Patents Examined by Erica E Cadugan
  • Patent number: 11376696
    Abstract: An attachment for converting a CNC milling machine to a CNC wire saw machine. The attachment may include a gantry that may be coupled with a respective gantry of the CNC milling machine, a carriage that may be attached to and moveable with a respective carriage of the CNC milling machine. A drive pulley of the system may be coupled with and driven by a spindle of the CNC milling machine. The drive pully may drive a wire saw through an assembly of idler pulleys. A wire tension mechanism may keep the wire fully stretched. The wire tension mechanism may include a curved guide rail mounted on the gantry and a vertical guide rail mounted on the carriage. A slider that slides vertically on the vertical guide rail and follows the curved guide rail may house a tension wheel that may keep the wire at a fully stretched state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Inventor: Matin Karimi Jahromi
  • Patent number: 11376697
    Abstract: The tool holding device includes: a casing including a first surface, a second surface opposed to the first surface, and a first projection and a second projection projecting opposite to the first surface from the second surface; a first tool holding part disposed on the first surface at a position opposed to the first projection; a second tool holding part disposed on the first surface at a position opposed to the second projection; a driving-force input unit disposed at the end of the first projection and rotated by driving force being inputted; a first shaft extending in an axial direction perpendicular to the first surface and the second surface, the driving-force input unit and the first tool holding part being disposed at one end and the other end of the first shaft, respectively; a second shaft extending in the axial direction and having one end housed in the second projection, the second tool holding part being disposed at the other end of the second shaft; and a rotation transmitting unit rotating th
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignees: CITIZEN WATCH CO., LTD., CITIZEN MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kyota Kotake
  • Patent number: 11370073
    Abstract: A system and method for drilling a hole in a vehicle structure and installing a fastener in the hole. A drill plate having openings and associated machine-readable elements is positioned on the structure. A drill gun is positioned in a particular opening and reads hole information from the associated element, and a computer determines whether the drill gun is properly set-up to drill the hole. A fastener insertion gun is positioned in the particular opening and reads fastener information from the element, and the computer determines whether the hole has been drilled and, if so, whether the fastener insertion gun is properly set-up to insert the fastener. A fastener delivery subsystem stores, tracks, and delivers fasteners to the fastener insertion gun. A system computer monitors the drilling of every hole, the insertion of every fastener, and the overall operation of the fastener delivery subsystem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: SPIRIT AEROSYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Matthew R. Schroeder, Todd B. Jaramillo, John Adam Price, John Robert Dye, III, Kaleb Aaron Kimball
  • Patent number: 11358246
    Abstract: A tool changing system that includes a tool mount adapter and a tool holder. The tool mount adapter is configured to be attached to a tool and selectively engage and disengage a tool bit. The tool provides movement to the engaged tool bit to perform work on a workpiece. The tool holder is positioned in proximity to hold the tool bit when the tool bit is not engaged by the tool. The tool holder can also selectively engage and disengage the tool bit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: ATI Industrial Automation, Inc.
    Inventor: David John Bohle, II
  • Patent number: 11351642
    Abstract: A method for machining a workpiece includes using a multi-axis robot to lift a tool head from a magazine. The robot attaches the tool head to an end of a drill tube. The drill tube is then rotated and longitudinally translated to machine the workpiece. The tool head is withdrawn from the machined workpiece longitudinally by moving the drill tube. The robot is used to disconnect the tool head, replace the disconnected tool head into a magazine and withdraw a different tool head from the magazine for attachment to the drill tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christopher Fitzgerald, E-Kiang Soh, Jiawei Dong, Chintankumar Bharatkumar Shah
  • Patent number: 11351616
    Abstract: The invention relates to a machine tool (M) comprising a kinematic structure (100) that moves an electric spindle (300) in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the electric spindle (300), notable in that said kinematic structure (100) is an articulated structure comprising two articulated arms (110, 120) articulated about axes of rotation parallel to the axis of the electric spindle (300), the second end (122) of the second arm (120) accepting the electric spindle (300), the translational movement of the workpiece (P) with respect to the tool (O) of the electric spindle (300) in a linear movement parallel to the axis of the electric spindle (300) being brought about by a workpiece (P) support module (200) or by a plate support module (130).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: COMAU FRANCE
    Inventor: Vincent Baselga
  • Patent number: 11351643
    Abstract: A universal machining system capable of accommodating multiple small-batch or one-off machining jobs, involving workpieces of different diameter and composition, comprises a rotating chuck having multiple jaws that may be adjusted positionally inward or outward towards the longitudinal centerline of the workpiece or removed entirely, and a tool turret capable of holding a variety of socketed tools. System also comprises a measurement sensor, which may be separate or comprise one of the socketed tools. A control program collects machining instructions for a series of workpieces, and directs the chuck, the tool turret, the measurement sensor, and at least one robot to load/unload workpieces and tools from the chuck and turret, respectively, measure workpieces and tools for quality control, and track available storage, overriding or skipping individual machining instructions as dictated by safety parameters and the availability of raw materials and tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Navarro IP, LLC
    Inventor: Kirk Ernest Williamson
  • Patent number: 11344984
    Abstract: The invention relates to a processing plant (1) comprising: at least one first working spindle (2); a tool magazine (6) for storing different processing tools (4), wherein at least one storage plane (10) having several tool receiving spaces (11) arranged next to one another is provided in the tool magazine (6); a tool change device (5) comprising at least one first gripper device (13) for exchanging the processing tool (4) held in the working spindle (2), wherein the gripper device (13) comprises at least one first gripper unit (15) and one second gripper unit (16) which are positioned at a gripper-unit distance (17) from one another. The gripper units (15, 16) can be displaced between the working spindle (2) and the tool magazine (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Fill Gesellschaft m.b.H.
    Inventors: Friedrich Dallinger, Johannes Fischer
  • Patent number: 11344986
    Abstract: A tool spindle for machine tool includes a tool spindle having a front end in which a tool is mounted and installed to be rotatable, and a vibration damping device mounted in a rear end of the tool spindle to damp cutting vibration generated at the front end of the tool spindle, and including a rigid member coupled to the rear end of the tool spindle and a tuned mass member elastically supported by the rigid member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: DOOSAN MACHINE TOOLS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Chang-ho Lee
  • Patent number: 11338404
    Abstract: A machine tool and a control apparatus thereof include an amplitude control unit to control the amplitude of reciprocal vibration by a vibration unit. The amplitude control unit is configured to reduce the amplitude of the reciprocal vibration by the vibration unit as a cutting tool is fed in a feeding direction when the cutting tool reaches a predetermined cutting tool work stopping position on a workpiece in the feeding direction (Z-axis direction) to prevent the cutting tool from cutting the workpiece beyond the cutting tool work stopping position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignees: CITIZEN WATCH CO., LTD., CITIZEN MACHINERY CO., LTD
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Sannomiya, Takaichi Nakaya
  • Patent number: 11331736
    Abstract: The invention relates to a moving system (100) for moving workpieces that are provided for gear cutting on a workpiece spindle (200) and have a workpiece axis of rotation, from a first position (A), taken up while they are being fed, into a third position (C) that differs from the first position by at least a smaller distance between the workpiece axis of rotation and the workpiece spindle axis, having a first movement unit (36, 32, 34) which moves a workpiece from the first position into a second position (B), different from the first and the third position, along a first movement path (AB), and a second movement unit (35) which moves the workpiece from the second position into the third position along a second movement path (BC), wherein the moving system is also designed to move machined workpieces back out of the third position and to hold and move more than one workpiece at the same time, wherein, while it is being moved on the first and on the second movement path, the workpiece is held by one and the s
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: GLEASON-PFAUTER MASCHINENFABRIK GMBH
    Inventors: Matthias Philippin, Uwe Rusch, Daniel Staiger, Peter Müller, Sabrina Gressler, Andreas Gross, Dietmar Kohler
  • Patent number: 11331735
    Abstract: A toothed workpiece chamfering device having a chamfering head (2) which includes a first axis of rotation (B) for rotation of a first chamfering tool (6) and a second axis of rotation (T) for rotation of a second chamfering tool (8) wherein the first and second chamfering tools are of different types and their respective material removal methods are also different from one another. Preferably, the first and second axes of rotation are not coincident with one another and in a more preferred arrangement, the first tool axis and the second tool axis are arranged perpendicularly to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: THE GLEASON WORKS
    Inventors: Michael J. Walker, Benjamin A. Hollander, Peter E. Chapin, Eric G. Mundt
  • Patent number: 11325197
    Abstract: The tool holder device for broaching and slotting, comprising: one main frame associated with one machine adapted to machine one workpiece; one working assembly associated with the main frame and comprising one supporting bar movable longitudinally along a first axis and a guiding mechanism for the supporting bar movable longitudinally along the first axis; one tool associated with the supporting bar and adapted to machine the workpiece; angular adjustment mechanism for adjusting the supporting bar, interposed between the main frame and the guiding mechanism and adapted to rotate the supporting bar around a second axis substantially orthogonal with respect to the first axis; and straight adjustment mechanism for adjusting the tool with respect to the supporting bar, interposed between the tool and the supporting bar, the straight adjustment mechanism being adapted to adjust the position of the tool along the second axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Rev S.r.l. Unipersonale
    Inventor: Paolo Franchini
  • Patent number: 11318573
    Abstract: A transfer jig for use in transferring a new cutting blade as a replacement component to the processing unit, in a cutting apparatus including a chuck table holding a workpiece, a processing unit having a spindle and a cutting blade detachably mounted on the spindle, a cutting blade changing unit changing the cutting blade, and a transfer mechanism supplying the workpiece to the processing unit. The transfer jig has a plurality of receiving portions each adapted to receive the new cutting blade and the cutting blade changed by the cutting blade changing unit. The transfer jig is adapted to be transferred by the transfer mechanism transferring the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: DISCO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazuki Terada
  • Patent number: 11311977
    Abstract: A machine tool includes a tool spindle, a tool intermediate device, and a tool storage which includes first tool magazines, a first tool magazine support mechanism, an additional first tool magazine support mechanism, and a tool carrier. The first tool magazine support mechanism includes a first shaft to support at least one of the first tool magazines to be rotatable about a first rotation axis. The additional first tool magazine support mechanism includes an additional first shaft to support at least one of the first tool magazines to be rotatable about an additional first rotation axis. The tool carrier includes a first guide extending along the first and additional first rotation axes, a second guide extending along a line connecting the first and additional first rotation axes, and a lift configured to move along the first guide. The first guide is movable along the second guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: YAMAZAKI MAZAK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Nishida, Takahiro Kugimoto, Masanori Shimaoka, Mikio Wakida, Takuya Mizuno
  • Patent number: 11285575
    Abstract: A method of priming a minimum quantity lubrication (MQL) tool includes determining a category of the tool, supplying a short-prime MQL dosage if the tool is a first category or if both a second category and lubricated within a first predetermined timeframe, and supplying a long-prime MQL dosage if the tool is the second category and has not been lubricated within the predetermined timeframe. The category is based on internal passage complexity of the tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: David Alan Stephenson, Ethan Timothy Hughey
  • Patent number: 11273529
    Abstract: A tool magazine receives a plurality of tools which are provided for arrangement on a tool spindle of a machine tool, and a method for changing tools using a tool magazine. The tool magazine exhibits a guide rail arranged in a fixed position on a machine base, a magazine carriage displaceably mounted on the guide rail, a rotary drive arranged on the magazine carriage and having a magazine shaft which can be rotated around a shaft axis of rotation, at least two magazine wheels arranged non-rotatably on the magazine shaft and having a plurality of tool holders, and a transfer device linearly displaceable along a transfer axis transverse to the guide rail and which picks up a tool arranged on one of the tool holders of the magazine wheels and transports the tool to the tool spindle and back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Rollomatic S.A.
    Inventors: Fabien Picon, Frédéric Buerli
  • Patent number: 11273502
    Abstract: An apparatus for metal-cutting machining of wear-affected bit-head-proximal end regions of bit holders of road milling machines encompasses: a rotary actuator having an output member rotating around an actuator rotation axis; at least one material-removing tool, rotatable around a tool rotation axis, which is coupled or couplable to the output member so as to rotate together; a positioning arbor, extending along an arbor axis, which is embodied for introduction into a bit receptacle opening of a bit holder and which comprises an abutment segment, located radially remotely from the arbor axis and facing away from the arbor axis in a direction having a radial component, which is embodied for abutment against an inner wall of the bit receptacle opening. A material-removing region, populated with cutting edges, of the material-removing tool is arranged between the positioning arbor and the output member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Inventors: Stefan Abresch, Thomas Lehnert, Markus Reindorf, Cyrus Barimani
  • Patent number: 11267092
    Abstract: A debris control apparatus comprising a debris control enclosure, the enclosure further comprising a vacuum opening in the enclosure. The vacuum opening being sized, shaped and positioned to receiving a vacuum conduit, connected to a vacuum source, for extracting the debris from the enclosure. The debris control apparatus further comprising a mounting assembly for mounting the enclosure to a machine, such that, during operation, the enclosure moves along the work material as the cutting tool moves along the work material, the enclosure being mounted independent of movement of the cutting tool in and out of the work material. The mounting assembly comprises a depth adjuster for adjusting the operating depth of the enclosure. The depth of the enclosure can be adjusted such that the debris will be contained in the enclosure during operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Inventor: Mark P. Chepurny
  • Patent number: 11267056
    Abstract: A machining center for machining a center groove on a pulley and a flange formed at opposite ends of a crankshaft of a vehicle includes a measurement unit configured to measure a moment of the crankshaft when the crankshaft is loaded and actuated, a control unit configured to calculate an imbalance amount of the crankshaft and to derive center drill coordinates for removing the imbalance amount, a compensation unit mounted in a base frame and configured to compensate a position of the crankshaft by rotating first and second rotating elements based on the center drill coordinates inputted from the control unit when the crankshaft is transported and clamped by a clamping system, and a machining unit configured to machine the center groove in the pulley and the flange of the crankshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tae Jin Kim, Kyoungrok Noh