The present disclosure relates to an automatic tool changer for a machine tool which can change a tool mounted on a tool post by moving both of a magazine and a tool post to be concentric in order to change a tool in a horizontal type machine tool such as a lathe or a horizontal type turning center; a method of controlling the automatic tool changer and a machine tool including the automatic tool changer.

The present invention includes a tool magazine (10) storing a plurality of tools (T), a turret (3) to which a plurality of tools (T) are attached, and a tool changer (20) changing a tool (T) attached to the turret (3) for a tool (T) stored in the tool magazine (10). The tool changer (20) has two tool grippers for gripping tools (T) and replaces tools (T) attached to the turret (3) with one another using the two tool grippers based on tool information stored in a tool information storage (43) under control by a tool change control unit (42).

The present invention reveals a tool changing method for machine tool and the apparatus thereof. The machine tool has a tool releasement detector disposed beside the spindle or the tool releasement apparatus. When the tool releasement apparatus hits the spindle to loose the clamp for tool releasement, the tool releasement detector generates a releasement signal. When the tool releasement apparatus resets and leaves the spindle, the tool releasement detector produces no signal. The tool changing apparatus is activated according the appearance of the releasement signal for changing the tool, activated according the disappearing of the releasement signal for declining from the spindle. Therefore, the tool changing apparatus can be operated timely and speedily, improving tool changing efficiency.

A robotic tool changer for machining center includes a drive mechanism, a first motor, and a rotary seat which are mounted on a body. The drive mechanism includes a first rotating shaft, a second rotating shaft, a first swing arm, a second swing arm, and a linkage member. The first rotating shaft and the second rotating shaft are arranged in parallel. The first swing arm is connected to the first rotating shaft while the second swing arm is connected to the second rotating shaft. Two ends of the linkage member are pivotally connected to the first swing arm and the second swing arm respectively. An end of the second rotating shaft is fixed to the rotary seat. Thereby, when the first motor drives the first rotating shaft to rotate, the rotary seat is driven to turn over. Thereby, with the configuration of the first motor and the drive mechanism, the hydraulic oil leakage and the environmentally unfriendly subsequent treatment of the hydraulic oil when the hydraulic cylinder is used as a power source can be improved.

There is provided a cutting apparatus that cuts a workpiece by a cutting blade. The cutting apparatus includes a chuck table that holds a board in which a groove is formed through cutting of the board by the cutting blade, a cutting unit having a spindle and a mount flange that is fixed to a tip part of the spindle and on which the cutting blade is mounted, and a replacement apparatus that replaces the cutting blade mounted on the mount flange with the cutting blade stored in a blade storing part and replaces the board placed on the chuck table with the board stored in a board storing part. The replacement apparatus includes a holding part that holds the cutting blade and the board under suction.

A robotic tool changer for machining center includes a drive mechanism, a first motor, and a rotary seat which are mounted on a body. The drive mechanism includes a first rotating shaft, a second rotating shaft, a first swing arm, a second swing arm, and a linkage member. The first rotating shaft and the second rotating shaft are arranged in parallel. The first swing arm is connected to the first rotating shaft while the second swing arm is connected to the second rotating shaft. Two ends of the linkage member are pivotally connected to the first swing arm and the second swing arm respectively. An end of the second rotating shaft is fixed to the rotary seat. Thereby, when the first motor drives the first rotating shaft to rotate, the rotary seat is driven to turn over. Thereby, with the configuration of the first motor and the drive mechanism, the hydraulic oil leakage and the environmentally unfriendly subsequent treatment of the hydraulic oil when the hydraulic cylinder is used as a power source can be improved.

A machine tool includes a lower tool post for holding a cutting tool, a tool main spindle for holding a cutting tool, a storage unit capable of storing the cutting tool, an exchange mechanism for exchanging the cutting tools between the tool main spindle and the storage unit, an inside robot for exchanging the cutting tools between the lower tool post and the tool main spindle, and a controller. The controller performs control such that the cutting tools are exchanged between the lower tool post and the storage unit via the inside robot, the tool main spindle, and the exchange mechanism.

The present disclosure relates to a device for attaching and detaching tools in a magazine, and more particularly, to a device for attaching and detaching tools in a magazine of a machine tool, the device being capable of attaching or detaching a tool having directionality to or from each gripper of the magazine of the machine tool while accurately adjusting a fixed position of the tool.

A tool magazine has been developed, in which the tool rack includes a gripper into which the holder for the tool that keeps the cutting part standing and facing upward is to be fitted from above, the gripper has a ring-shaped inner circumferential edge that has an opening in an approaching and leaving direction of the tool moved by the magazine arm, a pair of engagement portions are arranged on opposite ends of the inner circumferential edge and beyond a half turn of a horizontal section of the holder, and the magazine arm includes: a hand configured to grip the holder for the tool that keeps the cutting part standing and facing upward in a horizontal direction; approaching and leaving means configured to cause the hand to approach the gripper and leave therefrom; and elevator means configured to move the hand up and down.

A machine tool includes a workpiece holder, a tool holder holding working tools that includes a hob cutter used in a rough machining and a skiving cutter used in a finish machining, a tool magazine, a tool replacing device replacing one of the working tools mounted on the tool holder with the other of working tools housed in the tool magazine, a rough machining controlling section performing the rough machining on the workpiece, a tool measuring device measuring a position of a blade in a rotation direction of the skiving cutter, an angle correcting section correcting a rotation angle of the skiving cutter based on a result measured by the tool measuring device, and placing a tooth space formed in the workpiece and an edge tip of the blade in a position corresponding to each other, and a finish machining controlling section by which workpiece is finish machined.