GB2114039A - Improved turret for machine tools - Google Patents

Abstract

A turret for machine tools comprises a plurality of tool carriers 12 each mounted in a replaceable manner on the turret body 11 by means of a joint member 19 which can be locked and/or released by a single control 15, 16 disposed coaxially to said body 11. Sleeve 15 of the control is screwed into annular groove 14 and has an annular flange 17 which engages a notch 18 in each joint member 19. Unscrewing of control 15, 16 raises flange 17 and joint member 19 until the flange 17 no longer engages notches 18. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improved turret for machine tools The present invention relates to a turret for machine tools which comprises a plurality of supports for the tools that are required to take part in the working of the piece.

Said supports or tool carriers are mounted on the turret in a replaceable manner, depending on the type of work to be performed on the workpiece.

A turret of such type is for example described in the Italian utility model patent NO 106972.

The inconvenience that such turrets present is the fact that each tool carrier has its own means for being locked to the body of the turret, it being necessary to operate said locking means singly both when the tool carriers are mounted and when they are removed.

The object of the present invention is to obviate the aforesaid inconvenience by embodying an improved turret of the kind mentioned in which all the tool carriers can be mounted and removed simply and rapidly by singly operating one device only.

The said object is achieved in the present invention by means of a turret for machine tools which comprises a plurality of tool carriers mounted in a replaceable manner, characterized by the fact that each tool carrier is mounted onto the turret body by a joint which can be locked and/or released by means of a single control disposed coaxially with said body.

The joint preferably comprises a dovetailed forward end restrained to the tool carrier and a wedge-shaped rear end movable within a corresponding seating in the turret body and operatively connected to said control.

Preferably, said control comprises a sleeve which can be screwed into an annular grooving of said turret body and which ends in an annular flange coupled to notches with which the wedgeshaped ends of said joints are provided.

The structural and functional characteristics of the invention and its advantages compared to the known art will be more fully evidenced by the exemplifying description that follows, referred to the attached schematic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a vertical section of a turret embodied according to the invention; and Figure 2 is a section in the direction of the line Il-Il of Figure 1.

With reference to the drawings, the turret in question is indicated overall by 10 and is structurally composed of a central body 11 on which are mounted a plurality of tool carriers 12; of which for simplicity's sake only two are shown in the drawings.

According to the present invention, the turret 10, coaxially to the mounting slot 13 for the mounting onto the machine tool, has a threaded annular grooving 14 into which a sleeve 15 provided with an operating handle 16 is screwed.

The sleeve 15 ends on its lower portion in an annular flange 17 which is engaged in a movable manner within notches 1 8 of joints 1 9 which bear the tool carriers 12.

Each joint 19 has a wedge-shaped rear end 20 translatable within a complementary seating 21 of the body 11 and a dovetailed front end 22 coupled to the tool carrier 12.

It will thus become apparent that, if the sleeve 15 is rotated in a direction such as will unscrew it from the body 1 1, all the joints 19, by effect of the action of the flange 17 on the wedges 20, are controlled to translate upwards and at the same time to advance, thus permitting the removal of the tool carriers 12 from their seatings 23 on the body 11.

On the other hand, if the sleeve 15 is screwed into the body 1 it will cause a downwards translation and a moving backwards of the joints 19, so as to clamp the tool carriers 12 in a stable manner into their related seatings 23, by effect of the traction exerted by the dovetail 22 on the said tool carrier.

The object mentioned at the outset is in this way attained.

1. A turret for machine tools comprising a plurality of tool carriers mounted in a replaceable manner, characterized by the fact that each tool carrier is assembled onto the body of the turret by means of a joint which can be locked and/or released by a single control disposed coaxially to said body.

2. A turret according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that said joint comprises a front dovetailed end restrained to the tool carrier and a rear wedge-shaped end movable within a corresponding setting in the turret body and operatively connected to said control.

3. A turret according to claim 2, characterized by the fact that said control comprises a sleeve which can be screwed into an annular grooving of said turret body and which ends in an annular flange coupled to notches in the wedge-shaped ends of said joints.

4. A turret for machine tools constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (4)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improved turret for machine tools The present invention relates to a turret for machine tools which comprises a plurality of supports for the tools that are required to take part in the working of the piece. Said supports or tool carriers are mounted on the turret in a replaceable manner, depending on the type of work to be performed on the workpiece. A turret of such type is for example described in the Italian utility model patent NO 106972. The inconvenience that such turrets present is the fact that each tool carrier has its own means for being locked to the body of the turret, it being necessary to operate said locking means singly both when the tool carriers are mounted and when they are removed. The object of the present invention is to obviate the aforesaid inconvenience by embodying an improved turret of the kind mentioned in which all the tool carriers can be mounted and removed simply and rapidly by singly operating one device only. The said object is achieved in the present invention by means of a turret for machine tools which comprises a plurality of tool carriers mounted in a replaceable manner, characterized by the fact that each tool carrier is mounted onto the turret body by a joint which can be locked and/or released by means of a single control disposed coaxially with said body. The joint preferably comprises a dovetailed forward end restrained to the tool carrier and a wedge-shaped rear end movable within a corresponding seating in the turret body and operatively connected to said control. Preferably, said control comprises a sleeve which can be screwed into an annular grooving of said turret body and which ends in an annular flange coupled to notches with which the wedgeshaped ends of said joints are provided. The structural and functional characteristics of the invention and its advantages compared to the known art will be more fully evidenced by the exemplifying description that follows, referred to the attached schematic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a vertical section of a turret embodied according to the invention; and Figure 2 is a section in the direction of the line Il-Il of Figure 1. With reference to the drawings, the turret in question is indicated overall by 10 and is structurally composed of a central body 11 on which are mounted a plurality of tool carriers 12; of which for simplicity's sake only two are shown in the drawings. According to the present invention, the turret 10, coaxially to the mounting slot 13 for the mounting onto the machine tool, has a threaded annular grooving 14 into which a sleeve 15 provided with an operating handle 16 is screwed. The sleeve 15 ends on its lower portion in an annular flange 17 which is engaged in a movable manner within notches 1 8 of joints 1 9 which bear the tool carriers 12. Each joint 19 has a wedge-shaped rear end 20 translatable within a complementary seating 21 of the body 11 and a dovetailed front end 22 coupled to the tool carrier 12. It will thus become apparent that, if the sleeve 15 is rotated in a direction such as will unscrew it from the body 1 1, all the joints 19, by effect of the action of the flange 17 on the wedges 20, are controlled to translate upwards and at the same time to advance, thus permitting the removal of the tool carriers 12 from their seatings 23 on the body 11. On the other hand, if the sleeve 15 is screwed into the body 1 it will cause a downwards translation and a moving backwards of the joints 19, so as to clamp the tool carriers 12 in a stable manner into their related seatings 23, by effect of the traction exerted by the dovetail 22 on the said tool carrier. The object mentioned at the outset is in this way attained. CLAIMS

1. A turret for machine tools comprising a plurality of tool carriers mounted in a replaceable manner, characterized by the fact that each tool carrier is assembled onto the body of the turret by means of a joint which can be locked and/or released by a single control disposed coaxially to said body.

2. A turret according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that said joint comprises a front dovetailed end restrained to the tool carrier and a rear wedge-shaped end movable within a corresponding setting in the turret body and operatively connected to said control.

3. A turret according to claim 2, characterized by the fact that said control comprises a sleeve which can be screwed into an annular grooving of said turret body and which ends in an annular flange coupled to notches in the wedge-shaped ends of said joints.

4. A turret for machine tools constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.