GB1177510A - Workpiece Feeding Device. - Google Patents

Abstract

1,177,510. Grinding. G.K.N. BOLTS & NUTS Ltd. 21 March, 1968 [25 Dec., 1966], No. 52865/66. Headings B3D and B3M. Apparatus for feeding workpieces, such as headed bolts, to a machine tool comprises a support 17 providing a generally V-sectioned trough 20 for the support of a workpiece, the support being movable from an advanced position adjacent a work station in the machine tool to a retracted position, feed means 41, 30 for loading a workpiece into the support, and ejector means 25 operable when the support occupies the advanced position to transfer a workpiece from the support to the work station. The apparatus may be used for feeding workpieces to a centreless grinder or thread roller and has a pair of guideways 10 for mounting on a table adjacent the machine and supporting a plate 11. A pair of guide rods 12 are carried by the plate and slidably support the bearings 15, 16 of the carriage 17 which is movable by a piston-and-cylinder device 18, 19. The trough 20 is secured in a horizontal position on the carriage which also supports a pair of guides 23 along which a crosshead 24 is slidable by a piston-and-cylinder device 26, 27, the crosshead carrying the ejector means in the form of a rod 25. Workpieces are fed to the trough from a transfer mechanism 40 having adjustably spaced plates 41 which support the workpieces by their heads and have a gate mechanism 43 and transfer fork 46 for passing the workpieces one at a time to a shoot 30 leading to the trough, the shoot being movable about a pivot 32 by a cam-and-follower arrangement 37, 38 during movements of the support 17. In operation, the transfer mechanism is actuated to release a workpiece which is fed from the shoot 30 on to trough 20 when it is located by a stop 49 connected by a linkage 48 to the mechanism 40 which is actuated by a pneumatic device 35. After a delay, device 18, 19 is actuated to advance the trough to an intermediate position, the cam pivoting the shoot to an out-of-the-way position. Device 26, 27 is also actuated to advance the ejector rod 25 to a position near the end of the trough. The intermediate position allows room for ejection of a workpiece being operated on. When the finished workpiece is ejected from the machine, the device 18, 19 advances the trough to its most forward position and device 26, 27 moves the rod 25 to push the workpiece on to the workrest of the machine.