Patents Examined by Daniel W. Howell
  • Patent number: 10343224
    Abstract: Milling tools and methods are disclosed. The method may include moving a milling tool having at least two axially spaced apart sets of cutting inserts to an axial position within a bore in a material and rotating the milling tool about a longitudinal axis. Contact between the milling tool and a wall of the bore may be initiated in a region of the wall having a least amount of material at the axial position. The milling tool may include a tool shaft having a longitudinal axis, a first set of radially spaced cutting inserts coupled to the tool shaft, and a directly adjacent second set of radially spaced cutting inserts coupled to the tool shaft and spaced from the first set of cutting inserts along the longitudinal axis. The first and second sets of cutting inserts may be staggered from each other by at least 10 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Michael Joseph Habel, Gregory S. Carlone, Emenike Nick Chukwuma, Youssef Ziada
  • Patent number: 10335957
    Abstract: A robotic tool changer in which the coupling mechanism is actuated using magnetic force is provided. In one exemplary embodiment, a robotic tool changer may include a tool unit operatively connected to a robotic tool and a master unit operative to connect to a robotic arm. The master unit may include a housing and a piston. The piston may be disposed at least partially within the housing and configured to place the master unit in one of a coupled state and a decoupled state. Further, the master unit may be operative to assume the coupled state or the decoupled state in response to altering an orientation of magnetic fields to provide a first magnetic force that moves the piston to the coupled state or provide a second magnetic force that moves the piston to the decoupled state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: ATI Industrial Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Kyle Russell Zachary, Daniel Allen Norton
  • Patent number: 10335869
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for machining a flat workpiece, which comprises: a machine stand which comprises a support surface for a flat workpiece, wherein the support surface is formed by at least one counterholder, on the front face of which the workpiece can be placed, a hold-down unit, by means of which the workpiece is pressed against the support surface, and a processing head which can be moved relative to the support surface for the machining of the workpiece, wherein the at least one counterholder comprises a vibration damper which acts in a direction perpendicular to the support surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Rittal GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Tim Kramer, Matthias Kienholz
  • Patent number: 10328502
    Abstract: A cutting tool for performing cutting operations on a workpiece when the cutting tool is rotated about a central axis by a machine tool, the cutting tool includes a generally cylindrical body disposed about the central axis. The generally cylindrical body includes a first end and an opposite second end. The cutting tool further includes a cutting portion and a mounting portion. The cutting portion is disposed at or about the first end of the generally cylindrical body and includes a number of cutting edges structured to engage the workpiece during cutting operations. The mounting portion is disposed at or about the opposite second end of the generally cylindrical body and is structured to be coupled to the machine tool. At least a portion of the generally cylindrical body comprises a molded portion formed via a molding process about the cutting portion in a manner that couples the cutting portion to the generally cylindrical body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: KENNAMETAL INC.
    Inventors: Christoph Gey, John Barry, Joseph Connolly, Francois Gau, Thilo Mueller
  • Patent number: 10315255
    Abstract: A machine tool for carrying out operations on a part includes a longitudinal rail, a transverse arm, a module for connection between the transverse arm and the longitudinal rail, the module being fitted in translation on the longitudinal rail, a tool which is supported by the transverse arm, and a retention unit which is arranged at one end of the transverse arm, and includes at least one sucker. The machine tool has an assembly configuration—in which the retention unit and the tool are positioned respectively on both sides of the longitudinal rail, such that the tool is fitted cantilevered relative to the longitudinal rail. This provides the machine tool with great polyvalence, in that it makes it possible to carry out operations in areas which in particular have significant curvatures, which are difficult to access, or which are unsuitable for securing of the sucker(s) of the retention unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: AIRBUS SAS
    Inventors: Fabien Albert, Eric Pospisil, Kyle Hollis, Jeff Nelson, Eric Davis
  • Patent number: 10307834
    Abstract: A cutting tool includes a main body suitable to be mounted pivotably about an axis of rotation. A cutting head is carried by a carrying member. The carrying member is mounted displaceably in translation on the main body along an axis perpendicular to the axis of rotation. A counterweight is displaceably mounted in translation on the main body along an axis perpendicular to the axis of rotation. The cutting tool also includes an adjusting spindle for the simultaneous adjustment of the carrying member with respect to the counterweight, arranged on either side of the axis of rotation of the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: SECO—E.P.B.
    Inventors: Michel Schmitt, Claude Jaeger
  • Patent number: 10307836
    Abstract: In a clamping device (1) for machine tools (2) that is equipped with a power-operated chuck (5) and an electric drive motor (11) with a changeover function for triggering clamping movements, a motion converter (31) as well as a force accumulator (51) for maintaining the clamping force, which comprises several spring packs (52) supported on an adjustment element (32) of the motion converter (31), the spring packs (52) are each only arranged on one side of the adjustment element (32). In addition, a pressure piece (53) interacting with the adjustment element (32) is firmly connected to several spacer elements (57), each of which carries a stop disc (61) and passes through the spring packs (52) as well as a spacer (66). The spacer elements (57) and the spacers (66) can be adjusted relative to one another and the spacers (66) interact with spacer pins (71) which are guided through the pressure piece (53) and are supported on the wall (24) of the housing (21) opposite to the spring packs (52).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: MTH GbR Markus und Thomas Hiestand
    Inventor: Karl Hiestand
  • Patent number: 10300534
    Abstract: Provided is a drill having a flat-shaped drill tip and excellent in cutting edge strength and chip removability. The drill includes: a cutting edge extending in a direction at an angle ? of not less than 85° and not more than 90° with respect to a drill axis (line O-O); a flank face contiguous to the cutting edge and having a clearance angle ? of not less than 5° and not more than 10° with respect to the drill axis (line O-O); and a rake face located opposite to the flank face across the cutting edge, the cutting edge includes a recess receding in a direction parallel to the drill axis (line O-O), and the rake face includes a front clearance formed at a side of an outer periphery of the drill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC HARDMETAL CORP.
    Inventors: Yuma Kawakami, Daisuke Murakami, Masaaki Jindai, Keiji Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 10300571
    Abstract: An intellectual automatic tool changer (ATC) speed moderating system, which is disposed between a tool magazine and a tool exchanging arm, includes an image capture device for capturing the image of tools, and a processing device connected with the image capturing device. The processing device includes a receiving module for receiving the images of tools, a calculating module for calculating an assessment value of a tool according to the image of the tool, and a signal transmitting module connected with a controller of the tool exchanging arm for transmitting the assessment value of the tool to the controller. Therefore, the tool changing speed of the tool changing arm is controlled and moderated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: POJU INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD
    Inventor: Shuang-Yu Li
  • Patent number: 10293410
    Abstract: A deburring tool includes a deburring head and a shaft portion connected to the deburring head. The deburring head includes a conical hollow body, a primary cutting edge and a secondary cutting edge both formed on the conical hollow body. The conical hollow body has at least one flute extending between interior and exterior conical surfaces of the conical hollow body, and at least one recessed cutout defined in the interior conical surface. The primary cutting edge is formed at a junction of a wall surface of the flute and a bottom surface of the recessed cutout. The secondary cutting edge is formed at a junction of a wall surface of the recessed cutout and the interior conical surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Inventor: Tsai Shun Yu
  • Patent number: 10293443
    Abstract: A precision pneumatic drill spindle and method provides reduced spin axis error and increased rate of forming holes in a microelectronic substrate. The spindle includes a press-fit collar that accepts drill bits and incorporates turbine blades around the collar, which is rotated by directing pressurized air through a number of nozzles distributed around the collar within a housing of the spindle. The collar is supported by air bearings above and below the collar. The turbine blades may be provided by concavities in the collar forming a Pelton wheel type rotation system that concentrates the air flow to improve energy transfer from the pressurized air directed by the nozzles to the collar, increasing the rotation rate of the collar. Exit air may be directed downward toward the tip of the drill bit by inclined channels within the lower air bushing assembly, improving the debris removal rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Inventor: Donald L. Ekhoff
  • Patent number: 10286457
    Abstract: The present application discloses a four-directional drilling machine, comprising a main frame, a main machine platform, flange-type hydraulic cylinders, linear bearings, hydraulic piston rods, guide rods, nuts A, an upper pressure plate, drill bushings A, nuts B, monoblock drilling machines A, an upper supporting plate, positioning stop blocks, adjustable base assemblies, a left supporting plate, a drill bushing B, a right supporting plate and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: CITIC DICASTAL CO., LTD
    Inventors: Jinling Yang, Li Yang, Yingfeng Wang, Jiansheng Wang, Bicheng Ding, Yongwang Zhao
  • Patent number: 10286456
    Abstract: A tool bit holder for connecting a rotary tool to a rotary tool driver. The tool bit holder including a body having a driver end configured to connect to a rotary tool driver and a tool end, a tool retainer bore, and a tool retainer movably received within the tool retainer bore and movable between an engaged position and a retracted position. The tool bit holder further includes an actuator sleeve, a sleeve spring for urging the actuator sleeve towards a first position, a plunger, and a plunger spring urging the plunger towards a loading position. A tool bit received in a tool receiving cavity pushes the plunger to a loaded position, and in the loading position the plunger extends over the tool retainer bore to engage the tool retainer and urge the tool retainer towards the retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: TTI (MACAO COMMERICAL OFFSHORE) LIMITED
    Inventors: Zhao Jun Shi, Can Quan Huang, Shao Lin Xia, Jun Jun Hao
  • Patent number: 10286509
    Abstract: The invention relates to a machine for the gear cutting machining of workpieces, in particular a gear shaping machine, comprising a spindle for holding a machining tool, and a drive by means of which the spindle can be rotationally driven about its spindle axis, and further comprising an arrangement. When said arrangement is actuated, a spindle rotation caused by the drive changes the axial relative position with respect to the spindle axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: GLEASON-PFAUTER MASCHINENFABRIK GMBH
    Inventors: Matthias Philippin, Kurt Kleinbach, Arrigo Mellini, Ugo Mattioli
  • Patent number: 10286511
    Abstract: A workpiece positioning device for a processing center, and a processing center and a method for positioning a workpiece mounted on a workpiece palette in a processing center is disclosed. The workpiece positioning device comprises a deposit place comprising a horizontal deposit surface for a workpiece palette with a workpiece mounted thereon and a pivot bearing that receives the workpiece palette on a first edge of said workpiece palette in a rotatable manner. Furthermore, the workpiece positioning device comprises a pivoting device for transferring the workpiece palette from a horizontal position into a vertical position, and vice versa. The pivoting device comprises a horizontal and a vertical linear axle and a gripping device and is disposed to grip a workpiece palette on another, second edge and to pivot, by simultaneously moving the horizontal and the vertical linear axles, the workpiece palette around the pivot bearing on a circular path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: F. ZIMMERMANN GMBH
    Inventors: Christian Podiebrad, Daniel Demlang
  • Patent number: 10279463
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for assisting with the quick and accurate cutting of a piece of wall board or the like for installation. When installing wall board, it is important that it fits tightly to the ceiling or wall against which the wall board is being installed. The invention generally includes a frame on which a piece of dry wall can be placed and at least one cutting template that comprises a first cutting guide disposed within a first cutting slot that is carried by the frame. The first cutting slot and first cutting guide define a first cutting channel that is adapted to receive a cutting tool and to guide the cutting tool along the first cutting guide so that the dry wall can be cut to match the pattern of the cutting guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Inventor: Clement Johnson
  • Patent number: 10279410
    Abstract: A retaining socket for receiving a thread die includes a plunge component that is moveable along the longitudinal axis of the retaining socket and at least one pin extending parallel to the longitudinal axis configured to engage the thread die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig R. Steinfels, Ian E. Random
  • Patent number: 10265789
    Abstract: A cold-weld burr removal system is disclosed according to various embodiments. The cold-weld burr removal system can include a clamping block having a clamping passage that extends along an alignment axis, and a removal block having a guide passage alignment axis centered about the alignment axis. The removal block can define a burr receiving chamber. The system also can include a cutting head insert having a cutting portion and a cutting passage. The cutting head insert can removably attach to the removal block and the cutting portion can protrude into the burr receiving chamber. The system can include a linear actuator that connects the clamping block to the removal block. The linear actuator can move the removal block in a direction along the alignment axis to increase a separation distance between the clamping block and the removal block when a linear actuation initiator initiates movement of the linear actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Southwire Company, LLC
    Inventors: Shelby Glen McDaniel, Franklin Clarence Calhoun, Robert D. Autrey, Keefe M. Lane
  • Patent number: 10265816
    Abstract: A tool exchange assembly and related method configured to swap change tool assemblies with a nutrunner constructed in accordance to one example of the present disclosure includes a nest. The nest has a lower jaw portion and an upper jaw portion. The lower jaw portion has first and second lower fingers that cooperate to define a lower slot. The upper jaw portion has first and second upper fingers that cooperate to define an upper slot. The nest is configured to receive a change tool assembly. Relative movement of the change tool assembly and the nest urges a sleeve on the change tool assembly to move between a locked position and an unlocked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignees: thyssenkrupp System Engineering AG, thyssenkrupp AG
    Inventor: Ralf-Martin Ebeling
  • Patent number: 10259107
    Abstract: A driving rod assembly includes a rod having an insertion section for coupling with a rotating head of a power tool and an operative section for coupling with an external tool. The rod further includes an outer periphery having first and second positioning grooves and a positioning portion between the first and second positioning grooves. The operative section includes a coupling portion located in front of the second positioning groove and having a stopper edge wider than the positioning portion. A coupling end is provided at a front end of the operative section. A C-clip is mounted on the positioning portion of the rod. A jacket includes a receiving section slideably mounted around the positioning portion. The jacket further includes a coupling section located mounted around the coupling portion of the rod to rotate together with the rod. The receiving section includes a coupling groove for receiving the C-clip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Compass Corporation
    Inventor: Tzu-Chien Wang