Patent ID: 6138818
Filing Date: 2000-10-31
Classification: B23Q,Y10T

Abstract:
A workpiece positioning system for milling machines for optimally orienting workpieces for machining, said system comprising:an input station adjacent said machine;a plurality of pallets for transporting prealigned workpieces to said input station;means for indicating the arrival of a pallet at said input station;an inverting receptor at the input station for serially receiving pallets and the workpieces transported thereby;first actuator means for rotating the inverting receptor approximately one hundred eighty degrees to invert the workpiece and its support pallet;a top mounted linear actuator disposed within the milling machine for receiving an inverted pallet from said inverting receptor and moving the inverted workpiece through, the milling machine where it is exposed to a milling head for machining;a track for controlling the linear actuator;an exit station;a reverting receptor disposed at said exit station for receiving pallets and the machined workpieces borne thereby from said linear actuator;second actuator means for rotating the reverting receptor approximately one hundred eighty degrees to reorient the machined workpiece and its supportpallet in a non-inverted position; and,means for discharging the machined workpiece and its pallet from the reverting receptor.