Abstract: Herein disclosed is an automatic tool exchanging system for an NC machining tool, in which a tool column stored with tools to be fed to the spindle head of the NC machining tool is adapted to move in accordance with the movement of the spindle head. The tools are transferred between a tool magazine and the tool column while the spindle head continues its machining operation.

Abstract: A manufacturing system in which the automatic control of the system and the automatic control of a process management are organically coupled, thereby to sharply reduce the number of workers to be engaged in the manufacture. In order to establish both the versatility necessary for multiple type of treatment and the high efficiency necessary for large-quantity treatments, the arrangement of respective treatment sections is made the job-shop-type, and the construction of treating devices themselves included in the treatment sections is made the flow-shop-type, to achieve the consecutive automation. In order to also automate the management of the process, a stocker in which unfinished products are put is situated in a specified place of the system such as the central part thereof, while the process is put forward in such a manner that a conveyor machine controlled by a control unit having a computer reciprocates between the stocker and the groups of treatment sections.

Abstract: An installation for manufacturing panels used in building construction which panels comprise a metal framework of two parallel meshes joined by connector wires which obliquely pass through a core of lightweight material between the two parallel meshes to which latter said connector wires are welded, the installation including a conveyor device for entry into the machine, a first section of an intermittent traction and advancing device within the machine, a dispensing device for feeding connector wires to a fastening device for inserting them in the lightweight core, a second section of the intermittent traction and advancing device, a column of electrodes for welding the connector wires, a third section of the intermittent traction and advancing device, a saw device for shaping the resulting panels and automated mechanisms and systems for controlling all these elements.

Abstract: An article is clamped in a predetermined position on a support, which is movable along a reciprocating path by a stepping motor. This movement of the support positions selected and spaced portions of the article at a fixed location at which a fastener element is attached to an edge of the article. The movement of the stepping motor is controlled by a computer program whereby the selected and spaced portions of the article are spaced from each other as desired.

Abstract: A pallet receiver for a machine tool is disclosed utilizing a pin and socket for registration and alignment. A pallet clamp piston is employed to clamp the pallet to the receiver base for subsequent machining operations. A registration pin is rigidly secured to the receiver base, and a cooperating pin socket is mounted to the pallet underface by means of a compliant diaphragm spring so that as the socket and pin are engaged during the first portion of clamp piston movement the pallet will be registered and aligned with respect to the receiver base, and during the second and final portion of piston movement the axially compliant pin socket will permit the pallet to engage a rigid clamp down surface on the receiver base, thus insuring a positive final resting position for the pallet on the receiver base.

Abstract: Workpiece attaching and detaching apparatus comprising a supporting column having on one side of the periphery thereof a first station for a pallet to be charged or discharged, and on another side thereof a second station for a workpiece to be charged or discharged. Annular rails are attached to the column surrounding the same. Plural heads are supported on the rails. An indexing device is provided for selecting a desired one of the heads and moving the selected head between its first working position opposite the first station and its second working position located opposite the second station. Each of the heads is provided with both a holding mechanism for the workpiece and a device for operating fasteners on the pallet.

Abstract: A transfer type working system including a transfer line for intermittently conveying workpieces thereon. The transfer line has plural stages of working stations disposed in front and rear relationship. Each of the working stations has at least one machine tool for working on one of the workpieces on that station. Each of the machine tools comprises a ganghead replaceable machine tool having plural gangheads arranged to be selectively operable. Each of the working stations has, at a preceding position thereof, a front sensor for reading the kind of workpiece on a preceding position so that, in the course of conveying any of the workpieces to each of the working stations, one of the gangheads that corresponds to the kind of workpiece read is previously selected for operation by a signal obtained at the front sensor.

Abstract: Individual ones of articles such as (LED) devices 10 are fed and positioned at one or more stations along a path traversed by the devices. A track 30 guidably advances the devices 10 in single file to and beyond stations 63 and 64 successively located along the path represented by a channel 35 in the track 30. An assembly 50 shuttles, transversely of the channel 35, a plurality of fingers 66-70 simultaneously from a working state to and from a transitory state with respect to devices 10 in channel 35. The fingers may be in the form of thin, upright blades 66-70 which are engaged to assembly 50 and extend substantially normally of and into channel 35 in response to the shuttling. An indexing blade 68 extends from the front of and into channel 35 when shuttling assembly 50 is in the working state to block a waiting file of devices 10.

Abstract: A multiple station transfer machine in which workpieces are progressively transferred from station to station requires that the workpieces be individually clamped at each station by a movable clamp. The present device includes a unified mechanism at each station for clamping the workpieces at individual stations by a common linearly movable actuator which can function simultaneously at each station. The clamping mechanism is arranged to adapt to various clamping positions at individual stations independently of the stroke of the common actuator. This is accomplished by a roller mounted, two-stage cam operating on a clamping member and driven by a preloaded spring in response to the linearly movable actuator. The unified mechanisms can be placed in various positions of orientation while being actuated by the same linear actuator.

Abstract: A pallet changer for a machine tool is provided wherein a pallet clamper for guiding a work pallet during transfer movements onto and away from a rotary table of the machine tool is supported at its center portion and vertically movable by a hydraulic cylinder. This cylinder moves the clamper up to unclamp the pallet from the rotary table prior to the transfer movements and moves the clamper down to clamp the pallet on the rotary table upon completion of the transfer movement onto the rotary table. Auxiliary hydraulic cylinders are further provided at either end portions in a pallet transfer direction of the clamper and between the rotary table and the clamper for auxiliarily supporting the clamper while the pallet is unclamped, so that the clamper can be prevented from being deformed due to the weight of a mass of the pallet and workpiece supported only by the clamper during such time.

Abstract: A jig table apparatus for a machine tool is provided. The apparatus comprises first and second jig tables for holding workpieces thereon. A base for positioning adjacent a machine tool and elevating table are provided at a work station for supporting and raising and lowering one of the jig tables at the work station. Also provided is a turntable, a work attaching and detaching station for supporting one of the jig tables and for moving the jig tables to a position for removing a workpiece therefrom and for placing a workpiece thereon, and a transfer device is mounted on the base for moving the first and second jig tables between the working station and the work attaching and detaching stations. The transfer device includes claw members which are coupled to the elevating table and are responsive to the movement thereof, such that the claw members are moved to an engaging position when the elevating table is raised and to a disengaging position when the table is lowered.

Abstract: A pallet changing system for a machine tool in which two pallets are shuttled back and forth over a track to maintain one pallet in a standby position while the other pallet is in a central machining position. A single saddle capable of indexing either pallet during machining is driven on the track. Telescoping covers extend between each track end and the associated pallet and also between the pallets to keep the track and saddle covered while permitting movement of the pallets over the track and relative to each other.

Abstract: An improved workpiece storage and shuttle apparatus is fabricated of a base into which a carousel is journaled for indexable movement. Located about the periphery of the carousel are a plurality of workpiece storage pedestals, each pedestal having a pair of spaced apart guides thereon, each of the guides being parallel to a carousel radii. Affixed on the carousel is at least one and preferably two pairs of spaced apart guides, each of the guides of each pair of carousel guides extending from the center of the carousel beyond the carousel periphery so as to be parallel to a carousel radii. Between each pair of carousel guides is a pallet shuttle arm which is extendable out from and retractable into the guides by a hydraulic cylinder.

Abstract: A device for aligning a pallet or similar article both horizontally and vertically to facilitate a transfer to a support located at a predetermined horizontal position and height comprises first and second banks of engagement rollers which have axes disposed substantially horizontally and which are movable toward and away respective opposite sides of the pallet to engage the pallet underside from each side. In addition, the apparatus includes a vertical alignment member in the form of first and second banks of rollers which extend obliquely and are movable in an oblique plane toward and away from the respective sides of the pallet to engage it at a selected vertical height. The surfaces of the horizontal aligning rollers and vertical aligning rollers engage and support the pallet at a selected intersecting vertical and horizontal plates along its side. The vertical aligning rollers which extend obliquely are advantageously offset from the rollers which have axes which extend horizontally.

Abstract: A machine tool is provided with a double actuation hydraulic cylinder incorporated into a pallet clamp member, which is vertically movable for clamping and unclamping a work pallet onto and releasing it from a work table of the machine tool. The cylinder, in an extension operation, outwardly extends a first hollow rod and further extends a second rod telescopically from the first rod so as to present a first engaging member secured to the outer end of the second rod under a second engaging member of a work pallet on a pallet support. The pallet clamp member, when upwardly moved, establishes engagement of the first engaging member with the second engaging member, so that the subsequent retraction operation of the cylinder causes the work pallet to be transferred from the pallet support onto the work table.

Abstract: A machining system for oil well sucker rods wherein the rod end to be machined is held in a non-rotating fixture rigidly without release throughout rough machining, finish machining and roll threading operations including a conveyor system for transporting fixtures with rods to successive stations for performing successive operations.

Abstract: An engine positioning device comprises a transferring conveyer equipped with a lift which transfers an engine; a positioning table which is used for fixing the engine and is placed above the conveyer; cylinders for adjusting the position of the engine both in the conveyor transferring direction and the cross direction; a positioning pin projecting from the positioning table in position to fit a predetermined hole in the engine; and an clamp arm for fixing the engine on the positioning table.

Abstract: A conditioning line for steel pipes in which steel pipes are transversely transferred to effect the end processing thread cutting, thread inspection, hydrostatic testing, etc., on the steel pipes. With a view to increasing the efficiency of the conditioning operations, a reprocessing line is arranged to run parallel to a main line such that the steel pipes rejected on the main line are automatically transferred to the reprocessing line where the rejected steel pipes are reprocessed and automatically transferred back to the main line.

Abstract: A mechanism for quickly and precisely positioning one body relative to another body, which relies upon three support points between the two bodies. At a first point a hemispherical surface is received in an opening having the form of a trihedral pyramid. At a second support point a hemispherical surface is received in an opening having the form of a diahedral prism. At the third support point a rigid sphere held in loose confinement engages a flat surface.

Abstract: A structure for the rigidification of multiple station machine tools to increase accuracy of machining operations on workpieces moved intermittently on pallets to registry stations where machine tools move toward and away from the work. The machine tools and registry stations are mounted on a common base well below the axis of the machine tool movement. Means are interposed directly between the registry stations and the tool mounts on an axis in close proximity to the axis of the machine tool movement to rigidify the relationship between the tool mount and the registry stations and thus reduce the interfaces joining the two and the possibility of motion when tool pressure is applied to the work.

Abstract: A combining mechanical placement mechanism which includes hydraulic jacks and stops with automatic clamping at multiple points via tie rods provided with elastic washers, so as to fasten to the slide of the machine the tool-holder equipped with its cutting tools, or to mount a cutting tool of sizable portions to the slide of the machine, without intermediary tool-holder.

Abstract: A work support or pallet is slidable onto a holding device on bearing surfaces along a rectilinear guide defining parallel angular paths. The holding device has two clamping slides which are urged transversely to the rectilinear guide to bear on a mating surface part of work support to locate it both in the longitudinal direction and transversely thereof. One slide has slanting teeth mating with teeth on the work support in such a manner that the clamping force components locate the work support with respect to both longitudinal and transverse directions and hold the work support against the bearing surfaces.

Abstract: A metal-cutting machine includes a bed with slideways, a movable unit with a headstock and a drive for moving it in a horizontal plane over the bed slideways, a work table with stock guides for moving the pallets carrying the workpieces and provided with coupling members for gripping the pallets, at least one platform installed before the work table in the direction of movement of the workpieces and is provided with stock guides for the pallets. The platform and work table are arranged for movement relative to each other in a horizontal plane so that when the pallet moves to and from the working position the stock guides of the platform serve as a continuation of the stock guides of the work table. The machine also incorporates a device for gripping the pallet in order to move it over the stock guides of the platform and work table to and from the working position.

Abstract: This invention has to do with an automatic manufacturing system and, more particularly, to a plurality of work stations to which a variety of workpieces are carried by a network of conveyors, in which means are provided to identify each workpiece and means are provided to direct the workpiece through a path variable in accordance with load conditions in the network having various work stations where selected operations are automatically performed on the workpiece.

Abstract: A pallet changer having additional distribution and storage functions for a manufacturing plant having a central control station, transfer stations at the conveying and storage part of the installation and address readers. The pallet changer comprises a rotatable part capable of rotating about a vertical axis and having pallet guides and pallet feed devices for pallets equipped with switching markers. The rotatable part can be rotated into four fixed change positions offset by about 90.degree. with respect to one another for changing the pallets at one, two or three transfer stations and at one or two machine tools. Rotation of the rotatable part is accomplished as a function of programmes infed to the central control station and by means of four non-rotatably arranged address readers dispositioned at a spacing of about 90.degree. from one another and with the same spacing from the axis of rotation.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method and apparatus for the simultaneous machining of a stack of plate-like workpieces wherein the individual workpieces of the stack are initially assembled into a stack which is held in a manner which will not interfere with the subsequent machining operations by use of rivets or the like. The plate-like workpieces are mounted in the stack upon a support plate, and the machining operations are preferably so conducted as to penetrate through the lowermost member of the stack and into the upper portion of the support plate. The machine tool is preferably one in which a series of stations for drilling, riveting, machining and then drilling out the rivets is provided. The tool may include means for automatically and precisely moving the stack between the several work stations.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an automatic apparatus for machining panels or similar articles and, particularly, for drilling and milling them in accordance with the "Folding" system. With this apparatus, the panel to be machined is carried by conveyor means, in a direction parallel to its longitudinal axis, towards drilling and milling devices placed one after the other, the latter being able to mill the panel transversely with respect to the direction in which it moves forward. The operation of the drilling and milling devices takes place contemporaneously in unison, controlled by a feeler device located after the milling devices, which is able to perceive the presence of milling in the panel and to consequently cause the panel to halt and to be in the exact position necessary for the aforementioned drilling and milling devices.

Abstract: The worktable and pallet shuttle of a machine tool are driven by a common motor which is mounted on the worktable base. The motor is coupled to the worktable by gears which engage when the worktable is raised to be indexed and disengage when the worktable is lowered. The motor is coupled to the pallet shuttle by gears which engage when the worktable base is moved into the shuttle position and disengage when the worktable base is moved out of the shuttle position.

Abstract: An integrated system for fabricating the wall section for a building. The wall section includes a framework composed of plural studs disposed in a parallel array between an opposed pair of plates and has sheathing secured over the framework. The system comprises a first workstation including a frame for supporting the studs and a frame for supporting the plates in abutment with the ends of the studs. Automatic nailing means are supported on a carriage which is movable along the frame and is operative to nail the abutting stud and plate portions together. Portions of the frame means are retractable to enable a conveyor to move the framework, once assembled, to a second workstation. The first workstation also includes cutting means mounted on a carriage for cutting off excess end portions from the opposed plates extending beyond the most upstream stud of the wall section. The second workstation includes a conveyor for receipt of the assembled framework.

Abstract: A pair of substantially identical shuttle tables are mounted on the bed of a vertical spindle machine tool on opposite sides of the worktable thereof. A first pallet is mounted on the worktable and a second pallet is mounted on one of the shuttle tables. Both pallets have a tunnel therein that extends all the way through the pallet. A hydraulic ram with an elongated piston rod is mounted on each shuttle table. Each piston rod is long enough to pass completely through the tunnel in an adjacent pallet and to bear against a pallet on the worktable while the base of the piston rod bears against the adjacent pallet. When the piston rod is extended, both pallets are simultaneously pushed in the same direction so that the pallet on the worktable is shifted to the empty shuttle table while the pallet on the other shuttle table is shifted onto the worktable. When the piston rod is subsequently retracted, both pallets remain in their shifted position.

Abstract: Workpiece blanks to be machined are transported on a conveyor past a bank of machine tools operating in parallel, each blank resting on an individual carriage which is slippably entrained by the conveyor so as to be arrestable at a stop in line with a machine tool by an escapement-type rocker in response to a signal from a sensing switch detecting the presence of such a blank on an arriving carriage. A gantry-type manipulator picks up the blank and delivers it to the associated machine tool while removing therefrom a workpiece already machined and depositing it on the waiting carriage in a position laterally offset from the one previously occupied by the blank. Another sensing switch at each stop, upon detecting the presence of a workpiece already machined on a carriage, lets that carriage continue on its way without actuation of the corresponding manipulator.

Abstract: Cable lengths are prepared for extruding a plug at the end in that the lengths are stepwise moved through stations, in which each cable length is turned and oriented as to its leads; the lead ends are stripped, tinplated and shaped in sequential stations followed by connecting preassembled contact prongs to the lead ends. The plug body is then extruded around the prong-lead connections. The lead orientation is electro-optically servo-controlled and the prong to lead connection is made by a funnel for threading the leads into the hollow prongs followed by squeezing the prongs to fasten the leads thereto.

Abstract: A plant for the manufacture of pipes of different diameters and lengths in which the pipe is manufactured to order and then shipped to a customer. The plant comprises a pipe-forming machine for each desired pipe diameter which forms pipe from elongate strip of sheet metal. Each such machine is fitted with a cutoff mechanism which shears the manufactured pipe to the desired length. The pipe forming machines are positioned so that the respective pipes are parallel and closely adjacent to each other. Severed pipe is discharged by a retractable pipe holding device onto a sloping pipe receiving apron which gravitationally rolls the pipe towards a collection point. At the collection point the pipe is discharged onto a stacking cage and/or a suitable transport vehicle such as a railroad car.

Abstract: Machine tool apparatus for handling routine pallets and priority pallets with loading and unloading stations comprising a plurality of machine tools for performing machining operations on a workpiece mounted on a pallet; main conveyer means for carrying a pallet in one direction, buffer conveyer means for storing a pallet to be loaded onto a machine tool; return conveyer means for returning a pallet to an unloading station; pallet transfer means for moving a pallet among the conveyer means, stations and machine tools; and central control means for controlling the machine tools and the conveyer means; the pallet transfer means being responsive to the central control means for carrying a priority pallet from the main conveyer means to one of the machine tools and being responsive to the central control means for moving a routine pallet from main conveyer means to the buffer conveyer means and from the buffer conveyer means to one of the machine tools only when the machine tool on which the routine pallet is to

Abstract: In a method for the manufacture of substantially cylindrical pressurized or liquefied gas tanks first and second portions deformable to open-ended cylindrical shape are stamped out of a same metal sheet, the cylindrical portions then being welded together by their free edges which mated in the sheet. A machine for automatically carrying out the method comprises means for stamping, shaping and assembling the portions.