Tool change device and tool change method

• US 6,071,220 A
• Filed: 10/28/1998
• Issued: 06/06/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nippei Toyama Corporation (Komatsu Ltd.)
• Inventors: Morita, Kenichiro, Sakai, Kazuoki, Yasoshima, Toshio, Sugihara, Tsutomu, Sasaki, Hisao
• Primary Examiner(s): BRIGGS, WILLIAM R
• Application Number:
  US09/179,838
• Time in Patent Office: 587 Days
• Field of Search: 483/1, 483/38, 483/36, 483/41, 483/48, 483/58, 483/37, 483/64, 483/61, 414/225
• US Class Current: 483/41
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 2003/15527 the storage device including means to latch tools
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 2003/15532 the storage device including tool pots, adaptors or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 3/155 Arrangements for automatic insertion or removal of tools , e.g. combined with manual handling B23Q7/046 takes precedence
• 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 3/1576 the axis of the stored tools being arranged in the rotating or circulating plane of the storage means
• 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: Y10T 483/1748 Tool changer between spindle and matrix
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 483/176 Intermediate tool changer includes tool holder pivotable about axis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 483/1776 including intermediate tool changer

Abstract

In the tool change device, a tool change arm 27 for changing a tool 25 with respect to a main spindle 24, a main tool magazine 29 including a plurality of hold grooves 30 arranged linearly for holding the tools 25, and a tool storage member 41 including at least one storage portion 46 for storing the tool 25 are arranged in the back-and-forth direction of the tool change device. In order that the tools 25 can be delivered between the tool change arm 27 and main tool magazine 29, between the main tool magazine 29 and tool storage member 41, and between the tool storage member 41 and tool change arm 27, a single tool loader L is disposed in such a manner that it can be moved in correspondence to the tool change arm 27, main tool magazine 29 and tool storage member 41.

Claims

1. A tool change method in a tool change device comprising:

a main spindle (24) having a leading end on which a tool (25) is mounted;

a tool magazine (29) including a plurality of hold portions (30) capable of holding a plurality of tools (25);

a tool interchanging means (27) disposed on one side of said tool magazine for interchanging, at a tool interchanging position, said tool (25) mounted on said main spindle with a tool (25) taken out from one of the hold portions of said tool magazine;

a tool storage member (41) disposed on the other side of said tool magazine for storing at least one tool (25) to be substituted for one of one of said tools held in the tool magazine and said tool mounted on said main spindle; and

a tool carrying means (L) for carrying said tool stored on said tool storage member (41) to the hold portions on said tool magazine and for carrying one of said tools held on the hold portions to said tool storage member,

wherein said hold portions (30) are arranged on a straight line, and said tool (25) mounted on said main spindle is interchanged with a tool (25) taken out from one of one of the hold portions of said tool magazine and said tool storage member (41) at said tool interchanging position (P3); and

wherein

said tool carrying means (L) is movable among holding positions respectively corresponding to said hold portions, said tool interchanging position and a tool storage position corresponding to said tool storage member so as to deliver and receive said tool among said hold portions of said tool magazine, said tool interchanging means and said tool storage member,

said tool change method comprising the step of;

carrying said at least one tool from the tool storage position to one of said holding position corresponding to said hold portions and said tool interchanging position directly without passing through said tool magazine.

2. The tool change method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

storing a new tool into said tool storage position of said tool storage member before said carrying step is performed; and

discharging an old tool which is held in one of said hold portions of said tool magazine into said storage position after said carrying step has been operated.

3. The tool change method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

discharging an old tool which is held in one of said hold portions of said tool magazine into said storage position before a new tool is stored into said tool storage position of said tool storage member.

4. The tool change method as set forth in claim 3, wherein an old tool once discharged out to the tool storage member is brought in again to the tool magazine or directly to the tool interchanging position without passing through the tool magazine by the tool carrying means.

5. The tool change method as set forth in claim 1, wherein one of said hold portions of the tool magazine that is nearest to the tool storage member is used as a provisional hold portion and, after a tool taken out from one of the tool storage member, the tool magazine and the tool interchanging position is once provisionally put into said provisional hold portion by the tool carrying means, the next operation is executed.

6. The tool change method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

preventing said tool carrying means from moving to the tool storage position corresponding to said tool storage member when a tool is replaced in said tool storage member.

7. The tool change method as set forth in claim 6, wherein the preventing step is conducted in accordance with a sequence control of said tool carrying means when a tool is replaced in said tool storage member.

8. The tool change method as set forth in claim 6, wherein the preventing step is conducted by actuating a tool loader stopper when a tool is replaced in said tool storage member.

9. The tool change method as set forth in claim 6, further comprising the step of:

stopping a supply of power of said tool carrying means.

10. A tool change method in a tool change device comprising a main spindle, a tool magazine including a plurality of hold portions arranged on a straight line in such a state that the hold portions are opened in one direction, tool interchanging means provided on one side of said tool magazine, a tool storage member provided on the other side of said tool magazine, a tool loader which is moved to any one of a tool change position, a position corresponding to each hold portion of said tool magazine and a position corresponding to said tool storage member, whereby to receive and deliver a tool from and to a tool change arm installed in said tool interchanging means, the hold portions of said tool magazine and said tool storage member, and a sequence controller for controlling the movement of said tool loader, said tool change method comprising the steps of:

performing a tool replacement operation to replace a tool in said storage member, and

preventing said tool loader from moving to said position corresponding to said tool storage member when performing said tool replacement operation.

11. The tool change method as set forth in claim 10, wherein the preventing step is conducted in accordance with a sequence control of said tool loader when a tool is replaced in said tool storage member.

12. The tool change method as set forth in claim 10, wherein the preventing step is conducted by actuating a too loader stopper when a tool is replaced in said tool storage member.

13. The tool change method as set forth in claim 10, wherein the preventing step is conducted by actuating a tool loader stopper when a tool is replaced in said tool storage member and by sequentially controlling the movement of said tool loader.

14. The tool change method as set forth in claim 10, further comprising the step of:

stopping a supply of power of said tool loader.

15. A tool change device comprising:

a main spindle;

a tool magazine including a plurality of hold portions arranged on a straight line in such a state that the hold portions are opened in one direction;

tool interchanging means provided on one side of said tool magazine;

a tool storage member provided on the other side of said tool magazine, said tool storage member adapted to allow replacement of a tool therein by an operator of said tool change device;

a tool loader which is moved among a tool change position, a position corresponding to each hold portion of said tool magazine and a position corresponding to said tool storage member, for receiving and delivering a tool from and to any one of a tool change arm installed in said tool interchanging means, the hold portions of said tool magazine and said tool storage member; and

a tool loader stopping means for preventing said tool loader from entering to the position corresponding to said tool storage member when a tool is replaced in said tool storage member by the operator.

16. The tool change device as claimed in claim 15, wherein said tool loader stopping means comprises a sequence controller for controlling the movement of said tool loader.

17. The tool change device as claimed in claim 15, wherein said tool loader stopping means comprises a tool loader stopper.

18. The tool change device as claimed in claim 15, wherein said tool loader stopping means comprises a sequence controller for controlling the movement of said tool loader and a tool loader stopper.

19. The tool change device as claimed in claim 17, wherein said tool loader stopper is moved in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which said tool loader is movable.

20. The tool change device as claimed in claim 18, wherein said tool loader stopper is moved in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which said tool loader is movable.

21. A tool change method in a tool change device comprising:

a main spindle (24) having a leading end on which a tool (25) is mounted;

a tool magazine (29) including a plurality of hold portions (30) capable of holding a plurality of tools (25);

a tool interchanger (27) disposed on one side of said tool magazine to interchange, at a tool interchanging position, said tool (25) mounted on said main spindle with a tool (25) taken out from one of the hold portions of said tool magazine;

a tool storage member (41) disposed on the other side of said tool magazine for storing at least one tool (25) to be substituted for one of one of said tools held in the tool magazine and said tool mounted on said main spindle; and

a tool carrier (L) to carry said tool stored on said tool storage member (41) to the hold portions on said tool magazine and to carry one of said tools held on the hold portions to said tool storage member,

wherein said hold portions (30) are arranged on a straight line, and said tool (25) mounted on said main spindle is interchanged with a tool (25) taken out from one of one of the hold portions of said tool magazine and said tool storage member (41) at said tool interchanging position (P3); and

wherein

said tool carrier (L) is movable among holding positions respectively corresponding to said hold portions, said tool interchanging position and a tool storage position corresponding to said tool storage member so as to deliver and receive said tool among said hold portions of said tool magazine, said tool interchanger and said tool storage member,

said tool change method comprising the step of;

carrying said at least one tool from the tool storage position to one of said holding position corresponding to said hold portions and said tool interchanging position directly without passing through said tool magazine.

22. The tool change method as set forth in claim 21, further comprising the steps of:

storing a new tool into said tool storage position of said tool storage member before said carrying step is performed; and

discharging an old tool which is held in one of said hold portions of said tool magazine into said storage position after said carrying step has been operated.

23. The tool change method as set forth in claim 21, further comprising the step of:

discharging an old tool which is held in said holding position of said tool magazine into said storage position before a new tool is stored into said tool storage position of said tool storage member.

24. The tool change method as set forth in claim 23, wherein an old tool once discharged out to the tool storage member is brought in again to the tool magazine or directly to the tool interchanging position without passing through the tool magazine by the tool carrier.

25. The tool change method as set forth in claim 21, wherein one of said hold portions of the tool magazine that is nearest to the tool storage member is used as a provisional hold portion and, after a tool taken out from one of the tool storage member, the tool magazine and the tool interchanging position is once provisionally put into said provisional hold portion by the tool carrier, the next operation is executed.

26. The tool change method as set forth in claim 21, further comprising the step of:

preventing said tool carrier from moving to the tool storage position corresponding to said tool storage member when a tool is replaced in said tool storage member.

27. The tool change method asset forth in claim 26, wherein the preventing step is conducted in accordance with a sequence control of said tool carrier when a tool is replaced in said tool storage member.

28. The tool change method as set forth in claim 26, wherein the preventing step is conducted by actuating a tool loader stopper when a tool is replaced in said tool storage member.

29. The tool change method as set forth in claim 26, further comprising the step of:

stopping a supply of power of said tool carrier.

30. A tool change method in a tool change device comprising a main spindle, a tool magazine including a plurality of hold portions arranged on a straight line in such a state that the hold portions are opened in one direction, tool interchanger provided on one side of said tool magazine, a tool storage member provided on the other side of said tool magazine, a tool loader which is moved to any one of a tool change position, a position corresponding to each hold portion of said tool magazine and a position corresponding to said tool storage member, whereby to receive and deliver a tool from and to a tool change arm installed in said tool interchanger, the hold portions of said tool magazine and said tool storage member, and a sequence controller for controlling the movement of said tool loader, said tool change method comprising the steps of:

performing a tool replacement operation to replace a tool in said storage member, and

preventing said tool loader from moving to said position corresponding to said tool storage member when performing said tool replacement operation.

31. The tool change method as set forth in claim 30, wherein the preventing step is conducted in accordance with a sequence control of said tool loader when a tool is replaced in said tool storage member.

32. The tool change method as set forth in claim 30, wherein the preventing step is conducted by actuating a tool loader stopper when a tool is replaced in said tool storage member.

33. The tool change method as set forth in claim 30, wherein the preventing step is conducted by actuating a tool loader stopper when a tool is replaced in said tool storage member and by sequentially controlling the movement of said tool loader.

34. The tool change method as set forth in claim 30, further comprising the step of:

stopping a supply of power of said tool loader.

35. A tool change device comprising:

a main spindle;

a tool magazine including a plurality of hold portions arranged on a straight line in such a state that the hold portions are opened in one direction;

tool interchanger provided on one side of said tool magazine;

a tool storage member provided on the other side of said tool magazine, said tool storage member adapted to allow replacement of a tool therein by an operator of said tool change device;

a tool loader which is moved among a tool change position, a position corresponding to each hold portion of said tool magazine and a position corresponding to said tool storage member, for receiving and delivering a tool from and to any one of a tool change arm installed in said tool interchanger, the hold portions of said tool magazine and said tool storage member; and

a tool loader stopper to prevent said tool loader from entering to the position corresponding to said tool storage member when a tool is replaced in said tool storage member by the operator.

36. The tool change device as claimed in claim 35, wherein said tool loader stopper comprises a sequence controller for controlling the movement of said tool loader.

37. The tool change device as claimed in claim 35, wherein said tool loader stopper comprises a sequence controller for controlling the movement of said tool loader and the tool loader stopper.

38. The tool change device as claimed in claim 36, wherein said tool loader stopper is moved in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which said tool loader is movable.

39. The tool change device as claimed in claim 37, wherein said tool loader stopper is moved in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which said tool loader is movable.