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EP-4737058-A1 - SOCKET FOR RECEIVING MACHINING TOOL

EP4737058A1EP 4737058 A1EP4737058 A1EP 4737058A1EP-4737058-A1

Abstract

A socket (100, 100A, 100B) for receiving a machining tool (200) includes a main body (10, 10A, 10B), a fastening unit (20, 20A), a restricting member, and a fixing means. An outer peripheral surface of the main body (10, 10A, 10B) has a mounting surface (15) and a plurality of radial holes (16) formed by drilling downward from the mounting surface (15). The fastening unit (20, 20A) includes a plurality of springs (21) and a plurality of steel balls (22) that are disposed in the radial holes (16). The restricting member is a steel strap (30, 30A, 30B) disposed along the mounting surface (15) and covering the radial holes (16). The fixing means is for fixedly connecting the steel strap (30, 30A, 30B) to the main body (10, 10A, 10B). The steel strap (30, 30A, 30B) surrounds the main body (10, 10A, 10B).

Inventors

  • CHANG, CHING-SAN

Assignees

  • Sanjet International Co., Ltd.

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20241031

Claims (10)

  1. A socket (100, 100A, 100B) for receiving a machining tool (200), comprising: a main body (10, 10A, 10B) having a receiving space and at least one radial hole (16), wherein an outer peripheral surface of the main body (10, 10A, 10B) has a mounting surface (15); the receiving space is adapted to receive the machining tool (200); the at least one radial hole (16) is radially disposed on the mounting surface (15) and communicates with the receiving space; a fastening unit (20, 20A) including at least one spring (21) and at least one steel ball (22), wherein the at least one spring (21) and the at least one steel ball (22) are disposed in the at least one radial hole (16) of the main body (10, 10A, 10B); an end of the at least one spring (21) abuts against the at least one steel ball (22), so that a surface of the at least one steel ball (22) is partially exposed in the receiving space; and a restricting member fixedly connected to the main body (10, 10A, 10B), wherein the restricting member has a restricting surface; the restricting surface is in contact with the mounting surface (15) of the main body (10, 10A, 10B); another end of the at least one spring (21) abuts against the restricting surface.
  2. The socket (100, 100A, 100B) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the restricting member includes a steel strap (30, 30A, 30B) that is a long strip; the steel strap (30, 30A, 30B) has an outer surface (30a) and an inner surface (30b) that are opposite to each other; the inner surface (30b) constitutes the restricting surface; the socket (100, 100A, 100B) includes a fixing means adapted to fixedly connect the steel strap (30, 30A, 30B) to the main body (10, 10A, 10B); the steel strap (30, 30A, 30B) surrounds the main body (10, 10A, 10B).
  3. The socket (100, 100A, 100B) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the fixing means includes at least one fixing member (40) and at least one fixing hole (18) formed by recessing from the mounting surface (15) of the main body (10, 10A, 10B); the at least one fixing member (40) has a body (41) and a head (42); the body (41) passes through the steel strap (30, 30A, 30B) to enter the at least one fixing hole (18); the head (42) is located on an end of the body (41) and abuts against the outer surface (30a) of the steel strap (30, 30A, 30B).
  4. The socket (100, 100A, 100B) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the body (41) of the at least one fixing member (40) is press-fit into the at least one fixing hole (18).
  5. The socket (100, 100A, 100B) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the body (41) of the at least one fixing member (40) has a circular deformation portion (41a); an outer diameter of the circular deformation portion (41a) is greater than a hole diameter of the at least one fixing hole (18).
  6. The socket (100, 100A, 100B) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the outer peripheral surface of the main body (10, 10A, 10B) has an annular groove (17); a bottom of the annular groove (17) constitutes the mounting surface (15); the steel strap (30, 30A, 30B) is located in the annular groove (17) and surrounds the main body (10, 10A, 10B).
  7. The socket (100, 100A, 100B) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the mounting surface (15) of the main body (10, 10A, 10B) has a flat section (15b); the at least one fixing hole (18) is formed by drilling downward in a direction perpendicular to the flat section (15b); the steel strap (30, 30A, 30B) has at least one restricting section (31) flatly laid on the flat section (15b); the body (41) of the at least one fixing member (40) passes through the at least one restricting section (31); the head (42) abuts against the outer surface (30a) of the at least one restricting section (31) of the steel strap (30, 30A, 30B).
  8. The socket (100, 100A, 100B) as claimed in any one of claims 2-7, wherein the main body (10, 10A, 10B) has a slot (19), the slot (19) is formed by radially cutting through the mounting surface (15); the steel strap (30, 30A, 30B) has two opposite ends; two fitting sheets (31b) are respectively formed on the two opposite ends of the steel strap (30, 30A, 30B); each of the two fitting sheets (31b) fits into the slot (19).
  9. The socket (100, 100A, 100B) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the machining tool (200) has an end portion (201); the end portion (201) has an abutted surface (201a); the receiving space of the main body (10, 10A, 10B) includes an axial hole (12); the at least one radial hole (16) communicates with the axial hole (12); the fastening unit (20, 20A) includes an unfastening member (23) that is movable in the axial hole (12); the unfastening member (23) is a cylindrical tube and has at least one side hole (233); a part of the at least one steel ball (22) passes through the at least one side hole (233); when the at least one steel ball (22) is in contact with the abutted surface (201a) of the end portion (201) of the machining tool (200), the machining tool (200) is restricted from being withdrawn from the receiving space; when the at least one steel ball (22) is not in contact with the abutted surface (201a) of the end portion (201) of the machining tool (200), the machining tool (200) is detachable from the receiving space.
  10. The socket (100, 100A, 100B) as claimed in claim 9, wherein the axial hole (12) includes an inner section (12a) and an outer section (12b); a hole diameter of the inner section (12a) is less than a hole diameter of the outer section (12b); an abutting surface (13) is provided on a connection between the inner section (12a) and the outer section (12b) of the main body (10, 10A, 10B); the fastening unit (20, 20A) includes a blocking member (24); the blocking member (24) is fixedly connected in the outer section (12b); the unfastening member (23) has an annular protrusion (234); the annular protrusion (234) is adapted to be in contact either with the abutting surface (13) or the blocking member (24).

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Technical Field The present invention relates generally to an automatic tool changing mechanism of a machining apparatus, and more particularly to a socket that is mounted on a tool magazine and is adapted to receive a machining tool. Description of Related Art A tool magazine in an automatic tool changing mechanism of a machining apparatus is a device for storing and changing tools during automatic machining. The tool magazine is provided with a plurality of sockets for being inserted by tool holders engaged with tools with different specifications. In order to prevent a tool holder from being detached improperly from a socket which causes damage to the tool holder or the tool and operation safety problems, the socket is typically provided with a fastening structure, as disclosed in Taiwanese utility model patent M563937 "Knife sheath structure with safety clamping device", Taiwanese utility model patent M439538 "Improved tool socket structure for machine center tool magazine", and Taiwanese utility model patent M477934 "Tool holder". The fastening structure of the patented technologies includes a plurality of radial holes provided on a rear section of the socket, wherein a steel ball and a spring are placed in each of the radial holes, and a screw is screwed into each of the radial holes to prevent the steel ball and the spring from being detached. An elastic force of the spring pushes the steel ball to tightly abut against an end of the tool holder inserted into the socket, so that the tool holder is firmly stuck, thereby preventing the tool holder from being detached improperly. The fastening structure of the patented technologies could prevent the tool holder from being detached improperly. However, as a depth of each of the radial holes of the socket is limited and the screws and the steel balls occupy a part of a space of the radial holes, the springs could only be provided with short lengths, wherein a length of the spring is a distance between two ends of the spring before the spring deforms. As a result, the springs with the short lengths would have a helical coil with a smaller number of turns. When the tool holder enters or exits from the socket to push the steel balls, the steel balls move to compress and deform the springs. However, compression and deformation of the springs are achieved by twisting the helical coil. When the springs with the short lengths are repeatedly subjected to a compression force, a load of the helical coil is increased. The load is particularly significant in a part of the helical coil close to the steel balls. Cracks and damage on the helical coil occur over time due to fatigue. Moreover, screwing each of the screws into each of the radial holes is labor-consuming. When the depths of the screws screwed into the radial holes are different, the forces exerted by the springs pushing the steel balls are different. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above, the primary objective of the present invention is to provide a socket for receiving a machining tool, wherein a load of a helical coil of a spring of a fastening structure could be decreased when the spring is subjected to a compression force, thereby lengthening the service life of the spring. The present invention provides a socket for receiving a machining tool, including a main body, a fastening unit, and a restricting member. The main body has a receiving space and at least one radial hole. An outer peripheral surface of the main body has a mounting surface. The receiving space adapted to receive the machining tool. The at least one radial hole is radially disposed on the mounting surface and communicates with the receiving space. The fastening unit includes at least one spring and at least one steel ball. The at least one spring and at least one steel ball are disposed in the at least one radial hole of the main body. An end of the at least one spring abuts against the at least one steel ball, so that a surface of the at least one steel ball is partially exposed in the receiving space, The restricting member is fixedly connected to the main body. The restricting member has a restricting surface. The restricting surface is in contact with the mounting surface of the main body. Another end of the at least one spring abuts against the restricting surface. In an embodiment, the restricting member includes a steel strap that is a long strip. The steel strap has an outer surface and an inner surface that are opposite to each other. The inner surface constitutes the restricting surface. The socket includes a fixing means adapted to fixedly connect the steel strap to the main body. The steel strap surrounds the main body. In an embodiment, the outer peripheral surface of the main body has an annular groove. A bottom of the annular groove constitutes the mounting surface. The steel strap is located in the annular groove and surrounds the main body. With the aforementioned design, the p