DE102016205537B4 - Honing machine with several workstations and production line with it - Google Patents

Abstract

Honing machine (100) for carrying out honing operations on at least one bore in a workpiece (W), in particular for honing cylinder bores in a cylinder crankcase, with: a machine base (110); an inner column (150) assigned to the machine base; one carried by the inner column Machine head (120) which is arranged at a distance above the machine base (110); a circulating transport system (130) for transporting workpieces (W) on a transport path (132) running around the inner column (150); and a plurality of work stations (140, 160-1, 160-2) arranged along the transport path (132), whereby a workpiece is successively transferred to different work stations (140, 160-1, 160-2) of the honing machine by moving the circulating transport system (130) (100) is transportable; wherein at least one of the work stations is a honing station (160-1, 160-2) which has at least one honing unit (180-1, 180-2, 180-3, 180-4), which is a honing spindle (184) which is rotatable about a vertical spindle axis and can be moved back and forth parallel to the spindle axis, the honing unit (180-1, 180-2, 180-3, 180-4) being carried by the machine head (120), wherein the honing unit (180-1, 180-2, 180-3, 180-4) is attached to a horizontally movable slide (190-2) which is carried by the machine head (120) and which can be moved along a direction of travel which runs tangentially to a reference circle located centrally to the inner column (150).

Description

FIELD OF APPLICATION AND STATE OF THE ART

The invention relates to a honing machine for carrying out honing operations on at least one bore in a workpiece, in particular for honing cylinder bores in a cylinder crankcase. The invention also relates to a production system with several processing machines for processing a workpiece and with a conveyor system for conveying workpieces to and from the processing machines according to the preamble of claim 19.

Honing is a machining process with geometrically indeterminate cutting edges, in which a multi-edged honing tool with bonded cutting material executes a work movement consisting of two components in the bore during a honing operation, which leads to a characteristic surface structure of the machined inner surface, usually with crossed machining tracks. The working movement transmitted from a honing spindle of a honing machine to the honing tool therefore generally consists of an axially reciprocating stroke movement and a rotary movement superimposed on this. Finished surfaces can be produced by honing, which meet extremely high requirements with regard to dimensional and shape tolerances as well as with regard to the surface structure. Accordingly, in engine construction, for example, cylinder sliding surfaces, i.e. inner surfaces of cylinder bores in a cylinder crankcase or in a cylinder sleeve to be built into a cylinder crankcase, bearing surfaces for shafts, e.g. in a crankshaft bearing bore, or the cylindrical inner surfaces in connecting rod eyes are subjected to honing. Bearing surfaces on connecting rods, gears or components for other engines and machines, such as compressors, are also often machined by means of honing.

When machining cylinder running surfaces, typically several different, successive honing operations are carried out, e.g. pre-honing to create the required basic shape and finish honing, with which the ultimately required surface structure is created. The success of the processing can be checked by measuring steps.

In the mass production of cylinder crankcases and other workpieces to be machined by honing, multi-spindle honing machines are often used, which include, for example, a pre-honing unit and a finished honing unit, with a pre-honed workpiece within the honing machine being able to be transferred directly to the finished honing unit. Equipment for further processes, such as measuring and deburring, can be integrated into such a honing machine. To increase the production capacity, a honing system can contain several honing machines in an arrangement linked with the aid of a conveyor system.

The German patent DE 10 2007 045 619 B4 describes a device for the fine machining of workpieces, which can be set up in particular for honing and / or fine boring of cylinder bores in cylinder crankcases. Within a module with an essentially rectangular plan, one or two horizontally displaceable machining units for honing and / or fine boring are provided on two mutually opposite longitudinal sides. The machining units should be suitable for carrying out all honing processes and also for fine boring. One module is designed as a cabin with side walls along the two long sides. The processing units are attached to horizontally movable carriages which run along linear guides which are attached to the inner sides of the side walls facing one another. A service room is located between the side walls carrying the processing units and can be reached by an operator through an access at the front. The workpieces are transported through aligned portals in the side walls to respective processing stations, at which they can be reached by the processing units arranged in each case on the associated longitudinal side. The module should be able to carry out as many different machining processes as possible, but at least various honing processes and also fine boring, without modification.

The WO 2013/117482 A1 describes a honing machine for performing honing operations on cylinder bores in a cylinder crankcase. The honing machine has a machine base, a plurality of vertical columns arranged in the edge area of the machine base and a machine head carried by the columns, which is arranged at a distance above the machine base. A rotary table is arranged on the machine base, which can be rotated around a vertical rotary table axis and has several workpiece holders that are offset from one another in the circumferential direction at a radial distance from the rotary table axis such that a workpiece held in a workpiece holder is transferred to different work stations one after the other by rotating the rotary table Honing machine can be transported. At least one of the work stations is a honing station, which has at least one honing unit carried by the machine head, which has a Has honing spindle which is rotatable about a vertical spindle axis and can be moved back and forth parallel to the spindle axis. The working space between the machine base and the machine head is accessible to an operator from the side in the areas between the uprights.

The EP 2 489 465 A1 discloses a honing machine with at least one machining unit equipped with a tool spindle for honing. The honing machine is designed as a ring table honing machine. The honing machine has a device that includes a machine base with a top and a machine top with a bottom. The upper part of the machine has a vertical column which, in an upper column area, has devices on its outside for receiving at least one processing unit equipped with a tool spindle for mechanical surface processing. In one embodiment, these devices are designed as annular grooves which run horizontally around the column at different heights and serve as a device for receiving the machining units. The device has a ring table which is arranged around the column in a lower column area and has a device carrier rotatable about a vertical axis of rotation for receiving at least one workpiece receiving device. The ring table and the machine head are each arranged with their underside on the upper side of the machine base and mounted in a stationary manner on the machine base.

The utility model DE 20 2012 008 938 U1 discloses a device for mechanical surface treatment of at least two functional surfaces of a workpiece. The device has a transport device equipped with a rotary indexing table for the workpieces, which has one or more workpiece holders. The device is equipped with a processing station for honing and a processing station for finishing. Each workpiece holder has a separate rotary drive. A processing station for flat finishing is equipped with a rotating processing tool. The machining station for honing has a slide which is attached to a stand of the device via a linear guide. A hone is arranged rigidly and non-rotatably on the slide.

The DE 101 60 280 A1 discloses a device for mechanical surface processing of workpieces with a cyclically driven rotary table to which a plurality of workpiece spindles are connected in a predetermined angular division, and with a plurality of processing stations with rotatingly drivable processing tools for surface processing of the workpieces clamped in the workpiece spindles. The rotary table is arranged as a ring-shaped table around a vertical stand. The processing stations are connected to the stand on the circumference.

The EP 0 499 653 A1 discloses a machine designed in particular as a honing machine for the measurement-controlled machining of workpieces. The machine equipped with a rotary table has two or more processing stations and devices for re-measuring the processed workpieces. At least two processing stations are assigned a common measuring station which contains a re-measuring device and is to be loaded in succession with processed workpieces from these processing stations and is coupled to each of these processing stations for measuring control.

The DE 578 133 A discloses a machine for fine grinding of inner cylinder surfaces by means of cylinder-filling (radially adjustable) tools, in which the vertical grinding spindle or the support can swing around a vertical column and is adjustable in height

TASK AND SOLUTION

The invention is based on the object of providing a honing machine with which various honing operations and possibly also other machining operations can be carried out on a workpiece in short cycle times. The honing machine should be user-friendly and can be flexibly combined with different external conveyor systems. In particular, a honing machine is to be provided with which complete machining of cylinder bores on cylinder crankcases is possible with the shortest possible non-productive times that are not available for machining.

To achieve this object, the invention provides a honing machine with the features of claim 1. Furthermore, a production system with the features of claim 19 is provided. Advantageous further developments are given in the dependent claims. The wording of all claims is incorporated into the content of the description by reference.

The term “honing machine” denotes a numerically controlled processing machine with which at least one honing operation can be carried out on a workpiece, so that the processing machine is suitable for honing. If necessary, other, typically material-removing, machining operations can also be carried out on a workpiece, e.g. one or more drilling operations, a deburring operation or a fluid jet operation.

An inner column is assigned to the machine base or the machine base of the honing machine, so that there is a fixed spatial relationship between the machine base and the inner column. The inner column can, for example, be arranged or mounted on the machine base so that the machine base carries the inner column. The inner column can also stand directly on the floor and only be screwed to the machine base so that it mainly functions as a lateral support for the inner column.

The inner column carries a machine head, which is arranged at a vertical distance above the machine base. A working area of the honing machine is located between the machine base and the machine head.

The inner column is a supporting element for the machine head. It also serves as a spacer between the machine base and the machine head. The term “column” here generally stands for a free-standing, load-bearing, inherently stable assembly that can consist of a single component or be composed of several interconnected components. The height measured in the vertical direction is usually several times greater than the cross-sectional dimension of the inner column. The carrying function for the machine head and the components attached to it is essential. This carrying function can be the main function of the inner column, so that it can be optimized for the carrying function. The inner column can be formed, for example, by a tube with a hollow interior, whereby a high level of stability and load-bearing capacity can be achieved with a comparatively moderate weight and use of material. The tube can be a cylindrical tube (with a circular cross-section), other cross-sectional shapes, e.g. polygonal shapes, such as a triangular, square, especially square, or a hexagonal (hexagonal) cross-sectional shape are possible. The inner column can also have one or more T-beams or one or more double T-beams or be formed by such a component. The inner column can have a torsion-resistant strut construction, which can be open or clad on the outside. The inner column can have a plurality of column sections stacked one on top of the other, which are detachably or firmly connected to one another.

A pillar section of the inner pillar can already be connected to the upper machine part before the assembly of the entire arrangement, e.g. by means of screws or by welding; the same can apply accordingly to the lower machine part or the machine base. A pillar section can already be connected to the machine head before the assembly of the entire arrangement, e.g. by means of screws or by welding; the same can apply to the machine base. The inner column is not necessarily a separate component. This can be integrated in one component or several components (such as a stand or machine head).

Preferably, no processing unit is mounted on the outside of the inner column. Preferably, there is also no device for attaching a processing unit to the inner column. All machining units can be mounted at a distance from the inner column on the machine head supported by the inner column. If necessary, secondary functional units can be attached to the inner column. For example, at a honing station, an adjustable counterholder can be provided for fixing the workpiece on the inner column during processing. It is also possible to use the inner column as a carrier for media supplies, e.g. by attaching pipes or hoses for cooling lubricant supply to the outside.

The upper machine part protrudes on one or more sides in the horizontal direction beyond the outer contour of the inner column, so that a machining unit attached to the upper machine part can be attached at a suitable radial or horizontal distance from the inner column or its outside. There is thus freedom with regard to the relative arrangement of the inner column and processing unit (s).

The honing machine has a circulating transport system for transporting workpieces on a transport path. The circulation transport system can, for example, be mounted on the machine base. It is also possible that the inner column serves as a carrier for the circulation transport system. The term “transport track” describes the path that a transported workpiece can take during transport. This path or path can be described by a trajectory. The transport path runs around the inner column. The inner column is thus arranged in the interior of the transport path or in the area enclosed by the transport path and at a distance from the edge area of the machine base. The transport path is preferably closed in the direction of rotation, but this is not mandatory.

Several work stations are arranged along the transport path. A workpiece can be transported to different work stations of the honing machine one after the other by moving the circulation transport system. Because the inner column is arranged inside the transport path, the accessibility of the transport path from the outside is not impaired by this load-bearing element. The work area can thus be accessible to an operator from several sides.

If a work station is assigned at least one processing unit for performing a processing operation on the workpiece that changes the workpiece (e.g. a honing unit for honing, a drilling unit for drilling, a deburring unit for deburring, etc.), the work station can also be referred to as a processing station. Non-machining work operations are also possible, for example a measuring station for carrying out measurements on workpieces.

The circulation transport system forms a machine-internal transfer system with which the workpieces can be transferred quickly between the individual workstations.

Thanks to the machine-internal transfer along the circulating transport path, it is possible to get by with a single loading station for loading and unloading the workpiece holders. In contrast to transfer machines, it is possible for the workpieces to leave the honing machine at the same point at which they were fed to the honing machine. This facilitates loading and unloading and, in particular, the coupling of the honing machine to an external conveyor system. Two loading stations can also be provided at different positions along the transport path, e.g. one for loading and another for unloading the circulating transport system.

With the help of an external conveyor system, the honing machine can be linked with other honing machines and / or with other processing machines (e.g. fine boring machines) to create a production system. The arrangement can be used in combination with different loading and unloading concepts.

In the honing machine, at least one honing unit is carried by the machine head. The honing unit is positioned or positionable in such a way that a bore of a workpiece, which has been transported into the vicinity of or into a working position or processing position of the honing station with the aid of the circulation transport system, can be honed by means of a honing tool carried by the honing spindle. If the circulating transport system is set up in such a way that a workpiece is transported directly into a working position or machining position of the honing station with the aid of the circulating transport system, the functions of workpiece transport and workpiece positioning are implemented by the circulating transport system and it no separate repositioning is required. It is also possible to separate the functions of workpiece transport and workpiece positioning. It is then sufficient if the workpiece is transported into the vicinity of a working position or processing position with the aid of the circulation transport system in such a way that the workpiece is then brought into the desired working position or processing position by a simple further operation.

According to the claimed invention, a honing unit is attached to a horizontally movable carriage which is carried by the machine head and which can be moved along a direction of movement which is tangential to a reference circle which surrounds the inner column. The center point of the reference circle can lie in the interior of the inner column, in particular in its center. The radius (radius) of the reference circle can be dimensioned in such a way that the honing spindle of the honing unit carried by the carriage can be positioned coaxially to a bore to be machined by moving the carriage along the direction of travel, but also in tangentially offset positions.

If the workpiece is a cylinder crankcase, it can be arranged in a workpiece holder for machining in such a way that a honing spindle can be used to approach different bores in the cylinder crankcase for machining. To make this possible, in some embodiments a workpiece holder at a honing station for holding a cylinder crankcase with several cylinder bores arranged in series with cylinder axes parallel to one another is designed in such a way that all cylinder axes lie in a common tangential plane on the reference circle when the cylinder crankcase is in its machining position the honing station is positioned.

The carriage, which carries a honing unit, is preferably arranged on a side surface of the machine head. On the side surface there can be parallel guide rails for guiding the slide movement in the direction of travel.

In some embodiments, in addition to the inner column, no further column is provided for supporting the upper machine part, so that the upper machine part is carried exclusively by the inner column. In this way, in principle, free access to the work space from all sides can be achieved, since all the devices that are provided for carrying the machine head are arranged inside the transport path.

In some embodiments, the inner column and the machine head form a T-shaped arrangement, the machine head extending horizontally in a longitudinal direction of the honing machine and in the longitudinal direction on both sides protrudes over the inner column. The upper part of the machine forms, so to speak, a horizontal “cross beam” of the T-shaped arrangement, while the vertically aligned inner column forms the “trunk” of the T-shaped arrangement.

A particularly stable arrangement is obtained when a center of gravity of the machine head lies vertically above a base area of the inner column. In this way, the load caused by the weight of the machine head can be well supported by the inner column without relevant tilting moments occurring. A symmetrical T-arrangement can be beneficial, but is not mandatory. The machine head can also protrude from the inner column of different lengths in the longitudinal direction.

In some cases it can be advantageous to provide additional structural elements in addition to the inner column to support the machine head. In some embodiments, in addition to the inner column, a further column is provided for supporting the upper machine part, so that the upper machine part is carried by the inner column and the further column. This configuration can be advantageous in particular when the machine head protrudes laterally beyond the inner column to different extents on opposite sides. The further column can be attached to that side which protrudes further from the inner column.

A lateral distance that is usually present between the inner column and the further column can be adapted to the requirements. Although it is possible that the further column is also arranged in the interior space enclosed by the transport path, the further column is preferably arranged outside the transport path, so that a section of the transport path runs through an underpass that is laterally of the inner column and the further column and is limited at the top by the machine head. The further column can be arranged in the edge area of the machine base on the machine base. Since, as a rule, the inner pillar continues to bear the main load of the machine head and the processing units attached to it, the further pillar can be designed to be slimmer and more space-saving than the inner pillar, but this is not mandatory. The further column can be formed, for example, by a tube of suitable cross section (e.g. circular, oval, polygonal) or a strut construction or by a T-beam or double-T-beam or the like.

Although one or more further support elements can be provided in addition to the inner column and the further column, in preferred embodiments only two columns, namely the inner column and the further column, are provided to support the upper part of the machine.

It is possible that only a single honing unit is provided at a honing station, which is preferably movable horizontally by means of a slide. In contrast, in many embodiments there is at least one honing station at which at least two honing units, preferably exactly two honing units, are provided. Each of the honing units of a honing station is preferably attached to a horizontally displaceable slide, it being possible for the carriages to be moved independently of one another along the same direction of displacement. This makes it possible, among other things, to machine two bores on a workpiece at the same time and to adapt the honing machine to different drilling axis distances by changing the distance between the honing spindles. It is thus possible for at least one honing station to have two or more honing units that can work at the same time.

The machine concept with an inner column is particularly suitable for setting up a honing machine with more than one honing station along the transport path. In some embodiments, the honing machine has at least two work stations that are designed as honing stations. In particular, two honing stations can be arranged on diametrically opposite sides of the machine upper part or the inner column. As a result, a relatively even weight distribution of the loads caused by the honing units can be conveyed, which loads can be reliably supported by the inner column.

Some embodiments have exactly two honing stations, each with exactly two honing units. If necessary, at least one further honing station, that is to say a third honing station, can be provided. The at least one honing unit of the third honing station can be arranged, for example, on an end face of the upper machine part above the course of the transport path.

In the context of the claimed invention, different circulating transport systems can be used, so that flexible adaptation to different local conditions and to different manufacturing processes is possible. Some embodiments are characterized in that the circulating transport system has a rotary table which can be rotated about a vertical rotary table axis and has several workpiece holders that are offset from one another in the circumferential direction at a radial distance from the rotary table axis such that a workpiece held in a workpiece holder passes through Rotation of the rotary table one after the other to different Workstations of the honing machine can be transported. In this case, the transport path is a circular path. The rotary table must be designed in such a way that there is sufficient space for the inner column inside the transport track. The rotary table can have a central opening in which the inner column is arranged. In this respect, the rotary table can also be referred to as a ring table.

The construction can be designed in such a way that the workpiece holders on the rotary table also function as workpiece holders for machining, so that the rotary table brings the workpieces directly into their machining position at a machining station and it is not necessary to transfer the workpiece to a workpiece holder intended for machining is. However, it is also possible that the rotary table only serves to transport the workpieces and that these are converted into another workpiece holder (machining workpiece holder) for machining.

In some embodiments it is provided that the rotary table has a recess at the location of a workpiece holder which is dimensioned such that a workpiece support device fits through the recess or meshes with it collision-free during a vertical relative movement between the rotary table and the workpiece support device ". This makes it possible to move a workpiece between the workpiece holder on the rotary table and the workpiece support device, which is separate from the rotary table, by means of a relative stroke movement between the workpiece support device and the rotary table.

If the recess is open in the radial direction, loading movements in the radial direction are possible, so that facilities that require a radial entry facility can also be used for loading and unloading. With the help of a radially outwardly open recess on the rotary table, it is possible to make loading and unloading of the rotary table at a loading station particularly easy and efficient.

In some embodiments, the rotary table can be moved vertically between a lower position and an upper position by means of a lifting drive. The rotary table is thus designed as a lifting rotary table, which can be used in particular to carry out the workpiece transport in the manner of a circular stepping stroke. For example, it is possible to provide a machine-fixed workpiece support device at a honing station on which the workpiece is placed for processing. The rotary table can then be used to transport workpieces before machining at the honing station and for transporting the machined workpiece away after machining at the honing station.

The machine concept allows the use of different circulation transport systems. As an alternative to a rotary table, the circulation transport system can be designed, for example, as a pallet automation system. The circulating transport system can, for example, be designed as a towing frame transport system. It is also possible for the circulating transport system to have a large number of self-propelled pallets which, if necessary, can be guided along the transport path with the aid of guide rails.

There are also numerous possibilities with regard to the course of the transport path. When using a rotary table, the transport path has a circular shape. In other embodiments, the transport path has a path that deviates from the circular shape. The transport path can, for example, have an oval path with straight path sections running parallel to the longitudinal direction of the honing machine. This makes it possible to arrange different work stations of the honing machine at different radial distances from the inner column. If necessary, it is also possible to arrange two or more work stations along at least one straight path section, for example at least one honing station and additionally a measuring station. It is also possible for the transport path to have an essentially rectangular path with straight path sections running parallel to the longitudinal direction and straight path sections running parallel to the transverse direction. Between the straight path sections, curved path sections, for example path sections curved in the shape of a circular arc, can lie in the corner regions. A T-shaped path can also be provided. As mentioned, the transport track is usually closed, but this is not mandatory.

In many cases it is advantageous if the honing machine is designed for an automatic tool change in order to be able to equip the honing units with different honing tools. This can significantly increase productivity. Different tool changing systems can be used. For example, at least one tool changing device can be provided which has a tool magazine which can accommodate several machining tools.

In those variants that have a horizontally movable slide carrying a honing unit, a tool changing device can be arranged in the working area of the slide in such a way that the honing unit can be moved between the honing station and the tool changing device for a tool change. The tool changing device is usually outside of the Transport track arranged, for example in the edge area of the machine base. Each honing station is preferably assigned its own tool changing device. It is also possible to equip the tool changing device with a tool changing device that moves along with the slide. Retracting tool change magazines are also possible.

The use of a circulating transport system makes it possible to manage with a single work station, which is provided as a loading station for loading and unloading the circulating transport system. The loading station can be at any suitable location along the transport path, but is often located on a transverse side of the machine base.

There are different options for loading and unloading the circulation transport system in the area of the loading station. In some variants, the loading station is assigned a pendulum slide which can be moved between an inner end position for loading and unloading the circulating transport system and an outer end position at a distance from the transport path. The pendulum slide can, for example, be displaceable in a direction running radially to the central longitudinal axis of the inner column.

A workpiece can be moved from the pendulum slide to the circulating transport system and vice versa with the help of a transfer device (e.g. robot with gripper) that is separate from the pendulum slide. With some variants, a direct transfer of a workpiece from the pendulum slide to the circulation transport system and vice versa is possible. For this purpose, the pendulum slide can have a lifting table with a vertically movable support device, which has first support structures on an upper side for support in a first support area on an underside of the workpiece. Second support structures for supporting in a second support area lying outside the first support area on an underside of the workpiece can be provided on a workpiece holder of the circulating transport system. The second support structures can, for example, lie on the edge of a recess that is open at the bottom on a workpiece holder of the circulating transport system. If this has a rotary table, the second support structures can, for example, lie on the edge of a recess that is open radially on the outside and is located at the location of a workpiece holder on the rotary table.

The upper machine part can be so short in the direction of the loading station that an end face of the upper machine part facing the loading station lies within the transport path, so that the loading station or the transport path is accessible from above in the area of the loading station. This can be particularly advantageous if a gantry loader with a horizontally and vertically movable gripper arm is provided for loading and unloading the circulating transport system in the area of the loading station, possibly also in the case of using a loading robot for loading and unloading the circulating transport system.

The invention also relates to a production system with several processing machines for processing a workpiece and with a conveyor system for conveying workpieces to and from the processing machines. The manufacturing plant is characterized in that at least one of the processing machines is a honing machine of the type described here.

For the loading and unloading of the circulating transport system of the honing machine in the area of the loading station of the honing machine, at least one of the following devices can be provided: a portal loader with a horizontally and vertically movable gripping arm; a loading robot; a pendulum slide.

Figure list

• 1 zeigt eine schrägperspektivische Ansicht einer Ausführungsform einer Honmaschine mit Innensäule;
• 2 zeigt in 2A eine schräg perspektivische Ansicht einer anderen Ausführungsform einer Honmaschine mit Innensäule und Pendelschlitten und in 2B einen Ausschnitt eines Randbereichs des Rundtischs mit Aussparung;
• 3 zeigt eine schrägperspektivische Ansicht einer anderen Ausführungsform einer Honmaschine mit Innensäule und weiterer Säule;
• 4 zeigt eine schrägperspektivische Ansicht einer anderen Ausführungsform einer Honmaschine mit Innensäule und weiterer Säule sowie Messstation und Pendelschlitten;
• 5 zeigt eine schrägperspektivische Ansicht einer Ausführungsform einer Honmaschine mit Innensäule und Rundschritthub;
• 6 zeigt in 6A und 6B unterschiedliche Phasen eines Werkstücktransports mittels Rundschritthub;
• 7 zeigt eine schrägperspektivische Ansicht einer Ausführungsform einer Honmaschine mit Innensäule, weiterer Säule und ovaler Transportbahn;
• 8 zeigt eine schrägperspektivische Ansicht einer Ausführungsform einer Honmaschine mit Innensäule, weiterer Säule, Rundtischtransfer und Portalgreifer zum Be- und Entladen;
• 9 zeigt eine schräg perspektivische Ansicht einer Ausführungsform einer Honmaschine mit Innensäule, weiterer Säule, Rundtischtransfer und Laderoboter zum Be- und Entladen;
• 10 zeigt eine schrägperspektivische Ansicht einer Fertigungsanlage mit mehreren Honmaschinen gemäß einer Ausführungsform.

Further advantages and aspects of the invention emerge from the claims and from the following description of preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention, which are explained below with reference to the figures.

• 1 shows an oblique perspective view of an embodiment of an inner column honing machine;
• 2 FIG. 2A shows an oblique perspective view of another embodiment of a honing machine with an inner column and pendulum slide, and FIG. 2B shows a section of an edge region of the rotary table with a recess;
• 3 shows an oblique perspective view of another embodiment of a honing machine with an inner column and a further column;
• 4th shows an oblique perspective view of another embodiment of a honing machine with an inner column and a further column as well as a measuring station and pendulum slide;
• 5 shows an oblique perspective view of an embodiment of a honing machine with an inner column and a circular stepping stroke;
• 6th 6A and 6B shows different phases of workpiece transport by means of a circular step stroke;
• 7th shows an oblique perspective view of an embodiment of a honing machine with an inner column, a further column and an oval transport path;
• 8th shows an oblique perspective view of an embodiment of a honing machine with inner column, further column, rotary table transfer and portal gripper for loading and unloading;
• 9 shows an oblique perspective view of an embodiment of a honing machine with inner column, further column, rotary table transfer and loading robot for loading and unloading;
• 10 FIG. 11 shows an oblique perspective view of a production system with a plurality of honing machines according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

1 shows an oblique perspective view of a honing machine 100 according to a first embodiment. The honing machine is equipped with four independently controllable honing units and is set up to machine the cylinder bores of workpieces W in the form of cylinder crankcases first by pre-honing and then by finish honing.

The honing machine has a rectangular machine base 110 that carries all mechanical components of the honing machine. The machine base has a length in the longitudinal direction of the honing machine (corresponding to the x direction of the machine coordinate system MKS) which essentially corresponds to the width in the transverse direction (corresponding to the y direction of the machine coordinate system). The width of the machine base can be between 1500 mm and 2500 mm, for example. The length measured in the longitudinal direction (x-direction) is usually greater than the width, but this is not mandatory. In the present case, the length and width are roughly the same, so that the machine base is essentially square. The design, which is narrow in the width direction, allows the completely pre-assembled machine base to be transported using conventional means of transport, for example by truck or rail vehicle.

On the machine base, a vertical column is mounted approximately in the middle between the long sides and the broad sides, here as the inner column 150 referred to as. The inner pillar 150 forms a central support structure of the honing machine and is designed to be stable and torsion-resistant. In the exemplary embodiment, the inner column 150 essentially formed by a circular cylindrical steel tube of suitable wall thickness. To achieve sufficient load-bearing capacity, the diameter of the inner column is usually 500 mm or more, for example in the range from 700 mm to 800 mm. The wall thickness can be, for example, in the range from 5 mm to 20 mm. The height of the inner column measured in the vertical direction (z-direction) is a multiple of the cross-sectional dimensions and can be, for example, in the range from 800 mm to 2000 mm. In the example shown, the cylindrical outside of the inner column does not carry any functional units of the honing machine, in particular no machining units.

In the area of the upper end of the inner column 150 is the machine head 120 of the honing machine attached to the inner column by means of a flange connection on the face. The machine head is arranged at a vertical distance of, for example, 800 mm to 2000 mm) above the machine base and is made exclusively by the inner column 150 carried.

The machine head 120 of the embodiment has an approximately cuboid shape and has a width in the transverse direction (y-direction) which is slightly larger than the diameter of the inner column, but usually less than twice this diameter. The machine head extends parallel to the longitudinal direction (x-direction) symmetrically to the central longitudinal axis of the inner column over a length which in the example is more than twice the diameter of the inner column, in particular more than three times or more than four times.

The inner pillar 150 and the machine head mounted on it 120 In this example, form a T-shaped arrangement symmetrical to the central longitudinal axis of the inner column in such a way that the center of gravity of the upper machine part lies above the inner column essentially on its central longitudinal axis.

The four independently controllable honing units 180-1 , 180-2 , 180-3 , 180-4 of the honing machine are from the machine head 120 carried. The structure of a honing unit is known per se, but is explained below on the basis of the honing unit 180-1 described.

The honing unit 180-1 includes a headstock 182 used as a bearing for the honing spindle 184 serves, which is guided with a vertical spindle axis in the headstock. The rotation of the honing spindle around the spindle axis is effected by a rotary drive. A lifting drive effects the vertical movements of the honing spindle, which run parallel to the spindle axis, when the honing tool is inserted 185 into the hole to be machined or when pulling the honing tool out of this hole. The lifting drive can be controlled during the honing process in such a way that the honing tool executes a vertical back and forth movement within the bore of the workpiece in accordance with the desired honing parameters.

The honing unit has a feed system that can be operated independently of one another Includes feed devices in order to be able to control honing tools with double expansion if necessary. A first infeed device has a first expansion drive with a servomotor which acts on a push rod running centrally through the honing spindle and can move it axially. This push rod is arranged within a hollow push rod coaxially with this and movable relative to this. The hollow push rod belongs to an electromechanical second feed device with an electromechanical feed drive. Since the structure of double-expanding delivery systems is known per se, a detailed description is dispensed with here.

Each of the honing units is on a separate slide (for example, slide 190-2 for the second honing unit 180-2 ) mounted from the machine head 120 will be carried. The carriage runs on a pair of guide rails 192 , which are mounted vertically one above the other on a side surface of the machine head running parallel to the longitudinal direction (x-direction). The linear direction of travel of the carriages thus runs in the longitudinal direction of the honing machine. The slide movement is driven by a servomotor that drives a ball screw spindle running parallel to the guide rails on which a spindle nut sits, which is attached to the underside of the base plate of the slide. Other drive concepts are also possible, for example rack and pinion drives or belt drives.

At the in 1 Visible front of the machine head, two slides or two honing units are mounted. On the diametrically opposite rear there is a corresponding arrangement with two honing units that can be moved horizontally and linearly independently of one another.

The area between the bottom of the machine head and the top of the machine base contains the work space 115 the honing machine. Since the machine head is exclusively through the inner column, which is arranged at a distance from the edge of the machine base 150 is carried, the work space in this example is in principle accessible from all sides for an operator or for operating units.

On the machine base 110 is a circulation transport system 130 for transporting workpieces on a transport track running around the inner column 132 arranged. In the example, the circulating transport system comprises a rotary table which has an annular device carrier running around the inner column and can therefore also be referred to as a ring table. The rotary table can be rotated indefinitely about a vertical rotary table axis running coaxially with the longitudinal center axis of the inner column and can be fixed in predeterminable rotary positions, so that it can also be referred to as a rotary indexing table.

On the circumference of the rotary table there are four workpiece holders on its top 135 Mounted at equal angular distances of 90 ° to each other and at the same radial distances to the rotary table axis. Each workpiece holder has support surfaces, indexing elements and pneumatic support controls and is used to hold a single cylinder crankcase, which is firmly clamped in the workpiece holder. A cylinder crankcase is oriented in such a way that the parallel cylinder axes of the cylinder bores arranged in series lie in a common tangential plane on a reference circle, the center of which is with the rotary table axis and the longitudinal center axis of the inner column 150 coincides. A tangential plane runs parallel to the xz plane of the machine coordinate system. The vertical spindle axes of the honing spindles can be moved in the longitudinal direction (x-direction) within this tangential plane, so that, for example, with the honing units 180-1 and 180-2 two cylinder bores of the workpiece W shown below can be machined at the same time and the honing units can then be moved to the next two cylinder bores to be machined without moving the workpiece.

The honing machine 100 has several along the circular transport path 132 workstations arranged in the circulating transport system. A workpiece can be transported one after the other to different work stations of the honing machine by moving the circulation transport system, in the example case by rotating the rotary table around the rotary table axis.

In the configuration shown, the honing machine has two honing stations which are each arranged diametrically opposite one another on the opposite longitudinal sides of the machine base. To the first honing station 160-1 belong the two in 1 visible honing units 180-1 , 180-2 . To the second honing station opposite 160-2 belong to the other two honing units 180-3 , 180-4 which are identical in structure to the front honing units.

The rotary table serves as a machine-internal transfer system in such a way that a workpiece held in a workpiece holder can be transported to the different work stations of the honing machine one after the other by rotating the rotary table. In the illustrated configuration of 1 one of the workstations is a charging station 140 for loading and unloading the circulation transport system 130 or the rotary table. The charging station 140 is at the in 1 visible transverse side of the machine base as an extension of the machine head 120 arranged. The loading station has devices that are configured to transport a workpiece from outside the work space to an empty workpiece holder on the rotary table and / or to transport a workpiece to be unloaded from a workpiece holder to the outside. Various possibilities for loading and unloading the circulating transport system are explained in more detail in connection with other exemplary embodiments.

By rotating the rotary table by 90 ° clockwise, a workpiece that has been picked up is first moved to a machining position at the first honing station 160-1 transported, which is on the visible long side 105-1 the honing machine is located. Another 90 ° rotation brings the workpiece to one in the configuration of 1 unequipped workstation in the middle between the long sides. Another 90 ° rotation brings the workpiece into a machining position in the area of the second honing station 160-2 that are located on the second longitudinal side opposite the first longitudinal side 105-2 located diametrically opposite the first honing station. Another 90 ° turn brings the workpiece back to the loading station 140 where the finished workpiece can be unloaded.

In the example of 1 is the machine head 120 on the side of the charging station 140 so short that the transport path 132 is accessible from above. For example, a portal gripper can be used for loading and unloading (see also 8th ).

In 2A is an oblique perspective view of a second embodiment of a honing machine 200 shown, which as a variant of the first embodiment ( 1 ) can be understood, so that in particular with regard to the inner column 250 and the circulating transport system 230 Reference is made to the description of the corresponding components and assemblies there.

The machine base 210 is compared to the machine base 110 lengthways on the side of the charging station 240 extended so that it is now significantly longer in the longitudinal direction than in the transverse direction. The machine head 220 and the inner column 250 form exactly as in the embodiment of 1 one to the inner column 250 symmetrical T-shaped arrangement, with the machine head 220 however, it is longer in the longitudinal direction and protrudes on both sides in the longitudinal direction into the area beyond the transport path. The center of mass of the machine head 220 is centrally above the inner column 250 .

A loading and unloading device is provided for loading and unloading the workpiece holders of the rotary table, which has a horizontally movable pendulum slide (shuttle). 260 has, which is between an inner end position in the area of the transport path or in the area of a workpiece holder or at the loading station 240 and an outer end position outside of the work space 115 and can be moved back and forth linearly at a lateral distance from the transport path. The pendulum slide moves on guide rails on the top of the machine base 210 are mounted. At the outer end position, the pendulum slide can be loaded and unloaded from above using a portal gripper, for example.

A measuring station is located on the travel path of the pendulum slide between the inner end position and the outer end position 290 intended. The measuring station can be used to measure the not yet machined workpieces before loading the rotary table (pre-measuring operation) and / or as a re-measuring station to measure the workpieces finished with the honing machine after the final honing operation (re-measuring operation). The measuring station has two measuring units that can be used at the same time 292-1 , 292-2 with vertically movable measuring spindles, at the lower ends of which measuring heads are provided for non-contact measurement of the cylinder bores. With the aid of the measuring heads, the macro shape of the cylinder bores (e.g. diameter at different axial positions, roundness, etc.) and, if necessary, the microstructure of the machined inner bore surfaces (e.g. surface roughness) can be determined quantitatively.

The measuring units are arranged parallel to each other with vertical axes and are operated by a common slide 293 carried, which is guided horizontally movable on horizontal guide rails that are attached to a support plate 295 are attached to the side of the charging station 240 to the front of the machine head 220 is mounted. In this example, the measuring station is a work station that is not directly connected to the circulating transport system 230 can be approached. There are also exemplary embodiments in which one of the work stations assigned to the circulating transport system is a measuring station (cf. 7th ).

The transfer of the workpiece between the circulating transport system (or rotary table) and the pendulum slide can be achieved directly without the interposition of a further transfer system. The pendulum slide has for this purpose 260 an integrated lifting table with a support device that can be moved vertically by a lifting drive 265 which essentially has the shape of a rectangular plate on which the workpiece can be placed with its underside. The round table 230 shows where a workpiece holder is provided, a radially outwardly open, essentially rectangular recess or recess 236 on. The recess is dimensioned in the radial direction and in the circumferential direction in such a way that the support device 265 of the lifting table arranged on the pendulum slide fits through it without collision during the vertical lifting movement (cf. 2 B) . At the same time, the width of the recess in the circumferential direction is smaller than the length of the workpiece W, so that the workpiece can be supported on the rotary table or the workpiece holder, at least with the edge regions located on its narrow side. This makes it easy to transfer or take over the workpiece directly between the rotary table and lifting table or pendulum slide. Support structures are located in the vicinity of the edges of the recess lying in the circumferential direction 266 provided with indexing devices (indexing bolts and / or indexing holes) in order to be able to pick up a workpiece in the exact position in the workpiece holder of the rotary table.

In 3 is a third embodiment of a honing machine 300 shown as a variant of the honing machine from 1 can be viewed and described. The machine base 310 , the inner pillar 350 as well as the circulation transport system 330 with a rotary table can be structurally and / or functionally identical or similar to the corresponding components of the embodiment there, which is why reference is made to the description there.

The following differences are particularly noteworthy. The honing machine 300 is configured in such a way that an automatic tool change of honing tools can be carried out in order to be able to quickly equip the honing units with different honing tools without the intervention of an operator, which may be necessary, for example, when honing tools wear or when changing between different honing operations. In the embodiment, there is a tool changing device on both the visible front longitudinal side and the non-visible rear longitudinal side 370-1 or. 370-2 intended.

Each tool changing device has a rotatable tool magazine that can accommodate several machining tools. The devices for uncoupling a honing tool and placing it in such a tool holder and for receiving honing tools and coupling them to a honing spindle are known per se and are therefore not shown for reasons of clarity.

Each of the tool changing devices is in the working area of the slide arranged on the same side (e.g. slide 390-2 ) arranged in such a way that the associated honing units can be moved between the respective honing station and the tool changing device for a tool change. The tool changing devices are each outside the circular transport path 332 arranged in the corner areas of the machine base.

In order to compare the 1 The machine head enables longer travel of the honing units 320 on the charging station 340 opposite side on which the tool changing devices are located, opposite the variant of 1 extends and extends approximately to the area of the broad side of the machine base there. As a result, the center of gravity of the machine head in the direction of the tool changing devices lies outside the inner column 350 and there is an uneven weight load on the inner column by the machine head. This uneven load increases when the honing units (one or more) move in the area of the tool changing devices to change tools (cf. 4th ).

Any problems that could result from this uneven loading are avoided in the exemplary embodiment in that, in addition to the inner column 350 another pillar 345 for carrying the machine head 320 is provided. The additional vertical column is located in the edge area of the machine base in the middle between the tool changing devices 370-1 , 370-2 and supports the machine head there on the machine base, so that the machine head through the inner column 350 and through the further column 345 will be carried. The other pillar 345 does not have to meet the requirements of the inner column in terms of stability and load-bearing capacity, but it can also be formed by a tube with a circular or polygonal cross-section. The other pillar 345 lies on the side of the tool changing devices outside the transport path 332 so that this is between the inner pillar 350 and the other column 345 as well as below the machine head 320 as if through an underpass. If necessary, further devices can be attached to the underside of the machine head above the transport path, for example for temperature control or measurement.

In 4th is a fourth embodiment of a honing machine 400 shown, which is based on the principles mentioned with reference to the previous exemplary embodiments and combines several of the additional devices shown there individually. Just like the example of 3 the honing machine is configured for an automatic tool change. The one from the inner pillar 450 worn machine head 420 extends to the area of the rear transverse side and is there over another column 445 supported between the tool changing devices. The honing units attached to the visible front are shown here in their tool change position, in which the honing spindles are located above the rotatable tool magazine. The opposite narrow side is analogous to the embodiment of FIG 2 in the travel of the pendulum slide 460 a measuring station arranged, with regard to its structure on the description in connection with 2 is referred.

In the embodiments of 1 to 4th the rotary table or turntable is configured in such a way that the functions of workpiece transport and workpiece positioning at the workstation are integrated. The workpiece holders are designed so that the workpiece can be clamped directly in the workpiece holder of the rotary table, and the rotary table is controlled in such a way that the workpiece is moved in the respective machining position at a machining station by moving the rotary table. At the work stations, in particular at the processing stations, there is therefore no separate transfer from the circulating transport system (rotary table) to a workpiece holding system that is separate therefrom. In all embodiments, however, a separation of the workpiece transport function from the workpiece positioning function is also possible. An example of this is given using the 5 , 6A and 6B explained.

5 shows an embodiment of a honing machine 500 that regarding the machine base 510 , the inner column carried by it 550 and that of the inner pillar 550 worn machine head 520 can be constructed exactly or similarly to the embodiment of FIG 1 . Just like there is the inner pillar 550 the only supporting element for the machine head 520 , which protrudes symmetrically on both sides in the longitudinal direction only relatively briefly over the inner column, carries the four honing units and together with the inner column forms a T-shaped arrangement. Just like the embodiment of 1 is there a (in 5 charging station recognizable in front 540 and two honing stations arranged on the long sides of the machine base 560-1 , 560-2 , on each of which two honing units are provided, each with a horizontally movable honing spindle.

There are differences primarily with regard to those components that are responsible for transporting the workpiece and for positioning the workpieces at the workstations or processing stations (honing stations).

At each of the machining stations, i.e. at each of the honing stations, is on the machine base 510 a machine-fixed workpiece support device 570 (for the first honing station 560-1 ) or. 580 (for the second honing station 560-2 ) attached. The workpiece support devices have an identical structure to that on the basis of the workpiece support device 570 is explained in more detail. A workpiece support device has two vertical, essentially plate-shaped support elements 572-1 , 572-2 which have a lateral distance A from one another in the longitudinal direction (x-direction) of the honing machine. The free upper end faces of the support elements serve as support surfaces on which the workpiece W (cylinder crankcase) can be placed with its underside. The free upper sides of the support elements serve as second support structures for supporting the workpiece in second support areas on the underside of the workpiece, these second support areas being at the longitudinal ends of the cylinder crankcase. The second support structures have indexing devices for receiving a workpiece (cylinder crankcase) in the correct position on the workpiece support devices. These indexing devices (index bolts / index bores) are designed to correspond to indexing devices on the underside of the workpiece, so that when a workpiece is set down, it automatically reaches the machining position with high positioning accuracy with the aid of the indexing devices. The workpiece can be clamped in the machining position using suitable clamping devices.

The ring table or round table 530 has, in addition to the rotary drive, which causes the rotation around the rotary table axis, a lifting drive to raise or lower the device carrier of the ring table controlled by the machine control of the honing machine in the vertical direction (z-direction, parallel to the rotary table axis) if required. The rotary table is thus designed as a lifting rotary table. In the example, it is used to carry out a workpiece transport in the manner of a circular stepping stroke, which is based on the 6A and 6B is explained.

The rotary table or the device carrier of the rotary table has an inner ring concentric to the rotary table axis or to the longitudinal center axis of the inner column 533 on, of which at four positions offset by 90 ° in the circumferential direction each radially elongated, plate-shaped support arms 534-1 to 534-4 protrude horizontally. The width B of the support arms in the tangential direction is dimensioned so that it is slightly smaller than the clear distance A between the inner sides of the vertical support elements 572-1 , 572-2 of the machine-fixed workpiece support devices. This means that the support arms fit 534-1 etc. collision-free between the vertical support elements 572-1 etc. of a workpiece Support device when the ring table assumes such a rotary position that a lateral support arm is positioned centered above a workpiece support device.

It's from the 6A and 6B shows how the round step stroke can be carried out under these conditions. 6A shows the ring table 530 in a lowered position, with two diametrically opposed support arms of the ring table within the diametrically opposed workpiece support means 570 , 580 of the honing stations are lowered between the support elements there, so that the two cylinder crankcases at the honing stations sit on the respective workpiece support devices and are only supported by them in a precisely positioned manner ( 6A) . After completion of a machining operation, the rotary table is raised with the help of the lifting drive, the workpieces are lifted by the workpiece support devices with the help of the lateral support arms and the lifting table is raised until the lateral support arms are arranged above the level of the upper end faces of the vertical support elements ( 6B) . The rotary table can now be moved further by turning in order to transport the workpieces to the next (or the next but one) workstation. The rotary movement is stopped when the support arms are centered above the workpiece support devices again, so that when the rotary table is subsequently lowered, the lateral support arms are lowered without collision between the vertical support elements and the workpiece is placed on the workpiece support device.

A round step stroke of the type described here can be advantageous regardless of the other design features of the honing machine, for example also in honing machines in which some or all processing units are attached to an inner column or in variants without an inner column, for example according to DE 10 2007 045 619 B4 or WO 2013/117482 A1 .

In the exemplary embodiments described so far, the circulating transport system is designed in such a way that the transport path on which the workpieces are transported between the work stations is a circular path. However, this is not mandatory. 7th shows a honing machine as an exemplary embodiment 700 with a circulation transport system 730 , in which the workpieces along a transport path 732 are transported, which has a longitudinally oval path. The oval transport path has straight path sections running parallel to the long sides of the machine base, that is to say parallel to the x-axis of the machine coordinate system 734-1 , 734-2 in the area of the transverse sides, i.e. at the longitudinal ends of the machine base 710 , each by semicircular track sections 734-3 , 734-4 are connected.

The machine head 720 extends over most of the length of the machine base and is on the one hand by the inner column arranged within the oval transport path 750 and on the other hand by another column 745 supported, which is mounted in the area of the rear transverse side in the edge area of the machine base outside the transport path between the tool changing devices on the machine base. At the height of the inner column 750 the two honing stations are located diametrically opposite on the long sides 760-1 , 760-2 . As in the other embodiments, the honing units arranged in pairs are each mounted separately on slides that can be moved horizontally parallel to the longitudinal direction. To this extent, there are similarities, for example, with the exemplary embodiment from 4th .

The honing machine 700 has a measuring station as an additional work station in addition to the two honing stations 790 . Similar to the measuring station in the example of 2 there are two measuring units that can be used at the same time 791-1 , 791-2 provided with vertically movable measuring spindles, at the lower ends of which measuring heads are provided for insertion into the cylinder bores. The measuring units are arranged parallel to one another with vertical axes. They are shared by a sled 793 carried, which is guided horizontally movable on the same guide rails as the two carriages for the honing units 780-1 , 780-2 the first honing station 760-1 wear. In contrast to the embodiment of 2 the measuring spindles can thus be moved parallel to the longitudinal direction (x-direction) of the honing machine. Another difference to the variant of 2 is that the measuring station 790 one of the workstations is located along the transport path 732 of the circulation transport system 730 lies. Thus, the workpieces can be moved directly to the measuring position of a measuring station with the help of the circulation transport system and also transported away again from there.

In the example of 7th the workpieces are transported by a rotating conveyor belt. Alternatively, for example, a circulating transport system with towing frames coupled to one another can be considered.

A honing station can, for example, be designed for a conventional honing operation, in which the honing tool basically follows the bore that has already been precisely positioned in the preceding machining steps. It is also possible to configure a honing station for a position-determining honing operation, in which the workpiece is positioned at a precisely specified machining position and the honing tool is rigidly coupled to the honing spindle in order to move the bore axis into the desired actual position through uneven material removal by means of honing to be able to relocate (path honing). It is also possible to design at least one work station as a processing station for a drilling operation (for example for fine boring or fine spindles) or for a deburring operation.

Instead of the measuring station 790 a honing station or a fine boring station with corresponding processing units could be provided on a slide. A re-measuring station could be arranged on the opposite side.

As already mentioned, honing machines according to the claimed invention or one of its exemplary embodiments are well suited for coupling to different workpiece conveying systems. As an alternative to loading and unloading using a shuttle carriage, for example, loading and unloading using a gantry loader can be considered. 8th shows an exemplary solution in which the honing machine 800 identical or similar to the exemplary embodiment of the honing machine 300 in 3 is trained. A special feature here is that the machine head 820 on the charging station side 840 only slightly over the outer contour of the inner column 850 protrudes so that each at the charging station 840 positioned workpiece holder is accessible from above. A portal loader can now be used here 851 with a horizontally and vertically movable gripper arm 855 can be used to load a workpiece from a roller conveyor when the honing machine is loaded 870 of the conveyor system in a workpiece holder on the rotary table 830 to move or to move a finished workpiece on the honing machine from the honing machine to the roller conveyor.

Like the embodiment of 9 shows, the identical honing machine can 900 also with the help of a loading robot 950 be loaded and unloaded. The loading robot 950 has a robot arm that can be pivoted about a vertical axis 860 who is on a sled 862 is stored, which on the base element 864 of the robot is guided vertically. The vertical axis can also be implemented using an articulated arm. At the front free end of the robot arm 860 there is a workpiece gripper or a support device 865 which essentially has the shape of a rectangular plate on which the workpiece can be placed with its underside. The top of the support device can be designed similarly or identically to the top of the support device 265 of the pendulum slide 260 out 2 . The plate-shaped support device is dimensioned so that it fits through the edge recess on the rotary table without collision. With the help of the robot 950 the rotary table can be loaded and unloaded directly.

10 FIG. 13 shows an oblique perspective illustration of an example from a large number of possible examples, several honing machines (for example according to the exemplary embodiment from FIG 3 or 9 ) to be linked together via a conveyor system to create a highly flexible manufacturing system 1111 to build. A funding system 1050 for conveying workpieces to the individual processing machines or honing machines comprises, in the example case, two mutually identical robots of the type of robot 950 out 9 which can be moved horizontally on horizontal guide rails together perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the honing machines, i.e. in the transverse direction (y-direction). With the help of the robots, the four linked honing machines can be loaded and unloaded flexibly.

Claims (20)

Honing machine (100) for carrying out honing operations on at least one bore in a workpiece (W), in particular for honing cylinder bores in a cylinder crankcase, with: a machine base (110); an inner column (150) associated with the machine base; a machine upper part (120) carried by the inner column and arranged at a distance above the machine base (110); a circulating transport system (130) for transporting workpieces (W) on a transport path (132) running around the inner column (150); and several work stations (140, 160-1, 160-2) arranged along the transport path (132), whereby a workpiece is successively transferred to different work stations (140, 160-1, 160-2) of the honing machine by moving the circulation transport system (130) (100) is transportable; wherein at least one of the work stations is a honing station (160-1, 160-2) which has at least one honing unit (180-1, 180-2, 180-3, 180-4) having a honing spindle (184) which is rotatable about a vertical spindle axis and can be moved back and forth parallel to the spindle axis, wherein the honing unit (180-1, 180-2, 180-3, 180-4) is carried by the machine head (120), the honing unit (180-1, 180-2, 180-3, 180-4) on a horizontally movable slide (190-2) is attached, which is carried by the upper machine part (120) and can be moved along a direction of travel which is tangential to a reference circle which is centered on the inner column (150). Honing machine after Claim 1 , characterized in that the inner column (150) by a Tube is formed with a hollow interior, wherein the tube is preferably a cylindrical tube. Honing machine after Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that no processing unit is mounted on an outside of the inner column (150) and / or that no device for fastening a processing unit is present on the inner column (150). Honing machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, in addition to the inner column (150), no further column is provided for supporting the machine head (120), so that the machine head (120) is carried exclusively by the inner column (150), preferably the inner column (150) and the machine head (120) form a T-shaped arrangement in which the machine head (120) extends horizontally in a longitudinal direction of the honing machine and protrudes in the longitudinal direction on both sides over the inner column (150), preferably one The center of gravity of the machine head (120) lies vertically above a base area of the inner column (150). Honing machine after Claim 1 , 2 or 3 , characterized in that in addition to the inner column (350) a further column (345) is provided for supporting the upper machine part (320) so that the upper machine part (320) is supported by the inner column and the further column (345), preferably the another column (345) is arranged outside the transport path (332). Honing machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the slide (190-2) is arranged on a side surface of the machine upper part (120). Honing machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the honing machine has at least two work stations which are designed as honing stations (160-1, 160-2), with a first honing station (160-1) preferably on a first side of the inner column ( 150) and a second honing station (160-2) is arranged on a second side of the inner column (150) which is diametrically opposite the first side. Honing machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one honing station (160-1, 160-2) has two or more honing units which can work at the same time, preferably two honing stations (160-1, 160-2) each with two Honing units are provided. Honing machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the circulation transport system has a rotary table (130) which can be rotated about a vertical rotary table axis and has several workpiece holders (135) which are arranged offset from one another in the circumferential direction at a radial distance from the rotary table axis that a workpiece (W) held in a workpiece holder (135) can be successively transported to different work stations (140, 160-1, 160-2) of the honing machine by rotating the rotary table (130). Honing machine after Claim 9 , characterized in that the rotary table (230) at the location of a workpiece holder (135) has a recess (236) which is dimensioned such that a workpiece support device (265) during a vertical lifting movement of the rotary table and / or the workpiece support device (265) fits through the recess without collision, the recess (236) preferably being open in the radial direction. Honing machine after Claim 9 or 10 , characterized in that the rotary table (530) can be moved vertically between a lower position and an upper position by means of a lifting drive, so that the rotary table is designed as a lifting rotary table. Honing machine according to one of the Claims 1 to 8th , characterized in that the circulation transport system has a pallet automation system, in particular a drag frame transport system or a large number of self-propelled pallets. Honing machine according to one of the Claims 1 to 8th or 12th , characterized in that a transport path (732) has a path deviating from a circular shape, the transport path (732) preferably an oval path with straight path sections (734-1, 734-2) running parallel to the longitudinal direction or a rectangular path with parallel to the longitudinal direction extending straight track sections and parallel to the transverse direction extending straight track sections. Honing machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the honing machine (300) is designed for an automatic tool change in order to be able to equip the honing units with different honing tools, preferably a separate tool changing device for each honing station (160-1, 160-2) (370-1, 370-2) is provided, in particular with a rotary table magazine with several tool holders. Honing machine according to one of the Claims 1 to 14th , characterized in that im In the working area of the slide (390-2), a tool changing device (370-1) is arranged in such a way that a honing unit for a tool change can be moved between the honing station and the tool changing device (370-1). Honing machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one of the work stations is a loading station (140) for loading and unloading the circulation transport system (130), the loading station (140) preferably being arranged on a transverse side of the machine base (110). Honing machine after Claim 16 , characterized in that the upper machine part (120) in the direction of the loading station (140) is so short that an end face of the upper machine part (120) facing the loading station lies within the transport path (132) so that the loading station (140) is accessible from above is. Honing machine after Claim 16 or 17th , characterized in that at least one of the following devices is assigned to the honing machine (100) for loading and unloading the circulating transport system (130) in the area of a loading station (140): a pendulum slide (260) which moves between an inner end position for loading and unloading of the circulating transport system and an outer end position at a distance from the transport path (132) is movable; a portal loader (851) with a horizontally and vertically movable gripping arm (855); a loading robot (950). Production system (1111), in particular for processing cylinder crankcases, with several processing machines for processing a workpiece (W) and with a conveyor system (1050) for conveying workpieces to and from the processing machines, characterized in that at least one of the processing machines is a honing machine (100) according to one of the Claims 1 to 18th is. Manufacturing plant according to Claim 19 , characterized in that at least one of the following devices is provided for loading and unloading the circulating transport system (130) in the area of a loading station (140) of the honing machine: a pendulum slide (260) which moves between an inner end position for loading and unloading of the circulating transport system (130) and an outer end position can be moved at a distance from the transport path; a portal loader (851) with a horizontally and vertically movable gripping arm (855); a loading robot (950);

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