Apparatus for sharpening objects

Abstract

An apparatus for sharpening objects ( 2 ) comprises abrading means ( 6 ) arranged for abrading an end portion of said objects ( 2 ) and for creating tip means ( 2 a ) in said objects ( 2 ) and support means ( 7 ) connected to rotation driving means ( 8 ) and arranged for supporting said abrading means ( 6 ), said abrading means ( 6 ) being fixed to said support means ( 7 ) by magnetic coupling means ( 15 ); the projection of the longitudinal axis of each object ( 2 ) on a plane containing an active surface ( 10 ) is tangent to a circumference the center of which lies on a rotation axis (X) of said abrading means ( 6 ); moving means ( 33 ) for moving said objects ( 2 ) are provided, the moving means ( 33 ) being arranged for driving said objects ( 2 ) to interact with regions of said active surface ( 10 ); in addition, transfer means ( 5 ) rotates each object ( 2 ) around the longitudinal axis thereof and moves each object ( 2 ) along said longitudinal axis towards said abrading means ( 6 ).

1 . Apparatus for sharpening objects ( 2 ), comprising abrading means ( 6 ) arranged for abrading an end portion of said objects ( 2 ) and for creating tip means ( 2   a ) in said objects ( 2 ), and support means ( 7 ) connected to rotation driving means ( 8 ) and arranged for supporting said abrading means ( 6 ), characterised in that said abrading means ( 6 ) is fixed to said support means ( 8 ) by magnetic coupling means ( 15 ).  
     
     
         2 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said abrading means ( 6 ) comprises tool means ( 9 ) made of ferromagnetic material and provided with an active surface ( 10 ) comprising abrasive material.  
     
     
         3 . Apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein said magnetic coupling means comprises magnetic elements ( 15 ) arranged for interacting with said tool means ( 9 ).  
     
     
         4 . Apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein said support means ( 7 ) comprises flange means ( 12 ) wherein chamber means ( 14 ) is created, said chamber means ( 14 ) being arranged for accommodating said magnetic elements ( 15 ).  
     
     
         5 . Apparatus according to  claim 4 , and further comprising moving means ( 33 ) for moving said objects ( 2 ), said moving means ( 33 ) being arranged for driving said objects ( 2 ) to interact with active surface regions ( 10 ) of said abrading means ( 6 ).  
     
     
         6 . Apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein said moving means comprises trolley means ( 33 ) actuated with a straight reciprocating movement by eccentric means ( 34 ) cooperating with restoring spring means ( 35 ).  
     
     
         7 . Apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein said trolley means ( 33 ) oscillates with an oscillation amplitude that is basically as great as the width of said active surface ( 10 ).  
     
     
         8 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , 
 wherein said abrading means ( 6 ) is rotated around a longitudinal axis thereof (X) by actuating means ( 11 ).    
     
     
         9 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , 
 wherein, during said sharpening, said objects ( 2 ) interact with said abrading means ( 6 ) so that a projection of the longitudinal axis of each object ( 2 ) on a plane containing said active surface ( 10 ) is tangent to a circumference the center of which lies on said rotation axis (X).    
     
     
         10 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , and further comprising transfer means ( 5 ) arranged for rotating each of said objects ( 2 ) around a respective longitudinal axis and for simultaneously moving each of said objects ( 2 ) along said longitudinal axis to drive each of said objects ( 2 ) to interact with said abrading means ( 6 ).  
     
     
         11 . Apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein said transfer means ( 5 ) comprises driving roller means ( 19 ) arranged for interacting with said objects ( 2 ) to block them against stop means ( 17 ,  18 ).  
     
     
         12 . Apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein, at axially consecutive sections, respectively first contact means ( 24 ) and second contact means ( 25 ) are associated with said driving roller means ( 19 ), said first contact means ( 24 ) and said second contact means ( 25 ) being arranged for rotating said objects ( 2 ) around respective longitudinal axes.  
     
     
         13 . Apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein said first contact means comprises a first pair of O-rings ( 24 ).  
     
     
         14 . Apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein said second contact means comprises a second pair of O-rings ( 25 ).  
     
     
         15 . Apparatus according to  claim 11 , 
 wherein said stop means comprises first driven roller means ( 17 ) and second driven roller means ( 18 ) having longitudinal axes which are substantially mutually parallel.    
     
     
         16 . Apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein, at axially consecutive sections, respectively first and second bearing means ( 26 ,  27 ) and/or third and fourth bearing means ( 28 ,  29 ) are associated with said first driven roller means ( 17 ) and/or with said second driven roller means ( 18 ), the external races of said first and second bearing means ( 26 ,  27 ) and/or of said third and fourth bearing means ( 28 ,  29 ) acting as stop elements for said objects ( 2 ).  
     
     
         17 . Apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein said driving roller means ( 19 ) has a longitudinal axis tilted by a preset angle (γ) in relation to the axes of said stop means ( 17 ,  18 ).  
     
     
         18 . Apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein said driving roller means ( 19 ) is fixed to slide means ( 30 ) which is movable towards and away from said stop means ( 17 ,  18 ).  
     
     
         19 . Apparatus for sharpening objects ( 2 ), comprising abrading means ( 6 ) having an active surface ( 10 ) arranged for abrading an end portion of said objects ( 2 ) and for creating tip means ( 2   a ) in said objects, characterised in that it further comprises moving means ( 33 ) for moving said objects ( 2 ), said moving means ( 33 ) being arranged for driving said objects ( 2 ) to interact with regions of said active surface ( 10 ).  
     
     
         20 . Apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein said moving means comprises trolley means ( 33 ) actuated by straight reciprocating movement means ( 34 ,  35 ).  
     
     
         21 . Apparatus according to  claim 20 , wherein said trolley means ( 33 ) travels strokes the amplitude of which is substantially equal to the width of said active surface ( 10 ).  
     
     
         22 . Apparatus according to  claim 19 , and further comprising support means ( 7 ) connected to rotation driving means ( 8 ) and arranged for supporting said abrading means ( 6 ).  
     
     
         23 . Apparatus according to  claim 22 , wherein said abrading means ( 6 ) is fixed to said support means ( 8 ) through magnetic coupling means ( 15 ).  
     
     
         24 . Apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein said abrading means ( 6 ) comprises tool means ( 9 ) made of ferromagnetic material, on which a layer of abrasive material is located, said layer of abrasive material identifying said active surface ( 10 ).  
     
     
         25 . Apparatus according to  claim 24 , wherein said magnetic coupling means comprises magnetic elements ( 15 ) arranged for interacting with said tool means ( 9 ).  
     
     
         26 . Apparatus according to  claim 25 , 
 wherein said support means ( 8 ) comprises flange means ( 12 ) in which chamber means ( 14 ) is created, said chamber means ( 14 ) being arranged for accommodating said magnetic elements ( 15 ).    
     
     
         27 . Apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein said abrading means ( 6 ) is rotated around a longitudinal axis thereof (X) by actuating means ( 11 ).  
     
     
         28 . Apparatus according to  claim 27 , in which, during sharpening, said objects ( 2 ) interact with said abrading means ( 6 ) so that a projection of the longitudinal axis of each object ( 2 ) on a plane containing said active surface ( 10 ) is tangent to a circumference the center of which lies on said rotation axis (X).  
     
     
         29 . Apparatus according to  claim 19 , and further comprising transfer means ( 5 ) arranged for rotating each of said objects ( 2 ) around a respective longitudinal axis and for simultaneously moving each of said objects ( 2 ) along said longitudinal axis to drive each of said objects ( 2 ) to interact with said abrading means ( 6 ).  
     
     
         30 . Apparatus according to  claim 29 , wherein said transfer means ( 5 ) comprises driving roller means ( 19 ) arranged for interacting with said objects ( 2 ) to immobilise said objects ( 2 ) against stop means ( 17 ,  18 ).  
     
     
         31 . Apparatus according to  claim 30 , wherein, at axially consecutive sections, respectively first contact means ( 24 ) and second contact means ( 25 ) are associated with said driving roller means ( 19 ), said first contact means ( 24 ) and said second contact means ( 25 ) being arranged for rotating said objects ( 2 ) around respective longitudinal axes.  
     
     
         32 . Apparatus according to  claim 31 , wherein said first contact means comprises a first pair of O-rings ( 24 ).  
     
     
         33 . Apparatus according to  claim 31 , wherein said second contact means comprises a second pair of O-rings ( 25 ).  
     
     
         34 . Apparatus according to  claim 30 , wherein said stop means comprises first driven roller means ( 17 ) and second driven roller means ( 18 ).  
     
     
         35 . Apparatus according to  claim 34 , wherein, at axially consecutive sections, respectively first and second bearing means ( 26 ,  27 ) and/or third and fourth bearing means ( 28 , 29 ) are associated with said first stop means ( 17 ) and/or with said second stop means ( 18 ), the external races of said first and second bearing means ( 26 ,  27 ) and/or of said third and fourth bearing means ( 28 ,  29 ) acting as stop elements for said objects ( 2 ).  
     
     
         36 . Apparatus according to  claim 30 , wherein said driving roller means ( 19 ) has a longitudinal axis which is tilted by a preset angle (γ) in relation to the axes of said stop means ( 17 ,  18 ).  
     
     
         37 . Apparatus according to  claim 30 , wherein said driving roller means ( 19 ) is fixed to slide means ( 30 ) which is movable towards and away from said first driven roller means ( 17 ) and said second driven roller means ( 18 ).  
     
     
         38 . Apparatus for sharpening objects, comprising abrading means ( 6 ) provided with an active surface ( 10 ) and driven into rotation around an axis (X) for abrading an end portion of said objects ( 2 ) to create tip means ( 2   a ) in said objects ( 2 ), characterised in that, during said sharpening, said objects ( 2 ) interact with said abrading means ( 6 ) so that a projection of the longitudinal axis of each object ( 2 ) on a plane containing said active surface ( 10 ) is tangent to a circumference the center of which lies on said rotation axis (X).  
     
     
         39 . Apparatus according to  claim 37 , and further comprising support means ( 7 ) connected to rotation driving means ( 8 ) and arranged for supporting said abrading means ( 6 ).  
     
     
         40 . Apparatus according to  claim 39 , wherein said abrading means ( 6 ) is fixed to said support means ( 8 ) through magnetic coupling means ( 15 ).  
     
     
         41 . Apparatus according to  claim 38 , wherein said abrading means ( 6 ) comprises tool means ( 9 ) made of ferromagnetic material and provided with an active surface ( 10 ) obtained by depositing a layer of abrasive material.  
     
     
         42 . Apparatus according to  claim 41 , wherein said magnetic coupling means comprises magnetic elements ( 15 ) arranged for interacting with said tool means ( 9 ).  
     
     
         43 . Apparatus according to  claim 42 , 
 wherein said support means ( 8 ) comprises flange means ( 12 ) in which chamber means ( 14 ) is created, the chamber means ( 14 ) being arranged for accommodating said magnetic elements ( 15 ).    
     
     
         44 . Apparatus according to  claim 43 , and further comprising moving means ( 33 ) for moving said objects ( 2 ), said moving means ( 33 ) being are arranged for driving said objects ( 2 ) to interact with the entire area of said active surface ( 10 ).  
     
     
         45 . Apparatus according to  claim 44 , wherein said moving means comprises trolley means ( 33 ) actuated by reciprocating straight movement by eccentric means ( 34 ), said eccentric means ( 34 ) cooperating with restoring spring means ( 35 ).  
     
     
         46 . Apparatus according to  claim 45 , wherein said trolley means ( 33 ) travels strokes the amplitude of which is substantially equal to the width of said active surface ( 10 ).  
     
     
         47 . Apparatus according to  claim 38  , and further comprising transfer means ( 5 ) arranged for rotating each of said objects ( 2 ) around a respective longitudinal axis and for simultaneously moving each of said objects ( 2 ) along said longitudinal axis, to drive each of said objects ( 2 ) to interact with said abrading means ( 6 ).  
     
     
         48 . Apparatus according to  claim 47 , wherein said transfer means ( 5 ) comprises driving roller means ( 19 ) arranged for interacting with said objects ( 2 ) to immobilise said objects ( 2 ) against stop means ( 17 ,  18 ).  
     
     
         49 . Apparatus according to  claim 48 , wherein, at axially consecutive sections, first contact means ( 24 ) and second contact means ( 25 ) are respectively associated with said driving roller means ( 19 ), said first contact means ( 24 ) and said second contact means ( 25 ) being arranged for rotating said objects ( 2 ) around respective longitudinal axes.  
     
     
         50 . Apparatus according to  claim 49 , wherein said first contact means comprises a first pair of O-rings ( 24 ).  
     
     
         51 . Apparatus according to  claim 49 , wherein said second contact means comprises a second pair of O-rings ( 25 ).  
     
     
         52 . Apparatus according to  claim 48 , wherein said stop means comprises first driven roller means ( 17 ) and second driven roller means ( 18 ).  
     
     
         53 . Apparatus according to  claim 52 , wherein, at axially consecutive sections, respectively first and second bearing means ( 26 ,  27 ) and/or third and fourth bearing means ( 28 ,  29 ) are associated with said first driven roller means ( 17 ) and/or with said second driven roller means ( 18 ), the external races of said first and second bearing means ( 26 ,  27 ) and/or of said third and fourth bearing means ( 28 ,  29 ) acting as stop elements for said objects  2 .  
     
     
         54 . Apparatus according to  claim 48  , wherein said driving roller means ( 19 ) has a longitudinal axis which is tilted by a preset angle (γ) in relation to the axes of said stop means ( 17 ,  18 ).  
     
     
         55 . Apparatus according to  claim 48 , 
 wherein said driving roller means ( 19 ) is fixed to slide means ( 30 ) which is movable towards and away from said stop means ( 17 ,  18 ).    
     
     
         56 . Apparatus for sharpening objects ( 2 ), comprising abrading means ( 6 ) arranged for abrading an end portion of said objects ( 2 ) to create tip means ( 2   a ) in said objects ( 2 ), characterised in that it further comprises transfer means ( 5 ) arranged for rotating each of said objects ( 2 ) around a respective longitudinal axis and for simultaneously moving each of said objects ( 2 ) along said longitudinal axis to drive each of said objects ( 2 ) to interact with said abrading means ( 6 ).  
     
     
         57 . Apparatus according to  claim 56 , wherein said transfer means ( 5 ) comprises driving roller means ( 19 ) arranged for interacting with said objects ( 2 ) to immobilise said objects ( 2 ) against stop means ( 17 ,  18 ).  
     
     
         58 . Apparatus according to  claim 57 , wherein, at axially consecutive sections, first contact means ( 24 ) and second contact means ( 25 ) are respectively associated with said driving roller means ( 19 ), said first contact means ( 24 ) and said second contact means ( 25 ) being arranged for rotating each of said objects ( 2 ) around said respective longitudinal axis.  
     
     
         59 . Apparatus according to  claim 58 , wherein said first contact means comprises a first pair of O-rings ( 24 ).  
     
     
         60 . Apparatus according to  claim 58 , wherein said second contact means comprises a second pair of O-rings ( 25 ).  
     
     
         61 . Apparatus according to  claim 57  , wherein said stop means comprises first driven roller means ( 17 ) and second driven roller means ( 18 ) which have axes that are substantially mutually parallel.  
     
     
         62 . Apparatus according to  claim 61 , wherein, at axially consecutive sections, first and second bearing means ( 26 ,  27 ) and/or third and fourth bearing means ( 28 ,  29 ) are respectively associated with said first driven roller means ( 17 ) and/or with said second driven roller means ( 18 ), the external races of said first and second bearing means ( 26 ,  27 ) and/or of said third and fourth bearing means ( 28 ,  29 ) acting as stop elements for said objects ( 2 ).  
     
     
         63 . Apparatus according to  claim 57 , wherein said driving roller means ( 19 ) has a longitudinal axis which is tilted by a preset angle (γ) in relation to the axes of said stop means ( 17 ,  18 ).  
     
     
         64 . Apparatus according to  claim 57  , wherein said driving roller means ( 19 ) is fixed to slide means ( 30 ) which is movable towards and away from said stop means ( 17 ,  18 ).  
     
     
         65 . Apparatus according to  claim 54 , and further comprising support means ( 7 ) connected to rotation driving means ( 8 ) and arranged for supporting said abrading means ( 6 ).  
     
     
         66 . Apparatus according to  claim 63 , wherein said abrading means ( 6 ) is fixed to said support means ( 8 ) through magnetic coupling means ( 15 ).  
     
     
         67 . Apparatus according to  claim 56  , wherein said abrading means ( 6 ) comprises tool means ( 9 ) made of ferromagnetic material.  
     
     
         68 . Apparatus according to  claim 67 , 
 wherein said magnetic coupling means comprises magnetic elements ( 15 ) arranged for interacting with said tool means ( 9 ).    
     
     
         69 . Apparatus according to  claim 68 , wherein said support means ( 8 ) comprises flange means ( 12 ) in which chamber means ( 14 ) are created, the chamber means ( 14 ) being arranged for accommodating said magnetic elements ( 15 ).  
     
     
         70 . Apparatus according to  claim 69 , and further comprising moving means ( 33 ) for moving said objects ( 2 ), said moving means ( 33 ) being arranged for driving said objects ( 2 ) to interact with the entire area of said active surface ( 10 ).  
     
     
         71 . Apparatus according to claim  70 , wherein said moving means comprises trolley means ( 33 ) actuated by straight reciprocating movement by eccentric means ( 34 ) which cooperates with restoring spring means ( 35 ).  
     
     
         72 . Apparatus according to claim  71 , wherein said trolley means ( 33 ) travels strokes the amplitude of which is substantially equal to the width of said active surface ( 10 ).  
     
     
         73 . Apparatus according to  claim 56 , wherein said abrading means ( 6 ) is rotated around a longitudinal axis thereof (X) by actuating means ( 11 ).  
     
     
         74 . Apparatus according to claim  73 , in which, during said sharpening, said objects ( 2 ) interact with said abrading means ( 6 ) so that a projection of the longitudinal axis of each object ( 2 ) on a plane containing said active surface ( 10 ) is tangent to a circumference the center of which lies on said rotation axis (X).  
     
     
         75 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , 
 wherein said objects comprise elongated bodies.    
     
     
         76 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , 
 wherein said objects comprise welding electrodes.