Machine tool and machine tool system

Abstract

A machine tool includes a base, a table, a main spindle, and a trunnion unit. The table is installed on the base. A tool is mounted to the main spindle. The main spindle is caused to approach a workpiece on the table along an up-down direction. The trunnion unit is configured to rotatably hold the table on which the workpiece is placed using a rotation axis along a front-rear direction as a center. The trunnion unit is disposed movable in a right-left direction.

Claims

1. A machine tool system comprising: at least first and second machine tools, each of the first and second machine tools comprising: a respective right side and a respective left side, a base; a table installed on the base; a column having at least a front surface, a height extending in an up-down direction, and a width extending in a right-left direction; a main spindle proximate the front surface of the column, to which a tool is mounted, the main spindle being caused to approach a workpiece on the table along the up-down direction; and a trunnion unit including a cradle rotatably holding the table on which the workpiece is placed, the cradle having a rotation axis that extends in a front-rear direction, and the trunnion unit being linearly movable in the right-left direction; wherein the rotation axis intersects the front surface of the column, and wherein the right-left direction and the front-rear direction extend perpendicular to one another; wherein the trunnion unit of the first machine tool is linearly movable in the right-left direction between a right position proximate the right side thereof and a left position proximate the left side thereof, and the trunnion unit of the second machine tool is linearly movable in the right-left direction between a left position proximate the left side thereof and a right position proximate the right side thereof, wherein a sum of a first distance between the right position of the trunnion unit of the first machine tool and the right side of the first machine tool, plus a second distance between the left position of the trunnion unit of the second machine tool and the left side of the second machine tool, plus a third distance between the right side of the first machine tool and the left side of the second machine tool, is less than or equal to a fourth distance between the trunnion unit of the first machine tool in the right position and the trunnion unit of the second machine tool in the left position, and when the trunnion unit of the first machine tool is in the associated right position and when the trunnion unit of the second machine tool is in the associated left position, the workpiece is able to be handed off from one of the trunnion unit of the first machine tool and the trunnion unit of the second machine tool to the other one of the trunnion unit of the first machine tool and the trunnion unit of the second machine tool.

2. The machine tool system according to claim 1, wherein the main spindle of at least one of the at least the first and second machine tools approaches the respective workpiece in a range, the range having a lower end below the center of the respective rotation axis of the respective trunnion unit and an upper end above a top surface of the respective workpiece.

3. The machine tool system according to claim 1, wherein the trunnion unit of at least one of the at least the first and second machine tools has a moving range in the right-left direction that exceeds a distance from a top surface of the respective table to a top surface of the respective workpiece.

4. The machine tool system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the at least the first and second machine tools is configured such that in a state where the respective workpiece is positioned above the respective table, a top surface of the respective workpiece is above a center position of the respective rotation axis in the front-rear direction.

5. The machine tool system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the at least the first and second machine tools is configured such that in a state where the respective workpiece is positioned above the respective table, a top surface of the respective table is configured to be above a center position of the respective rotation axis in the front-rear direction.

6. The machine tool system according to claim 1, wherein a sum of a distance from a center of the respective rotation axis of the at least the first machine tool to a top surface of the respective workpiece thereof and a distance from a center of the rotation axis of the at least the second machine tool to a top surface of the respective table thereof is configured so as to be equal to or less than a distance between the center of the respective rotation axis when the respective trunnion unit of the first machine tool is positioned at the respective right position and the center of the respective rotation axis when the respective trunnion unit of the second machine tool is positioned at the respective left position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIGS. 1A and 1B are explanatory views illustrating a machine tool and a machine tool system (FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the machine tool and FIG. 1B is a plan view of the machine tool system).

(2) FIGS. 2A to 2D are explanatory views (perspective views) illustrating operation contents of the machine tool system.

(3) FIGS. 3A to 3C are explanatory views (perspective views) illustrating operation contents of the machine tool system.

(4) FIG. 4 is an explanatory view (a front view) illustrating details of a configuration of the machine tool.

(5) FIG. 5 is an explanatory view (a front view) illustrating details of a configuration of the machine tool.

(6) FIGS. 6A and 6B are explanatory views illustrating a modification example of the machine tool system (FIG. 6A is a perspective view and FIG. 6B is a plan view).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(7) The following describes one embodiment of a machine tool and a machine tool system according to the disclosure in details based on drawings. FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate a machine tool and a machine tool system using the machine tool according to the disclosure. FIGS. 2A to 2D illustrate operation contents of the machine tool system. A machine tool system S.sub.1 is constituted of a machine tool M, a cover 8 covering the machine tool M, and two workpiece loading and unloading devices 12a, 12b installed in a peripheral area of the machine tool M (the two workpiece loading and unloading devices 12a, 12b have identical structures).

(8) In the machine tool M, a bed 1 that serves as a base is disposed to be in a rectangular parallelepiped shape. In a back side of the bed 1, a column 2 in a vertically-elongated rectangular parallelepiped shape is consecutively installed. Furthermore, in a front of the column 2, a trunnion unit 3 in an approximately U-shape from a side view is disposed movable along an X-axis direction, which is a right-left direction. In the trunnion unit 3, a cradle 16 is disposed rotatable in a B-axis direction. The B-axis direction is a rotation axis using a Y-axis, which runs in a front-rear direction, as a center. On a top surface of the cradle 16, a table 10 in a flat rectangular parallelepiped shape is mounted rotatable in a C-axis direction, which is a rotation axis perpendicular to the B-axis, and attachable/removable (the table 10 is configured to attach and remove a workpiece with a jig and a gripping mechanism (not illustrated)). On the column 2, a saddle 4 in a flat rectangular parallelepiped shape is disposed movable along the Y-axis direction. Furthermore, in a front end of the saddle 4, a main spindle head 5 in a vertically-elongated columnar shape is mounted movable along a Z-axis, which runs in an up-down direction. In a lower end of the main spindle head 5, a main spindle 6 to which a tool is mountable is disposed rotatable using the Z-axis as a center.

(9) In addition, below the saddle 4, a tool changer 7 including a clipper-type tool magazine is disposed. The tool changer 7 is in a state where a plurality of tools are mounted in a horizontal circumference shape. Then, the tool changer 7 is configured to automatically change a tool to be mounted to a distal end of the main spindle 6.

(10) The machine tool M configured as described above is in a state where an outer periphery of the machine tool M is covered with the cover 8 in a rectangular parallelepiped shape formed of a transparent synthetic resin plate or similar material. In the cover 8, access doors 9, 9 are installed. These access doors 9, 9 are configured to open and close as necessary. Then, the respective workpiece loading and unloading devices 12a, 12b are installed on both right and left sides of the cover 8 (installed so as to be adjacent to the access doors 9, 9). Each of the workpiece loading and unloading devices 12a, 12b includes a sliding base 11 in an approximately rectangular parallelepiped shape slidable with respect to a base 13. In a distal end of the sliding base 11, the table 10 on which a workpiece W is placed can be gripped. The right and left workpiece loading and unloading devices 12a, 12b are in a state where a moving direction of the sliding bases 11 conforms to the right-left direction (the X-axis direction) of the machine tool M.

(11) In the machine tool system S.sub.1 configured as described above, when the workpiece W that is already processed is changed with the workpiece W that is to be processed next, as illustrated in FIGS. 2A to 2D, the right and left access doors 9, 9 of the cover 8 are simultaneously opened (FIG. 2A). Subsequently, the right and left workpiece loading and unloading devices 12a, 12b are both caused to access to the machine tool M. That is, the workpiece loading and unloading device 12a on a left side causes the sliding base 11 on which the table 10 is not mounted to approach the trunnion unit 3 of the machine tool M to receive the already-processed workpiece W all together with the table 10. The sliding base 11 grips the table 10 (FIG. 2B). Subsequently, the workpiece loading and unloading device 12b on a right side causes the sliding base 11 gripping the table 10 on which the next-to-be-processed workpiece W is placed to approach the trunnion unit 3 of the machine tool M to deliver the next-to-be-processed workpiece W all together with the table 10 (FIG. 2C). Then, the access doors 9, 9 are closed, and processing of the workpiece W on the table 10 starts (FIG. 2D). Thus, in the machine tool system S.sub.1, the two workpiece loading and unloading devices 12a, 12b can simultaneously access from the right and left to the table 10 of the trunnion unit 3 that performs processing. Therefore, the already-processed workpiece W can be changed with the next-to-be-processed workpiece W in an extremely short period of time.

(12) FIGS. 3A to 3C illustrate a machine tool system S.sub.2 constituted by arranging a plurality of machine tools M.sub.1, M.sub.2, M.sub.3 in the right-left direction so as to be adjacent to one another with narrow intervals (the machine tools M.sub.1, M.sub.2, M.sub.3 have structures identical to the above-described machine tool M). In the machine tool system S.sub.2, when delivery/reception of the workpiece W is performed, first, in the machine tool M.sub.1 on the left side, the cradle 16 is turned by 90 degrees to the right in the B-axis direction after the workpiece W is processed. By turning the cradle 16 by 90 degrees to the right, the table 10 on which the already-processed workpiece W is placed is turned to the right and a top surface of the table 10 is caused to face the right side. Simultaneously with this, the trunnion unit 3 is slid rightward to approach the machine tool M.sub.2 in a center. Simultaneously with sliding the trunnion unit 3 of the machine tool M.sub.1 on the left side rightward, in the machine tool M.sub.2 in the center, the cradle 16 is turned by 90 degrees to the left in the B-axis direction. By turning the cradle 16 by 90 degrees to the left, the table 10 on which the workpiece W is not placed is turned to the left and a top surface of the table 10 is caused to face the left side. Together with this, the trunnion unit 3 is slid leftward to approach the machine tool M.sub.1 on the left side. Then, in a state where the table 10 of the machine tool M.sub.1 on the left side and the table 10 of the machine tool M.sub.2 in the center are brought close, the machine tool M.sub.2 in the center receives the already-processed workpiece W (a semi-processed goods) from the table 10 of the machine tool M.sub.1 on the left side (FIG. 3A).

(13) The machine tool M.sub.2 in the center receiving the workpiece W from the machine tool M.sub.1 on the left side can perform processing with the tool that is caused to approach the workpiece W from a direction different from the machine tool M.sub.1 on the left side. That is, an installation surface of the workpiece with the table 10 in the machine tool M.sub.1 can be processed (FIG. 3B). Then, after the workpiece W is processed in the machine tool M.sub.2 in the center, by turning the cradle 16 to the right in the B-axis direction, the table 10 on which the workpiece W is placed is turned to the right and the top surface of the table 10 is caused to face rightward. At the same time, the trunnion unit 3 is slid rightward to approach the machine tool M.sub.3 on the right side. Simultaneously with sliding the trunnion unit 3 of the machine tool M.sub.2 in the center rightward, in the machine tool M.sub.3 on the right side, by turning the cradle 16 to the left in the B-axis direction, the table 10 on which the workpiece W is not placed is turned to the left and a top surface of the table 10 is caused to face the left side. Together with this, the trunnion unit 3 is slid leftward to approach the machine tool M.sub.2 in the center. Then, in a state where the table 10 of the machine tool M.sub.2 in the center and the table 10 of the machine tool M.sub.3 on the right side are brought close, the machine tool M.sub.3 on the right side receives the workpiece W (the semi-processed goods) from the table 10 of the machine tool M.sub.2 in the center (FIG. 3C). The machine tool M.sub.3 on the right side receiving the workpiece W from the machine tool M.sub.2 in the center can perform processing with the tool that is caused to approach the workpiece W from a direction different from the machine tool M.sub.2 in the center. In such a machine tool system S.sub.2, processing steps can be divided by the respective machine tools M.sub.1, M.sub.2, M.sub.3 on the left side, in the center, and on the right side, thereby ensuring shortening a processing period per one step.

(14) Next, a preferred configuration of the machine tool that achieves directly delivering the workpiece W between each of the machine tools in the machine tool system S.sub.2 illustrated in FIGS. 3A to 3C will be described in details with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. 4 is a front view illustrating a configuration of the two adjacent machine tools M.sub.1, M.sub.2 among the machine tools of the machine tool system S.sub.2. FIG. 5 is a front view illustrating a state where the workpiece W is delivered. For a configuration similar to the above, an identical reference numeral is attached to omit the explanation. Here, the workpiece W is placed on the table 10 via a jig 15. The description will be made on the assumption that thicknesses of the jigs 15 in the machine tools M.sub.1, M.sub.2 are each different (a thickness of the jig in the machine tool M.sub.1 is G.sub.1 and a thickness of the jig in the machine tool M.sub.2 is G.sub.2).

(15) The main spindle heads 5 of the machine tools M.sub.1, M.sub.2 have operating ranges A in the Z-axis direction, which is the up-down direction. The operating range A is based on a distal end of the tool (not illustrated) mounted to the main spindle 6 that is rotatably disposed in the main spindle head 5. The operating range A is from a center of the rotation axis (a lower end) of the trunnion unit 3 to a top surface (an upper end) of the workpiece W placed on the table 10 via the jig 15. That is, in the machine tool M.sub.1, the operating range A is N.sub.1 or more, and in the machine tool M.sub.2, the operating range A is N.sub.2 or more (A>N.sub.1, or A>N.sub.2). In view of this, the machine tools M.sub.1, M.sub.2 are configured to process, not only the top surface of the workpiece W in FIG. 4, but a side surface of the workpiece W in a state where the trunnion unit 3 is turned by 90 degrees about the B-axis (see FIGS. 1A and 1B). Furthermore, by sequentially turning and indexing the table 10 about the C-axis (see FIGS. 1A and 1B) by 90 degrees, all of the four side surfaces can be processed. Accordingly, an operating range D of the trunnion unit 3 in the X-axis direction, which is a horizontal direction, is preferred to be equal to or more than a distance from the top surface of the table 10 to the top surface of the workpiece W. When the workpiece W is directly placed on the table 10, the operating range D is preferred to be equal to or more than a height H of the workpiece W. When the jig 15 is interposed, the operating range D is preferred to be equal to or more than a sum of a height G of the jig 15 and the height H of the workpiece W.

(16) Next, in order to deliver the workpiece W, the machine is simply constituted and arranged such that a sum of a distance N.sub.1 and a distance N.sub.2the height H of the workpiece W is equal to or less than a distance L (that is, LN.sub.1+N.sub.2H). The distance N.sub.1 is from a rotational center of the B-axis, which is the rotation axis when the cradle 16 is turned to a side of the machine tool M.sub.2 in the machine tool M.sub.1 serving as a delivering side, to the top surface of the workpiece. The distance N.sub.2 is from the rotational center of the B-axis to the top surface of the table 10 or the jig 15 (since the machine tool M.sub.2 serving as a receiving side is in a state without the workpiece W). The distance L is between a B-axis center position when the trunnion unit 3 of the machine tool M.sub.1 is positioned at a right end and a B-axis center position when the trunnion unit 3 of the machine tool M.sub.2 is positioned at a left end.

(17) At this time, the distances N.sub.1, N.sub.2, which are from the B-axis centers to the top surface of the workpiece W, are sums of distances J from the B-axis centers to the top surfaces of the tables 10, the thicknesses G.sub.1, G.sub.2 of the jigs 15, and the height H of the workpiece W. Therefore, as illustrated in FIG. 5, it is considered that LG.sub.1+G.sub.2+H+2J. That is, basically, it is preferred to design the machine tool such that the distance J from the B-axis center to the top surface of the table 10 is positive and a large value (that is, a state illustrated in FIG. 4) and the table 10 is disposed as upward as possible with respect to the B-axis center. However, the machine tool system may be configured to deliver the workpiece W by adjusting the thicknesses G.sub.1, G.sub.2 of the jigs 15 depending on the distances J from the B-axis centers of the machine tool M.sub.1, M.sub.2 serving as the bases to the top surfaces of the tables 10 or a size of the height H of the workpiece W.

(18) In addition, it is preferred to design the machine tools M.sub.1, M.sub.2 such that a sum of a distance F, a distance E, and a distance K between the machines of the machine tools M.sub.1, M.sub.2 is equal to or less than the distance L (that is, F+E+KL) or to adjust a size and a position of the cover and the door arranged between the machine tools M.sub.1, M.sub.2 to fulfill the condition. The distance F is from a B-axis center position of an operation end position in the right direction on the X-axis of the trunnion unit 3 of the machine tool M.sub.1 serving as the base to the right end of the machine. The distance E is from a B-axis center position of an operation end position in the left direction on the X-axis of the trunnion unit 3 of the machine tool M.sub.2 to the left end of the machine. The distance K between the machines of the machine tools M.sub.1, M.sub.2 is generated by, for example, the cover and the door arranged between the machine tools M.sub.1, M.sub.2. The distance L is between the B-axis center position when the trunnion unit 3 of the machine tool M.sub.1 is positioned at the right end and the B-axis center position when the trunnion unit 3 of the machine tool M.sub.2 is positioned at the left end. However, the machine tool system may be configured to deliver the workpiece W while using existing machine tools or considering dimensions of the cover and similar component arranged between the machines by adjusting the thicknesses G.sub.1, G.sub.2 of the jigs 15 similarly to a case of the distances J from the B-axis centers to the top surfaces of the tables 10. For example, in a case of the configuration like FIG. 4, the workpiece W can be delivered even when the height H of the workpiece W is smaller than that in FIG. 4 as illustrated in FIG. 5. In the machine tools M.sub.1, M.sub.2 in FIGS. 4 and 5, when the workpiece W is delivered, any one of the trunnion units 3 of the machine tools M.sub.1, M.sub.2 may be moved in a direction separating from the other. Alternatively, it is possible to make the distance K between the machines large and dispose the cover and similar component in between.

(19) As described above, the machine tool M includes the trunnion unit 3 movable in the right-left direction. The trunnion unit 3 is to hold the table 10 on which the workpiece W is placed rotatably using the rotation axis along the front-rear direction as the center. Such a machine tool M can shorten a stroke that causes the workpiece loading and unloading devices 12a, 12b to access to the table 10, which is for placing the workpiece W on, thereby ensuring changing the workpiece W in a considerably short period of time. Like the machine tool system S.sub.2, by laterally arranging similar machine tools M, M . . . , the workpiece W can be delivered between the adjacent machine tools M, M. Therefore, the steps can be divided by the machine tools M, M . . . , thereby ensuring shortening a processing period per one step. Moreover, with the machine tool M, the workpiece W is inverted in a short period of time to ensure easily performing processing on the installation surface of the workpiece W with the table 10.

(20) The machine tool system S.sub.1 includes the workpiece loading and unloading devices 12a, 12b that is configured to deliver the workpiece W to the table 10 and receive the workpiece W from the table 10 in the right and left of the machine tool M as described above. With such a machine tool system S.sub.1, by causing the workpiece loading and unloading devices 12a, 12b to simultaneously access from the right and left of the machine tool M, the workpiece W can be changed in an extremely short period of time, thereby ensuring substantially shortening a processing period of the workpiece W.

(21) The configuration of the machine tool according to the disclosure is not limited to the form of the above-described embodiment, and the configuration of, such as the shape of the bed, the column, the saddle, the trunnion unit, the table, and similar part can be appropriately changed as necessary without departing from the spirit of the disclosure. The configuration of the machine tool system according to the disclosure is not limited to the form of the above-described embodiment, and the configuration, such as the shape and the structure of the cover and the workpiece loading and unloading device, can be appropriately changed as necessary without departing from the spirit of the disclosure.

(22) For example, the machine tool according to the disclosure is not limited to the machine tool that includes the tool changer with the clipper-type magazine like the above-described embodiment, but may be, for example, the machine tool that includes a tool changer including an arm unit with a pot rotating type ATC (automatic tool changer) in a side of the column or similar position. Meanwhile, the machine tool system according to the disclosure is not limited to dispose the workpiece loading and unloading device only on both the right and left sides of the cover like the above-described embodiment, but the machine tool system may install the workpiece loading and unloading device on both the right and left sides and the front of the cover as illustrated in FIGS. 6A and 6B or the machine tool system may include the workpiece loading and unloading device on one-side of the right and left and the front of the cover. As illustrated in FIGS. 6A and 6B, a machine tool system S.sub.3 includes workpiece loading and unloading devices 12a. 12b, 12c that are installed on both the right and left sides and the front of the cover 8. In the machine tool system S.sub.3, the workpiece W can be received and delivered from the right-left direction to the front, from the front to the right-left direction, and similar direction in a short period of time. Therefore, there is an advantage of a further high degree of freedom in a way to process the workpiece W.

(23) It is explicitly stated that all features disclosed in the description and/or the claims are intended to be disclosed separately and independently from each other for the purpose of original disclosure as well as for the purpose of restricting the claimed invention independent of the composition of the features in the embodiments and/or the claims. It is explicitly stated that all value ranges or indications of groups of entities disclose every possible intermediate value or intermediate entity for the purpose of original disclosure as well as for the purpose of restricting the claimed invention, in particular as limits of value ranges.