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US 7,739,931 B2Granted
Tool bit with multiple cutting tips
AssigneeXerox Corporation
InventorsRonny W. F. van Asten, Theo G. M. J. Gommans, Tinus Zuetenhorst
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tool bit suited to use in a machining apparatus for lathing of photoreceptor blanks includes a cutting portion which defines a plurality of projections. During lathing, the projections extend into the blank successively greater distances. When the blank is rotated, each projection cuts a successively radially inward portion of the workpiece. The resulting swarf is thinner and generally easier to handle than for a tool with a single cutting edge, thereby enabling vacuum suction of the swarf.
Claims25
A tool bit for a machining apparatus comprising:
- an attachment portion;
- and
- a cutting portion supported by the attachment portion and defining a plurality of projections for cutting an associated workpiece to increase a uniformity of an outer diameter of the workpiece when the workpiece is rotatably mounted on the machining apparatus, such that the workpiece rotates about a longitudinal axis, each of the projections defining a tip, the tips being spaced in a first direction, wherein each tip of the cutting portion defines a planar surface, each of the planar surfaces extending parallel to each other in the first direction, a second of the tips extending beyond a first of the tips in a second direction such that in operation, the first projection cuts a first portion of the workpiece and the second projection cuts a second portion of the workpiece, the second portion being radially inward of the first portion.
A machining apparatus comprising:
- a tool bit comprising:
- an attachment portion;
- and
- a cutting portion supported by the attachment portion and defining at least three projections for cutting an associated workpiece to reduce a radius of the workpiece when the workpiece is rotatably mounted on the machining apparatus, each of the projections defining a tip, the tips being spaced in a first direction, a second of the tips extending beyond a first of the tips in a second direction such that in operation, the first projection cuts a first portion of the workpiece and the second projection cuts a second portion of the workpiece, the second portion being radially inward of the first portion, a plurality of the tips being each equally spaced from an adjacent tip in the second direction, such that each associated projection removes approximately the same amount of material from the work piece as the cutting tool is translated, a spacing between the first and second projections in the second direction corresponding to the amount of material removed from the workpiece by the second projection.
1 more element
A machining apparatus comprising:
- a workpiece mounting apparatus which supports an associated workpiece for rotation about an axis, the workpiece having a radius perpendicular to the axis;
- a tool bit mounted for lathing the radius by traversing the workpiece's length, the tool bit comprising:
- a cutting portion which defines a plurality of projections, the projections being spaced apart by recessed reliefs, a first of the projections having a tip which is spaced from a tip of a second of the projections such that in operation, the first projection cuts a first portion of the workpiece and the second projection cuts a second portion of the workpiece, radially inward of the first portion, the tip of a longest projection of the cutting portion including a planar surface which defines a target radius of the workpiece.
A method for machining a workpiece comprising:
- mounting a workpiece on a machining apparatus for rotation about an longitudinal axis;
- mounting a tool bit for machining a surface of the workpiece;
- rotating the workpiece about the longitudinal axis, the workpiece surface being engaged by a plurality of tips of the tool bit, which successively project further towards the axis of rotation of the workpiece such that the projections each remove a strip of material from the workpiece;
- and
- translating the tool bit generally parallel with the longitudinal axis of the rotating workpiece at a rate at which each tip progresses at no more than a width of the tip with each revolution of the workpiece.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.