NL2011447C2

NL2011447C2 - Roller end face inspection device.

Info

Publication number: NL2011447C2
Application number: NL2011447A
Authority: NL
Inventors: Hendrik Johannes Ingen; Dirk Wouter Bosboom
Original assignee: Nn Inc
Priority date: 2012-09-14
Filing date: 2013-09-16
Publication date: 2014-06-19
Also published as: NL2011447A

Description

No. NLP192213A

5 Roller end face inspection device 10 BACKGROUND

The invention relates to device for inspecting and/or measuring an end face of cylindrical or conical bodies, in particular conical roller bearing bodies.

15 For the production of precision and high quality bearings, roller bodies for such bearings are manufactured with high precision. After manufacturing the roller bodies are subjected to an inspection of the surface of the roller bodies for such flaws as cracks, holes, scratches, and 20 other irregularities in surface uniformity.

US 3,787,983 describes a testing and inspection apparatus for inspecting the outer surface of a body of rotation, in particular the circumferential outer surface of conical rollers. The apparatus comprises a drive wheel 25 and a plurality of rollers spaced there from. A conical roller body is arranged between the drive wheel and the rollers to rotate the roller body about its axis or rotation. A scanning device is arranged so that its scanning head is directed towards the circumferential outer 30 surface of the conical roller and is provided with means to traverse the length of the conical roller body. If desired scanning probes or sensor heads may also be arranged to scan the frontal or end faces of the roller body.

Although the known testing and inspection 35 apparatus does obtain accurate results, the inspection of the entire surface of the roller body requires a relatively long measuring time.

2

It is an object of the present invention to provide in a measuring device for measuring and/or inspecting the roller end faces which at least partially overcomes the disadvantages of the known arrangement.

5 It is an other object of the present invention to provide a dedicated and fast measuring device for inspecting the roller end faces in a production line.

10 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect, the invention pertains to an apparatus for inspecting and/or measuring an end face of cylindrical or conical roller bodies, 15 comprising: a holding device for holding one or more roller bodies, an input device for supplying roller bodies from a serial supply of roller bodies to the holding device, 20 an output device for discharging roller bodies from the holding device, and a sensor for scanning a surface of the end face of a roller body which is arranged in the holding device, wherein the holding device is movable along a 25 trajectory which at least extends from the input device to the output device, wherein the sensor is arranged adjacent to the trajectory at a sensor position in-between the input device and the output device.

According to the invention a holding device holds 30 the roller bodies, transfers them from an input to an output, and moves them in the mean time past a sensor. The sensor is arranged for inspecting and/or measuring an end face of a cylindrical or conical roller body when it is moved past the sensor during the transfer from the input to 35 the output by the holding device. By measuring or inspecting the end faces during the transfer, the apparatus of the invention provides a fast measurement or inspection 3 of the end faces of the roller bodies. Due to this rapid measurement or inspection, the apparatus of the invention can be arranged in series in a production line for cylindrical or conical roller bodies substantially without 5 limiting the throughput of the production line.

In an embodiment the apparatus further comprises a frame, wherein the input device, the output device and the sensor are arranged at a substantially fixed position on the frame, and wherein the holding device is movably 10 arranged on the frame.

In an embodiment the holding device comprises a wheel which is provided with a series of receptacles each for receiving at least partially one roller body therein, wherein the wheel is rotatable for moving the receptacles 15 from the input device to the output device. At further rotation of the wheel the empty receptacles are moved from the output device to the input device.

In an embodiment the receptacles are arranged for holding the roller bodies with an axis of rotation thereof 20 in a substantial radial orientation with respect to the rotation axis of the wheel.

In an embodiment the input device is arranged for supplying the roller bodies in a substantial radial direction from outer circumference of the wheel into the 25 receptacles.

In an embodiment the sensor is arranged at the outer circumference of the wheel. In an embodiment the sensor comprises an inductive sensor, an eddy-current sensor or an optical sensor.

30 In an embodiment the apparatus further comprises a pushing member for pushing the roller end face of the roller bodies against the sensor. This embodiment is preferred when using an inductive sensor of an eddy-current sensor, and increases the measuring accuracy and the 35 reproducibility of the measurement.

In an embodiment the sensor is arranged substantially below the wheel. In this embodiment, the 4 roller bodies in the holding device can move or slide due to the gravitational effect, to abut against the sensor. This increases the measuring accuracy and the reproducibility of the measurement.

5 In an embodiment the apparatus comprises two output devices, a first output device which is arranged for discharging the roller bodies from the receptacles in a direction to the outer circumference of the wheel, and a second output device which is arranged for discharging the 10 roller bodies from the receptacles in a direction to the inner circumference of the wheel. The orientation of the roller bodies discharged from the first output device is reversed with respect to the orientation of the roller bodies discharged from the second output device. By 15 choosing the first or second output device, the orientation of the roller bodies which are discharged from the apparatus of the invention can be selected. For example, the roller bodies discharged from the first output device is orientated with the end face on the front side, and the 20 roller bodies discharged from the second output device is orientated with the end face on the rear side.

In an embodiment, the apparatus comprises a first closing device for closing the first output device and/or a second closing device for closing the second output device. 25 In an embodiment, the apparatus comprises a further output device which is arranged for discharging roller bodies which do not pass inspection and/or measuring criteria. The sensor outputs a signal to a controller, which controller analyses the signal. When the signal 30 corresponds to a signal of an end face which is out of specification, the controller controls the apparatus to discharge the faulty roller body out of the further output device.

In an embodiment, the apparatus comprises a 35 further closing device for closing the further output device. In an embodiment, the first closing device and the further closing device are combined and comprise a movable 5 slide which is movable between a first position in which the slide closes the further output device and a second position in which the slide closes the first output device.

According to a second aspect, the invention 5 pertains to a method for inspecting a roller end face of cylindrical or conical roller bodies comprising the steps of : providing a serial supply of roller bodies to an input of an inspection and/or measuring apparatus; 10 sequentially arranging the roller bodies in a holding device; moving said holding device along a trajectory which at least extends from the input to an output, wherein a sensor is arranged adjacent to the trajectory at a sensor 15 position in-between the input and the output; scanning the roller end face of the roller bodies during their movement past the sensor and outputting a scanning signal from the sensor to a controller; analyzing the scanning signal in the controller 20 and providing a good/fault signal on the basis of the analysis of the scanning signal; when the controller establishes a good signal the holding device is moved to the output, and discharging the roller body from the holding device into a serial output of 25 roller bodies.

In an embodiment of the method the inspection and/or measuring apparatus is stopped when the controller establishes a fault signal.

In an embodiment, the apparatus comprises a 30 further output which is arranged for discharging roller bodies which do not pass inspection and/or measuring criteria, wherein the method comprises the step of: when the controller establishes a fault signal the holding device is moved to the further output, and discharging the 35 roller body from the holding device. When the signal corresponds to a signal of an end face which is out of specification, the controller controls the apparatus to 6 discharge the faulty roller body out of the further output device instead of the output.

In an embodiment, the apparatus comprises a movable slide which is movable between a first position in 5 which the slide closes the further output device and a second position in which the slide closes the first output device, wherein the movement of the side is controlled by the controller.

In an embodiment the inspection and/or measuring 10 apparatus is arranged in series in a production line.

The various aspects and features described and shown in the specification can be applied, individually, wherever possible. These individual aspects, in particular the aspects and features described in the attached 15 dependent claims, can be made subject of divisional patent applications .

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

20

The invention will be elucidated on the basis of an exemplary embodiment shown in the attached drawings, in which :

Figures IA, IB and 1C show a schematic view of 25 the end faces of three different roller bodies;

Figure 2 shows a schematic cross section view of a first example of a device according to the present invention;

Figure 3 shows examples of measurement signals 30 from the end faces of the three different samples of figure 1 as measured with the apparatus of figure 2; and

Figures 4A and 4B show a schematic cross section view of a second example of a device according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

35 7

Usually the roller bodies in a production line are arranged in series behind each other with their axis of rotation substantially arranged in the transport direction. In case of conical roller bodies the front face has a small 5 end, and wider end face is usually provided with a dimple which is arranged substantially in the centre of the end face .

During the production of the roller bodies, the end face with the dimple in the centre is ground to obtain 10 a substantially flat surface part around the dimple. In figures three examples are shown. In the first example, as shown in figure 1A the roller body 1 has an end face with a central dimple 2 and a surrounding flat surface 3. This first example shows the desired shape of the end face.

15 When during the grinding process an error occurs, the end face may be grinded to much as shown in figure IB. In this second example, as shown in figure IB, the roller body 4 has an end face 6 where material surrounding the dimple 5 is removed to a large extend during the grinded. 20 Alternatively, the end face may be grinded to less or not at all as shown in figure 1C. In this third example, as shown in figure 1C, the roller body 7 has a substantially convex surface 9 which surround the dimple 8.

In order to measure or inspect the end surfaces 25 of the roller bodies, the invention provides an apparatus 10 as schematically shown in figure 2. The apparatus comprises a holding device 12 for holding one or more roller bodies, an input device 11 for supplying roller bodies from a serial supply of roller bodies to the holding 30 device 12, an output device 13, 14 for discharging roller bodies from the holding device 12 and supplying the discharged roller bodies back into the production line, and a sensor 20 for scanning a surface of the end face of a roller body which is arranged in the holding device 12. The 35 holding device 12 comprises a wheel which is provided with a series of receptacles 17, each for receiving at least partially one roller body therein.

8

The wheel 12 is mounted on a support member 15 which is mounted onto a actuator 16 in order to rotate the wheel 12 in the direction R for moving the receptacles 17 from the input 11 device to the output device 13, 14. In 5 this example, the receptacles 17 are through openings in the wheel 12 which are arranged in a substantial radial orientation with respect to the rotation axis of the wheel 12. The diameter of the receptacles 17 is arranged to allow the roller bodies to fall or slide through said receptacles 10 17.

The apparatus 10 further comprises a frame 19. The input device 11, the output device 13, 14, the sensor 20, and the actuator 16 are arranged at a substantially fixed position on the frame 19. The wheel 12 is rotatable, 15 and thus movably arranged on the frame 19.

It is noted that the apparatus 10 of this example is designed to be arranged in a production line, in a substantial vertical position. That is, the input device 11 is arranged at an upper side of the apparatus 10, and the 20 sensor is arranged at a lower side of the apparatus 10.

However other designs are also possible.

The input device 11 is arranged for supplying the roller bodies in a substantial radial direction from outer circumference of the wheel 12 into the through openings 17. 25 As discussed above, the input device 11 is arranged at the upper side and gravity assist the roller bodies to move into the through openings 17.

In order to confine the roller bodies in the wheel 12, the apparatus 10 comprises a inner rim 18 which 30 is fixedly connected to the frame 19. The inner rim 18 substantially prevents that the roller bodies fall out of the wheel 12, except when the roller bodies arrive at a second output device 14 as will be discussed below.

The wheel 12 is movable along a trajectory R 35 which at least extends from the input device 11 to the output device 13, 14. The sensor 20 is arranged adjacent to the trajectory R at a sensor position in-between the input 9 device 11 and the first output device 13. As shown in figure 2, the sensor 20 is arranged at the outer circumference of the wheel 12, so that the end faces of the roller bodies move along the sensor 20.

5 As discussed above, the sensor 20 is arranged at a bottom side of the apparatus 10. The apparatus is provided with a contact member 23 into which the sensor 20 is positioned. Assisted by gravity, the roller bodies will move into contact with the contact member 23, which 10 provided a controlled and reproducible distance between the sensor 20 and the end faces of the roller bodies.

The apparatus further comprises a pushing member 24 for pushing against the roller front face which is facing the inner circumference of the wheel 12, which then 15 pushing the roller end face of the roller bodies against the contact member 23 and/or the sensor 20. In this example the pushing member 24 is arranged to swivel around a swivel axis 25 and the weight of the pushing member 24 provides the pushing force against the roller front face. In 20 addition or in alternative, the pushing member is provided with a spring (not shown) for providing a spring pressure for pushing the pushing member 24 against the contact member 23 and/or the sensor 20.

As shown in figure 2, the apparatus 10 comprises 25 two output devices 13, 14, a first output device 13 which is arranged for discharging the roller bodies from the receptacles 17 in a direction I to the outer circumference of the wheel 12. In this case, the roller bodies are reversed with respect to the original orientation at the 30 input device 11. In case the roller bodies are supplied at the input device 11 orientated with their end face on the rear side, the roller bodies are discharged with the end face in forward direction.

In addition the apparatus 20 comprises a second 35 output device 14 which is arranged for discharging the roller bodies from the receptacles 17 in a direction to the inner circumference of the wheel 12. In this case the 10 roller bodies are not reversed and are discharged in the same orientation is in which they arrive at the input device 11. By selecting one of the first 13 or second 14 output devices the orientation of the inspected roller 5 bodies can be chosen. When choosing the second output device 14, the first output device 13 is closed off by a plug (not shown).

The apparatus 10 is thus arranged for sequentially arranging the roller bodies in the wheel 12. 10 The wheel 12 is moved along a trajectory R which at least extends from the input 11 to the first output 13 or to the second output 14. The sensor 20 is arranged adjacent to the trajectory R at the outer circumference of the wheel 12 in-between the input 11 and the first output 13. During the 15 movement of the wheel 12, the roller end face of the roller bodies are scanned when passing the sensor 20. The sensor 20, in this example an inductive sensor, outputs a scanning signal (see for example figure 3) to a controller 22 which is connected to the sensor 20 via a signal line 21.

20 The controller 22 analyzes the scanning signal and provides a good/fault signal on the basis of the analysis of the scanning signal. When the controller 22 establishes a 'good' signal the wheel 12 is moved to the output 13, 14, and discharging the roller body from the 25 apparatus 10 into a serial output of roller bodies. When the controller 22 established a 'fault' signal, the inspection and/or measuring apparatus 10 and also the production line is stopped.

Figure 3 shows examples of measurement signals 30 from the end faces of the three different samples of figure 1 as measured with the apparatus of figure 2 when using an inductive sensor 20. The dimple may have a diameter of 2 mm or more. Thus, it is preferred to us a sensor which is able to measure on small areas.

35 The measurement signals in this example are analyzed regarding the difference in signal from the dimple and the surface surrounding said dimple. When this 11 difference in signal is within a predetermined range (see signal A in figure 3), the controller 22 establishes a 'good' signal. When this difference in signal is to low (see signal B in figure 3) , the end face has been grinded 5 to much as shown in figure IB, and the controller 22 establishes a 'fault'' signal/ When this difference in signal is to high (see signal C in figure 3), the end face has been grinded to less or not at all as shown in figure IB, and the controller 22 establishes a 'fault' signal.

10 In a second example as shown in figures 4A and 4B, the apparatus is essentially the same as the first example as described above, and comprises in addition a further output device 26 which is arranged for discharging III roller bodies which do not pass inspection and/or 15 measuring criteria. In addition, the apparatus comprises a movable slide 27A, 27B which is movable between a first position, as shown in figure 4A, in which the slide 27A closes the further output device and a second position, as shown in figure 4B, in which the slide 27B closes the first 2 0 output device, wherein the movement of the side is controlled by the controller 22.

When the controller 22 in this second example establishes a 'good' signal, the slide 27A is arranged at the first position as shown in figure 4A, and the roller 25 body is discharged from the first output device 13.

However, when the controller 22 of this second example establishes a 'fault' signal, the slide 27B is arranged at the second position as shown in figure 4B. The first output device 13 is blocked by the slide 27B, the 30 holding device 12 is moved to the further output device 26, and the faulty roller body is discharged III from the holding device 12 out of the further output device 26, instead of the first output device 13. Thus the apparatus according to this second example is arranged for 35 automatically removing faulty roller bodies out of the production line, substantially without having to stop the production line.

12

The same principle as described above with the removal of faulty roller bodies, can also be applied when using the second output device 14 and the first output device 13 is blocked. When the controller 22 establishes a 5 ''good' signal, the slide 27A is arranged at the first position as shown in figure 4A, and the roller body is moved over the slide 27A and further to the be discharged from the second output device 14. However, when the controller 22 establishes a 'fault' signal, the slide 27B 10 is arranged at the second position as shown in figure 4B, and the faulty roller body is discharged III from the holding device 12 out of the further output device 26, instead of the first output device 13.

It is to be understood that the above description 15 is included to illustrate the operation of the preferred embodiments and is not meant to limit the scope of the invention. From the above discussion, many variations will be apparent to one skilled in the art that would yet be encompassed by the spirit and scope of the present 20 invention.

Claims

An apparatus for inspecting and / or measuring an end face of cylindrical or conical roll bodies, comprising: a holder for holding one or more roll bodies, an input device for supplying roll bodies from a serial supply of roll bodies to the holder, an output device for discharging roll bodies from the holder, and a sensor for sensing a surface of the end face of a roll body that is placed in the holder, characterized in that the holder is movable along a path which extends least extends from the input device to the output device, the sensor being positioned adjacent to the web at a sensor position between the input device and the output device.

2. Device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a frame, wherein the input device, the output device and the sensor are placed at a substantially fixed position on the frame, and wherein the holder is movably placed on the frame.

3. Device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the holder comprises a wheel which is provided with a series of receiving spaces, each for at least partially receiving a roll body therein, the wheel being rotatable for moving the receiving spaces of the input device to the output device.

Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the receiving spaces are adapted to hold the rolling bodies with an axis of rotation thereof in a substantially radial orientation with respect to the axis of rotation of the wheel.

5. Device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the input device is adapted for supplying the rolling bodies in a substantially radial direction from the outer circumference of the wheel in the receiving spaces.

The device of claim 5, wherein the sensor is disposed at the outer circumference of the wheel.

7. Device as claimed in any of the claims 3-6, 10, wherein the sensor is placed substantially under the wheel.

8. Device as claimed in any of the claims 3-7, wherein the device comprises two output devices, a first output device which is adapted to discharge the rolling bodies from the receiving spaces in a direction to the outer circumference of the wheel, and a second output device which is arranged for discharging the rolling bodies from the receiving spaces in a direction to the inner circumference of the wheel.

9. Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the device comprises a first closing device for closing the first output device.

10. Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the device comprises a further export device which is adapted to discharge roll bodies that do not meet inspection and / or measurement criteria.

11. Device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the device comprises a further closing device for closing the further output device.

12. Device as claimed in claims 9 and 11, wherein the first closing device and the further closing device are combined and comprise a movable slide that is movable between a first position where the slide 35 closes the further output device and a second position where the slide closes the first output device .

Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sensor comprises an inductive sensor, an eddy current sensor or an optical sensor.

14. Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the device further comprises a pushing member for pushing the end face of the roll of the rolling bodies against the sensor.

15. Method for inspecting an end face of a roll of cylindrical or conical roll bodies comprising the steps of: providing a serial supply of roll bodies to an input of an inspection and / or measuring device; sequentially placing the rolling bodies in a holder; Moving the holder along a path that extends at least from the inlet to an outlet, a sensor adjacent to the track being placed at a sensor position between the inlet and the outlet; scanning the end face of the roll of the rolling bodies during their movement past the sensor and outputting a scanning signal from the sensor to a control unit; analyzing the scanning signal in the control unit and providing a right / wrong signal based on the analysis of the scanning signal; when the control unit detects a good signal, the holder is moved to the output, and the roller body discharges from the holder into a serial output of roller bodies.

Method according to claim 15, wherein the inspection and / or measuring device is stopped when the control unit detects an error signal.

17. Method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the apparatus comprises a further output which is adapted to perform roll bodies that do not meet inspection and / or measurement criteria, the method comprising the step of: when the control unit detects an error signal the holder moved to the further outlet, and discharges the roller body from the holder.

18. Method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the apparatus comprises a movable slide which is movable between a first position where the slide closes the further output device and a second position where the slide closes the first output device, wherein the movement of the slide is controlled by the control unit.

19. Method as claimed in any of the claims 15 or 18, wherein the inspection and / or measuring device is placed in series in a production line. -o-o-o-o-o-o-o-