Cylindrical grinder, and mechanism for producing relative movement between grinding wheel and workpiece in cylindrical grinder

Abstract

A cylindrical grinder includes a workpiece support section adapted to support a generally cylindrical workpiece and rotate the workpiece about a rotational axis, and a wheel head adapted to support and rotate a grinding wheel. The wheel head is moved relative to the workpiece support section, along a first direction parallel to a rotational axis of the workpiece and along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction in order to grind an outer surface of the workpiece. The wheel head is turnable relative to the workpiece so that a rotational axis of the grinding wheel can be tilted within a plane substantially passing through the rotational axis of the grinding wheel and the rotational axis of the workpiece, within a range extending across a reference plane perpendicular to the rotational axis of the workpiece. Further, link-type parallel link mechanisms for moving the grinding wheel are disclosed.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A cylindrical grinder comprising: 
 a workpiece support section adapted to support a generally cylindrical workpiece and rotate the workpiece about a rotational axis; and    a wheel head adapted to support and rotate a grinding wheel, the wheel head being moved relative to the workpiece support section, along a first direction parallel to the rotational axis of the workpiece and along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction in order to grind an outer surface of the workpiece, wherein 
 the wheel head is turnable relative to the workpiece so that a rotational axis of the grinding wheel can be tilted within a plane substantially passing through the rotational axis of the grinding wheel and the rotational axis of the workpiece, within a range extending across a reference plane perpendicular to the rotational axis of the workpiece.  
   
     
     
         2 . A cylindrical grinder according to  claim 1 , wherein the grinding wheel has a plurality of tapered circumferential surfaces serving as grinding faces and having different inclination angles relative to the rotational axis of the grinding wheel.  
     
     
         3 . A cylindrical grinder according to  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the tapered circumferential surfaces is formed of a grinding stone different from those of the remaining tapered circumferential surfaces.  
     
     
         4 . A link mechanism for producing relative movement between a grinding wheel and a workpiece in a cylindrical grinder, comprising: 
 a movable body supporting one of the grinding wheel and the workpiece, the movable body being disposed on a base of the cylindrical grinder to be translatable along a first axis and rotatable about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis; and    at least two operation rods pivotably connected to a pivot portion of the movable body, the operation rods moving the pivot portion in order to translate and rotate the movable body relative to the base.    
     
     
         5 . A link mechanism according to  claim 4 , further comprising two drive blocks disposed on the base and moved straight, the operation rods being pivotally connected to the respective drive blocks.  
     
     
         6 . A link mechanism according to  claim 5 , wherein the drive blocks are moved along a direction parallel to a translation direction of the movable body.  
     
     
         7 . A link mechanism according to  claim 5 , wherein the drive blocks are moved along a direction perpendicular to a translation direction of the movable body.  
     
     
         8 . A link mechanism according to  claim 4 , wherein the operation rods are pivotably connected to the base and configured to be extendable and contractable; and the operation rods are extended or contracted or rotated relative to the base in order to move the pivot portion of the movable body.  
     
     
         9 . A link mechanism for producing relative movement between a grinding wheel and a workpiece in a cylindrical grinder, comprising: 
 a movable body movably disposed on a base of the cylindrical grinder and supporting one of the grinding wheel and the workpiece;    at least three drive blocks each moved straight relative to the base; and    at least three operation rods, first ends of the operation rods being pivotably connected to the movable body via at least two pivot portions, and second ends of the operation rods being pivotably connected to the corresponding drive blocks, wherein 
 the movable member is translated or rotated, on a plane, relative to the base upon transmission of movements of the drive blocks to the movable body via the operation rods and the pivot portions.  
   
     
     
         10 . A link mechanism according to  claim 9 , further comprising detection means for detecting actual displacement of the movable body relative to the base.  
     
     
         11 . A parallel link mechanism according to  claim 9 , wherein, of the operation rods, at least two operation rods are disposed symmetrically on opposite sides of a reference line along which the grinding wheel and the workpiece are disposed to face each other.  
     
     
         12 . A link mechanism according to  claim 9 , wherein, of the operation rods, at least two operation rods intersect each other.  
     
     
         13 . A link mechanism according to  claim 9 , further comprising a support member for supporting the movable body in such a manner that the movable body can translate and rotate on a plane defined on the base.