Rotary chuck
AssigneeGreenlee Textron Inc.
InventorsRyan Mantell, Jeffrey Plummer, Gerald Tully, Sean Daugherty
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A rotary chuck includes a clamp assembly, a first drive mechanism for operating the clamp assembly to clamp an associated workpiece, a frame rotationally fixed to the clamp assembly, and a second drive mechanism for rotating the frame and the clamp assembly. The second drive mechanism can rotate the frame and the clamp assembly around 360 degrees. A pair of alignment springs are engaged with a mounting plate upon which the second drive mechanism is mounted. The mounting plate can pivot relative to a stable surface to which it is mounted, and the springs limit the pivotal movement. Each first and second drive mechanism includes a motor, and are connected to a microprocessor for operation of the respective motor.
Claims19
A rotary chuck capable of clamping a variety of sizes of workpieces, the rotary chuck comprising:
- a clamp assembly including a plate, a plurality of jaws attached to the plate and movable relative to the plate, the jaws being positionable in a variety of positions relative to the plate to accommodate a variety of sizes of workpieces, the jaws capable of clamping an associated workpiece, the clamp assembly defining a centerline;
- a frame coupled with the plate, the frame and the plate being rotationally fixed relative to each other;
- a first drive mechanism capable of operating the clamp assembly, the first drive mechanism being affixed to the frame;
- a second drive mechanism comprising a motor having a drive shaft, an end of the drive shaft is affixed to the frame, the second drive mechanism rotating the frame, the clamp assembly and the first drive mechanism around the centerline relative to a ground surface;
- and
- the frame including a stop plate which is aligned with an end of the drive shaft, wherein the stop plate is configured to abut a workpiece and prevent further movement of the workpiece relative to the second drive mechanism.
An assembly comprising:
- a stable surface;
- a mounting plate having at least a pair of elongated apertures therethrough;
- fasteners extending through the apertures and affixed to the stable surface, the mounting plate being pivotable relative to the stable surface by the fasteners sliding along the elongated apertures;
- a pair of springs attached to the mounting plate and attached to the stable surface, the springs limiting the amount of pivotal movement of the mounting plate;
- and
- a rotary chuck capable of clamping a variety of sizes of workpieces and comprising
- a clamp assembly including a plate, a plurality of jaws attached to the plate and movable relative to the plate, the jaws being positionable in a variety of positions relative to the plate to accommodate a variety of sizes of workpieces, the jaws capable of clamping an associated workpiece, the clamp assembly defining a centerline,
- a frame coupled with the plate, the frame and the plate being rotationally fixed relative to each other,
- a first drive mechanism capable of operating the clamp assembly, the first drive mechanism being affixed to the frame,
- a second drive mechanism affixed to the frame and to the mounting plate, the second drive mechanism rotating the frame, the clamp assembly and the first drive mechanism around the centerline relative to a ground surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.