Drilling module with automatic tool changer
First Claim
1. A machining unit comprising a quill carrying a spindle, a tool clamping mechanism on a forward end of the spindle, a drive shaft for rotatably driving the spindle about an axis through the quill, a tool feed actuator for extending and retracting the quill to and from a home position in both axial directions, the clamping mechanism being arranged to grip a tool holder when the quill is at or forward of the home position and to release or accept a tool holder when it is rearward of the home position via the provision of an axial force provided to the clamping mechanism by the drive shaft.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A machining unit comprising a quill carrying a spindle, a tool clamping mechanism on a forward end of the spindle, a drive shaft for rotatably driving the spindle through the quill, a tool feed actuator for extending and retracting the quill to and from a home position in both axial directions, the clamping mechanism being arranged to grip a tool holder when the quill is at or forward of the home position and to release or accept a tool holder when it is rearward of the home position.
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Citations
15 Claims
- 1. A machining unit comprising a quill carrying a spindle, a tool clamping mechanism on a forward end of the spindle, a drive shaft for rotatably driving the spindle about an axis through the quill, a tool feed actuator for extending and retracting the quill to and from a home position in both axial directions, the clamping mechanism being arranged to grip a tool holder when the quill is at or forward of the home position and to release or accept a tool holder when it is rearward of the home position via the provision of an axial force provided to the clamping mechanism by the drive shaft.
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7. A machining unit for use with a robot or gantry or other positioning apparatus said machining unit comprising
a housing, a quill mounted in the housing for movement along an axis in forward and reverse directions, a spindle assembly mounted in the quill for rotation about said axis, the spindle assembly having an outer end arranged to project forward from the quill and an inner end within the quill, a spindle assembly drive shaft in a telescoped coupled relation with the spindle assembly for driving the spindle assembly in rotation about said axis while the quill forcibly moves the spindle assembly along said axis, a linear actuator for driving the quill in the forward and reverse directions between fully extended and fully retracted positions, a rotary actuator for rotating the drive shaft, a tool clamping mechanism on the outer end of the spindle assembly, the tool clamping mechanism being normally biased to a clamping position by a compression spring, and assuming a tool releasing position when an axial force is directed on the tool clamping mechanism in a forward direction, a stop surface on the spindle assembly drive shaft in the quill disposed in the path of the tool clamping mechanism adjacent the fully retracted position of the quill, the stop surface being arranged to apply the axial force on the tool clamping mechanism to cause the tool clamping mechanism to assume its tool release position.
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15. A machine for rotating and axially moving a tool including a frame, an automatic tool clamp for clamping a tool or tool holder, a power drive on the frame for rotating the tool clamp about an axis, and a power actuator for moving the tool clamp forward or rearward along the axis relative to the frame, the tool clamp being arranged to be operated to open by rearward movement produced by the power actuator of the tool clamp against a stop on the power drive and stationary with respect to the frame along the axis and to close when the tool clamp is moved away from said stop by said power actuator.
Specification