Kitamura Machinery Co., Ltd.

Governor of Toyama Prefecture, Yutaka Nakaoki

Kabushiki Kaisha Photron

Shigeru Yamada

Koichiro Kitamura

Akihiro Kitamura

Katsuji Taniguchi

Kousaku Kitamura

Kosaku Kitamura

Takashi Asano

Kenji Mitsui

Masataka Tsuji

Takashi Saito

Masahiro Kadosaki

Kihachiro Tohbo

Hiroshi Sugimori

Takashi Saitou

An automatic tool exchange system which allows a tool management mode to be arbitrarily selectable between a fixed address scheme and a memory random scheme in operation of the same machining center. The control unit for controlling the respective drive units of the tool exchanger and the magazine includes a storage unit for storing tool information containing a registered correspondence relationship between the tools and corresponding addresses of the stowage parts of the magazine, a modifying unit for modifying the tool information, and a tool exchange instruction unit for sequentially designating the tool to be used in each of the machining steps in accordance with the machining program, and driving the magazine to move the stowage part at the address corresponding to the designated tool to a predetermined position based on the tool information so that the tool is located at the exchange position at a predetermined timing. The control unit is configured to manage the tool in a mode selectively switchable between a first tool management mode in a fixed address scheme for returning the tool after use to a corresponding address, and a second tool management mode in a memory random scheme so as to stow the tool after use at an unoccupied address where the tool for next use has been previously stowed, and allow the modifying unit to modify the correspondence relationship between the tool after use and the address, which has been contained in the tool information.

Automatic tool exchange system for machine tools

To provide a clamp device which is designed to shorten a spindle than before, thus enabling the downsizing of a spindle device. In a clamp device for removably mounting a tool holder to a spindle of a rotary spindle device, a clamp mechanism is placed in a clamp state by a reciprocation drive mechanism producing a rearward movement in which a draw-in sleeve () engaged therewith via steel balls () is moved rearward to bring through-holes () thereof to rearward large diameter portion () in a bore region of a spindle body () and further rearward to a position where the steel balls () are retained between the rearward large diameter portion () and a jig large diameter portion (), while the retreated draw-in sleeve () moves rearward a draw-in bolt () and a clamp sleeve () by means of a biasing force of an elastic member ().

Clamp device

A machine tool in which a feed member is fed in a feeding direction relative to a fixed member wherein the feed member is guided by a linear linkage mechanism including a first arm linked to the fixed member at its one end so as to swivel about a first axis, a second arm having the same length as the first arm and being linked to the first arm at its one end so as to swivel about a second axis and also linked to the feed member at its other end so as to swivel about a third axis. A first gear is secured on the fixed member at the one end of the first arm and is coaxial with the first axis. A second gear is secured on the second arm at the other end thereof and is coaxial with the second axis. A chain is provided around the first and the second gears. The first gear has a diameter twice that of the second gear.

Machine tool

Numerically controlled machine tool

A table apparatus for a machine tool for moving a table along a guide member by a driving mechanism, feeding of the table being controlled by a feedback scale in cooperation with the driving mechanism, the feedback scale having a scale portion and a detecting portion, with opposed vicinal surfaces for accepting the feedback scale defined on the guide member and the table, respectively, the scale portion of the feedback scale being mounted on one of the surfaces, while the detecting portion is mounted on the other.

Table apparatus with a feedback scale for a machine tool

A spindle device for detecting the completion of an automatic tool changing procedure comprising a spindle (11) having a tool holder support portion (22) formed at the forward end thereof, a drawing bolt (17) with a through-hole (18) through which an air is blown in the vicinity of a tool holder support portion (22) of the spindle (11) for cleaning in the automatic tool changing procedure, and a pressure detection means (21) disposed in association with the through-hole (18) of the drawing bolt (17), wherein whether or not a tool holder (9) is suitably mounted on the tool holder mounting portion (22) is judged on the basis of an air blow pressure detected by the pressure detection means (21).

Spindle device

Numerical-control machine tool

A spindle device for supplying air for cleaning and a coolant for cooling or lubricating, including: a tool holder (11) with a coolant passage (22) through which a coolant is supplied; a spindle (10) having a support surface (26) formed at the front portion thereof for accepting the tool holder (11); a drawing bolt (25) having a through-hole for supplying air or a coolant and movably arranged in the spindle (11) for clamping or unclamping the tool holder (11) accepted on the support portion (26) of the spindle (11); and a pull stud (12) attached on the tool holder (11) and provided with a valve (13), the valve (13) being located in association with the coolant passage (22) and the through-hole, the valve (13) being so constructed as to open or close according to the movement of the drawing bolt (25) in such a manner that the valve (13) opens so as to connect the through-hole to the coolant passage (22) when the tool holder (11) is clamped, whereas the valve (13) temporarily closes so as to shut the connection between the through-hole and the coolant passage (22) when the tool holder (11) is unclamped, wherein a coolant can be supplied from the through-hole to the coolant passage (22) via the valve (13) when the tool holder (11) is clamped, whereas air can be supplied from the through-hole by bypassing the coolant passage (22) when the tool holder (11) is unclamped.

A pallet changer of the type in which a pallet is exchanged between a pallet changer body and a table of a machine tool. A circular groove is provided on the bottom side of the pallets and plate members having a shape corresponding to that of the groove are provided on the pallet changer body and the table. The pallets are rotatable through a path, defined between the plate of the pallet changer body and the plate of the machine tool table.

Pallet changer

A pallet changer includes at least one pallet (4, 14) for holding a workpiece (5, 15); a first guide (41) for guiding the pallet (4, 14); a first support (2) for supporting the first guide (41); a second guide (51) for guiding the pallet (4, 14); a second support (30) for supporting the second guide (51); a first linear motor (40) associated with the first guide (41); a second linear motor (50) associated with the second guide (51). The pallet (4, 14) is made of conductive material so as to serve as a secondary conductor for the first linear motor (40) and the second linear motor (50) for performing changing of the pallet (4, 14) between the first linear motor (40) and the second linear motor (50) along a desired direction (Y).

A machine tool comprises: (a) a tool (22); (b) a body (2); (c) a tool supporting means (10) for supporting the tool (22) provided relative to the body (2); (d) a means (4) for supporting a pallet (P) for setting a work (W), the support means (36, 35) being provided relative to the body (2); (e) a first moving means (31, 32, 32a, 33, 34, 37, 39) for moving the means (4) about a center axis (U2) along a first direction (B1, B2); and (f) a second moving means (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20) for moving the tool supporting means (10) so as to cause relative motion between the tool supporting means (10) and the means (4) for performing machining operation of the work (W).

A manual pallet changer for performing a loading operation and an unloading operation for a pallet between a table of a machine tool and a pallet magazine comprising a clamp for clamping the pallet to the table of the machine tool. The pallet magazine connected to the machine tool by an opening and closing joint, the pallet magazine as a whole being rotatable about a supporting point of the opening and closing joint; and the pallet magazine having first guide rails arranged alone a longitudinal direction of the pallet magazine in two rows; second guide rails arranged along a direction different from the longitudinal direction in two rows; movable guide rails arranged along the longitudinal direction in two rows, the movable guide rails being movable between an upper position and a lower position; and a lift for moving up and down the movable guide rails.

Manual pallet changer

A three-dimensional displacement gauge comprising a housing, a probe rotatably and slidably mounted on the housing, the probe is slidable along a first direction and having a contact member attached at one end thereof, two emitting members mounted on the probe each for emitting a light beam, two-dimensional measuring member such as a position sensor fixed to the housing for detecting the light beams, a biasing spring for biasing the probe toward the contact member, and a limit switch attached to the housing for detecting whether or not the probe moves in the first direction. The two-dimensional measuring member detects the light beams struck thereon so as to measure a small displacement of the contact member of the probe either in the first direction or in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. In another mode, the two emitting members are mounted on the housing, and a mirror is mounted at the other end of the probe, and the two-dimensional measuring element detect the light beams struck thereon from the emitting members by way of the mirror.

Three-dimensional displacement gage

A machine tool comprising a spindle head, a tool magazine, and an arm, the arm being secured to the spindle head, the arm having gripping members for holding a tool holder. When a workpiece is machined, the arm in which gripping members are opened is placed near the spindle. As soon as machining is completed, the grip members are closed so as to hold the tool holder set into the spindle. The end face of the spindle and the end face of the tool magazine stand at different levels when the spindle head is located in tool changing position. When a used tool is returned to the tool magazine, the arm operates in the following steps: first, the arm grips the used tool set into the spindle; second, the arm is moved so as to draw the tool from the spindle; and third, the arm is swiveled so as to return the tool to the tool magazine.

Growing community of inventors

Takaoka, Japan

Shigeru Yamada