Tool changing device and tool cleaning method

• US 7,172,542 B2
• Filed: 07/12/2004
• Issued: 02/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fanuc Ltd (Fanuc Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fanuc Ltd (Fanuc Corporation)
• Inventors: Sato, Naoki, Fujimoto, Akihiko
• Primary Examiner(s): CADUGAN, ERICA E
• Application Number:
  US10/887,912
• Publication Number:
  US 20050032615A1
• Time in Patent Office: 939 Days
• Field of Search: 483/1, 483/13, 483/39, 483/31, 483/56, 483/54, 483 65- 68, 409/137, 409/134, 409135-136, 408/61, 408/56, 408/60, 153/22, 153/54, 153/001, 154/05, 154/151, 29/355, 29/39, 29 40- 42
• US Class Current: 483/1
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 11/005 by blowing
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 3/1552 parts of devices for automatically inserting or removing tools
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 3/15534 Magazines mounted on the spindle
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/5154 tool turret
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 483/10 Process
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 483/15 with means to condition or adjust tool or tool support
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 483/1755 Plural tool holders pivotable about common axis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 483/1891 Chain or belt

Abstract

A tool changing device and a tool cleaning method capable of surely removing foreign matter such as swarf adhered to tapered portions and/or flange portions of tools, which serve as contact faces to be in contact with a spindle. There is arranged tool cleaning nozzles for spouting coolant on both sides of the spindle in the rotating position of a turret. The tool cleaning nozzle has a position and a posture such that the coolant spouted from the nozzle hits against the tapered portions and/or the flange portions of the tools held by the turret. The coolant is spouted from the tool cleaning nozzle with the rotation of the turret at the time of tool selection. Each time the turret rotates, the tapered portions and/or the flange portions of the tools held by the turret are cleaned by the coolant. Even if foreign matter, such as swarf, is adhered to the standby tools held by the turret, it is possible to surely remove the foreign matter, such as swarf, since the tools are cleaned during the rotation of the turret.

Claims

1. A tool changing device for a machine tool, comprising:

a turret for holding tools to be used changeably in the machine tool; and

one or more nozzles each for spouting coolant or air toward a region where the tools held by said turret pass in rotation of said turret,

wherein the nozzles are attached to both sides of a spindle head of the machine tool to have positions and postures such that the coolant or air spouted from each nozzle is directed away from a spindle of the machine tool toward a region where tapered portions of the tools held by said turret pass in rotation of said turret.

2. A tool changing device for a machine tool according to claim 1, wherein the nozzles have positions and postures such that the coolant or air spouted form each nozzle is directed toward a region where the tapered portions and also flange portions of the tools held by said turret pass in rotation of said turret.

3. A tool cleaning method for cleaning tools held by a turret of a tool changing device, comprising:

providing one or more nozzles adjacent to a spindle head of the machine tool, each for spouting coolant or air outwardly from a spindle of the machine tool toward a region where the tools held by the turret pass in rotation of the turret; and

spouting the coolant or air from said one or more nozzles while the turret is rotated, so that tapered portions of the tools are cleaned by subjecting the tools to the spouted coolant or air when the tools pass the region toward which the coolant or air is spouted.

4. A tool cleaning method according to claim 3, wherein the spouting of the coolant or air is performed so that the tapered portions and also flange portions of the tools are cleaned by subjecting the tools to the spouted coolant or air when the tools pass the region toward which the coolant or air is spouted.

5. A tool cleaning method according to claim 3, wherein the spouting of the coolant or air is performed when the turret is rotated for selecting a tool to be used.