Index and table drive means for a machine tool

Abstract

A single drive and control means is selectively engageable to provide either rectilinear movement to the table base or rotary movement of an index table carried by the table base.

We claim:  .[. 
     
       1.  In a machine tool having table base supported for rectilinear movement along a supporting bed, said table base being provided with an index table supported by said table base for movement with it and for independent indexable movement relative to said table base; a source of power;   a first drive means carried by the bed and operable to effect the rectilinear movement of said table base;   a second drive means carried by said table base and operable to effect the indexable movement of said index table;   coupling means operable when actuated to connect said source of power to said first drive means or to said second drive means selectively; and   control means operable to actuate said coupling means and said power drive means for effecting rectilinear movement of said table or indexing movement of said index table selectively..]. .[.2. In a machine tool having a bed supporting a table base for rectilinear movement along the bed, at least one index table carried by said table base and rotatably indexable about its axis;   power drive means operably connected to effect either the rectilinear movement of said table base or the rotary movement of said index table, selectively;   a first motion translating means located on said table base and operably connected to said bed to effect the rectilinear motion of said table base relative to said bed;   a second motion translating means carried by said table base and operably connected to said index table to effect the rotary motion of said index table;   coupling means operable to engage said power drive means with either said first or second motion translating means, selectively; and   control means connected to said power drive means to regulate the operation of said power drive means;   whereby the rectilinear movement of said table base and the rotary movement of said index table may be selectively effected by operation of a single power drive..]. .[.3. In a machine tool according to claim 2 wherein said first motion translating means includes a screw operably mounted on said table base parallel to the direction of rectilinear movement of said table base; and,   a nut secured to said machine tool bed and operably connected to said screw..]. .[.4. In a machine tool according to claim 2 wherein said second motion translating means includes a gear secured to said index table in coaxial relationship therewith;   a gear transmission carried by said table base;   means to effect engagement between said index table gear and said gear transmission; and,   a drive shaft connected to receive the input drive from said power drive means and transmit it to said gear transmission..]. .[.5. In a machine tool according to claim 4 wherein said coupling means includes a shiftable drive transmission operably disposed to engage said screw or said drive shaft selectively, said shiftable drive transmission being operably connected to receive the power input drive from said power drive means..]. .[.6. A machine tool according to claim 2 wherein said power drive means includes a motor..]. .[.7. A machine tool according to claim 2 wherein said control means includes a signal generator operative to provide a signal indicating the number of revolutions of said motor; and,   a position register connected to said signal generator and operable to indicate either the amount of rectilinear distance said table base traveled or the amount of rotation of said index table, selectively..]. .Iadd. 8. In a machine tool having a bed supporting a table base for rectilinear movement along the bed, at least one index table carried by said table base and rotatably indexable about its axis;   a motor;   a first motion translating means located on said table base and operably connected to said bed to effect the rectilinear motion of said table base relative to said bed;   a second motion translating means carried by said table base and operably connected to said index table to effect the rotary motion of said index table means operable to selectively couple said motor to either said first motion translating means or said second motion translating means for actuating said table base in its rectilinear motion or said index table in its rotary motion selectively; and   a single servo control loop for regulating the operation of said motor to control the movement of both of said tables individually so that said single servo control loop automatically regulates the operation of the longitudinally movable table in its rectilinear movement alone or the operation of the rotary table in its rotary movement alone depending upon   
     
     
        which of said tables is being driven at the time. .Iaddend..Iadd. 9.  In a machine tool according to claim 8 wherein said first motion translating means includes a screw operably mounted on said table base parallel to the direction of rectilinear movement of said table base; and a nut secured to said machine tool bed and operably connected to said screw. .Iaddend..Iadd. 10. In a machine tool according to claim 8 wherein said second motion translating means includes a gear secured to said index table in coaxial relationship therewith;   a gear transmission carried by said table base;   coupling means to effect engagement between said index table gear and said gear transmission; and   a drive shaft connected to be rotated by said motor and being connected to drive said gear transmission. .Iaddend..Iadd. 11. In a machine tool according to claim 10 wherein said coupling means includes a shiftable drive transmission operably disposed to engage said screw or said drive shaft selectively, said shiftable drive transmission being operably connected to receive the power input drive from said motor. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 12. A machine tool according to claim 8 wherein said single servo control loop includes a signal generator operative to provide a signal indicating the number of revolutions of said motor; and   a position register connected to said signal generator and operable to indicate either the amount of rectilinear distance said table base traveled or the amount of rotation of said index table, selectively. .Iaddend.