Tool change mechanism with magazine positioning means

Claim 2

In a machine tool; a movable tool storage magazine having a plurality of diverse tools removably carried therein; a spindlehead carrying a tool-receiving spindle, said spindlehead being supported for movement along at least one path of travel; power drive means operably connected to move said magazine; means operably connected to control the operation of said power drive means for moving said magazine with respect to said spindlehead along the path of travel of said spindlehead from a tool select position a variable distance as established by the position of said spindlehead to locate the selected tool in a tool change position relative to said spindlehead; and, tool change means operable to interchange the selected tool from said magazine with the previously used tool from said spindle.

Claim 3

A machine tool according to claim 1 including means operative at the tool select position to identify and select a desired tool for the next machining cycle while said spindle is performing a machining cycle on a workpiece; and, wherein said means to control the operation of said power drive means is activated after the completion of a machining cycle so that the desired selected tool is moved to said spindlehead for transfer to said spindle.

Claim 4

A machine tool according to claim 2 including a plunger associated with each storage position in said magazine, said plungers being normally disposed in an inoperative position and movable to an operative position; and, said means to control the operation of said power drive means includes a control positioned to be actuated by a plunger associated with a storage position in said magazine which is in an operative position to stop said power drive means so that the tool stored in the storage position associated with the plunger which actuated said control is located in a position to be transferred from said magazine to the spindle.

Claim 5

A machine tool according to claim 3 including means activated by said tool identifying and selection means to move the plunger associated with the storage position in which the selected desired tool is stored into its operative position.

Claim 6

A machine tool according to claim 4 including means operable to move a plunger from its operative position to its normal inoperative position as said magazine is actuated in a tool selecting movement.

Claim 7

In a machine tool having a column on which a spindlehead is supported for movement; a power-driven spindle operatively carried by the spindlehead, said spindle having an operating end adapted to receive tools for performing work operations; a tool storage magazine disposed at the rear of the column free of the spindlehead in a position remote from the operating end of the spindle, said magazine having a plurality of tool storage sockets in which tools are stored operably carried for movement in a path of travel in a plane which is perpendicular to the axis of the spindle; power means connected to move said tool storage sockets in their path of travel; control means operably connected to regulate the operation of said power means; tool selection means operable to select the next desired tool for utilization in the spindle, said tool selection means being operable to effect the operation of said control means for regulating said power means for stopping the movement of the tool storage socket having the next desired tool therein at the tool select position until such time as the spindle is positioned in its last work operation; means responsive to a signal from recorded data to effect the operation of said control means to regulate said power means to move the tool storage socket with the next desired tool stored therein from the tool select position to the tool transfer position defined by the last work position in the spindle; and, a tool change device supported by the spindlehead for movement in a direction parallel to the axis of the spindle for transferring a next desired tool from the storage socket located at the tool transfer position to the spindle and transferring the previously used tool form the spindle to the magazine for storage.

Claim 8

In a machine tool having a column on which a spindlehead is supported for movement; a power-driven spindle operatively carried by the spindlehead, said spindle having an operating end adapted to receive tools for performing work operations; a tool storage magazine disposed at the rear of the column free of the spindlehead in a position remote from the operating end of the spindle, said magazine having a plurality of tool storage sockets in which tools are stored operably carried for movement in a path of travel in a plane which is perpendicular to the axis of the spindle; power means connected to move said tool storage sockets in their path of travel; control means operably connected to regulate the operation of said power means; tool selection means operable to select the next desired tool for utilization in the spindle, said tool selection means being operable to effect the operation of said control means for regulating said power means for stopping the movement of the tool storage socket having the next desired tool therein at the tool select position until such time as the spindle is positioned in its last work operation; means responsive to a signal from recorded data to effect the operation of said control means to regulate said power means to move the tool storage socket with the next desired tool stored therein from the tool select position to the tool transfer position defined by the last work position in the spindle; and, a tool change device supported by the spindlehead for movement in a direction parallel to the axis of the spindle for transferring a next desired tool from the storage socket located at the tool transfer position to the spindle and transferring the previously used tool form the spindle to the magazine for storage.

Claim 9

A machine tool according to claim 6 wherein there is provided mans operable upon the arrival of the tool storage socket in which the next desired tool is stored to effect the operation of said control means to regulate said power means to locate and stop the tool socket with the next desired tool at the tool transfer position.

Claim 10

A machine tool according to claim 7 wherein a plunger is mounted in said magazine adjacent to each tool storage socket; and there is provided an actuator operable in response to a tool socket in which the next desired tool is located being located at the select position to move the plunger associated with socket in which the next desired tool is stored to an operative position; signal-producing means carried by the spindle in position to be actuated by a plunger in operative position to effect the operation of said control means to regulate the power means for locating and stopping the storagE socket with the next desired tool at the tool transfer position; and, means on said spindlehead in position to engage and return an extended plunger to an inoperative position.

Claim 11

A machine tool according to claim 6 wherein said tool change member comprising a carrier is supported on the spindlehead for movement between a forward position adjacent the operating end of the spindle and a rearward position adjacent the storage magazine; a supporting shaft carried by said carrier for bodily movement with said carrier and for independent pivotal movement from a forward-extending position to a rearwardly extending position; and, a tool change arm having tool grips on each end for engaging and holding a tool, said arm being operably carried by said shaft for movement with it and for independent rotary movement relative thereto into and out of engagement with a tool in a storage socket at the tool transfer position or into and out of engagement with a tool in the spindle.

Claim 12

A machine tool according to claim 9 wherein there is provided: a drive transmission carried by said carrier, said transmission being operable to effect the bodily movement of said carrier, the pivotal movement of said shaft, and the rotary movement of said arm selectively; and, power means operatively connected to operate said transmission.