Workpiece support device for grinding machine and grinding machine including the same

Abstract

To provide a workpiece support device for a grinding machine capable of shortening the replacement time for a shoe.SOLUTION: A workpiece support device 4 which supports a workpiece W arranged in a horizontal or vertical posture in a grinding machine 1, includes a shoe holder 7 that holds a shoe 6 supporting an outer circumferential surface Wb of the workpiece W, and a base plate 8 to which the shoe holder 7 is detachably attached. The base plate 8 is provided with a clamper 9 that pivots around a first support shaft X1 and takes a clamping posture in which the shoe holder 7 is clamped between the base plate 8 and itself, and a non-clamping posture in which the shoe holder 7 is not clamped, and a lock member 12 that pivots around a second support shaft X2 and takes a pivot restriction posture in which the lock member engages with the clamper 9 in the clamping posture in its pivoting direction to restrict the pivoting of the clamper 9, and a pivot permission posture in which the pivoting of the clamper 9 is permitted.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a workpiece support device that supports a workpiece placed flat or vertically in a grinding machine that performs grinding on the peripheral surface of the workpiece having a circular cross section. Note that the above-mentioned "peripheral surface of a workpiece having a circular cross section" is synonymous with the inner or outer peripheral surface of a workpiece that is ring-shaped or cylindrical as a whole, and the same applies hereinafter. [Background technology]

[0002] The following Patent Document 1 describes a workpiece support device mounted on a grinding machine that grinds (centerless grinds) the peripheral surface of a workpiece with a circular cross section. This workpiece support device has two shoes spaced apart circumferentially on the radially outer side of the workpiece, which is placed flat or vertically. These two shoes contact and support the peripheral surface of the rotating workpiece during grinding. The shoes are used while held in a shoe holder (referred to as a "shoe fixing member" in Patent Document 1), and the shoe holder is fixed to the base plate of the workpiece support device using multiple bolts. This allows the shoe holder to be firmly fixed to the base plate, preventing a decrease in workpiece support accuracy due to unintended movement of the shoe holder, and enabling the workpiece to be ground with high precision. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 11-320352 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the above-described workpiece support device, the shoe used is optimal for the radial and axial dimensions of the workpiece to be supported (the workpiece to be ground). Therefore, the shoe holder that holds the shoe is replaced every time the workpiece to be ground is changed to one with a different radial dimension, etc. However, as in Patent Document 1, if the shoe holder is fixed to the base plate using multiple bolts, the work of removing and attaching (reattaching) each bolt is time-consuming, and the shoe holder replacement operation takes a lot of time, resulting in significant downtime for the grinding machine.

[0005] In view of this situation, the present invention aims to realize a work support device for a grinding machine that can shorten the time required to replace shoes (shoe holders that hold shoes) that are provided to support the outer peripheral surface of the workpiece to be ground, thereby contributing to improving the operating rate of the grinding machine. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention, which has been invented to achieve the above object, is a workpiece support device for supporting a workpiece placed in a horizontal or vertical position on a grinding machine that performs grinding on the peripheral surface of a workpiece having a circular cross section, the workpiece support device comprising: a shoe holder that holds a shoe that supports the peripheral surface of the workpiece; and a base plate to which the shoe holder is detachably attached; The substrate is provided with a clamper that can be rotated around a first support shaft to assume a clamping position in which the shoe holder is clamped between the substrate and the clamper, and a non-clamping position in which the shoe holder is not clamped, and a locking member that can be rotated around a second support shaft to assume a rotation restricting position in which the clamper in the clamping position is engaged with the clamper in the rotation direction to restrict the rotation of the clamper, and a rotation allowing position in which the clamper is allowed to rotate.

[0007] With the workpiece support device for a grinding machine having the above-described configuration, when grinding the peripheral surface of a workpiece placed in a horizontal or vertical position, the shoe holder can be fixed to the base plate by setting the clamper provided on the base plate to the clamping position and the locking member to the rotation-restricting position. On the other hand, when it becomes necessary to replace the shoe holder due to a change in the workpiece to be ground, the locking member, which is in the rotation-restricting position, is first rotated (turned) about the second support shaft to set it to the rotation-permitting position, and then the clamper, which is in the clamping position, is rotated about the first support shaft to set it to the non-clamping position. This releases the clamping force that has fixed the shoe holder to the base plate, allowing the shoe holder to be separated from the base plate. After replacing the shoe holder, the shoe base is fixed to the base plate by rotating the clamper, which is in the non-clamping position, to the clamping position, and then rotating the locking member, which is in the rotation-permitting position, to set it to the rotation-restricting position, in the reverse order to the above.

[0008] In short, in the workpiece support device for a grinding machine according to the present invention, the work of attaching and detaching multiple bolts that was required when replacing the shoe base in the conventional support device (Patent Document 1) is replaced with a simple and quick operation of rotating the clamper and locking member around their respective support shafts, which significantly reduces the time required to replace the shoe base and contributes to improving the operating rate of the grinding machine.

[0009] In the above configuration, the clamper can be provided with an elastic portion that elastically compresses and deforms between the clamper and the shoe holder when the clamper is in the clamping position, thereby preventing the pressure applied from the clamper to the shoe holder and the substrate from becoming excessive, and enabling the shoe holder, which is interposed between the substrate and the clamper, to be clamped with an appropriate clamping force.

[0010] In the above configuration, it is preferable that the locking member in the rotation-restricting position engages with the clamper at the end of the clamper opposite to the side where the first support shaft is provided, thereby enabling a predetermined clamping force to be generated over the entire clamper.

[0011] The angle formed by the center line of the first support shaft (the rotation center line of the clamper) and the center line of the second support shaft (the rotation center line of the locking member) can be, for example, 90°.

[0012] As described above, the workpiece support device for a grinding machine according to the present invention can shorten the time required to replace the shoe holder, so that a grinding machine equipped with this workpiece support device has excellent equipment operating rates. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] As described above, the workpiece support device for a grinding machine according to the present invention can reduce the time required to replace the shoe holder that holds the shoe that supports the outer peripheral surface of the workpiece to be ground, thereby contributing to improving the operating rate of the grinding machine. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] FIG. 1(a) is a schematic plan view illustrating an embodiment of internal grinding using a grinding machine equipped with a work support device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1(b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 1(a). [Figure 2] FIG. 1(a) is a schematic plan view illustrating an embodiment of peripheral grinding using a grinding machine equipped with a work support device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1(b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 1(a). [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the workpiece supporting device shown in FIG. [Figure 4] 1 is a perspective view of a workpiece supporting device according to an embodiment of the present invention, illustrating a state in which a clamper is in a clamping position; [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of FIG. [Figure 6] 1 is a perspective view of a workpiece supporting device according to an embodiment of the present invention, illustrating a state in which a clamper is in a non-clamping position; [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0016] A workpiece support device for a grinding machine (hereinafter simply referred to as the "workpiece support device") according to an embodiment of the present invention is mounted on a grinding machine that performs grinding on the peripheral surface of a workpiece having a circular cross section, and supports (contact supports) the outer peripheral surface of the workpiece to be ground. The workpiece support device of this embodiment can be used both when performing internal grinding, which grinds the inner peripheral surface of a workpiece, and when performing peripheral grinding, which grinds the outer peripheral surface of a workpiece. An example of a workpiece having a circular cross section is a rolling bearing raceway (a circular base material that serves as a raceway). Below, an overview of a grinding machine 1 equipped with the workpiece support device of this embodiment will be described based on FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b), which conceptually show an embodiment of internal grinding using a grinding machine, and FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b), which conceptually show an embodiment of peripheral grinding using a grinding machine.

[0017] 1(a) and 1(b), which is used to perform internal grinding, is equipped with a grinding wheel 2 attached to the output shaft 3 of a rotary drive source and movable in the axial direction (up and down in the plane of FIG. 1(b)) and radial direction (left and right in the plane of FIG. 1(b)) of the workpiece W, a work support device 4 that supports the outer peripheral surface of the workpiece W, and a work rotation mechanism 5 that supports the workpiece W from below and rotates it about its central axis. This grinding machine 1 grinds the inner peripheral surface Wa of the workpiece W to a predetermined shape and precision by pressing the outer grinding surface 2a of the grinding wheel 2, which is rotated in the opposite direction to the rotation of the workpiece W, against the inner peripheral surface Wa of the workpiece W, which is rotated by the work rotation mechanism 5.

[0018] The internal grinding process performed by the grinding machine 1 is performed by pressing the outer grinding surface 2a of the grinding wheel 2, which rotates at a position eccentric to the workpiece W, against a partial circumferential area of ​​the inner surface Wa of the workpiece W. Therefore, during the grinding process, stress acts on the workpiece W to move it in its radial direction. The work support device 4 contacts and supports the outer surface Wb of the workpiece W to prevent unintended movement of the workpiece W due to the stress acting on the workpiece W (and the rotational force of the grinding wheel 2) during the grinding process.

[0019] The workpiece support device 4 comprises a shoe holder 7 that fixedly holds a shoe 6 that is arranged radially outward of the workpiece W, and a base plate 8 that is made of a plate-like member that is generally rectangular in plan view and to which the shoe holder 7 is detachably attached, and the outer peripheral surface Wb of the workpiece W is supported in contact with the shoes 6 held by the shoe holder 7. The shoe holder 7 holds a plurality of shoes 6 (two in this case) that are arranged at intervals around the circumferential direction of the workpiece W, and the two shoes 6 are arranged so that their phases in the circumferential direction are different by 90°.

[0020] Next, the grinding machine 1 shown in Figures 2(a) and (b) for performing peripheral grinding differs from the grinding machine 1 shown in Figures 1(a) and (b) for performing internal grinding only in the positioning of the grinding wheel 2 during grinding, but the constituent parts and members themselves are the same as those of the grinding machine 1 shown in Figures 1(a) and (b). That is, the grinding wheel 2 is positioned radially outside the workpiece W, and by pressing the rotating peripheral grinding surface 2a against a partial circumferential area of ​​the outer peripheral surface Wb of the workpiece W, the outer peripheral surface Wb of the workpiece W is finished to a predetermined shape and precision.

[0021] 3 to 7, the characteristic configuration employed in the above-mentioned work support device 4 will be described in detail below. In addition to the above-mentioned work rotation mechanism 5, shoe 6 (the shoe holder 7 that holds the shoe 6), and base plate 8, the work support device 4 is equipped with a clamper 9 and a locking member 12 for attaching the shoe holder 7 to the base plate 8.

[0022] 1 and 2, the shoe holder 7 includes a base 7a made of a plate-like member that is generally L-shaped in plan view, and two shoe holding portions 7b, each of which fixedly holds a shoe 6. The shoe holding portions 7b are fixed to the base 7a by appropriate means such as bolts. As shown in FIG. 3, the shoe holder 7 (base 7a) is provided with multiple pin insertion holes 7c, and positioning pins 8a protruding from the substrate 8 can be inserted into each of the pin insertion holes 7c. This allows the shoe base 7 to be attached and fixed to the substrate 8 after being aligned relative to the substrate 8. Although not shown, it is also possible to provide positioning pins in the shoe base 7 and pin insertion holes in the substrate 8, conversely.

[0023] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 , two spindle holders 11 are attached to the substrate 8 at a distance from each other to support a spindle 10 that is disposed horizontally along one side of the outer periphery of the substrate 8. One end of a clamper 9 made of a plate-shaped member is attached to the spindle 10, which is supported by the spindle holder 11. This allows the clamper 9 to rotate around the center axis (first spindle X1) of the spindle 10. By rotating around the first spindle X1, the clamper 9 can take a clamping position (see FIGS. 4 and 5 ) in which the shoe holder 7 can be clamped between the clamper 9 and the substrate 8, and a non-clamping position (see FIGS. 6 and 7 ) in which the shoe holder 7 is not clamped between the clamper 9 and the substrate 8. In this embodiment, the above-mentioned "clamping position" and "non-clamping position" can also be considered to be a horizontal position in which the clamper 9 is disposed parallel to the substrate 8, and an inclined position in which the clamper 9 is angled relative to the substrate 8, respectively.

[0024] The clamper 9 of this embodiment is made of a plate-like member that is approximately L-shaped in a plan view, and includes a base portion 9a that is positioned closer to the outer edge of the substrate 8 than the shoe holder 7 when the clamping position is taken, multiple clamp portions 9b that clamp the shoe holder 7 between the base portion 9a and the substrate 8 when the clamping position is taken, and a handle portion 9c that can be grasped by an operator when operating (rotating) the clamper 9. Herein, the multiple clamp portions 9b are arranged at intervals along the longitudinal direction of the base portion 9a (the direction along the outer circumferential outline of the substrate 8, as indicated by arrow M in FIG. 4; hereinafter, the same applies to the "longitudinal direction"). More specifically, the clamp portions 9b are provided so as to clamp a total of three positions of the shoe holder 7 between the base portion 9a and the substrate 8: one end, the other end, and a middle portion in the longitudinal direction.

[0025] 6 and 7, the clamp portion 9b has an opposing surface 9d that faces the shoe holder 7 when the clamper 9 is in the clamping position (and when a locking member 12, which will be described later, is in the locking position), and the opposing surface 9d is provided with an elastic portion 9d that is elastically compressed and deformed between the clamp portion 9b and the shoe holder 7. The elastic portion 9d can be made of a spring member such as a coil spring or a leaf spring, or a rubber elastic member.

[0026] 5 and 7, the locking member 12 provided on the substrate 3 comprises a bolt portion 12a and a shaft-like or cylindrical support portion 12b attached to the end of the bolt portion 12a opposite the head and arranged in a horizontal position, and is rotatable (swivelable) around the central axis of the support portion 12b, which serves as a second support axis X2. The amount of rotation (rotation range) of the locking member 12 is limited by the fact that the shaft portion of the bolt portion 12a is inserted into an elongated hole 8b provided in the substrate 8, the head of the bolt portion 12a is positioned on the front side of the substrate 8, and the support portion 12b is positioned on the back side of the substrate 8. In the illustrated example, the locking member 12 is rotatable around the second support axis X2 within a range in which the central axis of the bolt portion 12a can assume a vertical position along the vertical direction and an inclined position at a predetermined angle (for example, approximately 45°) relative to the vertical direction. The second support axis X2, which is the rotation center of the locking member 12, extends horizontally and perpendicular to the first support axis X1, which is the rotation center of the clamper 9. Therefore, the locking member 12 rotates within a vertical plane parallel to the first support axis X1 so as to change the posture of the bolt portion 12a.

[0027] A notch 9f is provided in the base portion 9a of the clamper 9 at the end farthest from the first support axis X1, which is the center of rotation of the clamper 9, so that when the clamper 9 is in the clamping position, the notch 9f vertically overlaps with the elongated hole 8b formed in the base plate 8. When the bolt portion 12a constituting the locking member 12 is in the vertical position with the notch 9f and the elongated hole 8b arranged vertically overlapping, the shaft portion of the bolt portion 12a is fitted into the notch 9f. When the shaft portion of the bolt portion 12a is fitted into the notch 9f in this manner, the head of the bolt portion 12a engages with (the base portion 9a of) the clamper 9 in the rotation direction of the clamper 9, thereby restricting the rotation of the clamper 9 around the first support axis X1. Therefore, the vertical position of the bolt portion 12a of the locking member 12 corresponds to "the locking member being in the locked position."

[0028] 6 and 7, when the locking member 12 pivots about the second support axis X2 and assumes an inclined position in which the bolt portion 12a is disengaged from the notch 9f of the clamper 9, the engagement between the locking member 12 (the head of the bolt portion 12a constituting the locking member 12) and the clamper 9 in the clamper pivot direction is released, allowing the clamper 9 to pivot about the first support axis X1. Therefore, the bolt portion 12a of the locking member 12 assuming an inclined position corresponds to "the locking member assuming an unlocked position."

[0029] With the workpiece support device 4 of this embodiment having the above configuration, when grinding the inner peripheral surface Wa of the workpiece W placed in a flat position (horizontal position) (see FIG. 1) or the outer peripheral surface Wb of the workpiece W (see FIG. 2), the shoe holder 7 can be fixed to the base plate 8 by setting the clamper 9 provided on the base plate 8 to a clamping position (horizontal position) and setting the locking member 12 to a rotation-restricted position (vertical position) (see FIGS. 4 and 5). On the other hand, when it becomes necessary to replace the shoe holder 7 (the shoe 6 held by it) due to a change in the workpiece W to be ground, for example, first, the locking member 12 in the rotation-restricted position is rotated about the second support axis X2 to a rotation-permitting position (inclined position), and then the clamper 9 in the clamping position is rotated about the first support axis X1 to a non-clamping position. This releases the clamping force that has been fixing the shoe holder 7 to the base plate 8, allowing the shoe holder 7 to be separated from the base plate 8. After replacing the shoe holder 7, the clamper 9 in the non-clamping position is rotated around the first support shaft X1 to assume the clamping position, and then the locking member 12 in the rotation-permitting position is rotated around the second support shaft X2 to assume the rotation-restricting position, thereby completing the fixing of the shoe base 7 to the board 8.

[0030] In short, in the workpiece support device 4 of this embodiment, the work of attaching and detaching multiple bolts that was performed when replacing the shoe base in the conventional support device (Patent Document 1) is replaced with a simple and quick work of rotating the clamper 9 and locking member 12 around their respective support shafts. This makes it possible to significantly reduce the time required to replace the shoe base 7 (shoe 6), contributing to an improvement in the operating rate of the grinding machine 1.

[0031] Furthermore, in the workpiece supporting device 4 of this embodiment, the clamper 9 is provided with an elastic portion 9e that is elastically compressed and deformed between the clamper 9 and the shoe holder 7 when the clamper 9 assumes the clamping position (and when the locking member 12 assumes the locking position). In this way, it is possible to prevent as much as possible the pressure applied from the clamper 9 to the shoe holder 7 and the substrate 8 as the shoe holder 7 is clamped between the substrate 8 and the clamper 9 from becoming excessive, and it is possible to clamp the shoe holder 7 with an appropriate clamping force.

[0032] Although the workpiece supporting device 4 for a grinding machine according to one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to this.

[0033] For example, the workpiece support device 4 described above is provided with only one locking member 12 for restricting the rotation of the clamper 9. However, if the size of the grinding machine 1 (the shoe holder 7 provided thereon) is large, multiple locking members 12 may be provided. Even when multiple locking members 12 are provided, operating each locking member 12 is much easier than tightening a bolt, so the shoe holder 7 (the shoe 6 held therein) can be replaced quickly. However, even when multiple locking members 12 are provided, it is preferable that one locking member 12 engages with the clamper 9 at the end of the clamper 9 opposite the side where the first support shaft X1 is provided, as in the above-described embodiment. This allows a predetermined clamping force to be generated over the entire area of ​​the clamper 9, which is advantageous in preventing the shoe holder 7 from shifting position during grinding.

[0034] Furthermore, in the workpiece support device 4 described above, the second support shaft X2, which is the rotation center of the locking member 12, is arranged horizontally perpendicular to the first support shaft X1, which is the rotation center of the clamper 9. However, the arrangement of the second support shaft X2 can be selected arbitrarily as long as it is possible to easily and appropriately switch between restricting and allowing the rotation of the clamper 9. For example, although not shown in the drawings, the second support shaft X2 may be arranged parallel to the first support shaft X1. In this case, the locking member 12 rotates so as to change the posture of the bolt portion 12a within a vertical plane perpendicular to the first support shaft X1.

[0035] Furthermore, although the work support device 4 described above supports the workpiece W in a flat-placed position (horizontal position), the work support device 4 according to the present invention can also be used to support the workpiece W in a vertical-placed position (vertical position). In this case, the rotation axis of the workpiece rotation mechanism 5 is in a horizontal position, and the base plate 8 and members associated with the base plate 8 (such as the shoe base 7) change from a flat-placed position to a vertical-placed position. In this case, the base plate 8 and members associated with the base plate 8 are arranged so that the longitudinal direction of the base portion 7a of the clamper 9 faces downward. [Explanation of symbols]

[0036] 1 grinding machine 2 Grinding wheels 2a Outer grinding surface 4 Work support device 6 Shoe 7 Shoe holder 8 PCB 9 Clamper 9e Elastic part 10 Support shaft (1st support shaft) 12 Locking member X1 1st spindle X2 2nd spindle

Claims

1. A workpiece support device that supports an outer peripheral surface of a workpiece having a circular cross section and that is placed flat or vertically on a grinding machine that grinds the outer peripheral surface of the workpiece, a shoe holder provided with a shoe that supports the outer peripheral surface of the workpiece, and a base plate to which the shoe holder is detachably attached; a clamper that can be rotated around a first support shaft on the base plate to assume a clamping position in which the shoe holder is clamped between the clamper and the base plate, and a non-clamping position in which the shoe holder is not clamped; and a locking member that can be rotated around a second support shaft to assume a locking position in which the clamper in the clamping position engages with the clamper in the rotation direction to restrict the rotation of the clamper, and an unlocked position in which the clamper can be rotated.

2. 2. A workpiece supporting device for a grinding machine according to claim 1, wherein said clamper has an elastic portion which is elastically compressed and deformed between said clamper and said shoe holder when said clamper takes said clamping position.

3. 2. A workpiece supporting device for a grinding machine according to claim 1, wherein the locking member in the locked position engages with the clamper at an end of the clamper opposite to the side on which the first support shaft is provided.

4. A grinding machine equipped with the workpiece supporting device for a grinding machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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