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US 6,080,039 AGranted
Table drive for multi-axis machine tool
AssigneeUnova U.K. Limited
InventorsChristopher David Bartlett, Michael Laycock, Peter Brian Leadbeater
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AssigneeUnova U.K. Limited
InventorsChristopher David Bartlett, Michael Laycock, Peter Brian Leadbeater
Estimating the term…
A machine tool comprising a bed, a worktable movable relative to the bed along a linear path and a tool movable to engage a workpiece on the worktable wherein drive means for effecting the movement of the worktable relative to the bed and therefore to the tool comprises a friction drive so as to provide a smooth carriage motion to the worktable. The worktable may be slidable along a slideway which defines the linear path for the worktable and the drive means therefor comprises an elongate member forming a track mounted parallel to the slideway. Wheel means frictionally engages the track and is carried by drive means therefor mounted on the worktable so that the axis of rotaion of the wheel means is fixed in relation to the worktable. The drive means for rotating the wheel means is operable to drive the wheel means in one direction or the other, the rotation of the wheel means and the friction engagement of the wheel means and the track causing the worktable to move in one direction or the other depending on the direction of rotation of the wheel means.
A machine tool comprising a machine bed incorporating a linear slideway along which a worktable is slidable by way of a friction drive comprising a pair of wheels engaging opposite sides of a guide member mounted parallel to the slideway, whereby the worktable can be driven along the slideway in either direction in accordance with the sense of operation of the friction drive, characterised in that the guide member comprises a tensioned rod of circular cross-section and in that the wheels of the friction drive, at least one of which is a driven wheel, comprise wheels in the form of pulleys the flanged peripheries of which are urged against opposite sides of the tensioned rod.
A machine tool as claimed in 3, wherein each wheel of the pair of wheels are driven wheels.
A machine tool comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.