US Patent: 4,141,133
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| Tool Changer for Vertical Boring Machine
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Patentee:
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| Claude M. Grinage (exact or similar names) - Stratford, Fairfield County, CT |
| Assignees: |
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Bullard Co. - Bridgeport, Fairfield County, CT |
| Manufacturer: |
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Bullard Co. - Bridgeport, Fairfield County, CT |
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Patent Dates:
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| Applied: |
Sep. 02, 1975 |
| Granted: |
Feb. 27, 1979 |
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Joel Havens
Vintage Machinery entry for Bullard Machine Tool Co.
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Description: |
| This is a division, of application Ser. No. 609,429, filed Sept. 2, 1975, U.S. Pat. No. 4,084,462 in turn a continuation-in-part of Appl. Ser. No. 506,584, filed Sept. 16, 1974, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,038,740.
Abstract:
The disclosure relates to a tool change system for a vertical lathe or the like which, among other things, greatly reduces the nonproductive time of the machining head. During machining with a first tool, a second tool is selected from a storage library and is transported over to the ram housing from which the ram and cutting tool are supported. The new tool, held by the transfer carrier, remains in a predetermined position with respect to the ram housing, even though the latter is moving in the course of machining operations. When the machining program subsequently calls for a tool change, it is only necessary to retract the ram, and the tool is waiting to be installed. A unique arrangement of torque limiting clutch enables the transfer carrier to follow the movements of the ram housing in the desired manner in preparation for the tool change to be executed.
The disclosure also relates to an improved "flow-through" arrangement for effecting tool change, whereby a new tool is slid into position from one side of the ram, while the used tool simultaneously slid out of engagement with the ram from the opposite side. A two-pronged loader simultaneously engages both the new and old tools to effect the desired flow-through tool exchange motion. |
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