Patent ID: 12226838

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[Basic Example of Mechanism for Attaching Tool Holder to Turret]

In the following, concepts of the mechanism for attaching a tool holder to a turret of the present disclosure is described before describing specific Examples.

A first characteristic configuration of the mechanism for attaching a tool holder to a turret includes an angle adjustment mechanism and a fixing mechanism that fixes the tool holder to the turret, wherein the angle adjustment mechanism includes: an angle adjustment block composed of a prism including first opposing side faces inclined relative to a direction along the rotation axis of the turret in plan view, and second opposing side faces parallel to each other; first and second adjustment blocks composed of prisms, wherein the prisms are disposed to sandwich the angle adjustment block in plan view, include inclined faces that are brought into surface contact with respective first opposing side faces, and movable in directions along the rotation axis of the turret; a depression formed in the tool holder, configured so that the angle adjustment block is movable, and includes a guide face opposing one of the second opposing side face of the angle adjustment block, and a pair of guide faces with which the first and second adjustment blocks are movable in a direction crossing an arrangement direction of the first and second adjustment blocks while being in contact with the opposing faces of the inclined faces of the first and second adjustment blocks; first and second adjusters that move the first and second adjustment blocks in a direction along the rotation axis of the turret while the angle adjustment block and the first and second adjustment blocks are accommodated in the depression; a first positioning member conducting positioning between the turret and the tool holder, and a second positioning member conducting positioning between the turret and the angle adjustment block.

While the turret and the tool holder are positioned by the first positioning member, and the turret and the angle adjustment block are positioned by the second positioning member, the first and second adjusters are operated to move the first and second adjustment blocks along the guide face formed in the depression, the angle adjustment block moves relative to the tool holder.

By the relative movement of the tool holder positioned to the turret with the first positioning member, and the angle adjustment block positioned to the turret by the second positioning member, the orientation of the tool holder relative to the turret is adjusted. While in that state, the tool holder is fixed to the turret through the fixing mechanism. As a result, the axis of the tool fixed to the tool holder is adjusted precisely in a direction along the rotation axis of the turret.

In the second characteristic configuration, in addition to the first characteristic configuration, the second opposing side faces of the angle adjustment block include a first guide face and a second guide face that are orthogonally orientated relative to the rotation axis of the turret in plan view; the first opposing side faces include a first inclined face and a second inclined face that incline in opposite directions between the first guide face and the second guide face; the first adjustment block includes a third opposing side face including a third inclined face relatively movable while being in surface contact with the first inclined face, and a third guide face parallelly oriented relative to the rotation axis of the turret; the second adjustment block includes a fourth opposing side face including a fourth inclined face relatively movable while being in surface contact with the second inclined face, and a fourth guide face parallelly oriented relative to the rotation axis of the turret; and the depression includes a fifth guide face opposing the first guide face of the angle adjustment block, a sixth guide face opposing the second guide face of the angle adjustment block, a seventh guide face relatively movable while being in surface contact with the third guide face of the first adjustment block, and an eighth guide face relatively movable while being in surface contact with the fourth guide face of the second adjustment block.

In the third characteristic configuration, in addition to the above-described second characteristic configuration, the first and second adjusters are configured with a female screw portion and a male screw, wherein the female screw portion is formed at the first and second adjustment blocks, and the male screw is screwed in the female screw portion through the first and second adjustment holes formed at one face of the tool holder, and an energizing mechanism that energizes the first and second adjustment blocks in a direction along the seventh guide face or eighth guide face is included.

In the fourth characteristic configuration, in addition to the above-described third characteristic configuration, the one face of the tool holder where the first and second adjustment holes are formed corresponds to a front side face or rear side face of the turret, and this allows easy operation of the first and second adjusters.

In the fifth characteristic configuration, in addition to one of the above-described first to fourth characteristic configurations, a pair of the angle adjustment mechanisms are provided in the tool holder along a direction parallel to the rotation axis of the turret, and the first positioning member also works as the second positioning member.

In the sixth characteristic configuration, in addition to one of the above-described first to fifth characteristic configurations, the first and second positioning members are composed of a depression and a projection: the depression having a circle shape in cross sectional view and included at one attachment face side of an object to be positioned and the projection having a circle shape in cross sectional view and included at the other attachment face side to be fitted in the depression.

[Detailed Embodiment of Mechanism for Attaching Tool Holder to Turret]

In the following, a specific structure of the mechanism for attaching a tool holder to a turret of the present disclosure is described.

FIG.1shows a turret1, a rotatable tool rest included in an NC machine tool such as an NC lathe, with tool holders10attached to a plurality of turret-side attachment faces1F formed and arranged along the outer perimeter of the turret1.

A rotation tool can be attached to a tool insertion opening20formed in the tool holder10. For example, a configuration can be made to include a bevel gear mechanism in the tool holder10, the bevel gear mechanism drivingly connected to the rotation axis extending in the radial direction from an electric motor installed in the turret1, and a rotation tool inserted in the tool insertion opening20is rotated through the bevel gear mechanism.

The tool holder10is formed into a substantially cuboid, and the tool insertion opening20is formed so as to extend in a direction along the rotation axis P of the turret1. An attachment shaft of the tool is inserted into the tool insertion opening20and fixed. Instead of the tool insertion opening20, for the tool attachment mechanism, another tool attachment mechanism can be included, such as an external diameter turning holder, which holds a tool by sandwiching a turning bit at a depression.

FIG.2shows a configuration of a tool holder10attached to the attachment face1F of the turret1. For the attachment mechanism30for attaching the tool holder10to the turret1, the tool holder10includes an angle adjustment mechanism40, which adjust an attachment angle of the tool holder10to the turret1, that is, an angle formed between the rotation axis P (ref:FIG.1) of the turret1and the axis of the tool attached to the tool holder10in plan view; and a fixing mechanism50that fixes the tool holder10to the turret1.

The fixing mechanism50is composed of six screw holes1H drilled perpendicularly to the attachment face1F at a peripheral portion of the attachment face1F of the turret1, six screw holes50H formed so as to penetrate from the upper face10UF to the lower face10LF of the tool holder10in correspondence to the respective screw holes1H, and hexagon socket bolts screwed into both screw holes50H,1H.

Four pairs of the screw holes21are formed at both faces sandwiching the tool insertion opening20included in the tool holder10, and are reaching the tool insertion opening20. The shaft of the tool is inserted into the tool insertion opening20, and hexagon socket hollow set screws are screwed from the screw holes21to fix the tool.

The angle adjustment mechanism40includes an angle adjustment block42, first and second adjustment blocks41and43disposed to sandwich the angle adjustment block42in plan view, and a depression44that is formed in the tool holder10and accommodates the angle adjustment block42and the first and second adjustment blocks41,43.

Furthermore, the angle adjustment mechanism40includes a first and second adjusters45,46that move the first and second adjustment blocks41and43, a first positioning member47conducting the positioning between the turret1and the tool holder10, and a second positioning member48conducting the positioning between the turret1and the angle adjustment block42.

As shown inFIG.3, the angle adjustment block42is composed of a prism including first opposing side faces42a,42binclined relative to the direction along the rotation axis P (ref:FIG.1) of the turret1in plan view, and second opposing side faces42c,42dparallel to each other.

The first adjustment block41and the second adjustment block43are disposed to sandwich the angle adjustment block42in plan view, include inclined faces41a,43amaking surface contact with the first opposing side faces42a,42bof the angle adjustment block42, respectively, and are composed of prisms disposed movably in the direction along the rotation axis P of the turret1in plan view.

The depression44formed in the tool holder10is configured so that the angle adjustment block42is movable. The depression44includes guide faces44c,44dand a pair of guide faces44a,44b:the guide faces44c,44doppose one of the second opposing side faces42c,42dof the angle adjustment block42. The first and second adjustment blocks41,43are movable while the pair of guide faces44a,44bare in contact with the opposing faces41b,43bof the inclined faces41a,43aof the first and second adjustment blocks41,43. The first and second adjustment blocks41,43are movable in the direction crossing the arrangement direction of the first and second adjustment blocks41,43, in this embodiment, the direction along the rotation axis P of the turret1. In this embodiment, a configuration is made so that the second opposing side face42cof the angle adjustment block42moves along the guide face44c.

The first adjuster45is composed of a manually operable position adjustment screw, which allows the first adjustment block41to move in directions along the rotation axis P of the turret1while the angle adjustment block42and the first and second adjustment blocks41,43are accommodated in the depression44.

Similarly, the second adjuster46is composed of a manually operable position adjustment screw, which allows the second adjustment block43to move in directions along the rotation axis P of the turret1while the angle adjustment block42and the first and second adjustment blocks41,43are accommodated in the depression44.

That is, the second opposing side face of the angle adjustment block42includes a first guide face42cand a second guide face42din an orthogonal posture relative to the rotation axis P of the turret1in plan view, and the first opposing side face includes a first inclined face42aand a second inclined face42binclined in opposite directions in plan view between the first guide face42cand the second guide face42d.

The first adjustment block41includes a third opposing side face composed of a third inclined face41arelatively movable while in surface contact with the first inclined face42aof the angle adjustment block42, and a third guide face41bin a posture parallel with the rotation axis P of the turret1.

Furthermore, the second adjustment block43includes a fourth opposing side face composed of a fourth inclined face43arelatively movable while being in surface contact with the second inclined face42b,and a fourth guide face43bin a posture parallel with the rotation axis P of the turret1.

The depression44includes a fifth guide face44copposing the first guide face42cof the angle adjustment block42, a sixth guide face44dopposing the second guide face42dof the angle adjustment block42, a seventh guide face44arelatively movable while being in surface contact with the third guide face41bof the first adjustment block41, and an eighth guide face44brelatively movable while being in surface contact with the fourth guide face43bof the second adjustment block43.

The above-described first and second adjusters45,46are composed of hexagon socket male screws45e,46eto screw together with female screw portions formed in the first and second adjustment blocks41,43through first and second adjustment holes45h,46hformed at one face of the tool holder10, in this embodiment, formed at a front side face of the turret1, and energizing mechanisms41s,43sare included: the energizing mechanisms41s,43sare composed of an elastic body such as a compression coil spring that energizes the first and second adjustment blocks41,43along the seventh guide face44aor the eighth guide face44btoward the fifth guide face44c.

FIG.4shows a cross sectional view seen in a direction orthogonal to the rotation axis P of the turret1, showing a cross sectional view of a second positioning member48conducting positioning between the turret1and the angle adjustment block42.

A locating ring48ais embedded in a cylindrical depression48hformed at the attachment face1F of the turret1, and the locating ring48ais tightened and fixed to the turret1using a bolt48b.

In a cylindrical depression42hformed at the lower face42LF of the angle adjustment block42, that is, at a face opposing the attachment face1F of the turret1, a locating pin48P is embedded, with the distal end thereof projecting from the lower face42LF.

To prevent removal from the depression44of the angle adjustment block42accommodated in the depression44formed at the lower face10LF of the tool holder10, an elastic body10sthat compresses and energizes the angle adjustment block42upwardly from the lower face10LF side, such as a compression coil spring is disposed, and the elastic body10sis supported by a washer10bheld by a male screw10atightened and fixed to the tool holder10.

At an inner circumferential face of the locating ring48a,an inclined face with a gradually increasing diameter upwardly is formed, and at an outer circumferential face of the locating pin48P, an inclined face with a gradually decreasing diameter downwardly is formed: the inclination angles of the both inclined faces are set to be equal.

FIG.5is a cross sectional view seen from the direction along the rotation axis P of the turret1, showing a cross sectional view illustrating a state in which the locating pin48P is fitted in the locating ring48a,and the angle adjustment block42and the turret1are positioned.

Similarly with the second positioning member48, the first positioning member47conducting positioning between the turret1and the tool holder10as well is composed of a locating ring embedded in a cylindrical depression formed at the attachment face1F of the turret1, and a locating pin embedded in a cylindrical depression formed at the lower face10LF of the tool holder10in a state in which its distal end is projected from the lower face10LF.

While being positioned by the first and second positioning members47,48, and energized toward the fifth guide face44cside with the respective energizing mechanisms41s,43s,by rotating the first and second adjusters45,46, the first and second adjustment blocks41,43slide along the seventh guide face44aand the eighth guide face44bof the depression44. By rotating the first and second adjusters45,46in opposite directions, the angle adjustment block42moves in a direction orthogonal to the rotation axis P of the turret1in plan view.

As shown inFIG.6(a), in plan view, by operating the first adjuster45to move the first adjustment block41to a front side of the tool holder10, and by operating the second adjuster46to move the second adjustment block43to a rear side of the tool holder10, the angle adjustment block42moves to a second adjustment block43side relative to the rotation axis P of the turret1. The tool holder10and the angle adjustment block42are positioned relative to the turret1with the respective first and second positioning members47,48, the tool holder10moves in a direction opposite to the moving direction of the angle adjustment block42, that is, it slightly rotates clockwise (counterclockwise in bottom view of the tool holder10) around the axis of the first positioning member47in plan view. InFIG.6(a), the hatched blocks show the position of the first and second adjustment blocks41,43after position adjusted with the first and second adjusters45,46, and their original positions are shown with broken lines.

As shown inFIG.6(b), in plan view, by operating the first adjuster45to move the first adjustment block41to a rear side of the tool holder10, and by operating the second adjuster46to move the second adjustment block43to a front side of the tool holder10, the angle adjustment block42moves to a first adjustment block41side relative to the rotation axis P of the turret1. The tool holder10and the angle adjustment block42are positioned relative to the turret1with the respective first and second positioning members47,48, the tool holder10moves in a direction opposite to the moving direction of the angle adjustment block42, that is, it slightly rotates counterclockwise (clockwise in bottom view of the tool holder10) around the axis of the first positioning member47in plan view. InFIG.6(b), the hatched blocks show the position of the first and second adjustment blocks41,43after position adjusted with the first and second adjusters45,46, and their original positions are shown with broken lines.

In this manner, the mounting posture of the tool holder10relative to the turret1can be fine-tuned so that the axis of the tool insertion opening20included in the tool holder10is along the rotation axis P of the turret1.

The above-described processes of adjustment relative to the tool holder10do not have to be conducted when the tool holder10is attached to the turret1. The tool holder10can be attached to the actual turret1after it is positioned and fixed to the first and second positioning members47,48included in an attaching face of an adjustment jig mocking the turret1, and the first and second adjusters45,46are rotated to adjust the posture.

[Mechanism for Attaching Tool Holder to Turret in Another Embodiment 1]

In Embodiment described above, the configuration is made with an isosceles trapezoid prism in plan view for the angle adjustment block42, with which the inclination angles of the first inclined face42aand third inclined face41a,and the second inclined face42band fourth inclined face43aare set so that the first guide face42cof the second opposing side faces of the angle adjustment block42makes contact with the fifth guide face44cof the depression44to slide. However, the present disclosure is not limited to such an embodiment, and a configuration can be made so as to set the inclination angles of the first inclined face42aof the angle adjustment block42and the third inclined face41aof the first adjustment block41, and the second inclined face42bof the angle adjustment block42and the fourth inclined face43aof the second adjustment block43to be opposite of the above describe one, so that the second guide face42dof the second opposing side faces of the angle adjustment block42makes contact with the sixth guide face44dof the depression44formed in the tool holder10to slide.

In this case, energizing mechanisms41s,43scomposed of an elastic body such as a compression coil spring that energizes the first and second adjustment blocks41,43toward the sixth guide face44dalong the seventh guide face44aor eighth guide face44bcan be included.

Furthermore, instead of the pull-in screw used in the previous embodiment as the first and second adjusters45,46, push-in screws such as hollow set screws can be used.

The angle adjustment block42does not have to be composed of an isosceles trapezoid prism in plan view, and the inclination angles of the first inclined face42aand third inclined face41a,and the second inclined face42band fourth inclined face43acan be set to be different angles.

[Mechanism for Attaching Tool Holder to Turret in Another Embodiment 2]

As shown inFIG.7, a configuration can be made so as to attach the hollow set screws60,61to project from the fifth guide face44cof the depression44formed in the tool holder10to adjust relative position of the first guide face42cof the angle adjustment block42relative to the fifth guide face44c,to fine-tune the position of the locating pin48P of the second positioning member48.

That is, in the position adjustment mechanism, with the hollow set screws60,61, the angle adjustment block42is pressed from the fifth guide face44cside to fine-tune the position of the second positioning member48.

[Mechanism for Attaching Tool Holder to Turret in Another Embodiment 3]

As shown inFIG.8, a configuration can be made so that the angle adjustment block42is a prism of a parallelogram in plan view with the inclination direction of the inclined faces41a,43aformed in the first and second adjustment blocks41,43are the same, and the respective inclined faces41a,43aand the first opposing side faces42a,42bof the angle adjustment block42are brought into surface contact with each other (inFIG.8, the block shown with hatching is angle adjustment block).

In this case, the energizing mechanism41sfor the first adjustment block41has to be set in an opposite direction relative to the previous embodiments. For the first adjuster45, instead of pull-in screws, push-in screws such as the hollow set screw can be used.

[Mechanism for Attaching Tool Holder to Turret in Another Embodiment 4]

As shown inFIG.9, a configuration can be made so as to provide a pair of angle adjustment mechanisms40of any of the above embodiments along the direction parallel to the rotation axis P of the turret1in the tool holder10, to use the first positioning member47also as the second positioning member48. In this case, in addition to enabling fine-tuning of the attachment posture of the tool holder10relative to the turret1, so that the axis of the tool insertion opening20included in the tool holder10in plan view to be in line with the rotation axis P of the turret1, the tool holder10can be moved in parallel to be in line with the rotation axis P of the turret1. In this case, first and second adjustment holes in correspondence with one angle adjustment mechanism40are formed at the front side face of the turret, and first and second adjustment holes in correspondence with the other angle adjustment mechanism40are formed at the rear side face of the turret1.

The above described first and second positioning members47,48can be of a configuration in which a depression and a projection are included: in an object to be positioned, the depression having a circle shape in cross sectional view and included at one attachment face side and the projection having a circle shape in cross sectional view and included at the other attachment face side to be fit in the depression, and the configuration is not limited to the one composed of a locating ring and a locating pin.

Although embodiments and aspects of the present disclosure are described above, the contents of the disclosure may be varied in details of the configurations, and combinations of the elements, change in order, and the like can be achieved without deviation from the claimed scope and principles of the present invention.

Although preferred embodiments of the present disclosure at this point in time are described, it is to be understood that such disclosure is not to be interpreted as limiting. Various alterations and modifications will no doubt become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains after they read the disclosure described above. Accordingly, it is intended that the appended claims be interpreted as covering all alterations and modifications while not deviating from the true spirit and scope of the present invention.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As described above, the present disclosure allows a machine tool with a mechanism for attaching a tool holder to a turret that easily achieves highly precise angle adjustment.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

1: turret1F: attachment face10: tool holder20: tool insertion opening30: attachment mechanism40: angle adjustment mechanism47: first positioning member48: second positioning member41: first adjustment block41a:inclined face (third inclined face)41b:opposing face (third guide face)42: angle adjustment block42a,42b:first opposing side face42c,42d:second opposing side face43: second adjustment block43a:inclined face (fourth inclined face)43b:opposing face (fourth guide face)44: depression44a:seventh guide face44b:eighth guide face44c:fifth guide face44d:sixth guide face50: fixing mechanismP: rotation axis