Patent GB-759701-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to electric feeler control systems for machine tools
Inventor: SCHMIDT WOLFANG
IPC: B23Q35/122
Filed: 1952-09-15
Abstract: 759,701. Electric control systems. SOC. AUTOMATA. Sept. 15, 1952, No. 23125/52. Class 40(1) In a feeler controlled copying machine in which the feeler is mounted for axial and also universal pivotal movement, the feeler deflections act through a single contact member to energize different circuits, according to the magnitude of the deflection, to effect three dimensional scanning of the pattern by a combination of rectilinear movement in the horizontal and, or vertical direction together with rotary movement in the horizontal direction. As shown, applied to a copy milling machine, Fig. 4, the tracer head 37 and cutter heads 39, 40 are mounted on a vertically reciprocable slide 38, thep attern 36 and the workpieces 36a, 36b being carried by tables 35, 34, 33 rotatable on a longitudinal slide 32. Tracer construction, Fig. 8. The tracer spindle 53, carrying the feeler disc 54, is axially slidable in a sleeve 63 universally mounted by gimbals 63a in the feeler casing. At its upper end the feeler spindle carries a pin 66 which engages in a conical recess in a screw 67 fixed to a lever 68 pivoted at 69, so that axial or lateral deflection of the feeler disc 54 rocks the lever 68 against the bias of a spring 18 to move a contact 71 carried by the lever over a bank of four fixed contacts 79, 80, 81, 82. Axial movement of the feeler by the pattern is effected from the normal position, shown, against bias spring 64, 65, and it limited by flanges 76, 77 on the spindle, engaging the sleeve 63. The contact 71 is moved upwards from the normal position, shown, by upward or downward axial deflection of the feeler disc, downward movement of the spindle 53 rocking the lever 68 clockwise through a link 74 which slides through the lever 68 when the spindle moves upwards. Operation, Fig. 11. With the tracer undeflected, as shown, the relay R1 is energized to operate the electromagnetic clutch K1 (41 in Fig. 4), to move the longitudinal table 32 until the feeler disc is deflected by the pattern to raise the contact 71 to engage contacts 79, 80. Relays R5, R3 are then also operated to energize respective clutches K5, K3 (42, 43 in Fig. 4) for both rotary and vertical feed motors (not shown) so that the pattern is scanned spirally, the relays R1-R5 being subsequently energized singly or in combination to energize their associated clutches so that the feeler follows the internal contour of the pattern. The clutches 41, 43 for the two rectilinear movements are reversible and are each controlled by a pair of magnets K1-K2 (41), K3, K4 (43) according to the sense of movement required. The rotary drive (42) is unidirectional. Seven combinations of movements are provided for and upward or downward scanning may be effected. Tracer conconstruction, Fig. 14. In this embodiment the tracer spindle 101 is universally gimbal mounted in a sleeve 103 axially slidable in the frame 104. Pivotal movement of the tracer spindle from the normal position, shown, rocks the lever 109 to raise the contact 119 over the contact assembly 120. Axial movement of the tracer spindle also actuates the contact 119 and in addition is transmitted through a link 105 to rock a further lever 106 to move a contact 116 up or down from the nomal central position shown over a contact assembly 117. Operation, Fig. 16. Contact 119 controls the horizontal scanning and contact 115 the vertical scanning movements through relays R1-R6, in a manner similar to that of Fig. 11, the contact 115 also controlling certain horizontal movements. A drum 126 is used as described in Specification 759,700 for regulating the speed of vertical scanning, and the direction of vertical scanning is determined by a switch 129.