Turning – Process of turning
Reexamination Certificate
2001-03-22
2003-10-28
Howell, Daniel W. (Department: 3722)
Turning
Process of turning
C082S129000, C082S149000, C082S901000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06637302
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a machining system through which workpieces are processed and, more particularly, to a machining system having a plurality of machine tool assemblies that cooperate in processing a workpiece.
2. Background Art
It is an objective of designers of machining systems to minimize space requirements without compromising either the versatility or performance of these systems. It is known to set up multiple machine tool assemblies in an operation and to move a workpiece from one machine tool assembly to another to serially perform processing operations thereon. The “footprint” for such systems may be quite large.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,612,832 discloses a machining system in which a machine tool assembly is disposed angularly to its normal orientation. During machining, the workpiece is moved in a plane that is non-horizontal. An inclined surface underlies the machine tool assembly and guides lubricant, and pieces of a workpiece removed during processing, downwardly to a collection base. This arrangement reduces the footprint over what it would be with the machining system in a horizontal orientation.
It is also known to situate machine tool assemblies so that the operating axes thereof extend in a vertical direction. One example of such a system is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 1,782,138. This arrangement likewise results in a reduced footprint.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one form, the invention is directed to a machining system having a first machine tool assembly with a first workpiece holder and a first machining unit for performing a processing operation on a workpiece held by the first workpiece holder, and a second machine tool assembly having a second workpiece holder and a second machining unit for performing a processing operation on a workpiece held by the second workpiece holder. The machining system further includes a base assembly on which the first and second machine tool assemblies are supported in an operative position. At least a part of the first machine tool assembly is repositionable by movement along a first line. At least a part of the second machine tool assembly is repositionable by movement along a second line that is non-parallel to the first line. The parts of the first and second machine tool assemblies are relatively repositionable along the first and second lines to facilitate transfer of a workpiece between the first and second machine tool assemblies.
In one form, the first machine tool assembly has a first central operating axis and the second machine tool assembly has a second central operating axis. The first line and a third line parallel to the first central operating axis reside in a first plane. The second line and a fourth line parallel to the second central operating axis reside in a second plane. The first and second planes are non-parallel to each other.
The first and second planes may define a downwardly opening angle of less than 135° therebetween. This angle may be on the order of 90°.
In one form, the first line extends at an angle to a horizontal reference plane.
In one form, the part of the first machine tool assembly includes a first headstock and the part of the second machine tool assembly includes a second headstock. Each of the headstocks has a central axis. The first and second headstocks are relatively repositionable into a workpiece exchange position wherein the central axes of the first and second headstocks are substantially coincident.
The base assembly may include first and second substantially flat surfaces cooperatively defining an inverted V shape. In one form, the first machine tool assembly is mounted on the first flat surface and the second machine tool assembly is mounted on the second flat surface.
The machining system may further include an upwardly opening receptacle for collecting foreign matter deposited on the first and second flat surfaces.
In one form, the base assembly further has an upwardly projecting support. The first flat surface has a width extending parallel to the central axis of the first headstock, with the upwardly projecting support having a width dimension parallel to the central axis of the first headstock that is substantially less than the width of the first flat surface.
In one form, the first workpiece holder is a first headstock and the first machining unit is an indexable turret with a plurality of machining tools.
The first machine tool assembly may further include a first conveyor for delivering workpieces to be processed to a transfer position.
The machine tool assembly may further include a first transfer mechanism to engage a workpiece on the first conveyor and deliver an engaged workpiece toward a position at which the engaged workpiece can be operatively held by the first headstock.
The machine tool assembly may further include a second conveyor for delivering workpieces from the second workpiece holder to a point of use.
The second machine tool may include a second transfer mechanism to engage a workpiece on the second workpiece holder and deliver an engaged workpiece to a second conveyor.
The first transfer mechanism may have first and second jaws that are relatively movable between a gripping position, to hold a workpiece, and a release position.
In one form, the first central operating axis extends in a horizontal direction.
The invention is also directed to a machining system having a first machine tool assembly with a first headstock for holding a workpiece on which a processing operation is to be performed and a second machine tool assembly having a second headstock for holding a workpiece on which a processing operation is to be performed. The machining system further includes a base assembly on which the first and second machine tool assemblies are supported in an operative position. The first headstock is movable along two transverse axes residing in a first plane. The second headstock is movable along two transverse axes residing in a second plane. The first and second planes are non-parallel to each other.
In one form, the first and second planes cooperatively define an inverted V shape.
The first and second planes may open downwardly at an angle of less than 135°. The angle may be on the order of 90°.
The invention is also directed to a machining system including a first machine tool assembly having a first headstock for holding a workpiece on which a processing operation is to be performed and a second machine tool assembly having a second headstock for holding a workpiece on which a processing operation is to be performed. The machine tool assembly further includes a base assembly on which the first and second machine tool assemblies are supported in an operative position. The base assembly has a first substantially flat surface and a second substantially flat surface which is angularly oriented relative to the first flat surface so that first and second planes including the first and second flat surfaces define an inverted V shape. The first machine tool assembly resides above the first flat surface so that at least one of a lubricant and pieces of a workpiece removed during processing using the first machine tool assembly are guided downwardly by the first surface. The second machine tool assembly resides above the second flat surface so that at least one of a lubricant and pieces of a workpiece removed during processing using the second machine tool assembly are guided downwardly by the second surface.
The machining system may further include an upwardly opening receptacle for collecting at least one of lubricant and pieces of a workpiece removed during processing using the first machine tool assembly and guided downwardly by the first surface.
The first machine tool assembly may include a first headstock for holding a workpiece. The machine tool assembly may include a second headstock for holding a workpiece, with the first and second headstocks being relatively repositionable so as to facilitate exchange of a workpiece between the first and second headstocks.
In one form, the first and second hea
Howell Daniel W.
Wood Phillips Katz Clark & Mortimer
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