Automotive safety glass edge polishing

Abstract

An apparatus for polishing an edge of an automotive glass sheet comprising a retaining device, which is capable of supporting the automotive glass sheet, and a polishing wheel assembly. A motor assembly is coupled to and drives the polishing wheel assembly to polish the edge of the automotive glass sheet to maximize the strength of the glass sheet and improve the aesthetic properties thereof. A pressure system, such as a compliant member, a robotic system, or a floating spindle assembly, is coupled to either the retaining device or the polishing wheel in order to actively maintain a predetermined generally constant contact pressure between the polishing wheel and the edge of the automotive glass sheet to insure proper polishing thereof.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An apparatus for polishing an edge of automotive glass, the apparatus comprising: 
 a base;    a retaining device operable to support the automotive glass;    a polishing wheel operable to polish the edge of the automotive glass;    a motor assembly driving the polishing wheel; and    a pressure assembly coupled to one of the retaining device and the polishing wheel to actively maintain a predetermined generally constant contact pressure between the polishing wheel and the edge of the automotive glass.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a cooling system disposed generally adjacent to the polishing wheel, the cooling system operable to deliver a cooling fluid to the polishing wheel during a polishing operation.    
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a chip removal system disposed generally adjacent to the polishing wheel, the chip removal system operable to remove debris during a polishing operation.    
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the retaining device comprises: 
 a suction pad connectable to the automotive glass, the suction pad being selectively disengagable with the automotive glass.  
 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the retaining device comprises: 
 a retaining arm clampingly connectable to the automotive glass, the retaining arm being selectively disengagable with the automotive glass.  
 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the pressure assembly comprises: 
 a first member pivotally coupled to the base;  
 a second member pivotally coupled to the polishing wheel;  
 a third member pivotally coupled between the first member and the second member; and  
 a biasing member biasing at least one of the second member and the third member such that the polishing wheel is engagable with the edge of the automotive glass, the biasing member actively maintaining the predetermined generally constant contact pressure between the polishing wheel and the edge of the automotive glass.  
 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 6 , further comprising: 
 an adjustment device for adjusting the biasing force of the biasing member.    
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 6  wherein the motor assembly comprises: 
 a motor; and  
 a drive system drivingly interconnecting the motor to the polishing wheel to rotatably drive the polishing wheel.  
 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 8  wherein the drive system comprises: 
 a first drive shaft drivingly enmeshing with the motor, the first drive shaft being driven in response to the motor;  
 a second drive shaft drivingly enmeshing with the polishing wheel; and  
 an intermediate drive member operably coupling the first drive shaft to the second drive shaft, the intermediate drive member being operable to transmit a driving force from the first drive shaft to the second drive shaft.  
 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 9  wherein the intermediate drive member is a drive belt.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 9  wherein the intermediate drive member is a third drive shaft.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a pressure sensor operably coupled to the pressure assembly, the pressure sensor being operable to provide an output signal in response to the generally constant contact pressure between the polishing wheel and the edge of the automotive glass.    
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the pressure assembly comprises: 
 a robotic arm assembly having a base and at least one arm linkage, the retaining device being disposed at an end of the at least one arm linkage, the robotic arm assembly being actuatable into a plurality of positions.  
 
     
     
         14 . An apparatus for polishing an edge of automotive glass, the apparatus comprising: 
 a base;    a retaining device operable to support the automotive glass;    a polishing wheel operable to polish the edge of the automotive glass;    a motor assembly driving the polishing wheel;    a first member pivotally coupled to the base;    a second member pivotally coupled to the polishing wheel;    a third member pivotally coupled between the first member and the second member; and    a biasing member biasing at least one of the second member and the third member such that the polishing wheel is engagable with the edge of the automotive glass, the biasing member actively maintaining the predetermined generally constant contact pressure between the polishing wheel and the edge of the automotive glass.    
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 a cooling system disposed generally adjacent to the polishing wheel, the cooling system operable to deliver a cooling fluid to the polishing wheel during a polishing operation.    
     
     
         16 . The apparatus according to  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 a chip removal system disposed generally adjacent to the polishing wheel, the chip removal system operable to remove debris during a polishing operation.    
     
     
         17 . The apparatus according to  claim 14  wherein the retaining device comprises: 
 a suction pad connectable to the automotive glass, the suction pad being selectively disengagable with the automotive glass.  
 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus according to  claim 14  wherein the retaining device comprises: 
 a retaining arm clampingly connectable to the automotive glass, the retaining arm being selectively disengagable with the automotive glass.  
 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus according to  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 an adjustment device for adjusting the biasing force of the biasing member.    
     
     
         20 . The apparatus according to  claim 14  wherein the motor assembly comprises: 
 a motor; and  
 a drive system drivingly interconnecting the motor to the polishing wheel to rotatably drive the polishing wheel.  
 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus according to  claim 20  wherein the drive system comprises: 
 a first drive shaft drivingly enmeshing with the motor, the first drive shaft being driven in response to the motor, the first drive shaft being disposed within the first member;  
 a second drive shaft drivingly enmeshing with the polishing wheel, the second drive shaft being disposed within the second member; and  
 an intermediate drive member operably coupling the first drive shaft to the second drive shaft, the intermediate drive member being operable to transmit a driving force from the first drive shaft to the second drive shaft.  
 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus according to  claim 21  wherein the intermediate drive member is a drive belt.  
     
     
         23 . The apparatus according to  claim 21  wherein the intermediate drive member is a third drive shaft.  
     
     
         24 . The apparatus according to  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 a pressure sensor operably coupled to one of the second member and third member, the pressure sensor being operable to provide an output signal in response to the generally constant contact pressure between the polishing wheel and the edge of the automotive glass.    
     
     
         25 . An apparatus for polishing an edge of automotive glass, the apparatus comprising: 
 a retaining device operable to support the automotive glass;    a polishing wheel operable to polish the edge of the automotive glass;    a motor assembly driving the polishing wheel;    a robotic arm assembly having a base and at least one arm linkage, the retaining device being disposed at an end of the at least one arm linkage, the robotic arm assembly being actuatable into a plurality of positions; and    a biasing member biasing the polishing wheel into a position engagable with the edge of the automotive glass, the biasing member actively maintaining a predetermined generally constant contact pressure between the polishing wheel and the edge of the automotive glass.    
     
     
         26 . The apparatus according to  claim 25 , further comprising: 
 a cooling system disposed generally adjacent to the polishing wheel, the cooling system operable to deliver a cooling fluid to the polishing wheel during a polishing operation.    
     
     
         27 . The apparatus according to  claim 25 , further comprising: 
 a chip removal system disposed generally adjacent to the polishing wheel, the chip removal system operable to remove debris during a polishing operation.    
     
     
         28 . The apparatus according to  claim 25  wherein the retaining device comprises: 
 a suction pad connectable to the automotive glass, the suction pad being selectively disengagable with the automotive glass.  
 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus according to  claim 25  wherein the retaining device comprises: 
 a retaining arm clampingly connectable to the automotive glass, the retaining arm being selectively disengagable with the automotive glass.  
 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus according to  claim 25  wherein the motor assembly comprises: 
 a motor; and  
 a drive system drivingly interconnecting the motor to the polishing wheel to rotatably drive the polishing wheel.  
 
     
     
         31 . The apparatus according to  claim 30 , further comprising: 
 a pressure sensor operably coupled to the drive system, the pressure sensor being operable to provide an output signal in response to the generally constant contact pressure between the polishing wheel and the edge of the automotive glass.    
     
     
         32 . The apparatus according to  claim 30  wherein the drive system is a compliant drive system.