US 4,129,220 AGranted

Bar stock feed apparatus

AssigneeHardinge Brothers, Inc.

InventorsAnders A. Peterson, Francis D. Catlin

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Abstract

Bar stock feed apparatus generally comprising an elongated tubular member adapted to receive a length of bar stock therein and a standard for supporting the tubular member in a feed position wherein the tubular member is aligned with the lathe spindle and in a second position wherein the tubular member is out of alignment with the spindle so that the stock can be loaded therein. A fluid actuated plunger is received in the tubular member and is advanced by pneumatic pressure supplied to the rear of the tube through an annular passageway formed by a pair of concentric tubes. A locking mechanism, which clamps the feed tube in position, includes a valve which controls the flow of air to the plunger and automatically interrupts the supply of air when the tubular member is not locked in place. A safety valve is positioned to be contacted by the tubular member when in its operative locked position and serves to bleed air from the supply line when the tubular member is not in the feed position.

Claims23

Dependent claims

Bar stock feed apparatus comprising:

(a) an elongated tubular member adapted to receive a length of bar stock therein,
(b) standard means for supporting said tubular member in an operative position for feeding the bar stock and in an inoperative position wherein bar stock can be loaded into said tubular member,
(c) a fluid actuated plunger received in said tubular member for longitudinal movement therein,
(d) means for supplying fluid under pressure to said tubular member behind said plunger to thereby cause said plunger to advance longitudinally within said tubular member,
(e) a locking mechanism associated with said standard means including means for mechanically constraining said tubular member in said operative position,
(f) pressure responsive safety valve means associated with said standard means adapted to be connected to said fluid supply means responsive to the presence of said tubular member when in operative position to automatically permit a supply of fluid to said plunger and responsive to the absence of said tubular member from said operative position to automatically interrupt or reduce the supply of fluid to said plunger,
(g) said plunger comprising at least two coaxial sections connected for unitary axial movement and for a relative rotational movement about their axis and wherein the forward one of said two sections includes means for receiving one end of a length of bar stock.

4 more elements

Bar stock feed apparatus comprising:

(a) an elongated tubular member adapted to receive a length of bar stock therein
(b) standard means for supporting said tubular member in an operative position for feeding the bar stock and in an inoperative position wherein bar stock can be loaded into said tubular member
(c) a fluid actuated plunger received in said tubular member for longitudinal movement therein
(d) means for supplying fluid under pressure to said tubular member behind said plunger to thereby cause said plunger to advance longitudinally within said tubular member
(e) said standard means including a bar stock support arm
(f) said bar stock support arm including a housing (g) said housing including a locking mechanism, check valve means, and pressure responsive safety valve means
(h) said locking mechanism including means for operating said check valve means
(i) fluid passageway means connecting said check valve means to said safety valve means and to said means for supplying fluid under pressure
(j) said locking mechanism inluding means for mechanically constraining said tubular member in said operative position and
(k) said pressure responsive safety valve means responsive to the presence of said tubular member when in operative position to automatically permit a supply of fluid to said plunger and responsive to the absence of said tubular member from said operative position to automatically interrupt or reduce the supply of fluid to said plunger.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.