US3760472A — Spindle change mechanism for a multiple spindle h…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 224 words

In a machine having a table carried for selective movement; a positioning guide track positioned in spaced parallelism to the path along which said table is indexably movable, said guide track comprising a single power driven rotatable key indexably positioned in releasably parallel alignment between the spaced apart inner ends of stationary elongated positioning guide keys; a plurality of multiple spindle heads spaced along said table for indexable movement therewith; a plurality of individually rotatable input drive shafts respectively journalled in said spindle heads, said input drive shafts each provided with separate keyways being continuously retained in angular aligned guidable engagement with said continuous positioning guide track; positioning drive means connected to move said table including said spindle heads and said input shafts with the keyways thereof being maintained in sliding engagement with said continuous guide track including said indexably positioned drive key; control means connected to stop said drive means upon indexable arrival of a preselected spindle head and its associated input drive shaft in such position that the keyway thereof operatively engages said rotatable drive key; and, power drive means connected to selectively rotate said drive key for rotating said operatively connected input drive shaft and the multiple spindles journalled in the associated spindle head and connected to be driven by the shaft now moved into driven engagement with said drive key.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 224 words

In a machine having a table carried for selective movement; a positioning guide track positioned in spaced parallelism to the path along which said table is indexably movable, said guide track comprising a single power driven rotatable key indexably positioned in releasably parallel alignment between the spaced apart inner ends of stationary elongated positioning guide keys; a plurality of multiple spindle heads spaced along said table for indexable movement therewith; a plurality of individually rotatable input drive shafts respectively journalled in said spindle heads, said input drive shafts each provided with separate keyways being continuously retained in angular aligned guidable engagement with said continuous positioning guide track; positioning drive means connected to move said table including said spindle heads and said input shafts with the keyways thereof being maintained in sliding engagement with said continuous guide track including said indexably positioned drive key; control means connected to stop said drive means upon indexable arrival of a preselected spindle head and its associated input drive shaft in such position that the keyway thereof operatively engages said rotatable drive key; and, power drive means connected to selectively rotate said drive key for rotating said operatively connected input drive shaft and the multiple spindles journalled in the associated spindle head and connected to be driven by the shaft now moved into driven engagement with said drive key.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 214 words

In a machine tool having rotatable drive means presenting a rotatable drive key; first index control means connected to releasably engage said drive means to position said drive key in selected angular alignment at an operating station; a pair of spaced apart stationary elongated positioning keys extending in opposite directions from said operating station and disposed in spaced apart parallelism with said angularly aligned rotatable key presented by said rotatable drive means, said spaced apart stationary keys cooperating with said indexably positioned angularly aligned drive key to provide a continuous guide track; table support means positioned in spaced parallelism relative to said indexably controlled angularly positioned drive key and said elongated stationary drive keys extending in opposite directions therefrom; a plurality of rotatable input drive shafts respectively journalled on said table support means in spaced apart positions therealong, each of said input shafts presenting a keyway disposed in continuous guidable engagement with the continuous positioning guide track effected by indexably positioning said rotatable drive key in parallel alignment between said stationary positioning keys; and, second index control means connected to effect selective indexable movement of said table support for selectively positioning a preselected one of said input drive shafts to advance the keyway presented thereby into operative driven engagement with said rotatable drive key.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 214 words

In a machine tool having rotatable drive means presenting a rotatable drive key; first index control means connected to releasably engage said drive means to position said drive key in selected angular alignment at an operating station; a pair of spaced apart stationary elongated positioning keys extending in opposite directions from said operating station and disposed in spaced apart parallelism with said angularly aligned rotatable key presented by said rotatable drive means, said spaced apart stationary keys cooperating with said indexably positioned angularly aligned drive key to provide a continuous guide track; table support means positioned in spaced parallelism relative to said indexably controlled angularly positioned drive key and said elongated stationary drive keys extending in opposite directions therefrom; a plurality of rotatable input drive shafts respectively journalled on said table support means in spaced apart positions therealong, each of said input shafts presenting a keyway disposed in continuous guidable engagement with the continuous positioning guide track effected by indexably positioning said rotatable drive key in parallel alignment between said stationary positioning keys; and, second index control means connected to effect selective indexable movement of said table support for selectively positioning a preselected one of said input drive shafts to advance the keyway presented thereby into operative driven engagement with said rotatable drive key.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 238 words

In a machine tool having table selectively movable relative to an operating station; a plurality of multiple spindle heads carried by said table for selective indexable movement therewith, said spindle heads respectively provided with one individually rotatable input shaft having a keyway orientated in like angular direction; elongated stationary positioning keys carried in fixedly spaced apart positions on opposite sides of said operating station, said positioning keys being respectively adapted to engage the spaced apart keyways respectively presented by said spaced apart input shafts of said spindle heads; a power driven rotatable driver journalled to rotate about an axis transverse to said operating station; a transverse drive key secured to the front face of said driver engaging a keyway presented by a rotatable input shaft for selectively driving said spindles of said spindle head in said operating station; first index control means selectively engageable with said input shaft adapted to position said drive key in spaced alignment between said stationary Positioning control keys; and, second index control means connected to selectively index said table for advancing said operating spindle head then in said operating station to advance the input keyway presented thereby into slidable keyed engagement with one of said aligned positioning keys extending from said operating station and simultaneously advancing a stored spindle head having its input keyway then engaging said other positioning key into slidable engagement with said rotatable driven key positioned in said operating station.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 238 words

In a machine tool having table selectively movable relative to an operating station; a plurality of multiple spindle heads carried by said table for selective indexable movement therewith, said spindle heads respectively provided with one individually rotatable input shaft having a keyway orientated in like angular direction; elongated stationary positioning keys carried in fixedly spaced apart positions on opposite sides of said operating station, said positioning keys being respectively adapted to engage the spaced apart keyways respectively presented by said spaced apart input shafts of said spindle heads; a power driven rotatable driver journalled to rotate about an axis transverse to said operating station; a transverse drive key secured to the front face of said driver engaging a keyway presented by a rotatable input shaft for selectively driving said spindles of said spindle head in said operating station; first index control means selectively engageable with said input shaft adapted to position said drive key in spaced alignment between said stationary Positioning control keys; and, second index control means connected to selectively index said table for advancing said operating spindle head then in said operating station to advance the input keyway presented thereby into slidable keyed engagement with one of said aligned positioning keys extending from said operating station and simultaneously advancing a stored spindle head having its input keyway then engaging said other positioning key into slidable engagement with said rotatable driven key positioned in said operating station.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 301 words

In a machine tool having a central upstanding column and an enlarged support presenting a circular horizontal way extending about said upstanding column; an index table mounted on said circular way for selective indexable moveament about said upstanding column; a transverse power driven horizontal output drive spindle journalled in said column a spaced distance about said index table; a forwardly extending transverse drive key presented by the output driving end of said spindle; first index control means adapted to releasably engage the periphery of said spindle to indexably position said forward drive key in horizontal parallel position above the upper face of said index table; an enlarged circular key extending around said upstanding column in spaced relationship above said table and in horizontal parallel alignment with the opposite ends of said indexably positioned transverse drive key secured to the forward end of said power driven spindle; a plurality of spindle heads secured in circularly spaced apart positions to said index table for indexable movement therewith about said column; a corresponding individual input spindle respectively journalled in each of said respective spindle heads and each of said input spindles presenting a transverse keyway respectively engageable with said circular key secured to said column as well as said transverse drive key presented by said output drive spindle journalled in said column; second index control means connected to selectively index said table for moving a preselected spindle head into an operating position in which said input spindle carried by that head is moved into driven keyed engagement with said drive key in said output spindle; and, control means connected to selectively disconnect said first index control means and operating said drive spindle under power to drive said selectively connected input spindle and operating said spindle head to perform a predetermined plurality of machining operations.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 301 words

In a machine tool having a central upstanding column and an enlarged support presenting a circular horizontal way extending about said upstanding column; an index table mounted on said circular way for selective indexable moveament about said upstanding column; a transverse power driven horizontal output drive spindle journalled in said column a spaced distance about said index table; a forwardly extending transverse drive key presented by the output driving end of said spindle; first index control means adapted to releasably engage the periphery of said spindle to indexably position said forward drive key in horizontal parallel position above the upper face of said index table; an enlarged circular key extending around said upstanding column in spaced relationship above said table and in horizontal parallel alignment with the opposite ends of said indexably positioned transverse drive key secured to the forward end of said power driven spindle; a plurality of spindle heads secured in circularly spaced apart positions to said index table for indexable movement therewith about said column; a corresponding individual input spindle respectively journalled in each of said respective spindle heads and each of said input spindles presenting a transverse keyway respectively engageable with said circular key secured to said column as well as said transverse drive key presented by said output drive spindle journalled in said column; second index control means connected to selectively index said table for moving a preselected spindle head into an operating position in which said input spindle carried by that head is moved into driven keyed engagement with said drive key in said output spindle; and, control means connected to selectively disconnect said first index control means and operating said drive spindle under power to drive said selectively connected input spindle and operating said spindle head to perform a predetermined plurality of machining operations.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 151 words

In a machine tool having an operating station for receiving a preselected one of a plurality of multiple spindle heads; a horizontal way supporting said spindle heads of indexable movement relative to said operating station; a power output spindle journalled in said operating station in transverse parallel position to said horizontal way, and presenting a drive key operative to engage a spindle head in said operating station; a power controller connected to indexably position said output spindle to maintain said associated drive key parallel to said horizontal way; stationary positioning keys cooperably aligned with said indexably positioned drive key and adapted to engage spindle heads in storage; and power driven index control means connected to effect selective indexable movement of said spindle heads for effecting interchange of a selected stored spindle head engaging one of said stationary positioning keys with a spindle head engaging said drive key in said operating station.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 151 words

In a machine tool having an operating station for receiving a preselected one of a plurality of multiple spindle heads; a horizontal way supporting said spindle heads of indexable movement relative to said operating station; a power output spindle journalled in said operating station in transverse parallel position to said horizontal way, and presenting a drive key operative to engage a spindle head in said operating station; a power controller connected to indexably position said output spindle to maintain said associated drive key parallel to said horizontal way; stationary positioning keys cooperably aligned with said indexably positioned drive key and adapted to engage spindle heads in storage; and power driven index control means connected to effect selective indexable movement of said spindle heads for effecting interchange of a selected stored spindle head engaging one of said stationary positioning keys with a spindle head engaging said drive key in said operating station.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 147 words

In a machine tool having a horizontal table way and an elongated horizontal guide track positioned in spaced apart parallelism, said elongated guide track comprising a rotatable drive key positioned between spaced apart stationary elongated positioning keys; means to releasably retain said rotatable key in angularly aligned parallelism between said stationary keys; a plurality of multiple spindle heads movably cArried by said table for indexable movement therealong, each of said spindle heads being provided with one rotatable input shaft having a keyway engaging said parallel guide track; a power control connected to selectively move said spindle heads along said table and simultaneously move the keyways presented by said associated input shafts along said parallel guide track; and, means to stop said power control for positioning a preselected multiple spindle head along said table with said associated input shaft positioned with its keyway engaging said rotatable drive key.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 147 words

In a machine tool having a horizontal table way and an elongated horizontal guide track positioned in spaced apart parallelism, said elongated guide track comprising a rotatable drive key positioned between spaced apart stationary elongated positioning keys; means to releasably retain said rotatable key in angularly aligned parallelism between said stationary keys; a plurality of multiple spindle heads movably cArried by said table for indexable movement therealong, each of said spindle heads being provided with one rotatable input shaft having a keyway engaging said parallel guide track; a power control connected to selectively move said spindle heads along said table and simultaneously move the keyways presented by said associated input shafts along said parallel guide track; and, means to stop said power control for positioning a preselected multiple spindle head along said table with said associated input shaft positioned with its keyway engaging said rotatable drive key.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 53 words

In a machine tool according to claim 6 including power operable clamp means connected to effect forcible power operable clamping of said preselected multiple spindle head at an operating station along said table way to positively retain the keyway presented by said associated input shaft in driven engagement with said rotatable drive key.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 44 words

In a machine tool according to claim 7 including power drive means selectively rotatable and connected to drive said rotatable drive key for rotating said operatively connected input shaft to transmit power for driving said multiple spindle head then clamped in said operating station.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 60 words

In a machine tool according to claim 6 including a continuous circular table interconnecting the opposite outer ends of said horizontal table way to provide a continuous table in combination with a continuous circular guide track operatively interconnecting the opposite outer ends of said horizontal guide track and being positioned in spaced apart parallelism to said continuous circular table way.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 115 words

In a machine tool according to claim 6 including an operating station in proximity to said drive key adapted to receive said spindle head connected to be driven by said drive key; a source of air and water at said operating station including disconnect valving therefor; air and water transmission lines associated with each spindle head respectively being releasably connectable to receive air and water from said respective sources; and, means responsive to positioning of a selected spindle head in said operating station for actuating said valving to operatively connect said source of air and water sources said operating station to said transmission lines of said spindle head then operatively connected in said operating station.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 168 words

In a machine tool having a circular horizontal table way and a circular horizontal guide track positioned in spaced apart parallelism, said guide track comprising a circular fixed portion interrupted by selectively rotary drive key means; means to releasably retain said rotary drive key means in parallel alignment with said circular fixed portion; plural multiple spindle heads indexably movable along said circular horizontal table way and each spindle head being respectively operative to indexably move a single associated rotatable input shaft having complementary driven key means slidably engaged with said circular horizontal guide track; power drive means connected to selectively move said spindle heads along said circular table and simultaneously move the complementary driven key means presented by said associated input shafts along said circular guide track; and, means to stop said power drive means for positioning a selected multiple spindle head at an operating station along said circular table with said associated input shaft positioned with its complimentary driven key means engaging said rotatable drive key means.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 168 words

In a machine tool having a circular horizontal table way and a circular horizontal guide track positioned in spaced apart parallelism, said guide track comprising a circular fixed portion interrupted by selectively rotary drive key means; means to releasably retain said rotary drive key means in parallel alignment with said circular fixed portion; plural multiple spindle heads indexably movable along said circular horizontal table way and each spindle head being respectively operative to indexably move a single associated rotatable input shaft having complementary driven key means slidably engaged with said circular horizontal guide track; power drive means connected to selectively move said spindle heads along said circular table and simultaneously move the complementary driven key means presented by said associated input shafts along said circular guide track; and, means to stop said power drive means for positioning a selected multiple spindle head at an operating station along said circular table with said associated input shaft positioned with its complimentary driven key means engaging said rotatable drive key means.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 42 words

In a machine tool according to claim 10 including power drive means selectively connected to supply power for driving said rotary drive key means and said complementary driven key means of said associated multiple spindle head then positioned in said operating station.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 78 words

In a machine tool according to claim 10 in which said circular horizontal guide track comprises two fixed portions interrupted at one point by said selectively rotary drive key means and interrupted at anotHer point by selectively pivotal means, whereby said pivotal means can be selectively disconnected from one of said spindle heads at the same time power is connected to said rotary drive key means for operating said multiple spindle head then positioned in said operating station.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 142 words

In a machine tool according to claim 11 including an operating station in proximity to said rotary drive key means adapted to releasably receive said spindle head indexably positioned to be driven by said drive key means; separate supply sources of air, water and electric power in said operating station including a disconnect service therefor; separate input transmission lines for operative connection to receive air, water and electric power and being respectively associated with each of said spindle heads for indexable movement therewith into said operating station; and, means responsive to arrival of a preselected spindle head in said operating station operable to actuate said disconnect service to effect an operative connection of said separate supply sources of air, water and electric power to said separate input transmission lines for each provided by said spindle head operatively positioned in said operating station.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 167 words

In a machine tool having a circular table way and circular guide track positioned in spaced apart parallelism, said guide track comprising a stationary fixed portion interrupted by selectively rotary drive key means; means to releasably retain said rotary drive key means in parallel alignment with said stationary portion to cooperate therewith in providing a continuous circular guide track; a table journalled on said circular table way for indexable movement relative to said circular horizontal guide track; a plurality of power receiving drive shafts journalled in radially spaced positions about said table, said drive shafts respectively provided at their inner ends with keyways slidably engaging said circular horizontal guide track; and, means to selectively index said table to indexably position said radial drive shafts for moving the keyway of any preselected radial shaft into exact driving engagement with said rotary drive key means and maintaining the keyways presented by said other radial drive shafts in stored angularly aligned engagement with said stationary portion of said circular track.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 167 words

In a machine tool having a circular table way and circular guide track positioned in spaced apart parallelism, said guide track comprising a stationary fixed portion interrupted by selectively rotary drive key means; means to releasably retain said rotary drive key means in parallel alignment with said stationary portion to cooperate therewith in providing a continuous circular guide track; a table journalled on said circular table way for indexable movement relative to said circular horizontal guide track; a plurality of power receiving drive shafts journalled in radially spaced positions about said table, said drive shafts respectively provided at their inner ends with keyways slidably engaging said circular horizontal guide track; and, means to selectively index said table to indexably position said radial drive shafts for moving the keyway of any preselected radial shaft into exact driving engagement with said rotary drive key means and maintaining the keyways presented by said other radial drive shafts in stored angularly aligned engagement with said stationary portion of said circular track.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 60 words

In a machine tool according to claim 15 including means to disconnect said means for retaining said rotary drive key means in parallel alignment; and, power operable means selectively connected to drive said rotary drive key means for transmitting power to rotate said drive shaft then having its input keyway connected to be driven by said rotary drive key means.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 58 words

In a machine tool according to claim 15 including a plurality of separate multiple spindle heads respectively secured to said table in outward radially spaced positions and with each of said multiple spindle heads being respectively connected to be driven by a separate one of said power receiving drive shafts journalled in radially spaced positions about said table.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 175 words

In a machine tool having a table way and an elongated guide track positioned in spaced apart parallelism, said elongated guide track comprising a rotatable drive key defining an operating station and being positioned between spaced apart stationary elongated positioning keys; means to releasably retain said rotatable key in angular aligned parallelism between said stationary keys to provide a continuous guide track; a table support movably carried by said table way for indexable movement relative to said guide track; a plurality of input drive shafts rotatably journalled in said table, said drive shafts presenting keyways at their inner ends with said keyways arranged in sequence to slidably engage said elongated guide track; power means connected to indexably move said table along said table way and effect corresponding indexable movement of said associated drive shaft keyways aloNg said guide track; and, means to stop said power means for stopping indexable movement of said table to position a preselected one of said drive shaft keyways in driving engagement with said rotatable drive key in said operating station.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 175 words

In a machine tool having a table way and an elongated guide track positioned in spaced apart parallelism, said elongated guide track comprising a rotatable drive key defining an operating station and being positioned between spaced apart stationary elongated positioning keys; means to releasably retain said rotatable key in angular aligned parallelism between said stationary keys to provide a continuous guide track; a table support movably carried by said table way for indexable movement relative to said guide track; a plurality of input drive shafts rotatably journalled in said table, said drive shafts presenting keyways at their inner ends with said keyways arranged in sequence to slidably engage said elongated guide track; power means connected to indexably move said table along said table way and effect corresponding indexable movement of said associated drive shaft keyways aloNg said guide track; and, means to stop said power means for stopping indexable movement of said table to position a preselected one of said drive shaft keyways in driving engagement with said rotatable drive key in said operating station.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 42 words

In a machine tool according to claim 18 including a plurality of multiple spindle heads carried by said table and each of said multiple spindle heads being individually connected to be driven by a respective one of said power driven input shafts.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 117 words

In a machine tool according to claim 18 including a plurality of multiple spindle heads respectively and releasably secured to said table, each of heads being provided with separate independently journalled input driven means, each of said input driven means in one head being adapted to position the outer end of a preselected associated one of said input drive shafts in concentric alignment with the driving input end of that shaft as well as being operatively connected to be driven by that shaft, and, a plurality of different tool spindles journalled in each of said spindle heads and being respectively connected to be rotatably driven by said associated input driven means journalled in said associated spindle head.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 160 words

In a machine tool according to claim 20 including coded tool identifying means associated with each of said spindle heads and a tool reader positioned in spaced proximity to an operating station delineated by said rotatable key, said tool reader adapted to be actuated by said coded tool identifying means associated with each of said spindle heads to provide a coded signal that indicates the coded identity of the spindle head then in the operating station with said associated drive shaft engaging said drive key; means to provide an input command signal to indicate the identity of the next required spindle head to be connected in said operating station; and, signal control means operative in response to the occurrence of a code identified signal from said tool reader that coincides with the input command from said input command signal and is connected thereupon to actuate said stop means to stop said power means for stopping indexable movement of said table.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1976-09-24	1977-03-26	1977-09-25	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1980-09-24	1981-03-26	1981-09-25	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1984-09-24	1985-03-26	1985-09-25	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Spindle change mechanism for a multiple spindle head machine

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag