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Patent US3691879A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3691879A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Machine tool
Assignee: Warner and Swasey Co
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Filing: 1970-06-11
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Granted: 1972-09-19
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Expires: 1990-06-11
Abstract
Abstract An improved machine tool for operating on bar stock includes a gripper which is moved away from a chuck to pull bar stock to a work station. When the gripper has been moved through a distance sufficient to pull a desired length of bar stock to the work station, a numerical control system is effective to interrupt movement of the gripper and bar stock. The numerical control system enables different lengths of bar stock to be fed to the work station on successive cycles of operation of the machine tool in response to stored numerical control data. In one embodiment of the machine tool, the gripper is advantageously mounted on a turret which supports tools and is operated by the numerical control system in accordance with a predetermined program to machine the length of bar stock fed to the work station.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles T Blake
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 10:29
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23B; B23B3/00; B23B3/16; B23B3/161; B23B13/00; B23B13/12; B23B13/123; B23Q; B23Q7/00; B23Q7/04; B23Q7/045; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T82/00; Y10T82/25; Y10T82/2502; Y10T82/2514; Y10T82/2521
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
459 words
A machine for operating on bar stock with tools located in a work area, said maChine comprising chuck means for holding bars stock in a position in which the bar stock extends away from one end portion of said chuck means into the work area, said chuck means being operable between a closed condition holding the bar stock against movement relative to said chuck means and an open condition in which the bar stock is movable relative to said chuck means, actuator means for effecting operation of said chuck means between the open condition and the closed condition, gripper means for gripping the bar stock in the work area adjacent to said one end portion of said chuck means, said gripper means including a plurality or resilient finger elements having surfaces defining an opening which is slightly smaller than and has the same general cross-sectional configuration as the cross-sectional configuration of one end portion of the bar stock, means for moving said gripper means away from said one end portion of said chuck means to pull bar stock from said chuck means into the work area by moving the portion of bar stock gripped by said gripper means away from said one end portion of said chuck means when said chuck means has been operated to the open condition by said actuator means, said means for moving said gripper means being operable to effect gripping engagement of said gripper means with the bar stock by moving said gripper means toward said one end portion of said chuck means when said chuck means is in the closed condition to press the finger elements against the one end portion of the bar stock and cam the finger elements outwardly to increase the size of the opening slightly and to move the finger elements into frictional engagement with an axially extending surface of the one end portion of the bar stock while the bar stock is held against axial movement by said chuck, means, and control means for controlling the operation of said actuator means and said means for moving said gripper means, said control means including means for effecting operation of said actuator means to operate said chuck means to the closed condition after bar stock has been pulled from said chuck means by movement of said gripper means away from said one end portion of said chuck means and means for disengaging said gripper means from the bar stock by continuing the movement of said gripper means away from said one end portion of said chuck means after said chuck means has been operated to the closed condition by said actuator means to slide said finger elements out of frictional engagement with the one end portion of the bar stock.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
459 words
A machine for operating on bar stock with tools located in a work area, said maChine comprising chuck means for holding bars stock in a position in which the bar stock extends away from one end portion of said chuck means into the work area, said chuck means being operable between a closed condition holding the bar stock against movement relative to said chuck means and an open condition in which the bar stock is movable relative to said chuck means, actuator means for effecting operation of said chuck means between the open condition and the closed condition, gripper means for gripping the bar stock in the work area adjacent to said one end portion of said chuck means, said gripper means including a plurality or resilient finger elements having surfaces defining an opening which is slightly smaller than and has the same general cross-sectional configuration as the cross-sectional configuration of one end portion of the bar stock, means for moving said gripper means away from said one end portion of said chuck means to pull bar stock from said chuck means into the work area by moving the portion of bar stock gripped by said gripper means away from said one end portion of said chuck means when said chuck means has been operated to the open condition by said actuator means, said means for moving said gripper means being operable to effect gripping engagement of said gripper means with the bar stock by moving said gripper means toward said one end portion of said chuck means when said chuck means is in the closed condition to press the finger elements against the one end portion of the bar stock and cam the finger elements outwardly to increase the size of the opening slightly and to move the finger elements into frictional engagement with an axially extending surface of the one end portion of the bar stock while the bar stock is held against axial movement by said chuck, means, and control means for controlling the operation of said actuator means and said means for moving said gripper means, said control means including means for effecting operation of said actuator means to operate said chuck means to the closed condition after bar stock has been pulled from said chuck means by movement of said gripper means away from said one end portion of said chuck means and means for disengaging said gripper means from the bar stock by continuing the movement of said gripper means away from said one end portion of said chuck means after said chuck means has been operated to the closed condition by said actuator means to slide said finger elements out of frictional engagement with the one end portion of the bar stock.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
445 words
A machine for operating on bar stock with tools located in a work area, said machine comprising chuck means for holding bar stock in a position in which the bar stock extends away from one end portion of said chuck means into the work area, said chuck means being operable between a closed condition holding the bar stock against movement relative to said chuck means and an open condition in which the bar stock is movable relative to said chuck means, actuator means for effecting operation of said chuck means between the open condition and the closed condition, gripper means for gripping the bar stock in the work area adjacent to said one end portion of said chuck means, said gripper means includes a plurality of resilient finger elements having surfaces defining an opening which is slightly smaller than and has the same general cross-sectional configuration as the cross-sectional configuration of one end portion of the bar stock, means for moving said gripper means away from said one end portion of said chuck means to pull bar stock from said chuck means into the work area by moving the portion of bar stock gripped by said gripper means away from said one end portion of said chuck means when said chuck means has been operated to the open condition by said actuator means, said means for moving said gripper means being operable to effect gripping engagement of said gripper means with the bar stock by moving said gripper means toward said one end portion of said Chuck means when said chuck means is in the closed condition to press the finger elements against the one end portion of the bar stock and cam the finger elements outwardly to increase the size of the opening slightly and to move the finger elements into frictional engagement with an axially extending surface of the one end portion of the bar stock while the bar stock is held against axial movement by said chuck means, and numerical control means for controlling operation of said means for moving said gripper means to thereby control the length of bar stock pulled from said chuck means, said numerical control means including register means for storing numerical data which is in accordance with the length of bar stock to be pulled from said chuck means by movement of said gripper means away from said one end portion of said chuck means and control means for interrupting operation of said means for moving said gripper means in response to the pulling from said chuck means of a length of bar stock which is in accordance with the numerical data stored in said register means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
445 words
A machine for operating on bar stock with tools located in a work area, said machine comprising chuck means for holding bar stock in a position in which the bar stock extends away from one end portion of said chuck means into the work area, said chuck means being operable between a closed condition holding the bar stock against movement relative to said chuck means and an open condition in which the bar stock is movable relative to said chuck means, actuator means for effecting operation of said chuck means between the open condition and the closed condition, gripper means for gripping the bar stock in the work area adjacent to said one end portion of said chuck means, said gripper means includes a plurality of resilient finger elements having surfaces defining an opening which is slightly smaller than and has the same general cross-sectional configuration as the cross-sectional configuration of one end portion of the bar stock, means for moving said gripper means away from said one end portion of said chuck means to pull bar stock from said chuck means into the work area by moving the portion of bar stock gripped by said gripper means away from said one end portion of said chuck means when said chuck means has been operated to the open condition by said actuator means, said means for moving said gripper means being operable to effect gripping engagement of said gripper means with the bar stock by moving said gripper means toward said one end portion of said Chuck means when said chuck means is in the closed condition to press the finger elements against the one end portion of the bar stock and cam the finger elements outwardly to increase the size of the opening slightly and to move the finger elements into frictional engagement with an axially extending surface of the one end portion of the bar stock while the bar stock is held against axial movement by said chuck means, and numerical control means for controlling operation of said means for moving said gripper means to thereby control the length of bar stock pulled from said chuck means, said numerical control means including register means for storing numerical data which is in accordance with the length of bar stock to be pulled from said chuck means by movement of said gripper means away from said one end portion of said chuck means and control means for interrupting operation of said means for moving said gripper means in response to the pulling from said chuck means of a length of bar stock which is in accordance with the numerical data stored in said register means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
386 words
A machine for operating on bar stock with tools located in a work area, said machine comprising chuck means for holding bar stock in a position in which the bar stock extends away from one end portion of said chuck means into the work area, said chuck means being operable between a closed condition holding the bar stock against movement relative to said chuck means and an open condition in which the bar stock is movable relative to said chuck means, actuator means for effecting operation of said chuck means between the open condition and the closed condition, gripper means for gripping the bar stock in the work area adjacent to said one end portion of said chuck means, said gripper means including surface means for frictionally engaging one end portion of the bar stock, means for moving said gripper means away from said one end portion of said chuck means to pull bar stock from said chuck means into the work area by moving the portion of bar stock gripped by said gripper means away from said one end portion of said chuck means when said chuck means has been operated to the open condition by said actuator means, said means for moving said gripper means being operable to effect gripping engagement of said gripper means with the bar stock by moving said gripper means toward said one end portion of said chuck means when said chuck means is in the closed condition to press said gripper means against the one end portion of the bar stock and move said surface means into frictional engagement with an axially extending surface of the one end portion of the bar stock while the bar stock is held against axial movement by said chuck means, and control means for controlling the operation of said actuator means and said means for moving said gripper means, said control means including means for disengaging said gripper means from the bar stock by continuing the movement of said gripper means away from said chuck means after said chuck means has been operated to the closed condition by said actuator means and sliding said surface means along the one end portion of the bar stock to move said surface means out of frictional engagement with the one end portion of the bar stock.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
386 words
A machine for operating on bar stock with tools located in a work area, said machine comprising chuck means for holding bar stock in a position in which the bar stock extends away from one end portion of said chuck means into the work area, said chuck means being operable between a closed condition holding the bar stock against movement relative to said chuck means and an open condition in which the bar stock is movable relative to said chuck means, actuator means for effecting operation of said chuck means between the open condition and the closed condition, gripper means for gripping the bar stock in the work area adjacent to said one end portion of said chuck means, said gripper means including surface means for frictionally engaging one end portion of the bar stock, means for moving said gripper means away from said one end portion of said chuck means to pull bar stock from said chuck means into the work area by moving the portion of bar stock gripped by said gripper means away from said one end portion of said chuck means when said chuck means has been operated to the open condition by said actuator means, said means for moving said gripper means being operable to effect gripping engagement of said gripper means with the bar stock by moving said gripper means toward said one end portion of said chuck means when said chuck means is in the closed condition to press said gripper means against the one end portion of the bar stock and move said surface means into frictional engagement with an axially extending surface of the one end portion of the bar stock while the bar stock is held against axial movement by said chuck means, and control means for controlling the operation of said actuator means and said means for moving said gripper means, said control means including means for disengaging said gripper means from the bar stock by continuing the movement of said gripper means away from said chuck means after said chuck means has been operated to the closed condition by said actuator means and sliding said surface means along the one end portion of the bar stock to move said surface means out of frictional engagement with the one end portion of the bar stock.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
84 words
A machine as set forth in claim 2 wherein said numerical control means further includes means for operating said machine through a plurality of operating cycles in accordance with a predetermined program and means for enabling the stored numerical data to vary in accordance with the predetermined program on successive cycles of operation of said machine to enable the predetermined length of bar stock pulled from said chuck means into the work area to be varied on successive cycles of operation of said machine.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
126 words
A machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said control means includes numerical control means for controlling operation of said means for moving said gripper means to thereby control the length of bar stock pulled from said chuck means, said numerical control means including register means for storing numerical data which is in accordance with the length of bar stock to be pulled from said chuck means by movement of said gripper means away from said one end portion of said chuck means and control means for interrupting operation of said means for moving said gripper means in response to the pulling from said chuck means of a length of bar stock which is in accordance with the numerical data stored in said register means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
82 words
A machine as set forth in claim 5 wherein said numerical control means further includes means for operating said machine tool through a plurality of operating cycles in accordance with a predetermined program and means for enabling the stored numerical data to be varied in accordance with the predetermined program on successive cycles of operation of said machine tool to enable different lengths of bar stock to be pulled from said spindle assembly on successive cycles of operation of said machine tool.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
117 words
A machine as set forth in claim 3 wherein said control means further includes numerical control means for storing numerical data which is in accordance with a predetermined length of bar stock to be pulled from said chuck means by movement of said gripper means away from said one end portion of said chuck means and means for effecting operation of said actuator means to operate said chuck means to the closed condition in response to the pulling from said chuck means of the predetermined length of bar stock to thereby hold the bar stock against further movement relative to said chuck means after the predetermined length of bar stock has been pulled from said chuck means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
84 words
A machine as set forth in claim 3 wherein said control means further includes numerical control means for storing numerical data which is in accordance with the selected length of bar stock to be pulled from said chuck means by movement of said gripper means relative to said chuck means and means for interrupting operation of said means for moving said gripper means in response to the pulling from said chuck means of a length of bar stock corresponding to the stored numerical data.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
126 words
A machine as set forth in claim 3 wherein said control means includes numerical control means for controlling operation of said means for moving said gripper means to thereby control the length of bar stock pulled from said chuck means, said numerical control means including register means for storing numerical data which is in accordance with the length of bar stock to be pulled from said chuck means by movement of said gripper means away from said one end portion of said chuck means and control means for interrupting operation of said means for moving said gripper means in response to the pulling from said chuck means of a length of bar stock which is in accordance with the numerical data stored in said register means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
84 words
A machine as set forth in claim 7 wherein said numerical control means further includes means for operating said machine through a plurality of operating cycles in accordance with a predetermined program and means for enabling the stored numerical data to vary in accordance with the predetermined program on successive cycles of operation of said machine to enable the predetermined length of bar stock pulled from said chuck means into the work area to be varied on successive cycles of operation of said machine.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
103 words
A machine as set forth in claim 2 wherein said actuator means is operable to operate said chuck means to the closed condition upon the pulling from said chuck means of the length of bar stock which is in accordance with the numerical data stored in said register means, said control means being operable to continue of said means for moving said gripper means away from said one end portion of said chuck means upon operation of said chuck means to be closed condition to disengage said gripper means from the bar stock by moving said gripper means relative to the bar stock.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
80 words
A machine as set fOrth in claim 2 wherein said numerical control means further includes means for operating said machine through a plurality of operating cycles in accordance with a predetermined program and means for changing the numerical data stored in said register means in accordance with the predetermined program on successive cycles of operation of said machine to enable different lengths of bar stock to be pulled from said chuck means on successive cycles of operation of said machine.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-09-19 | 1976-03-20 | 1976-09-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-09-19 | 1980-03-20 | 1980-09-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-09-19 | 1984-03-20 | 1984-09-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |