Portable small correction lapping device for polishing calender cylinders

Abstract

The invention relates to a correction device (1) for machining a surface (2A) to be corrected of a part (2) rotating around a main central axis (X2) mounted to rotate on a frame (3), the device comprising a base (5) to be fixed on the frame (3), a machining head (10) comprising an abrasive belt (11) guided along a belt path (12) to press against the surface (2A) to be corrected in a first penetration direction (Y10), a belt drive motor (16) designed to move the abrasive belt (11) along the belt path (12), a head movement system (23) for moving the machining head (10) on the base (5) in a second advancement direction (X10) along the main central axis (X2), the device being such that, in the orthogonal projection in a base plane (P10) defined by the advancement direction (X10) and the penetration direction (Y10), the projected face of the abrasive belt (11) and the projected face of the stator (17) of the belt drive motor (16) overlap.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of a corrective grinding apparatus designed to process the surface of a rotating component by abrasion.

[0002] More specifically, the present invention relates to a corrective grinding apparatus for polishing (especially ultra-precision finishing) cylinders (more specifically, cylinders belonging to calendering equipment, such as calendering equipment for manufacturing webs based on raw rubber, i.e., based on unvulcanized rubber). Background Technology

[0003] In many fields, such as rolling, calendering, or even printing, it is known practice to use machines comprising at least two counter-rotating cylinders that cooperate to drive one or more materials and press the one or more materials through a pressure gap between them.

[0004] Over time, one or more materials naturally cause wear to the surfaces of the cylinders. This wear is particularly rapid when thermal and / or chemical stresses are added to mechanical stresses.

[0005] Therefore, it is necessary to periodically correct the cylinder by polishing its surface with abrasives in order to restore the cylinder to a surface profile and surface finish that correspond to the desired surface profile and surface finish.

[0006] Therefore, the first known solution involves removing the cylinder to be corrected from the frame of the device to which the cylinder belongs, placing the cylinder in a correction grinding machine to polish it, and then reintegrating the corrected cylinder into its original device after correction grinding.

[0007] However, such a solution requires both arduous loading and unloading operations, which are particularly lengthy and potentially risky for both the cylinders and the operators involved, and extensive adjustment work. This includes, in particular, adjusting the center distance between the cylinders during the reassembly of the calibrated cylinders back into their original equipment.

[0008] Therefore, the time required to calibrate the cylinder (which is downtime for the equipment to which the cylinder belongs, and is therefore unproductive) is particularly long.

[0009] To mitigate these drawbacks, an alternative solution has been proposed, which involves using a movable, corrective grinding machine capable of operating on a cylinder (which remains in place within the device). Such a machine typically includes a track-type base positioned parallel to the axis of rotation of the cylinder to be ground, and one or more processing heads carrying abrasive elements (e.g., abrasive belts) that move along the base.

[0010] However, these portable corrective grinding machines remain relatively heavy and cumbersome, making their transport to the relevant equipment complex and expensive. Furthermore, the processing heads mounted on such machines are particularly bulky because they must support both the structure for pressing the abrasive belt against the cylinder and a high-powered motor designed to drive the abrasive belt in a movement capable of producing a corrective grinding effect. This motor is located offset from the abrasive belt, for example, on the side of the abrasive belt along the axial length of the cylinder, and thus along the length of the base. Therefore, in the first case, a very long base is required—more specifically, a length greater than the length of the cylinder to be ground—to ensure that the axial travel of the processing head is sufficient to cover the entire length of the surface to be ground. Alternatively, in the second case, the number of processing heads needs to be multiplied, with each processing head assigned a portion of the surface to be ground.

[0011] However, in the first case, the longer the base, the more bending it undergoes, which reduces the quality and precision of the resulting surface. Furthermore, due to a lack of space, bases longer than a cylinder cannot typically be inserted between the side posts of the frame, complicating the attachment of the base to the frame and increasing the sensitivity of the straightening grinding machine to deformation under stress, especially during bending.

[0012] In the second case, when grinding a cylinder in a continuous section using several machining heads, it often happens that ridge-shaped surface defects are observed at the transition between two adjacent sections of the surface to be ground, which are processed by two different machining heads, and then further specific correction reprocessing is required. Summary of the Invention

[0013] Therefore, the object specified in the present invention is to overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages and to provide a lightweight and compact correction grinding device that allows for simple and precise machining of the surface to be ground of a rotary component (e.g., a cylinder) and allows the rotary component to be restored to use in a very short time.

[0014] The purpose specified in this invention is achieved by means of a corrective grinding apparatus designed to process a surface of a rotary component, referred to as the "surface to be ground," by abrasion. The rotary component has a central axis referred to as a "main central axis," and is mounted to be rotatable about the main central axis on a frame. The apparatus includes a base with connecting members for securing the base to the frame. The apparatus also includes a processing head comprising an abrasive belt guided along a belt path defined by a plurality of wheels carried by the processing head. These wheels include applicator wheels designed to press the abrasive belt against the surface to be ground in a first direction referred to as a "penetration direction," which is transverse. Preferably perpendicular to the main central axis, the machining head also includes a belt drive motor, the stator of which is fixed to the machining head, and the belt drive motor is arranged to drive the abrasive belt to move along the belt path. The device further includes a machine head moving system that enables the machining head to be moved on the base in a second direction called the "feed direction," which is transverse and preferably perpendicular to the penetration direction, so that the machining head can cover the so-called "useful feed stroke" along the main central axis. The device is characterized in that, in an orthogonal projection in a plane called the "base plane" defined by the feed direction and the penetration direction, the projection plane of the abrasive belt in the belt path overlaps with the projection plane of the stator of the belt drive motor.

[0015] Advantageously, the arrangement proposed in this invention allows the stator of the belt drive motor, which constitutes the largest part of the motor, to occupy a space overlapping the area occupied by the abrasive belt along the main central axis of the rotating component. Therefore, the abrasive belt and the belt drive motor can share the same axial space along the main central axis, wherein the stator of the belt drive motor, more specifically, is at least partially, or even entirely, fitted within the axial range occupied by the width of the abrasive belt.

[0016] Therefore, at least a portion (if not all) of the axial width of the stator of the drive motor falls within the axial width of the abrasive belt, which corresponds to the axial range of the functional area where the abrasive belt contacts and processes the surface to be ground.

[0017] In this way, a relatively narrow machining head can be provided, in which the drive motor protrudes only slightly (if any) in the feed direction relative to the width of the abrasive belt.

[0018] The compactness of the machining head in terms of its dimensions corresponding to the feed direction (which is substantially or even completely parallel to the main central axis) advantageously allows the machining head to cover a large useful feed stroke in the feed direction without the motor abutting against the frame carrying the rotating parts undergoing the correction grinding operation.

[0019] More specifically, the machining head can thus travel the entire length of the surface to be ground along the main central axis without the belt drive motor colliding with the frame, thereby ensuring that the belt drive motor does not in any way impede or obstruct the feed movement of the machining head. Therefore, for a given frame width, the present invention allows for maximizing the useful feed stroke of the machining head.

[0020] Furthermore, the compactness of the machining head gives it, and thus more generally, a relatively light weight, which is particularly advantageous for the transportability of the calibration grinding device, especially for its containerized transport and its mounting on a frame.

[0021] The lightweight design, combined with the presence of a connecting member designed to ensure that the base of the corrective grinding device is temporarily and reversibly fixed to the frame carrying the rotary component to be ground, gives the corrective grinding device a removable and easily transportable nature. This allows for the mobile use of the corrective grinding device, as it can first be temporarily attached and fixed to the frame to process the rotary component without needing to remove it from the frame, and then disassembled and transported to another frame or another location on the same frame to process another rotary component in a similar manner.

[0022] Therefore, the downtime of the frame (and consequently the equipment) is particularly short. Attached Figure Description

[0023] Other subjects, features, and advantages of the invention will become apparent in more detail from the following description and with the aid of the accompanying drawings, which are provided purely by way of illustration and not limitation, in which:

[0024] Figure 1 An overall perspective view shows a type of calendering equipment, which includes a frame supporting four rotating cylinders and a corrective grinding device according to the invention, which is fixed to the frame facing the cylinders to be ground.

[0025] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A three-dimensional diagram of the calibration and grinding apparatus used.

[0026] Figure 3 Shown in 3D Figure 2Details of the calibration grinding device, in which the machining head has been removed from its housing to expose various components.

[0027] Figure 4 A stereoscopic view shown from the opposite perspective Figure 3 The calibration and grinding device.

[0028] Figure 5 yes Figures 2 to 4 A top view of the correction and grinding device projected onto the base plane formed by the penetration direction and the feed direction.

[0029] Figure 6 yes Figures 2 to 5 The rear view of the correction and grinding device projected in a plane orthogonal to the insertion direction (here orthogonal to the axis of the drive motor).

[0030] Figure 7 yes Figures 2 to 6 A side view of the correction grinding device in a plane orthogonal to the feed direction, which is also orthogonal to the main central axis of the cylinder to be ground.

[0031] Figure 8A and Figure 8B The three-dimensional overall diagram shows the following. Figure 1 The equipment, in Figure 8A In this process, the machining head occupies a first end position on the base in the feed direction and thus along the main central axis of the cylinder to be ground. This first end position corresponds here to the left limit of the starting point of the useful feed stroke. Figure 8B In this process, the same machining head has reached the second end position on the base opposite the first end position in the feed direction and thus along the main central axis of the cylinder to be ground. The second end position here corresponds to the right limit that forms the end of the useful feed stroke. Detailed Implementation

[0032] The present invention relates to a correction grinding apparatus 1 for processing the surface 2A of the rotating component 2, referred to as the "surface to be ground" 2A, by abrasion.

[0033] The gyratory component 2 has a central axis X2 referred to as the "main central axis" X2, and is mounted to be able to rotate around the main central axis X2 on the frame 3.

[0034] Therefore, the surface 2A to be ground corresponds to the visible radial outer surface of component 2, which has a swirling shape generated by rotating the outline of component 2 around the main central axis X2.

[0035] Frame 3 is the frame of device 4 (e.g., calendering device 4) which carries one or more rotating parts 2.

[0036] Preferably, the rotating component 2 is a cylinder, more preferably a rolled cylinder. The cylinder is preferably metallic and preferably solid to form a robust rotating component. For ease of description, the rotating component 2 may be referred to as a cylinder in the following text.

[0037] The device 4 may preferably include several rotating components 2, 102, 202, 302 mounted on the same frame 3, which are, in this case, several cylinders 2, 102, 202, 302, and form, for example, a calendering apparatus comprising four cylinders 2, 102, 202, 302 mounted to be able to rotate on axes that are parallel to each other (i.e., carried by collinear direction vectors), such as... Figure 1 , Figure 8A and Figure 8B As shown.

[0038] The cylinders 2, 102, 202, and 302 are preferably arranged in pairs and driven to rotate in opposite directions within a pair of cylinders, so that each pair of cylinders defines the pressure gap through which one or more materials to be calendered will pass.

[0039] Of course, the pressure gap depends on several parameters, including the center distance between the relevant cylinders, the profile of the cylinders (which may be straight, convex (outwardly curved), or concave (hollow)), and the curvature of the cylinder axis (if applicable). If, by construction, particularly by the specific orientation of the bearings, the central axis of the cylinders is forced to follow a slightly curved (i.e. non-linear) shape, a specific pressure gap is defined.

[0040] All or some of these different parameters, particularly the center distance, and where applicable, the curvature of the cylinder's axis, can preferably be adjusted by a suitable adjusting device.

[0041] Furthermore, the corrective grinding device 1 will preferably be designed to impart a particularly smooth surface finish to the surface 2A to be ground, with an arithmetic roughness Ra typically less than or equal to 0.4 micrometers, and more preferably less than or equal to 0.2 micrometers, or even less than or equal to 0.1 micrometers, corresponding to “ultra-finishing”. It will be noted that when the device 4 is intended to calender one or more rubber-based materials, it is important to have an arithmetic roughness Ra less than or equal to 0.4 micrometers to avoid difficulties associated with the material’s natural viscosity (adhesion).

[0042] For example, especially in Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 As can be clearly seen, the correction and grinding device 1 includes a base 5 provided with a connecting member 6, which allows the base 5 to be fixed to the frame 3.

[0043] The base 5 is advantageously a rigid structure that forms an undeformable support, such that once the base 5 is fixed to the frame 3, the base 5 and the frame 3 as a whole form the same reference frame. This allows for control of the movement of the correction grinding device 1 relative to the main central axis X2, and thus benefits from high precision when machining the surface 2A to be ground.

[0044] The connecting member 6 may preferably include two legs 7 and 8, each leg preferably located at one of the axial ends 5A and 5B of the base 5 relative to the main central axis X2.

[0045] Preferably, as in Figure 1 As can be seen, each leg 7, 8 can engage with the corresponding side column 3A, 3B of the frame 3. The side column 3A, 3B also carries a bearing of the type of ball bearing or roller bearing, which supports the associated cylinder 2 and guides the cylinder to rotate around its main central axis X2.

[0046] Furthermore, connecting components 6, 7, and 8 are preferably provided with reversible fixing devices such as screws, so that the correction and grinding device 1 can be successively engaged:

[0047] i) Attached and fixed to the frame 3 to perform calibration grinding on the first rotating component 2 (here, the first cylinder 2) mounted on the frame.

[0048] ii) Then, after correcting and grinding the first rotary component 2, it is removed from the frame 3, and

[0049] iii) Transport and then fix to another location of the same frame 3 (the location being associated with the second rotating parts 102, 202, 302) or fix to a different frame 3 belonging to another device 4 different from and far from the first device 4, the different frame 3 carrying the second rotating parts 102, 202, 302, in each case the purpose of doing so is to properly grind the second rotating parts 102.

[0050] Therefore, advantageously, the device 1 is a movable device that can be moved from one device 4 to another, or from one position to another within the same device 4 including the several rotating parts 2, 102, 202, 302 to be ground. This allows the device 1 to be temporarily fixed to the frame 3 and the operation of properly grinding the surface 2A to be ground to continue in place without removing and taking out the rotating parts 2, 102, 202, 302 to be ground from their functional positions within the frame 3.

[0051] Therefore, the total time required for calibration grinding and subsequent restoration of the rotary components 2, 102, 202, and 302 to service is significantly reduced. Furthermore, since no loading or unloading of the rotary components is required before or after the calibration grinding operation, any risk of accidental damage to the newly ground surface during loading and unloading operations is advantageously eliminated.

[0052] Advantageously, once the rotating part 2 has been ground, the device 1 can be simply removed from the frame 3 to allow the device 4 to resume operation.

[0053] Therefore, in Figure 1 In the device 4 shown, the calibration grinding device 1, more specifically, the base 5, can be moved several times to fix the device 1 to the frame 3, thereby successively facing the first cylinder 2 to grind the first cylinder 2, then facing the second cylinder 102 to grind the second cylinder 102, then facing the third cylinder 202 to grind the third cylinder 202, and finally facing the fourth cylinder 302 to grind the fourth cylinder 302.

[0054] Note that the order in which the cylinders of the same device 4 are ground can depend particularly on the layout configuration of the cylinders, the shape of the cylinder profile, or the servo control used to rotate the cylinders. Therefore, in Figure 1 In device 4, for example, the third cylinder 202 can be regarded as the main cylinder, and the calibration grinding can be started by grinding the third cylinder 202, then by grinding the second cylinder 102, and then adjusting the second cylinder 102 relative to the third cylinder 202—in particular adjusting its center distance—and continuing, then performing calibration grinding on the first cylinder 2 and adjusting the first cylinder 2 relative to the second cylinder 102, and finally performing calibration grinding on the fourth cylinder 302 and adjusting the latter relative to the third cylinder 202. In this case, it is entirely possible to select another cylinder to start calibration grinding and / or another sequence to grind the aforementioned cylinders 2, 102, 202, and 302 successively.

[0055] As can be seen in the accompanying drawings, the device 1 includes a processing head 10.

[0056] The machining head 10 is mounted to be movable on the base 5, as will be described in detail below, and such that the abrasive element can be pressed against the surface 2A to be ground while the rotary member 2 rotates about its main central axis X2, so that the surface 2A to be ground can be machined and polished according to the desired profile and surface finish.

[0057] Therefore, the machining head includes an abrasive belt 11.

[0058] The material constituting the abrasive belt 11 and the particles (roughness) of the abrasive belt 11 can be selected based on the properties of the material constituting the surface to be ground 2A and the desired results.

[0059] like Figure 3 and Figure 7 As clearly visible, the abrasive belt 11 is guided along a belt path 12 defined by a plurality of wheels 13, 14, 15 carried by the processing head 10. These wheels include applicator wheels 13 designed to press the abrasive belt 11 against the surface 2A to be ground along a first direction Y10, referred to as the “penetration direction” Y10, which is transverse and preferably perpendicular to the main central axis X2.

[0060] Therefore, the abrasive belt 11 included in the processing head 10 is advantageously flexible to conform to the shape of the belt path 12, and more specifically, to conform to the circumferential portion of the wheels 13, 14, 15 that guide the abrasive belt 11, particularly the circumferential portion of the arc (here essentially a semicircle) of the applicator wheel 13.

[0061] Advantageously, the applicator wheel 13 allows the abrasive belt 11 to be pressed against the surface 2A to be polished in a tangential contact manner, and locally, i.e. in the region of tangential contact with the surface 2A to be polished, the abrasive belt 11 is driven to move in a direction opposite to the circumferential rotation of the component 2 to be polished. For this purpose, the applicator wheel 13 actually rotates about its axis X13 in the same direction of rotation as the rotary component 2 rotates about its main central axis X2.

[0062] The penetration direction Y10 corresponds to the direction that allows the abrasive belt 11 to penetrate into the surface 2A to be ground at a predetermined process depth, thereby approaching the main central axis X2, so that the processing action applied by the abrasive belt 11 to the rotary member 2 removes the radial thickness of the material from the rotary member 2, that is, reduces the diameter of the rotary member 2.

[0063] The penetration direction Y10 is preferably orthogonal to the main central axis X2, that is, contained in a plane orthogonal to the main central axis X2.

[0064] According to the preferred variant, and as Figure 7 As schematically shown, in a plane orthogonal to the main central axis X2, the contact point 42 between the abrasive belt 11 and the surface 2A to be ground will be positioned such that it is vectorarily collinear with the penetration direction Y10, i.e., the virtual straight line Y10' parallel to the penetration direction Y10 and passing through the contact point 42 is radial, i.e., secant and orthogonal to the central axis X2. Therefore, in order to better control the cutting depth and good machining stability, the abrasive belt 11 will preferably be pressed perpendicularly against the rotary component 2, which is a cylinder 2.

[0065] The machining head 10 also includes a drive motor 16, the stator 17 of which is fixed to the machining head 10. The drive motor 16 is arranged to drive the abrasive belt 11 to move along the belt path 12.

[0066] Note that the machining head 10 includes at least one support structure 50 that provides support for the wheels 13, 14, 15 with the path 12, and also provides support for the stator 17 with the drive motor 16.

[0067] As in Figure 2 As can be seen, the support structure 50 can advantageously form part of the housing of the machining head 10, and / or serve as a support for the housing plate 51 covering the machining head 10.

[0068] Preferably, when the gyratory component 2 is driven to rotate along its main central axis X2, the movement of the abrasive belt 11 occurs in the longitudinal direction of the abrasive belt 11 and in the opposite direction to the circumferential velocity of the gyratory component 2 (here, the cylinder 2).

[0069] The drive motor 16 is preferably connected via a gear reducer 18 (here, a reducer 18 forming a bevel gear) to at least one of the wheels 13, 14, 15 of the belt path (referred to as the “drive wheel”), which engages with the abrasive belt 11 to move the abrasive belt 11 along the belt path 12.

[0070] According to its own characteristics, it can constitute a particularly preferred feature of the present invention, and as in Figure 3 , Figure 4 and Figure 7 As can be seen, the drive wheel coincides with the applicator wheel 13, meaning that the applicator wheel 13 also functions as a drive wheel. This improves the compactness of the processing head 10 and the reliability of the drive of the abrasive belt 11. For the sake of simplicity and convenience, the same reference numeral 13 can therefore be used to denote either the applicator wheel or the drive wheel.

[0071] The reducer 18 can, for example, transmit belt-driven movement to the drive wheel 13 via the drive belt 31.

[0072] The assembly including the reducer 18 and the stator 17 with the drive motor 16 (within the assembly, the stator 17 is preferably fixed to the housing of the reducer 18) is preferably fixed to the aforementioned support structure 50, for example, by screws.

[0073] The fastening of the assembly including the reducer 18 and stator 17 can advantageously be performed by means of a flange 19, which can be fixed to the support structure 50 by means of screws, and the flange will have an elliptical hole 19A, which will allow adjustment of the relative position of the reducer 18, and more specifically, the relative position of the reducer 18 / stator 17 assembly with respect to the axis X13 of the applicator wheel 13, to allow adjustment of the tension of the drive belt 31, for example in... Figure 3 This can be seen from the text.

[0074] Advantageously, the abrasive belt 11 is not stretchable in the direction in which the abrasive belt 11 is driven and moves within the belt path 12, i.e., in the longitudinal direction of the abrasive belt 11. This allows the abrasive belt 11 to be tensioned within the belt path 12 and allows the abrasive belt 11 to be configured (here, by means of the applicator wheel 13) to move by applying a longitudinal traction force on the abrasive belt 11.

[0075] The processing head 10 preferably further includes a tensioning mechanism 20, which allows the tension of the abrasive belt 11 in the belt path 12 to be adjusted, and thus particularly ensures good adhesion of the abrasive belt 11 to the wheels 13, 14, 15 of the belt path 12, especially to the applicator wheel 13.

[0076] For this purpose, the tensioning mechanism 20 will preferably be arranged to change the position of the axis of one of the wheels 14 on the path 12 and hold the axis in the selected position, and for this purpose may include, for example, a pivoting link 21 placed under the control of an actuator 22 of the type of electric, pneumatic, or hydraulic jack, the actuator 22 itself being included on the machining head 10 and more preferably carried by a support structure 50, preferably by means of a pivoting connection 22A, which allows the cylinder of the jack to be hinged to the support structure, as in Figure 3 It is clearly visible in the middle.

[0077] Furthermore, the correction grinding apparatus 1 further includes a head movement system 23, which enables the machining head 10 to move on the base 5 along a second direction X10 referred to as the "feed direction" X10, the second direction being transverse and preferably perpendicular to the penetration direction Y10, so that the machining head 10 can cover the so-called "useful feed stroke" L10 along the main central axis X2.

[0078] In fact, when the device 1 is in place on the frame 3, the feed direction X10 is parallel to the main central axis X2, that is, vectorarily collinear, so that the head moving system can move the machining head 10 parallel to the main central axis X2, and thus move the abrasive belt 11. More specifically, the head moving system 23 can move the machining head 10 back and forth along the surface 2A to be ground, parallel to the main central axis X2, by a distance corresponding to the useful feed stroke L10.

[0079] Note that, in order to define the feed direction X10, and more generally, the arrangement of the components of device 1, for ease of description and better understanding, refers to the main central axis X2 of the rotary component 2 that the correcting grinding device 1 will operate on, although the rotary component 2 is different from device 1 and is external to the latter. Strictly speaking, in an equivalent manner, and in order to define device 1 independently of frame 3 and device 4, and especially to absolutely define the arrangement of base 5, the position of connecting member 6, and the orientation of insertion direction Y10 and feed direction X10, a virtual reference axis attached to device 1 can therefore be used, thus independent of frame 3 and rotary component 2, and when device 1 is in place on frame 3, it is aligned with the actual main central axis X2.

[0080] The head movement system 23 preferably includes at least one guide rail 24, which is fixed to the base 5 and extends in a straight line along the feed direction X10 to reflect the feed direction X10. Therefore, the guide rail 24 is parallel to the main central axis X2.

[0081] Engaged in a translational manner on the guide rail 24 is at least one bracket 25, preferably a spherical bracket 25, preferably a pair of spherical brackets 25, on which a plate 26 for supporting the processing head 10 is fixed, such as... Figure 3 As can be seen in the text.

[0082] Even more preferably, for better precision and more robust guidance, two parallel guide rails 24 are provided, which are preferably staggered along the insertion direction Y10. Each of the guide rails 24 guides a pair of brackets 25, which serve as an integral support plate 26 and thus support the machining head 10.

[0083] Preferably, the head movement system 23 is provided with a feed motor 27 separate from the drive motor 16, so that the machining head 10 can be moved along the base 5 in the feed direction X10.

[0084] Preferably, the feed motor 27 is included on the machining head 10.

[0085] Preferably, as in Figure 3 and Figure 4As can be clearly seen, the feed motor 27 is connected for this purpose to a pinion 28 that meshes with a rack 29, which is preferably fixed to the base 5.

[0086] Therefore, by means of the control unit that controls the feed motor 27, the position and speed of the machining head 10 in the feed direction X10 and thus along the main central axis X2 can be controlled by means of the head movement system 23, which has a particularly simple, compact and robust structure.

[0087] Preferably, the feed motor 27 is an electric motor.

[0088] The rack, in itself, preferably extends in a straight line parallel to the guide rail 24.

[0089] Preferably, as in Figure 4 , Figure 5 and Figure 6 As can be seen in the image, the guide rail 24 is fixed to the plate 30 of the base 5 on the first surface (here, the upper surface) of the plate 30, while the teeth of the rack 29 point to the second surface of the plate 30 opposite to the first surface, which is, in this case, the lower surface of the plate 30.

[0090] Preferably, the drive motor 16 and preferably the path 12 are located on one side of the plate 30, facing the first surface that forms the upper surface of the plate, while the feed motor 27 is located on the opposite side of the plate 30, facing the second surface, which is the lower surface.

[0091] This arrangement of the plate 30, the assembly of the machining head 10, and the head movement system 23 contributes to the compactness of the device 1, helps to effectively support the machining head 10, especially against the effects of gravity, and contributes to the good stability of the machining head 10 during its movement along the feed direction X10.

[0092] According to the invention, the device 1 is arranged such that, in the orthogonal projection onto a plane called the "base plane" P10, defined by the feed direction X10 and the penetration direction Y10, the projection plane of the abrasive belt 11 in the belt path 12 overlaps with the projection plane of the stator 17 of the belt drive motor 16, as in Figure 5 It is clearly visible in the middle.

[0093] Note that the upper surface of the plate 30 supporting the guide rail 24 preferably coincides with the base plane P10, thus embodying the base plane P10.

[0094] Advantageously, as described above, the at least partial axial superposition of the stator 17 and the abrasive belt 11 allows for the construction of a particularly narrow machining head 10, and thus allows for easy insertion and movement of the frame 3 between the side columns 3A, 3B within the frame 3 without interference with the frame 3, and thus allows access to all portions of the surface 2A to be ground.

[0095] In fact, as in Figure 5 and Figure 6 As can be clearly seen, on the one hand, the width W11 of the abrasive belt (which is considered to be along the main central axis X2, or equivalently here, along the feed direction X10, more specifically, in the contact area between the abrasive belt 11 and the surface 2A to be ground) and on the other hand, the width W17 of the stator 17 of the drive motor 16, at least partially overlap in a common axial range, and thus advantageously share the same space along the main central axis X2, or equivalently here, along the feed direction X10.

[0096] Because the drive motor 16, and more specifically its stator 17, has little axial projection (if any) relative to the side edge of the abrasive belt 11 in the feed direction X10 and therefore in the extension direction of the main central axis X2, this sharing of the same common axial space has the effect of reducing the overall axial dimension of the machining head 10 as perceived in the feed direction X10 and therefore along the main central axis X2.

[0097] In this regard, it will be noted that, according to one possible implementation, the width W17 of the stator with drive motor 16 may be smaller than the width W11 of abrasive belt 11, so that the stator 17 will preferably be fully axially contained in the axial range occupied by abrasive belt 11 in the feed direction X10.

[0098] According to another embodiment, such as the one shown in the figure, the width W17 of the stator 17 will be greater than the width W11 of the abrasive belt 11. In this case, the width W11 of the abrasive belt 11 will preferably be axially completely inscribed within the width W17 of the stator in the feed direction X10, as in Figure 5 and Figure 6 It is clearly visible in the middle.

[0099] More generally, the two elements, one being the abrasive belt 11 and the other being the stator 17 with the drive motor 16, have a minimum width of W11, W17. The element with the minimum width is preferably fully inscribed in the feed direction X10 and thus along the main central axis X2 within the axial range occupied by the other of the two elements. The element with the maximum width of W17, W11 of the two elements is such that the narrowest element occupying the minimum axial range does not axially protrude relative to the element with the widest axial range of the two elements.

[0100] As an indication, the width W11 of the abrasive strip 11 can be, for example, between 5 cm and 20 cm, preferably between 8 cm and 10 cm.

[0101] The width W17 of the stator 17 is preferably between 10 cm and 35 cm, more preferably between 15 cm and 25 cm, for example between 22 cm and 24 cm.

[0102] Preferably, the drive motor 16 is an electric motor. Then, the stator 17 may preferably include a fixed magnetic field winding for exciting the rotor of the motor 16, the rotor itself may include a conductive closed armature circuit (as in the case of an asynchronous motor) or a permanent magnet (as in the case of a synchronous motor).

[0103] Preferably, the feed motor 27, and more specifically, the stator of the feed motor 27, preferably a stator containing a fixed magnetic field winding of the electric feed motor 27, is arranged such that the projection plane of the feed motor 27 (more specifically, the stator of the feed motor 27) in the base plane P10 overlaps with the projection plane of the abrasive belt 11, and more preferably, overlaps with both the projection plane of the abrasive belt 11 and the projection plane of the stator 17 with the drive motor 16.

[0104] Therefore, preferably, the stator of the feed motor 27, more specifically, shares a common axial space with the stator 17 of the abrasive belt 11 and the belt motor 16 in the feed direction X10 and thus along the main central axis X2. Figure 6 As can be clearly seen, the width W27 of the feed motor 27 (more specifically, its stator) is at least partially superimposed on the width W11 of the abrasive belt and the width W17 of the stator 17 with the drive motor 16.

[0105] For the reasons explained above, this contributes to the compactness of the machining head 10 and to the ability of the machining head 10 to reach and machine all the portions of the surface 2A to be ground.

[0106] Preferably, the drive motor 16 and the feed motor 27, more specifically, their respective stators, are staggered relative to each other on a third direction Z10 orthogonal to the base plane P10, more specifically, they are staggered perpendicularly relative to each other, one (here, the drive motor 16) is located above the plate 30, and the other (here, the feed motor 27) is located below the plate 30, as in... Figure 4 , Figure 6 and Figure 7 As can be seen, by convention, the third direction Z10 is the direction that forms a rectangular trihedron with the feed direction X10 and the penetration direction Y10.

[0107] This staggered arrangement advantageously allows the motors 16 and 27 to be distributed in a substantially vertical third direction Z10, which is transverse and preferably orthogonal to the feed direction X10, and thus transverse or even orthogonal to the main central axis X2. This facilitates the coexistence of the same axial range of the motors 16 and 27 in the feed direction X10 and therefore in the same axial range along the main central axis X2.

[0108] Preferably, as in Figure 3 , Figure 4 and Figure 7 As can be clearly seen, the abrasive belt 11 is closed to form a continuous loop that travels along the belt path 12 in a closed loop.

[0109] This arrangement of the abrasive belt 11 forming an infinite loop advantageously allows the abrasive belt 11 to be driven by a belt drive motor 16 through the belt path 12 in a continuous and regular movement, without the need, for example, to interrupt or reverse the movement in order to periodically rewind the abrasive belt on the reel-type winding support.

[0110] This arrangement also allows the entire abrasive belt 11 to be used without waste, and ensures the gradual and relatively uniform wear of the abrasive belt 11, thus ensuring the gradual and controllable evolution of processing conditions, which simplifies the achievement of a flawless surface finish on the surface 2A to be ground.

[0111] Finally, this arrangement allows the machining head 10 to remain compact, as there is no need to set up a pre-reserved reel for new abrasive belts and / or a recycling reel for used belts within the machining head.

[0112] According to one possible implementation, it can be envisioned that the drive motor 16 is located outside the belt path 12, in the directions Y10 and Z10 transverse to the feed direction X10.

[0113] However, for greater compactness, the abrasive belt 11 forms a continuous loop that travels in a closed loop around the stator 17 of the belt drive motor 16 along the belt path 12, such that the stator 17 of the belt drive motor 16 is strictly contained within the perimeter defined by the abrasive belt 11 in its projection into a plane orthogonal to the feed direction X10 (here, for example, the plane defined by the second and third directions Y10 and Z10), as in Figure 3 , Figure 4 and Figure 7 It is clearly visible in the middle.

[0114] Therefore, in a plane orthogonal to the feed direction X10 and thus orthogonal to the main central axis X2, the belt path 12 preferably forms a closed peripheral belt path 12 relative to the stator 17, the peripheral belt path defining an enclosure embodied by the abrasive belt 11 present and thus describing the belt path 12, the stator 17 being fully fitted inside the enclosure. To better illustrate this arrangement, in Figure 3 , Figure 5 and Figure 7 The path 12 is shown in the middle with a thick dashed line.

[0115] Advantageously, this arrangement proposed by the present invention allows the stator 17 of the belt drive motor 16 to be accommodated within the volume contained in the belt path 12, and thus allows for a reduction in the size of the machining head 10.

[0116] Preferably, in a plane orthogonal to the feed direction X10, the wheels 13, 14 and 15 defining the path 12 are also included within the closed shape defined by the path 12.

[0117] Preferably, the reducer 18, as well as the jack 22 and connecting rod 21 of the tensioning mechanism 20, are the same.

[0118] Therefore, the components required to drive the abrasive belt 11 are preferably located within the closed perimeter defined by the abrasive belt 11 to optimize the compactness of the machining head 10.

[0119] Instead, in a plane orthogonal to the feed direction X10, the feed motor 27 is preferably located outside the closed perimeter defined by the abrasive belt 11 present in the belt path 12. This allows for the elimination of unnecessary lengthening of the belt path 12, and thus maintains the compactness and inextensibility of the abrasive belt 11, limiting the risk of the abrasive belt 11 becoming loose.

[0120] Preferably, as in Figure 7 As can be clearly seen, path 12 describes a generally rectangular shape in a plane orthogonal to the feed direction X10, specifically surrounding the drive motor 16 and wheels 13, 14, and 15.

[0121] The applicator wheel 13, which forms the drive wheel, occupies the short side of the rectangle such that the diameter of the applicator wheel corresponds to the width of the rectangle. Preferably, the second wheel 14, belonging to the tensioning mechanism 20, has a smaller diameter and occupies a corner of the rectangle opposite the short side occupied by the applicator wheel 13. Preferably, the freely rotatable third wheel 15 also has a smaller diameter than the applicator wheel 13, preferably equal to the diameter of the second wheel 14, and occupies the last corner of the rectangle along the same short side as the second wheel 14, thus completing the layout with path 12.

[0122] The longer side of the rectangle is preferably parallel to the insertion direction Y10, and the shorter side is parallel to the third direction Z10.

[0123] Furthermore, in the projection in the base plane P10, the side edges of the abrasive belt 11, which defines the width W11 of the abrasive belt, are preferably parallel to each other and parallel to the insertion direction Y10, and more preferably orthogonal to the feed direction X10, and thus orthogonal to the main central axis X2.

[0124] Therefore, path 12 is preferably orthogonal to the feed direction X10.

[0125] More preferably, the abrasive belt 11 engaged in the belt path 12 is such that, on the one hand, the abrasive belt 11 has a central plane PM11, the central plane corresponding to a plane containing an imaginary line described by the abrasive belt 11 and the central plane is equidistantly positioned with each of the two side edges of the abrasive belt 11 that form the boundary of the abrasive belt 11 in the feed direction X10, and on the other hand, as in Figure 5 and Figure 6 As can be clearly seen, the intermediate plane PM11 is orthogonal to the feed direction X10 and therefore orthogonal to the main central axis X2.

[0126] In this regard, it will be noted that the applicator wheel 13 is preferably mounted to be able to rotate on the processing head 10 on an axis X13 that is vectorarily collinear (i.e. parallel) with the main central axis X2 and therefore preferably parallel to the feed direction X10.

[0127] More generally, the applicator wheel 13 is mounted to be able to rotate on the processing head 10 on an axis X13 that is not orthogonal to the main central axis X2 and is preferably vectorically collinear (i.e. parallel) to the main central axis X2, that is, to rotate on an axis X13 oriented in such a way that the plane orthogonal to the axis X13 of the applicator wheel is transverse and preferably orthogonal to the main central axis X2, and therefore orthogonal to the feed direction X10.

[0128] Advantageously, this allows the applicator wheel 13 to press the abrasive belt 11 against the surface 2A to be polished in a tangentially "flat" manner, and as the processing head 10 moves along the feed direction X10, the abrasive belt 11 advances in a direction corresponding to its width W11, because as the processing head 10 moves along the feed direction X10, the axis X13 of the applicator wheel 13 is parallel to the feed direction X10 and the main central axis X2 and advantageously remains parallel to the feed direction X10 and the main central axis X2.

[0129] Advantageously, this arrangement promotes the compactness of the machining head 10 and the uniformity of machining.

[0130] In a manner known per se, the belt drive motor 16 includes a rotor mounted to be rotatable relative to the stator 17 about an axis referred to as the “drive motor axis” Y16, such that the interaction between the stator 17 and the rotor generated within the belt drive motor 16 during startup of the belt drive motor 16 produces torque that causes the rotor to rotate itself about the drive motor axis Y16 relative to the stator 17 (and more preferably within the stator 17).

[0131] In fact, since the stator 17 defines a substantially cylindrical cavity that houses the rotor, the drive motor axis Y16 corresponds to the central axis of the stator 17 with the drive motor 16.

[0132] The rotor is coupled to at least one of the wheels 13 referred to as “drive wheels” 13 with path 12, which preferably coincides with the applicator wheel 13 as described above, so that the rotor can transfer its rotation to the drive wheel 13 to drive the abrasive belt 11 in its abrasive movement.

[0133] Preferably, in a manner known per se, the rotor is in the form of an output shaft, which allows the belt drive motor 16 to be connected to the constituent elements of the motion chain used to drive the abrasive belt.

[0134] Here, the rotor engages with the input of the reducer 18, which in turn transmits rotational movement to the drive wheel 13 at its output, for example via the drive belt 31. Figure 3 As you can see.

[0135] Preferably, the drive motor axis Y16 is oriented laterally relative to the main central axis X2, preferably forming an angle between 85 and 95 degrees relative to the main central axis X2 and therefore relative to the feed direction X10, at least in the base plane P10. More preferably, the drive motor axis Y16 is orthogonally oriented relative to the main central axis X2, forming an angle of 90 degrees relative to the main central axis X2.

[0136] Preferably, the drive motor axis Y16 is contained in a plane orthogonal to the main central axis X2 and therefore orthogonal to the feed direction X10 and even more preferably parallel to the penetration direction Y10.

[0137] Again, this arrangement of the drive motor axis Y16 transverse to the main central axis X2 allows the stator 17 (more specifically, the maximum size of the stator 17) to be aligned along the main central axis X2 in a transverse direction preferably orthogonal to the main central axis X2 or even in a direction substantially radial to the main central axis X2, which allows the transverse volume of the machining head 10 to be minimized.

[0138] Preferably, in the projection in the base plane P10, the drive motor axis Y16 is included within the width W11 of the abrasive belt 11, thus located between the two side edges of the abrasive belt 11, and therefore along the main central axis X2 within the axial range occupied by the abrasive belt 11, at least within the axial range of the abrasive belt 11 corresponding to the contact area of ​​the abrasive belt 11 with the surface 2A to be ground.

[0139] Preferably, the drive motor axis Y16 is projected in the base plane P10, and at least in the axial range corresponding to the contact area between the abrasive belt 11 and the surface to be ground 2A, or even more preferably for the entire abrasive belt 11, centered on the width W11 of the abrasive belt, i.e., along the main central axis X2 at a distance equal to each of the two side edges defining the abrasive belt 11.

[0140] Even more preferably, the drive motor shaft Y16 will be contained in the middle plane PM11 of the abrasive belt 11.

[0141] Here again, the overlap or even preferably centering of the drive motor axis Y16 with the abrasive belt 11 will allow for the balancing of the machining head 10 and the effective distribution of its volume, thus not hindering the machining head from moving in one direction (e.g., in the side columns 3A, 3B of the frame 3) between the side columns 3A, 3B. Figure 1 , Figure 5 , Figure 6 , Figure 8A and Figure 8B Move to the right (from the center) or in another direction (to the left in the diagram).

[0142] For similar reasons, the feed motor axis Y27 will preferably be contained in a plane orthogonal to the feed direction X10 and therefore orthogonal to the main central axis X2, and more preferably in the intermediate plane PM11 of the abrasive belt 11.

[0143] The feed motor axis Y27 is preferably parallel to the insertion direction Y10.

[0144] According to the diagram shown, and Figure 6 and Figure 7 In a particularly preferred arrangement that is especially clearly visible, the drive motor axis Y16 and the feed motor axis Y27 will be parallel to each other and coplanar, so as to be perpendicularly intersected in the same plane orthogonal to the main central axis X2 and the feed direction X10, more preferably perpendicularly intersected in the intermediate plane PM11, and preferably parallel to the penetration direction Y10.

[0145] This will minimize the volume of the machining head 10 along the main central axis X2 and will give the machining head 10 good balance, which will promote the stability and uniformity of the operation of the head movement system 23.

[0146] Furthermore, the correction grinding device 1 preferably includes an adjustment mechanism 32, which allows for adjustment of the cutting depth, by which the abrasive belt 11 must penetrate into the rotary component 2 to be ground in the penetration direction Y10.

[0147] Preferably, for each new complete translation of the machining head 10 in the feed direction X10, the cutting depth adjustment is fixed, that is, the adjustment is constant for the same operation over the entire axial length of the surface to be ground 2A.

[0148] The adjustment mechanism 32 may include a slider 33, which is inserted between a plate 26 (preferably also carrying a feed motor 27) and a portion of the machining head 10 on the other side, including an abrasive belt 11, a belt path 12 and a drive motor 16.

[0149] The position of the slider 33 relative to the base 5 along the insertion direction Y10, and therefore the position of the applicator wheel 13 and the abrasive belt 11, and thus the cutting depth, can be adjusted and identified by any suitable system, such as by means of the vernier 34, as in Figure 3 and Figure 7 It is particularly visible in the middle.

[0150] As an indication, the cutting depth can be between 0.02 mm (two-hundredths of a millimeter) and 0.15 mm (fifteen-hundredths of a millimeter), for example, between 0.05 mm (five-hundredths of a millimeter) and 0.10 mm (ten-hundredths of a millimeter). The cutting depth will be specifically chosen to be small enough to prevent the abrasive band 11 from getting stuck on the surface 2A to be ground.

[0151] The available travel of the slider 33 in the penetration direction Y10 will preferably be greater than or equal to 1 cm, for example, between 1 cm and 10 cm, and preferably equal to 3 cm (+ / - 5 mm). Therefore, there will be a good "reservation" to initially position the machining head 10 relative to the surface to be ground 2A in the penetration direction Y10, and then several operations will be performed successively, thereby gradually cutting in successive operations until it penetrates deeper into the radial thickness of the surface to be ground 2A.

[0152] It will also be noted that for the final one or more processes used for finishing (more specifically, for ultra-finishing), this allows the surface to be polished 2A to be given a final surface finish, particularly an arithmetic roughness Ra of less than or equal to 0.4 micrometers or even less than or equal to 0.1 micrometers, by means of an abrasive belt 11, where the abrasive belt can simply come into contact with the surface to be polished 2A with a practically zero depth of cut.

[0153] Preferably, the base 5 is formed by the beam 40.

[0154] Preferably, the beam 40 is a lattice beam, i.e., it has a hollow structure, in which the grid of the rods forms a triangular structure, as specifically in... Figure 3 , Figure 4 and Figure 6 As can be seen, this lattice structure advantageously combines rigidity and light weight.

[0155] The axial ends of the beam 40, i.e. the opposite ends of the beam 40 in the feed direction X10 (which thus correspond to the ends 5A and 5B of the base 5), are each provided with a connecting member 6, which is provided with a support leg 7 or 8, thereby allowing the beam 40 to be fixed to the frame 3.

[0156] Preferably, the cross-section of the beam 40 is larger at the central portion of the beam than at the ends 5A and 5B of the beam 40, in order to improve the rigidity of the beam 40 at the central portion.

[0157] Preferably, this overall variation in the thickness of beam 40 is represented at least and possibly only in the third direction Z10, which in particular makes it possible to avoid any significant bending of beam 40 under the weight of the machining head 10, especially when the machining head 10 is along the middle of the feed stroke and thus between the two ends 5A, 5B.

[0158] Preferably, as in Figure 3 , Figure 4 and Figure 6 As can be clearly seen, beam 40 will have a trapezoidal shape in a plane orthogonal to the insertion direction Y10, with its larger base abutting against or even forming a plate 30 that supports the guide rail 24 of the head movement system 23, and its smaller base located on the side of the plate 30 opposite to the guide rail 24 and the path 12, at a certain distance from the plate 30.

[0159] Advantageously, by thus strengthening the cross section of the beam 40 at its center, the beam becomes more resistant to bending under shear forces, such as, in particular, the weight of the machining head 10, or the reaction force of the rotary member 2 on the pressing force, by which the machining head 10 presses the abrasive belt against the surface 2A to be ground along the insertion direction Y10.

[0160] According to a preferred embodiment, the head movement system 23 includes a template track 41 that extends in length along the feed direction X10 to guide the machining head 10, and the deflection of the template track (considered to be radial to the main central axis) can be adjusted by means of one or more positioning screws to deform the template track 41, for example, in the range between -0.20 mm and +0.20 mm, so that the feed path of the machining head 10 conforms to the desired curvature profile of the surface 2A to be ground.

[0161] The template track 41 can be advantageously positioned on the plate 30, between the guide tracks 24, to engage with the plate 26, thereby forcing the applicator wheel 13 and the abrasive belt 11 to move (slightly) toward or (slightly) away from the main central axis X2 in the insertion direction Y10 as the processing head travels along the guide tracks 24 along the base 5 and thus along the main central axis X2 and thus in the feed direction X10, depending on the direction of curvature imparted by the positioning screws on the track.

[0162] For this purpose, plate 26 may include a slider mounted on template track 41 to slide along the template track without clearance due to proper preload. The bracket 25 then mounts itself slightly floatingly on guide track 24 with a slight functional clearance in the insertion direction Y10, which allows plate 26 to float just enough relative to guide track 24 to perform slight displacements imposed by the deflection of template track 41.

[0163] Note that, as needed, the curvature or “bow” of the template track 41 given by the positioning screws and the corresponding deflection can be positive to give the surface 2A to be ground an outwardly curved, convex profile, thereby forming a convexity relative to the main central axis X2, or conversely, negative to give the surface 2A to be ground a hollow, concave profile, thereby forming a depression relative to the main central axis X2.

[0164] As an indication, a set of cylinders 2, 102, 202, 302 may be provided in the calendering apparatus 4 according to the invention, wherein: the first cylinder 2 is slightly convex so as to bend outward with a positive maximum deflection considered in its middle (i.e. at the middle length along the central main axis X2), the deflection being between +0.10 mm and +0.15 mm, preferably equal to +0.12 mm or +0.13 mm (i.e., 12% to 13% of mm); the second cylinder 102 is straight, i.e., has zero deflection; the third cylinder 202 is slightly concave so as to be hollow with a negative maximum deflection between -0.05 mm and -0.10 mm, preferably equal to -0.07 mm (7% of mm); and the fourth cylinder 302 is convex, having a positive maximum deflection between +0.15 mm and +0.20 mm, preferably equal to +0.18 mm (18% of mm).

[0165] Depending on which of the cylinders 2, 102, 202, and 302 is to be calibrated and ground, the base 5 will be fixed in the corresponding position on the frame 3, and the deflection of the template track 41 will be adjusted accordingly.

[0166] Particularly preferably, the corrective grinding apparatus 1 includes a single machining head 10, the useful feed stroke L10 of which is sufficient to allow the machining head 10 to cover the entire axial length of the surface 2A to be ground, considered along the main central axis X2, in a single continuous operation, as in Figure 8A and Figure 8B It is particularly visible in the middle.

[0167] More preferably, the machining head 10 is arranged in such a way that it can successively perform a forward path in the first direction along the base 5 (from the first end 5A). Figure 8A ) until the second end 5B ( Figure 8B The first end here corresponds to the limit of the useful feed stroke L10 of the first side post 3A closest to the frame, and the second end here corresponds to the limit of the useful feed stroke L10 of the second side post 3B closest to the frame 3. Then there is a return path in the opposite direction (from the second end 5B to the first end 5A), each path of which covers the entire axial length of the surface 2A to be ground.

[0168] Preferably, since the single machining head 10 carries a single abrasive belt 11, each path corresponds to a machining step, more specifically to a finishing step.

[0169] Of course, a series of several alternating paths can be executed. More specifically, the reciprocating stroke can be repeated in the feed direction X10, thus along the main central axis X2, from the first end 5A to the second end 5B, and vice versa, to perform as many operations as needed, thereby adjusting the cutting depth between each path as needed by means of the adjusting mechanism 32.

[0170] Advantageously, using an identical machining head 10 and an identical corresponding abrasive belt 11 to perform continuous processes along the surface to be ground 2A, i.e., processes covering the entire axial length of the surface to be ground 2A in the same path, without interrupting processing or further rework, advantageously makes it possible to obtain a ground surface without irregularities, especially without material protrusions or ridges.

[0171] Preferably, the feed stroke L10 represents several times the width W11 of the abrasive belt 11, for example, at least five times, or even at least ten times, for example, between ten and twenty times the width W11 of the abrasive belt 11.

[0172] As an indication, the useful feed stroke L10 available to the machining head 10 in the feed direction X10 and thus along the main central axis X2 can preferably be between 1500 mm and 2000 mm, more preferably between 1700 mm and 1800 mm.

[0173] In practice, the objective would be, for example, to grind a length of cylinder, preferably about 1700 mm to 1750 mm, such as 1730 mm (+ / - 5 mm).

[0174] Such a useful stroke L10 would be particularly suitable for the preferred application of the invention to correct and grind the cylinder of a calender 4 designed to calender a ply based on raw rubber, for example, intended for use in manufacturing pneumatic tires for vehicles.

[0175] The calibration grinding device 1 may of course include other components, such as a lubrication system including at least one nozzle designed to spray a lubricating fluid, such as water, into the contact area between the abrasive belt 11 and the surface 2A to be ground.

[0176] Device 1 will also include a control unit, preferably electrically powered, designed to control (and synchronize when necessary) the operation of drive motor 16 and feed motor 27, and may enable said motors 16, 27 to cooperate with the main motor of device 4, which is used to rotate the rotary component 2 on its main central axis X2.

[0177] Of course, the present invention also relates to the use of the device 1 according to the invention for performing a correction grinding operation of a rotary component 2, such as a cylinder 2, 102, 202, 302 having a central axis X2 and permanently mounted on the frame 3 of the device 4 in such a way that the rotary component 2 can be driven to rotate relative to the frame 3 about its central axis X2.

[0178] Preferably, the device 4 is a calendering device, and more preferably a calendering device for manufacturing cord layers from one or more rubber-based materials.

[0179] For this purpose, such a device 4 preferably includes at least two rotating parts 2, 102, 202, 302 forming counter-rotating calender cylinders that define a pressure gap between them through which one or more materials to be calendered (here, the one or more rubber-based materials) will pass.

[0180] In order to perform the calibration grinding operation, the device 1 will first be fixed in a suitable position on the frame 3 by means of the connecting members 6, 7, 8, temporarily stabilizing the base 5 to the frame 3 for a period of time (more precisely, just the time necessary for the calibration grinding operation), so as to face the grinding surface 2A of the rotating part 2.

[0181] In doing so, the base 5 is carefully oriented so that the feed direction X10 of the device 1 is parallel to the direction of the main central axis X2, and the insertion direction Y10, which is transverse and preferably perpendicular to the feed direction X10, points towards the rotary member 2.

[0182] The configuration of the template track 41, and thus the curvature of the contour to be manufactured, can be adjusted before or actually after the base 5 is fixed to the frame 3. In practice, adjusting the configuration of the template track 41 after the base 5 has been fixed to the frame 3 may be simpler, faster, and more precise, because this allows the adjustment of the template track 41 to be performed, for example, using a gap gauge comparator, while using the frame 3 and / or the unworn portion of the part 2 to be ground as a reference point.

[0183] The cutting depth is then adjusted using the adjustment mechanism 32, and the operator can precisely adjust this value using the vernier 34.

[0184] Then, the rotating component 2 will rotate relative to the frame 3, preferably at a predefined constant speed.

[0185] As an indication, the rotational speed selected for the rotary component 2 can be such that the circumferential speed generated at the surface 2A to be ground is between 5 m / min (5 m per minute) and 90 m / min (90 m per minute), or even between 20 m / min and 50 m / min, for example equal to 30 m / min + / - 5 m / min.

[0186] The drive motor 16 will be engaged to drive the abrasive belt 11 to move along the belt path 12 at a predetermined speed and direction, which will correspond to the opposite direction of the circumferential rotation speed of the surface 2A to be ground generated by the rotation of the rotary member 2.

[0187] As an indication, the longitudinal speed of the abrasive belt 11 applied by the drive motor 16 will preferably be greater than or equal to 1 m / s (1 m per second), preferably greater than or equal to 2 m / s, or even greater than or equal to 5 m / s (5 m per second), and for example between 2 m / s and 35 m / s, between 5 m / s and 35 m / s, or even between 5 m / s and 30 m / s.

[0188] In practice, the longitudinal speed of the abrasive belt 11 is selected to be relatively high, preferably several times greater in absolute value than the circumferential speed of the surface 2A to be ground, so that the rapid movement of the abrasive belt 11 along the belt path 12 and its contact with the surface 2A to be ground itself generate effective abrasive movement, regardless of the rotational speed of the rotary component 2.

[0189] Of course, the machining head 10 may be equipped with a device for adjusting the belt speed, which will allow the set point speed of the abrasive belt 11 to be fixed within one of the aforementioned ranges of freely selectable values.

[0190] Once the rotary component 2 and the abrasive belt 11 have reached their respective setpoint speeds and have stabilized there, the feed motor 27 can then be triggered to move the machining head 10, which was initially placed at one end 5A of the base 5, in the feed direction X10.

[0191] While being moved within the machining head 10 by means of the drive motor 16, the abrasive belt 11 will thus engage with the rotary member 2 along the main central axis X2 over the entire functional length of the surface 2A to be ground and travel along the rotary member 2 (which itself is rotating), and thus gradually remove material from the surface 2A to be ground by linear rotation.

[0192] Therefore, while the applicator wheel 13 firmly presses the abrasive belt 11, which is still moving along its belt path 12, against the surface 2A to be ground, at least one processing step is performed by moving the processing head 10 in the feed direction X10.

[0193] Once the machining head 10 has reached the other end 5B of the base 5 and the corresponding process has thus been completed, the machining head 10 can be restarted in the opposite direction of the feed direction X10 to allow another process to be performed after the process depth setting has been modified, or, if the desired surface finish has been achieved, the belt drive motor 16 can be stopped to stop the rotation of the rotary component 2, and then the calibration grinding device 1 can be removed and transported to another part to be ground.

[0194] In any case, at the end of one or more processing steps, the device 1 can be disassembled from the frame 3 by unlocking the connecting components 6, 7, 8 and removing the correction grinding device 1, thereby releasing the corresponding position of the device 4. Advantageously, this will allow the components 2 (here, cylinders 2, 102, 202, 302, and more generally, device 4) to be available again, enabling them to resume operation without delay.

[0195] As indicated above, the device 4 may preferably include several rotating components 2, 102, 202, 302, such as cylinders, each cylinder being mounted to be able to rotate on the same frame 3.

[0196] Advantageously, the calibration and grinding device 1 can then first be attached and fixed to a first position of the frame 3 to perform a calibration and grinding operation on the first of the rotating parts 2, 102, 202, 302, and then disassembled from the first position and transported and fixed to a second position of the same frame 3 away from the first position to perform a calibration and grinding operation on the second of the rotating parts 2, 102, 202, 302.

[0197] exist Figure 1 , Figure 8A and Figure 8B In device 4, for each of the four cylinders 2, 102, 202, 302, the steps of installing device 1, grinding the cylinder, and then removing device 1 can be repeated sequentially.

[0198] Of course, the present invention is by no means limited to the foregoing embodiments, and those skilled in the art will obviously be able to separate or combine one or the other of the above features, or replace them with equivalents.

Claims

1. A corrective grinding apparatus (1) for abrasive processing of a surface of a rotary component (2) referred to as a "surface to be ground" (2A), the rotary component having a central axis referred to as a "main central axis" (X2) and the rotary component being mounted to be rotatable about the main central axis (X2) on a frame (3), the apparatus comprising a base (5) provided with connecting members (6, 7, 8) such that the base (5) can be fixed to the frame (3), the apparatus (1) further comprising a processing head (10) including an abrasive belt (11) guided along a belt path (12) defined by a plurality of wheels (13, 14, 15) carried by the processing head (10), the plurality of wheels including applicator wheels (13) intended to press the abrasive belt (11) against the surface to be ground (2A) in a first direction referred to as a "penetration direction" (Y10), the first direction being transverse. The machining head (10) further includes a belt drive motor (16), the stator (17) of which is fixed to the machining head (10), and the belt drive motor is arranged to drive the abrasive belt (11) to move along the belt path (12). The device further includes a head movement system (23) that enables the machining head (10) to move on the base (5) in a second direction called the "feed direction" (X10), which is transverse, so that the machining head (10) can cover the so-called "useful feed stroke" (L10) along the main central axis (X2). The device is characterized in that, in the orthogonal projection in the plane called the "base plane" (P10) defined by the feed direction (X10) and the penetration direction (Y10), the projection plane of the abrasive belt (11) in the belt path (12) overlaps with the projection plane of the stator (17) of the belt drive motor (16).

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The abrasive belt (11) is closed to form a continuous loop around the stator (17) of the belt drive motor (16) traveling along the belt path (12) in a closed loop, so that the stator (17) of the belt drive motor (16) is strictly contained within the perimeter defined by the abrasive belt (11) in the projection in a plane orthogonal to the feed direction (X10).

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The belt drive motor (16) includes a rotor mounted to be rotatable relative to the stator (17) along an axis referred to as the "drive motor axis" (Y16) so that the interaction between the stator (17) and the rotor generated within the belt drive motor (16) during startup of the belt drive motor (16) produces torque that causes the rotor to rotate about the drive motor axis (Y16) relative to the stator (17). The rotor is coupled to at least one wheel (13) of the wheels of the belt path (12) referred to as the "drive wheel" so that the rotor can transmit its rotation to the drive wheel to drive the abrasive belt (11) in its abrasive movement. The drive motor axis (Y16) is laterally oriented relative to the main central axis (X2).

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The head movement system (23) is equipped with a feed motor (27), which is separate from the belt drive motor (16) so that the machining head (10) can be moved along the base (5) in the feed direction (X10). The projection plane of the feed motor (27) in the base plane (P10) overlaps with the projection plane of the abrasive belt (11).

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The head movement system (23) includes a template track (41) that extends in length along the feed direction (X10) to guide the machining head (10), and the template track’s deflection, which is considered to be radial to the main central axis (X2), can be adjusted by means of one or more positioning screws to deform the template track (41) so that the feed path of the machining head conforms to the desired curvature profile of the surface to be ground (2A).

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The applicator wheel (13) is mounted so that it can rotate on the processing head (10) on an axis (X13) parallel to the main central axis (X2).

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The base (5) is formed by a beam (40), each of which has a connecting member (6, 7, 8) at its axial ends (5A, 5B) to allow the beam (40) to be fixed to the frame (3), and the cross section of the beam is larger at its central portion than at its ends (5A, 5B) to improve the rigidity of the beam (40) at its central portion.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The connecting components (6, 7, 8) are provided with reversible fixing devices so that the calibration grinding device (1) can be successively fixed. i) Attached and fixed to the frame (3) to perform correction grinding on the first rotating component (2) mounted on the frame. ii) Then, after correcting and grinding the first rotary component (2), it is disassembled from the frame (3), and iii) Transport and then fix to another position of the same frame (3), the position being associated with the second rotating component (102, 202, 302), or a different frame carrying the second rotating component (102, 202, 302) to correct the grinding of the second rotating component (102, 202, 302).

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The device includes a single machining head (10) with a useful feed stroke (L10) sufficient to allow the machining head (10) to cover the entire axial length of the surface to be ground (2A) along the main central axis (X2) in a single continuous operation.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The device includes an adjustment mechanism (32) that allows for adjustment of the cutting depth, by which the abrasive belt (11) must penetrate into the rotary component (2) to be ground in the penetration direction (Y10).

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first direction is perpendicular to the main central axis (X2).

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The second direction is perpendicular to the penetration direction (Y10).

13. The apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that, The drive wheel is combined with the applicator wheel.

14. The apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that, The drive motor axis (Y16) is oriented at an angle between 85 and 95 degrees relative to the main central axis (X2) in the base plane (P10).

15. The apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that, The drive motor axis (Y16) is orthogonally oriented in the base plane (P10) relative to the main central axis (X2).

16. The apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that, The deflection of the template track (41) radially toward the main central axis (X2) is adjustable within a range of -0.20 mm and +0.20 mm.

17. The apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that, The beam (40) is a lattice beam.

18. The apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that, The reversible fixing device is a screw.

19. Use of the apparatus (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 18, the apparatus being used to perform a corrective grinding operation on a rotary member (2) having a central axis (X2) referred to as the "main central axis" (X2), and the rotary member being permanently mounted on a frame (3) of a device (4) in such a way that the rotary member (2) can be driven to rotate relative to the frame (3) about its central axis (X2), and during use, the apparatus (1) is first fixed in a suitable position on the frame (3) by means of connecting members (6, 7, 8) temporarily securing the base (5) to the frame (3) for a period of time, thereby facing the surface (2A) to be ground of the rotary member (2), the period of time being necessary for the corrective grinding operation, and the base (5) is oriented so that the feed direction (X10) of the apparatus (1) is parallel to the main central axis (X2). The direction of the device (1) is such that the transverse insertion direction (Y10) of the device (1) is directed toward the rotary member (2), and then the rotary member (2) rotates relative to the frame (3), and the belt drive motor (16) is engaged to drive the abrasive belt (11) to move along the belt path (12) at a predetermined speed and direction, which will correspond to the opposite direction of the circumferential rotation speed of the surface to be ground (2A) generated by the rotation of the rotary member (2), and then at least one processing step is performed by moving the processing head (10) along the feed direction (X10) while the applicator wheel (13) firmly presses the abrasive belt (11) still moving along its belt path (12) against the surface to be ground (2A). Then, at the end of one or more processing steps, the device (1) is disassembled from the frame (3) and removed by unlocking the connecting members (6, 7, 8) to release the corresponding position of the device (4).

20. The use according to claim 19, characterized in that, The device (4) includes several rotating parts (2), each rotating part being mounted to be able to rotate on the same frame (3), characterized in that the correction grinding device (1) is first attached and fixed to a first position of the frame (3) to perform a correction grinding operation on the first rotating part (2), and then disassembled from the first position and transported and fixed to a second position of the same frame (3) away from the first position to perform a correction grinding operation on the second rotating part (2).

21. The use according to any one of claims 19 and 20, characterized in that, The device (4) is a calendering device, and for this purpose, the device includes at least two rotating parts (2) forming counter-rotating calendering cylinders that define a pressure gap between them through which one or more materials to be calendered will pass.

22. The use according to claim 19, characterized in that, The gyroscopic component (2) rotates relative to the frame (3) at a predefined constant speed.

23. The use according to claim 19, characterized in that, The rotating component (2) is a cylinder.

24. The use according to claim 20, characterized in that, The rotating component (2) is a cylinder.

25. The use according to claim 21, characterized in that, The device (4) is a calendering device for manufacturing cord layers from one or more rubber-based materials.

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