Plural Tool Holders Pivotable About Common Axis Patents (Class 483/39)
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Patent number: 10422088Abstract: A saw blade for a sawing machine for cutting micro trenches for receiving at least one duct or cable. The saw blade includes coding elements such as holes, depressions or protrusions. The holes, depressions or protrusions form at least one code symbol representing a unique identity (ID) for the saw blade.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2011Date of Patent: September 24, 2019Assignee: DellCron Innovation ABInventors: Conny Gustavsson, Hasse Hultman, Lars Lindén, Jim Frölander
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Patent number: 10105786Abstract: A device is configured for changing electrode caps of a welding unit. The device includes at least one reserve unit configured to hold in reserve electrode caps which are required for welding with the welding unit. The device also includes a cap changing unit configured to change an electrode cap mounted on a welding tool for another electrode cap held in reserve in the reserve unit. The cap changing unit is configured to arrange the electrode cap demounted from the welding tool in the at least one reserve unit.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2014Date of Patent: October 23, 2018Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventor: Juergen Haeufgloeckner
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Patent number: 9969040Abstract: A tool changer 10 includes a tool change arm 40 having tool holding portions 42, 52 at ends thereof, a support shaft supporting the tool change arm 40, a rotation mechanism including a rotation drive motor 25 and rotating the tool change arm 40 about an axis of the support shaft, a forward/backward movement mechanism including a forward/backward movement drive motor 13 and moving the tool change arm 40 forward and backward along the support shaft, and a mount base 11 having the rotation drive motor 25, the forward/backward movement drive motor 13 and the support shaft mounted thereon. The tool changer has a restraining member 60 provided thereon which restrains movement of the tool change arm 40 in a direction along the support shaft by engaging with the tool change arm 40 positioned at an original position.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2015Date of Patent: May 15, 2018Assignee: DMG MORI CO., LTD.Inventor: Syunsuke Nakazawa
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Patent number: 9682453Abstract: A tool changer for a machine tool is provided with a spindle head, tool magazine, rotating shaft, and magazine drive motor. The tool magazine is provided with a tool-magazine power transmission unit. The tool-magazine power transmission unit and a magazine-drive-motor power transmission unit engage with each other at all times between a proximity position and a separated position relative to the spindle head of the tool magazine.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2015Date of Patent: June 20, 2017Assignee: FANUC CORPORATIONInventors: Gaku Isobe, Masahiro Murota, Naoki Sato
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Patent number: 9364869Abstract: A turret-type cleaning apparatus for using cleaning liquid, and deburring and cleaning a workpiece includes: cleaning tools for spraying the liquid onto the workpiece and deburring and/or cleaning it; a turret head freely turnable and where the tools are attached; a turret drive device connected to the head and for turning the head; a cleaning chamber where the head is arranged; a cleaning bath installed in the chamber; a drain port openably and closably provided below the bath and for draining the liquid from the bath; a first cleaning liquid supply flow passage configured to supply the liquid to one of the tools; a second cleaning liquid supply flow passage for supplying the liquid to the bath; and a cleaning liquid supply source for supplying the liquid to the first cleaning liquid supply flow passage and the second cleaning liquid supply flow passage.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2011Date of Patent: June 14, 2016Assignee: Sugino Machine LimitedInventors: Hiroki Haremaki, Toru Sumiyoshi, Masaaki Sugimura
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Patent number: 8920295Abstract: A cutter-changing device includes a cutter-magazine carrying cutters, a rotary telescopic cylinder, and a clamping sub-assembly. The clamping sub-assembly includes a cutter-changing arm, and a pair of clamping assemblies. The rotary telescopic cylinder drives the cutter-changing arm to rotate, extend and retract. Each clamping assembly includes a mounting member, an elastic member, a piston, and at least one resisting member. The mounting member is mounted on the cutter-changing arm, and defines at least one mounting hole through the sidewall thereof. The elastic member and the piston are sleeved with the mounting member, and the two opposite ends of the elastic member press against the piston and the mounting member. The resisting member is mounted between the elastic member and the mounting member, and capable of being resisted by the piston to be partially exposed from the mounting hole.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2012Date of Patent: December 30, 2014Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.Inventors: Xian-Cai Zeng, Dong-Cheng Liu, Chin-Tsan Huang
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Patent number: 8777823Abstract: Disclosed in an automatic tool changer in which the tool changing time can be shortened by increasing overlapping operations of the turning operation and the axial advancing/retracting operation of a replacement arm. An arm driver (32) is so constituted that the driver performs overlapping operations such that at least a part of the operation for turning a replacement arm (23) by 180° and the operation for advancing/retracting the replacement arm in the axial direction in order to insert or withdraw a tool (37) are performed simultaneously and in parallelism with each other. When the replacement arm (23) is advanced/retracted in the axial direction in order to insert or withdraw a tool, the replacement arm (23) is turned by a predetermined distance in a direction reverse to the direction (so called “normal direction”) for turning the arm by 180° in parallelism with the advancing/retracting operation, and thereafter, the replacement arm (23) is turned in the normal direction.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2009Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: Fuji Machine Mfg. Co., Ltd.Inventors: George Isozumi, Kazuya Furukawa, Kazuyoshi Nagato, Masaki Kato
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Patent number: 8231512Abstract: Retractable chuck for drill bits, screw bits and other tools for any chuck size operated by hand or power source which operates without the user touching the bits to move into operating position.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2008Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Inventor: Mike Schmidt
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Patent number: 8062200Abstract: A tool-changing device includes a tool gripper and a stroke and pivoting actuator for operating the tool gripper. The stroke and pivoting actuator can be driven by a first direct drive for producing a linear movement and by a second direct drive for producing a rotational movement, wherein the first and the second direct drives have a common rotor which serves as the stroke and pivoting actuator.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2008Date of Patent: November 22, 2011Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Zeljko Jajtic, Maximilian Klaus
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Patent number: 8007424Abstract: A motor-driven machine tool (1) for tools which are to be driven rotationally has, configured as a hand-held machine tool, a pistol-shaped basic shape, in which, lying one behind the other in the stock part (2) in the direction of the main axis, a motor (4), a gear mechanism (5) and a tool changing magazine (6) are provided as a structural unit, wherein the tool changing magazine (6) which is designed, in particular, as a drum magazine is mounted on a neck (24) of the gear mechanism housing (22) and is penetrated by the output shaft (23) of the gear mechanism (5).Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2007Date of Patent: August 30, 2011Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Andreas Moser, Joerg Dehde, Steffen Tiede
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Patent number: 7775954Abstract: A cutter shifting mechanism includes a main body having a longitudinal cylinder casing and a shaft is located in the longitudinal cylinder casing. An arm is connected to a lower end of the shaft so as to be connected with cutters. A longitudinal pushing device is connected to a top end of the shaft and a gear is rotatably mounted to the shaft. The gear is movable along a longitudinal axis of the shaft. A threaded rod is engaged with the gear and connected with a latitude pushing device. Each of the longitudinal and latitude pushing devices includes a pneumatic cylinder. The mechanism includes simple structure and can be manufactured at low cost. The pneumatic cylinders accurately operate the parts of the mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2007Date of Patent: August 17, 2010Inventor: Yi-Chun Liu
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Publication number: 20100095725Abstract: An apparatus for joining two fixed bases having a plurality of can necking stages, is provided. The apparatus minimizes space, and reduces the diameter of a can neck as it transfers a can body from a first fixed base to a second fixed base.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 20, 2008Publication date: April 22, 2010Applicant: Crown Packaging Technology, Inc.Inventors: William J. Sanginiti, Roger Witt, Errol Hancock, Robert Chaffer, Robert Russell Rose, JR.
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Patent number: 7604584Abstract: An automatic tool-changing arm of an automatic tool changer applicable to a machine tool, primarily comprises an immovable platform, a movable platform located below the immovable platform, a platform driving device driving the movable platform to vertically move with respect to the immovable platform, a gear assembly settled on the moveable platform and an arm body fixedly attached to the movable platform and to be rotated by the gear assembly, wherein the arm body has two ends each equipped with a clamp driving device and a power clamp. Thereby, the arm body can perform vertical movements and horizontal rotations precisely and stably so as to enhance the reliability of the tool-changing arm.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2008Date of Patent: October 20, 2009Assignee: Campro Precision Machinery Co., Ltd.Inventors: Chi-Chung Wu, Yueh-Hsia Li
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Patent number: 7578776Abstract: A machine tool is provided with a bit-changing apparatus including a cam, a rocker, a roller, a linkage, a pulling element, a disc and clips. The cam is attached to the machine tool. The roller is attached to the rocker and movable against the cam. The linkage includes two connecting rods each formed with an end pivotally connected to the machine tool and another end pivotally connected to the rocker. The pulling element is provided between the rocker and the machine tool so that the roller is kept against the cam. The disc is rotationally supported on the rocker. Each of the clips is attached to the disc and used to clip a holder for holding a bit so that a selected bit can be engaged with a bit-driving unit of the machine tool.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2008Date of Patent: August 25, 2009Inventors: Ying Sun, Chi Sun
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Patent number: 7575542Abstract: A machine tool is provided with a bit-changing apparatus including a cam, a rocker, a roller, a linkage, a pulling element, a disc and clips. The cam is attached to the machine tool. The roller is attached to the rocker and movable against the cam. The linkage includes at least one track attached to the machine tool, a sliding element attached to another end of the rocker and movable on the track, and a connecting rod formed with an end pivotally connected to the machine tool and another end pivotally connected to the rocker. The pulling element is provided between the rocker and the machine tool so that the roller is kept against the cam. The disc is rotationally supported on the rocker. Each of the clips is attached to the disc and used to clip a holder for holding a bit so that a selected bit can be engaged with a bit-driving unit of the machine tool.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2008Date of Patent: August 18, 2009Inventors: Ying Sun, Chi Sun
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Patent number: 7445587Abstract: An automatic tool changing method and an automatic tool changing device for a machine tool with a numerical controller capable of reducing the occurrence of impact due to tool exchange with a simple structure. A turret that rotates about a pivot shaft is provided on an arm and holds multiple tools. A swing cam CS that cooperates with a swing roller provided on the turret is provided on a spindle head. As the spindle head descends the turret rotates due to the action of the swing roller and the cam CS and exchanges tools. In order to lessen the impact that occurs at this time, the velocity of the spindle head is controlled. The ideal swing velocity pattern for the turret is obtained, and from this swing velocity pattern the swing position of the turret at each moment is obtained. From the swing roller and cam CS positions at this position the position of the spindle head 34 is obtained.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2007Date of Patent: November 4, 2008Assignee: Fanuc LtdInventors: Kunio Kojima, Akihiko Fujimoto, Takeru Komiya
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Patent number: 7387600Abstract: A tool support device for a machine tool includes a housing disposed beside a tool spindle, a tool storage rack having a shaft rotatably attached to the housing, a plate secured to the shaft and rotatably received in the housing, a number of rollers disposed on the plate, an axle rotatably disposed in the housing and having a rotary member which includes a helical groove for engaging with the rollers and for rotating the plate and the shaft and the tool storage rack relative to the tool spindle, the tool support device includes a compact structure for suitably shielding and protecting the tool support device and for preventing the tool support device from being contaminated and damaged by dirt and cut chips.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2007Date of Patent: June 17, 2008Inventors: Ying Sun, Chi Sun
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Patent number: 7361129Abstract: A multi-axis automatic tool-changing system for an automatic machining center which is disposed with a plurality of machining principal axes and a tool magazine. The tool magazine is disposed with a plurality of tool-changing positions located correspondingly to the machining principal axes. Between each machining principal axis and each tool-changing positions is disposed a tool-changing arm. Each tool-changing arm utilizes the first end and the second end tool-taking grooves to grasp and exchange the tools of the machining principal axes and the tool-changing positions.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2007Date of Patent: April 22, 2008Assignee: DAI-ICHI Machine Service Co.Inventor: Su Fang Yang
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Patent number: 7300393Abstract: An automatic tool changer in which the load produced when a turret is rotation-driven is reduced, and abrasion in the balls and the like of a speed reducer, and mal-distribution of an axial pressing force are prevented. The speed reducer that drives the turret in the automatic tool changer is constructed by superposing a driving plate, a holder, and a driven plate in the order named. In the driven plate fitted with tools, there is formed a ball groove in a concave-convex shape having the number of cycles corresponding to the number of the tools. In the driving plate, there is provided a ball groove obtained by enlarging the ball groove of the driven plate in the angular direction and copying two cycles. The holder is provided with a plurality of guide holes in the radial direction, which hold their respective balls. The driving plate is rotated by spindle rotation, and the driven plate is driven at a reduced speed of (the number of tools/2) through the balls.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2005Date of Patent: November 27, 2007Assignee: Fanuc LtdInventors: Akihiko Fujimoto, Naoki Sato
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Publication number: 20070225139Abstract: An automatic tool changing method and an automatic tool changing device for a machine tool with a numerical controller capable of reducing the occurrence of impact due to tool exchange with a simple structure. A turret that rotates about a pivot shaft is provided on an arm and holds multiple tools. A swing cam CS that cooperates with a swing roller provided on the turret is provided on a spindle head. As the spindle head descends the turret rotates due to the action of the swing roller and the cam CS and exchanges tools. In order to lessen the impact that occurs at this time, the velocity of the spindle head is controlled. The ideal swing velocity pattern for the turret is obtained, and from this swing velocity pattern the swing position of the turret at each moment is obtained. From the swing roller and cam CS positions at this position the position of the spindle head 34 is obtained.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2007Publication date: September 27, 2007Applicant: FANUC LTDInventors: Kunio Kojima, Akihiko Fujimoto, Takeru Komiya
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Patent number: 7250024Abstract: A tool shelf magazine for milling and drilling machines has at least one shelf, a plurality of compartments provided in the shelf above each other at predetermined intervals and also a plurality of notches, which are open on one side accommodating one suspended tool. A handling device is vertically and horizontally shiftable by means of a motor located adjacent to the shelf. At least one gripper arrangement is provided for extracting predetermined tools from the shelf and for transferring them to a tool changer. At least one shelf has compartments with notches serving as tool accommodations on the front and back side. The notches on the front side are located in the access range of the handling device and the notches on the back side are accessible for retooling. The shelf is formed so as to be rotatable about an axis for a change of sides.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2004Date of Patent: July 31, 2007Assignee: Deckel Maho Pfronten GmbHInventors: Alfred Geissler, Hans Gronbach
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Patent number: 7189194Abstract: Machine tool with: a bed furnished with a base and two side walls provided standing along respective left and right sides of the base; a first saddle composed of a rectangular frame, with vertical sides provided perpendicularly and transverse sides provided sideways, and both ends of the frame sideways being supported on rear faces of the side walls so as to be perpendicularly movable; a second saddle arranged within the first-saddle frame and provided to be movable sideways, and having a front-to-rear penetrating through-hole; a spindle head arranged in the second-saddle through-hole and provided to be movable back-and-forth; a tool-retaining spindle supported, by the spindle head, with its axis paralleling the front-to-rear orientation and rotatable about its axial center; and, arranged on the bed, a table on which workpieces are set.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2006Date of Patent: March 13, 2007Assignee: Mori Seiki Co., Ltd.Inventors: Naoshi Takayama, Michio Watanabe, Satoshi Komatsu
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Patent number: 7172542Abstract: A tool changing device and a tool cleaning method capable of surely removing foreign matter such as swarf adhered to tapered portions and/or flange portions of tools, which serve as contact faces to be in contact with a spindle. There is arranged tool cleaning nozzles for spouting coolant on both sides of the spindle in the rotating position of a turret. The tool cleaning nozzle has a position and a posture such that the coolant spouted from the nozzle hits against the tapered portions and/or the flange portions of the tools held by the turret. The coolant is spouted from the tool cleaning nozzle with the rotation of the turret at the time of tool selection. Each time the turret rotates, the tapered portions and/or the flange portions of the tools held by the turret are cleaned by the coolant.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2004Date of Patent: February 6, 2007Assignee: Fanuc LtdInventors: Naoki Sato, Akihiko Fujimoto
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Patent number: 7150705Abstract: A tool changing device of a machine tool which prevents chips adhering to a tool. By using a drive motor with which a tool changing device of the machine tool is usually provided, to vibrate the tool, the chips are prevented from adhering to the tool, especially to a tapered portion of the tool, and/or the chips adhered to the tool are removed, without using any additional device.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2004Date of Patent: December 19, 2006Assignee: Fanuc LtdInventors: Kunio Kojima, Naoki Sato
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Patent number: 7147595Abstract: A CNC machine tool includes a worktable supporting two workpieces and rotatable on a base so as to exchange the positions of the workpieces. A post member is fixed on the base. A first horizontal rail unit is movable vertically on the post member. A second horizontal rail unit is movable on the first horizontal rail unit along a first horizontal direction. A spindle head unit is movable on the second horizontal rail unit along a second horizontal direction perpendicular to the first horizontal direction.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2005Date of Patent: December 12, 2006Inventor: Hsi-Kuan Chen
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Patent number: 7131940Abstract: The present invention provides a machine tool whose width dimension is not increased even when it includes a tool magazine. The present invention includes: a bed; a saddle disposed on the bed to be movable in a forward and backward (Y-axis) direction in a front view of the machine tool; a table disposed on the saddle to be movable in right and left (X-axis) direction; a column fixed on the bed a spindle head disposed on the column to support a spindle and movable in a vertical (Z-axis) direction; an automatic tool changer disposed on a back face side of the column, wherein the column has an opening which allows the back face side and a front face side of the column to communicate with each other, and the automatic tool changer replaces a tool on the spindle side by a tool on a tool magazine side through the opening.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2006Date of Patent: November 7, 2006Assignee: Mori Seiki Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kazuyuki Hiramoto, Akihiro Mochizuki, Shunsuke Nakazawa, Satoshi Matsui
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Patent number: 7104940Abstract: A tool changer for machine tools having at least two tong-shaped grippers, the legs of which are formed for engaging with the ring groove at a broader end of a tool taper. The grippers are symmetrically mounted about the central axis of a carrier and are rotatable around the central axis with their legs pointing outward. The carrier is mounted on a support structure that has a drive for moving the carrier. In order to enable an earlier release of the tool taper from the collet chuck in the work spindle, and thus faster tool changes, at least one leg of the grippers is extended to form a protruding holding finger.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2002Date of Patent: September 12, 2006Assignee: DECKEL MAHA Geretsried GmbHInventor: Kurt Kessler
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Patent number: 7070550Abstract: A tool changing device includes a conjugate cam composed of two plate cams and the conjugate cam is mounted to the cam axle. The two plate cams are operatively engaged with two rollers on two sides of a gear so that the gear is periodically rotated to drive the tool shaft which is rotated and precisely positioned to change the tools as expected.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2004Date of Patent: July 4, 2006Inventor: Ying Sun
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Patent number: 7070549Abstract: A tool changing device of a machine includes an inducing frame connected between the body and the motor of the machine and a plurality of inducing members radially connected in the inducing frame. A signal coupler is connected to an output shaft of the motor and the cam axle so as to transfer the power of the motor. A plurality of inducing portions are connected to an outer periphery of the signal coupler and located corresponding to the inducing members so as to control the motor and precisely position the positions and movement of the tool shaft. By the precise control to the tool shaft, the tools can be changed quickly and correctly.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2004Date of Patent: July 4, 2006Inventor: Ying Sun
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Patent number: 7048679Abstract: The invention discloses a tool-changing concept in which tools are accommodated in a rack and, by means of a storage and retrieval unit located behind the rack, are removed and fed through the rack to a tool changer, by means of which it is possible to remove a tool from a spindle of the machining center and to insert the tool fed by the storage and retrieval unit.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2004Date of Patent: May 23, 2006Assignee: Ex-Cell-O GmbHInventors: Michael Hagmann, Friedrich Winckler
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Patent number: 6846276Abstract: The present invention relates a tool changer controlling method and apparatus, which can reduce a tool changing time as compared with the prior art. The controlling apparatus controls operation of a tool changer (1) which comprises a changer arm (2) for holding tools (Ta,Tb) and is adapted to pivot the changer arm (2) by a driving system including a servo motor (5) and exchange the tool (Ta) attached to a main spindle (20) in a tool changing position and the tool (Tb) in a predetermined position. The servo motor (5) is driven and controlled so that the changer arm (2) is preliminarily pivoted by a predetermined angle when the main spindle (20) is moved to the tool changing position, and further pivoted to the tool changing position after the main spindle (20) reaches the tool changing position.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2002Date of Patent: January 25, 2005Assignee: Mori Seiki Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kaoru Yasumatsuya, Takashi Okuda
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Publication number: 20040259705Abstract: A tool changer for machine tools having at least two tong-shaped grippers, the legs of which are formed for engaging with the ring groove at a broader end of a tool taper. The grippers are symmetrically mounted about the central axis of a carrier and are rotatable around the central axis with their legs pointing outward. The carrier is mounted on a support structure that has a drive for moving the carrier. In order to enable an earlier release of the tool taper from the collet chuck in the work spindle, and thus faster tool changes, at least one leg of the grippers is extended to form a protruding holding finger.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 20, 2004Publication date: December 23, 2004Inventor: Kurt Kessler
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Patent number: 6786856Abstract: A cam-type automatic tool-exchanging apparatus comprises: a housing; an input rotary shaft within the housing; a rotational-motion converting cam within the housing and rotationally driven by the input rotary shaft and outputting a rotational motion; a lifting/lowering-motion producing cam provided the housing and rotationally driven by the input rotary shaft and outputting a lifting/lowering motion; a tool-exchanging arm provided outside the housing and driven by the rotational motion and the lifting/lowering motion outputted for performing a tool-exchanging operation; a shutter provided outside the housing and to be opened/closed in accordance with the tool-exchanging operation; an opening/closing-motion producing cam within the housing and rotationally driven by the input rotary shaft and outputting a shutter-opening/closing pivotal motion for opening/closing the shutter; and a shutter-driving rotary shaft within the housing and outputting the shutter-opening/closing pivotal motion of the opening/closing-mType: GrantFiled: September 11, 2002Date of Patent: September 7, 2004Assignees: Sankyo Manufacturing Co., Ltd., Yamazaki Mazak CorporationInventors: Heizaburo Kato, Hideaki Hattori, Kiyoshi Nishida, Kazuya Horibe, Satoshi Okada
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Patent number: 6773382Abstract: An automatic tool-exchanging apparatus is provided which extends/contracts an arm with a rational and simple structure and can realize a high-speed operation essentially obtainable by making the arm's turning radius small. The apparatus comprises: an arm-driving shaft for being driven to rotate; an arm provided on the shaft and capable of being rotated, the arm capable of being moved to extend/contract and comprising a grip arm for attaching/detaching a tool, and an arm support movably supporting the grip arm; a clutch between the arm support and the shaft, the clutch for connecting the arm support and the shaft to make them rotate integrally, and disconnecting the arm support and the shaft to generate a relative rotation therebetween; and a link between the grip arm and the shaft, the link for transmitting the relative rotation of the shaft in respect to the arm support to make the grip arm move.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2002Date of Patent: August 10, 2004Assignee: Sankyo Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventor: Heizaburo Kato
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Patent number: 6736767Abstract: A machine tool with a driven tool spindle that is rotatable about a spindle axis that includes a tool exchanger including grippers to displace tool-holders or tools between a receiver position in the tool spindle and a storage position, or vice versa. The tool-holders or tools in these two positions are identically oriented, and the storage position and the receiver position are displaced with respect to each other along the spindle axis direction of the tool spindle. The tool exchanger possesses a transport mechanism that includes a carrier element pivotable about a pivot axis inclined with respect to the spindle axis, to which grippers pivotable about axes perpendicular to each other are connected. Guide elements are mounted so they may be driven and rotate about the first axis parallel to the pivot axis in the opposite direction to the pivot direction of the carrier element are included on the carrier element.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2003Date of Patent: May 18, 2004Assignee: Deckel Maho Seebach GmbHInventor: Thorsten Lasch
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Publication number: 20030186795Abstract: A machine tool with a driven tool spindle that is rotatable about a spindle axis (1a) that includes a tool exchanger including grippers (2) to displace tool-holders (4) or tools between a receiver position in the tool spindle (1) and a storage position, or vice versa. The tool-holders (4) or tools in these two positions are identically oriented, and the storage position and the receiver position are displaced with respect to each other along the spindle axis direction of the tool spindle (1). The tool exchanger possesses a transport mechanism that includes a carrier element (3) pivotable about a pivot axis (5) inclined with respect to the spindle axis (1a), to which grippers (2) pivotable about axes (6; 7) perpendicular to each other are connected. Guide elements (10) mounted so they may be driven and rotate about the first axis (8) parallel to the pivot axis (5) in the opposite direction to the pivot direction of the carrier element (3) are included on the carrier element (3).Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2003Publication date: October 2, 2003Inventor: Thorsten Lasch
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Publication number: 20030114282Abstract: An automatic tool-exchanging apparatus is provided which extends/contracts an arm with a rational and simple structure and can realize a high-speed operation essentially obtainable by making the arm's turning radius small. The apparatus comprises: an arm-driving shaft for being driven to rotate; an arm provided on the shaft and capable of being rotated, the arm capable of being moved to extend/contract and comprising a grip arm for attaching/detaching a tool, and an arm support movably supporting the grip arm; a clutch between the arm support and the shaft, the clutch for connecting the arm support and the shaft to make them rotate integrally, and disconnecting the arm support and the shaft to generate a relative rotation therebetween; and a link between the grip arm and the shaft, the link for transmitting the relative rotation of the shaft in respect to the arm support to make the grip arm move.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 5, 2002Publication date: June 19, 2003Inventor: Heizaburo Kato
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Publication number: 20030050159Abstract: A cam-type automatic tool-exchanging apparatus comprises: a housing; an input rotary shaft within the housing; a rotational-motion converting cam within the housing and rotationally driven by the input rotary shaft and outputting a rotational motion; a lifting/lowering-motion producing cam provided the housing and rotationally driven by the input rotary shaft and outputting a lifting/lowering motion; a tool-exchanging arm provided outside the housing and driven by the rotational motion and the lifting/lowering motion outputted for performing a tool-exchanging operation; a shutter provided outside the housing and to be opened/closed in accordance with the tool-exchanging operation; an opening/closing-motion producing cam within the housing and rotationally driven by the input rotary shaft and outputting a shutter-opening/closing pivotal motion for opening/closing the shutter; and a shutter-driving rotary shaft within the housing and outputting the shutter-opening/closing pivotal motion of the opening/closing-mType: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2002Publication date: March 13, 2003Inventors: Heizaburo Kato, Hideaki Hattori, Kiyoshi Nishida, Kazuya Horibe, Satoshi Okada
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Publication number: 20020107122Abstract: A machine tool comprising a machining spindle, a device for inserting an auxiliary unit into the machining spindle, a tool magazine for providing a multitude of tools and a tool changer comprising at least one tool gripper for holding tools for the machining spindle for the transportation of tools between the tool magazine and an exchange position at the machining spindle. To ensure an automatic supply to the machining spindle as well as to the auxiliary unit in a simple and fast way the tool changer has at least one additional tool gripper for holding tools for the auxiliary unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 28, 1999Publication date: August 8, 2002Applicant: HOPPEInventor: GERD HOPPE
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Patent number: 6402671Abstract: A tool-exchange apparatus making an area to install a whole machine tool compact and facilitating a attachment/detachment and a maintenance and the like of a tool. The tool-exchange apparatus includes a plurality of tool pots 10 respectively having tool storage portion 10a. The tool pot 10 is indexed at an indexing position for exchanging tools, whereby the next tool T put in the opening of the tool storage portion 10a is exchanged for the present tool T installed in a spindle. The tool pots 10 are circumferencially spaced away from each other, and an opening of each tool accommodation area 10a is centrally directed. The tools T are held by the tool pots 10 in a radial manner. The tool magazine 1 can be made compact because the tools T are radially held with the tips thereof centrally directed.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2000Date of Patent: June 11, 2002Assignee: Mori Seiki Co., Ltd.Inventor: Hidehito Ota
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Patent number: 6203479Abstract: An automatic tool changing device (ATC) for machining tools is disclosed. The ATC consists of arbor rotation guide means, arbor position changing means, arbor rotation means, tool changing means and ATC protection means. The ATC is positioned at a side of the movable table and effectively changes tools within the inner diameter circle of a rotary housing, thus shortening the arbor movement stroke and conserving the tool changing time during a tool changing operation. The ATC is also protected from the spindle stock of a machining tool, thus being free from any damage caused by chips from the spindle stock. The ATC is positioned at a side of the movable table in place of the column different from a typical ATC, so that it remarkably reduces the volume of the ATC protection cover and saves the manufacturing cost of such machining centers.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 1999Date of Patent: March 20, 2001Assignee: Hwacheon Machine Tool Co., Ltd.Inventors: Ohira Gengo, Ki Tai Kim, Chang Yong Kim
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Patent number: 6090026Abstract: An automatic tool exchanging machine include a machine body such as gear box, a tool exchanging arm having a tool grasping member and supported by the machine body to be rotatable and to be linearly reciprocally movable in an axial direction of a rotation shaft of the machine body, a rotation drive mechanism provided for the machine body, and a power transmission mechanism for transmitting a driving power of the rotation drive mechanism to the tool exchanging arm. The power transmission mechanism is provided with a motion conversion mechanism for converting a rotational motion of the rotation drive mechanism including servo-motors to a linear reciprocal motion of the tool exchanging arm and the motion conversion mechanism is composed of a feed screw mechanism. The feed screw mechanism is a ball screw mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 1998Date of Patent: July 18, 2000Assignee: Toshiba Kikai Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yutaka Hosokawa, Toshihiro Ueta, Hirohiko Honda
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Patent number: 6030326Abstract: An automatic blade changing system of a dicing machine uses a blade which is fixed to an auxiliary stopper member provided with a thread which is engaged with a thread of a spindle. The automatic blade changing system consists of two blade holding means which hold the blade to which the stopper member is fixed and rotate the blade relatively to the spindle in the state wherein the blade is forced to the spindle, a blade accommodating means which accommodates a blade to replace the blade, a moving means for moving the blade holding means between the end of the spindle and the blade accommodating means.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 1998Date of Patent: February 29, 2000Assignees: Tokyo Seimitsu Co., Ltd., Seiko Seiki Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masayuki Azuma, Tadashi Adachi
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Patent number: 6007464Abstract: In a tool-changing apparatus for a machine tool, a tool-locking pin and an arm-locking pin are provided in a tool-changing arm and urged upward. When the arm is moved downward by a swinging shaft, the tool-locking pin and the arm-locking pin are moved upward by the urging force of respective springs, and a tapered surface of the tool-locking pin presses an end of a roller shaft projecting from a through-hole of the tool-changing arm, thus preventing a sliding movement of the roller shaft toward the through-hole, and a tapered surface of the arm-locking pin fits in a circular groove formed on the peripheral surface of an arm central shaft coupled with the swinging shaft, thus preventing the rotation of the arm relative to an arm-supporting member. When a tool is mounted into a tool-mounting portion, arm locking is released to enable the arm to move independently of the swinging shaft.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 1998Date of Patent: December 28, 1999Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Narihiko Hashimoto
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Patent number: 5947878Abstract: A tool exchange device is capable of automatically and swiftly exchanging tools during non-cutting processes.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 1998Date of Patent: September 7, 1999Assignee: National Science CouncilInventors: Wen-Miin Hwang, Chii-Zen Yu
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Patent number: 5938578Abstract: An outer shaft gear installed at an external side of a pivoting shaft for pivoting a tool exchange arm main body is fitted to a finger driving cam shaft, a driving force from an ATC drive shaft is transmitted via the outer shaft gear to a finger driving cam installed to the finger driving cam shaft, and a driven portion in contact with the finger driving cam is operated by which fingers FA and FB at front ends of pairs of fingers are opened. When the fingers FA and FB are not pressed by the operation of the finger driving cam, the fingers FA and FB are closed by urging forces of springs.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 1997Date of Patent: August 17, 1999Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Haruki Baba
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Patent number: 5908374Abstract: A tool changer for a machine tool includes an arm support disposed between a spindle head and a tool magazine to be reciprocally moved along the spindle relative to the spindle, a pair of tool changing arms mounted for rocking motion on support shafts further mounted on the arm support to cross the spindle, respectively, holding mechanisms on one ends of the tool changing arms respectively, and a rotating mechanism for rotating the tool changing arms by 180 degrees about a center shaft parallel with the spindle. Each holding mechanism has a moving pin and a spring for urging the moving pin in a direction of projection of the pin. The moving pins are engaged with a tool attached to the spindle and another tool located at a standby position of the tool magazine when the tool changing arms are rocked about the support shafts so that the tools are detachably held by the holding mechanisms respectively.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 1998Date of Patent: June 1, 1999Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Fumihiko Kato
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Patent number: 5876316Abstract: An automatic tool changer can reduce a space required for an output shaft and thus permits downsizing of the whole device. Also, the automatic tool changer can reduce an inertia force in reciprocal linear motion to perform high speed operation. The automatic tool changer has a motion converting cam which converts a rotational motion of a lifting rotary shaft into a linear motion. A cam follower of an arm supporting member is engaged with the motion converting cam. When relative rotational swing motion is caused between the lifting rotary shaft and a pivoting rotary shaft, the cam follower causes reciprocal linear motion relative to the motion converting cam. Then, the arm supporting member which is movable in an axial direction relative to the pivoting rotary shaft through a spline coupling, causes reciprocal linear motion on a tool holding arm.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 1997Date of Patent: March 2, 1999Assignee: Sankyo Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventor: Heizaburo Kato
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Patent number: 5868656Abstract: A machine tool comprises a spindle having a tool receptacle for receiving tool holders in their working position. A tool changer is provided for conveying a tool holder in a first changing step between a magazine position and a spindle position at said spindle. Further provided is a linear stroke mechanism for conveying said tool holder in a second changing step between said spindle position and said working position. A common drive mechanism is linked to said tool changer and said linear stroke mechanism such as to affect both said first and second changing step.Type: GrantFiled: January 2, 1997Date of Patent: February 9, 1999Assignee: Chiron Werke GmbH & Co. KGInventor: Eugen Rutschle
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Patent number: 5855541Abstract: A machine tool comprises a spindle and a tool changer for conveying tool holders between a magazine position and a working position at the spindle. The tool changer has two longitudinal rods and two transverse rods that are joined to said two longitudinal rods via universal joints so as to form an articulated rectangle. Each of said two longitudinal rods is rotatably mounted in the vicinity of its respective center. The tool changer comprises two grippers for gripping said tool holders to be conveyed. Said grippers are mounted on certain of said longitudinal and transverse rods such that upon rotation of the longitudinal rods the grippers are conveyed between said magazine position and working position while substantially maintaining said tool holders in their preferably vertical orientation.Type: GrantFiled: January 2, 1997Date of Patent: January 5, 1999Assignee: Chiron Werke GmbH & Co. KGInventor: Eugen Rutschle