Patents by Inventor Claus Eppler

Claus Eppler has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11850693
    Abstract: A machine tool for machining workpieces comprises at least one tool spindle, at least one workpiece table, at least one first tool magazine, and at least one second tool magazine. The at least one tool spindle and the at least one workpiece table are movable relative to one another along a vertical axis and two horizontal axes to machine a workpiece that is clamped on the workpiece table with a tool that is clamped in the tool spindle. The vertical axis and the two horizontal axes are orthogonal to one another. The at least one first tool magazine, a tool set is provided that comprises a plurality of tools for machining, wherein the tools can be selectively clamped in the tool spindle. The at least one second tool magazine, a tool set is provided that comprises a plurality of tools for machining, wherein the tools can be selectively clamped in the tool spindle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: CHIRON Group SE
    Inventors: Michael Eble, Karl-Heinz Raffke, Swenja Koch-Weiler, Heinrich Bissert, Claus Eppler, Robert Gref
  • Publication number: 20230356338
    Abstract: An equipping device for a machine tool comprises a tool shuttle that is movable between a first transfer position and a second transfer position, a provision location for insertion or removal of a tool, and a tool carrying unit that is associated with the tool shuttle. The tool carrying unit comprises at least one gripping mechanism that is adapted to grip a tool to be transferred and to secure it to the tool shuttle. The provision location is accessible for the tool shuttle in the first transfer position. The tool shuttle is configured to exchange a tool between the provision location and a magazine location of a tool magazine. The magazine location is accessible for the tool shuttle in the second transfer position. The gripping mechanism comprises a guide element that is movable relative to a base body of the tool shuttle and a securing element that is movable relative to the guide element. At least the guide element is movable parallel to a longitudinal axis of the tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2023
    Publication date: November 9, 2023
    Inventors: Michael EBLE, Karl-Heinz RAFFKE, Claus EPPLER
  • Patent number: 11340139
    Abstract: A method of controlling a machine tool comprising the steps of: providing a data memory containing, for at least one specific working axis of the plurality of working axes, a plurality of data tuples each assigning a load value to a position value relative to the specific working axis, selecting a first data tuple and a second data tuple whose load values are different, and generating at least one control command for the machine tool, wherein the control command is adapted to perform a first tolerance measurement at a first position value and a second tolerance measurement at a second position value, and wherein, based on a first result of the first tolerance measurement and a second result of the second tolerance measurement, information about wear of a part of the machine tool is output. A corresponding device is also be disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: CHIRON-WERKE GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Pascal Schroeder, Claus Eppler
  • Publication number: 20220055163
    Abstract: A machine tool comprises a frame, which carries a fixed gantry for supporting at least one tool spindle. The gantry comprises a gantry recess, through which a working space is accessible. The one or more tool spindles on the gantry can each be moved vertically in a first direction and in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The machine tool further comprises a workpiece table with at least one location for supporting workpieces. The workpiece table is movable in translation in a third direction Y orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction. At least one tool magazine is associated with the at least one tool spindle tool spindle. Tools for tool changing can be fed through at least one magazine opening in the gantry. Tool changing between the one or more tool spindles and the at least one tool magazine takes place in a pick-up process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2021
    Publication date: February 24, 2022
    Inventors: Tobias HALTMEYER, Karl-Heinz RAFFKE, Daniel GEMS, Claus EPPLER
  • Patent number: 11215965
    Abstract: A device for monitoring a mounting state of a workpiece in a machine tool. The device comprises an illumination arrangement for illuminating the working space in a normal mode of operation; at least one workpiece sensor, which is configured to detect an actual state of the workpiece in the workpiece mount in the working space, and to provide a monitoring signal which describes the actual state of the workpiece; and a control unit. The illumination arrangement is also operable in at least one signal mode of operation. The control unit is configured to determine, based on the monitoring signal, whether the workpiece is in a first mounting state or a second mounting state, and, based thereon, to selectively operate the illumination arrangement in the signal mode of operation to provide visual information in the working space for visualizing the mounting state of the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: CHIRON-WERKE GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Claus Eppler, Christoph Kempter, Jens Koenig
  • Patent number: 11117235
    Abstract: A machine tool for machining workpieces has a machine frame, at least one component part which can be moved along a movement path by means of a power-operated drive unit, at least one frame part, which is connected to the machine frame and which is arranged at an end position in the movement path of the component part, and at least a first stop, via which the component part in contact with the frame part when said component part is in the end position, wherein the first stop lies outside the movement path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: CHIRON-WERKE GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Claus Eppler
  • Publication number: 20210178539
    Abstract: A machine tool for machining workpieces comprises at least one tool spindle, at least one workpiece table, at least one first tool magazine, and at least one second tool magazine. The at least one tool spindle and the at least one workpiece table are movable relative to one another along a vertical axis and two horizontal axes to machine a workpiece that is clamped on the workpiece table with a tool that is clamped in the tool spindle. The vertical axis and the two horizontal axes are orthogonal to one another. The at least one first tool magazine, a tool set is provided that comprises a plurality of tools for machining, wherein the tools can be selectively clamped in the tool spindle. The at least one second tool magazine, a tool set is provided that comprises a plurality of tools for machining, wherein the tools can be selectively clamped in the tool spindle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2021
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Inventors: Michael EBLE, Karl-Heinz RAFFKE, Swenja KOCH-WEILER, Heinrich BISSERT, Claus EPPLER, Robert GREF
  • Patent number: 10935363
    Abstract: Device for detecting highly stressed positions in a machining tool with a spindle head and a spindle motor, the device comprising: a measuring unit adapted to acquire measurement values of the spindle head during operation of the spindle unit, the measurement values having a current position of the spindle head; a memory unit adapted to store the measurement values acquired; a stress determining unit adapted to determine an associated stress value for each of the detected positions taking into account the measurement values; and an output unit adapted to at least one of outputting the detected positions with the respective associated stress value, and determining from a total number of the determined stress values at least one high stress value which is greater than the other stress values of the total number, and then outputting the at least one determined high stress value with the position assigned to it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: CHIRON-WERKE GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Claus Eppler, Pascal Schröder
  • Publication number: 20200088604
    Abstract: A method of controlling a machine tool comprising the steps of: providing a data memory containing, for at least one specific working axis of the plurality of working axes, a plurality of data tuples each assigning a load value to a position value relative to the specific working axis, selecting a first data tuple and a second data tuple whose load values are different, and generating at least one control command for the machine tool, wherein the control command is adapted to perform a first tolerance measurement at a first position value and a second tolerance measurement at a second position value, and wherein, based on a first result of the first tolerance measurement and a second result of the second tolerance measurement, information about wear of a part of the machine tool is output. A corresponding device is also be disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Inventors: Pascal SCHROEDER, Claus EPPLER
  • Publication number: 20190377320
    Abstract: A device for monitoring a mounting state of a workpiece in a machine tool. The device comprises an illumination arrangement for illuminating the working space in a normal mode of operation; at least one workpiece sensor, which is configured to detect an actual state of the workpiece in the workpiece mount in the working space, and to provide a monitoring signal which describes the actual state of the workpiece; and a control unit. The illumination arrangement is also operable in at least one signal mode of operation. The control unit is configured to determine, based on the monitoring signal, whether the workpiece is in a first mounting state or a second mounting state, and, based thereon, to selectively operate the illumination arrangement in the signal mode of operation to provide visual information in the working space for visualizing the mounting state of the workpiece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2019
    Publication date: December 12, 2019
    Inventors: Claus EPPLER, Christoph KEMPTER, Jens KOENIG
  • Publication number: 20190351521
    Abstract: A machine tool for machining workpieces has a machine frame, at least one component part which can be moved along a movement path by means of a power-operated drive unit, at least one frame part, which is connected to the machine frame and which is arranged at an end position in the movement path of the component part, and at least a first stop, via which the component part in contact with the frame part when said component part is in the end position, wherein the first stop lies outside the movement path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2019
    Publication date: November 21, 2019
    Inventor: Claus EPPLER
  • Publication number: 20190033053
    Abstract: Device for detecting highly stressed positions in a machining tool with a spindle head and a spindle motor, the device comprising: a measuring unit adapted to acquire measurement values of the spindle head during operation of the spindle unit, the measurement values having a current position of the spindle head; a memory unit adapted to store the measurement values acquired; a stress determining unit adapted to determine an associated stress value for each of the detected positions taking into account the measurement values; and an output unit adapted to at least one of outputting the detected positions with the respective associated stress value, and determining from a total number of the determined stress values at least one high stress value which is greater than the other stress values of the total number, and then outputting the at least one determined high stress value with the position assigned to it.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Inventors: Claus Eppler, Pascal Schröder
  • Publication number: 20180178337
    Abstract: In a machine tool having at least one tool spindle which is displaceable in relation to a device for holding workpieces in at least one of three spatial directions and in which the tools (W1-W7) for processing the workpieces can be chucked, there are provided a machine magazine (36) in which tools (W1-W7) provided for exchange in the tool spindle (23) are kept in store and a background magazine (31) in which tools (W1-W7) provided for exchange in the machine magazine (36) are kept in store. In the machine magazine (36), not more than four storage places (42, 43, 44, 45) for accommodating tools (W1-W7) are provided (FIG. 2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2018
    Publication date: June 28, 2018
    Inventors: Dirk Prust, Claus Eppler
  • Patent number: 9925631
    Abstract: In a machine tool having at least one tool spindle which is displaceable in relation to a device for holding workpieces in at least one of three spatial directions and in which the tools (W1-W7) for processing the workpieces can be chucked, there are provided a machine magazine (36) in which tools (W1-W7) provided for exchange in the tool spindle (23) are kept in store and a background magazine (31) in which tools (W1-W7) provided for exchange in the machine magazine (36) are kept in store. In the machine magazine (36), not more than four storage places (42, 43, 44, 45) for accommodating tools (W1-W7) are provided (FIG. 2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: CHIRON-WERKE GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Dirk Prust, Claus Eppler
  • Publication number: 20140200126
    Abstract: In a machine tool having at least one tool spindle which is displaceable in relation to a device for holding workpieces in at least one of three spatial directions and in which the tools (W1-W7) for processing the workpieces can be chucked, there are provided a machine magazine (36) in which tools (W1-W7) provided for exchange in the tool spindle (23) are kept in store and a background magazine (31) in which tools (W1-W7) provided for exchange in the machine magazine (36) are kept in store. In the machine magazine (36), not more than four storage places (42, 43, 44, 45) for accommodating tools (W1-W7) are provided (FIG. 2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: CHIRON-WERKE GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Dirk Prust, Claus Eppler
  • Patent number: 8257002
    Abstract: In the case of a method for chip-removing machining of workpieces (14), in particular for making bores in workpieces (14), wherein a tool (18) is put into rotation (20) relative to the workpiece (14) and the tool (18) is moved relative to the workpiece (14) with a feed motion, the tool (18) executes an oscillating motion in the direction (z) of the feed motion relative to the workpiece (14), a settable oscillation component being imparted to the feed motion through control means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Chiron-Werke GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Dirk Prust, Claus Eppler
  • Publication number: 20100296886
    Abstract: In the case of a method for chip-removing machining of workpieces (14), in particular for making bores in workpieces (14), wherein a tool (18) is put into rotation (20) relative to the workpiece (14) and the tool (18) is moved relative to the workpiece (14) with a feed motion, the tool (18) executes an oscillating motion in the direction (z) of the feed motion relative to the workpiece (14), a settable oscillation component being imparted to the feed motion through control means (FIG. 1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2010
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Inventors: Dirk PRUST, Claus Eppler