US 6,608,282 B2 · Machine tool loading apparatus

Abstract

A machine tool loading apparatus is adapted to register the sheets being loaded directly in the workclamps of the machine tool. A four bar linkage is utilized to control the position of the sheet as the loader removes it from the supply stack and brings it into the workclamps. The four bar linkage is provided with a controlled amount of compliance which is released as the sheet is brought into the workclamps. The sheet is thus allowed a limited ability to be repositioned as the loading mechanism guides it into the workclamps, so that a registered position is achieved before the workclamps are closed. The preferred loader apparatus can be used to unload large parts from the machine tool. The loader apparatus may be adapted to the machine tool in conjunction with a material storage tower.

Claims52

Dependent claims

A loading apparatus for loading workpieces from a supply into a machine tool, and comprising in combination:

a pivotable beam carried on a first end by a support and having a part handling apparatus supported by a second end;
the beam being pivotable through a range of positions including a supply position for pickup of workpieces and a load position for deposit of workpieces;
a four bar linkage interposed between the support and the second end of the beam for controlling the orientation of a carried workpiece as it is pivoted from the supply position to the load position;
and
a controllable compliance actuator and release associated with the four bar linkage which, when released, allows limited reorientation of the workpiece for registration of the workpiece in the load position.

2 more elements

A loading apparatus for a machine tool comprising in combination;

a base supporting a freestanding column;
said freestanding column adapted to support a power driven pivotable cantilevered beam;
said pivotable cantilevered beam carrying proximate a distal end thereof a pivotable member supporting a part handling apparatus adapted to engage and disengage a part;
a powered lifting apparatus adapted to provide lifting and lowering motion to said part handling apparatus;
said pivotal member being controllably stabilized by a releasable four bar linkage which is releasable to add controlled compliance to said machine tool loader apparatus;
a mounting plate supported by the column and supporting said releasable four bar linkage;
said releasable four bar linkage apparatus being interposed between said pivotable apparatus and said mounting plate;
one of the bars of the four bar linkage comprising a pivotable link supported for controlled pivoting on a shaft;
said pivotable link having one end thereof configured for engagement by a lock/release mechanism;
said lock/release mechanism being associated with said relesable four bar linkage and adapted to engage said pivotable link to remove controlled compliance from said machine tool loader apparatus, and to disengage said pivotable link to add controlled compliance to said machine tool loader apparatus;
and
stops associated with the lock/release mechanism which control the amount of controlled compliance when said lock/release mechanism is in said disengaged position.

9 more elements

A loading apparatus for a machine tool comprising in combination;

a base supporting a freestanding column;
said freestanding column carrying vertical linear ways;
said linear ways supporting a secondary mounting plate which carries a pivotable cantilevered beam;
said pivotable cantilevered beam pivotable under the control of servomotor responsive to a numerical control of a numerical control machine tool;
said pivotable cantilevered beam carrying proximate a distal end thereof a pivotable member;
said pivotal member carrying a part handling apparatus including a load beam arrayed with permanent magnets;
a sensor apparatus associated with said part handling apparatus to detect when a sheet is present for pick up and to sense when a sheet has been set on a worktable;
said permanent magnets being controllable by a PLC such that the magnetic field strength of any magnet and of any combination of magnets can be varied and can be reduced to substantially zero for releasing a carried sheet;
said PLC adapted to control and monitor said permanent magnets individually in response to communication with the numerical control of the numerical control machine tool;
a powered lifting apparatus adapted to provide lifting and lowering motion to said secondary mounting plate;
said powered lifting apparatus including a translation screw, a reducer adapted to drive said translation screw, a motor adapted to drive said reducer, a brake adapted to hold said powered lifting apparatus in position when said motor is de-energized, said motor driven by a smart drive in response to communication with the numerical control of the numerical control machine tool;
said pivotable member stabilized by a releasable four bar linkage which is releasable to add controlled compliance to said machine tool loader apparatus, and having a lock/release mechanism;
said releasable four bar linkage being interposed between said pivotable member and a mounting plate supported by said secondary mounting plate;
a first bar of the four bar linkage comprising a pivotable link pivotable about its proximate center on a shaft supported on said mounting plate;
said pivotable link having a wedge shaped end;
said lock/release mechanism being supported on said mounting plate and having a horizontally mounted cylinder connected to and driving a vee notched locking block to engage said wedge shaped end (a) to lock said pivotable link from pivoting and (b) to disengage said wedge shaped end to release said pivotable link to pivot to add controlled compliance to said loading apparatus;
wherein the amount of said controlled compliance is defined by the space between said vee notched locking block and said wedge shaped end when said cylinder is in said disengaged position;
said loading apparatus associated with a numerical control machine tool having an automatic tool changer apparatus and a thermal cutting apparatus.

15 more elements

A loading/unloading apparatus associated with a machine tool having a numerical control and comprising in combination;

a base supported by a freestanding column, said freestanding column adapted to support a pivotable cantilevered beam, said pivotable cantilevered beam pivotable by a servo controlled by said numerical control, said pivotable cantilevered beam carrying proximate a distal end thereof a pivotable member which carries a part handling apparatus adapted to engage and disengage a part, a sensor apparatus associated with said part handling apparatus to detect when material is present for pick up and to sense when a sheet has been set on a worktable, a powered lifting apparatus providing lifting and lowering motion to said part handling apparatus, said pivotal member being stabilized by a releasable four bar linkage which is releasable to add controlled compliance to said machine tool loader apparatus, a mounting plate associated with said releasable four bar linkage, said releasable four bar linkage interposed between said pivotable member and said mounting plate, a first bar of said four bar linkage comprising a pivotable link supported for pivoting on a shaft, said pivotable link configured proximate one end thereof for engagement by a lock/release mechanism, said lock/release mechanism cooperating with said releasable four bar linkage (a) to engage said pivotable link to remove controlled compliance from said machine tool loader apparatus and (b) to disengage said pivotable link to add controlled compliance to said machine tool loader apparatus, the pivotable link and the lock/release mechanism being configured to control the amount of said controlled compliance when said lock/release mechanism is in said disengaged position, said loading/unloading apparatus adapted to pick up a single workpiece from a stack of workpieces residing on said workpiece staging area and deposit said workpiece on at least one said worktable proximate in front of a set of workclamps on the machine tool;
the numerical control machine tool being configured to fabricate parts from a raw, generally rectangular, generally flat metal workpiece and associated with said loader/unloader apparatus and including a frame, a metal working head associated with said frame, a drop leaf table associated with said frame, said drop leaf table adapted to unload small parts cut from said workpiece by said metal working head, at least one worktable located proximate each side of said frame and adapted to support a workpiece during processing, a first axis associated with said frame and adapted with a rail, said rail adapted to translatably support a first axis table and having a bracket and a photo switch mounted on said bracket, said photo switch adapted to determine the location of one edge of a workpiece, said first axis table adapted to carry workclamps and moveable by means of a first servo apparatus controlled by said numerical control, a workpiece registration apparatus associated with said workclamps and a sensor apparatus associated with said registration apparatus, said sensor apparatus determining a workpiece is correctly registered relative to said workclamps, a second axis associated with said frame, said second axis perpendicular to said first axis, said second axis adapted to cause relative motion between said working head and said workpiece, said second axis moveable by means of a second servo apparatus controlled by said numerical control;
said loading/unloading apparatus positioned proximate one of said worktables;
a workpiece staging area associated with said loading/unloading apparatus;
a large part unloading zone associated with said loading/unloading apparatus;
said numerical control adapted to move said workclamps to a calculated plate loading position and open said workclamps upon arrival at said loading position, unlock said releasable four bar linkage when said workpiece is deposited on said worktable proximate in front of said workclamps, cause the workpiece to be moved to a commanded position beyond said workpiece registration apparatus associated with said workclamps until said sensor apparatus signals said numerical control said workpiece is correctly registered, then stop motion and abort remaining motion command, cause said workclamps to close to clamp said workpiece, cause said loading/unloading apparatus to release said workpiece, cause said loading/unloading apparatus to retract to a standby position, cause said releasable four bar linkage to be locked, cause said first axis table carrying said workclamps and clamped said workpiece to move relative to said photo switch in a series of incremental moves such that the position of one edge of said workpiece proximately normal to the edge clamped by said workclamps is accurately determined by said photo switch, calculate the position of said one edge relative to said first axis “0” position, cause said workpiece to move to a position proximate said reposition cylinders, cause said reposition cylinders to clamp said workpiece, cause said workclamps to open thereby releasing said workpiece, cause said first axis table carrying said workclamps to reposition such that when said workclamps are closed and said first axis is moved to first axis “0” position one edge of said workpiece proximately normal to the edge clamped by said workclamps is accurately positioned relative to the centerline of said working head, cause said workclamps to close thereby gripping said workpiece, cause said reposition cylinders to retract thereby releasing said workpiece such that said workpiece is fully gauged and ready for processing by said machine tool;
said loading unloading apparatus adapted to unload a large part cut from said workpiece by said metal working head and too large for said drop leaf table;
said numerical control adapted to move said part handling apparatus from said standby position to a position such that said part handling apparatus can engage said large part, cause said part handling apparatus to engage said large part, cause said loading/unloading apparatus to lift said large part from said workpiece and move said large part to said large part unloading zone, cause said large part to be stacked on a pallet or table or be dropped into a container located within said large part unloading zone then cause said part handling apparatus to return to said standby position.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Machine tool loading apparatus

Life of this patent

Machine tool loading apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims52