B23F MAKING GEARS OR TOOTHED RACKS
Introduced: September 1968
Classification Context
- Section:
- PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- Class:
- MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- Subclass:
- MAKING GEARS OR TOOTHED RACKS
Description
B23F covers machine tools, processes, and equipment specifically designed for manufacturing gears and toothed racks through cutting, shaping, or finishing operations. This includes gear hobbing machines, gear shaping machines, gear grinding equipment, and related tools for producing spur gears, helical gears, bevel gears, and rack teeth. The classification encompasses both the machines themselves and the manufacturing methods employed, such as hobbing, shaping, grinding, and lapping of gear teeth.
Filing statistics
IPC subclass B23F recorded 16,856 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings grew from 952 in 2013 to 1,984 in 2023 (+108%), peaking at 2,088 applications in 2020. The most active applicants in class B23 are ITW (ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS) (3,407 applications), FANUC (3,120 applications) and DISCO ABRASIVE SYSTEM (2,777 applications).
Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings
In class comparison
B23F ranks 9th of 9 subclasses with filings in B23, with 16,856 applications between 2013 and 2023, 1.0% of the class. Annual filings grew 108% from 2013 to 2023, below the class as a whole (+174%).
| Rank | Subclass | Title | Applications | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 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 | Soldering or Unsoldering; Welding; Cladding or Plating by Soldering or Welding; Cutting by Applying Heat Locally, e.g. Flame Cutting; Working by Laser Beam | 516,255 | 31.8% |
| 2 | B23Q, Details, Components, or Accessories for Machine Tools, e.g. Arrangements for Copying or Controlling; 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 | Details, Components, or Accessories for Machine Tools, e.g. Arrangements for Copying or Controlling; 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 | 452,253 | 27.9% |
| 3 | B23P, Metal-Working Not Otherwise Provided for; Combined Operations; Universal Machine Tools | Metal-Working Not Otherwise Provided for; Combined Operations; Universal Machine Tools | 233,653 | 14.4% |
| 4 | B23B, Turning; Boring | Turning; Boring | 180,015 | 11.1% |
| 5 | B23D, Planing; Slotting; Shearing; Broaching; Sawing; Filing; Scraping; Like Operations for Working Metal by Removing Material, Not Otherwise Provided for | Planing; Slotting; Shearing; Broaching; Sawing; Filing; Scraping; Like Operations for Working Metal by Removing Material, Not Otherwise Provided for | 132,167 | 8.1% |
| 6 | B23C, Milling | Milling | 50,049 | 3.1% |
| 7 | 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 | 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 | 21,842 | 1.3% |
| 8 | B23G, Thread Cutting; Working of Screws, Bolt Heads or Nuts, in Conjunction Therewith | Thread Cutting; Working of Screws, Bolt Heads or Nuts, in Conjunction Therewith | 18,811 | 1.2% |
| 9 | B23F | Making Gears or Toothed Racks | 16,856 | 1.0% |
Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings
Related Keywords
12 direct subcodes
Child Classifications
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- B23F 1/00 Making gear teeth by tools of which the profile matches the profile of the required surface
- B23F 11/00 Making worm wheels, e.g. by hobbing
- B23F 13/00 Making worms by methods essentially requiring the use of machines of the gear-cutting type
- B23F 15/00 Methods or machines for making gear wheels of special kinds, not covered by groups
- B23F 17/00 Special methods or machines for making gear teeth, not covered by groups
- B23F 19/00 Finishing gear teeth by other tools than those used for manufacturing gear teeth
- B23F 21/00 Tools specially adapted for use in machines for manufacturing gear teeth
- B23F 23/00 Accessories or equipment combined with or arranged in, or specially designed to form part of, gear-cutting machines
- B23F 3/00 Making gear teeth involving copying operations controlled by templates having a profile which matches that of the required tooth face or part thereof or a copy thereof to a different scale
- B23F 5/00 Making straight gear teeth involving moving a tool relatively to a workpiece with a rolling-off or an enveloping motion with respect to the gear teeth to be made
- B23F 7/00 Making herring-bone gear teeth
- B23F 9/00 Making gears having teeth curved in their longitudinal direction
Top Applicants
Top 10 applicants by patent filingsfor class B23, 2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT
- ITW (ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS) US 3,407
- FANUC JP 3,120
- DISCO ABRASIVE SYSTEM 2,777
- HAN'S LASER TECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY GROUP COMPANY 2,629
- ROBERT BOSCH DE 2,468
- FANUC 2,273
- DISCO CORPORATION JP 2,267
- GE (GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY) US 1,611
- CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 1,534
- ISCAR IL 1,499