US4038739A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Machine tools having interchangeable tool carrying units
Assignee: MOLLART ENGINEERING COMPANY Ltd
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Filing: 1975-12-01
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Granted: 1977-08-02
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Expires: 1995-12-01
Abstract
Abstract A machine tool for interchanging tool carrying units includes a guideway for slidably supporting the tool units, a substantially horizontal slideway, and a pivot member adjacent one end of the guideway. The tool carrying units are mounted about the pivot member. The tool also includes structure for rotating the pivot member about an axis parallel to the slideway for angularly moving the tool carrying units about the axis from an inoperative position to an operative position above the slideway or vice versa. A movable structure is mounted on the slideways. The tool includes structure for moving the movable structure along the slideway to engage the tool carrying unit in operative position and to move the interconnected movable structure and tool carrying unit along the slideway in a direction parallel to the axis to detach the tool carrying unit from the pivot member and to move said unit to a working position. The tool also includes drive structure on the movable structure for driving the tools on the units in the working position for performing a machining operation, and structure for selectively moving the tool carrying units along the guideway from a storage position to the inoperative position on the pivot member and vice versa.
Inventors
- 👤 Antonin Nohejl
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 12:12
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23Q; B23Q3/00; B23Q3/155; B23Q3/157; B23Q16/00; B23Q2003/1558; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T408/00; Y10T408/36; Y10T408/37; Y10T483/00; Y10T483/17; Y10T483/1733; Y10T483/1736; Y10T483/1738; Y10T483/1748; Y10T483/1783; Y10T483/18; Y10T483/1873
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
235 words
A machine tool having means for interchanging tool carrying units, said machine tool comprising: at least two tool carrying units; a guideway having means for slidably supporting said tool units; a substantially horizontal slideway; a pivot member adjacent one end of said guideway, said tool carrying units being mounted about said pivot member; at least two means on said pivot member for slidably interconnecting said tool carrying units thereto; means for rotating said pivot member about an axis parallel to said slideway for angularly moving said tool carrying units about said axis from an inoperative position where one of said means on said pivot member is aligned with said guideway to an operative position above said slideway or vice versa; a movable structure slidably mounted on said slideway; means for moving said movable structure along said slideway to engage the tool carrying unit in said operative position and to move said interconnected movable structure and tool carrying unit along slideway in a direction parallel to said axis to detach said tool carrying unit from said pivot member and to move said unit to a working position; drive means on said movable structure for driving the tools on said units in said working position for performing a machining operation; and means for selectively moving the tool carrying units along said guideway from a storage position to said inoperative position on said pivot member and vice versa.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
235 words
A machine tool having means for interchanging tool carrying units, said machine tool comprising: at least two tool carrying units; a guideway having means for slidably supporting said tool units; a substantially horizontal slideway; a pivot member adjacent one end of said guideway, said tool carrying units being mounted about said pivot member; at least two means on said pivot member for slidably interconnecting said tool carrying units thereto; means for rotating said pivot member about an axis parallel to said slideway for angularly moving said tool carrying units about said axis from an inoperative position where one of said means on said pivot member is aligned with said guideway to an operative position above said slideway or vice versa; a movable structure slidably mounted on said slideway; means for moving said movable structure along said slideway to engage the tool carrying unit in said operative position and to move said interconnected movable structure and tool carrying unit along slideway in a direction parallel to said axis to detach said tool carrying unit from said pivot member and to move said unit to a working position; drive means on said movable structure for driving the tools on said units in said working position for performing a machining operation; and means for selectively moving the tool carrying units along said guideway from a storage position to said inoperative position on said pivot member and vice versa.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
A machine tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least two means on said pivot member comprise second guideways for slidably receiving a portion of the corresponding tool carrying units, and resilient catch devices for releasably interconnecting the tool carrying units and the pivot member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
A machine tool as claimed in claim 2, wherein the catch devices each comprise spring urged plungers having angular nose portions engaging corresponding apertures in the second guideways of the pivot member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
58 words
A machine tool as claimed in claim 3, wherein the nose portions of the plungers are formed with a pair of angular surfaces extending at different angles to the longitudinal axis of the plungers so as to obtain different retaining forces in the different directions of movement of the tool carrying units relative to the supporting pivot member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
A machine tool as claimed in claim 4, wherein the angular surfaces are located so that a greater retaining force is obtained in the direction of movement of a tool carrying unit from its operative position into the working position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
60 words
A machine tool as claimed in claim 5, wherein one of the pair of angular surfaces of the nose portions of the plungers extends at an angle of 30° to 40° to the longitudinal axis of the plunger so as to provide the greater retaining force to the direction of movement of a tool carrying unit to the working position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
64 words
A machine tool as claimed in claim 6, wherein the other one of the pair of angular surface of the nose portions of the plungers extends at an angle of 50° to 60° to the longitudinal axis of the plunger so as to provide a lesser retaining force when a tool carrying unit is slidably moved from an inoperative position to the storage position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
A machine tool as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first-mentioned guideway leads to a storage section.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
A machine tool as claimed in claim 8, wherein the means for selectively moving the tool carrying units comprises a conveying unit for engaging a tool carrying unit in the inoperative position and for moving that unit to a storage device.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
A machine tool as claimed in claim 9, wherein the conveying unit comprises a motor driven lead screw bearing a travelling nut having an upstanding drive tongue engaging a corresponding slot in the tool carrying unit.
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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) | 1980-08-01 | 1981-01-31 | 1981-08-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-08-01 | 1985-01-31 | 1985-08-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-08-01 | 1989-01-31 | 1989-08-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |