The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 11, 1987
Filed:
Sep. 24, 1985
Toyoda Koki Kabushiki Kaisha, Kariya, JP;
Abstract
A tool and workpiece change system adapted to a machining center with a tool magazine and a pallet pool having a pallet change station and a pallet loading and unloading station and associated with a pallet change apparatus for replacing a pallet on a worktable in the machining center with another pallet successively positioned at the pallet change station. The system comprises a replaceable hand support arranged adjacent the loading and unloading station to detachably support a first replaceable hand for grasping a workpiece and a second replaceable hand for grasping a cutting tool, a workpiece support arranged adjacent the hand support, a tool support arranged adjacent the workpiece support to detachably support a plurality of spare cutting tools, and a robot arranged to be movable between first and second spaced positions. The robot is equipped with the first replaceable hand in the first position for replacing a finished workpiece on a pallet unloaded to the loading and unloading station with a fresh workpiece on the workpiece support and is further equipped with the second replaceable hand in the first position and moved to the second position for replacing a defective or damaged cutting tool in the tool magazine with a spare cutting tool of the same type on the tool support.