Systems including at least one vertical turning machine or the like and at least two auxiliary stations

摘要

A system including a vertical turning machine and at least two auxiliary stations, such as a control, loading and discharge station, and a waiting station, has a drive mechanism for moving the workpiece platforms (pallets) between respective equipment supports (pallet supports). The drive mechanism includes a hydraulic cylinder housed in a diametral through seat in the upper part of the turning machine pallet support and located between respective pallet supporting straight guides. It includes a T-shaped hook member projecting from a cursor, located close to one end of the seat, and fixed to upper passes of a pair of chains driven by sprockets which form part of a carriage. The carriage is fixed to the end of a piston shaft projecting from the hydraulic cylinder. The advance of the piston shaft causes the carriage to project partly outwardly from the perimeter of the pallet support towards an auxiliary station. The lower passes of the chains are fixed close to the end of the cylinder from which the pistion shaft projects. Hence, the cursor and the T-shaped member have a supplementary movement to that due to cylinder action. The T-shaped member fits in a T-shaped, short radial slot in the lower face of the pallet. The end portion of the slot intersects an arcuate, inverted U-shaped groove, the axis of curvature of which coincides with the axis of rotation of the turning machine pallet support. When the guides which support the pallet move upwardly, the T-shaped member can carry the pallet onto or thrust the pallet away from the pallet support of the turning machine.