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US4461068A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Automatic slotting apparatus with tool changing device

Assignee: L Schuler GmbH
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Filing: 1982-07-12
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Granted: 1984-07-24
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Expires: 2002-07-12
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Abstract

Abstract Automatic sliding apparatus is provided for automatically stamping stator and rotor laminations for electric motors from workpiece blanks. To accommodate utilization of a plurality of sets of tool dies on a single driveable press ram, a tool changing device is provided which includes a tool holder guide track for movably guiding the tool holder along a straight guide path in a plane at a tangent to the workpieces to be machined. With the plurality of tool die sets mounted at the linearly guided tool holder, tool exchanges can be effected simply and automatically, utilizing a linear drive mechanism for moving the respective tool die sets along the frame of the tool holder.

Inventors

  • 👤 Franz Schneider
  • 👤 Ewald Bergmann
  • 👤 Otto Kurz
  • 👤 Hans-Martin Dommer

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-27 14:51
CPC Classifications
B; B21; B21D; B21D37/00; B21D37/04; B21D28/00; B21D28/02; B21D28/22; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T483/00; Y10T483/17; Y10T483/1729; Y10T483/1731; Y10T83/00; Y10T83/869; Y10T83/8727; Y10T83/8748

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim 203 words
Automatic numerically controlled slotting machine apparatus having a tool changing device which has a plurality of respective upper and lower tool dies mounted in a tool holder, comprising means for selectively moving non-operative ones of said lower tool dies to positions below the plane of conveyance of circular workpieces being processed by the slotting machine, an indexing unit that can be rotated in steps carrying each circular workpiece during processing, and tool holder guide means for movably guiding the tool holder along a straight guide path in a plane and tangential to the circle of rotation around said indexing unit, whereby tool changes can be effected by moving said tool holder along said straight guide path, said slotting machine includes a processing station with a movable press ram that acts on said tool dies during processing of a workpiece, and said tool changing device is operable to selectively position the tool die sets in the processing station to be acted on by the press ram wherein the tool holder is fitted with C-shaped carrier means for holding respective ones of the tools while the tools and carrier elements are at least one of inside and outside the processing station and during tool change.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 203 words
Automatic numerically controlled slotting machine apparatus having a tool changing device which has a plurality of respective upper and lower tool dies mounted in a tool holder, comprising means for selectively moving non-operative ones of said lower tool dies to positions below the plane of conveyance of circular workpieces being processed by the slotting machine, an indexing unit that can be rotated in steps carrying each circular workpiece during processing, and tool holder guide means for movably guiding the tool holder along a straight guide path in a plane and tangential to the circle of rotation around said indexing unit, whereby tool changes can be effected by moving said tool holder along said straight guide path, said slotting machine includes a processing station with a movable press ram that acts on said tool dies during processing of a workpiece, and said tool changing device is operable to selectively position the tool die sets in the processing station to be acted on by the press ram wherein the tool holder is fitted with C-shaped carrier means for holding respective ones of the tools while the tools and carrier elements are at least one of inside and outside the processing station and during tool change.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 25 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the C-shaped carrier means are mounted in the tool holder by means of locating pins and pre-tensioned roller-bearing guides.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 38 words
Apparatus according to claims 1 or 2, wherein the C-shaped carrier means are each provided with a ball-bearing guide in which an upper die carrying mounting plate is guided for movement in the direction of the working stroke.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 20 words
Apparatus according to claims 2 or 3, wherein the tool holder is propelled by means of a clearance-free ball-bearing spindle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 198 words
Automatic numerically controlled slotting machine apparatus having a tool changing device which has a plurality of respective upper and lower tool dies mounted in a tool holder; comprising means for selectively moving non-operative ones of said lower tool dies to positions below the plane of conveyance of circular workpieces being processed by the slotting machine, an indexing unit that can be rotated in steps carrying each circular workpiece during processing, and tool holder guide means for movably guiding the tool holder along a straight guide path in a plane and tangential to the circle of rotation around said indexing unit to effect tool changes by moving said tool holder along said straight guide path, said slotting machine includes a processing station with a movable press ram that acts on said tool dies during processing of a workpiece, and said tool changing device is operable to selectively position the tool die sets in the processing station to be acted on by the press ram, and the tool holder is fitted with C-shaped carrier means for always holding respective ones of the tools while the tools and carrier elements are inside and outside the processing station and during tool change.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 198 words
Automatic numerically controlled slotting machine apparatus having a tool changing device which has a plurality of respective upper and lower tool dies mounted in a tool holder; comprising means for selectively moving non-operative ones of said lower tool dies to positions below the plane of conveyance of circular workpieces being processed by the slotting machine, an indexing unit that can be rotated in steps carrying each circular workpiece during processing, and tool holder guide means for movably guiding the tool holder along a straight guide path in a plane and tangential to the circle of rotation around said indexing unit to effect tool changes by moving said tool holder along said straight guide path, said slotting machine includes a processing station with a movable press ram that acts on said tool dies during processing of a workpiece, and said tool changing device is operable to selectively position the tool die sets in the processing station to be acted on by the press ram, and the tool holder is fitted with C-shaped carrier means for always holding respective ones of the tools while the tools and carrier elements are inside and outside the processing station and during tool change.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3548480A Cited
US3678562A Cited
US3571873A Cited
US3816904A Cited
US3772954A Cited
DE2365033A1 Cited
US4103414A Cited
US4220062A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1987-07-24 1988-01-23 1988-07-24 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1991-07-24 1992-01-23 1992-07-24 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1995-07-24 1996-01-23 1996-07-24 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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