Electric heating – Metal heating – Cutting or disintegrating
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-20
2001-12-25
Dunn, Tom (Department: 1725)
Electric heating
Metal heating
Cutting or disintegrating
C219S069170
Reexamination Certificate
active
06333480
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a wire electric discharge machining apparatus for machining a workpiece by a wire electrode.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 9
shows a basic structure of a conventional wire electric discharge machining apparatus described in, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 4-304927.
In the drawing, reference numeral
2
denotes a fixing table on which a workpiece is fixed and machined. Reference numeral
3
denotes an X-axis guiding mechanism for moving an object placed thereon in an X-direction in the drawing. Reference numeral
4
denotes a Y-axis guiding mechanism for moving an object placed thereon in a Y-direction in the drawing. Reference numeral
5
denotes a wire electrode functioning as an electrode for machining. Reference numeral
6
denotes an automatic wire feeding device (hereinafter referred to as “AF device”) provided with an upper wire guide (not shown) at a distal end thereof. Reference numeral
7
denotes a taper cutting device (hereinafter referred to as “T/C device”) that enables angled machining. Reference numeral
8
denotes a Z-axis base for moving the AF device
6
, etc. in a Z-direction in the drawing. The foregoing components designated by reference numerals
6
through
8
constitute an upper support assembly. Reference numeral
9
denotes a column supporting the Z-axis base
8
. Reference numeral
10
denotes a saddle for fixing the Y-axis guiding mechanism
4
. Reference numeral
11
denotes a machine base functioning as a base for supporting the entire structure. Reference numeral
12
denotes a lower arm for collecting the wire electrode
5
, which has finished machining a workpiece, via a lower wire guide (not shown) provided at a distal end thereof. Reference numeral
13
denotes a machining tank filled with a machining solution to perform machining therein. Reference numeral
14
denotes a lower support assembly to be discussed hereinafter.
FIG.
10
and
FIG. 11
show details of a section where the column
9
of the conventional wire electric discharge machining apparatus shown in
FIG. 9
is mounted.
In the drawings, reference numeral
4
a
denotes a guide rail of the Y-axis guiding mechanism
4
. Reference numeral
4
b
denotes a Y-axis guide of the Y-axis guiding mechanism
4
guided by the guide rail
4
a.
Reference numeral
14
denotes a lower support assembly to which the lower arm
12
is fixed. Reference numeral
15
denotes a bolt for fixing the column
9
and the lower support assembly
14
. As is obvious from
FIG. 11
, the Y-axis guides
4
b
of the Y-axis guiding mechanism
4
are directly provided at the bottom of the column
9
.
However, in the conventional wire electric discharge machining apparatus configured as set forth above, the Y-axis guides
4
b
of the Y-axis guiding mechanism
4
on which the column
9
and the lower support assembly
14
are mounted and which guides movement in the Y-direction have been directly attached to the column
9
as shown in FIG.
10
and
FIG. 11
, and they have been installed in a structure separate from the lower support assembly
14
that supports the wire electrode
5
for machining a workpiece. This has been posing a problem in that it is extremely difficult to obtain squareness between the lower support assembly
14
and the lower arm
12
and the mounting surface of the Y-axis guiding mechanism
4
in an assembly process.
Furthermore, in the conventional wire electric discharge machining apparatus, since the column
9
and the lower support assembly
14
have been separated as illustrated in FIG.
10
and
FIG. 11
, there is no structure for supporting the lower support assembly
14
; therefore, in an assembly process, the lower support assembly
14
must be first fixed to the column
9
by the bolt
15
, then the lower arm
12
and the Y-axis guides
4
b
must be installed. Hence, the lower support assembly
14
cannot be independently installed, leading to poor assemblability and low work efficiency. On the other hand, if the components disposed from the column
9
to the lower support assembly
14
are integrated, there has also been a problem that it is difficult to machine it because the structural member becomes excessively large.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention has been made with a view toward solving the problems, and it is an object thereof to provide a wire electric discharge machining apparatus which permits squareness between a lower support assembly and a lower arm and a mounting surface of a Y-axis guiding mechanism to be easily obtained in assembly process, and which also permits high work efficiency.
To this end, according to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a wire electric discharge machining apparatus having: a fixing table on which a workpiece to be machined by a wire electrode is rested; an upper support assembly for supporting an upper wire guide that guides an upper portion of the wire electrode; a lower arm provided, at a distal end thereof, with a lower wire guide that guides a lower portion of the wire electrode; a lower support assembly to which the lower arm is fixed; a column for coupling the upper support assembly and the lower support assembly; and a horizontal guiding mechanism which as a guide rail and a guide guided by the guide rail and which horizontally moves the upper support assembly, the lower support assembly, and the column; wherein the guide rail or the guide of the horizontal guiding mechanism is fixed to the lower support assembly.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the lower arm and the lower support assembly are so made that they are detachably connected to each other.
According to still another aspect of the present invention, the horizontal guiding mechanism comprises an X-axis guiding mechanism for guiding movement in an X-axis direction and a Y-axis guiding mechanism for guiding movement in a Y-axis direction, and wherein either the X-axis guiding mechanism or the Y-axis guiding mechanism is disposed in a closed loop formed by the upper support assembly, the column, the lower support assembly, the lower arm, and the wire electrode.
According to a further aspect of the present invention, the horizontal guiding mechanism comprises an X-axis guiding mechanism for guiding movement in an X-axis direction and a Y-axis guiding mechanism for guiding movement in a Y-axis direction, and wherein the fixing table and the lower support assembly are disposed between the X-axis guiding mechanism and the Y-axis guiding mechanism.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, the horizontal guiding mechanism comprises an X-axis guiding mechanism for guiding movement in an X-axis direction and a Y-axis guiding mechanism for guiding movement in a Y-axis direction, and wherein one of the X-axis guiding mechanism and the Y-axis guiding mechanism is positioned under the fixing table, and wherein the other is positioned under the column.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3969601 (1976-07-01), Rocklin
patent: 4332995 (1982-06-01), Ito et al.
patent: 4335436 (1982-06-01), Inoue
patent: 4631382 (1986-12-01), Fukunaga et al.
patent: 4700039 (1987-10-01), Konno et al.
patent: 4745253 (1988-05-01), Girardin
patent: 5028757 (1991-07-01), Aramaki et al.
patent: 5070224 (1991-12-01), Topfer et al.
patent: 5243165 (1993-09-01), Hosaka
patent: 5302796 (1994-04-01), Kuriki
patent: 5556551 (1996-09-01), Matsushima et al.
patent: 5841091 (1998-11-01), Furukawa et al.
patent: 5897791 (1999-04-01), Hayakawa
patent: Sho 62-213923 (1987-09-01), None
patent: 6-226540 (1994-08-01), None
patent: 8-99225 (1996-04-01), None
Moro Toshio
Watanabe Koutarou
Cooke Colleen
Dunn Tom
Mitsubishi Denki & Kabushiki Kaisha
Sughrue Mion Zinn Macpeak & Seas, PLLC
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