Tilting fixture system for use on a machining center
AssigneeProcess Equipment Company
InventorPaul R. Pontis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The six sides or angles surfaces of a part are automatically machined on a CNC or NC machining center by securing the part to a fixture plate which is mounted on a platen supported by a U-shaped frame for tilting movement between horizontal and vertical positions. The frame is secured to a pallet of the machining center, and the platen is tilted in response to rotation of twin ball screws driven by a wrench transferred to the spindle of the machining center by an automatic tool changer. In each position, the platen is precisely located and clamped to the frame by a plurality of units each including a shot pin which has a threaded end portion for engaging a corresponding nut within the platen in response to rotation by a dual-torque wrench also transferred to the spindle by the tool changer.
Claims27
A fixture system adapted for use on an automatic machining center having a power driven rotary spindle and means for supporting a part to be machined by different tool elements transferred to the spindle according to a predetermined program, said fixture system comprising a base member, parallel space side walls rigidly connected by said base member, a platen having means for supporting the part, means on said side walls and supporting said platen for tilting movement between a horizontal position and a vertical position, rotary actuating means for moving said platen between said horizontal and vertical positions, rotary tool means including a rotatable housing supporting coupling means for releasably connecting said actuating means to the spindle and for rotating said actuating means in response to rotation of said housing and the spindle, a plurality of rotary locating and clamping units for precisely locating and rigidly securing said platen to said side walls in both said horizontal and vertical positions, said coupling means of said rotary tool means releasably connect each of said units to the spindle to provide for rotating each said unit in response to rotation of said housing and the spindle.
A fixture system adapted for use on an automatic machining center having a power driven rotary spindle and means for supporting a part to be machined by different tool elements selectively transferred to the spindle according to a predetermined program, said fixture system comprising a base member, a platen having means for supporting the part, means mounted on said base member and supporting said platen for tilting movement between a first position and a second position disposed in angular relation, said means supporting said platen including parallel spaced side walls connected by said base member, means defining a set of tracks on said side walls, a set of rollers connected to said platen at upper and lower levels and supported by said tracks for movement of said platen between said first and second positions, rotary actuating means for moving said platen between said first and second positions, rotary tool means for releasably connecting said actuating means to the spindle and for rotating said actuating means in response to rotation of the spindle, means for precisely locating said platen in both of said first and second positions, said locating means including a plurality of rotary clamping members for rigidly securing said platen to said supporting means in both of said first and second positions, and said rotary tool means being effective to connect selected said clamping members to the spindle and to rotate said clamping members in response to rotation of the spindle.
A fixture system adapted for use on an automatic machining center having a power driven rotary spindle and means for supporting a part to be machined by different tool elements selectively transferred to the spindle according to a predetermined program, said fixture system comprising a base member, a platen having means for supporting the part, means mounted on said base member and supporting said platen for tilting movement between a first position and a second position disposed in angular relation, rotary actuating means for moving said platen between said first and second postions, said rotary actuating means for moving said platen including a pair of parallel spaced elongated screw members supported for rotation, a set of nut members pivotally connected to said platen and receiving said screw members, rotary tool means for releasably connecting said actuating means to the spindle and for rotating said actuating means in response to rotation of the spindle, means for precisely locating said platen in both of said first and second positions, said locating means including a plurality of rotary clamping members for rigidly securing said platen to said supporting means in both of said first and second positions, and said rotary tool means being effective to connect selected said clamping members to the spindle and to rotate said clamping members in response to rotation of the spindle.
A fixture system adapted for use on an automatic machining center having a power driven rotary spindle and means for supporting a part to be machined by different tool elements selectively transferred to the spindle according to a predetermined program, said fixture system comprising a base member, a platen having means for supporting the part, means mounted on said base member and supporting said platen for tilting movement between a first position and a second position disposed in angular relation, adjustable stop members for precisely positioning said platen in each of said first and second positions, rotary actuating means for moving said platen between said first and second positions, rotary tool means for releasably connecting said actuating means to the spindle and for rotating said actuating means in response to rotation of the spindle, means for precisely locating said platen in both of said first and second positions, said locating means including a plurality of rotary clamping members for rigidly securing said platen to said supporting means in both of first and second positions, and said rotary tool means being effective to connect selected said clamping members to the spindle and to rotate said clamping members in response to rotation of the spindle.
A fixture system adapted for use on an automatic machining center having a power driven rotary spindle and means for supporting a part to be machined by different tool elements selectively transferred to the spindle according to a predetermined program, said fixture system comprising a base member, a platen having means for supporting the part, means mounted on said base member and supporting said platen for tilting movement between a first position and a second position disposed in angular relation, rotary actuating means for moving said platen between said first and second positions, rotary tool means for releasably connecting said actuating means to the spindle and for rotating said actuating means in response to rotation of the spindle, means for precisely locating said platen in both of said first and second positions, said locating means including a plurality of rotary clamping members for rigidly securing said platen to said supporting means in both of said first and second positions, said rotary tool means being effective to connect selected said clamping members to the spindle and to rotate said clamping members in response to rotation of the spindle, said locating means further including a plurality of alignment units each including an axially movable shot pin, each of said alignment units supported by said means supporting said platen, means defining a precision bore on said platen for each of said shot pins, and means for moving said shot pin of each said alignment unit axially in response to rotation by said rotary tool means transferred to the spindle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.