Method for producing bearing components

Abstract

A method for producing bearing components includes providing a first bearing component, a second bearing component, a first production line, and a second production line. The first production line has a first grinding machine, a first honing machine, a first measuring unit, and a first conveyor unit. The second production line has a second grinding machine, a second honing machine, and a second conveyor unit. The method also includes grinding and honing the first bearing component, measuring a first dimension of the first bearing component, grinding and honing the second bearing component, and combining the first bearing component and the second bearing component to form a roller bearing or a slide bearing. The first production line and the second production line are operated in a synchronized manner such that the second grinding machine or the second honing machine is operated under closed-loop control using the first dimension.

Claims

1. A method for producing bearing components comprising: providing a first bearing component and a second bearing component; providing a first production line comprising a first grinding machine, a first honing machine, a first measuring unit, and a first conveyor unit; providing a second production line comprising a second grinding machine, a second honing machine, and a second conveyor unit; transporting the first bearing component with the first conveyor unit; grinding the first bearing component with the first grinding machine and honing the first bearing component with the first honing machine; measuring a first dimension of the first bearing component with the first measuring unit; transporting the second bearing component with the second conveyor unit; grinding the second bearing component with the second grinding machine and honing the second bearing component with the second honing machine; and, combining the first bearing component and the second bearing component to form a roller bearing or a slide bearing, wherein the first production line and the second production line are operated in a synchronized manner such that the second grinding machine or the second honing machine is operated under closed-loop control using the first dimension.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first bearing component is a one of a bearing outer ring or a bearing inner ring and the second bearing component is the other of the bearing outer ring or the bearing inner ring.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the measuring a dimension of the first bearing component with the measuring unit occurs prior to the grinding the first bearing component with the first grinding machine.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the measuring a dimension of the first bearing component with the measuring unit occurs after the grinding the first bearing component with the first grinding machine.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the measuring a dimension of the first bearing component with the measuring unit occurs after the honing the first bearing component with the first honing machine.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the first bearing component and the second bearing component pass along the first production line and the second production line, respectively, lying on a constant horizontal plane (E).

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing an assembly unit, wherein the assembly unit combines the first bearing component and the second bearing component to form the roller bearing or the slide bearing.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising: providing the second production line with a second measuring unit; measuring a second dimension of the second bearing component with the second measuring unit; providing a third bearing component; providing a third production line comprising a third grinding machine and a third honing machine, wherein the second production line and the third production line are operated in a synchronized manner such that the third grinding machine or the third honing machine is operated under closed-loop control using the first dimension or the second dimension.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising providing an assembly unit, wherein the assembly unit combines the first bearing component, the second bearing component, and the third bearing component to form the roller bearing or the slide bearing.

10. A roller bearing produced using the method of claim 1, wherein a running noise of the roller bearing has a maximum sound pressure level of 30 decibels when measured at a thermal reference speed of the roller bearing.

11. A production system comprising: a first production line for producing a first bearing component, the first production line comprising a first conveyor unit, a first grinding machine, a first honing machine, and a first measuring unit for measuring a first dimension of the first bearing component; a second production line for producing a second bearing unit, the second production line comprising a second conveyor unit, a grinding machine and a honing machine; and, an assembly unit arranged downstream of the production lines for assembling the first bearing component and the second bearing component into a roller bearing or a slide bearing; and, a first data transmission line, wherein the first production line and the second production line are connected by the first data transmission line and are operable in a synchronized manner such that the first dimension is transmittable to the second production line by the first data transmission line for closed-loop control of the second grinding machine or the second honing machine.

12. The production system of claim 11, wherein the first production line and the second production line are configured such that the first bearing component and the second bearing component, respectively, pass along on a constant horizontal plane (E).

13. The production system of claim 11, further comprising an operator aisle between the first production line and the second production line, wherein: the first production line comprises a first display unit; the second production line comprises a second display unit; and, the first display unit faces the second display unit.

14. The production system of claim 11 further comprising a second data transmission line, wherein the assembly unit is connected to the first production line or the second production line by the second data transmission line.

15. The production system of claim 11, further comprising a third production line.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIGS. 1 to 2 show examples of a production line, a production system and a method for producing bearing components. Thus,

(2) FIG. 1 shows a production line; and,

(3) FIG. 2 shows a production system including four production lines for producing bearing components.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(4) FIG. 1 shows a production line 1 for producing a bearing component, such as a bearing ring 20. For simplicity's sake, the blank to be machined, which is formed into the bearing ring 20 by machining as it passes along the production line 1, is here already designated with reference sign 20. The production line 1 includes a plurality of production units in the form of a grinding machine 2a, a first cleaning unit 4a, a hardening unit 8a, a honing machine 3a, a further cleaning unit 4a′ combined with a demagnetization unit 6a, a measuring unit 7a for measuring the bearing component and a conveyor unit 5. The bearing component is transported along the production line 1 by means of the conveyor unit 5. Each bearing component undergoes a grinding operation using the grinding machine 2a and honing using the honing machine 3a. Prior to the grinding operation and/or after the grinding operation and/or after honing, the bearing component is measured to determine at least one dimension of this first bearing component using the measuring unit 7a.

(5) The production line 1 is further configured such that the bearing components pass therealong lying on a constant horizontal plane E. The conveyor unit 5 may include a plurality of conveyor belts, which directly adjoin one another and are set up to transport the blanks to be machined along the production line 1 in the horizontal plane E. In this respect, conveyor units 5 incorporated into the production units and/or separate conveyor units 5 may be used on the production line 1. Downstream of the production line 1 is an assembly unit 9, into which the finished, measured bearing ring 20 is fed and assembled with further bearing components, matched directly thereto with regard to their dimensions, from parallel production lines (ref. FIG. 2) to yield a roller or slide bearing 40.

(6) FIG. 2 shows a production system 100 including four parallel production lines 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d for producing bearing components. In this case, a first production line 1a and a second production line 1b are associated with a first operator aisle 101, while a third production line 1c and a fourth production line 1d are associated with a second operator aisle 101′. The two system parts are divided by a central, dashed dividing line, since the left-hand part includes the first production line 1a and the second production line 1b may also be operated without the right-hand part including the third production line 1c and the fourth production line 1d. Thus, during slide bearing production, just two parallel, synchronized production lines for producing a bearing inner ring and a bearing outer ring may be present. It is however also possible when producing roller bearings for just two synchronized production lines to be present for producing, for example, a bearing inner ring and a bearing outer ring. The rolling elements originate, as hitherto, from a sorting device for rolling elements of specific measurement classes and are stored in magazines for the respective measurement classes for assignment and assembly of the rolling elements.

(7) On the production line 1a, a first bearing component is produced in the form of a bearing ring 20, here, for example, in the form of a bearing inner ring. Here too, for simplicity's sake the blank to be machined, which is formed into the bearing ring 20 by machining as it passes along the first production line 1a, is already designated with reference sign 20. The first production line 1a includes a plurality of production units in the form of a grinding machine 2a, a first cleaning unit 4a, a hardening unit 8a, a honing machine 3a, a further cleaning unit 4a′ combined with a demagnetization unit 6a, a measuring unit 7a for measuring the first bearing component and a conveyor unit 5a. In the measuring unit 7a of the first production line 1a a dimension, here the external diameter, of the bearing inner ring is measured.

(8) On the second production line 1b a second bearing component is produced in the form of a bearing ring 30, here, for example, in the form of a bearing outer ring. Here too, for simplicity's sake the blank to be machined, which is formed into the bearing ring 30 by machining as it passes along the second production line 1b, is already designated with reference sign 30. The second production line 1a includes a plurality of production units in the form of a grinding machine 2b, a first cleaning unit 4b, a hardening unit 8b, a honing machine 3b, a further cleaning unit 4b′ combined with a demagnetization unit 6b, a measuring unit 7b for measuring the bearing component and a conveyor unit 5b. In the measuring unit 7b of the second production line 1b a dimension, here the internal diameter, of the bearing outer ring is measured.

(9) On the third production line 1c a third bearing component in the form of a rolling element 35 is produced, in the shape of a cylinder, for example. Here too, for simplicity's sake the blank to be machined, which is formed into the rolling element 35 by machining as it passes along the third production line 1c, is already designated with reference sign 35. The third production line 1c includes a plurality of production units in the form of a grinding machine 2c, a first cleaning unit 4c, a hardening unit 8c, a honing machine 3c, a further cleaning unit 4c′ combined with a demagnetization unit 6c, a measuring unit 7c for measuring the bearing component and a conveyor unit 5c.

(10) On the fourth production line 1d a further third bearing component is produced in the form of a rolling element 35′, here, like on the third production line 1c, likewise in the shape of a cylinder. Here too, for simplicity's sake the blank to be machined, which is formed into the rolling element 35′ by machining as it passes along the fourth production line 1d, is already designated with reference sign 35′. The fourth production line 1d includes a plurality of production units in the form of a grinding machine 2d, a first cleaning unit 4d, a hardening unit 8d, a honing machine 3d, a further cleaning unit 4d′ combined with a demagnetization unit 6d, a measuring unit 7d for measuring the bearing component and a conveyor unit 5d.

(11) The grinding machines 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d here all take the form of vertical grinding machines and the honing machines 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d all take the form of vertical honing machines. This enables the bearing components to pass along the production lines 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d on a common constant horizontal plane E (ref. FIG. 1). This simplifies assembly of the bearing components into a roller or slide bearing 40 in an assembly unit 9 arranged downstream of the production lines 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d.

(12) The first production line 1a and the second production line 1b are connected together by a data transmission line 50 and synchronized in such a way that the determined dimension of the first bearing component can be transmitted to the second production line 1b. The grinding operation and/or the honing to produce the second bearing component on the second production line 1b proceeds under closed-loop control on the basis of the determined dimension of the first bearing component. In this case, the measured external diameter of the bearing ring 20 in the form of the bearing inner ring is used in a closed-loop control unit 60, which is incorporated into the grinding machine 2b of the second production line 1b, to determine a specified dimension for an internal diameter of the bearing ring 30 in the form of the bearing outer ring. The bearing ring 30 is produced with dimensions which are matched to the dimensions of the bearing ring 20.

(13) The first production line 1a and the second production line 1b are connected to the third production line 1c by a data transmission line 51 and synchronized in such a way that the determined dimension of the first bearing component and the determined further dimension of the second bearing component may be transmitted to the third production line 1c. The grinding operation and/or the honing to produce the third bearing component on the third production line 1c proceeds under closed-loop control on the basis of the determined dimensions of the first bearing component and the second bearing component. In this case, the measured external diameter of the bearing ring 20 in the form of the bearing inner ring and the measured internal diameter of the bearing ring 30 in the form of the bearing outer ring is used in a closed-loop control unit 60′, which is incorporated into the grinding machine 2c of the third production line 1c, to determine a specified dimension for the cylindrical rolling elements 35 which are to be directly assembled with the bearing rings 20, 30. The rolling elements 35 are produced with dimensions which are matched to the dimensions of the bearing ring 20 and the bearing ring 30.

(14) The fourth production line 1d, and if necessary also yet further production lines, is here provided to enable provision of the necessary number of rolling elements 35 for the roller bearing to be assembled in parallel with production of the bearing rings 20, 30. The fourth production line 1d is synchronized with the first production line 1a and with the second production line 1b in a similar manner to synchronization of the third production line 1c. In this case, the measured external diameter of the bearing ring 20 in the form of the bearing inner ring and the measured internal diameter of the bearing ring 30 in the form of the bearing outer ring is used in a closed-loop control unit 60″, which is incorporated into the grinding machine 2d of the fourth production line 1d, to determine a specified dimension for the cylindrical rolling elements 35′ which are to be directly assembled with the bearing rings 20, 30. The rolling elements 35′ are produced with dimensions which are matched to the dimensions of the bearing ring 20 and the bearing ring 30.

(15) Assembly of the bearing components, i.e. of the bearing rings 20, 30 and optionally of the rolling elements 35, 35′, which have been produced with matching dimensions, to yield a roller or slide bearing 40, proceeds in the assembly unit 9 downstream of the production lines 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d. This latter is set up for final assembly of a roller or slide bearing 40 including the bearing components originating from the production lines. Intermediate storage of the produced bearing components is dispensed with, and thus also the risk of the dimensional stability of the produced bearing components being impaired again for example by mechanical interventions in the event of intermediate or temporary storage, for example by finished bearing components coming into contact with one another.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

(16) 1, la, lb, 1c, 1d Production line

(17) 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d Grinding machine, vertical grinding machine

(18) 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d Honing machine, vertical honing machine

(19) 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4a′, 4b′, 4c′, 4d′ Cleaning unit

(20) 5, 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d Conveyor unit

(21) 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d Demagnetization unit

(22) 7a, 7b, 7c, 7d Measuring unit

(23) 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d Hardening unit

(24) 9 Assembly unit

(25) 20, 30 Bearing ring

(26) 35, 35′ Rolling element

(27) 40 Roller or slide bearing

(28) 50, 51 Data transmission line

(29) 60, 60′, 60″ Closed-loop control unit

(30) 100 Production system

(31) 101, 101′ Operator aisle

(32) E Horizontal plane