Field of the invention
[0001] The present invention relates to a machine for machining the peripheral edge of plates,
in particular plates of glass or plates of natural or synthetic stone material and
plates of plastic material, in which the plates are to be machined in a substantially
vertical position, said machine being of the type comprising:
- a guide structure for guiding a plate along a path in a first horizontal direction
X parallel to the plane of the plate, while holding the plate in a substantially vertical
position,
- a processing station arranged along said path of the plate and comprising at least
one machining head for machining the plate, said machining head being movable along
a second substantially vertical direction Y and said machining head including a motorized
spindle coupled with a grinding tool,
- a transport device for advancing the plate along said path in said first direction
X,
- an electronic control unit, for controlling the position of said plate along said
first direction X, for controlling the position of said at least one machining head
along said second direction Y and for controlling the rotation of said spindle, according
to a programmed machining cycle.
Prior art
[0002] Machines of the above indicated type have been manufactured and marketed since long
by the Applicant company. A machine of this type is for example disclosed in document
EP 2 719 501 A1 of the same Applicant.
[0003] Originally, machines of this type have been used for performing drilling operations
on glass plates. For this purpose, they usually have a processing station comprising
first and second machining heads movable along said substantially vertical second
Y direction, and arranged on opposite sides with respect to the general plane of the
plate. The two machining heads have motorized spindles provided with drilling tools
adapted to engage the glass plate from opposite sides, for performing a drilling operation
through the plate.
[0004] Machines of the above indicated type have been used also for machining the peripheral
edge of glass plates, in order to remove the sharp edge originated by a previous cutting
operation. To this end, the motorized spindle of the machining head is coupled with
a tangential-type grinding tool, having a cylindrical lateral wall which enters in
contact with the edge of the plate for performing the grinding operation. After that
a plate of a quadrangular shape is positioned on the machine, the front edge and the
rear edge thereof (with reference to the advancing direction of the plate in the machine)
are machined while holding the plate in a stationary position along said first X direction
and by moving the machining head, or each machining head, along said substantially
vertical second Y direction. The upper and lower edges of the plate are instead machined
by moving the plate along said first X direction and holding the machining head, or
each machining head, in a stationary position along said substantially vertical second
Y direction. A machine of this type is disclosed in
EP 2 039 464 A1 and is the basis for the preamble of claim 1. In more recent times, machines of this
type were further developed by providing automatic change of the tool of one or both
of the machining heads, in order to perform different types of machining operations,
such as drilling operations on the plate, or grinding and polishing operations on
the edges of the plate, or milling operations, by which a portion of the plate is
cut and removed in order to form an aperture in the plate.
[0005] The main drawback which is encountered in using these machines for operations for
machining the peripheral edge of the plate lies in that it is impossible to obtain
a high quality surface finishing on the plate edge. This is due to that the tangential-type
grinding tools which are used for this purpose have a metal cylindrical body whose
active lateral surface is made of an electrically-deposited hard metal and is subjected
to a deformation of its profile following wear due to the machining operations. The
deformation of the profile of the active surface of the tangential grinding tool gives
rise to the formation of micro-grooves on the surface of the machined plate edge.
[0006] In the endeavour to solve this problem, a machine of the type discussed herein has
been proposed in the past (see document
EP 2 762 273 A1) comprising a carriage movable along said first X direction and carrying one or more
grinding tools in the form of cup grinding wheels, of the type comprising an annular
front active surface, which is not subjected to the drawback of a change of the profile
of the active surface of the grinding wheel due to wear. In this known solution, the
cup grinding wheels are adapted to engage the lower edge of the plate positioned in
the machine. Furthermore, in the case of this known solution, there are further provided
means for rotating the plate in its plane, in order to enable all the sides of the
plate to be machined by the cup grinding wheels carried by said movable carriage.
[0007] The main drawback of this known solution lies in that it implies a greater complexity
of the machine and a lower productivity due to the dead times which are needed for
rotating the plate between machining of one side of the plate and machining of an
adjacent side of the plate.
[0008] In the past there has been proposed a machine for machining a glass plate in a vertical
position, comprising a vertically movable machining head provided with a machining
tool constituted by a cup grinding wheel (see
EP 0 769 348 A1). However, this machine is of a type different from that discussed herein, since
it is intended for the removal of a film of plastic material acting as a barrier against
infrared rays (so-called low-emission film) applied on one face of a plate to be machined.
To this end this solution has a machining head provided with a cup grinding wheel
having an axis orthogonal to the plane of the plate to be machined.
Object of the invention
[0009] The object of the present invention is to overcome the drawbacks of the known machines
and to provide in particular a machine of the type indicated at the beginning of the
present description which is able to perform machining of the peripheral edge of a
plate with a high finishing quality, by extremely simple means and with a high production
efficiency.
Summary of the invention
[0010] In view of achieving this object, the invention provides a machine having the features
which have been indicated at the beginning of the present description and further
characterized in that the spindle carried by said at least one machining head which
is movable along the second Y direction is coupled with a grinding tool consisting
of a cup grinding wheel having an axis of rotation parallel to the plane of the plate,
and in that said cup grinding wheel is orientable about an axis perpendicular to the
plane of the plate, so that said cup grinding wheel is adapted to be arranged selectively
at least in a first position, in which its axis of rotation is parallel to said second
Y direction, and in a second position, in which its axis of rotation is parallel to
said first X direction,
whereby said cup grinding wheel is adapted to perform the machining of the upper edge
or the lower edge of the plate when the cup grinding wheel is in said first position,
with its axis of rotation parallel to said second Y direction, by means of a movement
of the plate along said first X direction, with said at least one machining head being
in a stationary position along said second Y direction,
while said cup grinding wheel is adapted to perform the machining of the front edge
or the rear edge of the plate when the cup grinding wheel is in said second position,
with its axis of rotation parallel to said first X direction, by means of a movement
along said second Y direction of said at least one machining head, with the plate
being in a stationary position along said first X direction.
[0011] Due to the above indicated features, the machining of the peripheral edge of the
plate is carried out by one or more cup grinding wheels, having a substantially planar
annular front active surface, which is not subjected to a change of its profile due
to wear. Wear of the active surface of the cup grinding wheel merely implies a repositioning
of the cup grinding wheel with respect to the plate edge to be machined, which can
be obtained by the electronic controller of the machine, which is able of controlling
the position along the Y direction of the machining head and the position along the
X direction of the plate, in order to provide proper engagement between the active
surface of the cup grinding wheel and the edge of the plate.
[0012] The provision on the machining head of at least one tool in the form of a cup grinding
wheel, which can be oriented around an axis orthogonal to the general plane of the
plate, enables the various sides of the plate to be machined in sequence with minimum
dead times between machining of one side of the plate and that of an adjacent side,
with a resulting high productivity of the machine.
[0013] Further preferred features of the invention are indicated in the annexed dependent
claims.
[0014] In the preferred embodiment of the machine according to the invention, the cup grinding
wheel is mounted on a shaft which is rotatably supported within a tool-carrying body.
The latter is mounted on a supporting structure which on its turn is carried by said
machining head so as to be orientable around an axis orthogonal to the general plane
of the plate. Also in the case of said preferred embodiment, said motorized spindle
has its axis substantially coincident with said axis orthogonal to the general plane
of the plate, around which the supporting structure of the tool-carrying body can
be oriented.
[0015] Furthermore, said tool-carrying body carries a 90-degrees mechanical transmission
for connecting the motorized spindle to the shaft of said cup grinding wheel. In a
first solution, said tool-carrying body forms part of a separate tool-carrying unit,
removably connected to said orientable supporting structure. In this case, the 90-degrees
mechanical transmission carried by said tool-carrying body has an input shaft which
is removably coupled with said motorized spindle.
[0016] In an alternative solution, said tool-carrying body is rigidly connected to said
orientable supporting structure and the 90-degrees mechanical transmission carried
by said tool-carrying body has an input shaft permanently coupled with said motorized
spindle. In both said solutions, said machining head carrying the cup grinding wheel
can be a dedicated machining head, which is provided in addition to one or more machining
heads of the machine on which further machining tools can be coupled, for performing
further machining operations on the plate.
[0017] In the case of the first solution, in which the tool-carrying body forms part of
a separate tool-carrying unit, the machining head to which this tool-carrying unit
is associated can be the machining head of a conventional machine, on which further
machining tools can be coupled, for performing further machining operations on the
plate.
[0018] In the case of any of the above indicated solutions, but above all in the case of
the solution with a dedicated head and a tool-carrying body rigidly connected to the
orientable support around an axis orthogonal to the plane of the plate, a removable
connection between the cup grinding wheel and the associated shaft can be provided.
[0019] According to a further preferred feature of the invention, the tool-carrying body
on which the shaft of the cup grinding wheel is rotatably mounted, also carries a
guiding carriage for guiding the plate during the machining operation. This guiding
carriage has at least one or more primary guiding wheels which are freely rotatable
around respective axes parallel to the axis of the cup grinding wheel, for engagement
on one face of the plate and at least one or more secondary guiding wheels which are
freely rotatable around axes parallel to the axis of the cup grinding wheel, for engagement
on the opposite face of the plate. These primary and secondary guiding wheels are
carried by respective support pins which are displaceable relative to one another
in a direction orthogonal to the plane of the plate, to enable the plate to be clamped
and guided during machining thereof between said primary and secondary wheels, so
as to prevent or reduce vibrations of the plate during machining.
Brief description of the drawings
[0020] Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following
description with reference to the annexed drawings, given purely by way of non limiting
example, in which:
- figure 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a machine according to the present
invention,
- figure 2 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a tool-carrying unit with which the
machine of figure 1 is provided, according to one embodiment of the present invention,
this tool-carrying unit being shown in an operative position adapted for machining
the lower edge of a glass plate in the machine,
- figure 3 is a perspective view of the tool-carrying unit of figure 2, which shows
this unit in a different operative position, adapted for machining the rear edge of
the plate (with reference to the direction of advancement of the plate),
- figure 4 is a perspective view of the plate being machined, which shows the operative
positions of the cup grinding wheel associated to the tool-carrying unit of figures
2, 3 respectively during machining of the upper edge and machining of the front edge
of the glass plate,
- figure 5 is a further perspective view of the tool-carrying unit of figures 2-4, and
- figure 6 is a diagrammatic view in a lateral elevation of the tool-carrying unit of
figures 2-5.
Detailed description of the preferred embodiments
[0021] The machine according to the invention is generally designated in the drawings by
reference numeral 1. According to the conventional art, machine 1 comprises a fixed
supporting structure 2 defining a conveying line extending along a longitudinal X
direction, along which the plates to be machined are caused to advance while being
held in a almost vertical plane. To this end, the machine comprises two longitudinal
arrays of motorized rollers 3,4 extending along the longitudinal X direction, upstream
and downstream of a machining central station W.
[0022] The plates to be machined come from the left-hand end (with reference to the drawings)
of the machine and are caused to rest with their lower edge on the roller line 3.
As indicated, the plates are slightly inclined with respect to the vertical plane,
so that they rest with their rear face (i.e. the face opposite to that facing towards
the viewer in the figures) on arrays of wheels R which are freely rotatable around
vertical axes, these arrays being carried by longitudinal bars forming part of a fixed
frame 5. A similar frame 6, with wheels R for supporting the rear face of the machined
plates, is arranged downstream of the processing station W (with reference to the
X direction of advancement of the plates).
[0023] As an alternative to rollers 3, 4, as a conveying device for conveying the plate
in the X direction conveying belts or automated clamp-like movable members can be
used. Also according to the conventional art, in the case of the example shown here,
advancement of the plate L in the X direction is further obtained by means of a plurality
of suction-cup carrying carriages C, provided with suction-cup members S which can
be activated by vacuum and are movable from a rearwardly displaced position to a forwardly
advanced position for engaging the rear face of plate L (i.e. the face opposite to
that facing towards the viewer in the figures).
[0024] However, it is to be noted that the use of suction-cup carrying carriages provided
in the examples described herein is not an essential feature of the present invention.
The conveying device for causing the plates to advance along the X direction can simply
comprise the motorized rollers described above and/or alternative devices, such as
conveying belts and automated movable clamp-like members.
[0025] In the case of the embodiment described herein, each carriage C is independently
slidably mounted on a longitudinal guide (not shown in the drawings) of the base fixed
structure 2, so as to be movable along the X direction independently from the other
suction-cup carrying carriages. According to a technique known per se, each carriage
C is provided with motor means which drive movement thereof along the X direction,
such as in the form of a motorized sprocket engaging a rack. Also these details of
construction are not shown herein since they are known and do not fall, taken alone,
within the scope of the invention. Also the details relating to the suction-cup gripping
members S, the means for driving movement of these suction-cup gripping members along
the direction orthogonal to the glass plate, between a rearwardly displaced position
and a forwardly advanced position, and the means for communicating vacuum to the suction-cup
gripping members are not shown herein, since they may be of any type known per se.
[0026] During machining of a glass plate, the general plane of the glass plate L is ensured
by the suction-cup members S of the suction-cup carrying carriages C. The precise
position of plate L along the X direction is also ensured by carriages C, whose motor
means are controlled in synchronism by an electronic control unit E which is associated
with the machine (figure 1).
[0027] Also according to the conventional art, the processing station W comprises a fixed
pillar structure 7 on which two machining heads H1, H2 are movably mounted parallel
to a substantially vertical Y direction. The movement along the Y direction of each
head is driven by a respective electric motor (not shown). The heads H1 and H2 each
carry a motorized spindle having an axis parallel to a third direction Z (figure 1)
orthogonal to directions X and Y. Preferably, the spindle is also provided, in a way
known per se, with the possibility of moving along the Z direction. According to the
conventional art, the spindle of each head can be selectively coupled with a machining
tool (such as a grinding tool or a drilling tool or a milling tool or a combined tool).
As shown in figure 1, at the top of the vertical structure 7 there is provided a tool
magazine carried by a rack which is horizontally movable along the X direction with
respect to structure 7 for enabling an automatic change of the tool carried by each
machining head H1, H2, according to a technique known per se. As it is clearly apparent,
these details are shown herein purely by way of example, while the general configuration
of the machine can be made in any known way.
[0028] The two heads H1, H2 are arranged on opposite sides with respect to the general plane
of the plate to be machined so that for example when on the spindles of the heads
H1, H2 drilling tools are mounted, they can engage the plate L coaxially from opposite
sides in order to properly perform a drilling operation, according to a technique
known per se.
[0029] Also according to the conventional art, the machining operations of the longitudinal
edges of the plate (which are parallel to the X direction) are performed by moving
the carriages C along the X direction, with a simultaneous control of the position
along the Y direction of the heads H1, H2 (which simultaneously perform the grinding
operation on the upper and lower edges of the plate). The machining operation on the
vertical edges of the plate is carried out by stopping the carriages C and by moving
one of the heads H1, H2 along the Y direction. In the case of machining operations
of this type, on the spindles of heads H1, H2 there are mounted grinding tools.
[0030] The electric motors which drive movement of the machining heads H1, H2 along the
Y direction, and the movement of the suction-cup carrying carriages C along the X
direction are controlled by the electronic control unit E, according to any predetermined
programme.
[0031] Figure 2-6 relate to one embodiment of the machine according to the invention. According
to this embodiment, one or both of the machining heads H1, H2 of the machine are provided
with a grinding tool M in the form of a cup grinding wheel, for machining the edges
of a glass plate L positioned in machine 1. As an alternative to this solution, the
cup grinding wheel M (or each cup grinding wheel) can be associated with a respective
dedicated machining head (not shown in figure 1) provided in the machine in addition
to the machining heads H1, H2 and also movable at the processing station W along the
vertical Y direction. The cup grinding wheel M, or each cup grinding wheel M, provided
at the processing station W, is of any type known to the experts in the field. Typically
the cup grinding wheel M has a cup shaped metal body having an annular front surface
M1 which is substantially planar and coated with electrically-deposited fragments
of hard material. Any other material and configuration of the cup grinding wheel which
are adapted for the purposes indicated herein can naturally be also used.
[0032] In the case of the preferred embodiment shown herein, the cup grinding wheel M is
carried by a tool-carrying body provided on a supporting structure T which is mounted
on the respective machining head (such as machining head H1) so as to be orientable
around a horizontal axis 9 orthogonal to the general plane of the plate in the machine
(i.e. an axis parallel to direction Z shown in figure 1). The orientable supporting
structure T can be rotated around the axis 9 with respect to the structure of the
head (such as H1) by means of an electric motor (not shown) carried by the machining
head (such as H1) and controlled by the electronic control unit E of the machine.
[0033] The orientable supporting structure T rotatably supports, around said axis 9, the
body 12 of a spindle, which is driven in rotation by means of an electric motor (not
shown) which is also carried by the orientable structure T. The motorized spindle
12 has one end portion projecting outwardly from the orientable supporting structure
T and having at its end face, in a way known per se, a conical seat for removable
coupling of the tool carrying body.
[0034] In this embodiment the tool is carried by body A1 of a tool-carrying unit A. With
reference in particular to figure 6, within body A1 there is rotatably mounted an
input shaft 13, diagrammatically shown in figure 8, which is connected in rotation,
by means of a mechanical 90-degrees transmission, such as by means of a pair of conical
sprockets 13A, 14A (also shown diagrammatically in figure 6) with an output shaft
14, which also is rotatably mounted within body A1 around its axis 15 and having a
portion projecting outwardly from body A1 and carrying the cup-grinding wheel M. The
input shaft 13 has a conical end portion W1, outside body A1, which is removably coupled
within the conical seat on the end surface of the spindle (see in particular figure
2) by quick coupling means of any known type. As a consequence of the above described
arrangement, in the coupled condition of unit A with spindle 12, the axis 15 of the
cup grinding wheel M is arranged at 90 degrees with respect to axis 9 of spindle 12,
around which the supporting structure is orientable. As a result of this, the axis
15 of the cup grinding wheel M is arranged parallel to the plane of the plate L.
[0035] The structure T carrying this spindle 12 is also provided with the possibility of
moving along the axis Z with respect to the machining head by which it is supported,
this movement along the Z direction being also controlled by an electric motor (not
shown) carried by the head and controlled by unit E.
[0036] The coupling of the conical portion W1 within the cooperating conical seat on the
end surface of the spindle 12 is used both for connecting shaft 13, and hence grinding
wheel M, in rotation with the spindle 12, and also for supporting the entire tool-carrying
unit A on the orientable supporting structure T. In order to prevent rotation of unit
A, the latter is further connected rigidly to the orientable structure by a rigid
tubular arm B, which projects in a cantilever fashion from the end surface of the
structure T parallel to the spindle 12 and which is adapted to engage with its free
end a bush b projecting from a front surface 20 (see figure 2) of body A1. In the
coupled condition of the tool-carrying unit A on spindle 12, the unit A is therefore
supported by the orientable structure T through the spindle 12. At the same time,
the grinding wheel M of unit A is connected in rotation with the spindle 12 and coupling
between the tubular arm B and the bush b prevents rotation of unit A with respect
to the spindle.
[0037] As shown for example in figure 6, the conical portion W1 of unit A has, in a way
known per se, a base circumferential groove 9A which is used for the engagement of
a gripping member adapted for gripping unit A and provided at each of the tool-receiving
locations of the tool magazine. According to the conventional art, when the tool-carrying
unit A is arranged in the magazine 8, it is supported by said gripping member which
engages the circumferential groove 9A.
[0038] Also according to the conventional art, when the tool-carrying unit A must be coupled
with the spindle 12 carried by the machining head of the machine (such as head H1),
the electronic control unit E drives the movement of the head (such as H1) along the
Y direction until the axis of the spindle 12 is brought to be coincident with the
axis of a conical portion W1 of the unit A arranged in the magazine, and subsequently
drives a movement along the Z direction of the spindle 12 and the tubular arm B in
order to obtain coupling of the conical portion W1 within the conical seat in the
spindle 12 and the coupling of the end of the tubular arm B on bush b.
[0039] The movement along the Z direction of the spindle 12 and the tubular arm B is obtained
since the entire orientable structure T, beyond being rotatable around the horizontal
axis 9, on the machining head, is also movable along the Z direction with respect
to the machining head, this movement along Z direction being driven by an electric
motor (not shown) controlled by the electronic unit E.
[0040] Naturally, an inverted sequence of operations is carried out when the tool-carrying
unit A must be discharged from the machining head into the magazine of the machine,
for example when a tool change must be performed.
[0041] By orienting the orientable supporting portion T around axis 9, the cup grinding
wheel M can be arranged along different operative positions, with axis 15 of the cup
grinding wheel either parallel to the vertical Y direction or parallel to the X direction
of the machine. When the axis 15 is oriented along the Y direction, the cup grinding
wheel can have its active surface M1 facing upwardly, as shown in figure 2, so as
to be adapted to machine the lower edge of the glass plate L, or it can have its active
surface M1 facing downwardly (see the upper part of figure 4) so as to be adapted
to machining of the upper edge of the glass plate L. When instead the cup grinding
wheel M has its axis 15 oriented parallel to the X direction of the machine it can
have its active surface M oriented forwardly or rearwardly (with respect to the direction
of advancement of plate L in the machine), so as to be adapted to machine the rear
edge of plate L (figure 3) or the front edge of the plate (right-hand part of figure
4), again with reference to the direction of advancement of the plate in the machine.
[0042] In order to avoid or reduce vibrations of the plate during machining by the cup grinding
wheel M, the tool-carrying unit A is provided with a guiding carriage which, in the
illustrated example, comprises two pairs of primary and secondary wheels R1, R2 facing
each other, which are freely rotatably mounted on respective pins S1, S2 which are
oriented parallel to axis 15 of the grinding wheel M. The wheels R1, R2 are adapted
to engage the two opposite faces of the plate L. The pins S1 of the primary wheels
R1 are rigidly connected to body A1 of the tool-carrying unit A, whereas each of the
pins S2 is carried independently by the stem 16 of a respective fluid cylinder C1
mounted on body A1 of the tool-carrying unit.
[0043] In this manner, the position along the Z direction of the unit A can be controlled
so as to arrange the primary wheels R1 in contact with the rear face of the plate
L, once the latter has arrived at the processing station W of the machine. After this,
each secondary wheel R2 can be moved by means of the respective fluid cylinder C1
for bring it in contact with the front face of the plate.
[0044] In this manner, the two pairs of wheels R1, R2 are adapted to grip and guide therebetween
the plate during the machining operation, thus preventing or at least reducing any
vibrations of the plate.
[0045] It is important to note that in the case of the embodiment illustrated herein there
is provided a pair of primary and secondary wheels R1, R2 both upstream and downstream
of the grinding wheel M, with reference to the direction of movement of the grinding
wheel M relative to the plate. This always ensures that, when the grinding wheel M
comes in proximity of the final end of one side of the plate on which the grinding
wheel is operating, and a pair of wheels have already come out of the engagement with
the plate, the other pair of wheels are still engaged with the plate, so as to limit
vibrations thereof until a machining of said side of the plate is completed.
[0046] When it is necessary to perform a machining operation with a high quality of surface
finishing on the peripheral edge of the plate, the tool-carrying unit A is coupled
with the orientable supporting structure T, in the way which has been illustrated
above.
[0047] In order to perform a machining of the lower edge of the plate L, the orientable
support T is positioned as shown in figure 2, so as to hold the cup grinding wheel
M with its axis 15 oriented parallel to the Y direction and its active front surface
M1 facing upwardly. In this condition, the machining head carrying the orientable
support T is held in a stationary position along the vertical Y direction and the
plate L is moved along the X direction. At the same time, the motorized spindle 12
is put in rotation, for driving rotation of the cup grinding wheel M through the 90-degrees
transmission carried by the tool-carrying body of the tool-carrying unit A. The cup
grinding wheel M thus performs a machining operation with a high quality of surface
finishing on the lower edge of the plate (figure 2).
[0048] In order to perform the machining operation of the rear edge of the plate L (with
reference to the direction of advancement of the plate in the machine) the orientable
supporting structure T is rotated so as to arrange the cup grinding wheel M with its
axis 15 oriented parallel to the X direction and its active front surface M1 facing
forwardly, as shown in figure 3. The motorized spindle 12 is activated for putting
the cup grinding wheel M in rotation while the machining head which carries the orientable
support T is moved along the Y direction, with the plate L held by carriage C in a
stationary position along the X direction.
[0049] The machine operations of the upper edge and the front edge of the plate (figure
4) are carried out in a similar way by orienting the cup grinding wheel M with its
axis 15 directed parallel to the Y direction and with its active surface M1 facing
downwardly, or by orienting the axis 15 parallel to the X direction, with its active
surface M1 facing rearwardly, with respect to the advancement direction of the plate
in the machine.
[0050] During the machining operation of the lower edge shown in figure 2, as also during
the machining operation of the upper edge, the glass plate L slides between the two
pairs of guiding wheels R1, R2, which prevent or at least reduce the vibrations of
the plate during the machining operation. During machining of the rear edges shown
in figure 3, as also during machining of the front edge, the two pairs of guiding
wheels R1, R2, roll along the two faces of the plate, thus preventing or reducing
the vibrations of the plate.
[0051] Naturally, the embodiment shown herein represents only one example for working the
invention.
[0052] In case of use of a tool-carrying unit of the type shown in figures 2-6, it can be
provided that the cup grinding wheel M is permanently connected to the respective
shaft 14. In this case, when the cup grinding wheel M is excessively worn, it is necessary
to replace the entire tool-carrying unit A. In any case, it is possible to provide
for the cup grinding wheel M to be removably connected to the respective shaft 14.
[0053] According to a variant, instead of providing a tool-carrying unit A which can be
separated with respect to the orientable supporting structure T, it can be provided
that this unit is integral with the orientable support T or anyhow rigidly connected
thereto so that it is only the cup grinding wheel M which is removably coupled with
the respective shaft 14.
[0054] Furthermore, both in the solution with removable tool-carrying unit, and in the solution
with a unit integral or rigidly connected with the orientable supporting structure
T, this arrangement can be provided on each of the two machining heads H1, H2 of the
machine, or only one of them, or on a dedicated machine head, which is additional
with respect to the machining heads H1, H2 with which the machine is provided in order
to perform a number of additional machining operations.
[0055] The devices for removable connection of each cup grinding wheel with the respective
shaft, or of each tool-carrying unit A with the respective supporting structure can
naturally be made in any known manner.
[0056] Although the annexed drawings show the application of a machine according to the
invention to the machining of a glass plate, the invention is also applicable to machining
of plates of stone, marble, or stone material in general, both natural or synthetic
and, to machining of plates of plastic material.
[0057] Naturally, while the principle of the invention remains the same, the details of
construction and the embodiments may widely vary with respect to what has been described
and illustrated purely by way of example, without departing from the scope of the
present invention.
1. A machine for machining the peripheral edge of plates (L) of glass or plates of natural
or synthetic stone material or plates of plastic material, in which the plates are
to be machined in a substantially vertical position, said machine comprising:
- a guide structure (3, 4, 5) for guiding a plate (L) along a path in a first horizontal
direction X parallel to the plane of the plate (L), while holding the plate in a substantially
vertical position,
- a processing station (W) arranged along said path of the plate and comprising at
least one machining head (H1, H2) for machining the plate (L), said machining head
(H1, H2) being movable along a second substantially vertical Y direction, and said
machining head (H1, H2) including a motorized spindle (12) coupled with a grinding
tool (M),
- a transport device (C) for advancing the plate (L) along said path in said first
direction X,
- an electronic control unit (E), for controlling the position of said plate along
said first X direction, for controlling the position of said at least one machining
head (H1, H2) along said second Y direction and for controlling the rotation of said
spindle, according to a programmed machining cycle,
characterized in that said motorized spindle (12) carried by said at least one machining head (H1, H2)
which is movable along the second direction Y is coupled to a grinding tool consisting
of a cup grinding wheel (M) having an axis of rotation (15) parallel to the plane
of the plate (L), and
in that said cup grinding wheel (M) is orientable about an axis (9) perpendicular to the
plane of the plate (L), so that said cup grinding wheel (M) is adapted to be arranged
selectively at least in a first position, in which its axis of rotation (15) is parallel
to said second direction Y, and in a second position, in which its axis of rotation
(15) is parallel to said first direction X,
whereby said cup grinding wheel (M) is adapted to perform the machining of the upper
edge or the lower edge of the plate (L) when the cup grinding wheel (M) is in said
first position, with its axis of rotation (15) parallel to said second direction Y,
by means of a movement of the plate (L) along said first direction X , with said at
least one machining head (H1, H2) being in a stationary position along said second
direction Y,
while said cup grinding wheel (M) is adapted to perform the machining of the front
edge or the rear edge of the plate (L) when the cup grinding wheel is in said second
position, with its axis of rotation (15) parallel to said first X direction, by means
of a movement along said second direction Y of said at least one machining head, with
the plate (L) being in a stationary position along said first direction X.
2. Machine according to claim 1,
characterized in that said cup grinding wheel is orientable so as to be arranged selectively:
- in a first position, with its axis of rotation (15) parallel to said second direction
(Y) and an active front surface (M1) thereof facing upwardly,
- in a second position, with its axis of rotation (15) parallel to said first direction
X and said active surface (M1) facing forwardly, with reference to the direction of
advance of the plate in the machine,
- In a third position, in which the axis of rotation (15) is parallel to said second
direction Y and said active surface (M1) is facing downwardly, and
- In a fourth position, in which said axis of rotation (15) is parallel to said first
direction X and said active surface (M1) is facing backwardly, with reference to the
direction of advance of the plate (L).
3. Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the cup grinding wheel (M) is mounted on a shaft (14) which is rotatably supported
within a tool-carrying body (A1), and in that said tool-carrying body (A1) is carried by a support structure (T) which in its turn
is carried by said machining head (H1) so that it can be oriented about an axis (9)
perpendicular to the plane of the plate.
4. Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that said motorized spindle (12) has its axis substantially coincident with said axis
(9) perpendicular to the plane of the plate (L), around which said structure (T) for
supporting the tool-carrying body is rotatably mounted, and in that said tool-carrying body (A1) carries a 90-degrees mechanical transmission (13, 14)
for connecting the motorized spindle (12) to a shaft (14) of said cup grinding wheel
(M).
5. Machine according to claim 3, characterized in that said tool-carrying body (A1) is part of a separate tool-carrying unit (A) removably
connected to said orientable supporting structure (T), said 90-degrees mechanical
transmission (13, 14) being carried by said supporting body (A1) and having an input
shaft (13) removably coupled with said motorized spindle (12).
6. Machine according to claim 5, characterized in that said motorized spindle (12) is carried by said orientable supporting structure (T),
in that the body (A1) of said tool-carrying unit (A) is connected to said orientable supporting
structure (T) by means of said coupling between the input shaft (13) of the tool-carrying
unit (A) and said motorized spindle (12) and by means of a further coupling (b, B)
between the orientable supporting structure (T) and the body (A1) of said tool-carrying
unit (A) which prevents a rotation of said unit (A) around the axis (9) of the spindle
(12).
7. Machine according to claim 5, characterized in that further machining tools, for performing further machining operations on the plate,
can be selectively removably coupled with the machining head (H1, H2) which removably
carries said tool-carrying unit (A).
8. Machine according to claim 3, characterized in that said tool-carrying body (A1) is rigidly connected to said orientable supporting structure
(T), the 90-degrees mechanical transmission (13, 14) carried by said tool-carrying
body (A1) having an input shaft (13) coupled with said motorized spindle (12).
9. Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that said machining head carrying the cup grinding wheel (M) is a dedicated machining
head, provided in addition to one or more machining heads (H1, H2) on which further
machining tools are coupled, for further processing operations on the plate.
10. Machine according to claim 5 or 8, characterized in that the cup grinding wheel (M) is removably connected to its shaft (14).
11. Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that said cup grinding wheel (M) has a shaft (14) rotatably mounted on a tool-carrying
body (A1) which also carries a guide wheel unit (R1, R2) for guiding the plate during
machining, said guide wheel unit having one or more primary guiding wheels (R1) freely
rotatable about respective axes parallel to the axis (15) of the cup grinding wheel
(M), for engagement on one face of the plate and one or more secondary guiding wheels
(R2) freely rotatable about axes parallel to the axis (15) of the cup grinding wheel
(M), for engagement on the opposite face of the plate (L), said primary and secondary
guiding wheels (R1, R2) being carried by respective support pins which are displaceable
relative to one another in a direction orthogonal to the plane of the plate (L), to
enable the plate (L) to be clamped and guided during processing thereof between said
primary and secondary guiding wheels (R1, R2), in such a way as to prevent or reduce
vibrations of the plate (L) during machining.
12. Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that there is provided a pair of primary and secondary wheels (R1, R2), both upstream
and downstream of the cup grinding wheel (M), with reference to the direction of movement
of the grinding wheel (M) relative to the plate.
1. Maschine zum Bearbeiten der Umfangskante von Platten (L) aus Glas oder Platten aus
natürlichem oder synthetischem Steinmaterial oder Platten aus Kunststoffmaterial,
wobei die Platten in einer im wesentlichen vertikalen Position zu bearbeiten sind,
und die Maschine umfasst:
eine Führungsstruktur (3, 4, 5), mit der eine Platte (L) auf einem Weg in einer ersten,
horizontalen Richtung X parallel zu der Ebene der Platte (L) geführt wird und dabei
die Platte in einer im wesentlichen vertikalen Position gehalten wird,
eine Verarbeitungsstation (W), die an dem Weg der Platte angeordnet ist und wenigstens
einen Bearbeitungskopf (H1, H2) zum Bearbeiten der Platte (L) umfasst, wobei der Bearbeitungskopf
(H1, H2) in einer zweiten, im wesentlichen vertikalen Richtung Y bewegt werden kann
und der Bearbeitungskopf (H1, H2) eine motorgetriebene Spindel (12) enthält, die mit
einem Schleifwerkzeug (M) gekoppelt ist,
eine Transporteinrichtung (C), mit der die Platte (L) auf dem Weg in der ersten Richtung
X vorwärts bewegt wird,
eine elektronische Steuerungs-Einheit (E), mit der entsprechend einem programmierten
Bearbeitungszyklus die Position der Platte in der ersten Richtung X gesteuert wird,
die Position des wenigstens einen Bearbeitungskopfes (H1, H2) in der zweiten Richtung
Y gesteuert wird und die Drehung der Spindel gesteuert wird,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die motorgetriebene Spindel (12), die von dem wenigstens einen Bearbeitungskopf (H1,
H2) getragen wird, der in der zweiten Richtung Y bewegt werden kann, mit einem Schleifwerkzeug
gekoppelt ist, das aus einer Topfschleifscheibe (M) besteht, die eine Drehachse (15)
parallel zu der Ebene der Platte (L) hat, und
dass die Topfschleifscheibe (M) um eine Achse (9) senkrecht zu der Ebene der Platte
(L) herum so ausgerichtet werden kann, dass die Topfschleifscheibe (M) so eingerichtet
ist, dass sie selektiv wenigstens an einer ersten Position, an der ihre Drehachse
(15) parallel zu der zweiten Richtung Y ist, und einer zweiten Position angeordnet
wird, an der ihre Drehachse (15) parallel zu der ersten Richtung X ist,
wobei die Topfschleifscheibe (M) so eingerichtet ist, dass sie das Bearbeiten der
oberen Kante oder der unteren Kante der Platte (L), wenn sich die Topfschleifscheibe
(M) in der ersten Position befindet, in der ihre Drehachse (15) parallel zu der zweiten
Richtung Y ist, mittels einer Bewegung der Platte (L) in der ersten Richtung X durchführt,
wobei sich der wenigstens eine Bearbeitungskopf (H1, H2) an einer stationären Position
in der zweiten Richtung Y befindet,
und die Topfschleifscheibe (M) so eingerichtet ist, dass sie das Bearbeiten der vorderen
Kante oder der hinteren Kante der Platte (L), wenn sich die Topfschleifscheibe an
der zweiten Position befindet, an der ihre Drehachse (15) parallel zu der ersten Richtung
X ist, mittels einer Bewegung des wenigstens einen Bearbeitungskopfes in der zweiten
Richtung Y durchführt, wobei sich die Platte (L) an einer stationären Position in
der ersten Richtung X befindet.
2. Maschine nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Topfschleifscheibe so ausgerichtet werden kann, dass sie selektiv
an einer ersten Position, an der ihre Drehachse (15) parallel zu der zweiten Richtung
(Y) ist und eine aktive vordere Fläche (M1) derselben nach oben gewandt ist,
an einer zweiten Position, an der, in Bezug auf die Richtung der Vorwärtsbewegung
der Platte in der Maschine, ihre Drehachse (15) parallel zu der ersten Richtung X
ist und die aktive Fläche (M1) nach vorn gewandt ist,
an einer dritten Position, an der die Drehachse (15) parallel zu der zweiten Richtung
Y ist und die aktive Fläche (M1) nach unten gewandt ist, sowie
an einer vierten Position angeordnet ist, an der, in Bezug auf die Richtung der Vorwärtsbewegung
der Platte (L), die Drehachse (15) parallel zu der ersten Richtung X ist und die aktive
Fläche (M1) nach hinten gewandt ist.
3. Maschine nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Topfschleifscheibe (M) an einer Welle (14) angebracht ist, die in einem Werkzeug-Tragekörper
(A1) drehbar gelagert ist, und dass der Werkzeug-Tragekörper (A1) von einer Lagerungsstruktur
(T) getragen wird, die ihrerseits von dem Bearbeitungskopf (H1) so getragen wird,
dass sie um eine Achse (9) senkrecht zu der Ebene der Platte herum ausgerichtet werden
kann.
4. Maschine nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Achse der motorgetriebenen Spindel (12) im Wesentlichen mit der Achse (9) senkrecht
zu der Ebene der Platte (L) übereinstimmt, um die die Struktur (T) zum Lagern des
Werkzeug-Tragekörpers drehbar gelagert ist, und dass der Werkzeug-Tragekörper (A1)
ein mechanisches 90°-Winkelgetriebe (13, 14) trägt, das die motorgetriebene Spindel
(12) mit einer Welle (14) der Topfschleifscheibe (M) verbindet.
5. Maschine nach Anspruch 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Werkzeug-Tragekörper (A1) Teil einer separaten Werkzeug-Trage-Einheit (A) ist,
die lösbar mit der ausrichtbaren Lagerungsstruktur (T) verbunden ist, wobei das mechanische
90°-Winkelgetriebe (13, 14) von dem Tragekörper (A1) getragen wird und eine Eingangswelle
(13) hat, die lösbar mit der motorgetriebenen Spindel (12) gekoppelt ist.
6. Maschine nach Anspruch 5, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die motorgetriebene Spindel (12) von der ausrichtbaren Lagerungsstruktur (T) getragen
wird, dass der Körper (A1) der Werkzeug-Trage-Einheit (A) mit der ausrichtbaren Lagerungsstruktur
(T) mittels der Kopplung zwischen der Eingangswelle (13) der Werkzeug-Trage-Einheit
(A) und der motorgetriebenen Spindel (12) sowie mittels einer weiteren Kopplung (b,
B) zwischen der ausrichtbaren Lagerungsstruktur (T) und dem Körper (A1) der Werkzeug-Trage-Einheit
(A) verbunden ist, die eine Drehung der Einheit (A) um die Achse (9) der Spindel (12)
herum verhindert.
7. Maschine nach Anspruch 5, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass weitere Bearbeitungswerkzeuge zum Durchführen weiterer Bearbeitungsvorgänge an der
Platte selektiv abnehmbar mit dem Bearbeitungskopf (H1, H2) gekoppelt werden können,
der die Werkzeug-Trage-Einheit (A) abnehmbar trägt.
8. Maschine nach Anspruch 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Werkzeug-Tragekörper (A1) starr mit der ausrichtbaren Lagerungsstruktur (T) verbunden
ist und das von dem Werkzeug-Tragekörper (A1) getragene mechanische 90°-Winkelgetriebe
(13, 14) eine Eingangswelle (13) hat, die mit der motorgetriebenen Spindel (12) gekoppelt
ist.
9. Maschine nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Bearbeitungskopf, der die Topfschleifscheibe (M) trägt, ein spezieller Bearbeitungskopf
ist, der zusätzlich zu einem oder mehreren Bearbeitungskopf/Bearbeitungsköpfen (H1,
H2) vorhanden ist, mit denen weitere Bearbeitungswerkzeuge für weitere Bearbeitungsvorgänge
an der Platte gekoppelt sind.
10. Maschine nach Anspruch 5 oder 8, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Topfschleifscheibe (M) lösbar mit ihrer Welle (14) verbunden ist.
11. Maschine nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Topfschleifscheibe (M) eine Welle (14) hat, die drehbar an einem Werkzeug-Tragekörper
(A1) angebracht ist, der auch eine Führungsrad-Einheit (R1, R2) trägt, mit der die
Platte bei Bearbeitung geführt wird, wobei die Führungsrad-Einheit ein oder mehrere
primäres/primäre Führungsrad/Führungsräder (R1) hat, das/die zum Eingriff mit einer
Fläche der Platte frei um jeweilige Achsen parallel zu der Achse (15) der Topfschleifscheibe
(M) herum gedreht werden kann/können, sowie ein oder mehrere sekundäres/sekundäre
Führungsrad/Führungsräder (R2) hat, das/die zum Eingriff mit der gegenüberliegenden
Fläche der Platte (L) frei um Achsen parallel zu der Achse (15) der Topfschleifscheibe
(M) herum gedreht werden kann/können, wobei die primären und sekundären Führungsräder
(R1, R2) von jeweiligen Tragebolzen getragen werden, die relativ zueinander in einer
Richtung im rechten Winkel zu der Ebene der Platte (L) verschoben werden können, um
zu ermöglichen, dass die Platte (L) bei ihrer Bearbeitung zwischen den primären und
sekundären Führungsrädern (R1, R2) so festgeklemmt und geführt wird, dass Vibrationen
der Platte (L) beim Bearbeiten verhindert oder verringert werden.
12. Maschine nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass ein Paar primäre und sekundäre Räder (R1, R2) sowohl stromauf als auch stromab von
der Topfschleifscheibe (M) in Bezug auf die Bewegungsrichtung der Schleifscheibe (M)
relativ zu der Platte vorhanden ist.
1. Machine pour usiner le bord périphérique de plaques (L) de verre ou de plaques de
matériau en pierre naturelle ou synthétique ou de plaques de matière plastique, où
les plaques doivent être usinées dans une position sensiblement verticale, ladite
machine comprenant :
- une structure de guidage (3, 4, 5) pour guider une plaque (L) le long d'un chemin
dans une première direction horizontale X parallèle au plan de la plaque (L), tout
en maintenant la plaque dans une position sensiblement verticale,
- un poste de traitement (W) agencé le long dudit chemin de la plaque et comprenant
au moins une tête d'usinage (H1, H2) pour usiner la plaque (L), ladite tête d'usinage
(H1, H2) étant mobile le long d'une deuxième direction sensiblement verticale Y, et
ladite tête d'usinage (H1, H2) comportant une broche motorisée (12) couplée à un outil
de meulage (M),
- un dispositif de transport (C) pour faire avancer la plaque (L) le long dudit chemin
dans ladite première direction X,
- une unité de commande électronique (E), pour commander la position de ladite plaque
le long de ladite première direction X, pour commander la position de ladite au moins
une tête d'usinage (H1, H2) le long de ladite deuxième direction Y et pour commander
la rotation de ladite broche, selon un cycle d'usinage programmé,
caractérisée en ce que ladite broche motorisée (12) portée par ladite au moins une tête d'usinage (H1, H2)
qui est mobile le long de la deuxième direction Y est couplée à un outil de meulage
constitué d'une meule boisseau (M) ayant un axe de rotation (15) parallèle au plan
de la plaque (L), et
en ce que ladite meule boisseau (M) peut être orientée autour d'un axe (9) perpendiculaire
au plan de la plaque (L), de sorte que ladite meule boisseau (M) soit adaptée pour
être agencée sélectivement au moins dans une première position, où son axe de rotation
(15) est parallèle à ladite deuxième direction Y, et dans une deuxième position, où
son axe de rotation (15) est parallèle à ladite première direction X,
moyennant quoi ladite meule boisseau (M) est adaptée pour effectuer l'usinage du bord
supérieur ou du bord inférieur de la plaque (L) lorsque la meule boisseau (M) est
dans ladite première position, avec son axe de rotation (15) parallèle à ladite deuxième
direction Y, par un mouvement de la plaque (L) le long de ladite première direction
X, avec ladite au moins une tête d'usinage (H1, H2) dans une position fixe le long
de ladite deuxième direction Y,
tandis que ladite meule boisseau (M) est adaptée pour effectuer l'usinage du bord
avant ou du bord arrière de la plaque (L) lorsque la meule boisseau est dans ladite
deuxième position, avec son axe de rotation (15) parallèle à ladite première direction
X, par un mouvement le long de ladite deuxième direction Y de ladite au moins une
tête d'usinage, avec la plaque (L) dans une position fixe le long de ladite première
direction X.
2. Machine selon la revendication 1,
caractérisée en ce que ladite meule boisseau peut être orientée de manière à être agencée sélectivement
:
- dans une première position, avec son axe de rotation (15) parallèle à ladite deuxième
direction (Y) et une surface avant active (M1) de celle-ci tournée vers le haut,
- dans une deuxième position, avec son axe de rotation (15) parallèle à ladite première
direction X et ladite surface active (M1) tournée vers l'avant, en référence à la
direction d'avancement de la plaque dans la machine,
- dans une troisième position, où l'axe de rotation (15) est parallèle à ladite deuxième
direction Y et ladite surface active (M1) est tournée vers le bas, et
- dans une quatrième position, où ledit axe de rotation (15) est parallèle à ladite
première direction X et ladite surface active (M1) est tournée vers l'arrière, en
référence à la direction d'avancement de la plaque (L).
3. Machine selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que la meule boisseau (M) est montée sur un arbre (14) qui est supporté en rotation dans
un corps porte-outil (A1), et en ce que ledit corps porte-outil (A1) est porté par une structure de support (T) qui est à
son tour portée par ladite tête d'usinage (H1) de sorte qu'elle puisse être orientée
autour d'un axe (9) perpendiculaire au plan de la plaque.
4. Machine selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que ladite broche motorisée (12) a son axe sensiblement coïncident avec ledit axe (9)
perpendiculaire au plan de la plaque (L), autour duquel ladite structure (T) pour
supporter le corps porte-outil est montée en rotation, et en ce que ledit corps porte-outil (A1) porte une transmission mécanique à 90 degrés (13, 14)
pour relier la broche motorisée (12) à un arbre (14) de ladite meule boisseau (M).
5. Machine selon la revendication 3, caractérisée en ce que ledit corps porte-outil (A1) fait partie d'une unité porte-outil séparée (A) reliée
de manière amovible à ladite structure de support pouvant être orientée (T), ladite
transmission mécanique à 90 degrés (13, 14) étant portée par ledit corps de support
(A1) et ayant un arbre d'entrée (13) couplé de manière amovible à ladite broche motorisée
(12).
6. Machine selon la revendication 5, caractérisée en ce que ladite broche motorisée (12) est portée par ladite structure de support pouvant être
orientée (T), en ce que le corps (A1) de ladite unité porte-outil (A) est relié à ladite structure de support
pouvant être orientée (T) par ledit couplage entre l'arbre d'entrée (13) de l'unité
porte-outil (A) et ladite broche motorisée (12) et par un couplage supplémentaire
(b, B) entre la structure de support pouvant être orientée (T) et le corps (A1) de
ladite unité porte-outil (A) qui empêche une rotation de ladite unité (A) autour de
l'axe (9) de la broche (12).
7. Machine selon la revendication 5, caractérisée en ce que des outils d'usinage supplémentaires, pour effectuer des opérations d'usinage supplémentaires
sur la plaque, peuvent être couplés sélectivement de manière amovible à la tête d'usinage
(H1, H2) qui porte de manière amovible ladite unité porte-outil (A).
8. Machine selon la revendication 3, caractérisée en ce que ledit corps porte-outil (A1) est rigidement relié à ladite structure de support pouvant
être orientée (T), la transmission mécanique à 90 degrés (13, 14) portée par ledit
corps porte-outil (A1) ayant un arbre d'entrée (13) couplé à ladite broche motorisée
(12).
9. Machine selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que ladite tête d'usinage portant la meule boisseau (M) est une tête d'usinage dédiée,
fournie en plus d'une ou de plusieurs tête(s) d'usinage (H1, H2) sur lesquelles des
outils d'usinage supplémentaires sont couplés, pour des opérations de traitement supplémentaires
sur la plaque.
10. Machine selon la revendication 5 ou 8, caractérisée en ce que la meule boisseau (M) est reliée de manière amovible à son arbre (14).
11. Machine selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que ladite meule boisseau (M) a un arbre (14) monté en rotation sur un corps porte-outil
(A1) qui porte également une unité de roue de guidage (R1, R2) pour guider la plaque
pendant l'usinage, ladite unité de roue de guidage ayant une ou plusieurs roue(s)
de guidage primaire(s) (R1) pouvant tourner librement autour d'axes respectifs parallèles
à l'axe (15) de la meule boisseau (M), pour s'engager sur une face de la plaque et
une ou plusieurs roue(s) de guidage secondaire(s) (R2) pouvant tourner librement autour
d'axes parallèles à l'axe (15) de la meule boisseau (M), pour s'engager sur la face
opposée de la plaque (L), lesdites roues de guidage primaire et secondaire (R1, R2)
étant portées par des tiges de support respectives qui peuvent se déplacer les unes
par rapport aux autres dans une direction orthogonale au plan de la plaque (L), pour
permettre à la plaque (L) d'être serrée et guidée pendant son traitement entre lesdites
roues de guidage primaire et secondaire (R1, R2), de manière à empêcher ou réduire
les vibrations de la plaque (L) pendant l'usinage.
12. Machine selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce qu'une paire de roues primaire et secondaire (R1, R2) est prévue, à la fois en amont
et en aval de la meule boisseau (M), en référence à la direction de mouvement de la
meule (M) par rapport à la plaque.