Hurco Companies, Inc.

Bautz, Walter

Himat Patel

Walter Bautz

Mihai Leahu

The present invention provides a tool changer for removal and installation of tools in a machining center having a spindle for holding a tool including a tool rack having a plurality of locations for holding tools and a rotatable arm movable between the spindle and the plurality of locations. Each of the plurality of locations has a clip for holding a tool and each clip has two arms with the arm on a first side of the clip having an inclined surface. The rotatable arm includes at least two grippers with each gripper defining at least one cam surface, the cam surface being structured and arranged to engage the inclined surface of the clip to allow for the removal of a tool in the clip.

Movable arm activated tool changer for machine tool system

The present invention involves a tool changer for removal and installation of tools in a machining center having a machine tool with a spindle for holding a tool disposed within the machining center frame. The tool changer comprises a tool rack having a plurality of locations for holding tools, and an arm structured and arranged to be movable between the plurality of locations and a position which is capable of accessing a spindle of the machining center. Each tool holding location farther comprises a fork, which has a plurality of prongs. The movable arm has two grippers and one of the two grippers is disposed at an angle of about &deg; relative to the other of the two grippers. The movable arm also is associated with rotational, vertical, and horizontal movement mechanisms. The rotational mechanism includes a motor, a pulley associated with the motor, a belt attached to the motor and the pulley, and a gear wheel attached to the belt with a limit switch for sensing one of the locations on the gear wheel. The vertical mechanism includes a vertical shaft and a cylinder capable of moving the movable arm vertically. The horizontal mechanism includes a linear track and a cylinder capable of moving the movable arm laterally. The frame further includes an access door located proximate the tool holding locations and sized to allow for manual access to one of the tool holding locations. The access door also has at least one location for holding a tool. The tool changer further comprises a cylinder actuated door which allows for the arm to access the spindle.

A manually operated apparatus for removal and insertion of a tool holder to and from a tool pocket of a magazine includes two components--a multi-function insertion/removal tool, and a pivot bracket. The multi-function tool generally comprises an elongated bar having a tool holder removal element at one end and an insertion element at the opposite end. The removal element can constitute a known pry tool having a fork portion configured to facilitate insertion between the rim of the tool pocket and the underside of the circumferential flange of the tool holder. The insertion element of the multi-function insertion/removal tool comprises a pivot block and a pressure plate. The pivot block includes a pivot pin projecting therefrom that is configured for pivoting engagement within a channel defined in the pivot bracket. The pivot bracket is mounted to the housing of the tool magazine at a manually accessible location relative to the tool pockets with the open end of the channel facing away from the tool pocket. When the pivot pin of the insertion/removal tool is disposed within the channel of the pivot bracket, the pressure plate is situated over a portion of the circumferential flange of the tool holder when the holder is loosely disposed within the tool pocket. The elongated bar of the tool can be used as a lever arm to pivot the tool about the fulcrum point defined by the pivot pin and pivot bracket. As the elongated bar is manipulated, the pressure plate is pivoted downward, bearing against the circumferential flange of the tool holder with sufficient force to overcome the pocket spring force operating against the knob of the tool holder.

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Zionsville, IN, United States of America

Himat Patel