US3822374A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrode wire feed mechanism for electro-erosion machines
Assignee: Agie Charmilles SA
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Filing: 1972-08-30
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Granted: 1974-07-02
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Expires: 1992-08-30
Abstract
Abstract Feed rolls and drawing rolls advance the electrode wire around guide knobs defining the working length and isolate the working length from the irregularities of unwinding and rewinding. The feed rolls operate at constant speed and the drawing or takeup rolls operate either at constant torque or at a higher constant speed designed to provide a constant amount of elongation of the electrode wire, the latter conditions being used if the wire is subject to plastic deformation at working tension. The guide knobs have abrasion resistant surfaces to define the working position of the electrode wire and electrically conductive surfaces for applying electro-erosion potential to the wire. Instead of rewinding used electrode wire on a takeup reel or gathering it in a rotating container, the used wire may be cut up for salvage or other disposal.
Inventors
- 👤 W Ullmann
- 👤 V Lammler
- 👤 P Marti
- 👤 G Rezzonico
- 👤 S Mattei
- 👤 A Sieg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 21:27
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65H; B65H59/00; B65H59/38; B23; B23H; B23H7/00; B23H7/02; B23H7/08; B23H7/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
194 words
A mechanism for supplying and guiding at least one electrode wire for electro-erosion cutting of a work piece, comprising: an electrode wire supply means (2); a wire takeup means (12); means (7, 8) guiding said wire between said supply and takeup means in a geometrically defined path with respect to the work piece; advancing means including a driven roll (3) and a pressure roll (4) together firmly engaging said wire, for advancing said wire towards said guiding means (7, 8) at a predetermined steady velocity; and pulling means, including a second driven roll (10) and a second pressure roll (11) together firmly engaging said wire, for pulling said wire away from said guiding means (7, 8) with constant proportional elongation of said wire, said pulling means including drive means for driving said pulling means at a velocity such as to maintain a constant ratio of the velocities of said wire respectively at said advancing means and at said pulling means, said ratio being chosed for compatibility with the stretching characteristics of said electrode wire, both said advancing means and said pulling means being driven independently of said supply means and of said takeup means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
194 words
A mechanism for supplying and guiding at least one electrode wire for electro-erosion cutting of a work piece, comprising: an electrode wire supply means (2); a wire takeup means (12); means (7, 8) guiding said wire between said supply and takeup means in a geometrically defined path with respect to the work piece; advancing means including a driven roll (3) and a pressure roll (4) together firmly engaging said wire, for advancing said wire towards said guiding means (7, 8) at a predetermined steady velocity; and pulling means, including a second driven roll (10) and a second pressure roll (11) together firmly engaging said wire, for pulling said wire away from said guiding means (7, 8) with constant proportional elongation of said wire, said pulling means including drive means for driving said pulling means at a velocity such as to maintain a constant ratio of the velocities of said wire respectively at said advancing means and at said pulling means, said ratio being chosed for compatibility with the stretching characteristics of said electrode wire, both said advancing means and said pulling means being driven independently of said supply means and of said takeup means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A mechanism as defined in claim 1 in which said advancing means and said pulling means are mounted on a common frame (16, 17).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
56 words
A mechanism as defined in claim 2 in which said means to feed said electrodE wire also comprises motors (5, 14) adapted to be driven in such a manner that said pulling means exerts a constant tension force on said electrode wire taking account of variations in the stretching properties of said electrode wire (FIG. 2).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
A mechanism as defined in claim 2 in which said advancing means and said pulling means each comprises a drive motor (5, 14) individual respectively to said advancing means and to said pulling means
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
68 words
A mechanism as defined in claim 2 in which said takeup means comprises a reel (12) on the takeup side of said pulling means and in which said advancing and pulling means each engage said wire so firmly that external disturbances from said supply means (2) and said takeup means reel (12) are prevented from affecting the portion of the electrode wire between said advancing and pulling means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
84 words
A mechanism as defined in claim 2 in which adjusting means (41, 42, 111, 112) are provided for adjustment of the pressure between the rolls of said advancing means (3, 4) and likewise of the pressure between the rolls of said pulling means (10,11) in order to avoid damage or deformation of said electrode wire and to avoid slipping thereof with respect to said advancing and pulling means and in which the working surface of said rolls is coated with a soft material (44).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
87 words
A mechanism as defined in claim 2 in which each of said electrode guiding means (7,8) comprises one portion (71) made of abrasion-resistant material and another portion (72) made of electrically conducting material having favorable sliding properties, the said two portions being so put together that said electrode wire touches both of said portions in passing over said guide projection, whereby said electrode guiding means serve both to position said electrode wire and to provide the electrical connection necessary for electro-erosion cutting of a workpiece (FIG. 4).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
52 words
A mechanism as defined in claim 2 in which said supply means comprises a supply reel, in which said takeup means comprises a takeup reel and in which said supply reel and said takeup reel are mounted on a casette (80), such a casette being provided for each electrode wire (FIG. 6).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
A mechanism as defined in claim 8 in which a plurality of casettes (80) are provided in the form of a combined multiple-casette unit.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
71 words
A mechanism as defined in claim 8 in which the said casette (80) comprises the said reels, (2, 12), the advancing and pulling means (3, 4, 10, 11) and the said electrode guiding means (7, 8) and in which couplings of the said reels (2, 12) and of the driven rolls (3, 10) of said advancing and pulling means are connected to motors (5, 14, 97) by means of disengageable connections.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
A mechanism as defined in claim 2 in which said takeup means comprises a takeup reel and in which loop forming means (90, 91, 92, 93, 94) are provided between said pulling means and said takeup reel (FIG. 7).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
A mechanism as defined in claim 11 in which brake means (96) are provided for adjusting the takeup force of said takeup reel.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
A mechanism as defined in claim 2 in which said takeup means comprises a container (161) on the takeup side of said pulling means arranged for ordered gathering of said electrode wire (FIG. 8).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
A mechanism as defined in claim 13 in which said container (161) is rotatable and in which a guide tube (160) leads said electrode wire into said container.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
42 words
A mechanism as defined in claim 2 in which a cutting device (15) at the exit side of said pulling means is adapted to cut up said electrode wire into short lengths (FIGS. 1, 9. 10) for gathering in said takeup means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
A mechanism as defined in claim 15 in which said cutting device comprises a knife (152, 172) and electro-magnetic actuating means (151, 177) for said knife.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
A mechanism as defined in claim 16 in which said knife takes the form of a two-edged vibrating cutter (172).
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
68 words
A mechanism as defined in claim 2 in which a clamping means (205) is provided in the neigHborhood of one of said electrode guiding means which is nearer said advancing means and so arranged as to enable the formation of a cavity or bore (207) in the workpiece (206), which cavity or bore may serve to define the beginning point of an electro-erosion cutting operation (FIGS. 11, 12).
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
83 words
A mechanism as defined in claim 18 in which a clamping means (205) is adapted to clamp fast said electrode wire (1) by means of a constriction tube (210) and in which a free end of said electrode wire projecting out of said constriction tube is adapted to produce a cavity (207) in said work piece (206) such that the depth of said cavity corresponds to the length os said projecting wire end less the erosion thereof during the production of said cavity.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3504155A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-07-01 | 1977-12-31 | 1978-07-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-07-01 | 1981-12-31 | 1982-07-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-07-01 | 1985-12-31 | 1986-07-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |