Automatic machine tool

Claim 2

A machine tool comprising: a frame, means on said frame for supporting a workpiece for movement along a given path and rotation about a given axis, machining means on said frame along said path for performing selected machining operations on the workpiece, first work positioning means for intermittently feeding the workpiece to successive positions along said path, second work positioning means for intermittently rotating the workpiece to successive positions about said axis, said work positioning means being operable in timed relation to locate the workpiece in selected successive work positions relative to said machining means, means for operating said work positioning means and machining means in timed relation to locate the workpiece in Said work positions in sequence and in each work position to perform one of said machining operations on the workpiece, said machining means comprising a plurality of rotary cutters including a milling cutter, a drill, and a cutoff saw, operable on the workpiece sequentially in its work positions, respectively, means for driving said cutters in rotation, and means supporting said cutters for movement along prescribed paths into and from cutting engagement with the workpiece, and said operating means comprises means for moving each cutter along its prescribed path upon movement of the workpiece to the work positions, in which the respective cutter is operable on the workpiece.

Claim 3

A machine tool according to claim 1 wherein: said operating means comprises means for adjusting said prescribed paths of said cutters.

Claim 4

A machine tool comprising: a frame, means on said frame for supporting a workpiece for movement along a given path and rotation about a given axis, machining means on said frame along said path for performing selected machining operations on the workpiece, first work positioning means for intermittently feeding the workpiece to successive positions along said path, second work positioning means for intermittently rotating the workpiece to successive positions about said axis, said work positioning means being operable in timed relation to locate the workpiece in selected successive work positions relative to said machining means, means for operating said working positioning means and machining means in timed relation to locate the workpiece in said work positions in sequence and in each work position to perform one of said machining operations on the workpiece, said path is a linear path, said axis coincides with said path, said workpiece is a linear workpiece such as an extrusion, said work supporting means supports the workpiece for endwise movement along said path and rotation about the longitudinal axis of the workpiece, and, said machining means comprises a plurality of rotary cutters including a milling cutter, a drill, and a cutoff saw, operable on the workpiece sequentially in its work positions, respectively, means for driving said cutters in rotation, and means for sequentially moving said cutters along prescribed paths into and from cutting engagement with the workpiece upon movement of the workpiece to the respective work positions.

Claim 5

A machine tool comprising: a frame, means on said frame for supporting a workpiece for movement along a given path and rotation about a given axis, machining means on said frame along said path for performing selected machining operations on the workpiece, first work positioning means for intermittently feeding the workpiece to successive positions along said path, second work positioning means for intermittently rotating the workpiece to successive positions about said axis, said work positioning means being operable in timed relation to locate the workpiece in selected successive work positions relative to said machining means, means for operating said working positioning means and machining means in timed relation to locate the workpiece in said work positions in sequence and in each work position to perform one of said machining operations on the workpiece, said path is a linear path, said axis coincides with said path, said workpiece is a linear workpiece such as an extrusion, said work supporting means supports the workpiece for endwise movement along said path and rotation about the longitudinal axis of the workpiece, and, said machining means comprises a plurality of rotary cutters including a milling cutter, a drill, and a cutoff saw, operable on the workpiece sequentially in its work positions, respectively, means for driving said cutters in rotation, and means for sequentially moving said cutters along prescribed paths into and from cutting engagement with the workpiece upon movement of the workpiece to the respective work positions.

Claim 6

A machine tool comprising: a frame, means on said frame for supporting a workpiece for movement along a given path and rotation about a given axis, machining means on said frame along said path for performing selected machining operations on the workpiece, first work positioning means for intermittently feeding the workpiece to successive positions along said path, second work positioning means for intermittently rotating the workpiece to successive positions about said axis, said work positioning means being operable in timed relation to locate the workpiece in selected successive work positions relative to said machining means, means for operating said work positioning means and machining means in timed relation to locate the workpiece in said work positions in sequence and in each work position to perform one of said machining operations on the workpiece, said path is a linear path, said rotation axis coincides with said path, said workpiece is a linear workpiece, such as an extrusion, said work supporting means comprises a rotary work holder for supporting the workpiece for endwise movement along said path and rotation about the longitudinal axis of the workpiece, said first work positioning means includes means for intermittently feeding the workpiece endwise a given distance along said path and through said work holder, said second work positioning means including means for clamping the workpiece to said work holder and means for driving the work holder in rotation, said operating means includes means for operating said clamping means and driving means in timed relation to the operation of said first work positioning means and said machining means, and said machining means comprise three rotary cutters comprising, respectively, a milling cutter, a drill, and a cut off saw, operable in selected work positions of said workpiece, means for driving each cutter in rotation, and means for moving each cutter along a prescribed path into and from cutting engagement with said workpiece upon movement of the workpiece to each work position in which the respective cutter is operable.

Claim 7

A machine tool comprising: a frame, means on said frame for supporting a workpiece for movement along a given path and rotation about a given axis, machining means on said frame along said path for performing selected machining operations on the workpiece, first work positioning means for intermittently feeding the workpiece to successive positions along said path, second work positioning means for intermittently rotating the workpiece to successive positions about said axis, said work positioning means being operable in timed relation to locate the workpiece in selected successive work positions relative to said machining means, means for operating said work positioning means and machining means in timed relation to locate the workpiece in said work positions in sequence and in each work position to perform one of said machining operations on the workpiece, said path is a linear path, said rotation axis coincides with said path, said workpiece is a linear workpiece, such as an extrusion, said work supporting means comprises a rotary work holder for supporting the workpiece for endwise movement along said path and rotation about the longitudinal axis of the workpiece, said first work positioning means includes means for intermittently feeding the workpiece endwise a given distance along said path and through said work holder, said second work positioning means including means for clamping the workpiece to said work holder and means for driving the work holder in rotation, said operating means includes means for operating said clamping means and driving means in timed relation to the operation of said first work positioning means and said machining means, and said machining means comprise three rotary cutters comprising, respectively, a milling cutter, a drill, and a cut off saw, operable in selected work positions of said workpiece, means for driving each cutter in rotation, and means for moving each cutter along a prescribed path into and from cutting engagement with said workpiece upon movement of the workpiece to each work position in which the respective cutter is operable.

Claim 8

A machine tool according to claim 4 wherein: said cutter moving means comprises means supporting said milling cutter for movement in three mutually orthogonal directions including a first transverse direction of said linear path parallel to the milling cutter rotation axis, a second transverse direction of said linear path, and a third direction along said linear path, three independently operable means for effecting movement of said milling cutter in said orthogonal directions, respectively, and means for selectively operating said three independently operable means in preselected timed relation, means supporting said drill for movement in three mutually orthogonal directions including a first transverse direction of said linear path parallel to the drill rotation axis, a second direction transverse to said linear path, and a third direction along said linear path, three independently operable means for effecting movement of said drill in said latter orthogonal directions, respectively, and means for selectively operating said latter three independently operable means in preselected timed relations, and means supporting said saw for edgewise movement across said linear path, actuator means for moving said saw edgewise, actuator means for adjusting the angle between the plane of the saw and said linear path, and means for selectively operating said actuator means in preselected timed relation.

Claim 9

A machine tool according to claim 5 including: means for altering said prescribed cutter paths.

Claim 10

A machine tool comprising: a frame, means on said frame for supporting a linear workpiece such as an extrusion having a plate and flange extending the full length of the workpiece with the flange projecting from one side of the plate between its longitudinal edges, means on said frame for automatically slotting said plate to form in the plate a pair of slots located at opposite sides of said flange in alignment laterally of said workpiece and extending from said flange through the longitudinal edges of said plate, means on said frame for thereafter cutting said flange between the end edges of said slots to sever said workpiece into separate members each having a plate and a flange projecting beyond an end of the member plate to form a tongue for joining the member to another member. means for periodically advancing said workpiece endwise past said slotting and cutting means, and means for automatically operating said advancing means, slotting means and cutting means in timed relation to slot and sever said workpiece at intervals along the workpiece.

Claim 11

A machine tool comprising: a frame, means on said frame for supporting a linear workpiece such as an extrusion having a plate and flange extending the full length of the workpiece with the flange projecting from one side of the plate between its longitudinal edges, means on said frame for automatically slotting said plate to form in the plate a pair of slots located at opposite sides of said flange in alignment laterally of said workpiece and extending from said flange through the longitudinal edges of said plate, means on said frame for thereafter cutting said flange between the end edges of said slots to sever said workpiece into separate members each having a plate and a flange projecting beyond an end of the member plate to form a tongue for joining the member to another member. means for periodically advancing said workpiece endwise past said slotting and cutting means, and means for automatically operating said advancing means, slotting means and cutting means in timed relation to slot and sever said workpiece at intervals along the workpiece.

Claim 12

A machine tool according to claim 7 wherein: said workpiece has an additional longitudinal flange projecting from the opposite side of said workpiece plate, said slotting means is operable to slot said additional flange to form in the latter flange a slot aligned with and extending longitudinally beyond said end edges of said slot pair and extending from said opposite plate side through the longitudinal edge of the additional flange, and said tool includes means operable between the operations of said slotting and cutting means for drilling holes through said plate in the regions between the ends of said slot pair and additional flange slot.