Claims
- 1. A sizing and finishing machine comprising:
- a means for rotating an associated workpiece;
- a first microfinishing belt for selectively contacting the associated workpiece;
- a first means for rotatably holding said first microfinishing belt;
- a first housing on which said first means for rotatably holding said first microfinishing belt is mounted;
- a first means for moving the first housing, and hence said first microfinishing belt, toward and away from the associated workpiece wherein said first means is timed to the rotation of the associated workpiece to maintain a substantially constant pressure of said first microfinishing belt on the associated workpiece, and,
- a means for allowing said microfinishing belt to conform to a shape of the associated workpiece as said microfinishing belt is moved in relation to the associated workpiece, and a means for limiting a pressure applied by said first microfinishing belt to the associated workpiece to less than 25 psi.
- 2. The machine of claim 1 wherein the associated workpiece is held in a workpiece housing comprising:
- a headstock for holding one end of the associated workpiece;
- a tailstock for holding another end of the associated workpiece; and,
- wherein said means for rotating the associated workpiece rotates the associated workpiece around a longitudinal axis of the associated workpiece.
- 3. The machine of claim 1 wherein said first microfinishing belt is an endless belt and further comprising a motor for rotating said endless belt.
- 4. The machine of claim 1 further comprising:
- a second microfinishing belt for selectively contacting the associated workpiece, said second belt being spaced from said first belt;
- a second means for rotatably holding said second microfinishing belt and a second housing on which said second means for rotatably holding said second microfinishing belt is mounted.
- 5. The machine of claim 4 further comprising:
- a second means for moving said second housing, wherein said second means is independent of said first means so that said second housing can be moved independently of said first housing.
- 6. The machine of claim 1 further comprising a means for limiting a rotational speed of the associated workpiece.
- 7. The machine of claim 1 further comprising a means for limiting a pressure applied by said first microfinishing belt to the associated workpiece to less than approximately 25 psi.
- 8. The machine of claim 1 further comprising a release control for said microfinishing belt, said release control being located adjacent said means for rotatably holding said microfinishing belt.
- 9. The machine of claim 1 further comprising a resilient backup belt positioned behind said microfinishing belt.
- 10. A sizing and finishing machine comprising:
- a means for rotating an associated workpiece;
- an endless abrasive belt for microfinishing the associated workpiece;
- a finishing slide on which said belt is mounted for rotation, wherein said rotating belt contacts the associated workpiece over an elongated contact area as the associated workpiece is rotated;
- a belt rotation speed controller for controlling a rotational speed of said belt;
- a slide position and velocity controller for controlling a location and velocity of movement of said slide; and,
- a workpiece orientation and velocity controller for determining a rotational speed of the associated workpiece and an orientation of the associated workpiece.
- 11. The machine of claim 10 further comprising a housing on which the associated workpiece is held, said housing comprising:
- a headstock for holding a first end of the associated workpiece;
- a tailstock for holding a second end of the associated workpiece; and,
- wherein said means for rotating the associated workpiece comprises a motor.
- 12. The machine of claim 10 further comprising:
- a plurality of rollers, mounted on said finishing slide, around which said belt is looped;
- a motor for driving at least one of said rollers; and,
- a belt release mechanism for releasing said belt from said plurality of rollers.
- 13. The machine of claim 10 further comprising a back up element which stiffens said endless belt.
- 14. The machine of claim 13 wherein said back up element comprises a second endless belt.
- 15. The machine of claim 10 further comprising a means for moving said finishing slide toward and away from the associated workpiece.
- 16. A method for sizing or finishing an associated workpiece comprising:
- mounting a workpiece on a first housing for rotation around a longitudinal axis of the workpiece;
- mounting an abrasive belt on a second housing spaced from the workpiece;
- rotating the workpiece around its longitudinal axis;
- advancing the abrasive belt mounted on the second housing during said step of rotating the workpiece;
- forming a line contact between the abrasive belt and the rotating workpiece during said step of advancing the abrasive belt; and,
- moving the second housing toward and away from the workpiece so as to maintain a substantially constant pressure of the advancing abrasive belt on the workpiece as the workpiece rotates and limiting the force exerted by the abrasive belt on the workpiece to a pressure less than approximately 25 psi.
- 17. The method of claim 16 wherein the abrasive belt is an endless belt and further comprising the step of controlling the rotational speed of the endless belt.
- 18. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of controlling a rotational speed of the workpiece.
- 19. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of controlling an orientation of the abrasive belt in relation to the workpiece.
- 20. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of controlling the velocity of movement of the second housing in relation to the workpiece.
- 21. A sizing and finishing machine comprising:
- a means for rotating an associated workpiece;
- a moving finishing belt which selectively contacts the associated workpiece;
- a plurality of rollers on which said finishing belt is rotatably mounted, said plurality of rollers comprising a first roller and, spaced therefrom, a second roller;
- a housing on which said plurality of rollers are rotatably mounted, said housing comprising a first flange on which said first roller is mounted, a second flange on which said second roller is mounted and an opening defined in said housing between said flanges, wherein said finishing belt traverses said opening when moving between said first and second rollers wherein said first and second flanges are rigidly mounted on said housing; and
- a means for moving said housing, and hence said finishing belt, toward and away from the associated workpiece, wherein a line contact is formed between said finishing belt and the associated workpiece as said finishing belt is pushed into said opening by the associated workpiece.
- 22. The machine of claim 21 wherein said means for moving said housing is timed to the rotation of the associated work piece to maintain a substantially constant pressure of said finishing belt on the associated work piece.
- 23. The machine of claim 21 further comprising a belt release mechanism for releasing said finishing belt from said plurality of rollers.
- 24. The machine of claim 21 wherein said finishing belt comprises an endless belt and further comprising a third roller spaced from said first and second rollers and rotatably mounted on said housing, wherein said finishing belt is looped around said first, second and third rollers.
- 25. The machine of claim 24 further comprising a motor for driving at least one of said plurality of rollers.
- 26. A sizing and finishing machine comprising:
- a means for rotating an associated workpiece;
- a first microfinishing belt for selectively contacting the associated workpiece at a first location;
- a first finishing slide including a first roller on which said first belt is mounted;
- a second microfinishing belt for selectively contacting the associated workpiece at a second location spaced from the first location;
- a second finishing slide including a second roller on which said second belt is mounted, wherein said second finishing slide is spaced from said first finishing slide;
- a first motor for driving said first roller of said first finishing slide;
- a second motor for driving said second roller of said second finishing slide;
- a third motor for reciprocating said first finishing slide toward and away from the associated workpiece;
- a fourth motor for reciprocating said second finishing slide toward and away from the associated workpiece, wherein said first and second finishing slides reciprocate independently in relation to a rotation of the associated workpiece and wherein said first and second microfinishing belts are driven independently; and,
- a speed controller for said first motor and for said second motor so that said first and second microfinishing belts can be driven at different speeds.
- 27. The sizing and finishing machine of claim 26 further comprising a means for cleansing material from an area of contact between said first and second microfinishing belts and the associated workpiece.
- 28. The machine of claim 26 further comprising a means for limiting a pressure applied by said first microfinishing belt to the associated workpiece to a pressure less than approximately 25 psi.
- 29. A method for sizing or finishing a workpiece comprising the steps of:
- rotating a workpiece around a longitudinal axis thereof;
- mounting an abrasive belt on a housing spaced from the workpiece;
- advancing the abrasive belt toward the workpiece during said step of rotating the workpiece;
- contacting the rotating workpiece with the abrasive belt;
- moving the abrasive belt past the workpiece; and,
- forming an elongated contact area between the abrasive belt and the workpiece due to contact with the workpiece.
- 30. The method of claim 29 further comprising the step of oscillating the workpiece during said step of contacting the rotating workpiece with the abrasive belt.
- 31. The method of claim 29 further comprising the step of mounting a second abrasive belt on a second housing spaced from the workpiece, wherein the second housing is spaced from the first housing.
- 32. The method of claim 31 further comprising the step of independently driving the first and second belts.
- 33. The method of claim 32 further comprising the step of independently controlling a rotational speed of each of the first and second abrasive belts.
- 34. The method of claim 29 further comprising the step of providing a backup belt to resiliently bias the abrasive belt toward the workpiece as it contacts the workpiece.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This application bases its priority on United States Provisional application Serial No. 60/022,928 which was filed on Aug. 1, 1996.
US Referenced Citations (20)
Non-Patent Literature Citations (4)
Entry |
P. 107 of Jun. 1998 edition of Hot Rod Bikes, News Release concerning K-Line Micro-Polisher. |
LANDIS Multi-Heat Cam Lobe Grinder (1 double sided page) Copyright 1993 Landis Grinding Machines. |
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