Machine tool

• US 6,402,442 B2
• Filed: 05/07/2001
• Issued: 06/11/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: MORI Seiki Company Limited (Dmg Mori Co., Ltd.), Intelligent Manufacturing Systems International
• Original Assignee: MORI Seiki Company Limited (Dmg Mori Co., Ltd.), Intelligent Manufacturing Systems International
• Inventors: Fujishima, Makoto, Akamatsu, Yoshiaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Howell, Daniel W.
• Application Number:
  US09/849,269
• Publication Number:
  US 20010048858A1
• Time in Patent Office: 400 Days
• Field of Search: 409/134, 409/193, 409/233, 408/16, 408/8, 408/9, 408/10, 408/11, 408/710, 700/174, 700/177
• US Class Current: 409/134
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4065 Monitoring tool breakage, life or condition
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/35512 Display entered, measured values with bargraph
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/37251 Selfcorrecting, counter for tool life adapts correction
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/37252 Life of tool, service life, decay, wear estimation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 409/30392 with means to protect operative or machine [e.g., guard, safety device, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 409/309464 and draw bar

Abstract

The present invention provides a machine tool which is adapted to detect the end of the service life of a spring of a clamp unit for fixing a tool to a spindle for systematic replacement of the spring. The machine tool comprises a clamp unit (47) for fixing a tool in a taper hole provided in a spindle, and a controlling section (63) for controlling the operation of the clamp unit. The clamp unit (47) includes a holder for holding a holder portion of the tool, a driving rod coupled to the holder, a driver for moving the driving rod along an axis thereof, and a spring for biasing the driving rod in one direction along the axis thereof. The machine tool further comprises a service life end detecting section (11) for counting the number of times of actuation of the clamp unit (47) and, when the count of the number reaches a predetermined reference actuation number, judging that the service life of the spring ends. With this arrangement, maintenance can systematically be carried out by detecting the end of the service life of the spring.

Claims

1. A machine tool comprising:

a spindle, a clamp unit for fixing a tool in a taper hole provided in the spindle, the clamp unit including a holder for holding a holder portion of the tool, a driving rod coupled to the holder, a driver for moving the driving rod along an axis thereof, and a spring for biasing the driving rod in one direction along the axis thereof, whereby the driving rod is moved along the axis thereof by the driver and the spring and the tool is fixed in the taper hole of the spindle with the holder portion thereof held by the holder;

a controlling section for controlling an operation of the clamp unit; and

a service life end detecting section for counting a number of times of actuation of the clamp unit and, when a count of the number reaches a predetermined reference actuation number, judging that a service life of the spring ends.

2. A machine tool as set forth in claim 1, further comprising display means for graphically displaying a ratio of the count of the number to the reference actuation number.