Apparatus for measuring groove positions of a workpiece

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring groove positions of a workpiece comprises a sensor for detecting grooves formed on the workpiece and a position sensor for detecting angular position of the workpiece with respect to a predetermined standard position, a measuring cycle memory means for storing several predetermined measuring cycles, a data input means for inputting and storing groove data indicating groove shape, a measuring control means for selecting a specific measurement cycle from the measurement cycle memory means based on the groove data to execute selected measurement cycle, a calculation processing means for executing calculation processing for determining the center positions of grooves, and a data output means for outputting and displaying the results of the calculations in order to inform an operator of the center positions of the grooves.

Description: The present invention relates to a general-purpose measuring apparatus according to the preamble of claim 1 for measuring grooves positions of a workpiece. Determination of the center positions of grooves formed at the outer surface of a workpiece is required to machine such grooves by grinding, chamfering and the like. Usually, such determination is accomplished by an operator based on dimensions shown in drawings. If such determining operation can be automated, the groove measuring time can be shortened and production cost can be decreased by reducing the number of personnel required. Thus, development of an apparatus capable of automatically measuring such grooves is desirable. If an apparatus is developed-which is applicable to a variety of grooves, such as a twisted groove, equal split groove, unequal split groove and many others, it is expected that the efficiency of the measuring operation will be greatly improved. To grind twisted grooves formed at the outer surface of a cylindrical workpiece, such as an inner race of constant velocity joint, the positions of twisted grooves are required to detect accurately by measurement, so that the twisted grooves are indexed to a location corresponding to the position of a grinding wheel. However, in cases where each of twisted grooves has the same twist angle, but their twist direction change alternatively, it is difficult to measure their positions accurately, as is explained hereinafter. Conventionally, the center positions of twisted grooves of a workpiece supported on a grinding machine are measured using a sensor which is disposed in a plane perpendicularly intersecting the rotational axis of the workpiece and corresponding to the longitudinal center of grooves. However, actually it is very difficult to set the detecting center of the sensor in the place corresponding to the longitudinal center of twisted grooves, and there can be produced some dislocations. For example, as shown in Fig. 12, assuming that the dislocation between the detecting center of sensor 7 and the plane corresponding to the longitudinal center of workpiece 1 is a, and the twist angle of twisted grooves is α, the dislocation δ represented by a . tan α occurs in the circumferential direction of the workpiece 1 as an error. To eliminate said dislocation δ, the sensor 7 is required to be set at higher accuracy in the plane perpendicular to the rotational axis, and is therefore required to be set by skilled workers. This was an obstacle to automatize the preparing operation for measurement. When finishing grinding, chamfering machining or the like is carried out for each of grooves formed at the outer periphery ofa workpiece, it is usual that such machining is performed in order of the groove arrangement starting from a certain groove of the workpiece. Consequently it is required to index each groove exactly from a predetermined reference position. For this purpose, in automatic grinders or the like, angular position of the center of each groove with respect to the reference position indicated on the manufacturing drawing is previously inputted as set data, and in accordance with the set data each groove is automatically indexed, then the grinding or the like is carried out. However, when the center positions of the grooves are indexed in accordance with the set data for grinding operation, as mentioned in the above description, the grinding allowance to both sides of the groove is different in each groove because of pitch errors among the center positions of the grooves formed on the workpiece. As a result, there is a problem that the different grinding resistances acting on both the sides of the grinding wheel exert a bad effect upon the grinding accuracy, or shorten the life of the grinding wheel. Further, when the measurement of the groove positions is carried out by operators as described above, the efficiency of the machining operation is low because it takes long time for the measurement. In addition, when a plurality of grooves and lands are alternately formed with a regularly periodic pattern on the outer periphery of the workpiece, it needs not to measure those positions of all grooves on the workpiece. Therefore, it is possible to derive the positions of all grooves by measuring part of the grooves with said periodic pattern. EP-A-0 016 721 discloses a measuring apparatus having the features of the preamble of claim 1. A primary object of the present invention is to provide a general-purpose measuring apparatus for measuring groove positions of a workpiece, which is capable of automatically measuring grooves on a workpiece such as spiral grooves, equal split grooves and unequal split grooves, and determining the center positions of said grooves. Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for measuring groove positions of a workpiece capable of measuring twisted grooves having an equal twist angle, but changing twist direction alternatively so as to detect center positions of the twisted grooves. A further object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for measuring groove positions of a workpiece which is capable of measuring center positions of a plurality of grooves and determining indexing positions for the grooves which can reduce deviations in grinding allowances at the plurality of grooves. A still further object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus capable of measuring center positions of grooves formed with a regularly periodic pattern on the workpiece, by measuring a minimum number of grooves, thereby reducing measuring time. The primary object of the present invention is accomplished by providing an apparatus having the features of claim 1. I. e., first, groove data is inputted to select groove shape pattern such as twisted groove, equal split groove, unequal split groove and the like. The measuring control means selects a specific measuring cycle stored in measuring cycle memory means based on the groove data, then executes said specific measuring cycle. The grooves are detected by the sensor during the measuring cycle, and the output of the position sensor is inputted as measurement data describing the groove position relative to the references position of the workpiece. The calculation processing means executes calculation processing for determining center positions of the grooves, and the calculation results might be displayed and outputted by means of the data output means. With this configuration a measuring cycle suitable for groove shape pattern is automatically selected to determine their center positions. In another aspect according to claim 5, a calculation means is provided for computing center positions of lands between adjoining twisted grooves having an equal twist angle and opposite twist directions. The center position of the twisted grooves are then calculated based on the center positions of the lands. Further, the apparatus according to claims 2 to 4 is provided with a measured data memory means for memorizing calculated values indicating measured center positions as measured data, a set data memory means for memorizing set values indicating theoretical center positions of each groove previously inputted as a set data, a comparing means for accumulating each deviation between the measured data and the corresponding set data of the center position of each groove and a center position calculating means for calculating the center position of each groove using the mean value of the deviation derived from dividing said accumulated deviations by the number of the grooves. With this arrangement, it is possible to calculate center positions which can reduce deviations in machining allowances of the grooves if the grooves are indexed using the calculated center positions during machining operations. Furthermore, the apparatus according to claims 6 and 7 is provided with a groove positions indexing means for finding the center positions of all grooves using measured center positions of a minimum number of grooves. With this configuration, the measuring time can can be shortened. Other and further objects, features and advantages of the invention will appear more fully from the. following description. The objects and features of the invention may be understood with reference to the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments of the invention, taken together with the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a brief block diagram showing a measuring apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a timing chart showing the fundamental principles of the measuring process. Fig. 3 is an elevation view of a workpiece with grooves having twist angles in alternatingly reverse directions. Fig. 4 is a flow chart showing the entire measuring process. Fig. 5 is a flow chart showing the measuring cycles. Fig. 6 is a schematic block diagram of a measuring apparatus according to a second embodiment of the invention. Fig. 7 is a timing chart. Fig. 8 is an elevational view of said workpiece. Fig. 9 is a cross sectional view to IX -IX line of said workpiece. Fig. 10 is a flow chart showing a measuring procedure of the center positions of twisted grooves. Fig. 11 is an explanatory view expanding linearly a circumferential part of the sections rectangular to the axis of said workpiece including the detecting position of a non-contact sensor. Fig. 12 is a schematic view of a conventional method of measuring groove positions of twisted grooves. Fig. 13 is an outlined block diagram of measuring apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 14(a) and 14(b) are diagrams illustrating the measured data and the set data respectively. Fig. 15 is a flow chart. Fig. 16(a) - 16(c) are diagrams explaining data processing carried out in the flow chart of Fig. 4. Fig. 17(a) - 17(c) are diagrams showing concrete examples of process for calculating the center position of each groove, and more particularly Fig. 17(a) is a diagram showing the center position of the groove and Fig. 17(b) and 17(c) are tables of data. Fig. 18(a) - 18(d) are developments respectively illustrating the periodic patterns of the grooves 2 and the lands 3 formed on the workpiece 1. Fig. 19 is a flow chart illustrating a forth embodiment of the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to Fig. 1, there is shown an outlined block diagram of a measuring apparatus according to the first embodiment. A workpiece 1 is formed with grooves 2 and lands 3 by turns on the circumference, and supported so that it can be rotated about the rotational axis of the workpiece 1. A rotary encoder 4 of a position sensor, which is directly connected to a motor 5 for rotating the workpiece 1, outputs the pulses to a counter 6. The rotary encoder 4 makes one rotation at every rotation of the workpiece 1. In order to detect the existence of the grooves 2 on the workpiece 1, a non-contact sensor 7, such as eddy current potentiometer is used, is arranged to make its center axis intersect perpendicularly to rotational axis of the workpiece 1. The non-contact sensor 7 can detect the existence of the grooves 2 by changing the output voltage when it faces the groove portion of the workpiece 1 or when it does the land portion of that, and the analogue output is inputted into a comparator 8. In the comparator 8, the analogue output of the non-contact sensor 7 is converted to binalized value [1], [0] in TTL level by comparing the analogue output with a constant comparator voltage. The buffer 9 reads out and stores the accumulated counted value outputted from the counter 6 every time when the binalized signal changes from [0] to [1] and from [1] to [0] so as to output the counted value to a calculation processing unit 10. The calculation processing unit 10 is constituted of a CPU 11, a memory 12 and an interface 13, through which the CPU 11 is connected to a personal computer (microcomputer) 14, so that the various operating instruction, data and like are inputted by means of the keyboard 15 of personal computer 14, and measurement values and the like are displayed on the cathode ray tube (CRT) of personal computer 14. Memory 12 comprises read-only memory and a writable memory, and stores the data processing programs and programs for executing measurement cycles described later, and also stores the groove data inputted by keyboard 15 of personal computer 14. Actuation instruction signals for motor 5 which rotates the workpiece 1 are output from the CPU 11 through the interface 13. Fig. 2 is a timing chart showing the basic principle for detecting the center positions of the grooves 2 during the operation of the above apparatus. First, when the non-contact sensor 7 successively corresponds to the grooves 2 and the lands 3 formed on the circumference of the workpiece 1, the output voltage of the sensor 7 changes as shown in Fig. 2(b). The voltage is binalized using the comparator voltage. The binalized output of the comparator 8 presents a rectangular wave in TTL level as shown in Fig. 2(c). Then the accumulated counted value in the counter 6, as shown in Fig. 2(d), is read out when the binalized output changes from [0] to [1] and from [1] to [0]. The counter values which are read in accordance with the above timing is used in the calculation processing unit 10, and the absolute data of the center positions of the grooves are outputted as angular information as shown in Fig. 2(e). The angular position of each center is obtained by calculating average value of two counted values at the times when the binalized value changes to [1] and changes to [0], respectively. When determining the twist directions of grooves having twist angles in alternatingly reverse directions, the previously mentioned noncontact sensor is disposed at a position displaced from the center in the width direction of workpiece 1. The workpiece 1 is rotated in one direction, and the land width is measured and the value is compared to a specified set value so as to determine whether the twisted groove is in the rightward direction or leftward direction. The operation of the apparatus of the present embodiment is described hereinafter with reference to the flow charts shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The flow chart in Fig. 4 shows the entire measuring process. First, in step 100, groove data indicating groove shape pattern and groove number "N" are input through keyboard 15 of personal computer 14, and stored in memory 12 of calculation processing unit 10. Twisted groove, equal split groove, unequal split groove and the like are the groove shape patterns. When a determination is made to start measuring in step 105, the groove shape patterns are determined in steps 110 and 120, and if the groove shape pattern is a twisted groove the routine continuous to step 115 where measuring cycle "A" is selected, or if the groove shape pattern is an equal split groove the routine continues to step 125 where measuring cycle "B" is selected, or if the groove shape pattern is an unequal split groove the routine continues to step 130 where measuring cycle "C" is selected. Measuring cycles "A", "B" and "C" are described later. Next, in steps 135 and 140, the measurement results are displayed on the CRT of personal computer 14, and the measuring results are output to a printer (not shown). In step 145, a determination is made as to whether or not the workpiece has been changed, and if it has not been changed the routine executes the measuring processing of steps 105 and subsequent steps, whereas if said workpiece has been changed, new workpiece data indicating groove shape patterns and groove number and like groove data are input and the aforesaid measuring process is executed. Fig. 5 is a flow chart showing the contents of the subroutines for measuring cycles "A", "B" and "C". Measuring cycle "A" discriminates the twist direction of grooves having twist angles in alternatingly reverse directions. First, in step 200, the minimum angle of rotation  s is calculated for the main measuring spindle required to discriminate the twist direction of one groove.  s = 360° / 2N (where N is the number of right twisted grooves or left twisted grooves). In steps 205 to 215, the main measuring spindle is rotated in one direction, and the main measuring spindle is stopped when the angle of rotation  reaches  ≧  s . In step 220, the land width "L" is measured at a position displaced from the center in the width direction of the workpiece according to the previously described measuring principles, and the measured value is compared to a set value ℓ to discriminate whether the groove twist direction is right or left in steps 225 and 230, respectively, then the routine returns to the main routine. Measuring cycle "B" is used for equal split grooves and. In this case, the center position from a specific position of a single groove, with respect to a reference position is measured. After the measurement of the single groove, the measurement result is extended to the entire grooves. This shorten the measuring time. In step 300, the minimum angle of rotation  s is determined for the main measuring spindle required measurement of one equal split groove by means of the equation  s = 360° / 2N. In step 305 to 315, the main measuring spindle is rotated in one direction, and the main measuring spindle is stopped when the angle of rotation  reaches  ≧  s . In step 320, the center position of the measured groove is calculated, and thereafter in step 325 extends the measured result to the entire grooves, and returns to the main routine. The measuring result is extended to the entire grooves by adding (360° / N) . M (where N is the number of grooves and M is an integral number changing from 1 to N-1) to the measured center position. Measuring cycle "C" datermines the groove center position of unegual split grooves from specific reference positions. In steps 400, 405 and 410, the main measuring spindle is rotated until the rotational angle  exceeds 360° , then the main measuring spindle is stopped. In step 415, the center position of each groove is calculated by the previously described principles for measuring the groove center position, then the routine returns to the main routine. Measuring cycles are not limited only to the previously described measuring cycles "A", "B" and "C" and other measuring cycles may be used. According to the previously described measuring cycles, in the case that, grooves having twist angles in alternatingly reverse directions is measured, the twist direction is automatically discriminated, and, in the case that the measuring cycle for equal split grooves is executed, the measuring time can be shortened. Further, in case of the unequal split grooves, the center positions of unequal split grooves can be automatically calculated. Accordingly, by combining the apparatus of the present embodiment with a numerical control apparatus for accomplishing grinding processes and chamfering processes, and connecting both through an interface, it is possible to realize an integrated control of the numerical control apparatus, so as to accomplish an automated continuous process from the measurement of the workpiece groove to the actual machining. The apparatus of the present invention having the previously described construction is capable of executing groove measurement suitable for grooves to be measured by selecting a specific measurement cycle and executing calculation processing for determining the positions of grooves and displaying and outputting the calculation results. Therefore, the apparatus is capable of automated execution of groove measuring process corresponding to a variety of groove shape patterns, and improves the efficiency of the measuring operation. (Second Embodiment) At first, Fig. 6 shows the schematic block diagram of a measuring apparatus according to the second embodiment of the invention. On a circumferential surface of workpiece 1, there are formed twisted grooves 2 having an equal twist angle but changing the twist direction alternatively. Lands 3 are formed in between adjoining twisted grooves 2 and 2. Since the construction of the measuring apparatus is the same as that in the first embodiment except for the processing of the calculation processing unit 10, only the processing of the calculation processing unit 10 will be described hereinafter. Fig. 7 shows a timing chart representing a basic detecting principle of center positions of lands 3. With the non-contact sensor 7 sequently corresponding to twisted grooves 2 and lands 3 formed in the circumference of workpiece 1, its output voltage varies as shown in Fig. 7(b), and the output of comparator 8 becomes a rectangular wave of TTL level (Fig. 7(c)). The changing timings of the rectangular wave from [0] to [1] and from [1] to [0] are used as a trigger signal for sampling counted value of counter 6 (Fig. 7(d)). With the means values of counted values read in said timings, the center positions of lands 3 are outputted as the angle information (Fig. 7(e)). Next, Fig. 8 shows an elevational view of the workpiece, and Fig. 9 is a cross sectional view taken on line IX-IX of Fig. 8. As shown in Fig. 6 and Fig. 8, on the circumferential surface of the workpiece 1 twisted grooves 2 having an equal twist angle and an inverse direction to adjoining twisted grooves, that is, twisted grooves 2 twisting to right hand and the same number of twisted grooves 2 twisting to left hand are formed alternately on the whole circumference, and its total number of twisted grooves 2 on the whole circumference is even number. As shown in Fig. 9, at the center of longitudinal direction of the workpiece 1 the pitch angle (ϑ i - ϑ i-1 ), (ϑ i+1 - ϑ i ) ... of center positions ϑ i-1 , ϑ i , ϑ i+1 ... of adjoining twisted grooves 2 are made to be equal. Said pitch angles are represented as 360° / n, assuming n is the number of twisted grooves 2. Also as shown in Fig. 8, the non-contact sensor 7 is located to the position aparting from the center of longitudinal direction or workpiece 1 with a dislocation a. As shown in Fig. 8 though the center positions of twisted grooves 2 vary gradually along the longitudinal direction of the workpiece 1, the centers of land 3 are constant at any position of longitudinal direction of the workpiece 1, because the angle of twist is equal and the direction of twist is inverse in twisted grooves 2 in the both sides of said land 3. As shown in Fig. 9, the center positions of lands 3 are represented as γ i-2 , γ i-1 , γ i ... , and these values of γ i-2 , γ i-1 , γ i ... are constant at any section rectangular to the axis. As shown in Fig. 9, the pitch angles, (ϑ i - ϑ i-1 ), (ϑ i+1 - ϑ i )... of center positions of twisted grooves 2 at the sections rectangular to the axis are 360° / n and constant, and also the pitch angles, γ i-1 - γ i-2 ), (γ i - γ i-1 )...of center positions of lands 3 are 360° / n and constant. In Fig. 9, the pitch angle between the center of each land 3 and the center of adjoining twisted grooves 2 is represented as 360 ° / (2 × n), assuming the total number of twisted grooves is n. The center positions of No. i twisted groove 2 is represented as, ϑ i = γ i-1 + 360° / (2 × n), or ϑ i = γ i - 360° / (2 × n), setting the center positions of lands 3 adjoining to the twisted grooves 2 as γ i-1 and γ i . Thus, by knowing the center positions of lands 3 and the number of twisted grooves 2, the center positions of twisted grooves are obtained. Next, the procedure to obtain the center position of No.i twisted groove 2, ϑ i , of the workpiece 1 is described in the operation of said constituents. Fig. 10 is the flow-chart showing said procedure and Fig. 11 is the explanatory view expanding linearly the sections rectangular to the axis of the workpiece 1 including the detecting point of the non-contact sensor 7 aparting from the section rectangular to the axis shown in Fig. 9 with the length a shown in Fig. 8. At first, operating the key-board 12 on the personal computer 11, the total number, n, of the twisted grooves 2 provided on the whole circumference of the workpiece 1 is inputted to the calculation processing unit 10 (step 501). Next, the calculation processing unit 10 calculate a rotational angle of main spindle for measurement required to measure the center positions of the twisted grooves 2 (step 502). Here, the value of ϑ s is the pitch angle between the twisted grooves 2 which are equal in the direction of twist and in the nearest distance, and ϑ s is computed from the equation, ϑ s = (360° / n) × 2, through the calculation processing unit 10. Next, the main shaft and the workpiece 1 are rotated by driving the motor 5 shown in Fig. 6 (step 503). Comparing the rotational angle of main spindle ϑ to said rotational angle of main spindle for measurement ϑ s , its measurement is continued during the time having ϑ ≦ ϑ s , and the main spindle is stopped (step 505) after judging the termination of measurement at ϑ > ϑ s (step 504). Next, the calculation processing unit 10 computes the center positions of No.i land 3, γ i , from an edge positions B i which is located in the boundary between No.i twisted groove 2 and land 3, and an edge positions A i+1 which is located in the boundary between No.i land 3 and No.i+1 twisted groove 2 shown in Fig. 11, using the equation, γ i = (B i + A i+1 ) / 2, (step 506). Further, based on the center position of No.i land 3, γ i , the calculation processing unit 10 calculate the center position of No.i twisted groove 2, ϑ i , using the equation, ϑ i = γ i - 360° / 2 × n), (step 107), and after outputting it to the personal computer 11, the operation is terminated. Furthermore, there can be another processing method using the equation calculating the center position of No.i twisted groove 2, ϑ i = γ i-1 + 360° / 2 × n), after processing from the equation calculating the center positions of No.i-1 land 3, γ i-1 = (B i-1 + A i ) / 2, instead of using the center position of No.i land 3, γ i , shown in Fig. 11. This invention is not restricted to the details of above described embodiment. For example, as shown in Fig. 9 and Fig. 11 the center position of No.i twisted groove 2, ϑ i , can be represented by (γ i-1 + γ i ) / 2, that is, averaging the center position of No.i-1 land 3, γ i-1 , and the center position of No.i land 3, γ i . Therefore, a processing method, processing at first in the step 506 shown in Fig. 10 the center position of No.i-1 land 3, γ i-1 (= (B i-1 + A i ) / 2), and the center position of No.i land 3, γ i (= B i + A i+1 ) / 2) through the calculation processing unit 10, next , processing in the step 507 the center position of No.i twisted groove 2, ϑ i , using the equation, ϑ i = (γ i-1 + γ i ) / 2 through the calculation processing unit 10, can be used. In said workpiece, the center positions of lands formed in between twisted grooves having an equal angle of twist and an inverse direction to adjoining grooves have following excellent effects: Measuring errors are not produced regardless of the setting errors of said non-contact sensor, and the center positions of twisted grooves are measured accurately without skills. Further, by eliminating skills to set said non-contact sensor, this leads to additional excellent merits that its total measuring time can be shortened. (Third Embodiment) Fig. 14(a) illustrates the measured center positions (ϑ₁ ... ... ϑ₄) of the grooves 2 on the actual workpiece 1 which are obtained by calculation. Fig. 14(b) illustrates the set data indicating theoretical center positions of the grooves 2 on the workpiece 1 which is specified in a blue print as angular information ϑ′ from the predetermined reference position. The set data are inputted into the memory of the calculation processing unit 10 through the key board 12 of the personal computer 11. More specifically, the data of the edge positions of each groove 2 on the workpiece 1 are inputted into, and calculated in the above described calculation processing unit 10 to find the center position. And in the apparatus of this embodiment, the first set data indicating theoretical center position of the groove is made agree with one of the measured center positions of the grooves, and the accumulated value of the deviations is obtained; that is the accumulated value of pitch errors between the corresponding set and measured data of the other center positions. Then the minimum value is derived from the accumulated values of the deviations obtained in the above described manner for the measured centre positions of the all grooves, and divided by the number of the grooves to find the mean value. Thus the center position of each groove is calculated by using this mean value. The calculation process of the apparatus in this embodiment will now be explained in accordance with the flow chart as shown in Fig. 15. First in step 600, the edge positions of each groove 2 formed on the workpiece 1 are inputted as angular data, and memorized as set data. Next in step 605, the rotation angle ϑ s is calculated for the main spindle for measurement which is mounted with the workpiece 1. In this calculation, the angle ϑ s becomes 360° because it is needed to obtain deviations of the center positions of all grooves 2. In steps 610 - 620, the main spindle for measurement is driven to rotate, the measured data of each groove is memorized, and the main spindle is stopped after the completion of the measurement is judged. The completion of the measurement is judged in accordance with the rotation angle of the main spindle for measurement ≧ ϑ s . In step 625, the theoretical center positions and theoretical groove breadth of each groove and calculated from the above set data of the edge positions as well as the center positions and the groove breadth of each measured groove. Next in step 630, the set data of the groove derived from step 625 is made agree with the measured data of the groove by using respective center positions or groove breadths. To be concrete, the combination is found in which the accumulated value of the deviations of the center positions of each corresponding grooves becomes minimum, and the difference of the breadths of each corresponding grooves also becomes minimum. For the equally spaced grooves as shown in Fig. 16(a), the center position of one of the measured grooves is made agree with the theoretical center position of a predetermined groove calculated from the set data. The deviation or the pitch error ε₁ of the center positions of the respective corresponding grooves are calculated. theoretically ε₁ is calculated from the following formula ; ε₁ = 0 ε₁ = (ϑ₁ - ϑ₁) - P(i-1) / n (i = 2, 3,...n) where n: number of the grooves (the same hereafter), p: pulse counted value during one rotation of the encoder, or 360 ° (the same hereafter). And the accumulated value ε of the deviation ε i is calculated as follows; Next, as shown in Fig. 16(b), the measured data indicating the positions of grooves are shifted so that different measured groove corresponds to said predetermined groove given by the set data. Then the center position of the measured groove is made agree with the set data center position of the predetermined groove, and the accumulated value of the deviations is found as described above. The above process is repeated for all grooves of the measured data so that the accumulated value of deviations is calculated for each groove, and the minimum value is selected from the respective accumulated values of the deviations. Here, even when the accumulated value of the deviations is minimum, the groove breadths of respective measured grooves do not necessarily agree with theoretical breadths of grooves given by the set data, as shown in Fig. 16(c). In this case, a combination needs to be found in which the accumulated value of the deviation becomes small and difference of each groove breadth becomes smaller than a predetermined value. Next in step 635, the mean value ε is derived from dividing the minimum value of the accumulated deviations by the number of the grooves as follows; In step 640, the center position of each groove is calculated using the mean value e derived from step 635. If the center position of the predetermined groove given by the set data is ϑ₁′ the center position ϑ₁′ of the groove to be calculated is ϑ₁′ = ϑ₁ + ε . The center positions ϑ₁′ of the other grooves are calculated as follows; ϑ₁′ = ϑ₁′ + P(i - 1) / n = ϑ₁ + ε + P(i - 1) / n (i = 1, 2, 3,...n) Fig. 17 shows a concrete example of the above described process for calculating the center position of the groove. Fig. 17(a) shows the center positions ϑ i of the grooves, where ϑ₁ is the position of 20 ° with respect to the reference position ϑ = 0, and ϑ₂, ϑ₃,... , ϑ₁₂ are positions equally spaced at an interval of 30° from ϑ₁. Fig. 17(b) is a data table which contains the measured data of the groove center positions and the deviations (pitch errors) between the measured data and the set data ϑ i of the groove center positions, and this is the combination wherein the above accumulated value of the deviations becomes minimum. The mean value ε of the accumulated value of the deviations is as follows; and the square sum of mean values (pitch errors) becomes 223. Fig. 17(c) is the data table which contains the modified measured data of the groove center positions and the deviations data between this modified measured data and the measured data of the groove center positions. Here, the modified measured data of the groove center position are calculated in ϑ₁′ = ϑ₁ + ε and ϑ₁′ = ϑ₁ + ε + P(i-1) / n in accordance with the above modification process. And the square sum of the deviation becomes 106.75. As described above, when ϑ₁′ is calculated using the mean value ε derived from the minimum value of the accumulated deviations, and the other groove center positions are calculated in accordance with ϑ₁′ = ϑ₁ + ϑ, then the square sum of the deviations becomes minimum. Consequently, the deviation of the grinding allowances can be minimum when the grooves are indexed using the modified groove center positions during grinding operation. Although a combination is found to minimize the accumulated deviations in the above embodiment, such process can be omitted in case of measuring equal split grooves. In such a case, only one accumulated deviation is calculated for determining the means value ε . While the above embodiment has been described on the equally spaced grooves, it should also be understood that the modification process of the center position described above is applicable to the unequally spaced grooves, because in the latter case the pitch errors can be derived from previously inputting the pitches of the groove centers. (Fourth Embodiment) The fundamental measuring method of the fourth embodiment is substantially identical to that of the first embodiment. Fig. 18(a) - 18(d) illustrates developments of the periodic patterns of the grooves 2 and the lands 3 alternately formed on the workpiece 1. In Fig. 18(a), there is shown a pattern of the grooves 2 all of which have the equal breadth and equal pitch of the center position, and from measuring the pitch, breadth and the like of the one groove it is possible to derive the positions of the remaining ones. In Fig. 18(b), the pitches of the center positions of all the grooves 2 are not equal, but the pitches of the center positions in a group comprising three grooves are in a periodic pattern. From measuring the one group of the grooves, it is possible to derive the positions of all the remaining ones. In this case the number of the grooves is not limited to three. Further, in Fig. 18(c), there is a pattern of the grooves where two kinds of the grooves 2a, and 2b with the different breadths are alternately formed. From measuring the pitches of the center positions of the two kinds of the grooves 2a and 2b, it is possible to judge the differences among the positions and those among the breadths of the remaining grooves. Consequently it is possible to find one of such grooves, for example grooves 2a which needs to be ground. Still further, in Fig. 18(d), there are the grooves 2c which need grinding and the grooves 2d which need no grinding, and they have both the same breadth but the different pitches of the center positions of respective groove 2c and 2d. For this pattern, it is possible to judge the difference of the grooves according to the difference of the pitches. That is, from measuring the one group of three grooves, it is possible to derive the positions of all the remaining grooves, and it is also possible to judge whether they are the grooves 2c to be ground or the grooves 2d not to be ground. The above measuring process of each groove position in the apparatus of this embodiment will now be explained in accordance with the flow chart as shown in Fig. 19. First in step 700, regarding the minimum unit of the periodic pattern of the grooves 2 and the lands 3 alternately formed on the workpiece 1, the edge positions of each groove 2 are inputted as angular data from the predetermined reference position, and memorized as set data. Next in step 705, the rotation angle ϑ s is calculated for the main spindle for measurement which is mounted with the workpiece 1. The angle ϑ s can be derived from ϑ s = 360 ° / number of the grooves for the equally spaced grooves, or derived from ϑ s = 360 ° / number of the periodic patterns for the grooves 2 and the lands 3 formed with a regularly periodic pattern. In steps 710 - 720, the main spindle for measurement is driven to rotate, the measured data of each groove is memorized, and the main spindle is stopped after the completion of the measurement is judged. The completion of the measurement is judged in accordance with the rotation angle of the main spindle for measurement > ϑ s . In step 725, the theoretical center position and breadth of each groove are calculated from the above set data of the edge positions. Also the center position and the breadth of each measured groove on the workpiece 1 within the angle ϑ s are calculated from the above measurement. Next in step 730, differences between respective center positions of the measured grooves within the angle ϑ s and respective center positions of the grooves given by the set data within the angle ϑ s . Namely, the center positions of other grooves outside the angle ϑ s are calculated by adding respective differences obtained at step 730 to their theoretical center positions calculated from the expanded data. In step 735, it is judged whether the groove data as the set data corresponding to all the grooves on the workpiece 1 are inputted or not. If the set data are not inputted for all the grooves, the set data are expanded upon all the grooves in step 740, because those data has been inputted corresponding only to the grooves in the minimum unit of the periodic pattern of the grooves 2 and the lands 3 except for the unequally spaced grooves. Thus in accordance with the expanded data of all the grooves, the positions of other grooves are derived. As explained above, in the apparatus for measuring groove positions of a workpiece of this embodiment, the groove data in the minimum unit of the periodic pattern with which the grooves 2 and lands 3 alternately formed on the outer periphery of the workpiece 1 are previously inputted as a set data. During measuring the grooves on the workpiece 1, the main spindle for measurement is rotated by the angular amount corresponding to the minimum unit of the periodic pattern. When the groove data are expanded upon all the groove data, it is possible to find the differences of the positions and breadths of the remaining grooves. Although the invention has been described in its preferred form with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been changed in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the scope of the scope of the invention hereinafter claimed.

Claims: An apparatus for measuring the positions of grooves (2) which are formed on a circumferential surface of a generally cylindrical workpiece (1), having workpiece drive means (5) for rotating the workpiece (1) about an axis thereof in one direction; position detecting means (4, 6) for detecting the angular position of the workpiece (1) relative to a reference angular position; groove sensing means (7, 8) for detecting the grooves (2) on the workpiece (1); and calculation means (9, 11) responsive to a detection signal from the groove sensing means (7, 8) for processing the detection signal so as to calculate the position of at least one groove (2) relative to the reference angular position; characterized in that the apparatus further comprises memory means (12) for storing several measuring cycles (115, 125, 130) and data input means (14, 15) for inputting groove data indicating the pattern of the grooves (2) to be measured for storage in the memory means (12), and that the calculation means (9, 11) is arranged to select one of the several measuring cycles (115, 125, 130) by reference to the groove data stored in the memory means (12) and, when operated in a selected one of the measuring cycles (115, 125, 130), operates the workpiece drive means (5) for rotating the workpiece (1) and correlates the detection signal output from the groove sensing means (7, 8) during rotation of the workpiece (1) with the detection signal of the position detecting means (4, 6) for extracting data relating to the position of the at least one groove (2) relative to the reference angular position. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the grooves (2) formed on the cylindrical surface of the workpiece (1) are at regular intervals, characterized in that: the calculation means (9, 11), when operated in a first measuring cycle (130), executes: a first processing (Fig. 15, 625) for calculating actual angular positions (ϑ₁, ϑ₂, ϑ₃,...) of all the grooves (2) of the workpiece (1); a second processing (630, 635) for calculating a mean value ( ε ) which is to be added to each of theoretical angular positions of all the grooves (2) so as to minimize an accumulated value of deviations (ε₁, ε₂, ε₃,...) between the actual angular positions (ϑ₁, ϑ₂, ϑ₃,...) and the theoretical angular positions corresponding respectively thereto; and a third processing (640) for compensating each of the theoretical angular positions for the mean value (ε) so as to determine the compensated theoretical angular positions at desired angular positions at which the grooves (2) are to be machined respectively. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein some of the grooves (2) are different from others in width in the one direction, characterized in that: the first processing (Fig. 15, 625) is provided for calculating actual widths (Fig. 16(c), b₁, b₂, b₃) of all the grooves (2) of the workpiece (1) in the one direction, in addition to the actual angular positions (ϑ₁, ϑ₂, ϑ₃,...) of all the grooves (2); and the second processing (630, 635) is provided for calculating the mean value ( ε ) under the condition that the deviations between the actual widths (b₁, b₂, b₃) and theoretical widths (a₁, a₂, a₃) of the grooves (2) are also minimized. An apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the second processing (630, 635) comprises: a first step of comparing the actual angular positions (ϑ₁, ϑ₂, ϑ₃,...) of all the grooves (2) respectively with the theoretical angular positions for calculating the accumulated value of deviations (ε₁, ε₂, ε₃,...) between the actual angular positions (ϑ₁, ϑ₂, ϑ₃,...) and the theoretical angular positions corresponding respectively thereto each time one of the actual angular positions (ϑ₁, ϑ₂, ϑ₃,...) is made to agree with a different one of the theoretical angular positions, so as to select a minimum one of all the accumulated values; and a second step (635) of dividing the selected minimum accumulated value by the number (N) of the grooves (2) for calculating the mean value (ε). An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the grooves (2) comprise first and second grooves which are arranged in an alternate fashion in the rotational direction of the workpiece (1) and which are inclined with respect to the rotational axis of the workpiece (1) in directions opposite to each other, characterized in that: the groove sensing means (7, 8) includes a groove sensor (7) which is located such that it deviates from the center of the width of the first and second grooves (2) in an axial direction of the workpiece (1); and the calculation means (9, 11), when operated in a second measuring cycle (115); calculates the width (L) in the rotational direction of a land (3) defined between any one of the first grooves and one of the second grooves successive thereto in the rotational direction of the workpiece (1) by extracting the position data from the position detecting means (4, 6) based on the detection signal from the groove sensing means (7, 8), and compares the calculated width (L) with a preset value (ℓ) so as to discriminate the directions of inclination of the first and second grooves (2). An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the grooves (2) on the workpiece (1) are splitted at regular intervals, characterized in that: a memory means (12) stores the total number (N) of the grooves (2) and the groove pattern data; the calculation means (9, 11), when operated in a third measuring cycle (125), calculates the angular position (ϑ₁) of only one groove (2) by extracting the angular position data from the position detecting means (4, 6) based on the detection signal from the groove sensing means (7, 8) and determines angular positions (ϑ₂, ϑ₃, ... ϑ n ) of the remaining grooves (2) based on the calculated angular position (ϑ₁) of the only one groove (2) and the total number (N) of the grooves (2) stored in the memory means (12). An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a group of several grooves (2) in a fixed pattern (Fig. 18(b)) is formed on the workpiece (1) with the fixed pattern being repeated at regular intervals, characterized in that: the memory means (12) stores the total number (N) of the groove groups in addition to the groove pattern data; the calculation means (9, 11), in response to the groove pattern data, calculates the angular positions (ϑ₁, ϑ₂) of the several grooves (2) in only one groove group by extracting the angular position data from the position detecting means (4, 6) based on the detection signal from the groove sensing means (7, 8) and determines angular positions (ϑ₃, ϑ₄;..; ϑ n-1 ; .ϑ n ) of the grooves (2) in the remaining groove groups based on the calculated angular positions (ϑ₁, ϑ₂) of the only one groove group and the total number (N) of the groove groups stored in the memory means (12). An apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that: the groove sensing means (7, 8) comprises a groove sensor (7) located spaced apart from the surface of the workpiece (1) for outputting a voltage signal whose level changes with the variation in distance between the groove sensor (7) and a sensing point on the workpiece (1) and a comparator (8) for processing the voltage signal output from the grooves sensor (7) with a preset value for generating a rectangular wave signal; the position detecting means (4, 6) comprises a position sensor (4) for generating pulse signals when the workpiece (1) is rotated and a counter (6) for counting the pulse signals from the position sensor (4); and the calculation means (9, 11), when operated in a selected one of the several measuring cycles (115, 125, 130), extracts the count value from the counter (6) in response to changes in the voltage level of the rectangular wave signal generated by the comparator (8), for obtaining data relating to the grooves (2). An apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that: the calculation means (9, 11), when calculating the angular position ((ϑ₁) of at least one groove (2) in at least one of the several measuring cycles (115, 125, 130), extracts two count values which the counter (6) has respectively when the groove sensor (7) detects both edges of the at least one groove (2), and averages the two count values so as to calculate the center position of the at least one groove (2) in the one direction.

Inventors: NAKAMURA HISASHI, NAKANO HIROSHI, OHTA NORIO, SATO YASUYUKI, YONEDA TAKAO, NAKAMURA, HISASHI, NAKANO, HIROSHI, OHTA, NORIO, SATO, YASUYUKI, YONEDA, TAKAO
Applicants: TOYODA MACHINE WORKS LTD, TOYODA KOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Application year: 1990
Main classification: G01B21
IPC codes: G01B7, G01B21