Air Ejector for Lathe Spindle Rearward Part Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Swiss-style CNC lathes face challenges in automatically ejecting long machined parts due to limited distance between the guide bushing and sub-spindle, making rearward ejection necessary, but prior art mechanical ejectors are impractical for long work pieces as they require partial ejection and spacer loading, leading to inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A part ejector mechanism using a first and second coaxial tube with an air channel and air ports, where a pin tool is used to insert into a part channel, allowing pressurized air to eject the part rearwardly by blocking and unblocking the air port, enabling efficient ejection of long machined parts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a mechanical ejector with a push rod is used to eject long work pieces, then the work piece can be pushed out, but it becomes impractical to employ a push rod long enough to push a long work piece all the way out, requiring partial ejection and spacer loading
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical push rod system with a pneumatic system. A nozzle directs compressed air into a cavity behind the work piece, using air pressure to propel the work piece out of the collet. This substitution eliminates the need for long mechanical push rods and complex spacer loading mechanisms, resolving the contradiction between ejection capability and mechanism complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs pneumatic pressure to eject the work piece. A nozzle delivers compressed air into a sealed cavity formed by the collet and a stop member, creating a pressure differential that forces the work piece outward. This pneumatic approach provides a simple yet effective means to eject long work pieces without requiring complex mechanical extensions.
2Volume of moving object
If the distance from the guide bushing to the sub-spindle is limited, then the machine structure is compact, but it impedes the ability to design a path for automatically removing finished work pieces that are relatively long
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of ejecting the work piece forward through the collet in the traditional manner, the patent inverts the ejection direction by pushing the work piece backward out of the collet using pneumatic pressure. This reverse ejection method allows long work pieces to be removed effectively within the limited space between the guide bushing and sub-spindle, maintaining compact machine footprint while enhancing work piece removal capability.
3Productivity
If prior art ejectors partially push a work piece out and then load a spacer, then the next work piece can be processed, but this leads to inefficiencies in the manufacturing process
Solution Approach 1:
The pneumatic ejection system enables complete and continuous ejection of the work piece in a single action. Compressed air is delivered through the nozzle to push the work piece entirely out of the collet without interruption, eliminating the need for pause-and-load operations required by mechanical systems. This continuous action improves manufacturing throughput by reducing cycle time and eliminating idle periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The system prepares for ejection by positioning the nozzle and sealing the cavity before activating the compressed air supply. This preliminary preparation ensures that when ejection is initiated, the pneumatic force is immediately applied and sustained throughout the entire ejection process, enabling complete work piece removal in one continuous motion without requiring intermediate spacer loading steps.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The air ejector mechanism effectively and automatically ejects long machined parts rearwardly, improving the efficiency and precision of CNC lathe operations by utilizing pressurized air to overcome static friction and ensure complete ejection without the need for spacers or partial ejection methods.
Implementation Method 1
pressurized air provided to the air channel passes through the air port into the part channel thereby moving the machined part located therein and ejecting it from the tube
Implementation Method 2
overcome static friction
Data Source
AI summary
A part ejector is shown and described wherein a machined part in a CNC lathe is ejected from a spindle of the lathe by means of an air pressure differential. The part ejector includes inner and outer tubes that are coupled to, and aligned with a spindle collet. Machined parts are received within the inner tube and a pin tool moves a pin into the inner tube to pneumatically seal the inner tube and push a machined part past one or more air ports that pneumatically connect the inner tube with an air channel located between the inner and outer tubes. Pressurized air is applied to the air channel and the pin is partially retracted to uncover the air ports thus allowing the pressurized air to enter the inner tube and eject the machined part out.