US 4,640,157 AGranted

Process for loading a lathe with bars to be machined and loading device for carrying out of the process

AssigneeSameca SA

InventorsMarkus Geiser, Claude Vandevoir

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Abstract

A process for loading a lathe in which a new bar to be machined is introduced laterally into a guide-bar device in form of a tube during the machining of a last piece at the end of a preceding bar. The new bar causes the ejection of the remnant of the preceding bar by pushing against the rear of the preceding bar. A device for loading a lathe with bars to be machined comprises a guide-bar device in form of a tube having two parts which can be opened for laterally introducing a new bar to be machined into the tube. The bar in the tube is fed by a hydraulically controlled push-piston. Pressure pistons press the two parts of the tube against each other in order to ensure a fluid tight seal. Return pistons are utilized radially move the upper part of the tube at the time of loading.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A method of loading a lathe having a gripping unit for gripping remnants of bar stock with new bar stock to be machined, said bar stock, during machining, being enclosed in a guiding tube having a stationary part and a mobile part, and being supported in said guiding tube and advanced toward the lathe by a supporting and advancing means, said guiding tube having a first end disposed adjacent said lathe and a second end remote from said lathe, said method comprising:

producing a first signal when said supporting and advancing means reaches a predetermined position adjacent the lathe such that only a remnant of bar stock is in the lathe;
determining if said gripping unit is firmly gripping said remnant;
withdrawing said supporting and advancing means toward of said guiding tube;
machining said remnant during said step of withdrawing when said first signal is being produced and said remnant is being firmly gripped by said gripping unit;
producing a second signal when said supporting and advancing means is withdrawn from said guiding tube to predetermined location;
opening the guiding tube by moving the mobile part thereof;
progressively and laterally introducing new bar stock to be machined into the stationary part of the guiding tube;
closing the guiding tube by returning the mobile part thereof;
producing a third signal indicative of completion of machining of the last piece of said remnant;
and
advancing said supporting and advancing means towards said new bar stock in the presence of said third signal when said guiding tube is closed.

8 more elements

A device for loading a lathe having a headstock with a new bar stock to be machined comprising:

a guiding tube axially aligned with said head stock and having a stationary part and a moveable part, said guiding tube being operable to enclose a bar stock to be machined by the lathe, said bar stock being supported within said guiding tybe by a pressurized hydrualic fluid forming a hydrodynamic bearing;
a feeding piston coaxially disposed within said guiding tube and operable to contact an end of said bar stock opposite said head stock for supporting and advancing said bar stock in said guiding tube in response to pressurized fluid;
means for withdrawing said feeding piston from contact with said bar stock during machining of a remnant of bar stock and for advancing said feeding piston towards new bar stock to urge said new bar stock toward the headstock;
means associated with said moveable part for separating said moveable part of said guiding tube from said stationary part to open said guiding tube;
means laterally disposed adjacent to said stationary part for progressively loading said new bar stock into said stationary part of said opening guiding tube;
and
means for returning the moveable part of said guiding tube to said stationary part, said moveable and stationary parts of the guiding tube, in the closed condition thereof, being held together in fluid tight relationship by said returning means.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.