Die changing turret table segment

Claim 2

In a machine tool having an annular turret with a periphery substantially closed by a worktable having outer edges spaced from the periphery of the turret, the worktable having a segment thereof extending from the periphery of the turret to the outer edge of the worktable removable from the remainder of the worktable to provide access to the periphery of the turret below a common worktable top level, the improvement of said segment being connected to said matching through a plurality of connection means, said segment movable between first and second position, said first position being a work position with a top of the segment planer with the top of the remainder of the worktable, said second position being a turret access position with said top of said segment being spaced below the remainder of said worktable, the said connection means limiting movement of the said segment except between said positions.

Claim 3

The improvement of claim 1 wherein the connecting means limits movement of the segment between the first and second positions to movement through an arc upwardly and downwardly from the first position to the second position, the second position lying substantially vertically below the first position, the connecting means effective to maintain parallelism of the top of the segment with the top of the remainder of the worktable.

Claim 4

The improvement of the claim number 2 wherein the table segment has a curved edge portion conforming to the curvature of an arcuate lower turret, the segment in its first position having the curved edge portion positioned adjacent to the periphery of the turret and the segment in its second position having the curved edge portion closely adjacent a lower peripheral portion of the turret.

Claim 5

The improvement of claim number 2 wherein selectively actuateable latching means are provided to maintain the segment in its first position.

Claim 6

The improvement of claim number 4 wherein the connecting means includes elongated link members each of which has one end portion pivotally connected to the segment and another end portion pivotally connected to a machine carried member.

Claim 7

The improvement of claim 5 wherein the machine carried member comprises a bracket member fixed to the remaining portion of the worktable.

Claim 8

The improvement of claim number 6 wherein the bracket member attached to the remainder of the worktable has the latch means attached to thereto, the latch means having portions thereof engagable with the link to restrict movement of the link.

Claim 9

The improvement of claim 2 wherein the connecting means includes cam members carried by said segment indexing with cam tracks carried by said machine.

Claim 10

The improvement of claim 8 wherein the cam tracks are formed in bracket members suspended from the underside of the remainder of the worktable adjacent edges of the segment, the cam members carried by the segment being affixed to bracket members suspended from the undersurface of the segment.

Claim 11

A machine tool having upper and lower spaced apart turrets, the lower turret having an arcuate periphery with a top and a bottom, the lower turret carrying a plurality of tools, a worktable substantially encompassing the lower turret extending outwardly from the periphery thereof, the worktable having a normal working height top positioned adjacent the top of the lower turret, a segment of the worktable being separated from the remainder thereof, connecting means connecting the segment to the remainder and allowing movement of the segment from a working height position with a top of the segment planer with a top of the remainder to a turret access position with the top of the segment below the top of the remainder by a distance sufficient to allow tools carried by the lower turret to be removed from the turret periphery without contacting the segment, the connecting means maintaining the top of the segment parallel with the top of the remainder of the worktable in both the working height and turret access positions.

Claim 12

A machine tool having upper and lower spaced apart turrets, the lower turret having an arcuate periphery with a top and a bottom, the lower turret carrying a plurality of tools, a worktable substantially encompassing the lower turret extending outwardly from the periphery thereof, the worktable having a normal working height top positioned adjacent the top of the lower turret, a segment of the worktable being separated from the remainder thereof, connecting means connecting the segment to the remainder and allowing movement of the segment from a working height position with a top of the segment planer with a top of the remainder to a turret access position with the top of the segment below the top of the remainder by a distance sufficient to allow tools carried by the lower turret to be removed from the turret periphery without contacting the segment, the connecting means maintaining the top of the segment parallel with the top of the remainder of the worktable in both the working height and turret access positions.

Claim 13

The machine of claim number 10 wherein the table segment has an inner peripheral portion closely spaced to the periphery of the lower turret in the worktable position and in the turret access position, the segment providing a workbench in the turret access position.