Work rest for a machine tool

Claim 2

In a machine tool for performing a machining operation on a workpiece, a machine frame, a tool, means for supporting and advancing said tool toward the workpiece for a machining operation, a work rest for supporting the workpiece against said tool, said work rest includes upper and lower arms having work rest shoes thereon, the improvement comprising: means for adjusting the position of said upper and lower arms including a plunger associated with each arm; a mechanical linkage means actuated by said plunger for raising and lowering said arm and for providing a substantially vertical metal-to-metal column support between the shoe end of said arm and said machine frame to minimize deflection thereof; and a sloping, camming surface on said lower arm; a sloping, camming surface on said machine frame, said two surfaces being opposed to one another to form a generally Vshaped opening; and said plunger being mounted for sliding engagement between said surfaces to raise and lower said lower arm.

Claim 3

In a grinding machine, including a machine frame, a grinding wheel support, a grinding wheel on said wheel support, feeding means for transversely advancing said grinding wheel toward a workpiece for a grinding operation, a work rest for supporting the workpiece against said grinding wheel, said work rest including an upper shoe for supporting the workpiece against generally transverse forces and a lower shoe for supporting the workpiece against generally downward forces, the improvement comprising: means for adjusting the position of said lower shoe including; a pivotable lower arm for supporting the lower shoe; a plunger associated with the lower arm for raising and lowering said shoe and for providing a substantially vertical metal-to-metal column support between said shoe and said machine frAme; a sloping, camming surface on said lower arm; a sloping, camming surface on said machine frame, said two surfaces being opposed to one another to form a generally V-shaped opening; and said plunger being mounted for sliding engagement between said surfaces to raise and lower said lower arm.

Claim 4

In a grinding machine, including a machine frame, a grinding wheel support, a grinding wheel on said wheel support, feeding means for transversely advancing said grinding wheel toward a workpiece for a grinding operation, a work rest for supporting the workpiece against said grinding wheel, said work rest including an upper shoe for supporting the workpiece against generally transverse forces and a lower shoe for supporting the workpiece against generally downward forces, the improvement comprising: means for adjusting the position of said lower shoe including; a pivotable lower arm for supporting the lower shoe; a plunger associated with the lower arm for raising and lowering said shoe and for providing a substantially vertical metal-to-metal column support between said shoe and said machine frAme; a sloping, camming surface on said lower arm; a sloping, camming surface on said machine frame, said two surfaces being opposed to one another to form a generally V-shaped opening; and said plunger being mounted for sliding engagement between said surfaces to raise and lower said lower arm.

Claim 5

In a grinding machine, including a machine frame, a grinding wheel support, a grinding wheel on said wheel support, feeding means for transversely advancing said grinding wheel toward a workpiece for a grinding operation, a work rest for supporting the workpiece against said grinding wheel, said work rest including an upper arm having a shoe at one end for supporting the workpiece against generally transverse forces and a lower arm having a shoe for supporting the workpiece against generally downward forces, the improvement comprising: means for adjusting the position of said lower shoe including a plunger; a mechanical linkage actuated by said plunger, said linkage being associated with the lower arm at the shoe end for raising and lowering the shoe and said linkage providing a substantially vertical metal-to-metal column support between the shoe end of said arm and said machine frame to minimize deflection thereof; and a sloping, camming surface on said lower arm; a sloping, camming surface on said machine frame, said two surfaces being opposed to one another to form a generally V-shaped opening; and said plunger being mounted for sliding engagement between said surfaces to raise and lower said lower arm.

Claim 6

In a grinding machine, including a machine frame, a grinding wheel support, a grinding wheel on said wheel support, feeding means for transversely advancing said grinding wheel toward a workpiece for a grinding operation, a work rest for supporting the workpiece against said grinding wheel, said work rest including an upper arm having a shoe at one end for supporting the workpiece against generally transverse forces and a lower arm having a shoe for supporting the workpiece against generally downward forces, the improvement comprising: means for adjusting the position of said lower shoe including a plunger; a mechanical linkage actuated by said plunger, said linkage being associated with the lower arm at the shoe end for raising and lowering the shoe and said linkage providing a substantially vertical metal-to-metal column support between the shoe end of said arm and said machine frame to minimize deflection thereof; and a sloping, camming surface on said lower arm; a sloping, camming surface on said machine frame, said two surfaces being opposed to one another to form a generally V-shaped opening; and said plunger being mounted for sliding engagement between said surfaces to raise and lower said lower arm.

Claim 7

A grinding machine as recited in claim 3, which further comprises: resilient means for urging said two camming surfaces together to maintain continuous contact with said plunger.

Claim 8

A grinding machine as recited in claim 3, wherein said plunger has a rounded leading surface for cooperation with said two sloping, camming surfaces.

Claim 9

A grinding machine as recited in claim 3, wherein the angles on said two sloping surfaces and the length of said lower arm are selected such that a lateral movement of said plunger is transmitted into a substantially equal movement of the lower shoe in the direction of the center of said workpiece.

Claim 10

A grinding machine as recited in claim 3, which further comprises: a second plunger for adjusting the position of said upper shoe; and separate and rotatable micrometer adjusting means for adjusting the end position of said plungers; whereby equal rotation of said micrometer adjusting means adjusts the end positions of the upper and lower shoes in the direction of the center of the workpiece by a substantially equal amount.

Claim 11

A grinding machine as recited in claim 7, wherein each of said micrometer adjusting means comprises: a housing; a graduated dial having a threaded portion; a sliding cam in said housing threadedly engaged with said threaded portions; cam means in engagement with the end of said plunger; means for advancing said cam means and a stop member positioned between said sliding cam and said cam means for limiting the advance of said plunger and said respective work rest shoe.

Claim 12

In a grinding machine, including a machine frame; a grinding wheel support, a grinding wheel on said wheel support, feeding means for transversely advancing said grinding wheel toward a workpiece for a grinding operation, a work rest for supporting the workpiece against said grinding wheel, said work rest including an upper arm having a shoe at one end for supporting the workpiece against generally transverse forces and a lower arm having a shoe for supporting the workpiece against generally downward forces, the improvement comprising: a pair of plungers, one in cooperative engagement with each of said upper and lower arms for advancing the arms toward the workpiece, cam means associated with each plunger for advancing said plungers against the upper and lower arms, respectively; stop members for limiting the advance of each of said cam Means; and micrometer adjusting means including a sliding wedge in operative engagement with each of said stop members for positioning the stop members in a known position to limit the advance of said cam means, so that a given rotation of each of said micrometer adjusting means limits the advance of the respective upper and lower work rest shoes toward the center of the workpiece.

Claim 13

In a grinding machine, including a machine frame; a grinding wheel support, a grinding wheel on said wheel support, feeding means for transversely advancing said grinding wheel toward a workpiece for a grinding operation, a work rest for supporting the workpiece against said grinding wheel, said work rest including an upper arm having a shoe at one end for supporting the workpiece against generally transverse forces and a lower arm having a shoe for supporting the workpiece against generally downward forces, the improvement comprising: a pair of plungers, one in cooperative engagement with each of said upper and lower arms for advancing the arms toward the workpiece, cam means associated with each plunger for advancing said plungers against the upper and lower arms, respectively; stop members for limiting the advance of each of said cam Means; and micrometer adjusting means including a sliding wedge in operative engagement with each of said stop members for positioning the stop members in a known position to limit the advance of said cam means, so that a given rotation of each of said micrometer adjusting means limits the advance of the respective upper and lower work rest shoes toward the center of the workpiece.