Patent US5036574A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5036574A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Multiple piercing apparatus and method
Assignee: USHIO Co Ltd A CORP OF JAPAN
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Filing: 1989-10-31
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Granted: 1991-08-06
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Expires: 2009-10-31
Abstract
Abstract A multiple piercing apparatus for piercing a workpiece having a plurality of reference marks defining the piercing locations. A plurality of adjustably movable piercing unit cases are opposedly arranged on opposite sides of a machine bed. A piercing element, such as a twist drill or punching assembly, is mounted for movement with respect to the unit case to be aligned with a respective reference mark in response to data received from a sensor, such as a camera or photo-sensor.
Inventors
- 👤 Masakazu Kakimoto
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 19:10
CPC Classifications
B; B26; B26D; B26D5/00; B26D5/007; B26D5/20; B26D5/30; B26D5/34; B26F; B26F1/00; B26F1/16; B26F2210/00; B26F2210/08; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/51; Y10T29/5198; Y10T408/00; Y10T408/03; Y10T408/16; Y10T408/175; Y10T408/36; Y10T408/38; Y10T408/3811; Y10T408/3833; Y10T408/3839; Y10T408/3844; Y10T408/385; Y10T408/50; Y10T408/51; Y10T408/52; Y10T408/55; Y10T408/561; Y10T408/5612; Y10T408/91; Y10T408/93; Y10T408/935; Y10T83/00; Y10T83/525; Y10T83/538; Y10T83/647; Y10T83/6472
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 56
Claim 1
Independent Claim
158 words
A multiple piercing apparatus for piercing a workpiece having reference marks defining the locations on the workpiece to be pierced, said workpiece being conveyed along a conveying path, said multiple piercing apparatus comprising: (a) a machine bed located along the conveying path of the workpiece; (b) a plurality of piercing units being opposedly arranged on both sides of said machine bed, each piercing unit being movable along the X-axis and Y-axis directions; (c) each of said plurality of piercing units including a work-space having an opening facing said machine bed, wherein the workpiece passes through respective workspaces of opposed piercing units; (d) piercing means located in each of said plurality of piercing units for piercing the workpiece at the reference marks; (e) sensing means for locating the reference marks; and (f) a drive mechanism for moving said piercing means with respect to a corresponding piercing unit in response to a reference mark being located by said sensing means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
158 words
A multiple piercing apparatus for piercing a workpiece having reference marks defining the locations on the workpiece to be pierced, said workpiece being conveyed along a conveying path, said multiple piercing apparatus comprising: (a) a machine bed located along the conveying path of the workpiece; (b) a plurality of piercing units being opposedly arranged on both sides of said machine bed, each piercing unit being movable along the X-axis and Y-axis directions; (c) each of said plurality of piercing units including a work-space having an opening facing said machine bed, wherein the workpiece passes through respective workspaces of opposed piercing units; (d) piercing means located in each of said plurality of piercing units for piercing the workpiece at the reference marks; (e) sensing means for locating the reference marks; and (f) a drive mechanism for moving said piercing means with respect to a corresponding piercing unit in response to a reference mark being located by said sensing means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
The multiple piercing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said work-space includes a bottom floor, a hole being located at an end portion of said bottom floor, said piercing means being located below said bottom floor, and elevating means for elevating said piercing means through said hole.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The multiple piercing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said piercing means is a twist drill.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The multiple piercing apparatus according to claim 2, and further including an elevatable workpiece clamp arranged to clamp the workpiece around the periphery of said hole.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The multiple piercing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said work-space includes a ceiling, said sensing means being located on said ceiling and being substantially aligned with said hole.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The multiple piercing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said sensing means is a camera.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The multiple piercing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said elevating means is a fluid cylinder.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The multiple piercing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said drive mechanism moves said piercing means along X-axis and Y-axis directions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
48 words
The multiple piercing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said drive mechanism includes a support member for supporting said piercing means, and a motor having an eccentric cam which contacts said support member for moving said support member along at least one of said X-axis and Y-axis directions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
The multiple piercing apparatus according to claim 9, further including a second motor having an eccentric cam which contacts said support member for moving said support member along the other of said X-axis and Y-axis directions.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The multiple piercing apparatus according to claim 9, further including biasing means for biasing said support member into contact with said eccentric cam.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
The multiple piercing apparatus according to claim 2, further including a feed roller on said bottom floor, the top of said feed roller being substantially level with said end portion of said bottom floor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
The multiple piercing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said drive mechanism includes a support member for supporting said piercing means, said support member being movable along at least one of said X-axis and Y-axis directions.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
49 words
The multiple piercing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said support member is substantially C-shaped and includes an upper member, a lower member, and a connecting member, said support member encircling said workspace, the opening of said C-shaped support member being substantially aligned with said opening of said work-space.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The multiple piercing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said piercing means is supported on said lower member of said support member.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
The multiple piercing apparatus according to claim 15, further including elevating means for elevating said piercing means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
The multiple piercing apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said elevating means is a fluid cylinder which is connected to said lower member of said support member.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
The multiple piercing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said sensing means is supported on said upper member of said support member.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
The multiple piercing apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising elevating means for elevating said sensing means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
39 words
The multiple piercing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said drive mechanism includes a jackscrew having a cooperating element connected to said support member for moving said support member along at least one of said X-axis and Y-axis directions.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
The multiple piercing apparatus according to claim 20, further including a second jackscrew for moving said support member along the other of said X-axis and Y-axis directions.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
The multiple piercing apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said cooperating element is connected to said lower member of said C-shaped support member.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
The multiple piercing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said sensing means is a photo-sensor.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
36 words
The multiple piercing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said work-space and piercing means are disposed in a unit case, said drive mechanism moving said unit case along at least one of X-axis and Y-axis directions.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
26 words
The multiple piercing apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said work-space includes a bottom floor and a ceiling, said piercing means being disposed in said ceiling.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
16 words
The multiple piercing apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said piercing means is a punch assembly.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
29 words
The multiple piercing apparatus according to claim 26, including a die located at an end portion of said bottom floor, said die being substantially aligned with said punch assembly.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
23 words
The multiple piercing apparatus according to claim 27, wherein said die includes an upper surface that is substantially level with said bottom floor.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
18 words
The multiple piercing apparatus according to claim 25, including reciprocating means for lowering and raising said piercing means.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
21 words
The multiple piercing apparatus according to claim 29, wherein said reciprocating means is a fluid cylinder disposed in said unit case.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
17 words
The multiple piercing apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said sensing means is disposed in said ceiling.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
42 words
The multiple piercing apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said drive mechanism includes at least one rail connected to said machine bed, and means for moving said unit case along said rail in at least one of said X-axis and Y-axis directions.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
25 words
The multiple piercing apparatus according to claim 32, wherein said at least one rail is movable in the other of said X-axis and Y-axis directions.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
35 words
The multiple piercing apparatus according to claim 32, wherein said means for moving includes a jackscrew cooperating with said unit case, said jackscrew being driven by a motor connected to said at least one rail.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
25 words
The multiple piercing apparatus according to claim 33, wherein said at least one rail is movable by a jackscrew which is driven by a motor.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
38 words
The multiple piercing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said support member includes a first portion for moving said piercing means along said Y-axis direction and a second portion for moving said piercing means along the X-axis direction.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
23 words
The multiple piercing apparatus according to claim 36, wherein said second portion is slidable relative to said first portion in the X-axis direction.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
35 words
The multiple piercing apparatus according to claim 37, including a second motor having an eccentric cam which contacts said support member for moving said support member along the other of said X-axis and Y-axis directions.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
19 words
The multiple piercing apparatus according to claim 36, wherein said first portion is pivotally mounted on said piercing unit.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
37 words
The multiple piercing apparatus according to claim 2, further including an exhaust portion below said hole, and an air jet nozzle in said exhaust portion for discharging any portion of the workpiece removed by said piercing means.
Claim 42
Independent Claim
92 words
A method of piercing a workpiece, the workpiece having reference marks defining the locations on the workpiece to be pierced, the method comprising: (a) conveying the workpiece along a conveying path; (b) providing at least one piercing unit having piercing means along said conveying path; (c) sensing a reference mark by sensing means and stopping the conveyance of the workpiece; (d) processing data from said sensing means to determine the coordinates of the reference mark; (e) moving a piercing means to the coordinates of the reference mark; and (f) piercing the workpiece.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
92 words
A method of piercing a workpiece, the workpiece having reference marks defining the locations on the workpiece to be pierced, the method comprising: (a) conveying the workpiece along a conveying path; (b) providing at least one piercing unit having piercing means along said conveying path; (c) sensing a reference mark by sensing means and stopping the conveyance of the workpiece; (d) processing data from said sensing means to determine the coordinates of the reference mark; (e) moving a piercing means to the coordinates of the reference mark; and (f) piercing the workpiece.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of piercing a workpiece according to claim 41, wherein said step of providing at least one piercing unit includes providing a plurality of opposedly arranged piercing units on both sides of said conveying path.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of piercing a workpiece according to claim 41, further comprising adjustably mounting said at least one piercing unit for movement along X-axis and Y-axis directions with respect to said conveying path.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of piercing a workpiece according to claim 41, further comprising clamping the workpiece while it is being pierced.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of piercing a workpiece according to claim 41, including elevating said piercing means to pierce the workpiece.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of piercing a workpiece according to claim 41, including lowering said piercing means to pierce the workpiece.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of piercing a workpiece according to claim 41, including supporting said piercing means on a support member and moving said support member with respect to said piercing unit so that said piercing means is substantially aligned with a reference mark.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of piercing a workpiece according to claim 47, wherein said support member is moved along the X-axis and Y-axis directions.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of piercing a workpiece according to claim 47, wherein said support member is moved by at least one motor driving an eccentric cam which contacts said support member.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of piercing a workpiece according to claim 49, further comprising biasing said support member against said eccentric cam.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of piercing a workpiece according to claim 47, wherein said support member is moved by at least one jackscrew which is driven by a motor.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of piercing a workpiece according to claim 41, wherein said step of piercing the workpiece comprises piercing with a twist drill.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of piercing a workpiece according to claim 41, wherein said step of piercing the workpiece comprises piercing with a punch assembly.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of piercing a workpiece according to claim 41, further comprising emitting an air jet to discharge any portion of the workpiece removed by said piercing means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-08-05 | 1995-02-04 | 1995-08-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-08-05 | 1999-02-04 | 1999-08-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-08-05 | 2003-02-04 | 2003-08-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |