Positioning mechanism for machine tool

Abstract

Abstract THIS DISCLOSURE RELATES TO A MULTIPLE SPEED, REVERSIBLE POSITIONING MECHANISM PARTICULARLY ADAPTED FOR USE IN POSITIONING A SLIDE OF A MACHINE TOOL. THE POSITIONING MECHANISM INCLUDES A MOTOR WHICH MAY BE EITHER FLUID OR ELECTRIC AND ARRANGED TO BE DRIVEN AT EITHER OF TWO SPEEDS. THE MOTOR MAY BE CONNECTED DIRECTLY THROUGH A CLUTCH TO A SHAFT HAVING A WORM GEAR IN ENGAGEMENT WITH A WORM WHEEL ON ANOTHER SHAFT CONNECTED TO SUITABLE GEARING TO ROTATE A FEED SCREW FOR A MACHINE SLIDE. THE MOTOR IS ALSO SELECTIVELY CONNECTIBLE THROUGH ANOTHER WORM AND WORM WHEEL, A BELT DRIVE AND A SECOND WORM AND WORM WHEEL TO DRIVE A SHAFT WHICH IS CONNECTED BY MEANS OF A SECOND CLUTCH TO THE FIRST MENTIONED SHAFT. THUS, TWO MOTOR SPEEDS AND TWO DRIVE SPEEDS ARE PROVIDED PROVIDING FOR A TOTAL OF FOUR SPEEDS FOR THE POSITIONING MOVEMENT OF THE MACHINE SLIDE. THE OPERATION OF THE MOTOR AND THE SELECTION OF THE CLUTCH TO BE ENGAGED IS AUTOMATICALLY AFFECTED BY A CONTROL SYSTEM WHICH INCLUDES A ROTARY ENCODER WHICH IS ADJUSTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ADJUSTMENT OF THE FEED SCREW BY THE POSITIONING MECHANISM AND WHICH PROVIDES A SIGNAL THROUGH SUITABLE APPARATUS TO INDICATE THE INSTANTANEOUS POSITION OF THE SLIDE IN TERMS OF THE DIMENSION OF THE WORKPIECE.

Inventors

• 👤 Ralph E Price

Bibliographic Details