Multiple tool changer for machining center
AssigneeC. R. Onsrud, Inc.
InventorsThomas Charles Onsrud, Christopher John Sullivan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A numerically controlled machining center for performing work on a workpiece including a plurality of magazines holding a plurality of tools, each magazine positioned a first distance from an adjacent magazine, a plurality of spindles equal to the number of magazines and movable relative to one another independent of the positions of the magazines, the spindles movable apart from one another in a tool loading position to accommodate large magazine sizes and movable toward one another in a working position to allow the tools to work close together to minimize waste, and a table for supporting a workpiece.
Claims12
A numerically controlled machining center for performing work on a workpiece, comprising:
- (a) a plurality of magazines, each magazine of the plurality of magazines holding a plurality of tools for performing work on the workpiece, each magazine of the plurality of magazines being positioned at a first fixed distance from an adjacent magazine of the plurality of magazines, the first fixed distance being determined by one or more of magazine size, tool types and number of tools;
- (b) a plurality of spindles, mounted separate from the plurality of magazines, and equal in number to the plurality of magazines, each spindle of the plurality of spindles arranged to move independently between a working position proximate the workpiece and a tool loading position proximate a respective magazine of the plurality of magazines, wherein a distance between adjacent spindles of the plurality of spindles when the adjacent spindles are in the tool loading position is greater than a distance between the same adjacent spindles when the same adjacent spindles are in the working position, and wherein the plurality of spindles and the plurality of magazines are all carried on a common moving gantry movable along a y axis;
- and
- (c) a support for holding the workpiece;
- wherein movement of each spindle of the plurality of spindles between the tool loading position and the working position includes movement along the y axis and a z axis;
- and
- wherein each magazine of the plurality of magazines is mounted above and axially off-center relative to a respective one of the plurality of spindles such that each spindle moves vertically upward and horizontally to engage a tool held in a corresponding one of the magazines to load one of the plurality of tools.
A numerically controlled machining center for performing work on a workpiece, comprising:
- (a) a plurality of magazines, each magazine of the plurality of magazines holding a plurality of tools, wherein adjacent magazines of the plurality of magazines are positioned at a first fixed distance apart;
- (b) a plurality of spindles, mounted separate from the plurality of magazines, and equal in number to the plurality of magazines, each spindle of the plurality of spindles configured to move independently between a working position proximate the workpiece and a tool loading position proximate a respective magazine of the plurality of magazines, wherein adjacent spindles of the plurality of spindles move apart from each other as the adjacent spindles travel toward the tool loading position, and wherein the plurality of magazines and the plurality of spindles are carried on a common moving gantry movable along a y axis;
- and
- (c) a table for supporting a workpiece;
- and
- wherein movement of each spindle of the plurality of spindles between the tool loading position and the working position includes movement along the y axis and a z axis;
- and
- wherein each magazine of the plurality of magazines is mounted above and axially off-center relative to a respective one of the plurality of spindles such that each spindle moves vertically upward and horizontally to engage a tool held in a corresponding one of the magazines to load one of the plurality of tools.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.