Workpart chuck positioning mechanism with independent shoes
AssigneeBryant Grinder Corporation
InventorsRichard E. Crossman, Victor Dzewaltowski, Walter Dodd
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A workpart chuck centering mechanism moves towards the axis of rotation of the chuck as the chuck rotates in an eccentric non-centered position. The centering mechanism includes two independent shoes. Each shoe is driven by a servo-motor and encoder. The two shoes function in a cooperative manner to center the workpart. A sensing device monitors any eccentric movement of the workpart and controls the positioning of the shoes. The two shoes and the sensing device are mounted on a base which can pivot about the chuck axis. The directions of movement of the respective shoes are displaced 90.degree. relative to one another and intersect at the chuck axis.
Claims20
A method for centering a workpart on a rotating chuck comprising the steps of:
- moveably coupling the workpart to the chuck such that the workpart is moveable relative to the chuck;
- rotating the chuck about a chuck axis such that a geometrical axis of the workpart is offset from the chuck axis;
- measuring the degree of workpart geometrical axis offset for the chuck axis of rotation;
- positioning a first shoe element in contact with the workpart with a first driver and positioning a second shoe element in proximity to the workpart with a second driver;
- and
- moving the first shoe element with the first driver and the second shoe element with the second driver to move the workpart axis toward the chuck axis as the chuck and workpart rotate.
A workpart chuck apparatus for centering a workpart on a rotating chuck comprising:
- a rotatable chuck having an axis of rotation;
- a coupler for moveably holding the workpart to the chuck such that the workpart is moveable relative to the chuck;
- a detector to measure an offset of a workpart geometrical axis from the chuck axis of rotation;
- a first shoe element positionable to guide movement of a workpart axis in a first direction;
- a second shoe element positionable to guide movement of the workpart axis in a second direction;
- and
- a control system electrically connected to the first driver and the second driver to independently control positioning of the first shoe element and the second shoe element relative to the workpart.
A workpart chuck apparatus for centering a workpart on a rotating chuck of a grinding machine comprising:
- a rotatable chuck having an axis of rotation;
- a coupler for moveably holding the workpart on the chuck such that the workpart is moveable relative to the chuck;
- a detector to measure an offset of a workpart geometrical axis form the chuck axis of rotation and generate a feedback signal;
- a first shoe element positionable to guide movement of the workpart axis in a first direction relative to the chuck axis of rotation, the first shoe element being mechanically driven by a first servomotor;
- a second shoe element positionable to guide movement of the workpart axis in a second direction relative to the chuck axis of rotation, the second shoe element being driven by a second servomotor;
- and
- a control system electrically connected to the first servomotor and the second servomotor to independently control positioning of the first shoe element and the second shoe element relative to the workpart.
A method for holding a workpart on a rotating chuck in a centerless grinding operation comprising the steps of:
- moveably coupling the workpart to the chuck such that the workpart is moveable relative to the chuck;
- rotating the chuck about a chuck axis such that a geometrical axis of the workpart is offset from the chuck axis;
- positioning a first shoe element in contact with the workpart with a first positioning servomotor;
- positioning a second shoe element in contact with the workpart with a second positioning servomotor;
- holding the first shoe element and the second shoe element in a fixed position such that the workpart is maintained in an offset position relative to the chuck axis during a grinding operation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.