IP Library Granted Patent US 7,886,415
Granted Patent B2
US 7,886,415 · App. 11/820,141 · Granted Feb 15, 2011

Machine tool

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,886,415
App. No.
11/820,141
Granted
Feb 15, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

In a machine tool with at least two axes of movement ( 2, 7 ) defining, respectively, the mobility of a first function-supporting unit ( 1 ) and of a second function-supporting unit ( 5 ), only the first function-supporting unit ( 1 ) is provided with its own servo drive, while the second function-supporting unit ( 5 ) is driven by the movement of the first function-supporting unit ( 1 ) through a coupler unit ( 13 ) that can be switched between an engaged and a disengaged state.

Claims (27)

1. Machine tool with a base, said machine tool comprising:

a first and a second axis of movement ( 2 , 7 ),

a first function-supporting unit ( 1 ; 24 ) which by means of a first displacement-actuator unit powered by a drive motor responsive to controls is enabled to move relative to the base in accordance with a first displacement path corresponding to the first axis of movement ( 2 ),

a second function-supporting unit ( 5 ; 26 ) which by means of a second displacement-actuator unit is enabled to move in accordance with a second displacement path corresponding to the second axis of movement ( 7 ),

wherein the second displacement-actuator unit comprises a first coupler unit ( 13 ; 32 ) which can be switched between an engaged and a disengaged state, said second displacement-actuator unit also comprises a drive-input section which in the engaged state of the first coupler unit ( 13 ; 32 ) is enabled to be driven by the movement of the first function-supporting unit ( 1 ; 24 ) as the latter is being moved along a displacement path corresponding to the first axis of movement, and said second displacement-actuator unit further comprises a drive-output section which is driven by the drive-input section and which drives the movement of the second function-supporting unit ( 5 ; 26 ) along its second displacement path.

2. Machine tool according to claim 1 wherein the first axis of movement ( 2 ) is an axis of linear movement.

3. Machine tool according to claim 1 wherein the second displacement-actuator unit comprises a second coupler unit ( 14 ; 33 ) which can be switched in the opposite sense of the first coupler unit ( 13 ; 32 ) between an engaged state in which the second displacement-actuator unit is locked in place and a disengaged state in which the second displacement-actuator unit is released for driving movement.

4. Machine tool according to claim 2 wherein the drive-input section and the drive-output section of the second displacement-actuator unit are axially spaced-apart portions of a rigid rod ( 12 ) whose longitudinal axis runs parallel to the axis ( 2 ) of linear movement.

5. Machine tool according to claim 4 , characterized in that the first coupler unit ( 13 ) comprises a clamping element in which the portion of the rod ( 12 ) that forms the drive-input section can be firmly clamped in the engaged condition of the first coupler unit ( 13 ).

6. Machine tool according to claim 1 wherein the first coupler unit ( 13 ) is held in fixed attachment on the first function-supporting unit ( 1 ).

7. Machine tool according to claim 4 wherein the second coupler unit ( 14 ) comprises a clamping element in which the portion of the rod ( 12 ) that forms the drive-output section can be firmly clamped in the engaged condition of the second coupler unit ( 14 ).

8. Machine tool according to claim 3 wherein the second coupler unit ( 14 ) is held in fixed attachment on the base.

9. Machine tool according to claim 1 wherein the drive-input section and the drive-output section of the second displacement-actuator unit are each formed by a piston-cylinder unit that is actuated by a pressure medium and whose piston is connected to a piston rod ( 30 , 36 ) that protrudes from the respective cylinder ( 28 , 29 ), wherein the chambers separated from each other by the piston in each cylinder are connected to the respective chambers of the other cylinder by pressure-fluid conduits ( 34 , 35 ) extending between the two piston-cylinder units.

10. Machine tool according to claim 9 wherein the pressure medium that actuates the piston-cylinder units is a hydraulic pressure medium.

11. Machine tool according to claim 9 wherein the piston rod ( 30 ) of the piston-cylinder unit that forms the drive-input section extends parallel to the axis of linear movement.

12. Machine tool according to claim 9 wherein the first coupler unit ( 32 ) comprises a clamping element in which the piston rod ( 30 ) of the piston-cylinder unit that forms the drive-input section can be firmly clamped in the engaged condition of the first coupler unit ( 32 ).

13. Machine tool according to claim 9 wherein the piston-cylinder unit that forms the drive-input section is held in fixed attachment on the first function-supporting unit ( 24 ) and the first coupler unit ( 32 ) is held in fixed attachment on the base ( 21 ).

14. Machine tool according to claim 9 wherein the piston-cylinder unit that forms the drive-input is held in fixed attachment on the base ( 21 ) and the first coupler unit ( 32 ) is held in fixed attachment on the first function-supporting unit ( 24 ).

15. Machine tool according to claim 3 wherein the second coupler unit ( 33 ) comprises a clamping element in which a piston rod ( 30 ) of a piston-cylinder unit that forms the drive-input section can be firmly clamped in the engaged condition of the second coupler unit ( 33 ).

16. Machine tool according to claim 15 wherein the second coupler unit ( 33 ) is held in fixed attachment on a cylinder ( 28 ) of the piston-cylinder unit that forms the drive-input section.

17. Machine tool according to claim 9 wherein the cylinders ( 28 , 29 ) of the piston-cylinder units which form, respectively, the drive-input section and the drive-output section have equal internal cross-sectional areas.

18. Machine tool according to claim 1 wherein the second axis of movement ( 10 ) is an axis of linear movement.

19. Machine tool according to claim 1 wherein the second axis of movement ( 7 ) is an axis of rotary movement.

20. Machine tool according to claim 1 wherein a transmission mechanism is arranged between the second function-supporting unit ( 5 ) and the drive-output section to change the direction or length of displacement of the drive-output section.

21. Machine tool according to claim 1 wherein a tool ( 3 ; 25 ) is arranged on the first function-supporting unit ( 1 ; 24 ), and a coolant nozzle ( 6 ; 27 ) is arranged on the second function-supporting unit ( 5 ; 26 ).

22. Machine tool according to claim 1 wherein the first function-supporting unit is a first carriage ( 24 ) which is constrained on the base ( 21 ) in a manner that allows said first carriage ( 24 ) to be moved relative to the base ( 21 ).

23. Machine tool according to claim 1 wherein the second function-supporting unit is a second carriage ( 26 ) which is constrained on the first function-supporting unit ( 24 ) in a manner that allows said second carriage ( 26 ) to be moved relative to the first function-supporting unit ( 24 ).

Assignments (3)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 1, 2018
From: GLEASON CORPORATION; THE GLEASON WORKS; GLEASON GERMANY (HOLDINGS) GMBH; GLEASON SALES CORPORATION; ALLIANCE TOOL CORPORATION; GLEASON SALES (AMERICAS) CORPORATION; GLEASON CUTTING TOOLS CORPORATION; GLEASON INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, LLC; GLEASON METROLOGY SYSTEMS CORPORATION
To: MANUFACTURERS AND TRADERS TRUST COMPANY
Reel/Frame 045482/0170 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 21, 2011
From: THE GLEASON WORKS; GLEASON CUTTING TOOLS CORPORATION; GLEASON METROLOGY SYSTEMS CORPORATION
To: MANUFACTURERS AND TRADERS TRUST COMPANY
Reel/Frame 026466/0959 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 27, 2011
From: MALL, JOHANN; KADLUBSKI, STEPHAN
To: THE GLEASON WORKS
Reel/Frame 026351/0617 →