TRANSFER AND LOCATION OF WORKPIECES FOR A GANG MACHINE

摘要

An apparatus for transferring a pallet with a plurality of workpieces into a gang machine and locating and clamping the workpieces while being machined. The workpieces are received and loosely retained on the pallet while being transferred and each workpiece is located and clamped in the machine independently of both the other workpieces and the pallet. Each workpiece is accurately positioned by locators carried by the machine and at least in part held while being machined by clamps carried by the pallet. The workpieces are moved into engagement with the locators by a lift which moves the pallet toward the locators.