US3789473A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Machine tool having automatic means for tool-change
Assignee: Olivetti SpA
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Filing: 1971-10-15
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Granted: 1974-02-05
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Expires: 1991-10-15
Abstract
Abstract A machining center has a tool magazine in the form of an endless track. The tools are each mounted in an individual carriage, the carriages being packed end-to-end in the track and being drivable along it. A tool-change station is defined by a gap in the track from which one carriage may be removed for insertion of the tool into the machine spindle. A main tool-change incorporates a section of the track which completes the magazine track when this arm is in one position, and an auxiliary or carrier arm completes the track when the main arm is located away from the track. To avoid direct reading of the tools or carriages (which change their order in the magazine as tools are used and replaced) a simulator track is provided along which elements simulating the tools or carriages are driven simultaneously with the drive to the carriages. A reading device reads distinctive indicia on the simulator elements as they pass a reading station, and a signal is generated which governs the movement of the carriages and simulator elements. When a simulator element corresponding to a fresh tool required is read, the drive is stopped with this tool in the correct position for the first stage of tool-change.
Inventors
- 👤 E Pagella
- 👤 G Ollearo
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 10:08
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23Q; B23Q3/00; B23Q3/155; B23Q3/1552; B23Q3/15546; B23Q3/157; B23Q3/15713; B23Q3/1572; B23Q3/15726; B23Q3/1574; B23Q3/15746; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T483/00; Y10T483/13; Y10T483/132; Y10T483/17; Y10T483/1733; Y10T483/1748; Y10T483/1783; Y10T483/18; Y10T483/1873
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
208 words
A machine tool with automatic tool-change, including a spindle, a series of tools, a magazine for the tools, first moving means to move the tools in a path which includes a toolchange station, and tool-change means to transfer a tool from the tool-change station to the spindle wherein the improvement comprises a simulator track separate from said path and simulating the path of the tools, a series of simulator elements associated with said tools and separate therefrom, said simulator elements carrying identifying indicia so that each of said simulator elements corresponds to one of said tools, second moving means to move said simulator elements along the simulator track concurrently with the movement of said tools, a reading device located at a reading station on the simulator track and adapted to read the identifying indicia of the simulator elements as they pass the reading station, and means to render ineffective said first and said second moving means to cause the arrest of said tools and said simulator elements when the reading device reads a simulator element of said series of elements corresponding to a required one of said tools, said tools being located at a predetermined position relative to said tool change station in the path of the tools.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
208 words
A machine tool with automatic tool-change, including a spindle, a series of tools, a magazine for the tools, first moving means to move the tools in a path which includes a toolchange station, and tool-change means to transfer a tool from the tool-change station to the spindle wherein the improvement comprises a simulator track separate from said path and simulating the path of the tools, a series of simulator elements associated with said tools and separate therefrom, said simulator elements carrying identifying indicia so that each of said simulator elements corresponds to one of said tools, second moving means to move said simulator elements along the simulator track concurrently with the movement of said tools, a reading device located at a reading station on the simulator track and adapted to read the identifying indicia of the simulator elements as they pass the reading station, and means to render ineffective said first and said second moving means to cause the arrest of said tools and said simulator elements when the reading device reads a simulator element of said series of elements corresponding to a required one of said tools, said tools being located at a predetermined position relative to said tool change station in the path of the tools.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
222 words
A machine tool with automatic tool-change, including a spindle, a series of tools, a magazine for the tools, first moving means to move the tools in a path which includes a tool-change station, and tool-change means to transfer a required tool from the tool-change station to the spindle, wherein the improvement comprises a simulator track simulating the path of the tools and a series of simulator elements movable along the simulator track and carrying identifying indicia so that each of said simulator elements correspoNds to one of said tools, a reading device loacted at a reading station on the simulator track and adapted to read the identifying indicia of the simulator elements as said indicia pass the reading station, and means to cause the arrest of said tools and said simulator elements when the reading device reads the simulator element of said series of elements corresponding to the required tool being located at a predetermined position relative to said tool change station in the path of the tools; the tool-change means returning a used tool from the spindle to the magazine to occupy the position of the required tool transferred from the magazine to the spindle, the simulator track including a shunting station and means located at the shunting station to shunt a selected simulator element temporarily out of the simulator track.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
222 words
A machine tool with automatic tool-change, including a spindle, a series of tools, a magazine for the tools, first moving means to move the tools in a path which includes a tool-change station, and tool-change means to transfer a required tool from the tool-change station to the spindle, wherein the improvement comprises a simulator track simulating the path of the tools and a series of simulator elements movable along the simulator track and carrying identifying indicia so that each of said simulator elements correspoNds to one of said tools, a reading device loacted at a reading station on the simulator track and adapted to read the identifying indicia of the simulator elements as said indicia pass the reading station, and means to cause the arrest of said tools and said simulator elements when the reading device reads the simulator element of said series of elements corresponding to the required tool being located at a predetermined position relative to said tool change station in the path of the tools; the tool-change means returning a used tool from the spindle to the magazine to occupy the position of the required tool transferred from the magazine to the spindle, the simulator track including a shunting station and means located at the shunting station to shunt a selected simulator element temporarily out of the simulator track.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
112 words
The machine of claim 2, in which the means to shunt the selected simulator element comprises a slide movable transversely in a gap in the simulator track at the shunting station and comprising two compartments, each corresponding to a length of the simulator track sufficient to accommodate one simulator element, the slide being movable between a first position in which a first one of said two compartments occupies the gap in the simulator track while the second one of said compartments is isolated from the simulator track, and a second position in which the second of the compartments occupies the gap while the first of the compartments is isolated from the track.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The machine tool fo claim 3, including means to move the slide between said first and second positions simultaneously with actuation of the tool-change means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
The machine tool of claim 1, in which the indicia on the simulator elements are cams of differing dimensions, the reading device comprising a feeler adapted to engage a cam of each of said elements and to be displaced by a distance corresponding to the dimension of the engaged cam.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The machine tool of claim 5, in which there are a plurality of cams on each simulator element the reading device including a feeler for each cam.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
62 words
The machine tool of claim 1, in which the indicia on the simulator elements are members of proximity switches, the reading device comprising a fixed head carrying further members of said proximity switches, adapted to co-operate with the members on the simulator elements; each combination of said proximity switch members on the simulator elements being different for each of said simulator elements.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
233 words
A machine tool with automatic tool-change, including a spindle, a series of tools, a magazine for the tools, first moving means to move the tools in a path which includes a tool-change station, and tool-change means to transfer a required tool from the tool-change station to the spindle, wherein the improvement comprises a simulator track simulating the path of the tools and a series of simulator elements movable along the simulator track and carrying identifying indicia so that each of said simulator elements corresponds to one of said tools, a reading device located at a reading station on the simulator track and adapted to read the identifying indicia of the simulator elements as said indicia pass the reading station, and means to cause the arrest of said tools and said simulator elements when the reading device reads the simulator element of said series of elements corresponding to the required tool being located at a predetermined position relative to said tool change station in the path of the tools, the reading device including a member adapted to be moved mechanically by the simulator elements, said member causing rotary movement of a resolver unit having means for emitting an electrical signal corresponding to said resolver unit''s angular position, and including means to control the movement of the simulator elements and said tools in response to the value of the signal emitted by the resolver unit.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
233 words
A machine tool with automatic tool-change, including a spindle, a series of tools, a magazine for the tools, first moving means to move the tools in a path which includes a tool-change station, and tool-change means to transfer a required tool from the tool-change station to the spindle, wherein the improvement comprises a simulator track simulating the path of the tools and a series of simulator elements movable along the simulator track and carrying identifying indicia so that each of said simulator elements corresponds to one of said tools, a reading device located at a reading station on the simulator track and adapted to read the identifying indicia of the simulator elements as said indicia pass the reading station, and means to cause the arrest of said tools and said simulator elements when the reading device reads the simulator element of said series of elements corresponding to the required tool being located at a predetermined position relative to said tool change station in the path of the tools, the reading device including a member adapted to be moved mechanically by the simulator elements, said member causing rotary movement of a resolver unit having means for emitting an electrical signal corresponding to said resolver unit''s angular position, and including means to control the movement of the simulator elements and said tools in response to the value of the signal emitted by the resolver unit.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
241 words
A machine tool with automatic tool-change, including a spindle, a series of tools, a magazine for the tools, first moving means to move the tools in a path which includes a tool-change station, and tool-change means to transfer a required tool from the tool-change station to the spindle, wherein the improvement comprises a simulator track simulating the path of the tools and a series of simulator elements movable along the simulator track and carrying identifying indicia so that each of said simulator elements corresponds to one of said tools, a reading device located at a reading stationon the simulator track and adapted to read the identifying indicia of the simulator elements as said indicia pass the reading station, and means to cause the arrest of said tools and said simulator elements when the reading device reads the simulator element of said series of elements corresponding to the required tool being located at a predetermined position relative to said tool change station in the path of the tools, the magazine comprising an endless magazine track along which a series of carriages is slidable, the carriages being unconnected to each other, the first moving means including a wheel engaging at least one of the carriages to push the carriages along the magazine track, said wheel being connected in a fixed rotary relationship to a further wheel that engages at least one of the simulator elements to move said elements along the simulator track.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
241 words
A machine tool with automatic tool-change, including a spindle, a series of tools, a magazine for the tools, first moving means to move the tools in a path which includes a tool-change station, and tool-change means to transfer a required tool from the tool-change station to the spindle, wherein the improvement comprises a simulator track simulating the path of the tools and a series of simulator elements movable along the simulator track and carrying identifying indicia so that each of said simulator elements corresponds to one of said tools, a reading device located at a reading stationon the simulator track and adapted to read the identifying indicia of the simulator elements as said indicia pass the reading station, and means to cause the arrest of said tools and said simulator elements when the reading device reads the simulator element of said series of elements corresponding to the required tool being located at a predetermined position relative to said tool change station in the path of the tools, the magazine comprising an endless magazine track along which a series of carriages is slidable, the carriages being unconnected to each other, the first moving means including a wheel engaging at least one of the carriages to push the carriages along the magazine track, said wheel being connected in a fixed rotary relationship to a further wheel that engages at least one of the simulator elements to move said elements along the simulator track.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
82 words
The machine tool of claim 9, in which the tool-change means comprises a member movable between a first position in which it supports the required tool at the tool-change station and a second position in which it supports the required tool at the spindle and in which the tool-change station comprises a gap in the magazine track and the tool-change member includes a section of track adapted to complete the magazine track when the tool-change member is in its said first position.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
66 words
The machine tool of claim 10, in which the tool-change means also includes a carrier member carrying an auxiliary track section and movable between a first position in which the auxiliary track section is spaced away from the magazine track and a second position in which the auxiliary track section is located in the track gap at the tool change station and completes the magazine track.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
The machine tool of claim 11, in which the carrier member is arranged for movement simultaneously with the tool-change member between their said respective first and second positions.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
48 words
The machine tool of claim 12, in which the tool-change member comprises a main arm arranged for pivotal movement between its said first and second positions, and in which the carrier member comprises a secondary arm mounted for pivotal movement about the same axis as the main arm.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
The machine tool of claim 13, in which the secondary arm is rotatable independently of the main arm about their said common axis of pivotal movement.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
41 words
The machine tool of claim 14, in which the secondary arm is arranged to move through a lesser angle between its said first and second positions than is moved through by the main arm between its said first and second positions.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
47 words
The machine tool of claim 14, including means to move one of the arms between its first and second positions, and formations on the arms adapted to contact each other so that the movement of the one arm is transmitted through such formations to the other arm.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
130 words
The machine tool of claim 9, in which the first moving means for moving the carriages along the magazine track is reversed following the arrival of the required tool at the predetermined position in the magazine track, means for reversing said first moving means comprising a series of studs carried by a rotary member that rotates with movement of the simulator elements along the simulator track, and collaborates with a rocker device including a finger on a rocker that is located in the path of the studs, reversing movement of the rotary member causing the finger to be engaged by one of said studs and to oscillate a rocker arRanged to actuate an electrical switch on such reversing movement causing stoppage of the first moving means and thereby the carriages.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-02-04 | 1977-08-06 | 1978-02-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-02-04 | 1981-08-06 | 1982-02-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-02-04 | 1985-08-06 | 1986-02-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |