Rotary chuck

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9663304-B2
Application number	US-201314081262-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 15, 2013
Priority date	Nov 15, 2013
Publication date	May 30, 2017
Grant date	May 30, 2017

Abstract

A rotary chuck includes a clamp assembly, a first drive mechanism for operating the clamp assembly to clamp an associated workpiece, a frame rotationally fixed to the clamp assembly, and a second drive mechanism for rotating the frame and the clamp assembly. The second drive mechanism can rotate the frame and the clamp assembly around 360 degrees. A pair of alignment springs are engaged with a mounting plate upon which the second drive mechanism is mounted. The mounting plate can pivot relative to a stable surface to which it is mounted, and the springs limit the pivotal movement. Each first and second drive mechanism includes a motor, and are connected to a microprocessor for operation of the respective motor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A rotary chuck capable of clamping a variety of sizes of workpieces, the rotary chuck comprising:
a clamp assembly including a plate, a plurality of jaws attached to the plate and movable relative to the plate, the jaws being positionable in a variety of positions relative to the plate to accommodate a variety of sizes of workpieces, the jaws capable of clamping an associated workpiece, the clamp assembly defining a centerline;
a frame coupled with the plate, the frame and the plate being rotationally fixed relative to each other;
a first drive mechanism capable of operating the clamp assembly, the first drive mechanism being affixed to the frame;
a second drive mechanism comprising a motor having a drive shaft, an end of the drive shaft is affixed to the frame, the second drive mechanism rotating the frame, the clamp assembly and the first drive mechanism around the centerline relative to a ground surface; and
the frame including a stop plate which is aligned with an end of the drive shaft, wherein the stop plate is configured to abut a workpiece and prevent further movement of the workpiece relative to the second drive mechanism.

2. The rotary chuck of claim 1 , wherein the first drive mechanism, the clamp assembly and the frame can be rotated around 360 degrees.

3. The rotary chuck of claim 1 , further including a mounting plate to which the second drive mechanism is affixed, the mounting plate being pivotally mounted on a stable surface, the mounting plate having at least a pair of elongated apertures therethrough.

4. The rotary chuck of claim 3 , further including a pair of springs engaged between the second drive mechanism and a stable surface, the second drive mechanism being capable of pivotal movement on the stable surface, the springs limiting the amount of pivotal movement of the second drive mechanism.

5. The rotary chuck of claim 1 , further including a mounting plate to which the second drive mechanism is attached, the mounting plate being pivotally mounted on a stable surface; and a pair of springs between the second drive mechanism and the stable surface, the springs limiting the amount of pivotal movement of the mounting plate.

6. The rotary chuck of claim 1 , wherein the first drive mechanism includes a motor, and further comprising a microprocessor operating the motor.

7. The rotary chuck of claim 1 , further comprising a microprocessor operating the first and second drive mechanisms.

8. The rotary chuck of claim 1 , wherein the first drive mechanism includes a motor, a threaded drive rod connected to the motor, and a threaded drive coupling the drive rod to the clamp assembly.

9. The rotary chuck of claim 8 , wherein the motor is coupled with the clamp assembly by brackets.

10. The rotary chuck of claim 1 , wherein said clamp assembly is an iris/diaphragm clamp.

11. The rotary chuck of claim 1 in combination with a workpiece.

12. The combination of claim 11 , wherein said workpiece has an outer diameter between 0.5″ and 7″.

13. An assembly comprising:
a stable surface;
a mounting plate having at least a pair of elongated apertures therethrough;
fasteners extending through the apertures and affixed to the stable surface, the mounting plate being pivotable relative to the stable surface by the fasteners sliding along the elongated apertures;
a pair of springs attached to the mounting plate and attached to the stable surface, the springs limiting the amount of pivotal movement of the mounting plate; and
a rotary chuck capable of clamping a variety of sizes of workpieces and comprising
a clamp assembly including a plate, a plurality of jaws attached to the plate and movable relative to the plate, the jaws being positionable in a variety of positions relative to the plate to accommodate a variety of sizes of workpieces, the jaws capable of clamping an associated workpiece, the clamp assembly defining a centerline,
a frame coupled with the plate, the frame and the plate being rotationally fixed relative to each other,
a first drive mechanism capable of operating the clamp assembly, the first drive mechanism being affixed to the frame,
a second drive mechanism affixed to the frame and to the mounting plate, the second drive mechanism rotating the frame, the clamp assembly and the first drive mechanism around the centerline relative to a ground surface.

14. The assembly of claim 13 , wherein the springs extend parallel to the stable surface.

15. The assembly of claim 13 , wherein the first drive mechanism, the clamp assembly and the frame can be rotated around 360 degrees.

16. The assembly of claim 13 , wherein the first drive mechanism includes a motor, and further comprising a microprocessor operating the motor.

17. The assembly of claim 13 , further comprising a microprocessor operating the first and second drive mechanisms.

18. The assembly of claim 13 , wherein the first drive mechanism includes a motor, a threaded drive rod connected to the motor, and a threaded drive coupling coupling the drive rod to the clamp assembly.

19. The assembly of claim 13 , further including a stop plate mounted on the frame, wherein the stop plate is configured to abut a workpiece and prevent further movement of the workpiece relative to the second drive mechanism.

Assignees

• Greenlee Textron Inc

Inventors

• Mantell Ryan
• Plummer Jeffrey
• Tully Gerald
• Daugherty Sean

Classifications

• Y10T279/13

  Angularly adjustable or indexing · CPC title

• B23B31/28

  using electric or magnetic means in the chuck · CPC title

• B23B31/34

  with means enabling the workpiece to be reversed or tilted · CPC title

• B65G47/24 Primary

  orientating the articles · CPC title

• B23B31/1261 Primary

  pivotally movable in a radial plane · CPC title