Abstract: An automated machine tool is provided and includes a frame having a first workpiece transfer station at a first location on the frame; at least two self-contained processing units, each of the units including structure for holding the workpiece for processing and structure for performing a process on the workpiece; and structure for sequentially indexing the processing units to the first workpiece transfer station for transferring workpieces to and from each of the processing units.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing and assembling a plurality of small parts weighing under five pounds using a robot employing a rotatable pallet for holding an array of small parts. Said rotatable pallet being held in place on the robot wrist head, which moves the pallet through a plurality of stationary work-stations located within the operating envelope of the robot, and rotates the pallet at each work-station to index the pallet and to present it to the work-station for an operation on a specific part or parts. Said robot participates in the work-station tasks by moving the rotatable pallet in the X, Y, and Z directions as needed. Movable data pins are used to indicate conditions of individual parts in nests, and of the pallet taken as a whole.

Abstract: The invention describes a machine tool with a turntable, which has an upper part with a mounting plate which is arranged so as to pivot with respect to a stationary lower part, and is connected to at least one line to deliver fluids or electrical or mechanical energy to the upper part. The lines are brought in from below through the lower part and can be connected by means of coupling means to the upper part, from where they are connected with connection modules that are arranged on the mounting plate. Serration gear is preferably provided to position the upper part on the lower part, so that each pivoting operation is preceded by a lifting operation and ends with a lowering operation. Preferably, lifting and lowering simultaneously open and close, respectively, the coupling modules.

Abstract: An electronic control device for individual drives of machining machines, particularly of machine tools with a plurality of drive apparatuses, in which, according to the counting state of a pulse counter (35), path information elements associated with the latter are extracted simultaneously by a computer unit (37) from memories (41, 42, 43) associated with many drive apparatuses (18, 19, 20) and are converted into control values necessary for machining, which control values are then fed as set values to control circuits (30, 31, 32) for the drive apparatuses (18, 19, 20). The electronic control device (37) is supplied with a low counting pulse frequency (f.sub.z) and can therefore process path and speed information values from a memory unit (36) for very many drives (18, 19, 20) simultaneously.

Abstract: An intermittently rotary workpiece-holding table has operating units that move vertically relative to the table. The operating units are controlled by vertically swinging levers that are driven vertically at one end and at their other ends control the operating units. The levers pivot about fulcrums, each lever having two fulcrums spaced apart along its length. During a first portion of movement of the lever, that fulcrum is operative which gives the most rapid vertical movement to the operating unit. Then the first fulcrum becomes inoperative and the second fulcrum becomes operative, whereupon the speed of vertical movement of the operating unit slows, as for example for the performance of a work operation.

Abstract: In its simplest form, the automatic transmission machine under discussion, with electronically controllable intermittently rotating table (FIG. 1), is made up of an annular base support (1) consisting of two half-plates (1' and 1") on whose opposite external surface are fastened, on radial axes, operating units (6, 11, etc.) achieving a notable plurality of axes, and containing guide elements (2 and 4) of a ring (3) holding collet-holding table (24), achieving the extreme precision and rigidity of the table itself which is rapidly substitutable by another one with different functions or dimensions, making possible great versatility, being able to have collets (23) as fixed axes, orientable or dynamic and placed axially or radially or both.

Abstract: The invention relates to an assembly machine having a frame, an upper plate vertically displaceable, a table, an annular transfer plate, a cam-shaft and a driving device for said cam-shaft. Said machine comprises working units of three kinds, the one fixed onto the upper plate and the others fixed onto the table either inside or outside of the transfer plate. All working units fixed to the upper plate and the ones fixed to the table inside the transfer plate are controlled by cams carried by the cam-shaft and corresponding mechanical linkages passing through a control opening provided in the table of the frame.

Abstract: A machine tool wherein an angular gear is rotatable in a horizontal plane to carry a plurality of pallets between adjacent peripherally arranged machine stations. Hydraulic power means are provided to raise the gear for transport between adjacent stations and to lower the gear for location at each station in turn. The pallets are each carried by the gear and are hydraulically locked, preferably by the same hydraulic raising and lowering mechanism into finely adjusted position at each machine station by precisely located, telescopically interfitting elements on the gear support table and on the pallets, respectively. Means are provided for accommodating final adjusting movement of the pallets relative to the gear at each machine station, yet fixing the pallet relative to the gear during transport.

Abstract: A spindle drive for an eight spindle lathe comprising a single input gear disposed at the center of the circle of the eight spindles, two gears meshing with the single input gear, each of these two gears engaging with pairs of further gears which are arranged to drive the work spindles.

Abstract: A machine having a plurality of workpiece spindles. The spindles are angularly disposed in an indexable support with the spindle axes making one and the same axis with the axis of the support and all being tangent to a common cylinder coaxial with the support axis. Means are provided for driving the spindles and chucks are mounted on one end of the spindles for carrying workpieces for cooperation with tools mounted in the frame in which the support is indexable.

Abstract: A multiple-purpose machine tool wherein two spaced-apart upright frame members support three horizontal guide members which are disposed one above the other. The uppermost and lowermost guide members support two disks which are adjustable lengthwise thereof and flank an indexible drum for a group of equally spaced work clamping devices. The disks support the drum for indexing movement about a horizontal axis but prevent the drum from moving axially. Each guide member supports, at each side of the drum, several carriages each having a main slide which is movable lengthwise and a cross slide which is movable transversely of the respective guide member. At least some cross slides carry discrete motors which can rotate the respective tools and at least some clamping devices can be rotated by a drive which derives motion from the main prime mover of the machine tool.