Patents Examined by Erica Cadugan
  • Patent number: 7266871
    Abstract: To provide a machine tool in which supporting stiffness of a tool post is increased, thereby enabling improvement in machining accuracy. When seen in a Z-axis direction, a tool post 5 includes: a supporting member 30 having a pair of left and right leg parts 30a, 30a and an upper beam part 30b coupling at least upper ends of the both leg parts 30a with each other; and a turret 31 to whose outer circumferential portion a plurality of tools are attached. The supporting member 30 is supported to be movable in a Z-axis direction between a first and a second spindle headstock 3, 4, and the turret 31 is supported to be movable in an X-axis direction by turret guide rails 33, 33 which are disposed on front faces of the left and right leg parts 30a, 30a.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Mori Seiki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Syuji Takeuchi, Tsutomu Tokuma
  • Patent number: 7264581
    Abstract: A machining center includes a first column, a second column, a crossbeam mounted transversely on the first and the second columns, a tool magazine, an upper tool exchange device mounted on the crossbeam, a lower tool exchange device mounted on the tool magazine and a relay tool exchange device. The tool magazine is mounted near the first column and extends transversely. The relay tool exchange device is mounted on the first column and has a guide device, a frame, a tool case and a driving device. The guide device is mounted on the first column and extends longitudinally. The frame is mounted moveably on the guide device. The tool case is mounted the frame and aligned selectively with the upper and the lower tool exchange devices. The driving device is connected to the frame and drives the frame to approach the upper and the lower tool exchange devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Ding Koan Machinery Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Jim Lai
  • Patent number: 7261501
    Abstract: A machine tool comprising a cabin (5) provided with side walls (1, 2) and doors (3, 4), a slide (6) for the reception of a spindle head in which tools are clamped, and with a concertina (7) serving as a roof cover, the concertina (7), by means of the slide (6), being able to be unfolded, folded up and/or transported parallel to the longitudinal side (14) of the slide (6) and perpendicular to the side walls (1, 2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Mikron Agie Charmilles AG
    Inventors: Alexandre Condrau, Lukas Weder
  • Patent number: 7261503
    Abstract: In a multi-axis machine tool comprising a slide way aligned on a longitudinal axis, a traveling column coupled via one end with the slide way, an arm mounted slidably to the column and traversable at least in a first direction normal to the longitudinal axis of the slide way, and a machining head carried by the arm, the material used for the arm is one typified by low thermal expansion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: JOBS S.p.A.
    Inventors: Stefano Motta, Sandro Foletti
  • Patent number: 7258514
    Abstract: A machine tool is provided, in particular for the synchronous machining of workpieces. The tool includes two or more spindle units (2, 3), which run parallel in a machining unit and are designed to hold tools and repositioning devices for the precise adjustment of the position of the spindle units (2, 3) in relation to one another, preferably in all three directions x, y and z of the orthogonal co-ordinate system in the machining unit (4). The repositioning devices for displacing at least one of the spindle units (2, 3), at least in an x and/or y direction, include an eccentric bush (5, 6), which can be rotated about a central shaft (B1, B2) and locked and in which the spindle units (2, 3) are mounted eccentrically, parallel to the central shaft (B1, B2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Witzig & Frank GmbH
    Inventors: Walter Bauer, Timo Remmel, Helmut Nebeling
  • Patent number: 7257878
    Abstract: A continuous cable processing apparatus for producing cable sections with processed ends comprises a cable transport apparatus having at least one transport device for moving and holding the cable in the axial direction and, transversely thereto, a knife station. According to a special variant, two transport devices are arranged in the longitudinal cable direction on both sides of the knife station and, after the cable has been cut through, each hold one of the cable end regions produced on cutting, so that said end regions are movable in the longitudinal cable direction. At least one of these end processing stations is arranged transversely with respect to the longitudinal cable direction, adjacent to the knife station and at least one transport device is movable transversely with respect to the longitudinal cable direction so that a cable end region can be fed to the end processing station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Inventors: Beat Locher, Jiri Stephan
  • Patent number: 7257879
    Abstract: The invention is directed to an apparatus for cutting material by means of a milling cutter and laser radiation. The apparatus comprises a milling unit, a work spindle, a milling cutter, a laser, deflecting elements, focusing optics, and a work table. According to the invention, a workpiece can be milled and lasered simultaneously or successively at the same cutting location in that the laser beam is coupled into a channel coaxial to the mill axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: JENOPTIK Automatisierungstechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Alex Jancsó
  • Patent number: 7255667
    Abstract: A carrier for tool holders of a machine tool has at least one movable jaw which can be pivoted about a pivot axis that runs transversely with respect to a longitudinal axis of said tool holders. Said movable jaw can be pivoted between an expanded position and a closed position in which it grasps in a form-fitting manner a tool holder which is inserted into said carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Chiron-Werke GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Dirk Prust, Hans-Henning Winkler
  • Patent number: 7252466
    Abstract: A CNC machining center has a table-mounted referencing device having two pedestals, each separately engageable by a tool in a Z-axis drive tool holder to establish a zero reference for vertical machining operations on a work-piece mounted on the table. The first of the pedestals has a relatively soft top so that rapid Z-axis advance of the tool onto the pedestal will not damage the tool tip. A spring load on the pedestal also accommodates limited downward movement from a rest position for the pedestal to operate a Z-axis drive stop switch to further avoid tool damage and to save in the computer controller memory, the height of the tool tip from the table. The second pedestal is provided with a hard top so that when the tool tip is touched on it and moves the hard pedestal to operate the switch 34, the Z-axis drive recorder records in controller memory a number that is precisely related to the height of the tool tip from the table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Inventor: Gerald V. Roch
  • Patent number: 7249918
    Abstract: Cutting apparatus having a ram axis gear tube (32) equipped with internal threads engageable with external threads (48) of a main shaft (42). A tool can be fixed to the main shaft (42). The external threads (48) of the main shaft (42) are formed on external splines (44). A main shaft rotation gear (46) has internal splines (41) mating with the external splines (44) of the main shaft (42). Rotation of the ram axis gear tube 32 thus causes the main shaft (42) to move axially via the internal and external threads. Rotation of the main shaft rotation gear (46) causes rotation of the main shaft (42). The tool fixed to the main shaft (42) can thus undergo axial and rotational movements. A motor (74) can be coupled to main shaft (42) and a motor shaft (63) extended through the ram axis gear tube (32) and the main shaft (42). The motor shaft (63) can drive a linear gear (68) of a cross slide assembly (24) and thus radially move a tool fixed to the cross slide assembly (24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Inventor: Thomas W. Bowman
  • Patent number: 7250024
    Abstract: A tool shelf magazine for milling and drilling machines has at least one shelf, a plurality of compartments provided in the shelf above each other at predetermined intervals and also a plurality of notches, which are open on one side accommodating one suspended tool. A handling device is vertically and horizontally shiftable by means of a motor located adjacent to the shelf. At least one gripper arrangement is provided for extracting predetermined tools from the shelf and for transferring them to a tool changer. At least one shelf has compartments with notches serving as tool accommodations on the front and back side. The notches on the front side are located in the access range of the handling device and the notches on the back side are accessible for retooling. The shelf is formed so as to be rotatable about an axis for a change of sides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: Deckel Maho Pfronten GmbH
    Inventors: Alfred Geissler, Hans Gronbach
  • Patent number: 7249919
    Abstract: A release device for actuating a clamping device for tools has at least one release element and a drive drivingly connected to the at least one release element for moving the at least one release element from a rest position into a release position in which a draw bar of the clamping device is moved against a clamping force into a disengaged position. The drive is an electric motor. The axis of the electric motor can be aligned with the axis of the release device but an angled arrangement of the electric motor and of the release device relative to one another is also possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: Michael Weinig Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Albrecht Dawidziak, Heinrich Englert, Hubert Klein, Bernd Martin, Walter Rapp, Ralf Wagner
  • Patent number: 7246977
    Abstract: An indicating device with large graduations for a plane is installed at a combining section of a main base and a worktable of the plane, including a graduation ruler, a pointer and a rack. The graduation ruler formed as an arc is provided with graduations with number figures for readings. The upper end portion of the pointer faces exactly to the graduation ruler for pointing to one of the graduations. The pointer has gear teeth in its lower round edge for engaging with gear teeth located on one side of the rack. Therefore, a displacement the worktable moves relative to the main base can be clearly and easily read from the graduations of the graduation ruler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Inventor: Bor-Yann Chuang
  • Patent number: 7244083
    Abstract: A cutting head assembly for use in cutting plate glass has a simplified drive train, all positioned about the vertical rotational centerline. The drive train includes a hollow bore drive motor having a drive adaptor directly engaged with a spline shaft that extends through the hollow bore. The lower end of the spline shaft is directly engaged with a cutting tool holder for retaining a cutting tool. The drive motor imparts rotational movement to the cutting tool through the spline shaft and the cylinder imparts vertical movement to the cutting tool by vertical movement of the spline shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Glassline Corporation
    Inventor: Charles E. Gottschalk
  • Patent number: 7241091
    Abstract: A decoration-used mold unit for defining a border on a work piece to facilitate cutting or milling. The mold unit includes an elongated rectangular main body formed with a first window for processing a first sink and a second window for processing a second sink. A first chucking section protrudes from a first side of the main body. A second chucking section protrudes from a second side of the main body. At least one abutting member is adjustably arranged at the second chucking section. The first chucking section and the abutting member respectively abut against two opposite sides of the work piece to clamp the work piece. In the processing procedure, the blade is restricted within the first and second windows so that the work piece will not be over-milled and the borders of the sinks keep straight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Inventor: Kun-Ying Yang
  • Patent number: 7241090
    Abstract: An open-topped collection trough for arrangement under a machine tool to collect downwardly flowing coolant emitted from coolant spray nozzles of the machine tool which direct coolant jets onto cutting tools and adjacent surfaces, in which the collection trough is provided with a height adjusting mechanism and a seal system made of foam seal material between the top edge at the side of the trough and the undersurfaces of a machine tool to seal the gap between the trough and the tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: Mann & Hummel GmbH
    Inventor: Luc Reynders
  • Patent number: 7237309
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a machine intended for the machining of profiled elements (10), of the type comprising a longitudinal frame (1) provided with holding dollies (11, 13) for holding the profiled element to be machined (10). This machine is characterized in that it comprises at least two holding dollies (11, 13) capable, in the machining, of securing the slide-holding of the profiled element (10), and at least one drive dolly (15, 17), in which the profiled element (10) is slide-mounted, this drive dolly (15, 17) being provided with a device for securing its temporary fixed connection to the profiled element (10) such that the relative displacement of the latter relative to the machining head (9) in the longitudinal direction (yy?) is secured, at least in part, by the displacement of this drive dolly (15, 17).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Cinetic Machining
    Inventor: Jean-Pierre Nicaise
  • Patent number: 7234379
    Abstract: An arrangement for reducing vibrations in a tool holder (4) with a cutting tool (3) and has a vibration sensor on the tool holder (4) that is connected to a guide unit (11). The tool holder (4) has further two piezo-electric actuators 14 and 15. Under the influence of the vibration sensor (9), the guide unit (11) provides an electric alternating current that is actively guided over time so that the actuators movably affect the tool holder (4) to reduce the vibrations in this. To also be able to dampen transients in the tool holder (4) this is movably connected with a passive dampening arrangement that is independent of the guide unit (11) and that is based on the principle of a springing (8) suspended mass (7). The invention also relates to a method for reducing vibrations. The vibrations in the tool holder are sensed and a corresponding signal is provided to a guide unit that over time provides actively guided signals to the actuators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Inventors: Ingvar Claesson, Lars Hakansson, Thomas Lago, Rolf Zimmergen, Göran H{dot over (a)}llstedt
  • Patent number: 7234224
    Abstract: A method is provided for forming grooves in a polishing pad useful for planarizing a substrate in a chemical mechanical planarization process. The method maintains average velocity as a function of bit diameter to enable groove formation using a rotating bit, whereby grooves can be formed at a higher rate while maintaining high groove quality and low defectivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Rohm and Haas Electronic Materials CMP Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Naugler, Steven J. Pufka, Jeffrey R. Stack, Weitung Wang
  • Patent number: 7229395
    Abstract: A cover structure of a machine tool with a simple structure which improves work efficiency by minimizing an opening portion. An opening portion is defined in a reverse concave shape at one lateral side of a cover. The opening portion includes two tool passing portions and a turning permission portion connecting the tool passing portions. A tool T which is held by an exchange arm passes through each tool passing portion. On the other hand, a rotation base portion of the exchange arm passes through the turning permission portion. While each tool passing portion is closed by a door, the turning permission portion is closed by a closing cover including a turning cover and a slide cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Okuma Corporation
    Inventor: Makoto Yoshida