Burnishing apparatus and process

Abstract

A burnishing apparatus is presented. The burnishing apparatus includes a tape dispensing assembly. The tape dispensing assembly includes a tape supply module for dispensing a tape. A plurality of tape guide rollers is provided for guiding the tape. The burnishing apparatus includes a contact roller mount unit which has a plurality of contact guide rollers and a contact roller. The contact roller contacts the tape against a surface of a media during burnishing. The tape guide rollers and the contact guide rollers are arranged to provide a zero contact force against the media to be burnished.

1 . A burnishing apparatus comprising:
 a tape dispensing assembly comprises a tape supply module for dispensing a tape;   a plurality of tape guide rollers for guiding the tape; and   a contact roller mount unit which comprises a plurality of contact guide rollers and a contact roller, the contact roller contacts the tape against a surface of a media during burnishing,   wherein the tape guide rollers and the contact guide rollers are arranged to provide a zero contact force against the media to be burnished.   
   
   
       2 . The burnishing apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the tape guide rollers and contact guide rollers are arranged such that the angle between the contact force and a tension force of the tape is maintained at about 90°. 
   
   
       3 . The burnishing apparatus of  claim 1  further comprises a tape collector assembly to collect the used tape. 
   
   
       4 . The burnishing apparatus of  claim 1  wherein:
 the plurality of contact guide rollers comprises a first and a second contact guide rollers; and   the plurality of tape guide rollers comprises a first and a second tape guide rollers mounted on a tape guide unit.   
   
   
       5 . The burnishing apparatus of  claim 4  wherein:
 a rotational axis of the first tape guide roller and a rotational axis of the first contact guide roller are arranged in such a manner to be in line with each other to form a common plane R 1 ; and   a rotational axis of the second tape guide roller and a rotational axis of the second contact guide roller are arranged in a manner to be in line with each other to form a common plane R 2 ,   wherein the common planes, R 1  and R 2 , are arranged to be substantially parallel with each other.   
   
   
       6 . The burnishing apparatus of  claim 4  wherein:
 a rotational axis of the first tape guide roller and a rotational axis of the first contact guide roller are arranged in such a manner to be in line with each other to form a common plane R 1 ; and   a rotational axis of the second tape guide roller and a rotational axis of the second contact guide roller are arranged in a manner to be in line with each other to form a common plane R 2 ,   wherein the common planes R 1  and R 2  are arranged to be parallel with each other.   
   
   
       7 . The burnishing apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the contact roller mount unit further comprises an air bearing unit. 
   
   
       8 . The burnishing apparatus of  claim 1  further comprises a tape advancing roller mount unit. 
   
   
       9 . The burnishing apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the tape advancing roller mount unit comprises a tape advancing roller. 
   
   
       10 . The burnishing apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the tape advancing roller is movable and is coupled to a live weight to maintain a tension force of the tape during burnishing. 
   
   
       11 . The burnishing apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the tape advancing roller mount unit includes an air bearing unit. 
   
   
       12 . The burnishing apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the tape advancing roller is coupled to the live weight using a string and pulley mechanism. 
   
   
       13 . A process of burnishing a media comprising:
 dispensing a tape to a contact roller mounted on a contact roller mount unit, the contact roller mount unit further includes a plurality of contact guide rollers;   routing the tape to form a tape path through a plurality of tape guide rollers; and   pressing the tape against a surface of the media,   wherein the tape guide rollers and the contact guide rollers are arranged to provide a zero contact force during burnishing.   
   
   
       14 . The process of burnishing of  claim 13  further comprises collecting the used tape. 
   
   
       15 . The process of burnishing of  claim 13  wherein the tape guide rollers and contact guide rollers are arranged such that the angle between the contact force and a tension force of the tape is maintained at about 90°. 
   
   
       16 . The process of burnishing of  claim 15  wherein:
 the plurality of contact guide rollers comprises a first and a second contact guide rollers; and   the plurality of tape guide rollers comprises a first and a second tape guide rollers mounted on a tape guide unit.   
   
   
       17 . The process of burnishing of  claim 16  wherein:
 a rotational axis of the first tape guide roller and a rotational axis of the first contact guide roller are arranged in such a manner to be in line with each other to form a common plane R 1 ; and   a rotational axis of the second tape guide roller and a rotational axis of the second contact guide roller are arranged in a manner to be in line with each other to form a common plane R 2 ,   wherein the common planes, R 1  and R 2 , are arranged to be substantially parallel with each other.   
   
   
       18 . The process of burnishing of  claim 13  comprising:
 routing the burnishing tape to a tape advancing roller, the tape advancing roller is movable and is coupled to a live weight to maintain a tension force of the tape during burnishing.   
   
   
       19 . The process of burnishing of  claim 18  wherein the tape advancing roller is coupled to the live weight using a string and pulley mechanism. 
   
   
       20 . The process of burnishing of  claim 18  wherein the tape advancing roller is moved until it activates a first limit sensor to activate collecting of the used tape.