Grinding machine with workpiece locator assembly

Claim 1

An apparatus for sequentially operating on a plurality of workpieces each of which has a reference surface facing toward either one of two opposite end portions of the workpiece, said apparatus comprising support means for moving the workpiece axially in a work area, said support means including means for supporting a first workpiece with a reference surface facing toward a first end portion of the work area and for subsequently supporting a second workpiece with a reference surface facing toward a second end portion of the work area which is opposite from said first end portion of the work area, means for moving a cutting tool into engagement with a workpiece held by said support means, control means for effecting operation of said support means to move a workpiece axially in a first direction to position the workpiece relative to the work area, sensor means for detecting when the reference surface on said first workpiece has been moved in said first direction to a predetermined position in the work area and for subsequently detecting when the reference surface on said second workpiece has been moved in said first direction to a predetermined position in the work area, said sensor means including a probe member having first surface means disposed on one side of said probe member for engaging the reference surface on said first workpiece as said first workpiece is moved axially in the first direction by said support means and second surface means disposed on another side of said probe member opposite from said one side for subsequently engaging the reference surface on said second workpiece as said second workpiece is moved axially in the first direction by said support means, said second surface means being spaced apart from said first workpiece during engagement of the reference surface on said first workpiece by said first surface means, said first surface means being spaced apart from said second workpiece during engaGement of the reference surface on said second workpiece by said second surface means, and detector means for detecting when a reference surface engaged by either one of said surface means on said probe member is in a predetermined position in the work area and for effecting operation of said control means to interrupt axial movement of the workpiece by said support means in response to detection that a reference surface engaged by either one of said surface means on said probe member is in a predetermined position.

Claim 2

An apparatus for sequentially operating on a plurality of workpieces each of which has a reference surface facing toward either one of two opposite end portions of the workpiece, said apparatus comprising support means for moving the workpiece axially in a work area, said support means including means for supporting a first workpiece with a reference surface facing toward a first end portion of the work area and for subsequently supporting a second workpiece with a reference surface facing toward a second end portion of the work area which is opposite from said first end portion of the work area, means for moving a cutting tool into engagement with a workpiece held by said support means, control means for effecting operation of said support means to move a workpiece axially in a first direction to position the workpiece relative to the work area, sensor means for detecting when the reference surface on said first workpiece has been moved in said first direction to a predetermined position in the work area and for subsequently detecting when the reference surface on said second workpiece has been moved in said first direction to a predetermined position in the work area, said sensor means including a probe member having first surface means disposed on one side of said probe member for engaging the reference surface on said first workpiece as said first workpiece is moved axially in the first direction by said support means and second surface means disposed on another side of said probe member opposite from said one side for subsequently engaging the reference surface on said second workpiece as said second workpiece is moved axially in the first direction by said support means, said second surface means being spaced apart from said first workpiece during engagement of the reference surface on said first workpiece by said first surface means, said first surface means being spaced apart from said second workpiece during engaGement of the reference surface on said second workpiece by said second surface means, and detector means for detecting when a reference surface engaged by either one of said surface means on said probe member is in a predetermined position in the work area and for effecting operation of said control means to interrupt axial movement of the workpiece by said support means in response to detection that a reference surface engaged by either one of said surface means on said probe member is in a predetermined position.

Claim 3

An apparatus for sequentially operating on a plurality of workpieces each of which has a reference surface facing toward either one of two opposite end portions of the workpiece, said apparatus comprising support means for moving the workpiece axially in a work area, said support means including means for supporting a first workpiece with a reference surface facing toward a first end portion of the work area and for subsequently supporting a second workpiece with a reference surface facing toward a second end portion of the work area which is opposite from said first end portion of the work area, means for moving a cutting tool into engagement with a workpiece held by said support means, control means for effecting operation of said support means to move a workpiece axially in a first direction to position the workpiece relative to the work area, sensor means for detecting when the reference surface on said first workpiece has been moved in said first direction to a predetermined position in the work area and for subsequently detecting when the reference surface on said second workpiece has been moved in said first direction to a predetermined position in the work area, said sensor means including a probe member having first surface means disposed on one side of said probe member for engaging the reference surface on said first workpiece as said first workpiece is moved axially in the first direction by said support means and second surface means disposed on another side of said probe member opposite from said one side for subsequently engaging the reference surface on said second workpiece as said second workpiece is moved axially in the first direction by said support means, said second surface means being spaced apart from said first workpiece during engagement of the reference surface on said first workpiece by said first surface means, said first surface means being spaced apart from said second workpiece during engaGement of the reference surface on said second workpiece by said second surface means, and detector means for detecting when a reference surface engaged by either one of said surface means on said probe member is in a predetermined position in the work area and for effecting operation of said control means to interrupt axial movement of the workpiece by said support means in response to detection that a reference surface engaged by either one of said surface means on said probe member is in a predetermined position.

Claim 4

An apparatus for sequentially operating on a plurality of workpieces each of which has a reference surface facing toward either one of two opposite end portions of the workpiece, said apparatus comprising support means for moving the workpiece axially in a work area, said support means including means for supporting a first workpiece with a reference surface facing toward a first end portion of the work area and for subsequently supporting a second workpiece with a reference surface facing toward a second end portion of the work area which is opposite from said first end portion of the work area, means for moving a cutting tool into engagement with a workpiece held by said support means, control means for effecting operation of said support means to move a workpiece axially in a first direction to position the workpiece relative to the work area, sensor means for detecting when the reference surface on said first workpiece has been moved in said first direction to a predetermined position in the work area and for subsequently detecting when the reference surface on said second workpiece has been moved in said first direction to a predetermined position in the work area, said sensor means including a probe member having first surface means disposed on one side of said probe member for engaging the reference surface on said first workpiece as said first workpiece is moved axially in the first direction by said support means and second surface means disposed on another side of said probe member opposite from said one side for subsequently engaging the reference surface on said second workpiece as said second workpiece is moved axially in the first direction by said support means, said second surface means being spaced apart from said first workpiece during engagement of the reference surface on said first workpiece by said first surface means, said first surface means being spaced apart from said second workpiece during engaGement of the reference surface on said second workpiece by said second surface means, and detector means for detecting when a reference surface engaged by either one of said surface means on said probe member is in a predetermined position in the work area and for effecting operation of said control means to interrupt axial movement of the workpiece by said support means in response to detection that a reference surface engaged by either one of said surface means on said probe member is in a predetermined position.

Claim 10

An apparatus for operating on a workpiece having a reference surface, said apparatus comprising support means for moving a workpiece in a work area, means for moving a cutting tool into engagement with a workpiece held by said support means, means for effecting operation of said support means to move the workpiece in the work area to position the workpiece relative to the cutting tool, and sensor means for detecting when the reference surface on the workpiece is in a predetermined position in the work area, said sensor means including a probe member having a surface means for engaging the reference surface, said probe member being movable between an inactive condition in which said sensor means is ineffective to detect when a reference surface is in the predetermined position in the work area and an active condition in which said sensor means is effective to detect when a reference surface is in the predetermined position in the work area, motor means for moving said probe member between the inactive and active conditions, said motor means having an operating condition in which said motor means is effective to move said probe member and a nonoperating condition in which said motor means is ineffective to move said probe member, and connection means for yieldably interconnecting said probe member and said motor means for enabling said probe member to move relative to said motor means when said probe member is in the active condition and said motor means is in the non-operating condition.

Claim 11

An apparatus for operating on a workpiece having a reference surface, said apparatus comprising support means for moving a workpiece in a work area, means for moving a cutting tool into engagement with a workpiece held by said support means, means for effecting operation of said support means to move the workpiece in the work area to position the workpiece relative to the cutting tool, and sensor means for detecting when the reference surface on the workpiece is in a predetermined position in the work area, said sensor means including a probe member having a surface means for engaging the reference surface, said probe member being movable between an inactive condition in which said sensor means is ineffective to detect when a reference surface is in the predetermined position in the work area and an active condition in which said sensor means is effective to detect when a reference surface is in the predetermined position in the work area, motor means for moving said probe member between the inactive and active conditions, said motor means having an operating condition in which said motor means is effective to move said probe member and a nonoperating condition in which said motor means is ineffective to move said probe member, and connection means for yieldably interconnecting said probe member and said motor means for enabling said probe member to move relative to said motor means when said probe member is in the active condition and said motor means is in the non-operating condition.

Claim 14

An apparatus for sequentially operating on a plurality of workpieces each of which has a reference surface facing toward either one of two opposite end portions of the workpiece, said apparatus comprising support means for moving the workpiece axially in a work area, said support means including means for supporting a first workpiece with a reference surface facing toward a first end portion of the work area and for subsequently supporting a second workpiece with a second reference surface facing toward a second end portion of the work area which is opposite from the first end portion of the work area, means for moving a cutting tool into engagement with a workpiece held by said support means, control means for effecting operation of said support means to move a workpiece axially in a first direction to position the workpiece relative to the work area, sensor means for detecting when the reference surface on said first workpiece has been moved in said first direction to a predetermined position in the work area and for subsequently detecting when the reference surface on said second workpiece has been moved in said first direction to a predetermined position in the work area, said sensor means including a single probe member having first surface means disposed on one side of said probe member for engaging the reference surface on said first workpiece as the first workpiece is moved axially in the first direction by said support means and second surface means disposed on another side of said probe member opposite from said one side for subsequently engaging the reference surface on said second workpiece as said second workpiece is moved axially in the first direction by said support means, detector means for detecting when the reference surface engaged by either one of said surface means on said probe member is in a predetermined position in the work area and for effecting operation of said control means to interrupt axial movement of the workpiece by said support means in response to detection that the reference surface engaged by either one of said surface means on said probe member is in a predetermined position, motor means for moving said probe member in a first direction from an inactive condition to an active condition in which the reference surface on said workpiece is engageable with said first surface means and for moving said probe member in a second direction from an inactive condition in which said second surface means on said probe member is engageable with the reference on said second workpiece, and connection means for yieldably interconnecting said probe member and said motor means for enabling said probe member to move relative to said motor means when said probe member is in the active condition.

Claim 15

An apparatus for sequentially operating on a plurality of workpieces each of which has a reference surface facing toward either one of two opposite end portions of the workpiece, said apparatus comprising support means for moving the workpiece axially in a work area, said support means including means for supporting a first workpiece with a reference surface facing toward a first end portion of the work area and for subsequently supporting a second workpiece with a second reference surface facing toward a second end portion of the work area which is opposite from the first end portion of the work area, means for moving a cutting tool into engagement with a workpiece held by said support means, control means for effecting operation of said support means to move a workpiece axially in a first direction to position the workpiece relative to the work area, sensor means for detecting when the reference surface on said first workpiece has been moved in said first direction to a predetermined position in the work area and for subsequently detecting when the reference surface on said second workpiece has been moved in said first direction to a predetermined position in the work area, said sensor means including a single probe member having first surface means disposed on one side of said probe member for engaging the reference surface on said first workpiece as the first workpiece is moved axially in the first direction by said support means and second surface means disposed on another side of said probe member opposite from said one side for subsequently engaging the reference surface on said second workpiece as said second workpiece is moved axially in the first direction by said support means, detector means for detecting when the reference surface engaged by either one of said surface means on said probe member is in a predetermined position in the work area and for effecting operation of said control means to interrupt axial movement of the workpiece by said support means in response to detection that the reference surface engaged by either one of said surface means on said probe member is in a predetermined position, motor means for moving said probe member in a first direction from an inactive condition to an active condition in which the reference surface on said workpiece is engageable with said first surface means and for moving said probe member in a second direction from an inactive condition in which said second surface means on said probe member is engageable with the reference on said second workpiece, and connection means for yieldably interconnecting said probe member and said motor means for enabling said probe member to move relative to said motor means when said probe member is in the active condition.

Claim 16

An apparatus for sequentially operating on a plurality of workpieces each of which has a reference surface facing toward either one of two opposite end portions of the workpiece, said apparatus comprising support means for moving the workpiece axially in a work area, said support means including means for supporting a first workpiece with a reference surface facing toward a first end portion of the work area and for subsequently supporting a second workpiece with a second reference surface facing toward a second end portion of the work area which is opposite from the first end portion of the work area, means for moving a cutting tool into engagement with a workpiece held by said support means, control means for effecting operation of said support means to move a workpiece axially in a first direction to position the workpiece relative to the work area, sensor means for detecting when the reference surface on said first workpiece has been moved in said first direction to a predetermined position in the work area and for subsequently detecting when the reference surface on said second workpiece has been moved in said first direction to a predetermined position in the work area, said sensor means including a probe member having first surface means disposed on one side of said probe member for engaging the reference surface on said first workpiece as the first workpiece is moved axially in the first direction by said support means and second surface means disposed on another side of said probe member opposite from said one side for subsequently engaging the reference surface on said second workpiece as said second workpiece is moved axially in the first direction by said support means, detector means for detecting when the reference surface engaged by either one of said surface means on said probe member is in a predetermined position in the work area and for effecting operation of said control means to interrupt axial movement of the workpiece by said support means in response to detection that the reference surface engaged by either one of said surface means on said probe member is in a predetermined position, motor means for moving said probe member in a first direction from an inactive condition to an active condition in which the reference surface on said workpiece is engageable with said first surface means and for moving said probe member is a second direction from an inactivecondition in which said second surface means on said probe member is engageable with the reference on said second workpiece, and connection means for yieldably interconnecting said probe member and said motor means for enabling said probe member to move relative to said motor means when said probe member is in the active condition, said connection means includes first and second spring members disposed adjacent to opposite sides of said probe member.

Claim 17

An apparatus for sequentially operating on a plurality of workpieces each of which has a reference surface facing toward either one of two opposite end portions of the workpiece, said apparatus comprising support means for moving the workpiece axially in a work area, said support means including means for supporting a first workpiece with a reference surface facing toward a first end portion of the work area and for subsequently supporting a second workpiece with a second reference surface facing toward a second end portion of the work area which is opposite from the first end portion of the work area, means for moving a cutting tool into engagement with a workpiece held by said support means, control means for effecting operation of said support means to move a workpiece axially in a first direction to position the workpiece relative to the work area, sensor means for detecting when the reference surface on said first workpiece has been moved in said first direction to a predetermined position in the work area and for subsequently detecting when the reference surface on said second workpiece has been moved in said first direction to a predetermined position in the work area, said sensor means including a probe member having first surface means disposed on one side of said probe member for engaging the reference surface on said first workpiece as the first workpiece is moved axially in the first direction by said support means and second surface means disposed on another side of said probe member opposite from said one side for subsequently engaging the reference surface on said second workpiece as said second workpiece is moved axially in the first direction by said support means, detector means for detecting when the reference surface engaged by either one of said surface means on said probe member is in a predetermined position in the work area and for effecting operation of said control means to interrupt axial movement of the workpiece by said support means in response to detection that the reference surface engaged by either one of said surface means on said probe member is in a predetermined position, motor means for moving said probe member in a first direction from an inactive condition to an active condition in which the reference surface on said workpiece is engageable with said first surface means and for moving said probe member is a second direction from an inactivecondition in which said second surface means on said probe member is engageable with the reference on said second workpiece, and connection means for yieldably interconnecting said probe member and said motor means for enabling said probe member to move relative to said motor means when said probe member is in the active condition, said connection means includes first and second spring members disposed adjacent to opposite sides of said probe member.

Claim 20

An apparatus for sequentially operating on a plurality of workpieces each of which has a reference surface facing toward either one of two opposite end portions of the workpiece, said apparatus comprising support means for moving the workpiece axially in a work area, said support means including means for supporting a first workpiece with a reference surface facing toward a first end portion of the work area and for subsequently supporting a second workpiece with a reference surface facing toward a second end portion of the work area which is opposite from said first end portion of the work area, means for moving a cutting tool into engagement with a workpiece held by said support means, control means for effecting operation of said support means to move a workpiece axially in a first direction to position the workpiece relative to the work area, sensor means for detecting when the reference surface on said first workpiece has been moved in said first direction to a predetermined position in the work area and for subsequently detecting when the reference surface on said second workpiece has been moved in said first direction to a predetermined position in the work area, said sensor means including a single probe member having first surface means disposed on one side of said probe member for engaging the reference surface on said first workpiece as said first workpiece is moved axially in the first direction by said support means and second surface means disposed on another side of said probe member opposite from said one side for subsequently engaging the reference surface on said second workpiece as said second workpiece is moved axially in the first direction by said support means, said second surface means being spaced apart from said first workpiece during engagement of the reference surface on said first workpiece by said first surface means, said first surface means being spaced apart from said second workpiece during engagement of the reference surface on said second workpiece by said second surface means, motor means for moving said probe member in one direction to move said first surface means into engagement with the reference surface on the first workpiece and for moving said probe member in another direction opposite from said one direction to move said second surface means into engagement with the reference surface on the second workpiece, connection means for yieldably interconnecting said probe member and said motor means for enabling said probe member to move relative to said motor means when said motor means is in a nonoperating condition and said first surface means is disposed in engagement with the reference surface on the first workpiece and for enabling said probe member to move relative to said motor means when said motor means is in the nonoperating condition and said second surface means is disposed in engagement with the reference surface on the second workpiece, and detector means for detecting when a reference surface engaged by either one of said surface means on said probe member is in a predetermined position in the work area and for effecting operation of said control means to interrupt axial movement of the workpiece by said support means in response to detection that a reference surface engaged by either one of said surface means on said probe member is in a predeterMined position.

Claim 21

An apparatus for sequentially operating on a plurality of workpieces each of which has a reference surface facing toward either one of two opposite end portions of the workpiece, said apparatus comprising support means for moving the workpiece axially in a work area, said support means including means for supporting a first workpiece with a reference surface facing toward a first end portion of the work area and for subsequently supporting a second workpiece with a reference surface facing toward a second end portion of the work area which is opposite from said first end portion of the work area, means for moving a cutting tool into engagement with a workpiece held by said support means, control means for effecting operation of said support means to move a workpiece axially in a first direction to position the workpiece relative to the work area, sensor means for detecting when the reference surface on said first workpiece has been moved in said first direction to a predetermined position in the work area and for subsequently detecting when the reference surface on said second workpiece has been moved in said first direction to a predetermined position in the work area, said sensor means including a single probe member having first surface means disposed on one side of said probe member for engaging the reference surface on said first workpiece as said first workpiece is moved axially in the first direction by said support means and second surface means disposed on another side of said probe member opposite from said one side for subsequently engaging the reference surface on said second workpiece as said second workpiece is moved axially in the first direction by said support means, said second surface means being spaced apart from said first workpiece during engagement of the reference surface on said first workpiece by said first surface means, said first surface means being spaced apart from said second workpiece during engagement of the reference surface on said second workpiece by said second surface means, motor means for moving said probe member in one direction to move said first surface means into engagement with the reference surface on the first workpiece and for moving said probe member in another direction opposite from said one direction to move said second surface means into engagement with the reference surface on the second workpiece, connection means for yieldably interconnecting said probe member and said motor means for enabling said probe member to move relative to said motor means when said motor means is in a nonoperating condition and said first surface means is disposed in engagement with the reference surface on the first workpiece and for enabling said probe member to move relative to said motor means when said motor means is in the nonoperating condition and said second surface means is disposed in engagement with the reference surface on the second workpiece, and detector means for detecting when a reference surface engaged by either one of said surface means on said probe member is in a predetermined position in the work area and for effecting operation of said control means to interrupt axial movement of the workpiece by said support means in response to detection that a reference surface engaged by either one of said surface means on said probe member is in a predeterMined position.