Patent GB-992550-A (GB)
Title: Apparatus for automatically recording one or more sequences of operation in an electrical control system
IPC: G05B19/427
Filed: 1961-08-23
Abstract: 992,550. Machine tool details. S. FINDEIS. Aug. 23, 1961, No. 30437/61. Headings B3C, B3K and B3T. An automatically controlled lathe, drilling and boring machine, milling machine &c., comprises means for setting stops for the tool or work slides, setting copying templates, setting tailstocks &c. during machining of the first workpiece, recording these settings on a central controller, carrying out the machining of other identical workpieces, and then erasing the recording at the end of the batch to allow further operations to be set up. A lathe, Figs. 1-3, having four slides I-V is automatically controlled, the direction and speed of travel of the slides being determined by switches I, II &c. and rotatable stops for the slides being set by switches Ip, Il, IIp &c. A main switch H having 3 positions, all motors on at the top' all motors off in the middle, and recording in lower position, and a service selector switch W having setting up, automatic erasing, and single piecework positions. Another lathe, Figs. 4-8, is automatically controlled and comprises a copying templet 29, an hydraulic tracer device 28, a tailstock 105 having a live centre 114, the longitudinal position and the applied pressure of which is checked by means 107-117. The number and direction of copying cycles is set up by a barrel type switch 7, and the feed of cross-slide 27 is controlled by stops 25 on rotatable stop barrels 26. A further lathe, Fig. 11, has a second slide I, carrying a turret II, and an angular and longitudinal stop bar barrel 26. The lathe slides are set by verniers 5, Figs. 15-21, each of which comprises vernier scale rings 10, 11a a differential drive housing 14, 15 rigidly connected to screw 16, differential gears 17, 18<SP>1</SP> clutched together and meshing with stationary body 19. Three projections 23, 231, 23r are attached to ring 10, and actuate pins 241, 24, 24r for stopping the slide in the required position, and a projection 23/100 prevents over-running. To set up and record the sequence of operations the machine switch pins 1 in a central controller, Figs. 13, 14, 26, 27, 28, 29 are rotated to operate springs set 3 or 4, which starts the desired function. Clutch magnet M11 is energized and depresses a pin 30, to connect with a switch pin 1, and displace locking pin 41, Fig. 13, thus allowing pin 1 to rotate. Disc 35 operates spring set 36 to close contacts M<SP>11</SP>, which energizes the motor for driving worm 37. Worm-wheel 38 and disc 39 rigidly connected thereto, are rotated to index Geneva wheel 33 through 90 degrees, thus advancing cam 2 in steps, until spring set 3 or 4 is operated to open a contact and de-energize clutch M11. Pin 30 is urged upwardly, Fig. 26, by spring 32, and disc 35 disengages spring set 36 and the worm is stopped. After the job has been completed the sequence is erased, by moving switch H to OFF, and switch W to erasing. Magnet M11 is energized, and the mechanism of Fig. 26 is operated to return the pins 1 which are positioned to form a record of the operation, to their original position. This is repeated for each pin with stepwise rotation of the Central Controller. A manual key is provided in the electrical circuit for each pin so that a single pin only may be adjusted. Means is provided for ensuring that the machine slides approach the stops at a constant low speed. Switches Ip, Il, Ik &c., Figs. 30, 31, 8, are used to set up the rotating stop barrels, and rotating template carrier. A switch Ip, Fig. 30, is operated to rotate the stop barrel for the transverse slide by one step and part 46 moves through 90 degrees. Locking means 47 is held by slide 48 and the movement is recorded. Magnet SR is energized, and rod 51 is pulled down, thus allowing slide 48 to release locking means 47, and the switch is ready for the next operation. to erase a wrong setting, each switch has a button 100 for displacing slide 48. A machining operation must not start until the stop barrels and copying templates are set, and in contacts ap 1 , ap 2  of the stop barrel, Figs. 28, 29, for the transverse stop 26p of cross-slide 27p in Fig. 21, are actuated by bosses 55 on a toothed wheel 45 rigidly connected to template carrier 56 to stop the barrel drive motor, the carrier being advanced by a cam-wheel 44. Lead screw 67, Fig. 42, is driven from a motor 68 through a clutch 70 for turning, and clutch 70 is disconnected and electromagnetic tooth clutch 69 connected by a magnet 71 when thread chasing. A copying template 73, Figs. 39, 40, having six guides 74 is used for the chasing operation, the guides being used for various depths of cut during each pass, and bosses 76, 77 serve to reverse the feed direction and index the template. To ensure uniform dimensions in profile turning, the distance between the work centre must be maintained. A measuring unit 109, Fig. 64, is secured to tailstock 105, and is included in the control circuit of the feed and drive mechanism of the lathe, so that the lathe cannot be operated until two signal lamps 110, 111 are extinguished, thus indicating that the work is correctly placed. A live centre 114, Fig. 65, has a pressure measuring unit 115, having maximum and minimum pressure contacts 116, 117, included in the spindle drive. An automatically controlled drilling and boring or milling machine is shown in Figs. 47-51, and comprises a work-table I movable longitudinally and transversely, a tool head II, movable up and down, a tool carrier III pivoted inwardly to change the tool, and also indexible. Bush plate IV moves up and down and is rotatable. The table has two stop barrels 25l, 23p, bush plate has a stop barrel 25bb and the tool spindle has a stop barrel 25bsp. The table is set up by a vernier 5 and the work may be drilled by the use of co-ordinates or an angular adjusting device may be used.