Wire electric discharge machine with wire electrode cutting mechanism

• US 9,085,038 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2013
• Issued: 07/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fanuc Corporation
• Original Assignee: Fanuc Corporation
• Inventors: Inaba, Harutora, Makino, Yoshinori
• Primary Examiner(s): Evans, Geoffrey S
• Application Number:
  US13/781,119
• Publication Number:
  US 20130248494A1
• Time in Patent Office: 873 Days
• Field of Search: 219/69.12
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B23H 1/10 Supply or regeneration of working media
• CPC Class Codes: B23H 7/10 Supporting, winding or electrical connection of wire-electrode
• CPC Class Codes: B23H 7/102 Automatic wire threading

Abstract

A wire electric discharge machine is provided with an automatic wire-connection pipe movable between an automatic wire connection position and a retracted position. A pickup unit configured to clamp a wire electrode to be cut is disposed below a wire cutting electrode on the outlet side of the automatic wire-connection pipe. The wire electric discharge machine is further provided with a stopper mechanism configured to regulate a movement of the automatic wire-connection pipe so that a distal end of a nozzle of the automatic wire-connection pipe is located between the wire cutting electrode and the pickup unit when the wire electrode is cut.

Claims

1. A wire electric discharge machine with a wire electrode cutting mechanism, comprising:

an automatic wire-connection pipe disposed upstream relative to an upper guide, having a nozzle on a distal end thereof, and movable between an automatic wire connection position near the upper guide and a retracted position;

first and second wire cutting electrodes disposed on the inlet and outlet sides, respectively, of the automatic wire-connection pipe;

a pickup unit disposed below the second wire cutting electrode and configured to clamp a wire electrode to be cut thereby; and

a stopper mechanism configured to regulate a movement of the automatic wire-connection pipe so that the distal end of the nozzle of the automatic wire-connection pipe is located between the second wire cutting electrode and the pickup unit when the wire electrode is cut,

wherein the stopper mechanism comprises;

a notch portion on a mounting base on which the automatic wire-connection pipe is mounted, and

a cylinder mechanism moveable toward and away from the notch portion.

2. The wire electric discharge machine according to claim 1, wherein the cylinder mechanism is configured to be driven by water or oil pressure.

3. The wire electric discharge machine according to claim 1, wherein the cylinder mechanism is configured to be driven by a servomotor.

4. A wire electric discharge machine with a wire electrode cutting mechanism, comprising:

an automatic wire-connection pipe disposed upstream relative to an upper guide, having a nozzle on a distal end thereof, and movable between an automatic wire connection position near the upper guide and a retracted position;

first and second wire cutting electrodes disposed on the inlet and outlet sides, respectively, of the automatic wire-connection pipe;

a pickup unit disposed below the second wire cutting electrode and configured to clamp a wire electrode to be cut thereby; and

a stopper mechanism configured to regulate a movement of the automatic wire-connection pipe so that the distal end of the nozzle of the automatic wire-connection pipe is located between the second wire cutting electrode and the pickup unit when the wire electrode is cut,

wherein the stopper mechanism is a hand attached to a robot, and the automatic wire-connection pipe is held by the hand.