Grinding device and method of grinding

Abstract

An elongated work is attached to an elongated holding surface opposed to a flat abrasive surface in a grinding device. The holding member is supported on a spherical receiving body so that the holding member changes its attitude around the spherical receiving body. The change of the attitude of the holding member reliably enables the work to uniformly contact with the flat abrasive surface. When relative movement is induced between the work and the flat abrasive surface, a chamfer is formed on the work with a high accuracy. The work is prevented from suffering from generation of microcracks and chipping. In addition, if the work moves on the flat abrasive surface only in one direction, the probability of generation of microcracks and chipping is considerably reduced.

1 . A grinding device comprising:
 a base defining a flat abrasive surface;   a holding member defining an elongated holding surface, for holding an object, opposed to the flat abrasive surface; and   a movable block having a spherical receiving body for supporting the holding member for change in an attitude around the spherical receiving body, the movable block designed to move in parallel with the flat abrasive surface.   
   
   
       2 . The grinding device according to  claim 1 , wherein the elongated holding surface is inclined relative to the flat abrasive surface by a predetermined inclination angle. 
   
   
       3 . The grinding device according to  claim 1 , wherein the spherical receiving body is coupled to the movable block for relative movement in a perpendicular direction normal to an imaginary plane including the flat abrasive surface. 
   
   
       4 . The grinding device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a detector for detecting a variation in an angle of the holding member around the spherical receiving body. 
   
   
       5 . The grinding device according to  claim 4 , further comprising a distance adjusting mechanism designed to adjust distance between the elongated holding surface and the spherical receiving body. 
   
   
       6 . The grinding device according to  claim 1 , wherein the flat abrasive surface is defined on a non elastic body. 
   
   
       7 . A grinding device comprising:
 a receiving support defining a flat receiving surface;   an abrasive member placed on the flat receiving surface of the receiving support, the abrasive member defining a flat abrasive surface;   a feeding mechanism designed to move the abrasive member along the flat receiving surface of the receiving support;   a holding member defining an elongated holding surface, for holding an object, opposed to the flat abrasive surface, and   a supporting member having a spherical receiving body for supporting the holding member for change in an attitude around the spherical receiving body.   
   
   
       8 . The grinding device according to  claim 7 , wherein the elongated holding surface is inclined relative to the flat abrasive surface by a predetermined inclination angle. 
   
   
       9 . The grinding device according to  claim 7 , wherein the spherical receiving body is coupled to the supporting member for relative movement in a perpendicular direction normal to an imaginary plane including the flat abrasive surface. 
   
   
       10 . The grinding device according to  claim 7 , further comprising a detector for detecting a variation in an angle of the holding member around the spherical receiving body. 
   
   
       11 . The grinding device according to  claim 7 , wherein the flat receiving surface of the receiving support is defined on a non elastic body. 
   
   
       12 . A method of grinding, comprising:
 setting a holding member on a spherical receiving body for change in an attitude of the holding member for contacting an edge of a work with a flat abrasive surface, the holding member defining an elongated holding surface, for holding the work, opposed to the flat abrasive surface; and   subjecting the edge of the work to a grinding process through relative movement between the work and the flat abrasive surface in one direction.   
   
   
       13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the work defines:
 a first surface extending from the edge in one direction, the first surface having a first surface roughness; and   a second surface extending from the edge in other direction, the second surface having a second surface roughness smaller than the first surface roughness, the second surface following after the first surface during the relative movement of the flat abrasive surface and the work.   
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 12 , further comprising detecting variation in an angle of the holding member around the spherical receiving body for specifying a grinding amount of the work. 
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the flat abrasive surface is defined on a non elastic body. 
   
   
       16 . A method of fixing a work, comprising:
 applying a hotmelt to a holding surface defined on a holding member having been heated and thereafter setting a work on the holding surface;   causing relative movement of the work along the holding surface, thereby spreading the hotmelt between the work and the holding surface;   cooling the work and the holding member down to a room temperature with the work urged against the holding surface by a predetermined urging force; and   heating the work and the holding member after the work has been released from the predetermined urging force.