Turn broach abnormality sensing apparatus

Abstract

A turn broach abnormality sensing apparatus is provided for use in a turn broach for cutting a rotating workpiece (3) by rotating a broach cutter (18) that comprises a plurality of unitary cutters (18b) axially coupled together, each having a plurality of tip rows (181, 182, . . . 18n) arranged on, a peripheral surface thereof in the form of a helicoid. The abnormality sensing apparatus includes a plurality of image pickup means (23) disposed corresponding respectively to the unitary cutters (181, 182, . . . 18n) of the broach cutter (18b) for sensing an image of each of individual tips on the respective tip row of each of the plural unitary cutters, a focusing adjustment means (27) for maintaining a distance between the image pickup means (23) and each individual tip on the respective tip row of each of the unitary cutters, substantially constant, and an abnormality sensing means for image processing the image picked up by the image pickup means (23) of each individual tip to determine an extent of wear thereof or damage thereto, thereby ascertaining an abnormality of each of the individual tips.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.