Processing machine arrangement with robot and a tool magazine

• US 20070087924A1
• Filed: 06/05/2006
• Published: 04/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alfing Kessler Sondermaschinen GmbH (Alfing Sondermaschinen-Beteiligungsverwaltungsgesellschaft mbH)
• Original Assignee: Alfing Kessler Sondermaschinen GmbH (Alfing Sondermaschinen-Beteiligungsverwaltungsgesellschaft mbH)
• Inventors: Muellner, Ralf, Hansch, Stefan, Krosta, Carsten
• Granted Patent: US 7,404,786 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 483/1
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 2003/155418 the grippers moving together
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 2003/155428 about a common axis
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 2003/155439 along the pivoting axis
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 3/15536 Non-rotary fixed racks
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 3/15539 Plural magazines, e.g. involving tool transfer from one magazine to another involving manual operation B23Q3/15533
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 3/1554 Transfer mechanisms, e.g. tool gripping arms; Drive mechanisms therefore
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 3/15706 a single tool being inserted in a spindle directly from a storage device, i.e. without using transfer devices B23Q3/15786 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 3/15773 a transfer device taking the tool from a storage device and passing it on to other transfer devices, which insert it in a spindle
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 3/15786 a plurality of tools being inserted simultaneously in a plurality of spindles directly from a storage device, i.e. without using transfer devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 483/10 Process
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 483/17 including machine tool or component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 483/1752 including tool holder pivotable about axis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 483/1836 Pivoting

Abstract

A processing machine arrangement comprises a processing machine with at least one tool spindle and with a tool magazine for offering tools to the processing machine for the machining of a workpiece. A method for the operation of such a processing machine arrangement is also provided. There is a robot with a multi-joint robot arm for providing the tool magazine with tools from a tool storage supply means and for removing spent tools from the tool magazine, and that the tool magazine includes at least one tool holder portion which is alternatingly able to be shifted, and more especially pivoted, into a robot access space for a tool change of the robot and into a spindle access space for a tool change on the at least one tool spindle such tool holder portion having at least one tool holder for holding a tool.

Claims

1. A processing machine arrangement comprising a processing machine with at least one tool spindle and with a tool magazine for offering tools to the processing machine for the machining of a workpiece, comprising a robot with a multi-joint robot arm for providing the tool magazine with tools from a tool storage supply means and for removing spent tools from the tool magazine, and that the tool magazine includes at least one tool holder portion which is alternatingly able to be shifted, and more especially pivoted, into a robot access space for a tool change of the robot and into a spindle access space for a tool change on the at least one tool spindle, such tool holder portion having at least one tool holder for holding a tool.

2. The processing machine arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein on the at least one tool holder pair a holder portion is arranged, of which for a tool change one tool holder is initially free for the deposit of a tool and the other tool holder offers a tool for retrieval by the at least one tool spindle or the robot.

3. The processing machine arrangement as set forth in claim 2, wherein the two tool holders of the at least one tool holder pair are directly juxtaposed to each other.

4. The processing machine arrangement as set forth in claim 2, wherein at least one tool holder pair is able to be set in position in relation to at least one tool spindle for positioning the free tool holder and of the tool holder offering a tool as regards the at least one tool spindle.

5. The processing machine arrangement as set forth in claim 2, wherein the tool holder pair is arranged in a settable manner on a base part of the tool magazine and/or the at least one tool spindle in relation to the tool holder pair.

6. The processing machine arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein the tool magazine comprises at least one rotational setting means for turning and/or at least one linear setting means for linearly setting the at least one tool holder portion.

7. The processing machine arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein the at least one tool holder portion is provided on at least one essentially dimensionally rigid base part.

8. The processing machine arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein said tool magazine includes at least one pivotal arm, on which at least one tool holding portion is arranged, said pivotal arms being able to be rocked out of the robot access space into the spindle access space and vice versa.

9. The processing machine arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein the tool magazine includes at least two tool holding portions able to be shifted in alternating succession into the robot access space and into the spindle access space so that the at least one tool spindle and the robot may substantially simultaneously change tools at respectively one tool holder portion.

10. The processing machine arrangement as set forth in claim 9 wherein the at least two tool holder portions, able to be brought alternatingly into the robot access space and the spindle access space are arranged on a first and at least one second pivotal arm, such arms being able to be pivoted in opposite directions into the robot access space and into the spindle access space.

11. The processing machine arrangement as set forth in claim 10, wherein the first and the at least one second pivotal arm are able to be linearly positioned in relation to each other so that when the pivotal arms draw together in the course of an opposite pivotal movement clearance is created by an avoidance movement of at least one pivotal arm.

12. The processing machine arrangement as set forth in claim 10, wherein the first pivotal arm is exclusively adapted for pivotal motion and the at least one second pivotal arm is adapted for pivotal movement and linear movement in relation to the first pivotal arm.

13. The processing machine arrangement as set forth in claim 10, wherein the first pivotal arm and the at least one second pivotal arm are, in essentially identical tool changing positions, able to be shifted for the at least one tool spindle within the spindle access space and/or for the robot within the robot access space.

14. The processing machine arrangement as set forth in claim 10 wherein the at least one second pivotal arm is cranked, one cranked section being adapted to run past a rotary bearing means, and more especially a rotary drive, of the first pivotal arm.

15. The processing machine arrangement as set forth in claim 9 wherein the at least two tool holder portions able to be shifted into the robot access space and into the spindle access space are more particularly oppositely set portions of a rotatable holding means, the at least two tool holder portions being able to be turned or pivoted by a rotary movement or pivotal movement simultaneously into the robot access space or, respectively, the spindle access space.

16. The processing machine arrangement as set forth in claim 15, wherein the holder means has a essentially polygonal and more particularly quadrilateral or round outline.

17. The processing machine arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein the tool magazine is arranged on a frame of the processing machine.

18. The processing machine arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein the processing machine is a multi-spindle machine having at least two tool spindles shiftable along a line and arranged adjacent to each other and the at least one tool holder portion possesses adjacent tool holders following said line so that the at least two tool spindles may get several tools from the tool holders or deposit them there.

19. The processing machine arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein the line is essentially straight.

20. The processing machine arrangement as set forth in claim 1, comprising a tool holding means arranged on the arm of the robot, such holding means including tool holder arranged in accordance with a configuration of the tool spindles of the processing machine, which is designed as a multi-spindle machine so that the robot may get a plurality of tools from the tool holders of the tool magazine or may deposit such tool there.

21. The processing machine arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein the storage supply means includes at least one more especially cabinet-like frame for the deposit of tools by the robot.

22. The processing machine arrangement as set forth in claim 21, wherein several frames are arranged in a ring around the robot within the access portion or range of the robot arm.

23. The processing machine arrangement as set forth in claim 21, wherein the at least one frame possesses several more especially vertically superposed and/or horizontally juxtaposed tool holder groups with tool holders arrayed in accordance with a configuration of the tool spindles of the processing machine designed in the form of a multi-spindle processing machine.

24. The processing machine arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein the robot is arranged in a robot working space toward which the at least one frame is open to the fore and is accessible for the robot and the at least one more particularly rearwardly closed frame constitutes a component of a enclosure for the robot working space.

25. The processing machine arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein the robot is provided for workpiece changing as regards workpieces to be processed and already processed by the processing machine.

26. A method for the operation of a processing machine arrangement comprising a processing machine with at least one tool spindle and a tool magazine for offering tools for the processing machine for processing a workpiece, wherein

a robot having a multi-joint robot arm arms the tool magazine with tools taken from a tool storage supply means and takes spent tools from the tool magazine, and

the tool magazine shifts and more especially rocks at least one tool holder portion with at least one tool holder for holding a tool in alternating succession into the a robot access space for tool changing and into a spindle access space for a tool change as regards the at least one tool spindle.