MACHINE TOOL HAVING AT LEAST TWO TOOL CHANGING SYSTEMS

Abstract

The invention relates to a machine tool including a main spindle, a machine frame, a first tool changing system for tools having a first diameter, a second tool changing system for tools having a second diameter, wherein a minimum second diameter of the tools of the second tool changing system is larger than a maximum first diameter of the tools of the first tool changing system, and wherein the second tool changing system is integrated into the machine frame.

Claims

1. A machine tool, comprising: a main spindle, a machine frame, a first tool changing system for tools having a first diameter, a second tool changing system for tools having a second diameter, wherein a minimum second diameter of the tools of the second tool changing system is larger than a maximum first diameter of the tools of the first tool changing system, and wherein the second tool changing system is integrated into the machine frame.

2. The machine tool according to claim 1, wherein the second tool changing system is arranged in a cavity in the machine frame.

3. The machine tool according to claim 1, the second tool changing system comprises a plurality of magazine positions, each magazine position comprising a movable cylinder, especially a pneumatic cylinder, a holding arm and a gripper.

4. The machine tool according to claim 3, wherein the gripper is arranged on the holding arm at an angle of 90°, and/or wherein the cylinder is designed as a pneumatic cylinder without a piston rod.

5. The machine tool according to claim 1, wherein the main spindle is movable in a vertical axis and a horizontal axis.

6. The machine tool according to claim 1, wherein the machine tool is of portal design having a first column, a second column and a transverse portion connecting the columns.

7. The machine tool according to claim 6, wherein the second tool changing system is arranged beneath the traverse portions and/or wherein a recess is provided in the transverse portion.

8. The machine tool according to claim 1, wherein the magazine positions of the second tool changing system are arranged horizontally next to each other.

9. The machine tool according to claim 1, wherein the second tool changing system is arranged to perform a tool change in a machining compartment of the machine tool.

10. The machine tool according to claim 1, wherein a number of magazine positions for the tools in the second tool changing system is smaller than a number of magazine positions for the tools of the first tool changing system.

Description

[0016] In the following, a preferred example embodiment will be described in detail while making reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

[0017] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a machine tool having two tool changing systems, wherein the second tool changing system is in the extended position,

[0018] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the machine tool of FIG. 1 being in a retracted position of the second tool changing system,

[0019] FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a machine frame with the second tool changing system being in the extended position,

[0020] FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view of the machine frame with the second tool changing system being in the retracted position, and

[0021] FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional view of the machine frame with the second tool changing system being in the extended position.

[0022] In the following, a machine tool 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention will be described in detail while reference will be made to FIGS. 1 to 5.

[0023] The machine tool 10 comprises a main spindle 6 which is movable in the direction of a horizontal axis 4 and a vertical axis 5.

[0024] The machine tool 10 further comprises a machine frame 13, which, in this embodiment, is of portal design. The machine frame 13 comprises a first column 31, a second column 32 and a transverse portion 33, the main spindle 6 being movable in the horizontal direction at the transverse portion 33.

[0025] The machine frame 13 is arranged on a base plate 20, on which a rotary swivel unit 16 is movable along another horizontal axis not shown. A grooved plate 15 can be seen on the rotary swivel unit 16, onto which grooved plate workpieces can be clamped.

[0026] Furthermore, a first tool changing system 11 and a second tool changing system 12 are provided. The first tool changing system 11 is provided for first tools having a first diameter and the second tool changing system 12 is provided for second tools having a second diameter, wherein a maximum first diameter of the first tools is smaller than a minimum second diameter of the second tools. Thus, the second tool changing system is provided for larger diameter tools, whereas the first tool changing system is provided for smaller diameter tools.

[0027] As can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2, the first tool changing system 11 is arranged laterally on the machine frame 13. The second tool changing system 12 is arranged in a cavity 14 of the machine frame 13. The cavity 14 is provided below the transverse portion 33 of the machine frame 13.

[0028] The design of the second tool changing system 12 is shown in detail in FIGS. 3 to 5. The second tool changing system 12 comprises three magazine positions, which are arranged next to each other. The second tools are designated by the reference number 8, and have a relatively large diameter. Each machine insert location further comprises a pneumatic cylinder 3, a holding arm 2 and a gripper 1. The pneumatic cylinder 3 is rodless and linearly moves the holding arm 2 in a horizontal direction 9, the horizontal direction 9 being perpendicular to the horizontal axis 4 and perpendicular to the vertical axis 5.

[0029] The gripper 1 is used to hold a tool holder 7, which holds the tool 8. The gripper 1 can engage in a groove not shown or can engage in flattening in the tool holder 7, such that the tool holder together with the tool 8 can laterally be removed in the extended position, since the gripper 1 is arranged at an angle of 90° to the holding arm 2.

[0030] FIG. 1 schematically shows the extended position of all three magazine positions. It should be noted that in practical operation, of course, only one magazine position is extended and the other two magazine positions are in the retracted position shown in FIGS. 2 and 4.

[0031] As may especially be seen from FIG. 1, a tool change position for a tool is located in the machining compartment of the machine tool 10. As may further be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2, the tool change position is located vertically above the grooved plate 15 or the rotary swivel unit 16.

[0032] Since the main spindle 6 is movable in two linear directions (vertical and horizontal axis 4, 5) and the second tool changing system 12 is movable in a horizontal direction 9, this results in a spanned three-dimensional space in which the tools can be changed. In the retracted position of the tools 8 in the second tool changing system 12, the tools 8 are thus located outside the machining compartment below the transverse portion 33 of the portal-like machine frame 13.

[0033] To change a tool 8, the machine tool can thus position the main spindle 6 above the extended second tool holder 7 by moving in the direction of the two machine axes (vertical and horizontal axes 4, 5) and then moving down therefrom onto the tool holder 7, clamping it by the main spindle 6.

[0034] After the tool holder 7 has been clamped in the main spindle 6, the tool holder 7 can be extended laterally from the gripper 1 by moving the main spindle 6 linearly in the horizontal axis 4. As soon as sufficient distance to the gripper 1 has been achieved by laterally moving, the gripper 1 may be returned into the rest position beneath the transverse portion 33 with the holding arm 2. As a result, the gripper 1 and the holding arm 2 have moved out of the machining compartment of the machine tool 10 and machining using the newly clamped tool 8 may be started.

[0035] Thus, very few parts are required to accommodate the second tool changing system 12 which includes the large diameter tools. Furthermore, especially control during tool changing can be performed in a simple and easy manner. As a result, a very short tool changing time can also be achieved.

[0036] In the example embodiment illustrated, three magazine positions of the second tool changing system 12 are shown. However, it should be noted, that it is of course also possible to provide further additional magazine positions or even to only provide two or one magazine position. In this case, each individual magazine position can separately be controlled so as to move from its rest position to the changing position in the machining compartment by moving the pneumatic cylinder 3.

[0037] Thus, any distance between separate magazine positions is defined by a maximum diameter of the tools 8.

[0038] It should be further noted that, of course, a machine tool, such as a gantry machine, may be provided in which a main spindle is movable in the direction of more than two axes. In that case, the gripper 1 of the second tool changing system 12 need not necessarily be attached to the holding arm 2 at a right angle, but may be arranged on the holding arm 2 in any direction.

[0039] It should also be noted that the second tool changing system 12 may also be protected from chips produced during the machining process and from coolant or the like by an enclosure. For example, a flap may be arranged in front of the recess 14 to protect the second tool changing system 12.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0040] 1 gripper [0041] 2 holding arm [0042] 3 rodless pneumatic cylinder [0043] 4 horizontal axis/first horizontal direction [0044] 5 vertical axis [0045] 6 main spindle [0046] 7 tool holder [0047] 8 tool [0048] 9 horizontal axis/second horizontal direction [0049] 10 machine tool [0050] 11 first tool changing system [0051] 12 second tool changing system [0052] 13 machine frame/portal [0053] 14 cavity [0054] 15 grooved plate [0055] 16 rotary swivel unit [0056] 20 base plate [0057] 31 first column [0058] 32 second column [0059] 33 transverse portion