Patents Examined by Michael Vitale
  • Patent number: 11383341
    Abstract: A machine tool configured to attach multiple tools to a turret is provided to improve the efficiency of a tool exchanging operation and, thus, also the production efficiency. A control device determines whether an expired tool, which is a tool needs to be exchanged, is present among the tools held by the turret. The control device sets a tool exchanging position, which is a position within the movable range of a head section and is a position where the expired tool is exchanged with a new tool. If the control device determines that an expired tool is present, the control device causes a head section driving device to move the head and rotate the turret to position the expired tool at the tool exchanging position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: FUJI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shinya Kumazaki
  • Patent number: 11370041
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a slanting-bed feed processing machine tool of a large propeller. The machine tool comprises a slanting column feed bed, a machine tool spindle, a workpiece rotary worktable, a large propeller and a bed feed mechanism. The present invention coordinates the geometrical relationship between the machine tool and the large propeller to ensure that the slanting column feed bed moves between two blades, thereby reducing the overhang length of the spindle. Different forms of workpiece rotary worktables and bed feed mechanisms are selected according to different slanting column feed beds. Four types of slanting column feed beds are designed, which can be selected, optimized and applied for different processing objects. The present invention enhances the processing stiffness of the spindle and solves the problem of poor processing quality of the large propeller caused by machine tool vibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: DALIAN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Yongqing Wang, Tianran Liu, Haibo Liu, Kuo Liu, Te Li, Dongming Guo
  • 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: 11344957
    Abstract: A key processing machine is described comprising an automatic cutter change device, a key shape learning device, a clamp component and a base. The automatic cutter change device comprises a frame structure, a cutter head, a rotary disc and a first motor unit. The rotary disc is fitted with a plurality of chambers used to accommodate the said cutter head. The cutter head is installed in the said chambers. The rotary disc and the first motor unit are installed on the said frame structure, and the said first motor unit drives the said rotary disc to rotate and further drive the cutter head on the said rotary disc to rotate. The automatic cutter change device or the key shape learning device matches the clamp component to put the original key and the key blank for processing in the clamp component, saving human resources and increasing working efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Zhejiang Yonguan Technology Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Yongfeng Xi, Junfeng Chen
  • Patent number: 11338403
    Abstract: A chip scattering prevention cover (1) is attached to a head portion (6b) of a rotary cutter (6). The cover (1) includes an annular portion (1a) configured to be detachably fitted over an outer peripheral edge of the head portion (6b), and a plate portion (1b) extending inwardly of the annular portion (1a) from an inner circumference portion of the annular portion (1a). The plate portion (1b) is configured to cover a region of a cutout gap (6e) of the rotary cutter (6) corresponding to the head portion (6b) with the annular portion (1a) being fitted over the head portion (6b). The annular portion (1a) and the plate portion (1b) are flush with a surface of the head portion (6b) when the annular portion (1a) is fitted over the head portion (6b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: KYOKUTOH CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kotaro Nakajima
  • 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: 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: 11292096
    Abstract: The machine tool has a machine bed having a first horizontal linear guide and a second horizontal linear guide arranged at right angles to the first linear guide. On the first linear guide is arranged, in an axially displaceable manner, a workpiece clamping fixture, which is swivelable about a swivel axis oriented parallel to the second linear guide and is rotatable about a rotation axis oriented at right angles to the swivel axis. On the second linear guide a toque motor driven swivel arm is axially displaceable, the swivel axis of which is arranged parallel to the first linear guide and which on its free end bears a tool spindle, the axis of which is oriented parallel to the first linear guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Inventors: Ernst Haueter, Christoph Urfer, Andreas Scheidegger
  • Patent number: 11285546
    Abstract: A device for removing flashes of a wheel blank includes two layers of turnover mechanisms, wherein the lower-layer turnover mechanism realizes the initial positioning of a wheel and has the function of removing the flashes at both the inner side and the outer side of an inner rim of the wheel, and the upper-layer turnover mechanism realizes the secondary positioning of the wheel and has the function of removing the flashes on the outer rim side. By means of the two layers of turnover mechanisms, the flashes on the front face and end face of a wheel blank outer rim wheel lip, and the inner side and outer side of the inner rim are removed, and coaxial processing conversion and orderly takt connection are ensured. The disclosure also provides a method for removing flashes of a wheel blank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: CITIC Dicastal Co., LTD
    Inventors: Huiying Liu, Jian Li, Wendong Li
  • 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: 11273528
    Abstract: A motor spindle having a first electromagnetic drive system including a stator unit and a rotor unit which can rotate about an axis of rotation and has at least one rotor shaft and a tool receiver for receiving a machining tool. At least one bearing unit provides rotationally mounting of the rotor unit in the stator unit. The tool receiver is arranged in an end region of the rotor unit. The stator unit has a stator housing with an end section arranged in the end region of the rotor unit. The stator unit comprises at least one motor, having a second electromagnetic drive system, with a stator and a rotational rotor, wherein the rotor has at least one rotational housing element of the end section of the stator unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Franz Kessler GmbH
    Inventors: Joachim Van Sprang, Udo Tüllmann, Eugen Fetsch
  • 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: 11253967
    Abstract: Provided is a machine tool configured for machining by removing material from an object defining a machining surface and including a removal tool of material from the object and driving means configured to be placed directly in contact with the machining surface and to move said machine tool and, thus, the removal tool, with respect to the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: SPRINGA S.R.L.
    Inventors: Lorenzo Frangi, Davide Cevoli, Alessandro Trifoni
  • Patent number: 11229981
    Abstract: A machine tool is provided with two vertically oriented tool spindles that are arranged to hold tools and that are movable vertically in a first direction and horizontally in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. Furthermore, the machine tool is provided with two workpiece support devices for clamping workpieces in place. At least one of the two workpiece support devices is movable horizontally in a third direction orthogonal to the first and the second direction. The two tool spindles and the two workpiece support devices are mounted on a common machine frame with a common working space, wherein the two tool spindles are movable parallel to one another in the second direction. The two tool spindles are facing one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: STAMA Maschinenfabrik GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Saeufferer, Thomas Boehm, Guido Spachtholz, Frank Mueller
  • Patent number: 11207739
    Abstract: A method of milling a piece of raw steel stock comprising: arranging a minimum of four solid pole extensions on top surface segments of a magnetic chuck such that the solid pole extensions are relatively evenly distributed under a piece of raw steel stock and within 2 inches of a perimeter of the piece of raw steel stock; arranging multiple mobile pole extensions beneath the piece of raw steel stock and on every other top surface segment of the magnetic chuck under the piece of raw steel stock that is not occupied by the solid pole extensions but beneath the piece of raw steel stock, each of the multiple mobile pole extensions having a biased top portion that contacts the piece of raw steel stock; and milling the piece of raw steel stock with a face mill that generates steel chip as swarf.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Steel 21, LLC
    Inventor: Kimm Eric Slater
  • Patent number: 11161210
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a milling system and method under different lubrication conditions. The system uses a tool to mill the workpiece, a force measuring system to measure the milling force, a tool change system to replace the tools, a tool storage to store the tools. It can store the tools, provide the lubricating oil to the milling surface, select different tools according to different processing conditions, select the best angle differences of the unequal spiral angle tools according to different conditions comprising dry cutting, casting-type lubrication, minimal quantities of lubrication or minimal quantities of nanofluid lubrication, and/or choose the optimal tool according to different cutting parameters in order to obtain the minimum milling force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignees: QINGDAO UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, CHONGQING UNIVERSITY, SHANGHAI JINZHAO ENERGY SAVING TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
    Inventors: Changhe Li, Qingan Yin, Yanbin Zhang, Huajun Cao, Zhenjing Duan, Cong Mao, Wenfeng Ding, Naiqing Zhang, Lan Dong, Xiufang Bai, Menghua Sui, Yonghong Liu, Wentao Wu, Teng Gao, Min Yang, Dongzhou Jia, Runze Li, Yali Hou
  • Patent number: 11161209
    Abstract: A machine tool includes a motor configured to rotate a spindle, a tool magazine holding a plurality of tools, and a controller. The controller has a storage unit storing motor information indicating that the motor is a synchronous motor. When the machine tool stops, while a tool exchange process is carried out, due to electric power outage, operation of a stop button, a value of a drive current of the motor, or a value output from the sensor, the controller uses a command for the synchronous motor, based on the motor information, as a part of a series of commands for recovery of the machine tool, where the tool exchange process is a process in which a tool attached to the spindle is changed with one of the plurality of tools of the tool magazine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gaku Isobe, Yoshihiro Watanabe
  • Patent number: 11154993
    Abstract: A tool changer 30 with a master half 32 and tool half 34. Mating member 60, 138 enables the master half 32 and tool half to mesh with one another. A securing mechanism has a clasp 70 and a cam 72. The clasps 70 move between a release position and a grasping position. In the grasping position, the master 32 and tool halves 34 are secured together with one another. The cam 72 moves the clasps 70 between the release and grasping positions. From a release position, the master half 32 engages the tool half 34. The master half 32 moves horizontally with respect to the tool half 34. This, in turn, moves the cam 72 from its release position to its grasping position. In the grasping position, the clasps 70 grasp the tool half 34, the cam locks 72 in its grasping position and the master 32 and tool 34 halves secure with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Delaware Capital Formation, Inc.
    Inventor: James W. Geary