Tool magazine assembly for a machining center

• US 20060211554A1
• Filed: 03/18/2005
• Published: 09/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: New Gifu Enterprise Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: New Gifu Enterprise Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Liu, Hsin-Jung
• Application Number:
  US11/083,220
• Publication Number:
  US 20060211554A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 483/67
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 16/025 by converting a continuous movement into a rotary indexing movement
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 2003/15532 the storage device including tool pots, adaptors or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 3/15526 Storage devices; Drive mechanisms therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 3/15722 Rotary discs or drums
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 483/1882 Rotary disc

Abstract

A tool magazine assembly for a machining center holds multiple tool holders and has an outer ring, an inner ring and multiple brackets. The inner ring is mounted in but does not contact the outer ring and has multiple through holes. The brackets are attached to the inner ring, and each bracket has multiple through holes, a central hole, multiple fastening holes, multiple bolts and a central bolt. The bolts extend through the through holes to attach the brackets to the inner ring. The central bolts extend through the central holes between the inner ring and the outer ring. Each tool holder has multiple bolts. The bolts extend through the fastening holes to attach the tool holders to the brackets.

Claims

1. A tool magazine assembly for a machining center comprising

an outer ring having an outer wall, an inner wall and a front surface;

an inner ring mounted in and separate from the outer ring and having an inner wall;

an outer wall;

a front surface;

a rear surface; and

multiple through holes formed through the inner ring;

multiple brackets mounted on the inner ring, and each bracket having

an inside end;

an outside end being U-shaped;

a central hole formed through the bracket;

a central bolt extending through the central hole and having

a threaded end,

a distal end; and

a roller mounted rotatably on the distal end and rolling on the outer wall of the inner ring and the outer ring;

a central nut screwed onto the threaded end of the central bolt; and

a motor assembly rotating the inner ring and having

a motor; and

a transmission device connecting to the motor to rotate the inner ring.

2. The tool magazine assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein

each bracket further comprises

multiple through holes formed through the bracket near the inside end and corresponding to through holes through the inner ring;

multiple fastening holes formed through the bracket near the outside end;

multiple bolts extending through the through holes in the inner ring and the bracket to attach the bracket to the inner ring, and each bolt having

a threaded end;

a distal end; and

a roller mounted rotatably on the distal end of the bolt;

multiple nuts screwed respectively onto the threaded ends of the bolts; and

the transmission device of the motor assembly comprises

a worm gear connecting to and rotated by the motor and having a spiral groove formed on the worm gear and engaging the rollers on the bolts to rotate the inner ring.

3. The tool magazine assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the rollers on the central bolts roll on the front surface of the outer ring.

4. The tool magazine assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein

the outer ring further has

an outer annular recess formed in the outer wall;

and

an inner annular recess formed in the inner wall; and

the rollers on the central bolts rolls in the inner annular recess in the inner wall of the outer ring.

5. The tool magazine assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the inner ring further has multiple teeth formed on the inner wall;

and

the transmission device of the motor assembly comprises

a reduction device connecting to and driven by the motor; and

a spur gear connecting to and driven by the reduction device and engaging the teeth on the inner wall of the inner ring.

6. The tool magazine assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the inner ring further has multiple beveled teeth formed on the rear surface;

and

the transmission device of the motor assembly comprises a bevel gear connecting to and driven by the motor and engaging the beveled teeth on the inner ring.

7. A tool magazine assembly for a machining center comprising

a mounting bracket having an annular shoulder with an inner bearing surface;

an outer ring having an outer wall, an inner wall and a front surface;

an inner ring mounted in and separate from the outer ring and having

an inner wall;

an outer wall;

a front surface;

a rear surface; and

multiple through holes formed through the inner ring;

multiple brackets mounted on the inner ring, and each bracket having

an inside end;

an outside end being U-shaped;

each bracket further comprises

multiple through holes formed through the bracket near the inside end and corresponding to through holes through the inner ring;

multiple fastening holes formed through the bracket near the outside end;

multiple bolts extending through the through holes in the inner ring and the bracket to attach the bracket to the inner ring, and each bolt having

a threaded end;

a distal end; and

a roller mounted rotatably on the distal end of the bolt and rolling on the bearing surface of the annular shoulder;

multiple nuts screwed respectively onto the threaded ends of the bolts; and

a motor assembly rotating the inner ring and having

a motor; and

a transmission device connecting to the motor to rotate the inner ring and having

a worm gear connecting to and rotated by the motor and having a spiral groove formed on the worm gear and engaging the rollers on the bolts to rotate the inner ring.