CENTERLESS CYLINDRICAL GRINDING MACHINE

Abstract

The invention relates to a centerless cylindrical grinding machine (100) for throughfeed and plunge grinding of arbitrary workpieces comprising a first drivable positioning axis X.sub.S for a grinding headstock (10) with a grinding wheel (11) rotatable about an axis of rotation (12) and a second drivable positioning axis X.sub.R for a regulating wheel headstock (20) with a regulating wheel (21) rotatable about an axis of rotation (22), and a workpiece support (32) arrangeable substantially between the grinding headstock (10) and the regulating wheel headstock (20), wherein a further drivable positioning axis Y.sub.W, extending orthogonal to at least one of the positioning axes X.sub.S and X.sub.R, is mounted for a carriage (31) on a carriage track (30), via which the workpiece support (32) is movable, wherein the grinding headstock (10) and the regulating wheel headstock (20) are arranged in a first area (41) of a machine bed (40) and the carriage track (30) is at least partially arranged in a second area (42) of the machine bed (40), wherein the second area (42) of the machine bed (40) has a lesser extension in a direction parallel to the positioning axis Y.sub.W than the first area (41) of the machine bed (40).

Claims

1. A centerless cylindrical grinding machine for throughfeed and plunge grinding of arbitrary workpieces comprising a first drivable positioning axis X.sub.S for a grinding headstock with a grinding wheel rotatable about an axis of rotation and a second drivable positioning axis X.sub.R for a regulating wheel headstock with a regulating wheel rotatable about an axis of rotation, and a workpiece support arrangeable substantially between the grinding headstock and the regulating wheel headstock, wherein a further drivable positioning axis Y.sub.W, extending orthogonal to at least one of the positioning axes X.sub.S and X.sub.R, is mounted for a carriage on a carriage track, via which the workpiece support is movable, wherein the grinding headstock and the regulating wheel headstock are arranged in a first area of a machine bed and the carriage track is at least partially arranged in a second area of the machine bed, characterized in that the second area of the machine bed has a lesser extension in a direction parallel to the positioning axis Y.sub.W than the first area of the machine bed.

2. The centerless cylindrical grinding machine according to claim 1, wherein due to the lesser extension, free spaces are formed at both sides of the second area of the machine bed adjacent to the first area of the machine bed.

3. The centerless cylindrical grinding machine according to claim 1, wherein the second area of the machine bed extends, starting from the first area of the machine bed in a direction parallel to the positioning axis Y.sub.W, at least over a length of the workpiece support in said direction.

4. The centerless cylindrical grinding machine according to claim 1, wherein the extension of the second area of the machine bed, parallel to at least one of the positioning axes X.sub.S and X.sub.R, is substantially symmetrical, with respect to a center axis of the carriage track parallel to the positioning axis Y.sub.W.

5. The centerless cylindrical grinding machine according to claim 1, to wherein the centerless cylindrical grinding machine comprises a movable, in particular pivotable operating panel which is movable from a side of the second area of the machine bed, extending parallel to the positioning axis Y.sub.W, to the respectively other side.

6. The centerless cylindrical grinding machine according to claim 1, wherein the centerless cylindrical grinding machine comprises a first cover, which is movable from a loading position into a protection position, and, in the protection position, at least partially encompasses the second area of the machine bed, starting from the first area of the machine bed.

7. The centerless cylindrical grinding machine according to claim 6, wherein the first cover is movable perpendicular to the surface formed by the second area of the machine bed.

8. The centerless cylindrical grinding machine according to claim 6, wherein the first cover is at least partially open in the protection position on a side facing away from the second area of the machine bed.

9. The centerless cylindrical grinding machine according to claim 6, wherein the first cover is at least partially transparent at least in sections.

10. The centerless cylindrical grinding machine according to claim 6, wherein the centerless cylindrical grinding machine comprises a detection unit, which detects whether a protection area is accessed in a protection position of the first cover.

11. The centerless cylindrical grinding machine according to claim 1, wherein the centerless cylindrical grinding machine comprises a 3D scanner, which covers at least the second area of the machine bed as a scanning area and detects whether the scanning area is accessed.

12. The centerless cylindrical grinding machine according to claim 6, wherein the first cover does not substantially project beyond the workpiece support in the loading position.

13. The centerless cylindrical grinding machine according to claim 1, wherein the centerless cylindrical grinding machine comprises a second cover, which is movable from an access position into a protection position, and at least partially encompasses the first area of the machine bed.

14. The centerless cylindrical grinding machine according to claim 13, wherein the second cover is foldable.

15. The centerless cylindrical grinding machine according to claim 1, wherein the second area of the machine bed is movable into the first area of the machine bed.

Description

[0031] It is shown:

[0032] FIG. 1 A perspective view of the centerless cylindrical grinding machine obliquely from above with a depiction of the processing and positioning elements and the partition of the machine bed into a first and a second area;

[0033] FIG. 2 A perspective view of the centerless cylindrical grinding machine obliquely from above with a depiction of a pivotable operating panel as an embodiment of a movable operating panel;

[0034] FIG. 3 A perspective view of the centerless cylindrical grinding machine obliquely from above with a depiction of a first cover guided in the machine bed as an embodiment of a first cover, which is movable perpendicular to the surface formed by the second area of the machine bed;

[0035] FIG. 4 A perspective view of the centerless cylindrical grinding machine obliquely from above with a depiction of a second cover as an embodiment of a second cover, which is movable from an access position into a protection position and at least partially encompasses the first area of the machine bed;

[0036] FIG. 5 A perspective view of the centerless cylindrical grinding machine obliquely from above with a depiction of an embodiment, in which the second area of the machine bed is movable into the first area of the machine bed.

[0037] The figures each show the components essential for the described facts. For the benefit of simplicity, components that have otherwise already shown are not necessarily depicted again, even if these are comprised or at least may be comprised by a centerless cylindrical grinding machine.

[0038] The centerless cylindrical grinding machine 100 according to FIG. 1 comprises a grinding wheel 11 on a grinding headstock 10, which is movable in a first driven positioning axis X.sub.S. A regulating wheel 21 on a regulating wheel headstock 20 is movable in a second driven positioning axis X.sub.R. Positioning axis X.sub.S thereby runs parallel to positioning axis X.sub.R. Positioning axes X.sub.S and X.sub.R are arranged orthogonal to the respective axes of rotation 12, 22 of the grinding wheel 11 and the regulating wheel 21. A workpiece support 32 for a workpiece is arranged between the grinding headstock 10 and the regulating wheel headstock 20. The workpiece support 32 is located on a carriage 31, which is movable on a carriage track 30 orthogonal to axes X.sub.S and X.sub.R in a driven positioning axis Y.sub.W. The workpiece support 32 may be moved out of the hazardous area of the grinding wheel 11 and the regulating wheel 21 be means of the carriage 31. A dressing device (not shown here), comprising at least one dressing tool for the grinding wheel 11 and/or the regulating wheel 21, and/or a coolant supply, may be arranged on the carriage 31.

[0039] The grinding headstock 10, the regulating wheel headstock 20, and the carriage 31 on the carriage track 30 are preferably installed on a machine bed 40, preferably made from thermostable natural granite. The grinding headstock 10 and the regulating wheel headstock 20 are thereby arranged in a first area 41 of machine bed 40, while the carriage track 30 projects at least partially into a second area 42 of machine bed 40. The first area 41 and the second area 42 of the machine bed 40 are distinguishable in that the second area 42 of the machine bed 40 has a lesser extension in a direction parallel to positioning axis Y.sub.W than the first area 41 of the machine bed 40. In other words, the second area 42 of the machine bed 40 forms a projection, starting from the first area 41 of the machine bed 40 and extending in the direction of positioning axis Y.sub.W. In comparison with a centerless cylindrical grinding machine with a uniformly-wide machine bed, due to the second area 42 of machine bed 40, depicted in FIG. 1, broad free spaces result on both sides, which facilitate a better access to the individual components of the machine.

[0040] In the configuration shown in FIG. 1, the carriage track 30 projects as far into second area 42 of the machine bed 40 as the carriage 31 with workpiece support 32 may move out of the processing area formed between the grinding wheel 11 and the regulating wheel 21. When using a second cover 70 (FIG. 4), the carriage 31 and/or the workpiece support 32 may preferably be moved via the carriage track 30 into a position on the side of the second cover 70 facing away from the processing area. The second area 42 of the machine bed 40 accordingly has a minimum length in the direction of the positioning axis Y.sub.W which facilitates an accommodation of the carriage track 30 for the respectively required movement of the carriage 31 or of the workpiece support 32, respectively. An extension of the second area 42 of the machine bed 40 beyond the minimum length provides the opportunity to use the surface thereby created for arranging other components, like, for example, the pivotable operating panel 50, depicted in FIG. 2, and/or as storage.

[0041] Due to the symmetrical extension of the second area 42 of the machine bed 40, with respect to the center axis 33 of the carriage track 30 in the direction parallel to the positioning axes X.sub.S and X.sub.R, equally good accessibility results from the two sides, so that an operator may freely chose a position in relation to a preferred direction for operating or access.

[0042] The arrangement of a movable operating panel 50, shown in FIG. 2, supports the two-sided use of the free spaces provided by the second area 42 of the machine bed 40 due to the lesser extension. The operating panel 50 may be moved about the pivot axis 52 via the pivot arm 51 to the respectively preferred side of the operator for operating processes. In addition, the operating panel 50 may, however, for upgrading or repair work also be moved out the task space provided for this purpose.

[0043] In a configuration of a first cover 60 according to FIG. 3, the first cover 60 is moved perpendicular to the surface formed by the machine bed 40. The first cover 60 extends within the side walls of the second area 42 of the machine bed 40 and the side walls of the first area 41 of the machine bed 40 facing the second area 42 in the direction of the positioning axis Y.sub.W. The position of the first cover 60 depicted in FIG. 3 corresponds to a protection position, in which the potential for access into the area encompassed by the first cover 60 is limited. In the protection position, the first cover 60 here is open on a side facing away from the machine bed 40. In other words, a lateral protection is provided, without completely encapsulating the encompassed area. By this means, for example, the pivot arm 51 of the operating panel 50 may be arranged in the second area 42 of the machine bed 40 within the first cover 60, wherein the operating panel 50 is still available if the first cover 60 is moved into a protection position. Depending on the height of the first cover in a protection position, a targeted intervention by an operator is additionally still offered, while at least an accidental intervention is sufficiently prevented, and/or at least a visual control potential is offered.

[0044] In addition to the first cover 60, a second cover 70 is also provided in FIG. 4. The first cover 60 is shown here in a loading position, in which the first cover 60 is moved completely into the machine bed 40. The first cover 60 thus does not form an interference contour.

[0045] The second cover 70 is shown here in a protection position and is designed to be foldable about the first pivot axis 71 and the second pivot axis 72. In this position, the second cover 60 encompasses the grinding headstock 10 with the grinding wheel 11 and the regulating wheel headstock 20 with the regulating wheel 21 in the first area 41 of the machine bed 40 from two sides, perpendicular to the surface formed by the machine bed 40, which extend parallel to the positioning axes X.sub.S and X.sub.R, and a surface formed between these sides on a side facing away from the first area 41. Sections of the second cover 70 may also be formed by other system components, for example, a rear wall at the side of the first area 41 of the machine bed 40 facing away from the second area 42.

[0046] The second cover 70 has also provides an opening 73 on the side surface facing the second area 42 of the machine bed. The carriage 31 and the workpiece support 32 including a workpiece may also be moved through the opening 73 between the first area 41 and the second area 42 of the machine bed 40 when the second cover is located in a protection position. The opening 73 may be closeable so that the opening 73 is only open for the movement of the carriage or of the workpiece support through the same.

[0047] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the machine bed 40, wherein the second area 42 of the machine bed 40 is movable into and/or through the first area 41 of the machine bed 40 in a movement direction 43 parallel to the positioning axis Y.sub.W. Even if the depiction is directed at a movement of the second area 42 through the first area 41 in the movement direction 43 up to the second area up to a rearward projection, the centerless cylindrical grinding machine 100 may also be designed in such a way that the second area 42 does not form a rearward projection by the corresponding movement. For this purpose, the second area 42 may be shortened and/or the first area 41 may have a recess for second area 42.

[0048] The invention is not limited to the described embodiments. Even if the projection is shown here as a rectangle, the transition may have radii, taper, etc. Alternatively to the use of a pivot arm pivotable about a pivot axis, the operating panel may be moved in a guide along the machine bed. When providing a pivot arm, the pivot arm may also be designed as originating from above.