Machine for forming a curved surface on a workpiece

A machine comprising:

• a. a workpiece carrier,
• b. a tool carrier, the workpiece carrier and the tool carrier being mounted for universal translation relative to each other,
• c. drive means for causing relative movement of the carriers in both a first direction and a second direction transverse to said first direction, and
• d. guide means for so constraining relative movement of the carriers in a third direction in accordance with said relative movement in the first and second directions that a cutting tool, when such tool is carried by the tool carrier, describes a curved surface of predetermined form when the tool carrier is moved relative to the workpiece carrier, wherein the guide means includes two template elements and respective follower elements associated therewith, one template element for cooperation with its associated follower element to control relative movement of the carriers in said third direction in accordance with movement in said first direction and the other template element for cooperating with its associated follower element to control relative movement of the carriers in said third direction in accordance with movement in said second direction, each of said template elements and the follower element associated therewith being mounted for traverse of the follower element across the template element along a sole path, and
• e. means provided for preventing traverse of the follower element across the template element along any path other than said sole path.

A machine comprising:

• a. a workpiece carrier,
• b. a tool carrier, the workpiece carrier and the tool carrier being mounted for universal translation relative to each other,
• c. drive means for causing relative movement of the carriers in both a first direction and a second direction transverse to said first direction,
• d. guide means for so constraining relative movement of the carriers in a third direction in accordance with said relative movement in the first and second directions that a cutting tool, when such tool is carried by the tool carrier, describes a curved surface of predetermined form when the tool carrier is moved relative to the workpiece carrier, wherein the guide means includes two template elements and respective follower elements associated therewith, one template element for cooperation with its associated follower element to control relative movement of the carriers in said third direction in accordance with movement in said first direction and the other template element for cooperation with its associated follower element to control relative movement of the carriers in said third direction in accordace with movement in said second direction, and
• e. an adjustable motion-transmitting structure operatively interposed between one of the carriers and one of the template elements and the follower element associated therewith.

A machine comprising:

• a. a workpiece carrier,
• b. a tool carrier, the workpiece carrier and the tool carrier being mounted for universal translation relative to each other,
• c. drive means for causing relative movement of the carriers in both a first direction and a second direction transverse to said first direction,
• d. guide means for so constraining relative movement of the carriers in a third direction in accordance with said relative movement in the first and second directions that a cutting tool, when such tool is carried by the tool carrier, describes a curved surface of predetermined form when the tool carrier is moved relative to the workpiece carrier, wherein the guide means includes two template elements and respective follower elements associated therewith, one template element for cooperation with its associated follower element to control relative movement of the carriers in said third direction in accordance with movement in said second direction, and
• e. one of said follower elements comprising two contact elements and a connecting element connecting the contact elements to each other, the contact elements being arranged for engagement with the associated template element concurrently at spaced positions and the connecting element being pivotally connected to a motion-transmitting structure through which motion is transmitted from the follower element to one of the carriers.

A machine comprising:

• a. a workpiece carrier,
• b. a tool carrier, the workpiece carrier and the tool carrier being mounted for universal translation relative to each other,
• c. drive means for causing movement of the carriers in both a first direction and a second direction, transverse to said first direction,
• d. guide means for so constraining relative movement of the carriers in a third direction in accordance with said relative movement in the first and second directions that a cutting tool, when such tool is carried by the tool carrier, describes a curved surface of predetermined form when the tool carrier is moved relative to the workpiece carrier and
• e. a housing in which the cutting tool and the workpiece are disposed in use, the housing being mounted for rotation about an axis of one of the carriers and having an opening offset from said axis which slidably receives the other carrier.