Patent GB-1143867-A (GB)
IPC: B23Q7/04
Abstract: 1,143,867. Grinding; turning; machine tool details. G. ZOCCA. 23 Jan., 1967 [22 Jan., 1966], No. 3337/67. Headings B3B, B3D, and B3T. A device for automatically placing and positioning a workpiece on the mandrel of a machine tool, such as a grinding machine, lathe or milling machine, comprises first and second conveyers A, B for unmachined and machined workpieces, respectively, placed above the mandrel F of the machine, a first transfer member C positioned above the conveyers and having at least one holding and positioning device C1 and two holding and translation devices C2, C3 for the machined and unmachined workpieces, a second transfer member D interposed between the first transfer member C and the mandrel F and having supports for the workpieces, and control means for imparting a rotary movement to the supports which is controlled relatively to reciprocatory movement of the second transfer member so that workpieces withdrawn from the first conveyer are positioned with their axes in alignment with the mandrel in order to be held by the latter in a predetermined angular position ready for machining. As described, the machine is a grinding machine and the workpieces are pistons which are ground oval, the ovality varying axially along the length of the piston. The pistons are initially placed with their axes horizontal on the conveyer A and are then moved to a vertical position by a shaped guide. The positioning device C1 has a plurality of clamps 14, Fig. 2, closable by fluid pressure means to engage the gudgeon pin hole of a piston. A wheel 25 can be lowered by a fluid operated piston 22 to engage the top of the piston, which is supported on a rotary table, the wheel being rotated by a motor 27 to turn the piston until the gudgeon pin holes are aligned with the clamps. The piston is then released by the clamps 14 and the translation devices C2 and C3, which with device C1, are mounted on a horizontally reciprocable slide, are operated so as to grip the aligned unmachined piston on conveyer A and the machined piston on transfer member D, and convey them respectively to the transfer member D and the discharge conveyer, each device C2, C3 consisting of clamps for engaging the pistons and fluid operated devices for raising and lowering the clamps. The second transfer member D consisting of a horizontally reciprocable carriage having a pivot 76, Fig. 11, for a cross-member having four arms 80, each of which is provided with fluid operated clamps 82 for gripping a piston. The cross-member is movable through 90 about the pivot by a pawl-and-rachet mechanism at each reciprocation of the carriage to present an unmachined piston to the mandrel F and convey a machined piston to a position in which it can be engaged by the device C3 for translation to the discharge conveyer B. The mandrel F, Fig. 9, consists of a sleeve 116 rotatable in a support 112 by a pulley 118. A conical insert 120 fits within the sleeve 116 and is formed with a ring 122 for receiving the base of the piston P. A counter sleeve 124 is slidably keyed within insert 120 and has a crown 128 closed by a cap 132. A head 130 on crown 128 has diametrically-opposed bores receiving pistons 134 movable into engagement with the gudgeon pin bores when a stirrup 136 having inclined surfaces is moved by a rod 138 connected to a piston-and-cylinder device 142, 144. The mandrel is locked against rotation during mounting of the pistons on the mandrel by a fluid operated latch 152.