Patent · US Expired

Electrical discharge machining apparatus with exchangeable electrode refeed cartridge

US4814573A · kind A · utility

30Cited by
8References
21Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 7, 1986
Grant dateMar 21, 1989
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 7, 2006

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T483/17
  • WIPO fieldMachine tools
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

An electrical discharge machine including a pick-and-place system for transferring electrode refeed cartridges from a storage turret to an EDM work station from either one or two indexable turrets. A plurality of equally spaced electrode cartridge assemblies are each removably mounted on each turret by magnets and guide pins. A slide assembly is vertically positioned between a cartridge assembly load and unload elevation and an EDM work station elevation. The slide assembly includes a movable connector plug assembly selectively driven by an EDM cylinder fixed on the slide assembly. The connector plug assembly supplies refeed cylinders on a slide mounted cartridge assembly and vertically reciprocates a power connector receptacle and drive head on such cartridge assembly. The receptacle and drive head include an electrode guide board guiding one or more electrodes with respect to a workpiece. The slide-mounted, fixed EDM cylinder moves the drive head to position such electrodes toward and away from the workpieces to spark erode desired openings therein. The connector plug assembly and receptacle cooperate to disconnect and connect the respective electrode cartridge assemblies with re…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.