DEVICE FOR DETACHABLY SECURING MODULES

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for detachably securing modules (1), such as tool holders, to a third component (3), such as a rotatable tool disk fora machine tool, comprising a controllable securing device (51, 53), by means of which the respective module (1) can be re-secured in a detachable manner in a locked position on the third component (3) by means of individual securing parts (15), and a release device (76, 77) which at least partially helps to release the securing device (51, 53) in a release position, such that the release device (76, 77) at least at the beginning of releasing, exerts pressure on the securing device (51, 53) for releasing the individual securing parts (15).

Claims

1. A device for detachably securing modules (1), such as tool holders, to a third component (3), such as a rotatable tool disk for a machine tool, having a controlled securing device (51, 53), by means of which the relevant module (1) can be secured on the third component (3) in a locking position in a detachable manner using individual securing parts (15) and having an unlocking device (76, 77), which supports at least partially the re-detachment of the securing device (51, 53) into an unlocked position, characterized in that the unlocking device (76, 77) exerts a, at least at the beginning of the re-detaching process, preferably permanently acting, compression force on the securing device (51, 53) to detach the individual securing parts (15).

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the securing device (51, 53) and the unlocking device (76, 77) can be controlled by a common actuator (62, 66), which actuates at least the securing device (51, 53) in an actuating direction and at least the unlocking device (76, 77) in the reverse direction of actuation.

3. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the securing device comprises a locking gear having individual locking bolts (51, 53), which interact with the securing parts (15) of the third component (3), and that the unlocking device has a latch gear having latches (76, 77), which are at least partially in engagement with the locking bolt (51, 53) at least for exerting the compression force.

4. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that four securing bolts (15) are located on the contact surfaces (5), on which the individual tool holder (1) and the tool disk (3) can be attached to each other by means of the securing device, which bolts are grouped in pairs around a central region (45), the arrangement can be made with particular advantage such that every locking bolt (51) of a pair of locking bolts (51), which is actuated by the wedge-shaped first actuating part (64), controls one further locking bolt (53) each at the location where it latches to its assigned securing bolt (15), which can each be latched to a securing bolt (15) of a further pair of securing bolts in a detachable manner.

5. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the locking bolts (51, 53) and the latches (76, 77) move in directions towards each other, which are located in a spanned common plane through which the respective module (1) or the third component (3) extends, and that the actuator (62, 66) performs movements along a path, which also lies on this plane.

6. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that a preferably spring-actuated restoring device (61) is present, which in addition to the unlocking device (76, 77) supports the unlocking of the locking bolt (51, 53).

7. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the respective locking bolts (51, 53) are guided longitudinally displaceably in channel-like recesses (55, 57, 59) in the module (1) or the third component.

8. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the respective locking bolts (51, 53) have a rib (68) at one end facing the adjacent securing part in the form of a locking bolt (15), which in the locked state engage with an assigned annular groove (31) in the securing bolt (15).

9. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the actuator (62, 66) has a wedge-shaped first actuating part (64) at its free front end, which first actuating part pushes the pairs of locking bolts (51) apart with increasing penetration motion and pushes them into engagement with the adjacent annular groove (31) of a securing bolt (15), and also has a second actuating part (74) at the side opposite the first opposite actuating part (64), which second actuating part actuates the unlocking device (76, 77) in the reverse direction from the penetration motion upon the return movement.

10. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the actuator (62, 66) forming the second actuating part has a slanted surface (74), which is formed on the wedge-shaped side of the actuator (64) opposite from the first actuator (62, 66) and which acts as a control surface for the latch gear of the unlocking device (76, 77) upon the return movement of the actuator and moves it into the unlocking detachment position.

11. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that a pair of latches having two latches (76, 77) is provided for every locking bolt (51) that can be driven into the secured position by the first actuating part (64), which latches can be moved in channels (78, 79) located in the same plane as the channel-like recesses (55, 57, 59) guiding the locking bolts (51, 53).

12. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that for each of these pairs of latches, a first latch (76) can be driven in a direction parallel to the direction of the locking bolt by the slanted surface of the second actuating part (74) in its return movement and as a result move the relevant second latch (77) in the direction perpendicular to the movement of the locking bolts (51) using further interacting slanted surfaces (80), wherein control surfaces (81) of the second latches (77) come into engagement with slanted contact surfaces (83) located in recesses (82) of the locking bolt (51) and there generate the pressure force that moves the relevant locking bolt (51) in the unlocking direction.

13. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the control body (66) of the actuator (62, 66) with attached first (64) and second actuating part (74) can be moved by an adjusting screw (62) for the penetration and return movement, which adjusting screw can be actuated in a rotary manner from an end face (63) of the module (1) or third component.

14. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that that every locking bolt (51) of a pair of locking bolts (51), which is actuated by the wedge-shaped first actuating part (64), controls one further locking bolt (53) each at the location where it latches to its assigned securing bolt (15), which can each be latched to a securing bolt (15) of a further pair of securing bolts (15) in a detachable manner.

Description

[0026] Below the invention is explained in detail with reference to exemplary embodiments shown in the drawing.

[0027] In the Figures:

[0028] FIG. 1 shows a perspective oblique view of a tool holder on which an embodiment of the device according to the invention can be attached to a tool holder;

[0029] FIG. 2 shows a perspective oblique view drawn in broken lines of only one peripheral region of a tool disk on which a tool holder can be secured by means of the device according to the invention;

[0030] FIG. 3 shows a side view of the tool holder of FIG. 1, the base body of which is cut along a section plane from one corner region to the other corner.

[0031] FIG. 4 shows a horizontal section of the tool holder provided with an exemplary embodiment of the device according to the invention, corresponding to the section line IV-IV of FIG. 3, shown in the locking position of the device;

[0032] FIG. 5 shows a horizontal section corresponding to FIG. 4, the device being shown in an intermediate position;

[0033] FIG. 6 shows a horizontal section corresponding to FIGS. 4 and 5, the device being shown in the unlocked position; and.

[0034] FIG. 7 shows a perspective oblique view of only the functional parts of the securing device and the unlocking device of the exemplary embodiment of the device according to the invention.

[0035] Using the accompanying drawing, the invention is described based on an exemplary embodiment in which a tool holder in its entirety referred to as 1 can be secured at the contact surface of a tool station on the circumference of the tool disk of a tool turret. It goes without saying that instead of a tool holder 1, a different type of module can be attached to a third component, which is different from a tool disk. FIG. 2 shows a peripheral portion of the tool disk 3, wherein only the contact surface 5 of the contact surfaces 5, 7 and 9 of the tool disk 3 visible in FIG. 2 is prepared for the clamping of the tool holder 1. The tool holder 1 has a base body 11 in the form of a cuboid having a rectangular outline, which has on its underside 13 a planar securing surface, which can be clamped to one of the contact surfaces, in the example shown, to the contact surface 5 of the tool disk 3. For this purpose, the contact surfaces, in FIG. 2 only shown for the contact surface 5, are provided with securing parts in the form of four securing bolts 15, which are mounted in pairs to the corner areas of the relevant contact surface, which in FIG. 2 is shown only for the contact surface 5.

[0036] The securing bolts 15 have a male thread 17 at the end assigned to the tool disk 3, which threads are used to screw it into a threaded bore 19 of the relevant contact surface. There, an annular disk 21, which rests against the securing bolt 15 on a collar 23 where the diameter of the securing bolt 15 increases relative to the external thread 17, is in contact with the relevant contact surface 5, see FIG. 3. A locking sleeve 29 is axially attached to the relevant securing bolt 15, which has a predeterminable radial clearance, between this collar 23 and a further collar 27 formed at the transition to the screw head 25. An annular groove 31 is incorporated in the outer circumference of the locking sleeve 29 as a locking element for the latching device to be formed. The screw head 25 of the securing bolt 15 has a hexagon socket 33 for screwing it into the threaded holes 19.

[0037] The base body 11 has a spindle bearing having roller bearings for a tool spindle 37 in the usual manner of such tool holders 1, one of the roller bearings being within a tube 43 axially projecting from the base body 11, which extends into a drilled receiving hole located in the contact surface, if the tool holder 1 is attached to the contact surface 45 (FIG. 2). The tool holder 47, formed in the usual way, for a rotatably drivable tool (not shown) is located at the upper end of the tool spindle 37, protruding above the base body 11. If the tool holder 1 is in the connecting position, a flat coupling web 48, formed at the lower end of the spindle 37 in FIG. 3 in a manner known per se, engages in a coupling manner with the coupling part of a driven end of the motor located in the tool disk 3, if the tool holder 1 is in the working position. The end of the spindle may have a different shape, for example, be designed as a 2-flat wedge or as a splined wedge (DIN 5480, 5482). A line provided for the supply of cooling lubricant to the work area, originating at the top of the base body 11 is referred to as 49. The device according to the invention is also suitable for so-called static solutions, i.e., the machining tool is not driven, but simply rigidly clamped in the tool holder 1 (not shown).

[0038] FIGS. 4 to 7 show details of an exemplary embodiment of the device according to the invention, located in the base body 11 of the tool holder 1. It can also be installed in a relevant third component, such as the tool disk 3. A securing device 51, 53 can be used to attach the module on the third component 3 in a blocking position in a detachable manner using the securing bolts 15. One locking bolt 51, 53 each is provided for latching to each of the four securing bolts 15. In this case, a pair of first locking bolts 51 is provided for latching to the lower pair of securing bolts 15 in FIGS. 4 to 6, and for the upper pair of the securing bolts 15 in these figures, a second pair of locking bolts 53 is provided. Each pair of locking bolts 51 and 53 is formed as identical parts in the manner of rods, which can be moved in channels extending in a horizontal plane in the base body 11, the channel provided for the locking bolts 51 of the first pair being referred to as 55 and the channels provided for the locking bolts 53 of the second pair being referred to as 57 and 59. The channels 55, 57, 59 open in the base body 11 into a recess each having the form of a cylindrical drilled hole 60 (FIG. 3), with which an assigned securing bolt 15 engages in the connecting position.

[0039] The tool spindle 37, the tube 43, the tool holder 47 and the coupling web 48 are arranged within a fictitious cuboid, not shown in the figures, wherein every side edge of the cuboid extends through one of the four recesses in the form of cylindrical drilled holes 60 and perpendicular to the horizontal plane.

[0040] The design of the blocking gear having the locking bolts 51 and 53 corresponds, as far as the geometry of the locking bolts 53 and the geometry of the outer sections of the locking bolt 51 interacting with a relevant securing bolt 15 are concerned, to the solution, as is described in the deferred publication DE 10 2015 012 938 by the proprietor. Accordingly, the locking bolts 51, which are formed by identical parts, have a special shape at the end assigned to the relevant securing bolt 15 and pre-stressed at the inner end facing away from the securing bolt 15 by a tension spring 61 for a return movement, in which the locking bolts 51 move towards each other. At the end facing the securing bolt 15, the locking bolts 51 have a shape in which, starting from the outer end, a slightly curved slanted surface 67, which largely extends at an angle of about 45 to the longitudinal axis of the bolt, merges into a rib 68, which forms the actual engagement part for the latching or clamping by engagement with the annular groove 31 of the relevant securing bolt 15. At the end area opposite the inclined plane 67, every locking bolt 51 forms a further slanted surface 69, which extends at an angle of approximately 20 from the longitudinal axis of the bolt and interacts with an end surface 70 having an adapted slope of the assigned locking bolt 53 of the second pair and which moves these locking bolts 53 in the direction of the securing bolt 15 of the second pair when the locking bolts 51 move apart against the restoring force of the tension spring 61. An actuator provided for this purpose has a control body 66, which can be moved along a positioning axis 38 perpendicular to the axis of the locking bolt 51 and which forms a first actuating part in the form of a wedge surface 64 at the front end facing the locking bolt 51. In a penetration movement along the axis 38, the wedge surface 64 drives the locking bolt 51 apart for the locking engagement using the associated securing bolt 15, wherein the slanted surfaces 69 interacting with the relevant end surface 70 bring the engagement ends 72 of the second locking bolts 53 into in locking engagement with the assigned securing bolts 15. For differently designed interfaces at the user side, angles other than the specified angle of approximately 20 may result as well.

[0041] The engagement ends 72 are shaped such that the latching engagement on the securing bolts 15 is not self-locking, as is the case when the ribs 68 of the first locking bolt 51 engage with the assigned securing bolts 15. In order to bring the first locking bolt 51 out of latching engagement and to thus bring the securing device of the device to its unlocked position, an unlocking device is provided.

[0042] In an exemplary embodiment not shown in detail in the figures, the unlocking device has compression springs, which engage with the rear ends of the locking bolts 51 facing away from the actuator and permanently exert a compression force in the direction of the actuator on the locking bolts 51. The compression springs are preferably tapered towards the ends of the locking bolts 51, which enables the compression springs to extend through an interstice formed between the end surfaces 70 of the locking bolts 53 and the securing bolt 15 closest to the end surfaces 70 and to exert a compression force on the locking bolts 51 in any position of the locking bolt 51 in the channels 55. The pressure force applied by a relevant pressure spring pushes the relevant locking bolt 51 out of engagement with securing bolt 15 nearest to the rear end of this locking bolt 51 facing away from the actuator and in addition can push this locking bolt 51 in its initial position in the direction of the actuator, such that the tension spring 61 does not have to be provided in an unlocking device designed in this way.

[0043] [ . . . ] provided with a latch gear, which can be actuated to generate a compression force on the first locking bolt 51, which force pushes the locking bolt 51 out of engagement with the securing bolt 15. The latch gear can be supported by the unlocking device described above using compression springs; in doing so only one compression spring, which presses on a locking bolt 51, may suffice. The unlocking device in the form of a latch gear is the preferred embodiment due to the superior permanent transmission of pressure force, alternatively, the solution of an unlocking device having said compression springs is also possible. If compression springs are used, their direction of force is parallel to the transmission of force of the tension spring 61 onto the two locking bolts 51. In that regard, the tension spring 61 supports the relevant unlocking process as a pulling unlocking device, be it by means of at least one compression spring and/or described the latch gear described in more detail below.

[0044] In addition to the wedge surface 64, the control body 66 has a second actuation part for the control of the latch gear, which is formed by a slanted surface 74, which is located at the side of the control body 66 facing away from the wedge surface 64, which forms the first actuation part, and interacts with two first latches 76 of a first pair of latches. For the penetration movement of the control body 66 and its reverse return movement, an adjusting screw 62 is provided, which is screwed into the female thread 37 of the drilled hole in the base body 11 defining the positioning axis 38 and which can be actuated by rotation from the front side 63 of the base body 11.

[0045] FIG. 4 shows the state of the blocked position, in which the first locking bolts 51 are driven apart by the penetration movement of the wedge surface 64 of the control body 66 and are in latching engagement with the respective locking bolts 15. To transfer the device to the unlocked position, the control body 66 is moved to the outside by means of the adjusting screw 62. If in the course of this movement, the intermediate position shown in FIG. 5 is reached, the latching engagement of the locking bolt 51 with the securing bolt 15 initially persists due to self-locking effects despite the restoring force of the tension spring 61. In the further outward positioning movement of the control body 66, the slanted surface 74 of the control body 66 forming the second actuation part comes into contact with a facing slanted surface of the first latches 76 and drives the first latches 76 apart upon further adjusting movement, see the arrows in FIG. 5, wherein they move in a channel 78 extending in parallel to a direction of movement of the locking bolt 51. In doing so, the first latches 76 come into engagement with a second latch 77 of a second pair of latches. These second latches 77 are movable in channels 79, which extend perpendicular to the direction of movement of the locking bolt 51. During the moving apart of the first latches 76, they drive the second latches 77 in the direction of the locking bolt 51 using interacting slanted surfaces 80. They have a recess 82 for every second latch 77, in each of which a slanted contact surface 83 is located, along which the second latches 77 slide in the upward movement in FIG. 5 and thereby generate a pressure force on the locking bolt 51, which drives them against each other. This results in the inevitable breakaway of the self-locking of the ribs 68 at the securing bolt 15, such that, as shown in FIG. 6, with the second latches 77 in their most elevated position, the locking bolts 51 are pulled into the final unlocking position after the tension spring 61 has overcome the self-locking effect, in which final unlocking position the contact surfaces 83 of the recess 82 are lifted from the associated control surface 81 of the second latches 77.

[0046] The linear directions of travel of the first pair of latch bolts 51 and the first pair of latches 76 coincide. Likewise, the linear directions of travel of the second pair of latch bolts 53 and the second pair of latches 77 are identical. The first and the second pair of latch bolts 51, 53 and the first and second pairs of latches 76, 77 are arranged on both sides of a symmetry plane, which is perpendicular to the horizontal plane as the spanning plane, wherein in each case a first and a second latch bolt 51, 53 and a first and a second latch 76, 77 are arranged symmetrically to each other on each side of the symmetry plane. The first and second pairs of locking bolts 51, 53 are arranged in a U-shape. For that purpose, the second pair of locking bolts 53 forms the legs of the U-shape and the first pair of locking bolts constitutes the connection of these legs of the U-shape.

[0047] FIG. 7 shows in a separate representation and in assignment to the two pairs of securing bolts 15, the components of the blocking gear and the latching gear together with the actuator having the control body 66 and screw 62 common to the two gears. The restoring device, which is formed in the present embodiment by the tension spring 61, additionally supporting the unlocking process, is not shown in FIG. 7. Instead of the tension spring 61 acting at the inner ends of the locking bolts 51, pressure springs (not shown) can apply a restoring force to the outer ends of the locking bolts 51.