Patent Description:
The operating head and the relative suction device of the present invention can be used both for so-called "vertical" machining centres, i.e. provided with a substantially vertical work surface, and for machining centres with horizontal work surface.

These machine tools are particularly used to carry out cutting, shaping, drilling or milling of flat elements, such as panels, sheets or the like, made of different materials such as wood, light metals, plastic materials or composite materials such as fiberglass or the like.

Such machines generally comprise a crosspiece, movable between two opposite sides of the work surface along a first direction, and a work head slidably mounted on said crosspiece along a second direction substantially orthogonal to the first. A numerically controlled unit manages in a precise and interpolated manner the positioning and movements of the crosspiece and of the work head and, therefore, of the tool (or tools) that equips the work head.

The latter generally comprises at least one electro spindle to which at least one tool can be connected directly, generally a tool working on the same axis of rotation as the spindle, or by means of an auxiliary unit, which allows both the connection of several tools at the same time and to vary the position of the working axis of said tools with respect to that of the electro spindle.

The action of the tool on the workpiece generates, as is understandable, machining residues such as shavings, splinters, dust and the like, whose shape and size depends both on the type of tool used and on the material, or materials, of which the piece is made up.

These residues, if not removed adequately after their detachment from the piece, in addition to dirtying the area surrounding the machine tool, can cause damage to the same since they can reach delicate mechanical components or, in some cases, especially in machining centres with horizontal plane, by accumulating on the exposed surface of the piece they can cause scratches or nicks on the latter both during machining and when it is manipulated afterwards.

These machining centres are therefore provided with suction devices of the cutting residues, adapted to create a vacuum area surrounding the tool and allowing most of it to be removed just after detachment.

In the machining centres of the prior art, these suction devices generally comprise a sort of hood mounted on the operating head, often directly on the electrospindle, which surrounds the work area of the tool. The hood is in communication with suction means, vacuum generators, adapted to create a depression in said area surrounding the tool for sucking up the residues generated by the machining of the tool.

Said hood may be rigid or may comprise a flexible terminal portion, i.e. facing the surface of the piece, which may be extended or retracted to adjust the distance of the end edge from the surface of the piece.

Depending on the type of tool used, single tool or auxiliary unit, the position of the hood and/or the end edge is adjusted in such a way as to place them sufficiently close to the surface of the piece to capture as many residues as possible. For this purpose, the end edge is often provided with bristles, fringes or the like capable of coming into contact with the piece without damaging it.

<CIT> describes a suction device of the cutting residues to be applied to an operating head of a machine tool for machining flat pieces, where the operating head comprises at least an electro spindle with a head area provided with an attachment for the connection of a tool, wherein the suction device comprises a hood which defines a main chamber which surrounds the head area of the electro spindle and which can be placed in fluid communication with suction means and wherein the hood is slidably mounted with respect to the axis of the electro spindle between a retracted position and an extended position.

However, said known suction devices have some drawbacks. The hood, in fact, generally has a shape and a size that must allow the use of any tool and auxiliary unit. In many cases, therefore, the internal volume of the hood is therefore much greater than the ideal one, i.e. sufficient to surround the tool and allow it to work the piece, especially when a direct tool such as a milling cutter or a drill is used.

This condition therefore requires the adoption of adequately sized suction means to ensure the removal and collection of the largest possible portion of the cutting residues produced. This involves both a higher cost of the machining centre and a higher operating cost due to high consumption.

For these reasons, in known machining centres said suction systems adopt compromise solutions which have a non-optimal removal efficiency.

Some known devices are equipped with deflectors, or the like, arranged in the work area inside the hood and positioned in such a way as to divert the cutting residues generated by the tool, or tools, of the auxiliary unit, in particular by circular blades, towards the inlet of the pipe connected to the suction means. This arrangement, however, only partially increases the collection and removal capacity of the cutting residues of the suction device.

In this context, the object of the present invention is to propose an operating head for a machine tool, in particular for a machining centre for the processing of flat sheet-like elements, provided with a suction device of the cutting residues which overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art.

In particular, it is an object of the invention to propose an operating head whose suction device can guarantee a better operating efficiency with any type of tool or accessory applied to the electro spindle.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an operating head with a more efficient suction device and, in particular, which allows the use of less energy-consuming suction means than those of the machines of the prior art.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a suction device for an operating head which allows the removal and total elimination of residues from the cutting area with different types of tools.

These objects are achieved by an operating head and a suction device of the cutting residues according to one or more of the appended claims.

In detail, according to the invention, the operating head comprises at least:.

According to the invention, said suction device comprises a tubular hood defining a main chamber, which surrounds the head area of the electrospindle, which is placed in communication with suction means.

According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, said hood comprises a first portion slidably mounted on the body of the electro spindle, at the head area, and a second movable portion, slidably mounted on the first portion, for example in a telescopic manner, both movable along the axis of the electro spindle between a retracted position and an extended position.

In the aforesaid retracted position, the hood is approached to the head area of the electro spindle while in the extended position it moves away from the latter towards the surface of the workpiece.

Each portion therefore completes a stretch of the total stroke between the retracted and extended positions.

According to a preferred variant, the first and second portions of the hood have a substantially circular section. The second portion preferably has a larger section than the first; therefore in the retracted position, in which the two portions are partially superimposed, the second portion at least partially surrounds the first.

According to another aspect of the present invention, said second portion of the hood has a peripheral edge defining a circular opening which, in the retracted position, is substantially aligned with the end of the head area of the electro spindle. Said circular opening, or rather the relative peripheral edge, has a larger diameter than the diameter of the head area at the end; in this way, in the retracted position, between said peripheral edge of the second portion and said end of the head area there is an annular passage in communication with the main chamber.

According to a variant of the invention, one of the portions of the hood may be fixedly mounted on the electro spindle and act as a guide for the second portion.

According to another variant, the hood may comprise only a portion slidably mounted on the electrospindle. In this case, the peripheral edge and the relative opening are obtained on this single portion.

According to the present invention, the suction device further comprises a containment element to be applied to at least one tool of an auxiliary unit when the latter is connected to the electro spindle.

According to the invention, said containment element may be removably applicable to said auxiliary unit.

In detail, said containment element comprises a flat annular element which, in operating condition and with the hood in retracted position, said annular element is mounted substantially close to or aligned with the end of the head area of the electro spindle in such a way as to obstruct the annular passage between the latter and the peripheral edge of the hood.

According to an aspect of the invention, said flat annular element has an external diameter equal to or slightly less than the diameter of the hood opening.

The containment element further comprises at least one casing which surrounds at least in part said tool of the auxiliary unit forming at least one secondary chamber.

The secondary chamber communicates, through at least one passage, with an opening made in the annular element, said opening leads into the main chamber. In this way, said secondary chamber communicates, through the main chamber, with the suction means.

The casing typically has a shape and size dedicated to the tool type of the auxiliary unit. In this way, the volume of the secondary chamber is as small as possible.

The suction device thus configured has considerable advantages explained below.

By virtue of its configuration, said suction device in fact has two possible operating modes.

The first operating mode is feasible when a direct tool is mounted on the operating head, such as for example a cutter or a tip, which generally has a reduced transverse or lateral bulk. During the machining with said direct tool, the suction device is devoid of the containment element and can work with the hood in the extended or partially extended position. More in detail, the position of the hood, or more precisely of the second portion, can be adjusted so that the working part of the tool protrudes beyond the end of the hood (which can substantially coincide with the peripheral edge and the relative circular opening) only by a portion useful to carry out the machining foreseen on the piece.

In the first operating mode, when the tool is in contact with the workpiece, the tip of the hood is brought close to, or almost in contact with, the surface of the workpiece (for example spaced by a few millimetres) so that the main chamber completely, or almost completely, surrounds the tool and the work area. In this condition, the suction means, in fluid communication with the main chamber, create a depression in the aforementioned chamber, removing the residues produced by the tool during machining, conveying them towards a collection area.

The second operating mode of the suction device is feasible when an auxiliary unit (or aggregate or blade) is applied to the electrospindle which, in turn, may carry one or more tools. For example, the auxiliary unit may allow the mounting of a cutting disk which rotates on an axis perpendicular to that of the spindle, of two or more drilling/milling tools and acting on the same axis or on independent axes, etc..

In this second operating mode, the hood, or its second portion where provided, is brought into the retracted position and the containment element is applied to the auxiliary unit so that the at least one casing is positioned around the tool or tools.

As explained above, in this configuration the annular element of the containment element obstructs the annular passage between the peripheral edge of the hood and the head area of the electro spindle. In this way, the depression created by the suction means propagates from the main chamber, through the opening in the annular element, to the secondary chamber, in which the tool or tools of the auxiliary unit are at least in part housed.

The annular element therefore has the function of isolating the main chamber from the outside, so that the flow suctioned in by the suction means comes mainly (therefore net of minimum leakage due to sealing) from the secondary chamber.

The cutting residues generated by the machining of the tool of the auxiliary unit are then conveyed towards the main chamber and from it towards the collection area.

By virtue of the operating head according to the present invention, and in particular of the residue suction system described above, it is possible to significantly reduce the power of the suction means and, at the same time, improve the efficiency in the collection of cutting residues.

In fact, by virtue of the two operating modes of the system, it is possible in both cases to reduce pressure drops to a minimum. In fact, in the first operating mode it is contemplated that the hood works only with direct tools with limited dimensions; therefore it is possible to considerably limit the size of the hood section and therefore its volume. For example, the hood may therefore have a diameter slightly greater than that of the head area of the electro spindle. This allows a sufficient depression to be created inside the main chamber even with a modest suction power. The reduced volume of the main chamber also allows the dispersion of residues from the contact area between the tool and the piece to be limited, improving the removal efficiency.

In the second operating mode, on the other hand, the hood is retracted to allow the mounting of the auxiliary unit whose work area has a significantly greater transverse dimension with respect to that of a direct tool, such as a cutter or a tip, or in any case often greater than the size of the head area of the electro spindle. In this case, the containment element allows both isolating the main chamber from the outside and concentrating the suction power in the secondary chamber, that is a rather limited volume.

In both configurations, the suction device allows a "precise" suction of the residues, i.e. in an area close to that of their detachment, in order to avoid the dispersion thereof and, therefore, easier removal and collection.

The conformation of the annular element, which rotates integrally with the auxiliary unit, also allows the latter to work on a <NUM>° working arc while maintaining the same suction efficiency in any positioning angle.

The containment element, which allows a precise suction of the residues, is in fact always in communication with the main chamber, through the opening in the annular element, irrespective of its angular position, and therefore that of the auxiliary unit.

According to the invention, the operating head may be provided in a kit comprising a plurality of containment elements provided with casings of different shapes and sizes to be applied to different types of auxiliary units.

According to another aspect of the invention, the first portion of the hood has a tubular development and has a section with a shape substantially identical to that of the head area of the electro spindle. The second portion, on the other hand, comprises a first annular section with an internal diameter substantially identical to the external diameter of the first portion and extending radially therefrom, and a second tubular section, which extends from the first section.

According to another aspect of the invention, the displacement of the first and second portions of the hood is controlled by at least one actuator, for example pneumatic or, more preferably, electric, possibly provided with a position control.

According to another aspect of the invention, the containment element is therefore provided with fixing means for connection to the auxiliary unit, such as for example brackets or the like.

According to another aspect of the invention, the casing is made in one piece with the annular element.

According to another variant, said parts may also be made separately and rigidly joined together. In this way it is possible to connect each time to the annular element casings of different shapes according to the type of auxiliary unit.

According to another aspect of the invention, the peripheral edge has a diameter smaller than the external (or larger) diameter of the hood and is obtained on an end face of said hood.

According to a variant of the invention, said face has an annular or substantially annular development. In a preferred variant, tangential notches are formed on the surface of the end face which allow a swirling flow to be created in the main chamber when the operating head is used in the first operating mode.

According to another aspect of the invention, at the outer perimeter of the end face, the hood is provided with a containment edge which extends substantially perpendicular to said face. Said containment edge preferably consists of bristles or other equivalent flexible elements.

According to this variant, the end face may comprise a curved portion, substantially annular, and a further marginal portion which extends at the outlet conduit. Said marginal portion may have a curved, polygonal or mixed perimeter.

Further features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the description of a preferred but non-exclusive exemplary embodiment of a device for handling pieces as shown in the accompanying figures, in which:.

With reference to the accompanying figures, the reference numeral <NUM> generally indicates an operating head for a machine tool, in particular of the type for machining panels, sheets or the like.

In the examples shown in the figures, the operating head <NUM> is represented in a simplified manner, i.e. only with the parts necessary to describe the present invention; the figures do not show, for example, the support structure which allows the connection thereof to the machine tool and its movement and further components, such as secondary electro spindles, tools, or other mechanical and/or electrical or electronic components.

The operating head <NUM> comprises an electro spindle <NUM> with a work axis indicated with Z. The electro spindle <NUM> has a head area <NUM>, which in the working condition faces the piece, provided with an attachment <NUM> for connecting a tool <NUM> or an auxiliary unit <NUM>. The sectional view of <FIG> shows a tool <NUM> connected to the attachment <NUM> in the head area <NUM>. It should be noted that in this figure, the internal components of the electro spindle <NUM> have been omitted for greater clarity of the figure. Such head area <NUM> generally has a circular section, more precisely it has a substantially cylindrical shape.

<FIG> show the operating head <NUM> in a first operating mode in which a tool <NUM> is connected to the attachment <NUM> of the head area. In the illustrated example, said tool <NUM> comprises a slot mill <NUM> clamped in an insert <NUM>, or pliers, connected to the attachment <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrate the operating head <NUM> in a second operating mode in which an auxiliary unit <NUM> is connected to the attachment <NUM>. In the illustrated example, said auxiliary unit <NUM> supports a circular blade <NUM> which rotates on an axis perpendicular to the axis Z of the electro spindle <NUM>.

It should be noted that the operating modes of the operating head <NUM> illustrated are only two examples and that said operating head may be provided with any tool <NUM> which can be directly connected to the attachment <NUM> of the head area (the term directly means however that the machined part can be fixed by means of a rigid insert) or with various types of auxiliary units <NUM> which can carry one or more working tools of various types such as circular blades, drills, cup cutters, etc..

In the accompanying figures, a rotation device <NUM> is also shown, applied to the electro spindle <NUM>, adapted to control the <NUM>° rotation of the auxiliary unit <NUM> around the axis Z of the electro spindle <NUM>. Such device, being well known to those skilled in the art, will not be described in detail.

According to the present invention, the operating head <NUM> is provided with a suction device, indicated as a whole with the reference numeral <NUM>, adapted to collect the cutting residues generated as a result of the action of the tool or tools on the piece, preventing them from being scattered on the piece, on the machine and/or on the ground, to convey them to a collection area.

Such suction device <NUM> comprises a hood <NUM> and a containment element <NUM>.

The hood <NUM> comprises a first movable portion <NUM> slidably mounted on the electro spindle <NUM> at the head area <NUM>. The hood <NUM> further comprises a second portion <NUM> slidably connected to the first portion <NUM>, more specifically in a telescopic manner. In practice, the first portion <NUM> acts both as a collar to guide the translation of the second portion <NUM> and as a seal to limit the passage of air between said parts and between them and the head area <NUM> of the electro spindle <NUM>. For this purpose, said first portion <NUM> has a tubular development and has a section of substantially identical shape to that of the head area <NUM> of the electrospindle, generally cylindrical.

Preferably, the second portion <NUM> comprises a first annular portion 22a with an internal diameter substantially identical to the external diameter of the first portion <NUM> and extending radially therefrom. A second tubular-shaped section 22b extends from said first section 22a. Said second portion 22b may have an increasing diameter towards the free end, that is the one facing the piece in the operating condition, or, preferably, it is also substantially cylindrical.

According to another variant, said second portion may comprise a further third section 22c of tubular shape, and preferably cylindrical, which slides in contact with the external surface of the first portion <NUM>. This third section 22c helps to keep the two portions <NUM>, <NUM> aligned and coaxial.

Preferably, elastic means <NUM>, such as springs or equivalent, are provided between the first portion <NUM> and the second portion <NUM> of the hood, capable of exerting a thrust to keep the second portion <NUM> extended with respect to the first portion <NUM>.

In this way, during extension, first the second portion <NUM> slides with respect to the first, completing its stroke stretch, and subsequently the first portion <NUM> slides with respect to the head area <NUM> of the electro spindle <NUM>.

Said second portion <NUM> has, at said free end, a peripheral edge <NUM> of circular shape which defines a respective opening <NUM>.

Said peripheral edge <NUM>, preferably, has a smaller diameter than that of the second portion 22b and is formed on an end face <NUM> of the hood.

In the example of <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, said end face <NUM> has a substantially annular development with an internal diameter which coincides with said peripheral edge <NUM>.

The second portion <NUM> of the hood <NUM>, and possibly also the first portion <NUM>, define a main chamber <NUM>.

Said main chamber <NUM> is in fluid communication with suction means, not illustrated, adapted to generate a vacuum in the chamber to remove the cutting residues produced by machining the piece. According to a preferred variant, in the wall of the second stretch 22b of the second portion, an opening <NUM> is formed which communicates with an outlet conduit <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>.

Said conduit <NUM> comprises a first stretch 29a, preferably made in one piece with the second portion <NUM> of the hood and, therefore, substantially rigid. The conduit also comprises a second section 29b, again preferably rigid, fixedly mounted on the operating head <NUM>. To allow movement of the second portion of the hood between the extended and retracted positions, the first and second portions of the conduit are preferably connected in a telescopic manner to each other. Alternatively, the second stretch <NUM> may be flexible or, again, a further flexible stretch may be interposed between said first and second rigid stretches.

According to the invention, the hood <NUM> is movable between an extended position and a retracted position. Such movement is preferably controlled by actuators <NUM>.

In the extended or partially extended position, the second portion <NUM> may be approached to the piece; more precisely, its end face <NUM> may be brought close to the surface of the piece, spaced from it by a few millimetres.

According to a preferred variant, notches <NUM> are formed on said end face <NUM>, arranged tangentially with respect to the axis Z of the spindle. Said notches allow the sucked air to be channelled into the space between the hood and the surface of the piece to create a vortex which conveys the residues towards the opening <NUM> and the outlet conduit <NUM>.

In the retracted position, said second portion <NUM> is substantially superimposed on the first portion <NUM>. In said position, the peripheral edge <NUM> is substantially aligned with the end <NUM> of the head area <NUM>.

Said peripheral edge <NUM> has a larger diameter than that of the head area so that between said parts there is an annular passage <NUM> which faces the main chamber <NUM>.

In the first operating mode illustrated in <FIG>, the operating head <NUM> is configured to work with the hood <NUM> in an extended or partially extended position. As can be seen from <FIG>, the main chamber <NUM> almost completely surrounds the tool <NUM> (only a short stretch protrudes beyond the hood) and therefore the working area where it acts.

In this way, the cutting residues generated by the tool remain confined in the hood <NUM> and removed by the suction means through the opening <NUM> of the second portion <NUM> and the outlet conduit <NUM>.

<FIG> and <FIG> show the hood <NUM> according to another variant of the invention.

In this variant, at the external perimeter <NUM> of the end face <NUM> there is provided a containment edge <NUM> for the cutting residues, which extends substantially perpendicular to said face, i.e. towards the surface of the piece to be machined. Said containment edge <NUM> is preferably made with flexible bristles or equivalent. Such edge allows further limiting the dispersion of residues in a confined area near the tool, facilitating suction and removal by the suction device <NUM>.

In this variant, on the surface of the end face <NUM> there are provided deflectors <NUM> arranged in proximity to the peripheral edge <NUM> to generate a swirling air flow which helps to transport the cutting residues from the main chamber <NUM> to the outlet conduit <NUM>.

In the example of <FIG> and <FIG>, the end face <NUM> comprises a partially annular stretch and a marginal stretch which extends from the peripheral edge <NUM> up to the outlet conduit <NUM>, i.e. below it.

According to the invention, the operating head <NUM> further comprises a containment element <NUM> which may be used in the second operating mode illustrated in <FIG>. As already repeated, according to the invention, in the second operating mode the hood <NUM> is kept in the retracted position described above.

The containment element <NUM> is illustrated in detail in <FIG>.

According to the invention, said containment element <NUM> is preferably connected to the auxiliary unit <NUM> which is connected to the electro spindle <NUM> in the aforementioned second operating mode. Said containment element can therefore rotate integrally with the auxiliary unit <NUM> around the axis Z of the electro spindle <NUM> under the action of the rotation device <NUM>.

The containment element is therefore provided with fixing means such as for example brackets <NUM> or the like for connection to the auxiliary unit <NUM>.

The containment element <NUM> comprises an annular element <NUM>, preferably flat or with a flattened shape. Said annular element <NUM> has an external diameter equal to or slightly lower than that of the peripheral edge <NUM> of the hood.

In the example of the figures, said annular element <NUM> also has a smaller internal diameter than that of the head area <NUM> at the end <NUM>. Said annular element <NUM> may however have a dimension substantially corresponding to that of the annular passage <NUM>, therefore with an internal diameter equal to or slightly greater than that of the end <NUM> of the head area <NUM>.

In the illustrated example, the containment element <NUM> comprises a casing <NUM> adapted to surround the circular blade <NUM> of the auxiliary unit <NUM> so that only a minimal portion protrudes beyond an end edge <NUM> to come into contact with the workpiece.

The casing <NUM> therefore defines a secondary chamber <NUM> which encloses the working area of the tool <NUM> of the auxiliary unit <NUM>.

The casing <NUM> is preferably made in one piece with the annular element <NUM>, although said parts may also be made separately and rigidly joined together.

In the connection area between the casing <NUM> and the annular element <NUM>, the latter has at least one through opening <NUM> which opens into the secondary chamber <NUM>. Said opening <NUM> preferably has an elongated shape, for example with a slot.

When the containment element <NUM> is applied to the auxiliary unit <NUM> and the latter is connected to the electro spindle <NUM>, the annular element <NUM> obstructs the annular passage <NUM>. By virtue of the opening <NUM>, the main chamber <NUM> and the secondary chamber <NUM> are nevertheless communicating. The depression generated by the suction means then propagates from the main chamber <NUM> to the secondary chamber, so as to be able to remove the residues produced by the action of the tool <NUM> of the auxiliary unit.

The shape of the casing <NUM> shown in the accompanying figures is purely illustrative since this element may be made ad hoc substantially for any type of auxiliary unit and its related tools.

Claim 1:
An operating head (<NUM>) for a machine tool for machining flat and sheet-like pieces, such as panels or the like, said operating head (<NUM>) comprising at least:
- an electro spindle (<NUM>) with a cylindrical head area (<NUM>) provided with an attachment (<NUM>) for the connection of a tool (<NUM>) or of an auxiliary unit (<NUM>); and
- a suction device (<NUM>) of the cutting residues generated during machining;
wherein said suction device (<NUM>) comprises a hood (<NUM>) which defines a main chamber (<NUM>) which surrounds the head area (<NUM>) of the electro spindle (<NUM>) and which can be placed in fluid communication with suction means,
wherein said hood (<NUM>) is slidably mounted with respect to the axis (Z) of the electro spindle (<NUM>) between a retracted position and an extended position,
characterized in that said hood (<NUM>) comprises a peripheral edge (<NUM>) which defines a circular opening (<NUM>) which, in the retracted position, is substantially aligned with the end (<NUM>) of the head area (<NUM>) of the electro spindle (<NUM>), said circular opening (<NUM>) having a diameter greater than the diameter of the head area (<NUM>) so that, in the retracted position of the hood, between said peripheral edge (<NUM>) and said end (<NUM>) of the head area (<NUM>) there is an annular passage (<NUM>) in communication with the main chamber (<NUM>),
wherein the suction device (<NUM>) further comprises a containment element (<NUM>) applicable to at least one tool of an auxiliary unit (<NUM>), wherein said containment element (<NUM>) comprises:
- a flat annular element (<NUM>) mounted substantially close to or aligned with the end (<NUM>) of the head area (<NUM>) of the electro spindle (<NUM>) so as to obstruct the annular passage (<NUM>) between it and the peripheral edge (<NUM>) of the hood; and
- at least one casing (<NUM>) which surrounds at least in part said tool of the auxiliary unit (<NUM>) forming at least one secondary chamber (<NUM>);
wherein said secondary chamber (<NUM>) communicates with an opening (<NUM>) formed in the annular element (<NUM>) which, in the aforementioned operating condition, flows into the main chamber (<NUM>) so as to place said secondary chamber (<NUM>) in communication with the suction means.