Machine spindle with ejecting means
AssigneeThe Gleason Works
InventorsWilliam A. Curtis, Kenneth E. Glasow, Michael G. Regna, Craig R. Ronald
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A workholding apparatus (10) wherein a draw bar (22) effects chucking and de-chucking of a workpiece (W) and wherein un-seating of the workholding apparatus is effected by piston-like mechanisms (30) located in a machine spindle (2).
Claims13
A machine spindle rotatable about an axis of rotation, said spindle comprising a spindle body having an outer end with said outer end having an opening and an end surface surrounding said opening, thereby providing, within said spindle body, for a seated position for a workholding apparatus in the form of a chuck or an arbor, said spindle further comprising:
- a plurality of rod-shaped ejecting elements located in said outer end at said end surface with each of said rod-shaped ejecting elements being extendable from said end surface and retractable into said end surface,
- said rod-shaped ejecting elements being operable to extend from said end surface and into contact with a surface of a workholding apparatus located in said seated position, said contact being of a force sufficient to urge said workholding apparatus from said seated position.
A method of breaking the seating contact between a machine spindle and a workholding apparatus in the form of a chuck or an arbor seated within said spindle, said method comprising:
- providing a machine spindle rotatable about an axis of rotation, said spindle comprising a spindle body having an outer end with said outer end having an opening and an end surface surrounding said opening, said spindle further comprising a plurality of rod-shaped ejecting elements located in said outer end at said end surface with each of said rod-shaped ejecting elements being extendable from said end surface and retractable into said end surface,
- extending said rod-shaped ejecting elements from said end surface,
- bringing said rod-shaped ejecting elements into contact with a surface of the seated workholding apparatus, said contacting being of a force sufficient to urge said workholding apparatus from the seated contact.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.