Material or article handling – Article supported by air and moved by mechanical or manual...
Patent
1996-06-10
1998-04-21
Krizek, Janice L.
Material or article handling
Article supported by air and moved by mechanical or manual...
269 81, 269126, 269138, B23Q 306
Patent
active
057411115
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates to jigs for supporting work-pieces and more particularly to an adjustable electro-pneumatic machining jig.
BACKGROUND ART
A variety of devices have been used to hold work-pieces being machined in a generally horizontal plane. These prior art devices are limited in respect of the range, speed and accuracy of their adjustment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of the invention there is provided an electro-pneumatic machining jig adapted to be attached to the bed of a machine such as a milling machine, grinding machine or the like, to hold a work-piece for machining, said machining jig having a pair of jig stands for holding the work-piece adapted to be mounted in selected spaced relationship on the bed of the machine, each said jig stand having work-piece connection means on an adjustable stand on a base having air-float means and electro-magnetic means, the arrangement being such that the air-float means permits alignment of the work-piece between the jig stands whilst the bases are floating and that when the air-float is terminated, the electro-magnetic means are energised to clamp each jig stand to a mounting plate on the machine. Preferably the air-float means comprises an air flow path within each base having an inlet that is adapted to be coupled to a source of pressurised air and an outlet directed to the mounting plate.
The electro-magnetic means may be in the form of an electro-magnetic coil embedded within the base.
The adjustable stand may include a shaft to which the work-piece is connected and means for rotating the shaft. Means may also be provided for raising and lowering the shaft with respect to the base.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electro-pneumatic machining jig according to the invention,
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a pair of electro-pneumatic machining jigs according to the invention mounted on the bed of a milling machine and supporting a work-piece therebetween,
FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the jig shown in FIG. 1,
FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the jig shown in FIG. 1,
FIG. 5 is a plan view of the jig shown in FIG. 1, and
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken in the direction of arrows A--A in FIG. 4.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The electro-pneumatic machining jig shown in the drawings includes a pair of jig stands 10 each supported on a cast iron mounting plate 11, and having an air-float jig base 12 which incorporates an electro-magnetic coil 13 and spaced apart uprights 14 and 15 which constitute a housing stand 16 which carries means for adjustably supporting a work-piece.
Within the housing stand 16 there is a load bearing holder of housing 17 which supports a doubly truncated ball 18, preferably made of steel, through which projects shaft 19. The shaft 19 has an axial bore through which passes bolt 61 which secures chuck base plate 21 and lathe chuck 22 to the shaft 19. The chuck 22 is connected to the base plate 21 by screws 23 and roll pin 24. The chuck 22 has jaws 25 adapted to clamp a work-piece 26 (see FIG. 2).
As can be seen in FIG. 5, each side of the housing 17 has a longitudinal recess 27 which receives the inwardly projecting keys 28 of the uprights 14 and 15. The housing 17 is clamped to the uprights 14 and 15 by studs and nuts 29 and 30. At the top of the housing 17 there is a bearing lock handle 31 retained by screw 32.
The housing 17 can be raised and lowered with respect to the housing stand 16 by operation of an electric motor 33 which has a drive shaft 34 that rotates height adjustment worm 35 which in turn rotates height adjustment worm gear 36 that is mounted on threaded jack bolt or shaft 37.
Jack bolt 37 is located within support 38 and has a threaded portion which threadably engages a threaded aperture formed in a cross-member securably mounted on the base 12.
Rotatio
REFERENCES:
patent: 2622457 (1952-12-01), Buck
patent: 3491995 (1970-01-01), Taraba
patent: 3895789 (1975-07-01), Mengeringhausen et al.
patent: 4719705 (1988-01-01), Laganza et al.
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