US3467075A

US3467075A - Hand operated sectioning machine

Info

Publication number: US3467075A
Application number: US599260A
Authority: US
Inventors: Paul O Cary
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1966-12-05
Filing date: 1966-12-05
Publication date: 1969-09-16
Anticipated expiration: 1986-09-16

Description

Sept. 16, 1969 P. o. CARY HAND OPERATED SECTIONING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed E90. 5, 1966 r I i INVENTOR.

PAUL O. CARY PIG.

P. O. CARY HAND OPERATED SECTIONING MACHINE Sept, 16, 1969 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed E89 5 3,966

INVENTOR.

PAUL 0. CARY FIG. 7

United States Patent 3,467,075 HAND OPERATED SECTIONIN G MACHINE Paul 0. Cary, 423 E. Mayfield Drive, Grand Junction, Colo. 81501 Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 380,172, July 3, 1964. This application Dec. 5, 1966, Ser. No. 599,260.

Int. Cl. B28d 1/04; B27b /34 U.S. Cl. 12513 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 380,172, filed July 3, 1964, now U.S. Patent No. 3,289,663 issued Dec. 6, 1966.

Such analysis specimens must possess certain physical characteristics which will render said specimens useful. They must be very thin, normally about .0012" thick, and must be in a plane as nearly parallel to the surface of the glass slide as possible. It is usually very desirable that the surface of such specimens be as smooth as possible and polishing is sometimes employed to obtain this feature.

The conventional way of producing such specimens, as heretofore practiced, is to clamp the rock, boulder or lump from which the specimen is to be taken in a large slabbing saw well-known in the prior art and in wide use. A cut is taken through said rock to establish a flat surface, then the rock is reclamped and a second cut taken in order to slab off a piece that is from to of an inch thick and that has two roughly parallel faces. From said piece, a specimen is cut that will suitably fit upon a glass slide.

The specimen is then placed upon a lapping plate and one side lapped to obtain a smooth, flat surface. Said lapped surface is then impregnated with a suitable bonding agent, such as a clear epoxy cement, and then bonded to the glass slides so that the flat surface of the glass and the lapped surface of the specimen fit together as closely as possible in a plane.

The specimen, now mounted upon the slide, goes through subsequent trimming, lapping and polishing operations in order to obtain the finished specimen. Said subsequent operations, as heretofore practiced, have involved the use of a different machine or device for each operation, for instance, a small slabbing saw for trimming, a lapping or grinding machine, and a polishing machine. Employing the means as heretofore practiced involves a great deal of operator time and skill as the specimens are, for the most part, clamped, trimmed, fed, lapped or ground, and polished by hand. Skill on the part of the operator is very important because the operator must correct any errors induced in prior operations.

Since specimens are usually worked through the above Patented Sept. 16, 1969 mentioned operations by hand and through different machines, the heretofore practiced process does not lend itself very well when production of said specimens is in large quantities. The making of such specimens has been ever increasing, due to the search for more and better materials.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved device for producing thin section specimens on a large scale production basis.

A second object of the invention is to provide a single device for surfacing, trimming, grinding and polishing the thin section specimens.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device whereby a specimen is accurately positioned on a chuck and securely held during the subsequent trimming, grinding and polishing operations.

Still another object of the invention is to proivde a device whereby the thickness of cut is easily and accurately adjusted.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a machine that is portable, clean operating, easy to maintain and safe to use.

In order to understand the invention, reference is directed to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the invention with parts broken away;

FIGURE 3 is an elevational view from the front of the invention;

FIGURE 4 is a view in partial cross section of the vacuum chuck assembly taken on line 44 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a cross section of the spindle assembly taken along line 5-5 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 6 is a view in partial cross section taken along line =66 of FIGURE 2 showing the lock screw arrangement; and

FIGURE 7 is a diagrammatic view of the invention showing the spray system and the protection shield.

With reference to the drawings, the supporting base 10 having a rectangular configuration includes the

side panels

12, 14 and 16, and

cross members

18, 20, 22, 24 and 26. The coolant drain floor 28 comprises the front portion of the base, whereas the control panel 30 and adjacent mounting deck 35 form the rear portion of the base 10. These parts are preferably welded, but may be joined by any other means, including bolting. The flap door 32 pivotally mounted on the front of cross member 18 allows easy access to the area beneath drain floor 28. Mounted on the deck 35 are the drive motor 36 and the quill assembly indicated generally as 38.

Six rubber feet 34 are attached to the bottom edge of

cross members

20, 22 and 26 near each corner to provide support for the entire machine base 10. The feet compensate for any unevenness of surface and resist slippage.

The quill assembly 38, as shown best in FIGURES 1, 2 and 5, comprises a cylindrical quill housing 40 which is mounted to the deck 35 by the mounting block 42. Within each end of the quill housing 40 are two sleeve bearings indicated as 43, and within the sleeve bearings 43 is fitted a tubular shaft 44. It is to be noted that tubular shaft 44 has the flange 46 which runs against the face of its bearing 43, while the other end of tubular shaft 44 has a graduated micrometer dial 48, described hereinafter, attached thereto, and said shaft 44 also runs against the face of sleeve bearing 43. Thus, it is clear that the tubular shaft 44 is free to rotate in its sleeve bearing 43 and is at the same time retained against longitudinal movement.

The micrometer dial 48 is provided with internal threads 50 which engage the external threads 52 on the quill 54. Quill 54 would be otherwise a slip fit inside tubular shaft 44 and the housing cap 56. Housing cap 56 carries a key 58 which engages a key way 60 provided in quill 54. It is easily seen that, when the micrometer dial 48 is turned, the threads 50 engage the threads 52 on quill 54, thus imparting longitudinal movement to the quill 54. However, quill 54 is prevented from rotating by means of key 58 and key way 60. It will also be noted that the micrometer dial 48 is provided with numerous graduations 48a engraved around its circumference which are easily set in relation to the witness mark 62, thus closely controlling longitudinal movement of quill 54.

Referring to FIGURES 2 and 5, lock screw 122 provides a means of locking the quill 54 once adjustment is established. As will be seen, the lock screw 122 threads into the housing cap 56. However, between screw 122 and quill 54 is a brass pad 124. It will be seen that the screw 122 can force pad 124 against quill 54 with sufficient pressure to clamp quill 54. The pad 124 prevents the marring of the surface of quill 54. v

The spindle 64, shown best in FIGURE 5, is rotatably journaled inside quill 54 and runs in the two ball bearings indicated as 66. The spindle 64 has amounting flange 68 and threaded thrust collar 70, both acting to retain the spindle 64 longitudinally and to pre-load the bearings 66 in order to eliminate spindle end shake. The thrust collar 70 is threadably engaged with the spindle shaft 64 and provides a manner of adjusting the amount of bearing pre-load.

The mounting flange 68 provides a suitable surface for mounting a circular saw blade and other processing tools. The saw blade 84 is retained against the flange 68 by the clamp disc 86, washer 88 and screw 90.

Extending from the spindle shaft 64 out of the quill 54 is the drive rod 72 which possesses a square cross section. The square drive rod 72 engages a square hole in pulley 74 which is rotatably journaled in ball bearing 76 so that pulley 74 is free to turn, but longitudinally retained. Ball bearing 76 is mounted in housing 78 which is mounted on deck 35. It is clear then that, since pulley 74 engages the Square drive rod 72 with a square hole, a means is provided for pulley 74 to transmit rotary power to the spindle shaft 64 and at the same time allowing the spindle to be longitudinally moved in relation to the pulley 74. Thus, it is obvious that, by rotating the spindle shaft 64, the mounting flange is also rotated.

Drive motor 36 is provided with pulley 80 and a V-belt 82 between

pulley

74 and 80 to provide a transfer of power. A belt guard 83 is provided for safety considerations.

An important and patentably distinct part of this invention is the cross slide assembly 85 which is mounted on the coolant drain floor 28 (see FIGURES 1 and 2.). The cross slide assembly includes cross slide base 92 which is mounted on the drain floor 28. At each end of base 92 are positioned shaft mounting blocks 94 in which are mounted two parallel shafts 96. A cross slide plate 98 is mounted upon shafts 96 utilizing four ball bushings 100 for linear movement. Thus, the slide plate 98 is able to slide along the length of shafts 96 under a very small amount of applied pressure.

Mounted upon the cross slide 98 is a chuck 102, the face of which is employed to hold microscope slides upon which have been mounted rock specimens. The preferred manner of holding the specimens on the chuck face is by vacuum; however, the invention is not limited to this and other prior art holding methods may also be used. Since vacuum is the preferred manner of holding specimens on the chuck, it is supplied to the chuck 102 by the tubing 104 and reaches the chucks face 102a by means of drilled ports 106 shown in FIGURE 4. It is seen that only two recessed specimen holding areas 105 are shown in the drawing; however, it is apparent that more speciment holding areas could be added. It is pointed out that other processing equipment can be mounted on the cross slide other than the specimen holding chuck, such as a vise.

Referring mainly to FIGURES l and 2, it is noted that a handle 106 is provided for hand feeding the cross slide 98 toward the blade 84 during sawing operations. An auxiliary fine feeding lever 108 is also provided for more closely controlled feeding of the cross slide 98. It includes the lever block 110 which is pivotally mounted at its lower end to the cross slide base 92 by pivot screw 112 and spacer blocks 114 and 116. Pivot screw 112 threads into the cross slide base 92. The holes in

spacers

114 and 116 and the lever block 110 are clearance holes. It is obvious, therefore, that the lever handle 108 can be moved in an arc.

Attached to the cross slide plate 98 is a feed block 118 on which is mounted a ball bearing 120. The ball bearing 120 engages a slot 110a milled in block 110. The width of slot 110a closely fits the diameter of ball bearing 120. It can be seen that, when the feed lever 108 is removed in its arc, motion is transmitted from the lever block 110 to the cross slide plate 98 by means of the slot 110a and ball bearing 120, the movement of the cross slide being parallel to the axis of shafts 96.

The apparatus of this invention also includes a spray coolant system, since spraying lengthens the life of the cutting mechanism by facilitating its work. Spraying also enhances the finished product. Such a spraying system would include a coolant tray 132 inside of which is a pump 134. Both of these are easily removed or replaced by lifting flap door 32 and sliding tray 132 and pump 134 in or out of the apparatus. The pump 134 will deliver a water spray or other spray material to the cutting area through a hose 136 through deck 35 to valve 138 and thence to spray nozzle 140 positioned at the said cutting area. The spray material floods the processing area and drains down to the drain floor 28. Since the drain floor 28 is slightly lower in elevation at the drain area, spray material will run toward the drain opening 142 and drain through hose 143 to the tray 132. A hinged coolant shield 144 confines the spray material to the cutting area. The shield is constructed preferably of a transparent material in order to allow ample viewing of the cutting operation.

The operation of the machine is as follows: In place of the vacuum chuck 102, a vise (not illustrated) may be mounted on the cross slide 98, a diamond blade 84 is mounted on the machine spindle. With the machine set up thus, a rock can be clamped in the vise and sectioned by feeding it through the saw blade 84. In this case, the sawing handle 106 is used in order to feed the rock quickly and so the operator can feel the cutting pressure and resistance of the rock. The object of this operation is to saw a first flat surface on the rock. As many rocks as necessary can be run through this first surface operation. The lock lever 122 is tightened when cutting to prevent the spindle 64 from moving longitudinally.

After all the rocks are sawed, the first surface is bonded to glass microscope slides. The vise is removed and the vacuum chuck 102 is mounted on the cross slide 98. The mounted rock is then gripped on the chucking face 102:: of the chuck 102 by means of vacuum. The excess rock can now be sawed off by moving the cross slide 98 into the saw blade 84. All rock is cut off the microscope slide except for a paper thin section. The amount of rock removed is controlled by adjusting the micrometer dial 48 until the correct amount is removed. Then the lock lever 122 is tightened to retain the setting. All the slide mounted rock is trimmed as aforementioned, leaving a number of slide mounted specimens. Saw blade 84 can now be removed from the machine spindle 64 and a diamond grinding cup wheel can be mounted in its place.

Each mounted specimen that has been previously trimmed by the saw blade 84 can now be rechucked and brought to finish by means of grinding. During the grinding operation, the feed lever 108 is utilized instead of handle 106, since it is important to have more closely controlled feeding during grinding.

The grinding operation removes any irrgularities introduced by sawing, removes saw marks and brings the specimen to final thickness of 30 microns (.0012").

During the grinding operation, the quill lock screw 122 is loosened and the amount of material to be removed is controlled by adjusting the micrometer dial 48. In practice, the specimen is passed by the grinding wheel several times, each pass taking off a small amount of rock until the specimen is brought to finished thickness.

A spring 130 is provided to remove all backlash from the micrometer adjustment. Since the micrometer dial 48 is of large diameter with a large number of graduations 48a around its circumference and, since the threads 50 engaging the quill 54 are fine, very close control of the amount of quill 54 movement is established.

It is pointed out that the feed lever 108 can be easily removed from the machine during the first surface and trim sawing operations by removing the pivot screw 112, and then easily replaced for the later grinding operation.

Having thus described the several useful and novel features of the instant invention, it will be apparent that the many worthwhile objectives for which it was developed have been achieved. I realize that a certain changes and modifications in the invention may well occur to those skilled in the art within the broad teaching hereof; hence, it is my intention that the scope of protection afforded hereby shall be limited only insofar as said limitations are expressly set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A thin sectioning machine comprising:

a support base;

a rotatable cutting system mounted on said support base, said cutting system having a spindle adaptable to rotational movement and a cutter mounted thereon at one end;

a micrometer means positioned on said cutting system and designed to accurately adjust the said cutting system in a longitudinal direction;

a power means mounted on said support base adjacent said cutting system and designed to transmit rotational power to said spindle;

a sliding cross slide plate mounted on said support base and designed to be manually moved both toward and away from said rotating cutting system;

a specimen holder removably mounted on said cross slide plate and designed to bring a specimen positioned thereon into contact with said cutter when the said cross slide plate is moved toward said cutting system.

2. The thin sectioning machine as defined in claim 1 wherein:

the said specimen holder has a plurality of suction positions on the face thereof; each suction position being connected to a series of ducts within the said specimen holder; and

means to provide vacuum to said specimen holder and thence to said suction positions enabling a specimen to be held thereon.

3. The thin sectioning machine as defined in claim 1 wherein:

spray means are mounted adjacent the cutter to provide a cooling spray on both the cutter and the specimen; and

a coolant shield means mounted over the cutting area to retain the said spray therein.

4. A thin sectioning machine comprising:

a support base;

a quill positioned on said support base;

a spindle mounted for rotational movement inside said quill but restrained against longitudinal movement;

a mounting flange positioned at one end of said spindle;

a cutter removably mounted on said mounting flange;

a micrometer threadably mounted on said quill designed to move the quill in an accurately measured longitudinal direction and simultaneously prevent rotational movement of said quill;

a power means mounted on said support base and adapted to transmit rotational power to said spindle;

a pair of spaced parallel shafts mounted on said support base positioned transversely and adjacent to said spindle and said cutter;

a sliding cross plate slidably mounted on said spaced parallel shafts, said cross slide plate designed to manually slide along said parallel shafts both toward and away from said rotating cutter;

a specimen holder removably mounted on said cross slide plate and designed to bring a specimen positioned thereon into contact with said rotatable cutter.

5. The thin sectioning machine as defined in claim 4 wherein:

means to provide vacuum to said specimen holder and hence to said suction positions enabling a specimen to be held thereon.

6. The thin sectioning machine as defined in claim 4 wherein:

7. A thin sectioning machine comprising:

a support base;

a quill housing mounted on said support base;

a quill positioned inside said quill housing and adaptable for longitudinal movement;

a mounting flange positioned at one end of said spindle;

a cutter removably mounted on said mounting flange;

a pair of spaced parallel shafts mounted on said support base positioned tranversely and adjacent to said spindle and said cutter;

a sliding cross slide plate slidably mounted on said spaced parallel shafts, said cross slide plate designed to manually slide along said parallel shafts both toward and away from said rotating cutter;

a specimen holder removably mounted on said cross slide plate and designed to 'bring a specimen positioned thereon into contact with said rotatable cutter.

8. The thin sectioning machine as defined in claim 7 wherein:

the said specimen holder has a plurality of suction positions on the face thereon; each suction position being connected to a series of ducts within the said specimen holder; and

9. The thin sectioning machine as defined in claim 7 wherein:

a coolant shield means mounted over the cutting area to retain the said spray therein. 10. The thin sectioning machine as defined in claim 7 wherein:

an auxiliary feed lever engages and cooperates with said cross slide plate to provide fine manual feed control.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,322,644 11/1919 Steiner.

Lansing 125-14 Eyles et al. 12513 Tuorto 125-14 Konway 125-14 US. '01. X.R.