Including Gantry-type Cutter-carrier Patents (Class 409/202)
  • Patent number: 9011053
    Abstract: A ram guiding apparatus 1 of a machine tool is incorporated in a portal type machine tool 2 and provided with a cross saddle 5 that is cross-like in shape, as seen in a side view of the machine tool 2, provided so as to be freely movable in the horizontal direction along a horizontal cross beam 4. The cross saddle 5 has a box 18, both upper and lower faces thereof being open, in a front side of a horizontal part, wherein a first linear guide 21, a second linear guide 22, and a third linear guide 23, respectively serving as linear guides in the box 18 for a ram vertical movement, guide the ram 9 so as to be freely movable only in the vertical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Inventor: Akira Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 8950987
    Abstract: A slip ring is accommodated in a ram 34. The slip ring includes a fixed portion 72 having a feed element connected to a power source and a movable portion 73 electrically connected to the feed element. The movable portion 73 includes a contact 75 for supplying electricity to a spindle unit 100 and an electric device of a spindle head 118. After determining the position of a saddle 32 in a Y-axis direction and the position of a table in an X-axis direction, the position of the spindle head 118 about a B-axis is determined. Then, the ram 34 is moved along the Z-axis direction with the spindle unit 100 revolved about the C-axis, and, with a non-rotational cutting tool 170 attached to the spindle unit 100, a hole is bored in a workpiece W on the table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Yamazaki Mazak Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Okada, Masazumi Nakanishi, Kazuki Uemura, Yasushi Manabe, Yuji Kuramochi
  • Patent number: 8899890
    Abstract: Disclosed is a 3D reconfigurable machining system including a support frame spaced apart from the ground, a circular pivoting frame pivotably installed at the support frame, a slide member slidably installed on the circumferential portion of the pivoting frame, and a main spindle installed vertically at the slide member and being rotatable along the pivoting frame, so that a workpiece can be three-dimensionally machined with a considerably simple structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Korea Institute of Machinery & Materials
    Inventors: Jong-Kweon Park, Seung-Kook Ro, Byung-Sub Kim, Gyung-Ho Khim, Sung-Cheul Lee, Hyeon-Hwa Lee, Byung-In Kim
  • Patent number: 8887361
    Abstract: A vertical turning-milling complex machining center comprises a horizontally-arranged bed body (6) and a vertically-arranged column (7). The bed body (6) is provided with an X-axis lateral supporting linear track (2) and an X-axis guide screw (5). The bed body (6) is also provided with a uniaxial rotating table (1) which can reciprocate and is driven directly by a first external rotor torque motor. The column (7) is vertically provided with a Z-axis lateral supporting linear track (10), a Z-axis guide screw (9) and a crossbeam (11) that reciprocates up and down. The crossbeam (11) is provided with a transverse Y-axis linear track (13), a Y-axis guide screw (12) and a single-pendulum milling head seat frame that can reciprocate along the Y-axis guide screw (12). The single-pendulum milling head is driven directly by a second external rotor torque motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Dalian Kede Numerical Control Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Dehai Yu, Chungang Cai, Zhihui Ren, Wenfeng Zhang, Hu Chen, Junmin Zheng, Qiang Guo, Tao Zou, Jingming Li, Peng Qu, Yang Lin
  • Patent number: 8845246
    Abstract: A machine tool comprising a machine frame having dimensionally rigid side walls, each including top-side horizontal guide rails. A compound slide is displaceable in or on the guide rails. On the front of the compound slide is a machining unit comprising a spindle head which is vertically displaceable. A workpiece mounting unit is disposed in the space between the side walls. The workpiece mounting unit may have a workpiece table or a workpiece chucking device. In order to form an enlarged access to the work area of the machine tool, one side wall is shorter at the front than the other side wall. Further, the linear guides or guide rails mounted to the side walls of the machine frame may be aligned at an acute angle ? to the vertical center plane of the machine frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Deckel Maho Seebach GmbH
    Inventors: Udo Tüllmann, Matthias Brand
  • Patent number: 8821083
    Abstract: The invention relates to a machine tool (1), comprising a plurality of fixed tool spindles (3) and such that can optionally be displaced from a retracted idle position to an extended working position and can be positioned at different positions in a frame-like rack (2), and a workpiece carrier (4) with at least one workpiece holder (5), with the workpiece (4) carrier being movable at least in several axes in a translational manner and preferably also in a rotational manner. In order to provide advantageous constructional conditions it is proposed that at least one of the tool spindles (3) is associated with a tool magazine (7) plus tool changer (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Anger Machining GmbH
    Inventors: Roland Haas, Klaus Dirnberger
  • Patent number: 8757941
    Abstract: A cutting plotter includes a medium supporter, a first guide rail, a second guide rail, a carriage, a work tool, a working controller, and a second direction displacement detector. The second direction displacement detector is configured to measure a second guide rail displacement amount. The second guide rail displacement amount indicates a magnitude of displacement of a moving path of the carriage from a predetermined moving path with respect to the second guide rail in a direction perpendicular to a second direction when the carriage is moved in the second direction along the second guide rail. The working controller is configured to execute a control in which a movement control of the second guide rail on the first guide rail is added so that the second guide rail displacement amount is corrected in a movement control of the carriage on the second guide rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Mimaki Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masafumi Okabe
  • Patent number: 8714891
    Abstract: An apparatus for making variable diameter and shape holes through metal plates in a sheet plate machining gantry machine comprises two parallel cross members and two horizontal parallel guides integral with the cross members and supporting a horizontal cross arm which is controllably driven on the guides, the horizontal arm supporting horizontal parallel guides therealong is controllably driven an apparatus including a milling tool which can controllably driven in a vertical plane. The method comprises the step of controllably simultaneously driving a two-fluted mill both in a vertical plane (Z), and in a horizontal plane (U).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: FICEP S.p.A.
    Inventors: Christian Colombo, Stefano Fongaro, Roberto Donatelli
  • Patent number: 8714535
    Abstract: A machine tool comprising a machine column, a work spindle moveable in guides along the machine column in two coordinate axes by a motor and adapted to receive a cutting tool, a machine bed arranged on the front end of the machine column and on the top side of which a horizontal linear guide for a workpiece table is arranged, and a linear motor for moving the workpiece table in the horizontal linear guide in a further coordinate axis. A channel-like chip space for collecting chips accumulating when the workpiece is machined extends on the top side of the machine bed in the direction of the further coordinate axis. The linear motor is arranged on the top side of the machine bed laterally and parallel to the channel-like chip space, wherein first and second guide rails of the horizontal linear guide are arranged on opposite sides of the linear motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: DECKEL MAHO Pfronten GmbH
    Inventors: Robert Jung, Alfred Geissler
  • Patent number: 8317440
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for optimizing vibration of a machine tool, in which a driven shaft is rotated, in which a speed range is subsequently passed through, wherein the vibrations occurring in said speed range are sensed and wherein an optimum speed having a minimized vibration is determined and adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: P & L GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Jürgen Röders
  • Patent number: 8297892
    Abstract: A cutting apparatus includes a base frame, a pair of holder assemblies, an overhead frame, a cutter assembly and a controller. The pair of holder assemblies are operably connected to the base frame with one holder assembly holding the first workpiece and the other holding the second workpiece. The pair of holder assemblies independently move relative to one another along a transverse axis. The overhead frame is connected to the base frame. The cutter assembly is connected to the overhead frame and moves along a vertical axis and a horizontal axis. The cutter assembly includes a rotary cutter mechanism with a rotating cutting tool. The controller controls and moves of the pair of holders and the cutter assembly so that the rotating cutting tool cuts the first workpiece in a first desired configuration then moves to the second workpiece to cut the second workpiece in a second desired configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignees: Sony Corportion, Sony Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Esteban Arturo Alvarez Serrano
  • Patent number: 8272794
    Abstract: A system that allows a material to be marked while still on the CNC tooling table and allows an operator to input marking information just prior to, or even during, the tooling cycle. The present invention comprises a sequence controller associated with a computer readable medium and adapted for communication with the CNC controller. An HMI device and a marker controller are also connected with the sequence controller. A lifter assembly is connected with the sequence controller to raise and lower a marker assembly. The lifter assembly is connected to the gantry of the CNC tooling system with an adaptor block. The present invention provides the advantage of reduced time when compared to marking the part at a separate station remotely located from the CNC system, and allows the operator to input marking information just prior to or during the CNC tooling cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Inventors: Ed Silchenstedt, William A Nicholas
  • Publication number: 20120207561
    Abstract: A router apparatus is provided. The router apparatus includes a plurality of panels stacked vertically; a router bit which cuts the panels simultaneously; a first supporting unit connected to one end of the router bit, and a second supporting unit connected to the other end of the router bit. A guide rail is formed in the second supporting unit in order to guide a movement of the router bit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chan-Hyung YUN, Hyun-Jong OH, Seong-Chan HAN, Hun HAN
  • Patent number: 8152423
    Abstract: A 3-dimensional (3D) variable-axis machine is disclosed, which includes a frame spaced from a base to be disposed at an upper surface of a workpiece, a pair of forward and backward pivoting frames having an arch shape connected to the frame, a pair of leftward and rightward pivoting frames having an arch shape and a relatively less height than the forward and backward pivoting frames to be connected across the forward and backward pivoting frames, and a spindle vertically inserted in an intersectional portion between the forward and backward and the leftward and rightward pivoting frames to be pivoted corresponding to movements of the both pivoting frames. The spindle is connected to a sliding member, and the sliding member is connected to a lower surface of the forward and backward pivoting frames and an upper surface of the leftward and rightward pivoting frames in a sliding manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Korea Institute of Machinery & Materials
    Inventors: Jong Kweon Park, Hyung Wook Park, Hung Sun Son, Yeong Sang Jeong
  • Publication number: 20120076602
    Abstract: A transverse-longitudinal perpendicular automatic adjusting apparatus used for a cutting machine is disclosed. The automatic adjusting apparatus comprises a cross beam (8), a driving trolley (5), a driven trolley (7), a rotating shaft (1), a rolling bearing (2), a driving connecting plate (3) and a disc spring (4). The cross beam (8) is a drawn cross beam. The driving connecting plate (3) is connected to a bottom surface of the cross beam (8). A bottom surface of the cross beam is rigidly connected with a driven connecting plate (6), which is connected with the driven trolley (7). The apparatus ensures stable operation and is inexpensive. The apparatus is easy to adjust, install and manufacture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2009
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: Dalian Huarui Co. Ltd
    Inventors: Haifeng Ni, Qi Lu, Yuan Wang
  • Publication number: 20120039683
    Abstract: A support configuration enabling reciprocative movement of a ram by use of a saddle in order to suppress vibration of the ram, and chattering phenomenon of a cutting tool, thereby aiming at not only improvement in heavy cutting, and improvement of a finished surface, but also extension in service life of the cutting tool, and prevention of breakage of the cutting tool. A ram guiding apparatus 1 of a machine tool is incorporated in a portal type machine tool 2 and provided with a cross saddle 5 that is cross-like in shape, as seen in a side view of the machine tool 2, provided so as to be freely movable in the horizontal direction along a horizontal cross beam 4.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2010
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Inventor: Akira Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 8040099
    Abstract: In a positioning device in gantry type of construction, due to a special arrangement of the position-measuring devices used for the positioning, errors due to thermal expansion of the positioning device may be avoided to a great extent. In particular, attention is given to the advantageous placement of fixed point of a scale relative to a straightness track of a further scale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Etel S.A.
    Inventors: Ralph Coleman, Laurent Heiniger
  • Patent number: 7950883
    Abstract: An engraving machine includes a base with two side panels extending upward from two sides of the base, and a top board is driven horizontally by a motor in the base. A horizontal frame is movably mounted on two rods connected between the two side panels by a motor. A vertical frame is located on a front side of the horizontal frame and is movable along two rods in vertical direction by another motor. The horizontal frame, the vertical frame and the top board are movable along X, Y and Z directions by three independent motors. A chuck is connected to the vertical frame and secures an engraving tool which is driven by a main motor connected between the two side panels. The object to be engraved is secured on the top board and engraved by the engraving tool in X, Y and Z directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Inventor: Yuehting Chen
  • Patent number: 7910857
    Abstract: A laser machine tool for carrying out cutting or welding operations includes a laser head carried by a moving member which is displaceable with respect to a workpiece along two horizontal cartesian axes in a relatively wide space with movements involving relatively low accelerations. The laser head is displaceable on the moving member, along a pair of horizontal cartesian axes in a relatively restricted space with high speeds and accelerations, via a pair of slides to which respective balancing weights are operatively associated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Prima Industrie S.p.A.
    Inventors: Maurizio Gattiglio, Franco Sartorio, Michele de Chirico
  • Patent number: 7673662
    Abstract: A guide for a machine tool or tool drive (7) means for moving a surfacing tool over the substantial surface of a work piece (1), said guide comprising a guide means adapted for positioning over said work piece, said guide means including two horizontal spaced apart guide rails (2) and a gantry (3) adapted for linear travel in an X-axis along said guide rails wherein said gantry includes a gantry rail (4) adapted to bridge said spaced apart guide rails, a pair of gantry arms (5) fitted to either end of said gantry rail each gantry arm having a gantry foot for co-operating with said guide rail wherein said tool drive (7) is fitted to said gantry by a gantry mount adapted for lateral movement along the length of said gantry Y-axis, said mount including a vertical Z-axis height adjustment face plate (9) for mounting said tool drive wherein the fitting of said gantry rail to said guide rails is adjustable about said X-axis and the fitting of said tool drive to said gantry mount is adjustable about said Y-axis such
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Inventor: Leslie John Owen
  • Publication number: 20100008741
    Abstract: An apparatus for making variable diameter and shape holes through metal plates in a sheet plate machining gantry machine comprises two parallel cross members and two horizontal parallel guides integral with the cross members and supporting a horizontal cross arm which is controllably driven on the guides, the horizontal arm supporting horizontal parallel guides therealong is controllably driven an apparatus including a milling tool which can controllably driven in a vertical plane. The method comprises the step of controllably simultaneously driving a two-fluted mill both in a vertical plane (Z), and in a horizontal plane (U).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2009
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Applicant: FICEP S. p. A.
    Inventors: Christian COLOMBO, Stefano FONGARO, Roberto DONATELLI
  • Patent number: 7566193
    Abstract: The invention relates to a tool head for moving a tool (6) having a plurality of mobile shafts (2, 4, 5, 8, 11) which allow to move the tool (6) linearly and rotationally. The invention also relates to a combination drive (10) for driving a shaft by means of which the shaft (11) driven by the combination drive (10) can perform a linear and rotational movement and to the use of a combination drive (10) for driving a shaft (11) of a tool head for moving a tool, the shaft (11) driven by the combination drive (10) being capable of performing a linear and a rotational movement. The invention finally relates to a method for movement control. The invention provides a tool head that allows very high dynamics of movement of the tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ali Haj-Fraj, Jens Hamann, Uwe Ladra, Hans-Peter Tröndle
  • Publication number: 20090067944
    Abstract: In a multi-axis machine tool comprising a first slide way (2a) and a second slide way (2b) set apart one from the other and extending parallel along a longitudinal axis (X), a machining station (3) delimited laterally by the slide ways (2a, 2b), a cross member (4) presenting opposite ends (4a, 4b) each coupled to a respective slide way (2a, 2b), and a machining head (5) mounted to the cross member (4) and positionable over the machining station (3), at least the cross member (4) is fashioned from a low thermal expansion material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2005
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Inventors: Stefano Motta, Piergiacomo Bongiorni
  • Publication number: 20090028657
    Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to propose a machine tool having a linear guide device with new construction enabling exchange of a linear guide by easy work. With regard to a machine tool having linear guide devices 1 each of which has a base 11, guide rails 12 mounted on the base 11, linear guides 2 movably mounted on the guide rails 12, and jack-up mechanism comprising a saddle 9 (moving body) movably supported by the guide rails 12 through the linear guides and jack-up bolts 5 arranged between the base 11 and the saddle, the linear guides are fixed to the saddle through a fixing member, the fixation of the linear guides to the saddle is released by operating the fixing member, and gaps 8 are formed between the saddle and the linear guides by the jack-up mechanism arranged between the base and the saddle (moving body), whereby the linear guides can be exchanged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2005
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Inventors: Shunichi Ishikawa, Masato Sugita, Kenji Matsushita, Takayoshi Torii, Koichi Sakal, Jiro Inoue, Tsutomu Sugihara
  • Patent number: 7437809
    Abstract: An eyeglass lens processing apparatus includes: a piercing unit that includes a piercing tool for piercing a hole in an eyeglass lens; a first input unit that inputs position data and depth data of a non-through hole to be formed in a refractive surface of the lens; a detecting unit that detects a position of a front end of the piercing tool; and a control unit that controls a process of forming the non-through hole based on the detected front-end position data, and the input position data and the input depth data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Nidek Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayasu Yamamoto, Hirokatsu Obayashi, Yoshiaki Kamiya
  • Patent number: 7416473
    Abstract: A numeric-control work-centre for machining plates of glass, marble and natural or synthetic stones comprises: a bench, defining a work surface, designed to receive the plates to be machined; two fixed side members, set at the two sides of the work surface; an overhead cross-member, guided over the two side members like an overhead-travelling crane, in a horizontal direction Y orthogonal to the horizontal direction X of the cross-member; and a carriage, which is mobile in the aforesaid horizontal direction X on the cross-member, present in which are two work heads carried by a slide, mounted on the carriage so that, during machining of the edge of a plate, consecutive passing of the first tool and of the second tool in any order is obtained with one and the same movement of the carriage and/or of the cross-member of the work-centre.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: Biesse S.p.A.
    Inventors: Marco Belli, Marco Frongia, Filippo Bindelli
  • Patent number: 7402009
    Abstract: This invention relates to machining of long profiles, that can be bent, held in place using two clamping arms (10) clamping the section to be machined. According to the invention, the profile (12) does not move during machining and the mobile arms are not used to move the profile in front of the tool; the arms move with the tool to the various locations to be machined. Auxiliary supports (25) are flexible in the plane of the profile and provide sufficient support while enabling the profile to deform as a result of stresses applied to it. Machining is more precise and remaining stresses are reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Airbus France
    Inventors: Jean-Christophe Hamann, Maël Provin
  • Publication number: 20080127474
    Abstract: A modular universal holding fixture and corresponding methods, accommodating a wide range of workpiece contours, geometries, sizes, and configurations. The fixture may include a fiducial base, a registration frame, and a bridge module. Fixable to a fiducial (reference) location, the fiducial base may be attached in alignment to the registration frame. The bridge module may have a central cavity and guide tracks on top, exterior, and interior support surfaces. The bridge module transversely engages the registration frame for longitudinal movement to a registration position, and supports a tooling for transverse movement. The bridge module may repositionably constrain the tooling at an indexed position. The bridge module may be configured to engage multiple types of tooling and additional tooling headers, supports, and side actuators. A tooling may be passive linear actuators positioned by a N/C operated gantry engaged with the registration frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2006
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Inventor: Steven J. McAllister
  • Patent number: 7357769
    Abstract: Machine tool simplifying maintenance, reducing manufacturing costs, and enabling high precision machining. The machine tool is equipped with: a bed furnished with a rectangular base, right and left sidewalls provided standing either side of the base, and a rear sidewall provided standing along the back of the base; a table disposed in the space surrounded by the three sidewalls; a first saddle shaped in the form of a rectangular frame shape, provided free to shift back and forth supported on the tops of the left and right sidewalls; a second saddle penetrated by a perpendicular through-hole and arranged free to shift sideways inside the first saddle frame; and a spindle head arranged free to shift perpendicularly inside the through-hole in the second saddle; and a main spindle arranged over the table and supported by the spindle head free to rotate centered on its axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Mori Seiki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoshi Takayama, Michio Watanabe, Nobuyuki Kimura, Kazuyuki Hiramoto, Takayuki Akai
  • Publication number: 20080044246
    Abstract: A horizontal milling-boring machine including a horizontal bed anchored to the floor, a column structure supported by the bed and slidable therealong, a slide carriage slidable vertically along said column structure, and a slide supporting the tool head and movable axially to said carriage in a direction perpendicular to the axis of said bed, characterized in that: said bed is monolithic and is separated from the work table,—said column structure is formed as a portal, with two columns connected together by an upper crosspiece and provided lowerly, for their support on the bed, with portions lying external to the opening of said portal, which is delimited laterally by said columns and extends lowerly into proximity with said bed—said slide carriage is slidable along the facing internal walls of said columns,—guide means and drive means being interposed between said column structure and said bed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2004
    Publication date: February 21, 2008
    Inventors: Francesco Gueli, Gabriele Piccolo
  • Patent number: 7322082
    Abstract: An eyeglass lens processing apparatus for processing a periphery of an eyeglass lens, the apparatus includes: a lens chuck shaft that holds and rotates the lens; an end mill that processes the periphery of the lens; an end mill tilting unit that varies a tilt of the end mill with respect to the lens chuck shaft; an end mill moving unit that relatively moves the end mill with respect to the lens held by the lens chuck shaft; a target lens shape input unit that inputs an target lens shape; a lens measuring unit that detects a position of a processing edge of the lens based on the input target lens shape; a memory that stores a beveling shape including a beveling tilt angle on a front surface side of the lens and a beveling tilt angle on a rear surface side of the lens; and a control unit that controls the end mill tilting unit and the end mill moving unit to perform a roughing process on the lens using the end mill based on the input target lens shape and to perform a beveling process on the roughing-processed
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Nidek Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuhiro Natsume, Yoichi Sugiura
  • Publication number: 20080003073
    Abstract: A multi-axis machine tool presents a gantry positioned over a bed equipped with a machining station in which to position a workpiece, a moving beam associated slidably with the gantry, aligned on a horizontal direction and translatable in a vertical direction, a carriage associated slidably with the moving beam and traversable in the horizontal direction, and a tool holder mounted to the carriage. The tool holder is mounted direct to the carriage, making no use of quills or telescopic arms, with freedom to rotate relative to the carriage about two positioning axes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Publication date: January 3, 2008
    Inventor: Maurizio Stefano Ferrari
  • Patent number: 7273335
    Abstract: A machine tool includes a table supported by a bed for forward and rearward movement along a path of movement, left and right transversely aligned upright columns on opposite sides of the path of movement, a cross rail supported in the columns for movement upwardly and downwardly along forward and rear guide rails on inwardly facing column surfaces, a spindle head supported by the cross rail for movement leftwardly and rightwardly. The cross rail, the left and right columns, the spindle head and the guide rails are symmetrically positioned from front to rear and vertically by vertical or horizontal symmetry defining planes so that heat generated creates balanced self-cancelling forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Okuma Corporation
    Inventors: Seiji Furuhashi, Koji Takenaka
  • Publication number: 20070206997
    Abstract: A routing machine including a plurality of worktables for supporting at least a first workpiece and a second workpiece, a hold down assembly, and a toolhead assembly for machining the first workpiece on one of the worktables and then machining the second workpiece on another of the worktables. The hold down assembly traverses the worktables with the toolhead assembly to retain the first workpiece on the one worktable and then retain the second workpiece on the other of the worktables such that the first workpiece on the one worktable can be removed and replaced with a new workpiece while the toolhead assembly machines the second workpiece on the other table. A method of machining parts with the routing machine is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2007
    Publication date: September 6, 2007
    Applicant: C.R. Onsrud, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Onsrud
  • Patent number: 7255519
    Abstract: The present invention provides a machine tool capable of suppressing cost increase of a cover even when a long workpiece is machined. A machining unit 3 by which the spindle 2 is supported to be movable in X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis directions relative to the machining table 5; and a shielding mechanism 100 provided in said machining unit 3 to prevent chips and coolant from scattering out of a machining area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Mori Seiki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinn Tanoue, Ryuichi Fujiwara, Toshiaki Kotaka, Hikaru Ishigaki
  • Patent number: 7240415
    Abstract: A machine for processing, in particular for cutting workpieces in the form of slabs, comprises a spindle (36) slidably supported by a beam (32) displaceable transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction of a working surface (12). The beam is in turn slidably supported at its ends by two bridge structures (22, 24) situated at the two ends of said working surface. The spindle (36) is rotatably adjustable through 360° about its vertical axis and supports a disk cutting tool (60) which may be secured thereon or picked from a tools magazine also comprising other tools and a plurality of cutting heads. When other tools are used, allows other machining operations than cutting can be performed by the machine. The working surface consists of a conveyor belt (14) made of rubber, in particular disposable rubber, and is supported at the bottom by a fixed metal surface. The machine according to the invention is suitable for insertion along a continuous processing line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Inventor: Dario Toncelli
  • Patent number: 7240412
    Abstract: To provide a composite lathe enabling the overlapping of movement areas without lowering supporting stiffness of a tool post, and thus realizing enhanced machinability. An XY supporting plane A by which a tool post 5 in is supported to be movable in an X-axis direction is set non-parallel to an XZ supporting plane B by which a third spindle 6 is supported to be movable in the X-axis direction, and an axis of the movement in the X-axis direction of the tool post 5 is set apart in a Y-axis direction from an axis of the movement in the X-axis direction of the third spindle 6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: Mori Seiki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukinaga Sasazawa, Kazuhiko Matsumoto, Tsutomu Tokuma
  • Patent number: 7240411
    Abstract: To provide a machine tool in which positioning accuracy of a ram is ensured, realizing improved machining accuracy. A cylindrical ram 14 supporting a spindle 6 is inserted in a ram guide hole 13a formed in a cross slide 13, the ram 14 has supported surfaces 14d, 14d in a V-shape formed on a lower side of an outer circumferential surface thereof, and the supported surfaces 14d are placed on supporting surfaces 22a, 22a in a V-shape formed on an inner circumferential surface of the ram guide hole 13a of the cross slide 13, so that a Z-axis direction position of the ram 14 is automatically aligned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: Mori Seiki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Matsumoto, Takeshi Otawa
  • Patent number: 7237310
    Abstract: To provide a composite lathe enabling downsizing of a machine main body and realizing an enlarged machining area. A cutting point “c” of a tool post 5 is positioned vertically under a straight line connecting axes “a” of a first spindle headstock 3 and a second spindle headstock 4, and an X-axis stroke of a cutting point of a third spindle 6 overlaps an X-axis stroke of the tool post 5 by a half or more of the X-axis stroke of the tool post 5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Mori Seiki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukinaga Sasazawa, Kazuhiko Matsumoto, Tsutomu Tokuma
  • Patent number: 7237991
    Abstract: The present invention provides a machine tool capable of reducing residual vibration occurring at the location time, thereby achieving responsiveness to a recent demand for higher acceleration/deceleration speed. The machine tool is configured such that a column 3 is fixed on a bed 2, a spindle head 6 for supporting a spindle 7 is disposed on a front face 3b? of the column 3 to be movable in a Z-axis direction, and a pair of right and left Z-axis ball screws (spindle drive shafts) 22 for driving the vicinity of the gravity center of the spindle head 6 is disposed on the front face 3b? of the column 3 to be symmetrical to each other with respect to a plane that includes an axis C of the spindle head 6 and is parallel to a Y axis, thereby driving the vicinity of the gravity center of the spindle head 6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Mori Seiki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Hiramoto, Akihiro Mochizuki, Shunsuke Nakazawa, Satoshi Matsui
  • Patent number: 7232406
    Abstract: To provide a tool changer of a machine tool capable of preventing chips from scattering to the outside of the machine from an opening of a cover to adhere to a sliding portion or a gripper portion during tool change. A tool magazine 42 holding a large number of tools is disposed on a machine outer side of a cover 62 disposed to surround a machining area of a third spindle 6. The cover 62 has a tool through hole 62c from which a tool held by a tool holding part 6c of the third spindle 6 is protruded to the machine outer side of the cover 62. Tool change is performed while the tool is protruded to the machine outer side from the tool through hole 62c and the tool through hole 62c is closed by the tool holding part 6c.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: Mori Seiki Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kei Komizo
  • Patent number: 7226403
    Abstract: A machine tool (1, 1?), in particular a drilling and milling machine, comprising a housing (20) having a machine bed (2), together with side walls (3, 4) and doors (5, 6, 7), comprising a fixed, pivotable or rotatable work table (8, 9), and comprising a slide (10), transportable in the y direction, for the reception of a spindle head (11), transportable in the x-z direction, for the reception of tools (12), wherein the front door (5), for the enlargement of the working and loading area (21) in the upward direction, is of transomless configuration, the roof region (13) of the machine (1, 1?) has an automatically operable cover (16), the rear region (22) of the machine (1, 1?) has an integrable automatic pallet changer (14), and the machine (1, 1?) is assigned an automatic tool changer (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Mikron Agie Charmilles Ali
    Inventors: Jan Konvicka, Markus Reimann
  • Patent number: 7185412
    Abstract: A multi-axis, computerized numerically-controlled (CNC) toolhead positioning device with six degrees of freedom of movement while utilizing only five axes of movement, comprising a rotating workpiece mount assembly (28) and a rotating gantry (64) with a mounted toolhead assembly base (80). Perpendicular rotational axes about a mounted workpiece (26) provide the capability to perform specific toolhead operations on the arcuate surface of the workpiece (26), subject to the type of mounted toolhead assembly. The computer (120) uses CNC software to integrate operator instructions, machining operations, and the sequence of operations into an automatic and coherent machining package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Precision Spherical Corp.
    Inventors: William Arthur Penick, Robert Allen Fomey
  • Patent number: 7172375
    Abstract: The present invention provides a machine tool realizing high-speed movement of a spindle and thus reducing the machining time without any increase in size of the whole machine. A machining unit 3 by which a spindle 2 with a tool T attached thereto is supported to be relatively movable in X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis directions is mounted on a long bed 4 having a plurality of machining areas a1 to a4 arranged in one direction, and the machining unit 3 is movable in the arrangement direction of the machining areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Mori Seiki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinn Tanoue, Ryuichi Fujiwara, Toshiaki Kotaka, Hikaru Ishigaki
  • Patent number: 7159294
    Abstract: The invention provides a burr removal apparatus for laser beam machine which removes burrs formed on the top surface of a workpiece. When, for example, pilot holes PH are produced in a workpiece W by a laser machining tool 60, molten particles scatter to form whisker-like burrs Wb on the top surface of the workpiece. A whisker-like burr removal apparatus 700 has a machining head 710 which is raised and lowered by a cylinder 720. It removes the whisker-like burrs Wb with a machining tool 730.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Yamazaki Mazak Corporation
    Inventors: Tsunehiko Yamazaki, Naoomi Miyakawa
  • Patent number: 7131940
    Abstract: The present invention provides a machine tool whose width dimension is not increased even when it includes a tool magazine. The present invention includes: a bed; a saddle disposed on the bed to be movable in a forward and backward (Y-axis) direction in a front view of the machine tool; a table disposed on the saddle to be movable in right and left (X-axis) direction; a column fixed on the bed a spindle head disposed on the column to support a spindle and movable in a vertical (Z-axis) direction; an automatic tool changer disposed on a back face side of the column, wherein the column has an opening which allows the back face side and a front face side of the column to communicate with each other, and the automatic tool changer replaces a tool on the spindle side by a tool on a tool magazine side through the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: Mori Seiki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Hiramoto, Akihiro Mochizuki, Shunsuke Nakazawa, Satoshi Matsui
  • Patent number: 7127786
    Abstract: The present invention provides a machine tool capable of enhancing approachability to a spindle to improve work efficiency even when it includes a workpiece changer. The present invention includes: a bed; a saddle disposed on the bed to be movable in a forward and backward (Y-axis) direction in a front view of the machine tool; a table disposed on the saddle to be movable in a right and left (X-axis) direction; a column having a shape of a gate bridged over a travel range of the table and fixed on the bed; a spindle head disposed on the column to support a spindle and movable in a vertical (Z-axis) direction; a workpiece changer that turns a workpiece together with a pallet or turns the workpiece independently, for workpiece replacement, between a workpiece standby position set on a back face side of the bed and the table placed at a workpiece change position, the workpiece changer being disposed so as to set the workpiece change position at a position under the column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Mori Seiki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Hiramoto, Akihiro Mochizuki, Shunsuke Nakazawa, Satoshi Matsui
  • Patent number: 7128507
    Abstract: The present invention provides a machine tool capable of achieving a higher feed rate of a spindle and weight reduction while ensuring necessary stiffness of a column. The present invention includes: a bed; a saddle disposed on the bed to be movable in a Y-axis direction in a front view of the machine; a table disposed on the saddle to be movable in an X-axis direction; a column having a shape of a gate that is bridged over a travel range of the table and has right and left legs fixed on the bed and a beam connecting tops of the right and left legs; and a spindle head disposed on a front face of the beam to be movable in a Z-axis direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Mori Seiki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Hiramoto, Akihiro Mochizuki, Shunsuke Nakazawa, Satoshi Matsui
  • Patent number: 7043805
    Abstract: An NC lathe 1 comprises a bed 5, a headstock 10 provided on the bed 5, a main spindle 11 supported on the headstock 10 so as to be rotatable around the axis thereof, a rotation drive device for rotating the main spindle 11, a stationary frame 15 formed in a rectangular frame shape and fixed to the upper face of the bed 5, a movable frame 16 formed in a rectangular frame shape and provided so as to be movable in the Z-axis direction with respect to the stationary frame 15, a saddle 17 provided so as to be movable in the X-axis direction with respect to the movable frame 16, a quill 18 accommodated inside the accommodation hole 17a in the saddle 17 and provided so as to be movable in the Y-axis direction, and a tool rest 20 supported on the quill 18.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Mori Seiki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Tokuma, Masamitsu Nakaminami
  • Patent number: 6949055
    Abstract: A machine tool consists in a pair of slide ways set apart one from another and extending parallel with a longitudinal axis, a machining station between the slide ways, presenting a first zone and a second zone adjacent one to the other, and a traveling gantry set in motion along the slide ways and carrying a machining head positionable in the first and second zones. Installed alongside at least one of the slide ways and containing a supply of tools attachable to the machining head is a magazine equipped with a first changer element positioned to coincide with the first zone of the station, and a second changer element positioned to coincide with the second zone, so that whichever of the two zones the machining head happens to occupy at any given moment, the tool currently in use can be replaced with a tool from the magazine by the relative changer element with minimal loss of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: JOBS S.p.A.
    Inventors: Maurizio Ferrari, Carlo Massari