MULTIFUNCTIONAL MACHINING CENTER

Abstract

Machine tool and a base for a machine tool comprising a machine bed to support a first work module having a first end effector held thereon, and a second work module having a second end effector held thereon on a base surface in an area between two mutually opposed sides which delimit the machine bed, the sides extending between an underside of the machine bed and an upper side of the machine bed, when viewed in the vertical direction; a first bearing element which is fixed relative to the machine bed for holding the first work module; and a second bearing element which is fixed relative to the machine bed for holding the second work module; wherein the first bearing element and the second bearing element are arranged one above the other, when viewed in the vertical direction.

Claims

1. A machine tool comprising: a first work module; a second work module; a machine bed supporting the first and second work modules, the machine bed having a top and a bottom relative to the vertical direction and having two mutually opposed sides extending therebetween, the top and bottom and the two mutually opposed sides defining an interior space of the machine bed; a first bearing element attached to the top of the machine bed, the first bearing element configured to support the first work module external to the interior space of the machine bed; and a second bearing element attached to the machine bed in the interior space thereof, the second bearing element configured to support the second work module below the first work module relative to the vertical direction; wherein top of the machine bed separates the first bearing element from the second bearing element.

2. The machine tool as set forth in claim 1, wherein the top of the machine bed comprises a plate.

3. The machine tool as set forth in claim 2, wherein the first bearing element is arranged on an upper side of the plate pointing away from the top of the machine bed relative to the vertical direction.

4. The machine tool as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first work module comprises a carriage and the first bearing element comprises a guide rail configured to guide the carriage in a guide direction at an angle relative to the vertical direction.

5. The machine tool as set forth in claim 4, wherein the first bearing element comprises another guide rail running parallel and at a distance to the guide rail.

6. The machine tool as set forth in claim 4, further comprising a conveyor arranged along the guide rail for conveying a workpiece to the first work module.

7. The machine tool as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second work modules comprises a base unit, two installation legs arranged at a distance from one another and extending from the base unit for installation on a respective at least one of the first and second bearing elements.

8. The machine tool as set forth in claim 7, further comprising a conveying element arranged between the two installation legs for conveying a workpiece to be machined.

9. The machine tool as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first work module has a first end effector held thereon and the second work module having a second end effector held thereon.

10. The machine tool as set forth in claim 9, wherein each of the first and second end effectors comprises at least one of a tool and a chuck for holding the tool.

11. The machine tool as set forth in claim 1, wherein the top of the machine bed is detachable.

12. A machine tool comprising: a first work module; a second work module; a machine bed supporting the first and second work modules, the machine bed having a top and a bottom relative to the vertical direction and having two mutually opposed sides extending therebetween, the top and bottom and the two mutually opposed sides defining an interior space of the machine bed; a set of parallel guide rails attached to the top of the machine bed, the guide rails configured to support the first work module external to the interior space of the machine bed and to guide the first work module in a guide direction at an angle relative to the vertical direction; a conveyor arranged between the guide rails for conveying a workpiece to be machined to the first work module; and a support bearing configured to support the second work module in the interior space of the machine bed below the first work module relative to the vertical direction; wherein top of the machine bed separates the guide rails from the support bearing.

13. The machine tool as set forth in claim 12, wherein the top of the machine bed comprises a detachable plate.

14. The machine tool as set forth in claim 12, wherein the first work module comprises a carriage.

15. A machine tool comprising: a first work module having a first end effector held thereon; a second work module having a second end effector held thereon; a machine bed supporting the first work module and second work modules, the machine bed having an underside and an upper side relative to the vertical direction and having two mutually opposed sides extending between the underside and the upper side, the second work module being supported on a base surface in an area between the two mutually opposed sides of the machine bed; a first bearing element for holding the first work module, the first bearing element being fixed relative to the machine bed; and a second bearing element for holding the second work module, the second bearing element being fixed relative to the machine bed; wherein the first bearing element is arranged above the second bearing element relative to the vertical direction.

16. The machine tool as set forth in claim 15, further comprising a base part which detachably rests on the upper side of the machine bed, the base part separating the first bearing element from the second bearing element and closing an interior space of the machine bed defined by the underside and the upper side and the two mutually opposed sides extending therebetween, wherein the second bearing element is arranged in the interior space of the machine bed.

17. The machine tool as set forth in claim 16, wherein the first bearing element is arranged on an upper side of the base part, pointing away from the upper side of the machine bed relative to the vertical direction.

18. The machine tool as set forth in claim 16, wherein the first bearing element is a guide rail to guide the first work module in a guide direction at an angle relative to the vertical direction, wherein another guide rail running parallel and at a distance to the guide rail is arranged on the upper side of the base part.

19. The machine tool as set forth in claim 15, wherein the first work module comprises: a base unit; two installation legs which are arranged at a distance from one another and extend against a vertical direction from the base unit for installation on the first bearing element; and a holding element to hold an end effector, wherein the base is supported on the first bearing element with one of its installation legs.

20. The machine tool as set forth in claim 19, further comprising a conveyor arranged between the two installation legs for conveying a workpiece.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0019] FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a production line.

[0020] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a part of the production line of FIG. 1.

[0021] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a machine tool executed as a flange lathe machine for the production line of FIG. 1.

[0022] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a machine tool executed as an alternative flange lathe machine for the production line of FIG. 1.

[0023] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a machine tool executed as a shaft turning machine for the production line of FIG. 1.

[0024] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a machine tool executed as a bar turning machine for the production line of FIG. 1.

[0025] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a machine tool executed as an alternative bar turning machine for the production line of FIG. 1.

[0026] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a machine tool executed as a milling machine for the production line of FIG. 1.

[0027] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a machine tool executed as a shaft milling machine for the production line of FIG. 1.

[0028] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a machine tool executed as a shaft finishing machine for the production line of FIG. 1.

[0029] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a machine tool executed as a double-table milling machine for the production line of FIG. 1.

[0030] In the drawings, the same technical elements are provided with the same reference signs, and are only described once. The drawings are purely schematic, and, in particular, do not reflect the actual geometric proportions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0031] Reference is made to FIGS. 1 and 2 showing a schematic representation of a production line 1. The production line 1 shall be used to manufacture not further specified finished products from unmachined part by means of tools.

[0032] The production line 1 comprises a compartment for unmachined parts 2, in which the unmachined parts are stored, and a tool compartment 3, in which the tools are stored. Each gripper robot 4 in the compartment for unmachined parts 2 and in the tool compartment 3 can grip one unmachined part or a tool and use it to assemble a plate 6 on a setup station 5. A sufficient number of plates 6 is provided in a plate store 7.

[0033] The plates 6 equipped with the unmachined parts or the tools can then be transported over a conveyor belt 8 to a row 9 with machine tools 10. The machine tools 10 jointly perform a manufacturing process to fulfil the previously mentioned objective to use the tools for producing not further specified workpieces from the unmachined parts.

[0034] Every machine tool 10 in the row 9 carries out one or several intermediate steps of the manufacturing process. For this purpose, gripping robots 4 grip the unmachined parts and/or the tools from the plates 6, and equip the machine tool 10 with them to carry out the respective intermediate step. After the completion of the intermediate step, or as soon as a tool is no longer required, the gripper robots 4 put either the intermediate or finished product, or the tool which is no longer used, back on the respective plate 6, which then either moves to the next machine tool 10 and thus to the next intermediate step or back to the compartments 2, 3. In order to differentiate clearly in the following between the terms unmachined part and workpiece, an unmachined part is taken to be the material to be machined which is conveyed to a machine tool 10 regardless of whether it is an unmachined part from the compartment for unmachined parts 2 or an intermediate product from a previous intermediate step in another machine tool. A workpiece is taken to be an unmachined part machined by a machine tool 10. A workpiece leaving a machine tool 10 may therefore be the unmachined part for another machine tool 10.

[0035] The energy supply and control of the components of the production line 1 is carried out via the corresponding control cabinets 11. A control centre not shown in any further detail may coordinate the material flow by means of the gripper robots 4 and the plates 6.

[0036] The production line 1 is highly modular. This means that the production line 1 can be adapted to as many manufacturing scenarios as possible by simply replacing modules, so that, apart from possible program adjustments, no further mechanical conversion measures are necessary to adapt the production scenarios.

[0037] One the one hand, this is due to the arrangement of the individual machine tools 10 side-by-side. Usually it is not necessary to adapt the entire manufacturing process for a new manufacturing scenario, but only individual intermediate steps have to be adapted to the new manufacturing scenario. The production line shown in FIG. 1 makes it possible to re-configure these intermediate steps to be adapted individually by replacing the individual machine tools 10. This is why every intermediate step in the manufacturing process in the production line 1 should be realised by an individual machine tool 10.

[0038] On the other hand, the individual machine tools 10 themselves also have a modular design. In this way, the machine tools 10 can be adapted individually to new intermediate steps by simple reconfiguration. This shall be explained in the following using some examples.

[0039] Reference is made to FIG. 3, which is a perspective view of a machine tool 10 executed as a flange lathe machine for the production line of FIG. 1.

[0040] Before the flange lathe machine is explained in further detail as an example of the machine tool 10, the general design of every machine tool 10 which ensures the modularity shall first be explained.

[0041] Every machine tool 10 has a machine bed 12 which is carried on feet 13. As an example, the machine bed 12 is executed as a sheet metal construction. An interior space 14 is created inside the machine bed 12 in which work modules can be inserted. This will be described in more detail later.

[0042] When viewed in a vertical direction 15, the machine bed 12 extends between an underside 16 and an upper side 17, wherein the feet 13 are attached to the underside 16. The machine bed 12 also extends in a longitudinal direction 18 with a greater length than in a transverse direction 19. In the figures, the vertical direction 15 is also indicated as z-direction, the longitudinal direction 18 also as y-direction and the transverse direction 19 also as x-direction.

[0043] A protective housing 20 is placed on the machine bed 12. The protective housing 20 may, for example, protect persons standing in the area of the machine tool 10 from spinning materials. An inside space 21 of the protective housing 20 can be accessed from outside via a lift door 22, which is shown in FIG. 3 in closed condition. To open the lift door 22, a handle 23 attached to the lift door is drawn in the vertical direction. An example of the open lift door 22 is shown in FIG. 11. The inside space 21 of the protective housing 20 is visible from the outside through a window 24 in the lift door 22.

[0044] In the inside space 21 of the protective housing 20, a plate-shaped basic part is fixed on the upper side 17 of the machine bed 12, which is referred to in the following as the basic plate 25. The basic part shown as a plate is only an example and can be executed in any possible form. On the basic part executed as a basic plate 25, a first bearing element in the form of a first guide rail 26 and a second guide rail 27 are arranged running parallel and in the longitudinal direction 18 as guide direction.

[0045] Because the basic plate 25 is held on the machine bed 12 in a fixed manner, the guide rails 26, 27 are also arranged in a fixed manner relative to the machine bed 12. The machine bed 12 and the basic plate 25 jointly comprise a base to hold several work modules. In this case, the basic plate 25 defines the maximum base surface in which the work modules should be held. These work modules hold and move the so-called end effectors. The term end effector actually refers to the end of a kinematic chain in the robotics. Deviating slightly from this definition, the end effectors are taken here as the points in a machine tool which grip the unmachined part for machining. This means that an end effector is either a tool or a holder for the unmachined part, such as a chuck.

[0046] A first work module 28 can be supported on the guide rails 26, 27 to be moved in the longitudinal direction 18 in a manner still to be explained. Below the basic plate 25, a second bearing element is arranged on the machine bed 12 in the shape of a support bearing 29, also called a support. A second work module 30 can be supported on the support bearing 29.

[0047] The first work module 28 comprises a base unit 31. Installation legs 32 protrude from the base unit 31 against the vertical direction 18 on the side pointing to the upper side 17 of the machine bed 12. The base unit 31 and the installation legs 32 jointly form a carriage, wherein the installation legs 32 are inserted in the first guide rail 26 and the second guide rail 27 for guiding. A belt-driven spindle 33 is arranged on the side of the machine tool 10 opposite the lift door 22 which can move the carriage 31, 32 on the guide rails 26, 27 in the longitudinal direction 18. Because the carriage 31, 32 can be moved in the longitudinal direction 18, it shall be referred to in the following as Y-carriage 31, 32.

[0048] Two further guide rails 34 are arranged on a side of the base unit 31 of the work module 28 pointing to the lift door 22, which guide another carriage 35 in the transverse direction 19. Because the further carriage 35 can be moved in the transverse direction 19, it shall be referred to in the following as X-carriage 35. The X-carriage 35 can also be driven via a belt-driven spindle 33.

[0049] Finally, a pivoting headstock 36 is arranged on the X-carriage 35 and thus on the first work module 28, which can be moved in the vertical direction 15 via a spindle direct drive 37. Therefore, the pivoting headstock 36 is referred to in the following as Z-carriage 36.

[0050] An end effector in the form of a rotatable chuck 38 is arranged on the lower end of the Z-carriage 36 when viewed against the vertical direction 15, in which unmachined parts 39 can be clamped and turned. The unmachined parts 39 are on a conveyor belt 40, which is supported on another non-visible bearing element, and guided underneath the base unit 31 of the Y-carriage 31, 32. Finally, a turret 41 is supported on the support bearing 29, from which a turning tool not shown in any further detail can be drawn out upwards in the vertical direction 15 to machine the unmachined parts 39.

[0051] The chuck 38 can be moved by means of the X-carriage 35, the Y-carriage 31, 32 and the Z-carriage 36 in all three directions in space 15, 18, 19.

[0052] For flange turning, the chuck 38 is used to grip and turn an unmachined part 39 which is fed into the machine tool 10 via the conveyor belt 40. As the chuck 38 can move in all three directions in space 15, 18, 19, the turning unmachined part clamped in the chuck 38 can be conveyed via a tool into the turret 41 and moved there in accordance with a contour to be manufactured. After completing the flange turning work, the thus manufactured workpiece is put back on the conveyor belt 40, which then transports the finished workpiece out of the machine tool 10.

[0053] As can be seen in FIG. 3, only three carriages and the corresponding three drives are required for flange turning including gripping the workpiece 39 from the conveyor belt 40. Unlike DE 20 2015 102 057 U1, the machine tool 10 of FIG. 3 does not require its own workpiece import and export mechanisms. The X, Y and Z carriages, which are also used to move at least one end effector, can be used to grip the unmachined part 39 and to put down the workpiece with the chuck 38 respectively. This is not only significantly cost-saving, it also requires significantly less construction space. However, the machine tool of FIG. 3 can be integrated fully into the production line 1 of FIG. 1 without losing freedom of movement as in DE 20 2009 014 709 U1 in the transverse direction 19.

[0054] The advantages are achieved in particular by the vertical arrangement of the first work module 28 and the second work module 30 one above the other and approaching the unmachined parts 39 between the two work modules 28, 30. Although the two work modules 28, 30 may basically be arranged in any way one above the other, the basic plate 25, on which the first work module 28 can be moved, provides a stabilisation of the machine bed 12.

[0055] In general, plates are easy and cheap to procure. This is why the design of the invention with a plate as shown in FIG. 3 is particularly favourable.

[0056] Reference is made to FIG. 4, which is a perspective view of a machine tool 10 executed as an alternative flange lathe machine for the production line of FIG. 1.

[0057] A comparison of the machine tools 10 of FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 gives a particularly clear picture of the modularity achieved. By simply installing a drawer 42 underneath the lift door 22, it is very easy to provide the machine tool 10 with a manual loading option for unmachined parts 39 by means of the drawer 42 as an alternative or additional option to the automated provision of the unmachined parts 39 via the conveyor belt 40 of FIG. 3. Obviously, the drawer 42 can also be loaded automatically with unmachined parts 39 if this is desired.

[0058] Reference is made to FIG. 5, which shows a perspective view of a machine tool 10 executed as a shaft turning machine for the production line of FIG. 1.

[0059] The fundamental difference between the machine tool 10 of FIG. 5, which is executed as a shaft turning machine, and the machine tools 10 of FIGS. 3 and 4, which are executed as flange lathe machines, is that the turret 41 is now fixed to the first work module 28. Otherwise, the first work module 28 basically has the same design as the machine tools of FIGS. 3 and 4.

[0060] The unmachined part 39 to be machined is clamped in a vise 43 with the chuck 38, which is attached to a spindle without reference sign, which can be moved in the longitudinal direction 18. The chuck 38 of the vise 43 stands on the basic plate 25. A tailstock 44 belonging to the vise 43 lying opposite the chuck 38 in longitudinal direction rests on the support bearing 29. In the present embodiment, the support bearing is located on the upper side 17 of the machine bed 12. To increase the stability, the tailstock 44 can be bolted to the machine bed 12.

[0061] The machine tool 10 of FIG. 5 can be loaded with unmachined parts 39 from the front and from the back. In FIG. 5, the machine tool 10 is loaded with unmachined parts 39 from the front.

[0062] It can clearly be seen in FIG. 5 that the modification of the machine tool 10 from a flange lathe machine according to FIG. 3 or 4 to a shaft turning machine according to FIG. 5 only required the attachment of the turret 41 to the first work module 28. As second work module 30, the tailstock 44 is to be installed in the shaft turning machine 10.

[0063] Reference is made to FIG. 6, which is a perspective view of a machine tool 10 executed as a bar turning machine for the production line of FIG. 1.

[0064] The machine tool 10 executed as a bar turning machine is an example of how the machine tool 10 of FIG. 5 executed as a shaft turning machine can also be loaded with unmachined parts 39 from the back in longitudinal direction 18. For this purpose, a magazine 45, set up behind the machine tool 10 when viewed accordingly in longitudinal direction 18, loads the machine tool 10 with the shaft or the rod as unmachined part 39, and unloads the finished workpiece from the machine tool 10 accordingly after machining.

[0065] FIG. 6 also shows an optional turret 41, which could be arranged underneath the unmachined part 39 when viewed in the vertical direction 15. For the sake of brevity, this optional turret 41 shall not be described in any further detail.

[0066] Reference is made to FIG. 7, which is a perspective view of a machine tool 10 executed as an alternative bar turning machine for the production line of FIG. 1. FIG. 7 shows several technical elements which, for reasons of clarity, have no reference signs.

[0067] As indicated in FIG. 6, further tools can be integrated in the machine tool 10 using an optional additional turret 41. In FIG. 7, the idea of integrating more tools is extended further by executing the first work module 28 twice. The unmachined part 39, in this case a rod, is machined between the two first work modules 28, which are guided relative to each other via a supporting guide rail 46.

[0068] Instead of the turret 41 of FIGS. 3 to 6, a block die is used in FIG. 7. It is a tool-carrying plate 47 to which tools 48 are attached respectively. The tools 48 on the tool-carrying plate 47 can be transported specifically to the workpiece 39 with the first work module 28 via the corresponding X, Y and Z-carriages for machining.

[0069] Reference is made to FIG. 8, which is a perspective view of a machine tool 10 executed as a milling machine for the production line of FIG. 1.

[0070] Analogous to the machine tool 10 of FIG. 4, the machine tool 10 of FIG. 8 shows a chuck 38 on the first work module 28, which, however, does not turn. In this chuck 38 tools 48 are clamped which are provided by a turret 41 which is attached to the first work module 28 by means of a bracket 49. The chuck 38 and the clamped tool 48 therefore jointly form an end effector. The turret 41 in FIG. 8 can be swivelled around the transverse axis 19. In this way, the tools 48 held in the turret 41 are turned into the chuck 38 to be inserted there, and can be removed again accordingly.

[0071] The unmachined part 39 to be machined is held in a turn/swivel bridge 50 as second work module 30, which rests on a support bearing 29 analogous to FIG. 3. The unmachined parts 39 can be provided analogous to FIG. 3 via the conveyor belt 40. The machine tool 10 can also be loaded, however, via the drawer 42 from FIG. 4 as an alternative or additional option. As the turn/swivel bridge 50, unlike in FIGS. 3 and 4, cannot transport the chuck 38 with the clamped unmachined part 39 to the workpieces 39 on the conveyor belt 40, a gripper 51 is arranged to grip unmachined parts 39 on the conveyor belt 40 and load the turn/swivel bridge 50 with the gripped unmachined part 39. Accordingly, after the completion of the workpiece, the gripper 51 can unload the finished workpiece from the turn/swivel bridge 50.

[0072] FIG. 8 shows particularly clearly how easy it is, due to the arrangement of the first work module 28 and the second work module 30 placed on top of each other when viewed in the vertical direction 15, to convert a machine tool 10 executed as a lathe, for example from FIG. 3, into a milling machine. A fundamental new dimensioning as would be required for the machine tool of DE 20 2015 102 057 U1 is not necessary.

[0073] The modular principle becomes even clearer in the comparison of FIG. 9, showing a perspective view of a machine tool 10 executed as a shaft milling machine for the production line 1 of FIG. 1, and the machine tool of FIGS. 4 and 5 executed as a flange lathe machine and as a shaft turning machine, respectively. Here, instead of the turret 41 in FIG. 5, only the rotating chuck 38 on the first work module 28 has been changed, while the unmachined part 39, i.e. the shaft or rod itself, is stationary. Also in FIG. 9, the tool to be clamped in the chuck 38 on the first work module 28 can be provided, for example, via the turret 41 of FIG. 8, which is attached to the first work module 28 by means of the bracket 49.

[0074] In FIG. 10, showing a perspective view of a machine tool 10 executed as a shaft finishing machine for the production line 1 of FIG. 1, the second work module 30 is executed as a rotatable gripper 52 instead of as a turn/swivel bridge 50 as in FIG. 8.

[0075] Otherwise, all characteristics of FIG. 8 can also be applied for the machine tool 10 of FIG. 10.

[0076] Reference is made to FIG. 11, which is a perspective view of a machine tool 10 executed as a double table milling machine for the production line of FIG. 1.

[0077] The machine tool 10 of FIG. 11 shows clearly that the tool 48 and the unmachined part 39 to be machined must not necessarily be provided via the same side of the machine tool 10. As shown in FIG. 11, the tools 48 can be led into the machine tool 10 from the back when viewed in the longitudinal direction 18 via a conveyor belt 40, while the unmachined parts 39 to be machined can be led into the machine tool 10 from the front when viewed in the longitudinal direction 18 via a loading system 53.

[0078] In the machine tool 10 of FIG. 11, the unmachined parts 39 to be machined can be put in place by the loading system 53 on an end effector in the form of a tool table 54, which is supported on a support bearing 29 in the machine bed 12.

[0079] The production line 1 of FIG. 1 is only an example. The modular design of the machine tools 10 provide a plurality of design possibilities for the production line 1.

[0080] For example, tools 48 and unmachined parts 39 must not necessarily be provided from one side of the machine tools 10, which is shown particularly clearly in FIG. 11. Neither the inflow or outflow of the tools 48 and unmachined parts 39 and the workpieces have to be carried out via the same side of the machine tool 10 as in production line 1 of FIG. 1.

[0081] The modular design of the machine tools 10 with the associated minimum material and construction space requirements for manufacturing can be realised in any manner.