| 摘要 |
1,215,917. Programmed electric control. KEARNEY & TRECKER CORP. April 11, 1969 [April 23, 1968], No.18734/69. Heading G3N. [Also in Division B3] A machine tool having a plurality of spindles each carrying a tool controlled by programmed means for operating the tool in cycles of machining operations has means under the control of the programme for changing the tools unitarily between cycles. The tool which may be of the three spindle type may be controlled numerically by tape or other means and the various operations performed by a hydraulic system controlled by servovalves. The machine may perform a number of successive cycles of machining operations with different tools at each cycle, the control system automatically exchanging tools between the cycles and continuing each new cycle with different sets of tools in each case. At determined points in each programme, spin dles 11-13 are stopped and a tool exchange frame 18 is rotated from its idle position so that empty tool sockets 32 are in line with the spindles 11-13. A tool carrying head 7 is lowered to exchange height and a "U'' frame 19 is advanced by a cylinder 550 so that grippers (33) Fig.7 (not shown) grip annular V recesses on the tools which, when the head 7 is elevated a clearance distance, release the tools. The "U" frame is then rotated +90 degrees by a motor 560 and head 7 is moved leftwardly so that the spindles are coaxial with the fresh set of tools. Head 7 is re-lowered to engage the fresh tools and subsequently raised again to its working position. Thereafter the "U" frame is retracted, the tool frame returned to its idle position and the "U" frame rotated by -90 degrees in which position the old tools are removed by hand and fresh tools inserted in the appropriate sockets. As tools are locked to the spindles, prior to old tools being disengaged, and after new tools are engaged, such locks have to be released and reengaged. Prior to release the spindles are arranged to stop so that they are correctly positioned for the locks to be released and similarly fresh tools must be correctly placed in the sockets. Electrical and hydraulic circuits are described in the Specification for operating the machine and the tool interchange sequences the latter being controlled by limit switches during an arrest of the programme. |
