Patents Examined by Michael Vitale
  • Patent number: 11135693
    Abstract: This machine tool system is provided with a tool holder adaptor that has a flange having formed therein: a hole part that contains a tool holder; and an engagement part that engages with a hand of a self-propelled robot, wherein when transporting the tool holder to a machine tool from a tool storage that contains a plurality of tool holder adaptors, the self-propelled robot grasps the tool holder adaptor to transport the tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: MAKINO MILLING MACHINE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masahiro Shirone
  • Patent number: 11117233
    Abstract: A tool magazine for tools of a machine tool for processing workpieces includes a first magazine unit that is close to a processing station of the machine tool and a second magazine unit that is remote from the processing station of the machine tool. The second magazine unit includes a permanent tool carrier and a temporary tool carrier. The permanent tool carrier is permanently accessible to a tool handling device. The temporary tool carrier is temporarily accessible to the tool handling device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: TRUMPF Werkzeugmaschinen GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Marc Klinkhammer, Stefan Kerscher
  • Patent number: 11097390
    Abstract: A robotic tool changer ensures inherently safe decoupling operation by only providing pneumatic fluid to a decouple port of a pneumatic coupling mechanism in the case that the tool changer is seated on, and properly aligned with, a tool stand. Pneumatic fluid to decouple the pneumatic coupling mechanism is routed from an air source to the tool stand. A pass-through in the tool stand returns the pneumatic fluid to a pneumatic path in the tool changer leading to a decouple port of the pneumatic coupling mechanism. Hence, the tool changer must be seated on the tool stand for the decouple port to receive pneumatic fluid to operate. Furthermore, a safety coupling is interposed on the pneumatic path between the tool stand and the decouple port. The safety coupling requires the tool changer to be seated on, and properly aligned with, the tool stand to effect the flow of pneumatic fluid—otherwise, the pneumatic fluid is bled to the atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: ATI Industrial Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: William G. Berrocal, Mack Earl Manning, John M. Winterroth
  • Patent number: 11090776
    Abstract: An automatic tool changer includes a cover that partitions a machining area and a non-machining area, and an opening/closing member that opens/closes an opening of the cover by turning in synchronization with rotation of a tool changer magazine. The opening/closing member includes a plate section partitions the machining area and the non-machining area at a position of the opening of the cover. In a case where the tool changer magazine performs tool replacement with respect to a tool storage magazine, the plate section closes the opening of the cover by taking a horizontal posture. In a case where the tool changer magazine performs tool replacement with respect to a main spindle, the plate section opens the opening of the cover by changing its posture from the horizontal posture to an inclined posture or a vertical posture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: HORKOS CORP
    Inventors: Hiroaki Kiso, Kunihiro Ikeda
  • Patent number: 11084136
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a method and system for milling injected cutting fluid under different working conditions. By analyzing influence of airflow fields in a milling area under different working conditions on injection of cutting fluid, an influence rule of a helical angle and a rotation speed of a cutter on the flow field is quantitatively analyzed, an optimal target distance of a nozzle, an angle between the nozzle and a milling cutter feeding direction and an angle between the nozzle and the surface of a workpiece are comprehensively determined, the nozzle is set according to a determined setting manner, and lubricating oil is sprayed to the milling area by utilizing the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignees: QINGDAO UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, CHONGQING UNIVERSITY, SHANGHAI JINZHAO ENERGY SAVING TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
    Inventors: Changhe Li, Qingan Yin, Huajun Cao, Yonghong Liu, Wenfeng Ding, Naiqing Zhang, Lan Dong, Zhenjing Duan, Yanbin Zhang, Xiufang Bai, Menghua Sui, Wentao Wu, Gao Teng, Min Yang, Dongzhou Jia, Runze Li, Yali Hou
  • Patent number: 11065732
    Abstract: A machine tool setup changing method includes mounting a master workpiece onto a tool spindle axis, deforming a gripping part by gripping, with the gripping part of a jig, a mock clamped portion of the master workpiece mounted on the tool spindle axis, and removing the master workpiece from the tool spindle axis and mounting a tool supported on a tool support device onto the tool spindle axis, wherein the workpiece gripped at the clamped portion by the gripping part, which was deformed in accordance with the mock clamped portion, can be machined with the tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Fanuc Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Dohi
  • Patent number: 11045916
    Abstract: This machine tool comprises a machining chamber in which machining of a workpiece is performed, and a tool storage chamber in which a plurality of tools are stored. The machine tool is further provided with a partition which partitions the machining chamber and tool storage chamber from one another. The machine tool is positioned on the front side of the machining chamber, and is equipped with a first sliding door that moves in the width direction, and a second sliding door that is positioned on the front side of the tool storage chamber and that moves in the width direction. The first sliding door and second sliding door are positioned in such a manner that one of the sliding doors is positioned on the front side of the other sliding door, and when one of the sliding doors is opened, said door overlaps with the other sliding door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: MAKINO MILLING MACHINE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Daisuke Takada, Keisuke Tange, Kazumasa Nakayasu
  • Patent number: 11020806
    Abstract: A tool rest for a machine tool, with a plurality of rotary tools and a tool-rotating drive shaft supported rotatably so that its rotation is transmitted to each rotary tool. The tool rest includes: a plurality of input portions fixed to the tool-rotating drive shaft; and engaging portions corresponding to the respective input portions, rotatably supported and adopted to be driven in rotation by the input portions for engaging with engaged portions of each rotary tool to transmit power when a prescribed rotational phase is reached. Adjusting means is provided between a prescribed input portion and the engaging portion, for adjusting the phase of the engaging portion relative to the tool-rotating drive shaft such that the engaging portions and the corresponding engaged portions are engaged simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignees: CITIZEN WATCH CO., LTD., CITIZEN MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Noriyoshi Taguchi
  • Patent number: 11014208
    Abstract: Provided is a tool system for including a machine tool configured for machining by the removal of material an object defining a machining surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: SPRINGA S.r.L.
    Inventors: Alessandro Trifoni, Davide Cevoli, Lorenzo Frangi
  • Patent number: 11014206
    Abstract: A device (1) for exchanging at least one cutting component (2a) of a rotating tool (2), in particular a milling tool (2), and more particularly, a hollow milling tool for machining workpieces made of plastic. The device has an aligning device (5) for orientating a position of the cutting component (2a) relative to a rotational axis (2c) of the tool (2) and an exchanging device (6) for releasing the cutting component (2a) from a part (2b) that remains on the tool (2) and for attaching another cutting component (2a) to the part (2b) that remains on the tool (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: MOROFF & BAIERL GMBH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Albrecht Moroff, Martin Mueller
  • Patent number: 11007615
    Abstract: A machine tool includes: a tool magazine that stores a plurality of tools; a spindle that holds one of the plurality of tools stored in the tool magazine; a glossiness measurement unit that measures glossiness of a tapered outer surface of a taper shank of each of the plurality of tools; a deterioration determination unit that determines whether or not the tapered outer surface is deteriorated on the basis of the glossiness measured by the glossiness measurement unit; and a notification unit that notifies an operator of deterioration of the tapered outer surface if it is determined by the deterioration determination unit that the tapered outer surface is deteriorated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Gaku Isobe
  • Patent number: 11007041
    Abstract: The invention relates to a milling machine for producing a dental component, such as a crown or an abutment for example, from a blank. The milling machine includes a stop and a holder for the blank. The invention is characterized in that the holder is designed such that the holder can be surrounded by a mounting, which surrounds the holder, of the blank, and the surrounding mounting of the blank can be brought into contact with the stop for positioning purposes. The invention further relates to a corresponding blank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Inventors: Peter Schelling, Johannes Anders
  • Patent number: 10987767
    Abstract: A receiver-fastener apparatus comprises a receiver-fastener housing, a receiver-fastener turret, an indexing-collet assembly, an anvil, a receiver-fastener delivery assembly, and a swager assembly. The receiver-fastener turret is selectively rotatable relative to the receiver-fastener housing about a receiver-fastener-turret rotation axis (Z). The indexing-collet assembly is selectively movable relative to the receiver-fastener housing between an indexing-collet-assembly extended position and an indexing-collet-assembly retracted position along an indexing-collet-assembly axis (Y) that is parallel to the receiver-fastener-turret rotation axis (Z). The anvil is selectively movable relative to the receiver-fastener turret along an anvil axis (X) that is parallel to the receiver-fastener-turret rotation axis (Z). The receiver-fastener delivery assembly is configured to operatively position receiver fasteners for operative placement on shank fasteners, corresponding to the receiver fasteners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: John Walter Pringle, IV, Chris J. Erickson
  • Patent number: 10987715
    Abstract: The invention relates to a tool storage system (32) as well as to a production facility (1) for free-form bending of workpieces (2) made from a metal sheet, by means of a bending press (3), comprising a tool storage unit (30), a tool manipulation unit (31), and a provisioning unit (55) having provisioning rails (56, 57). The tool storage unit (30) has an upper and lower storage rail (34, 35), which are disposed spaced apart from one another at a vertical distance, as well as locally fixed in place relative to one another. The tool manipulation unit (31) has tool manipulation devices (36, 37), wherein each of the same comprises a working rail (38, 42), an auxiliary rail (39, 43), a drawing-in device (40, 44), as well as a pushing-out device (41, 45). Each of the tool manipulation devices (36, 37) can be displaced laterally next to the storage rails (34, 35), along a longitudinal guide arrangement (46, 47).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: TRUMPF Maschinen Austria GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Luigi Cavicchia, Fabio Tomasin, Andrea Tonda Roch, Roberto Veronese, Giovanni Vidotto
  • Patent number: 10974356
    Abstract: A cutting apparatus includes a blade changing unit demounting an old cutting blade from a blade mount and mounting a new cutting blade to the blade mount. The blade changing unit includes a blade holder for holding a support base of each cutting blade and a moving portion for moving the blade holder in the axial direction of a boss portion of the blade mount in the condition where each cutting blade is held by the blade holder, thereby mounting the new cutting blade to the boss portion or demounting the old cutting blade from the boss portion. The cutting apparatus further includes a control unit controlling the blade changing unit. The control unit measures a signal indicating a force applied to the moving portion in mounting or demounting, and determines the condition of the blade changing unit and blade mount according to the signal measured by the measuring portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: DISCO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazuki Terada
  • Patent number: 10974355
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a conveying accuracy related fault detectable integrated sheet body punching and grinding assembly, including frame, conveying trough seat and processing frame. The processing frame is provided with a punching device and a grinding device, the frame is provided with a feed motor and feed screw. The feed screw is sleeved with a movable feed block; the movable feed block is fixedly connected with a movable feed seat, and the movable feed seat is provided with a feed lift cylinder, the feed lift cylinder is provided with a feed lift block. The feed lift block is evenly disposed with feed blocks that are capable of passing through the feed conveying trough, and a vertically oriented beam emitter is disposed on the portion that the feed lift block corresponds with the grinding device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: DONGGUAN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventor: Chuan Li
  • Patent number: 10960506
    Abstract: This machine tool is provided with: a partition that partitions a machining chamber and a tool storage chamber and that has an opening; a shutter; and a receiving member that is formed so as to receive cutting fluid. The partition includes a sidewall member that extends in the vertical direction and an inclined wall member inclined in such a manner so as to become lower from the sidewall member to the interior of the machining chamber. At least part of the opening is formed in the inclined wall member. The receiving member is positioned beneath the shutter, and in such a position so as to receive cutting fluid that drops down along the sidewall member when the shutter is opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: MAKINO MILLING MACHINE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Daisuke Takada, Keisuke Tange, Kazumasa Nakayasu
  • Patent number: 10953508
    Abstract: A rotary indexing machine comprises at least one indexing plate, which is in at least one operating state configured to accommodate and transport at least one work piece, and with at least one clocking cell comprising at least one accommodating unit with at least two opposite-situated accommodating elements, which are configured for together accommodating the at least one work piece from the indexing plate, and comprising at least one machining unit for machining the work piece accommodated by the accommodating unit, wherein the at least one clocking cell comprises at least one bridge unit, which extends at least partially over the indexing plate in an axial direction and is configured to guide the at least two accommodating elements of the accommodating unit in a shared coordinate system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: WINEMA Maschinenbau GmbH
    Inventor: Eckhard Neth
  • Patent number: 10940549
    Abstract: A machine is disclosed for use in duplicating features of an existing key within a key blank. The machine may have an identification module configured to capture data associated with the features of the existing key, a fabrication module configured to cut the features in the key blank based on the data, a user input device, and a controller in communication with the identification module, the fabrication module, and the user input device. The controller may be configured to regulate operation of the identification module and the fabrication module, and to receive input from a user via the user input device. The input may be indicative of the user being a first type of user or a second type of user. The controller may also be configured to selectively implement one of a first mode of operation or a second mode of operation based on the input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: The Hillman Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd Spangler, Michael Burkett, Jordan Shoenhair
  • Patent number: 10906147
    Abstract: A machine tool includes a base, a table, a main spindle, and a trunnion unit. The table is installed on the base. A tool is mounted to the main spindle. The main spindle is caused to approach a workpiece on the table along an up-down direction. The trunnion unit is configured to rotatably hold the table on which the workpiece is placed using a rotation axis along a front-rear direction as a center. The trunnion unit is disposed movable in a right-left direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Okuma Corporation
    Inventor: Koji Tsuchida