Tsubakimoto Chain Company

Kazuhiko Araki

Hiroshi Yokota

Michio Oitaka

Shinichi Ozaki

Kazuo Kouyama

A rotating tool pot chain is capable of bending in both directions, the tool pot sweeps a relatively small area as it rotates, and the chain is capable of holding the tool pot stably. A pair of inner link plates ( ) and a pair of outer link plates ( ), are formed with openings to provide tool pot storage areas ( ) so that the tool pot, when stored, is parallel direction with the adjacent link connection pins 26. The center of each tool pot storage area ( ) is located on a chain pitch line passing through the centers of the adjacent connection pins . Further, the fulcrum (support pin ) on which the tool pot rotates is below the level of the adjacent connection pins but above the bottoms of the tool pot storage areas ( ).

Rotating tool pot chain

A tool pot separation type chain for use in a tool magazine includes a plurality of tool pots, and a plurality of pairs of laterally spaced link plates each adjacent ones of which are connected to each other by a connection pin. Each of the pairs of link plates has a tool pot receiving section for removably receiving one of the tool pots therein. Each of the tool pots has a pair of bearings mounted thereon such that outer races of the bearings are movable in rolling contact on a guide rail or a tool pot jumping-out preventing rail provided in an opposing relationship with the guide rail in the tool magazine. With this construction, the tool pot separation type chain is able to minimizes the traveling resistance thereof during carrying of the tool pots to reduce the driving force, prevent abrasion of the tool pots and the rails and suppress generation of noise and also facilitates a carrying in or carrying out operation of each tool pot at a tool pot loading/unloading position.

Growing community of inventors

Osaka, Japan

Kazuhiko Araki