Index-feed machining system

An index-feed machining system comprising a plurality of machining units, each having a cassette being able to be equipped with one of a plurality of different types of machining means, each said cassette being detachably provided on a machining unit and disposed at intervals of mP (m being a given positive integer, and P being a feeding pitch of a workpiece) in a direction in which the workpiece is fed corresponding to a plurality of machining processes;

• said machining processes being sequentially carried out on said index-fed workpiece in said machining units, the index-feed machining system further comprising a column having an eccentrically rotating shaft and having a plurality of said machining units detachably setup therein;
• a ram for actuating machining means is provided in a vertically movable manner on an upper end of a machining unit proper constituting said machining unit, a hydraulic cylinder is provided in said ram, a piston is provided in said hydraulic cylinder in a vertically movable manner, a plurality of connecting rods are provided on said column for engaging said eccentrically rotating shaft with said pistons, a hydraulic circuit means is provided for introducing fluid into an upper part of said cylinder to disengage said ram from said machining means, said hydraulic circuit introducing said fluid into a lower part of said cylinder to engage said ram with said machining means.

An index-feed machining system comprising:

• a housing;
• an eccentrically rotating shaft mounted in said housing
• a plurality of machining units positioned in said housing, each of said plurality of machining units including a separate cassette, each said cassette being accommodatable of one of a plurality of different machining means for sequentially forming a workpiece as the workpiece is passed though said housing;
• ram means movable on said each machining unit for actuating said machining means of an associated said cassette by movement of said ram means, said ram means including a hollow hydraulic cylinder movably mounted on said machining unit, said ram means including a piston movable in said hydraulic cylinder;
• a plurality of connecting rods, each said connecting rod connecting one said piston to said eccentrically rotating shaft;
• hydraulic circuit means for supplying fluid to, and removing fluid from, said cylinder to engage and disengage said ram means from said machining means of said associated cassette.