GB1533572A - Transferring workpieces in machine tools - Google Patents

Abstract

1533572 Machine tool guideways; making guideways; making nuts SWANSEA JIG & TOOL CO Ltd 11 May 1976 [17 May 1975] 21072/75 Headings B3H B3A and B3W Transfer means for re-orientating a blank when passing from one workstation to another in a machine tool comprises a guideway 10 of non-circular cross-section leading from one of the working stations to the other, the guideway being twisted about its longitudinal axis. Hexagonal nut blanks 27 are fed down a shoot 28 on to a reciprocating feed finger 29, which carries the blanks to a first punch station. The finger is mounted on a slide 31 which is actuated by a pneumatic piston and cylinder unit in cooperation with a cam 30 secured to a top plate 21 of the reciprocating press slide. Each blank is carried forward on the finger 29 until it drops off its front end and it is then pushed into position in a die block 22. The blank is then punched by a punch 18, ejected and pushed forward by the next following blank the blanks moving with adjacent flat faces in contact. As the line of blanks passes through the guideway 10, each blank is inverted through 180 degrees so that its other face can be punched by a punch 19. Finally the blanks are pierced by a punch 20. The blanks are held at each working station by opposed fingers 34, 35 formed with notches 43. They are moved by pivoted rocker arms 38, 39, via pins 36, 37. The arms 38, 39 are connected by a pin and slot mechanism 40, 41, the arm 39 being acted upon by a return spring 42. The fingers are pushed apart by each blank as it is fed between them and they are returned by the action of the spring 42 to locate the notches 43 on the corners of the blank. Manufacture of guideway.-A groove 12 of rectangular cross-section is machined in a body 11 of metal. A bar of hardened steel which almost fills the groove 12 is placed in it and one or more shims of hardened steel are inserted in the groove so as to fill it completely. A flat, straight cover 13 is welded to the body 11 to close the groove. The assembly so formed is heated to red heat and twisted through 180 degrees. When cool the weld is machined off, the cover removed and the shim(s) and bar drawn out. The cover 13 is then releasably secured to the body 11 and the guideway secured to blocks 14 for use in the press tool assembly of Fig. 3.