B23 MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
Description
B23 encompasses machine tools and metal-working processes that are not classified elsewhere in the IPC system. This class covers a broad range of equipment and methods for shaping, cutting, forming, and finishing metal workpieces, including lathes, milling machines, grinding equipment, and specialized metal-removal or metal-forming devices. The classification includes both the machines themselves and the operational techniques employed in metal-working, as well as auxiliary systems and components integral to these processes. Adjacent classes address more specialized metal-working technologies (such as B21 for metal rolling or forging) and non-metal material processing, making B23 the residual classification for conventional machine-tool technology not specifically assigned elsewhere.
Filing statistics
CPC B23 recorded 683,004 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023, summed across its 9 subclasses. Annual filings grew from 38,757 in 2013 to 62,535 in 2023 (+61%), peaking at 80,272 applications in 2020. The most active applicants in class B23 are ITW (ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS) (3,642 applications), DISCO CORPORATION (3,316 applications) and FANUC (3,111 applications).
Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings
9 direct subcodes
Child Classifications
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- B23B TURNING; BORING (arrangements for copying or controlling B23Q)
- B23C MILLING (broaching B23D; broach-milling in making gears B23F; arrangement for copying or controlling B23Q)
- B23D PLANING; SLOTTING; SHEARING; BROACHING; SAWING; FILING; SCRAPING; LIKE OPERATIONS FOR WORKING METAL BY REMOVING MATERIAL, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (making toothed gears or the like B23F; cutting metal by applying heat locally B23K; arrangements for copying or controlling B23Q)
- B23F MAKING GEARS OR TOOTHED RACKS (by stamping B21D; by rolling B21H; by forging or pressing B21K; by casting B22; arrangements for copying or controlling B23Q; machines or devices for grinding or polishing, in general B24B)
- B23G THREAD CUTTING; WORKING OF SCREWS, BOLT HEADS, OR NUTS, IN CONJUNCTION THEREWITH (making helical grooves by turning B23B5/48, by milling B23C3/32, by forging, pressing, or hammering B21K1/56, by grinding B24B19/02; arrangements for copying or controlling B23Q; thread-forming by corrugating tubes B21D15/04, by rolling B21H3/02)
- B23H WORKING OF METAL BY THE ACTION OF A HIGH CONCENTRATION OF ELECTRIC CURRENT ON A WORKPIECE USING AN ELECTRODE WHICH TAKES THE PLACE OF A TOOL; SUCH WORKING COMBINED WITH OTHER FORMS OF WORKING OF METAL (processes for the electrolytic or electrophoretic production of coatings, electroforming, or apparatus therefor C25D; processes for the electrolytic removal of material from objects C25F; manufacturing printed circuits using precipitation techniques to apply the conductive material to form the desired conductive pattern H05K3/18)
- B23K SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM
- B23P METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; COMBINED OPERATIONS; UNIVERSAL MACHINE TOOLS (arrangements for copying or controlling B23Q)
- B23Q DETAILS, COMPONENTS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR MACHINE TOOLS, e.g. ARRANGEMENTS FOR COPYING OR CONTROLLING (tools of the kind used in lathes or boring machines B23B27/00); MACHINE TOOLS IN GENERAL CHARACTERISED BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF PARTICULAR DETAILS OR COMPONENTS; COMBINATIONS OR ASSOCIATIONS OF METAL-WORKING MACHINES, NOT DIRECTED TO A PARTICULAR RESULT
Top Applicants
Top 10 applicants by patent filings, 2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT
- ITW (ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS) US 3,642
- DISCO CORPORATION JP 3,316
- FANUC JP 3,111
- ROBERT BOSCH DE 2,711
- FANUC 2,163
- GE (GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY) US 2,113
- ISCAR IL 1,516
- SIEMENS DE 1,459
- LINCOLN GLOBAL US 1,433
- KOBE STEEL JP 1,423