CENTERLESS GRINDING MACHINE LOADER

Abstract: A centerless grinding machine loader for automatic loading and unloading of a grinder comprises a vertical support column (11), arms (12a, 12b) for loading and unloading workpieces (14a, 14b) including spring loaded, hydraulically actuated, axially advanceable engagement pins (16) for selectively gripping and releasing a workpiece. Means are provided for pivoting each of the arms about a horizontal shaft secured to the vertical column, and a position indicator and loader rotation means are provided for rotating the vertical column 180° about a vertical axis.

Description: CENTERLESS GRINDING MACHINE LOADER Automatic loading and unloading of shafts with spaced diameters to be ground into and out of a centerless grinding machine normally requires an inordinate amount of floor space and often poses a safety problem as the parts are swung through a wide arc in the process. This invention relates to a loader which may operate in conjunction with a centerless grinder with a pivotable grinding wheelhead having a plurality of grinding wheels to simultaneously grind an equal number of spaced diameters, which minimizes floor space requirements and virtually eliminates the safety problem. It is an object of the invention to provide a centerless grinding machine loader for handling long workpieces with multiple spaced diameters to be ground such as an automotive cam shaft. It is further an object of the invention to provide a machine loader which is space economic. The present invention provides a centerless grinding machine loader for automatic loading and unloading of a grinder comprising: a generally vertical support column, arms for loading and unloading workpieces, including: spring loaded, hydraulically actuated, axially advanceable pin-engagement means for selectively gripping and releasing a workpiece, means for pivoting each of said arms approximately 900 about a generally horizontal shaft secured to said generally vertical column, means for sensing the position of said arms, and loader rotation means for rotating said vertical column approximately 1800 about a generally vertical axis. The machine loader embodying the invention is capable of automatically engaging and disengaging the workpiece at both the load/unload and work stations, and avoids swinging the workpiece through a large radius when transitioning between stations. In order that the invention may be more readily understood, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a centerless grinding machine loader embodying this invention, with the arms in the horizontal, load/unload and work position; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the loader shown in Figure 1, with the arms vertical for rotation of the housing; Figure 3 is a partially sectioned side view of the the arm drive mechanism; and Figure 4 is a sectional top view of the loader spindle rotating mechanism. Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the centerless grinding machine loader 10 is comprised of a main housing 11 which pivotally supports arms 12a and 12b at pivots 13 (one shown). Arms 12a and 12b are disposed on opposite sides of the housing 11. Workpieces 14a and 14b, which have a plurality of axially spaced diameters 15 to be ground, are supported between pins 16 of arms 12a and 12b which extend from hydraulic actuator housings 12 under a spring load and enter the machined centers of the workpiece. The loader cycles to position a workpiece 14a at the centerless grinder (not shown) and releases the workpiece by hydraulically withdrawing spring loaded pins 16. At the conclusion of the machining cycle,pins 16 re-engage the workpiece 14a as the opposite arm 12b engages an unmachined workpiece 14b. The arms simultaneously rotate 900 to a vertical position, Figure 2, and the housing 11 then rotates 1800. The arms are lowered to the horizontal position and pins 16 of both arms 12 are withdrawn, loading the unground workpiece 14b into the grinder and depositing the ground workpiece 14a onto a conveyor device (not shown) to be carried to the next operating station. Unground pieces are supplied to the loader and ground pieces are displaced away from the loader by an automatic conveyor (not shown). At the end of a machining cycle, the arms 12 are caused to simultaneously rotate through 900 to a vertical position, as a hydraulic constant-velocity actuator 20, acting through its arm 21, seen in Figure 3, and link 22 which is pivotally attached to both arm 21 and a segment gear 23, causes the segment gear 23 to rotate in a clockwise direction. The segment gear 23 engages spur gear 24 which is coupled to a yoke 25. Yoke 26 is mounted to the arm 12b and raises the arm 900 as the link 27, which is pivotally mounted to yokes 25 and 26 at pivots 28 and 29, moves with the counterclockwise rotation of spur gear 24 and yoke 25. The second arm, 12a is raised 90O through the engagement of gears 30 and 31 which are mounted to arms 12a and 12b , respectively. The bellcrank construction of this drive train powered by the constant velocity actuator 20 causes the velocity of rotation of the arms 12a and 12b to vary as a function of the sine of the angle alpha described by lines extending from the center of gear 24 to the centers of pivots 28 and 29. This results in the arms reaching maximum velocity at the center of travel and slowing to a stop at the limits, and thus obviating high inertial loads. A limit switch 35 is activated when the arms 12a and 12b are horizontal and a pin 36 engages switch arm 37. This position indication initiates the machine operation, as well as the unloading of the finished and the reloading of an unfinished piece. The arm 37 engages lug 38 in the vertical position of the arms, activating the housing 11 rotation sequence and deactivating the rotation circuit safety lockout. With the arms 12a and 12b in the vertical position, housing 11, which is rotatably mounted to the base 47 at column 48, as best seen in Figure 3, is positioned to rotate. Referring to Figure 4, the 1800 rotation of the housing 11 is accomplished as a constant velocity actuator 39 drives a gear rack 40 which engages a pinion gear 41. Attached to gear 41 is yoke 42 which drives a yoke 43 through a link 44 connected to the yokes at pivots 45 and 46, respectively. Gear segment 50 is coupled to yoke 43-and meshes with a main housing spindle gear 51. Spindle gear 51 is attached to a column 48 and rotates housing 11. Stops 52 and 53 act on a land 54 to limit the housing rotation. This bellcrank construction also controls the velocity of rotation of the housing 11 by converting the constant velocity of the actuator 39 and gear rack 40 to vary according to the sine of the angle beta. The angle beta is described by lines extending from the center of gear 41 to the center of pivots 45 and 46. This results in the loader reaching maximum velocity at the center of travel and slowing to a stop at- the limits, and thus obviating high inertial loads.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A centerless grinding machine loader for automatic loading and unloading of a grinder comprising: a generally vertical support column (11), arms (12a, 12b) for loading and unloading workpieces, including: spring loaded, hydraulically actuated (17), axially advanceable pin-engagement means (16) for selectively gripping and releasing a workpiece, means (20-26), (30, 31) for pivoting each of said arms approximately 900 about a generally horizontal shaft (13) secured to said generally vertical column, means (35) for sensing the position of said arms, and loader rotation means (39-46, 48, 50, 51) for rotating said vertical column approximately 1800 about a generally vertical axis. 2. A machine loader according to claim 1, wherein said arm-pivoting means provides means for reducing arm velocity at or towards the limits of travel. 3. A machine loader according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said loader rotation means provides means for reducing housing rotation velocity at or towards the limits of travel.

Inventors: BERCAW, KENNETH K., SHANK, WILLIAM E.
Applicants: LITTON INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION SYSTEMS, INC.
Application year: 1983
Main classification: B24B5
IPC codes: B23Q7, B24B5, B25J15, B23Q1