Indexing mechanism

Claim 2

An indexing mechanism for a machine tool having a toolholder adapted to hold a plurality of angularly spaced tools, said toolholder including first and second face coupling means for positioning and preventing rotation of the toolholder, hydraulic cylinder means for raising and lowering said toolholder in order to separate and bring together said first and second face coupling means, said toolholder being rotatable to position a selected tool when said first and second face coupling means are separated; gear drive means for rotating said toolholder when said face coupling means are disengaged, hydraulic motor means for driving said gear drive means, cam means driven by said gear drive means and flow valve means having a spool responsive to said cam means for controlling fluid flow to said hydraulic motor, means for selecting an angular position of said toolholder, means responsive to said selecting means for producing continuous rotation of said motor to drive said toolholder toward the selected position past any intermediate position, and means reSponsive to said toolholder approaching said selected position for positioning said spool to be engaged by said cam means said cam means being constructed and arranged to continuously control said flow valve means upon said positioning thereof to continuously decrease flow of fluid to said motor to zero.

Claim 3

An indexing mechanism according to claim 1, in which electrical switch means are provided responsive to the position of the spool of said flow valve, said electrical switches controlling the position of said cam means.

Claim 4

An indexing mechanism according to claim 1, and including a pair of electrical switches responsive to the coupled and uncoupled position of the toolholder means, said electrical switches controlling the operation of said motor means.

Claim 5

An indexing mechanism according to claim 1, in which pressure is provided to one side of spool to cause it to follow said cam means.

Claim 6

An indexing mechanism for a machine tool, comprising toolholder means for supporting a plurality of tools mounted for rotation, said toolholder including first and second face coupling means for positioning and clamping said toolholder, means for selecting an angular position of said toolholder, hydraulic cylinder means for raising and lowering said toolholder in order to separate and bring together said face coupling means, said toolholder being rotatable when said first and second face coupling means are separated, gear drive means for rotating said toolholder, a hydraulic motor for driving said gear drive means, cam means driven by said gear driven means, flow valve means having a spool with a cam follower said cam means, first means for initiating the flow of fluid into said hydraulic cylinder to disengage said face coupling means and raise said toolholder, means response to the raised position of said toolholder for initiating the operation of hydraulic motor means to rotate said toolholder means and move said cam means, means for positioning said spool to be operated on by said cam as said toolholder approaches a selected position said spool means being responsive to said cam means upon said positioning thereof to operate said flow valve means and continuously decelerate said motor means to a stop, and means responsive to the position of said spool means and movement thereof by said cam means on said cam follower to cause said cylinder means to lower said toolholder into a clamped position.

Claim 7

An indexing mechanism for a machine tool, comprising toolholder means for supporting a plurality of tools mounted for rotation, said toolholder including first and second face coupling means for positioning and clamping said toolholder, means for selecting an angular position of said toolholder, hydraulic cylinder means for raising and lowering said toolholder in order to separate and bring together said face coupling means, said toolholder being rotatable when said first and second face coupling means are separated, gear drive means for rotating said toolholder, a hydraulic motor for driving said gear drive means, cam means driven by said gear driven means, flow valve means having a spool with a cam follower said cam means, first means for initiating the flow of fluid into said hydraulic cylinder to disengage said face coupling means and raise said toolholder, means response to the raised position of said toolholder for initiating the operation of hydraulic motor means to rotate said toolholder means and move said cam means, means for positioning said spool to be operated on by said cam as said toolholder approaches a selected position said spool means being responsive to said cam means upon said positioning thereof to operate said flow valve means and continuously decelerate said motor means to a stop, and means responsive to the position of said spool means and movement thereof by said cam means on said cam follower to cause said cylinder means to lower said toolholder into a clamped position.

Claim 8

An indexing mechanism according to claim 5, including time delay means responsive to the position of said spool for allowing the cam follower and spool to position at substantially top dead center of the cam.

Claim 9

An indexing mechanism according to claim 5, including time delay means responsive to the position of the spool for allowing the toolholder means to lower into the face coupling means without counterforces from the motor by permitting a hydraulic pressure balance around the motor.

Claim 10

The mechanism of claim 5 wherein said toolholder has a plurality of tool face holder positions, a plurality of face switches corresponding in number to the toolholder face positions, and means responsive to said face switches for skipping one of said toolholder face positions depending on the condition of one of said switches.

Claim 11

An indexing mechanism according to claim 8, including means for indexing to a stop position depending on the actuation of one of said switches.