General components that are used in any kind of machine tool, such as machine beds, feeding devices, workpiece holding means, workpiece conveying means, tool changing means, chip evacuating means, etc...

Machine configurations combining different kinds of machining operations, such as drilling, milling, turning, or cutting, e.g. sawing.

In the subclass B23Q, a machine tool is considered to be a mechanical working machine that removes material from a workpiece with a mechanical cutting edge to perform a shaping operation, essentially through drilling, milling, turning, or cutting, e.g. sawing.

B23Q is in general related to machine tools in the sense of the wording as being referred to above, not related to a particular result. There are, however, subclasses that are specially dedicated to specific machining techniques and their corresponding equipment or methods. Classification is done in the specific subclasses and not in B23Q, if the process or apparatus is fully covered in said specific subclasses.

B21 deals with mechanical working of metal without removing material.

B23B is the subclass for machines or components dedicated to turning or boring operations. In particular, group B23B 31/00 relates to chucks and group B23B 27/00 to tools for turning or boring machines. B23C is the subclass for milling, B23D for slotting or sawing, B23F for making gears, B23G for thread cutting, B23H for electro discharge machining, B23K for welding, B24 for grinding or polishing.

B25B relates to clamps, vices or chucks as such, with no special relation to a specific configuration of a machine tool. B25J deals with manipulators.

The subclasses B25C, B25D, B25F deal with portable power driven tools. B25H refers to workshop equipment, e.g. work benches. Subclass B26D relates to cutting and severing, B26F to perforating and punching.

Transport or storage devices not used in particular handling or treatment are covered by B65G.

F16 is a general class of mechanical components (such as linear guides and bearings) that are used in machine tools, as well as in other technical fields.

Group G05B 19/00 covers program control systems.

H01L 21/67 covers apparatus specially adapted for handling semiconductor or electric solid state devices, e.g. wafers, during manufacture or treatment thereof.

As guidance for finding the appropriate subclass, reference is made to the following flow chart:

The preceding image includes references to B25B, B25C, B25D, B25F, B25J, B65G, F16C, B23Q, B21D, B23K, B23B, B23C, B23D, B25H, B26D, B26F, G05B, and H01L.

Features relating to the transfer of energy (mechanical, hydraulic or pneumatic) or signals in the machine tool.

Features relating to the bed or frame of the machine tool, spatial disposition of the linear guides, degrees of freedom of the tool or workpiece.

Features of the structure supporting the workpiece.

Means for guiding or stopping the movement of slides or spindles carrying the tool or the workpiece.

The groups B23Q 1/48 - B23Q 1/62 do not cover parallel kinematic structures as such, without special application in a machine tool, which is covered by B25J 9/00, B25J 17/00.

B23Q 1/48 - B23Q 1/62

The following table summarises the content of the groups, wherein

P means a purely translational movement along an axis (Prismatic)

R means a purely rotational movement around an axis

A means a perpendicular relationship between two consecutive moving axes

E means a parallel relationship between two consecutive moving axes

I means a 45° inclination between two consecutive moving axes

O means other relative orientation between two consecutive moving axes.

The machines are classed according to their axis configuration, starting from the bed (fixed portion) and going towards the last moving portion (usually the tool or the workpiece, or a spindle or a supporting surface for a workpiece).

The rotation of the cutting tool in the spindle (milling, drilling, etc.) is not considered here as a rotational movement R.

To illustrate the meaning of the symbols P, R, A, E, the drawings below indicate the relation between the symbol(s) and the actual movement:

B23Q 1/0054

Means for adjusting height or inclination of the machine on the floor or on a support surface.

B23Q 1/0063

Means for clamping pallets or similar exchangeable parts in a fixed place on the machine, usually engaging a male and a female part (e.g. "quick clamping cylinder").

B23Q 1/01

Special features of the frame, the bed, the portal of the machine, or the arrangement of the ways (linear guides) on the machine.

Machines where a portal, bridge or gantry is an important feature are classified in B23Q 1/012.

B23Q 1/25

Inventions concerning the kinematical structure of the machine tool: how the movement is guided, number and relative arrangement of the axes.

B23Q 1/703

Inventions relating to the extension of a tool holder or a tool.

Means for transferring energy (electrical, hydraulic or pneumatic) or signals through moving parts of the machine.

Mostly workpiece supports for specially shaped workpieces (large or flexible) or variety of workpiece shapes or special cutting applications requiring special features of the workpiece support.

See table provided under B23Q 1/00 for summary of kinematic connections

See table provided under B23Q 1/00 for summary of kinematic connections.

See table provided under B23Q 1/00 for summary of kinematic connections.

Inventions relating to the bearings configuration or the housing of a working spindle.

Guides or fences for guiding the movement of workpieces (B23Q 3/005).

Devices for tightly holding a workpiece on a table or support in order to machine it (B23Q 3/06 - B23Q 3/08).

Any holding, supporting or positioning device for a workpiece, directed to the machining of the workpiece.

Arrangements for the automatic insertion or removal of a cutting tool from the spindle or tool holder of the machine tool (B23Q 3/155).

Arrangements for replacing, inserting or removing multi-spindle head modules:

Illustrative document B23Q 2003/1558

While the classes B23Q 3/1572 - B23Q 3/15766 are subclasses of B23Q 3/15713, they shall be also used for devices with direct insertion of the tool in the spindle (B23Q 3/15706).

The documents shall thus receive a classification symbol in one of the B23Q 3/15706 or B23Q 3/15713 groups and eventually one of the groups B23Q 3/1572 - B23Q 3/15766.

Arrangements for automatic insertion or removal of tools are classified in the appropriate entries foreseen in the groups B23Q 3/155 through B23Q 3/15793, and when comprising guards, fences, doors or any other kind of housing for protection of some parts of said arrangements, then additional classification in B23Q 11/08 is required.

Means for pressing a workpiece against a guide, fence or table. Usually mounted on a structure over the machine table or on the spindle head. If the means is mounted directly on the table and presses the workpiece downwards against the table, then classify in B23Q 3/069.

Guides or fences for workpieces.

Devices for holding the tools in the storage means (grippers) or special features relating to the tool holder in the spindle for the automatic tool exchange.

Mechanisms for producing a rotational or reciprocating movement (driving) or translational movement (feeding) of a workpiece or tool, in a machine tool.

B23Q 5/10

Motorspindles.

B23Q 5/28

Machine tools with special configurations or features of linear motors.

Arrangements concerning the conveying of workpieces between machine tools or to the loading/unloading of machine tools.

The classes correspond either to the type of conveying means used B23Q 7/001 - B23Q 7/08 or to the relationship between the machining stations of a production line that are linked by conveying means B23Q 7/14 - B23Q 7/1421.

If the work is carried on a pallet or cart loosely mounted on a conveyor means, the document should be classified in B23Q 7/1426 or subclasses of it.

The classification of new documents in groups B23Q 7/14 - B23Q 7/1421 should be avoided, since the classification in B23Q 39/00 or B23Q 41/00 is preferred.

B23Q 7/007

Machining of the workpiece during its conveying (GB2273077).

B23Q 7/008

Devices for catching a finished workpiece (DE202006003047U).

B23Q 7/045

Arrangements for gripping a workpiece by using the tool holder means (EP1637279) or mounted on the tool spindle (EP2253422).

B23Q 7/1405

The workpieces are consecutively conveyed to the next working device, the working devices being placed in series (linearly or not) corresponding to the the sequence of working.

B23Q 7/141

A long workpiece is axially transported and one end of it is machined and cut from the rest of the workpiece.

Arrangements for supporting, fixing or guiding a portable machine tool in combination with guide means that position the machine tool relative to the workpiece.

Machine tools that are mounted on the surface of large workpieces (such as aircrafts), or that are fixed to a large workpiece with a special profile (such as beam or tube).

Machines that are automatically guided by means supported directly on the workpiece, e.g. via an automatic cart or crawler (B23Q 9/0007).

Machines that are manually guided by means supported directly on the workpiece (B23Q 9/0014).

B23Q 9/0007

Automatic machine usually used for machining large workpieces which require high machining accuracy (e.g. aeronautic components, pipes, or profiles), wherein the machine or the guide means are supported by the workpiece. If the guide means form part of the machine, then classify also in B23Q 9/0028 or B23Q 9/0035; if they are independent from the machine and fixed on the workpiece, then classify also in B23Q 9/0042 through B23Q 9/0057.

B23Q 9/0014

Smaller portable machine that is manually guided by the operator, wherein the machine or the guide means are supported by the workpiece. If the guide means form part of the machine, then classify also in B23Q 9/0028 or B23Q 9/0035; if they are independent from the machine and fixed on the workpiece, then classify also in B23Q 9/0042 through B23Q 9/0057.

B23Q 9/0064

The machine or the guide means are supported by a support independent from the workpiece. If the guide means form part of the machine, then classify in B23Q 9/0071; if they are independent from the machine and fixed to the support, then classify in B23Q 9/0078.

B23Q 9/02

This class takes precedence over B23Q 9/0014.

Here are classified machines that are secured to workpieces with a special shape such as beams or tubes, to which the securing means are specially adapted. If the workpiece is secured on the surface of the workpiece with standard fixing means, then classify in B23Q 9/0014.

Arrangements reducing or eliminating thermal influences in the machining accuracy (B23Q 11/0003).

Arrangements reducing or eliminating the influence of gravity on the machine (B23Q 11/001).

Arrangements reducing or eliminating undesired vibrations in parts of the machine (B23Q 11/0032).

Arrangements for removing or evacuating from the working area cutting chips produced during machining (B23Q 11/0042).

Arrangements protecting the operator from possible injuries or noise (B23Q 11/0078).

Arrangements for removing scrap from the teeth of cutting devices (B23Q 11/02).

Arrangements for preventing overload of tools for preventing their damage (B23Q 11/04).

Safety devices for specially adapted for disc shaped cutters like saws (B23Q 11/06).

Coverings for protecting parts of machine tools from dust, chips, cutting fluids, etc or for protecting the operator from flying cutting chips, centrifugated tools or cutting fluid (B23Q 11/08).

Arrangements for cooling or lubricating the interface between the tool and the workpiece or the tool itself. Special cooling or lubricating strategies, coolant nozzles, cooling liquid filtration systems (B23Q 11/10).

Arrangements for cooling or lubricating other parts of the machine than the tool and workpiece (bearings, spindle, motors, ballscrew, linear guides, frame (B23Q 11/12).

Arrangements for maintaining a constant temperature in parts of the machine tool, meaning the use of a certain temperature control strategy (B23Q 11/14).

B23Q 11/0053

Constructional or design measures intended to facilitate the evacuation of the chips by their own weight.

B23Q 11/06

This class should not be used if a more specific class in another field exists (see classes cited in B23Q 11/0078).

B23Q 11/1069

Systems for filtering the cutting liquid for separating the chips from the liquid.

B23Q 11/1076

Nozzle suited to be adapted to different tools, so that its position or the direction of the cutting liquid jet can be adjusted to the geometry of the tool.

B23Q 11/1084

General features relating to the distribution of coolant to the machine tools, coolant dispensing devices independent of the machine, etc.

Constructional or design measures intended to prevent negative influences of varying temperatures are classified in B23Q 11/0003.

If thermal dilation occurs, but measures are taken to compensate for it, then classify in B23Q 11/0007 (e.g. EP1989019).

Chip collectors or chip conveyors placed under or next to a machine tool, in order to catch and convey the chips from the working area to the outside.

If the invention is focussed on the separating of the chips from the coolant, then classify rather in B23Q 11/1069 (filtration).

If the invention concerns a specific kind of tool with features concerning its cooling or lubricating, it should be classified in the corresponding class of the tool.

Equipment used in combination with a tool when the tool is not in operation, e.g. tool covers avoiding injury of an operator or damage of the tool.

Control while the tool acts upon the workpiece. Control before or after the tool acts upon the workpiece.

Mechanical stops for positively defining a position of a part of the machine tool by abutment against the stop (B23Q 16/001 - B23Q 16/002).

Mechanisms of peck feed drills for periodically retracting the drill from the bored hole and advancing it again to the previous working position. Other mechanisms allowing to bring the tool back to a previous working position after an interruption (B23Q 16/003).

Equipment for measuring the distance just before contact or detecting the contact between two machine parts (B23Q 16/005).

B23Q 16/001-B23Q 16/002

If the stop is in a hollow spindle, then classify in B23Q 16/002

B23Q 16/04-B23Q 16/08

If the relative movement is locked by an intermediate member mounted on the support and insertable in an aperture of the indexing part, then classify in B23Q 16/04-B23Q 16/065.

If the relative movement is stopped by a sort of clamping means or meshing means (hirth ring), then classify in B23Q 16/08-B23Q 16/102.

If the indexing movement is a rotation and the clamping means is a disc or a drum brake, then classify in B23Q 16/105 or B23Q 16/107 respectively.

B23Q 16/04-B23Q 16/08

These classes concern details for locking or clamping the indexing part in the indexing position, so that it does not move relative to the fixed support.

If the relative movement is locked by an intermediate member mounted on the support and insertable in an aperture of the indexing part, then classify in

B23Q 16/04- B23Q 16/065

If the relative movement is stopped by a sort of clamping means or meshing means (hirth ring), then classify in B23Q 16/08-B23Q 16/102.

If the indexing movement is a rotation and the clamping means is a disc or a drum brake, then classify in B23Q 16/105 or B23Q 16/107 respectively.

B23Q 16/006

See, for example, US-5,765,448.

Device consisting of a plurality of abutting stops at different positions or of different lengths, in a common carrier, used for detemining a position or length of a machine part.

B23Q 16/007

Positive angle adjustment of a pivotable table. See, for example, US-3,861,088.

B23Q 16/02

Equipment for bringing a linearly or rotatably moving part to one of a plurality of consecutive predefined indexing positions.

B23Q 16/021

Details concerning the elements that assure the accurate positioning at the indexing point.

B23Q 16/022

Details concerning the mechanism that produces the movement from an indexing point to the next.

B23Q 16/027

Means for varying the distance between two consecutive indexing points or between various consecutive machine parts separated from each other by the same distance.

B23Q 16/028

Additional means for adjusting the position of the indexing part around the normal indexing position.

Arrangements for measuring any parameters, such as tool or workpiece dimensions, vibrations, positions of machine parts, etc.

Arrangements for detecting any machine condition, such as "tool or workpiece are safely clamped", "the machine parts are in a good state", for managing the life of the tools or other parts of the machine, etc.

B23Q 17/0966 - B23Q 17/0971

If the amplitude of a force is analysed in the time domain, then classify in B23Q 17/0966.

If the force is analysed in the frequence domain (vibration), then classify in B23Q 17/0971.

B23Q 17/2216-B23Q 17/2225

The documents should rather be classified in B23Q 17/0914-B23Q 17/0947 as far as possible.

B23Q 17/2233

If the referencing is done by contacting the workpiece with the tool, then classify in B23Q 17/2241.

B23Q 17/002

Controlling whether a tool or workpiece holder is correctly holding (correct position or correct holding force).

Depending on whether the parameter controlled is a position of a part or a force, pressure or deformation acting on a part, the document should be classified in B23Q 17/003 or B23Q 17/005 respectively.

B23Q 17/006

As opposed to B23Q 17/002, this class deals only with the detecting of the presence or absence of a tool or workpiece in its holder, and not to the quality of the holding action.

B23Q 17/007

Controlling the right, smooth functioning of parts of the machine, except the tool. Details concerning life management of a specific part (how long can this part still work correctly before it must be replaced or maintained?) are classified in B23Q 17/008.

B23Q 17/099

Analysing the quality (dimensions, roughness, temperature, etc.) of the machined workpiece.

B23Q 17/12

Special details of arrangements for measuring vibrations in machine tools.

B23Q 17/22

Special arrangements in machine tools for measuring the position of the workpiece or the tool relative to the machine or relative to each other.

Arrangements for correcting position errors or for adjusting the tool and the workpiece relative to each other.

B23Q 17/2208

Arrangements for detecting or preventing collisions between parts (tool, workpiece, slides, etc. ) of the machine tool.

B23Q 17/2216

Adjusting the tool into its holder or into the tool head, for example for correcting an eccentricity or an inclination error.

B23Q 17/2233

Arrangements for adjusting the position of the tool or the spindle relative to the workpiece or to a reference part in the machine.

B23Q 17/24

Arrangements using optical devices (lenses, electromagnetic waves, radar, cameras, etc.) for measuring, detecting a certain machine state, or facilitating the working in a machine tool.

Details concerning the control of the condition of the tool (level of wear, broken tool, dimensions, temperature, machining forces, etc.). Depending on whether the control is performed before/after machining or during machining, classify in B23Q 17/0904 - B23Q 17/0947 or B23Q 17/0952 - B23Q 17/099 respectively.

The tool is measured in an apparatus (presetting device) independent from the machine tool.

Measurement of workpiece characteristics, in a machine tool or directly related to the functioning of the machine tool.

Using light beams projected on the working area for helping the operator to guide the tool or workpiece to the desired target.

Arrangements for compensating any irregularities, such as wear, in the functioning of the machine tool.

Special machine configurations allowing to produce works of particular shape.

General methods for copying a shape.

This class is not used anymore for classifying. It contains some old documents that deal with the reproduction of a shape on a workpiece.

Arrangements allowing a tool to copy a pattern or model.

Arrangements allowing a cutting tool to machine a workpiece for reproducing the shape of a physical master model (e.g. a key). The shape of the master model is detected either with or without physical contact and the corresponding information is transferred to the axis of a machine tool.

Machine tools made of special modules allowing the machine to be reconfigured.

Modules adapted to make reconfigurable machines.

Machines not made of modular elements but being convertible into different working configurations (e.g., from horizontally working into vertically working; B23Q 37/002).

Machine tools made of a plurality of sub-assemblies, wherein each-subassembly can perform a machining operation, either simultaneously or consecutively, either on a same workpiece or not.

B23Q 39/02

There is a single operating station, i.e. either a single workholder for a plurality of toolheads (B23Q 39/021 - B23Q 39/027) or a plurality of workholders ready to be operated on by a single toolhead (B23Q 39/028).

B23Q 39/021 - B23Q 39/027

In these classes, "same working direction" means that the toolheads operate on the workpiece from the same side, with similar inclination of the tool. "Different working direction" means that the toolheads operate on the workpiece from different sides or with different inclination of the tool.

B23Q 39/04

Several workpieces are machined simultaneously at different stations by different tool heads.

Machining lines with a plurality of machining stations of different types, with a special arrangement or organisation of the machines, characterised not by the end product or the machining technology but by the relationship between the machines.

B23Q 41/02

Details relating to the transfer of the work between the machines.

If the details correspond to a specific transfer device, then classify in the corresponding group in B23Q 7/00 - B23Q 7/103.

B23Q 41/04

Details relating to the relative spatial arrangements of the machines in the factory.

B23Q 41/06

Details relating to the organisation of the working of the machines or to the distribution or flow of the workpieces between the machines.

B23Q 41/08

General details relating to the maintenance of efficient working conditions in the machines, such as parts or tool wear control, checking of quality, optimisation of working conditions.