Grinding machine control

Claim 2

In a tangential grinding machine having a base, a grinding wheel, and means for effectuating a relative tangential infeed movement between a workpiece and the grinding wheel along a grinding path of varying length, an apparatus for controlling the tangential infeed rate, comprising: (a) means for detecting variations in the contact portion of the tangential grinding path length; and (b) means for controlling the rate of relative tangential movement between the grinding wheel and the workpiece in accordance to the detected variations in the grinding path length.

Claim 3

An apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the detecting means includes means for sensing the relative positions of the grinding wheel and the workpiece when the grinding action is initiated therebetween.

Claim 4

An apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the effectuating means moves the workpiece toward the grinding wheel, the movement commencing during each grinding cycle from a cycle commencement position and further including means for varying the cycle commencement position.

Claim 5

An apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the controlling means decreases the rate of relative tangential movement between the grinding wheel and the workpiece as the tangential grinding path diminishes in length.

Claim 6

An apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the relative movement between the grinding wheel and workpiece is varied at a rate directly proportional to the detected variations in the tangential grinding path length.

Claim 7

An apparatus as recited in claim 5 wherein the relative movement between the grinding wheel and the workpiece is further varied in accordance with at least one additional parameter, the additional parameter being selectively variable.

Claim 8

An apparatus as recited in claim 6 wherein the relative movement between the grinding wheel and workpiece is inversely proportional to the magnitude of the additional parameter.

Claim 9

In a tangential grinding machine having a base, a grinding wheel supported upon the base, and means for selectively effectuating relative tangential movement between the grinding wheel and a workpiece for selective grinding contact therebetween, a control apparatus comprising: (a) means for generating a signal representative of the distance between the grinding wheel-workpiece contact position and the finish size position; and (b) means responsive to said signal for controlling the rate of relative tangential movement between the workpiece and the abrasive wheel.

Claim 10

In a tangential grinding machine having a base, a grinding wheel supported upon the base, and means for selectively effectuating relative tangential movement between the grinding wheel and a workpiece for selective grinding contact therebetween, a control apparatus comprising: (a) means for generating a signal representative of the distance between the grinding wheel-workpiece contact position and the finish size position; and (b) means responsive to said signal for controlling the rate of relative tangential movement between the workpiece and the abrasive wheel.

Claim 11

A tangential grinding machine, comprising: (a) a base; (b) a grinding wheel supported upon the base; (c) a dressing assembly supported upon the base; the dressing assembly being relatively movable with respect to the grinding wheel; (d) means for effectuating relative tangential movement and selective interfacing between the dressing assembly and the grinding wheel along a predetermined path; (e) means for generating a signal representative of the interface distance between the grinding wheel and dresser assembly along the predetermined path; (f) means responsive to the generated signal for regulating the rate of relative movement between the grinding wheel and the dresser assembly.

Claim 12

A tangential grinding machine, comprising: (a) a base; (b) a grinding wheel supported upon the base; (c) a dressing assembly supported upon the base; the dressing assembly being relatively movable with respect to the grinding wheel; (d) means for effectuating relative tangential movement and selective interfacing between the dressing assembly and the grinding wheel along a predetermined path; (e) means for generating a signal representative of the interface distance between the grinding wheel and dresser assembly along the predetermined path; (f) means responsive to the generated signal for regulating the rate of relative movement between the grinding wheel and the dresser assembly.