Universal High Speed Loader is based on cam action.
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Press Release Summary:
Able to adapt to different kinds of machines, UH Loader utilizes roller gear cam, driven by servomotor, to perform swing in/out, load arm left/right, and motion of shutter open/closed. Cam action is independent of CNC machine and connects to CNC machine mechanically at 2 points. Work piece supply/removal is independent of loader and can be adapted to different conditions. Load/unload time on 8/10 in. chuck machine is about 5-7 sec, and cam action cycle requires only 2 sec.
Original Press Release:
Tong-Tai (Topper) Introduces UHL - Universal High Speed Loader
VALLEY COTTAGE, NEW YORK (May 15, 2006): Cam action loaders are fast and reliable, but lack flexibility and universality. Robots on the other hand have flexibility to adapt to any situation, but lack speed and reliability. In this day and age of near net shape machining where machining times are less than 30 seconds, there is a need for a Universal High-Speed Loader that combines flexibility of a robot with the speed and reliability of cam loader. Tong-tai UH Loader is designed to fill this need.
Cam action is the basis of this UH Loader. Roller gear cam perform the complete action of swing in/out, loader arm left / right and motion of shutter open and close. A servomotor drives all cam mechanism. Hence no confirmation action of sequencer or hydraulics/pneumatics is required. This complete action in a cycle gives it extreme reliability and high-speed. This cam action on the loader is independent of the CNC machine. It connects to the CNC machine at two points mechanically. The work piece supply / removal is independent of the loader and can be adapted to different conditions as needed. This is what gives it flexibility, hence the term 'Universal'
How about load/unload time? The load / unload time on an 8" / 10" chuck machine is about 5 to 7 seconds. The cam action only needs 2 seconds for its cycle. The limiter or restrictor is the holding device on the CNC machine. On a standard hydraulic rotary cylinder type device where the PLC has to be used twice to confirm loader hand pickup and work piece final chucking - extra time has to be added to the entire cycle. When a Collet chuck with a mechanical cylinder and toggle joint is used then this total can be shortened (usually used on Swiss type lathes).
The UH Loader will be shown mounted on a TA20 - 8" turning center, during the IMTS-06 show. As this is a Universal Loader with a modular concept, it can be adapted to different kinds of machines.
Tong-Tai Seiki is a full line machine tool builder providing Standard Machines, Customized Machines and Special Purpose Machines in the US, Far East and China. It has offices in Taiwan, Mainland China, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan and USA. In the US, its machines are sold and serviced through a network of full service distributors throughout the country.
Tong-Tai started as a builder of machining lines for motorcycles in 1969. The principal products at this time were automatic turning machines and multi-spindle drilling and tapping machines. This basic background of building special purpose machines has been instrumental in providing the foundation of Tong-Tai being a machine tool builder rather than just an assembler of purchased components.
Tong-tai started building CNC turning centers in 1982 and advanced to horizontal and vertical machining centers in 1985. Knowledge to design and manufacture these machines was gained over 30 years of technical cooperation with various Japanese Machine Tool Builders. Since 1990 Tong-Tai had very close technical cooperation with Hitachi Seiki, one of the leading machine tool builders in Japan. Starting 1998, Tong-Tai was manufacturing and assembling machines for Hitachi Seiki, on an OEM basis, for export to USA, Japan and the world. Tong-Tai is also one of the few Taiwanese machine tool builders with ISO-9001 and ISO-14001 certification.
