MACHINE AND METHOD FOR THE MILLING OR GRINDING OF TOOTHED RACKS

Abstract

A machine for the milling or grinding of toothed racks, having a workspace, in which a machining head carrying milling and/or grinding tools is movably arranged is provided. The machine further has a first preparation area arranged on a first side of the workspace, which has a first workpiece table reversibly movable from the first preparation area into the workspace, and which for its part has first positioning means for workpieces. The machine has a second preparation area, which is arranged on a second side of the workspace, and has a second workpiece table which can be reversibly moved from the second preparation area into the workspace, and which for its part has second positioning means for workpieces. A corresponding method is also provided.

Claims

1. A machine for the milling or grinding of toothed racks, having a workspace in which a machining head carrying milling and/or grinding tools is movably arranged, further having a first preparation area arranged on a first side of the workspace, which has a first workpiece table which can be reversibly moved out of the first preparation area into the workspace, and which for its part has first positioning means for workpieces, wherein the machine has a second preparation area arranged on a second side of the workspace, which second preparation area has a second workpiece table, which can be reversibly moved out of the second preparation area into the workspace, and which for its part has second positioning means for workpieces.

2. A machine according to claim 1, wherein the first and second workpiece table can be coupled to one another.

3. A machine according to claim 1, wherein a workpiece table has a drive.

4. A machine according to claim 1, wherein the drives have rack-and-pinion connections.

5. A machine according to claim 1, wherein the machine has a splash guard between the workspace and the preparation area, and/or a wall is provided between the workspace and the preparation area, with a passage opening that is only slightly larger than the outline of a workpiece table loaded with workpieces, and/or has a light barrier on the side of a preparation area facing a user.

6. A machine according to claim 1, wherein the machine has a robot in a preparation area, which is designed for the loading of the workpiece table with workpieces, cleaning of the workpiece table, and the removal of machined workpieces from the workpiece table.

7. A machine according to claim 1, wherein the machine has workpiece tables.

8. A method for the milling or grinding of toothed racks, in which in a step a), a machining head carrying milling or grinding tools is machining workpieces located within its radius of action and arranged on a first workpiece table, while previously machined workpieces are being unloaded from a second workpiece table outside the radius of action of the machining head, or the second workpiece table is being cleaned, or is being loaded with unmachined workpieces, and in which in a step b), the first workpiece table is moved out of the radius of action of the machining head, after the machining of the workpieces arranged on it has been completed, and the second workpiece table loaded with workpieces to be machined is moved into the radius of action of the machining head.

9. A machine according to claim 2, wherein the first and second workpiece table are designed to be movable in a coupled manner.

10. A machine according to claim 3, wherein the workpiece table has two drives that operate in opposition to one another or operate with angular synchronicity.

11. A machine according to claim 7, wherein the machine has workpiece tables with lengths of 1,250 mm, 1,750 mm, 2,250 mm and 2,750 mm.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] In what follows the invention is explained in more detail with the aid of the figures of a drawing of an example of an embodiment. Here:

[0020] FIG. 1a: shows a schematic frontal view of a machine according to the invention for the milling or grinding of toothed racks,

[0021] FIG. 1b: shows an enclosed workspace containing a movable machining head which carries milling and/or grinding tools, and

[0022] FIG. 2: shows a schematic view of a workpiece table.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

[0023] FIG. 1a shows a schematic frontal view of a machine 1 according to the invention for the milling or grinding of toothed racks. An enclosed workspace 2 can be seen, in which is arranged a movable machining head 4, which carries milling and/or grinding tools 3 (see FIG. 1b), and which in particular is also designed to pivot in such a way that helical toothed racks can be ground or milled. The enclosed workspace 2 is configured to be large enough to be able to machine toothed racks of 2 m length, or even longer racks. On the left-hand and thus the first side 5 of the workspace 2 there is a first preparation area 6, in which a first workpiece table 7 is arranged so that it can be moved towards and away from the workspace 2. The workpiece table 7 has magnetic holders 19, together with rear and side stops 20 for workpieces 9, which together form the first positioning means 8 (see FIG. 2).

[0024] On a second side 10 on the right-hand side near the workspace 2, a second preparation area 11 with a second workpiece table 12 is arranged, which carries second positioning means 13, and in overall terms is designed to be the same as the first preparation area 6. In accordance with the invention, however, both workpiece tables 7, 12 can also be designed differently from one another, in particular with regard to their length that can be used for workpieces, although two workpiece tables of the same length are preferred.

[0025] What is illustrated is an inventive machine with two workpiece tables of equal length, each 1,250 mm long, which can therefore also be coupled to enable machining of toothed racks that are 2,500 mm long.

[0026] Not illustrated is an optional robot in front of the first preparation area 6, which is designed to carry out the above-described operations on the workpiece table automatically and, for this purpose, to remove the unmachined toothed racks arranged on pallets in its range of action, to arrange them on the workpiece table, to remove them again after machining has been completed, and to clean and reload the table. In this way, the daily machine running times can be extended without increased personnel costs. In accordance with the invention, there is also a configuration with one robot for each preparation area.

[0027] FIG. 2 shows schematically a workpiece table 7 in detail. Magnetic holders 19 and stops 20, which together form the positioning means 8, can be seen. Concealed on the underside of the workpiece table 7 are the two drives 14, as well as a toothed rack which is part of the drive, whereby the pinion is the driven component. The drive is preferably an electric drive, in particular an electric motor. The workpiece table 7 is designed with a smooth surface in the direction of the workpieces 9, so that the T-slots that are otherwise usual there cannot become clogged with chips, and covers for the T-slots are also avoided.

[0028] A bellows seal, not illustrated here, between the workpiece table 7 and its substructure, also not illustrated here, which supports the drive, the toothed rack and the pinion as described, protects these from contamination.

[0029] Very advantageously, the duplication of the preparation areas of the machine for milling or grinding toothed racks and thus of the inventive workpiece tables often makes it possible to halve the downtimes, and thus significantly increases the economy and efficiency of the inventive machine compared to conventional machines. The possibility of coupling the two workpiece tables also contributes to this, in terms of providing the ability to machine toothed racks of different lengths without any modification of the machine.