US1905456A - Automatic throw-out mechanism for gear cutting machines - Google Patents

Description

April 25, 1933. FHN$EN LQQSASG AUTOMATIC THROW-OUT MECHANISM FOR GEAR CUTTING MACHINES Filed March 28, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet- 1 INVENTOR %& ATTORNEY April 25, 3933. E, FINSEN 1,905,456

AUTOMATIC THROW-OUT MECHANISM FDR GEAR CUTTING MACHINES Filed March 28, 1950 v 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR gyz/mdflmsezz April 25, 1933. E N N 1,905,456

AUTOMATIC THROW-OUT MECHANISM FOR GEAR CUTTING MACHINES Filed March 28, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 WI mmmglgr INVENTQR @Uzrzd macaw h's ATTORNEY A April 25, 1933. E. FINSEN 1,905,456

AUTOMATIC THROW-OUT MECHANISM FOR GEAR CUTTING MACHINES Filed March 28, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTQR lf azrzd firasem he ATTO'RNEW Patented Apr. 25, 19 33 EYVIND FIN'SEN, OF ROCHESTER, NEVJ YORK, ASSIGNOR T 0 GLEASON WORKS, OF

ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ACORPORATION OF NEW YORK AUTOMATIC THRON-OUT MECHANISM' FOR GEAR CUTTING MACHINES Application filed March 28, 1930;

T he present invention. relates to machine tools and particularly to-machines for cutting operable automatically after the work has been completed to separate the work from the tool mechanism a. sufficient distance to permit removal of the completed work-piece and chucking of a new blank.

A further purpose of the invention. is to provide a mechanism of the nature described which can be readily applied to existing machines.

A still further object of this invention is to provide mechanism of the nature described whereby the operation of the tool or tools will be stopped automatically before the relative separation takes place and whereby the starting of the tool mechanism into operation again is prevented until the operative relation has been restored so as to obviate any possibility that an operator suifer injury through attempting to remove thecompleted work-piece or chuck a new blank while the tools are in motion.

Other objects of this invention will be apparent hereinafter from the description and from the recital of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation, with parts broken away, Sl10\ ing a typical spiral bevel gear generator and showing how the mechanism of this invention may be applied to such a machine;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary View on an enlarged scale, showing parts of the machine.

illustrated in Figure I and showing in section, the mechanism of this invention;

Figure 3 is a section on the line 33 of. Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of the automatic stop mechanism of the machine, taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2 showing, also, in section, the limit-switch and the dash-pot device controlling the'speed of movement of the switch-bar.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the feed cam of the machine and associated parts;

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view illustratchine.

the slide 11 on which the tool mechanism.

is mounted. In the machine shown, the tool;

Serial' No. 439,646.

ing the principle of operation of the mechanism. of this invention and showing one method of wiring a machine to secure the desired results; and

Figure 7 is adetail view showing the means. for actuating the automatic stop mechanism.

The machine shown in the drawings is a machine of the general type illustrated in the patent to James E. Gleason. et at, No..

1,722,464, issuediJuly 30, 1929 but the invention is, of course, not limitedzinitsapplication to any particular type of machine...

lOdesignatesthe base or frame of the ma- 611 this base or frame 10 is mounted is a facemill cutter, as indicated at T. The base or frame 10 carries at one endanupright 12 which serves as a support for the oscillating. cradle upon which the work head or carrier isadj ustably mounted. The gear blank Gr to be cut is secured. to the work spindle.

which is journaled in the work head.

The various parts referred. to are notillustrated specifically in the drawings of the present application because they form no part of the present invention. 7

The slidell has a reciprocating movement during the operation of the machine to move the tool. mechanism alternately toward and from the work to cut tooth slots in the work during the forward movement and permit in deXing of they work when the tool is withdrawn. This reciprocating movement isof limitedlength, just enough to alternately feed the tool into full depth. and clear the workfor the indexing. Then the gear is completed,.itis necessary to move the. tool: away fromthe work a greater distance-than. it is moved on the reciprocating motion. just described in order to allow the completed gear to be taken 01% the machine and a new blank chucked.

The mechanism of this invention is provided to eifect this last namedmovement auto-' 'work have been completed. In the preferred form of this invention, the automatic stop mechanism of the machine is used to actuate the mechanism of the present invention. l/Vhen the stop operates to stop the operating parts of the machine, such as, the tool mechanism and the parts producing the generating, feed and indexing motions, it immediately thereafter causes the mechanism of this invention to be energized to Withdraw the tool slide 11 from operative position to loading position. taken oflf of the work spindle and a new blank chucked thereon.

Journaled in the base 10 of the machine is a shaft 86 and to this shaft are secured the cam 80 which controls the generating roll of the machine and the cam 110 which controls the reciprocating motion of alternate feed and withdrawal imparted to the tool while in operative relation with the blank.

The cam 80 is operatively connected with the cradle on which the Work spindle is mounted by means of a lever 82 and connecting rod 81, as described in the patent above mentioned, but this mechanism forms no part of the present invention and will not be referred to further here.

The cam 110 operates the slide 11 through a roller 111 which is mounted on a slide 112 (Figure 5) that is adjustable in a slot formed in the slide 11. The slide 112 is provided with a transverse slot 114 on its upper face and the square port-ion 115 of the arm 116 engages in this slot 114. The arm 116 is connected by means of a screw 117 with the slide 11. The

adjustable connection of the roller 111 with the slide 11 permits of a very fine adjustment of the slide 11 to set the tool T to proper depth and take up wear. It will be seen, however, that as the shaft 86 rotates the slide 11 'will be moved back and forth by reason of the engagement of the roller 111 with the trackway of the cam 110. On the forward motion of the slide 11, the tool cuts a groove in the blank and on the return motion the blank is indexed. The contour of the slot of the cam 110'is such, however, as to limit the forward and return motion of the slide 11 to the amount required to cut teeth of the desired depth and just clear the blank for indexing thereby reducing the operating time of the machine to a minimum.

The return stroke of the slide 11 does not carry the tool far enough away from the blank to permit taking the blank off of the work spindle for chucking a new blank. It is necessary, therefore, to move the tool slide further away from the work head than is possible with the motion produced by the cam 110. Heretofore, this has been done by hand. Journaled in the slide 11 is a stud shaft which carries the pinion 166 that meshes with a rack 167 that is secured to the frame of the machine. Heretofore, the operator ran the slide 11 back to loading position and returned it The completed gear can then be to operating position again after the new blank had been chucked by rotating the shaft on which the pinion 166 was fixed. This was a slow and laborious operation particularly since it has to be done many times in a day and to speed-up the old process and relieve the operator of the burden of running the slide back and forth by hand the mechanism of the present invention has been devised. This 'mechanism operates automatically to move the slide 11 to loading position when the gear blank has been completed and can be actuated by simply pushing an electric push-button to return the slide to operative position. If desired the hand operated mechanism may be lefton the machine to permit the tools being run back at any time if occasion should arise for such action before the gear is completed.

Secured to the framelO of the machine at one side thereof is a casting 20 which houses the automatic throw-out mechanism of this invention.

The casting 20 is bored at 21 to receive the sleeve 22 in which the valve 23 slides. Ducts 24 and 25 are drilled into the bore 21 at opposite ends thereof.

The casing 20 is bored above the bore 21 to provide a chamber 27. The ends of this chamber 27 are closed by the cap-pieces 28 and 29 to form a cylinder in which the piston 30 reciprocates.

The ducts 24 and 25' communicate with opposite ends of the chamber 27 to convey the pressure fluid alternately to opposite ends of the piston 30 as controlled by the position of the valve 23.

The piston 30 includes the central disc 31, the leather cup-washers 32 and 33 and the discs 34 and 35 which serve, respectively, to secure th washers 32 and 33 to the central disc 31. The piston 30 is secured to a piston rod 37, intermediate the ends of said piston rod, by means of the lock-washers 38 and the nuts 39.

The piston rod 37 is of suiiicient length to project through and beyond the end walls 28 and 29 of the cylinder in either limit position of movement of the piston. The end walls 28 and 29 of the cylinder are suitably packed, as indicated at 42 and 43, respective ly, to prevent leakage of the pressure fluid along the piston rod.

Secured to the slide 11 at one side thereof is a plate 45. 46 designates a bracket which is adjustably secured to the plate 45 by means of bolts 47 which pass through elongated slots 48 formed in the bracket 46 and thread into the plate 45.

Cast integral with the plate 46 are two downwardly projecting arms 49 and 50.

When the piston 30 moves in the chamber 27, the piston rod 37 engages one or other of the arms 49 or 50 to move the slide 11 either outwardly to loading position or inwardly to operative position depending upon the diat i rection of movement of the piston. There is a slot 168 (Figure 5) formed in one side wall of the cam 110 so that the roller 111 can pass freely intoand out of engagement with' the cam 110 during the movements of the slide 11 just described.

The casting is hollowed out to form a reservoir. The hydraulic motive-fluid is pumped into this reservoir from a sump in the base of the machine by any suitable type of pump. The intention is to use for this purpose the lubricating oil pump provided on the machine. The motive-fluid enters the reservoir in the casting 20 through the pipe It flows from the reservoir through the openings 53 and 54 into a duct 55 which communicates with the bore 21 and through a series of radially arranged openings 56 formed in the sleeve into the valve chamber 57.

' proper.

cate, respectively, with the valve chamber 57 at opposite ends thereof and lead into ducts 6: and 65, respectively, that convey the fluid outside of the casting 20 whence it drops back into the sump.

The valve stem 23 is formed intermediate its ends with shoulders 5'6 and 67 which fit closely the bore of the sleeve 22.

In the position of the parts shown in Figure 2, the valve 23 is at one limit of its movement in the valve chamber 57. The pressure fluid flows from the reservoir inthe casting 20 through the openings 53 and 5% into the duct 55, thence through the openings 56 into the valve chamber 57, whence the fluid flows through the openings 58 into the duct 60 and through the duct 2% into the chamber 27 forcing the piston 30 to the right from the position shown in Figure 2. The fluid is simultaneously exhausted from the right hand end of the piston 30 through the ducts and 61,

the openings 59, the port 63 and the duct 65.

As the piston moves to the right, the piston rod 37 engages the arm of the bracket a6 and causes the slide 11 to be returned to operative position. TV hen it is desired to withdraw the slide 11 from operative position to loading position, the valve 23 is reversed through means hereinafter to be described and the pressure-fluid then flows from the reservoir through the openings 53 and 54, the duct 55, the openings 56, the openings 59. the ducts 61 and 25, into the chamber 27, moving the piston 30, piston rod 37 and slide 11 to the left to the position shown in Figure 2. In this movement, the fluid is exhausted from the left hand end of the piston 30 through the ducts 24: and 60, the openings 58, the port 62 and the duct 6% whence it returns to the sump.

Solenoids and 71 arranged at opposite ends of the valve chamber erteriorly thereof are employed to shift the valve 23. The valve 23 is shifted to the position shown in Figure 2 by energizing the solenoid 70. To

reverse the direction of movement of the pie-- ton 30, the other solenoid 71 is energized. The solenoid 70 is energized from a push button 7 2 secured to the machine at any convenient location (Figures 1 and 6), while the solenoid 71 is energized in the operation of the automatic stopping mechanism of the machine as will now be described.

This automatic stopping mechanism may be of any suitable type, such as is ordinarily employed on machines of the character described. T he stop shown in the drawings is that covered by U. S. patent to Maxwell H. Hill, No. 1,577,121, of March 16, 1926' and reference may be had to that patent for more detailed description of the o aeration thereof.

designates a limit-switch which is socured to the housing 91 of the automatic stopf When the machine is in operation, the contact bar 92 of the limit-switch bridges the terminals 93 (Figures 4 and 6) to maintain a closed circuit between the line and the cutter and main drive motors so that the machine will operate. on the lower arm of a bell-crank 94- which is pivotally connected at its upper end at 95 to an arm 96. The arm 96 is bifurcated at its outer end and between the furcations thereof is pivotally mounted a bloclr 97. The arm 96 is constantly urged into horizontal position by means of a coil spring 98 which is interposed between the inner end of the arm 96 and the wall of the limit-switch housing. The spring 98 serves to insure the contact between the bar 92 and the terminal 93 and restores this contact after it has been broken.

In the operation of the machine, the slide 11 is moved alternately inward to out and outward to permit indexing by the cam and roller 111, as has been described, and with each outward movement, the automatic stop mechanism is ratcheted forward'a tooth or teeth. The stop mechanism may be advanced by any suitable means. For instance, as shown in Figure 7 of the drawings, a cam 212 may be secured to one face of the feed cam 110 so that on each revolution of the feed cam, the plunger 213 of the automatic stop mechanism 91 is reciprocated to ad-' Vance the trip mechanism of the stop. The stop is adjusted for the number of teeth to be cut in the blank and as the feed cam makes a complete revolution during the cutting of each tooth space and the indexing of the blank thereafter, when the last tooth has been cut in the blank the stop will be tripped.

The contact-bar 92 is carried The trip-lever 99 of the stop will engage the block 97 rock this block about its pivot 100 against the resistance oi? the leaf-spring 101, and the trip roller 102 will engage under the 5 block 97. The trip-lever will then immediately return to upper position under actua-,

tion of a spring in the automatic stop mechanism. In its upward movement the roller 102 of the trip-lever will engage the block 97 which is now held against movement about its pivot 100 by engagement of the fiat rear surface of the block with a corresponding surface on the arm. The arm 96 is thus swung upwardly against the resistance of the spring 98 and the contact between the bar 92 and the terminal 93 is broken. This stops the cutter motor and the main drive motor. This action is so timed that the cam .110, which is driven from the main drive motor,

stops with the roller 111 registering with the slot 168 in the side wall of the cam.

As the bar 92 breaks contact with the terminals 93, it makes contact on its opposite face with a pair of spring-pressed pin terminals 104 which are electrically connected with the electro-magnet 71. The solenoid 71 is thus energized and the valve 23 shifted to the right from the position shown in Figure 2 to cause the slide 11 to be moved outwardly m to loading position as already describet lVhen the lever 99 has moved upwardly far enough it clears the block 97. The spring 98 then acts to restore the parts to normal position breaking contact between the bar 92 and --the terminal pins 104 deenergizing the electro-magnet 71.

The valve 23 has to be moved some distance by the electro-magnet'? 1 to reverse the direction of application of fluid pressure to the LO-piston 30 and, consequently, the electro-magnet 71 must be energized for a time long enough to efiect this movement. To allow the solenoid 71 to be energized long enough to effect the complete movement of the valve,

:51. dash-pot 122 is secured to the limit-switch housing 90. This clash-pot is so connected with the bell-crank 94 that while a quick movement of the bell-crank 94 is permitted when contact at 93 is broken and contact at 104 made, despite the action of the spring 98, the bar 92 remains in contact with the pins 104 for a sufiiciently long time to permit the electro-magnet 71 to perform fully its function.

i7 123 designates the plunger of the dash-pot. To this plunger is secured a cup 124 which closely engages all around its periphery the interior of the thimble 125. This thimble threads into the bracket 126 that is secured th the housing of the limitswitch. The

thimb-le 124 contains oil or some other suit-' able fluid. The cup 124 is secured to the plunger 123 by means of nut 126 and a washer 127. The bottom of the cup 124 is perfo- 128 and 128. 129 indicates a washer that is movable relative to the plunger 123. The inside wall of this washer 129 is spaced from the periphery of the plunger 123 so that the washer may cover the holes 128 but will not cover the holes 128. The holes 128 are larger in diameter than the holes 128.

When the plunger 123 moves downwardly in the thimble 125, the pressure of the oil in the thimble lifts the disc 129 off of the bottom of the cup 124 and the oil fiows freely tl rough the openings 128 as well as the openings 128 but when the plunger 123 moves upwardly the pressure of the oil seats the disc 129 firmly on the bottom of the cup shutting the openings 128 and the plunger and cup can only move upwardly slowly at the rate permitted by the flow of oil through the holes 128'.

The plunger 123 is headed, as indicated at 30. 131 indicates an arm which is furcated i one end to engage the plunger 123 beneath the head 130 and at the reduced portion of its diameter. This arm 131 is pivoted in the bracket 126 at 132 and is pivotally connected at its other end, as indicated at 133 to the bellcrank 94.

A cover, designated at 135, is secured to the bracket 126 to prevent entrance of foreign matter into the chamber of the dash-pot.

The operation of the throw-out mechanism can now be described.

160, 161 and 162 designate the main power lines conducting electricity to the machine. These are connected to the terminals of a magnetic starter 164 which may be of any usual or suitable construction. There are many different kinds of magnetic starters manufactured tor the trade by concerns engaged in the production of electrical equipment.

In the machine shown in the drawings, a separate motor is employed for driving the cutter from that used for driving the rest of the machine. In the drawings these two motors 165 and 166, respectively, are illustrated as three-phase motors. The main motor 166 is connected by lines 167, 168 and 169 with terminals of the magnetic starter 164 while the cutter drive motor 165 is connected to terminals or" the magnetic starter by lines 170 and 171 and through the line 172 and the line 169.

Assuming the parts to be in the position shown in Figures 2 and 6 with the tool slide 11 in loading position and the parts of cutting machine and of the throw-out mechanism at rest, if it be desired to return the slide 11 to operative position, the operator pushes in the push-button 72. This push-button may be located at any convenient point on the machine. Vhen it is closed, the circuit extends from the main line 160 through the line 174 or the starter, the line 175, the termi- GSi-rated to provide two concentric series of holesnals of the push-button 72 the line 176, the

electr c-magnet 70, the line 177, and the line 17 8 to the main line 162.

The solenoid 70 being thus energized moves the valve 23 to the position shown in Figures 2 and 6. The motive fiuidtlows from the reservoir in the casting 20 through the openings 53 and 5 1, the duct 55, the openings 56,

the openings 58. the ducts-60 and 24- to the left hand end of the piston 30, shifting this piston and the piston rod 37 to the right from the position in Figures 2 and 6. As the piston rod moves to the right it engages the arm 50, carrying the bracket 16 on the slide 11 to the right and returning the slide to 0perative position with the roller 111 re-engaged in the trackway of the cam 110.

The moment that the cam roller 'reenters the cam trackway the lug 1&0 on the bracket 16 engages the roller 141 of a limit-switch 1 12, depressing this roller and the switch arm to which it is attached against the resistance of the coil-spring 1 13. The switch 112 is a normally open switch, so that this action of the lug 1 10 closes the switch and completes the circuit through the terminals 98 and the bar 92 of the limit-switch 90, to the m .etic starter. This closing of the circuit might be employed to start the cutter and main-drive motors but as it is sometimes "has .hle to stop these motors before the gear has been completed, separate start and stop buttons 1 and 14.- respectively, are pik and stopping of these motors. Howeven'it i to be noted that these motors cannot bestarted until the switch 142 has been closed by the engagement of the lug 140 with the r lhr 14-1 thereof.

n the piston 30 reaches the limit of its cut to the right it simply bottoms in the cylinder.

The cutter and main-drive motors are now stited by pressing the start button 145. l hen the push-button is closed. a circuit is 5 osed the lin 1 5, the line 180, the terminals of the start button 145, the line 182, the line 188. the line 184'. the coil 185 of an electromagnet in the magnetic starter, and the line 186 of the starter to the main line 162. This energizes the electro magnet 185 and pulls in the tour switch arms 188. 189, 190 and 191 caus ng each of these to close a line. The p I ot the switches 188, 189, 190 and 191 los tie circuit to the cutter and feed motors, the lines 169 and 172 being then connected to the main line 162 through the switch 191; the lines 168 and 170 being cond to the main line 161 through the h arm 196: and the lines 16'? and 171 he connected to the main line 160through the switch arm 188 and the line 198.

The hutton 115 is. a normally open button and when the operator releases it, it flies )Ptil. The circuit is maintained, however to :fiblY provided to control. the starting tron: the line 160 through the line 17 1,

the two drive motors through the switch arms 188, 190 and 191 by the action of the electro-magnet 185. This electro-magnet remains energized after the machine has been started, despite the opening of the button 145. for the circuit to itis maintained from the line 162 through. the line 186, the line 18 1, the line 183. the line 182, the line 194, the normally closed stop button 116, the line 195,

the switch 142, the line 196, the terminals'93 and the bar 92, the line 197, the line 198, the swit h arm 189. which is closed when the electroqnagnet is first energized and remains closed until the circuit to the electromagnet is broken, and the line 199 back to the main line 160.

The main motor having been started, the cam 110 will be rotated to operate the slide 11, moving it alternately inward to feed the rotating cutter into the blank to cut a tooth space in the blank and withdrawing itto permit indexing the blank after each slot has been completed. On each withdrawing motion, the automatic stop mechanism will be advanced. The alternate feeding and withdrawal for indexing will continue until allotthe teeth have been cut in the blank. On the last withdrawing motion, the automatic stop will be tripped, the lever 94 of the stop passing down beneath the block 97 rocking this'block aside and returning to upper position, engaging the block 97 and rocking the arm 96 upwardly against the resistance of the spring 98. This movement breaks the contact between the bar 92 and the terminals 93. This breaks the circuit to the electromagnet 185, releasing the switch arms 188, 18 190 and 191, and thus causing the circuit to the cutter and main drive motors to be broken stopping the operative functions of the machine. Immediately after breaking contact 93, the bar 92 makes contact with the pins194t. This closes a circuit to the so enoid 71 from the main line 160 through the line 1741., the line the line 200, and the pins 104. and the bar 92, the line 201, the coil of the electro-magnet 71, the line 202, the line 1.77 and the line 178 to the main line 162. The solenoid 71 is thus energized to draw he valve 23 to the right from the position shown in A igures 2 and 6. The springs 98 tend to move the arm 96 back to horizontal position but contact between the bar 92 and the spring-pressed pins 104 is maintained long enough to move the valve 23 completely to the right by the action of the dashpot secured to the limit-switch 90. This dash-pot lets the arm 96 swing upwardly quickly under action of the lever 91 to break the circuit to the cutter and main drive motors but allows the arm to return to horizontal position only very slowly.

W th the valve 23 drawn to the right, the motive "fluid passes from the duct 55 and the openings 56, out of the opening 59 into the ducts 61 and 25 to the right hand end of the piston 30 moving the piston and piston rod back to the left to the position shown in Figure 2. This movement continues until the piston 30 has bottomed in the cylinder as shown in Figure 2 and the slide 11 will then have been withdrawn to loading position. The operator can then readily remove the completed gear and chuck a new blank.

The spring 98 remakes the contact between the bar 92 and the terminals 93 but as the circuit to the terminals 98 is open, the cutter slide 11 remains in withdrawn position. In order to again return the slide 11 to operative position, it is only necessary for the operator to again depress button 72.

It is to be noted that the distance between the opposed faces of the arms 49 and 50 is greater than the l ngth of the piston rod 3?. This is to permit the alternate movement of the slide 11 for feeding and withdrawal, when in operative position, to take place without the valve 23 being shifted.

As the cutter and main drive motors are stopped by the action of the automatic stop and as the circuit to these motors remains broken during the functioniugof the piston 30, and as the circuit can not e remade until, in the movement of the slide 11 to the right, the lug 14:0 engages and depresses the limitswitch 142, it will be seen that all danger of injury to an operator from coming into contact with the cutter during the chucking operation is entirely eliminated. This is asafety feature of the machine worthy of note.

A head of air is maintained in the chamber formed in the casting 20 so that the motive fluid is immediately responsive to any movement of the valve 23. Air-leakage is not entirely avoidable, so means has been provided for replenishing the air in the chamber 20 so as to maintain the necessary pressure in the system. 150 designates a fourway valve. This screws into an opening in the casting 20 to communicate with the reservoir. Normally, the valve is so positioned that fluid flowing into it from the casting 20 will pass through the pipes 151 and 152 back into the casting.

When the pressure in the piston falls too low, the valve is turn d by the wrench 153 so that the oil flows out of the reservoir 20 through the pipe 15s back into the sump and so that the other arm of the valve is opened to the air. lVhen the oil has been exhauster from the reservoir the reservoir fills with air. When the valve is shut again, the oil pumped into the reservoir from the pipe 52 compresses the air in the reservoir, restoring the pressure in the system.

The invention has been described as applied to a particular machine, but it will be understood that it is obviously capable of various further applications. It is to be understood, also, that it is not limited to the embodiment shown. The invention is capable of various further modifications and uses without departing from the scope of the in- H scope of the invention or the limits of the ap- H pended claims.

Having'thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a machine for cutting gears, tool mechanism and a work support, means for moving one of said parts toward and away from the other through a limited distance for alternate feeding and indexing, means for automatically stopping the tool mechanism after a predetermined number of operations have been performed, means operable automatically thereafter for producing a relative movement of separation between the tool mechanism and the work support to permit removal of the completed gear and chucking of a new blank, means for actuating said last named means to return the tool mechanism and the work support into operative relation, and means operable when said return movement has been completed for rendering the tool mechanism operative.

2. In a machine for cutting gears, tool mechanism and a work support, a slide on which one of said parts is mounted, means for moving said slide alternately in opposite 1' directions for alternate feeding and indexing means for automatically stopping the last named means and the tool mechanism when a predetermined number of operations have been performed, separate means for automatically withdrawing said slide from operative position when the predetermined number of operations have been performed to permit removal of the completed gear and chucking of anew blank, said last named movement acting to disengage the slide from operative relation with the first named actuating means, means for actuating the last means to return the slide to operative position, and means operable when the slide has returned into operative relation with the first named means to render the tool mechanism and the first named means operative.

3. In a machine for cutting gears, tool mechanism and a work support, means for moving one of said parts alternately in opposite directions to produce alternate movements of feed and withdrawal between the tool mechanism and the work, and means operable automatically after a predetermined number of feed movements for disengaging iib eona-5s said movable partfrom the-first'named means and for immediately thereafter automatically moving said part to loading position.

4. In a machine for cutting gears, tool mechanism and a work support, means for moving one of saidparts alternately in opposite directions to produce alternate move ments of feed and withdrawal bet-ween the tool mechanism and the work within a limited path, and separate fluid-pressure operated means operable automatically after a predetermined number of feed movements for moving the movable part beyondsaid limited path to move said part to inoperative position.

5. In a macl ine for cutting gears, tool mechanism and a work support, a slide on which one of said parts is mounted, means for moving the slide alternately in opposite directions through a limited distance for alternate feeding and indexing, fluid-pressure operated means comprising a piston movable in a cylinder for moving said slide independently of the first named means, a valve controlling the direction of application of fluid-pressure to said piston, and means adapted to be operated automatically when a predetermined number of operations have been performed to move said valve to apply fluid-pressure to said piston so as to withdraw the slide from operative position for removal of t completed gear and chucking a new blank.

6. In a machine for cutting gears, tool mechanism and a work support, a slide on which one of said parts is mounted, means for moving the slide alternately in opposite directions through a limited distance for alternate feeding and indexing, separate fluid-pressure operated means comprising apiston movable in a cylinder for moving said slide from operative to inoperative position, a valve controlling the direct-ion of application of fluid-pressure to said piston, means for automatically stopping the tool mechanism when a predetermined number ofopera'tions have been performed and for immediately thereafter moving said valve to apply fluid.-

.r pressure to the withdrawal side of said pis- ";on to withdraw the-slide from operative position to permit removal of the completed gear and chucking of a new blank.

7. In a machine for cutting gears, tool mechanism and a work support, a slide on zvhich one of said parts is mounted, fluidpressure operated means comprising piston movable in a cylinder for moving said slide, a valve cont olling the direction of applica tion of fluid-pressure to said piston, meai Ior automatically stopping the tool mechanism when predetermined number of opera tions have been performed and for immediately thereafter moving said valve to apply fluid-pressure to the withdrawal side of said piston to withdraw the slide from operative position to permit removal of the completed gear and chucking of a new blank, means for reversing said valve to cause the slide to return into operative position, and means operable on return movement of said slide to renfor moving said slide alternately in opposite directions to produce alternate movements of feed and withdrawal between the tool mechanism and the work, separate fluid-pressure operated means for moving said slide from operative to inoperative position, a valve controlling said fluid-pressure operated means, an electro-magnet adapted to be energized to move said valve to cause the fluid-pressure operated means to withdraw the slide from operative position, and means adapted to be operated after a predetermined number of operations have been performed to energize aid electro-magnet.

9. In amachine of the class described, tool mechanism and a work support, a slide on which one of said parts is mounted, fluidpressure operated means for moving the slide in opposite directions, a valve controlling said fluid pressure operated means, a pair of electro-magn'ets controlling the direction of movement of said valve to control the direction of application of fluid-pressure to said fluid-pressure operated means, means operable when the desired number of operations have been completed on the work to stop the tool mechanism and immediately thereafter energize oneof said electroanagnets to cause the slide to be withdrawn from operative position to permit removal of'the completed Work-piece and chucking of a new blank, means operable to energize the other electromagnet to cause the slide to be returned to operative position, and means operable on said return movement to render the tool mechanism operative.

10.1n a machine of the class described, tool mechanism and a Work support, means comprising a cam and a roller engageable therewith for moving one of said parts back and forth through a limited distance to effect the required number of operations on the work, said cam having a slot in one wall of its trackway through which the roller may be moved to disengage the roller from the traokway, means adapted to be operated automatically after a predetermined number of operations have been performed to stop said cam with the roller in line with said slot, and means operable automatically immediately thereafter to move said movable part in the same direction as for its limited movement to disengage the roller from the cam and move said part to inoperative position to permit removal of the completed work and chucking of a new blank.

11. In a machine of the class described, tool mechanism and a work support, means comprising a cam and a roller engageable therewith for moving one of said parts back and forth through a limited distance to effect the required operations on the work, said cam having a slot in one wall of its trackway through which the roller may be moved to disengage the roller from the traekway, means adapted to be operated automatically after a predetermined number of operations have been performed to stop said tool mechanism and stop said cam with the roller in line with said slot, means for thereafter automatically moving said movable part to disengage tie roller from the cam and move said part to inoperative position to permit removal of the completed work and chucking of a new blank, means for reversing the direction of operation of said last named means to cause the same to return the movable part to operative position and cause the roller to be reengaged with said cam, and means operable for rendering said tool mechanism and said cam operative when the parts have been returned to operative position.

12. In a machine of the class described, tool mechanism and a work support, a slide on which one of said parts is mounted, means comprising a cam and a roller engageable therewith for moving one of said parts back v and forth to effect the working cycle, said cam having a slot in one wall of its traekway through which the roller may be moved to disengage the roller from the traekway,

fluid-pressure operated means operable to move said movable part to inoperative position to permit removal of the completed work and chucking of a new blank, and means oparable when the desired number of operations have been performed for automatically stopping said cam with said roller in register with said slot and for immediately thereafter actuating said fluid-pressure operated means.

13. In a machine of the class described, tool mechanism and a work support, a slide on which one of said parts is mounted, means comprising a cam and a roller engageable therewith for moving one of said parts back and forth to effect the working cycle, said cam having a slot in one wall of its traekway through which the roller may be moved to disengage the roller from the traekway, fluidpressure operated means operable to move said movable part to inoperative position to permit removal of the completed work and chucking of a new blank, and means operable when the desired number of operations have been performed for automatically stopping said cam with said roller in register with said slot and for immediately thereafter actuating said fiuid-pressure operated means, means operable to cause return of said part to operative position, and means operable when the part has been returned to operative position and the roller is reengaged with the cam to restart the cam to resume the working cycle.

14. In a machine of the class described, tool mechanism and a work support, a slide on which one of said parts is mounted, means comprising a cam and a roller engageable therewith for moving one of said parts back and forth to effect the working cycle, said cam having a slot in one of its walls through which the roller may be moved to disengage the roller from the traekway, a piston and cylinder, a piston rod projecting through said cylinder at both ends thereof and having the piston secured thereto at a point intermediate said ends, a bracket adjustably secured to said slide having a pair of arms projecting therefrom, the length of said piston rod being less than the distance between opposed faces of said arms whereby a limited relative movement is permitted between the piston rod and said bracket, and means operable when a predetermined number of operations have been performed to stop said cam with the roller aligned with said slot and thereafter immediately cause application of fluid-pressure to one side of said piston to cause said slide to be moved to inoperative position for removal of the completed work and chucking of a new blank.

15. In a machine of the class described, tool mechanism and a work support, a slide on which one of said parts is mounted, means comprising a cam and a roller engageable therewith for moving one of said parts back and forth to effect the working cycle, said cam having a slot in one of its walls through which the roller may be moved to disengage the roller from the cam traekway, a piston and cylinder, a piston rod projecting from said cylinder at both ends thereof and having the piston secured thereto at a-point intermediate said ends, a bracket adj ustably secured to said slide having a pair of arms projecting therefrom with which the ends of said piston are adapted to engage to move the slide in opposite directions, the length of said piston rod being less than the distance between opposed faces of said arms whereby a limited movement is permitted between the piston rod and bracket, a valve controlling the direction of application of fluid-pressure to said piston, electro-magnets adapted to be energized to move said valve in opposite directions, means operable when a predetermined number of operations have been performed to stop said cam with the roller aligned with said slot and thereafter immediately cause one of said electro-magnets to be energized to cause said slide to be moved to inoperative position to permit removal of the completed gear and chucking of a new blank, means for energizing the other electro-magnet to cause said slide to be returned to operative position, and means operable when the roller has been re-engaged with the cam to restart said cam to resume the working cycle.

16. In a machine for cutting gears, tool mechanism and a Work support, a slide on which one of said-parts is mounted, means comprising a cam and a roller engageable therewith for reciprocating said slide through a limited working path to produce alt-ernately relative feed and withdrawal move ments between the tool mechanism and the work support, means for actuating the tool mechanism, means for driving said cam, means operable, after a predetermined number of movementsof the slide, to stop the tool mechanism and the cam, and meansoperable automatically immediately thereafter to withdraw the slide from engagement with the cam to move the slide from its working path to loading position.

17. In a machine for cutting gears, tool mechanism and a work support, a slide on which one of said parts is mounted, means comprising a cam and a roller engageable therewith for reciprocating said slide through a limited working path to produce alternately relative feed and withdrawal movements between the tool mechanism and the work support, and separate fluid-pressure operated means operable automatically, after a predetermined number of reciproc-ations of said slide through its working path, to withdraw said slide from its working path to loading position.

18. In a machine for cutting gears, tool mechanism and a work support, a slide on which one of said parts is mounted, means for reciprocating said slide through a limited working path, electrically operated means for driving the tool mechanism, the circuit to said drive mechanism including a normally open switch, means on the slide adapted to close said switch, when the slide is in working position to render said tool drive operative, and means for automatically moving the slide'to loading position, when a predetermined number of operations on the blank have been completed, thereby simultaneously breaking the circuit to the tool mechanism.

19. In a machine for cutting gears, tool mechanism and a work support, a slide on which one of said parts is mounted, electrically operated means for driving the tool mecha nism, the circuit to said drive mechanism including a normally open switch, means for reciprocating said slide through a limited working path, means on said slide adapted to close said switch, when the slide is in working position to render said tool drive operative, separate electrically controlled mechanism for moving said slide to loading position, and means operable automatically, after a predetermined number of operations on the blank, to actuate said last named electrically operated mechanism to move the slide to loading position, thereby simultaneously breaking the circuit to the tool mechanism.

20. In a machine for cutting gears, tool mechanism and a work support, a slide on which one of said parts is mounted, means for reciprocating said slide through a limited working path, and separate means operable to move the slide to and from loading position comprising a piston and cylinder, one of which is connected to the slide and the other to the frame of the machine, a valve for controlling the direction of application of fluid pressure to the piston, an electro-magnet operable to shift the valve in one direction to apply fluid pressure to the withdrawal side or" the piston, and means operable automatically, after a predetermined number of working cycles, to energize said electromagnet to cause withdrawal of the slide to loading position.

21. In a machine for cutting gears, a tool mechanism and a work support, a slide on which one of said parts is mounted, means for reciprocating said slide through a limited working path, means, which are normally inoperative, for driving the tool mechanism, means on the slide operable when the slide is in working position to render the drive to the tool mechanism operative, and separate means operable to move the slide to loading position comprising a piston and cylinder, one of which'is connected to the slide and the other to the frame of the machine, a valve for controlling the direction of application of fluid pressure to the piston, an electro-magnet operable to shift the valve in one direction to apply fiuid pressure to the withdrawal side of the piston, and means operable automatically, after a predetermined number of working cycles, to energize said electromagnet to cause withdrawal of the slide to loading position.

22. In a machine for cutting gears, tool mechanism and a work support, a slide on which one of said parts is mounted, m'eans for reciprocating said slide through a limited working path, means for driving the tool mechanism, means on the slide operable, when the slide is in working position, to render the drive to the tool mechanism operative,- means for automatically moving the slide to loading position, when a predetermined number of operations on the blank have been completed, thereby simultaneously rendering the drive to the tool mechanism inoperative.

23. In a machine for cutting gears, tool mechanism and a work support, a slide on which one of said parts is mounted, a cam and a roller for reciprocating said slide through a limited working path, said cam:

having a slot in one side thereof, separate means operable to move the slide to and from its leading position comprising a piston and a,

i for reciprocating said slide through a limited working path, and separate means operable to move the slide to and from loading position comprising a piston and cylinder, one of which is connected to the slide and the other to the frame of the machine, a valve for controlling the direction of application of fluid pressure to the piston, a pair of electro-magnets energizable for shifting the valve in opposite directions to cause movement of the slide respectively to and from loading position, and means operable automatically, after a predetermined number of working cycles, to energize the electro-magnet which controls the movement of the slide to loading position.

25. In a gear cutting machine, a tool mechanism and a work support, a slide on which one of said parts is mounted, means for reciprocating said slide through a limited working path, means for driving the tool mechanism, means on the slide operable, when the slide is'in working position, to render the tool mechanism operative, and means operable to move the slide to and from working position comprising apiston and cylinder,

one of which is connected to the slide and the other to the frame of the machine, a valve for controlling the direction of application of fluid pressure to the piston, a pair of electromagnets energizable for shifting the valve in opposite directions to cause movement of the slide, respectively, to and from loading position, and means operable automatically after a predetermined number of working cycles, to energize the electro-magnet which controls the movement to loading position.

26. In a machine of the class described, a tool support, a work support, a tool mechanism mounted on the tool support, means for actuating the tool mechanism, a cam and a i V roller engageable therewith for moving one of said supports back and forth through a limited distance, and means adapted to be operated automatically, after a predetermined number of such movements, to stop said tool actuating mechanism and withdraw the roller from engagement with the cam and move said movable support to inoperative position to permit removal of the completed'work and chucking of a new blank, means operable to cause said last-named means to return the movable support into 0perative position and be re-connected with said cam, and means operative when said support has been returned to operative position for restarting thetool actuating mechanism'and' saidca 27. In a machine of the class described, tool mechanismand a work support, means for imparting alternate movements of feed and Withdrawal to one of said parts to cause the same to be moved within a limited path, means for actuating the, 'tool mechanism, means for moving the movable part from said limited path to inoperative position, means operable automatically after a predetermined number of movements in the limited path to stop said tool actuating mechanism'andrender the'last described means operative, and means preventing re-starting of the tool mechanism until the tool mechanism and work support have been restored to operative relation.

28. In a machine of the class described, a tool support, a work support, tool mechanism mounted on the tool support, means for actuating the tool mechanism, means for imparting alternate movements of feed and withdrawal to one of said supports in a limited path, separate means for moving the movable support from the limited path to inoperative position, means operable automatically after a predetermined number of feed movements

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