Apparatus for lapping a facet on a tip of a workpiece
AssigneeRCA Corporation
InventorsEric F. Cave, James J. Cowden
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for lapping a facet at the tip of a stylus by softly setting the tip down adjacent a rotating scaife comprises a moveable carriage supported on a platform. The carriage is moved vertically along a second axis substantially orthogonal to the first axis. A stylus holder operates to pivot the stylus toward the scaife and is biased by a spring or weight to assure a soft set down of the stylus tip on the scaife. A displacement sensor senses the angular displacement of the holder and generates a displacement signal proportional to the angular displacement relative to a predetermined reference position.
Claims8
An apparatus for lapping a facet on a tip of a workpiece by setting said tip down on a surface of a rotating scaife comprising:
- (a) a platform positioned in fixed relation adjacent said scaife;
- (b) means connected to said platform for movable supporting a carriage for reciprocal movement in a horizontal direction parallel to a first generally horizontal axis and in a vertical direction that is parallel to a second axis substantially orthogonal to said first axis;
- (c) turret means for carrying one or more of said workpieces rotatable about another axis to sequentially position a workpiece over said surface, pivotal means connecting said turret means to said carriage to pivot said turret means about said first generally horizontal axis;
- (d) said pivotal means including adjustable torque means for setting the tip of a selected workpiece on said scaife surface at an angle as said carriage is moved in a downward vertical direction, and for controlling the pressure applied to said tip as it is passed against said scaife surface;
- (e) sensing means connected to said carriage for sensing an angular displacement of said workpiece holder about said first axis relative to a predetermined reference position and for generating a displacement signal indicative for said angular displacement;
- and
- (f) means responsive to said displacement signal for lifting said carriage thereby to lift said workpiece tip from the surface of said scaife when said tip has been provided with a facet having a predetermined angle corresponding to said angular displacement.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.