Buffing apparatus suitable to buff thin plate work and controlling method for the apparatus

A buffing apparatus array, comprising:

• a first buffing apparatus disposed above a plate work to be buffed;
• and
• a second buffing apparatus disposed in a spaced relationship from said first buffing apparatus above the plate work,
• wherein each of said first and second buffing apparatus comprises:
• a plurality of buffing rolls removably secured in a predetermined spaced relationship from each other to a shaft which is driven to rotate,
• a backup roll disposed in parallel to said buffing rolls and extending over an entire length of all of said buffing rolls, and
• a holding roll disposed at least between each adjacent ones of said buffing rolls, said holding roll being positioned such that an axis thereof is positioned on a straight line interconnecting a center of a transverse section of one of said buffing rolls and a center of a transverse section of said backup roll and an outer periphery thereof substantially contacts with a contacting plane of said buffing rolls,
• wherein adjacent ones of said buffing rolls of said first buffing apparatus have spaces therebetween, and
• wherein said buffing rolls of said second buffing apparatus are aligned, in a work feeding direction, along said spaces between said adjacent ones of said buffing rolls of said first buffing apparatus.

A buffing method for buffing a plate work using first and second buffing apparatus, each of said first and second buffing apparatus having a plurality of buffing rolls removably secured in a predetermined spaced relationship to a shaft which is driven to rotate, and a backup roll disposed in parallel to said buffing rolls and extending over an entire length of all of said buffing rolls, said buffing method comprising the steps of:

• disposing said first buffing apparatus above the plate work;
• disposing said second buffing apparatus in a spaced relationship from said first buffing apparatus above the plate work, said buffing rolls of said first and second buffing apparatus being aligned in an alternate pattern in a work feeding direction;
• buffing a first area of the plate work by said first buffing apparatus;
• and
• buffing a second area of the plate work, which has not been buffed by said first buffing apparatus, by said second buffing apparatus.