Ex-cello Machine Tools, Inc.

Johann S Klimach

John W Graham

Robert B Raible

Samuel O Pelto

An apparatus for elevating a workpiece includes a transfer bar movable between a first position and a second position, and a support member having a cam surface with a first end and a second end. The cam follower is engageable with the cam surface for supporting the transfer bar with respect to the support member as the cam follower moves along the cam surface between the first end and the second end. When the transfer bar is in the first position, the cam follower is adjacent the first end of the cam surface. When the transfer bar is in the second position, the cam follower is adjacent the second end of the cam surface. A driving mechanism is provided for moving one of the cam follower and the cam surface relative to one another between the first end and the second end of the cam surface. The elevating apparatus can be used in a multi-station machining line where at least one workpiece to be machined is transported on at least one transfer bar from one station to another. The transfer bar is elevated to a first position for transportation of the workpiece between the stations, and is lowered to a second position when the workpiece reaches a station.

Part elevator having a transfer bar with CAM follower and slot

An apparatus radially adjusts a position of a plurality of tool cartridges of a machine tool having rotatable, concentric, elongate, inner and outer drive spindles. A plurality of pockets are formed through the outer spindle to communication with a passage for the inner spindle. A wedge is disposed in each pocket for longitudinal movement in response to relative rotation of the inner spindle when the inner spindle is in a predetermined selectable position. A rotatable member is disposed in each pocket and has a threaded external surface operably engageable to move the rotatable member longitudinally in response to rotation of the rotatable member with respect to the outer spindle. A tool cartridge is operably engaged within each pocket for radial movement in response to relative movement of the corresponding wedge.

Compensator for multi-tool boring bar

An apparatus for radially adjusting a position of at least one tool cartridge includes a machine tool having rotatable, concentric, elongate, inner and outer drive spindles with at least one pocket formed in the outer drive spindle exposing at least one corresponding portion of the inner drive spindle. A wedge is disposed in each pocket for movement relative to the longitudinal axis of the inner drive spindle and is responsive to relative rotation of the inner drive spindle with respect to the outer drive spindle. Each wedge has a threaded surface operably engageable with either a threaded portion of the inner drive spindle, or a threaded portion of the outer drive spindle. A tool cartridge is operably engaged within each pocket of the outer drive spindle for radial movement relative to the longitudinal axis of the outer drive spindle in response to relative movement of the corresponding wedge. A ring spring is provided for urging each tool cartridge into operable engagement with the corresponding wedge with sufficient strength to maintain operable engagement at maximum rotational speed. A controller is provided for controlling the relative rotation of the inner spindle with respect to the outer spindle in response to at least one input signal. The controller can compensate for wear of a tool connected to the tool cartridge with relative rotation of the inner spindle with respect to the outer spindle. The controller can also adjustably position each tool cartridge with respect to the outer spindle during a machining operation.

Method and apparatus for adjusting a tool cartridge, such as a cutter body

An apparatus and method for performing a sequence of machine operations on connecting rod blanks to convert the blanks from an original casting to a finished product includes loading parts at a beginning of a process stream for performing various machining operations on the parts as the parts travel along the process stream. The process stream is defined at least in part by a first path portion extending between opposing work stations for partially machining the parts, and recirculating the partially machined parts along the process stream into a second path portion. The second path portion extends parallel with the first path portion of the process stream in order to provide generally symmetrically opposing machining operations at the opposing work stations along a portion of the process stream. Lift and carry devices engage and move the raw parts and recirculating parts simultaneously between adjacent opposing work stations in step fashion. The raw parts and the recirculating parts are held in predetermined positions at each work stations within nests in cooperation with reciprocal holding devices to maintain the parts within the nests during the machining operations.

Growing community of inventors

Clinton Township, MI, United States of America

Johann S Klimach