Abstract: A tool magazine device includes a magazine body adapted to be disposed on a machine body of a machine tool to confront a working space, a plurality of insertion openings formed in a right side wall of the magazine body and each extending towards a left side wall of the magazine body to form a storage chamber, a plurality of gripping members fitted in the insertion openings for grippingly engage cutting tools, an inlet disposed in the magazine body for introducing therein a flow of pressurized air, and an air duct unit disposed on the left side wall and coupled to communicate the inlet with the storage chambers so as to permit the pressurized air to flow out of the insertion openings to thereby clean swarf from the cutting tools.

Abstract: A tool change magazine for a motor-driven machine tool, in particular a handheld machine tool with a tool which is to be driven in rotation, has an annular or drum-shaped housing. The housing is rotatable about its longitudinal axis. The tool change magazine also includes tool chambers arranged within the housing and each configured to slidably receive a tool. The housing includes regions formed from a transparent material. The tool chambers are arranged in the housing at the regions formed from the transparent material.

Abstract: A multi-spindle machining machine with a tool changing mechanism comprising a base; a carrier including a seat to move in Z axis, a rotary shaft fixed on the seat laterally to drive the seat to rotate in A axis, and a fixing holder coupled to an end portion of the rotary shaft to fix a workpiece; a tool changing mechanism including a mount mounted to the rotary shaft to rotate with the rotary shaft and a monitor fixed on the seat to measure a length of the tool clamped on the driving spindle, and including a plurality of slots to receive the tools respectively; a working head moving above the carrier and the tool changing mechanism in X and Y axes and including a driving spindle mounted on a lower end thereof to rotate axially, and the lower end of the driving spindle allowing to engage and disengage the tool.

Abstract: A tool storage system stores tool holders for use in machine tools. The tool holders hold tools such as milling cutters, taps, drills, reamers, chamfering or deburring tools or the like. The tool holders may have standard taper-shanks. A receptacle is provided for each tool holder. The receptacles are arranged on a generally vertical array and hold the tool holders generally horizontally. The tool holders may be retained by engagement of a pull stud in the receptacle. The generally vertical array arrangement permits storing a large number of tools in a small footprint. In embodiments, a computer system provides functions for managing the tools and/or jobs in which the tools are used.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for replacing a process instrument in a processing apparatus, in which a target object is loaded by transfer mechanism into a processing unit and is subjected to a process by use of the process instrument. The method includes confirming that a process on the target object is finished in a processing unit designated as a process instrument replacement target, and providing information that a process instrument replacing operation is permitted to start. The method further includes, when a shutter of the processing unit designated as the process instrument replacement target is closed to perform a process instrument replacing operation and an operation prohibition state is thereby applied to the transfer mechanism, canceling the operation prohibition state to allow the transfer mechanism to perform a load/unload operation relative to a processing unit not designated as a process instrument replacement target.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for replacing a process instrument in a processing apparatus, in which a target object is loaded by a transfer mechanism into a processing unit and is subjected to a process by use of the process instrument. The method includes confirming that a process on the target object is finished in a processing unit designated as a process instrument replacement target, and providing information that a process instrument replacing operation is permitted to start. The method further includes, when a shutter of the processing unit designated as the process instrument replacement target is closed to perform a process instrument replacing operation and an operation prohibition state is thereby applied to the transfer mechanism, canceling the operation prohibition state to allow the transfer mechanism to perform a load/unload operation relative to a processing unit not designated as a process instrument replacement target.

Abstract: A sensor detects an axial position of a rod controlling a tool-gripping collet in a tool-holding spindle whenever a tool is picked during a working session. The current obtained rod position value is compared with previous rod position value, which has been obtained and stored during the previous tool-picking and, if their deviation is larger than a predetermined threshold, the collet closure is notified as defective. The rod position is obtained as an average of a plurality of closely spaced readings, which are taken after a predetermined delay from the collet closure.

Abstract: In component feeding head apparatus, a head unit having a holding unit for releasably holding a component and a rotating unit for rotating the holding unit around its center of axis is set as an object of an up-and-down operation and an inverting operation, and a head lifting device for moving the head unit up and down and a head inverting device for inverting the head unit are provided as constructions independent from the head unit that is the object.

Abstract: A tool attachable to a spindle of a machine tool in the same way as an ordinary tool, capable of being driven without connecting with an external power supply etc., giving a higher rotational speed than that of the spindle of the machine tool without supplying electric power from the outside, and able to be changed automatically, provided with a machining tool for machining a workpiece, a motor for driving the machining tool, a generator for generating electric power to drive the motor by the rotation of the spindle, a rotational speed detecting device for detecting the rotational speed of the motor, and a rotational speed display for displaying the rotational speed detected by the rotational speed detecting device so as to be visually recognized from the outside of the attachable tool.

Abstract: The invention relates to the transmission of power and/or data from/to a stationary part of a machine tool 200 to/from an accessory 100 mounted in the spindle 210 of the machine tool 200. A first electrical link or interface 1a,1b,1c,1d provides electrical communication between the stationary part 200 and the spindle 210, and a second electrical link or interface 3 is provided electrically connected to the first electrical link at the accessory mounting area 230. The second link 3 is in the form of electrical contacts. The invention extends to an accessory shank 360 for mounting to the spindle 210 of the machine tool, and also to an accessory 100 e.g. in the form of a measurement probe, connected to the said shank 360.

Abstract: A machine tool has at least one working spindle, in which a tool receptacle for tool holders is provided. Furthermore, there is a tool-changing arm with a gripper, for a tool holder in order to transfer this tool holder between its magazine position, which is spaced apart from the tool receptacle, and its working position, in which the tool holder can be clamped into the tool receptacle. Orientation means are provided between the gripper and the tool holder supported by it and secure the tool holder in a nonrotatable manner on the gripper at least during its transfer between the magazine position and the working position and release it after it has been clamped into the tool receptacle, with the result that the tool holder can be rotated in relation to the gripper.

Abstract: The single point machining head includes a probe that is removably mounted on a carriage that moves radially relative to a central axis of the machining head. A system controller moves the carriage in a radial direction while the machining head is fed in a vertical direction so that the probe contacts the surface of a workpiece. Each point of contact on the workpiece becomes a datapoint including the radial position and the vertical position when contact occurred. The surface of the workpiece is scanned with the probe and a profile is generated using the points of contact. A system controller calculates a difference between the measured profile and a desired profile to be machined to determine the amount of material to remove.

Abstract: A machine tool has a working spindle in which a tool receptacle for tool holders is provided. Furthermore, there is at least one tool-changing arm with a gripper in which a tool holder is held in a peripheral alignment with respect to the gripper in order to transfer this tool holder between its magazine position, which is spaced apart from the tool receptacle, and its working position, in which the tool holder can be clamped into the tool receptacle. A positioning indicator is provided for the peripheral alignment of the tool holder, the indicator indicating a misalignment between the tool holder and gripper.

Abstract: A tool identification system has a tool holder allowing removable attachment thereto of any one of a plurality of tools; a sensor arrangement operable to sense features present on a tool attached to the tool holder; a processor operable to identify uniquely, from the sensed features, the type of the tool attached to the tool holder; and an insulation arrangement provided between the tool holder and the sensor arrangement, thereby electrically insulating the tool holder from the sensor arrangement.

Abstract: A machine tool comprises: a workpiece spindle (12) having an electromagnetic chuck (18) provided on an upper end thereof for clamping a workpiece (W), and extending along the Z-axis; a tool magazine which accommodates a tool (T) and a centering jig (20); an automatic tool changer (17) for exchanging the tool (T) between the tool magazine and a tool spindle; and a run-out measuring device (19) for measuring a run-out of the workpiece (W) placed on the electromagnetic chuck (18); wherein a workpiece correction distance is calculated on the basis of the run-out of the workpiece (W) measured by the run-out measuring device (19) before the workpiece (W) is clamped by the electromagnetic chuck (18), and a workpiece centering operation is automatically performed by the centering jig (20) attached to the tool spindle until the run-out of the workpiece (W) falls within an allowable range.

Abstract: A machine tool comprises: a workpiece spindle (12) having an electromagnetic chuck (18) provided on an upper end thereof for clamping a workpiece (W), and extending along the Z-axis; a tool magazine which accommodates a tool (T) and a centering jig (20); an automatic tool changer (17) for exchanging the tool (T) between the tool magazine and a tool spindle; and a run-out measuring device (19) for measuring a run-out of the workpiece (W) placed on the electromagnetic chuck (18); wherein a workpiece correction distance is calculated on the basis of the run-out of the workpiece (W) measured by the run-out measuring device (19) before the workpiece (W) is clamped by the electromagnetic chuck (18), and a workpiece centering operation is automatically performed by the centering jig (20) attached to the tool spindle until the run-out of the workpiece (W) falls within an allowable range.

Abstract: In a finishing apparatus, a plurality of works are retained at distances from each other in a direction of an X-axis. A single spindle is disposed on a table movable in the direction of the X-axis, the spindle has an axis parallel to an axis of each of bores to be finished, and is capable of being advanced and retracted axially. A measuring device is provided that measures an inside diameter of each finished bore and which is advanced and retracted independently from the spindle in a direction along the axis of each finished bore. A combination tool is mounted at a tip end of the spindle and finishes an inner surface of any of the bores to be finished, even if the position of insertion of the combination tool into each of the bores is changed.

Abstract: An electronic component mounting apparatus for determining whether or not a nozzle replacement operation is successfully performed. A horizontal array of nozzles are accommodated in the holder in a nozzle stocker, and a light emitting device and a light receiving device are arranged so that the light path between both runs above the nozzles. The nozzle stocker is arranged in a travel path of a feeding head. The nozzle mount of the feeding head returns a used nozzle into the holder or mounts a new nozzle thereon. When any nozzle remains lifted from the holder intercepting the light path, a returning operation of the used nozzle is determined to be a failure. When a nozzle replacement is performed, its success or failure is reliably determined by detecting a intercepting height of light and release height of light by the nozzle and nozzle mount, respectively.

Abstract: A data carrier in the form of an elastic ring segment has a radially outwardly facing surface to which the data providing tool information, are applied for example by printing. The ring segment has at least one radially inwardly effective connector element that forms a snap-on connector for securing the data carrier in an elastic, releasable manner to a connector area of a tool carrier to provide an elastic, interlocking form-fit between the data carrier and the tool carrier. Thus, the data carrier can be easily exchanged or replaced in accordance with the type of tool carried by the tool carrier.

Abstract: The tool store comprises a prismatic drum having a number of cells in which the tools may be inserted singly or housed inside a magazine; and the tool change device comprises a pair of clamps operated singly and fitted to the work table. The clamps are moved simultaneously in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the drum, for withdrawing or loading the tool from/on to the drum or spindle; the tool being transferred between the drum and spindle by the work table; and a sensor being provided for detecting the tip of the tool inserted in the spindle and so adjusting the axial position of the tool in the spindle.

Abstract: High speed cutting with machine tools is achieved with readily available bearings of a small diameter by mounting and presetting the cutting tool directly in a spindle of a spindle unit without employing a tool holder. Preferably, the spindle unit is small like a tool holder and can be easily changed with conventional kinds of tool changing apparatus. The elimination of the tool holder allows the conventional bearings to be kept small so that they may be operated at high speeds, e.g., 20,000 to 40,000 rpm, without excessive heat that would damage the bearings.

Abstract: A method is provided for the confirmation of the diameters of plural drills of different diameters in a PWB working machine in which the drills are interchangeably mounted to perform drilling. The method comprises storing, with respect to each of the drills, data on whether or not the drill has already been used, checking the data of one of the drills upon drill replacement, and measuring the diameter of the drill only where the drill has not previously been used.