Patent GB-189703445-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Automatic Milling Machines.
Inventor: GREGORY JAMES
Filed: 1897-02-09
Granted: 1897-07-24
Abstract: 3445. Gregory, J. Feb. 9. Milling.-Relates to a machine for milling the sides of valve bodies, nuts, &c., which are mounted in holders supported by a table having an intermittent rotary motion imparted to it to carry the articles successively in front of a series of milling- cutter spindles arranged radially round the table. After the articles have been completely milled, they are automatically removed from their holders and delivered from the machine. The work is placed on the holders D at the point R<1>, Fig. 3, a hand tool R being employed to set the work so that it shall be fed to the different cutters in the proper position. The holders D, Fig. 15, consist of a central rod 49 with a fitting j to receive the work and supported in a hollow spindle 47 which fits inside a sleeve 45 secured to the table. The spindle 47 has a star-wheel 51 screwed on its lower end, and this star-wheel forms the bearing of a quick-threaded screw 52 provided with handwheel 55 to lower and raise the rod 49 with the work on and off a seating i on the spindle 47. The wheels 48 on the spindles 47 are connected through gearing with a wheel 57 fixed to a stationary central post 38 so that, as the table rotates, the holder is also rotated in the table to present the work in the right position to the different cutter spindles. The milling - cutter spindles 69 are mounted in slides 76 which can be fed along slides 83 slowly while cutting by a ring 62 fitting in a recess in the frame 5, and oscillated by crank and slot mechanism from the shaft A. The slides 76 are provided with pins 86 engaging slots 89 in the ring 62. The slides 83 are adjustable radially to and from the holders D on the frame 5 by screws 90. The milling-spindles are driven by belts passing over pulleys 78 from pulleys 14 on radial shafts 13 actuated by a bevelwheel 10 driven from a first motion shaft. The table B is given an intermittent rotary motion and then held stationary by Geneva stop mechanism actuated from the shaft A. As the table is carried round, a crank arm on the shaft A strikes the star-wheels 51 successively to lift the rods 49 and raise the work from the seatings i. Mechanism is provided for setting the star-wheels in position for a tooth to be struck by the crank arm on the shaft A. To remove the milled work from the holders, gripping-jaws F, Figs. 28 and 33, carried by a spindle P are lowered by link mechanism 114 and rod 112 connected to a sleeve 109 provided with a pin 110 engaging a grooved cam 108 on a hollow shaft 107 driven by gearing at 106 from the shaft A. The spindle P is then rotated by the pinion 126, sector 125, pinion 124, and sector 121 pivoted at 122 and oscillated by a cam 120 on the shaft 107. The right-hand threaded portion 127 of the spindle P is screwed out of the sleeve 128 carrying the jaws 136, and the quick left-hand threaded portion 129 lifts the block 131, which, by toggle links 137, closes the jaws 136 on the work and unscrews it from the holder D. The spindle P is then raised till a spring pawl engages a shoulder on the frame 0, when, on the reverse rotation of the spindle, the jaws 136 are opened and the work dropped. The work is received in a receptacle 148 at the end of a pivoted arm 146, 150 which is swung to one side by a cam 144 on the shaft 107. As the arm moves outwards, a spring catch engages a fixed post on the machine, and during the return of the arm this catch tilts the spindle 149 with the receptacle 148 to eject the finished work from the machine. The shaft A, from which the various parts of the machine are actuated, is driven through spur and elliptical gearing to give a quick return motion by worm gearing and a clutch at 16 operated by the handle 19, which is acted upon by a spring 158 to normally throw the clutch out of action. If the star-wheels 51 are not in position for a tooth to be operated by the arm on the shaft A, mechanism is provided whereby a rod 164 is moved by a crank on the shaft A to rock a shaft 159 and withdraw a catch 160 away from the lever 19 allowing the spring 158 to throw the clutch 16 out of action.