IP Library Granted Patent US 12,427,613
Granted Patent B2
US 12,427,613 · App. 18/020,181 · Granted Sep 30, 2025

Tooling exchange mechanism and machine tool having the tooling exchange mechanism

Inventors: Atsushi Aoyagi (Kitasaku-gun, JP); Kazutoshi Kitazawa (Kitasaku-gun, JP)
Assignees: CITIZEN WATCH CO., LTD.; CITIZEN MACHINERY CO., LTD.
B23Q3/157B23B29/24B23B29/34B23B31/06B23B31/107B23B31/263B23Q3/155B23B29/323B23B2231/50B23B2260/136B23Q3/12B23Q2003/15586
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,427,613
App. No.
18/020,181
Granted
Sep 30, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A tooling exchange mechanism and a machine tool having the tooling exchange mechanism, in which a load applied to a turret is reduced when exchanging a tooling in the machine tool, are provided with a pressing member 210 of a tooling detachment unit 200 that presses the rear end of a tooling holding unit 100 to be able to release the retracted state of a tool holder Th of a tooling T by a tool holder holding portion 150 of the tooling holding unit 100 , and a locking lever 220 of the tooling detachment unit 200 engageable with an engaging projection 112 a formed on the rear end side of the tooling holding unit 100.

Claims (25)

1. A tooling exchange mechanism for a machine tool comprising:

a turret mounted with a tooling holder detachably holding a tooling including a rotary tool for machining a workpiece and a tool holder for detachably holding the rotary tool; and

a turret support including a tooling detacher detaching the tooling mounted to the tooling holder from the tooling holder, wherein

the tooling holder mounted to the turret includes a tool holder holding portion for mounting the tool holder in a state where the tool holder of the tooling is retracted,

the tooling detacher of the turret support includes a pressing member that is movable forward and backward in the direction to the rear end of the tooling holder and a locking lever that is movable forward and backward in the direction parallel to the moving direction of the pressing member,

the pressing member of the tooling detacher is configured to press the rear end of the tooling holder to be able to release the retracted state of the tool holder of the tooling by the tool holder holding portion of the tooling holder,

the locking lever of the tooling detacher is engageable with an engaging projection formed on the rear end side of the tooling holder, and

the turret and the turret support are configured such that, after the pressing member of the tooling detacher comes into contact with the rear end of the tooling holder, while the locking lever of the tooling detacher detachment is engaged with the engaging projection of the tooling holder, the pressing member of the tooling detacher detachment is configured to move forward to release the retracted state of the tool holder of the tooling by the tool holder holding portion of the tooling holder so that the tooling can be exchanged.

2. The tooling exchange mechanism for a machine tool according to claim 1 , wherein the tooling detacher includes an elastic member configured to bias at least a portion of the tooling detacher toward the turret.

3. The tooling exchange mechanism for a machine tool according to claim 2 , wherein the turret and the turret support are configured such that, after the pressing member of the tooling detacher comes into contact with the rear end of the tooling holder, a reaction force which the pressing member receives from the tooling holder is greater than the biasing force of the elastic member.

4. A machine tool comprising:

a tooling exchange mechanism according to claim 2 ;

a spindle for rotatably gripping the workpiece; and

a tooling storage device for storing the tooling,

wherein the turret and the turret support are configured such that, after the turret is rotated to a predetermined tooling exchange position, the pressing member of the tooling detacher is configured to press the rear end side of the tooling holder forward, and the locking lever of the tooling detacher is configured to pull the engaging projection of the tooling holder backward.

5. A machine tool comprising:

a tooling exchange mechanism according to claim 1 ;

a spindle for rotatably gripping the workpiece; and

a tooling storage device for storing the tooling,

wherein the turret and the turret support are configured such that, after the turret is rotated to a predetermined tooling exchange position, the pressing member of the tooling detacher is configured to press rear end side of the tooling holder forward, and the locking lever of the tooling detacher is configured to pull the engaging projection of the tooling holder backward.

6. A machine tool comprising:

a tooling exchange mechanism according to claim 3 ;

a spindle for rotatably gripping the workpiece; and

a tooling storage device for storing the tooling,

wherein the turret and the turret support are configured such that, after the turret is rotated to a predetermined tooling exchange position, the pressing member of the tooling detacher is configured to press the rear end side of the tooling holder forward, and the locking lever of the tooling detacher is configured to pull the engaging projection of the tooling holder backward.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 7, 2023
From: AOYAGI, ATSUSHI; KITAZAWA, KAZUTOSHI
To: CITIZEN WATCH CO., LTD.; CITIZEN MACHINERY CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 062617/0411 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2020-172352 · Oct 13, 2020 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230294227A1 · Sep 21, 2023
References Cited (6)
US 5054176A · Wachter · 1991 [cited by examiner]
US 5065492A · Von Haas · 1991 [cited by examiner]
US 10213887B2 · Aoyagi · 2019 [cited by examiner]
US 11858084B2 · Giesler · 2024 [cited by examiner]
JP H0811009A · 1996 [cited by applicant]
JP 2019188499A · 2019 [cited by applicant]