Patent Publication Number: US-2022234116-A1

Title: Processing tool and processing tool assembly

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Technical Field 
     The present invention relates generally to a processing tool and a processing tool assembly, and more particularly to a processing tool and a processing tool assembly, wherein the processing tool of the processing tool assembly could be changed easily; multiple workpieces could be processed simultaneously by the processing tool assembly; the processing tool assembly could precisely perform processing. 
     Description of Related Art 
     In industrial manufacture, metal processing is applied to manufacture hand tools, transmission components, or precision components. Metal processing primarily utilizes a machine tool to perform processing steps. The machine tool is widely used in the industry, wherein an operation of the machine tool is clamping a workpiece to fix the workpiece on a fixing frame of the machine tool and making the workpiece move relative to the processing tool. By doing this, a surface or a middle portion of the workpiece could be cut, polished, ground, or treated with other motions. So far, the processing could be performed by the machine tool includes facing, centering, drilling holes, boring, reaming, knurling, thread cutting, taper pin cutting, and so on. 
     Taking the wrench processing as an example, a processing method performed by a conventional broaching machine is described below.  FIG. 1  is a top view of a conventional external broach  10  and a fixing seat  15  for processing a wrench W, wherein align a mouth C of the wrench W to a cutting portion  11  of the external broach  10 . Generally, the external broach  10  is fixed to fixing seat  15  by inserting an engaged portion  12  of the external broach  10  from an end of the long groove  151  and through a long groove  151  of the fixing seat  15  and then screwing the external broach  10 . Then, operate the broaching machine tool to cut the mouth C of the wrench W. 
     Since the conventional external broach  10  should be disengaged from the end of the long groove  151  of the fixing seat  15 , the disengagement of the conventional external broach  10  is restricted, unless a sufficient operating space (which means a length of the external broach  10  plus a length of the fixing seat  15 ) is provided. Therefore, the maintenance of the broaching machine or replacement of the external broach  10  is inconvenient in a limited operating space, so that the conventional external broach  10  and the fixing seat  15  have room for improvement. 
     Additionally, when the external broach  10  is fixed to the fixing seat  15 , an axial surface  13  of the conventional external broach  10  is perpendicular to a top surface  152  of the fixing seat  15 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . However, when the mouth C of an uncut wrench W aligned corresponding to the cutting portion  11  of the external broach  10  and the size of the uncut wrench W is long, a depth of a place platform of the conventional broaching machine needs to be increased, leading a volume of the broaching machine is increased. Besides, since the axial surface  13  of the conventional external broach  10  is perpendicular to the top surface  152  of the fixing seat  15 , the wrench W will shake relative to an assembly of the external broach  10  and the fixing seat  15  during a cutting process, leading producing a defective product (namely, reducing a yield of production). 
     Besides, the broaching machine with the conventional external broach  10  and the fixing seat  15  could only cut one piece of wrench W once. It is unable to cut multiple pieces of wrenches W at the same time, so that the efficiency of the broaching machine is low. 
     To sum up, the conventional external broach  10  and the assembly of the fixing seat  15  and the external broach  10  have room for improvement 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the above, the primary objective of inventive subject matter is to provide a processing tool and a processing tool assembly, wherein the processing tool of the processing tool assembly could be changed easily to save operating time and space. Besides, the processing tool assembly could process multiple workpieces at the same time, thereby enhancing the efficiency of the process. Moreover, the processing tool and the processing tool assembly provided by the present invention adopting an inclining design, so that a depth of a placing platform does not need to be increased for fitting or completing a process to a workpiece with long size. On the other side, the processing tool and the processing tool assembly adopting the inclining design could prevent a wrench from being shaken relative to the processing tool and the processing tool assembly during processing, thereby enhancing a yield of processing. 
     The present invention provides a processing tool including a long cutting portion and at least one clamped portion, wherein the long cutting portion extends along a longitudinal direction and having a connecting surface. The at least one clamped portion is fixed to the connecting surface. Each of two ends of the long cutting portion along the longitudinal direction is an abutted end. A bottom portion of each of the abutted ends is connected to the connecting surface, and a top portion of each of the abutted ends is away from the connecting surface. A distance between the top portions of the abutted ends is a first length, and a distance between the bottom portions of the abutted ends is a second length, wherein the first length is shorter than the second length. 
     The inventive subject matter further provides a processing tool assembly including a substrate, a first clamping block set, a second clamping block set, a plurality of blocking set, and at least one of processing tool as mentioned above. The substrate includes at least one long groove which extends along a longitudinal direction and includes an inclined bottom. The first clamping block set is disposed on the inclined bottom of the at least one long groove and touches a first side of the at least one long groove. The second clamping block set is disposed on the inclined bottom of the at least one long groove and touches a second side of the at least one long groove. The plurality of blocking sets are disposed on the inclined bottom of the at least one long groove and is manipulatable to move along the longitudinal direction in the at least one long groove. The at least one processing tool is disposed in the at least one long groove and between the first clamping block set and the second clamping block set. The at least one clamped portion of the at least one processing tool is clamped between the first clamping block set and the second clamping block set, and each of the abutted ends of the long cutting portion is urged by one of the plurality of blocking sets, so that the at least one processing tool is fixed in the at least one long groove of the substrate and is unable to move relative to the substrate. The long cutting portion is defined to have an axial surface that passes through the top portions and the bottom portions of the abutted end and divides the long cutting portion into two parts with almost equal volume. An acute angle is formed between the axial surface of the long cutting portion and a top surface of the substrate. 
     With the aforementioned design, the processing tool disposed on the processing tool assembly could be changed easily, thereby reducing operating time and saving space that are needed for changing the processing tool. Besides, the multiple workpieces could be simultaneously cut by the processing tool assembly, thereby enhancing the efficiency of processing. Additionally, with inclining design, the workpiece could be placed inclinedly, so that additional depth does not need to be adopted to a placing platform to receive a workpiece with longer or greater size to complete a process of the workpiece with longer or greater size, thereby effectively reducing the volume of the broaching machine. Furthermore, the inclining design of the processing tool and the processing tool assembly could avoid the wrench being shaken relative to the processing tool and the processing tool assembly during the cutting process, thereby promoting the yield of the cutting-processed production. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will be best understood by referring to the following detailed description of some illustrative embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which 
         FIG. 1  is a top view of the conventional external broach and the fixing seat thereof that is used for processing the wrench, showing the state of usage; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the processing tool of an embodiment according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the processing tool shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged partial view of the processing tool of another embodiment according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 5A  is a sectional view taken along the  5 A- 5 A line in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5B  is similar to  FIG. 5A , showing a section view of the processing tool of another embodiment according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 5C  is similar to  FIG. 5A , showing a section view of the processing tool of another embodiment according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the processing tool assembly of an embodiment according to the present invention, wherein the processing tool assembly includes the processing tool of the embodiment mentioned above; 
         FIG. 7  is a front view of the processing tool assembly shown in  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a sectional view taken along the  8 - 8  line in  FIG. 7 : 
         FIG. 9  is a sectional view taken along the  9 - 9  line in  FIG. 7 ; and 
         FIG. 10  is a top view of the processing tool assembly of the embodiment according to the present invention, showing the state of usage. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 2  to  FIG. 5C  illustrates a processing tool  20  of an embodiment according to the present invention, wherein  FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the processing tool  20  of an embodiment according to the present invention;  FIG. 3  is a top view of the processing tool  20  shown in  FIG. 2 ;  FIG. 5A  is a sectional view taken along the  5 A- 5 A line in  FIG. 3 ;  FIG. 5B  is similar to  FIG. 5A , showing a section view of the processing tool  20  of another embodiment according to the present invention;  FIG. 5C  is similar to  FIG. 5A , showing a section view of the processing tool  20  of another embodiment according to the present invention; 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2  to  FIG. 4 , the processing tool  20  of an embodiment according to the present invention includes a long cutting portion  21  and at least one clamped portion  22 , wherein the long cutting portion  21  extends along a longitudinal direction LD and has a connecting surface  212 . Each of two ends of the long cutting portion  21  along the longitudinal direction LD is an abutted end  214 . A bottom portion  213  of each of the abutted ends  214  is connected to the connecting surface  212 , and a top portion  215  of each of the abutted ends  214  is away from the connecting surface  212 . A distance between the top portions  215  of the abutted ends  214  is a first length L 1 , and a distance between the bottom portions  213  of the abutted ends  214  is a second length L 2 . In the current embodiment, the first length L 1  is shorter than the second length L 2 . In the current embodiment, each of the abutted ends  214  is an abutted incline  216 , a step surface  217 , or the combination thereof. When the abutted ends  214  are the abutted inclines  216 , an included angle θ 1  formed between each of the abutted inclines  216  and an imaginary plane P that is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction LD is in a range between 5 degrees and 15 degrees, as shown in  FIG. 9 . As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , in other embodiments, each of the abutted ends  214  could be the step surface  217 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 5A , the at least one clamped portion  22  includes a connecting end  222  and a free end  224 . The connecting end  222  is fixed onto the connecting surface  212 , and the free end  224  is away from the connecting surface  212 . The connecting end  222  has a first width W 1 , and the free end  224  has a second width W 2 , wherein the first width W 1  is wider than or equal to the second width W 2 . In another embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG. 5B , at least one clamped portion  22   b  includes a connecting end  222  and a free end  224 , wherein the connecting end  222  is fixed to the connecting surface  212 , and the free end  224  is away from the connecting surface  212 . The connecting end  222  has a first width W 1 , and the free end  224  has a second width W 2 , wherein the first width W 1  is wider than the second width W 2 . Briefly speaking, the at least one clamped portion  22   b  is an inverted isosceles trapezoid. In another embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG. 5C , at least one clamped portion  22   c  includes a connecting end  222  and a free end  224 . The connecting end  222  is fixed to the connecting surface  212 , and the free end  224  is away from the connecting surface  212 . The connecting end  222  has a first width W 1 , and the free end  224  has a second width W 2 , wherein the first width W 1  is wider than or equal to the second width W 2 . Briefly speaking, the at least one clamped portion  22   c  is an inverted right trapezoid. 
       FIG. 6  to  FIG. 10  illustrate a processing tool assembly  30  of an embodiment according to the present invention, wherein  FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the processing tool assembly of an embodiment according to the present invention;  FIG. 7  is a front view of the processing tool assembly shown in  FIG. 6 ;  FIG. 8  is a sectional view taken along the  8 - 8  line in  FIG. 7 ;  FIG. 9  is a sectional view taken along the  9 - 9  line in  FIG. 7 ;  FIG. 10  is a top view of the processing tool assembly of the embodiment according to the present invention, showing the state of usage. As illustrated in  FIG. 6  to  FIG. 10 , the processing tool assembly  30  includes a substrate  32 , a first clamping block set  34 , a second clamping block set  36 , and a plurality of blocking sets  38 . 
     The substrate  32  includes at least one long groove  322  which extends along the longitudinal direction LD and includes an inclined bottom  323 . The first clamping block set  34  is detachably disposed on the inclined bottom  323  of the at least one long groove  322  and touches a first side  324  of the at least one long groove  322 . The second clamping block set  36  is detachably disposed on the inclined bottom  323  of the at least one long groove  322  and touches a second side  325  of the at least one long groove  322 . The plurality of blocking set  38  is disposed on the inclined bottom  323  of the at least one long groove  322  and could be manipulated to move along the longitudinal direction LD in the at least one long groove  322 . 
     At least one of the processing tools  20  of the above-mentioned embodiments is disposed in the at least one long groove  322  and is disposed between adjacent two of the plurality of blocking sets  38 . The at least one clamped portion  22  of the at least one processing tool  20  is clamped between the first clamping block set  34  and the second clamping block set  36 . Each of the abutted ends  214  of the long cutting portion  21  is urged by one of the plurality of blocking sets  38 , so that the at least one processing tool  20  is fixed in the at least one long groove  322  of the substrate  32 , thereby restricting the at least one processing tool  20  to move relative to the substrate  32 . In the current embodiment, when the first clamping block set  34  and the second clamping block set  36  are loosened, the processing tool  20  could be removed from the long groove  322  along a direction that is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction LD. More precisely, the processing tool  20  could be removed from the long groove  322  along a direction that is perpendicular to the inclined bottom  323 . With such design, the processing tool  20  could be changed easily, thereby reducing an operating time and saving a space that are needed for changing the processing tool  20 . 
     The long cutting portion  21  is defined to have an axial surface S that passes through the top portions  215  and the bottom portions  213  of the abutted ends  214  and divides the long cutting portion  21  into two parts with almost equal volume. An acute angle θ 2  is formed between the axial surface S of the long cutting portion  21  and a top surface  321  of the substrate  32 . In the current embodiment, the acute angle θ 2  formed between the axial surface S of the long cutting portion  21  and the top surface  321  of the substrate  32  is arranged from 45 degrees to 85 degrees. In an embodiment, the acute angle θ 2  could be arranged from 55 degrees to 75 degrees. In another embodiment, the acute angle θ 2  could be arranged from 50 degrees to 65 degrees. In the current embodiment, the axial surface S of the long cutting portion  21  is perpendicular to the inclined bottom  323  of the at least one long groove  322 . It&#39;s worthy to mention that the processing tool  20  and the processing tool assembly  30  provided by the current embodiment of the present invention is adopted with an inclining design (namely, the processing tool  20  is tilted relative to the top surface  321  of the substrate  32 ), so that a workpiece (i.e. a wrench W) could be placed obliquely. With such design, additional depth does not need to be added to a placing platform to receive a workpiece with longer or greater size to complete a process of the workpiece with longer or greater size, so that a volume of a broaching machine could be effectively reduced. Moreover, the processing tool  20  and the processing tool assembly  30  provided by the current embodiment of the present invention is adopted with the inclining design, so that shake of the wrench W under processing relative to the processing tool  20  and the processing tool assembly  30  could be reduced, thereby promoting a yield of the cutting-processed production. 
     In the current embodiment, an included angle θ 3  is formed between the inclined bottom  323  of the at least one long groove  322  and the top surface  321  of the substrate  32 . The included angle θ 3  is greater than the acute angle θ 2  and is smaller than 180 degrees. In the current embodiment, the included angle θ 3  is arranged from 135 degrees to 175 degrees. In an embodiment, the included angle θ 3  is arranged from 145 degrees to 165 degrees. In another embodiment, the included angle θ 3  is arranged from 150 degrees to 160 degrees. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the second clamping block set  36  includes a first block  361 , a second block  364 , and a fastener  367 , wherein the first block  361  has an abutting surface  362  and a first incline  363 , and the second block  364  has a perforation  365  and a second incline  366 . The abutting surface  362  of the first block  361  abuts against the at least one clamped portion  22  of the at least one processing tool  20 . The second block  364  touches a second side  325  of the at least one long groove  322 . The first incline  363  of the first block  361  contacts with the second incline  366  of the second block  364 . The fastener  367  passes through the perforation  365  of the second block  364  and is screwed into the inclined bottom  323  of the at least one long groove  322 . 
     When the fastener  367  is screwed toward the inclined bottom  323  of the at least one long groove  322  to drive the second block  364  to get close to the inclined bottom  323 , the second incline  366  of the second block  364  urges against the first incline  363  of the first block  361  to make the first block  361  move in a direction toward the first clamping block set  34 , so that the first clamping block set  34  and the first block  361  of the second clamping block set  36  jointly clamp the at least one clamped portion  22  of the at least one processing tool  20 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the second clamping block set  36  includes an elastic member  368 , wherein the elastic member  368  is disposed between the second block  364  and the inclined bottom  323  of the at least one long groove  322 . Two ends of the elastic member  368  respectively touch with the second block  364  and the inclined bottom  323 . When the fastener  367  is loosened in a direction away from the inclined bottom  323  of the at least one long groove  322 , the elastic member  368  urges the second block  364  to move away from the inclined bottom  323 . At this time, the second incline  366  of the second block  364  stops urging the first incline  363  of the first block  361 , so that the first block  361  could be manipulated to freely move relative to the second block  364 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 9 , each of the blocking sets  38  includes an urging end  381  which is complementary to one of the abutted ends  214  of the at least one processing tool  20 . Each of the abutted ends  214  of the at least one processing tool  20  is the abutted incline  216 , and the urging ends  381  of each of the blocking set  38  respectively include an urging incline  382 , wherein the abutted incline  216  contacts with the urging incline  382 . In the current embodiment, a top portion  383  of the urging end  381  protrudes over the bottom portion  384  of the urging end  381  in the longitudinal direction LD. 
     The substrate  32  has two blocking walls  326  which is respectively located at each of two ends of the at least one long groove  322 , wherein each of the blocking walls  326  has a screw hole  327 . Each of the blocking sets  38  includes a blocking member  385  and a screw rod  386 , wherein the blocking member  385  includes the urging end  381  adapted to urge the abutted ends  214  of the at least one processing tool  20 . The screw rod  386  is screwed into and passes through the screw hole  327 , and an end of the screw rod  386  urges against the blocking member  385 . 
     When the screw rod  386  is screwed in a direction toward the at least one long groove  322 , the screw rod  386  urges the blocking member  385  to get close to the at least one processing tool  20 , so that the urging end  381  of the blocking set  38  abuts against one of the abutted ends  214  of the at least one processing tool  20 . On contrary, when the screw rod  386  is screwed in a direction away from the at least one long groove  322 , the screw rod  386  stops urging against the blocking member  385 , so that the blocking member  385  could move away from the at least one processing tool  20  to make the urging end  381  of the blocking set  38  not urge against the abutted end  214  of the at least one processing tool  20 . 
     The blocking member  385  has a slot  387 , wherein a longitudinal direction of the slot  387  is parallel to the longitudinal direction LD. The inclined bottom  323  of the at least one long groove  322  has a plurality of threaded hole  328 . A fastener  388  passes through the slot  387  and is screwed into one of the plurality of threaded holes  328 , so that the blocking member  385  is restricted by the fastener  388  to be operated to move along the longitudinal direction LD within a length between two ends of the slot  387 . 
     Additionally, as illustrated in  FIG. 9 , the processing tool assembly  30  includes at least one intermediate block  39  fixed on the inclined bottom  323  of the at least one long groove  322 . When an amount of the at least one processing tool  20  is plural, the at least one intermediate block  39  is clamped between two of the processing tools  20 . Each of the abutted ends  214  of the at least one processing tool  20  is an abutted incline  216 . Two sides of the at least one intermediate block  39  along the longitudinal direction LD respectively include an abutted incline  216 , wherein the abutted incline  216  and the urging incline  391  are abutted to each other. In the current embodiment, top portions  392  of the two sides of the at least one intermediate block  39  protrude over bottom portions  393  of the two sides of the at least one intermediate block  39  in the longitudinal direction LD. In an embodiment, the processing tools  20  could be tools with the same specs or different specs, so that the single processing tool assembly  30  can perform mass production or a variety of processes, thereby enhancing the efficiency of the process. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 10 , the substrate  32  includes two long grooves  322 , and the plurality of processing tools  20  could be respectively disposed in the two long grooves  322 , so that it is possible to simultaneously cut a mouth C for each of two wrenches W in a single operation of a broaching machine. In practice, the substrate  32  could include three or more long grooves  322  for mounting more processing tools  20 , so that a amount of cutting processed wrench W produced in each operation could be increased. Namely, the efficiency of the cutting process of the wrench is enhanced. 
     With the processing tool and the processing tool assembly provided in the present invention, the processing tools could be changed easily, thereby reducing operating time and saving space that are needed for changing the processing tool. Additionally, the inclining design of the processing tool and the processing tool assembly allows the workpiece to be placed inclinedly, so that additional depth does not need to be adopted to a placing platform to receive a workpiece with longer or greater size to complete a process of the workpiece with longer or greater size, thereby effectively reducing the volume of the broaching machine. Moreover, the inclining design of the processing tool and the processing tool assembly could avoid the wrench being shaken relative to the processing tool and the processing tool assembly during the cutting process, thereby promoting the yield of the cutting-processed production. 
     It must be pointed out that the embodiment described above is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention. All equivalent structures which employ the concepts disclosed in this specification and the appended claims should fall within the scope of the present invention.