Superfinish Machine with an Endless Polishing Band and Method for Operating a Superfinish Machine

Abstract

A superfinish machine and a method for operating a superfinish machine are proposed, wherein monitoring an endless polishing band of the superfinish machine is possible.

1 . A superfinish machine comprising an endless polishing band for processing a workpiece, a clamping apparatus for fixing the endless polishing band, a transport apparatus for transporting the endless polishing band along a path, and an optical system for monitoring the endless polishing band. 
     
     
         2 . The superfinish machine of  claim 1 , wherein the optical system includes at least one light barrier. 
     
     
         3 . The superfinish machine of  claim 1 , wherein the optical system includes a laser light. 
     
     
         4 . The superfinish machine of  claim 1 , wherein the optical system includes at least one LED (light emitting diode). 
     
     
         5 . The superfinish machine of  claim 1 , wherein the optical system is arranged in front of the clamping apparatus in the direction of the path of the endless polishing band. 
     
     
         6 . The superfinish machine of  claim 1 , wherein the optical system is arranged between the clamping apparatus and the transport apparatus. 
     
     
         7 . The superfinish machine of  claim 1 , wherein the endless polishing band is guided by one or more honing shells. 
     
     
         8 . An endless polishing band for a finishing apparatus, the band having a front side and a reverse side, wherein polishing resources are bound on the front side, comprising markings arranged at regular intervals on the endless polishing band in a longitudinal direction of the endless polishing band. 
     
     
         9 . The endless polishing band of  claim 8 , wherein the markings are imprinted on at least one of the front side and the reverse side. 
     
     
         10 . The endless polishing band of  claim 8 , wherein the markings are openings in the endless polishing band. 
     
     
         11 . A method for operating a superfinish machine with an endless polishing band for processing a workpiece, with a clamping apparatus for the endless polishing band, with a transport apparatus for transporting the endless polishing band along a path, and with at least one optical system, for monitoring the endless polishing band, comprising the following procedural steps:
 a.) processing a workpiece;   b.) replacing a used section of the endless polishing band with an unused section of the endless polishing band;   c.) recording a motion of the endless polishing band using the at least one optical system; and   d.) issuing an error message if the endless polishing band does not move.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the path of the endless polishing band is recorded using the at least one optical system, and motion of the endless polishing band is terminated as soon as a target feel of the endless polishing band is reached. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the motion of the endless polishing band is terminated by activating the clamping apparatus or by deactivating the transport apparatus. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the clamping apparatus is activated and the endless polishing band is fixed at one position during the processing of the workpiece. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the transport apparatus exerts a tightening force on the endless polishing band during the processing of the workpiece on a second site of the endless polishing band. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the optical system includes at least one one-way light barrier. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the light barrier is a laser light having a wavelength of about 650 nanometers.