US3653161A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for turning workpieces and utilizing programmed data
Assignee: Ingersoll Milling Machine Co
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Filing: 1971-01-25
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Granted: 1972-04-04
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Expires: 1991-01-25
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed here are methods and automatic apparatus for grinding cylindrical workpieces, such as the contoured rolls used in metal rolling mills. The methods and apparatus involve (1) automatic finding of the lengthwise center of rolls of different and undetermined lengths so as to establish a reference position for the execution of a numerically programmed path defined relative to the center of a roll as a point of symmetry, (2) the storage of the successive instructions of multi-axis movements making up a numerically defined profile or contoured path, and the use of those instructions repeatedly and in whole or in part as called for by different ones of a sequence of commands read from storage and executed in succession, (3) the automatic alignment of the roll axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of motion in a grinding machine by pivoting of one end of the roll about the other until the sensed difference in positions of the roll surface, along an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis and at locations near opposite ends of the roll, is changed to a predetermined fraction of the originally sensed difference, (4) the initiation of grinding passes from that end of a roll which is largest in diameter, so as to avoid ''''digging in'''' or increasing the depth of wheel bite as the wheel moves lengthwise of the roll, (5) the execution of continuous passes of the grinding wheel with pre-programmed values of feed rate, wheel speed, roll speed, continuous infeed and incremental infeed until a pre-programmed thickness of material has been removed from the roll surface, and (6) the grinding down of a roll until it is reduced to a diameter equal that of a previously ground roll of a matched pair. These functions are all obtained by the calling out and execution of pre-established routines in response to the reading from storage of pre-programmed sequence commands, so that in the disclosed method and apparatus there is an automatic progression from each type of operation to the next, and with the following of numerically defined profile whenever it is required.
Inventors
- 👤 Stephen C Clark Jr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 14:30
CPC Classifications
B; B24; B24B; B24B49/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
187 words
The method of controlling a machine tool to shape a workpiece according to a numerically defined path, while performing sequentially a plurality of different operations ancillary to the shaping, comprising the steps of storing in digital form a series of instructions defining successive increments of relative multiaxis movement between a tool and a workpiece which make up a desired profile path, storing in digital form sequential commands designating different ones of a plurality of ancillary routines, a first type of said routines being independent of the profile path and a second type of said routines requiring motions following in whole or in part the profile path, reading the commands in sequence from storage and causing them to produce in sequential order the ancillary routines designated thereby, and in response to the reading of a command of said second type reading said instructions from storage and causing each to produce in succession the multi-axis incremental movement which it defines until the total movement designated by the commanded second type of routine has been executed, said stored instructions being repeatedly used as often as called for by said commands.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
187 words
The method of controlling a machine tool to shape a workpiece according to a numerically defined path, while performing sequentially a plurality of different operations ancillary to the shaping, comprising the steps of storing in digital form a series of instructions defining successive increments of relative multiaxis movement between a tool and a workpiece which make up a desired profile path, storing in digital form sequential commands designating different ones of a plurality of ancillary routines, a first type of said routines being independent of the profile path and a second type of said routines requiring motions following in whole or in part the profile path, reading the commands in sequence from storage and causing them to produce in sequential order the ancillary routines designated thereby, and in response to the reading of a command of said second type reading said instructions from storage and causing each to produce in succession the multi-axis incremental movement which it defines until the total movement designated by the commanded second type of routine has been executed, said stored instructions being repeatedly used as often as called for by said commands.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method set forth in claim 1 wherein any command may include an indication of desired feed rate, and multi-axis movement according to the instructions carried out at the feed rate most recently read from storage as a part of a command.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method set forth in claim 1 including the step of signaling the completion of each command after it has been read from storage, and in response to such signaling reading the next command from storage.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
116 words
The method set forth in claim 1 wherein at least some of said commands include a designation of the thickness of material to be removed from the workpiece in the direction of one axis, at least some of the second type of commands call for repeated execution of the contoured path motion with relative incremental infeed of the tool toward the workpiece along said one axis after each such execution, and in the carrying out of the latter category of command characterized by the steps of determining the thickness of material removed after each execution of the path motion, and terminating the repeated execution of the path motions when the measured removal equals the designated removal.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
174 words
The method of controlling a machine tool to shape a workpiece according to a numerically defined path while performing sequentially a plurality of special operations ancillary to the shaping; comprising the steps of storing in digital form a series of instructions defining successive increments of relative multi-axis movement between a tool and a workpiece which make up a desired contoured path; storing in digital form sequential commands designating the sequential steps to be carried out in the shaping of the workpiece; a first type of said commands defining auxiliary functions and a second type of said commands designating relative motion between the tool and the workpiece; reading said commands in sequence from storage and executing each command before reading the next; and in response to the reading of each command of the second type, reading sequentially said instructions from storage and executing each instructed multi-axis increment of movement before reading the next instruction, and terminating the reading of instructions from storage when the total movement equals the motion designated by the previously read command.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
174 words
The method of controlling a machine tool to shape a workpiece according to a numerically defined path while performing sequentially a plurality of special operations ancillary to the shaping; comprising the steps of storing in digital form a series of instructions defining successive increments of relative multi-axis movement between a tool and a workpiece which make up a desired contoured path; storing in digital form sequential commands designating the sequential steps to be carried out in the shaping of the workpiece; a first type of said commands defining auxiliary functions and a second type of said commands designating relative motion between the tool and the workpiece; reading said commands in sequence from storage and executing each command before reading the next; and in response to the reading of each command of the second type, reading sequentially said instructions from storage and executing each instructed multi-axis increment of movement before reading the next instruction, and terminating the reading of instructions from storage when the total movement equals the motion designated by the previously read command.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
263 words
The method of controlling a machine tool to shape a workpiece according to a numerically defined path while performing sequentially a plurality of ancillary operations, comprising the steps of preparing a first eLongated digital record having successive blocks of numerical instructions defining the successive increments of multi-axis relative movement between a tool and a workpiece which make up a desired profile, preparing a second elongated digital record having successive blocks of numerical or code commands designating the successive ancillary operations which are to be performed in sequence, a first type of said commands designating auxiliary functions to be executed and a second type of said commands designating the extent of relative motion to be effected between the tool and the workpiece, passing the blocks of said second record one at a time in sequence through a second record reader to produce a set of command signals corresponding to each block, utilizing each set of command signals corresponding to a command of the first type to carry out the auxiliary function designated thereby; and utilizing each set of command signals corresponding to a command of the second type to initiate the passing of the blocks of said first record one at a time through a first record reader to produce a set of instruction signals corresponding to each block, utilizing each set of instruction signals to cause the tool and workpiece to execute the multi-axis increment motions defined thereby, and terminating the operation of said first reader when the total executed relative motion equals the extent designated by the command of the second type.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
263 words
The method of controlling a machine tool to shape a workpiece according to a numerically defined path while performing sequentially a plurality of ancillary operations, comprising the steps of preparing a first eLongated digital record having successive blocks of numerical instructions defining the successive increments of multi-axis relative movement between a tool and a workpiece which make up a desired profile, preparing a second elongated digital record having successive blocks of numerical or code commands designating the successive ancillary operations which are to be performed in sequence, a first type of said commands designating auxiliary functions to be executed and a second type of said commands designating the extent of relative motion to be effected between the tool and the workpiece, passing the blocks of said second record one at a time in sequence through a second record reader to produce a set of command signals corresponding to each block, utilizing each set of command signals corresponding to a command of the first type to carry out the auxiliary function designated thereby; and utilizing each set of command signals corresponding to a command of the second type to initiate the passing of the blocks of said first record one at a time through a first record reader to produce a set of instruction signals corresponding to each block, utilizing each set of instruction signals to cause the tool and workpiece to execute the multi-axis increment motions defined thereby, and terminating the operation of said first reader when the total executed relative motion equals the extent designated by the command of the second type.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
139 words
The method set forth in claim 6 characterized in that said second reader is stopped after the reading of each block of the second record, a completion signal is generated after execution of the command designated by a set of command signals, the second reader is restarted in response to a completion signal; the first reader is stopped after the reading of each block of the first record, a complete signal is generated after execution of the multi-axis increment motion defined by a set of instruction signals; the first reader is restarted in response to a complete signal; and in response to a complete signal when the total executed relative motion equals the extent designated by a command of the second type, the first reader is not restarted but a completion signal is generated to restart the second reader.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method set forth in claim 6 further characterized in that said first record is an endless tape which is repetitively read by successive passings through the first reader, whereby total multi-axis movement in whole or in part following the desired profile may be produced.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method set forth in claim 8 and further characterized in that the desired profile is symmetrical about a reference point on one axis.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
235 words
In a system for controlling a machine tool to cause a tool movable along multiple axes relative to a workpiece to shape the latter with a contoured path while performing sequentially different operations ancillary to the shaping, the combination comprising first means for storing in digital form a series of instructions defining successive increments of relative multi-axis motion which make up the contoured path, second means for storing in digital form sequential commands designating different ones of a plurality of ancillary routines, a first type of said routines being independent of the contoured path and a second type of said routines requiring relative motions between the tool and workpiece following the contoured path in whole or in part, means for reading said command in sequence from said second storing means and in response to each producing the ancillary routine designated thereby, means responsive to reading of a command of the second type from said second storing means for initiating the reading of successive instructions from said first storing means, means responsive to the instructions read for moving the tool relative to the workpiece along the successive increments of said contoured path until the total movement designated by the command of the second type has been executed, and means responsive to the terminaTion of the reading of instructions from said first storing means for initiating the reading of the next command from said second storing means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
235 words
In a system for controlling a machine tool to cause a tool movable along multiple axes relative to a workpiece to shape the latter with a contoured path while performing sequentially different operations ancillary to the shaping, the combination comprising first means for storing in digital form a series of instructions defining successive increments of relative multi-axis motion which make up the contoured path, second means for storing in digital form sequential commands designating different ones of a plurality of ancillary routines, a first type of said routines being independent of the contoured path and a second type of said routines requiring relative motions between the tool and workpiece following the contoured path in whole or in part, means for reading said command in sequence from said second storing means and in response to each producing the ancillary routine designated thereby, means responsive to reading of a command of the second type from said second storing means for initiating the reading of successive instructions from said first storing means, means responsive to the instructions read for moving the tool relative to the workpiece along the successive increments of said contoured path until the total movement designated by the command of the second type has been executed, and means responsive to the terminaTion of the reading of instructions from said first storing means for initiating the reading of the next command from said second storing means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
275 words
In a system for controlling a machine tool to cause a tool movable along multiple axes relative to a workpiece to shape the latter with a contoured profile while performing different operations ancillary to the shaping, the combination comprising a first record reader adapted to receive a first elongated digital record having successive blocks of numerical instructions defining the successive increments of multi-axis relative movement between the tool and the workpiece to make up the contoured profile, a second record reader adapted to receive a second elongated digital record having successive blocks of numerical or code commands designating the successive ancillary operations which are to be performed in sequence, a first type of said commands designating auxiliary functions to be executed and a second type of said commands designating the extent of relative motion to be effected between the tool and the workpiece, means for operating said second reader to read one block from said second record at a time, means for executing the command read from a block and restarting the second reader to the next block of the second record, means responsive to the reading of a command of the second type for starting said first reader to read the instructions from successive blocks on the first record, means responsive to the reading of each instruction for causing the incremental relative multi-axis movement represented thereby and then restarting the first reader to read the next block of the first record, and means for terminating the restarting of the first record when the total executed relative motion equals that designated by the previously read command of the second type and restarting said second reader.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
275 words
In a system for controlling a machine tool to cause a tool movable along multiple axes relative to a workpiece to shape the latter with a contoured profile while performing different operations ancillary to the shaping, the combination comprising a first record reader adapted to receive a first elongated digital record having successive blocks of numerical instructions defining the successive increments of multi-axis relative movement between the tool and the workpiece to make up the contoured profile, a second record reader adapted to receive a second elongated digital record having successive blocks of numerical or code commands designating the successive ancillary operations which are to be performed in sequence, a first type of said commands designating auxiliary functions to be executed and a second type of said commands designating the extent of relative motion to be effected between the tool and the workpiece, means for operating said second reader to read one block from said second record at a time, means for executing the command read from a block and restarting the second reader to the next block of the second record, means responsive to the reading of a command of the second type for starting said first reader to read the instructions from successive blocks on the first record, means responsive to the reading of each instruction for causing the incremental relative multi-axis movement represented thereby and then restarting the first reader to read the next block of the first record, and means for terminating the restarting of the first record when the total executed relative motion equals that designated by the previously read command of the second type and restarting said second reader.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-04-04 | 1975-10-04 | 1976-04-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-04-04 | 1979-10-04 | 1980-04-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-04-04 | 1983-10-04 | 1984-04-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |