Structure for storing reduction tubes for numerical control lathes

Abstract

The invention relates to a structure for storing a plurality of reduction tubes for numerical control lathes. The structure is preferably shaped as a cabinet and comprises a plurality of storage stands, each including a pair of disc-shaped racks rotatable around the axis thereof with respect to the bearing structure of the cabinet and provided with a plurality of notches for accommodating the reduction tubes.

Description

[0001] Structure for storing reduction tubes for numerical control lathes

[0002] Field of application of the invention

[0003] The present invention finds application in the field of machining, in particular for metal workpieces. More precisely, the present invention relates to a cabinet for storing reduction tubes for numerical control lathes.

[0004] Reduction tubes are rods, generally made of metal, with a circular section and longitudinally hollow, by means of which a bar to be machined in a numerical control lathe is inserted into the tie rod of the lathe and pushed inside the latter to a sufficient extent for machining a workpiece. Reduction tubes are known. Therefore, no further details will be provided.

[0005] Review of the background art and highlighting of the technical problem

[0006] The bars to be subjected to turning may have multiple diameters. Since the tie rod of a lathe has a well-defined and not modifiable inner diameter, the companies that carry out mechanical machining operations from bars by means of numerically controlled lathes generally have a plurality of reduction tubes characterized by an outer diameter and by an inner diameter that varies from tube to tube. The reduction tubes must be kept perfectly intact since any dents, twists or bends could give rise to oscillations or vibrations when the reduction tube, together with a bar to be subjected to turning and inserted therein, is accommodated in the tie rod of the lathe. This would obviously damage the lathe.

[0007] In light of the foregoing, it is necessary to store the reduction tubes in an appropriate manner, so as to maintain them as intact as possible. The Applicant is not aware of solutions to this problem.

[0008] Objects of the invention

[0009] It is the object of the present invention to overcome the aforesaid drawbacks by indicating a structure for storing reduction tubes for numerical control lathes, allowing the reduction tubes to be stored so as to preserve the integrity thereof. Summary and advantages of the invention

[0010] It is the object of the present invention a structure for storing a plurality of reduction tubes for a numerical control lathe,

[0011] said structure comprising:

[0012] • a cavity;• a lower base at which said structure is restable on the ground;

[0013] • an upper base opposite said lower base;

[0014] • a first and a second side walls and a bottom wall interposed between said bases,

[0015] said bottom wall being interposed between said side walls,

[0016] said side walls and said bottom wall being connected to one another and to said bases so as to delimit said cavity in a partial manner and together with said bases;

[0017] • an access opening to said cavity opposite said bottom wall and interposed between said bases and between said side walls,

[0018] in which, in accordance with the invention, said structure further comprises at least one storage stand accommodated in said cavity and including:

[0019] • a longitudinally extending rod,

[0020] with reference to when said structure is resting on the ground at said lower base, said rod being horizontally arranged;

[0021] • connection means of said rod to said bottom wall and / or to at least one of said side walls,

[0022] said connection means being such whereby said rod is rotatable on itself, with respect to said side walls and to said bottom wall, around a longitudinal axis thereof,

[0023] with reference to when said structure is resting on the ground at said lower base, said longitudinal axis being horizontally arranged;

[0024] • a pair of racks, each of which comprising:

[0025] - a disc integrally, centrally (i.e., at the center thereof) and orthogonally connected to said rod so that:

[0026] a rotation of said rod around the axis thereof determines a rotation of said disc around said longitudinal axis of said rod

[0027] and

[0028] diagrammatically representing said disc with a circle, said longitudinal axis of said rod is orthogonal to said circle and passes through the center thereof,

[0029] said disc being delimited by:a first face;

[0030] a second face opposite said first face and parallel to the latter;

[0031] an edge interposed between said faces;

[0032] - a plurality of notches made in said disc,

[0033] each notch of said plurality extending in said disc:

[0034] radially starting from said edge so that each notch of said plurality is accessible from said edge and said notches of said plurality are arranged, on said disc, circumferentially one beside the other

[0035] and

[0036] from said first face to said second face so that each notch of said plurality is also accessible from each of said faces,

[0037] each notch of said plurality being delimited by a bottom extending in length from a first end to a second end opposite said first end,

[0038] for each notch of said plurality:

[0039] said bottom being interposed between said faces,

[0040] each of said ends of said bottom being at said edge of said disc, said bottom being shaped so that a reduction tube of said plurality is partially accommodatable in said notch so as to be arranged transversely to said disc;

[0041] - for each notch of said plurality, first locking means suitable to take at least:

[0042] a first configuration at which said first locking means integrally connect to said disc a reduction tube of said plurality when partially accommodated in said notch, and consequently prevent a reduction tube of said plurality, when partially accommodated in said notch, from de-accommodating itself (for example due to the weight force acting on the tube), or being deaccommodated, from said notch;

[0043] a second configuration at which said first locking means allow partially accommodating a reduction tube of said plurality in said notch or de-ac- commodating a reduction tube of said plurality from said notch should it be partially accommodated therein;

[0044] said racks having the same number of notches of said plurality,

[0045] said discs being connected to said rod so as to be mutually opposing and sothat each notch of said plurality of one of said racks opposes a notch of said plurality of the other of said racks, so that a reduction tube of said plurality is partially and simultaneously accommodatable in a notch of said plurality of one of said racks and in the notch of said plurality of the other of said racks and opposing it,

[0046] each notch of said plurality of one of said racks being aligned with the notch of said plurality of the other of said racks and opposing it parallel to said longitudinal axis of said rod so that when said structure is resting on the ground at said lower base:

[0047] - each notch of said plurality of one of said racks is aligned horizontally with the notch of said plurality of the other of said racks and opposing it;

[0048] - at a rotation of said rod around the longitudinal axis thereof, each notch of said plurality of one of said racks remains aligned with the notch of said plurality of the other of said racks and opposing it, parallel to said longitudinal axis of said rod, and therefore horizontally,

[0049] the notches of said plurality of each of said racks being shaped so that, and said first locking means being shaped so that, when:

[0050] - said structure is resting on the ground at said lower base,

[0051] - a reduction tube of said plurality is partially and simultaneously accommodated in a notch of said plurality of one of said racks and in the notch of said plurality of the other of said racks and opposing it

[0052] and

[0053] - said first locking means combined with said two mutually opposing notches, respectively, are in said first configuration,

[0054] said reduction tube, in addition to being immobilized with respect to said discs, is horizontally arranged so that at a rotation of said rod around the longitudinal axis thereof, said reduction tube remains horizontally aligned;

[0055] • second locking means suitable to take at least:

[0056] - a first configuration at which said second locking means prevent a rotation of said rod, around the longitudinal axis thereof, with respect to said side walls and to said bottom wall;

[0057] - a second configuration at which said second locking means allow a rotationof said rod, around the longitudinal axis thereof, with respect to said side walls and said bottom wall.

[0058] With the structure of the invention, it is advantageously possible to store a plurality of reduction tubes for one or more numerical control lathes so as to preserve the integrity of said tubes.

[0059] T o accommodate a plurality of reduction tubes within the structure of the invention starting from a configuration in which said structure does not contain any tube, the first locking means of all the pairs of mutually opposing notches are in the second configuration and the second locking means are in the first configuration, it is simply necessary to place a first reduction tube in two mutually opposing notches (preferably located at the opening of the structure, so as to be accessible). Once this has been done, the first locking means of the latter are made to take the first configuration (so as to immobilize the tube with respect to the two discs). To accommodate in the structure of the invention a second reduction tube, it is necessary to cause the second locking means to take the second configuration (so as to “unlock” the rod) and to rotate the rod together with the discs around the aforesaid longitudinal axis so as to select a second pair of mutually opposing notches in which to place the second reduction tube (placing them at the opening of the structure). Once the selection has been made, the second locking means are made to take the first configuration (so as to immobilize the rod and the discs). Once this has been done, the second reduction tube is placed in the aforesaid two notches, and the first locking means of the latter are made to take the first configuration (so as to immobilize the second reduction tube with respect to the two discs). The above-described operations are repeated until all the reduction tubes are accommodated inside the (cavity of the) structure of the invention. Advantageously, the fact that, when a reduction tube is accommodated in a pair of mutually opposing notches and the first locking means associated with said notches are in the first configuration, the tube is immobilized with respect to the discs, it ensures that, upon a rotation of the rod around the axis thereof, the tube does not suffer impacts or displacements.

[0060] Additionally, the fact that the notches are shaped such that, and the first locking means are shaped such that, when the structure is resting on the ground at thelower base thereof, a reduction tube is accommodated in a pair of mutually opposing notches and the first locking means associated with said notches are in the first configuration, the tube, in addition to being immobilized with respect to the discs, is horizontally arranged, it ensures that, when the first locking means are made to take the second configuration to extract the reduction tube from the structure, the weight force acting on the tube does not tend to cause the tube to slide out of the notches (incidentally, it means herein in the transverse, and not radial, direction with respect to the faces of the discs).

[0061] The presence of the second locking means is also extremely advantageous since, when it is desired to extract, from the structure of the invention, a tube accommodated therein, by virtue of the second locking means it is possible to keep the discs stationary during the de-accommodation operation of the tube. The discs and the rod may indeed rotate as a result of how the reduction tubes possibly accommodated inside the structure are distributed (and, in particular, as a result of how the weight thereof is distributed).

[0062] Other innovative features of the present invention are disclosed in the following description and referred to in the dependent claims.

[0063] According to an aspect of the invention, said discs are symmetrical to one another with respect to a plane orthogonal to said longitudinal axis,

[0064] the notches of said plurality of one of said racks being symmetrical, with respect to said plane, to the notches of said plurality of the other of said racks.

[0065] According to another aspect of the invention, the notches of said plurality of each of said racks are equal to one another and are angularly equally spaced apart from one another.

[0066] Advantageously, according to this aspect of the invention, the discs are mass-balanced (or more mass-balanced with respect to other configurations) in terms of rotation around the longitudinal axis of the rod.

[0067] According to another aspect of the invention, each notch of said plurality of each of said racks is substantially “U”-shaped, with the two ends of the “U” corresponding to said first and second ends, respectively, of said bottom of said notch. According to another aspect of the invention, for each notch of said plurality of each of said racks, said first locking means comprise:• a bar hinged, at a first end thereof, to said disc in which said notch is made, said bar being rotatable, with respect to said disc in which said notch is made, between at least:

[0068] - a first position at which said bar prevents a reduction tube of said plurality, when partially accommodated in said notch, from de-accommodating itself or being de-accommodated, from said notch;

[0069] - a second position at which said bar allows partially accommodating a reduction tube of said plurality in said notch or de-accommodating a reduction tube of said plurality from said notch should it be partially accommodated therein;

[0070] • third locking means suitable to take at least, when said bar is in said first position:

[0071] - a first configuration at which said third locking means prevent a rotation of said bar with respect to said disc to which it is hinged;

[0072] - a second configuration at which said third locking means allow a rotation of said bar with respect to said disc to which it is hinged;

[0073] • a tightening bracket movable, with respect to said disc in which said notch is made, between:

[0074] - a first position at which the distance is minimum between said bracket and said bar when the latter is in said first position;

[0075] - a second position at which the distance is maximum between said bracket and said bar when the latter is in said first position,

[0076] said bracket being able to take, with respect to said disc in which said notch is made, a plurality of intermediate positions between said first and second positions,

[0077] said bracket being reversibly immobilizable with respect to said disc in which said notch is made when said bracket is in said first position, when said bracket is in said second position and when said bracket is in each intermediate position of said plurality,

[0078] when:

[0079] - a reduction tube of said plurality is partially accommodated in said notch - said bar is in said first positionand

[0080] - said third locking means are in said first configuration,

[0081] a placement of said bracket in an intermediate position of said plurality such that said reduction tube is tightened between said bar and said bracket, and a subsequent immobilization of said bracket with respect to said disc in which said notch is made determining an integral connection of said reduction tube to said disc in which said notch is made.

[0082] Incidentally, stating that the tightening bracket is reversibly immobilizable with respect to the disc means that the bracket may be connected integrally to the disc and subsequently disconnected therefrom so as to return to be movable between the aforesaid first and second positions, repeatedly.

[0083] According to another aspect of the invention, said second locking means comprise:

[0084] • a support connected to said bottom wall and / or to at least one of said side walls;

[0085] • a stop, translatable, with respect to said support, between at least a first position and a second position;

[0086] • elastic means connected to said support and to said stop,

[0087] said elastic means opposing a translation of said stop from said first position to said second position, so as to tend to:

[0088] - keep said stop in said first position when said stop is in said first position and to

[0089] - translate said stop to said first position when said stop is not in said first position;

[0090] • a plate including an at least partial accommodation seat for said stop for each pair of said mutually opposing notches,

[0091] said plate being connected to said rod so that, and said seats being in positions so that, at a complete rotation of said rod around the longitudinal axis thereof with respect to said side walls and to said bottom wall, said stop finds itself opposing each of said seats in sequence one after another,

[0092] when said stop is opposing one of said seats, said stop being at least partially accommodatable in said seat,when said stop is opposing one of said seats, said elastic means causing said stop to translate so as to at least partially accommodate the latter in said seat which it is opposing,

[0093] when said stop is at least partially accommodated in one of said seats, said stop immobilizing said plate with respect to said support, and consequently preventing a rotation of said rod, around the longitudinal axis thereof, with respect to said side walls and to said bottom wall,

[0094] when said stop is at least partially accommodated in one of said seats, the application of a sufficiently intense torque to said plate so as to overcome the opposition of said elastic means to move away said stop from said first position determining a de-accommodation of said stop from said seat in which said stop is at least partially accommodated.

[0095] According to another aspect of the invention, when said stop is not opposing one of said seats and consequently is not at least partially accommodated in one of said seats, said elastic means keep said stop pressed against said plate.

[0096] According to another aspect of the invention, said stop, at the location where it is pressing against said plate when it is not opposing one of said seats, comprises a sphere constrained to said elastic means so as to be able to roll, with respect thereto, on said plate, when said stop is not opposing one of said seats, with a rotation of plate with respect to said side walls and to said bottom wall.

[0097] According to another aspect of the invention, said storage stand, or each storage stand if more than one, comprises movement means suitable to rotate said rod, around the longitudinal axis thereof, with respect to said side walls and to said bottom wall,

[0098] said movement means including a lever graspable by a user of said structure and connected to said rod by means of a freewheel mechanism (also known as “oneway coupling”) and so that said lever, when grasped by said user, may be rotated:

[0099] • in a first direction, preferably downwards,

[0100] a rotation of said lever in said first direction determining a rotation in the same direction of said rod with respect to said side walls and to said bottom wall and• in a second direction opposite said first direction and therefore preferably upwards,

[0101] a rotation of said lever in said second direction not determining any rotation of said rod with respect to said side walls and to said bottom wall.

[0102] According to another aspect of the invention, said structure comprises multiple storage stands,

[0103] with reference to when said structure is resting on the ground at said lower base, said stands being arranged one on top of another.

[0104] Brief description of the Figures

[0105] Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of embodiments thereof and from the accompanying drawings, given purely by way of non-limiting example, in which: - Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a structure according to the present invention;

[0106] - Figure 2 shows, in a perspective view, the structure of Figure 1 deprived, for convenience of description, of the peripheral walls included therein;

[0107] - Figure 3 shows, in a planar side view, a storage stand of the structure of Figure 2.

[0108] Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention

[0109] In the following present description, a Figure may also be shown with reference to elements, which are not expressly indicated in that Figure, but in other Figures. The scale and proportions of the various depicted elements do not necessarily correspond to the real ones.

[0110] Figures 1 and 2 show a structure 1 , forming the object of the invention, for storing a plurality of reduction tubes for one or more numerical control lathes. The structure 1 is preferably shaped as a cabinet and comprises a cavity 2 delimited at the bottom by a base 3, preferably rectangular and at which the cabinet 1 is restable on the ground, preferably by means of four feet 4, and at the top by a base 5 opposite the base 3 and preferably parallel and equal to the latter. The cabinet 1 also comprises a first and a second side wall 6 and 7, and a bottom wall 8, preferably rectangular and interposed between the bases 3 and 5. The wall 8, in addition to being interposed between the bases 3 and 5, is interposed between thewalls 6 and 7. The walls 6, 7, and 8 are connected to each other and to the bases 3 and 5, preferably at the respective edges thereof, and so as to delimit the cavity 2, partially and jointly with the bases 3 and 5. The walls 6 and 7 are preferably mutually parallel and preferably orthogonal to the wall 8. The walls 6, 7, and 8 are orthogonal to the bases 3 and 5. As visible in Figure 1 , the cabinet 1 also comprises an opening 9, preferably rectangular, opposite the wall 8 and interposed between the bases 3 and 5 and between the walls 6 and 7. The opening 9 is an access opening to the cavity 2 and, even though it is not shown in the Figures, is preferably closable by means of one or a pair of doors, preferably of the swing type. When the cabinet 1 is resting on the ground at the feet 4 thereof (i.e., at the base 3 by means of the feet 4), the bases 3 and 5 are preferably horizontally arranged and, consequently, the walls 6, 7, and 8 are preferably vertically arranged.

[0111] Figure 2 shows the cabinet 1 without the bases 3 and 5 and the walls 6, 7, and 8. This allows to better observe both what is accommodated in the cavity 2, as well as the bearing structure of the cabinet 1 , including a plurality of uprights 10 and crosspieces 11.

[0112] As it is possible to notice in Figure 2, the cabinet 1 comprises at least one storage stand 12 accommodated in the cavity 2. The stands 12 are shown by way of explanation in a number equal to four and are accommodated inside the cavity 2, one above the other. Each stand 12 includes a rod 13 longitudinally extending from a first end to a second end opposite the first end. Preferably at the ends thereof, each rod 13 is connected to a pair of crosspieces 11 preferably arranged parallel to the bases 3 and 5. In each stand 12, the crosspieces 11 are preferably mutually parallel, respectively opposing the walls 6 and 7, and preferably orthogonal to the rod 13. In light of the foregoing, the rods 13 are parallel to the bases 3 and 5 and are consequently arranged horizontally when the cabinet 1 is resting on the ground at the feet 4. The rods 13 are preferably coplanar and mutually parallel, and the plane in which they lie is preferably arranged parallel to the wall 8 and therefore vertically when the cabinet 1 is rested on the ground at the feet 4. Incidentally, by means of the crosspieces 11 to which it is connected, each rod 13 is connected to the wall 8 and / or to at least one of the walls 6 and 7. Each rod13 is connected to a pair of crosspieces 11 so as to be rotatable around itself with respect to the latter, and consequently with respect to the walls 6, 7, and 8, around the longitudinal axis thereof (arranged orthogonally to the walls 6 and 7, and consequently horizontally when the cabinet 1 is resting on the ground at the feet 4).

[0113] Each stand 12 comprises a pair of racks 14 and 15. Each of the racks 14 and 15 of each stand 12 comprises a disc 16 integrally, centrally, and orthogonally connected to the rod 13 included in said stand 12, so that a rotation of said rod 13 around the axis thereof determines a rotation of the disc 16 around the longitudinal axis of said rod 13, and, by diagrammatically representing the disc 16 with a circle, said longitudinal axis of said rod 13 is orthogonal to said circle and passes through the center thereof. Each disc 16 is delimited by a first face 16a, by a second face 16b opposite the face 16a and parallel to the latter, and by an edge 16c interposed between the faces 16a and 16b. As shown in the Figures, each disc 16 comprises a plurality of notches 17. The latter are shown, for each disc 16, by way of explanation, in a number equal to twelve. Each notch 17 extends in the disc 16 in which it is made, both radially starting from the edge 16c of the latter, so that each notch 17 is accessible from said edge 16c and the notches 17 of each disc 16 are arranged, on said disc 16, circumferentially side by side, as well as from the face 16a to the face 16b of said disc 16, so that each notch 17 is also accessible from each of the faces 16a and 16b of the disc 16 in which it is comprised. As visible in Figure 3, each notch 17 is delimited by a bottom 18 extending in length from a first end 19 to a second end 20 opposite the end 19. The bottom 18 of each notch 17 is interposed between the faces 16a and 16b of the disc 16 in which said notch 17 is made, and has the ends 19 and 20 thereof at the edge 16c of said disc 16. The bottom 18 of each notch 17 is shaped so that a reduction tube storable in the structure 1 is partially receivable in said notch 17, so as to be arranged transversely with respect to the disc 16 comprising said notch 17. Since each disc 16 is arranged orthogonally to the rod 13 to which it is connected and since the bottom 18 of each notch 17 is shaped so that a reduction tube storable in the structure 1 is partially receivable in said notch 17 so as to be arranged transversely with respect to the disc 16 comprising said notch 17, areduction tube storable in the structure 1 is partially receivable in each notch 17 so as to be arranged parallel to the rod 13 to which the disc 16 comprising said notch 17 is connected.

[0114] As already reiterated, each disc 16 is arranged orthogonally to the rod 13 to which it is connected. The discs 16 of the racks 14 and 15, respectively, of each stand 12 are therefore parallel to one another. Preferably, the discs 16 of the racks 14 and 15, respectively, of each stand 12 are symmetrical to one another with respect to a plane orthogonal to the rod 13 to which the aforesaid discs 16 are connected (i.e., orthogonal to the aforesaid longitudinal axis of said rod 13). Additionally, for each stand 12, the notches 17 of the disc 16 of one of the racks 14 and 15 of said stand 12 are preferably symmetrical to the notches 17 of the disc 16 of the other rack 14 or 15 of said stand 12, with respect to the same plane with respect to which the discs 16 of said stand 12 are symmetrical. The notches 17 of each disc 16 are preferably equal to one another and are preferably angularly equally spaced apart from one another. Incidentally, for each stand 12, the notches 17 of the disc 16 of one of the racks 14 and 15 of said stand 12 are preferably identical to the notches 17 of the disc 16 of the other rack 14 or 15 of said stand 12.

[0115] As it may be seen in Figure 3, each notch 17 is preferably substantially “U-shaped”, with the two ends of the “U” respectively corresponding to the ends 19 and 20 of the bottom 18 of said notch 17.

[0116] Again, as can be seen in Figure 3, each notch 17 is preferably provided with a bar 21 hinged, at one end thereof, to the disc 16 comprising said notch 17, preferably at or close to the end 19 of the bottom 18 of the latter. The bar 21 of each notch 17 is rotatable, with respect to the disc 16 in which said notch 17 is made, between at least one first position at which said bar 21 prevents a reduction tube, when partially accommodated in said notch 17, from becoming de-accommo-dated or from being de-accommodated from said notch 17, and a second position at which said bar 21 allows partially accommodating a reduction tube in said notch 17, or de-accommodating a reduction tube from said notch 17 if partially accommodated therein. Each bar 21 is provided with a locking system 22, substantially corresponding, by way of explanation, to a latch and falling within thepreviously mentioned "third locking means", configured to take at least, when said bar 21 is in the aforesaid first position, a first configuration at which the system 22 prevents a rotation of said bar 21 with respect to the disc 16 to which it is hinged, and a second configuration at which the system 22 allows a rotation of said bar 21 with respect to the disc 16 to which it is hinged.

[0117] Each bar 21 is further associated with a tightening bracket 23 preferably connected to the disc 16 in which the notch 17 “guarded” by said bar 21 is made, and movable, with respect to said disc 16, between a first position at which the distance between the bracket 23 and said bar 21 is minimum when the latter is in the first position, and a second position at which the distance between the bracket and said bar 21 is maximum when the latter is in the first position. Each bracket 23 is preferably and substantially shaped as a “tab” delimited by an edge including a substantially “V-shaped” segment. The bracket 23 associated with each notch 17 is connected to, and opposing disc 16 comprising said notch 17 so that the bracket 23, when in the second position, is partially opposing said notch 17 with the above-mentioned substantially V-shaped segment of the edge thereof at the base of the bottom 18 of said notch 17, and with the convexity of the aforesaid V (as which the above-mentioned edge segment of bracket 23 is substantially shaped) facing toward the center of the disc 16 including said notch 17. Incidentally, “base” of the bottom 18 of a notch 17 means the portion of the bottom 18 farthest (and substantially equidistant) from the ends 19 and 20 thereof. In moving from the second position toward the first position, each bracket 23 preferably translates radially toward the bar 21 to which it is coupled (with reference to when said bar 21 is in the first position). Each bracket 23 may take, with respect to the disc 16 in which the notch 17 “guarded” by the bar 21 to which said bracket 23 is associated is made, a plurality of intermediate positions between the aforesaid first and second positions. Each bracket 23 is reversibly immobilizable (with respect to the disc 16 in which the notch 17 “guarded” by the bar 21 to which said bracket 23 is associated is made, and, for example, by means of a tightening by a bolt) both when said bracket 23 is in the first or second position, and when said bracket 23 is in an intermediate position between the first and the second position. When a reduction tube is partially accommodated in a notch 17, the bar 21“guarding” said notch 17 is in the first position and the system 22 associated with said bar 21 is in the first configuration, a placement of the bracket 23 paired with said bar 21 in an intermediate position such that the reduction tube is tightened between said bar 21 and said bracket 23, and a subsequent immobilization of said bracket 23 with respect to the disc 16 in which said notch 17 is made, result in an integral connection of the reduction tube to said disc 16.

[0118] In the Figures, the bars 21 are shown in the first position, the locking systems 22 are shown in the first configuration and the brackets 23 are shown in the second position.

[0119] Each bar 21 , together with the system 22 and the bracket 23 associated therewith, falls within the previously mentioned “first locking means”. In light of the foregoing, the latter are suitable to take at least one first configuration at which they integrally connect to the disc 16 in which the notch 17 “guarded” by said bar 21 is made, a reduction tube when partially accommodated in said notch 17 and consequently prevent a reduction tube, when partially accommodated in the notch 17 “guarded” by said bar 21 , from de-accommodating itself or from being de-accommodated from said notch 17, and a second configuration at which they allow partially accommodating a reduction tube in the notch 17 “guarded” by said bar 21, or de-accommodating a reduction tube from said notch 17 if partially accommodated therein.

[0120] The racks 14 and 15 of each stand 12 have the same number of notches 17 (by way of explanation and as previously specified, corresponding to twelve). The discs 16, respectively of the racks 14 and 15 of each stand 12, are connected to the rod 13 of the latter so as to be mutually opposing each other, and so that each notch 17 of the disc 16 of one of the racks 14 and 15 of said stand 12 is opposing a notch 17 of the disc 16 of the other rack 14 or 15 of said stand 12, so that a reduction tube is partially and simultaneously accommodatable in a notch 17 of the disc 16 of one of the racks 14 and 15 of a stand 12 and in the notch 17 (of the disc 16 of the other rack 14 or 15 of said stand 12) opposing thereto. Each notch 17 of the disc 16 of one of the racks 14 and 15 of each stand 12 is opposing a notch 17 of the disc 16 of the other rack 14 or 15 of said stand 12, parallel to the longitudinal axis of the rod 13 of said stand 12, so that, when the structure 1is resting on the ground at the feet 4 of the base 3, each notch 17 is aligned horizontally with the notch 17 opposing thereto and, upon a rotation of the rod 13, to which the disc 16 including said notch 17 is connected, around the longitudinal axis thereof, it remains aligned with the notch 17 opposing thereto, parallel to the longitudinal axis of said rod 13 and therefore horizontally.

[0121] The notches 17 of the disc 16 of each rack 14 or 15 of each stand 12 are shaped so that, and the above-mentioned corresponding first locking means are shaped so that, when the structure 1 is resting on the ground at the feet 4 of the base 3, a reduction tube is partially and simultaneously accommodated in one notch 17, and in the notch 17 opposing thereto, and the first locking means respectively paired with said two mutually opposing notches 17 are in the first configuration, said reduction tube is immobilized with respect to the discs 16 respectively comprising said two mutually opposing notches 17 and is horizontally arranged so that, upon a rotation of the rod 13 to which said discs 16 are connected around the longitudinal axis thereof, said reduction tube remains horizontally aligned. The structure 1 , for each stand 12, preferably comprises a support 24 preferably integrally connected to one of the two crosspieces 11 to which the rod 13 of said stand 12 is connected, and a stop which is slidable with respect to the support 24, between at least a first position and a second position. Between each support 24 and the stop associated therewith, elastic means are preferably interposed opposing a translation of the stop from the second position toward the first position, so as to tend to keep the stop in the second position when it is in the second position, and to translate the stop to toward the second position when it is not in the second position. Incidentally, by means of the crosspiece 11 to which it is connected, each support 24 is connected to the wall 8 and / or to at least one of the walls 6 and 7.

[0122] The structure 1 , for each stand 12, also comprises a plate 25, preferably substantially disc-shaped, including, for each pair of mutually opposing notches 17 included in said stand 12, a seat 26 for at least partially accommodating the stop of said stand 12. The plate 25 is connected to the rod 13 of the stand 12 so that, and the seats 26 are in positions so that, upon a complete rotation of said rod 13 around the longitudinal axis thereof with respect to the walls 6, 7 and 8, the stopcomes to be opposing each of the seats 26 sequentially one after the other. When the stop of each stand 12 is opposing one of the seats 26, the stop is at least partially receivable in said seat 26. When the stop of each stand 12 is opposing one of the seats 26, the aforesaid elastic means further determine a translation of the stop so as to at least partially accommodate the latter in the seat 26 to which it is opposing. When the stop of each stand 12 is at least partially accommodated in one of the seats 26, the stop immobilizes the plate 25 of said stand 12 with respect to the support 24 included in the latter, so as to prevent a rotation of the rod 13 of the stand 12, around the longitudinal axis thereof, with respect to the walls 6, 7, and 8. When the stop of a stand 12 is at least partially accommodated in one of the seats 26 (of the plate 25 of said stand 12), to “unlock” the rod 13 of said stand 12 so as to make it rotate with respect to the walls 6, 7 and 8, it is necessary to apply to the plate 25 of said stand 12 a sufficiently intense torque to overcome the opposition of the elastic means to a movement of the stop away from the second position, so as to determine a de-accommodation of the stop from the seat 26 in which it is at least partially accommodated. Preferably, when the stop of a stand 12 is not opposing one of the seats 26 of the plate 25 of said stand 12 (and consequently it is not at least partially accommodated in one of the seats 26), the elastic means of said stand 12 keep the stop pressed against said plate 25. Additionally, the stop of a stand 12, where the stop is pressed against the plate 25 of said stand 12 when the stop is not opposing one of the seats 26, preferably comprises a sphere constrained to roll on said plate 25, when the stop is not opposing one of the seats 26, during a rotation of the rod 13 (and consequently of said plate 25) of said stand 12 with respect to the walls 6, 7 and 8. For each stand 12, the support 24, the stop and the elastic means associated therewith, and the plate 25 with the seats 26 fall within the previously mentioned “second locking means” of said stand 12. In light of the foregoing, the second locking means are suitable to take at least one first configuration at which they prevent a rotation of the rod 13 of said stand 12, around the longitudinal axis thereof, with respect to the walls 6, 7 and 8, and a second configuration at which the second locking means allow a rotation of the rod 13 of said stand 12, around the longitudinal axis thereof, with respect to the walls 6, 7 and 8.The structure 1 , for each stand 12, preferably comprises appropriate means, by means of which the rod 13 of said stand 12 can be rotated, about the longitudinal axis thereof, with respect to the walls 6, 7 and 8. In particular, for each stand 12, the structure 1 preferably comprises a lever 27 graspable by a user of the struc-ture 1 and connected to the rod 13 of said stand 12 by means of a freewheel mechanism and so that the lever 27, when grasped by the aforesaid user, may be rotated in a first direction, preferably downwards, determining a rotation in the same direction of said rod 13 with respect to the walls 6, 7 and 8, and in a second direction opposite the aforesaid first direction, and therefore preferably upwards, without determining any rotation of the rod 13 with respect to the walls 6, 7 and 8.

[0123] Based on the description provided for a preferred embodiment, it is apparent that changes can be made by those skilled in the art without thereby departing from the scope of the invention, as defined by the following claims.

Claims

C LAI M S1. A structure (1) for storing a plurality of reduction tubes for a numerical control lathe,said structure (1) comprising:• a cavity (2);• a lower base (3) at which said structure (1 ) is restable on the ground;• an upper base (5) opposite said lower base (3);• a first and a second side walls (6, 7) and a bottom wall (8) interposed between said bases (3, 5),said bottom wall (8) being interposed between said side walls (6, 7), said side walls (6, 7) and said bottom wall (8), being connected to one another and to said bases (3, 5) so as to delimit said cavity (2) in a partial manner and together with said bases (3, 5);• an access opening (9) to said cavity (2) opposite said bottom wall (8) and interposed between said bases (3, 5) and between said side walls (6, 7), said structure (1) being characterized in that it comprises at least one storage stand (12) accommodated in said cavity (2) and including:• a rod (13) longitudinally extending,when said structure (1 ) is resting on the ground at said lower base (3), said rod (13) being horizontally arranged;• connection means of said rod (13) to said bottom wall (8) and / or to at least one of said side walls (6, 7),said connection means being such whereby said rod (13) is rotatable on itself, with respect to said side walls (6, 7) and to said bottom wall (8), around the longitudinal axis thereof,when said structure (1) is resting on the ground at said lower base (3), said longitudinal axis being horizontally arranged;• a pair of racks (14, 15), each of which comprising:- a disc (16) integrally, centrally and orthogonally connected to said rod (13) so that:a rotation of said rod (13) around the axis thereof determines a rotation of said disc (16) around said longitudinal axis of said rod (13)anddiagrammatically representing said disc (16) with a circle, said longitudinal axis of said rod (13) is orthogonal to said circle and passes through the center thereof,said disc (16) being delimited by:a first face (16a);a second face (16b) opposite said first face (16a) and parallel to the latter; an edge (16c) interposed between said faces (16a, 16b);- a plurality of notches (17) made in said disc (16),each notch (17) of said plurality extending in said disc (16):radially starting from said edge (16c) so that each notch (17) of said plurality is accessible from said edge (16c) and said notches (17) of said plurality are arranged, on said disc (16), circumferentially one beside the otherandfrom said first face (16a) to said second face (16b) so that each notch (17) of said plurality is accessible also from each of said faces (16a , 16b),each notch (17) of said plurality being delimited by a bottom (18) extending in length from a first end (19) to a second end (20) opposite said first end (19),for each notch (17) of said plurality:said bottom (18) being interposed between said faces (16a, 16b), each of said ends (19, 20) of said bottom (18) being at said edge (16c) of said disc (16),said bottom (18) being shaped so that a reduction tube of said plurality is partially accommodatable in said notch (17) so as to be arranged transversely to said disc (16);- for each notch (17) of said plurality, first locking means (21 , 22, 23) suitable to take at least:a first configuration at which said first locking means (21 , 22, 23) integrally connect to said disc (16) a reduction tube of said plurality whenpartially accommodated in said notch (17), and consequently prevent a reduction tube of said plurality, when partially accommodated in said notch (17), from de-accommodating itself, or being de-accommodated, from said notch (17);a second configuration at which said first locking means (21 , 22, 23) allow partially accommodating a reduction tube of said plurality in said notch (17) or de-accommodating a reduction tube of said plurality from said notch (17) should it be partially accommodated therein;said racks (14, 15) having the same number of notches (17) of said plurality, said discs (16) being connected to said rod (13) so as to be mutually opposing and so that each notch (17) of said plurality of one of said racks (14, 15) opposes a notch (17) of said plurality of the other of said racks (14, 15), so that a reduction tube of said plurality is partially and simultaneously accommodatable in a notch (17) of said plurality of one of said racks (14, 15) and in the notch (17) of said plurality of the other of said racks (14, 15) and opposing it, each notch (17) of said plurality of one of said racks (14, 15) being aligned with the notch (17) of said plurality of the other of said racks (14, 15) and opposing it parallel to said longitudinal axis of said rod (13) so that when said structure (1) is resting on the ground at said lower base (3):- each notch (17) of said plurality of one of said racks (14, 15) is aligned horizontally with the notch (17) of said plurality of the other of said racks (14, 15) and opposing it;- at a rotation of said rod (13) around the longitudinal axis thereof, each notch (17) of said plurality of one of said racks (14, 15) remains aligned with the notch (17) of said plurality of the other of said racks (14, 15) and opposing it, parallel to said longitudinal axis of said rod (13), and therefore horizontally,the notches (17) of said plurality of each of said racks (14, 15) being shaped so that, and said first locking means (21 , 22, 23) being shaped so that, when: - said structure (1) is resting on the ground at said lower base (3),- a reduction tube of said plurality is partially and simultaneously accommodated in a notch (17) of said plurality of one of said racks (14, 15) and in thenotch (17) of said plurality of the other of said racks (14, 15) and opposing itand- said first locking means (21, 22, 23) combined with said two mutually opposing notches (17), respectively, are in said first configuration,said reduction tube, in addition to being immobilized with respect to said discs (16), is horizontally arranged so that at a rotation of said rod (13) around the longitudinal axis thereof, said reduction tube remains horizontally aligned; • second locking means (24, 25, 26) suitable to take at least:- a first configuration at which said second locking means (24, 25, 26) prevent a rotation of said rod (13), around the longitudinal axis thereof, with respect to said side walls (6, 7) and to said bottom wall (8);- a second configuration at which said second locking means (24, 25, 26) allow a rotation of said rod (13), around the longitudinal axis thereof, with respect to said side walls (6, 7) and said bottom wall (8).

2. A structure (1 ) according to claim 1 , characterized in that said discs (16) are mutually symmetrical with respect to a plane orthogonal to said longitudinal axis of said rod (13),the notches (17) of said plurality of one of said racks (14, 15) being symmetrical, with respect to said plane, to the notches (17) of said plurality of the other of said racks (14, 15).

3. A structure (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the notches (17) of said plurality of each of said racks (14, 15) are equal to one another and are angularly equally spaced apart from one another.

4. A structure (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each notch (17) of said plurality of each of said racks (14, 15) is substantially “U”-shaped, with the two ends of the “U” corresponding to said first and second ends (19, 20), respectively, of said bottom (18) of said notch (17).

5. A structure (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that for each notch (17) of said plurality of each of said racks (14, 15), said first locking means (21, 22, 23) comprise:• a bar (21) hinged, at a first end thereof, to said disc (16) in which said notch(17) is made,said bar (21) being rotatable, with respect to said disc (16) in which said notch (17) is made, between at least:- a first position at which said bar (21) prevents a reduction tube of said plurality, when partially accommodated in said notch (17), from de-accommo- dating itself or being de-accommodated, from said notch (17);- a second position at which said bar (21) allows partially accommodating a reduction tube of said plurality in said notch (17) or de-accommodating a reduction tube of said plurality from said notch (17) should it be partially accommodated therein;• third locking means (22) suitable to take at least, when said bar (21) is in said first position:- a first configuration at which said third locking means (22) prevent a rotation of said bar (21) with respect to said disc (16) to which it is hinged;- a second configuration at which said third locking means (22) allow a rotation of said bar (21) with respect to said disc (16) to which it is hinged; • a tightening bracket (23) movable, with respect to said disc (16) in which said notch (17) is made, between:- a first position at which the distance is minimum between said bracket (23) and said bar (21) when the latter is in said first position;- a second position at which the distance is maximum between said bracket (23) and said bar (21) when the latter is in said first position,said bracket (23) being able to take, with respect to said disc (16) in which said notch (17) is made, a plurality of intermediate positions between said first and second positions,said bracket (23) being reversibly immobilizable with respect to said disc (16) in which said notch (17) is made when said bracket (23) is in said first position, when said bracket (23) is in said second position and when said bracket (23) is in each intermediate position of said plurality,when:- a reduction tube of said plurality is partially accommodated in said notch (17)- said bar (21) is in said first positionand- said third locking means (22) are in said first configuration,a placement of said bracket (23) in an intermediate position of said plurality such that said reduction tube is tightened between said bar (21) and said bracket (23), and a subsequent immobilization of said bracket (23) with respect to said disc (16) in which said notch (17) is made determining an integral connection of said reduction tube to said disc (16) in which said notch (17) is made.

6. A structure (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said second locking means (24, 25, 26) comprise:• a support (24) connected to said bottom wall (8) and / or to at least one of said side walls (6, 7);• a stop, translatable, with respect to said support, between at least a first position and a second position;• elastic means connected to said support (24) and to said stop,said elastic means opposing a translation of said stop from said first position to said second position, so as to tend to:- keep said stop in said first position when said stop is in said first position and to- translate said stop to said first position when said stop is not in said first position;• a plate (25) including, for each pair of said mutually opposing notches (17), a seat (26) for at least partially accommodating said stop,said plate (25) being connected to said rod (13) so that, and said seats (26) being in positions so that, at a complete rotation of said rod (13) around the longitudinal axis thereof with respect to said side walls (6, 7) and to said bottom wall (8), said stop finds itself opposing each of said seats (26) in sequence one after another,when said stop is opposing one of said seats (26), said stop being at least partially accommodatable in said seat (26),when said stop is opposing one of said seats (26), said elastic means causing said stop to translate so as to at least partially accommodate the latter in saidseat (26) which it is opposing,when said stop is at least partially accommodated in one of said seats (26), said stop immobilizing said plate (25) with respect to said support (24), and consequently preventing a rotation of said rod (13), around the longitudinal axis thereof, with respect to said side walls (6, 7) and to said bottom wall (8), when said stop is at least partially accommodated in one of said seats (26), the application of a sufficiently intense torque to said plate (25) so as to overcome the opposition of said elastic means to move away said stop from said first position determining a de-accommodation of said stop from said seat (26) in which said stop is at least partially accommodated.

7. A structure (1 ) according to claim 6, characterized in that when said stop is not opposing one of said seats (26) and consequently is not at least partially accommodated in one of said seats (26), said elastic means keep said stop pressed against said plate (25).

8. A structure (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that said stop, at the location where it is pressing against said plate (25) when it is not opposing one of said seats (26), comprises a sphere constrained to said elastic means so as to be able to roll, with respect to thereto, on said plate (25), when said stop is not opposing one of said seats (26), with a rotation of plate (25) together with said rod (13) with respect to said side walls (6, 7) and to said bottom wall (8).

9. A structure (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said storage stand (12), or each of said storage stands (12) if more than one, comprises movement means (27) suitable to rotate said rod (13) around the longitudinal axis thereof, with respect to said side walls (6, 7) and to said bottom wall (8),said movement means including a lever (27) graspable by a user of said structure (1) and connected to said rod (13) by means of a freewheel mechanism and so that said lever (27), when grasped by said user, may be caused to rotate:• in a first direction,a rotation of said lever (27) in said first direction determining a rotation in the same direction of said rod (13) with respect to said side walls (6, 7) and to said bottom wall (8)and• in a second direction opposite said first direction,a rotation of said lever (27) in said second direction not determining any rotation of said rod (13) with respect to said side walls (6, 7) and to said bottom wall (8).

10. A structure (1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of said storage stands (12),when said structure (1) is resting on the ground at said lower base (3), said storage stands (12) being arranged one on top of another.

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