US3920971A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Off-line tool gage
Assignee: Milacron Inc
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Filing: 1974-03-28
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Granted: 1975-11-18
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Expires: 1994-03-28
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus is disclosed for measuring the dimensions of a cutting tool before the tool is loaded into a machine tool. The apparatus provides a base for maintaining a tool holder in a stationary position. A gaging device is operative to produce a signal representing the distance from a predetermined point on the tool to a reference point on the tool holder. The apparatus is further operative to communicate said signal to a control device.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert Charles Bevis
- 👤 Thiagarajan Viswanathan
- 👤 Howard Joseph Theis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 17:28
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23Q; B23Q17/00; B23Q17/22; B23Q17/2216; B23Q17/2225; G; G01; G01B; G01B7/00; G01B7/004; G01B7/008; G05; G05B; G05B19/00; G05B19/02; G05B19/18; G05B19/401; G05B19/4015; G05B2219/00; G05B2219/30; G05B2219/37; G05B2219/37383; G05B2219/37539; G05B2219/50; G05B2219/50008; G05B2219/50031; G05B2219/50381
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
231 words
An apparatus for generating dimensional information for a plurality of cutting tools, said apparatus operating in conjunction with and being remotely located from a computer having a storage circuit and controlling a machine tool, the apparatus comprising: a. a base including means affixed thereto for maintaining a cutting tool in a stationary position; b. a manually operable gaging apparatus attached to the base for measuring on each cutting tool the distance from a point on the cutting tool to a reference point and providing measurement signals as a function of the distance measured; c. a control circuit responsive to the measurement signals for storing said measurement signals and generating a corresponding output signal representing the distance measured, said circuit including means for generating an interrupt signal and an identification signal representing a predetermined numerical identification of the cutting tool; and d. an interfacing circuit connected between the control circuit and the computer and including 1. means for isolating all signals transferred between the control circuit and the computer, 2. means for interrupting the operation of the computer in response to the interrupt signal and transmitting the output signal and a corresponding identification signal to the storage circuit, whereby the output signal is stored in the storage circuit at a location corresponding to the identification signal, and 3. means responsive to the computer for decoding and transmitting signals to the control circuit.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
231 words
An apparatus for generating dimensional information for a plurality of cutting tools, said apparatus operating in conjunction with and being remotely located from a computer having a storage circuit and controlling a machine tool, the apparatus comprising: a. a base including means affixed thereto for maintaining a cutting tool in a stationary position; b. a manually operable gaging apparatus attached to the base for measuring on each cutting tool the distance from a point on the cutting tool to a reference point and providing measurement signals as a function of the distance measured; c. a control circuit responsive to the measurement signals for storing said measurement signals and generating a corresponding output signal representing the distance measured, said circuit including means for generating an interrupt signal and an identification signal representing a predetermined numerical identification of the cutting tool; and d. an interfacing circuit connected between the control circuit and the computer and including 1. means for isolating all signals transferred between the control circuit and the computer, 2. means for interrupting the operation of the computer in response to the interrupt signal and transmitting the output signal and a corresponding identification signal to the storage circuit, whereby the output signal is stored in the storage circuit at a location corresponding to the identification signal, and 3. means responsive to the computer for decoding and transmitting signals to the control circuit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
means for interrupting the operation of the computer in response to the interrupt signal and transmitting the output signal and a corresponding identification signal to the storage circuit, whereby the output signal is stored in the storage circuit at a location corresponding to the identification signal, and
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
means for interrupting the operation of the computer in response to the interrupt signal and transmitting the output signal and a corresponding identification signal to the storage circuit, whereby the output signal is stored in the storage circuit at a location corresponding to the identification signal, and
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
switching means for selectively producing an identification signal for each cutting tool, and
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
switching means for selectively producing an identification signal for each cutting tool, and
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
switching means for selectively producing an identification signal for each cutting tool, and
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
switching means for selectively producing an identification signal for each cutting tool, and
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
83 words
means responsive to the initiating means for causing the output signal to be transferred to a storage location selected by a corresponding identification signal; and e. communication lines between the storage means and the numerical control, said numerical control producing on one communication line an addressing signal associated with a first cutting tool, and said storage means being responsive to the addressing signal for producing to the numerical control on the other communication line the output signal corresponding to the first cutting tool.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
83 words
means responsive to the initiating means for causing the output signal to be transferred to a storage location selected by a corresponding identification signal; and e. communication lines between the storage means and the numerical control, said numerical control producing on one communication line an addressing signal associated with a first cutting tool, and said storage means being responsive to the addressing signal for producing to the numerical control on the other communication line the output signal corresponding to the first cutting tool.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
switching means for selectively producing an identification signal for each cutting tool, and
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
switching means for selectively producing an identification signal for each cutting tool, and
Claim 13
Independent Claim
96 words
An apparatus for generating dimensional information for a number of cutting tools, said apparAtus operating in conjunction with and being remotely located from a numerical control and its associated machine, the apparatus comprising: a. a base member having means affixed thereto for maintaining a cutting tool in a stationary position; b. a manually operable gaging apparatus for measuring on each cutting tool the distance from a point on the cutting tool to a reference point and producing measurement signals representing increments of the distance measured; c. a control circuit responsive to the measurement signals and including
Claim 14
Independent Claim
96 words
An apparatus for generating dimensional information for a number of cutting tools, said apparAtus operating in conjunction with and being remotely located from a numerical control and its associated machine, the apparatus comprising: a. a base member having means affixed thereto for maintaining a cutting tool in a stationary position; b. a manually operable gaging apparatus for measuring on each cutting tool the distance from a point on the cutting tool to a reference point and producing measurement signals representing increments of the distance measured; c. a control circuit responsive to the measurement signals and including
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
switching means for initiating a transfer of the output signal from the control circuit; d. an interfacing circuit connected to the control circuit and including
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
switching means for initiating a transfer of the output signal from the control circuit; d. an interfacing circuit connected to the control circuit and including
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the control circuit further comprises means responsive to the accumulating and storing means for providing a numerical visual display representing the distance measured.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
58 words
switching means for initiating a transfer of the output signal from the control circuit; d. an interfacing circuit connected to the control circuit and including means responsive to the initiating means for causing the output signal to be transferred to a storage location in the storage circuit of the numerical control as determined by a corresponding identification signal.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
58 words
switching means for initiating a transfer of the output signal from the control circuit; d. an interfacing circuit connected to the control circuit and including means responsive to the initiating means for causing the output signal to be transferred to a storage location in the storage circuit of the numerical control as determined by a corresponding identification signal.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
59 words
switching means for initiating a transfer of the output signal from the control circuit; d. an input output device including a recording medium; and e. means responsive to each output signal and a corresponding identification signal for energizing the input/output device to record the identification signals and the output signals on the storage medium thereby creating said input record.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
59 words
switching means for initiating a transfer of the output signal from the control circuit; d. an input output device including a recording medium; and e. means responsive to each output signal and a corresponding identification signal for energizing the input/output device to record the identification signals and the output signals on the storage medium thereby creating said input record.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
14 words
means responsive to the computer for decoding and transmitting signals to the control circuit.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
14 words
means responsive to the computer for decoding and transmitting signals to the control circuit.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the interfacing circuit further includes means responsive to the output signal and connected to the storage means for decoding each output signal to produce a new output signal representing the distance measured in a number system compatible with the numerical control.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
120 words
An apparatus for generating dimensional information for a number of cutting tools, said apparatus operating in conjunction with and being remotely located from a numerical control and its associated machine, said numerical control including a storage circuit having a number of storage locations corresponding to the number of cutting tools, the apparatus comprising: a. a base member having means affixed thereto for maintaining a cutting tool in a stationary position; b. a manually operable gaging apparatus attached to the base for measuring on each cutting tool the distance from a point on the cutting tool to a reference point and providing measurement signals representing increments of the distance measured; c. a control circuit responsive to the measurement signals and including
Claim 26
Independent Claim
120 words
An apparatus for generating dimensional information for a number of cutting tools, said apparatus operating in conjunction with and being remotely located from a numerical control and its associated machine, said numerical control including a storage circuit having a number of storage locations corresponding to the number of cutting tools, the apparatus comprising: a. a base member having means affixed thereto for maintaining a cutting tool in a stationary position; b. a manually operable gaging apparatus attached to the base for measuring on each cutting tool the distance from a point on the cutting tool to a reference point and providing measurement signals representing increments of the distance measured; c. a control circuit responsive to the measurement signals and including
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the control circuit further comprises means responsive to the accumulating and storing means for providing a numerical visual display representing the distance measured.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the interfacing circuit further includes means responsive to the output signals for decoding each output signAl to produce a new output signal representing the distance measured in a number system compatible with the numerical control.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
124 words
An apparatus for producing an input record containing dimensional information relative to a number of cutting tools, said input record being subsequently used by a numerical control simultaneously with said cutting tools being used by an associated machine, said apparatus being remotely located from the numerical control and its associated machine, the apparatus comprising: a. a base member having means affixed thereto for maintaining a cutting tool in a stationary position; b. a manually operable gaging apparatus attached to the base member for measuring on each of the cutting tools a distance from a point on the cutting tool to a reference point and producing measurement signals representing increments of the distance measured; c. a control circuit responsive to the measurement signals and including
Claim 30
Independent Claim
124 words
An apparatus for producing an input record containing dimensional information relative to a number of cutting tools, said input record being subsequently used by a numerical control simultaneously with said cutting tools being used by an associated machine, said apparatus being remotely located from the numerical control and its associated machine, the apparatus comprising: a. a base member having means affixed thereto for maintaining a cutting tool in a stationary position; b. a manually operable gaging apparatus attached to the base member for measuring on each of the cutting tools a distance from a point on the cutting tool to a reference point and producing measurement signals representing increments of the distance measured; c. a control circuit responsive to the measurement signals and including
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said control circuit further includes means responsive to the accumulating and storing means for producing a numerical visual display of the distance measured.
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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) | 1978-11-17 | 1979-05-19 | 1979-11-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-11-17 | 1983-05-19 | 1983-11-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-11-17 | 1987-05-19 | 1987-11-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |