The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 05, 1993
Filed:
May. 17, 1991
Hendley W Hall, San Pedro, CA (US);
Excellon Automation, Torrance, CA (US);
Abstract
In a drilling machine having a movable worktable and a spindle assembly having a pressure foot, a spindle, and a removable pressure foot insert in the pressure foot, an insert changer is provided for automatically removing and reinserting the insert from the pressure foot to permit a drill tool change to be effected in the spindle. The insert changer has a gripper for gripping the insert and disengaging the insert from the pressure foot. A vacuum is preferably provided on the gripper for creating a vacuum seal region between the gripper and insert to create a gripping force on the insert. A lifter is provided on the insert changer to move the gripper into and out of contact with the insert. The insert is preferably retained within the pressure foot by oppositely poled magnets respectively on the pressure foot and on the insert to create a magnetic bonding force therebetween, wherein the gripping force created by the vacuum is sufficiently strong to overcome the magnetic bond so as to disengage the insert from the pressure foot. Further, an insert magazine is mounted on the drilling machine having bays for storing a plurality of inserts having different drill hole diameters. A method for automatically changing an insert in the pressure foot with an insert having a different size includes automatically removing the insert from the pressure foot via the insert changer, placing the insert into the magazine, taking a new insert from the magazine, and placing the new insert into the pressure foot.