US 4,230,003 AGranted

Feed apparatus for a lathe

OwnerJoseph A. Oeminginventor

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A novel apparatus is provided for sequentially feeding elongated workpieces in timed progression to a work performing area of a lathe. The lathe includes suitable means for grasping the ends of the workpiece once positioned within the work performing area and for rotatably driving the workpiece while performing a machining operation on the workpiece. The feed apparatus comprises a conveyor for sequentially moving the workpieces underneath the work performing area so that the workpieces are parallel to the axis of rotation of the lathe driving means but spaced downwardly therefrom. Elevator arms engage and lift a single workpiece to the work performing area whereupon the lathe engages the workpiece and performs the desired machining operation. Upon completion of the machining operation, the elevator arms return the workpiece to the conveyor. The conveyor then moves a subsequent workpiece into position for engagement with the elevator arms.

Claims9

Dependent claims

Apparatus for sequentially feeding elongated workpieces to work station of a lathe, said lathe having means for engaging and rotatably driving one workpiece about its longitudinal axis in said work station and means for machining the workpiece in the work station, said apparatus comprising:

conveyor means for sequentially moving said workpiece underneath the work station of at least one lathe;
and
means for sequentially moving said workpieces from said conveyor means and to said work station whereupon said lathe engages and machines said workpiece, said moving means being further operable to return said workpiece from the work station and to the conveyor means upon the completion of the machining operation;
wherein said apparatus further includes a frame and wherein said conveyor means is a lift and carry conveyor means and further comprises a pair of spaced and parallel rails having means for supporting workpieces laterally across the rails at predetermined longitudinal intervals, at least two pair of laterally spaced stationary workpiece support members secured to said frame and longitudinally spaced said predetermined distance from each other, means for longitudinally reciprocally moving said rails said predetermined distance, and means for vertically reciprocally moving said rails between an upper and lower position, said rail workpiece support means being positioned above said stationary support members in said upper position and being positioned below said stationary support members in said lower position.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.