Machine tool

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9844850-B2
Application number	US-201514872379-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 1, 2015
Priority date	Oct 20, 2014
Publication date	Dec 19, 2017
Grant date	Dec 19, 2017

Abstract

A machine tool capable of reducing the time required to transfer a workpiece includes a spindle chuck provided to a spindle that rotates about an axis, and capable of holding a workpiece to be worked on, a temporary placement chuck capable of holding a workpiece, a tool post driver to move the temporary placement chuck relatively to a facing position in which the spindle-side workpiece holder and the workpiece holder for temporary placement are able to transfer or receive a workpiece to or from each other, and to a separated position in which the spindle-side workpiece holder and the workpiece holder for temporary placement are able to transfer or receive a workpiece individually, and a loader including a spindle-corresponding workpiece holder and a temporary placement-corresponding workpiece holder disposed to face the spindle chuck and the temporary placement chuck in the separated position, respectively.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A machine tool comprising:
a spindle-side workpiece holder provided to a spindle that rotates about an axis, the spindle-side workpiece holder being capable of holding a workpiece to be worked on;
a workpiece holder for temporary placement capable of holding the workpiece;
a driver that moves the spindle-side workpiece holder and the workpiece holder for temporary placement relatively to a facing position in which the spindle-side workpiece holder and the workpiece holder for temporary placement are able to transfer or receive the workpiece to or from each other, and to a separated position in which the spindle-side workpiece holder and the workpiece holder for temporary placement are able to transfer or receive the workpiece individually; and
a single loader that includes:
a spindle-corresponding workpiece holder that includes a surface that faces the spindle-side workpiece holder in the separated position; and
a temporary placement-corresponding workpiece holder that includes a surface that faces the workpiece holder for temporary placement in the separated position; wherein

the spindle-side workpiece holder and the workpiece holder for temporary placement are moved relatively in a direction intersecting the axis of the spindle; and
the spindle-corresponding workpiece holder transfers or receives the workpiece to or from the spindle-side workpiece holder and, simultaneously, the temporary placement-corresponding workpiece holder transfers or receives the workpiece to or from the workpiece holder for temporary placement.

2. The machine tool according to claim 1 , wherein
the spindle-corresponding workpiece holder and the temporary placement-corresponding workpiece holder each include a pair of jaws capable of holding the workpiece; and
the jaws are disposed side by side in the direction intersecting the axis of the spindle.

3. The machine tool according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a tool post holding a cutting tool to work on the workpiece; and
a tool post driver moves the tool post with respect to the workpiece; wherein
the workpiece holder for temporary placement is provided on the tool post, and the tool post driver is used as the driver.

4. The machine tool according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a controller configured or programmed to control the spindle-corresponding workpiece holder and the temporary placement-corresponding workpiece holder, the controller operating one of the spindle-corresponding workpiece holder and the temporary placement-corresponding workpiece holder to receive the workpiece, and simultaneously operating the other of the spindle-corresponding workpiece holder and the temporary placement-corresponding workpiece holder to transfer the workpiece held in advance.

5. The machine tool according to claim 4 , wherein the controller transports the workpiece by the loader while the workpiece is transferred between the spindle-side workpiece holder and the workpiece holder for temporary placement.

Assignees

• Murata Machinery Ltd

Inventors

• Matozaki Toshihiko
• Kaku Norio

Classifications

• B23B13/04

  for turning-machines with a plurality of working-spindles · CPC title

• B23Q39/027 Primary

  consecutive working of toolheads · CPC title

• B23B29/26

  Tool holders in fixed position · CPC title

• B23Q2039/008

  Machines of the lathe type · CPC title

• B23Q7/048

  Multiple gripper units · CPC title