Machine tool and methods for pointing wire

Abstract

A machine tool for pointing a plurality of wires is provided. The machine tool comprises a magazine, a base frame, a slide guide, a fixture, a grinder, and a numerical control system. The magazine is operable for holding the plurality of wires, to extend a wire end from the magazine and to allow relative freedom of rotation of the wires along their longitudinal axis. The slide guide is coupled to the base frame and extends from a loading station to a grinding station. The fixture has clamping sections operable to pivot toward each other to engage the wires therebetween. The numerical control system is operable to control the fixture and the grinder. The fixture is operable to translate along the slide guide to engage the wire end with the grinder. The fixture and the grinder cooperate to grind a desired number of facets into the wire end.

1 . A machine tool for pointing a plurality of wire for fishhook manufacturing, the wire having a wire first end and a wire second end opposite the wire first end, comprising:
 a magazine operable for holding the plurality of wires in a side-by-side, spaced-apart, substantially parallel and substantially coplanar relationship, the wires each defining a longitudinal axis, the magazine operable to extend the wire second end of the wires from the magazine, the magazine operable to allow relative freedom of rotation of the wires along their longitudinal axis;   a base frame defining a loading station and a grinding station;   a slide guide coupled to the base frame extending from the loading station to the grinding station;   a fixture having an inner clamping section and an outer clamping section, the inner clamping section and the outer clamping section are operable to be rotated about a pivot toward each other in a first position to engage the wires therebetween in clamping engagement and in a second position away from each other to release the clamping engagement on the wires;   a grinder coupled to the base frame at the grinding station, the grinder including a grinding wheel; and   a numerical control system in communication with and operable to control the fixture and the grinder, the fixture is operable to translate along the slide guide from the loading station to the grinding station to adjacent the grinder so as to engage the wire second end of the wires with the grinder, the fixture and the grinder cooperate to grind a desired number of facets into the wire second end.   
     
     
         2 . The machine tool of  claim 1 , wherein the outer clamping section is actuated by a lever to pivot the outer clamping section toward or away from the inner clamping section. 
     
     
         3 . The machine tool of  claim 1 , wherein the inner clamping section comprises an inner clamping shoe and an inner clamping plate, the inner clamping shoe is integral to the inner clamping plate, the inner clamping shoe includes an inner shoe clamping face, and
 wherein the outer clamping section comprises an outer clamping shoe and an outer clamping plate, the outer clamping shoe is integral to the outer clamping plate, the outer clamping shoe comprises an outer shoe clamping face,   the inner clamping plate and the outer clamping plate are operable to move the inner clamping shoe and outer clamping shoe, respectively, towards each other in the first position defining a gap into which the magazine may be disposed,   the inner shoe clamping face and the outer shoe clamping face each define a channel that extends substantially the width of the inner shoe and outer shoe, respectively, and are in opposed relationship when the inner clamping section and the outer clamping section are in the first position, a resilient strip is disposed within each channel that extend beyond a plane defined by the inner shoe clamping face and the outer shoe clamping face, respectively, the resilient strips cooperate to frictionally engage and support the wires when the inner clamping section and the outer clamping section are in the first position,   the inner clamping shoe is operable to laterally translate relative to the outer clamping shoe operable to rotate the wires when the inner clamping section and the outer clamping section are in the first position.   
     
     
         4 . The machine tool of  claim 1 , wherein the inner clamping section comprises an inner clamping shoe and an inner clamping plate, the inner clamping shoe is removably coupled to the inner clamping plate, the inner clamping shoe includes an inner shoe clamping face, and
 wherein the outer clamping section comprises an outer clamping shoe and an outer clamping plate, the outer clamping shoe is removably coupled to the outer clamping plate, the outer clamping shoe comprises an outer shoe clamping face,   the inner clamping plate and the outer clamping plate are operable to move the inner clamping shoe and outer clamping shoe, respectively, towards each other in the first position defining a gap into which the magazine may be disposed,   the inner shoe clamping face and the outer shoe clamping face each define a channel that extends substantially the width of the inner shoe and outer shoe, respectively, and are in opposed relationship when the inner clamping section and the outer clamping section are in the first position, a resilient strip is disposed within each channel that extend beyond a plane defined by the inner shoe clamping face and the outer shoe clamping face, respectively, the resilient strips cooperate to frictionally engage and support the wires when the inner clamping section and the outer clamping section are in the first position,   the inner clamping shoe is operable to laterally translate relative to the outer clamping shoe operable to rotate the wires when the inner clamping section and the outer clamping section are in the first position.   
     
     
         5 . The machine tool of  claim 4 , wherein the inner clamping shoe and the outer clamping shoe are operable for proper alignment of the wires with respect to the grinding wheel, the inner clamping shoe and the outer clamping shoe are configured as pairs for one of a predetermined wire diameter, wherein the fixture may be converted to be used for different wire diameters by replacing the inner clamping shoe and outer clamping shoe with an inner clamping shoe and an outer clamping shoe of suitable configuration. 
     
     
         6 . The machine tool of  claim 4 , the fixture further comprising a synchronously controlled lever means operable to engage the inner clamping shoe, wherein the fixture is operable such that as a result of the lateral translation of the inner clamping shoe by way of a synchronously controlled lever means, any desired angular adjustment of the wires about their axis may be simultaneously achieved so as to control the grinding of facets at the wire second end of the wires. 
     
     
         7 . The machine tool of  claim 4 , the fixture further comprising an actuator operable to engage and move the inner clamping shoe laterally relative to the outer clamping shoe, wherein the fixture is operable such that as a result of the lateral shifting of the inner clamping shoe by way of the actuator with the wires clamped between both the inner clamping shoe and outer clamping shoe and engaged by the resilient strips so as to affect simultaneous rolling of the wires about their longitudinal axes. 
     
     
         8 . The machine tool of  claim 7 , wherein the actuator comprises a motor and lever operable to bring about a synchronously controlled lateral movement of the inner clamping shoe. 
     
     
         9 . The machine tool of  claim 4 , wherein the grinding wheel defines a grinding wheel central axis, the slide guide defining a fixture lateral axis which is substantially parallel to the grinding wheel central axis, the fixture is operable to move along the slide guide in a lateral direction to and from the loading station and the grinding station, the grinding wheel comprising means to move the grinding wheel substantially orthogonal to the fixture lateral axis towards and away from the fixture to engage and disengage, respectively, the wire second end of the wires. 
     
     
         10 . The machine tool of  claim 1 , wherein the magazine comprises:
 a tray; and   a groove cover element,   the tray defining a tray width and a tray depth, the tray further defining a tray front surface, a tray back surface opposite the tray front surface, and a tray top, and a tray bottom opposite the tray top, the tray back surface defines a magazine first registration surface defining a first registration plane, a groove element depending from the tray front surface and extending substantially the entire tray width adjacent the tray top, the groove element defining a groove element surface comprising a plurality of grooves each defining a groove axis that is substantially perpendicular to the tray width, the groove axes arranged substantially parallel and substantially coplanar with respect to each other defining a groove plane, the groove plane is substantially parallel with the magazine first registration plane and substantially perpendicular to the tray width, a wire stop element depending from the tray front surface adjacent the tray bottom, the wire stop element extending substantially the entire tray width, the wire stop element defining a substantially flat stop surface facing towards the groove element and substantially orthogonal to the groove axes, each groove is operable to receive one wire therein, with the wire first end of the wires abutting the stop surface and the wire second end of the wires extending away from the wire stop and beyond the groove element,   the groove cover element operable to be removably coupled to the groove element surface and extend over the plurality of grooves, the groove cover element is operable to retain the wires within respective grooves while allowing the wire to freely rotate axially within the groove, the groove cover in cooperative engagement with the groove element so as to define a plurality of substantially parallel and substantially coplanar wire bores, the dimensions of the wire bores are predetermined so as to retain each wire in substantially parallel relationship to the other wires.   
     
     
         11 . The machine tool of  claim 10 , the tray front surface further comprising a plurality of coaxial groove elements operable to retain each wire in a substantially parallel and substantially coplanar orientation. 
     
     
         12 . The machine tool of  claim 1 , wherein the magazine comprises:
 a tray defining a tray width and a tray depth, the tray further defining a tray front surface, a tray back surface opposite the tray front surface, and a tray top, and a tray bottom opposite the tray top, the tray back surface defining a magazine first registration surface defining a first registration plane;   two parallel spaced-apart aperture elements depending from the tray front surface and extending substantially the entire tray width, the aperture elements define a plurality of coaxial apertures each defining an aperture axis that is substantially perpendicular to the tray width, the aperture axes are arranged substantially parallel and substantially coplanar with respect to each other defining an aperture plane, the aperture plane is substantially parallel with the magazine first registration plane and substantially perpendicular to the tray width, the aperture elements define a second registration surface that is substantially coplanar with a stop registration surface; and   a wire stop element depending from the tray front surface adjacent the tray bottom, the wire stop element extending substantially the entire tray width, the wire stop element defining a substantially flat stop surface facing towards the groove element and substantially orthogonal to the groove axes, each pair of coaxial apertures are operable to receive one wire therethrough, with the wire first end of the wires abutting the stop surface and the wire second end of the wires extending away from the wire stop and beyond the aperture element, the aperture elements are operable to retain the wires within the wire apertures while allowing the wires to freely rotate axially within the wire apertures, the dimensions of the wire apertures are predetermined so as to retain each wire in substantially parallel relationship to the other wires.   
     
     
         13 . The machine tool of  claim 1 , wherein the magazine comprises:
 a tray defining a tray width and a tray depth, the tray further defining a tray front surface, a tray back surface opposite the tray front surface, and a tray top, and a tray bottom opposite the tray top, the tray back surface defining a magazine first registration surface defining a first registration plane;   an aperture element depending from the tray front surface and extending substantially the entire tray width, the aperture element defines a plurality of apertures each defining an aperture axis that is substantially perpendicular to the tray width, the aperture axes are arranged substantially parallel and substantially coplanar with respect to each other defining an aperture plane, the aperture plane is substantially parallel with the magazine first registration plane and substantially perpendicular to the tray width, the aperture element defining a second registration surface that is substantially coplanar with a stop registration surface; and   a wire stop element depending from the tray front surface adjacent the tray bottom, the wire stop element extending substantially the entire tray width, the wire stop element defining a substantially flat stop surface facing towards the groove element and substantially orthogonal to the groove axes, each aperture is operable to receive one wire therethrough, with the wire first end of the wires abutting the stop surface and the wire second end of the wires extending away from the wire stop and beyond the aperture element, the aperture element is operable to retain the wires within the wire apertures while allowing the wires to freely rotate axially within the wire apertures, the dimensions of the wire apertures are predetermined so as to retain each wire in substantially parallel relationship to the other wires.   
     
     
         14 . The machine tool of  claim 1 , wherein the grinder comprises a grinding machine including the grinding wheel and a rotation means for rotating the grinding wheel about the grinding wheel central axis, the grinding wheel is in the form of a disk having a thickness defining a wheel face about the disk circumference, the wheel face defining a face width, the wheel face is the grinding surface for grinding the wires, the grinding wheel is operable to translate along an axis which is substantially orthogonal to the central axis of the grinding wheel and substantially orthogonal to the slide guide along which the grinding wheel is moved relative to the fixture. 
     
     
         15 . The machine tool of  claim 1 , wherein the grinder further comprises a sensing device operable for determining the diameter of the grinding wheel and therefore the distance of the wheel face from a reference point. 
     
     
         16 . The machine tool of  claim 15 , wherein the sensing device further comprises a wheel dressing element operable to flatten the wheel face after a grinding operation. 
     
     
         17 . A magazine for holding the plurality of wires in a side-by-side, spaced-apart, substantially parallel and coplanar relationship, the wires defining a longitudinal axis, comprising:
 a tray; and   a groove cover element,   the tray defining a tray width and a tray depth, the tray further defining a tray front surface, a tray back surface opposite the tray front surface, and a tray top, and a tray bottom opposite the tray top, the tray back surface defines a magazine first registration surface defining a first registration plane, a groove element depending from the tray front surface and extending substantially the entire tray width adjacent the tray top, the groove element defining a groove element surface comprising a plurality of grooves each defining a groove axis that is substantially perpendicular to the tray width, the groove axes arranged substantially parallel and substantially coplanar with respect to each other defining a groove plane, the groove plane is substantially parallel with the magazine first registration plane and substantially perpendicular to the tray width, a wire stop element depending from the tray front surface adjacent the tray bottom, the wire stop element extending substantially the entire tray width, the wire stop element defining a substantially flat stop surface facing towards the groove element and substantially orthogonal to the groove axes, each groove is operable to receive one wire therein, with the wire first end of the wires abutting the stop surface and the wire second end of the wires extending away from the wire stop and beyond the groove element,   the groove cover element operable to be removably coupled to the groove element surface and extend over the plurality of grooves, the groove cover element is operable to retain the wires within respective grooves while allowing the wire to freely rotate axially within the groove, the groove cover in cooperative engagement with the groove element so as to define a plurality of substantially parallel and substantially coplanar wire bores, the dimensions of the wire bores are predetermined so as to retain each wire in substantially parallel relationship to the other wires, the magazine operable for holding the plurality of wires in a side-by-side, spaced-apart, substantially parallel and substantially coplanar relationship, the wires defining a longitudinal axis, the magazine operable to extend the second end of the wires from the magazine, the magazine operable to allow relative freedom of rotation of the wires along their longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         18 . The magazine of  claim 17 , wherein the tray front surface further comprises a plurality of substantially coaxial groove elements operable to retain each wire in a substantially parallel and substantially coplanar orientation. 
     
     
         19 . A magazine for holding the plurality of wires in a side-by-side, spaced-apart, substantially parallel and coplanar relationship, the wires defining a longitudinal axis, comprising:
 a tray defining a tray width and a tray depth, the tray further defining a tray front surface, a tray back surface opposite the tray front surface, and a tray top, and a tray bottom opposite the tray top, the tray back surface defining a magazine first registration surface defining a first registration plane;   two parallel spaced-apart aperture elements depending from the tray front surface and extending substantially the entire tray width, the aperture elements define a plurality of coaxial apertures each defining an aperture axis that is substantially perpendicular to the tray width, the aperture axes are arranged substantially parallel and substantially coplanar with respect to each other defining an aperture plane, the aperture plane is substantially parallel with the magazine first registration plane and substantially perpendicular to the tray width, the aperture elements define a second registration surface that is substantially coplanar with a stop registration surface; and   a wire stop element depending from the tray front surface adjacent the tray bottom, the wire stop element extending substantially the entire tray width, the wire stop element defining a substantially flat stop surface facing towards the groove element and substantially orthogonal to the groove axes, each pair of coaxial apertures are operable to receive one wire therethrough, with the wire first end of the wires abutting the stop surface and the wire second end of the wires extending away from the wire stop and beyond the aperture element, the aperture elements are operable to retain the wires within the wire apertures while allowing the wires to freely rotate axially within the wire apertures, the dimensions of the wire apertures are predetermined so as to retain each wire in substantially parallel relationship to the other wires.   
     
     
         20 . A magazine for holding the plurality of wires in a side-by-side, spaced-apart, substantially parallel and coplanar relationship, the wires defining a longitudinal axis, comprising:
 a tray defining a tray width and a tray depth, the tray further defining a tray front surface, a tray back surface opposite the tray front surface, and a tray top, and a tray bottom opposite the tray top, the tray back surface defining a magazine first registration surface defining a first registration plane;   an aperture element depending from the tray front surface and extending substantially the entire tray width, the aperture element defines a plurality of apertures each defining an aperture axis that is substantially perpendicular to the tray width, the aperture axes are arranged substantially parallel and substantially coplanar with respect to each other defining an aperture plane, the aperture plane is substantially parallel with the magazine first registration plane and substantially perpendicular to the tray width, the aperture element defines a second registration surface that is substantially coplanar with a stop registration surface; and   a wire stop element depending from the tray front surface adjacent the tray bottom, the wire stop element extending substantially the entire tray width, the wire stop element defining a substantially flat stop surface facing towards the groove element and substantially orthogonal to the groove axes, each aperture is operable to receive one wire therethrough, with the wire first end of the wires abutting the stop surface and the wire second end of the wires extending away from the wire stop and beyond the aperture element, the aperture element is operable to retain the wires within the wire apertures while allowing the wires to freely rotate axially within the wire apertures, the dimensions of the wire apertures are predetermined so as to retain each wire in substantially parallel relationship to the other wires.   
     
     
         21 . A method for pointing a plurality of wires for fishhook manufacturing, the wire having a wire first end and a wire second end opposite the wire first end, comprising:
 using a machine tool comprising:   a magazine operable for holding the plurality of wires in a side-by-side, spaced-apart, substantially parallel and substantially coplanar relationship, the wires defining a longitudinal axis, the magazine operable to extend the second end of the wires from the magazine, the magazine operable to allow relative freedom of rotation of the wires along their longitudinal axis;   a base frame defining a loading station and a grinding station;   a slide guide coupled to the base frame extending from the loading station to the grinding station;   a fixture having an inner clamping section and an outer clamping section;   the inner clamping section and the outer clamping section are operable to be rotated about a pivot toward each other in a first position to engage the wires therebetween in clamping engagement and in a second position away from each other to release the clamping engagement on the wires;   a grinder coupled to the base frame at the grinding station, the grinder including a grinding wheel; and   a numerical control system in communication with and operable to control the fixture and the grinder, the fixture is operable to translate along the slide guide from the loading station to the grinding station to adjacent the grinder so as to engage the wire second of the wires with the grinder, the fixture and the grinder cooperate to grind a desired number of facets into the wire second end;   loading a plurality of wires into the magazine,   loading the magazine into the fixture at the loading station;   advancing the fixture to the grinding station;   exposing the wires to a grinding operation to form a first facet on the wire second end of the wires;   moving the inner clamping shoe laterally with respect to the outer clamping shoe so as to simultaneously rotate the wires about their axes;   exposing the wire second end of the wires to the grinding operation to form a second or subsequent facet on the second end of the wires;   advancing the fixture to the loading station;   removing the magazine from the fixture; and   removing the wires from the magazine.   
     
     
         22 . A method for pointing a plurality of wires for fishhook manufacturing, the wire having a wire first end and a wire second end opposite the wire first end, comprising:
 using a machine tool comprising:   a magazine operable for holding the plurality of wires in a side-by-side, spaced-apart, substantially parallel and substantially coplanar relationship, the wires defining a longitudinal axis, the magazine operable to extend the second end of the wires from the magazine, the magazine operable to allow relative freedom of rotation of the wires along their longitudinal axis;   a base frame defining a loading station and a grinding station;   a slide guide coupled to the base frame extending from the loading station to the grinding station;   a fixture having an inner clamping section and an outer clamping section;   the inner clamping section and the outer clamping section are operable to be rotated about a pivot toward each other in a first position to engage the wires therebetween in clamping engagement and in a second position away from each other to release the clamping engagement on the wires;   a grinder coupled to the base frame at the grinding station, the grinder including a grinding wheel; and   a numerical control system in communication with and operable to control the fixture and the grinder, the fixture is operable to translate along the slide guide from the loading station to the grinding station to adjacent the grinder so as to engage the wire second of the wires with the grinder, the fixture and the grinder cooperate to grind a desired number of facets into the wire second end;   loading a plurality of wires into the magazine,   loading the magazine into the fixture at the loading station;   translating the fixture to the grinding station;   advancing the grinder incrementally toward the fixture;   exposing the wires to a grinding operation to form a first facet on the wire second end of the wires;   advancing the grinder away from the fixture;   translating the grinding wheel in the lateral direction away from the fixture to a predetermined position;   translating the fixture away from the grinding wheel along the slide guide;   moving the inner clamping shoe laterally with respect to the outer clamping shoe so as to simultaneously rotate the wires about their axes a predetermined amount;   exposing the wire second end of the wires to the grinding operation to form a second or subsequent facet on the second end of the wires;   advancing the fixture to the loading station;   removing the magazine from the fixture; and   removing the wires from the magazine.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 determining a diameter of the grinding wheel and therefore a distance of the wheel face from a reference point prior to grinding the first facet.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 dressing the grinding wheel prior to grinding the first facet.   
     
     
         25 . A method for pointing a plurality of wires for fishhook manufacturing, the wire having a wire first end and a wire second end opposite the wire first end, comprising:
 using a machine tool comprising:   a magazine operable for holding the plurality of wires in a side-by-side, spaced-apart, substantially parallel and substantially coplanar relationship, the wires defining a longitudinal axis, the magazine operable to extend the second end of the wires from the magazine, the magazine operable to allow relative freedom of rotation of the wires along their longitudinal axis;   a base frame defining a loading station and a grinding station;   a slide guide coupled to the base frame extending from the loading station to the grinding station;   a fixture having an inner clamping section and an outer clamping section;   the inner clamping section and the outer clamping section are operable to be rotated about a pivot toward each other in a first position to engage the wires therebetween in clamping engagement and in a second position away from each other to release the clamping engagement on the wires;   a grinder coupled to the base frame at the grinding station, the grinder including a grinding wheel; and   a numerical control system in communication with and operable to control the fixture and the grinder, the fixture is operable to translate along the slide guide from the loading station to the grinding station to adjacent the grinder so as to engage the wire second of the wires with the grinder, the fixture and the grinder cooperate to grind a desired number of facets into the wire second end;   cutting a plurality of wire to a predetermined length;   loading the plurality of wires into the magazine;   loading the magazine into the fixture;   closing the fixture;   initiating programming to affect a predetermined grinding process;   unloading the magazine from the fixture; and   unloading the plurality of wires from the magazine.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the programming comprises:
 activating a sensing device so as to determine and obtain grinding wheel face position data;   determining spatial coordinates of the fixture relative to the wheel face;   translating the fixture to the grinding station;   advancing the grinder incrementally toward the fixture;   traversing the wire second ends against the grinding wheel face a predetermined number of times;   exposing the wires to a grinding operation to form a first facet on the wire second end of the wires;   advancing the grinder away from the fixture;   translating the fixture away from the grinding station;   translating the inner clamping face relative to the outer clamping face to simultaneously rotate the wires a predetermined rotation angle;   repeating the grinding process a predetermined number of times associated with the number of facets desired; and   returning the fixture to the loading station.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25 , the programming comprising:
 activating a sensing device so as to determine and obtain grinding wheel face position data;   determining spatial coordinates of the fixture relative to the wheel face;   translating the fixture to the grinding wheel face so as to traverse the wire second ends against the wheel face to produce a first facet;   advancing the grinding wheel incrementally toward the fixture;   translating the wire second ends against the wheel face in alternating directions so as to traverse the wire second ends substantially the length of the grinding wheel face a plurality of times suitable for producing the desired facet;   advancing the grinding wheel away from the fixture;   moving the fixture away from the grinding station after a facet is formed;   moving the inner clamping shoe laterally with respect to the outer clamping shoe in a direction substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the wires to simultaneously rotate the wires uniformly through a predetermined angle;   translating the fixture to the grinding wheel face;   advancing the grinding wheel incrementally toward the fixture so as to traverse the wire second ends against the wheel face to produce a second facet;   advancing the grinding wheel away from the fixture;   moving the fixture to the loading station at the commencement of the final facet; and   moving the outer clamping section away from the inner claiming section.