Method of grinding workpieces

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present invention overcomes the limitations and disadvantages of the prior art apparatus by providing a method of handling a workpiece in grinding apparatus having an improved workpiece handling accessory.
The accessory provides simple and automated workpiece handling to minimizes the need for operator loading, unloading or indexing of workpieces.
The present invention is a more automatic system requiring less operator skill and attention (and lower labor cost) in producing finished parts without operator error possibilities.
In manufacturing such workpieces in high volume i.
e.
, for automotive applications, it is desirable to reduce to a minimum the amount of operator time and effort and maximize the amount of automated (without operator) operations.
The present invention also has the advantage that it is a simple and easily implemented accessory for a grinding apparatus that centralizes the workpiece handling function.
The present invention has the further advantage that handling of parts for indexing of partially ground parts or workpieces occurs simultaneously with the loading/unloading of unfinished/completely finished workpieces.
This simultaneous handling of diverse types of parts, which are handled differently but automatically, adds to the efficiency and simplicity of the apparatus disclosed herein.
Another advantage of the present invention is to provide an apparatus which eliminates the requirement for an operator to load a workpiece into workpiece carrier for grinding and to unload the workpiece from the workpiece carrier when the workpiece has been completely ground.
A further advantage is that the apparatus disclosed herein automatically selects workpieces which are completely finished for discharge and workpieces which are partially finished for indexing, without the necessity of an operator examining the workpiece to determine the state of a workpiece grinding and whether it should be indexed or discharged.
Another advantageous effect of the present invention is that raw (unground) workpieces may be stacked in a queue from which the apparatus automatically and without operator input advances a workpiece into the carrier at an appropriate time