US 8,469,640 B2Granted

Processing machine having positive feed and processing method

AssigneeCooper Power Tools GmbH & Co.

InventorsSylvain Maillard, Edouard Da Palma

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Abstract

This machine includes a casing (2), a tool-holder spindle (4), a motor (6), a drive mechanism (12) having positive feed which mechanically connects the motor to the spindle and which includes a first drive member (32) for rotating the spindle, a second drive member (34) for driving the spindle in translation and which is screwed onto the spindle (4) in order to advance or return the spindle, and a clutch (36) having a return configuration which disengages the second member and the motor and an advance configuration which engages them. The clutch includes a rotary engagement member (44), a first key (48) which is movable between a position for connecting the rotary member to the motor and a position for disengaging the rotary member, and a second key (50) which is movable between a position for connecting the rotary member to the casing and a position for disengaging the rotary member.

Claims21

Dependent claims

A processing machine, comprising:

a casing;
a tool-holder spindle which extends along a first axis;
a drive motor for driving the tool-holder spindle;
and
a drive mechanism which is for the tool-holder spindle and which mechanically connects the drive motor to the tool-holder spindle, the drive mechanism comprising:
a first drive member for rotating the spindle about the first axis thereof relative to the casing;
a second drive member for driving the spindle in translation along the first axis thereof relative to the casing, the second drive member being screwed onto a threaded portion of the spindle in such a manner that the spindle advances or returns along the first axis thereof in accordance with the relative rotational speed between the first drive member and the second drive member;
and
a clutch which has a return configuration for the spindle, in which the second drive member and the drive motor are disengaged, and an advance configuration for the spindle, in which the second drive member and the drive motor are engaged,
wherein the clutch comprises:
a rotary engagement member which is connected in terms of rotation to the second drive member, the rotary engagement member being movable in terms of rotation about a second axis relative to the casing;
at least a first key which is movable relative to the rotary engagement member between a first position for connecting the rotary engagement member to the drive motor and a second position for disengaging the rotary engagement member;
and
at least a second key which is movable relative to the rotary engagement member between a third position for connecting the rotary engagement member to the casing and a fourth position for disengaging the rotary engagement member,
the first key being in the first position and the second key being in the fourth position when the clutch is in the advance configuration for the spindle, the first key being in the second position and the second key being in the third position when the clutch is in the return configuration for the spindle.

12 more elements

A method for operating a processing machine comprising a casing, a tool-holder spindle which extends along a first axis, a drive motor, and a drive mechanism, wherein the drive mechanism comprises:

a first drive member for rotating the spindle about the first axis thereof relative to the casing;
a second drive member for driving the spindle in translation along the first axis thereof relative to the casing, the second drive member being screwed onto a threaded portion of the spindle;
and
a clutch that comprises:
a rotary engagement member which is connected in terms of rotation to the second drive member, the rotary engagement member being movable in terms of rotation about a second axis relative to the casing;
at least a first key which is movable relative to the rotary engagement member between a first position for connecting the rotary engagement member to the drive motor and a second position for disengaging the first key;
and
at least a second key which is movable relative to the rotary engagement member between a third position for connecting the rotary engagement member to the casing and a fourth position for disengaging the rotary engagement member;
the method comprising the steps of:
driving the first drive member for rotating the spindle about the first axis thereof relative to the casing;
moving the first key to the first position for connecting the rotary engagement member to the drive motor and thereby driving the spindle in translation along the first axis thereof relative to the casing in accordance with the relative rotational speed between the first drive member and the second drive member;
detecting an end of advance travel of the spindle;
reducing a rotational speed of the spindle about the first axis;
moving the first key in a second direction relative to the rotary engagement member to the second position;
and
moving the second key to the third position relative to the rotary engagement member.

13 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 12/412,054Filed 26 Mar 2009
Priority: FR 08 5198227 Mar 2008
Published: US 2009/0245955 A11 Oct 2009
Granted: 25 Jun 2013
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification11 codes

B23Q 5/326
Feeding working-spindles: screw-operated
B23Q 5/402
By feed shaft, e.g. lead screw: in which screw or nut can both be driven
Y10T 408/03
Cutting by use of rotating axially moving tool: processes
Y10T 408/17
With control means energized in response to activator stimulated by condition sensor: to control infeed