Automatic indexing head for machining a work piece

Claim 2

An indexing head for use in machining a work piece comprising: a base means adapted to be attached to a table of a grinding machine, a housing attached to said base means, a work holder means rotatably journalled in said housing, means adapted for securing the work piece having a plurality of spaced apart gear teeth to said work holder, a unidirectional drive means operatively connected to said holder means for indexing of said work holder through predetermined incremented amounts, means for limiting the action of said unidirectional drive means to provide for slightly over indexing of said work piece, a locating means disposed adjacent said work holder means for engaging said work piece, and an actuating means for activating said locating means between operative and inoperative position whereby in the operative position ssid locating means engages the space between adjacent teeth of the work piece to prohibit rotation of said work piece upon the return of said unidirectional drive means and to properly locate the work piece relative to the tool and adapted to operate thereon.

Claim 3

The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said work holder means includes a table means and a connecting spindle, said spindle being rotatably journalled to said housing, and said unidirectional drive means including: a driving gear mounted on said spindle for relative rotation thereto, a clutch ring fixedly secured to said driving gear, a clutch ratchet disposed within said ring, means for fixedly securing said clutch ratchet to said spindle to rotate therewith, wedging means disposed between said clutch ratchet and said clutch ring for connecting said clutch ratchet and spindle to said clutch ring when said driving gear is rotated in the indexing direction, and means for effecting the drive of said driving gear.

Claim 4

The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said latter means comprises: a rack disposed in meshing relationship with said driving gear, and a power means for effecting linear displacement of said rack.

Claim 5

The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein said power means comprises: a piston and cylinder means, said piston being operatively connected to said rack, and a means for introducing fluid pressure to actuate said piston.

Claim 6

The invention as defined in claim 4 wherein said limiting means comprises an adjusting screw extending through a wall portion of said cylinder to limit the travel of said piston during an indexing operation.

Claim 7

The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said locating means comprises a slide mounted for movement toward and away from said work piece, tooth locator connector on the end of said slide, said tooth locator including a sector having teeth adapted to complement the teeth of said work piece to maintain said work piece in the indexing position during the work being performed on said work piece, and means for activating said locator means to move said sector into meshing relationship to the teeth of the work piece to maintain said work piece in the indexed position.

Claim 8

The invention as defined in claim 6 wherein said last mentioned means includes a piston and cylinder assembly, said piston being operatively connected to said slide, and means for introducing fluid pressure into said cylinder to effect displacement of said slide piston.

Claim 9

The invention as defined in claim 6 and including means for automatically sequencing the operation of the respective piston to effect sequential indexing and holding of the work piece in the indexed position.

Claim 10

The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said base means comprises: a base plate, a first sine plate overlying said base plate and pivotally mounted to said base plate about an axis of revolution adjacent one end of said base plate, a camming means interposed between said base plate and said first sine plate, means for effecting a controlled displacement of said camming means to effect angular displacement of said sine plate relative to said base plate, means for locking said first sine plate relative to said base plate in the adjusted position thereof, a second sine plate pivotally connected to said first sine plate about an axis of revolution disposed at substantially right angle to said first mentioned axis of revolution, a camming means disposed between said first and second sine plate to effect relative angular displacement therebetween about said second axis of rotation, means operatively connected to said camming means to control the angular displacement between said sine plates, and means for locking said second sine plate relative To said first sine plate in the adjusted position.

Claim 11

An indexing head for sharpening gear cutters comprising: a base including, a base member adapted to be secured to the table of a grinding machine, a first sine plate overlying said base member, pivot means for pivotally connecting said sine plate relative to said base member about an axis of rotation adjacent one edge of said base member, a camming means interposed between said base member and said sine plate, said camming means including a cam carrier, cam rollers oppositely disposed on said cam carrier, complementary cam wedges disposed on said base member and first since plate disposed in rolling engagement with said cam wedges, means for effecting a controlled displacement of said cam carrier to effect angular displacement of said sine plate relative to said base member to determine an angular adjustment therebetween, means for locking said sine plate in the adjusted positioned thereof, a second sine plate, means for pivoting said second sine plate relative to said first since plate to define an axis of revolution whereby the axis of revolution of said second sine plate is disposed at right angle to the axis of revolution of said first sine plate, second camming means interposed between said first and second sine plates, means for effecting control displacement of said second camming means to determine the angular relationship between said first and second sine plates, means for locking said second sine plates relative to said first sine plate in the adjusted position thereof, a housing connected to said second sine plate, a table and connected spindle rotatably journalled on said housing, means for locking a workpiece to said table, a unidirectional drive means operatively connected to said spindle for indexing said table through predetermined incremented angles, said unidirectional drive means including a driving gear mounted on said spindle for relative rotation, a clutch ring circumscribing said spindle secured to said gear to rotate therewith, a clutch ratchet disposed within said clutch ring, means fixedly securing said clutch ratchet to said spindle, means disposed between said clutch ratchet and clutch ring to define a unidirectional coupling therebetween whereby rotation of said driving gear in the indexing direction effects the drive of said spindle in the indexing direction only, means for effecting the drive of said driving gear, means for limiting the drive of said driving gear to provide for slightly over indexing of the workpiece adapted to be secured to said table, a locating means disposed adjacent said table means, and an actuating means for activating said locating means between an operative and inoperative position.

Claim 12

An indexing head for sharpening gear cutters comprising: a base including, a base member adapted to be secured to the table of a grinding machine, a first sine plate overlying said base member, pivot means for pivotally connecting said sine plate relative to said base member about an axis of rotation adjacent one edge of said base member, a camming means interposed between said base member and said sine plate, said camming means including a cam carrier, cam rollers oppositely disposed on said cam carrier, complementary cam wedges disposed on said base member and first since plate disposed in rolling engagement with said cam wedges, means for effecting a controlled displacement of said cam carrier to effect angular displacement of said sine plate relative to said base member to determine an angular adjustment therebetween, means for locking said sine plate in the adjusted positioned thereof, a second sine plate, means for pivoting said second sine plate relative to said first since plate to define an axis of revolution whereby the axis of revolution of said second sine plate is disposed at right angle to the axis of revolution of said first sine plate, second camming means interposed between said first and second sine plates, means for effecting control displacement of said second camming means to determine the angular relationship between said first and second sine plates, means for locking said second sine plates relative to said first sine plate in the adjusted position thereof, a housing connected to said second sine plate, a table and connected spindle rotatably journalled on said housing, means for locking a workpiece to said table, a unidirectional drive means operatively connected to said spindle for indexing said table through predetermined incremented angles, said unidirectional drive means including a driving gear mounted on said spindle for relative rotation, a clutch ring circumscribing said spindle secured to said gear to rotate therewith, a clutch ratchet disposed within said clutch ring, means fixedly securing said clutch ratchet to said spindle, means disposed between said clutch ratchet and clutch ring to define a unidirectional coupling therebetween whereby rotation of said driving gear in the indexing direction effects the drive of said spindle in the indexing direction only, means for effecting the drive of said driving gear, means for limiting the drive of said driving gear to provide for slightly over indexing of the workpiece adapted to be secured to said table, a locating means disposed adjacent said table means, and an actuating means for activating said locating means between an operative and inoperative position.

Claim 13

The invention as defined in claim 10 wherein said ratchet includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced notches, and said coupling means for connecting said ratchet to said clutch ring to effect a unidirectional drive in the direction of index including a clutch pin disposed in each of said notches arranged to be wedged between said ratchet and clutch ring to effect the drive therebetween.

Claim 14

The invention as defined in claim 11 and including spring means operating on each of said clutch pins to normally bias the respective pins toward inoperative position.

Claim 15

The invention as defined in claim 10 wherein said locating means includes a slide mounted for movement toward and away from a work piece, a tooth sector mounted on said slide to complement the teeth of said work piece for meshing therewith in the operative position to locate and maintain said workpiece in the indexed position, and means for activating said slide between operative and inoperative position.

Claim 16

The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said work holding means includes an extended arbor adapted for supporting a work piece thereon.

Claim 17

The invention as defined in claim 14 wherein said base means includes a mounting portion and a supporting flange disposed normal to said mounting portion, said housing being mounted to said supporting flange, and said work holding means includes a spindle rotatably journalled to said housing, a drive means connected to the end of said spindle, an arbor adapted to support a work piece connected in driving relationship to said drive means, and a tail stock for rotatably supporting the extended end of said arbor.