Tool magazine shelf

Abstract

An embodiment of a circular, annular tool magazine shelf of a tower construction, comprises a base frame adapted for receiving a tool shelf which has a plurality of immovable tool deposit plates, arranged in vertical succession and in a circular ring, adapted for machining one or more tools, and a power-driven tool handling system adapted for transporting tools between the tool magazine shelf and a machine-side pick-up tool magazine store. The magazine shelf also comprises a spindle tower which is mounted rotatably about a vertical rotation shaft being arranged in a circle center-point of one or more tool deposit plates, wherein the base frame includes a monolithically constructed, plate-shaped foundation in which the rotation shaft is mounted overhanging freely by way of a mounting arrangement.

Claims

1. A circular, annular tool magazine shelf of a tower construction, comprising: a base frame adapted for receiving a tool shelf which has a plurality of immovable tool deposit plates, arranged in vertical succession and in a circular ring, adapted for storing one or more machining tools, and a power-driven tool handling system adapted for transporting the one or more machining tools between the tool shelf and a machine-side pick-up tool magazine store; a spindle tower to which the power-driven tool handling system is attached, wherein the spindle tower is mounted rotatably about a vertical rotation shaft that is arranged at a center-point of the circular ring, wherein the base frame includes a monolithically constructed, plate-shaped foundation in which the vertical rotation shaft is mounted by way of a mounting arrangement, wherein the mounting arrangement includes a non-rotatable outer ring, which is provided with external toothing and is fixedly attached to the foundation, and an inner ring, which is fixedly attached to the spindle tower, and a first drive motor having a drive pinion for driving rotation of the spindle tower, and the first drive motor is rigidly attached to the spindle tower and operatively connected to the external toothing of the outer ring in such a way that when the spindle tower rotates, the drive pinion rolls together with the drive motor on the external toothing of the outer ring.

2. The tool magazine shelf of claim 1, wherein the mounting arrangement is in the form of a tower mounting.

3. The tool magazine shelf of claim 2, wherein the tower mounting is in the form of a one-row four-point bearing or a two-row four-point bearing.

4. The tool magazine shelf of claim 3, wherein the one-row four-point bearing or the two-row four-point bearing includes the outer ring.

5. The tool magazine shelf of claim 1, wherein the foundation is formed by forming all functional surfaces and functional spaces of the foundation in one piece from polymer concrete, or reaction resin concrete.

6. The tool magazine shelf of claim 1, wherein the foundation is mounted on one or more machine feet, which each are adaptable in height and are mounted in respective slip-proof and vibration-proof machine shoes.

7. The tool magazine shelf of claim 1, wherein the spindle tower is formed by forming all functional surfaces and functional spaces of the spindle tower in a monolithically constructed single-piece from polymer concrete, or reaction resin concrete.

8. The tool magazine shelf of claim 1, wherein a vertical slide is mounted on the spindle tower and is linearly displaceable along a vertical axis by way of a ball screw arranged on the spindle tower.

9. The tool magazine shelf of claim 8, wherein the ball screw comprises a non-rotating ball screw nut and a rotating ball screw spindle.

10. The tool magazine shelf of claim 9, wherein the ball screw spindle is operatively connected to a second drive motor via a gear belt stage.

11. The tool magazine shelf of claim 10, wherein the vertical slide is guided in a torque-proof and tilt-proof manner by a plurality of linear guides arranged on the spindle tower.

12. The tool magazine shelf of claim 11, wherein the plurality of linear guides comprises two linear guides, which are arranged in one functional plane.

13. The tool magazine shelf of claim 12, wherein a horizontal slide, which is linearly displaceable along a horizontal axis, is arranged on the vertical slide and can be driven by way of an electromechanical lifting cylinder.

14. The tool magazine shelf of claim 13, wherein a tool gripper is arranged on the horizontal slide, and has two horizontally linearly displaceable gripping jaws adapted for gripping the one or more machining tools.

15. The tool magazine shelf of claim 14, wherein the gripper jaws are movable pneumatically, hydraulically or electrically.

16. The tool magazine shelf of claim 15, wherein a caliper, with which a spatial position of one or more tool deposition places on the tool deposit plates can be metrologically determined with respect to the tool gripper using a reference measurement surface on the respective tool deposition places, is arranged on the horizontal slide.

17. The tool magazine shelf of claim 15, wherein a spatial position of one or more tool deposition places on the tool deposit plates can be metrologically determined by evaluating a characteristic force curve resulting from movements of handling system axes towards defined stop points.

18. A method for automatically reloading the one or more machining tools in the tool magazine shelf according to claim 1, the method comprising: the tool magazine shelf communicates with the machine-side pick-up tool magazine store in a vertical machining center via a tool management system implemented in a machine control system of the machining center, and the one or more machining tools can be reloaded from the tool magazine shelf into the machine-side pick-up tool magazine store or back in a controlled manner by a tool handling system in the tool magazine shelf in accordance with a reloading list specified by a machining program currently implemented and in accordance with space-optimized deposit criteria, in such a way that a tool filling level in the pickup tool magazine store is filled up in an optimum manner and thus a maximum possible number of the one or more machining tools are located in the machine-side pick-up tool magazine store, and can thus also be changed into a tool spindle of the vertical machining center from the pick-up tool magazine store.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Further details, features and advantages of the present disclosure may be taken from the following description by way of the drawings.

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a tool magazine shelf according to the present disclosure.

(3) FIG. 2 is a perspective partial view of the tool magazine shelf according to the present disclosure in the region of an embodiment of a base frame according to the present disclosure.

(4) FIG. 3 is a section through the base frame according to the present disclosure.

(5) FIG. 4 is a plan view of the tool magazine shelf according to the present disclosure with an embodiment of an attached machining centre according to the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(6) FIGS. 1 and 4 are plan views of a circular, annular tool magazine shelf 1 of a tower construction, of a modular construction and self-sufficient operation, as an additional magazine for a machine-side pick-up tool magazine store 37 arranged in a vertical machining centre.

(7) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the tool magazine 1. The tool magazine 1 comprises a base frame, which includes a monolithically constructed plate-shaped foundation 2. The foundation 2 serves to receive a tool shelf 3, which in the present case is provided with five shelf fields. The foundation 2 further serves to receive a power-driven tool handling system 5 for transporting tools from the additional magazine 1 to the machine-side pick-up tool magazine store 37 and back and for receiving a protective housing 35 for protecting access to the tool magazine shelf 1.

(8) An operating panel 38 may also be arranged on the protective housing 35.

(9) The tool magazine shelf 1 is provided with a plurality of immovable tool deposit plates, arranged in vertical succession and in a circular ring, for receiving a plurality of identical or different machining tools 6. At the circle centre-point of the tool deposition places 4, there is a pedestal 11 for a vertical rotation shaft 7, which extends upwards overhanging freely from the foundation 2 and carries a spindle tower 8, which can be rotated about the rotation shaft 7 by way of a drive motor 9.

(10) The rotation shaft 7 is mounted in a tower mounting, which is in the form of a one-row or two-row four-point bearing.

(11) A linearly displaceable vertical slide 10 is mounted along a vertical axis on the spindle tower 8, and carries a horizontal slide 12 which is linearly displaceable along a horizontal axis by way of an electromechanical lifting cylinder. Tool grippers 13 for receiving and releasing the machining tools 6 are arranged on the horizontal slide 12.

(12) The foundation 2 is formed by forming all of the functional surfaces and functional spaces from polymer concrete, reaction resin concrete or the like, in such a way that the functional surfaces and functional spaces no longer need subsequent cutting machining.

(13) The spindle tower 8 is likewise formed by forming all of the functional surfaces and functional spaces from polymer concrete, reaction resin concrete or the like, in such a way that the functional surfaces and functional spaces no longer need subsequent cutting machining.

(14) The foundation 2 is mounted on machine feet 14, which are adaptable in height and rest in slip-proof and vibration-proof machine shoes.

(15) The vertical slide 10 which is linearly displaceable along a vertical axis on the spindle tower 8 is displaceable by way of a ball screw arranged on the spindle tower 8. The ball screw comprises a non-rotating ball screw nut and a rotating ball screw spindle 16, which is operatively connected to a drive motor 17 via a gear belt stage 18. The ball screw spindle 16 is mounted in the pedestal 11 via a floating bearing 31 (see FIG. 3). So as to guide the vertical slide 10 in a torque-proof and tilt-proof manner, it is held by way of two linear roller guides 19, 20, which are arranged on the spindle tower 8 and both positioned in the same functional plane (see FIG. 2).

(16) With reference to FIG. 2, the tool gripper 13 has two horizontally linearly displaceable gripping jaws 21, 22, by way of which the machining tool 6 can be clamped laterally on the standardised tool receiving cone 23 in the tool gripper 13. The gripping movement of the gripping jaws 21, 22 may take place pneumatically, hydraulically or electrically.

(17) An end stop 24 is provided on the pedestal 11, and defines the vertical movement of the vertical slide 10.

(18) With reference to FIG. 3, the drive motor 9 for the spindle tower 8, which is rigidly attached to the spindle tower 8 via a flange surface 34, carries a drive pinion 26 on the motor shaft 25 thereof. Further, the four-point bearing which mounts the rotation shaft 7 comprises an outer ring 28, which is provided with external toothing and screwed to the foundation 2, and an inner ring 29, which is screwed to the spindle tower 8. The arrangement is selected in such a way that the drive pinion 26 rolls together with the drive motor 9 on the stationary external toothing 28 of the tower mounting when the spindle tower 8 rotates.

(19) A drag chain guide 27 is provided for supplying energy to the drive motor 9.

(20) The pedestal 11, which forms a cantilever mounting 30 for the spindle tower 8, is braced on the foundation 2 by way of bearing seats 32, 33.

(21) A calliper, by way of which the spatial position of the tool deposition places 4 can be metrologically determined with respect to the tool gripper 13 using a reference measurement surface on the respective tool deposition places 4, is arranged on the horizontal slide 12. Thus, teaching of the tool deposition places 4 in relation to the tool gripper 13 can proceed in a simple, automated manner by way of a measurement cycle running in the machine program.

(22) The spatial position of the tool deposition places 4 can be metrologically determined by evaluating a characteristic force curve resulting from movements of the handling system axes towards defined stop points. Thus, in this way too, teaching of the tool deposition places 4 in relation to the tool gripper 13 can proceed in a simple, automated manner by way of a measurement cycle running in the machine program.

(23) The tool magazine shelf 1 described above may be operated by a method for automatically reloading tools in which the tool magazine shelf 1 communicates with the machine-side pick-up tool magazine store 37 in the machining centre 36 via a tool management system implemented in a machine control system of the vertical machining centre 36, and the machining tools 6 can be reloaded from the tool magazine shelf 1 into the machine-side pick-up tool magazine store 37 or back in a controlled manner by way of a tool handling system 5 in the tool magazine shelf 1 in accordance with a reloading list specified by the machining program currently to be implemented and in accordance with largely space-optimised deposit criteria, in such a way that the tool filling level in the pick-up tool magazine store 37 is filled up in an optimum manner and thus a maximum possible number of machining tools 6, in some cases of very different geometric dimensions, are located in the machine-side pick-up tool magazine store 37, and can thus also be changed into the tool spindle of the vertical machining centre 36 from the pick-up tool magazine store 37 relatively promptly.

(24) One or more embodiments of the present disclosure may relate to a circular, annular tool magazine shelf (1) of a tower construction, comprising a base frame for receiving a tool shelf (3) which has a plurality of immovable tool deposit plates (4), arranged in vertical succession and in a circular ring, for machining tools (6), and receiving a power-driven tool handling system (5) for transporting tools from the tool magazine shelf (1) to a machine-side pick-up tool magazine store (37) and back, a spindle tower (8) which is mounted rotatably about a vertical rotation shaft (7) being arranged in the circle centre-point of the tool deposit plates (4). So as to create a tool magazine shelf which can solve the problems and overcome the drawbacks found in the prior art, one or more embodiments of the present disclosure may provide that the base frame includes a monolithically constructed, plate-shaped foundation (2) in which the rotation shaft (7) is mounted overhanging freely by way of a mounting arrangement.

(25) One or more embodiments of the present disclosure may include one or more of the following concepts:

(26) A. Circular, annular tool magazine shelf (1) of a tower construction, comprising a base frame for receiving

(27) a tool shelf (3) which has a plurality of immovable tool deposit plates (4), arranged in vertical succession and in a circular ring, for machining tools (6), and receiving a power-driven tool handling system (5) for transporting tools from the tool magazine shelf (1) to a machine-side pick-up tool magazine store (37) and back,

(28) a spindle tower (8) which is mounted rotatably about a vertical rotation shaft (7) being arranged in the circle centre-point of the tool deposit plates (4), characterised in that the base frame includes a monolithically constructed, plate-shaped foundation (2) in which the rotation shaft (7) is mounted overhanging freely by way of a mounting arrangement.

(29) B. Tool magazine shelf according to Paragraph A, characterised in that the mounting arrangement is in the form of a tower mounting.

(30) C. Tool magazine shelf according to Paragraph B, characterised in that the tower mounting is in the form of a one-row or two-row four-point bearing.

(31) D. Tool magazine shelf according to Paragraph C, characterised in that, the four-point bearing comprises an outer ring (28), which is provided with external toothing and screwed to the foundation (2), and an inner ring (29), which is screwed to the spindle tower (8).
E. Tool magazine shelf according to Paragraph D, characterised in that a drive motor (9) comprising a drive pinion (26) is provided for the rotary drive of the spindle tower (8), and is rigidly attached to the spindle tower (8) and operatively connected to the external toothing of the outer ring (28), in such a way that the drive pinion (26) rolls together with the drive motor (9) on the stationary external toothing (28) of the tower mounting when the spindle tower (8) rotates.
F. Tool magazine shelf according to any one of the preceding Paragraphs, characterised in that the foundation (2) is formed by forming all of the functional surfaces and functional spaces in one piece from polymer concrete, reaction resin concrete or the like.
G. Tool magazine shelf according to any one of the preceding Paragraphs, characterised in that the foundation (2) is mounted on machine feet (14), which are adaptable in height and are mounted in slip-proof and vibration-proof machine shoes (15).
H. Tool magazine shelf according to any one of the preceding Paragraphs, characterised in that the spindle tower (8) is formed by forming all of the functional surfaces and functional spaces as a monolithically constructed single-piece spindle tower (8) of polymer concrete, reaction resin concrete or the like.
I. Tool magazine shelf according to any one of the preceding Paragraphs, characterised in that a vertical slide (10) is mounted on the spindle tower (8) and is linearly displaceable along a vertical axis by way of a ball screw arranged on the spindle tower (8).
J. Tool magazine shelf according to Paragraph I, characterised in that the ball screw comprises a non-rotating ball screw nut and a rotating ball screw spindle (16).
K. Tool magazine shelf according to Paragraph J, characterised in that the ball screw spindle (16) is operatively connected to the drive motor (17) via a gear belt stage (18).
L. Tool magazine shelf according to any one Paragraphs I to K, characterised in that the vertical slide (10) is guided in a torque-proof and tilt-proof manner by way of two linear roller guides (19, 20) arranged on the spindle tower (8).
M. Tool magazine shelf according to Paragraph L, characterised in that the two linear roller guides (19, 20) are arranged in one functional plane.
N. Tool magazine shelf according to any one of Paragraphs I to M, characterised in that a horizontal slide (12) which is linearly displaceable along a horizontal axis is arranged on the vertical slide (10) and can be driven by way of an electromechanical lifting cylinder.
O. Tool magazine shelf according to Paragraph N, characterised in that a tool gripper (13) is arranged on the horizontal slide (12), and has two horizontally linearly displaceable gripping jaws (21, 22) for the machining tool (6).
P. Tool magazine shelf according to Paragraph O, characterised in that the gripper jaws (21, 22) are movable pneumatically, hydraulically or electrically.
Q. Tool magazine shelf according to any one of Paragraphs N to P, characterised in that a calliper, by means of which the spatial position of the tool deposition places (4) can be metrologically determined with respect to the tool gripper (13) using a reference measurement surface on the respective tool deposition places (4), is arranged on the horizontal slide (12).
R. Tool magazine shelf according to any one Paragraphs A to P, characterised in that the spatial position of the tool deposition places (4) can be metrologically determined by evaluating a characteristic force curve resulting from movements of the handling system axes towards defined stop points.
S. Method for automatically reloading tools in a tool magazine shelf (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the tool magazine shelf (1) communicates with a machine-side pick-up tool magazine store (37) in a vertical machining centre (36) via a tool management system implemented in a machine control system of the machining centre (36), and the machining tools (6) can be reloaded from the tool magazine shelf (1) into the machine-side pick-up tool magazine store (37) or back in a controlled manner by means of a tool handling system (5) in the tool magazine shelf (1) in accordance with a reloading list specified by the machining program currently to be implemented and in accordance with largely space-optimised deposit criteria, in such a way that the tool filling level in the pick-up tool magazine store (37) is filled up in an optimum manner and thus a maximum possible number of machining tools (6), in some cases of very different geometric dimensions, are located in the machine-side pick-up tool magazine store (37), and can thus also be changed into the tool spindle of the vertical machining centre (36) from the pick-up tool magazine store (37) relatively promptly.

(32) One or more embodiments of the present disclosure may include one or more of the following features, which correspond to reference numerals in the drawings: 1 Tool magazine shelf 2 Foundation 3 Tool shelf 4 Tool deposition places 5 Tool handling system 6 Machining tools 7 Rotation shaft 8 Spindle tower 9 Drive motor 10 Vertical slide 11 Pedestal 12 Horizontal slide 13 Tool gripper 14 Machine foot 15 Machine shoe 16 Ball screw spindle 17 Drive motor 18 Gear belt stage 19 Linear roller guide 20 Linear roller guide 21 Gripping jaw 22 Gripping jaw 23 Tool receiving cone 24 End stop 25 Motor shaft 26 Drive pinion 27 Drag chain guide 28 Outer ring 29 Inner ring 30 Cantilever mounting 31 Floating bearing 32 Bearing seat 33 Bearing seat 34 Flange surface 35 Protective housing 36 Machining centre 37 Pick-up tool magazine store 38 Operating panel

(33) The above description of the present invention is merely for illustrative purposes, and does not serve to limit the invention. Various changes and modifications are possible within the context of the invention, without departing from the scope of the invention and of the equivalent thereof.