Patents Examined by William Briggs
  • Patent number: 6494821
    Abstract: The present invention involves a tool changer for removal and installation of tools in a machining center having a machine tool with a spindle for holding a tool disposed within the machining center frame. The tool changer comprises a tool rack having a plurality of locations for holding tools, and an arm structured and arranged to be movable between the plurality of locations and a position which is capable of accessing a spindle of the machining center. Each tool holding location farther comprises a fork, which has a plurality of prongs. The movable arm has two grippers and one of the two grippers is disposed at an angle of about 90° relative to the other of the two grippers. The movable arm also is associated with rotational, vertical, and horizontal movement mechanisms. The rotational mechanism includes a motor, a pulley associated with the motor, a belt attached to the motor and the pulley, and a gear wheel attached to the belt with a limit switch for sensing one of the locations on the gear wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: Hurco Companies, Inc.
    Inventors: Himat Patel, Walter Bautz
  • Patent number: 6485401
    Abstract: A process for drilling oil holes in a crankshaft at various positions lengthwise and widthwise about a longitudinal axis of the crankshaft, where the oil holes are perpendicular to and have angled directions with regards to the longitudinal axis. The process includes the sequential steps of placing the crankshaft in a horizontal position in a crankshaft holding unit and maintaining the crankshaft in a horizontal position through the drilling process. The holding unit is then rotated on a vertical axis until the crankshaft faces the drilling unit. The crankshaft is next rotated along the longitudinal axis of the crankshaft to position the crankshaft in a position for drilling a hole. The drill tool is then moved on a second and third axis until the drill tool is situated in order to drill the hole in the crankshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Etxe-Tar, S.A.
    Inventor: Gorka Gorrochategui
  • Patent number: 6484386
    Abstract: An apparatus adapted to form curved beam sections, such as a brake shoe, includes a rollformer, a cut-off device, and a re-former or sweeping device. The rollformer includes rollers constructed and arranged to rollform the sheet material into an elongated linear beam, where the beam has a T-shaped cross-section. The cut-off device cuts the arcuately-shaped beam into segments that are about 9 to 12 inches long. The sweep device is positioned in line with the rollformer (or off-line as a secondary operation) and is adapted to form the beam into a tightly-radiused longitudinal shape, such as about 100 mm radius, where the support flange and center web form an arcuate crescent shape. In an alternative form, the apparatus also has a re-forming device configured to reshape the segments so that the beam section is very accurately formed. However, it is contemplated that, depending upon the arcuately shaped beam section desired, a re-former may not be required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Shape Corporation
    Inventors: Steve Tuin, Thomas Crowell
  • Patent number: 6481939
    Abstract: A tool tip conductivity sensor and method for determining when a tool tip of a machine contacts a workpiece. The sensor has at least two external connectors, one to the workpiece and the other to the machine. When the tool tip grazes the workpiece surface an electrical circuit is completed. The signal from the contacts is supplied to a trigger circuit, which preferably compares the signal to a DC offset. The trigger signal from the trigger circuit is supplied to a notification circuit, which provides a signal indicating contact. Preferably, the notification circuit receives the trigger signal and provides a steady “On” condition for an LED or activates an audible device, such as a piezoelectric transducer. The notification circuit can also provide a reference for further machining to a controller of the machine using the sensor as a contact probe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Inventors: Robb S. Gillespie, Steven A. Rogacki
  • Patent number: 6478516
    Abstract: A machine is provided for stripping the ground wall insulation from a stator bar quickly and in such a manner that the copper strands will not be damaged. The apparatus of the invention includes a power driven cutting tool for milling or routing the insulation from a portion of the insulated bar, a sensing device for detecting the location of the copper strands and a height adjustment assembly for determining a disposition of the bar with respect to the cutting tool. In an exemplary embodiment, the height adjustment assembly is adjusted in accordance with the location of the copper strands as detected by the sensing device to substantially prevent the cutting tool from making damaging contact with the copper strands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kenneth John Hatley, Richard Michael Hatley, Charles James Marino
  • Patent number: 6473951
    Abstract: A spindle device for machine tools that can eliminate the need for laborious air bleeding work and labor-demanding fitting/removing work for maintenance. The spindle device for machine tools includes a drawbar that is axially movably inserted into an axial hole of a tool spindle body. The drawbar serves to bias a tool in a clamping direction. An unclamping cylinder mechanism is provided in a rear of the tool spindle and serves to move the drawbar in an unclamping direction. The unclamping cylinder mechanism has a cylinder block fixed to a rear end wall of the tool spindle body and includes a plurality of bolts. A relay oil passage allows a hydraulic passage in the tool spindle body and a hydraulic passage in the cylinder block to communicate with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Mori Seiki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masamitsu Nakaminami, Kazuhiko Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 6474913
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Toshiba Kikai Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koichi Katoh, Yasunori Katoh
  • Patent number: 6473952
    Abstract: An apparatus for removing dross from the bottom front and back edges of torch cut slabs of continuous cast steel being conveyed upon a line of rollers. It has at least one blade support mounted upon a rotatable powered spindle journaled in bearings at an interior angle of about 6 degrees-15 degrees. It also has a pair of opposed parallel dross removing blades. Their front edges have a downwardly sloped flat top and a 90 degree vertical end. There is at least one vertical dross cutting blade mounted on the blade support at an angle perpendicular to the line of rollers and extending beyond the vertical end of the dross removing blades. Control means rotate the spindle sufficiently to remove any dross that has fallen thereon. Also disclosed is a method for using the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Inventors: Charles J. Gedrich, Donald Berchem
  • Patent number: 6471452
    Abstract: The process contemplates material removal from the surface of rotating bodies (11) by moving at least one milling cutter (5) along an arched trajectory (21) in a plane transverse to the axis of the bodies, so as to remove the material in the circumferential direction of the body surface and parallel to the axis of the milling cutter (5). This working can be carried out in addition to a vectorial milling. The trajectory (21) is obtained by composing two linear translations perpendicular to the milling cutter (5) by adjustment of the speed and the rotation direction of the motors producing such translations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Balance Systems S.p.A.
    Inventor: Gianni Trionfetti
  • Patent number: 6470547
    Abstract: The invention relates to a machining center comprising a pallet changing station in combination with a machining station. The pallet changing station includes a rotating column assembly supporting a platform on which multiple fixtures are supported and moved. A portion of the column assembly defines part of a hydraulic conduit for supplying hydraulic fluid from a fluid source to the fixture for use in clamping parts to the fixture. The integration of a portion of the hydraulic conduit with the rotating column reduces the tendency for the hydraulic conduit to become twisted during rotation of the column or for the various threaded connections of the hydraulic conduit from loosening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Intercore Resources, Inc.
    Inventors: Phillip Burge, Douglas Krumreich, James Denney
  • Patent number: 6471451
    Abstract: In a machine tool controlled by using a numerical control device, a correction amount is determined for thermal displacement due to heat generation and heat conduction in a spindle motor and a feed shaft motor, in addition to thermal displacement due to heat generated by rotation of a spindle and a feed shaft. A tool position is corrected based on the correction amount. An entire stroke of the feed shaft is divided into a finite number of sections, and for each section, a correction amount for thermal displacement due to axial movement of the feed shaft is determined. The tool position is corrected based on the determined correction amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Fanuc Ltd.
    Inventors: Kunio Kojima, Susumu Maekawa
  • Patent number: 6467145
    Abstract: An operating unit for a transfer tool machine comprises a turret head having a rotary plate, a plurality of tool holding devices arranged on the rotary plate, a supporting arm supporting the turret head on the tool machine framework and a mandrel which is driven by a reducing driving device also mounted on the machine tool framework.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Inventor: Oscar Porta
  • Patent number: 6467144
    Abstract: A press for the installation of inserts on thin metallic or plastic rolled sections by cold plastic deformation of the rolled sections, comprising a structure (2, 3) bearing a punch (8) and an insert-bearing turret anvil (15) arranged in a substantially axial alignment in a working position thereof, and actuator means (4, 6, 7) within the structure for controlling the sliding of the punch toward the turret anvil. The turret anvil is mounted on a carriage (14) sliding with respect to the structure between the working position, wherein the carriage is completely inserted in the structure, and a loading position, wherein the carriage protrudes therefrom. The distance between the punch and the turret anvil is sufficient to allow the interposition of the thin metallic or plastic rolled sections therebetween, without the risk of accident for the operator and making easier the press loading operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Inventor: Claudio Arrighi
  • Patent number: 6467149
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for injecting material into a substrate. The apparatus 10 comprises a needle assembly having a needle 14, a movable central portion 26 and a substantially stationary top portion 26. The material to be injected 17 is threaded through apparatus 10 into needle 14, and is cut to the desired length by cutter 18. When needle 14 penetrates a substrate, an additional portion of material 17 is fed into the apparatus 10, and when needle 14 is removed from substrate 12, the additional material pushes into needle 14, forcing cut portion 16 to remain in the substrate. In the method of using the apparatus, additional steps for orienting the angle of the apparatus, and steps of controlling the concentration of the injected material in the substrate may be included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventor: Martin Lamar Sentmanat
  • Patent number: 6464623
    Abstract: A tool storage and tool exchange device of a high speed machining machine-tool having a horizontal ram that receives a tool. The exchange device includes a tool storage module that has a multiplicity of housings receiving the tools, a handling module that loads or unloads at least one tool from a housing and transports the tool from the housing toward an exchange zone with a transfer module, and a transfer module that transports a tool present in the ram from an exchange zone with the ram toward the exchange zone with the handling nodule and vice-versa. The multiple modules allow simultaneous execution of different operations by a tool storage and tool exchange device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: Renault Automation Comau
    Inventors: Raymond Laur, Gilles Sudre
  • Patent number: 6464435
    Abstract: A machine tool includes a tool spindle rotatably mounted in a housing. A tool member is disposed in a front spindle segment of the spindle and is releasably clamped by a clamping member. An actuating member is mounted in and is axially movable relative to the spindle to actuate the clamping member. First and second anti-friction bearings are interposed between the housing and the spindle and have different outer diameters. A preload actuating member is disposed to force the second anti-friction bearing in the axial direction to take up the slack in a non-actuated state of the second anti-friction bearing when the spindle is running in a higher speed, thereby resuming the anti-friction function of the second anti-friction bearing when running the tool spindle at a lower speed is intended.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Inventor: Hsi-Kuan Chen
  • Patent number: 6460236
    Abstract: An apparatus for producing wrapped slip tubes from ribbon material (3), which consists of metal at least in part, comprising a profiling device (4) for forming seam edges (3a, 3b) of the ribbon material (3), at least one guiding surface (6a) for guiding the ribbon material (3) provided with the seam edges (3a, 3b), a bending device for deforming the ribbon material (3) into a helical partial surface of a cylindrical shell by of a deforming surface (7), a seam closing device (12) for closing the seam edges (3a, 3b) when inserted into one another by pressing them together, and a cutting device (15) for cutting produced tube portions off. Since the deforming surface (7), and preferably the at least one guiding surface (6a) also, comprises a contact surface of plastic material, pollution and damages of the tube can be avoided when producing it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Tormec AG
    Inventors: Klaus Müller, Juan Torre, Paul Kasper
  • Patent number: 6461089
    Abstract: A workpiece fixture for gear cutting machines and an interchangeable part for said workpiece fixture are adapted to each other. One end of the interchangeable part is used for fixation to the workpiece fixture and has on the one hand a face with at least one ramp extending in the circumferential direction relative to a rotation axis, and a locking element, the locking element cooperating with a locking element of the workpiece fixture so as to permit separation of the locked interchangeable part from the workpiece fixture only if a minimum force is overcome. The workpiece fixture has for its part in addition to the aforementioned locking element a surface formed cylindrically, at least in parts, relative to a rotation axis as a radial bearing surface for the interchangeable part, and a stop face or at least one radially protruding stop pin which cooperates axially with the ramp of the interchangeable part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Liebherr-Verzahntechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Rolf Adrian, Horst Reidl
  • Patent number: 6454499
    Abstract: The invention relative to a device for machining workpieces comprising: a chip removing, rotating tool (2) configured substantially as a hollow body including at least one cutter (4), a portion of the tool adjoining the cutter (4) being penetrated by a chip receiving opening (6) for communicating chips into a tool cavity; and an exhaust means including a stationary exhaust housing (10) configured substantially as a hollow body communicating with the cavity (8) at least in part and in connection with at least one exhaust air source; the communicating portion of the exhaust housing (10) comprising in the region of the cutter (4) a chip communicating window (26) porting into an exhaust passage (36) of the exhaust housing (10); and the exhaust passage comprising in an exhaust passage section upstream of the chip communicating window (26), relative to the exhaust direction, at least one auxiliary air infeed opening. The invention relates furthermore to a method for machining workpieces by means of one such device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignees: Ledermann GmbH, Homag Maschinenbau AG
    Inventors: Hans-Juergen Gittel, Ewald Westfal, Kurt Kalmbach, Wilhelm Kalmbach, Roland Fischer, Michael Oertel
  • Patent number: 6454684
    Abstract: Disclosed is an automatic tool changing apparatus which comprises a tool magazine storing a multiplicity of tools each held by tool holding means, the tool magazine having a tool port through which the tools are loaded into or unloaded from the tool magazine; a tool shifter translating the tools for loading into or unloading from the tool magazine; a standby magazine having tool holding means by which the tools loaded or unloaded by the tool shifter are temporarily held and stand by; and an automatic tool changer changing the tool held in the standby magazine for the tool fitted to a spindle. The standby magazine has a plurality of tool holding means which are provided on an output shaft of a rotation indexing mechanism and which come to rest at delivery positions and to/from the tool shifter and the automatic tool changer, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Sankyo Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Heizaburo Kato