Thread tapping machine

Claim 2

An automatic tapping machine comprising: a. a machine bed; b. a work supporting structure positioned on said bed for locating an article to be tapped; c. a tapping head supported on said bed for movement toward and away from said work supporting structure; d. said tapping head comprising: 1. a tap rotatable relative to said work support station; 2. a tap support receiving and supporting tapped articles; 3. a tap drive connected to said tap for rotating said tap in a single direction; and, e. actuating means for moving said tapping head toward and away from said work supporting structure whereby an article supported by said work supporting structure is tapped and removed from said work supporting structure while supported on said tap support; f. said actuating means comprising a collapsible pushrod assembly extending between said tapping head and a driving member, said pushrod transmitting advancing force to said tapping head below a predetermined force and resiliently yielding under compression by said predetermined force to limit the stresses in said tapping head.

Claim 3

a tap support receiving and supporting tapped articles;

Claim 4

a tap support receiving and supporting tapped articles;

Claim 5

A machine as claimed claim 1 wherein said driving member of said actuating means comprises a movable cam member, said pushrod assembly including a cam follower member for engaging said cam member and transmitting advancing forces to said pushrod assembly and said tapping head.

Claim 6

A machine as claimed in claim 2 wherein said actuating means further comprises a return spring member connected between said tapping head and said bed, said return spring acting in opposition to said pushrod assembly for retracting said tapping head from said work supporting structure.

Claim 7

a tap drive connected to said tap for rotating said tap in a single direction; and, e. actuating means for moving said tapping head toward and away from said work supporting structure whereby an article supported by said work supporting structure is tapped and removed from said work supporting structure while supported on said tap support; f. said actuating means comprising a collapsible pushrod assembly extending between said tapping head and a driving member, said pushrod transmitting advancing force to said tapping head below a predetermined force and resiliently yielding under compression by said predetermined force to limit the stresses in said tapping head.

Claim 8

a tap drive connected to said tap for rotating said tap in a single direction; and, e. actuating means for moving said tapping head toward and away from said work supporting structure whereby an article supported by said work supporting structure is tapped and removed from said work supporting structure while supported on said tap support; f. said actuating means comprising a collapsible pushrod assembly extending between said tapping head and a driving member, said pushrod transmitting advancing force to said tapping head below a predetermined force and resiliently yielding under compression by said predetermined force to limit the stresses in said tapping head.

Claim 9

A machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said pushrod extends generally parallel to the axis of rotation of said tap and is spaced laterally from said axis.

Claim 10

A machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said pushrod assembly includes a body member, first and second sleeve members disposed at opposite ends of said body member, and biasing means comprising a spring interposed between each end of said body and the respective sleeve member.

Claim 11

A machine as defined in claim 5 wherein said springs are normally compressed between said sleeve members and said body member, and said body and each of said sleeves are connected by structure preventing movement of said sleeve members away from the ends of said body and said springs.

Claim 12

For use in combination with a tapping machine having a stationary workpiece support, a tapping head structure including a rotatable tap, and a drive mechanism for moving said tapping head toward said work support to tap articles, a pushrod assembly between said tapping head structure and said drive mechanism to move said tapping head toward said work support in response to actuation by the drive mechanism, said pushrod assembly comprising: a. a central body member; b. a sleeve member having a cavity open at one end and of a cross-sectional dimension for receiving said body member; c. said sleeve member being telescoped over said body member such that an end portion of said body member is disposed within said sleeve member for movement axially relative to said cavity; d. a compression spring disposed within said cavity and interposed between the members; e. connecting means interposed between the members and maintaining the members in an assembled condition against the action of saId spring, said spring being thereby maintained under compression; f. one of said members being a drive end member and including means for drivingly connecting said one member to said drive mechanism; and, g. tapping head advancing force transmitted between said members through said compression spring and to said tapping head, said pushrod assembly rigidly transmitting forces less than a predetermined force and said members moving relatively to further compress said spring when said predetermined force is applied whereby overstressing parts of said tapping head is avoided.

Claim 13

For use in combination with a tapping machine having a stationary workpiece support, a tapping head structure including a rotatable tap, and a drive mechanism for moving said tapping head toward said work support to tap articles, a pushrod assembly between said tapping head structure and said drive mechanism to move said tapping head toward said work support in response to actuation by the drive mechanism, said pushrod assembly comprising: a. a central body member; b. a sleeve member having a cavity open at one end and of a cross-sectional dimension for receiving said body member; c. said sleeve member being telescoped over said body member such that an end portion of said body member is disposed within said sleeve member for movement axially relative to said cavity; d. a compression spring disposed within said cavity and interposed between the members; e. connecting means interposed between the members and maintaining the members in an assembled condition against the action of saId spring, said spring being thereby maintained under compression; f. one of said members being a drive end member and including means for drivingly connecting said one member to said drive mechanism; and, g. tapping head advancing force transmitted between said members through said compression spring and to said tapping head, said pushrod assembly rigidly transmitting forces less than a predetermined force and said members moving relatively to further compress said spring when said predetermined force is applied whereby overstressing parts of said tapping head is avoided.

Claim 14

A device as set forth in claim 7 wherein said drive mechanism includes a rotatable cam member, and said connecting means includes a follower connected to said one of said members.

Claim 15

A device as defined in claim 8 wherein said follower is adjustably connected to said one member to permit the effective length of said pushrod assembly to be adjusted.

Claim 16

For use in combination with a tapping machine having a stationary workpiece support, a tapping head structure including a rotatable tap, and a drive mechanism for moving said tapping head toward said work support to tap articles, a pushrod assembly between said tapping head structure and said drive mechanism to move said tapping head toward said work support in response to actuation by the drive mechanism, said pushrod assembly comprising: a. a central body member; b. first and second spaced sleeves being telescoped over said body such that end portions of said body are disposed within said sleeves; c. said sleeves each having a bottomed bore open at one end and a cross-sectional contour providing a surface for guiding the body for axial movement in said bore; d. a pair of compression springs each disposed within one of said bores and interposed between an associated sleeve and the body; e. first and second connecting means interposed between the first sleeve and the body and the second sleeve and the body, respectively, and maintaining the body and sleeves in an assembled condition against the action of said springs, said springs being thereby maintained under compression; f. one of said sleeves being a drive end sleeve and including drive transmitting means between said sleeve and said drive mechanism; and, g. the other of said sleeves being a tapping head engaging sleeve for transmitting advancing force to said tapping head from said drive mechanism.

Claim 17

For use in combination with a tapping machine having a stationary workpiece support, a tapping head structure including a rotatable tap, and a drive mechanism for moving said tapping head toward said work support to tap articles, a pushrod assembly between said tapping head structure and said drive mechanism to move said tapping head toward said work support in response to actuation by the drive mechanism, said pushrod assembly comprising: a. a central body member; b. first and second spaced sleeves being telescoped over said body such that end portions of said body are disposed within said sleeves; c. said sleeves each having a bottomed bore open at one end and a cross-sectional contour providing a surface for guiding the body for axial movement in said bore; d. a pair of compression springs each disposed within one of said bores and interposed between an associated sleeve and the body; e. first and second connecting means interposed between the first sleeve and the body and the second sleeve and the body, respectively, and maintaining the body and sleeves in an assembled condition against the action of said springs, said springs being thereby maintained under compression; f. one of said sleeves being a drive end sleeve and including drive transmitting means between said sleeve and said drive mechanism; and, g. the other of said sleeves being a tapping head engaging sleeve for transmitting advancing force to said tapping head from said drive mechanism.