Work supplying system to machine tools

Abstract

A work supplying system for conveying work attached to a pallet to a plurality of machine stations disposed around an imaginary center line iin a circumferential direction, and a work conveying and delivering unit for conveying the work to the work conveyor and delivering the work from the work conveyor, wherein a conveying and delivering station is disposed for conveying and delivering the work attached to the pallet, and a plurality of releasable stations are disposed corresponding to respective machine stations for machining the work, and are located on linear lines connecting the imaginary center line to the respective machining stations, and the conveying and delivering station and the releasable stations are installed around the imaginary center line at circumferentially equal intervals along an imaginary circle which has a center on the imaginary center line, the work conveyor comprising a post stand with an axis thereof aligned with the imaginary center line, slide units each reciprocatively movable between the associated releasable station and machining station, a plurality of stationary guide rails extending in a circular-arc shape along the imaginary circle at portions except the conveying and delivering station and the releasable stations, movable guide rails disposed on the slide units and extending in a circular-arc shape at portions corresponding to the conveying and delivering station and the respective releasable stations so as to be connectible to the stationary guide rails to form cooperatively with the stationary guide rails annular guide rails for guiding angular displacement of the pallet around the post, and an index arm supported on the post angularly displaceably for releasable connection to the pallet on the annular guide rails.