Patents Examined by William R. Briggs
  • Patent number: 5934847
    Abstract: There is now provided a method of machining and shaping a through opening in a fiber-reinforced composite material starting from a preformed hole. At least one rotation symmetrical milling body with a substantially smaller diameter than that of the preformed hole is placed in that hole and the opening is machined and shaped by the milling body partly rotating around its own axis, partly by a translational movement relative to the edge of the opening. According to the method, the fiber-reinforced material is oriented in such a way that the axis of rotation of the milling body is essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the fibers at the edge of the opening. The size and/or form of the finished opening differs significantly from that of the preformed hole. The radial spread of the damages and/or the defects define a lower limit for the amount of material removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: Sandvik AB
    Inventor: Anders Thelin
  • Patent number: 5933934
    Abstract: A bidirectional indexing turret mechanism for machine tools having a housing for mounting to a machine tool, with a spline being fixed to the housing. An indexing shaft is mounted for rotation within the housing and has a rotary turret support fixed thereto for supporting a turret having machining tools for machining a workpiece. The rotary turret support is a rotary spline having spline teeth positioned for registry with the teeth of the fixed spline. A locking spline is positioned about the indexing shaft and is movable to a locking position for locking engagement with the fixed and rotary splines and is movable to an unlocked position permitting rotation of said rotary turret support and the indexing shaft. A shaft driver having splined engagement with the indexing shaft is in positioning engagement with the locking spline and is movable linearly and rotatably by a roller driver supporting a plurality of drive rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Inventor: Enrico R. Giannetti
  • Patent number: 5913760
    Abstract: A punch press comprising (i) a tool set magazine that is located above a work table for supporting a workpiece and is juxtaposed with a main frame for supporting a punching head and (ii) a tool set delivery system for delivering tool sets between the tool set magazine and the punching head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1999
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Ikuo Kamada, Satoshi Matsuura, Takiji Kitagawa
  • Patent number: 5897275
    Abstract: A machine tool for machining panels, plates and discs, is fitted with a number of workpiece clamping devices (10) that move along a work bench (20) of the machine tool. The machine tool has sensors (8) designed to detect the position of the clamping devices (10), and a unit (2) built into the operating head (15) of the machine tool, which engages the clamping devices (10) to moves them to preset positions on the bench (20) by one or more relative movements between the head (15) and the bench (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1999
    Assignee: Essetre di Sella Giovanni
    Inventor: Giovanni Sella
  • Patent number: 5885199
    Abstract: A multifunction, compact machining center has a work spindle which can rotate at high speed, or controlled by a C axis servo driver, and a frame-shaped tool magazine, which is composed of a standing part and a rotatable part. Arranged on the standing part are enough internal and external turning tools to complete all turning processes on one workpiece. Driven tools are held on the rotatable part to do drilling, boring, milling, gear hobbing, grinding, lapping etc. on the same workpiece at arbitrary angles. Additionally, work units for quenching, laser machining, gear shaping, bevel gear cutting, measuring, loading and unloading can also be employed on the tool magazine. By means of movements of the tool magazine relative to the work spindle in the plane perpendicular to the Z axis, each cutting tool or working unit can be put into the working area of the workpiece sequentially so as to complete all machining, measuring, loading and unloading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Inventor: Wenyuan Shao
  • Patent number: 5881442
    Abstract: In an apparatus for producing a double-walled structure, such as a silencer for use in a ventilation duct system, use is made of an arrangement having a forming head for forming helically-wound lock-seam tubing. In the forming head, a perforated metal strip is helically wound together with an air-permeable cloth strip such that the tubing fed out of the forming head has an outer cover of said cloth. The tube assembly consisting of the perforated tube and the cloth cover is provided with an outer tubular layer of insulating material and then inserted in a casing which makes the silencer complete.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1999
    Assignee: Lindab AB
    Inventors: Kent Hultberg, Teuvo Ranta
  • Patent number: 5876315
    Abstract: A mechanism for coupling tooling cassettes (60) in a numerical control machining unit for a transfer machine of the type comprising a frame (10) with rails (11, 12) for moving (X arrow) a vertical knee (20) with two posts (21 and 22) also provided with rails (21a and 22b) on which a movable headstock (30) slides (Y arrow), with a spindle-supporting slide (40) passing through the headstock (Z arrow); and a magazine (50) for a tooling cassette (60) positioned on the headstock (30), surrounding the knee (20), and through which the slide (40) may pass, comprising a ring (5) supporting the cassettes (60) and rotatably mounted (R arrow) about the knee (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignee: Renault-Automation
    Inventor: Andre Azema
  • Patent number: 5871427
    Abstract: The machine tool comprises a machine stand (10) with a vertically movable vertical carrier (12) carrying a spindle head (SK1) for treatment of a workpiece. To exchange the spindle head (SK1) against a new spindle head (SK2), an exchange unit (15) is provided, comprising an exchange arm (16) pivotable by 90.degree. about a vertical axis (37). Two holding couplings (17,18) are mounted above each other on the exchange arm (16), each adapted to carry a spindle head (SK1,SK2). A delivery means (21), gripping the spindle heads from above, is used to supply the spindle heads for transfer to the exchange unit (15). The exchange unit (15) grips the spindle heads from the side. By pivoting the exchange arm (16) over 90.degree., the spindle head is pivoted to a position in front of the machine stand (10) and thus can be taken over by the vertical carrier (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1999
    Assignee: Honsberg Lamb Sonderwerkzeugmaschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Rolf Koelblin, Reinhard Schneider
  • Patent number: 5871315
    Abstract: A tombstone fixture for supporting workpieces has a stiffened tooling column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1999
    Assignee: Unova IP Corp.
    Inventors: Dennis A. Burt, Paul E. McCalmont
  • Patent number: 5871426
    Abstract: A machining center has a tool change device provided above a horizontally mobile column that has a main spindle for holding a tool. A circular tool magazine for carrying a plurality of tools in a horizontal attitude is provided on a support base which is positioned above the region in which the mobile column moves. The support base is supported in a cantilever fashion by posts erected on a bed. The tool magazine rotates within a horizontal plane for indexing tools to a standby position. The tools are accommodated in pots suspended via rolling members from the body of the tool magazine and adapted to move along a ring-shaped path under the tool magazine body. The tool magazine body has a local removal opening or cutout, from where a shifter at a standby position carries a pot to a tool delivery position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1999
    Assignee: Howa Machinery, Ltd.
    Inventors: Norimitsu Araki, Kazumi Hattori
  • Patent number: 5868655
    Abstract: A multistation press has a three-axis transfer provided with transport rails onto which carrier rails are placed. The carrier rails carry grippers for the workpieces. During the tool change, the carrier rails are deposited on corresponding receiving devices of the sliding table. The transport rail is at first moved to deposit a first carrier rail connected therewith on the receiving device. Then the transport rail is separated from the carrier rail and is moved to bring a second carrier rail still connected therewith to the receiving device. The receiving device receives the second carrier rail in the immediate vicinity of the first carrier rail, whereby two carrier rails overlap and are spaced closely side-by-side. The receiving device is then laterally swivelled away. The carrier rails are deposited on the receiving device without the aid of driving devices operating between the transport rail and the carrier rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1999
    Assignee: Schuler Pressen GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Hans Hofele
  • Patent number: 5865577
    Abstract: A clamping device for milling working of engine is provided which makes stability of working operation by stably fixing without trembling upon milling working of casted engine and improves a working preciseness and prevents deformation of members by dispersing excessive clamping force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Byung-Gi Kim
  • Patent number: 5865578
    Abstract: A spindle assembly has inner and outer coaxial shafts having front and rear ends and extending along a common axis with the inner shaft axially displaceable in the outer shaft, a holding assembly on the front ends adapted to grip a tool or workpiece in an axially forwardly displaced position of the inner shaft relative to the outer shaft, a coupling ring fixed on the rear end of the outer shaft, and an actuator having a piston axially engageable with the rear end of the inner shaft and operable to axially shift the inner shaft in the outer shaft. In accordance with the invention complementarily interengaging formations on the actuator and the coupling ring including a groove and a projection are displaceable between a holding position axially securing the ring on the actuator and a freeing position allowing the ring to be axially separated from the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignee: Gunter Horst Rohm
    Inventors: Elmar Benedikter, Eugen Hangleiter
  • Patent number: 5862584
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for automatically cutting stock material for a grid. The apparatus comprise at least one saw assembly positionable to selectively cut the stock material into individual grid elements for the grid, a conveyor system operable to present the stock material for cutting by the at least one saw assembly, and a computer controller operable to generate instructions directing the operation of the conveyor system and the positioning of the at least one saw assembly so as to automatically cut the stock material into the grid elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Inventor: Russell D. Manser
  • Patent number: 5863163
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cover for a machine bed of a machine tool with covering boxes which can be pushed telescopically one inside another, wherein each covering box comprises a first and a second side wall and a top wall joined to the side walls. On at least one side wall an outwardly projecting catch is arranged for the next largest covering box, provided with a counter catch. The catch is configured in a profiled catch section arranged in a side wall. A shock absorbing element is arranged on the catch, which dampens the impact between the catch and the counter catch. Furthermore, a stop is provided on the profiled catch section, which can be brought into contact with a profiled catch section or a rear wall of the next-largest covering box. The stop serves to dampen the impact between two covering boxes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Assignee: Kabelschlepp GmbH
    Inventors: Herbert Wehler, Roland Muller
  • Patent number: 5860901
    Abstract: A machine tool comprises a spindle that rotates about a spindle axis and that comprises a receptacle for toolholders. There is further provided a number of tool changers distributed around the spindle, the gripper arm of each tool changer carrying a toolholder that can be transferred, by means of the gripper arm on which it is mounted, between a magazine position spaced from the spindle above the receptacle, and a working position on the receptacle. The toolholders are arranged in their magazine position with their longitudinal axes extending at an angle relative to the spindle axis so that they point away from the spindle obliquely in downward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1999
    Assignee: Chiron-Werke GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Rudolf Haninger, Hans-Henning Winkler
  • Patent number: 5857251
    Abstract: The machine for the machining of sheet-like articles (12) has a toolholder (90) fitted with a milling cutter (92). Said toolholder can be positioned in the direction of the arrow (x). The clamping device (10) capable of being moved in and counter to the direction of the arrow (y) has clamps (20, 22, 24), of which the first clamp (20) and second clamp (22) are provided with a centering pin (41, 41'). The article (12) to be machined has centering holes which are arranged at the corner points of a right-angled isosceles triangle, the lateral side length of which corresponds to the spacing of the centering pins (41, 41'). The article (12) to be machined can thereby be inserted into the clamping device (10) in two positions rotated through 90.degree. relative to one another. In order, after machining in one direction, to rotate the article (12) through 90.degree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1999
    Assignee: P. E. Mader AG
    Inventor: Hermann Schwarzenberger
  • Patent number: 5855541
    Abstract: A machine tool comprises a spindle and a tool changer for conveying tool holders between a magazine position and a working position at the spindle. The tool changer has two longitudinal rods and two transverse rods that are joined to said two longitudinal rods via universal joints so as to form an articulated rectangle. Each of said two longitudinal rods is rotatably mounted in the vicinity of its respective center. The tool changer comprises two grippers for gripping said tool holders to be conveyed. Said grippers are mounted on certain of said longitudinal and transverse rods such that upon rotation of the longitudinal rods the grippers are conveyed between said magazine position and working position while substantially maintaining said tool holders in their preferably vertical orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1999
    Assignee: Chiron Werke GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Eugen Rutschle
  • Patent number: 5855050
    Abstract: A signal transmitter for transmitting control signals is fitted to a key element so that signals can be transmitted to an operating device with which the key is used. Illustrative is the fitting of an automobile ignition key to a fob housing in which the signal transmitter is carried. The head part of an ignition key is subjected to a punching operation to shear off a first portion of the head part leaving a remaining head part portion with wings disposed laterally at opposite sides of the key shank part. Holes are drilled in the remaining head part portion and the remaining head part portion is received in an anchorage in the housing with the key shank extending through a notch in the housing. The remaining head part is then secured to the housing with screws passing through the lateral wing openings and into anchorage posts formed in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1999
    Assignee: Audiovox Corporation
    Inventors: D. Scott Christie, Thomas Wouters
  • Patent number: 5853358
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for mounting and dismounting a blind cover, which is used for protecting an exposed surface, from cutting fluid and chips. The blind cover is held and carried by a blind cover carrier having a shank mountable into a main spindle and a pot of a tool magazine, and a flange provided with a gripping groove to be gripped by a tool changing arm. The blind cover for protecting the exposed surface of the coupling is held by openable engaging pawls provided on the blind cover carrier. The blind cover carrier holding the blind cover is carried and mounted to the main spindle in the same way as the tool and the attachment. The blind cover and the coupling are provided with respective engaging pawls. The engaging and disengaging operation of the respective engaging pawls and the mounting and dismounting operation of the blind cover to the exposed surface of the coupling are executed by a swivel indexing function of the main spindle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1998
    Assignee: Okuma Corporation
    Inventor: Koji Takenaka