Method and machine tool for mounting and dismounting blind cover

Abstract

A method and an apparatus for mounting and dismounting a blind cover, which is used for protecting an exposed surface, from cutting fluid and chips. The blind cover is held and carried by a blind cover carrier having a shank mountable into a main spindle and a pot of a tool magazine, and a flange provided with a gripping groove to be gripped by a tool changing arm. The blind cover for protecting the exposed surface of the coupling is held by openable engaging pawls provided on the blind cover carrier. The blind cover carrier holding the blind cover is carried and mounted to the main spindle in the same way as the tool and the attachment. The blind cover and the coupling are provided with respective engaging pawls. The engaging and disengaging operation of the respective engaging pawls and the mounting and dismounting operation of the blind cover to the exposed surface of the coupling are executed by a swivel indexing function of the main spindle.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.