Multi-spindle machine high speed/low speed system
AssigneeLogan Clutch Corporation
InventorRobert M. Kalinsky
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A clutch arrangement for a multi-spindle machine includes a starting clutch 12 and a machine brake clutch 14 positioned on a starting clutch drive shaft 16. A high speed clutch 18 and a snubbing clutch 22 are positioned on a long worm drive shaft 20. All clutches are pneumatically operated by solenoid valves 40, 42, 44 and 46 and electrically actuated by electrical circuit 60. When the multi-spindle machine shifts from a high speed to a low speed, the present invention activates the machine brake clutch 14 and snubbing clutch 22 for a predetermined time period to cause the drive train gears to slow down allowing synchronous meshing with the low speed drive train of the multi-spindle machine to enable a reduction in machine cycle time.
Claims22
A clutch arrangement for a multiple spindle machine operable at a low speed or a high speed and having a timing shaft, the clutch arrangement comprising:
- a starting clutch in generally surrounding relation with a starting clutch drive shaft, the starting clutch being selectively operative to cause rotation of the starting clutch drive shaft, wherein when the starting clutch is engaged the multiple spindle machine is operable at the low speed;
- a machine brake clutch in generally surrounding relation with the starting clutch drive shafts and spaced longitudinally from the starting clutch, the machine brake clutch being selectively operative to slow the rotation of the starting clutch drive shaft, and wherein when the starting clutch is disengaged the machine brake clutch is selectively engaeable to cause the rotational speed of the starting clutch drive shaft to slow;
- a high speed clutch in generally surrounding relation with a long worm drive shaft, the high speed clutch being in selectively operable connection with the starting clutch drive shaft and selectively operative to cause rotation of the long worm drive shaft, wherein when the high speed clutch is engaged the multiple spindle machine operates at the high speed;
- and
- a snubbing clutch in generally surrounding relation with the long worm drive shaft and spaced longitudinally from the high speed clutch, the snubbing clutch being selectively operative to slow the rotation of the long worm drive shaft, wherein when the high speed clutch is disengaged the snubbing clutch is selectively engageable to cause the rotational speed of the worm drive shaft to slow.
A method for operating a multiple spindle machine at a low speed or a high speed, the multiple spindle machine having a timing shaft, starting clutch drive shaft and a long worm drive shaft, wherein a starting clutch is in generally surrounding relation with the starting clutch drive shaft, wherein a machine brake clutch is in generally surrounding relation with the starting clutch drive shaft and spaced longitudinally from the starting clutch, wherein a high speed clutch is in generally surrounding relation with the long worm drive shaft, and wherein a snubbing clutch is in generally surrounding relation with the long worm drive shaft and spaced longitudinally from the high speed clutch, the method comprising:
- selectively operating the starting clutch to cause rotation of the starting clutch drive shaft, wherein when the starting clutch is engaged the multiple spindle machine is operable at the low speed;
- selectively operating the machine brake clutch to slow the rotation of the starting clutch drive shaft, wherein when the starting clutch is disengaged the machine brake clutch is selectively engaseable to cause the rotational speed of the starting clutch drive shaft to slow;
- selectively operating the high speed clutch in selectively operable connection with the starting clutch drive shaft operative to cause rotation of the long worm drive shaft, wherein when the high speed clutch is engaged the multiple spindle machine operates at the high speed;
- and
- selectively operating the snubbing clutch to slow the rotation of the long worm drive shaft, wherein when the high speed clutch is disengaged the snubbing clutch is selectively engageable to cause the rotational speed of the worm drive shaft to slow.
A clutch arrangement for a multiple spindle machine operable at a low speed or a high speed and having a timing shaft, starting clutch drive shaft and a long worm drive shaft, the clutch arrangement comprising:
- a starting clutch adapted to be positioned in generally surrounding relation with the starting clutch drive shaft, whereby the starting clutch when positioned being selectively operative to cause rotation of the starting clutch drive shaft, whereby when the positioned starting clutch is engaged the multiple spindle machine is operable at the low speed;
- a machine brake clutch spaced longitudinally from the starting clutch and adapted to be positioned in generally surrounding relation with the starting clutch drive shaft, whereby the machine brake clutch when positioned being selectively operative to slow the rotation of the starting clutch drive shaft, and whereby when the starting clutch is disengaged the positioned machine brake clutch is selectively engageable to cause the rotational speed of the starting clutch drive shaft to slow;
- a high speed clutch adapted to be positioned in generally surrounding relation with the long worm drive shaft, whereby the high speed clutch when positioned being in selectively operable connection with the starting clutch drive shaft to cause rotation of the long worm drive shaft, and whereby when the positioned high speed clutch is engaged the multiple spindle machine operates at the high speed;
- and
- a snubbing clutch spaced longitudinally from the high speed clutch and adapted to be positioned in generally surrounding relation with the long worm drive shaft, whereby the snubbing clutch when positioned being selectively operative to slow the rotation of the long worm drive shaft, and whereby when the high speed clutch is disengaged the positioned snubbing clutch is selectively engageable to cause the rotational speed of the worm drive shaft to slow.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.