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Patent 2980057 Summary

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(12) Patent Application: (11) CA 2980057
(54) English Title: GRINDING MACHINE
(54) French Title: MACHINE D'ABRASION
Status: Dead
Bibliographic Data
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):
  • B24B 41/06 (2012.01)
(72) Inventors :
  • GIESE, CHRISTOPH (Germany)
(73) Owners :
  • KARL HEESEMANN MASCHINENFABRIK GMBH & CO. KG (Germany)
(71) Applicants :
  • KARL HEESEMANN MASCHINENFABRIK GMBH & CO. KG (Germany)
(74) Agent: KIRBY EADES GALE BAKER
(74) Associate agent:
(45) Issued:
(22) Filed Date: 2017-09-22
(41) Open to Public Inspection: 2018-03-23
Availability of licence: N/A
(25) Language of filing: English

Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT): No

(30) Application Priority Data:
Application No. Country/Territory Date
10 2016 117 992.2 Germany 2016-09-23

Abstracts

English Abstract


The present invention comprises a grinding machine for grinding a metallic
surface of
a workpiece, wherein the grinding machine has
- at least one grinding apparatus,
- at least one transport belt (2) for transporting the workpiece through
the grinding
machine, and
- at least one suction device by means of which a workpiece lying on the
transport
belt (2) can be acted on with a negative pressure,
wherein the suction device has an extraction chamber (14) which is arranged
below
the transport belt (2) and which has a base (16) which is inclined with
respect to the
horizontal.


Claims

Note: Claims are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.


-17-
Patent Claims
1. Grinding machine for grinding a metallic surface of a workpiece, wherein
the
grinding machine has
- at least one grinding apparatus and
- at least one transport belt (2) for transporting the workpiece through
the
grinding machine,
characterized in that the grinding machine has, below the transport belt, an
extraction chamber (14) which has a base (16) which is inclined with respect
to
the horizontal.
2. Grinding machine according to Claim 1, characterized in that the
grinding ma-
chine has at least one suction device by means of which a workpiece lying on
the transport belt (2) can be acted on with a negative pressure, wherein the
ex-
traction chamber is part of the suction device.
3. Grinding machine according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the
base
(16) of the extraction chamber (14) encloses an angle of 5°, preferably
at least
100, particularly preferably at least 15°, and at most 30°,
preferably at most 25°,
particularly preferably at most 20°, with the horizontal.
4. Grinding machine according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the
base
(16) of the extraction chamber (14) is inclined in a direction perpendicular
to a
transport direction (T) along which the workpiece can be transported by the
transport belt (2).

-18-
5. Grinding machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized
in
that the extraction chamber (14) is connectable, at the lower end of the base
(16), to a suction device.
6. Grinding machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized
in
that the transport belt (2) is coated with an anti-adhesion coating.
7. Grinding machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized
in
that an inner side, or at least the base (16) of the extraction chamber (14),
is
coated with an anti-adhesion coating.
8. Grinding machine according to Claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the
anti-
adhesion coating is composed of a polymer or of a mixture of multiple
polymers.
9. Grinding machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized
in
that the grinding machine has multiple transport belts (2) and multiple
suction
devices, wherein the suction devices each have an extraction chamber (14) with

an inclined base (16).
10. Grinding machine according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in
that the at least one transport belt (2) is exchangeable without the need for
the
grinding apparatus to be removed.

Description

Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.


Gramm, Lins & Partner
PATENT- UND RECHTSANWALTE
Karl Heesemann Attorney reference:
Maschinenfabrik GmbH & Co. KG 0359-098 DE-1
Reuterstralle 15 Date:
32547 Bad Oeynhausen 23 September 2016
Germany FR/sb-jho
Grinding machine
The invention relates to a grinding machine for grinding a metallic surface of
a work-
piece, wherein the grinding machine has at least one grinding apparatus and at
least
one transport belt for transporting the workpiece through the grinding
machine.
Grinding machines of said type are nowadays known from the prior art and are
used
with a wide variety of grinding apparatuses for the machining and grinding of
metallic
surfaces. The grinding apparatus may have disk brushes or brush rollers or
revolving
grinding means, such as for example grinding belts or abrasive papers.
Oscillating
grinders may also be used.
Grinding machines are used for example for rounding off and deburring punched
or
cut edges of metallic workpieces. They are however also used for refining and
im-
proving the appearance of metallic surfaces; for example, by means of grinding
ma-
chines are correspondingly used in the production of brushed steel surfaces or

brushed aluminum surfaces. In particular if it is sought not only for the
surface to be
visually improved but also for significant abrasion of material from the
workpiece to
be realized by means of the grinding apparatus of the grinding machine, it is
the ge-
neric approach to use grinding machines which have a suction device. In order
to
make it possible for workpieces of different size and with different
dimensions to be
machined as quickly as possible one after the other on the same grinding
machine,
the transport belt is not equipped with fastening means for fixing the
workpiece to be
machined to the transport belt. Instead, the suction device is provided, by
means of
which a workpiece lying on the transport belt can be acted on with negative
pressure
and thus held fixed on the transport belt. This is advantageous in particular
if a high
pressure and a high force are exerted on the workpiece by the grinding
apparatus,
CA 2980057 2017-09-22

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which can have the effect that the workpiece is displaced on the transport
belt. To
prevent this, the suction force is applied to the workpiece.
Often, a grinding machine is used for machining different workpieces which
have me-
tallic surfaces composed of different metals. This results in increased outlay
for
cleaning, because it is necessary to prevent mixing of grinding chips, and
material
abraded by grinding, composed of different metals.
The invention is therefore based on the object of further developing a
grinding ma-
chine such that even different metals can be machined using a single grinding
ma-
chine without great outlay.
The invention achieves the stated object by means of a generic grinding
machine as
per the preamble of claim 1, which is distinguished by the fact that the
grinding ma-
chine has an extraction chamber which is arranged below the transport belt and
which has a base which is inclined relative to the horizontal.
The grinding machine preferably has a suction device by means of which a work-
piece lying on the transport belt can be acted on with a negative pressure,
wherein
the extraction chamber is part of the suction device. The extraction chamber
is gen-
erally formed as part of the suction device, though in the context of the
present inven-
tion may also be used without the possibility of acting thereon with negative
pressure.
The grinding chips to be discharged or the grinding dust are/is then, by means
of the
inclined base and the inherent weight of the chips or of the dust, led out of
the grind-
ing region of the grinding machine and collected, and can be easily removed.
An extraction chamber arranged below the transport belt is in this case
arranged
preferably only under that part of the transport belt on which the workpieces
are
transported through the grinding machine. The transport belt is generally an
encir-
cling endless belt which forms a closed contour. The extraction chamber is
preferably
arranged within said contour, as far as possible directly below the transport
belt. For
numerous embodiments, it is sufficient here for the extraction chamber to be
ar-
ranged only in a partial region below the transport belt. Said partial region
advanta-
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geously corresponds to the region in which the grinding apparatus is arranged
above
the transport belt. This is the region in which grinding chips and grinding
dust are
formed, which are to be discharged through the extraction chamber. The base of
the
extraction chamber advantageously encloses an angle of at least 50, preferably
at
least 10 , particularly preferably at least 15 , and at most 30 , preferably
at most 25 ,
particularly preferably at most 20 , with the horizontal. It has proven to be
particularly
advantageous if the base of the extraction chamber is inclined perpendicular
to the
transport direction along which the workpiece can be transported by the
transport
belt. This means that the workpiece is transported along the transport
direction, and
the inclination extends to the right or to the left therefrom. Grinding dust
and grinding
chips that are formed as a result of the machining of the surface of the
workpiece by
means of the grinding apparatus can pass through holes or openings provided in
the
transport belt into the extraction chamber, from where they can be extracted.
This is
further simplified, and made more efficient, by means of the inclined base of
the ex-
traction chamber. In this way, the remaining fouling of the grinding machine
with
grinding dust and grinding chips from a metal is considerably reduced, or
ideally
eliminated entirely.
The extraction chamber is advantageously connected or connectable, at the
lower
end of the base, to a suction device. Grinding dust and grinding chips can be
suc-
tioned out of the extraction chamber by means of said suction device. The base
of
the extraction chamber is consequently inclined toward said suction device.
The transport belt is advantageously coated with an anti-adhesion coating. The
inner
side of the extraction chamber, or at least the base of the extraction
chamber, is par-
ticularly advantageously coated with an anti-adhesion coating. A polymer or a
mix-
ture of multiple polymers has proven to be advantageous as material for the
anti-
adhesion coating. In this way, too, the residual contamination and fouling of
the
transport belt and of the suction device, in particular of the extraction
chamber, are
reduced, and thus the outlay for cleaning is also reduced.
The base of the extraction chamber may preferably also be mechanically
animated,
that is to say in particular caused to vibrate. This may involve regular
vibrations, such
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as for example sound waves, or individual, regularly or irregularly repeating
shocks.
In this way, chips or dust that have/has collected on the base of the
extraction cham-
ber can be moved, such that they/it collects and can be removed, for example
ex-
tracted.
The grinding machine advantageously has multiple transport belts and multiple
suc-
tion devices, wherein the suction devices each have an extraction chamber with
an
inclined base. If the grinding machine is equipped with multiple grinding
apparatuses,
which may be of different or identical design, it has proven to be
advantageous for
each of the apparatuses to be arranged in a grinding machine module, which can
be
exchanged or removed from the grinding machine separately, and in a manner
sepa-
rate from the other modules. For this purpose, it is advantageous if each of
the mod-
ules, which may for example have one or two grinding apparatuses, has a
dedicated
transport belt which is responsible only for transporting the workpiece within
the
grinding machine module. In this way, firstly, a situation is prevented in
which grind-
ing chips or grinding dust is carried through the entire grinding machine by
an exces-
sively long transport belt, and furthermore, it is made possible for the
individual appa-
ratuses and modules to be easily exchanged and dismounted, for example for the

purposes of cleaning, maintenance or exchange.
The at least one transport belt is advantageously exchangeable without the
grinding
apparatus having to be removed. For this purpose, it is for example possible
for a
housing, which surrounds the grinding apparatuses, of the grinding machine to
be
opened. After any supports that may be present are removed, which supports
hold
the transport table, which has the transport belt, in position, have been
removed, the
transport belt can be removed. For this purpose, it is for example necessary
for a
tensioning device, which is responsible for imparting an adequate tension to
the
transport belt, to be released. The grinding belt can then be easily removed,
without
the need for dismantling the grinding machine entirely or for removing a
grinding ap-
paratus or a grinding module from the grinding machine.
The grinding machine preferably has a housing in which the grinding apparatus
is
arranged, wherein the transport belt is removable from the grinding machine,
wherein
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the grinding apparatus and/or the grinding table do not have to be removed
from the
grinding machine.
Conventionally, the transport belt is not subjected to unduly heavy loads,
such that a
change of the transport belt during the operation of a grinding machine is a
service
action that has to be performed only seldom. Conventionally, the grinding
table and
possibly additionally the grinding apparatus, that is to say the grinding
means itself,
must be removed from the housing of the grinding machine. The grinding table
must
subsequently be dismantled to such an extent that the transport belt is made
acces-
sible.
By means of this embodiment of the grinding machine, it is now made possible
for
the transport belt to be exchanged and removed from the grinding machine
without
the grinding apparatus and/or the grinding table being removed from the
grinding
machine. The exchange of the transport belt is thereby greatly simplified. If,
for ex-
ample, it is the intention for metallic surfaces composed of different metals
to be
ground one after the other, it is now possible, rather than the often
cumbersome and
time-consuming cleaning of a transport belt, to simply exchange the respective
grind-
ing belt, such that it is no longer necessary to remove particles of the
grinding dust or
the grinding chips adhering to the grinding belt. It is thus for example
possible for dif-
ferent transport belts to be provided for different metals, which transport
belts can be
inserted into the grinding machine in accordance with the desired metal type
to be
ground. As an alternative to this, it is self-evidently also possible for a
removed
transport belt to be cleaned with the required care in order to be made ready
for sub-
sequent use with a different metal type. With the embodiment of the grinding
ma-
chine according to the invention, this no longer has the result that it is no
longer pos-
sible to grind workpieces during said period of cleaning of the transport
belt. Rather,
one of the transport belts can be cleaned while another transport belt is used
in the
grinding machine.
The housing preferably has an opening flap which can be placed into an open
state
and into a closed state, wherein the transport belt is accessible when the
opening
flap is situated in the open state. The opening flap is advantageously a door
or a
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,
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double door which is arranged such that the housing can be easily opened. When
the
housing is open, that is to say when the opening flap is situated in the open
state, the
transport belt can be easily removed from the grinding machine. The grinding
table is
advantageously fastened to at least one detachably installed support. In
particular in
the case of relatively large grinding machines or grinding modules, which
possibly
have more than one grinding apparatus, it is advantageous for the grinding
table to
be secured by means of at least one support on both sides of the transport
belt. On
the side on which the transport belt is accessible for example after the
opening of the
opening flap, it is advantageous if the support can be detached in as simple a
man-
ner as possible. This may be achieved for example by means of simple screw con-

nections, which are released for the purposes of exchanging the transport
belt. The
number, positioning and type of fastenings and the installation of the
detachably in-
stalled support are in this case dependent on the size of the grinding
machine, on the
number of grinding apparatuses used, and on the nature of the grinding
process, be-
cause these significantly co-determine the intensity of the pressure exerted
by the
grinding apparatuses on the workpiece and thus also on the transport belt.
The grinding machine advantageously has a suction device by means of which a
workpiece lying on the transport belt can be acted on with a negative
pressure. In this
way, firstly, a holding force on the workpiece is increased, such that, even
in the case
of relatively high forces being exerted on the workpiece by the grinding
apparatus,
the workpiece cannot slip or move along the transport belt. Secondly, it is
achieved
that grinding chips or grinding dust can be extracted by the suction device,
and thus
the contamination and fouling of the interior space of the grinding machine
with grind-
ing dust or grinding chips is reduced.
The grinding machine preferably has multiple grinding modules which each have
at
least one grinding apparatus and one transport belt. Here, it is
advantageously the
case that each grinding module can be removed from the grinding machine, and
for
example replaced with another module, separately. In a preferred embodiment,
each
module has at least one opening flap, particularly preferably a door, by means
of
which a part of the housing belonging to the module can be opened, whereby the

transport belt is made accessible.
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The grinding machine advantageously has a grinding tool or grinding apparatus,
with
at least one brush with grinding bristles, and a leveling unit. A leveling
unit is a func-
tional unit within the grinding machine which, for example in a special
operating
mode of the grinding machine, serves to restore the concentricity and the
straight-
ness of the grinding tool, in particular of a brush roller. This special
operating mode
may be present for example in the form of a predetermined program stored in an

electronic data memory, which program can be accessed and executed by an elec-
tronic controller of the grinding machine. Therefore, with a grinding machine
accord-
ing to the invention, it is only seldom necessary for the grinding tool
itself, in particu-
lar the brush roller, to be removed from the grinding machine. This is
necessary only
when the brush roller has to be fully exchanged. If it is identified that the
contact
pressure of the grinding tool is no longer constant over the width of the
brush roller or
over the spatial extent of individual disk brushes, the special operating mode
of the
grinding machine is for example initiated manually. In this case, the
concentricity and
the straightness of the brush roller are restored by means of the leveling
unit. This
can be performed within a few minutes, such that, after the end of this time
period,
when the program stored for example in the electronic data memory has been
fully
executed, the grinding machine is again fully ready for use and provides
virtually op-
timum grinding results.
The leveling unit advantageously has at least one leveling tool for shortening
at least
some of the grinding bristles.
During grinding using the grinding machine, individual grinding bristles of
the grinding
tool are more heavily loaded than others, and in particular wear more
intensely, such
that they have for example a shorter length than grinding bristles arranged
for exam-
ple at the edge of the grinding tool. To be able to ensure an optimum grinding
result,
it is now advantageously the case that all grinding bristles of the grinding
brush, in
particular of the brush roller, are shortened to one length, in order that a
homogene-
ous grinding result is achieved. It is self-evidently also possible for a non-
homogeneous length of the individual grinding bristles relative to one another
to be
set by means of the leveling unit, by virtue of grinding bristles in different
regions of
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the grinding tool being shortened to different lengths, if this is desired and
advanta-
geous.
The leveling tool may for example be composed of a multiplicity of cutting
elements
which are for example arranged over the width of the grinding tool and which
can
thus shorten the grinding bristles of the grinding means simultaneously over
the en-
tire width. Here, the leveling tool may be formed as one large cutting
element, for ex-
ample a blade or shear which extends over the entire width, or may be composed
of
a multiplicity of different individual elements arranged adjacent to one
another, by
means of which it is then possible for different lengths of the grinding
bristles to be
set at different points of the grinding tool.
As an alternative to this, it has proven to be advantageous for the leveling
tool to be
arranged so as to be displaceable in a direction perpendicular to the
transport direc-
tion. The leveling tool itself can then be of spatially small form, and thus
formed with
a relatively low inherent weight, such that the outlay in terms of apparatus
required
for the leveling unit in a grinding machine of said type is considerably
reduced. In
particular in the case of a brush roller, it is advantageous if the leveling
unit is mov-
able in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction, that is to say
from left to
right and vice versa in a grinding machine, and can thus move to any point
over the
width of the brush roller. Since the brush roller can be set in rotation in
any case, it is
possible in this way for all of the bristles of the brush roller to be
shortened to the de-
sired length.
The at least one grinding tool and/or the leveling tool are preferably
arranged so as to
be height-adjustable. In numerous known grinding machines, the grinding tool
is
height-adjustable in any case in order to be able to make the spacing between
the
grinding tool and the transport device variable and thus adjustable to
different thick-
nesses of workpieces to be machined. In this case, it is advantageous if the
leveling
tool is formed so as not to be height-adjustable relative to the transport
device, such
that a height adjustment of the grinding tool simultaneously results in a
change in the
spacing between the grinding tool and the leveling tool. It is self-evidently
neverthe-
less also possible for the leveling tool to be designed to be height-
adjustable, as long
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as the grinding tool and leveling tool are height-adjustable independently of
one an-
other. Only in this way can the spacing be changed and thus the length to
which the
grinding bristles can be shortened by the leveling tool adjusted.
The grinding tool preferably has a multiplicity of disk brushes which run in
encircling
fashion along an encircling contour, wherein the at least one leveling tool is
arranged
adjacent to the transport device. If the grinding tool has a brush roller, the
arrange-
ment of the leveling tool above said brush roller has proven to be
advantageous be-
cause the bristles point in said direction in any case when the brush rotates.
How-
ever, if disk brushes are used, the situation is different. In the case of a
disk brush, it
is generally the case that all of the grinding bristles are directed toward
the work-
piece, and the axis of rotation about which the disk brush rotates or is
pivoted is per-
pendicular to the transport plane of the transport device. In this embodiment,
too, it is
possible for the leveling tool to be arranged above the disk brushes. In this
case, it
would be necessary, if the special operating mode of leveling is implemented,
for the
orientation of the disk brushes to be changed, and for the grinding bristles
of the disk
brushes to be oriented in the direction of the leveling tool. Although this is
possible, it
results in increased outlay in terms of apparatus and technical equipment.
A structurally more simple solution is possible if the disk brushes, which in
addition to
the rotation about their axis of rotation also revolve on a revolving contour,
are in this
case also moved in a region adjacent to the transport device, such that there
are sec-
tions of the revolving contour in which the disk brushes and the grinding
bristles of
the disk brushes cannot come into contact with a workpiece situated on the
transport
device. The at least one leveling tool can be arranged in a particularly
straightforward
and space-saving and thus technically cumbersome manner in said regions, in
which
for example reversal points and curves of the revolving contour are situated.
In this
case, it is advantageous for multiple leveling tools to be arranged on both
sides of the
transport device.
In a preferred embodiment, the grinding machine has a measuring device for
meas-
uring the length of the grinding bristles. This may be performed for example
contact-
lessly, in particular by means of light barriers, or by means of pressure or
contact
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sensors, which measure whether particular points still come into contact with
the re-
volving grinding bristles. Here, too, it has proven to be advantageous for the
measur-
ing device to be designed to measure the length of the grinding bristles at
different
points of the grinding tool. This means in particular that the length of the
grinding
bristles can be measured at different positions over the width of the grinding
tool. The
grinding machine furthermore has an electrical controller which is designed to
bring
the leveling tool into engagement with the grinding bristles and thereby
shorten the
bristles if a length difference between different bristles exceeds a
predetermined
threshold value. If, on the basis of the measurement results from the
measuring de-
vice, the electrical controller identifies for example that a length
difference between
the length of the bristles in the central region of the grinding brushes and
the bristles
in the outer region of the grinding brush exceeds a predetermined threshold
value,
the electrical controller can automatically activate or initiate the operating
mode of
leveling, and thus ensure that the leveling tool is brought into engagement
with the
respective grinding bristles, such that the length difference between the
individual
bristles is reduced or adjusted to the desired dimension. As an alternative to
this, the
electrical controller may also trigger a display or alarm device such that an
operator
of the grinding machine recognizes that shortening of the grinding bristles is
neces-
sary.
The predetermined threshold value is advantageously dependent on the length of
the
grinding brushes. If the grinding brushes are already relatively short, for
example be-
cause they have been shortened several times, it may be expedient for the
prede-
termined threshold value to be selected to be relatively low, in order to
achieve that a
relative change in length remains as small as possible. However, if the length
of the
brushes is still relatively large, for example in the case of a brush roller
which has
been newly inserted into the grinding machine, larger length differences are
by all
means tolerable.
The grinding machine preferably has a device for determining a radius of a
contour of
an object with an at least circular-segment-shaped cross section, which device
has
two abutment surfaces for the abutment of the object and at least one
measuring
slide, wherein the abutment surfaces are arranged at right angles with respect
to one
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another and the measuring slide is arranged so as to be displaceable along an
angle
bisector of said right angle, such that the measuring slide is displaceable by
virtue of
the object being placed against the two abutment surfaces.
The device advantageously has a measuring device for measuring the distance by
which the measuring slide is displaced when the object is placed against the
two
abutment surfaces. In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the device has
an
electrical controller which is designed to determine the radius from the
measured dis-
tance. The device preferably has a display device which is designed to display
the
radius and/or the distance by which the measuring slide has been displaced.
This embodiment is based on the realization that an object with a circular-
segment-
shaped or circular cross section which is arranged with the contour of said
cross sec-
tion against the two abutment surfaces arranged at right angles with respect
to one
another displaces the measuring slide. The circular-segment-shaped or circular
cross
section may in this case at least notionally be approximated by a circle with
a radius
which is to be determined by the device. Here, said circle forms the inscribed
circle or
inner circle with respect to a square, one corner of which is formed by the
point at
which the two abutment surfaces bear against one another. Said square may
notion-
ally be circumscribed by a circumscribed circle or outer circle, the central
point of
which is consequently situated at the central point of the inscribed circle
and which
runs through the contact point, that is to say the "corner", of the two
abutment sur-
faces. Here, the statements relating to circles, squares or points relate in
each case
to the cross section through the object which is inserted into the device
according to
an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
The difference between the radius of the inscribed circle or inner circle and
the radius
of the circumscribed circle or outer circle corresponds in this case exactly
to the dis-
tance by which the measuring slide still stands out from the corner formed by
the two
abutment surfaces. If it is known how far the measuring slide stands out from
said
corner without an inserted object, it is easily possible to calculate the size
of the dif-
ference between the radius of the inner circle and the radius of the outer
circle. In this
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way, it is also possible to determine the radius of the inner circle, which
corresponds
to the radius to be determined.
The device is advantageously arranged so as to determine the radius of an edge
of
the workpiece. This is advantageously performed after the workpiece has run
along
the grinding tool itself and interacted therewith, that is to say after the
grinding proc-
ess. By means of the very simple device for measuring the radius, it is
possible in a
particularly simple and nevertheless reliable and reproducible manner to
determine
whether the desired grinding result has been achieved, and the radius of the
edge of
the workpiece meets the legal or other requirements. For this purpose, it is
merely
necessary for that edge of the workpiece whose radius is to be measured to be
placed against the two abutment surfaces of the device. The radius of the edge
can
be determined in a particularly simple manner from the distance by which the
meas-
uring slide is displaced in the presence of said abutment.
The grinding machine preferably has an actuator which moves the device against
the
desired edge of the workpiece. This is advantageously performed fully
automatically,
such that an intervention by operating personnel is not necessary. For this
purpose, it
may be advantageous if the grinding machine has a position detection device
and/or
an orientation detection device, by means of which the position and/or
orientation of
the workpiece on a transport device of the grinding machine can be identified.
In this
way, an electrical controller of the grinding machine can ensure that the
actuator,
which may for example be a robot arm, particularly preferably a multiply
articulated
robot arm, moves the device accurately toward, and places the device
accurately
against, the desired point of the workpiece to be inspected and the required
edge.
A radius determined by means of the device is advantageously used as a control
pa-
rameter or regulation variable in the electrical controller of the grinding
machine. In
particular if the determined radius does not satisfy the legal or other
regulations, or
has an excessively large deviation from a predetermined setpoint value, the
work-
piece can for example be passed through the grinding machine once again, or
can
be labeled as a reject or as a workpiece for reprocessing. It is furthermore
possible,
in particular if the determined radius is too small, that is to say the
abrasion effected
CA 2980057 2017-09-22

- 13 -
by the grinding machine is not sufficient to achieve the desired setpoint
value, for the
contact pressure of the grinding tool against the surface of the workpiece to
be in-
creased, and thus for increased grinding abrasion, and thus a larger radius of
the
edge, to be achieved in the case of subsequent workpieces. This is expedient
in par-
ticular if multiple workpieces, in particular a large number of workpieces,
which have
a surface composed of the same material are to be machined and ground in
succes-
sion.
It has proven to be advantageous for the grinding machine to have multiple
such de-
vices. In this way, different edges with possibly different setpoint radii can
be meas-
ured simultaneously, and in this way the quality control process can be
accelerated.
The grinding machine advantageously has an imbalance measuring device for
measuring an imbalance of the grinding tool. In this way, too, it can be
identified
whether some or all of the grinding bristles have to be shortened.
An exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be discussed in more
detail
below on the basis of the appended drawings. In the drawings:
Figure 1 - shows a schematic illustration of a transport table for a
grinding ma-
chine,
Figure 2 - shows a schematic view of an extraction chamber, and
Figure 3 - shows a further schematic view of an extraction chamber.
Figure 1 shows a transport table 1 for a grinding machine according to a first
exem-
plary embodiment of the present invention. The figure shows a transport belt 2
which
is guided over diverting rollers 4 and a tensioning device 6. The transport
belt is
driven by a motor (not illustrated in Figure 1) and can move a workpiece (not
illus-
trated) which is situated on the transport belt 2 along a transport direction
T.
CA 2980057 2017-09-22

- 14 -
The transport table 1 shown in Figure 1 stands on supports 8 which also
support a
grinding apparatus (not shown). For this purpose, feet 10 are provided which
stand
on suspension means 12 and on which a grinding apparatus frame with a grinding

apparatus is arranged.
Situated below the transport belt 2 is an extraction chamber 14 which has an
inclined
base 16, the inclination of which runs perpendicular to the transport
direction T. In the
exemplary embodiment shown, the base 16 is formed so as to be inclined along a

direction perpendicular to the plane of the drawing. In the context of the
present in-
vention, the extraction chamber 14 is situated below the transport belt 2,
even if a
return section 18 of the transport belt 2 is situated below the extraction
chamber 14.
Figure 2 shows a schematic view of the extraction chamber 14. It is possible
to see
the inclined base 16, whose inclination, in Figure 2, runs from left to right,
and thus
perpendicular to the transport direction T. A top side 20 of the extraction
chamber 14
is advantageously of open form in order that a negative pressure to be built
up within
the extraction chamber 14 can be transmitted to the transport belt 2 running
there-
above, and thus to a workpiece situated on said transport belt.
Figure 3 shows another view of an extraction chamber 14 with the inclined base
16. It
can be seen that a height of the extraction chamber 14 is greatest in the
central re-
gion, and decreases in edge regions 22. Altogether, however, the base 16 is
inclined
rearward in Figure 3.
Situated within the extraction chamber 14 are strut arrangements 24, which are
ad-
vantageous in particular in the case of large extraction chambers 14 for the
purposes
of preventing the transport belt 2 from being sucked into the extraction
chamber 14.
In a rear wall 26 of the extraction chamber 14 there is situated an extraction
opening
28 to which an extraction device, for example a pump, can be connected, in
order to
act on the extraction chamber 14, and thus on the transport belt 2 running
there-
above, with a negative pressure.
CA 2980057 2017-09-22

- 15 -
Figure 1 illustrates load-bearing elements 30 which hold the extraction
chamber 14 in
position. If the transport belt 2 is to be exchanged, said load-bearing
elements 30
must be removed. After the tensioning device 6 has been detached, the
transport belt
2 can then be easily removed, without further rearrangement or dismounting of
other
components of the grinding machine.
CA 2980057 2017-09-22

- 16 -
List of reference designations
T Transport direction
1 Transport table
2 Transport belt
4 Diverting roller
6 Tensioning device
8 Support
10 Foot
12 Suspension means
14 Extraction chamber
16 Base
18 Return section
20 Top side
22 Edge region
24 Strut arrangement
26 Rear wall
28 Extraction opening
30 Load-bearing element
CA 2980057 2017-09-22

Representative Drawing
A single figure which represents the drawing illustrating the invention.
Administrative Status

For a clearer understanding of the status of the application/patent presented on this page, the site Disclaimer , as well as the definitions for Patent , Administrative Status , Maintenance Fee  and Payment History  should be consulted.

Administrative Status

Title Date
Forecasted Issue Date Unavailable
(22) Filed 2017-09-22
(41) Open to Public Inspection 2018-03-23
Dead Application 2022-03-22

Abandonment History

Abandonment Date Reason Reinstatement Date
2021-03-22 FAILURE TO PAY APPLICATION MAINTENANCE FEE

Payment History

Fee Type Anniversary Year Due Date Amount Paid Paid Date
Application Fee $400.00 2017-09-22
Maintenance Fee - Application - New Act 2 2019-09-23 $100.00 2019-09-17
Owners on Record

Note: Records showing the ownership history in alphabetical order.

Current Owners on Record
KARL HEESEMANN MASCHINENFABRIK GMBH & CO. KG
Past Owners on Record
None
Past Owners that do not appear in the "Owners on Record" listing will appear in other documentation within the application.
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Document
Description 
Date
(yyyy-mm-dd) 
Number of pages   Size of Image (KB) 
Abstract 2017-09-22 1 19
Description 2017-09-22 16 733
Claims 2017-09-22 2 59
Drawings 2017-09-22 3 70
Representative Drawing 2018-02-13 1 28
Cover Page 2018-02-13 1 54