Patents Represented by Attorney Thomas F. Lebens Sinsheimer, Juhnke, Lebens & McIvor LLP
  • Patent number: 7118446
    Abstract: A grinding assembly for shaping work pieces that includes one or more grind spindles. Each of the grind spindles include two independent grinding wheels driven by a single spindle drive. The grind spindles translate horizontally to perform both edge and face grinding with a single grind spindle. A non-contact position sensor in a work spindle measures work spindle displacement during grinding and provides feedback to the grind spindle to regulate the force imparted on the work piece by the grind spindle. In variations, an abrasive wheel disposed radially with respect to an axis of spindle rotation is utilized to perform edge grinding of the work piece. In other variations cleaning, polishing and grinding are carried out in a single grinding assembly. In yet other variations, a wheel dressing apparatus is utilized to dress the wheel when one or more forces to maintain productivity of the grind wheel exceed a threhold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Strasbaugh, a California corporation
    Inventors: Thomas A. Walsh, Salman Moudrek Kassir