Machine tool

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10967470-B2
Application number	US-201916441264-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 14, 2019
Priority date	Jul 13, 2018
Publication date	Apr 6, 2021
Grant date	Apr 6, 2021

Abstract

A machine tool includes: a tool holder which includes a key groove; a spindle drive unit which includes a spindle key that can be fitted into the key groove of the tool holder and a spindle and which removably holds the tool holder; a tool exchanger which includes a grip key and a grip that holds the tool holder at a fixed position with respect to the spindle; and a numerical controller which controls the tool exchanger so as to fit and remove the tool holder with respect to the spindle, and the numerical controller controls the spindle drive unit such that when the tool holder is fitted to the spindle, in a state where the key groove of the tool holder is inserted in the spindle key, the spindle is rotated to press the spindle key to the key groove so as to determine the phase of the tool holder with respect to the spindle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A machine tool, comprising:
a tool holder which includes a tool and a key groove;
a spindle drive unit which includes a spindle key that can be fitted into the key groove of the tool holder and a spindle and which removably holds the tool holder;
a tool exchanger which includes a grip key that can be fitted into the key groove of the tool holder and a grip that holds the tool holder at a fixed position with respect to the spindle;
a numerical controller which controls the tool exchanger so as to fit and remove the tool holder with respect to the spindle; and
a load threshold value storage unit which stores a threshold value for a load applied to the spindle,
wherein the numerical controller controls the spindle drive unit such that when the tool holder held by the grip is fitted to the spindle, in a state where at least the key groove of the tool holder is inserted in the spindle key, the spindle is rotated to press the spindle key to the key groove of the tool holder so as to determine a phase of the tool holder with respect to the spindle, and
wherein when the phase of the tool holder is determined, the numerical controller determines, based on the load applied to the spindle and the threshold value for the load stored in the load threshold value storage unit, whether or not the determination of the phase of the tool holder is completed.

2. A machine tool, comprising:
a tool holder which includes a tool and a key groove;
a spindle drive unit which includes a spindle key that can be fitted into the key groove of the tool holder and a spindle and which removably holds the tool holder;
a tool exchanger which includes a grip key that can be fitted into the key groove of the tool holder and a grip that holds the tool holder at a fixed position with respect to the spindle;
a numerical controller which controls the tool exchanger so as to fit and remove the tool holder with respect to the spindle; and
a rotation direction storage unit which stores information on a rotation direction of the spindle when the phase of the tool holder is determined,
wherein the numerical controller controls the spindle drive unit such that when the tool holder held by the grip is fitted to the spindle, in a state where at least the key groove of the tool holder is inserted in the spindle key, the spindle is rotated to press the spindle key to the key groove of the tool holder so as to determine a phase of the tool holder with respect to the spindle, and
wherein when the phase of the tool holder is determined, the numerical controller rotates the spindle based on the information on the rotation direction of the spindle stored in the rotation direction storage unit.

3. A machine tool, comprising:
a tool holder which includes a tool and a key groove;
a spindle drive unit which includes a spindle key that can be fitted into the key groove of the tool holder and a spindle and which removably holds the tool holder;
a tool exchanger which includes a grip key that can be fitted into the key groove of the tool holder and a grip that holds the tool holder at a fixed position with respect to the spindle;
a numerical controller which controls the tool exchanger so as to fit and remove the tool holder with respect to the spindle; and
a rotation position storage unit which stores information on a rotation position of the spindle about an axis when the determination of the phase of the tool holder is completed,
wherein the numerical controller controls the spindle drive unit such that when the tool holder held by the grip is fitted to the spindle, in a state where at least the key groove of the tool holder is inserted in the spindle key, the spindle is rotated to press the spindle key to the key groove of the tool holder so as to determine a phase of the tool holder with respect to the spindle, and
wherein after the determination of the phase of the tool holder is completed, the numerical controller compensates for the rotation position of the spindle based on the information on the rotation position stored in the rotation position storage unit.

Assignees

• Fanuc Corp

Inventors

• Uenishi Daisuke

Classifications

• B23Q2003/155425

  pivotable · CPC title

• B23Q3/15513 Primary

  the tool being taken from a storage device and transferred to a tool holder by means of transfer devices · CPC title

• B23Q3/12 Primary

  for securing to a spindle in general (B23Q3/152 takes precedence; chucks B23B31/02) · CPC title

• Y10S483/902

  Tool grippers · CPC title

• B23Q2003/155404

  the transfer mechanism comprising a single gripper · CPC title