Material or article handling – Stock pulling or pushing – Stock end face pushers
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-06
2001-07-10
Underwood, Donald W. (Department: 3652)
Material or article handling
Stock pulling or pushing
Stock end face pushers
C082S127000, C414S017000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06257817
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to the field of bar feeders for feeding a length of bar stock to an automatic turning machine. More particularly, the present invention relates to the field of pneumatic bar feeding devices for feeding a length of bar stock to computer numerical control (CNC) machine centers or the like.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Specifically, prior art bar feeding devices include an elongated bar support tube for receiving a length of bar stock and a pusher feed mechanism which is movable along the interior of the support tube, to feed the bar stock to a CNC machine center or the like. The bar support tube is usually several feet in length and because the bar stock is normally required to rotate within the support tube, the use of such tubes results in problems of noise and vibration. Noise and vibration are largely caused as a result of a whipping effect which affects the rotating bar stock, causing it to contact the interior of the support tube and thereby produce a loud rattle.
Another prior art bar feeding device is a hydraulic feeding device. The hydraulic feeding device also has the same problems as the pneumatic feeding devices wherein the noise and vibration are generally caused by the whipping effect due to the bar stock striking the interior of the support tube. A further problem with hydraulic feeding device is that they require periodical maintenance to maintain the working order of the device.
Various attempts have been made to solve the noise and vibration problems and to eliminate the need for periodical maintenance, none of which has proved entirely satisfactory, either because of unacceptable complication and attendant inconvenience and expense and/or because they fail to completely solve the problem.
The following fifteen (15) prior art patents are found to be pertinent to the field of the present invention:
1. U.S. Pat. No. 2,300,457 issued to Mariotte on Nov. 3, 1942 for “Automatic Stock Bar Feed Mechanism For Automatic Screw Machines” (hereafter the “Mariotte patent”);
2. U.S. Pat. No. 3,070,238 issued to Holdridge on Dec. 25, 1962 for “Automatic Bar Feed For Lathe” (hereafter the “Holdridge patent”);
3. U.S. Pat. No. 3,074,566 issued to MacBlane, Sr. on Jan. 22, 1963 for “Bar Stock Feed Mechanism” (hereafter the “MacBlane patent”);
4. U.S. Pat. No. 4,034,632 issued to Lohner on Jul. 12, 1977 for “Pneumatically Operated Rod Workpiece Feed Mechanism For Turning Machines” (hereafter the “Lohner patent”);
5. U.S. Pat. No. 4,129,220 issued to Peterson et al. on Dec. 12, 1978 for “Bar Stock Feed Apparatus” (hereafter the “Peterson patent”);
6. U.S. Pat. No. 4,217,800 issued to Furegati on Aug. 19, 1980 for “Stock-Feeding Apparatus” (hereafter the “Furegati patent”);
7. U.S. Pat. No. 4,221,141 issued to Oliver on Sep. 9, 1980 for “Method And Apparatus For Feeding Bar Stock To A Machine Tool” (hereafter the “Oliver patent”);
8. U.S. Pat. No. 4,406,190 issued to Mason on Sep. 27, 1983 for “Bar Stock Feed Apparatus For A Machine Tool” (hereafter the “Mason patent”);
9. U.S. Pat. No. 4,420,284 issued to Eisinger et al. on Dec. 13, 1983 for “Device For The Feeding Of Material Bars For Processing Machines” (hereafter the “Eisinger patent”);
10. U.S. Pat. No. 4,423,993 issued to Eaton on Jan. 3, 1984 for “Retractable Bar Stock Feeder” (hereafter the “Eaton patent”);
11. U.S. Pat. No. 4,621,550 issued to Berns on Nov. 11, 1986 for “Machine For Feeding Bar Stock To A Turning Tool” (hereafter the“ '550 Berns patent”);
12. U.S. Pat. No. 4,870,880 issued to Cantabery on Oct. 3, 1989 for “Bar Stock Feed Mechanism For Machine Tool” (hereafter the “Cantabery patent”);
13. U.S. Pat. No. 4,875,396 issued to Gathings on Oct. 24, 1989 for “Apparatus For Feeding Bar Stock To A Machine Operation” (hereafter the “Gathings patent”);
14. U.S. Pat. No. 5,228,371 issued to Berns on Jul. 20, 1993 for “Bar Feeding Machine For A Lathe” (hereafter the“ '371 Berns patent”); and
15. U.S. Pat. No. 5,863,018 issued to Allen, III et al. on Jan. 26, 1999 for “Bar Feeder Support” (hereafter the “Allen patent”).
The Mariotte patent discloses an automatic stock bar feed mechanism for automatic screw machines. The bar feed mechanism includes a plunger movable in a tube to which a motive fluid, such as air, is supplied to actuate the plunger to feed the stock bar against the stop of the machine tool or screw machine.
The Holdridge patent discloses an automatic bar feed for lathe. The Holdridge patent eliminates the need for a feed tube of excessive length and eliminates the need for any tripod support by providing an assembly that mounts in the tube of a lathe that serves as a push-pull member for opening and closing a collet.
The MacBlane patent discloses a bar stock feed mechanism. It comprises an outer tube and an inner tube of a slightly smaller diameter which forms a cylinder in which a piston or plunger reciprocates. The end of the outer tube is closed off by a plug, where the plug receives and supports one end of the inner tube. The other end of the outer tube is provided with a sleeve which is threadedly connected to the outer tube. The sleeve has a bore therethrough to receive and support the other end of the inner tube.
The Lohner patent discloses a pneumatically operated rod workpiece feed mechanism for turning machines. It comprises a hollow feed tube which has a closed end and an open end through which the rod workpiece is adapted to be fed. An axially displaceable feed piston is arranged in the feed tube and it is movable by first fluid pressure supply means.
The Peterson patent discloses a bar stock feed apparatus. It comprises a feed tubular member adapted to receive a length of bar stock therein and a stand for supporting the feed tubular member in a feed position wherein the feed tubular member is aligned with the lathe. The feed tubular member comprises an outer tube and an inner concentric tube supported within the outer tube by front and rear end caps. A split bushing is received within the front end cap which has an opening of any one of a number of different sizes so as to be adapted for bar stock of different diameters.
The Furegati patent discloses a stock-feeding apparatus. It comprises a guide tube pivotally mounted on two spaced apart supports with the guide tube being movable between a loading position and a feeding position. Mounted within the guide tube is a fluid activated first piston for holding the end of the rod stock. Mounted within the first piston is a second piston which includes a piston rod for pushing the rod stock into the processing machine.
The Oliver patent discloses a method and apparatus for feeding bar stock to a machine tool. Stock is loaded into an elongated feed and actuating tube mounted for both axial and rotational movement. A stationary protective and support tube coaxially surrounds the rearwardly extending portion of the feed tube. The feed tube functions as a cylinder within which a short piston is mounted and is axially movable against the rear end of the bar stock by fluid pressure supplied to the rear of the feed tube.
The Mason patent discloses a bar stock feed apparatus for a machine tool. It comprises an outer tube and an inner tube disposed within the outer tube. The inner tube has a diameter such as to leave a substantial space between its own external surface and the internal surface of the outer tube to permit fluid flow through along the space. The inner tube is supported within the outer tube by annular inserts. Mounted within the inner tube is a piston which engages within one end of a pusher tube located within the inner tube.
The Eisinger patent discloses a device for feeding of material bars for processing machines. It comprises a tube wherein the rearward end of the bar is moved in the tube and in the direction of the processing machine by a piston guided in the tube and loaded by pressurizing medium. A loading bellows loaded by the pressurizing medium is located behind the piston.
The Eaton patent discloses a retractable bar stock feeder which has a pneumatic c
Chen Tony D.
Fong Jerry
Rozsa Thomas I.
Underwood Donald W.
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