Machine tool with automatic tool changing mechanism

Claim 2

An automatic tool changing machine tool including a rotary tool supporting spindle, tool storage means, a plurality of tool carriers coupled to tools to be used in said spindle, and tool gripping means on each of said carriers releasably coupling said tool carriers to their associated tools, transfer means operable to transport a selected tool and its carrier from said storage means and insert it in said spindle, and actuating means associated with said spindle for opening and closing the tool gripping means on a carrier held in a stationary position with its tool received in said spindle, whereby the tool in said spindle is disengaged from its carrier for rotation and axial movement with said spindle.

Claim 3

The structure set forth in claim 1 including tool identifiCation means on each of said carriers and means for reading the tool identification means of said carriers to identify desired tool.

Claim 4

The structure set forth in claim 1 in which each of said tool carriers is provided with an opening receiving its tool and in which said tool gripping means is provided with portions on opposite sides of said carrier opening, said opening being of a size sufficient to permit said spindle to be advanced therethrough during a machining operation.

Claim 5

An automatic tool changing machine tool including a tool supporting spindle, a storage means for supporting a plurality of tools to be used in said spindle, a plurality of tool carriers having tool gripping means releasably coupling said carriers each to a tool having a shank to be received in said spindle, a shuttle for removing a selected tool and its carrier from said tool storage means and transporting the same toward said spindle, said carriers having first and second handle portions on axially opposite sides thereof, said shuttle being engageable with the first handle portion of a selected carrier, and an interchange arm engageable with the second handle portion of a carrier carried by said shuttle and operable to advance such carrier and its tool toward said spindle, whereby a selected tool and carrier are passed from said shuttle to said interchange arm by successive engagement of said first and second handle portions, each of said tool carriers being uncoupled from its tool prior to the performance of a machining operation with its tool whereby said carriers are not rotated by said spindle.

Claim 6

An automatic tool changing machine tool including a tool supporting spindle, a storage means for supporting a plurality of tools to be used in said spindle, a plurality of tool carriers having tool gripping means releasably coupling said carriers each to a tool having a shank to be received in said spindle, a shuttle for removing a selected tool and its carrier from said tool storage means and transporting the same toward said spindle, said carriers having first and second handle portions on axially opposite sides thereof, said shuttle being engageable with the first handle portion of a selected carrier, and an interchange arm engageable with the second handle portion of a carrier carried by said shuttle and operable to advance such carrier and its tool toward said spindle, whereby a selected tool and carrier are passed from said shuttle to said interchange arm by successive engagement of said first and second handle portions, each of said tool carriers being uncoupled from its tool prior to the performance of a machining operation with its tool whereby said carriers are not rotated by said spindle.

Claim 7

The structure set forth in claim 4, in which said interchange arm is both rotatable and movable parallel to the axis of said spindle for the purpose of inserting a selected tool into said spindle.

Claim 8

The structure set forth in claim 5, including a fluid power operated locking means on said shuttle operable to lock said first handle portion thereto.

Claim 9

The structure set forth in claim 6, including mechanically operable locking means on said interchange arm engageable with said second handle means of a carrier engaged thereby and fluid power operated means on said shuttle operable to unlock said locking means upon relative movement of said shuttle and interchange arm toward one another.

Claim 10

The structure set forth in claim 3, including mechanically operated latches on said tool storage means operable to engage said carriers and hold said carriers and their associated tools on said storage means and fluid power operated means on said shuttle operable to unlock said latches and release said carriers and tools for movement away from said tool storage means upon a given movement of said shuttle relative to said tool storage means.

Claim 11

An automatic tool changing machine tool including a tool supporting spindle, tool storage means for supporting a plurality of tools to be used in said spindle, each of said tools having a carrier releasably coupled thereto, said carrier being provided with handle means, transfer means engageable with the handle means of a selected tool for transporting said selected tool from said tool storage means to said spindle, each of said carriers having a pair of spring biased tool grippers disposed on opposite sides of a tool to which the carrier is coupled and movable toward one another into engagement with its tool and means associated with said spindle for uncoupling a tool carrier from its tool, said last name means including a pair of rotary members having eccentric projections, means journalling said members for rotation about fixed axes, an actuating gear operable to rotate said members, said projections being engageable in said tool grippers to spread said grippers apart against their biasing springs upon rotation of said actuating gear and thereby uncouple a tool for rotation free from its carrier.

Claim 12

An automatic tool changing machine tool including a tool supporting spindle, tool storage means for supporting a plurality of tools to be used in said spindle, each of said tools having a carrier releasably coupled thereto, said carrier being provided with handle means, transfer means engageable with the handle means of a selected tool for transporting said selected tool from said tool storage means to said spindle, each of said carriers having a pair of spring biased tool grippers disposed on opposite sides of a tool to which the carrier is coupled and movable toward one another into engagement with its tool and means associated with said spindle for uncoupling a tool carrier from its tool, said last name means including a pair of rotary members having eccentric projections, means journalling said members for rotation about fixed axes, an actuating gear operable to rotate said members, said projections being engageable in said tool grippers to spread said grippers apart against their biasing springs upon rotation of said actuating gear and thereby uncouple a tool for rotation free from its carrier.

Claim 13

The structure set forth in claim 1 wherein said tool carriers are provided with handle means thereon engageable by said transfer means.

Claim 14

An automatiC tool changing machine tool including a rotary tool supporting spindle, tool storage means, a plurality of tool carriers having tool gripping means releasably coupling said tool carriers each to a tool having a shank to be received in said spindle said tool carriers and their associated tools being stored in said tool storage means, each of said carriers having handle means thereon, transfer means engageable with said handle means and operable in the transportation of tools and tool carriers from said tool storage means to said spindle and actuating means for opening and closing the tool gripping means on a carrier held in a stationary position with its tool received in said spindle.

Claim 15

An automatiC tool changing machine tool including a rotary tool supporting spindle, tool storage means, a plurality of tool carriers having tool gripping means releasably coupling said tool carriers each to a tool having a shank to be received in said spindle said tool carriers and their associated tools being stored in said tool storage means, each of said carriers having handle means thereon, transfer means engageable with said handle means and operable in the transportation of tools and tool carriers from said tool storage means to said spindle and actuating means for opening and closing the tool gripping means on a carrier held in a stationary position with its tool received in said spindle.

Claim 16

The structure set forth in claim 11 including tool identification means on each of said carriers for identifying the tool carried thereby.

Claim 17

The structure set forth in claim 12 in which said handle means includes axially extending portions on axially opposite sides of each of said carriers.