Polishing head for a polishing machine

Abstract

A polishing head for polishing machines, in particular for polishing optical surfaces, has a polishing plate that is connected to a rotationally drivable drive shaft. The polishing plate is articulated to, and rotates with, the drive shaft. A ball hexagonal socket joint provides the articulated connection. Rotating by means of the articulated connection, the polishing plate can follow the surface of the workpiece to be processed, so that the polishing covering on the polishing plate always rests on a maximally large area on the surface of the workpiece.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A polishing head, in particular for polishing optical surfaces, comprising a polishing plate having an articulated connection to a rotationally drivable drive shaft, wherein the polishing plate is connected to rotate with the drive shaft and articulated for execution of tilting motions.  
     
     
         2 . The polishing head according to  claim 1 , wherein a rotation of the drive shaft is transmitted by positive locking to the polishing plate.  
     
     
         3 . The polishing head according to  claim 1 , wherein the polishing plate is mounted on the drive shaft, tiltably about a point situated on a mid-axis of the polishing head.  
     
     
         4 . The polishing head according to  claim 2 , wherein the positive locking for transmitting rotational motion of the drive shaft to the polishing plate is produced in the articulated connection.  
     
     
         5 . The polishing head according to  claim 4 , wherein the articulated connection comprises a ball hexagonal socket joint.  
     
     
         6 . The polishing head according to  claim 1 , comprising a latch element for securing the articulated connection of the polishing plate and drive shaft.  
     
     
         7 . The polishing head according to  claim 1 , having a mid-axis and comprising a pressure chamber wherein a translational motion of the polishing plate along the mid-axis of the polishing head results from application of pressure to the pressure chamber.  
     
     
         8 . The polishing head according  claim 7 , wherein the pressure chamber comprises a pressure chamber cylinder in which a piston is arranged to be movable translationally.  
     
     
         9 . The polishing head according to  claim 8 , wherein the piston is in operative connection with the drive shaft.  
     
     
         10 . The polishing head according to  claim 1 , having a mid-axis wherein the drive shaft is mounted in a driven hollow cylinder to be displaceable translationally along the mid-axis of the polishing head for common rotation with the polishing head.  
     
     
         11 . The polishing head according to  claim 1 , having a mid-axis wherein the drive shaft is mounted, displaceable translationally and to rotate in common along the mid-axis of the polishing head, and has a connection to rotate in common with a rotationally driven piston.  
     
     
         12 . The polishing head according to  claim 1 , wherein the drive shaft has a non-rotationally-symmetrical external profile at least in a partial region.  
     
     
         13 . The polishing head according to  claim 12 , wherein the external profile is in the form of a polygonal profile.  
     
     
         14 . The polishing head according to  claim 12 , wherein the external profile is connected to rotate with the hollow cylinder by means of a cylinder mounting.  
     
     
         15 . The polishing head according to  claim 12 , wherein the external profile has longitudinal grooves in which balls are arranged by which the drive shaft is connected to the hollow cylinder which is provided on an inner side with opposed longitudinal grooves.  
     
     
         16 . A polishing machine having a polishing head according to  claim 1 .  
     
     
         17 . A process for polishing a point-asymmetrical free-form optical surface comprising rotationally driving a polishing plate in the same direction of rotation as the optical surface to be polished.  
     
     
         18 . The process according to  claim 17 , comprising driving a body to be processed with approximately the same rotational frequency as the polishing plate.  
     
     
         19 . The process according to  claim 17 , comprising executing a radial motion of the polishing plate relative to a body to be processed.  
     
     
         20 . The process according to  claim 17 , comprising varying a rotational frequency of the rotary plate or of the optical surface to be polished in dependence on a radial position of the polishing plate.  
     
     
         21 . The process according to  claim 17 , comprising controlling pressure in a pressure chamber in dependence on a surface contour of the optical surface, so that the polishing plate resting on the optical surface exerts a predetermined constant polishing pressure on the optical surface.  
     
     
         22 . The process according to  claim 21 , comprising using a polishing head with a polishing plate having an articulated connection to a rotationally drivable drive shaft, wherein the polishing plate is connected to rotate with the drive shaft for the execution of tilting motions.