Automatic lathe and method of controlling same

Abstract

A turret ( 11 ) is clamped to a tool rest main body ( 10 ) by a pair of coupling members ( 27 ). During indexing rotation for selecting a tool, the tool rest main body ( 10 ) and the turret ( 11 ) are moved relatively in a Z-axis direction, and the pair of coupling members ( 27 ) are unclamped. At this time, the tool rest main body ( 10 ) is moved in the Z-axis direction relative to a lathe main body ( 100 ) in synchronization with the relative movement in the Z-axis direction between the tool rest main body ( 10 ) and the turret ( 11 ). This movement of the tool rest main body ( 10 ) is adjusted in direction and moving distance so that the relative movement between the turret ( 11 ) and a spindle table ( 1 ) is eliminated. As a result of this movement control, the turret ( 11 ) and the tool fitted to the former do not have relative displacement to the spindle table ( 1 ) and to a work, so that the danger of mutual interference among these constituent elements and the work can be eliminated.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. An automatic lathe comprising: 
       a lathe main body with a main spindle table mounted thereon;  
       a tool rest main body freely movable on the lathe main body at least in a z-axis direction parallel with a main spindle axis;  
       a turret mounted on the tool rest main body, and capable of relatively moving in the z-axis direction against the tool rest main body and indexing around a rotary center parallel to the z-axis;  
       a pair of coupling members installed on the tool rest main body and the turret, respectively, and capable of engaging with and disengaging from each other as a result of a relative movement in the z-axis direction taking place between the tool rest main body and the turret; and  
       control means for eliminating a relative movement between the turret and the main spindle table by moving the tool rest main body in the z-axis direction relative to the lathe main body, in synchronization with the relative movement in the z-axis direction taking place between the tool rest main body and the turret.  
     
     
       2. An automatic lathe comprising: 
       a lathe main body with a tool rest main body mounted thereon;  
       a main spindle table movable on the lathe main body at least in a z-axis direction parallel with a main spindle axis;  
       a turret mounted on the tool rest main body so as to be freely movable in the z-axis direction and freely indexable around a rotary center parallel to the z-axisrotary center;  
       a pair of coupling members installed on the tool rest main body and the turret, respectively, and capable of engaging with and disengaging from each other as a result of a movement of the turret in the z-axis direction; and  
       control means for eliminating a relative movement between the turret and the main spindle table by moving the main spindle table in the z-axis direction relative to the lathe main body, in synchronization with the movement of the turret in the z-axis direction.  
     
     
       3. An automatic lathe comprising: 
       a lathe main body with a main spindle table mounted thereon;  
       a tool rest main body freely movable on the lathe main body at least in an x-axis direction orthogonal to a main spindle axis;  
       a turret mounted on the tool rest main body, and capable of relatively moving the in the x-axis direction against the tool rest main body and indexing around a rotary center parallel to the z-axis  x- axis;    
       a pair of coupling members installed on the tool rest main body and the turret, respectively, and capable of engaging with and disengaging from each other as a result of a relative movement in the x-axis direction taking place between the tool rest main body and the turret; and  
       control means for eliminating a relative movement between the turret and the main spindle table by moving the tool rest main body in the x-axis direction relative to the lathe main body, in synchronization with the relative movement in the x-axis direction taking place between the tool rest main body and the turret.  
     
     
       4. A method of controlling an automatic lathe comprising a lathe main body with a main spindle table mounted thereon, a tool rest main body freely movable on the lathe main body at least in a z-axis direction parallel with a main spindle axis, a turret mounted on the tool rest main body and capable of relatively moving in the z-axis direction against the tool rest main body and indexing around a rotary center parallel to the z-axis, and a pair of coupling members installed on the tool rest main body and the turret, respectively, and capable of engaging with and disengaging from each other as a result of a relative movement in the z-axis direction taking place between the tool rest main body and the turret; 
       said method characterized in that a relative movement between the turret and the main spindle table is eliminated by moving the tool rest main body in the z-axis direction, relative to the lathe main body, in synchronization with the relative movement in the z-axis direction taking place between the tool rest main body and the turret.  
     
     
       5. A method of controlling an automatic lathe comprising a lathe main body with a tool rest main body mounted thereon, a main spindle table movable on the lathe main body at least in a z-axis direction parallel with a main spindle axis, a turret mounted on the tool rest main body so as to be freely movable in the z-axis direction and freely indexable around a rotary center parallel to the Z-axis, and a pair of coupling members installed on the tool rest main body and the turret, respectively, and capable of engaging with and disengaging from each other as a result of a movement of the turret in the z-axis direction; 
       said method characterized in that a relative movement between the turret and the main spindle table is eliminated by moving the main spindle table in the z-axis direction, relative to the lathe main body, in synchronization with the movement of the turret in the z-axis direction.  
     
     
       6. A method of controlling an automatic lathe comprising a lathe main body with a main spindle table mounted thereon, a tool rest main body freely moveable on the lathe main body at least in an x-axis direction orthogonal to a main spindle axis, a turret mounted on the tool rest main body and capable of relatively moving in the x-axis direction against the tool rest main body and indexing around a rotary center parallel to the Z-axis  x- axis , and a pair of coupling members installed on the tool rest main body and the turret, respectively, and capable of engaging with and disengaging from each other as a result of a relative movement in the x-axis direction taking place between the tool rest main body and the turret; 
       said method characterized in that a relative movement between the turret and the main spindle table is eliminated by moving the tool rest main body in the x-axis direction relative to the lathe main body, in synchronization with the relative movement in the x-axis direction taking place between the tool rest main body and the turret.