QUICK-CHANGE SYSTEM, ROTARY INDEXING TABLE HAVING A QUICK-CHANGE SYSTEM OF THIS TYPE, AND USE

Abstract

A quick-change system includes an exchange tool with a ball receiving opening, a receiving part with a receiving opening for receiving the exchange tool, and a ball catch for temporarily fixing the exchange tool on the receiving part. The ball catch includes a sleeve that is closed on one side and a spring-mounted press-ball arranged in the sleeve for manually engaging and disengaging with the ball-receiving opening. In an example embodiment, the sleeve has an axis of symmetry, the spring-mounted press-ball is movable along the axis of symmetry, and the ball-receiving opening has a central axis extending parallel to the axis of symmetry when the receiving part is engaged with the exchange tool.

Claims

1.-8. (canceled)

9. A quick-change system comprising: an exchange tool comprising a ball receiving opening; a receiving part comprising a receiving opening for receiving the exchange tool; and a ball catch for temporarily fixing the exchange tool on the receiving part, the ball catch comprising: a sleeve that is closed on one side; and a spring-mounted press-ball arranged in the sleeve for manually engaging and disengaging with the ball-receiving opening.

10. The quick-change system of claim 9, wherein: the sleeve comprises an axis of symmetry; the spring-mounted press-ball is movable along the axis of symmetry; and the ball-receiving opening comprises a central axis extending parallel to the axis of symmetry when the receiving part is engaged with the exchange tool.

11. The quick-change system of claim 10, wherein a distance between the axis of symmetry and the central axis extend is 1 mm to 3.5 mm.

12. The quick-change system of claim 10, wherein the exchange tool is moved into the receiving opening in an engagement direction which extends perpendicular to the axis of symmetry to engage the exchange tool with the receiving part.

13. The quick-change system of claim 9, wherein the ball-receiving opening comprises a contact area with an edge break that contacts the press ball when the exchange tool is engaged with the receiving part.

14. The quick-change system of claim 9, wherein: the receiving part comprises a centering pin and the exchange tool comprises a centering opening for receiving the centering pin; or the exchange tool comprises a centering pin and the receiving part comprises a centering opening for receiving the centering pin.

15. A rotary indexing table comprising the quick-change system of claim 9.

16. A rotary indexing table comprising at least two of the quick-change systems of claim 9.

17. A method of using the rotary-indexing table of claim 15 for: mounting roller bearings or slide bearings; machining roller bearings or slide bearing components; or mounting or machining motor components.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] FIGS. 1a to 6 are intended to illustrate, by means of example, quick-change systems according to the present disclosure as well as a rotary indexing table which can be equipped therewith. The following is shown:

[0016] FIG. 1a shows a first quick-change system in a three-dimensional view,

[0017] FIG. 1b shows the first quick-change system according to FIG. 1a in a longitudinal section.

[0018] FIG. 1c shows the first quick-change system according to FIG. 1a in a cross-section through the ball catch.

[0019] FIG. 2 shows a second quick-change system in a three-dimensional view,

[0020] FIG. 3 shows the second quick-change system according to FIG. 2 in a three-dimensional view from below in a partial representation,

[0021] FIG. 4 shows a section through one of the ball catches of the second quick-change system according to FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0022] FIG. 5 shows an example of a ball catch with an engaged press ball in an enlarged view in the section, and

[0023] FIG. 6 shows a rotary indexing table.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] FIGS. 1a to 1c show a first quick-change system 1 in a three-dimensional view, in which FIG. 1b shows the first quick-change system 1 according to FIG. 1a in a longitudinal section, and FIG. 1e shows the first quick-change system 1 according to FIG. 1a in a cross-section through the ball catch 5. The same reference symbols in FIGS. 1a to 1c denote the same elements.

[0025] The first quick-change system 1 includes a receiving part 2 and an exchange tool 3, in which the receiving part 2 has a receiving opening 4 for receiving the exchange tool 3. Furthermore, two ball catches 5 (cf. FIG. 1c) are provided on the receiving part 2 for temporarily fixing the exchange part 3 on the receiving part 2. Each ball catch 5 includes a sleeve 6 (see FIG. 5) that is closed on one side, in which a spring-mounted press ball 7 is arranged. The press balls 7 can be manually engaged on the exchange tool 3 with each ball-receiving opening 8 and then disengaged again therefrom in order to quickly implement, for example, a change to a differently dimensioned exchange tool 3′ (cf. FIGS. 2 to 4) or to an exchange tool designed for a different machining process.

[0026] In order to attach the exchange tool 3 so as to prevent twisting, a centering pin 9 is provided here on the receiving part 2, onto which centering pin a centering opening 10 on the exchange tool 3 can be shifted. The exchange tool 3 is manually moved onto the receiving part 2 in the engagement direction E in order to engage with the receiving part 2. The exchange tool stops 3a. 3b (cf. FIG. 1b) provided here on the exchange tool 3 are placed into contact above and below the receiving part 2, and the exchange tool 3 is moved into the receiving opening 4 until the two press balls 7 engage with the ball-receiving openings 8 and the centering pin 9 is within the centering opening 10.

[0027] FIG. 2 shows a second quick-change system 1′ in a three-dimensional view. The second quick-change system 1′ includes a receiving part 2 and an exchange tool 3′, in which the receiving part 2 has a receiving opening for receiving the exchange tool 3′. Two ball catches 5 are provided on the receiving part 2 for temporarily fixing the exchange part 3′ on the receiving part 2, in which only one of the ball catches 5 is shown in the partial section and is visible. The press balls 7 (cf. FIG. 3) can be manually engaged on the exchange tool 3′ with each ball-receiving opening 8 (cf. FIG. 3) and then disengaged again therefrom in order to quickly implement, for example, a change to a differently dimensioned exchange tool 3′ (cf. FIG. 1a) or to an exchange tool designed for a different machining process.

[0028] In order to attach the exchange tool 3′ so as to prevent twisting, a centering pin 9 is provided on the receiving part 2, onto which centering pin a centering opening 10 can be shifted on the exchange tool 3′. The exchange tool 3′ is manually moved onto the receiving part 2 in the engagement direction E in order to engage with the receiving part 2. The exchange tool stops 3a′, 3b′ provided here on the exchange tool 3′ are placed into contact above and below the receiving part 2, and the exchange tool 3′ is moved into the receiving opening until the two press balls 7 (cf. FIG. 3) engage with the ball-receiving openings 8 and the centering pin 9 is within the centering opening 10.

[0029] FIG. 3 shows the second quick-change system 1′ according to FIG. 2 in a three-dimensional view from below in a partial representation. The same reference symbols as described in FIG. 2 above indicate the same elements.

[0030] FIG. 4 shows a section through one of the ball catches 5 of the second quick-change system 1′ according to FIGS. 2 and 3. The same reference symbols as described in FIG. 2 or 3 above indicate the same elements.

[0031] FIG. 5 shows an example of a possible ball catch 5 in an enlarged view in the section. Discernible is the sleeve 6 that is closed on one side, in which a press ball 7 spring-mounted by means of a spring element 11 is arranged. The sleeve 6 has an axis of symmetry S, in which the press ball 7 can be moved along the axis of symmetry S. A helical compression spring is provided in this case as the spring element 11; however, spring elements designed differently can also be used such as conical springs, disc springs, elements formed from an elastomer, and the like.

[0032] A section of an exchange tool 3, which is in the form of a blind hole in the region of a ball-receiving opening 8 in this case, is discernible above the ball catch 5. The ball-receiving opening 8 has a central axis M, which extends, in an engaged state of the receiving part 2 and the exchange tool 3, as shown here, in parallel as relates to the axis of symmetry S.

[0033] The axis of symmetry S and the central axis M extend, in the engaged state, in parallel to one another at a distance A in a range of from 1 to 3.5 mm. The selection of the distance A in this case has a direct impact on the retaining force between the exchange tool 3 and the receiving part 2 in the engaged state. The ball-receiving opening 8 has an edge break at least in the contact area 8a in which an edge of the ball-receiving opening 8 would make contact with the surface of the press ball 7. The selection of the size of the edge break in this case also has an impact on the retaining force between the exchange tool 3 and the receiving part 2 in the engaged state.

[0034] The specific design configuration as relates to the retaining force required in the respective application case can be determined using a few tests.

[0035] FIG. 6 shows a rotary indexing table unit 110 with a rotary indexing table 100. The rotary indexing table 100, including retainer 12, is rotatably arranged about an axis of rotation R. A plurality of first quick-change systems 1 (for example according to FIG. 1a), the receiving parts 2 of which are attached to the retainer 12, are situated on the rotary indexing table 100. In this case, the receiving parts 2 may also optionally be designed as one piece with the retainer 12. Retrofitting the rotary indexing table 100 to a different exchange tool 3 with the same receiving part 2 as before is efficient and purely manual; this means it can be performed without the use of an additional assembly tool and with minimal setup time.

TABLE-US-00001 REFERENCE NUMERALS 1, 1′ Quick-change system 2 Receiving part 3, 3′ Exchange tool 3a, 3b, 3a′, 3b′ Exchange tool stop 4 Receiving opening 5 Ball catch 6 Sleeve 7 Press ball 8 Ball-receiving opening 8a Contact area 9 Centering pin 10 Centering opening 11 Spring element 12 Retainer 100 Rotary indexing table 110 Rotary indexing table unit A Distance S Axis of symmetry M Central axis E Engaging direction R Axis of rotation