Cutter tool assembly and system

• US 6,585,628 B1
• Filed: 05/22/2001
• Issued: 07/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dana Automotive Systems Group, LLC (Dana, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dana Corporation (Dana, Inc.)
• Inventors: Tsung, Wei-Jiung, Lincoln, Frederick E., Hang, Quang T.
• Primary Examiner(s): BRIGGS, WILLIAM R
• Application Number:
  US09/863,090
• Time in Patent Office: 770 Days
• Field of Search: 409/131, 409/234, 377/15, 377/676, 377/835, 377/481, 702/187, 702/62.1, 340/680, 356/602, 483/9, 483/8, 483/1, 483/5, 483/10, 408/16, 144/114.1, 700/179, 700/160, 700/169
• US Class Current: 483/9
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 2270/32 Use of electronics
• CPC Class Codes: B23C 5/00 Milling-cutters for cutting gear-teeth B23F21/12
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 13/00 Equipment for use with tools or cutters when not in operation, e.g. protectors for storage B26B29/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 3/15546 Devices for recognizing tools in a storage device, e.g. coding devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 408/21 with signal, indicator, illuminator or optical means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 409/303752 Process
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 409/30952 with cutter holder
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 483/10 Process
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 483/134 Identifying information on tool or tool holder

Abstract

A cutter tool assembly includes a cutter head having an axial end face with an axially extending recess in the end face. A plurality of cutter blades are carried by and extend axially from the end face of the cutter head. A non-volatile memory device is disposed within the recess and affixed to the cutter head.

Claims

1. A cutter tool assembly, comprising:

a cutter head rotatable about an axis having an axial end face extending generally transverse to said axis with a recess in said end face, and a plurality of cutter blades carried by said end face along a periphery thereof; and

an erasable non-volatile memory device disposed within said recess and affixed to said cutter head.

2. The cutter tool assembly of claim 1, wherein said non-volatile memory device comprises a touch memory.

3. The cutter tool assembly of claim 1, wherein said cutter head includes an axis of rotation and said cutter blades are positioned in at least one row concentrically about said axis of rotation.

4. The cutter tool assembly of claim 3, wherein said non-volatile memory device is disposed radially between said axis of rotation and said at least one row of cutter blades.

5. The cutter tool assembly of claim 3, wherein said cutter head is a bevel gear cutter head having a single row of cutter blades positioned concentrically about said axis of rotation.

6. The cutter tool assembly of claim 5, wherein said bevel gear cutter comprises one of a face milling cutter, face hobbing cutter and straight bevel gear cutter.

7. The cutter tool assembly of claim 6, wherein said non-volatile memory device is disposed radially between said axis of rotation and said single row of cutter blades.

8. The cutter tool assembly of claim 7, wherein said non-volatile memory device comprises a touch memory.

9. The cutter tool assembly of claim 1, further including an adhesive affixing said non-volatile memory device to said cutter head within said recess.

10. The cutter tool assembly of claim 1, wherein said recess extends axially into said end face.

11. A cutter tool system, comprising:

a cutter tool assembly, including;

a cutter head rotatable about an axis having an axial end face extending generally transverse to said axis with a recess in said end face, and a plurality of cutter blades carried by said end face along a periphery thereof; and

an erasable non-volatile memory device disposed within said recess and affixed to said cutter head; and

an interrogation assembly, including;

an electrical processing circuit; and

a probe coupled with said electrical processing circuit, said probe adapted to communicate with said erasable non-volatile memory device in a wireless manner.

12. The cutter tool system of claim 11, wherein said electrical processing circuit comprises a computer, said probe comprises a touch probe, and said non-volatile memory device comprises a touch memory.

13. The cutter tool system of claim 12, wherein said computer comprises a personal computer.

14. The cutter tool system of claim 11, wherein said cutter head includes an axis of rotation and said cutter blades are positioned in at least one row concentrically about said axis of rotation.

15. The cutter tool system of claim 14, wherein said non-volatile memory device is disposed radially between said axis of rotation and said at least one row of cutter blades.

16. The cutter tool system of claim 14, wherein said cutter head is a bevel gear cutter head having a single row of cutter blades positioned concentrically about said axis of rotation.

17. The cutter tool assembly of claim 16, wherein said bevel gear cutter comprises one of a face milling cutter, face hobbing cutter and straight bevel gear cutter.

18. The cutter tool system of claim 17, wherein said non-volatile memory device is disposed radially between said axis of rotation and said single row of cutter blades.

19. The cutter tool system of claim 18, wherein said non-volatile memory device comprises a touch memory.

20. The cutter tool assembly of claim 11, wherein said recess extends axially into said end face.

21. A method of identifying at least one characteristic associated with a cutting tool, comprising the steps of:

providing a cutter head rotatable about an axis and having an axial end face extending generally transverse to said axis with an axially extending recess, and a plurality of cutter blades carried by said end face along a periphery thereof;

positioning an erasable non-volatile memory device within said recess; and

affixing said erasable non-volatile memory device to said cutter head.

22. The method of claim 21, including the steps of:

coupling a probe with an electrical processing circuit;

positioning said probe in relation to said non-volatile memory; and

communicating at least one characteristic between said non-volatile memory device and said probe in a wireless manner.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein said non-volatile memory device comprises a touch memory and said probe comprises a touch probe, and said communicating step includes touching said probe against said touch memory.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein said affixing step comprises adhesive bonding said non-volatile memory device to said cutter head within said recess.