US 4,571,814 AGranted

Automated machining system

OwnerKenneth J. Palfery, Kenrick B. Maharajinventors

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Abstract

There is provided by this invention an automated machining center having a multitude of integrated functions. These functions include automatically loading and unloading a workpiece from a stack of material, securing the workpiece to the worktable in preparation for a machining function, rotating the workpiece, releasing the workpiece and removing the workpiece from the machining area, and finally selecting a new workpiece from a stack of material.

Claims7

Dependent claims

An automated machining center, comprising:

(a) A frame;
(b) A movable worktable means connected to the frame for supporting a workpiece and movable longitudinally and latitudinally to position the workpiece at a desired point in a horizontal plane;
(c) Pivot means connected to each end of the movable worktable means for rotation of the movable worktable means about its horizontal axis;
(d) A rotary indexing means mounted on the movable worktable means for rotating the workpiece in response to the horizontal position of the movable worktable means;
(e) A material handling means connected to the worktable means for storing a stack of material to be machined, transporting a workpiece from the stack of material to a machining station on the movable worktable means, and a workpiece pickup means for picking up the workpiece and transporting the workpiece to the rotary indexing means on the movable worktable means;
and
(f) A workpiece turnover means for removing the workpiece from the worktable, turning the workpiece over, and returning the workpiece to the worktable;
(g) A rotatable spindle means connected to the frame for supporting a cutting tool and rotating the cutting tool at a predetermined speed rate to machine the workpiece;
(h) A tool changing means connected to the frame for storing tools and exchanging the tool supported in the rotatable spindle means with one of a multitude of different tools stored therein;
(i) An adjustable torque driving means configured to be stored in the tool changing means and rotated by the rotatable spindle means such that the adjustable torque driving means drives bolts into the workpiece to secure the workpiece to the movable worktable means and removes bolts from the workpiece to detach the workpiece from the movable worktable means after machining;
(j) A programmable control means disposed to control the movable worktable means, the rotatable indexing means, the rotatable spindle means, the workpiece turnover means, the tool changing means, the material handling means, the adjustable torque driving means, and the workpiece pickup means;
for automatically loading the workpiece onto the worktable, performing multiple machining functions on the workpiece, and unloading the workpiece from the worktable after machining.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

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Abstract

An automated machining center, comprising:

(a) A frame;
(b) A movable worktable means connected to the frame for supporting a workpiece and movable longitudinally and latitudinally to position the workpiece at a desired point in a horizontal plane;
(c) Pivot means connected to each end of the movable worktable means for rotation of the movable worktable means about its horizontal axis;
(d) A rotary indexing means mounted on the movable worktable means for rotating the workpiece in response to the horizontal position of the movable worktable means;
(e) A material handling means connected to the worktable means for storing a stack of material to be machined, transporting a workpiece from the stack of material to a machining station on the movable worktable means, and a workpiece pickup means for picking up the workpiece and transporting the workpiece to the rotary indexing means on the movable worktable means;
and
(f) A workpiece turnover means for removing the workpiece from the worktable, turning the workpiece over, and returning the workpiece to the worktable;
(g) A rotatable spindle means connected to the frame for supporting a cutting tool and rotating the cutting tool at a predetermined speed rate to machine the workpiece;
(h) A tool changing means connected to the frame for storing tools and exchanging the tool supported in the rotatable spindle means with one of a multitude of different tools stored therein;
(i) An adjustable torque driving means configured to be stored in the tool changing means and rotated by the rotatable spindle means such that the adjustable torque driving means drives bolts into the workpiece to secure the workpiece to the movable worktable means and removes bolts from the workpiece to detach the workpiece from the movable worktable means after machining;
(j) A programmable control means disposed to control the movable worktable means, the rotatable indexing means, the rotatable spindle means, the workpiece turnover means, the tool changing means, the material handling means, the adjustable torque driving means, and the workpiece pickup means;
for automatically loading the workpiece onto the worktable, performing multiple machining functions on the workpiece, and unloading the workpiece from the worktable after machining.

9 more elements