US Patent 7147542 Centerless grinder

A centerless grinder for grinding an elongated workpiece includes a grinding wheel having a working surface with a plurality of raised areas extending circumferentially around at least a portion of the working surface. A platform is provided having an elongated top surface for supporting the workpiece substantially adjacent to the working surface of the grinding wheel and a front surface with a plurality of lateral grooves for receiving the raised areas on the working surface of the grinding wheel such that movement of the platform toward the working surface into a working area adjacent to the grinding wheel enables the raised areas to pass into the lateral grooves and grind the workpiece. The centerless grinder further includes a first spindle and collet in front of the working area and a second spindle and collet behind the working area, for grinding both ends of an elongated workpiece without removing the workpiece from the grinder, and a wire spool assembly for grinding wire stock directly from the wire spool.