Fujitsu Fanuc Limited

Fanuc Corporation

Hideo Katsube

Gotaro Gamo

Yoshiyuki Nomura

Mitsuo Kinoshita

Kanemasa Okuda

Tokiji Shimajiri

Mitsuo Saito

Kenichi Toyoda

Toshiyuki Aso

Shigeaki Oyama

Hiromichi Shichida

Koichi Matsuura

Automatic tool changer of a machine tool

Apparatus for processing a broken wire electrode used during

A wire or band electrode type electric discharge machine for machining hard metals by an electric spark generated between the metal workpiece and a wire electrode which is fed longitudinally to provide a fresh supply thereof while a prescribed relative motion is established between the workpiece and the wire electrode. The invention provides a clamping mechanism on the wire supply side of the workpiece for clamping the wire electrode if it breaks during operation, and a wire electrode feed mechanism for automatically guiding the broken end of the wire through the opening that has been machined in the workpiece. A wire electrode pull-up mechanism is provided on the other side of the workpiece for gripping and pulling up the wire electrode. If the electrode wire breaks during a machining operation, the clamping mechanism immediately clamps the wire electrode and prevents it from falling under its own weight. Thereafter the wire electrode feed mechanism draws the broken wire electrode away from the surface of the workpiece and then reinserts the broken end through the opening until the end of the wire emerges from the opposite side. The wire electrode pull-up mechanism the grips the end of the wire and pulls it to a new position to restore operation after it has been released by the clamping mechanism.

Electric discharge machine

A method and apparatus for restoring a broken wire electrode in a wire electrode-type electric discharge machine for machining a workpiece into a desired shape while the workpiece is moved relative to the wire electrode on the basis of machining command data. For effecting the restoration of the wire electrode, memory means are provided for storing the relative machining starting position of the workpiece and the wire electrode at the machining starting point, and the relative wire electrode breakage position of the workpiece and the wire electrode when the wire electrode breaks. After the wire electrode breaks the relative position of the workpiece and the wire electrode is brought into coincidence with the machining starting position on the basis of information indicative of the machining starting position and the wire electrode breakage position. After the wire electrode is returned to a feed system therefor, the workpiece is again moved relative to the wire electrode from the machining starting point on the basis of the machine command data. The relative position of the workpiece and the wire electrode is made to coincide with the wire electrode breakage position, after which the discharge machining operation is resumed.

Method and apparatus for restoring a wire electrode

Disclosed is a machine tool which comprises a spindle head, and an automatic tool changing apparatus which comprises a tool release mechanism adapted to be operated by movement of the spindle head in the direction of axis of the spindle and a tool magazine supported in floating manner with respect to the direction of the axis of spindle. When the spindle head is axially moved away from the tool magazine with the tool in the spindle being held by the tool magazine, in order to remove the tool from the spindle the tool is released from engagement with the spindle by a release mechanism, and the tool magazine can be moved together with the spindle head until the tool has been released.

Machine tool

There is disclosed a machine tool, of the type having a tool magazine for receiving tools therein, and wherein a spindle head is moved in the direction of the axis of a spindle relative to the tool magazine such that one of the tools in the tool magazine is engaged with or disengaged from the spindle. A draw bar for firmly attaching a tool to the spindle is positioned inside of the spindle. The operation of the draw bar is actuated by the movement of the spindle head relative to the tool magazine.

Machine tool having drawbar mechanism

A drilling machine with an automatic tool changer (A.T.C.) comprising a driving motor for a spindle head and a tool magazine rotatably supported by the spindle head and provided with a plurality of tool arbors for holding tools, one of the tools being interchanged with another of the tools by intermittent rotation of the tool magazine, and wherein the tool arbors are supported for swinging movement between a protrusion position and a retraction position so as not to obstruct the machining operation.

Drilling machine with automatic tool changer

Growing community of inventors

Hachioji, Japan

Hideo Katsube