Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Automatic machine lathes and the like are often utilized for forming precision parts by high-speed rotation of the metal or plastic stock against a forming tool or blade. One such high-speed turret lathe is described within U.S. Pat. No. 5,313,694 entitled “Machine Tool for Non-circular and Other Machining”. 
     One of the problems that occurs when the tool vibrates to off-center operation, is the removal of the tool from the tool holder and the replacement of the tool in the original position within the tool holder causing a disruption in the part making process. 
     It would be economically advantageous, if the tool re-positioning could occur without having to remove the tool from the tool holder to expedite the part fabrication process. 
     Accordingly, one purpose of the invention is to provide a simple and effective arrangement for tool positioning within the tool holder without causing a delay in the part fabrication process and without incurring increased equipment costs. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An automatic machine tool includes a stationary tool assembly in combination with a rotating work piece. The tool assembly includes an outer hollow steel jacket that receives a channeled tool holder. The tool insertion opening within the tool holder is off-centered a predetermined distance from the center line through the outer jacket to allow rotational positioning of the tool within the tool opening without requiring removing the tool holder from the outer jacket. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a side view of the machine tool assembly that includes the off-centered tool holder in accordance with the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the tool support assembly within the machine tool support assembly of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged front plan view of the off-centered tool holder in accordance with the invention; and 
     FIG. 3A is an enlarged front perspective view of the tool holder of FIG. 3 depicting the operational range of the cutting tool within the tool holder. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The machine tool  10  of FIG. 1 is similar to that described within aforementioned US patent and is mounted on a worktable  11  as depicted in phantom. The tool support assembly  12  includes a steel outer jacket  13 , fixedly supported on the worktable by means of bolts (not shown), and openings  15  formed through the flange  14 . Another flange, not shown, is formed on the opposite side of the outer jacket. The jacket defines an inner channel or opening  23  sized to slidably receive a hollow tool sleeve  16 , which includes a channeled inner sleeve  16 A for receiving a tool holder  17  removably containing the cutting tool  18 , to be described below in greater detail. The work piece holder  19  is slidably supported on the worktable by means of supports as indicated at  22  for moving the work piece  20 , in and out of contact with the cutting tool  18 . 
     The tool support assembly  12  is now shown in FIG. 2 to define the positional relationship between the tool assembly components shown earlier in FIG.  1 . The tool support  12  is positioned such that the centerline  9  extends in a straight path through the opening  23  that receives the first diameter  24  of the tool sleeve  16 . The edge  25 A of the larger second diameter  25  abuts against the end of the opening  23  such that the threaded openings  26  are accessible for receiving screws  32  to prevent rotation of the inner sleeve  16 A when inserted therein. The lip  16 B at the end of the inner sleeve  16 A abuts against the tool sleeve opening  29  and the centerline  9  is common through the tool support  12 , tool sleeve  16  and the inner sleeve  16 A. The first diameter  17 A of the tool holder  17  is next inserted within the inner sleeve opening  30  of the inner sleeve  16 A such that the perimetric lip  17 B abuts against the inner sleeve opening  30  whereby the centerline  9  is common with the aforementioned components. 
     In accordance with the invention, the opening  27  within the tool holder  17 , for receiving the cutting tool  18  retained therein by means of screws  31 , is positioned off-center from the common centerline  9  by a predetermined distance d to allow the offset cutting blade  28  to be positioned over a wider range of operation without having to remove the tool holder  17  from the tool support assembly  12  as best seen by now referring to FIG.  3 . 
     The tool holder  17  of FIG. 2 is shown in FIG. 3, with a tool opening  27  formed in the front thereof at the predetermined distance d from the geometric center of the perimetric lip  17 B, described earlier. The tool  18 , held within the tool opening  27  by means of screws  31 , is positioned such that the cutting blade  25  is similarly offset by the distance d. 
     The tool holder  17  is shown in FIG. 3A to show the operational diameter D, depicted in phantom, of the tool  15  and the cutting blade  28  which is achieved by rotation of the tool holder  17  by loosening the screws  32  in the threaded openings  26  formed in the tool sleeve  16 , of FIG. 2, and rotating the tool holder  17  without having to completely remove the tool holder  17  in accordance with the prior art. 
     A simple and inexpensive arrangement of an off-center tool opening within a tool holder for use within high-speed machine tools has herein been described. Tool adjustments can be made accordingly, without requiring removal of the tool from the too holder.

Technology Category: 7