Patent GB-1387756-A (GB)
Title: Milling machines
IPC: B23C3/28
Filed: 1972-06-20
Abstract: 1387756 Machine tool details W BELL and W A EAGER 20 June 1972 [3 Sept 1971] 28738/72 Headings B3K and B3B A milling machine 20 for pointing the ends of screws comprises a plurality of milling stations 24, 26, Figs. 1 and 2, displaceable milling means 58 or 66 at each station, means 28 for continuously moving the blanks 96, Fig. 6, in dwell-free relation successively to the stations, and means 40, 42, associated with mean 28, for controlling the displacement of the milling means. Flutes are cut into the workpiece at stations 24, and the tips are machined at stations 26. The screw blanks 96 are carried in gear-type workholders 94, Fig. 6, rotatably mounted in a platform 92 and adapted to be rotated about their axes at selected angular positions of the platform by a sun gear 100 which comprises gear sectors 102. Platform 92 is fixed to a pedestal 28 which is adapted to be continuously rotated in a counter clockwise direction Fig. 1, at varying speeds, by a drive D. Pedestal 28 has slots 40 into which are secured cams 42 which are adapted to pivot cutter holders 64 about a horizontal axis 74, Fig. 2, and cutter holders 56 about a vertical axis. Each station 24 comprises a base 44 connected to a pedestal 46 which supports a fluid-controlled diaphragm unit 48 including a plunger 50, connected to cutter support 54 which is pivotable about a vertical axis, and an arm 84 on the support operatively associated with the cams 42. Each station 26 comprises a base 60 on which is pivotally mounted a cutter support 64, which extends from a lateral member 68 fixed on a vertical member 70, the latter being fixed on a pivotal base 72, which in turn is pivotally mounted about a horizontal axis 74. Base 72 is pivoted by means of the plunger 82 of a fluidcontrolled diaphragm unit 78, and an arm 86 on the base coacts with the cams 42 so as to provide for pivoting of the cutter 66 away from the workpiece. A cam plate 112 is fixed to the underside of sun gear 100, Fig. 10, and cams 114 on the plate are adapted to pivot levers 120 so that they engage slots 116 in work holders 94, and prevent them from rotating about their own axes at predetermined angular positions of rotating platform 92. In operation, blanks 96 are successively loaded at station L Fig. 7, and platform 92 is rotated continuously, the first blank reaches station 2 and is clamped by a lever 120, and passes on to station 3 which is the right hand station 26 Fig. 1. Cutter 66 acts to form a first partial conical tip on the blank, since the plunger 82 has at this stage pivoted base 72 so as to present the cutter to the blank at the required angle. Cam 42 acts on arm 86 and cutter 66 is pivoted against the action of plunger 82 and the cutter is pivoted away from the blank, and the latter then moves to station 4 which is the flute-cutting station 24 at the right of Fig. 1, and an end flute is machined in the blank by tool 58. A cam 42 coacts with arm 84 and cutter 58 is pivoted away from the blank, and the blank moves to station 5, during which time locking lever 120 is pivoted and releases the workholder 94 which is rotated through 180 degrees about its own axis, by the teeth 102 on plate 100. The workholder is again clamped and at station 6, corresponding to station 26 at the right hand of Fig. 1, a further partial conical tip is machined on the blank, spaced 180 degrees from the first part. At station 7 corresponding to left hand station 24 Fig. 1, a further end flute spaced at 180 degrees from the first flute, is machined in the blank. The blank is now released and ejected at staion 8, and a further screw-cutting operation is carried out on the blank.