End face grinding apparatus

An end-face grinding apparatus, comprising:

• a contour tracing means for controlling the position of a grinding unit along a contour of a plate material to be end-face ground;
• said contour tracing means comprises a one-joint type horizontal pivot arm means for controlling the position of the grinding unit with a numerical control means;
• said horizontal pivot arm means comprises a first horizontally extending pivot arm having a base end and a distal end, pivoted at said base end on a first vertically extending axis which is at a base frame of said contour tracing means;
• a second horizontally extending pivot arm having a base end and a distal end, pivoted at said base end on a second vertically extending axis of a joint at said distal end of said first pivot arm;
• said grinding unit pivotally attached to a third vertically extending axis at said distal end of said second pivot arm to direct said grinding unit in a direction normal to an end face of the plate material for applying a grinding pressure;
• and respective drive means of the first to third axes;
• said grinding unit comprises a means for supplying the grinding pressure to a grinding tool against said end face, the pressure being directed in a direction normal to the end face by said third axis drive means;
• said numerical control means comprising a control data memory for storing control data, said control data comprising angular control data about the first and second axes for controlling the horizontal position of said grinding unit, and angular control data abaout the third axis for facing said grinding unit in the direction normal to the contour of the plate material;
• and a control circuit means for controlling said respective drive means of the first to third axes in accordance with readout data from the memory.