Chucks or sockets – Radially reciprocating jaws – Wedge actuated
Reexamination Certificate
2001-11-13
2004-10-05
Howell, Daniel W. (Department: 3722)
Chucks or sockets
Radially reciprocating jaws
Wedge actuated
C279S115000, C279S112000, C269S172000, C269S240000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06799767
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a chuck device. More specifically, the present invention relates to a chuck device with a plurality of gear mechanisms which increase a rotational drive force applied through an input member.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, in machine tools, a chuck device secures a work piece or tool to a work surface. Work surfaces may include a table, a work pallet, or a principal axis clamp. Such chucking devices typically include a base member, secured to the work surface, and a claw member movably mounted on the base member.
Conventional claw members are movable to allow the work piece or tool to be ‘chucked’ or secured in the chuck device. Chuck devices may include one, two, or three claw members.
Referring now to
FIG. 9
, a chuck device
100
, secures a work piece Wa. Chuck device
100
includes a base member
101
. An input shaft member
103
extends from inside base member
101
to project from a side opposite a claw member
102
. Chuck device
100
also includes a conversion mechanism
104
and a hydraulic cylinder (not shown).
A leg
102
a
, of claw member
102
, slidably engages a T-shaped groove
101
a
formed on base member
101
. An outer end of input shaft
103
connects to the hydraulic cylinder (not shown).
Conversion mechanism
104
includes a conversion member
105
secured to input shaft member
103
. Conversion member
105
includes a sloped engagement groove
105
a
thereon. Sloped engagement groove
105
a
has a T-shaped cross-section and is sloped relative to the direction of motion of claw member
102
. An engagement section
102
b
on claw member
102
slidably engages sloped engagement groove
105
a.
During operation, the hydraulic cylinder (not shown) drives input shaft member
103
and conversion member
105
in an axial direction. The resulting axial drive force is redirected by conversion mechanism
104
. After redirection, the axial drive force is transferred to claw member
102
, causing claw member
102
to move in the direction of an arrow a
Referring now to
FIG. 10
, a chuck device
110
implemented by the present applicants includes a base member
111
, a claw member
112
, and an input member
113
. Chuck device
110
also includes a conversion mechanism
114
.
A leg
112
a
, on claw member
112
, slidably engages a T-shaped groove
111
a
formed on base member
111
. Input member
113
, formed as a bolt, is screwed into base member
111
. During operation, a rotational drive force is manually applied to input member
113
, using a handle or other manual rotation tool
119
, to tighten or loosen chuck device
110
.
Conversion mechanism
114
includes a conversion member
115
which receives and engages a head of a shaft of input member
113
. A sloped surface
115
a
on conversion member
115
is sloped relative to a direction of movement of claw member
112
. A sloped surface
112
b
on claw member
112
is in planar contact with sloped surface
115
a.
A compression spring
116
elastically biases claw member
112
toward input member
113
.
During operation, when input member
113
is rotated in a tightening direction, conversion member
115
is driven downward into base member
111
to force claw member
112
in the direction of an arrow b, thus securing a work piece Wb. When input member
113
is rotated in a loosening direction, the biasing force of compression spring
116
urges claw member
112
to move in the releasing direction of an arrow c to release work piece Wb.
In conventional chuck devices, drive force applied through an input member is marginally increased (multiplied) to drive claw members. Unfortunately, any increase in drive force applied through the input member is limited by the sloped engagement grooves and sloped surfaces used in a conversion mechanism. This is a physical and design limitation which makes it difficult to provide a high force (since there is a lack of a multiplication rate) to increase the ratio to grip a work piece. As a result, in manually driven chuck devices, it is difficult to chuck a work piece or tool firmly. Failure to firmly chuck a work piece or tool may lead to reduced machining precision and damage to cutting tools. Manual operation may result in reduced ease of use and lower production efficiency. Repetitive manual chucking may lead to physically fatigued operators thus increasing safety risks and extending chucking time. In sum, manual chucking operations reduce productivity.
Unfortunately, where an automatic chuck devices drives the input member, the actuator makes the chuck device larger. The increase in size, increases production costs, production risks, and reduces productivity.
Increasing the slopes of the sloped engagement groove can improve the rate at which the drive force is increased. Unfortunately, the ratio of the displacement of a claw member to a displacement of the conversion member is very small. This ratio limits the size of the work piece or tool that can be chucked, thus further reducing operational versatility.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a chuck device that improves and increases a rate of applied drive force.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a chuck device that improves usability and increases the efficiency and force of chucking operations.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a chuck device that is compact.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a highly versatile chuck device, easily adaptable to multiple production environments.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a chuck device that is readily adaptable to one or two claw embodiments, stationary or mobile embodiments, and flat, tilted, or multi-axial positions.
The present invention relates to a chuck device including a first worm gear mechanism linked to a second worm wheel mechanism which operate in tandem to receive, increase, and redirect an input rotational drive force. A conversion mechanism receives and further augments the drive force from the second worm gear mechanism and converts the drive force into an axial force. The conversion mechanism transfers the axial force symmetrically to a pair of claw members. The claw members move relative to each other and firmly secure a work item to the chuck device.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a chuck device comprising: a first base member, a second base member on the first base member, first means for receiving and increasing a rotational force, the first means for receiving and increasing in the first base member, second means for receiving the rotational force from the first means and for further increasing the rotational force into an increased rotational force, the second means for receiving in the first base member, the second means for receiving effective to redirect the increased rotational force perpendicular to the first means for receiving and increasing, means for converting the increased rotational force from the second means into an increased axial force perpendicular to the first and the second means, and the means for converting operable between the first and the second base member, whereby the rotational force is transferred through the first base member to the second base member and converted into an increased axial force operable relative to the second base member.
According to another embodiment of the present invention there is provided a chuck device, further comprising: means for chucking an external item in the second base member, and the means for chucking receiving the increased axial force and securely chucking the external item to the second base member, whereby the external item is easily secured with a holding force magnified from the rotational force.
According to another embodiment of the present invention there is provided a chuck device, further comprising: at least a first conversion member in the means for converting, the second means for receiving effective to dri
Darby & Darby
Howell Daniel W.
Pascal Kabushiki Kaisha
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