Centerless grinder assembly and method of operating the same

Abstract

A centerless grinder assembly for machining elongate workpieces is disclosed. The centerless grinder comprises a work wheel for removing stock from an associated workpiece, a regulating wheel arranged to cooperate with the work wheel in removing the stock from the workpiece and a support device arranged between the work wheel and a regulating wheel for supporting the workpiece during machining operations. The centerless grinder assembly may also include a slidable sensor bank spaced from the work wheel and the regulating wheel for detecting at least the position of the workpiece during machining operations and for generating signals corresponding to the detected position of the workpiece. The slidable sensor bank may be selectively adjustable to a desired distance away from the work wheel and the regulating wheel to permit versatility in machining workpieces having various lengths. The centerless grinder assembly may also comprise processing means coupled to sensors of the slidable sensor bank for processing signals generated upon detection of the workpiece and for transmitting the processed signals to effect desired movement of the regulating wheel whereby a desired taper of the workpiece profile is obtained. An additional aspect of the present invention includes a sensor bank assembly having an enclosed passageway within substantially the entire length thereof to permit associated photoelectric sensors to continuously detect the location of the trailing end of a workpiece.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.