US 5,025,690 AGranted

Vertical spindle turret lathe

AssigneeThe Warner & Swasey Company

InventorCarl J. Myers

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A machine tool (100) has a spindle (101) and a turret or toolholder (124) which are disposed at the front of a base (134).A workpiece (W) is rotated by the spindle (101). The turret (124) is movable toward and away from the workpiece (W) along a path which has vertical and horizontal components. A conveyor assembly (200) is operable to move workpieces between the rear of the base (134) and the spindle (101) along a path (A) which extends through a plane (E) which contains the axis (C) of rotation of the spindle. The plane (E) is parallel to vertical and horizontal components of movement of the turret (123). An alternative embodiment (100a) of the machine tool includes a pair of spindles (101a, 301) and a pair of turrets (124a, 324) disposed at the front of a base (134a, 334). Workpieces (W9, W10) are moved two at a time between the rear of the base (134a, 334 ) and the two spindles (101a, 301) along a path which extends through a plane which contains the axes (C, J) of rotation of the spindles (101a, 301). A pair of chip conveyors (129a, 329) transport chips in opposite directions from the spindles (101a, 301).

Claims5

Dependent claims

A machine tool (100) for use in machining workpieces (W), said machine tool comprising a base (134) having a first spindle support section (135) and a first toolholder support section (136) extending upwardly from said base above the level of said spindle support section (135), first way means (143) connected with said first toolholder support section and having a vertical longitudinal axis, a first carriage (144) connected with said first way means (143) and movable along said first way means, first drive means (145) connected with said first carriage (144) for moving said first carriage up and down along said first way means, second way means (146) connected with said first carriage (144), said second way means having a horizontal longitudinal axis, a second carriage (147) connected with said second way means (146) and movable along said second way means, second drive means (148) connected with said second carriage (147) for moving said second carriage (147) along said second way means (146), a first toolholder (124) connected with said second carriage (147) for holding a cutting tool, first spindle means (101) connected with said first spindle support section (135) of said base for rotating a workpiece about a vertical axis (c), said machine tool being characterized by said first tool holder (124) comprising a tool turret (124) having a vertical rotatonal axis (d) spaced from the vertical longitudinal axis of said first way means and carrying a plurality of tools (T) extending vertically therefrom, and the vertical axis (c) about which said first spindle means (101) rotates a workpiece (W) being horizontally offset to be located to one side of said first carriage (144) and said first toolholder support section (136) of said base (134), said first toolholder support section (136) being located to said one side of said first spindle means (101) and said first spindle support section (135), said machine tool components configured and said second carriage and said tool turret movable so that the area above said first spindle support section (135) extending normally to said horizontal longitudinal axis from the front completely to the rear of said machine tool is able to be completely clear of said turret structure and the other components of said machine tool to enable overhead access to said first spindle support for loading of workpieces into said first spindle means (101) from the rear of said machine tool so as to allow movement of workpieces (W) to and from said first spindle means (101) along a linear path which extends between the rear of said machine tool (10) and said first spindle means (101).

A machine tool for use in machining workpieces (W), said machine tool comprising a base (134) having a first spindle support section (135) and a first toolholder support section (136) extending upwardly from said base above the level of said spindle support section (135), first way means (143) connected with said first toolholder support section and having a vertical longitudinal axis, a first carriage (144) connected with said first way means (143) and movable along said first way means, first drive means (145) connected with said first carriage (144) for moving said first carriage up and down along said first way means, second way means (146) connected with said first carriage (144), said second way means having a horizontal longitudinal axis, a second carriage (147) connected with said second way means (146) and movable along said second way means, second drive means (148) connected with said second carriage (147) for moving said second carriage (147) along said second way means (146), a first toolholder (124) connected with said second carriage (147) for holding a cutting tool, first spindle means (101) connected with said first spindle support section (135) of said base for rotating a workpiece about a vertical axis (C), said machine tool being characterized by said first tool holder (124) comprising a tool turret (124) rotatable about a vertical axis (D) and carrying a plurality of tools (T) extending vertically therefrom, and the vertical axis (C) about which said first spindle means (101) rotates a workpiece (W) being horizontally offset to be located to one side of said first carriage (144) and said first toolholder support section (136) of said base (134), said first toolholder support section (136) being located to said one side of said first spindle means (101) and said first spindle support section (135), said machine tool components configured and said second carriage and said tool turret movable so that the area above said first spindle support section (135) extending normally to said horizontal longitudinal axis from front to rear of said machine tool is able to be completely clear of said turret structure and the other components of said machine tool to enable overhead access to said first spindle support for loading of workpieces into said first spindle means (101) from the rear of said machine tool;

wherein said base (134a, 334) includes a second spindle support section (335) connected with said first spindle support section (135a) and disposed on a side of said first spindle support section (135a) opposite from said first toolholder support section (136a) and a second toolholder support section (336) extending upwardly from a side of said second spindle support section (335) opposite from said first spindle support section (35a), third way means (343) connected with said second toolholder support section (336), said third way means (343) being offset to one side of said second spindle support section (335) of said base (34a, 334) and having a vertical longitudinal axis, a third carriage (344) connected with said third way means (343) and movable along said third way means, third drive means (345) connected with said third carriage (344) for moving said third carriage up and down along said third way means, fourth way means (346) connected with said third carriage (344), said fourth way means (346) having a horizontal longitudinal axis, a fourth carriage (347) connected with said fourth way means (346) and movable along said fourth way means, fourth drive means (348) connected with said fourth carriage (347) for moving said fourth carriage along said fourth way means (346), a second toolholder (324) connected with said fourth carriage (347) for holding a cutting tool, second spindle means (301) connected with said second spindle support section (335) of said base (34a, 334) for rotating a workpiece about a vertical axis (J), the vertical axis about which said second spindle means (301) rotates a workpiece (W) being disposed horizontally offset to one side of said third carriage (144) and said second toolholder support section (336) of said base (34a, 134).

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 07/436,083Filed 9 Nov 1989 · continuation
Priority: 6 Nov 1986
Granted: 25 Jun 1991
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification12 codes

B25J 9/023
Characterised by movement of the arms, e.g. cartesian coordinate type: cartesian coordinate type
B23Q 1/015
Frames, beds, pillars or like members; Arrangement of ways: frames, beds, pillars
B23Q 7/04
Arrangements for handling work specially combined with or arranged in, or specially adapted for use in connection with, machine tools, e.g. for…:…
Y10S 82/901
Turning: chip removal

Family

Serial927,758Parent of this division · filed 6 Nov 1986
Serial147,730Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 25 Jan 1988
Serial214,193Parent of this continuation · filed 1 Jul 1988
US 4,821,612 AParent of this continuation-in-part
US 4,741,232 AParent of this division
US 5,025,690 AThis patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.