Broaching machine
AssigneeLear Siegler, Inc.
InventorLeonard A. Gabriele
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fully automatic machine tool for simultaneously broaching parallel slots on a plurality of workpieces mounted on a rotatable table in which the table is indexed between a plurality of broaching operations to revolve the workpieces and hence to effect rotation of the workpieces about their own axes with respect to the path of broaching tools.
Claims29
An automatic precision machine tool for simultaneously performing a precision machining operation on a plurality of flat workpieces of circular cross-section, comprising
- a work station having a flat horizontal support surface on which flat sided workpieces are supported with flat sides thereof on said support surface, metal-cutting means at said work station comprising a plurality of vertically movable broaches arranged in lateral alignment at uniform spacing, and individual fixed locating means on said surface engageable with the workpieces in broaching position,
- loading means comprising an elongated inlet guide along which a solid array of workpieces is advanced with the flat sides thereof in vertical planes and edges in contact, a stop engaging the leading workpieces in said inlet guide, said workpieces being dimension such that nonconsecutive workpieces are in approximate alignment with said individual locating means and corresponding broaches, turnover means including an arcuate turn-over means extending through an arc of 90.degree. having an upper horizontally presented inlet and a lower vertically arranged outlet, pusher means for pushing non-consecutive workpieces spaced apart distances approximating the spacing of said broaches and individual locating means from said inlet guide into the inlet of said turn-over means to deposit the plurality of workpieces on said support surface spaced from said individual fixed locating means, means for advancing the workpieces over said surface into engagement with said locating means
- means for actuating said broaches, and
- unloading means comprising an elongated outlet guide, and means operable after actuation of said broaches for displacing the finished workpieces from said work station to said outlet guide.
High production broaching apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of vertical elongated broaches positioned in lateral alignment,
- workpiece locating means in longitudinal alignment with each of said broaches,
- means for effecting relative longitudinal movement between said broaches and the workpieces at said locating means,
- a loader comprising an elongated guide along which a multiplicity of workpieces are advanced in a solid array, transfer means for advancing a like plurality of non-consecutive workpieces from said solid array into individual alignment with said broaches as determined by said locating means, said transfer means comprising individual relatively inclined guides for the workpieces to provide for a lateral spacing between the adjacent workpieces at the locating means which differs from the lateral spacing of the same workpieces while in said solid array,
- and unloading means comprising means for ejecting all finished workpieces simultaneously upon completion of the broaching operation.
Automatic loading equipment for a multi-station broaching machine having a plurality of elongated, laterally spaced and aligned vertical broaches, said equipment comprising means for advancing a multiplicity of workpieces in a solid array extending generally parallel to the alignment of broaches,
- transfer means for advancing a like plurality of non-consecutive workpieces from said solid array into individual alignment with the broaches, said transfer means comprising relatively inclined guides to provide for a spacing of the workpieces when aligned with the broaches which is different from the same workpieces when in said solid array.
Unloading equipment for a multi-station machine tool comprising a horizontal support surface on which a plurality of finished annular workpieces are received in alignment with their axes vertical and in substantially spaced apart relation, a pair of blocks for each workpiece in alignment with and at opposite sides thereof, means connecting corresponding blocks of each pair for simultaneous movement along the line of workpieces, corresponding blocks of each pair having camming surfaces engageable with the adjacent workpieces, a receiver, and means for advancing all of the interconnected block simultaneously to cam all of the associated workpieces simultaneously into said receiver.
An automatic loader for a machine tool in which a plurality of workpieces are simultaneously machined at a plurality of work stations aligned in a row with fixed spacings therebetween, said loader comprising means for initially positioning a like plurality of workpieces onto a support in a solid array in a row parallel to the row of aligned work stations but at a spacing substantially greater than the spacing between said work stations, relatively inclined guide trackways for the workpieces extending from the initial positions of the individual workpieces and toward respective work stations, pusher means engageable with non-consecutive ones of the workpieces to move them from said array simultaneously along said trackways toward the corresponding work stations, said pusher means including recesses shaped to receive and support individual workpieces against lateral movement, the recess being spaced apart conformably to the spacing between work stations, and means for advancing said pusher means in a direction perpendicular to the row of work stations to push the workpieces along their corresponding trackways until they are received in corresponding recesses and thereafter to push the workpieces into corresponding work stations.
A multiple station broaching machine comprising a row of a plurality of laterally spaced apart work positions, a vertical broach at each of said positions for broaching an opening in an associated workpiece, a flat, horizontal work support surface, means for depositing a like plurality of workpieces in a row parallel to but spaced from the row of work stations and in spaced apart relation on said support surface, guide tracks for guiding the approach of workpieces along non-parallel paths toward their respective work stations, stationary locating abutments at said work positions against which the workpieces abut to locate them in work positions, feed means movable along said surface in a direction transverse to the row of positions, said feed means having work locating recesses facing associated workpieces, each of said recesses being laterally aligned with one of said positions, means for advancing said feed means to push each of said workpieces along its track until it registers with and seats in its associated recess and thereafter engages its associated locating abutment, means for thereafter retracting said feed means to leave the workpieces free for lateral movement on said surface except as such movement is blocked by said abutments, means for moving all of said broaches simultaneously to broach the workpieces and withdraw therefrom, an outfeed receiver adjacent said work positions at the side thereof beyond said abutments to receive broached workpieces, and ejecting means at each position effective to move all of the broached workpieces simultaneously first laterally out of registration with said locating abutments and then into said receiver.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.