Abstract: In order to insert a punch into a punch mounting hole formed in a turret by a robot hand, the present method includes the following steps: (a) grasping the punch above the upper turret by a robot hand, and horizontally moving the punch to a position above a mounting hole formed in the upper turret; (b) moving the punch downwardly by the robot hand; (c) detecting whether the lower end of the punch is in contact with the wall of the mounting hole (d) detecting the height of the lower end of the punch when the lower end of the punch comes in contact with the wall of the mounting hole; (e) comparing the detected height of the lower end with a predetermined height; and (f) further moving the punch downwardly if the detected height is smaller than the predetermined height. In the preferred embodiment, if the insertion in accordance with the previous steps fails, the punch is moved upwardly and the center of the mounting hole is re-calculated on the basis of the data by a three-point search method.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cutting mat board, and more specifically for cutting apertures including non-linear boundaries in mat board. The preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention includes an automatically controlled ultrasonic cutting tool for cutting apertures having bevelled boundaries according to a predetermined pattern. The preferred embodiment of the method of the present invention includes stacking first and second mat boards and cutting through said first board into but not through said second, removing said first board, and cutting the same aperture in the same location in said second mat board which has been stacked on a third, uncut mat board.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the simultaneous duplication of both the bit notch pattern and shoulder position of a master key onto a key blank. The key blank is longitudinally and laterally aligned relative to a key cutter. A master key is longitudinally and laterally aligned relative to a key follower. The key follower is then longitudinally and laterally displaced relative to the master key to trace the contour of the key master. The key cutter is simultaneously displaced relative to the key blank in an identical manner to reproduce the traced contour of the master key on the key blank and to longitudinally reposition the key blank shoulder to coincide with the relative longitudinal location of the master key shoulder by cutting away a portion of the shank to reduce the length of the shank.

Abstract: The present invention provide a workpiece exchanging system in a CNC lathe having two spindle heads. The workpiece is machined by a spindle head A (S1, S2), a spindle head B is moved toward the spindle head A while loading a servo motor controlling a feed axis for the spindle head B to a torque limit (S3, S4). An error (d) of the feed axis is detected when this movement is completed, and it is determined whether the workpiece is normally clamped by a chuck mounted at a spindle head (S5, S7). The workpiece is machined as it is in accordance with the error of the feed axis (S9), is machined after being moved by a coordinate corresponding to the error (S8), an alarm is displayed, and the CNC is stopped (S10).

Abstract: A method is provided for embodying a plane reference defined by a specific equation within a rough surface of a frame of a structure being assembled. The equation characterizing the reference surface is stored in a memory. With the aid of an optical sighting mechanism, spatial data is obtained which makes it possible to calculate an equation characterizing the rough surface. The data relating to the equations of the reference surface and the rough surface are compared in an information processing unit. A mobile machining device is positioned close to the rough surface. The machining device is controlled by specific orders generated by the comparison of the equations for the reference and rough surfaces respectively. The machining device gradually rectifies the rough surface to make it progressively coincide with that of the spatial equation of the reference surface.

Abstract: A flexible manufacturing system which includes a stack yard, a machine tool and a stacker crane. In the stack yard, a pallet group, formed by stacking a number of pellets, is stored. The pallet group is transferred to a machine tool cell by the stacker crane. Each pallet has a memory, and data of the pallet itself and the member loaded on the pallet are memorized by the pallet. There are various kinds of members such as work-piece, tool and chuck jaw. These members are stored on exclusive pallets made for each kind of the member. Of the members, each tool and chuck jaw has its own memory and memorizes its own data. The data of all the memory can be read and written; therefore, the position of the pallet, tool and chuck jaw can be controlled at all times.

Abstract: A computerized numerical control automatic complex lathe has a main spindle for gripping and rotating a work to be machined. A first machining tool performs a main machining of the work. A turret tool rest has an outer peripheral surface for holding a set of secondary tools along the outer peripheral surface thereof. The turret tool rest is selectively indexable to bring a selected secondary machining tool into a position to effect a secondary machining of the work and is selectively movable relative to the work to enable the selected secondary machining tool to perform the secondary machining of the work. The turret tool rest further includes a plurality of tool holders for holding a plurality of secondary tools. A back spindle is disposable on a side of the work opposite the main spindle for holding a selected secondary machining tool selected from the plurality of secondary tools.

Abstract: A power shear machine for processing metal in sheet or plate form. The machine comprises a table base, and a cross-beam both secured between two side members in order to form a part of the machine frame; a shear made of a bottom blade cooperating with a vertically sliding top blade; a vertically sliding hold-down in front of the top blade; and a device for controlling the vertical sliding displacements of the top blade and hold-down. The power shear includes the hold-down which is made of two separate parts, each supporting one of two mating tools on facing sides thereof, and a device for temporarily locking together the parts.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an IC socket to be used for testing various IC packages, an object of which is to provide the IC socket with means facilitating insertion and removal of IC packages either in testing by employing an automatic loader or in testing with manual operation. It is constructed to have a socket body formed with a plurality of contacts for establishing electric contact with leads of an IC package, a cover 2 for removably fitting the IC package on the socket body, latches 4 having hooks 42 arranged at least at two diagonally opposing corners of said cover 2, and hooking to said socket body 1, and projections extending in the same direction to the hooks 42, releasing blocks 5 arranged in the vicinity of said latches and movable in the vertical direction with respect to said projection 43, and catching portions 11 formed in said socket body 1 and to be hooked the hook 42 of said latch 4.

Abstract: In summary, therefore, this invention is directed to a thermal growth detector and compensator for detecting and compensating for relative movement between a work holder of a machine tool and a tool holder, that includes an elongated rod made of a material having a coefficient of thermal expansion of substantially zero that is attached at one end thereof to a part of a machine tool, and is attached at another end thereof to a part of a work holder on the machine tool.

Abstract: The magazine, having a fixed place in a manufacturing plant, is intended to cooperate with at least one machining device and with a handling device associated with said machining device in order to automatically exchange tools and/or workpieces on said machining device. The magazine comprises a rotating rack having a plurality of storing planes mounted upon another on a support for bearing the objects to be handled. Said rotating rack is designed as a separate constructional unit which is exchangeably inserted in a stationary part of the magazine, which stationary part comprises means for rotating said rotating rack. In this manner, the space needed by the auxiliary devices in the magazine station as well as the moving space of the handling device is considerably reduced, due to the fact that even in a prolonged operation of the manufacturing plant one sole magazine is sufficient, and that thus, for the exchange of the objects to be handled, the action of any grip means is limited to this sole magazine.

Abstract: A clamping device is furnished, in particular for peeling machines for metallic bars (21) and tubes. The clamping device clamps the workpieces in a defined way at a preselected position (99) and independent of the diameter of the workpieces. The clamping device includes means for synchronization (64-69) of the motion of the clamping rollers (31, 32). The clamping position of the bar to be clamped can be varied by an adjustment device. The means for synchronization (64-69) of the clamping motion transfer a preselectable part of the clamping force, which is furnished such that the means for synchronization are held free from play via preclamping, during in all clamping phases. This eliminates vibrations of the bar (21) together with the clamping means (31, 62; 32, 63) or any undesired shifting of the clamping position.

Abstract: A device for preventing deflection of an elongated workpiece rotating about its longitudinal axis is provided with a contact ring (9) that is rotatably mounted about a support shaft (12) perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the contact ring (9). The angle of inclination of the rotational axis of the contact ring (9) is variable relative to the rotational axis of the elongated workpiece (M) inserted throught the ring (9), by rotating the housing (6) about the support shaft (12). The periphery of the workpiece (M) is supported by the inner periphery of the contact ring (9) at two points, i.e., at axial ends of the contact ring. Thus, elongated workpieces of different diameters can be supported by varying the inclination angle of the axis of the contact ring (9) relative to the workpiece (M).

Abstract: Described herein is a drive unit for a machining center of modular construction comprising different work modules with tools which are positively controlled with respect to time, e.g. bending tools, front-feed devices, welding stations, assembly units or the like. The drive unit is constructed as a press which comprises the main drive for the machining center. The drive of adjacent work modules is effected via meshing toothed wheels which bridge the interface planes between the work modules, so that the drive unit can be integrated into the machining center in a space-saving and economical manner.

Abstract: A machine tool is provided with a spindle clamping device for clamping a spindle assembly supported by a spindle head and composed of an outer spindle rotatably supported by the spindle head and an inner spindle disposed inside the outer spindle to be reciprocal along an axial direction thereof. The inner spindle is inserted into an inner hollow portion of the outer spindle so that a space is formed between an inner peripheral surface of the outer spindle and an outer peripheral surface of the inner spindle. The spindle clamping device comprises a pressure applying member such as a pair of pistons or oil ring disposed in the space between the outer and inner spindles for applying a pressure in an axial direction of the outer and inner spindles. The pressure applying member is provided with an oil chamber, and a pair of clamp rings are disposed in the space axially outside the pressure applying member.

Abstract: A tool changer is provided in which a rotary tray positioned beneath the forward edge of a machine tool supports a large number of tools in individual cartridges. A tool changer head includes two outwardly projecting tubular members and can be rotated about a horizontal axis, moved vertically and pivoted about a vertical axis. A vacuum or positive pressure can be generated in the tubular members. Therefore, the tubular members can be positioned over a tool in one of the cartridges after which the tool changer head is raised and rotated to extend the tool into the spindle of a machine tool which has been run past the forward edge of the machine. Negative pressure will withdraw the tool from the cartridge and positive pressure will drive the tool into the spindle. Similarly, a tool can be removed from the spindle by negative pressure and reinserted into the cartridge by positive pressure.

Abstract: An NC machine surrounded by a housing provided with a door on a front surface of the housing so that a workpiece may be loaded into the housing and unloaded therefrom when the door is in an open condition. An articulated robot, for replacing the workpiece, is provided so as to be laterally movable along an opening and closing direction of the door. Such a laterally movable function of the articulated robot permits a hand of the robot to grip a desired one of the workpieces arranged in lateral and longitudinal directions on a stock table. The articulated robot is provided with a sensor for detecting a dog provided on the door and an air cylinder for connecting the robot to the door when the dog is detected by the sensor. Accordingly, after the robot is connected to the door by the air cylinder, the door can be opened and closed by the lateral movement of the articulated robot.

Abstract: An apparatus is used to align, burnish, and secure an upper needle guide for a fuel injector valve body. The apparatus includes a lower portion having a fixture containing a spring-loaded plunger and a spring-loaded centering pin, and an upper portion having a burnishing tool, a spring-loaded stripper, and a crimping ram. The fixture aligns the needle guide and the valve body, and as the two portions are operated closed, the inside diameter of the upper needle guide is first burnished, and then the valve body is crimped onto the needle guide. The stripper holds the crimped parts against the lower portion of the apparatus while the upper and lower portions are operated open to withdraw the burnishing tool from the inside diameter of the needle guide.

Abstract: In a method of tool selection control for a punching press machine equipped with a multi-tool holder, a tool selection instruction (1) consisting of 4-digit T codes such as (T1101) associated with a first punch tool (42a) of the multi-holder (42) is read from a machining program. A holder designation code (T11XX) for designating the multi-tool holder is provided to a magazine (4), based on the upper two digits of the T code, and is converted to a target rotation position of the magazine by a first angle parameter (2). A tool designation code (TXXO1) for designating a first punch tool fitted to the designated multi-tool holder, which consists of the lower two bits of the T code, is converted to a target rotation position of the designated multi-tool holder by a second angle parameter (3).

Abstract: An apparatus for dismembering used cartridge filters, the cartridge filters having a top and bottom, the top including a baseplate having an outlet and at least one inlet, the baseplate being adapted to mount with a machine, the filter including a casing extending from proximate the top to the bottom of the cartridge filter and affixed to the baseplate proximate the top of the cartridge filter, the cartridge filter including a disposable filter media included inside the casing;the apparatus comprising means for receiving waste cartridge filters, means for delivering the filters to a predetermined position, means for holding the filter at the predetermined position, means for separating the baseplate and the canister, means for removing the canister from the remnant of the filter and segregating said canister, means for separating said baseplate from the remnant of said filter and segregating said baseplate, said remnant including said disposable filter media, means for handling said remnant and segregating sa