Abstract: A breakage detecting device is mounted so that the position of the breakage detecting device in a direction parallel to an axial moving path of a spindle is unchanged. The breakage detecting device has a sensing element movable through a path that intersects the axial moving path of the spindle. If the sensing element comes into contact with a tip portion of a tool held by the spindle during the movement of the sensing element, it is judged that the tool held by the spindle has not been broken. Conversely, if the sensing element does not contact the tool, it is judged that the tool has been broken.

Abstract: A pneumatic air feed peck drill adapted to drill in repetitive cycles including a rapid advance phase, a slower drilling phase, and a rapid retract phase. The rapid advance phase ends and the drilling phase begins at a set back position, an adjustable distance from the workpiece, to minimize a drill bit and workpiece damage. The drill includes a drill motor and feed cylinder powered by air to rotate and advance and retract the drill motor. The drill motor and feed cylinder is coupled with an air and mechanical control system including a hydraulic feed control unit having a piston rod coupled with the drill motor to dampen the advance of the drill motor during the drilling phase and to release for rapid retract and advance phases.

Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring a machining state of a drill according to invention includes: a pressure-contact disk adapted to come into with a board or plate to be machined when a vertical movement plate moves downwardly so that a sensor can be mounted or attached with ease and there is no erroneous operation of the sensor resulting from aged deterioration or chips; a sensor provided on the vertical movement plate and adapted to transform vibration of the board to be machined, produced by machining by the drill, to an electric signal through the pressure-contact disk and the vertical movement plate; and a diagnostic apparatus body electrically connected to the sensor and adapted to analyze an electric signal from the sensor to diagnose the state of fracture or breakage of the drill.

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.

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.

Abstract: A toolholder assembly is divided into a drive toolholder coupled to the drive spindle of a machine tool, and a driven toolholder carrying a cutting tool such as a drill. The driven toolholder is coupled end to end to a drive toolholder so as to be rotatable relative to the same through a preassigned angle about the toolholder axis. A coiled torsion spring acts between the drive and the driven toolholders for torque transmission from the former to the latter. The drive and the driven toolholders have interdigitating teeth with clearances therebetween. A phase detector such as a proximity switch detects a relative phase displacement that will occur between the interdigitating teeth against the force of the torsion spring upon development of abnormal torque load on the cutting tool.

Abstract: A drill apparatus with an electromagnet base, which has an electric drill directed downwards, is provided with an electromagnet base having an electromagnet for attaching the apparatus to a to-be-worked object by magnetic force. The electric drill is rotated by a drill motor and moved by a feed motor towards the object. A Hall element is situated on the electromagnet base. Two comparators detects whether or not a Hall voltage output from the Hall element falls in a predetermined range of voltage values. When the Hall voltage does not fall in this range, a transistor is turned on. Consequently, a relay is operated, a contact is opened, and power supply to the drill motor and the feed motor is stopped.

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.

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.

Abstract: An automated drilling station for use in a computer controlled manufacturing system comprising an adjustable frame structure for releasably clamping a work piece in a planar work position, a chuck assembly adapted to operatively receive a selected drill bit, a drive train for selectively moving the chuck assembly on an axis perpendicular to the plane of the work position, feed racks for storing a plurality of drill bits of various predetermined sizes, a robot assembly for transferring a selected drill bit between the feed racks and the chuck assembly at a transfer station remote from the work position, a drive train for selectively translating the chuck assembly between the transfer station and work position and between locations on one side of the work piece aligned with predetermined drilling locations in the work position and a selectively rotatable turret having bushings of various sizes disposed about the periphery thereof for selective disposition in opposed relation to the chuck assembly at each predet

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.

Abstract: A magnet base drill unit in which the driving of the drill motor and the feed motor of the magnet base drill unit is stopped by operation of the switch which operates on the instant when sliding has been produced in the magnet base drill unit, and the stopping thereof is maintained electrically or electronically. A mercury switch comprising a cylindrical body in which mercury is sealed, and a pair of contacts provided so as to project into the cavity of the cylindrical body, or a vibration switch comprising a fixed contact, and a vibration responsive contact placed by a spring means in proximity to the fixed contact is preferably used.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling an operating stroke of a reciprocating member to be reciprocated by a drive motor. The apparatus includes an encoder adapted to generate pulses each of which corresponds to a predetermined incremental distance of movement of the reciprocating member, a counter for counting the pulses during movement of the reciprocating member in a forward direction, a device for converting the operating stroke into the number of the pulses corresponding to a multiple of the incremental distance of movement, and a residual distance which is a difference between the operating stroke and the multiple, a device for converting the residual distance into a corresponding residual time, and a device for commanding the drive motor to stop an operation thereof causing a further forward movement of the reciprocating member, when the residual time has elapsed after a count of the counter is equal to the above-indicated number of the pulses.

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.

Abstract: A tooling device for numerically controlled machining centers having programmable torque, thrust and surface sensing utilizing a telescopic tool holder comprising an adapter to be retained in the taper of the machine spindle and a control rod in the spindle attached to an actuating rod having electronic coupling means to control the axis feed rate of the computer numerical control for controlling deceleration of the spindle and a transducer for producing a signal to feed the spindle to a programmable depth and to measure the tool thrust and torque and to sense the location of work surfaces with random length tools and also be able to control feed rate of tool proportional to tool thrust or torque.

Abstract: A tool holder for monitoring the service time of a tool holded on the tool holder is disclosed. A sensor and electric circuit are provided for determining whether or not the machining operation with the tool is executed. Counters are provided for counting time cumulatively during the time when the machining operation is executed, and store the cumulative time as the service time of the tool. The service time is output to a numerical control apparatus via an output device.

Abstract: The apparatus comprises a mine shaft roof bolting machine for drilling holes in a mine shaft roof in combination with an apparatus for controlling the thrust applied to the drill rod, commonly known as a pinning rod, to ensure that a buckling failure of the pinning rod will not occur. The thrust is controlled by a computer in conjunction with a solenoid controlled relief valve which is actuated by commands from the computer. The computer determines the length of the pinning rod exposed below the mine shaft roof from data received from one or more of the following sensors: an electronic device for measuring hydraulic cylinder rod extension, contact switches, rotary encoders, proximity switches, and ultrasonic transceivers and associated circuitry.

Abstract: The trust exerted on a drill bit is sensed and employed to determine the speed at which the bit is driven. A controller for the drill compares the thrust to a predetermined threshold value and in response to the comparison emits a control signal which shifts a transmission in the drill into high or low speed. After each shift, a number of thrust samples are taken in order to compute an average thrust for different strata of the material being drilled. At the completion of drilling each hole, the average thrusts for the hole are used to recalibrate the shift threshold value. In this manner, the shift threshold is adjusted to compensate for drill bit wear. The sensed thrust is also compared to a bit reject threshold value to determine when the bit is too dull for proper drilling.

Abstract: A drilling machine operable to drill holes in desired patterns and diameters in circuit boards and similar items and the machine is provided with a base upon which a planar support is movable parallel to the base respectively in directions transverse to each other by power mechanism, an elongated support mounted above the planar support in parallelism therewith and at least one turret-like head is rotatable about the axis of and is supported by the elongated support.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for the contactless monitoring of a working tool for breakage or wear, the tool being installed in a machine having at least two parts, with one of the parts being stressed by forces imposed on the working tool during machine operation, by: inductively monitoring the position of the one part relative to the other of the two parts during machine operation to produce at least one induced voltage representative of a change in relative position; determining the value of the induced voltage; and emitting a signal when a predetermined change occurs in the value of the induced voltage.

Abstract: A rotating body, for example a chuck (10) comprises a sensor (56), a signal processing unit with amplifier and a plurality of transmitting diodes (14) and receiving diodes (16) peripherally spaced in a radial plane, in which also a stationary transceiving station (18) is arranged. The sensor (56) detects special working conditions of a tool clamped in the chuck (10). Signals of sensor (56) are fed to the signal processing unit. Sense commands transmitted from the transceiving station (18) via receiving diodes (16) are processed in the processing unit during rotation of the chuck (10) and corresponding working condition signals are transmitted from the transmitting diodes (14) back to the transceiving station (18).

Abstract: A method and arrangement for detecting a wear limit or break in a cutting edge of a machine tool. At least two conductor paths are embedded in the cutting material forming the cutting edge, one of the conductor paths being part of a closed circuit while the other is part of an open circuit. A signal serving to break off the machining process is produced if either the conductor path disposed in the circuit is interrupted or the open circuit is closed by the creation of a conductive connection between the two conductor paths.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for checking for tool breakage in machine tools having a sensor for sensing a clamped tool before and after a machining operation and an electronic device for evaluation of the measurement detected by the sensor. According to the invention the sensor is constructed as a moveable feeler rod (5) and in each measuring operation is pressed against the tool tip with an adjustable force independent of the length of the tool (7) concerned. A device for determining the respective measuring position of the feeler rod (5) provides the data for the evaluation.

Abstract: A positive feed drill assembly having an air powered motor and an automatic drill feed and retract mechanism with a normal feed, drill, and retract sequence of operation is provided with an improvement to control the number of times the drill can be used to make a hole with a particular cutter. The improvement includes an apparatus associated with the automatic feed and retract mechanism for sensing the cycle of each drilling operation. A counter functioning with the sensing apparatus counts the number of drilling operations. A comparator associated with the counter compares the accumulated number of drilling operations with a predetermined number. A signaling apparatus connected with the counter provides a signal to the operator when the drill assembly has performed the maximum number of drilling operations for that cutter so the operator can replace the cutter before using the drill assembly again.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a boring machine provided with a spindle supported rotatably in a spindle housing, a driving means for rotating the spindle, and a spindle feed mechanism supporting the spindle housing so that the spindle housing can be moved up and down. This boring machine includes a means for detecting the level of axial displacement of the spindle in boring motion with the detecting means not contacting the spindle, and a comparator for comparing the level of the actual axial displacement of the spindle or the thrust force applied thereto and corresponding to this displacement with a predetermined threshold level of axial displacement or a threshold level of thrust force. The spindle feed mechanism is controlled in response to the output from the comparator.

Abstract: A method and apparatus by which the degree of wear and useful life limitations of a drill, end mill or other types of metal removal tools can be detected. The method is based on the short circuit current, open circuit voltage and/or power that is generated during metal removal by the utilization of an insulated rotary tool bit to which electrical contact is made by a non-rotating conductor and an insulated or non-insulated workpiece, with an external circuit connecting the tool and workpiece through a measuring device. The generated current, voltage or power shows a sharp increase or change in slope upon considerable tool wear and/or at the point of failure.

Abstract: A device for simultaneously tapping threads and performing the usual operations of a punch press is described in which the tapping device is attached to the upper and lower plates of a punch press. As the punch plates are brought toward and away from each other, gear trains and helically grooved lead screws change the up and down motion into rotating motion. The gear trains also change the speed of the rotating motion which is used to drive a thread tapping tool through the metal being formed in the punch press. If there is too much force opposing the tapping operation, an electrical contact in the device is opened and the punch press stopped before the tap or tapping device can be damaged.

Abstract: The power tool has a magnetic base with superposed permanent magnet assemblies. The upper assembly can be moved relative to the lower assembly to subtract from or reinforce the magnetic field. When the sensing probe is pushed into the base the electric motor can be switched on to rotate a spindle on which a rotary cutting tool is axially mounted. The tool feed is controlled by a handle which can be mounted on either side of the tool housing. A coolant reservoir on the base has a hose connected to a pump which is connected to a manifold supplying coolant to the center of the cutting tool. The cutting tool is biased upwardly and pinches off the coolant when the tool is raised from the work.

Abstract: A tool abnormality detector for use with a machine tool for detecting any abnormality of a tool mounted on the tool mounting shaft. When the tool mounting shaft is in a correct position with respect to the tubular body secured to the spindle, the air pressure is kept constant. When an abnormal resistance is applied to the tool mounting shaft, the latter will lag in rotation with respect to the tubular body, so that the exhaust air passage will be blocked. A pressure sensor detects an abnormal increase in the air supply line, giving a signal for stopping the spindle of the machine tool. This prevents the tool from damage.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming openings in printed circuit boards includes a work table for supporting the printed circuit boards, and at least one drilling unit movable relative to the work table. The apparatus uses drills each having a shank, a collar fitted around the shank at a predetermined position. For holding these drills, at least one first tool holding device is provided on the work table, and at least one second tool holding device of a magazine type for containing the drills parallel to each other is removably mounted above the work table. At least one transferring device is provided to operate to push a desired drill out of the second tool holding device of the magazine type, hold the pushed-out drill and transfer the same to a position where it is aligned with the drilling unit.

Abstract: A contact detecting system for detecting the contact of a tool element, supported by a main shaft of a machine, with a workpiece comprises exciting and detecting coil assemblies, an electric power source for supplying a high frequency electric current to the exciting coil assembly to cause the latter to produce an induction current flowing in a loop circuit constituted by the machine shaft, the tool element and a framework of the machine, and a detector unit for generating a detection signal indicative of the actual contact of the tool element with the workpiece when the detector unit has detected the presence of a current component, which has resulted from the induction current generated by the exciting coil assembly, in the output signal from the detecting coil assembly.

Abstract: An electric drill safety device is provided for dynamically braking a drill when there is contact between the drill bit and an electrically conductive material. A first direction voltage is applied to the motor winding to turn the motor forward. When contact is detected between the drill bit and an electrically conductive material, voltage to the windings is discontinued momentarily and thereafter a reverse direction voltage is provided to the motor windings for a predetermined time.

Abstract: A motor driven hand-held device for rotating a tool, includes a housing with an axis of rotation containing an electrically conductive liquid mass located within a sealed non-electrically conductive container. A magnetic field is established in the housing by a permanent magnet and a part of the liquid mass is located within the magnetic field. If the housing is turned or twisted around the axis of rotation, relative movement takes place between the liquid mass and the container in the magnetic field. Due to the movement of the mass in the magnetic field, a voltage is induced in the mass and the voltage can be tapped by electrodes extending into the container. The tapped voltage can be used as an electrical signal.

Abstract: A microwave detection system is constructed which is useful for detecting the presence or absence of a target within a microwave transmission line.

Abstract: A drilling machine provided with an electromagnetic base comprises a first control system by which a warning device is actuated and/or a feed motor for automatically advancing an electric drill toward a workpiece is stopped when a load on the electric drill exceeds a prescribed first reference level while at work. A second control system further provided on the drilling machine is adapted to have the feed motor and/or the electric drill stopped when the load thereon is further increased and reaches a second reference level higher than the first reference level to assure high safety.

Abstract: A tool adapter for use in drilling, tapping and milling operations with the spindle of a machining center having a collet type tool holder which holds the tool which upon advancement into the work piece at a programmed feed rate to a programmed depth rate utilizes a spring loaded unit to signal the computer numerical control through a transducer of the machining center in the event a tool is broken during the machining operation to automatically stop said operation.

Abstract: A drilling machine including an electric drill being selectively fixed at a desired angle with respect to a workpiece and a manual feed handle for moving the electric drill toward and away from the workpiece. A control circuit for the electric drill is provided having a sensor member being operatively connected in said control circuit for detecting a load applied on the electric drill. An alarm member is operatively connected in the control circuit for sending out a signal when a load signal exceeding a first reference level is detected. A switch is operatively connected in the control circuit for deenergizing said control circuit for the electric drill when a load signal exceeding a second reference level is detected.

Abstract: A drill press having a safety device for reducing the power to the motor when a drill bit becomes stuck, and a switch for temporarily overriding the safety device, when the latter is triggered by the drill bit becoming stuck, to temporarily increase the power to the motor for freeing the stuck drill bit. The switch has an actuating member, preferably a push-button, located at the end of the control lever whereby the operator can actuate the switch without letting go of the control lever. The front of the drill press preferably has a control panel with input and operating keys.

Abstract: The invention defines a boundary in space and optically determines the crossing of it by an object and at the time of crossing measures the distance between a point located on the object and the boundary. More particularly, the invention establishes the boundary with respect to an amount of light eclipsed in a light beam positioned in space. In one embodiment, an examination zone containing the boundary is illuminated by two light beams, one of which is produced by inverting and reflecting the other after the other passes through the examination zone with the result that the rate of change in light intensity which occurs during the eclipsing is greater than that in the case of a single beam.

Abstract: A drilling monitor employs laser optics and an associated signal processing device to provide intelligent control capable of making the optimum decision to maintain hole quality and maximize drill life during the drilling of via holes in a circuit board. Twist angle, bending and temperature of the drill are monitored and the drill motor and/or the board is controlled accordingly in response to present data being compared to preprogrammed acceptable standardized data.

Abstract: A tool holder assembly which includes a support and a chuck for a tool is disclosed in which the tool holder may be responsive to either torque or thrust overload, or a combination of both. The tool holder includes a movable signal member in the form of a longitudinally movable sleeve which may be actuated rearwardly to actuate a proximity switch to stop rotation of the tool holder assembly, for example. Spring means acts between the chuck and the support, with this spring means being preloaded. A hemispherical projection and a conical recess act between the chuck and the support so that if a longitudinal thrust is provided on the tool and chuck, it is transmitted directly through this projection and conical recess to additionally prestress the spring means and to rearwardly move the signal member sleeve.

Abstract: Apparatus for detecting the presence of a tool in a spindle which can be used where automatic unattend operation occurs and it must be known that a tool is in the spindle. For example, if the tool changer on a machining center dropped a tool when transferring it from a magazine to a spindle the machine would continue to operate but machining would not occur. In the invention, air pressure is supplied to a point through a series of holes in the spindle and if a tool is present in the spindle, it will prevent air from escaping. If the tool is absent, air will escape from the spindle or when the tool is not properly seated in the taper of the spindle which will cause the air pressure to drop and to stop the spindle motor and/or provide a suitable indication and warning to the operator.

Abstract: A Drill Bit detector for use with numerically controlled drilling machine capable of sensing missing or broken Drill Bits in the range of 1 mil to 30 mils in diameter, or larger, is described. An infrared emitting diode is driven at a predetermined frequency with the pulsed light being directed through fiber optic cable directed at a portion of the Drill Bit to be detected. A change of light intensity occurring when a Drill Bit is missing is detected and the pulsed light detected converted to a pulsating electrical signal at the input frequency of the pulse light source. A frequency responsive circuit converts the pulsating electrical circuit to a digital signal indicative of the absence of the sensed Drill Bit. A timer determines whether or not the sensed digital signal occurs for a predetermined threshold time period, and causes it to be ignored as spurious if less than the predetermined time interval, or causes the drilling machine operation to be halted if occurring longer than the threshold time period.

Abstract: When a drill is overloaded, while cutting a hole in a workpiece, a torque limiter disconnects the drill from a main spindle. As the drill is disconnected from the main spindle, the torque limiter generates high-level elastic waves. The elastic waves are converted by a transducer into a voltage signal. The level of the voltage signal is compared with a threshold value.

Abstract: The invention comprises generally apparatus for use with an underground mine-shaft roof-bolting machine having a torque motor, a pinning rod held for rotation by the torque motor, a controllable arrangement for exerting upward thrust on the torque motor to force the pinning rod upwardly into the roof of a mine shaft, and a manual control for the upward thrust arrangement. An infrared source is held stationary with respect to the rod, and a detector moves upwardly with the rod. The detector receives radiation from the source and emits a signal which varies in accordance with the source to detector distance. This signal is used to control the upward thrust applied to the torque motor in accordance with the length of a pinning rod exposed below the roof being bolted. In one embodiment, the detector produces a signal based on the intensity of the received light.

Abstract: A drilling machine is provided with a quill feed device for reciprocating a quill, a driving member and a driven member, disposed between a spindle rotatably supported by the quill and a driving source therefor in such a manner as to produce a relative angular displacement therebetween according to magnitude of a load applied on a tool held by the spindle, a detector generating a series of pulse signals correlated to the relative angular displacement between both members, a counter numerically counting the pulse signals generated from the detector in respect of one rotation of the spindle, a memory memorizing numerical data, corresponding to the relative angular displacement while the tool being separated from a workpiece, counted by the counter device, and a comparator for comparing the value memorized in the memory and an actual counted value in the counter.

Abstract: A manually guided motorized hand tool used for drilling and/or percussive drilling includes a housing with a mass movably mounted about the drilling axis for movement relative to the housing. A switch is mounted on the housing and is operable by the mass when it moves a certain angular distance relative to the housing. When operated, the switch cuts off the power supply to the hand tool.

Abstract: An electronic power tool provided with a microprocessor operated speed control system and having a multiple gear reduction drive mechanism is provided with a gear ratio indicator system employing a dual purpose cam shaft for coordinating the mechanical gear shifting and electrical microprocessor systems. The cam shaft is provided with a first cam element for performing the gear shifting function and a second cam element, operably interconnected with the first cam element for automatically moving a switch between positions corresponding to the gear engagement selected. The switch is electrically interconnected with the microprocessor to communicate the gear ratio selected thereto.

Abstract: A numerically controlled (NC) machine tool has apparatus for automatically positioning and feeding a cutting tool to follow a programmably predetermined path. Sensing devices are provided to detect when the cutting tool suffers an abnormality, such as becoming dull or chipped. The feed devices of the NC machine tool are then commanded, by an arithmetic unit having a memory and by an NC command generating unit, to automatically retreat the cutting tool. It retreats, without interference with the workpiece, to a first position, parametrically determined by the shape and size of the workpiece, cutting tool data for the abnormality, completion and tool exchange positions, and by the nature of the machining operation. This retreat location is a position at which the cutting tool may be replaced. After replacement of the cutting tool, the cutting tool is automatically returned, via the first position, to a second position from which the machining is resumed.

Abstract: A surgical instrument including a tubular member having a port into which material to be cut is introduced there being a cutter within said tubular member having a cutting edge which is moved by a motor relative to said port to sever the material trapped between the port and the butting edge in which when the cutter movement to produce the severing movement is stopped the motor is rotated in the opposite direction to move the cutter to clear any material trapped between it and the port.