US4873756A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Machine tool
Assignee: Brother Industries Ltd
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Filing: 1987-01-30
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Granted: 1989-10-17
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Expires: 2007-01-30
Abstract
Abstract A machine tool with a vertically reciprocating spindle head has an automatic tool changer including a rotatingly indexable tool support connected to the machine tool frame and vertically movable independently of the spindle head, a first cam-and-crank mechanism activated by spindle head vertical movement to move the tool support with the spindle head during a first portion of the tool changing operation and away from the spindle head during a second portion of the tool changing operation, a second cam-and-crank mechanism also activated by spindle head vertical movement for opening and closing a tool holder on the tool support during another portion of the tool changing operation, a tool holder with a pair of rotatably supported L-shaped fingers which hold a tool in a substantially perpendicular direction to the axes of finger rotation, a tool taking device for taking a tool out of a tool magazine, and a vertical stop for preventing vertical movement of the tool support with the spindle head into the machining region.
Inventors
- 👤 Hisaaki Yamane
- 👤 Noboru Hirose
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 12:01
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23Q; B23Q3/00; B23Q3/155; B23Q3/157; B23Q3/15706; B23Q3/1552; B23Q3/15526; B23Q3/15534; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/51; Y10T29/5104; Y10T29/5105; Y10T29/5107; Y10T408/00; Y10T408/36; Y10T408/37; Y10T483/00; Y10T483/17; Y10T483/1733; Y10T483/179; Y10T483/1793; Y10T483/1795
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
337 words
A machine tool for machining a workpiece, the machine tool of the type having a main spindle head rotatably supporting a main spindle with a tool mount at one end, the spindle head being reciprocal relative to the machine tool frame in the axial direction of the main spindle, the machine tool further comprising: a tool holding member installed in the tool mount of said main spindle; automatic means for changing a tool held in said tool holding member during "double action" reciprocal tool-changing movement of said spindle head, said automatic means including: a. a tool support carried on said frame and movable in the axial direction of said main spindle independently of said main spindle; b. a tool magazine rotatably supported on, and axially movable with, said tool support, said magazine having a plurality of tool holders each capable of detachably holding a tool, and spaced about the magazine periphery, said magazine for indexing a selected tool holder into and out of axial alignment with said main spindle; c. a first cam-and-crank means interconnecting said main spindle head, said frame, and said tool support for moving said tool support together with said spindle head a predetermined distance during the "double action" movement of said main spindle head relative to said frame, the tool being held in said main spindle also being engaged to be held by one of said plurality of tool holders of said tool magazine during movement in said predetermined distance, said first cam-and-crank means also for moving said tool support and said spindle head away from each other by a predetermined distance during the "double action" movement; d. a second cam-and-crank means interconnecting said main spindle head and said frame for causing said tool holding member to release said tool from said tool holding member during a preselected portion of said "double action" movement; and e. means for preventing movement of said tool support below a fixed axial location, said spindle head being axially movable below said fixed location for performing machining operations.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
337 words
A machine tool for machining a workpiece, the machine tool of the type having a main spindle head rotatably supporting a main spindle with a tool mount at one end, the spindle head being reciprocal relative to the machine tool frame in the axial direction of the main spindle, the machine tool further comprising: a tool holding member installed in the tool mount of said main spindle; automatic means for changing a tool held in said tool holding member during "double action" reciprocal tool-changing movement of said spindle head, said automatic means including: a. a tool support carried on said frame and movable in the axial direction of said main spindle independently of said main spindle; b. a tool magazine rotatably supported on, and axially movable with, said tool support, said magazine having a plurality of tool holders each capable of detachably holding a tool, and spaced about the magazine periphery, said magazine for indexing a selected tool holder into and out of axial alignment with said main spindle; c. a first cam-and-crank means interconnecting said main spindle head, said frame, and said tool support for moving said tool support together with said spindle head a predetermined distance during the "double action" movement of said main spindle head relative to said frame, the tool being held in said main spindle also being engaged to be held by one of said plurality of tool holders of said tool magazine during movement in said predetermined distance, said first cam-and-crank means also for moving said tool support and said spindle head away from each other by a predetermined distance during the "double action" movement; d. a second cam-and-crank means interconnecting said main spindle head and said frame for causing said tool holding member to release said tool from said tool holding member during a preselected portion of said "double action" movement; and e. means for preventing movement of said tool support below a fixed axial location, said spindle head being axially movable below said fixed location for performing machining operations.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
64 words
A machine tool as recited in claim 1, wherein the first cam-and-crank means includes a crank mechanism and a cam, said cam having a first cam surface cooperating with said crank mechanism to move the tool support with the spindle head and a second cam surface cooperating with said crank mechanism to move said tool support and said spindle head away from each other.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
144 words
A tool holding device for a machine tool in which a plurality of tools are held in a tool magazine, comprising: a pair of substantially L-shaped fingers, each of said pair of fingers being substantially L-shaped with a base end portion rotatably supported on said tool magazine and a free end portion formed into a clamping pawl; said pair of fingers having a tool holding position wherein said clamping pawls hold a tool in a substantially perpendicular direction to the axes of finger rotation and a tool releasing position wherein said clamping pawls release said tool, each of said fingers rotating about an axis perpendicular to the axis of the tool held in the tool magazine to move between the tool holding and tool releasing positions; and finger operating means for moving said fingers to said tool holding position and said tool releasing position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
144 words
A tool holding device for a machine tool in which a plurality of tools are held in a tool magazine, comprising: a pair of substantially L-shaped fingers, each of said pair of fingers being substantially L-shaped with a base end portion rotatably supported on said tool magazine and a free end portion formed into a clamping pawl; said pair of fingers having a tool holding position wherein said clamping pawls hold a tool in a substantially perpendicular direction to the axes of finger rotation and a tool releasing position wherein said clamping pawls release said tool, each of said fingers rotating about an axis perpendicular to the axis of the tool held in the tool magazine to move between the tool holding and tool releasing positions; and finger operating means for moving said fingers to said tool holding position and said tool releasing position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
A tool holding device as recited in claim 3, wherein the pair of fingers are coupled to each other through pairs of links.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
A tool holding device as recited in claim 3, wherein the finger operating means is moved in a direction perpendicular to the axes of finger rotation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
110 words
A tool taking device for a machine tool having a tool support supporting a tool magazine in which a plurality of tools are held in a plurality of tool holders having fingers, said tool holders located on said tool magazine, comprising: a support member rotatably supported on said tool support; a depressing lever extending from said support member toward said fingers, said depressing member being operable to abut against said fingers; and an operating member coupled to said support member located outside the periphery of said tool magazine, said operating member operable to cause said depressing member to abut said fingers and move said fingers to a tool releasing position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
110 words
A tool taking device for a machine tool having a tool support supporting a tool magazine in which a plurality of tools are held in a plurality of tool holders having fingers, said tool holders located on said tool magazine, comprising: a support member rotatably supported on said tool support; a depressing lever extending from said support member toward said fingers, said depressing member being operable to abut against said fingers; and an operating member coupled to said support member located outside the periphery of said tool magazine, said operating member operable to cause said depressing member to abut said fingers and move said fingers to a tool releasing position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
215 words
A machine tool for machining a workpiece, the machine tool of the type having a main spindle head rotatably supporting a main spindle with a tool mount at one end, the spindle head being reciprocal relative to the machine tool frame in the axial direction of the main spindle, the machine tool further comprising: a tool magazine reciprocal relative to the frame in the axial direction of the main spindle, said tool magazine including an outer peripheral surface; a plurality of tool holders supported on said outer peripheral surface of said tool magazine, each of said tool holders being movable between a holding position wherein said tool holder holds a tool and a releasing position wherein said tool holder releases the tool, said tool magazine for indexing a tool held by a selected tool holder at a position in axial alignment with said main spindle; first operating means for moving a selected tool holder between said holding and releasing positions; and second operating means for moving said tool magazine in a first direction while said main spindle head moves in a second direction, said first and second directions being in opposite axial directions relative to said frame, the selected tool holder being in the releasing position while said tool magazine moves in said first direction.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
215 words
A machine tool for machining a workpiece, the machine tool of the type having a main spindle head rotatably supporting a main spindle with a tool mount at one end, the spindle head being reciprocal relative to the machine tool frame in the axial direction of the main spindle, the machine tool further comprising: a tool magazine reciprocal relative to the frame in the axial direction of the main spindle, said tool magazine including an outer peripheral surface; a plurality of tool holders supported on said outer peripheral surface of said tool magazine, each of said tool holders being movable between a holding position wherein said tool holder holds a tool and a releasing position wherein said tool holder releases the tool, said tool magazine for indexing a tool held by a selected tool holder at a position in axial alignment with said main spindle; first operating means for moving a selected tool holder between said holding and releasing positions; and second operating means for moving said tool magazine in a first direction while said main spindle head moves in a second direction, said first and second directions being in opposite axial directions relative to said frame, the selected tool holder being in the releasing position while said tool magazine moves in said first direction.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
The machine tool as recited in claim 7, further comprising a tool support being reciprocal relative to the frame in the axial direction of the main spindle, the tool magazine being rotatably supported on said tool support.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The machine tool as recited in claim 7, wherein the first operating means includes a crank mechanism and a cam.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The machine tool as recited in claim 7, wherein the second operating means includes a crank mechanism and a cam.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
232 words
A method of changing a tool held in a tool holding member of a machine tool spindle head, the spindle head being reciprocal in the axial direction relative to the machine tool frame, a plurality of tool holding members being disposed on a tool magazine, the tool magazine being reciprocal in the axial direction relative to the frame independently of the spindle head, the method comprising the steps of: a. elevating the spindle head a first predetermined distance, said first elevating step including the step of engaging and holding the tool with one of the tool holders during the relative motion between the spindle head and the frame; b. elevating the spindle head a second distance beyond the first distance, said second elevating step including the step of disengaging the tool from the tool holding member during the relative movement between the spindle head and the frame while continuing to hold the tool; c. elevating the spindle head a third distance beyond said second distance while lowering the tool magazine to separate the tool from the spindle head; d. replacing the tool with a replacement tool, said replacing step including performing steps a-c in reverse order to mount the replacement tool in the tool holding member; and f. stopping downward movement of the tool magazine at a position above a machining region, the spindle head being movable downwardly into the machining region.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
232 words
A method of changing a tool held in a tool holding member of a machine tool spindle head, the spindle head being reciprocal in the axial direction relative to the machine tool frame, a plurality of tool holding members being disposed on a tool magazine, the tool magazine being reciprocal in the axial direction relative to the frame independently of the spindle head, the method comprising the steps of: a. elevating the spindle head a first predetermined distance, said first elevating step including the step of engaging and holding the tool with one of the tool holders during the relative motion between the spindle head and the frame; b. elevating the spindle head a second distance beyond the first distance, said second elevating step including the step of disengaging the tool from the tool holding member during the relative movement between the spindle head and the frame while continuing to hold the tool; c. elevating the spindle head a third distance beyond said second distance while lowering the tool magazine to separate the tool from the spindle head; d. replacing the tool with a replacement tool, said replacing step including performing steps a-c in reverse order to mount the replacement tool in the tool holding member; and f. stopping downward movement of the tool magazine at a position above a machining region, the spindle head being movable downwardly into the machining region.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the replacing step includes the steps of rotatably indexing the tool out of axial alignment with the spindle and indexing the replacement tool into axial alignment with the spindle, said rotatable indexing occurring about an axis angled relative to the spindle head axis.
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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) | 1992-10-16 | 1993-04-17 | 1993-10-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-10-16 | 1997-04-17 | 1997-10-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-10-16 | 2001-04-17 | 2001-10-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |