Abstract: An automotive framing apparatus with a support frame having a frame roof supported above a generally horizontal support surface. At least four gate assemblies are carried by a carrousel supported on the frame roof for rotational movement around a common vertical axis and form two gate assembly pairs of diametrically-opposed gate assemblies. The gate assemblies of each gate assembly pair are supported for pivotal movement between generally horizontal stowed and generally vertical working positions. A rotary drive selectively positions one gate assembly pair at a time in a framing position from which the two gate assemblies of the selected gate assembly pair can be pivoted by a drive downward to respective diametrically opposed working positions on opposed sides of a vehicle body to be welded.

Abstract: In a cover apparatus of a machine tool, a slide cover and turning covers are connected to a motor via an up-down movement mechanism and a cam drive portion. During operation of the motor, the slide cover and the turning covers are raised from a lowermost position to an uppermost position, and are held at the uppermost position, and then are lowered from the uppermost position to the lowermost position. The turning covers are connected to the motor also via a pivoting mechanism and an intermittent drive unit. During operation of the motor, the turning covers are turned while being held at the uppermost position. The apparatus thus prevents deviations of the up-down movement timing of the slide cover 47 and the up-down movement timing of the turning covers, thereby improving reliability.

Abstract: In a pallet changer apparatus, a pallet changing arm is connected to a motor via a raising/lowering mechanism and an intermittent drive unit. During operation of the motor, the pallet changing arm is raised from a lowermost position to an uppermost position, and is held at the uppermost position, and then is lowered from the uppermost position to the lowermost position. The pallet changing arm is also connected to the motor via a turning mechanism and a second cam drive portion. During operation of the motor, the pallet changing arm is turned while being held at the uppermost position. The pallet changing arm is moved up and down and turned by using the single motor provided above a table. The table below the pallet changing arm is reduced in size so as to allow an operator to perform operations without being impeded by the table.

Abstract: A machining head (36) is drivable along a vertical axis and two horizontal axes with respect to a workpiece held on a workpiece-holding device, and has, at progressively lower levels along said vertical axis, one or two high-speed spindles (44), one or two low-speed spindles (46) and one or two feed-out spindles (48), all arranged at right angles to said vertical axis and driven by one or more motors (42) mounted on the head. The machining head can bring the high-speed spindles to cooperate with a tool-changing magazine (52). The workpiece-holding device (54; 154) is adapted to carry two sets of workpieces on respective supports (56, 58; 170), and to shift said supports in succession between a working position near the head and a tool-changing position remote from the head.

Abstract: The machining center has a base, a frame and at least a machine tool mounted onto the frame, at least a tool magazine associated with the machine tool for changing the tool and a workpiece gripping and supporting member. The machining center comprises a movable vertical member adapted to support from the top the workpiece gripping and supporting member. The movable vertical member is adapted to position the workpiece gripping and supporting member in a first operative position in which the workpiece is automatically loaded onto or unloaded from the workpiece gripping and supporting member of the machining center and in a second operative position in which the workpiece is machined by the machine tool of the machining center.

Abstract: A deep drilling device suitable for drilling in workpieces, particularly crankshafts, holes at different positions and/or in different orientations relative to a work longitudinal axis, has a deep drilling unit and a work holding unit cooperating therewith. The deep drilling unit permits parallel displacements of the deep drilling tools in a horizontal X direction and a vertical Y direction, as well as a tool feed parallel to the spindle axis. The tool holding device receives one or more crankshafts in such a way that their longitudinal axis is horizontally oriented and permits a rotation about the longitudinal axis and a swivelling of the workpieces about a vertical rotary axis. As a result both different tilt angles of the holes relative to the work longitudinal axis and also different positions of the holes relative to the circumference of the workpieces can be obtained.

Abstract: A machining center has a number of machine tools which each have a working space for machining workpieces, a clamping station in which workpieces to be machined are clamped into workpiece holders, and a loading device 26 which transports the workpiece holders between the clamping station and the working space of at least one machine tool, and in order to transport the workpiece holder has a pivot arm 43 which is swung in as the loading device 26 moves, and which for workpiece changing is pivoted at least partially about a pivot axis 93 into the working space or to the clamping station. The workpiece holder has a fixture 51 for positionally accurate receiving of a workpiece, which has at its two end faces holding parts 56, 57 via which it is held in the clamping station and in the working space. The loading device 26 has a further pivot arm 43′ arranged parallel to the pivot arm 43, the pivot arms 43, 43′ grasping the fixture 51 at the end faces and receiving it between them for transport.

Abstract: A vertical machining center is retrofitted to permit the automatic machining of a plurality of like unfixtured parts loaded into the vertical machining center on a tray.

Abstract: A machining center has machine tools which each have a working space for machining workpieces 21, a clamping station 18 in which workpieces 21 to be machined are clamped into workpiece holders 19, and a loading device which transports the workpiece holders 19 between the clamping station 18 and the working space of at least one machine tool. A multiple coupling 70 for transferring fluidic energy, which is selectably docked in the clamping station 18, is provided on the workpiece holder 19 (FIG. 5).

Abstract: A machining center has machine tools which each have a working space for machining workpieces 21, a clamping station 18 in which workpieces 21 to be machined are clamped into workpiece holders 19, and a loading device which transports the workpiece holders 19 between the clamping station 18 and the working space of at least one machine tool. The workpiece holder 19 have a fixture 51 having self-locking clamping elements 53 for positionally accurate clamping of a workpiece 21. The fixture 51 carries a coupling module 66 for supplying the clamping elements 53 with fluidic energy as well as a multiple coupling 70 which serves for the transfer of measurement signals, and is selectably docked therein.

Abstract: A machine tool for machining crankshafts (200), including, arranged in the same horizontal plane on a frame extending along the transfer axis (arrow A) of a machining line (C), a machining station (P1) with two tool holder discs (110, 120) for machining the crankshafts (200), and two parallel work stations (S1, S2) arranged upstream and downstream from the machining station (P1) for rotating the two crankshafts, whereby the tool holder disc (110, 120) of the machining station, movably mounted (arrow X) along the transfer axis (arrow A) can move back and forth between one work station (S1 or S2) and the other (S2 or S1) and machine a crankshaft (200) at a work station (S1 or S2) during the auxiliary operations needed to position a new crankshaft (200) in the other work station (S2 or S1), and vice versa. An operating method and a machining line comprising such a machine tool are also disclosed. Said machine tool is useful for turning/shaving crankshafts for engines with four in-line cylinders.

Abstract: Each of plural workpiece transfer units 10 input from on end of a machining line 100 in turn is fed toward the other end thereof in a first horizontal direction by a linear motor. In this transfer process, the workpiece transfer unit 100 is indexed to the front of predetermined some of plural spindle heads 60 arranged along the machining line 100, in turn. At an indexed position of the workpiece transfer unit 10, a workpiece supporting device movably mounted on the workpiece transfer unit 10 in two direction mutually perpendicular to the first horizontal direction, performs the machining operation on a workpiece in accordance with an NC program with respect to a tool T attached to a tool spindle 66 of the spindle head 60. At generally the same time when the workpiece transfer unit 10 starts a transfer feed toward the next spindle head 60 after finishing the machining operation by one of the spindle heads 60, the tool spindle 66 of the next spindle head 60 is started to rotate.

Abstract: A machine tool for machining crankshafts for four cylinder engines. A machining station and two parallel workstations are arranged in the same horizontal plane on a frame extending along the transfer axis of a machining line. The machining station has two tool holder disks for machining the crankshafts. The two parallel work stations are arranged upstream and downstream from the machining station for rotating the two crankshafts. The tool holder disk of the machining station is movably mounted along the transfer axis and can move back and forth between one workstation and the other. A crankshaft can be machined at a workstation during the auxiliary operations needed to position a new crankshaft in the other workstation.

Abstract: A CNC machine tool has a plurality of collet chucks in a fixture that requires loading workpieces in these collets by hand. The workpieces are first assembled on a loading bar or holder so they can be collectively loaded in the ganged collet chuck for machining in the CNC machine. The holder has spaced stations, and each station includes a standard base adapter and an individualized parts adapter that fits onto the base adapter. Each parts adapter will be configured to accept a part to be machined.

Abstract: A means for spark erosion of workpieces. A workpiece carrier (20) and a carriage (30) including a tool support (32) are movable in controlled fashion with respect to each other along the three axes of a three dimensional coordinate system (X, Y, Z) in the work space (46) of an erosion machine (10). One of the axes (Y) of movement of the carriage (30) is parallel to the axis (A) of the workpiece carrier (20). Workpiece holds (60) of a magazine (50) are movable into the work space (46), one of them each being positioned with its axis parallel to said axis (Y) of the carriage (30) in a transfer position (P). A gripper (40) is disposed on the carriage (30), spaced from the tool support (32), for exchanging workpieces (W) between the magazine (50) and the workpiece carrier (20).

Abstract: A method is disclosed for operating a machine tool which comprises a spindle rotatable about a spindle axis; a spindle gripper, carried by the spindle, for gripping workpieces; and a cradle apparatus that can be pivoted back and forth about a pivot axis of the cradle apparatus extending approximately perpendicular to the spindle axis. In the method, the cradle apparatus with a clamped workpiece is set up in a first position, whereupon the clamped workpiece is removed from the cradle apparatus and held with the spindle gripper. The empty cradle apparatus is then pivoted into a second position, and/or the spindle gripper holding the workpiece is pivoted about the spindle axis. Lastly, the workpiece held by the spindle gripper is inserted back into the cradle apparatus, and the latter is pivoted into a further position for further machining of the workpiece that is once again clamped in.

Abstract: A machine tool for machining panels, plates and discs, is fitted with a number of workpiece clamping devices (10) that move along a work bench (20) of the machine tool. The machine tool has sensors (8) designed to detect the position of the clamping devices (10), and a unit (2) built into the operating head (15) of the machine tool, which engages the clamping devices (10) to moves them to preset positions on the bench (20) by one or more relative movements between the head (15) and the bench (20).

Abstract: The system for producing bent sheet-metal articles comprises a bending machine (80) having a punch (84) and a die (86) which cooperate with each other and define a bending space, and a manipulator (64) having a movable head (76) which can grip a piece of sheet metal and place it in the bending space. Each piece to be bent has its own gripper and the head (76) of the manipulator (64) has rapid-attachment means for gripping and releasing the gripper associated with each piece. A table for defining the position of a piece to be bent, a manipulator for gripping and moving a piece of sheet metal by means of a floating head, a bending machine comprising an auxiliary structure for measuring the relative displacement of the punch and the die, and a device for automatically replacing tools of the bending machine are also described.

Abstract: The system for producing bent sheet-metal articles comprises a bending machine (80) having a punch (84) and a die (86) which cooperate with each other and define a bending space, and a manipulator (64) having a movable head (76) which can grip a piece of sheet metal and place it in the bending space. Each piece to be bent has its own gripper and the head (76) of the manipulator (64) has rapid-attachment means for gripping and releasing the gripper associated with each piece. A table for defining the position of a piece to be bent, a manipulator for gripping and moving a piece of sheet metal by means of a floating head, a bending machine comprising an auxiliary structure for measuring the relative displacement of the punch and the die, and a device for automatically replacing tools of the bending machine are also described.

Abstract: A device for the cutting metal-machining of one of several workpieces clamped on pallets (WP) and held ready in a device for holding several such pallets (WP) with a control device for timed sequence control, the conveyance of the preselected pallet (WP) bearing a workpiece from the preparation (18) to the machining position (BP), a tool spindle unit changing device for preparing a preselected tool spindle unit (10) in its operative position (AP), a tool changing unit (14, 31) to prepare and take the preselected drilling, milling or grinding tool (WZ) from a tool magazine (14) into the sleeve (13) of the tool spindle unit (10) and a device in the form of a pallet magazine (PM) to take at least two workpiece pallets (WP) which has at least one preparation position (18) arranged in the vertical plane and in which the clamping position (17) is horizontal, and a conveyor (ZU) for bringing at least one loaded pallet (WP) from the preparation (18) to the machining position (BP) of the workpiece carrier (WT) having

Abstract: A machining center composed of a plurality of assemblies, with each assembly including a machine base. Each machine base includes a compound slide as well as guides for guiding a movement of the compound slide. A motor driven main spindle is adapted to be attached to the compound slide and is movable along a plurality of axes, with facilities being provided for collecting swarf and coolant. A working area housing is attached to the machine structure with the housing including a container adapted to be mounted on the machine structure as a module to house control elements and power supply. Openings are provided for enabling a collection and removal of swarf with additional openings being provided for enabling an accommodation of a storage and transportation unit. A probe is incorporated in a machine control for enabling a checking of machined workpieces, and a sheet metal cover, fastened to the compound slide, includes a hole penetrated by the motor spindle with a spindle attachment.

Abstract: An automatic programming system is provided for a lathe which has more than one spindle. The system has one program which controls the machining processes which are performed using the spindles. The same program also controls a process which transfers a workpiece between the spindles. Additionally, the programming system is able to relocate the origin of a coordinate system used as a reference for the machining based on data relating to the length of the workpiece and the distance between the chucks of the spindles.

Abstract: A transfer press provided with a three-dimensional transfer system and a moving bolster. In the press, there are provided one each of four corners of the bolster an advancing/returning unit for performing an advancing/returning operation on a workpiece, a clamping/unclamping unit for performing a clamping/unclamping operation on the workpiece and a lifting/lowering unit for performing a lifting/lowering operation on the workpiece. The units include motors that make it possible for the bolster to carry a pair of feed bars thereon and permit the units to perform their operations even when the bolster is outside the press.

Abstract: An automated workstation is adapted to cut parts of different size and shape from workpieces of flat sheet or molded preforms. A fixtured workpiece is moved into the work area of a preprogrammed cutting robot on a shuttle table. The position of the workpiece to be cut is determined by the robot which cuts it using preprogrammed instructions for the desired part. In a preferred embodiment, a plurality of independently operable shuttle tables are provided so that the robot can work substantially continuously while workpieces are load, unloaded, machined or moved around.

Abstract: An apparatus is a press line includes presses along a material flow direction for stepwise processing of a workpiece. A transfer device moves each workpiece from one press to the next in the press line. The transfer devices are displaceable transversely of the press line. Further, a carriage is included for each press for transport of tools, the carriage being drivable along tracks. To permit rapid tool change and maximum utilization of the space surrounding the press line, the carriage is provided with a first end portion fitted with equipment for transport of a tool to or from a press, and with a second end portion which carries the transfer device so that this projects cantilevered out from the carriage.

Abstract: The workpiece handling device includes a workpiece carrying arm and a workpiece support spaced from the lathe machine on which the workpiece carrying arm is pivotally provided. The workpiece carrying arm includes a gripping unit for holding the workpiece thereon. The workpiece carrying arm can turn within a 180 degree range.

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: The tool or workpiece magazine has tool holders disposed on a circle, from which holders the tools or workpieces can be removed by means of a removing device disposed centrally relative to the circular arc. This removing device comprises a column which is turnable around the axis thereof and on which a carriage is axially and slidably mounted. The carriage in turn carries transversely extendable telescoping arms, at the free end of which there is disposed a gripper having gripping jaws. Slots in tool carriers attached horizontally on movable panels are used as tool or workpiece holders. The panels can be moved outward of the magazine for stocking purposes.

Abstract: Each tool, each chuck jaw, and each hand are provided with a characteristic data storing element. Characteristic data concerning tools, chuck jaws and hands are stored in each characteristic data element. The characteristic data concerning each tool, each chuck jaw and each hand are read out of the characteristic data storing element. Tools to be installed on a tool rest and chuck jaws to be installed on a spindle chuck are discriminated according to kinds of machinings. A predetermined hand is selected from a stocker on the basis of the read out characteristic data so as to install on a carrier robot. A workpiece is picked out of a pallet so as to carry to a spindle chuck by a carrier robot. A predetermined tool is selected from the stocker on the basis of the read out characteristic data so as to carry to the tool rest by a carrier robot. A predetermined chuck jaw is selected from the stocker on the basis of the read out characteristic data so as to carry to the spindle chuck by a carrier robot.

Abstract: The apparatus is one by which blanks are changed automatically in a hobbing machine of the general type comprising at least one tool head capable of movement along horizontal and vertical axes and consisting essentially in a horizontal spindle and a coaxial outer bearing that can be moved toward and away from one another, between which a tool is supported and set in rotation; in the apparatus disclosed, a vertical post rotatable about its own axis carries a number of peripheral supports that feature two dissimilar structures, the one designed to restrain and/or support a tool and the other a blank, in such a way that the tool currently fitted to the head can be discarded and a replacement tool supplied automatically, utilizing the one type of support, whilst the blanks are changed by the other type.

Abstract: A cover assembly for a machine tool having a base supporting a workhead and a second machine part such as a spindle housing, headstock or tool turret, and wherein a rotatable workpiece changing mechanism is provided in conjunction with the workhead. The cover assembly includes an external housing member which encloses the workhead and the second machine part and permits movement of the second machine part therewithin. The external housing member further includes a workpiece exchange opening and a workpiece exchange shield which is reciprocable between a first position which effectively closes the opening, and a second position which allows unencumbered rotation of the workpiece changing mechanism. The shield is reciprocable in parallel with the workpiece changing mechanism to obviate added machine idle time. An internal housing substantially encloses the second machine part within the external housing, and is mounted for movement with the second machine part.

Abstract: A wafer lifting apparatus is comprised of guide rails (10) that are disposed on a supporting surface (22). A lifting apparatus (24) is disposed on the surface (22), having an inclined surface (26). Grooves (28) are disposed on the inclined surface and spaced apart a distance equal to that of wafers (20) in a wafer handling boat (16). The wafer handling boat (16) has the end pieces (12) and (14) urged downward into the guide rails (10) until the lowermost peripheral edges of the wafers (20) contact the grooves (28) in the inclined surface (26). When fully lowered, the rearmost ones of the wafers (20) are completely lifted out of the boat such that they are supported entirely by the grooves (28). In this manner, they can be viewed from the end of the wafer lifting apparatus. A flat finding device in the form of a flat finding cylinder (44) is also provided in an opening (38) on a supporting surface (36) for holding the boat (16).