Title of Invention

METHOD AND DEVICE FOR THE AUTOMATED CHANGING OF HONING TOOLS

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for changing honing tools on a honing rod, the latter being provided for transferring working forces from a honing spindle to the honing tool and having an operating device movable relative to the honing rod for controlling honing tool functions and on the honing tool and honing rod are provided corresponding coupling structures of a coupling device for the releasable coupling of the honing tool with respect to the honing rod and the coupling device incorporates at least one relatively movable locking element for the releasable locking of the honing tool to the honing rod, characterized in that an operation of the locking element and a fixing of the honing tool in a change position is brought about by the application of external forces to the coupling device by means of a retainng device, as well as a honing machine and a honing tool for performing the method.

Full Text

METHOD AND DEVICE FOR THE AUTOMATED CHANGING OF HONING TOOLS [001] The invention relates to a method and a device for changing honing tools on a hor ing rod, the latter being provided for the transmission of working or machin- ing f( rces from a honing spindle to the honing tool and having an operating de- vice movable relative to the honing rod, for controlling honing tool functions. On the honing tool and honing rod are provided corresponding coupling structures of a CO jpling device for the releasable coupling of the honing tool to the honing rod. The coupling device comprises at least one locking element for the releasable lock ng of the honing tool to the honing rod. [OO: ] The prior art discloses methods and devices for changing honing toots whi ;h can be fixed to a honing rod. The honing process is an end working proc- ess for bores, on which extremely high demands with regards to dimensional and shctpe tolerances and possibly also with respect to a clearly defined, precise sur- face topography are made. [0( 3] For performing the honing method the honing tool fixed to the honing rod is gt ded in oscillating manner through the bore in a rotary and translatory cutting m jvement. The honing rod is provided on the honing tool for transmitting working fo ces applied by the honing spindle of the honing machine. In particular tensile ai d compressive forces are transmitted in the direction of a median longitudinal a is of the honing rod and a torque transmission also takes place. In the honing re d is provided an operating device for controlling honing tool functions and which is constructed so as to move relative to the honing rod and is in particular pro- V ded for the transmission of compressive forces to honing stones of the honing tool. The honing tool and honing rod have corresponding coupling structures of a coupling device provided for a releasable coupling of the honing tool to the honing fDd. 1004] In conjunction with ever increasing flexibility of production plants it is also lesirable in the case of honing machines to be able to automatically change the honing tools and therefore be able to rapidly adapt the honing machine to other workp eces or working processes. [005] For changing the honing tool it is known from the prior art to provide on mu- tually remote end faces of the honing tool opposing bayonet catches. A first bayo let catch facing the honing rod serves to transmit working forces and torques in on 2 honing rod rotation direction. The second bayonet catch remote from the honi ig rod is provided for depositing the honing tool in a tool magazine. The tool mag azine has in turn a coupling element corresponding to the second bayonet catc 1. Thus, the honing tool can be coupled to or uncoupled from the honing rod without any action on the part of the operator, a coupling process being brought abc ut by the interaction of a torque applied by the honing rod with both bayonet cat ;hes and the tool magazine. [0( 6] In such a construction of a replaceable honing tool, the restriction still arises thiit operation is only possible in one honing rod rotation direction, because on operating in the opposite rotation direction there would be an unlocking of the hon- in i tool from the honing rod. It is consequently known from the prior art to provide o I the first bayonet catch facing the honing rod an additional securing device, k lown as a rotation securing device, and which permits the application of torques ir both rotation directions. ! )07] Known honing machines designed for an automatic honing tool change are oenerally equipped with rigid or semirigid honing rods, so that it is possible to ob- tain a clear and precise positioning of the honing rod with respect to the first i layonet catch for coupling the honing tool to the honing rod. The honing tool fixed vith the second bayonet catch in the tool receptacle can consequently be coupled n an easy, automated manner. A joint mechanism between the honing rod and loning too) would make automated coupling more difficult, because as a result of he joint function the coupling structure position would not be reproducibly fixed. A nobility of the honing tool relative to the honing rod during honing is consequently Dniy possible in the known honing machines within the scope of honing rod flexi- bility, so that a particularly accurate positioning of the honing tool with respect to the bore to be worked or machined must be ensured, so as to avoid during honing undes ired force components and ensure the desired work result. [008] DE 33 47 354 C2 discloses a tool changer for a honing machine, in which the honing tools are received in a magazine coaxially to a work spindle of the hon- ing n achine. In a magazine change position one of the honing tools can be cou- pled o the honing rod and therefore directly taken over by the work spindle in a work ng position. After use the honing tool can be returned to the magazine. The honng tools stored in the magazine are held in a first storage plane of said maga- zine and can be prepared or precisely oriented for a honing process by guidance or setting parts located in a second storage plane. For the automated coupling and uncoupling with respect to the honing rod, the honing tool has a coupling part, whi zine and a second interface for coupling to the work spindle of the honing ma- chii e. [009] For tool changing purposes, a free storage location of the magazine is mc yed up to the honing tool in such a way that the magazine comes into positive engagement with the first interface of the honing tool and consequently permits a fixing of the latter. In a further step an operating device operates a control ring of th( honing tool and this brings about an uncoupling of the drive spindle of the hon- ini machine. The uncoupled honing tool can then be moved away and a new he ning tool moved beneath the honing rod, being subsequently coupled by the cc ntrol ring and released from the magazine in order to perform the next honing pi Dcess. The workpiece to be worked can be moved with the aid of a moveable taole below the rigidly positioned honing spindle. [(10] The problem of the invention is to provide a method and a device for chang- if g honing tools of the aforementioned type, so that universal usability on different honing machines and different honing tools is made possible. The particular aim is to allow a rapid, optionally automated tool change, even in the case of honing 1 )ols fitted in articulated or flexible manner to the honing rod. [01 ] This problem is solved by a method according to claim 1, a honing machine according to claim 4 and a honing tool according to claim 12. [01 I] In the method and the device an operation of the locking element and a fix- ing of the honing tool in a change position are brought about by the application of external forces to the coupling device by means of a retaining device. The retain- ing device is constructed in such a way that it can bring about both the operation of he locking element and the fixing of the honing tool in the change position and CO isequently no additional retaining or operating means are required for coupling the honing tool to or uncoupling it from the honing rod and keep the honing tool av ailable for a next coupling process. The external forces can in particular be tensile or compressive forces and/or torques, which act from the retaining device or the honing tool and there particularly on the locking element so as to bring about the operation of the locking element and also cause the fixing of the honing to )l. As a result of the fixing in the change position the honing tool is held in the correct position with respect to the honing rod in all space directions and has no d to the honing rod. This ensures that the corresponding coupling structures of the hcning rod and the honing tool can be coupled in automated manner without any fL^her activity on the part of the operator. Thus, the retaining device has a double fL notion, being provided both for controlling the coupling device and for fixing the honing tool. [(13] According to a development of the invention, the retaining device brings aoout a movement of the locking element prestressed in a locking position counter t( the prestress into an unlocking position. As a result of the prestressing forces a id/or prestressing moments acting on the locking element it is possible to ensure tiat said locking element is in the locking position without an external influence of the retaining device and consequently allows a transmission offerees and/or torques from the honing rod to the honing tool. In the unlocking position, which can be brought about by an external influence of the retaining device, a positive and/or frictional engagement of the locking element to the correspondingly shaped c oupling structures of the coupling device is cancelled out, so that a coupling or I ncoupling of the honing tool with respect to the honing rod is made possible. [0141 According to a further development of the invention, the external forces ap- pliec by the retaining device in the manner of a gripping movement with external force; pairs acting substantially in opposition, bring about the fixing of the honing tool together with the operation of the locking element. Through the application of external forces in the manner of a gripping movement it is possible to ensure that no L ndesired forces and/or torques can be exerted on the honing rod and honing tool which could in particular lead to a moving aside of the possibly flexibly or ar- ticulated constructed honing rod and the honing tools fitted thereto. The external force pairs from the retaining device substantially acting in opposition permit a substantially reaction-free operation of the coupling device through an extremely shoi t and direct force flow in the coupling device essentially restricted to the hon- ing tool. As a result of the gripping movement, even in the case of a not com- pletely exact positioning with respect to the retaining device, the honing tool can be gripped within a gripping area, so that it is possible to ensure an advantageous pro( ess security for the coupling and uncoupling process, because a tolerance ranpe for the coupling process is extended compared with the prior art. This facili- tates coupling and uncoupling, particularly when using joint mechanisms between the noning rod and honing tool. As a result of the reproducible positioning of the couoling device in the change position, a honing tool coupling or uncoupling can be automated and can take place without any further activity on the part of the op- eraior. [011)] According to a further development of the invention the honing rod is con- nected to the honing tool by at least one joint mechanism. This makes it possible to compensate tolerances in the positioning of the honing rod with respect to a bore to be worked, so that the honing tool and therefore the work result of the honing process is uninfluenced, at least over a certain tolerance range, by the hor ing rod position relative to the axis of the bore to be worked. With a gimbal susoension of the honing tool relative to the honing spindle, which has two mutu- ally spaced joint mechanisms, an axial parallel displacement of the honing tool relative to the honing spindle is made possible leading to a particularly advanta- geous tolerance compensation between the honing spindle position and the bore position. [0161 According to a further development of the invention on a tool magazine are pro\ ded several retaining devices for in each case receiving a honing tool. Thus, in si nple manner a plurality of honing tools can be made available to the honing mac nine and can be brought into the change position by means of the tool maga- zine movable relative to the honing rod and can consequently be coupled to the latte r. For this purpose the tool magazine has several retaining devices in each case constructed for fixing a honing tool and which by the operation of the locking eler lent or elements can bring about the coupling or uncoupling of the honing rod. The relative movement between the honing rod and the tool magazine can be broight about by an exclusive movement of the tool magazine, an exclusive movement of the honing rod or combined movements of honing rod and tool magazine. This allows a particularly high flexibility of the tool magazine with re- spe ;t to the number and nature of the replaceably received honing tools. [01 ] According to a further development of the invention the tool magazine has an adjusting device for controlling at least one retaining device. The adjusting de- vice can consequently bring about the application of the external forces to be transferred from the retaining device to the coupling device. The adjusting device can be so positioned on the tool magazine that in each case the retaining device in ttie change position can be controlled by the adjusting device. In a preferred emi)odiment of the invention only the retaining device in the change position is cor trolled by the adjusting device, so that only one adjusting device is required. [01 i] According to a further development of the invention the honing machine has a fl lid coupling for transferring fluid flows between honing rod and honing tool, the fluid coupling being provided for the purpose of transferring several, separate fluid flows with a fluid plug and a corresponding fluid socket, the fluid plug being plug- gable into the fluid socket accompanied by the formation of several medium inter- facjs, arranged in axial sequence and sealed against one another. [01 9] During a honing process it is necessary to be able to ensure a supply of flui i flows, particularly coolant, lubricant or measurement air flows to the honing too in order to ensure a correct honing process. To permit an automated honing tool change without any further activity by an operator, on plugging the fluid plug into he fluid socket axially succeeding, mutually sealed medium interfaces are foriT ed in a plugging direction and are appropriate for the transfer of the fluid flow ;. Thus, in simple manner a plurality of different fluids can be transferred from the loning rod to the honing tool. This advantageous fluid coupling can be used independently of other features of the invention in a plurality of honing rod/honing tool constructions. [02( ] In a further development of the invention the fluid coupling is constructed as an cixial plug-type coupling. Through the design of the fluid coupling as an axial pluo-type coupling, a plugging direction of the fluid coupling corresponds to a cou- plin ) or uncoupling direction of the honing tool with respect to the honing rod. Thus, through the coupling or uncoupling of the honing tool relative to the honing rod it is possible to directly carry out the plugging or unplugging of the fluid plug with respect to the corresponding fluid socket. [02 ] The problem of the invention is also solved by a honing tool with a tool body anc at least one honing stone movable relative to the tool body and controlled by an iperating device, as well as with a coupling device for the releasable coupling to 8 honing rod. The coupling device is constructed in such a way that fixing by me ms of the retaining device takes place on operating a locking element by a re- taining device. Thus, in a single operation, the retaining device can be coupled to or I ncoupled from the honing rod and can be correspondingly reproducibly fixed in t le change position allowing an automated coupling to the honing rod. Locking elenent operation can alternatively take place manually. [02 I] Further advantages and features of the invention can be gathered from the da ms and the following description of a preferred embodiment relative to the at- tacied drawings, wherein show: Fig 1 In a planar representation a front view of a honing machine with a movable honing rod, a tool magazine and a workpiece. Fig 2 In a planar representation a side view of the honing machine of fig. 1. I Fig. 5 In a planar rejpresentation a larger scale view of the honing rod and the honing tool coupled in articulated manner. Fig. \ In a planar representation a larger scale view of the tool magazine. Fig 3 In a planar sectional representation a honing tool with fluid coupling. Fig. 3 In a planar representation an operating sequence for the inventive coupling device. Fig. ' In a planar representation a retaining device for operating the coupling de- vice and for fixing the honing tool. Fig 3 An adjustable, prismatic scavenging ring as a centring device for the gim- bal-suspended honing tool. [023 A honing machine 1 shown in fig. 1 has a honing rod 2 and a honing tool 3 prov ded for the machining or working of a workpiece 4. The honing rod 2 is con- nected by means of a coupling device 5 shown in figs. 5 and 6 to the honing tool 3 and oy a joint mechanism 6 to a honing spindle 7. The honing spindle 7 can be drive n by a spindle drive 8 and can perform a rotary movement about a median long tudinal axis 9. With the honing spindle 7 is associated a vertically acting lin- ear lirive 10, which is provided for a vertical adjustment of the honing spindle 7. A not! hown operating rod is concentrically provided in the honing spindle 7 and is in particular constructed as an operating device for controlling honing stones of the I oning tool. The operating rod is controlled by a hydraulically and/or electri- cally driven infeed device 11. The honing spindle 7 can be moved horizontally by an actuator 12, so that it can be brought from the working position for workpiece 4 shown in fig. 1 into the change position indicated to the left in fig. 1 and therefore into a working range of a tool magazine 13, where the honing tool 3 can be changed. For this purpose the actuator 12 has an adjusting spindle 14, which is in opeiative connection with a spindle housing 15 for mounting the honing spindle 7 and Dan horizontally move the spindle housing 15 with the honing spindle 7 re- ceiv >d therein. [024 As is shown in greater detail in fig. 2, the honing spindle 7 can be vertically displaced in the spindle housing 15 and for this purpose guide rods 16 are re- ceiv ;d in corresponding guide bushes 17 of the spindle housing 15. Thus, the honi ^g tool 3 can be introduced vertically downwards from the shown rest position into lot shown bores of the workpiece 4 and can be used for machining the corre- spo[ ding bores in workpiece 4. [0251 As is shown in fig. 3, in a larger scale detail of fig. 2, a rotation axis of the hon ng tool 3 can be displaced in the manner of a gimbal shaft with respect to the meoian longitudinal axis 9 of the honing spindle 7 and the axes can remain ori- ented parallel to one another. This allows a precise honing of a bore in workpiece 4 even in the case of a tolerance-caused offset between the median longitudinal axis 9 and the median axis of the bore. A maximum displacement or offset 19 be- tween median longitudinal axis 9 and the rotation axis of the honing tool 3, shown in exaggerated manner in fig. 3, is largely determined by the mobility of the joint mec nanism 6 between honing spindle 7 and honing rod 2 or the compensating joini 20 provided on honing tool 3 facing honing rod 2. [02f ] The tool magazine 13 shown in greater detail in fig. 4 has a rotary table 21, whi( h is fitted to a lifting mechanism 22 and incorporates several, diagrammati- calh, represented tool receptacles 23 provided with retaining devices. The retain- ing ievices integrated into the tool receptacles 23 and not shown in fig. 4, are il- lustiated in detail in fig. 7. The tool receptacles 23 can in particular be equipped with devices for calibrating the measuring devices of the honing tool 3 or with measuring devices for determining the state of wear of the honing tool 3. The ro- tary table 21 is mounted so as to rotate about a rotation axis 24 and for this pur- pose is provided a not shown rotary drive between rotary table 21 and lifting mec hanism 22. The lifting mechanism 22 essentially comprises a guide element 25 i.nd a vertically displaceable slide 26, fitted to the guide element 25 and ad- just able by a lift cylinder 27. As a result a honing tool 3 held in tool receptacle 23 can by raising the tool magazine 13 be moved up to the honing rod placed in the charge position and can be either coupled to or uncoupled from said honing rod and ;an be removed from the change area by lowering the tool magazine 13. Through the rotation of the rotary table 21 other honing tools held in tool recepta- cles 23 can be made available for coupling to the honing rod. [027 The honing tool 3 shown in greater detail in fig. 5 has a tool body 31 to whici is fitted by means of a compensating joint 20 a cutting head 44. Onto the cutting head 44 are fitted not designated honing stones for working bore surfaces and also air measurement ledges for determining a bore diameter. The honing stones are radially adjustable by means of a not shown infeed device and conse- quer tly make it possible to change an effective diameter of the cutting head 44 and consequently the working of a bore in a workpiece. The compensating joint 20 IS constructed as a gimbal joint and permits a pivoting movement of cutting heao 44 with respect to tool body 31 in two space axes, which are in each case orthogonal to one another and to the median longitudinal axis. Locking elements 28 ii pocket-like recesses 45 are pivotably fitted to the tool body 31. The locking elen ents 28 are subject to a restoring force by tension springs 30 and conse- quently they are biased in a locking position (cf. fig. 6d). [0281 In the case of the external force action on locking elements 28 through thrust bolts 29 of a not shown retaining device shown in fig. 5, the locking ele- ments 28 are pivoted inwards from the locking position into an unlocking position. The pivoting movement of the locking elements 28 takes place about not desig- nated joint axes. Alternatively or additionally with respect to the locking elements 28, t is also possible for there to be locking elements in the form of linearly dis- placeable bolts or the like. The unlocking movement can then also be imple- mer ted as a linear movement or a combined pivoting and linear movement. Lock- ing t)etween the tool body 31 and honing rod 2 preventing a relative rotation is brought about in conjunction with a transfer slot 46 located frontally on the honing rod I and which is orthogonal to the median longitudinal axis. In said transfer slot can engage positively the locking elements 28 for torque transmission purposes. [029] On the tool body 31 is provided a locking bolt 32 fitted orthogonally to the median longitudinal axis 9 and which serves to lock the honing tool 3 to honing rod : in the axial direjction in the manner of a bayonet catch. For this purpose is form ;d on the honing rod a L-shaped notch 33 shown in fig. 6 and permitting a posit ve reception of the locking bolt. [030 The honing tool 3 and corresponding coupling geometry of the honing rod 2 have corresponding structures of a fluid coupling, which essentially comprise a rod-: ide bore 39 and a tool-side fluid plug 41 pluggable into the bore. The stepoed bore 39 in honing rod 2 has several radial exit ports 40, which are linked in cc mmunicating manner with not shown channels in the honing rod. Above the locking bolt 32 on tool body 31 of honing tool 3 is provided a fluid plug 41 matched to the stepped bore 39 in honing rod 2 and on which there are two circumferential groo/es 42 for receiving O-rings, which function as sealing elements. In operative conr action with the stepped bore 39, the O-rings serve as a seal between cylin- drical ring channels, which are formed by the operative connection of the fluid plug 41 t( the stepped bore 39 and which allow a separate transfer of identical or dif- ferent media from honing rod 2 through exit ports 40 into the not shown channel portions of honing tool 3. Thus, the fluid plug is able to transfer fluids such as cool ng lubricant, measurement air, honing oil, etc. [031 Figs. 6a to 6d illustrate in detail in four different phases a coupling process bet\A een the honing rod 2 and honing tool 3. A not shown coupling process takes placij in the opposite order. In a first phase of the coupling process between hon- ing r Dd 2 and honing tool 3 according to fig. 6a, the locking elements 28 are forced into an unlocking position by antiparallel-movable thrust bolts 29 of a not shown retai ning device. The adjusting force to be applied by the thrust bolts 29 is in op- posi ion to the tensile force applied by the tension springs 30. The thrust bolts ex- ert s jbstantially identical forces in opposite directions, so that the locking ele- men .s are operated in the manner of a gripping movement without the honing tool as a whole being forced to the side and/or rotated and consequently remains in the ( hange position. In said change position the honing tool is fixed in the retain- ing (ievice, the coupling structure of the honing tool 3 being available in reproduci- ble crientation for coupling to the honing rod 2. The locking bolt 32 is fixed by the reta ling device in a predeterminable position and can consequently easily form with th 5 correspondingly constructed notch 33 of honing rod 2 a positive, force- transnr itting operative connection in the manner of a bayonet catch, in order to bring cbout this operative connection it is necessary to have a sequence of rela- tive movements between honing tool 3 and honing rod 2, which are shown in figs. 6b an! 6c. [032"| The first relative movement is a linear movement along the median longitu- dinal axis 9 of honing rod 2 or rotation axis 18 of honing tool 3. Thus, the locking bolt 3 2 and notches 33 of the honing rod come into engagement and, presuppos- ing a coaxial arrangement of honing tool 3 and honing rod 2, which can be easily ensued by the retaining device. [033 In a following step according to fig. 6b, after the locking bolt 32 has run onto a vei tically acting boundary of notch 33 there is a rotation of honing rod 2 with re- spec i to honing tool 3, so that ultimately the locking bolt 32 comes to rest in a pocket-like depression of the L-shaped notch 33 and axial forces can be trans- ferred along the median longitudinal axis 9 or rotation axis 18, accompanied by a torq le transmission in the rotation direction. [03';] To permit torque transmission between honing rod 2 and honing tool 3 in bott rotation directions about the median longitudinal axis 9, the locking elements 28 t ngage positively in the transverse slot 46 provided on the front side of the hor ng rod and shown in fig. 5 and consequently it is possible for there to be a bi- late-al rotation of honing rod 2 and honing tool 3 without any risk of the coupling dev ce 5 being released. The positive operative connection between the locking ele nents 28 and the notches is, according to figs. 6c and 6d, achieved by retract- ing the thrust bolts 29, so that the tension springs 30 release a stored deformation energy and consequently bring about an automatic pivoting of the locking ele- meits 28 about joint areas outwards into a locking position. Thus, the honing tool 3 i; secured in all space directions for the transfer of working forces from the hon- ing rod 2 and is available for a honing process. [O: 5] The retaining device 23 for fixing the honing tool 3 and controlling the lock- inc elements 28 shown in the form of three main views in figs. 7a to 7c, has a base plate 34 to which are pivotably fitted about pivoting axes 47 two operating leve? s 35. The operating levers 35 are biased by not shown spring means in an operating position and can be forced outwards from the operating position counter to th 3 tension of the spring means by a ram 36 and are consequently brought into a ne Jtral position. For an operative connection between the operating levers 35 and he ram 36 on said levers 35 are provided roll-equipped pressure levers 37, whicT can be forced apart by a linear movement of the ram 36 provided with a conii:al end region and therefore bring about a pivoting movement of the operating leve s 35. As a result of this pivoting movement, the thrust bolts of the operating leva s 35 constructed as blade-like engagement portions 38 are disengaged from the r ot shown locking elements of the honing tool 3, so that the locking elements can )e pivoted into a locking position and therefore a coupling process between honi ig rod 2 and honing tool 3 can be performed. The function of the engage- men portions 38 corresponds to the thrust bolts 29 of the above-illustrated exam- ple. The retaining device 23 serves as the tool receptacle of tool magazine 13 (figs 1 and 4). With the tool magazine is associated a single, hydraulic adjusting devh ;e 60 enabling the ram 36 to operate the particular retaining device which hapf ens to be in the tool change position. The changed honing tool uncoupled from the honing rod can remain in the retaining device. Thus, the latter not only has he function of coupling operation and tool fixing, but also serves as a tool re- cept acie of the tool magazine. [036 Fig. 8 shows a scavenging ring 48 which is provided for centring the honing tool jimbal-suspended via the honing rod on the honing spindle, with respect to a work piece bore to be worked (fig. 2). The scavenging ring has two guide ar- rangements 49 having a prismatic groove and which are adjustable against one anot ler and whose prismatic faces 50 bound a square opening of adjustable size over the workpiece bore and consequently facilitate honing tool centring. The prismatic faces 50 can have surface normals, which are in a common plane, but prefe rably the prismatic faces are arranged in skew manner to one another, so that i form of insertion funnel for the honing tool is formed. The scavenging ring can ;.g. be adjusted by an adjusting device, which can in turn be controlled by the honi ig machine control means. Through a linear relative movement of the pris- matir, guide arrangements 49, it is possible to make the free opening of the scav- engi ig ring larger or smaller to adapt to different honing tool diameters. [037 In a not shown embodiment of the invention there is a contactless informa- tion ransmission between the honing tool and a processing device, which can in particular be integrated into the honing machine. By means of the contactless in- formation transmission it is possible to poll static and dynamic, honing tool-specific data of the honing tool and further process the same. These can in particular be honi ig process data, such as e.g. tool or workpiece temperature or the degree of wea of the honing stones. A polling of the honing tool data such as e.g. a tool numoer can also take place. Contactless scanning can in particular take place by means of an optically scannable coding, such as e.g. a bar code. An information transmission based on electromagnetic data transmission, e.g. with a transponder inco porated into the honing tool is also possible. [0381 In another, not shown embodiment of the invention the locking elements or an additional blocking of the locking elements during honing can take place thro jgh the honing machine operating device. This can bring about an even more corroact design of the coupling device. Moreover, on operating the locking ele- ments through the operating device it is possible to do away with externally ac- ces! ible, movable parts on the honing tool, so that a contamination risk for the cou )ling device can be further reduced. Through the blocking of the locking ele- mer ts by the operating device, it is possible to ensure a particularly reliable hon- ing ool operation, because e.g. with the locking of the honing stones by the oper- atin ) device the locking elements are blocked and consequently an undesired unk eking of the coupling device is prevented. [03! ] Important advantages of the invention are a complete fixing of the honing tool with respect to all degrees of freedom of movement both for the coupled state on t ie honing rod and for the uncoupled state, in which the honing tool is fixed in the etaining device. Thus, over and beyond the retaining device no further fixing means are necessary in order to keep the honing tool reproducible for coupling to the loning rod. As a result of the gripping movement of the retaining device, the unlocking of the locking elements also brings about the fixing of the honing tool to the retaining device and the honing rod remains substantially free from forces dur- ing Me coupling and uncoupling process. Through the fixing of the honing tool in the uncoupled state, it is also possible to use flexible and/or articulated honing rods which allow a tolerance compensation between the median longitudinal axis of thi i honing spindle and the bore in the workpiece. If the coupling device is ap- prop lately designed it is possible to have both a manual and an automated tool change. CLAIMS 1. Method for changing honing tools (3) on a honing rod (2), the latter being pro- vided for transferring working forces from a honing spindle (7) to the honing tool and t" aving an operating device for controlling honing tool functions movable rela- tive it the honing rod and on the honing tool and honing rod are provided corre- sponding coupling structures (32, 33) of a coupling device for the releasable cou- pling Df the honing tool to the honing rod and the coupling device incorporates at least Dne locking element (28) for the releasable locking of the honing tool to the honirg rod, characterized in that an operation of the locking element and a fixing of thff honing tool in a change position is brought about by the application of ex- terna forces to the coupling device by means of a retaining device (23). 2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the retaining device brings abou a movement of the locking element biased into a locking position into an unlocking position counter to the bias. 3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the external forces ap- plied by the retaining device in the manner of a gripping movement with external force pairs acting substantially in opposition bring about the fixing of the honing tool together with the operation of the locking element. 4. Honing machine with a honing rod for transferring working forces to a honing tool an operating device for controlling at least one honing tool function, movable relative to the honing rod and a honing tool couplable to the honing rod and con- trollaoie by the adjusting device, corresponding coupling structures of a coupling devK e being provided on the honing tool and honing rod for the releasable cou- pling of said honing tool to said honing rod, and the coupling device incorporates at leiist one relatively movable locking element for the releasable locking of the honing tool to the honing rod, characterized in that a retaining device is con- structed for the application of external forces for operating the locking element and forfKing the honing tool. 5. Ho ling machine; according to claim 4, dnaracterized in that the locking means (28) is biased with biasing means in relatively movable manner in a locking posi- tion. 6. Honing machine according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the retaining devio! (23) is constructed for applying substantially oppositely oriented external force; in the manner of a gripping movement. 7. He ning machine according to one of the claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the honing rod is connected to the honing tool by means of at least one joint mecha- nismi 20). 8. H( ming machine according to one of the claims 4 to 7, characterized in that seveial retaining devices (23) for receiving in each case one honing tool are pro- videc on a tool magazine (13). 9. Honing machine according to claim 8, characterized in that the tool magazine has in adjusting device (60) for controlling several retaining devices (23). 10. h oning machine according to the preamble of claim 4 or according to one of the cairns 4 to 9, characterized by a fluid coupling for the transfer of fluid flows between honing rod and honing tool, where for the transfer of several, separate fluid flows the fluid coupling has a fluid plug (41) and a corresponding fluid socket (39) the fluid plug being pluggable into the fluid socket accompanied by the for- mation of several, mutually sealed medium interfaces arranged in an axial se- quet ce. 11. Honing machine according to claim 10, characterized in that the fluid coupling is cc nstructed as an axial plug-type coupling. 12. 4oning tool with a tool body and at least one honing stone movable relative to the ool body and controllable by an operating device, and with a coupling device for r^leasable connection to a honing rod, characterized in that the coupling de- vice has at least one locking element (28) operable from the outside by a retaining device for fixing the honing tool. 13. foning tool according to claim 12, characterized in that the locking element is biased by biasing means in a locking position and can be transferred by external force application into an unlocking position. The invention relates to a method for changing honing tools on a honing rod, the latter being provided for transferring working forces from a honing spindle to the honing tool and having an operating device movable relative to the honing rod for controlling honing tool functions and on the honing tool and honing rod are provided corresponding coupling structures of a coupling device for the releasable coupling of the honing tool with respect to the honing rod and the coupling device incorporates at least one relatively movable locking element for the releasable locking of the honing tool to the honing rod, characterized in that an operation of the locking element and a fixing of the honing tool in a change position is brought about by the application of external forces to the coupling device by means of a retainng device, as well as a honing machine and a honing tool for performing the method.

Documents:

00541-kol-2005-abstract.pdf

00541-kol-2005-claims.pdf

00541-kol-2005-description complete.pdf

00541-kol-2005-drawings.pdf

00541-kol-2005-form 1.pdf

00541-kol-2005-form 2.pdf

00541-kol-2005-form 3.pdf

541-KOL-2005-ABSTRACT 1.2.pdf

541-KOL-2005-ABSTRACT-1.1.pdf

541-kol-2005-abstract.pdf

541-KOL-2005-CANCELLED PAGES.pdf

541-KOL-2005-CLAIMS 1.2.pdf

541-KOL-2005-CLAIMS-1.1.pdf

541-kol-2005-claims.pdf

541-kol-2005-correspondence .pdf

541-KOL-2005-CORRESPONDENCE 1.1.pdf

541-kol-2005-correspondence.pdf

541-KOL-2005-DESCRIPTION (COMPLETE) 1.2.pdf

541-KOL-2005-DESCRIPTION (COMPLETE)-1.1.pdf

541-kol-2005-description (complete).pdf

541-KOL-2005-DRAWINGS 1.2.pdf

541-KOL-2005-DRAWINGS-1.1.pdf

541-kol-2005-drawings.pdf

541-KOL-2005-FORM 1 1.2.pdf

541-KOL-2005-FORM 1-1.1.pdf

541-kol-2005-form 1.pdf

541-kol-2005-form 18.pdf

541-KOL-2005-FORM 2 1.2.pdf

541-KOL-2005-FORM 2-1.1.pdf

541-kol-2005-form 2.pdf

541-KOL-2005-FORM 3-1.1.pdf

541-kol-2005-form 3.pdf

541-KOL-2005-FORM 5-1.1.pdf

541-kol-2005-form 5.pdf

541-KOL-2005-FORM-27.pdf

541-KOL-2005-OTHERS.pdf

541-KOL-2005-PA 1.1.pdf

541-KOL-2005-PA.pdf

541-KOL-2005-PETITION UNDER RULE 137.pdf

541-kol-2005-priority document.pdf

541-KOL-2005-REPLY TO EXAMINATION REPORT 1.1.pdf

541-KOL-2005-REPLY TO EXAMINATION REPORT.pdf

541-kol-2005-specification.pdf

541-kol-2005-translated copy of priority document.pdf