METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR POLISHING A CURVED EDGE
First Claim
1. A method for polishing a curved edge of a molded part, the method comprising:
- abrading a first surface of the curved edge of the molded part by contacting a first polishing surface on a first polishing wheel to the first surface of the curved edge of the molded part repeatedly in a first direction concurrent with a rotational spinning direction of the first polishing wheel, the first polishing surface shaped to substantially conform to a portion of the first surface of the curved edge of the molded part; and
polishing the abraded first surface of the curved edge of the molded part by contacting a second polishing surface on a second polishing wheel to the abraded first surface of the curved edge of the molded part, alternating contact in the first direction and in a second direction opposite to the first direction, the second polishing surface shaped to substantially conform to the portion of the first surface of the curved edge of the molded part.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and an apparatus for polishing a curved edge of a molded part. A surface of the curved edge is abraded by contacting a polishing surface of a first polishing wheel to the curved edge repeatedly in a first direction concurrent with a rotational spinning direction of the first polishing wheel. The abraded surface of the curved edge is polished by contacting a polishing surface of a second polishing wheel to the curved edge in the first direction and in a second direction opposite to the first direction. The polishing surfaces of the first and second polishing wheels are shaped to conform to a portion of the surface of the curved edge of the molded part. The polishing wheel is maintained at a constant rotational speed by a controller when contacting the curved edge. The polished surface of the curved edge is visually smoothly uniform in reflective appearance.
112 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for polishing a curved edge of a molded part, the method comprising:
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abrading a first surface of the curved edge of the molded part by contacting a first polishing surface on a first polishing wheel to the first surface of the curved edge of the molded part repeatedly in a first direction concurrent with a rotational spinning direction of the first polishing wheel, the first polishing surface shaped to substantially conform to a portion of the first surface of the curved edge of the molded part; and polishing the abraded first surface of the curved edge of the molded part by contacting a second polishing surface on a second polishing wheel to the abraded first surface of the curved edge of the molded part, alternating contact in the first direction and in a second direction opposite to the first direction, the second polishing surface shaped to substantially conform to the portion of the first surface of the curved edge of the molded part. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An apparatus for polishing a curved edge of a molded part, the apparatus comprising:
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a first polishing wheel comprising a first polishing surface shaped to substantially conform to a portion of a first surface of the curved edge of the molded part; a second polishing wheel comprising a second polishing surface shaped to substantially conform to the portion of the first surface of the curved edge of the molded part; a first positioning assembly configured to contact the first polishing surface of the first polishing wheel to the first surface of the curved edge of the molded part repeatedly in a first direction concurrent with a rotational spinning direction of the first polishing wheel to abrade the first surface of the curved edge of the molded part to a first smoothness; and a second positioning assembly configured to contact the second polishing surface of the second polishing wheel to the first surface of the curved edge of the molded part alternately in the first direction and in a second direction opposite to the first direction to polish the abraded first surface of the curved edge of the molded part to a second smoothness. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A computer readable medium for storing computer program code executed by a processor for controlling a computer aided manufacturing operation for polishing a curved edge of a molded part, the computer readable medium comprising:
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computer program code for abrading a first surface of the curved edge of the molded part by contacting a first polishing surface on a first polishing wheel to the first surface of the curved edge of the molded part repeatedly in a first direction concurrent with a rotational spinning direction of the first polishing wheel, the first polishing surface shaped to substantially conform to a portion of the first surface of the curved edge of the molded part; and computer program code for polishing the abraded first surface of the curved edge of the molded part by contacting a second polishing surface on a second polishing wheel to the abraded first surface of the curved edge of the molded part, alternating contact in the first direction and in a second direction opposite to the first direction, the second polishing surface shaped to substantially conform to the portion of the first surface of the curved edge of the molded part. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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Specification