Tool changing – With means to transfer work
Patent
1994-10-24
1997-06-10
Briggs, William R.
Tool changing
With means to transfer work
483 43, B23Q 3157
Patent
active
056370695
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The invention refers to a device for metal cutting one of more workpieces mounted on workpiece pallets and readied for use in a receiving apparatus for several workpiece pallets for transport into the machining position.
Devices of this type were already proposed, which include a control unit for clocked sequence control of several machine operations partially at the same time or also partially in succession, by feeding a preselected workpiece pallet, which is loaded with a workpiece from a pickup site to the machining position, and by inserting a preselected machining tool by means of a tool changing apparatus into the sleeve of the tool spindle unit.
Tool magazine and changing device ensure an automatic tool supply suited to the respective machining task.
Thereby it is required to design the tool carrier of the working machine and its clamping plate for receiving the workpiece pallet accurate to dimension.
Charging of the workpiece pallet with workplaces selected for machining is executed at a pallet assembly site. There, the workpieces are adjusted accurate to dimension by a clamping fixture, to which the workpiece pallet are mounted and then transported to the pickup site.
At the time of the workpiece change, the workpiece pallet is transported by hand or by means of a loading unit, e.g. a grab or a hoist--when heavy workpieces are concerned--into the machining position onto the workpiece carrier of the working machine from which the previously machined workpiece is released and removed.
Further, feeding devices, which are movable along guide tracks, are known for use with workpiece pallets. Moreover, it has already been proposed to arrange several pickup sites for workpiece pallets, loaded with workpieces, on a common assembly which may be rotatable in a carousel-like manner or may be similar to a conveyer path. At least one of the existing loading sites of the assembly must be lockable in a position in which the change of the workpiece pallet can be executed in such a manner that the machined workpiece is removed from the assembly and a still unfinished workpiece mounted onto the workpiece pallet occupies the freed loading site.
There is always the need with regard to such assemblies on working machines to execute the individual functions and changing operations as rapidly and simply as possible in order to keep the mechanical and control parts to a minimum. Starting out from these realities, a significant simplification is effected, in accordance with a teaching of the invention, when providing a receiving apparatus formed as pallet magazine for at least two workpiece pallets with at least one pickup site in a vertical plane and with the charging and clamping site being designed horizontally.
When the pickup site of the pallets for the workpieces being fed for machining is arranged according to the invention in a vertical plane, then the workpiece pallets can be transferred in this vertical plane directly, i.e. without additional swinging or tilting motions into the machining position and secured to the workpiece carrier. This is in particular advantageous when the workpiece is formed as a horizontal-axial body of rotation and the tool carrier includes a pivot drive; then, the body of rotation can then additionally be supported in a fixed stay and/or in a tailstock. Further, the design with a horizontally aligned loading and clamping site is advantageous, in particular as far as heavy workpieces are concerned which possibly is required to be fed by a conveyor. Thus, the clamping and adjusting by means of a readied apparatus upon the workpiece pallet can be executed in a simple manner without significant manual strain or manipulations.
Of great relevance appears the provision of the further embodiment according to the invention of a feeder for at least one loaded workpiece pallet from the pickup site to the machining position of the workpiece carrier, which feeder includes for the workpiece pallet a conveying path connectable to the pickup site, on the one hand, and to the machining position of the w
REFERENCES:
patent: 4012830 (1977-03-01), Ewertowski
patent: 4297990 (1981-11-01), Yamaguchi et al.
patent: 4344220 (1982-08-01), Sachot
patent: 4670965 (1987-06-01), Sato et al.
patent: 4679286 (1987-07-01), Momoi et al.
patent: 4773152 (1988-09-01), Kitamura
patent: 4794686 (1989-01-01), Moore
patent: 4809422 (1989-03-01), Kitamura
patent: 4985971 (1991-01-01), Kitamura
patent: 5172464 (1992-12-01), Kitamura et al.
patent: 5205806 (1993-04-01), Ishida et al.
patent: 5309368 (1994-05-01), Chern
Klicpera Udo
Schlieter Bernd
Schroppel Martin
Briggs William R.
Feiereisen Henry M.
Kopp Werkzeugmaschinen GmbH
LandOfFree
Device for metal cutting does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Device for metal cutting, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Device for metal cutting will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-761323