Apparatus for grinding edges of a glass sheet
First Claim
1. An automated glass grinder comprising:
- a stationary multi-grinder including a plurality of stacked grinding wheels, said grinding wheels rotatable about a central axis;
a support surface for supporting and locating a glass sheet;
a rotatable support for releasably retaining a sheet of glass, said support being movable along first and second axes;
a first axis controller for moving the glass sheet along the first axis, away from the support surface;
a second axis controller for moving the glass sheet along the second axis, into and away from the multi-grinder; and
a rotational controller for rotating said rotatable support and the glass about an axis.
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Accused Products
Abstract
This invention provides a clean and inexpensive apparatus and method of rapidly grinding an edge of a sheet of glass. The method involves: locating a sheet of glass on a support surface, lifting a sheet by a rotatable support which is movable along two axes, lifting the sheet by a rotatable support, moving the sheet along the first axis to a predetermined height, moving the sheet along the second axis until the sheet makes contact with the grinding wheel, translating the sheet to maintain contact with the grinding wheel while the glass is rotated, and replacing the glass on a support surface after the entire periphery of the glass is ground. Also disclosed is an apparatus for performing this method.
40 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An automated glass grinder comprising:
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a stationary multi-grinder including a plurality of stacked grinding wheels, said grinding wheels rotatable about a central axis; a support surface for supporting and locating a glass sheet; a rotatable support for releasably retaining a sheet of glass, said support being movable along first and second axes; a first axis controller for moving the glass sheet along the first axis, away from the support surface; a second axis controller for moving the glass sheet along the second axis, into and away from the multi-grinder; and a rotational controller for rotating said rotatable support and the glass about an axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An automated glass grinder comprising:
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a stationary multi-grinder including a plurality of stacked grinding wheels, said grinding wheels rotatable about a central axis; a support surface for supporting and locating a glass sheet; a rotatable support for releasably retaining a sheet of glass, said support being movable along first and second axes; a first axis controller for moving the glass sheet along the first axis, away from the support surface; a second axis controller for moving the glass sheet along the second axis, into and away from the multi-grinder, said first axis controller being movable along the second axis by said second axis controller; a rotational controller for rotating said rotatable support and the glass about an axis; and a processor for controlling said first and second axis controllers and said rotational controller based upon the size and shape of the glass.
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20. An automated glass grinder comprising:
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a stationary multi-grinder including a plurality of stacked grinding wheels, said grinding wheels rotatable about a central axis; a slotted support surface for supporting and locating a glass sheet; a rotatable support movable through the slot in said slotted support surface for releasably retaining a sheet of glass, said support being movable along first and second axes; a first axis controller for moving the glass sheet along the first axis, away from the support surface; a second axis controller for moving the glass sheet along the second axis, into and away from the multi-grinder; and a rotational controller for rotating said rotatable support and the glass about an axis.
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Specification