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:
Nov. 18, 1997
Filed:
Apr. 02, 1996
Howa Machinery, Ltd., Nagoya, JP;
Abstract
Tools are classified into small type tools that can pass through the space between a pair of grippers in its open position and large type tools that cannot pass through the space between the pair of grippers in the open position, when the headstock supporting a spindle holding a tool is moved to a position corresponding to a tool change position. When the next tool to be used is of the small type, the tool is moved through a standby position to the tool change position during a machining operation using the tool on the spindle, the headstock is moved to the position corresponding to the tool change position in response to a tool changing instruction and a predetermined tool changing operation is carried out. When the next tool is of the large type, the next tool is positioned and held at the standby position during a machining operation, the headstock is moved to the position corresponding to the tool change position, the next tool is moved to the tool change position and the tool changing operation is carried out.