Abstract: The bar supporting apparatus (10) relates to an apparatus which is installed to be continuous to the main spindle (50) of the automatic lathe at the rear thereof and prevents the rotating bar (17) held by the chuck (51) of the main spindle (50) of the automatic lathe from oscillating to support the bar (17) so as to allow smooth rotation. The bar supporting apparatus (10) includes: the case (11); the fixing member (15) fixed on the external surface of the case (11); and the support (13) attached to the fixing member 15 to support the bar (17) in the case (11). The through hole into which the support (13) is inserted is formed on the side surface of the case (11). The fixing member (15) for fixing the support (13) is fixed on the external surface of the case (11) with the support (13) being inserted into the case (11) from the through hole.

Abstract: An automatic bar feeder for automatic multispindle lathes comprises a revolving drum (12) supporting guides (15) for the running of bars to take them in succession into positions of advancement and machining in a lathe. The guides (15) are equipped with a running bar pusher (17) powered with a hydraulic motor (18) for running of the bars therein. The feeder (10) comprises a first sensor unit (21) which emits signals which are a function of the position of an advancing bar. The signal is received by a control device (23) which commands a proportional flow rate valve (24) for fluid feed to the hydraulic motor to control the movement of the bar by feedback.

Abstract: A bar stock feeder and support mechanism for an automated machining center having a control system and a method for operation thereof. A work positioning structure is removably mounted to a work support and positioning table of an automated machining center and has a bar feeder top plate. Mechanized machine controlled pneumatic bar stock chucks on the bar feeder top plate have bar stock gripping collets which are closed and opened by the control system of the automated machining center for selectively gripping the bar stock during machining and selectively releasing the bar stock to permit its movement by a bar puller which raises the bar stock to a programmed height. A control umbilical cable is connected with the control system of the automated machining center and has controlling connection with each of the bar stock chucks. During operation of the machining center machining is performed serially on each bar stock, thus enhancing the productivity of the machining center.

Abstract: A lathe assembly having a guide with a passageway for movement of a piece of bar stock, with a leading end and a trailing end, in a substantially straight path between a feeding position and a working position. A sensor assembly is capable of detecting the position of the trailing end of a piece of bar stock within the guide passageway to thereby allow a user to determine if a piece of bar stock in the guide passageway has a length sufficient to perform the desired operation thereon. Also, a method of using the lathe assembly.

Abstract: A lathe assembly having a guide with a passageway for movement of a piece of bar stock, with a leading end and a trailing end, in a substantially straight path between a feeding position and a working position. A sensor assembly is capable of detecting the position of the trailing end of a piece of bar stock within the guide passageway to thereby allow a user to determine if a piece of bar stock in the guide passageway has a length sufficient to perform the desired operation thereon. Also, a method of using the lathe assembly.

Abstract: Provided is a method of controlling a bar supplying apparatus capable of automatically setting a timing of opening a run-out preventing chuck, a timing of cutting a bar short, and a timing of replacing the bar by the minimum input work.

Abstract: A lathe assembly having a guide with a passageway for movement of a piece of bar stock, with a leading end and a trailing end, in a substantially straight path between a feeding position and a working position. A sensor assembly is capable of detecting the position of the trailing end of a piece of bar stock within the guide passageway to thereby allow a user to determine if a piece of bar stock in the guide passageway has a length sufficient to perform the desired operation thereon. Also, a method of using the lathe assembly.

Abstract: A bar feeder for feeding a machine tool, particularly for feeding with bars a single-spindle automatic lathe, comprising a horizontal supporting beam for a plurality of free rollers, which lie on a horizontal plane and form a substantially V-shaped channel for the longitudinal support of a bar, said beam being movable vertically parallel to itself, adjustment means being provided for vertically adjusting said beam in order to align said bar with the axis of said lathe.

Abstract: A turning device for use in concert with a conveyor adapted to feed elongated wood pieces one-by-one to the turning device comprises at least one turning member moveable between an idle position and an operational position, a sensor located upstream of the turning member, for scanning the wood pieces on the conveyor, and an deflector controlled by the sensor and adapted, when actuated, to selectively cause the turning member to be displaced to the operational position for turning a given elongated wood piece on the conveyor to a desired position. The turning member is pivotally mounted to a motorised chain for continuously displacing the turning member adjacent the conveyor. The turning member also includes a guide pin, and the chain drives the turning member along a closed-loop guide track, the turning member having its guide pin engaged in the track.

Abstract: A number of annular or short tubular elements are obtained from an elongate tube having a length calculated as a multiple of the length of the elements. A tube is automatically transferred into a chuck of a twin-spindle lathe to turn the inner bore of an end portion of the tube. The end portion is then cut off the tube, thereby obtaining an annular element. The element is automatically reversed and fitted to a mandrel for turning its outer surface and its end where the cutting was performed. The so finished or partly-finished element is then automatically delivered to an outfeed conveyor. Such a sequence is repeated cyclically until the last portion of the tube is processed, leaving no waste tips of the tube. A numerically controlled lathe for performing the process is also disclosed.

Abstract: A lathe assembly having a guide with a passageway for movement of a piece of bar stock, with a leading end and a trailing end, in a substantially straight path between a feeding position and a working position. A sensor assembly is capable of detecting the position of the trailing end of a piece of bar stock within the guide passageway to thereby allow a user to determine if a piece of bar stock in the guide passageway has a length sufficient to perform the desired operation thereon. Also, a method of using the lathe assembly.

Abstract: A bar stock loader (10) having a synchronizing head (16) for matching the flats of a fresh length of bar stock (14) with the flats of a remnent of bar stock (14′) being machined in an automatic screw machine (12). The synchronizing head (16) has a selectively engageable drive controlled by a timing signal (66) that allows the fresh length of a bar stock (14) to be rotated at a speed approximately the speed of rotation of the remnant segment of bar stock (14′). A clutch (30) is provided for selectively interlocking a driven member (22) having a bushing (24) in which the fresh length of bar stock (14) is received to a bar stock engaging member (23) that is connected to the spindle (28) of the automatic screw machine. A method of loading bar stock is also disclosed.

Abstract: An automatic pneumatic bar feeding apparatus for automatically feeding a plurality of bar stocks to a work station, such as a computer numerical control (CNC) machine for processing, thereby eliminating the need to reload the bar feeding apparatus with another bar stock one at a time. The bar feeding apparatus comprises a rotary which turns a loading unit 45° to a loading position for loading a bar stock onto the loading assembly from a holding tray. After the bar stock has been loaded onto the loading assembly, the rotary turns the loading assembly back to its initial position or feeding position. A pneumatic motor supplies air to a rear feeding assembly, wherein the feeding assembly pushes the bar stock to the work station for processing. When the feeding assembly has fed the majority of the bar stock into the CNC machine, the rotary turns the loading assembly back to the loading position.

Abstract: The feeder for short rods of a diameter of between 6 and 120 mm for a machine such as a turning lathe or an automatic lathe comprises a rod loading device having elements for holding a plurality of rods on an inclined plane and loading slides, a device for centering rods along an axis of alignment with respect to the machine tool, and a device for advancing rods in the machine tool. The holding elements are fingers which do not just hold a rod, but offer it, in the course of loading, a support surface in such a way that the rod is simultaneously supported by the finger and the loading slide. The feeder further comprises a device making it possible to adapt the position of the first rod to be loaded to the diameter of this rod when the limit stop for the course of the loading slide is adjusted to the diameter of the rod.

Abstract: A pneumatic bar feeding apparatus for advancing a length of bar stock to a CNC center machine for processing and including a pair of concentric tubular members which are housed in a housing supported by a pair of vertical spaced apart support stands. The inner tubular member is spaced from the interior surface of the outer tubular member by at least three bearing and bushing devices which are located at three separate locations. A rear end of the inner tubular member is airtightly sealed so that air pressure does not leak out. An actuating assembly is movably installed within the inner tubular member and includes a slidable piston, a rod connected to the piston and a coil spring which surrounds the rod and biasing the rod from entering into a bar carrier which is also movably installed within the inner tubular member. The bar carrier comprises a plurality of step-down interior portions for accommodating a plurality of different size diameters of the bar stock.

Abstract: A hydraulic coupling for feeding hydraulic actuators, particularly for distributing pressurized oil to a plurality of hydraulic motors mounted on a rotating structure such as a drum feeder for feeding bars to an automatic multispindle lathe; the motors are angularly distributed around the rotation axis of the structure, and the coupling comprises a plurality of ducts which branch out axially from the structure and are angularly distributed with respect to the rotation axis; the ducts are connected to the delivery and the return of the motors at one end and, at the opposite end, by means of respective flexible hoses, to a stationary distributor for connecting the motors to a source of pressurized oil and to the oil discharge; the flexible hoses are arranged in a spiral around the rotation axis and have a length which allows the rotation of the structure with respect to the distributor through a preset angle; the distributor comprises valves for controlling the flexible hoses which are actuated so as to connect

Abstract: A multi-head machine tool for machining a workpiece into an article has a head that holds a workpiece and that rotates the workpiece. A multi-head tool attachment is capable of machining a plurality of working sites on the workpiece during rotation of the workpiece simultaneously.

Abstract: A bar feeder for feeding an automatic lathe, comprising a bar magazine and a guide supplied by the magazine, a facing device being associated with the end of the magazine that lies opposite to the end that is adjacent to the lathe and being suitable to machine the rear end of the bar on which the bar pusher engages.

Abstract: The devices guides a bar that is advanced by the retractable collet of a bar feeder magazine to the mandrel of a lathe by employing an insert which is slidable with slight clearance within a duct that is connected to the mandrel. The insert has therethrough an axial passage registering at one end with an inlet end of the duct, which is disposed to receive the bar and collet, and the opposite end of the passage designed to be traversed by the bar with slight clearance. The insert is disposed to be engaged and impelled by the advancing collet along the duct a predetermined distance towards the mandrel, after which means is provided to engage and effect return of the insert to a starting position close to the inlet end of the duct upon re-extraction of the collet from the duct.

Abstract: A device for effecting at least one of a loading and unloading operation of a workpiece with respect to a machine tool. The device includes a base adapted to be mounted adjacent the machine tool and a tubular member. The tubular member includes an inner chamber and an elongate opening communicating with the inner chamber for receiving the workpiece. The inner chamber has one end adapted to communicate with a spindle of the machine tool and the tubular member is mounted for rotation with respect to the base. A sealing member is mounted for selective removal and sealing engagement with respect to the elongate opening and a source of pressurized air communicates with the chamber for moving the workpiece in at least one direction within the chamber when the sealing member is in sealing engagement around the elongate opening.

Abstract: The automatic bar feeder device comprises a loading device that loads or unloads a bar from a hopper while avoiding shock exerted by the bar against an element of the magazine bar feed, the bar to be treated being seized by claws (42) which transport the bar towards the bench (22) and lay it smoothly down there. The movements of the loading device (40) are reversible so that it is able to act also as an unloading device. The loading/unloading device (40) cooperates with the long advance device (70) thanks to a combination of movements. Finally, the short advance device (40) and the long advance device (70) are driven for advancing the bar into a lathe, by one and the same element (98), the two devices are able to be coupled and uncoupled through a latching/unlatching device (80).

Abstract: Loader and unloader mechanism (10) for a machine tool having a workpart-holding spindle (14) wherein a workpart load tube (32) and unload tube (34) and associated workpart loading fluid cylinders (40, 42) are arranged relative to a tool-carrying turret (20) in a manner that workparts (W) are fed to the spindle (14) through the load tube (32) and removed from the spindle after machining to a workpart holder (33) on the tool-carrying turret (20), which then positions the workpart holder between an unloading tube (34) and a workpart unloading fluid cylinder (76) where the workpart is ejected from the workpart holder into the unload tube.

Abstract: A bar loder, includes a guide rail for feeding a bar to a bar machining apparatus. The guide rail extends straight toward the bar machining apparatus and has an opening for receiving a new bar. The opening is oriented upwardly and extends longitudinally along the guide rail. An oil outlet is provided for feeding oil into the guide rail, with an amount of the oil being enough to coat a peripheral surface of the bar.

Abstract: A hard carbon film is formed over an inner surface of a guide bush by fixing an auxiliary electrode support member for supporting an auxiliary electrode of a jig for forming a film in a center bore of the guide bush by an auxiliary electrode insulation member, disposing an auxiliary electrode in alignment with the axis of the center bore so as to face the inner surface, disposing legs, and a first electrode plate, a second electrode plate, and the insulation member which are fixed to the legs are placed on the bottom of a vacuum vessel placing the guide bush on the first electrode plate contacted electrically with a power source, while the projection of the auxiliary electrode support member projecting out of the auxiliary electrode insulation member is contacted electrically with the second electrode plate.

Abstract: In a tool turret for a machine tool, in particular, a lathe, comprising a turret head rotatable about a turret indexing axis, the turret head tapering on either side of a diameter plane of the turret head extending perpendicularly to the turret indexing axis and having on each side of this diameter plane a circular ring-shaped row of tool stations which is concentric with the indexing axis, each of the tool stations having a tool receiving means for clamping a toolholder for a machining tool, in order to increase the machining operations which are performable with a tool turret and the machining accuracy, such a tool turret is so designed that: each tool station comprises a planar contact surface formed by the outer surfaces of the turret head for a toolholder; the contact surfaces of the two rows of tool stations define regular pyramids of identical shape which point away from one another and whose axes coincide with the turret indexing axis; each row of tool stations has at least one tool receiving means fo

Abstract: A force control method for a bar feeder supporting a workpiece in a lathe, including seizing the workpiece by a Z-axis spindle of the lathe and the bar feeder, performing position control by the Z-axis spindle of the lathe, and performing force control by the bar feeder to apply a constant torque to the workpiece during the force control of the bar feeder supporting the workpiece in the lathe. This control of the bar feeder does not require the Z-axis spindle of the lathe and the bar feeder to be synchronized for the position control in the Z-axis direction, and prevents the workpiece from being deflected.

Abstract: A device for guiding a bar at the outlet of a lathe feeder, particularly of an automatic lathe, comprising: a tubular body, which is fixed to the outlet of the feeder coaxially to the rotation axis of the bar; and a plurality of circular annular elements, which are mutually adjacent and lie on planes which are perpendicular to the bar rotation axis and are articulated inside the tubular body about axes which are angularly distributed around the axis and so that the center of the elements can oscillate along a circular path which passes through the axis; the elements have respective arms which protrude outside the tubular body through slots of the body and are articulately coupled to a sleeve which is supported so that it can rotate on the tubular body; the sleeve is controlled by an actuation which turns it in both directions, so as to produce an oscillation of the elements in a position which forms a passage for the bar which is delimited by portions of the circular annular elements.

Abstract: A bar loader for feeding a bar to a bar machining apparatus comprises a feeding rod for moving the bar and a guide rail for guiding the bar. The guide rail includes a guide rail body with an upper opening for receiving the bar and a lid member for covering the upper opening of the guide rail body and is operable to be opened and closed. A bar passageway formed between the guide rail body and the lid member has an inner wall surface. A plurality of oil grooves are formed on the inner wall surface which extend in a circumferential direction and arranged at a distance from each other in a longitudinal direction of the guide rail. It also has oil supplying system for supplying oil into the bar passageway.

Abstract: A bar pusher rod for bar feeders in automatic lathes provided with an abunt for stopping the advancement of the bar to be machined, a damping element being slidingly accommodated inside the bar pusher, the damping element being composed of a mass with which a decelerator is associated, the damping element being suitable to neutralize the kinetic energy of the bar pusher and of the bar to be machined when impact occurs against the lathe abutment, so as to avoid rebounds off the abutment.

Abstract: A vertical machine tool with a movable main spindle has a headstock for supporting a spindle having an axis in a vertical direction. A work feeder gives and takes a work between the work feeder and a chuck. The work feeder includes a work feeder frame provided in the vicinity of a machine body, a swivel member driven by a driving means for swivelling, a plurality of pallets mounted on the swivel member, and a supporting device disposed in a work receipt/release position where the pallet is positioned for receiving/releasing the work between the pallet and the chuck. The supporting device supports the pallet, positioned in the work receipt/release position, movably up and down in the direction of the axis of the spindle. The receipt/release of the work may be performed under the condition that the work is kept depressed to the chuck.

Abstract: A rotary loader for feeding bars to lathes comprises a stepped rotary drum (11) and supporting guides (13) for sliding of the bars. A flange (16) coaxial and integral with the drum supports peripherally braking surfaces (17) such as pins arranged with a pitch equal to the drum braking pitch. An opposing surface (20) is pushed elastically towards the drum rotation axis to meet the braking surfaces in sequence and supply drum braking and stopping action against its inertial movement.

Abstract: A tube machining apparatus is described which comprises a support frame (2), an intermediate body (6) arranged to carry tools (7), a clamp (8) for locking at least one tube (4) at a predetermined processing or machining station (9), and at least one gripper (16) for acting by grasping on each tube. Gripper (16) and tools (7) are carried by the intermediate body (6) and movement means (17) is provided which is interposed between the intermediate body (6) and the support frame (2) and is capable of simultaneously moving both the gripper and the different tools between respective rest and work positions.

Abstract: A bar feeder for an automatic lathe provided with a carriage which feeds, by a certain extent, into the bar guiding channel the bar fed from a magazine before the bar is pushed towards the lathe by the bar pusher.

Abstract: The bar feeder provides bars (2') of material to a machine tool such as an automatic lathe. It includes a revolving barrel guide or an opening guide (4) in which the bar (2) to be machined is moved axially by a feed device including a pusher (20) driven by a chain (25). A first digital angular sensor (30) is associated with a pinion of this chain. A longitudinal camshaft (12) associated with a second digital angular sensor (35) actuates all the other operational mechanisms of the bar feeder. An automatic control electronic unit (31) can thus control in a reliable and precise manner all the bar feeder's operation, from signals originating from the machine tool and the two single sensors (30, 35) of the bar feeder.

Abstract: In the case where a product having a free-curved surface is obtained, a machining work is performed by separate machine tools. Therefore, works of attaching and removing a half-machined product are necessary. Consequently, a lot of working time and labor are required. Also in an automatic production system, productivity is lowered if the system is stopped by failure in gripping during the attaching and removing works and an enormous equipment cost is required. A machining apparatus M comprises a main chuck head 1 having a control axis for holding and rotating a long bar member W, a head stock assembly 3 having three or more control axes, and a bar member feeder 5 for feeding the long bar member W to the head stock assembly 3. These four axes are simultaneously controlled to manufacture a plurality of products V having free-curved surfaces from the long bar member W.

Abstract: An apparatus for gripping a bar supported for rotation by a numerically controlled lathe. The apparatus contains two jaws and a gripper cam pivotally attached to each jaw; springs attached to the jaws tend to rotate the gripper cams away from the jaws. A device is provided for moving the jaws together, moving the jaws apart, and locking the jaws into a fixed position.

Abstract: An unloading device for removing a workpiece from a lathe having a spindle for holding the workpiece includes an unloading apparatus for receiving the workpiece configured to couple to the spindle. A pneumatic system is coupled to the unloading apparatus whereby air flow acts on the workpiece and causes the workpiece to exit the spindle and travel to the unloading apparatus. The unloading apparatus extends into a machining chamber of the lathe to couple to the spindle. A downstream end of the unloading apparatus is configured to create a venturi effect. A workpiece receiving tray is located downstream of the unloading apparatus. After exiting the unloading apparatus the workpiece is directed against a damper. A safety door is located between the unloading apparatus and the damper. The unloading device has a footprint of a limited dimension permitting use of the unloading device with a chip conveyor.

Abstract: A draw tube adaptor for insertion into the draw tube of a lathe. The draw tube adaptor includes a sleeve, and carried within the sleeve are a series of bushings spaced apart from one another. The bushings have bores sized to accommodate the diameter of the stock to be worked, and are maintained in a spaced apart relationship by cylindrical spacers carried within the sleeve. These spacers space the bushings at desired locations throughout the length of the sleeve. A cap arrangement is provided on the sleeve to retain the cylindrical spacers and bushings within the sleeve.

Abstract: A centering device for rods fed to a lathe is designed to be arranged between a rod feeder outlet and a lathe inlet and comprises at least one centering unit (11) having a passage port therein to be run through by a rod to which it supplies lateral containment. The centering unit (11) comprises a first (14) and a second (15) sectors superimposed with each sector having a passage (16 or 17) therein. Linkage actuators (18,19) operable to move the superimposed sectors to change the superimposed quantity of the passages (16,17) therein and thereby the rod passage port.

Abstract: A bar stock loader having a synchronizing head for matching the flats of a fresh length of bar stock with the flats of a remnant segment of bar stock being machined in an automatic screw machine. The synchronizing head has a selectively engageable drive controlled by a timing signal that allows the fresh length of bar stock to be rotated at a speed approximately the speed of rotation of the remnant segment of bar stock. A clutch is provided for selectively interlocking a driven member having a bushing in which the fresh length of bar stock is received to a bar stock engaging member that is connected to the spindle of the automatic screw machine. A method of loading bar stock is also disclosed.

Abstract: A system for delivering elongate workpieces to a point of use. The delivering system has a first storage unit for a supply of a first type of elongate workpiece, a second storage unit for a supply of a second type of elongate workpiece, a pickup unit for selectively picking up elongate workpieces one-by-one from the first and second storage units, and a guide system for guidingly moving the pickup unit with a workpiece picked up thereby to a predetermined transfer location.

Abstract: A support and centering device for a fed bar, in a bar magazine for lathes, comprises a plurality of rods (11) supported at the ends by a first (12) and a second (13) support elements facing each other. The rods (11) are such arranged as to identify a passageway (19) for the bar internally of the plurality of rods and the support elements (12, 13) are mutually rotatable about the passageway axis (36) to tilt the rods (11) relative to this axis, thereby varying the transverse size of the passageway. The supports are spring urged against each other to provide a spring support to the bar and enable passage of a pusher of the bar magazine.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding and engaging bar stock into an automatic screw machine having at least one clamp, at least one linear actuator, an apparatus for feeding material into the clamps, and a mechanism for facilitating opening and closing the clamps. The clamps include a base portion, pivotally mounted first and second clamping members, and a cam member extending through the base portion which engages the first and second clamping members. The clamps are mounted to a tubular support which rotates in conjunction with the spindle carrier of the automatic screw machine. The mechanism for facilitating opening and closing of the clamps engages an end portion of the at least one linear actuator to displace the cam member. The cam member disengages the clamping members causing the clamping members to open such that the bar stock can be fed into the clamping members and closed thereafter in a positive locking arrangement.

Abstract: In order to improve a machine tool comprising a machine frame, a drum arranged on the machine frame for rotation about a drum axis and having a plurality of machining devices for tools held on it and drives associated with the machining devices and rotatable with the drum, a stationary control and supply unit for the drives and a line system connected, on the one hand, to the drives rotatable with the drum and, on the other hand, to the control and supply unit, this line system being free from interruptions and rotary connections and deformable as a result of rotation of the spindle drum, such that the line system can be guided in as space-saving a manner as possible it is suggested that the line system have a long line system section extending along a system axis and rotatable about the system axis.

Abstract: A simple wire probe is positioned between work stations of a multi-spindle automatic screw machine so that, when the spindles of the machine are indexed, the probe is contacted by the distal end of a properly-sized workpiece and a signal is sent to a conventional programmable logic controller ("PLC"). At the initiation of each cyclical indexing of the machine's spindles, an electronic timing "window" is opened in the PLC and, so long as the signal is received from the probe while the timing window is open, the PLC permits the machine's cyclical operations to continue. If, however, no signal is received during the preset time interval, indicating a "short part", the PLC is programmed to stop the machine drive and to provide a sensible indication (e.g., a flashing light) to call to the attention of the machine operator. The location of the probe does not limit the normal use or operation of any tool at any work station of the machine.

Abstract: A device for the advancement of bars, particularly narrow bars, in automatic loaders provided with a inclined supporting plane or with another loading system for a plurality of bars and with a mechanism for the individual release of the bars, comprising: guides, whereon supporting elements for a bar released from the plane and a carriage provided with grip elements for a bar can slide, the carriage being actuated between an initial position, where the grip elements are actuated so as to grip a bar deposited on the supporting elements, and a final position, where the bar is released by the grip elements and is secured in the spindle of an automatic lathe; a pusher which is supported so as to move parallel to itself; and actuators for actuating the pusher after the carriage between an offset position and a position wherein it is aligned with the bar deposited on the supporting elements when the carriage is in the final position.

Abstract: Short parts are detected on machines where bar stock is fed through one or more work spindles and held in a burring spindle during cut off. The burring spindle contains a sensing rod biased towards the front of the burring spindle and adapted to contact a finished part on the end of the bar stock as the burring spindle moves on to the stock if the part has the proper length. This moves the sensing rod back, with respect to the burring spindle, and a target on the end of the sensing rod enters the sensing field of a proximity sensor. If the burring spindle moves onto a short part, the sensing rod is not moved by the design amount and the target disc does not enter the sensing field of the proximity sensor. The sensor then initiates a short part signal.

Abstract: A bar feeding device for multi-spindle machine tools includes a rotating drum provided with a plurality of guides for the bars, which longitudinally extend in different angular positions on the outer surface of the drum. Bar pushing members slidingly movable along the guides are connected to a control system comprising a set of peripheral gears circumferentially arranged at one end, and supported to rotate with the drum, coplanarly around a central pinion gear connected to a drive motor. The pinion gear is tangentially arranged in an offset angular position to selectively engage each peripheral gear over a predetermined arch shaped path by rotation of the drum.

Abstract: A method and apparatus has been developed for metal cutting machine using a cutting die tool that pivots as it cuts a metal workpiece. By pivoting the cutting tool, the orientation of the metal surface being cut in the workpiece may be varied along the cutting path. A particular application of the invention is for screw metal cutting machine, e.g., a Swiss-type screw lathe, that cuts screw threads in screw blank rods, such that the threads have a variable cant along the length of the screw. The cutting die tool is mounted in a tool holder that is pivoted by a computer controller in accordance with machining instructions for the screw or other device being machined.

Abstract: A guide device for rotatably supporting and for guiding a bar to a spindle of a machine tool; the device comprises: a first and a second set of opposed jaws to receive and rotatably support a bar to be fed to the spindle of the machine; one set of jaws is rotatably journalled by support members to rotate between a closed and an open condition of the guide. Axially spaced apart support members are provided for removable journalling the first and the second set of jaws, and a square rod system longitudinally extending between adjacent support members to slidably engage each set of jaws, preventing rotation of the same jaws in respect to the support square rods. Removable shaft members are provided in the square rod system for rotatably journalling the supporting rods for movable jaws, and elastically biasing elements to rotate the square rods and the set of movable jaws towards the fixed set of jaws of the guide device.