Patent Abstract:
A tapping device is configured to be used within a drill press or lathe or other device capable of holding a cylindrical object. The tapping device has an upper projection for being axially fixed in, for example, a drill press. The remainder of the body of the tapping device is rotatable with respect to the upper projection and includes side handles for providing handy mechanical advantage to the turning of the tapping device body. The end of the body opposite the upper projection includes a chuck for holding a typical tapping tool. The projection is connected to an internal shaft which engages the body of the tapping tool and is spring biased to draw the projection and internal shaft within the body of the tapping tool. Conversely, when the tapping tool is supported in, as an example, a drill press chuck, such spring urging acts to lift the body of the tapping tool in the direction of the projection. The number and nature of the springs which act between the internal shaft and the body of the tapping tool, as well as the dimensions noted can be widely varied to accommodate a variety of force versus displacement characteristics especially taking into account the mass of both the body of the tapping tool and its tap chuck. An adapter is provided for quick change of socket supported taps.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to improvements the field of tapping devices. More specifically, the present invention relates to a tapping device for use in a rotary operated machine such as a drill press, milling machine or lathe, along with a method which permits a cleaner, more controlled hand powered tap method, and which permits a more automatically controlled lifting force upon tap removal so as to better insure and preserve the threads of the tap nearest the tap opening. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The many different types and numbers of tapping tools on the market reflect designs in which the designers pursued different goals which are served by the designs. For some goals, the resulting design dictates a device which suffers in other areas. Those other areas can include high cost, lack of ease of use, excessive work space requirements, and other disadvantages. 
   Setting aside automated, highly specific dedicated machine tappers, as well as other large tapping dedicated devices, the devices which have developed for short run shop tapping have a definite historical progression. In the simplest form, a manual chuck with “T” shaped handles would be used to carefully align with a bore with the user manually using both hands and a sharp eye to both manually align and manually turn the tap. 
   A further improvement included the inclusion of a pin at the center of the tapping tool so that it could be used with a machine spindle in order to derive alignment. However, beginning the step of turning of the tap with advancement of the tap into the bore either caused the tap to lose its guiding connection with an axially non-moveable spindle, or required some other action by the user in operating a different mechanism to try and move the spindle. 
   As a variation on this configuration, a guide which provided a close tolerance bore for movement of the pin was attached to the spindle to give alignment, but which allows the advance of the tapping tool with respect to the guide. However, the starting of the tapping process caused the tapping device pin to move down and eventually out of the bore, resulting in loss of alignment. 
   A further variation is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,087,195 to James R. Wood, entitled “TAPPING ACCESSORY”, incorporated by reference herein, which utilizes a telescoping sleeve and post arrangement. A rod insert is fixed in a chuck in the same manner as a drill bit would be fixed. The tapping tool has a guide bore which is engaged by the rod insert as the tapping tool is axially moved onto the rod insert and upward toward the chuck. 
   The shortcomings of this arrangement are several. First, the axial length of the bore in the tapping tool and the insert may prohibit ease of removal of the tapping tool from the insert in order to easily change the tap. Changing the tap with the device of Woods while in place over the insert would involve one hand to lift upwardly on the tapping device while the other hand is used to loosen the tap chuck. A “third hand” is needed to retrieve the tap and load in a new one. As a result the device of Woods either disassembles or requires breaking the work piece setup each time a change of tap is needed. 
   Second, the device of Wood requires one hand to hold the tapping device upward and clear of the work piece while the work piece is being positioned. If the working table requires two hands to move the work piece into position, a third hand is again needed. Without the upward force on the device of Wood, the tapping device would freely slide down the rod insert and impact or scratch across the work piece. 
   Third, because of unsteadiness and the need for a third hand in positioning the work piece, the device of Wood naturally causes the user to operate with significant clearance over a work piece to avoid inadvertent contact between the tap and the work piece during pre-tap positioning. This over clearance results in a significant portion of the length of telescoping travel to be utilized as clearance to make up for the ungainliness involved in work piece change. This can cause the premature loss of guidance where the tapping device of Wood begins from a position too far down the rod insert. 
   Fourth, when the tapping tool of Wood is backed out of the tapped hole, a manual user may have a tendency to spin the tap at its point of departure from the now threaded bore to potentially damage the threads nearest the threaded bore opening. 
   Fifth, in terms of general use, the device of Wood is a disassembled two piece affair. It has to be disassembled and re-assembled each time it is used. The rod insert is loaded into the drill chuck, followed by loading the tapping tool onto the rod insert, and then holding the tapping tool upwardly in place while having to adjust both the work piece alignment and possibly the height of the drill chuck if it is adjustable. Otherwise, the user must guess the proper height of the drill chuck before the rod insert is loaded. 
   What is needed is a device which overcomes limitations of the Wood tapping device and which eliminates the need for a third hand to both support a tapping device while positioning the work piece; eliminates the need to guess the proper separation between the work piece and the drill chuck; eliminates the two piece assembly, disassembly and stepwise assembly actions required with a telescoping rod insert free from its associated guide socket; facilitates two handed change of taps without having to disassemble the tapping tool; and prevents inadvertent action at the tap opening upon backing out of the tap from the threaded bore. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   A tapping device is provided as an integral guided spindle tapper with spring return which is easily used in a drill press, milling machine, lathe or similar rotary powered machine typically employing a chucking device for the axial mounting of tools. The tapping device herein is utilized while such machines are in the un-powered state, taking advantage of the axial alignment and adjustability to accommodate a wide size variety of parts. An internal spring return allows for easy management of the tapping components during the tapping process and provides for axial retraction of the tap and tapping device from the tapped hole or bore to a position above and free from the part, an advantage usually not had outside of dedicated tapping stands having counter weights. 
   The ability of this tapping device to be used in a drill press allows the tapping device to take advantage of the axial adjustability available in axially adjustable quills and height adjustable tables of a typical drill press to allow for a far greater variety of size of parts to be tapped than available in a table top, tapper dedicated, fixed stand. Further, the tapper can be used in the field with any sort of guiding stable structure, which opens the possibility of performing very large to quite small size taps which can be performed anywhere. The moveable table of the drill press or similar machine, or the tail stock of a lathe enables the new tapping device herein far greater flexibility than is available conventionally. 
   The tapping device herein is configured to be used within a non-powered drill press or lathe or other device capable of holding a cylindrical object or extension being capable of being axially centered generally, and is to be powered by hand only. The tapping device has an upper projection for being axially fixed in, for example, a drill press. The drill press example is used because of its greater incidence in use and what is believed to be a greater simplicity of use from a vertical standpoint. The remainder of the body of the tapping device is rotatable with respect to the upper projection and includes side handles for providing handy mechanical advantage to the turning of the tapping device body. The end of the tapping device body opposite the upper projection includes a chuck or other adapter to facilitate the holding of a typical tapping tool. 
   The projection is connected to an internal shaft which engages the body of the tapping tool and is spring biased to draw the projection and internal shaft within the body of the tapping tool. Conversely, when the tapping tool is supported in, as an example, a drill press chuck, such spring urging acts to lift the body of the tapping tool in the direction of the projection. The number and nature of the springs which act between the internal shaft and the body of the tapping tool, as well as the dimensions noted can be widely varied to accommodate a variety of force versus displacement characteristics especially taking into account the mass of both the body of the tapping tool and its tap chuck. The tapping tool disclosed offers advantages in both guidance, alignment, and in disengagement from a just-tapped bore to minimize damage to the outermost threads of the just-threaded bore. The advantages of the tapper of the invention herein include (1) one piece unitized body for quick and easy utilization; (2) a return spring which not only prevents damage to tapped holes but holds the tapper in its upward most position to facilitate change of work piece; (3) a stroke length which insures adequate length for maintaining guidance throughout the full extent of tap travel; (4) a more “hands free” level of operation is enabled by facilitating the user&#39;s concentration on work piece alignment, starting the tap, and tap back out, all in a more controlled manner; (5) enhanced adjustability and part size accommodation; and (6) easy deployment and small space taken up upon storage. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention, its configuration, construction, and operation will be best further described in the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a prior art drawing showing a typical hand tapping device having a pair of arms and a tap chuck holding a tap; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the tapping tool of the invention looking down from an upper viewing perspective; 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the tapping tool of  FIG. 2  and illustrating the internal components thereof; 
       FIG. 4  is a sectional side view of the tapping tool held by a drill press chuck shown in phantom, and showing a tap in its tap chuck and shown at the initial point of engagement over a work piece with smooth sided bore; 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a further change in orientation after the steps of  FIG. 4  and in which the tap is being cut while the main shaft of the tapping tool is displaced downwardly in the body against the springs as tap continues to be formed; 
       FIG. 6  shows the tap run into the bore its maximum extent and producing compression of the springs; 
       FIG. 7  shows the tapping tool being reversed in direction to back out of the tapped bore and after it has cleared the tapped bore being brought upward from the work piece by the same amount as the starting height in  FIG. 4 ; 
       FIG. 8  illustrates an option which is utilizable with the tapping tool of the invention as a socket tapper and adapter; 
       FIG. 9  is an expanded isolated view of the adapter seen in  FIG. 8  having a proportion typically seen for a one quarter inch socket size; 
       FIG. 10  is a bottom view of the adapter seen in  FIGS. 9 and 10 ; 
       FIG. 11  is a top view of the adapter seen in  FIGS. 8 ,  9  and  10 ; 
       FIG. 12  is a bottom view of an adapter having a proportion consistent with a one eighth inch socket size; and 
       FIG. 13  is a perspective view of a drill press to facilitate an explanation of how the tapping device of the invention is utilized. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   The description and operation of the invention will be best described with reference to prior art  FIG. 1 , which is a perspective view of a typical conventional hand tapper  11 . Conventional tapper  11  has a main body  13  having an upper fitting  15  supporting a pair of side extending turning arms  17 . Conventional tapper  11  has an upper nib  19  which may be used for support. Below the main body  13  is a threaded section  21  which may, with manually turned collar  23 , be included as a chuck for holding a tap  25  in a conventional manner. Tap  25  has an upper end (not shown) designed to fit within a typical tap chuck and may vary in its specific shape, generally so long as it can be engaged by a chuck type of securing mechanism. Within or at the threaded section  21  and the manually turned collar  23  are other mechanism portions which make up the tap chuck which is shown by an arrow and designated with the numeral  27 . 
   Tap  25  has a shaft  29  and a cutting head  31  typically having several flanks of cutting threads  33  separated by gaps  35 . A tip  37  on the tap  25  provides somewhat of a self centering tendency for the smooth bore over which it is placed, as will be shown. Where the hand tapper  11  is used without further supportive assistance, it is up to the operator to manually position the tip  37  over a drilled blind bore and to both start the tapping process by turning the tapper  11  while trying to keep the shaft  29  in line with the drilled blind bore. After the bore is tapped, the tapper  11  is reversed, but the operator has to be especially careful for the last few turns of the tapper&#39;s back-out process to insure that the tapper is not inadvertently angled to one side which could severely damage the threads nearest the entrance of the now tapped bore. The threads nearest the entrance of the tapped bore are critical to the process of beginning to engage the tapped bore with a bolt or threaded member. If the outermost threads are damaged, threading could be time consuming and problematic if not impossible. A bore badly enough damaged may require expensive re-tapping or cause it to be scrapped. 
   Referring to  FIG. 2  a perspective view of a tapping tool  101  of the invention looking down from an upper viewing perspective is seen. From the top, the features which may be seen are a small projection  103  extending above a base cap  105  connected into an upper body  107 . Upper body  107  may be separated from a lower body  109  by a fitting  111  which will be shown to provide a spring stop function. 
   From the lower body  109 , a pair of handles  113  and  115  extend in opposite directions. Handle  113  is fitted with a turning knob  117  at its end while handle  115  is fitted with a turning knob  119  at its end. Handles  113  and  115  are shown as being of equal length with turning knobs  117  and  119  being also equal, but this need not be the case. The two handles can be of unequal lengths while of equal weight or of equal moment with respect to the lower body  109 . Combination handle  113  and turning knob  117  which is weight balanced, and evenly weight loaded with respect to turning handle  115  and turning knob  119  can serve a higher utility of allowing the lower body  109  to execute a kinetic energy spin by an operator for the back-out or tap removal step, as will be shown. 
   Lower body  109  is shown as having a locking threaded member  121  for securing the members shown below the lower body  109  which may be referred to as a tap chuck  123  which includes a body  125  carrying threads (not shown) which are engaged by a manually turned collar  127 . A conventional tap  25  is seen as being engaged by the tap chuck  123 . Again, the conventional tap has the same elements referred to in  FIG. 1 . As will be shown, the lower body  109  is urged toward the upper body  107  to provide an automatic lifting force to enable the conventional tap  25  to evenly, gently and cleanly clear a tapped bore into which it has just operated. 
   Referring to  FIG. 3 , an exploded view of the tapping tool of  FIG. 2  illustrates the internal components thereof to facilitate further discussion. The body  125  can be seen to lead to an upper projection  131  which fits into the bottom of the lower body  109  to be secured by the locking threaded member  121  which is seen to be a hex screw. Upper projection  131  has a flat portion  132  for engaging the locking threaded member  121  for both rotational and axial fixation. The members below the body  125  are not further exploded. 
   The lower body  109  is seen to be cylindrical in shape with a series of threaded openings. A first threaded opening  133  accommodates the threaded member  121 . A first threaded handle opening  135  accommodates a threaded end  137  of the handle  115 . Similarly a second threaded handle opening  135  (arrow pointing around the left side of the lower body  109 ) accommodates a threaded end  141  of the handle  113 . 
   Lower body  109  has a center threaded bore  145  for engaging a threaded end  147  of a shoulder bolt  149  having a smooth shaft  151  terminating at an expanded head  153  opposite the threaded end  147 . Expanded head  153  is seen as having a hexagonal opening  155  to enable it to be more easily manipulated through and into the tubular upper body  107 . 
   Returning to a position just above the lower body  109 , fitting  111  can be seen to have an upper threaded member  161  which fits into an internal threaded lower portion  163  (indicated by arrow) of the tubular upper body  107 . The fitting  111  forms a restricted opening at the bottom of the upper threaded member  161  to form a bottom restraint on springs within. The top of the tubular upper body  107  is seen to have an internal threaded upper portion  165 , which is generally of the same type and nature as the threaded lower portion  163 . 
   Above the internal threaded upper portion  165  a washer  171  is seen adjacent a first spring  173  which is adjacent a washer  175  adjacent a second spring  177  which is adjacent a washer  179  which is adjacent a third spring  181  which is adjacent a washer  183 . The serial assembly of washer  171 , first spring  173 , washer  175 , second spring  177 , washer  179 , third spring  181 , and washer  183  could be replaced by a pair of washers and a single spring in between. The three springs  173 ,  177 ,  181  were used in this case to average the initial force and to insure that weakening will not occur based upon the springs used. However, individually selected single springs can have characteristics which can match multiple spring force and displacement loading. 
   Above the shoulder bolt  149  is the projection and base cap  105  previously seen. Base cap  105  has a downwardly projecting thread member  191  which engages the internal threaded upper portion  165  of the upper body  107 . As can thus be seen, the base cap  105  and projection  103  engage and hold the upper body  107  only against the downward force applied through the springs  173 ,  175  &amp;  181  through downward movement of the shoulder bolt  149 . 
   In terms of force, it can be seen that if small projection  103  were anchored, and that if both the fittings  111  and base cap  105  were firmly tightened into the upper body  107 , that rotation of the lower body  109  would occur with simultaneous rotation of the shoulder bolt  149  with slippage and turning friction occurring from the expanded head  153 , through multiple members including washer  183 , spring  181 , washer  179 , spring  177 , washer  175 , spring  173 , washer  171  and finally fitting  111 . With such an expanded number of surfaces through which the bearing force is so widely distributed, turning of lower body  109  with respect to upper body  107  occurs quite freely. Further, lubrication may be applied to the members within upper body  107  to further facilitate free rotational movement of the lower body  109  with respect to the upper body  107 . Free rotation will continue throughout the range of compression of the springs  173 ,  177 , and  181 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 4 , a sectional side view of the assembled tapping tool is seen. The small projection  103  is held in place by a conventional drill press chuck  185  shown in phantom. The tap chuck  123  has a tap  25  in place and the tapping tool  101  is seen held in vertical place over a volume of material  193  having a smooth bore  195  to be tapped. Note the small gap between the fitting  111  and the top of the lower body  109 . This represents a condition which occurs just before the actual tapping begins. 
   The preparation steps involve the use of a conventional drill press which is highly likely to be found as a fundamental tool in the shop setting. The one piece tapping tool  101 , by utilizing device such as a conventional drill press likely already in place in the shop environment, significant cost, ease of use and storage space. 
   Once a volume of material  101  having a smooth bore  195  to be tapped is centered below the conventional drill press, the tapping tool  101  is locked into drill chuck  185  in the same manner in which a cylindrical drill bit would be locked int drill chuck  185 . Many drill presses have a handle for lowering and raising the drill chuck  185 , while others may have other controls for raising and lowering the work surface upon which the volume of material  193  having a smooth bore  195  may rest. In any event, once the tapping tool  101  has its small projection  103  securely locked within the drill chuck  185 , the level of the drill chuck  185  and therefore the tapping tool  101  with respect to the top surface of the volume of material  193  should be adjusted so that the tip  37  is perhaps from an eighth or a quarter inch to about an inch or two above the opening of the opening of the smooth bore  195 , and centered over the smooth bore  195 . Once the position is achieved, the distance between the drill chuck  185  and the volume of material  193  is locked in place either by locking the height of the drill chuck  185  or locking the other controls for moving or raising and lowering the volume of material  193 . 
   The operator then grasps the handles  113  and  115  to bring the lower body  109  down and apart from the upper body  107  by overcoming the lifting force of the springs  173 ,  177 ,  181  to the point that the tip  37  of the tap  25  is within the opening of the smooth bore  195 . While maintaining only slight downward pressure only as necessary to overcome the lifting force of the springs  173 ,  177 ,  181  the operator begins turning the handles  113  and  115  to start the tap  25  within the smooth bore  195  in order to get it started. This is the position closest to that seen in  FIG. 4 . 
   Alignment is also assured if the hole is aligned with the drill bit which was used to drill the bore  195 , assuming that the work piece is clamped into place. Otherwise, if the part is allowed to “float” beneath the tapper in a position perpendicular to the bore  195  opening, tapping tool  101  tap  25  will “self align” as the tap  25  finds the center of the bore  195 . In either of these cases the operator is assured of a straight run in. Further, it takes only slight pressure to bring the tap  25  down to the bore  195 , and alignment can be further visually ascertained. 
   Referring to  FIG. 5 , as the handles  113  and  115  continue to be turned, the tap  25  continues its threading operation within the now half threaded bore  195 . As threading continues, the lower housing  109  continues to turn and travel downward at a rate in accord with the pitch of the threads being formed. 
   Referring to  FIG. 6 , a view of the tap having been run completely into the bore its maximum extent is shown. 
   Referring to  FIG. 7 , a view of the tapping tool being reversed in direction to back out of the tapped bore and after it has cleared the tapped bore being brought upward from the work piece by the same amount as the starting height just before being brought down into initial contact with the bore  195  as is seen in  FIG. 4 . A substantial savings in time is saved by performing the backing out operation of  FIG. 7 . The handles  113  and  115  can be spun rapidly to automatically back out the tap  25  from the now tapped bore  195  to be lifted upwardly automatically as soon as the tap  25  clears the last tapped thread. The space below the tapping tool  101  is now out of the way and ready for the next volume of material  193  to be tapped. 
   The savings in time and space obtainable by using the tapping tool  101  can be augmented by the addition of an adapter in lieu of tap chuck  123 . In U.S. Pat. No. 5,213,347 to Richard E. Rulon, entitled “SOCKET DRIVEABLE TAP APPARATUS”, which is incorporated by reference herein, a tool socket was modified to accept a tap having a square rear support end. The result of the innovation in this reference is to enable taps to be utilized with a conventional socket driver to thus enable a set of taps, each having their own support socket, to be quick-changed onto a driver. 
   Referring to  FIG. 8 , a perspective exploded view of a section identified as section  8 — 8  in  FIG. 1  is seen with the tap chuck  123  being replaced by a combination of an adapter  201  set to support a socket  205 . Socket  205  supports a tap  207 . Tap  207  is seen as having a square end  209 . The illustration of the system of the U.S. Pat. No. 5,213,347 reference patent is but one example of a facilitating adapter. Other more specialized and complex adapters are possible, as for example a posi-drive quick change adapter commercially available from Jacobs Chuck/Bilz Company of Clemson, S.C. It is thus anticipated that other quick-change adapter systems are under development or will be developed in future. 
   Returning to  FIG. 8 , further details of the fixation of tap  207  into socket  205  will be omitted, as it is expected that the user will have a variety of different sized tap and socket assemblies  211  from which to quickly attach to the adapter  201 . The manner of attachment and retention of the tap and socket assembly  211  onto the adapter  201  is the same manner in which conventional wrench sockets are attached to conventional drivers. 
   Referring to  FIG. 9 , an expanded isolated view of the adapter  201  of  FIG. 8  has a proportion typically seen for a one quarter inch socket size. The adapter  201  is preferably of one piece construction but need not be. Adapter  201  includes a central plate  215  generally indicated an upper portion including an upper projection  217  and a flat portion  219 . The upper projection  217  is preferably not significantly different from the upper projection  131  of the tap chuck  123  seen in  FIG. 3 . The flat portion  219  fixes the adapter  201  both rotationally and axially. 
   Below the central plate  215  is a male socket projection member  221  having a spring loaded (spring and internals not shown) round projection  223  extending to one side. The flat portion  219  and round projection  223  are shown extending to the same side for orientation purposes to show all of the features, but the adapter  201  need not be so oriented in a production model. 
     FIG. 10  is a bottom view of the adapter  201  showing structure also seen in  FIG. 9 , and  FIG. 11  is a top view of the adapter seen  201  also showing structure seen in  FIG. 9 . 
     FIG. 12  is a bottom view of an adapter  225  shown in a proportion consistent with a one eighth inch socket size, and including a smaller male socket projection member  227  having a smaller round projection  229 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 13 , a drill press  251  holds tapping tool  101  in its drill chuck  253 . The tapping tool  101  holds a conventional tap  25 . Drill press  251  has an adjustable height work table  255  which can be loosened for vertical movement along a column  257  by using a set screw handle  259 . Some drill presses have different adjustment mechanisms such as a scissors jack table or other more sophisticated mechanism for raising and lowering the adjustable height work table  255 . The current configuration is shown for clarity. The adjustable height work table  255  is shown as supporting a work table vice set  261  which is attached to the adjustable height work table  255  and enables a work piece to be positioned and rigidly held underneath the tapping tool  101 . 
   It must be emphasized that in utilizing the tapping tool  101  that a motor  265  of the drill press  251  is to be completely shut off, and non-working throughout all of the steps for using the tapping tool  101 . It should also be noted that a handle set  267  which is normally used to lower the quill and drill chuck  253  during drilling operations is similarly not used for other than setup dimensioning. The drill chuck  253  is used only as a vertical support and centering structure for the tapping tool  101 , and the adjustable height work table  255  is used only to support the work piece volume of material  193  in a position underneath the conventional tap  25 . In this manner, the tapping tool  101  enables an already existing piece of equipment, the drill press  251  to provide all of the advantages which would only be attainable by otherwise having a bulky specialized dedicated tapper instrument taking up valuable shop floor space. The tapping tool  101  takes up minimal space in a drawer of a tool chest when not in use. 
   In a drill press having a quill lock where the drill chuck  253  can be moved up and down and then locked into a position, this movement may be used in lieu of the up and down movement of the adjustable height work table  255  in order to place the tapping tool  101  into the position shown in  FIG. 4 . Once the position of  FIG. 4  is achieved, all further movement will be manual only and will consist of downward movement of the handles  113  and  115  of the tapping tool  101 . 
   After the tapping tool  101  is fixed within the drill chuck  253 , the adjustable height work table  255 , or the quill and drill chuck  253  is adjusted to a correct height so that a part held within the supporting vice set  261  is directly under the tapping tool  101 , and so that the conventional tap  25  is directly over a smooth bore  195  within a volume of material  193  seen in  FIG. 4 . Once this position is achieved, manual tapping proceeds in accord with the above described procedures stated in conjunction with the descriptions of  FIGS. 4–7 . 
   While the present invention has been described in terms of a device and system used to supplant a full sized, high space occupancy tapping machine, and in particular replacing a tapping machine with a device which can be used with a conventional drill press, lathe or other existing tool or drill bit holding device, one of ordinary skill in the art can see that the device of the invention can be applied to many appliances and process tools. The present invention may be applied in any situation where the position of working tools are desired to be precisely located and automatically aligned at the outset of processing and automatically cleared after processing to reduce operation time. 
   Although the invention has been derived with reference to particular illustrative embodiments thereof, many changes and modifications of the invention may become apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, included within the patent warranted hereon are all such changes and modifications as may reasonably and properly be included within the scope of this contribution to the art.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8