Detachable Or Repositionable Tool Head Patents (Class 409/230)
  • Patent number: 11559863
    Abstract: A C-axis unit for a machine tool, the C-axis unit comprising a bushing (134) adapted to be fixed to a unit support (121) of the machine tool; a head mounting platform (130) adapted to receive an operating head (40), the head mounting platform being supported by the bushing (134) and being rotatable relative to the bushing (134) around a vertical axis; a platform rotation motor (150) supported by the bushing (134) and configured to control the rotation of the head mounting platform (130); and a spindle motor (160) configured to control the rotation of a tool-carrying spindle (45) on the operating head (40) through a driving extension (163) arranged in a through-bore (133) obtained through the head mounting platform (130). The spindle motor (160) is fixed to and is rotationally integral with the head mounting platform (130).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: FIDIA S.P.A.
    Inventors: Claudio Ugo Protaso Repossini, Giuseppe Morfino
  • Patent number: 11548110
    Abstract: An angle head holder is installed on a spindle having a positioning block mounted on its outer surface with a constraining groove. The angle head holder includes a body base, a driving shaft, a holder assembly, and a positioning device. The driving shaft and the holder assembly are disposed in the body base. The positioning device has a fixing ring and an adjusting assembly. The fixing ring is sleeved on the body base and has a receiving slot. The adjusting assembly has a connecting block, a positioning pin, and at least one lever pin. The connecting block is mounted to the fixing ring and has a receiving groove. The positioning pin protrudes out of the receiving groove, is limited by the constraining groove, and has a retaining groove. The at least one lever pin is mounted in the receiving slot and the retaining groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: SHIN-YAIN INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Pen Hung Chen
  • Patent number: 11052501
    Abstract: In one example, an on-wing apparatus for in-situ cutting on a wing-to-fuselage attachment includes a first linear bearing disposed on a first mount plate to move in a first direction. A second linear bearing is disposed on a second mount plate to move in a second direction. The second mount plate is attached to the first linear bearing. A tool mounting member is attached to the second linear bearing. A cutter is attached to the tool mounting member to be adjustable, relative to the second linear bearing, in a rotational direction around an adjustment axis. One of the first direction and the second direction is a depth direction of the cut parallel to the adjustment axis, and the other is a length direction of the cut. A width position of the cut is determined by rotational adjustment of the cutter with respect to the second linear bearing in the rotational direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of Homeland Security
    Inventors: Mark Midyette, Craig Deen, Harlon Parchment
  • Patent number: 10201857
    Abstract: In one aspect tool holder assemblies are described herein. Such tool holder assemblies can employ outer and inner spring-like members. For example, a tool holder assembly described herein comprises a drawbar having an outer diameter surface and an inner diameter surface defining an interior of the drawbar. The drawbar is movable or actuatable along a longitudinal axis between a locked position and an unlocked position. The tool holder assembly can further comprise a first spring-like member positioned around the outer diameter surface of the drawbar and a second spring-like member positioned in the drawbar interior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: KENNAMETAL INC.
    Inventor: Lance Cariss
  • Patent number: 9522451
    Abstract: A vertical machining center includes a table, a tool spindle, an angle tool holder, a tool unclamping operation device, and a tool changer. The angle tool holder includes a shank, a spindle, a housing, a collet, a draw bar, and a spring mechanism. The shank has a shank axis and is rotatable around the shank axis. The spindle has a spindle axis perpendicular to the shank axis and is rotatable around the spindle axis. The tool unclamping operation device includes an angle tool holder rest, a hydraulic piston, and a restrictor. The angle tool holder is to be placed on the angle tool holder rest. The restrictor is disposed on the angle tool holder rest to restrict a portion of the angle tool holder and to receive force in a direction of the spindle axis which is generated in a case where the hydraulic piston presses the draw bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: YAMAZAKI MAZAK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Nishida, Satoi Usuda, Satoshi Yoshinobu, Masaya Satou
  • 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: 8790054
    Abstract: A spindle attachment includes a device body having an attachment surface detachably attached to an end face of a spindle head. Fixed and movable teeth move the body in a direction of an axial line of the spindle to engage the spindle head and the body so as to freely restrict or release rotation of the body with respect to the spindle head. A coil spring urges the body so that the attachment surface is pressed onto the end face of the spindle head with the fixed and movable teeth ready for engagement. A pressure cylinder causes fluid pressure to act on the attachment surface against the spring force to release engagement between the fixed and movable teeth. A key and a key groove transmit rotation of the spindle to the body with the fluid pressure of the cylinder acting on the attachment surface of the device body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Okuma Corporation
    Inventor: Wataru Hongou
  • Patent number: 8708623
    Abstract: The invention provides an angle tool holder to be disposed on an attachment attached to a spindle head of a vertical machining center and holding the angle tool holder to enable five-face machining of a workpiece. The angle tool holder denoted as a whole by reference number 500 has a shank 510 inserted to a spindle of the main machine, wherein a rotation of the shank 510 is transmitted via a gear transmission mechanism or the like disposed in a housing 540 so that the direction of a drive shaft thereof is varied orthogonally to thereby drive the angle cutter 520. An arm 550 connected to the housing 540 has three pull stud bolts 570 disposed thereon. The three pull stud bolts 570 are arranged at 90-degree intervals, and are clamped simultaneously by three collet chucks out of the four collet chucks disposed on the attachment unit for five-face machining.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Yamazaki Mazak Corporation
    Inventors: Satoi Usuda, Daisuke Ito, Satoshi Yoshinobu
  • Patent number: 8632285
    Abstract: A router table clamp system for attaching a router to a router table, wherein the system includes a first plate that is fixed with respect to the router table, a second plate that is configured to cooperate with the first plate to enable the router to be removably attached to the router table, and a clamping mechanism configured and arranged to move the second plate with respect to the first plate between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein when the clamping mechanism is in the locked position, the router is securely attached to the router table. The clamping mechanism also includes a lever assembly configured and arranged to move the second plate in a locking direction and an unlocking direction, which directions are both generally coincident with a plane defined by the second plate, wherein the locking direction is opposite of the unlocking direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: John Charles Derler, Creighton Wade Nachtigall, Hagen Walter Dost, Juan Javier Ibarra Sandoval, Patrick Michael McAuliffe, Bobby Brent Boyd
  • 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: 8517645
    Abstract: An attachment to a milling machine having a rotary drive, particularly useful for cutting sharp interior corners in a workpiece, comprising a rotary shaft couplable to the rotary drive of the milling machine so as to be rotatable about the shaft's longitudinal axis. The attachment further comprises a conical cutter member having a rotary axis, an apex located on the axis, and at least one external conical surface portion having a leading end at the apex and a trailing end spaced apart from the rotary axis and from the apex along the rotary axis. The conical cutter member has a cutting edge constituting a part of the conical surface portion and extending between the leading and trailing ends thereof. The rotary axis of the conical cutter member is oriented transversely though not perpendicularly to the shaft longitudinal axis. The conical cutter member being coupled to the rotary shaft so as to be rotated about the rotary axis by the shaft, upon the shaft's rotation about the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: G.R.G Patents Lrd.
    Inventors: Gershon Harif, Josef Gurievich
  • Patent number: 8519587
    Abstract: An angular indexing apparatus for a machine tool includes a rotating shaft to which a rotationally driven member is secured; a housing, surrounding the outer periphery of the rotating shaft and mounted to and removed from the body of the machine tool; bearings disposed between the housing and the rotating shaft, and driving means disposed between the housing and the rotating shaft and rotating the rotating shaft to index an angular position. The driving means includes drive motors, each including a motor rotor and a motor stator concentrically disposed around the rotating shaft in the housing. The housing has wiring holes in a thick-walled internal portion of an outer cylinder surrounding the outer periphery of the rotating shaft. The wiring holes are provided along an axial direction of the rotating shaft. The wiring holes receive at least upstream portions in entire lengths in a drawing-out direction of cables connected to the driving motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Tsudakoma Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshinori Tatsuda
  • Patent number: 8414232
    Abstract: In an operating head, a tool assembly is provided with an inlet shaft engaged on an electrospindle and pivotally engaged through a corresponding containing casing, which is oriented about a longitudinal axis of the electrospindle by means of an electric motor coaxially mounted to the axis and provided with a rotor coupled in an angularly fixed manner to the casing itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: HSD S.p.A.
    Inventor: Paolo Bernardi
  • 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: 8296923
    Abstract: A reconfigurable system having at least one detachable component and at least one detachable head assembly. The reconfigurable system may be a numerically controlled (NC) machine for manufacturing processes, such as milling or automatic fiber placement (AFP). The reconfigurable system may further comprise a gantry structure comprised of movably attached beams on which detachable components may be movably attached. The detachable components may include a concave component and a convex component. At least one detachable head assembly may be movably attached to at least one of the detachable components. The detachable components and head assemblies may be at least one of physically, electrically, and pneumatically connected to a connecting assembly attached to the gantry structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Spirit AeroSystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Ray Wampler, Muhammad Zia Ullah
  • Publication number: 20120257941
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a retractable shank for machine tools and use of said retractable shank in machine tools made up of a shank core, on which there is arranged at least one front unit formed by a rotating bush which is associated, by means of bearings, with respect to a fixed portion of the machine structure, this front unit being removable by means of outwards extraction or inwards movement, leaving a space in which the rear rotating shaft of the headstock can be housed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2010
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Applicant: SORALUCE, S. COOP.
    Inventor: Angel Maria Mendia Olabarria
  • Patent number: 8272037
    Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus and a method for improving the control of access by a terminal device in a WLAN environment having an access point for determining whether the device utilizes an IEEE 802.1x protocol by the access point communicating to the device, a packet, whereby if the devices utilizes a IEEE 802.1x protocol the device appropriately responds and otherwise the access point determines that the terminal device protocol does not employ a IEEE 802.1x protocol and selects an authentication mechanism compatible with the terminal device. If the device is not an IEEE 802.1x client, an IP packet filtering is configured to redirect a user HTTP request to a local server, and when the HTTP requests are thereby redirected, the HTTP server presents the terminal device with information specifically related to the browser based authentication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: Junbiao Zhang, Saurabh Mathur
  • Patent number: 8128323
    Abstract: A driven tool assembly that uses the cutting tool coolant to also lubricate and cool the driven tool. The driven tool housing has at least one coolant intake port, at least one coolant discharge port, and a shank for mounting the driven tool assembly to a machine tool. An input shaft and an output shaft are rotatably mounted in the driven tool housing, and a transmission transmits power from the input shaft to the output shaft. A seal is disposed between the housing and the input shaft. Typically, at least one passageway fluidly communicates the coolant intake port with the input shaft, the output shaft, the transmission, the bearings, and the coolant outlet port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Planet Products Corporation
    Inventors: John Brian Conroy, Terrance Edward Ekstedt
  • Patent number: 8100613
    Abstract: Complex workpieces, particularly aeronautical parts made of solid stock presenting a bottom wall and at least one stiffening rib transverse to the bottom wall, are machined using a device having a tool head furnished with a transmission component rotatable about a relative longitudinal axis, and a tool, typically a milling cutter, connected to the transmission component and capable of piercing the transverse rib. The longitudinal axis of the tool is disposed obliquely to the longitudinal axis of the transmission component so that the stiffening rib can be pierced at a point close to the bottom wall of the workpiece. The device also incorporates a feeler mechanism associated with the tool head and designed to engage the bottom wall during the movement of the tool toward the machining location, in such a way that the position of the tool head can be actively controlled and the tool deployed at a selected distance from the bottom wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: JOBS S.p.A.
    Inventors: Sandro Foletti, Maurizio Ferrari, Roberto Muselli
  • Patent number: 8096736
    Abstract: A machining unit, particularly for machining the surface of cylindrical cavities, has a tool-holder assembly, including an electric actuator for adjustment of the radial tool position. The control signals of the actuator are transmitted to said actuator by a stationary electronic control unit via a wireless communication system. Also provided on board the tool-holder assembly is a system for electrical supply of the actuator, constituted, for example, by one or more batteries or else by an electrical-generation microsystem that exploits a portion of the flow of the high-pressure lubricant-coolant that is fed into the machining area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Comau S.p.A.
    Inventors: Luigi Migliore, Angelo Fonte, Marco Zampollo
  • Patent number: 8066456
    Abstract: The invention relates to a clamping device for removably mounting a tool (3) or a tool fixture in a receiving part (1). Said clamping device comprises several pincers elements (33) which are concentrically arranged around a central axis (32) within the receiving part (1) and are impinged upon by a tension spring (39) so as to be moved into a clamping position in order to brace the tool (3) or the tool fixture. In order to be able to automatically replace a tool without using much force and energy, an axially movable closing element (17) is assigned to the pincers elements (33). Said closing element (17) impinges the pincers elements (33) in a forward position that is advanced in the direction of the pincers elements (33) for mounting purposes in the clamping position thereof, which is swiveled inward by means of the tension spring (39), while being movable into a retracted position with the aid of a detaching device (12, 16, 45, 46, 47) in order to release the pincers elements (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Ott-Jakob GmbH & Co. Spanntechnik KG
    Inventors: Peter Mohr, Josef Greif
  • Patent number: 8061939
    Abstract: The present invention provides an attachment to be attached to a spindle head of a vertical machining center for gripping an angle tool holder and performing five-face machining. An attachment unit 100 for five-face machining comprises a ring-shaped cylinder member 110 fixed to a lower portion of a spindle head, and a clamp unit 130 directly connected to a piston disposed in the interior of a cylinder member. The clamp unit 130 is equipped with four collet chucks 140 for gripping a pull stud bolt 270 disposed on an arm 250 of an angle tool holder 200 attached to a spindle and drives an angle tool 220.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Yamazaki Mazak Corporation
    Inventors: Satoi Usuda, Daisuke Ito, Satoshi Yoshinobu
  • Publication number: 20110222981
    Abstract: A router table clamp system for attaching a router to a router table, wherein the system includes a first plate that is fixed with respect to the router table, a second plate that is configured to cooperate with the first plate to enable the router to be removably attached to the router table, and a clamping mechanism configured and arranged to move the second plate with respect to the first plate between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein when the clamping mechanism is in the locked position, the router is securely attached to the router table. The clamping mechanism also includes a lever assembly configured and arranged to move the second plate in a locking direction and an unlocking direction, which directions are both generally coincident with a plane defined by the second plate, wherein the locking direction is opposite of the unlocking direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: John Charles Derler, Creighton Wade Nachtigall, Hagen Walter Dost, Juan Javier Ibarra Sandoval, Patrick Michael McAuliffe, Bobby Brent Boyd
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20110058913
    Abstract: Tool head (110) for use in a multiaxis machine (100), the tool head (110) comprising a spindle body, which has two elements (101, 102). These elements (101, 102) are rotatably connected with one another via a corresponding coupling (103), the first element (101) having a first longitudinal axis (WA1) and the second element (102) having a second longitudinal axis (WA2), which are transferable from a stretched position into an angled position depending on the rotational position. A first drive (A1) is seated in or on the spindle body. A receptacle device (120) is provided, which is situated on the second element (102). This receptacle device (120) is used for fastening a motor spindle (20), a motor (M1), which is integrated in the motor spindle (20), being able to be supplied with power via the second element (102) and via electrical connection means of the receptacle device (120). The receptacle device (120) is also used for fastening a milling tool (30), which is drivable using the first drive (A1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2010
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Applicant: Klingelnberg AG
    Inventors: Christian Brieden, Bernd Von der Mark
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20110008120
    Abstract: The invention relates to a milling machine (1) for milling at least one surface (2) of a slab (3), wherein the milling machine (1) is preferably a component of a device for producing a metal strip by continuous casting, wherein the milling machine (1) comprises a machine base (4) on which a spindle holder (5) is disposed and from which a spindle holder (5) is formed, in which at least one bearing (7) holding at least one milling cutter (6) is disposed. In order to achieve improved vibration damping during the milling of hot slabs, the invention makes provision such that the machine base (4) is formed at least in sections, preferably completely, from a number of metal walls (8) which enclose a volume, the volume being filled with concrete (9).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2008
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Inventors: Matthias Kipping, Juergen Merz, Juergen Seidel, Peter Sudau, Frank Benfer
  • 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: 7597514
    Abstract: A method of clearing debris from an air valve of an air driven tool including the steps of contacting a portion of a first valve with a portion of a second valve; sealing the first valve to the second valve; and opening the first valve prior to the sealing step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Bryan Machine Services
    Inventor: Steve M. Bryan
  • Patent number: 7568867
    Abstract: An air driven tool for use in a machining center, the air driven tool including an adjustable speed regulator and a turbine. The turbine is driven by pressurized air directed thereto. The turbine is rotatable about an axis. A flow of the air is regulated by the adjustable speed regulator. The adjustable speed regulator includes a biasing member, an inclined annular surface, a regulator plate and a plurality of moveable bearings. The inclined annular surface has an angle relative to the axis. The plurality of movable bearings are positioned between the inclined annular surface and the regulator plate. The biasing member biases the inclined annular surface and/or the regulator plate toward each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Inventor: Steve M. Bryan
  • Patent number: 7563062
    Abstract: A milling head has a body, a holding device, a driving axle, a spraying device and a tool adaptor. The body has a base, a rear cover, a front cover, a bearing seat and a middle liner ring. The holding device is connected to the body and has a linking arm, a mounting jacket, a bottom cap, a positioning shaft and a locating spring. The driving axle is rotatably mounted in the body and has a transmission shaft and a driving bevel gear. The spraying device is mounted on the base and has a mounting cover and an spraying ball. The tool adaptor is rotatably mounted in the base below the spraying device and has a transmitting bevel gear, a holding head and a connecting segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Inventor: Chin-Chiu Chen
  • Patent number: 7462143
    Abstract: An exchangeable spindle assembly for a machine tool. The spindle assembly includes an assembly attachment coupling being connectable to said machine tool, a tool spindle having a predetermined spindle diameter, and a spindle drive coupling being connectable with a drive mechanism of the machine tool. The drive coupling communicates with the tool spindle whereby rotation of the drive coupling effects rotation of the tool spindle. The spindle assembly further includes at least one coolant distribution manifold being connectable with a coolant supply source on the machine tool via a coolant connection on the spindle assembly. The spindle assembly being arranged in a manner whereby upon mounting the spindle assembly on the machine tool, the assembly attachment coupling, spindle drive coupling and coolant connection are all concurrently connectable to the machine tool. Additional connections may be included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Gleason Cutting Tools Corporation
    Inventor: Roger L. Hackman
  • Patent number: 7390152
    Abstract: A milling head particularly useful for cutting sharp interior corners in a workpiece, includes a rotary shaft coupleable to the rotary drive of a milling machine so as to be rotatable about the shaft longitudinal axis; and a conical cutter member coupled to the rotary shaft so as to be rotated thereby about a rotary axis at an angle with respect to the shaft longitudinal axis. Preferably, the conical cutter member defines a cone angle of 70 degrees, and its rotary axis is 55 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shaft. The conical cutter member is disposed within a case and is aligned with an opening in the case, such that the external surface of the case, engageable with the workpiece, is effective to align the conical cutter member with respect to the surface of the workpiece to be milled, and to enable the conical cutter member to cut sharp internal corners in all three dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignees: G.R.G. Patents Ltd.
    Inventors: Gershon Harif, Josef Gurievich
  • Patent number: 7367761
    Abstract: A tool attachable to a spindle of a machine tool in the same way as an ordinary tool, capable of being driven without connecting with an external power supply etc., giving a higher rotational speed than that of the spindle of the machine tool without supplying electric power from the outside, and able to be changed automatically, provided with a machining tool for machining a workpiece, a motor for driving the machining tool, a generator for generating electric power to drive the motor by the rotation of the spindle, a rotational speed detecting device for detecting the rotational speed of the motor, and a rotational speed display for displaying the rotational speed detected by the rotational speed detecting device so as to be visually recognized from the outside of the attachable tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Toshiba Kikai Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasunori Kato
  • Patent number: 7360976
    Abstract: A machining center including a machining head, a tool changer, an air driven tool and an air valve system. The air driven tool is connectable to the machine head by action of the tool changer. The air valve system has a first portion associated with the machining head and a second portion associated with the air driven tool. The first portion and the second portion include a connection therebetween having an airflow across the connection before the connection seals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Inventor: Steve M. Bryan
  • Patent number: 7220090
    Abstract: A linear motor actuated machine tool includes a bed, a column, upper and lower X-axis guides, a saddle, upper and lower X-axis linear motor magnets, and upper and lower X-axis linear motor coils. Upper and lower X-axis guides are attached to the upper and lower portion of front surface of the column, which is mounted on the bed in the vertical direction, in the horizontal direction. Upper and lower X-axis linear motor magnets is fixed on the front surface of the column at upper side and lower side of the upper and lower X-axis guides in the direction of X-axis with making pole surfaces thereof face to frontward. Upper and lower X-axis linear motor coils are fixed to upper end and lower end of the rear surface of the saddle, which is mounted on the front surface of the column with being guided by upper and lower X-axis guides and having a through space at the center portion thereof, with opposing to upper and lower X-axis linear motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Toyoda Koki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshio Wakazono, Kozo Imanishi, Fumitaka Achiwa
  • Patent number: 7165302
    Abstract: A spindle device of a machine tool such as a milling machine and a machining center and a method of replacing a spindle, the spindle device wherein the housing of a spindle head (5) is divided into a front housing (23) and a rear housing (25), a spindle (7) is installed in the front housing (23) through front bearings (9), and a built-in motor rotor (43), a bearing case (33) through rear bearings (11), and a draw bar (51) for clamping a tool are installed on and in the spindle (7) to form a front housing unit (93); the method comprising the step of replacing the spindle (7) and the bearings by replacing the front housing unit (93), whereby, when the spindle device comes out of order, the spindle and bearings can be easily replaced in a short time and the stop time of the machine tool can be minimized at a site where the machine tool is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Makino Milling Machine Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Kikkawa, Akihiro Mochizuki
  • Patent number: 7140818
    Abstract: A tool attachable to a spindle of a machine tool in the same way as an ordinary tool, capable of being driven without connecting with an external power supply etc., giving a higher rotational speed than that of the spindle of the machine tool without supplying electric power from the outside, and able to be changed automatically, provided with a machining tool for machining a workpiece, a motor for driving the machining tool, a generator for generating electric power to drive the motor by the rotation of the spindle, and a rotational speed detecting device for detecting the rotational speed of the motor based on a received light signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Toshiba Kikai Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasunori Kato
  • Patent number: 7111372
    Abstract: A milling machine for shaping blanks to create filter lenses for a clip-on accessory whose pair of filter lenses register with a pair of optical lenses in prescription eyeglasses when the accessory is hitched onto the frame of the eyeglasses. The frame of the eyeglasses is composed of two like half sections having a predetermined geometry, an optical lens being mounted in each half-section. The filter lenses in the accessory which are joined by a bridge piece have a geometry matching that of the half-sections of the frame whereby the appearance of the clip-on accessory is compatible with that of the eyeglasses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: Opti-Clip Ltd.
    Inventors: Zvi Feldman, Eyal Peleg
  • Patent number: 7052219
    Abstract: A tool attachable to a spindle of a machine tool in the same way as an ordinary tool, capable of being driven without connecting with an external power supply etc., giving a higher rotational speed than that of the spindle of the machine tool without supplying electric power from the outside, and able to be changed automatically, provided with a machining tool for machining a workpiece, a motor for driving the machining tool, a generator for generating electric power to drive the motor by the rotation of the spindle, and a breaker for breaking a supply line of electric current from the generator to the motor when electric current over a predetermined value flows in the supply line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Toshiba Kikai Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasunori Kato
  • Patent number: 7011613
    Abstract: The invention relates to a spindle (9) for a machine tool, having a housing (12) to accommodate an electric motor (11) and a shaft (13) driven by the latter and having a tool holder for a tool (10) for machining workpieces, at least one data acquisition element (2) being provided to record operating and/or state data of the spindle (9), and at least one spindle-integrated data storage element (1) being provided to store the recorded data from the data acquisition element (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignee: Paul Müller GmbH & Co. KG Unternehmensbeteiligungen
    Inventors: Bernd Moller, Edgar Verlemann
  • Patent number: 7004693
    Abstract: A tool attachable to a spindle of a machine tool by an automatic tool changer in the same way as an ordinary tool, capable of being driven without connecting with an external power supply etc., and able to rotate at a rotational speed different from than that of the spindle of the machine tool without supply of electric power from the outside, provided with a machining tool for machining a workpiece, a motor connected with the machining tool and rotating the machining tool, and a generator to which rotary force is transmitted from the spindle of the machine tool and generating electric power to drive the motor, the shaft of the motor being arranged in an orientation different from the axial center of the spindle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: Toshiba Kikai Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Sakashi Adachi, Koji Katsumata
  • Patent number: 6940033
    Abstract: A switch mechanism that can be attached to a conventional cordless power tool. The switch is attached to the power pack on the cordless tool and when turned on starts the tool thereby eliminating the need to keep constant pressure on the conventional pressure switch associated with such tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Inventors: Walter E. Jones, Jr., Derrick A. Hood
  • Patent number: 6939094
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a secondary power tool system, components thereof and methods for using the same. It is preferably for use with an automatic tool change CNC machine having a rotating tool receiving element. The system includes a power source delivery interface component having an interlock and a high-speed rotating spindle accessory component. The delivery interface provides an autonomous connection point for delivering any one of several modes of power, e.g., compressed air. The rotating spindle accessory includes a housing adapted to be received by the rotating tool receiving element and a motor. A connector arm operably coupled to the housing defines at least one conduit for delivering the power, such as compressed air, to the motor. It also includes a delivery probe adapted to actuate the power delivery interface interlock so that when presented to the power delivery interface, power is autonomously delivered to the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Macro Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: M. Howard Konishi
  • Patent number: 6890130
    Abstract: A cylindrical cutting tool for a tire detreading or machining machine, the circular blade of which has a beveled cutting edge, wherein the cutting edge is interrupted by at least one notch, that is to say a portion having a lower axial height than the cutting edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventor: Francois Trochon
  • Patent number: 6840723
    Abstract: A working unit intended to be mounted on a movable machine operated tool support includes a casing which is attached to the tool support and which supports a pneumatic turbine motor with a rotor a shank end mill type machining tool with a cutter portion extending out of the casing and a shank portion rotatively journalled in the casing. The machining tool shank portion is rigidly integrated with a turbine wheel to form the turbine rotor. A flow control valve is arranged to deliver pressure air to the turbine motor. The turbine rotor is provided with a generator device for delivering a speed responsive output voltage to a control unit which is arranged to make the flow control valve adjust the power supply to the rotation motox so as to maintain the rotation speed at a desired predetermined level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: Atlas Copco Tools AB
    Inventor: Rolf Alexis Jacobsson
  • Patent number: 6840896
    Abstract: An attachment simplified in structure having resistance to mechanical error, vibration, or heat displacement, provided with a tool mount for rotatably holding a tool, an electric motor for rotating the tool mount, a generator to which rotary force is transmitted from a spindle built in the spindle head for generating electric power to drive the electric motor, and a casing for holding the electric motor and the generator, which is releasably clamped to the spindle head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: Toshiba Kikai Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsuhito Endo, Takao Date, Sakashi Adachi, Yoshiaki Kai
  • Patent number: 6832424
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for in-situ milling includes a support and a pair of spaced apart rails attached to the support. The support and rails are mounted between a pair of opposed mill housing wear plate surfaces. A milling assembly is reversibly mounted on the rails in either of a first orientation and a second orientation. In the first orientation, the milling assembly mills one of the wear plate surfaces. The milling assembly is reverse mounted on the rails to the second orientation for milling the other of the wear plate surfaces. This permits the support and the rails to remain in one position between the wear plate surfaces requiring only the milling assembly to be moved to accomplish milling of each of the wear plate surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: Self Leveling Machines, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Brown, Tony Backhouse
  • Patent number: 6832880
    Abstract: An operating head for automatic machine tools of the type mounted on a structure for moving along a set of three Cartesian axes having a first support, fitted to the structure for rotation around a first axis, and a chuck unit fitted to the first support, wherein the chuck unit is interchangeable and projects from the first support, and is designed to allow angular positioning around a second axis orthogonal to the first axis. The first support includes a power transmission system for the chuck unit. The connection of the chuck unit to the first support permits changing from rough to finish work by simply replacing the chuck unit, rather than replacing the entire operating head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: Tecniche Industriali S.r.l.
    Inventor: Mauro Colombo
  • Patent number: RE43636
    Abstract: A tool, attachable to a spindle of a machine tool and capable of changing independently a rotational speed of a cutting tool from that of the spindle, provided with a cutting tool for machining a workpiece, an electric motor for driving the machining tool, a generator for generating electric power to drive the electric motor by the rotation of the spindle, a tool holding part for rotatably holding the cutting tool, a casing for holding the electric motor, the generator, the tool attachment part, and the tool holding part, and a locking part for preventing rotation of the casing by engagement with a non-rotating part of the machine tool. A tool includes an AC generator, an AC motor and a case holding the generator and motor such that the generator and the motor are arranged in the case along a center axis and a longitudinal direction of a rotatable portion of the generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Toshiba Kikai Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koichi Katoh, Yasunori Katoh