GB2257389A

GB2257389A - Stone working apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2257389A
Application number: GB9110280A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Stuart Hargreaves; Marshall Geoffrey Lock
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-05-13
Filing date: 1991-05-13
Publication date: 1993-01-13
Also published as: GB9110280D0

Abstract

A stone working machine and a method of working stone are described wherein a rotary tool such as a saw (1) is movable between a first station (2) which can be a lathe station and a second station (3) which can be a saw station, the tool being movable between the two work stations to be capable of working on a workpiece at either station. <IMAGE>

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO STONE WORKING.

The present invention relates to a stone working machine and a method of machining stone workpieces.

According to one aspect of the present invention a stone working machine includes first and second stone workpiece stations, and a rotary tool mounted on the machine, the tool being moveable between the first and second stations whereby the tool may work on a workpiece located at either of the stations.

The tool may be movable towards or away from a workpiece located at at least one of the stations. The tool may be mounted on an extendable or retractable member which may be arranged to be extended or retracted hydraulically. The machine may include a pattern arranged to limit the extent of movement of the tool towards a workpiece located at a station. The tool may include a follower arranged to abut the pattern to limit the extent of movement of the tool towards a workpiece located at a station. The pattern may be detachably mounted on the machine.

The machine may include drive means arranged to move the rotary tool in a direction transverse to the rotary axis of the tool over a workpiece at a station.

The machine may include drive means arranged to drive the tool between the first and second stations. The drive means may comprise a rotatable screw arranged to cooperate with a threaded portion constrained to move with the tool. The machine may include an abutment spaced from the drive means with which abutment the tool is arranged to co-operate to restrict movement of the tool relative to the drive means in at least one direction.

The first station may include means for engaging a stone workpiece located at the station, and means for rotating a workpiece located at the station. The first station may include a pair of spaced engagement members arranged to retain a workpiece between them. One of the engagement members may be movable towards or away from the other. The means for moving one of the engagement members towards or away from the other may be arranged to project into a region of the second working station. One of the engagement members may be arranged to be rotatably driven.

The second working station may be arranged to cause relative translational movement between a workpiece at the second station and the rotary tool. The second working station may include a slidable support for a workpiece.

The slidable support may be arranged to slide on two spaced rails, and may be arranged to be suspended from the two spaced rails. Drive means may be arranged to cause movement of the slidable support. Those drive means may comprise a flexible member extending beneath the slidable support and passing around guide members in front of and behind the slidable support, the flexible member being connected to the support whereby the slidable support is arranged to be pulled in one of two directions by the flexible member.

The machine may include a frame including an overhead support from which the rotary tool is arranged to extend downwardly, the overhead support extending over both work stations.

The tool may comprise a saw.

According to another aspect of the present invention a method of machining two stone workpieces comprises locating a first stone workpiece at a first station and working on that workpiece with a rotary tool mounted on the machine and subsequently moving the rotary tool to a second station to work on a second workpiece located at a second station.

The method may comprise moving the tool towards or away from the workpiece located at at least one of the stations. The method may comprise extending or retracting a member on which the tool is mounted to bring the tool towards or away from the workpiece and the method may comprise extending or retracting the member on which the tool is mounted hydraulically.

The method may comprise limiting the movement of the tool towards a workpiece by use of a pattern. The method may comprise a follower portion associated with the tool abutting the pattern to limit the extent of movement of the tool towards the workpiece. The method may comprise moving the tool in a direction transverse to the rotary axis of the tool over the workpiece at one of the stations.

The method may comprise driving the tool between the first and second stations. The method may comprise driving the tool by rotating a screw which co-operates with a threaded part constrained to move with the tool.

The method may comprise allowing the tool to co-operate with an abutment spaced from the drive means to limit the movement of the tool relative to the drive means in at least one direction.

The method may comprise engaging and rotating a workpiece at the first station whilst working on the workpiece.

The method may comprise causing relative translational movement of the workpiece at the second working station relative to the rotary tool when working on the workpiece at the second station.

The method may comprise moving the tool along an overhead support from which the tool extends downwardly, the overhead support extending over the first and second stations.

The method may comprise working on a workpiece at a station by cutting the workpiece.

The present invention includes any combination of the herein referred to features.

The present invention may be carried into practice in various ways, but one embodiment will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic front cross-section through the machine; and Figure 2 is a side cross-section taken along the line Il-Il of Figure 1.

As shown in Figure 1, the machine comprises a saw 1 which is moveable between a lathe station 2 and a saw station 3.

The saw 1 includes a blade 4 which is rotatably driven by an axial motor 5. The motor 5 is connected to one end of a hydraulically actuatable ram 6, the other end of which ram extends into a cylinder 7. The cylinder 7 threadably engages a screw drive shaft 8 at its upper region whereby rotation of the shaft 8 causes the cylinder 7 to move in an axial direction with respect to the shaft 8 across the machine. The rear of the cylinder abuts an I beam cross member 9 to prevent any rearward movement of the cylinder 7 about the shaft 8. Alternatively or additionally the member 9 acts as a stabiliser for the cylinder 7.

The lathe station 2 includes a rotatable idler support 10 located to the left of a stone 11 and a driven support 12 located to the right of the stone.

A stone is shaped by the lathe station as follows.

The stone is aligned between the supports 10 and 12 and the support 10 is moved towards the stone by rotating a shaft 13, which threadably engages an I beam 14, to grip the stone firmly between the supports. The idler support 10 is rotatably mounted on the end of the shaft 13.

The saw 1 is then placed in the required position along the shaft 8 by rotating that shaft in the relevant direction to the required degree. The shaft 8 is supported in bearings 15 at the left hand end of the shaft and is engaged at its right hand end by.a link shaft 16 which is in turn engaged by an output shaft 17 of a motor 18. The motor 18 is supported on an I beam leg 19 and the shaft 8 extends within a box section 20 (which goes across the top of the machine) having upper and lower slots 21 and 22 (shown in Figure 2). Activation of the motor 18 causes the shafts 17, 16 and 8 to rotate.

The blade 4 of the saw is then rotated by activating the saw motor 5 which is powered from a supply 23 and connected thereto by a line 24.

The stone 11 is then rotated at a slow rate by activating an electric motor 25 which rotates a pulley 26 and a further pulley 27 via a drive belt 28. The pulley 27 is fixed to the end of a shaft 29 which extends through the leg 19 and is rotatable therein. The support 12 is fixed to the end of the shaft 29 and rotates the stone 11 when the shaft 29 rotates.

The saw blade is then lowered towards and cuts into the stone 11 by actuating the hydraulic cylinder 7 from a fluid supply line 30 connected to a hydraulic pump 31 located at the bottom of another I beam leg 32. The extent of the cut into the stone is limited by abutment of a follower 33 which co-operates with an upwardly facing profile plate 34 detachably secured to the cross member 9.

When the cut has been made to the required depth the ram 6 is hydraulically powered back into the cylinder until the blade is well clear of the stone, the saw is moved along the box section and then lowered to cut the stone again. Thus a plurality of closely spaced cuts are made into the stone with those cuts having a depth dictated by the profile plate 34.

When the stone 11 has been cut along its length it is removed from the lathe by retracting the support 10. The discs between the cuts made by the saw are then broken off and the stone is mounted again on the lathe. The saw blade is then caused to move along the stone without being repeatedly retracted to shape the stone according to the profile of the plate 34. The stone can then be removed for finishing such as by polishing, if required.

It will, be appreciated that the sequences of operation described herein are illustrative only and any sequence could be used.

In order to transfer the saw to operate in the saw region, the blade 4 is raised clear of any lateral obstructions and the screw 8 is rotated to move the saw to the left when viewed in Figure 1 such that the blade lies over a linearly moveable bed 35 which supports a further stone 36. In an alternative embodiment (not shown) the saw is connected to a chain driven cross member whereby movement of the chain across the machine causes movement of the saw.

The stone is initially clear of the blade 4 which is lowered to the required position dictated by a further detachably mounted profile plate 37, and rotated. The bed is then moved along to carry the workpiece past the saw and to cause the stone to be cut to form a laterally extending groove.

The bed 5 is located between the I beam 14 and a parallel spaced I beam 38, which are each supported by downwardly extending I beam feet 40 at their front and rear end.

As shown in Figure 2, pulleys 41 and 42 are mounted on shafts extending between, and rotatably supported in the front and rear feet respectively. A chain 43 extends between the pulleys beneath the bed 35, and the chain passes around the pulleys with the ends of the chains being connected to the front and back of the bed. The shaft of the rear pulley 42 is rotatably driven by a motor 44 to cause one end or the other of the chain to pull the bed along in the required direction between the beams 14 and 38.

The bed is suspended from two rails 45, 46 which extend downwardly from the inwardly facing top flanges of the beams 14 and 38. Supports 47 and 48 are secured to each side of the bed and these extend downwardly from the bed, outwardly beneath the rails and upwardly along the outside of the rails. Wheels 49 lie on the rails 45, 46 with the wheels being supported on axles extending into the supports 47 and 48 to allow the bed to roll on the wheels.

Claims

1. A stone working machine including first and second stone workpiece stations, and a rotary tool mounted on the machine, the tool being moveable between the first and second stations whereby the tool may work on a workpiece located at either of the stations.

2. A machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein the tool is movable towards or away from a workpiece located at at least one of the stations.

3. A machine as claimed in claims 1 or 2 and mounted on an extendable or retractable member.

4. A machine as claimed in claim 3 wherein the member is arranged to be extended or retracted hydraulically.

5. A machine as claimed in any preceding claims and including a pattern arranged to limit the extent of movement of the tool towards a workpiece located at a station.

6. A machine as claimed in claim 5 and including a follower arranged to abut the pattern to limit the extent of movement of the tool towards a workpiece located at a station.

7. A machine as claimed in claim 6 wherein the pattern is detachably mounted on the machine.

8. A machine as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the machine includes first drive means arranged to move the rotary tool in a direction transverse to the rotary axis of the tool over a workpiece at a station.

9. A machine as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the machine includes second drive means arranged to drive the tool between the first and second stations.

10. A machine as claimed in claim 9 wherein the second drive means comprises a rotatable screw arranged to co-operate with a threaded portion constrained to move with the tool.

11. A machine as claimed in claims 9 or 10 wherein the machine includes an abutment spaced from the second drive means with which abutment the tool is arranged to co-operate to restrict movement of the tool relative to the second drive means in at least one direction.

12. A machine as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the first station includes means for engaging a stone workpiece located at the station.

13. A machine as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the first station includes means for rotating a workpiece located at the station.

14. A machine as claimed in claims 12 or 13 wherein the first station includes a pair of spaced engagement members arranged to retain a workpiece between them.

15. A machine as claimed in claim 14 wherein one of the engagement members is movable towards or away from the other.

16. A machine as claimed in claim 15 wherein means for moving one of the engagement members towards or any from the other is arranged to project into a region of the second working station.

17. A machine as claimed in claims 14, 15 or 16 wherein one of the engagement members is arranged to be rotatably driven.

18. A machine as claimed in any preceding claims wherein the second working station is arranged to cause relative translational movement between a workpiece at the second station and the rotary tool.

19. A machine as claimed in claim 18 wherein the second working station includes a slidable support for a workpiece.

20. A machine as claimed in claim 19 wherein the slidable support is arranged to slide on two spaced rails.

21. A machine as claimed in claim 20 wherein the support is arranged to be suspended from the two spaced rails.

22. A machine as claimed in claims 19, 20, or 21 wherein drive means is arranged to cause movement of the slidable support.

23. A machine as claimed in claim 22 wherein the drive means comprise a flexible member extending beneath the slidable support and passing around guide members in front of and behind the slidable support, the flexible member being connected to the support, the flexible member being connected to the support whereby the slidable support is arranged to be pulled in one of two directions by the flexible member.

24. A machine as claimed in any preceding claim and including a frame including an overhead support from which the rotary tool is arranged to extend downwardly, the overhead support extending over both work stations.

25. A machine as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the tool comprises a saw.

26. A stone working machine substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

27. A method of machining two stone workpieces including locating a first stone workpiece at a first station and working on that workpiece with a rotary tool mounted on the machine and subsequently moving the rotary tool to a second station to work on a second workpiece located at a second station.

28. A machine as claimed in claim 22, including moving the tool towards or away from the workpiece located at at least one of the stations.

29. A machine as claimed in claim 28 including extending or retracting a member on which the tool is mounted to bring the tool towards or away from the workpiece.

30. A machine as claimed in claim 29 wherein the extending or retracting of the member on which the tool is mounted is effected hydraulically.

31. A machine as claimed in any of claims 27 to 30 including limiting movement of the tool towards a workpiece by use of a pattern.

32. A machine as claimed in claim 31 and including using a follower portion, associated with the tool, abutting the pattern to limit the extent of movement of the tool towards the workpiece.

33. A machine as claimed in claim 31 or 32 and including moving the tool in a direction transverse to the rotary axis of the tool over the workpiece at one of the stations.

34. A machine as claimed in any of claims 27 to 33 including driving the tool between the first and second stations.

35. A machine as claimed in claim 34 including driving the tool by rotating a screw which co-operates with a threaded part constrained to move with the tool.

36. A machine as claimed in any of claims 30 to 35 including allowing the tool to co-operate with an abutment spaced from the drive means to limit the movement of the tool relative to the drive means in at least one direction.

37. A machine as claimed in any of claims 27 to 26 engaging and rotating a workpiece at the first station whilst working on the workpiece.

38. A machine as claimed in any of claims 27 to 36 including causing relative translational movement of the workpiece at the second working station relative to the rotary tool when working on the workpiece at the second station.

39. A machine as claimed in claim 37 or 38 including moving the tool along an overhead support from which the tool extends downwardly, the overhead support extending over the first and second stations.

40. A machine as claimed in any of claims 27 to 39 including working on a workpiece at a station by cutting the workpiece.

41. A method of stone working substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.