Method and apparatus for automatically supplying and removing pallets of a pallet magazine to and from the working space of a machine tool
First Claim
1. A method of automatically moving pallets which can each carry a workpiece between a support member and a pallet magazine which has endless chain means, a plurality of said pallets resting loosely on and being moved by said chain means, comprising the steps of:
- loading a workpiece to be machined on each said pallet of said pallet magazine as it passes a loading station, said chain means then carrying the loaded pallets from said loading station to a separating mechanism;
causing said separating mechanism to produce a predetermined spacing in the direction of movement of said chain means between successive said pallets passing it, said chain means thereafter carrying the pallets to a pick-up station;
utilizing a slide mechanism to lift each said pallet at said pick-up station off said chain means and move it to and place it on said support member, and simultaneously utilizing said slide mechanism to pick up a said pallet previously placed on said support member and to place it back on said chain means at a location therealong which is spaced in said direction of movement of said chain means from said pick-up station, said chain means then carrying such pallet to an unloading station;
causing a clamping mechanism of a machine tool to pick up the workpiece supported by said pallet on said support member;
causing said machine tool to perform a machining operation on the workpiece held by said clamping mechanism;
causing said clamping mechanism to return the workpiece to said pallet on said support member before such pallet is moved from said support member by said slide mechanism;
removing the machined workpieces from said pallets on said chain means as said pallets pass said unloading station, and thereafter moving the unloaded pallets from a location on said chain means downstream of said unloading station to a location on said chain means upstream of said loading station.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A pallet magazine for automatically supplying and removing pallets, each carrying a workpiece, to and from the working space of a machine tool. The pallets, which rest freely and with any desired spacing from one another on moving chains which effect the transport thereof, are lifted off the chains at a waiting station and are then moved to the working station where the workpiece is machined. At the same time a pallet at the working station with a workpiece which has already been machined is placed back on the moving chains. For lifting, sliding and moving out or lowering the pallets, there is provided a hydraulically operated slide mechanism, which effects the sliding and moving of the pallets to and away from the working station more quickly than the pallets are transported on the chains.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method of automatically moving pallets which can each carry a workpiece between a support member and a pallet magazine which has endless chain means, a plurality of said pallets resting loosely on and being moved by said chain means, comprising the steps of:
- loading a workpiece to be machined on each said pallet of said pallet magazine as it passes a loading station, said chain means then carrying the loaded pallets from said loading station to a separating mechanism;
causing said separating mechanism to produce a predetermined spacing in the direction of movement of said chain means between successive said pallets passing it, said chain means thereafter carrying the pallets to a pick-up station;
utilizing a slide mechanism to lift each said pallet at said pick-up station off said chain means and move it to and place it on said support member, and simultaneously utilizing said slide mechanism to pick up a said pallet previously placed on said support member and to place it back on said chain means at a location therealong which is spaced in said direction of movement of said chain means from said pick-up station, said chain means then carrying such pallet to an unloading station;
causing a clamping mechanism of a machine tool to pick up the workpiece supported by said pallet on said support member;
causing said machine tool to perform a machining operation on the workpiece held by said clamping mechanism;
causing said clamping mechanism to return the workpiece to said pallet on said support member before such pallet is moved from said support member by said slide mechanism;
removing the machined workpieces from said pallets on said chain means as said pallets pass said unloading station, and thereafter moving the unloaded pallets from a location on said chain means downstream of said unloading station to a location on said chain means upstream of said loading station.
- loading a workpiece to be machined on each said pallet of said pallet magazine as it passes a loading station, said chain means then carrying the loaded pallets from said loading station to a separating mechanism;
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2. An apparatus for automatically carrying workpieces to and from a machine tool, comprising:
- elongate conveyor means supported for lengthwise movement in a generally horizontal direction of movement;
a plurality of pallets removably supported on said conveyor means for movement therewith, each said pallet being adapted to support a workpiece;
loading means provided at a location along said conveyor means for loading a workpiece to be machined onto each said pallet passing thereby;
separating means provided at a location along said conveyor means spaced in said direction of movement from said loading means for imparting a predetermined spacing in said direction of movement between successive said pallets passing thereby on said conveyor means;
a support arrangement provided at a location along said conveyor means spaced in said direction of movement from said separating means and adapted to support one of said pallets thereon;
a slide mechanism provided along said conveyor means in the region of said support arrangement and having means for lifting one said pallet from said conveyor means at a pick-up location spaced in said direction of movement from said separating means and placing such pallet on said support arrangement while simultaneously lifting a further said pallet from said support arrangement and placing it back on said conveyor means at a return location spaced in said direction of movement from said pick-up location, said machine tool having means for clamping the workpiece from each said pallet placed on said support arrangement, for machining such workpiece, and for then releasing such workpiece before the pallet is moved from said support arrangement by said slide mechanism; and
unloading means provided at a location along said conveyor means spaced in said direction of movement from said return location for removing the workpiece from each said pallet passing thereby on said conveyor means. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
- elongate conveyor means supported for lengthwise movement in a generally horizontal direction of movement;
Specification