US4631981A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Machine tool with two tool changers
Assignee: Toyoda Koki KK
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Filing: 1984-11-21
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Granted: 1986-12-30
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Expires: 2004-11-21
Abstract
Abstract A machine tool having a tool spindle rotatable about a horizontal axis provided with first and second tool magazines and first and second tool transfer devices. The first tool magazine removably stores a plurality of small diameter tools, with the axes of the small diameter tools extending horizontally. The first tool transfer device transfers the small diameter tools between the first tool magazine and the tool spindle. The second tool magazine is installed on the floor at one side of a column of the machine tool in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the tool spindle and removably stores a plurality of large diameter tools, with the axes of the large diameter tools extending vertically. The second tool magazine is provided with a turnover mechanism, which pivotally moves a large diameter tool indexed to a large tool removal position so as to lay the large diameter tool horizontally in parallel relation with the tool spindle. The second transfer device is movable between the large tool removal position and the tool spindle so that a new large tool is removed from the second tool magazine at the large tool removal position to be inserted into the tool spindle, while a used large tool is taken out from the tool spindle to be returned to the second tool magazine at the large tool removal position.
Inventors
- 👤 Noboru Kato
- 👤 Yasuhiro Hattori
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 15:23
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23Q; B23Q3/00; B23Q3/155; B23Q3/157; B23Q3/15713; B23Q3/1572; B23Q3/15726; B23Q3/1574; B23Q3/1552; B23Q3/15526; B23Q3/15539; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T483/00; Y10T483/17; Y10T483/1733; Y10T483/1748; Y10T483/175; Y10T483/1752; Y10T483/1755; Y10T483/1764; Y10T483/1767; Y10T483/1771; Y10T483/1783; Y10T483/18; Y10T483/1845; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/14; Y10T74/1471
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
292 words
A machine tool comprising: a machine frame; a spindle head vertically movably supported on said machine frame; a tool spindle carried by said spindle head for rotation about a horizontal axis; first small tool storage means for removably storing a plurality of tools; pivotable tool exchange means for changing said tools between said tool spindle and said first small tool storage means; second large tool storage means positioned separate from said first tool storage means for removably storing a plurality of tools, said second tool storage means being capable of moving said tools stored therein so as to index one of said tools to a tool removal position; and tool transfer means for transferring said tool from said tool removal position of said second tool storage means so as to insert it into said tool spindle and for transferring an additional tool from said tool spindle so as to store said additional tool into said second tool storage means at said tool removal position wherein said tools stored in the first small tool storage means comprise a plurality of small diameter tools, while said tools stored in the second large tool storage means comprise a plurality of large diameter tools; said first tool storage means comprises means for horizontally storing said small diameter tools, while said second tool storage means comprises means for vertically storing said large diameter tools; and said second large tool storage means further comprises means for horizontally moving said large diameter tools, with the axes of said large diameter tools extending vertically, so as to index one of said large diameter tools to said tool removal position and for pivotally moving between vertical and horizontal positions one of said large diameter tools indexed to said tool removal position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
292 words
A machine tool comprising: a machine frame; a spindle head vertically movably supported on said machine frame; a tool spindle carried by said spindle head for rotation about a horizontal axis; first small tool storage means for removably storing a plurality of tools; pivotable tool exchange means for changing said tools between said tool spindle and said first small tool storage means; second large tool storage means positioned separate from said first tool storage means for removably storing a plurality of tools, said second tool storage means being capable of moving said tools stored therein so as to index one of said tools to a tool removal position; and tool transfer means for transferring said tool from said tool removal position of said second tool storage means so as to insert it into said tool spindle and for transferring an additional tool from said tool spindle so as to store said additional tool into said second tool storage means at said tool removal position wherein said tools stored in the first small tool storage means comprise a plurality of small diameter tools, while said tools stored in the second large tool storage means comprise a plurality of large diameter tools; said first tool storage means comprises means for horizontally storing said small diameter tools, while said second tool storage means comprises means for vertically storing said large diameter tools; and said second large tool storage means further comprises means for horizontally moving said large diameter tools, with the axes of said large diameter tools extending vertically, so as to index one of said large diameter tools to said tool removal position and for pivotally moving between vertical and horizontal positions one of said large diameter tools indexed to said tool removal position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
A machine tool as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said tool transfer means is operable to transfer said large diameter tools between said tool removal position of said second tool storage means and said tool spindle, with the axes of the same extending horizontally.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
136 words
A machine tool as set forth in claim 2, wherein said second tool storage means comprises: a magazine frame; a guide rail horizontally extending on said magazine frame; a plurality of tool sockets for removably storing said large diameter tools, said tool sockets being movable along said guide rail, with axes thereof extending vertically; indexing means for moving said tool sockets along said guide rail so as to index one of said tool sockets to said tool removal position; a turnover head provided at said tool removal position and pivotable between vertical and horizontal positions, said turnover head constituting a part of said guide rail for permitting said tool sockets to successively pass thereacross when located at said vertical position; and pivot drive means for pivotally moving said turnover head between said vertical and horizontal positions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
226 words
A machine tool as set forth in claim 3, wherein said turnover head presents one of said tool sockets in parallel relation with said tool spindle when pivoted by said pivot drive means to said horizontal position, and wherein said tool transfer means comprises: a tool support having first and second tool grippers each for receiving one of said large diameter tools, said first and second tool grippers being spaced in a first horizontal direction perpendicular to the axis of said tool spindle; first feed means for feeding said tool support in said first horizontal direction so as to selectively bring said first and second tool grippers into axial alignment with any of said tool sockets horizontally held at said tool removal position and said tool spindle; and second feed means for feeding said tool support in a second horizontal direction perpendicular to said first horizontal direction so as to enable said first tool gripper to receive a new large diameter tool from one of said tool sockets horizontally held at said tool removal position and insert said new large diameter tool into said tool spindle and so as to enable said second tool gripper to receive a used large diameter tool from said tool spindle and insert said used large diameter tool into one of said tool sockets horizontally held at said tool removal position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
155 words
A machine tool as set forth in claim 4, wherein said first feed means comprises: a carrier movable in said first horizontal direction; a shiftable head mounted on said carrier and movable relative thereto in said first horizontal direction, said shiftable head carrying said tool support thereon; carrier feed means for moving said carrier in said first horizontal direction so as to present said tool support selectively before said one of said tool sockets horizontally held at said tool removal position and said tool spindle; and shiftable head feed means mounted on said carrier for moving said shiftable head relative to said carrier in said first horizontal direction so as to selectively bring said first and second tool grippers into axial alignment with said one of said tool sockets horizontally held at said tool removal position and so as to selectively bring said first and second tool grippers into axial alignment with said tool spindle.
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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) | 1989-12-29 | 1990-06-30 | 1990-12-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-12-29 | 1994-06-30 | 1994-12-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-12-29 | 1998-06-30 | 1998-12-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |