GB2127719A - Apparatus for the storage of tools - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus for the storage of tools in particular for an automatic machine tool has a first tool store 1 and a second tool store 8 and a tool exchange mechanism 5 for the automatic exchange of tools onto the operating spindle 6. The first tool store 1 lies in the operating area of the tool exchange mechanism 5. Part of its guideway 2 is simultaneously part of the second tool store 8. The second tool store 8 comprises at least two alternative guideway portions 10 for forming part of guideway 2 and for supporting different tools and is provided with a change-over device for the exchange of the part of the guideway which is in use in each case. Tool store 8 may be in the form of a drum (Figure 1), or of another kind. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for the storage of tools The invention relates to a device for the storage of tools for in particular, though not exclusively, an automatic machine tool.

The apparatus of the invention may be used with automatic machine tools, and in particular numerically controlled machining centres and manufacturing cells which have a high requirement for tools and measuring and testing means which are automatically stored and made available for the fully automatic cutting and machining of workpieces which are mostly complicated in the case of single or short run productions.

It is known to equip automatic machine tools for milling and boring, in particular numerically controlled machining centres, with automatic tool exchange and storage devices.

In this respect tool stores of different types of construction are used in accordance with requirements. Disc, drum and chain stores are therefore known for example, and may store different quantities of tools.

Federal German Republic Patent Specification No. O/S 21 43 383 and German Democratic Republic Patent Specification No. 140 997 disclose a tool store constructed in the manner of a chain which comprises a self-contained guideway for the purposes of increasing the storage capacity by shortening the individual chain elements supporting the tools. This guideway is designed to receive a closed sequence of individual container carriages (i.e. the chain elements) which may each support a tool in a removable manner. The container carriages may be moved along the guideway by means of a drive device. This known chain-type tool store has proved successful in practice with machining centres.

However it is not possible to use this type of construction if there is a considerably greater requirement for storage spaces for tools as well as measuring and testing means as a result of the increased space requirement. Two basic possibilities of solving this drawback are known: In one possibility, shown in, for example, Federal German Republic Patent Specification No.

1 552 326, one or more additional tool stores are provided adjacent to the machine tool and a device is designed to exchange complete tool stores in the machine and vice versa.

This possibility, which is a further stage of construction comprises the interlinking on the tool supply side of one or more machine tools with a central store for the tool stores, is extremely costly.

In the second possibility the machine tool is provided with two tool stores.

In Federal German Republic Patent Specification No. O/S 16 02 896 a device for storing the tools of a machine tool, in particular of the numerically controlled type, is shown, which comprises a main store disposed on the machine column and an operating store disposed on the operating unit.

A semi- or fully-automatic transfer device is fastened on the operating slide, between the main store and the operating store, which device supplies the operating store with tools from the main store.

In its practical embodiment the operating store is formed as a disc store from the storage of a limited number of tools. The main store is a chain store and the transfer device is a two-armed lever disposed between the two stores.

This arrangement is disadvantageous in that the operating store comprises only a limited storage capacity. This means that different tools must be taken from the store in an additional manner during the machining of complicated workpieces. In the case of short machining times this may lead to increased auxiliary times and therefore to time losses in the piece rate, i.e. to a decrease in the production rate of the machine. In addition any additional procedures for the displacement of the elements of the tool store and exchange mechanism during machining lead to chatter on the machined surface of the workpiece as a result of the vibrations taking place and therefore to losses in quality.

The arrangement of a separate transfer device between the two stores is also disadvantageous.

Apart from its inherent cost, it is only possible to transfer one tool, in one direction, in each case with the two-armed lever. This means that there are increased time requirements for the transfer of several tools, which are, for example, specific to the workpiece, from the main store to the operating store which leads to similar drawbacks to those mentioned above.

The object of the invention is to avoid additional exchange processes between the tool stores during the machining of a workpiece which may lead to drawbacks in terms of time and workpiece quality and to enable the necessary exchange processes to be carried out rapidly and efficiently.

According to the invention there is provided an apparatus for the storage of tools, in particular for an automatic machine tool, having a first and a second tool store and a tool exchange mechanism for the removal of a tool from a tool store and its insertion onto an operating spindle of the machine tool and vice versa, using a first tool store comprising a self-contained guideway for receiving a closed sequence of individual container carriages which may support a tool in a removable manner, and a device for moving the container carriages along the guideway, wherein the first tool store lies in the operating area of the tool exchange mechanism and a part of its guideway is simultaneously a component of the second tool store, the second tool store comprising at least two alternative parts of the guideway with container carriages for receiving different tools and being provided with a changeover device for changing the operational connection of the part of the guideway which is in alignment in each case with the remaining guideway of the first tool store.

It is advantageous in this respect for the second tool store to be drum-shaped, rotatably mounted and lockable in selectable intermediate positions and for it to be provided on its periphery with several groove-shaped recesses corresponding to the selectable intermediate positions and extending parallel to its axis of rotation, of which one of these recesses is in alignment with the first tool store guideway portion and which represent the alternative portions of the guideway and which are designed for the interchangeable holding of container carriages for tools.

The drum-shaped second tool store may comprise at will individual storage plates which are rotatable with respect to one another and which are lockable in accordance with the selectable intermediate positions and which comprise on their periphery in each case a grooveshaped recess for receiving a container carriage in each case.

In a second embodiment, the second tool store is disc-shaped with a curved or rectilinear external contour, is rotatably mounted and lockable in selectable intermediate positions and comprises along its external contour several groove-shaped recesses corresponding to the selective intermediate positions and extending transverse to its axis of rotation, of which one is in alignment with the first tool store guideway portion and which represent the alternative portions of the guideway and are designed for the interchangeable holding of container carriages for tools.

In a third embodiment the second tool store is a rectangular storage matrix which is displaceable in a linear manner and lockable in selectable intermediate positions and comprises a number of storage compartments corresponding to the selectable intermediate positions, one of which compartments is in alignment with the first tool store guideway portion, which represent the alternative portions of the guideway and are designed for the interchangeable holding of container carriages for tools.

A locking device is preferably provided for locking the final container carriage in the remaining guideway of the first tool store and/or in the groove-shaped recess or in the storage compartment of the second tool store to be disposed above the groove-shaped recesses or storage compartments of the second tool store and/or in the area of the lowest container carriage in the second tool store.

In this respect the locking device may comprise an axially displaceable locking slide which may engage on a portion of a container carriage on change-over of the second tool store.

Alternatively, the locking device may comprise a rotatable dividing segment which has on its periphery an axial groove for permitting passage of part of a container carriage and which engages a rack of the second tool store via a pinion.

It is also advantageous for the second tool store to be provided in the area of the upper and lower input/output faces of the groove-shaped recesses or storage compartments with a guide plate in each case which comprises a recess for the passage of the container carriages in alignment with the remaining guideway of the first tool store.

In a fourth embodiment the second tool store is formed as a belt- or chain-like endless storage matrix supported by two axially parallel drums which are rotatable and lockable in selectable intermediate positions, the storage matrix comprising an endless sequence of storage compartments, one of which is in alignment with the first tool store guideway portions, which represent the alternative portions of the guideway and are designed for the interchangeable holding of container carriages for tools.

Advantageously, the belt- or chain-like storage matrix comprises individual endless belts or chains disposed in parallel, whose width corresponds approximately to the width of the container carriages, and the drums are composed of individual plates which are rotatable with respect to one another and lockable in the selectable intermediate positions.

In a fifth embodiment several second tool stores are provided and formed as storage discs disposed in parallel each having a curved or rectilinear external contour, wherein the storage discs are individually rotatably mounted and lockable in selectable intermediate positions and are axially displaceable and lockable and comprise along their external contour several grooveshaped recesses associated with the selectable intermediate positions and extending transverse to the axis of rotation, of which one recess of a storage disc may be aligned at will with the first tool store guideway portion, which represent the alternative portions of the guideway and are designed for the interchangeable holding of container carriages for tools.

In this respect the storage discs are advantageously mounted on a slide which is displaceable parallel to the axis of rotation of the storage discs such that the groove-shaped recess of a storage disc, which is aligned with the first tool store guideway portion, is out of engagement with the remaining guideway.

Optionally there is provided in the case of the axial displacement of the storage discs at least one location in which no groove-shaped recess of a storage disc is aligned with the first tool store guideway portion.

In a sixth embodiment several second tool stores are provided and formed as storage matrices disposed in parallel and having a rectangular shape which comprise a number of storage compartments designed for the interchangeable holding of container carriages for tools, which represent the alternative portions of the guideway, wherein the storage matrices are individually displaceable in their plane on a support in a linear manner and may be locked in the number of selectable intermediate positions corresponding to the storage compartments, wherein the displacement direction of each storage matrix extends at right angles to a rectilinear portion of the guideway of the first tool store, so that one storage compartment of a storage matrix may be aligned at will with the first tool store guideway portion.

In this respect it is suitable for the support bearing the storage matrices to be disposed adjacent to the guideway of the first tool store, displaceable at right angles to the plane of the storage matrices and lockable in the positions in which one storage matrix is disposed in the plane of the first tool store.

In a space-saving embodiment the support bearing the storage matrices is disposed within the guideway of the first tool store such that the guideway of the first tool store surrounds the support with the storage matrices in the form of a frame, wherein the support is displaceable at right angles to the plane of the storage matrices through the guideway and is lockable in the positions in which one storage matrix is disposed in the plane of the first tool store.

In order to omit one guideway in an advantageous embodiment the first tool store is fastened to a column of the machine tool which is displaceable and lockable at right angles to the plane of the storage matrices and the support bearing the storage matrices is disposed in a nondisplaceable manner.

To help understanding of the invention, several embodim,ents thereof will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a front view of apparatus of the invention for storing tools, in which a second tool store is in the form of a drum, Figure 2 is a section on the line Il-Il of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a front view of a drum-shaped tool store for a variant of the first embodiment having individual storage plates, Figure 4 is a side view of a second embodiment of apparatus of the invention, in which a second tool store is in the form of a disc, Figure 5 is a front view of a third embodiment of apparatus of the invention, in which a second tool store is in the form of a storage matrix, Figure 6 is a section, on an enlarged scale, through the guideway of a first tool store with a locking device for container carriages, Figure 7 is a front view of a fourth embodiment of apparatus of the invention, in which a second tool store is an endless storage matrix in the form of a belt supported on two vertical drums, Figure 8 is a front view of a fifth embodiment of apparatus of the invention which is similar to Figure 7 except that its endless storage matrix extends vertically and is supported on two horizontal drums, Figure 9 is a side view of a sixth embodiment of apparatus of the invention, in which several second tool stores are provided in disc form, Figure 10 is a perspective view of a seventh embodiment of apparatus of the invention, in which several second tool stores are provided in the form of parallel storage matrices, Figure 11 is a perspective view of an eighth embodiment which is similar to that of Figure 10.

In all the embodiments a first tool store 1 is provided. It is arranged in either a fastened or separate manner to one side of a machine tool housing.

The tool store 1 comprises in a known constructional manner a seif-contained guideway 2 in which a closed sequence of container carriages 3 is guided. The container carriages 3 are designed to hold in a removable manner in each case a tool 4. In addition the tool store 1 comprises a drive device (not shown) for displacing the container carriages 3 along the guideway 2 and an indexing device which is also not shown.

Adjacent to the first tool store 1 there is a tool exchange mechanism 5 in the form of a double lever mounted pivotably on the machine housing.

This tool exchange mechanism 5 is arranged in such manner that it may engage a tool 4 in a container carriage 3 and insert it onto an operating spindle 6 which is mounted in a support 7, or take a tool 4 from the operating spindle 6 and replace it in a free container carriage 3 of the first tool store 1.

First Embodiment In the first embodiment, Figures 1 and 2, the first tool store 1 is associated with a second tool store 8 in the form of a storage drum 8.1. This storage drum 8.1 is mounted rotatably about a perpendicular axis 9 and may be locked at specific positions of angular rotation. It comprises on its periphery eight groove-shaped recesses 10 having corresponding positions of angular rotation, which recesses extend parallel to an axis of rotation 9.

These groove-shaped recesses 10 comprise, at the storage drum 8.1, part of the guideway 2 for receiving the container carriages 3.

One of the eight groove-shaped recesses 10 is normally aligned with the remaining portion of the guideway 2 so that in the respective position of angular rotation of the storage drum 8.1 the container carriages 3 supporting the tools 4 may circulate in the closed guideway 2 on actuation of the drive device of the first tool store 1 via the groove-shaped recess 10 of the storage drum 8.1.

As shown in Figure 2, the storage drum 8.1 may therefore in the first embodiment store five container carriages 3, each provided with a tool, in each groove-shaped recess 10, and therefore store forty tools 4 in total in the case of eight groove-shaped recesses 10, of which thirtyfive tools 4 of the storage capacity of the first tool store 1 are additionally available.

In order to fasten the container carriages 3 in the guideway 2 directly via the storage drum 8.1 and/or in the area of the lowest container carriage 3 in the storage drum 8.1, a fastening device 11 is provided.

In a first variant, this may comprise an axially displaceable fastening slide 12, see Figure 1, which may be hydraulically actuated and engaged between the guide rolls of an appropriate container carriage 3 for rotation of the storage drum 8.1. In a second variant, the fastening device 11, see Figure 6, comprises a rotatable dividing segment 13 having an axial groove 14. This permits passage of a guide roll of the container carriage 3.The dividing segment 13 is connected to a pinion 15 whose toothing engages in a rack 16 disposed on the front face side of the storage drum 8.1, i.e. on rotation of the storage drum 8.1 the dividing segment 13 rotates, the transmission ratio of the racks being selected such that in the case of alignment of the guideway 2 with one of the groove-shaped recesses 10 the axial groove 14 permits passage of the guide roll of the container carriage 3, but locks it in any other position.

For the purpose of retaining the row of container carriages 3 located in the grooveshaped recesses there are provided on the front face side of the storage drum 8.1 two guide plates 17. These are provided where one of the grooveshaped recesses 10 is to be in alignment with the guideway 2 of the first tool store 1 with a recess (not shown in detail) so that the container carriages 3 located in the guideway 2 may travel into and out of the groove-shaped recesses 10 of the second tool store 8 in an unopposed manner when the drive device for the first tool store 1 is actuated.

The mode of operating of the first embodiment is as follows: The first tool store 1 is normally equipped in its guideway 2 with a set of standard tools, such as core-hole borers, tap drills, chamfering drills and the like, and measuring and testing equipment, required for a sequence of workpieces to be machined in different ways.

However the storage drum 8.1 is provided to receive tools which are specific to the workpiece, five of these tools 4 being stored in each case in each of the eight groove-shaped recesses 10. The storage drum 8.1 may be filled up to the full loading diameter shown in dashed lines in Figures 1 and 2. As the storage drum 8.1 enables an extremely compact mode of construction, the relatively large number of workpiece-specific tools 4 may be associated additionally with the first tool store 1 acting as the operating store in a very small space.

Before machining of a particular workpiece on the machine tool, the storage drum 8.1 is rotated into a suitable position of angular rotation by a change-over device, in which position the workpiece-specific tools 4 fixed in the container carriages 3 are in alignment in their grooveshaped recess 10 with the remaining part of the guideway 2, so that on actuation of the drive of the first tool store 1 the container carriages 3 may circulate in the guideway 2 including the respective groove-shaped recess 10. Therefore the first tool store 1 has available to it, in addition to the standard tools and measuring and testing equipment, the special tools 4 required for the workpiece to be machined in a special way in a direct manner and without complex manual handling processes for individual tools 4.

The cycle for the transfer of the tools 4 to the operating spindle 6 takes place in a known manner, i.e. the tool 4 required in each case is transported to the transfer location in the first tool store 1 , the container carriages 3 are held by the indexing device, and the tool exchange takes place by means of the tool exchange mechanism 5.

Before machining of the next workpiece differing from the previous workpiece, the workpiece-specific tools 4 are conveyed by the first tool store 1 into the respective groove-shaped recess 10 of the storage drum 8.1 again. The storage drum 8.1 is then subjected to a changeover operation, i.e. the groove-shaped recess 10 is required in each case with the workpiece-specific tools 4 required is moved into alignment with the remaining guideway 2 of the first tool store 1, so that the tools 4 now required are available for the machining process.

During the change-over process of the storage drum 8.1 the fastening device 1 1 together with the guide plates 17 prevents a displacement of the container carriages 3 supporting the tools 4 in the guideway 2 or in the groove-shaped recesses 10.

In a first variant of the first embodiment, Figure 3, the second tool store 8 is formed as the storage drum 8.1 and comprises individual storage plates 18 which may be rotated with respect to one another and fixed in their respective angular rotation positions. Each storage plate 18 comprises a groove-shaped recess 10 for receiving in each case a container carriage 3 on its periphery.

This variant enables the exchange of the tools 4 disposed below one another in the groove-shaped recesses 10 in a perpendicular row, so that an even more flexible mode of operation is possible.

Second Embodiment In the second embodiment, Figure 4, the first tool store 1 is associated with a second tool store 8 having the form of a storage disc 8.2. This storage disc 8.2 is rotatably mounted on the housing of the machine tool about a perpendicular axis of rotation 19 above the support 7 and may be locked in specific positions of angular rotation.

In this embodiment it has a basic square shape, a groove-shaped recess 10 for receiving container carriages 3 being provided on and at each of its four sides to which there are four respective lockable positions of angular rotation of the storage disc 8.2.

The groove-shaped recesses 10 comprise, in a similar manner to the first embodiment, part of the guideway 2 in the area of the storage disc 8.2, one of the four groove-shaped recesses 10 being aligned with the remaining portion of the guideway 2.

For the remaining part, the device for storage of tools is constructed basically in a manner similar to that described for the first embodiment so that further description is not necessary.

The mode of operation of the second embodiment is as follows: The storage disc 8.2 is again designed to receive workpiece-specific tools 4, each of the four sides of the storage disc 8.2 being associated on the tool side with a workpiece to be machined in a particular way.

Before machining of a particular workpiece on the machine tool the storage disc 8.2 with the change-over device must be rotated into the position of angular rotation, in which the required workpiece-specific tools 4 are aligned in their container carriages 3 to the side of the grooveshaped recess 10 with the remaining part of the guideway 2 of the first tool store 1 , so that these tools 4 are available for the special machining process. In accordance with the type of embodiment, this change-over may be connected with an axial lifting of the storage disc 8.2 or its linear displacement in order to be disengaged from the guideway 2 on rotation.

For the remaining part the cycle is similar to the first embodiment.

It should be noted, however, that in the second embodiment of Figure 4 the tool exchange mechanism 5 is additionally pivoted about 900.

Third Embodiment In the third embodiment, Figure 5, the first tool store 1 is associated with a second tool store 8 in the shape of a storage matrix 8.3. The storage matrix 8.3 is mounted so as to be linearly displaceable inin~the-directions o#f the arrow 20 in the machine frame and may be locked in specific intermediate positions. It compreses six storage compartments 21, whose number and position determine the lockable intermediate positions of the storage matrix 8.3. The storage compartments 21 form in the area of the storage matrix 8.3 the guideway 2 for receiving the container carriages 3.

One of the six storage compartments 21 is in alignment with the remaining part of the guideway 2 so that the container carriages 3 supporting the tools 4 may circulate in the closed guideway 2 on actuation of the drive device of the first tool store 1 in the corresponding position of the storage matrix 8.3.

For the remaining part the device is constructed in principle in accordance with the first embodiment, so that further explanations are not necessary.

The mode of operation of the third embodiment is as follows: Similarly to the previous embodiments the storage matrix 8.3 is designed to receive the workpiece-specific tools 4, each storage compartment 21 being associated with a specific tool.

Before machining of the respective workpiece, the required workpiece-specific tools 4 must be inserted in the first tool store 1 by change-over of the storage matrix 8.3, by displacement thereof in the direction of the arrow 20. This is carried out to align the respective storage compartment 21 with the remaining guideway of the first tool store 1 For the remaining part, the cycle takes place as described above.

Fourth Embodiment In accordance with the fourth embodiment, Figure 7, the first tool store 1 is associated with a second tool store 8 in the form of a belt- or chaintype storage matrix 8.4. This storage matrix 8.4 comprises a belt- or chain-shaped basic structure which supports storage compartments 22 at a uniform spacing. The storage compartments 22 are designed in each case to receive a row of container carriages for tools 4, shown in diagrammatic form. One of the compartments of the endless storage matrix 8.4 forms part of the guideway for the container carriages, a storage compartment 22 disposed at the periphery of a support drum 23 being aligned with the remaining part of the guideway of the first tool store 1.

The belt- or chain-type basic structure of the endless storage matrix 8.4 is provided on two support drums 23 and 24 which are rotatably mounted in an axially parallel manner in a frame of the first and second tool store 1 and 8 (8.4) and are provided with a drive with a locking device.

The mode of operation of the fourth embodiment is as follows: Whilst the first tool store 1 is essentially provided with standard tools and possibly measuring and testing devices, the second tool store 8 is predominantly provided with workpiecespecific tools 4. It can be seen in this respect that provision of the second tool store 8 as a belt or chain-type endless storage matrix 8.4 provides storage for a considerably greater number of tools 4.

The exchange process for the tools 4 from the second tool store 8 (8.4) to the first tool store 1 takes place by rotation of the drums 23, 24. The storage compartments 22 disposed on the basic structure are thereby displaced with the drums relative to the first tool store 1. If the particular storage compartment 22, which supports the tools 4 required for the particular machining operation on the machine tool, is aligned with the perpendicular part of the guideway of the first tool store 1, the drive of the drums 23, 24 is discontinued and the drums 23, 24 are locked in this position. The tools 4 inserted in the first tool store 1 may then circulate in their container carriages in the guideway of the first tool store 1 during exchange processes, i.e. they are directly available for exchange processes by means of the tool exchange mechanism 5 in the operating spindle 6.

Fifth Embodiment A fifth embodiment, Figure 8, comprises, leaving aside the vertical arrangement of the second tool store, the same basic elements as described with respect to the fourth embodiment.

This embodiment differs in that the belt- or chaintype storage matrix 8.4 consists of individual endless belts or chains 25 which extend parallel to one another and support corresponding parts of the storage compartments 22.

The width of the belts or chains 25 corresponds approximately to the width of a container carriage for tools 4. Consequently the drums 23.1 and 24.1 are constituted by individual plates which may be rotated with respect to one another and locked in specific positions of anular rotation.

The mode of operation of the fifth embodiment is as follows: The mode of operation of the fifth embodiment corresponds in principle to that of the fourth embodiment. In addition, construction of the belt or chain-type storage matrix 8.4 from endless belts or chains 25 by means of the individual plates, which may be rotated with respect to one another and locked, of the drums 23.1,24.1 enables a mutual displacement of the parts of the storage compartments 22 so that in accordance with the machining requirements any selection of tools 4 may be provided and exchanged with the first tool store 1. This enables an extremely flexible operation.

Sixth Embodiment Several second tool stores 8 may be associated with the first tool store 1. In the sixth embodiment, actually shown in Figure 9, the second tool stores 8 comprise two storage discs 8.2 disposed in parallel. These may in each case be rotated and rotatably driven individually and may be locked in corresponding angular rotation positions on an axis of rotation 26. In addition the storage discs 8.2 are disposed on the axis of rotation 26 such that they may be both individually and commonly axially displaced and locked. The axis of rotation 26 is fastened to a slide 27 which may be displaced towards and away from the first tool store 1 in a guide transverse to the axis of rotation 26 on the first tool store 1.

Each storage disc 8.2 comprises a square shape when seen from above (not shown). On its four sides which determine four lockable positions of angular rotation, a rectilinear groove-shaped recess 10 is provided for receiving container carriages 3. For the purposes of free discharge of the groove-shaped recesses 10 from the four side surfaces of each storage disc 8.2 the latter has chambered edges in its basic square shape. The selected groove-shaped recesses 10 form part of the guideway 2 for the container carriages 3, one of the four groove-shaped recesses 10 of a storage disc 8.2 being in general in alignment with the remaining portion of the guideway 2 of the first tool store 1.

As with the first embodiment locking devices (not shown) are provided for locking (temporarily) of the container carriages 3 in the guideway 7 directly adjacent to the storage disc 8.2 whose groove-shaped recess 10 is aligned with the remaining guideway 2 of the first tool store 1.

Further locking devices (not shown) are designed for the (temporary) retention of the rows of container carriages 3 disposed in the grooveshaped recesses 10 of the storage discs 8.2.

The mode of operation of the sixth embodiment is as follows: The first tool store 1 is essentially equipped with standard tools and possibly measuring and testing devices. However the second tool stores 8 (8.2) predominantly store workpiece-specific tools 4 such that each row of container carriages 3 stores in a groove-shaped recess 10 supports tools 4 associated with particular workpieces. The parallel arrangement of the invention of several second tool stores 8 (8.2) enables in this respect the preparation of a considerably larger number of different workpiece-specific tools 4 for the first tool store 1 acting as the operating store and therefore access for the actual machining process.

The exchange process of the tools 4 from the second tool store 8 (8.2) to the first tool store 1 and vice versa takes place by change-over of a storage disc 8.2 into the angular rotation position in which the workpiece-specific tools 4 in their container carriages 3 are disposed in the corresponding groove-shaped recess 10 and the latter is aligned with the remaining part of the guideway 2 of the first tool store 1. In order in this respect to prevent a collision of the protruding tools 4 with the guideway 2 of the first tool store 1, the slide 27 is displaced such that the storage discs 8.2 are moved radially away from the first tool store 1 and back again after the rotation.

During this radial displacement movement the row of container carriages 3 supporting the tools 4 remains in the corresponding groove-shaped recesses 10 of the storage disc 8.2 and is maintained by the locking devices.

As shown in Figure 9, the first tool store 1 is in operational connection in the first instance with the upper storage disc 8.2, i.e. the workpiecespecific tools 4 are taken in the first instance from the upper storage disc 8.2 for the exchange insertion process in the first tool store 1. If it is necessary during the machining process for special tools 4 to be taken from the lower storage disc 8.2, as shown in Figure 9, for the machining of further workpieces, an operational connection between the first tool store 1 and the lower storage disc 8.2 must be provided by a further change-over process. This takes place by axial displacement of both storage discs 8.2 on the axis of rotation 26 in an upward direction and corresponding locking. In this respect the row of container carriages 3 supporting the tools 4 again remains in the corresponding groove-shaped recess 10 of the upper storage disc 8.2 and is retained by the locking device. After termination of the axial displacement the new row of container carriages 3 with tools 4 fills the gap in the remaining guideway 2 of the first tool store 1 so that the corresponding tools 4 of the lower storage disc 8.2 are now available to the first tool store 1 for the machining process.

If, as supposed in the first instance in the above process, the required tools 4 are not stored directly below the groove-shaped recess 10 of the upper storage disc 8.2 which was previously in engagement, the axial displacement must obviously be followed by a change-over of the lower storage disc 8.2 which is now engaged, in the manner described above together with a displacement of the slide 27.

In a non-shown variant of this embodiment, the slide 27 may be omitted. In this respect the axis of rotation 26 for the two storage discs 8.2 is fastened in a fixed manner to the top of the machine column and provided with a larger axial dimension. In order to change over a storage disc 8.2 the latter is axially upwardly displaced until a rotation of the storage disc 8.2 into the required position is possible without obstruction by the guideway 2 of the first tool store 1.

Seventh Embodiment In the seventh embodiment, Figure 10, several second tool stores 8 are associated with the first tool store 1. More precisely the second tool stores 8 are constituted by three storage matrices 8.3 disposed in parallel, whose parallel spacing must be greater than the maximum length of the stored tools. The storage matrices 8.3 have a rectangular frame (not shown) which comprises a number~ seven in the embodiment - of storage compartments 21. A series of container carriages, in the embodiment eight container carriages, for receiving the tools 4 are disposed below one another in the storage compartments 21.

The storage matrices 8.3 are supported on a support 28 and may be individually displaced in a linear manner in their plane, in the directions of the arrow 29. In this respect they may be locked in intermediate positions which are determined by the number and position of the storage compartments 21 with respect to a perpendicular rectilinear portion of the guideway of the first tool store 1.

Adjacent to the first tool store 1 there is disposed a guide 30 on which the support 28 is displaceably supported at right angles to the plane of the storage matrices 8.3, in the directions of the arrow 31. The support 28 may in this respect be locked in the positions on the guide 30 in which a storage matrix 8.3 is located in the plane required for closure of the guideway of the first tool store 1.

In a similar manner to the third embodiment the storage compartments 21 comprise part of the guideway for receiving the container carriages of the first tool store 1 containing the tools 4. In a specific position of one storage matrix 8.3, one storage compartment 21 is aligned with the remaining portion of the guideway of the first tool store 1.

As with the first embodiment locking devices (not shown) are provided for the temporary locking of the container carriages in the guideway of the first tool store 1 directly above and below the aligned storage compartment 21 of the storage matrix 8.3.

Further locking devices (not shown) are designed for the temporary holding of the series of container carriages which are located in the storage compartments 21 of the storage matrices 8.3.

The mode of operation of the seventh embodiment is as follows: The first tool store 1 is essentially equipped with standard tools and possibly measuring and testing equipment. The second tool stores 8 (8.3) are predominantly provided with workpiecespecific tools 4, each series of container carriages supported in a storage compartment 21 of a storage matrix 8.3 supporting tools 4 associated with a particular workpiece.

The parallel arrangement of several second tool stores 8 (8.3) enables in this respect the rapid provision of a considerably larger number of different workpiece-specific tools 4 to the first tool store 1 acting as the operating store, therefore enabling access during the actual machining process.

During the machining of a specific workpiece on the machine tool 4 the storage compartment 21 of a storage matrix 8.3 which supports the required workpiece-specific tools 4 is located in the position in which this storage compartment is aligned with the remaining portion of the guideway of the first tool store 1.

The workpiece-specific tools 4 disposed in the storage compartment 21 may therefore circulate with their container carriages on actuation of the drive device of the first tool store 1 in its - now ~closed guideway and are therefore directly available for the tool exchange process by means of the tool exchange mechanism 5.

For the subsequent machining of a further workpiece other workpiece-specific tools are required. The required change-over process takes place in the first instance on the basis of the following conditions: The previously required workpiece-specific tools 4 are returned, by actuation of the drive device of the first tool store 1, to their initial position, i.e. into their associated storage compartment 21, and the workpiece-specific tools 4 required for the subsequent machining process are located in a further storage compartment 21 of the storage matrix 8.3 which is in use.In this case it is simply necessary to bring the storage compartment which is now required into alignment with the remaining part of the guideway of the first tool store 1 by linear displacement of the storage matrix 8.3 in the direction of the arrow 29 and subsequent locking, so that on actuation of the drive device the further workpiece-specific tools 4 may circulate in the closed guideway of the first tool store 1.

During the linear displacement of the storage matrix 8.3 in the direction of the arrow 29 the storage matrix 8.3 moves increasingly out of the guide of the support 28 and must therefore be maintained on the projecting side (within the closed guideway of the first tool store 1) by a guide (not shown).

If the case then arises that the workpiece specific tools 4 required for the subsequent machining process are located in a storage compartment 21 which does not belong to the storage matrix 8.3 which is in use, the matrix which is in use must be exchanged for the required storage matrix 8.3. This is carried out by rearward displacement of the storage matrix 8.3 which is in use into its initial position on the support 28 and its movement on the guide 30 in the direction of the arrow 31 until it reaches the position in which the required storage matrix 8.3 is located in the plane determined by the closed guideway of the first tool store 1.

The storage matrix 8.3 is then displaced in a linear manner in the direction of the arrow 29.

until the storage compartment 21 with the required workpiece-specific tools 4 is aligned with the remaining part of the guideway of the first tool store 1 , so that the required workpiece-specific tools 4 are directly available for the machining process.

Eighth Embodiment In the eighth embodiment, Figure 11, the storage matrices 8.3 which are disposed in parallel are also supported on the support 28 so that they may be individually displaced in a linear manner in their plane, in the direction of the arrow 29. The guide 30 of the support 28 is, however, disposed within the guideway of the first tool store 1 to economise on space, so that the support 28 with the storage matrices 8.3 is surrounded in the manner of a frame by the guideway of the first tool store 1.

On this guide 30 the support 28 with the storage matrices 8.3 may be displaced at right angles to its plane through the closed guideway of the first tool store 1 and locked in the positions in which a storage matrix 8.3 is located in the plane of the guideway of the first tool store 1. For the remaining part the construction of the apparatus is identical to that of the seventh embodiment, so that further details may be dispensed with.

The mode of operation of the eighth embodiment is as follows: In a similar manner to the seventh embodiment, in this embodiment the storage compartment 21 of a storage matrix 8.3 which supports the required workpiece-specific tools 4 is located, during a machining operation on the machine tool, in the position in which it is aligned with the remaining part of the guideway of the first tool store 1. The corresponding container carriages may therefore circulate in the closed guideway of the first tool store 1, i.e. the required tools 4 are directly available for the tool exchange process.

If a change-over operation is required for subsequent machining operations, the storage matrix 8.3, after the initial position of the container carriages has been reached, is brought by linear displacement in the direction of the arrow 29 into the position in which a further storage compartment 21 is aligned with the remaining portion of the guideway. In this embodiment as well the projecting portion of the storage matrix 8.3 is maintained by a guide which is not shown, outside of the closed guideway of the first tool store 1.

The operation for the replacement of the storage matrix 8.3 in use for a further matrix takes place in a similar manner to the seventh embodiment by resetting of the initial position of the storage matrix 8.3 in use in the first instance on the support 28 and its displacement in the direction of the arrow 31 until the required storage matrix 8.3 is in the position in which it can cooperate with the first tool store 1 by displacement in the direction of the arrow 29.

In a variant (not shown) of both embodiments the guide 30 may be omitted if the first tool store 1 is fastened directly to the column of the machine tool and the column may be displaced and locked at right angles to the plane of the storage matrices 8.3. In this respect the support 28 supporting the storage matrices 8.3 is disposed in a fixed manner.

The selection of a storage matrix 8.3 which is in use takes place in this case by displacement of the column in the direction of the arrow 31 until it is in the position in which the required storage matrix 8.3 is located in the plane determined by the closed guideway of the first tool store 1 so that this storage matrix 8.3 may cooperate with the first tool store 1 by subsequent displacement in the direction of the arrow 29.

The above described embodiment may be seen to have the following advantages: The combination of a first tool store which is known per sue having a relatively large capacity and a closed sequence of container carriages for tools with a second tool store in an extremely compact constructional manner enables the standard tools to be added to the workpiecespecific tools required in each case in a rapid and efficient change-over operation, so that these are also available for the automatic tool exchange process onto the operating spindle.

During the change-over process itself, there is no need for any handling operations or their constructional and time requirements, so that any effects on the workpiece quality by vibrations or the like may be avoided. The workpiece-specific tools of the second tool store are simultaneously associated with the operating store in a single change-over operation, i.e. as described, the operating store rapidly has available a large number of tools in particular for the machining of differing and complicated workpieces. In this respect the actual tool exchange times from the operating store to the operating spindle are unaffected. A saving in power consumption is achieved as only the tools disposed in the first tool store are moved during the machining process in the case of tool exchange operations, i.e. the tools stored in the second tool store other than those in the compartment in use are at rest.

Additionally, combination of the operating store with several large stores is facilitated so that extreme requirements for tools and measuring and testing apparatus may be rapidly covered with respect to the operating spindle without additional supply operations.

A multiple combination of operating stores may also advantageously be used in a chain-type embodiment for compact large stores. Several chain-type operating stores may therefore be associated with for example one storage drum, these chain stores in turn being combined with storage drills. There is thereby obtained a system of several connected tool stores for the rapid provision of a large number of tools in a very small space.

Claims (18)

1. Apparatus for storing tools comprising a first and a second tool store and a tool exchange mechanism for the removal of a tool from the first tool store and its insertion onto a machine tool operating spindle and vice versa, the first tool store comprising a guideway portion for holding a sequence of individual container carriages for each supporting in a removable manner a respective tool and a device for moving the container carriages along the guideway, the first tool store extending between tool exchange mechanisms and the second tool store, the first tool store portion of the guideway being open at the second tool store and the second tool store comprising at least two alternative portions for closing the guideway, the alternate portions having container carriages for receiving different tools, a changeover device being provided for the exchange of the alternate portions in operational connection and alignment with the first tool store portion of the guideway.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second tool store is in the form of a drum, is rotatably mounted, is lockable -in selectable intermediate positions and includes on its periphery several groove-shaped recesses corres#ponding to the selectable intermediate positions and extending parallel to its axis of rotation, one of which recesses is ina!ignment with the first tool store guideway portion and which represent the alternative portions of the guideway and serve for the interchangeable.

support of container carriages for tools.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the drum-shaped second tool store comprises storage plates which may be individually rotated with respect to one another and locked in accordance with the selectable intermediate positions, each of these plates comprising on its periphery a grooveshaped recess for receiving a respective container carriage.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second tool store is in the form of a disc with a curved or rectilinear external contour, is rotatably mounted, is lockable in selectable intermediate positions and comprises along its external contour several groove-shaped recesses corresponding to the selectable intermediate positions and extending transverse to its axis of rotation, one of these recesses being in alignment with the first tool store guide-way portion-and which recesses represent the alternative portions of the guideway and serve for the interchangeable support of container carriages for tools.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second tool store is in the form of a rectangular storage matrix which is displaceable in a linear manner and lockable in selectable intermediate positions and comprises a number of storage compartments corresponding to the number of selectable intermediate positions, one of these compartments being in alignment with the first tool store guideway portion and which compartments represent the alternative portions of the guideway and serve for the interchangeable support of container carriages for tools.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the alternative guideway portions extend vertically and above the groove-shaped recesses or storage compartments of the second tool store and/or in the area of the lowest container carriage in the second tool store there is disposed a locking device for locking the respective final container carriage in the first tool store guideway portion and/or in the groove-shaped recess or in the storage compartment of the second tool store.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the locking device comprises an axially displaceable locking slide which may engage on a portion of a container carriage during change-over of the second tool store.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the locking device comprises a rotatable dividing segment which has on its periphery an axial groove for permitting passage of a portion of a container carriage which is engaged with a rack of the second tool store via a pinion.

9. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the claims 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6, wherein# the second tool store is provided in the area of; the upper and lower input/output surfaces of the groove-shaped recesses or storage compartments-with a guide plate, which comprises a recess for the passage of the container carriages in a#lignment with the first tool store guideway portion.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second tool store is formed as a belt- or chaintype endless storage matrix which is supported by two axially parallel drums which are rotatable and lockable in selectable intermediate positions, the storage matrix comprising a sequence of storage compartments, of which one is aligned with the first tool store guideway portion which compartments represent the alternative portions of the guideway and are designed for the interchangeable support of container carriages for tools.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the belt- or chain-type storage matrix comprises individual endless belts or chains arranged in parallel, whose width corresponds approximately to the width of the container carriages, and the drums are constituted by plates which can be individually rotated with respect to one another and locked in accordance with the selectable intermediate positions.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein several second tool stores in the form of storage discs arranged in parallel and having in each case a curved or rectilinear external contour are provided, the storage discs being mounted to be individually rotatable, lockable in selectable intermediate positions and axially displaceable and lockable and comprise along their external contour several groove-shaped recesses associated with the selectable intermediate positions and extending transverse to an axis of rotation, of which one recess of a storage disc may be aligned at will with the first tool store guideway portion, these recesses representing the alternative portions of the guideway and serving for the interchangeable support of container carriages for tools.

13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the storage discs are mounted on a slide which is displaceable transversely of the axis of rotation of the storage disc such that the groove-shaped recess of a storage disc which is aligned with the first tool store guideway portions is disengaged therefrom.

14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein during the axial displacement of the storage discs at least one position is provided in which no groove-shaped recess of a storage disc is aligned with the first tool store guideway portion.

15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein several second tool stores in the form of storage matrices and disposed in parallel are provided, each having a rectangular shape and comprising a number of storage compartments serving for the interchangeable support of container carriages for tools, which compartments represent the alternative parts of the guideway of the first tool store, wherein the storage matrices may be individually displaced in a linea#r manner on a support and may be disposed lockably in the selectable intermediate positions corresponding to the number of storage compartments, wherein the direction of displacement of each storage matrix extends at right angles to a rectilinear part of the guideway of the first tool store, so that a storage compartment of a storage matrix may be aligned at will with the first tool store guideway portion.

16. Apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the support supporting the storage matrices is disposed adjacent to the guideway of the first tool store is displaceable at right angles to the plane of the storage matrices and lockable in the positions in which storage matrix is located in the plane of the first tool store.

17. Apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the support supporting the storage matrices is disposed within the guideway of the first tool store such that the guideway of the first tool store surrounds the support with the storage matrices in the form of a frame, wherein the support may be displaced at right angles to the plane of the storage matrices through the guideway and may be locked in the positions in which a storage matrix is located in the plane of the first tool store.

18. Apparatus as claimed in claim 15 wherein the first tool store is fastened to a column of the machine tool which may be displaced and locked at right angles to the plane of the storage matrices, and in that the support supporting the storage matrices is disposed in a fixed manner.

1 9. Apparatus for storing tools substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 or any other one of the Figures.