Tool orienting and release mechanism for machine tool
AssigneeHoudaille Industries, Inc.
InventorJames L. Frazier
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A machine tool having a tool-supporting hollow spindle has the tool mounted in fixed relation to a draw bar which slides axially within the spindle between a tool retaining position and a tool release position. A barrel cam within the spindle is adapted to be engaged and rotated by a cam driver member secured to an actuating shaft longitudinally movable within the spindle. The spindle rotates with the cam until a predetermined angular position is reached, after which additional longitudinal movement of the actuating shaft causes movement of the draw bar downwardly within the spindle from its tool retaining position to its tool release position, where the tool is resiliently supported until it is removed, either manually or by automatic means.
Claims23
In a machine tool having a tool-supporting spindle, the combination comprising a draw bar supported by said spindle and adapted for longitudinal movement relative thereto between a tool retaining position and a tool release position, a plurality of tool retention fingers connected with the lower end of said draw bar adapted to assume a tool gripping position when said draw bar is in its tool retaining position and a tool release position when said draw bar is in its tool release position, a cam secured to said spindle, a cam driver member mounted on an actuating shaft adapted for longitudinal movement relative to said spindle, means for movng said actuating shaft so that said cam driver member is moved into engagement with said cam and then said actuating shaft is moved into engagement with said draw bar, whereby said cam and said spindle are rotated to a predetermined angular orientation, said draw bar being moved by said actuating shaft as said cam driver member moves beyond the point at which it engages said cam, whereby said draw bar is moved to its tool release position.
In a machine tool having a tool-supporting spindle, the combination comprising a draw bar supported by said spindle and adapted for longitudinal movement relative thereto between a tool retaining position and a tool release position, a plurality of tool retention fingers connected with the lower end of said draw bar adapted to assume a tool gripping position when said draw bar is in its tool retaining position and a tool release position when said draw bar is in its tool release position, a cam secured to said spindle, a cam driver member adapted for longitudinal movement relative to said spindle, means for moving said cam driver member into engagement with said cam, whereby said cam and said spindle are rotated to a predetermined angular orientation, and means for moving said draw bar in response to movement of said cam driver member, whereby said draw bar is moved to its tool release position, wherein said spindle has a central longitudinal bore, and said cam is a hollow barrel cam mounted coaxially within said bore, and including an actuating shaft mounted in axial alignment with said bore, said barrel cam having a cam surface on its upper end having one high point and one low point, said cam driver member being mounted on said actuating shaft and radially offset therefrom for engaging the cam surface of said barrel cam and for rotating said cam until the low point on said cam surface is aligned with said cam driver member.
In a machine tool having a tool-supporting spindle, the combination comprising a cam secured to said spindle, a cam driver member adapted for longitudinal movement relative to said spindle, and actuating means for moving said cam driver member into engagement with said cam, whereby said cam and said spindle are rotated to a single predetermined angular orientation, irrespective of the initial position of said spindle, said spindle having a longitudinal central bore therein, said cam comprising a barrel cam secured to said spindle within said bore, and said actuating means comprising a shaft mounted for longitudinal movement within said bore.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.