Chip conveyor and machining system using the same

Details Chip conveyor and machining system using the same Chip conveyor and machining system using the same

1999-10-12

2001-11-13

Ellis, Christopher P. (Department: 3651)

Conveyors: power-driven

Conveyor system having a gravity conveyor section

Gravity discharge material holder is source of supply,...

C198S544000, C198S545000, C082S052000, C409S137000, C029SDIG009

Reexamination Certificate

active

06315106

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a chip conveyor for use in conjunction with another chip conveyor to remove chips from machine tools, and a machining system using the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a machining system having plural machine tools, e.g., a flexible transfer line, chips created during machining of workpieces are removed by a chip conveyor from the machining system. Two types of the chip conveyors are generally used, as shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2
.
FIG. 1
shows a machining system having a single chip conveyor
100
servicing a plurality of (i.e., four) machine tools
102
a
to
102
d
spaced along a transfer direction TD. Workpieces W to be machined by the machine tools
102
a
to
102
d
are delivered in the transfer direction TD for the next machining.
The chip conveyer
100
extends under each machining area of the machine tools
102
a
to
102
d.
Chips generated in the machine tools
102
a
to
102
d
are carried by the chip conveyor
100
to a chip container
101
outside of the machining system. Since the length of the chip conveyor
100
depends on the number of the machine tools or the length of the machining system, the chip conveyor must be reconstructed for every change in number of the machine tools of the machining system.
FIG. 2
shows another machining system having a plurality of chip conveyors
110
a
to
110
d,
each of which respectively serves one of the machine tools
112
a
to
112
d
spaced along a transfer direction TD. Each of the chip conveyers
110
a
to
110
d
extends under the machining area of a machine tool
112
a
to
112
d
in a direction C
1
intersecting the transfer direction TD. Chips generated in each of the machine tools
112
a
to
112
d
are respectively carried by the chip conveyors
110
a
to
110
d
to corresponding chip containers
111
a
to
111
d.
The machining system thus requires the same number of the chip containers
111
a
to
111
d
as chip conveyors
110
a
to
110
d.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved machining system which can be easily restructured.
In accordance with the invention, the above and other objects are achieved by a machining system including a plurality of machine tools, a transfer apparatus configured to move a workpiece, and a plurality of chip conveyors. Each of the plurality of chip conveyors includes a feeding device, a discharging opening and at least one of a first opening and a second opening. The first opening communicates with the discharging opening of an adjacent chip conveyor of the plurality of chip conveyors. The second opening receives chips generated by at least one of the plurality of machine tools. The discharging opening is for discharging the chips in the chip conveyor. The feeding device is configured to move the chips in the chip conveyor toward the discharging opening.
It is a second object of the present invention to provide an improved chip conveyor easily connected to another chip conveyor. In accordance with the invention, the above and other objects are achieved by a chip conveyor having a body and a feeding device. The body includes a chip-receiving portion and a chip-discharging portion. The chip-receiving portion has a first opening configured to serially communicate with an adjacent chip conveyor, and a second opening receiving chips. The chip-discharging portion includes a discharging opening for discharging the chips. The feeding device is attached to the body and is configured to move the chips in the body toward the discharging opening.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5979039 (1999-11-01), Rehm
patent: 6206621 (1999-09-01), Sebring
patent: 6-247523 (1994-09-01), None
patent: 8-19932 (1996-01-01), None
patent: 10-202470 (1998-08-01), None

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Chip conveyor and machining system using the same does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Chip conveyor and machining system using the same, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Chip conveyor and machining system using the same will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2603108