CYLINDRICAL GRINDER

Abstract

Provided is a cylindrical grinder that is capable of automatically moving and fixing a tailstock in accordance with variations in length of a workpiece and enables improvement in its productivity. An NC cylindrical grinder includes: a table as a base; a headstock and an NC tailstock both arranged on the table; a moving mechanism configured to move at least either one of the headstock and the tailstock in a Z-axis direction; and a protective cover provided to the table and configured to protect the moving mechanism. In an area between the headstock and the tailstock and at a height position above the protective cover, a tooling base for mounting a tooling instrument thereon is arranged in a freely movable manner in the Z-axis direction. Provided is a guide mechanism for guiding the tooling base in the Z-axis direction and fixing the tooling base to the table at a required position.

Claims

1. A cylindrical grinder comprising: a base; a headstock arranged on said base and configured to rotatably support one end of a workpiece; a tailstock arranged on said base and configured to rotatably support another end of said workpiece; a moving mechanism provided to said base and configured to move at least either one of said headstock and said tailstock in a Z-axis direction, which is an axial direction of said workpiece; and a protective cover provided on said base and configured to protect said moving mechanism, wherein in an area between said headstock and said tailstock and at a height position above said protective cover, a tooling base for mounting a tooling instrument thereon is arranged in a freely movable manner in said Z-axis direction, and between said base and said tooling base, a guide mechanism being capable of guiding said tooling base in said Z-axis direction and fixing said tooling base to said base at a required position is provided.

2. The cylindrical grinder according to claim 1, wherein to at least either one of a part toward an operator side beyond said protective cover and a part toward an anti-operator side beyond said protective cover, of said tooling base, a leg part extending downward is provided in a fixed manner, and said guide mechanism comprises: a guide groove formed on an upper surface of said base and extending in said Z-axis direction; a clamp piece fitted in said guide groove in a freely movable manner in said Z-axis direction; and a clamp bolt provided to said leg part of said tooling base and configured to fix said clamp piece at a required position in said guide groove and fix said tooling base to said base.

3. The cylindrical grinder according to claim 1, wherein at at least either one of a portion toward an operator side beyond said protective cover and a portion toward an anti-operator side beyond said protective cover, both on an upper surface of said base, a support member protruding upward and configured to support said tooling base is provided in a fixed manner, and said guide mechanism comprises: a guide groove formed on an upper surface of said support member and extending in said Z-axis direction; a clamp piece fitted in said guide groove in a freely movable manner in said Z-axis direction; and a clamp bolt provided to said tooling base and configured to fix said clamp piece at a required position in said guide groove and fix said tooling base to said base.

4. The cylindrical grinder according to claim 1, wherein to either one of a part toward an operator side beyond said protective cover and a part toward an anti-operator side beyond said protective cover, of said tooling base, a leg part extending downward is provided in a fixed manner, at either one of a portion toward the operator side beyond said protective cover and a portion toward the anti-operator side beyond said protective cover, both on an upper surface of said base, a support member protruding upward and configured to support said tooling base is provided in a fixed manner, with the support member being provided at the portion where the leg part is absent, and said guide mechanism comprises: a first guide groove formed on the upper surface of said base and extending in said Z-axis direction; a first clamp piece fitted in said first guide groove in a freely movable manner in said Z-axis direction; a first clamp bolt provided to said leg part of said tooling base and configured to fix said first clamp piece at a required position in said first guide groove and fix said tooling base to said base; a second guide groove formed on an upper surface of said support member and extending in said Z-axis direction; a second clamp piece fitted in said second guide groove in a freely movable manner in said Z-axis direction; and a second clamp bolt provided to said tooling base and configured to fix said second clamp piece at a required position in said second guide groove and fix said tooling base to said base.

5. The cylindrical grinder according to claim 1, wherein said base is a table provided on a bed.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing an NC cylindrical grinder of Embodiment 1 of the present invention, with a workpiece being omitted.

[0038] FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 1.

[0039] FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view showing an NC cylindrical grinder of Embodiment 2 of the present invention, with a workpiece being omitted.

[0040] FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line B-B of FIG. 3.

[0041] FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view showing an NC cylindrical grinder of Embodiment 3 of the present invention, with a workpiece being omitted.

[0042] FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line C-C of FIG. 5.

[0043] FIG. 7 is a schematic plan view showing an NC cylindrical grinder of Embodiment 4 of the present invention, with a workpiece being omitted.

[0044] FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line D-D of FIG. 7.

[0045] FIG. 9 is a schematic plan view showing an NC cylindrical grinder of Embodiment 5 of the present invention, with a workpiece being omitted.

[0046] FIG. 10 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line E-E of FIG. 9.

[0047] FIG. 11 is a schematic plan view showing a conventional cylindrical grinder including a standard tailstock.

[0048] FIG. 12 is a schematic plan view showing a conventional NC cylindrical grinder including an NC tailstock, with a workpiece being omitted.

[0049] FIG. 13 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line F-F of FIG. 12.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0050] In the followings, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0051] In the following description, same components and same parts will be denoted by the same reference signs.

Embodiment 1

[0052] Embodiment 1 is shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 schematically show the overall configuration of an NC cylindrical grinder.

[0053] In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, an NC cylindrical grinder 1 includes: a bed 2; a wheel spindle stock 3 arranged on the bed 2 so as to be movable in an X-axis direction (up-down direction in FIG. 1), and having a wheel spindle (not shown) that is freely rotatable and is configured to hold a grinding wheel 31; a table 4, as a base, which is arranged on the bed 2 and in front of the wheel spindle stock 3 (toward the operator side from the wheel spindle stock 3) so as to be movable in a Z-axis direction (left-right direction); a headstock 5 arranged on the table 4 and configured to hold one end of a workpiece W; an NC tailstock 6 arranged on the table 4 in a freely movable manner in the Z-axis direction, which is an axial direction of the workpiece W, configured to hold the other end of the workpiece W, and configured to be moved in the Z-axis direction and to be fixed according to the length of the workpiece W to be machined; a moving mechanism 7 configured to move the NC tailstock 6 in the Z-axis direction by means of numerical control; a protective cover 8 configured to protect the moving mechanism 7 from a coolant or the like; a tooling base 9 for mounting a tooling instrument thereon, which is arranged in a freely movable manner in the Z-axis direction, in an area between the headstock 5 and the NC tailstock 6 and at a height position above the protective cover 8, and on which a tooling instrument T is mounted; and a guide mechanism being capable of guiding the tooling base 9 in the Z-axis direction and fixing the tooling base 9 to the table 4 at a required position.

[0054] On the table 4, at a portion near a front end thereof and a portion near a rear end thereof, guide rails 41 extending in Z-axis direction are provided. The NC tailstock 6 is attached to both of the guide rails 41 so as to straddle a space between the guide rails 41 and is configured to move in the Z-axis direction along both of the guide rails 41. The moving mechanism 7 consists of a ball screw 71 and a motor 72. The ball screw 71 consists of: a ball screw shaft arranged between both of the guide rails 41 and extending in the Z-axis direction; and a ball nut that is screw-fitted to the ball screw shaft with a plurality of balls interposed therebetween. The motor 72 is arranged to the right side of the NC tailstock 6 and is configured to rotate the ball screw shaft of the ball screw 71. The motor 72 is configured to be numerically controlled by a control device not shown. The protective cover 8 covers both of the guide rails 41, the ball screw 71, and the motor 72.

[0055] The tooling base 9 is provided with at least either one of a part protruding toward the operator side beyond the protective cover 8 and a part protruding toward an anti-operator side beyond the protective cover 8. And here in the drawings, the tooling base 9 is provided with a forwardly protruding part 91 that protrudes toward the operator side. The forwardly protruding part 91 is integrally provided with a leg part 92 protruding downward.

[0056] The guide mechanism capable of guiding the tooling base 9 in the Z-axis direction and fixing the tooling base 9 to the table 4 at a required position includes: a guide groove 101 having the shape of a dovetail groove, formed at at least either one of a portion toward the operator side beyond the protective cover 8 and a portion toward the anti-operator side beyond the protective cover 8, both on an upper surface of the table 4, and in this embodiment as shown in the drawings, formed at the portion toward the operator side (front side), and extending in the Z-axis direction; a clamp piece 102 fitted in the guide groove 101 in a freely movable manner in the Z-axis direction; and a clamp bolt 103 penetrating the forwardly protruding part 91 and the leg part 92 of the tooling base 9 in the up-down direction and configured to fix the clamp piece 102 at a required position in the guide groove 101 and fix the tooling base 9 to the table 4.

[0057] In the cylindrical grinder 1 described above, the NC tailstock 6 is moved by the moving mechanism 7 in the Z-axis direction along the guide rails 41 and is fixed at a required position, according to the length of the workpiece W to be machined. The protective cover 8 expands and contracts in association with the movement of the NC tailstock 6 in some cases, and slides into a space provided below the headstock 5 in association with the movement of the NC tailstock 6 in other cases. The tooling base 9 is configured to be moved in the Z-axis direction, in a state where the clamp bolt 103 is loosened and the clamp piece 102 is slidable in the guide groove 101. At a required position according to the length of the workpiece W to be machined, tightening the clamp bolt 103 causes the clamp piece 102 to be fixed in the guide groove 101, whereby the tooling base 9 is fixed to the table 4.

Embodiment 2

[0058] Embodiment 2 is shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 schematically show the overall configuration of an NC cylindrical grinder.

[0059] In an NC cylindrical grinder 200 shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the tooling base 9 is provided with, in addition to the forwardly protruding part 91 protruding toward the operator side beyond the protective cover 8, a backwardly protruding part 93 protruding toward the anti-operator side beyond the protective cover 8, and the backwardly protruding part 93 is also integrally provided with a leg part 94.

[0060] The guide mechanism capable of guiding the tooling base 9 in the Z-axis direction and fixing the tooling base 9 to the table 4 at a required position includes, in addition to the guide groove 101 in front of the protective cover 8, a clamp piece 102 fitted in the guide groove 101, and a clamp bolt 103 configured to fix the clamp piece 102: a guide groove 104 having the shape of a dovetail groove, formed on the upper surface of the table 4 and toward the anti-operator side (rear side) beyond the protective cover 8, and extending in the Z-axis direction; a clamp piece 105 fitted in the guide groove 104 in a freely movable manner in the Z-axis direction; and a clamp bolt 106 penetrating the backwardly protruding part 93 and the leg part 94 of the tooling base 9 in the up-down direction and configured to fix the clamp piece 105 at a required position in the guide groove 104 and fix the tooling base 9 to the table 4.

[0061] The other configuration is the same as that of the NC cylindrical grinder 1 of Embodiment 1. The tooling base 9 is guided in the Z-axis direction and is fixed at a required position, in the same manner as in the NC cylindrical grinder 1 of Embodiment 1.

[0062] According to the NC cylindrical grinder 200 of Embodiment 2, because the tooling base 9 is supported, at both of front and rear end portions thereof, by the leg parts 92, 94, support rigidity of the tooling base 9 is improved as compared with the NC cylindrical grinder 1 of Embodiment 1.

Embodiment 3

[0063] Embodiment 3 is shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6. FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 schematically show the overall configuration of an NC cylindrical grinder.

[0064] In an NC cylindrical grinder 300 shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, at at least either one of a portion toward an operator side beyond the protective cover 8 and a portion toward an anti-operator side beyond the protective cover 8, both on the upper surface of the table 4, and in this embodiment as shown in the drawings, at the portion toward the operator side (front side) and below the forwardly protruding part 91, a support member 301 protruding upward is provided in a fixed manner.

[0065] The guide mechanism capable of guiding the tooling base 9 in the Z-axis direction and fixing the tooling base 9 to the table 4 at a required position includes: a guide groove 107 having the shape of a dovetail groove, formed on an upper surface of the support member 301, and extending in the Z-axis direction; a clamp piece 108 fitted in the guide groove 107 in a freely movable manner in the Z-axis direction; and a clamp bolt 109 provided so as to penetrate the forwardly protruding part 91 of the tooling base 9 in the up-down direction, and configured to fix the clamp piece 108 at a required position in the guide groove 107 and fix the tooling base 9 to the table 4.

[0066] The other configuration is the same as that of the NC cylindrical grinder 1 of Embodiment 1.

[0067] In the cylindrical grinder 300 described above, the NC tailstock 6 is moved in the Z-axis direction along the guide rails 41 according to the length of a workpiece W to be machined, and is fixed at a required position. The protective cover 8 expands and contracts in association with the movement of the NC tailstock 6 in some cases, and slides into a space provided below the headstock 5 in association with the movement of the NC tailstock 6 in other cases. The tooling base 9 is configured to be moved in the Z-axis direction, in a state where the clamp bolt 109 is loosened and the clamp piece 108 is slidable in the guide groove 107. At a required position according to the length of the workpiece W to be machined, tightening the clamp bolt 109 causes the clamp piece 108 to be fixed in the guide groove 107, whereby the tooling base 9 is fixed to the table 4.

Embodiment 4

[0068] Embodiment 4 is shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8. FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 schematically show the overall configuration of an NC cylindrical grinder.

[0069] In an NC cylindrical grinder 400 shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, the table 4 includes, in addition to the support member 301 protruding upward and provided in a fixed manner at a portion toward the operator side beyond the protective cover 8, a support member 401 protruding upward and provided in a fixed manner at a portion toward the anti-operator side beyond the protective cover 8 and below the backwardly protruding part 93.

[0070] The guide mechanism capable of guiding the tooling base 9 in the Z-axis direction and fixing the tooling base 9 to the table 4 at a required position includes, in addition to the guide groove 107 on the support member 301, a clamp piece 108 fitted in the guide groove 107, and a clamp bolt 109 configured to fix the clamp piece 108: a guide groove 110 formed on the upper surface of the support member 401 at the rear side; a clamp piece 111 fitted in the guide groove 110 in a freely movable manner in the Z-axis direction; and a clamp bolt 112 provided so as to penetrate the backwardly protruding part 93 of the tooling base 9 in the up-down direction and configured to fix the clamp piece 111 at a required position in the guide groove 110 and fix the tooling base 9 to the table 4.

[0071] The other configuration is the same as that of the NC cylindrical grinder 300 of Embodiment 3. The tooling base 9 is guided in the Z-axis direction and is fixed at a required position, in the same manner as in the NC cylindrical grinder 300 of Embodiment 3.

[0072] According to the NC cylindrical grinder 400 of Embodiment 4, because the tooling base 9 is supported, at both of the front and rear end portions thereof, by the support members 301, 401, support rigidity of the tooling base 9 is improved as compared with the NC cylindrical grinder 300 of Embodiment 3.

Embodiment 5

[0073] Embodiment 5 is shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10. FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 schematically show the overall configuration of an NC cylindrical grinder.

[0074] In an NC cylindrical grinder 500 shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, the table 4 is provided, on a portion thereof toward the operator side beyond the protective cover 8, with a support member 301 protruding upward and provided in a fixed manner and below the forwardly protruding part 91. In addition, the tooling base 9 includes a backwardly protruding part 93 protruding toward the anti-operator side beyond the protective cover 8 and a leg part 94 integrally provided with the backwardly protruding part 93.

[0075] The guide mechanism capable of guiding the tooling base 9 in the Z-axis direction and fixing the tooling base 9 to the table 4 at a required position includes: a guide groove 107 on the support member 301; a clamp piece 108 fitted in the guide groove 107; a clamp bolt 109 configured to fix the clamp piece 108; a guide groove 104 formed on the upper surface of the table 4 and at the anti-operator side (rear side) beyond the protective cover 8; a clamp piece 105 fitted in the guide groove 104 in a freely movable manner in the Z-axis direction; and a clamp bolt 106 penetrating the backwardly protruding part 93 and the leg part 94 of the tooling base 9 in the up-down direction and configured to fix the clamp piece 105 at a required position in the guide groove 104 and fix the tooling base 9 to the table 4.

[0076] The other configuration is the same as that of the NC cylindrical grinder 1 of Embodiment 1. The tooling base 9 is guided in the Z-axis direction and is fixed at a required position, in the same manner as in the NC cylindrical grinder 1 of Embodiment 1.

[0077] According to the NC cylindrical grinder 500 of Embodiment 5, because the tooling base 9 is supported, at both of the front and rear end portions thereof, by the support member 301 and a leg part 94, support rigidity of the tooling base 9 is improved as compared with the NC cylindrical grinder 1 of Embodiment 1.

[0078] Also, although not shown, the guide mechanism capable of guiding the tooling base 9 in the Z-axis direction and fixing the tooling base 9 to the table 4 at a required position may include: a guide groove 101 having the shape of a dovetail groove, formed on the upper surface of the table 4 and at the operator side beyond the protective cover 8, and extending in the Z-axis direction; a clamp piece 102 fitted in the guide groove 101; a clamp bolt 103 penetrating the forwardly protruding part 91 and the leg part 92 of the tooling base 9 in the up-down direction and configured to fix the clamp piece 102 at a required position in the guide groove 101 and fix the tooling base 9 to the table 4; a guide groove 110 formed on the upper surface of the support member 401 provided at a rear portion of the table 4 in a fixed manner and extending in the Z-axis direction; a clamp piece 111 fitted in the guide groove 110 in a freely movable manner in the Z-axis direction; and a clamp bolt 112 provided so as to penetrate the backwardly protruding part 93 of the tooling base 9 in the up-down direction and configured to fix the clamp piece 111 at a required position in the guide groove 110 and fix the tooling base 9 to the table 4.

[0079] Also in this case, because the tooling base 9 is supported, at both of the front and rear end portions thereof, by the support member 401 and the leg part 92, support rigidity of the tooling base 9 is improved as compared with the NC cylindrical grinder 1 of Embodiment 1.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0080] The cylindrical grinder according to the present invention is suitably used as an NC cylindrical grinder in which the tailstock is moved in the Z-axis direction according to the length of the workpiece to be machined by means of numerical control.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

[0081] 1: NC cylindrical grinder [0082] 2: bed [0083] 4: table [0084] 5: headstock [0085] 6: NC tailstock [0086] 7: moving mechanism [0087] 8: protective cover [0088] 9: tooling base [0089] 92: leg part [0090] 94: leg part [0091] 101: guide groove [0092] 102: clamp piece [0093] 103: clamp bolt [0094] 104: guide groove [0095] 105: clamp piece [0096] 106: clamp bolt [0097] 107: guide groove [0098] 108: clamp piece [0099] 109: clamp bolt [0100] 110: guide groove [0101] 111: clamp piece [0102] 112: clamp bolt [0103] 200: NC cylindrical grinder [0104] 300: NC cylindrical grinder [0105] 301: support member [0106] 400: NC cylindrical grinder [0107] 401: support member [0108] 500: NC cylindrical grinder [0109] W: workpiece