Apparatuses and methods for applying pressure to edge surfaces

A method (700) of applying pressure to at least a portion of an edge surface (192), which bridges opposing faces (194) of a workpiece (190), using an apparatus (100) that comprises a frame (110);

• a first roller (120), coupled to the frame (110) and rotatable relative to the frame (110) about a first pivot axis (125);
• a second roller (130), coupled to the frame (110) and rotatable relative to the frame (110) about a second pivot axis (135), at least one of the first roller (120) or the second roller (130) being translatable relative to the frame (110), and wherein the second pivot axis (135) is spaced from the first pivot axis (125) along a first axis (101), which intersects and is perpendicular to the first pivot axis (125) and to the second pivot axis (135);
• a rotation-control member (140), coupled to the frame (110) and movable relative to the frame (110);
• a first biasing member (150), coupled to the first roller (120) and to the second roller (130);
• and a second biasing member (160), positioned, in compression, between the frame (110) and the rotation-control member (140), the method (700) comprising steps of:
• aligning the apparatus (100) with the workpiece (190), such that the edge surface (192) of the workpiece (190) is centered along a second axis (102) that is perpendicular to the first axis (101) and that extends between the first pivot axis (125) of the first roller (120) and the second pivot axis (135) of the second roller (130);
• positioning the rotation-control member (140) at a first location relative to the frame (110), such that the first roller (120) and the second roller (130) are rotatable relative to the frame (110);
• with the rotation-control member (140) positioned at the first location relative to the frame (110), moving the apparatus (100) and the workpiece (190) relative to each other, such that the workpiece (190) is received between the first roller (120) and the second roller (130), stretching the first biasing member (150) so that the first biasing member (150) applies pressure to at least the portion of the edge surface (192) of the workpiece (190), while increasing spacing (D1) between the first pivot axis (125) of the first roller (120) and the second pivot axis (135) of the second roller (130) along the first axis (101) and the first roller (120), and the second roller (130) apply equal and opposite forces to opposing faces (194) of the workpiece (190);
• and
• positioning the rotation-control member (140) at a second location relative to the frame (110), such that the first roller (120) and the second roller (130) are rotationally fixed relative to the frame (110), creating a frictional coupling between the apparatus (100) and the workpiece (190), which maintains the pressure, applied to at least the portion of the edge surface (192) by the first biasing member (150).