Hardinge, Inc.

Gary Comstock

Terrence Sheehan

Brian C Sheehan

Jacek Mierzejewski

Stephen M Wightman

Brian Sheehan

This invention relates to a belt drive system for a tool driving shaft of an indexing tool turret assembly. A plurality of toolholders are radially supported on a top plate assembly, which is rotatably supported on a hub connected to a turret housing. A housing is provided that supports a driven pulley connected to the tool driving shaft. A spindle motor connected to the turret housing is coupled to the live toolholder via a belt drive. The housing advantageously includes at least one removal portion that provides access to and replacement of the belt drive. Further, the tool driving shaft is supported on opposite sides of the driven pulley.

Belt-driven indexing tool turret assembly

An indexing tool turret assembly is disclosed including a rotatable indexable turret tooling plate having mounted thereon stationary as well as live tooling. A single drive motor is utilized in order to perform indexing as well as to drive the live tooling. A plurality of live tools can be simultaneously mounted on the turret tooling plate and the single drive motor is selectively engageable with each of the live tools so that only one of the plurality of live tools is driven at a given time. The selective live tool drive train includes an axially movable drive shaft and bevel drive gear for selectively engaging the driven bevel gear of the desired live tool. The axially movable shaft assembly includes a mechanism for adjusting the backlash between the driving and driven bevel gears when these gears are engaged with one another. The turret assembly further includes a clutch for selectively engaging the single drive motor to index the turret tooling plate and a torque limiter provided in the indexing drive train to disengage the indexing drive in the event of a torque overload occurring during indexing.

Indexing tool turret

The present invention is directed to an indexing tool turret assembly and method for operating the same. The indexing tool turret assembly includes a tool turret assembly rotatably supported on the machine tool, an indexing assembly for selectively rotating the tool turret assembly to a desired location. The indexing assembly includes a locking assembly to prevent rotation of the tool turret assembly during operation of either a stationary tool assembly or live tool assembly located on the tool turret assembly. A cushioning bearing assembly is provided for selectively separating the tool turret assembly from the locking mechanism during an indexing operation. The cushioning bearing assembly provides a slight lift to separate the tool turret assembly from the locking mechanism to reduce friction and other potential damages forces between these components.

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Gillett, PA, United States of America

Gary Comstock