Abstract: A rotary drive mechanism is used to insert a pallet into the workzone of a machine tool past the plane the guard doors. Cam barrels are mounted one each on the opposite ends of a pair of opposed drive shafts that are driven by a pair of drive hubs. The cam barrels engage cam followers mounted on the underside of the pallet to drive the pallet into the workzone of the machine tool. The connection between the drive shafts and the drive hubs is separable, allowing the drive shafts to be uncoupled from the drive hubs when desired. The drive hubs are mounted on a hub carrier that is rotatable about a vertical axis to uncouple the drive hubs from the drive shafts and swing the drive hubs out of the plane of the guard doors, allowing the doors to close.

Abstract: A pallet load stand and manipulator allows a pallet to receive a workpiece and the workpiece to be clamped to the pallet while the pallet is in a horizontal position. Once the workpiece has been clamped to the pallet, the pallet may be rotated to a vertical position so that the pallet may be loaded onto a machine tool that operates on a workpiece with the pallet in the vertical position. The pallet may also be rotated to an intermediate position, similar to an artist's easel, in which the pallet is held in an inclined position, between the horizontal and vertical positions by positive locating assemblies and positive stops.

Abstract: A rotary drive mechanism is used to insert a pallet into the workzone of a machine tool past the plane the guard doors. Cam barrels are mounted one each on the opposite ends of a pair of opposed drive shafts that are driven by a pair of drive hubs. The cam barrels engage cam followers mounted on the underside of the pallet to drive the pallet into the workzone of the machine tool. The connection between the drive shafts and the drive hubs is separable, allowing the drive shafts to be uncoupled from the drive hubs when desired. The drive hubs are mounted on a hub carrier that is rotatable about a vertical axis to uncouple the drive hubs from the drive shafts and swing the drive hubs out of the plane of the guard doors, allowing the doors to close.

Abstract: A pallet load stand and manipulator allows a pallet to receive a workpiece and the workpiece to be clamped to the pallet while the pallet is in a horizontal position. Once the workpiece has been clamped to the pallet, the pallet may be rotated to a vertical position so that the pallet may be loaded onto a machine tool that operates on a workpiece with the pallet in the vertical position. The pallet may also be rotated to an intermediate position, similar to an artist's easel, in which the pallet is held in an inclined position, between the horizontal and vertical positions by positive locating assemblies and positive stops.