Distinct Tool Changer For Each Tool Patents (Class 483/47)
  • Patent number: 9333604
    Abstract: Disclosed is a manually adjustable bracket moveable in first and second directions that is attached to a fastener mechanism for use in a fastener assembly station. An actuator moves the manually adjustable bracket and the fastener mechanism in a third direction to fasten fasteners to a work product. The manually adjustable bracket comprises: a first linear guideway configured for manual movement in the first direction and configured to be attached to the actuator; and a second linear guideway coupled to the first linear guideway and configured for manual movement in the second direction and configured to be attached to the fastener mechanism. The first and second linear guideways are configured to be manually moved to a desired location and locked such that the fastener mechanism is locked into the desired location to be moved by the actuator in the third direction for fastening fasteners to the work product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Komgrit Sungkhaphong, Yuranan Rattanaphanna
  • Patent number: 8652018
    Abstract: A machine tool is provided with a tool magazine including a guiding plate, a turntable and holders. The guiding plate includes an annular groove with a semi-circular section and a semi-oval section. The semi-circular section is defined by a radius. The semi-oval section is defined by a semi-major axis identical to the radius of the semi-circular section and a semi-minor axis shorter than the semi-major axis. The turntable includes claws extending from the periphery. Each of the holders is pivotally connected to a related one of the claws and includes an end for holding a tool and another end formed with a ball movably located in the annular groove. Thus, some of the holders of which the balls are located in the semi-circular section of the annular groove close while the other holders of which the balls are located in the semi-oval section of the annular groove open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Inventor: Ying Sun
  • Patent number: 6949057
    Abstract: A multi-function end effector includes a plurality of tool change mechanisms in a housing in which a spindle is also mounted for translation along an axis of the spindle. Each tool change mechanism has a gripper that releasably grips a tool holder in which a tool is mounted. The gripper of each tool change mechanism is movable between a stowed position to a tool-change position in which the gripper is coaxially aligned with the axis of the spindle for placing a tool holder held in the gripper in a position to be received by the spindle and for positioning the gripper to receive a tool holder from the spindle. The tools mounted in the tool holders include a drill bit, a countersink tool, and a fastener insertion tool. The end effector also includes a fastener feed system, a hammer device, and a sealant applicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Curtis Everson, Michael K Jones, Scott Lee Rule, Maher A. Matteeka, Arnold J. Fabris, William M. Brunner, Jr., Benny Granot, Omer Einav, Everett E. Jones
  • Patent number: 6416450
    Abstract: A tool changer for a machine tool having a toolhead assembly including a spindle with device for detachable securing a tool thereto, generally consisting of at least one device for holding a tool detachably securable to the spindle, pivotally connected to the assembly and angularly displaceable in a plane including the axis of the spindle between a retracted position and an extended position for transferring a tool between the tool holding device and the spindle; and device for angularly displacing the tool holding device between such retracted and extended positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: Thermwood Corporation
    Inventor: Kenneth J. Susnjara
  • Publication number: 20020006853
    Abstract: A tool changer for a machine tool having a toolhead assembly including a spindle with means for detachable securing a tool thereto, generally consisting of at least one means for holding a tool detachably securable to the spindle, pivotally connected to the assembly and angularly displaceable in a plane including the axis of the spindle between a retracted position and an extended position for transferring a tool between the tool holding means and the spindle; and means for angularly displacing the tool holding means between such retracted and extended positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 1999
    Publication date: January 17, 2002
    Inventor: KENNETH J. SUSNJARA
  • Publication number: 20010041649
    Abstract: A tool changer for a machine tool having a toolhead assembly including a spindle with means for detachable securing a tool thereto, generally consisting of at least one means for holding a tool detachably securable to the spindle, pivotally connected to the assembly and angularly displaceable in a plane including the axis of the spindle between a retracted position and an extended position for transferring a tool between the tool holding means and the spindle; and means for angularly displacing the tool holding means between such retracted and extended positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 1999
    Publication date: November 15, 2001
    Applicant: susnjara
    Inventor: KENNETH J. SUSNJARA
  • Patent number: 6039680
    Abstract: A spindle head having a spindle is moved along a Y-axis relative to the fixed bed of a printed-circuit board drilling machine, a work table is moved along an X-axis perpendicular to the Y-axis, and a tool magazine is moved along a .beta.-axis parallel to the Y-axis relative to the work table to bring the respective axes of the spindle and desired one of a plurality of tool posts arranged in rows and columns in the tool magazine into alignment with the axis of a pressing member included in a tool pressing mechanism fixedly held on the fixed bed under a tool changing position. The tool pressing mechanism is actuated to transfer a tool from the tool post to a chuck attached to the spindle or from the chuck to the tool post. The work table is lightweight and hence can be rapidly moved. The tool changing mechanism needs only simple control for a tool changing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: Howa Machinery, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Oketani, Tadashi Uemura
  • Patent number: 5868656
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1999
    Assignee: Chiron Werke GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Eugen Rutschle
  • Patent number: 5860901
    Abstract: A machine tool comprises a spindle that rotates about a spindle axis and that comprises a receptacle for toolholders. There is further provided a number of tool changers distributed around the spindle, the gripper arm of each tool changer carrying a toolholder that can be transferred, by means of the gripper arm on which it is mounted, between a magazine position spaced from the spindle above the receptacle, and a working position on the receptacle. The toolholders are arranged in their magazine position with their longitudinal axes extending at an angle relative to the spindle axis so that they point away from the spindle obliquely in downward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1999
    Assignee: Chiron-Werke GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Rudolf Haninger, Hans-Henning Winkler
  • Patent number: 5855541
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1999
    Assignee: Chiron Werke GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Eugen Rutschle
  • Patent number: 5772566
    Abstract: A machine tool comprises at least one spindle (13). Tool changers (27) for exchanging tools (31) are associated with said spindle (13). The spindle (13) is fitted with a facing head (60). The facing head (60) comprises means for numerically controlled displacement of a facing tool (69) in a direction (r) perpendicular to the axis (23) of the spindle (13). The tool changer associated with the spindle (13) is configured for exchanging facing tools (69) (FIG. 2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: Chiron-Werke GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Anton Richard Schweizer, Rudolf Haninger
  • Patent number: 5201695
    Abstract: A machine tool has a spindle rotating about a spindle axis and a quill that can be displaced relative to the spindle in the direction of the spindle axis. Arranged at intervals around the spindle are a number of gripper arms that are fastened to the quill, whereby each gripper arm carries a tool holder that has a cone. The cone of each tool holder can be individually engaged, by means of the gripper arm, from a magazine position located at a distance from the spindle into a working position located in the spindle, while the other tool holders are retained in the magazine position. In the magazine position, each of the tool holders is inserted into a separate sheath open at the bottom, which forms a cover at least for the respective cone. With the machine tool the sheaths are located on the gripper arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1993
    Assignee: Chiron-Werke GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Eugen Ruetschle, Hans-Henning Winkler
  • Patent number: 5134767
    Abstract: An automatic tool changing device in a machine tool for automatically changing a tool at an automatic tool changing (ATC) region. A spindle head is disposed reciprocally movable between a machining region and the ATC region by way of a machine origin which is positioned at a boundary point therebetween. The device includes a control device having a concurrent execution means in which deceleration control to the spindle head toward the machine origin and the acceleration control for the subsequent movement of the spindle head away from the machine origin are taken place in overlapping relation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1992
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shoki Yasuda