More Than One Set Of Gripping Means Patents (Class 279/137)
  • Patent number: 12138780
    Abstract: A gripper provides for gripping labware having a variety of diameters and shapes. The gripper includes a support structure having a center axis, a motor, and a gripper stage. The gripper stage includes a plurality of blades, each of the blades having a first end through which a blade rotation axis extends, a second end that is circumferentially and radially moveable to rotate the blade about the blade rotation axis, and c) a center portion. A ring structure is coupled to the motor to rotate the ring structure around the center axis. The ring structure, as it rotates, moves the second end of each blade to rotate the blade about the blade rotation axis of the blade to shift the center portion towards the center axis to contact an outer portion of a vessel extending along the center axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: Azenta US, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen White
  • Patent number: 11491556
    Abstract: The present application provides an adjustable mandrel and a fixture. The adjustable mandrel comprises an outer-diameter adjusting assembly and a height adjusting assembly, wherein the external diameter and the height of the mandrel can be adjusted according to wheels in different specifications, the wheels in different specifications are clamped, and the radial positioning of the wheel and the axial positioning of the wheel during second-step processing are realized. Two adjusting systems supplement each other, so that the structure is novel, the concept is ingenious, the universality is high, the application range is wide, and the machining cost is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: CITIC Dicastal Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Huiying Liu, Chong Bai, Xinyuan Cui
  • Patent number: 11364548
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a gripper module, including a base, an adapter holder, a collet holder, and an actuator. The base is adapted for an adapter to be detachably disposed thereon. The adapter holder is able to engage and to buckle the adapter. The collet holder is able to engage and to buckle a collet which is installed in the adapter. The actuator is connected to the collet holder. The actuator can pull the collet holder and the collet to move, causing pressing and retraction of the collet by the conical surface between the collet and the adapter. Therefore, sizes of collets may apply to the gripper module with the adapter. By sheathing the adapter, replacement and size alternation of the collets are made easier, and precisions of allocations of the collet and the gripped workpiece are improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Agile Wing Smart Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hung-Wu Lee, Yong-Lin Chen, Ying-Chih Lin
  • Patent number: 10500649
    Abstract: When a wheel clamp is used, width of a wheel is detected first, a first servo motor drives a lead screw to rotate, a supporting block and a lifting plate are automatically adjusted to appropriate heights via a nut, a manipulator puts the wheel onto end face blocks, air-tight devices are pressed down, an oil cylinder drives a chuck so that clamping jaws expand the central hole of the wheel, meanwhile, four air cylinders drive clamping blocks to compact outer side of the wheel, and the wheel is completely positioned; at this moment, a bolt hole of the wheel can be drilled; after machining, second servo motor drives right shaft, right lug plate and a turnover part to rotate certain angles via second decelerator; high pressure oil is introduced into cavities between ipsilateral expansion sleeves and end covers, and left and right shafts are separately locked by ipsilateral expansion sleeves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: CITIC Dicastal CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Bowen Xue, Jiandong Guo, Yongwang Zhao
  • Patent number: 9776252
    Abstract: A rotatable chuck for clamping a shank portion of a rotatably operating machining tool includes a rotatable chuck body provided with a cylindrical bore concentric with a rotation axis of the chuck body. The circumferential surfaces of a clamping portion of the bore are arranged to apply a clamping force around the circumference of the shank portion of the tool when it is mounted in the chuck to fixate the tool in the chuck. The chuck is provided with auxiliary pull out preventing means for preventing inadvertent pull out of the tool in the axial direction of the bore during machining operation, as well as auxiliary rotary preventing means for preventing inadvertent rotation in at least one direction in relation to the chuck during machining operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: SANDVIK INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AB
    Inventor: Gunnar Mätlik
  • Patent number: 8864144
    Abstract: A tool connecting rod of the present invention includes a barrel and a rod. A resilient unit and a retainer are disposed between the barrel and the rod. Both of an inner wall of the barrel and a body portion of a pushing member are formed with at least two stepped recesses respectively. As such, the structure of the tool connecting rod is simple so that a tool bit assembles on and detaches from the present invention rapidly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Chung Taan Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chung-Liang Hsu
  • Patent number: 8864143
    Abstract: A small outer diameter quick release extension rod is provided with elongated sheet-shaped elastic elements therein for realizing the effect of engaging with a screwdriver head. A second positioning ring in the operating element is used to press against the elastic elements to control them to be engaged in or disengaged from the screwdriver head. The small outer diameter quick release extension rod is easy to operate and has a relatively small outer diameter, not only reducing the structure weight and energy loss, but also enhancing the flexibility of use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Inventor: Ying-Mo Lin
  • Patent number: 8833773
    Abstract: A workholding apparatus comprising a chuck body, first jaw members and second jaw members wherein the second jaw members are shaped to grip a workpiece of a particular geometry. The first and second jaw members are constructed to enable easy, quick and manual replacement of the second jaw members with other second jaw members having different grip shapes so as to enable gripping of workpieces with different geometries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: The Gleason Works
    Inventors: Donald L. Allis, Richard N. Russell
  • Patent number: 8764026
    Abstract: A device for centering circular wafers includes a support chuck for supporting a circular wafer to be centered upon its top surface, left, right and middle centering linkage rods and a cam plate synchronizing the rectilinear motion of the left, right and middle centering linkage rods. The left centering linkage rod includes a first rotating arm at a first end and rectilinear motion of the left centering linkage rod translates into rotational motion of the first rotating arm. The right centering linkage rod comprises a second rotating arm at a first end, and rectilinear motion of the right centering linkage rod translates into rotational motion of the second rotating arm. The first and second rotating arms are rotatable around an axis perpendicular to the top surface of the support chuck and comprise a curved edge surface configured to roll against the curved edge of the circular wafer. The middle centering linkage rod includes a third alignment arm at a first end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Suss Microtec Lithography, GmbH
    Inventors: Gregory George, Hale Johnson, Dennis Patricio
  • Patent number: 8517390
    Abstract: The chuck includes a centering clamping member having a variable diameter, a radially extending clamping surface, which is adjacent to the centering clamping member, a movable clamping element, a first spring element, via which the centering clamping member can be moved into a clamping position, a second spring element, via which the clamping element can be loaded with a first force, a third spring element, via which the clamping element can be loaded with a second, higher force, and an axially movable actuating device by which the centering clamping member and the clamping element can be moved into a release position against the force of the first and third spring elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Schenck Ro Tec GmbH
    Inventors: Juergen Doelp, Christian Muth, Karlheinz Timtner
  • Patent number: 8496255
    Abstract: The invention relates to a clamping system for clamping a number of tools wherein said system comprises: a body; an elongated groove arranged in the body for reception of a clamping part of at least one tool; at least one pusher element extendable into the groove for pushing the clamping part of a tool against a wall of the groove; wherein shape imposed displacement means for displacing the at least one pusher element from a first position substantially freeing the groove, enabling insertion of the clamping part of a tool into the groove, towards a second position, in which the at least one pusher element extends into the groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Wila B.V.
    Inventor: Franciscus Wilhelmus Rouweler
  • Patent number: 8424879
    Abstract: A connection connecting two tool parts includes a first tool part and a receptacle for receiving a second tool part. A clamping device clamps the tool parts together in a joined state. The connecting point further includes a retaining device that is independent of the clamping device and holds the tool parts together in the joined state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Mapal Fabrik fur Prazisionswerkzeuge Dr. Kress KG
    Inventor: Andreas Reinauer
  • Publication number: 20130055874
    Abstract: A tool retention device of a machine tool includes a tool receiving member, at least one tool abutment, an axial tensioning device, and a radial clamping device. The tool receiving member serves to at least partially receive a processing tool. At least one axial tensioning element of the axial tensioning device pulls the processing tool against an associated tool abutment along a direction of a tensioning axis. While the radial clamping device is decoupled therefrom, the radial clamping device clamps the processing tool by at least one radial clamping element in a direction perpendicular to the tensioning axis of the axial tensioning device. A machine tool may also be provided with the tool retention device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2012
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicant: TRUMPF WERKZEUGMASCHINEN GMBH + CO. KG
    Inventor: TRUMPF Werkzeugmaschinen GmbH + Co. KG
  • Patent number: 8366122
    Abstract: A rotary tool has an output shaft having an axis of rotation and a distal neck portion which has at least three neck faces that do not intersect the axis of rotation, and a substantially U-shaped spring element having a base portion and two leg portions, wherein the spring element straddles the distal neck portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Siew Yuen Lee, Mohsein Wan, Chi Hoe Leong, Manfred Lutz
  • Patent number: 8359727
    Abstract: The method includes the steps of positioning a workpiece with a centering surface on a centering clamping member of a chuck, pressing a radial contact surface of the workpiece against a clamping surface of the chuck with a first force, centering the workpiece by clamping the centering clamping member against the centering surface, and pressing the radial contact surface of the workpiece against the clamping surface of the chuck with a second force, the second force being greater than the first force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Schenck RoTec GmbH
    Inventors: Jürgen Dölp, Christian Muth, Karlheinz Timtner
  • Publication number: 20120319365
    Abstract: A parallel power chuck for clamping two ends of a shaft or similar workpiece for machining using two centering mechanisms. The centering mechanisms independently operate from a single internal actuation mechanism and clamp each end of the shaft regardless of shaft size from end to end. The internal actuation mechanism further equalizes applied clamping force after compensating for size variation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Inventors: Thomas Michael Grobbel, Ryan Lynn Wejrowski, Thomas Allen Borysiak, Daniel Ray Duell, Brian J. Crowley
  • Patent number: 8262098
    Abstract: A rotary tool includes a collet which in one embodiment includes a bit holder defining a shank receiving bore, a transfer member for transferring rotational force from the bit holder to the shank of an accessory, and a centering member positioned within the bit holder and configured to automatically grip the shank when the shank is positioned within the shank receiving bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Verica Maras
  • Patent number: 8214985
    Abstract: A rectangular parallelepipedic (cuboidal) work is fixed by clamping the opposing two edges between clamp jaws attached to a pair of clamps. With the work fixed, at least one surface of the work is machined. Then, the position of the work is changed by rotating the clamps and the work all together around the rotating axis, and the other surface is machined. The foregoing step is repeated to machine all the six surfaces of the work, during which the work is kept fixed by clamping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Kitamura Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Akihiro Kitamura
  • Patent number: 8172236
    Abstract: A bit mounting device includes a holder that may be mounted to a spindle of the power tool or may be a part of the spindle. A bit push member is disposed within a bit receiving hole that is formed in the holder for receiving a tool bit. The movement of the operation member is transmitted to the bit push member via a transmission mechanism, so that the tool bit is pushed in a removing direction from the bit receiving hole by the bit push member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Makita Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshinori Shibata
  • Patent number: 8172234
    Abstract: A collet assembly for use on a support device comprising a rotatable base section, a support structure secured to the support device, with the support structure supporting the base section on said support device. The base section has a central axis, and the base section is rotatable with respect to the support member and the central axis to a plurality of positions. The collet assembly includes a locking device for locking the base section at one of the plurality of positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Urban Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Randall J Bernhardt
  • Publication number: 20120087756
    Abstract: Provided are: a double grasping mechanism including a double grasped part and a double gripping mechanism; a spindle, a holder holding mechanism, a main-spindle, and a holder holding device each including a double gripping mechanism; and a tool holder; a chuck holder; and a clamp holder. The double grasped part is formed by an outer pull stud and an inner pull stud. The double gripping mechanism is formed by: an outer gripping mechanism including an outer large-diameter part, an outer small-diameter part, an outer draw bar, and outer balls; and an inner gripping mechanism including an inner large-diameter part, an inner small-diameter part, an inner draw bar, and inner balls. The tool holder includes the outer pull stud. The chuck holder includes the outer pull stud and the inner pull stud. The clamp holder includes the outer pull stud and the inner pull stud.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2010
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Inventor: Minoru Kanematsu
  • Patent number: 8152173
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided, for clamping a fiber placement tool to a fiber placement machine, along a rotational axis of the fiber placement machine, through use of a clamping apparatus having a plurality of drive lugs extending axially from the machine, and having three intersecting faying surfaces thereof which mate simultaneously in substantially intimate contact with three corresponding intersecting faying surfaces of a plurality of drive lug receptacles extending axially from the tool. Pairs of movable tines, disposed on opposite sides of each drive lug, pull the drive lugs into intimate contact with the drive lug receptacles. Master fixtures are used for setting the drive lugs and lug receptacles with respect to corresponding ones of the other, to achieve a desired intimate fit between faying surfaces thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Ingersoll Machine Tools, Inc.
    Inventors: Tino Oldani, Giovanni Bonomi
  • Patent number: 8132990
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a rotatable device, which may be a keyless chuck, a keyless chuck adapter, a collet chuck, a collet adapter, a set screw bit retaining chuck, or a set screw bit retaining adapter. The rotatable device is configured to be mounted to a power tool for rotational driving of the rotatable device. The rotatable device is configured to receive a first bit device detachably mounted in the rotatable device for powering rotational movement of the first bit device. A mounting section having at least one flat secant side is defined on the rotatable device, which is capable of being rotatably driven by the power tool. The mounting section includes at least one locking mechanism on it. The generally cylindrical mounting section is adapted for insertion in and engagement with a bit holding attachment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Inventor: Lynn E. Bauman
  • Patent number: 8123234
    Abstract: A pair of gripping sections performs opening and closing operations along a base member through displacement of a piston by means of a pressure fluid supplied to a chuck body. A pair of fingers, which constitute the gripping sections, is openable and closable in directions perpendicular to opening/closing directions of the gripping sections, by means of a driving force supplied from a driving section. The gripping sections are positioned with respect to a workpiece by actuating the pair of fingers to perform the opening/closing operation. Thereafter, by supplying the pressure fluid, the workpiece is gripped at a desired gripping position by means of the gripping sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Seiji Tomita, Motohiro Sotome
  • Patent number: 8079790
    Abstract: A method for making by assembling a tool to and in a tool holder, and the tool and tool holder, and the assembled tool and tool holder. The tool is shrink-fitted into a cylindrical bore of the tool holder, and a shoulder of the tool abuts an abutment face of the tool holder. Structure, such as press, a screw, a draw bolt, or a cylinder, for example, is provided to apply an axial force to the cutting tool to force the tool shoulder against the abutment face of the tool holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Hanita Metal Works, Ltd.
    Inventor: Vladimir Volokh
  • Patent number: 8061718
    Abstract: A bit holder for a rotary tool is disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the bit holder comprises a drive shaft with an elongated bit channel configured to receive a tool bit for the rotary tool. A cavity is provided in a peripheral wall of the drive shaft. The cavity extends in a radial direction from the bit channel to an outer portion of the drive shaft. A moveable lock member is positioned in the cavity of the drive shaft. A collet is positioned in the bit channel apart from the cavity. The collet includes a collapsible end portion configured to clamp down on the tool bit. A collet nut rotatably engages the drive shaft and is moveable between a release position and a lock position. In the lock position the collet nut clamps the collapsible end portion of the collet while also forcing the lock member into the bit cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Harald Krondorfer
  • Patent number: 8015679
    Abstract: A rectangular parallelepipedic (cuboidal) work is fixed by clamping the opposing two edges between clamp jaws attached to a pair of clamps. With the work fixed, at least one surface of the work is machined. Then, the position of the work is changed by rotating the clamps and the work all together around the rotating axis, and the other surface is machined. The foregoing step is repeated to machine all the six surfaces of the work, during which the work is kept fixed by clamping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Kitamura Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Akihiro Kitamura
  • Patent number: 7954824
    Abstract: A coupling device includes a body having an end for coupling with a handle. The body includes a compartment having a receiving space for receiving an object such as a bit. The receiving space includes a slanted face extending longitudinally outward and radially inward. A follower is slidably mounted in the compartment and includes an outer end having a restraining hole. A positioning member extends from a radially outer side through the restraining hole to a radially inner side of the follower and is slidable along the slanted face. The follower is biased outward by an elastic element toward the receiving space when the object is inserted into the receiving space and moves the follower longitudinally inward. A radial clamping force is imparted from the slanted face through the positioning member to securely clamp the object in the receiving space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Inventor: Bobby Hu
  • Publication number: 20110094357
    Abstract: A chuck device for a machine tool includes: a center unit disposed in an axial hole in a tubular housing, extending along a hole axis of, and having a tip extending outwardly of the housing and abutting against a workpiece; a chuck unit disposed movably in the axial hole, sleeved on the center unit and including a chuck member disposed adjacent to the tip of the center unit; and a sleeve unit disposed movably in the axial hole, concentric with the housing and sleeved on the chuck unit. The sleeve unit has a pushing end portion sleeved on and abutting against the chuck member, and is operable to move relative to the housing along the hole axis such that the chuck member is driven by the pushing end portion of the sleeve unit with movement of the sleeve unit to move away from the housing and to clamp the workpiece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Inventor: Hsuan-Lung WU
  • Patent number: 7896590
    Abstract: A cutter is for driven engagement with an arbor having one of an extending member and a pair of set screws. The cutter includes a shank portion having a central axis and a cutting portion extending from the shank portion along the central axis. A retaining recess is formed in the shank portion for selectively receiving the extending member of the arbor when the arbor is configured to have the driving device. A pair of flats are each formed in the shank portion for engaging the set screws when the arbor is configured to have the set screws. One of the flats extends in a first plane and the other of the flats extends in a second plane perpendicular to the first plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Hougen Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffery R. Miller, Gary D. Taphouse
  • Patent number: 7862050
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for centering accurately and speedy a workpiece on a magnet chuck mounted on a work spindle. A pair of action pads spaced away from one another comes into engagement with the workpiece attracted to the work spindle, thereby performing the centering operation. The action pads are mounted on a support plate that can freely turn on a fulcrum. As the fulcrum makes head towards a rotational center of the magnet chuck, the action pads comes into abutment in a rocking manner against the workpiece that is held at off-center relation in the chuck, thereby compensating the off-center relation to keep a center of the workpiece in alignment with the rotational center of the chuck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Nippon Thompson Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Naoki Koshino
  • Patent number: 7845428
    Abstract: An extremely useful rotating tool is provided that can prevent rattling caused by a clearance between a machine tool and a machine tool retaining hole while bringing the axial center position of the machine tool and the axial center position of the machine tool retaining hole as close together as possible. The present invention is a rotating tool having a rotating main shaft (4), and the rotating main shaft (4) is provided with a machine tool retaining hole (3) having a cross-sectional shape that substantially matches a base part (2) of a driver bit, drill bit, or other machine tool (1) having a polygonal cross-sectional shape that is inserted into the machine tool retaining hole (3), wherein the rotating tool rotates the machine tool (1) inserted in the machine tool retaining hole (3) by rotating the rotating main shaft (4) and performs work.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Yukiwa Seiko Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuo Sakamaki, Akira Sakamaki, Tadashi Taniguchi, Kazuki Aoyagi
  • Patent number: 7784166
    Abstract: A coupling device for connecting tools with different configuration to a driving mechanism. The coupling device may have a longitudinal axis, a first clamping device which may engage a tool with a peg-shaped clamping segment and a second clamping device which may engage a tool with a generally flat portion. The coupling device may be used to connect a tool to a drive shaft which may be attached to a motor. The tools may be locked or unlocked relative to the coupling device by sliding a sleeve along the axis of the coupling device. The sleeve may be biased in a locked position by biasing means such as a spring. The coupling device may be configured so that the first and second tool may be prevented from rotating and/or moving axially with respect to the drive shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Synthes USA, LLC
    Inventor: Peter Tanner
  • Publication number: 20100201083
    Abstract: The invention relates to a tensioning device for a hollow shaft (1), comprising tensioning claws (3), which can be adjusted between a tensioned position, in which the tensioning claws (5) are engaged in the hollow shaft holder (7) having a tensioning structure (6), and an open position without engagement in the tensioning structure (6) by a tensioning head (5) guided axially displaceably in the working spindle (4). For the adjustment between the open position and the tensioned position, the tensioning claws (3) are displaceably supported in the working spindle (4) by the tensioning head (5) at the one end in a first pivot position and subsequently at the other end in a second pivot position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2008
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Inventor: Eugen Hangleiter
  • Patent number: 7708287
    Abstract: A collet assembly that holds two disks to be processed simultaneously uses alternating pressure zones to press against the inner diameter of the disks to hold them in place in a processing machine. While the disks to be processed are typically media disks, any type of disk processing can make use of the collet assembly of the present invention. Each pressure zone includes a contact surface on a chuck blade. When a travel stroke is initiated by an actuating device (typically an air cylinder), the drawbar pulls an angled expander rearward. The expander urges the chuck blades outward. Half of the pressure zones apply pressure (via the contact surfaces on the chuck blades) to the first disk, while the other half of the contact surfaces press against the second disk, so that both disks are held securely in position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Fourte Design & Development LLC
    Inventor: Iggoni Sunga Fajardo
  • Patent number: 7669860
    Abstract: A tool retaining device includes a housing having an engaging hole and having a chamber for slidably receiving a tool stem, the tool stem includes a socket opening for receiving a tool member which is also slidably engaged in the engaging hole of the housing, for allowing the tool member to be rotated by either the tool stem or the housing. The tool member may also be moved relative to the housing for changeably coupling tool members or tool bits having different lengths, and may be selectively moved into the housing, for allowing another tool element to be selectively engaged with the engaging hole of the housing when the tool member is moved into the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Hsin Ying Enterprise Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Wen Hung Chiang
  • Patent number: 7563061
    Abstract: A chuck has a generally cylindrical body member having a nose section and a tail section. The tail section is configured to mate with the drive shaft so that the body rotates with the drive shaft. The nose section has an axial bore formed therein and a plurality of jaws is slidably positioned to engage a bit within the axial bore. Each of the jaws has a bit engaging jaw face formed thereon. One or more centering members are disposed adjacent to the jaws. The members are deformable from a first position where the members define a through passage configured to accept a bit, which has a drive shaft diameter less than a predefined diameter. The members are further configured to be deformable to a second position upon the insertion of a bit, which has a diameter greater than the predefined diameter, into the axial bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Louis A. Gibbons, David C. Campbell
  • Patent number: 7543394
    Abstract: An exchanging device is for exchangeably holding a sensor, probe element or tool on a machine or on a machine part or a rotation-pivot unit on a machine or a machine part, preferably, a coordinate measuring apparatus. The exchanging device includes a take-up holder having a first bearing part and a counter piece (22) having a second bearing part corresponding to the first bearing part. A releasable clamping unit (42), for example, a magnetic clamping unit, is provided with which a clamping force is generated between the first and second bearing parts when the counter piece is accommodated on the take-up holder. A locking device having a first locking element (29) is provided on the take-up holder and a counter piece corresponding to the locking element (29) of the take-up holder is provided on the counter piece (22), for example, in the form of a slider (30). With the locking device, the counter piece can be mechanically coupled to the take-up holder in the state when it is taken up by the take-up holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Industrielle Messtechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Eckhard Enderle, Stefan André Binder
  • Patent number: 7503566
    Abstract: A workpiece-gripping device for tool machines having a motorized chuck mounted on an operating head comprises a housing, a driving shaft journaled in the housing and provided with a shank engageable in the chuck, a locking member configured to engage a reaction member integral with the operating head when the shank engages the chuck, whereby the rotation of the device is prevented when the chuck is driven, and at least a pincer having jaws, of which at least one is movable and operatively connected via transmission means to said driving shaft for opening and closing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Vigel S.p.A.
    Inventor: Marco Martinis
  • Publication number: 20080284117
    Abstract: The present invention provides a tool holder interchangeably attached to a machine tool such as a combined machining lathe. A combined machining lathe 1 comprises main spindles 20 and 30 for gripping a workpiece, and a machining main spindle head 50 which rotates around a B axis. There are provided stockers S1 and S2 inside the lathe, and tool holders 200 and 300 are respectively stored in the stockers S1 and S2. The tool holder 200 comprises a taper shank portion 230 of a main shaft in a housing 210 and four pull studs PS2 around the taper shank portion 230 of a main shaft, and is gripped by collet chucks of the machining main spindle head 50. Rotation of the taper shank portion 230 of a main shaft is transmitted to a shaft 250 via a gear mechanism, to drive a drill tool 252 to drill a deep hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2008
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Inventors: Naoya TANAKA, Yoshiya KATSU, Takamori IZAKI
  • Patent number: 7445214
    Abstract: A drive motor for driving a tool such as a grinding tool through a right angle drive has a rotatable head mounted on the housing and having a detent on the rotatable head for engaging a fixed component of the angled drive coupling so as to hold the axis of the angled drive coupling at a required angle around the axis of the housing and for adjusting the angle without removal of the right angle drive from the motor. The rotatable head includes an annular disk which surrounds the axis of the motor and has a central hole through which the driven member extends into the chuck. The disk is driven by an adjustment motor having a sprocket which engages gear teeth on the exterior of the disk and has a series of holes through the disk member at angularly spaced locations around the axis so that a locking pin driven by a locking pin motor engages into a selected one of the holes to lock the head at the required angle when rotated to the required angle by the adjustment motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: M.A.A.C. Group Inc.
    Inventor: Lawrence Henry Grodecki
  • Patent number: 7415766
    Abstract: A method of processing a vehicle wheel/rim preform with a centersection/spider and an annular wall extending around a first rotational axis and having an annular surface defining axially spaced, annular inboard and outboard bead seats. The method includes the steps of: providing a workpiece support having a chuck assembly that is rotatable around a second axis and at least one rim wall support assembly; engaging the chuck assembly with the centersection/spider to maintain the vehicle wheel/rim preform in a processing position; engaging the at least one rim wall support assembly with the annular wall to exert thereon a force with a radial component to thereby stabilize the wheel/rim preform; and processing the vehicle wheel/rim preform at the annular surface fully axially between the inboard and outboard bead seats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: NorthTech Workholding
    Inventors: Shawn Luschei, Spencer Hastert, Tim Winard, Peter Wang
  • Publication number: 20080098584
    Abstract: A machine for machining workpieces, for example plastic spectacle lenses, has a workpiece spindle which rotates the workpiece about a workpiece rotation axis, and a fast tool arrangement which moves a turning tool in the direction to and from the workpiece, wherein the workpiece spindle and the fast tool arrangement can moreover be moved relative to one another in a direction transverse to the workpiece rotation axis. A tool holder is connected to the fast tool arrangement and carries the turning tool. An engraving tool is spaced from the workpiece rotation axis and has an essentially point-shaped end facing towards the workpiece. The engraving tool can be moved in the direction of the workpiece and away therefrom in a highly dynamic manner via the tool holder, so that a marking can be produced on the workpiece in particular by a needling engagement of the engraving tool with the workpiece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2007
    Publication date: May 1, 2008
    Inventors: Urs Meyer, Marc Savoie
  • Patent number: 7347807
    Abstract: In the case of a machine tool which comprises at least one working spindle with a tool-holding fixture for tool holders carrying tools, and a tool changer with a gripper for the tool holders in order to transfer the tool holders between their magazine position, which is spaced apart from the tool-holding fixture, and their working position in the tool-holding fixture, a clamping system with a clamping apparatus by means of which a tool holder inserted into the tool-holding fixture is fixed is arranged in the working spindle, the clamping system additionally comprising a retaining apparatus for a tool holder situated in the tool-holding fixture. In the case of a method carried out on this machine tool, the clamping system carries out a retaining operation which temporally precedes the clamping operation in order to grasp the tool holder inserted into the tool-holding fixture before the clamping apparatus fixes the tool holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: CHIRON-WERKE GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Dirk Prust, Hans-Henning Winkler
  • Patent number: 7334970
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming apertures and inserting fasteners in a workpiece is disclosed. One embodiment relates generally to a bit holder device for forming apertures and inserting fasteners into a workpiece. This embodiment comprises a tool bit, a hex holder member, an adapter hex member, a double collet member, a collet retention cap and a drill bit. The drill bit is capable of drilling an aperture into a workpiece whereupon the drill bit, the collet retention cap, the double collet member and the adapter hex member are removed from the hex holder member thereby, allowing the tool bit to forcibly insert a fastener into the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Eazypower Corporation
    Inventor: Ira M. Kozak
  • Patent number: 7258348
    Abstract: A centering and holding fixture includes a base, a piston disposed within a piston chamber at least partially located within the base, and a radially flexible ring connected to the piston by force transmission apparatus operable to contract and expand the radially flexible ring by upward and downward motions respectively of the piston. The flexible ring may be slotted and may include alternating inwardly and outwardly extending radial slots extending axially through the flexible ring and extending radially inwardly and radially outwardly from radially outer and inner surfaces of the flexible ring respectively to axial stress relief holes extending axially through the flexible ring. The apparatus may further be operable to contract the radially flexible ring when the piston chamber is pressurized and to expand it when the piston chamber is depressurized. Spring loaded clamps mounted to the base may be used to secure a workpiece to the holding fixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Charles William Carrier
  • Patent number: 7243923
    Abstract: A drill includes a chuck which has a body member including a bore to receive a tool. Jaw members frictionally engage the tool to retain the tool in the chuck. A member is associated with the jaw members and the body to move the jaw members between clamping and non-clamping position. A centering mechanism extends radially into the body member to center tool bits within the chuck while prohibiting the tool bit from contacting the bore wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: David C. Campbell, Louis A. Gibbons
  • Patent number: 7210212
    Abstract: A bayonet collet pickup tool includes a collet chuck having a collet portion including a bore disposed therein. A collet is held in the bore and is operable therein. A bayonet cap is mounted to an outer surface of the collet chuck proximate the bore. The bayonet cap includes a tubular socket concentric with the bore, at least one pair of diametrically opposed linear slots adjacent the socket, and a circular ledge adjacent the socket and perpendicular to the slots. A part including a shaft and at least one pair of diametrically opposed pins projecting from the shaft is receivable in the bayonet cap and the bore. Rotating the collet chuck while the pins are level with the ledge and then closing the collet releasably retains the part in the tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventor: Yhu-Tin Lin
  • Patent number: 7165921
    Abstract: A holder for a collar having an axially forwardly directed shoulder and axially rearward thereof a radially outwardly directed centering surface has a drive sleeve fitted over the collar and a plurality of angularly spaced jaws each formed with an axially rearwardly directed face and displaceable between an outer position with their faces bearing on the shoulder and an inner position with their faces out of engagement with the collar. An axially displaceable actuating member can move the jaws between their inner and outer positions. A plurality of retaining fingers each have an axially rearwardly directed face and axially rearward thereof a radially outwardly directed centering face. These fingers are each radially elastically deformable between an outer position with the front-end faces bearing axially rearward on the shoulder and the centering faces bearing radially outward on the collar centering surface and an inner position out of contact with the collar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Rohm GmbH
    Inventor: Eugen Hangleiter
  • Patent number: 7140819
    Abstract: An adjustment device for adjusting the position of at least one cutter of a fine machining tool, particularly a reamer, with respect to a cutter support (ST) is described. To allow the cutter to be adjusted as precisely as possible, the cutter support (ST) borders at least one pressure chamber (DK) which is arranged in the adjustment direction of the cutter (S) with a displacement with respect to it and which is filled with a pressure medium which can be placed under pressure using a pressure generation device. Between the cutter (S) and the pressure chamber (DK), a cutter support wall (W) remains which is elastically deformable upon application of pressure by the pressure transfer means to adjust the cutter position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Inventors: Hans-Peter Broghammer, Rolf Ehrler