Priority

[0001 ] Priority is claimed to European Patent Application No. EP 22 174 981 .5, filed on May 24, 2022, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.

Description

[0002] The invention relates to a brake disc arrangement comprising a brake disc having a friction ring and a brake disc pot with an opening which is concentric to a central brake disc axis and is delimited by a boundary closed on the peripheral side.

[0003] The object of the invention is to enable simple transport of a brake disc in a system for machining a brake disc.

[0004] This object is achieved by a brake disc arrangement with the features of claim 1.

[0005] The receiving device enables a simple force fit and/or form fit with the boundary of the central opening of the brake disc pot and/or with a surface section of the brake disc pot adjoining the boundary. This makes it possible to arrange a central brake disc axis and a central receiving axis of the receiving device in alignment with one another and to fix the brake disc in a region which is as far as possible away from the friction surfaces of the friction ring of the brake disc. Furthermore, the receiving device comprises a pressing body with a first pressing surface which is designed to press against an annular first end face of the brake disc pot. This pressing surface enables an additional fixing of the brake disc, specifically in a region of the brake disc pot, which is likewise spaced apart from the friction surfaces of the friction ring.

[0006] In particular, the securing is effective during a transport in which the central brake disc axis is oriented horizontally. This enables a “standing” transport of the brake disc, in which the friction ring of the brake disc extends in a substantially vertical transport plane. This is particularly advantageous in conjunction with a working gap of a double side grinding machine extending in a vertical plane, having two grinding wheels, with active surfaces facing one another, which are each designed for machining one of the two friction surfaces of the friction ring.

[0007] It is preferred that the centering device is pretensioned in the direction of the securing state and/or that the securing state is a resting state of the receiving device. This has the advantage that no energy has to be supplied from outside for securing the brake disc on the receiving device of the brake disc arrangement. In particular, the receiving device is not connectable to a tool spindle. Thus, the brake disc arrangement is self-sufficient and remains in a state in which the brake disc is secured on the receiving device without any external energy supply.

[0008] A preferred possibility for applying and pretensioning the centering device is the use of a spring, in particular a mechanical spring. Additionally or alternatively, the use of pneumatic and/or hydraulic springs is also conceivable.

[0009] It is further preferred that the receiving device has an actuating device for transferring the centering device from the securing state into the insertion state. Such an actuation can be accompanied by the supply of energy from the outside; this energy supply is however only required for a transition state in which the centering surface is inserted into the opening of the brake disc pot.

[0010] It is further preferred that the receiving device has a handling section having a handling surface for handling by an external gripper, wherein the handling surface preferably extends concentrically to the receiving axis. Such a handling surface enables a simple gripping of the receiving device, in particular a receiving device, on which a brake disc is secured. The gripper may be, in particular, a two-jaw gripper which can securely grip a preferably cylindrical handling surface and can displace it for transporting a brake disc arrangement.

[0011 ] It is preferred that the handling surface has a diameter which is at most half the outer diameter of the friction ring of the brake disc of the brake disc arrangement. This enables a secure gripping of a brake disc arrangement in a compact installation space.

[0012] The handling section is preferably arranged on a side of the pressing body facing away from the first pressing surface. In this way, an external gripper even of a simple design can attach without collision. [0013] It is particularly preferred for the receiving device to have a central shaft which is connected to the pressing body and which protrudes with a free end beyond the centering device. The free end can be used, for example, to insert the brake disc arrangement with the free end of the central shaft into a guide sleeve of a drive system used to rotationally drive a brake disc.

[0014] It is particularly preferred that the free end has at least one coupling section for producing a form fit and/or force fit acting along the shaft axis of the central shaft with a coupling partner which is provided by a spindle drive of the drive system for rotationally driving a brake disc. The coupling partner enables the central shaft and thus the pressing body to be subjected to a pressing force which presses the first pressing surface of the pressing body against the annular first end face of the brake disc pot.

[0015] The invention further relates to a drive system for rotationally driving a brake disc, wherein the drive system has a spindle drive with a second pressing surface which can be pressed against an annular second end face of the brake disc pot facing away from the first end face, wherein the drive system comprises a brake disc arrangement described above. This enables the use of a receiving device described above for use in a drive system, wherein end faces of a brake disc pot facing away from one another are arranged between the first pressing surface of the pressing body of the receiving device and the second pressing surface of the spindle drive and are fixed between these pressing surfaces.

[0016] It is particularly preferred that the drive system has a coupling partner which interacts with the coupling section of the central shaft of the receiving device and applies tension to the central shaft so that the first pressing surface is pressed against the first end face of the brake disc pot and the second pressing surface is pressed against the second end face of the brake disc pot. Overall, the result is an arrangement of a brake disc centered relative to a central spindle axis, which is fixed in the region of the end faces of the brake disc pot such that, during a grinding machining of the friction surfaces of the friction ring of the brake disc, very high torques can be exerted on the friction surface without influencing the rotary drive of the brake disc (thus, in particular, slippage of the brake disc relative to the spindle drive is prevented). [0017] Particularly high torques can be exerted when the first pressing surface and the second pressing surface overlap in radial direction relative to the shaft axis of the central shaft.

[0018] A particularly preferred drive system comprises a handling device having a frame on which at least two holders are arranged in a manner distributed along a circumference, said holders each having a locking device for the releasable arrangement of a receiving device, wherein the frame, in order to displace the holders and selectively position a specific holder with a specific receiving device and with a brake disc secured thereto, can be rotatably driven relative to the spindle drive with a rotary drive about a frame axis, wherein the frame axis is oriented perpendicularly to a spindle axis of the spindle drive. Such a drive system makes it possible to keep available — in particular directly adjacent to the spindle drive — a plurality of receiving devices which are each equipped with or can be equipped with brake discs to be machined by grinding or machined brake discs. Due to the orientation of the frame axis perpendicular to the spindle axis, the receiving devices can be kept available in a relatively small space.

[0019] At least two holders are provided, which are arranged along the circumference in particular regularly distributed, i.e. , for example, two holders which are arranged offset to one another by 180° along the circumference. Three holders or four holders or at least four holders may be provided.

[0020] It is possible for the holders to be connected to one another so that the distance of the holders along the circumference is unchangeable. It is preferred that the holders are freely positionable and fixable along the circumference, for example in order to change the number of holders and/or to provide holders with brake disc receptacles which are specific to the geometry of certain brake discs.

[0021 ] Preferably, the frame is arranged on a carriage which can be driven by a carriage drive relative to a carriage support along a carriage axis in the direction of the spindle drive and in the opposite direction. This enables a simplified transfer of a brake disc arrangement with a brake disc to be machined by grinding to the spindle drive and a simplified transfer of a brake disc arrangement with a brake disc machined by grinding from the spindle drive. The carriage support can extend, for example, in a horizontal plane which runs in particular within or parallel to a top side of a machine bed of a double side grinding machine. It is also possible for the carriage support to extend in a vertical plane, which runs in particular perpendicular to a top side of a machine bed of a double side grinding machine.

[0022] It is particularly preferred that a receiving device for receiving a brake disc with a first brake disc geometry is arranged on at least one first holder or on at least two first holders in each case, and that a receiving device for receiving a brake disc with a second brake disc geometry, which is different from the first brake disc geometry, is arranged on at least one second holder or on at least two second holders in each case. This enables flexible machining of brake discs with different geometries (in particular with respect to different outer diameters and/or inner diameters of the friction ring). This means that a “chaotic” machining of different brake discs is also possible; changeover operations for machining successive series of brake discs with different geometries are no longer necessary.

[0023] In a further preferred embodiment, the handling device has an actuating drive, which is arranged in a rotationally fixed manner in particular with respect to the frame axis, for actuating an actuating device of a receiving device. This makes it possible to transfer a respective receiving device from a securing state into the insertion state of the receiving device, in particular for equipping the receiving device with a brake disc to be machined by grinding, and for releasing a brake disc machined by grinding from the receiving device.

[0024] In a further preferred embodiment, the handling device has a release drive, which is arranged in a rotationally fixed manner in particular with respect to the frame axis, for releasing the locking device. This makes it possible to release a receiving device, which is equipped with a brake disc to be machined by grinding, from a holder in order to prepare a transfer to the spindle drive and in particular a coupling with the spindle drive.

[0025] Moreover, the handling device discussed above and below is also advantageous on its own and in conjunction with a receiving device which serves to releasably receive a brake disc. Such a receiving device can have all the features of the receiving device of claim 1 . Such a receiving device may also have only a subset of the features of the receiving device of claim 1 or none of the features of the receiving device of claim 1. [0026] The invention further relates to a double side grinding machine having two grinding wheels and having a drive system described above. In particular, the grinding wheels can be driven in a rotating manner about grinding wheel axes that are oriented horizontally.

[0027] The invention further relates to a method for machining a brake disc having the features of the method claim.

[0028] Further features and advantages of the invention are the subject of the following description and the graphical depiction of preferred exemplary embodiments.

[0029] In the figures

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a system for grinding machining of a brake disc in an initial state;

Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of the system according to Fig. 1 in a state for preparing a securing of the brake disc on a receiving device;

Fig. 2a shows a vertical section along a sectional plane indicated by Ila in Fig. 2;

Fig. 2b shows an enlarged depiction of a detail denoted by lib in Fig. 2a;

Fig. 3 shows a detail corresponding to Fig. 2b in a state in which the brake disc is secured to the receiving device and together with the receiving device forms a brake disc arrangement;

Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of the system according to Fig. 1 in a transport state of the brake disc arrangement according to Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of the system according to Fig. 1 in a state for preparing a coupling between the brake disc arrangement according to Fig. 3 and a spindle drive of a drive system of a double side grinding machine;

Fig. 5a shows a vertical section along a sectional plane indicated by Va in Fig. 5;

Fig. 5b shows an enlarged depiction of a detail denoted by Vb in Fig. 5a;

Fig. 6 shows a detail corresponding to Fig. 5b in a state in which the brake disc arrangement and the spindle drive are coupled to one another; Fig. 7 shows a perspective view of the system according to Fig. 1 during grinding machining of the brake disc;

Fig. 8 shows a plan view of a further brake disc arrangement for use in a system according to Figs. 1 to 7;

Fig. 8a shows a vertical section of the brake disc arrangement according to Fig. 8, in a securing state;

Fig. 8b shows a depiction corresponding to Fig. 8a, in an insertion state;

Fig. 8c shows an enlarged depiction of a detail denoted by Ville in Fig. 8b;

Fig. 9 shows a vertical section of a further brake disc arrangement for use in a system according to Figs. 1 to 7;

Figs. 10a to 10h show plan views of an embodiment of a double side grinding machine having a drive system and having a handling device, in successive operating phases; and

Fig. 11 shows a vertical section of the handling device along a sectional plane denoted by XI-XI in Fig. 10c.

[0030] A system for the grinding machining of a brake disc is shown in figures 1 , 2, 4, 5 and 7 in perspective and in different states. These states relate to a brake disc which is denoted by the reference sign 12 and which passes through the system 10.

[0031] The brake disc 12 has a friction ring 14 and a brake disc pot 16. The brake disc pot 16 has a central opening 18. The opening 18, the brake disc pot 16 and the friction ring 14 extend concentrically to a central brake disc axis 20.

[0032] The system 10 has a receiving region 22 for receiving a brake disc 12 and a double side grinding machine 24 having a drive system 26 for rotationally driving a brake disc 12. In order to transfer a brake disc 12 between the receiving region 22 and the drive system 26 of the double side grinding machine 24, the system 10 comprises a transport region 28.

[0033] The receiving region 22 is adjacent to a feed 30 for brake discs 12 to be machined by grinding and to a discharge 32 for brake discs 12 machined by grinding. A stationary frame 34, which serves to arrange a rotary plate 36, is arranged between the feed 30 and the discharge 32, compare Figures 1 and 5. The rotary plate 36 is rotatable relative to the frame 34 about a vertical axis 38 and can be moved along a horizontal stroke axis 40 relative to the frame 34.

[0034] The rotary plate 36 has two brake disc receptacles 42 and 44 which can be pivoted about respectively assigned horizontal pivot axes 46, 48 between a horizontal position and a vertical position. For fixing a brake disc 12 to a brake disc receptacle 42, 44, each of these has a bearing surface 50 and a counterholder 52 spaced apart from the bearing surface 50. In the horizontal position of one of the brake disk receptacles 42, 44 the bearing surface 50 points upward.

[0035] In Fig. 1 , the brake disc 12 received from the feed 30 is shown in a state in which it rests on the bearing surface 50 of the brake disc receptacle 42 and is fixed in the region of the friction ring 14 by the counterholder 52. Starting from this state, the rotary plate 36 is rotated about the vertical axis 38 by 180° and the brake disc receptacle 42 is pivoted about the pivot axis 46 so that the brake disc 12 assumes a vertical position shown in Fig. 2, compare also figures 2a and 2b.

[0036] The system 10 further comprises a receiving device 54, the structure and function of which are described below with reference to the figures 2b and 3.

[0037] The opening 18 of the brake disc 12 is delimited by a boundary 56 closed on the peripheral side. The receiving device 54 extends along a central receiving axis 58 and has a centering device 60.

[0038] The centering device 60 has a clamping cone 62 and a clamping sleeve 64 having a centering surface 66. The clamping cone 62 is connected via tension rods (without reference signs) to a piston 68 which is pretensioned in a pretensioning direction 70, in particular by means of a spring 72. The spring 72 is designed as a compression spring and exerts a compressive force on both the piston 68 and a pressing body 74 of the receiving device 54.

[0039] The pressing body 74 has a first pressing surface 76, in particular an annular first pressing surface, for pressing against an annular first end face 78 of the brake disc pot 16. The brake disc pot further has a second end face 80 facing away from the first end face 78.

[0040] In a resting state of the receiving device 54, the centering device 60 is pretensioned by means of the spring 72, wherein the pretension is transmitted via the piston 68 and the tension rods to the clamping cone 62 and presses the latter into the clamping sleeve 64 so that the centering surface 66 of the clamping sleeve 64 is pushed radially outwards. In this state, the centering surface 66 has a larger diameter than the boundary 56 of the opening 18 of the brake disc 12.

[0041] In order to reduce the diameter of the centering surface 66, the receiving device 54 has an actuating device 82 with a pressure chamber 84 which is fed by a line 86 (compare Figure 2). The pressure chamber 84 acts on a side of the piston 68 facing away from the spring 72, so that a pressure increase in the pressure chamber 84 leads to the pressure chamber 84 increasing against the action of the spring 72. This is accompanied by the clamping cone 62 detaching from the clamping sleeve 64, so that the centering surface 66 is reduced and can be inserted into the opening 18 of the brake disc 12 in an insertion state.

[0042] For said insertion, the central brake disc axis 20 and the central receiving axis 58 are arranged in alignment with one another. The rotary plate 36 is moved along the stroke axis 40 so that starting from the spaced-apart arrangement of the brake disc 12 and the receiving device 54 (compare Figure 2b) the centering device 60 is inserted into the opening of the brake disc 12, compare Figure 3. By releasing the actuating device 82 (pressure drop in the pressure chamber 84), the spring 72 exerts a pretensioning force on the clamping cone 62 again, so that the centering surface 66 of the centering device 60 is tensioned in a force-fitting manner against the boundary 56 of the opening 18 of the brake disc 12. At the same time, the first pressing surface 76 of the pressing body 74 comes into contact with the first end face 78 of the brake disc pot 16.

[0043] The brake disc 12 and the receiving device 54 together form a brake disc arrangement 86, which is fed from the receiving region 22 through the transport region 28 to the drive system 26 of the system 10.

[0044] The receiving device 54 further has a central shaft 88 which extends along a shaft axis 90 and is in particular integrally connected to the pressing body 74. The central shaft 88 passes through the centering device 60. The central shaft 88 has a coupling section 92 at its free end, which protrudes beyond the centering device 60, compare Figure 2b.

[0045] The receiving device 54 further has a housing 94 which is connected to the pressing body 74 and serves to accommodate the spring 72, the piston 68 and the pressure chamber 84. The housing 94 forms a handling section 96 (compare Figure 3) with a cylindrical handling surface 96 which extends concentrically to the receiving axis 58 of the receiving device 54. The handling section 96 is in particular arranged on a side of the pressing body 74 facing away from the first pressing surface 76.

[0046] The handling surface 98 is used for handling the receiving device 54, namely in particular using a gripper 100, compare Figure 2.

[0047] The gripper 100 is part of a transport device 102 which has a transport axis 104 for transferring a brake disc arrangement 86 from the receiving region 22 to the drive system 26, compare Figure 4.

[0048] The transport device 102 has a transport arm 106 which is driven by a motor along the transport axis 104 and on which a transport rocker 108 is mounted to pivot about an axis 110.

[0049] The transport rocker 108 is used for arranging the gripper 100, in particular a double jaw gripper, and preferably for arranging a further gripper 112, which is also designed to grip a handling surface 98 of a receiving device 54, compare Figure 4.

[0050] Starting from the state shown in Figure 3, in which the brake disc 12 is secured to the receiving device 54, the brake disc 12 is initially disengaged from the brake disc receptacle 42. For this purpose, the transport rocker 108 — starting from the state according to Figure 2 and together with the brake disc arrangement 86 according to Figure 3 — is pivoted upward, compare Figure 4. This makes it possible to pivot the brake disc receptacle 42 back into its horizontal position (see Fig. 4) starting from the vertical position (see Figures 2 to 3). In this way, the transport arm 106 together with the transport rocker 108 and gripper 100 can be fed together with the brake disc arrangement 86 in a collision-free manner along the transport axis 104 to the drive system 26 of the double side grinding machine 24, compare Figures 4 and 5.

[0051 ] The drive system 26 is arranged on a machine bed 114 of the double side grinding machine 24. The machine bed 114 is used for supporting two grinding wheel drives 116 and 118, by means of which a respective grinding wheel 120, 122 can be driven in a rotating manner. The two grinding wheels 120 and 122 delimit a working gap 124 extending in a vertical plane, compare Figure 7.

[0052] The drive system 26 is arranged laterally offset relative to the working gap 124 and comprises a carrier 126 which is movable relative to the machine bed 114 and can be moved in the direction of the working gap 124 along a horizontal infeed axis 130 and in the opposite direction thereto by means of guides 128, in particular by means of a carrier drive which is known per se and is not depicted in the drawing.

[0053] The carrier 126 is used to arrange a spindle drive 132 which has a spindle housing 134. The spindle housing 134 is movable relative to the carrier 126 along a horizontal stroke axis 136, compare Figures 5b and 6, wherein the stroke axis 136 runs perpendicular to the infeed axis 130.

[0054] The spindle drive 132 has a spindle 131 having a second pressing surface 138 which is formed annular and can be moved together with the spindle drive 132 along the stroke axis 136. The spindle drive 132 has a spindle axis 140 around which the spindle 131 having the second pressing surface 138 can be rotatably driven.

[0055] In the Figures 5 to 5b, a state is depicted, in which the brake disc arrangement 86 is still held on the gripper 100 and in which the shaft axis 90 of the central shaft 88 of the receiving device 54 is arranged in alignment with the spindle axis 140. In this case, the second pressing surface 138 of the spindle drive 132 is initially still spaced apart from the second end face 80 of the brake disc pot 16 of the brake disc 12.

[0056] The spindle drive 132 has a coupling partner 142 which is designed to interact with the coupling section 92 of the central shaft 88. The coupling partner 142 has movable form-fit elements (without reference signs), the relative position of which is adjustable by means of a coupling drive 144 such that the form-fit elements have a greater distance from one another (compare Figure 5b) or have a smaller distance from one another (compare Figure 6).

[0057] A greater distance of the form-fit elements of the coupling partner 142 makes it possible to move the spindle drive 132 — starting from the state according to Figure 5b — along the stroke axis 136 in the direction of the brake disc arrangement 86. In this way, the free end of the central shaft 88 of the receiving device 54 can be inserted into the coupling partner 142. Moreover, the second pressing surface 138 comes into contact with the second end face 80 of the brake disc pot 16, compare Figure 6. [0058] An actuation of the coupling drive 144 leads to a form-fitting engagement of the coupling partner 142 with the coupling section 92 of the free end of the central shaft 88, compare Figure 6. Moreover, the coupling drive 144 exerts a tensile force on the coupling partner 142 and thus on the central shaft 88, which is transmitted via the pressing body 74 and its first pressing surface 76 to the first end face 78 of the brake disc pot 16. At the same time, the second pressing surface 138 of the spindle drive 132 presses against the second end face 80 of the brake disc pot 16, so that the brake disc pot 16 is securely clamped between the first pressing surface 76 of the pressing body 74 of the receiving device 54 and the second pressing surface 138 of the spindle drive 132. This is the state depicted in Figure 6.

[0059] In a next step, the gripper 100 is removed from the handling surface 98 of the receiving device 54, and the spindle drive 132 is moved together with the brake disc arrangement 86 along the infeed axis 130 in the direction of the working gap 124 of the double side grinding machine 24 until the friction ring 14 of the brake disc 12 is inserted into the working gap 124. This is followed by a grinding machining of the friction surfaces of the friction ring 14 by means of the two grinding wheels 120 and 122.

[0060] Following the grinding machining of the brake disc 12, the latter can be supplied again to the receiving region 22, always using the receiving device 54. There, the brake disc 12 can be separated from the receiving device and removed as a finished part at the discharge 32 (compare Figure 1 ).

[0061 ] In the Figures 8 to 8c, a further embodiment of a brake disc arrangement 86 having a brake disc 12 and a receiving device 54 is depicted. In contrast to the forcefitting centering of the centering device 60 described above, the centering device 60 of the receiving device 54 of this further embodiment acts in a form-fitting manner with the boundary 56 of the opening 18 of the brake disc pot 16. For this purpose, the centering device 60 has at least one form-fit element 146, in particular two, three or four form-fit elements 146, which are preferably arranged distributed regularly along a circumference. These are spring-loaded and extend further radially outward in a resting state (compare Figure 8a) than in an insertion state (compare Figures 8b and 8c). [0062] To transfer the centering device 60 from a resting state according to Fig. 8a into the insertion state depicted in Figures 8b and 8c, an actuating device 82 in the form of an actuating pin 148 is provided.

[0063] The centering device 60 comprises a centering ring 150 which forms a centering surface 66 pointing radially outward. The centering ring 150 is an integral part of the central shaft 88 or provided separately from the shaft 88.

[0064] In the exemplary embodiment depicted in the drawing, the centering ring 150 has an additional function and forms a stop for adjusting springs 152, which are associated with the form-fit elements 146 and act upon them radially inward. The form-fit elements 146 interact at their radially inner ends with a blocking ball 154.

[0065] The actuating pin 148 counteracts the pretensioning force of the spring 72 and releases the locking elements 146 by displacement of the blocking ball 154, so that the adjusting springs 152 press the form-fit elements 146 radially inward so that the boundary 56 of the opening 18 of the brake disc 12 can be displaced beyond the radially outer ends of the form-fit elements 146 onto the centering surface 66.

[0066] By releasing the actuating device 82, the spring 72 is relaxed again, so that the blocking ball 154 again assumes a blocking position in which the form-fit elements 146 — against the effect of the comparatively weak adjusting springs 152 — are urged radially outwards. In this state, the form-fit elements 146 have their radially outer ends in a rear engagement/form fit with a surface section 156 of the second end face 80 of the brake disc pot 16. The surface section 156 adjoins the boundary 56.

[0067] In Fig. 9, a further embodiment of a brake disc arrangement 86 having a brake disc 12 and a receiving device 54 is depicted. The centering device 60 of the receiving device 54 of this further embodiment interacts in a form-fit manner with the boundary 56 of the opening 18 of the brake disc pot 16. For this purpose, the centering device 60 has a spherical form-fit element 146 which is mounted on the pressing body 74. The form-fit element is arranged further radially outward in a resting state (depicted in Fig. 9) than in an insertion state (not depicted).

[0068] The pressing body 74 comprises an annular body 162 which faces the brake disc pot and has an annular first pressing surface 76 for pressing against an annular first end face 78 of the brake disc pot 16. [0069] The centering device 60 comprises, as an integral component of a central shaft 88, a radially outwardly pointing centering surface 66.

[0070] In order to transfer the centering device 60 from a resting state according to Fig. 9 into the insertion state, an actuating device 82 in the form of an actuating pin 148 is provided.

[0071] In the resting state, an actuating surface 158 of the actuating pin 148 presses the form-fitting element 146 so far radially outwards that the form-fit element 146 interacts with the boundary 56 of the opening 18 of the brake disc pot 16 in a formfitting manner and secures the brake disc 12 to the receiving device 54.

[0072] When the actuating pin 148 is actuated against the pretensioning force of a spring 72, the actuating surface 158 disengages from the form-fit element 146; instead, a deflection surface 160 comes into operative engagement with the form-fit element 146. The deflection surface 160 is offset radially inward relative to the actuating surface 158, so that the form-fit element 146 is deflected radially inward and releases the form fit with the boundary 56 of the opening 18 of the brake disc pot 16.

[0073] It will be understood that the receiving device 54 according to Figures 8 to 8c and also the receiving device according to Fig. 9 may be used in a system 10 according to Figures 1 to 7.

[0074] A double side grinding machine 24 depicted in Figures 10a to 10h has grinding drives 116, 118 and a drive system 26 having a spindle drive 132, wherein reference is made to the above description of the double side grinding machine according to Figures 4 to 7 for the construction and the functionality of said double side grinding machine.

[0075] The double side grinding machine 24 according to Figures 10a to 10h comprises a handling device, which is denoted overall by the reference sign 200.

[0076] The handling device 200 has a carriage support 202 connected to the machine bed 114 of the double side grinding machine 24. The carriage support 202 defines a carriage axis 204 which runs parallel to the spindle axis 140.

[0077] A carriage 206 is mounted on the carriage support 202 so as to be displaceable along the carriage axis 204 and can be driven by means of a carriage drive which is known per se and is not depicted in the drawing, as a result of which the carriage 206 can be moved in the direction of the spindle drive 132 and in the opposite direction thereto.

[0078] A frame 208 is arranged on the carriage 206 and can be rotated about a frame axis 212 by means of a rotary drive 210. The frame axis 212 runs perpendicular to the spindle axis 140.

[0079] The frame 208 has a frame structure 216 extending along a circumference 214 and is formed, for example, as a groove with a course closed on the peripheral side. The frame structure 216 is used for arranging and in particular releasably fixing at least two holders 218, 218', which can each be connected to the frame structure 216 at a position to be selected along the circumference 214, for example by means of a sliding block which can be screwed or clamped in the groove.

[0080] The holders 218, 218' are used for releasably holding a receiving device 54, 54', for example a receiving device according to Fig. 9. The holders 218 have a holding section 220 on which one of the receiving devices 54, 54' is held.

[0081] A locking device 222 is provided for releasably locking a receiving device 54, 54' on a holding section 220. In a locking state of the locking device 222, a receiving device 54 is locked on the holding section 220. In a release state of the locking device 222, a receiving device 54, 54' is releasable from the respective holding section 220. The locking device 222 can be actuated by means of a release drive 224 which transfers the locking device 222 from the locking state into the release state.

[0082] The release drive 224 is rotationally fixed with respect to the frame 208 and is arranged on the carriage 206; thus, the release drive 224 is not rotatable together with the frame 208 about the frame axis 212.

[0083] The handling device 200 further has an actuating drive 226. The latter is rotationally fixed with respect to the frame 208 and is arranged on the carriage 206; thus, the actuating drive 226 is not rotatable together with the frame 208 about the frame axis 212. The actuating drive 226 is used to actuate the actuating device 82 of the receiving device 54, compare Fig. 9.

[0084] An actuation of the actuating device 82 is accompanied by the fact that the actuating drive 226 exerts a compressive force on the actuating pin 148 and transfers the receiving device 54 from the securing state into the insertion state, as a result of which the receiving device 54 can be equipped with a brake disc 12 or a brake disc 12 can be removed from the receiving device 54.

[0085] The holders 218, 218' are each provided with a receiving device 54, 54', wherein it is possible for all receiving devices 54, 54' to be identical and serve for receiving a brake disc 12 with the same brake disc geometry.

[0086] Alternatively, one receiving device 54 of a first holder 218 or two receiving devices 54 of a first pair of holders 218 is/are designed for receiving a brake disc 12 having a first brake disc geometry, and one receiving device 54' of a second holder 218' or two receiving devices 54' of a second pair of second holders 218' is/are designed for receiving a brake disc 12 having a second brake disc geometry deviating from the first brake disc geometry.

[0087] The holders 218 and receiving devices 54 of the first pair and/or the holders 218' and receiving devices 54' of the second pair are each preferably arranged opposite each other in relation to the frame axis 212; there is an offset about the axis of rotation 212 of, for example, 30° or 45° or 60° (depicted in the drawing) or 90° between the holders 218 and 218' of the different pairs.

[0088] In an initial state of the double side grinding machine 24, none of the receiving devices 54, 54' is equipped with a brake disc 12 or 12'; the working gap 124 is open; the spindle drive 132 is oriented such that the spindle axis 140 is aligned with the carriage axis 204. The carriage 206 is spaced apart from the spindle drive 132; the frame 208 is positioned about the axis of rotation 212 such that a first holder 218 is arranged in the region of the actuating drive 226 and faces an outer region of the double side grinding machine 24. In this position of the first holder 218, the receiving device 54 thereof can be actuated by means of the actuating drive 226 and transferred into the insertion state in which this receiving device 54 can be equipped with a first brake disc 12. By deactivating the actuating drive 226, the receiving device 54 reaches the securing state — with the aid of the spring 72, compare Fig. 9 — in which the first brake disc is secured to the receiving device 54. This initial state is depicted in Fig. 10a.

[0089] Starting from the state according to Fig. 10a, the frame 208 is rotated by means of the rotary drive 210 about the axis of rotation 212 by 90° (clockwise in the drawing) and then the carriage 206 is moved in the direction of the spindle drive 132 until the second end face 80 of the first brake disc 12 (compare Fig. 9) comes into contact with the second pressing surface 138 (compare Fig. 10a) of the spindle drive 132. This state is depicted in Fig. 10b.

[0090] Starting from the state according to Fig. 10b, the locking device 222 is actuated so that the receiving device 54 can be detached from the holding section 220 of the first holder 218. Subsequently, the coupling section 92 of the receiving device 54 (compare Fig. 9) is coupled to the coupling partner 142 of the spindle drive 132. This coupling has already been explained above with reference to Figures 5b and 6; reference will be made to these explanations. In this way, a brake disc arrangement 86 is connected to the spindle drive 132. Subsequently, the carriage 206 is removed from the spindle drive 132. This state is depicted in Fig. 10c.

[0091] Starting from the state according to Fig. 10c, the spindle drive 132 is moved together with the brake disc arrangement 86 along the infeed axis 130 in the direction of the working gap 124 of the double side grinding machine 24 until the friction ring 14 of the first brake disc 12 is inserted into the working gap 124. This is followed by a grinding machining of the friction surfaces of the friction ring 14 by means of the two grinding wheels 120 and 122.

[0092] During the grinding machining of the first brake disc 12, the transfer of a second brake disc 12' (compare Fig. 10e) can be prepared by means of the handling device 200. For this purpose, the frame 208 is rotated by 30° about the frame axis 212 (clockwise in the drawing) starting from the state according to Fig. 10c so that a second holder 218' is arranged with a further receiving device 54' in the region of the actuating drive 226. This state is depicted in Fig. 10d.

[0093] In the manner already described above, the second brake disc 12' is connected to the receiving device 54'. Subsequently, the frame 208 is rotated by 30° about the frame axis 212 (counterclockwise in the drawing) starting from the state according to Fig. 10d, as a result of which the first holder 218 is brought back into a position in which the receiving device 54 faces the drive spindle 132. This state is depicted in Fig. 10e.

[0094] After completion of the grinding machining of the first brake disc 12, the latter is released by increasing the working gap 124. The spindle drive 132 is moved back along the infeed axis 130 together with the brake disc 12 machined by grinding and the receiving device 54 until the spindle axis 140 is again aligned with the carriage axis 204.

[0095] Subsequently, the carriage 206 is moved in the direction of the spindle drive 132, the coupling partner 142 is released and the release device 222 is actuated so that the receiving device 54 can be transferred from the holding section 220 of the holder 218. This state is depicted in Fig. 10f .

[0096] Subsequently, the frame 208 is rotated about the axis of rotation 212 by 120° (clockwise in the drawing) so that the second holder 218', the second receiving device 54' and the second brake disc 12' face the drive spindle 132. This state is depicted in Fig. 10g.

[0097] Subsequently, the second receiving device 54' and the second brake disc 12' can be connected to the drive spindle 132 in the manner described above, so that a grinding machining of the second brake disc 12' can follow, see Fig. 10h.

[0098] During the grinding machining of the second brake disc 12', the first brake disc 12 machined by grinding can be removed from the first receiving device 54. For this purpose, the frame 208 is rotated about the axis of rotation 212 by 150° (clockwise in the drawing) so that the first receiving device 54 is arranged in the region of the actuating drive 226. By actuating the actuating device 82, the brake disc 12 can be detached from the receiving device and then a new brake disc 12 can be fed.

[0099] In Fig. 11 , further components of the holders 218, the locking device 222 and the release device 224 are depicted.

[0100] The holding section 220 of the holder 218 has a receiving space 228 for receiving at least a part of the pressing body 74 of a receiving device 54. The receiving space 228 is adjacent to an aperture 230 which serves for the passage of a free end of the actuating device 82 of the receiving device 54. In this way, the actuating drive 226 can interact with the actuating device 82, while the receiving device 54 is held on the holding section 220.

[0101] The locking device 222 has movable form-fit elements 232 which, for example, are formed in the shape of a pin and are fixed to a plate 234. The plate 234 is pretensioned by springs 236 in the direction of a locking state of the locking device 222. In the locking state, the form-fit elements 232 penetrate into the receiving space 228 and interact with corresponding form-fit receptacles of the pressing body 74.

[0102] To transfer the locking device 222, a release element 238 of the releasing device 224 presses the plate 234 out of the receiving space 228 against the action of the springs 236, so that the form fit with the pressing body 74 is released.

[0103] The release element 238 is formed, for example, by a piston which can be acted upon by pressure in a cylinder 240. Additionally or optionally, a handle 242 connected to the plate 234 is provided, which allows a manual displacement of the plate 234 against the action of the springs 236.