MULTIPLE AXIS WORK HEAD-WITH DUAL IN LINE WORK SPINDLES AS DISCLOSED

• US 3,735,459 A
• Filed: 08/28/1970
• Issued: 05/29/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: William T. Allen
• Original Assignee: William T. Allen
• Inventors: Allen, William T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Husar, Francis S.
• Application Number:
  US05/067,798
• Time in Patent Office: 1,005 Days
• Field of Search: 90/17 29/26 408/236,35
• US Class Current: 29/26.00R
• CPC Class Codes: B23C 1/10 with both horizontal and vertical working-spindles
• CPC Class Codes: B23C 1/12 with spindle adjustable to different angles, e.g. either horizontal or vertical
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 5/045 Angle drives
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/5105 Drill press
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 408/37 Turret of tools
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 408/93 including pivotally mounted tool-carrier
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 409/308232 and angular adjustment

Abstract

A single machine tool work head having dual spindles, in which one spindle is in a horizontal position and the second spindle is in line (i.e. at right angles thereto). The spindles are contained in a tool head which rotates to any of four or more positive positions, with automatic unlock, index and lock features. Five or more tool positions are shown along the X, Y and Z axes of the machine. The machine has a single drive to perform work on workpieces and to permit exposure of different planes for machine operations such as milling, drilling, boring, grinding or three-dimensional contouring. The work head is selfcontained and does not require adaptors to achieve the five tool positions.

Claims

1. In a machine tool of the class having a saddle capable of vertical movement and a ram linearly slideable in the saddle in a horizontal direction, the combination of a work head rotatably connected to said ram;

a first work spindle rotatably connected to said work head and coaxial therewith;

a second work spindle rotatably connected to said work head and in line with said first work spindle;

drive means for rotating said spindles, said drive means being coaxial with said first spindle and in line with said second spindle; and

index means for unlocking said work head from said ram, rotating said work head about said ram and locking said work head to said ram, said index means including movable means having a first motion transmitting surface, movable means having second motion transmitting surface cooperating with said first surface, and means associated with said ram for transmitting linear motion from said ram to said first mentioned movable means.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 and wherein said work spindles are capable of accepting standard tool holders.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 and wherein said second work spindle has selective multiple positions at right angles to said first work spindle.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 and wherein said second work spindle has four selective right angle positions relative to said first work spindle thereby permitting five tool positions requiring only one tool change.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 and wherein said index means includes:

cooperating locating pins and recesses associated with said ram and said work head to lock said work head in a selected index position.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 and wherein said drive means includes a drive shaft disposed within said work head said drive shaft being capable of reciprocating in unison with said work hEad and rotating within said work head.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 and including means for transmitting power through said drive means to rotate said spindles while reciprocating in unison with said ram.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 and including power means for supplying power to said drive means said power means being removed from said spindles.

9. In a machine tool class having a saddle capable of vertical movement and a ram linearly slideable in the saddle in the horizontal direction, the combination of a work head rotatably connected to said ram;

a first work spindle rotatably connected to said work head and coaxial therewith;

a second work spindle rotatably connected to said work head and in line with said first work spindle;

drive means for rotating said spindles, said drive means being coaxial with said first spindle and in line with said second spindle;

said drive means including a rotatable drive shaft, a drive gear keyed to said drive shaft, a first spindle gear coaxial with and keyed to said first spindle, first and second sun gears coaxial with said second spindle and in intermeshing engagement with said drive gear and said first spindle gear, one of said sun gears being keyed to said second spindle and the other of said sun gears freely rotatable on said second spindle; and

index means for unlocking said work head from said ram, rotating said work head about said ram and locking said work head to said ram.

10. In a machine tool of the class having a saddle capable of vertical movement and a ram linearly slideable in the saddle in a horizontal direction, the combination of a work head rotatably connected to said ram;

a first work spindle rotatably connected to said work head and coaxial therewith;

a second work spindle rotatably connected to said work head and in line with said first work spindle;

drive means for rotating said spindles, said drive means being coaxial with said first spindle and in line with said second spindle;

an index means for unlocking said work head from said ram, rotating said work head about said ram and locking said work head to said ram, said index means including a rack gear affixed to said ram saddle, pinion gear means selectively rotated by said rack gear when said ram undergoes backward linear motion and a rise and fall face cam affixed to said pinion gear means and rotating in unison with said pinion gear means thereby effecting unlocking of said work head from said ram.

11. In a machine tool of the class having a saddle capable of vertical movement and a ram linearly slideable in the saddle in a horizontal direction, the combination of a work head rotatably connected to said ram;

a first work spindle rotatably connected to said work head and coaxial therewith;

a second work spindle rotatably connected to said work head and in line with said first work spindle;

drive means for rotating said spindles, said drive means being coaxial with said first spindle and in line with said second spindle; and

index means for unlocking said work head from said ram, rotating said work head about said ram and locking said work head to said ram, said index means including a rise and fall face cam selectively rotated when said ram undergoes backward linear motion, a cam activator cooperating with said face cam to rotate in unison with said face cam when said work head is unlocked from said ram, a ratchet washer keyed to said work head and having face indents and finger pawls on said cam activator cooperating with said face indents to rotate said ratchet washer and said work head.

12. In a machine tool of the class having a saddle capable of vertical movement and a ram linearly slideable in the saddle in a horizontal direction, the combination of a work head rotatably connected to said ram;

a first work spindle rotatably connected to said work head and coaxial therewith;

a second work spindle rotatably connected to said work head and in line with said first work spindle;

drive means for rotating said spindles, said drive means being coaxial with said first spindle and in line with said second spindle; and

index means for unlocking said work head from said ram, rotating said work head about said ram and locking said work head to said ram, said index means including a rise and fall face cam selectively rotated when said ram undergoes forward linear motion, a cam activator cooperating with said face cam to rotate in unison with said face cam and stop means associated with said cam activator whereby said cam activator will be prevented from further rotation and said face cam will effect locking of said work head to said ram.

13. In a machine tool of the class having a saddle capable of vertical movement and a ram linearly slideable in the saddle in a horizontal direction, the combination of a work head rotatably connected to said ram;

a first work spindle rotatably connected to said work head and coaxial therewith;

a second work spindle rotatably connected to said work head and in line with said first work spindle;

drive means for rotating said spindles, said drive means being coaxial with said first spindle and in line with said second spindle;

an index means for unlocking said work head from said ram, rotating said work head about said ram and locking said work head to said ram, said index means including spring means for urging said work head out of locking relationship with said ram.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 and including means for selectively activating said index means.

15. In a machine tool of the class having a saddle capable of vertical movement and a ram linearly slideable in the saddle in a horizontal direction, the combination of a work head rotatably connected to said ram;

a first work spindle rotatably connected to said work head and coaxial therewith;

a second work spindle rotatably connected to said work head and in line with said first work spindle;

drive means for rotating said spindles, said drive means including a rotatable drive shaft and gear means for transmitting rotary motion from said drive shaft to said work spindles, said drive shaft being coaxial with said first spindle and in line with said second spindle, said second spindle intersecting the axis of said drive shaft and said first spindle; and

index means for unlocking said work head from said ram, rotating said work head about said ram and locking said work head to said ram.