Automatic loader
AssigneeWit-Son Carbide Tool, Inc.
InventorWalter A. Kulson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A loader for conveying workpieces from a magazine stack to a clamping spindle where a grinding operation is performed. The loader comprises a reciprocally displaceable carrier assembly having a part holder assembly disposed on the end thereof for laterally receiving and axially releasing small workpieces such as triangular machine tool inserts. The part holder assembly defines a substantially triangular seat having a lateral support surface and being notched out to provide access for the clamping spindle. Precise adjustment of the insert seat is accomplished by means of a cam screw which extends through the part holder assembly to the carrier plate. A relief valve is provided to relax pressure on the part stack during carrier operation to reduce wear due to the sliding of the carrier assembly past the workpiece stack.
Claims13
Apparatus for transferring workpieces from a magazine stack to a clamping spindle comprising:
- a slide body mounted for reciprocal displacement between a pick-up position and a release position;
- part holder means on the slide body and defining a seat for receiving the workpieces laterally thereof and releasing the workpieces axially and incrementally urging the workpieces into the seat when the body is in the pick-up position;
- and means for adjusting the position of the part holder means with respect to the slide body to relocate the relative position of the seat thereon for precisely receiving the workpieces therein, said part holder means comprising a plate having a surface for facial abutment against a surface of the slide body, a cam aperture formed in the plate, a cam hole in the body and aligned with the cam aperture when the plate is on the body, and a cam screw extending into the hole through and in contact with the aperture for displacing the plate relative to the body upon rotation thereof.
Apparatus for transferring workpieces from a magazine stack to a clamping spindle comprising a slide body mounted for reciprocal displacement between a pick-up position and a release position, part holder means on the slide body and defining a seat for receiving the workpieces laterally thereof and releasing the workpieces axially thereof, magazine means for receiving a stack of aligned workpieces and incrementally urging the workpieces into the seat when the body is in the pick-up position, and bias means operable on said magazine means for urging the stack of workpieces toward the slide body, said bias means including means responsive to displacement of the slide body away from the pick-up position to release bias pressure on the stack.
For use in an apparatus for transferring workpieces from a magazine stack to a clamping spindle a part holder assembly comprising a first plate of rigid material and having an opening formed in an end thereof to define a workpiece seat, and a second plate in parallel abutting relationship with the first plate and substantially overlapping said opening, a second opening being formed in the second plate and partially co-extensive with but of lesser dimension than the first opening for providing a lateral workpiece support surface for workpieces in said seat.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.