US1975006A - Indexing and control mechanism for independent metal working units - Google Patents

Indexing and control mechanism for independent metal working units Download PDF

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Publication number
US1975006A
US1975006A US597814A US59781432A US1975006A US 1975006 A US1975006 A US 1975006A US 597814 A US597814 A US 597814A US 59781432 A US59781432 A US 59781432A US 1975006 A US1975006 A US 1975006A
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United States
Prior art keywords
metal working
turret
indexing
working units
lever
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US597814A
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Edward J Kingsbury
Anderson John Elmer
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KINGSBURY MACHINE TOOL CORP
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KINGSBURY MACHINE TOOL CORP
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Priority to US597814A priority Critical patent/US1975006A/en
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    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B23MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B23QDETAILS, COMPONENTS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR MACHINE TOOLS, e.g. ARRANGEMENTS FOR COPYING OR CONTROLLING; MACHINE TOOLS IN GENERAL CHARACTERISED BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF PARTICULAR DETAILS OR COMPONENTS; COMBINATIONS OR ASSOCIATIONS OF METAL-WORKING MACHINES, NOT DIRECTED TO A PARTICULAR RESULT
    • B23Q39/00Metal-working machines incorporating a plurality of sub-assemblies, each capable of performing a metal-working operation
    • B23Q39/04Metal-working machines incorporating a plurality of sub-assemblies, each capable of performing a metal-working operation the sub-assemblies being arranged to operate simultaneously at different stations, e.g. with an annular work-table moved in steps
    • B23Q39/042Metal-working machines incorporating a plurality of sub-assemblies, each capable of performing a metal-working operation the sub-assemblies being arranged to operate simultaneously at different stations, e.g. with an annular work-table moved in steps with circular arrangement of the sub-assemblies
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10TTECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T29/00Metal working
    • Y10T29/51Plural diverse manufacturing apparatus including means for metal shaping or assembling
    • Y10T29/5124Plural diverse manufacturing apparatus including means for metal shaping or assembling with means to feed work intermittently from one tool station to another
    • Y10T29/5127Blank turret
    • Y10T29/513Stationary work
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10TTECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T29/00Metal working
    • Y10T29/51Plural diverse manufacturing apparatus including means for metal shaping or assembling
    • Y10T29/519Turret
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10TTECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T408/00Cutting by use of rotating axially moving tool
    • Y10T408/18Cutting by use of rotating axially moving tool with stopping upon completion of prescribed operation
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10TTECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T408/00Cutting by use of rotating axially moving tool
    • Y10T408/36Machine including plural tools
    • Y10T408/375Coaxial tools
    • Y10T408/378Coaxial, opposed tools
    • Y10T408/3784Coaxial, opposed tools with additional, converging Tool
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10TTECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T408/00Cutting by use of rotating axially moving tool
    • Y10T408/52Cutting by use of rotating axially moving tool with work advancing or guiding means
    • Y10T408/54Means to intermittently advance work
    • Y10T408/545Rotary, work-supporting means
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10TTECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T74/00Machine element or mechanism
    • Y10T74/14Rotary member or shaft indexing, e.g., tool or work turret
    • Y10T74/1418Preselected indexed position
    • Y10T74/1424Sequential
    • Y10T74/1441Geneva or mutilated gear drive

Definitions

  • the invention relates to new and useful improvements in a mechanical indexing control mechanism for a metal working machine wherein the material to be operated upon is presented in succession to a series of separate, self-contained,
  • An object of the invention is to provide an indexing control mechanism for a machine of the above type wherein the indexing device operates through mechanical means for simultaneously initiating the operation of the metal working units and the metal working units in turn operate through said mechanical means for permitting the next cycle of operation of the indexing device, only after each metal working unit has completed its operation.
  • a further object of the invention is to provide a machine of the above type wherein the indexing mechanism for intermittently rotating the turret 26 is provided with a starting and automatic stopping mechanism, and wherein said metal working units operate through the-mechanical devices for initiating the operation of the indexing mechanism when each of the metal working units has completed its operation.
  • a still further object of the invention is to provide a machine of the above type having a series of self-contained metal working units, each of which is provided with a starting and stopping means, and an indexing mechanism therefor which is self-contained and motor operated and provided with a starting and stopping means, with mechanical devices connecting the starting and stopping means of the indexing mechanism with each starting and stopping means of the metal working units, whereby the stopping of all of the metal working units operates through said mechanical devices for initiating the operation of the indexing mechanism, and wherein the indexing mechanism simultaneously initiates through said mechanical devices the operation of all of the metal working units.
  • Figure 1 is a plan view showing more or less diagrammatically a series of metal working units and the improved indexing and control devices therefor;
  • Fig. 2 is a front view of the same. the intermediate metal working unit being omitted for the sake of clearness;
  • Fig. 3 is a plan view of the work supporting turret with the work holders removed;
  • Fig. 4 is a central vertical section through the work holder turret
  • Fig. 5 is an enlarged plan of the automatic indexing unit for controlling the metal working units
  • Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5;
  • Fig. '7 is a sectional view on the line 7'7 of Fig. 5;
  • Fig. 8 is a detail in horizontal section showing the control levers of the indexing device when said indexing device is released in operating to position the work holding turret;
  • Fig. 9 is a detail in front elevation showing a portion of the indexing mechanism
  • Fig. 10 is an enlarged detail partly in section and partly in front elevation of the control drum for the indexing device
  • Fig. 11 is an enlarged detail of a portion of one of the metal working units, showing the starting and stopping mechanism therefor;
  • Fig. 12 is a front View of the metal working unit
  • Fig. 13 is a sectional view on the line 13l3 of Fig. 11;
  • Fig. 14 is a View showing the starting and stopping mechanism in position for releasing the metal working tool for its cycle of operation
  • Fig. 15 is a sectional view on the line 15-15 of Fig. 11;
  • Fig. 16 is a view in side elevation showing the control lever of the starting and stopping mechamsm
  • Fig. 17 is a side elevation of one of the toggle levers of the starting and stopping mechanism
  • Fig. 18 is a side view of the link of the toggle mechanism which is connected to the stop lever
  • Fig 19 is a view showing the stop lever positioned for stopping the operation of the metal working unit.
  • the invention has to do with a metal working machine which includes a series of self -contained, motor operated metal working units. These metal working units may be drill spindles, milling spindles, or any other suitable metal working units.
  • the metal working units are preferably provided, with tools for operating in sequence upon metal parts.
  • Each metal working unit is provided with a starting mechanism and an automatic stopping mechanism, so that when the metal working unit has passed through a cycle of operations, as for example, the drilling of a part, it will be automatically stopped.
  • a work holding turretand an indexing device therefor for presenting the material first to one metal working unit and then another.
  • This indexing turret is motor driven through a mechanism which will turn the turret for moving the same through one step of a cycle of operations so as to convey the material operated upon from one working unit station to another working unit station, and finally to an idle station where the material may be removed from the work holding turret.
  • the indexing device associated with the turret includes devices which are connected to the starting and stopping mechanism of the metal working units. There is an indexing device for each mechanical metal working unit, and a mechanical connection between this indexing device and the starting and stopping mechanism therefor.
  • the indexing mechanism includes control means so that the operation of the metal working units can be simultaneously initiated only after the indexing mechanism has performed its operation and the turret has positioned the material for the operation of the metal working unit, and so that the indexing mechanism can only be initiated after each of the metal working units have completed its cycle of operation.
  • Figures 1 and 2 show more or less diagrammatically a metal working machine which includes, as illustrated, three self-contained metal working units 1, 2 and 3. Each unit is provided with a motor indicated at M, and carries a working tool indicated at 1. These metal working units are carried by a frame which may be in the form of a supporting table indicated in broken lines at T (Fig. 2). The material to be operated upon is mountedin a work holder 5, carried by a work holding turret 6. There are four work holders as shown in Fig. 1.
  • the metal working units are disposed symmetrically about the center of rotation of the work holding turret, and as shown, the metal working unit 2 is disposed ninety degrees from the metal working unit 1, and the metal working unit 3 is likewise disposed ninety degrees from the metal working unit 2.
  • This provides an idle station between the metal working units 3 and 1.
  • the work holding turret 6 rotates in the direction of the arrow, and thus material loaded on the work holder at the idle station may be first presented to the metal working unit 1, then to the metal Working unit 2, and then to the metal working unit 3, and finally to the idle station where it may be removed.
  • these metal Working units which are self-contained, may be increased in number, and may be otherwise disposed relative to the work holding turret, but it is essential that they be symmetricaly disposed thereto and in such angular position that the material may be first presented to one metal working unit and then another.
  • Each metal working unit includes means for operating the tool and means for feeding the tool. These metal working units may be of the type shown and described in the patent granted Edward J. Kingsbury, October 28, 1930, No. 1,780,083.
  • FIGs 11 to 18, inclusive there is shown the starting and stopping mechanism for the feed of the metal working units.
  • the tool spindle carrying the working tool is moved forward for feeding the tool to the material by a segment 8 carrying a segment gear 9 operating as shown in said patent for feeding the carrier for the tool spindle.
  • This segment 8 is pivoted at 10 to the supporting frame of the metal working unit.
  • Mounted on the frame 11 is the control cam 12 for the segment 8.
  • Said cam operates on a roller 13.
  • the control cam 12 is actuated by a mechanism which is disconnected from the main actuating shaft when a stop mechanism is moved into the path of travel of the part carried by the control cam. This mechanism is all shown and described in detail in the patent referred to, and further description thereof is not thought necessary.
  • a block 14 This block 14 engages a plate 15 carried by the stop lever 16.
  • the stop lever 16 is provided with a sleeve 17 which is freely mounted on the pivot rod carrying the segment 8.
  • Theblock 14 is set in a recess in the lever so that it is housed therein and may be riveted by screws or bolts, one of which is indicated at 18 in Fig. 15 of the drawings.
  • the upper end of the stop lever 16 carries a pivot pin 19 to which a link 20 is connected.
  • the link 20 is in turn connected to a rock arm 21.
  • the rock arm 21, together with the link 20, form a toggle lever for positioning the stop lever 16.
  • the toggle lever is in turn operated by a control lever 22.
  • the control lever 22 is fixed to a shaft 23 mounted in a supporting bushing 24 in the frame of the metal working unit.
  • the rock arm 21 is journaled on this bushing 24 and turns thereon independent of the movements of the shaft 23.
  • the rock arm 21 carries a forwardly projecting member 25 which lies between the forks 26 and 27 of the control lever 22. These forks are spaced a distance slightly greater than the width of this projecting member 25.
  • the control lever 22 is connected to a flexible wire 28.
  • Said control lever is forked at its outer end, and freely carried by the forked end of the control lever is a pin 29 having an annular recess formed therein.
  • the wire 28 is bent back on itself to form a hook which engages the pin 29.
  • the end of the hook is bent around the pin, so that the space between the hook end and the body of the wire is less than the diameter of the reduced portion of the pin, and therefore, the wire when attached to the pin will hold the pin in place.
  • the wire may be readily detached from this pin.
  • the purpose of the wire when moved in a direction away from the metal working unit is to shift the control lever 22 so as to start the metal working unit into action.
  • a further purpose of this wire is to control the indexing mechanism for the work holding turret so as to insure that the indexing mechanism cannot be set into operation until the stop mechanism of each metal working unit pulls on the wire or moves the same in a direction toward the metal working unit.
  • this wire When this wire is moved to the right, as viewed in Fig. 11, it will swing the lever 22, causing the fork 26 carried thereby to engage the member 25 carried by the rock arm 21, and this will turn said rock arm in a clockwise direction, pulling on the link 20 and swinging the stop lever 16 so as to remove the plate 15 from in front of the block 14.
  • the forward end of the block 14 is cam-shaped, and even after the pull on the wire 28 ceases, the cam block will force the stop lever away from the control cam,
  • a bar 30 Pivoted to the rock arm 21 is a bar 30.
  • This bar 30 slides in a supporting block 31 carried by the stop lever 16.
  • Said block has a flanged head 32 fitting in a recess in one face of the stop lever 16. The block extends all the way through and projects from the other face of the stop lever, and has a recess 33 through the end thereof in which this bar 30 slides.
  • This provides a sliding support for the ba permitting it to not only move endwise, but to oscillate sufiiciently so that the pivot pin 34 attaching the bar 30 to the member 25 may move about the supporting axis of the rock arm 21.
  • the outer end of the bar 30 is cam-shaped as indicated at 35.
  • control lever 22 when the control lever 22 is moved in a clockwise direction, the control cam 12 will be released and the metal working unit will perform its cycle of operation, after which it will automatically stop, repositioning the stop lever 16 and turning the control lever 22 in a counter-clockwise direction, and thus exert a pull on' the wire 28 which moves the same to the left, as viewed in Fig. 11.
  • the control wire 28 is mounted in a sheathing 36 which is preferably formed of spring wire, and this makes a very flexible mechanical means whereby either a pull or a push on the wire may be used to transmit power between distant points.
  • the sheathing or casing for the wire is secured in a split collar 37 carried by a bracket 38 attached to the frame of the metal working unit.
  • the metal working units are all alike in construction and each includes this starting and stopping mechanism which has just been described in detail.
  • the work supporting turret 6 is mounted on a shaft 39 which in turn is mounted in suitable hearings in a supporting frame or housing 40.
  • Said disk 41 is provided with a sleeve 42 carrying a hardened bushing 43.
  • a stop pin 44 is mounted for vertical reciprocation in bushings carried by the housing 40.
  • a lever 45 has a forked end 46 connected to said pin 44 for raising and lowering the same.
  • a spring 4'7 encircling a rod 48 operates through said rod for swinging the lever 45 so as to raise the pin 44 into the sleeve bushing 43. This stops the turret and locks it from turning.
  • the lever 45 is controlled by a cam 49 having a side cam face with which a roller 50 on the lever 45 contacts.
  • This cam 49 is mounted on the shaft 51 which operates the turret intermittently.
  • the disk 41 is provided with four radial slots 52, 53, 54 and 55.
  • On the upper end of the shaft 51 is a disk 56 carrying a roller 57 which is eccentrically located relative to the axis of the shaft. As the shaft rotates, this disk 56 will give to the roller 57, a circular path of travel.
  • the roller runs in the radial grooves and in an annular recess 58 formed in the under face of the disk 41, and at the inner end of the radial slots. The roller travels around the center of the shaft 51 in a clockwise direction. As viewed in Fig.
  • the shaft 51 has a universal connection with a shaft section 59, and the shaft section 59 has a universal connection with a vertical shaft 60 mounted for rotation in bearings 61, 62 and 63 carried by a housing 64.
  • a motor M carrying a motor shaft 65 provided with a gear 66 which meshes with a gear 6'7 on a sleeve shaft 68.
  • Said sleeve shaft 68 carries one member of a friction clutch 69 which is adapted to cooperate with a friction clutch member '70 on the shaft section '71 carrying the worm gear '72.
  • the worm gear-'72 meshes with a worm wheel '73 which is fixed to the shaft 60.
  • the shaft 60 is driven through the friction clutch connection by the motor M carried by the housing 64.
  • the shaft section '71 is carried by a shiftable member '74.
  • a spring '75 normally moves the shaft section '71 so as to cause the clutch members to engage each other.
  • a stop is moved into the path of a part carried by the shaft 60 so as to stop its movement, then the worm wheel stops and the shaft section '71 will continue to turn and in a direction which will cause it to travel endwise and separate the clutch members.
  • This operating mechanism for the turet is similar in construction to the operating mechanism shown in the Kingsbury patent above referred to.
  • indexing mechanism which is provided with devices for simultaneously setting into operation the metal working units after the work holding turret has taken the position so that the material carried thereby is properly set for the operating of the tools thereon.
  • This indexing mechanism also includes devices which stop the indexing mechanism and retains it in a set stopped position until all of the metal working units have completed their cycle of operation.
  • a sleeve bushing 82 Mounted in the housing containing the friction clutch associated with the indexing mechasteel bar '79. Mounted in the extension housing I is a sleeve bushing 82. Journaled in the sleeve bushing 82 carried by the rod is a series of indexing levers 83. Mounted on the sleeve bushing 82 carried by the rod 81 is another series of indexing levers 84. As shown in Figs. 6, '7 and 9, there are many more indexing levers than required for the control of the three indexing units shown in Fig. 1. There is an indexing lever for each metal working unit.
  • sleeve bushing 82 Mounted on the sleeve bushing 82 is a series of washer plates 85. These washer plates extend across and encircle both sleeve bushings and are disposed between the indexing levers.
  • a spring -86 bears against the plate 87 which in turn bears against the lowermost washer, pressing the washers into contact with the arms 84 so as to hold the arms in a set position.
  • the arms are all free to turn on the sleeve bushings.
  • an arm 90 Mounted at the upper end of the rod 81 is an arm 90. Mounted on the upper end of the rod 80 is an arm 91. These arms are provided with intermeshing gear teeth, so that the turning of one rod will cause the other rod to be turned through the same angular distance. Mounted on the rod 81 near the lower end thereof is an arm 92. There is a similar arm 93 mounted at the lower end of the rod 80, and these two arms 92 and 93 are provided with intermeshing gear teeth. When the rods are turned, the sleeve bushings will turn therewith, and the indexing levers mounted on the rods will be moved with the rods; Each indexing lever, however, may be moved independently of the others when the rods are stationary.
  • the indexing levers 83 are each provided with a shoulder 94.
  • the indexing levers 84 are each provided with a shoulder 95.
  • the drum '78 rotates with the shaft 60 and rotates in the direction of the arrow as viewed in Figures 5 and 8.
  • the shoulders 94 and 95 are so shaped that when the levers are moved inward to the position shown in Fig. 5, the hardened steel bars 79, '79 will contact with the respective shoulders, and this will stop the rotation of the worm gear, bringing about a separation "of the clutch members,and thus astopping of the meanswhich turns the turret.
  • the shaft 60 will not be rotated again until these indexing levers 83 and 84 have all released the bars '79.
  • the wire 28 extending from the metal working unit 1 is connected to one of these levers; the wire 28 extending from the metal working unit 2 is connected to another of these indexing levers, and the wire 28 extending from the third metal working unit is connected to still another indexing lever.
  • the assembled indexing mechanism will contain only as many active indexing levers as there are metal working units.
  • the wire indicated at 28 in Fig. 5 is connected to the metal working unit 1; and the wire 28 therein is connected to the metal working unit 2.
  • the wire 28 has the end thereof bent into hook form which engages a pin 84 on the uppermost indexing lever 84.
  • the wire 28 is provided with a hook end which engages a pin 83 on the uppermost indexing lever 83.
  • the metal working unit 1 as it completes its operation, causes the block 14 to engage the bar 35 and this will swing the control lever 22 so as to pull on the wire 28.
  • the indexing lever 83 will still retain its hold on the drum and prevent rotation thereof until the stop mechanism oi. the metal working unit 2 operates through the control lever to pull on the wire 28'.
  • the pull on the wire 28 releases the indexing lever 83 from its hold on the drum.
  • the metal working unit 3 must likewise operate through its stop mechanism to pull on its control wire and move the indexing lever associated therewith from its hold on the drum before the drum can begin to rotate. This insures that all of the metal working units shall have completed their operation before the drum is released, so that it may turn to release the turret and rotate it to the necessary set position.
  • a shaft 96 carrying a roller 9'7 is mounted on the drum.
  • the drum is recessed to receive the roller which projects beyond the periphery of the drum.
  • Fixed to the arm 92 carried by the rod 81 is a hardened plate 98. This plate is secured to the arm by means of a clamping bolt 99.
  • the roller 9'7 contacts with this hardened plate and will forcibly turn the arm 92.
  • the arm 92 is provided with an extension 100.
  • the arm has a similar extension, and there is a rod 101 connecting the arms, so that when the arm 92 is oscillated through the contact of the roller with the hardened plate, it will, with certainty, impart an scillation to the rod 81.
  • the arm 93 has a similar extension connected by a rod 102 to an extension on the arm 91.
  • These arms with their interengag-- ing teeth insure that both the rods 80 and 81 will be given a certain angular movement when the roller 9'7 engages the hardened plate.
  • the rod 81 as viewed in Fig. 8, will be turned in a counterclockwise direction, which will bring the shoulder into the path of movement of the hardened steel bar '79.
  • the rod 80 will turn in a clockwise direction, and bring the shoulder 94 into the path of movement of the other hardened steel bar '79.
  • This swinging movement of the indexing levers 83 and 84 will exert a pull on the wires 28 connected thereto.
  • the wire 28 serves as a mechanical means for connecting each starting and stopping mechanism of a metal working unit with p the starting and stopping devices of the indexing mechanism.
  • This mechanical means connecting each unit with the indexing mechanism insures that the metal working unit shall have completed its cycle of operation before the indexing mechanism is permitted to operate for the turning of the turret carrying the material being worked upon.
  • the indexing mechanism which shifts the turret after it has moved the turret to a set position, then operates simultaneously to start all of the metal working units.
  • a metal working machine has been constructed which includes a supporting table on which is mounted a work supporting turret which is motor operated, and which is moved to diflferent set positions by an indexing mechanism. There is also mounted on this table a series of self-contained, independently operated metal working units. These metal working units may be setin diflerent positions on the table at different angles to the plane of rotation of the turret. There is a control means associated with each metal working unit for starting and stopping the same, and a control means in connection with the indexing mechanism for starting and stopping the turret.
  • each metal working unit and the indexing mechanism Extending between each metal working unit and the indexing mechanism is the flexible Bowden Wire connections which will operate regardless of the position of the seating of the metal working unit, so that the indexing mechanism is set into operation for turning the turret only after all of the metal working units have completed their operation, and the metal working units are simultaneously started as the turret completes its operation.
  • the metal working units may be set into action just before the turret finishes its movement to a set position so long as the material is in a set position when the tools are brought into engagement therewith.
  • a metal working machine comprising in combination, metal working units which are separately mounted and shiftable, each of which has a self-contained driving and feeding mechanism and a control means for starting and for automatically stopping the feed thereof upon completion of its working cycle, a work supporting turret, actuating mechanism for indexing said turret, a control means for starting and for automatically stopping the actuating mechanism for said turret, separate devices connecting the control means for the turret to each control means for the metal working units, simultaneously movable in one direction by the control means in the turret for starting the metal working units, and individually movable in the opposite direction by the respective control means of the metal working units, as each unit completes its working cycle for initiating the operation of the turret when all of the working cycles are completed.
  • a metal working machine comprising in combination, metal working units which are separately mounted and shiftable, each of which has a self-contained driving and feeding mechanism and a control means for starting and for automatically stopping the feed thereof upon completion of its working cycle, a work supporting turret, actuating mechanism for indexing 1 said turret, a control means for starting and for automatically stopping the actuating mechanism for said turret, flexible members connecting the control means for the turret to each control means for the metal working units, simultaneously operated by the control means for the turret for starting the metal working units and operated individually by the control means of the metal working units as each unit completes its working cycle for initiating the operation of-the turret when all of said working cycles are completed.
  • a metal working machine comprising in combination metal working units which are separately mounted and shiftable, each of which has a self-contained driving and feeding mechanism and a control means for starting and automatically stopping the feed thereof upon the completion of its working cycle, a work supporting turret, actuating mechanism for indexing said turret, control means for starting and automatically stopping the actuating mechanism for the turret including a series of members one for each metal working unit, devices connecting each member to its associated control means in the metal working units, means moving with said actuating mechanism for the turret adapted to be engaged by said members for stopping said actuating mechanism, said members being shiftable by the control means of the metal working units as each completes its working cycle for releasing said actuating mechanism to initiate the indexing of the turret when all working cycles are completed.
  • a metal working machine comprising in combination metal working units which are separately mounted and shiftable, each of which has a self-contained driving and feeding mechanism and a control means for starting and automatically stopping the feed thereof upon the completion of its working cycle, a work supporting turret, actuating mechanism for indexing said turret, control means for starting and automatically stopping the actuating mechanism for the turret including a series of members one for each metal working unit, devices connecting each member to its associated control means in the metal working units, means moving with said actuating mecha- ⁇ nism for the turret adapted to be engaged by said members for stopping said actuating mechanism, said members being shiftable by the control means of the metal working units as each completes its working cycle for releasing said actuating mechanism to initiate the indexing of the turret when all working cycles are completed and means operated by said actuating means for the turret for simultaneously shifting all of said members when the turret has been moved to a predetermined set position for simultaneously starting said working units.
  • a metal working machine comprising in combination metal working units which are separately mounted and shiftable, each of which has a self-contained driving and feeding mechanism and a control means for starting and automatically stopping the feed thereof upon the completion of its working cycle, a work supporting turret, actuating mechanism for indexing said turret, control means for starting and automatically stopping the actuating mechanism for the turret including a series of members one for each metal working unit, devices connecting each member to its associated control means in the metal working units, means moving with saidactuating mechanism for the turret adapted to be engaged by said. members for stopping said actuating mechanism.
  • a metal working machine comprising in combination metalworking units which are separately mounted and shiftable, each of which has a self-contained driving and feeding mechanism and a control means for starting and automatically stopping the feed thereof upon the completion of its working cycle, a work supporting turret, actuating mechanism for indexing said turret, control means for starting and automatically stopping the actuating mechanism for the turret including a series of levers, one for each metal working unit, devices connecting each lever to its associated control means in the metal working unit, members moving with said actuating mechanism for the turret adapted to be engaged by said levers for stopping said actuating mechanism, said levers being shiftable by the control means of the metal working units as each completes its working cycle for releasing said actuating mechanism to initiate the indexing of the turret when all working cycles are completed.
  • a metal working machine comprising in combination metal working units which are separately mounted and shiftable, each of which has a self-contained driving and feeding mechanism and a control means for starting and automatically stopping the feed thereof upon the completion of its Working cycle.
  • a metal working machine comprising in combination metal Working units which are separately mounted and shiftable, each of which has a self-contained driving and feeding mechanism and a control means for starting and automatically stopping the feed thereof upon the completion of its working cycle, a work supporting turret, actuating mechanism for indexing said turret, control means for starting and automatically stopping the actuating mechanism for the turret, including a drum connected to and moving with said actuating mechanism for the turret, a series of levers associated-with said drum,
  • An indexing mechanism for a metal working machine comprising a turret, means for rotating the turret including mechanism for automatically starting and stopping the movements of the turret, a drum rotating with said operating mechanism, rods parallel with the axis of said drum, a sleeve bushing on each rod, a series of indexing levers mounted on said bushing, washer plates between the indexing levers, springs for yieldingly forcing the washer plates into contact with the levers for frictionally connecting the levers to the rods, arms connected to the rods and connected to each other for simultaneously oscillating the rods, a roller carried by the drum, and a hardened plate carried by one of said arms with which said roller contacts for shifting the arms to simultaneously move the levers to a position for stopping the drum, said levers being movable independent of the arms for releasing the drum.
  • a metal working machine comprising a series of self -contained, separately mounted metal working units each including an operating motor and mechanism for starting and automatically stopping the feed of the metal working unit after said feed has completed its cycle of movement, a work supporting turret, a motor-operated mechanism for intermittently rotating said turret, an indexing lever for each metalworking unit, a flexible wire connecting the indexing lever to the starting and stopping mechanism of its respective metal working unit, a drum associated with said indexing levers and rotating with the operating mechanism for the turret, and means whereby said indexing levers when shifted to one set position will stop the drum and initiate the operation of each of the metal working units, and whereby said indexing levers when shifted to another set position by the stopping of the metal working units will release the drum to initiate the operation of the turret.
  • a metal working machine comprising a series of self-contained, separately mounted metal working units each including an operating motor and mechanism for starting and automatically stopping the feed of the metal working unit after said feed has completed its cycle of movement, a work supporting turret, a motor-operated mechanism for intermittently rotating said turret, an
  • each metal working unit indexing lever associated with each metal working unit
  • said indexing levers being associated with the operating mechanism for the turret for starting and stopping the same
  • the starting and stopping mechanism of each metal working unit including a control lever, a flexible wire connecting the control lever with its respective indexing lever, means whereby the movement of the control lever to a set position will release the feeding mechanism of its metal working unit, and means operated by the feeding mechanism of the metal working unit for shifting the control lever when the metal working unit has completed its feed cycle for shifting the indexing lever to release the drum.
  • a metal working machine comprising a series of self -contained, separately mounted metal working units each including an operating motor and mechanism for starting and automatically stopping the feed of the metal working unit after said feed has completed its cycle of movement, a Work supporting turret, a motor-operated mechanism for intermittently rotating said turret, an indexing lever associated with each metal working unit, said indexing levers being associated with the operating mechanism for the turret for starting and stopping the same, the starting and stopping mechanism of each metal working unit including a control lever, a flexible wire connecting the control lever with its respective indexing lever, a stop lever, toggles connecting the stop lever to the control lever whereby the shifting of the control lever to a set position will shift the stop lever to release the feed of the metal working unit, and means whereby the feed of the metal working unit operates to shift the control lever when said feed has substantially completed its cycle of movement.
  • a metal working machine comprising in combination a supporting frame, a series of selfcontained, independently operable metal working units separately mounted on said frame and adapted to be shifted independently to different set positions, each metal working unit comprising a rotary and axially movable tool spindle, feeding means for advancing and retracting said spindle, a motor mounted in said working unit, a control means for starting and for automatically stopping the feeding means, a work supporting turret mounted on said frame, means for intermittently rotating said turret, a control means for starting and for automatically stopping the turret, and a flexible element connecting the control means of each metal working unit to the control means for the turret and operating when moved in one direction by the control means of the turret for simultaneously as the turret completes its movement to a. set position, and operating when moved in the opposite direction by the control means of the metal working units to initiate the operation of the turret when all the metal working units have completed their feed cycle.
  • a metal working machine comprising in combination a supporting frame, a series of selfcontained, independently operable metal working units separately mounted on said frame and adapted to be shifted independently to different set positions, each unit including an operating tool, feeding means for advancing and retracting said tool, a control means for starting and for automatically stopping the feeding means, a work supporting turret mounted on said frame, means for intermittently rotating said turret, a control means for starting and for automatically stopping the turret, a flexible wire connecting the control means for the turret to the control means for each unit and operating when moved in one direction by the control means of the turret for simultaneously starting the metal working units as the turret completes its movement to a set position and operating when moved in the opposite direction by the control means of the metal working units to initiate the operation of the turret when all of the metal working units have completed their feed cycle.
  • a metal working machine comprising in combination, a supporting frame, a series of self-contained, independently operated metal working units separately mounted on said frame and adapted to be shifted independently to different set positions, each metal working unit comprising an operating tool, feeding means for advancing and retracting the tool, a control means for starting and for automatically stoppingthe feeding means, a work supporting turret mounted on the frame, means for intermittently rotating said turret, a control means for starting and for automatically stopping the turret, a flexible element associated with the control means for the turret and with the control means for each working unit, means associated with the turret operating means for simultaneously moving said elements in one direction for initiating the feed of the working units, and means associated with the control means of each metal working unit for moving said elements in the opposite direction to initiate the operation of the turret when all the metal working units'have completed their feed cycle.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Automatic Tool Replacement In Machine Tools (AREA)

Description

p 1934- E. J. KINGSBURY ET! AL ,9
INDEXING AND CONTROL MECHANISM FOR INDEPENDENT METAL WORKING UNITS Filed March 9, 1952 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Edwami King- 611 John L. Anderspn,
By W 8.
p 3 E. J. KINGSBURY El AL 1,975,006
INDEXING AND CONTROL MECHANISM FOR INDEPENDENT METAL WORKING UNITS Filed March- 9, 1932 a Sheets-Sheet 2 lntjen-l'ohn Edward Jzmngsbuzy John EAndergo'n,
p 1934- E. J. KINGSBURY El AL 1,975,006 INDEXING AND CONTROL MECHANISM FOR INDEPENDENT METAL WORKING UNITS Filed March 9, 1932 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 will I 2 UM \w ,5 43
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Sep 25, 1934. E. J. KINGSBURY ET AL 1,975,006
INDEXI NG AND CONTROL MECHANISM FOR INDEPENDENT METAL WORKING UNITS Filed March 9 1952 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Inueniors: T: Edwazrd J Jfi'ngsfillqy? Jfoizn EAndengoz-z,
yWEMMwW p 1934- E. J. KINGSBURY ET AL INDEXING AND CONTROL MECHANISM FOR INDEPENDENT METAL WORKING UNITS Filed March 9, 1932 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 m w &
m WMM 3 am mm H 7 VA N R v .4 ul M 1|. w1 ...,........U 22M Tm |||l| aa V EJ K p 1934- E. J. KINGSBURY ET AL 1,975,006
INDEXING AND CONTROL MECHANISM FOR INDEPENDENT METAL WORKING UNITS Filed March 9,1952 8 Sheets-Sheet e Inv/ nZ'ors: Edmund J Jfi'nggbalyg, John EAnderJ-pn, .9 WMWrmA-m Sept. 25, 1934. EIYJ K|NGsBuRY AL 7 1,975,006
INDEXING AND CONTROL MECHANISM FOR INDEPENDENT METAL WORKING UNITS Filed March 9, 1952 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 Edwarfl vlJfz'nywggz John EAnderJon,
1Z9 mwwmmm Sept- 1934- J. KINGSBURY ET AL 1,975,006
INDEXING AND CONTROL MECHANISM FOR INDEPENDENT METAL WORKING UNITS Filed March 9, 1932 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Eig. 16.
1 v 25 Inventors.
i EdwavdJfi'nysburaZ John EAnder-wn, By nya,
Patented Sept. 25, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE INDEXING AND CONTROL MECHANISM FOR INDEPENDENT METAL WORKING UNITS of New Hampshire Application March 9, 1932, Serial No. 597,814
- 16 Claims.' (CI. 2938) The invention relates to new and useful improvements in a mechanical indexing control mechanism for a metal working machine wherein the material to be operated upon is presented in succession to a series of separate, self-contained,
motor-operated metal working units. An object of the invention is to provide an indexing control mechanism for a machine of the above type wherein the indexing device operates through mechanical means for simultaneously initiating the operation of the metal working units and the metal working units in turn operate through said mechanical means for permitting the next cycle of operation of the indexing device, only after each metal working unit has completed its operation.
A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of the above type wherein the indexing mechanism for intermittently rotating the turret 26 is provided with a starting and automatic stopping mechanism, and wherein said metal working units operate through the-mechanical devices for initiating the operation of the indexing mechanism when each of the metal working units has completed its operation.
A still further object of the invention is to provide a machine of the above type having a series of self-contained metal working units, each of which is provided with a starting and stopping means, and an indexing mechanism therefor which is self-contained and motor operated and provided with a starting and stopping means, with mechanical devices connecting the starting and stopping means of the indexing mechanism with each starting and stopping means of the metal working units, whereby the stopping of all of the metal working units operates through said mechanical devices for initiating the operation of the indexing mechanism, and wherein the indexing mechanism simultaneously initiates through said mechanical devices the operation of all of the metal working units.
These and other objects will in part be obvious and will in part be hereinafter more fully disclosed.
In the drawings which show by way of illustration one embodiment of the invention Figure 1 is a plan view showing more or less diagrammatically a series of metal working units and the improved indexing and control devices therefor;
Fig. 2 is a front view of the same. the intermediate metal working unit being omitted for the sake of clearness;
Fig. 3 is a plan view of the work supporting turret with the work holders removed;
Fig. 4 is a central vertical section through the work holder turret;
Fig. 5 is an enlarged plan of the automatic indexing unit for controlling the metal working units;
Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5;
Fig. '7 is a sectional view on the line 7'7 of Fig. 5;
. Fig. 8 is a detail in horizontal section showing the control levers of the indexing device when said indexing device is released in operating to position the work holding turret;
Fig. 9 is a detail in front elevation showing a portion of the indexing mechanism;
Fig. 10 is an enlarged detail partly in section and partly in front elevation of the control drum for the indexing device;
Fig. 11 is an enlarged detail of a portion of one of the metal working units, showing the starting and stopping mechanism therefor;
Fig. 12 is a front View of the metal working unit;
Fig. 13 is a sectional view on the line 13l3 of Fig. 11;
Fig. 14 is a View showing the starting and stopping mechanism in position for releasing the metal working tool for its cycle of operation;
Fig. 15 is a sectional view on the line 15-15 of Fig. 11;
Fig. 16 is a view in side elevation showing the control lever of the starting and stopping mechamsm;
Fig. 17 is a side elevation of one of the toggle levers of the starting and stopping mechanism;
Fig. 18 is a side view of the link of the toggle mechanism which is connected to the stop lever, and
Fig 19 is a view showing the stop lever positioned for stopping the operation of the metal working unit.
The invention has to do with a metal working machine which includes a series of self -contained, motor operated metal working units. These metal working units may be drill spindles, milling spindles, or any other suitable metal working units. The metal working units are preferably provided, with tools for operating in sequence upon metal parts. Each metal working unit is provided with a starting mechanism and an automatic stopping mechanism, so that when the metal working unit has passed through a cycle of operations, as for example, the drilling of a part, it will be automatically stopped. Associated with these metal working units is a work holding turretand an indexing device therefor for presenting the material first to one metal working unit and then another. This indexing turret is motor driven through a mechanism which will turn the turret for moving the same through one step of a cycle of operations so as to convey the material operated upon from one working unit station to another working unit station, and finally to an idle station where the material may be removed from the work holding turret. The indexing device associated with the turret includes devices which are connected to the starting and stopping mechanism of the metal working units. There is an indexing device for each mechanical metal working unit, and a mechanical connection between this indexing device and the starting and stopping mechanism therefor. The indexing mechanism includes control means so that the operation of the metal working units can be simultaneously initiated only after the indexing mechanism has performed its operation and the turret has positioned the material for the operation of the metal working unit, and so that the indexing mechanism can only be initiated after each of the metal working units have completed its cycle of operation.
It is believed the invention will be better understood by a detail description of the illustrated embodiment thereof.
Figures 1 and 2 show more or less diagrammatically a metal working machine which includes, as illustrated, three self-contained metal working units 1, 2 and 3. Each unit is provided with a motor indicated at M, and carries a working tool indicated at 1. These metal working units are carried by a frame which may be in the form of a supporting table indicated in broken lines at T (Fig. 2). The material to be operated upon is mountedin a work holder 5, carried by a work holding turret 6. There are four work holders as shown in Fig. 1. The metal working units are disposed symmetrically about the center of rotation of the work holding turret, and as shown, the metal working unit 2 is disposed ninety degrees from the metal working unit 1, and the metal working unit 3 is likewise disposed ninety degrees from the metal working unit 2. This provides an idle station between the metal working units 3 and 1. The work holding turret 6 rotates in the direction of the arrow, and thus material loaded on the work holder at the idle station may be first presented to the metal working unit 1, then to the metal Working unit 2, and then to the metal working unit 3, and finally to the idle station where it may be removed.
It will be understood that these metal Working units which are self-contained, may be increased in number, and may be otherwise disposed relative to the work holding turret, but it is essential that they be symmetricaly disposed thereto and in such angular position that the material may be first presented to one metal working unit and then another.
Each metal working unit includes means for operating the tool and means for feeding the tool. These metal working units may be of the type shown and described in the patent granted Edward J. Kingsbury, October 28, 1930, No. 1,780,083.
In Figures 11 to 18, inclusive, there is shown the starting and stopping mechanism for the feed of the metal working units. The tool spindle carrying the working tool is moved forward for feeding the tool to the material by a segment 8 carrying a segment gear 9 operating as shown in said patent for feeding the carrier for the tool spindle. This segment 8 is pivoted at 10 to the supporting frame of the metal working unit. Mounted on the frame 11 is the control cam 12 for the segment 8. Said cam operates on a roller 13. The control cam 12 is actuated by a mechanism which is disconnected from the main actuating shaft when a stop mechanism is moved into the path of travel of the part carried by the control cam. This mechanism is all shown and described in detail in the patent referred to, and further description thereof is not thought necessary.
Mounted on the control cam is a block 14. This block 14 engages a plate 15 carried by the stop lever 16. The stop lever 16 is provided with a sleeve 17 which is freely mounted on the pivot rod carrying the segment 8. Theblock 14 is set in a recess in the lever so that it is housed therein and may be riveted by screws or bolts, one of which is indicated at 18 in Fig. 15 of the drawings. The upper end of the stop lever 16 carries a pivot pin 19 to which a link 20 is connected. The link 20 is in turn connected to a rock arm 21. The rock arm 21, together with the link 20, form a toggle lever for positioning the stop lever 16. The toggle lever is in turn operated by a control lever 22. The control lever 22 is fixed to a shaft 23 mounted in a supporting bushing 24 in the frame of the metal working unit. The rock arm 21 is journaled on this bushing 24 and turns thereon independent of the movements of the shaft 23. The rock arm 21 carries a forwardly projecting member 25 which lies between the forks 26 and 27 of the control lever 22. These forks are spaced a distance slightly greater than the width of this projecting member 25.
The control lever 22 is connected to a flexible wire 28. Said control lever is forked at its outer end, and freely carried by the forked end of the control lever is a pin 29 having an annular recess formed therein. The wire 28 is bent back on itself to form a hook which engages the pin 29. The end of the hook is bent around the pin, so that the space between the hook end and the body of the wire is less than the diameter of the reduced portion of the pin, and therefore, the wire when attached to the pin will hold the pin in place. Furthermore, the wire may be readily detached from this pin. The purpose of the wire when moved in a direction away from the metal working unit is to shift the control lever 22 so as to start the metal working unit into action. A further purpose of this wire, as will be hereinafter more fully described, is to control the indexing mechanism for the work holding turret so as to insure that the indexing mechanism cannot be set into operation until the stop mechanism of each metal working unit pulls on the wire or moves the same in a direction toward the metal working unit. When this wire is moved to the right, as viewed in Fig. 11, it will swing the lever 22, causing the fork 26 carried thereby to engage the member 25 carried by the rock arm 21, and this will turn said rock arm in a clockwise direction, pulling on the link 20 and swinging the stop lever 16 so as to remove the plate 15 from in front of the block 14. As soon as the plate has been shifted so that a release of the control cam 12 takes place, it will immediately begin to turn. The forward end of the block 14 is cam-shaped, and even after the pull on the wire 28 ceases, the cam block will force the stop lever away from the control cam,
and this will swing the member 25 into engagement with the fork 2'7 of the control lever 22. This sets the metal working unit into operation, and its operation will continue for a feed cycle, feeding the tool into engagement with the material, and after the tool has completed its metal working operation, it is then retracted. This completes the cycle of operation of the metal working tool. Pivoted to the rock arm 21 is a bar 30. This bar 30 slides in a supporting block 31 carried by the stop lever 16. Said block has a flanged head 32 fitting in a recess in one face of the stop lever 16. The block extends all the way through and projects from the other face of the stop lever, and has a recess 33 through the end thereof in which this bar 30 slides. This provides a sliding support for the ba permitting it to not only move endwise, but to oscillate sufiiciently so that the pivot pin 34 attaching the bar 30 to the member 25 may move about the supporting axis of the rock arm 21. The outer end of the bar 30 is cam-shaped as indicated at 35.
During the rotation of the control cam 12, and just prior to the completing of its rotation, the block 14 will engage the cam end 35 of this bar 30 and will force said bar in an endwise direction. This bar operating through its pivotal connection with the member 25 will turn the rock arm 21 in a counter-clockwise direction and will move the plate 15 into the path of movement of the block 14 so that the block 14 will engage the plate and cause the control cam to stop. As the rock arm 21- moves from the full line position in Fig. 14 to the full line position .as shown in Fig.
11, the member 25 engaging the fork 26 will swing the control lever 22, and this will pull on the control wire 28, or move the same to the left, as viewed in Fig. 11.
From the above it will be apparent that when the control lever 22 is moved in a clockwise direction, the control cam 12 will be released and the metal working unit will perform its cycle of operation, after which it will automatically stop, repositioning the stop lever 16 and turning the control lever 22 in a counter-clockwise direction, and thus exert a pull on' the wire 28 which moves the same to the left, as viewed in Fig. 11. The control wire 28 is mounted in a sheathing 36 which is preferably formed of spring wire, and this makes a very flexible mechanical means whereby either a pull or a push on the wire may be used to transmit power between distant points. The sheathing or casing for the wire is secured in a split collar 37 carried by a bracket 38 attached to the frame of the metal working unit. The metal working units are all alike in construction and each includes this starting and stopping mechanism which has just been described in detail.
The work supporting turret 6 is mounted on a shaft 39 which in turn is mounted in suitable hearings in a supporting frame or housing 40. Fixed to the turret and turning therewith'is a disk 41. Said disk 41 is provided with a sleeve 42 carrying a hardened bushing 43. A stop pin 44 is mounted for vertical reciprocation in bushings carried by the housing 40. A lever 45 has a forked end 46 connected to said pin 44 for raising and lowering the same. A spring 4'7 encircling a rod 48 operates through said rod for swinging the lever 45 so as to raise the pin 44 into the sleeve bushing 43. This stops the turret and locks it from turning. The lever 45 is controlled by a cam 49 having a side cam face with which a roller 50 on the lever 45 contacts. This cam 49 is mounted on the shaft 51 which operates the turret intermittently. The disk 41 is provided with four radial slots 52, 53, 54 and 55. On the upper end of the shaft 51 is a disk 56 carrying a roller 57 which is eccentrically located relative to the axis of the shaft. As the shaft rotates, this disk 56 will give to the roller 57, a circular path of travel. The roller runs in the radial grooves and in an annular recess 58 formed in the under face of the disk 41, and at the inner end of the radial slots. The roller travels around the center of the shaft 51 in a clockwise direction. As viewed in Fig. 3, it is just leaving the slot 55 and will move across the recess 58 and enter the slot'54. During this time the turret is locked and is stationary. The turret is released when the roller enters the radial slot 54, and as the rotation of the shaft 51 continues, it will move the turret through an angle of ninety degrees. Thus it is that the turret is given an intermittent motion through angles of ninety degrees, and this positions the work holder first at one metal working unit station and then at another, as described above. The shaft 51 is driven by a motor operated indexing device which is self-contained. The shaft 51 has a universal connection with a shaft section 59, and the shaft section 59 has a universal connection with a vertical shaft 60 mounted for rotation in bearings 61, 62 and 63 carried by a housing 64. Mounted on the housing 64 is a motor M carrying a motor shaft 65 provided with a gear 66 which meshes with a gear 6'7 on a sleeve shaft 68. Said sleeve shaft 68 carries one member of a friction clutch 69 which is adapted to cooperate with a friction clutch member '70 on the shaft section '71 carrying the worm gear '72. The worm gear-'72 meshes with a worm wheel '73 which is fixed to the shaft 60. Thus it is that the shaft 60 is driven through the friction clutch connection by the motor M carried by the housing 64. The shaft section '71 is carried by a shiftable member '74. A spring '75 normally moves the shaft section '71 so as to cause the clutch members to engage each other. When, however, a stop is moved into the path of a part carried by the shaft 60 so as to stop its movement, then the worm wheel stops and the shaft section '71 will continue to turn and in a direction which will cause it to travel endwise and separate the clutch members. This operating mechanism for the turet is similar in construction to the operating mechanism shown in the Kingsbury patent above referred to.
Associated with this driving mechanism for the work holding turret is an indexing mechanism which is provided with devices for simultaneously setting into operation the metal working units after the work holding turret has taken the position so that the material carried thereby is properly set for the operating of the tools thereon. This indexing mechanism also includes devices which stop the indexing mechanism and retains it in a set stopped position until all of the metal working units have completed their cycle of operation.
Mounted in the housing containing the friction clutch associated with the indexing mechasteel bar '79. Mounted in the extension housing I is a sleeve bushing 82. Journaled in the sleeve bushing 82 carried by the rod is a series of indexing levers 83. Mounted on the sleeve bushing 82 carried by the rod 81 is another series of indexing levers 84. As shown in Figs. 6, '7 and 9, there are many more indexing levers than required for the control of the three indexing units shown in Fig. 1. There is an indexing lever for each metal working unit.
Mounted on the sleeve bushing 82 is a series of washer plates 85. These washer plates extend across and encircle both sleeve bushings and are disposed between the indexing levers. A spring -86 bears against the plate 87 which in turn bears against the lowermost washer, pressing the washers into contact with the arms 84 so as to hold the arms in a set position. The arms are all free to turn on the sleeve bushings. There is a spring 88 located within a sleeve 89 which presses the sleeve upward against the lowermost washer, and this aids in placing the'arms 83 under tension so that they will be held in a set position. Mounted at the upper end of the rod 81 is an arm 90. Mounted on the upper end of the rod 80 is an arm 91. These arms are provided with intermeshing gear teeth, so that the turning of one rod will cause the other rod to be turned through the same angular distance. Mounted on the rod 81 near the lower end thereof is an arm 92. There is a similar arm 93 mounted at the lower end of the rod 80, and these two arms 92 and 93 are provided with intermeshing gear teeth. When the rods are turned, the sleeve bushings will turn therewith, and the indexing levers mounted on the rods will be moved with the rods; Each indexing lever, however, may be moved independently of the others when the rods are stationary. The indexing levers 83 are each provided with a shoulder 94. The indexing levers 84 are each provided with a shoulder 95. The drum '78 rotates with the shaft 60 and rotates in the direction of the arrow as viewed in Figures 5 and 8. The shoulders 94 and 95 are so shaped that when the levers are moved inward to the position shown in Fig. 5, the hardened steel bars 79, '79 will contact with the respective shoulders, and this will stop the rotation of the worm gear, bringing about a separation "of the clutch members,and thus astopping of the meanswhich turns the turret. The shaft 60 will not be rotated again until these indexing levers 83 and 84 have all released the bars '79. The wire 28 extending from the metal working unit 1 is connected to one of these levers; the wire 28 extending from the metal working unit 2 is connected to another of these indexing levers, and the wire 28 extending from the third metal working unit is connected to still another indexing lever. The assembled indexing mechanism will contain only as many active indexing levers as there are metal working units.
In order to make clear the description, it is assumed that the wire indicated at 28 in Fig. 5 is connected to the metal working unit 1; and the wire 28 therein is connected to the metal working unit 2. The wire 28 has the end thereof bent into hook form which engages a pin 84 on the uppermost indexing lever 84. The wire 28 is provided with a hook end which engages a pin 83 on the uppermost indexing lever 83. The metal working unit 1 as it completes its operation, causes the block 14 to engage the bar 35 and this will swing the control lever 22 so as to pull on the wire 28. This pull on the wire 28 or 28, as indicated in Fig. 5, swings the indexing lever 84 so as to release the drum 78. The indexing lever 83 will still retain its hold on the drum and prevent rotation thereof until the stop mechanism oi. the metal working unit 2 operates through the control lever to pull on the wire 28'. The pull on the wire 28 releases the indexing lever 83 from its hold on the drum. The metal working unit 3 must likewise operate through its stop mechanism to pull on its control wire and move the indexing lever associated therewith from its hold on the drum before the drum can begin to rotate. This insures that all of the metal working units shall have completed their operation before the drum is released, so that it may turn to release the turret and rotate it to the necessary set position.
Mounted on the drum is a shaft 96 carrying a roller 9'7. The drum is recessed to receive the roller which projects beyond the periphery of the drum. Fixed to the arm 92 carried by the rod 81 is a hardened plate 98. This plate is secured to the arm by means of a clamping bolt 99. The roller 9'7 contacts with this hardened plate and will forcibly turn the arm 92. The arm 92 is provided with an extension 100. The arm has a similar extension, and there is a rod 101 connecting the arms, so that when the arm 92 is oscillated through the contact of the roller with the hardened plate, it will, with certainty, impart an scillation to the rod 81. The arm 93 has a similar extension connected by a rod 102 to an extension on the arm 91. These arms with their interengag-- ing teeth insure that both the rods 80 and 81 will be given a certain angular movement when the roller 9'7 engages the hardened plate. The rod 81, as viewed in Fig. 8, will be turned in a counterclockwise direction, which will bring the shoulder into the path of movement of the hardened steel bar '79. The rod 80 will turn in a clockwise direction, and bring the shoulder 94 into the path of movement of the other hardened steel bar '79. This swinging movement of the indexing levers 83 and 84 will exert a pull on the wires 28 connected thereto.
after each of the metal working units has com- I pleted its cycle of operation. The disposition and timing of the parts is such that the indexing mechanism will not start the metal working units until the positioning of the turret has been completed and the turret is locked in its newly set position. In this connection, it will be noted that the turret is stopped by the locking pin dropping into the hardened sleeve bushing through the This pull on the wire 28 will exert a pull on the control lever 21, thus releasing actuation of the spring when the control cam releases the locking lever. When the turret stops It is thought that the operation of the indexing and control mechanism which has been described in detail will be clear from the description which has been given. The wire 28 serves as a mechanical means for connecting each starting and stopping mechanism of a metal working unit with p the starting and stopping devices of the indexing mechanism. This mechanical means connecting each unit with the indexing mechanism insures that the metal working unit shall have completed its cycle of operation before the indexing mechanism is permitted to operate for the turning of the turret carrying the material being worked upon. Likewise, the indexing mechanism which shifts the turret after it has moved the turret to a set position, then operates simultaneously to start all of the metal working units.
From the above it will, be noted that a metal working machine has been constructed which includes a supporting table on which is mounted a work supporting turret which is motor operated, and which is moved to diflferent set positions by an indexing mechanism. There is also mounted on this table a series of self-contained, independently operated metal working units. These metal working units may be setin diflerent positions on the table at different angles to the plane of rotation of the turret. There is a control means associated with each metal working unit for starting and stopping the same, and a control means in connection with the indexing mechanism for starting and stopping the turret. Extending between each metal working unit and the indexing mechanism is the flexible Bowden Wire connections which will operate regardless of the position of the seating of the metal working unit, so that the indexing mechanism is set into operation for turning the turret only after all of the metal working units have completed their operation, and the metal working units are simultaneously started as the turret completes its operation. The metal working units may be set into action just before the turret finishes its movement to a set position so long as the material is in a set position when the tools are brought into engagement therewith.
Having thus described the invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. A metal working machine comprising in combination, metal working units which are separately mounted and shiftable, each of which has a self-contained driving and feeding mechanism and a control means for starting and for automatically stopping the feed thereof upon completion of its working cycle, a work supporting turret, actuating mechanism for indexing said turret, a control means for starting and for automatically stopping the actuating mechanism for said turret, separate devices connecting the control means for the turret to each control means for the metal working units, simultaneously movable in one direction by the control means in the turret for starting the metal working units, and individually movable in the opposite direction by the respective control means of the metal working units, as each unit completes its working cycle for initiating the operation of the turret when all of the working cycles are completed.
2. A metal working machine comprising in combination, metal working units which are separately mounted and shiftable, each of which has a self-contained driving and feeding mechanism and a control means for starting and for automatically stopping the feed thereof upon completion of its working cycle, a work supporting turret, actuating mechanism for indexing 1 said turret, a control means for starting and for automatically stopping the actuating mechanism for said turret, flexible members connecting the control means for the turret to each control means for the metal working units, simultaneously operated by the control means for the turret for starting the metal working units and operated individually by the control means of the metal working units as each unit completes its working cycle for initiating the operation of-the turret when all of said working cycles are completed.
3. A metal working machine comprising in combination metal working units which are separately mounted and shiftable, each of which has a self-contained driving and feeding mechanism and a control means for starting and automatically stopping the feed thereof upon the completion of its working cycle, a work supporting turret, actuating mechanism for indexing said turret, control means for starting and automatically stopping the actuating mechanism for the turret including a series of members one for each metal working unit, devices connecting each member to its associated control means in the metal working units, means moving with said actuating mechanism for the turret adapted to be engaged by said members for stopping said actuating mechanism, said members being shiftable by the control means of the metal working units as each completes its working cycle for releasing said actuating mechanism to initiate the indexing of the turret when all working cycles are completed.
4. A metal working machine comprising in combination metal working units which are separately mounted and shiftable, each of which has a self-contained driving and feeding mechanism and a control means for starting and automatically stopping the feed thereof upon the completion of its working cycle, a work supporting turret, actuating mechanism for indexing said turret, control means for starting and automatically stopping the actuating mechanism for the turret including a series of members one for each metal working unit, devices connecting each member to its associated control means in the metal working units, means moving with said actuating mecha- {nism for the turret adapted to be engaged by said members for stopping said actuating mechanism, said members being shiftable by the control means of the metal working units as each completes its working cycle for releasing said actuating mechanism to initiate the indexing of the turret when all working cycles are completed and means operated by said actuating means for the turret for simultaneously shifting all of said members when the turret has been moved to a predetermined set position for simultaneously starting said working units.
5. A metal working machine comprising in combination metal working units which are separately mounted and shiftable, each of which has a self-contained driving and feeding mechanism and a control means for starting and automatically stopping the feed thereof upon the completion of its working cycle, a work supporting turret, actuating mechanism for indexing said turret, control means for starting and automatically stopping the actuating mechanism for the turret including a series of members one for each metal working unit, devices connecting each member to its associated control means in the metal working units, means moving with saidactuating mechanism for the turret adapted to be engaged by said. members for stopping said actuating mechanism. members being shiftable by the control of the metal working units as each completes its working cycle for releasing said actuating mechanism to initiate the indexing of the turret when all working cycles are completed and means operated by said actuating means for the turret for simultaneously shifting all of said members when the turret has been moved to a predetermined set position for simultaneously starting said working units and for stopping the actuating mechanism for the turret.
6. A metal working machine comprising in combination metalworking units which are separately mounted and shiftable, each of which has a self-contained driving and feeding mechanism and a control means for starting and automatically stopping the feed thereof upon the completion of its working cycle, a work supporting turret, actuating mechanism for indexing said turret, control means for starting and automatically stopping the actuating mechanism for the turret including a series of levers, one for each metal working unit, devices connecting each lever to its associated control means in the metal working unit, members moving with said actuating mechanism for the turret adapted to be engaged by said levers for stopping said actuating mechanism, said levers being shiftable by the control means of the metal working units as each completes its working cycle for releasing said actuating mechanism to initiate the indexing of the turret when all working cycles are completed.
7. A metal working machine comprising in combination metal working units which are separately mounted and shiftable, each of which has a self-contained driving and feeding mechanism and a control means for starting and automatically stopping the feed thereof upon the completion of its Working cycle. a work supporting turret, actuating mechanism for indexing said turret, control means for starting and automatically stopping the actuating mechanism for the turret 'including a series of levers, one for each metal working unit, devices connecting each lever to its associated control means in the metal working unit, members moving with said actuating mechanism for the turret adapted to be engaged by said levers for stopping said actuating mechanism, said levers being shiftable by the control means of the metal working units as each completes its working cycle for releasing said actuating mechanism to initiate the indexing of the turret when all working cycles are completed and means operated by said actuating means for the turret for simultaneously shifting all of said levers when the indexing turret has been moved to a predetermined set position for simultaneously starting said metal working unit and for stopping the actuating mechanism for the turret.
8. A metal working machine comprising in combination metal Working units which are separately mounted and shiftable, each of which has a self-contained driving and feeding mechanism and a control means for starting and automatically stopping the feed thereof upon the completion of its working cycle, a work supporting turret, actuating mechanism for indexing said turret, control means for starting and automatically stopping the actuating mechanism for the turret, including a drum connected to and moving with said actuating mechanism for the turret, a series of levers associated-with said drum,
one for each metal working unit, devices connecting each lever to its associated control means in a metal working unit, lugs carried by said drum adapted to engage shoulders on the levers for restraining the movement of the actuating mechanism for the turret, the control means for the metal working units operating through said levers for releasing the drum to initiate the action of the turret and means movable with the drum operating on said levers for shifting the connecting said levers to said rod whereby said levers may be simultaneously moved about the axis of the rod for stopping the drum, and whereby said levers may be independently moved about the axis of the rod for releasing the drum.
10. An indexing mechanism for a metal working machine comprising a turret, means for rotating the turret including mechanism for automatically starting and stopping the movements of the turret, a drum rotating with said operating mechanism, rods parallel with the axis of said drum, a sleeve bushing on each rod, a series of indexing levers mounted on said bushing, washer plates between the indexing levers, springs for yieldingly forcing the washer plates into contact with the levers for frictionally connecting the levers to the rods, arms connected to the rods and connected to each other for simultaneously oscillating the rods, a roller carried by the drum, and a hardened plate carried by one of said arms with which said roller contacts for shifting the arms to simultaneously move the levers to a position for stopping the drum, said levers being movable independent of the arms for releasing the drum.
11. A metal working machine comprising a series of self -contained, separately mounted metal working units each including an operating motor and mechanism for starting and automatically stopping the feed of the metal working unit after said feed has completed its cycle of movement, a work supporting turret, a motor-operated mechanism for intermittently rotating said turret, an indexing lever for each metalworking unit, a flexible wire connecting the indexing lever to the starting and stopping mechanism of its respective metal working unit, a drum associated with said indexing levers and rotating with the operating mechanism for the turret, and means whereby said indexing levers when shifted to one set position will stop the drum and initiate the operation of each of the metal working units, and whereby said indexing levers when shifted to another set position by the stopping of the metal working units will release the drum to initiate the operation of the turret.
12. A metal working machine comprising a series of self-contained, separately mounted metal working units each including an operating motor and mechanism for starting and automatically stopping the feed of the metal working unit after said feed has completed its cycle of movement, a work supporting turret, a motor-operated mechanism for intermittently rotating said turret, an
initiating the feed of the metal working units indexing lever associated with each metal working unit, said indexing levers being associated with the operating mechanism for the turret for starting and stopping the same, the starting and stopping mechanism of each metal working unit including a control lever, a flexible wire connecting the control lever with its respective indexing lever, means whereby the movement of the control lever to a set position will release the feeding mechanism of its metal working unit, and means operated by the feeding mechanism of the metal working unit for shifting the control lever when the metal working unit has completed its feed cycle for shifting the indexing lever to release the drum.
13. A metal working machine comprising a series of self -contained, separately mounted metal working units each including an operating motor and mechanism for starting and automatically stopping the feed of the metal working unit after said feed has completed its cycle of movement, a Work supporting turret, a motor-operated mechanism for intermittently rotating said turret, an indexing lever associated with each metal working unit, said indexing levers being associated with the operating mechanism for the turret for starting and stopping the same, the starting and stopping mechanism of each metal working unit including a control lever, a flexible wire connecting the control lever with its respective indexing lever, a stop lever, toggles connecting the stop lever to the control lever whereby the shifting of the control lever to a set position will shift the stop lever to release the feed of the metal working unit, and means whereby the feed of the metal working unit operates to shift the control lever when said feed has substantially completed its cycle of movement.
14. A metal working machine comprising in combination a supporting frame, a series of selfcontained, independently operable metal working units separately mounted on said frame and adapted to be shifted independently to different set positions, each metal working unit comprising a rotary and axially movable tool spindle, feeding means for advancing and retracting said spindle, a motor mounted in said working unit, a control means for starting and for automatically stopping the feeding means, a work supporting turret mounted on said frame, means for intermittently rotating said turret, a control means for starting and for automatically stopping the turret, and a flexible element connecting the control means of each metal working unit to the control means for the turret and operating when moved in one direction by the control means of the turret for simultaneously as the turret completes its movement to a. set position, and operating when moved in the opposite direction by the control means of the metal working units to initiate the operation of the turret when all the metal working units have completed their feed cycle.
15. A metal working machine comprising in combination a supporting frame, a series of selfcontained, independently operable metal working units separately mounted on said frame and adapted to be shifted independently to different set positions, each unit including an operating tool, feeding means for advancing and retracting said tool, a control means for starting and for automatically stopping the feeding means, a work supporting turret mounted on said frame, means for intermittently rotating said turret, a control means for starting and for automatically stopping the turret, a flexible wire connecting the control means for the turret to the control means for each unit and operating when moved in one direction by the control means of the turret for simultaneously starting the metal working units as the turret completes its movement to a set position and operating when moved in the opposite direction by the control means of the metal working units to initiate the operation of the turret when all of the metal working units have completed their feed cycle.
16. A metal working machine comprising in combination, a supporting frame, a series of self-contained, independently operated metal working units separately mounted on said frame and adapted to be shifted independently to different set positions, each metal working unit comprising an operating tool, feeding means for advancing and retracting the tool, a control means for starting and for automatically stoppingthe feeding means, a work supporting turret mounted on the frame, means for intermittently rotating said turret, a control means for starting and for automatically stopping the turret, a flexible element associated with the control means for the turret and with the control means for each working unit, means associated with the turret operating means for simultaneously moving said elements in one direction for initiating the feed of the working units, and means associated with the control means of each metal working unit for moving said elements in the opposite direction to initiate the operation of the turret when all the metal working units'have completed their feed cycle.
EDWARD J. ICINGSBURY. J. ELMER ANDERSON.
US597814A 1932-03-09 1932-03-09 Indexing and control mechanism for independent metal working units Expired - Lifetime US1975006A (en)

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Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2842985A (en) * 1954-03-03 1958-07-15 Kingsbury Machine Tool Corp Multiple indexing machine tool with program system
US2877670A (en) * 1956-07-30 1959-03-17 Owens Corning Fiberglass Corp Multiple spindle apparatus with radial axes
US2932223A (en) * 1954-10-06 1960-04-12 Gen Electric Control for wheel rolling machine
DE1300418B (en) * 1958-06-27 1969-07-31 Kearney & Trecker Corp Machine tool with one or more clamping points located outside the processing point
US3479712A (en) * 1967-01-10 1969-11-25 Federal Tool Eng Co Parts fabricating apparatus having readily replaceable units and indexable work holding ring structure
US3664947A (en) * 1969-10-03 1972-05-23 Hammond Machinery Builders Inc Work holder for electrochemical abrading machine
US4037493A (en) * 1975-05-27 1977-07-26 Freer Edgar P Positioning and indexing apparatus
US20160348367A1 (en) * 2006-07-25 2016-12-01 Zephyros, Inc. Structural reinforcements

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2842985A (en) * 1954-03-03 1958-07-15 Kingsbury Machine Tool Corp Multiple indexing machine tool with program system
US2932223A (en) * 1954-10-06 1960-04-12 Gen Electric Control for wheel rolling machine
US2877670A (en) * 1956-07-30 1959-03-17 Owens Corning Fiberglass Corp Multiple spindle apparatus with radial axes
DE1300418B (en) * 1958-06-27 1969-07-31 Kearney & Trecker Corp Machine tool with one or more clamping points located outside the processing point
US3479712A (en) * 1967-01-10 1969-11-25 Federal Tool Eng Co Parts fabricating apparatus having readily replaceable units and indexable work holding ring structure
US3664947A (en) * 1969-10-03 1972-05-23 Hammond Machinery Builders Inc Work holder for electrochemical abrading machine
US4037493A (en) * 1975-05-27 1977-07-26 Freer Edgar P Positioning and indexing apparatus
US20160348367A1 (en) * 2006-07-25 2016-12-01 Zephyros, Inc. Structural reinforcements

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