Bar Feeder Patents (Class 82/126)
  • Patent number: 10737329
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a bar loader and machine tool equipped with such bar loader, wherein the machine tool includes at least one workpiece spindle configured to receive an elongated workpiece, and the bar loader apparatus comprises, for each workpiece spindle of the machine tool being configured to move in a longitudinal direction being axially arranged with respect to the spindle axis of the respective workpiece spindle, a respective associated workpiece guide channel assembly for receiving and guiding a respective one of the elongated workpieces, and each respective workpiece guide channel assembly includes a fixed guide channel portion and at least one slidable guide channel portion, the at least one slidable guide channel portion being movable into the longitudinal direction of the spindle axis of the respective associated workpiece spindle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: GILDEMEISTER ITALIANA S.P.A.
    Inventors: Luca Milesi, Mirko Passerini, Franco Rigolone
  • Patent number: 9038509
    Abstract: A single apparatus handles drill steel to position the drill steel pieces for tooling and repair by a lathe. Drill steel needing repair is accepted on rails of the apparatus. A drill steel piece to be repaired is moved along the rails and is moved onto hydraulic drive cylinders. The drive cylinders raise and move a first end of the drill steel piece into the lathe. Support cylinders raise to support the piece while it is being re-threaded and repaired by the lathe. The drive cylinders reverse to remove the drill steel piece from the lathe. A pivot raises to capture the drill steel piece and rotates the piece to present a second end of the piece to the lathe. The drive cylinders and support cylinders likewise present, support, and remove the second end to the lathe for re-threading and repair. A unitary frame supports the rails, the drive cylinders, the support cylinders, the lifting/rotating pivot cylinder, and the hydraulics of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Inventor: Charles F. Wroble
  • Publication number: 20140109733
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a socket alignment device for a bar loading magazine for guiding a bar of material to an automatic lathe, wherein a z-axis (z) is defined by the longitudinal axis of a bar of material (2) guided in the bar loading magazine, and wherein a first socket (1), into which the bar of material (2) is to be introduced for processing thereof in the automatic lathe along the z-axis, is arranged in the bar loading magazine, wherein the first socket (1) is mounted so as to be rotatable either coaxially about the z-axis (z) or about a rotational axis (?) parallel to the z-axis (z) and wherein at least one drive means (6) is included, which can be coupled at least to the first socket (1), specifically to the rotary drive of the first socket (1) about the z-axis (z) in such a manner that the first socket (1) and the cross-sectional profile of the bar of material (2) can be aligned flush with one another for introduction of the bar of material (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: FMB MASCHINENBAUGESELLSCHAFT MBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Falk Schmidt
  • Patent number: 8573100
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a loading magazine for guiding bar material on an automatic lathe with at least one spindle head that is displaceable in the longitudinal direction. According to the invention, the channel system of a loading magazine of this type is guided on a linear axis and coupled to at least one spindle head, which can be moved in a longitudinal manner, of the automatic lathe such that the bar-guiding channel system can be moved synchronously with the spindle head in drag operation. The formation zones for vibrations in the transition region between the loading magazine and automatic lathe are thus reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: FMB Maschinenbaugesellschaft mbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Falk Schmidt, Helmut Wichtlhuber
  • Patent number: 8453544
    Abstract: A feeder for rods into a lathe by a motorized thruster for sliding and pushing a rod along a guide towards a processing lathe until the rod is taken by the lathe. An automatic control device actuates the thruster to advance according to a first thrust value and a sensor detects the movement of the thruster. If the sensor detects a minimum movement or no movement at all a thrust increase is commanded up to a predetermined maximum value. If the thruster does not move at all, this indicates jamming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Pietro Cucchi S.p.A.
    Inventor: Pietro Cucchi
  • Patent number: 8322257
    Abstract: Installation for sequential loading of bars of material, referred to as bars, in a functional subassembly of a machine for machining these bars, the installation including an elongated element, referred to as pusher, which has a front end, and is placed under the control of a first device, the pusher including at least one first part which has the front end and a second part that is connected to the first device and these two parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: LNS Management SA
    Inventor: Rolf Schaerer
  • Patent number: 8161852
    Abstract: A rotary centering device for the transfer of a bar from the guiding channel of a feeder to a lathe, comprising a supporting element and provided with at least one circular seat in which a grip element for a bar is supported, the grip element being constituted by a bush which has a tubular portion and a plurality of sectors connected to the tubular portion, elastic elements being provided which act on the bush and are designed to control its axial movement between a first stop position, in which the sectors define a circular opening whose diameter is the same as that of the bar, and a second position, in which the sectors are moved until they form an opening to allow the passage of the bar pusher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Imeca Giuliani Macchine Italia S.p.A.
    Inventors: Maurizio Casalini, Claudio Magnani, Pierantonio Melandri, Massimo Ragazzini, Andrea Bassi
  • Publication number: 20120090436
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a loading magazine for guiding bar material on an automatic lathe with at least one spindle head that is displaceable in the longitudinal direction. According to the invention, the channel system of a loading magazine of this type is guided on a linear axis and coupled to at least one spindle head, which can be moved in a longitudinal manner, of the automatic lathe such that the bar-guiding channel system can be moved synchronously with the spindle head in drag operation. The formation zones for vibrations in the transition region between the loading magazine and automatic lathe are thus reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2010
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: FMB MASCHINENBAUGESELLSCHAFT MBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Falk Schmidt, Helmut Wichtlhuber
  • Publication number: 20090211413
    Abstract: Installation for the sequential loading (1) of bars of material, referred to as bars (2), into a machining center (4), this installation including in particular a frame (5) and being characterized in that it is equipped: with a first device (700) which is, on the one hand, constituted by a first elongated body (7), the volume of which is substantially determined by a peripheral surface, referred to as first face (70), and comprising a plurality of first longitudinal cavities (71) which are each able to accommodate a bar (2) and each include a first opening (72) made in said first face (70), on the other hand, is able to carry out a fractional rotation about a first axis (73), aligned longitudinally, particularly carrying bars (2), so as to present the first cavities (71) in sequence to at least one first station (8), with a second device (900) which is, on the one hand, constituted by a second elongated body (9), the volume of which is substantially determined by a peripheral face, referred to as the s
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2007
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: LNS S.A.
    Inventor: Rolf Schaerer
  • Patent number: 7520200
    Abstract: Disclosed is a bar feeder, which comprises a swing member designed to be swingably moved by a rotation shaft located above a guide rail. In normal mode, the swing member is kept in a standby in the vicinity of an upper position where the swing member is located to extend across and over a guide rail up to a bar rack. The swing member normally rotated to a lower position where the swing member is located on a far side from the bar rack with respect to the guide rail. During the process, the swing member receives a bar from the bar rack, and loads the bar to the guide rail. When a bar is removed from the guide rail, the movement of a bar to the swing member is inhibited by an inhibition member, and the swing member without a bar is moved to the lower position to create an ejection space between the rotation shaft and the bar rack. The present invention makes it possible to readily remove the bar loaded in the guide rail therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignees: Ikuraseiki Manufacturing Co., Ltd., Citizen Holdings, Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Hirosawa, Takazo Ito, Kenji Sato, Hiroshi Shinohara
  • Patent number: 7513181
    Abstract: A device for effecting an unloading operation of a workpiece with respect to a machine tool. The device includes a non-rotating dump tube having one end adapted for communication with a machine tool and a sidewall defining an opening for discharging a workpiece, a vacuum chamber enclosing the opening in the sidewall and including a workpiece outlet, the chamber configured to receive a workpiece from the dump tube, a door selectively sealingly engaged with the workpiece outlet, and configured to allow the unloading of a workpiece, and a source of vacuum coupled to the vacuum chamber and configured to draw a workpiece through the dump tube and into the vacuum chamber for unloading. A coupling may be disposed between an unloading device and a machine tool to allow the machine tool to operate at increased rates during an unloading operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: J.F. Berns Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph P. Berns
  • Patent number: 7343839
    Abstract: A bar feeder includes a feeder tube mounted on a machine base, a transmission mechanism, a driving mechanism having a rotary shaft, a projecting rod connected to the driving mechanism and rotatable with the rotary shaft to engage or disengage from the transmission mechanism, a pushing rod, and a driven mechanism rotatable with the rotary shaft to move the pushing rod into engagement or away from the transmission mechanism. When the pushing rod and the transmission mechanism are coupled together, the pushing rod is movable along the feeder tube, and the projecting rod is disengaged from the transmission mechanism and moved away from the feeder tube. When the pushing rod and the transmission mechanism are disconnected, the pushing rod is not movable along the feeder tube, and the projecting rod is coupled to the transmission mechanism and movable along the feeder tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Barload Machine Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Fang-Chin Lu
  • Patent number: 7302877
    Abstract: An automatic bar-loader for lathes including a channel for feeding of a bar to the lathe mandrel and a bar-pusher powered by an electric motor controlled by a control unit and having a head collet for grasping the tail of a bar in the channel to make it run therein. The loader includes a sensor for measurement of the axial shifting of the bar-pusher designed for supplying a feedback signal to the control unit for control of the bar-pusher motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Pietro Cucchi S.p.A.
    Inventor: Pietro Cucchi
  • Publication number: 20070163407
    Abstract: A bar feeder includes a feeder tube mounted on a machine base, a transmission mechanism, a driving mechanism having a rotary shaft, a projecting rod connected to the driving mechanism and rotatable with the rotary shaft to engage or disengage from the transmission mechanism, a pushing rod, and a driven mechanism rotatable with the rotary shaft to move the pushing rod into engagement or away from the transmission mechanism. When the pushing rod and the transmission mechanism are coupled together, the pushing rod is movable along the feeder tube, and the projecting rod is disengaged from the transmission mechanism and moved away from the feeder tube. When the pushing rod and the transmission mechanism are disconnected, the pushing rod is not movable along the feeder tube, and the projecting rod is coupled to the transmission mechanism and movable along the feeder tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2006
    Publication date: July 19, 2007
    Applicant: Barload Machine Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Fang-Chin Lu
  • Patent number: 7159495
    Abstract: A bar magazine for lathes includes at least one channel designed to receive a bar being machined and pushed along the channel by a bar-pusher collet. The magazine includes at least one bar centering member arranged in a zone along the channel. The bar centering member is movable, upon passage of the collet in the zone, between a first position of engagement with the bar for to center the bar in the channel and a second position removed from the bar to allow passage of the bar-pusher collet through the zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Pietro Cucchi S.p.A.
    Inventor: Pietro Cucchi
  • Patent number: 7124880
    Abstract: A feeding device includes a rail with a feeding unit and a pushing unit located on two sides of the rail. The feeding unit has a transverse member on which the cylindrical pieces are located and a pivotable arm pivotably connected to the transverse member to push the cylindrical pieces. The pushing unit has at least one connection member connected to the rail and a slot is defined through the connection member. A pushing member is pivotably connected to the connection member and a bolt extends through the pushing member and the slot so that the pushing member can be pivoted along the second slot when in maintenance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Pro Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shih-Ming Lee
  • Patent number: 7080433
    Abstract: A workpiece seat for the machining of bar-shaped workpieces by milling and turning. The workpiece seat has an elongated housing, a spindle rotatably supported in the housing, and an electric direct drive for the spindle. The drive rotor is fixed on the spindle and the drive stator is fixed in the housing. Clamping means are provided at the working end in the spindle for fixing a bar-shaped workpiece in the spindle. A connection unit is provided at the rear part of the housing for power supply. A fixing means is provided for fixing the spindle in the housing. To achieve high machining accuracy of thick bars and high clamping forces at reduced longitudinal dimensions, as well as relatively simple design, the fixing means is formed as a compact part and is arranged at the working end of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: Deckel Maho Pfronten GmbH
    Inventors: Alfred Geissler, Karl Lechleiter
  • Patent number: 7066064
    Abstract: A barstock bar feeder with a guide channel for encasing a barstock in a electro- or magneto-rheological hydrostatic oil bearing. Electro- or magneto-field generators are provided along the guide channel for selectively applying a field to the guide channel for changing the viscosity of the oil in the guide channel to dampen barstock vibration in the barfeeder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Inventor: Raymond O. Varady
  • Patent number: 7024974
    Abstract: A vertical lathe is provided with a base, a main spindle, a headstock, a tool rest and a splash guard. The headstock is movable in a Z-axis direction and an X-axis direction and grips a bar workpiece by a chuck. The bar workpiece is machined by moving the headstock and a tool. A part which has been subjected to the machining is cut by a cut-off tool as a machined workpiece. The lathe has a supporting means, provided above the headstock, for supporting an upper end of the bar workpiece and a transfer means for receiving the machined workpiece from the chuck and for transferring the machined workpiece to an outside of a machining area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Mori Seiki Hitech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Shimada, Etsuro Shimada
  • Patent number: 6938527
    Abstract: A material stock advancing apparatus for use with a turning and milling machine having a computerized numeric controller or lacking programmable capabilities. The material stock advancing apparatus generally comprising an elongate body of cylindrical form having first and second ends and an interior chamber for housing therein a plunger assembly operably working therewithin. The second end comprising means for attaching the elongate body to an external holding device such as a collet or chuck adapter seated in a headstock spindle assembly. The first end comprising an end plug having a threaded section situated in between external and internal ends thereof, with the threaded section being threadably attached to the first end to permit the internal end to substantially engage a portion of the plunger assembly and ensure proper axial positioning of the plunger assembly during cyclic operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Inventor: Daniel Wayne Motl
  • Patent number: 6871389
    Abstract: A workpiece feeder adapted to feed workpieces to the processing main shaft of a cutting metal-working machine individually is disclosed to include a frame base adapted to carry individual workpieces, a conveyer, two striking blocks fixedly fastened to the conveyer, a power drive controlled by a control box to move workpieces to the feeding position one after another and to rotate the conveyer, causing the striking blocks to force individual workpieces to the processing main shaft of the cutting metal-working machine one after another through a workpiece guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Inventor: Chin Chung Cheng
  • Publication number: 20040050221
    Abstract: A multiple spindle bar machine (10) includes in its preferred embodiment three main spindles (66) that are opposed by three counterspindles (106) of substantially identical construction. The main spindles (66) can be indexed about the Z axis. The counterspindles (106) cannot be indexed, but they can translate along the Z-axis. Each main spindle (66) is hollow and contains a workpiece-grasping collet chuck (68). At least one of the counterspindles (106) contains a workpiece-grasping collet chuck (108). The main spindles (66) are rotated in unison, but the counterspindles (106) are rotated independently by computer-controlled motors. In the preferred embodiment, three tool-carrying turrets (20A, 20B, 20C) are radially spaced around the machine at three work stations. Preferably, the turrets (20A, 20B) located at the first and second workstations can be moved along both the X and Z axes, while the turret (20C) located at the third workstation can be moved along the X axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Publication date: March 18, 2004
    Inventors: Kirt M Babuder, Larry D. Chuba, Robert Galosi
  • Patent number: 6634263
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and article involving a one-piece, unibody spindle liner having a tubular shape with an outside diameter and inside diameter that may be sized to fit virtually any spindle of a turning machine and to readily allow for the feeding therethrough of any size or shape of bar or tube stock. This invention provides that the axial centerline of the workpiece is maintained in concentric axial alignment with the working centerline of the turning machine to reduce wobble or “whip” of the stock during the machining process. The liner's inner bore and diameter is molded to match and allow for feeding of virtually any size and shape stock being turned, including but not limited to round, hex, square, and extruded. The inner bore is molded into the spindle liner along its entire length providing absolute support of the workpiece. The spindle liner also has a flanged mounting end to allow for the proper orientation and attachment to the spindle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Inventors: Joel C. Trusty, Jon C. Trusty, Jr., Jeffrey F. Nawrot
  • Publication number: 20030159554
    Abstract: An automatic lathe bar magazine comprises a feed channel (11) for a bar to the lathe chuck and a powered bar pusher (15) grasping with a head collet (17) the tail of a bar in the channel to cause it to run therein. The bar pusher (15) is made telescopic to have an outermost part (18) running with reduced side play in the channel (11) acting as a guide therefor and an internal part (16) with smaller diameter bearing at its head said collet (17) and growing longer on command from the outermost part to protrude from the magazine and enter the lathe. In this manner the bar being machined does not touch the channel and this greatly reduces vibrations and noise produced by the high speed rotation of the bar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2003
    Publication date: August 28, 2003
    Applicant: Pietro Cucchi S.p.A.
    Inventor: Pietro Cucchi
  • Patent number: 6575063
    Abstract: The bar supporting apparatus (10) relates to an apparatus which is installed to be continuous to the main spindle (50) of the automatic lathe at the rear thereof and prevents the rotating bar (17) held by the chuck (51) of the main spindle (50) of the automatic lathe from oscillating to support the bar (17) so as to allow smooth rotation. The bar supporting apparatus (10) includes: the case (11); the fixing member (15) fixed on the external surface of the case (11); and the support (13) attached to the fixing member 15 to support the bar (17) in the case (11). The through hole into which the support (13) is inserted is formed on the side surface of the case (11). The fixing member (15) for fixing the support (13) is fixed on the external surface of the case (11) with the support (13) being inserted into the case (11) from the through hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Inventor: Tetsuo Inaba
  • Patent number: 6554559
    Abstract: The invention concerns a device wherein the bars (13) are arranged in bulk in the container (5). The mobile frame (17) of the grasping mechanism (14) moves forward such that the jaw (24) can seize a bar by its middle part and remove it in position (13a) while the trolleys (37) move away from the rail (36) so that the rollers slide on the rods (43), gradually lift the whole bar and bring it to rest on the receptacle (16). The shaft (49) is then driven in rotation so that the racks (47) and the support plate segments (46), which form the receptacle (16), move upwards and the bar (13) drops in the supply channel (8) where it is hooked to the bar clamp of the bar-pusher which drives it axially into the turning center control members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Codafi SARL
    Inventors: Per Borg, Francisco Rivera
  • Patent number: 6446533
    Abstract: A lathe assembly having a guide with a passageway for movement of a piece of bar stock, with a leading end and a trailing end, in a substantially straight path between a feeding position and a working position. A sensor assembly is capable of detecting the position of the trailing end of a piece of bar stock within the guide passageway to thereby allow a user to determine if a piece of bar stock in the guide passageway has a length sufficient to perform the desired operation thereon. Also, a method of using the lathe assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Inventor: Toshiharu Tom Miyano
  • Publication number: 20020066343
    Abstract: A turning device for use in concert with a conveyor adapted to feed elongated wood pieces one-by-one to the turning device comprises at least one turning member moveable between an idle position and an operational position, a sensor located upstream of the turning member, for scanning the wood pieces on the conveyor, and an deflector controlled by the sensor and adapted, when actuated, to selectively cause the turning member to be displaced to the operational position for turning a given elongated wood piece on the conveyor to a desired position. The turning member is pivotally mounted to a motorised chain for continuously displacing the turning member adjacent the conveyor. The turning member also includes a guide pin, and the chain drives the turning member along a closed-loop guide track, the turning member having its guide pin engaged in the track.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Publication date: June 6, 2002
    Inventors: Germain Fournier, Claude Goulet
  • Patent number: 6302003
    Abstract: A bar stock loader (10) having a synchronizing head (16) for matching the flats of a fresh length of bar stock (14) with the flats of a remnent of bar stock (14′) being machined in an automatic screw machine (12). The synchronizing head (16) has a selectively engageable drive controlled by a timing signal (66) that allows the fresh length of a bar stock (14) to be rotated at a speed approximately the speed of rotation of the remnant segment of bar stock (14′). A clutch (30) is provided for selectively interlocking a driven member (22) having a bushing (24) in which the fresh length of bar stock (14) is received to a bar stock engaging member (23) that is connected to the spindle (28) of the automatic screw machine. A method of loading bar stock is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Ski Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis A. Haller, Mark W. Winkler, John J. Saputo
  • Patent number: 6302005
    Abstract: An automatic pneumatic bar feeding apparatus for automatically feeding a plurality of bar stocks to a work station, such as a computer numerical control (CNC) machine for processing, thereby eliminating the need to reload the bar feeding apparatus with another bar stock one at a time. The bar feeding apparatus comprises a rotary which turns a loading unit 45° to a loading position for loading a bar stock onto the loading assembly from a holding tray. After the bar stock has been loaded onto the loading assembly, the rotary turns the loading assembly back to its initial position or feeding position. A pneumatic motor supplies air to a rear feeding assembly, wherein the feeding assembly pushes the bar stock to the work station for processing. When the feeding assembly has fed the majority of the bar stock into the CNC machine, the rotary turns the loading assembly back to the loading position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Inventor: Mouafak C. Albasateneh
  • Patent number: 6283000
    Abstract: A magnetic bar stock puller for a CNC type, numerically controlled turret lathe, the magnetic bar puller configured to engage and pull bar stock for positioning same. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the bar puller has a body having an engaging end and a mounting end, the mounting end mounted to a station on the rotary turret. The bar puller is actuated by fluid pressure from liquid coolant flowing from the cooling system of the lathe, the coolant passing through a longitudinal bore in the body of the unit so as to urge a piston, having a high field strength magnet, to migrate within the longitudinal bore towards the engaging end of the bar holder, so as to provide a magnetic field in the vicinity of the engaging end, to selectively engage a bar or other ferrous object in the vicinity of the engaging end of the bar puller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Inventor: Odie L. Hughes, III
  • Patent number: 6253650
    Abstract: A hydraulic coupling for feeding hydraulic actuators, particularly for distributing pressurized oil to a plurality of hydraulic motors mounted on a rotating structure such as a drum feeder for feeding bars to an automatic multispindle lathe; the motors are angularly distributed around the rotation axis of the structure, and the coupling comprises a plurality of ducts which branch out axially from the structure and are angularly distributed with respect to the rotation axis; the ducts are connected to the delivery and the return of the motors at one end and, at the opposite end, by means of respective flexible hoses, to a stationary distributor for connecting the motors to a source of pressurized oil and to the oil discharge; the flexible hoses are arranged in a spiral around the rotation axis and have a length which allows the rotation of the structure with respect to the distributor through a preset angle; the distributor comprises valves for controlling the flexible hoses which are actuated so as to connect
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: Iemca Giuliani Macchine Italia S.p.A.
    Inventors: Andrea Drei, Enrico Nenni, Renato Mingozzi
  • Patent number: 6227084
    Abstract: The devices guides a bar that is advanced by the retractable collet of a bar feeder magazine to the mandrel of a lathe by employing an insert which is slidable with slight clearance within a duct that is connected to the mandrel. The insert has therethrough an axial passage registering at one end with an inlet end of the duct, which is disposed to receive the bar and collet, and the opposite end of the passage designed to be traversed by the bar with slight clearance. The insert is disposed to be engaged and impelled by the advancing collet along the duct a predetermined distance towards the mandrel, after which means is provided to engage and effect return of the insert to a starting position close to the inlet end of the duct upon re-extraction of the collet from the duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Pietro Cucchi S.p.A.
    Inventor: Pietro Cucchi
  • Patent number: 6202523
    Abstract: A device for effecting at least one of a loading and unloading operation of a workpiece with respect to a machine tool. The device includes a base adapted to be mounted adjacent the machine tool and a tubular member. The tubular member includes an inner chamber and an elongate opening communicating with the inner chamber for receiving the workpiece. The inner chamber has one end adapted to communicate with a spindle of the machine tool and the tubular member is mounted for rotation with respect to the base. A sealing member is mounted for selective removal and sealing engagement with respect to the elongate opening and a source of pressurized air communicates with the chamber for moving the workpiece in at least one direction within the chamber when the sealing member is in sealing engagement around the elongate opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: J. F. Berns Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph P. Berns
  • Patent number: 6199461
    Abstract: The automatic bar feeder device comprises a loading device that loads or unloads a bar from a hopper while avoiding shock exerted by the bar against an element of the magazine bar feed, the bar to be treated being seized by claws (42) which transport the bar towards the bench (22) and lay it smoothly down there. The movements of the loading device (40) are reversible so that it is able to act also as an unloading device. The loading/unloading device (40) cooperates with the long advance device (70) thanks to a combination of movements. Finally, the short advance device (40) and the long advance device (70) are driven for advancing the bar into a lathe, by one and the same element (98), the two devices are able to be coupled and uncoupled through a latching/unlatching device (80).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Inventor: Markus Samuel Geiser
  • Patent number: 6182543
    Abstract: A bar loder, includes a guide rail for feeding a bar to a bar machining apparatus. The guide rail extends straight toward the bar machining apparatus and has an opening for receiving a new bar. The opening is oriented upwardly and extends longitudinally along the guide rail. An oil outlet is provided for feeding oil into the guide rail, with an amount of the oil being enough to coat a peripheral surface of the bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: Ikuraseiki Seisakusho Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takazo Ito, Kenji Sato, Kazuhiko Takeoka
  • Patent number: 6158312
    Abstract: In order to improve a machine tool comprising a machine frame, a drum arranged for rotation about a drum axis within a maximum angular range in relation to the machine frame and having a plurality of machining devices held on it and drives rotatable with the drum and associated with the machining devices, a stationary control and supply device for the drives and a rotary supply unit which has line systems connected, on the one hand, to the rotatable drum as well as, on the other hand, held so as to be stationary in relation to the machine frame, these line systems being free from interruptions, deformable as a result of rotation of the drum and extending in the direction of the drum axis, in such a manner that the spatial requirements for the twistable line systems in the direction of the drum axis are as small as possible it is suggested that the line systems extend into a passage in the drum close to the drum axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Index-Werke GmbH & Co. KG Hahn & Tessky
    Inventors: Helmut Friedrich Link, Guenther Heinrich Trautmann
  • Patent number: 6131533
    Abstract: A hard carbon film is formed over an inner surface of a guide bush by fixing an auxiliary electrode support member for supporting an auxiliary electrode of a jig for forming a film in a center bore of the guide bush by an auxiliary electrode insulation member, disposing an auxiliary electrode in alignment with the axis of the center bore so as to face the inner surface, disposing legs, and a first electrode plate, a second electrode plate, and the insulation member which are fixed to the legs are placed on the bottom of a vacuum vessel placing the guide bush on the first electrode plate contacted electrically with a power source, while the projection of the auxiliary electrode support member projecting out of the auxiliary electrode insulation member is contacted electrically with the second electrode plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: Citizen Watch Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Osamu Sugiyama, Yukio Miya, Ryota Koike, Takashi Toida, Toshiichi Sekine
  • Patent number: 6122998
    Abstract: A force control method for a bar feeder supporting a workpiece in a lathe, including seizing the workpiece by a Z-axis spindle of the lathe and the bar feeder, performing position control by the Z-axis spindle of the lathe, and performing force control by the bar feeder to apply a constant torque to the workpiece during the force control of the bar feeder supporting the workpiece in the lathe. This control of the bar feeder does not require the Z-axis spindle of the lathe and the bar feeder to be synchronized for the position control in the Z-axis direction, and prevents the workpiece from being deflected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Assignee: Fanuc, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasusuke Iwashita
  • Patent number: 6099226
    Abstract: A bar loader for feeding a bar to a bar machining apparatus comprises a feeding rod for moving the bar and a guide rail for guiding the bar. The guide rail includes a guide rail body with an upper opening for receiving the bar and a lid member for covering the upper opening of the guide rail body and is operable to be opened and closed. A bar passageway formed between the guide rail body and the lid member has an inner wall surface. A plurality of oil grooves are formed on the inner wall surface which extend in a circumferential direction and arranged at a distance from each other in a longitudinal direction of the guide rail. It also has oil supplying system for supplying oil into the bar passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: Ikuraseiki Seisakusho Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takazo Ito, Kenji Sato
  • Patent number: 6055892
    Abstract: A vertical machine tool with a movable main spindle has a headstock for supporting a spindle having an axis in a vertical direction. A work feeder gives and takes a work between the work feeder and a chuck. The work feeder includes a work feeder frame provided in the vicinity of a machine body, a swivel member driven by a driving means for swivelling, a plurality of pallets mounted on the swivel member, and a supporting device disposed in a work receipt/release position where the pallet is positioned for receiving/releasing the work between the pallet and the chuck. The supporting device supports the pallet, positioned in the work receipt/release position, movably up and down in the direction of the axis of the spindle. The receipt/release of the work may be performed under the condition that the work is kept depressed to the chuck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: Hitachi Seiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kimitaka Otake
  • Patent number: 6044736
    Abstract: A rotary loader for feeding bars to lathes comprises a stepped rotary drum (11) and supporting guides (13) for sliding of the bars. A flange (16) coaxial and integral with the drum supports peripherally braking surfaces (17) such as pins arranged with a pitch equal to the drum braking pitch. An opposing surface (20) is pushed elastically towards the drum rotation axis to meet the braking surfaces in sequence and supply drum braking and stopping action against its inertial movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: Pietro Cucchi S.p.A.
    Inventor: Pietro Cucchi
  • Patent number: 6044735
    Abstract: A tube machining apparatus is described which comprises a support frame (2), an intermediate body (6) arranged to carry tools (7), a clamp (8) for locking at least one tube (4) at a predetermined processing or machining station (9), and at least one gripper (16) for acting by grasping on each tube. Gripper (16) and tools (7) are carried by the intermediate body (6) and movement means (17) is provided which is interposed between the intermediate body (6) and the support frame (2) and is capable of simultaneously moving both the gripper and the different tools between respective rest and work positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: Fabbrica Macchine Curvatubi Crippa Agostino, S.P.A.
    Inventor: Aurelio Crippa
  • Patent number: 6024002
    Abstract: A bar feeder for an automatic lathe provided with a carriage which feeds, by a certain extent, into the bar guiding channel the bar fed from a magazine before the bar is pushed towards the lathe by the bar pusher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignee: Iemca Giuliani Macchine Italia SpA
    Inventors: Silvano Ravaioli, Francesco Cortecchia
  • Patent number: 5970830
    Abstract: The bar feeder provides bars (2') of material to a machine tool such as an automatic lathe. It includes a revolving barrel guide or an opening guide (4) in which the bar (2) to be machined is moved axially by a feed device including a pusher (20) driven by a chain (25). A first digital angular sensor (30) is associated with a pinion of this chain. A longitudinal camshaft (12) associated with a second digital angular sensor (35) actuates all the other operational mechanisms of the bar feeder. An automatic control electronic unit (31) can thus control in a reliable and precise manner all the bar feeder's operation, from signals originating from the machine tool and the two single sensors (30, 35) of the bar feeder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: VN SA
    Inventor: Francis von Niederhausern
  • Patent number: 5967008
    Abstract: A stock stop for screw machines and the like for determining bar stock positioning and which is capable of sensing short stock. The stock stop includes a housing affixed to the machine tool having a slidable sleeve in which a threaded stop is adjustably positioned. A spring biases the sleeve and stop toward the advancing bar and the sleeve is displaced to a stop position by the advancing bar stock. Motion multiplying means multiply the sleeve movement upon engagement by the bar stock to actuate a proximity switch indicating proper advancement of the bar stock and permitting continued machine tool operation. As the components of the stock stop are encased and protected against contamination, a high degree of reliability is attained while providing accurate machine tool control with respect to the presence of adequate bar stock for machining.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: The Shane Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Daniels
  • Patent number: 5916344
    Abstract: A centering device for rods fed to a lathe is designed to be arranged between a rod feeder outlet and a lathe inlet and comprises at least one centering unit (11) having a passage port therein to be run through by a rod to which it supplies lateral containment. The centering unit (11) comprises a first (14) and a second (15) sectors superimposed with each sector having a passage (16 or 17) therein. Linkage actuators (18,19) operable to move the superimposed sectors to change the superimposed quantity of the passages (16,17) therein and thereby the rod passage port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Assignee: Pietro Cucchi S.p.A.
    Inventor: Pietro Cucchi
  • Patent number: 5911804
    Abstract: A bar stock loader having a synchronizing head for matching the flats of a fresh length of bar stock with the flats of a remnant segment of bar stock being machined in an automatic screw machine. The synchronizing head has a selectively engageable drive controlled by a timing signal that allows the fresh length of bar stock to be rotated at a speed approximately the speed of rotation of the remnant segment of bar stock. A clutch is provided for selectively interlocking a driven member having a bushing in which the fresh length of bar stock is received to a bar stock engaging member that is connected to the spindle of the automatic screw machine. A method of loading bar stock is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1999
    Assignee: Ski Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis A. Haller, Mark W. Winkler, John J. Saputo
  • Patent number: 5911803
    Abstract: A system for delivering elongate workpieces to a point of use. The delivering system has a first storage unit for a supply of a first type of elongate workpiece, a second storage unit for a supply of a second type of elongate workpiece, a pickup unit for selectively picking up elongate workpieces one-by-one from the first and second storage units, and a guide system for guidingly moving the pickup unit with a workpiece picked up thereby to a predetermined transfer location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1999
    Inventor: Toshiharu Tom Miyano
  • Patent number: 5910200
    Abstract: A support and centering device for a fed bar, in a bar magazine for lathes, comprises a plurality of rods (11) supported at the ends by a first (12) and a second (13) support elements facing each other. The rods (11) are such arranged as to identify a passageway (19) for the bar internally of the plurality of rods and the support elements (12, 13) are mutually rotatable about the passageway axis (36) to tilt the rods (11) relative to this axis, thereby varying the transverse size of the passageway. The supports are spring urged against each other to provide a spring support to the bar and enable passage of a pusher of the bar magazine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1999
    Assignee: Pietro Cucchi S.p.A.
    Inventor: Pietro Cucchi