tool, the tool magazine comprising:
at least one tool carriage movable along a circulation path;
tool pots including a first tool pot and a second tool pot to hold a tool;
tool holders each having tool pot sockets to which the tool pots are mountable, the tool holders being pivotably attached to the at least one carriage for pivoting with respect to the at least one tool carriage about a pivot axis, the tool pot sockets including a first tool pot socket and a second tool pot socket, a non-zero angle being created in a pivoting direction about the pivot axis between a longitudinal axis of the first tool pot mounted to the first tool pot socket and a longitudinal axis of the second tool pot mounted to the second tool pot socket;
a turning device to turn each of the tool holders about the pivot axis at a position on the circulation path; and
a tool pot stopper to position each of the tool pots and to stop the pivoting of one of the first tool pot and the second tool pot in the pivoting direction; and
the tool changer further comprising:
a tool exchange arm to exchange the tool between the tool magazine and a spindle.