Howa Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha

Kabushiki Kaisha Yamazaki Tekkosho

Chihiro Miyachi

A chuck jaw changer is disclosed as mounted on the headstock (24) of an N/C lathe (22) for automatically changing the set of gripping jaws (32) of a quick change chuck (28) on a work spindle (26) with any of other interchangeable sets of gripping jaws (32') being held by a rotary, indexing jaw magazine (34). The jaw magazine has formed therein several jaw grooves (150) each for holding one set of gripping jaws (32'), or the jaw set (32) withdrawn from the chuck, slidably engaged therein in a row. An indexing mechanism (35) revolves the jaw magazine relative to the machine tool for bringing any of the jaw grooves into line with that one of radial jaw guideways (54) of the chuck which is being held in a prescribed jaw change position on the work spindle. A jaw transfer mechanism (36) operates for successively transferring the set of jaws from the chuck into an empty jaw groove in the jaw magazine, and a different set of jaws from the jaw magazine to the chuck. Thus the transfer of each set of gripping jaws from the chuck to the jaw magazine or vice versa can be completed while the magazine is held at a standstill on the machine tool.

Chuck jaw changer for a machine tool

A chuck jaw changer is provided for a machine tool such as a numerically controlled lathe (22) for automatically changing the gripping jaws (32) of a quick change chuck (28) on its work spindle (26). The set of gripping jaws of the chuck are replaceably engaged in respective radial guideways (56) in a chuck body (30), with each gripping jaw being slid into and out of one guideway when that guideway is in a preassigned jaw change position on the chuck body. The chuck jaw changer has a rotary, indexing jaw magazine (34) having holder grooves (140) defined therein at constant circumferential spacings for releasably holding additional sets of gripping jaws (32') interchangeable with the jaw set on the chuck body. A jaw transfer mechanism (36) transfers a gripping jaw (32, 32') rectilinearly between that one of the guideways (56) in the chuck body which is in the jaw change position and that one of the holder grooves in the jaw magazine which is positioned in line therewith. For accurate jaw transfer a jaw guide (38) is interposed between chuck body and jaw magazine so as to provide a substantially continuous, rectilinear jaw guide track therebetween.

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Nagoya, Japan

Chihiro Miyachi