With Signal, Indicator, Illuminator Or Optical Means Patents (Class 408/16)
  • Patent number: 5741096
    Abstract: A line laser assisted alignment apparatus that uses two laser line generators to define a reference axis that is aligned to coincide with an axis of a drill bit or other rotational tool. The reference axis of the alignment apparatus is matched with a marked position on a lower surface of an object that is to be worked by the drill bit or other rotational tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1998
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Stephen P. Olds
  • Patent number: 5722785
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for fastening a rotatory drivable tool to the head of a technoscope by screwing a tool holder provided at the proximal side end of the tool to the distal end of the shank of a drive spindle. To secure undesired detaching of the tool from the technoscope, the tool holder is additionally screwed onto and against a cylinder sleeve which is run through by the shank of the drive spindle and rotatably mounted in the technoscope head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1998
    Assignee: Richard Wolf GmbH
    Inventor: Jorg Diener
  • Patent number: 5716169
    Abstract: A process for adjusting an effective tool diameter D and an effective tilt angle .alpha. of a cutting tool to a stipulated tool diameter and a stipulated tilt angle, respectively. The cutting tool includes a cutting blade disposed on a shaft and defining a cutting point and a cutting edge tilted by the effective tilt angle with respect to a rotational axis of the shaft, and a guide element disposed on the shaft opposite the cutting blade and defining a guide point and a guide line, the cutting point and the guide point being disposed on a cutting plane of the cutting tool. The process includes the steps of utilizing a measurement arrangement including a camera and a measurement slide supporting the camera; moving the measurement arrangement for acquiring the guide point on the camera; and moving the measurement arrangement to the cutting point for acquiring the cutting point on the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1998
    Assignee: Gildemeister-Devlieg System-Werkzeuge GmbH
    Inventor: Horst Schuerfeld
  • Patent number: 5700116
    Abstract: Disclosed is a tunable damping system for use in reducing vibrations associated with metal cutting and tooling. The tunable damping system may be located in a boring bar, an end mill, a modular tool section or the spindle/tool holder of the metal cutting machine. The tunable damping system incorporates a damper mass, elastomeric supports, and a means to lock the mass so as to determine tuning parameters. A tuner assembly consists of sensors and a microprocessor capable of recognizing the most dynamically flexible mode of vibration. The tuner assembly is also capable, through signal processing and microprocessor controlled algorithms, to direct the operator in implementing the proper tuning adjustments of the tunable damping system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1997
    Assignee: Design & Manufacturing Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: William T. Cobb, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5688120
    Abstract: A temperature gauge for drills of the type having a head to which a drill bur having a throughbore extending to its drill bur tip is removably mounted includes a temperature sensor receivable in the drill bur throughbore for sensing and measuring the temperature at the drill bur tip and a thermometer coupled to the temperature sensor for displaying the temperature at the drill bur tip. A method of measuring the temperature of the drill site is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1997
    Inventors: Miles J. Yacker, Michael Klein
  • Patent number: 5667345
    Abstract: Method of direction control consisting in producing one or more parallel reference lines (7,8) that may be manipulated in such a way that their directions become parallel to the intended direction and with the help of plane mirrors making images (9,10) of the reference lines and images (12,13) of the object the straightening up of which is to be controlled. Implement for use at the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1997
    Inventor: Ernst Sigurd Gustaf Folke Wiklund
  • Patent number: 5659131
    Abstract: A cutter fracture detecting system capable of easily detecting a fracture of a cutter having a plurality of cutting edges even when one of the cutting edges is broken. The cutter fracture detecting system has an observer for calculating a disturbance load torque of a spindle motor from a torque command value and a velocity feedback value, a band rejection filter for removing a given frequency component of the disturbance load torque which is determined by the number of cutting edges of the cutter and the rotational speed of the cutter, and a comparator for comparing an output signal from the band rejection filter with a predetermined reference value, and outputting a signal indicative of a fracture of the cutter when the output signal exceeds the predetermined reference value. In the event of a fracture of the cutter with plural cutting edges, a signal is generated that cannot be removed by the band rejection filter, and such a signal is monitored by the comparator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1997
    Assignee: Fanuc Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichi Kono, Junichi Tezuka
  • Patent number: 5626445
    Abstract: A tube cutter tool is insertable into a tube for cutting a coupon from a damaged site on the exterior of the tube. Prior to using the tool, the damaged site is first located from the interior of the tube using a multi-coil pancake eddy current test probe. The damaged site is then marked. A fiber optic probe is used to monitor the subsequent cutting procedure which is performed using a hole saw mounted on the tube cutter tool. Prior to completion of the cutting procedure, a drill in the center of the hole saw is drilled into the coupon to hold it in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1997
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Henry D. Nachbar, Marvin P. Etten, Jr., Paul A. Kurowski
  • Patent number: 5584838
    Abstract: A femoral nail which can be implanted in a bone has a transverse hole, and an arrangement is provided for generating a magnetic field which has a maximum strength along an axis of the transverse hole and which decreases in strength in directions radially away from the axis. A drill guide for axially aligning a drill with the transverse hole has an axial drill opening through it, and first and second sensor arrangements are provided at axially spaced locations on the drill guide and each have a plurality of sensors which are at angularly spaced locations and are spaced radially from the opening through the drill guide. An arrangement responsive to the first and second sensor arrangements detects a deviation of the drill opening in the drill guide from coaxial alignment with the axis of the hole in the member, and provides an operator perceptible indication of a radial direction from the drill opening to the axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1996
    Assignee: Stryker Corporation
    Inventors: Mehmet Rona, Douglas J. Ely, James A. Evans, Matthew S. Alves, Lisa D. Sertic, Christopher D. Philipp
  • Patent number: 5573335
    Abstract: A direct temperature sensing tool directly senses and provides feedback of the temperature of its cutting environment. The tool comprises a base body defining at least one cutting edge of the tool. A protective coating surrounds the base body and the cutting edge, the protective coating providing a friction-reducing surface for the tool. A thin film temperature sensing device, such as a thermocouple device, is disposed on the base body at a distance from the cutting edge. The temperature sensing device is encapsulated within the protective coating. An electrical connection is defined through the protective coating in electrical communication with the temperature sensing device. The tool is configurable with a machine tool so that the temperature sensing device is in communication with a conversion device of the machine tool for providing an indication of the temperature sensed by the temperature sensing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1996
    Inventor: Robert Schinazi
  • Patent number: 5529441
    Abstract: A system and method for optimizing drill coordinates in a multi-layer printed circuit board, to correct for interlayer shift during lamination. A set of test patterns, in the form of a cross formed by two orthogonal conductor lines, are defined at each corner of each layer in the same nominal location. Under ideal conditions, the test patterns of the layers in each corner are lined up one above the other, without any offset. A counter sinking tool is used to cut a conical bore in the location of the test patterns, so that every test pattern cross is interrupted in four places, generating a four segment pattern in each layer. A high resolution camera is placed above the countersunk bore to form a single image of the exposed segment edges of all the test patterns exposed by the bore. The image is analyzed to determine the amount of shift of each layer. If all patterns are perfectly concentric, all crosses are perfectly aligned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1996
    Assignee: Cybernetics Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Wojciech B. Kosmowski, John M. Rudolph
  • Patent number: 5522683
    Abstract: Disclosed is a drilling apparatus intended to obtain an image of a drilling mark for detecting the center of the drilling mark, irrespective of the material of a work (transparent material or nontransparent material).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1996
    Assignee: UHT Corporation
    Inventors: Masakazu Kakimoto, Takashi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 5518347
    Abstract: Disclosed is a tunable damping system for use in reducing vibrations associated with metal cutting and tooling. The tunable damping system may be located in a boring bar, an end mill, a modular tool section or the spindle/tool holder of the metal cutting machine. The tunable damping system incorporates a damper mass, elastomeric supports, and a means to lock the mass so as to determine tuning parameters. A tuner assembly consists of sensors and a microprocessor capable of recognizing the most dynamically flexible mode of vibration. The tuner assembly is also capable, through signal processing and microprocessor controlled algorithms, to direct the operator in implementing the proper tuning adjustments of the tunable damping system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1996
    Assignee: Design and Manufacturing Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: William T. Cobb, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5458443
    Abstract: A drilling tool is adapted for incorporation into a riveting robot. For this purpose, the drilling tool with its spindle head is mounted on a slide that is motor driven for displacement in the Z-direction of an XYZ coordinate system. The slide in turn is mounted on a console provided with a flange to be secured or docked to the riveting robot. The console is rotatable about its longitudinal axis that extends perpendicularly to the drill spindle axis and intersects the latter approximately in the center of the spindle axis. The drill spindle is rotatably mounted in a spindle head and carries a drive wheel approximately in the center between the spindle ends. The drive wheel is meshing or cooperating with a power transmission train from a motor that is also secured to the slide and moves up and down with the slide and thus with the spindle head. Another motor drives the up and down movement of the spindle head. This type of arrangement permits positioning the drill bit in difficult locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1995
    Assignee: Deutsche Aerospace Airbus GmbH
    Inventors: David N. Belge, Kurt Grossheim
  • Patent number: 5445479
    Abstract: An electrically energized hand drill (10) that incorporates a hand, wrist and forearm support (50). The drill (10) is ergonomically designed, in combination with the support (50), to reduce incidents of repetitive-use injuries and cumulative-effect traumas. The drill design includes a housing (12) having on its rear side (12B) an upper and lower handle support (30, 32) that support a substantially vertical handle (34). The handle has a trigger switch (35) that when depressed by the middle finger, a battery power-pack housing (38), located above the upper handle support, supplies power to an internal electrical circuit (14) that distributes the power to operate the drill (10). Located on the housing's lower section rear side (12B) is the hand, wrist and forearm support (50).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1995
    Inventor: George Hillinger
  • Patent number: 5439328
    Abstract: An apparatus for drilling holes in flexible materials used for flexographic printing includes a table which receives single sheets of flexible material which are to be drilled by a downwardly moveable drill. An optical mirror, TV-camera and monitor serve as viewing means to directly view the exact position on the surface of the material to be drilled. The optical mirror occupies a first position between the moveable drill and the flexible material, the first position being directly below the drill and directly above a target location on a single sheet. The optical mirror is retractable to a second position away from the path of the moveable drill, the optical mirror being replaced in the first position after the drilling is accomplished.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1995
    Assignee: E. I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Kevin C. Haggerty, David L. Fox, John L. Fox, Richard O. Toles
  • Patent number: 5438860
    Abstract: In a cutter bit abrasion detecting device of a shield excavator comprising a plurality of cutter bits arranged on the front surface of a cutter head rotatably provided in front of a shield body for excavating a working place, a sensor hole or sensor holes are formed in each of some of the cutter bits and sensor heads each comprising a U-shaped single-core optical fiber accommodated in a casing are inserted thereinto. As a result, sensor heads can be thin to be easily inserted into the sensor holes having a small diameter so as to be set in cutter bits with ease since the single-core optical fiber is employed and the attenuation of light received by the sensor head can be reduced due to the attenuation of light between a reflector plate and the optical fiber since no reflector plate is employed, so that accuracy in detection is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1995
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Komatsu Seisakusho
    Inventors: Kazunari Kawai, Hiroshi Miura
  • Patent number: 5393178
    Abstract: A cut or slit is provided in the holder generally perpendicular to the actual opening through the holder in which the shaft of an engraving quill is held. The cut or slit completely intersects the opening and divides the cut portion into two sections of unequal thickness. Means are provided for opening or closing the slit to thereby engage and disengage the quill shaft. This means is provided by a pair of set screws; one in the portion of the holder above the slit and one in the portion of the holder below the slit. A polymer insert is provided for smoothly engaging the shaft of an engraving quill when the slit is forced open. It is on the opposite side of the opening from the set screws. Turning a set screw causes the thinner portion of the cut holder to bend locking an engraving quill shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1995
    Inventor: Bruno Daraz
  • Patent number: 5382120
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device that is hand held and independent of a drill, either hand held or powered by electricity. This device consists of a tubular housing with a turn screw plunger shaft and a scale for measurement in inches on one side and metric on the other side of a liner window opening on one side of said tubular housing The user selects the depth of the hole to be drilled, sets the turn screw to that depth as indicated on the outside scale. The leading end of a drill bit is then inserted in the receiving end opening in the tubular housing that is opposite to the turn screw plunger. Thereafter, a collar with a set screw is placed over the flat end of the bit and secured by the set screw to the bit at the receiving end wall of the device of the present invention. The bit, on which the set screw collar is secured, may then be inserted in any type of drill and when used will drill only to the depth of the collar as measured and set by the device of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1995
    Inventor: Richard E. Parsons
  • Patent number: 5361504
    Abstract: A universal guide for an electric drill includes a transparent elongated L-shaped member with two mutually perpendicular faces. Each face has two parallel long edges and two short edges, and they share a common long edge. For each face, one of the two short edges is a perpendicular edge and the other of the two short edges is an angled edge in which the perpendicular edges are perpendicular to the long edges, and the common edge is formed such that the perpendicular edges are mutually adjacent to each other and the angled edges are mutually adjacent to each other. Magnetic areas are formed on surfaces of each of the faces. Level indicators are attached to each face perpendicular to the common long edge and to the common long edge in a direction perpendicular to the perpendicular level indicators. At least one long edge is ruled and guide lines are marked on the faces in a direction parallel to the long edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1994
    Inventor: Hung C. Huang
  • Patent number: 5347462
    Abstract: In order to enable the determination of a center precisely and automatically, a reference mark on a printed circuit board is image-recognized to determine tone transition points, thereby to determine an interim center and diameter of the mark by a four-points searching method. Next, a preset minute value .alpha. is added to the interim mark diameter to determine a standard circle diameter, thereby to set a standard circle having the interim center as its center. Then, image processing is performed in that standard circle and the mark is separated into a plurality of sections. The center of the mark is detected by determining the center of the section of the tone indicating the mark. Machining operations such as the perforations are carried out on the basis of the detected center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1994
    Assignee: Seikosha Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Okuda, Masatoshi Araki
  • Patent number: 5275517
    Abstract: A tool for removing resist material from the sides of conductive boards such as circuit boards wherein it is necessary to remove resist material which covers and surrounds passages which are provided through the conductive board. The tool includes a surface plate to support the board, a light source below the plate, a vertically shiftable cutting tool arranged below the surface plate and an inspection unit for visual and electronic inspection of the passage location mounted above the surface plate. Light passing from below the surface plate will be visible to the inspection unit as a board passage is located over the center of the cutting tool with the light passing through the supporting surface plate, the resist material and the board passage. When the passage is properly located, a clamp device is actuated to positively clamp the board into proper cutting position for removal of the resist material from the bottom side thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 4, 1994
    Assignee: Ozerine Turnipseed
    Inventors: Ozerine Turnipseed, Robert Kliewer, Steven M. Nolan
  • Patent number: 5265986
    Abstract: A multispindle machine for drilling, milling or the like of workpieces has several spindles mounted on at least one crossbeam rail (4), and the workpieces and spindles can be displaced relative to one another along X and/or Y coordinates. To minimize machining time, each crossbeam rail mounts at least two spindles (3) which are displaceably independently of one another in the long direction or X coordinate of the crossbeam rail (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1993
    Assignee: atg electronic GmbH
    Inventor: Manfred Prokopp
  • Patent number: 5256010
    Abstract: A machine tool is disclosed having an inverted spotfacer chucked in a rotatable tapered spindle socket. The inverted spotfacer comprises an actuation shaft being rigidly axially connected to a tapered shank which, in turn, is chucked in the socket. A shoulder element can be displaced on the actuation shaft against the force of a spring. Further, a positive control mechanism acts between the actuation shaft and the shoulder element. Due to the action of the positive control mechanism, when axially displacing the actuation shaft relative to the shoulder element, a cutting tool arranged tiltably at the lower end of the actuation shaft may be tilted between two operational positions. In the first operational position the cutting tool extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the spotfacer, whereas in the second operational position the cutting tool extends perpendicularly to the spotfacer axis, the second operational position being the position in which the spotfacer may make countersunk bores on workpieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1993
    Assignee: Chiron-Werke GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Holger Hehl, Rudolf Haninger
  • Patent number: 5251511
    Abstract: The invention concerns an adjustable tool for use in machine tools, with a slide (14) which can be fitted with at least one cutting tool and which can be displaced relative to the rotating main body (10) perpendicularly to the axis of rotation. The invention also calls for a device (20) for the direct measurement of the displacement of the slide (14), the slide being fitted with an electronically read measurement scale (24). This device comprises battery-powered data-processing electronics (20) and is located inside the main body (10). The displacement reading can be presented on a digital display (26) which is also mounted in the tool head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1993
    Assignee: KOMET Praezisionswerkzeuge Robert Breuning GmbH
    Inventors: Werner Muendlein, Gerhard Scheer, Gerhard Stolz
  • Patent number: 5248229
    Abstract: A chuck for a tool, particularly a drilling tool has a shaft receivable in a machine spindle, a sleeve arranged for receiving a fast exchange insert with a tool or directly a tool, a longitudinal compensation device connecting the sleeve with the shaft and reacting to a relative axial displacement of the shaft and the sleeve, a signal device provided with a current source, a signal transmitter and a switch which is axially displaceable between the shaft and the sleeve and arranged in a current supply circuit of the signal transmitter, at least a part of which transmitter is arranged outside and peripherally of the shaft, and an outer ring holder which surrounds the shaft and carries the signal device together with the current source, the signal transmitter and the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1993
    Assignee: Otto Bilz, Werkzeugfabrick GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Reiner Bilz
  • Patent number: 5203650
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for drilling holes, each having a substantially similar and desired depth. Apparatus 10 includes a limit switch 42 which deactivates motors 20 and 33 and light 34 when the drill motor's travel has reached a predetermined point and correspondingly the drill bit has reached a desired depth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1993
    Assignee: Everett D. Hougen
    Inventor: Dennis C. McCourtney
  • Patent number: 5170545
    Abstract: An adaptor is disclosed which is designed to be attached to an existing screwgun having a bit with a polygonally shaped end. The adaptor has a recess designed to drivingly receive the hexagonally shaped end of the bit and may be fixedly attached to the existing screwgun. The adaptor has gearing designed to allow rotation of a tool receiving adaptor at a much greater speed than the input speed. A saw blade may be attached to the tool receiving adaptor so that the inventive screwgun saw adaptor may be employed to convert a screwgun into a sawing device. In one embodiment of the present invention, an electrical circuit is incorporated into the adaptor which allows determination of the location of an electrical box behind a wall, which device includes a sensor and an indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1992
    Inventor: Darin W. Hubscher
  • Patent number: 5165827
    Abstract: An axially moveable portable tool, such as a drill, and a guide for the tool are disclosed. The guide has a base with a post and a handle attached to and extending from the base. The post and handle are positioned so that a projection of the time of force applied during use to the tool grip and to the handle, both fall substantially within the base footprint. The upper extremity of the post can be provided with attachments that form parallel guide means or with angular sections that form a external guide for standard size and shaped portable tools. The portable tools can be easily attached to the post to assume a specific angle with the base and can be easily removed from it for independent use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1992
    Inventor: Bernard Miller
  • Patent number: 5161925
    Abstract: A tool head for moving a tool to a workpiece and applying an axial force thereto includes a grooved tubular spindle mounted on a fixed shaft for relative axial and rotational movement. The spindle is rotated by a timing belt transmitting power from a driver timing pulley. The timing belt is fitted around the timing pulley and grooved spindle with a pair of 90.degree. twists in the loaded and unloaded sections between the two pulleys. As power is applied to the timing pulley, the belt migrates toward the end of the pulley and the spindle closest to the unloaded section of the belt; and when a resistant torque is applied to the spindle the timing belt migrates to a stable position with respect to both the timing pulley and the grooved spindle and transmits torque and an axial force to the spindle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1992
    Inventor: James M. Denker
  • Patent number: 5161922
    Abstract: Electronic measuring and control of countersinking depth and/or failure of a drilling tool. Eddy current proximity detecting means is utilized for stopping and retracting the countersink drilling process after a pre-selected depth is achieved wherein a visual indication of the countersink depth is provided by way of sequentially lit LED segments through structure for detecting a surface up and away from the working end of the tool thereby avoiding contamination problems. Further, detection of vibration or chatter in the workpiece is shown as a means for detecting tool defects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1992
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Joseph P. Malloy
  • Patent number: 5155941
    Abstract: Disclosed is an industrial endoscope system having a rotary treatment member, attached to a hard top part at a distal end of an insertion unit, for effecting a treatment such as grinding by rotating this treatment member itself. The system includes a moving means for making a distal end of the treatment member movable in the axial directions of the insertion unit. This easily leads the treatment member to a target position via a lead-in port of an engine; or the treatment member can be set in a position suitable for the treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1992
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ichiro Takahashi, Minoru Okada, Satoshi Tatami, Tsutomu Yamamoto, Masahiro Kumakura, Hideki Okuwa, Hiroaki Noda, Nobuyuki Sakamoto, Tatsuya Ito, Eiichi Fuse, Masaaki Hayashi, Katsuya Suzuki
  • Patent number: 5152327
    Abstract: An apparatus for providing a warning of the rotation of a spindle for a machine such as a wood working machine which gives a warning while a spindle continues to rotate due to inertia even after a motor driver for a spindle motor for rotating the spindle is interrupted thus enhancing the safety of operation of the machine. The apparatus comprises a warning device for warning that the spindle is rotating, a rotation detecting device for detecting rotation of the spindle and continuously generating, while the spindle is rotating, an electric signal independently of whether the motor driver is operative or inoperative, and a controller for discriminating between the presence and absence of an electric signal from the rotation detecting device and controlling the warning device in accordance with a result of the discrimination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1992
    Inventor: Isao Shoda
  • Patent number: 5123789
    Abstract: A method of and apparatus for effecting a machining operation, e.g. drilling, on a multi-layered printed circuit board utilizing a machining apparatus having a spindle for driving a tool. The spindle is movable in the axial direction of the tool and a pressure foot for pressing the printed circuit board during the machining is mounted on the spindle for relative movement with respect thereto. The method includes the steps of determining the position of the end of a tool with respect to the end of a pressure foot in the state before the pressure foot contacts the printed circuit board, setting the amount of relative movement between the pressure foot and the tool necessary for effecting the desired machining, on the basis of the position of the end of the tool and a predetermined set value of the machining depth; and effecting the machining on the printed circuit board by controlling the feed of the tool in conformity with the amount of relative movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1992
    Assignee: Hitachi Seiko, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tamio Ohtani, Yasuhiko Kanaya, Tuyoshi Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 5118227
    Abstract: Improvements in template boring machines, formed because they leave the platform fixed and the bit with an up and down movement, by means of a circuit with various multivibrators connected to one another by different relay sections, allowing movement of the rotating motors and lift and fall of the bit; automatic cycle repeat, by means of end of stroke microswitches designed in the lift and fall motor; acoustic means coupled to warn of end of cycle, and time constant device, for automatic cycle performance, and adjustment of bit, by immobilizing the rotating motor of the bit, and lift movement of the bit to a maximum position, where it is set, returning to automatic performance when a hand switch is pressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1992
    Inventor: Oscar R. Gregorio Gracia
  • Patent number: 5111406
    Abstract: In order to correct for misregistration of solder pads in multilayer board (MLB) panels and determine drill target locations through vertical stacks of the solder pads, a fixture is prepared with fixture holes arranged in a pattern that corresponds with the locations of fiducial pads that are located on the MLB panel. The fixture has tooling pins that engage with tooling holes in the MLB panel to hold the MLB panel in an absolute position relative to the fixture. An x-ray inspection system views the superimposed image of a selected fixture hole and a corresponding fiducial pad that is visible within the boundary of the fixture hole. A software routine is then used to compute the offset between the fixture hole and the fiducial pad. The process is then repeated for the remaining sample of fixture holes and fiducial pads. The results are then fitted and then sent to a drilling machine to determine a position for the drilled holes in the MLB panel that compensates for the misregistration of the solder pads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1992
    Assignee: Nicolet Instrument Corporation
    Inventors: Julie C. Zachman, Robert A. Kuntz, Steven R. Smith, James S. Hudzik
  • Patent number: 5096340
    Abstract: A quick adjust depth gage includes a handle-clamp assembly wherein the clamp includes an opening in which a cylindrical shaft with suitable depth measurement markings thereon is received. Turning the handle on the clamp enables the gage to be set to the desired depth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1992
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventor: Roger C. Forsgren
  • Patent number: 5090847
    Abstract: A pressure foot for a microwave drill detection system has a cavity in the base, a cover closing the opening into the cavity, with the cover and the base being designed to inhibit microwave radiation leakage, whereby a microwave beam directed toward a drill bit in the cavity is substantially confined within the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1992
    Assignee: U.S. Tech Corporation
    Inventor: Norbert E. Gelston, II
  • Patent number: 5086590
    Abstract: A sensing assembly is provided which, by utilizing the CNC machine's M-codes, is adapted to be retrofitted to existing numerical control machines for detecting the excessive wear, chipping, breaking or mislocation of the cutting tool and shutting down the CNC machining operation in response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1992
    Inventor: George Athanasiou
  • Patent number: 5062743
    Abstract: In a drilling device, a holder is provided that is displaceable with respect to a foot in a feed direction. A drilling machine tool is carried by the holder. An electromotor provides a feed drive for driving the holder in the feed direction. The drilling machine tool and/or the holder are displaceable relative to the feed drive in an opposite direction to the feed direction by overcoming a counterforce. A switching element monitors the relative displacement and enables a signal to be derived for stopping the feed drive if a predetermined value of counterforce is exceeded. Motor current is limited to a predetermined maximum value during operation of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1991
    Assignee: C. & E. Fein GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Dietrich Wieland, Martin Kalb, Werner Grupp, Michael Nothofer
  • Patent number: 5051044
    Abstract: An apparatus which is used to enhance the capability of in situ drilling of holes in existing pipes or other conduits, or virtually any cylindrical object. The apparatus includes a mounting unit which rests upon the pipe to be drilled and a drill mounting apparatus. The drill mounting apparatus is removably mounted to the mounting unit. The drill mounting apparatus is adapted to receive and position a drilling device which forms a hole in the pipe or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1991
    Inventor: Harold Allen
  • Patent number: 5036596
    Abstract: An apparatus for the positional adjustment of cutting tools for use on machine tools has a first block having a gauging surface mounted thereon and translationally and swivelly movable on a perpendicular shaft. A second block is coupled to the first block in such a manner that the two blocks move together translationally with the first block being free to swivel relative to the second block. The second block carries indicating means for indicating the amount of translational movement of the two blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1991
    Inventors: Christopher J. Gyoury, Andrew J. Cisternino
  • Patent number: 5028057
    Abstract: A device on hand machine tools is suggested for the transmission of torque to percussion drilling tools in which at least two rotary driving grooves open out at the end of the tool shaft and strip-shaped rotary drivers of the tool shaft engage in these rotary driving grooves and include assigned flanks, which are at least approximately planar, and in which locking members are arranged in the tool receptacle and cooperate with two recesses in the tool shaft which are closed on both sides and lie diametrically opposite one another. In order to avoid incorrectly reversed insertion of tools with driving grooves which are worn out due to intensive wear, the latter are distributed along the circumference of the tool shaft in such a way that two rotary driving grooves can in no case lie diametrically opposite one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1991
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Karl Wanner
  • Patent number: 5020401
    Abstract: A universal tool for inspecting and processing plastic pipe includes a cylindrical chamfering element with a cylindrical wall and a pipe-receiving opening therein terminating in a base ring, the base ring carrying a tapered pin having an axis parallel to the axis of the cylindrical chamfering element, the wall of the chamfering element having a slot therein proximate the tapered pin and a four-edged cutting element mounted on the outer surface of the cylindrical wall and having one edge of the cutting element protruding through the slot in proximity to the tapered pin, the pipe to be chamfered being forced into contact with the cutting edge by axial pressure on the chamfering element and rotation thereof, an ovality-gage being carried by the chamfering element and being arcuatley rotatable, at the end of the arc rotation of the gage causing rotational forces to be applied to the chamfering element, i.e., the ovality-gage acting as a handle for the chamfering element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1991
    Inventor: Stephen L. Jiles
  • Patent number: 5007776
    Abstract: A controller for a magnetic base drill unit provided with a safety circuit which is constructed by connecting in series a relay provided with contacts for cutting the power supply to the drill motor and feed motor, a resistor and a diode. The relay is actuated when a voltage higher than the predetermined voltage to be applied to the feed motor in the hole cutting mode is applied to the feed motor during the hole cutting, thereby cutting the power supply to the drill and feed motors. The controller has a means for confirming the operation of the safety circuit which apply a test voltage higher than the maximum predetermined voltage to be applied during the hole cutting to the feed motor in the fall mode of the electric drill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1991
    Assignee: Nitto Kohki Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Michihiro Shoji
  • Patent number: 5006022
    Abstract: An axially moveable portable tool, such as a drill, and a guide for the tool are disclosed. The tool is provided with a gripping means and an internal guideway parallel to the axis of tool movement on the grip side of the tool. The guide has a base with a post and a handle attached to and extending from the base. The post and handle are positioned so that a projection of the line of force applied during use to the tool grip and to the handle, both fall substantially within the base footprint. The portable tool can be attached to the post to assume a specific angle with the base and can be easily removed from it for independent use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1991
    Inventor: Bernard Miller
  • Patent number: 5000627
    Abstract: Apparatus for adjusting the radial displacement of a member, such as a tool bit, from a rotational shaft, such as a boring bar used in a boring operation. An aperture in the boring bar supports the tool bit, allowing it to protrude radially outwardly from the boring bar. An adjustable feed mechanism in the aperture adjustably feeds the tool bit along the aperture. An adjusting mechanism couples with and facilitates adjustment of the feed mechanism. A calibrating mechanism on the adjusting mechanism, and on the boring bar, calibrates adjustment of the feed mechanism by the adjusting mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1991
    Inventor: Ronald A. York
  • Patent number: 4973205
    Abstract: An apparatus is set forth wherein a hand drill includes a conventionally configured elongate housing with an elongate orthogonally extending handle relative thereto, with a forwardly mounted collet to receive drill bits therewithin. The apparatus further includes a transparent drill bit housing pivotally mounted to an upper surface of the central housing body of the drill formed with a snap-fit cover to receive drill bits in a convenient and accessible manner. A bifurcated chuck-key holder includes resilient legs defining a slot to resiliently secure a chuck-key therewithin. A series of spirit levels are further provided wherein the levels include a mercury encapsulate leveling member to accommodate vibration in use of the drill, wherein the levels are positioned within an extension housing of the drill bit housing to provide various visible orientations of the levels during use of the drill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 27, 1990
    Inventor: Silas Spaulding
  • Patent number: 4968146
    Abstract: An optical depth measuring device for use with a drilling power tool for drilling a bore in a workpiece and comprising a radiation source for projecting an optical pattern onto a surface of the workpiece, a radiation receiver for receiving an image reflected from the surface of the workpiece, a conveying lens located in front of the radiation receiver for directing the reflected image and signal processing means for continuously determining the depth of the drilled bore in accordance with the image received by the radiation receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 6, 1990
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Frieder Heizmann, Christian Lietar, Raymond Pidoux
  • Patent number: RE35174
    Abstract: A device on hand machine tools is suggested for the transmission of torque to percussion drilling tools in which at least two rotary driving grooves open out at the end of the tool shaft and strip-shaped rotary drivers of the tool shaft engage in these rotary driving grooves and include assigned flanks, which are at least approximately planar, and in which locking members are arranged in the tool receptacle and cooperate with two recesses in the tool shaft which are closed on both sides and lie diametrically opposite one another. In order to avoid incorrectly reversed insertion of tools with driving grooves which are worn out due to intensive wear, the latter are distributed along the circumference of the tool shaft in such a way that two rotary driving grooves can in no case lie diametrically opposite one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1996
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Karl Wanner