Apparatus and method for surface grinding and edge trimming workpieces

An apparatus for processing a first workpiece and a second workpiece comprising:

• a first spindle configured to hold said first workpiece;
• a second spindle configured to hold said second workpiece;
• a bridge element laterally movable relative to said first and second spindles;
• a first grinding wheel coupled to said bridge element;
• a second grinding wheel coupled to said bridge element, and laterally displaced from said first grinding wheel;
• a controller in communication with said bridge element, said controller directing said bridge element to move laterally relative to said first and second spindles such that at least one of said first and second grinding wheels overlies at least one of a first surface of said first workpiece and a second surface of said second workpiece to condition said at least one of said first and second surfaces, and said controller further directing said bridge element to move laterally relative to said first and second spindles such that said first grinding wheel overlies an outer edge of said first workpiece to trim said outer edge of said first workpiece and said second grinding wheel is laterally displaced out of contact with said second workpiece;
• wherein said outer edge is a first outer edge, said controller directs said bridge element to move laterally to position said first and second grinding wheels into multiple edge trimming positions between said first and second spindles, said edge trimming positions including:
• a first position in which said first grinding wheel overlies said first outer edge of said first workpiece to trim said first outer edge, and said second grinding wheel is laterally displaced out of contact with said first and second workpieces;
• a second position in which said first grinding wheel overlies a second outer edge of said second workpiece to trim said second outer edge, and said second grinding wheel is laterally displaced out of contact with said first and second workpieces;
• a third position in which said second grinding wheel overlies said first outer edge of said first workpiece to trim said first outer edge, and said first grinding wheel is laterally displaced out of contact with said first and second workpieces;
• and
• a fourth position in which said second grinding wheel overlies said second outer edge of said second workpiece to trim said second outer edge, and said first grinding wheel is laterally displaced out of contact with said first and second workpieces.

A system for enabling a surface grinding apparatus to additionally perform edge trimming, said surface grinding apparatus including a first spindle configured to hold a first workpiece, a second spindle configured to hold a second workpiece, a bridge element laterally movable relative to said first and second spindles, first and second grinding wheels coupled to said bridge element, said first and second grinding wheels being laterally immovable relative to one another, and said system comprising:

• a grind chamber sized to accommodate both of said first and second spindles;
• a mounting plate coupled to a top of said grind chamber, said mounting plate including a mounting section overlying said grind chamber;
• a grind seal system including a first substantially linear grind seal and a second substantially linear grind seal, said first grind seal having a first end and a second end, said second grind seal having a third end and a fourth end, each of said first and second grind seals being flexible so as to fit into said mounting section with said first end abutting said third end, and said second end abutting said fourth end to form a substantially curvilinear shape encircling a top opening of said grind chamber, each of said first and second grind seals being inflatable;
• an edge trimming controller in communication with said grind seal system, said edge trimming controller including a grind seal control element for selectively directing said first and second grind seals to inflate and deflate in response to a position of said bridge element;
• wherein said bridge element is enabled to position said first and second grinding wheels into multiple edge trimming positions between said first and second spindles, said edge trimming positions including:
• a first position in which said first grinding wheel overlies a first outer edge of said first workpiece to trim said first outer edge, and said second grinding wheel is laterally displaced out of contact with said first and second workpieces;
• a second position in which said first grinding wheel overlies a second outer edge of said second workpiece to trim said second outer edge, and said second grinding wheel is laterally displaced out of contact with said first and second workpieces;
• a third position in which said second grinding wheel overlies said first outer edge of said first workpiece to trim said first outer edge, and said first grinding wheel is laterally displaced out of contact with said first and second workpieces;
• and
• a fourth position in which said second grinding wheel overlies said second outer edge of said second workpiece to trim said second outer edge, and said first grinding wheel is laterally displaced out of contact with said first and second workpieces.

A system for enabling a surface grinding apparatus to additionally perform edge trimming, said surface grinding apparatus including a first spindle configured to hold a first workpiece, a second spindle configured to hold a second workpiece, a bridge element laterally movable relative to said first and second spindles, first and second grinding wheels coupled to said bridge element, said first and second grinding wheels being laterally immovable relative to one another, and said system comprising:

• a grind chamber sized to accommodate both of said first and second spindles;
• a mounting plate coupled to a top of said grind chamber, said mounting plate including a mounting section overlying said grind chamber;
• a grind seal system including a first substantially linear grind seal and a second substantially linear grind seal, said first grind seal having a first end and a second end, said second grind seal having a third end and a fourth end, each of said first and second grind seals being flexible so as to fit into said mounting section with said first end abutting said third end, and said second end abutting said fourth end to form a substantially curvilinear shape encircling a top opening of said grind chamber, each of said first and second grind seals being inflatable;
• and
• a first seal flap configured for attachment to a first edge of said bridge element;
• a second seal flap configured for attachment to a second edge of said bridge element;
• and
• an edge trimming controller in communication with said grind seal system, said edge trimming controller including a grind seal control element for selectively directing said first and second grind seals to inflate and deflate in response to a position of said bridge element, and said edge trimming controller further including a seal flap control element in communication with said first and second seal flap for controlling a position of each of said first and second seal flaps in response to said position of said bridge element, said position being one of an up position and a down position.

A method for processing a first workpiece and a second workpiece using a surface grinding apparatus adapted to additionally perform edge trimming, said apparatus including a first spindle and a second spindle, a bridge element laterally movable relative to said first and second spindles, first and second grinding wheels coupled to said bridge element, a seal flap coupled to an edge of said bridge element, said seal flap being controllable between an up position and a down position, and said method comprising:

• placing said first workpiece on said first spindle, said first workpiece having a first outer edge;
• placing said second workpiece on said second spindle, said second workpiece having a second outer edge;
• translating said bridge element to position one of said first and second grinding wheels between said first and second spindles in an edge trimming position such that said one of said first and second grinding wheels overlies one of said first and second outer edges another of said first and second grinding wheels is laterally displaced out of contact with said first and second workpieces, and said seal flap is adjusted to said up position during said translating operation;
• removing said one of said first and second outer edges with said one of said first and second grinding wheels, and adjusting said seal flap to said down position during said down position;
• and
• repeating said translating and removing operations to remove another of said first and second outer edges from another of said first and second workpieces.

A method for processing a first workpiece and a second workpiece using a surface grinding apparatus adapted to additionally perform edge trimming, said apparatus including a first spindle and a second spindle, a bridge element laterally movable relative to said first and second spindles, first and second grinding wheels coupled to said bridge element, and said method comprising:

• placing said first workpiece on said first spindle, said first workpiece having a first outer edge;
• placing said second workpiece on said second spindle, said second workpiece having a second outer edge;
• translating said bridge element to position one of said first and second grinding wheels between said first and second spindles in an edge trimming position selected from multiple edge trimming positions such that said one of said first and second grinding wheels overlies one of said first and second outer edges, and another of said first and second grinding wheels is laterally displaced out of contact with said first and second workpieces;
• removing said one of said first and second outer edges with said one of said first and second grinding wheels;
• and
• repeating said translating and removing operations to remove another of said first and second outer edges from another of said first and second workpieces
• wherein said multiple edge trimming positions include:
• a first position in which said first grinding wheel overlies said first outer edge of said first workpiece for trimming said first outer edge, and said second grinding wheel is laterally displaced out of contact with said first and second workpieces;
• a second position in which said first grinding wheel overlies a second outer edge of said second workpiece for trimming said second outer edge, and said second grinding wheel is laterally displaced out of contact with said first and second workpieces;
• a third position in which said second grinding wheel overlies said first outer edge of said first workpiece for trimming said first outer edge, and said first grinding wheel is laterally displaced out of contact with said first and second workpieces;
• and
• a fourth position in which said second grinding wheel overlies said second outer edge of said second workpiece for trimming said second outer edge, and said first grinding wheel is laterally displaced out of contact with said first and second workpieces.