MACHINE TOOL AND METHODS FOR POINTING WIRE

Abstract

A machine tool for pointing a plurality of wires is provided. The machine tool comprises a magazine, a base frame, a slide guide, a fixture, a grinder, and a numerical control system. The magazine is operable for holding the plurality of wires, to extend a wire end from the magazine and to allow relative freedom of rotation of the wires along their longitudinal axis. The slide guide is coupled to the base frame and extends from a loading station to a grinding station. The fixture has clamping sections operable to pivot toward each other to engage the wires therebetween. The numerical control system is operable to control the fixture and the grinder. The fixture is operable to translate along the slide guide to engage the wire end with the grinder. The fixture and the grinder cooperate to grind a desired number of facets into the wire end.

Description

BACKGROUND

Fishhooks generally comprise a curved wire that defines a shank terminating at one end to form a point including a barb. The point and barb are commonly forged by a stamping process. The forging process is less than ideal for forming the sharpest point.

SUMMARY

In accordance with an embodiment, a machine tool for pointing a plurality of wires for fishhook manufacturing is provided. The wire has a wire first end and a wire second end opposite the wire first end. The machine tool comprises a magazine, a base frame, a slide guide, a fixture, a grinder, and a numerical control system. The magazine is operable for holding the plurality of wires in a side-by-side, spaced-apart, substantially parallel and substantially coplanar relationship. The wires each define a longitudinal axis. The magazine is operable to extend the wire second end of the wires from the magazine. The magazine is operable to allow relative freedom of rotation of the wires along their longitudinal axis. The base frame defines a loading station and a grinding station. The slide guide is coupled to the base frame and extends from the loading station to the grinding station. The fixture has an inner clamping section and an outer clamping section. The inner clamping section and the outer clamping section are operable to be rotated about a pivot toward each other in a first position to engage the wires therebetween in clamping engagement and in a second position away from each other to release the clamping engagement on the wires. The grinder is coupled to the base frame at the grinding station. The grinder includes a grinding wheel. The numerical control system is in communication with and operable to control the fixture and the grinder. The fixture is operable to translate along the slide guide from the loading station to the grinding station to adjacent the grinder so as to engage the wire second end of the wires with the grinder. The fixture and the grinder cooperate to grind a desired number of facets into the wire second end of the wires.

In another embodiment, the machine tool also provides wherein the outer clamping section is actuated by a lever to pivot the outer clamping section toward or away from the inner clamping section.

In another embodiment, the machine tool also provides wherein the inner clamping section comprises an inner clamping shoe and an inner clamping plate. The inner clamping shoe is integral to the inner clamping plate. The inner clamping shoe includes an inner shoe clamping face. The outer clamping section comprises an outer clamping shoe and an outer clamping plate. The outer clamping shoe is integral to the outer clamping plate. The outer clamping shoe comprises an outer shoe clamping face. The inner clamping plate and the outer clamping plate are operable to move the inner clamping shoe and outer clamping shoe, respectively, towards each other in the first position defining a gap into which the magazine may be disposed. The inner shoe clamping face and the outer shoe clamping face each define a channel that extends substantially the width of the inner shoe and outer shoe, respectively, and are in opposed relationship when the inner clamping section and the outer clamping section are in the first position. A resilient strip is disposed within each channel that extends beyond a plane defined by the inner shoe clamping face and the outer shoe clamping face, respectively. The resilient strips cooperate to frictionally engage and support the wires when the inner clamping section and the outer clamping section are in the first position. The inner clamping shoe is operable to laterally translate relative to the outer clamping shoe which is operable to rotate the wires when the inner clamping section and the outer clamping section are in the first position.

In another embodiment, the machine tool provides wherein the inner clamping section comprises an inner clamping shoe and an inner clamping plate. The inner clamping shoe is removably coupled to the inner clamping plate. The inner clamping shoe includes an inner shoe clamping face. The outer clamping section comprises an outer clamping shoe and an outer clamping plate. The outer clamping shoe is removably coupled to the outer clamping plate. The outer clamping shoe comprises an outer shoe clamping face. The inner clamping plate and the outer clamping plate are operable to move the inner clamping shoe and outer clamping shoe, respectively, towards each other in the first position defining a gap into which the magazine may be disposed. The inner shoe clamping face and the outer shoe clamping face each define a channel that extends substantially the width of the inner shoe and outer shoe, respectively, and are in opposed relationship when the inner clamping section and the outer clamping section are in the first position. A resilient strip is disposed within each channel that extends beyond a plane defined by the inner shoe clamping face and the outer shoe clamping face, respectively. The resilient strips cooperate to frictionally engage and support the wires when the inner clamping section and the outer clamping section are in the first position. The inner clamping shoe is operable to laterally translate relative to the outer clamping shoe which is operable to rotate the wires when the inner clamping section and the outer clamping section are in the first position.

In another embodiment, the machine tool provides wherein the inner clamping shoe and the outer clamping shoe are operable for proper alignment of the wires with respect to the grinding wheel. The inner clamping shoe and the outer clamping shoe are configured as pairs for one of a predetermined wire diameter, wherein the fixture may be converted to be used for different wire diameters by replacing the inner clamping shoe and outer clamping shoe with an inner clamping shoe and an outer clamping shoe of suitable configuration.

In another embodiment, the machine tool provides wherein the fixture further comprises a synchronously controlled lever means operable to engage the inner clamping shoe. The fixture is operable such that as a result of the lateral translation of the inner clamping shoe by way of a synchronously controlled lever means, any desired angular adjustment of the wires about their axis may be simultaneously achieved so as to control the grinding of facets at the wire second end of the wires.

In another embodiment, the machine tool provides wherein the fixture further comprises an actuator operable to engage and move the inner clamping shoe laterally relative to the outer clamping shoe. The fixture is operable such that as a result of the lateral shifting of the inner clamping shoe by way of the actuator with the wires clamped between both the inner clamping shoe and outer clamping shoe and engaged by the resilient strips so as to affect simultaneous rotation of the wires about their longitudinal axes.

In another embodiment, the machine tool also provides wherein the actuator comprises a motor and lever operable to bring about a synchronously controlled lateral movement of the inner clamping shoe.

In another embodiment, the machine tool also provides wherein the grinding wheel defines a grinding wheel central axis. The slide guide defines a fixture lateral axis which is substantially parallel to the grinding wheel central axis. The fixture is operable to move along the slide guide in a lateral direction to and from the loading station and the grinding station. The grinding wheel comprises means to move the grinding wheel substantially orthogonal to the fixture lateral axis towards and away from the fixture to engage and disengage, respectively, the wire second end of the wires.

In another embodiment, the machine tool also provides wherein the magazine comprises a tray and a groove cover element. The tray defines a tray width and a tray depth. The tray further defines a tray front surface, a tray back surface opposite the tray front surface, and a tray top, and a tray bottom opposite the tray top. The tray back surface defines a magazine first registration surface defining a first registration plane. A groove element depends from the tray front surface and extends substantially the entire tray width adjacent the tray top. The groove element defines a groove element surface comprising a plurality of grooves each defining a groove axis that is substantially perpendicular to the tray width. The groove axes are arranged substantially parallel and substantially coplanar with respect to each other defining a groove plane. The groove plane is substantially parallel with the magazine first registration plane and substantially perpendicular to the tray width. A wire stop element depends from the tray front surface adjacent the tray bottom. The wire stop element extends substantially the entire tray width. The wire stop element defines a substantially flat stop surface facing towards the groove element and substantially orthogonal to the groove axes, each groove is operable to receive one wire therein, with the wire first end of the wires abutting the stop surface and the wire second end of the wires extending away from the wire stop and beyond the groove element. The groove cover element is operable to be removably coupled to the groove element surface and extend over the plurality of grooves. The groove cover element is operable to retain the wires within respective grooves while allowing the wire to freely rotate axially within the groove. The groove cover is in cooperative engagement with the groove element so as to define a plurality of substantially parallel and substantially coplanar wire bores. The dimensions of the wire bores are predetermined so as to retain each wire in substantially parallel relationship to the other wires.

In another embodiment, the machine tool also provides wherein the tray front surface further comprises a plurality of coaxial groove elements operable to retain each wire in a substantially parallel and substantially coplanar orientation.

In another embodiment, the machine tool also provides wherein the magazine comprises a tray defining a tray width and a tray depth. The tray further defines a tray front surface, a tray back surface opposite the tray front surface, and a tray top, and a tray bottom opposite the tray top. The tray back surface defines a magazine first registration surface defining a first registration plane. Two parallel spaced-apart aperture elements depend from the tray front surface and extend substantially the entire tray width. The aperture elements define a plurality of coaxial apertures each defining an aperture axis that is substantially perpendicular to the tray width. The aperture axes are arranged substantially parallel and substantially coplanar with respect to each other defining an aperture plane. The aperture plane is substantially parallel with the magazine first registration plane and substantially perpendicular to the tray width. The aperture elements define a second registration surface that is substantially coplanar with a stop registration surface. A wire stop element depends from the tray front surface adjacent the tray bottom. The wire stop element extends substantially the entire tray width. The wire stop element defines a substantially flat stop surface facing towards the groove element and substantially orthogonal to the groove axes, each pair of coaxial apertures are operable to receive one wire therethrough, with the wire first end of the wires abutting the stop surface and the wire second end of the wires extending away from the wire stop and beyond the aperture element. The aperture elements are operable to retain the wires within the wire apertures while allowing the wires to freely rotate axially within the wire apertures. The dimensions of the wire apertures are predetermined so as to retain each wire in substantially parallel relationship to the other wires.

In another embodiment, the machine tool also provides wherein the magazine comprises a tray defining a tray width and a tray depth. The tray further defines a tray front surface, a tray back surface opposite the tray front surface, and a tray top, and a tray bottom opposite the tray top. The tray back surface defines a magazine first registration surface defining a first registration plane. An aperture element depends from the tray front surface and extends substantially the entire tray width. The aperture element defines a plurality of apertures each defining an aperture axis that is substantially perpendicular to the tray width. The aperture axes are arranged substantially parallel and substantially coplanar with respect to each other defining an aperture plane. The aperture plane is substantially parallel with the magazine first registration plane and substantially perpendicular to the tray width. The aperture element defines a second registration surface that is substantially coplanar with a stop registration surface. A wire stop element depends from the tray front surface adjacent the tray bottom, the wire stop element extending substantially the entire tray width, the wire stop element defining a substantially flat stop surface facing towards the groove element and substantially orthogonal to the groove axes. Each aperture is operable to receive one wire therethrough, with the wire first end of the wires abutting the stop surface and the wire second end of the wires extending away from the wire stop and beyond the aperture element. The aperture element is operable to retain the wires within the wire apertures while allowing the wires to freely rotate axially within the wire apertures. The dimensions of the wire apertures are predetermined so as to retain each wire in substantially parallel relationship to the other wires.

In another embodiment, the machine tool also provides wherein the grinder comprises a grinding machine including the grinding wheel and a rotation means for rotating the grinding wheel about the grinding wheel central axis. The grinding wheel is in the form of a disk having a thickness defining a wheel face about the disk circumference. The wheel face defines a face width. The wheel face is the grinding surface for grinding the wires. The grinding wheel is operable to translate along an axis which is substantially orthogonal to the central axis of the grinding wheel and substantially orthogonal to the slide guide along which the grinding wheel is moved relative to the fixture.

In another embodiment, the machine tool also provides wherein the grinder further comprises a sensing device operable for determining the diameter of the grinding wheel and therefore the distance of the wheel face from a reference point.

In another embodiment, the machine tool also provides wherein the sensing device further comprises a wheel dressing element operable to flatten the wheel face after a grinding operation.

In another embodiment, a magazine is provided for holding the plurality of wires in a side-by-side, spaced-apart, substantially parallel and coplanar relationship. The wires define a longitudinal axis. The magazine comprises a tray and a groove cover element. The tray defines a tray width and a tray depth. The tray further defines a tray front surface, a tray back surface opposite the tray front surface, and a tray top, and a tray bottom opposite the tray top. The tray back surface defines a magazine first registration surface defining a first registration plane. A groove element depends from the tray front surface and extends substantially the entire tray width adjacent the tray top. The groove element defines a groove element surface comprising a plurality of grooves each defining a groove axis that is substantially perpendicular to the tray width. The groove axes are arranged substantially parallel and substantially coplanar with respect to each other defining a groove plane. The groove plane is substantially parallel with the magazine first registration plane and substantially perpendicular to the tray width. A wire stop element depends from the tray front surface adjacent the tray bottom. The wire stop element extends substantially the entire tray width. The wire stop element defines a substantially flat stop surface facing towards the groove element and substantially orthogonal to the groove axes, each groove is operable to receive one wire therein, with the wire first end of the wires abutting the stop surface and the wire second end of the wires extending away from the wire stop and beyond the groove element. The groove cover element is operable to be removably coupled to the groove element surface and extend over the plurality of grooves. The groove cover element is operable to retain the wires within respective grooves while allowing the wire to freely rotate axially within the groove. The groove cover is in cooperative engagement with the groove element so as to define a plurality of substantially parallel and substantially coplanar wire bores, the dimensions of the wire bores are predetermined so as to retain each wire in substantially parallel relationship to the other wires. The magazine is operable for holding the plurality of wires in a side-by-side, spaced-apart, substantially parallel and substantially coplanar relationship. The magazine is operable to extend the second end of the wires from the magazine. The magazine is operable to allow relative freedom of rotation of the wires along their longitudinal axis.

In another embodiment, a magazine is provided wherein the tray front surface further comprises a plurality of substantially coaxial groove elements operable to retain each wire in a substantially parallel and substantially coplanar orientation.

In another embodiment, a magazine is provided for holding the plurality of wires in a side-by-side, spaced-apart, substantially parallel and coplanar relationship. The wires define a longitudinal axis. The magazine comprises a tray defining a tray width and a tray depth. The tray further defines a tray front surface, a tray back surface opposite the tray front surface, and a tray top, and a tray bottom opposite the tray top. The tray back surface defines a magazine first registration surface defining a first registration plane. Two parallel spaced-apart aperture elements depend from the tray front surface and extend substantially the entire tray width. The aperture elements define a plurality of coaxial apertures each defining an aperture axis that is substantially perpendicular to the tray width. The aperture axes are arranged substantially parallel and substantially coplanar with respect to each other defining an aperture plane. The aperture plane is substantially parallel with the magazine first registration plane and substantially perpendicular to the tray width. The aperture elements define a second registration surface that is substantially coplanar with a stop registration surface. A wire stop element depends from the tray front surface adjacent the tray bottom. The wire stop element extends substantially the entire tray width, the wire stop element defining a substantially flat stop surface facing towards the groove element and substantially orthogonal to the groove axes. Each pair of coaxial apertures are operable to receive one wire therethrough, with the wire first end of the wires abutting the stop surface and the wire second end of the wires extending away from the wire stop and beyond the aperture element. The aperture elements are operable to retain the wires within the wire apertures while allowing the wires to freely rotate axially within the wire apertures. The dimensions of the wire apertures are predetermined so as to retain each wire in substantially parallel relationship to the other wires.

In another embodiment, a magazine is provided for holding the plurality of wires in a side-by-side, spaced-apart, substantially parallel and coplanar relationship. The wires define a longitudinal axis. The magazine comprises a tray defining a tray width and a tray depth. The tray further defines a tray front surface, a tray back surface opposite the tray front surface, and a tray top, and a tray bottom opposite the tray top. The tray back surface defines a magazine first registration surface defining a first registration plane. An aperture element depends from the tray front surface and extending substantially the entire tray width. The aperture element defines a plurality of apertures each defining an aperture axis that is substantially perpendicular to the tray width. The aperture axes are arranged substantially parallel and substantially coplanar with respect to each other defining an aperture plane. The aperture plane is substantially parallel with the magazine first registration plane and substantially perpendicular to the tray width. The aperture element defines a second registration surface that is substantially coplanar with a stop registration surface. A wire stop element depends from the tray front surface adjacent the tray bottom. The wire stop element extends substantially the entire tray width. The wire stop element defines a substantially flat stop surface facing towards the groove element and substantially orthogonal to the groove axes. Each aperture is operable to receive one wire therethrough, with the wire first end of the wires abutting the stop surface and the wire second end of the wires extending away from the wire stop and beyond the aperture element. The aperture element is operable to retain the wires within the wire apertures while allowing the wires to freely rotate axially within the wire apertures. The dimensions of the wire apertures are predetermined so as to retain each wire in substantially parallel relationship to the other wires.

In an embodiment, a method for pointing a plurality of wires for fishhook manufacturing is provided. The wires have a wire first end and a wire second end opposite the wire first end. The method comprises using a machine tool comprising a magazine, a base frame, a slide guide, a fixture, a grinder, and a numerical control system. The magazine is operable for holding the plurality of wires in a side-by-side, spaced-apart, substantially parallel and substantially coplanar relationship. The wires define a longitudinal axis. The magazine is operable to extend the wire second end of the wires from the magazine. The magazine is operable to allow relative freedom of rotation of the wires along their longitudinal axis. The base frame defines a loading station and a grinding station. The slide guide is coupled to the base frame extending from the loading station to the grinding station. The fixture has an inner clamping section and an outer clamping section. The inner clamping section and the outer clamping section are operable to be rotated about a pivot toward each other in a first position to engage the wires therebetween in clamping engagement and in a second position away from each other to release the clamping engagement on the wires. The grinder is coupled to the base frame at the grinding station. The grinder includes a grinding wheel. The numerical control system is in communication with and operable to control the fixture and the grinder. The fixture is operable to translate along the slide guide from the loading station to the grinding station to adjacent the grinder so as to engage the wire second of the wires with the grinder. The fixture and the grinder cooperate to grind a desired number of facets into the wire second end. The method further comprises loading a plurality of wires into the magazine, loading the magazine into the fixture at the loading station, translating the fixture to the grinding station, advancing the grinder incrementally toward the fixture, traversing the wire second ends against the grinding wheel face a predetermined number of times, exposing the wires to a grinding operation to form a first facet on the wire second end of the wires, advancing the grinder away from the fixture, translating the fixture away from the grinding station, moving the inner clamping shoe laterally with respect to the outer clamping shoe so as to simultaneously rotate the wires about their axes, exposing the wire second end of the wires to the grinding operation to form a second or subsequent facet on the second end of the wires, advancing the fixture to the loading station, removing the magazine from the fixture; and removing the wires from the magazine.

In another embodiment, a method for pointing a plurality of wires for fishhook manufacturing is provided. The wires have a wire first end and a wire second end opposite the wire first end. The method comprises using a machine tool comprising a magazine, a base frame, a slide guide, a fixture, a grinder, and a numerical control system. The magazine is operable for holding the plurality of wires in a side-by-side, spaced-apart, substantially parallel and substantially coplanar relationship. The wires define a longitudinal axis. The magazine is operable to extend the wire second end of the wires from the magazine. The magazine is operable to allow relative freedom of rotation of the wires along their longitudinal axis. The base frame defines a loading station and a grinding station. The slide guide is coupled to the base frame extending from the loading station to the grinding station. The fixture has an inner clamping section and an outer clamping section. The inner clamping section and the outer clamping section are operable to be rotated about a pivot toward each other in a first position to engage the wires therebetween in clamping engagement and in a second position away from each other to release the clamping engagement on the wires. The grinder is coupled to the base frame at the grinding station. The grinder includes a grinding wheel. The numerical control system is in communication with and operable to control the fixture and the grinder. The fixture is operable to translate along the slide guide from the loading station to the grinding station to adjacent the grinder so as to engage the wire second end of the wires with the grinder. The fixture and the grinder cooperate to grind a desired number of facets into the wire second end of the wires. The method further comprises loading a plurality of wires into the magazine, loading the magazine into the fixture at the loading station, translating the fixture to the grinding station, advancing the grinder incrementally toward the fixture, traversing the wire second ends against the grinding wheel face a predetermined number of times, exposing the wires to a grinding operation to form a first facet on the wire second end of the wires, translating the grinding wheel in the lateral direction away from the fixture to a predetermined position, translating the fixture away from the grinding wheel along the slide guide, moving the inner clamping shoe laterally with respect to the outer clamping shoe so as to simultaneously rotate the wires about their axes a predetermined amount, exposing the wire second end of the wires to the grinding operation to form a second or subsequent facet on the wire second end of the wires, advancing the fixture to the loading station, removing the magazine from the fixture, and removing the wires from the magazine.

In another embodiment, a method for pointing a plurality of wires for fishhook manufacturing further comprises determining a diameter of the grinding wheel and therefore a distance of the wheel face from a reference point prior to grinding the first facet.

In another embodiment, a method for pointing a plurality of wires for fishhook manufacturing further comprises dressing the grinding wheel prior to grinding the first facet.

In another embodiment, a method for pointing a plurality of wires for fishhook manufacturing is provided. The wires have a wire first end and a wire second end opposite the wire first end. The method comprises using a machine tool comprising a magazine, a base frame, a slide guide, a fixture, a grinder, and a numerical control system. The magazine is operable for holding the plurality of wires in a side-by-side, spaced-apart, substantially parallel and substantially coplanar relationship. The wires define a longitudinal axis. The magazine is operable to extend the wire second end of the wires from the magazine. The magazine is operable to allow relative freedom of rotation of the wires along their longitudinal axis. The base frame defines a loading station and a grinding station. The slide guide is coupled to the base frame extending from the loading station to the grinding station. The fixture has an inner clamping section and an outer clamping section. The inner clamping section and the outer clamping section are operable to be rotated about a pivot toward each other in a first position to engage the wires therebetween in clamping engagement and in a second position away from each other to release the clamping engagement on the wires. The grinder is coupled to the base frame at the grinding station. The grinder includes a grinding wheel. The numerical control system is in communication with and operable to control the fixture and the grinder. The fixture is operable to translate along the slide guide from the loading station to the grinding station to adjacent the grinder so as to engage the wire second end of the wires with the grinder. The fixture and the grinder cooperate to grind a desired number of facets into the wire second end of the wires. The method further comprises cutting a plurality of wires to a predetermined length, loading the plurality of wires into the magazine, loading the magazine into the fixture, closing the fixture, initiating programming to affect a predetermined grinding process, unloading the magazine from the fixture, and unloading the plurality of wires from the magazine.

In another embodiment, the method for pointing a plurality of wires for fishhook manufacturing wherein the programming comprises the method of activating a sensing device so as to determine and obtain grinding wheel face position data, determining spatial coordinates of the fixture relative to the wheel face, moving the fixture from the loading station to the grinding station and positioning to the grinding wheel face so as to traverse the wire second end of the wires against the grinding wheel face a predetermined number of times, moving the fixture away from the grinding wheel face, translating the inner clamping face relative to the outer clamping face to simultaneously rotate the wires a predetermined rotation angle, repeating the grinding process a predetermined number of times associated with the number of facets desired, and returning the fixture to the loading station.

In another embodiment, the method for pointing a plurality of wires for fishhook manufacturing wherein the programming comprises the method of activating a sensing device so as to determine and obtain grinding wheel face position data, determining spatial coordinates of the fixture relative to the wheel face, translating the fixture to the grinding wheel face so as to traverse the wire second ends against the wheel face to produce a first facet, advancing the grinding wheel incrementally toward the fixture, translating the wire second ends against the wheel face in alternating directions so as to traverse the wire second ends substantially the length of the grinding wheel face a plurality of times suitable for producing the desired facet, advancing the grinder away from the fixture after a facet is formed, moving the inner clamping shoe laterally with respect to the outer clamping shoe in a direction substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the wires to simultaneously rotate the wires uniformly through a predetermined angle, translating the fixture to the grinding wheel face; advancing the grinding wheel incrementally toward the fixture so as to traverse the wire second ends against the wheel face to produce a second facet, moving the fixture to the loading station at the commencement of the final facet, and moving the outer clamping section away from the inner claiming section.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments will be described with reference to the following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various figures unless otherwise specified.

FIGS. 1A and 1B are front and top views, respectively, of a machine tool operable for wire pointing for the manufacture of fishhooks, in accordance with of an embodiment;

FIG. 2A is a side view of a wire comprising a first end and a second end in accordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 2B is a side view of the wire after a first facet has been formed by grinding into a portion of the first end in accordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 2C is a side view of the wire after a second facet has been formed by grinding into a portion of the first end in accordance with an embodiment;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are cross-sectional views of a fixture in an open position and a closed position, respectively, and FIG. 3C is a front view, in accordance with an embodiment;

FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C and 4D are front, exploded cross-section view of FIG. 4A along 4B-4B, side assembled, and top cross-section of FIG. 4B along 4D-4D views, respectively, of an embodiment of a magazine;

FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C are front, side cross-section of FIG. 5A along 5B-5B, and top views, respectively, of another embodiment of a magazine;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the fixture in relationship to the grinder wheel in accordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 8 is an embodiment of a method for manufacturing points on wires; and

FIG. 9 is an embodiment of a method for a control system for the manufacturing of points on wires.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of claimed subject matter. Thus, the appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” or “an embodiment” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in one or more embodiments.

Reference will now be made to embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language which will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Alterations and further modifications of the illustrated embodiments and further applications of the principles of the invention, as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates, are also within the scope of the invention.

Hereinafter, the word/phrase “wire” and “wire blank” refers to a work piece that is processed using embodiments of apparatus and methods in accordance with subject matter presented herein. Wires are cut to a predetermined length so as to produce the wire/wire blank which will be pointed and subsequently formed into a fishhook.

FIGS. 1A and 1B are front and top views, respectively, of a machine tool 10 operable for wire pointing for the manufacture of fishhooks, in accordance with of an embodiment. The machine tool 10 comprises a base frame 20, a slide guide 30, a fixture 100, a grinder 200, and a numerical control system 40. The fixture 100 is operable to hold a plurality of wires 50 with the assistance of a magazine 300. The fixture 100 is operable to transport the wires 50 along the slide guide 30 to the grinder 200. The fixture 100 and the grinder 200 cooperate to grind a desired number of facets into an end of the wires 50. The fixture 100 and the grinder 200 are under the control of a numerical control system 40. The individual elements of the machine tool 10 are provided in detail below.

Fishhook points created by embodiments of apparatus and methods presented herein are defined by one or more bevels, or facets, ground on an end of a wire blank (“wire”). FIG. 2A is a side view of a wire 50 comprising a wire first end 54 and a wire second end 52 prior to processing by the machine tool 10 of the embodiment of FIG. 1. FIG. 2B is a side view of the wire 50 after a first facet 51 has been formed by grinding into a portion of the wire second end 52. FIG. 2C is a side view of the wire 50 after a second facet 53 has been formed by grinding into another portion of the wire second end 52. The one or more facets 51, 53 define a point 56. For example, a bi-point comprises two facets that intersect each other to define a point 56 at the wire second end 52 of the wire 50 when viewed axially. In another example, a tri-point comprises three facets that intersect each other to define a point 56 at the wire second end 52 of the wire 50 when viewed axially. The sharpness of the angle of the facets to the wire second end 52 and the angle between each facet, along with other factors such as the diameter and thickness of the wire 50, affect the penetration of the point 56 into the flesh of a fish experienced in use.

Referring again to FIGS. 2A-C, the wire 50 defines a longitudinal axis 57 that is defined by the geometric center. The dynamics involved with bringing a grinder wheel and the wire second end 52 of the wire 50 into contact causes the wire second end 52 to deflect away from the grinder wheel. Wherein the grinder wheel is controlled to grind the first facet 51 up to the longitudinal axis 57, there is a likelihood, due to deflection of the wire second end 52, that a tip 58 will be formed to have a blunt or flat profile. This flat profile is due to the grinding of the wire second end 52 that is not sufficient to intersect the longitudinal axis 57.

In order to compensate for deflection, the point 56 is not ground to the geometric center of the wire 50 but to some predetermined offset center. As will be further explained below, compensation for deflection of the wire second end 52 of the wire 50 during grinding may be taken into consideration in a calculation of the distance 37 of the grinder wheel to the wire second end 52 such that, accounting for wire deflection, the facets are formed so as to intersect the longitudinal axis 57 and extend past the longitudinal axis 57 a predetermined distance. The distance that the facets extend past the longitudinal axis 57 is predetermined so as to prevent the formation of a blunt or “flat top” tip 58.

Fixture

FIGS. 3A and 3B are cross-sectional views, and FIG. 3C is a front view, of a fixture 100 in accordance with an embodiment. The fixture 100 is operable to hold a plurality of wires 50 which themselves are held by a magazine 300 as will be described below. The fixture 100 comprises an inner clamping section 120 and an outer clamping section 160. The inner clamping section 120 and an outer clamping section 160 are operable to be rotated about a pivot 110 toward each other to hold the wires 50 and the magazine 300 therebetween in clamping engagement as shown in FIG. 3B and away from each other to release the clamping engagement on the wires 50 and magazine 300 as shown in FIG. 3A. In accordance with an embodiment, the outer clamping section 160 is actuated by a lever (not shown) to bring about closure and subsequent opening of the inner and outer clamping sections 120, 160.

The inner clamping section 120 comprises an inner clamping shoe 122 and an inner clamping plate 132. The outer clamping section 160 comprises an outer clamping shoe 162 and an outer clamping plate 172. The inner and outer clamping plates 132, 172 are operable to urge the inner and outer clamping shoes 122, 162, respectively, towards each other so as to engage the wires 50 previously loaded onto the fixture 100. The manner in which the wires 50 are loaded onto the fixture 100 will be described below.

The inner clamping shoe 122 is removably coupled to the inner clamping plate 132. The inner clamping shoe 122 includes an inner shoe clamping face 124. Similarly, the outer clamping shoe 162 is removably coupled to the outer clamping plate 162. The outer clamping shoe 162 includes an outer shoe clamping face 164. When the inner and outer clamping sections 120, 160 are brought together, otherwise referred to as closed, the inner and outer shoe clamping faces 124, 164 are in opposed relation therewith defining a gap 112. The gap 112 is operable to receive the wire 50 therein.

The inner and outer shoe clamping faces 124, 164 each define a channel 114 that runs substantially the width of the inner and outer shoe 122, 162 and are in opposed relationship in the closed fixture 100. Each channel 114 is operable to receive a resilient strip 116 that extends beyond a plane defined by the inner and outer shoe clamping faces 124, 162. As will be explained below, the resilient strips 116 cooperate with the inner and outer clamping faces 124, 162 to support the wires 50.

The resilient strips 116 frictionally and resiliently engage wires 50 in axially aligned orientation. The resilient strips 116 are operable to prevent the wires 50 from rotating when rotation would be undesirable and assists in the rotation of the wires 50 during translation of the outer clamping shoe 122 with respect to the inner clamping shoe 122 as will be explained below.

The pair of inner and outer clamping shoes 122, 162 is removably coupled from the inner and outer clamping plates 132, 172, respectively. As will be explained below, the pair of inner and outer clamping shoes 122, 162 may be exchanged with other pair of inner and outer clamping shoes to accommodate specific wire diameters.

In accordance with an embodiment, the pair of inner and outer clamping shoes 122, 162 is operable to work with a specific diameter or predetermined range of diameters of wire 50. For example, a pair of inner and outer clamping shoes 122, 162 may be made to accept a wire diameter of 0.040 inches, wherein a second pair of inner and outer clamping shoes 122, 162 may be made to accept a wire diameter of 0.048 inches. Although the inner and outer clamping plates 132 and 172 may be operable for holding a single diameter of wire or a predetermined range of diameters, it is appreciated that having removably coupled inner and outer clamping shoes 122, 162 allows for the major components of the fixture 100 to be capable of processing more than one or a limited range of diameter of wire 50.

In accordance with an embodiment, the inner clamping shoe 122 is coupled to the inner clamping plate 132 and the outer clamping shoe 162 is coupled to the outer clamping plate 172. The wires 50, as assembled into the magazine 300, are placed adjacent the inner clamping shoe 122. The outer clamping plate 172 is then moved towards the inner clamping shoe 122 as described above, thereby urging and/or clamping the wires 50 between the inner and outer clamping shoes 122, 162. The cooperation between the wires 50, the resilient strips 114, and the matching inner and outer clamping faces 124, 164 of the inner and outer clamping shoes 122, 162, respectively, ensures that when the outer clamping shoe 162 is brought into clamping engagement with the inner clamping shoe 122, the wires 50 align into substantially parallel axial alignment.

Once the inner clamping shoe 122 has been coupled to the inner clamping plate 132, and the outer clamping shoe 162 has been coupled to the outer clamping plate 172, the inner clamping section 120 and an outer clamping section 160 are held open to receive the magazine 300 containing wires 50. The magazine 300 may be located in position adjacent to the inner clamping shoe 122. The inner clamping plate 132 is intended to support the magazine 300 which in use is to be interposed between the inner clamping shoe 122 and the outer clamping shoe 162. The inner and outer clamping plates 132, 172 are operable to urge the outer clamping shoe 164 towards the respective inner clamping shoe 122 so as to engage the wires 50 which had been previously loaded into the magazine 300, and the magazine 300 loaded onto the inner clamping section 120.

The inner and outer clamping shoes 122, 162 are operable for ensuring proper alignment of the wires 50 to a grinder wheel 200. The inner and outer clamping shoes 122, 162 are configured as pairs for each of a predetermined wire diameter or range of wire diameters. The inner and outer clamping shoes 122, 162 are relatively easily coupled to the inner and outer clamping plates 132, 172, respectively, when the processing of different wire diameter is desired. In this way, the fixture 100 may be converted to be used for different wire diameters by simply replacing the inner and outer clamping shoes 122, 162.

According to an alternative embodiment of the fixture 100, the inner and outer clamping shoes 122, 162 may be formed integrally with the inner and outer clamping plates 132, 172, respectively, wherein that particular fixture does not need to have convertibility for different wire sizes or for accommodating more than one range of diameters.

In accordance with an embodiment, the fixture 100 is operable such that as a result of a lateral shifting of the inner clamping shoe 122 by way of a synchronously controlled lever means, a range of desired angular adjustment of the wires about their axis may be simultaneously achieved so as to control the grinding of the facets. The inner clamping shoe 122 is operable to displace laterally (indicated by the arrow 115) relative to the outer clamping shoe 162. An actuator 118 is provided that is coupled to the inner clamping shoe 122 as a means for providing lateral displacement of the inner clamping shoe 122. This relative movement of the inner clamping shoe 122 with respect to the outer clamping shoe 162 results in wires 50 that are clamped between both the inner and outer clamping shoes 122, 162 and urgingly engaged by the resilient strips 116, 166, rolling about their longitudinal axes.

The fixture 100 is operable to simultaneously roll all of the wires 50 along the longitudinal axis 51 of the wires 50 uniformly through a predetermined angle in preparation for grinding a facet. Activation of actuator 118 laterally displaces the inner clamping shoe 122 and thus the resilient strip 116. The cooperation of the stationary resilient strip 166 and the moving resilient strip 116 on the surface of the wires 50 affect a controlled simultaneous rotation of the wires 50. After the grinding of a first facet, the wires 50 are rotated a predetermined amount in preparation for the grinding of a second facet that will be ground adjacent the ends of all of the wires in the same manner as the first facet. The process is repeated in accordance with the desired number of facets.

On one side of the inner clamping shoe 122 there is coupled an actuator 118 that may be selectively extended or retracted laterally to displace the inner clamping shoe 122 relative to the outer clamping shoe 162, and thereby to roll the clamped individual wires 50 about their axes to enable grinding of the various facets.

In accordance with an embodiment, by way of example, a motor 117 and lever 119 brings about the synchronously controlled lateral movement of the inner clamping plate 122 so as to turn the plurality of wires 50 through the required angles to produce the ground facets as referred to above. In connection with this operation all of the wires 50 are simultaneously and uniformly turned through a predetermined angle. For the precision of this angular turning of the wires 50, the above mentioned resilient strips 116, 166 of resilient material are provided at the inner and outer clamping shoes 122, 166. These resilient strips 116, 166 ensure a uniform gripping relationship for all of the wires 50 and the friction between the resilient strips 116, 166 and the surface of the wires 50 is substantially the same for all of the wires 50. Since the inner and outer clamping faces 124, 164 may be made of ground or polished steel, for example, in cooperation with the resilient strips 116, 166, they provide for all of the wires 50 a precisely defined rolling surface, and thus there is achieved for all of the wires 50 a uniform turning angle during the lateral shifting of the inner clamping shoe 122 relative to the outer clamping shoe 162.

The fixture 100 is operable to move along substantially one axis, referred to as a fixture lateral axis 31 which is substantially parallel to a grinder wheel central axis 203 of a grinder wheel 202 as shown in FIG. 1. As will be described further below, the grinder wheel 202 is operable to be moved towards and away from the fixture 100 to engage and disengage, respectively, the wires 50 during an embodiment of a grinding process.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the fixture 100 is operable to translate along the fixture lateral axis 31 in a lateral direction 31 from a loading station 32 to a grinder station 34. Mechanisms for affecting the translation of the fixture 100 are known in the art. By way of example, but not limited thereto, the fixture 100 is carried by a slide guide 30 that has a cylindrical-shape which is operable for longitudinal movement to the right and left, as viewed in FIG. 1 indicated by the arrow 31.

At the loading station, wires 50, as assembled in a magazine 300, are loaded onto the fixture 100 or off-loaded from the fixture 100. At the grinder station 34, the wires 50 are exposed to a grinding operation best shown in FIG. 6. In an embodiment, the fixture 100 translates on a linear bearing such as the slide guide 30 shown in FIG. 1, from the loading station 32 to the grinder station 34. During the grinding of the ends 52 of the wires 50 to form points 56, as shown in FIGS. 2A-C, the fixture 100 traverses a length 204 of a grinder wheel 202 to expose all of the wires 50 clamped in the fixture 100 to the grinder wheel 202. A first facet is ground adjacent the exposed end 52 of all of the wires 50 by traversing the ends 52 across a face 206 of the grinder wheel 202 one or more times. As will be provided further below, in accordance with embodiments, the grinder wheel 202 is advanced towards the wires 50 during the grinding process along a longitudinal direction 39.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the fixture 100 in relationship to the grinder wheel 202 in accordance with an embodiment. The grinder wheel 202 is operable to translate along a longitudinal direction 39 that is substantially orthogonal to the lateral direction 31 shown in FIG. 1. The distance 37 between the wheel face 206 and the wire axis 51 is predetermined for a particular purpose. The pitch of the fixture 100 may be adjusted about rotation angle 35 suitable for a particular purpose. The combination of distance 37 and rotation angle 35, in part, determines the characteristics of the ground facets on the wire 50.

After the first facet is ground, the grinder wheel 202 is backed away from the wires 50; that is, translated in the longitudinal direction 39 from the fixture 100 to a predetermined position. The fixture 100 may be translated away from the grinder wheel 202, such as, but not limited to, by returning to the loading station 32, wherein the wires 50 are simultaneously rotated a predetermined amount as discussed above. The translation, grinding, rotation process is repeated in accordance with a predetermined process. Upon completion of the grinding process, the fixture 100 is returned to the loading station 32 whereby the wires 50 are removed from the fixture 100.

Magazine

Embodiments of magazines 300 are provided that are operable to provide substantially parallel and substantially coplanar alignment of a plurality of adjacent wires. The magazine ensures that the wires are arranged adjacent one another such that their longitudinal axes of each wire are substantially parallel, with the wire second end of each of the wires extending out from the magazine and available to be exposed to a grinder wheel. The wires, while being supported in the magazine, are clamped between resilient strips coupled to the inner clamping section and an outer clamping section of the fixture, with the wire second end of each of the wires extending out of the magazine extending out from the fixture in a direction substantially orthogonal to the axis of a grinder wheel. The amount each wire extends out of the fixture and the distance of the fixture from the grinding face is governed by such factors as, but not limited to, the tolerance of the grinding operation, the amount of material to be removed, and the wire material and dimensions.

The magazine is operable to allow relative freedom of rotation of the wires along their longitudinal axis while substantially maintaining the substantially orthogonal angle of the wires to a grinding face of the grinder wheel. Cooperation between the magazine and the fixture provides a substantially uniform clamping pressure or urging engagement applied to all of the wires and for simultaneous rotation of the wires.

FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C and 4D are front, side exploded, side assembled, and top views, respectively, of an embodiment of a magazine 300a that is operable for holding a plurality of relatively straight wires 50 in spaced-apart, substantially parallel and substantially coplanar relationship, in other words, a single row. The magazine 300a comprises a tray 310 defining a tray width 311 and a tray depth 313. The tray 310 further defines a tray front surface 312 and a tray back surface 314, and a tray top 316, and a tray bottom 318.

Depending from the tray front surface 312 adjacent the tray top 316 is a groove element 322 extending substantially the entire tray width 311. The groove element 322 defines a groove element surface 324 comprising a plurality of grooves 326 each having a groove axis 327 substantially perpendicular to the tray width 311. The groove axes 327 are arranged substantially parallel and substantially coplanar with respect to each other defining a groove plane 329. The groove plane 329 is substantially perpendicular to the tray width 311.

Depending from the tray front surface 312 adjacent the tray bottom 318 is a wire stop element 330 extending substantially the entire tray width 311. The wire stop element 330 defines a substantially flat stop surface 332 facing towards the groove element 322 and substantially orthogonal to the groove axes 327. Each groove 326 is operable for the reception of one wire 50 therein, with a wire first end 54 of the wire 50 abutting the stop surface 332 and a wire second end 52 extending away from the wire stop 330 beyond the groove element 322.

The magazine 300a further comprises a groove cover element 340, shown in FIGS. 4B-D, but not shown in FIG. 4A for clarity, that is operable to be removably coupled to the groove element surface 324 and extend over the plurality of grooves 326. The groove cover element 340 is operable to retain a wire 50 within a groove 326 while allowing the wire 50 to freely rotate axially within the groove 326. In other words, the groove cover 340 cooperates with the groove element 324 so as to define a plurality of substantially parallel and substantially coplanar wire bores 342. The dimensions of the resulting wire bores 342 are predetermined so as to retain each wire 50 in substantially parallel relationship to the other wires 50.

The groove cover 340 is removably coupled to the groove element surface 324 by any suitable means, such as by magnetic attraction, set screw fasteners, and non-permanent adhesive, among others. With the groove cover element 340 removed from the groove element surface 324, each wire 50 to be ground is placed within a groove 326. This operation may be more efficient than having to thread each wire 50 through one or more coaxial apertures or bores. After placement of each wire 50, the groove cover element 340 is coupled to the groove element surface 324 retaining the wires 50 within the grooves 326.

It is understood that a plurality of groove elements may be utilized each having corresponding coaxial grooves to assist in retaining the wire in a substantially parallel orientation.

The groove 326 is shown in FIG. 4D as defining generally a square cross-sectional shape. It is understood that other cross-sectional shapes may be used suitable for the particular purpose to receive the wires 50 and to maintain the axial, substantially parallel, alignment of the wires 50. The cross-sectional shape of the grooves 326 may take the form, including, but not limited to, that of a triangle, rectangle, and circle with each groove 326 separated by lands.

FIGS. 5a, 5B and 5C are front, side, and top views, respectively, of another embodiment of a magazine 300b that is operable for holding a plurality of relatively straight wires 50 in spaced-apart, substantially parallel and substantially coplanar relationship, in other words, a single row. The magazine 300b comprises a tray 510 defining a tray width 511 and a tray depth 513. The tray 510 further defines a tray front surface 512 and a tray back surface 514, and a tray top 516, and a tray bottom 518.

Depending from the tray front surface 512 adjacent the tray top 516 are two parallel spaced-apart aperture elements 522a, 522b extending substantially the entire tray width 511. The aperture elements 522a, 522b define a plurality of coaxial apertures 523 each having an aperture axis 527 substantially perpendicular to the tray width 511. The aperture axes 527 are arranged substantially parallel and substantially coplanar with respect to each other defining an aperture plane 529. The aperture plane 529 is substantially perpendicular to the tray width 511. The aperture elements 522a, 522b define a second registration surface 517 that is substantially coplanar with a stop registration surface 519, as will be explained below.

Depending from the tray front surface 512 adjacent the tray bottom 518 is a wire stop element 530 extending substantially the entire tray width 511. The wire stop element 530 defines a substantially flat stop surface 532 facing towards the aperture elements 526 and substantially orthogonal to the aperture axes 527. Each pair of coaxial apertures 526 are operable for the reception of one wire therethrough, with a wire first end 54 of the wire 50 abutting the stop surface 532 and a wire second end 52 extending away from the wire stop 530 beyond the aperture element 522a.

The aperture elements 522a, 522b are operable to retain a wire 50 within the wire apertures 526 while allowing the wire 50 to freely rotate axially within the wire apertures 526. The dimensions of the wire apertures 526 are predetermined so as to retain a wire 50 in substantially parallel relationship to the other wires 50. In other embodiments, the aperture elements 522a, 522b form a plurality of substantially parallel and substantially coplanar wire bores 542. The dimensions of the resulting wire bores 542 are predetermined so as to retain a wire 50 in substantially parallel relationship to the other wires 50. Each wire is received through corresponding coaxial apertures 526 or bores 542.

Although the embodiment of FIGS. 5A-5C shows two aperture elements 522a, 522b, it is understood that one or more aperture elements may be utilized each having corresponding coaxial wire apertures 526 to assist in retaining the wire 50 in a substantially parallel orientation. For example, a single aperture element having aperture bores of sufficient length to laterally support a wire received therein is suitable for the particular purpose. Further, an aperture bore extending to the wire stop may be suitable for the particular purpose but it is understood that as the aperture bore becomes longer, the cleaning of metal and grinder wheel fines may become difficult.

Wire Blanks

The diameter of the wires 50 that may be used in embodiments presented herein is predetermined for the particular purpose of the use of the resulting fishhook made therefrom. For example, the wire 50 may have a diameter ranging from, such as, but not limited to, 0.010 inches to about 0.180 inches. More typically, wires 50 having a diameter of about 0.040 inches to about 0.050 inches may be used. However, other diameters may be used and the scope of the embodiments are not limited thereto. The length of the wires 50 will vary in accordance with the type of fishhooks which is being manufactured. The length of the wires 50 will vary in accordance with several parameters including the wire diameter, desired finished length after bending into a fishhook shape, any subsequent cutting, and the type of fishhook made therefrom.

The wires 50 are cut to a predetermined length so as to produce the wires 50 which will subsequently form the fishhook. The wires are positioned in the magazine as described in the embodiments of FIGS. 4A-D and 5A-C.

Grinder

The grinder station 34 comprises a grinding machine 200 as shown as a side view in FIG. 1A and top view shown in FIG. 1B. The grinding machine 200 comprises a grinder wheel 202, a rotation means 205 for rotating the grinder wheel 202 about a wheel central axis 203, and a trolley 235. The grinder wheel 202 is in the form of a disk defining a thickness defining a wheel face 206 about a disk circumference. The wheel face 206 defines a face width 204. The wheel face 206 is the grinding surface for grinding the wires.

The grinder station 34 further comprises a trolley track 237 upon which the trolley 235 may traverse. The trolley track 237 is positioned substantially orthogonal to the wheel central axis 203 and substantially orthogonal to the slide guide 30, see also FIG. 6. The movement of the trolley 235, and hence the grinder wheel 202, is affected by any mechanism operable to translate the trolley 235 forward and backward along the trolley track 237. The trolley 235 may be driven by any suitable known means, such as, but not limited to, by pneumatic and/or hydraulic pistons, electrical stepper motor, and the like.

As will be explained further below, the grinder wheel 202 is advanced toward the fixture 100 so as to engage the wires 50 and withdrawn to disengage the wires 50 when the fixture 100 is advanced to the grinder station 34.

The position of the grinder wheel 202 is controlled by a control unit (not shown). The control unit may be any known controller which may be programmed to produce infeed movement of a driven object in predetermined increments and to retract the object a fixed distance at the end of a cycle of such infeed increments. By way of example, the controller may be programmed to operate in the following manner: from a known position of the wheel face 206 of the grinder wheel 202, the grinder trolley 235 may incrementally infeed the grinder wheel 202 in predetermined increments towards the wire second ends 54. The grinder wheel 202 may be infeed on each pass of the wires 50 or after a number of passes of the wires 50.

By way of example, the grinder wheel 202 may have a programmed infeed increments schedule of decreasing increments with final increments on the order of 0.001 inches until the final pass for each facet is made. The grinder wheel 202 may be positioned for a first grind which may be half of the total grinding dimension. Thereafter the infeed increments may be made progressively smaller so as to grind in progressively smaller amounts.

After a facet has been ground, the trolley 235 may be operable to retract the grinding wheel 202 a fixed distance from the fixture to a known position of the wheel face 206 for another cycle of operation.

It is appreciated that the wheel face 206 of the grinder wheel 202 will be subject to wear. Since the position of the wire second end 54 and the wheel face 206 will determine the amount of material removed from the wire second end 54 to create the facet, the position of the wheel face 202 at a known position of the trolley 235 may be sensed after the last traverse so as to calibrate the position of the wheel face 202 for the next grind.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the fixture 100 is operable to translate along a lateral direction 31 from a loading station 32 to a grinder station 34 in any suitable manner. By way of example, but not limited thereto, the fixture 100 is carried on a slide guide 30 that has a cylindrical-shape which is operable for longitudinal movement to the right and left, as viewed in FIG. 1 indicated by the arrow 31.

At the loading station, wires 50, s assembled in a magazine, are loaded onto the fixture 100 or off-loaded from the fixture 100. At the grinder station 34, the wires 50 are exposed to a grinding operation, best shown in FIG. 6. In an embodiment, the fixture 100 translates on a linear bearing such as the slide guide 30 shown in FIG. 1, from the loading station 32 to the grinder station 34. During the grinding of the ends 52 of the wires 50 to form points 56, as shown in FIGS. 2A-C, the fixture 100 traverses a length 204 of a grinder wheel 202 to expose all of the wires 50 clamped in the fixture 100 to the wheel face 206. A first facet 51 is ground adjacent the exposed end 52 of all of the wires 50 by traversing the ends 52 across the wheel face 206 of the grinder wheel 202 one or more times. The grinder wheel 202 is incrementally advanced towards the wires 50 between subsequent passes.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the fixture 100 in relationship to the grinder wheel 202 in accordance with an embodiment. The grinder wheel 202 is also operable to translate about a depth 33 that is substantially orthogonal to the lateral direction 31. The distance 37 between the wheel face 206 and the wire axis 51 is predetermined for a particular purpose. The pitch of the fixture 100 may be adjusted about rotation angle 35 suitable for a particular purpose. The combination of distance 37 and rotation angle 35, in part, determines the characteristics of the ground facets on the wire 50.

After the first facet is ground, the grinder wheel 202 is backed away from the fixture 100 and the fixture 100 is caused to translate away from the grinder station 34, such as, but not limited to, by returning to the loading station 32 or to an intermediate position, wherein the wires 50 are simultaneously rotated a predetermined amount as discussed above. The translation, grinding, and rotation process is repeated in accordance with a predetermined process. Upon completion of the grinding process, the fixture 100 is returned to the loading station 32 whereby the wires 50 are removed from the fixture 100.

The grinder station 34 further comprises a sensing device 210 that is operable for determining the diameter of the grinder wheel 202 and thus, the distance of the wheel face 206 from a reference point. The sensing device 210 includes any known means for determining the spatial relationship of the wheel face 206. While a mechanical contact has been exemplified, non-contacting proximity detectors such as a pneumatic proximity detector may be utilized, which operates on the principle of detecting a predetermined pneumatic back pressure when the wheel face 206 approaches within a predetermined distance. Many detectors of this type are commercially available. A suitable detector of this type is a Model 6090-187 Back Pressure Sensor and a Model 6080-158 Fluidic Electric Switch manufactured by Automatic Switch Company of Florham Park, N.J. Optical devices suitable for such purposes are also known. The sensing device 210 is so positioned to detect the location of the wheel face 206 of the wheel 202 before the first grind is made on the wires 50. This location is used by the numerical control system to properly locate the grinder wheel 202 for the desired processing.

The sensing device 210 may also comprise a wheel dressing element (not shown) operable to true, or flatten, the wheel face 206 after a grinding operation so as to correct for uneven wear. An example of a known wheel dressing element includes a roller member of very hard material, such as tungsten carbide, which is caused to contact the wheel face 206 and operable to shape the wheel face 206 in a predetermined manner.

The grinder wheel 202 is rotated by a drive motor 208. The preferred operating speed of the grinder wheel 202 may depend upon the diameter of the wire 50, the diameter of the grinder wheel 202, the types of wire material, the grinder wheel material composition, and the surface finish desired of the facet, among others.

Numerical Control System

Referring again to the embodiment of FIG. 1, a computer numerical control (CNC) system 40 is provided to control the operation of the machine tool 10. CNC systems are well known in the art. Although a CNC system is not necessary for operation of machine tool 10, it greatly facilitates an efficient production system. In accordance with an embodiment, a program is entered into the CNC system 40 in accordance with certain criteria, such as, but not limited to, wire diameter, number of facets, facet angle, wire length, and other suitable criteria.

The CNC system 40 executes the program so as to calculate movements of the fixture 100 necessary to achieve the appropriate facets in the wire 50. The CNC system 40 includes hardware and software interfaces which accept programming and data so as to convert position or movement signals for the sensors and the fixture 100 into low level instructions for the CNC system 40. The CNC system 40 executes the pointing program which causes the fixture 100 to move relative to the grinder wheel face 206 to grind the facets in the wire ends. The fixture 100 is advanced to the grinder wheel 202 and the first facet is ground. If a subsequent facet is to be ground, the fixture 100 is backed away from the grinder wheel 202 and caused to simultaneously rotate all of the wires 50 about their longitudinal axis to a desired rotation angle and the fixture is advanced to the grinder wheel again. Upon completion of the program, the fixture 100 is returned to the loading position 32.

Process

A method 700 for manufacturing points on wires (or other similar work piece) with a representative embodiment of the machine tool of FIG. 1 is shown in FIG. 7. The method 700 comprises cutting the wire to length 702, loading the cut wire in a magazine 704, loading the fixture with the appropriate clamping shoes suitable for the wire diameter 706, loading the magazine in the fixture 708 and closing the fixture 710. The method further comprises programming the CNC for the specific process desired 712, initiating the CNC process 714, unloading the magazine from the fixture at the completion of the process 716, and unloading the pointed wire from the magazine 718.

Referring also to FIGS. 1-6, the fixture 100 is positioned at the loading position 32 of the machine tool 10. A plurality of wires 50 are received in a magazine 300. The inner and outer clamping shoes 122, 162 suitable for the diameter of the wire 50 to be pointed are coupled to respective inner and outer clamping plates 132, 172. The magazine 300 with the plurality of wires 50 contained therein and extending substantially parallel to a longitudinal axes of the fixture 100, is positioned within the inner and outer clamping sections 120, 160 adjacent the inner and outer clamping shoes 122, 162. The inner and outer clamping section 120, 160 are engaged to drive the inner and outer clamping plates 132, 172 together, to urge the outer clamping shoe 162 towards the inner clamping shoe 122, and thereby clamp the magazine 300 and thus the wires 50 therebetween in preparation for grinding as will be subsequently described.

The magazine holds the wires 50 adjacent the inner and outer shoe clamping faces 124, 164 of the inner and outer clamping shoes 122, 162, respectively, maintaining the alignment and spacing of adjacent wires 50 thereon. The co-operation between the wires 50 and the matching inner and outer shoe clamping faces 124, 164 ensures that when the outer clamping shoe 162 is brought into clamping engagement with the inner clamping shoe 122, the wires 50 align into substantially parallel axial alignment and thereby correct any slight misalignment of the wires 50 in the magazine 50.

A CNC grinding program suitable for the particular wire and grinding result is chosen to program the CNC system 40 of the machine tool 10. An embodiment of a method 800 of the CNC programming of the machine tool 10 is shown in FIG. 8. The CNC system receives process programming suitable for the particular wire 802. The CNC programming is initiated 804. The sensing device is activated and grinder wheel face position data is obtained 806. The spatial coordinates of the fixture is calculated and set so as to properly position the wheel face 808 to the wire second ends. The grinding process is started including translating the fixture from the loading station to the grinder wheel face traversing the wire second ends across the grinder wheel face a predetermined number of times 810. The fixture is translated away from the grinder wheel face 812 and the lever is actuated so as to translate the inner clamping face to simultaneously rotate the wires a predetermined rotation angle 814. The grinding process is repeated a predetermined number of times associated with the number of facets desired 815. The process is terminated after the final facet is formed and the fixture is translated to the loading station 816.

Referring also to FIGS. 1-6, upon receiving the process activation, the sensing device 210 is engaged to determine the dimensions of the grinder wheel 202. The data from the sensing device 210 is used to calculate the positioning of the grinder wheel face 206 relative to the fixture 100. The fixture 100 is advanced to the grinder wheel face 206 so as to traverse the wire ends 52 against the wheel face 206 to produce a first facet. The magazine 300 is indexed past the grinder wheel face 206 such that the wire ends 52 may be indexed past the grinder wheel face 206 in order to grind a facet in all of the wires 50 supported by the fixture 100. The fixture 100 traverses substantially the length of the grinder wheel face 206 in alternating directions indicated by the arrow 31. The fixture 100 is reciprocated past the wheel face 206 a plurality of times suitable for producing the desired facet. By way of example, the wire ends 52 are reciprocated past the wheel face 206 six times to form a facet.

The fixture 100 is translated away from the grinder wheel 202 after a facet is formed. The inner clamping shoe 122 is caused to move laterally with respect to the outer clamping shoe 162 in a direction substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the wires 50 to simultaneously roll the wires 50 uniformly through a predetermined angle. Referring to the embodiment of FIG. 3C, the motor 117 moves lever 119 to the right which in turn moves the inner clamping plate 122 to the right to rotate the wires 50 for the subsequent facet grinding. Axial alignment of the wires 50 is inherently maintained by the magazine 300 when the wires 50 are rolled to facilitate the grinding a subsequent facet at the end 54 of each wire 50.

The fixture 100 is translated to the grinder wheel face 206 so as to traverse the wire ends 54 against the wheel face 206 to produce a second facet. The fixture 100 is reciprocated past the wheel face 206 a plurality of times suitable for producing the desired facet. By way of example, the wire ends 54 are reciprocated past the wheel face 206 six times to form the second facet. The process is repeated in accordance with the desired number of facets.

By way of example, the production stages of a bi-point (two-facet point) wire is illustrated in FIGS. 2A-2C as side views of the unground wire end, the first facet grind, and the second facet grind, respectively. After the first facet is ground, the wire is rotated and a second facet is made to provide the final configuration shown in FIG. 2C.

At the commencement of the final facet, the fixture 100 is translated to the loading station 32. The outer clamping section 160 is moved away from the inner claiming section 120 and the magazine 300 containing the newly pointed wires 50 is removed from the fixture 100. The finished wires 50 may remain in or be removed from the magazine 300 for further processing.

Further processing may include the wire second end being exposed to a polishing process to remove any burs. Such polishing process may include engaging the points to a wire brush, for example, but not limited thereto.

During the grinding operation a plurality of predetermined angular positions are provided for the wires, one for each of the desired facets. This construction of the fixture and its control mechanism provides a simple structure for the simultaneous angular adjustment of a plurality of wires which are simultaneously ground. Therefore, a high quality mass production operation is made possible.

Cooperation of the magazine and the fixture, as well as grinder wheel dimension determination prior to each grinding operation, further provides that consistency between points ground in the same and different batches are maintained. This consistency results in reduced production time to correct for misaligned wires, reduced in wasted wires, and/or increase in the quality of the ground points.

It is appreciated that the movement and control of the various elements of the machine tool 10 may be affected by one or more of hydraulic, pneumatic, electromagnetic, and/or other actuation means, and combinations thereof.

The numerical control system 40 may be a commercially available item which may be programmed to control of the various elements of the machine tool 10.

While the fixture 100 according to embodiments described above are particularly suited to the grinding of points on wires for use as fishhooks, the use of the magazine 100 is not limited thereto. The magazine 100 according to embodiments can be used in processing of wire or wire-like members and can be used in association with any suitable grinding arrangement or an arrangement utilizing any other applicable forms of machining and grinding such as laser cutting, water jet cutting, or milling.

Claims

1. A machine tool for pointing a plurality of wire for fishhook manufacturing, the wire having a wire first end and a wire second end opposite the wire first end, comprising:

a magazine operable for holding the plurality of wires in a side-by-side, spaced-apart, substantially parallel and substantially coplanar relationship, the wires each defining a longitudinal axis, the magazine operable to extend the wire second end of the wires from the magazine, the magazine operable to allow relative freedom of rotation of the wires along their longitudinal axis;

a base frame defining a loading station and a grinding station;

a slide guide coupled to the base frame extending from the loading station to the grinding station;

a fixture having an inner clamping section and an outer clamping section, the inner clamping section and the outer clamping section are operable to be rotated about a pivot toward each other in a first position to engage the wires therebetween in clamping engagement and in a second position away from each other to release the clamping engagement on the wires;

a grinder coupled to the base frame at the grinding station, the grinder including a grinding wheel; and

a numerical control system in communication with and operable to control the fixture and the grinder, the fixture is operable to translate along the slide guide from the loading station to the grinding station to adjacent the grinder so as to engage the wire second end of the wires with the grinder, the fixture and the grinder cooperate to grind a desired number of facets into the wire second end.

2. The machine tool of claim 1, wherein the outer clamping section is actuated by a lever to pivot the outer clamping section toward or away from the inner clamping section.

3. The machine tool of claim 1, wherein the inner clamping section comprises an inner clamping shoe and an inner clamping plate, the inner clamping shoe is integral to the inner clamping plate, the inner clamping shoe includes an inner shoe clamping face, and

wherein the outer clamping section comprises an outer clamping shoe and an outer clamping plate, the outer clamping shoe is integral to the outer clamping plate, the outer clamping shoe comprises an outer shoe clamping face,

the inner clamping plate and the outer clamping plate are operable to move the inner clamping shoe and outer clamping shoe, respectively, towards each other in the first position defining a gap into which the magazine may be disposed,

the inner shoe clamping face and the outer shoe clamping face each define a channel that extends substantially the width of the inner shoe and outer shoe, respectively, and are in opposed relationship when the inner clamping section and the outer clamping section are in the first position, a resilient strip is disposed within each channel that extend beyond a plane defined by the inner shoe clamping face and the outer shoe clamping face, respectively, the resilient strips cooperate to frictionally engage and support the wires when the inner clamping section and the outer clamping section are in the first position,

the inner clamping shoe is operable to laterally translate relative to the outer clamping shoe operable to rotate the wires when the inner clamping section and the outer clamping section are in the first position.

4. The machine tool of claim 1, wherein the inner clamping section comprises an inner clamping shoe and an inner clamping plate, the inner clamping shoe is removably coupled to the inner clamping plate, the inner clamping shoe includes an inner shoe clamping face, and

wherein the outer clamping section comprises an outer clamping shoe and an outer clamping plate, the outer clamping shoe is removably coupled to the outer clamping plate, the outer clamping shoe comprises an outer shoe clamping face,

the inner clamping plate and the outer clamping plate are operable to move the inner clamping shoe and outer clamping shoe, respectively, towards each other in the first position defining a gap into which the magazine may be disposed,

the inner shoe clamping face and the outer shoe clamping face each define a channel that extends substantially the width of the inner shoe and outer shoe, respectively, and are in opposed relationship when the inner clamping section and the outer clamping section are in the first position, a resilient strip is disposed within each channel that extend beyond a plane defined by the inner shoe clamping face and the outer shoe clamping face, respectively, the resilient strips cooperate to frictionally engage and support the wires when the inner clamping section and the outer clamping section are in the first position,

the inner clamping shoe is operable to laterally translate relative to the outer clamping shoe operable to rotate the wires when the inner clamping section and the outer clamping section are in the first position.

5. The machine tool of claim 4, wherein the inner clamping shoe and the outer clamping shoe are operable for proper alignment of the wires with respect to the grinding wheel, the inner clamping shoe and the outer clamping shoe are configured as pairs for one of a predetermined wire diameter, wherein the fixture may be converted to be used for different wire diameters by replacing the inner clamping shoe and outer clamping shoe with an inner clamping shoe and an outer clamping shoe of suitable configuration.

6. The machine tool of claim 4, the fixture further comprising a synchronously controlled lever means operable to engage the inner clamping shoe, wherein the fixture is operable such that as a result of the lateral translation of the inner clamping shoe by way of a synchronously controlled lever means, any desired angular adjustment of the wires about their axis may be simultaneously achieved so as to control the grinding of facets at the wire second end of the wires.

7. The machine tool of claim 4, the fixture further comprising an actuator operable to engage and move the inner clamping shoe laterally relative to the outer clamping shoe, wherein the fixture is operable such that as a result of the lateral shifting of the inner clamping shoe by way of the actuator with the wires clamped between both the inner clamping shoe and outer clamping shoe and engaged by the resilient strips so as to affect simultaneous rolling of the wires about their longitudinal axes.

8. The machine tool of claim 7, wherein the actuator comprises a motor and lever operable to bring about a synchronously controlled lateral movement of the inner clamping shoe.

9. The machine tool of claim 4, wherein the grinding wheel defines a grinding wheel central axis, the slide guide defining a fixture lateral axis which is substantially parallel to the grinding wheel central axis, the fixture is operable to move along the slide guide in a lateral direction to and from the loading station and the grinding station, the grinding wheel comprising means to move the grinding wheel substantially orthogonal to the fixture lateral axis towards and away from the fixture to engage and disengage, respectively, the wire second end of the wires.

10. The machine tool of claim 1, wherein the magazine comprises:

a tray; and

a groove cover element,

the tray defining a tray width and a tray depth, the tray further defining a tray front surface, a tray back surface opposite the tray front surface, and a tray top, and a tray bottom opposite the tray top, the tray back surface defines a magazine first registration surface defining a first registration plane, a groove element depending from the tray front surface and extending substantially the entire tray width adjacent the tray top, the groove element defining a groove element surface comprising a plurality of grooves each defining a groove axis that is substantially perpendicular to the tray width, the groove axes arranged substantially parallel and substantially coplanar with respect to each other defining a groove plane, the groove plane is substantially parallel with the magazine first registration plane and substantially perpendicular to the tray width, a wire stop element depending from the tray front surface adjacent the tray bottom, the wire stop element extending substantially the entire tray width, the wire stop element defining a substantially flat stop surface facing towards the groove element and substantially orthogonal to the groove axes, each groove is operable to receive one wire therein, with the wire first end of the wires abutting the stop surface and the wire second end of the wires extending away from the wire stop and beyond the groove element,

the groove cover element operable to be removably coupled to the groove element surface and extend over the plurality of grooves, the groove cover element is operable to retain the wires within respective grooves while allowing the wire to freely rotate axially within the groove, the groove cover in cooperative engagement with the groove element so as to define a plurality of substantially parallel and substantially coplanar wire bores, the dimensions of the wire bores are predetermined so as to retain each wire in substantially parallel relationship to the other wires.

11. The machine tool of claim 10, the tray front surface further comprising a plurality of coaxial groove elements operable to retain each wire in a substantially parallel and substantially coplanar orientation.

12. The machine tool of claim 1, wherein the magazine comprises:

a tray defining a tray width and a tray depth, the tray further defining a tray front surface, a tray back surface opposite the tray front surface, and a tray top, and a tray bottom opposite the tray top, the tray back surface defining a magazine first registration surface defining a first registration plane;

two parallel spaced-apart aperture elements depending from the tray front surface and extending substantially the entire tray width, the aperture elements define a plurality of coaxial apertures each defining an aperture axis that is substantially perpendicular to the tray width, the aperture axes are arranged substantially parallel and substantially coplanar with respect to each other defining an aperture plane, the aperture plane is substantially parallel with the magazine first registration plane and substantially perpendicular to the tray width, the aperture elements define a second registration surface that is substantially coplanar with a stop registration surface; and

a wire stop element depending from the tray front surface adjacent the tray bottom, the wire stop element extending substantially the entire tray width, the wire stop element defining a substantially flat stop surface facing towards the groove element and substantially orthogonal to the groove axes, each pair of coaxial apertures are operable to receive one wire therethrough, with the wire first end of the wires abutting the stop surface and the wire second end of the wires extending away from the wire stop and beyond the aperture element, the aperture elements are operable to retain the wires within the wire apertures while allowing the wires to freely rotate axially within the wire apertures, the dimensions of the wire apertures are predetermined so as to retain each wire in substantially parallel relationship to the other wires.

13. The machine tool of claim 1, wherein the magazine comprises:

a tray defining a tray width and a tray depth, the tray further defining a tray front surface, a tray back surface opposite the tray front surface, and a tray top, and a tray bottom opposite the tray top, the tray back surface defining a magazine first registration surface defining a first registration plane;

an aperture element depending from the tray front surface and extending substantially the entire tray width, the aperture element defines a plurality of apertures each defining an aperture axis that is substantially perpendicular to the tray width, the aperture axes are arranged substantially parallel and substantially coplanar with respect to each other defining an aperture plane, the aperture plane is substantially parallel with the magazine first registration plane and substantially perpendicular to the tray width, the aperture element defining a second registration surface that is substantially coplanar with a stop registration surface; and

a wire stop element depending from the tray front surface adjacent the tray bottom, the wire stop element extending substantially the entire tray width, the wire stop element defining a substantially flat stop surface facing towards the groove element and substantially orthogonal to the groove axes, each aperture is operable to receive one wire therethrough, with the wire first end of the wires abutting the stop surface and the wire second end of the wires extending away from the wire stop and beyond the aperture element, the aperture element is operable to retain the wires within the wire apertures while allowing the wires to freely rotate axially within the wire apertures, the dimensions of the wire apertures are predetermined so as to retain each wire in substantially parallel relationship to the other wires.

14. The machine tool of claim 1, wherein the grinder comprises a grinding machine including the grinding wheel and a rotation means for rotating the grinding wheel about the grinding wheel central axis, the grinding wheel is in the form of a disk having a thickness defining a wheel face about the disk circumference, the wheel face defining a face width, the wheel face is the grinding surface for grinding the wires, the grinding wheel is operable to translate along an axis which is substantially orthogonal to the central axis of the grinding wheel and substantially orthogonal to the slide guide along which the grinding wheel is moved relative to the fixture.

15. The machine tool of claim 1, wherein the grinder further comprises a sensing device operable for determining the diameter of the grinding wheel and therefore the distance of the wheel face from a reference point.

16. The machine tool of claim 15, wherein the sensing device further comprises a wheel dressing element operable to flatten the wheel face after a grinding operation.

17. A magazine for holding the plurality of wires in a side-by-side, spaced-apart, substantially parallel and coplanar relationship, the wires defining a longitudinal axis, comprising:

a tray; and

a groove cover element,

the tray defining a tray width and a tray depth, the tray further defining a tray front surface, a tray back surface opposite the tray front surface, and a tray top, and a tray bottom opposite the tray top, the tray back surface defines a magazine first registration surface defining a first registration plane, a groove element depending from the tray front surface and extending substantially the entire tray width adjacent the tray top, the groove element defining a groove element surface comprising a plurality of grooves each defining a groove axis that is substantially perpendicular to the tray width, the groove axes arranged substantially parallel and substantially coplanar with respect to each other defining a groove plane, the groove plane is substantially parallel with the magazine first registration plane and substantially perpendicular to the tray width, a wire stop element depending from the tray front surface adjacent the tray bottom, the wire stop element extending substantially the entire tray width, the wire stop element defining a substantially flat stop surface facing towards the groove element and substantially orthogonal to the groove axes, each groove is operable to receive one wire therein, with the wire first end of the wires abutting the stop surface and the wire second end of the wires extending away from the wire stop and beyond the groove element,

the groove cover element operable to be removably coupled to the groove element surface and extend over the plurality of grooves, the groove cover element is operable to retain the wires within respective grooves while allowing the wire to freely rotate axially within the groove, the groove cover in cooperative engagement with the groove element so as to define a plurality of substantially parallel and substantially coplanar wire bores, the dimensions of the wire bores are predetermined so as to retain each wire in substantially parallel relationship to the other wires, the magazine operable for holding the plurality of wires in a side-by-side, spaced-apart, substantially parallel and substantially coplanar relationship, the wires defining a longitudinal axis, the magazine operable to extend the second end of the wires from the magazine, the magazine operable to allow relative freedom of rotation of the wires along their longitudinal axis.

18. The magazine of claim 17, wherein the tray front surface further comprises a plurality of substantially coaxial groove elements operable to retain each wire in a substantially parallel and substantially coplanar orientation.

19. A magazine for holding the plurality of wires in a side-by-side, spaced-apart, substantially parallel and coplanar relationship, the wires defining a longitudinal axis, comprising:

a tray defining a tray width and a tray depth, the tray further defining a tray front surface, a tray back surface opposite the tray front surface, and a tray top, and a tray bottom opposite the tray top, the tray back surface defining a magazine first registration surface defining a first registration plane;

two parallel spaced-apart aperture elements depending from the tray front surface and extending substantially the entire tray width, the aperture elements define a plurality of coaxial apertures each defining an aperture axis that is substantially perpendicular to the tray width, the aperture axes are arranged substantially parallel and substantially coplanar with respect to each other defining an aperture plane, the aperture plane is substantially parallel with the magazine first registration plane and substantially perpendicular to the tray width, the aperture elements define a second registration surface that is substantially coplanar with a stop registration surface; and

a wire stop element depending from the tray front surface adjacent the tray bottom, the wire stop element extending substantially the entire tray width, the wire stop element defining a substantially flat stop surface facing towards the groove element and substantially orthogonal to the groove axes, each pair of coaxial apertures are operable to receive one wire therethrough, with the wire first end of the wires abutting the stop surface and the wire second end of the wires extending away from the wire stop and beyond the aperture element, the aperture elements are operable to retain the wires within the wire apertures while allowing the wires to freely rotate axially within the wire apertures, the dimensions of the wire apertures are predetermined so as to retain each wire in substantially parallel relationship to the other wires.

20. A magazine for holding the plurality of wires in a side-by-side, spaced-apart, substantially parallel and coplanar relationship, the wires defining a longitudinal axis, comprising:

a tray defining a tray width and a tray depth, the tray further defining a tray front surface, a tray back surface opposite the tray front surface, and a tray top, and a tray bottom opposite the tray top, the tray back surface defining a magazine first registration surface defining a first registration plane;

an aperture element depending from the tray front surface and extending substantially the entire tray width, the aperture element defines a plurality of apertures each defining an aperture axis that is substantially perpendicular to the tray width, the aperture axes are arranged substantially parallel and substantially coplanar with respect to each other defining an aperture plane, the aperture plane is substantially parallel with the magazine first registration plane and substantially perpendicular to the tray width, the aperture element defines a second registration surface that is substantially coplanar with a stop registration surface; and

a wire stop element depending from the tray front surface adjacent the tray bottom, the wire stop element extending substantially the entire tray width, the wire stop element defining a substantially flat stop surface facing towards the groove element and substantially orthogonal to the groove axes, each aperture is operable to receive one wire therethrough, with the wire first end of the wires abutting the stop surface and the wire second end of the wires extending away from the wire stop and beyond the aperture element, the aperture element is operable to retain the wires within the wire apertures while allowing the wires to freely rotate axially within the wire apertures, the dimensions of the wire apertures are predetermined so as to retain each wire in substantially parallel relationship to the other wires.

21. A method for pointing a plurality of wires for fishhook manufacturing, the wire having a wire first end and a wire second end opposite the wire first end, comprising:

using a machine tool comprising:

a magazine operable for holding the plurality of wires in a side-by-side, spaced-apart, substantially parallel and substantially coplanar relationship, the wires defining a longitudinal axis, the magazine operable to extend the second end of the wires from the magazine, the magazine operable to allow relative freedom of rotation of the wires along their longitudinal axis;

a base frame defining a loading station and a grinding station;

a slide guide coupled to the base frame extending from the loading station to the grinding station;

a fixture having an inner clamping section and an outer clamping section;

the inner clamping section and the outer clamping section are operable to be rotated about a pivot toward each other in a first position to engage the wires therebetween in clamping engagement and in a second position away from each other to release the clamping engagement on the wires;

a grinder coupled to the base frame at the grinding station, the grinder including a grinding wheel; and

a numerical control system in communication with and operable to control the fixture and the grinder, the fixture is operable to translate along the slide guide from the loading station to the grinding station to adjacent the grinder so as to engage the wire second of the wires with the grinder, the fixture and the grinder cooperate to grind a desired number of facets into the wire second end;

loading a plurality of wires into the magazine,

loading the magazine into the fixture at the loading station;

advancing the fixture to the grinding station;

exposing the wires to a grinding operation to form a first facet on the wire second end of the wires;

moving the inner clamping shoe laterally with respect to the outer clamping shoe so as to simultaneously rotate the wires about their axes;

exposing the wire second end of the wires to the grinding operation to form a second or subsequent facet on the second end of the wires;

advancing the fixture to the loading station;

removing the magazine from the fixture; and

removing the wires from the magazine.

22. A method for pointing a plurality of wires for fishhook manufacturing, the wire having a wire first end and a wire second end opposite the wire first end, comprising:

using a machine tool comprising:

a magazine operable for holding the plurality of wires in a side-by-side, spaced-apart, substantially parallel and substantially coplanar relationship, the wires defining a longitudinal axis, the magazine operable to extend the second end of the wires from the magazine, the magazine operable to allow relative freedom of rotation of the wires along their longitudinal axis;

a base frame defining a loading station and a grinding station;

a slide guide coupled to the base frame extending from the loading station to the grinding station;

a fixture having an inner clamping section and an outer clamping section;

the inner clamping section and the outer clamping section are operable to be rotated about a pivot toward each other in a first position to engage the wires therebetween in clamping engagement and in a second position away from each other to release the clamping engagement on the wires;

a grinder coupled to the base frame at the grinding station, the grinder including a grinding wheel; and

a numerical control system in communication with and operable to control the fixture and the grinder, the fixture is operable to translate along the slide guide from the loading station to the grinding station to adjacent the grinder so as to engage the wire second of the wires with the grinder, the fixture and the grinder cooperate to grind a desired number of facets into the wire second end;

loading a plurality of wires into the magazine,

loading the magazine into the fixture at the loading station;

translating the fixture to the grinding station;

advancing the grinder incrementally toward the fixture;

exposing the wires to a grinding operation to form a first facet on the wire second end of the wires;

advancing the grinder away from the fixture;

translating the grinding wheel in the lateral direction away from the fixture to a predetermined position;

translating the fixture away from the grinding wheel along the slide guide;

moving the inner clamping shoe laterally with respect to the outer clamping shoe so as to simultaneously rotate the wires about their axes a predetermined amount;

exposing the wire second end of the wires to the grinding operation to form a second or subsequent facet on the second end of the wires;

advancing the fixture to the loading station;

removing the magazine from the fixture; and

removing the wires from the magazine.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

determining a diameter of the grinding wheel and therefore a distance of the wheel face from a reference point prior to grinding the first facet.

24. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

dressing the grinding wheel prior to grinding the first facet.

25. A method for pointing a plurality of wires for fishhook manufacturing, the wire having a wire first end and a wire second end opposite the wire first end, comprising:

using a machine tool comprising:

a magazine operable for holding the plurality of wires in a side-by-side, spaced-apart, substantially parallel and substantially coplanar relationship, the wires defining a longitudinal axis, the magazine operable to extend the second end of the wires from the magazine, the magazine operable to allow relative freedom of rotation of the wires along their longitudinal axis;

a base frame defining a loading station and a grinding station;

a slide guide coupled to the base frame extending from the loading station to the grinding station;

a fixture having an inner clamping section and an outer clamping section;

the inner clamping section and the outer clamping section are operable to be rotated about a pivot toward each other in a first position to engage the wires therebetween in clamping engagement and in a second position away from each other to release the clamping engagement on the wires;

a grinder coupled to the base frame at the grinding station, the grinder including a grinding wheel; and

a numerical control system in communication with and operable to control the fixture and the grinder, the fixture is operable to translate along the slide guide from the loading station to the grinding station to adjacent the grinder so as to engage the wire second of the wires with the grinder, the fixture and the grinder cooperate to grind a desired number of facets into the wire second end;

cutting a plurality of wire to a predetermined length;

loading the plurality of wires into the magazine;

loading the magazine into the fixture;

closing the fixture;

initiating programming to affect a predetermined grinding process;

unloading the magazine from the fixture; and

unloading the plurality of wires from the magazine.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the programming comprises:

activating a sensing device so as to determine and obtain grinding wheel face position data;

determining spatial coordinates of the fixture relative to the wheel face;

translating the fixture to the grinding station;

advancing the grinder incrementally toward the fixture;

traversing the wire second ends against the grinding wheel face a predetermined number of times;

exposing the wires to a grinding operation to form a first facet on the wire second end of the wires;

advancing the grinder away from the fixture;

translating the fixture away from the grinding station;

translating the inner clamping face relative to the outer clamping face to simultaneously rotate the wires a predetermined rotation angle;

repeating the grinding process a predetermined number of times associated with the number of facets desired; and

returning the fixture to the loading station.

27. The method of claim 25, the programming comprising:

activating a sensing device so as to determine and obtain grinding wheel face position data;

determining spatial coordinates of the fixture relative to the wheel face;

translating the fixture to the grinding wheel face so as to traverse the wire second ends against the wheel face to produce a first facet;

advancing the grinding wheel incrementally toward the fixture;

translating the wire second ends against the wheel face in alternating directions so as to traverse the wire second ends substantially the length of the grinding wheel face a plurality of times suitable for producing the desired facet;

advancing the grinding wheel away from the fixture;

moving the fixture away from the grinding station after a facet is formed;

moving the inner clamping shoe laterally with respect to the outer clamping shoe in a direction substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the wires to simultaneously rotate the wires uniformly through a predetermined angle;

translating the fixture to the grinding wheel face;

advancing the grinding wheel incrementally toward the fixture so as to traverse the wire second ends against the wheel face to produce a second facet;

advancing the grinding wheel away from the fixture;

moving the fixture to the loading station at the commencement of the final facet; and

moving the outer clamping section away from the inner claiming section.