Patent ID: 7343685

Claim:
A thread-verification and thread-chasing apparatus for a part with a threaded bore, comprising: a fixed-axis tap rotating on a workstation with a free outer end, the rotating tap comprising a thread-form adapted to make threaded engagement with a threaded bore of a part to verify the threaded bore, and further comprising one or more cutting surfaces to chase the threaded bore; motor means associated with the workstation for reversibly rotating the tap; a parallel passive guide structure associated with the rotating tap on the workstation, the guide structure adapted to allow a part with a threaded bore to slide freely on the guide structure into engagement with the free end of the rotating tap when the part is placed on the guide structure, the guide structure maintaining the part's threaded bore in alignment with the axis of the rotating tap during engagement of the part with the rotating tap, the guide structure preventing the part from rotating during engagement of the part with the rotating tap, the guide structure allowing the part to be drawn freely along the tap by virtue of the rotating tap's threaded engagement with the part's threaded bore; and, limit switch means for reversing the direction of the motor means once the part's threaded bore has been fully verified and chased by the rotating tap, such that the part is driven off the rotating tap while remaining in sliding engagement with the guide structure.