Tool adapter

Claim 2

In a machine tool adapter to be used in machining centers having computer numerical control and a spindle, said spindle controlled by computer numerical control, a spring loaded telescoping tool holder carried by said spindle, a tool adapter, an adapter body carried by said tool holder, a tool in said tool holder which contacts a work surface to cause the tool holder to telescope into the adapter body, a machine mounted electronic variable displacement transducer unit arranged to be actuated by telescopic motion of said tool holder, said transducer unit having electronic coupling means to the axis feed rate of the computer numerical control for controlling spindle deceleration from rapid traverse to slow traverse, said transducer producing a null signal when said tool holder is fully seated, said null signal transmitting work surface location to the computer numerical control to feed the spindle, tool holder and tool to a programmed depth into said work piece at a programmed feed rate.

Claim 3

The device described in claim 1 wherein said telescoping tool holder is connected to a non-rotating torque arm, an adapter body, a spring loaded plunger, said torque arm actuating said machine mounted transducer unit by said spring loaded plunger, a latching device comprising a plunger spring loaded lever mounted in said torque arm, said lever engageable in a slot in said adapter body to maintain said torque arm in relation to said tool adapter during tool storage, said latching device released upon insertion of said tool adapter into the machine spindle.

Claim 4

The device described in claim 1 wherein said spring loaded telescoping tool holder is arranged to drive taps and is partially compressed during deceleration to the null position of the transducer to locate the work surface to start rotation of the spindle in position to feed tap into the workpiece, said position transmitted to said transducer to signal the computer numerical control to advance the spindle into the workpiece at the tap feed rate to a programmed depth, said computer numerical control reversing said spindle rotation at the programmed depth displacing tranducer from the null position to permit retraction of the spindle to a programmed position relative to the workpiece.

Claim 5

The device described in claim 1 wherein said telescoping tool holder is adapted to drive milling cutters and is seated solidly in said tool adapter body during milling operation and is retained in the seated position independent of machining loads by means of a spring loaded ball locking mechanism comprising an external cam groove on said telescoping tool holder, a series of balls located in a series of holes in said adapter body, an internal cam groove with a locking angle working in conjunction with said balls, said internal cam groove being located in a sliding sleeve which is slidably connected to said tool holder, said sliding sleeve is rotatably connected to torque arm assembly, and is axially spring loaded with respect to said tool holder for the purpose of maintaining pressure on a locking cam angle against said balls which force the external cam in said tool holder to hold said tool holder rigidly seated in said adapter body during machining operation.

Claim 6

The device in claim 4 having a torque arm assembly comprising a sliding sleeve, a spring, a plurality of balls movable in a locking cam groove, said sliding sleeve movable against axial spring pressure to disengage said balls in said locking cam groove of said tool holder from seated position in said tool adapter body.

Claim 7

The device of claim 1 comprising a machining center for drilling, tapping and milling having a computer numerical control, a machine mounted transducer unit comprised of a sliding piston, a cylinder body, said piston slidably mounted in said cylinder body, a transducer actuator connected to said piston, a variable displacement transducer body connected to said cylinder body, a precision limit switch mounted to said cylinder body, means for actuating said precision limit switch and transducer slider upon movement of said piston, a spring to load said piston, a telescoping tool holder, a torque arm plunger on said tool holder, means for moving said piston with said torque arm plunger of said telescoping tool holder, a piston mounted limit switch for sensing the presence of said torque arm plunger when said tool adapter is inserted in the machine spindle, means for moving said piston with relative axial movement of said torque arm plunger as tool mounted in tool holder of said adapter contacts workpiece, said transducer being actuated by said piston movement to control the rate of spindle deceleration from rapid transverse to slow feed rate by an electronic couple to the spindle axis feed rate control of the numerical control unit.

Claim 8

The device described in claim 1, wherein a controllable pressure from said transducer unit exerts force on said torque arm and sliding sleeve to release said locking mechanism to permit said tool holder to return to the work sensing cycle position.