US 4,404,727 A · Machine tool operable as both a chucking type lathe and as a machining center

Abstract

A machine tool operative as both a chucking type lathe and as a horizontal spindle machine center comprises a rotatable spindle horizontally journaled to a spindlehead vertically reciprocal on a machine tool upright, the upright being slidably mounted for movement on one leg of an "L" shaped bed. A saddle, mounted for movement along the other leg of the bed, carries a table rotatably journaled therein. Affixed to the table is a tailstock which carries both toolholders and workpiece holders. A changer arm, journaled to the spindle for rotation about, and linear movement along, an axis parallel to the axis of spindle rotation is operative, when the upright is moved along the bed to a first changer position, to transfer toolholders and workpiece holders between the spindle and a storage drum journaled to the bed for rotation about an axis parallel to the axis of spindle rotation. The changer arm is also operative, when the upright is moved to a second change position distal from the storage drum and when the saddle is moved and table is rotated, to position the tailstock along the side of the spindle, to transfer toolholders and workpiece holders between the spindle and the tailstock. In this way, a turning operation can be accomplished by transferring a turning tool to the tailstock and a workpiece holder to the spindle. A machining center operation is effectuated by transferring a workpiece holder from the spindle to the tailstock and by transferring a cutting tool from the storage drum to the spindle.

Claims9

Dependent claims

An improved machine tool operative as both a chucking type lathe and a horizontal spindle machining center comprising:

a frame;
a spindlehead;
means slidably mounting said spindlehead on said frame for vertical and horizontal movement thereon;
a tool and workpiece carrying spindle rotatably journaled in said spindlehead parallel to the path of horizontal movement of said spindlehead, said spindle having means to receive a workpiece or a cutting tool thereon;
means connected to said spindle for rotatably driving said spindle to rotate the workpiece holder or toolholder in said spindle;
tool and workpiece holding means slidably mounted on said frame for horizontal movement on said frame perpendicular to the path of horizontal movement of said spindlehead on said frame, said tool and workpiece holding means being rotatable about an axis parallel to the vertical path of spindlehead movement for positioning a workpiece or a tool held therein in a predetermined relationship with said spindle;
storage means mounted to said bed for storing workpiece holders and toolholders, means connected for rotating said storage means about an axis parallel to the axis of spindle rotation for positioning a workpiece holder or toolholder in a ready position adjacent to said spindle;
and
a changer arm journaled to said spindlehead for rotational movement about, and longitudinal movement along, an axis parallel to said spindle axis for transferring workpieces and tools between said spindle and said storage means and for transferring workpieces and tools between said spindle and said tool and workpiece holding means.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Machine tool operable as both a chucking type lathe and as a machining center

Life of this patent

Machine tool operable as both a chucking type lathe and as a machining center

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims9