Abstract: A mounting bracket arrangements for an optical component (10) which must be precisely oriented on a base structure (12) and held securely against vibrations, the arrangement including a bracket assembly (14) having first and second bracket plates (24, 26) extending orthogonally with respect to each other. The component (10) is secured to subplate (20) in turn attached to the first bracket plate (24) with a pivot screw (38) and a pair of locking screws (34, 36) so as to enable pivoting adjustment, secured by tightening all of the screws. The second bracket plate (26) is attached to the base structure (12) by a pivot screw (56) and a pair of locking screws (52, 54) so as to enable pivoting adjustment, thereafter secured by tightening all of the screws. A torque plate (50, 62) is installed beneath each set of locking screws to prevent disturbing the adjusted position as the locking screws are tightened.

Abstract: A probe device (10) for a machine tool includes a part sensing device (28) attached to the end of a piston rod (26), movable along a cylinder (12) mounted on the machine tool spindle head (14). The rod (26) is attached to a piston (42) that is air actuated to extend or retract the rod (26) to respectively move the sensing device (28) to a part measurement position outside the cylinder (12), or to a protected position within the cylinder. When the device (28) is in its measurement position the spindle had (14) is selectively moved to bring device (28) into contact with a machined part to determine the accuracy of machining.

Abstract: A boring device adapted to mount boring tools for automatic tool changing, in which an eccentric mounting of relatively rotatable inner spindle 11 and main spindle (2) allows radial adjustment of the tool. Relative rotation of inner and outer spindles is accomplished by axial driving of a threaded bolt (22) by an actuator motor (67), causing rotation of a nut (19) fixed to the inner spindle (11). Continued overtravel of the threaded bolt (22) past an adjustment range (47) and safety range (51) causes releasing operation of a spring biased pull rod (36) which releases a tool clamping mechanism (14) to allow automatic tool changing.

Abstract: A clamping arrangement is disclosed for an annular milling cutter comprises a receiving flange which has a centering collar concentric with the axis of rotation. With the aid of clamping means the milling cutter is held on the receiving flange and positively connected to the latter by at least one engaging member. To enable the gripper of a tool changer to have unobstructed access, a pressure flange carrying a number of radially protruding teeth on its rim is provided, axially movable by an actuator rod selectively operated by an actuator. The milling cutter has in its central opening radially inwardly protruding teeth, the spacing of which corresponds to the spacing of the teeth on the pressure flange. By setting the position of the teeth offset relative to one another, the milling cutter can be moved over the pressure flange, and rotating the cutter to align the teeth, the pressure flange can clamp the milling cutter against an abutment surface on the receiving flange, acting through the aligned teeth.

Abstract: A machine tool (100) has a spindle (101) and a turret or toolholder (124) which are disposed at the front of a base (134).A workpiece (W) is rotated by the spindle (101). The turret (124) is movable toward and away from the workpiece (W) along a path which has vertical and horizontal components. A conveyor assembly (200) is operable to move workpieces between the rear of the base (134) and the spindle (101) along a path (A) which extends through a plane (E) which contains the axis (C) of rotation of the spindle. The plane (E) is parallel to vertical and horizontal components of movement of the turret (123). An alternative embodiment (100a) of the machine tool includes a pair of spindles (101a, 301) and a pair of turrets (124a, 324) disposed at the front of a base (134a, 334). Workpieces (W9, W10) are moved two at a time between the rear of the base (134a, 334 ) and the two spindles (101a, 301) along a path which extends through a plane which contains the axes (C, J) of rotation of the spindles (101a, 301).

Abstract: A circuit and a process for converting the output signal from a half bridge transducer to that from an LVDT transducer to enable direct use of either signal in an electronic column. The circuit subtracts the transducer exciting signal from a half bridge transducer output signal according to a formula to provide the conversion. A movable jumper allows the circuit to alternatively operate as a unity gain follower to pass an LVDT transducer output signal unchanged.

Abstract: A punch holder (10) including a punch holder member (20) with a stripper arrangement including a sleeve (36) axially movable with repsect to the holder member (20) each of the holder members (20) and sleeve (36) fit end to end within a bore (79) in an outer member (78), and stripper spring (38) interposed between the holder member (20) and sleeve (56) combined with a resilient cup piece (58) fit to the end of the sleeve (36) enclosing the lower end face (56) of the sleeve (36).

Abstract: A method and system (10) for controlling radial movement of a machine tool, such as a turning machine, relative to a workpiece (11), is characterized by a digital filter (70, 72, 74) which produces a filtered final control signal which is a function of both radial position and velocity of a cutting tool (24) of the turning machine. The method and system (10) utilizes a tool position feedback signal which is compared with an initial control signal to produce a signal which is then digitally filtered to, in turn, provide the resulting final control signal. The surface geometry of the workpiece (11), such as a piston, is determined by a data matrix of angular, axial and radial position coordinants of the tool. An angular position signal representative of the angular position of the workpiece (11) and an axial position signal representative of the axial position of the cutting tool (24) relative to the workpiece (11) are both generated.

Abstract: A pulley having a special outer contour particularly adapted to establish self aligning of narrow width belts rotating thereon. The outside diameter of the pulley is gradually crowned from each end with a more sharply crowned ridge located at the center intermediate the ends of the pulley to provide a compound crowned contour.

Abstract: A measuring device (60) measures the value (t) of a chosen parameter (thickness) of what has been lifted by a lifting assembly (40) from a stack of sheets (1) of material and allows the lifted material to be moved from the stack when the value is in a predetermined relationship to a reference value (T). One (45a) of a plurality of selectively releasable members (45) on the lifting assembly (40) is moveable in two horizontal directions to locate a sheet attached to the one releaseable member (45a) against locating pins (5, 6) on the work table (3) of the punch press (4). The entire system may be operated automatically by a controller (90).

Abstract: A coordinate measuring machine (10) having a horizontal probe shaft assembly (20) in which a cover system is provided for the X and Y axis ways (46, 108) and carriages (50, 106), including inwardly slanted X-axis cover members (26) mounted atop granite exposed way members (24) defining a gap through which the Y column (88) moves, a pair of upstanding side covers (32) mounted over the Y-axis column (88) defining a gap through which the probe shaft assembly (20) moves in its vertical movement. a recirculating cover belt (28) fills the X-axis gap and pleated upper and lower covers (34, 36) cover the vertical gap lying between the side covers (32) at the front and rear, while a top cap (38) atop side covers (32) and end caps (30) are fit over the X-axis cover members (26), X-axis way members (24) and base portion (18).

Abstract: A rotary workpiece support table (12) for a horizontal arm coordinate measuring machine (10) having a retractable datum ball (144) for determining the axis of rotation of a table top plate (36) on a table base (40). A frictional drive mechaism (38) has a drive wheel (72) urged into engagement with a perimeter surface (74) and rotates the table top plate (36), with a counterforce roller (98) neutralizing the side loading on an air spindle (116). The table base (40) is positioned on a machine base (30) and spacer (32) by a rotational connection (46) and a diametrically opposite block and cam follower connection (48) to avoid the effects of differential thermal expansion between the table base (40) and the machine base (30) and spacer (32).

Abstract: A linear bearing (20) with a height adjustment mechanism (58) including a stud (64) fixed to the bearing (20) and a tubular bushing (72) received over the stud (64) and mating with a threaded bore (86) in an end wall (88) of a mounting structure (12). A reaction nut (80) threaded to a protruding end of the stud (64) bears on a protruding end of the bushing (72), the other end bearing against the bearing (20) so that rotation of the bushing (72) in either direction causes a shift of the bearing (20) in either direction. A locking nut (92) threaded onto the bushing (72) is selectively advanced against end wall (88) to lock the bushing (72) in an adjusted position.

Abstract: A conveyor system (10) is disclosed comprised of a plurality of vehicles (12), propelled about a guide track (14) by a D.C. motor (54) and battery (52), featuring an on-board control (40) in which signals from fore and aft and side mounted photosensors (32,34,36,38) are processed by a microprocessor (42), to generate control signals for pulse width modulated control of the power to the D.C. motor (54). The control signals are applied to a motor driver circuit (50), including an H-bridge of MOSFET switching components (Q1,Q2 A ramping or progressive variation of the power applied to the motor (54) is carried out to provide gradual acceleration or deceleration, and the fore and aft photo-detectors (32,34) are triggered by the approach of another vehicle (12) at a substantial distance, to accommodate the distance required for gradual deceleration when the vehicles (12) are being queued at points along the track (14).

Abstract: Axis correction or machine charateristic data is stored (108) in memory (110) within a control or measurement processor (36) of a CMM (10) (FIG. 8). The axis correction data includes error data representing 21 different geometry errors (FIG. 4A through 4C) of the CMM. As position information is required, the measurement processor captures the actual position signal from each machine axis sensor and uses this position signal to locate (112) a set of the axis correction data which describes the machine characteristics at that position. The measurement processor then mathematically combines (114) (FIG. 9) the position signal with the subset of axis correction data to obtain a corrected position signal having a corrected set of cooridinate values which describe the probe position in a true Cartesian coordinate system.

Abstract: A multigripper turret (26) for a part handling device (10) in which a circumferential array of gripper mechanisms (28) are each mounted for independent shifting movement in a convergent direction by an associated positioning mechanism (29) between an extended position centered on the axis of rotation of a rotary member (22) of the part handling device (10), and a radially outward retracted position. This enables a plurality of parts (20) to be handled by each motion of the part handling device (10).

Abstract: A coordinate measuring machine (10) having an improved carriage drive system including a flexible toothed belt (89) mounted on a rigid spar member (88) to be stretched along the carriage (X) axis. The spar member (88) absorbs the tension loading of the stretched flexible belt (89), while the connection (198, 152) of the spar member (88) to the base (12) precludes stressing of the machine (10) by the belt tension or by thermal stresses. A drive package (118) is mounted to one end of the carriage (40) and includes a toothed drum (126) engaging the flexible belt (89) so that upon being rotated by a drive motor (120) acting through a double reduction pulley system (254, 258, 260, 268, 272, 274) to rotate the toothed drum (126) and cause the carriage (40) to be driven along the ways (32, 34). Flexures (86a, 86b) mounting the belt (89) accommodate side to side movement as the carriage (40) is driven along the axis while being rigid to the tension exerted by the belt (89).

Abstract: A multitool punch holder (12) having a head member (26) coupled to a punch press ram (16) as the press upper turret plate (22) rotates to bring the punch holder (12) into alignment with the ram (16). The punch holder (12) includes a rotary tool carrier (56) carrying a series of punches (80), each able to be selectively rotated into alignment beneath a striker rod (100) slidably mounted in a non rotating body member (30). Stroking of the ram (16) causes an engagement feature (108) to engage the striker rod (100) when the head member (26) telescopes into the body member (30) after axial movement of the holder (12) is arrested by contact with the workpiece (120). The striker rod (100) is then driven to force the coupled individual punch (80) into the workpiece (120). The striker rod (100) is urged to a raised position by an encircling stripper spring (110).

Abstract: A linear bearing installation in which a plurality of linear bearings (20) are mounted in a series of recesses (18) formed in a structure (12) to be supported on a way surface (38), the position of each of the bearings (20) in the respective recess (18) adjustable lengthwise by an adjustment mechanism (58). A lubrication system is provided to direct lubricant to each bearing (20) by an injector assembly (60) mounted in an endwalls (88) of the structure (12) adjacent each bearing (20) and having an injector tube (96) telescoped into a receptor (98) on the bearing to accommodate the lengthwise adjustment. A wiper cover (36a) is formed with a supply channel (108) feeding lubricant from a single quick connect fitting (114) to all of the lubricant injector assemblies (60).

Abstract: A screwdriver includes a power driven spindle (50) having an end face (52), an enclosure defining a closed cavity (70, 24, 14), a sleeve (60) having a central bore (70) communicating with said cavity and having a forward opening (70c) to receive the head (94) and part of the thread of a threaded fastener (90), and a vacuum (86, 88) for lowering the pressure in the cavity and continuously drawing air from the forward end of the sleeve past the head while holding the head while the fastener is held in a forward end portion (60a) of the sleeve and without driving the spindle. The spindle drives the fastener forwardly and into a workpiece (96) and an air path (70d, 70c, 70b, 70a) sucks contaminants rearwardly and from the workplace.