Bushing for the holding of tools, spindles or like parts, particularly for the use in supporting units in combination with numerical control machines

Claim 2

A bushing for retaining and supporting at least one tool, spindle or the like, particularly for use with a support structure supporting a plurality of such tools to be used in a numerically controlled machine, said bushing comprising: two component parts together forming a box-like parallelepiped configuration and defining therebetween an insertion seat for receiving a particular tool, spindle or the like; said parts being adjustably movable toward and away from each other in opposite directions generally perpendicular to the axis of said insertion seat between a plurality of differently spaced positions, such that moving parts toward each other reduces the size of said insertion seat, and moving said parts away from each other increases the size of said insertion seat, to thereby adjust the size of said insertion seat as a function of the size of the particular tool, spindle or the like to be received therein; and said parts each having retaining means for matingly engaging each other in each of said plurality of positions, and for thereby fixing the relative spacing between said parts and the size of said insertion seat at each of said plurality of positions.

Claim 3

A bushing as claimed in claim 1, wherein said parts have inner surfaces which define said insertion seat.

Claim 4

A bushing as claimed in claim 1, wherein said retaining means of one of said parts includes means for engagement with a support structure and for thereby fixing the position of said bushing with respect to the support structure.

Claim 5

A bushing for retaining and supporting at least one tool, spindle or the like, particularly for use with a support structure supporting a plurality of such tools to be used in a numerically controlled machine, said bushing comprising: at least two component parts which are constructed to together define therebetween an insertion seat for receiving a particular tool, spindle or the like, each said part including a pair of lateral wings, said pair of wings of each said part extending therefrom in directions parallel to each other and toward the other said part; said parts being adjustably movable with respect to each other between a plurality of differently spaced positions, to thereby adjust the size of said insertion seat as a function of the size of the particular tool, spindle or the like to be received therein; and said parts each having a retaining means of matingly engaging each other in each of said plurality of positions, and for thereby fixing the relative spacing between said parts and the size of said insertion seat at each of said plurality of positions.

Claim 6

A bushing for retaining and supporting at least one tool, spindle or the like, particularly for use with a support structure supporting a plurality of such tools to be used in a numerically controlled machine, said bushing comprising: at least two component parts which are constructed to together define therebetween an insertion seat for receiving a particular tool, spindle or the like, each said part including a pair of lateral wings, said pair of wings of each said part extending therefrom in directions parallel to each other and toward the other said part; said parts being adjustably movable with respect to each other between a plurality of differently spaced positions, to thereby adjust the size of said insertion seat as a function of the size of the particular tool, spindle or the like to be received therein; and said parts each having a retaining means of matingly engaging each other in each of said plurality of positions, and for thereby fixing the relative spacing between said parts and the size of said insertion seat at each of said plurality of positions.

Claim 7

A bushing as claimed in claim 4, wherein said retaining means of a first said part comprises teeth projecting from said wings thereof, said retaining means of a second said part comprises a plurality of recesses in said wings thereof, and said recesses are shaped complementary to said teeth, such that at different of said plurality of positions said teeth are received in different of said recesses.

Claim 8

A bushing as claimed in claim 4, wherein said wings are positioned adjacent ends of said parts near the inlet of said insertion seat.

Claim 9

A bushing for retaining and supporting at least one tool, spindle or the like, particularly for use with a support structure supporting a plurality of such tools to be used in a numerically controlled machine, said bushing comprising: at least two component parts which are constructed to together define therebetween an insertion seat for receiving a particular tool, spindle or the like; said parts being adjustably movable with respect to each other between a plurality of differently spaced positions, to thereby adjust the size of said insertion seat as a function of the size of the particular tool, spindle or the like to be received therein; said parts each having retaining means for matingly engaging each other in each of said plurality of positions, and for thereby fixing the relative spacing between said parts and the size of said insertion seat at each of said plurality of positions; and each said part comprising a primary element formed of plastic material, and shaped metal plates fixed laterally of said primary element, said retaining means including portions of said shaped metal plates hooking said parts together to form a substantially monolithic unit at each of said plurality of positions.

Claim 10

A bushing for retaining and supporting at least one tool, spindle or the like, particularly for use with a support structure supporting a plurality of such tools to be used in a numerically controlled machine, said bushing comprising: at least two component parts which are constructed to together define therebetween an insertion seat for receiving a particular tool, spindle or the like; said parts being adjustably movable with respect to each other between a plurality of differently spaced positions, to thereby adjust the size of said insertion seat as a function of the size of the particular tool, spindle or the like to be received therein; said parts each having retaining means for matingly engaging each other in each of said plurality of positions, and for thereby fixing the relative spacing between said parts and the size of said insertion seat at each of said plurality of positions; and each said part comprising a primary element formed of plastic material, and shaped metal plates fixed laterally of said primary element, said retaining means including portions of said shaped metal plates hooking said parts together to form a substantially monolithic unit at each of said plurality of positions.

Claim 11

A bushing for retaining and supporting at least one tool, spindle or the like, particularly for use with a support structure supporting a plurality of such tools to be used in a numerically controlled machine, said bushing comprising: at least two component parts which are constructed to together define therebetween an insertion seat for receiving a particular tool, spindle or the like, said parts having inner surfaces which define said insertion seat, which are each partially cylindrical and which are defined by generatrices extending parallel to each other and to the axis of said insertion seat; said parts being adjustably movable with respect to each other between a plurality of differently spaced positions, to thereby adjust the size of said insertion seat as a function of the size of the particular tool, spindle or the like to be received therein; and said parts each having retaining means for matingly engaging each other in each of said plurality of positions, and for thereby fixing the relative spacing between said parts and the size of said insertion seat at each of said plurality of positions.

Claim 12

A bushing for retaining and supporting at least one tool, spindle or the like, particularly for use with a support structure supporting a plurality of such tools to be used in a numerically controlled machine, said bushing comprising: at least two component parts which are constructed to together define therebetween an insertion seat for receiving a particular tool, spindle or the like, said parts having inner surfaces which define said insertion seat, which are each partially cylindrical and which are defined by generatrices extending parallel to each other and to the axis of said insertion seat; said parts being adjustably movable with respect to each other between a plurality of differently spaced positions, to thereby adjust the size of said insertion seat as a function of the size of the particular tool, spindle or the like to be received therein; and said parts each having retaining means for matingly engaging each other in each of said plurality of positions, and for thereby fixing the relative spacing between said parts and the size of said insertion seat at each of said plurality of positions.

Claim 13

A bushing for retaining and supporting at least one tool, spindle or the like, particularly for use with a support structure supporting a plurality of such tools to be used in a numerically controlled machine, said bushing comprising: at least two component parts which are constructed to together define therebetween an insertion seat for receiving a particular tool, spindle or the like, said parts having inner surfaces which define said insertion seat, which are tapered and converge in directions away from the inlet of said insertion seat and which are defined by generatrices which are inclined to each other and to the axis of said insertion seat; said parts being adjustably movable with respect to each other between a plurality of differently spaced positions, to thereby adjust the size of said insertion seat as a function of the size of the particular tool, spindle or the like to be received therein; and said parts each having retaining means for matingly engaging each other in each of said plurality of positions, and for thereby fixing the relative spacing between said parts and the size of said insertion seat at each of said plurality of positions.

Claim 14

A bushing for retaining and supporting at least one tool, spindle or the like, particularly for use with a support structure supporting a plurality of such tools to be used in a numerically controlled machine, said bushing comprising: at least two component parts which are constructed to together define therebetween an insertion seat for receiving a particular tool, spindle or the like, said parts having inner surfaces which define said insertion seat, which are tapered and converge in directions away from the inlet of said insertion seat and which are defined by generatrices which are inclined to each other and to the axis of said insertion seat; said parts being adjustably movable with respect to each other between a plurality of differently spaced positions, to thereby adjust the size of said insertion seat as a function of the size of the particular tool, spindle or the like to be received therein; and said parts each having retaining means for matingly engaging each other in each of said plurality of positions, and for thereby fixing the relative spacing between said parts and the size of said insertion seat at each of said plurality of positions.

Claim 15

A bushing for retaining and supporting at least one tool, spindle or the like, particularly for use with a support structure supporting a plurality of such tools to be used in a numerically controlled machine, said bushing comprising: at least two component parts which are constructed to together define therebetween an insertion seat for receiving a particular tool, spindle or the like; said parts being adjustably movable with respect to each other between a plurality of differently spaced positions, to thereby adjust the size of said insertion seat as a function of the size of the particular tool, spindle or the like to be received therein; and said parts each having retaining means for matingly engaging each other in each of said plurality of positions, and for thereby fixing the relative spacing between said parts and the size of said insertion seat at each of said plurality of positions, said retaining means of one of said parts comprising projections extending from lateral wings of said one part for engagement with a support structure and for thereby fixing the position of said bushing with respect to the support structure.

Claim 16

A bushing for retaining and supporting at least one tool, spindle or the like, particularly for use with a support structure supporting a plurality of such tools to be used in a numerically controlled machine, said bushing comprising: at least two component parts which are constructed to together define therebetween an insertion seat for receiving a particular tool, spindle or the like; said parts being adjustably movable with respect to each other between a plurality of differently spaced positions, to thereby adjust the size of said insertion seat as a function of the size of the particular tool, spindle or the like to be received therein; and said parts each having retaining means for matingly engaging each other in each of said plurality of positions, and for thereby fixing the relative spacing between said parts and the size of said insertion seat at each of said plurality of positions, said retaining means of one of said parts comprising projections extending from lateral wings of said one part for engagement with a support structure and for thereby fixing the position of said bushing with respect to the support structure.

Claim 17

A bushing for retaining and supporting at least one tool, spindle or the like, particularly for use with a support structure supporting a plurality of such tools to be used in a numerically controlled machine, said bushing comprising: at least two component parts which are constructed to together define therebetween an insertion seat for receiving a particular tool, spindle or the like; said parts being adjustably movable with respect to each other between a plurality of differently spaced positions, to thereby adjust the size of said insertion seat as a function of the size of the particular tool, spindle or the like to be received therein; and said parts each having retaining means for matingly engaging each other in each of said plurality of positions, and for thereby fixing the relative spacing between said parts and the size of said insertion seat at each of said plurality of positions, said retaining means of one of said parts including means for being clamped by a clamp device of a support structure to thus clamp said bushing in position with respect to the support structure.

Claim 18

A bushing for retaining and supporting at least one tool, spindle or the like, particularly for use with a support structure supporting a plurality of such tools to be used in a numerically controlled machine, said bushing comprising: at least two component parts which are constructed to together define therebetween an insertion seat for receiving a particular tool, spindle or the like; said parts being adjustably movable with respect to each other between a plurality of differently spaced positions, to thereby adjust the size of said insertion seat as a function of the size of the particular tool, spindle or the like to be received therein; and said parts each having retaining means for matingly engaging each other in each of said plurality of positions, and for thereby fixing the relative spacing between said parts and the size of said insertion seat at each of said plurality of positions, said retaining means of one of said parts including means for being clamped by a clamp device of a support structure to thus clamp said bushing in position with respect to the support structure.

Claim 19

A bushing as claimed in claim 11, wherein said means for being clamped comprises substantially planar surfaces formed on lateral wings of said one part.