Method for producing bearing components by means of a production line, production line and production system

Abstract

A method for producing one or more bearing components along a production line, comprising honing the bearing components along the production line, cleaning the bearing components along the production line, grinding the bearing components along the production line, and transporting the bearing components along the production line utilizing one or more transport units.

Claims

1. A method for producing bearing components by utilizing a production line, comprising: utilizing at least one grinding machine to grind each bearing component; utilizing at least one honing machine to hone each of the bearing components; utilizing at least one cleaning unit to clean each of the bearing components; and utilizing at least one transport unit to transport each of the bearing components along the production line, wherein each bearing component is transported throughout the production line in a lying position, wherein the bearing component is formed as either a bearing outer ring or as a bearing inner ring, and that the grinding includes a step of an internal grinding of the bearing ring by utilizing a vertical grinding machine.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the bearing component is formed as a bearing inner ring, and that the grinding furthermore includes a step of an external grinding of the bearing component by utilizing the vertical grinding machine.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one honing machine is a vertical honing machine.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the method also includes utilizing at least one demagnetization unit, and that the bearing component is demagnetized after the grinding or after the honing.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the bearing component is cleaned in the at least one cleaning unit after the honing or after the demagnetizing.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the method also includes utilizing at least one measuring unit and that the bearing component is measured either before the grinding, after the grinding, or after the honing.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the outer bearing ring features a diameter between 10 to 500 mm.

8. A production line for producing bearing components comprising: at least one grinding machine; at least one honing machine; at least one cleaning unit; and at least one transport unit, wherein each bearing components can be transported along the production line using a transport unit, and can thereby be brought to the at least one grinding machine, to the at least one honing machine, and to the at least one cleaning unit, wherein the at least one grinding machine is a vertical grinding machine, and that the production line is configured to allow the bearing components to travel on a horizontal plane, wherein a first and second respective production line are arranged on each side of each control lane, whose operating and display units are arranged in such a way that the operating and display units are facing each other, and wherein the production line comprises at least one assembly station that is successively interlinked with the respective production line and which is configured for a final assembly of a rolling or sliding bearing comprising the bearing components that came from the production lines.

9. The production line of claim 8, wherein the at least one honing machine is a vertical honing machine.

10. The production line of claim 8, wherein the production line further includes at least one demagnetizing unit configured to demagnetize the bearing components.

11. The production line of claim 8, wherein the production line includes at least one measuring unit configured to measure the bearing components.

12. The production line of claim 8, wherein the bearing components of the first and second respective production line travel through on the same horizontal level.

13. The production line of claim 12, wherein each control lane features a width between 0.75 to 1.5 m.

14. A method for producing one or more bearing components along a production line, comprising: honing the one or more bearing components along the production line; cleaning the one or more bearing components along the production line; grinding the one or more bearing components along the production line; transporting the one or more bearing components along the production line utilizing one or more transport units; and demagnetizing the one or more bearing components along the production line.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the method further includes measuring the one or more bearing components along the production line.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the one or more bearing components are transported along the production line in a lying position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The FIGS. 1 to 6 should explain a method and a production line according to the disclosure as well as a production system by means of an example. It is shown:

(2) FIG. 1 a production line in the front view;

(3) FIG. 2 a schematic section of a vertical grinding machine;

(4) FIG. 3 a processing of a bearing component within a grinding device of a vertical grinding machine;

(5) FIG. 4 a production unit with a transport unit;

(6) FIG. 5 another production line comprising 3 interlinked production units according to FIG. 4;

(7) FIG. 6 a production system with two production lines.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(8) FIG. 1 depicts a production line 1 in the front view for producing bearing components, in particular bearing rings 20, comprising a grinding machine 2, a honing machine 3, a cleaning unit 4 and transport units 5. A measuring unit 7 and a demagnetizing unit 6 are furthermore provided between the honing machine 3 and the cleaning unit 4. The bearing components are transported throughout the production line 1 by using a transport units 5 and thereby successively brought to the grinding machine 2, to the honing machine 3, to the measuring unit 7, to the demagnetizing unit 6 and to the cleaning unit 4. The grinding machine 2 is hereby designed in form of a vertical grinding machine 2a. The honing machine 3 is hereby designed as a vertical honing machine 3a. The production line 1 is furthermore configured in such a way that the bearing components can be transported throughout it on a steady horizontal level E in a lying position. The transport units 5 are designed as conveyer belts, they are directly adjacent to each other and are arranged to transport the bearing components that need to be processed within the horizontal level E throughout production line 1. It is thereby possible that transport units 5, which are integrated into the production units, and/or separate transport units 5 are used in the production line 1.

(9) Same reference signs identify same elements within the following FIGS. 2 to 6.

(10) FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic section from a vertical grinding machine 2a with working tool axes B1, C1, W1, X1, Z1, a tool spindle 8 and two grinding spindles for a flexible grinding operation of bearing components.

(11) FIG. 3 depicts in the top view a processing of a bearing component in form of a bearing ring 20 within a vertical grinding machine 2a by using a grinding device 2a. Bearing ring 20 is transported in a lying position in the direction of the arrow on a transport unit 5, and is brought to the grinding device 2a by using a (not depicted) pusher, and is grinded in its lying position. After completing the grinding operation, the polished bearing ring 20 is transferred to transport unit 5 in lying position and continues to be transported further in that lying position. There is no turning or tilting of bearing ring 20, 20 in the course of the grinding operation.

(12) FIG. 4 depicts an embodiment of a production unit 10 for a production line 1 in a three-dimensional view. Such a production unit 10 can represent a grinding machine 2, a honing machine 3, a cleaning unit 4, a measuring unit 7 or a demagnetizing unit 6. The production unit 10 comprises an integrated transport unit 5 in form of a conveyer belt, on which a bearing component, in this case a bearing ring 20, can be transported throughout the production unit 10 in a lying position on a horizontal level E.

(13) FIG. 5 depicts a further production line 1 comprising three interlinked production units 10 according to FIG. 4 in form of a vertical grinding machine 2a, a vertical honing machine 3a and a cleaning unit 4. The further production line 1 comprises a transport unit 5 in form of a conveyer belt, on which a bearing component can be transported throughout the production line 1 on a horizontal level E in a lying position.

(14) FIG. 6 shows a schematic depiction of a production system 100 comprising two production lines 1a, 1b in top view. The two production lines 1a, 1b are arranged on the right and left along an control lane 101. Operating and display units of the two production lines 1a, 1b are hereby arranged in such a way that they are facing each other. A person located in the control lane 101 can simultaneously keep an eye on both production lines 1a, 1b and, when necessary, access their controls. Bearing components in form of bearing rings 20, 30, that need to be processes, are furthermore illustrated, which are transported throughout the respective production line 1a, 1b in the direction of the arrow. Within each production line 1a, 1b, e.g. a vertical grinding machine 2a, a vertical honing machine 3a, a demagnetizing unit 6 and a cleaning unit 4 are interlinked with each other, to which the bearing rings 20, 30 are subsequently brought for a treatment or a processing by using transport units 5.

(15) It is hereby possible to interlink as many production units as desired, and it is possible that there are different and/or same production units within one individual production line. Thus, it is also possible to arrange for several vertical grinding machines and/or vertical honing machines in a parallel manner, which are interlinked with one individual and possibly a faster operating subsequent production unit. It is also not necessary that both production lines, that can be operated from the control lane, are designed in the same way when viewed in the transporting direction of the components or that same or similar bearing components are processed by both production lines.

(16) If several control lanes exist, these may be aligned parallel to each other, wherein e.g. two production systems are arranged next to each other in accordance with FIG. 6. Hereby, the respective sides of the production units that are facing away from the control lane 101 may be aligned to the sides of the production units that are facing away from the further parallel control lane, to which this further control lane is aligned.

(17) An assembly unit 9 is arranged after the two production lines 1a, 1b, to which the completely processed bearing rings 20, 30 are transported to. An assembling of the bearing rings 20, 30 into a finished rolling or sliding bearing 40 is carried out in the assembly unit 9. It is thus possible that there is one respective production line for bearing components in the form of bearing inner rings, bearing outer rings, rolling bearing cages and bearing bodies, that are all interlinked with at least one subsequent assembly unit 9, in order to completely assemble a finished rolling or sliding bearing 40 from the bearing components in it.

REFERENCE SIGN LIST

(18) 1, 1, 1a, 1b Production line 2 Grinding machine, 2a Vertical grinding machine 2a Grinding device vertical grinding machine 3 Honing machine 3a Vertical honing machine 4 Cleaning unit 5 Transport unit 6 Demagnetizing unit 7 Measuring unit 8 Tool spindle 9 Assembly unit 10 Production unit 20, 30 Bearing ring 20 Polished bearing ring 40 Rolling or sliding bearing 100 Production system 101 Control lane B1, C1, X1, W1, Z1 Tool axis E Horizontal level