Abrading – Machine – Combined
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-05
2001-11-20
Hail, III, Joseph J. (Department: 3723)
Abrading
Machine
Combined
C451S044000, C451S178000, C451S246000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06319100
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a disk edge polishing machine and a disk edge polishing system, more precisely relates to a disk edge polishing machine, which is capable of polishing an inner edge of a center hole of a disk and an outer edge thereof, and a disk edge polishing system including the disk edge polishing machines.
Glass disks are now used for manufacturing hard disks, laser disks, magnetic disks, etc. Inner edges and outer edges of glass disks must be beveled (rounded) and polished.
Conventionally, high polishing accuracy was not required but, these days, high polishing accuracy is required so as to make memory density higher. If the polishing accuracy is low, glassy dusts are scattered from the edges of the glass disks and badly influence functions of the glass disks, etc. Therefore, the edges of the glass disks must be polished like mirror faces with higher polishing accuracy.
Conventionally, the edges of the glass disks are polished, by a brush, to polish the edges of the glass disks. For example, the conventional method of polishing the edges of the glass disks are executed by the steps of: piling and holding the glass disks, e.g., 100 disks; supplying slurry (liquid abrasive agent including abrasive powder of ceria) to the brush; and rotating or reciprocally moving the brush so as to polish the edges of the glass disks.
However, in the conventional method, polishing speed is very low because of polishing many piled glasses by the brush. And the inner edges and the outer edges are polished by the brush, so polishing time must be longer. Further, it was impossible to polish with the required polishing accuracy (flatness or roughness).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a disk edge polishing machine capable of polishing the edges of the glass disks with higher polishing accuracy.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a disk edge polishing system capable of efficiently polishing the edges of the glass disks with higher polishing accuracy.
To achieve the objects, the present invention has following structures.
The disk edge polishing machine, which polishes an inner edge of a center hole of a disk and an outer edge thereof, comprises:
a sucking member having a cylindrical end section, the sucking member sucking the disk by the cylindrical end section and exposing the inner edge and the outer edge of the disk, the sucking member spinning together with the disk;
an outer polishing member polishing the outer edge of the disk;
an inner polishing member being inserted into the center hole and simultaneously polishing the inner edge of the disk;
a first driving mechanism relatively moving the outer polishing member and the sucking member close to and away from the outer edge of the disk along a predetermined course; and
a second driving mechanism relatively moving the inner polishing member and the sucking member close to and away from the inner edge of the disk along another predetermined course extended from the predetermined course.
In the disk edge polishing machine of the present invention, the outer polishing member and the inner polishing member can be smoothly relatively moved to and away from the disk, so that the inner edge and the outer edge can be simultaneously polished with higher polishing accuracy. By simultaneously polishing the both edges, polishing efficiency can be higher and required time to polish the disk can be shorter.
In the disk edge polishing machine, an inner circumferential face of the outer polishing member may contact the outer edge of the disk, and
the outer polishing member may be spun so as to polish the outer edge of the disk. With this structure, contact area between the outer polishing member and the outer edge of the disk can be broader, so that the outer edge can be stably polished with high polishing accuracy and the polishing efficiency can be improved.
In the disk edge polishing machine, the outer polishing member may be spun about a fixed shaft, which is not relatively moved with respect to a base. With this structure, the outer polishing member, which is relatively large, is not moved except spinning, so the polishing work can be executed stably.
In the disk edge polishing machine, the predetermined courses may be arc courses rounding a coaxial center. With this structure, the moving courses of the outer polishing member and the inner polishing member can be easily set on the same line.
In the disk edge polishing machine, the first driving mechanism may include:
a first arm having a first end, to which the sucking member is rotatably attached, and a second end, which is capable of pivoting about the coaxial center so as to move the sucking member on the arc course; and
a first arm driving unit for turning the first arm, and the second driving mechanism may include:
a second arm having a first end, to which the inner polishing member is rotatably attached, and a second end, which is capable of pivoting about the coaxial center so as to move the inner polishing member on the arc course; and
a second arm driving unit for turning the second arm.
With this structure, the driving mechanisms, which are capable of precisely moving, can be simplified. Therefore, the polishing accuracy can be improved, and manufacturing cost of the machine can be reduced.
In the disk edge polishing machine, the predetermined courses are linear courses. With this structure, the outer edge of the disk can be always moved, with respect to the outer polishing member, with fixed angle, and the inner edge of the disk can be always moved, with respect to the inner polishing member, with fixed angle, so that the edges can be polished stably.
In the disk edge polishing machine, the first driving mechanism and the second driving mechanism may be air cylinder units. With this structure, the edges can be pressed onto the polishing members with proper controlled forces, so that the edges can be properly polished.
In the disk edge polishing machine, the outer polishing member and the inner polishing member may be mainly made of urethane foam. With this structure, the polishing members are inexpensive and can be exchanged easily.
In the disk edge polishing machine, a plurality of ring grooves may be formed in the inner circumferential face of the outer polishing member and arranged, in the axial direction of the outer polishing member, with regular separations, and
a plurality of ring grooves are formed in the outer circumferential face of the inner polishing member and arranged, in the axial direction of the inner polishing member, with regular separations. With this structure, the edges of the disk, which have been beveled, can be properly polished like a mirror face.
In the disk edge polishing machine may further comprise:
an outer slurry path supplying slurry to a portion in which the outer polishing member contacts the outer edge of the disk; and
an inner slurry path being communicated to an inner space of the sucking member, the inner slurry path supplying slurry to a portion in which the inner polishing member contacts the inner edge of the disk. With this structure, the slurry can be properly supplied to the portions, so that the edges can be properly polished.
Next, the disk edge polishing system of the present invention has following structures.
The disk edge polishing system comprises:
a couple of polishing stages, each of which has a disk edge polishing machine, which polishes an inner edge of a center hole of a disk and an outer edge thereof, including:
a sucking member having a cylindrical end section, the sucking member sucking the disk by the cylindrical end section and exposing the inner edge and the outer edge of the disk, the sucking member spinning together with the disk;
an outer polishing member polishing the outer edge of the disk;
an inner polishing member being inserted into the center hole and simultaneously polishing the inner edge of the disk;
a first driving mechanism relatively moving the outer polishing member and the sucking member close to and away fro
Denda Yasuhide
Gonda Kiyokazu
Kajikura Atsushi
Kakegawa Takuya
Kitta Satoru
Fujikoshi Kikai Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
Hail III Joseph J.
Jordan and Hamburg LLP
Thomas David B.
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