Intelligent tightening spindle with integrated measurement transducer, servo amplifier, and data processing unit
First Claim
1. An intelligent tightening spindle, comprising:
- a drive output;
a housing adapted to detachably mount to a moving platform of a multi-tool processing station, said housing substantially enclosing;
at least one electric drive motor having an associated servo amplifier;
a gear unit operatively connecting said drive motor to said drive output;
a spindle measurement transducer operative to monitor at least one of said drive motor, said gear unit, and said drive output; and
a measurement data processing unit in communication with said spindle measurement transducer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An intelligent tightening spindle comprises a drive output; a housing adapted to detachably mount to a moving platform of a multi-tool processing station, with the housing substantially enclosing: at least one electric drive motor having an associated servo amplifier; a gear unit operatively connecting the drive motor to the drive output; a spindle measurement transducer operative to monitor at least one of the drive motor, the gear unit, and the drive output; and a measurement data processing unit in communication with the spindle measurement transducer. An output signal port may have signals applied thereto representing measurement data that has been processed by the measurement data processing unit. The measurement transducer and/or the data processing unit may be removably coupled to the spindle via one or more electrical connectors. One or more of the tightening spindles may be used to form a multi-tool processing station.
26 Citations
18 Claims
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1. An intelligent tightening spindle, comprising:
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a drive output;
a housing adapted to detachably mount to a moving platform of a multi-tool processing station, said housing substantially enclosing;
at least one electric drive motor having an associated servo amplifier;
a gear unit operatively connecting said drive motor to said drive output;
a spindle measurement transducer operative to monitor at least one of said drive motor, said gear unit, and said drive output; and
a measurement data processing unit in communication with said spindle measurement transducer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A tightening spindle, comprising:
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a drive output, at least one electric drive motor having an associated servo amplifier;
a gear unit operatively connecting said drive motor to said drive output;
a spindle measurement transducer operative to monitor at least one of said drive motor, said gear unit, and said drive output;
a measurement data processing unit in communication with said transducer;
a housing substantially enclosing at least said drive motor and said measurement data processing unit; and
an output signal port;
said output signal port having signals applied thereto representing measurement data from said transducer that has been processed by said measurement data processing unit. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A multi-tool process station, comprising:
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a moveable spindle support plate;
a plurality of tightening spindles supported by said spindle support plate for movement in unison between a ready position and an operating position;
wherein each of said tightening spindles comprises;
a drive output, at least one electric drive motor having an associated servo amplifier;
a gear unit operatively connecting said drive motor to said drive output;
a spindle measurement transducer operative to monitor at least one of said drive motor, said gear unit, and said drive output;
a measurement data processing unit in communication with said transducer;
a housing substantially enclosing at least said drive motor and said measurement data processing unit; and
an output signal port;
said output signal port having signals applied thereto representing measurement data from said transducer that has been processed by said measurement data processing unit. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification