The invention refers to a tool or workpiece storing magazine incorporating a tool- or workpiece-change apparatus adapted to remove a tool or a workpiece from the magazine and to transport the it into a machining apparatus, and to remove a tool or workpiece from the machining apparatus and to transport it back to the storing magazine, respectively. The system comprises a plurality of essentially disc-shaped tool or workpiece supporting members rotatably and coaxially arranged with reference to a first axis of rotation which receive and support a plurality of tools or workpieces along the periphery thereof. A transport arm is pivotally mounted on a second axis of rotation and longitudinally displaceable along said second axis located in a certain distance from said first axis of rotation. The transport arm is adjustable with reference to its length and includes a gripping member mounted on its free end. The transport arm further includes a turning knuckle, the axis thereof extending in an angle of 45.degree. with reference to the length adjustment direction of the transport arm, and a transport arm element, one end thereof being connected to said turning knuckle and the other end thereof bearing said gripping means, whereby the transport arm element means is generally L- or arc-shaped.
The present invention generally relates to a system and method for manufacturing plastic injection mold cavity components. More specifically, the present invention provides an integrated system and method for manufacturing plastic injection mold cavity components, which integrates manufacturing between two or more subcells. In one embodiment of the invention, a supercell system integrates two or more subcells, in which component workpieces and electrodes are machined. A supercell may include a computerized master control unit, configured to monitor and provide instructions for a master robot that delivers and retrieves workpieces and electrodes to two or more subcells. Thus, two or more subcells may be integrated by the master control unit, the master robot, a track or path that the master robot follows, identification indicia attached to workpieces and electrodes, a combination thereof or any other components of supercell that may suitably integrate two or more subcells.
A tool gripper to remove a tool from and position the tool in a work spindle or a tool magazine, respectively, includes two tong-like gripper arms, a support attached to a tool changer on which the two gripper arms are mutually movably mounted, and an operating device to open and close the two gripper arms. To achieve a simple construction with only a few individual parts, and to avoid technically complicated hydraulic or pneumatic driving mechanisms, according to the invention a first spring is disposed between the two gripper arms to provide a closing force. Further, the support having a bore therein, is motor-driven and movably arranged on a column. A pin inserted in the bore, which is axially parallel to the column, may be shifted against a second spring, and a locking member laterally attached to the bore engages between the rear legs of the two gripper arms.
The manufacturing plant comprises at least one manufacturing cell provided with at least one processing device, a handling device associated with the processing device in order to automatically exchange tools and/or workpieces on the processing device, and a magazine for the objects to be handled arranged in the reach of the handling device. The magazine is provided with a rotating rack having a plurality of storing planes mounted upon another on a support. The manufacturing plant comprises a plurality of such rotating racks. The rotating racks are designed as separate transportable constructional units which are exchangeably inserted in a stationary part of the magazine. The stationary part comprises means for rotating the rotating rack. The manufacturing plant further comprises a transfer station separate from the manufacturing cell for loading and unloading the rotating racks. Transporting means, e.g. at least one floor conveying truck, are provided for transporting the rotating racks between the transfer station and the magazine. The rotating racks can be automaticly exchanged and be unloaded and reloaded outside the magazine station. The exchange of the magazine can be effected without interruption of the manufacturing process. A plurality of manufacturing cells can be operationally linked by the transporting means which transmit the rotating racks farther from manufacturing cell to manufacturing cell.
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). The axis of rotation (D) is so arranged in the support (7) that it intersects the axis (A or B) of the tool holder (4) during the change and includes an angle (.alpha.) with this axis which corresponds to the acute angle (.alpha.).
The invention relates to a machining center, wherein at least one work spindle with a preferably horizontal spindle position can be displaced preferably in the direction of X, Y and Z and each work spindle is allocated at least one substantially circular tool store which can rotate around a central axis and which is provided with storage locations so that the working spindle(s) can deposit one or several tools. The invention is characterized in that a) the tool store (2) comprises one or several tool disk(s) (3) which are arranged parallel to each other and grouped together in a drum store, wherein b) the tool disk(s) can be individually or jointly rotated around a central axis (4) which is perpendicular to the spindle axis and c) the tools (5) can be inserted with their tips (6) forward into tool holders (7) in the tool store (2) which are arranged in a tangential to radical direction.
