SPRING END GRINDING MACHINE

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a spring end grinding machine according to the features of claim 1 and to a method for controlling a spring end grinding machine according to the features of claims 14 or 16.

[0002] Spring end grinding machines are well known in the art.

[0003] Reference is made, for example, to EP 2 926 949. The grinding process for grinding spring ends requires a high degree of expertise, particularly to prevent the springs from becoming too hot during the grinding process. Excessive heat development during the grinding process also damages the grinding wheels and other components of the spring end grinding machine, in particular a sliding plate used for transferring a loading plate. The aforementioned prior art also proposes an improved cooling air flow in this regard. Furthermore, EP 0 722 810 A1 discloses a spring end grinding machine according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0004] In general, however, there is a desire to be able to control and monitor the process of grinding spring ends within a spring end grinding machine even more precisely.

[0005] To achieve this object, the present invention proposes a spring end grinding machine having the features of claim 1 and a method for controlling a spring end grinding machine according to the features of claims 14 or 16. Advantageous further developments are specified in the subclaims.

[0006] According to a core idea of ​​the present invention, a spring end grinding machine is proposed, comprising: at least one loading plate rotatably mounted about a rotational axis for loading workpieces, in particular coil springs; a grinding unit with at least one grinding wheel rotatably mounted about a rotational axis, wherein the rotational axis of the grinding wheel is substantially parallel to the rotational axis of the loading plate; at least one sensor for detecting grinding wheel information, in particular a temperature and / or a degree of abrasion of the grinding wheel; a processing unit configured to output a control command for controlling the spring end grinding machine based on grinding wheel information transmitted to the processing unit; a transmission device for transmitting grinding wheel information from the sensor to the processing unit; wherein the sensor is integrated into the grinding wheel, in particular accommodated in the grinding wheel.

[0007] By providing a sensor that is integrated in the grinding wheel, it is possible to monitor the grinding process even more precisely with regard to certain parameters, such as temperature and / or abrasion of the grinding wheel, and advantageously to use the information thus obtained to directly influence the grinding process itself, for example, to save this information to document the grinding process or to make this information available for storage in a knowledge database and / or to take it into account in future grinding processes or to use it to improve a conventional spring end grinding machine, in particular a spring end grinding machine, or to use it to improve a conventional grinding wheel.

[0008] The sensor integrated into the grinding wheel can, in particular, be firmly connected to the grinding wheel, for example, to the grinding base or the grinding coating. In any case, the sensor rotates with the grinding wheel and can also, in particular, be partially integrated into the grinding coating.

[0009] Grinding wheel information can relate to the grinding wheel (grinding wheel parameters), the workpieces (workpiece parameters), and / or the grinding process (grinding process parameters). Stored data containing grinding wheel information can be referred to as grinding wheel data. Stored grinding process data specifically contains grinding process parameters, while stored workpiece data specifically contains workpiece parameters.

[0010] The transmission between the sensor and the processing unit, which can also be referred to as the data processing unit, can be wireless or wired. In the latter case, at least two preferably electrical lines are routed via a rotating or sliding contact over the shaft of the grinding wheel. The at least two electrical lines can either provide the power or be modulated for data exchange. However, it is also possible for the sensor to operate via an independent power supply or for the power to be provided inductively according to the principle of a generator by the rotation of the grinding wheel. Preferably, however, the signal transmission between the sensor and the processing unit is wireless, so that one- or two-way wireless communication between the sensor and the processing unit is created.If the transmitted grinding wheel information is used to generate or influence a control command for controlling the spring end grinding machine during the ongoing process, this control command can result in readjustment or feeding of the grinding wheel(s), switching on or off a coolant flow or a cooling air flow, increasing or reducing the rotational speed of the grinding wheels, moving / displacing the loading plate (feed grinding), adjusting the rotational speed of the loading plate (through-feed grinding), adjusting the tilt angle of the grinding wheels (through-feed grinding), or other changes to the grinding process.

[0011] In a preferred development, the grinding wheel information includes a characteristic value for the type of grinding wheel. In particular, the characteristic value enables an assignment of grinding wheel parameters that are specific to the grinding wheel in question. Alternatively or additionally, the grinding wheel information can also contain grinding wheel parameters that are specific to the respective grinding wheel. For example, the type of grinding wheel, the manufacturing date, a maximum usage date, a maximum abrasion, dimensions, a material and / or service life of the grinding wheel and / or other specific information or grinding wheel parameters can be included in the grinding wheel information. These specific grinding wheel parameters can be stored in the processing unit or retrieved via the processing unit.The grinding wheel can, for example, comprise an RFID transponder in which the characteristic value for the type of grinding wheel is encoded.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment, a sensor is designed as a thermocouple and / or a sensor as an infrared sensor. Further preferably, at least one electrode pair of the thermocouple or a light guide can be aligned substantially axially of the grinding wheel, in particular can be accommodated in this alignment in the grinding wheel body. It can be provided that the electrodes extend as far as the grinding surface and, as a result of abrasion of the grinding coating, the electrodes also undergo a physical change, so that, for example, the resistance value, which can be detected in this respect, changes. In the case of a thermocouple, the electrode pair is made of different materials. The electrodes of the thermocouple can be connected to an oscillating circuit, wherein an abrasion degree of the grinding wheel can be determined, in particular on the basis of a detected resonance signal of the oscillating circuit.In particular, the oscillating circuit can be integrated into the sensor's evaluation electronics. The length of the electrodes (which wear down over the grinding period) influences the oscillation behavior or resonance behavior of the oscillating circuit, which allows conclusions to be drawn about the (previous) wear of the grinding wheel. The thermal radiation, in particular, can be transmitted to a detection unit of the sensor using an optical fiber.

[0013] In one possible embodiment, a sensor can comprise a piezoelectric element and, in particular, be designed as an ultrasonic sensor. An ultrasonic sensor can be used to detect a signal that correlates with the abrasion.

[0014] Furthermore, the sensor can also be designed as a speed sensor or comprise a speed sensor. In this case, the speed sensor can be designed, for example, as an acceleration sensor and / or a Hall sensor for detecting the rotational speed of the grinding wheel. In particular, the accumulated rotational speed of the grinding wheel can be considered a measure of the presumed wear of the grinding wheel.

[0015] Furthermore, the sensor can also detect an imbalance in the grinding wheel and, in this respect, be designed, for example, as an acceleration sensor. Such an imbalance sensor can be integrated into the grinding wheel and / or the spring-end grinding machine. The data recorded or derived from it can be stored in the grinding wheel or the spring-end grinding machine or forwarded externally, for example, to an external server.

[0016] In a preferred development, the grinding wheel can also have an evaluation unit which is designed to process sensor signals generated by the sensor which contain grinding wheel information, wherein the evaluation unit is integrated in particular in a grinding wheel holder, preferably in the grinding wheel flange.

[0017] The evaluation unit comprises, for example, evaluation electronics and can comprise an integrated circuit and / or a computing unit, preferably a microcontroller. If the signals generated by the sensor(s) are provided in analog form, the evaluation unit can also comprise an analog-to-digital converter. In this respect, the evaluation unit can process the data provided by the sensor(s), and this processed data can be transmitted, in particular, via the transmission device, to the processing unit. However, it is also possible to provide a storage unit in the grinding wheel for storing grinding wheel data, in which grinding wheel information is stored. Processed grinding wheel information is preferably stored in this storage unit, so that this storage unit can also interact with the previously described evaluation unit.

[0018] Furthermore, a data transmission interface can expediently be provided for reading recorded grinding wheel data, in particular grinding wheel data sets that describe temporal progressions of grinding wheel information. Such grinding wheel data can include, for example, grinding wheel information on the previous operating time, completed or planned grinding processes (programs), recorded temperature progressions, abrasion progressions, or similar.

[0019] It can further be provided that the processing unit interacts with a storage unit for storing grinding wheel data containing grinding wheel information, and furthermore also interacts with a computing unit designed to calculate a control command for the spring-end grinding machine based on actual grinding wheel data and target grinding wheel data stored in the storage unit, in particular stored grinding process parameters and / or workpiece parameters. This storage unit can be integrated into the grinding wheel itself or on the spring-end grinding machine, or it can be provided entirely externally. It is also possible to store grinding wheel data in multiple storage locations or to store it selectively, depending on the type of grinding wheel data.

[0020] As already mentioned, grinding wheel data can also include workpiece parameters (material, dimensions), in particular the material and dimensions of the springs, as well as the respective grinding process parameters (contact pressure, limit temperatures, grinding times, temporal progression of these parameters), so that the computing unit can, for example, generate suitable control commands for a current grinding process from historical data and / or calculate suitable control commands for the spring end grinding machine from current grinding process parameters using the sensor data from the grinding wheel, or this data can be stored in the storage unit(s) in a correspondingly correlated manner.

[0021] In a preferred embodiment, the transmission device comprises a transmitting unit connected to the sensor(s) or the evaluation unit, in particular arranged in the grinding unit or the grinding wheel, and a receiving unit connected to the processing unit for the contactless transmission of grinding wheel information.

[0022] To enable bidirectional data transmission, it is preferably provided that the processing unit also interacts with a transmitting unit that can transmit information to a receiving unit integrated in the grinding unit or grinding wheel. Wireless signal transmission can be based on analog signals. However, digital signals can also be transmitted, for example, using the Wi-Fi standard, the Bluetooth standard, or a mobile communications standard.

[0023] In a specific embodiment, it can be provided that the transmission device is designed to transmit sensor signals detected by the sensor, which contain grinding wheel information, inductively, capacitively or in another suitable manner, in particular wirelessly, to the processing unit, wherein the transmitting unit and receiving unit are designed in particular as induction coils coaxial with the axis of rotation of the grinding wheel.

[0024] Finally, a system for controlling a spring-end grinding machine, in particular a spring-end grinding machine, is claimed. The system comprises a spring-end grinding machine according to the present invention, a server having a storage unit for storing grinding wheel data containing grinding wheel information, at least one grinding machine communication device for communicating between the spring-end grinding machine and the server, in particular via a wireless network connection, and / or a server communication device for communicating between the server and the spring-end grinding machine, in particular via a wireless network connection. A network connection can be provided, for example, by a mobile radio network, a LAN network, or a WLAN network.

[0025] In a preferred embodiment, the grinding machine control system provides that the server communication device receives actual grinding wheel data from the grinding machine communication device or is configured to receive this data. The server has a computing unit configured to calculate a control command for the spring-end grinding machine based on received actual grinding wheel data and target grinding wheel data stored on the server, in particular stored grinding process parameters and / or workpiece parameters. The server communication device is configured to send the control command to the grinding machine communication device. Calculating a control command therefore comprises comparing the received actual grinding wheel data with the stored target grinding wheel data.The grinding process parameters can include, for example, the limit temperature for the spring ends and other grinding process parameters. Workpiece parameters can include, for example, dimensions, material, wire thickness, or an identification number of the workpiece to be ground.

[0026] In a preferred embodiment, the grinding machine control system can further provide for a grinding machine communication device to be arranged in or on the grinding unit, in particular in or on the grinding wheel, and connected to the sensor, and / or a grinding machine communication device to be connected to the processing unit. A grinding machine communication device connected (by cable) to the processing unit can be integrated into a control module of the spring-end grinding machine or arranged in a control cabinet of the spring-end grinding machine, i.e., in particular, stationary relative to the (rotating) grinding wheel.

[0027] The method according to the invention for controlling a spring end grinding machine comprises in particular the following steps: Acquiring grinding wheel information by at least one sensor, wherein the sensor is integrated into the grinding wheel, in particular accommodated in the grinding wheel; transmitting grinding wheel information from the sensor to a processing unit of the spring end grinding machine by a transmission device; issuing a control command for controlling the spring end grinding machine by the processing unit based on grinding wheel information transmitted to the processing unit, wherein the grinding wheel information contains at least one of the following grinding wheel information: a temperature of the grinding wheel, an abrasion degree of the grinding wheel, unbalance information from which information about the extent of an unbalance of the grinding wheel can be obtained, an identification of the type of grinding wheel, a speed of the grinding wheel, in particular previous revolutions of the grinding wheel during operation, an operating time or service life, in particular remaining service life, of the grinding wheel, a grinding force, in particular contact pressure, of the grinding wheel.

[0028] A method is also proposed for evaluating process information of a grinding process in a spring end grinding machine, wherein the method comprises in particular the following steps: Acquiring grinding wheel information by at least one sensor, wherein the sensor is integrated into the grinding wheel, in particular accommodated in the grinding wheel; transmitting grinding wheel information from the at least one sensor to a processing unit of the spring end grinding machine by a transmission device, storing the grinding wheel information in a storage unit for subsequent evaluations, wherein the grinding wheel information contains at least one of the following grinding wheel information: a temperature of the grinding wheel, an abrasion degree of the grinding wheel, unbalance information from which information about the extent of an unbalance of the grinding wheel can be obtained, an identification of the type of grinding wheel, a speed of the grinding wheel, in particular previous revolutions of the grinding wheel during operation, an operating time or service life, in particular remaining service life, of the grinding wheel, a grinding force, in particular contact pressure, of the grinding wheel.

[0029] Furthermore, the object is achieved in particular by a computer-readable storage medium containing instructions that cause at least one processor to implement a method according to the invention when the instructions are executed by the processor. A computer-readable storage medium can be, for example, a mobile data storage device or a hard disk, which can be arranged in the spring end grinding machine or an (external) server.

[0030] The invention will be explained in more detail below with regard to further features and advantages based on the description of exemplary embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 a schematic diagram to explain the functional relationships in a spring end grinding machine according to the invention; Fig. 2 the spring end grinding machine according to Fig. 1 in schematic view in top view.

[0031] The implementation of the present invention is illustrated below in a specific embodiment, namely in a specific spring end grinding machine. The spring end grinding machine 1 is designed, as is known per se from the prior art, with two or more loading plates 10, each of which has a plurality of workpiece receiving openings 15 formed thereon in order to be able to hold coil springs 3. The loading plates 10 are arranged eccentrically about the rotation axis A on a turntable 17 such that they can rotate such that a loading plate 10 can insert the springs via a sliding plate 16 between two spatially spaced grinding plates 13. The turntable 17 rotates about the rotation axis C. The grinding wheels 13 grind the ends of the coil springs flat, in particular plane-parallel, as is well known from the prior art, so that the coil springs are each provided with plane-parallel ends.During operation, the grinding wheels rotate around a common rotational axis B (feed grinding) or slightly tilted rotational axes B (through-feed grinding). The spring end grinding machine 1 is essentially symmetrical about the symmetry axis M.

[0032] At least one of the grinding wheels 13, preferably both grinding wheels, are designed according to the invention with at least one sensor 30 integrated therein. One or more sensors 30 can be integrated in the upper grinding wheel 13 (as in Fig. 1 and 2shown) and / or in the lower grinding wheel 13. In the present embodiment, the sensor 30 detects both a temperature of the grinding wheel 13 on its grinding surface 131 facing the helical springs 3 and the respective abrasion of the grinding wheel 13. However, separate sensors 30 can also be provided, each detecting grinding wheel information, e.g. a temperature or an abrasion dimension. The temperature of the grinding wheel 13 can be detected, for example, via a thermocouple. The abrasion can also be detected via a resistance value of a conductor in the area of ​​the grinding surface 131 that is also detected by the abrasion. The measured values ​​of the sensor(s) 30 are then fed to an evaluation unit 31 provided in the grinding wheel 13 and fed to a transmitting unit 51 via a data management unit 43 integrated in the grinding wheel 13.By means of the transmitting unit 51, the acquired grinding wheel data are fed via a wireless connection 53 to a receiving unit 52, which in the present embodiment is arranged on the stationary part of the spring end grinding machine 1 (i.e., outside the rotating grinding unit 11). The transmitting unit 51 integrated in the grinding wheel 13 and the receiving unit 52 implemented on the spring end grinding machine 1 are components of a transmission device 50, which enables wireless communication via a wireless connection 53 between the grinding wheel 13 and the spring end grinding machine 1. The wireless communication can be unidirectional from the grinding wheel 13 to the spring end grinding machine 1. Preferably, however, the communication is bidirectional, so that data can also be transmitted from the spring end grinding machine 1 to the grinding wheel 13.

[0033] Preferably, a storage unit 14 is also implemented in the grinding wheel 13. The storage unit 14 can store not only the data acquired by the sensor(s) 30 but also the associated process parameters that are transmitted back from the spring end grinding machine 1 to the grinding wheel 13 via the transmission device 50. Data that is or has been acquired by the spring end grinding machine can also be transmitted back to the grinding wheel 13, in particular information about the drive forces, speed values, imbalance values ​​recorded in the spring end grinding machine, etc. The entire history of various grinding processes in which the grinding wheel 13 has been used can be stored in the grinding wheel 13, including the respective coil springs processed, the process parameters, including temperature profiles of grinding speeds, rotational speeds, number of springs treated, etc.The data stored in the grinding wheel 13 enable precise documentation of the grinding work carried out by the grinding wheel, from which insights can also be drawn for the further development of grinding wheels and / or spring end grinding machines.

[0034] The data acquired by the sensor 30 integrated in the grinding wheel 13 can, however, also be used to directly influence control commands for the respective grinding process. For this purpose, the grinding wheel information received at the receiving unit 52 of the spring end grinding machine 1 is forwarded to a processing unit of the spring end grinding machine. In the present embodiment, the processing unit 40 of the spring end grinding machine 1 is directly integrated therein. However, the processing unit 40 can also be provided externally. The processing unit 40 comprises, on the one hand, a storage unit 41 and, on the other hand, a computing unit 42 for calculating control commands for a specific grinding process. The control commands for a specific grinding process also depend on the grinding wheel data acquired by the sensor 30(s), in particular the temperature at the spring ends(s).on the grinding surface 131 as well as the current abrasion.

[0035] Finally, a system 100 comprising one or more spring-end grinding machines 1 and a server 2 spatially separated from a spring-end grinding machine 1 can be provided, to which data from the spring-end grinding machine 1, comprising data from the sensor 30 integrated in the grinding wheel 13 or from the sensors 30 integrated in the grinding wheel 13, is supplied. For this purpose, the server 2 comprises a server communication device 21, which is in a wireless connection 23 with a grinding machine communication device 12 implemented on the spring-end grinding machine. The wireless connection 23 comprises bidirectional data communication, which can be based in particular on a mobile radio standard or a WLAN standard. In the present case, the spring-end grinding machine 1 is in a wireless connection 23 with a server 2 via a WLAN or mobile radio network.The communication is bidirectional, allowing both the transmission of data from the spring end grinding machine 1 to the external server 2 and communication from the external server 2 to the spring end grinding machine 1. In addition to the server communication device 21, the server 2 comprises a computing unit 22 and a memory unit 20. The data acquired by the sensor 30(s) in the grinding wheel 13(s) can be stored in the memory unit 20, possibly correlated with the other associated process data, and used for subsequent control or evaluation routines. List of reference symbols:

[0036] 1 Spring end grinding machine 2 Server 3 Coil spring 4 Grinding zone 10 Loading plate 11 Grinding unit 12 Grinding machine communication device 13 Grinding wheel 13 Grinding surface 14 Storage unit 15 Workpiece receiving opening 16 Sliding plate 17 Turntable 20 Storage unit 21 Server communication device 22 Computing unit 23 Wireless connection 30 Sensor 31 Evaluation unit 40 Processing unit 41 Storage unit 42 Computing unit 43 Data management unit 50 Transmission device 51 Transmitting unit 52 Receiving unit 53 Wireless connection 100 System A Loading plate rotation axis B Grinding wheel rotation axis C Rotary table rotation axis M Symmetry axis

Claims

1. Spring end grinding machine (1), comprising: - at least one loading plate (10) mounted so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation (A) for loading with workpieces (2), in particular coil springs; - a grinding unit (11) having at least one grinding wheel (13) mounted so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation (B), wherein the axis of rotation (B) of the grinding wheel (13) is substantially parallel to the axis of rotation (A) of the loading plate (10); characterized in that the spring end grinding machine further comprises - at least one sensor (30) for detecting grinding wheel information, in particular a temperature and / or an abrasion degree of the grinding wheel (13); - a processing unit (40) which is designed to output a control command for controlling the spring end grinding machine (1) based on the grinding wheel information transmitted to the processing unit (40), and / or to store the grinding wheel information in a memory unit (41); - a transmission device (50) for transmitting grinding wheel information from the sensor (30) to the processing unit (40); wherein the sensor (30) is integrated into the grinding wheel (13), in particular is accommodated in the grinding wheel (13), and the grinding wheel (13) comprises - a memory unit (14) for storing grinding wheel data containing grinding wheel information, and - a data transmission interface for reading out recorded grinding wheel data, in particular grinding wheel data sets describing temporal sequences of grinding wheel information.

2. Spring end grinding machine (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the grinding wheel information comprises a characteristic value for the type of grinding wheel (13), wherein specific grinding wheel parameters are stored in the processing unit (40), in particular for a type of grinding wheel.

3. Spring end grinding machine (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a sensor (30) is designed as a thermocouple and / or a sensor (30) is designed as an infrared sensor, wherein at least one electrode pair of the thermocouple or a light guide is aligned in the substantially axial direction of the grinding wheel, in particular is accommodated in a grinding wheel body.

4. Spring end grinding machine (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that a pair of electrodes of the thermocouple is connected to an oscillating circuit, in particular of an evaluation unit (31) of the sensor (30), in order to determine, in particular on the basis of a detected resonance signal of the oscillating circuit, an abrasion degree of the grinding wheel (13).

5. Spring end grinding machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a sensor (30) comprises a piezoelectric element and is designed in particular as an ultrasonic sensor.

6. Spring end grinding machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a sensor (30) is a speed sensor, in particular an acceleration sensor, for detecting the rotational speed of the grinding wheel (13).

7. Spring end grinding machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the grinding wheel (13) has an evaluation unit (31) which is designed to process sensor signals which are generated by the sensor (30) and contain grinding wheel information, wherein the evaluation unit (31) is in particular integrated into a grinding wheel holder, preferably in the grinding wheel flange.

8. Spring end grinding machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the processing unit (40) comprises - a memory unit (41) for storing grinding wheel data containing grinding wheel information, and - a computing unit (42) which is designed to calculate a control command for the spring end grinding machine (1) based on actual grinding wheel data and target grinding wheel data stored in the storage unit (41), in particular stored grinding process parameters and / or workpiece parameters.

9. Spring end grinding machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transmission device (50) comprises a transmitter unit (51) connected to the sensor (30), in particular arranged in the grinding unit (11), and a receiver unit (52) connected to the processing unit (40) for contactless transmission of grinding wheel information.

10. Spring end grinding machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in particular according to claim 9, characterized in that the transmission device (50) is designed to transmit sensor signals which are detected by the sensor (30) and contain grinding wheel information to the processing unit (40) inductively, capacitively or by other suitable means, in particular wirelessly, wherein the transmitter unit (51) and the receiver unit (52) are designed in particular as induction coils coaxial with the axis of rotation (B) of the grinding wheel.

11. System (100) for controlling a spring end grinding machine, characterized by - a spring end grinding machine (1) according to one of claims 1 to 10; - a server (2) having a memory unit (20) for storing grinding wheel data containing grinding wheel information; - at least one grinding machine communication device (12) for the communication of the spring end grinding machine (1) with the server (2), in particular via a wireless network connection; and / or - a server communication device (21) for communication of the server (2) with the spring end grinding machine (1), in particular via a wireless network connection.

12. System for controlling a spring end grinding machine according to claim 11, characterized in that the server communication device (21) is designed to receive actual grinding wheel data from the grinding machine communication device (12), wherein the server (2) has a computing unit (22) which is designed to calculate a control command for the spring end grinding machine (1) based on received actual grinding wheel data and on target grinding wheel data stored on the server (2), in particular stored grinding process parameters and / or workpiece parameters, wherein the server communication device (21) is designed to send the control command to the grinding machine communication device (12).

13. System for controlling a spring end grinding machine according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that a grinding machine communication device (12) is arranged in or on the grinding unit (11), in particular in or on the grinding wheel (13), and connected to the sensor (30), and / or a grinding machine communication device (12) is connected to the processing unit (40).

14. Method for controlling a spring end grinding machine (1) according to one of claims 1 to 10, comprising the following steps: - detecting grinding wheel information by at least one sensor (30), wherein the sensor (30) is integrated into the grinding wheel (13), in particular is accommodated in the grinding wheel (13); - transmitting grinding wheel information from the sensor (30) to a processing unit (40) of the spring end grinding machine (1) by means of a transmission device (50); - outputting a control command for controlling the spring end grinding machine (1) by the processing unit (40) based on grinding wheel information transmitted to the processing unit (40), wherein the grinding wheel information contains at least one of the following grinding wheel information: - a temperature of the grinding wheel (13), - an abrasion degree of the grinding wheel (13), - unbalance information providing information about the extent of unbalance of the grinding wheel (13), - an identifier of the type of grinding wheel (13), - a rotational speed of the grinding wheel (13), in particular previous revolutions of the grinding wheel (13) during operation, - an operating time or service life, in particular remaining service life, of the grinding wheel (13), - a grinding force, in particular contact force, of the grinding wheel (13).

15. Method according to claim 14, characterized by - transmitting grinding wheel information by at least one grinding machine communication device (12) from the spring end grinding machine (1) to a server communication device (21) of a server (2), in particular via a wireless network connection; and / or - storing grinding wheel data containing grinding wheel information on the server (2), in particular in a memory unit (20) of the server (2); and / or - receiving grinding wheel data, in particular target grinding wheel data, and / or a control command for the spring end grinding machine (1) from the server communication device (21) of the server (2) by the grinding machine communication device (12) of the spring end grinding machine (1), in particular via a wireless network connection.

16. Method for controlling a spring end grinding machine according to claims 1 to 10, comprising the following steps of: - detecting grinding wheel information by at least one sensor (30), wherein the sensor (30) is integrated into the grinding wheel (13), in particular is accommodated in the grinding wheel (13); - transmitting grinding wheel information from the at least one sensor (30) to a processing unit (40) of the spring end grinding machine by means of a transmission device (50), - storing the grinding wheel information in a memory unit (41) for provision for subsequent evaluations, wherein the grinding wheel information contains at least one of the following grinding wheel information: - a temperature of the grinding wheel (13), - an abrasion degree of the grinding wheel (13), - unbalance information providing information about the extent of unbalance of the grinding wheel (13), - an identifier of the type of grinding wheel (13), - a rotational speed of the grinding wheel (13), in particular previous revolutions of the grinding wheel (13) during operation, - an operating time or service life, in particular the remaining service life, of the grinding wheel (13), - a grinding force, in particular the contact force, of the grinding wheel (13).

17. Computer-readable storage medium containing instructions that cause at least one processor to implement a method according to one of claims 14 to 16 when the instructions are executed by the processor of a spring end grinding machine according to claims 1 to 10.