Tool magazine and tool changer

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9751173-B2
Application number	US-201615348987-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 11, 2016
Priority date	Sep 5, 2014
Publication date	Sep 5, 2017
Grant date	Sep 5, 2017

Abstract

A tool magazine includes at least one tool carriage movable along a circulation path. The tool holders each have tool pot sockets to which the tool pots are mountable. The tool holders are disposed pivotably about a pivot axis with respect to the at least one tool carriage. The tool pot sockets include a first and second tool pot sockets. An angle is created in a pivoting direction about the pivot axis between a first tool pot mounted to the first tool pot socket and a second tool pot mounted to the second tool pot socket. The turning device turns each of the tool holders about the pivot axis at a position on the circulation path. The tool pot stopper positions each of the tool pots and stops one of the first tool pot and the second tool pot at a pivotable location in the pivoting direction.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A tool magazine comprising:
at least one tool carriage movable along a circulation path;
tool pots including a first tool pot and a second tool pot to hold a tool;
tool holders each having tool pot sockets to which the tool pots are mountable, the tool holders being pivotably attached to the at least one tool carriage for pivoting with respect to the at least one tool carriage about a pivot axis, the tool pot sockets including a first tool pot socket and a second tool pot socket, a non-zero angle being created in a pivoting direction about the pivot axis between a longitudinal axis of the first tool pot mounted to the first tool pot socket and a longitudinal axis of the second tool pot mounted to the second tool pot socket;
a turning device to turn each of the tool holders about the pivot axis at a position on the circulation path; and
a tool pot stopper to position each of the tool pots and to stop the pivoting of one of the first tool pot and the second tool pot in the pivoting direction.

2. The tool magazine according to claim 1 , further comprising:
an annular rail disposed along the circulation path and having a straight line portion, wherein
the pivot axis is parallel to a direction along which the at least one tool carriage moves on the straight line portion.

3. The tool magazine according to claim 2 , wherein
the at least one tool carriage includes a plurality of tool carriages, and
each of the plurality of tool carriages comprises:
a guide member guided along the annular rail; and
a linkage structure to link one tool carriage among the plurality of tool carriages with another tool carriage among the plurality of tool carriages that follows the one tool carriage.

4. The tool magazine according to claim 2 , wherein
the tool pot stopper comprises:
a stop member to stop one of the first tool pot and the second tool pot; and
an actuator to move the stop member.

5. The tool magazine according to claim 1 , wherein
the tool pot stopper comprises:
a stop member to stop one of the first tool pot and the second tool pot; and
an actuator to move the stop member.

6. The tool magazine according to claim 1 , wherein
the tool pots are removable from the tool pot sockets.

7. The tool magazine according to claim 1 , wherein
each of the tool pots has a substantially identical construction.

8. A tool changer comprising:
a tool magazine to hold a tool, the tool magazine comprising:
at least one tool carriage movable along a circulation path;
tool pots including a first tool pot and a second tool pot to hold a tool;
tool holders each having tool pot sockets to which the tool pots are mountable, the tool holders being pivotably attached to the at least one carriage for pivoting with respect to the at least one tool carriage about a pivot axis, the tool pot sockets including a first tool pot socket and a second tool pot socket, a non-zero angle being created in a pivoting direction about the pivot axis between a longitudinal axis of the first tool pot mounted to the first tool pot socket and a longitudinal axis of the second tool pot mounted to the second tool pot socket;
a turning device to turn each of the tool holders about the pivot axis at a position on the circulation path; and
a tool pot stopper to position each of the tool pots and to stop the pivoting of one of the first tool pot and the second tool pot in the pivoting direction; and

the tool changer further comprising:
a tool exchange arm to exchange the tool between the tool magazine and a spindle.

Assignees

• Yamazaki Mazak Corp

Inventors

• Carson Javon D
• Marshall Jonathon
• Il Takuya

Classifications

• Y10T483/1755

  Plural tool holders pivotable about common axis · CPC title

• B23Q3/15726

  the storage means rotating or circulating in a plane parallel to the axis of the spindle · CPC title

• Y10T483/1864

  including tool pot or adapter · CPC title

• Y10T483/1836

  Pivoting · CPC title

• B23Q2003/15531

  by pivoting projection movement · CPC title