초록 ▼

A tool deployment apparatus for guarding the cutting regions of a plurality of rotary cutting tools against damage and wear, and to further enable the simultaneous release and retransmission of the rotary cutting tools into and from a conventional rotary cutting tool pallet. An apparatus housing inc

A tool deployment apparatus for guarding the cutting regions of a plurality of rotary cutting tools against damage and wear, and to further enable the simultaneous release and retransmission of the rotary cutting tools into and from a conventional rotary cutting tool pallet. An apparatus housing includes individual tool isolation areas which serve to align and protect the rotary cutting tools housed therewithin, which cutting tools are distally spaced in corresponding relationship to the receiving portions of the conventional tool pallet. A reciprocating bar, which includes elliptically shaped apertures, alternatively releases and obstructs the shaft portions of the rotary cutting tools. The deployment apparatus enables simultaneous release and retransmission of a plurality of rotary cutting tools from their inverted positions within the housing, without exposure to inadvertent contact with retraction elements that facilitate the alternative insertion of the tool shafts into and out of the pallet apertures.

대표청구항 ▼

A tool deployment apparatus for inserting, removing and otherwise deploying, one or more rotary cutting tools of the type having retaining collars, shank portions, and cutting edge portions, as well as for housing and shielding the cutting edge portions of said one or more rotary cutting tools durin

A tool deployment apparatus for inserting, removing and otherwise deploying, one or more rotary cutting tools of the type having retaining collars, shank portions, and cutting edge portions, as well as for housing and shielding the cutting edge portions of said one or more rotary cutting tools during storage and handling of same, said tool deployment apparatus facilitating the insertion and removal of said one or more rotary cutting tools, respectively, into and from tool retention pallet means through cooperation therebetween, said tool retention pallet means being of the type having one or more operably spaced pallet elements, said pallet elements being capable of accepting and releasably retaining at least a portion of the shank portion of said one or more rotary cutting tools from their respective positions within said tool deployment apparatus, said tool deployment apparatus comprising: tool housing means for retaining, orienting and aligning the position of each of said one or more rotary cutting tools relative to a respective one of said one or more pallet elements within said tool retention pallet means, said tool housing means having a top region and a bottom region opposite to said top region and further including one or more tool housing apertures positioned proximate to the tool housing means, for exposing at least a portion of said shank portions of said one or more rotary cutting tools, respectively, said tool housing means additionally including tool isolation means for isolating the cutting edge portions of at least one rotary cutting tool from inadvertent contact with adjacently positioned rotary cutting tools and other objects, said one or more tool housing apertures being configured in corresponding relationship to, and alignment with respective ones of said one or more pallet elements in said tool retention pallet means, for enabling aligned reciprocating deployment of said portion of exposed shank portion and, in turn, said respective rotary cutting tools, respectively, from and back into said tool housing means; and tool channeling means operably positioned proximate to said tool housing apertures for, alternatively, obstructing the release of said one or more rotary cutting tools from said tool housing means, through said tool housing apertures, and releasing said one or more rotary cutting tools through said tool housing apertures, so as to enable transmission of said aligned ones of said one or more rotary cutting tools from within said tool housing means, to and into said respective pallet elements of said tool retention pallet means.