Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for controlling tool magazines

US4581810A · kind A · utility

11Cited by
3References
13Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 26, 1984
Grant dateApr 15, 1986
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 26, 2004

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T483/1891
  • WIPO fieldMachine tools
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A tool magazine is divided into four regions respectively containing substantially the same number of tool pots. When a designated tool is contained in a first or fourth region the magazine is rotated in the clockwise direction to index the designated tool to a tool exchange position, whereas when the designated tool is contained in a second or third region the magazine is rotated in the counterclockwise direction. Designation of a desired tool, the direction of rotation of the magazine and number of steps of the magazine are controlled by a computer including a memory having a comparison table written with correspondences between tool numbers and absolute tool pot numbers. According to a modified embodiment, the tool magazine is provided with two tool exchange positions between adjacent regions and on one side thereof, and the tool exchanger is selectively moved to either one of the tool exchange positions.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.