Claims
- 1. A centerless micro-finishing machine comprising:
- a first and second parallel drive rollers spaced from one another a distance less than the diameter of a cylindrical workpiece to be finished whereby the workpiece can be supported by said rollers in a first work station defined between said rollers and rotated by rotation of said rollers;
- a polish shoe carrying an abrasive film positioned above said first work station and being moveable between a raised position above said first work station and a lowered finishing position in which said abrasive film is pressed against the workpiece in said first work station for finishing the workpiece; and
- an ejector for removing the workpiece from said first work station after micro-finishing including a bail extending the length of said second roller and at least one arm carrying said bail with said lever arm at an end of said second roller and said lever arm being rotatable about the axis of rotation of said second roller to move said bail upwardly from a rest position below said first work station to move the workpiece up and over said second roller to eject the workpiece from said first work station when said polish shoe is moved to said raised position.
- 2. The micro-finishing machine of claim 1 further comprising means for automatically loading the workpiece into said first work station by rolling the workpiece over said first roller into said first work station.
- 3. The micro-finishing machine of claim 1 wherein said lever arm is adjustable in radial length to accommodate various spacings between said rollers.
- 4. The micro-finishing machine of claim 3 wherein said lever arm has a first arm segment extending radially from the center of said second roller and a second arm segment coupled to said first arm segment and extending from said first arm segment at an angle to the radially extending direction of said first arm segment.
- 5. The micro-finishing machine of claim 4 wherein the extension of said second arm segment from said first arm segment is adjustable and the radial extension of said first arm segment form said second roller center is also adjustable.
- 6. The micro-finishing machine of claim 4 further comprising means for gauging the diameter of the workpiece during micro-finishing.
- 7. The micro-finishing machine of claim 6 wherein said gauging means includes a pair of gauge caliper arms extending between said rollers to said first work station with one caliper arm on each side of said first work station with each caliper arm being disposed in an annular recess in said rollers.
- 8. The micro-finishing machine of claim 1 wherein said bail is positioned to contact the workpiece radially outwardly from the centerline of the workpiece whereby lifting force applied to the workpiece by the bail holds the workpiece in contact with said second roller.
- 9. The micro-finishing machine of claim 1 wherein said bail is formed with a recessed portion to axially capture the workpiece in said work station.
- 10. The micro-finishing machine of claim 1 further comprising a third drive parallel to said second drive roller and spaced from said second drive roller a distance less than the diameter of the cylindrical workpiece whereby the workpiece can be supported by said second and third rollers in a second work station defined between said second and third rollers.
- 11. The machine of claim 10 further comprising:
- a second ejector for removing the workpiece from said second work station after micro-finishing including a second bail extending the length of said third roller and a second lever arm carrying said second bail, said second lever arm at an end of said third roller and being rotatable about the axis of said third roller to move said second bail upwardly from a rest position below said second work station to move the workpiece up and over said third roller to eject the workpiece from said second work station.
- 12. A micro-finishing machine for finishing the surface of a cylindrical workpiece comprising:
- first, second and third rollers having parallel axes of rotation, said rollers being spaced from one another a distance less than the diameter of the workpiece whereby said rollers define a first work station between said first and second rollers and a second work station between said second and third rollers;
- a first polish show carrying a first abrasive film positioned above said first work station and a second polish shoe carrying a second abrasive film and positioned above said second work station, said polish shoes being movable between a raised position above said work stations and lowered positions in which said abrasive films are presses against the workpiece in said work stations; and
- first and second ejectors for removing the workpieces from said first and second work stations respectively after micro-finishing, said first ejector including a first bail extending the length of said second roller and a first lever arm carrying said first bail at an end of said second roller to move said first bail upwardly from a rest position below said first work station to move the workpiece up and over said second roller to said second work station, said second ejector including a second bail extending the length of said third roller and a second lever arm carrying said second bail at an end of said third roller and being rotatable about the axis of said third roller to move said second bail upwardly from a rest position below said second work station to move the workpiece up and over said third roller to eject the workpiece from said second work station.
- 13. The micro-finishing machine of claim 12 further comprising means for automatically loading the workpiece into said first work station by rolling the workpiece over said first roller into said first work station.
- 14. A micro-finishing machine of claim 12 wherein said lever arms are adjustable in radial length to accommodate various spacings between said rollers.
- 15. The micro-finishing machine of claim 12 wherein said bails are positioned to contact the workpiece radially outwardly from the centerline of the workpiece whereby lifting forces applied to the workpiece by the bails hold the workpiece in contact with the rollers about which the bails are rotated.
- 16. The micro-finishing machine of claim 12 further comprising means for gauging the diameter of one of said workpieces in one of said work stations during micro-finishing.
- 17. The micro-finishing machine of claim 16 wherein said gauging means includes a pair of gauge caliper arms extending between two of said rollers with one of said caliper arms on each side of at least one of said work stations with each caliper arm being disposed in an annular recess in two of said rollers.
Parent Case Info
This is a continuation of U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 782,986, filed Oct. 28, 1991 entitled. Centerless Microfinishing Machine, abandoned Jan. 22, 1993.
US Referenced Citations (7)
Foreign Referenced Citations (3)
Number |
Date |
Country |
537980 |
Oct 1931 |
DE2 |
141416 |
Apr 1980 |
DEX |
674067 |
Jun 1952 |
GBX |
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
782986 |
Oct 1991 |
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