US 4,063,482 A · Machine tool indexing mechanism

Abstract

The present invention relates to an indexing mechanism for stepwise advancing a workpiece relative to a cutting tool of a machine tool, to enable slices or wafers of predetermined thickness to be cut from the workpiece. The indexing mechanism comprises first and second slide blocks slidable in a slideway in a slide block carrier of the machine tool. The first block carries the workpiece and the second block carries a double-acting index actuator which interconnects the two blocks and is operable to displace the blocks alternately toward and away from each other, the extent of said displacement determining the indexing stroke of the mechanism. The index actuator is provided with an adjustable end stop for adjusting the indexing stroke. The blocks are provided with clamp actuators which positively and sequentially clamp the blocks to the carrier, so that the first block is displaced away from the second block as the latter is immobilized, and the second block is displaced towards the first block as the latter is immobilized. The blocks are also provided with springs which, upon release of the clamp actuator, clamp the blocks to the carrier with a reduced clamping force sufficient to resists unintentional displacement of the blocks.

Claims18

Dependent claims

An indexing mechanism of the type operable to effect repeated stepwise advance between a workpiece and a work station of a machine tool by an indexing stroke of predetermined length, comprising first and second displaceable members interconnected for displacement, in turn, alternately toward and away from each other, the extent of said displacement determining the indexing stroke of the mechanism, means to adust the extent of the indexing stroke, and means operable to selectively immobilise each displaceable member during displacement of the other, said selective immobilising means comprising primary clamp means operable to positively and releasably clamp the first and second displaceable members to guide means of a machine tool, and a secondary clamp means operable, upon release of the primary clamp means, to clamp the displaceable members to the guide means with a reduced clamping force sufficient to resist unintentional displacement of the displaceable members.

For a machine tool having a work station and an indexing mechanism carrier, an indexing mechanism of the type operable to effect repeated stepwise advance between a workpiece and the machine tool work station by an indexing stroke of predetermined length, the indexing mechanism comprising:

1. first and second slide members, the first slide member being adapted to mount a workpiece, each slide member being provided with;
a. a portion configured to slide in a corresponding slideway in the carrier;
b. a clamp element associated with said configured portion and displaceable to clampingly cooperate with the carrier;
c. clamp actuator means operable to releasably urge said clamp element against the carrier with a force sufficient to positively clamp the associated slide member to the carrier;
d. spring means operable, when the associated clamp actuator means is released, to urge the clamp element against the carrier with a reduced force sufficient to resist unintentional displacement of the associated slide member;
2. means coupling said first and second slide means together, and including index actuator means operable to effect relative displacement between said first and second slide means, alternately in a first direction towards each other and in a second direction away from each other, the extent of said displacement determining the indexing stroke of the mechanism;
3. control means connected to said clamp and index actuator means, operable to actuate the clamp actuator means of the first slide member and release the clamp actuator of the second slide member whilst actuating the index actuator to effect displacement in one of said first and second directions, and then actuate the clamp actuator means of the second slide member and release the clamp actuator means of the first slide member whilst actuating the index actuator means in the other of said first and second directions;
4. adjustable index stop means adapted to precisely determine the extent of displacement in said first and second directions.

5 more elements

A machine tool including a work station whereat a slicing tool is operatively mounted, an elongate indexing mechanism carrier having a slideway extending generally towards the work station, and an indexing mechanism slidably cooperating with said slideway, the indexing mechanism being adapted to carry an elongate workpiece, and to repeatedly stepwise advance the workpiece, towards the work station by an indexing stroke of predetermined length, the indexing mechanism comprising:

1. first and second slide members, the first slide member being adapted to mount a workpiece, each slide member being provided with;
a. a portion configured to slide in a corresponding slideway in the carrier;
b. a clamp element assoiated with said configured portion and displaceable to clampingly cooperate with the carrier;
c. clamp actuator means operable to releasably urge said clamp element against the carrier with a force sufficient to positively clamp the associated slide member to the carrier;
d. spring means operable, when the associated clamp actuator means is released, to urge the clamp element against the carrier with a reduced force sufficient to resist unintentional displacement of the associated slide member;
2. means coupling said first and second slide means together, and including index actuator means operable to effect relative displacement between said first and second slide means alternately in a first direction towards each other and in a second direction away from each other, the extent of said displacement determining the indexing stroke of the mechanism;
3. control means connected to said clamp and index actuator means, operable to actuate the clamp actuator means of the first slide member and release the clamp actuator of the second slide member whilst actuating the index actuator to effect displacement in one of said first and second directions, and then actuate the clamp actuator means of the second slide member and release the clamp actuator means of the first slide member whilst actuating the index actuator means in the other of said first and second directions;
and
4. adjustable index stop means adapted to precisely determine the extent of displacement in said first and second directions.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Machine tool indexing mechanism

Life of this patent

Machine tool indexing mechanism

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18