Polish pad replacing apparatus

Abstract

A polish pad replacing apparatus includes a polish spindle loaded with a first polish pad, a first roller movable reciprocally under the polish spindle, a clamping element and a position sensor. The clamping element, disposed at the first roller, is to clamp or release the first polish pad. In replacing the first polish pad, a controller moves the polish spindle to a replacing position, the position sensor detects the polish spindle and if positive, have the controller to moves the first roller to insert the clamping element between the polish spindle and the first polish pad so as to clamp an edge of the first polish pad, the first roller is then moved to peel the first polish pad off, and then the first roller is moved to paste a second polish pad onto the polish spindle.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A polish pad replacing apparatus, comprising:
 a polish spindle, configured to load a first polish pad;   a first roller, configured to move and/or roll reciprocally under the polish spindle;   a clamping element, disposed at the first roller, configured to clamp or release the first polish pad; and   a position sensor, configured to detect positions of the polish spindle and the first roller;   wherein, while in replacing the first polish pad, a controller moves the polish spindle to a replacing position; when the position sensor detects that the polish spindle is in position, the controller moves and/or rolls the first roller to insert the clamping element between the polish spindle and the first polish pad; after the clamping element clamps an edge of the first polish pad, the first roller is moved and/or rolled to peel the first polish pad off the polish spindle; and, the first roller is controlled to move and/or roll further to paste a second polish pad to the polish spindle.   
     
     
         2 . The polish pad replacing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the clamping element is shaped as slim plate able to undergo a reciprocating motion with respect to a surface of the first roller for varying a distance between the clamping element and the first roller. 
     
     
         3 . The polish pad replacing apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the clamping element has a plurality of pillars parallel to each other, the plurality of pillars are protruded from the clamping element toward the surface of the first roller, the first roller is furnished with a plurality of holes correspondingly with respect to the plurality of pillars, each of the plurality of pillars is to be inserted to one said hole, and the plurality of pillars are connected with the controller; wherein the controller is to drive the plurality of pillars to undergo the reciprocating motion. 
     
     
         4 . The polish pad replacing apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the surface of the first roller is formed by a cutout portion thereof, and the clamping element is disposed within the cutout portion. 
     
     
         5 . The polish pad replacing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first roller is shaped as a cylinder having a first axle, and the first roller is rotated about the first axle to move and/or roll reciprocally in a first direction. 
     
     
         6 . The polish pad replacing apparatus of  claim 1 , further including a polish-pad attachment area provided with at least one third polish pad, the third polish pad being disposed at a moving and/or rolling path of the first roller, the first roller being furnished thereon an adhesive; wherein, while the first roller is rotated to reach the polish-pad attachment area, the adhesive would adhere the third polish pad to the first roller. 
     
     
         7 . The polish pad replacing apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein a velcro is provided between a surface of the third polish pad opposite to the adhesive and the polish spindle; wherein, while the first roller loaded with the third polish pad moves and/or rolls to pass thereunder through the polish spindle, the third polish pad is pasted to the polish spindle. 
     
     
         8 . The polish pad replacing apparatus of  claim 5 , further including a second roller, the second roller being shaped as a cylinder having a second axle, the second roller being rotated about the second axle to move and/or roll reciprocally in the first direction, the first axle and the second axle being parallel to each other. 
     
     
         9 . The polish pad replacing apparatus of  claim 8 , further including a polish-pad attachment area provided with at least one third polish pad, the third polish pad being disposed at a moving and/or rolling path of the second roller, the second roller being furnished thereon an adhesive; wherein, while the second roller is rotated to reach the polish-pad attachment area, the adhesive would adhere the third polish pad to the second roller. 
     
     
         10 . The polish pad replacing apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein a velcro is provided between a surface of the third polish pad opposite to the adhesive and the polish spindle; wherein, while the second roller loaded with the third polish pad moves and/or rolls to pass thereunder through the polish spindle, the third polish pad is pasted to the polish spindle. 
     
     
         11 . The polish pad replacing apparatus of  claim 1 , further including a recycle tank for collecting the first polish pad peeled away from the polish spindle; wherein, after the first roller peels the first polish pad off the polish spindle, the first polish pad is adhered on the first roller to move with the first roller; wherein, when the position sensor detects that the first roller moves and/or rolls to top the recycle tank, a signal is issued to stop the first roller, and then to control the clamping element to release the first polish pad to drop into the recycle tank. 
     
     
         12 . The polish pad replacing apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the first roller and the position sensor are disposed at a frame, and the recycle tank is disposed under the frame.