Patent ID: 6112391
Filing Date: 2000-09-05
Classification: B21D,B21H,B23P,Y10T

Abstract:
In association with a machine tool having lower and upper rotatable spindles which clamp a disk blank workpiece between them and converts the workpiece into a finished disk product via splitting and swage-forming operations, an apparatus for automatically loading a disk blank workpiece into the machine tool and simultaneously unloading a finished disk product out of the machine tool comprises in combination:storage means for holding a plurality of disk blank workpieces at a first position and moving a workpiece to a second position;a rotatable arm assembly having a distal end adapted for picking up a disk blank workpiece at the second position and which moves through a horizontal arc of travel to deposit the workpiece within the machine tool at a third position where the workpiece is converted to a finished disk product;means for removing a finished disk product from the third position and depositing it onto the distal end of the rotatable arm such that the product may be removed from the machine tool; andsweeper means positioned within the horizontal arc of travel of the distal end of the rotatable arm assembly to sweep a finished disk product off the assembly such that it may be collected for distribution.