Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.

Kazuhiko Fujino

Shuji Ueda

Hiroshi Saeki

Mamoru Inoue

Kenji Fujishiro

Kunio Nakada

Kunio Nakata

An apparatus for automatically performing plural sequential spherical grinding operations on workpieces such as optical lenses includes a machine base, an index table mounted on the machine base for rotation about an axis, a plurality of chuck units supported by the index table at positions equally spaced about the axis for grasping respective work pieces, and a conveyor for sequentially moving the workpieces adjacent the index table. A positioning device is located adjacent the conveyor for positioning sequentially workpieces to be ground at a selected position on the conveyor. A transfer device is positioned adjacent the conveyor and the index table to sequentially grasp individual workpieces at the selected position and transfer such workpieces sequentially to respective of the chuck units as the index table is rotated about the axis. The chuck units grasp or chuck the respective workpieces. A plurality of grinding units are mounted on the machine base at positions above the chuck units. A plurality of workpiece feed units are mounted on the machine base beneath the index table at positions corresponding to and aligned with positions of respective grinding units. Each feed unit clamps a respective chuck unit, rotates the same, and moves the same upwardly from the index table toward the respective grinding unit.

Apparatus for automatically performing plural sequential spherical

A device is enclosed which is suitable for supplying grinding fluid to an apparatus for generating curved surfaces by means of a rotating grindstone, and which supplies grinding fluid to the grinding point under optimum conditions as the grinding point moves. It includes a means for turning nozzles, which discharge grinding fluid onto a grinding point from a fixed direction, about the axis of the grindstone, and is able to constantly ensure a sufficient supply of grinding fluid to the grinding point by controlling the turning so that the nozzles are always pointing in a fixed direction relative to the grinding point so that the tendency of clogging and wear of the grindstone is diminishes.

Device for supplying grinding fluid

A curved surface formation polishing apparatus for rotationally symmetrical objects such as optical lenses, mirrors, etc., which is so arranged that, by relatively displacing a processing tool and a workpiece in a direction generally intersecting at right angles with the rotary axis of the processing tool mounted on a rotating spindle so as to follow a predetermined curved surface cross section shape, grinding loci at a processing point of the workpiece formed by an abrasive grain cutting edge of the processing tool will overlap each other by crossing as the processing proceeds, thus achieving a favorable finished surface. Moreover, according to another embodiment of the present invention, more than two processing tools can be mounted on the same rotary axis, and there is provided a device for displacing the processing tools in the direction of the rotary axis so as to change-over the processing tools according to end uses and processing steps, so that change-over of the processing tools is facilitated, while it becomes possible to reduce deterioration in the accuracy of the processed shape by setting errors of the processing tools, with a simultaneous simplification of construction of the apparatus and reduction in cost for an improved mass-productivity.

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Hirakata, Japan

Kazuhiko Fujino