Back to results
US 4,196,506 AGranted
Tool changer machining center
AssigneeGiddings & Lewis, Inc.
InventorRobert E. Reed
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved machining center including an automatic tool changer adapted for boring, drilling, milling, tapping and tool changing operations under numerical control. The machine, which may be built in both horizontal spindle and vertical spindle configurations, includes a tool storage matrix and tool transport shuttle compactly arranged on the upstanding column and a two-handed transfer arm on the headstock. The toolholders are carried in tool cups having mechanical latches. The matrix and the shuttle are also provided with mechanical latches for the tool cups actuated as an incident to transfer of tools between the matrix, shuttle, and arm or vice versa. The machine is adapted to operate with toolholders interchangable with those for a current commercial vertical spindle machining center.
Claims19
A multifunction machining center having a power driven spindle rotatable on an axis and an automatic tool changer, said machining center comprising, in combination:
- (a) an upstanding column;
- (b) a headstock mounted on said column for vertical sliding movement with respect thereto and including said power driven spindle;
- said headstock having a tool change position;
- (c) a tool storage matrix having a drum journaled on an axis;
- said matrix being situated on one side of said column in outwardly spaced relation thereto and adapted to carry toolholders for movement in a curved path with their axes perpendicular to a vertical plane passing through said spindle axis;
- (d) a tool transport shuttle mechanism nested between said matrix and said column and being secured relative to the latter;
- (e) said shuttle mechanism including a track disposed radially of said curved toolholder path and having a tool carriage translatable on said track;
- said track lying in a plane passing through the axis of said tool storage matrix drum and being parallel to the axis of said tool spindle;
- (f) said carriage including means to releasably support a toolholder and to transport same along said track to and from the matrix and to turn said toolholder through 90 degrees as an incident to such transport along said track;
- (g) a two handed tool exchange arm mounted on said headstock for axial movement parallel to the spindle axis and rotational movement in planes perpendicular to said spindle axis;
- and
- (h) said exchange arm being adapted to simultaneously withdraw toolholders from the spindle and from the tool carriage, to exchange their positions by rotation through 180 degrees, and to simultaneously move them axially so as to insert them in the tool carriage and in said spindle respectively.
9 more elements
A multifunction machining center having a power driven spindle and an automatic tool changer, said machining center comprising the combination of:
- (a) an upstanding column;
- (b) a headstock mounted for vertical sliding movement on said column;
- (c) a power driven spindle in said headstock;
- (d) a two handed tool exchange arm mounted on said headstock for axial movement parallel to the axis of said spindle and for indexing movement perpendicular to said spindle axis;
- (e) a tool storage matrix journaled on one side of said column and having a plurality of pockets releasably supporting a plurality of tool cups for movement in a curved path;
- (f) latching means on said matrix for releasably retaining said tool cups;
- (g) a shuttle track mounted between said matrix and said column, said track being fixed relative to said column and disposed radially of said curved path of said tool cups;
- (h) a tool carriage mounted for translational movement along said track and having a fork for releasably supporting a tool cup;
- (i) latching means on said tool carriage for releasably retaining the tool cup;
- (j) actuator means interposed between said tool carriage and an anchorage fixed relative to said column;
- (k) connecting means between said actuator means and said tool carriage for introducing a predetermined lost motion in both the forward and rearward directions;
- and
- (l) means on said tool carriage for releasing said matrix latching means in response to said lost motion in a forward direction, and for releasing said shuttle latching means in response to said lost motion in a rearward direction.
10 more elements
A multifunction machining center having a horizontal spindle rotatable on an axis and an automatic tool changer, said machining center comprising, in combination:
- (a) an upstanding column mounted on a compound slide for movement on two coordinate axes;
- (b) a headstock mounted on said column for vertical sliding movement with respect thereto and including said horizontal spindle;
- said headstock having a tool change position;
- (c) a tool storage matrix journaled on an axis and situated on one side of said column in outwardly spaced relation thereto;
- said matrix being adapted to carry toolholders for movement in a curved path with their axes perpendicular to a vertical plane passing through said spindle axis;
- (d) a tool transport shuttle mechanism nested between said matrix and said column and being secured to the latter;
- (e) said shuttle mechanism including a track disposed radially of said curved toolholder path and a tool carriage translatable on said track;
- said track lying in a plane defined by the axes of said tool spindle and said tool storage matrix when said headstock is in tool change position;
- (f) said carriage including means to releasably support a toolholder and to transport same along said track to and from the matrix and to turn said toolholder through 90 degrees as an incident to such transport along said track;
- (g) a two handed tool exchange arm mounted on said headstock for axial movement parallel to the spindle axis and rotational movement in planes perpendicular to said spindle axis;
- and
- (h) said exchange arm being adapted to simultaneously withdraw toolholders from the spindle and from the tool carriage, to exchange their positions by rotation through 180 degrees, and to simultaneously move them axially so as to insert them in the tool carriage and in said spindle respectively.
9 more elements
A multifunction machining center having a horizontal spindle and an automatic tool changer, said machining center comprising the combination of:
- (a) an upstanding column;
- (b) a headstock mounted for vertical sliding movement on said column;
- (c) a horizontal spindle in said headstock;
- (d) a two handed tool exchange arm mounted on said headstock for axial movement parallel to the axis of said spindle and for indexing movement perpendicular to said spindle axis;
- (e) a tool storage matrix journaled on said column and having a plurality of pockets releasably supporting a plurality of tool cups for movement in a curved path;
- (f) latching means on said matrix for releasably retaining said tool cups;
- (g) a shuttle track mounted between said matrix and said column, said track being fixed to said column and disposed radially of said curved path of said tool cups;
- (h) a tool carriage mounted for translational movement along said track and having a fork for releasably supporting a tool cup;
- (i) latching means on said tool carriage for releasably retaining the tool cup;
- (j) actuator means interposed between said tool carriage and an anchorage fixed to said column;
- (k) connecting means between said actuator means and said tool carriage for introducing a predetermined lost motion in both the forward and rearward directions;
- and
- (l) means on said tool carriage for releasing said matrix latching means in response to said lost motion in a forward direction, and for releasing said shuttle latching means in response to said lost motion in a rearward direction.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.