Apparatus and Method for Grinding and/or Polishing Flat Surfaces of Workpieces

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (100) for the grinding and/or polishing of planar surfaces, comprising a grinding and/or polishing tool (20), a frame (40), a workpiece (32) or a holder (30) for at least one workpiece, and a means (10) for moving the frame and the workpiece holder (30) with the workpiece, characterized in that the device (100) is set up in such a way that a loose bearing is formed between the workpiece (32) or the workpiece holder (30) and the frame (40), and the means (10) for moving the frame (40) and the workpiece (32) or the workpiece holder (30, 30′) with the at least one workpiece (32) is configured in such a way that the workpiece (32) or the workpiece holder (30) with the at least one workpiece (32) is guided in a plane which is predetermined by the surfaces of the at least one workpiece (32) resting on the grinding and/or polishing tool (20).

The invention also relates to a method for the polishing of planar optics by using the device (100).

Claims

1. Device (100) for the grinding and/or polishing of planar surfaces, comprising a grinding and/or polishing tool (20), a frame (40), a workpiece (32) or a holder (30) for at least one workpiece (32), and a means (10) for moving the frame (40) with the workpiece (32) or the workpiece holder (30) with the at least one workpiece (32), characterized in that the device (100) is set up in such a way that a loose bearing is formed between the workpiece (32) or the workpiece holder (30) with the at least one workpiece (32) and the frame (40), and the means (10) for moving the frame (40) and the workpiece (32) or the workpiece holder (30, 30′) with the at least one workpiece (32) is configured in such a way that the workpiece (32) or the workpiece holder (30) with the at least one workpiece (32) is guided in a plane which is predetermined by the surfaces of the at least one workpiece (32) resting on the grinding and/or polishing tool (20).

2. Device (100) according to claim 1, the loose bearing being formed by the frame (40) having an opening in which the workpiece (32) or an upper part (30′) of the workpiece holder (30) is arranged, characterized in that the workpiece (32) or the upper part (30′) of the workpiece holder (30) is movably arranged in the opening of the frame (40) and the workpiece (32) or the upper part (30′) of the workpiece holder (30) is not fixedly connected to the frame (40).

3. Device (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the means (10) for moving the frame (40) is selected from a robot with a robot arm, a CNC machine and some other device with automated axes.

4. Device (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the means (10) for moving the frame (40) is configured in such a way that no vertical exertion of pressure on the workpiece (32) can take place.

5. Device (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the frame (40) has lateral abutments (41) for guiding the workpiece (32) or the workpiece holder (30′, 30).

6. Device (100) according to claim 1, the frame (40) and the upper part (30′) of the workpiece holder (30) being configured in such a way that rotation of the workpiece holder (30) with the at least one workpiece (32) in the frame (40) that is enforced in the grinding and/or polishing operation is prevented, characterized in that the opening of the frame (40) and the upper part (30′) of the workpiece holder (30) have a substantially identical geometrical form.

7. Device (100) according to claim 6, characterized in that the opening of the frame (40) has a rectangular, trapezoidal, polygonal or elliptical or any other form that prevents twisting of the workpiece holder (30, 30′) in the opening of the frame.

8. Device (100) according to claim 6, characterized in that the distance between the opening of the frame (40) and the outer edges of the part of the upper frame (30′) of the workpiece holder (30) is minimal and made just large enough that jamming of the workpiece holder (30′, 30) in the frame is avoided.

9. Device (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the device (100) is configured to perform the movement of the workpiece (32) or the workpiece holder (30) with the at least one workpiece (32) in exactly predefined paths by way of the frame (40).

10. Device (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the device (100) is configured to exert the pressure required for performing the grinding and/or polishing operation by the weight of the workpiece itself, directly by the workpiece holder (30), and optionally by a weight (50) applied to the workpiece (32) and/or workpiece holder (30).

11. Device (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the workpiece holder (30) contains a number of workpieces (32), which are arranged in a carrying body (31).

12. Device (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the grinding and/or polishing tool (20) is a grinding and/or polishing wheel.

13. Method for the polishing of planar surfaces by using a device (100) according to claim 1, the method comprising the steps of: introducing a workpiece (32) or a workpiece holder (30) with at least one workpiece (32) or a carrying body (31) into a frame (40), which is connected to means (10) for moving the frame (40), which optionally has lateral abutments (41) for guiding the workpiece holder; moving the frame (40) with the workpiece (32) or the workpiece holder (30), which contains at least one workpiece (32) or a carrying body (31) with a number of workpieces (32), by the means (10) for moving the frame (40) in one plane, which is predetermined by the surfaces of the at least one workpiece (32) resting on a grinding and/or polishing tool (20); and producing a ground and/or polished planar surface of the workpiece (32); characterized in that the workpiece (32) or the workpiece holder (30) forms a loose bearing with the frame (40), the workpiece (32) or the workpiece holder (30, 30′) being movably connected in the opening of the frame (40) and twists of the workpiece (32) or of the workpiece holder (30) with the at least one workpiece (32), in particular out of the horizontal resting plane of the workpieces (32), being avoided.

14. Method according to claim 13, characterized in that the pressure required for performing the grinding and/or polishing operation is exerted by the weight of the workpiece (32) itself, directly by the workpiece holder (30) and if applicable by the carrying body (31), and optionally a weight (50) applied to the workpiece (32) and/or the workpiece holder (30).

15. Method according to claim 13, characterized in that the movement of the workpiece (32) or the workpiece holder (30) with the at least one workpiece (32) is performed in precisely predefined paths by way of the frame (40).

Description

[0070] The invention is explained in more detail below on the basis of 6 figures, in which:

[0071] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of the device according to the invention;

[0072] FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the device according to the invention with a robot;

[0073] FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the frame with a square opening;

[0074] FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of the frame with a rectangular opening;

[0075] FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of the frame with a triangular opening;

[0076] FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of the frame with a hexagonal opening;

[0077] FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of the frame with an elliptical opening;

[0078] FIG. 8 shows a schematic representation of a further embodiment of the device according to the invention; and

[0079] FIG. 9 shows a further schematic representation of a further embodiment of the device according to the invention.

[0080] FIG. 1 schematically shows an embodiment of the device 100 according to the invention in a side view (FIG. 1A) and in a front view (FIG. 1B), comprising a frame 40 and a workpiece holder 30 with a workpiece 32 or a number of workpieces 32 to be ground or to be polished on a tool carrier or carrying body 31 and a grinding and/or polishing tool 20. The workpiece holder 30 forms a loose bearing with the frame 40, i.e. the workpiece holder 30 has an upper part 30′, which is arranged in the frame 40. The upper part 30′ of the workpiece holder is not fixedly connected to the frame 40, but instead protrudes into the opening of the frame 40 and is movably arranged in the opening of the frame 40. The frame 40 is connected to a means 10 for moving the frame 40. The movements of the frame 40 are transmitted by way of the upper part 30′ of the workpiece holder 30 to the workpiece holder 30, the carrying body 31 connected thereto and the workpieces 32. In the embodiment shown here, the means 10 for moving the workpiece holder 30 is the arm of a robot. Instead of a robot, however, a CNC machine or a classic lever machine could also be used. The workpieces 32 are arranged on the carrying body 31. The carrying body 31 or an individual workpiece 32 may be arranged loosely, but preferably fixedly, in the workpiece holder 30. For exerting the necessary pressure on the workpieces 32 during the grinding and/or polishing operation, the device 100 may optionally contain a weight 50, which is attached on the upper part 30′ of the workpiece holder in such a way that any contact with the frame 40 is avoided. By this configuration of the device 100, undesired twists (indicated by the curved double-headed arrow) of the workpiece holder 30 with the carrying body 31 and workpieces 32 out of the horizontal plane (i.e. canting of the workpiece holder 30) during the grinding and/or polishing operation are advantageously avoided.

[0081] FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the device 100 according to the invention as in FIG. 1. In the embodiment shown here, the means 10 for moving the frame 40 is the arm of a robot. The frame 40 has a square opening, in which the upper part 30′ of the workpiece holder 30 with at least one workpiece is arranged. The frame 40 comprises lateral abutments 41 for guiding the workpiece holder 30 or the upper part 30′ thereof. The upper part 30′ has a geometrical form that is substantially identical to the form of the opening of the frame 40, therefore square in the case shown here. The distance between the opening of the frame 40 and the outer edges of the upper part 30′ of the workpiece holder 30 is minimal and just large enough that the upper part 30′ of the workpiece holder 30 is freely movable in the opening of the frame 40 and jamming of the upper part 30′ in the frame 40 is avoided. In the embodiment shown here, guides 41 for the upper part 30′ of the workpiece holder 30 of a shock-absorbing material are attached to the opening of the frame 40. The distance (peripherally) between the opening of the frame 40 or the guides 41 attached there and the outer edges of the upper part 30′ of the workpiece holder 30 is in the present case approximately 1 mm.

[0082] It is ensured by the square opening of the frame 40 that rotation of the workpiece holder 30, and consequently of the workpieces 42, enforced by the movement operation is avoided. The robot arm 10 is configured in such a way that the workpiece holder 30 with one or more workpieces is guided horizontally in a plane which is predetermined by the surfaces of the workpieces resting on the grinding and/or polishing tool 20. In this case, various movements can be performed in various directions within this plane. Corresponding movement cycles can be programmed in the control unit of the robot 10. In the present embodiment, the grinding and/or polishing tool 20 is formed as a wheel. The necessary pressure for pressing the workpieces onto the grinding and/or polishing tool 20 is applied in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 by a steel weight 50, which is arranged on the workpiece holder 30. There is accordingly uniform application of a constant pressure.

[0083] FIGS. 3 to 7 show designs of the frame 40 with differently designed forms of the opening for receiving the workpiece holder 30, 30′, the workpiece carrier 31 or a workpiece 32. In principle, the opening of the frame 40 may have any desired geometrical form that is suitable for preventing twisting of the workpiece holder 30 and the upper part 30′ thereof in the frame 40 and canting of the workpiece holder out of the horizontal plane. The eight smaller holes shown in FIGS. 3 to 7 serve for fastening the frame to the means for moving 10, preferably on a robot arm 10.

[0084] FIG. 8 shows a schematic representation of the device 100 according to the invention as in FIG. 1, but in an embodiment in which the workpiece carrier 31 with a number of workpieces 32 is loosely contained without an additional workpiece holder 30 directly in the frame 40 and is moved together with it.

[0085] FIG. 9 shows a schematic representation of the device 100 according to the invention as in FIG. 1, but in an embodiment in which a workpiece 32 is loosely contained without an additional workpiece holder 30 or without an additional workpiece carrier 31 directly in the frame 40 and is moved together with it.

LIST OF DESIGNATIONS

[0086] 10 Means for moving the workpiece holder, robot with a robot arm

[0087] 20 Grinding and/or polishing tool

[0088] 30 Workpiece holder

[0089] 30′ Upper part of the workpiece holder

[0090] 31 Workpiece carrier, carrying body

[0091] 32 Workpiece

[0092] 40 Frame

[0093] 41 Lateral abutments for guiding the workpiece holder

[0094] 50 Weight

[0095] 100 Device