Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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'TURRET PUNCH PRESS
This is a divisional of Canadian Patent
Application Serial No. 2,084,416 filed June 4, 1991.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a turret punch press,
and, in particular, to a turret punch press on which is
mounted a plurality of turrets.
Description of the Prior Art
As is commonly known, a conventional turret punch
Press comprises: a C;-shaped frame integrally provided with
an upper frame and ~~ lower frame; a workpiece transfer and
positioning device for supporting in a freely transferable
manner in the X-axi~; and Y-axis directions on the frame, a
plate-shaped workpie~ce which is to be transferred and
positioned in the X-axis and Y-axis direction; a plurality
of freely rotatable upper turrets, each of which supports a
plurality of punches. for punching the workpiece; a
pluralyty of lower turrets, each of which supports a
plurality of dies in; opposition to the above-mentioned
punches; and a striker provided with free vertical motion
on the frame for striking the punches.
In a turret punch press with such a configuration the
number of punches anal dies which can be mounted at one time
on the upper and lower turrets is limited, which imposes
limitations on the processing.
Accordingly, in recent years, in order to increase the
variety of processing, technology has been developed for
automatically mounting/dismounting and changing the punches
and dies on th° upper and lower turrets, using an automatic
tool changing device, for example, as disclosed in US
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Patent No. 4624044 and in Japanese Laid open Patent
Application No. 63-26225.
However, in this conventional technology, the problem
arises that, when the punches and dies are changed on the
S upper and lower turrets of the turret punch press, the
punching operation on the plate-shaped workpiece must be
halted, to the detriment of the operating efficiency.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The primary object of the present invention is to
alleviate the difficulties associated with the known
conventional technology.
According to the invention in one aspect there is
provided a machine tool comprising: a C-shaped main frame
having an upper frame and a lower frame; a workpiece
transfer and positioning device for supporting a plate-
shaped workpiece in a freely transferable manner in X-
axis and Y-axis directions relative to said upper and
lower frames; a tool holder supporting a tool for
performing_a desired processing of the workpiece and-
means for energizing the tool when in use; and a rotary
frame being rotatably mounted on a vertical shaft in an
opening defined between said upper and lower frames of
the C-shaped main frame, and a C-shaped tool holder frame
for supporting the tool holder being mounted in a freely
changeable mountable/dismountable manner on the rotary
frame .
Preferably, the tool is a laser processing head.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention a tool
housing device is provided in front of the C-shaped main
frame for housing and supporting various types of holder
frames, and a holder frame changing device on the
toolhousing device for changing the holder frame on the
rotary frame.
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BRIEF DESCRIPT:LON OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other objects, features, and advantages of
the present in~rention will become more apparent from the
following description of the preferred embodiments taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG.1 is a schematic side elevation, for explanatory
purposes, which fun ctionally represents an embodiment of a
turret punch press of the present invention.
FIG.2 is a. plan view of the same turret punch press.
FIG.3 is a. perspective view illustrating the operation
for mounting and dismounting a holder frame.
FIG.4 is a sectional view of the mounting and securing
section of the turret; punch press.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
20
Other features of this invention will become apparent
in the course of the following description of exemplary
embodiments which are given for illustration of the
invention and are not intended to be limiting thereof.
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Now referring to FIG.1, an embodiment of a turret
punch press 1 of the present invention is formed in a C-
shape and is provided with a frame 3 which comprises an
upper frame 3U a.nd a .Lower frame 3L.
An opening 5 is j.'ormed between the upper frame 3U and
the lower frame 3L of the frame 3. A workpiece table 7 for
supporting a plate-shaped workpiece 7 is provided within
the opening 5, and a workpiece transfer and positioning
device 9 is provided for transferring and positioning the
workpiece W in the X-axis and the Y-axis directions.
The configuration of the workpiece transfer and
positioning device 9 i.s almost identical to that of a
commonly known workpiece transfer and positioning device
for a turret punch press, therefore only a brief
description will be presented here. Specifically, the
workpiece transfer and. positioning device 9 is provided
with a carriage base 11 which can be freely transferred in
the Y-axis direction, guided by a Y-axis direction guide
rail(omitted from the drawings), by means of a Y-axis motor
(also omitted from the drawings). The carriage base 11
extends in the X-axis direction on the workpiece table 7,
and a carriage 13 is supported on the carriage base 11 in a
freely transfera'~le manner in the X-axis direction by means
of an X-axis mot~~r (omitted from the drawings) provided on
the carriage base 11. A plurality of workpiece clamps 15
for freely clamping the workpiece W is provided in a freely
positional adju stable manner on the carriage 13.
As has already been explained, with the workpiece
transfer and pos_Ltioning device 9, as is commonly known,
after the workpiece W has been clamped in the workpiece
clamps 15 the carriage base 11 is moved and positioned in
the Y-axis direcl:ion, and the carriage 13 is moved and
positioned along the carriage base 11 in the X-axis
direction, so that the workpiece W can be suitably
transferred and positioned.
Because the structure of the workpiece transfer and
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positioning device 9, as previously stated, is commonly
known, a further' detailed explanation of the structure and
operation is omitted.
As is commonly known, a striker 17 for freely
striking a punch, which will be later explained, is
provided on the upper frame 3U of the turret punch press 1
in a manner allowing -Free movement in the vertical
direction. A crank mechanism or hydraulic cylinder, for
example, acutuates thus vertical movement of the striker
17, but because the sl~ructure of such mechanisms is well
known, a detailed des<:ription of the operation of the
striker is omitted.
A disk-shaped upper turret 21 and a lower turret 25
are provided in a freely rotatable manner in the opening 5
in the frame 3 for performing a punching operation on the
workpiece; specifically, the upper turret 21 supports a
plurality of punches 1.9, freely mountable and dismountable
for changing, and the lower turret 23 supports a plurality
of dies 23, each of which can be freely mounted or
dismounted for changing in opposition to each of the
punches 19.
fore specifically, at the end section of the opening 5
in the frame 3, ,~ tie-rod-shaped vertical shaft 27 is
provided, one en~3 of which is secured to the upper part of
the end section of the upper frame 3U and the other end
which secured to the end section of the lower frame 3L.
Also, a holder frame 31 is integrally mounted on a side
surface of a rotary frame 29 with a multiform cross section
(square. in this enbodiment) supported in a freely
rotatable manner on the vertical shaft 27.
The holder frame 31 is C-shaped and provided with an
upper arm 33U on the upper section of a column part 33C.
and with a lower 33L o:a the lower section of the column
part 33C. The upper turret 21 is supported in a freely
rotatable manner on the end part of the upper arm 33U
through an upper shaft 35, and the lower turret 25 is
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supported in a freely rotatable manner on the end part of
the lower arm 3:3L through a lower shaft 37.
Accordingly, within the processing region, the upper
turret 21 and tine lower turret 25 are suitably rotated, and
after the desired punch 19 and the die 23 are set in the
processing position under the striker 17, the workpiece W
is suitably pos:itione~3 in the X- and Y-axis directions by
means of the workpiece transfer and positioning device 9,
so that the wor~cpiece W can be punched with the desired
punch 19 and the die :?3 by striking the punch 19 with the
striker 17.
A turret support member 39 is provided on the lower
frame 3L positioned under the striker 17, for supporting
the lower turret; 25 from below during the punching
operation. Accordingly, the turret support member 39
prevents the Lower turret 25 from being bent downward when
the punch 19 is strucl~; by the striker 17 to perform the
punching operation.
An upper sprocket; 41U is mounted on the upper shaft 35
of the upper turret 21., and a lower sprocket 41L is
mounted on the lower shaft 37 of the lower turret 25 for
rotating the upper anci, lower turrets 21, 25. An endless
upper chain 45U is fitted around an upper sprocket 43U,
mounted on the upper part of a rotary shaft 43 which is
supported in a freely rotatable manner on the column part
33C of the holder frame 31, and around the upper sprocket
41U. In addition, a lower chain 45L is fitted around a
lower sprocket 43L, mounted on the lower part of the rotary
shaft 43 and around the lower sprocket 41L. A follower
gear 47 for rotating the rotary shaft 43 is mounted on the
lower end of the rotary shaft 43, and a drive gear 51
mounted on a servomotor 49 provided on the lower frame 31
engages the foll~~wer gear 47 in a freely disengageable
manner. The drive gear 51 and the follower gear 47 are
engaged and disengaged by swinging the rotary frame 29
around the verti~~al shaft 27. Engagement occurs when the
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follower gear 4~~ is arranged in a position corresponding
with the drive gear S:L, and disengagement occurs when the
follower gear 4'' is removed from the drive gear S1 by
swinging the rotary frame 29.
As can be readil~r understood from the foregoing
explanation, when the drive gear S1 of the servomotor 49
and the follower gear 47 are in the engaged state, the
upper and lower turret;s 21, 25 are rotated simultaneously
in the same direction, suitably driven by the servomotor
49, and the desired punch 19 and die 23 can be positionally
indexed at the position under the striker 17, supported on
the upper and lower turrets 21, 25.
In order to utilize a larger number of punches 19 and
dies 23, a second holder frame 31B is mounted in a freely
mountable/dismountable manner on the rotary frame 29. More
specifically, the second frame 31B the shape of which is
symmetrical with the first holder frame 31B, is
symmetrically positioned with the first holder frame 31
with the vertical shaft 27 between them. Accordingly, the
same reference numerals used for the first holder frame 31
are also used for the second holder frame 31B with the
suffix B added, so a more detailed explanation of the
second holder frame 31B is omitted.
A rotating indexing drive device 53 is provided on the
lower frame 3L of the frame 3 to switch the positions of
the first holder frame 31 and the second holder frame 31B,
and also to rotate a pair of upper and lower turrets 21B,
25B which are su~?ported by the second holder frame 31B.
More specifically, a drive motor 55 is mounted on the
lower frame 3L, :symmetrically positioned with the
servomotor 49 around t:he vertical shaft 27. A clutch
device 59 which :Freely transmits/interrupts the rotation to
the rotary frame 29 and to the upper and lower turrets 21B,
25B which are supported on the second holder frame 31B, is
provided on an output :haft 57 of the drive motor 55.
Specificall~~, a first drive gear 61, which freely
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engages a follov~~er gear 47B mounted on a rotary shaft 43B
supported on the second holder frame 31B, is provided on
the upper portion of the output shaft 57 of the drive motor
55, and a first clutch plate 63 is integrally provided on
the first drive gear E>1. In addition, a second drive gear
67, which engages a svving gear 65 integrally provided on
the rotary frame 29, is supported in a freely rotatable
manner on the lower part of the output shaft 57, and a
second clutch plate 6~~ is integrally provided on the second
drive gear 67. Further, a clutch switching plate 71 is
provided between the first clutch plate 63 and the second
clutch plate 69, rotating integrally with the output shaft
57 but free to move in the axial direction of the output
shaft 57. The switching of the clutch switching plate 71
is performed by either manual or automatic operation of a
shift lever (omitted from the drawings).
As can be understood from the foregoing, the clutch
change plate 71 is operated so that, by the connection or
engaging of the clutch change plate 71 and the first clutch
plate 63, the rotation of the drive motor 55 is transmitted
to the upper and lower turrets 21B, 25B supported on the
second holder frame 31B. Accordingly, during the
performance of a punching operation on the workpiece W,
using the punches 19 and the dies 23 provided on the upper
and lower turrets 21, 25 supported on the first holder
frame 31, the up~?er and lower turrets 21B, 25B are suitably
rotated, supported on the second holder frame 31B, the
punches 19 and the dies 23 on the upper and lower turrets
21B, 25B are changed, and the arrangements are made for the
next process.
The first holder frame 31 and the second holder frame
31B are exchanged by means of the rotational drive of the
drive motor 55 after t:he clutch switching plate 71 on the
clutch device 59 is switched downward, and the clutch
switching plate 71 and the second clutch plate 69 are in
contact or engaged. In this case, the follower gear 47
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supported on the: first holder frame 31 side is disengaged
from the drive gear 5.L of the servomotor 49 and engaged
with the first drive gear 61 of the clutch device 59 by
swinging the rotating frame 29. On the other hand, the
follower gear 47B, wh;:ch is supported on the second holder
frame 31 side, is disE:ngaged from the first drive gear 61
of the clutch device ~i9 and engaged with the drive gear 51
of the servomotor 49.
Accordingly, after the first holder frame 31 and the
second holder frame 31.B are exchanged by swinging the
rotating frame 29, the' workpiece W can be punched by using
the punches 19 and the dies 23 provided on the upper and
lower turrets 21B, 25E~ supported on the second holder frame
31B; in addition, it is possible to change the punches 19
and the dies 23 'which are on the upper and lower turrets
21. 25 supported on the first holder frame 31.
Accordingly, by means of this embodiment of the
present invention, when the upper and lower turrets 21. 25
supported on the one holder frame 31 are positioned in the
processing region, and the workpiece W is being punched
using the puncher 19 and the dies 23 mounted on the upper
and lower turrets 21, 25, it is possible to change the
punches and dies 19, 23 on the upper and lower turrets 21B,
25B supported on the other holder frame 31B in preparation
for~the next pun<:hing operation. Therefore, the operating
efficiency of preparing for and performing the various
punching operations can be improved, which is very
effective with respect to multivariety, small volume
processing.
In order to positionally index a holder frame such
as the holder frames 3:L, 31B in the processing region, a
suitable number of shot pin devices 73 are provided in the
frame 3, and an engaging hole 75 for engaging with a pin
73P of the shot pin device 73 is provided on each holder
frame 31, 31B.
In addition, although a detailed drawing has been
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omitted, a securing device is provided to maintain the
upper and lower turrets 21, 25 in a secured state when the
punches 19 and dies 2:3 mounted on the upper and lower
turrets 21, 25 on the holder frames 31, 31B, are
S positionally indexed under the striker 17. This securing
device may be of the same structure as a conventional shot
pin device provided on a conventional turret punch press,
to position the upper and lower turrets.
In order to expand the utilization of the turret punch
press 1, the holder frames 31, 31B are installed on the
rotary frame 29 in a freely mountable and dismountable
manner. Specifically, as shown in FIG.3, a positioning key
77 and a tapered shaft; 79 are provided on a mounting
surface for mounting t;he holder frames 31, 31B on the
rotary frame 29, and ~~ small disk-shaped engaging part 81,
for example, is provided on the tip of the tapered shaft
79. A key channel 83, which freely engages/disengages the
positioning key 77 and. a tapered hole which is penetrated
by the tapered shaft T9 are formed in the mounting surface
on the rotary frame 29.
A collet hook 87 for clamping the engaging part
81 is incorporated in a tapered hole 85 formed in the
rotary frame 29, to secure the holder frame 31 to the
rotary frame 29. The collet hook 87 is mounted on the end
of a pull rod 89 which is moved in a reciprocating manner
by a hydraulic cylinder (omitted from the drawing)
incorporated in the rotary frame 29.
Accordingly, the holder frame 31 can be secured to the
rotary frame 29 by engaging the positioning key 77 in the
key channel 83 an d engaging the tapered shaft 79 in the
tapered hole 85, then pulling the pull rod 89 so that the
engaging part 81 on the tip of~ the tapered shaft 79 is
clamped by the collet .'gook 87. Conversely, by pressing the
pull rod 89 forward, the engaging part 81 is released from
the collet hook F37 so that the holder frame 31 can be
removed from the rotar;~ frame 29.
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Referring now to FIG.2, in order to provide various
types of holder frame:; which can be changed by
mounting/dismounting on the rotary frame 29 of the turret
punch press 21, a too:1 housing device 91 is positioned at
S the front of the turret punch press 21 to house and support
various types of holder frames.
More specifically, a supporting base 93 extending in
the X-axis direction :is provided at the front of the turret
punch press 21. A plurality of sliding member 97 are
supported for me>ving in the X-axis direction on a guide
rail 95 providecL on the supporting base 93. Various types
of freely exchangeable holder frames 31B, 31C,... 31F, are
supported in a freely mountable/dismountable manner on
each of the slic'.ing members 97.
1S A laser process head 99 from which a laser beam from a
laser generating' devi<;e is introduced to perform a laser
process on the workpiece W is supported on the holder frame
31C, and a forming mo~.d for carrying out a forming process
on the workpiece W is supported on the holder frame 31D.
In addition, a progressive die 101 for carrying out a
progressive process in a coil strip is mounted on the
holder frame 31E, and when the progressive die 101 is used,
a coil strip feeder device 107 provided in a position
beside the worktable T is used for feeding the coil strip
into the press 21, the coil strip feeder device generally
including an uncoiler 103 or a leveller 105 or the like.
Also, a bending tool for bending the workpiece W is mounted
on the holder frame 31F.
A freely rotatable ball screw 109 extending parallel
to the guide rail 105 is provided to move the sliding
members 97 along the guide rail 95. A ball nut 111 mounted
on the sliding member 97 is engaged by the ball screw 109.
Accordingly, the sliding member 97 can be moved along the
guide rail 95 by the suitable rotation of the screw 109 by
a motor (omitted from the drawings), making it possible to
positionally index the sliding member 97 in front of the
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turret punch press 1.
A push-pull cylinder 113 is mounted on the supporting
base 93 for moving the holder frames 31, 31B... from the
sliding member 97 to the rotary frame 29, so that the
holder frames 31, 31B... are mounted on the rotary frame 29
and for removing the holder frames from the rotary frame
29. A hook claw 117 is provided on the end of a freely
reciprocating piaton rod 113P on the push-pull cylinder
113, to releasal;y engage with a hook part 115 (FIG.1)
mounted on each holder frame 31, 31B.... The engagement
and disengagement of the hook claw 117 with the hook part
115 is effected by rotating the hook claw 117 or the hook
part 115 by mean: of a suitable actuator (omitted from the
drawings).
As can be readily understood from the foregoing
description, after an empty sliding member 97 is
positionally indexed before the turret punch press 1, the
hook claw 117 on the e:nd of the piston rod 113P engages the
hook part 115 on the holder frame 31, 31B... mounted on the
rotary frame 29, after which the holder frame mounted on
the rotary frame 29 can be installed on the empty sliding
member 97 by withdrawing the piston rod 113P.
text, after another holder frame 31, 31B... is
positionally indexed bf~fore the turret punch press 1, the
other holder fraQie 31, 31B... can be mounted on the
rotary frame 29 by advancing the other holder frame 31,
31B...toward the rotary frame 29 with the piston rod 113P
of the push-pull cylinder 113.
Accordingly, by means of this embodiment of the
present invention., various types of freely changeable
holder frames can. be u;~ed with the rotary frame 29, and
various types of processes such, as, for example, a laser
process, a forming process, a progressive process, a
bending process, and the like, can be performed in addition
to the punching process..
As can be understood from the foregoing explanation of
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the embodiment of the present invention, when a
workpiece is punched using the punches and dies mounted on
one set of upper' and :Lower turrets, punches and dies mounted
on another set of upper and lower turrets can be changed
in preparation for thE~ next punching operation, therefore
the operating efficiency can be improved.
Also, because it is possible to use changeable holder
frames which support various types of tools for performing
processes other than i:he punching process, the general
purpose use of the turret punch press is improved.
20
30
