Work holder mechanism for automatic machine tool

A work holder for an automatic tool machine comprising, a chuck carrying tube, a stock feed tube arranged within the chuck carrying tube and having feedings jaws including faces defining a predetermined non-circular passage configuration in transverse section, and an adjustable, non-gripping stock aligning device at the intake end of said feed tube for aligning non-circular in cross section stock with said faces of said feeding jaws, said aligning device comprising an axially apertured collar rotatable with respect to said feed tube, the aperture through said collar being non-circular in transverse section, generally complementary to said non-circular passage configuration, said intake end having an opening formed therein generally complementary to the exterior of said collar and receiving said collar interiorly thereof in rotatable relation, and including wedge means mounted on said collar, said wedge means being movable relative to said collar and adapted for abutting holding coaction with the defining surface of said intake end opening and with said collar for locking the aligning device in selected rotated position wherein the defining surfaces of the aperture through said collar will be aligned with said faces of said feeding jaws, and means coacting between said wedge means and said collar for selectively actuating and deactuating said wedge means and wherein the portion of said rotatable collar received in said intake end of said feed tube is generally cylindrical in exterior configuration and, said wedge means comprises a wedge block movable relative to said collar in a direction generally parallel to the lengthwise axis of said aperture through said collar, said collar having a slot therein in the exterior thereof, said collar slot movably receiving said block therein, said collar slot and block having complementary confronting wedge surfaces adapted for sliding wedging coaction upon predetermined actuation of said actuating means for moving said wedge block relative to said wedge surface in said collar slot, and thereby causing locking of said collar to hold said collar in predetermined rotational orientation with respect to said passage configuration defined by said feeding jaws.

A rotatable collar for use in a work holder including a feed tube for an automatic tool machine, such as for instance, an automatic screw machine, at least a portion of said collar being of cylindrical exterior configuration and having an axial aperture therethrough adapted to receive bar stock therethrough, said collar being adapted for rotatable mounting in the inlet end opening of the feed tube and having a slot therein in the exterior surface of said cylindrical portion, said slot extending in said exterior surface in a lengthwise direction generally parallel to the lengthwise axis of said axial aperture in said collar, said slot commencing at one lengthwise end of said collar and terminating inwardly of the other lengthwise end thereof, the inwardly terminating end of said slot being arcuate in plan, and a wedge block received in said slot for movement lengthwise thereof, said slot and wedge block having complementary oblique, with respect to said lengthwise axis of said axial aperture, cam surfaces for causing wedging coaction between said block and the defining interior surface of the inlet end opening of the feed tube, upon predetermined actuating movemeng lengthwise of said slot so as to lock said collar in selected rotated position in the feed tube by abutting holding coaction between said collar and the confronting surface of the feed tube, and means coupled to said wedge block and coacting between said wedge block and said collar for selectively actuating and deactuating said wedge block.

A rotatable collar for use in a work holder including a feed tube for an automatic tool machine, such as for instance, an automatic screw machine, said collar having an axial aperture therethrough adapted to receive bar stock therethrough, said collar being adapted for rotatable mounting in the inlet end opening of the feed tube and having a slot therein in the exterior surface thereof, said slot extending in said exterior surface in a lengthwise direction generally parallel to the lengthwise axis of said axial aperture in said collar, said slot commencing at one lengthwise end of said collar and terminating inwardly of the other lengthwise end thereof, the inwardly terminating end of said slot being arcuate in plan, and a wedge block received in said slot for movement lengthwise thereof, said collar slot and wedge block having complementary oblique, with respect to said lengthwise axis of said aperture, cam surfaces for causing wedging coaction between said block and the defining interior surface of the inlet end opening of the feed tube upon predetermined actuating movement of said block lengthwise of said slot, being adapted for locking so as to lock said collar in the feed tube by abutting holding coaction between said collar and the confronting surface of the feed tube, and means coacting between said wedge block and said collar for selectively actuating and deactuating said wedge block, and wherein said actuating and deactuating means comprises a threaded fastener rotatably mounted on said collar and extending into threaded coaction with a threaded opening in said wedge block, wedging coaction occuring between said block and the feed tube upon predetermined rotation of said fastener resulting in said actuating movement of said wedge block relative to said collar and in a direction toward said terminating end of said slot.

A rotatable collar for use in a work holder including a feed tube for an automatic tool machine, such as for instance, an automatic screw machine, at least a portion of said collar being of cylindrical exterior configuration and having an axial aperture therethrough adapted to receive bar stock therethrough, said collar being adapted for rotatable mounting in the inlet end opening of the feed tube and having a slot therein in the exterior surface of said cylindrical portion, said slot extending in said exterior surface in a direction generally parallel to the lengthwise axis of said axial aperture in said collar, said slot commencing at one lengthwise end of said collar and terminating inwardly of the other lengthwise end thereof, the inwardly terminating end of said slot being arcuate in plan, and a wedge block received in said slot for movement lengthwise thereof, said wedge block upon predetermined actuating movement lengthwise of said slot being adapted for locking said collar in selected rotated position in the feed tube by abutting holding coaction between said collar and the confronting surface of the feed tube, means coacting between said wedge block and said collar for selectively actuating and deactuating said wedge block, and wherein said actuating and deactuating means comprises a threaded fastener rotatably mounted on said collar and extending into threaded coaction with a threaded opening in said wedge block, said collar slot and wedge block having complementary oblique wedge surfaces for causing wedging coaction between said block and the defining complementary interior surface of the inlet end opening of the feed tube upon predetermined rotation of said fastener resulting in said actuating movement of said wedge block relative to said collar, the outer surface of said wedge block which is adapted for confronting relation to the defining complementary interior surface of the feed tube inlet end opening being of arcuate configuration in transverse section while the opposing inner wedge surface of the wedge block being of generally linear configuration in transverse section, and said threaded opening in said wedge block extending lengthwise of said wedge block generally parallel to the axis of the lengthwise aperture through said collar.