Machine tool having tool loader and unloader

Claim 2

A machine tool having a tool loader and unloader station for loading a tool into and for unloading a tool from a tool station of the machine tool, which comprises: a. a frame; b. a linear fluid actuator secured to said frame and having a piston rod; c. a housing having a pair of concentric upwardly directed toolsupport surfaces each fixedly secured to aid rod to preclude relative vertical movement therebetween; d. a pair of flange members each slidably carried by said housing and respectively encircling said tool support surfaces, each of said flange members normally projecting upwardly from said tool support surfaces; e. spring means acting between said housing and each of said flange members, and enabling said flange members to be returnably yieldable to a position flush with said tool support surfaces in response to engagement with the tool station; and f. tool ejection means on aid frame for coacting with said housing.

Claim 3

A machine tool according to claim 1 in which said tool-support surfaces are substantially coplanar.

Claim 4

A machine tool according to claim 1 which includes an elongated pilot rod acting between said housing and said frame, extending parallel to and offset from said piston rod, for preventing angular rotation of said housing about the longitudinal axis of said piston rod.

Claim 5

A machine tool according to claim 1 in which both of said flange members are keyed to said housing to preclude relative angular movement.

Claim 6

A machine tool according to claim 1 in which one of said tool support surfaces is on a portion of said housing which can be selectively rotated about the piston rod axis in a fixed axial position, and a lock member for locking the rotational position of said housing portion.

Claim 7

A machine tool according to claim 5 in which both of said flange members are keyed to said housing, the keying of one of aid flange members being to said rotatable housing portion.

Claim 8

A machine tool having a Tool loader and unloader for loading a tool into and for unloading a tool from a tool station of the machine too, which comprises: a. a frame; b. a linear fluid actuator secured to said frame and having a piston rod; c. a housing secured to said rod to preclude relative vertical movement therebetween, said housing having a portion which can be selectively rotated about the piston rod axis in a fixed axial position, said housing having an upwardly directed tool-support surface; d. a flange member receptive of keyed tooling and slidably carried by said housing and encircling said tool support surface, said flange member normally projecting upwardly from aid tool support surface and being returnably yieldable to a position flush with said tool support surface in response to engagement with the tool station; e. means keying said flange member to said rotatable housing portion for rotation therewith; f. a lock member for locking the rotational position of said housing portion and flange member; and g. tool ejection means on said frame for coacting with said housing.

Claim 9

A machine tool having a Tool loader and unloader for loading a tool into and for unloading a tool from a tool station of the machine too, which comprises: a. a frame; b. a linear fluid actuator secured to said frame and having a piston rod; c. a housing secured to said rod to preclude relative vertical movement therebetween, said housing having a portion which can be selectively rotated about the piston rod axis in a fixed axial position, said housing having an upwardly directed tool-support surface; d. a flange member receptive of keyed tooling and slidably carried by said housing and encircling said tool support surface, said flange member normally projecting upwardly from aid tool support surface and being returnably yieldable to a position flush with said tool support surface in response to engagement with the tool station; e. means keying said flange member to said rotatable housing portion for rotation therewith; f. a lock member for locking the rotational position of said housing portion and flange member; and g. tool ejection means on said frame for coacting with said housing.

Claim 10

A machine tool according to claim 7 which includes an elongated pilot rod acting between said housing and said frame, extending parallel to and offset from said piston rod, for preventing angular rotation of said housing about the longitudinal axis of said piston rod.

Claim 11

A machine tool according to claim 7 which includes spring means acting between said housing and said flange member urging it toward its projecting position.

Claim 12

A machine tool having a work station, a tool loader and unloader station for loading a tool into and for unloading a tool from a movable tool station remotely from the work station of the machine tool, which comprises: a. a frame; b. a linear fluid actuator secured to said frame and having a piston rod; c. means secured to said piston rod for both reciprocating a tool assembly in said tool station and also for positively ejecting a tool in such tool assembly in response to reciprocation of said piston rod, said reciprocating means being detachable from the tool assembly in response to movement of said tool station; and d. tool raising and lowering means secured to said frame for coaction with said reciprocating means on the tool.

Claim 13

A machine tool having a work station, a tool loader and unloader station for loading a tool into and for unloading a tool from a movable tool station remotely from the work station of the machine tool, which comprises: a. a frame; b. a linear fluid actuator secured to said frame and having a piston rod; c. means secured to said piston rod for both reciprocating a tool assembly in said tool station and also for positively ejecting a tool in such tool assembly in response to reciprocation of said piston rod, said reciprocating means being detachable from the tool assembly in response to movement of said tool station; and d. tool raising and lowering means secured to said frame for coaction with said reciprocating means on the tool.

Claim 14

A machine tool according to claim 10 in which said tool raising and lowering means comprises: a. a second linear fluid actuator secured to said frame and having a piston rod; b. a housing having a pair of concentric upwardly directed tool-support surfaces each fixedly secured to said last-named rod to preclude relative vertical movement therebetween; and c. a pair of flange members each slidably carried by said housing and respectively encircling said tool support surfaces, each of said flange members normally projecting upwardly from said tool support surfaces and being returnably yieldable to a position flush with said tool support surfaces in response to engagement with the work station.

Claim 15

A machine tool according to claim 10 in which said tool raising and lowering means comprises: a. a second linear fluid actuator secured to said frame and having a piston rod; b. a housing secured to said last-named rod to preclude relative vertical movement therebetween, said housing having a portion which can be selectively rotated about the piston rod axis in a fixed axial position, said housing having an upwardly directed tool-support surface; c. a flange member receptive of keyed tooling and slidably carried by said housing and encircling said tool support surface, said flange member normally projecting upwardly from said tool support surface and being returnably yieldable to a position flush with said tool support surface in response to engagement with the tool station; d. means keying said flange member to said rotatable housing portion for rotation therewith; and e. a lock member for locking the rotational position of said housing portion and flange member.

Claim 16

A machine tool according to claim 10 in which said reciprocating and ejecting means comprises: a. a tool ejecting plunger secured to said piston rod; b. a tooling support plunger reciprocably guided by said frame, and having means at its lower end for coupling with the tooling; and c. means providing a driving connection between said plungers by which said tool ejecting plunger is enabled to reciprocate said tooling support plunger in both directions and to move relatively thereto.

Claim 17

A machine tool according to claim 13 in which said coupling means is detachably clamped to the lower end of said tooling support plunger.

Claim 18

A machine tool according to claim 13 which includes keying acting angularly between said frame and said tooling support plunger.

Claim 19

A machine tool according to claim 13 which includes a retractable pin carried by said frame for selectively locking said tooling support plunger in a retracted position.

Claim 20

A machine tool according to claim 13 which includes detent means acting between said tooling support plunger and said frame, and so located as to tend to hold said tooling support plunger in an extended position.

Claim 21

A machine tool according to claim 13 which includes an enlarged head on said tooling support plunger disposed externally of said actuator, and engageable with fixed abutments on said frame external to said actuator for limiting the extent of travel of said tooling support plunger.

Claim 22

A machine tool according to claim 13 which includes an enlarged head on said ejecting plunger disposed externally of said actuator, and engageable with spaced abutments on said tooling support plunger external to said actuator for limiting the extent of travel of said ejecting plunger.

Claim 23

A machine tool according to claim 13 which includes an enlarged head on said ejecting plunger disposed externally of said actuator between spaced shoulders on said tooling support plunger external to said actuator, said head being engageable with the upper of said shoulders to form at least part of said driving connection.

Claim 24

A machine tool according to claim 13 which includes detent means acting to connect said plungers and forming at least part of said driving connection.

Claim 25

A machine tool according to claim 21 in which said detent means acts between said tooling support plunger and said piston rod.

Claim 26

A machine tool according to claim 13 which includes a housing secured to said frame and providing the guidance for said tool support plunger and the support for said linear fluid actuator.

Claim 27

A machine tool according to claim 17 which includes second detent means acting to connect said plungers and forming at least part of said driving connection.

Claim 28

A machine tool according to claim 18 which includes a retractable pin carried by said frame for selectively locking said enlarged head adjacent to the upper of said abutments.

Claim 29

A machine tool according to claim 20 in which said spaced shoulders are annular, are disposed within said tooling support plunger in encircling relation to said tool ejecting plunger.

Claim 30

A machine tool according to claim 13 in which said driving connection includes: a. detent means acting to connect said plungers for joint downward movement; b. a head on said ejecting plunger external to said actuator; and c. a shoulder on said tooling support plunger engageable by said head for joint upward movement.