Adaptable finishing apparatus and method

Abstract

An adaptable finishing system includes a head station and finishing head assemblies which are configured for ease of exchange from one to another at the head station.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A microfinishing apparatus, comprising: 
 at least one microfinishing station;    a pallet support movable between a working position and a non-working position, the pallet support including spaced apart rails;    a pallet assembly positioned on the pallet support and including a plurality of microfinishing heads, the pallet assembly including spaced apart wheels resting upon the spaced apart rails of the pallet support; and    at least one latch mechanism for securing a position of the pallet assembly on the pallet support, release of the at least one latch mechanism permitting the pallet assembly to be rolled along the spaced apart rails of the pallet support.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the spaced apart wheels of the pallet assembly include edge guides for preventing lateral movement of the pallet assembly relative to the spaced apart rails of the pallet support.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the pallet support includes a front stop aligned for contact with a front portion of the pallet assembly when the pallet assembly is rolled toward the front stop along the spaced apart rails.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein one of the front stop of the pallet support and the front portion of the pallet assembly includes at least one alignment protrusion, and the other of the front stop of the pallet support and the front portion of the pallet assembly includes at least one alignment openings for receiving the at least one alignment protrusion.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the front portion of the pallet assembly includes the at least one alignment protrusion and the front stop of the pallet support includes the at least one alignment opening.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the pallet assembly includes a hydraulic arrangement, the arrangement including first and second quick connect/disconnect couplers for receiving corresponding couplers on hydraulic lines of the apparatus.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the pallet assembly includes an electrical arrangement, the arrangement including at least one electrical connector for mating with a corresponding electrical connector of the apparatus.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the at least one latch mechanism includes a first latch mechanism located adjacent a first of the spaced apart rails and a second latch mechanism located adjacent a second of the spaced apart rails.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the first latch mechanism and second latch mechanism comprise rotatable respective latch parts having slots therein for engaging respective shaft type members on the pallet assembly.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein a rear end of each of the spaced apart rails includes a coupling portion for receiving a corresponding coupling portion of a pallet dolly.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein each microfinishing head of the pallet assembly includes an associated abrasive tape.  
     
     
         12 . A finishing apparatus, comprising: 
 a pallet support;    a pallet assembly positioned on the pallet support and including a plurality of finishing heads;    one of the pallet support and the pallet assembly including a plurality of rollers and the other of the pallet support and the pallet assembly including at least one rolling surface contacting the plurality of rollers for permitting the pallet assembly to move relative to the pallet support during a pallet assembly exchange procedure.    
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the plurality of rollers are located on the pallet assembly and comprise spaced apart wheels.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the at least one rolling surface is formed on the pallet support and comprises spaced apart rails aligned with the spaced apart wheels.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising: 
 at least one latch mechanism for securing the pallet assembly in a working position on the pallet support, the latch mechanism preventing movement of the pallet assembly relative to the pallet support when in a latched condition.    
     
     
         16 . A finishing apparatus, comprising: 
 at least one finishing station;    a head station movable between a working position and a non-working position relative to the finishing station;    a finishing head assembly removably attached to the head station and including a plurality of finishing heads;    at least one latch mechanism for securing the finishing head assembly to the head station; and    one of the head station and the finishing head assembly including a plurality of rollers and the other of the head station and the finishing head assembly including at least one rolling surface contacting the plurality of rollers for permitting the finishing head assembly to move relative to the head station during a finishing head assembly exchange procedure when the latch mechanism is in an unlatched state.    
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the plurality of rollers are located on the finishing head assembly and comprise spaced apart wheels.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17  wherein the at least one rolling surface is located at the head station and comprises spaced apart rails aligned with the spaced apart wheels.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the finishing head assembly includes a hydraulical arrangement including at least first and second quick connect/disconnect couplers and an electrical arrangement including at least one electrical connector.  
     
     
         20 . A finishing apparatus, comprising: 
 a pallet assembly including: 
 a plurality of finishing heads; and  
 spaced apart wheels for supporting the pallet assembly and permitting a rolling movement of the pallet assembly.  
   
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 20  wherein the spaced apart wheels of the pallet assembly include edge guides for preventing lateral movement of the pallet assembly when rolling on rails.  
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 20  wherein a front portion of the pallet assembly includes at least two alignment bosses for facilitating positioning of the pallet assembly when mounted against a pallet assembly stop.  
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 20  wherein the pallet assembly includes a hydraulic arrangement, the arrangement including first and second quick connect/disconnect couplers.  
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 23  wherein the pallet assembly includes an electrical arrangement, the arrangement including at least one electrical connector.  
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 20  wherein a pallet plate of the pallet assembly supports the plurality of finishing heads, the plurality of finishing heads comprise microfinishing heads, and the spaced apart wheels are rotatably connected to the pallet plate.  
     
     
         26 . In a finishing apparatus including at least one finishing station, a method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) providing a pallet assembly adjacent the finishing station in non-moving condition relative to a pallet support of the finishing station, the pallet assembly including a plurality of finishing heads;    (b) placing at least one latch mechanism in a non-latched state to permit relative movement between the pallet assembly and the pallet support;    (c) positioning a pallet dolly at an access point of the pallet support;    (d) moving the pallet assembly off of the pallet support and onto the pallet dolly; and    (e) moving the pallet dolly away from the access point of the pallet support.    
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the pallet support includes spaced apart rails, the pallet dolly includes spaced apart rails, the pallet assembly includes rollers for rolling along the spaced apart rails of the pallet support and the pallet dolly, step (c) involves laterally and vertically aligning the spaced apart rails of the pallet dolly with the spaced apart rails of the pallet support, step (d) involves rolling the pallet assembly off of the pallet support onto the pallet dolly.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , comprising the further step of: 
 (f) prior to step (d), disconnecting hydraulic lines from the pallet assembly via use of quick disconnect couplers.    
     
     
         29 . In a finishing apparatus including at least one finishing station, a method of adjusting the apparatus between a first configuration for finishing a first work piece and a second configuration for finishing a second work piece, the method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) providing a head station adjacent the finishing station;    (b) positioning a first finishing head assembly at the head station and latched in a working position relative thereto, the first finishing head assembly including multiple finishing heads arranged for finishing the first work piece;    (c) unlatching the first finishing head assembly from the head station;    (d) removing the first finishing head assembly from the head station;    (e) positioning a second finishing head assembly at the head station, the second finishing head assembly including multiple finishing heads arranged for finishing the second work piece; and    (f) latching the second finishing head assembly into a working position relative to the head station.    
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29  wherein the head station includes at least one rolling surface and the first and second finishing head assemblies include respective rollers, steps (d) and (e) involve rolling the first and second finishing head assemblies over the rolling surface of the head station.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29  wherein step (d) involves moving the first finishing head assembly onto a dolly aligned with and adjacent to the head station.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31  wherein: 
 after step (d), the dolly carrying the first finishing head assembly is moved away from the rear side of the head station and then a dolly carrying the second finishing head assembly is moved into alignment with and adjacent the head station, step (e) involves moving the second finishing head assembly off of its dolly and onto the head station.  
 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 29  wherein steps (b) through (f) are performed in an automated manner.  
     
     
         34 . A finishing system, comprising: 
 a pallet support;    a pallet assembly positioned on the pallet support and including a plurality of finishing heads;    one of the pallet support and the pallet assembly including means for providing rolling contact between the pallet assembly and the pallet support to facilitate movement of the pallet assembly off of the pallet support during a pallet assembly exchange procedure.    
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 34 , further comprising: 
 at least one latching mechanism for securing the pallet assembly in a working position relative to the pallet support and preventing movement of the pallet assembly off of the pallet support.