EP1089848A1

EP1089848A1 - A method for setting the working parameters of a machine

Info

Publication number: EP1089848A1
Application number: EP99945721A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Holger Jonsson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-04-22
Filing date: 1999-04-21
Publication date: 2001-04-11
Also published as: WO1999054085A1; SE9801407D0; SE514287C2; SE9801407L

Abstract

A method for setting the working parameters of a machine (1) in relation to a workpeice (2), the outer edge (2) of which, in relevevant cases with adjacent portions, is to be worked by the machine. The method includes insertion of the said workpiece (2) to the machining position (B) of the said machine (1) before setting of the working parameters of the machine. In the said machining position (B) sensing means (3, 4) are advanced towards the said workpiece (2), the said sensing means (3, 4) being arranged to sense and record the outer edge (2a) of the said workpiece (2) in respect of position on either side of the said machining position (B). Thereafter the said machine (1) is moved in a controlled manner together with the said workpiece (2) or the said sensing means (3, 4) with its or their recorded values or alternatively only with its or their recorded corresponding values to a second position (I) which is more easily accessible to the machine operators than the said machining position (B). The working parameters of the machine (1) are then set or adjusted manually by the machine operators to correspond to the workpiece and the machine (1) is thereafter moved in a controlled manner to the machining position (B) to perform working of the workpiece (2).

Description

A METHOD FOR SETTING THE WORKING PARAMETERS OF A MACHINE

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method for setting the working (machining) parameters of a machine in relation to a workpiece. The outer edge of the latter, in relevant cases with adjacent portions, is intended in the first instance to be worked by the machine. The method includes insertion of the workpiece to the machining position of the said machine. TECHNICAL HELD

The working machines meant in the present context are in the first instance belt grinders of the main type described in our own Swedish patent No. 466 642 (9002666-7) but the invention can naturally also be applied in respect of most kinds of working machines such as milling machines, polishing machines and so on.

A known working machine for, for example, working the ends of heavy-gauge metal pipes is described in Swedish patent No. 421 499. This machine, however, is not adapted for working the edges of large sheets or plates or for use when feeding through long objects in the form of, for example, strips or sections, or large objects with working of both side edges of the workpiece in question, and consequently it is incapable of solving the problem presented according to the present invention.

The working parameters of such machining machines have to be set in relation to the workpiece which is to be worked. In the case of a belt grinder for edge working of a wooden board or a long strip or section it is necessary for example for belt tension, belt application direction, one or more different pressure plates' application directions and application pressure as well as other parameters to be adjusted and also for a suitable belt width to be chosen in relation to the edge shape of the workpiece being worked. In other types of machining operations and machines other working parameters need to be adjusted in relation to the shape it is intended to impart to the workpiece.

When machine-working large workpieces in the form of, for example, boards, sheets, etc, for instance of wood, chipboard, plastic and other materials, and particularly when working the edges of such workpieces and/or when feeding through either long objects in the form of, for example, strips or sections, or large objects with working of both side edges of the workpiece in question there is concurrently a major problem, namely how to easily and quickly intervene and change or adjust the working parameters of the machine in relation to the workpiece which is intended to be worked. Introduction into the machine or the machines of the workpiece which is to be worked into the position of machining does not as a rule pose any problems but in the vast majority of cases the setting facilities of each machine concerned for working of the workpiece in question are accessible from the machining position and in such a case the workpiece is in the way and thus constitutes an obstruction to such setting of the machine. In utilising feeding through of the workpiece and simultaneous working of both side edges two machines are in such cases usually located opposite each other so that the workpiece passes between the two machines. In the latter case one of the machines, in addition to the workpiece, is in the way of the machine operators when serving and setting the other machine. OBJECT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to reduce or completely eliminate the problems mentioned above by simplifying and facilitating the possibility of setting the working parameters for a given workpiece.

The above object has been solved by the method according to the present invention and mentioned in the descriptive preamble in that sensing means are advanced towards the said workpiece or activated in the machining position of the machine, these sensing means being arranged to sense and record the outer edge of the said workpiece and also, in relevant cases, adjacent parts thereof in respect of position on either side of the said machining position, in that the said machine is thereafter moved in a controlled manner together with the said workpiece - if this is appropriate - or with the said sensing means with its or their recorded values or alternatively only with its or their recorded corresponding values to a second position which is more or more easily accessible to the machine operators than the said machining position, whereafter in relevant cases the said workpiece - if this is appropriate - or a smaller portion of the said workpiece or a portion corresponding to the said workpiece with an identical outer shape contacts or is brought into contact with the recorded values of the said sensing means or is set corresponding to the said recorded values, whereafter the working parameters of the machine are manually set or adjusted by the machine operators to correspond to the workpiece or respectively the said sensed values, and in that the working machine is thereafter returned in a controlled manner to the said machining position in order to perform working of the said workpiece and of other workpieces with an edge shape which is identical to the outer edge of the said workpiece.

A particularly advantageous embodiment according to the present invention involves articulated movement of the said machine with associated sensing means with its or their recorded values from the machining position to the other position, especially if the machine is turned around an essentially vertically installed shaft which can be located at a distance from the machine and if the said turning around the said shaft is performed approximately 90° from the machining position. One implementation method that will be especially easy and price-advantageous is when gauges are used as sensing means and advanced towards the workpiece manually or automatically from that side of the said machine which faces away from the machining position of the machine. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

The invention is described in greater detail hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein Fig. 1 shows a view from the side of the type of belt grinder and belt polisher described by way of example in our Swedish patent mentioned above but supplemented according to the present invention, and

Fig. 2 shows a view from above of the belt grinder etc according to Fig. 1 in two positions, the one position B indicated with largely unbroken lines and the other position I indicated with broken lines. DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The belt grinder illustrated in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 is fitted with a running grinding belt 7, not shown more closely in the drawing, which is intended to machine or work a workpiece 2, as is more closely indicated in the view from above according to Fig. 2. The said workpiece 2 can consist of a large sheet which is intended to be machined or worked on one side or edge or on two mutually parallel edges or sides by one or two oppositely located working machines or can consist of a long section which is intended to be worked, on one edge or side or on two mutually parallel edges or sides by one or two oppositely located working machines. In all cases it is more or less difficult or awkward to get at and set the parameters of the machine or machines, such as belt tensions, belt directions and belt position against the workpiece 2, application directions and/or position for one or more pressure shoes, changing of shape of pressure shoes, changing of grinding belt etc and this difficulty is primarily due to the shape which the workpiece 2 is intended to be given with the aid of the working machine or machines being dependent to a very high degree on how such parameters are set or which profile the said pressure shoe or shoes are elaborated with and can only be chosen and set with good accuracy in close relation to the real workpiece 2, which however comprises an obstruction for (i.e. is in the way of) the machine operators when they wish to make the necessary adjustments and adaptations. Access to the respective working machine will be even poorer if feeding through of the workpiece 2 with machining of both edges thereof is desired to be carried out simultaneously, above all if the working machines in addition should be placed opposite each other, a circumstance which may be desirable for several different reasons, since in such a case each working machine - apart from the workpiece 2 - is also obstructively in the way of setting and adjustment of the other working machine. The above applies to largely any type of working machine whatsoever and the present invention is applicable to most types of working machines, even though only a belt grinder is specifically mentioned here. Shown in Fig. 2 is a belt grinder 1 viewed from above in a machining position B with unbroken lines and in a setting position marked I with broken lines. As is evident from the machining position B for, by way of example, one side edge 2a of a large sheet 2 the large sheet 2 in itself constitutes a major obstacle when it is a matter of gaining access to and setting the working parameters of the belt grinder 1, while from behind - viewed from the left in Fig. 1 - the rear, vertically adjustable column of the working machine and the machine itself are in the way of the machine operators when wishing to carry out a correct adjustment of the belt grinder 1 against the side edge of the workpiece 2 in question which is to be worked. In other words all fine setting and adjustment of the working machine 1 in relation to a large workpiece 2 is difficult to perform. In the case of a smaller workpiece 2 in contrast the workpiece 2 can - if so desired and/or deemed appropriate - be secured, for example by means of an underpressure holder (not shown in the drawing) in relation to the working machine 1 while moving this to a setting position marked I in Fig. 2.

In accordance with the present invention the belt grinder 1 has been provided with gauges 3, 4, which are arranged movably for example by means of threads in relation to the belt grinder 1, as indicated sketched in the rear - to the left according to Fig. 1 - ends of the gauges 3, 4, and which are operable from the back - from the left according to Fig. 1 - of the grinder to rest against the side edge 2a of the workpiece 2 in its machining position B. The said gauges 3, 4 are located on either side of the working part 7 of the belt grinder 1 and are advantageously provided with suitable grooves in their ends so that the side edge 2a of the workpiece 2 can be given a distinct position in these. Said gauges 3, 4 are adjusted manually from the rear side of the grinder 1 by means of said threads in the intended machining position B of the workpiece 2. Alternatively, such gauges can of course be replaced by corresponding edge sensors of a different type, for example photocells with counters, light curtains, etc, if so desired or is considered justifiable. The main point of such gauges 3, 4 is that they can determine the position of the workpiece 2 in relation to the working machine 1 in the machining position B to the requisite extent, whereafter this determined position is fixed in relation to the working machine 1.

After a position determination of this kind for the workpiece 2 in relation to the working machine 1 the latter 1 is moved together with the position-determined values of the gauges 3, 4 to a position marked I in Fig. 2 and designated the setting position. In this position I the working machine 1 and its gauges 3, 4 with set values are marked by means of broken lines. In this illustrated example the movement from the machining position B has been performed in that the working machine 1 is arranged to be turnable around a shaft 6 which is marked with a cross in Fig. 2 and in that the shaft 6 runs at right angles to the plane of the paper according to Fig. 2. The said rotational shaft 6 is advantageously located close to one side of the working machine 1. The turning stated here is marked with the dotted broken line 9 and comprises approximately 90° but can obviously be made larger or smaller depending on the amount of space available behind the machine 1. After this turning to the setting position I a small part 5 of a workpiece

2 or a corresponding small item with the same side edge as the workpiece 2 has and which is to be worked is moved to the position marked with a broken arrow 8, this position being determined by the position of the gauge 3, 4 in relation to the belt grind 1, whereby it becomes possible in position I to easily and accessibly adjust the working parameters of the belt grinder 1 in relation to the part 5, which in this case symbolises the large workpiece 2. The small part 5 must obviously have a minimum length which corresponds to the distance between the ends of the gauges 3, 4 facing towards the workpiece 2 but obviously in this case does not need to have a large length in a direction across the connection line of the said ends of the gauges 3, 4, and consequently the size of the workpiece is no longer of any importance with regard to accessibility for the machine operators to adjust the parameters of the machine 1.

As an alternative to the said turning other types of movement of the machine or machines 1 with associated gauges or other corresponding sensors can of course be arranged, whereof mention may be made by way of example of lifting, lowering, tilting, reversing etc. These types of movement can be accomplished by known means such as for example guides.

After setting of the working parameters for the belt grinder 1 has been carried out for example in relation to the side edge of the small part 5 in the setting position I the small part 5 is removed from the machine 1 and this machine 1 is moved - in this case rotated around the shaft 6 - back to the machining position B, whereafter the machine 1 is ready to begin to machine or work the large workpiece 2 and other workpieces which are to be provided with a side edge identical to that of the workpiece 2.

When several machines 1 etc are used, for example for machining of opposite side edges of the workpiece 2 it is advantageous for all the machines

1 to be movable as described above so that they can be set with regard to working parameters in other positions than their associated machining positions.

Claims

1. A method for setting the working parameters of a machine (1) in relation to a workpiece (2), the outer edge (2) of which, in relevant cases with adjacent portions, is to be worked by the machine, this method including insertion of the said workpiece (2) to the machining position (B) of the said machine (1), characterized in that in the said machining position (B) sensing means (3, 4) are advanced towards the said workpiece (2) or alternatively activated, the said sensing means (3, 4) being arranged to sense and record the outer edge (2a) of the said workpiece (2), and in relevant cases also adjacent parts thereof, in respect of position on either side of the said machining position (B), in that the said machine (1) is thereafter moved in a controlled manner together with the said workpiece (2) - if this is appropriate - or with the said sensing means (3, 4) with its or their recorded values or alternatively only with its or their recorded corresponding values to a second position (I) which is more easily accessible to the machine operators than the said machining position (B), whereafter in relevant cases the said workpiece (2) - if this is appropriate - or a smaller portion of the said workpiece (2) or a part (5) corresponding to the said workpiece (2) with an identical outer shape contacts or is brought into contact with the recorded values of the said sensing means (3, 4) or is set corresponding to the said recorded values, whereafter the working parameters of the machine (1) are manually set or adjusted by the machine operators to correspond to the workpiece (2) or respectively the said sensed values, and in that the machine (1) is thereafter returned in a controlled manner to the said machining position (B)) in order to perform working of the said workpiece (2) and if other workpieces with an edge shape which is identical to the outer edge of the said workpiece (2).

2. A method as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that the said machine (1) with associated sensing means (3, 4) with its or their recorded values or alternatively with only its or their recorded corresponding values is moved articulatedly or steered in a controlled manner in some other suitable way from the machining position (B) to the other position (I).

3. A method as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterized in that the said machine (1) with associated sensing means (3, 4) with its or their recorded values or alternatively with only its or their recorded corresponding values is turned around an essentially vertically installed shaft (6), which is preferably located at a distance from the machine

(1).

4. A method as claimed in Claim 3, characterized in that the said rotation around the said shaft (6) is performed approximately 90┬░.

5. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, characterized in that gauges (3, 4) are utilised as sensing means and are advanced towards the workpiece (2) from that side of the said machine (1) which faces away from the machining position (B) of the machine (1).