The Boeing Company

Paul E Faville

Robert L Fuller, Jr

Mark C Maier

Raymond N Henderson

David A Yousko

James D Tuttle

A system is provided for removing build-up on drills. The system includes a sensing component that automatically senses the size of a drill, a first component that automatically grips the sensed drill and positioning the gripped drill to a first position, and a disc that includes a plurality of bushings of different sizes. The system also includes a second component that automatically rotates the disc according to the sensed size of the drill, and a third component that automatically forces the disc over a stationary drill.

Drill build-up remover

The invention is an apparatus and method for determining and identifying drill bit type in a simple manner that does not involve complex mathematical techniques. The invention utilizes a laser scanner that produces a plurality of crosswise diameter measurements taken equidistantly along each drill bit's length. The crosswise measurement indicates the diameter of the bit's silhouette at a given location. By comparing such diameters with what would be expected for a given bit, the bit's shank type, maximum diameter, flute characteristics and length can be accurately ascertained. Having such information enables identification of the bit so that it may be later kept track of during subsequent sorting and refurbishment operations.

Automated drill bit recognition system

A gravity conveyor (12) delivers drill bits (10) to carrier tubes (24) which are on an endless conveyor. An optical micrometer (22) or the like identifies the drill bits (10), as to shank type, maximum diameter, overall length, helix angle, back taper, number of margins, etc., and produces an identification signal which is directed to a control computer (B). An identified drill bit (10) is delivered into a given carrier tube (24). The computer (B) controls the endless conveyor (EC) to move the conveyor tube (24) into a position adjacent a dedicated receptacle (30) for the identified drill bit (10) which is one of a large number of dedicated receptacles (30) which are arranged in series alongside the path traversed by the endless conveyor (EC).

Article sorting apparatus and method

A first rotatable conveyor section (16) is positioned axially between upper and lower fixed sections (14,18) of a gravity conveyor. Rotatable conveyor section (16) rotates about an axis extending perpendicular to the conveyor section. A gate (42,44) is provided at each end of the rotatable conveyor section (16). An identification device (84) is positioned upstream of the rotatable conveyor section (16). It identifies the end-to-end orientation of an article (10) which is travelling along the gravity conveyor (12). A computer controls the gates (42,44) and a mechanism (104) for rotating the rotatable conveyor section (16). When an article (10) having an improper end-to-end orientation is encountered, the rotatable conveyor section (16) is rotated 180.degree. for the purpose of reversing the article's orientation. A second rotatable conveyor section (120) is mounted for sideways rotation about an axis which extends longitudinally of the slide conveyor (12). When the identification device (84) identifies the presence of an article (10) which is either too small or too big or for some other reason is not to be further processed in the system, or if a plurality of articles are detected to be travelling together, the conveyor section (120) is rotated sideways to dump the article or articles into a collection pan (140,142) which directs the article or articles into a collection receptacle (144,146).

Reject station in a gravity conveyor

Articles (14) are moved downwardly along a slideway (52) which includes a stop gate (50). The stop gate (50) is moved into the slideway (52) to stop the article (14). Then an instrument (44) is moved toward the slideway (52) and the article (14) to place the instrument (44) contiguous the article (14). The instrument irradiates the article (14). This radiation excites the elements in the article (14), causing them to give off their own characteristic x-rays. The energy of the characteristic x-rays identifies the elements and possibly also the element's concentration. Following the analysis the instrument (44) is raised and the stop gate (50) is lowered, allowing the article (14) to move forward along the slideway (52). Drill bits (14) are analyzed in this manner to differentiate between drill bits (14) of different hardness but identical geometric characteristics.

Material composition analyzer and method

A machine for measuring the diameter of both step and standard refurbished twist drills using a laser micrometer is disclosed. The drill (23) to be measured is inserted, cutting end down, in a scroll chuck (21) until the tip of the drill impinges on a stop plate (209) mounted on the end of the arm (207) of a drill stop solenoid (205). A hysteresis brake (169) coupled to the scroll chuck restricts rotation of some chuck elements as other chuck elements are rotated to close the chuck jaws ( b 107). After the drill (23) is grasped by the jaws (107), the hysteresis brake drag is overcome and the drill (23) is rotated by the chuck while the laser beam (187) of a laser micrometer scans a section of the drill (23) to determine the diameter of the drill. After several scans, the scroll chuck (21) is raised, resulting in a different section of the drill (23) being measured by the laser micrometer. If the drill is a step drill (23 ), it is raised again. When the pilot section of the drill lies in the scan path of the laser micrometer another measurement is made. The information developed by the laser micrometer is used by a laser processor (243) to determine the acceptability of the drill.

Drill diameter measuring machine

Article orientation system and method

Drill bits (16) are delivered in a mixed, bulk form, in a random orientation, into an alignment unit (30). Aligned drill bits (16) move from the alignment conveyor (30) into the upper end of a singulator (36). Singulated drill bits (16) are delivered by the singulator (36) into a singulated drill bit conveyor (38, 49). Identifying means (202,236,240) identify each drill bit (16) as it travels and in conjunction with computers 'A' and 'B', cause a reversal of end-to-end orientation, if necessary, and movement of a deposit conveyor (52), and placement of each identified drill bit (16) into a dedicated receiving receptacle (54). The components of the system are arranged to take a small amount of floor space and provide good utilization of floor space.

Automated drill sorting system and method

A high speed positive feed drill motor open loop control system. The motor system comprises a minimally limited inertia air turbine motor including mounting guidance and control for enabling the drill to advance into the workpiece at a rate exactly proportional to the rotational speed of the drill. The turbine speed is measured with a digital tachometer while a stepper motor/ball screw mechanism is utilized to control and apply the feed rate.

High speed positive feed drill motor open loop control system

An electro-mechanical gaging apparatus and method for measuring the diameter of gundrill bits that have been pointed and the cylindrical surface areas relieved to leave only the margin and the wear pad on the circumference. A V-block of about 100 degrees is used in combination with a dual segmented clamp and a gage probe for generating electrical signals which provide the necessary inputs for trigonometric calculation, e.g. by an electrical microprocessor, thereby providing the desired diameter measurement.

Gundrill diameter gage and method

In a method and apparatus for determining runout in a cylindrical object, particularly a cutting or boring tool such as a drill bit or reamer, the object is rotated and a collimated beam of light is directed transversely at the rotating object so as to cast a shadow on a photosensor which produces an electrical signal having a current level representative of the area illuminated. Runout in the cylindrical object is manifested as a reciprocal variation in the area of the shadow cast on the photosensor, with a resulting periodic variation in the the output signal of the photosensor. The amplitude of this variation is determined to provide a measure of the total indicated runout of the object. In the preferred embodiment, a pair of photocells is positioned behind the rotating object and a differential amplifier and low-pass electronic filter are employed in series to separate variable signal components arising from runout from variable signal components due to profile variations in the object, for example, flutes in a twist drill.

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Renton, WA, United States of America

Paul E Faville