Abstract: A machine tool which is designed to carry out a specified sequence of work steps is provided. A tool and a processing time is assigned to each work step. A tool magazine is designed to keep a number of tools ready for the machine tool and includes a feeder for conveying tools from and to a transfer point for the machine tool. In a method for assigning tools to spaces of the tool magazine, a number of work steps are determined from the sequence, the respective processing time of each work step being shorter than a specified cycle time of the tool magazine. A work step is iteratively selected from the number of work steps; a previously used tool and a subsequently used tool are assigned spaces of the tool magazine; and the work step is removed from the number of work steps.

Abstract: A lockable tool clamp includes two jaw members and a pin together installed on a mount to clamp a tool holder securely. The jaw members each have a connecting portion and a jaw tip. The two connecting portions are overlapped and connected to the mount through a shaft. The pin when installed on the mount is parallel to the shaft, and passes through the two jaw members at a location different from where the shaft passes through the two jaw members. When the pin is in its unlocking position, the jaw members are allowed to pivot with respect to each other, so that the tool holder can be withdrawn or replaced by pushing the jaw tips apart. When the pin is in its locking position, the jaw members are restricted from pivoting with respect to each other. At this time, the tool holder is clamped between the jaw tips securely.

Abstract: A fast tool changing method with pre-unclamping step for controlling operations of the spindle, tool unclamping cylinder, and tool changing arm. The spindle has one end clamping the tool at the clamping position. The method includes following steps. In a tool pre-unclamping step, the clamp end of the spindle moves the used tool to a pre-unclamping position; the tool unclamping cylinder pushes the used tool to leave a taper of the spindle. In a tool changing step, the tool changing arm rotates to clamp the used tool and pulls the used tool away from the clamp end, and further aligns a target tool with the clamp end. In a tool inserting step, the tool changing arm inserts the target tool into the clamp end, to be clamped therein. Therefore, the tool unclamping and tool clamping operations are accelerated.

Abstract: Disclosed is a mechatronic movement system for three-dimensional printing for a rapid-prototyping machine, such as a 3D printer, of the type provided with at least one microprocessor electronic management board, in which the movement of the printing way of the 3D printer along the axes X and Y of the horizontal plane is obtained exclusively with geared kinematic chains.

Abstract: A tool changer includes a holding member having a tool change arm disposed thereon, a rotation mechanism rotating the holding member at a first rotation speed in normal and reverse directions, a forward/backward movement mechanism moving the holding member forward and backward at a first forward/backward movement speed, and a controller comparing a first difference as a difference between a command value for the rotation and an output value of an encoder with a first threshold. When the first difference is equal to or greater than the first threshold, a rotational speed of the holding member is chained to a second rotation speed slower than the first rotation speed. Alternatively, when the first difference is less than the first threshold, the rotational speed of the holding member is maintained at the first rotation speed.

Abstract: A machine tool includes a rotatable spindle, a spindle drive, a tool magazine, a tool changer including a rotating shaft, a rotating shaft drive motor, an angular position detector, a tool change arm having gripping units at both ends, and a controller. After interchanging a first tool mounted on the spindle and a second tool held in a tool pot, when rotating the tool change arm to an intermediate position, rotation of the spindle is started as soon as the second tool mounted on the spindle and the gripping unit are out of contact with each other.

Abstract: An auto tools change with space allowance for tool rejection of spindle includes an arm seat, an arm shaft, a tools change arm, a flat cam, and a driving arm, while the flat cam has a driving groove for driving the driving arm to swing and thus facilitates the tool clamping and tool unclamping. Therein, the driving arm has a tool clamping section having an allowance groove, a first transition section, a tool unclamping section, and a second transition section. Therefore, a larger width of the allowance groove is provided on the driving groove, thereby offering a sliding space for the tools change arm. Thus, a space allowance is produced during tool pushing process, thereby not only preventing the main shaft and the tool from being damaged, but also preventing the tools change arm from deformation.

Abstract: A mounting unit for a tool depositing device includes a coupling carrier having a tool-side coupling element, in particular for a coupling device for a tool of a robot, and a holding device that can be connected to a mounting plate of the tool depositing device. An intermediate space is provided between the holding device and the coupling carrier to allow compensating movements between the coupling carrier and the holding device. The holding device includes two guide rails, between which the coupling carrier is pushed in. An interlocking engagement between the coupling carrier and the guide rails is produced by engaging at least one protuberance in at least one recess, wherein the at least one recess and the at least one protuberance are arranged on mutually opposing sides of the coupling carrier and of the guide rails.

Abstract: An auto tools change with space allowance for tool rejection of spindle includes an arm seat, an arm shaft, a tools change arm, a flat cam, and a driving arm, while the flat cam has a driving groove for driving the driving arm to swing and thus facilitates the tool clamping and tool unclamping. Therein, the driving arm has a tool clamping section having an allowance groove, a first transition section, a tool unclamping section, and a second transition section. Therefore, a larger width of the allowance groove is provided on the driving groove, thereby offering a sliding space for the tools change arm. Thus, a space allowance is produced during tool pushing process, thereby not only preventing the main shaft and the tool from being damaged, but also preventing the tools change arm from deformation.

Abstract: A cutter-changing device includes a cutter-magazine carrying cutters, a rotary telescopic cylinder, and a clamping sub-assembly. The clamping sub-assembly includes a cutter-changing arm, and a pair of clamping assemblies. The rotary telescopic cylinder drives the cutter-changing arm to rotate, extend and retract. Each clamping assembly includes a mounting member, an elastic member, a piston, and at least one resisting member. The mounting member is mounted on the cutter-changing arm, and defines at least one mounting hole through the sidewall thereof. The elastic member and the piston are sleeved with the mounting member, and the two opposite ends of the elastic member press against the piston and the mounting member. The resisting member is mounted between the elastic member and the mounting member, and capable of being resisted by the piston to be partially exposed from the mounting hole.

Abstract: Disclosed in an automatic tool changer in which the tool changing time can be shortened by increasing overlapping operations of the turning operation and the axial advancing/retracting operation of a replacement arm. An arm driver (32) is so constituted that the driver performs overlapping operations such that at least a part of the operation for turning a replacement arm (23) by 180° and the operation for advancing/retracting the replacement arm in the axial direction in order to insert or withdraw a tool (37) are performed simultaneously and in parallelism with each other. When the replacement arm (23) is advanced/retracted in the axial direction in order to insert or withdraw a tool, the replacement arm (23) is turned by a predetermined distance in a direction reverse to the direction (so called “normal direction”) for turning the arm by 180° in parallelism with the advancing/retracting operation, and thereafter, the replacement arm (23) is turned in the normal direction.

Abstract: A tool handling device for machine tools, comprising a tool magazine having a transfer position for the transfer of the tools, including a tool changer movable between the transfer position and an exchange position, which has a rotatable double gripper, and a supporting structure movable on a foundation, on which the tool changer is mounted. In order to achieve fast tool changes in tight spaces on the machine, the supporting structure has an upper slide and a lower slide which can both be displaced by means of spindle drives in the same direction on a foundation, wherein a single drive motor is provided for driving the two spindle drives.

Abstract: A tool changer for machine tools, the tool changer having at least one rotatable tool gripper, a supporting column for the tool gripper which can be lifted and lowered and rotated about a rotational axis, a mechanical cam gear for generating the lifting and rotating movements of the tool gripper, all driven by a drive motor connected to a cam barrel and intermediate gearing. The cam barrel has a tappet for the rotational drive of the tool gripper on its upper front and a cam curve or groove on its peripheral surface for the lifting movement of the tool gripper. The tappet drives a Maltese wheel supported on a shaft parallel to the rotational axis of the tool gripper. The Maltese wheel, the cam barrel, and the supporting column of the tool gripper are successively supported in a manner parallel to the axis.

Abstract: A machine tool has, on a machine bed, two stands which can be moved in the horizontal x- and z-direction, on which y-slides carrying tool spindles can be vertically moved. Arranged on one of the stands directly above a bridge projecting over its upper side is at least one tool magazine, with which a tool changer is associated for each stand. The drives for the y-slides are attached below the upper side of the stands to the stands.

Abstract: A machine tool includes a headstock provided with a main spindle and movable in a direction different from a direction of axis of the main spindle, a tool post mounted on the headstock so as to be movable in the direction of axis of the main spindle, and a tool change unit configured to change a tool attached to the main spindle with another tool after an extremity of the main spindle has been moved to a predetermined tool change position. In this machine tool, when an extremity of the tool post is positioned in the tool change position by the movement of the headstock and also by the movement of the tool post, the tool change unit performs change of a tool attached to the tool post with another tool by the same tool change operation as that for the main spindle.

Abstract: A tool-changing device includes a tool gripper and a stroke and pivoting actuator for operating the tool gripper. The stroke and pivoting actuator can be driven by a first direct drive for producing a linear movement and by a second direct drive for producing a rotational movement, wherein the first and the second direct drives have a common rotor which serves as the stroke and pivoting actuator.

Abstract: A cutter shifting mechanism includes a main body having a longitudinal cylinder casing and a shaft is located in the longitudinal cylinder casing. An arm is connected to a lower end of the shaft so as to be connected with cutters. A longitudinal pushing device is connected to a top end of the shaft and a gear is rotatably mounted to the shaft. The gear is movable along a longitudinal axis of the shaft. A threaded rod is engaged with the gear and connected with a latitude pushing device. Each of the longitudinal and latitude pushing devices includes a pneumatic cylinder. The mechanism includes simple structure and can be manufactured at low cost. The pneumatic cylinders accurately operate the parts of the mechanism.

Abstract: The present invention has an object to provide a tool replacement system that is capable of preventing the waiting time from occurring as much as possible although an intermediate magazine arranged therefore has a smaller capacity than prior arts. In the tool replacement system, programs pertaining to the sequence of operation and operation time of operating tools 7 are established, wherein, when the operation time of individual tools 7 is shorter than the conveyance time for reciprocation of the tool conveyance apparatus 3 between the tool magazine 1 and the tool replacement arm 4, the object can be solved by realizing transfer of at least a part of the tools planned to be operated in a next process of the corresponding individual tools 7 to the tool replacement arm 4 after the tools are arranged to the intermediate magazine 5.

Abstract: A multi-layered tool magazine of a CNC machine having multiple specifications and fast tool-changing speed, includes a racket connecting to the CNC machine and being disposed with more than one set of tool magazine modules, a tool selecting module and a tool changing module. The tool changing module includes a tool selecting disk disposed with two tool selecting portions at both ends thereof respectively, and the tool selecting disk can move up and down corresponding to the tool magazine module. Furthermore, the tool changing module includes a tool changing rod disposed corresponding to the shaft of the CNC machine and a positioning point of the tool selecting module; therefore, it can increase the number of tools of the tool magazine and prepare the tools for the next process quickly in advance to exchange the tools with high speed and to further enhance the processing efficiency.

Abstract: An automatic tool-changing arm of an automatic tool changer applicable to a machine tool, primarily comprises an immovable platform, a movable platform located below the immovable platform, a platform driving device driving the movable platform to vertically move with respect to the immovable platform, a gear assembly settled on the moveable platform and an arm body fixedly attached to the movable platform and to be rotated by the gear assembly, wherein the arm body has two ends each equipped with a clamp driving device and a power clamp. Thereby, the arm body can perform vertical movements and horizontal rotations precisely and stably so as to enhance the reliability of the tool-changing arm.

Abstract: A tool changing device includes a conjugate cam composed of two plate cams and the conjugate cam is mounted to the cam axle. The two plate cams are operatively engaged with two rollers on two sides of a gear so that the gear is periodically rotated to drive the tool shaft which is rotated and precisely positioned to change the tools as expected.

Abstract: A machine tool consists in a pair of slide ways set apart one from another and extending parallel with a longitudinal axis, a machining station between the slide ways, presenting a first zone and a second zone adjacent one to the other, and a traveling gantry set in motion along the slide ways and carrying a machining head positionable in the first and second zones. Installed alongside at least one of the slide ways and containing a supply of tools attachable to the machining head is a magazine equipped with a first changer element positioned to coincide with the first zone of the station, and a second changer element positioned to coincide with the second zone, so that whichever of the two zones the machining head happens to occupy at any given moment, the tool currently in use can be replaced with a tool from the magazine by the relative changer element with minimal loss of time.

Abstract: A cam mechanism through which torque applied to an input shaft is converted into the bi-directional rotation and reciprocating axial movement of an output shaft. Two cam elements are utilized, one consisting of a roller gear cam attached to the input shaft, and the other of a recessed channel type cam formed on one side of the roller gear cam. Two power transfer mechanisms are also utilized, one consisting of a turret installed adjacently to the roller gear cam as means of imparting a rotational movement to the output shaft, and the other consisting of a reciprocating swing arm of which one end is driven by the channel type cam. The turret is connected to the output shaft through a sliding spline that allows the output shaft to move axially within the turret, by means of a movable connection with the reciprocating swing arm, while being rotationally driven by the splined connection.

Abstract: A guide rail (12) is laid on a frame (4) of a horizontal machining center provided with a tool magazine (5) to guide a tool changer (11) for movement between a tool transfer station near the tool magazine (5) and a tool changing station at a lower part of the frame (4). The guide rail (12) has a horizontal section (12a), a vertical section (12b) and a curved section (12c). The direction of the tool changer (11) is changed while the tool changer (11) is traveling along the curved section (12c). The tool changer (11) carries a spare tool (T) in a horizontal position along the horizontal section (12a) of the guide rail (12) and in a vertical position along the vertical section (12b) of the guide rail (12). The tool changer (11) has a carriage (16) and a tool holding device (17) supported on the carriage (16) so as to be movable in directions perpendicular to the guide rail (12).

Abstract: A grasping device for changing bending tools on tube bending machines which includes a frame mounted over the bending machine. The grasping device includes a rotary head having independent movements in rotation, vertical motion and horizontal motion. A tool magazine is also movably carried by the portal frame independently of the rotary head.

Abstract: An automatic tool exchanging machine include a machine body such as gear box, a tool exchanging arm having a tool grasping member and supported by the machine body to be rotatable and to be linearly reciprocally movable in an axial direction of a rotation shaft of the machine body, a rotation drive mechanism provided for the machine body, and a power transmission mechanism for transmitting a driving power of the rotation drive mechanism to the tool exchanging arm. The power transmission mechanism is provided with a motion conversion mechanism for converting a rotational motion of the rotation drive mechanism including servo-motors to a linear reciprocal motion of the tool exchanging arm and the motion conversion mechanism is composed of a feed screw mechanism. The feed screw mechanism is a ball screw mechanism.

Abstract: In a tool-changing apparatus for a machine tool, a tool-locking pin and an arm-locking pin are provided in a tool-changing arm and urged upward. When the arm is moved downward by a swinging shaft, the tool-locking pin and the arm-locking pin are moved upward by the urging force of respective springs, and a tapered surface of the tool-locking pin presses an end of a roller shaft projecting from a through-hole of the tool-changing arm, thus preventing a sliding movement of the roller shaft toward the through-hole, and a tapered surface of the arm-locking pin fits in a circular groove formed on the peripheral surface of an arm central shaft coupled with the swinging shaft, thus preventing the rotation of the arm relative to an arm-supporting member. When a tool is mounted into a tool-mounting portion, arm locking is released to enable the arm to move independently of the swinging shaft.

Abstract: A machine tool includes a spindle to which a tool is detachably attached to be clamped, an unclamping lever provided for rocking motion and having two ends, rocking means for rocking the unclamping lever, a releasing section provided in the spindle so as to be pressed by the unclamping lever when the unclamping lever is rocked by the rocking means with a tool being clamped by the spindle, thereby releasing the tool from a clamped state, and a support shaft for rockably supporting the unclamping lever, the support shaft being movable axially with respect to the spindle.

Abstract: A tool exchange device is capable of automatically and swiftly exchanging tools during non-cutting processes.

Abstract: A device for controlling a tool shaft of a cutting machine includes a casing in which the tool shaft is rotatably and movably received therein, the casing having a first and a second detection member, a first, a second and a third switch member respectively thereto, two racks selectably engaged with a toothed section of the tool shaft and each of the two racks having a damping device disposed therein. The tool shaft has head portion connected to a cylinder and the head portion has two rods extending therefrom. When the first rod is detected by the first detection member, and the head portion actuates the first switch member and one of the racks rotates the tool shaft till the second rod is detected by the second detection member so as to lower the tool shaft. The other rack is therefore engaged with and rotates the tool shaft till the damping device in the rack actuates the third switch member to raise the tool shaft to let the first rod be detected by the first detection member.

Abstract: When pairs of fingers grasp tools and a tool exchange arm starts lowering, upper ends of lock pins which have been held by a spindle head are released, the lock pins are pushed up by urging forces of springs, and tapered portions of the lock pins push out steel balls to external sides. Thus, cylindrical portions of the pairs of fingers are prevented from opening, and opening and closing of the pair of fingers are locked.

Abstract: A tool changer for a machine tool includes an arm support disposed between a spindle head and a tool magazine to be reciprocally moved along the spindle relative to the spindle, a pair of tool changing arms mounted for rocking motion on support shafts further mounted on the arm support to cross the spindle, respectively, holding mechanisms on one ends of the tool changing arms respectively, and a rotating mechanism for rotating the tool changing arms by 180 degrees about a center shaft parallel with the spindle. Each holding mechanism has a moving pin and a spring for urging the moving pin in a direction of projection of the pin. The moving pins are engaged with a tool attached to the spindle and another tool located at a standby position of the tool magazine when the tool changing arms are rocked about the support shafts so that the tools are detachably held by the holding mechanisms respectively.

Abstract: An automatic tool changer can reduce a space required for an output shaft and thus permits downsizing of the whole device. Also, the automatic tool changer can reduce an inertia force in reciprocal linear motion to perform high speed operation. The automatic tool changer has a motion converting cam which converts a rotational motion of a lifting rotary shaft into a linear motion. A cam follower of an arm supporting member is engaged with the motion converting cam. When relative rotational swing motion is caused between the lifting rotary shaft and a pivoting rotary shaft, the cam follower causes reciprocal linear motion relative to the motion converting cam. Then, the arm supporting member which is movable in an axial direction relative to the pivoting rotary shaft through a spline coupling, causes reciprocal linear motion on a tool holding arm.

Abstract: A machining center has a tool change device provided above a horizontally mobile column that has a main spindle for holding a tool. A circular tool magazine for carrying a plurality of tools in a horizontal attitude is provided on a support base which is positioned above the region in which the mobile column moves. The support base is supported in a cantilever fashion by posts erected on a bed. The tool magazine rotates within a horizontal plane for indexing tools to a standby position. The tools are accommodated in pots suspended via rolling members from the body of the tool magazine and adapted to move along a ring-shaped path under the tool magazine body. The tool magazine body has a local removal opening or cutout, from where a shifter at a standby position carries a pot to a tool delivery position.

Abstract: A machine tool comprises a spindle having a tool receptacle for receiving tool holders in their working position. A tool changer is provided for conveying a tool holder in a first changing step between a magazine position and a spindle position at said spindle. Further provided is a linear stroke mechanism for conveying said tool holder in a second changing step between said spindle position and said working position. A common drive mechanism is linked to said tool changer and said linear stroke mechanism such as to affect both said first and second changing step.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for developing a complete set of all admissible Type I and Type II fixture designs for a workpiece. The fixture processor generates the set of all admissible designs based on geometric access constraints and expected applied forces on the workpiece. For instance, the fixture processor may generate a set of admissible fixture designs for first, second and third locators placed in an array of holes on a fixture plate and a translating clamp attached to the fixture plate for contacting the workpiece. In another instance, a fixture vise is used in which first, second, third and fourth locators are used and first and second fixture jaws are tightened to secure the workpiece. The fixture process also ranks the set of admissible fixture designs according to a predetermined quality metric so that the optimal fixture design for the desired purpose may be identified from the set of all admissible fixture designs.

Abstract: The present invention is related to an automatic tool-changing mechanism adapted to be used in a machining center and including a power source, a machine frame and an automatic tool changing device secured to the machine frame, wherein the automatic tool changing device includes a tool changer secured to the machine frame for functioning in tool-grasping, tool-extracting, tool-interchanging, tool-inserting and tool-returning motions; a rotating device secured to a driving shaft and coupled to the tool changer and a swing arm device, the rotating device including a first and second rotating elements in which the first rotating element is used for enabling a to-and-fro swing motion of the swing arm device and the second rotating element is used for enabling a to-and-fro rotary motion of the tool changer to perform the tool-grasping, tool-interchanging and tool-returning motions; and the swing arm device having an intermediate portion thereof pivotally coupled to the machine frame and a first end portion and a s

Abstract: An automatic tool changer in a machining enter includes a reducer, a compound cam, a cylindrical cam, a four-bar mechanism, a toggle mechanism, and a tool cahnge device. The compound cam and the cylindrical cam are driven by a motor after speed reduction through a belt and gear train. The compound cam includes a roller gear cam and a face cam performs the tool change motions. During the tool change motions, the cylindrical cam drives the crank of the toggle mechanism to make the slider push the drawback which produces the pushing and pulling tool motions in the spindle head. By way of using this design, the tool change time is largely reduced, the tool change motions are more smooth, and the cost can be cheaper than the previous design.

Abstract: A stepping apparatus capable of large angle oscillation comprising an output shaft and a driving shaft arranged parallel to, and spaced apart from, each other wherein the output shaft is provided with a roller wheel plate, both sides of the wheel plate being pivoted with a plurality of alternately spaced rollers, a pair of plate cams being secured on the driving shaft for driving in combination with the rollers on both sides of the wheel plate, allowing the driving shaft to drive the output shaft for reverse angular rotation, standstill, forward angular rotation, indexing, and other stepping sequential operations.

Abstract: A tool magazine for use with an automatic machine tool comprising a housing for removably storing tools, a rotatable tool holding disk for rotatingly switching one of the tools between a first position and a second position, the tool holding disk being rotatably supported inside the housing by a shaft about a first axis, and a cam type tool magazine mechanism disposed inside the housing for indexingly rotating the tool holding disk.

Abstract: A tool changer comprises a support (7) movable parallel to the axis (A or B) of a tool holder, a pivoting head (8) which pivots on the support (7) about an axis of rotation (D), and two gripper arms (9, 10) arranged on the head (8) substantially radially with respect to the axis of rotation, their free ends each carrying a gripper (11). The free ends of the gripper arms (9, 10) are so inclined relative to the axis of rotation (D) that the two tool axes (W1, W2) of the tools (5, 6) engaged by the grippers (11) and the axis of rotation (D) intersect in a single point (P), and so that the tool axes (W1, W2) of the tools (5, 6) engaged by the grippers (11) diverge from the axis of rotation (D) towards their holding ends (5a, 6a). Each of the tool axes (W1, W2) includes an acute angle (.alpha.) of about 10.degree. to 30.degree. with the axis of rotation (D).

Abstract: Herein disclosed is an exchange arm drive control system which is adopted as the automatic tool exchanger of a vertical quadruple spindle type machining center and enabled to contribute to sparing the space and improving the machinability. The drive control system is comprised mainly of means for clamping a tool and moving a tool holder in a Z-axis, means for rotating the tool holder by 180 degrees, means for turning exchange arms by 90 degrees and controlling the position of the tool holder; and means for moving the exchange arms on a Y-axis. Especially, in the 90-degree exchange arm turning and tool holder positioning means of those means, there is adopted a hollow shaft (16) for keeping a rotary shaft (2) away from associating with the 90-degree turn of the exchange arm (11) so that the tool can be conveyed with the tool holder being held in a constant position.