Finishing device

Abstract

The invention relates to a finishing device (10), having a drive unit for rotating one of the workpieces to be finished about a workpiece axis and having a pressing unit, wherein the workpiece can be arranged between the drive unit and the pressing unit as viewed along the workpiece axis, wherein the pressing unit acts along a pressing axis parallel or identical to the workpiece axis and has a pressing frame and at least one pressing roller (44, 46), which is mounted on a roller bearing (42) so as to be rotatable about a pressing roller axis (46), wherein the roller bearing is arranged on a roller bearing holder (38) and wherein the roller bearing holder is mounted on the pressing frame movably about a holder axis (32).

Description

[0001] Title: Finishing device

[0002] Description

[0003] The invention relates to a finishing device, comprising a drive device for rotating a workpiece to be finished about a workpiece axis and comprising a pressing device, wherein the workpiece can be arranged between the drive device and the pressing device, viewed along the workpiece axis, wherein the pressing device acts along a pressing axis parallel to or identical to the workpiece axis and has a pressing frame and at least one pressing roller, which is mounted on a roller bearing so as to be rotatable about a pressing roller axis. Such a finishing device is known from EP 2 218 545 A1.Such finishing devices known from the prior art and also relevant within the scope of this invention serve to clamp a workpiece between two opposite end faces of the workpiece, such that the drive device interacts with a first end face and such that the at least one pressure roller of the pressure device interacts with the second end face. A circumferential surface of the workpiece located between the end faces can be finished with a finishing tool. The workpiece is, in particular, a rolling element.

[0004] A disadvantage of the known finishing devices is that reliable clamping of the workpiece is only possible if the end faces of the workpiece have a high surface quality, e.g., if they are ground across the entire end face. However, for the subsequent use of a workpiece—e.g., as a rolling element in a rolling bearing—it would often be sufficient if only the peripheral surface had a particularly high surface quality, in particular, a finished surface.

[0005] Proceeding from this, the object of the present invention is to further develop a finishing device of the type mentioned at the outset in such a way that a workpiece can be reliably clamped even if the end faces of the workpiece have unevenness (e.g. due to primary forming production).

[0006] This task is solved in a finishing device of the type mentioned above in that the roller bearing is arranged on a roller bearing holder and that the

[0007] Roller bearing holder is mounted on the pressure frame so that it can move around a holder axis.

[0008] According to the invention, instead of a rigid assembly comprising a pressure frame, a roller bearing, and at least one roller, an arrangement is provided which enables the roller bearing to move relative to the pressure frame. For this purpose, the roller bearing is arranged on a roller bearing holder, the roller bearing holder in turn being mounted on the pressure frame so as to be movable about a holder axis. In this way, it is possible to exert a pressing force, specifically starting from the pressure frame, via the roller bearing holder, onto the roller bearing, and from there via the roller onto an end face of a workpiece. While such a pressing force is being exerted, the at least one roller rolls on an end face of the workpiece facing the roller holder.If this end face is uneven, it is possible for the roller, the roller bearing and the roller bearing holder to carry out an evasive movement around the holder axis, so that - while maintaining a rolling movement of at least one roller on the end face - a pressing force can continue to be exerted.

[0009] It is preferred that the holder axis extends perpendicular to the pressure roller axis and / or perpendicular to the pressure axis. This allows the roller bearing holder to perform a tilting movement relative to the pressure roller axis and / or relative to the pressure axis.

[0010] The holder axis is preferably formed by a bolt connected to the pressure frame. The bolt enables easy provision of a holder axis and also allows a pressing force from the pressure frame to be easily transmitted to the roller bearing holder.

[0011] It is preferred that the roller bearing holder has a particularly bowl-shaped contact surface for contacting a pressing surface of the bolt, wherein a pressing force of the pressing frame can be transferred to the contact surface via the pressing surface. The bowl-shaped contact surface is particularly U-shaped. The contact surface enables a relative movement of the bolt relative to the roller bearing holder, so that a pressing force can be transferred from the pressing frame to the roller bearing holder regardless of a tilted position of the roller bearing holder. A bowl-shaped and thus partially open contact surface also simplifies disassembly of the roller bearing holder from the bolt of the pressing frame, in particular in a direction transverse or perpendicular to the holder axis, compared to a contact surface that is closed around the circumference.

[0012] It is further preferred that the roller bearing holder has a stop surface and the pressure frame has a frame surface, wherein in a play state of the roller bearing holder the stop surface is spaced from the frame surface, wherein in a play limiting state the stop surface bears against the frame surface. The play limiting state serves to limit maximum movement of the roller bearing holder relative to the pressure frame in order to ensure a sufficiently stable connection between the pressure frame and the roller bearing holder under all operating conditions. It is preferred that a maximum distance between the stop surface and the frame surface is selected such that a maximum pivot angle of the roller bearing holder about the holder axis is 2°, in particular 1.5°, for example 1.3°. In other words: a play orThe mobility of the roller bearing holder relative to the pressure frame around the holder axis is limited to a maximum pivot angle of 2°, in particular 1.5°, for example 1.3°. Pivot angles in the aforementioned range can be achieved, for example, by a maximum distance between the stop surface and the frame surface of approximately 0.3 mm or approximately 0.2 mm.

[0013] It is further proposed that the roller bearing holder comprise fastening elements for fastening the roller bearing holder to the holder axis. In this context, it is conceivable, for example, to use a bearing sleeve in which the holder axis is arranged. However, for particularly easy disassembly and assembly of the roller bearing holder to the pressure frame, it is preferred to use the fastening elements described below.

[0014] The at least one fastening element preferably operates along a fastening axis, which in particular runs transversely to the holder axis. This enables simplified assembly of the roller bearing holder.

[0015] It is particularly preferred if a position of the at least one fastening element along its fastening axis is adjustable between a fastening position in which the fastening element engages behind the holder axis and secures the roller bearing holder to the pressure frame, and a release position in which the roller bearing can be joined to the pressure frame or removed from the pressure frame. This enables simple assembly and disassembly of the roller bearing holder on the pressure frame, specifically by changing the position of the at least one fastening element along its fastening axis. In this context, the use of grub screws, for example, is conceivable.

[0016] However, it is particularly preferred if the at least one fastening element is elastically flexible along its fastening axis. In this context, the use of so-called pressure pieces is particularly preferred, which can be fastened to an internal thread of the roller bearing holder by means of an external thread and can be fixed, for example, by means of a locking nut. The pressure pieces have balls arranged at the ends which are spring-loaded and press the balls into a position in which the balls engage behind the holder axis. If the roller bearing holder is to be removed from the pressure frame, it is sufficient to apply a tensile force to the roller bearing holder, whereby the balls are pressed into a release position by contact with the holder axis against the action of the pre-tensioning springs, so that the roller bearing holder can be removed from the pressure frame.

[0017] It is preferred that the fastening element assumes the fastening position in a resting state and that the fastening element can be transferred into the release position exclusively by elastic deformation. For this purpose, the aforementioned pressure pieces can be used, in particular.

[0018] The ability to easily, quickly, and particularly without tools, mount and dismount a roller bearing holder on the pressure frame and from the pressure frame speeds up the repair or maintenance of the finishing device. Furthermore, it is advantageous to provide a plurality of roller bearing holders that differ from one another in terms of diameter and / or width of a running surface of the at least one roller and / or spacing between multiple rollers along the roller axis. This allows the finishing device to be easily adapted to workpieces with different geometries.

[0019] A simple disassembly of the roller bearing holder from the pressure frame is supported by a shell-shaped and partially open contact surface of the roller bearing holder, as discussed above.

[0020] Further features and advantages of the invention are the subject of the following description of preferred embodiments.

[0021] The drawing shows:

[0022] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a finishing device;

[0023] Fig. 2 is a view corresponding to Fig. 1 with the roller bearing holder visually highlighted; Fig. 3 is a front view of the finishing device according to Fig. 1;

[0024] Fig. 4 shows a horizontal section marked IV - IV in Fig. 3;

[0025] Fig. 5 is a horizontal section marked V - V in Fig. 4; and

[0026] Fig. 6 shows a vertical section marked VI - VI in Fig. 3.

[0027] An embodiment of a finishing device is designated overall by reference numeral 10 in the drawing. The finishing device 10 has a drive device 12, known per se and therefore only partially shown in Figure 1, for example in the form of a driver, wherein the drive device 12 serves to drive the rotation of a workpiece 14 to be finished.

[0028] The workpiece 14 is designed as a rolling element and has a first end face 16 facing the drive device 12 and a second end face 18 facing away from the drive device 12. The workpiece 14 further has a circumferential surface 20 extending concentrically to a workpiece axis 22.

[0029] During the finishing process of the workpiece 14, a finishing tool (not shown) acts on the peripheral surface 20. The finishing tool is not only pressed against the rotating workpiece 14, but also oscillates in a direction parallel to the workpiece axis 22. In this way, a cross-ground structure characteristic of the finishing process is created.

[0030] To ensure that the workpiece 14 does not move laterally during the final machining of the workpiece 14, a pressing device 24 is provided. The pressing device 24 is subjected to a pressing force along a pressing axis 26 by a pressing drive (not shown) that is known per se, which acts as a compressive force on the second end face 18 of the workpiece 14. The pressing drive can be, for example, a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder.

[0031] The pressure axis 26 is identical or coaxial to the workpiece axis 22 or runs parallel to it.

[0032] The pressing device 24 has a pressing frame 28 extending along the pressing axis 26, which can be connected to the pressing drive of the finishing device 10 or to parts of the pressing drive of the finishing device via a fastening section 30 facing away from the workpiece 14.

[0033] The pressure frame 28 has, in a region facing the workpiece 14, a holder axis 32 formed by a bolt 34. The bolt 34 is fastened to a material projection 36 of the pressure frame 28. The holder axis 32 runs perpendicular to the pressure axis 26.

[0034] The holder axis 32 serves for the movable reception of a roller bearing holder 38, see Figure 2. The roller bearing holder 38 has a pressure roller axis 40 of a roller bearing 42, wherein at least one roller 44 is rotatably mounted on the pressure roller axis 40, preferably two rollers 44 and 46 are rotatably mounted.

[0035] The rollers 44, 46 have running surfaces which roll on the end face 18 of the workpiece 14 as a result of the rotation of the workpiece 14 about the workpiece axis 22. The rollers 44, 46 rotate in opposite directions relative to the pressure roller axis 40.

[0036] The pressure roller axis 40 runs not only perpendicular to the pressure axis 26, but also perpendicular to the holder axis 32.

[0037] The roller bearing holder 38 has, in an area spaced from the rollers 44 and 46, a bowl-shaped contact surface 48 which serves to transmit a pressing force of the pressing frame 28 via a pressing surface 50 of the bolt 34 to the roller bearing holder 38, compare Figures 2 and 3.

[0038] The roller bearing holder 38 is tiltable about the holder axis 32, wherein a tilting path is limited, however, by the fact that the pressure frame 28 has a frame surface 52 (see Figure 4), which, in a play state of the roller bearing holder 38, is spaced from a stop surface 54 of the roller bearing holder 38. A maximum distance 56 between the frame surface 52 and the stop surface 54 is, for example, 0.2 mm.

[0039] To fasten the roller bearing holder 38 to the bolt 34 of the support shaft 32, the roller bearing holder 38 has a plurality of fastening elements 58. For example, four fastening elements 58 are provided, with two fastening elements 58 being arranged on opposite sides of the support shaft 32 (see Figure 6).

[0040] The fastening elements 58 each act along a fastening axis 60 which runs transversely to the holder axis 32. The fastening elements 58 are preferably designed as a pressure piece and have a spring-loaded ball 62 which is displaceable along the fastening axis 60, specifically between a fastening position (see Figure 6), in which the pressure balls engage behind the bolt 34 of the holder axis 32, and a release position in which the pressure balls 62 can be moved past the bolt 34 for the purpose of mounting the roller bearing holder 38 on the pressure frame 28 or for the purpose of dismounting the roller bearing holder 38 from the pressure frame 28.

[0041] Optionally, it is provided that the rollers 44, 46 are each held interchangeably on the roller bearing 42 by quick-change connections 64.

Claims

Patent claims 1. Finishing device (10) with a drive device (12) for the rotational drive of a workpiece (14) to be finished about a workpiece axis (22) and with a pressing device (24), wherein the workpiece (14) can be arranged between the drive device (12) and the pressing device (24) as seen along the workpiece axis (22), wherein the pressing device (24) is effective along a pressing axis (26) parallel to or identical to the workpiece axis (22) and a pressing frame (28) and at least one pressing roller (44, 46) which is mounted on a roller bearing (42) so as to be rotatable about a pressure roller axis (40), characterized in that the roller bearing (42) is arranged on a roller bearing holder (38) and that the roller bearing holder (38) is mounted on the pressure frame (28) so as to be movable about a holder axis (32).

2. Finishing device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the holder axis (32) runs perpendicular to the pressure roller axis (40) and / or perpendicular to the pressure axis (26).

3. Finishing device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the holder axis (32) is formed by a bolt (34) which is connected to the pressure frame (28).

4. Finishing device (10) according to claim 3, characterized in that the roller bearing holder (38) has a particularly bowl-shaped contact surface (48) for contact against a pressing surface (50) of the bolt (34), wherein a pressing force of the pressing frame (28) can be transferred via the pressing surface (50) to the contact surface (48).

5. Finishing device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the roller bearing holder (38) has a stop surface (54) and the pressure frame (28) has a frame surface (52), wherein in a play state of the roller bearing holder (38) the stop surface (54) is spaced from the frame surface (52) and wherein in a play limiting state the stop surface (54) rests against the frame surface (52).

6. Finishing device (10) according to claim 5, characterized in that a maximum distance (56) between the stop surface (54) and the frame surface (52) is selected such that a maximum pivoting angle of the roller bearing holder (38) about the holder axis (32) is 2°, in particular 1.5°.

7. Finishing device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the roller bearing holder (38) has at least one fastening element (58) for fastening the roller bearing holder (38) to the holder axis (32).

8. Finishing device (10) according to claim 7, characterized in that the at least one fastening element (58) is effective along a fastening axis (60) which runs in particular transversely to the holder axis (32).

9. Finishing device (10) according to claim 8, characterized in that a position of the at least one fastening element (58) along its fastening axis (60) is adjustable between a fastening position in which the fastening element engages behind the holder axis (32) and secures the roller bearing holder (38) to the pressure frame (28), and a release position in which the roller bearing holder (38) can be joined to the pressure frame (28) or removed from the pressure frame (28).

10. Finishing device (10) according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the at least one fastening element (58) is elastically flexible along its fastening axis (60).

11. Finishing device (10) according to claim 10 with reference to claim 9, characterized in that the fastening element (58) assumes the fastening position in a rest state and that the fastening element (58) can be transferred into the release position exclusively by elastic deformation.

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