US2296934A

US2296934A - Edging machine

Info

Publication number: US2296934A
Application number: US304538A
Authority: US
Inventors: Peter J Kirkman; Conrad B Schafer
Original assignee: Libbey Owens Ford Glass Co
Current assignee: Libbey Owens Ford Glass Co
Priority date: 1939-11-15
Filing date: 1939-11-15
Publication date: 1942-09-29
Anticipated expiration: 1959-09-29

Description

SeP- 29, 1942 P. J. KIRKMAN ET AL 2,296,934

EDGING MACHINE Filed Nov. l5, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet-2 Gttorneg Patented Sept. 29, 1942 EDGING MACHINE Peter Schafer, Toledo, Ohio, assignors J. Kirkman, Ottawa, Ill., and Conrad B.

to Libbey- Owens-Ford Glass Company, Toledo, Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio Appiieasin November 15, i939, serial No. suites (ci. :a1- vii 7 Claims.

The present invention relates to edging machines broadly and more particularly to an improved machine for grinding the edges of sheets or plates of glass and the like.

Generally` speaking, this invention appertains to the so-called Weber type of edging machine wherein one or ra plurality of sheets or plates of glass are supported` on edge in a vertical position and passed horizontally along. a runway over and in engagement with one or a series of grinding and/o1` polishing wheels to. surface the bottom edges of said sheetsor plates. This type of machine has been heretofore used for grinding both straight edges and curvededges. However, in the grinding of curved edges, it has been customary either to rock the sheets or plates in a vertical plane during the passing of the curved lower edges thereof over the grinding wheels or to move the sheets or plates vertically relative to said grinding wheels in passing them thereover.

It is an aim of this invention to provide an edging machine of the above general character of improved construction and arrangement which is capable of grinding not only straight edges but also curved edges of diiierent contour or a comz.

bination of both in a thoroughly practical and eicient manner and wherein the necessity of rocking the sheets or moving them vertically during grinding is obviated.

Another important the provision of an edging machine of the above character operable to grind not only the lower edges of the sheets, whether they be straight or curved, but also serving to round the lower corners of the sheets at the opposite ends thereof as the said sheets are passed horizontally over the grinding wheels.

Another important object of the invention is the provision of an edging machine of the above character wherein the grinding wheels are mounted for vertical floating movement beneath the sheets and normally urged upwardly into the path of travel of said sheets, said grinding wheels being forced downwardly by said sheets as they engage the saine sheets, and then automatically moved upwardly as the sheets pass out of engagement therewith to round the opposite corner of said sheets.

A further important object of the invention is the provision of an edging machine of the above i' character having associated therewith means, controlled by downward movement of the grinding wheels, for applying pressure to said grinding wheels to urge them upwardly into engagement with the lower edges of the sheets, the amount object of the invention is to round one corner of the of pressure being automatically increased as the said grinding wheels move downwardly.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent during the course of the following description, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:V

Fig. l i's a side elevation of an edging machine constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical' transverse section taken substantially on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 isv a horizontal transverse section taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view illustratingl the operation of the machine.

With reference now to the drawings, the machine comprises in general one or a plurality of rotatable grinding wheels |10 preferably provided with a series of grooves I I in the periphery thereof adapted to receive therein the edges of a plurality of sheets or plates of glass or the like I2 to be ground. The grinding wheel I!) is mounted upon a horizontal shaft I3 journaled at its opposite ends in bearings I4 and I5 which are carried at the outer end of a relatively long substantially horizontal supporting arm I6. The supporting arm I6 is pivotally mounted adjacent its opposite end upon a horizontal shaft I1 carried by the vertical standard I8 intermediate the upper and lower ends thereof.

Carried at the inner end of the supporting arm IB is an L-shaped bracket I9 having a substantially vertical portion 20 and a substantially horizontal portion 22. The substantially vertical portion 20 of the bracket I9 is secured to the inner end of the supporting arm I6 by bolts or the like 2l. Pivoted to the substantially horizontal portion 22 of the bracket I9, as at 23, is a substantially vertical plate 24 carrying the motor 25 for driving the grinding wheel I0, said motor 25 being secured to said plate 24 by screws or the like 2S. The plate 24 is adjustably secured at its upper end to the substantially vertical portion 2E) of bracket I9 by means of a bolt 21 which is pivoted to said plate 24 as at 28 and received within a slot 29 in the upper end of said bracket I9. Threaded upon the bolt 21 is a nut 3U.

The means for driving the grinding wheel It comprises a plurality of endless belts 3l trained about a grooved pulley 32 keyed to the shaft 33 of motor 25 and also about a grooved pulley 34 xed to one end of the grinding wheel shaft I3.

preferably enclosed in a housing 35. The purpose of securing the motor 25 to the pivoted plate l24 is to provide means for maintaining the drive belts 3| taut. Thus, as the belts 3| become worn, there is a tendency for them to stretch and when this occurs, the nut 30 can be loosened to permit the plate 24 to swing outwardly upon its pivot 23. The outward movement of the plate 24 and motor 25 will result in a tightening of the belt 3|. The inward movement of the plate 24 can be controlled by a stop screw 36.

It will be noted that the motor 25 is located at the side of the pivot shaft I1 opposite to that of the grinding wheel I so that the weight of the motor 25 and its associated parts will serve to rock the supporting arm I6 in a clockwise direction and thereby normally urge the grinding wheel I0 upwardly. As illustrated in Fig. 1, the upper portion of the grinding wheel I9 normally projects above the runways and is disposed in the path of travel of the forward edges of the glass sheets I 2.

The supporting standard I8 comprises a pair of spacedvvertical uprights 31 and 38 connected together adjacent their lower ends by a transverse web 39 and also adjacent their upper ends by a transverse web 40. Supported upon and secured to the upper end of the supporting standard I8 are the spaced parallel longitudinally extending side boards 4I and 42 carrying therebetween a series of horizontally aligned conveyor rolls 43 constituting a runway leading to the grinding Awheel I9. Ihe rolls 43 are adapted to support the glass sheets I2 to be ground on edge in a vertical position and are preferably provided with grooves 44 Yfor receiving the lower edges of the said sheets I2 therein. Arranged at the opposite side of the grinding wheel I0 is a similar runway 45 including the horizontally aligned conveyor rolls 46 for receiving the sheets I2`as they pass from the grinding wheel.

During the grinding operation, the glass sheets I2 are adapted to be moved continuously forwardly over the grinding wheel I0 and, in order to maintain the sheets I2 downwardly in proper position, there are vprovided a plurality of pressure rolls 41 adapted to engage and ride along the upper edges of the sheets I2 as they pass over the grinding wheel III. Each of the pressure rolls 41 is also preferably grooved to receive the upper edges of the glass sheets I2 and is freely rotatable upon a` horizontal pin 48' carried at the outer end of an arm 49 which is pivotally mounted at its inner end upon a horizontal stub shaft 50 carried by a block 5I. Secured to the inner end of yarm 49 is a second arm 52 which cooperates with arm 49 to form a bell-crank lever. Slidably carried upon arm 52 is a weight 53 which serves to urge the pressure roll 41 downwardly into engagement with the upper edges of the glass sheets I2. VThe weight 53 is adjustable along arm 52 so that the pressure of the roll 41 upon the glass sheets I 2 can be varied yas desired. The block is mounted for vertical sliding movement in a slot 54 formed in a supporting plate 55 so that the roll 41 can be adjusted bodily vertically depending upon the size of sheets being ground.

The means for moving the glass sheets I2 forwardly along the runwaysand over the grinding wheel I9 includes a pusher block 56 engaging the rear edges of the glass sheets I2 and provided with ngers 51 received between the sheets I2 to maintain them in properly spaced relation.

rolls 43 until the rounded corners The pusher block 56 is arranged between and carried by two sprocket chains 58 and 59 which slide along horizontal rails 69 and 6I respectively. These rails are carried at the upper ends of

vertical straps

62 and 63 secured to the runway side boards 4| and 42 respectively.

The means for pivotally mounting the supporting arm I6 upon shaft I1 is best shown in Fig. 3 and will now be described in detail. The vertical uprights 31 and 38 of supporting standard I8 are provided intermediate their upper and lower ends with

vertical slots

64 and 65 respectively, and passing horizontally through said slots are bolts 66 and 61 carried at one end by bearings 68 and 69 in which the opposite ends of shaft I1 are mounted. Carried by the bearings 68 and 59 and fitting over the uprights 31 and 38 are plates 1n and 1I respectively having openings therein through which the bolts 66 and 61 also pass. Threaded upon the outer ends of bolts 66and 61 are nuts 12 and 13 respectively for securing the bearings 68 and 69 in place to properly position the shaft I1.

Carried by the supporting -arm I6 is a transverse cylindrical sleeve 14 through which shaft I1 extends. Mounted upon said shaft I1 are ball bearing assemblies 15 which rotatably support the sleeve 14 at opposite ends thereof whereby to permit rocking movement of the supporting arm I6 upon the shaft I1. With this construction, it will be readily seen that the grinding wheel I9 is capable of vertical floating movement during the travel of the glass sheets I2 thereover so that it can freely follow the curvature of the lower edges of the sheets I2.

The supporting arm I6 can be adjusted bodily vertically by means of vertical adjusting screws 16 and 11 threaded through blocks 18 and 19 respectively carried by the uprights 31 and 38 and engaging plates 10 and 1| respectively. In order to effect transverse adjustment of the grinding wheel I9 to line up the grooves I I therein with the grooves in the conveyor rolls of the runways, one end of the shaft I1 may be threaded i as at 89 within the respective bearing 68 or 69,

while the opposite end thereof can be shaped as as 8| to receive a wrench or other tool. Upon loosening of the lock nut 82 on shaft I1, the said shaft can be rotated to move the supporting arm I6 either inwardly or outwardly.

As brought out above, the machine herein provided is not only adapted to grind the bottom edges of' the glass sheets I 2, whether they be curved or straight, but is also adapted to eiect the grinding of the two lower corners at the opposite ends thereof. Although sheets of Various shapes and sizes may be ground upon the machine, there has been illustrated by way of example a substantially rectangular sheet I 2 having a substantially straight bottom edge a, a rounded corner b of relatively large radius at the forward end thereof and a rounded corner c of relatively smaller radius at the opposite end. Also, as pointed out above, the grinding wheel IU is normally urged upwardly and maintained in the path of travel of the glass sheets I2 as shown in Fig. l by the weight of the motor 25 and its associated parts which act to rock the supporting arm I6 in a clockwise direction upon shaft I1.

With reference particularly to Fig. 4, the glass sheets I2 are moved forwardly over the conveyor b of the sheets I2 engage the grinding wheel I9. At this time,

the sheets I2 are in the broken line position indicated at IZA while the grinding wheel I0 is in the position shown inA broken lines. Upon Vcon,- tinued forward movement of the glass sheets I2 into full line position IZB, the grinding wheel I will be forced. downwardly against the weight of the motor 25 and associated parts. However, the Weight of the motorv 25 and' associated parts will maintain the grinding wheel I9 in engagement with the. lower edges of the sheets I2 as also shown in full lines to effect the grinding thereof as they move forwardly. Then, as the rear ends of the sheets I2 pass beyondv the grinding wheel IU into broken line position I2C, the said wheel Il] will automatically move upwardly to finish oid the corners c. It will thus be seen that the grind'- ing wheel I0 will be forced` downwardly by the sheets I2 as said sheets. I2 engage the same and will then be automatically returned to raised position as the sheets pass out of engagement therewith. Also, that the grinding wheel .l acts to grind one corner of the sheets I2 as it is forced downwardly thereby and the opposite corner thereof as it returns to raised position. The position of gie glass sheets I2 can of course be reversed, if desired, so that the relatively sharp corners c will constitute the forward corners and the relatively wide corners b the rear corners.

At the beginning of the grinding operation, the weight of the motor 25 and associated parts serves to exert suflicient pressure of the wheel Ill against the edges of the sheets I2 to effect the proper grinding thereof. However, as the grinding wheel IE) is forced downwardly and passes into engagement with the bottom edges a of the sheets I2, as shown in full lines in Fig. 4, the weight of the motor 25 and associated parts does not cause the grinding wheel IQ to exert sufcient pressure upon the sheet edges and it therefore becomes necessary to increase the pressure of the wheel Ill upon the glass. This is automatically accomplished by the provision of a plurality of weights 83 slidably carried upon a vertical rod 84. It will be noted that the rod 84 tapers upwardly and that the openings in the weights 83 are of such relative size that when the Weights 83 are slid downwardly upon the rod Sli they will come to rest in vertically spaced relation. The rod 84 is provided at its lower end with a reduced threaded portion 85 carrying a nut 35 above which is. arranged a washer 8l. The substantially horizontal portion 22 of L- shaped bracket I8 is received between the washer 81 and lowermost weight 83 and is provided with a slot 88 resulting in the bifurcated portions 8S and 9B disposed at opposite sides of the rod 8A.

The upward movement of the grinding wheel I0 is limited by engagement of the substantially horizontal portion 22 of L-shaped bracket I9 with washer 81. At this time, the weights B3 do not bear upon the bracket I9 and therefore have no effect upon the position of the grinding wheel I5. However, as the glass sheets I2 move forwardly over the grinding Wheel I0 and the wheel I0 is forced downwardly thereby, the substantially horizontal portion 22 of bracket I9 will move upwardly and will effect a progressive lifting of the weights 83. As each of the weights S3 is lifted, it will exert a downward pressure upon the bracket I9 to urge the supporting arm I6 in a clockwise direction and the grinding wheel I upwardly against the lower edges of the glass sheets I2. The weights 83 will also be automatically removed from the bracket I9 as the grinding wheel Il! moves upwardly to normal position. The normal upward position of the grinding wheelV can be varied by proper adjust'- ment of the nut 85.

It will of course be appreciated that one or any desired number of grinding wheels maybe employed. Likewise, that the term glass is herein used in its generic sense to designate either plate glass, laminated glass, or substances of similar characteristics.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as the preferred embodiment of the same,

and that various changes in the shape,V size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of theV subjoined claims.

We claim: r

1. In apparatus for grinding the edges' of sheets or plates of glass and the like, means for supporting a sheet on edge in a vertical position and for carrying the same forwardly in a generally horizontal direction, a grinding wheel over which said sheet is adapted to pass and which serves to grind the lower edge thereof, means for pivotally mounting said grinding wheel so that. it is free to follow the contour of the lower edge of the sheet, means urging said grinding wheel upwardly and normally maintaining it in the path of travel of the forward edge of said sheet, said grinding wheel being forced downwardly by the sheet as said sheet passes thereover, and pressure means including a plurality of weights which are successively applied to the means for pivotally' mounting the grinding Wheel upon downward movement of said grinding wheel to urge it upwardly' into engagement with the lower edge of the sheet.

2. In apparatus for grinding the edges of sheets or plates of glass and the like, a substantially horizontal runway for supporting a sheet on edge in a vertical position and along which the sheet is Vadapted to travel, a grinding wheel over which said sheet is `passed and which serves to grind the lower edge thereof, a supporting arm carrying said grinding wheel at one end and being pivotally mounted adjacent its opposite end, a motor carried by said supporting arm foi` driving said grinding wheel and for also urging the said grinding wheel upwardly and normally maintaining it in the path of travel of the forward edge of said sheet, said grinding wheel being forced downwardly by the sheet as said sheet passes thereover, and pressure means including a plurality of weights which are successively applied to said supporting arm upon downward movement of the grinding wheel for applying pressure to said grinding wheel to urge it upwardly into engagement with the lower edge of the sheet.

3. In apparatus for grinding the edges of sheets or plates of glass and the like, a substantially horizontal runway for supporting a sheet on edge in a vertical position and along which the sheet is adapted to travel, a grinding wheel over which said sheet is passed and which serves to grind the lower edge thereof, a supporting arm carrying said grinding wheel at one end and being pivotally mounted adjacent its opposite end, a motor carried by said supporting arm for driving said grinding wheel and for also urging the said grinding wheel upwardly and normally maintaining it in the path of travel of the forward edge of said sheet, said grinding wheel being forced downwardly by the sheet as said sheet passes thereover, a vertical rod mounted in a fixed position, and a plurality of weights carried upon said rod in vertically spaced relation and positionedv above the end of said supporting arm remote from the grinding wheel so that they will be successively picked up by said supporting arm upon downward movement of the grinding Wheel to exert pressure upon said grinding wheel to urge it upwardly into engagement with the lower edge of said sheet.

4. In apparatus for grinding the edges of sheets or plates of glass and the like, a substantially horizontal runway for supporting a sheet on edge in a vertical position and along which the sheet is adapted to travel, a grinding wheel over which said sheet is passed and which serves to grind the lower edge thereof, a supporting arm carrying said grinding wheel at one end and being pivotally mounted adjacent its opposite end, a bracket carried at the end of said supporting arm remote from said grinding wheel and including a substantially horizontal portion having a slot therein, a motor carriedr by said bracket for driving said grinding wheel and for also urging the said grinding wheel upwardly and normally maintaining itin the path of travel of the forward edge of said sheet, said grinding wheel being forced. downwardly by the sheet as said sheet passes thereover, a vertical rod mounted in a xed position and having its lower end received through the slot inthe substantially horizontal portion of said bracket, and a plurality of weights carried upon said rod in vertically spaced relation and which are successively picked up by the horizontal portion of said bracket upon downward movement of the grinding wheel to exert pressure upon said grinding wheel to urge it upwardly into engagement with the lower edge of said sheet.

5. In apparatus for grinding the edges of sheets or plates of glass and the like, means for supporting a sheet on edge in a vertical position and for carrying the same forwardly in a generally horizontal direction, a grinding wheel over which said sheet is adapted to pass and which serves to grind the lower edge thereof, means for pivotally mounting said grinding wheel so that it is free to follow the contour of the lower edge of the sheet, means urging said grinding wheel upwardly and normally maintaining it in the path of travel of the forward edge of said sheet, said grinding wheel being i'orC-ed downwardly by the sheet as said sheet passes thereover, and auxiliary pressure means independent of said last-named means normally maintained out of engagement with the means for pivotally mounting the grinding wheel and automatically applied thereto as the grinding wheel is forced downwardly by the sheet to urge said grinding wheel upwardly into engagement with the lower edge of said sheet.

6. In apparatus for grinding the edges of sheets or plates of glass and the like, means for supportinga sheet on edge in a vertical position and for carrying the same forwardly in a generally horizontal direction, a grinding wheel over which said sheet is adapted to pass and which serves to grind the lower edge thereof, supporting means for the grinding wheel pivotally mounted so that said grinding wheel is free to follow the contour of the lower edge of the sheet, means acting upon said supporting means for urging said grinding wheel upwardly and normally maintaining it in the path of travel of the forward edge of said sheet, said grinding wheel being forced downwardly by the sheet as said sheet passes thereover, and auxiliary pressure means independent vof said last-named means, normally maintained out of engagement with said grinding wheel supporting means, and controlled by downward movement of said grinding wheel for applying progressively increasing pressure to said supporting means as the said grinding wheel moves downwardly to urge it upwardly into engagement with the lower edge of the sheet.

7. In apparatus for grinding the edges of sheets or plates of glass and the like, a substantially horizontal runway for supporting a sheet on edge in a vertical position and along which the sheet is adapted to travel, a grinding wheel over which said sheet is passed and which serves to grind the lower edge thereof, a supporting arm. carrying said grinding wheel at one end and being pivotally mounted adjacent its opposite end, a motor carried by said supporting arm for driving said grinding wheel and for also urging the -said grinding wheel upwardly and normally maintaining it in the path of travel of the for- Ward edge of said sheet, said grinding wheel being forced downwardly by the sheet as said sheet passes thereover, and auxiliary pressure means normally maintained out of engagement with said supporting arm and automatically applied to the said supporting arm as the grinding wheel moves downwardly to urge said grinding Wheel upwardly into engagement with the lower edge of the sheet.

PETER J. KIRKMAN.

CONRAD B. SCHAFER.