Workpiece replacing apparatus and machine tool

{
  "publication_number": "US11141827B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Workpiece replacing apparatus and machine tool",
  "abstract": "A workpiece replacing apparatus delivers a pre-machined workpiece into an intra-machine space inside a machine tool from an extra-machine space outside the machine tool, and delivers a workpiece machined by the machine tool to the extra-machine space from the intra-machine space. The workpiece replacing apparatus includes a secured cover, an arm device, and a movable cover. The secured cover is secured to a securing member of the machine tool. The secured cover defines a partition between the intra-machine space and the extra-machine space. The secured cover is provided with an opening. The arm device delivers the workpieces between the intra-machine space and the extra-machine space through the opening. The movable cover is integral with the arm device or in engagement with the arm device such that the movable cover is operable in conjunction with operation of the arm device. The movable cover closes the opening, with the arm device located in the extra-machine space.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A workpiece replacing apparatus to deliver a workpiece into an intra-machine space enclosed inside a housing of a machine tool from an extra-machine space outside the housing of the machine tool and to deliver the workpiece machined by the machine tool to the extra-machine space from the intra-machine space, the workpiece replacing apparatus comprising: a secured cover comprising a portion of the housing and secured to a securing member of the machine tool, the secured cover defining a partition between the intra-machine space and the extra-machine space, the secured cover having a wall with an inner wall surface facing the intra-machine space and with an outer wall surface facing the extra-machine space, the wall being provided with a cover opening bridging the inner wall surface and the outer wall surface; an arm device to deliver the workpiece between the intra-machine space and the extra-machine space through the cover opening; and a movable cover comprising another portion of the housing and integral with the arm device or in engagement with the arm device, the movable cover being turnable relative to the secured cover about an axis extending parallel to either one of: (i) a portion of the inner wall surface adjoining the cover opening, and (ii) a portion of the outer wall surface adjoining the cover opening, such that the movable cover is operable in conjunction with operation of the arm device, the movable cover being configured to close the cover opening with the arm device located in the extra-machine space, wherein said movable cover includes a curved plate comprising an arc centered on said axis and disposed centrally in a turning region where the movable cover turns, the curved plate having a curvature defined around a turning center of the movable cover, and said movable cover includes an extended plate extending radially outward from a circumferential end of the curved plate.",
    "2. The workpiece replacing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the arm device includes an arm base turnable about said axis relative to the secured cover, a first arm disposed on the arm base, the first arm being configured to deliver the workpiece, and a second arm disposed on the arm base, the second arm being configured to deliver the machined workpiece, wherein the workpiece replacing apparatus further comprises a turning driver to turn the movable cover relative to the secured cover and to turn the arm base relative to the secured cover.",
    "3. The workpiece replacing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the secured cover includes a secured cover body comprising said wall and having a flat plate shape, the secured cover body wall being provided with a main opening corresponding to the cover opening, and a projecting cover disposed on an edge of the main opening of the secured cover body wall, the projecting cover projecting to the extra-machine space from the secured cover body wall, states of the arm device include a first state where the first arm receives the workpiece in the extra-machine space, and a second state where the second arm passes off the machined workpiece, in the extra-machine space, locations of the first and second arms of the arm device in the first state are different from locations of the first and second arms, respectively, of the arm device in the second state, with the arm device placed in at least one of the first state and the second state, a portion of the movable cover is located outward of the secured cover body wall, and the projecting cover closes a space between the main opening and the movable cover when the portion of the movable cover is located outward of the secured cover body wall.",
    "4. The workpiece replacing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the arm device includes an arm body movable in conjunction with movement of the movable cover, and a gripper supported by the arm body such that the gripper is turnable, the gripper being configured to grip the workpiece.",
    "5. A machine tool comprising: the workpiece replacing apparatus according to claim 1; a workpiece retainer disposed inward of the secured cover, the workpiece retainer being configured to retain the workpiece during machining of the workpiece; a tool retainer disposed inward of the secured cover, the tool retainer being configured to retain a machining tool for use in machining of the workpiece retained by the workpiece retainer; and a transporter to move the workpiece retainer relative to the tool retainer for machining of the workpiece and to move the workpiece retainer relative to the arm device for delivery of the workpiece between the workpiece retainer and the arm device.",
    "6. The workpiece replacing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the arm device is turnable about said axis to deliver the workpiece between the intra-machine space and the extra-machine space through the cover opening."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The invention relates to workpiece replacing apparatuses and machine tools.\n\nA machine tool disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2017-185584 (JP 2017-185584 A) includes: a door to close an opening of a cover surrounding the machine tool; and an electric motor to open and close the door. A technique disclosed in JP 2017-185584 A involves controlling the electric motor so as to reduce the time required for opening and closing the door during replacement of a workpiece, thus reducing cycle time.\n\nThe technique disclosed in JP 2017-185584 A, however, requires synchronously controlling the electric motor and a workpiece replacing apparatus. This may unfortunately cause the door and the workpiece to interfere with each other in the event of some sort of error.\n\nAn object of the invention is to provide workpiece replacing apparatuses and machine tools each capable of preventing a movable cover and a workpiece from interfering with each other, while reducing the time required for workpiece replacement.\n\nAn aspect of the invention provides a workpiece replacing apparatus to deliver a pre-machined workpiece into an intra-machine space inside a machine tool from an extra-machine space outside the machine tool and to deliver the workpiece machined by the machine tool to the extra-machine space from the intra-machine space. The workpiece replacing apparatus includes a secured cover, an arm device, and a movable cover. The secured cover is secured to a securing member of the machine tool. The secured cover defines a partition between the intra-machine space and the extra-machine space.",
  "cpc": [
    "B23Q 7/04",
    "B23F 23/04",
    "B23Q 11/0825",
    "B23Q 11/0891",
    "B23Q 2707/003",
    "B23Q 7/03",
    "Y10T 29/5196",
    "Y10T 409/100954",
    "Y10T 409/30392",
    "Y10T 409/30532"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B25J 15/00",
    "B23Q 7/04",
    "B23F 23/04",
    "B23Q 11/08"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "JTEKT Corp"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Kozo Imanishi",
    "Yoshio Ootsuka"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2018-11-08",
  "publication_date": "2021-10-12",
  "grant_date": "2021-10-12",
  "priority_date": "2017-11-14",
  "application_number": "US-201816183997-A",
  "family_id": "66335742",
  "cited_by_count": 0,
  "citations": [
    "CH654237A5",
    "US5302061A",
    "US5265497A",
    "US5669751A",
    "JP2000084773A",
    "JP2000343372A",
    "US7108647B2",
    "DE102005058347A1",
    "US20140304958A1",
    "JP2014054676A",
    "WO2016056344A1",
    "US20170312873A1",
    "US20170284146A1",
    "JP2017185584A"
  ]
}