Abrasive processing apparatus and method employing encoded abrasive product

An abrasive product for abrasively processing an article, comprising:

• a base layer having a first surface and a second surface;
• an abrasive material disposed on the first surface;
• and
• a machine discernable pattern provided on either one or both of the first surface or the second surface for use in generating a control signal for controlling movement of the abrasive material relative to the article.

An apparatus for abrasively processing an article, comprising:

• a support for supporting an abrasive product, the abrasive product comprising one of a pad and an abrasive slurry, a lapping or burnishing film, or a textured web, the abrasive product further comprising a machine discernable pattern;
• a mounting fixture for positioning the article into and out of contact with the abrasive product;
• an actuator for moving the abrasive product relative to the article;
• a detector that detects the machine discernable pattern;
• and
• a controller that controls the movement of the abrasive product relative to the article using the machine discernable pattern.

A method of acquiring information associated with processing of an article by use of an abrasive processing apparatus, the method comprising:

• providing an abrasive product comprising a machine discernable pattern;
• reading the machine discernable pattern;
• obtaining, from a database, an identification of the abrasive product using the machine discernable pattern;
• producing data associated with processing of the article by use of the identified abrasive product;
• storing the data in the database;
• identifying the article to be processed using the abrasive processing apparatus;
• and
• verifying, using the database, the appropriateness of processing the identified article using the identified abrasive product.

A system for acquiring information concerning processing of an article by use of an abrasive processing apparatus, comprising:

• a controller coupled to the abrasive processing apparatus;
• a detector, coupled to the controller, that detects a machine discernable pattern provided on an abrasive product used by the abrasive processing apparatus to abrasively process the article;
• a host processor coupled to memory;
• and
• an interface that couples the host processor to the controller of the abrasive processing apparatus, the host processor receiving identification information associated with the abrasive product from the controller and storing the abrasive product identification information in the memory.

A method of abrasively processing an article, comprising:

• providing an abrasive product comprising a machine discernable pattern, the abrasive product comprising one of a pad and an abrasive slurry, a lapping or burnishing film, or a textured web;
• moving the abrasive product relative to the article;
• reading the machine discernable pattern;
• and
• controlling the movement of the abrasive product relative to the article using the machine discernable pattern.