Compound Angular Adjustment Patents (Class 409/216)
  • 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: 8714892
    Abstract: A spindle head structure rotatable in A/B axes is provided, comprising: a spindle support, an intermediate support, a base support, an upper telescopic strut and a lower telescopic strut. The spindle support may be adapted to be fixed with a spindle. The intermediate support may be connected with the spindle support via two coaxial upper revolute pairs. The base support may be connected with the intermediate support via two coaxial lower revolute pairs. The upper telescopic strut may be connected between the spindle support and the intermediate support. And the lower telescopic strut may be connected between the intermediate support and the base support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Tsinghua University
    Inventors: Xiaoqiang Tang, Liping Wang, Zhufeng Shao, Dianjun Wang, Rui Yao, Lin Qu
  • Patent number: 8668412
    Abstract: A minimum five-axis machine tool (11) has first to third linear feed axes orthogonal to each other as well as first and second rotational feed axes orthogonal to each other, wherein a rotational axis line of the first rotational feed axis C is parallel to the first linear feed axis Z. While a tool T and a work W are moved relatively through the second and third linear feed axes X, Y to perform machining of the work W by means of the tool T, the machine tool controls the first rotational feed axis C such that a rotational axis line of the second rotational feed axis A is perpendicular to the direction of relative movement of the perpendicular to the direction of relative movement of the tool T to the work W, and controls a power supplied to a motor for the second rotational feed axis A when a torque around the second rotational feed axis A exceeds a specified threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Makino Milling Machine Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ikuma Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20140023450
    Abstract: According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a variable machine tool capable of multi-axis machining includes: a base frame; a first rotating frame rotating on the base frame and comprising a first sliding member sliding along a circumference while being contact-supported through an interior diameter; a second rotating frame cross-disposed inside the first rotating frame to rotate in a direction crossing the first rotating frame, and comprising a second sliding member sliding along a circumference while being contact-supported through an interior diameter; and a spindle of which position and posture displacement is adjusted when the first sliding member and the second sliding member slide by interworking with rotation of the first rotating frame and the second rotating frame, the spindle being installed while passing through the first sliding member and the second sliding member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Applicant: Korea Institute of Machinery & Materials
    Inventors: Jong-Kweon PARK, Sung Cheul LEE, Seung Kook RO, Byung-Sub KIM
  • Patent number: 8579560
    Abstract: An index device for a machine tool includes a rotary shaft (40) to which a drive object is attached, a housing (30) surrounding the rotary shaft (40), a bearing (BI, B2) secured between the housing (30) and the rotary shaft (40) by a securing member (30b), and a drive (M) provided around the rotary shaft (40) and including a rotor (M1a, M2a) and a stator (M1b, M2b). The stator (M1b, M2b) is attached to the housing (30) and the rotor (M1a, M2a) is attached to the rotary shaft (40). The rotary shaft (40), the bearing (BI, B2), the rotor (M1a, M2a), and the securing member (30b) are connected together to form a built-in unit (22) that can be inserted into and extracted from an enclosure unit including a casing member (30a, 31a) of the housing (30) and the stator (M1b, M2b), thus facilitating connection and disconnection of wiring between the stator of a DD motor mounted in a spindle head of a machine tool and a main body of the machine tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Tsudakoma Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshinori Tatsuda
  • Patent number: 8414233
    Abstract: A moving section of a parallel mechanism is fed having two freedoms. A first moving section base is screw-engaged with a first feed screw shaft, and a second moving section base is screw-engaged with a second feed screw shaft. A spindle head is pivotably connected by a support shaft to the first moving section base. A coupling shaft at an extreme end of an extension lever extending downward from the spindle head is rotatably coupled to a guided piece on a slant linear guide provided on the second moving section base and is coupled to the second moving section base. Thereby, a tilt function maintaining advantages of a tandem drive and being high in rigidity is realized without increasing control axes beyond the number of axes corresponding to tandem axes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi Matsui
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8007213
    Abstract: When a horizontal shaft and a piston are caused to travel to a first side with a gear coupling engaging, the revolution of the piston is designed to be restricted by meshing a spur gear with an internal gear fixed to a main body of a horizontal swivel part. On the other hand, when the horizontal shaft and the piston are caused to travel to a second side and the gear coupling thus disengages, the horizontal shaft and the piston are designed to be revolved in an integrated manner by meshing spur gears respectively with other spur gears. When the horizontal shaft and the piston travel from the first side to the second side, the spur gear is designed to be spaced away from the internal gear after the spur gear meshes with the spur gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mutsumi Yoshikawa, Takayuki Kume, Keiji Tomimatsu, Hiroyuki Yamamura, Isamu Takehana
  • Patent number: 7938603
    Abstract: A support shaft of a spindle unit having a through hole in which wires are laid has a structure that can obtain much spatial room so as to prevent a break in cables and to be compatible with a high-output spindle motor. A machine-tool spindle head 1 includes a support head 6 that drives a spindle unit 4 for indexing around a turn axis (A-axis) of the spindle unit 4 by rotatably supporting a pair of support shafts 9 coupled to the spindle unit 4 on the A-axis by a pair of fork arms 7 and bearings 13. The pair of support shafts 9 have through holes 12 in which a plurality of wires 22 extending from the spindle unit 4 are laid, the plurality of wires 22 are divided into two wire groups, and the wire groups are separately laid in the pair of support shafts 9.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Tsudakoma Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshinori Tatsuda, Yoichi Nishita
  • Patent number: 7938602
    Abstract: In a three degrees of freedom parallel mechanism, a spindle head is carried by first and second movable support members to be movable along a Z-axis and to be pivotable along each of A and B-axes. The spindle head is jointed through three rods to drive sliders which are movable along three parallel linear guides secured stationarily. For jointing, there are employed spherical joints and universal joints. Kinematic parameters used in converting each command position of the movable body to target operational positions for three actuators of the Z, A and B-axes are compensated based on inversely converted command positions and inversely converted actually measured positions which have been gathered with the spindle head being located at positions of a suitable number, so that the kinematic parameters can be updated to those newest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventor: Hiromichi Ota
  • Patent number: 7914243
    Abstract: A method for removing a weld crown from a weld joint between first and second work pieces includes steps of positioning a rotary milling tool proximate to the joint and at an offset angle to set a cutting arc relative to the joint. The milling tool is positioned so the cutting arc intersects the weld crown, weld toes, and parent metal on each side of the weld joint. As the milling tool traverses the joint to cut away the weld crown, the milling tool may tilt from side to side to compensate for misalignment between the work pieces along the weld joint. An apparatus for weld crown removal holds a milling tool at an offset angle, and provides a tracking mechanism to permit the milling tool to track misalignment between the work pieces, maintaining the cutting arc in intersection with the weld toes and parent metal along the weld joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Tri Tool, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerald W. VanderPol, Lane L. Larson
  • Patent number: 7909550
    Abstract: A swivel spindle head with gear device driven by multiple torque motors is disclosed, which comprises: a tool spindle, having a first shaft and a second shaft being radially disposed at two opposite sides of the tool spindle while sharing a common axial line; a plurality of torque motors, radially disposed at a side of the tool spindle; and a reduction gear set, radially disposed at a side of the tool spindle opposite to the plural torque motors, composed of a plurality of driving gears and a driven gear; wherein the amount of the plural driving gears is the same as that of the plural torque motors while enabling each of the plural driving gears to connect with a rotor shaft of its corresponding torque motor, and the same time, connecting the driven gear on the second shaft of the tool spindle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Chin-Mou Hsu, Ching-Yuan Lin, En-Sheng Chang, Shih-Yen Chung
  • Patent number: 7909551
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for shaving the inside of barrels. The invention relates to reconditioning used wine barrels by shaving the inside surface to a predetermined depth, ready for re-crozering, toasting, and re-use. Conventional shaving methods typically involve routing the internal surface by hand, but this technique is problematic in that it is a very slow process, the quality of the wood is often adversely affected, and there is no way of ensuring that the surface will be shaved to the same depth across the entire surface. The resultant internal dimensions of the barrel are not reflective, relatively, of the original barrel surface. The invention includes a scanning device to scan the internal dimensions of the barrel, and a cutting device to shave the internal surface to a predetermined depth relative to the scanned internal dimensions and where the scanning device and the cutting device may be supported by different robotic arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Southern Cross Cooperage Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Breck Waterman
  • Patent number: 7891920
    Abstract: To provide a spindle device and a machining center, in which spindle replacement can be carried out in an extremely short time, downtime during maintenance is short, and productivity is high. In a spindle device 20, there are provided wirings 41, 42 extended from a spindle 30 and wired to support arms via a bracket 21, and joint components 74, each provided at a position a predetermined length extended from extended parts for the wirings 41, 42, are accommodated within the bracket 21.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignees: NSK Ltd., Tsudakoma Corp.
    Inventors: Hiroki Yoneyama, Yoshifumi Inagaki, Osamu Iwasaki, Yoshinori Tatsuda
  • Patent number: 7857558
    Abstract: A milling machine (1) for the machining of large components includes a milling head (9) which includes a support beam (8) which is movable along a longitudinal axis (Z); a pivot body (14) which is supported and guided by the support beam (8) by way of a curved guide arrangement (36) so as to be pivotable about a first pivot axis (B) which extends normal to the longitudinal axis (Z) and a motor milling spindle (11) which is supported on the pivot body (14) so as to be pivotable about a second pivot axis (A) which extends normal to the first pivot axis (B). The rotation of the pivot body (14) and of the milling spindle (11) is controlled by drive arrangements (37, 50) assigned to the pivot axis (A, B). The curved guide arrangement (36) includes guide carriages (34) attached to them support beam (8) and a circular arc segment-shaped guide track (32) which is attached to the pivot body (14) and which provide for pivot range about the first pivot axis (B) of at least 180.degree..
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: F. Zimmerman GmbH
    Inventor: Rudiger Schrott
  • Publication number: 20100290854
    Abstract: A machining head for a machine tool includes a spindle unit including a spindle to which a tool is attachable and a support head component that supports the spindle unit, the support head component including an index mechanism that rotates the spindle unit at least about an axis line extending perpendicular to a rotary axis line of the spindle in order to index an angular position of the spindle unit. The index mechanism includes a support shaft fixed to the spindle unit and rotatably provided within a housing of the support head component, and a drive motor for rotating the support shaft, the drive motor including a motor rotor and a motor stator, the motor rotor being disposed concentrically with the support shaft around the support shaft within the housing of the support head component and being linked to the support shaft, the motor stator surrounding the motor rotor to face an outer periphery of the motor rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2007
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Applicant: TSUDAKOMA KOGYO KABUSHIKIKAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshinori Tatsuda
  • Patent number: 7771146
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for shaving the inside of barrels. In particular, the present invention relates to reconditioning used wine barrels by shaving the inside surface to a predetermined depth, ready for re-crozering, toasting, and re-use. Conventional shaving methods typically involve routing the internal surface by hand, but this technique is problematic in that it is a very slow process, the quality of the wood is often adversely affected, and there is no way of ensuring that the surface will be shaved to the same depth across the entire surface. Therefore, the resultant internal dimensions of the barrel are not reflective, relatively, of the original barrel surface. The apparatus of the present invention includes a scanning device adapted to scan the internal dimensions of the barrel, and a cutting device adapted to shave the internal surface to a predetermined depth relative to the scanned internal dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Southern Cross Cooperage Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Breck Waterman
  • Patent number: 7682112
    Abstract: A machining tool for machining a panel is arranged in a working area of a machining surface of the panel. A holding element is arranged in a support area located on a holding surface of the panel, opposing the machining surface and on an opposite side in relation to the panel to the working area. The operating machining tool and the holding element are displaced on the panel in a co-coordinated manner according to movement presenting at least one component tangentially to the surface of the panel in such a way as to maintain the opposition of the support area and the working area during the displacement of the tool in order to machine at least a part of the machining surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignees: Dufieux Industrie, Airbus France
    Inventors: Rene Panczuk, Pierre-Yves Foissac
  • 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: 20090162161
    Abstract: A spindle unit has a working spindle, which is mounted, so as to be rotatable about its longitudinal axis, in its own bearing housing and in which there is provided a receiver for tools for machining workpieces. Via a repositioning unit, the working spindle is repositioned automatically and controllably in relation to the bearing housing when in operation (FIG. 1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Inventors: Dirk PRUST, Hans-Henning Winkler
  • Publication number: 20080193241
    Abstract: A two rotational and one translational parallel mechanism which comprises a holding bracket; a movable platform; and three branch joint assemblies of the same structure spatially and axis-symmetrically disposed between the holding bracket and the movable platform. Each branch joint assembly comprises a connecting rod, a linear guide, a driving device and a carriage. The linear guide and the driving device both are secured on the connecting rod. One end of the connecting rod is connected with the movable platform through a hinge having three rotational degrees of freedom. The carriage and the linear guide are connected with each other by a sliding joint, and the carriage is connected with the holding bracket by a hinge having one rotational degree of freedom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2007
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Applicant: TIANJIN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Tian Huang, Haitao Liu
  • Patent number: 7384224
    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: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: JOBS S.p.A.
    Inventor: Maurizio Stefano Ferrari
  • Patent number: 7293340
    Abstract: This invention discloses a direct drive spindle assembly including a main fork formed by a base and a parallel pair of spaced fork arms and rotated about a first rotational axis. Moreover, the direct drive spindle assembly includes a first drive established by a hollow housing, a first motor stator and a first motor rotor, wherein the first motor rotor coupled with the base of the main fork drives the main fork to rotate about the first rotational axis. Furthermore, the direct drive spindle assembly includes a second drive contained in a room between the fork arms of the main fork and established by a second motor stator concentric with a second rotational axis, a second motor rotor and a rotor transmission ring, wherein the second rotational axis is perpendicular to the first rotational axis and the second motor stator is coupled with the fork arms of the main fork. In addition, the direct drive spindle assembly includes a spindle box having an orthogonal cross structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Roundtop Machinery Industries Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Hsiang-Yuan Tsao, Chun-Chieh Lin
  • Patent number: 7281306
    Abstract: A machine tool includes a tool spindle head for supporting a first side of a hob via an arbor, a turret, and a tool supporting unit including a movable section and a fixed section. The fixed section is fixedly mounted to the turret and slidably supporting the movable section. The movable section includes a support member for rotatably supporting a second side of the hob. The movable section further includes a first holding member holding the support member rotatably, second holding members holding the first holding member rotatably about an axis which extends perpendicularly to the rotation axis of the support member, and a slide member provided along the second holding members and fitted to a slide guide formed at the fixed section. When the tool supporting unit is positioned at a predetermined tool holding position, the movable section is capable of advancing and retreating in the Y-axis direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Mori Seiki Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshio Ueda
  • Patent number: 7255033
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for piercing a metering disc from a workpiece of a fuel injector. The metering disc includes first and second surfaces that extend substantially parallel to a base plane. The first and second surfaces are spaced along a longitudinal axis that extends orthogonal with respect to the base plane. The apparatus includes a piercing tool that extends along a tool axis, a planar coordinate positioning mechanism, and a spherical coordinate positioning mechanism. The piercing tool is adapted to penetrate the workpiece. The planar coordinate positioning mechanism displaces parallel to the longitudinal axis of the piercing tool relative to the workpiece. And the spherical coordinate positioning mechanism pivots about the tool axis relative at least one of three axes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive Corporation
    Inventor: J. Michael Joseph
  • Patent number: 6953311
    Abstract: A tool holding and working piece-clamping assembly has a stand, a driving device, a threaded rod, a rail assembly, a brake post, a working piece-clamping device and a tool holding device. The working piece-clamping device has an upper clamping device slidably connected to the rail assembly and a lower clamping device corresponding to the upper clamping. The working piece-clamping device has a brake electrically connected to a contact switch and slidably mounted on a brake post. The tool holding device is slidably connected to the rail assembly and has a connecting base screwed with the threaded rod. With such an arrangement, only one threaded rod with a driving device is needed to actuate the tool holding device and the working piece-clamping device to operate. Consequently, the consumption of power can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Assignee: KSI Technologies Corp.
    Inventor: Hua-Chang Pang
  • Patent number: 6951440
    Abstract: A double rotatable spindle head of non-perpendicular axis type has a first half head and a second half head. The first half head is connected to the machine structure and rotates about a first axis. The second half head is coupled to the first half head on a flat surface and rotates about a second axis perpendicular to the flat surface. The rotation of the first and second half heads is achieved by a first and second direct motor, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2005
    Assignee: FPT Industrie S.p.A.
    Inventor: Gabriele Piccolo
  • Patent number: 6944923
    Abstract: A machining unit for a program-controlled milling and drilling machine. A head support movable in several coordinate axes has an axis of rotation pointing forward and downward at a 45° angle. A swivel head arranged on a front side of the head support is rotatable about the axis of rotation. A spindle nose is fixedly mounted on the swivel head and has a working spindle with an axis extending at an angle of 45° relative to the axis of rotation. A spindle motor is aligned coaxially with the axis of rotation and a bevel gear arranged in the swivel head for the motor shaft. The swivel head has a cylindrical hollow housing member coaxial with the axis of rotation and in which the spindle motor is mounted. The head support has a housing neck in which the housing member of the swivel head is rotatably supported.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Deckel Maho Pfronten GmbH
    Inventors: Alfred Geissler, Robert Jung
  • Patent number: 6932547
    Abstract: A toolhead assembly for a CNC machine displaceable along orthogonal x, y and z-axes generally consisting of a support assembly, a tool carrier supported on the support assembly having a rotatable tool axis and being displaceable relative to the support assembly between a first position wherein the tool axis is aligned with the z-axis and a second position wherein the tool axis is misaligned with the z-axis, structure for yieldably biasing the tool carrier assembly into the first position and structure responsive to a displacement of the tool carrier assembly to the second position for breaking an electrical grounding circuit of a controller operatively connected to the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Thermwood Corporation
    Inventors: Michael P. Hardesty, David Stutsman
  • Patent number: 6719506
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a gantry type hybrid parallel linkage five-axis machine tool composed of a machine framework a parallel spatial linkage mechanism, a feeding shaft mechanism, and a controller unit. The parallel spatial linkage mechanism is formed of three straight feeding molding dies rotatably hinged together with a base so that enabling this rotatable base to perform uni-dimensional linear motion and two-dimensional swiveling. Besides by controlling the operation of the feeding shaft mechanism with the controller unit, the parallel spatial linkage mechanism fixed to the machine framework is able to perform two-dimensional planar motion so as to operate the machine tools more accurately and efficiently in refining work.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Tsann-Huei Chang, Kuan-Wen Chen, Chao-An Kang
  • Patent number: 6682278
    Abstract: A relatively compact, program-controlled, universal combined milling and boring machine having a horizontal base as a support for a work table, a machine frame and a supporting system for at least one spindle head. The spindle head contains a dimensionally stable central tube, a spindle head support mounted on the lower end thereof, three telescopic bars arranged at a solid angle displacement of about 120° and coupled to the spindle head support in universal bearings, and an upper support member having universal bearings for the central tube and for each telescopic bar. The machine frame is preferably provided together with the base as an integrated, dimensionally stable, support structure and has two side walls, a top, front traverse and a lower rear wall. The supporting member of the supporting system is inclined between the top side of rear wall and the traverse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Deckel Maho Pfronten GmbH
    Inventors: Hans Gronbach, Gerd Hoppe
  • Patent number: 6669416
    Abstract: A driving head for the numerically controlled setting movements of a tool spindle or workpiece table around at least one axis of rotation. The basic structure of the driving head comprises a housing (1, 1′) and at least one multi-pole external rotor motor (2) arranged concentrically in relation to the axis of rotation (A, B). The rotor motor is comprised of a ring-shaped, soft-magnetic stator (3) with single-pole windings, which is inserted in the housing (1, 1′); as well as a ring-shaped rotor yoke (5) fitted with permanent magnets (4) On the end side, the rotor yoke (5) is connected to a rotor body (6), which is rotatably supported in the housing (1, 1′). Furthermore, the rotor yoke is arranged between the stator (3) and a segment of the housing that comprises a device (7) for blocking the rotor yoke (5). The device (7) for blocking the rotor yoke preferably consists of a deformable diaphragm (8) acted upon by fluid and placed against the rotor yoke (5) under the pressure of the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Cytec Zylindertechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Klaus Klement
  • Patent number: 6607017
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for carving a uniformly carved portion and a variably carved portion in a workpiece in a single pass. The apparatus consists of a uniform carving head fixed relative to the workpiece and a variable carving head that is movable simultaneously in two directions substantially perpendicular to the motion of the workpiece. A control system, which may include a programmable computer, controls the motion of the variable carving head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Inventors: Konstantin N. Kulikov, Karim Esmailzadeh
  • Patent number: 6557235
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising a frame, a mobile platform and first and second linearly-actuated slides supported on a base connected to the frame. The first and second slides are movable along a line defining a first axis. The apparatus may include a first driving connector movably coupled to the first slide and to the mobile platform, and a second driving connector movably coupled to the second slide and to the mobile platform, such that the mobile platform is displaceable within at least two degrees of freedom defined by linear motions along the first axis and a second axis, the second axis being coplanar and orthogonal to the first axis. An end effector may be also coupled to the mobile platform, the end effector having an axis aligned in a direction defined by the second axis. The end effector may comprise, for example, a tool or a gripper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventors: Reuven R. Katz, Yoram Koren, François R. Pierrot, Zhe Li
  • Publication number: 20030077139
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a gantry type hybrid parallel linkage five-axis machine tool composed of a machine framework a parallel spatial linkage mechanism, a feeding shaft mechanism, and a controller unit. The parallel spatial linkage mechanism is formed of three straight feeding molding dies rotatably hinged together with a base so that enabling this rotatable base to perform uni-dimensional linear motion and two-dimensional swiveling. Besides by controlling the operation of the feeding shaft mechanism with the controller unit, the parallel spatial linkage mechanism fixed to the machine framework is able to perform two-dimensional planar motion so as to operate the machine tools more accurately and efficiently in refining work.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2001
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Inventors: Tsann-Huei Chang, Kuan-Wen Chen, Chao-An Kang
  • Patent number: 6540458
    Abstract: The invention relates to a machine-tool, especially a milling center, comprising a housing (2), a holder (54) for tools and/or workpieces, a coupling guide departing from the housing (2) to guide the holder (54) and a drive device departing from the housing (2) to move and fix the holder (54) guided by the coupling guide. The invention is characterized in that the coupling guide has first means for guiding the holder (54) on a first plane where it brushes over the surface and second means for pivoting the holder 54) on a second plane where it cuts the first plane, wherein the drive device has third means for moving and fixing the holder (54) guided by the coupling guide in an area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Heckert Werkzeugmaschinen GmbH
    Inventor: Achim Ponisch
  • Patent number: 6540454
    Abstract: In a multi-axis machine tool (M) including an angular dividing head (HD) having a spindle head (9) mounted thereto, the positional correction includes determining an error representative vector componentwise representative of a plurality of positional errors with respect to a plurality of axes of the spindle head at a respective angular position dividable by the angular dividing head, and correcting an arbitrary positional error of the spindle head by calculating a component vector of the error representative vector associated with the respective angular position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Toshiba Kikai Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tadashi Tanaka, Kazuo Nagashima
  • Patent number: 6526638
    Abstract: A device for producing relative motion with two translational degrees of freedom between a spindle means (95, 195, 295 395) with a spindle which bears the first part of a first pair of parts formed from a workpiece and a tool, and a retaining element for holding the second part of the first pair of parts, has a first base part to which a first part of a second pair of parts which is formed from the spindle means (95, 195, 295, 395) and the retaining element is attached. The movement device furthermore comprises a second base part, and at least one of the two base parts can be moved in a straight line with respect to the other along a linear guide with a first translational degree of freedom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Mikron SA Agno
    Inventors: Michael Geiger, Peter Meier, Thomas Treib
  • Patent number: 6503033
    Abstract: Disclosed is a parallel mechanism structure for controlling three-dimensional position and orientation. In the parallel mechanism structure according to the present invention, three links are connected to the main spindle of the mechanism and driven in vertical and horizontal direction, with a consecution that the main spindle connected to the three links achieves the six d.o.f motions. The structure includes three links comprised of a first link transferred along a circular vertical guide and second and third links transferred along corresponding rectilinear vertical guides and a circular horizontal guide on which the circular vertical guide and the two rectilinear vertical guides are horizontally transferred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Inventors: Jongwon Kim, Chongwoo Park, Jae Chul Hwang, Jin-Sung Kim, Young-Oh Han
  • Patent number: 6447224
    Abstract: A spindle head holder (5) is pivoted on a base member (1), a linear drive (21) is mounted to the base member (1), a linear guide (50) is mounted to the spindle head holder (5), and an engagement member (60) is engaged with both linear drive and linear guide at a substantially identical part (35, 37) thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Masaaki Mitsuzono, Hideki Hayashi, Kazuo Nagashima
  • Publication number: 20020114678
    Abstract: A driving head for the numerically controlled setting movements of a tool spindle or workpiece table around at least one axis of rotation. The basic structure of the driving head comprises a housing (1, 1′) and at least one multi-pole external rotor motor (2) arranged concentrically in relation to the axis of rotation (A, B). The rotor motor is comprised of a ring-shaped, soft-magnetic stator (3) with single-pole windings, which is inserted in the housing (1, 1′); as well as a ring-shaped rotor yoke (5) fitted with permanent magnets (4) On the end side, the rotor yoke (5) is connected to a rotor body (6), which is rotatably supported in the housing (1, 1′). Furthermore, the rotor yoke is arranged between the stator (3) and a segment of the housing that comprises a device (7) for blocking the rotor yoke (5). The device (7) for blocking the rotor yoke preferably consists of a deformable diaphragm (8) acted upon by fluid and placed against the rotor yoke (5) under the pressure of the fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2002
    Publication date: August 22, 2002
    Inventor: Klaus Klement
  • Patent number: 6431802
    Abstract: A universal-joint tool head, having a tool platform which can move in three axes, at least three connecting rods which are articulatedly mounted on the tool platform and can be displaced independently of one another, at least three linear-movement drives, which are arranged around and at a distance from the tool platform and are parallel to one another, for the connecting rods articulatedly mounted thereon, the connecting rods being articulatedly mounted on the tool platform in such a manner that they can move on all sides and on the linear-movement drives in such a manner that they can pivot about pins running perpendicular to the direction of movement of the linear-movement drives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: DS Technologie Werkzeugmaschinenbau GmbH
    Inventor: Joachim Wahl
  • Publication number: 20020057952
    Abstract: A machining apparatus has a guide extending in an x-direction, an x-slide displaceable in the x-direction on the guide, a y-slide displaceable in a y-direction generally perpendicular to the x-direction on the x-slide, and a z-slide displaceable in a z-direction generally perpendicular to the x- and y-directions on the y-slide. A tool holder is pivotal about a holder axis generally parallel to the x-direction on the z-slide and carries a tool rotatable about a tool axis perpendicular to the holder axis on the z-slide. The tool holder and tool have a center of mass generally at the holder axis. An actuator tips the tool holder and tool relative to the z-slide about the holder axis on the z-slide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2001
    Publication date: May 16, 2002
    Applicant: WALDRICH SIEGEN WERKZEUGMASCHINEN GMBH
    Inventor: Wolfgang Haferkorn
  • Patent number: 6387026
    Abstract: A machine tool has a workpiece table for fixing workpieces to be machined and a tool spindle for receiving in a fixture the tools used for machining the workpieces. The machine tool works with an overhead tool pointing upwards in the operating condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: Chiron-Werke GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Anton Schweizer, Hans-Henning Winkler
  • Patent number: 6382889
    Abstract: A portable multi-axis drilling machine includes a drill mounted between a pair of 2-axis positioning devices each of which translates along X and Y axes. The positioning devices are spaced apart along a Z axis of the machine and are mounted in a frame that has a workpiece-engaging side provided with a pair of index cylinders that receive spherical tool balls mounted on the workpiece surface so as to fix the position and orientation of the machine relative to the workpiece. The frame also has swiveling feet on the workpiece-engaging side that pivot as needed to accommodate complex contoured workpiece surfaces. Rotational movement of the drill is effected by differentially translating the two positioners, and translational X and Y movements are effected by synchronously translating the positioners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Shawn Frehner Brown, George Eric Bible
  • Patent number: 6367135
    Abstract: A device for producing relative motion with two translational degrees of freedom between a spindle means (95, 195, 295, 395) with a spindle which bears the first part of a first pair of parts formed from a workpiece and a tool, and a retaining element for holding the second part of the first pair of parts, has a first base part to which a first part of a second pair of parts which is formed from the spindle means (95, 195, 295, 395) and the retaining element is attached. The movement device furthermore comprises a second base part, and at least one of the two base parts can be moved in a straight line with respect to the other along a linear guide with a first translational degree of freedom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: Mikron SA AGNO
    Inventors: Michael Geiger, Peter Meier, Thomas Treib
  • Patent number: 6357094
    Abstract: The invention relates to a machine tool comprising feeding system to linearly feed a slide to be fed (5). Each feed gear comprises a first and a second feed mechanisms provided to be in a parallel manner and spaced apart from each other by a specified interval therebetween, wherein each feed mechanism comprises a linear feed-driving means, a feed-moving body which engages with the feed-driving means and moves along the feed-driving means, and a position sensor to detect positions of the feed-moving body along the feed-driving means. Each feed gear further comprises a first and a second support mechanisms respectively connected to each feed-moving body of the first and the second feed mechanisms with rotatably supporting the slide to be fed (5), and a controller (60) for controlling operations of the first and the second feed mechanisms respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignees: Mori Seiki Co., Ltd., Intelligent Manufacturing Systems International
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 6352496
    Abstract: A milling machine includes a bi-directional, variable speed, rotary workpiece-holding table, a table drive sized to achieve relatively high acceleration and deceleration rates, a cutting tool mounted to a single or dual axis head, and a control system adapted to achieve a high degree of tool position and table rotational position accuracy cooperating to permit high-speed machining operations, including substantially dome-shaped parts characterized by circumferential surface portions interrupted by radial wall portions. A dual table drive and interchangeable head arrangement make the machine also suitable for conventional turret lathe operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2002
    Assignee: IMTA Manufacturing Technology & Automation Company
    Inventor: Tino Oldani
  • Publication number: 20020015624
    Abstract: This invention relates to the parallel structure of a spatial 3-axis machine tool with three degrees of freedom (3 DOF), which have two translational DOF and one rotational DOF. The machine tool includes a base, a mobile platform to which a tool may be attached, and three kinematic legs. Two of the three legs are in a same plane, and each have one 3-DOF spherical joint and two 1-DOF joints. The third leg has one 1-DOF joint and two universal joints. Compared with traditional machine tools, this invention possesses several advantages such as simple structure, high stiffness, low inertia, low cost, and high speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2001
    Publication date: February 7, 2002
    Inventors: Jinsong Wang, Xin-Jun Liu, Peiqing Ye, Guanghong Duan
  • Patent number: 6336778
    Abstract: Module with parallel kinematic movement and orthogonal axes, characterised because it has a fixed structure; and a passive structure that has at least one kinematic shears joined at one end to the fixed structure and at the other end to a flat mobile structure, one of these unions being articulated; and a spatial mobile structure carrying the work head and which can be moved linearly respect to the flat mobile structure; and arms joined at one end to the fixed structure and at the other end to the spatial mobile structure, one of the unions having two degrees of freedom and the other union three degrees of freedom; and means to activate the movement of the arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2002
    Assignee: Fundacion Fatronik
    Inventors: Agustin J. Saenz, Valentin Collado