Cutting-off method of an automatic lathe and an automatic lathe

• US 5,946,992 A
• Filed: 06/11/1998
• Issued: 09/07/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Star Micronics Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Star Micronics Company Limited
• Inventors: Ozawa, Satoru
• Primary Examiner(s): Pitts, Andrea L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TSAI, HENRY
• Application Number:
  US09/095,422
• Time in Patent Office: 453 Days
• Field of Search: 82/48, 82/47, 82/46, 82/118, 82/120, 82/121, 82/123, 82/133, 82/157, 82/162, 82/170
• US Class Current: 82/48
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 2039/008 Machines of the lathe type
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 39/026 simultaneous working of toolheads
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 39/048 the work holder of a work station transfers directly its workpiece to the work holder of a following work station
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 82/16032 Automatic and/or triggered control
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 82/2502 with program control
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 82/2508 with tool turret
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 82/2593 Work rest

Abstract

A cutting-off method of an automatic lathe, comprising steps of applying a front working to a bar material by a front working tool with the bar material chucked by a main spindle rotatably supported by a headstock and with a top end of the bar material supported by a guide bush, applying a cutting-off by a cut-off tool after completion of the front working with the top end of the bar material chucked and rotatively driven by a sub spindle rotatably supported by a rear headstock, and simultaneously releasing the bar material chucked by the main spindle so that the headstock may rearwardly move to a working start position to be ready for the next working.

Claims

1. A cutting-off method of an automatic lathe comprising:

applying a front working to a bar material by a front working tool by moving a headstock in an axial direction from a working start position toward said front working tool with said bar material chucked by a main spindle rotatably supported by said headstock and a top end of said bar material supported by a guide bush;

after completion of said front working, cutting off said bar material by a cut-off tool with said top end of said bar material chucked and rotatably driven by a sub spindle rotatably supported by a rear headstock; and

simultaneously with said cutting-off, releasing the chucking of said bar material by said main spindle so that said headstock may rearwardly move to the working start position to be ready for another front working.

2. The cutting-off method of an automatic lathe as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a step of chucking said bar material again by said main spindle after said headstock returns to said working start position to be ready for another front working.

3. The cutting-off method of an automatic lathe as claimed in claim 2, further comprising steps of:

determining whether or not said main spindle of said returned headstock chucks said bar material when said cutting-off reaches a predetermined intermediate position; and

continuing said cutting-off after confirming that said main spindle chucks said bar material.

4. The cutting-off method of an automatic lathe as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a step of setting an angle of said cut-off tool so that said bar material on a side of said main spindle of said headstock may firstly be cut.

5. The cutting-off method of an automatic lathe as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a step of applying a two-dimensional working to said bar material during said cutting-off, in combination of control of movement of said rear headstock in an axial direction of said main spindle, with control of movement of said cut-off tool in a direction perpendicular to said axial direction of said main spindle.

6. The cutting-off method of an automatic lathe as claimed in claim 5, further comprising steps of:

determining whether or not said main spindle of said returned headstock chucks said bar material when said cutting-off reaches a predetermined intermediate position; and

continuing said cutting-off by synchronizing a movement in an axial direction of said rear headstock with a movement in an axial direction of said headstock when said main spindle is determined to chuck said bar material.

7. An automatic lathe comprising:

a headstock which rotatably supports a main spindle and is movable in an axial direction of said main spindle;

a rear headstock, provided opposite to said headstock, which rotatably supports a sub spindle and is movable in an axial direction of said sub spindle wherein said sub spindle rotates synchronized with said main spindle;

a guide bush provided between said main spindle and said sub spindle;

at least one tool post provided at the side of said guide bush and movable relative to said headstock, said at least one tool post having both a cut-off tool and a front working tool; and

a control means for;

applying a front working to a bar material chucked by said main spindle by moving said headstock in an axial direction from a working start position toward said front working tool, and

cutting off said bar material by said cut-off tool after completion of said front working, said cutting-off comprising;

chucking said bar material by said sub spindle and releasing said chucking by said main spindle so that said headstock may be retracted to the working start position,

determining whether or not said main spindle of the retracted headstock chucks again said bar material when said cutting-off reaches a predetermined intermediate position, and

continuing said cutting-off if it is determined that said bar material is chucked by said main spindle.

8. The automatic lathe as claimed in claim 7, wherein said control means controls a two-dimensional working during said cutting-off, by combining control of movement of said rear headstock in an axial direction of said sub spindle, with control of movement of said tool post having said cut-off tool in a direction perpendicular to an axial direction of said main spindle.

9. The automatic lathe as claimed in claim 8, wherein said control means determines whether or not said main spindle of said retracted headstock chucks said bar material when said cutting-off reaches a predetermined intermediate position, and said control means continues said cutting-off by synchronizing a movement of said rear headstock in an axial direction of said sub spindle with a movement of said headstock in an axial direction of said main spindle when said main spindle is determined to chuck said bar material.

10. An automatic lathe comprising:

a headstock which rotatably supports a main spindle and is movable in an axial direction of said main spindle;

a rear headstock provided opposite to said headstock, which rotatably supports a sub spindle and is movable in an axial direction of said sub spindle, wherein said sub spindle rotates synchronized with said main spindle;

a guide bush provided between said main spindle and said sub spindle;

a plurality of tool posts provided at the sides of said guide bush and movable relative to said headstock, one of said tool posts having a cut-off tool and another of said tool posts having a front working tool; and

a control means for;

applying a front working to a bar material chucked by said main spindle by moving said headstock in an axial direction from said working start position toward said front working tool, and

cutting off said bar material by said cut-off tool after completion of said front working, said cutting-off comprising;

chucking said bar material by said sub spindle and releasing said chucking by said main spindle so that said headstock may be retracted to said working start position,

determining whether or not said main spindle of said retracted headstock chucks again said bar material when said cutting-off reaches a predetermined intermediate position, and

continuing said cutting-off if it is determined that said bar material is chucked by said main spindle.

11. The automatic lathe as claimed in claim 10, wherein said control means controls a two-dimensional working during said cutting-off, by combining control of movement of said rear headstock in an axial direction of said sub spindle, with control of movement of said tool post having said cut-off tool in a direction perpendicular to an axial direction of said main spindle.

12. The automatic lathe as claimed in claim 11, wherein said control means determines whether or not said main spindle of said retracted headstock chucks said bar material when said cutting-off reaches a predetermined intermediate position, and said control means continues said cutting-off by synchronizing a movement of said rear headstock in an axial direction of said sub spindle with a movement of said headstock in an axial direction of said main spindle when said main spindle is determined to chuck said bar material.