Patent ID: 7785173
Filing Date: 2010-08-31
Classification: B24B

Abstract:
1. A superfinishing apparatus for generating a surface on a workpiece with a cup wheel, comprising: (a) a rotationally driven cup wheel spindle having a cup wheel axis; (b) a turret, having a plurality of workpiece chucks, each being repositionable about a turret rotation axis, between a working position having an axis substantially parallel to said cup wheel axis and at least one non-working position having an axis substantially inclined with respect to said cup wheel axis, a workpiece chuck in the working position clamping a workpiece and being rotationally driven with the workpiece chuck in the working position and a workpiece chuck in at least one non-working position being associated with a chuck unclamping mechanism adapted to unclamp a workpiece held therein, to thereby permit discharge or insertion of a workpiece; (c) a coolant spray system adapted to spray coolant fluid on a workpiece mounted in the rotationally driven workpiece chuck in the working position; (d) a spray shield, substantially shielding the spray of coolant fluid from the workpiece chuck in at least one non-working position; (e) a programmable robotic arm having at least two independently controlled degrees of freedom of movement in time and space adapted to be selectively programmed to insert into and withdraw from the workpiece chuck in a single non-working position, a range of workpieces having different possible shapes, wherein a programming of the robotic arm is dependent on a shape of a respective workpiece, concurrently with the rotationally driven cup wheel operating on the a workpiece clamped in the rotationally driven chuck in the working position, wherein the automated mechanism is substantially shielded from the spray of coolant fluid by the shield spray; and (f) an automated control system adapted to control a spatial relationship of the cup wheel and the workpiece, the turret, and the programmable robotic arm.