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:
Mar. 04, 2008
Filed:
Oct. 04, 2005
Paul D Mortell, Eden Prairie, MN (US);
Chi Hoang, Tustin, CA (US);
David M. Mcelrone, San Jose, CA (US);
Gary P Erpenbeck, Laguna Hills, CA (US);
Walter James Frandsen, Jr., San Diego, CA (US);
Charles Shafee Slemon, Encinitas, CA (US);
Paul D Mortell, Eden Prairie, MN (US);
Chi Hoang, Tustin, CA (US);
David M. McElrone, San Jose, CA (US);
Gary P Erpenbeck, Laguna Hills, CA (US);
Walter James Frandsen, Jr., San Diego, CA (US);
Charles Shafee Slemon, Encinitas, CA (US);
Other;
Abstract
A completely automated apparatus for verifying the identity and geometry of drill bits, re-sharpening the cutting tip of a drill bit and re-positioning a locating ring upon the shank portion of the drill bit subsequent to the re-sharpening of the cutting tip thereof. The apparatus comprises a housing having a pair of cassette trays, a pair of grinding assemblies, a pair of optical assemblies, a pair of primary cleaning assemblies, a pair of secondary cleaning assemblies, a pair of inversion assemblies, a pair of workhead assemblies, a bumping assembly, and a loader assembly attached thereto. The workhead and loader assemblies are used to transport drill bits between the cassette trays and other assemblies in a selected sequence which is controlled and coordinated by a programmable control device. The control device is electrically interfaced to each of the assemblies and allows the cutting tip re-sharpening and locating ring re-positioning processes to be conducted simultaneously on at least two drill bits.