US 4,559,681 AGranted

Automatic machine for high efficiency machinings, embodying a cyclical process of combined translations and machining steps

AssigneeManufacture de Vilebrequins

InventorsMichel Coquillart, Georges Yeretzian

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Abstract

A method of, and apparatus for automatically machining work pieces, wherein a plurality of single spindle units are fixedly attached to a support, and the work pieces are maneuvered in front of the work units by a translatable table. The number of single spindle work units is determined by the formula 2N-1, wherein N is the number of machining operations to be performed on each work piece. As such, there is an odd number of work units thereby creating a central unit which carrys out the last machining operation to be performed in the work piece. The axes of the work units are precisely equally spaced from one another, and this spacing equals the spacing between the work pieces. The apparatus is cyclically operated so that a plurality of work pieces can be worked on simultaneously by individual work units and a new work piece can be loaded when the machining operation is completed on a previously loaded work piece.

Claims9

Dependent claims

Automatic, heavy-duty machining machine characterized in that said machine comprises a support means (1) on which a plurality single-spindle work units (3, 4, 5, 6, 7) are permanently mounted each spindle is provided with an axis and the units are so mounted that the axes between the spindles are separated by very precise identical intervals (a), the number of work units is odd and equal to twice that of the machining operations to be performed less one, as such there is a central work unit (5) which is the only one to perform the last machining operations, the other adjoining units (3, 4, 6 and 7) on both sides of the central unit perform the other machining operations on the piece in an alternating manner, said machine also comprises a table means (8) mounted and equipped with means so as to be movable in translation in accordance with a sequential order predetermined in relation to the single-spindle work units, devices or means for positioning the pieces to be manufactured, whose number corresponds to the number of operations to be performed on the pieces and whose intervals (b) between the axes of these positioning devices are precise and equal to each other as well as to the intervals between the axes of the spindles of the work units, and holding means (14) for successively putting in place the pieces to be machined and for successively removing them after they have been machined, whereby the holding means operate to this end on pieces adjacent to the central unit (5), which performs the last machining operation.

A cyclic method operating combined machining and translation operations, characterized in that

precisely positioning a plurality of single-spindle fixed work units (3, 4, 5, 6 and 7) among themselves so that the axes of the machining spindles are aligned with very precise equal spacing (a) between the axes of the machining spindles;
selecting the number single-spindle work units, taking into account the number and the nature of the maching operations to be performed on the pieces, the number of single-spindle work units to be used is determined by the relation 2N-1, in which N represents the number of machining operations to be performed on the pieces in such a manner that an odd number of single-spindle work units are used so that there is in any arrangement a central unit (5) on each side of which is mounted the same number of units;
equipping the central unit (5) in such a manner that its spindle performs the last machining operation N;
equipping the units on one side of the central unit as they progress from it, to perform the operations N-1, N-2 . . . ;
equipping the units on the other side of the control unit as they progress from it to perform the operations 1, 2 . . . until N-1;
in this manner the configurations of both sides of the central unit are found to be identical when passing through them in the same direction;
precisely positioning at least one piece on a table (8) to be machined as there are operations to be performed on these pieces so that the table can be moved in translation-transfer in the same plane and in relation to the single-spindle work units, whereby the axes for positioning the pieces are separated by precise and rigorously equal spaces (b) corresponding to the spaces between the axes (a) of the spindles of the single-spindle work units;
moving the piece or pieces to be machined in translation in front of the single-spindle work units in an automatic manner and according to a predetermined sequential order in synchronization with the successive commands of the work units;
holding the pieces to be machine by a system (14) which places each piece in succession on one of the positioning devices and withdraws it at the end of the machining, whereby this holding system acts essentially to this end in the zone of the central unit (5), which always performs the last machining operations.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 06/516,981Filed 25 Jul 1983
Priority: FR 82 1344227 Jul 1982
Granted: 24 Dec 1985
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification11 codes

B23Q 39/04
Metal-working machines incorporating a plurality of sub-assemblies, each capable of performing a metal-working operation: the sub-assemblies being…
B23Q 7/1415
Co-ordinated in production lines: with a series disposition of working devices not corresponding with the sequence of the working
Y10T 29/5107
Drill press: drilling and other
Y10T 29/5143
Including assembling or disassembling station: and means to machine product