Patents Examined by William R. Briggs
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Patent number: 5755539Abstract: A shaping machine wherein either a work or a tool is a rod-like member extending along a straight center line while the other is a member having a hole capable of being fitted on the rod-like member and wherein the work is shaped while the member having the hole passes through the rod-like member from one end toward the other end of the rod-like member. The shaping machine comprises a feed mechanism for causing relative movement of the rod-like member and the member having the hole to each other along the center line of the rod-like member, a center line of the feed mechanism being coincident with the center line of the rod-like member.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 1996Date of Patent: May 26, 1998Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tatsuya Takeuchi, Noritaka Ise, Tomoji Honda, Toshio Kira, Tetsuaki Hiura
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Patent number: 5755653Abstract: There is disclosed a method of exchanging die sets in a press system. First, a state is established in which a die set having been used by the press system is held with a die holder means provided to a slide of the press system and is lifted up by the said slide. In this state, into an interior of the press system a carrier vehicle is transported having a first space in which a die set to be used next by the press system having been and a second space capable of accepting the said used die set, which is then dislodged from the said slide and is mounted on the carrier vehicle. Thereafter, the carrier vehicle is displaced to such a place that the said die set to be used next may be kept located below the said slide. Then, a state is established in which the said die set to be used next is held by the die holder means and is lifted up by the said slide. Thereafter, out of the interior of the press system, the said carrier vehicle is transported having the said used die set mounted thereon.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 1996Date of Patent: May 26, 1998Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.Inventor: Kenji Nishida
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Patent number: 5752905Abstract: The present invention is related to an automatic tool-changing mechanism adapted to be used in a machining center and including a power source, a machine frame and an automatic tool changing device secured to the machine frame, wherein the automatic tool changing device includes a tool changer secured to the machine frame for functioning in tool-grasping, tool-extracting, tool-interchanging, tool-inserting and tool-returning motions; a rotating device secured to a driving shaft and coupled to the tool changer and a swing arm device, the rotating device including a first and second rotating elements in which the first rotating element is used for enabling a to-and-fro swing motion of the swing arm device and the second rotating element is used for enabling a to-and-fro rotary motion of the tool changer to perform the tool-grasping, tool-interchanging and tool-returning motions; and the swing arm device having an intermediate portion thereof pivotally coupled to the machine frame and a first end portion and a sType: GrantFiled: July 2, 1996Date of Patent: May 19, 1998Assignee: National Science CouncilInventors: Hong-Sen Yan, Fu-Chen Chen
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Patent number: 5749819Abstract: An automatic tool changer in a machining enter includes a reducer, a compound cam, a cylindrical cam, a four-bar mechanism, a toggle mechanism, and a tool cahnge device. The compound cam and the cylindrical cam are driven by a motor after speed reduction through a belt and gear train. The compound cam includes a roller gear cam and a face cam performs the tool change motions. During the tool change motions, the cylindrical cam drives the crank of the toggle mechanism to make the slider push the drawback which produces the pushing and pulling tool motions in the spindle head. By way of using this design, the tool change time is largely reduced, the tool change motions are more smooth, and the cost can be cheaper than the previous design.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 1996Date of Patent: May 12, 1998Assignee: National Science CouncilInventors: Hong-Sen Yan, Wen-Miin Hwang, Fu-Chen Chen, Philine Huang, Yang-Sheng Fan
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Patent number: 5745967Abstract: A turret head device for machine tool comprises a housing; a motor mounted on a rear surface of said housing; a first and second planetary gear mechanisms, both integrated into the housing; a turret for mounting tools; and a tool driving shaft integrated into the turret.Wherein said turret is connected with said motor through said first and second planetary gear mechanisms and the tool driving shaft is connected with the motor through the first planetary gear mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 1996Date of Patent: May 5, 1998Assignee: Dyadic Systems Co., Ltd.Inventor: Masakazu Kojima
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Patent number: 5745975Abstract: A machine for producing wire harnesses of the type having multiple connectors terminated to the wires of the harness, the connectors being arranged in serial order along the length of the wire harness and some of the connectors being of two-piece construction is disclosed. The machine includes a reciprocating carriage and a nest that retains a lead connector in place during termination and subsequent advancement of the harness wires. The carriage is received within a termination assembly which has different termination members for different connectors.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 1996Date of Patent: May 5, 1998Assignee: Molex IncorporatedInventors: Douglas Lester Heisner, Peter Ingwersen, Thomas P. Pellegrino, Eric Stenstrom, Kevin J. Urness, Steven Wright
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Patent number: 5742994Abstract: A specialty tool designed for the efficient removal of strips of the outer sheathing (or "wrap") from underground pipe, consisting of a slotted cylindrical steel shaft (10) with female ratchet drive couplings (16) matched into each end, and having cutting discs (14) seated slightly inward from each end. Upon insertion into the slot (12) of a small loosened portion of the wrap and the engagement of the ratchets (18), a strip of wrap is simultaneously cut, pulled loose, and wrapped around the shaft (10) of the tool between the cutting discs (14), as the tool is directed by means of the ratchets (18) around the circumference of the pipe.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 1996Date of Patent: April 28, 1998Inventor: Charlie A. McDaniel
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Patent number: 5740597Abstract: A pocket coil spring producing apparatus includes a coil spring forming mechanism for forming coil springs, a hardening mechanism for hardening coil springs fed from the coil spring forming mechanism, a conveyor mechanism for cooling and conveying the hardened coil springs, and a compress inserting mechanism for compressing and inserting the coil springs conveyed by the conveyor mechanism into a two-fold sheet form of a sheet material. A sheet supplying mechanism folds the sheet material in two and feeds the same. A joining mechanism joins the two-fold form of the sheet material to have a row of substantially rectangular pouches into which are supplied respective of the compressed coil springs. A spring alignment mechanism aligns each compressed coil spring in a respective pouch in a lengthwise direction to return to a free, released state. A control mechanism controls the foregoing mechanisms.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 1996Date of Patent: April 21, 1998Assignee: Matsushita Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventor: Hiroyuki Eto
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Patent number: 5735782Abstract: An installation in a slitter mill for mounting a tool set (5), composed of annular tool parts (3), on a set-up device (1) provided with bars (2). The tool parts (3) are stored in a plurality of magazines (4) in a tool storage. A gantry robot (9) is adapted to collect tool parts (3) from the magazines (4) by means of a gripper (7) and to temporarily store the tool parts (3) in an associated intermediate magazine (13). The robot (9) with the intermediate magazine (13) moves between the magazines (4) and collects the desired tool parts (3) by means of the gripper (7) for loading a tool set in the intermediate magazine. A transfer device (15) is adapted to lift and transfer to the bars (2) a tool set present in the intermediate magazine (13). (FIG. 2 ).Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 1997Date of Patent: April 7, 1998Assignee: Asea Brown Boveri ABInventor: Arne Berg
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Patent number: 5735028Abstract: A processing apparatus with a movable processing tool, which includes a position detecting sensor for detecting a rotary position of a to-be-processed object held by a holding member set to a rotary main shaft, a deflection detecting sensor for detecting an amount of rotational deflection of a processing reference surface of the object, a waveform shaping device for shaping an output signal from the deflection detecting sensor into a waveform approximate to a sine curve, an operational device for operating a positional correction amount for a processing tool at a processing point of the object on a basis of an output signal of the waveform shaping device synchronously with rotation of the rotary main shaft, an output device for outputting the positional correction amount for every rotary position and every processing point based on an output signal from the operational device, a fine adjustment mechanism for minutely driving the processing tool based on an output signal from the output device, and an NC tableType: GrantFiled: January 31, 1996Date of Patent: April 7, 1998Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yoshinori Furusawa, Yoshihiro Ikemoto, Tutomu Hamada, Hiroyuki Funasho
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Patent number: 5735651Abstract: A spindle extension, especially for drilling and milling operations is desirable to complete many modern die molds or to protect the host machine spindle from undesirable wear. The inventive spindle extension contains its own adjustable length draw bar assembly that works in tandem with the host machine power draw bar that is easily activated to provide quick and secure tool changes. Surrogate and long-reach embodiments are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 1995Date of Patent: April 7, 1998Inventor: Hugh Harroun
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Patent number: 5735652Abstract: A broaching cutter comprises a first shaft coupled to a cutter bit-carrying second shaft in such a way that the second shaft rotates when the first shaft rotates and is also radially displaceable with respect to the first shaft so that the second shaft revolves about the axis of the first shaft in a preselected pattern. A rotor on the end of the first shaft carries a connector in a slot in such a way that the connector is free to slide within the slot. The connector is attached to the second shaft and to a cam follower. As the connector slides, it displaces the second shaft radially with respect to the axis of rotation. The first shaft rotated within a stationary holder that has a cam race encircling the first shaft. The cam follower follows the cam race in the stationary holder, thereby varying the radial displacement of the connector. Thus, square, hexagonal or other shaped holes can be formed in a workpiece depending on the shape of the cam race.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 1995Date of Patent: April 7, 1998Assignee: Victory in Jesus MinistriesInventor: David R. Lund
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Patent number: 5735029Abstract: An arbor mill machine which performs multiple machining operations on a workpiece in one work station. A rotatable tool turret carries a plurality of arbor cutting tools each of which can be indexed into the work station for performing a machining operation on a workpiece carried by a slide which advances the workpiece into the arbor tool and retracts the workpiece from it. A single drive spindle carried by a slide is advanced to releasably engage and drive the arbor tool in the work station to machine the workpiece and is retracted to release and disengage the arbor tool so that it can be removed from the work station when the turret is indexed to advance another arbor tool into the work station to perform another machining operation on the workpiece. The turret is releasably locked to prevent it from rotating while an arbor tool is machining a workpiece and is released between machining operations to permit indexing of the turret to position another arbor tool in the work station.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 1996Date of Patent: April 7, 1998Assignee: Western Atlas, Inc.Inventor: Michael D. Panetta
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Patent number: 5733078Abstract: A drilling and thread-milling tool for generating an internal thread in a workpiece, including a proximal shank portion attachable to a driving device for rotating the tool about a rotation axis thereof, and a distal cutting portion rotated with the shank portion about the rotation axis for generating the internal thread while the distal cutting portion is moved relative to the workpiece. The cutting portion has at least one thread-milling tooth on an outer circumferential surface thereof, each tooth having a configuration similar to that of the internal thread, and a height substantially equal to a depth of the internal thread. The cutting portion further has at least one end-cutting edge on a distal end face thereof so as to extend in a radial direction thereof, each end-cutting edge having a maximum diameter which is larger and smaller than a minor diameter and a major diameter of the thread-milling tooth.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 1996Date of Patent: March 31, 1998Assignee: OSG CorporationInventors: Takayuki Matsushita, Tugio Hayashi
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Patent number: 5732457Abstract: A wire harness bundling apparatus includes carrier means for carrying harness wires sequentially, shifting means responsive to the amount of the harness wires carried for shifting the harness wires to an apparatus guide means, tape feeding means placed so as to permit the tape to traverse the harness wire pathway between the guide means. The tape is wound around a bundle of harness wires and upper and lower melting-and-pinching means melts and pinches portions of the tape on opposite sides of the harness wire bundle. A drive means drives the upper and lower melting-and-pinching means together to actuate a severing knife placed between the forward and rearward sides of the binding tape.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 1996Date of Patent: March 31, 1998Assignee: Molex IncorporatedInventors: Yoshio Ishiwata, Tsutomu Kamojima, Tsutomu Ishii, Junsei Tsuji, Hideki Katayama
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Patent number: 5733081Abstract: A method and apparatus for cutting mat board, and more specifically for cutting apertures including non-linear boundaries in mat board. The preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention includes an automatically controlled cutting tool for cutting apertures having bevelled boundaries according to a predetermined pattern. The preferred embodiment of the method of the present invention includes stacking a mat board on a planar substrate and cutting through the mat board into but not through the underlying substrate.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 1994Date of Patent: March 31, 1998Inventors: Barton K. Dowdle, Robert K. Dowdle
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Patent number: 5730562Abstract: An article clamping apparatus is designed to compulsorily open the front end portions of divided pieces of a collet and to allow the divided pieces of the collet to securely hold a pull stud of a tool holder. A draw bar is fitted into a spindle of the machine tool, and a support sleeve is disposed to surround the draw bar via the collet. A separator is disposed on the front side of the support sleeve and fixed to the spindle together with the support sleeve. The positioning plates provided on the separator are engaged with slit grooves of the support sleeve and inserted between the divided pieces of the collet. Upon advancement of the draw bar, the divided pieces are advanced, so that the front end slat surfaces of the divided pieces contact the slant surfaces of the collet opening projections provided on the separator so as to compulsorily open the front portions of the divided pieces.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 1996Date of Patent: March 24, 1998Assignee: Nikken Kosakusho Works, Ltd.Inventors: Masakazu Matsumoto, Yusaku Yamamoto, Hisashi Ide
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Patent number: 5730691Abstract: In a turret type of machine tool having a turret head which can be rotated for indexing to selectively index an arbitrary one of tool mounting members provided in a plurality of circumferential portions into a machining position which coincides with a predetermined radial direction, the construction of the turret head is simplified to reduce the cost and increase the reliability. A first supporting body is provided which is connected to a moving mechanism which advances or recedes the turret head along an axis of machining coinciding with the axial line of the tool mounting member at the machining position. A second supporting body which is movable along the axis of machining is supported on the first supporting body, and the turret head is rotatably supported on the second supporting body so as to be rotated for indexing. A spindle head is fixed to the first supporting body such that a spindle to be supported on the spindle head coincides with the axis of machining.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 1996Date of Patent: March 24, 1998Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kazuto Tokura, Yosiharu Watabe, Katsuyuki Abe, Hitoshi Hashimoto
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Patent number: 5727297Abstract: A tool turret has a housing, a head connected nonrotatably with the housing, and a tool face arranged concentrically to and encompassing the head. The tool face is rotatable around the housing longitudinal axis relative to the housing and head, and is lockable in predetermined angular positions with the housing. A receiving and holding area for a drivable tool is provided in the tool face. A head shaft extends radially in the head relative to its central longitudinal axis. The head shaft can be driven through a miter-wheel gearing and a transmission shaft extending in the rotary axis of the tool face by a motor. A clutch is movable in a longitudinal direction along the head shaft axis relative to the driving shaft of a tool found in the work position, to join the head shaft and the tool shaft.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 1996Date of Patent: March 17, 1998Assignee: Sauter Feinmechanik GmbHInventors: Detlef Dieter Sahm, Kurt Birk
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Patent number: 5727305Abstract: A programmable pin feeder for use in connection with an automated component assembly system, for providing pin headers from a supply reel containing a continuous carrier strip of the pins. The feeder includes a motor for indexing the carrier strip, a pin removing mechanism for removing pins from the carrier strip, a pin crimping mechanism for crimping pins in the carrier strip, a gripper for releasably gripping the pin headers at a pick-up station, and a cutter for cutting the headers from the carrier strip. A programmable logic controller is responsive to Pin Count, Pin Configuration and Pin Crimping instructions, and actuates the motor, pin removing mechanism, pin crimping mechanism, gripper and cutter as a function of the instructions to provide the desired pin headers.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 1996Date of Patent: March 17, 1998Inventors: Joseph Alvite, Charles J. Schiprett, Glen R. Westphal