Abstract: A toolholder assembly for accurately securing a shank of a tool in a socket along a desired alignment is provided. The toolholder assembly includes an inner collar having an annular wall whose inner surface defines the socket recess, and whose outer surface defines a collar periphery, an outer clamping assembly surrounding the periphery of the inner collar that includes a set screw for applying a compressive force to a portion of the periphery of the inner collar, and a pin-like tool retainer that freely extends through a radially-disposed opening in the inner collar wall. The tool retainer is disposed opposite from the set screw of the outer clamping assembly, and directs the compressive force applied by the set screw across the socket recess to retain a tool shank therein while diverting the compressive force away from the opposing portion of the inner collar wall to prevent hoop distortion from occurring therein.

Abstract: A segmented adjustable top jaw (25) capable of being mounted upon a chuck has a slot (100) partially extending the length of the jaw (25) and defining a body inner portion (105), a body outer portion (110) with a gripping surface (30), and a hinge (115) therebetween. Upon mounting the body inner portion (105) to the lathe, concentricity among cooperating top jaws (25) may be provided by deflecting the body outer portion (110) toward or away from the body inner portion (105) about the hinge (115), thereby causing the gripping surface (30) of the jaw (25) to rotate about the hinge (115) resulting in an upward or downward movement of the gripping surface (30).

Abstract: The present invention is a tool holder which permits lateral insertion and removal of a tool means into and from the holder thereby making it unnecessary to move the machine or work piece to provide excess clearance. The tool holder includes a main body having a shallow tool cavity formed in one end thereof for receiving the tool means. A locking element having a u-shaped collar is rotatably mounted to the main body for clamping the tool means within the tool cavity. The u-shaped collar defines a tool slot having a tool slot opening which extends from the side of the locking element. When the locking element is in an unlocked position, the tool slot opening aligns radially with the open side of the tool cavity to permit lateral insertion and removal of the tool means into and from the cavity. When the locking element is rotated to the locked position, tool slot opening is moved out of alignment with the open side of the cavity thereby preventing removal of the to tool means.

Abstract: A top jaw assembly is adapted to be mounted on the master jaw of a chuck and includes a replaceable work holding pad. The top jaw assembly includes a top jaw formed with a first support surface lying in an axial plane and a second support surface bored concentric with the central axis of the chuck. An arcuate shape work holding pad having concentric inner and outer surfaces is provided for gripping the work piece. The outer surface is adapted to seat against the second support surface of the top jaw assembly and the inner surface is adapted to grip the work piece. Clamping means are provided which include a locking element adapted to engage the work holding pad. The locking element urges the work holding pad downwardly against the first support surface of the top jaw to axially locate the pad and rearwardly against the second support surface to maintain the inner surface of the pad concentric with the central axis.

Abstract: A self-locking tool and socket body combination includes a tool holder with a male section which may be received in a socket in the socket body. Tool grippers of a tool loading device grip onto an annular V-groove on the tool holder and also act on an actuator. The actuator is linked to a first and second wedge surface which are moved laterally inwardly against the urging of spring means. When the tool grippers are released, the spring means urge the first and second wedge surfaces laterally outwardly into engagement with first and second wedge follower surfaces in the socket body and this automatically locks the tool holder axially within the socket body without any other manual or automatic means required to lock the tool holder within the socket.

Abstract: A sealing mechanism acts between a quick-change tool holder and a tool adapter receivable therein. The sealing mechanism is an elastomer seal in the form of a V-flange elastomer seal ring mounted on a metal member which has a coaxial cylindrical outer surface and an axially inwardly facing shoulder to establish the elastomer seal member in position. This seal member has a generally conical seal member first portion with an external peripheral surface engaging a planar surface on the quick-change tool holder. This prevents contaminants, such as fine chips, from entering the interior of the quick-change tool holder. The foregoing abstract is merely a resume of the one general application, is not a complete discussion of all principles of operation or applications, and is not to be construed as a limitation on the scope of the claimed subject matter.

Abstract: A quick-change mechanism is provided between a male member and a female member which has a socket with an axis. A flange is provided on each member, and in the flange of the female member an eccentric circular cam is pivotably mounted on one side of the socket. The cam may be pivoted through an arc between a locked and an unlocked condition in a single plane. The unlocked condition moves the cam laterally outwardly beyond the cam follower surface in the male member. As the cam is rotated towards the locked condition, the cam locking surface moves in a single plane laterally inwardly and establishes an axially inward force on the cam follower surface. The quick-change mechanism is small and compact and contained entirely within the flange of the female member. The foregoing abstract is merely a resume of one general application, is not a complete discussion of all principles of operation or applications, and is not to be construed as a limitation on the scope of the claimed subject matter.

Abstract: An overload detection mechanism for a robot is disclosed, wherein first and second members are relatively urged together by an urging means to urge the axis of the second member toward the Z axis of the first member. The second member is guided in any movements departing from coaxial alignment, and the first member is supported near the end of a robot arm. A tool mount or workpiece mount is connected to the second member. An electrical device is mounted on one of the members, and a device actuator on the other of the members, with the reaction means acting between the members to relatively move the members upon tilting from an X-Y plane normal to the Z axis, or axial thrust applied by the tool mount to the second member. In this manner, an overload of a tool in the tool mount establishes relative movement between the first and second members, so that the electrical device is actuated to change an electrical condition thereof and can be connected to stop movement of the robot.

Abstract: A locking tool holder is disclosed which has a socket adapted to receive a tool which has a lateral recess. The tool holder contains a lock pin which is slidable in a first aperture transverse to the tool socket, and this lock pin has a wedge portion on the inboard end thereof to engage a tapered lateral recess on the tool. A cam bar is slidable transversely to the lock pin in another aperture in the tool holder, and has first and second cam surfaces to cooperate with first and second cam followers on the lock pin. The cam bar may be moved manually or by a spring into a first locked position, whereat the second cam engages the second cam follower on the lock pin to force the lock pin wedge portion against the lateral recess in the tool. When the cam bar is moved into the second position, the first cam surface engages the first cam follower on the lock pin to withdraw the lock pin from the tool so that the tool may be removed from the tool socket.

Abstract: A quick-connect and quick-disconnect mechanism includes a male member which may be received in a female socket member. Cam means is journaled in an eccentric cam follower surface in the socket and is capable of rotation about a second axis displaced from the axis of the socket. A locking surface on the cam means faces in a longitudinal direction opposite the entrance of the socket and opposite that of a lockable abutment surface on the male member. An aperture in the cam means is sufficiently large to accommodate the entrance of the lockable abutment surface on the male member. The cam means is rotatable within the cam follower surface to move the cam locking surface with a radially inward component and a component of movement in a longitudinal direction away from the entrance of the socket to engage the lockable abutment surface to lock the male member in the socket. The cam means may also have an expelling surface to aid in expelling the male member from the socket.

Abstract: A separator or escapement mechanism is disclosed which separates or holds one of serially movable objects, such as the second or nth object from the exit end of a support structure. This support may be a sloping ramp so that the objects, if of circular cross section, may roll toward the exit end. The object at the exit end may be held by a stop and the second or nth object may be engaged by a bar holder along the upper surface thereof regardless of the dimension of such object within a given range of sizes. The bar holder moves along a first path at an acute angle to second and third paths, the second path being the path of movement of the upper surface of the maximum size objects and the third path being the path of movement of the upper surface of minimum size objects. The first path intersects the ramp surface at approximately the exit end and is disposed at an acute angle to such ramp surface.

Abstract: A mechanism is disclosed to raise a round or hexagonal object having a center and to establish the center on a fixed reference line regardless of the diameter of such object within a finite range of diameters. First and second caliper means engage opposite sides of each such object to sense the diameter and to act through a lever linkage with a two-to-one mechanical advantage so that a stop on the linkage coacts with a fixed frame. The calipered diameter of the object establishes the position of the stop means relative to the fixed frame so that the center of the object is on the fixed reference line regardless of the diameter of the object. The foregoing abstract is merely a resume of one general application, is not a complete discussion of all priciples of operation or applications, and is not to be construed as a limitation on the scope of the claimed subject matter.

Abstract: An adjustable feed mechanism is disclosed to feed elongated stock to a machine, for example, elongated bar stock to a machine tool, so that successive parts may be machined in the machine tool, cut off, and then a new length of bar stock of the proper length fed to the machine tool for the next cycle of operation. The adjustable feed mechanism includes a stock pusher to push the bar stock to the spindle of the machine tool and an actuator means is provided, such as a spring urging the stock pusher forwardly as controlled by a stock feed cam and cam follower. A cable pulley is journaled on an arm moved by the cam follower to have a constant length stroke. A flexible cable is connected to actuate the stock pusher and encompasses part of the cable pulley and then has a variable anchor on an involute curve as a fixed anchor point on the frame of the machine.