GB1345335A - Bar loading arrangement - Google Patents

Abstract

1345335 Bar feed mechanism TWYFORD MOORS (AIRCRAFT & ENG) Ltd 16 July 1971 [30 July 1970 22 Oct 1970] 36953/70 and 50306/70 Heading B3B A bar loading arrangement for an automatic machine tool, e.g. a multi-spindle lathe, comprises a magazine for elongated bars 2, elongated bar holders 103 spaced below the magazine outlet and mounted for example in an indexable reel 100, and means for loading a bar from the magazine into a holder 103. The loading means comprises a slide 6, 15 (Fig. 1) movable towards the bar holder 103 to apply a force to a bar 2 in the magazine, and a member 25 movable between a first position in which it obstructs the path of movement of the bar 2, 122 from the magazine to the bar holder 103 and a second position in which it does not obstruct said path of movement, the slide 6, 15 and member 25 being coupled to a common actuating means for operation in synchronism so that the member 25 is not moved into its second position until the slide 6, 15 has moved into a position in which a surface 15a obstructs movement from the magazine of the next length of bar in the magazine. The member 25 is part of a bell crank 19 pivoted about pivot 20 by the movement of the slide 6, 15 acting through a pin-and-slot connection 22, 23. The slide 6, 15 is moved by a pneumatic actuator that rotates a shaft 14. A pair of spring biased blocks 30 are adjusted to a spacing just smaller than the diameter of the bar 2 so that the slide member 15 pushes a bar therebetween. The indexable reel 100 comprises a number of spaced plates 101 supporting the bar holders 103 that comprise a fixed semi-cylindrical part 104 and a pivotal part 105 spring biased to a closed position and having nylon gripping blocks 126, 127. A holder 103 is opened by pneumatic actuator 121 acting through a cam surface 117 and roller 110. In an alternative embodiment (Fig. 4, not shown) the bar holders on the indexable reel comprise holders (395) on the plates 101, (201) and intermediate U-shaped members (361) that support the bars 122 between the plates 101, (201). The members (361) are adjustable in position. Various working distances are adjusted to a required bar size by means of a setting gauge that is mounted in, for example, gauge blocks (306). The setting gauge (Fig. 6, not shown) comprises a cylindrical body (368a) and a reduced portion (368b) by which it is retained in a gauge block 306. A threaded disc (368d) of a thickness of the required gauge distance is screwed on to a threaded end (368c) to retain the gauge in the block (306) and to act as a setting stop. A narrow flange (368e) also is used as a setting gauge. The arrangement includes a means for detecting when a bar has been completely fed into machine spindle and a holder 103 requires a new bar (Fig. 8, not shown). Micro-switches may be used to signal alarms to an operator.