Method and apparatus for shaping edges

Abstract

Method and apparatus for shaping the edge ( 103 ) of a rigid, brittle materials such as ceramic plates and rigid composite plates utilizing a resin-bonded abrasive wheel.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for shaping an edge of a ceramic plate or a rigid composite plate comprising: 
 abrading an edge of a ceramic plate or a rigid composite plate in a predetermined abrasion amount, using a resin-bonded abrasive wheel under a load and in contact with the edge being abrading, wherein the abrasion amount is determined by controlling the load for pressing the ceramic plate or the rigid composite plate with the resin-bonded abrasive wheel.    
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the resin-bonded abrasive wheel has an elastic modulus in the range from 100 to 10,000 kg/cm 2 .  
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the resin-bonded abrasive wheel has a shore D hardness in the range from 10 to 95.  
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the resin-bonded abrasive wheel has an elastic modulus in the range from 100 to 10,000 kg/cm 2 , and a shore D hardness in the range from 10 to 95.  
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the resin-bonded abrasive wheel has a density in the range from 0.4 to 2.5 g/Cm 3 .  
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the resin-bonded abrasive wheel has an outer diameter in the range from 50 to 500 mm.  
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the resin-bonded abrasive wheel has a width in the range from 10 to 500 mm.  
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the load is in the range from 0.002 kg/mm to 0.08 kg/mm.  
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the resin-bonded abrasive wheel has an elastic modulus in the range from 500 to 7,000 kg/cm 2 , a density in the range from 0.4 to 2.5 g/cm 3 , a shore D hardness in the range from 40 to 80, an outer diameter in the range from 100 to 305 mm, and has a width in the range from 10 to 300 mm.  
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the load is in the range from 0.01 kg/mm to 0.04 kg/mm.  
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the glass plate etc. has a thickness in the range from 0.2 to 1.4 mm.  
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the wheel has a width surface contacting the edge of the ceramic plate or the rigid composite plate being abraded, and wherein during said abrading, said width surface traverses along the edge of the ceramic plate or the rigid composite plate.  
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the wheel has a width surface contacting the edge of the ceramic plate or the rigid composite plate being abraded, and wherein during said abrading, the edge of the ceramic plate or the rigid composite plate traverses along said width surface.  
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the edge is an edge of a glass plate.  
     
     
         15 . An apparatus for abrading an edge of a ceramic plate or a rigid composite plate in a predetermined abrasion amount using a resin-bonded abrasive wheel under a load, and in contact with, the edge to be abraded, the apparatus comprising a resin-bonded abrasive wheel, a mechanism for rotating the abrasive wheel, and a system for contacting and controlling, during abrading, the load of the abrasive wheel on the ceramic plate or the rigid composite plate.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the resin-bonded abrasive wheel has an elastic modulus in the range from 50 to 10,000 kg/cm 2 , a density in the range from 0.4 to 2.5 g/cm 3 , a shore D hardness in the range from 10 to 95, an outer diameter in the range from 50 to 500 mm, and has a width in the range from 10 to 500 mm.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the resin-bonded abrasive wheel has a density in the range from 0.4 to 2.5 g/cm 3 .  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the resin-bonded abrasive wheel has an outer diameter in the range from 50 to 500 mm, and a width in the range from 10 to 500 mm.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the resin-bonded abrasive wheel has an elastic modulus in the range from 500 to 7,000 kg/cm 2 , a density in the range from 0.4 to 2.5 g/cm 3 , a shore D hardness in the range from 40 to 80, an outer diameter in the range from 100 to 305 mm, and has a width in the range from 10 to 300 mm.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus according to,  claim 15  further comprising a mechanism for traversing a width surface contacting the edge of the ceramic plate or rigid composite plate during operation of the device along the edge of the ceramic plate or rigid composite plate.  
     
     
         21 . The apparatus according to  claim 15  further comprising a mechanism for traversing the edge of the ceramic plate or rigid composite plate to be abraded during operation of the device along a width surface of the wheel contacting the edge of the ceramic plate or rigid composite plate.