Holder blade and insert pocket opener

Details Holder blade and insert pocket opener Holder blade and insert pocket opener

1999-08-20

2001-06-26

Tsai, Henry (Department: 3722)

Cutters, for shaping

Including holder having seat for inserted tool

With separate means to fasten tool to holder

C407S117000, C407S072000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06250854

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a holder blade and an insert pocket opener.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Cutting operations such as grooving and parting off are typically performed by a cutting insert retained in an insert pocket located between upper and lower jaws of a relatively narrow holder blade. The holder blade is, in turn, generally clamped in a blade retaining block. The holder blade is generally provided with an aperture, or a slot, or a slot terminating in an aperture, for resilient displacement of one of the holder blade's jaws relative to the other. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,588,333 a key with two cross-pins is provided. In order to remove the insert one pin is inserted behind the insert in the insert pocket and the other pin is positioned on the top side of the holder body. The insert is pushed out of the pocket by turning the key. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,697,271 a key with a pair of prongs is provided. The clamping jaw is resiliently coupled to the body portion of the holder blade. A cutting insert can be inserted or removed by displacing the clamping jaw relative to the base jaw. In accordance with one embodiment, the clamping jaw is displaced with respect to the base jaw by positioning the prongs within a pair of apertures and turning the key.
The above referenced prior art, as well as other prior art using a similar key mechanism, require that the key be positioned at the side of the holder blade. However, there are many applications, especially when several holder blades are mounted in parallel, where there is not sufficient space to position the key at the side of the holder blade. PCT publication no. WO 97/17154 describes a way of overcoming this problem by employing a bending tool used from the front of a holder blade for displacing the clamping jaw relative to the base jaw.
The present invention proposes a novel approach for overcoming the problem of insufficient space for the positioning of a key on the side of a holder blade.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention there is provided a holder blade for a cutting insert, having a leading portion and a body portion, the leading portion comprising:
a lower jaw;
an upper jaw having an upper side and a clamping surface, the lower jaw and the upper jaw having a gap between them forming a cutting insert pocket;
an opening extending in a generally rearward direction from the cutting insert pocket, thereby allowing resilient displacement of the upper jaw relative to the lower jaw; and
a protuberance extending from the upper jaw, so that on displacing the protuberance the upper jaw is resiliently displaced and the gap between the upper and lower jaws is widened.
In accordance with the present invention there is further provided an insert pocket opener comprising:
a front section;
a rear section;
a lower edge having at the front section a front protrusion and at the rear section a rear protrusion; and
an elongated slot in the front section, extending from the lower edge rearward of the front protrusion in a generally upward direction, the slot forming forward thereof a lever in the front section of the insert pocket opener, the lever being capable of being resiliently displaced relative to the rear section.
Still further in accordance with the present invention there is provided a cutting tool assembly comprising:
a plurality of holder blades; and
an insert pocket opener; each holder blade of the plurality of holder blades having a leading portion and a body portion, the leading portion comprising:
a lower jaw;
an upper jaw having an upper side and a clamping surface, the lower jaw and the upper jaw having a gap between them forming a cutting insert pocket;
an opening extending in a generally rearward direction from the cutting insert pocket, thereby allowing resilient displacement of the upper jaw relative to the lower jaw; and
a protuberance extending from the upper jaw so that on displacing the protuberance the upper jaw is resiliently displaced and the gap between the upper and lower jaws is widened;
the insert pocket opener comprising:
a front section;
a rear section;
a lower edge having at the front section a front protrusion and at the rear section a rear protrusion; and
an elongated slot in the front section, extending from the lower edge rearward of the front protrusion in a generally upward direction, the slot forming forward thereof a lever in the front section of the insert pocket opener, the lever being capable of being resiliently displaced relative to the rear section.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the cutting tool assembly further comprises a multiple-blade retaining block wherein the plurality of holder blades is clamped.
Typically, the multiple-blade retaining block is provided with a recess for receiving therein the rear protrusion of the insert pocket opener.
In accordance with one embodiment, the width of the front protrusion is such that the front protrusion is capable of abutting the protuberance extending from the upper jaw of a single holder blade of the plurality of holder blades.
In accordance with this embodiment, the insert pocket opener is capable of opening an insert pocket of a single holder blade, from amongst the plurality of holder blades, without disturbing adjacent holder blades.
In accordance with another embodiment, the width of the front protrusion is such that the front protrusion is capable of abutting the protuberances extending from the upper jaws of at least two adjacent holder blades of the plurality of holder blades.
In accordance with this embodiment the insert pocket opener is capable of opening of insert pockets of at least two adjacent holder blades of the plurality of holder blades.
In accordance with yet another embodiment, the front protrusion is capable of abutting the protuberances extending from the upper jaws of at least two holder blades of the plurality of holder blades.
In accordance with this embodiment the insert pocket opener is capable of opening of insert pockets of at least two holder blades of the plurality of holder blades, whether they be adjacent or spaced apart.
Typically, the opening in the holder blade is an elongated slot, or an aperture, or an elongated slot terminating in a aperture.
Generally, the protuberance extends from the upper side of the upper jaw of the holder blade.
Preferably, the protuberance extends from a region rearward of the clamping surface.
Typically, the elongated slot in the insert pocket opener terminates in a aperture.
Preferably, the insert pocket opener is provided with a displacement screw threadingly connecting the lever to the rear section of the insert pocket opener, via the slot, for resilient displacement of the lever relative to the rear section.
If desired, the insert pocket opener is further provided with an adjusting screw that projects into the slot for preventing over-tightening of the displacement screw.


REFERENCES:
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patent: 3939540 (1976-02-01), Novak
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patent: 5079979 (1992-01-01), Pano
patent: 5150992 (1992-09-01), Friedmann
patent: 5516241 (1996-05-01), Plutschuck et al.
patent: 5799554 (1998-09-01), Friedman et al.
patent: 5888028 (1999-03-01), Grainger et al.
patent: 6010281 (2000-01-01), Coutat et al.

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