US4101405A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Shaping apparatus
Assignee: Japan Kinoko Research Center Foundation
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Filing: 1976-11-19
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Granted: 1978-07-18
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Expires: 1996-11-19
Abstract
Abstract A body, e.g. a die or tool for use in electrical machining, is shaped by milling and/or electrical methods using a tool head oriented at a perpendicular to the contour to be shaped by reason of input signals to the several servomotors or controls of the tool head and/or sensor head. The latter is displaceable with at least three degrees of freedom, preferably including angular displacement in two mutually perpendicular planes, while the workpiece and tool may be positioned mutually with at least two additional degrees of freedom. The workpiece is finished by fluid honing with a similarly orientable nozzle.
Inventors
- 👤 Kiyoshi Inoue
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 09:32
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05B; G05B19/00; G05B19/02; G05B19/42; G05B19/4202; G05B19/4207; B; B23; B23C; B23C1/00; B23C1/12; B23H; B23H1/00; B23H1/04; B23Q; B23Q1/00; B23Q1/25; B23Q1/44; B23Q1/48; B23Q15/00; B23Q15/007; B23Q15/14; B23Q33/00; B23Q35/00; B23Q35/04; B23Q35/08; B23Q35/12; B23Q35/121; B23Q35/123; B23Q35/126; B23Q35/24; B23Q35/26; B23Q35/30; B23Q35/34; G05B2219/00; G05B2219/30; G05B2219/35; G05B2219/35287; G05B2219/37; G05B2219/37207; G05B2219/45; G05B2219/45221; G05B2219/50; G05B2219/50071; G05B2219/50167; G05B2219/50353; G05B2219/50357; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T409/00; Y10T409/30; Y10T409/304536; Y10T409/305544; Y10T409/305656
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
164 words
An apparatus for shaping a workpiece comprising: a sensor adapted to scan a model and generating a plurality of signals defining a plane tangent to the surface of said model and the direction of curvature of said surface at a sensed point; a workpiece support adapted to receive said workpiece; a tool having an axis and juxtaposed with said workpiece; a tool support carrying said tool; and means connected with at least one of said supports and operatively connected with said sensor for relatively displacing said workpiece and said tool with respect to a multiplicity of axes for maintaining the tool axis normal to a contour generated in said workpiece by said tool, said sensor comprising a plurality of fingers biased in the direction of said model, respective mechanical/electrical transducers for converting the positions of each of said fingers into an electrical analog signal representing said position, said means connected to at least one of said supports including respective servomotors responsive to said signals.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
164 words
An apparatus for shaping a workpiece comprising: a sensor adapted to scan a model and generating a plurality of signals defining a plane tangent to the surface of said model and the direction of curvature of said surface at a sensed point; a workpiece support adapted to receive said workpiece; a tool having an axis and juxtaposed with said workpiece; a tool support carrying said tool; and means connected with at least one of said supports and operatively connected with said sensor for relatively displacing said workpiece and said tool with respect to a multiplicity of axes for maintaining the tool axis normal to a contour generated in said workpiece by said tool, said sensor comprising a plurality of fingers biased in the direction of said model, respective mechanical/electrical transducers for converting the positions of each of said fingers into an electrical analog signal representing said position, said means connected to at least one of said supports including respective servomotors responsive to said signals.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1, further comprising analog/digital converter means between said transducers and the respective servomotors for stepping the latter in accordance with the respective analog signals.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
62 words
The apparatus defined in claim 2 wherein said tool support comprises a member carrying said tool and angularly displaceable about an axis by one of said servomotors, said apparatus further comprising a respective trigonometric-transfer-function network between at least two of said transducers and said one of said servomotors for operating same in response to an angular position represented by the respective fingers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus defined in claim 8, further comprising a plate adapted to bear tangentially upon said model and engaging said fingers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said fingers surround a central sensor member, said central sensor member producing an output signal representing the direction of curvature of the model surface engaged by said fingers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1, further comprising means for pneumatically biasing each of said fingers in the direction of said model.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
87 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said tool support comprises a carriage shiftable linearly in one direction relative to said workpiece, a first arm journaled on said carriage for rotation about an axis perpendicular to the direction of displacement thereof, and a second arm journaled on said first arm for rotation about an axis perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said first arm, said tool being mounted on said second arm with its axis substantially coplanar with the axis of rotation of said second arm.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus defined in claim 7, further comprising rigid link means pivotally connected beween said sensor and said tool support for joint displacement thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said workpiece support comprises a table carrying both said model and said workpiece, and means for displacing said model in two mutually perpendicular linear directions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1, further comprising drive means for rotating said workpiece about the axis of said tool.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said tool is a milling cutter.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said tool is a nozzle for directing a fluid-honing jet against said workpiece.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus defined in claim 12, further comprising a source of electrochemical-machining current connected between said workpiece and said nozzle.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus defined in claim 13, further comprising means for forcing compressed air through said nozzle.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein the axis of rotation of said first arm and the axis of rotation of said second arm are arranged to intersect said tool at the machining region on said workpiece.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-07-17 | 1982-01-16 | 1982-07-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-07-17 | 1986-01-16 | 1986-07-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-07-17 | 1990-01-16 | 1990-07-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |