IP Library Granted Patent US 12686092
Granted Patent B2
US 12686092 · App. 18/055,455 · Granted Jul 21, 2026

Components of a machine tool for automated collet chuck maintenance and cleaning

Inventors: Erich Greb (Mainhausen, DE); Timo Mathias Scherer (Frankfurt, DE); Markus Winterschladen (Kahl, DE); Dominic Hanaman (Haibach, DE); Thomas Christlieb (Bruchköbel, DE)
Assignee: Schmoll Maschinen GmbH
B23Q11/005B23B31/26B23B31/265B23B31/30B23Q11/1015B23B31/001B23B2231/24B23Q2220/006Y10T409/304032Y10T409/304088Y10T409/309464
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12686092
App. No.
18/055,455
Filed
Nov 15, 2022
Granted
Jul 21, 2026
Kind
B2
Art Unit
3722
USPC
409/137
Abstract

The invention relates to a spindle ( 1 ) of a machine tool, in particular a machine tool for machining workpieces, as well as to other components of a machine tool for in particular automatedly maintaining and cleaning collet chucks. To this end, the spindle ( 1 ) has a connecting plate ( 100 ) for connecting the spindle ( 1 ) to a compressed air unit and a lubricant supply of a machine tool, a shank element ( 110 ) that can be displaced in the longitudinal direction (L) of the spindle ( 1 ) and is mounted in the connecting plate ( 100 ) of the spindle ( 1 ), as well as a spindle shank ( 121 ) that can be rotated in the circumferential direction (U) of the spindle ( 1 ), with a connecting piece ( 124 ) for connecting a connecting element ( 202 ) of a collet chuck ( 200 ) set up to receive a processing tool or a maintenance tool ( 300 ) to the spindle. The shank element ( 110 ) has a through hole ( 113 ) in the longitudinal direction (L) of the spindle ( 1 ), wherein the connecting plate ( 100 ) has a lubricant inlet ( 105 ) for connection to the lubricant supply, and at least one separate compressed air inlet ( 104 ) for connection to the compressed air unit. The connecting plate is set up to fluidically connect the through hole ( 113 ) of the shank element ( 110 ) to the at least one compressed air inlet ( 104 ) as well as the lubricant inlet ( 105 ).

Claims (14)

1 . A spindle of a machine tool for machining workpieces, comprising:

a connecting plate for connecting the spindle to a compressed air unit and for connecting the spindle to a lubricant supply of the machine tool;

a shank element that is configured to be displaced in the longitudinal direction (L) of the spindle and that is non-rotatably mounted in the connecting plate of the spindle;

a spindle shank that is configured to be rotated in a circumferential direction (U) of the spindle, and that has a connecting piece for connecting a connecting element of a collet chuck to the spindle, and wherein the collet chuck is set up to receive a processing tool or a maintenance tool,

wherein the shank element has a through hole in the longitudinal direction (L) of the spindle,

wherein the connecting plate has a lubricant inlet for connection to the lubricant supply, and wherein the connecting plate has at least one separate compressed air inlet for connection to the compressed air unit, and

wherein the connecting plate is set up such that, for maintenance of the collet chuck, the connecting plate fluidically connects the through hole of the shank element to:

(i) the at least one compressed air inlet, and

(ii) the lubricant inlet.

2 . The spindle according to claim 1 , wherein the connecting plate has a lubricant line, wherein the lubricant line protrudes into the through hole of the shank element.

3 . The spindle according to claim 2 , wherein the lubricant line has at least one guide element, wherein the at least one guide element has recesses and/or regionally abuts against an inner surface of the through hole of the shank element.

4 . The spindle according to claim 2 , wherein the shank element of the spindle is arranged so that the shank element can be displaced relative to the lubricant line in a longitudinal direction (L) of the spindle.

5 . The spindle according to claim 1 , wherein the connecting plate of the spindle ( 1 ) has at least one additional compressed air inlet for connection to the compressed air unit, wherein the shank element of the spindle is arranged so that the shank element can be displaced in the longitudinal direction (L) of the spindle by a compressed air supply that takes place via the at least one additional compressed air inlet.

6 . The spindle according to claim 1 , wherein the connecting plate is discoidal, wherein the lubricant inlet and/or at least one of the compressed air inlets is formed on an outer circumferential surface of the discoidal connecting plate.