Patents Examined by Michael J Vitale
  • Patent number: 11285575
    Abstract: A method of priming a minimum quantity lubrication (MQL) tool includes determining a category of the tool, supplying a short-prime MQL dosage if the tool is a first category or if both a second category and lubricated within a first predetermined timeframe, and supplying a long-prime MQL dosage if the tool is the second category and has not been lubricated within the predetermined timeframe. The category is based on internal passage complexity of the tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: David Alan Stephenson, Ethan Timothy Hughey
  • Patent number: 10661403
    Abstract: A tool changer includes at least one tool changer unit, wherein the at least one tool changer unit includes: a tool holder that receives and holds a tool; a base member that supports the tool holder so that the tool holder can be slid along a longitudinal direction of the tool; and a moving mechanism that slides the tool holder relative to the base member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: NAKAMURA-TOME PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Akira Koizumi
  • Patent number: 10391596
    Abstract: This tool exchange device for a machine tool uses an exchange arm to exchange tools between a processing area and a tool accommodation area which are partitioned by a partition wall provided with an opening and a shutter capable of opening and closing the opening. In the tool exchange device, an imaging device is used to capture an image of a tool in the tool accommodation area, the length of the tool is calculated from the captured image of the tool, the opening width of the shutter is determined in accordance with the length of the tool, and the shutter is opened to the determined opening width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: MAKINO MILLING MACHINE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tadashi Kasahara
  • Patent number: 10189128
    Abstract: The invention relates to a tool magazine (1) for a manipulator (4) comprising a plurality of tool holding fixtures (2) which are distributed in a preparation area (7), especially in a substantially vertical preparation plane (11). The tool magazine (1), on one side (9) of the preparation area (7), comprises a first access opening (10) facing the manipulator (4) and, on the other side (15) of the preparation area (7), a second access opening (16) facing an operator (13) and the first access opening (10) is associated with a first protective device (17) and the second access opening (16) is associated with a second protective device (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: TRUMPF Maschinen Austria GmbH & Co. KG.
    Inventor: Thomas Denkmeier