The invention relates to apparatuses utilized in dressing flex-arm mounted grinding wheels.
Surfaces that have been accurately ground are often necessary in manufacturing processes. The accuracy of ground surfaces depends heavily upon the shaped precision of an employed grinding wheel. To facilitate this grinding wheel preciseness, dressing apparatuses are regularly utilized to remove grinding medium from a wheel and shape the wheel appropriately. However, for applications in which the grinding wheel is mounted to a flex-arm, dressing the grinding wheel is often difficult due to the dynamism provided by the flex-arm.
One embodiment of an apparatus for dressing a grinding wheel mounted on a flex-arm includes a base, a post, a dresser and a guide, wherein when the flex-arm is in an unengaged position with the apparatus, the flex-arm is capable of movement along at least two directional axes, and wherein when the flex-arm is in an engaged position with the apparatus, the flex-arm is restricted to movement along one directional axis.
Another embodiment of an apparatus for dressing a grinding wheel mounted on a flex-arm includes a base with at least one magnet mounted on or within the base, a post with at least one aperture, a dresser comprising a bolt and a dressing element, and a guide, wherein when the flex-arm is in an unengaged position with the apparatus, the flex-arm is capable of movement along at least two directional axes, and wherein when the flex-arm is in an engaged position with the apparatus, the flex-arm is restricted to movement along one directional axis.
One embodiment of a method of dressing a grinding wheel that is mounted on a flex-arm capable of movement along at least two directional axes includes providing a dressing apparatus comprising a base, a post, a dresser and a guide, engaging the flex-arm and the dressing apparatus by urging a nose of the flex-arm into contact with the guide so that the flex-arm is restricted to movement along one directional axis, and dressing the grinding wheel by contacting the grinding wheel with the dresser while the grinding wheel is spinning.
These and additional features can be more fully understood in view of the following detailed description, in conjunction with the drawings.
While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the present invention, it is believed that the same will be better understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
As will be discussed in relation to the figures, embodiments of dressing apparatus 100 may include base 110, post 120, dresser 130 and guide 140. It should be understood, however, that other embodiments of dressing apparatus 100 may include additional structure.
Referring to
Still referring to
Post 120 may also include one or more apertures for supporting dresser 130. The illustrated embodiment of dressing apparatus 100 includes post 120 with two apertures 122, both of which are threaded for cooperation with a threaded dresser (the drawings show dresser 130 engaged within the lower aperture of post 120, and therefore, only the upper aperture of post 120 is shown). However, in alternate embodiments of dressing apparatus 100, post 120 may include any number of aperture(s) 122. Other embodiments may exclude apertures 122 all together. Further, in embodiments of dressing apparatus 100 that include aperture(s) 122, the aperture(s) need not be threaded. Accordingly, any method or structure now or hereafter known in the art may be utilized to support and/or adjust the position of dresser 130.
Referring to
Referring to
The structure of dressing apparatus 100, including the structure of the individual components (for example, base 110, post 120, dresser 130 and guide 140), may be composed of any suitable material, or combination of materials, now or hereafter known in the art. Non-limiting examples include steel, iron, aluminum, titanium and any other various metal or alloy. The illustrated embodiments are constructed of steel. However, it is not necessary for all individual components of the embodiments of dressing apparatus 100 to be composed of the same material. Certain embodiments of dressing apparatus 100 include components made from different materials, such as embodiments made of both steel and aluminum.
A flex-arm is generally capable of movement along multiple directional axes. Herein, the term “flex-arm” means any mechanical arm or boom that is capable of movement along at least two directional axes. As depicted in
When utilizing dressing apparatus 100, a user directs flex-arm 160 from an unengaged position (as depicted in
In the illustrated example, when flex-arm 160 is in an engaged position with dressing apparatus 100, grinding wheel 150 may be guided downward towards base 110, passing dressing element 132 of dresser 130. As set forth above in paragraph, rotation of dresser 130 will advance or retract dresser 130 through aperture 122, and therefore also advance or retract dressing element 132 into or out of the path of grinding wheel 150. While spinning, grinding wheel 150 may be guided into dressing element 132 for removal of an amount of grinding medium. If desired, dressing element 132 can be advanced further to remove more grinding medium from grinding wheel 150. Because the illustrated embodiment of dressing apparatus 100 restricts grinding wheel 150 to only movement in a vertical directional axis, grinding wheel 150 may be more precisely and accurately dressed.
The foregoing description of various embodiments of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art of the above teaching. While some of the diverse embodiments of the dressing apparatus have been discussed specifically, other embodiments will be apparent or relatively easily developed by those of ordinary skill in the art. Accordingly, this invention is intended to embrace all alternatives, modifications and variations that have been discussed herein, and others that fall within the spirit and broad scope of the claims.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20090320818 A1 | Dec 2009 | US |