Metal working – Plural diverse manufacturing apparatus including means for... – Binding or covering and cutting
Reexamination Certificate
2000-07-27
2001-12-11
Briggs, William (Department: 3722)
Metal working
Plural diverse manufacturing apparatus including means for...
Binding or covering and cutting
C015S354000, C029S02600B, C029SDIG009, C144S252100, C408S067000, C409S134000, C409S137000, C451S451000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06327761
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus for machining a workpiece. More particularly this invention concerns an automatic apparatus for material-removing machining, e.g. boring, planing, or milling, of a flat metallic workpiece.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
As described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,787,566 of Stursberg standard machining apparatus has a frame and a conveyor on the frame extending in a normally horizontal workpiece travel direction and adapted to support a flat workpiece. A tool mount displaceable on the frame transversely of the direction carries at least one a material-removing tool, e.g. a drill or a miller, for machining the workpiece with generation of particles. A drive roller engageable with an upper surface of the workpiece upstream of the tool advances the workpiece in the direction past the tools.
Such a machine can do programmed work. Typically the drive roller, which is in solid contact with the workpiece, is connected to a position detector that feeds to a central controller exact information about the exact position of the workpiece relative to the tools, which are then operated by the controller to do their various machining jobs at the appropriate locations.
Since such machining must often be carried out even very close to the downstream end of the workpiece it is necessary to position the drive unit including the drive roller very close to the machining station having the tools. This creates the problem of getting particles produced by the machining operation into the workpiece drive. Such particles are hard so that they can damage the drive roller and mar the workpiece finish. Furthermore they can allow the drive roller to slip on the workpiece which will cause the workpiece to be ruined.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved machining apparatus.
Another object is the provision of such an improved machining apparatus which overcomes the above-given disadvantages, that is which prevents damage to the workpiece drive.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The instant invention is employed in a standard machining apparatus having a frame, a conveyor on the frame extending in a workpiece travel direction and adapted to support a flat workpiece, a tool mount displaceable on the frame transversely of the direction, a material-removing tool on the mount for machining the workpiece with generation of particles, and a drive roller engageable with an upper surface of the workpiece upstream of the tool for advancing the workpiece in the direction past the tools. According to the invention a shield is provided above the conveyor extending transverse to the direction upstream of the tools and downstream of the drive roller. At least one actuator serves for pressing the shield against the workpiece between the tools and the drive roller during machining of the workpiece. Nozzles immediately adjacent the shield are connected to a supply of compressed gas for directing a gas current at the workpiece and blowing particles thereon downstream in the direction.
Thus this system actively shields the drive rollers during the machining operation and, between operations when the shield is lifted, the nozzles are effective to prevent any particles from working their way back upstream. The shield is dropped into position before the machining operation starts and is not lifted until after it is completed. Anything that has worked its way upstream past the shield while it is raised between machining operations is blown back downstream by the nozzles before the shield is again lowered.
According to the invention the nozzles are provided immediately upstream of the shield and are formed as a transversely extending nozzle tube having a plurality of transversely spaced outlet openings. Further more a vertically displaceable housing carries the shield, the drive roller, and the actuator for engaging the nozzle against the workpiece. A separate actuator raises and lowers this housing. This housing makes servicing the apparatus fairly simple since the shield and nozzle along with the upper drive roller can all be taken off as a single unit.
The actuator that moves the shield is fluid powered actuator and braced between the shield and the housing. The housing is carried on a pair of arms that are pivoted to move it vertically.
Furthermore in accordance with the invention a controller connected to the drive roller and to the shield actuator includes a detector for sensing rotation of the drive roller.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3581888 (1971-06-01), Kelly et al.
patent: 4330941 (1982-05-01), Haley
patent: 4799284 (1989-01-01), Toriwaki et al.
patent: 4860883 (1989-08-01), Knaul
patent: 5787566 (1998-08-01), Stursberg
patent: 6170293 (2001-01-01), Cody
patent: 57-205040 (1982-12-01), None
patent: 1251651 (1989-10-01), None
patent: 403004977 (1991-01-01), None
Briggs William
Dubno Herbert
Peddinghaus Corporation
Wilford Andrew
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