Auxiliary workpiece-loading and -unloading apparatus

Claim 1

Auxiliary workpiece loading and unloading apparatus for use with a machine tool comprised of a workpiece supply location, a horizontal axis headstock having a machining station, and transport means having one or more rotary or pendular arms for causing workpieces to be moved from said supply location to said machining station without said workpieces undergoing a change of orientation, said apparatus comprising: a workpiece holder pivotable about a substantially vertical axis, capable of effecting alternating rotary movements about said vertical axis in a sequence synchronized with the movements of said transport means; means for causing said workpiece holder to carry out said alternating rotary movements correlatively to the movements of said rotary or pendular arm; workpiece support means for receiving each of said workpieces at a side of said machine tool and for subsequently presenting each of said workpieces in proper orientation to said transport means, said workpiece support means including two lower shoes and a hydraulically or pneumatically controlled upper jack for pressing said workpieces vertically against said shoes in order to hold said workpieces firmly in place during said movements of said workpiece holder, said shoes being adjustable in height so that when said workpiece holder is facing in the direction of the longitudinal axis of said machine tool, an unmachined workpiece will be correctly positioned at said supply location to be picked up by said rotary or pendular arm, and said workpiece support means will be correctly positioned at a location to receive a machined workpiece from said rotary or pendular arm.