GB1323978A - Methods and apparatus for the continuous grinding or polishing of elongated workpieces - Google Patents

Abstract

1323978 Grinding or polishing METABOWERKE KG CLOSS RAUCH & SCHNIZLER 13 Jan 1972 [29 Nov 1971] 1558/72 Heading B3D A method for the continuous grinding or polishing of elongated workpieces, such as bumpers of motor cars, with end parts 30 connected by curved parts 29 to an elongated part 28, comprises transporting the workpiece at a constant speed, maintaining the tool 3 stationary during working of the elongated part, moving the tool with the workpiece end about an axis during working of the curved parts, and moving the tool with the workpiece and transversely during working of the end parts. In apparatus for carrying out the method, the workpiece 1 is carried by an element 9 at a constant speed by a transport system 8. The tool 3, such as a grinding or polishing wheel, is driven by a motor 10 connected by a pivot 11 to a plate 12 and is adjustable about the pivot by a piston- and-cylinder unit 13. The plate, together with the tool and motor, are pivotable about an axis 16 on a carrier 14 and can be locked in position by gearing 15. The carrier 14 is mounted on a slide 17 adjustable along a guide 18 to a position determined by the radius of the curved parts 29, the guide being part of a pivoting device 4 movable about an axis 19 by a piston-andcylinder unit 20. The pivoting device is connected to a carrier element mounted in a carriage 22 movable in a housing 23 of a follower station 5 which, in turn, is mounted for vertical movement on a pedestal 25 carried by a carriage 26 transversely movable by a piston- and-cylinder unit 27. In operation, the workpiece is conveyed by the system 8 at constant speed and a curved end 31 of the workpiece is engaged by the tool 3 which is moved by the follower station 5 with the workpiece and is pivoted by the device 4. After working on the curved end, the pivoting device is switched off and the transverse carriage 26 operated so that the tool acts on the end part 30. Thereafter, the transverse carriage is stopped and the pivoting device 4 again actuated so that the tool acts on the curved part 29, and then both the pivoting device and follower station 5 are stopped so that the workpieee is conveyed past the tool for working on the elongate part 28. The opposite end of the workpiece is operated on in the reverse sequence to the first. As shown, the tool works on the upper side of the bumper and is pivoted through 90 and 180 degrees for working on the middle and underside.