Machine tools

Claim 2

Apparatus for performing a series of machining operations upon one end of a workpiece followed by a further series of machining operations on the other end of the workpiece, comprising first and second groups of work stations arranged in a single line, first and second longitudinally aligned, continuously driven endless conveyors arranged alongside said first and second groups of work stations, respectively, for moving work holders past the work stations on each group, said first and second conveyors having input and discharge ends, transfer means situated between the discharge end of the first conveyor and the input end of the second conveyor comprising a continuously driven endless transfer conveyor arranged parallel to said first and second conveyors between the discharge and input ends thereof, said transfer conveyor having input and discharge ends, a turntable rotatable about a vertical axis between the discharge end of said first conveyor and the input end of said transfer conveyor for rotating said workpiece through 180*, an unload fixture interposed between the discharge end of said first conveyor and said turntable, hydraulically operated means adjacent the discharge end of said first conveyor for transferring a workpiece from its holder on said first conveyor into said unload fixture and a pair of hydraulically operated jaws on said turntable for removing a workpiece from said unload fixture and depositing it upon said transfer conveyor.

Claim 3

Apparatus for performing a series of machining operations upon one end of a workpiece followed by a further series of machining operations on the other end of the workpiece, comprising first and second groups of work stations arranged in a single line, first and second longitudinally aligned, continuously driven endless conveyors arranged alongside said first and second groups of work stations, respectively, for moving work holders past the work stations of each group, said first and second conveyors having input and discharge ends, transfer means situated between the discharge ends of the first conveyor and the input end of the second conveyor comprising a continuously driven endless transfer conveyor extending parallel to said first and second conveyors and located at a level below that of said first and second conveyors, a turntable rotatable about a vertical axis between the discharge end of the first conveyor and the input end of said transfer conveyor for rotating said workpiece through 180*, an unload fixture interposed between the discharge end of said first conveyor and said turntable, hydraulically operated means adjacent The discharge end of said first conveyor for transferring a workpiece from its holder on said first conveyor into said unload fixture, a pair of hydraulically operated jaws on said turntable for removing a workpiece from said unload fixture and depositing it upon said transfer conveyor, and a hydraulic ram for moving the turntable vertically between the levels of the first conveyor and the transfer conveyor.

Claim 4

Apparatus for performing a series of machining operations upon one end of a workpiece followed by a further series of machining operations on the other end of the workpiece, comprising first and second groups of work stations arranged in a single line, first and second longitudinally aligned, continuously driven endless conveyors arranged alongside said first and second groups of work stations, respectively, for moving work holders past the work stations of each group, said first and second conveyors having input and discharge ends, transfer means situated between the discharge ends of the first conveyor and the input end of the second conveyor comprising a continuously driven endless transfer conveyor extending parallel to said first and second conveyors and located at a level below that of said first and second conveyors, a turntable rotatable about a vertical axis between the discharge end of the first conveyor and the input end of said transfer conveyor for rotating said workpiece through 180*, an unload fixture interposed between the discharge end of said first conveyor and said turntable, hydraulically operated means adjacent The discharge end of said first conveyor for transferring a workpiece from its holder on said first conveyor into said unload fixture, a pair of hydraulically operated jaws on said turntable for removing a workpiece from said unload fixture and depositing it upon said transfer conveyor, and a hydraulic ram for moving the turntable vertically between the levels of the first conveyor and the transfer conveyor.

Claim 5

Apparatus for performing a series of machining operations upon one end of a workpiece followed by a further series of machining operations on the other end of the workpiece, comprising first and second groups of work stations arranged in a single line, first and second longitudinally aligned, continuously driven endless conveyors arranged alongside said first and second groups of work stations, respectively, for moving work holders past the work station of each group, said first and second conveyors having input and discharge ends, transfer means situated between the discharge end of the first conveyor and the input end of the second conveyor, comprising a continuously driven endless transfer conveyor parallel to said first and second conveyors, a turntable rotatable about a vertical axis between the discharge end of said first conveyor and the input end of said transfer conveyor, a gate extending across said transfer conveyor at a point intermediate its input and discharge ends pivotally mounted for movement into and out of the path of workpieces on said transfer conveyor, and hydraulic means mounted alongside of said transfer conveyor operative to remove workpieces halted by said gate for transfer to a place of storage and to return workpieces from said place of storage to said transfer conveyor.

Claim 6

Apparatus for performing a series of machining operations upon one end of a workpiece followed by a further series of machining operations on the other end of the workpiece, comprising first and second groups of work stations arranged in a single line, first and second longitudinally aligned, continuously driven endless conveyors arranged alongside said first and second groups of work stations, respectively, for moving work holders past the work station of each group, said first and second conveyors having input and discharge ends, transfer means situated between the discharge end of the first conveyor and the input end of the second conveyor, comprising a continuously driven endless transfer conveyor parallel to said first and second conveyors, a turntable rotatable about a vertical axis between the discharge end of said first conveyor and the input end of said transfer conveyor, a gate extending across said transfer conveyor at a point intermediate its input and discharge ends pivotally mounted for movement into and out of the path of workpieces on said transfer conveyor, and hydraulic means mounted alongside of said transfer conveyor operative to remove workpieces halted by said gate for transfer to a place of storage and to return workpieces from said place of storage to said transfer conveyor.

Claim 7

Apparatus for performing a series of machining operations on one end of a workpiece followed by a further series of machining operations on the other end of the workpiece, comprising first and second groups of work stations arranged in a single line, first and second longitudinally aligned endless conveyors arranged alongside said first and second groups of work stations, respectively, for moving work holders past the work stations of each group, said first and second conveyors having input and discharge ends, transfer means located between the discharge end of the first conveyor and the input end of the second conveyor, said transfer means comprising a continuously driven endless transfer conveyor extending parallel to said first and second conveyors, a turntable rotatable about a vertical axis between the discharge end of said first conveyor and the input end of said transfer conveyor, a platform movable vertically between the levels of the transfer conveyor and said second conveyor between the output end of the transfer conveyor and a load fixture adjacent the input end of said second conveyor, and hydraulic means for transferring a workpiece from said transfer conveyor to said platform and from said platform through said load fixture into a work holder on said second conveyor.

Claim 8

Apparatus for performing a series of machining operations on one end of a workpiece followed by a further series of machining operations on the other end of the workpiece, comprising first and second groups of work stations arranged in a single line, first and second longitudinally aligned endless conveyors arranged alongside said first and second groups of work stations, respectively, for moving work holders past the work stations of each group, said first and second conveyors having input and discharge ends, transfer means located between the discharge end of the first conveyor and the input end of the second conveyor, said transfer means comprising a continuously driven endless transfer conveyor extending parallel to said first and second conveyors, a turntable rotatable about a vertical axis between the discharge end of said first conveyor and the input end of said transfer conveyor, a platform movable vertically between the levels of the transfer conveyor and said second conveyor between the output end of the transfer conveyor and a load fixture adjacent the input end of said second conveyor, and hydraulic means for transferring a workpiece from said transfer conveyor to said platform and from said platform through said load fixture into a work holder on said second conveyor.

Claim 9

Apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said turntable is rotated by a hydraulic operated rack meshing with a pinion on a rotatable support for said turntable.

Claim 10

Apparatus for performing a series of machining operations upon one end of a workpiece, followed by a further series of machining operations on the other end of the workpiece, comprising first and second groups of work stations arranged in a single file, first and second longitudinally aligned, continuously driven conveyors arranged along side said first and second groups of work stations respectively, for moving work holders past the work stations in each group, first and second continuously driven storage conveyors, arranged below the level of said first mentioned conveyors, transfer means located between the last work station in said first group and the first work station in the second group for removing workpieces from the work holders which have been moved past said first group of work stations, rotating said workpIeces through 180* and transferring them to the work holders which are to be moved by the second conveyor past said second group of stations and means for feeding empty work holders from said first and second storage conveyors to said first and second conveyors respectively and returning empty workholders to said storage conveyors after use.

Claim 11

Apparatus for performing a series of machining operations upon one end of a workpiece, followed by a further series of machining operations on the other end of the workpiece, comprising first and second groups of work stations arranged in a single file, first and second longitudinally aligned, continuously driven conveyors arranged along side said first and second groups of work stations respectively, for moving work holders past the work stations in each group, first and second continuously driven storage conveyors, arranged below the level of said first mentioned conveyors, transfer means located between the last work station in said first group and the first work station in the second group for removing workpieces from the work holders which have been moved past said first group of work stations, rotating said workpIeces through 180* and transferring them to the work holders which are to be moved by the second conveyor past said second group of stations and means for feeding empty work holders from said first and second storage conveyors to said first and second conveyors respectively and returning empty workholders to said storage conveyors after use.

Claim 12

Apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said jaws are mounted on a platform movable horizontally on said turntable by a hydraulically operated pinion on said platform meshing with a longitudinally extending rack on said turntable.