Abstract: A method for honing a workpiece includes moving the workpiece onto an intermediate retention member which is rotatable about a vertical workpiece axis. Then, the workpiece is brought into a rolling engagement with a teaching wheel. An angular transfer position of the workpiece is established by the rotary sensor of the teaching wheel retention member. Next, the workpiece is transferred from the intermediate retention member onto a workpiece spindle, where the workpiece is retained onto the workpiece spindle. Then, the workpiece goes through a honing process by bringing the workpiece into a synchronized rolling engagement with a honing tool by utilizing the angular transfer position of the workpiece, thereby eliminating a separate centering step of the workpiece.

Abstract: A tool spindle for a honing machine includes a bowl-shaped holder having a circumferential peripheral wall connected to a bottom part. The bowl-shaped holder is configured to hold a honing ring on an inside of the bowl-shaped holder. At least one expansion element is formed on the inside of the bowl-shaped holder along an inner surface of the circumferential peripheral wall. The at least one expansion element radially clamps and centers the honing ring inside the bowl-shaped holder. A hydraulic chamber is disposed in the bottom part of the bowl-shaped holder. At least one hydraulic line is connecting in fluid communication the at least one expansion element and the hydraulic chamber. A single adjustment element is movable in relation to the bottom part of the bowl-shaped holder, where the single adjustment element is in fluid communication with the hydraulic chamber.

Abstract: A honing machine includes a machine housing enclosing a workpiece spindle and a tool spindle. The workpiece spindle includes a spindle collar with a spindle head configured to hold a workpiece. The tool spindle includes a cup-shaped holder with a honing ring located on an inside of the cup shaped holder. An operating tank is also located within the machine housing, where the operating tank surrounds the tool spindle in an oil-tight manner. The operating tank includes a panel with a recess, where the workpiece spindle is configured to insert the spindle head through the recess and form a first oil-tight seal between the recess and the spindle collar. The panel is moveable relative to the operating tank and tool spindle when the panel is carried along by the workpiece spindle during a feed motion. A second oil-tight seal is formed between the panel and the operating tank.

Abstract: A honing machine includes a machine housing enclosing a workpiece spindle and a tool spindle. The workpiece spindle includes a spindle collar with a spindle head configured to hold a workpiece. The tool spindle includes a cup-shaped holder with a honing ring located on an inside of the cup shaped holder. An operating tank is also located within the machine housing, where the operating tank surrounds the tool spindle in an oil-tight manner. The operating tank includes a panel with a recess, where the workpiece spindle is configured to insert the spindle head through the recess and form a first oil-tight seal between the recess and the spindle collar. The panel is moveable relative to the operating tank and tool spindle when the panel is carried along by the workpiece spindle during a feed motion. A second oil-tight seal is formed between the panel and the operating tank.

Abstract: A method for honing a workpiece includes moving the workpiece onto an intermediate retention member which is rotatable about a vertical workpiece axis. Then, the workpiece is brought into a rolling engagement with a teaching wheel. An angular transfer position of the workpiece is established by the rotary sensor of the teaching wheel retention member. Next, the workpiece is transferred from the intermediate retention member onto a workpiece spindle, where the workpiece is retained onto the workpiece spindle. Then, the workpiece goes through a honing process by bringing the workpiece into a synchronized rolling engagement with a honing tool by utilizing the angular transfer position of the workpiece, thereby eliminating a separate centering step of the workpiece.

Abstract: A tool spindle for a honing machine includes a bowl-shaped holder having a circumferential peripheral wall connected to a bottom part. The bowl-shaped holder is configured to hold a honing ring on an inside of the bowl-shaped holder. At least one expansion element is formed on the inside of the bowl-shaped holder along an inner surface of the circumferential peripheral wall. The at least one expansion element radially clamps and centers the honing ring inside the bowl-shaped holder. A hydraulic chamber is disposed in the bottom part of the bowl-shaped holder. At least one hydraulic line is connecting in fluid communication the at least one expansion element and the hydraulic chamber. A single adjustment element is movable in relation to the bottom part of the bowl-shaped holder, where the single adjustment element is in fluid communication with the hydraulic chamber.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for tooth-machining of workpieces (3), especially gear wheels, comprising milling, deburring by hobbing and integrated secondary deburring. The method proceeds on a machine tool (1) having two workpiece spindles (11, 12) which may exchange places. A workpiece (3) is mounted on a first workpiece spindle (11), followed by the workpiece spindles (11, 12) exchanging places, followed by pre-milling and, where applicable, cutting (=deburring by shaving) of the workpiece (3), followed by a further exchange of places, followed by chamfering and cutting of the workpiece (3), followed by a further exchange of places, followed by a finish-milling of the workpiece (3), followed by a further exchange of places, followed by a workpiece change. At the same time, the same procedure takes place on the second workpiece spindle (12), staggered in time by an exchange of places of the workpiece spindles (11, 12).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for tooth-machining of workpieces (3), especially gear wheels, comprising milling, deburring by hobbing and integrated secondary deburring. The method proceeds on a machine tool (1) having two workpiece spindles (11, 12) which may exchange places. A workpiece (3) is mounted on a first workpiece spindle (11), followed by the workpiece spindles (11, 12) exchanging places, followed by pre-milling and, where applicable, cutting (=deburring by shaving) of the workpiece (3), followed by a further exchange of places, followed by chamfering and cutting of the workpiece (3), followed by a further exchange of places, followed by a finish-milling of the workpiece (3), followed by a further exchange of places, followed by a workpiece change. At the same time, the same procedure takes place on the second workpiece spindle (12), staggered in time by an exchange of places of the workpiece spindles (11, 12).

Abstract: A base framework for a manipulating apparatus which can be constructed in a modular manner, in particular for an automation cell which is designed for being combined with at least one machine tool, comprising a front wall, a rear wall and side walls which enclose a control space for a control device, a process platform being set up above the control space, the front wall having at least one mechanical interface for fixing a supply module which serves to supply workpieces, and the rear wall having a top rear-wall part which projects beyond the process platform and, on its front side pointing towards the process platform, has a first plurality of mechanical interfaces for the locally variable fixing of a process module for manipulating and/or processing supplied workpieces, the top rear-wall part also having an opening which is arranged above the process platform.

Abstract: A manipulating arrangement having a horizontal portal on which a slide is horizontally traversable, an arm being pivotably mounted on the slide about a pivot axis which runs parallel to the portal, and a gripper for at least one of workpieces and tools being arranged on the end of the arm. The slide has an elongated support, on which a further slide is mounted in a vertically traversable manner, and the arm is pivotably mounted on the further slide.

Abstract: A base framework for a manipulating apparatus which can be constructed in a modular manner, in particular for an automation cell which is designed for being combined with at least one machine tool, comprising a front wall, a rear wall and side walls which enclose a control space for a control device, a process platform being set up above the control space, the front wall having at least one mechanical interface for fixing a supply module which serves to supply workpieces, and the rear wall having a top rear-wall part which projects beyond the process platform and, on its front side pointing towards the process platform, has a first plurality of mechanical interfaces for the locally variable fixing of a process module for manipulating and/or processing supplied workpieces, the top rear-wall part also having an opening which is arranged above the process platform.

Abstract: An automated cell for the handling of workpieces is disclosed that comprises a working space within which a two-dimensional gantry that comprises a first and a second linear axis which are coupled to each other. A first gripping device is movable across the working space horizontally and also vertically. A gantry extends above the working space and protrudes towards a machine tool. Along the gantry a second gripping device is displaceable for moving workpieces between the working space of the automated cell and the machine tool. Both linear axes of the two-dimensional gantry are driven by linear motor drives, to allow a fast movement of workpieces and also to allow the performing of supplementary functions without slowing down the machine tool supplied by the automated cell.

Abstract: A linked manufacturing system for processing parts is disclosed having at least a first processing station for performing a first processing operation, and having a second processing station for performing a second processing operation. At least a first gantry extends in a first direction for linking at least a first and a second processing station. Also at least a second gantry is provided extending transversely to the first direction in a second direction for linking a plurality of first and second processing stations. Each second gantry is coupled to a storage device for receiving parts, wherein slides are displaceable along each second gantry that have a gripper displaceable at least in vertical direction and allowing at least an additional handling operation, while slides are displaceable along the first gantries that are coupled with a gripper for picking up or placing parts and for moving parts along the first gantries.

Abstract: An automated cell is provided for handling parts received in part carriers. The device comprises a working space closed to the outside, within which a first, second and third stack position are sequentially arranged. A transfer device is provided with a first linear axis extending in a horizontal direction and a second linear axis coupled thereto extending in vertical direction. A bulkhead wall is arranged between the first and the second stack position, which together with a driveable hood guarantees a closure free of contact when the door on the front side of the device is opened. Handling procedures within the working space can then be decoupled from loading and unloading operations at the first stack position. The automated cell is very space-saving and inexpensive and also allows a stack-specific logistics.

Abstract: An interlinked production system is provided with a plurality of processing stations, at least three buffers being provided for decoupling the processing steps in the different processing stations. The flow of parts through the individual stations and the buffers is provided by at least one portal or several portals, upon which a plurality of portal grippers can be driven. The portal grippers are configured for transferring the parts to be processed between the processing stations and the buffers and for loading and unloading of parts. The buffers are configured to receive part carriers and each comprises at least two stack positions. A transfer device is provided for transferring part carriers between the stack positions within the buffers. In this manner, a very flexible interlinked production system is achieved, which can be adjusted to operate in one-piece-flow or also for an optimal productivity with optimised buffer capacities.

Abstract: An automated cell for the handling of workpieces is disclosed that comprises a working space within which a two-dimensional gantry that comprises a first and a second linear axis which are coupled to each other. A first gripping device is movable across the working space horizontally and also vertically. A gantry extends above the working space and protrudes towards a machine tool. Along the gantry a second gripping device is displaceable for moving workpieces between the working space of the automated cell and the machine tool. Both linear axes of the two-dimensional gantry are driven by linear motor drives, to allow a fast movement of workpieces and also to allow the performing of supplementary functions without slowing down the machine tool supplied by the automated cell.