Lanny Lee Green

US Patent:

6447225, Sep 10, 2002

Filed:

Aug 22, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/643622

Inventors:

Lanny Green - Grass Lake MI

Assignee:

Ann Arbor Machine Company - Chelsea MI

International Classification:

B23C 104

US Classification:

409231, 409192, 409213, 408 48, 408 53, 408128, 74665 GE, 474 87

Abstract:

A spindle assembly, with improved belt drive, is suitable for a multi-axis machining cell providing tool movements along predetermined axes of motion, such as the X-, Y- and Z-axes. Plural machining spindles, each provided with a driven pulley, are mounted to a headstock of a machining cell. A spindle, drive motor is also mounted to the headstock and is provided with a drive pulley. A drive belt is trained, preferably by serpentine wrap, over the drive pulley and subsets of driven pulleys, and transmits rotational motion from the drive pulley to the driven pulleys. Preferably, at least one set of drive pulley and driven pulleys is constituted by herringbone sprockets.

US Patent:

6457918, Oct 1, 2002

Filed:

Aug 22, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/643623

Inventors:

Lanny Green - Grass Lake MI

Assignee:

Ann Arbor Machine Company - Chelsea MI

International Classification:

B23C 104

US Classification:

409134, 29DIG 60, 160 11, 160199

Abstract:

A machining cell capable of providing tool movement along at least one axis is provided with at least one, but preferably a pair of articulated debris shields mounted to a tool carriage that translates along an axis of motion. Each articulated debris shield occludes space vacated by the tool carriage as it translates along the axis of motion. In a preferred embodiment, the machining cell provides tool movements along x-, y-, and z-axes and has a stationary housing that supports a z-axis carrier frame slidably mounted thereto for translation along the z-axis. An x-axis carriage is slidably mounted to the z-axis carrier frame for translation along the x-axis. A y-axis spindle frame is slidably mounted to the x-axis carrier frame for vertical translation along the y-axis. Articulated debris shields constituted by folding panels are connected to the x-axis carriage and to the z-axis carrier frame for occluding gaps between the x-axis carriage and the z-axis carrier frame as the x-axis carriage translates relative to the z-axis carrier frame.

US Patent:

6568885, May 27, 2003

Filed:

Oct 1, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/262165

Inventors:

Lanny Green - Grass Lake MI

Assignee:

Ann Arbor Machine Company - Chelsea MI

International Classification:

B23C 104

US Classification:

409134, 29DIG 102, 29DIG 94, 29DIG 86, 29DIG 60, 74609, 451451, 451455, 160202, 160220, 52 64, 408 53, 408241 G, 409192

Abstract:

A machining cell capable of providing tool movement along at least one axis is provided with at least one, but preferably a pair of articulated debris shields mounted to a tool carriage that translates along an axis of motion. Each articulated debris shield occludes space vacated by the tool carriage as it translates along the axis of motion. In a preferred embodiment, the machining cell provides tool movements along x-, y-, and z-axes and has a stationary housing that supports a z-axis carrier frame slidably mounted thereto for translation along the z-axis. An x-axis carriage is slidably mounted to the z-axis carrier frame for translation along the x-axis. A y-axis spindle frame is slidably mounted to the x-axis carrier frame for vertical translation along the y-axis. Articulated debris shields constituted by folding panels are connected to the x-axis carriage and to the z-axis carrier frame for occluding gaps between the x-axis carriage and the z-axis carrier frame as the x-axis carriage translates relative to the z-axis carrier frame.

US Patent:

20030029697, Feb 13, 2003

Filed:

Aug 13, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/928723

Inventors:

Lanny Green - Grass Lake MI, US
Robert Betzig - Ann Arbor MI, US

International Classification:

B65G047/84
B65G047/24

US Classification:

198/377020, 198/377030, 198/377060, 198/478100

Abstract:

The present invention relates generally to a rotary transfer machine for machining workpieces, and more particularly to a rotary apparatus for presenting workpieces to a multi-spindle machining cell. The rotary transfer machine comprises an index table having plural index stations having corresponding indexing axes and dedicated workpiece fixtures mounted at the index stations. The workpiece fixtures are adapted to hold a workpiece and present a face thereof to be machined at a desired offset from the corresponding indexing axes of the index stations while presenting that face for machining to a pre-determined spindle or spindles of the machining cell.