Fluid actuated, magnetic bar stock puller

A puller for pulling feed material from a chuck of a numerically controlled lathe, said lathe having a rotary turret having multiple tool stations mounted thereupon, said lathe further comprising coolant flow to said tool stations, said puller comprising:

• a body having first and second ends and a longitudinal bore therethrough, said first end of said body forming an engagement end, said second end of said body forming a mounting end;
• a piston slidingly situated in said longitudinal bore, said piston having situated therein a magnet;
• said mounting end of said body formed to engage one of said tool stations and direct coolant flow into the longitudinal bore formed in said body;
• said piston being biased such that said piston is situated away from said engagement end when said coolant flow is off, said coolant flow urging said piston to a position adjacent to said engagement end of said body when said coolant flow is on.

The method of pulling stock material from a chuck of a numerically controlled lathe, said lathe having opposite said chuck a rotary turret having multiple tool stations, comprising the steps of:

• a. providing a bar puller, comprising:
• a body having first and second ends and a longitudinal bore therethrough, said first end of said body forming an engagement end, said second end of said body forming a mounting end;
• a piston slidingly situated in said longitudinal bore, said piston having situated therein a magnet;
• said mounting end of said body formed to engage one of said tool stations and direct a fluid flow into the longitudinal bore formed in said body;
• said piston being biased such that said piston is situated away from said engagement end when said fluid flow is off, said fluid flow urging said piston to a position adjacent to said engagement end of said body when said fluid flow is on;
• b. mounting said engagement end of said bar puller to a tool station on said rotary turret;
• c. providing a length of stock material emanating situated at said chuck;
• d. positioning said bar puller such that said engagement end of said bar puller is adjacent to said stock material at said chuck;
• e. opening said chuck, releasing said stock material;
• f. initiating a fluid flow into said longitudinal bore of said body of said bar puller, urging said piston to a position adjacent to said engagement end of said bar puller;
• g. allowing said magnet to engage said stock material at said chuck, providing engaged stock material;
• h. pulling said bar puller with said engaged stock material away from said chuck;
• i. closing said chuck, so as to grip said stock material;
• j. ceasing fluid flow, allowing said bias to urge said piston away from said engagement end of said bar puller, so as to release said stock material from said bar puller;
• k. positioning said bar puller away from said stock material, so that another tool may process said stock material;
• l. repeating steps d-k until the desired stock material is processed.

A puller for pulling feed material from a chuck of a numerically controlled lathe, said lathe having a rotary turret having multiple tool stations mounted thereupon, said puller comprising:

• a body having first and second ends and a longitudinal bore therethrough, said first end of said body forming an engagement end, said second end of said body forming a mounting end;
• a piston slidingly situated in said longitudinal bore, said piston having situated therein a magnet;
• said mounting end of said body formed to engage one of said tool stations and direct a fluid flow into the longitudinal bore formed in said body;
• said piston being biased such that said piston is situated away from said engagement end when said fluid flow is off, said fluid flow urging said piston to a position adjacent to said engagement end of said body when said fluid flow is on.

The method of pulling stock material from a chuck of a numerically controlled lathe, said lathe having opposite said chuck a rotary turret having multiple tool stations, comprising the steps of:

• a. providing a bar puller, comprising:
• a body having a longitudinal bore and an engagement end;
• a piston slidingly situated in said longitudinal bore, said piston having situated therein a magnet;
• said piston being biased;
• b. mounting said bar puller to a tool station on said rotary turret;
• c. providing a length of stock material emanating situated at said chuck;
• d. positioning said bar puller such that said engagement end of said bar puller is adjacent to said stock material at said chuck;
• e. opening said chuck, releasing said stock material;
• f. initiating a fluid flow into said longitudinal bore of said body of said bar puller, urging said piston to a position adjacent to said engagement end of said bar puller;
• g. allowing said magnet situated within said piston to engage said stock material at said chuck, providing engaged stock material;
• h. pulling said bar puller with said engaged stock material away from said chuck;
• i. closing said chuck, so as to grip said stock material;
• j. ceasing fluid flow, allowing said bias to urge said piston away from said engagement end of said bar puller, so as to release said stock material from said bar puller;
• k. positioning said bar puller away from said stock material, so that another tool may process said stock material;
• l. repeating steps d-k until the desired stock material is processed.