Rotary machine element and method for detecting positional values of at least one functional part of such a rotary machine element

• US 6,834,539 B2
• Filed: 10/11/2002
• Issued: 12/28/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GEBR Heller Maschinenfabrik GmbH (Heller GmbH)
• Original Assignee: GEBR Heller Maschinenfabrik GmbH (Heller GmbH)
• Inventors: Faigle, Bernd Hans
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, DANG D
• Application Number:
  US10/065,385
• Publication Number:
  US 20030071526A1
• Time in Patent Office: 809 Days
• Field of Search: 310/112, 310/114-122, 310/80, 310/83, 310/68.B, 731/16, 731/172, 731/173, 731/181, 279/4.01, 279/4.02, 279/126
• US Class Current: 73/114.77
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 17/003 by measuring a position
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 279/1208 with measuring, indicating or control means

Abstract

A rotary machine element has at least one functional part performing movements into stop positions, which stop positions are nominal stop positions or mechanical terminal stop positions and are functionally correlated. At least one position sensor is provided for detecting individual actual position values of the stop positions independently from one another. At least one position sensor is located in a control path between the at least one functional part and an NC control. The control path is active in positions between the nominal stop positions; the mechanical terminal stop positions; or the nominal stop positions and the mechanical terminal stop positions. Based on acquired actual position values of the at least one functional part, the speed and acceleration of the at least one functional part are determined by NC-control.

Claims

1. A rotary machine element for chucking workpieces or tools, the rotary machine element comprising:

at least one functional part adapted to perform at least one of clamping, aligning and centering of a workpiece or a tool and to perform movements into stop positions correlated with at least one of clamping, aligning and centering of a workpiece, which stop positions are nominal stop positions or mechanical terminal stop positions and are functionally correlated;

at least one position sensor configured to detect individual actual position values of the stop positions independently from one another;

wherein the at least one position sensor is located in a control path between the at least one functional part and a numerical control-based control;

wherein the control path is active in positions between the nominal stop positions;

the mechanical terminal stop positions;

or the nominal stop positions and the mechanical terminal stop positions.

2. The rotary machine element according to claim 1, comprising means for actuating the at least one functional part, wherein the means for actuating is a hydraulic drive means, a pneumatic drive means, a mechanical drive means, or an electromechanical drive means.

3. The rotary machine element according to claim 2, comprising a distributer configured to supply a hydraulic medium for actuating the at least one functional part by the hydraulic drive means.

4. The rotary machine element according to claim 3, comprising a rotary passage, wherein the distributor is connected to the rotary passage.

5. The rotary machine element according to claim 1, wherein the at least one position sensor is stationary.

6. The rotary machine element according to claim 3, wherein the at least one position sensor is stationary and fastened on the distributor.

7. The rotary machine element according to claim 1, wherein the at least one position sensor has a projection positioned on a rotary axis of the rotary machine element.

8. The rotary machine element according to claim 7, wherein the at least one position sensor functions based on laser technology, optics, ultrasound, or magnetostriction.

9. The rotary machine element according to claim 7, wherein the at least one position sensor is positioned coaxially to the rotary axis of the rotary machine element.

10. The rotary machine element according to claim 7, wherein the at least one function part has at least one position transducer configured to cooperate with the at least one position sensor.

11. The rotary machine element according to claim 10, wherein the at least one position transducer is annular and surrounds the projection.

12. The rotary machine element according to claim 1, wherein the at least one function part moves relative to the at least one position sensor.

13. The rotary machine element according to claim 1, comprising several of the functional parts, wherein the functional parts are movable independently from one another.

14. The rotary machine element according to claim 13, wherein the functional parts are provided with a position transducer, respectively.

15. The rotary machine element according to claim 14, wherein the position transducer is fixedly connected to the functional parts, respectively.

16. The rotary machine element according to claim 14, wherein the position transducer cooperates with a single one of the at least one position sensor.

17. The rotary machine element according to claim 14, wherein the position transducer is movable relative to the at least one position sensor.

18. The rotary machine element according to claim 14, wherein several of the at least one position sensor are provided.

19. The rotary machine element according to claim 18, wherein the position sensors are arranged concentrically to an axis of the position transducers.

20. The rotary machine element according to claim 18, wherein the position sensors are arranged parallel to a rotary axis of the rotating machine element.

21. The rotary machine element according to claim 14, wherein the at least one position sensor is moveable relative to the position transducer.

22. The rotary machine element according to claim 14, wherein the position transducer is movable proportionally to the functional support parts, respectively.

23. The rotary machine element according to claim 22, wherein the rotary machine element is a workpiece carrier configured to receive a workpiece (18).

24. The rotary machine element according to claim 23, wherein the workpiece carrier is a chuck.

25. The rotary machine element according to claim 24, wherein the chuck comprises a centering tip, alignment elements, checking elements, and clamping elements as the functional parts.

26. The rotary machine element according to claim 1, wherein the rotary machine element is a tool carrier configured to receive a tool (17).

27. The rotary machine element according to claim 26, wherein the tool carrier is a radial facing slide tool.

28. The rotary machine element according to claim 26, wherein the tool carrier is a bore rod.

29. The rotary machine element according to claim 28, wherein the bore rod has at least one radially adjustable cutting edge for producing a bore.

30. The rotary machine element according to claim 1, wherein the rotary machine element is a work spindle of a machine tool configured to receive a tool (17).

31. The rotary machine element according to claim 30, wherein the at least one position sensor is arranged in the work spindle for monitoring a correct clamping position of the tool.

32. The rotary machine element according to claim 1, wherein the nominal stop positions are mechanical stop positions determined by a geometry of a workpiece to be received in the rotary machine element.

33. The rotary machine element according to claim 1, wherein the nominal stop positions are positions without mechanical stop.

34. The rotary machine element according to claim 1, wherein the at least one position sensor in the nominal stop positions or in the mechanical terminal stop positions is used for reference point determination or diagnostics.

35. A method for detecting position values of at least one functional part of a rotating machine element for chucking workpieces or tools, the rotating machine element comprising at least one functional part adapted to perform at least one of clamping, aligning and centering of a workpiece or a tool and to perform movements into stop positions correlated with at least one of clamping, aligning and centering of a workpiece, which stop positions are nominal stop positions or mechanical terminal stop positions and are functionally correlated;

at least one position sensor configured to detect individual actual position values of the stop positions independently from one another;

wherein the at least one position sensor is located in a control path between the at least one functional part and numerical control-base control;

wherein the control path is active in positions between the nominal stop positions;

the mechanical terminal stop positions;

or the nominal stop positions and the mechanical terminal stop positions;

the method comprising the steps of;

acquiring actual position values of the at least one functional part; and

based on the actual position values, determining the speed and acceleration of the at least one functional part by means of a numerical control-based control.

36. The method according to claim 35, wherein, in the step of determining, a travel distance, the speed, and the acceleration are individually determined for each one of the functional parts and processed in a control loop.

37. The method according to claim 35, further comprising the step of carrying out movements of the functional parts, which movements are functionally correlated to one another, in exact relation to one another.

38. The method according to claim 35, wherein the travel distances, the speeds, and the accelerations of the functional part are programmed, processed, and saved in data processing devices or in numerical control devices.

39. The method according to claim 35, further comprising the steps of providing a software program and data processing devices, wherein the at least one position sensor in combination with the software programs and the data processing devices enables functions of measuring, checking, monitoring, and controlling as well as combinations of the functions.

40. The method according to claim 39, wherein data generated by the at least one position sensor are processed and required information is transmitted to peripheral devices.

41. The method according to claim 39, wherein the measuring and checking steps relate to at least one of a clamping diameter, a workpiece length, and additional workpiece features.

42. The method according to claim 39, wherein the measuring step is used for automatic workpiece type detection.

43. The method according to claim 42, wherein the workpiece type detection is used for automatic recognition of different workpiece types which are supplied in a random sequence for machining.

44. The method according to claim 39, wherein the functions of measuring, checking, monitoring, and controlling are used for automatic detection of deviations of predetermined movement courses of the clamping process, including detection of a workpiece being absent.

45. The method according to claim 39, wherein the functions of measuring, checking, monitoring, and controlling are used for automatic recognition of impermissible workpiece movements during machining, including sliding of the workpiece (18) in a chuck as a result of high machining forces.

46. The method according to claim 45, wherein the automated detection of impermissible workpiece movements effects an adaptive control of a clamping action of the chuck and of a machining action being performed, wherein an increase or reduction of the clamping force and the feeding speed is carried out.

47. The method according to claim 39, wherein the function of measuring of the chuck is used as a corrective function for parameters of the numerical control program.

48. The method according to claim 47, wherein the corrective function is used for recognition of axial or radial positions of the workpiece in the workpiece carrier.

49. The method according to claim 35, wherein, in the step of acquiring the actual position values, a length measurement is carried out by the at least one position sensor.

50. The method according to claim 35, wherein, in the step of acquiring the actual position values, an angular position measurement is carried out by the at least one position sensor.

51. The method according to claim 35, wherein the at least one position sensor operates by magnetostriction, wherein the at least one position sensor and at least one position transducer acquire the actual position values of the at least one functional support.

52. The method according to claim 35, wherein with the rotary machine element is a workpiece carrier embodied as a chuck, wherein the chuck is configured to clamp at least one workpiece type with different geometries.

53. The method according to claim 52, further comprising the step of controlling a movement course during clamping of the workpiece type by a numerical control program and processing and saving the movement course by data processing devices.

54. The method according to claim 35, wherein nominal position values having correlated tolerances are provided, wherein the function of controlling is activated when the actual values surpass or drop below the nominal position values having correlated tolerances.

55. The method according to claim 35, wherein the nominal position values of the at least one function part are determined by carrying out a reference movement course with a reference workpiece.

56. The method according to claim 35, wherein the nominal position values of the at least one function part are predetermined by programming.

57. The method according to claim 35, wherein the rotary machine element after exchange of at least one position sensor is calibrated by a reference movement course.

58. The method according to claim 35, wherein the rotary machine element after exchange of at least one position transducer is calibrated by a reference movement course.