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: The rotary transfer machine for machining a workpiece using fixed-cycle control has a centrally disposed rotary indexing table which is driven according to a fixed cycle, can rotate about a vertical axis and at the outer circumference of which a plurality of clamping means for holding a workpiece are disposed radially at a spacing from one another, and a plurality of machining units for machining the workpieces, which units are disposed around the outer circumference of the rotary table such that they lie substantially opposite corresponding clamping means in an indexed position of the rotary indexing table.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for processing a plurality of small work-pieces which each weighs under five pounds using a robot gripping a rotatable pallet for holding an array of small parts. The robot has a removable tooling plate mounted on its head for mounting an array of processing tools operating on the rotatable pallet such as pick-and-place tools, work-piece ejection tools, vertical and horizontal video cameras, reflective photocell sensors, and laser distance ranging sensors. The tools operate under control of the robot and in conjunction with rotation and elevation of the rotatable pallet with respect to the tool array. The tools are mounted by an interchangeable, standard bracket to permit quick installation or removal of the tool mounting plate and addition or placement of individual devices and sensors appropriate to particular robotic tasks.

Abstract: In a transfer machine tool with a rotary table, the machining units with horizontal axes are arranged in orientations which do not coincide with the radii of the rotary table and the workpieces being machined are mounted on piece-holder plates which are fixed to the rotary table but are rotatable about vertical axes perpendicular to the plane of the rotary table; for each advance of a workpiece being machined from one work station to the next, the respective plate is rotated through an angle of between 0.degree. and 45.degree. relative to the radius at the next station, the angle possibly being added algebraically to the angle of rotation necessary when the face of the workpiece to be machined is changed.

Abstract: The machine tool bas a combined slide which is formed of partial slides and is movable in the X direction on two linear guides by means of guide carriages. The two partial slides are supported directly relative to one another by support guides and can be moved in the X direction relative to one another in order to carry out a correcting adjustment or a feed movement. Each partial slide supports a vertical spindle which is movable in the Z direction. A joint multiple turret is associated with the vertical spindles, this multiple turret being outfitted with tools associated with the two tool spindles. The vertical spindles and the partial slides have separate driving units which can be controlled by corresponding control devices in such a way that the vertical spindles and the partial slides are displaceable jointly and synchronously or asynchronously on the one hand and are displaceable relative to one another on the other hand in order to carry out a correcting adjustment or a feed movement.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for roughening or otherwise changing the gasket face of a bolt-like header plug. This apparatus utilizes a cutting or etching tool that cuts into the originally flat gasket face. A threaded shank formed by a lathe or other screw cutting machine extends from the face and is not useable for modifying the face. Roughening or otherwise modifying of the gasket face is in the form of grooves cut into the face so as to increase the sealing effect of the header plug when in use.

Abstract: The invention relates to improvements in the multiple spindle rotary indexing machine tool systems of the prior art. Traditionally, such machine tool systems include a base and an upstanding vertical column which houses a plurality of machining stations each equipped with two-axis tool slides. In addition, the base supports a rotatable worktable, which carries a number of work-holding spindles. As the worktable rotates, these spindles are indexed through successive machining stations where a variety of operations are performed. In accordance with the invention, a spindle position measurement unit is provided to dynamically measure the exact location of each spindle indexed to position at a modified machining station. A computerized numerical control system calculates spindle position errors based on the position information provided by the measurement unit and offsets tool slide position commands to compensate for those errors.

Abstract: A turret-type machine tool has a workpiece support that can be indexed incrementally by a step-drive and is locked to be stationary in angular positions corresponding to individual machining stations. In the individual machining stations, machining units are provided, each of them carrying a machining spindle. Workpiece holders are supported on the workpiece supports with planet axes located in at least one horizontal plane; the planet axes extend at a tangent to and radially spaced apart from the vertical switching axis of the workpiece support and are each aligned in pairs parallel to one another.

Abstract: A device for machining a plurality of workpieces. The device having a plurality of identical independent machining assemblies attached on a rotating carousel plate such that one operator can unload and load a workpiece at one machining assembly while the other machining assemblies are machining the workpiece therein such that when a machining assembly returns from rotation on the carousel plate it is finished machining.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a rotary vice construction which can be specifically applied on the rotary table of a transfer machining apparatus, which vice comprises a first and second bodies, opposite to one another and forming a vice assembly adapted to hold a workpiece to be machined, which is supported by a rotary table. Inside each of the vice bodies there is rotatably supported a supporting shaft which supports the vice jaws for holding the workpiece, a removably locking ring element being moreover provided in each body for the rotation of the shaft, which can be disengaged by means of a hydraulic cylinder, and to each shaft, on the side thereof opposite to the jaws, there is keyed a gear element which can be removably connected to an outer drive assembly in order to rotate the shaft.

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: Machine with intermittently rotary workpiece-holding table makes it possible to perform with great rapidity the working and assembly of pieces requiring great precision. It comprises work units placed above (8), below (8') and laterally (8") to rotary table (14) and respective control elements (7a, 15, 7b, FIGS. 1a and 1b) to determine the advance and return movements of the work units. The control units comprise, for each of the work units placed above (8, FIG. 1), a linear cam (7a) and a reversed linear cam (7b), angularly out of phase, controlling a lever system (15) carrying the corresponding tappet. The cams are placed in the axial direction on a rotating body (6). With respect to known machines that exhibit an active travel and an empty return travel, the hourly production theoretically is doubled.

Abstract: A machine tool has a workholder and an axially aligned toolholder in juxtaposed relation, mounted for relative rotation. A first slide supported for longitudinal reciprocating movement along a "y" axis, supports a cross slide on which a toolholder is mounted for reciprocating crosswise movement to the first slide along an "x" axis. Bell crank motion transmission mechanism on the first slide is interposed between a push bar connected between an NC controlled rotary servo motor and the cross slide, and another NC controlled rotary servo motor is mounted to operate the first slide. Rotary to linear motion translation mechanism couples one servo motor to the first slide and another servo motor to the push bar. The push bar has a longitudinally extending flat face portion thereon and a member extends parallel with the flat face portion crosswisely to the longitudinal extent thereof to ride along the flat face portion.

Abstract: A machine has an intermittently rotating table for holding parts to be worked on or assembled. Operating units (20, 21, 25) are actuable either simultaneously for all units or groups of units, or independently of one another. The operating units can be mounted vertically over or under the table and also laterally and can receive the rotary movement of a central wheel or independent motors. According to a preferred embodiment, the control of the feed is effected by the central shaft (4). During a work cycle, this shaft makes a vertical movement and transmits that movement to the operating units (20, 21) by radial linear cams (16, 17, etc.), i.e., feed and return occur during a single movement of the shaft (4), for example, downward. During idle time, i.e.

Abstract: A machine tool including a base having a work zone including a drive gear, a work shuttle having a pair of work stations each having at least one work spindle and an idler gear, the work shuttle assembly is mounted on the base and is displaced to alternately locate each of the work stations at the work zone and at a load/unload zone, and each of the work spindles is presented at a predetermined orientation at the work and load/unload zones by means of a gear rack mounted on the base for engaging each of the idler gears as the shuttle is displaced from one to another of the positions, the gear rack having at least a portion of the teeth thereof removed proximate the drive gear whereby the idler gear of the station located at the work zone will be operatively associated with the drive gear but will not be operatively associated with the gear rack, rotation of the drive gear is prevented as the work shuttle assembly is displaced and rotation of the drive gear is allowed when the work shuttle assembly is located

Abstract: The disclosure relates to an improvement in multiple spindle, single drive, rotary indexing machine tool systems. The basic machine comprises a fixed circular base and a central, upwardly projecting column. An indexing circular worktable is mounted on the base, for incremental, rotary indexing movements about the central column. The worktable carries a number of rotatable, work-holding chucks or spindles, which are progressively indexable with the worktable from a loading station progressively through a series of rotationally displaced work positions. Pursuant to the invention, one of the work stations is arranged to be mechanically independent of the primary machine drive and is provided with a tool slide with independent, numerically controlled motors for X and Y axis tool movement, and a third independent motor for spindle rotation.

Abstract: An assembly machine which has a plurality of work stations for performing operations on articles is disclosed. The machines includes means for conveying articles between work stations, a tool plate adapted to support tooling to perform operations at a plurality of work stations, and means for reciprocating the tool plate in synchronism with the movement of the conveying means wherein the reciprocating means are mechanically independent from the conveying means.

Abstract: This invention relates to a new and useful continuous rotary and work process apparatus. The apparatus comprises one or more annular turrets arranged on a common axis coacting mechanically in unison and performing a variety of assembly, packaging, or other processes or mechanical functions. The apparatus incorporates an internal cam system incorporating means for performing a multiplicity of mechanical actions within the outer perimeter fo the annular turret or annulus.

Abstract: A rotary support is mounted on the frame of a machine tool for rotation about an axis, and a plurality of carriers is distributed along a major surface of the rotary support and connected thereto to share its rotation about the axis. Each of the carriers has a carrier axis, and the rotary support can be indexed between a plurality of positions in each of which one of the carrier axes extends parallel to a horizontal plane and other carrier axis extends normal thereto. The carrier axes may intersect the axis of rotation of the rotary support, or they may be offset therefrom so as to generate a hyperboloid during the rotation of the rotary support. The rotary support may be used for moving workpieces toward a tool and a workpiece-transporting arrangement may be associated with the rotary support for supplying workpieces thereto and removing finished workpieces therefrom.

Abstract: An improved method and machine are described for performing a plurality of working operations, such as for producing finished, wound coils, the working operations including a basic working operation requiring a relatively long time, e.g. winding the coil, and a plurality of complementary working operations each requiring a relatively short time, e.g. finishing the wound coil, the improvement being in carrying out the basic working operation on n parts simultaneously at n working stations, n being at least two, and carrying out the complementary working operations in succession on single work pieces, the work pieces being advanced at the end of each basic operation by n steps of which the last step is followed by a long stop, for carrying out the next basic working operation and a complementary working operation, and the other steps are followed by short stops for carrying out only complementary working operations.