Patent ID: 6011231
Filing Date: 2000-01-04
Classification: B23H

Abstract:
Apparatus for collecting used continuous electrode wire being discharged axially from an electric discharge machine (EDM) between powered EDM rollers, comprising the combination ofa guide having a throughbore and a cutting face angled transverse to the throughbore at one end thereof, the wire passing axially through and discharging from the throughbore adjacent and transverse to said guide cutting face;a mill cutter having an elongated body with peripherial cutting edges at one end thereof and a mounting shaft axially between the cutting edges end and the other body end, and bearings supporting the mill cutter at the mounting shaft to rotate the cantilevered one end and the cutting edges thereon in close proximity of and past the guide cutting face;a drive motor having an output shaft aligned with and adjacent the other end of the guide body, and coupling structure between the adjacent shafts operable to rotate them in unison;frame structure surrounding with clearance the guide cutting face and cutter cutting edges and defining an enclosure with a lower opening, a chute tube communicate with the enclosure via said frame structure opening, and said chute tube having a lower outlet end opening remote from the enclosure, whereby a collection container can be positioned both in proximity of the EDM and underlying the outlet end opening of the chute tube; andwhereby motor operation moves the cutter edges past the guide cutting face for effectively cutting the electrode wire in each's way, creating many separate wire pieces of variable short lengths that fall into and compactly settle in the collection container.