Patent Description:
There are numerous cutting edge adjustment devices for finely adjusting the position of a cutting edge of a cutting insert in the field of an indexable cutting tool in the related art. Cutting edge adjustment devices are mainly used for regularly aligning the positions of cutting edges of a plurality of cutting inserts in a milling tool, respectively. Other than that, a cutting edge adjustment device is used when the projection amount of a cutting edge from a tool body is desirably adjusted also in a turning tool or a drilling tool.

Patent Literature <NUM> exemplarily discloses several embodiments of a cutting edge adjustment device by the use of a cam. This cutting edge adjustment device basically includes two cam faces abutting against a cutting insert to be mounted on a tool body (i.e., a milling cutter body) and a wedge for fixing the cutting insert to the tool body. The rotation of the cam causes the cutting insert to be directly pressed, thus adjusting the position of a cutting edge of the cutting insert.

However, the typical cutting edge adjustment device using the cam as disclosed in Patent Literature <NUM> does not take the relationship between the rotational amount of the cam and the movement amount of the cutting edge into consideration. As a consequence, it is difficult for an operator to move the cutting edge by a required distance in association with a cam rotating operation in the typical cutting edge adjustment device, thereby raising problems of the difficulty in accurately adjusting the position of the cutting edge, and further, much time required for adjusting the position.

The present invention has been accomplished in view of the above-described problems. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to use a rotary member such as a cam so as to facilitate the quick adjustment of the position of a cutting edge with high accuracy.

In a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cutting edge adjustment device (<NUM>) for a cutting tool for adjusting the position of a cutting edge of a cutting insert (<NUM>) by causing movement of the cutting insert (<NUM>), the cutting edge adjustment device (<NUM>) comprising:.

According to the present invention, it is possible to grasp the corresponding relationship between the rotational amount of the rotary member and the movement amount of the cutting edge when the position of the cutting edge is adjusted, thus readily and rapidly adjusting the position of the cutting edge with high accuracy.

Embodiments of a cutting edge adjustment device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings.

As shown in (A) and (B) of <FIG>, a cutting edge adjustment device <NUM> in the present embodiment basically has the configuration in which a cartridge <NUM> having a cutting insert <NUM> detachably attached thereto and a rotary member <NUM> having a cam face are arranged adjacently to each other in a tool body <NUM>. Only a section of the tool body <NUM> having the cutting edge adjustment device <NUM> mounted thereon is shown in <FIG>. The cutting edge adjustment device <NUM> in the present embodiment is applicable to various cutting tools inclusive of a turning tool, a milling tool, and a drilling tool. In other words, the cutting edge adjustment device <NUM> including the tool body <NUM> in the present embodiment is generally formed into a substantially rectangular parallelepiped. It is to be understood that the tool body <NUM> or the cutting edge adjustment device <NUM> should be formed into any appropriate forms and shapes according to a cutting tool, to which the cutting edge adjustment device <NUM> is applied.

In the cutting edge adjustment device <NUM> generally formed into a substantially rectangular parallelepiped in the present embodiment, an end at which the cutting insert <NUM> is mounted is referred to as a distal end whereas an end opposite to the distal end is referred to as a proximal end. In the following description, an axis parallel to a direction from the proximal end to the distal end is defined as an X axis, and further, two axes perpendicular to the X axis are defined as a Y axis and a Z axis. Moreover, the cutting edge adjustment device <NUM> in the present embodiment is assumed to have a largest dimension in the X-axial direction. The cartridge <NUM> is moved in the X-axial direction, thereby adjusting a cutting edge, that is, adjusting the position of the cutting insert <NUM>.

As shown in (A) to (C) of <FIG>, the tool body <NUM> has a recess <NUM> so as to securely contain the cartridge <NUM> and the rotary member <NUM> therein. The recess <NUM> is formed from the distal end to the proximal end of the tool body <NUM> over a predetermined distance, and further, it is defined by a side surface <NUM> extending in parallel to an X-Z plane and another side surface <NUM> on the proximal end side extending in parallel to a Y-Z plane perpendicular to the X-Z plane. Hereinafter, a side surface extending in parallel to the X-Z plane inclusive of the side surface <NUM> of the recess <NUM> may be referred to as a longitudinal side surface whereas a side surface extending in parallel to the Y-Z plane perpendicular to the longitudinal side surface inclusive of the side surface <NUM> of the recess <NUM> may be referred to as a lateral side surface.

A bottom <NUM> of the recess <NUM> is a substantially flat plane extending in parallel to an X-Y plane, and has a screw hole <NUM> at almost the center thereof. The screw hole <NUM> is adapted to receive a fixing screw <NUM> for fixing the cartridge <NUM> to the tool body <NUM>. The screw hole <NUM> is formed in a direction substantially perpendicular to the movement direction of the cartridge <NUM> parallel to the X axis (i.e., the positional adjustment direction of the cutting insert <NUM>) with an inclination with respect to the bottom <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the back of the screw hole is formed in such a manner as to be deflected toward the longitudinal side surface <NUM> of the recess <NUM>. Furthermore, on the bottom <NUM> of the recess <NUM> is formed a rotary member holding hole <NUM> that is formed into a substantially elongated or elliptical shape adjacently to the lateral side surface <NUM> of the recess <NUM> and is adapted to allow rotation on a rotary center axis in a Z-axial direction of the rotary member <NUM> and movement in an X-axial direction while holding the rotary member <NUM>. The longitudinal side surface <NUM> of the recess <NUM> is a substantially flat plane extending in parallel to the X-Z plane, and abuts against a longitudinal side surface of the cartridge <NUM>.

At the lateral side surface <NUM> of the recess <NUM> is formed a rotary member containing portion <NUM> capable of holding the rotary member <NUM> therein. The rotary member containing portion <NUM> includes three concave curves <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> arranged in the Z-axial direction. The first concave curve <NUM> is formed along the upper surface of the tool body <NUM> at substantially the center in the Y-axial direction of the lateral side surface <NUM>. The second concave curve <NUM> is formed continuously with the side surface of the rotary member holding hole <NUM> formed on the bottom <NUM> at substantially the center in the Y-axial direction. The third concave curve <NUM> is formed between the first and second concave curves <NUM> and <NUM> in such a manner as to be more deeply concave than the first and second concave curves <NUM> and <NUM>. The third concave curve <NUM> further includes three portions. Specifically, the belt-like third concave curve <NUM> includes two curved portions formed at both ends and one flat portion formed therebetween.

As shown in (A) to (C) of <FIG>, the rotary member <NUM> is formed into a substantial cylinder including two end surfaces and an outer peripheral surface connecting the end surfaces to each other, and has a rotational center axis O. The rotary member <NUM> is such configured as to have two substantially cylindrical portions <NUM> and <NUM> having the same rotational center axis O and a third substantially cylindrical portion <NUM> decentered from the rotational center axis O (hereinafter also referred to as a cam portion) in arrangement in the direction of the rotational center axis O (i.e., the Z-axial direction). The first substantially cylindrical portion <NUM> is formed in a lateral cross section of a substantial circle and has one of the end surfaces of the rotary member <NUM>. The second substantially cylindrical portion <NUM> is formed in a lateral cross section of a substantial circle and has the other end surface of the rotary member <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the diameter of the laterally cross-sectional circle of the first substantially cylindrical portion <NUM> is substantially the same as that of the second substantially cylindrical portion <NUM>. The cam portion <NUM> is sandwiched between the first substantially cylindrical portion <NUM> and the second substantially cylindrical portion <NUM>. Specifically, in the present embodiment, the first substantially cylindrical portion <NUM> and the cam portion <NUM> are connected to each other, and further, the cam portion <NUM> and the second substantially cylindrical portion <NUM> are connected to each other.

As shown in (B) of <FIG>, the cam portion <NUM> is formed in such a lateral cross section that a distance from the rotational center axis O to the outer peripheral surface (i.e., a radius) is gradually increased in a circumferential direction. Specifically, the radius from the rotational center axis <NUM> to the outer peripheral surface is gradually increased in a spiral fashion counterclockwise from a point A in (B) of <FIG> toward a point B in (B) of <FIG>. As a consequence, the radius is minimum at the point A: in contrast, it is maximum at the point B after substantially cycling counterclockwise from the point A. The ratio of an increase in radius from the point A to the point B is kept constant. Therefore, the cam portion <NUM> is formed in such a manner as to have a cam face having a linearly increasing radius. Specifically, the following relationship is satisfied: ΔR = a × <NUM>, wherein θ° represents a rotational angle from the point A to the point B; ΔR, a variation in radius of the cam portion <NUM>; and a, an arbitrary proportional constant. Moreover, the radius at the point A (i.e., the minimum radius of the cam) is greater than that of the circular cross section of each of the first and second substantially cylindrical portions <NUM> and <NUM>.

A fitting hole <NUM> is formed at the center of one of the end surfaces of the rotary member <NUM>, that is, the end surface at which operation is allowable and visible, so as to receive a tool for rotating the rotary member <NUM> (e.g., a wrench or a driver). Furthermore, a plurality of, for example, linear marks <NUM> are engraved around the fitting hole <NUM>. These marks <NUM> are formed at angular positions corresponding to the movement amount of a cutting edge, thereby constituting a scale. An operator refers to the scale and an indication mark, described later, and thus, can move the cutting edge by a required distance. The pitch (i.e., the interval) between the marks <NUM> forming the scale should be set to correspond to the movement amount of the cutting edge, for example, <NUM> or <NUM>. The shape of the cam portion <NUM>, that is, the proportional constant 'a' is arbitrarily adjusted, so that the adjustable range of the position of the cutting edge can be selected.

As shown in (A) to (C) of <FIG>, it is most desirable that the cam portion <NUM> should be formed such that the radius is linearly increased within the range of about one cycle of the rotary member <NUM>, and further, that the plurality of marks <NUM> should be formed at equal intervals (i.e., at equal rotational angles) within the range of about one cycle of the upper circular end surface. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the proportional constant 'a' may be stepwise changed from the point A to the point B. With this configuration, in a case where the interval between the marks <NUM> corresponds to the movement amount of the cutting edge in a one-to-one fashion, the intervals between the marks <NUM> may be constant in each of sections having the constant proportional constant 'a', while the intervals between the marks may be changed in a section having a different proportional constant 'a'. That is, the interval between the marks may be relatively small in a section having a large proportional constant: in contrast, the interval between the marks may be relatively large in a section having a small proportional constant. Moreover, the cam portion <NUM> may be configured such that the proportional constant 'a' is sequentially changed (e.g., gradually increased), and accordingly, that the intervals between the marks are varied (e.g., gradually decreased). These configurations also produce an advantage that the position of the cutting edge can be adjusted at a glance according to the scale.

In (A) to (C) of <FIG>, other than the plurality of marks, a mark <NUM> is formed into not a line but a circle. The mark <NUM> functions as a set mark indicating an initial state of a cutting edge (specifically, the movement amount of the cartridge <NUM> or the cutting insert <NUM> is zero). In this embodiment, the mark <NUM> is formed at a position opposite to the point A by <NUM>° with respect to the rotational center axis O. In other words, a rotational positon when the set mark <NUM> is matched with an indication mark <NUM>, described later, formed at the cartridge <NUM> is referred to as a reference position at which the movement amount of the cartridge <NUM> or the cutting insert <NUM> is zero. When the rotary member <NUM> is rotated clockwise from the reference position, the cartridge <NUM> as well as the cutting edge of the cutting insert <NUM> can be moved in the proximal end direction from the reference position.

Incidentally, although the cam portion <NUM> whose cam face has the radius that is linearly increased counterclockwise within almost one rotation of the rotary member <NUM> is used in the present embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. For example, the radius of a cam may be increased clockwise or a range functioning as the cam face may be an appropriate range of less than one rotation of the rotary member <NUM>.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the rotary member <NUM> held in the above-described rotary member holding hole <NUM> formed into substantially the elongated or elliptical shape is not only rotated on the rotational center axis but also allowed to be shifted in the X direction according to the rotation in the radial enlargement direction. Instead of the above-described configuration, the rotary member <NUM> may be configured such that it is allowed to be only rotated on the rotational center axis while the substantially cylindrical portions <NUM> and <NUM> are appropriately decentered from the rotational center axis O so that points on the substantially cylindrical portions <NUM> and <NUM> at a great distance from the rotational center axis are gradually brought into contact with corresponding points on the rotary member holding portion <NUM>.

As shown in (A) to (C) of <FIG>, the cartridge <NUM> is generally formed into a substantial rectangle including an upper surface, a lower surface, and side surfaces connecting the upper and lower surfaces. At the upper surface, an insert seat <NUM> is provided at a portion adjacent to one of the lateral side surfaces (i.e., the side surface at the distal end) of the substantial rectangular parallelepiped and the longitudinal side surface of the substantial rectangular parallelepiped, for mounting the cutting insert <NUM> thereon. More particularly, one of corners at the upper surface is cut out to form a recess functioning as the insert seat <NUM>. At the bottom of the insert seat <NUM> is formed a screw hole <NUM> for fixing the cutting insert <NUM> to the cartridge <NUM>. The shape of the insert seat <NUM> may be appropriately modified in conformity with the shape of the cutting insert <NUM> to be mounted. Furthermore, at substantially the center of the upper surface is formed a fixed hole <NUM>, through which the cartridge <NUM> is fixed to the tool body <NUM> via the fixing screw <NUM>. The fixed hole <NUM> has a small-diameter hole formed in a substantially elongated or elliptical shape elongated in the movement direction of the cartridge <NUM>, as described later, (i.e., the positional adjustment direction of the cutting insert <NUM>) (see (B) of <FIG>).

As shown best in (A-<NUM>) of <FIG>, a step having a diameter reduced from the upper surface toward the lower surface is formed inside of the fixed hole <NUM>. Specifically, the fixed hole <NUM> includes a relatively large diameter hole <NUM> and a relatively small diameter hole <NUM> that are continuous to each other via the step from the upper surface of the cartridge <NUM> toward the lower surface thereof. The large diameter hole <NUM> has a greater diameter than those of a shank <NUM> and a head <NUM> of the fixing screw <NUM>. Furthermore, the small diameter hole <NUM> has a greater diameter than that of the shank <NUM> of the fixing screw <NUM> and a smaller diameter than that of the head <NUM>. Consequently, the head <NUM> of the fixing screw <NUM> can be inserted into the large diameter hole <NUM> but cannot be inserted into the small diameter hole <NUM> so as to abut against the upper surface of the step. It is preferable that the depth of the large diameter hole <NUM> should be equal to or greater than the height of the head <NUM> of the fixing screw <NUM>. Additionally, at least the small diameter hole <NUM> is formed into a substantially elongated or elliptical shape elongated in the movement direction of the cartridge <NUM> (i.e., the positional adjustment direction of the cutting insert <NUM>). The fixed hole <NUM> is inclined in the same direction as that of the inclination of the screw hole <NUM> formed at the tool body <NUM>. Specifically, in the present embodiment, the fixed hole <NUM> is inclined in the depth direction toward the longitudinal side surface opposite to the other longitudinal side surface cut out to form the insert seat <NUM>. When the cartridge <NUM> is mounted on the tool body <NUM>, the fixing hole <NUM> of the cartridge <NUM> is aligned with the screw hole <NUM> of the tool body <NUM> (see (C-<NUM>) and (D-<NUM>) of <FIG>.

As shown in (A) and (B) of <FIG>, the rotary member holding portion <NUM> for holding the rotary member <NUM> is provided at the lateral side surface opposite to the other lateral side surface at which the insert seat <NUM> is formed. The rotary member holding portion <NUM> is curved inward of the cartridge (i.e., recessed in the X-axial direction), thereby forming a recess including three concave curves <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> (see (C) of <FIG>). More particularly, the rotary member holding portion <NUM> includes two concave curves having portions in abutment against the two substantially cylindrical portions <NUM> and <NUM> of the rotary member <NUM>, respectively (i.e., the first concave curve <NUM> and the second concave curve <NUM>) and one concave curve that is adjacent to the cam portion <NUM> of the rotary member <NUM> but does not abut thereagainst (i.e., the third concave curve <NUM>).

The first concave curve <NUM> is formed contiguously to the upper surface of the cartridge <NUM>, and includes mainly five portions, as shown in (A) and (B) of <FIG>: a surface <NUM> in abutment against the rotary member <NUM>, a flank <NUM> out of abutment against the rotary member <NUM>, another surface <NUM> in abutment against the rotary member <NUM>, another flank <NUM> out of abutment against the rotary member <NUM>, and a further surface <NUM> in abutment against the rotary member <NUM>, these being continuously formed in the order from the end of the belt-like curve. The flanks <NUM> and <NUM> out of abutment against the rotary member <NUM> are more recessed inward of the cartridge than the surfaces <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> in abutment against the rotary member <NUM>. Over the entire belt-like curve, the abutment surface <NUM> out of the three surfaces <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> in abutment against the rotary member <NUM> is oriented in the movement direction of the cartridge <NUM> parallel to the X axis (i.e., the positional adjustment direction of the cutting insert <NUM>) whereas the remaining two abutment surfaces <NUM> and <NUM> are oriented in the Y-axial direction substantially perpendicular to the movement direction of the cartridge <NUM> (i.e., the positional adjustment direction of the cutting insert <NUM>). The second concave curve <NUM> is formed contiguously to the lower surface of the cartridge <NUM>, and includes five surfaces <NUM> to <NUM>, like the first concave curve <NUM>.

The third concave curve <NUM> is formed between the first concave curve <NUM> and the second concave curve <NUM>, and is more recessed inward of the cartridge than the first and second concave curves <NUM> and <NUM>. The third concave curve <NUM> includes one curve that is generally continuous, thus defining a space adapted to contain the cam portion <NUM> of the rotary member <NUM>. Here, minimum steps C formed between the first and second concave curves <NUM> and <NUM> and the third concave curve <NUM> (see (C) of <FIG>) are greater than a difference D between the radii of the first and second substantially cylindrical portions <NUM> and <NUM> of the rotary member <NUM> and the radius of the cam portion <NUM> at the point B (i.e., the maximum radius of the cam) (see (B) of <FIG>).

Furthermore, the first and second concave curves <NUM> and <NUM> are formed into a substantial C shape as the cartridge <NUM> is viewed on a plane, that is, in a direction parallel to the Z axis, as shown in (B) of <FIG>. A length L between the two ends of the C shape is smaller than the diameter of each of the first and second substantially cylindrical portions <NUM> and <NUM> of the rotary member <NUM>. Moreover, each of the first and second concave curves <NUM> and <NUM> is thinner at one end thereof than the other end in the Y-axial direction. The thinner end acts as an elastically deformable portion <NUM> that is elastically deformable outward with the application of force from the inside of the concave curve. A chamfer <NUM> may be applied to the inside of the end of the elastically deformable portion <NUM>. The indication mark <NUM> formed into a circle, for example, is formed at the upper surface contiguous to the first concave curve <NUM>. The indication mark <NUM> is a reference set mark indicating the movement amount of the cartridge <NUM> or the cutting insert <NUM>, that is, the movement amount of the cutting edge. The rotary member <NUM> is rotated, and further, one of the marks <NUM> formed at the substantially cylindrical portion <NUM> is properly registered with the indication mark <NUM>, so that the cutting edge can be moved by a desired distance.

The shape of the rotary member holding portion <NUM> of the above-described cartridge <NUM> may be appropriately varied in conformity with that of the rotary member <NUM>.

Next, a description will be given below of the assembly of the cartridge <NUM> and the rotary member <NUM> with respect to the tool body <NUM>.

As shown in (A-<NUM>) and (A-<NUM>) of <FIG>, the cartridge <NUM> has the fixed hole <NUM> being formed from the upper surface toward the lower surface and including the large-diameter hole <NUM> having a relatively large diameter and the small-diameter hole <NUM> having a relatively small diameter that are connected to each other via the step. Therefore, in a case where the fixing screw <NUM> is inserted into the fixing hole <NUM>, as shown in (B-<NUM>) of <FIG>, the head <NUM> of the fixing screw <NUM> does not be inserted into the small-diameter hole <NUM> so as to abut against the upper surface of the step, as shown in (B-<NUM>) of <FIG>. In the meantime, since the fixed hole <NUM> is inclined in the same direction as that of the screw hole <NUM> formed in the tool body <NUM>, the fixed hole <NUM> of the cartridge <NUM> is aligned with the screw hole <NUM> of the tool body <NUM>, as shown in (C-<NUM>) of <FIG>, when the cartridge <NUM> is mounted on the tool body <NUM>, as shown in (C-<NUM>) of <FIG>.

As shown in (A) and (B) of <FIG>, the rotary member <NUM> is assembled with respect to the cartridge <NUM> and the tool body <NUM>. At this time, the rotary member <NUM> is assembled such that the upper surface of the cartridge <NUM> is flush with the end surface having the scale formed thereat. As described above, the first and second concave curves <NUM> and <NUM> of the cartridge <NUM> are formed into the substantial C shape, in which the distance L between the two ends of the substantial C shape is shorter than the diameter of each of the first and second substantially cylindrical portions <NUM> and <NUM> of the rotary member <NUM>. However, when the rotary member <NUM> is pushed into the open portion of the rotary member holding portion <NUM> formed into the substantial C shape in the X-axial direction, the elastically deformable portion <NUM> of each of the first and second concave curves <NUM> and <NUM> is elastically deformed to
be enlarged outward of the cartridge <NUM>. As a consequence, the elastically deformable portion <NUM> is enlarged to such an extent that the first and second substantially cylindrical portions <NUM> and <NUM> of the rotary member <NUM> can pass, so that the rotary member <NUM> can be inserted into the rotary member holding portion <NUM> of the cartridge <NUM>. In this manner, the rotary member <NUM> is held in the rotary member holding portion <NUM> of the cartridge <NUM>, and further, is securely supported by the elastically deformable portion <NUM>.

In this state, the outer peripheral surfaces of the first and second substantially cylindrical portions <NUM> and <NUM> of the rotary member <NUM> are brought into contact only with the respective three abutment surfaces <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> of the first and second concave curves <NUM> and <NUM> of the cartridge <NUM>. The outer peripheral surface of the third substantially cylindrical portion (i.e., the cam portion) <NUM> of the rotary member <NUM> is adjacent to the third concave curve <NUM> of the cartridge <NUM> but is not brought into contact with the third concave curve <NUM> of the cartridge <NUM>. Moreover, as described above, the minimum step C at the cartridge <NUM> is greater than the difference D at the rotary member <NUM>, and therefore, the cam portion <NUM> having the gradually increased radius does not abut against the third concave curve <NUM> of the cartridge <NUM> even if the rotary member <NUM> is rotated. Thus, the rotary member <NUM> is not prevented from being rotated. In this manner, the rotary member <NUM> is held in the cartridge <NUM>. Furthermore, the cutting insert <NUM> is mounted on the insert seat <NUM>.

As shown in (A) and (B) of <FIG>, the cartridge <NUM> holding the rotary member <NUM> therein in the above-described manner is mounted on the tool body <NUM> such that its upper surface is flush with the upper surface of the tool body <NUM>. At this time, the cartridge <NUM> is mounted such that the outer peripheral surface of the rotary member <NUM> held in the cartridge <NUM> is brought into contact with the rotary member containing portion <NUM> of the tool body <NUM>. The outer peripheral surfaces of the first and second substantially cylindrical portions <NUM> and <NUM> of the rotary member <NUM> abut against the first and second concave curves <NUM> and <NUM> of the tool body <NUM>, respectively. The outer peripheral surface of the third substantially cylindrical portion (i.e., the cam portion) <NUM> of the rotary member <NUM> abuts against the third concave curve <NUM> of the tool body <NUM>.

In the tool body <NUM>, a step E (see (B) of <FIG>) between the flat surface (i.e., a cam receiving surface) of the third concave curve <NUM> and each of the first and second concave curves <NUM> and <NUM> has a length substantially equivalent to a difference F (see (B) of <FIG>) between the radius of each of the first and second substantially cylindrical portions <NUM> and <NUM> of the rotary member <NUM> and the radius of the cam portion <NUM> at the point A (i.e., the minimum radius of the cam). Consequently, when the third substantially cylindrical portion <NUM> having the minimum radius at the point A of the rotary member <NUM> abuts against the flat surface of the third concave curve <NUM> of the tool body <NUM>, the rotary member <NUM> and the cartridge <NUM> are assembled with respect to the tool body <NUM> with few gaps: at this time, the cutting edge adjustment device <NUM> is in an initial state in which the movement amount of a cutting edge is zero (i.e., the movement amount of the cutting insert <NUM> is zero), as shown in (A) and (B) of <FIG>. The fixing screw <NUM> is screwed to the screw hole <NUM>, so that the cartridge <NUM> is fixed to the tool body <NUM>, as shown in (D-<NUM>) and (D-<NUM>) of <FIG>. At this time, the indication mark <NUM> as the set mark on the cartridge <NUM> matches with the set mark <NUM> on the rotary member <NUM>. In this manner, the cartridge <NUM> and the rotary member <NUM> are mounted on the tool body <NUM>, thus completing the assembly of the cutting edge adjustment device <NUM> in the present embodiment.

Even if the rotary member <NUM> is not such configured as the embodiment shown in (A) to (C) of <FIG>, for example, even if the rotary member <NUM> includes a cam portion, a substantially cylindrical portion, and another cam portion arranged in this order, the portions for holding the rotary member <NUM> in the tool body <NUM> and the cartridge <NUM> can be formed into shapes in conformity with that of the rotary member <NUM>, as described above, and therefore, the cartridge <NUM> and the rotary member <NUM> can be basically mounted on the tool body <NUM> in the same manner as described above.

Subsequently, explanation will be made on modes, operations, and advantageous results of cutting edge adjustment in the cutting edge adjustment device <NUM> of the present embodiment.

The set mark <NUM> and the indication mark <NUM> match with each other in the initial state. In this state, the cam portion abuts against the flat surface of the third concave curve <NUM> of the tool body <NUM> at the point A at which the cam has the minimum radius, so that the cartridge <NUM> and the cutting insert <NUM> are most eccentrically located at the proximal end (i.e., the most retreated position of the cutting edge). When the cutting edge adjustment device <NUM> in the present embodiment adjusts the cutting edge, a wrench or the like is fitted into the fitting hole <NUM>, so that the rotary member <NUM> is rotated in a direction in which the radius of the third substantially cylindrical portion <NUM> of the rotary member <NUM> (i.e., the radius of the cam) is increased. As shown in (A) and (B) of <FIG>, since the side surface of the cartridge <NUM>, for holding the rotary member <NUM>, and the tool body <NUM> are brought into contact with each other with few gaps before the rotation, it is possible to readily understand the rotational direction in which the radius is increased with reference to the array of the marks <NUM> formed at the end of the rotary member <NUM>. However, an indication such as an arrow may be formed in order to indicate the rotational direction in which the radius is increased. An indication (e.g., "+") of a direction in which the radius is increased may be additionally formed with an arrow indicating the rotational direction.

When the rotary member <NUM> is rotated from the initial position in the direction in which the radius of the cam portion <NUM> is increased, gaps are produced between the outer peripheral surfaces of the first and second substantially cylindrical portions <NUM> and <NUM> of the rotary member <NUM> and the first and second concave curves <NUM> and <NUM> of the tool body <NUM> as the radius is increased, that is, a portion of the cam face having a greater radius abuts against the flat surface of the third concave curve <NUM> of the tool body <NUM>. The gaps become larger according to the further rotation. In other words, the rotary member <NUM> is rotated in the direction in which the radius is increased, so that the cartridge <NUM> is moved toward the distal end (i.e., in the X-axial direction) (see (A) and (B) of <FIG>).

Even if the fixing screw <NUM> which fixes the cartridge <NUM> to the tool body <NUM> is not descrewed from the fixed hole <NUM>, the small-diameter hole <NUM> of the fixed hole <NUM> formed into the substantially elongated or elliptical shape elongated in the movement direction allows the movement of the cartridge <NUM>. Specifically, the fixing screw <NUM> may be fastened to the screw hole <NUM> enough to temporarily fix the cartridge <NUM> or may be fully fastened. When a pressing force produced by the rotation of the rotary member <NUM> is sufficiently greater than the maximum value of a cartridge restraint force produced by fastening the fixing screw <NUM>, the cartridge <NUM> can be moved even in the fastened state of the fixing screw <NUM>. The fixed hole <NUM> formed at the cartridge <NUM> is formed into a shape elongated in the movement direction of the cartridge <NUM> (i.e., the positional adjustment direction of the cutting insert <NUM>), and therefore, a play is previously provided at the fixed hole <NUM> in the cutting edge adjustment direction. As a consequence, even in the state in which the fixing screw <NUM> is fastened, the cartridge <NUM> can be moved by the amount of the play. The rotation of the rotary member <NUM> in this manner can achieve the movement of the cartridge <NUM>, and thus, can implement the adjustment of the cutting edge at a desired position. In a case where the fixing screw <NUM> is temporarily fixed, it is fully fastened after the adjustment.

As shown in (B) of <FIG> being a plan view, the cam portion <NUM> of the rotary member <NUM> is formed into such a shape that the radius is linearly increased counterclockwise over the substantially entire circumference from the point A to the point B. In the present embodiment, the unit rotational angle amount of the rotary member <NUM> and the unit increase amount of the radius are set proportionally to each other. As a consequence, since the unit rotational angle amount of the rotary member <NUM> and the unit movement amount of the cartridge <NUM> also are proportional to each other, an operator can very readily adjust the movement amount of the cutting edge, unlike in the typical cam type cutting edge adjustment device as disclosed in Patent Literature <NUM>. Moreover, since the rotational amount of the rotary member <NUM> and the movement amount of the cutting edge are continuously proportional to each other, the position of the cutting edge can be adjusted with high accuracy. At this time, with, for example, an L-shaped wrench, the orientation of the wrench arm unfitted to the fitting hole <NUM> can show the rotational amount of the rotary member <NUM> and the movement amount of the cutting edge. However, the scale including the plurality of marks <NUM> and the set mark <NUM> is additionally provided at the end of the rotary member <NUM>, like in the present embodiment, thus more facilitating the adjustment of the movement amount of the cutting edge. In other words, the position of the cutting edge can be accurately and rapidly adjusted without using a measuring instrument such as a dial indicator together. Furthermore, the set mark <NUM> formed for indicating that the movement amount of the cutting edge is zero is matched with the indication mark <NUM>, thus more facilitating the control of the movement amount of the cutting edge.

Incidentally, the shapes and forms of the marks <NUM>, the set mark <NUM>, and the indication mark <NUM> are not limited to those shown in (B) of <FIG> and the like, and therefore, they may be appropriately varied. For example, the marks may be formed into triangles or rectangles. Alternatively, the marks may be formed into shapes of significant characters, symbols, or numbers such as "S" representing the set mark or "<NUM>" representing an origin. Furthermore, these marks or the scale may not be engraved, unlike described above. For example, they may be printed or stuck with a print piece, or may be formed into a relief pattern. In addition, an indication mark is formed at the end of the substantially cylindrical portion <NUM> of the rotary member <NUM> whereas a plurality of marks may be appropriately formed at the upper surface of the cartridge <NUM> and/or the tool body <NUM> contiguous to the end, thus forming a scale.

As described above, the rotary member <NUM> can be securely held between both ends of each of the first and second concave curves <NUM> and <NUM> by the elastic force of the elastically deformable portions <NUM> of the cartridge <NUM>. Therefore, the cartridge <NUM> and the rotary member <NUM> integrally have high rigidity. Even after the rotation of the rotary member <NUM> adjusts the cutting edge, it is possible to suppress any shift of the rotary member <NUM>. Particularly in cutting, the rotary member <NUM> receives a large force caused by cutting resistance or a centrifugal force produced by the rotation of a workpiece to be cut or the tool body. In view of this, an improvement in mounting rigidity in this manner is a big advantage. Moreover, a screw or the like for fixing the rotary member <NUM> to the cartridge <NUM> or the tool body <NUM> is not needed, thus reducing the number of required components. Furthermore, there is no possibility of the detachment of the rotary member <NUM> when the cartridge <NUM> is detached from the tool body <NUM>, thus preventing any loss of the rotary member <NUM>. Additionally, the chamfer <NUM> is applied to the end of the elastically deformable portion <NUM>, thus smoothly guiding the rotary member <NUM> so as to prevent any breakage of the elastically deformable portion <NUM>. However, although an advantage produced by utilizing the elastic deformation in this manner cannot be achieved, the rotary member <NUM> may be configured in such a manner as to be fixed by fixing unit such as a screw according to the present invention.

Moreover, in the first and second concave curves <NUM> and <NUM> of the cartridge <NUM>, the portions abutting against the rotary member <NUM> are restricted to the abutment surface <NUM> oriented in the movement direction of the cartridge <NUM> in parallel to the X axis (i.e., the positional adjustment direction of the cutting insert <NUM>) and the abutment surfaces <NUM> and <NUM> oriented in the Y-axial direction substantially perpendicular to the movement direction of the cartridge <NUM>: in contrast, the other portions act as the flanks <NUM> and <NUM> (see (A) of <FIG>). Therefore, even if the first or second substantially cylindrical portion <NUM> or <NUM> is somewhat deformed because of manufacturing tolerances, the abutment can be stably kept all the time. Consequently, it is possible to suppress any play of the rotary member <NUM> caused by the deformation because of the manufacturing tolerances of the rotary member <NUM>, so that the cutting edge is accurately adjusted. Furthermore, a greatest force is applied to the first and second concave curves <NUM> and <NUM> of the cartridge <NUM> in the movement direction of the cartridge <NUM> (i.e., the positional adjustment direction of the cutting insert <NUM>) during the cutting or the adjustment of the cutting edge. As a result, the abutment surfaces are formed such that they are oriented in the movement direction of the cartridge <NUM> and the direction substantially perpendicular to the movement direction of the cartridge <NUM>, so that they can securely receive the force produced by the cutting resistance or the adjustment of the cutting edge, so as to prevent any shift in a lateral direction. Thus, the rotary member <NUM> can be stably supported, and at the same time, the rotary member <NUM> or the cartridge <NUM> can be effectively prevented from being broken.

Additionally, the axis in the depth direction of the hole integrally including the fixed hole <NUM> of the cartridge <NUM>, into which the fixing screw <NUM> is inserted, and the screw hole <NUM> of the tool body <NUM> is substantially perpendicular to the movement direction of the cutting insert <NUM> (i.e., the X-axial direction), and further, its back is inclined toward the inside surface defining the recess <NUM> of the tool body <NUM>, that is, in a direction oriented to the longitudinal side surface <NUM> (i.e., in a direction in which it is inclined with respect to the upper surface of the cartridge <NUM>). As a consequence, when the fixing screw <NUM> is fastened, force is applied to the cartridge <NUM> to be pressed against the inside surface of the tool body <NUM>. Thus, no gap is produced between the longitudinal side surface of the cartridge <NUM> and the inside surface of the tool body <NUM>, and therefore, it is possible to adjust the cutting edge with high accuracy, and further, to prevent the chip discharging ability from being degraded, without any gap which possibly catches chips. In addition, the fixed hole <NUM> of the cartridge <NUM> is formed into the shape obtained by connecting the large-diameter hole <NUM> to the small-diameter hole <NUM> via the step, thus making it possible to completely contain the head <NUM> of the fixing screw <NUM> below the surface of the cartridge <NUM>. Therefore, chips produced by cutting cannot be inhibited by the head <NUM> of the fixing screw <NUM>, thus achieving an excellent chip discharging ability.

As described above, the cutting edge adjustment device <NUM> in the present embodiment basically has the very simple configuration including the tool body <NUM>, the cartridge <NUM>, the cutting insert <NUM>, the rotary member <NUM>, and the fixing screw <NUM>, and therefore, the number of required component parts can be remarkably reduced in comparison with the typical construction. Consequently, the cutting edge adjustment device <NUM> capable of readily and rapidly adjusting the cutting edge with high accuracy can be fabricated at a reduced cost.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment and the modifications relevant to the embodiment that have been explained at the appropriate parts, and therefore, it may be substituted and varied without departing from the scope of the present invention defined by claims of the present patent.

For example, the movement direction of the cutting edge may be arbitrarily varied by varying the mounting position or direction of the rotary member <NUM>. Specifically, the present invention provides an adjustment device that is applicable according to all movement directions in a case where the movement of the cutting edge is needed or should be varied. The number of rotary members <NUM> used according to the present invention is not limited to one as described above. Specifically, a plurality of rotary members <NUM> may be combined, thus achieving a more complicated positional adjustment. Furthermore, the adjustment device according to the present invention is applicable to all kinds of cutting tools such as a turning tool, a milling tool, and a drilling tool. The shapes and mounting positions of the cartridge <NUM> and rotary member <NUM> may be appropriately varied according to the shape of the tool or tool body or the purpose of the adjustment.

Without the above-described cartridge <NUM>, the rotary member <NUM> may directly press the cutting insert <NUM>. In this case, a cutting insert <NUM>' is configured such that a rotary member holding portion <NUM>' similar to the above-described rotary member holding portion <NUM> is formed at a lateral surface, and concave curves for receiving the rotary member <NUM> are provided at the rotary member holding portion <NUM>', as shown in <FIG>, thus enhancing the fixability of the rotary member <NUM>. It is preferable to form an elastically deformable portion <NUM>' and a chamfer <NUM>' inside of the end of the elastically deformable portion <NUM>'. A fixed hole <NUM>' to be used in fixing the cutting insert <NUM>' to the tool body may be formed in the same manner as the above-described fixed hole <NUM> of the cartridge <NUM>. At this time, in consideration of the size or cutting performance of the cutting insert <NUM>, a configuration similar to that at the above-described cartridge <NUM> may be applied to the cutting insert <NUM>. Instead of the cartridge <NUM> that is adapted to hold the cutting insert <NUM> and is mounted on the tool body <NUM>, at least another pressing member serving as a displacement transmitting member may be interposed between the cutting insert <NUM> and the rotary member <NUM>, and thus, the rotary member <NUM> may press the cutting insert <NUM> via the pressing member. Also at this time, in consideration of the size of the pressing member or the cutting performance, a configuration similar to that at the above-described cartridge <NUM> may be applied to the pressing member. Incidentally, although the pressing member does not perform the connection by holding the cutting insert <NUM>, as described above, it is to be understood that the pressing member can serve as the cartridge to be connected to the cutting insert <NUM> as the displacement transmitting mechanism in a state mounted on the tool body <NUM>.

While the substantial C shaped rotary member holding portion <NUM> formed at the cartridge <NUM> is formed at the tool body <NUM>, the rotary member containing portion <NUM> formed at the tool body <NUM> may be formed at the cartridge <NUM>. Specifically, the configuration and function of holding the rotary member <NUM> by the cartridge <NUM> and the tool body <NUM> may be changed from those in the above-described embodiment. In this case, the above-described various advantageous results can be produced in the same manner.

Claim 1:
A cutting edge adjustment device (<NUM>) for a cutting tool for adjusting the position of a cutting edge of a cutting insert (<NUM>) by causing movement of the cutting insert (<NUM>), the cutting edge adjustment device (<NUM>) comprising:
at least one rotary member (<NUM>) for producing the movement;
a cartridge (<NUM>) with the cutting insert (<NUM>) fixed thereto; and
a tool body (<NUM>) on which the cartridge (<NUM>) is mounted,
wherein the rotary member (<NUM>) is formed into a shape comprising at least one substantially cylindrical portion (<NUM>, <NUM>) having an outer peripheral surface whose radius is constant and at least one cam portion (<NUM>) having a cam face whose radius is gradually increased in a manner corresponding to the amount of the movement, wherein the rotary member (<NUM>) includes first and second substantially cylindrical portions (<NUM>, <NUM>), each having a constant radius, the first substantially cylindrical portion (<NUM>), the cam portion (<NUM>), and the second substantially cylindrical portion (<NUM>) being connected to each other in this order along the rotational center axis (O),
wherein the rotary member (<NUM>) is pressed against the cutting insert (<NUM>) via the cartridge (<NUM>) by the action of the cam face according to the rotation of the rotary member (<NUM>) on the rotational center axis (O), so as to adjust the position of the cutting edge,
wherein the cartridge (<NUM>) has a portion (<NUM>) adapted to abut against either one of the substantially cylindrical portion (<NUM>, <NUM>) and the cam portion (<NUM>),
characterised in that
the tool body (<NUM>) has a portion (<NUM>) adapted to abut against the other one of the substantially cylindrical portion (<NUM>, <NUM>) and the cam portion (<NUM>),
wherein a position at which the cam face of the cam portion (<NUM>) abuts against the portion adapted to abut against the cam (<NUM>) is varied according to the rotation of the rotary member (<NUM>), so that the rotary member (<NUM>) presses the cartridge (<NUM>) so as to adjust the position of the cutting edge.