Patent GB-818009-A (GB)
Title: An automatic stock bar feed structure for automatic multiple spindle bar working machines
IPC: B23B13/10
Filed: 1956-08-27
Abstract: 818,009. Automatic-lathe details. LIPEROLLWAY CORPORATION. Aug. 27, 1956 [Sept. 6, 1955], No. 26093/56. Class 83 (3). Automatic bar-feed-mechanism for multispindle work turret lathes, comprises a stock-bar reel with a circular series of bar-guides mounted for successive revolution about the axis of the turret and connected thereto for indexing- movement, a stock-bar pusher movable along each of the bar-guides and having a length substantially equal to that of a work-spindle of the lathe, and power-operated means carried by the reel for moving the pushers through the lathespindle for feeding the stock-bars. The stockbar feed-structure is supported on legs 50, Figs. 1 and 2, tied by rods 53. Bearing-members 54, 55 are carried at the front and rear ends, respectively, of a frame, and an additional bearing- member 56 is provided at the rear, spaced away from the member 55. Intermediate bearing- members or steadies 60, 61, are provided of semi. circular form, but, the previously mentioned bearing-members are provided with circular bores to receive bar-guide supporting-members. The latter are generally carried by rollers 80, Fig. 11, fixed to the framework of the structure and bearing on the rim of a bar-guide support such as the rear end support 74, Figs. 10 and 11. The bar-guides comprise tubular members 68, at the rear end, which are secured to the plate 74 and slotted at 70 to take the pusheractuating parts 262. The front guides comprise tubes 69, but the intermediate guides are each formed of two parts 90, 91, Fig. 19, the former fixed to hexagonal support-members 100 and the latter arranged to pivot with shafts 114 to open the guides at a feeding-station, for the supply of fresh stock-bars 200. A magazine 196, 197, Fig. 19, containing stock-bars 200, is carried on a beam 207 over the intermediate part of the structure. Bars are fed one at a time to the appropriate guide-tube by fingers 191, 192, operated by rack-mechanism from fluid-pressure piston-and-cylinder devices 169, which rock a shaft 151. At the same time cam-slides are moved inwardly to engage camrollers secured to arms on one of the shafts 114, so that as the structure is indexed one of the intermediate bar-guides is opened to receive the new bar. The bar-guide support assembly is secured about a central tubular member 110, Fig. 21, which at its forward end adjacent the machine is connected by a flange 222 to the central shaft 227 of the spindle-carrier of the multiple-spindle-bar machine. The stock-bar feed-structure thus indexes in unison with the machine. An auxiliary air-motor 232, Fig. 10, drives, through a pinion 236, a gear-ring 237 secured to the rear end support. This motor is energized just prior to the indexing of the machine, and furnishes torque at the rear end of the comparatively heavy bar-guide assembly to assist the indexing. Brake-bands are fitted at the front and rear ends of the assembly to bring it to a halt at the end of an indexing movement. Operation of the brakes is by fluid-pressure piston and cylinders such as 246, Fig. 11, the brake-band 240 encircling a drum 78, in this case secured to the rear end plate 74. The bars are fed by pushers inside the guides, which comprise s conical end 328, Fig. 27, for engaging the stock-bar and which finally contacts the end of the machine collet whereby a spring-pressed ejector-member 317 continues to move forward to eject the end of the stock. The pusher is connected to an actuating part 262 (see above), which is secured to a cable 264. The latter passes over a single spring-tensioned pulley 265, Fig. 21, at the front end and is coiled around a pulley 267, Fig. 12, at the rear end. The latter pulley is driven by a fluid-pressure motor 271 which is connected through gearing to a pump-and-valve-assembly 279, 281, which acts as a speed-control. When a stock-pusher has been advanced to a forward position when the stock has become exhausted, the projecting part of the pusher engages a disc 340, Fig. 21, secured to a sliding-rod 341. The latter operates valve-mechanism to reverse the motors 271 to return the stock-pushers. The bar-feed structure functions automatically through valve gear and electrical control-circuits and switches, the latter conditioned from a camshaft of the bar-working machine which makes one revolution between indexing movements of the bar-feed structure. A number of safetvdevices are provided including features to prevent indexing of the bar-guide structure if any of the parts are not properly positioned. A signal-circuit is also provided to indicate the presence of a new bar loaded into the tube. A relay coil 600, Fig. 32 (not shown), stops the bar-working machine when energized.