CNC machine tool and toolhead assembly therefor

A machine tool comprising:

• a base member;
• a workpiece support means mounted on said base member;
• a toolhead support means mounted on said base member;
• a toolhead assembly mounted on said toolhead support
• means, rotatable about a given axis relative to said toolhead support means;
• at least two tools mounted on said toolhead assembly, having axes radially disposed and circumferentially spaced relative to said given axes;
• means for operating a selected one of said tools when said selected tool is disposed in a predetermined operative position relative to said workpiece support means;
• means operatively interconnecting said toolhead support means and said toolhead assembly for selectively, rotatably indexing said toolhead assembly about said given axes to position a selected one of said tools in said predetermined operative position;
• means for identifying a tool disposed in said predetermined operative position, said means for operating a selected one of said tools being operable to supply power corresponding to the tool disposed in said predetermined operative position responsive to a predetermined signal derived from said identifying means;
• and
• a roller bearing having an inner race rigidly secured to said toolhead support means and an outer race rigidly secured to said toolhead assembly;
• wherein said locking means includes an extendible pin disposed in said toolhead support means and a pin receiving opening in said bearing outer race, registrable with said extendible pin when said tool is disposed in said predetermined position.

A toolhead assembly mountable on a machine tool comprising:

• a support means mountable on said machine tool;
• a housing mounted on said support means rotatable about a given axis relative to said support means;
• at least two tools mounted on said housing, having axes radially disposed and circumferentially spaced relative to said given axes;
• means connectable to power sources for operating a selected one of said tools when said selected tool is disposed in a predetermined position relative to said support means;
• means operatively interconnecting said support means and said housing for selectively, rotatably indexing said housing about said given axis to position a selected one of said tools in said predetermined position;
• means for locking said housing relative to said support means when a selected one of said tools is disposed in said predetermined position;
• and
• a roller bearing having an inner race rigidly secured to said support means and an outer race rigidly secured to said housing;
• wherein said locking means includes an extendible pin disposed on said support means and a pin receiving opening disposed in said outer race, registrable with said extendible pin when said tool is disposed in said predetermined position.

A machine tool comprising:

• a base member;
• a workpiece support means mounted on said base member;
• a toolhead support means mounted on said base member;
• a toolhead assembly mounted on said toolhead support
• means, rotatable about a given axis relative to said toolhead support means;
• at least two tools mounted on said toolhead assembly having axes radially disposed and circumferentially spaced relative to said given axes;
• means for operating a selected one of said tools wherein said selected tool is disposed in a predetermined position relative to said workpiece means;
• means operatively interconnecting said toolhead support assembly and said toolhead assembly for selectively, rotatably indexing said toolhead assembly about said given axes to position a selected one of said tools in said predetermined operative position, including a cylindrical surface provided on said toolhead assembly and a drive pinion mounted on said toolhead support means and frictionally engaged with said cylindrical surface of said toolhead assembly for transmitting rotational drive from said pinion to said toolhead assembly;
• and
• a roller bearing having an inner race rigidly secured to said toolhead support means and an outer race rigidly secured to said toolhead assembly;
• wherein said locking means includes an extendible pin disposed in said toolhead support means and a pin receiving opening in said bearing outer race, registrable with said extendible pin when said tool is disposed in said predetermined position.

A machine tool comprising:

• a base member;
• workpiece support means mounted on said base member;
• toolhead support means mounted on said base members;
• a toolhead assembly mounted on said toolhead support
• means, rotatable about a given axis relative to said toolhead support means;
• at least two tools mounted said toolhead assembly, having axes radially disposed and circumferentially spaced relative to said given axis, at least one of said tools being electrically powered;
• means for operating a selected one of said tools when said selected tool is disposed in a predetermined operative position relative to said workpiece support means, including an electrical power supply means for said electrically powered tool provided with first electrical contacts supported on said toolhead support means operatively engageable by second electrical contacts disposed on said electrically powered tool when said electrically powered tool is disposed in said predetermined operative position;
• means operatively interconnecting said toolhead support means and said toolhead assembly for selectively, rotatably indexing said toolhead assembly about said given axis to position a selected one of said tools in said predetermined operative position;
• and
• a roller bearing having an inner race rigidly secured to said toolhead support means and an outer race rigidly secured to said toolhead assembly;
• wherein said locking means includes an extendible pin disposed in said toolhead support means and a pin receiving opening in said bearing outer race, registrable with said extendible pin when said tool is disposed in said predetermined position.

A toolhead assembly for a machine tool comprising:

• support means mountable on said machine tool;
• a housing mounted on said support means, rotatable about a given axis relative to said support means;
• at least two tools mounted on said housing, having axes radially disposed and circumferentially spaced relative to said given axes, at least one of said tools being electrically powered;
• means for operating a selected one of said tools when said selected tool is disposed in a predetermined operative position relative to said support means, including an electrical supply means for said electrically powered tool provided with first electrical contacts supported on said support means and second electrical contacts mounted on said electrically powered tool operatively engageable with said first electrical contacts when said electrically powered tool is disposed in said predetermined operative position;
• means operatively interconnecting said support means and said housing for selectively, rotatably indexing said housing about said given axis to position a selected one of said tools in said predetermined operative position;
• and
• a roller bearing having an inner race rigidly secured to said support means and an outer race rigidly secured to said housing;
• wherein said locking means includes an extendible pin disposed on said support means and a pin receiving opening disposed in said outer race, registrable with said extendible pin when said tool is disposed in said predetermined position.

A machine tool comprising:

• a base member;
• a workpiece support means mounted on said base member;
• a toolhead support means mounted on said base member;
• a toolhead assembly mounted on said toolhead support
• means, rotatable about a given axis relative to said toolhead support means;
• at least two tools mounted on said toolhead assembly, having axes radially disposed and circumferentially spaced relative to said given axes, at least one of said tools being air powered;
• means for operating a selected one of said tools when said selected tool is disposed in a predetermined operative position relative to said workpiece support means, including means for supplying air under pressure to said air powered tool, said means for supplying air under pressure to said air powered tool including a rotary union assembly having a first stationary member supported on said support means and having an air passageway communicable with said source of air under pressure and communicating with an outlet port therein, a second member supported on said toolhead assembly for rotation therewith about said given axes, cooperating with said first stationary member to provide a chamber therebetween and having at least one passageway intercommunicating said chamber and an outlet port therein communicating with said air powered tool and a valve having a passageway therethrough disposed in said chamber, normally yieldingly biased into a first position closing said outlet port of said first member and displaceable to a second position by means of the impingement of air under pressure supplied to said passageway in said first member to allow the flow of pressurized air displacing said valve member through a portion of said chamber between said first member and said valve member, said passageway in said valve member and said passageway in said second member;
• means operatively interconnecting said toolhead support means and said toolhead assembly for selectively, rotatably indexing said toolhead assembly about said given axes to position a selected one of said tools in said predetermined operative position;
• and
• a roller bearing having an inner race rigidly secured to said toolhead support means and an outer race rigidly secured to said toolhead assembly;
• wherein said locking means includes an extendible pin disposed in said toolhead support means and a pin receiving opening in said bearing outer race, registrable with said extendible pin when said tool is disposed in said predetermined position.