US3815293A

US3815293A - Roller support assembly for machine carriage

Info

Publication number: US3815293A
Application number: US00323976A
Authority: US
Inventors: S Karbowski
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1973-01-15
Filing date: 1973-01-15
Publication date: 1974-06-11
Anticipated expiration: 1991-06-11

Abstract

A machine tool has an elongated bed and includes a carriage supported for reciprocal movement longitudinally of the bed by a roller support assembly which comprises a pair of transversely spaced and longitudinally extending roller units positioned between the bed and carriage and in rolling engagement with both the bed and carriage. Each roller unit includes an elongated support member which carries at least one group of cylindrical rollers. The rollers are arranged in longitudinal series and journalled on an associated set of axles mounted in cantilever position along the support member.

Description

Karbowski June 11, 1974 ROLLER SUPPORT ASSEMBLY FOR MACHINE CARRIAGE Primary Examiner-Harold D. Whitehead Attorney, Agent, or Firm-McCormick, Paulding &

[76] Inventor: Sylvester G. Karbowski, 1343 Quinnipiac, New Haven, Conn. Huber 22 Filed: Jan. 15, 1973 [57] BST PP 323,976 A machine tool has an elongated bed and includes a I carriage supported for reciprocal movement longitudi- [52 us. (:1 51/231 308/3 A 308/6 R nally of t bed by a roller Support assembly which 51 int. Cl 132 41, 47/02 comprises a Pair transversely Spaced and [58] Field of Search 51/231. 308/3 A 6 R nally extending roller units positioned between the 1 bed and carriage and in rolling engagement with both [56] 7 References Cited the bed and carriage. Each roller unit includes an elongated support member which carries at least one UNITED STATES PATENTS group of cylindrical rollers. The rollers are arranged in v l gomell longitudinal series and journalled on an associated set 1 eeney of axles mounted in cantilever position along the sup- 2,l7l,854 9/1939 Lee 308/6 R p member FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS l,266,350 5/1961 France 308/6 R 10 Clams 7 Drawmg F'gures \N' 38 32 V 40 Q I 2 36 a l4 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates in general to machines of the i type which have a reciprocally movable carriage and deals moreparticularly with an improved roller assembly for supporting the carriage in a machine of the aforedescribed general type. The roller assembly of the present invention is adapted to provide support for a movable machine carriage along a substantialportion of its length for smooth rolling engagement with a supporting bed or frame. The unitary construction of the roller units and the manner in which these units cooperate with the carriage and bed of the machinefacilitate convenient periodic machine maintenance as, for example, cleaning and lubrication, with minimum machine downtime. The roller assembly of the present in- SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, an improved roller assembly is provided for supporting the carriage of a machine for rolling movement relative to the bed or frame thereof. The roller support assembly comprises at least one roller unit which includes at least one group of rollers disposed between the carriage and bed of the machine and in rolling engagement with the ways thereof, and means for maintaining the rollers in longitudinally spaced series and axially parallel relation with the axes thereof disposed transversely of the ways. When the roller support assembly of the present invention is provided as a conversion unit for an existing machine which has a slidably supported carriage and a rack and pinion drive mechanism for moving the carriage, a shim may be provided as part of the assembly. The shim has a thickness substantially equal to the diameter of the rollers and is positioned between the rack and the carriage to maintain the rack in intermeshing engagement with the drive pinion and thereby compensate for the change of position of the carriage relative to the bed which results from the positioning of the roller assembly therebetween.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. I is a fragmentary side elevational view of a machine tool or surface grinder embodying the present in- FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of another roller unit.

FIG. 7 is a somewhat enlarged sectional view taken generally along the line 7--7 of FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The roller support assembly of the present invention maybe provided as original equipment, that is as an integral part of a machine, or, if desired, may comprise a conversion unit foruse with an existing machine. In the drawing and description which follows, the present invention is illustrated and described with reference to a conventional machine or surface grinder 10 of the type which includes a reciprocally movable carriage slidably supported on a bed. However, the illustrated grinder 10 is provided with a roller support assembly or conversion unit embodying the present invention and indicated generally bythe reference numeral 12. The assembly 12 comprises a pair of roller units respectively generally indicated at Hand 16, a shim l8, and a retaining member 20, all of which will be hereinafter further described.

Considering first the grinder 10 in its original form, or before conversion, it comprises a frameor bed 22 which supports a carriage 24 for horizontal reciprocal movement in'a longitudinal direction, as indicated by the directional arrow in FIG. 1. A conventional magnetic chuck 26 mounted on a carriage 24 retains workpiece W which moves with the carriage and relative to a grinding wheel 28. The carriage 24 is driven in one and an opposite direction relative to the bed 22 by a rack and pinion mechanism which includesa drive pinion 30 joumalled to reciprocate relative to the bed and in driving engagement with a rack 32 mounted on the lower surface of the carriage 24. The carriage has a pair of transversely spaced upper ways which extend longitudinally thereof for complementary sliding engagement with a pair of lower ways on the bed 22.

The bed 22 preferably comprises a metal casting which has a pair of upwardly facing lower ways, generally indicated at 34 and 36, formed on the upper surface thereof and v which extend longitudinally of the bed. The lower way 34 comprises a horizontal disposed guide surface 38. Theother lower way 36 has a generally V-shaped cross-sectional configuration and is defined by a pair of elongated angularly disposed

guide surfaces

40,40. The drive pinion 30 is joumalled in the base 22 between the

ways

34 and 36, as best shown in FIG, 3, and is connected to a conventional-reciprocating drive mechanism (not shown).

Considering now the carriage 24 in further detail, it preferably comprises a metal casting which has a pair of downwardly facing'upper ways formed thereon and respectively generally indicated by the

numerals

42 and 44.'The upper way 42 is defined by a substantially horizontally disposed bearing surface 46 which extends longitudinally of the carriage. The other upper way 44 has a V-shaped cross-sectional configuration to complement the cross-sectional configuration of the lower way 36 and is formed by a pair of longitudinally elongated and angularly disposed bearing

surfaces

48, 48. The

upper ways

42 and 44 are adapted. for respective complementary sliding engagement with the

lower ways

34 and 36 whereby the carriage 24 is normally supported for reciprocal sliding movement relative to the bed 22. However, as previously noted, the illustrated machine is provided with aroller support assembly 12 which comprises the

roller units

14 and 16. Each roller unit includes at least one group of rollers maintained in longitudinally spaced series and axially parallel relation as hereinafter further described. Each roller unit is disposed between an associated upper and lower way in rolling engagement therewith as best shown in FIG. 3, whereby to support the carriage 24 for rolling travel in one and an opposition longitudinal direction relative to the bed 22.

Further considering the roller unit 14, and referring particularly to FIGS. 6 and 7, the unit 14 comprises a plurality of axially elongated

cylindrical rollers

50, 50. Each roller 50 is journalled on an associated axle 52 which is mounted in a cantilever position on a support member or bar 44 and projects outwardly therefrom. The support member or bar 54 and its associated

axles

52, 52 maintain the

rollers

50, 50 in longitudinally spaced series and axially parallel relation to each other.

The roller unit 16 is somewhat similar to the unit 14, previously described, but includes an elongated support member 54a which supports two groups of cylindrical rollers designated G1 and G2. Each group includes a plurality of

rollers

50a, 50a supported by an associated set of

axles

52a, 52a. However, the

rollers

50a, 50a are of slighly larger diameter than the

rollers

50, 50 previously dscribed. Each axle 52a threadably engages the support member 54a, projects outwardly therefrom, and has an associated roller 50a journalled thereon. The two groups of rollers G1 and G2 are angularly arranged relative to each other in generally V- shaped configuration to respectively complement the cross-sectional configurations of the upper and

lower ways

36 and 44.

In converting the machine 10, the carriage 24 which rests on the bed 22 is first removed therefrom. Thereafter, the roller unit 14 is positioned on the lower way 34 with the

rollers

50, 50 extending axially transversely of the guide surface 38 and in rolling engagement therewith as best shown in FIG. 3. The retaining member 20 which, as shown, comprises an elongated member or angular cross-section is secured to the bed 22 by suitable fasteners in transversely spaced'relation to the lower way 34. The elongated support member 54 is positioned between the lower way 34 and the retaining member 20 and is thereby maintained in longitudinal alignment with the lower way 34, so that the

rollers

50, 50 extend axially transversely thereof to assure smooth rolling engagement between the carriage 24 and the bed 22.

The roller unit 16 is positioned on the lower way 36 with the rollers in each of the groups G1 and G2 in respective rolling engagement with an associated one of the

guide surfaces

40, 40. Due to the V-shaped configuration of the lower way 36 and the complementary configuration of the roller unit 16, the latter unit will remain in aligned relation. with the way 36 at all times, so that the

rollers

50a, 50a in each group extend axially transversely of an associated guide surface 40.

When the roller assembly 12 is positioned between the bed 22 and the carriage 24, the carriage assembly is raised above the bed a distance substantially equal to the diameter of the

rollers

50, 50 associated with the roller unit 14. The shim 18 is provided to compensate for this change of relative postion between the bed and carriage. More specifically, the shim 18 is provided for shimming the rack 32 downwardly to maintain it in intenneshing engagement with the pinion 30. The shim 18 has a thickness measured in a vertical direction, as it appers in FIG. 3, which is substantially equal to the diameter of the

rollers

50, 50.

The length of the roller units which comprise the roller assembly 12, the number of rollers in each unit, and the longitudinal spacing between the rollers will be determined by the length of the machine carriage, its weight, and the load which is must support. The assembly 12 has been illustrated and described with reference to a conversion unit for an existing machine; however, it should be understood that the roller support assembly of the present invention may be provided as original equipment in any machine wherein a carriage is supported and arranged for reciprocal movement relative to a bed. When the present roller assembly is provided as original equipment, it will be apparent that the drive mechanism may be designed to eliminate need for the shim 18. It will be further apparent that appropriate means for positively maintaining the roller unit 14 in longitudinal alignment with associated .ways may be incorporated in the design of the machine to eliminate need for the retaining member 20.

I claim:

1. In a machine, an elongated bed having a longitudinally extending V-shaped groove opening upwardly therethrough and defining one lower way including a pair of generally .upwardly facing angularly disposed and longitudinally extending guide surfaces, a carriage including one upper way having a generally V-shaped cross-sectional configuration generally complementing the V-shaped cross-sectional configuration of said lower way, said upper way including a pair of generally downwardly facing angularly disposed and longitudinally extending bearing surfaces, and a roller support assembly disposed between and in rolling engagment with said bed and said carriage for supporting said carriage for reciprocal movement longitudinally of said bed and comprising a roller unit including an elongated rigid bar disposed in said groove and extending longitu dinally therein, a first set of axles including a longitudinally spaced series of axially parallel axles mounted in fixed position on said bar and extending transversely outwardly therefrom in cantilever relation thereto, a second set of axles including another longitudinally spaced series of axially parallel axles mounted in fixed position on said bar and extending transversely outwardly therefrom in cantilever relation thereto, said first and second sets defining an angle therebetween substantially equal to the angle between said guide surfaces, a first group of axially elongated generally cylindrical rollers equal in number to said axles in said first set, each of said rollers in said first group being journalled on an associated one of said axles in said first set and in rolling engagement with one of said guide surfaces and an associated one of said bearing surfaces, and a second group of axially elongated generally cylindrical rollers equal in number to said axles in said second set, each of said rollers in said second group being joumalled on an associated one of said axles in said second set and in rolling engagement with the other of said guide surfaces and the other of said bearing surfaces associated with said other of said guide surfaces.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said bed includes another lower way defined by a horizontally disposed longitudinally extending and upgitudinally extending and downwardly facing bearing surface, and said roller support assembly includes another roller unit which comprises another elongated rigid bar extending horizontally of said bed, a third set of axles including a longitudinallyspaced series of axially parallel axles mounted in fixed position on said other bar and extending transversely outwardly therefrom in cantilever relation thereto, and a third group of axially elongated generally cylindrical rollers equal in number to said axles in said third set, each of said rollers in said third group being journalled on an associated one of said axles in said third set and in rolling engagement with said horizontally disposed guide surface and said horizontally disposed bearing surface.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 2 including means for retaining said other bar in parallel alignment with said other lower way.

4. The combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein the rollers in said first group and said second group are of larger diameter than the rollers in said third group;

5. The combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein each of said axles is threadably connected to an associated one of said bars comprising said one and said other bar. i

6. The combination as set forth in claim 3 wherein said retaining means comprises an elongated retaining member and means for securing said retaining member to said bed in longitudinal alignment with and transversely spaced from said horizontally disposed guide surface, said other bar being disposed between said retaining member in said horizontally disposed guide surface.

7. A roller support assembly for a machine having an elongated bed including a longitudinally extending V-' shaped groove opening upwardly therethrough and defining one lower way including a pair of generally upwardly facing angularly disposed and longitudinally extending guide surfaces and a carriage including one upper way having a generally V-shaped cross-sectional configuration generally complementing the V-shaped cross-sectional configuration of said lower way, said upper way including a pair of generally downwardly facing angularly disposed and longitudinally extending bearing surfaces, said roller support assembly comprising a roller unit for positioning in said groove to extend longitudinally therein between said bed and said carriage and in rolling engagement therewith and including an elongated rigid bar, a first set of axles including a longitudinally spaced series of axially parallel axles mounted in fixed position on said bar and extending transversely outwardly therefrom in cantilever relation thereto, a second set of axles including another longitudinally spaced series of axially parallel axles mounted in fixed position on said bar and extending transversly outwardly therefromin cantilever relation thereto, said first and second sets defining an angle therebetween substantially equal to the angle between said guide surfaces, a first group of axially elongated generally cylindrical rollers equal in number to said axles in said first set, each of said rollers in said first group being jour- 'naled on an associated one of said axles in said first set,

and a second group of axially elongated generally cylindrical rollers equal in number to said axles in said second set, each of said rollers in said second group being journalled on an associated one of said axles in said second set.

8. The combination as set forth in claim 7 wherein the machine bed includes another lower way defined by a horizontally disposed longitudinally extending and upwardly facing guide surface, the machine carriage includes another upper way defined by a horizontally disposed longitudinally extending and downwardly facing bearing surface, and said roller support assembly includes another roller unit for positioning between saidother lower way and said other upper way to extend longitudinally'thereof in rolling engagement therewith and which compriss another elongated rigid bar, a third set of axles including a longitudinally spaced series of axially parallel axles mounted in fixed position on said other bar and extending transversely outwardly therefrom in cantilever relation thereto, and a third group of axially elongated generally cylindrical rollers equal in number to said axles in said third set, each of said rollers in said third group being journalled on an associated one of said axles in said third set.

9. A roller support assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein the machine has a drive mechanism which includes a downwardly facing rack mounted on the carriage and a drive pinion journalled on the bed for drivingly engaging the rack and said roller support assembly includes a shim for positioning; between the carriage and the rack for maintaining the rack in engagement with the pinion when said roller assembly is positioned between the upper and lower way in rolling engagement therewith, said shim having a thickness substantially equal to the diameter of said rollers in said third group.

10. A roller support assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein said support assembly includes an elongated retaining member and means for mounting said retaining member on the bed in parallel alignment with and transversely spaced from the other lower way to permit positioning of said other bar between said retaining s UNI ED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFECATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3 815193 Dated June 11, 1974 Inventor(s) Sylvester G Karbowski It certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

C01. 1, line 26, "was should be has--.

C01. line 16, "44" should be --54---.

Col. lime 28, "dseribed" should be ---described--.

C01, line 29, after "member" insert --or bar- 0 line 32, after "in" insert -a--.

Col. line 42, "or" should be ---of-- si ned andsea led this 19th day of November 1974.

(SEAL) Attest: v

McCOY M. GIBSON JR. I C. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents FORM P0405 (0459) i USCOMM-DC scan-pm I i 11.5. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFlCE! .Q" (It-b334,

Claims

1. In a machine, an elongated bed having a longitudinally extending V-shaped groove opening upwardly therethrough and defining one lower way including a pair of generally upwardly facing angularly disposed and longitudinally extending guide surfaces, a carriage including one upper way having a generally V-shaped cross-sectional configuration generally complementing the V-shaped cross-sectional configuration of said lower way, said upper way including a pair of generally downwardly facing angularly disposed and longitudinally extending bearing surfaces, and a roller support assembly disposed between and in rolling engagment with said bed and said carriage for supporting said carriage for reciprocal movement longitudinally of said bed and comprising a roller unit including an elongated rigid bar disposed in said groove and extending longitudinally therein, a first set of axles including a longitudinally spaced series of axially parallel axles mounted in fixed position on said bar and extending transversely outwardly therefrom in cantilever relation thereto, a second set of axles including another longitudinally spaced series of axially parallel axles mounted in fixed position on said bar and extending transversely outwardly therefrom in cantilever relation thereto, said first and second sets defining an angle therebetween substantially equal to the angle between said guide surfaces, a first group of axially elongated generally cylindrical rollers equal in number to said axles in said first set, each of said rollers in said first group being journalled on an associated one of said axles in said first set and in rolling engagement with one of said guide surfaces and an associated one of said bearing surfaces, and a second group of axially elongated generally cylindrical rollers equal in number to said axles in said second set, each of said rollers in said second group being journalled on an associated one of said axles in said second set and in rolling engagement with the other of said guide surfaces and the other of said bearing surfaces associated with said other of said guide surfaces.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said bed includes another lower way defined by a horizontally disposed longitudinally extending and upwardly facing guide surface, said carriage includes another upper way defined by a horizontally disposed longitudinally extending and downwardly facing bearing surface, and said roller support assembly includes another roller unit which comprises another elongated rigid bar extending horizontally of said bed, a third set of axles including a longitudinally spaced series of axially parallel axles mounted in fixed position on said other bar and extending transversely outwardly therefrom in cantilever relation thereto, and a third group of axially elongated generally cylindrical rollers equal in number to said axles in said third set, each of said rollers in said third group being journalled on an associated one of said axles in said third set and in rolling engagement with said horizontally disposed guide surface and said horizontally disposed bearing surface.

4. The combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein the rollers in said first group and said second group are of larger diameter than the rollers in said third group.

5. The combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein each of said axles is threadably connected to an associated one of said bars comprising said one and said other bar.

7. A roller support assembly for a machine having an elongated bed including a longitudinally extending V-shaped groove opening upwardly therethrough and defining one lower way including a pair of generally upwardly facing angularly disposed and longitudinally extending guide surfaces and a carriage including one upper way having a generally V-shaped cross-sectional configuration generally complementing the V-shaped cross-sectional configuration of said lower way, said upper way including a pair of generally downwardly facing angularly disposed and longitudinally extending bearing surfaces, said roller support assembly comprising a roller unit for positioning in said groove to extend longitudinally therein between said bed and said carriage and in rolling engagement therewith and including an elongated rigid bar, a first set of axles including a longitudinally spaced series of axially parallel axles mounted in fixed position on said bar and extending transversely outwardly therefrom in cantilever relation thereto, a second set of axles including another longitudinally spaced series of axially parallel axles mounted in fixed position on said bar and extending transversly outwardly therefrom in cantilever relation thereto, said first and second sets defining an angle therebetween substantially equal to the angle between said guide surfaces, a first group of axially elongated generally cylindrical rollers equal in number to said axles in said first set, each of said rollers in said first group being journaled on an associated one of said axles in said first set, and a second group of axially elongated generally cylindrical rollers equal in number to said axles in said second set, each of said rollers in said second group being journalled on an associated one of said axles in said second set.

8. The combination as set forth in claim 7 wherein the machine bed includes another lower way defined by a horizontally disposed longitudinally extending and upwardly facing guide surface, the machine carriage includes another upper way defined by a horizontally disposed longitudinally extending and downwardly facing bearing surface, and said roller support assembly includes another roller unit for positioning between said other lower way and said other upper way to extend longitudinally thereof in rolling engagement therewith and which compriss another elongated rigid bar, a third set of axles including a longitudinally spaced series of axially parallel axles mounted in fixed position on said other bar and extending transversely outwardly therefrom in cantilever relation thereto, and a third group of axially elongated generally cylindrical rollers equal in number to said axles in said third set, each of said rollers in said third group being journalled on an associated one of said axles in said third set.

9. A roller support assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein the machine has a drive mechanism which includes a downwardly facing rack mounted on the carriage and a drive pinion journalled on the bed for drivingly engaging the rack and said roller support assembly includes a shim for positioning between the carriage and the rack for maintaining the rack in engagement with the pinion when said roller assembly is positioned between the upper and lower way in rolling engagement therewith, said shim having a thickness substantially equal to the diameter of said rollers in said third group.

10. A roller support assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein said support assembly includes an elongated retaining member and means for mounting said retaining member on the bed in parallel alignment with and transversely spaced from the other lower way to permit positioning of said other bar between said retaining member and said other lower way.