Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
217 words
A tool for handling a collet of the type having a forward end portion adapted to be confined within a retainer and a tapered rear end portion where the outside diameter becomes progressively smaller toward the rear end of the collet, said tool comprising: (a) an elongated sleeve having a collet receiving end section having a collet receiving area including a tapered inlet adapted to be extended over the tapered rear end portion of the collet such that as the sleeve is pushed over the rear end portion of the collet toward the front end portion the collet compresses radially to such a degree that the collet is lodged within the receiving end of the sleeve and the collet is freely removable from the retainer; (b) a collet ejector reciprocally mounted in the sleeve; (c) the collet ejector including an elongated plunger having a collet engaging end disposed within the sleeve and an actuator end that extends from the end of the sleeve opposite the collet receiving end; and (d) wherein the plunger is movably mounted within the sleeve for movement between a retracted position and an extended position wherein in moving from the retracted position to the extended position the plunger is operative to engage and dislodge the collet from the receiving end of a sleeve.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
217 words
A tool for handling a collet of the type having a forward end portion adapted to be confined within a retainer and a tapered rear end portion where the outside diameter becomes progressively smaller toward the rear end of the collet, said tool comprising: (a) an elongated sleeve having a collet receiving end section having a collet receiving area including a tapered inlet adapted to be extended over the tapered rear end portion of the collet such that as the sleeve is pushed over the rear end portion of the collet toward the front end portion the collet compresses radially to such a degree that the collet is lodged within the receiving end of the sleeve and the collet is freely removable from the retainer; (b) a collet ejector reciprocally mounted in the sleeve; (c) the collet ejector including an elongated plunger having a collet engaging end disposed within the sleeve and an actuator end that extends from the end of the sleeve opposite the collet receiving end; and (d) wherein the plunger is movably mounted within the sleeve for movement between a retracted position and an extended position wherein in moving from the retracted position to the extended position the plunger is operative to engage and dislodge the collet from the receiving end of a sleeve.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
The collet handling tool of claim 1 wherein the sleeve is provided with a plunger bore that is communicatively open to the collet receiving opening of the sleeve and wherein the cross sectional area of the plunger bore is smaller than a cross sectional area of the collet receiving opening.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
78 words
The collet handling tool of claim 2 wherein there is provided a shoulder stop between the plunger bore and the collet receiving opening and wherein the collet engaging end of the plunger is confined within the collet receiving opening of the sleeve such that the stroke of the plunger as it moves from the extended position back to the retracted position is limited by the engagement of the collet engaging end of the plunger with the shoulder stop.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The collet handling tool of claim 3 wherein there is provided a stop about the actuator end of the plunger that limits the movement of the plunger as it moves from the retracted position to the extended position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
The collet tool of claim 4 wherein the stop provided about the actuator end includes a retaining ring that is adapted to engage the sleeve and stop the movement of the plunger as the same is moved from the retracted position to the extended position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
149 words
A collet removal and insertion tool for handling a collet adapted to be confined within a retainer and having one free end and wherein the tool is specifically adapted to remove a collet from the retainer and to insert that same collet or a different collet into the retainer, comprising: (a) a collet receiving section for receiving the free end of a collet and radially compressing the collet so as to free the collet from the retainer; (b) the collet receiving section including a collet receiving area including a tapered inlet for holding the collet once it has been freed from the retainer; and (c) a collet ejector forming a part of the collet tool and including means for engaging the collet while held within the collet holding area of the tool and pushing the collet from the tool such that the collet may be ejected from the tool.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
149 words
A collet removal and insertion tool for handling a collet adapted to be confined within a retainer and having one free end and wherein the tool is specifically adapted to remove a collet from the retainer and to insert that same collet or a different collet into the retainer, comprising: (a) a collet receiving section for receiving the free end of a collet and radially compressing the collet so as to free the collet from the retainer; (b) the collet receiving section including a collet receiving area including a tapered inlet for holding the collet once it has been freed from the retainer; and (c) a collet ejector forming a part of the collet tool and including means for engaging the collet while held within the collet holding area of the tool and pushing the collet from the tool such that the collet may be ejected from the tool.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
65 words
The collet handling tool of claim 6 wherein the collet receiving section is so dimensioned with respect to the collet that when the collet is held within the collet receiving area a portion of the collet extends from the tool and is exposed, thereby enabling the exposed portion of the collet to be inserted within the retainer before the collet is ejected from the tool.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
122 words
The collet handling tool of claim 7 wherein the tool comprises an elongated sleeve and wherein the collet receiving area is formed by an opening formed in one end of the sleeve; and wherein the collet ejector includes a plunger reciprocally mounted in an opening formed in the sleeve adjacent the collet receiving area, the plunger being movable back and forth between retracted and extended positions and including a collet engaging end disposed within the collet receiving area; and wherein a collet held within the collet receiving end may be ejected by moving the plunger from the retracted position toward the extended position resulting in the collet engaging end of the plunger engaging the collet and pushing the same from the tool.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
51 words
The collet handling tool of claim 8 wherein between the collet receiving area and the plunger opening there is provided a first stop and wherein the stroke of the plunger as it is retracted is limited by a portion of the collet engaging end of the plunger contacting the first stop.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
56 words
The collet handling tool of claim 9 wherein the plunger is provided with a second stop associated with a portion of the plunger opposite the collet engaging end and wherein the second stop is positioned so as to engage a portion of the sleeve as the plunger moves from the retracted position to the extended position.