Turning – Lathe – With work feeder or remover
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-10
2001-03-20
Tsai, Henry W. H. (Department: 3722)
Turning
Lathe
With work feeder or remover
C082S125000, C082S126000, C082S127000, C414S017000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06202523
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to loading and unloading apparatus for machine tools and the like. More specifically, the invention relates to air operated loading and/or unloading devices and controls related to machine tools.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Various types of feed mechanisms exist in the machine tool industry to automate the loading and/or unloading of workpieces into and out of a machine tool. In this regard, it is desirable with respect to both production speed and safety to automatically place workpieces into the machine tool prior to a machine operation and then to automatically remove the workpieces from the machine tool when the machining operation or operations are complete. The intervention of machine tool operators during the process slows the production time and presents additional dangers to the operator.
Many automated loading and unloading devices are too complex and expensive to justify their use in any but the most elaborate and expensive machine tools. Such loading and unloading mechanisms may include, for example, robotic devices or other programmable or otherwise electrically controlled arms, indexing devices, etc. While needs exist in the industry for these sophisticated and expensive machine tool loading and unloading mechanisms, especially in connection with many high volume machining operations, these solutions to the problems associated with manual loading and unloading operations can be too expensive.
One air operated loading and unloading device that solves many of the problems typical of manual loading and unloading operations is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,505,584 (the '584 patent), assigned to the assignee of the present invention and the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. Using this device, a workpiece may be unloaded and/or loaded via a concentric tubular arrangement. The tubes rotate with respect to each other to facilitate either an unloading operation or a loading and unloading operation with respect to a machine tool spindle. Although the apparatus disclosed in the '584 patent performs well, drawbacks have been experienced with respect to the need to closely fit the inner and outer concentric tubes for adequate, repeatable sealing. For these reasons, improvements related to the ability to adequately and repetitively seal the inner chamber of the concentric tube arrangement are in continuing need.
Another problem related to the machine tool industry is related to detecting when a workpiece is fully received within the machine tool spindle after actuation of a loading device, such as the device disclosed in the '584 patent. When a mechanical device, as opposed to an air operated device, is used to feed a workpiece into a machine tool, a switch or other detection system can indicate full movement of the mechanical feeder and the attached workpiece into the machine tool. When air is used, however, it becomes more difficult to integrate a detection system. In this regard, it is generally impractical to connect hardwired detectors to a rotating machine tool turret to indicate the presence of a workpiece in the spindle of the machine tool. In such a case, the wires will interfere with rotation of the turret. Also, mounting in other locations of the machine tool proximate the spindle may not be possible.
Improvements related to the machine tool industry, and more specifically related to air operated loading and unloading devices therefore continue to be necessary.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Generally, the present invention provides a device for effecting at least one of a loading and unloading operation of a workpiece with respect to a machine tool. The device includes a base adapted to be mounted adjacent the machine tool and a tubular member mounted for rotation with respect to the base. The tubular member includes an inner chamber and an elongate opening communicating with the inner chamber for receiving the workpiece. The inner chamber includes one end adapted to communicate with a spindle of the machine tool. In accordance with the invention, a sealing member is mounted for selective removal from the tubular member and for selective, sealing engagement around the elongate opening. As the sealing member is not a concentric, cylindrical member, sizing of the sealing member with respect to the tubular member is not as critical as in the above-mentioned '584 patent. Instead, this sealing member may be simply an arc-shaped member which is either manually engaged and removed from the tubular member or automatically engaged and removed using an actuator. A source of pressurized air communicates with the chamber of the tubular member for moving the workpiece in at least one direction, i.e., a loading or unloading direction, within the chamber when the sealing member is in sealing engagement around the elongate opening.
In the case in which the device is used for both loading and unloading a workpiece, a rotary actuator is preferably used to automatically open and close the elongate opening. When open, a workpiece may be dropped into the elongate opening and then the rotary actuator may be activated to seal the elongate opening. Upon sealing the opening, the chamber is pressurized to send the workpiece into the machine tool spindle. The chamber is pressurized in a reverse direction to retrieve the workpiece into the chamber using vacuum. Upon retrieval of the workpiece, the tubular member is rotated to expose the elongate opening and unload the workpiece. When the device is used only as an unloading device, the sealing member may be mechanically fastened about the elongate opening in a removable fashion and in a manner that still allows rotation of the tubular member. In these cases, the machine tool spindle is typically loaded in another manner, such as by a mechanical feeding device on the opposite end of the spindle and the unloading device retrieves the workpiece through the other end of the spindle upon completion of the machining operation.
The invention further contemplates a sensing device for detecting the presence of a part, such as a workpiece in a machine tool spindle. While the sensing device will have many uses in the part detection field, it is also particularly useful in conjunction with the air operated loading device of the invention. Generally, the device includes a sensor support structure, a first detection member mounted for reciprocating movement relative to the support structure, a motion detection device, a wireless transmitter and at least one battery for powering the motion detection device and the wireless transmitter. The motion detection device is connected to the first detection member and detects motion thereof to generate a first signal in response to movement of the first detector member by the workpiece or other type of part. The wireless transmitter is mounted to the support structure and is electrically connected to the motion detection device. The wireless transmitter transmits a second signal in response to the first signal. The battery is likewise mounted to the support structure and powers the motion detection device and the wireless transmitter. The wireless transmitter may be, for example, a radio frequency (RF) or infrared (IR) transmitter.
A self-contained sensing device is therefore provided which, for example, may be connected directly to a station on a rotating turret without requiring any hardwiring. This station may be a home station in line with the machine tool spindle such that, when the air operated loading device of this invention sends a workpiece into the machine tool spindle, the workpiece contacts and moves the first detection member. Ultimately, this causes the wireless transmitter to send a signal to an appropriate wireless receiver that may be connected with the control system of the loading device and/or the machine tool. This signal can indicate that the machining operation may commence.
In the preferred embodiment, the sensing device further includes a second detection member mounted for reciprocatin
J. F. Berns Co., Inc.
Tsai Henry W. H.
Wood, Herron & Evans, L..L.P.
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