US3879045A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Indexing chuck with position sensor
Assignee: Kennametal Inc
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Filing: 1974-05-06
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Granted: 1975-04-22
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Expires: 1994-05-06
Abstract
Abstract An indexing chuck for a tape controlled machine tool such as a turret lathe characterized in that the indexable work gripping jaw assembly thereof has a sensor cap on the periphery of the chuck body which is indexed in unison with the jaw assembly and which, during the rotation of the chuck, moves past in close proximity to but out of contact with a pickup head to produce electrical impulses for operating a selected relay when the work gripped by the jaws is in the desired indexed position for operation by the selected tool of the turret. When the jaws and sensor cap are in any other indexed position, the electrical impulses are such that a corresponding relay is energized but such relay, not then being in the tape control circuit, will not cause the tool turret to be advanced to engage the improperly indexed work.
Inventors
- 👤 Milton L Benjamin
- 👤 David D Walker
- 👤 Arthur R Crawford
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 16:13
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23Q; B23Q16/00; B23Q16/02; B23Q16/022; B23Q16/026; B23B; B23B31/00; B23B31/02; B23B31/10; B23B31/12; B23B31/16; B23B31/16287; B23B31/34; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T279/00; Y10T279/13; Y10T408/00; Y10T408/52; Y10T408/54; Y10T408/545
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
213 words
An indexing chuck comprising a chuck body adapted to be attached to a machine tool spindle; chuck jaws mounted on said body for indexing rotation about a diametric axis and for relative opening and closing motion along said axis; jaw actuating means mounted on said body for opening and closing said jaws; indexing means mounted on said body for indexing of said jaws to a plurality of different positions about said axis; an electronic sensor unit on said machine tool including a pickup head radially outwardly spaced from the periphery of said body in the axial region of said diametric axis; a sensor cap secured to one of said chuck jaws for indexing movement about said diametric axis and having a peripheral surface which passes said pickup head in close proximity thereto during rotation of said chuck; said sensor cap having means on its radially outer surface which produces different electrical impulses in said pickup head and sensor unit according to the indexed position of said sensor cap and chuck jaws; and control means in said sensor unit responsive to such impulses to correlate the operation of the machine tool to engage a selected tool with a selected portion of work clamped between said jaws and indexed to different positions in said chuck.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
213 words
An indexing chuck comprising a chuck body adapted to be attached to a machine tool spindle; chuck jaws mounted on said body for indexing rotation about a diametric axis and for relative opening and closing motion along said axis; jaw actuating means mounted on said body for opening and closing said jaws; indexing means mounted on said body for indexing of said jaws to a plurality of different positions about said axis; an electronic sensor unit on said machine tool including a pickup head radially outwardly spaced from the periphery of said body in the axial region of said diametric axis; a sensor cap secured to one of said chuck jaws for indexing movement about said diametric axis and having a peripheral surface which passes said pickup head in close proximity thereto during rotation of said chuck; said sensor cap having means on its radially outer surface which produces different electrical impulses in said pickup head and sensor unit according to the indexed position of said sensor cap and chuck jaws; and control means in said sensor unit responsive to such impulses to correlate the operation of the machine tool to engage a selected tool with a selected portion of work clamped between said jaws and indexed to different positions in said chuck.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
213 words
An indexing chuck comprising a chuck body adapted to be attached to a machine tool spindle; chuck jaws mounted on said body for indexing rotation about a diametric axis and for relative opening and closing motion along said axis; jaw actuating means mounted on said body for opening and closing said jaws; indexing means mounted on said body for indexing of said jaws to a plurality of different positions about said axis; an electronic sensor unit on said machine tool including a pickup head radially outwardly spaced from the periphery of said body in the axial region of said diametric axis; a sensor cap secured to one of said chuck jaws for indexing movement about said diametric axis and having a peripheral surface which passes said pickup head in close proximity thereto during rotation of said chuck; said sensor cap having means on its radially outer surface which produces different electrical impulses in said pickup head and sensor unit according to the indexed position of said sensor cap and chuck jaws; and control means in said sensor unit responsive to such impulses to correlate the operation of the machine tool to engage a selected tool with a selected portion of work clamped between said jaws and indexed to different positions in said chuck.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
213 words
An indexing chuck comprising a chuck body adapted to be attached to a machine tool spindle; chuck jaws mounted on said body for indexing rotation about a diametric axis and for relative opening and closing motion along said axis; jaw actuating means mounted on said body for opening and closing said jaws; indexing means mounted on said body for indexing of said jaws to a plurality of different positions about said axis; an electronic sensor unit on said machine tool including a pickup head radially outwardly spaced from the periphery of said body in the axial region of said diametric axis; a sensor cap secured to one of said chuck jaws for indexing movement about said diametric axis and having a peripheral surface which passes said pickup head in close proximity thereto during rotation of said chuck; said sensor cap having means on its radially outer surface which produces different electrical impulses in said pickup head and sensor unit according to the indexed position of said sensor cap and chuck jaws; and control means in said sensor unit responsive to such impulses to correlate the operation of the machine tool to engage a selected tool with a selected portion of work clamped between said jaws and indexed to different positions in said chuck.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
The chuck of claim 1 wherein said sensor cap has distinct areas of magnetic and non-magnetic materiaL to produce different voltage pulses in said pickup head according to the respective positions of said sensor cap and jaw assembly about said diametric axis.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
104 words
The chuck of claim 1 wherein said indexing means indexes said jaws and sensor cap to four different positions 90* apart; wherein said pickup head has two pickup devices to respond to one set of impulses in reversed order in the first and third diametrically opposite positions of said sensor cap and to respond to another set of impulses in reversed order in the second and fourth diametrically opposite positions of said sensor cap; and wherein said sensor unit detects said one set or another set of impulses and the order thereof to determine each indexed position of said sensor cap and jaw assembly.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
59 words
The chuck of claim 3 wherein said sensor cap is of non-magnetic material having a ring of magnetic material to produce two impulses in each pickup device in each indexed position thereof and having different numbers of distinct magnetic areas within said ring to produce in conjunction with the ring impulses said one set and another set of impulses.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
The chuck of claim 4 wherein said sensor cap has one and two of such areas in the first and third indexed positions and none and three of such areas in the second and fourth indexed positions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The chuck of claim 1 wherein said sensor unit includes relays which are energized according to the respective indexed positions of said sensor cap and jaw assembly.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
45 words
The chuck of claim 6 wherein said relays are selectively energized responsive to distinct areas of magnetic and non-magnetic material on said sensor cap producing different voltage pulses in said sensor unit according to the respective indexed positions of said sensor cap and jaw assembly.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3630536A
Cited
US3841780A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-04-21 | 1978-10-21 | 1979-04-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-21 | 1982-10-21 | 1983-04-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-21 | 1986-10-21 | 1987-04-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |