Abstract:
A quick change tool cartridge for high production endform machines having a plurality of work stations mounted upon an indexable rotary head. The tool cartridge system is mounted upon the tool support by quick connect radially movable elements or pins radially displaced by a rotatable actuator sleeve. The locking elements cooperate with a groove, or holes, within the tool holder depending on whether or not relative rotation between the tool support and tool holder is desired.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The invention pertains to quick change tool cartridge systems for multiple station endforming machines wherein work stations are indexed about an axis of rotation. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Endforming machines are used to axially upset the elongated workpieces, usually tubes, to form the end of the tube or produce an annular enlargement or diametric reduction in the tube. Endforming tools engage the end of the workpiece while the workpiece is firmly held against axially displacement. 
   The endforming tools used with endforming machines of the above type are normally semi-permanently mounted upon the tool support by set screws and the like, whereby the tools may be accurately related to their holder, but it is necessary for the operator to stop the machine, rotate the tool holding screws or other elements, and then again start the machine once the new tool is in place. Quick change tool cartridge systems for endforming machines have not previously been available. 
   OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
   It is an object of the invention to provide a tool cartridge quick change system for endforming machines. 
   A further object of the invention is to provide a quick change tool cartridge for endforming machines wherein the tool cartridge can be readily manufactured, is concise as not to interfere with the machine operation or components, and of a relatively low cost. 
   An additional object of the invention is to provide a quick change tool cartridge for endforming machines whereas the tools of an endforming machine may be very quickly and easily replaced or substituted, in many cases even without machine stoppage, and it is an intention of the invention to quickly and accurately locate the tool relative to its support even though quick mounting means are employed. 
   Yet another object of the invention is to provide a quick change tool cartridge system of an endforming machine wherein tools may be very rapidly mounted upon their support in an accurate and consistent manner, and the tools may be mounted for rotation relative to their support, or mounted for non-rotation, as desired. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Multiple station endforming machines are used to shape and machine tubular workpieces, such as conduits, manifolds, and the like. Such machines employ a rotatable spindle upon which the workpieces are mounted, and at a multiplicity of work stations about the table, the tools will align and work upon and shape the workpiece as the workpiece rotates on the table. Apparatus of this type is shown in the Assignee&#39;s U.S. Pat. No. 6,233,992, and the disclosure of this patent is herein incorporated by reference. The tool cartridge of the invention is readily suitable for use with the machine shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,233,992. 
   At each of the endforming machine work stations, a work support such as shown at reference numeral 92 in U.S. Pat. No. 6,233,992 is supported for movement toward and away from the machine table upon which the workpiece is mounted. This stem or work support merely constitutes the support upon which the tool is mounted, and the nature of the tool may be of the type for cutting, shaping, rolling, burnishing, and the like. 
   The tool support includes a central, cylindrical blind cavity and an annular surface is defined upon the support coaxial with the cavity and radially spaced therefrom. An actuator sleeve is rotatably mounted upon the support outer surface. A plurality of radially extending guide ways, such as holes, are drilled within the tool support intersecting the cavity and the support outer surface, and within each of the guide holes, a locking element in the form of a plunger, rod, ball, or the like is mounted. The inner end of each hole is slightly closed or formed such that the locking element will not pass inwardly entirely from its support hole. 
   The outer ends of the locking elements are received within recesses formed in the inner surface of the actuator sleeve, and upon alignment of these recesses with the locking elements, the locking elements may be fully retracted from the work support cavity. Each of the recesses defined in the actuator cavity is associated with a cam surface which, upon rotation of the actuator, will engage the end of the associated locking element and force the locking element inwardly such that the inner end of the locking element is thrust into the tool support cavity. 
   The tool holder, upon which any conventional tool may be mounted, includes a cylindrical shank capable of being closely received with the support cavity. The shank includes either a concentric circular groove whereby it may be quickly mounted within the support cavity in a rotative relationship, or the tool holder may have separate detent holes for receiving the inner end of the locking elements if the tool support and tool holder are to be locked in a non-rotative relationship. 
   Upon alignment of the tool holder groove or holes with the locking elements, the rotation of the actuator sleeve is permitted so as to cam the locking elements inwardly into the holder. Preferably, a spring force is imposed upon the actuator sleeve to bias the actuator toward the “locked” position to accidently prevent sleeve rotation from inadvertently releasing the tool holder from the support cavity. 
   Merely by the partial rotation of the actuator sleeve it is possible for the operator to either release the locking elements or to bias the locking elements inwardly to lock the tool holder within the tool support. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The aforementioned objects and advantages of the invention will be appreciated from the following description and the accompanying drawings wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is an enlarged, detailed, diametrical, sectional view of a quick change tool cartridge system support being shown in section, the tool holder being shown in elevation; 
       FIG. 2  is a sectional, elevational view taking through the locking elements along Section  3 — 3  of  FIG. 1  when the actuator sleeve is rotated such that its recesses align with the locking elements to permit their retraction from the support cavity; 
       FIG. 3  is an elevational, sectional view similar to  FIG. 2  illustrating the actuator sleeve in the locking position inwardly biasing the locking elements for cooperation with the tool support; 
       FIG. 4  is a detailed, elevational, sectional view of the support and actuator sleeve illustrating the compression spring biasing the actuator sleeve in a locking position as taken along  4 — 4  of  FIG. 1 ; and 
       FIG. 5  is a diametrical, elevational section view as taken along Section  5 — 5  of  FIG. 1  illustrating the locking elements in an operational locking condition, the actuator sleeve not being shown for purposes of illustration and illustrating holes within the tool holder shank to lock the tool support and tool holder in a non-rotative relationship. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   With reference to  FIG. 1 , the end tool support or stem is shown at  10 . This support  10  would be the same as the tool stem 92 in U.S. Pat. No. 6,233,992. The support  10  includes an end in which the socket  12  is formed. The socket  12  constitutes a blind bore having cavity walls  14 . Exteriorially, the support  10  is divided with a cylindrical surface  16  coaxial with the socket  12 , and as will be appreciated from  FIG. 1 , the surface  16  is in axial alignment with the socket  12  and defines a radial shoulder  18 . Further, an annular groove  20  is defined in the support  10  adjacent the end thereof and in the surface  16  as will be appreciated from  FIG. 1 . 
   The actuator sleeve  22  is rotatably mounted upon the support surface  16  and is provided with an exterior surface and shoulders as to be easily manually rotated. The actuator  22  includes a cylindrical inner surface engaging the support surface  16 , and a snap ring  26  located within groove  20  axially prevents movement of the actuator sleeve on the support without interfering with its rotation thereon. 
   The actuator  22  includes an inwardly extending tang  28 ,  FIG. 4 , while the support  12  includes a radially extending tang  30 , and the compression spring  32  located between tangs  28  and  30  imposes upon the actuator  22  a rotational force tending to lock the tool holder upon the tool support as later described. 
   A plurality of radial guides  34  are defined in the support  10  between the socket wall  14  and the actuator support surface  16 . The guides  34  are merely holes drilled in the support, but the inner end of the holes where it intersects the socket walls  14  is of a slightly reduced dimension with respect to the remainder of the diameter of the guide holes  34  as to prevent excessive inward movement of the locking elements as later described. 
   Within the actuator inner surface  24 , a plurality of cam recesses  38 ,  FIG. 3 , are formed, the number of cam recesses equaling the number of guides  34 . Each of the cam recesses is intersected by an inclined cam surface  40 ,  FIGS. 2 and 3 , which engage the locking elements as is later apparent. 
   The inner surface  24  also includes cylindrical cam lock surfaces  52  for engaging the outer ends of the locking pins which provides maximum inward displacement of the locking pins. 
   The endforming machine tool is shown at  42  and is mounted upon a tool holder  44  as generally indicated. The tool holder  44  includes a cylindrical shank  46  which is closely received within the socket  12 . The shank  46  includes depression means which may consist of an annular groove as shown in  FIG. 1 , or may consist of a plurality of holes or recesses  50 ,  FIG. 5 , capable of receiving the lock elements. 
   A locking pin or element  54  is slidably located within each guide hole  34 , and each locking pins includes an inner end  56  and an outer end  58 . These locking pins ends are convexly rounded for cooperation with the actuator recesses  38 , cam surface  40 , and cam lock surface  52 , and the locking pins inner ends  56  is capable of being received within the tool holder shank depression groove  47  or shank holes  50 . 
   In operation, the actuator sleeve  22  has been rotated to the position shown in  FIG. 2  wherein the lock pins  54  are received within the cam recesses  38  and may be retracted their maximum extent from the support socket  12 . The tool holder shank  46  may then be quickly and easily inserted into the socket  12  until the shank depression  47  or shank holes  50  are in alignment with the lock pins  54 . Thereupon, rotation of the actuator  22  causes the cam surfaces  40  to ride upon the lock pin outer ends  58  forcing the pins  58  inwardly,  FIG. 3 , wherein the locking pin inner ends  56  will be received within the shank depression groove  47  or the shank holes  50 . Continued rotation of the actuator sleeve  22  will align the cylindrical cam lock surfaces  52  with the lock pin outer end  58 ,  FIG. 3 , maintaining the lock pins their maximum extension into the shank  46  to hold the tool  42  and holder  44  upon the support or stem  10 . When the shank depression consists of a continuous groove  47  as shown in  FIG. 1 , it is possible to rotate the tool shank  46  relative to the socket  12 . However, if the shank  46  is provided with separate holes  50 ,  FIG. 5 , the shank  46  and tool  42 , and the complete tool holder  44  will not rotate relative to the support  10 , as is often required. Thus, the use of either the groove depression  47  or the hole depressions  50  depends on whether or not relative rotation between the support and tool holder is desired. 
   The invention permits the tool  42  to be quickly mounted upon the support or stem  10  merely by rotating the actuator sleeve  22 , and this quick connect system as used upon an endforming machine substantially increases the flexibility of the machine, permits tools to be quickly substituted or replaced, and significantly reduces the machining time. 
   It is appreciated various modifications to the inventive embodiments may be apparent to those skilled in the art, and it is intended that the scope of the invention be limited only by the recitation of the following claims.