Specialized metallurgical processes – compositions for use therei
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-01
2001-11-13
Eley, Timothy V. (Department: 3723)
Specialized metallurgical processes, compositions for use therei
C451S072000, C029S402030, C029S402080
Reexamination Certificate
active
06315799
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a device for quickly and automatically replacing grinding wheels in machines for profiling and polishing works obtained from slabs of marble, granite, stone, glass, stoneware, cement and the like.
In the presently commercially available machines having operating a single spindle, the replacement of the grinding wheel is carried out manually, as and when required, resulting in evident waste of time and labour.
Automatic grinding wheel replacement systems are also available which, however, replace the grinding wheels away from the working site. In this latter case, even if there is a saving in labour, a considerable waste of time and an additional stress on the machine are involved since the carriage bearing the operating spindle must be withdrawn from the working site so as to always be brought to the same initial or starting position where the grinding wheel replacement station is arranged.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The scope of the invention is to provide a device for automatically replacing a grinding wheel on its operating spindle, in any working step, at an end region of an active coarse profiling or polishing run, so as to prevent the carriage from being withdrawn to a fixed starting position, i.e. a longitudinal axis zero position, thereby achieving a great saving of the operating time, wear of the machine, and production cost since it is not necessary to control the longitudinal carriage position by very accurate and expensive electronic controls, as well as thanks to a less labour requirements for the user deriving from the automatic grinding wheel replacement.
Moreover, the device according to the invention must be able to be fitted onto any machine whatsoever even if of a technologically obsolete type.
According to the invention, on the same carriage bearing the operating spindle, is fitted a device consisting of ah horizontally arranged contoured circular turning plate having a plurality of peripheral fork-like recesses with parallel sides and a semicircular bottom, the peripheral edge whereof has a wedge-shaped cross-section.
In the forked recesses of the turning plate is preloaded a series of grinding wheels screw engaged with a composite coupling head to be used for the subsequent grinding wheel replacements.
Said coupling head has a substantially reel-like configuration, having a top and a bottom flange between which a sliding collar can move axially, said collar being pressed towards the top flange by a counterbiassing spring. The sliding collar, in its normal rest position, urges one or more balls to project into the seat of the driving spindle of the machine, said balls engaging an anular groove of the spindle so as to maintain in an axially locked state the coupling head.
Between the top surface of the spring loaded sliding collar and the top flange a clearance is provided into which can be in turn inserted the empty fork of the turning plate which, when urged against the coupling head bearing the operating grinding wheel arranged on the spindle, causes its wedge-shaped peripheral edge to release said balls thereby unlocking the spindle.
Thus, the spindle can be withdrawn leaving on the empty fork of the turning plate the proviously used grinding wheel whereas, upon rotating the turning plate through one or more steps, the spindle can be engaged, by a reverse operation, with a new grinding wheel which will remain automatically fixed to the spindle upon the withdrawal of the turning plate causing the balls to again engage the spindle groove.
To perform the feeding and the withdrawing displacements, the turning plate is mounted on a horizontal slide in turn set on a plate integral with the profiling and polishing machine carriage, whereas the alternating engagement and disengagement movements of a grinding wheel together with its coupling head are carried out by moving the spindle by any suitable driving means, such as a pneumatic piston.
All the displacements of the above mentioned members can be controlled by any known means, for example by processors programmed according to known programming methods in order to allow said displacements to be performed within the required periods of time and with the required sequences.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5989105 (1999-11-01), Kawakawaguchi et al.
patent: 6086458 (2000-07-01), Miyamoto et al.
patent: 6086461 (2000-07-01), Williams et al.
Baker & Botts L.L.P.
Berry Jr. Willie
Eley Timothy V.
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