WO2025193898A1

WO2025193898A1 - Method and device for deburring toothed articles

Info

Publication number: WO2025193898A1
Application number: PCT/US2025/019690
Authority: WO
Inventors: Matthew J. MCNALL; Donald Scott MAKARCHUK; John IOTA; Kevin H. BLAKELY
Original assignee: Gleason Works
Current assignee: Gleason Works
Priority date: 2024-03-14
Filing date: 2025-03-13
Publication date: 2025-09-18
Anticipated expiration: 2026-09-14

Abstract

A method and apparatus for deburring a toothed workpiece (22), such as a face clutch or coupling. The deburring apparatus comprises a workpiece carriage (32) movable in a first direction (Z) and a tool carriage (44) movable in a second direction (Y). The tool carriage comprises a first tool for rough deburring and a second tool for fine deburring. With the first direction movement and the second direction movement, the deburring apparatus is operable to remove burrs located at an outer diameter and/or an inner diameter of a workpiece.

Description

METHOD AND DEVICE FOR DEBURRING TOOTHED ARTICLES

Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention is directed to deburring of toothed articles, particularly face clutches and face couplings, having burrs located at inner and outer tooth end edges.

Background of the Invention

[0002] In one known method of manufacturing face clutches and/or face couplings, a circular face milling cutter is positioned relative to an end face of a workpiece in such a manner wherein the cutter forms flank surfaces on two non-consecutive teeth at the same time. See Figure 1 (discussed in more detail below). The cutter is fed in, relative to the workpiece, to a desired depth to form a tooth flank, the cutter is then withdrawn, and the workpiece is indexed to the next cutting position. The process is repeated until all teeth and tooth slots are formed.

[0003] With the above method, burrs are usually formed at inside locations and outside locations on the workpiece. This is due to the cutter blades exiting one tooth flank, and root area, at an inner tooth end face of a workpiece tooth and exiting another tooth flank, and root area, at an outer tooth end face of the workpiece tooth.

[0004] The removal of burrs is crucial to proper operation of a face clutch, face coupling or other toothed article. Deburring prevents breaking away of chips during operation which can cause major damage or failure of components such as transmissions or gear boxes. Burrs can cause injuries when manually handling workpieces. Improperly deburred workpieces may lead to undesirable noise behavior of a particular component.

[0005] In particular with face clutches or face couplings, burrs are routinely formed at both the inner diameter and the outer diameter of a workpiece after cutting. There remains a need wherein deburring of both inner and outer diameter areas of a toothed workpiece can be achieved by a single deburring method and apparatus.

Summary of the Invention

[0006] The present invention is directed to an apparatus for deburring a toothed workpiece, such as a face clutch or coupling, for example. The deburring apparatus comprises a workpiece carriage movable in a first direction and a tool carriage movable in a second direction. The tool carriage comprises a first tool for rough deburring and a second tool for fine deburring. With the first direction movement and the second direction movement, the deburring apparatus is operable to remove burrs located at the outer diameter and the inner diameter of a workpiece.

[0007] The present invention is also directed to a method of deburring a toothed workpiece. The workpiece is rotatable about an axis or rotation and includes a first side and a second side, with the first and second sides being opposed to one another and being spaced from another in the axial direction. At least one of the first side and the second side comprising one or more teeth with the one or more teeth extending from an inner tooth end face located at a first radius with respect to the axis of rotation to an outer tooth end face located at a second radius with respect to the axis of rotation. The workpiece includes a plurality of burrs with the burrs being attached to the workpiece at locations defined by the first radius and the second radius. [0008] The method comprises: a) providing a first tool having a cutting edge and a second tool comprising a brush, b) providing the workpiece with teeth and burrs on at least the first side and positioning the workpiece for deburring the first side, c) moving the first tool relative to the workpiece so as position the first tool cutting edge adjacent to the workpiece at one of the first radius or the second radius, d) rotating the workpiece relative to the first tool cutting edge to remove burrs from the workpiece at one of the first radius or the second radius, e) moving the first tool relative to the workpiece so as position said the tool cutting edge adjacent to the workpiece at the other of the first radius or the second radius, f) rotating the workpiece relative to the first tool cutting edge to remove burrs from the workpiece at the other of the first radius or the second radius, g) moving the second tool relative to the workpiece so as position the second tool brush adjacent to the workpiece at one of the first radius or the second radius, h) rotating the brush about an axis of rotation and rotating the workpiece relative to the rotating brush to remove any residual burrs from the workpiece at one of the first radius or the second radius, i) moving the second tool relative to the workpiece so as position the second tool brush adjacent to the workpiece at the other of the first radius or the second radius, j) rotating the brush about the axis of rotation and rotating the workpiece relative to the rotating brush to remove any residual burrs from the workpiece at the other of the first radius or the second radius.

Brief Description of the Drawings [0009] Figure 1 shows an example of producing teeth on face clutch or face coupling by cutting.

[0010] Figures 2(a), 2(b) and 2(c) illustrate various views of a face clutch or face coupling having burrs formed at one end thereof.

[0011 ] Figure 3 shows a front view of one embodiment of an inventive apparatus for deburring a workpiece such as a face clutch.

[0012] Figure 4 shows a part level check mechanism at one station of the deburring apparatus.

[0013] Figure 5 is a detailed view of the part level check mechanism of Figure 4.

[0014] Figure 6 shows a cutting tool at rough cutting station of the deburring apparatus.

[0015] Figure 7 illustrates a detailed view of a rough cutting tool.

[0016] Figure 8 shows a finishing tool at a finishing station of the deburring apparatus.

[0017] Figure 9 shows a detailed view of a finishing tool.

[0018] Figure 10 illustrates a front view of a workpiece carriage of the deburring apparatus.

[0019] Figure 11 shows the engagement of a turning insert with the outer teeth end surfaces and the inner tooth end surfaces for rough removal of burrs therefrom. [0020] Figure 12 shows the engagement of a brush with the inner teeth end surfaces and the outer tooth end surfaces for fine burr removal therefrom.

[0021] Figures 13(a), 13(b) and 13(c) illustrate various views of a face clutch or face coupling having burrs removed therefrom.

[0022] Figure 14 illustrates turning of the outer surface of a workpiece with the deburring apparatus.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment

[0023] The terms “invention,” “the invention,” and “the present invention” used in this specification are intended to refer broadly to all of the subject matter of this specification and any patent claims below. Statements containing these terms should not be understood to limit the subject matter described herein or to limit the meaning or scope of any patent claims below. Furthermore, this specification does not seek to describe or limit the subject matter covered by any claims in any particular part, paragraph, statement or drawing of the application. The subject matter should be understood by reference to the entire specification, all drawings and any claim below. The invention is capable of other constructions and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Also, it is understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purposes of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

[0024] The details of the invention will now be discussed with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate the invention by way of example only. In the drawings, similar features or components will be referred to by like reference numbers. The size and relative sizes of certain aspects or elements may be exaggerated for clarity or detailed explanation purposes. For a better understanding of the invention and ease of viewing, doors, casings, internal or external guarding, etc. may have been omitted from the drawings.

[0025] The use of “including”, “having” and “comprising” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. The use of letters to identify elements of a method or process is simply for identification and is not meant to indicate that the elements should be performed in a particular order. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise and the term "and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0026] Although references may be made below to directions such as upper, lower, upward, downward, rearward, bottom, top, front, rear, etc., in describing the drawings, these references are made relative to the drawings (as normally viewed) for convenience. These directions are not intended to be taken literally or limit the present invention in any form. In addition, terms such as “first”, “second”, “third”, etc., are used to herein for purposes of description and are not intended to indicate or imply importance or significance unless explicitly stated.

[0027] Figure 1 shows an example of a face clutch or face coupling 2 (hereafter collectively referred to as a face clutch) having a plurality of teeth 4 formed on a side of the face clutch 2. The teeth 4 each have an outside end face 6, an inside end face 8, and tooth flanks 10. The surface 12 between consecutive teeth is the root. The region between consecutive teeth is known as a tooth slot. Face clutch 2 has an axis of rotation A, an inner tooth end face radius, n, and an outer tooth end face radius, r2. Of course, 2 x n = inner tooth end face diameter (di) and 2 x r2 = outer tooth end face diameter (d2). If desired, teeth 4 may be formed on both sides (faces) of a workpiece (see Figures 2(b) and 2(c) for example). [0028] A face mill cutter 14 having cutting blades 16 is shown in partial view. With the known cutting set-up shown by Figure 1 , the cutter 14, rotating in a counterclockwise direction R, is fed relatively into the workpiece (such as in the direction of axis A for example) to form a tooth flank surface on each of two non-consecutive teeth. As a result of the cutting, burrs are usually formed at areas where the cutting blades exit the tooth flank and tooth root, for example, areas 18 and 20, with area 18 being at the tooth edge where the inner tooth end face intersects the tooth flank as well as in the adjacent inner root edge area, and area 20 being at the tooth edge where the outer tooth end face intersects the tooth flank as well as in the adjacent outer root edge area. The face clutch 2 may be manufactured on a CNC gear cutting machine such as the machine disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 6,712,566, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

[0029] Figures 2(a), 2(b) and 2(c) illustrate an example of burr formation on a face clutch 22, comprising four teeth 4, at the inner tooth edge 24 where the inner tooth end face intersects the tooth flank as well as in the adjacent inner edge area of root 12, and at the outer tooth edge 26 where the outer tooth end face intersects the tooth flank as well as in the adjacent outer edge area of root 12. While burrs are shown on the teeth at only one end of face clutch 22, this is for ease of illustration only. Face clutch 22 may have burrs on the teeth 4 at both ends thereof. Alternatively, face clutch 22 may have teeth formed at only one end thereof. An example of a common size of the face clutch 22 is one having an outer diameter in the range of 2-3 inches (50.8 - 76.2 mm) although the invention is not limited thereto.

[0030] Figure 3 shows a front view of one embodiment of an inventive apparatus 30 for deburring a workpiece, such as a face clutch, for example, so as to produce a deburred workpiece such as that shown in the various views of Figures 13(a), 13(b) and 13(c) for example. The apparatus 30 comprises a workpiece carriage 32 movable on a guideway 34 by a motor 36 in a direction Z which in the view of Figure 3 is the horizontal direction. Carriage 32 includes a workpiece spindle 38 rotatable about a workpiece axis W (Figure 10) with the rotation being imparted by motor 40. Face clutch 22 is releasably secured to workpiece spindle 38 via a suitable workholding mechanism 42, such as a three-jaw chuck for example, for rotation about axis W, as would be understood by the skilled artisan. Preferably, workpiece axis W is perpendicular to direction Z.

[0031] Apparatus 30 further comprises a tool carriage 44 movable on a tool head 46 in a direction Y via guideways (not shown) by a motor 48. In the view of Figure 3, direction Y is vertical. Thus, preferably, directions Y and Z are perpendicular to one another. Preferably, workpiece axis W is perpendicular to direction Z and parallel to direction Y. Preferably, workpiece axis W, direction Z and direction Y lie in the same plane.

[0032] Tool carriage 44 includes a first tool 50 (see also Figures 6 and 7) for deburring wherein the tool 50 preferably comprises a cutting tool, such as a turning insert 52, releasably mounted in any suitable holding mechanism, preferably a boring bar 54. Cutting insert 52 and boring bar 54 are attached to tool carriage 44 by any suitable means such as, for example, boring bar holder 56 which is complementary to a tool mount 58 fixed to carriage 44. Cutting insert 52 and boring bar 54 move together with tool carriage 44 in the Y direction.

[0033] An example of burr removal with the cutting/turning insert follows:

• Workpiece carriage 32 is moved in the Z direction along guideway 34 to position a workpiece below boring bar 54 (Figure 6).

• Tool carriage 44 is cycled downward in the Y direction to position the boring bar within the workpiece (i.e., within the inner diameter) proximate to the inner end faces 8 of the teeth 4.

• Motor 40 is engaged to rotate the workpiece 22 about workpiece axis W. • Workpiece carriage 32 is moved in the Z direction to position the turning insert 52 adjacent to the inner tooth end faces and inner edge areas of the tooth roots to engage the turning insert with the burrs for removal thereof (Figure 11 - right). The turning insert may be moved in the Y direction during deburring, as necessary, in order to remove all burrs along the height of the teeth.

• Upon completion of deburring, the workpiece carriage 32 drive moves the turning insert away from the inner tooth end faces and the motor 40 stops.

• The tool carriage is cycled up (Y direction) so that the turning insert is clear of the workpiece.

• The workpiece carriage 32 moves in the Z direction to position the workpiece for removal of burrs from the outer tooth end faces and the outer edge areas of the tooth roots (i.e. the outer diameter) of the workpiece.

• The tool carriage 44 is cycled down in the Y direction to position the boring bar proximate to the outer end faces 6 of the workpiece teeth 4.

• Motor 40 is engaged to rotate the workpiece about workpiece axis W.

• Workpiece carriage 32 moves in the Z direction to position the turning insert 52 adjacent to the outer tooth end faces and outer edge areas of the tooth roots to engage the turning insert with the burrs for removal thereof (Figure 11 - left). The turning insert may be moved in the Y direction during deburring, as necessary, in order to remove all burrs along the height of the teeth.

• Upon completion of deburring, the workpiece carriage 32 moves the turning insert 52 away from the outer tooth end faces and the motor 40 stops.

• The tool carriage 44 is cycled up (Y direction) so that the turning insert is clear of the workpiece.

[0034] It is to be understood that while the above example shows deburring at the inner diameter of the workpiece followed by deburring at the outer diameter of the workpiece, the order of deburring with the turning insert 52 may be reversed. [0035] Preferably, during rough deburring, the workpiece is rotated in a direction relative to the turning insert 52 whereby the cut burr is pushed by the turning insert in a direction away from the tooth profile surface.

[0036] While a turning insert 52 is preferred, other burr removal means may be utilized such as, for example, a rotary grinding stone or an end mill. However, turning insert 52 does not require rotation thus resulting in a simplified and less costly tool carriage 44.

[0037] Furthermore, if desired, turning insert 52 and boring bar 54 may be pivotable on tool carriage 44. The pivoting being about an axis perpendicular to directions Y and Z for example (i.e. , an axis perpendicular to the plane of the drawing page).

[0038] While deburring with the turning insert 52 removes most of the burrs, it is possible that some small burrs may remain after the initial, or rough, deburring. In that instance, a secondary fine, or finish, deburring step is usually necessary.

[0039] Preferably, tool carriage 44 further comprises a second tool 58 for removal (see also Figures 8 and 9) of any remaining fine burrs. Preferably, second tool 58 comprises a brush 60, most preferably a steel wire brush, having a diameter of 1.25 inches for example. Even more preferred is an encapsulated brush wherein a silicone- like material is encapsulated in the brush to reinforce the wire bristles, such as is commercially available from the company Osborn. Brush 60 is releasably held for rotation about a tool axis T by an arbor 62 and collet 64 which are positioned for rotation in motor 66 located on tool carriage 44. Brush 60 moves together with tool carriage 44 in the Y direction.

[0040] An example of burr removal by brushing follows: • The workpiece carriage 32 is moved on guideways 34 (Z direction) from the rough deburring position or station (Figure 6) to the brushing position or station (Figure 8).

• The tool carriage 44 is cycled downward (Y direction) such that brush 60 is positioned within the workpiece 22 (i.e. , within the inner diameter) proximate to the inner end faces 8 of the teeth 4.

• Motor 66 is engaged to rotate brush 60 and motor 40 is engaged to rotate the workpiece.

• Workpiece carriage 32 is moved in the Z direction to position the brush 60 adjacent to the inner tooth end faces and inner edge areas of the tooth roots to engage the brush with the burrs for removal thereof (Figure 12 - left). The brush may be moved in the Y direction during deburring, as necessary, in order to remove all burrs along the height of the teeth.

• Upon completion of fine deburring, workpiece carriage 32 moves the workpiece away from the brush (Z direction) and motors 66 and 40 stop.

• The tool carriage 44 is cycled up (Y direction) so that the brush is clear of the workpiece.

• The workpiece carriage 32 moves in the Z direction to position the workpiece for removal of burrs from the outer tooth end faces 6 and the outer edge areas of the tooth roots (i.e. the outer diameter) of the workpiece teeth 4.

• The tool carriage 44 is cycled down in the Y direction to position the brush proximate to the outer end faces of the workpiece teeth.

• Motor 66 is engaged to rotate the workpiece and motor 40 is engaged to rotate the workpiece.

• Workpiece carriage 32 moves in the Z direction to position the brush 60 adjacent to the outer tooth end faces and outer edge areas of the tooth roots to engage the turning insert with the burrs for removal thereof (Figure 12 - right). The brush may be moved in the Y direction during deburring, as necessary, in order to remove all burrs along the height of the teeth. • Upon completion of fine deburring, the workpiece carriage 32 moves the brush 60 away from the outer tooth end faces and the motors 66 and 40 stop.

• The tool carriage 44 is cycled up so that the brush is clear of the workpiece.

[0041] It is to be understood that while the above example shows fine deburring at the inner diameter of the workpiece followed by fine deburring at the outer diameter of the workpiece, the order of fine deburring may be reversed.

[0042] Preferably, when fine deburring, the brush is rotated in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the workpiece. Brushing preferably removes only fine burrs and is not intended to remove any appreciable amount of stock from the surface of a workpiece.

[0043] Contact of the brush with a workpiece is preferably carried out by moving the brush relative to the workpiece in the Z direction until a predetermined and preset torque limit is met or exceeded on the brush motor, thus indicating the brush is touching the workpiece at the correct predetermined pressure. Thereafter, the brush may be moved in the Y direction.

[0044] When the brush contact discussed above is detected, the Z axis position of the brush is compared to a predetermined and preset Z axis position to determine if the brush is worn to a point where it is no longer effective (i.e. the maximum wear amount). A warning signal may be provided to indicate the maximum wear amount of the brush is approaching and the brushing may continue until the maximum wear amount is met or exceeded at which point the brushing will stop and an error signal may be provided.

[0045] If desired, deburring apparatus 30 may include a part level check mechanism 70 (see also Figures 4 and 5) for checking the workpiece level prior to deburring. [0046] Part level check mechanism 70 comprises a level checking pad 72 (made from nitrided 4140 steel, for example) connected to a sensor 74 such as a digital contact sensor commercially available from the company Keyence. Level checking pad 72 is movable in the Y direction via a cylinder 76 actuated by fluid pressure (e.g. air, hydraulic). Part level check mechanism 70 is preferably independent from the Y direction movement of tool carriage 44 and is attached to tool head 46.

[0047] An example of a workpiece level check position follows:

• The workpiece carriage 32 is moved along guideway 34 (Z direction) from a workpiece load/unload position, such as at either end of guideway 34, for example to the workpiece level check position or station.

• Cylinder 76 is activated to move level checking pad 72 downward (Y direction) until contact is made with the tooth top surfaces of a workpiece.

• Sensor 74 reads the contact position of level checking pad 72.

• Cylinder 76 is retracted.

• The sensed contact position is compared with the expected contact position for the particular workpiece.

• If the sensed contact position and the expected contact position are the same, proper workpiece seating is confirmed and deburring commences.

• If the sensed contact position and the expected contact position are not the same, the deburring process is halted and the workpiece mounting surface and/or the contact surface of the workholding 42 are checked for surface anomalies such as damage, contamination, etc. The workpiece and/or workholding may be cleaned and the part level check repeated or the workpiece may be removed.

[0048] An example of a complete deburring process in accordance with the invention is as follows: • A face clutch 22 (i.e. the workpiece) having burrs is manually or automatically loaded to the workholding 42 on the spindle 38 of the workpiece carriage 32.

• The workholding 42 clamps the workpiece when placed to the load position.

• The workpiece carriage 32 transfers the workpiece to various stations utilizing the horizontal guideway 34 (Z direction) driven by motor 36.

• Workpiece carriage 32 moves the workpiece to the “workpiece level check” station.

• A level checking pad 72 of level check module 70 is engaged to check workpiece height (this verifies the workpiece seats properly). The level check also mitigates the possibility of chips and debris from obstructing proper seating of the workpiece on the workholding 42 and spindle 38.

• The workpiece carriage 32 transfers the workpiece to the rough deburring station for the boring bar/turning insert operation for rough burr removal from both the inner and outer workpiece diameters.

• The tool assembly 44 (which cycles up and down in the Y direction) driven by motor 48 positions the turning insert 52 proximate to the workpiece surfaces (on one of the inner diameter or the outer diameter) that requires rough burr removal.

• Workpiece 22 is rotated and carriage 32 moves the workpiece adjacent to the turning insert 52 for rough burr removal.

• The tool assembly 44 raises the turning insert 52 to clear the workpiece and workpiece carriage 32 then repositions the workpiece to the next surface (on the other of the inner diameter or the outer diameter) for rough burr removal.

• The tool carriage 44 positions the turning insert 52 proximate to the workpiece surfaces, workpiece 22 is rotated and carriage 32 moves the workpiece adjacent to the turning insert 52 for rough burr removal.

• The tool carriage 44 retracts the turning insert 52 away from the workpiece. • The workpiece carriage 32 transfers the workpiece to the fine deburr station for a finish operation (fine burr removal) on both the inner and outer diameters.

• The tool carriage 44 positions the brush 60 proximate to the workpiece surfaces (on one of the inner diameter or the outer diameter) that requires fine burr removal.

• Workpiece 22 is rotated and the brush 60 is rotated, and workpiece carriage 32 moves the workpiece adjacent to the brush for fine burr removal.

• The tool assembly 44 raises the brush 60 to clear the workpiece and workpiece carriage 32 then repositions the workpiece to the next surface (on the other of the inner diameter or the outer diameter) for fine burr removal.

• The tool carriage 44 positions the brush 60 proximate to the workpiece surfaces, workpiece 22 is rotated and the brush is rotated, and carriage 32 moves the workpiece adjacent to the brush for fine burr removal.

• The tool carriage 44 retracts the brush 60 away from the workpiece.

• The workpiece is transferred to an unload position via guideway 34.

[0049] After processing at the brush station, the workpiece carriage transfers the workpiece back to the load/unload position. If needed, an operator (if manually loaded) or robot (if automated) can flip the workpiece for a repeated deburring process to the opposite side of the workpiece. Alternatively, a finished deburred workpiece can be replaced with the next fresh workpiece for repeat processing.

[0050] While the invention has been discussed and illustrated with respect to the workpiece carriage 32 being movable in the horizontal Z direction and the tool carriage 44 being movable in the vertical Y direction, the invention is not limited thereto. The workpiece carriage and tool carriage directions of movement can be reversed.

Alternatively, either the workpiece carriage 32 or the tool carriage 44 may be movable in both Y and Z directions with the other carriage being stationary. [0051] Preferably, turning insert 52, workpiece axis W and tool axis T are arranged in the same plane (i.e., a vertical plane). Preferably, the Y direction movement of level checking pad 72 is also in that same plane.

[0052] The linear movements and/or rotational movements of the discussed components of apparatus 30 are each imparted by the respective disclosed drive motors. The components are capable of independent movement with respect to one another or may move simultaneously with one another and are a part of a CNC system which governs the operation of the drive motors in accordance with instructions input to a computer controller (i.e. CNC) such as are commercially available from Fanuc or Siemens, for example.

[0053] The discussed deburring apparatus may be a standalone apparatus or may be integrated into an automation unit as one component thereof. An example of such automation unit being the ARC Series Machine Tool Loaders commercially available from The Gleason Works. In the case of the deburring apparatus being integrated into an automation unit, the deburring apparatus is preferably controlled by the computer control of the automation unit.

[0054] While the present invention has been discussed and illustrated with respect to face clutches and face couplings, the invention is not limited thereto but is equally applicable to other toothed articles or tooth types such as face gears, crown gears, bevel gears with cone angles slightly less than 90 degrees, sprockets, serrations, castellations, lugs, and the like.

[0055] In addition to deburring, or as an alternative to deburring, stock material may be removed from a portion of the outer and/or inner surface of a workpiece by turning with the above discussed apparatus. Figure 14 shows turning insert 52 positioned proximate to the outer surface 23 of the workpiece 22. The outer surface 23, in example of Figure 14, being axially below the outer tooth end surface 6 but having the same outer diameter as the outer tooth end surface 6 although having the same outer diameter as the outer tooth end surface 6 is not required.

[0056] An example of turning and deburring of the outside surface 23 of workpiece 22 follows:

• The tool carriage 44 is cycled down in the Y direction to position the boring bar and turning insert 52 proximate to the outer surface 23 of the workpiece 22 which is axially below the workpiece teeth.

• Motor 40 is engaged to rotate the workpiece 22 about workpiece axis W.

• Workpiece carriage 32 moves in the Z direction to engage the turning insert 52 with the outer surface 23 and to feed the turning insert into the outer surface 23 (Z direction) by a desired amount, for example up to 0.005 inch.

• Once the infeed is complete, the turning insert is moved axially in the Y direction (upward in Figure 14), relative to the workpiece, to remove material from the outer diameter surface 23 of the workpiece. Upon reaching the outer tooth end surface 6, the Y direction movement may be continued thereby removing material, including any burrs, from the outer tooth end surfaces 6. The Y direction movement continues until the stock removal and/or burr removal is complete.

• The workpiece carriage 32 moves the turning insert 52 away from the outer tooth end faces (Z direction) and the motor 40 stops.

[0057] Although the above turning example is with respect to turning of the outer surface of a workpiece, the method applies equally to turning the inner surface of a workpiece. [0058] It follows that subsequent to turning, brushing may be conducted over some or all of the entire turned surface of the workpiece.

[0059] Although the view of Figure 3 is the preferred orientation of the inventive deburring apparatus 30, the deburring apparatus 30 can be positioned at any other orientation without departing from the inventive aspects thereof.

[0060] While the invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the particulars thereof. The present invention is intended to include modifications which would be apparent to those skilled in the art to which the subject matter pertains without deviating from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1 . A method of deburring a toothed workpiece, said workpiece having an axis of rotation and being rotatable about said axis of rotation and including a first side and a second side, said first and second sides being opposed to one another and being spaced from another in the axial direction, at least one of said first side and said second side comprising one or more teeth, said one or more teeth extending from an inner tooth end face located at a first radius with respect to said axis of rotation to an outer tooth end face located at a second radius with respect to said axis of rotation, wherein said workpiece includes a plurality of burrs, said burrs being attached to said workpiece at locations defined by said first radius and said second radius, said method comprising: a) providing a first tool having a cutting edge and a second tool comprising a brush, b) providing said workpiece with teeth and burrs on at least said first side and positioning said workpiece for deburring said first side, c) moving said first tool relative to said workpiece so as position said first tool cutting edge adjacent to said workpiece at one of said first radius or said second radius, d) rotating said workpiece relative to said first tool cutting edge to remove burrs from said workpiece at one of said first radius or said second radius, e) moving said first tool relative to said workpiece so as position said first tool cutting edge adjacent to said workpiece at the other of said first radius or said second radius, f) rotating said workpiece relative to said first tool cutting edge to remove burrs from said workpiece at the other of said first radius or said second radius, g) moving said second tool relative to said workpiece so as position said second tool brush adjacent to said workpiece at one of said first radius or said second radius, h) rotating the brush about an axis of rotation and rotating said workpiece relative to the rotating brush to remove any residual burrs from said workpiece at one of said first radius or said second radius, i) moving said second tool relative to said workpiece so as position said second tool brush adjacent to said workpiece at the other of said first radius or said second radius, j) rotating the brush about said axis of rotation and rotating said workpiece relative to the rotating brush to remove any residual burrs from said workpiece at the other of said first radius or said second radius.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising, providing said workpiece with teeth and burrs on said second side and positioning said workpiece for deburring said second side, repeating said steps (c) to (j).

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said cutting tool is linearly movable in a first direction (Y) and said workpiece is linearly movable in a second direction (Z), said directions (Y) and (Z) being perpendicular to one another.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said first direction (Y) and said workpiece axis of rotation are parallel to one another.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said brush is linearly movable in a first direction (Y) and said workpiece is linearly movable in a second direction (Z), said directions (Y) and (Z) being perpendicular to one another.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said first direction (Y) and the axis of rotation of said brush are parallel to one another.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein subsequent to said positioning the workpiece and prior said deburring, the position of the workpiece is checked to determine if said position is suitable for deburring.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein during deburring with said first tool, said workpiece and said first tool are moved relative to one another in the direction of the workpiece axis.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein during deburring with said second tool, said workpiece and said second tool are moved relative to one another in the direction of the workpiece axis.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said workpiece and said brush rotate in opposite directions.

11. An apparatus for deburring a toothed workpiece, said deburring apparatus comprising: a workpiece carriage movable in a first direction, said workpiece carriage comprising means to releasably secure and rotate a toothed workpiece about an axis of rotation, said toothed workpiece having burrs at an outer diameter and/or an inner diameter thereof, a tool carriage movable in a second direction, said tool carriage comprising means to releasably secure a rough deburring tool and means to releasably secure a fine deburring tool, said first direction movement and said second direction movement providing operability to said deburring apparatus to remove burrs located at the outer diameter and/or the inner diameter of a toothed workpiece.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said rough deburring tool comprises a cutting tool.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said fine deburring tool is rotatable about an axis of rotation.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said fine deburring tool comprises a brush.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the workpiece axis of rotation, the fine deburring tool axis of rotation and said second direction movement lie in the same plane.

16. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said first direction movement and said second direction movement are perpendicular to one another.

17. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising a workpiece position checking means to check the position of a workpiece releasably secured on said workpiece carriage.

18. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the workpiece axis of rotation, the first direction movement, and the second direction movement lie in the same plane.